his foot upon the Coach-wheel reached him over the shoulders of one of his greatest Lords and stabbed him to the very heart and with a monstrous undauntedness of resolution making good his first stab with a second dispatched him suddenly from off the earth as if a Mouse had strangled an Elephant Sic parvis pereunt ingentia rebus And thus the smallest things Can stop the breath of Kings 4. While the Emperour Charles the Fifth after the resignation of his Estates staid at Vlushing for wind to carry him to his last journey into Spain he conferred on a time with Seldius his Brother Ferdinand's Ambassadour till the deep of the night and when Seldius should depart the Emperour calling for some of his Servants and no body answering him for those that attended upon him were some gone to their Lodgings and all the rest asleep the Emperour took up the candle himself and went before Seldius to light him down stairs notwithstanding all the resistance he could make and when he was come to the stairs foot he said thus unto him Seldius remember this of Charles the Emperour when he shall be dead and gone that him whom thou hast known in thy time environed with so many mighty Armies and Guards of Souldiers thou hast also seen alone abandoned and forsaken yea even of his own domestical Servants c. I acknowledge this change of Fortune to proceed from the mighty hand of God which I will by no means go about to withstand 5. Darius entituled himself King of Kings and Kinsman to the Gods having knowledge of Alexanders landing on Asia side so much scorned him and his Macedonians that he gave order to his Lieutenants of the lesser Asia that they should take Alexander alive whip him with rods and then convey him to his presence that they should sink his Ships and send the Macedonians taken Prisoners beyond the Red Sea In this sort spake the glorious King in a vain confidence of the multitudes over whom he commanded But observe here a wonderful revolution his vast Armies were successively routed by the Macedonians his riches that were even beyond estimation seised his Mother Wife and Daughters made Prisoners and himself by the Treachery of Bessus his Vassal taken from the ground where he lay bewailing his misfortune and bound in a Cart covered with Hides of Beasts and to add derision to his adversity he was thereunto fastned with a Chain of Gold and thus drawn on amongst the ordinary Carriages But the Traitor Bessus being hastily pursued by Alexander he brought a Horse to the Cart where Darius lay bound perswading him to mount thereon But the unfortunate King refusing to follow those that had betrayed him they cast Darts at him wounded him to death wounded the Beasts that drew him slew his two Servants that attended him which done they all fled Polystratus a Macedonian being by pursuit prest with thirst while he was refreshing himself with water espyed a Cart with wounded beasts breathing for life and not able to move he searched the same and there found the miserable Darius bathing in his own blood impatient death pressing out his few remaining spirits he desired water with which Polystratus presented him after which he lived but to tell him that of all the best things which the World had which were lately in his power he had nothing remaining but his last breath wherewith to desire the Gods to reward his compassion 6. Charles the Eighth King of France had conquered Naples and caused himself to be crowned King thereof but the 8. of April 1498. upon Palm-Sunday even the King being in this Glory as touching this World departed out of the Chamber of Queen Anne Dutchess of Britain his Wife leading her with him to see the Tennis-Players in the Trenches of the Castle whither he had never led her before and they two entred into a Gallery called Haquelebacks Gallery It was the filthiest uncleanneâ—t place in or about the Castle for every man made water there and the entry into it was broken down moreover the King as he entred knocked his brow against the door though he was of very small stature Afterward he beheld the Tennis-playing a great while talking very familiarly with all men The last words he spake being in health were that he hoped never aâ—ter to commit deadly sin nor venial if he could in the uttering of which words he fell backwards and lost his speech about two of the clock in the afternoon and abode in this Gallery till eleven of the clock at night Every man that listed entred into the Gallery where he lay upon an old Mattress of straw from which he never arose till he gave up the ghost which was nine hours from his first lying upon it Thus departed out of this World saith mine Author this mighty puissant Prince in this miserable place not being able to recover one poor Chamber to dye in notwithstanding he had so many goodly houses of his own and had built one so very sumptuous immediately before 7. In a bloody Fight betwixt Amurath third King of the Turks and Lazarus Despot of Servia many thousands fell on both sides but in conclusion the Turks had the honour of the day and the Despot was slain Amurath after that great Victory with some few others of his chiefest Captains went to take a view of the dead bodies which without number lay on heaps in the field piled one upon another as little mountains While this happy Victor was beholding with delight this bloody Trophy of his Souldiers valour a Christian Souldier sore wounded and all gore blood seeing him in a staggering manner arose as if it had been from death out of an heap of the slain and making towards him for want of strength fell down many times by the way as he came as if he had been a drunken man At length drawing near to him when they that guarded the Kings person would have staid him he was by Amurath himself commanded to come nearer supposing that he would have craved his life of him but this resolute half-dead Christian pressing nearer to him as he would for honors sake have kissed his feet suddenly stab'd him in the bottom of his belly with a short Dagger which he had under his Coat of which wound that great King and Conquerour suddenly dyed when the Victory was his in the place where he had newly gained it while his heart swelled with glory when a thousand Swords and Lances and Darts had missed him when he might now seem secure as to death then fell he as a great Sacrifice to the Ghosts of those thousands he had in that Battel sent to their graves The Souldier by whose hand this glorious action was performed was called Miles Cobelitz and the Battel it self was fought Anno 8. Alexander the Son of Perseus King of Macâ—don being carried away Captive together with his Father to the City of Rome was reduced to that
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
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
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
soon as the Veins of his Head were swollen with blood the string would burst asunder 4. The diligent Bartholinus tells of a Religious Person of forty years of Age who had the hinder part of his skull so firm and compact though Hippocrates affirm it to be the weakest thereabouts that he was able to endure a Coach-wheel to pass over it without any sensible damage to him 5. Amongst the rarities of Pope Paul the Fourth there is to be seen saith Columbus the Head of a Gyant for it is the biggest that I ever beheld in which the lower Jaw is so connate and conjoyned to the Head that it utterly wants all motion and could not but do so when the Person was living for I saw with these eyes the first joynt of the Neck so fastned to the hinder part of the Head that it is impossible it should ever move 6. In the County of Transtagana in Portugal near the Town call'd Villa Amaena there liv'd a Rich Man whose Wife was brought to bed of a Man-child which at his birth had a broad and hard knot upon his Fore-head his Parents by the advice of the Physicians made little of it the child being arriv'd â—o five years of Age it also was in that time much grown out so that the Physicians betook themselves to frequent purgations but all in vain for the knot without any pain grew out into a Pyramidical Horn of the length of a Span broad at the root of it and at the point the thickness of a Man's thumb end being grown to Man's estate he would not suffer it to be cut off though both Physicians and Surgeons affirm'd it might be done without danger he addicted himself to his studies and made singular progress therein 7. Hildanus reports he saw a Man who came into the World with a horn in the midst of his Fore-head it was inverted like to that of a Rams and turn'd upwards to the coronel â—uture or the top of his head 8. Twenty eight years after the death of Cardinal Ximenes the Grave wherein his body lay was digg'd up his bones taken out and his Head once the Palace of the greatest Judgement that ever appear'd in Spain his skull was found to be all of a piece without any â—uture the mark of a strong brain but withal the cause of the continual Head-achs he was so very subject unto in his Life the vapours that ascended into the head wanting that vent which is so usual in others 9. The Aegyptians have skulls generally of that hardness that hardly can they be broken with a stone that is flung at them on the contrary the skulls of the Persians are so very weak that they are broken with a small and inconsiderable force The cause of this is believed to be that the Aegyptians from their Boyage are used to cut their hair and their skulls are thus hardned by the heat of the Sun which also is the reason that few of them are bald on the other side the Persians do not cut their hair from their infancy and are accustomed to have their heads always cover'd with their Shasnes or Turbants 10. Albertus the Marquess of Brandenburgh who was born the 24 th of November Anno Dom. 1414. and had the sirname of the German Achilles had no junctures or sutures in his Skull as is yet to be seen at Heilbronna where it is kept 11. Nicholo de Conti saith that in his time the Sumatrians were all Gentiles and the Man-eaters amongst them used the skulls of their eaten enemies instead of Money exchanging the same for their necessaries and he was accounted the richest Man who had most of those skulls in his house 12. In Thebet amongst the Tartarians the people in times past bestowed on their Parents no other Sepulcher then their own Bowels and yet in part retain it making fine cups of their deceased Fathers skulls that drinking out of them in the midst of their jollity they may not forget their Progenitors 13. The Men of the Province of Dariene paint themselves when they go to the Wars and they stand in need of no Helmet or Head piece for their skulls have such natural hardness upon them that they will break a Sword that is let drive upon them 14. Iohannes Pfeil liv'd at Lipsia and while he practis'd Physick there a Citizen was his Patient who was so vehemently troubled with a daily and intollerable pain in his head that by reason of it he could take no rest either night nor day the Physician prescribed to him all things that might seem convenient for him and procure other Medicines at his own charges but all to no purpose for the sick Man over-powred with the extremity of his pain and want of rest gave up the Ghost Pfeil his Physician with leave of his Friends dissected the Head of the Deceased and in the brain found a stone of the magnitude and figure of a Mulberry by eating of which fruit the Patient had said he had contracted his Disease this stone was of an Ash colour and he afterwards shewed it unto many as matter of singular admiration 15. Pericles the Athenian was of a decent composure in respect of the other parts of his body but his Head was extraordinary great and very long in the figure and shape of it no way answering to the other lineaments of his body Hereupon it is that almost all the Statues that remain to be seen of him have Helmets upon the heads of them The Artificers taking that course to hide that natural deformity that was in â—â— Illustrious a Person 20. Philocles a Comical Poet was Aeschylus his Sisters Son this Man had a Head that was sharp raised and pointed in the Crown of it like a Sugar-loaf 21. Mahomet that great impostor and the framer of the Alcoran is said to have a head of an unusual and extraordinary bigness CHAP. XII Of the Hair of the Head how worn and other particularities about it APuleius thought the hair of the Head to be so great and necessary an Ornament that saith he the most beautiful Woman is nothing without it though she came from Heaven be born of the Sea brought up in the Waves as another Venus though surrounded with the Graces and attended with all the Troops of little Cupids though Venus girdle be about her and she breath Cinamon and sweet Balsom yet if she be bald she cannot please no not so much as her own Vulcan As a Beast without Horus a Tree without Leaves and a Field without Grass such saith Ovid is one without Hair It is without doubt a considerable ornament and additional beauty how some have worn it and concerning other accidents about it see the following examples 1. Cardanus relates of a Carmelâ—te that as oâ—t as he kemb'd his head sparks of fire were seen to â—ly out of his Haiâ— and that thereupon he was invited to feasts that
do 12. In the Person of the great Sfortia all other things did so answer to that military reputation and glory he did acquir'd that being oftentimes in the same habit with many of his Attendants and at other times alone without any retinue yet was he easily discern'd and saluted as the chief and Prince of the rest by the Countrey-men and such Rusticks as had never before seen him 13. Alexander the Great though he took little care of his body is yet reported to be very beautiful he is said to have yellow haâ—r and his locks fell into natural Rings and curles besides which in the composure of his Face there was something so great and august as begat a fear in them that look'd upon him 14. Caius Marius being cast into the depth and extremity of misery and in great hazard of his life was saved by the Majesty of his Person for while he liv'd in a private house at Minturn there was a publick Officer a Cimbrian by Nation that was sent to be his Executioner he came to this unarmed and at that time squallid old Man with his Sword drawn but astonish'd at the noble presence of so great a Man he cast away his Sword and ran away trembling and amazed Marius had conquer'd the Cimbrian Nation and perhaps it was this that help'd to break the courage of him that came to kill him or possibly the gods thought it unworthy that he should fall by a single person of that Nation who had broke and triumphed over the whole strength of it at once The Minturnians also themselves when they had taken and bound him yet moved with something they saw of extraordinary in him suffered him to go at liberty though the late Victory of Sylla was enough to make them fear they should e're long repent it 15. Ludovicus Pius King of France had many virtues worthy of a King and Heroe This is also remembred of him that upon the taking of Damiata he was circumvented and taken by Melaxala the Sultan of Aegypt when unequal terms were proposed unto him he refused them with great constancy and although he was in great danger amongst such as had slain their own Sultan and though while he lay sick they rush'd upon him with their drawn Swords either to kill him or force him to subscribe to unequal conditions yet with the Majesty of his Face and that Dignity that was in his countenance he restrained their fierceness so that they desisted to afford him further trouble 16. Alphonsus King of Arragon is famous for the like Majesty and Princely constancy of whom after in a Naval fight he was taken Prisoner by the Genoans Panulphus Collenutius thus relates that he bare such a countenance was of that Majesty and constancy that as well by Sea as Land at Millain and in all other places he commanded and was obeyed in no other manner than if he had been free and a Conquerour For to omit other things when he was brought before Ischia and the Captain of the Ship wherein he was spake to him that he should command that City to submit it self to the Genoeses he gallantly reply'd that he would not do it and that he hoped they should not gain a stone of his jurisdiction without Arms and blood for he well knew that none of his Subjects would obey any such command while he remained a Captive he so confounded the Captain that Blasius the Admiral was constrained to appease him with fair words and to declare that the Captain had not spoken this by any order from him but that it was the effect of his own imprudence So that it was commonly said that Alphonsus alone in whatsoever fortune he was was deservedly a King and ought so to be called 17. Philippus Arabs having obtained the Empire in his Journey towards Rome made his Son C. Iulius Saturnius co-partner with him in that honour Of this young Prince it is said that he was of so severe and grave a countenance and disposition that from five years of Age he was never observed to laugh and thereupon was call'd Agelastus nothing how ridiculous soever could provoke him to a smile and when the Emperour in the secular Plays brake out into an effuse laughter he as one that was ashamed or displeased thereat turned away his face from him 18. Cassander having made Olympias the Mother of Alexander the Great his Prisoner and fearing the inconstancy of the Macedonians that they would one time or other create him some trouble in favour of her sent Soldiers with express command to kill her immediately She seeing them come towards her obstinate and armed in a Royal Robe and leaning upon two Maids of her own accord she set forward to meet them At sight of her her intended Murtherers stood astonish'd revering the Majesty of her former fortune and the names of many of their Kings that were so nearly related to her They therefore stood still but the Kindred of those whom Olympias had formerly put to death that at once they might gratifie Cassander and revenge the dead these slew the Queen while she neither declin'd the Sword nor wounds nor made any feminine out-cry but after the manner of gallant Men and agreeable to the glory of her ancient stock receiv'd her death That Alexander himself might seem to be seen to die in the person of his Mother 19. When Alexander the Great was dead his Soldiers were in expectation of Riches and his Friends to succeed him in the Empire and they might seem the less vain in such expectation seeing they were Men of that virtue and Princely port that you would have thought each of them a King such Majesty and beauty in the countenance such stature and talness of body so great strength and wisdom was conspicuous in all of them that they who knew them not would have concluded they had been chosen not out of any one Nation but out of all the parts of the World And certainly before that time neither Macedon nor any other Nation could ever boast of the production of so many gallant and Illustrious persons at once whom Philip first and after him his Son Alexander had selected with that care that they seemed to be made choice of not so much to assist in the Wars as to succeed in the Government What wonder is it then that the whole World was subdued by such able Ministers when the Army of the Macedonians was conducted by as many Kings as Captains who had never found their equals unless they had fallen out amongst themselves and Macedon instead of one had had many Alexanders unless Fortune in emulation of one another's virtue had armed them to their mutual destruction 20. Guntherus Bishop of Babenberg died in the year of our Lord 1064. in his journey as he was travelling towards Ierusalem and the Holy Land This Prince besides the composedness of his Life and the riches of his mind was also
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
the saddle and left a wound upon the back of the Horse The Mahometans observing that terrible blow provoked him no farther but departed as they came The Almain without mending his pace came up safely to the rest of the Army 26. Iohn Courcy Baron of Stoke Courcy in Somersetshire the first Englishman that subdued Vlster in Ireland and deservedly was made Earl of it he was afterwards surprised by Hugh Lacy corrivaâ— to his title sent over into England and by King Iohn imprisoned in the Tower of London A French Castle being in controversie was to have the title thereof tryed by combat the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy being a lean lank body with staring eyes is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because enfeebled with long durance a large bill of Fare was allowed him to recruit his strength The Monsieur hearing how much he had eat and drank and guessing his courage by his stomach or rather stomach by his appetite took him for a Cannibal who would devour him at the last course and so he declined the Combat Afterwards the two Kings desirous to see some proof of Courcy's strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him Courcy looking about him with a grim countenance as if he intended to cut with his eyes as well as with his arms sundred the Helmet at one blow striking his Sword so deep into the wood that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly Had I said he fail'd of my design I would have killed the Kings and all in the place Words well spoken because well taken all persons present being then highly in good humour He died in France anno Dom. 1210. 27. Polydamus the Son of Nicias born at Scotussa in Thessalia was the tallest and greatest man of that age his strength was accordingly for he slew a Lion in the Mount Olympus though unarm'd he singled out the biggest and fiercest Bull from a whole Herd took hold of him by one of his hinder feet and notwithstanding all his struggling to get from him he held him with that strength that he left his hoof in his hand being afterwards in a Cave under a Rock the earth above began to fall and when all the rest of his company fled for fear he alone there remain'd as supposing he was able with his Arms to support all those ruines which were coming upon him but this his presumption cost him his life for he was there crush'd to death 28. Ericus the second King of Denmark was a person of huge Stature and equal strength he would throw a Stone or a Javelin as he sate down with much greater force than another that stood as he sate he would struggle with two men and catching one betwixt his knees would there hold him till he had drawn the other to him and then he would hold them both till he had bound them He also would take a rope by both the ends of it and holding it thus in his hands sitting he gave the other part of it to four strong men to pull against him but while they could not move him from his seat he would give them such girds now with the right and then with the left hand that either they were forced to relinquish their hold or else notwithstanding all they could do to the contrary he would draw them all to the feat where he sate 29. The Emperour Tiberius had the joynts of his Fingers so â—irm and strongly compacted that he could thrust his Finger through a green and unripe Apple and could give a â—illip with that force that thereby he would break the head of a lusty man CHAP. XXV Of the marvelous fruitfulness of some and what number of their descendants they have liv'd to see also of superfoetation IN the front of this Discourse it will not be amiss to revive the memory of a Roman Matron in whom there were so many wonders concentred that it would almost be no less to forget her Ausonius calls her Callicrate and thus Epitapheth for her as in her own person Viginti atque novem genitrici Callicrateae Nullius Sexus mors mihi visa fuit Sed centum quinque explevi bene messibus annos Intremulam baculo non subeunte manum Twenty nine birth 's Callicrate I told And of both Sexes saw none sent to grave I was an hundred and five Summers old Yet stay from staff my hand did never crave A rare instance which yet in the two former respects you will find surpass'd in what follows 1. There lyes a Woman bury'd in the Church at Dunstable who as her Epitaph testifies bore at three several times three Children at a Birth and five at a Birth two other times 2. Elionora Salviata the Wife of Bartholomew Frescobald a Citizen of Florence was delivered of fifty and two Children never less than three at a Birth 3. One of the Maid-servants of Augustus the Emperour was delivered of five Children at a Birth the Mother together with her Children were bury'd in the Laurentine way with an Inscription upon them by the order of Augustus relating the same 4. Also Serapia a Woman of Alexandria brought forth five Children at one Birth saith Coelius 5. Anno 1553. The Wife of Iohn Gissinger a Tigurine was delivered of Twins and before the year was out brought at once five more three Sons and two Daughters 6. Here is at Bononia one Iulius Seutinarius yet living and is also a fruitful Citizen himself he came in the World with six Births and was himself the seventh his Mother was the Sister of D. Florianus de Dulphis my Kinsman saith Carpus 7. Thomas Fazel writes that Iane Pancica who in his time was marryed to Bernard a Sicilian of the City of Agrigentum was so fruitful that in thirty Childbirths she was delivered of seventy and three Children which saith he should not seem incredible seeing Aristotle affirms that one Woman at four Births brought forth twenty Children at every one â—ive 8. There is a famous story of the beginning of the Noble Race of the Welfs which is this Irmentrudes the Wife of Isenbard Earl of Altorf had unadvisedly accus'd of Adultery a Woman that had three Children at one Birth being not able to believe that one man could at one time get so many Children adding with all that she deserv'd to be sow'd up in a Sack and thrown into the River and accusing her in that regard to the Earl her Husband It hapned that the next year the Countess felt her self with Child and the Earl being from home she was brought to Bed of twelve Male-children but all of them very little She fearing the reproach of Adultery whereof yet she was not guilty commanded that eleven of them should be taken and cast into a River not far from the House
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
third day after he was offered by the Victor his liberty and restauration to the Kingdom in case he would confirm to Thebaldus what he was possessed of therein But he in an inconceiveable hatred to him that had made him his Prisoner reply'd That he should ever scorn to receive those and greater proffers from so base a hand as his Thebaldus had reason to resent this affront and therefore told him he would make him repent his so great insolence At which Gualterus inflam'd with a greater fury tare of his cloths and brake the ligatures of his wounds crying out that he would live no longer since he was fallen into the hands of such a man that treated him with threats upon which he tare open the lips of his wounds and thrust his hands into his Intestines so that when he resolvedly refused all food and ways of cure he forcibly drave out his furious Soul from his Body and lest only one Daughter behind him who might have been happier had she not had a breast to her Father CHAP. X. Of Fear and the strange effects of it also of panick fears THe Spartans would not consecrate to the Gods any of those spoils which they had taken from the Enemy they thought they were unfit presents â—or them and no convenient sight for their own Children because they were things pluck'd off from them who suffer'd themselves to be taken through fear The meaning was they look'd upon the fearful man as neither pleasing to God nor profitable to Man the truth is an habitual coward is a man of no price but withal there are certain times wherein the worthiest of men have found their courage to desert them and upon some occasions more than others 1. Augustus Caesar was somewhat over timerous of Thunder and Lightning so that he always and every where carry'd with him the skin of a Sea-calf as a remedie And upon suspicion of approaching tempest would retreat into some ground or vaulted place as having been formerly affrighted by extraordinary flashes of Lightning in a nights journey of his 2. Caius Caligula who otherwise was a great contemner of the gods yet would wink at the least Thunder and Lightning and cover his head if there chanc'd to be greater and lowder he would then leap out of his bed and run to hide himself under it 3. Philippus Vicecomes was of so very timerous and a fearful Nature that upon the hearing of any indifferent Thunder he would tremble and shake with fear and as a person in distraction run up and down to seek out some subterranean hiding place 4. Pope Alexander the third being in France and performing divine Offices upon Good Fryday upon the sudden there was a horrible darkness and while the Reader was upon the Passion of Christ and was speaking of those words It is finished there fell such a stupendous Lightning and such a terrible crack of Thunder follow'd that Alexander leaving the Altar and the Reader deserting the Passion all that were present ran out of the place consulting their own safety by flight 5. Archelaus King of Macedon being ignorant of the effects of Natural Causes when once there hapned an Eclipse of the Sun as one overcome and astonish'd with fear he caus'd his Palace to be hastily shut up and as it was the usual custom in cases of extreme mourning and sadness he caus'd the hair of his Sons head to be cut off 6. Diomedes was the Steward of Augustus the Emperour as they two were on a time walking out together on the sudden there brake loose a wild Boar who took his way directly towards them here the Steward in the fear he was in gat behind the Emperour and interposed him betwixt the danger and himself Augustus though in great hazard yet knowing it was more his fear than his malice resented it no farther than to jest with him upon it 7. At the time when Caius Caligula was slain Claudius Caesar seeing all was full of sedition and slaughter thrust himself into a hole in a by corner to hide himself though he had no cause to be apprehensive of danger besides the illustriousness of his Birth being thus found he was drawn out by the Soldiers for no other purpose than to make him Emperour he besought their mercy as supposing all they said to be nothing else but a cruel mockery but they when through fear and dread of death he was not able to go took him up upon their shoulders carryed him to the Camp and proclaim'd him Emperour 8. Fulgos Argelatus by the terrible noise that was made by an Earthquake was so affrighted that his fear drave him into madness and his madness unto death for he cast himself headlong from the upper part of his house and so died 9. Cassander the Son of Antipater came to Alexander the Great at Babylon where finding himself not so welcome by reason of some suspicions the King had conceiv'd of his treachery he was seis'd with such a terrour at this suspicion of his that in the following times having obtain'd the Kingdom of Macedon and made himself Lord of Greece walking at Delphos and there viewing the Statues he cast his eye upon that of Alexander the Great at which sight he conceiv'd such horror that he trembled all over and had much ado to recover himself from under the power of that agony 10. The Emperour Maximilian the First being taken by the people of Bruges and divers of the Citizens who took his part slain Nicholaus de Helst formerly a prisoner together with divers others had the sentence of death pass'd upon him and being now laid down to receive the stroke of the Sword The people suddenly cry'd out Mercy he was pardon'd as to his life but the paleness his face had contracted by reason of his fear of his approaching death continued with him from that time forth to the last day of his life 11. We are told by Zacchias of a young man of Belgia who saith he not many years since was condemn'd to be burnt it was observ'd of him by as many as would that through the extremity of fear he sweat blood and Maldonate tells the like of one at Paris who having receiv'd the sentence of death for a crime by him committed sweat blood out of several parts of the body 12. Being about four or six years since in the County of Cork there was an Irish Captain a man of middle age and stature who coming with some of his followers to render himself to the Lord Broghil who then commanded the English forces in those parts upon a publick offer of pardon to the Irish that would lay down arms he was casually in a suspicious place met with by a party of the English and intercepted the Lord Broghil being then absent he was so apprehensive of being put to death before his return that that anxiety of mind quickly chang'd the colour of his
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
age the then Consuls were L. Crassus and Q. Scaevola his eloquence had then the approbation of the whole people of Rome and which is more of the Consuls themselves who were more judicious than all the rest What he had so well begun in his early youth he afterwards so perfected in his maturer age that he was justly reputed the best Orator of his time and perhaps never excelled by any but his own Pupil M. Tullius Cicero 12. Alexander gave manifest presages of his future greatness while he was yet in his first youth when a Horse called Bucephalus of extraordinary fierceness was brought to King Philip and that no man was found that durst bestride him young Alexander chanced at that time to come to his Father and with great importunity obtain'd leave to mount him whom he rode with that art and managed with such singular skill in his full cariere and curvetting that when he descended his Father Philip embracing him with tears said Son seek out a greater Kingdom for that I shall leave thee will be but too little for thee The greatness of his mind he had before discovered for when he was a Boy at School and that there he was told of a victory his Father had newly obtain'd If said he sighing my Father conquer all what will be left for me when they that stood by replyed That all these would be for him I little esteem said he of a great and large Empire when I shall be deprived of all means for the gaining of Glory 13. Herod the first Son of Antipater Prefect of Galilee when he was not above fifteen years of age contrary to the manner of those of his age left the School and put himself into Arms wherein the first proof he gave of himself was that he set upon Ezekias the Captain of an Army of Thieves who molested all Syria and not only routed his Forces but slew the Leader himself shewing by this beginning that except in cruelty he would prove nothing inferiour to any of the Kings his Predecessors 15. C. Martius Coriolanus in the Latine War which was made for the restitution of Taâ—quinius to his Kingdom shewed an admirable boldness though then very young for beholdiâ—g now a Citizen of Rome beaten down and now ready to be slain by the Enemy he ran into his assistance and gave him life by the death of him that pressed so eagerly upon him for which act of valour the Dictator put a Civick Crown upon his young Hâ—ad an honour that persons of a mature age and great virtue did rarely attain unto He afterwards prov'd a person of incomparable valour and military virtue 15. Adeodatus the Son of S. Augustine before he was fifteen years of age was of so prodigious a wit that his Father saith of him Horrori mihi erat istud ingenium he could not think of it but with astonishment for already at that age he surpassed many great and learned men he also verified the saying of Sages Ingenium nimis mature magnum non est vitale such early sparkling wits are not for any long continuance upon earth for he lived but a few years 16. C. Cassius when very young hearing Faustus the Son of Sylla magnifying the tyranny that his Father exercised in Rome was so moved at it that he gave him a blow upon the face in publick the matter was so heynous that both it and the persons came before Pompey the great whâ—re though in so great a presence the young Câ—ssius was â—o far from being terrified that on the contrary he cryed thus out to his Adversary Go to Faustus said he repeat again those words wherewith I was before so far provoked by thee that I may now also strike thee a second time By this action he gave a notable instance how jealous he would afterwards prove of the Roman Liberty for it was he who with Brutus conspired against Iulius Caesar and slew him as the invader of it and after died with the reputation of being Romanorum ulâ—imus the last true Roman 15. Ianus Drusus that famous Scholar had a Son so singular that from fifteen years old to twenty when he died he wrote excellent Commentaries on the Proverbs and other Books that were not unacceptable amongst the Learned that looked upon them 18. Edburg the eighth Daughter of King Edward in her childhood had her disposition tryed and her course of life disposed by her Father in this manner he laid before her gorgeous Apparel and rich Jewels in one end of a Chamber and the New Testament and Books of Princely Instructions in another wishing her to make her choice of which she liked she presently took up the Books and he her in his Arms and kissing her said Go in God's name whither he hath called thee and thereupon placed her in a Monastery at Winchester where she virtuously spent her whole life after 19. Lewis Duke of Orleance was owner of the Castle at Crucy his Constable was the Lord of Cawny whose Wife the Duke's Paramour had a child not certain which was the Father whereupon Cawny and his Wife being dead a controversie arose the next of kin to Cawny claiming the Inheritance which was four thousand Crowns per annum This controversie depending in the Parliament of Paris the child then eight years old though both instructed by his Mother's Friends to save his Mother's credit and to enjoy so ample an inheritance himself as Cawny's Child yet being asked answered openly to the Judges My heart giveth me and my noble courage telleth me that I am the Son of the noble Duke of Orleance more glad am I to be his Bastard with a mean living than to be the lawful Son of that cowardly Cuckold Cawny with his thousand Crowns inheritance The next of kin had the estate and the young Duke of Orleance took him into his Family who after proved a most valiant and fortunate Warriour against the English in the days of Henry the Sixth and is commonly called the Bastard of Orleance 20. Theodoricus Meschede a German Physician had a Son of the same name who at the age of fifiteen years surpassed in Eloquence and Learning many of those who had gained to themselves fame and reputation thereby He wrote to Trithemius and other learned men of that age almost numberless Epistles upon divers subjects with that Accuracy and Ciceronian Eloquence that for his wit dexterity and promptitude in writing and disputation he became the wonder and admiration of those he had any conversation with CHAP. II. Of such as having been extreme Wild and Prodigal or Debauched in their Youth have afterwards proved excellent Persons THose Bodies are usually the most healthful that break out in their youth and many times the Souls of some men prove the â—ounder for having vented themselves in their younger days Commonly none are greater enemies to Vice than such as formerly have been the slaves of it and have been
was upon this occasion that his heart not able to such a desolation of the City and his Subjects as he foresaw he gave such an illustrioâ—s example of his humanity and tenderness to his people as Europe scarce ever saw for he mounted upon the City Walls and calling to the Tartarian General upon his knees he begged the lives of his people Spare not me said he I shall willingly be the Victime of my Subjects And having said this he presently went out to the Tartars Army and was by them taken By which means this noble City was conserved though with the destruction of the mutinous Army â—or the Tartars caused the City to shut the Gates against them till they had cut in pieces all that were without and then entred triumphantly into it not using any force or violence to any 9. Darius the Son oâ— Hystaspis had sent Embassadors to Sparta to demand of them Earth and Water as a token of their subjection to him they took their Embassadors and cast some of them headlong into a Dungeon others into pits and bade them thence take the Earth and Water they came for After which when they had no prosperous sacrifices and that for a long time weary of these calamities they met in a full assembly and proposed if any would die for the good of Sparta Then Sperthies the Son of Aneristus and Balis the Son of Nicolaus of birth and equal estate with the best freely offered themselves to undergo such punishment as Xerxes the Son of Darius then his Successour should inflict for the death of his Embassadours The Spartans sent them away as persons hastening towards their death being come to Susâ— they were admitted the presence of Xerxes where first they refused to adore him and then told him that the Spartans had sent them to suffer death in lieu of those Embassadours whom they had put to death at Sparta Xerxes replyed that he would not deal as the Spartans had done who by killing Embassadours had confounded the Laws of all Nations that he would not do what he had upbraided them with nor would he by their death absolve the Spartans from their guilt 10. Iohn King of Bohemia was so great a Lover oâ— Lucenberg his own Country that oftentimes he laid aside the care of his Kingdoms Affairs and went thither to the great indignation of his Nobility Besides this he had thoughts of changing Bohemia with the Emperour Ludovicus for the Dukedom of Bavaria â—or no other purpose but that he might be the nearer to Lucenburgh 11. A Spartan woman had five Sons in a Battle that was fought near unto the City and seeing one that came thence she asked him how affairs went All your five Sons are slain said he Vnhappy wretch replyed the woman I ask thee not of of their concerns but of that of my Country As to that all is well said the Soldier Then said she let them mourn that are miserable for my part I esteem my self happy in the prosperity of my Country 12. Aristides the Athenian going into Banishment lift up his eyes to Heaven and with conjoyned hands prayed that the Gods would so prosper the affairs of the Athenians that Aristides might never more come into their minds for in times of adversity the people is wont to have recourse to some or other excellent person which also fell out in his case for in the third year of his exile Xerxes came with his whole power into Greece and then Aristides was recalled to receive an important command 13. Whâ—n Charle's the Seventh King of France marched towards Naples they of the City of Florence did set open their Gates to him as supposing they should thereupon receive the less damage by him in their City and Territories adjoyning But the King being entred with his Army demanded the Government of the City and a sum of money to ransom their Liberties and Estates In this strait â—our of the principal Citizens were appointed to transact and manage this affair with the King's Ministers amongst these was Petrus Caponis who having heard the rigorous terms of their composition recited and read by the King 's principal Secretary was so moved that in the sight and presence of the King he snatched the paper out of his hands tore it in pieces And now cryed he sound you your Trumpets and we will ring our Bells Charles astonished at the resolution of the man desisted from his design and thereupon it passed as a Proverbial Speech Gallum a Capo victum fuisse 13. P. Valerius Poplicola had a proud and sumptuous Palace in the Velia seated on high near the Forum and had a fair prospect into all parts of the City the ascent of it was narrow and not easie of access and he being Consul when he descended from his House with his Litters and Attendance the people said it represented the proud pomp of a King and the countenance of one that had a design upon their liberty Valerius was told this by his Friends and no way offended with the jealousie of the people though causeless while it was yet night having hired a number of Smiths Carpenters and others he in one night pulled down that stately Palace of his and subverted it to the very Foundations himself and Family abiding with his Friends CHAP. VII Of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives FRom the Nuptial Sacrifices of old the Gall was to be taken away and cast upon the ground to signifie that betwixt the young couple there should be nothing of bitterness or discontent but that instead thereof sweetness and love should fill up the whole space of their lives We shall find in the following instances not only the Gall taken away but some such affectionate Husbands and such proficients of this lesson of love that they may seem to have improv'd it to the uttermost heights 1. Darius the last King of the Persians supposing that his Wife Statira was slain by Alexander filled all the Camp with lamentations and outcries O Alexander said he whom of thy Relations have I done to death that thou shouldest thus retaliate my severities thou hast hated me without any provocation on my part but suppose thou hast justice on thy side shouldst thou manage the war against Women Thus he bewailed the supposed death of his Wife but as soon as he heard she was not only preserved alive but also treated by Alexander with the highest Honour he then pray'd the Gods to render Alexander fortunate in all things though he was his Enemy 2. M. Antonius the Triumvir being come to Laodicea sent for Herod King of the Jews to answer what should be objected against him concerning the death of Aristobulus the High Priest and his Brother-in-law whom while he was swimming he caused to be drowned under pretence of sport Herod not trusting much to the goodness of his cause committing the Government of his Kingdom to Ioseph his Uncle
privily gave him order that if Antonius should adjudge his offence to be capital that forthwith he should kill Mariamne his Wife for that as he said he had such an affection to her that if any should fortune to be the possessor of her Beauties though it was after his death yet should he conceive himself injured thereby affirming also that this affair had befallen him through the beauty of his Wife the fame of which had long since come to the ears of Antonius This commandment was made known by Ioseph to the Queen her self who afterwards upbraided her Husband with it and thereby occasioned the death of Ioseph and of her self also under pretext of adultery with him Herod had impotent desires of her even after she was dead he often called upon her name and frequently betook himself to uncomely lamentations he invented all the delight he could he feasted and drank liberally and yet to small purpose he therefore left off the care of his Kingdom and was so overcome with his grief that he often commanded his servants to call Mariamne as if she had been still alive his grief encreasing he exiled himself into solitudes under pretence of hunting where continuing to afflict himself he fell into a grievous disease and when recovered of it he became so fell and cruel that for sleight causes he was apt to inâ—lict death 3. Titus Gracchus loved his Wife Cornelia with that fervency that when two Snakes were by chance found in his House and that the Augurs had pronounced that they should not suffer them both to escape but that one of them should be killed affirming also that if the Male was let go Cornelia should die first on the other side that Gracchus should first expire if the Female was dismissed Dismiss then the Female said he that so Cornelia may survive me who am at this time the elder It so fell out that he died soon after leaving behind him many Sons so entirely beloved by the Mother and the memory of her Husband so dear to her that she refused the proffered marriage with Ptolemy King of Aegypt The buried ashes of her Husband it seem'd lay so cold at her heart that the Splendour of a Diadem and all the pomp of a rich and proffered Kingdom were not able so to warm it as to make it capable of receiving the impression of a new Love 4. C. Plautius Numida a Senator having heard of the death of his Wife and not able to bear the weight of so great a grief thrust his Sword into his Breast but by the sudden coming in of his servants he was prevented from finishing his design and his wound was bound up by them nevertheless as soon as he found opportunity according to his desire he tore off his plaisters opened the lips of his wound with his own hand and let forth a Soul that was unwilling to stay in the body after that of his Wives had forsaken hers 5. Caligula the Emperour had Caesonia to Wife and though she was not of remarkable beauty nor of a just but declining age though by another Husband she was already the Mother of three Daughters yet being one of prodigious both luxury and lasciviousness he loved her with that ardency and constancy that he often shewed her to the Soldiers riding by him in her Armour and to his Friends even naked The day she was brought to bed he made her his Wife professing that he was at once her Husband and the Father of a child by her The child which was named Iulia Drusilla was by his order carried about to all the Temples of the Gods at last he laid it down in the lap of Minerva and commended the child to her education and instruction nor did he conclude the child to be his by any more certain sign than this that even in her infancy she had a cruelty so natural that she would flie upon the faces and eyes of such children as played with her with her Fingers and Nails 6. Philip sirnamed the Good the first author of that Gâ—eatness whereunto the House of Burgundy did arrive was about twenty three years of age when his Father Iohn Duke of Burgundy was slain by the villany and perfidiousness of Charles the Dauphin Being informed of that unwelcome news full of grief and anger as he was he hasts into the Chamber of his Wife she was the Dauphin's Sister O said he my Michalea thy Brother hath murdered my Father She who was a true lover of her Husband straight brake out into cries and tears and fearing not in vain that this accident would prove the occasion of a breach she lamented as one that refused all comfort when her Husband used all kind of words to chear up her spirits Thou shalt be no less dear unto me said he for this fault which though near related is yet none of thine and therefore take courage and comfort thy self in a Husband that will be faithful and constant to thee for ever He perform'd what he said he lived with her three years treating her always with his accustomed love and the same respects and although the very sight of her did daily renew the memory of that wicked act of her Brother and though which is more she was barren a sufficient cause of divorce amongst Princes yet he would not that any thing but death should dissolve the matrimonial Bond that was betwixt them 7. M. Plautius by the command of the Senate was to bring back a Navy of sixty Ships of the Confederates into Asia he put on shore at Tarentum thither had Orestilla his Wife followed him and there overcome with a disease she departed this life Plautius having ordered all things for the celebration of the Funeral she was laid upon the Pile to be burnt as the Roman manner was the last offices to be perform'd were to anoint the dead body and to give it a Valedictory Kiss but betwixt these the grieved Husband fell upon his own Sword and died His Friends took him up in his Gown and Shooes as he was and laying his body by that of his Wives burnt them both together The Sepulchre of these two is yet to be seen at Tarentum and is called the Tomb of the two Lovers 8. Dominicus Catalusius was the Prince of Lesbos and is worthy of eternal memory for the entire love which he bare to his Wife she fell into a grievous Leprosie which made her appear more like unto a rotten carcase than a living body Her Husband not fearing in the least to be inâ—ected with the contagion nor frighted with her horrible aspects nor distasted with the loathsome smells sent forth by her â—ilthy Ulcers never forbade her either his Board or Bed but the true love he had towards her turn'd all those things to him into security and pleasure 9. One of the Neapolitans pity his name as well as Country is not remembred being busily employed in a Field near the
Sea and his Wife at some distance from him the woman was seised upon by some Moorish Pyrates who came on shore to prey upon all they could find Upon his return not finding his Wiâ—e and perceiving a Ship that lay at anchor not far off conjecturing the matter as it was he threw himself into the Sea and swam up to the Ship when calling to the Captain he told him that he was therefore come because he must needs follow his Wife He feared not the Barbarism of the Enemies of the Christian Faith nor the miseries those Slaves endure that are thrust into places where they must tug at the Oar his love overcame all these The Moors were full of admiration at the carriage of the man for they had seen some of his Country-men rather chuse death than to endure so hard a loss of their liberty and at their return they told the whole of this Story to the King of Tunis who moved with the Relation of so great a love gave him and his Wife their freedom and the man was made by his command one of the Soldiers of his Life Guard 10. Gratianus the Emperour was so great and known a Lover of his Wife that his enemies had hereby an occasion administred to them to ensnare his life which was on this manner Maximus the Usurper caâ—sed a Report to be â—pread that the Empress with certain Troops was come to see her Husband and to go with him into Italy and sent a messenger with counterfeit Letters to the Emperour to give him advice thereof After this he sent one Andragathius a subtile Captain to the end he should put himself into a Horse Litter with some chosen Soldiers and go to meet the Emperour feigning himself to be the Empress and so to surprise and kill him The cunning Champion perform'd his business for at Lyons in France the Emperour came forth to meet his Wife and coming to the Horse-Litter was taken and killed 11. Ferdinand King of Spain married Elizabeth the Sister of Ferdinand Son of Iohn King of Arragon Great were the virtues of this admirable Princess whereby she gained so much upon the heart of her Husband a valiant and fortunate Prince that he admitted her to an equal share in the Government of the Kingdom with himself wherein they lived with such mutual agreement as the like hath not been known amongst any of the Kings and Queens of that Country There was nothing done in the affairs of State but what was debated ordained and subscribed by both The Kingdom of Spain was a name common to them both Embassadors were sent abroad in both their names Armies and Soldiers were levied and formed in both their names and so was the whole wars and all civil affairs that King Ferdinand did not challenge to himself an authority in any thing or in any respect greater than that whereunto he had admitted this his beloved Wife Bajazet the first after the great victory obtain'd against him by Tamberlain to his other great misfortunes and disgraces had this one added of having his beautiful Wife Despina whom he dearly loved to fall into the hands of the Conquerour whose ignominious and undecent treatment before the eyes of her Husband was a matter of more dishonour and sorrow than all the rest of his afflictions for when he beheld this he resolved to live no longer but knock'd out his Brains against the iron bars of that Cage wherein he was enclosed 13. Dion was driven from Sicily into Exile by Dionysius but his Wife Aristomache was detained and by him was compelled to marry with Polycrates one of his beloved Courtiers Dion afrerwards return'd took Syracuse and expelled Dionysius his Sister Arete came and spoke to him his Wife Aristomache stood behind her but conscious to her self in what manner she had wrong'd his Bed shame would not permit her to speak His Sister Arete then pleaded her cause and told her Brother that what his Wife had done she was enforced to by necessity and the Command of Dionysius whereupon the kind Husband received her to his House as before Meleager challenged to himself the chief glory and honour of slaying the Calidonian Boar but this being denied him he sate in his Chamber so angry and discontented that when the Curetes were assaulting the City where he lived he would not stir out to lend his Citizens the least of his assistance The Elders Magistrates the chief of the City and the Priests came to him with their humble supplications but he would not move they propounded a great reward he despised at once both it and them His Father Oenaeus came to him and embracing his knees sought to make him relent but all in vain His Mother came and try'd all ways but was refused his Sisters and his most familiar friends were sent to him and begg'd he would not forsake them in their last extremity but neither this way was his fierce mind to be wrought upon In the mean time the enemy had broken into the City and then came his wife Cleopatra trembling O my dearest Love said she help us or we are lost the Enemy is already entred The Hero was moved with this voice alone and rous'd himself at the apprehension of the danger of his beloved Wife He arm'd himself went forth and left not till he had repulsed the Enemy and put the City in its wonted safety and security CHAP. VIII Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands THough the Female be the weaker Sex yet some have so superseded the fidelity of their nature by an incredible strength of affection that being born up with that they have oftentimes performed as great things as we could expect from the courage and constancy of the most generous amongst men They have despised death let it appear to them in what shape it would and made all sorts of difficulties give way before the force of that invincible Love which seemed proud to shew it self most strong in the greatest extremity of their Husbands 1. The Prince of the Province of Fingo in the Empire of Iapan hearing that a Gentleman of the Country had a very beautiful woman to his Wife got him dispatch'd and having sent for the widow some days after her Husbands death acquainted her with his desires She told him she had much reason to think her self happy in being honour'd with the friendship of so great a Prince yet she was resolved to bite off her Tongue and murther her self if he proffer'd her any violence But if he would grant her the favour to spend one Month in bewailing her Husband and then give her the liberty to make an entertainment for the Relations of the deceased to take her leave of them he should find how much she was his servant and how far she would comply with his Affections It was easily granted a very great dinner was provided whither came all the kinred of the deceased
