to fall out for Susanna being desirous to bath her self at the Fountain in the Garden in the heat of the season attended only by two of her waiting Women she sent them both away to provide Oyl and Nitre in order thereto and then unclothed her self and went into the Water the old Letchers had watched all her proceedings having secretly hid themselves under the covert of the Trees and when they perceived her Servants were gone and had shut the doors after them they doubted not but the happy minute was arrived and therefore suddenly issuing out from their concealment they ran to her and seizing upon this innocent and helpless Fair One they began to discover the extraordinary passion they had for a long time retained for her and that the doors being now shut if she would consent to their desires it could never be detected Think how Susanna blush't look't pale and then Trembled for fear blush't and look't pale agen Whilst they Fair Creature now behold the doors Are all made fast y' are now within our powers Yet we intreat consent come don't deny We'er smitten Lady and with you must lye There 's none can see 't is witness causeth shame Whilst unrevealed ills are free from blame But if you refuse say they to comply we our selves will complain against you and accuse you that we found a young man committing folly with you who sent away your maids to be more private in your wickedness If you will not comply we Judges are And ' gainst your innocence will both declare That as we walked in this neighbouring Grove You play'd the Harlot with your wanton Love Therefore your maids were sent away lest they Should notice take of your hot amorous play Susanna was in a great streight and venting many bitter sighs and tears she said I am in much distress on every side and know not which way to incline for if I do this thing I sin against the Law of God and ought to be cut off from my people and if I do not I shall fall under your false accusation however it is better for me to venture suffering under a malicious prosecution than to sin in the sight of the Lord and provoke Divine vengeance against me Susanna cryed Let Heaven be my guide I am betray'd distrest on every fide If I consent by Moses Law 't is said No Wife shall climb up to anothers bed Unpunisht which divine decree implies Death's the reward of all adulteries If I refuse y' already have design'd What base return true Virtue 's like to find Howe're I must not dare not sin your skill Extends no further than this life to kill But God will me avenge and one day plead My guiltless cause with vengeance on your head The Elders finding threats had no impression on her chastity may be supposed to use the Atheistical Arguments of the debauched wits of the present age who have thereby endeavoured to gain their leud purposes in such strains as these Lady such coyness mis-becomes your years 'T is time enough when care hath sown gray hairs And plow'd deep furrows on your aged head Then to confine unto a husbands bed Nor be offended that Old Age hath drawn A ghostly curtain o're our youthful Lawn Or think it strange that amorous bloud remains Still in the channel of our paler veins 'T is you that gave it life the fault is yours Do but consent and then it shall be ours But Susanna no way moved with this lascivious Rhetorick still makes reflection on her honour her conscience and her conjugal fidelity and finding all her labour to reduce them to reason utterly in vain she as the last remedy sets up a loud cry as they began more rudely to approach her which was heard through the whole House And these treacherous Elders seconded it with another as loud against her the servants at the noise running with all speed into the garden found the Elders with her who impudently alleaged that they saw her committing adultery wherewith her Attendants were much surprized ashamed since they always esteemed her the most virtuous woman in the World. Next day when the People were assembled before Joachim her husband these Villanous Elders full of malice and indignation for such an unhappy disappointment appeared likewise and with much confidenee required that Susanna should be brought before the Assembly and judged and executed according to the Law Joachim could not deny their earnest desire and therefore commanded his wife Susanna to be sent for who came accompanied with her Father Mother Children and all her kindred and being exceeding beautiful these old Miscreants ordered her vail to be taken off her face that they might in part satiate their desires by beholding her delicate form This being an affront not usually offered to women of her quality was yery grievous to her friends who wept to see her thus abused which forced tears also from all the Spectators Then the two impious Elders stood up in the midst of the people and laying their hands on her head began to accuse her Poor Susanna made her appeal to Heaven humbly beseeching the Almighty Lord to vindicate her innocence when these wretches thus proceeded It happened as my brother and I were walking together in the Garden alone under the shady walks we perceived this woman and two of her maids coming in being entred she sent them away and shut the door Soon after a young man who lay concealed came to her and committed folly with her We observing this wickedness ran toward them and endeavoured to seize the youth but he being too strong for us made his escape and opening the garden door fled away with all speed whereupon we took this woman examined very strictly who the man was that had acted this iniquity but by all our threats and perswasions could not prevail with her to discover him therefore