with some pleasure in the perusal of them 1. Charles the Great was so great a Lover of his Sons and Daughters that he never dined or supped without them he went no whither upon any journey but he took them along with him and when he was asked why he did not marry his Daughters and send his children abroad to see the world his reply was That he was not able to bear their absence 2. Nero Domitius the Son of Domitius Aenobarbus and Agrippina by the subtlety of his Mother obtained the Empire She once enquired of the Chaldeans if her Son should reign they told her that they had found he should but that withal he should be the death of his Mother Occidat modo imperet said she let him kill me provided he live to be Emperour And she had her wish 3. Solon was a person famous throughout all Grecce as having given Laws to the Athenians being in his Travels came to Miletum to converse with Thales who was one of the seven wise men of Greece these two walking together upon the Market place one comes to Solon and told him that his Son was dead aâ—flicted with this unexpected as well as unwelcome news he fell to tearing of his Beard Hair and Cloaths and fouling of his face in the dust immediately a mighty conâ—lux of people was about him whom he entertained with howlings and tears when he had lain long upon the ground and delivered himself up to all manner of expressions of grief unworthy the person he sustain'd so renowned for gravity and wisdom Thales bade him be of good courage for the whole was but a contrivance of his who by this artifice had desired to make experiment whether it was convenient for a wise man to marry and have children as he had pressed them to do bur that now he was sufficiently satisfied it was no way conducible seeing he perceived that the loss of a child might occasion a person famous for wisdom to discover all the signs of a mad man 4. Seleucus King of Syria was inform'd by Erasistratus his Physician that his Son Antiochus his languishment proceeded from a vehement love he had taken to the Queen Stratonice his beautiful and beloved Wife and that his modest suppression of this secret which he had found out by his art was like to cost the life of the young Prince The tender and indulgent Father resigned her up unto his Son by a marvellous example overcoming himself to consult the life and contentment of his Son 5. M. Tullius Cicero was so great a Lover of his Daughter Tulliola that when she was dead he laboured with great anxiety and his utmost endeavour to consecrate her memory to posterity he says he would take care that by all the monuments of the most excellent wits both of Greek and Latine she would be reputed a Goddess how solicitously doth he write to Atticus that a piece of ground should be purchased in some eminent place wherein he might cause a Temple to be erected and dedicated to Tulliola He also wrote two Books concerning the death of his Daughter wherein it is probable that he made use of all that riches of wit and eloquence wherein he was so great a master to perswade the people that Tulliola was a Goddess 6. The elder Cato was never so taken up with employment in any aâ—â—air whatsoever but that he would always be present at the washing of his Son Cato who was but newly born and when he came to such age as to be capable of Learning he would not suffer him to have any other Master besides himself Being advised to resign up his Son to the Tutorage of some learned servant he said he could not bear it that a servant should pull his Son by the ears nor that his Son should be indebted for his Learning and Education to any besides himself 7. Agesilaus was above measure indulgent to his children the Spartans reproached him that for love of his Son Archidamus he had concerned himself so far as to impede a just judgment and by his intercession for the Malefactors had involv'd the City in the guilt of being injurious to Greece He used also at home to ride upon the Hobby-horse with his little children and being once by a friend of his found so doing he entreated him not to discover that act of his to any man till such time as he himself was become the Father of Children 8. Antigonus resented not the Debauches Luxury and drunken Bouts of his Son Demetrius to which that Prince in times of peace was overmuch addicted though in time of war he carried himself with much sobriety When the publick fame went that Demetrius was highly enamoured of Lamia the Courtisan and that at his return from abroad he kissed his Father What said Antigonus you think you are kissing of Lamia Another time when he had spent many days in drinking and pretended he was much troubled with Rheum I have heard as much said Antigonus but is it Thasian or Chian Rheum Having heard that his Son was ill he went to visit him and met with a beautiful Boy at the door being entred the Chamber and sate down he felt of his pulse and when Demetrius said that his Feaver had newly left him Not unlike Son said he for I met it going out at the door just as I came hither Thus gently he dealt with him in all these his miscarriages in consideration of divers other excellent qualities he was master of 9. Syrophanes a rich Aegyptian so doted on a Son of his yet living that he kept the Image of him in his House and if it so fell out that any of the servants had displeased their Master thither they were to flie as to a Sanctuary and adorning that Image with Flowers and Garlands they that way recovered the favour of their Master 10. Artobarzanes resign'd the Kingdom of Cappadocia to his Son in the presence of Pompey the Great the Father had ascended the Tribunal of Pompey and was invited to sit with him in the Curule Seat but as soon as he observ'd his Son to sit with the Secretary in a lower place than his fortune deserved he could not endure to see him placed below himself but descending from his Seat he placed the Diadem upon his Sons head and bade him go and sit in that place from whence he was lately risen tears fell from the eyes of the young man his body trembled the Diadem fell â—rom his head nor could he endure to go thither where he was commanded And which is almost beyond all credit he was glad who gave up his Crown and he was sorrowful to whom it was given nor had this glorious strife come to any end unless Pompeys authority had joyned it self to the Father's will for he pronounced the Son a King commanded him to take the Diadem and compelled him to sit with him in the Curule Seat 11. Mahomet
to be erected to piety 13. Nicholaus Damascenus assures us that the Pisidians used to present the First Fruits of all the Viands of a Feast to their Fathers and Mothers esteeming it an unworthy thing to take a plentiful refection without due honours â—irst done to the authors of life 14. Martius Coriolanus having well deserved of the Common-wealth was yet unjustly condemned whereupon he sled to the Volsci at that time in Arms against Rome followed with an Army of these he streight rendred himself very formidable to the Romans Embassadors were sent to appease him but to no purpose the Priests met him with entreaties in their Pontisical Vestments but were also returned without effect The Senate was astonished the people trembled as well the men as the women bewailed the destruction that was now sure to â—all upon them Then Volumnia the Mother of Corolianus taking Velumnia his wife along with her and also his Children went to the Camp of the Volsci whom as soon as the Son saw as one that was an entire Lover of his Mother he made hast to embrace her She angrily said â—irst let me know before I suffer my self to be embraced by you whether I am come to a Son or an Enemy and whether I am a Captive or a Mother in your Camp and much she said after this manner with tears in her eyes He moved with the tears of his Mother Wife and Children embracing his Mother You have conquer'd said he and my Country hath overcome my just anger prevailed with by her entreaties in whose womb I was conceiv'd and so he freed the Roman fields and the Romans themselves from the sight and fear of those enemies he had led against them Livy calls Veluria the Mother and Volumnia the Wife of Corolianus 15. Marcus Cotta upon that very day that he came to age and was permitted to take upon him the Virile Gown forthwith as soon as he descended from the Capitol he accused C. Carbo by whom his Father had been condemned and having proved him guilty had him condemned Thus happily and by a gallant action he began his manhood and gave proof of his eloquence and wit 16. M. Pomponius Tribune of the people accused L. Manlius the Son of Aulus who had been Dictator for that he had added a few days wherein he continued his Dictatorship as also for that he had banished his Son Titus from the society of men and commanded him to live in the Country which when the young man heard he got to Rome by break of day and to the house of Pomponius It was told him that Manlius was there and he supposing the angry young man had brought him something against his Father rose from his bed and putting all out of the Room sent for the young man to him But he as soon as entred drew his Sword and swore he would kill him immediately unless he would give him oath that he would cease to accuse his Father Pomponius compelled by this terror gave his oath assembled the people and then told them upon what account it was requsite for him to desist from his accusation Piety to mild Parents is commendable but Manlius in this his action so much the more that having a severe Parent he had no invitation from his indulgence but only from his natural affection to hazard himself in his behalf In the Civil Wars betwixt Octavianus and Antonius as it often falls out that Fathers and Sons and Brothers and Brothers take contrary parts so in that last Battle at Actium where Octavianus was the Victor when the Prisoners as the custom is were counted up Metellus was brought to Octavianus whose face though much chang'd by anxiety and a Prison was known to Metellus his Son who had been on the contrary part With Tears therefore he runs into the embraces of his Father and then turning to Octavianus This thy enemy said he hath deserved death but I am worthy of some reward for the service I have done thee I therefore beseech thee instead of that which is owing me that thou wouldst preserve this man and cause me to be killed in his stead Octavianus mov'd with this piety though a great enemy gave unto the Son the life of the Father 18. Demetrius the King of Asia and Macedonia was taken Prisoner in battle by Seleucus King of Syria Antigonus his Son was the quiet Possessor of the Kingdom yet did he change the Royal Purple into a mourning habit and in continual tears sent abroad his Embassadors to the neighbouring Kings that they would interpose in his Fathers behalf for the obtaining of his liberty He also sent to Seleucus and promised him the Kingdom and himself as a hostage if he would free his Father from Prison After he knew that his Father was dead he set forth a great Navy and went forth to receive the body of the deceased which by Seleucus was sent towards Macedonia He received it with such mournful solemnity and so many tears as turned all men into wonder and compassion Antigonus stood in the Poop of a great Ship built for that purpose cloathed in black bewailing his dead Father The ashes were inclosed in a Golden Urn over which he stood a continual and disconsolate spectator He caused to be â—ung the virtues and noble Atchievements of the deceased Prince with voices form'd to piety and lamentation The Rowers also in the Gallies so order'd the stroaks of their Oars that they kept time with the mournful voices of the other In this manner the Navy came near to Corinth so that the Rocks and Shores themselves seemed to be moved unto mourning 19. Opius a Citizen of Rome was proscribed by the Trium-Virate and whereas he was infeebled by old Age and had a Son who might without danger have remained at home yet the Son chose rather with the hazard of his own life to deliver his Father out of the present danger he was in He therefore took him upon his Shoulders and with great labour carried him out of the City where he lay concealed under the habit of a Beggar At last he got with him safe into Sicily where Sextus Pompeius received all the Proscribed It was not long e're for this singular piety he had shewed to his father the people of Rome were mov'd to recal him and restore him to his Country where upon his return he was by them also created Aedile in which magistracy when through the seisure of his goods he had not wherewithal to set forth the publick plays that he might not want the accustomed honour the Artificers for the Theatre gave him their work gratis and that nothing might be lacking for the furniture of the Plays the whole people of Rome threw him in so largely that not only there was sufficient preparation for all things but also he was thereby exceedingly inriched and highly commended for his piety 20. Miltiades for an expedition he had not so advisedly
answer that the Bayliff was a rich man which the King not knowing how to believe considering the wretched Country his House was seated in he immediately sent for him and said unto him these words Come on Bayliff and tell me why you did not build your fine House in some place where the Country was good and fertile Sir answered the Bayliff I was born in this Country and find it very good for me Are you so rich said the King as they tell me you are I am not poor replyed the other I have blessed be God wherewithal to live The King then asked him how it was possible he should grow so rich in so pitiful a barren Country Why very easily replyed the Bayliff Tell me which way then said the King Marry Sir replyed the other because I have ever had more care to do my own business than that of my Masters or my Neighbours The Devil refuse me said the King for that was always his oath thy reason is very good for doing so and rising betimes thou couldst not chuse but thrive CHAP. XIII Of the Faithfulness of some men to their engagement and trust reposed in them THe Syrians were looked upon as men of no faith not fit to be trusted by any man and that besides their curiosity in keeping their Gardens they had scarce any thing in them that was commendable The Greeks also laboured under this imputation of being as false as they were luxurious and voluptuous It is strange that those who were so covetous after all other kinds of improvement in learning and knowledge should in the mean time neglect that which sets a fuller value upon man than a thousand other accomplishments I mean his fidelity to his promise and trust 1. Those of Iapan are very punctual in the performance of what they have promised those who desire their protection or assistance For no Iaponese but will promise it any one that desires it of him and spend his life for the person who hath desired him to do it and this without any consideration of his family or the misery whereto his Wife and Children may be thereby reduced hence it comes that it is never seen a malefactor will betray or discover his complices But on the contrary there are infinite examples of such who have chosen rather to dye with the greatest torment imaginable than bring their complices into any inconvenience by their confession 2. Micithus Servant to Anaxilaus Tyrant of the Rhegini was left by his dying Master to govern his Kingdom and children during their minority In the time of this his Viceroy-ship he behaved himself with that clemency and justice that the people saw themselves govern'd by a person of quality neither unmeet to rule nor too mean for the place yet when his children were come to age he resign'd over his power into their hands and therewithal the treasures by his providence he had heaped up accounting himself but their steward As for his part he was content with a small pittance with which he retired to Olympia and there lived very privately but with great content respect and serenity 3. Henry King of Arragon and Sicily was deceas'd and left Iohn his Son a child of twenty two months age behind him entrusted to the care and fidelity of Ferdinand the Brother of the deceased King and Uncle to the Infant He was a man of great vertue and merit and therefore the eyes of the nobles and people were upon him and not only in private discourses but in the publick assembly he had the general voice and mutual consent to be chosen King of Arragon But he was deaf to these proffers alledged the right of his infant Nephew and the custom of the Country which they were bound the rather to maintain by how much the weaker the young Prince was to do it He could not prevail yet the assembly was adjourn'd for that time They meet again in hopes that having had time to consider of it he would now accept it who not ignorant of their purpose had caused the little Child to be clothed in Royal Robes and having hid him under his Garment went and sate in the Assembly There Paralus Master of the Horse by common consent did again ask him Whom O Ferdinand is it your pleasure to have declared our King He with a sharp look and tone replied Whom but John the Son of my Brother and withal took forth the Child from under his Robe and lifting him upon his shoulders cryed out God save King John commanded the Banners to be displayed cast himself first to the ground before him and then all the rest moved by his example did the like 4. King Iohn had left Hubert Burgh Governour of Dover Castle and when King Lewis of France came to take the Town and found it difficult to be taken by force he sent to Hubert whose Brother Thomas he had taken Prisoner a little before that unless he would surrender the Castle he should presently see his Brother Thomas put to death with exquisite torments before his eyes But this threatning mov'd not Hubâ—rt at all who more regarded his own loyalty than his Brothers life Then Prince Lewis sent again offering him a great sum of money neither did this move him but he kept his loyalty as inexpugnable as his Castle 5. Boges the Persian was besieged in the City Etona by Cimon Son of Miltiades the General of the Athenians and when he was proffered safely to depart into Asia upon delivery of the City he constantly refused it lest he should be thought unfaithful to his Prince Being therefore resolved he bore all the inconveniencies of a Siege till his provisions being now almost utterly spent and seeing there was no way to break forth he made a great fire and cast himself and his whole Family into the Flames of it concluding he had not sufficiently acquitted himself of his trust to his Prince unless he also laid down his life in his cause 6. Licungzus the conductor of the Rebel Thieves had seiz'd the Empire of China taken the Metropolis Peking and upon the death of the Emperour had seated himself in the Imperial Throne He displac'd and imprison'd what great officers he pleased Amongst the rest was one Vs a venerable person whose Son Vsanguâ—jus lead the Army of China in the confines of Leatung against the Tartars The Tyrant threatned this old man with a cruel death if by his paternal power he did not reduce him with his whole Army to the acknowledgment of his power promising great rewards to them both if he should prevail wherefore the poor old man wrote thus to his Son Know my Son that the Emperour Zunchinius and the whole Family of Taimingus are perished the Heavens have cast the fortune of it upon Licungzus we must observe the times and by making a vertue of necessity avoid his Tyranny and experience his liberality He promiseth to thee a Royal dignity if
mind that with so true a generosity had preserved and yielded up the Kingdom to his Nephew 15. Titus Pomponius Atticus a Patrician of Rome would contribute nothing amongst those of his rank to Brutus and Cassius in their war upon Augustus but after that Brutus was forcibly driven from Rome he sent him one hundred thousand Sesterces for a present and took care that he should be furnished with as many more in Epirus contrary to the custom oâ— most other men while Brutus was fortunate he gave him no assistance but after he was expell'd and laboured under adverse fortune he administred to his wants with a bounty to be wondred at 16. Tancred the Norman was in Syria with Boemund his Uncle Prince of Antioch it fortun'd that Boemund was taken Prisoner in a fight with the Infidels Three Years Tancred governed his principality in his behalf in which time having enlarged his Territories and augmented his Treasure with a great sum he ransom'd his Uncle and resign'd up all into his hands 17. Ferdinand King of Leon by the instigation of some slanderous Informers was brought to make war upon Pontius Count of Minerba an old friend of his Fathers and had already taken divers places from him Sanctius the Third King of Castile and Brother to Ferdinand being inform'd hereof gathered a mighty Army and marched out with them against his Brother Ferdinand that least of any thing expected any such matter and terrified with the coming of so sudden and unlook'd for an Enemy mounting his Horse with a few of his followers came into the Camp of his Brother and told him he put himself into his hands to deal with him as he saw good as one whose only hope it was this way to preserve his Kingdom to himself but Sanctius that was a just King and a good Brother despising all the proffers he made him told him that he had not taken up arms for any desire he had to wrest his Kingdom out of his hands and annex it to his own but his sole design was that whatever had been taken away from Count Pontius should be restored him seeing he had been a great friend to their common Parent and had most valorously assisted him against the Moors This was gladly yielded to by Ferdinand and as soon as it was done Sanctius returned to his own Territories 18. Emanuel the first King of Portugal levied a most puissant Army with a design to pass into Africa where victory seemed to attend him when as being upon his march and just ready to transport his Army over those straits which divide Spain and Mauritania the Venetians dispatch Embassadors to intreat succours from him as their Ally against the Turk who had now declared war against them This generous Prince resolutely suspended his hopes of conquest to assist his ancient friends suddenly altered his design and sent his Army entirely to them deferring his enterprise upon Algiers to another season 19. The Venetians had leagu'd themselves with the Turks against the Hungarians they aided them to the ruine of that Kingdom and reduced that Country almost to a desolation and having been the cause of the death of two of their Kings of which the great Hunniades was the last yet notwithstanding seeing themselves afterwards all in flames by the Turks their Allies They sent Ambassadors to Hungary to implore succours from the famous Matthias Corvinus Son to Hunniades who after he had afforded them an honourable Audience and reproach'd them with their unworthy and hateful proceedings did yet grant them the succours which they had sought at his hands 20. Renatus Duke of Lorrain with fire and sword was driven out of his Dukedom by Charles the last Duke of Burgundy afterwards by the help of the Swissers he overcame and slew in Battel him from whom he had received so great a calamity With great industry he sought out the body of Charles amongst the multitude of the slain not to savage upon his Corps or to expose it to mockery but to bury it as he did at S. Georges in the Town of Nancy he and his whole Court followed it in mourning with as many Priests and Torches as could be procured discovering as many signs of grief at the funeral of his enemy as if it had been that of his own Father CHAP. XVI Of the Frugality and Thriftiness of some men in their Apparel Furniture and other things THe Kings of India used to dry the bodies of their Ancestors which done they caused them to be hung up at the Roof of their Palace in precious Cords they adorned them with Gold and Jewels of all sorts and so preserved them with a care and reverence little short of veneration it self of the like ridiculous superstition are they guilty who make over-careful and costly provisions for those bodies of theirs which will ere long be breathless and stinking carkasses They are usually souls of an over delicate and voluptuous constitution and temper that are so delighted with this kind of luxury whereas the most worthy men and persons of the greatest improvements by reason and experience have expressed such a moderation herein as may almost seem a kind of carelesness and neglect of themselves 1. Of Lewis the Eleventh King of France there is found in the Chamber of Accounts Anno 1461. Two Shillings for Fustian to new Sleeve his Majesties old Doublet and Three Half-Pence for Liquor to grease his Boots I chuse rather to call it his Frugality than Covetousness in as much as no man was more liberal of his Coin than himself where occasion did require as Comine who wrote his History and was also of his Council doth frequently witness 2. Charles the Fifth Emperour of Germany was very frugal especially once being to make a Royal Entrance into the City of Millain there was great preparation for his entertainment the Houses and Streets were beautified and adorned The Citizens dress'd in their richest Ornaments a golden Canopy was prepared to be carried over his head and great expectation there was to see a great and glorious Emperour But when he entred the City he came in a plain Black Cloth Cloak with an old Hat on his Head so that they who saw him not believing their eyes asked which was he laughing at themselves for being so deceived in their expectations 3. The meanness of the Emperour Augustus his furniture and houshold stuff doth appear to this day in the Beds and Tables that are left the most of which are scarce so costly as those of a private person It is said he used not to lye in any bed but such as was low and moderately covered and for his wearing Apparel it was rarely any other than such as was home spun and such as was made up by his Wife Sister Daughter and Grand-Children 4. Though the Ornament of the Body is almost a peculiarity to the Female Sex yet not only one woman but the whole family of
wealth as of the burthen he had in a Daughter ripe for marriage and willing enough but blemished with many deformities She was saith the History but half a woman a body mishapen limping and blear-eyed a Face disfigured and besides she had the Falling-sickness with horrible Convulsions Nevertheless this noble heart said unto him trouble not your self about the marriage of your Daughter for I will be her Husband The other astonished at such goodness God forbid said he that I should lay such a burden upon you No no replyed the other she shall be mine And instantly he married her making great Feasts at the Nuptials being married he honoureth her with much regard and makes it his Glory to shew her in the best company as a Trophy of his Friendship In the end she brought him a Son who restored his Grandfather to his Estate and was the honour of his Family 2. At Rome saith Camerarius there are to be be seen these Verses engraven about an Urn. D. D. S. Vrna brevis geminum quamvis tenet ista cadaver Attamen in Coelo spiritus unus adest Viximus unanimes Luciusque Flavius idem Sensus amor studium vita duobus erat Though both our ashes this Vrn doth enclose Yet as one Soul in Heaven we repose Lucius and Flavius living were one mind One will love and to one course enclin'd 3. Damon and Pythias two Pythagorean Philosophers had betwixt them so firm a friendship that when Dionysius the Tyrant of Syracuse had resolv'd the death of one of them and that he only besought he might have liberty first to go home and set his affairs in order the other doubted not to be surety in the mean time to the Tyrant for his return The Tyrant granted it intent upon what this new and strange action would come to in the event a day had passed and he came not then all began to condemn the rashness of the surety but he told them he doubted not of the constancy of his Friend At the same hour as was agreed with Dionysius came he that was condemned thereby freeing the other The Tyrant admiring the courage and fidelity of them both remitted the punishment and entreated that he himself might be admitted as a third person into the society of â—o admirable a Friendship 4. Pylades and Orestes were famous of old for their friendship Orestes being very desirous to ease himself of that grief which he had conceived for the death of his Motherâ— consulted the Oracle and understood thereby that he should forthwith take the way to the Temple of Diana in the Country of Taurica thither he went in the company of Pylades his friend Now it was the cruel custom of Thoas the then King of that Country to put to death every Tenth Stranger that came into his Dominions This unfortunate Lot fell upon Orestes the King at last asked which was that Orestes Pylades readily stepped forth and told him he was the man who had that name Orestes denyed it he again affirm'd so that the King was in doubt which of them he should kill 5. Eudamidas the Corinthian had Aretaeâ—s the Corinthian and Charixenus the Sycionian for his friends they were both rich whereas he was exceeding poor he departing this life left a will ridiculous perhaps to some wherein was thus written I give and bequeath to Aretaeus my Mother to be kept and foster'd in her Old Age as also my Daughter to Charixenus to be married with a Dowry as great as he can afferd but if any thing in the mean time fall out to any of these men my Will is that the other shall perform that which he should have done had he lived This Testament being read they who knew the poverty of Eudamidas but not his friendship with these men accounted of it all as mere jest and sport no man that was present but departed laughing at the Legacies which Aretaeus and Charixenus were to receive But those whose the Bequests were as soon as they heard of it came forthwith acknowledging and ratifying what was commanded in the Will Charixenus died within five days after Aretaeus his excellent Successor took upon him borh the one and the others charge kept the Mother of Eudamidas and soon as might be disposed of his Daughter in marriage of five Talents which his estate amounted to two of them he gave in Dowry with his own Daughter and two more with the Daughter of his Friend and would needs have their Nuptials solemnized in one and the same day 6. Alexander the Great was so true a Lover of Ephestion that in his life time he had him always near him made him acquainted with the nearest and weightiest of his secrets and when he was dead bewailed him with inconsolable tears he hanged up Glaucus his Physician for being absent when he took that which hastened his end In token of heavy Mourning he caused the Battlements of City Walls to be pulled down and the Manes of Mules and Horses to be cut off he bestowed ten thousand Talents upon his Funerals and that he might not want Attendants to wait upon him in the other world he caused some thousands of men to be slain even the whole Cussean Nation at once 7. Pelopidas and Epaminondas were singularly noted and commended for the perfect love and friendship that was ever inviolably kept betwixt them to the day of their deaths They went both together to Mantinea in assistance of the Lacedemonians then in league with the Thebans their place in Battel fell near together for they were appointed to oppose the Arcadians and to fight on foot It fell out that the Spartan wing wherein they were was enforced to retreat and some â—led outright but those two gallant young spirits were resolved to prefer death before slight and so standing close together with great courage they sustained the many enemies that came upon them till such time as Pelopidas having received seven dangerous wounds fell upon a heap of dead bodies Here it was that the brave Epaminondas though he thought he was slain stept before him defended his body and armour with invincible courage and resolution at last he was thrust through the Breast with a Pike and receiving a deep wound with a Sword on his Arm he was ready to sink when Agesipolis King of Sparta came in with the other wing and saved the lives of these incomparable friends 8. Lucilius was one of the friends of Brutus and a good man he when Brutus was overthrown at Philippi perceiving a Troop of the Barbarians careless in the pursuit of others but with loose Reins following hard after Brutus resolved to take off their eagerness with the hazard of his own life and being left somewhat behind he told them that he was Brutus They gave the more credit to him because he desired to be presented to Anthony as if he feared Caesar and reposed some confidence in the other They glad of
Thus a true and holy humility was the constant Collyrium that this devout person made use of 9. When Robert the Norman had refused the Kingdom of Ierusalem the Princes proceeded to make a second choice and that they might know the nature of the Princes the better their servants were examined upon oath to confess their Masters faults The Servants of Godfrey of Bouillon protested their Masters only â—ault was this that when Mattins were done he would stay so long in the Church to know of the Priest the meaning of every Image and Picture that Dinner at home was spoiled by his long tarrying All admired hereat that this mans worst vice should be so great a virtue and unanimously chose him their King He accepted the place but refused the solemnity thereof saying that he would not wear a Crown of Gold there where the Saviour of Mankind had worn a Crown of Thorns 10. Upon the death of Pope Paul the Third the Cardinals being divided about the Election the imperial part which was the greatest gave their voice for Cardinal Pool which being told him he disabled himself and wished them to chuse one that might be most for the Glory of God and good of the Church Upon this stop some that were no friends to Pool and perhaps looked for the place themselves if he were put off laid many things to his charge amongst other that he was not without suspicion of Lutheranism nor without blemish of incontinence but he cleared himself so handsomly that he was now more importan'd to take the place than before and therefore one night the Cardinals came to him being in bed and sent him in word that they came to adore him a circumstance of the new Popes honour but he being awaked out of his sleep and acquainted with it made answer That this was not a work of darkness and therefore required them to forbear till next day and then do as God should put it into their minds But the Italian Cardinals attributing this his humility to a kind of stupidity and sloth in Pool looked no more after him but the next day chose Cardinal Montanus Pope who was afterwards named Iulius the Third I have read of many that would have been Popes but could not I write this man one that could have been Pope but would not 11. Vlpius Trajanus the Emperour was a person of that rare affability and humility that when his Soldiers were wounded in any Battle he himself would go from Tent to Tent to visit and take care of them and when swaths and other cloaths were wanting wherewithal to bind up their wounds he did not spare his own Linnen but tare them in pieces to make things necessary for the wounds of his Soldiers And being reproved for his too much familiarity with his subjects he answered that he desired to be such an Emperour to his subjects as he would wish if he himself was a private man CHAP. XXV Of Counsel and the Wisdom of some men therein NO man they say is wise at all hours at least there are some hours wherein few are wise enough to give such counsel to themselves as the present emergency of their affairs may require Being dulled by calamity our inventions are too barren to yield us the means of our safety or else by precipitancy or partiality we are apt to miscarry in the conduct of our own business In this case a cordial friend is of singular use and if wise as well as faithful may stand us in as much stead as if the Oracle of Apollo was yet in being to be consulted with 1. A certain Chaquen that is a Visiter of a Province in China one of the most important employments in the Kingdom receiving of his visits after a few days were over shut up his Gates and refused to admit any further their visits or business pretending for his excuse that he was sick This being divulged a certain Mandarine a friend of his began to be much troubled at it and with much ado obtained leave to speak with him Being admitted he gave him notice of the discontent in the City by reason that businesses were not dispatch'd the other put him off with the same excuse of his sickness I see no signs of it replied his friend but if your Lordship will be pleased to tell me the true cause I will serve you in it to the utmost of my power conformable to that affection I bear you in my heart Know then replied the Visiter they have stoln the Kings Seal out of the Cabinet where it used to be kept leaving it lock'd as if it had not been touched so that if I would give audience I have not wherewithal to seal dispatches If I discover my negligence in the loss of the Seal I shall as you know loose both my Government and my life Well perceived the Mandarine how terrible the cause of his retirement was but presently making use of the quickness of his wit asked him if he had never an enemy in that City He answered yes and that it was the chief Officer in the City that is the Chief or Governour who of a long time had born him a secret grudge Away then quoth the Mandarine in great hast let your Lordship command that all your goods of worth be removed into the innermost part of the Palace let them set fire on the empty part and call out for help to quench it To which the Governour must of necessity repair with the first it being one of the principal duties of his office As soon as you see him amongst the people call out aloud to him and consign to him the Cabinet thus shut as it is that it may be secured in his possession from the danger of the fire for if it be he who hath caused the Seal to be stoln he will put it in its place again when he restores you the Cabinet if it be not he your Lordship shall lay the fault on him for having so ill kept it and so you shall not only be freed of this danger but also revenged of your enemy The Visiter followed his Counsel and it succeeded so well that the next morning after the night this fire was the Governour brought him the Seal in the Cabinet both of them concealing each others fault equally complying for the safety of both 2. Edwaerd Norgate was very judicious in Pictures for which purpose he was imployed into Italy to purchase some of the choicer for the Earl of Arundel Returning by Marsellis be missed the money he expected and being there unknowing of or unknown to any he was observed by a French Gentleman to walk in the Exâ—hange as I may call it of that City many hours every Morning and Evening with swift feet and sad face forwards and backwards To him the Civil Mounsieur addressed himself desiring to know the cause of his discontent and if it came within the compass of his power he promised
that from thence forward he would never make Edict that should not be just and Equitable 10 Spitigneus the second Prince of Bohemia riding on the way there met him a Widow imploring his Justice the Prince Commands her to expect his return she alleges that this delay would prove dangerous to her for that she was to make her appearance the very next hour or else to forfeit her Bond. The Prince refers the Woman to others that were his Ordinary Judges but she cry'd out that he himself and not others was the Judge whom God had appointed her upon which he alighted from his horse and with great patience attended the hearing of the poor Womans cause for the space of two hours together 11. Mahomet the second of that name Emperor of the Turks had a Son called Mustapha whom he had design'd to succeed him in the Empire otherwise a good Prince but prone to lust The Young Prince was fallen in love with Achmet Bassa his Wife a Woman of Excellent Beauty He had long endeavored to prevail with her by all sorts of allurements but this way not succeeding he would try by surprize He had gained knowledge of the time when the Woman went to Bath her self as the Turks often do he soon followed her with a few of his retinue and their seised her naked as she was and in despite of all the resistance she could make had his will upon her She tells her husband he the Emperor and desires his Justice The Emperor at first seemed to take small notice of it and soon after though he had different sentiments within he rated the Bassa with sharp Language What says he dost thou think it meet to complain thus grievously of my Son knowest thou not that both thy self and that wife of thine are my slaves and accordingly at my dispose If therefore my Son has embraced her and followed the inclinations of his mind he has embraced but a slave of mine and having my approbation he hath committed no fault at all think of this and go thy way and leave the rest to my self This he said in defence of his absolute Empire but ill satisfied in his mind and vex'd at the thing he first sends for his Son examines him touching the fact and he having confessed it he dismissed him with outragious Language and threats three days after when Paternal Love to his Son and Justice had striven in his brest Love to Justice having gained the superiority and victory he commanded his Mutes to strangle his Son Mustapha with a Bow-string that by his death he might make amends to injured and violated Chastity 12. Herkenbald a man Mighty Noble and Famous had no respect of Persons in Judgment but condemned and punished with as great severity the Rich and his own kindred as the Poor and those whom he knew least in the world Being once very sick and keeping his bed he heard a great bustle in a Chamber next to that wherein he lay and withal a Woman crying and shricking out He enquired of his servants what the matter was but they all concealed the truth from him at last one of his Pages being severely threatned by him and told that he would cause one to pull out his eyes from his head if he did not tell him plainly what all that stir was told him in few words My Lord said he Your Nephew hath ravish'd a Maid and that was the noise you heard The fact being examined and throughly averred Herkenbald condemned his dear Nephew to be hang'd till he should be dead But the Seneshall who had the charge to execute the sentence seeming as if he had been very hot and forward to do it went presently and gave the young man notice of all that passed wishing him to keep out of the way for a while and some few hours after comes agrin to the sick person assuring him against all truth that he had put his Sentence in execution About five days after the young Gentleman thinking his Unkle had forgotten all came and peeped in at his Chamber door The Unkle having spyed him calls him by his name and with fair words tols him to his bed's head till he was within his reach and then suddainly catching him by the locks with the leâ—t hand and pulling him forcibly to him with his right-hand he gave him such a ready blow into the throat with a knife that he dyed instantly So great was the Zeal which this Noble Man bare to Justice 13. The Emperor Otho the first being upon a Military Expedition a woman threw her self at his feet beseeching a just Revenge according to the Laws upon a person who had committed a Rape upon her The Emperor being in haste reâ—erred the hearing of her Cause till his Return But who then replyed the woman shall recal into your Majesty's mind the horrid injury that hath been done to me The Emperor looking up to a Church there by This said he shall be a witness betwixt thee and me that I will do thee justice and so dismissing her he with his Retinue set forward At his Return seeing the Church he called to mind the complaint and caused the woman to be summoned who at her appearance thus bespake him Dreâ—d Soveraign the man of whom I heretofore complained is now my Husband I have since had a child by him and have forgiven him the injury Not so said the Emperor by the beard of Otho he shall suffer for it for a collusion amongst your selves does not make void the Laws And so caused his head to be struck off 14. In the Reign of Constantius Acindinus the Prefect of Antiocâ— had a certain person under custody for a pound of Gold to be paid into the Exchequer threatning him that in case he paid it not at a certain day he should die the death The man knew not where to have it and now the fatal day drew near He had a beautiful Wife to whom a rich man in the City sent word that for a nights lodging he would pay in the Gold She acquaints her Husband who for the safety of his life readily gave leave she renders her self up to the rich man who at her departure gave her only a pound of Earth tyed up in a bag instead of the promised Gold She enraged at her injury together with this super-added fraud complains to the Prefect and declares to him the truth of the whole who finding that his threats of her Husband had brought her to these extremities pronounced Sentence on this manner The pound of Gold shall be paid out of the Goods of Acindinus the Prisoner shall be free and the woman shall be put into possession of that Land from whence she received Earth instead of Gold 15. Chabot was Admiral to King Francis the first a man most nobly descended and of great Service and in high favour with his Prince but as in other men the passion of Love grows cold and
wears out by time so the 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
himself to the Study of Philosophy save only that leisure he had afforded him by a Disease that retained him in his house for whereas he was by that detained from the management of State Affairs he was thereby in a manner compelled to the Love and Study of Wisdom 12. Straton the Son of Corragus may seem to have fallen sick to his own good fortune and advantage for whereas he was descended of an Illustrious Family and abounded with Wealth yet he never used any exercise of his body till such time as he found himself to be afflicted with the Spleen Then he was put upon it to seek a remedy by Wrastling and other Exercises of the body And whereas at first he made use of these for the recovery of his health afterwards having attained to great perfection and proâ—iciency in bodily Exercises and intending to give some evidence thereof in one day he overcame at Wrastling and Whorlbats in the Olympick Games He also was Victor in the next Olympiade and so was he too in the Nemean Isthmian and Pythian Games 13. Philip King of Macedon was used to say that he took himself much beholden and bound unto the Athenian Orators for that by whetting their tongues and by giving out opprobrious and slanderous words against him they were the means to make him a better man both in word and deed For said he I strain my self and every day do my best endeavour as well in my sayings as doings â—e prove them lyars 14. Antigonus once in Winter time was driven to encamp in a place destitute of all provisions necessary for the life of Man by occasion whereof certain Soldiers not knowing that he was so nigh unto them spake very presumptuously of him and reviled him to purpose â—ut he opening the Cloth or Curtain of his Pavilion with his walking Staff If said he you go not further off to rail at me I will make you to repent it and so withdrew himself 15. Diogenes his hap was to be banished and driven out of his own Country yet this Exile of his was so far from proving evil to him that it was the chiefest occasion of his improvement as being thereby after a sort thrust upon and compelled to the Study and Profession of Philosophy 16. Zeno the Citiaean had but one small Ship left him and hearing news that both it and all therein was cast away drowned and perished in the midst of the Seas O Fortune said he thou hast done well to drive us again to put on the poor and simple habit of a Scholar and to send us back unto our Porch and School of Philosophy By these losses of his he was afterwards so great a gainer through his improvement in Philosophy that few if any of his time had a greater Reputation than he for Learning and Integrity so that when he died King Antigonus the Second who esteemed him above all other Philosophers said of him that the Theatre of his noble and glorious Acts was taken away for he desired that this man might above all others be the Spectator and Approver oâ— his Acts. CHAP. XXXIII Of the willingness of some Men to forgive Injuries received WHen Aristotle was asked what grew old soonest and what latest Beneâ—its said he and Injuries The wise Philosopher well understood that we are apt â—oon to forget a good turn but our memories are wonderful tenacious of any wrong or injury that we conceive hath been done to us Most men write down the one in Sand where every blast of Wind obliterates the Record but the other they take care to have engraven upon leaves of Adamant in Characters that scarce Time it self is able to deface The Heroes hereafter mentioned were of nobler minds and were doubtless as mindful of Obligations as they were forgetful of Indignities 1. King William the Conqueror seldom remembred Injuries after Submission for Edrick the first that rebelled against him he placed in Office near about him Gospatric who had been a factious man and a plotter of Conspiracies against him he made Earl of Glocester and trusted him with managing a War against Malcolme King of the Scots Eustace Earl of Boleyne who in the King's absence in Normandy attempted to seize upon Dover Castle he received after into great savour and respect Edgar who as next Heir to the Saxon Kings had often attempted by Arms to recover his right he not only after twice defection pardoned but gave him also an Allowance as a Prince Only Waltheof Earl of Northumberland and Northampton of all the English Nobility was put to death in all the time of the Kings Reign and not he neither till he had twice falsified his Oath of Allegiance 2. Doctor Cranmers gentleness in pardoning wrongs was so great that it grew into a Proverb do my Lord of Canterbury a shrewd turn and then you shall be sure to have him your friend while he lives 3. Augustus Caesar having taken Lucius Cinna the Nephew of Cn. Pompeius in Arms against him not only gave him his life but as a particular instance of his love restored him his estate entire This man was afterwards found in a conspiracy against him and being convicted of it he again gave him his life upon this condition that he might say I have hereâ—ofore pardoned thee as an enemy now I do the like to thee as a Traitor and a Parricide From henceforth let there be a friendship begun betwixt us and let us contend together whether I have with greatest sincerity given thee a double pardon or thou hast received it After this he received him into the number of his friends and made him Consul Elect for the year following an honour scarce to be given to them that had fought for the safety of his life much less to such as had sought both openly and privately to deprive him of it 4. Lycurgus had offended the money'd men in Sparta and therefore as he was once in the Forum or Market place there was a part of them that had raised up a faction against him who proceeded to that violence as with clamours and stones to drive him from thence and followed him as he withdrew himself The first in pursuit of him was Alcander a young man and somewhat of a hot and fierce though otherwise of no ill disposition he as Lycurgus turned back to him with his Staff struck out one of his eyes Lycurgus not daunted with the blow but turning to the people shewed his Citizens his face covered with blood and deformed with the loss of one of his eyes This wrought so much of modesty and sorrow in the Assembly that they yielded up Alcander to him and throughly affected with this unhappy acccident they waited upon him home Lycurgus with commendations dismissed them led in Alcander yet neither did or spake a word of ill to him but instead of that disposing otherwise of those that attended his body commanded Alcander to wait
had best to begin with this Fish upon my Trencher at the head or the tail At the head said the Emperour for that is the more noble part Then Sir said the Bishop in the first place renounce you that incestuous marriage you have contracted with Judith The Emperour took this reprehension so well that he dismissed her accordingly 6. Alexander the great having taken a famous Pyrate and being about to condemn him to death asked him Why dost thou trouble the Seas And why said he dost thou trouble the whâ—â—â— world I with one Ship seek my Adventures and therefore am called a Pyrate thou with a great Army warrest against nations and therefore are called an Emperour so that there is no difference betwixt us but in the name Alexander was not displeased with this freedom but in consideration of what he had said he dismissed him without inflicting any punishment upon him 7. Theodosius the Emperour having cruelly slaughtered some thousands of the Thessalonians for some insolency of the Citizens to the Statues of his Wife coming to Millain would have entred the Church to have communicated with other Christians but was resisted and forbid by St. Ambrose in which estate the Emperour stood for eight Months and then with great humility and submission acknowledging his offence was absolved and again received into the Congregation and notwithstanding St. Ambrose had reproved him with great liberty and opposed him with as much resolution yet the good Emperour both obeyed willingly and â—everenced exceedingly that great Prelate 8. There came a young man to Rome who in the opinion of all men exceedingly resembled the Emperor Augustus whereof he being informed sent for him being in presence he asked him if his mother had never been at Rome the stranger answered No but his Father had the Emperor took patiently this sharp reply and sent him away without harm 9. M. Antoninus Pius used to take well the free and facetious speeches of his friends even such as seemed to be uttered with too great a freedom and liberty Coming once to the house of Omulus his friend and beholding there at his entrance divers Columns of Porphyry he enquired whence they were brought Omulus told him that it became him that set his foot into another mans house to be both deaf and dumb he meant he should not be curious and inquisitive The Emperor was delighted with this freedom so far was he from resenting it in such manner as some others would have done 10. Philip King of Macedon with great patience admitted such liberty and freedom in speaking to him He had in one battel taken a considerable number of Prisoners and was himself in person to see them sold in port â—ale As he sate in his Chair his Clothes were turned or tucked up higher then was decent and seemly when one of the Prisoners who was upon sale cry'd unto him Good my Lord I beseech you pardon me and suffer me not to be sold amongst the rest for I am a friend of yours and so was to your Father before you And prethee good fellow said Philip whence grew this great friendship betwixt us and how is it come about Sir said the Prisoner I would gladly give you an account of that privately in your ear Then Philip commanded that he should be brought unto him he thus whispered in his ear Sir I pray you let down your mantle a little lower before for sitting thus in the posture as you do you discover that which were more meeâ— to be unseen Hereupon Philip spake aloud unto his Officers Let this man said he go at liberty for in truth he is one of our good friends and wisheth us well though I either knew it not before or at least had forgotten it 11. Demetrius won the City of Athens by assault before much distressed for lack of Corn but being Master of the Town he caused the whole body of the City to be assembled before him unto whom he declared that he bestow'd upon them freely a great quantity of Grain but in this his speech to the people he chanced to commit an incongruity in Grammar when one of the Citizenâ— set thereby to hear him arose and with a loud voice pronounced that word aright For the correction of this one Solecism said he I give unto thee besides my former gift 5000 Medimnes or measures of Corn more CHAP. XXXV Of the incredible strength of mind wherewith some Persons have supported themselves in the midst of torments and other hardship A Young Gentleman immediately before he was to enter into a battel was observed to be seised with a sudden shaking and shivering all over his body Whereupon one asked him what was the matter My flesh said he trembles at the foresight of those many and great dangers whereinto my resolved and undaunted heart will undoubtedly carry it The strength of some mens hearts hath not only prevailed over the weakness of their flesh but reduced it to a temper capable of enduring as much as if it had been brass or something that if possible is yet more insensible 1. When we were come within sight of the City of Buda there came by the Command of the Bassa some of his family to meet us with divers Chiauses But in the first place a Troop of Young Men on Horseback made us turn our eyes to them because of the Novelty of their Equipage which was thus Upon their bare heads which was in most of them shaven they had cut a long line in the Skin in which wound they had stuck feathers of all kinds and they were dew'd with drops of blood yet dissembling the pain they rode with as much mirth and chearfulness as if they had been void of all sense just before me there walked some on foot one of these went with his naked arms on his side in each of which he carried a knife which he had thrust through them above the Elbow Another walked naked from his Navel upward with the skin of both his loins so cut above and below that he carried a Club stuck therein as if it had hung at his Girdle another had fastned a Horse-shoo with divers Nails upon the Crown of his Head but that was old done the Nails being so grown in with the flesh that the shoo was made fast In this Pomp we entred Buda and was brought into the Bassa's Palace in the Court of which stood these generous contemners of pain as I chanced to cast my eye that way what think you of these men said the Bassa Well said I but that they use their flesh in such manner as I would not use my cloaths as being desirous to keep them whole he smiled and dismissed us 2. Andronicus Comnenus fell alive into the hands of his enemy who having loaden him with injuries and contumelies abandoned the miserable Emperor to the people for the punishment of his perfâ—diousness By these he had redoubled buffets given
him with implacable violence his hair was torn off his beard pull'd away his teeth were knocked out and not so much as women but ran upon his wretched body to torture and torment it whilst he replyed not a word some days after his eyes being digg'd out and his face disfigured with blows they set him on an old botchy Camel without ought else to cover him then an old shirt this Spectacle so full of horror nothing mollify'd the peoples hearts but desperate men rush'd upon him as thick as â—lies in Autumn some covered him all over with dirt and â—ilth others squeez'd spunges filled with ordure on his face others gave him blows with clubs on the head others prick'd him with Awls and Bodkins and divers threw stones at him calling him mad Dog A wicked woman of the dregs of the vulgar threw a pail of scalding water upon his head that his skin pilled off Lastly they hastned to hang him on a gibbet by the feet exposing him to a shameful nakedness in sight of all the world and they tormented him to the last instant of death at which time he received a blow from a hand which thrust a Sword through his mouth into his bowels all these and greater inhumanities the aged Emperor underwent with that invincible patience that he was heard to say no other thing then Lord have mercy on me and why do ye break a bruised reed 3. Ianus Anceps a wicked person lived in a lone house by the way side without the East-gate of Copenhagen this man in the night had murdered divers persons and knock'd them on the head with an Ax. At last he was discovered taken and condemned to a terrible death He was drawn upon a sledge through the City he had pieces of â—lesh pulled off from his body with burning Pincers his legs and arms were broken his tongue was pulled out of his mouth thongs of his skin were cut out of his back his brest was opened by the speedy hand of the Executioner his heart pulled out and thrown at his face All this the stout hearted man bare with an invincible courage and when his heart lay panting by his side in the midst of such torments as he yet underwent he moved his head and looked upon the by standers with a frowning aspect and seem'd with curiosity to contemplate his own heart till such time as his head was cut off 4. Mutius Scaevola having resolv'd to kill Porsena King of the Hetruscans who at that time was the enemy of Rome he came into his Camp and Tent with a purpose to Execute his design but by mistake instead of the King be slew his Secretary or Captain of the Guard being taken and adjudged to death to punish this error of his Arm he thrust his right hand into the â—ire and without change of countenance held it therein till it was quite burnt off At which invincible patience and constancy of his King Porsena was so amazed that he raised his Siege before Rome and also made peace with the Romans 5. When Xerxes was arrived at the Cape of Artemisium with above 500000 fighting men the Athenians sent out Agesilaus the brother of Themistocles to discover his Army He coming in the habit of a Persian into the Camp of the Barbarians slew Mardonius one of the Captains of the guard of the Kings body supposing he had been Xerxes himself whereupon being taken he was fettred and brought before the King who was then offring sacrifice upon the Altar of the Sun into the fire whereof Agesilaus thrusting his hand and there enduring the torment without sigh or groan Xerxes commanded to loose him All we Athenians said Agesilaus are of the like courage and if thou wilt not believe it I will put also my left hand into the fire the King amazed at his resolute Speech Commanded him to be carefully kept and looked too 6. Isabella wife of Ferdinand King of Spain was a woman of that firm temper of mind that not only in the times of her sickness but also in the sharpest pains of her travail she ever supprest both voice and sighs A most incredible thing but that Marinaeus Siculus affirms that he was assured of the truth hereof by Ladies of unquestionable verity who attended upon her in her Chamber 7. The Lord Verulame mentions a certain tradition of a man who being under the Executioners hand for High Treason after his heart was plucked out of his body and in the hand of the Executioner was yet heard to utter three or four words of Prayer and Purchas speaking of the humane sacrifices in New Spain where the heart is offered to the Sun saith thus there happened a strange accident in one of these sacrifices reported by men of worthy credit That the Spaniards beholding the solemnity a young man whose heart was newly plucked out and himself turned down the stairs when he came to the bottom he said to the Spaniards in his Language Knights they have slain me 8. Gregorius Nazianzenus tells of the Pontick Monks that some of them torture themselves with chains of Iron some as if they were wild beasts shut up themselves in narrow and strait Cells and see no body remain in silence and fasting for the space of twenty days and nights together O Christ goes he on be thou propitious to those souls that are Pious and devout I confess but not so prudent and advised as they might be 9. This is a notable Example of Tollerance which happened in our times in a certain Burgundian who was the Murderer of the Prince of Orange this man though he was scourged with Rods of Iron though his flesh was torn off with red hot and burning Pincers yet be gave not so much as a single sigh or groan Nay further when part of a broken Scaâ—fold fell upon the head of one that stood by as a spectator this burned villain in the midst of all his torments laughed at that accident although not long before the same man had wept when he saw the curls of his hair cut off 10. After the Ancient custom of the Macedonians there were certain Noble youths that ministred unto Alexander the Great at such time as he sacrificed to the gods one of which having a Censer in his hand stood before the King it chanced that a burning coal fell upon his Arm and although he was so burnt by it that the smell of his burnt flesh was in the Noses of them that stood by yet he suppressed his pain with silence and held his Arm immoveable least by shaking the Censer he should interrupt the sacrifice or least by his groaning he should give Alexander any disturbance The King also delighted with this patience of the youth that he might make the more certain experiment of his tollerance on set purpose continued and protracted his sacrifice and yet for all this the youth persisted in his resolute intention 11. Anaxarohus was
variously and cruelly tormented by the Tyrant Nicocreon and yet by all his crueltiâ—s could never be restrained from urging of him with opprobrious terms and the most reproachful language At last the Tyrant being highly provok'd threatned that he would cause his tongue to be cut out of his mouth Effeminate yong man said Anaxarchus neither shall that part of my body be at thy disposal And while the Tyrant for very rage stood gaping before him he immediately bit off his Tongue with his Teeth and spat it into his mouth A Tongue that had heretofore bred admiration in the ears of many but especially of Alexander the Great at such time as it had discours'd of the State of the earth the properties of the Seas the motion of the Stars and indeed the Nature of the whole World in a most prudent and eloquent manner 12. William Colingborn Esq being condemned for making this Rhime on King Richard the third The Cat the Rat and Lovel our Dog Rule all England under the Hog was put to a most cruel death for being hang'd and cut down alive his bowels rip 't out and cast into the fire when the executioner put his hand into the bulk of his body to pull out his heart he said Lord Iesus yet more trouble and so dy'd to the great sorrow of much people 13. Amongst the Indians the meditation of patience is adhered to with that obstinacy that there are some who pass their whole life in nakedness one while hardning their bodies in the frozen rigours and piercing colds of Mount Caucasus and at others exposing themselves to the â—lames without so much as a sigh or groan Nor is it a small glory that they acquire to themselves by this contempt of pain for they gain thereby the reputation and Title of Wise Men. 14. Such Examples as I have already recited I have furnished my self with either by reading or by the relation of such as have seen them but there now comes into my mind a most eminent one whereof I can affirm that I my self was an eye witness and it was this Hieronymus Olgiatus was a Citizen of Millain and he was one of those four that did Assassinate Galeatius Sforza Duke of Millain Being taken he was thrust into Prison and put to bitter tortures now although he was not above two and twenty years of age and of such a delicacy and softness in his habit of body that was more like to that of a Virgin than a man though never accustomed to the bearing of Arms by which it is usual for men to acquire vigour and strength yet being fastned to that rope upon which he was tormented he seemed as if he sat upon some Tribunal free from any expression of grief with a clear voyce and an undaunted mind he commended the exploit of himself and his Companions nor did he ever shew the least sign of repentance In the times of the intermissions of his torments both in Prose and Verse he celebrated the praises of himself and his Confederates Being at last brought to the place of Execution beholding Carolus and Francion two of his associats to stand as if they were almost dead with fear he exhorted them to be couragious and requested the Executioners that they would begin with him that his fellow sufferers might learn patience by his example Being therefore laid naked and at full length upon the hurdle and his feet and Arms bound fast down unto it when others that stood by were terrified with the shew and horror of that death that was prepared for him he with specious words and assured voyce extolled the gallantry of their action and appeared unconcerned with that cruel kind of death he was speedily to undergo yea when by the Executioners knife he was cut from the shoulder to the middle of the breast he neither changed his countenance nor his voyce but with a Prayer to God he ended his life 15. Caius Marius the Roman Consul having the chief veins of his legs swelled a Disease of those Times he stretched out one leg to be cut off by the hand of the Chirurgeon and not only did he refuse to be bound as 't is customary with such Patients or to be held by any man but not so much as by any word or sign did he bewray any sence of pain all the time of the operation no more than if the incision had been made in any other body or that he himself had been utterly voyd of all sence But afterwards when his Chirurgeon propounded to him the same method of cure for his other leg in regard the Disease was rather deforming than extreamly dangerous Marius told him that the matter seemed not to him of that importance as that upon the account thereof he should undergo such tormenting pain By which words he discovered that during the time of the incision of his leg he had indured very great pain but that through the strength and tollerance of his mind he had dissembled and supprest what he felt 16. This was also an Example of great patience in this kind which Strabo mentions in his Geography from the Authority of Nicholaus Damascenus viz. that Zarmonochaga the Ambassador from the Indian King having finished his Negotiation with Augustus to his mind and thereof sent account to his Master because he would have no further trouble for the remaining part of his life after the manner of the Indians he burnt himself alive preserving all the while the countenance of a man that smiled CHAP. XXXVI Of the Fortitude and Personal Valour of some Famous Men. THere is a Precious Stone by the Greeks called Ceraunia as one would say the Thunderstone for it is bred among Thunders and is found in places where Heaven all swollen with anger hath cleft the Master-pieces of the Worlds Magazine saith Caussine such is the valiant man bred up so long in dangers till he hath learned to contemn them And if the Poet be a Prophet you shall hear him say He that smiling can gaze on Styx and black wav'd Acheron That dares brave his ruine he To Kings to Gods shall equal be At least if he fall in a Noble Cause he dies a Martyr and the Brazen Trumpet of Fame shall proclaim this glorious memorial to late Posterity as it hath done for those that follow 1. Sapores the Persian King beseiged Caesaria in Cappadocia a Captive Physician shewed him a weak place of the City where he might enter at which the Persians gaining entrance put all indifferently to the Sword Demosthenes the Governour of the City hearing the Tumult speedily mounted and perceiving all lost sought to get out but in the way fell upon a Squadron of the Enemy that gathered about him to take him alive but he setting Spurs to his Horse and stoutly laying about him with his Sword slew many and opening himself a way through the midst of them escaped 2. When L. Sylla beheld his
to say to those that were in his company Which of you dares to take a piece of flesh out of this Lyon's throat when he is angry None daring to take it in hand You shall see added the Polonian the proof of my Speech All that day following the Lyon had not any meat given him the next day they threw him the fore Quarters of a Sheep the Lyon begins to grunt to couch down at his Prey and to eat greedily Herewith the Polonian enters and loâ—king the Lyon betwixt his legs gives him a blow with his fist upon the Jaw crying hah you Dog give me the flesh The Lyon amazed at such a bold voice let go his hold shewing no other Countenance but casting his eye after the Polonian that carried the flesh away 5. The City of Rome being taken by the Gauls and those that fled to the Capitol besieged in this distress some of the Romans that were fled to Veientum brought that same Camillus whom before they had ungratefully forced into Exile to take upon him the Supreme Command He answered that while those in the Capitol were safe he took them for his Country and should obey their Commands with all readiness but should not obtrude himself upon them against their will But all the difficulty was to send to them that were inclosed in the Capitol by the way of the City it was impossible as being full of Enemies But amongst the young men of Ardaea where Camillus then was there was one Pontius Cominius of a mean Birth but desirous of Glory and Honour who offered himself to this piece of service He took no Letters to them lest being taken the design should be betrayed to the Enemy But in meat habit and pieces of Cork under it he performed part of his journey by day-light as soon as it grew dark being near the City because the Bridge was kept by the Enemy he could not that way pass the River with his light Garment therefore bound about his head and bearing up himself upon his Cork he swam over the River and perceiving by the fire and noise that the Guards were awake he shunn'd them and came to the Carmental Gate there all was silent and the Capitoline Hill was most steep and hard to ascend By this way he climbs up and at last came to the Sentinels that watched upon the Walls he salutes them and tells them who he was He was taken up led to the Magistrates acquaints them with all his business They presently create Camillus Dictator and by the same way dismiss Pontius who with the same wonderful difficulty escaped the Enemy as before and came safe to Camillus and Camillus to the safety of his Countrey 6. In the Reign of Tham King of China there was a Colao an Officer not unlike that of our Duke who having been Tutor to the King was very powerful with him and to preserve himself in his Grace and Favour studied more to speak what would please the King then to tell him the truth for the good of his Estate The Chineses forbare not to speak of it amongst themselves and to tax the flattery of this Coloa once some Captains of the Guard were discoursing this Point at the Palace when one of them being a little warmed with the Discourse secretly withdrew himself went into the Hall where the King was and kneeling down upon his knees before him the King asked what he would have Leave said he to cut off the head of a flattering Subject And who is that said the King Such a one who stands there replied the other The King in a rage What said he against my Master darest thou to propound this and in my Presence too Take him away and strike off his head When they began to lay hands upon him he caught hold of a wooden balanster and as there were many pulling of him and he holding with a great deal of strength it brake by this time the King's heat was over he commands they should let him go and gave order that the balanster should be mended and that they should not make a new one that it might remain a witness of the Fact and a memorial of a Subject that was not afraid to advise his King what he ought to do 7. Phocion the Athenian was a man that stood with unmoveable constancy against the Multitude the Nobles Fortune and Death it self There was once an Oracle recited at Athens viz. that there was amongst them one single man that ever dissented from the agreeing opinions of all the rest All the people were enraged and enquired after that man Now pray said Phocion surcease your enquiry I am the man you seek for for not one thing of all that you do did ever please me 8. In a Parliament at Salisbury in the twenty fifth year of King Edward the First the King requires certain of his Lords to go to the Wars in Gascoigne which needed a present Supply by reason of the death of his Brother Edmund but all the Lords made excuses each for themselves Whereupon the King in great rage threatned they should either go or he would give their Lands to others that would Upon this Humphry Bohune Earl of Hereford High Constable and Robert Bigod Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England made their Declaration that if the King went in Person they would attend him otherwise not which Answer offended the King more and being urged again the Earl Marshal protested he would willingly go thither with the King and march before him in the Van-guard as by right of Inheritance he ought to do But the King told him plainly he should go with any other though he went not himself in person I am not so bound said the Earl neither will I take that Iourney without you The King swore By God Sir Earl you shall go or hang. And I swear by the same Oath said the Earl that I will neither go nor hang and so departed without leave 9. Avidius being General of the Army when a part of the Auxiliaries without his privity had slain three thousand of the Sarmatians upon the Banks of the Danubius and returned with a mighty Spoil the Centurions expecting mighty Rewards for that with so small Forces they had overthrown so great a number but he commanded them to be seized and crucifyed For said he it might have fallen out that by a sudden eruption of the Enemy from some Ambush the whole Army might have been hazarded But upon this Order of his a Sedition arose in the Army when he straight goes forth into the midst of the Mutineers unarmed and without any Life-Guard where unappalled he spake in this manner Kill me if you dare and give a glorious instance of your corrupted Discipline When they saw his undaunted boldness they all grew quiet and willingly submâ—tted themselves to Discipline which thing not only preserved the Romans themselves in obedience but struck such an awe into
of Poplicola who had long waited at the door for this occasion spake aloud Consul thy Son is dead of a Disease in the Army The Assistants were perplexed at this news but Horatius not moved in the least Dispose then said he of his Carcass as you please I shall not mourn at this time and so performed the rest of his dedication His news was not true but merely feigned by Marcus to divert Horatius from the Dedication in favour of his Brother But however the constancy of the man is memorable whether he in a moment discerned the fraud or whether though he believed it yet was unmoved 3. Pomponius a Knight of Rome was in the Army of Lucullus against Mithridates where upon some engagement he was sorely wounded and made a prisoner being brought into the presence of that King he was asked by him whether when he had taken care for the cure of his wounds he would be his friend Pomponius with the constancy worthy of a Roman replyed That if he would be a friend to the people of Rome he would then be his otherwise not 4. Sylla had seized upon the City of Rome had driven out his enemies thence and 〈◊〉 in Arms had called the Senate togâ—ther for this purpose that by them he might speedily have C. Mâ—rius adjâ—â—ged the enemy of the people of Rome Therâ— was no man amongst them found who had the courage to oppose him in this matter only Q. Sâ—aevola the Augur being asked his opinion herein would not declare his assent with the resâ— And when Sylla began to threaten him in a terrible manner Though said he you shew me all these armed Troops wherewith you have surrounded this Court and though you threaten me with death it self yet shall you never bring it to pass that to save a little old blood I should judge Marius an enemy by whom this City and all Italy it self hath been preserved 5. It was the saying of Xantippe concerning Socrates her Husband that although there were a thousand perturbations in the Common-Wealth yet did Socrates always appear with the same manner of countenance both going oâ—t and returning into his house For he had a mind equally prepared for all things and so well and moderately composed that it was far remote from grief and above all kind of fears 6. C. Mevius was a Centurion in the Army of Augustus in his war against Anthony wherein after he had done many gallant things he was at last circumvented by an unexpected ambush of the enemy taken prisoner and carried to Alexandria Being in the presence of Antonius he was by him asked how he should deal with him Cause said he my Throat to be cut for neither by the obligations of saving my life nor by the punishment of any kind of death can I ever be brought to cease from being Caesars Soldier and begin to be thine But by how much the greater constancy he shewed a contempt of lifeâ— by so much the more easily did he obtain it for Antonius in the admiration of his vertue preserved him 7. Modestus the Deputy of Valens the Emperour sought to draw S. Basil after many other Bishops into the heresie of Arrius he attempted it first with caresses and all the sugar'd words that might be expected from one that was not uneloquent Disappointed in his first essay he reinforced his former perswasions with threats of exile and torments yea and death it self but finding all these equally in vain he returned to his Lord with this character of the man Firmior est quam ut verbis praestantior quam ut minis fortior quam ut blanditiis vinci possit That is he is so solid that words cannot overcome him so resolute that threats cannot move him and so strong that Allurements cannot alter him 8. Dion the Son of Hyparinus and Scholar of Plato was busied in the dispatch of publick affairs when it was told him that one of his Sons was fallen out of the window into the Court-Yard and was dead of the fall Dion seemed to be nothing moved herewith but with great constancy continued in the dispatch of what he was about 9. Antigonus the second beheld when his Son was born dead upon the shoulders of some Soldiers that had thus brought him from the Battle he looked upon him without change of countenance or shedding a tear and having praised him that he dyed like a brave Soldier and a valiant man he commanded to bury him 10. When the aged Polycarpus was urged to reproach Christ he tells the pro-Consul Herod that fourscore and six years he had served him and never was harmed by him with what conscience then could he blaspheme his King that was his Saviour And being threatned on with fire if he would not swear by Caesars fortune he tells him that it was his ignorance that made him expect it For said he if you know not who I am hear me telling you that I am a Christian And when at the fire they would have fastned him to the Stake the brave Bishop cryes out to let him alone as he was for that God who had enabled him to endure the fire would enable him also without any chains of theirs to stand unmoved in the midst of flames so with his hands behind him unstirred he took his Crown 11. Valens an Arrian Emperour coming to the City of Edessa perceived that the Christions did keep their Assemblies in the fields for their Churches were demolished whereat he was so enraged that he gave the President Methodius a box on the ear for suffering such their meetings commanding him to take along with him a cohort of Soldiers and to scourge with Rods and knock down with Clubs as many as he should find of them This his order being divulged there was a Christian woman who with her Child in her Arms ran with all speed towards the place and was got amongst the ranks of those Soldiers that were sent out against the Christians and being by them asked whither she went and what she would have She told them that she made such hast lest she and her little Infant should come too late to be partakers of the Crown of Christ amongst the rest of those that were to suffer When the Emperour heard this he was confounded desisted from his enterprize and turned all his fury against the Priests and Clergy 12. Henry Prince of Saxony when his Brother Georgâ— sent to him that if he would forsake his faith and turn Papist he would leave him his Heir But he made him this answer Rather than I will do so and deny my Saviour Iesus Christ I and my Kate each of us with a staff in one hand will beg our bread out of his Countryes 13. Quintus Metellus Numidicus when he perceived whereunto the dangerous endeavours of Saturninus the Tribune of the people tended and of what mischievous consequence they would prove to the Common-Wealth unless
then present and an ear witness hath related thus much of that great Prince 14. It is reported of Magdalene Queen of France and wife to Lewis the Eleventh by birth a Scottish Woman that walking forth in an Evening with her Ladies she espied M. Alanus one of the Kings Chaplains an old hard favored man lying fast asleep in an Arbor she went to him and kissed him sweetly When the young Ladies laught at her for it she reply'd that it was not his person that she did bear that Reverence and respect unto but the Divine beauty of his soul. 15. The Great Theodosius used frequently to sit by his Children Arcadius and Honorius whilest Arsenius taught them he commanded them to give their Master the same respects as they would unto himself and surprizing them once sitting and Arsenius standing he took from them their Princely Robes and restored them not till a long time after nor without much entreaty 16. Marcus Aurelius shewed great piety and respect to his teachers and instructers he made Proculus Proconsul and took Iunius Rusticus with him in all his expeditions advised with him in all his publick and private business saluted him before Praefâ—cti praetorio designed him to be second time Consul and after his death obtained of the Senate publickly to erect his Statue 17. Claudius Tacitus the Emperor a great favourer of Learned Men commanded the works of Tacitus the Historian to be carefully preserved in every Library throughout the Empire and ten times every year to be transcribed at the publick cost notwithstanding which many of his works are lost CHAP. XLI Of the exceeding intentness of some men upon their Meditations and Studies THe Greek Writers extol to the heavens the Gallantry of one Cynaegirus an Athenian who in the famous battel at Salamine against the Persians laid hold upon one of their Ships with his right hand and that cut off with his left when that also was lost he endeavoured to retain it with his teeth No less is the constancy of these illustrious persons to be wondred at some of whom no consideration whatsoever unless the indispensable laws of necessity or death it self could be able to divorce from their dear studies 1. Thuanus tells of a Countryman of his called Franciscus Vieta a very learned man who was so bent upon his studies that sometimes for three days together he would sit close at it sine cibo somno nisi quem cubito innixus nec se loco movens capiebat Without meat or sleep more than what for mere necessity of nature he took leaning on his Elbow without moving out of his place 2. Dr. Reynoâ—ds when the Heads of the University of Oxford came to visit him in his last sickness which he had contracted merely by his exceeding pains in his studies whereby he brought his withered body to be a very Sckeleton they earnestly perswaded him that he would not perdere substantiam propter accidentia loose his life for learning he with a smile answered out of the Poet Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere causas Nor to save life lose that for which I live 3. Chaerephon the familiar Friend of Socrates was sirnamed Nycteris sor that he was grown pale with nocturnal Lucubrations and was so exceedingly emaciated and made lean thereby 4. Thomas Aquinas sitting at Dinner with Philip or as Campanus saith with Lewis King of France was on the sudden so transported in his mind that he struck the board with his hand and cryed out Adversus Manichaeos conclusum est The Manichees are confuted At which when the King admired Thomas blushing besought his pardon saying That an Argument was just then come into his mind by which he could utterly overthrow the opinion of the Manichees 5. Bernardus Abbot of Claravalla had made a dayes journey by the side of the Lake Lausanna and now at Sun setting being come to his Inne and hearing the Fryers that accompanied him discoursing amongst themselves of the Lake he asked where that Lake was When he heard he wondred professing that he had not so much as seen it being all the time of his Journey so intent upon his meditations 6. Archimedes who by his Machines and various Engines had much and long impeded the victory of M. Marcellus in the Siege of Syracuse when the City was taken was describing Mathematical figures upon the earth so intent upon them both with his eye and mind that when a Soldier who had broke into the house came to him with his drawn Sword and asked him who he was He out of an earnest desire to preserve his figure entire which he had drawn in the Dust told not his name but only desired him not to break and interrupt his Circle The Soldier conceiving himself scorn'd ran him through and so confounded the draught and lineaments of his Art with his own blood He lost his life by not minding to tell his name for Marcellus had given special order for his safety 7. I remember I have often heard it from Ioseph Scaligers own mouth that he being then at Paris when the horrible Butchery and Massacre was there sate so intent upon the study of the Hebrew tongue that he did not so much as hear the clashing of Arms the cryes of Children the lamentations of Women nor the Clamours or Groans of Men. 8. St. Augustine had retired himself into a solitary place and was there sate down with his mind wholly intent upon divine meditations concerning the mystery of the sacred Trinity when a poor woman desirous to consult him upon a weighty matter presented her self before him but he took no notice of her the woman spake to him but neither yet did he observe her upon which the woman departs angry both with the Bishop and her self supposing that it was her poverty that had occasioned him to treat her with such neglect Afterwards being at Church where he preached she was wrap'd up in Spirit and in a kind of Trance she thought she heard St. Austin discoursing concerning the Trinity and was informed by a private voice that she was not neglected as she thought by the humble Bishop but not observed by him at all who was otherwise busied upon which she went again to him and was resolved by him according to her desire 9. Thomas Aquinas was so very intent upon his meditations and in his readings that he saw not such as stood before him he heard not the voices of such as spake to him so that the Corporeal Senses seemed to have relinquished their proper Offices to attend upon the Soul or at the least were not able to perform them when the Soul was determined to be throughly employed 10. Mr. Iohn Gregory of Christs-Church by the relation of that Friend and Chamber-fellow of his who hath published a short account of his life and death did study sixteen of every twenty four hours for divers years together
satis The meanning is that if we should allow three leaves to every day of his life from his very Birth there would be some to spare yet withal he wrote so exactly that Ximenes his Scholar attempting to contract his Commentaries upon St. Matthew could not well bring it to less than a thousand leaves in Folio and that in a very small Print Others also have attempted the like in his other Works but with the same success 3. Iulius Caesar Scaliger was thirty years old before he fell to study yet was a singular Philosopher and an excellent Greek and Latin Poet. Vossius calls him The Miracle of Nature the chief Censor of the Ancients and the Darling of all those that are concerned to attend upon the Muses Lipsius highly admires him There are three saith he whom I use chiefly to wonder at as persons who though amongst men seem yet to have transcended all humane Attainments Homar Hippocrates and Aristotle but I shall add to them this fourth that is Julius Scaliger that was born to be the Miracle and the Glory of our Age. He verily thinks there was no such acute and capacious Wit as his since the Age of Iulius Caesar. Meibomiuâ— calls him a man of stupendious Learning and than whom the Sun hath scarce shined upon a more learned Thuanus saith Antiquity had scarcely his Superior 't is certain his own Age had not the like 4. Amongst the great Heroes and Miracles of Learning most renowned in this latter Age Ioseph Scaliger hath merited a more than ordinary place The learned Causabon hath given this Character of him There is nothing saith he that any man could desire to learn but that he was able to teach He had read nothing and yet whâ—t had he not read but what he did readily remember There was nothing in any Latin Greek or Hebrew Author that was so obscure or abstruse but that being consulted about it he would forthwith resolve He was throughly versed in the Histories of all Nations in all Ages in the successive Revolutions of all Empires and in all the Affairs of the ancient Churches he was able to recount all the Ancient and Modern Names Differences and Proprieties of living Creatures Plants Metals and all other Natural things He was accurately skill'd in the scituation of Places the bounds of Provinces and their various Divisions according to the diversity of Times There was none of the Arts and Sciences so difficult that he had left uâ—touched He knew so many Languages so exactly that if he had made that one thing his business throughout the whole compass of his life it might have been worthily reputed a miracle Hereunto may be annexed the Testimony of Iulius Caesar Bulengerus a Doctor of the Sorbon and Professor at Pisa who in the twelfth Book of the History of his time thus writes of the same Scaliger There followed the Year 1609. an unfortunate Year in respect of the death of Ioseph Scaliger than whom this Age of ours hath not brought forth any of so great a Genius or ingenuity as to Learning and possibly the fore-past Ages have not had his Equal in all kinds of Learning 5. That which Pasquier hath observed out of Monshclet is yet more memorable touching a young man who being not above twenty years old came to Paris in the Year 1445. and shewed himself so admirably excellent in all Arts and Sciences and Languages that if a man of an ordinary good Wit and sound Constitution should live one hundred years and during that time should study incessantly without eating drinking and sleeping or any recreation he could hardly attain to that perfection Insomuch that some were of opinion that he was Antichrist begotten of the Devil or at least somewhat above Humane Condition Castellanus who lived at the same time and saw this Miracle of Wit made these Verses on him his are in French but may be thus Englished A young man have I seen At twenty years so skill'd That ev'ry Art he had and all In â—ll degrees excell'd Whatever yet was writ He vaunted to pronounce Likâ— a young Anti-Christ if he Did read the same but once 6 Beda was born in the Kingdom of Northumberland at Girroy now Yarrow in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by St. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar of his Age for Latin Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his life time in the Christian Churches a dignity afforded him alone whence some say his Title of Venerable Beda was given him It being a middle betwixt plain Beda which they thought too little and St Beda which they thought too much while he was yet alive 7. Roger Bacon was a famous Mathematician and most skilful in other Sciences accurately vers'd in the Latin Greek and Hebrew of whom Selden thus Roger Bacon of Oxford a Minoriâ—e an excellent Mathematician and a person of more learning than any of his age could aâ—ford 8. Richard Pacie Dean of Pauls and Secretary for the Latin Tongue to King Henry the Eighth he was of great ripeness of wit learning and eloquence and also expert in foreign languages Pitsaeus gives him this Character A man endowed with most excellent gifts of mind adorned with great variety of leâ—â—â—ing he had a sharp wit a mature judgment a constant and firm memory a prompt and ready tongue and such a one as might deservedly contâ—nd with the most learned men of his age for â—kill in the Latin Greek and Hebrew languages 9. Anicius Mâ—â—liâ—s Soverinus Boeâ—hius â—â—ourished Anno Dom. 520. He was very famous in his days being Consul at Rome and a man of rare gifts and abilities Some say that in prose he came not behind Cicero himself and had none that exceeded him in Poetry A great Philosopher Musician and Mathematician Polit. saith of him thus Than Boethius in Logick who more acute in Mathematicks more subtile in Philosophy more copious and rich or in Divinity more sublime He was put to death by Theodoricus King of the Goths and after he was slain Peripatetick Philosophy decayed and almost all Learning in Italy Barbarism wholly invaded it and expelled good Arts and Philosophy out of its Borders saith Hereboord of Verona 10. St. Augustine in his Epistle to Cyril Bishop of Ierusalem writes concerning St. Ierome that he understood the Hebrew Greek Chaldee Persian Median and Arabick tongues and that he was skill'd in almost all the learning and languages of all Nations The same St. Augustine saith of him no man knows that which St. Ierome is ignorant of 11. Mithridates the great King of Pontus had no less than twenty and two Countries under his Government yet was he used to answer all these Ambassadors in the same language of his Country that he spake to him in without the help of any Interpreter A wonderful evidence of a very singular memory that could so distinctly lay up
though th' one Sphere did always slowly glide And contrary the other swiftly slide Yet still the Stars kept all their courses even With the true courses of the Stars in Heaven The Sun there shifting in the Zodiack His shining houses never did forsake His pointing path there in a mouth his Sister Fulfill'd her course and changing oft her Lustre And form of Face now larger lesser soon Follow'd the Changes of the other Moon 3. In the twentieth year of Queen Elizabeth Mark Scaliot Blacksmith made a Lock consisting of eleven pieces of Iron Steel and Brass all which together with a Pipe Key to it weighed but one grain of gold he made also a chain of gold consisting of forty three links whereunto having fastned the Lock and Key before mentioned he put the Chain about a Fleas neck which drew them all with ease Now all these together Lock and Key Chain and Fâ—â—a being weighed the weight of them was but one grain and a half 4. Calicrates used to make Pismires and other such little creatures ouâ— of Ivory with that wonderâ—ul Artifice that other men could not discern the parts of them one from the other without the help of Glasses 5. Myrmecides was also excellent in that kind of workmanship he wrought out of Ivory a Chariot with four wheels and as many horses in so little Room that a little Fly might cover them all with her wings The same man made a Ship with all the tackling to it no bigger than that a small Bee might hide it with her wings 6. Praxiteles was a curious worker in Imagery he made a Statue of Venus for the Gnidians so lively that a certain young man became so amorous of it that the excess of his love deprived him of his wits This piece of Art was esteemed at that rate by King Nicomedes that whereas the Gnidians owed him a vast sum of money he offered to take that Statue in full satisfaction of his debt 7. Cedrenus makes mâ—ntion of a Lamp which together with an Image of Christ was found at Edâ—ssa in the Reign of Iustinian the Emperor It was set over a ceâ—tain gate there and privily inclos'd as appear'd by the date of it soon after Christ was crucified it was found burning as it had done for Five hundred years before by the Souldiers of Cosroes King of Persia by whom also the oyl was taken out of it and cast into the fire which occasioned such a Plague as brought death upon almost all the forces of Cosroes 8. At the demolition of our Monasteries here in England there was found in the supposed Monument of Constantius Chlorus father to the Great Constantine a burning Lamp which was thought to have continued burning there even since his burial which was about three hundred years after Christ. The Ancient Romans us'd in that manner to preserve lights in their Sepulchres a long time by the oylyness of Gold resolv'd by Art into a liquid substance 9. Aâ—thur Gregory of Lyme in the County of Dorset had the admirable Art of forcing the Seal of a Letter yet so invisibly that it still appeared a Virgin to the exactest beholder Secretary Walsingham made great use of him about the packquet which pass'd from Foreign parts to Mary Queen of Scotland He had a Pension paid for his good service out of the Exchequer and dy'd at Lyme about the beginning of the Reign of King Iames. 10. Cornelius van Drebble that rare Artist made a kind of Organ that would make an excellent Symphony of it self being placed in the open air and clear Sun without the fingering oâ— an Organist which was as is conceiv'd by the means of air inclosed and the strictures of the beams rarifying the same for in a shady place it would yield no Musick but only where the Sun-beams had the Liberty to play upon it as we read of Memnons Statue 11. I remember saith Clavius that while as yet I was but young and Studied the Mathematicks for the great honor we had of Alexander Farnesius we invited that Prince into our School and amongst other gifts and shews that were presented him by the Ingenious a Mathematical one was impos'd upon me Then was it that the force of a Concave was happily serviceable to me â— for by the virtue and power of it I erected on high the name of Alexander Farnesius impressed it in the air all the letters of it being radiant aâ—d shining It was a monument indeed but only of our observation and honor to but very short of the greatness of the Farnesian family 12. His Highness the Duke of Holsteine hath ordered a Globe to be made in the City of Gottorp it is a double Globe made of Copper ten foot and half in Diameter so that within it ten persons may sit at a table which with the seats about it hangeth at one of its Poles There a man may see by means of an Horizontal Circle within the Globe how the Stars and Sun it self out of its Centre moveth of its self through its Ecliptick Degrees and riseth and setteth regularly The motion of this Globe exactly followeth that of the heavens and deriveth that motion from certain Wheels driven by water which is drawn out of a mountain hard by and let in as it requireth more or less according to the swiftness of the Spheres 13. There was at Leige Ann. 1635. a Religious and industrious man of the Society of Iesus named Linus by birth an English man he had saith Kircher a Phial or Glass of Water wherein a little Globe did float witâ— the twenty four letters of the Alphabet described upon it on the inside of the Phial was an Index or Stile to which the Globe did turn and move it self at the period of every hour with that letter which denoted the hour of the day successively as though this little globe kept pace and time with the heavenly motions And Kircher himself had a vessel of water in which just even with the surface of the water were the twenty four hours described A piece of Cork was set upon the water and there in were put some seeds of the Heliotrope or Sun-flower which like the flower it self did turn the Cork about according to the course of the Sun and with its motion point out the hour of the day 14. I will shew you an experiment saith Galilaeo which my last leisure hours did produce and so calling his servant he gave him his Cloak and taking out a round box he went directly to the window upon which at that time the Sun â—â—one and opening the box towards the Sun till such time as it had received the light of it he desired that the room should be made as dark as might be which done turning to Clavius then with him did you not desire said he that something should be shew'd or made by us to day Pardon the extravagancy of the word Behold
and with a youthful ardour had gallantly acquitted himself in divers Enterprises Severus being informed hereof and supposing him to be one of the Senatorian Order he wrote a Letter to him wherein having given him due praises for the service he had done he desired him to encrease his Forces This he speedily performed and having done things worthy of admiration he sent to Severus one thousand seven hundred and fifty Myriads of Drachmes This done without fear he presented himself to the Emperour and openly declared who he was yet he neither requested upon the score of his Victories that he might really be made one of the Senate nor did he petition for any Honour or increase of Wealth but only received from Severus some small thing to maintain him alive and so retired into the Country where he spent the rest of his life in privacy and poverty 6. Crates Thebanus was adored for a God a Noble-man by Birth many Servants he had an Honourable Attendance much Wealth many Mannors rich Apparel and great store of Money but when he apprehended that all this yea all the Wealth of the World was but brittle uncertain and no whit availing to live well he cast off his burden renounced his Estate and threw his Treasure into the Sea 7. Epaminondas that great General of the Thebans after his Glorious Exploits and Famous Victories lived in such meanness and extream poverty that he had but one upper Garment and that a poor one to so that if at any time he had occasion on to send it to the Fuller or to mending he was constrained for want of another to stay at home till it was returned At his death they found nothing in his House but a little Iron Spit nor wherewithal to commit him to the Ground so that he was buried at the Publick Charge yet had this great man the offer of a considerable sum in Gold sent him by the Persian King whereof he would not accept and in mind saith Aelian he shewed himself more genrous in the refusal than the other did in the gift of it 7. Aristides who by his Valour Prudence and Justice had made the Athenians rich and honourable at his death was so poor that nothing in his House being found to do it withal he was buried at the charge of the Commonwealth 9. Frederick Duke of Saxony his virtues were so great that unanimously the Electors chose him for Emperor while he as earnestly did refuse nor did they like tickly Italians pet at this and put another in his room but for the reverence they bore him when he would not accept it himself they would yet have one that he should recommend which was Charles the Fifth who out of his gratitude for the putting of him into that Place sent him a Present of 30000 Florens But he that could not be tempted by the Imperial Crown stood proof against the blaze of Gold and when the Ambassadors could fasten none upon hâ—m he desired but his permission to leave 10000 amongst his Servants To which he answered They might take it if they would but he that took but a Piece from Charles should be sure not to stay a Day with Frederick A mind truly Heroick evidently Superlative by despising what was greatest not temptable with either Ambition or Avarice far greater than an Emperor by refusing to be one 10. Audentius upon the death of Bassianus Caracalla was proffered the Roman Empire which yet he utterly refused and could not by any perswasions be wrought upon to accept of it 11. Alexander the great having overcome Darius of the Persian Spoils he sent Phocion the Athenian an hundred Talents of Silver but when the Messengers brought him this Gift He asked them why Alexander gave him so great a Gift rather than to any other of the Athenians Because said they he only esteemeth thee to be a good and honest man Then said Phocion let him give me leave to remain that which I seem and am so long as I live The Messengers would not so leave but followed him home to his House where they saw his great frugality and thriftiness for they found his Wife her self Baking and he himself drew water to wash his feet But when they were more earnest with him than before to accept of their Master 's present and were offended with him saying That it was a shame for the Friend of Alexander to live so miserably and beggarly Then Phocion seeing a poor old man pass by asked them Whether they thought him worse than that man No the Gods forbid replied they yet answered he He lives with less than I do and yet is contented and hath enough To be short he said If I should take this Sum of Money and not employ it it is as much as if I had it not again if I should employ it I should occasion all the City to speak evil of the King and me both And so he sent back this Great Present shewing thereby that he was richer that needed not such Sums than he that gave them 12. Paulus Aemylius was sent by the Senate of Rome into Spain where they were all up in Arms in which Journey he twice overcame the barbarous people in main battel and slew about 30000 of them he took in also two hundred and fifty Cities and so leaving the Country quiet he returned to Rome not enriched by all these Victories the worth of one groat yea he so little regarded the World that although he was Consul twice and twice triumphed yet when he died all the Estate he left was little enough to satisfie his Wives Joynture 13. Vergerits the Pope's Legate was sent by his Master to Luther when he first began to preach against the Corruptions of the Church of Rome to proffer him a Cardinal's Cap if he would relinquish his Opinions to whom he answered contemptus est à me Romanus favor furor I do equally dispise the favour and fury of Rome Another time there was Proposals made of a great Sum of Money to be sent unto him but one of the Cardinals who was then present cried out Hem Germana illa bestia non curat aurum That beast of Germany does not care for money Luther also tells us that when some of the Cardinals were by the Pope sent to him to tempt him with promises of great Wealth and Honour Turning my self saith he to God Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo I earnestly protested that God should not put me off with such mean matter 14. Deiotarus King of Galatia being a very old man sent for Cato Vticensis to come to him intending to recommend to him the care of his Sons and when he was arrived the King sent him divers rich Presents of all sorts entreating him that he would accept of them This so much offended Cato that he stayd very little with him and the next day returned But he had
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
and it bestows those blows with that blindness and prodigality and oftentimes sullies the last hours of it very minious with that blackness that we count those happy men that have felt least of her frowns In which respect 1. Lucius Matellus may well pass for one of these fortunate persons for he was one of the Quindecimviri that is one of the fifteen men appointed for the keeping of the Sibylline Oracles and to see that sacrifice and all Ceremonial Rites were duely performed he was General of the Horse twice Consul chief Pontiff the first that shewed Elephants in his Triumph and a person in whom all those Ten Ornaments met which may befal a most happy Citizen In a most flourishing City for he was a stout warrior good Orator fortunate Leader performed great matters being personally present had ascended to the greatest honours was very wise a complete Senator had attained great riches by honest means left many Children and was most eminent in the most celebrious City 2. Quintus Metellus by incessant degrees of indulgent Fortune from the day of his birth to that of his death at last arrived to the top of a most happy life He was born in a City that was the Princess of the World and was born of noble Parents he had rare gifts of the mind and a sufficiency of bodily strength to undergo labour and travel he had a Wife conspicuous at once for her chastity and fruitfulness he had born the Office of a Consul been General of an Army and had gloriously triumphed he had three Sons of Consular degree one whereof had been Censor and also triumphant and the fourth was a Pretor he had three Dunghters bestowed in Marriage whose Children he had with him How many Births and Cradles how many of his Descendants at man's estate how many Nuptials what Honours Governments and what abundant Congratulations did he behold in his Family And all this felicity at no time interrupted with any Funeral any sighs or the least cause of sadness Look up to Heaven it self and you shall scarce find the like state in that place seeing our greatest men have assigned mourning and grief to the Gods themselves The last act of his life was agreeable to all the rest for having lived to a great age he expired by a gentle and easie way of death amongst the kisses and embraces of his dearest Relations and when dead was born upon the shoulders of his Sons and Sons in Law through the City and by them laid upon his Funeral fire 3. The very same day that Philip King of Macedon had the City of Potidaea surrendred up to himself there came a Messenger that brought him word of a great Victory that Parmenio his General had obtained over the Illyrians Another brought him news that his Horse had won the Prize and Victory at the Olympick Games And then came a third to acquaint him that Olympias his Queen was delivered of a young Prince which afterwards proved the unconquerable Alexander 4. It is a rare happiness of the Family of St. Lawrence Barons of Hâ—ath in Ireland that the Heirs thereof for four hundred Years together have always been of age before the death of their Fathers Clarks Mirr cap. 104. pag. 493. 5. Polycrates of Samos was a petty Kieg but a Minion of Fortune had such a Series of Prosperity in all his Affairs that he was advised by Amasis King of Egypt and his Alley to apply some remedy to his over-great Fortune and that he might have some occasion of trouble exhorted him to cast away what he most esteemed in such manner as he should be sure never more to hear of He therefore threw into the Sea that precious Emerald of his which he used as his Signet but not long after it was sound in the belly of a Fish that was dressed for his Table 6. And to shew us that there is a kind of recurrency of remarkable Accidents one Anderâ—â— a Townsman and Merchant talking with a friend on Newcastle-Bridge and fingering his Ring before he was aware let in â—all into the River and was much troubled with the loâ—â— thereof until the same was found in a Fish caught in the River and restored unto him 7. It is said of the Emperor Antoninus Pius that his Affairs had so good success that he never repented him of any thing he did that he was never denyed any thing he asked and that he never commanded any thing wherein he was not obeyed And being asked by a Senator who marvelled at these things the reason of them Because said he I make all my doings conformable to Reason I demand not any thing which is not rightful I command not any thing which redoundeth not more to the benefit of the Commonwealth than to mine own profit 8. That was a marvellous happy Accident that fell out to a Rower in a Tyrian Vessel he was cleansing of the Deck when a Wave took him on the one side and struck him into the Sea and soon after a contrary Wave hoisted him up into the Ship again so the lamentations of his misfortune were mixed with congratulations for his safety 9. L. Sylla might well be sirnamed The Happy for whereas he had attained the Dictatorship with many hazards and therein had put to death two thousand six hundred Knights of Rome had slain ten Consuls proscribed and exiled so many and forbid so many others the Rights of Burial yet when he had voluntarily resigned the Dictatorship and devested himself of so great a Power all Rome beheld him securely walking in the Market-place and no man attempted to revenge upon him so great miseries as he had occasioned to that City 10. Arnulphus Duke of Lorrain when he had dropp'd his Ring into the Mosella had it restored to him again from the belly of a Fish 11. Matthias King of Hungary caused his Money and other things to be stamped with the Figure of a Crow carrying a Ring with an Emerald in her bill whereof I find this to be the reason having upon some occasion laid his Ring with an Emerald in it besides him a Crow came and snatched it away the King followed the Crow shot her with a Pistol Bullet and thereby became again the Master of his Ring 12. Timotheus a General of the Athenians had Fortune so favourable and propitious to him that in every War he had an easie and assured Victory So that his Rivals in Glory at that time envying his great prosperity painted Fortune casting Cities and Towns into his lap as he lay sleeping besides it Timotheus once beholding this Emblem said If I take Cities while I sleep what think you shall I do when I am awake 13. Xanthus writes of Alcimus King of the Lydians that he was a Prince of a singular both Piety and Clemency that thereupon he not only had an uncommon prosperity in the matters relating to his Person but