now desire justice against her for her crime which we here solemnly swearwe saw her commit The Elders cry O sons of Jacob dear To this our Evidence lend a gracious ear You know that Moses of eternal fame Who did our sacred Laws and Statutes frame Which after were confirm'd by heavens broad seal That each Command did unto him reveal Among the rest If man or woman be Surprized in th' Act of Adultery Both of them must abjudged be to dye That they not we may bear the iniquity This wicked woman as we lately were I' th Garden walking there to take the air And happening to cast our eyes aside With an adulterous youth we there espi'd But that to innocence she might pretend Two maids at first upon her did attend Until impatient grown they did straightway By her command convey themselves away And shut the door So that now none but we Who lay conceal'd this wicked act could see For then a young man by appointment sure Secretly lodg'd in the Trees coverture Draws near and lovingly doth her imbrace She likewise him
Father was so far prevaild on by these discourses that he sent an Executioner to his Son in prison with this Message That a Sword or a Crown were now presented to his choice that if he would renounce his Religion he should be received into favour and enjoy the Scepter after him But if not he should be instantly beheaded in that place Ermangild told him That he would rather dye by a thousands torments than forsake the true faith which he had imbraced and added I thank thee O Almighty God that as thou hast given me a mortal perishing uncertain life from my Father so by his means I shall now receive a glorious and happy life to all Eternity And then kneeling down and praying earnestly for his Father Step-mother and all his enemies and persecutors he cheerfully stretcht out his neck to the Executioner pronouncing the name of his dear Andegona to the last moment and at one blow had his head severed from his body The sad tydings of this lamentable accident arrived to Andegona who had made her escape into Africa where she likewise received the last Letter from her husband out of Prison Her attendants at the news began to make doleful Lamentations as if themselves had been condemned to dye But Andegora kissing the Letter of her dear Lord and then reading it cryed out Ah noble and faithful Soul thou hast acted as a good man ought to do thou hast fought the good fight of Faith and hast now attained the Crown of glory and I desire nothing but to imitate thy constancy Weep not then my Servants for me since it is this day I am a Queen indeed and esteem my self the most happy Princess on earth who have a husband a Martyr in Heaven And then taking her little Son Ermangild almost tired with hard Travel she said Go sweet babe partake of the blessings of your dear Father God hath bestowed great favours in you to be banished already for your Religion go then little Innocent and rejoice with others before the Altar of the Lamb your Mother will not stay long behind you The Child dyed soon after and the magnanimous Andegona having long combated with these Armies of afflictions at length resigned up her Soul with these words O my God the father and son are at rest there now remains nothing but to take the mother I have ended all my hopes in this World why stayest thou O my blessed Saviour to receive my Soul which is now upon my lips Her prayer was heard for a few days after wasted with love travel and desires she died an exemplary death and found a Tomb in Africa FINIS There are Newly Published one and Twenty other very useful pleasant and necessary Books all sold by Nath. 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such willingness there was Till close approaches for we both it saw Made them Transgressors of the sacred Law Then from a corner of the garden whence We closely standing saw this foul offence Both of us made to the adultrous pair And came upon them e're they were aware To apprehend him but the sturdy knave Got from our feeble hands and did us leave And in swift hast out from the Garden flew As whom the guilt of conscience did pursue And she though much intreated ne'rtheless Will by no means the Criminals name confess These things are true which we here testify Now brethren judge if she ought not to dye The Assembly were in much consternation to hear this sever accusation against a woman who was renowned for Chastity but having the testimony of two grave Elders and Judges of the people to justify the truth thereof they could do no other but condemn her to death for this notorious crime Susanna having no defence for her innocence on earth appeals to heaven for her justification and cried out with a loud voice in the midst of the people O everlasting God who knowest the secrets of all hearts and from whom nothing is concealed or hidden for thou seest all things before they are acted I appeal to thy just judgment against these perjured and unjust Elders Thou-knowest O Lord that what they have witnessed against me is utterly false and behold I must dye for what I am not in the least guilty of thou knowest that it is all forgery and malice against me and that it is a conspiracy of these wicked Villains against my life in that which I am absolutely ignotant of Vindicate my innocence O God of truth and bring shame and confusion upon these false accusers O everlasting Lord to whom alone The thoughts of all men are entirely known O great Jehovah whos 's all seeing eye Runs through the circle of Eternity Thou know stand thou alone the wrong I bear From those who have polluted Moses Chair Have Law perverted and have witness given Against their conscience my poor