Gardiner by Trade As willingly said he as I would pull away leaves from a rank Lettuce and not hurt the root The King threatened the son with death if his carriage were not better and perceiving the old mans zeal to Justice of a Gardiner made him a Judge 2. Titus Manlius Torquatus had a son in great employments in the Empire flourishing in honor age and reputation who being accus'd by the Embassadours of Macedonia to have ill carried himself in their Province when he had it in charge this father with the Senates permission would himself be Judge in the sons cause heard the accusers two whole daies together confronted Witnesses gave his son full scope to defend himself and to produce all that he could for his justification In the end on the third day he pronounced Sentence thus It having sufficiently been proved to me that my son D. Silanus hath ill acquitted his charge and taken money from the allies of the Roman people contrary to the command of Laws and honesty I declare him from this time forward unworthy both of the Common-Wealth and my house The unfortunate son was so overwhelm'd with melancholy upon this Judgement given by his father that the next night he kill'd himself and the father esteeming him degenerate would not so much as honour his funerals with his presence 3. Artaxerxes King of Persia had fifty sons by his several Concubines one called Darius he had made King in his own life-time contrary to the custom of the Nation who having sollicited his father to give him Aspasia his beautiful Concubine and refused by him stirred up all the rest of his brothers to join with him in a conspiracy against the old King It was not carried so privately but that the design came to Artaxerxes his ear who was so incensed thereat that casting off all humanity as well as paternal affection not contented with Prisons or Exile he caus'd them all at once to be put to death by his own hand bringing desolation into his house but lately replenished by so numerous an off-spring 4. Epaminondas the Theban being General against the Lacedemonians it fell out that he was called to Thebes upon the election of Magigistrates at his departure he commits the care and government of the Army to his son Stâ—simbrotus with a severe charge that he should not â—ight till his return The Lacedemonians that they might allure him to a Battel reproach him with dishonour and cowar dize he impatient of these contumelies contrary to the commands of his father descends to the Battel wherein he obtained a signal Victory The Father returning to the Camp adorns the head of his son with a Crown of Triumph and afterwards commanded the Executioner to take it off from his shoulders as a violatour of Military Discipline 5. A. Manlius Torquatus in the Gallick War commanded his own son by a severe sentence to be put to death for ingaging with the enemy contrary to his orders though the Romans came off with the Victory 6. Constantius the second called Copronymus a great enemy to Images commanded them all to be thrown down contrary to the liking of his mother Irene who not only maintain'd them with violence but also caused them to be confirm'd by a Council held at Nice a City in Bithynia seeing that at Constantinople the people were resolute to withstand them Hence grew an execrable Tragedy in the Imperial Court Irene seeing her son resolved against her defence of Images was so very much transported that having caused him to be seized upon in his Chamber she ordered his eyes to be put out so that he dying with grief she also usurped the Empire 7. M. Scaurus the light and glory of his Country when at the River Athesis the Roman Horse were put to flight by the Cimbrians and leaving the Pro-consul Catulus fled in great terrour to the City sent his son word who was a partner in that dishonourable flight that he had rather have met the bones of him slain in Battel than to behold him with the marks of a degenerate cowardise upon him The son upon the receipt of this message fell upon his Sword and dy'd 8. A. Fulvius a person of the Senatorian Order had a son conspicuous amongst those of his age â—or wit learning and beauty but when he understood that prevailed upon with evil counsel he was gone with a purpose to join himself with the Army of Catiline he sent after him in the midst of his Journey fetch'd him back and caused him to be put to death having first angrily told him That he had not begotten him for Catiline against his Country but for his Country against Catiline He might have restrained him of his liberty till the fury of that Civil War was over-past but that would have made him the instance of a cautious whereas this is the example of a severe one 9. Titus and Valerius the two sons of L. Brutus after the expulsion of Tarquinius had conspir'd with others to restore him though by the death of the Consuls the Conspiracy being detected by Vindicius a servant they with the rest were brought before the Tribunal of the Consuls whereof Brutus their father was one and when they were accused and their own Letters produc'd against them Brutus calling both his sons by their names Well said he what answer make you to these crimes you are accused of when he had thrice asked them and they remained silent turning his face to the Lictours The rest is now said he to be performed by you they straight catch hold of the young men pull off their Gowns and binding their hands behind their backs scourged them with Rods. When others turned away their eyes as not able to endure that spectacle Brutus alone never turned away his head nor did any pity change the wonted austerity and severity of his countenance but looking frowningly upon his sons in the midst of their punishments he so remain'd till he had seen the Axe â—ever their heads from their shoulders as they lay stretched out upon the ground then leaving the rest to the doom of his Colleague he rose up and departed 10. King Herod after his enquiry about the time of the birth of the new King of the Jews which the Wise men of his Nation said was then born caused a number of innocent Infants in Bethlehem and the Coasts thereof to be slain and amongst the rest a young son of his own Augustus Caesar being certified of this at Rome said it was better to be Herod's Pigg than his son this he said in allusion to the custom of the Jews who killed no Hoggs as not being permitted to eat any Swines flesh 11. The Dukedom of Holsatia was heretofore divided amongst several Counts so many Rulers did occasion great pressures upon the subjects and especially one of these Counts called Adolph was more grievous than any of the rest Hardvicus therefore one of
father was somewhat ashamed of him had thoughts of creating another Successour to himself and for the benefit of the Common-Wealth to have taken at once from his son both the title of Caesar and his life it self but the evil fortune of the Roman Empire at this time intercepted all his purposes by a sudden death 9. Saladine who left so great a name behind him left also the Kingdom of Syria to his son Noradine whose sloth and unprincely qualities were such that he was driven out by the people and his Uncle Saphadine set up in his stead after which he had so exhausted his own Patrimony that he was fain to subsist upon the mercy and charity of his brothers and at last died with the just reproaches of all men 10. Iohannes Galleacius who first had the title of Duke of Millaine was a Prince of a great and liberal mind and adorn'd with all other vertues that were to be required in a great person he was belov'd at home and fear'd abroad He was possessed of a great part of Italy which he had gain'd with much honour so that he was thought superiour rather than equal to some Christian Kings This man left his son Iohn to succeed him than whom Phalaris himself was not more cruel what his father had got by blood and valour and sweat this mad-man lost at least the greater part thereof laughing so that at last growing hateful and contemptible to his own people he was flain by them And his other son Gabriel having lost Pisa whereof he was possessed was openly beheaded at Genoa 11. Although Cassander through his equity and industry in his affairs had many who voluntarily became the followers of his greatness yet he made war upon divers Cities of Greece the destruction of which as a neighbouring fire struck such terror into the Spartans that they then first surrounded their City with Walls which before they only defended with their arms So far were they degenerated from the vertue of their Ancestors that whereas for many Ages the valour of the Citizens had been the only Wall of their City the Citizens now thought they could not be safe unless they lay hid behind the Walls of their City 12. Franciscus Sfortia Duke of Millaine amongst Christian Princes excelled in all kind of vertues he was not inferiour to Trajan for humanity and to the degree of his fortune was reputed as liberal as Alexander the Great But his sons did mightily degenerate from the so great vertue of their father Galeacius the Elder was ambitious and lustful proud of the least successes and extreamly dejected when any adversity befell him Philip the second son was corpulent foolish and a coward Ludovicus was prophane saying That Religion and Justice were fictions invented to keep the people in order he was of a haughty mind covetous lustful broken in adversity and unfortunate if not cowardly for though he had greater forces than his enemy he lost that Dukedom to Lewis the 12. King of France in sixteen daies which his father had gain'd by arms and kept with the singular love and benevolence of all men to the day of his death 13. Phocion was an excellent person but his son Phocus was so dissolute and resigned up to intemperance and excessive drinking that he could not be reclaimed by the Spartan discipline it self When Menyllus had presented Phocion with a great gift and he had refused it he requested that he would at least permit his son Phocus to receive it If said he my son Phocus reform himself he will have a Patrimony sufficient to maintain him but as he now behaves himself there is nothing that can be enough for him 14. Marcus Tullius Cicero the famous Orator had a son of the same name but of a very different nature for whereas his father was a temperate and abstemious person his son was so addicted to Wine that he would swallow down two Gallons at once and in one of his drunken fits he so far forgot himself that he struck M. Agrippa upon the head with a Pot. 15. Theodosius the great was a most happy and fortunate Emperour but in this one thing unfortunate for he left behind him two sons Honorius in the West and Arcadius in the East both Emperours but both so slothful and unlike their father that partly by that and partly by the treachery of Ruffinus and Stilichon the Empire was miserably and foully dilacerated by the Goths Hunnes and Vandalls 16. The sons of the Emperour Constantine the Great were as much below the Genius of their father in all praise worthy things as he did surpass all other Princes in piety and true greatness of mind For in respect of the Government of his life no man was more heedless than his son Constantinus Constans the second son was a man much addicted to unseemly pleasures And Constantius the third son was yet more intollerable by reason of his inconstancy and arrogance 17. Casimirus was fetcht out of a Monastery and made King of Poland a man of great vertue but his son Boleslaus who succeeded him in the Kingdom did much degenerate from the noble example of his father For he was a despiser and contemner of Religion a neglecter of the administration of Justice and of a cruel nature and disposition He slew Sanctus Stanisiaus the Arch-bishop of Cracovia and at last died himself an exile from his Country 18. Herodes Atticus the Sophist in respect of his wit and eloquence was second to none of his time yet had he a son of his called also Atticus who was of so dull and stupid a nature that he could never be made capable of understanding the first rudiments and elements of learning CHAP. V. Of undutiful and unnatural Children to their Parents SOlon would never establish any Law against Parricides or Parent-killers saying The gods forbid that a Monster should ever come into our Common-Wealth and certain it is that six hundred years from the building of Rome were over-past before so much as the name of that crime was known amongst them The first that killed his Father and stained his hands in the blood of him that gave him life was Lucius Ostius a person afterwards detested throughout all Ages P. Malleolus was the first saith Livy amongst the Romans who was known to have killed his Mother and who underwent that punishment which was by the institution of the Ancients in that case They ordained that the Parricide should be first scourged to blood then sown up in a Sack together with a Dog a Cock a Viper and an Ape and so thrown head-long into the bottom of the Sea But notwithstanding the severity of this Law and those of other Nations against a crime of this nature there are too many Instances of unnatural children as in part will appear by what follows 1. Antiochus a Jew accus'd his own Father and some other Jews then living at Antioch that
CHAP. VI. Of the affectation of Divine Honours and the desire of some men to be reputed Gods POwer is a liquour of so strong a Fermentation that few vessels are fit to be intrusted with any extraordinary measure of it it swells up men to an immeasurable pride and such a degree of immodesty as to believe themselves above the condition of mortality Death is the only remedy against this otherwise incurable madness and this it is that laies down these Magnifico's in the same nakedness and noysomeness with others O Eloquent just and mighty Death saith Sir Walter Raleigh whom none could advise thou hast perswaded what none hath dared thou hast done and whom all the world hath flattered thou hast cast out of the world and despised Thou hast drawn together all the far stretch'd greatness all the pride and cruelty and ambition of man and cover'd it all over with these two narrow words Hic jacet All these reputed gods have died like other men only perhaps more untimely and less lamented 1. Amulius King of the Latines was a proud man and at last grew up to that degree of arrogant impudence that he sought amongst his people to have the reputation of a god and to that purpose he had certain Machines by the help of which he imitated Thunders made an appearance of Lightnings by sudden ejaculations of flames and cast out Thunder-bolts but by a sudden inundation of waters near the place where he dwelt both he and his Palace were over-born and drowned 2. Agrippa King of the Jews had Reign'd over all Iudaea three years when he appointed Royal Shews in Caesarea upon the second day of which in the morning he entred the Theatre rob'd in a Vest of Silver the Silver irradiated with the beams of the Rising-sun shone with such a luster as bred a kind of horrour and aweful dread in the Spectators His flatterers therefore straight cried out from this and that other place That he was a god and besought him to be propitious to them They said That they had hitherto revered him only as a man but hereafter should acknowledge that he was above the nature of mortality The King though he heard did not reprehend these speeches nor reject so impious an Adulation but a while after when he had raised up himself he spy'd an Owl sitting over his head he had seen the like at Rome before in his calamity and was told it was the token of a change of his forlorn estate to great honours but when he should see the Bird in that posture the second time it should be the messenger of his death surpriz'd then with that unpleasing sight he fell into pains of the heart and stomach when turning to his friends Behold I your god said he am ceasing to live and he whom you but now called immortal is dragg'd unto death While he said this oppressed with torture he was straight carryed back to his Palace and in five daies was taken out of the World in the 54. of his age and seventh year of his Reign 3. Alexander the Great was very desirous to be accounted and taken as a god and boasted amongst the Barbarians that he was the son of Iupiter Ammon so that Olympiaâ— his mother used to say that Alexander never ceased to calumniate her to Iuno Being once wounded This said he is blood not that Ichor which Homer saies is wont to slow from the gods It is reported that finding himself near unto death he would privily have cast himself into the River Euphrates that being suddenly out of sight he might breed an opinion in men that he was not departed as one over-pressed with the weight of a disease but that he was ascended to the gods from whence he first came But when Roxane having understood his mind went about to hinder him he sighing said Woman dost thou envy me the glory of immortality and divinity 4. There was in Libya a man called Psaphon to whom Nature had been sufficiently indulgent in bestowing upon him extraordinary accomplishments the inward magnificence of his mind expanding it self and prompting him to it he used this subtil artifice to possess the Inhabitants about him with an opinion of his divinity Having therefore taking a number of such Birds as are capable of the imitation of humane speech he taught them to pronounce these words distinctly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psaphon is a great god this done he set them all at liberty who fill'd the Woods and places about with this ditty which the Inhabitants hearing and supposing this to fall out by divine power they fell to adoration of him 5. Caligula caused the Statues of the gods amongst which was that of Iupiter Olympius to be brought out of Greece and taking off their heads commanded his own to be set on instead thereof and standing betwixt Castor and Pollux exhibited himself to be worshipped of such as resorted thither He farther erected a Temple and instituted both Priests and most exquisite Sacrifices to the service of himself In his Temple stood his Image of Gold taken to the life which every day was clad with the same attire as was himself his Sacrifices were Phaenicopters Peacocks Bustards Turkeys Pheasants and all these were daily offered 6. Philip King of Macedon though a great contemner of the gods had yet a great desire to be reputed one himself and that also not inferiour to any of the rest for in that celebrious Pomp in which he caused twelve Statues of the gods to be carried he added his own for a thirteenth and would that it should be carried the first in order but he was at that time stabb'd and slain by the hand of Pausanias one of his own Guard 7. Menecrates the Physician having successfully cured divers persons of deplorable diseases was called Iupiter and he himself was not ashamed to take that name upon him insomuch that in the front of his Letter he wrote on this manner Menecrates Iupiter sends to King Agesilaus health who on the other side to meet with his intolerable pride and vanity returned King Agesilaus wisheth to Menecrates soundness The Greek Writers affirm of him that he took an Oath of such as he cured of the Falling-sickness that they should follow and attend upon him as his servants and they did follow him some in the habit of Hercules and others in that of Mercury Philip of Macedon observing the vanity of this man invited him with his own gods to supper when he came he was placed at a higher and more sumptuous Table whereon was a fairer Altar than on the rest on this Altar while the dishes were carryed up to other Tables were made divers â—ibations and suffumigations with incense till such time as this new Iupiter perceiving in what manner he was derided and abused went his way being well laughed at by all that were present 8. Flavius Domitianus being mounted to the Imperial Seat when after
she was by him well beaten with Myrtle Rods. And for that reason the women when they dress up and adorn the Chapel or Shrine of their goddess Bona they never bring home for that purpose any branches of the Myrtle Tree and yet otherwise take pleasure to make use of all sorts of branches and flowers in that solemnity 3. At Argos there were two of the principal Citizens who were the heads of opposite Factions one to another in the Government oâ— the City the one was named Nicostratus and the other Phaulius Now when King Philip came to the City it was generally thought that Phaulius plotted and practised to attained unto some absolute principality and soveraignty in the City by the means of his wife who was a young and beautiful Lady in case he could once bring her to the Kings bed and that she might lie with him Nicostratus was aware of as much and smelling his design walked before Phaulius his door and about his house on purpose to discover his intentions and what he would do therein He soon found that the base Phaulius had furnished his wife with a pair of high Shooes had cast about her a mantle and set upon her head a Chaplet after the Macedonian fashion Having thus accoutred her after the manner of the Kings Pages he sent her secretly in that habit and attire unto the Kings lodging as a Sacrifice to his lust and an agrument of an unparallel'd villany in himself who could endure to be the Pander in the prostitution of his own Wife 4. Periander the Corinthian in a high sit of passion trod his Wife under-foot and although she was at that time with child of a boy yet he never desisted from his injurious treatment of her till such time as he had killed her upon the place Afterwards when he was come to himself and was sensible that what he had done was through the calumniating instigation of his Concubines he caused them all to be burnt alive and banished his son Lycophron as far as Corcyra upon no other occasion than that he lamented the death of his Mother with tears and outcryes 5. Nero the Emperour being once incensed against his Wife Poppaea Sabina gave her such a kick with his foot upon the belly that she thereupon departed this life But though he was a man that seemed to be born to cruelty and blood yet he afterwards so repented himself of this act that he would not suffer her body to be burnt after the Roman manner but built the funeral pile for her of odours and perfumes and so ordered her to be brought into the Iulian monument 6. Herod the Sophist being offended with his Wife Rhegilâ—a for some slight fault of hers commanded his freed man Alcimedon to beat her She was at that time eight months gone with Child or near upon so that by the imprudence of him who was imployed to chastise her She received some blows upon her belly which occasioned first her miscarriage and soon after her death Her Brother Bradeas a person of great nobility cited her Husband Herodes to answer the death of his Sister before the Senate of Rome where if he had not it is pity but he should have received a condign punishment 7. When M. Antonius was overcome at Actium Herod King of Iudaea believing that he was in danger to lose his Kingdom because he had been a fast friend to Antonius determined to meet Caesar Augustus at Rhodes and there endeavour to assure his favour to him Having resolved upon his journey he committed the care and custody of his Wiâ—e to Sohemus his friendâ— giving him withall thus much in command That in case he should hear of his death by the way or at the place wither he was intended that then he should not fail forthwith to kill Mariamne his Wife yielding this only reason of his injunction that it might not be in the power of any man to enjoy so great a beauty after his decease Mariamne had extorted this secret from Sohemus and at Herod's return twitted him with it Herod caused Sohemus unheard to be immediately put to death and not long after he also beheaded Mariamne his beloved Queen and Wife 8. Amalasuenta had raised Theodahitus at once to be her Husband and King of the Goths but upon this proviso that he should make oath that he would rest contented with the title of a King and leave all matters of Government to her sole dispose But no sooner was he accepted as King but he forgat his Wife and benefactress recalled her enemies from banishment put her friends and relations many of them to death banished her self unto an Island in the Vulsiner lake and there set a strong guard upon her At last he thought himself not sufficiently safe so long as Amalasumha was alive and thereupon he dispatched certain of his instruments to the place of her exile with order to put her to death who â—inding her in a bath gave her no further time but strangled her there CHAP. VIII Of such Wives as were unnatural to their Husbands or evil deported towards them IN Italy there grows an herb they call it the Basilisco it is sweet scented enough but withal it hath this strange property that being laid under a stone in a moist place in a few dayes it produces a scorpion Thus though the Woman in her first creation was intended as a meet help for man the partner of his joyes and cares the sweet perfume and relish of his dayes throughout his whole pilgrimage yet there are some so far degenerated from their primitive institution though otherwise of exteriour beauty and perfection enough that they have proved more intolerable than Scorpions not only tormenting the life but hastning the death of their too indulgent Husbands 1. Ioan Gandchild to Robert King of Naples by Charles his son succeeded her Grandfather in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Anno 1343. a woman of a beautiful body and rare endowments of nature She was first married to her Cousin Andrew a prince of Royal extraction and of a sweet and loving disposition but he being not able to satisfie her wantonness She kept company with lewd persons at last she grew weary of him complaining of his insufficiency and caused him in the City of Aversa to be hung upon a beam and strangled in the night time and then threw out his Corpse into a Garden where it lay some dayes unburied It is said that this Andrew on a day coming into the Queens chamber and finding her twisting a thick string of silk and silver demanded of her for what purpose she made it she answered to hang you in which he then little believed the rather because those who intend such mischief use not to speak of it before-hand but it seems she was as good as her word 2. Cicero put away his wife Terentia for divers reasons as because she had made small
where they were born to strike terrour into the rest Not content with this he vexed the whole Province so that he left it in a manner desolate for he perfectly hated it because he thought they approved not of his Government He caused almost eighteen thousand Students to be brought before him and at once Massacred them all saying These were they that by their Sophisms solicited the rest to Rebellion Anno 1646. the Tartars entred the Province of Xensi to give him Battel and therefore to leave the Country behind him secure he commanded all the Citizens of what quality soever in his Royal City of Chingtu to be bound hand and foot which was done by his Army and then riding about them he viewed them with less compassion than a Tygre and cry'd out Kill kill these Rebels it is thought there were no less than six hundred thousand souls most of which were thus horribly murdered He besides sent part of his Army to other Cities about and killed all those he could lay hands on and so brought the populous Province of Suchuen into a vast Wilderness In his march he caused his Souldiers to kill all their Wives himself to give them an example having caused two hundred and eighty beautiful Maids that waited upon his three Queens to be slain He killed all his sick or weak Souldiers to deliver them as he said out of so miserable and ruined a Country Then he turned his rage against Cities Palaces and Buildings not sparing his own stately one in Chingtu he consumed it together with a great part of the City by fire he cut down all Trees and Woods that they might profit no man He sunk sixty Ships of silver in the River of Chiang having killed the Shipmen to conceal the place This done he marched into the Province of Xensi to meet the Tartars where this Devil incarnate was happily kill'd 16. Accioline Tyrant about Taurisium and Padua surpassed all those in cruelty that were called by the name of Christians he gelded Boys vitiated Virgins cut off the breasts of Matrons ripped up the bellies of women with child casting the births into the fire Once hearing that Padua had revolted from him he caused twelve thousand Paduans in his Army to be slain every man being after this beaten in the Field wounded and made a Prisoner he tore open the lips of his wound that he might die as cruelly as he had lived The manner of this Tyrant was like unto that of Caligula he put men to death by slow degrees that they might feel themselves die so that by divers waies of torture he was the death of thirty thousand persons CHAP. XI Of the bitter Revenges that some have taken upon their Enemies WHen the Emperour Frederick had newly obtained a most signal Victory in Hungary he made a Speech to his Souldiers whereof this was a part We have done said he a great Work and yet there is a greater that still remains for us to do which is to overcome our selves and to put an end at once to our Covetousness and the desire of Revenge Thus great and generous souls are ever found to be the most placable and are easiest appeased while the weak and fearful are guilty of the greatest barbarities as not knowing how to allot any measure or bounds to their anger 1. A Student sufficiently skill'd in Philosophy fell at odds with his fellow Student boat him with his â—ists and gave him a great deal of reproachful language not content with this he meditated a further Revenge Pretending sorrow for what had past he invites him to a Feast where they should be reconciled here he offers him a Cup of Wine which he had mixed with two ounces of the blood of a red hair'd man who but a while before had breath'd a vein he put in sugar in the sight of all that were present The other in token of friendship willingly takes off the poyson The next day he was sensible of no inconvenience but after a third was past he seemed to have some dotage in his discourses at length he became a meer fool and so continued while he lived no kind of remedy being found any whit available to him 2. In the Isle of Majorca there was a Lord of a Castle who amongst others kept a Negro slave and for some fault of his had beaten with some severity the Villain Moor watching his opportunity when his Master and the rest were absent shut the door against him and at his return he thus acted his damnable Revenge while his Lord stood without demanding entrance he reviled him violated the honour of his Lady threw her and two of his young children out at the Castle windows and stood ready to do the like with the third and youngest child The miserable father who had beheld the ruine of all his Family but this one begged of his slave to save the life of that little one which the cruel slave refused unless he would cut off his own nose the pitiful Parent accepted the condition and had no sooner performed it but the bloody Villain first cast the infant down head-long and then himself in a barbarous bravery thereby to elude the desired Revenge of his abused Lord. 3. As I went from Rome with my company saith Camerarius passing through the Marquisate of Ancona we were to go through a City called Terni As we entred the City we saw over the gate upon an high Tower a certain Tablet to which were fastened as at first it seemed to us a great many Batts or Reermice we thinking it a strange sight and not knowing what it meant one of the City whom we asked told us thus There was said he in this City two Noble Rich and mighty houses which of a long time bare an irreconcilable hatred one against the other their malice passed from father to son as it were by inheritance by occasion of which many of both houses were slain and murdered At last the one house not many years since resolved to stand no more upon murdering one or two of the adverse party by surprize but to run upon them all at once and not to leave one of them alive This bloody Family secretly gathered together out of the Country adjoining with their servants and such other Bravo's as many Italians keep in pay to employ in the execution of their Revenges these were privily armed and had notice to be ready at a word About midnight they seize upon the person of the Governour of the City and leaving Guards in his house go on silently to the house of their enemy disposing Troops at the end of every Street About ten of them take the Governour in the midst of them as if they had been the Archers of his Guard whom they compelled by setting a Poynard to his throat to command speedy entrance he caused the doors to be opened for they seeing the Governour there made no refusal which done they call
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
Messenger is come to thee our will and pleasure is that thou send us by him thy head unto Constantinople In vain was it to dispute the command of his Lord and thus the miserble man perished 3. William the Conquerour for his game and the pleasure he took in hunting enforested thirty miles in Hamshire pulled down thirty six Parish Churches and dispeopled all the place chasing the inhabitants from the places of their inheritance But the just hand of God was visible and remarkable upon his posterity for this his grievous oppression for in this very New Forest his two Sons Richard by a pestilent air and King William Rufus by the shot of an Arrow and his Grandson Henry son of Duke Robert by hanging in a bough as Absolom came to their untimely ends 4. Anno Dom. 1570. at Ryâ— in Sussex there was a strange example of Gods judgements upon a covetous oppressive Gentleman and one that desired to grind the faces of the Poor This Gentleman living near the Sea had a Marsh wherein upon poles Fishermen used to dry their Nets for which he received of them yearly a sufficient sum of money but at length not being content with it he caused his servants to pluck up the poles not suffering the Fishermen to come upon his ground any longer except they would compound at a larger rate but it came to pass the same night that the Sea breaking in overwhelmed all his Marsh which saith Hollinshead continueth in that manner to this very day 5. Lucullus the Roman Consul visiting the Cities of Asia found the poor country afflicted and oppressed with so many evils and miseries as no man living could believe nor tongue express for the extream and horrible covetousness of the Farmers Customers and Roman Usurers did not only devour it but kept the people also in such miserable bondage and thraldome that Fathers were forced to sell their goodly Sons and Daughters ready for marriage to pay the interest and use money of that which they had borrowed to pay their fines withall yea they were forced to sell the Tables dedicated to the Temples the statues of their gods and other Ornaments and Jewels of their Temples and yet in the end they themselves were adjudged for bondslaves to their cruel Creditors to wear out their dayes in miserable servitude And yet the worst of all was the pain and torment they put them to before they were so condemned for some they imprisoned and cruelly racked others they tormented upon a little brazen Horse set them in the Stocks made them stand naked in the greatest heat of Summer and on the Ice in the deepest of Winter so that bondage seemed to them a relief of their miseries and a rest from their torments Lucullus found the Cities of Asia full of such oppressions whereof in a short time he exceedingly eased them 6. King Iohn of England was a great oppressour on a time a Jew refusing to lend this King so much mony as he required the King caused every day one of his great teeth to be pulled out by the space of seven dayes and then the poor Jew was content to give the King ten thousand marks of silver that the one tooth which he had left might not be pulled out The same King assaulting the chastity of the Daughter of Robert Fitzwater called Mawd the fair and by her repulsed he is said to send a messenger to give her poyson in a poached Egg whereof she died not long after he himself had but little better fate being poysoned at Swinestead Abbey 7. Luther reports that he being at Rome a great Cardinal died and left behind him great store of mony Before his death he had made his Will and laid it in a Chest where his mony was After his death the Chest was opened and therein by the mony was found written in Parchment Dum potui rapui rapiatis quando potestis I scrap'd together while I could That you should do so too I would 8. Five Brethren of the Marshalls successively Earles of Pembrook dyed issueless Which Mathew Paris attributeth to the judgement of God upon them for their Fathers iniquity who detained from the Bishop of Firning certain Manours which he had violently taken from him 9. Lewis the eleventh King of France having been a great oppressour of his Subjects by excessive Taxes and enforced Contributions when he grew old resolved to redress that and other mischiefs whereby they had been oppressed but was in a short time after this purpose prevented by death 10. Anno Dom. 1234. in the reign of King Henry the third there was a great dearth in England so that many people died for want of victuals At which time Walter Grey Arch-bishop of York had great store of Corn which he had hoarded up for five years together yet in that time of scarcity refused to relieve the poor with it but suspecting lest it might be destroyed with Vermine he commanded it to be delivered to Husband-men that dwelt in his Mannors upon condition to return him as much New Corn after Harvest but behold a terrible judgement of God upon him for his covetousness and unmercifulness to the poor When men came to one of his great Stacks of Corn near to the Town of Rippon there appeared in the sheaves all over the heads of Worms Serpents and Toads so that the Bayliffs were forced to build a high wall round about the Stack of Corn and then to set it on fire lest the venemous creatures should have gone out and poysoned the Corn in other places CHAP. XIII Of the bloody and cruel Massacres in several places and their occasions THe Naturalists tell us of a Serpent who is therefore called Haemorrhois that wheresoever he bites he makes the man all over bloody It seems his poyson hath a particular command over the blood so as to call it all into the outward parts of the body The vulgar rout and headstrong multitude when once it is enraged is such another kind of Serpent wheresoever the scene of its insolency is it makes it all over bloody This unbridled torrent bears all down before it and being transported with its own fury it knows no difference of age sex or degree till it hath converted a flourishing place into an Akeldama or a field of blood In the year 1506. in Lisbon upon the tenth day of April many of the City went to the Church of Saint Dominicks to hear Mass On the left side of this Church there is a Chapel much reverenced by those of the Country and called Iesus Chapel Upon the Altar there stands a Crucifix the wound of whose side is covered over with a piece of Glass Some of those that came thither to do their devotions casting their eyes upon this hole it seemed to them that a certain kind of glimmering light came forth of it Then happy he that could first cry a miracle and every one said that God
shewed the testimonies of his presence A Iew that was but lately become a Christian there denied that it was any miracle saying it was not likely that out of a dry piece of Wood there should come such a light Now albeit many of the standers by doubted of the miracle yet hearing a Jew deny it they began to murmure calling him wicked Apostate a detestable enemy to Jesus Christ and after they had sufficiently revileâ— him with words all the multitude foaming with anger fall upon him pluck off the hair of his head and beard tread upon him trail him into the Church-yard beat him to death and kindling a great fire cast the dead body into it All the residue of the people ran to this mutinous Company there a certain Fryer made a Sermon wherein he vehemently egged on his auditors to revenge the injury that our Lord had received The people mad enough of themselves were clean cast off of the hinges by this Exhortation besides this two other Fryers took and held up a Cross as high as they could cryed out Revenge Heresie Heresie down with wicked Heresie and destroy the wicked Nation Then like hungry Dogs they fall upon the miserable Jews cut the throats of a great number and drag them half dead to the fires many of which they made for the purpose They regarded not Age or Sex but murdered Men Women and Children they brake open doors rush into rooms dash out Childrens brains against the walls they went insolently into Churches to pluck out thence the little Children old Men and young Maids that had taken hold of the Altars the Crosses and Images of Saints crying misericordia mercy mercy there they either so murdered them presently or threw them out alive into the fire Many that carried the port and shew of Jews found themselves in great danger and some were killed and others wounded before they could make proof that they had no relation to them Some that bare a grudge to others as they met them did but cry Jews and they were presently beaten down without having any liberty or leasure to answer for themselves The Magistrates were not so hardy as to oppose themselves against the fury of the people so that in three dayes the Cut-throats killed above two thousand Jewish persons The King understanding the news of this horrible hurly burly was extreamly wroth and suddenly dispatched away Iaques Almeida and Iaques Lopez with full power to punish so great offences who caused a great number of the seditious to be executed The Fryers that had lift up the Cross and animated the people to murder were degraded and afterwards hanged and burnt The Magistrates that had been slack to repress this riot were some put out of Office and others fined the City also was disfranchized of many priviledges and honours 2. In the 1281 year since the birth of our Saviour when Charles of Anjoy reigned in Sicily his Souldiers all French men lying in Garisons in the Cities grew so odious to the Sicilians that they studied of nothing so much as how to be revenged and to free themselves from the yoke of the French The fittest and most resolute in this business was a Gentleman called Iohn Prochyto This Gentleman being justly provoked by the French who had forced his Wife and finding himself much favoured by the Sicilian Lords and Gentlemen begins by their counsel and support to build a strange design for the entrapping of all the French at once and abolishing for ever their memory in Sicilia All which was so secretly carried for eighteen months that ever since it hath been looked upon as a prodigious thing that a design of that nature could possibly be so long and safely concealed by so many people and so different in humour The watch-word or signal was that upon Easter-day when the Bell should begin to toll to Even-song all the Sicilians should presently run to arms and joyning together with one accord should fall upon all the French throughout Sicilia Accordingly all the Inhabitants of the Iâ—le were gathered together at the appointed hour and armed ran upon the French cut all their throats without taking so much as one prisoner or sparing the Children or Women gotten with Child by the French that they might utterly extinguish the whole race of them There were slain eight thousand at that time and there escaped but a very small number who fled into a Fort called Sperling where for want of victuals they were all starved to death This bloody Massacre is to this day called the Sicilian Even-song 3. Anno 1572. was the bloody Parisian Mattins wherein was spilt so much Christian blood that it flowed through the streets like rain water in great abundance and this butchery of Men Women and Children continued so long that the principal Rivers of the Kingdom were seen covered with murdered bodies and their streams so dyed and stained with humane blood that they who dwelt far from the place where this barbarous act was committed abhorred the waters of those Rivers and refused to use either it or to eat of the fish taken therein for a long time after This Tragedie was thus cunningly plotted A peace was made with the Protestants for assurance whereof a marriage was solemnized between Henry of Navarre chief of the Protestant party and the Lady Margaret the Kings Sister At this Wedding there assembled the Prince of Conde the Admiral Coligni and divers others of chief note but there was not so much Wine drank as blood shed at it At midnight the Watch-bell rung the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde are taken prisoners the Admiral murdered in his bed and thirty thousand at the least of the most potent men of the Religion sent by the way of the Red Sea to find the nearest passage to the Land of Canaan 4. In the year 1311. and in the time of Pope Clement the fifth all the order of the Knights Templars being condemned at the Council of Vienna and adjudged to dye Philip the Fair King of France urged by the Pope and out of a covetous desire of store of Confications gave way for men to charge them with crimes and so these Innocents were put to death The Great Master of the Order together with two other of the principal Persons one whereof was Brother to the Dolphin of Viennois were publickly burnt together 5. Mithridates King of Pomus once a friend and confederate of the Romans and took their part against Aristonicus who would not consent to the admission of the Romans unto Pergamus according to the last will of King Attalus yet afterwards conceiving an ambitious hope to obtain the Monarchy of all Asia in one night he plotted and effected the death of all the Roman Souldiers dispersed in Anatolia to the number of one hundred and fifty thousand 6. The Massacre of the Frâ—nch Protestants at Merindol and Chabriers happened in the year 1545. the instrument of it being
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
recreate your eyes with the sweet pleasures of the Spring The Germans replied That they were not at all moved or affected with these feminine Ornaments that the time was now come wherein the Greeks must change their Gold for Iron for unless they should succeed in the Embassage they must expect to fight with men that do not glitter with Jewels as the Meadows with Flowers nor glory in their embroidered Garments as Peacocks in their Plumage but who as the true Sons of Mars in the fight would carry sparkles in their eyes and whose sweat-drops as they fell from them should resemble Oriental Pearls Thus they frighted these effeminate ones with their words and had done it much more with their blows but that the death of the Emperour Henry which soon after followed put a period to those purposes This was about Anno 1197. 9. Sir Walter Raleigh in great favour with Queen Elizabeth was observed in her Court to wear his Shoos so set with Pearls and Precious Stones that they were estimated to exceed the value of six thousand and six hundred Crowns 10. C. Caligula the Emperour in his Apparel Shoos and other habit did not alwayes wear what was according to the guise of his Country what was Civil Manlike no nor what was suiting with a mortal man He went sometimes attired in Cloaks of Needle-work embroidered with divers colours and set out with Precious Stones at others in a Coat with long Sleeves and with bracelets sometimes you should see him in Silks veiled all over in a loose Mantle of Tiffanie or transparent Linnen one while in Greekish Slippers or Buskins otherwhiles in a simple pair of Brogues or high Shoos now and then also in Womens Pantofles and Pumps For the most part he shewed himself abroad with a golden Beard carrying in his hand a Thunderbolt or three-forked Mace and Trident or else a Warder or Rod called Caduceus all of them the Ensigns and Ornaments of the Gods yea sometimes he went in the attire of Venus His triumphal Robes and Ensignes he always wore even before he made his Expedition or else the Cuirace of Alexander the Great which he had caused to be fetched out of his Sepulchre 11. Heliogabalus the Emperour excelled all others in his prodigious Luxury in this kind for his upper Garments were ever either of Gold or Purple or else the richest Silks that were procurable nay sometimes all beset with Jewels and Pearls which habit he was the first that brought up at Rome his Shoos were bedecked with Precious Stones and Pearle he never wore any Suit of Apparel twice He thought of wearing a Diadem made up with Jewels wherewith to set off his face and render his aspect more effeminate He sate commonly amongst Flowers or the most precious odours his excrements he discharged into Gold Vessels and Urined in Vessels of Onyx or Myrrhine pots He never swimmed but in Fishpools that were before hand replete with the Nobler Unguents and tinged with Saffron His Houshold-stuff was Gold or Silver his Bedsteads Tables and Chests of Massy Silver and so were his Cauldrons and other Pots and even these and the most part of his other Vessels had lascivious engravings represented on the sides of them 12. Anno 1582. the seventh of May a rich Merchants Daughter of Antwerp came to a fearful and lamentable end she being invited to a Wedding and intending to shew her self in her greatest gallantry sent for two Landresses to dress her Ruffs then greatly in fashion who bringing them home as well dressed as possibly they could yet not to the satisfaction of her foolish curiosity she in a great rage began to curse and swear and throwing the Ruffs on the ground wished the Devil might take her when she wore any of them again In which time by Gods permission the Devil in the shape of a Gallant her Suitor came to her and questioning the cause of her rage she told him how she was abused in setting her Ruffs He undertook to please her drest them she liking them put them on and looking in the Glass was very well pleased But while she was so doing the Devil kissed her and writhing her neck killed her Great preparations were made for her Burial and when four men went to move the Coffin they could not they opened the Coffin and instead of the Body which was gone there was seen sitting therein a black Cat very lean and deformed setting to great Ruffs and frizling of Hair to the great fear and wonder of the beholders CHAP. XIX Of Gaming and some mens expensiveness therein together with the wofull and dreadfull consequences of it ALexander the Great set a fine upon some of his Friends for that when they were playing at Dice he perceived they did not play for there are many who are concerned in this sport as if it was the most serious and weighty affair in the world We cannot say that they play who permit their whole fortunes yea sometimes their Wives and Children to the disposal of the Dice and great pity it is that such should be played with but rather that some exemplary punishment should be imposed upon so bold a prodigality 1. A Famous Gamester called Pimentel an Italian in the year 1603. came into France It is said and it is perfectly true that this Cavalier hearing what a humour of play reigned at the French Court caused a great number of false Dice to be made of which he himself only knew the high and the low runners hiring men to carry them into France where after they had bought up and conveyed away all that were in Paris he supplyed all the Shops with his own By which means having subjected the Spirit of Play and tyed the hands of Fortune he arrived at last in France where insinuating himself into the Court he was by some of his own Nation who had great interest there soon brought acquainted with the King and admitted as a Gamester Amongst others the Duke of Espernon was one from whom he drew considerable sums he got all his ready mony and many of his Jewels and after these wan of him a piece of Ambergriese to the value of twenty thousand Crowns the greatest that ever was seen in Europe and which the Republick of Venice to whom it was afterwards sold preserve to this day in their Treasury as a great rarity 2. Henry Cheney created by Queen Elizabeth Baron of Tuddington in Bedfordshire in his youth was very wild and venturous he played at Dice with Henry the Second King of France from whom he wan a Diamond of great price at one cast and being demanded by the King what shift he would have made to repair himself in case he had lost the cast I have said young Cheney in an Hyberbolical brave sheeps tails enough in Kent with their wool to buy a better Diamond than this 3. The Emperour Nero as he was excessively prodigal in his gifts so was he