life and heaven Gainst me that now must innocent dye and shame To after ages my disgrace proclaim It pleased divine providence to hearken to her request and therefore as she was leading to execution with a train of doleful mourners following her the Lord stirred up the H. Spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel who cryed out with a loud voice I am clear from the bloud of this woman The whole multitude were much surprized to hear such words uttered by a young man and turning toward him asked what was his meaning Upon which Daniel standing up in the midst of them with an undaunted courage proceeded thus Are you such fools ye sons of Israel that without thorough examination and proof of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel Return back into the seat of judgment and take more strict knowledge of this cause for though you have rashly sentenced this fair Innocent to death yet I am very certain that upon a more severe scrutiny into the matter you will find she as altogether faultless and that these old perjured wretches have born false witness against her Are ye such fools indeed In weighty things to make such careles speed Nay when a life 's concern'd For shame my friends See what dishonour all rash acts attends It makes us odious in the sight of those Who neither God nor yet true judgment knows When ere the truth 's discover'd or the cause You are so quick to execute the Laws And upon Israels daughter sentence give Who has done nothing but she still may live Return ye then unto the Judgment Seat Examine well for sure the impostures great And witnesses more false than Hell have stood To imbrue their hands in this Chast Ladies bloud Whereupon all the people being astonisht at the becoming confidence of Daniel whom they judged to be a Prophet inspiried from above turned back again in hast and the Judges commanded him to come and sit down among them saying Declare to us the truth of this affair since God hath bestowed the honour upon thee to be an Elder if not in years yet in wisdom and understanding Daniel then ordered that the two Elders should be put asunder and then he would examine them apart which being done he called one and said unto him O thou wicked wretch who art even grown old in malice and iniquity now is the time that the villanys which thou hast formerly committed are come to light and thy own conscience accuses thee that thou hast pronounced false Judgment and hast wilfully condemned the innocent and let the guilty go free though the Lord God hath said The innocent and righteous thou shalt not slay And now pray under what tree was it that thou pretendest thou sawest this chast Lady commit adultery Who answered Under a Mastick tree Then said Daniel Very well thou hast now wickedly lied and thereby forfeited thy head to Divine Justice and even now the Angel of God hath received commission to cut thee in two The first being set aside he commanded the other to be brought to whom he fiercely said O thou seed of Cham and not of Judah beauty hath deceived thee and lust hath perverted thy heart thus have you often done to other daughters of Israel who for fear of your power and malicious vengeance have complied and been polluted by you but the virtuous Susanna would not be frightned into wickedness and therefore you contrived her destruction Under what tree I beseech you did you see the young man defile her who answered Under an Holm tree Well said Daniel thou also hast lied against thy own life and the Angel of God waiteth with his sword to cut thee asunder and destroy thee Then pious Daniel to him mildly said Even now thou hast thy cursed life betrayd Gods holy Angel has commission ta'n Forthwith to cut thy wretched life in twain And with a sword attends this very hour Feirce vengeance on thy sinful head to pour At this strange discovery the whole Assembly were amazed and cryed out aloud glorifying and praising the name of that God who saves and delivers those that put their trust in him and finding these two base Elders thus notoriously convicted of perjury out of their own mouths they seized upon them and according to the Law of Moses executed the same sentence upon them which they maliciously and wickedly designed against this chast Lady putting them to death in the sight of the whole multitude who adored the divine Justice in their deserved punishment which had that day so eminently appeared in saving innocent bloud and punishing the guilty by the unexpected prudence of young Daniel who from that day was in much esteem and reputation among all the people And Chelcias and his wife gave abundant praises to Heaven for vindicating their daughters honour Joachim her husband and all her Friends joining with them in
in the Isle of Anglesey These saith J. Caesar in his Commentaries had the office of sacrificing of discussing points in Religion of educating youth determining differences with full power to exclude those from Sacrifice who disobeyed their precepts and sentence To make the people valiant they strove to arm them against the fear of death by teaching That mens Souls could not dye but passed out of one body into another They were likewise Astrologers and not altogether ignorant of one Eternal and Almighty God All their Learning was written in the Greek Tongue of which the Brittish language retains many words to this day But as all things degenerate so these Druides in time grew very barbarous for they use to stab men to death and by their falling bleeding or dismembring pretended to foretel things to come for which and many other wicked practices this Sect was extirpated in Gallia and long after in Brittain