Philip the fair afterwards seeing himself persecuted by Charles of Valois by an inexcusable temerity threw away his life For Charles sharply asking of him an account of the Treasures of the deceased King he freely answered It is to you Sir I have given a good part of them and the rest hath been employed in the Kings affairs Whereupon the Prince giving him the lie the other took the unseasonable boldness to reply By God Sir it is you your self this insolency sent him to the Gallows at Mountfaucon which he had caused to be built in his greatest authority 2. At Sir Henry Wotton's first going Embassadour into Italy as he passed through Germany he stayed some daies at Augusta where having been in his former Travels well known by many of the best note for learning and ingenuity with whom he passing an evening in merriment was requested by Christopher Flecamore to write some sâ—nâ—ence in his Albo a Book of white paper which for that purpose many of the German Gentry usually carry about them Sir Henry consenting to the motion took an occasion from some accidental discourse of the present company to write a pleasant definition of an Embassador in these words Legatus est vir bonus peregrè missus ad mentiendum Reipublicae causa which Sir Henry could have been contented should have been thus Englished An Embassadour is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his Country but the word for lie being the hinge upon which the conceit should turn was not so expressed in Latin as would admit of so fair a construction as Sir Henry thought of in English Yet as it was it slept quietly among other sentences in this Albo almost eight years till by accident it fell into the hands of Gasper Schioppius a Romanist a man of a restless spirit and malicious Pen who with Books against King Iames Prints this as a principle of that Religion professed by the King and his Embassadour Sir Henry Wotton then at Venice and in Venice it was presently after written in several glass windows and spitefully declared to be Sir Henry Wotton's This coming to the knowledge of King Iames he apprehended it to be such an over-sight such a weakness or worse in Sir Henry as caused the King to express much wrath against him and this caused Sir Henry to write two Apologieâ— one to Velserus one of the chieâ—s of Augusta in the universal language and another to King Iames which was so ingenuous clear and so choicely eloquent that His Majesty at the receipt thereof said Sir Hâ—nry Wotton had commuted suâ—ficiently for a greater offence 3. Lewis the eleventh King of France one of the most Politick Princes that France ever had being at Wars with his own brother Charles Duke of Normandy Francis Duke of Britanny and Charles Duke of Burgundy and desiring greatly to separate the last from the other two that he might thâ— better be revenged on them solicited him by his Embassadours to come to conâ—erence with him which the Duke yielded unto so that the meeting might be in a Town of his own in the Frontiers of Flanders and France for his better security wherewith the King was well contented The meeting therefore being appointed at Peronne whither the Duke was come with his Army and safe-conduct sent to the King by a Letter of the Dukes own hand the King went thither without any forces or guard to shew the confidence he had in the Duke to oblige him the more and to gain his good will But the Duke seeing now his enemy in his power and understanding at the same time that Leige ws revolted from him by the solicitation of certain Embassadours oâ— the King took him prisoner and would not release him untâ—l he hâ—d recovered the Town of Leige whither he forced him to accompany him with no small danger of his Person and in the end having made him grant to some hard conditions in favour of his Confederates against whom the King had especially plotted that Conference and Treaty he released him Now who sees not how grossly this Politician â—rred wherein it might be presumed that a man of any experience could not have been deceived First that having employ'd his Agents to stir up the Town of Lâ—ige against the Duke he did not counteâ—mand it when he resolved to put himself into his hands and then that he would upon any security or safe-conduct put himself to the courtesie and mercy of his enemy without urgent and inevitable necessity 4. Thomas Ruthal was by King Henry the seventh â—or his great abilities preferred to be Bishop of Durham King Henry the eighth made him of his Privy Council notwithstanding the hatred which Cardinal Woolsey bare unto him It happened that King Henry employed him as a Politick person to draw up a Breviate of the State of the Land which he did and got it fairly transcribed but it fell out that instead thereof he deceived with the likeness of the cover and binding Presented the King with a Book containing the Inventory of his own Estate amounting to an invidious and almost an incredible summ of one hundred thousand pounds Woolsey glad of this mistake told the King he knew where a mass of money was in case he needed it This broke Ruthals heart who had paid the third part of the cost of making the Bridge of Newcastle over Tyne and intended many more Benefactions had not death on this unexpected occasion surprized him Anno Dom. 1523. 5. The Duke of Ossuna a little man but of great fame and fortune was revoked from being Vice-Roy of Naples the best employment the King of Spain hath for a subject upon some disgust and being come to this Court where he was brought to give an account of his Government being troubled with the Gout he carried his sword in his hand instead of his staff the King misliking the manner of his posture turned his back to him and so went away Thereupon he was over-heard to mutter Esto es para servir muchachos This it is to serve Boyes This coming to the Kings oaâ— he was apprehended and committed Prisoner to a Monastery not far off where he continued some years until his Beard came to his girdle then growing very ill he was permitted to come to his house in Madrid being carried in a bed upon mens shoulders where he died about the year 1622. 6. When Pope Iulius the second attempted to deliver Italy from the Vltra Montani he sent an Italian Embassadour to the King of England to perswade him to take Arms in his behalf against the King of France and the Embassadour having delivered all that he had in charge to say answer was given in the behalf of the King That he was most ready and willing to defend the Pope but that an Army was not so soon to be made ready for that the English by reason of their long Peace had in a manner lost the use
Martialis one of his Centurions with the Execution by whom the Emperour was slain at Edessa as he was going to make water 3. Natholicus King of Scotland sent a great favorite of his to enquire of a famous Witch what should be the success of a War which he had in hand and other things concerning his person and estate to whom she answered That Natholicus should not live long and that he should be killed by one of his own servants and being further urged to tell by whom She said that the Messenger himself should kill him who though he departed from her with great disdain and reviled her protesting that first he woâ—ld suffer ten thousand deaths yet thinking better upon the matter in his return and imagining that the King might come to know of the Witches answer by some means or other and hold him ever after suspected or perhaps make him away resolved to kill him which he presently after performed Thus was that Prince punished for his wicked curiosity in seeking by such unlawful means to know the secret determinations of God 4. Such was the fatally venturous curiosity of the elder Pliny that as the younger relates he could not be deterred by the formidableness of the destructive flames vomited by Vâ—suvius from endeavouring by their light to read the nature of such Vulcanian Hills but in spight of all the disswasions of his friends and the affrighting eruptions of that hideous place he resolved that flaming wonder should rather kill him than escape him and thereupon approached so near that he lost his life to satisfie his curiosity and fell if I may so speak a Martyr to Physiologie 5. Alipius the intimate friend of St. Augustine went to Rome to improve himself in the study of the Law and one day was unwillingly drawn to accompany them to a sword-Play Though saith he you may compel my body yet my eyes and mind you can lay no force upon And therefore when he came to the Theatre he sat with his eyes closed but hearing a mighty shout of the people overcome with curiosity and trusting to himself that he was able both to see and despise whatsoever it should be he opened his eyes and saw the blood that was drawn drinking up with the sight the same immanity wherewith it was shed and beheld by others so that falling into a present delight and approbation of that bloody pleasure he not only returned thither often himself but drew others to the same place upon the like occasion 6. Nero the Emperour about the sixty sixth year of Christ possessed at once with a mad spirit of cruelty and I know not what kind of foolish curiosity that he might have the lively representation of the burning of Troy caused a great part of the City of Rome to be set on fire and afterwards to conceal himself from being thought the author of so great a villany by an unparalleled slander he cast the guilt of so horrid a fact upon the Christians whereupon an innumerable company of those Innocents were accused and put to death with variety of most cruel tortures 7. In the Land of Transiane there was a Prince tributary to the King of Pegu and his near Kinsman named Alfonge who married a sister of the Prince of Tazatay her name was Abelara one of the greatest beauties in the Eastern parts they lived a sweet and happy life with intire affection and for their greater felicity they had two Twin sons who in their under-growth discovered something of great and lofty and appeared singularly hopeful for the future These Infants having attained their ten years loved so cordially they could not live asunder and the ones desire still met with the others consent in all things but the Devil the enemy of concord inspires a curiosity into the minds of the father and mother to know their fates and to their grief they were told the time should come when these two Brothers that now loved so fondly should cut one anothers throats which much astonished the poor Princes and filled them with fearful apprehensions The two Princes being come to their fifteen years one said to the other Brother it must needs be you that must murther me for I will sooner die a hundred deaths than do you the least imaginable harm The other replied Believe it not good brother I desire you for you are as dear and dearer to me than my self But the father to prevent the misfortune resolved to separate them whereupon they grew so troubled and melancholy that he was constrained to protract his design till an occasion happened that invited all three the father and two sons to a War betwixt the Kings of Narsinga and Pegu upon title of Territories but by the mediation of Bramins a peace was concluded upon condition these two young Princes should espouse the two daughters of the King of Narsinga and that the King of Pegu on him that married the elder should confer all the Countries he took in the last War with the Kingdom of Martaban and the other brother besides the Kingdom of Tazatay should have that of Verma the Nuptials consummated each departed to his Territory Lands spaciously divided Now it fell out that the King of Tazatay was engaged in a sharp War with the King of Mandranella and sent to the two brother Princes for aid who both hastened unknown to each other with great strength to his assistance He from Verma came secretly to Town to visit a Lady once their ancient Mistress and the other brother being on the same design they met at the Ladies gate by night not knowing one another where furious with jealousie after some words they drew and killed each other One of them dying gave humble thanks to God that he had prevented the direful Destiny of his Horoscope not being the Assasine of his brother as 't was prejudicated hereupon the other â—inding him by his voice and discourse drawing near his end himself crept to him and embraced him with tears and lamentations and so both dolefully ended their daies together The father being advertised of it seeing his white hairs led by his own fault to so hard fortune over-born with grief and despair came and slew himself upon the bodies of his sons and with the grief and tears of all the people were buried all three in one Monument which shews us the danger of too great curiosity CHAP. XXII Of the Ignorance of the Ancients and others THere never was nor is there ever like to be in this World a beauty of that absolute compleatness and perfection but there was some Mole to be discerned upon it â—r at least some such thing as might have been wished away It is not therefore the design of this Chapter to uncover the nakedness of our Fathers so as to expose it to the petulancy of any but rather to congratulate those further accessions of light and improvements in knowledge which these latter Ages have attained unto
Wife of Seleucus had not one hair upon her head yet notwithstanding gave six hundred Crowns to a Poet who had celebrated her in his Verse and sung that her hair had the tincture of the Marygold I know not how this soothing flatterer meant it but this Queen became very proud of it which made her so much the more ridiculous 16. Rudolphus King of the Heruli warred with Tado King of the Lombards and when both Armies approached each other Rudolph committed the whole to his Captains he himself remained in his Tent in the mean time and sate jesting at the Table 'T is true he sent one to the top of a Tree to behold the fortune of the day but withall told him if he brought him ill news he would take his head from his shoulders This Scout beheld the Heruli to run but not daring to carry that news to the King consulted only his own safety by which means the King and all that were with him were taken and slain 17. Nero the Emperour was so luxuriously wastful and beyond all reason and measure that he would not fish but with Nets of Gold drawn with purple coloured Cords It is said he took delight to dig the Earth with a Golden Spade and when there was question about cutting the Isthmus of Corinth a design that had long troubled his brain he went thither led on with musical Violins holding in his hand the Golden Spade with which he began in the sight of the whole world to break the ground a matter which seemed ridiculous to the wiser sort living in that age 18. C. Caligula presented himself to be adored ordained peculiar sacrifices to himself at nights in case the Moon shined out full and bright he invited her to embracements and to lye with him the day he would spend in private conference with Iupiter Capitolinus sometimes whispering and laying his ear close to the Statue of him and sometimes again talking aloud as if he had been chiding Nay being angry with Heaven because his interludes were hindred by claps of Thunder and his banquetting disturbed with flashes of lightning he challenged Iupiter to fight with him and without ceasing roared out that verse of Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 None is O Iove more mischievous than thou or else that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dispatch thou me Or I will thee whereupon Seneca inferrs what extreme folly was that to think that either Iupiter could not hurt him or that he could hurt Iupiter 19. The servants of the Moscovites yea and their Wives too do often complain of their Lords that they are not well beaten by them for they look upon it as a sign of their indignation and displeasure with them if they are not frequently reproached and beaten by them 20. In the worship of Hercules Lyndius it was the manner that such as stood by him that embowelled the sacrifice did curse the bowels and wish heavy Imprecations upon them 21. Poliarchus the Athenian was arrived at that height of Luxury and Folly that if any of his Dogs or Cocks that he loved chanced to die he made publick Funerals for them invited his friends and buried them with great sumptuousness erecting Pillars upon their Monuments upon which also he caused their Epitaphs to be engraven CHAP. XXVII Of such as have been at vast Expences about unprofitable Attempts and where-from they have been enforced to desist or whereof they have had small or no benefit THere is scarce any thing of that difficulty but some one or other have had the confidence to undertake it and there have been some men of that nature as to desire nothing more than to effect that which others have looked upon as altogether impossible Some of those costly designs have been given over as suddenly as they were rashly adventured upon and others made to miscarry by some accident or other 1. In the Province of Northgoia a part of Bavaria the Emperour Charles the great caused a Ditch to be begun which should have been in length two thousand paâ—es and in breadth three hundred whâ—reby through the help of the Rivers Regnitz and Altmul he meant to have made a passage for Boats from the Danubius into the River of Rhine which begun work was hindred by continual rains and the Marishness of the Grounds 2. Full West of the City of Memphis close upon the Libyan Desarts alost on a rocky level adjoining to the Valley stand those Pyramids the barbarous Monuments of Prodigality and vain glory so universally celebrated the Regal Sepulchers of the Aegyptians The greatest of the three and chiefest of the Worlds seven wonders being square at the bottom is supposed to take up eight Acres of ground every square being three hundred single paces in length The square at the top consisting of three stones only yet large enough for threescore to stand upon ascended by two hundred fifty five steps each step above three foot high of a breadth proportionable No stone so little throughout the whole as to be drawn by our Carriages yet were these hewen out of the Trojan Mountains far off in Arabia a wonder how coâ—veyed hither how so mounted a greater Twenty years it was in building by three hundred sixty six thousand men continually wrought upon who only in Radishes Garlick and Onions are said to have consumed one thousand and eight hundred Talents It hath stood as may be probably conjectured about three thousand two hundred years and now rather old than ruinous Herodotus reports That King Cleops became so poor by the building hereof that he was compelled to prostitute his daughter charging her to take whatsoever she could get Arsinoe is eighty Miles distant from Cairo the ancient Kings of Aegypt seeking by vain and wonderful works to eternize the memory of themselves had with incredible charge and cost cut through all that main Land so that Vessels of good burden might come up the same from Arsinoe to Cairo which great cut or ditch Sâ—sostris the mighty King of Aegypt and long after him Ptolomaeus Philadelphus purposed to have made a great deal wider and deeper and thereby to have let the Red Sea into the Mediterraâ—ean for the readier Transportation of the Inâ—ian Merchandize to Cairo and to Alexandreâ— which mad work Sesostris prevented by death 〈◊〉 not perform and Ptolomaeus otherwise perswaded by skilful men in time gave over for fear lest by letting in the grâ—at South Sea into the Mediterranean he should theâ—â—by as it were with another general Deluge have drowned the greatest part of Grecia and many other goodly Countries of Asia and with exceeding charge instead of honour have purchased himself eternal infamy 4. The Emperour Caius Calâ—gula desired nothing more earnestly than to effect that which others thought was utterly impossible to be brought to pass And hereupon it was that he made a Bridge which extended it self from Baiae to Puteoli that is three Miles and six
told him the journey was long and an early hour of the day and therefore he thought iâ— best to return to the Castle and refresh themselves with a Breakfast that they might aâ—terwards travel the better Adelbert suspecting no evil with great courtesie invites him back with him they returned and after breakfast again they set forward As soon as Adelbert came in presence of the Emperour he is there yielded up into the power of his enemy and condemned to death Upon which with as great boldness as truth he accused Hatto of his treachery and perjury who replied that he had performed his Oath in returning with him to Breakfast in his Castle Adelbert by the Emperours command was executed and soon after the noble Family of the Palatines of the Oriental France was extinct and so the Castle together with all his other Territories fell into the hands of the Emperour 13. Paches the Athenian General called out Hippias Captain of the Arcadians and Governour of the Town of Notium to a Treaty upon this sworn condition That in case they should not agree amongst themselves he would set him in safety within the Town When Hippias was come forth to him he set a Guard upon him and forthwith leading his Army against the Town he assaulted and took it put all the Arcadians and Barbarians he found there to the Sword This done he took Hippias along with him to the City where he gave him his liberty as he said according to their agreement but soon after causing him again to be apprehended he appointed him to be put to death 14. The Aequi having made a League with the Romans and sworn to the same afterwards revolted chose a General of their own spoiled the Fields and Territories belonging to Rome Ambassadours were thereupon sent to complain of the wrong and to demand satisfaction But the General so little esteemed them that he bad them deliver their message to an Oak that grew thereby Accordingly one of the Ambassadors turning to the Oak said Thou hallowed Oak and whatsoever else belongs to the gods in this place hear and bear witness of this persidiousness and favour our just complaints that by the assistance of the Gods we may be revenged for this perjury So returning the Romans gathered an Army and having in Battle overthrown the Aequi they utterly destroyed that perjured Nation CHAP. XXX Of the Inconstancy of some Men in their Nature and Disposition IN the Country of the Troglodytae they say there is a Lake the taste of whose Waters is bitter and salt thrice in a day then it returns to sweet again and in the same manner it is with it in the night also whereupon it hath gained the name of the mad River Men are no less unequal and inconstant in their manners than these Waters are in their taste now courteous and then rough now prodigal and straight sordid one while extreamly kind and e're long vehemently hating where they passionately loved before 1. Mena was the Freed-man of Sextus Pompeius and in the War betwixt him and Octavianus Caesar he revolted from his Master with sixty Ships in his company of all which Caesar made him the Admiral not long after Caesar having lost most of his Navy by shipwrack Mena returned to Pompeius his forsaken Lord carrying along with him six Ships and was received by him with great humanity here endeavouring to repair his formerly lost honour he burnt divers of Caesars Ships and yet after all this when he found himself circumvented and overcome by Agrippa in a Naval fight he again went over to Caesars side with six Gallies this Runnagate the third time was received by Caesar who indeed indulged him his life but left him without employment under him 2. As long as Marius the younger managed the War with prosperity and success he was then called by the people of Rome the Son of Mars but no sooner did fortune begin to frown upon him but they altered their stile and called him the Son of Venus such is the levity and vanity of the inconstant multitude and brake down the Statues made for him in every street 3. Pope Innocent while as yet he was a private man used more than all others to cry out of the Popes that they did not employ the uttermost of their endeavours to root out that schism under which the Church of Rome had so long laboured and that they did not oppose with all their might the enemies of the Christian faith But when this man had himself attained to the Popedom he was so altered in his opinion and manners that divers persons are supposed to be prosecuted by him with great violence upon no other account than that they earnestly exhorted him to the performance of those things the want of which he had so blamed in his Predecessors 4. The Athenians had given Divine Honours to Demetrius Phalaraeus in a base manner had flattered him during his victories had set up two hundred Statues in his honour but when they heard of his overthrow by Ptolomy King of Egypt and that he was coming to them for succour they sent some to meet him to let him know he should not come near them for they had made a decree that no King should come into Athens They subverted and took down all those Statues which they had before erected and that also while Demetrius was living and before either rust or dust had any way disfigured them three hundred and sixty Statues saith Pliny and brake before the year was out 5. Cains Caligula was so inconstant and difficult in the management of affairs that no man knew what was fit for him to say or do in his presence sometimes he delighted in a numerous and full attendance and soon after he was in love with solitude he would often be angry when nothing was begged of him and at other times when any thing was asked he would haste away with all the speed imaginable to the performance of this or that and when he came upon the place do little or nothing in it he was prodigal in the expending and sordid in the procurement of monys he was now pleased with flatterers and such as spake freely in his presence and immediately incensed against both he dismissed many villanous persons without any punishment and caused many excellent persons to be killed by his command and he freequently treated his best friends with severity and in an injurious manner 6. Alcibiades varied his manners according to the custom of those he conversed with he passed through more mutations than the Cameleon doth colurs In Sparta he was very frequent in exercises fed sparingly went frugally was austere and kept himself to their black broth no way differing from the natural Spartans In Ionia he was voluptuous merry and slothful in Thrace he gave himself to riding and drinking of Wine and when he was with Tissaphernes he strove to exceed the very Persians themselves in
Father he was somewhat more pleasant than usual Those that sate at Table with him wondred at it at last he told them what had befallen him and thereupon was so derided by all that at once he should be cheated of brain and mony that for meer grief within some few days after he died CHAP. XXXIV Of persons of base birth who assumed the names of Illustrious Persons THey say there is a Pool in Comagena that sends forth a mud that burns in such manner as that it is no way to be quenched till a quantity of earth be cast upon it and Virgil hath it of the Bees those little Birds that when they swarm and have furiously commenced a civil war amongst themselves cast a handful of dust upon them and they return to their wonted quietness Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescunt Their fierce resolves and bloody battles cease When dust is thrown and they return to peace The mud and dregs of men are sometimes so inflamed with a passionate desire after greatness that they cannot rest till they are forced to their old obscurity or laid down in the dust of death 1. Andriscus was of so mean a condition in Macedonia that he had no other way to sustain himself but by his daily labour yet this man suddainly feigned himself to be Philip the Son of King Perseus and the feature of his face was somewhat like his He said it and others believed it or at least pretended they did especially the Macedonians and Thracians out of weariness of the Roman Government which with the novelty and rigour of it displeased them He had therefore speedily gathered mighty forces with which he overthrew a Roman Praetor at last he was overcome by Metellus led in chains to Rome and there triumphed over 2. Lambert Symnel pretended himself to be Richard Duke of York the second Son of Edward the fourth and thereupon came to claim the English Crown after a terrible battle fought in his quarrel he was taken alive and by order of King Henry the seventh put first into his Kitchin to turn the Spits and was afterwards advanced to be his Falconer in which office he lived and dyed 3. Amurath the second having newly ascended the Throne of his Father Mahomet at Thessalonica an obscure fellow crept as it were out of a Chimneys Corner took upon him the name and person of Mustapha the Son of Bajazet who was slain many years before in the great battle at Mount Stella against Tamerlain This counterfeit Mustapha animated by the Greek Princes set so good a Countenance upon the matter with such a Grace and Majesty that not only the Country people but men of great place and calling repaired to him as their Natural Prince and Soveraign so that in a short time he was honoured as a King in all parts of the Turkish Kingdom in Europe Amurath to repress this growing mischief sent Bajazet Bassa with a strong Army into Europe where he was forsaken of his Army and for safety of his life compelled to yield up himself to Mustapha Much trouble he afterwards created to Amurath at last being entrapped by the policy of Eivaces Bassa he sled when none pursued being taken he was brought bound to Amurath then at Adrianople by whose order he was hanged from the battlements of one of the highest Towers in the City and there left to the Worlds wonder 4. Herophilus a Farrier by challenging C. Marius who had been seven times Consul to be his Grandfather gained such a reputation to himself that divers of the Colonies of the Veterane Souldiers divers good Towns and almost all the Colledges made choice of him for their Patron So that C. Caesar having newly oppressed Cn. Pompeius the younger in Spain and admitting the people into his Gardens this man was saluted in the next Cloysters by almost as great a Company and unless Caesar had interposed the Republick had had a wound imprinted upon it by so base a hand but Caesar banished him from the sight of Italy yet after his death he returned and then entred into a Conspiracy of killing all the Senators upon which account by their command he was executed in Prison 5. In the reign of Augustus Caesar there was one who pretended that he was born of his Sister Octavia and that by reason of the extream weakness of his body he to whom he was set forth kept him as his own Son and sent away his own Son in his room but while he was thus carried with the full sayls of impudence to an act of the highest boldness he was by Augustus adjudged to tug at an Oar in one of the publick Gallies 6. In the reign of Tiberius there was one Clemens who was indeed the servant of Agrippa Posthumus the Grandchild of Augustus by Iulia and whom he had banished into the Isle Planasia but soon after by fraud and fame became Posthumus himself For hearing of the death of Augustus he with great courage went to bring forth his Master by stealth out of the Isle and so to recommend him to the Germane or other Armies but sayling slowly and finding that Agrippa was already slain he took his name upon him came into Etruria where he suffered his Hair and Beard to grow then gave out what he was sometimes shewed himself in private then went he to Ostia and thence into the City where he was applauded in divers Companies At last Tiberius having notice thereof by the help of Salustius Crispus at a convenient time caused him to be suddenly apprehended his mouth stopped and brought to the Palace where Tiberius asking him how he came to be Agrippa How came you said he to be Caesar He was secretly made away having expressed great constancy in his torments for he would not discover one of those that were in the Conspiracy with him 7. Demetrius Soter who reigned in Syria being for a certain and just cause offended with them of Antioch made War upon them they fearing the worst fly to new remedies set up a base person whom they salute for Alexander the Son of Antiochus and encourage him to seek after his Fathers Kingdom of Syria what through the hatred of Demetrius and the desire of novelty this new Alexander was generally followed and embraced he admires himself at his new fortune and the Troops he commanded he fought with Demetrius and not only overcame but slew him upon the place By this means he became the peaceable possessor of all Syria for nine years and ten months when giving up himself to all kinds of debauchery he was set upon by the young son of Demetrius now grown up overthrown and slain the end of this Scenick and imaginary King 8. In Germany Anno 1284. in the Reign of Rudolphus of Hapsburg the then Emperour there arose one who gave out himself to be the old Emperour Frederick who had been
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
by policy to get it or by riches to buy it But the king of Terrors is not to be bribed by the Gold of Ophir it is a pleasure to him to mix the Brains of Princes and Politicians with common dust and how loth soever he was to depart yet go he must for he dyed of that disease as little lamented as desired 4. C. Mecaenas the great Friend and Favourite of Augustus was so soft and effeminate a person that he was commonly called Malcinus He was so much afraid of death that saith Seneca he had often in his mouth All things are to be endured so long as life is continued of which those Verses are to be read Debilem facito mami Debilem pede coxa Tuber adstrue gibberum Lubricos quate dentes Vita dum superest bene est Make me lame on either hand And of neither foot to stand Raise a bunch upon my back And make all my teeth to shake Nothing comes amiss to me So that life remaining be 5. The Emperour Domitian was in such fear of receiving death by the hands of his Followers and in such a strong suspicion of treason against him that he caused the Walls of the Galleries wherein he used to walk to be set and garnished with the stone Phengites to the end that by the light thereof he might see all that was done behind him 6. Lewis the eleventh King of France when he found himself sick sent for one Fryer Robert out of Calabria to come to him to Toures the man was a Hermit and famous for his sanctity and while in his last sickness this holy man lay at Plessis the King sent continually to him saying that if he pleased he could prolong his life He had reposed his whole confidence in Monsieur Iames Cothier his Physician to whom he gave monthly ten thousand Crowns in hope he would prolong his life Never man saith Comines feared death more than he nor sought so many wayes to avoid it as he did Moreover as he adds in all his life time he had given commandment to all his Servants as well to my self as others that when we should see him in danger of death we should only move him to confess himself and dispose of his Conscience not sounding in his ear this dreadful word Death knowing that he should not be able patiently to hear that cruel sentence His Physician aforesaid used him so roughly that a man could not have given his Servant so sharp language as he usually gave the King and yet the King so much feared him that he durst not command him out of his Presence For notwithstanding that he complained to divers of him yet durst he not change him as he did all his other servants because this Physician said once thus boldly to him I know that one day you will command me away as you do all your other Servants but you shall not live eight days after it binding it with a great Oath which word put the King in such fear that ever after he flattered him and bestowed such gifts upon him that he received from him in five months time fifty four thousand Crowns besides the Bishoprick of Amiens for his Nephew and other Offices and Lands for him and his Friends 7. Rhodius being through his unseasonable liberty of speech cast into a Den by a Tyrant was there nourished and kept as a hurtful beast with great torment and ignominy his hands were cut off and his face disfigured with wounds In this wretched case when some of his Friends gave him advice by voluntary abstinence to put an end to his miseries by the end of his days he replied that while a man lives all things are to be hoped for by him 8. Cn. Carbo in his third Consulship being by Pompeys order sent into Sicily to be punished begged of the Souldiers with great humility and with tears in his eyes that they would permit him to attend the necessity of nature before he dyed and this only that he might for a small space protract his stay in a miserable life He delayed the time so long till such time as his head was severed from his body as he sate in a nasty place 9. D. Iunius Brutus bought a small and unhappy moment of his life with great infamy for Antonius having sent Furius to kill him when he was taken he not only did withdraw his Neck from the Sword but being also exhorted to lay it down with more constancy he swore he would in these words As I live I will give but some wretched delay to my fate 10. A certain King of Hungary being on a time very sad his Brother a jolly Courtier would needs know of him what ailed him Oh Brother said he I have been a great sinner against God and I fear to dye and to appear before his Tribunal These are said his Brother melancholy thoughts and withal made a jest of them The King replyed nothing for the present but the custome of the Country was that if the Executioner came and sounded a Trumpet before any mans door he was presently to be led to execution The King in the dead time of the night sends the Headsman to sound his Trumpet before his Brothers door who hearing it and seeing the messenger of death springs in pale and trembling into his Brothers presence beseeching him to tell him wherein he had offended Oh Brother replyed the King you have never offended me but is the sight of my Executioner so dreadful and shall not I that have greatly and grievously offended God fear that of his that must carry me before his Judgement-Seat 11. Theophrastus the Philosopher is said at his death to have accused nature that she had indulged a long life to Stags and Crows to whom it was of no advantage but had given to man a short one to whom yet the length of it was of great concern for thereby the life of man would be more excellent being perfected with all Arts and adorned with all kind of Learning he complained therefore that as soon as he had begun to perceive these things he was forced to expire yet he lived to the eighty fifth year of his age 12. Mycerinus the Son of Cleops King of Egypt set open the Temples of the Gods which his Father Cleops and Uncle Cephrenes had caused to be shut up he gave liberty to the people who were before oppressed and reduced to extremity of â—alamity He was also a lover and doer of Justice above all the Kings of his time and was exceedingly beloved of his people But from the Oracle of the City Buti there was this prediction sent him that he should live but six years and dye in the seventh He resented this message ill and sent back to the Oracle reproaches and complaints expostulating that whereas his Father and his Uncle had been unmindful of the gods and great oppressors of men yet had they enjoyed a long
life but he having lived in great piety and justice must shut up his days so speedily The Oracle returned that therefore he dyed because he did not that which he should have done for Egypt should have been afflicted one hundred and fifty years which the two former Kings well understood but himself had not When Mycerinus heard this and that he was thus condemned he caused divers lamps to be made which when night came on he lighted by these he carowsed and indulged his genius this course he intermitted not night nor day but wandred through the Fenns and Woods and such places where the most convenient and pleasurable reception was and this he did for this purpose that he might deceive the Oracle and that whereas it had pronounced he should live but six years he intended this way to lengthen them out to twelve 13. Antigonus observing one of his Souldiers to be a very valiant man and ready to adventure upon any desperate piece of service and yet withal taking notice that he looked very pale and lean would needs know of him what he ailed And finding that he had upon him a secret and dangerous disease he caused all possible means to be used for his recovery which when it was effected the King perceived him to be less forward in service than formerly and demanding the reason of it he ingenuously confessed that now he felt the sweets of life and therefore was loth to lose it 14. The most renowned of the Grecian Generals Themistocles having passed the hundred and seventh year of his age and finding such sensible decayes growing upon him as made him see he was hastning to his end he grieved that he must now depart when as he said it was but now chiefly that he began to grow wise 15. The Emperour Hadrianus a little before his death made this complaint and sorrowful Soliloquy Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis Quae nunc abibis in loca Palidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis Iocos 16. Titus Vespasianus the Emperour going towards the territories of the Sabines at his first lodging and baiting place was seised with a Fevor whereupon removing thence in his Litter it is said that putting by the Curtains of the Window he looked up to the Heavens complaining heavily that his life should be taken from him who had not deserved to dye so soon For in all his life he had not done one action whereof he thought he had reason to repent unless it were one only what that one was neither did he himself declare at that time nor is it otherwise known he dyed about the forty second year of his age 17. C. Caligula the Emperour was so exceeding afraid of death that at the least thunder and lightning he would wink close with both eyes cover his whole head but if it were greater and any thing extraordinary he would run under his Bed He fled suddenly by night from Messina in Sicily as affrighted with the smoak and rumbling noise of Mount Aetna Beyond the River Rhine he rode in a German Chariot between the Straights and the Army marched in thick squadrons together and when one on this occasion had said here will be no small hurliburly in case any enemy should now appear he was so affrighted that he mounted his Horse and turned hastily to the Bridges and finding them full and choaked up with Slaves and Carriages impatient of delay he was from hand to hand and over mens heads conveyed on the other side of the water Soon after hearing of the revolt of the Germans he provided to fly and prepared Ships for his flight resting himself upon this only comfort that he should yet have Provinces beyond Sea in case the Conquerors should pass the Alpes or possess themselves of the City of Rome 18. Amestis the Wife of the great Monarch Xerxes buryed quick in the ground twelve persons and offered them to Pluto for the prolonging of her own life CHAP. XLIV Of the gross Flatteries of some men AS the Heliotrope is alwayes turning it self according to the course of the Sun but shuts and closes up its leaves as soon as that great Luminary hath forsaken the Horizon So the Flatterer is alwayes fawning upon the Prosperous till their fortune begins to â—rown upon them in this not unlike to other sorts of Vermine that are observed to desert falling Houses and the Carcases of the dying Hope and fear have been the occasions that some persons otherwise of great worth have sometimes declined to so low a degree of baseness as to bestow their Encomiums upon them who have merited the severest of their reproofs Even Seneca himself was a broad flatterer of Nero which may make us the less to wonder at that which 1. Tacitus saith of Salvius Otho that he did adorare vulgus projicere oscula omnia serviliter pro imperio adore the people scatter his kisses and salutes and crouch unto any servile expressions to advance his ambitious designs in the attainment of the Empire 2. The like unworthy Arts Menelaus objects to his Brother Agamemnon in the Tragedian thus You know how you the Rule o're Grecians got In shew declining what in truth you sought How low how plausible you apprehended The hands of meanest men how then you bended To all you met how your Gates open flew And spake large welcome to the pop'lar crew What sweetned words you gave ev'n unto those Who did decline and hate to see you gloze How thus with serpentine and guileful Arts You screw'd and wound your self into the hearts O'â—h ' vulgar and thus bought the poor which now Makes you forget how then you us'd to bow 3. Tiridates King of Armenia when he was overcome by Corbulo and brought prisoner to Nero at Rome falâ—â—ng down on his knees he said I am Nephew to the great Lord Arsaces Broâ—her to the two great Kings Vologesus and Pacorus and yet thy Servant and I am come to worship thee no otherwise than I worship my God the Sun Truly I will be such an one as thou shalt please to make me for thou art my fate and fortune Which Flattery so pleased Nero that he restored him to his Kingdom and gave him besides an hundred thousand pieces of Gold 4. Publius Asfranius a notable Flatterer at Rome hearing that Caligula the Emperour was sick went to him and professed that he would willingly dye so that the Emperour might recover The Emperour told him that he did not believe him whereupon he confirmed it with an Oath Caligula shortly after recovering forced him to be as good as his word and to undergo that in earnest which he had only spoken out of base and false Flaâ—tery for he caused him to be slain and as he said lest he should be â—orsworn 5. Canutus King of England and Denmark was told by a Court Parasite that all things in his Realme were at his beck
to tell me of my faults and that publickly I am resolved to send one to take off his head The Queen took no notice of it but retired to her Apartment and put on a particular Garment proper only for Festivals and Visits and in this habit she came to the King who wondring at it asked her the cause of this novelty she answered Sir I am come to wish your Majesty much joy of what replied the King That you have a Subject said she that feareth not to tell you of your faults to your face seeing that a Subjects confidence in speaking so boldly must needs be founded upon the opinion he hath of the vertue and greatness of his Princes mind that can endure to hear him 3. Aratus the Sycionian who by his valour freed and restored his Country to its liberty was taken away from this life by King Philip with a deadly poyson and for this only cause That he had with too great a freedom reprehended the King for his faults 4. Anno 1358. Iohn King of Spain was extremely in love with a young woman his Concubine and it was to that degree that for her sake he committed things unworthy of a King killed some Princes of his own blood with his own hands and at last he was so besotted with the love of this woman that he would have all the Cities subject to his Crown to swear fealty unto her and to do her homage The Gentlemen of Sevil did much marvel at this Commandment so that having consâ—lted together they appointed twelve Gentlemen to go as their Embassadours to the King and gave them in charge modestly to reprehend the King to reprove him of those things which he did and to assay by all submission and humility to withdraw him from that humour of having homage done to his Minion saying They were bound by Oath to his Queen and could not transfer their fealty to another till they were absolved The Embassadours of Sevil went and modestly shewed the King of his imperfection the King gave ear and for answer taking his Beard in his hand he said By this Beard I certifie you that you have not well spoken and so sent them away Few daies after the King went to Sevil and remembring the reprehension which he received from the Embassadours he caused them all to be massacred in one night in their own houses 5. Vodine Bishop of London feared not to tell King Vortiger that for marrying a heathenish Lady Rowena daughter to Hengist he had thereby endangered both his soul and his Crown The King could not endure this liberty but his words were so ill digested by him that they shortly cost the Bishop his life 6. Cambyses King of Persia had slain twelve Persians of principal rank when King Croesus thus admonished him Do not O King said he indulge thine age and anger in every thing refrain your self it will be for your advantage to be prudent and provident and fore-sight is the part of a wise man but you put men to death upon slight occasions your Countrymen and spare not so much as young Children If you shall persist to do often in this manner consider if you shall not give occasion to the Persians to revolt from you Your father Cyrus laid his strict commands upon me that as often as occasions should require I should put you in mind of those things which might conduce to your profit and welfare Cambyses snatched up a Bow with intention to have shot Croesus through but he ran hastily away Cambyses thus prevented commanded his Ministers to put him to death but they supposing the King would repent himself and then they should be rewarded for his safety kept him privately alive Long it was not e're Cambyses wanted the Counsel of Croesus when his servants told him that he yet lived Cambyses rejoyced hereat but caused them to be put to death who had disobeyed his Commandment in preserving him whom he had condemned to death 7. Sabinus Flavius being one of the Conspiratours against Nero and asked by him Why he regarded the Military Oath so little as to conspire his death answered him That he was faithful to him while he deserved to be loved but he could not but hate him since he was his Mothers Brothers and Wives murderer a Waggoner a Minstril a Stage-player and an Incendiary of the City Than which speech saith the History nothing could have happened to Nero more vexatious for though he was prompt to do wickedly yet was he impatient and could by no means endure to hear of the Villanies he did 8. Ptolomaeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt marryed his own Sister Arsmoe at which time one Sotades came unto him and said You put your Aglet Sir thorow the Oilet that is not made for it For this saying he was cast into Prison where he remained a long time in misery and in the end there rotted 9. Telemachus a Monk when the people of Rome were intentively gazing upon the Sword-Playes which at that time were exhibited reproved them for so doing whereupon the people were so moved and exasperated against him that they stoned him to death upon the place Upon this occasion the Emperour Honorius in whose Reign this fell out put down for ever all Sword-playing in the Theatre at Sharps as they were formerly wont to do 10. Alexander the Great writing to Philotas one of his brave Captains and the son of the excellent Parmenio sent him word in his Letter how that the Oracle of Iupiter Hammon had acknowledged him to be his son Philotas wrote back That he was glad he was received into the number of the gods but withal that he could not but be sensible of the miserable condition of those men that should live under one who thought himself more than a man This liberty of speech and reproof of his Alexander never forgat till such time as he had taken away his Life 11. Iohn Bishop of Bergamum a grave and devout person did freely reprove a King of the Lombards for his wickedness the impious King could not endure it but caused him to be set upon a sierce Horse which used to cast his riders and to tear them in pieces In this manner he sent home the good Bishop expecting soon after to have the news of his death brought to him But no sooner was the holy Prelate mounted but the Horse laid aside his siereness and carried him home in safety 12. Oraetes Prefect of Sardis was reproved by Mitrobates that he had not added the Isle of Samos to the Kings Dominions being so near unto him and over which Polycrates then Tyrannized Oraetes by a wile first seized upon Polycrates and Crucified him and when Cambyses was dead mindful of this freedom he slew Mitrobates with his son Cranape CHAP. XLVII Of the base Ingratitude of some unworthy persons HIppocratidas received Letters from a Noble man his friend wherein he craved his advice
best man of War and the most expert Captain amongst the Turks Bajazet made him the General of his Army against his brother Zemes where the conduct and valour of the General brought Bajazet the Victory At his return to Court this great Captain was invited to a Royal supper with divers of the principal Bassa's where the Emperour in token they were welcom and stood in his good grace caused a garment of pleasing colour to be cast upon every one of his Guests and a gilt Bowl full of Gold to be given each of them but upon Achmetes was cast a Gown of black Velvet all the rest rose and departed but Achmetes who had on him the Mantle of death amongst the Turks was commanded to sit still for the Emperour had to talk with him in private The Executioners of the Emperours wrath came stripped and tortured him hoping that way to gain from him what he never knew of for Bassa Isaac his great enemy had secretly accused him of an intelligence with Zemes but he was delivered by the Ianizaries who would no doubt have slain Bajazet and rifled the Court at his least word of command but though he scaped with his life at the present he not long after was thrust through the body as he sat at supper in the Court and there slain This was that great Achmetes by whom Mahomet the father of this Bajazet had subverted the Empire of Trapezond took the great City of Caffa with all the Country of Taurica Chersonesus the impregnable City of Croja Scodra and all the Kingdom of Epirus a great part of Dalmatia and at last Otranto to the terrour of all Italy CHAP. XLVIII Of the Perfidiousness and Treachery of some men and their just rewards THere is nothing under the Sun that is more detestable than a Traytor who is commonly followed with the execrations and curses of those very men to whom his Treason hath been most useful All men being apt to believe that he who hath once exposed his Faith to sale stands ready for any Chapman as soon as any occasion shall present it self It is seldom that these perfidious ones do not meet with their just rewards from the hands of their own Patrons however the vengeance of Heaven where the justice of men fails doth visibly fall upon them 1. Charles Duke of Burgundy gave safe conduct to the Constable the Earl of St. Paul and yet notwithstanding after he found that Lewis the eleventh King of France had taken St. Quintins and that he did solicite him either to send him Prisoner to him or else to kill him within eight daies after his taking according to the agreement heretofore made betwixt them he basely delivered him up to Lewis whom he knew to be his mortal enemy by whom he was beheaded But the Duke who heretofore was great and mighty with the greatest Princes in Christendom who had been very fortunate and successful in his affairs from thenceforth never prospered in any thing he undertook but was betrayed himself by one whom he trusted most the Earl of Campobrach lost his Souldiers his formerly gained glory Riches and Jewels and finally his life by the Swissers after he had lived to see himself deserted of all that had entred into any league with him 2. The Emperour Charles the fourth made War upon Philip Duke of Austria and both Armies were got near together with a resolution to fight but the Emperour perceiving he was far surmounted in force by the enemy determined to do that by subtilty which he could not by strength He caused three of the Dukes Captains to be sent for agrees with them to strike a fear into their Master that might cause him in all hast to retire Upon their return they tell the Duke That they had been out and particularly viewed the power of the Emperour and found it thrice as great as his own that all would be lost if he did not speedily retreat and that he had no long time to deliberate Then said the Duke Let us provide for our selves waiting for some better opportunity It is no shame for us to leave the place to a stronger than our selves So Philip fled away by night no man pursuing him The Traytors step aside to the Emperour to receive their reward who had made provision of golden Ducats all counterfeit the best not worth six-pence and caused great bags of the same to be delivered to them and they merrily departed But when employing their Ducats they found them to be false they return to the Emperour complain of the Treasurer and Master of the Mint The Emperour looking on them with a frowning countenance said to them Knaves as you are get ye to the Gallows there to receive the reward of your Treason false work false wages an evil end befall you They wholly confounded withdrew themselves suddenly but whither is not known 3. The Bohemians having gotten the Victory and slain Vratislaus they set his Country on fire and after finding a young son of his they put him into the hands of Gresomislas the Prince called also Neclas who pitying the child his Cousin committed him to the keeping of the Earl Duringus whose Possessions lay along by the River Egra and a person who a-fore-time had been much favoured by Vratislaus This Earl thinking to insinuate himself into the favour and good liking of Neclas as the child was one day sporting himself upon the Ice came upon him and with one blow of his Scimitar smote off his head and speeding presently to Prague presents it to Neclas all bloody saying I have this day made your Throne sure to you for either this Child or you must have died you may sleep henceforth with security since your Competitour to the Crown is disposed of The Prince retaining his usual gravity and just indignation at so cruel a Spectacle said thus unto him Treason cannot be mitigated by any good turns I committed this Child to thee to keep not to kill Could neither my command nor the memory of thy friend Vratislaus nor the compassion thou oughtest to have had of this Innocent turn away thy thoughts from so mischievous a deed What was thy pretence to procure me rest Good reason I should reward thee for thy pains of three punishments therefore chuse which thou wilt Kill thy self with a Poynard hang thy self with an Halter or cast thy self headlong from the Rock of Visgrade Duringus forced to accept of this Decree hang'd himself in an Halter upon an Elder tree not far off which ever after so long as it stood was called Duringus his Elder tree 4. In the War with the Falisci Camillus had besieged the Falerians but they secure in the Fortifications of their City were so regardless of the Siege that they walked Gowned as before up and down the Streets and often-times without the Walls After the manner of Greece they sent their Children to a common School and the treacherous Master of them used