by King Lucius when he had received the Gospel Bardus the Son of Druis succeeded and was much admired by his People for inventing Songs and Musick and such as excelled therein he constituted into an Order of Philosophical Poets or Heraulds calling them by his own name Bards and J. Caesar reports he found some of them here at his arrival Their business was to record the noble exploits of their valiant Captains in Songs and Ditties which they sung to their Instruments at the solemn Feasts of their Grandees and were so highly esteemed that when two Armies were even ready to ingage if a Bard had stept between both Parties would have held their hands to hear his advice till he were out of danger of whom Lucan thus sings Vos quoque qui fortes animas belloque peremptus c. Then you brave Bards securely sung The Praises of dead Peers In lofty strains so to prolong Their Fame for many years And because these Poets were neither repugnant to the Roman civility nor the Christian Religion they alone above all other Sects were suffered to continue long after the birth of Christ nay some report there are many of them to be found in Wales to this day still called Barthes and an Island near that Countrey is named Bardsey upon that account After Bardus death the people neglecting the Laws of their Predecessors and falling into Luxury were easily subjected by Albion the Giant said to be the Son of Neptune the Sea God and the same with Naphthuim mentioned by Moses the Son of Cham who had by his wife Amphitrea four Sons to each of whom he gave an Island Albion the youngest landed in England which he quickly subdued arriving in light Ships covered over with beasts skins and called the Countrey by his own name so that the race of the Samotheans being extinguished the Succession was changed from the Family of Japhet to that of cursed Cham Having named the Isle Albion he and his Companions were called Giants though not as some think from their stature which yet was much larger than now but Gigantes or Sons of the Earth many huge bones discovered in our age demonstrating that they were much taller than we are now As Albion conquered Brittain so his Brother Berguin commanded in Ireland and the Orkneys These two had notice that the Great Hercules their Cozen after he had subdued Spain resolved to pass into Italy against their Brother Lestrigo to revenge the murther of his Father Osyris whom these Sons of Cham had slain though he was their uncle as being Brother to Neptune and to add to their barbarity had divided his carcase each preserving a piece of his flesh as a monument of their victory Upon this account Hercules whom Moses calls Laabin proclaiming War against them having first destroy'd the Tyrants Tryphon and Busiris in Egypt Anteus in Mauritania and the Gerions in Spain he leads his Armies thence toward Italy both the Brothers joined to oppose him and near Rhodanus a terrible Battel was fought wherein Hercules doubting of success his Souldiers having spent all their arrows he commanded them to throw stones whereof there were plenty at their enemies by which they obtained an entire victory killing Albion and Berguin in the field with most of their Forces which made the Poets feign that Jupiter assisted his Son Hercules by throwing down stones from Heaven Albion being thus slain the people at home having no Governor fell into all kind of disorders and seemed to differ little from wild beasts till the arrival of the daughters of Danaus of whom ancient Historians give this Account Belus the son of Epaphus had two sons Danaus and Egyptus both Kings of Egypt Danaus ruled the upper Region and by divers wives had fifty daughters and his brother Egyptus happened likewise to have 50 sons who desiring the Dominion of the whole Countrey earnestly required the daughters to be married to his sons But Danaus having notice by an Oracle That he should receive his death by a son in law refused the proposal whereupon his brother made War upon him and drove him out of his Kingdom who imbarquing himself and his daughters in some small Boats arrived in Greece and dispossessing Gelenor King of Argos of his Realm by the assistance of his own subjects who hated him he reigned there with so much glory that the Greeks were after called Danai from his name Egyptus his brother vext that he should escape sent his Sons with a great Army to pursue their uncle with commission not to return till they had either slain Danaus or obtained his daughters in marriage who thereupon coming into Greece were so successful that he was forced to give them up and married they were but Danaus bent upon revenge gave every one a dagger charging them after their husbands were asleep to kill them all and that he would certainly be the death of her who should refuse They all obey his will but Hypermenestra over whom love prevailed more than fear of her Fathers severity who awake't her husband Lynceus and advising him to fly back to Egypt for safety Danaus having notice of the disobedience of Hypermenestra resolved to have put her to death but was hindred by the Argives yet kept her close Prisoner He then endeavoured to get husbands for his daughters but they were so abhored for their treachery that it was hard to procure them Lynceus arriving safe in Egypt his Father was so incensed at the murder of his other sons that he sent him back with strong Forces against his uncle who prevailed and soon dispatcht him setting his wife at liberty and subduing the whole Kingdom of the Argives and then sending for Danaus daughters he judged them not worthy to live for their cruelty yet being his wives sisters he would not put them to death but commanded they should be put into a Ship without Sails or Oars and so left to the mercy of the wide Ocean Who after many dangers were at length cast happily upon this Isle of Albion where getting ashoar and