to walk with them day by day without the Walls he did it often and by degrees trained them so far onwards that he brought them unawares into the danger of the Roman Stations where they were all taken He bids them lead him to Camillus he was brought into his Tent where standing in the middle I am said he the Master of these Boyes and having a greater respect to thee than to my relation I am come to deliver thee the City in the pledges of these Children Camillus heard him and looking upon it as a base action he turned to them about him War said he is a cruel thing and draws along with it a multitude of injuries and wrongs yet to good men there are certain Laws of War nor ought we so to thirst after Victory as to purchase it at the price of unworthy and impious actions A great Captain should relye upon his own vertue and not attain his ends by the treachery of another Then he commands his Lictours to strip the School-master and having tyed his hands behind him to deliver rods into the hands of his Scholars to whip and scourge the Traytor back into the City The Faliscans had before perceived the Treason and there was an universal mourning and out-cry within the City for so great a Calamity so that a concourse of Noble persons both men and women like so many mad creatures were running to and fro upon the Walls when came the Children driving with lashes their Master before them calling Camillus their Preserver and Father The Parents and the rest of the Citizens were astonished at what they beheld and having the justice of Camillus in great admiration they called an Assembly and sent Embassadours to let him know That subdu'd by his vertue they rendred up themselves and theirs freely into his hands 5. Agathocles was very prosperous in Africk had taken all the rest of the Cities and shut up his enemies in Carthage alone about which he lay when he invited Ophellas the Cyrenian to join with him promising that the Crown of Africk should be his Ophellas won with this hope came to him with great Forces and was together with his Army chearfully received and provided for by Agathocles but soon after a great part of his power being gone forth to Forage and Ophellas but weak in the Camp he was fallen upon and slain in the fight and his whole Army by vast promises won to the Colours of Agathocles But observe how successful this treachery proved It was not long e're Agathocles was forced to fly out of Africa his Army lost and two of his sons slain by the fury of the mutinous Souldiers and which is worthy of observation this was done by the hands of them that came with Ophellas and in the same Month and day of the Month that he had treacherously slain Ophellas both his friend and his Guest 6. Ladislaus Kerezin a Hungarian trayterously delivered up Hiula a strong place to the Turks and when he looked to receive many and great Presents for this his notable piece of Service certain Witnesses were produced against him by the command of Sâ—lymus himself who deposed That the said Ladislaus had cruelly handled certain Musulmans that had been Prisoners with him Whereupon he was delivered to some friends of theirs to do with him as they should think good They inclosed this Traytor stark-naked in a Tun or Hogâ—head set full of long sharp nails within side and rolled it from the top of a high Mountain full of steepy downfals to the very bottom where being run through every part of the body with those sharp nails he ended his wretched life 7. Leo Armenius Emperour of Constantinople was slain by some Conspiratours in the Temple there and Michael Balbus set up to succeed in his room He also dead Theophilus his son was advanced to the Imperial place of his father who was no sooner confirmed in his Empire but he called together the whole Senate into his Palace and bids those of them that assisted his father in the slaughter of Leo to separate themselves from the rest which when they had chearfully done turning to the Prefect over Capital offences he commanded him to seise and carry them away and to execute condigne punishment upon them 8. When the Emperour Aurelian marched against Thyana and found the Gates of the City shut against him he swore he would make such a slaughter that he would not leave a Dog alive in the whole City The Souldiers enticed with the hope of spoil did all they were able to take it which one Heracleon perceiving and fearing to perish with the rest betrayed the City into their hands Aurelian having taken it caused all the Dogs in the City to be slain But gave to all the Citizens a free pardon as to life except only the treacherous Heracleon whom he caused to be slain saying He would never prove faithful to him that had been the betrayer of his own Country 9. Solyman the magnificent employed one in the Conquest of the Isle of Rhodes promising the Traytor to give him for his wife one of his daughters with a very great Dowry He after his service done demanding that which was promised Solyman caused his daughter to be brought in most Royal Pomp assigning him the Marriage of her according to his desert The Traytour could not keep his Countenance he was so transported with joy Thou seest said Solyman I am a man of my word but for as much as thou art a Christian and my daughter thy Wife that shall be is a Mahumetan by birth and profession you cannot so live in quietness and I am loth to have a Son-in-law that is a not Musulman both within and without and therefore it is not enough that thou abjure Christianity in word as many of thy Sect are wont to do but thou must forthwith doff thy skin which is Baptized and uncircumcised Having so said he commanded some that stood by to flea alive the pretended Son-in-law and that afterwards they should lay him upon a bed of Salt ordaining That if any Mahumetan skin came over him again in place of the Christian that then and not before his promised Spouse should be brought unto him to be marryed the wretched Traytor thus shamefully and cruelly sâ—outed died in most horrible torments 10. The Venetians put to death Marinus Falierus their Duke for having conspired against the State and whereas the Pictures of their Dukes from the first to him that now liveth are represented and drawn according to the order of their times in the great Hall of the General Council yet to the end that the Picture of Falier a pernicious Prince might not be seen amongst other of those Illustrious Dukes they caused an empty Chair to be drawn and covered over with a black Veil as believing that those who carryed themselves disloyally to the Common-wealth cannot be more severely punished than if their names be covered
being once all together one of them stole from his Fellows and finding this Staff at the Door accused his Sister to his Father of adultery whereof by discovery of the truth she was cleared 9. Bassianus Caracalla the Emperour after he had slain the Son of Iulia his Mother-in-law did also take her to his Wife upon this occasion Iulia was a most beautiful woman and she one day as if through negligence or accident having discovered a great part of her body naked to the eyes of her Son Bassianus sighing said thereupon I would if I might Iulia replyed If you please you may know you not that you are Emperour and that it is your part to give and not to receive Laws Hearing this he publickly marryed her and kept her as his Wife Not long after being slain by the hand of Martialis Macrinus having burnt his body sent the reliques thereof in an Vrn to Iulia his Wife and Mother then at Antioch in Syria who casting her self upon the Urn slew her self and this was the end of this incestuous copulation 10. Artaxerxes Mnemon King of Persia fell in love with his own Daughter a beautiful Virgin called Atossa which his own Mother Parysatis perceiving perswaded him to marry her and so to take her for his Wife and though the Persian Laws forbad such incestuous Marriages yet by the counsel of his wicked Mother and his own lust he had her for his Wife after which time he never prospered in any thing he took in hand 11. Lucretia the Daughter of Pope Alexander the sixth not only lay with the Pope her Father but also with her Bother the Duke of Candy which Duke was also slain by Caesar Borgia for being his Rival in his Sisters Bed Of this Lucretia is this Epitaph extant Hic jacet in tumulo Lucretia nomine sed re Thais Alexandri Filia Sponsa Nurus Here Lucrece lies a Thais in her life Pope Sixtus Daughter Daughter-in-law and Wife 12. When we came to the Court of the King of Queda we found that with a great deal of Pomp excellent Musick Dancing and largess to the poor he was solemnizing the Funerals of his Father whom he himself had stabbed on purpose to marry his own Mother after he had already gotten her with Child As a remedy in these evils he made proclamation that on pain of a most rigorous death no person whatsoever should be so daring as to speak a word of that which had passed and it was told us how for that cause he had already put to death divers principal personages of his Kingdom and a number of Merchants CHAP. LII Of such as have been warned of their approaching death who yet were not able to avoid it WHen Alexander the Great then in India had been told by an Oracle that he should dye by Poyson at Babylon and that within the compass of the next eight months he was importunate to know further who was the person that should give him that Poyson But he had no other answer than this That the Fates cannot be deceived So it seems for when the appointed time is come 't is easie to observe how some push on themselves by a wilful and presumptuous foolhardiness and to others their very caution and circumspection hath proved as fatal to them as any other thing 1. Advâ—rtisements were come from all parts both within and without the Realm from Spain Rome Lorrain and Savoy to give notice to Henry of Lorrain Duke of Guise in the reign of Henry the third of France that a bloody catastrophe would dissolve that assembly he had then occasioned of the Estates The Almanacks had well observed it it was generally bruited in the Estates that the execution should be on St. Thomas day the very Eve before the Dukes death the Duke himself sitting down to Dinner found a scrole under his Napkin advertising him of a secret ambush of the King and his but he writ underneath with his own hand They dare not and threw it under the Tabâ—e seeing therefore that no warning would abate his confidence nor awake his security his murder was performed on this manner Upon December 23. 1588. the King assembles his Council having before prepared seven of his Gentlemen that were near his person to execute his will The Duke of Guise came and attending the beginning of the Council sends for an Handkerchief Pericart his Secretary not daring to commit this new advertisement to any mans report tyes a note to one of the corners thereof saying Come forth and save your self else you are but a dead man But Larchant the Captain of the Kings Guard staid the Page that carried it and caused another to be given to him by St. Prix the chief Groom of the Kings Chamber The spirit of man doth often prophesie the mischief that doth pursue him the Duke in the Council feels strange alterations and extraordinary distemperatures and amidst his distrust a great fainting of his heart St. Prix presents unto him some Prunes of Brignolles and Raysins of the Sun he eats and thereupon the King calls him into his Cabinet by Revol one of the Secretaries of State as it were to confer with him about some secret of importance the Duke leaves the Council to pass into the Cabinet and as he lift up the Tapestry with one hand to enter they charge him with Swords Daggers and Partisanes and so he was slain 2. Certain it is that some good while before the Duke of Buckinghams death by the Knife of Felton Sir Clement Throckmorton a Gentleman then living advised him to wear a privy Coat whâ—se Council the Duke received very kindly but gave him this answer That against any popular fury a Shirt of Male would be but a silly defence and as for any single mans assault he took hiâ—self to be in no danger so dark is destiny 3. The night before King William the second was killed a certain Monk dreamed that he saw the King gnaw the Image of Christ cruciâ—ied with his teeth and that as he was about to bite away the legs of the same Image Christ with his feet spurned him down to the ground and that as he lay on the earth there came out of his mouth a flame of fire with abundance of smoak this being related to the King by Robert Fitz Mammon he made a jest of it saying This Monk would sain have something for his dream go give him an hundred Shillings but bid him look that he dream more auspicious dreams hereafter Also the same night the King himself dreamed that the veins of his arms were broken and that the blood issued out in great abundance and many other like passages there were by which it seems he had Friends somewhere as well as Iulius Caesar that did all they could to give him warning but that as Caesars to his malus Genius would not suffer him to take it for King William notwithstanding forewarned by many signs
appeared to him in the night he repeated a Greek verse which would have no credit given to dreams and so clearing his mind of that suspicion he had conceived gave opportunity to Cassander to administer that poyson which was already prepared for him 9. The last night that Iulius Caesar was alive upon earth he was told by Calpurnia his Wife that she had then newly dreamed that she saw him lye dead in her bosome done to death by many wounds and being in great perplexity and fright with her vision she desisted not with most importunate entreaties to deterr him from going the next morning to the Senate-house he had also notice by Spurina to beware of the Ides of March in which he was slain nay in the morning as he passed to the Senate one thrust into his hands a note of all the Conspirators which he also shuâ—fled amongst the rest of his Papers and never looked upon 10. Aterius Rufâ—us a Knight of Rome when a great Sword-play was to be performed by the Gladiators of Syracuse dreamed the night before that one of those kind of Fencers which are called Retiarii which use Nets in the Theatre to entangle their Adversaries with that they should neither offend nor defend gave him a mortal wound which dream he told to such of his Friends as sate next him It happened presently after that one of those Retiarii was forced by his Adversary to the place where Aterius and his Friends were seated as Spectators whose face he no sooner beheld but he started and told his Friends that he was the man from whose hands he had dreamed he received his death and would thereupon have departed his Friends endeavour to detain him by discussing his fear and so occasioned his murder for the Retiarius having then compelled his Adversary to that very place and overthrown him while he was busie to thrust his Sword through him as he lay prostrate he so wounded Aterius that he dyed upon it 11. Mauritius the Emperour dreamed that both himself and his whole Stock were killed by one Phocas not without some fearful apprehensions he discourses this dream of his unto Philippicus his Son-in-Law Exact enquiry is made if any could be found of that name and in so numerous an Army as he had then there was but one and he a Notary he therefore supposed himself secure enough from one of so low and mean a Fortune But before he took any further course therein there was a mutiny in the Army upon the detention of their pay in that tumult Phocas was saluted Emperour the Army returning towards Constantinople Mauritius fled to Chalcedon where both he and his whole Progeny by the commandment of Phocas were put to death 12. Marcus Antonius Taurellus Earl of Guastalla warring in the Kingdom of Naples one morning as he rose told the Souldiers that stood round about him that he dreamed that night that he was drowned in the Water and that thereupon he was determined to give over his swimming whereunto he had so much accustomed himself but the same day after Dinner walking by the side of a Lake and spying therein divers of his acquaintance and having only an upper Garment upon him he forgat his dream leapt in amongst them and was drowned before any of his Friends could come in to his assistance 13. Archias the Thebane Tyrant being at a Feast where were present all sorts of merriment and mirth there was brought him a Letter wherein he was certified of a plot that was upon his life he never read it but gave order that as a thing serious it should be deferred to the morrow but neglecting that warning he did not live to read it for he was slain that night 14. It is a very memorable thing which from the mouth of a very credible person who saw it George Buchanan relates concerning Iames the fourth King of Scotland that intending to make a Waâ— with England a certain old man of a venerable aspect and clad in a long blew Garment came unto him at the Church of St. Michaels at Linlithgow while he was at his devotion and leaning over the Canons Seat where the King sate said I am sent unto thee O King to give thee warning that thou proceed not in the War thou art about for if thou do it will be thy ruine and having so said he withdrew himself back into the press the King after service was ended enquired earnestly for him but he could no where be found neither could any of the standers by feel or perceive how when or where he passed from them having as it were vanished in their hands but no warning could divert his destiny which had not been destiny if it could have been diverted His Queen also had acquainted him with the visions and affrightments of her sleep that her Chains and Armlets appeared to be turned into Pearls she had seen him fall from a great Precipice she had lost one of her eyes but he answered these were but dreams arising from the many thoughts and cares of the day he marched on therefore and fell with a number of his Nobility at the battle of Flodden field September 9. 1513. 15. There was an Italian called David Risio who had followed the Savoyan Embassadour into Scotland and in hope of bettering his fortune gave himself to attend the Queen Mary at first in the quality of a Musician afterwards growing in more favour he was admitted to write her French Letters and in the end preferred to be principal Secretary of State had only the Queens Ear and governed all the affairs at Court. To that excess of Pride and Arrogance was he grown that he would out-brave the King in his Apparel in his domestick Furniture in the number and sorts of his Horses and in every thing else This man had warning given him more than once by Iohn Damiott a French Priest who was thought to have some skill in Magick to do his business and be gone for that he could not make good his part he answered disdainfully The Scots are given more to brag than fight Some few days before his death being warned by the same Priest to take heed of the Bastard he replyed that whilest he lived he should not have credit in Scotland to do him any hurt for he took Earl Murray to be the man of whom he was advertised to take heed but the first stroke was given him by George Douglass base Son to the Earl of Angus after whom every man inflicted his wound till he was dispatched this was in the year 1565. CHAP. LIII Of such as have unwittingly or unwarily procured and hastned their own death and downfall THe Ancients erected no Altars to death because it is inexorable and no way to be prevailed upon or to be escaped by any of us agreeable to this is that of Mr. Benlows in his Divine Poem Time posts on loose rein'd Steeds the Sun er 't face To West
untimely death 8. Herod overcome with pain troubled with a vehement Cough and almost pined with fasting was determined to hasten his own death and taking an Apple in his hand he called for a Knife and then looking about him lest any stander by should hinder him he lifted up his Arm to strike himself But Achiabus his Cousin ran hastily unto him and stayed his hand and presently there was great lamentation made throughout all the Kings Palace as if the King had been dead His Son Antipater then in Prison having speedy news hereof was glad and promised the Keepers a piece of money to let him go but the chiefest of them did not only deny to do it but also went and immediately acquainted the King with it Herod hearing this commanded his guard to go and kill Antipater and bury him in the Castle called Hircanium Thus was that wicked man cast away by his own temerity and imprudence who had he had more patience and discretion might probably have secured both his life and the Kingdom to himself for Herod out-lived his death but five dayes 9. Anthony being at Laodicea sent for King Herod to answer what was objected against him touching the death of Young Aristobulus He was an impotent Lover of his Wife Mariamne and suspecting that her beauty was one cause of his danger before he went he committed the care of his Kingdom to Ioseph his Unkle withall leaving him order to kill Mariamne his Wiâ—e in case he should hear that any thing evil had befallen him He had taken his journey and Ioseph in Conversation with the Queen as an argument of the great love the King bare her acquainted her with the order he had left with him Herod having appeased Anthony returâ—ed with honour and speaking to the Queen of the truth and greatness of his love in the midst of Embraces Mariamne said to him It was not the part of a Lover to give commandment that if any thing should befall thee otherwise than well with Anthony I should presently be done to death No sooner were these words out of her mouth but the King entred into a strange passion and giving over his embraces he cryed out with a loud voice and tore his hair saying that he had a most evident proof that Ioseph had committed adultery with her for that he would not have discovered those things which had been spoke to him in secret except they had greatly trusted the one the other and in this emotion or rage of Jealousie hardly contained he from killing his Wife yet he gave order that Ioseph should be slain without admitting him audience or justification of his Innocency Thus Ioseph by his imprudent revealing of a dangerous secret unwarily procured his own death 10. The Emperour Probus a great and excellent Prince having well nigh brought the Empire into a quiet and peaceable from a troublesome and turbulent posture was heard to say that he would speedily take such a course that there should be no more need of Men of War This Speech was so distasted by the Souldiers that they conspired against him and procured his death CHAP. LIV. Men of unusual misfortune in their Affairs Persons or Families THe Ancients accounted him for a fool who being himself but a man would yet upbraid another of his kind with his calamity or misfortune For what reason can any man have to boast of his own estate or to insult over anothers unhappiness when how pleasant a time soever he hath for the present he hath yet no assurance that it shall so continue with him until the evening and though he be never so near unto good fortune yet he may possibly miss it as did the three Princes in the following Example 1. Anastasius Emperour of Constantinople being greatly hated and foreseeing he could not make much longer abode in the world he began to reflect on his Successours desiring to transfer to the Throne one of his three Nephewes whom he had bred up having no male issue to succeed him There was difficulty in the choice and he having a soul very superstitious put that to the lot which he could not resolve by reason for he caused three Beds to be prepared in the Royal Chamber and made his Crown to be hanged within the Tester of one of these Beds being resolved to give it to him who by lot should place himself under it this done he sent for his Nephews and after he had magnificently entertained them commanded them to repose themselves each one chusing one of the Beds prepared for them The eldest accommodated himself according to his fancy and he hit upon nothing the second did the same he then expected the youngest should go directly to the Crowned Bed but he prayed the Emperour he might be permitted to lye with one of his Brothers and by this means not any of them took the way of the Empire which was so easie to be had that it was not above a pace distant Anastasius amazed well saw God would transfer the Diadem from his Race and indeed Iustin succeeded a stranger to his blood 2. Anne Momorancy was a man of an exquisite wit and mature wisdom accompanied with a long experience in the changes of the World by which Arts he acquired happily for himself and for his Posterity exceeding great wealth and the chief dignities of the Kingdom himself having attained to be Constable of France But this man in his military commands had alwayes such ill fortune that in all the wars of which he had the Government he ever remained either a loser or grievously wounded or a Prisoner which misfortunes were the occasion that many times his fidelity was questioned even in that last action where fighting he lost his life he wanted not accusers 3. Thomas Tusser while as yet a Boy lived in many Schools Wallingford St. Pauls and Eaton whence he went to Trinity-hall in Cambridge when a man he lived in Staffordshire Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire and where not He was successively a Musician Schoolmaster Serving-man Husbandman Grasier and Poet more skilful in all than thriving in any Vocation he traded at large in Oxen Sheep Dairies Grain of all kinds to no profit whether he bought or sold he lost and when a Renter impoverished himself and never enriched his Landlord yet hath he laid down excellent Rules of Husbandry and Huswifery so that the observer thereof must be rich in his own defence He spread his Bread with all sorts of Butter yet none would stick thereon yet I hear no man charge him with any vicious extravagancy or visible carelesness but imputing his ill success to some occult cause in Gods Counsel 4. The Emperour Sigismumd passing a River his Horse stood still and pissed in it which when one of his Servants perceived that rode not far before him he said jestingly the Horse had directly the same quality with his Master Caesar heard him and bade him explain the meaning of what
he said The horse said he pisses in a river where there is no want of water and so Caesar is liberal to them that are otherwise rich The Emperour observed that he was modestly tax'd for that as yet he had given nothing to him who had been his old servant and thereupon replyed that he had indeed been alwayes a faithful servant but that the gifts of Princes are not properly theirs that deserve well but theirs to whom they are destinied by fate and that he would convince him of the same assoon as he had some leisure Afterwards Caesar commanded two boxes to be made of the same bigness and form in the one he put gold in the other lead of the same weight caused his servant to be called and bade him choose which box he would who takes them up poises both in his hands and at last fixes upon that box that had the lead in it which when the Emperour saw at the opening of the box Now said he thou maist plainly see that not my good will has been hitherto wanting but that it was through thine own ill fortune that hitherto thou hast had no reward from me 5. It was observed as it were in the destiny of King Henry the sixth of England that although he was a most pious man yet no enterprize of war did ever prosper where he was present 6. Franciscus Busalus a Citizen of Rome was so extreamly unfortunate in his Children that he saw two of his Sons fall dead by mutual wounds they had received at each others hands two other of his Sons beheaded for a sedition which they had been authors of a fifth Son of his slew his Mother-in-law and his Daughter poysoned her self in the presence of her Husband 7. Helvius Pertinax commonly but corruptly called Aelius was so variously exercised with the chances of inconstant fortune and so often from a good thrust down into an adverse condition that by reason hereof he was called Fortunes Tennis-ball 8. Robert the Norman Son to William the Conqueror was chosen King of Ierusalem but he refused this honourable proffer whether he had an eye to the Kingdom of England now void by the death of William Rufus or because he accounted Ierusalem would be encumbred with continual war But he who would not take the Crown with the Cross was fain to take the Cross without the Crown and it was observed that afterwards he never prospered in any thing he undertook He lived to see much misery in prison and poverty and he felt more having his eyes put out by King Henry his Brother and at last sound rest when buried in the New Cathedral Church of Glocester under a wooden Monument bearing better proportion to his low fortunes than high birth and since in the same Quire he hath got the company of another Prince as unfortunate as himself King Edward the second 9. Tiberius being at Capreas fell into a lingring disease and his sickness encreasing more and more he commanded Euodus whom he most honoured amongst all his Freemen to bring him the young Tiberius and Caius because he intended to talk with them before he dyed and it should be at the break of day on the morrow next This done he besought the gods of that place to give him an evident sign whereby he might know who should succeed him for though he vehemently desired to leave the Empire to his Sons Son that was Tiberius yet made he more account of that which God should make manifest to him He therefore conceived a presage that he who the next day should enter first to salute him it should be he who in the Empire should necessarily succeed him And having setled this thing in his fancy he sent unto the young Tiberius his Master charging him to bring him unto him by break of day supposing that the Empire should be his But by the evil fortune of Tiberius it fell quite contrary to his Grand-fathers expectation For being in this thought he had commanded Euodus that as soon as day should arise he should suffer him of the two young Princes to enter in unto him who should arrive the first Who walking out met with Caius at the door of the Chamber and saying to him that the Emperour had called for him suffered him to enter Tiberius the mean while being at breakfast below When the Emperour beheld Caius he suddainly began to consider of the power of God who deprived him of the means to dispose of the Empire according as he had determined with himself so Caius was declared successor in the Empire and no sooner was the old Emperour dead but the young unfortunate Tiberius was made away 10. Antiochus was overcome in battle by his brother Seleucus whereupon he fled to Artamenes King of Cappadocia his brother-in-law where after some dayes he found there was a Conspiracy against him to betray his life He got him therefore away from thence with all speed and put himself into the protection of Ptolomaeus his Enemy supposing that he might better rely upon his generosity than any kindness he could expect from his brother But Ptolomaeus at his first arrival put him into custody under special guards Here he remained a while till by the help of a certain Harlot he escaped â—rom his prison and recovered his liberty but this unfortunate Prince had not travelled far but he was set upon by thieves and by them murdered 11. Ferdinand Mendez Pinto a Portuguese in the Book of his travels and adventures sets forth of himself that nothing being to be met with in his Fathers house besides poverty and misery an Uncle of his put him into the service of a Lady at Lisbon when he was about twelve years old where he remained but a year and a half before he was constrained by an accident to quit her house and service for the safety of his life With this unfortunate beginning he put himself upon travel and the seeing of remote parts where all along Fortune continued so extreamly unkind to him that in the space of twenty one years wherein he was abroad besides the hardships and variety of evil accidents that strangers are liable unto he suffered shipwrack five times was thirteen times a Captive and sold for a slave seventeen times in the Indies Aethiopia Arabia China Tartaria Madagascar Sumatra and divers other Kingdoms CHAP. LV. Of the Loquacity of some men their inability to retain intrusted secrets and the punishment thereof THe City of Amyclas is said to have perished through silence and it was on this manner Divers rumours and false reports had been brought to the Magistrates concerning the coming of an enemy against them by reason of which the City had several times been put into disorderly and tumultuous frights they therefore set forth an Edict that for the future no man should presume to make any such report by this means when the enemy came indeed no man durst discover it for fear
sided with the Popes of Rome called the second Council of Nice for support of Images In her time Charles the Great was by the Pope and People of Rome created Emperour of the West whereby the Greek Emperours became much weakened her Motto was Vive ut vivas 32. Nicephorus made Emperour by the Souldiers perswaded that Irene had made choice of him to be her Successour he was slain in a pitch'd Field against the Bulgarians a bad man he was and Reigned nine years 33. Michael Sirnamed Cyropalates i. e. Major of the Palace his former Office assumed the Empire but finding his own weakness he soon relinquished it and betook himself to a Monastery having Reigned but two years 34. Leo the fifth Sirnamed Armenius from his Country General of the Horse to Michael demolished the Images his Predecessours had set up and was slain in the Church during the time of Divine Service having Reigned seven years and five Months 35. Michael the second Sirnamed Balbus having murdered Leo assumed the Empire unfortunate in his Government and died of madness a great enemy to all Learning he Reigned eight years and nine months 36. Theophilus his son an enemy of Images as his Father and as unfortunate as he losing many Battels to the Saracens at last died of melancholy having Reigned twelve years and three months 37. Michael the third his son ruled first with his Mother Theodora after himself alone his Mother being made a Nun he was a Prince of great prodigality and slain in a drunken fit having Reigned twenty five years 38. Basilius Sirnamed Macedo from his birth-place being made Consort in the Empire by the former Michael he basely murdered him and was himself casually killed by a Stag having Reigned twenty years 39. Leo the sixth for his Learning Sirnamed Philosophus a vigilant and provident Prince most of his time with variable success he spent in War with the Bulgarians he Reigned twenty five years three months 40. Constantine the sixth son of Leo Governed the Empire under Romanus Lacopenus under whom he was so miserably depressed that he was fain to get his livelihood by Painting but Lacopenus being deposed and turned into a Monastery by his own sons he obtained his rights and restored Learning unto Greece and Reigned fifteen years after 41. Romanus the son of Constantine having abused the Empire for three years died as some think of poyson 42. Nicephorus Sirnamed Phocas Protector to the former young Emperour upon his death was elected he recovered the greatest part of Asia Minor from the Saracens and was slain in the night by Iohn Zimisces his Wife Theophania being privy to it he then aged fifty seven years having then Reigned six years six months 43. Iohn Zimisces Governed the Empire better than he obtained it vanquishing the Bulgarians Rosses and other barbarous Nations rescinded the acts of his Predecessour died by poyson having Reigned six years six months 44. Basilius the second subdued the Bulgarians and made them Homagers to the Empire Reigned alone above fifty years 45. Constantinus the seventh his brother did nothing memorable a man of sloth and pleasure he Reigned three years 46. Romanus the second for his prodigality Sirnamed Argyropolus husband of Zoe was drowned in a Bath by the Treason of his Wife and her Adulterer as was thought having Reigned five years and a half 47. Michaâ—â— the fourth Sirnamed Paphlago from his Country â—irst the Adulterer and then the Husband of Zoe but died very penitent having Reigned with equity and clemency seven years some say more 48. Michael the fiâ—th Sirnamed Calaphates a man of obscure birth adopted by Zoe whom he deposed and put into a Monastery out of which being again taken in a popular Tumult she recovered the Government and put out the eyes of Calaphates Reigning with her Sister Theodora until that 49. Constantine the eighth married Zoe then sixty years of age and had the Empire with her Reigned twelve years and eight months 50. Theodora Sister to Zoe after the death of Constantine managed for two years the affairs of the Empire with great contentment to all people but grown aged surrendred it by perswasion of the Nobles to 51. Michael the sixth Sirnamed Stratioticus an old but Military man who kept it two years and was then deposed Demanding what reward he should have for resigning the Crown it was replied a heavenly one 52. Isaacius of the Noble Family of the Comneni a valiant man of great courage and diligent in his affairs which having managed for two years he left it at his dâ—ath by consent of the Senate and People to another he was no Scholar yet a great lover of Learning 53. Constantine the ninth Sirnamed Ducas a great Justicer and very devout but exceeding covetous whereby he became hated of his Subjects and contemned by his enemies he Reigned seven years and somewhat more 54. Romanus the third Sirnamed Diogenes married Eudoxia the late Empress and with her the Empire took Prisoner by the Turks and sent home again he found a Faction made against him by which Eudoxia was expell'd himself deposed and he died in Exile having both his eyes put out he Reigned three years eight months 55. Michael the seventh Sirnamed Parapinacius by reason of the Famine that fell in his time in a Tumult was made Emperour but found unfit was deposed and put into a Monastery having Reigned six years six months 56. Nicephorus Sirnamed Belionates of the House of Phocas succeeded but deposed within three years by the Comneni he put on the habit of a Monk in the Monastery of Periblepta 57. Alexius Comnenus son of the Emperour Isaacius Comnenus obtain'd the Empire in whose time the Western Christians with great Forces prepared for the recovery of the Holy Land he jealous of them denied them passage through his Country but was forced to find them Victuals c. he died having Reigned thirty seven years some months 58. Calo Iohannes his son had a good hand against the Turks vanquished the Tartars passing over the Ister conquered the Servians and Bulgarians transporting many oâ— them into Bythinia he died by a poysoned Arrow of his own that had rased the skin but could not be cured 59. Manuel his younger Son was an underhand enemy to the Western Christians and an open enemy to the Turks by whom intrapped in the straights of Cilicia and his Army miserably cut off he was on honourable terms permitted to return again he Reigned thirty eight years within three months 60. Alexius the second his son was deposed and barbarously murdered by Andronicus the Cousin German of his Father his Wife and Mother were also made away by him when the young man had Reigned but three years 61. Andronicus Comnenus by ambitious practices and pretence of reformation got the Empire but not long after cruelly torn in pieces in a popular Tumult his dead Corpse used with all manner of contumely 62. Isaacius Angelus a Noble man of the same race designed to
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 any thing to violate and infringe them 3. Draco was also before him a Law-giver at Athens whose Laws were antiquated by Solon by reason oâ— their severity and rigour for he punished all sorts of faults almost with death He that was convicted of Idleness died for it and he that had stolen an Apple or handful of Herbs was to abide the same sentence as iâ— hâ— had committed Sacriledge So that Demades afterwards said wittily That Draco's Laws were not written with Ink but blood They say that Draco himself being ask'd Why he punished even petty Larcenies with death made this answer That the smallest of them did deserve that and that there was not a greater punishment he could find out for greater Crimes 4. Zâ—molxis was the Law-giver of Thrace a Native of that Country who having been brought up under Pythagoras and returning home prescribed them good and wholsom Laws assuring them That if they did observe the same they should go unto a place when they left this World in which they should enjoy all manner of pleasure and contentment By this means having gotten some opinion of a Divinity amongst them he absented himself and was afterwards worshipped by them as a god 5. Diocles was the Law-giver of the Syracusans he punished offences with inexorable severity and for such as transgressed there was no hope of pardon Amongst others of his Laws this was one That no man should presume to enter armed into the Forum and Assembly of the people in case any should he should suffer death no exception being made in case of imprudence or any kind of necessity One day when the news was That the enemy had broke into their Fields Diocles hasted out against them with his Sword by his side Upon the way as he went it sell out That there was a Sedition and tumult amongst the people in their Assembly whither he imprudently diverts armed as he was when presently a private person that had observed him began to cry out That he had broken the Laws which himself had made Diocles turning towards his Accuser No said he with a loud voice but they shall now have their Sanction which said he drew out his Sword and thrust it through his own throat that he died 6. Zalencus was the Law-giver of the Locrians he made a Law That the Adulterer should be punished with the loss of both his eyes his own son happened to be the first offender in that kind therefore to shew the love of a Father and the sincerity of a Judge he put out one of his sons eyes and one of his own He also provided by his Laws That no woman should be attended in the Street with more than one Maid but when she was drunk That no woman should go abroad at night but when she went to play the Harlot That none should wear Gold or embroidered apparel but when they meant to set themselves to open sale And that men should not wear Rings and Tissues but when they went about some act of uncleanness and many others of this mould By means whereof both men and women were restrained from all extraordinary trains of attendance and excess of apparel the common consequents of a long and prosperous tranquillity 7. Charondas the Law-giver of the Thurians in Greece amongst others of his Laws had made this against civil factions and for prevention of sudden and tumultuary slaughters That it should be Capital for any man to enter the Assembly of the people armed with any weapon about him It fell out that as he returned from abroad he appointed a Convention of the people and like unto the forementioned Diocles appeared therein armed as he was When his opposers told him That he had openly broken the Law of his own making by entring the place in such manner as he did It is very true said he but withal I will make the first sanction of it and thereupon drawing his Sword he fell upon it so that he died in the place 8. Pharamond was the first King of the French and a Law-giver amongst them it is said That he was the Maker of the Law called the Salick Law by which the Crown of France may not descend unto the Females or as their saying is fall from the Lance to the Distaff Whence this Law had its name of Salique is uncertain some say from the words Si aliqua so often used in it others because it was proposed by the Priests called Salii or that it was decreed in the Fields which take their name from the River Sala But Haillan one of their best Writers affirms That it was never heard of in France till the time of Philip the long Anno 1315. Others say it was made by Charles the Great after the Conquest of Germany where the incontinent lives of the women living about the River Salae in the modern Misâ—ia gave both the occasion and the name De terrâ vero Salicâ nullae portio haereditatis mulieri veniat sed ad virilem sexum tota terrâ— haereditas perveniat are the words of the Law This terra Salica the Learned Selden in his Titles of Honour Englishes Knights Fee or Land holden by Knights Service and proves his Interpretation by a Record of the Parliament of Bourdeaux cited by Bodinus 9. King Richard the first of England as Lord paramount of the Seas immediately on his return from the Holy Land the Island of Oleron being then in his possession as a member of his Dukedom of Aquitaine did there declare and establish those Maritime Laws which for near five hundred years have generally been received by all the States of the Christian World which frequent the Ocean for the regulating of Sea affairs and deciding of Maritime Controversies From thence they are called the Laws of Oleron Quae quidem leges Statuta per Dominum Richardum quondam Regem Angliae in reditu à terrâ Sanctâ correcta fuerunt interpretata declarata in Insula de Oleron publicata nominata in Gallica Lingua la Loy d' Oleron c. saith an old Record which I â—ind cited in a Manuscript discourse of Sir Iohn Burroughs intituled the Soveraignty of the British Seas 10. Nicodorus was a famous Wrastler and Champion in his younger time but having taken leave of those youthful exercises and grown into years he became the Law-giver of the Mantineans amongst whom he lived and by the prudent composure of his Laws he brought much greater honour to his Country than when he was publickly proclaimed Victor in his former Atchievements It is said That the body of his Laws were framed for him by Diagoras Melius 11. Pittacus made Laws for the Mitylenians and having ten years presided amongst them after he had well setled the affairs of their Republick he voluntarily resigned up his power Amongst other his Laws this was one That he who committed a fault in his Drunkenness should undergo a double
the building of the City His first eleven Books are all that are extant in which he reaches to the two hundred and twelfth year of the City He â—lourished in the time of Augustus Caesar and is said to have lived in the Family of M. Varro 10. Polybius of Megalopolis was the Master Councellour and daily Companion of Scipio the younger who in the year of the World 3800. razed Carthage he begins his Roman History from the first Punick War and of the Greek Nation the Achaeans from the fortieth year after the death of Alexander the Great of forty Books he wrote but five are left and the Epitomes of twelve other in which he reaches to the Battel at Cynoscephale betwixt King Philip of Macedon and the Romans 11. Salustius wrote many Parts of the Roman History in a pure and quaint brevity of all which little is left besides the Conspiracy of Catiline oppressed by the Consul Cicero sixty years before the birth of Christ and the War of Iugurth managed by C. Marius the Consul in the forty fourth year before the Conspiracy aforesaid 12. Iulius Caesar hath wrote the History of his own Acts in the Gallick and Civil Wars from the 696 year ab V. C. to the 706. and comprized them in Commentaries upon every year in such a purity and beautiful propriety of expression and such a native candour that nothing is more terse polite more useful and accommodate to the framing of a right and perspicuous expression of our selves in the Latin Tongue 13. Velleius Paterculus in a pure and sweet kind of speech hath composed an Epitome of the Roman History and brought it down as far as the thirty second year after the birth of Christ that is the sixteenth year of Tiberius under whom he flourished and was Questor 14. Cornelius Tacitus under Adrian the Emperour was Praefect of the Belgick Gaul he wrote a History from the death of Augustus to the Reign of Trajan in thirty Books of which the five first contain the History of Tiberius the last eleven Books from the eleventh to the twenty first which are all that are extant reach from the eighth year of Claudius to the beginning of Vespasian and the besieging of Ierusalem by Titus which was Anno Dom. 72. He hath comprised much in a little is proper neat quick and apposite in his stile and adorns his discourse with variety of Sentences 15. Suetonius was Secretary to Adrian the Emperour and in a proper and concise stile hath wrote the Lives of the twelve first Emperours to the death of Domitian and the ninety eighth year of Christ he hath therein exactly kept to that first and chief Law of History which is That the Historian should not dare to set down any thing that is false and on the other side That he have courage enough to set down what is true It is said of this Historian That he wrote the Lives of those Emperours with the same liberty as they lived 16. Dion Cassius was born at Nice in Bythinia he wroâ—e the History of nine hundred eighty one years from the building of Rome to Ann. Dom. 231. in which year he was Consul with Alexander Severus the Emperour and finished his History in eighty Books of all which scarce twenty â—ive Books from the thirty sixth to the sixty first and the beginning of Nero are at this time extant 17. Herodianus wrote the History of his own time from the death of M. Antoninus the Philosopher or the year of Christ 181. to the murder of the Gordiani in Africa Ann. Dom. 241. which is rendred purely into Latin by Angelus Politianus 18. Iohannes Zonaras of Byzantium wrote a History from Augustus to his own times and the year of our Lord 1117. the chief of the Oriental Affairs and Emperours he hath digested in the second and third Tomes of his Annals from whence Cuspinianus and others borrow almost all that they have Zonaras is continued by Nicaetas Gregoras and he by Chalcâ—ndylas 19. Eutropius wrote the Epitome of the Roman History in ten Books to the death of Iovinian Anno Dom. 368. He was present in the Expedition of Iulian into Persia and flourished in the Reign of Valens the Emperour 20. Ammianus Marcellinus a Grecian by birth War'd many years under Iulian in Gallia and Germany and wrote the History of the Romans in thirty one Books the fourteenth to the thirty first are all that are extant wherein at large and handsomely he describes the acts of Constantius Iulian Iovinian Valentinian and Valens the Emperours unto the year of Christ 382. 21. Iornandes a Goth hath wrote the History of the Original Eruptions Families of their Kings and principal Wars of the Goths which he hath continued to his own time that is the year of our Lord 550. 22. Procopius born at Caesarea in Palestine and Chancellour to Belisarius the General to Iustinian the Emperour being also his Councellour and constant companion in seven Books wrote the Wars of Belisarius with the Persians Vandals and Goths wherein he also was present 23. Agathias of Smyrna continues Procopius from the twenty seventh of Iustinian Anno Dom. 554. to the end of his Reign Anno Dom. 566. the Wars of Narses with the Goths and Franks with the Persians at Cholchiâ— wherein he recites the Succession of the Persian Kings from Artaxerxes who Anno Dom. 230. seised on the Parthian Empire to the Reign of Iustinian Anno Dom. 530. and in the end treats of the irruption of the Hunnes into Thrace and Greece and their repression by Belisarius now grown old 24. Paulus Diaconus of Aquileia Chancellour to Desiderius King of the Lombards Writes the entire History of the Lombards to Ann. Dom. 773. in which Charles the Great took Desiderius the last King and brought Lombardy under his own power 25. Haithonus an Armenian many years a Souldier in his own Country afterwards a Monk at Cyprus coming into France about the year of Christ 1307. was commanded by Pope Clement the fifth to write the Empire of the Tartars in Asia and the Description of other oriental Kingdoms 26. Laonicus Chalchondylas an Athenian wrote the History of the Turks in ten Books from Ottoman Anno 1300. to Mahomet the second who took Constantinople Anno Dom. 1453. and afterwards continued his History to Ann. 1464. 27. Luiâ—prandus of Ticinum wrote the History of the principal Affairs in all the Kingdoms of Europe in his time at most of which he himself was present his History is comprised in six Books and commencing from Anno Dom. 891. extends to Ann. Dom. 963. 28. Sigebert a Monk in a Abby in Brabant wrote his Chronicon from the death of Valens the Emperour or Anno Dom. 381. to the Empire of Henry the fifth Anno Dom. 1112. wherein he hath digested much of the French and British Affairs and acts of the German Emperours 29. Saxo Grammaticus Bishop of the Church of Rotschilden wrote the Danish History from utmost Antiquity to his
29. Pythagoras the Son of Mnesarchus a Ring-maker or Marmacus a Samian when young being desirous to improve himself he travelled Greece Egypt to Epimenides in Creet and to the Magi in Chaldaea thence he returned to Samos which being oppressed under the Tyrannie of Polycrates he forsook and setled at Crotona in Italy He held the transmigration of souls his Scholars possessed all things in common and kept silence for five years The Philosopher himself had great command over his passions lived inoffensively permitted no bloody sacrifices nor to swear by the gods used Divination himself and permitted it to his whom yet he interdicted from feeding upon Beans he held all things to be ruled by fate that there are Antipodes that the Sun Moon and Stars are gods and that all the Air is full of Souls that all things even God himself do consist of Harmony He forbad to taste of that which fell from the Table whether as belonging to the dead or to use men to temperate eating is uncertain Sitting in the house of Mylo it was set on fire supposed by them of Crotona fearing to fall under Tyrannie the Philosopher running away was pursued and killed having lived eighty some say ninety years he flourished in the sixtieth Olympiad the form of his Discipline remained for nineteen ages Laert. lib. 8. p. 214. 30. Empedocles of Agrigentum was the Son of Meton and Scholar of Pythagoras of noble birth a great Rhetorician and Physician he is said to have refused a Kingdom when profered him having cured one of a disease that seemed incurable he was sacrificed to as a god whence he went to Aetna and to beget an opinion that he was a god he cast himself into the midst of the flames that he might not be found but one of his Shoos detected the matter for it was cast up again being of Brass as he used to wear them others say he went into Peloponnesus and returned not which makes the time of his death uncertain In his way to Messana he fell and broke his Leg of which falling sick he dyed saith Aristotle in the sixtieth year of his age others in the seventy and seventh his Sepulchre was at Megaris Laert. lib. 8. p. 226. 31. Heraclitus an Ephesian he used to play with the Boys in the Temples of Diana and to the Ephesians that stood about him O ye worst of men what saith he do you wonder at is not this better than to have to deal with you in the Common-wealth He declined the society of men lived in the mountains and fed upon Grass and Herbs He heard no man but learned all of himself He held that all things came of fire and should be destroyed by it that all places are full of Devils and Souls Darius the King was desirous of his society as appears by his Letter to him to come to him which he refused to do some say he dyed of a Dropsie others that being covered with Cow-dung he was worried with Dogs he flourished in the sixty ninth Olympiad Laert. lib. 9. p. 237. 32. Democritus of Abdera when young heard the Magi and Chaldeans afterwards Anaxagoras dividing the Patrimony with two other Brothers his part came to an hundred Talents with which he travelled to Egypt to Aethiopia and India say some he had great knowledge in natural and moral things great experience in the Mathematicks and all the liberal Sciences and lived solitarily amongst the Tombs and so poor that he was maintained by his Brother Damasus afterwards he became very famous for his predictions of future things was honoured with great Presents and Statues and buried at the publick charges he held that all things came of Atoms that there are infinite Worlds he protracted his death three days by smelling to hot Bread dyed near the eightieth Olympiad having lived to an hundred and nine years Laert. lib. 9. p. 245. 33. Anaxarchus of Abdera lived in great honour with Alexander the great Nicocreon the Tyrant of Cyprus was his mortal enemy being taken by him he was pounded in a Mortar he spat his Tongue into the Tyrants Face he flourished in the one hundred and tenth Olympiad Laert. lib. 9. p. 251. 34. Pyrrhon followed Anaxarchus he held all things indifferent that only Custome and the Laws made them otherwise to us accordingly he led his life and did all things indifferently he endeavoured to live free from perturbations and bare torments with invincible patience his followers were called Scepticks he himself liv'd much in solitudes yet honoured in his Country he lived to ninety years Laert. lib. 9. p. 253. 35. Timon the son of Timarchus a Phliasian lived mostly at Athens had but one eye was a lover of Gardens equally acute in Invention and for derision of others he himself loved a quiet life was well known to Antigonus and Ptolomaeus Philadelphus Laert. lib. 9. p. 264. 36. Epicurus was the son of Neocles an Athenian he is charged by Timocrates as a man of pleasure a Glutton and a Lecher but the honours he had in his Country the number of his friends the continuance of his discipline when that of others was extinct his Piety to his Parents love and bounty to his Brethren and mildness to his servants are luculent testimonies of an excellent person he lived upon bread and water and when he fared sumptuously he required a little Cheese he lay sick of the Stone fourteen daies died in the hundred and seventh Olympiad leaving Hermachus as his successour in his School he ordained by his will the Annual celebration of his birth-day the first ten daies of the month Gamelion and that on the twentieth day of every month all his Scholars should be feasted at his charges and he and Metrodorus should then be remembred he lived seventy and two years Laert. lib. 10. p. 267. CHAP. XVII Of the most famous Printers in several places THe Art of Printing doth with wonderful celerity convey Learning from one Country and Age unto another so that the Verse is not altogether untrue Imprimit ille die quantum vix scribitur Anno. The Press transfers within a day or near All that which can be written in a year 1. This worthy Science was brought into Italy by two Brethren named Conrades They Printed at Rome in the house of the Maximes where the first Book that was ever Printed there was Augustinus de civitate Dei and next the Divine Institutions of Lactantius Firmianus 2. An Invention of this merit could not be concealed but it succeeded in divers Countries and by divers worthy men who besides their Art of Printing were Learned and judicious Correctors of Errours and falsifications easily over-slip'd by unskilful work-men Amongst these men of note are especially commended Aldus Manutius at Venice a great restorer of the Latin Tongue Francis Priscianez at Rome Baldus Colinetus Frobenius and Oporinus at Basil Sebastian Gryphius at Lyons Robert Stephanus at Paris and Antwerp and William Caxton at London 3.
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
fasting beyond all measure he dyed in the sixty fourth year of his age 23. Thomas Aquinas otherwise called Doctor Angelicus was Disciple to Albertus Magnus and profited in Philosophy and Theology above others while he was young at School he was quiet and still more enclined to hear others than himself speak whereupon he was called by his School-fellows The Ox because he was so silent yet afterwards by his Pen this Ox lowed lowder than all his Compeers and filled all Nations with the sound of his Doctrine He was of the Order of the Dominick or Preaching Fryers and defended his Order against Gulielmus de Sancto Amore. He dyed in the way as he was journying to the Council of Lyons and was Canonized by Pope Iohn the twenty second and was supposed to have wrought Miracles after his death The End of the Fifth Book THE SIXTH BOOK CHAP. I. Of Dreams and what hath been revealed to some persons therein ALthough it is too great a vanity to give over-much credit to our Dreams and to distress and distract our selves about the â—ignifications and successes of them yet they are not altogether unuseful to us Zeno Eleates was wont to say that any of his Scholars might judge of their proficiency in Philosophy by their Dreams for if they neither did nor suffered any thing therein but what was vertuous they had made some good progress in Philosophy By the same way we may discover much of our own natural inclinations and the constitution we are of Besides this there hath been so much of highest concernment revealed to some in their sleep that is enough to make us believe there is not altogether so much of vanity in Dreams as some men are of opinion 1. Astyages the last King of the Medes saw in his dream a Vine to spring forth from the womb of his only daughter and at last so to flourish and spread out it self that it seemed to overshadow all Asia with its very fruitful branches He consults with the Soothsayers upon this dream who answer him that of his daughter should be born a Son that should seise on the Empire of Asia and divest him of his terrified with this prediction he forth with bestowed his daughter upon Cambyses a Foreigner and then an obscure person when his daughter drew near the time of delivery he sends for her to himself that whatsoever should be born of her should perish by his own command The Infant therefore is delivered to Harpagus to be slain a man of known fidelity and with whom he had long communicated his greatest secrets But he fearing that upon Astyages his death Mandane his daughter would succeed in the Empire since the King had no issue Male and that then he should be sure to be paid home for his obedience doth not kill the Royal Babe but delivers it to the Kings chief Herds-man to be exposed to the wide world It fell out that the wife of this man was newly brought to bed and having heard of the whole affair she earnestly importunes her Husband to bring the child home to her that she might see him the Husband is overcome goes to the Wood where he had left him he finds there a Bitch that at once saved the Babe and kept off the birds and beasts from it and also suckled it her self Affected with this miracle and thus instructed by a brute in humanity he takes up the child carries it to his wife she sees and loves it breeds him up till he grew â—irst to a man and then to a King he overcomes Astyages his Grandfather and translates the Scepter from the Medes to the Persians 2. Alexander the Great in the long and difficult Siege of Tyrus bordering upon Iudaea sent to the Jews for assistances but was by them rejected as having a more ancient League with Darius When therefore he had taken the City full of indignation he leads his Army against the Jews resolved upon revenge and devoting all to slaughter and spoil But Iaddus the then High-Priest admonished by God in a dream meets him upon the way accompanied with a number both of Priests and people himself with his Priestly attire with his Mitre upon his head and upon that the Name of God whom assoon as Alexander saw with all mildness and submission he approaches him salutes him and adores that wonderful Name Those who accompanied him were some of them amazed others displeased amongst these was Parmenio who asks the King wherefore he adored a man himself being now almost every where reputed as a God To whom Alexander reply'd that he worshipped not the man but God in him who heretofore in that form had appeared to him in Dio a City of Macedonia in his dream encouraging him to a speedy Expedition against Asia which through his divine power and assistance he would subject to him And therefore 〈◊〉 not only pardoned but honoured and enriched the City and Nation of the Jews pronounced them at liberty to live after their own Laws and made choice of some of them to serve him in his own Troops 3. Ertucules having slept after dinner when he awaked was confounded with the thoughts of what he had seemed to see in his dream and therefore according to the Religion of the Turkish Nation he first bathes his body in water to purifie himself and then goes to Edebales a person in great reputation amongst them as well for his wisdom as sanctitie and thus he speaks I dreamed venerable Sir that the brightness of the Moon did proceed from your bosome and thence afterwards did pass into mine when it was thither come there sprang up a tree from my navel which overshadowed at once many Nations Mountains and Valleys From the roots of this tree there issued waters sufficient to irrigate Vines and Gardens and there both my dream and my sleep forsook me Edebales when he had heard him after some pause thus bespake him There will be born unto you my good Friend a Son whose name shall be Osman he shall wage many Wars shall acquire to himself Victory and Glory and your posterity shall be Lords and Kings of many Nations But my Daughter must marry to your Son Osman and she is that brightness which you saw come from my bosome into yours and from both sprang up the tree A strange prediction and the more remarkable for that of the Moon seeing we know that the Crescent is the prime and most remarkable Ensign of the Turkish Nation 4. There was amongst the Tartars that of old lived in Imaus a part of the Mountain Taurus a sort of Shepherds who lived after the manner of wild beasts without Law or truth wandring up and down in the Woods Amongst these there were certain Families called Malgotz that kept together in one place and at first chose themselves Leaders but yet were subject to their neighbour Nations and oppressed with excessive burdens Till at last there was an old Black-smith
Queen answered And I hope to see your Pope both which prophetick Complements proved true and within a short time one of another 3. I have spent some inquiry saith Sir Henry Wotton whether the Duke of Buckingham had any ominous presagement before his end wherein though ancient and modern stories have been infected with much vanity yet oftentimes things fall out of that kind which may bear a sober construction whereof I will glean two or three in the Dukes case Being to take his leave of my Lord his Grace of Canterbury then Bishop of London after courtesies of course had passed betwixt them My Lord says the Duke I know your Lordship hath very worthily good successes unto the King our Soveraign let me pray you to put His Majesty in mind to be good as I no ways distrust unto my poor Wife and Children At which words or at his countenance in the delivery or at both my Lord Bishop being somewhat troubled took the freedom to ask him if he had never any secret abodement in his mind No replied the Duke but I think some adventure may kill me as well as another man The very day before he was slain feeling some indisposition of body the King was pleased to give him the honour of a visit and found him in his bed where and after much serious and private conference the Duke at His Majesties departing embraced him in a very unusual and passionate manner and in like sort his Friend the Earl of Holland as if his soul had divined he should see them no more which infusions towards fatal ends have been observed by some Authors of no light Authority On the very day of his death the Countess of Denbigh received a Letter from him whereunto all the while she was writing her Answer she bedewed the paper with her tears and after a bitter passion whereof she could yield no reason but that her dearest Brother was to be gone she fell down in a swound her said Letter ended thus I will pray for your happy return which I look at with a great cloud over my head too heavy for my poor heart to bear without torment but I hope the great God of Heaven will bless you The day following the Bishop of Ely her devoted Friend who was thought the fittest preparer of her mind to receive such a doleful accident came to visit her but hearing she was at rest he attended till she should awake of her self which she did with the affrightment of a dream Her Brother seeming to pass through a field with her in her Coach where hearing a sudden shout of the people and asking the reason it was answered to have been for joy that the Duke of Buckingham was sick which natural impression she scarce had related to her Gentlewoman before the Bishop was entred into her Bed-chamber for a chosen Messenger of the Dukes death 4. Before and at the Birth of William the Conqueror there wanted not forerunning tokens which presaged his future Greatness His Mother Arlotte great with him dreamed her bowels were extended over all Normandy and England Also assoon as he was born being laid on the Chamber-floor with both his hands he took up rushes and shutting his little fists held them very fast which gave occasion to the gossipping Wives to congratulate Arlotte in the birth of such a Boy and the Midwife cryed out The Boy will prove a King 5. Not long before C. Iulius Caesar was slain in the Senate house by the Iulian Law there was a Colony sent to be planted in Capua and some Monuments were demolished for the laying of the foundations of new Houses In the Tomb of Capys who is said to be the Founder of Capua there was found a brazen Table in which was engraven in Greek Letters that whensoever the bones of Capys should be uncovered one of the Iulian Family should be slain by the hands of his own party and that his blood should be revenged to the great damage of all Italy At the same time also those Horses which Caesar had consecrated after his passage over Rubicon did abstain from all kind of food and were observed with drops falling from their eyes after such manner as if they had shed tears Also the Bird called Regulus having a little branch of Laurel in her mouth flew with it into Pompey's Court where she was torn in pieces by sundry other birds that had her in pursuit where also Caesar himself was soon after slain with twenty and three wounds by Brutus Cassius and others 6. As these were the presages of the personal end of the great Caesar so there wanted not those of the end of his whole Family whether natural or adopted which was concluded in Nero and it was thus Livia was newly married to Augustus when as she went to her Villa of Veientum an Eagle gently let fall a white Hen with a branch of Laurel in her mouth into her lap She received this as a fortunate presage and causing the Hen to be carefully looked after there came of her abundance of white Pullets The branch of Laurel too was planted of which sprang up a number of the like Trees from which afterward he that was to triumph gathered that branch of Laurel which during his Triumph he carried in his hand The Triumph finished he used to plant that branch also when it did wither it was observed to presage the death of that Triumpheâ— that had planted it But in the last year of Nero both all the stock of white Hens and Pullets dyed and the little wood of Laurel was withered to the very root the heads also of the Statues of the Caesars were struck off by Lightning and by the same way the Scepter was thrown out of the hands of the Statue of Augustus 7. Before the death of Augustus in Rome where his Statue was set up there was a flash of Lightning that from his name Caesar took away the first Letter C. and left the rest standing The Aruspices and Soothsayers consulted upon this and concluded that within an hundred days Augustus should change this life for AESAR in the Hetrurian Tongue signifies a God and the Letter C. amongst the Romans stands for an hundred and therefore the hundredth day following Caesar should dye and be made a God as they used to deiâ—ie their dead Emperours 8. While the Grandfather of Sergius Galba was sacrificing an Eagle snatched the bowels of the Sacrifice out of his hand and left them upon the branches of an Oak that grew near to the place Upon which the Augurs pronounced that the Empire though late was certainly portended thereby to his Family He to express the great improbability he conceived of such a thing replied That it would then come to pass when a Mule should bring forth Nor did any thing more confirm Galba in the hope of the Empire upon his Revolt from Nero than the news brought him of a Mule that
was easily slain In the mean time Fleance so prospered in Wales that he gained the affection of the Princes Daughter of the Country and by her had a Son called Walter who â—lying Wales returned into Scotland where his descent known he was restored to the Honors and Lands of his House and preferred to be Steward of the House of Edgar the Son of Malcolme the Third sirnamed Conmer King of Scotland the name of Steward growing hence hereditary unto his Posterity From this Walter descended that Robert Steward who succeeded David Bruce in the Kingdom of Scotland the Progenitor of nine Kings of the name of Stewart which have reigned successively in that Kingdom 3. Oliver a Benedictine Monk of Malmesbury was much addicted to the Mathematicks and to Judicial Astrology a great Comet happened to appear in his â—â—e which he entertained with these expressions Venisti Venistâ— multis matribus lugendum malum Dudum te vidi sed multò jam terribilius Anglicae minans prorsus excidium Art thou come Art thou come thou evil to be lamented by many mothers I saw thee long since but now thou art much more terrible threatning the English with utter destruction Nor did he much miss his mark herein for soon after the coming in of the Norman Conqueror deprived many English of their lives more of their Laws and Liberties This Oliver dyed 1060. five years before the Norman Invasion and so prevented by death saw not his own prediction performed 4. Agrippa the Son of Aristobulus was accused to Tiberius Caesar and by his command cast into bonds standing thus bound amongst others before the Palace gates by reason of grief he leaned against a Tree upon which there sate an Owl A certain German that was also in bonds beholding the Bird inquired of a Souldier what Noble man that was who told him that it was Agrippa a Prince of the Jews The German desired he might be permitted to come nearer to him it was granted when he thus said Young man this sudden and unexpected mutation of Fortune doth torment and perplex thee but in a short time thou shalt be freed of these bonds and raised to a dignity and power that shall be the envy of all these who now look upon thee as a miserable person know also that whensoever thou shalt see an Owl pearch over thy head after the manner of this now present it shall betoken to thee that thy fatal end draweth nigh All this was fulfilled for soon after Tiberius dyed Caius succeeded who loosed the bonds of Agrippa and placed the Crown of Iudaea on his head there he reigned in great splendour when one day having ended a Royal Oration he had made to the people with great acclamation and applause turning back his head he spyed the fatal Owl sitting over his head whereupon he was seised with torments of the belly carried away and in few days dyed 5. When Flavius Vespasianus made War in Iudaea amongst the noble Captives there was one called Ioseph who being cast into bonds by his order did nevertheless constantly affirm that those shackles of his should in a short time be taken off by the same person who had commanded them to be put on but by that time he should of a private man become Emperour which soon after fâ—ll out for Nero Galba Otho and Vitellius the Emperors being slain in a short space Vespasian succeeded and commanded Iosephs setters not to be unlocked but for the greater honour to be broken off 6. Manahem a Jew an Essaean beholding on a time Herod the Ascalonite at School amongst the rest of the youth saluted him King of the Jews Herod supposing he either mocked or knew him not told him he was one of the meanâ—r sort Manahem smiling and giving him a gentle blow or two Thou shalt reign said he and prosperously too for so is the pleasure of God and remember then these blows of Manahem which may admonish thee of mutable Fortune but I foresee thou wilt be unmindful both of the Laws of God and man though otherwise most fortunate and illustrious Herod lived to fulfil all this 7. Iudas of the Sect of the Essaeans amongst the Jews being not used to fail in his predictions when he beheld Antigonus the Brother of Aristobulus the Brother of Aristobulus to pass by the Temple of Ierusalem of whom he had predicted that he should that day be slain in the Tower of Strato he turned to his friends wishing that himself might dye since he was alive The Tower of Strato said he is six hundred furlongs off so that my prediction is not possible to be fulfilled on this day as I pronounced but scarce had he finished his discourse when news comes that Antigonus was slain in a Cave that was called the Tower of Strato and thus the prediction was fulfilled though not well understood by him who was the Author of it 8. While Iulius Caesar was sacrificing Spurina a Soothsayer advised him to beware of the Ides of March when therefore they were come and that there was no visible appearance of danger Caesar sent for Spurina Well said he the Ides of March are come and I see nothing in them so formidable as thy caution to me would seem to import They are come indeed said Spurina but they are not past that unhappy accident which was threatned may yet fall out nor was he mistaken for upon the same day Iulius was slain in the Senate house by Brutus and Cassius and the rest of their Complices 9. When Vitellius the Emperour had set forth an Edict that the Mathematicians should at a certain day depart the City and Italy it self there was a Paper affixed to a publick place wherein was writ that the Cha daeans did predict good Fortune for before the day appointed for their departure Vitellius should no where be found nor did it miscarry in the event Vitellius being slain before the day came 10. Proclus Larginus having in Germany predicted that Domitian the Emperour should dye upon such a day was laid hold upon and for that cause sent to Rome where when before Domitian himself he had affirmed the very same he was sentenced to death with order to keep him till the day of his prediction was past and then that on the next he should dye in case what he had foretold of the Emperour proved false but Domitian was slain by Stephanus upon the very day as he had said whereupon the Soothsayer escaped and was enlarged with great honour 11. Ascletarion was one singularly skilled in Astrology and he also had predicted the day and hour of Domitians death and being asked by the Emperour what kind of death he himself should dye I shall shortly said he be torn in pieces by Dogs the Emperour therefore commands that he should be slain forthwith publickly burnt and to mock the vanity and temerity of his Art he ordered that the ashes of his body should be
gathered put into an Urn and carefully buried But the body was no sooner laid upon the funeral pile in order to his burning but a sudden tempest and vehement shower of rain extinguished the fire and caused the attendants of the Corps to betake themselvâ—s to shelter when came the Dogs and pulled in pieces the half-burnt carkass Domitian being certified hereof began to grow into more fearful apprehensions of his own safety but the irresistable force of Destiny is no way to be eluded but he was slain accordingly 12. Alexander Severus the Emperour marching out to the German Wars Thrasybulus a Mathematiciâ—n and his Friend told him that he would be slain by the Sword of a Barbarian and a Woman Druid cryed out to him in the Gallick Tongue Thou mayst go but neither hope for the Victory nor trust to the faith of thy Souldiers It fell out accordingly for before he came in sight of the Enemy he was slain by some German Souldiers that were in his own Camp 13. A Greek Astrologer the same that had predicted the Dukedome of Tuscany to Cosmo de Medices did also to the wonder of many foretel the death of Alexander and that with such assuredness that he described his Murtherer to be such a one as was his intimate and familiar of a slender habit of body a â—mall face and swarthy complexion and who with a reserved silence was almost unsociable to all persons in the Court by which description he did almost point out with the singer Laurence Medices who murdered Prince Alexander in his Bed-chamber contrary to all the Laws of Consanguinity and Hospitality 14. Pope Paul the Third wrote to Petrus Aâ—oisius Farnesius his Son that he should take special care of himself upon the 10. of September for the Stars did then threaten him with some signal misfortune Petrus giving credit to his Fathers admonition with great anxiety and fear took heed to himself upon that day and yet notwithstanding all his care he was slain by thirty six that had framed a conspiracy against him 15. Alexander the Great returning out of India and being about to enter Babylon the Chaldean Soothsayers sent him word that he would speedily dye if he entred the Walls of it This prediction was derided by Anaxarchus the Epicurcan and Alexander not to shew himself over-timerous or superstitious in this kind would needs put himself within the City where as most hold he was poysoned by Cassander 16. The very same day that the formentioned Alexander was born the Temple of Diana at Ephesus was set on fire and certain Magicians that were then present ran up and down crying that a great calamity and cruel scourge to Asia was born that day nor were they mistaken for Alexander over-ran all Asia with conquering Arms not without a wonderful slaughter of the men and desolation of the Country 17. When Darius in the beginning of his Empire had caused the Persian Scimitar to be made after the manner of the Greeks and commanded all men to wear them so forthwith the Chaldeans predicted that the Empire of the Persians should be devolved into the power of them whose Arms and Weapons they thus imitated which also came to pass for Darius overcome in three Battels and in his flight left treacherously wounded by some of his own men lost his life and left his Empire to his Conqueror the Grecian Alexander 18. While Cosmo Medices was yet a private man and little thought of the Dukedom of Florence Basilius the Mathematician foretold tâ—at a wonderful rich inheritance would certainly fall to him in as much as the Ascendant of his Nativity was beautified and illustrated by a happy conspiracy of Stars in Capricorn in such manner as had heretofore fallen out to Augustus Caesar and the Emperour Charles the Fifth upon the 5. of the Ides of Ian. he was advanced to the Dignity of the Dukedom 19. Belesus a Babylonish Captain skilled in Astrology and Divination beyond all the Chaldeans told Arbaces the Prefect of Media that he should be Lord of all that Sardanapalus did now possess since his Genesis was favoured as he knew with a lucky Position of Stars Arbaces encouraged by this hope conspired with the Babylonians and Arabians but the Revolt being known the Rebels were thrice in plain field overthrown by Sardanapalus The Confederates amazed at so many unhappy chances determined to return home But Belesus having all night made observation of the Stars foretold that a considerable body of friends were coming to their assistance and that in a short time their affairs would go on more prosperously Thus confirmed they waited the time set down by Belesus in which it was told them that the Bactrians were come in aid of the King It seemed good to Arbaces and the rest to meet the Bactrians with an expedite and select Body and perswade them to the same Revolt or force them he prevailed without stroke they joyned with his Forces In the night he fell upon the Camp of Sardanapalus who feared nothing less and took it twice after they overcame him in the field with great slaughter and having driven him into Niniveh after two years siege took that also and so fulfilled the prediction of Belesius 20. The great Picus Mirandula who for writing more against the Astrologers and also more reproachfully than others or indeed than any man ever did was called Flagellum Astrologorum the Scourage of Astrologers met at last with one Bellantius of Syena who was not at all deceived in the Judgement that he gave upon his Nativity for he foretold him that he should dye in the thirty fourth year of his age which accordingly came to pass 21. Iunctin an Italian of the City of Florence foretold that himself should dye of some violent death and upon the very same day was knocked on the head by the Books in his own Study falling upon him 22. The Duke of Biron being then only Baron of Biron and in some trouble by reason of the death of the Lord Cerency and others slain in a quarrel is said to have gone disguised like a Carrier of Letters unto one la Brosse a great Mathematician whom they held to be skilful in casting Nativities to whom he shewed his Nativity drawn by some other and dissembling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he served and that he desired to know what end that man should have La Brosse having rectified this Figure said to him that he was of a good House and no elder than you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his The Baron answered him I will not tell you but tell me said he what his life and means and end shall be The old man who was then in a little Garret which served him for a Study said unto him My Son I see that he whose Nativity this is shall come to great honour by his industry and military valour
and may be a King but there is a Caput Algol which hinders it And what is that said the Baron Ask me not said la Brosse what it is I must know it replied he In the end he said to him My Son it is that he will do that which shall make him lose his head Whereupon the Baron beat him cruelly and having left him half dead he went down and carried with him the key of the Garret door whereof he afterwards brag'd He had also conference with one Caesar who was a Magician at Paris who told him that only a back blow of the Bourguignon would keep him from being a King He remembred this prediction being a Prisoner in the Bastille and intreated one that went to visit him to learn if the Executioner of Paris was a Bourguignon and having found it so he said I am a dead man and soon after was beheaded for his Conspiracy 23. Upon St. Nicholas day in the year 1422. Queen Katherine Wife to King Henry the Fifth was brought to bed of a Son at Windsor who was by the Duke of Bedford and Henry Bishop of Winchester and the Countesse of Holland christned by the name of Henry whereof when the King had notice out of a prophetick rapture he said Good Lord I Henry of Monmouth shall small time reign and much get and Henry born at Windsor shall long time reign and lose all but Gods will be done 24. On the 30. day of October 1485. was Henry the Seventh with great Solemnity anointed and crowned King of England and even this was revealed to Cadwallader last King of the Britains 797 years past that his Off-spring should reign and bear dominion in this Realm again 25. Although Henry the First came not to the Crown of England by the gift of his Father the Conqueror as his Brother William did yet he came to it by the Prophecy of his Father for when his Father made his Will and divided all his Estate in Land between his two eldest Sons giving to Henry his youngest only a Portion in Money with which division he perceived him to be much discontentend he said unto him Content thy self Harry for the time will come that thy turn shall be serv'd as well as theirs His prediction was accomplished August the 5. An. 1100. he being then crowned in Westminster 26. The Great Cham Cublai intending to besiege the Metropolis of the Province of Mangi made one Bajan Chiusan the General of his Army which name signifies the light of an hundred eyes the Queen that was within the Walls of the City with a Garrison sufficient hearing the name of the General not only delivered the City but also the whole Province into the hands of Cublai for that she had before heard it predicted by the Astrologers that the City should be taken by him that had an hundred eyes 27. Thrasyllus the Mathematician was in the Retinue of Tiberius when he lived at Rhodes as an Exile and though under that cloud and that Caius and Lucius were both alive whose pretences were before his yet he constantly told him that he should be Emperour Tiberius believed him not but suspecting he was suborned by his Enemies to betray him into dangerous words he determined privily to make him away He had a house in Rhodes in which there was a Tower built upon a Rock which was washed by the Sea hither he brought him accompanied by a Servant of his own of great strength resolved to cast him headlong from thence When therefore they were come up Tell me said he by all that is dear unto thee if that is true which thou hast hitherto so confidently affirmed to me concerning the Empire It is said Thrasyllus a certain truth and such is the pleasure of the Stars If then said Tiberius you have such assurance of my Destiny what say you of your own Presently be erected a Scheme and considering the situation and distance of the Stars he began to fear look pale and cryed out I am in doubtful and hazardous state and the last end of my life seems nearly to approach At this Tiberius embraced him and told him he doubted not his skill in predictions acquainting him with his design against his life The same Thrasyllus not long after walking with Tiberius upon the shore of Rhodes having discovered a Ship under Sail afar off told him that Ship came from Rome and therein were Messengers with Letters from Augustus concerning his return which also fell out accordingly 28. Apollonius Tyanaeus was at Ephesus in Asia reading a Lecture in a Grove there a great space both of Land and Sea interposed betwixt him and Rome when he began to speak low and then more slowly streight he looked pale and stood silent at last stepping hastily on some paces as one transported O brave Stephanus said he strike the Tyrant kill the Murderer thou hast struck him thou hast wounded him thou hast slain him This spoke in publick was carefully gathered up the time diligently observed and as it was after well known that Domitian the Emperour was slain in Rome that day and the same hour of the day by one Stephanus that was of his Bed-chamber 29. Diocletian being in Gallia with the Roman Army and at that time but a Knight of Rome and of a slender Fortune paid his quarters but indifferently his Hostess upbraided him that he paid her too sparingly and he on the other side jestingly replied that he would discharge his Reckoning more bountifully assoon as he should be Emperor the Woman who was a Witch told him that he should be Emperour assoon as he had slain the Boar he thereupon betook himself to hunting and had killed many wild Boars yet still found himself never the nearer at last Numerianus the Emperour being slain by the fraud of Aper his Father-in-law Diocletian slew Aper in the Council his name in English is a Boar and thereupon was elected Emperour 30. William Earl of Holland upon the death of Henry Lantgrave of Hassia and King of the Romans was chosen King in his stead after which he warred upon Frisia and subdued it when near unto a City there he light upon a Tomb adorned with great curiosity of Workmanship and asking who was intombed therein he was told by the Inhabitants that at present there was not any body interred therein but that by a secret Fate it was reserved for a certain King of the Romans The King having assured his new Conquest was marching out of Frisia and rode himself before with few of his Attendance to seek out a convenient place for the quartering of his Army when it chanced that his Horse breaking into the Ice overthrew him There were certain fugitive Frisons that lay hid in the reeds thereabouts who observing his misfortune brake out upon him and before any could come in to his assistance he was partly slain by them and partly choaked with his Helmet about him in
great Founder of it was Sir Thomas Bodley formerly a Fellow of Merton Colledge he began to furnish it with Desks and Books about the year 1598. after which it met with the liberality of divers of the Nobility Prelacy and Gentry William Earl of Pembroke procured a great number of Greek Manuscripts out of Italy and gave them to this Library William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury bestowed 1300 choice Manuscripts upon it most of them in the Oriental Tongues At last to compleat this stately and plentiful mansion of the Muses there was an accession to it of above eight thousand Books being the Library of that most learned Antiquary Mr. Iohn Selden By the bounty of these noble Benefactors and many others it is improved in such manner that it is a question whether it is exceeded by the Vatican it self or any other Library in the World CHAP. VII Of such persons who being of mean and low Birth have yet attained to great Dignity and considerable Fortunes IT was the dream of some of the Followers of Epicurus that if there were any Gods they were so taken up with the fruition of their own happiness that they mind not the affairs or miseries of poor mortality here below no more than we are wont to concern our selves with the business of Ants and Pismires in their little Mole-hills But when we see on the one side pompous Greatness laid low as contempt it self and on the other hand baseness and obscurity raised up to amazing and prodigious heights even these to a considering mind are sufficient proofs of a superiour and divine Power which visibly exerts it self amongst us and disposes of men as it pleases beyond either their fears or hopes 1. The great Cardinal Mazarini who not long since sate at the Stern of the French Affairs was by birth a Sicilian by extraction scarce a Gentleman his education so mean as that he might have wrote man before he could write but being in Natures debt for a handsome face a stout heart and a stirring spirit he no sooner knew that Sicily was not all the World but he left it for Italy where his debonaire behaviour preferred him to the service of a German Knight who plaid as deep as he drank while his skill in the one maintained his debauches in the other The young Sicilian deemed this shaking of the elbow a lesson worth his learning and practised his art with such success amongst his Companions that he was become the master of a thousand Crowns Hereupon he began to entertain some aspiring thoughts so that his Master taking leave of Rome he took leave of his Master after which being grown intimate with some Gentlemen that attended the Cardinal who steered the Helm of the Papal interest he found means to be made known to him and was by him received with affection into his service after his Cardinal had worn him a year or two at his ear and distilled his State-maxims into his fertile Soul he thought fit the World should take notice of his pregnant abilities He was therefore sent Coadjutor to a Nuntio who was then dispatched to one of the Princes of Italy whence he gave his Cardinal a weekly account of his transactions here the Nuntio's sudden death let fall the whole weight of the business upon his shoulders which he managed with that dextrous solidity that his Cardinal wrought with his Holiness to declare him Nuntio His Commission expired and the Affairs that begot it happily concluded he returns to Rome where he received besides a general grand repute the caresses of his Cardinal and the plausive benedictions of St. Peter's Successour About this time Cardinal Richelieu had gotten so much glory by making his Master Lewis the Thirteenth of a weak man a mighty Prince as he grew formidable to all Christendom and contracted suspicion and envy from Rome it self this made the Conclave resolve upon the dispatch of some able Instrument to countermine and give check to the cariere of his dangerous and prodigious successes This resolved they generally concurred in the choice of Mazarini as the fittest Head-piece to give their fears death in the others destruction To fit him for this great employment the Pope gives him a Cardinals Hat and sends him into France with a large Legantine Commission where being arrived and first complying with that grand Fox the better to get a clue to his Labyrinth he began to screw himself into Intelligence but when he came to sound his Plots and perceive he could find no bottom and knowing the other never used to take a less vengeance than ruine for such doings he began to look from the top of the Enterprise as people do from Precipices with a frighted eye then withal considering his retreat to Rome would neither be honourable nor safe without attempting something he resolves to declare himself Richelieu's Creature and to win the more confidence unrips the bosome of all Rome's designs against him This made the other take him to his breast and acquainted him with the secret contrivance of all his Dedalaean Policies and when he left the World declared him his Successor and this was that great Cardinal that umpired almost all Christendom and that shined but a while since in the Gallick Court with so proud a Pomp. 2. There was a young man in the City of Naples about twenty four years old he wore linen Slops a blue Wastcoat and went bare-foot with a Mariners Cap upon his head his profession was to angle for little fish with a Cane Line and Hook and also to buy fish and to carry and retail them to some that dwelt in his quarter His name was Tomaso Anello but vulgarly called Masaniello by contraction yet was this despicable creature the man that subjugated all Naples Naples the Head of such a Kingdom the Metropolis of so many Provinces the Queen of so many Cities the Mother of so many glorious Hero's the Rendezvous of so many Princes the Nurse of so many valiant Champions and sprightful Cavaliers This Naples by the impenetrable Judgment of God though having six hundred thousand Souls in her saw her self commanded by a poor abject Fisher-boy who was attended by a numerous Army amounting in few hours to one hundred and fifty thousand men He made Trenches set Sentinels gave signs chastised the Banditi condemned the guilty viewed the Squadrons ranked their Files comforted the fearful confirmed the stout encouraged the bold promised rewards threatned the suspected reproached the coward applauded the valiant and marvellously incited the minds of men by many degrees his superiours to battel to burnings to spoil to blood to death He awed the Nobility terrified the Viceroy disposed of the Clergy cut off the heads of Princes burnt Palaces rifled houses at his pleasure freed Napâ—es from all sorts of Gabels restored it to its ancient Priviledges and lest not until he had converted his blue Wastcoat into Cloth of Silver and made himself a more absolute Lord of
that City and all its Inhabitants and was more exactly obeyed in all his orders and commands than ever Monarch had the glory to be in his own Kingdom This most astonishing revolution in the City of Naples began upon Sunday the seventh of Iuly An. 1647. and ended with the death of Masaniello which was upon Iuly the 16. 1647 the tenth day from its beginning 3. The Lord Cromwel was born at Putney a Village in Surrey near the Thames-side Son to a Smith after whose decease his Mother was married to a Sheer-man This young Cromwel for the pregnancy of his wit was first entertained by Cardinal Wolsey and by him employed in many great Affairs The Cardinal falling the King that was Henry the Eighth took him to his service and finding his great abilities advanced him by degrees to these Dignities Master of the Kings Jewel-house and of the Kings Privy Council Secretary to the King and Master of the Rolls Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal made Lord Cromwel and Vicar General under the King over all the Spirituality created Earl of Essex and at last Lord High Chancellor of England 4. In the Reign of King Henry the Second one Nicholas Breakspear born at St. Albans or as others write at Langley in Hartfordshire being a Bond-man of that Abbey and therefore not allowed to be a Monk there went beyond Sea where he so profited in Learning that the Pope made him first Bishop of Alba and afterwards Cardinal and sent him as his Legate to the Norways where he reduced that Nation from Paganism to Christianity and returning back to Rome was chosen Pope by the name of Adrian the Fourth 5. The War betwixt the Chineses and Tartars began in the year 1206. which lasting 77 years at last the Tartars in the year 1288. having totally subdued all that mighty Empire extinguished the Imperial Family of the Sunga's and erected a new Royal Family which they called Iuena of which Tartarian Race nine Emperours by descent ruled the Kingdom of China for the space of 70 years in peace and quietness In this tract of time the Tartars declining from their ancient vigor and having their warlike Spirits softned by the pleasures and delights of the Country there was a contemptible person called Chu he was Servant to one of those that were deputed to offer Sacrifice to their Idols a Native of China and this man presumed to rebel against them At the first he acted the part of a Thief or High way man and being of a generous nature bold quick of hand and wit he gathered such a multitude in a short time that they made up the body of a great Army then deposing the person of a Thief he became a General set upon the Tartars and fought many Battels with them with such fortune and success that in the year 1368. he drove them quite out of the Empire of China receiving for so illustrious an action the whole Empire of China as a worthy reward of his Heroical Exploits It was he that first erected the Imperial Family of the Taminges and was the first Emperour of that Race stiling himself by the name of Hunguuâ— which is the famous Warriour He placed his Court at Nanking near the great River of Kiang and having speedily ordered and established that Empire he made an irruption into Tartary it self and so followed the course of his Victories that he defeated them several times wasted their Territories and finally brought the Oriental Tartars to such streights as he forced them to lay down their Arms to pay Tribute and to beg an inglorious Peace 6. Sinan that great Bassa in the Court of Selymus the First was born of base Parentage as he being a child was sleeping in the shade he had his Genitals bitten off by a Sow The Turkish Officers which usually provided young Boys for the service of the Grand Signior being in Epirus for that was Sinans Country and hearing of this so extraordinary an Eunuch took him amongst others with them to the Court where under Mahomet the Great Bajazet the Second and his Son Selymus he so exceedingly thrived that he was made the chief Bassa of the Court and so well deserved it that he was accounted Selymus his right hand and was indeed the man to whose Valour especially the Turks owe their Kingdom of Egypt in which Kingdom then not fully setled he was also slain 7. Eumenes being a poor Carriers Son attained to such an ability in the Art of War that after the death of Alexander the Great under whom he served he seised on the Provinces of Cappadoâ—ia and Paphlagonia and siding though a Stranger to Macedon with Olympias and the Blood Royal against the Greek Captains he vanquished and slew Craterus and divers times drove Antigonus afterwards Lord of Asia out of the field but being by his own Souldiers betrayed he was by them delivered to Antigonus and by him slain 8. When Alexander the Great had taken the City of Tyre he permitted Ephestion his chief Favourite to chuse whom he would to be King there Ephestion proffered it to him with whom he had lodged a rich and honourable person but he refused it as not touching the blood of their Kings in any degree Then being asked by Ephestion if he knew any of the Royal Lineage yet living he told him there was a wise and honest man remaining but that he was in extremity of poverty Ephestion went to him forthwith with the Royal Robes and sound him in a Garden lading water out of a pit for a little money and in ragged apparel Ephestion tells him the intent of his coming cloaths him in all the Royal Ornaments and brings him into the Forum where the people were convented and delivers him the Soveraignty over them The people chearfully accepted of a person that was so accidentally and wonderfully found out to rule over them His name was Abdolonymus or as others Ballonymus 9. Licungzus at first a common Thief then a Captain of a Troop of Robbers by degrees arrived to that force and power in China that he took all the Province of Honan subjected the Province of Xensi and gave Sigan the Metropolis of it as a prey to his Souldiers These and many other his fortunate Exploits caused him to take the name of King with the addition of Xungvan which sounds as much as Licungzus the prosperous and at last thinking himself secure of the Empire he took the name of Emperour upon him and stiled the Family wherein he thought to establish this Dignity Thienxunam as much as to say obedient to Heaven By which he endeavoured to perswade the Souldiers and people that it was by the disposition of the Heavens that he should reign He besieged Peking the Metropolis of all China and with his victorious Army he entred and took it An. 1644. and coming into the Palace sate him down in the Imperial Throne though it was observed in this first act
in the judgment of himself and all his Citizens He made a solemn Feast upon his Birth-day and having invited all his friends setteth himself to the displaying of all his prosperity which himself magnifieth admireth and extolleth above the clouds and at last comes to this he asks one of his inward friends if there wanted any thing to make up his felicity compleat who considering what little stay there is in worldly matters and how they roll and flye away in a moment or rather inspired from above made this answer Certainly the wrath of God cannot be long from this thy so great prosperity Well the Forces of the Guelphs beginning to decay the Gibbellines run to Arms beset the house of this prosperous Hugolin break down the Gates kill one of his Sons and a Grandchild that opposed their entrance lay hold on Hugolin himself imprison him with two other of his Sons and three Granchildren in a Tower shut all the Gates upon them and throw the keys into the River of Arne that ran hard by Here Hugolin saw those goodly Youths of his dying between his arms himself also at deaths door He cryed and besought his enemies to be content that he might endure some humane punishment and to grant that he might be confessed and communicate e're he dyed But their hearts were all flint and all he requested with tears they denied with derision so he dyed pitifully together with his Sons and Grandchildren that were inclosed with him So sudden and oftentimes so tragical are the revolutions of that life which seems most to promise a continuance of prosperity 15. Amongst all those that have been advanced by the favour of mighty Princes there was never so great a Minion nor a more happy man in his life until his death than was Ibraim Bassa chief Vizier to Solyman the Great Turk This Bassa finding himself thus highly caressed by his Lord and Master he besought him on a day as he talked with him with great familiarity that he would forbear to make so much of him lest being elevated too high and flourishing beyond measure it should occasion his Lord to look a scance upon him and plucking him from the top of Fortunes wheel to hurl him into the lowest of misery Solyman then swore unto him that while he lived he would never take a way his life But afterwards moved against him by the ill success of the Persian War by him perswaded and some suspicion of Treachery yet feeling himself tyed by his oath he forbore to put him to death till being perswaded and informed by a Talisman or Turkish Priest that a man asleep cannot be counted amongst the living in regard the whole life of man is a perpetual watch Solyman sent one night an Eunuch who with a sharp razor cut his throat as he was quietly sâ—eeping upon a Pallet in the Court. And thus this great Favourite had not so much as the favour to be acquainted with his Masters displeasure but was sent out of the world at unawares his dead body was reviled and curst by Solyman after which a weight was tyed to it and it cast into the Sea 16. George Villiers was the third Son of Sir George Villiers Knight was first sworn Servant to King Iames then his Cupâ—bearer at large the Summer following admitted in ordinary the next St. Georges day he was Knighted and made Gentleman of the Kings Bedâ—chamber and the same day had an annual pension of a thousand pound given him out of the Court of Wards At New-years tide following the King chose him Master of the Horse After this he was installed of the most noble Order of the Garter In the next August he created him Baron of Whaddon and Viscount Villiers In Ianuary of the same year he was advanced Earl of Buckingham and sworn of his Majesties Privy Council The March ensuing he attended the King into Scotland and was likewise â—worn a Councellor in that Kingdom At New-years Tide after he was created Marquess of Buckingham and made Lord Admiral of England Chief Justice in Eyre of all the Parks and Forests on the South-side of Trent Master of the Kings Bench Office head Steward of Westminster and Constable of Windsor Castle chosen by the King the chief Concomitant of the Heir apparent in his Journey into Spain then made Duke of Buckingham and his Patent sent him thither After his return from whence he was made Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Steward of the Mannor of Hampton-Court But in the midst of all these Honours of the Duke upon Saturday the 23. of August at Portsmouth when after break-fast he came out of the room into a kind of Lobby somewhat darker and which led to another Chamber where divers waited with Sir Thomas Fryer close at his ear in the moment as the said Knight withdrew himself from the Duke one Iohn Felton a younger Brother of mean fortunes in Suffolk gave him with a back blow a deep wound into his left side leaving the knife in his body which the Duke himself pulling out on a sudden effusion of spirits he sunk down under the table in the next room and immediately expired One thing in this enormous accident is I must confess to me beyond all wonder as I received it from a Gentleman of judicious and diligent observation and one whom the Duke well favoured that within the space of not many minutes after the fall of the body and removal thereof into the first room there was not a living creature in either of the Chambers with the body no more than if it had lain in the Sands of Ethiopia whereas commonly in such cases you shall note every where a great and sudden conâ—lux of people unto the place to hearken and see but it seems the horrour of the Fact stupisied all curiosity Thus dyed this great Peer in the thirty sixth year of his age compleat and three days over in a time of great recourse unto him and dependence upon him The House and Town full of Servants and Suitors his Dutchess in an upper room scarce yet out of her bed and the Court at this time not above six or nine miles from him which had been the Stage of his Greatness 17. Charles the Gross the twenty ninth King of France and Emperour of the West began to reign in the year 885. the eyes of the French were fixed upon him as the man that should restore their Estate after many disorders and confusions He went into Italy and expelled the Saracens that threatned Rome being returned he found the Normans dispersed in divers Coasts of his Realm Charles marches with his Army against them but at the first encounter was overthrown this check though the loss was small struck a great terrour and at last caused an apparent impossibility to succour Neustria and recover it from so great Forces He was therefore advised to treat with them to make them of enemies friends and to leave them that which
goes home and puts himself to death To change death into banishment is held unlawful and it is said that when one had received the sign of death and had intentioâ—s to flye out of Ethiopia his Mother being apprehensive of it fastned her girdle about his neck and he not offering to resist her with his hands lest he should thereby fasten a reproach upon his Family was strangled by her 15. In the greater India in the Kingdom of Var in which St. Thomas is said to be slain and buried he amongst them who is to undergo a capital punishment begs of the King that he may rather dye in honour of some God than an inglorious death by the hands of the Hang-man If the King in mercy grant him it by his kindred with great joy he is led through the City with mighty pomp he is placed in a chair with sharp knives all hung about his neck When he comes to the place of Execution with a loud voice he affirms he will dye in honour of this or that God then taking one of the knives he wounds himself where he pleases then a second then a third till his strength fail and so he is honourably burnt by his friends 16. The Mosynaeci that live beyond the River Carambis if their King whom they have chosen have done any thing amiss they punish him in this sort they suffer him not to eat any thing for one day entire 17. The Scots have a Custom which is also at Millain they call it an Indictment there is a Chest in the Church into which any man may cast a paper having suppose the name of the Wizard the thing done by him the place and time and also the Witnesses set down This Chest in the presence of the Judge is opened the Kings Proctor being by and this is done every fifteenth day that there may be a private inquiry made of all such persons whose names are there found and they accordingly to be brought before them 18. The ancient Romans appointed that about the Axes which were carried before the Magistrates bundles of Rods should be bound that while those bundles were unloosing a convenient space of time should be given to the Magistrate â—est in a heat of passion he should command such things to be done whereof afterwards he should but in vain repent himself 19. The Egyptians yearly compelled all persons to give in their names and profession to the Magistrate and such as they found to lye or live upon unlawful gains they adjudged to death Also about the neck of their principal Justice there is hung the Image of a Deity of Gold and Gems which Deity they called Truth by which they shewed that truth ought always to be in the heart and mouth of a Judge and when they beheld that they should prefer it before all other things 20. The Romans used to take away the horses from such men as were of a fat and corpulent body as a mark of infamy upon them For when through luxury they had unfitted themselves for the service of their Country they would they should be without publick honour in it Also they caused such as were convicted of cowardise to be let blood in the arm that they might dishonourably lose that blood which they feared to shed for the honour and safety of their Country 21. That was also a praise-worthy Custom of the Romans whereby it was forbidden that those spoils which they had taken from their enemies and consumed through length of time should ever be renewed By which they seemed to take care that that hatred which might appear to be retained while the spoils were standing should in some time be obliterated and cease with the spoils themselves 22. The Corinthians were wont without much examination to hang up such as were suspected of theft and upon the third day after the matter was strictly examined by the Judge then if it was found that they had really committed the theft whereof they had been accused they left them hanging upon the Gallows but if they were adjudged to be innocent they were taken thence and buried with a preface of honour at the publick charge 23. The Thracians did celebrate the birth of any with mournful complaints and their Funerals with all the signs of mirth and expressions of joy this they did without any directions therein from the learned but only moved thereunto with apprehensions of the miserable condition of humane life 24. The Lycians when any matter of mourning doth befal them use to put upon themselves the cloaths and habit of a Woman that so being moved with the deformity of their array they might be willing the sooner to lay aside their foolish grief 25. The old Gaules had a Custom that when they were about to make War they called forth their armed Youth unto Council and he whosoever he was that came last upon that summons was put to death by divers torments 26. The Romans whether they went into the Country or travelled further at their return used to send a Messenger before them to their Wives to let them know that they are at hand and upon this reason they did it because women in the absence of their husbands are supposed to be detained with many cares and much employment possibly they have brawls and discontents in the family that therefore all these might be laid aside and that they might have time to receive their husbands in peace and with chearfulness they send before them the news of their arrival 27. Plutarch saith that the King of Persia hath one of his Bed-chamber who hath this given him in charge that in the morning when he first enters the Kings Chamber he should awake him with these words Arise O King and take care of those affairs which Mâ—soromasdes hath commanded thee to take care of 28. The Iews before they entred Battel by publick Edict commanded them to depart from the Army who were newly married and had not brought home their wives also all those that had planted a Vineyard and had not yet eaten of the fruit of it and those who had begun to build a house and had not yet finished it together with these all such as were cowardly and fearful lest the desire of those things which the one had begun or the saint-heartedness of the other should occasion them to fight feebly and also by their fears possess the hearts of such as were bold and valiant 29. The manner of making War amongst the Romans and the recovery of such things as were injuriously detained was this They sent forth Feciales or Heralds whom they also called Orators crowned with Vervain that they might make the Gods witnesses who are the Revengers of broken Leagues He that was crowned with Vervain carried a Turff with the grass upon it out of the Tower and the Ambassador when he came to their borders who were the offerers of the
out of devotion send some relief to them Some of these do voluntarily impose upon themselves such long times of fasting that they will not give it over till Nature is not only decayed but almost spent CHAP. XV. Of such as refused all drink or to taste of any liquid thing or else found no need thereof LYsimachus King of Thrace was shut up in a streight by King Dromichetes in such manner that for very extreme thirst he was driven to yield himself and all his Army to the mercy of his Enemy After he had drunk being now a Prisoner Gods said he for how little a pleasure am I become a Slave who but a while since was a King Had his constitution been like unto that of some of these which follow he had saved his Kingdom and Army so might he also if he had rested contentedly at home with the enjoyment of his own but his ambitions thirst after Soveraignty made him set upon a Prince who had given him no provocation so his own thirst was appareâ—â—â—â— punished in that of another kind But let us turn to such as had little or no acquaintance with thirst 1. Pontanus writes that in his time there was a Woman who in all her life time did never drink either wine or water and that being once inforced to drink wine by the command of Ladislaus King of Naples she received much hurt thereby 2. Iulius Viator a Gentleman of Rome descended from the Race of the Voconians our Allies being fallen into a kind of Dropsie between the skin and flesh during his minority and nonage and forbidden by the Physicians to drink so accustomed himself to observe their direction that naturally he could abide it insomuch that all his old age even to his dying day he forbore to drink 3. There was in the City of Naples one of the Family of Tomacelli who never drank saith Coelius 4. Aristotle in his Book of Drunkenness writes of some that familiarly eat of salt meats and yet were never troubled with thirst in such manner as to have need to drink as Archon the Argive 5. Mago the Carthaginian did three times travel over the vast and sandy Desarts of Africa where no water is to be met with and yet all that time fed upon dry Brans without taking any thing that was liquid 6. Lasyrtas Lasionius did not stand in need of any drink as the rest of mankind do nevertheless he voided urine frequently as other men many there were who would not believe this till they had made tryal thereof by curious observation they staid with him thirty days in the heat of Summer they saw he abstained from no kind of salt meats and yet drank not It is true that this man drank at some times but he never had any need to do it 7. A Noble-man of Piedmont being sick of that kind of Dropsie which is called Ascites sent for Dr. Albertus Roscius who finding the Dropsie confirmed and the Patient averse from all kind of remedies he said thus to him Noble Sir if you will be cured and perfectly freed of this mighty swelling that is if you desire to live there is an absolute necessity that you determine with your self to dye of that thirst wherewith you are so tormented if you will do this I hope to cure you in a short time The Noble-man at the hearing of this did so far command himself that for a month he refrained not only all kind of drink but not so much as tasted of any thing that was liquid by which means he was restored to his former health 8. Abraames Bishop of Carras saith Theodoret lived with that rigorous abstinence that bread and water bed and fire seemed superfluous to him It is said of this great man that he drank not nor made use of water wherein to boil his herbs or any other thing but his manner was to feed upon Endive and Lettice and Fruits and such other things as were to him both meat and drink and from these also he used to abstain till the evening Yet was he a person of great liberality to such as were his Guests these he entertained with the best bread the most generous wines the better sort of fishes and all such other things as a generous mind and a real love could produce and himself would take upon him to be the Carver and to distribute to every man his portion 9. That is also wonderful which Theophrastus thought fit to insert into his Writings that there was one Philinus who throughout the whole course of his life never made use of any manner of drink no nor of food neither excepting only milk CHAP. XVI Of such men as have used to walk and perform other strange things in their Sleep THey tell of a Tree in Iapan that flourisheth and is fruitful if kept in a dry earth but with moisture which causeth other Trees to flourish withereth Whereas sleep binds up the senses and obstructs the motion of the rest of mortal men there are some who have been found not only to walk but to perform divers other kind of actions in their sleep with as much dexterity and exactness as others could have done when awake and which all their own courage would not perhaps have permitted themselves to attempt with their eyes open 1. A young man of a cholerick constitution lying asleep upon his bed rose up thence on the sudden took a Sword opened the doors and muttering much to himself went into the street where he quarrelled alone and fancying that he was in fight with his enemies he made divers passes till at length he fell down and through an unhappy slip of his Sword he gave himself such a wound upon the breast that little wanted but he had thence received his death Hereupon being awaked and affrighted and dreading lest such his night-walkings might at some time or other create him as great dangers he sent for me to be his Physician and was accordingly cured 2. Iohn Poultney born in little Sheepy in Leicestershire was herein remarkable that in his sleep he did usually rise out of his bed dress him open the doors walk round about the fields and return to his bed not wakened sometimes he would rise in his sleep take a staff fork or any other weapon that was next his hand and therewith lay about him now striking now defending himself as if he were then encountred or charged with an adversary not knowing being awaked what had passed He afterwards went to Sea with that famous but unfortunate Sir Hugh Willoughby Knight and was together with all the Fleet frozen to death in the North-East passage about Nova Zembla 3 I knew a man saith Henricus ab Heere 's who when he was young professed Poetry in a famous University when in the day time he used to bend his mind how he might yet better turn such Verses as he had often before corrected not