blessed Saviour denying him to be equal with God the Father and in prosecution of this impious design she spared no pains nor endeavours using both Flattery and Threats to induce her to comply thereto insinuating That God might as well be worshipt in one Religion as another and that she ought to conform her self to the usages and customs of the place wherein she was especially since thereby she would very much oblige the King and create greater respect in him toward her That she was not come into Spain to give but receive Laws and to exercise obedience That her husband could never faithfully love her if she entertained any other Sentiments Opinions or Sacraments than himself ' That she could never expect to reign happily over a People who were of a contrary Faith to hers That she should not fear the reproaches of her own Countreymen who would count her very indiscreet not to comply with the times and that if for small matters some great men would be perswaded to renounce their former Religious Observances much more might she be excused in her conformity to the Truth when the reward thereof was no less than a Kingdom With such pungent motives and arguments as these this wicked woman did continually afflict the ears of this innocent Princess who nothing moved therewith replyed That if she persisted in these discourses she would for the future take all occasions to avoid her company since nothing could be less grateful to her than using so many subtilties to remove her from her Faith from which she was resolved never to recede during her life yea though the utmost torments were inflicted on her to force a renunciation And therewith going hastily out of her Chamber Gosiniha was very much offended yet concealing her anger resolved to attempt her once more not without hope of prevailing and having by a thousand protestations of kindness and affection endeavoured to make up the breach she at length more earnestly pressed her with many urgent reasons to be again baptized after the Arrian manner which Andegona absolutely refused prudently replying That thanks be to God she was already baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and that if the water of the Arrian Baptism should be cast on her head though she loved her hair as well as any woman need yet she would pluck it off yea tear the Skin along with it that had been defiled with such an abomination This was the last effort Gosintha made and judging her self extreamly affronted at this resolute reply she left Andegona foaming with Rage and Threats That since she refused the Arrian Baptism she should be baptized in another manner which should wash her from head to foot And returning again soon after she barbarously dragged this poor Princess about by the hair of the head and then abusing her to the loss of bloud she commanded two or three of her waiting women to strip her stark naked and bind her with cords and in this posture to throw her into a pool of water in a very cold season of the year It was a miserable spectacle to see the daughter of a King who was so lately received with such Triumphs and Rejoicings thus cruelly treated in the same place Gosintha who stood at the brink of the Pool to behold this unworthy execution ordered her to be drencht in the water by degrees that she might be more sensible of the peircing cold and often repeated these words If you will confess you are an Arrian you are safe and shall be presently released from your misery But the couragious Princess who had not so great an apprehension of death as fear to be seen naked cryed out aloud I am a Christian an Orthodox Christian take away my life if you will yet shall neither fire nor water force me to gainsay or renounce my Profession Gosintha finding all her attempts in vain at length suffered her to come out and put on her garments admiring and envying the constancy and greatness of her Soul which no tortures could shake or disturb Ermangild utterly ignorant of what had passed perceiving his Princess somewhat pale and disorder'd by this rough usage asked whether she were discomposed either in body or mind which she prudently endeavoured to conceal as not worthy his notice but by the manner of her discourse finding she had received some sensible affront he made a strict scrutiny of those who were able to inform him who soon related the cruel indignity his Mother-in-law Gosintha had put upon her which raised his passion to such an height that he had certainly torn that wicked Queen in pieces had not the fear of God and the charming Eloquence of his wife somewhat pacified his fury The Virtuous Andegona fell at his feet beseeching him not to precipitate himself and her likewise into inevitable danger by any extremities so that at length they concluded to remove from the Court to Sevil which was given him as a Patrimony by his Father for his present subsistance Whither being retired they fully enjoyed those delights which had been in some measure obstructed by this ill accident Ermangild believing himself the happiest of all mortals in beholding so many Virtues in so great a beauty And the modesty and piety wherewith she had managed her last disgrace made him think he could not sufficiently adore so much goodness Andegona observing what power she had over her husband by the repeated instances of his tender affection and being now without fear of a Step-mother resolved to improve this opportunity for the good