this unusual means the Capitol was saved all the Gauls being forced to hasten off or to leave their dead bodies at the foot of that Hill they had newly climbed 7. The Arragonians had a design upon Câ—sibilis in Claremont a well fortified place and in the night the Watch being asleep having applied their scaling Ladders had mounted a Rock taken one Tower of the Castle erected the Ensign of their King upon it and were now marching to a second which they had also carried with little ado but that there was a Hawk there perched which being awaked made such noise and cry that the Governour was thereby raised and the Watch awaked finding that the Enemy had gained entrance they lighted up three Torches a sign agreed upon to hasten their friends to their relief who coming with speedy and seasonable succours occasioned the Arragonians to relinquish their enterprise 8. Niger had fortified the Mountain Taurus against the Army of Severus in such manner that it was now made inaccessible so that the Party of Severus had no hope of doing any good upon them when a great snow fell with showres of rain the passage of which from the Mountain being intercepted by the Fortifications it at last grew so strong that it bore away all before it which the Souldiers that stood there to guard the passages perceiving they immediately fled and left all free to the Army of Severus who then easily passing Taurus fell into Cilicia believing that the Gods themselves fought for them 9. C. Marius had besieged a Castle in Numidia which by Nature and Fortifications seemed to be impregnable he was now in great anxiety about it and tortured with hope and fear he could not resolve whether he should desist or continue in the expectation of some good Fortune that had used to be favourable to him in such occasions While he remained in these thoughts a private Ligurian Souldier that went out of the Camp to get water being got on the other side of the Castle perceived some Cockles creeping amongst the stones these he followed and got divers of them till at last his eagerness in gathering of them had brought him to the top of the Mountain where having taken full view of all such things as might be useful he returns and acquaints the General with such observations as he had made Marius made such use of the occasion that assaulting the Enemy behind as well as before he became Master of that strong place and saith Salust the temerity of Marius corrected by this accident turned to his glory CHAP. XXI Of such as have framed themselves to an imitation of their Superiours or others with the force of Example in divers things UPon the Coast of Norway the Air is so subtilly piercing that it doth insensibly benum the members chills the blood and bâ—ings upon the man a certain death if not with speed prevented Our over-fondness in the imitations of the Examples of our Superiours when they are evil or too costly for us will prove as pernicious to us 1. Gallus Vibius was a man first of great eloquence and then of great madness which sâ—ised not on him so much by accident as his own affectation so long mimically imitating mad men that he became one And Tully confessed that whiles he laughed at one Hircus a very ridiculous man Dum illum video saith he pene factus â—um ille While I laugh at him I am almost become the same kind of person 2. One of the Queens of China had mishapen feet she to mend that natural defect used to swathe them to bring them to a better form that which she did out of a kind of necessity the rest do at this day out of gallantry for from their very infancy they swathe their childrens feet straitning them so as to hinder their growth Certainly the generality of them have so little that one might reasonably doubt whether so small feet could belong to a humame body grown up to its full stature Now this practice had its original from that use of the Queens 3. Sir Philip Calthrope who lived in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh had sent as much Cloth of fine French Tawny as would make him a Gown to a Taylor in Norwich It happened one Iohn Drakes a Shoomaker coming into the Shop liked it so well that he went and bought of the same as much for himself enjoyning the Taylor to make it of the same fashion The Knight being informed hereof commanded the Taylor to cut his Gown as full of holes as his shears could make which so purged Iohn Drakes of his proud humor that he would never be of the Gentlemans fashion again 4. Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester was an unimitable Preacher in his way and such Plagiaries who have often stoln his Sermons could never steal his preaching but could make nothing of that whereof he made all things as he desired Pious and pleasant Bishop Felton his Contemporary and Colleague endeavouring in vain in his Sermons to assimulate his stile and therefore said merrily of himself I had almost marr'd my own natural Trot by endeavouring to imitate his artiâ—icial Amble This peerless Prelate died 1626. 5. It was of old a custom of the Ethiopians that if the King by any accident or cause was maimed in any of his limbs his Domesticks and Familiars would voluntarily weaken themselves in those parts for they thought it uncomely for them to walk upright and their King to halt or that seeing him but with one eye themselves should have two Also when the King died his particular friends used to kill themselves supposing that such an end of life was honourable and also a testimony of unseigned friendship 6. Salmoneus and Alladius the one whereof lived at Alba in Italy and the other at Elis in Arcadia would needs imitate the Thunder and Lightning of Iupiter but both with a just reward of their presumptuous impiety were struck with fire from Heaven 7. When Charles the Fifth went out of Italy to be crowned Emperour being much troubled with the headach he cut his hair short the great Courtiers presently followed his fashion and example so that wearing long hair esteemed so much for many Ages before grew quite out of fashion in his time 8. When Don Iohn of Austria base Son to Charles the Fifth went Governour into the Low-Countries because the hair on the left side of his temples grew upright he used with his hand to put back all the hair from his forehead and because that baring of the forehead seemed to look handsomly in him thence came the fashion of combing and keeping the hair up with wearing of soretops Mobile mutatur sempter cum Principe vulgus saith Claudian The people vary too Iust as their Princes do And Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis The whole World use to take The pattern Princes make 9. Tatianus the Orator
in the Judge or other circumstances as may lay no great imputation upon such as have not the gift of infallibility But when men that sit in the place of God shall through corruption or malice wilfully prevaricate and knowingly and presumptuously oppress the innocent in such cases the supreme Judge oftentimes reserves the decision of the Cause to be made at his own Bar and thereupon hath inspired the injured persons to give their oppressors a summons of appearance which though at prefixed days they have not been able to avoid 1. In the Reign of Frederick Aenobarbus the Emperour and the year 1154. Henry was Archbishop of Mentz a pious and peaceable man but not able to endure the dissolute manners of the Clergy under him he determined to subject them to some sharp censure but while he thought of this he himself was by them before-hand accused to Pope Eugenius the Fourth The Bishop sent Arnoldus his Chamberlain to Rome to make proof of his innocency but the Traitor deserted his Lord and instead of defending him traduced him there himself The Pope sent two Cardinals as his Legates to Mentz to determine the cause who being bribed by the Canons and Arnoldus deprived Henry of his Seat with great ignominy and substituted Arnoldus in his stead Henry bore all patiently without appealing to the Pope which he knew would be to no purpose but openly declared that from their unjust judgment he made his Appeal to Christ the just Judge there I will put in my Answer and thither I cite you the Cardinals jestingly replied When thou art gone before we will follow thee About a year and half after the Bishop Henry died upon the hearing of his death both the Cardinals said Lo he is gone beforâ— and we shall follow after their jest proved in earnest for both of them died in one and the same day one in a house of office and the other gnawing off his own fingers in his madness Arnoldus was assaulted in a Monastery butcher'd and his carcass cast into the Town-ditch 2. Ferdinand the Fourth King of Spain was a great man both in peace and war but something rash and rigid in pronouncing Judgment so that he seemed to incline to cruelty About the year 1312. he commanded two Brothers Peter and Iohn of the noble Family of the Carvialii to be thrown headlong from an high Tower as suspected guilty of the death of Benavidius a Noble person of the first rank they with great constancy denied they were guilty of any such crime but to small purpose When therefore they perceived that the Kings ears were shut against them they cryed out they died innocent and since they found the King had no regard to their pleadings they did appeal to the divine Tribunal and turning themselves to the King bid him remember to make his appearance there within the space of thirty days at the furthest Ferdinand at that time made no reckoning of their words but upon the thirtieth day his Servants supposing he was asleep found him dead in his bed in the flower of his age for he was but twenty four years and nine months old 3. When by the counsel and perswasion of Philip the fair King of France Pope Clement the Fifth had condemned the whole Order of the Knights Templars and in divers places had put many of them to death at last there was a Neapolitan Knight brought to suffer in like manner who espying the Pope and the King looking out at a window with a loud voice he spake unto them as followeth Clement thou cruel Tyrant seeing there is now none left amongst mortals unto whom I may make my appeal as to that grievous death whereunto thou hast most unjustly condemned me I do therefore appeal unto the just Judge Christ our Redeemer unto whose Tribunal I cite thee together with King Philip that you both make your appearance there within a year and a day where I will open my Cause Pope Clement died within the time and soon after him King Philip this was An. 1214. 4. Rodolphus Duke of Austria being grievously offended with a certain Knight caused him to be apprehended and being bound hand and foot and thrust into a Sack to be thrown into the River the Knight being in the Sack and it not as yet sown up espying the Duke looking out of a window where he stood to behold that spectacle cryed out to him with a loud voice Duke Rodolph I summon thee to appear at the dreadful Tribunal of Almighty God within the compass of one year there to shew cause wherefore thou hast undeservedly put me to this bitter and unworthy death The Duke received this summons with laughter and unappalled made answer Well go thou before and I will then present my self The year being almost spent the Duke fell into a light Feaver and remembring the appeal said to the standers by The time of my death does now approach and I must go to Judgment and so it fell out for he died sooner after 5. Francis Duke of the Armorick Britain cast into prison his Brother Aegidius one of his Council who was falsely accused to him of Treason where when Aegidius was almost famished perceiving that his fatal hour approached he spyed a Franciscan Monk out of the window of the prison and calling him to confer with him he took his promise that he would tell his Brother that within the fourteenth day he should stand before the Judgment-seat of God The Franciscan having found out the Duke in the Confines of Normandy where he then was told him of his Brothers death and of his appeal to the high Tribunal of God The Duke terrified with that message immediately grew ill and his distemper daily increasing he expired upon the very day appointed 6. Severianus by the command of the Emperour Adrianus was to die but before he was slain he called for fire and casting Incense upon it I call you to witness O ye Gods said he that I have attempted nothing against the Emperour and since he thus causelesly pursues me to death I beseech you this only that when he shall have a desire to die he may not be able This his appeal and imprecation did not miss of the event for the Emperour being afflicted with terrible tortures often broke out into these words How miserable is it to desire to die and not to have the power 7. Lambertus Schasnaburgensis an excellent Writer as most in those times tells That Burchardus Bishop of Halberstadht in the year 1059. had an unjust controversie with the Abbot of Helverdense about the Tiths of Saxony these the Bishop would take from the Monks and by strong hand rather than by any course of Law sought to make them his own It was to small purpose to make any resistance against so powerful an Adversary but the injured Abbot some few days before his death sent to Frederick the Count Palatine and intreated him
him dead came upon him with a purpose to spoil him of his arms and ornaments Here it was that the Elephant made use of all his fury in the defence of his Master and having cleared the place of the most forward of the Assailants he took up the body of his Lord with his Trunk placed him again upon his back by which means the King was saved but the Elephant dyed of his wounds 3. This which followeth happened in our time and standeth upon record in the publick Registers namely in the year that Appius Iunius and P. Silus were Consuls Titus Sabinus and his servants were executed for an outrage committed upon the person of Nero the Son of Germanicus One of them that dyed had a Dog which could not be kept from the prison door and when his Master was thrown down the stairs called Scalae Gemoniae would not depart from his dead Corps but kept a most pitious howling and lamentation about it in the sight of a great multitude of Romans that stood round about to see the execution And when one of the company threw the Dog a piece of meat he straightways carried it to the mouth of his Master lying dead Moreover when the carcass was thrown into the River Tyber the same Dog swam after and made all the means he could to bear it up a float that it should not sink and to the sight of this spectacle and fidelity of the poor Dog to his Master a number of people ran forth by heaps out of the City to the water-side 4. In Patras a City of Achaia a Boy called Thoas had bought a young Dragon which he kept and nourished with great care and a notable familiarity there was grown betwixt these two But when the Dragon was grown to a considerable bigness the Citizens caused it to be carried into the Wilderness and left there It fortuned that this Thoas being grown up to a young man was returning with some of his Companions from certain sights they had been to see and in their journey were set upon by Robbers Thoas cryed out his voice was straight known to the Dragon who was lurking not far from the place who immediately came forth to his rescue frighted some and slew others and so preserved the life of his Benefactor 5. Centaretrius the Galatian having slain Antiochus in the War got upon the back of the dead Kings Horse but he had no sooner done so but that the Horse seemed sensible that it was his Masters enemy that bestrid him so that taking the Bit in his teeth he ran with all the speed that might be to the top of a Rock from when he threw both himself and his Rider head-long in such manner that neither could be taken up alive again 6. In the Reign of Augustus Caesar the Emperor there was a Dolphin entred the Lucrine Lake which loved a certain Boy a poor mans Son in a strange manner The Boy using to go every day from Baia to Puteoli to School about noon used to stay at the water-side and to call unto the Dolphin Simo Simo many times would give him the fragments of bread which he daily brought him to that purpose and by this means allured the Dolphin to come at his call I should be ashamed to insert this relation into my History but that Mecaenas Fabianus Flavius Alfius and many others have set it down for truth in their Chronicles Well in process of time at what hour soever of the day the Boy lured for him and called Simo the Dolphin though never so close hidden would come abroad and scud amain to this Lad and taking bread and other victuals at his hand would gently offer him his back to mount upon letting fall the sharp prickles of his Fins for fear of hurting the Boy when he had him on his back he would carry him over the broad arm of the Sea as far as Puteoli to School and in like manner convey him back again home and thus continued for many years together so long as the Lad lived But when the Boy was fallen sick and dead the Dolphin usually came to the place seemed to be heavy and mourn for the absence of his beloved and at last 't is presumed for very grief and sorrow himself was found dead upon the shore 7. Egesidemus writes that in the City of Iassoâ— there was a Boy called Hermias who having used likewise to ride upon the back of a Dolphin over the Sea chanced at last in a sudden storm to be overwhelmed with waves as he sate upon his back and so dyed he was brought back by the Dolphin dead as he was who as it were confessing that he was the cause of his death would never return again into the Sea but lanched himself upon the sands and there dyed upon the shore 8. In the great Cirque at Rome at a solemn Spectacle there were many persons condemned to be torn in pieces by wild beasts let loose upon them from Dens and Caves made for the purpose Amongst these miserable persons was one Androdus who had been Servant to a Consular person There was a Lyon let forth upon him the most terrible of all others to look upon both for strength and extraordinary fierceness who at the first stood still as one in admiration and then softly and mildly approaching the man moved his tail after the flattering manner of a Dog and then gently licked the legs and hands of the poor Slave that was almost dead with fear and defended him against all the wild beasts in the Cirque All the people saw this wonder not without great applause Androdus was therefore sent for by Caesar who inquired of him the reason why that terrible beast had spared him alone and had fawned upon him in that manner The Slave told him That being Servant unto the Proconsul of Africk by over-hard usage he had been constrained to run away into the sands and solitudes where while he hid and rested himself in a Cave there came to him this huge Lyon lame of one foot and bloody who seemed mildly and gently to crave his assistance that he took up his foot and having pulled out a long and sharp thorn gave him ease that from that day to three years end he lived with the Lyon in that Cave who ever brought him a part of his prey which he roasted in the Sun and eat After which weary of that bestial life in the Lyons absence he went his way and having gone three days journey he was seised upon by the Souldiers and brought out of Africa to Rome to his Lord and by him was condemned to be thus exposed to the wild beasts to be devoured but that it seems this Lyon being afterwards taken had again taken knowledge of him as he had seen Upon this the people universally interposed for the pardon of Androdus and that he might have the Lyon bestowed upon him it was granted and the Slave
great miseries we endured great wants we were under and had nothing little but hope food and strength If any ask by what directions we steered our course to Mayork whither we designed for the day a Pocket-dial supplied the place of the Compass by night the Stars when they appeared and when not we guessed our way by the motions of the Clouds Four days and nights were we in this woful plight on the fifth all hope that we should be saved was perished so that we left off our labour because we had no strength left only emptied the Boat of water when God sent us some relief as we lay hulling up and down we discovered a Tortoise not far from us asleep in the Sea had Drake discovered the Spanish Fleet he could not have more rejoiced we took up our Oars silently rowed to our prey took it into the Boat with great triumph we cut off her head and let her bleed into a pot we drank the blood eat the liver and sucked the flesh It wonderfully refreshed our spirits and we picked up some crums of hope About noon we thought we discovered Land it 's impossible to express the joy of our raised souls at this apprehension we wrought hard and after further labour were fully satisfied that it was Land and it was Mayork we kept within sight of it all day The sixth of Iuly and about ten a clock at night we came under the Island and crept as near the shore as we could and durst till we found a convenient place where we might thrust in our Weather-beaten Boat When we were come to Land we were not insensible of our deliverance but though we had escaped the Sea we might die at Land we had no food since we eat the liver and drank the blood of the Tortoise therefore Iohn Anthony and my self were sent out to scout abroad for fresh water because we spake some Spanish we came to a Watch-Tower of the Spaniards spake to him on the Watch told him our condition earnestly begged some fresh water and some bread he threw us down an old mouldy Cake but so long as it was a Cake hunger did not consider its mouldiness then he directed us to fresh water which was hard by We stood not telling stories we remembred our brethren left with our Boat and observing the Sentinels directions came to a Well where there was a Pot with strings to draw with we drank a little water and eat a bit of our Cake but the passage was so disused that we had much ado to force our throats to relieve our clamorous stomachs We return to our Boat acquaint them with the good success of our Embassy and all prepare to make to the Well so tying our Boat as fast as we could to the shore we left her to mercy Now we are at the Well it hath water and we have something to draw but God must give us a throat to swallow for William Adams attempting to drink after many essays was not able to swallow it but still the water returned so that he sunk down to the ground faintly saying I am a dead man but after much striving he took a little so refreshed with our Cake and water we lay down by the Well-side till the morning when it was clear day we again went to the Watch-man intreating him to direct us the ready way to the next House or Town where we might find relief he civilly pointed us to one about two miles off and long it was e're our blistered feet could overcome the tediousness of that little way When we came the honest Farmer moved with our relation sent us out bread and water and Olives and seeing us thankful Beggars enlarged his civility to us called us into his house and gave us good warm Bean-pottage which seemed to me the most pleasant food that I ever eat in my life Thence we advanced to the City of Mayork about ten miles from that place that night we lay by a Well-side and in the morning we entred the Suburbs the Viceroy was informed of us and we were commanded to appear before him who after he had examined us and heard our story ordered we should be maintained at his own cost till we could have passage to our own Country but our English Ships seldom trading thither we petitioned the Viceroy for passage in the King of Spains Gallies which were in the Road bound for Alicant which he graciously granted us After some other troubles we met with contrary winds and it was five weeks e're we could reach the Downs where we arrived in Sept. 1644. The Commander of the Ship was Captain Smith of Redriff Mr. Thomas Sanders my Wife's Brother being in Mayork not long after we came thence saw our Boat hung up for a Monument upon the side of the great Church there Mr. Robert Hales was there 1671. and assures me that he saw the naked ribs and skeleton of it then hanging in the same place CHAP. XXXIX Of Conscience the force and effects of it in some men LVcretius boasts of his Master Epicurus that when the minds of men were sunk under the burden of Religion this was he who first did dare to assert the freedom and liberty of Mankind and that so successfully that Religion began to be despised and man was made equal with Heaven it self but if we believe Cotta in Tully he tells us That Epicurus was so far from finding his beloved ease and pleasure in his sentiments that never was School-boy more afraid of a Rod than he was of the thought of a God and Death Nec quenquam vidi saith he qui magis ed timeret quae timenda esse negaret No man more feared the things which he taught should be despised than himself For whatever there is in the Air there is certainly an Elastical power in the Conscience that will bear it self up notwithstanding all the weight that is laid upon it Men may silence for a while the voice of their own Conscience but it will find a time to speak so loud as to be heard in despite of its owner 1. There were two Senators in great reputation at Rome Symmachus and Boethius who had married the Daughter of the former Theodoricus King of the Goths sent for them to him then at Ticinum where he long kept them in prison because they had opposed something which he was desirous should be decreed in the Senate possibly the allowance of Churches to the Arrians Having thus deprived them of liberty he exposed their Goods to open sale and at last caused them both to be slain Not long after their death there was set before him on the Table at supper the head of a great fish there did he think he saw the head of Symmachus with a horrible yawning and threatning him with flaming eyes Immediately therefore he was sore affrighted and trembling caused himself to be carried to his bed Elpidius the Physician was sent for but could not
the perswasion of Paulus the Patriarch of Constantinople made him a Deacon and afterwards caused him to be slain although he had received the sacred Mysteries at his hands After which oftentimes in his sleep he seemed to see his dead Brother in the habit of a Deacon reaching out to him a cup filled with blood and saying to him Drink Brother The unhappy Emperour was so afflicted and terrified with the apprehensions of this and the stings of his own conscience that he determined to retire into Sicily where also he dyed 10. Hermannus Bishop of Prague when he lay a dying with a heavy sigh complained that he had spent a far greater part of his life in the Courts of Princes than in the House of the Lord that he might have given check unto sundry vices but that with his Courtier-like life he had rather administred a further licence to sin while after the manner of others he endeavoured to seem to Princes rather pleasant than severe and this fault above others he earnestly desired that God Almighty of his mercy would forgive him 11. Memorable is the Example of Francis Spira an Advocate of Padua An. 1543. who having sinned in despite of conscience fell into that trouble and despair that by no endeavours of learned men he could be comforted he felt as he said the pains of Hell in his Soul Frismelica Bullovat and other excellent Physicians could neither make him eat drink nor sleep no perswasions could ease him Never pleaded any man so well for as this man did against himself and so he desperately died 12. Catullus Governour of Libya had fraudulenty and unjustly put to death 3000 Jews and confiscated their Goods now though neither Vespasian or Titus said any thing to him yet not long after he fell into a grievous disease and was cruelly tormented not only in body but also in mind For he was greatly terrified and still imagined to see the Ghosts of them whom he had so unjustly slain ready to kill him so that he cryed out and not able to contain himself leapt out of his bed as though he had been tortured with torments and fire And this disease daily increasing his guts and bowels rotting and issuing out of him at last he died CHAP. XL. Of Banishment and the sorts and manner of it amongst the Ancients c. THE Nature of man is to rush headily and at all adventures upon that which is forbidden him and to account himself as a sufferer wherein he is any way infringed of his liberty although it be really to his advantage to be so restrained This was perhaps the reason why 1. The Emperour Claudius banished some persons after a new kind of fashion for he commanded that they should not stir beyond the compass of three miles from the City of Rome wherein they lived 2. Damon the Master of Pericles was banished by the Athenians by a Decree of ten years Exile for this only reason That he was thought to have a wisdom and prudence beyond what was common to others 3. The Ephesians banished Hermodorus the Philosopher for this only cause That he had the reputation of an honest man and lived in great modesty and frugality the Tenor of their Decree was That no man should amongst them be a good husband or excel others in case he did he should be forced to depart 4. Ostracisme was a form of Banishment for ten years so called because the name of the party banished was writ on an Oyster-shell it was used towards such who either began to grow too popular or potent amongst the men of service This device allowable in a Democracy where the over-much powerfulness of one might hazard the liberty of all was exercised in spight oftner than desert It was frequent amongst the Athenians and by virtue hereof Aristides Alcibiades Nicias and divers others were commanded to leave their Country for ten years 5. Petalism was a form of Banishment for five years from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a leaf it was practised chiefly in the City of Syracuse upon such of their Citizens as grew too popular and potent the manner was to write his name in an Olive-leaf and that once put into his hand without more ado he was thereby expelled the City and its Territories for five years yet could not this device so well secure them in the possession of their so much desired freedom but that this City fell oftner into the power of Tyrants than any one City in the World 6. The Carthaginians banished Hanno a most worthy person who had done them great services not for any fault but that he was of greater wisdom and industry than the State of a free City might well bear and because he was the first man that tamed a Lion for they judged it not meet to commit the liberty of the City to him who had tamed the fierceness of savage beasts 7. Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople was twice banished by the procurement of Eudoxia the Wife of Arcadius the Emperour and the chief if not the only ground of this her severity against him was because she was not able to bear the free reprehensions and reproofs of that holy man 8. In the Island of Seriphus as also amongst some of those Nations that live about the Mountain Caucasus no man is put to death how great soever the crime is that he hath committed but the severest of all punishments with them is to interdict a man any longer abode in his Country and to dispose of him into banishment where he is to continue all the rest of his life 9. Rutilius was so little concerned with his banishment that when he was recalled by one whose order it was death to disobey yet he despised his return and chose rather to continue in his Exile perhaps it was for this reason That he would not seem in any kind to oppose the Senate or even the unjust Laws of his Country or whether it was that he would be no more in such condition wherein it should be in the power of others to banish him his Country as oft as they pleased CHAP. XLI Of the wise Speeches Sayings and Replys of several persons A Wise man has ever been a scarce commodity in all places and times whole Greece it self could boast no more of this sort than only seven and a Cato and a Laelius was almost the total sum of the Roman Inventory in this kind Being so few they must needs be the harder to be found and seeing that the wisest men are commonly the least speakers hereupon it is that there is almost as great a penury of their Sayings as of their persons and yet of these too every man will determine according to his own pleasure a liberty which the Reader shall not be refused to make use of in these few that follow 1. Cardinal Pompeius Colomne being imployed used such means
that Cardinal Franciotto Vrsin being put by Clement mounted to the See Apostolick After Clement was Pope Pompeius obtained of him many graces and honours but assuring himself that nothing could be denied him he was one time importunate in some such matter which the Pope judged to be unjust and inconsistent with his Holiness honour to grant so that Pompey failing of his expectation herein began to reproach the Pope and to tell him that it was by his means that he was Pope His Holiness answered him that it was true and prayed him to suffer him to be Pope and that he would not be it himself for in proceeding in this manner he took that from him which he had given him 2. Robert Winchelsea Archbishop of Canterbury was banished by King Edward the First but afterwards restored again by him and all the Rents that had been sequestred during his absence repaid him whereby he became the richest Archbishop that had been in that Seat before Wherefore often recording his troubles he would say Adversity never hurteth where no iniquity over-ruleth 3. The Emperour Frederick the Third when he heard of the death of a great Noble man of Austria who lived ninety three years most wickedly in fleshly pleasures and yet never once in all that time afflicted with grief or sickness he said This proveth that which Divines teach That after death there is some place where we receive reward or punishment when we see often in this World neither the just rewarded nor the wicked punished 4. When Theopompus was King of Sparta one was saying in his presence That it now went well with their City because their Kings had learned how to govern The King prudently replied That it rather came to pass because their people had learned to obey shewing thereby that popular Cities are most injurious to themselves by their factious disobedience which while they are addicted to they are not easily well governed by the best of Magistrates 5. Dionysius the Elder reproving his Son for that he had forcibly violated the chastity of the Wife of one of the Citizens of Syracuse asked him amongst other things If he had ever heard that any such thing had been done by him No said the Son but that was because you had not a King to your Father Neither said Dionysius will you ever have a King to your Son unless you give over such pranks as these The event proved that he then said the truth For when this young man succeeded his Father he was expelled the Kingdom of Syracuse for his evil behaviour and manner of life 6. Aristippus having lost all his Goods by shipwrack was cast naked upon the shore of Rhodes where yet by reason of his Learning he found such estimation that neither he nor his Companions were suffered to want any thing that was convenient for them When therefore some of his company were about to return home they asked him if he would command them any thing Yes said he tell my relations from me that I advise them to procure such riches for their children as a tempest at Sea has no power over shewing thereby how precious Learning is which no storms of adverse Fortune can take away from us 7. Cineas was in great honour with Pyrrhus King of Epirus and he made use of him in all his weighty affairs professing to have won more Cities by his Eloquence than by his own Arms. He perceiving Pyrrhus earnestly bent upon his Expedition into Italy one time when he was at leisure and alone Cineas spake thus to him The Romans O Pyrrhus have the reputation of a warlike people and command divers Nations that are so and if God shall grant us to overcome them what fruit shall we have of the Victory That 's a plain thing said Pyrrhus for then saith he no City will presume to oppose us and we shall speedily be Masters of all Italy the greatness vertue and riches of which is well known to you Cineas was silent a while and then having said he made Italy our own what shall we then do Sicily said he is near reaching out its hand to us a rich and populous Island and easie to be taken It is probable said Cineas but having subdued Sicily will that put an end to the War If God said Pyrrhus give us this success these will be but the Praeludia to greater matters for who can refrain from Africa and Carthage which will soon be at our beck And these overcome you will easily grant that none of those that now provoke us will be able to resist us That 's true said Cineas for it is easie to believe that with such Forces we may recover Macedon and give the Law to all Greece But being thus become Lords of all what then Pyrrhus smiling Then said he good man we will live at our ease and enjoy our selves in compotations and mutual discourses When Cineas had brought him thus far And what hinders said he but that we may now do all these seeing they are in our power without the expence of so much sweat and blood and such infinite calamities as we go about to bring upon our selves and others 8. He was a wise man that said Delay hath undone many for the other World Haste hath undone more for this Time well managed saves all in both 9. A Christian Matron being imprisoned by the Persecutors fell in labour there the extremity of her pains enforced her to cry out extremely whereupon the Keeper of the Prison reproached her and said he If you are not able to bear the pains of child-birth to day what will you do to morrow when you come to burn in the flames Today said she I suffer as a miserable Woman under those sorrows that are laid upon my sex for sin but to morrow I shall suffer as a Christian for the Faith of Christ. 10. Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State in Queen Elizabeths Reign towards the latter end of his life wrote to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh to this purpose We have lived enough to our Country to our Fortunes and to our Soveraign it is high time we begin to live to our selves and to our God In the multitude of affairs that passed through our hands there must be some miscarriages for which a whole Kingdom cannot make our peace And being observed to be more melancholy than usual some Court-humorists were sent to divert him Ah! said Sir Francis while we laugh all things are serious about us God is serious when he preserveth us and hath patience towards us Christ is serious when he dyeth for us the Holy Ghost is serious when he striveth with us the holy Scripture is serious when it is read before us Sacraments are serious when they are administred to us the whole Creation is serious in serving God and us they are serious in Hell and Heaven and shall a man that hath one foot in the grave jest and
To whom the Abbot returned Si bonus sis venias si Nequam nequaquam Another pass of Wit there was as it is reported betwixt him and Philip Repington Bishop of Lincoln the Bishop sent this Challenge Et niger nequam cum sis cognomine Nequam Nigrior esse potes nequior esse nequis Both black and bad whilst Bad the name to thee Blacker thou mayst but worse thou canst not be To whom Nequam rejoyned Phi nota foetoris lippus malus omnibus horis Phi malus lippus totus malus ergo Philippus Stinks are branded with a phi lippus Latine for blear eye Phi and lippus bad as either then Philippus worse together Nequam to discompose such conceits for the future altered the Orthography of his Name into Neckham He dyed in the Reign of Henry the Third An. 1227. 16. The Pope having brought under his power the Marquisate of Ancona sent his Legate to the Venetians to know of them by what right they attributed to their Seigniory alone the Customs and other Jurisdictions in the Adriatick Sea seeing they could shew no Grants or Charters for the same They answered him cunningly That they wondred why any man would require them to shew their Priviledges seeing the Popes had the Original thereof and kept them in their Chests as most precious Reliques That it was an easie matter to find them if they would look well upon the Donation of Constantine on the back-side whereof their Priviledges were written in great Letters This answer is fathered upon Ierome Donatuâ— Ambassador of Venice when Pope Alexander the Sixth asked him merrily Of whom the Venetians held those Rights and Customs of the Sea he answered him presently Let your Holiness shew me the Charter of St. Peters Patrimony and you shall find on the back thereof a Grant made to the Venetians of the Adriatick Sea 17. It was the saying of a merry-conceited Fellow That in Christendom there were neither Scholars enow Gentlemen enow nor Jews enow and when answer was made That of all these there was rather too great a plenty than any scarcity he replied That if there were Scholars enow so many would not be double or treble beneficed if Gentlemen enow so many Peasants would not be ranked amongst the Gentry and if Jews enow so many Christians would not profess usury 18. A certain Roman Knight came to Hadrianus the Emperour to request a favour of him but received a denial The Knight was old and had a very grey beard but a few days after having coloured his beard and hair black and put himself into a more youthful garb he presented himself again unto the Emperour about the same business The Emperour perceiving the fraud It is said he but a few days since that I denied it to your Father and it will not be fair for me now to grant it to the Son 19. King Antigonus came to visit Antagoras a learned man whom he found in his Tent busied in the cooking of Congers Do you think said Antigonus that Homer at such time as he wrote the glorious Actions of Agamemnon was boiling of Congers And do you think said the other that Agamemnon when he did those Actions was wont to concern himself whether any man in his Camp boiled Congers or not 20. Raphael Vrbinas an excellent Painter was reprehended by two Cardinals for that he had represented the faces of St. Peter and St. Paul with an unbecoming and unwonted redness upon them He replied That he had not expressed them in such a paleness and leanness in their faces as they had contracted while living with their fastings and troubles but that he had imitated that adventitious redness which came upon them now they were amongst the blessed while they even blushed at the manners and life of their Successours 21. Licinius Crassus is said to have loved a Lamprey he kept in a Pond in such manner that when it dyed he wept and put on Mourning-apparel whereupon his Colleague Domitius being one daye in altercation with him spitefully asked him Are not you he who shed so many tears for the death of a Lamprey The other as bitterly replied And are not you he who have buried three Wives without shedding so much as one tear 22. I well knew that wealthy man who being a great improver of ground was wont to say That he would never come into that place which might not be made better to which one tartly returned That it should seem then that he would never go to Heaven for that place was at the best 23. I remember when I was at Cambridge saith the same Dr. Fuller some thirty years since there was a flying though false report That Pope Vrban the Eighth was coopt up by his Cardinals in the Castle of St. Angelo whereupon a waggish Scholar said Iam verissimum est Papa non potest errare 24. After the Battel of Pharsalia and the flight of Pompey one Nonnius a great Captain thinking to encourage the Souldiers bade them be of good comfort for there were yet seven Eagles left That were something said Cicero then present if we were to fight against Jays 25. King Iames came in progress to the house of Sir Pope Knight when his Lady was lately delivered of a Daughter which Babe was presented to King Iames with a Paper of Verses in her hand which because they pleased the King I hope they will not displease the Reader See this little Mistress here Did never sit in Peters Chair Or a triple Crown did wear And yet she is a Pope No Benefice she ever sold Nor did dispense with sins for gold She hardly is a sevenight old And yet she is a Pope No King her feet did ever kiss Or had from her worse look than this Nor did she ever hope To saint one with a rope And yet she is a Pope A female Pope you 'l say a second Jone No sure she is Pope Innocent or none CHAP. XLIV Of Recreations some men have delighted in or addicted themselves unto at leisure hours or that they have been immoderate in the use of THE Bow that is always kept bent will suffer a great abatement in the strength of it and so the mind of man would be too much subdued and humbled and wearied should it be always intent upon the cares and business of life without the allowance of something whereby it may divert and recreate it self But then as no man uses to make a meal of Sweet-meats so we must take care that we be not excessive and immoderate in the pursuit of those pleasures we have made choice of a thing that hath been incident to some who were otherwise Great men 1. Leo the Tenth that hunting Pope is much discommended by Iovius in his Life for his immoderate desire of hawking and hunting insomuch that as he saith he would sometimes live about Ostia weeks and months together leave Suitors unrespected Bulls
inundation especially of the Tweed and Forth that divers Villages were overturned thereby and a great number both of men and all sorts of Cattel perished in the waters 12. In the year 1581. an Army of Mice so over-run the Marches in Dengry Hundred in Essex near unto South-Minster that they shore the grass to the very roots and so tainted the same with their venemous teeth that a great Murrain fell upon the Cattel that afterwards grazed upon it 13. About the year 1610. the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts were so plagued with clouds of Grashoppers that they darkned the beams of the Sun they left not a green herb or leaf in all the Country yea they entred into their very Bed-chambers to the great annoyance of the Inhabitants being almost as big as Dormice with red wings 14. Cassander in his return from Apollonia met with the people called Abderitae who by reason of the multitude of Frogs and Mice were constrained to depart from their native soil and to seek out habitations for themselves elsewhere and fearing they would seise upon Macedon he made an agreement with them received them as his Associates and allotted them certain grounds in the uttermost Borders of Macedonia wherein they might plant and seat themselves The Country of Troas is exceedingly given to breed great store of Mice so that already they have enforced the Inhabitants to quit the place and depart FINIS THE INDEX A. ABstinence from Drink Page 591 Abstinence from Food 589 Accusers False 410 Actors on the Stage 502 Advancement how 577 Advancement whence 566 Adversity dejects 431 Adversity improves 200 Adulterers punished 457 Affability 181 Age of some great 47 Age memorable 49 Age Renewed 51 Agility and Nimbleness 42 Ambition 415 Anger 110 Antipathies 11 Apparel mean 164 Apparel Luxury in it 395 Apparitions of Devils 611 Apparitions of Souls 88 Appeals to God 608 Archers and Shooting 510 Art rare Works of it 224 Attempts dear and vain 409 Atheistical Persons 361 Authors first in things 647 B. BAnishment its kinds 645 Beards how worn 19 Beauty 24 Beginnings low remembred 233 Beloved by Beasts c. 622 Birthday of divers 8 Births very different 4 Births monstrous 5 Bishops of Rome 473 Bodies how found 64 Bodies unburied 62 Boldness 210 Bounty of some men 186 Boasting vain 433 Brethren their Love 152 Brethren their Discords 374 Buildings magnificent 561 C. CHarity great 189 Chastity 193 Cheats and Thefts 420 Children dutiful 149 Children degenerate 366 Children unnatural 368 Clemency and Mercy 174 Commiseration and Pity 127 Confidence in themselves 214 Conscience its force 643 Constancy 213 Constitutions strange 10 Council and Counsellors 182 Covetousness 416 Creatures taught many things 230 Creatures their love to men 622 Cruelty examples of it 376 Cures upon some strange 630 Curiosity 400 Customs of sundry Nations 580 D. DDeath boldly received 241 Death self procured 458 Death fear'd overmuch 437 Death unusual ways to it 59 Death warn'd not avoided 455 Declin'd from first vertue 363 Deformity of Body 29 Degenerate Children 366 Designs help'd or hindred 200 Desires and Wishes 117 Discontented Persons 434 Diseases strange 56 Dissimulation 128 Dispatch of Affairs 45 Distresses by Sea and Land 638 Divinity affected 370 Dreams 545 Drinkers great 391 Drink abstain'd from 591 Drunkenness its evils 393 Dwarfs and Low statur'd men 36 E. EAsters great 390 Effeminate men 451 Elections of Princes 605 Eloquence famous for it 488 Embassadors 484 Emperours Eastern 469 Emperours Western 463 Envy 120 Error and Mistakes 615 Escapes from death 626 Examples their force 601 Expedition and Dispatch 45 Extraordinary Accideents 596 Eye its Frame and Beauty 23 F. FAce its Composure 24 Fancy its force 94 Fastings wonderful 589 Fate unavoidable 415 Fathers of the Church 518 Fatness and Corpulency 46 Fear and its effects 108 Feasting luxurious 387 Feeling the Sense 101 Fidelity to their Trust. 157 Flattery hated 137 Flattery prodigious 440 Food of sundry Nations 588 Folly extreme in some 407 Fortitude and Valour 207 Fortunate men 239 Frailty considered of 238 Friendship sincere 168 Frugality and Thift 164 Fruitfulness 40 G. GAmes and Plays 607 Gaming at Dice 397 Generosity 161 Gyants 34 Glory desired 426 Gluttony 39 Gods of several Nations 584 Gratitude 171 Grief and Sorrow 115 H. HAir how worn 18 Hatred extreme 107 Head and Skulls 16 Hearing the Sense 100 Hearts what found in them 32 Hereticks and Heresies 511 Historians 489 Honesty 167 Honours done to some 624 Hope 118 Hospitaelity 165 Humility 181 Husbands unnatural 372 Husbands loving 142 Hypocrisie 128 I. JEalousie 125 Idleness 403 Ignorance of former Times 401 Imagination its force 94 Imitation 601 Impostors 424 Imprecations 614 Imprudence 398 Impudence 124 Incest 453 Inconstancy 414 Industry 229 Infants crying in the Womb. 1 Infants long dead in the Womb. 2 Infants petrified in the Womb. 3 Ingratitude 444 Injuries forgiven 201 Innocency 167 Inventions by whom 222 Ioy the effects of it 113 Iudgments wise 184 Iustice loved by whom 192 K. KIngstone Provost Marshal 376 Knowledge much improv'd 401 L. LAwgivers â—82 Leanness of Body 46 Learned men 219 Learning lov'd by whom 216 Liberality and Bounty 186 Liberty highly priz'd 237 Libraries and their Founders 564 Life very long 47 Life over desired 437 Likeness of some to others 30 Litigious men 436 Longaevity 47 Loquacity 461 Love and its effects 105 Love to Brethren 152 Love to Children 147 Love to Country 140 Love of Servants to Masters 154 Love to Parents 149 Love of Wives to Husbands 144 Love of Husbands to Wives 142 Luxury 387 M. MAgicians 515 Majesty 26 Marks and Moles 9 Massacres 384 Melancholy 94 Memories great 96 Memories Treacherous 406 Mercy and Meekness 174 Messages how sent 637 Mistakes 615 Moderation of mind 177 Modesty 122 Monsters 5 Murthers discovered 89 Musicians and Musick 496 Mutations and changes 569 N. NAtures defects supplied 14 Noble Actions 161 Nâ—â—tambulo's 592 O. OBedience to Superiors 159 Oblivion 406 Oppression 382 Oracles deceitful 558 Orators famous 488 Oversights of great men 398 P. PAinters excellent 499 Parents indulgent 147 Parents severe 364 Patience 199 Peace loved by whom 139 Perfidiousness 447 Perjury 412 Philosophers 505 Physiognomists 497 Pity and Compassion 127 Poets Greek and Latinâ— 492 Popes of Rome 473 Poverty 334 Poyson 629 Predictions false 558 Predictions true 554 Praesages 549 Pride and Arrogance 429 Princes their Investiture 605 Printers famous 510 Prodigality 385 Promise kept 157 Prosperity 431 Prudence in discoveries 184 Punishments horrid 54 Punishments by small things 652 Pigmies and Dwarfs 36 Q. QUeen of Sheba what she proposed 184 Quarrels on slight occasions 436 R. RAshness 433 Recreations 651 Rejuvenescency 51 Religion despised 361 Religion observed 136 Reproofs well taken 203 Reproofs ill resented 442 Reprovers guilty of the same 441 Responses equivocal 558 Resurrection a parcel one 64 Returns to life 86 Retaliation 620 Retirement loved 575 Revenges bitter 379 Revenges moderate 177 Râ—ches contemned
spake and did he knew not what 9. Upon Thursday the twenty fourth of March 1602 about two of the Clock in the Morning deceased Queen Elizabeth at her Mannour of Richmond in Surrey she then being aged seventy years of which she had reigned forty four five Months and odd days Her Corps were privily conveighed to White-Hall and there remained till the twenty eight of April following and was then buried at Westminster at which time the City of Westminster was surcharged with multitudes of all sorts of people in the Streets Houses Windows Leads and Gutters that came to see the Obsequie and when they beheld her Statue lying in Royal Robes with a Crown upon the Head there was such a general sighing groaning and weeping as the like hath not been seen or known in the memory of man neither doth any History mention any people time or state to make the like lamentation for the death of their Sovereign 10. Secundus the Philosopher had been many years absent from home so that he was unknown to the Family by face and upon his return he was very desirous to make some experiment of the chastity of his Mother he courted her as a strangeâ— and so far prevailed that he was admitted to her Bed where he revealed to her who he was at the hearing of which the Mother was so over-born with shame and grief that she gave up the Ghost 11. Peter Alvarado the Governour of Guatimala married the Lady Beatrice Della Culva and he being dead by a mischance his Wife abandoned her self to all the excesses of grief and not only painted her House with sorrows black Livery and abstained from meat and sleep but in a mad impiety said God could now do her no greater evil Soon after anno 1582 happened an extraordinary inundation of waters which on the sudden first assailed the Governour 's House and caused this impotent and impatient Lady now to bethink her self of her devotion and betake her to her Chappel with eleven of her Maids where leaping on the Altar and clasping about an Image the force of the water ruined the Chappel and she with her Maids found their death therein 12. Gormo Father of one Câ—nute slain before Dublin so exceedingly lov'd this Son of his that he sware to kill him that brought him news of his death which when Thira his Mother heard she used this way to make it known to him she prepared Mourning Apparel and laid aside all Princely State which the old man perceiving he concluded his Son dead and with excessive grief that he conceived thereat he speedily ended his days 13. Cardanus relates of a man in Milan who in sixty years having never been without the Walls of the City yet when the Duke hearing thereof sent him a peremptory command never to go out of the Gates during life he that before had no inclination to do so died of very grief to be denied the liberty of doing it 14. King Eâ—helstan being jealous of Edwin his Brother caused him to be put into a little Pinnace without tackling or Oars one only Page accompanying of him that his death might be imputed to the Waves the young Prince overcome with the grief of this his Brother's unkindness cast himself over-board headlong into the Sea 15. When Queen Mary was informed of the loss of Calis in France she was so affected therewith that she took no pleasure in any thing She would often say that the loss of Calis was written in her heart and might there be read when her body should be opened and indeed the grief she took thereupon shortned her days so that she but a while outlived that news that was so unacceptable to her 16. Margaret Daughter to Iames the Fourth King of Scotland married to Lâ—wis the Dauphin of France was of so nasty a complexion and stinking breath that her Husband after the first night loathed her company for grief of which she soon after died 17. Charles Duke of Burgundy being discomfited at the Battle of Nancy passing over a River was overthrown by his Horse and in that estate was assaulted by a Gentleman of whom he craved quarter but the Gentleman being deaf slew him immediately yet afterwards when he knew whom he had slain he died within few days of grief and melancholy 18. Aâ—urath the sixth Emperour of the Turks at his â—irst ascent to the Throne to free himself of Competitors caused his five Brethren Mustapha Solyman Abdâ—lla Osman and Tzihanger to be all strangled in his presence The Mother of Solyman pierced through with the cruel death of her young Son as a woman overcome with grief and sorrow struck her self to the heart with a Dagger and so died 19. Amurath the Second having long lain before the Walls of Croja and assaulted it in vain and being no way able either by force or â—lattery to bring Scanderbeg to terms of submission or agreement angry that his Presents and Propositions were refused he resolved to make a terrible assault upon Croja from all Quarters but this by the Christian Valour proving greater loss to him than before not able to behold the endless slaughter of his men he gave over the assault and return'd into his Camp as if he had been a man half frantick or distract of his wits and there sate down in his Tent all that day full of melancholy passions sometimes violently pulling his hoary Beard and white Locks complaining of his hard and disastrous fortune that he had lived so long to see those days of disgrace wherein all his â—ormer Glory and triumphant Victories were obscured by one base Town of Epirus His Bassas and grave Counsellours by long discourses sought to comfort him but dark and heavy conceits had so overwhelmed the melancholy old Tyrant that nothing could content his wayward mind or revive his dying spirits so that the little remainder of natural heat which was left in his aged body now oppressed and almost extinguished with melancholy conceits and his body it self dryed up with sorrow he became sick for pure grief Feeling his sickness dayly to encrease so that he could not longer live lying upon a Pallet in his Pavilion he sadly complained to his Bassas that the destinies had blemished all the former course of his life with such an obscure death That he who had so often repressed the fury of the Hungarians and almost brought to nought the pride of the Grecians together with their name should now be enforced to give up the Ghost under the Walls of an obscure Castle as he termed it and that in the sight of his contemptible enemy Shortly aâ—ter he became speechless and striving with the pangs of death half a day he then expired This was anno 1450 when he had lived eighty five years and thereof reigned thirty 20. Franciscus Foscarus according to the manner of Venice was elected Duke thereof during his life and long did he govern that
Republick with great prudence and justice he had also encreased their Dominion in a small time by the addition of Brixia Bergomum Crema and Ravenna When he was now arrived to the eighty fourth year of his age and the thirty fourth of his Dukedom they accused his decrepit age as a mighty impediment to the right administration of their Affairs and thereupon compelled him to depart from his Ducal Dignity and give way to another This open and unreasonable injury struck the old man with so vehement a grief that he died thereof in a day or two CHAP. XIV Of Desire and what have been the Wishes of some Men for themselves or upon their Enemies WE read of the Athenians that they set up a Pillar wherein they published him to be an Enemy of their City who should bring Gold out of Media as an instrument to corrupt them If once we see better things we are wont not only to desire them but to be discontented with what we had before of our own However the greatest of men have a wish or two to make as appears by what follows 1. Solyman Emperour of the Turks is said to have wished three things for himself That he might live to see the Mosque or Temple finished which he had begun in a glorious and most sumptuous manner That he might finish the Repairs of the ancient Aquaeducts that thereby Constantinople might have a plentiful and easie supply of water And that he might get the City of Vienna into his power The two former he lived to see but not himself the Master of Vienna which he used to call by no other name than his Infamy and Reproach 2. The Emperour Hadrian being angry with the Aegyptians wrote thus in a Letter of his I wish nothing more to befal them than that â—hey may feed upon their own Pullets which how they hatch is a shame to speak Alluding to their way of hatching Chickens in Gran Cairo by putrefied Dung in a Furnace S. Augustine used to wish that he might have seen three things which were Rome in its Glory the Apostle Paul in the Pulpit and Christ Jesus in the Flesh. 4. Eudoxus wished to know the nature of the Sun upon that condition that he should afterwards be burnt to death in the body of it 5. Philoxenus whether he was a Glutton as some say or a Musician as others is said to have wished his Neck as long as that of a Crane that so he might swallow his meat with the more delight or send out his Notes with greater variety and more pleasing sound although 't is a question whether if he had had his wish it would have helped him in either 6. The Spartans wished to their Enemies that they might be seised with an humour of building keep a Race of Horses and that their Wives might be false to their Beds 7. The Cretans when they wished the worst might befal their worst Enemies that they could possibly wish to them used to wish them this that they might be delighted with some evil custom 8. When King Iames came first to the publick Library at Oxford seeing the little Chains wherewith the Books were fastened to their places wished that if ever it should be his destiny to be made a prisoner that Library might be his prison those Books his Fellow-Prisoners and those Chains his Fetters 9. Cashan is a lovely City in Persia extremely hot when the Sun is in Cancer but Scorpio rages there in no less violence not that in the Zodiack but real stinging Scorpions which in great numbers engender here It is a little Serpent a finger long but of great terrour in the sting inflaming such as they prick with their inflamed Arrow so highly that some die none avoid madness a whole day and from hence grows that much used Persian Wish or Curse to them they are incensed against May a Scorpion of Cashan sting thee 10. Alexander the Great when he had got into the Ocean with his Navy he came to an Island which he called Scillustis others Psiltusis where having landed he viewed as he could the Sea-Coasts and considered the nature of that Sea which done he sacrificed to the Gods and prayed That no mortal man after him might ever pass further that way than he himself had done and so returned back 11. Pyrrhus the King of Epirus who next aâ—ter Alexander the Great was the most skilled in all military Affairs when he went to the Temples of the Gods to offer Sacrifices it was observed of him that he never importun'd the Gods about a more spacious Empire or a signal Victory over hâ—s Enemies no nor about any encrease of his Glory Riches or any such thing whereof most mortal men are so excessively desirous but all he asked of the Gods was that they would grant him good health as if in the enjoyment of this all other things would succeed the better And indeed though Fortune should pour out all her Bounties into our Bosoms yet if health be absent nothing of all these can much please or delight us 12. Lanfrancus Archbishop of Canterbury a man of great Learning and in high favour with William the Conquerour as Ranulphus writeth of him often wished to conclude his life either by a Fever or Dysentery because in these sicknesses the use of a man's tongue often continues to the last breath Having enjoyed his Prelacy nineteen years he died in the third year of King Rufus and of a Fever as as he desired 13. Critias who was one of the thirty Tyrants in Athens is said by himself to have wished for himself Divitias Scopadum prolixè facta Cimonis Spartani palmas fortis Agesilai The Wealth of Scopas Heart as Cimon's free And Great Agesilaus victory 14. C. Caligula was one that was desirous of nothing so much as doing that which was thought impossible to be done and therefore laid the foundations of Palaces on Piles where the Sea was most raging and deep he hewed Rocks of most hard Flint and Ragstones Plains he raised even with Mountains and by digging down the tops of Hills he levelled them to an equality with the Plains All these with incredible celerity as punishing the neglect or sloth of his Workmen with no less than death 15. Augustus Caesar as oft as he heard of any person that had departed this life quietly and without those painful pangs that are usual towards death his manner was to pray unto the Gods and desire of them that he and his might have the like Euthanasia that was the word he used by which he meant an easie passage or quiet death and indeed he had that for which he had so often wished For upon the day wherein he died enquiring often if there was yet any stir or tumult abroad as touching him he called for a Glass and commanded the hair of his head to be combed and his jaws
what was commanded whence came that scornful Proverb in Italy when putting one of their fingers betwixt two others they cry Eccolasico behold the fig. 19. There are no greater instances of revenge saith Sabellicus than in the factious Cities of Italy where the Chiefs of the one faction falling into the hands of the other it was a great favour to be beheaded or strangled Pontanus adds that he has heard his Grandmother tell how in certain mortal differences betwixt some families one of the opposite faction being taken he was immediately cut into small gobbets his liver was thrown upon the hot coals broiled and divided into little morsels and distributed amongst their friends invited to breakfast for that purpose after which execrable feeding there were brought cups not without the sprinklings of some of the gathered blood then followed congratulations amongst themselves laughter jests and witty passages to season their viands and to conclude they drank to God himself as being the favourer of their so remarkable a revenge 20. A certain Italian having his enemy in his power told him there was no possible way for him to save his life unless he would immediately deny and renounce his Saviour the overtimerous wretch in hope of mercy did it when the other forthwith stabbed him to the heart saying that now he had a full and noble revenge foâ— he had killed him at once both body and soul. 21. George Villiers Duke of Buckingham was stabbed at Portsmouth Saturday August 23. 1628. by Iohn Felton it is said the Villain did it partly in revenge for that the Duke had denyed him some Office he made sute for nor is it improbable for I find him thus characterised he was a person of a little stature of a stout and revengeful spirit who having once received an injury from a Gentleman he cut off a piece of his little finger and sent it with a challenge to the Gentleman to fight with him thereby to let him know that he valued not the exposing of his whole body to hazzard so he might but have an opportunity to be revenged 22. Anno 1500. at such time as Tamas Shaw ruled Persia the City Spahawn the metropolis of all Persia surfeiting with luxury refused not only to contribute reasonably to the Kings occasions at that time molested with the Turks and Tartars but audaciously withstood his desired entrance A rebellion so insufferable as made him swear a revenge scarce to be parallell'd With fury he assaults in a rage enters it firing a great part and in all hostile severity pillaging each house and to conclude regarding neither the outcries of Old Men weak Women nor innocent Children in two dayes he made headless three hundred thousand of those late Spahawnians and from Tamerlains rigid example at Damascus erects a Trophy a Pillar of their Heads as a memorial of their disloyalty and his bitter revenge CHAP. XII Of the great and grievous Oppressions and unmercifulness of some men and their punishments IN Scotland in a place called Kile there is a Rock about twelve foot high and as much in breadth It is called the Deaf Craig for though a man call never so loud or shoot off a Gun on the one side yet his fellow on the other side cannot hear the noise Oppressours may be resembled to this stone their hearts are as hard and their ears are as deaf to the cryes of the poor they are so too to the denunciation of the just judgements of God against them otherwise so many of them had not come to the like lamentable ends 1. Iohn Cameron was Bishop of Glasgow a man given to violence and oppression who committing many deeds full of cruelty and covetousness especially upon his own Tenants and Vassals made as the fame goeth a fearful and unhappy end For in the year 1446. the night before Christmas-day as he lay asleep in his house of Lockwood some seven miles from the City of Glasgow he seemed to hear a voice summoning him to appear before the Tribunal of Christ and give an account of his doings thereupon he awaked and being greatly terrified did call his servants to bring lights and sit by him he himself took a book in his hand and began to read but the voice being again heard struck all the servants with amazement the same voice calling the third time far lowder and more fearfully the Bishop after a heavy groan was found dead in the bed his tongue hanging out of his mouth this reported by Buchanan almost in the same words I thought good to remember as a notable example of Gods judgement against the crying sin of Oppression 2. The magnificent Mosque or Temple in Cairo of Egypt was thus built Assan Bassa a man of a crafty and covetous disposition desiring to gain himself a name in the world by some famous structure which yet should be of little expences to himself took this course He caused it to be proclaimed all abroad that his purpose was to build a Glorious Temple to the Honour of God and that he might have the more happy success in this enterprise of his he was determined to bestow a liberal Almes upon all comers of what place or country soever appointing at the same time both the day and place for the distribution of this his largess The fame of this brought an innumerable company of people not only from all the parts of Egypt but also from other Kingdoms to Cairo Assan against their coming had provided a mighty number of Shirts and Coats now as many as came to partake of his bounty he caused to be received in a large and ample Court which one by one and no otherwise were ordered to pass from thence by several little doors into another Court of equal extent in their passage every man was stript of his own Cloaths and instead of them forced to receive a Shirt and Coat of his providing The subtilty of the business was this that whatsoever so many thousands of persons had brought along with them to defray their expences might be deposited in one certain place appointed by himself for he well knew the manner of men in those Countrys was to sow up in their Shirts or Caps all the mony they carried with them At last a doleful and lamentable cry arose amongst the spoiled people imploring Assan to restore them their own cloaths he deriding at once both their clamours and tears caused all their garments to be cast into a mighty fire prepared for the purpose from whence after they were burnt was taken up such a quantity of Silver and Gold as sufficed to begin and finish that noble structure he had resolved upon But observe after what manner the insolent oppression of this man was punished The Turkish Emperour being informed of the wickedness of Assan sent Ibraim Bassa with his letters to him wrapt up as the manner is in black silk the tenour of which was this Assoon as this our