of his Soul and sollicited him seriously to renounce his Arrianism and imbrace true Christianity by insisting on the falsness and unreasonableness of this opinion so derogatory to the honour of the Son of God and Saviour of the World the author of it being a wicked Priest who was made a Bishop out of mere spight and was rejected and solemnly condemned in a Council of three hundred and eighteen Bishops And that it had been remarkt that all the Arrian Kings round about had come to unhappy ends and it might be feared Spain could not escape the vengeance of Heaven unless it were purged from these pestilent errors Ermangild could not well resist the strength of truth and love both assaulting him at once in the same Person and therefore took time to deliberate Whereupon the good Princess prevail'd with him to confer with a famous Bishop who so well managed the Spirit of this gallant Prince that by divine assistance and the continual sollicitations and prayers of Andegona who moved Heaven and Earth for his conversion he at length renounced his error and became an Orthodox Christian Lenigild the Father having notice hereof was exceedingly displeased and Gosintha his Wife was not wanting to inflame him against his son however not willing presently to bring things to extremity knowing the greatness of his Spirit and that many of the Nobility were ready to ingage in his cause He sent
Chapters with Contents and beautified with Pictures By R. B. Licensed according to Order Price One Shilling XV. THE History of the Nine Worthies of the World Three whereof were Gentiles 1. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy. 2. Alexander the Great King of Macedon and Conqueror of the World. 3. Julius Caesar first Emperor of Rome Three Jews 4. Joshua Captain General and Leader of Israel into Canaan 5. David King of Israel 6. Judas Maccabeus a Valiant Jewish Commander against the Tyranny of Antiochus Three Christians 7. Arthur King of Brittain who couragiously defended his Countrey against the Saxons 8. Charles the Great K. of France and Emperor of Germany 9. Godfrey of Bullen King of Jerusalem Being an account of their Glorious Lives Worthy Actions renowned Victories and Deaths Illustrated with Poems and the Picture of each Worthy By R. B. Price One Shilling XVI A Guide to Eternal Glory Or Brief Directions to all Christians how to attain Everlasting Salvation To which are added several other small Tracts As 1. Saving Faith discovered in Three Heavenly Conferences between Our Blessed Saviour and 1. A Publican 2. A Pharisee 3. A Doubting Christian II. The Threefold state of a Christian 1. By Nature 2. By Grace 3. In Glory III. The Scriptures Concord compiled out of the words of Scripture by way of Question and Answer wherein there is the sum of the way to Salvation and Spiritual things compared with Spiritual IV. The Character of a True Christian A brief Directory for the Great Necessary and Advantagious Duty of Self-Examination whereby a serious Christian may every day Examine himself VI. A short Dialogue between a Learned Divine and a Beggar VII Beams of the Spirit or Cordial Meditations Enlivening Enlightning and Gladding the Soul. VIII The Seraphick Souls Triumph in the Love of God. With short remembrances and Pious thoughts IX History Improved or Christian Applications and Improvements of some remarkeable passages in History X. Holy Breathings in several Divine Poems upon divers Subjects and Scriptures Price One Shilling XVII EXcellent Contemplations Divine and Moral Written by the Magnanimous and truly Loyal A. L. Capel Baron of Hadham Together with some Account of his Life and his Affectionate Letters to his Lady the day before his Death with his Heroick Behaviour and last Speech at his Suffering Also the Speeches and Carriages of D. Hamilton and the E. of Holland who suffered with him With his pious Advice to his Son. Price One Shilling XVIII Youths Divine Pastime Containing Forty Remarkable Scripture Histories turned into common English Verse With Forty curious Pictures proper to each Story very delightful for the virtuous imploying the vacant hours of Young Persons and preventing vain and vitious Divertisements Together with several Scripture Hymns upon divers occasions Price Eight pence XIX UNparrallel'd Varieties Or the Matchless Actions and Passions of Mankind Display'd in near four hundred notable instances and examples Discovering the transcendent effects 1. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude 2. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity 3. Of Chastity Temperance and Humanity And on the contrary the Tremendous Consequences 4. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude 5. Of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery 6. Of Vnchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Proper Figures Price One Shilling XX. EXtraordinary Adventures of several Famous Men with the strange Events and signal Mutations and Changes in the Fortunes of divers Illustrious Places and Persons in all Ages Being an account of a Multitude of Stupendious Revolutions Accidents and Observable matters in States and Provinces throughout the whole world The Cruelties usued by the Turks upon the Christians at Argiers their manner of selling Slaves c. The dreadful Mutiny in the City of Naples in 1647. and how Massanello a Fisher-boy ruled there for 10 days with greater Power than any King or Emperor An account of several Nations destroyed or driven from their Habitations by Gnats Moles Pismires Sparrows Locusts Hares Conies Fleas Frogs Mice Grashoppers Serpents Worms and other inconsiderable Creatures The Tragical Deaths of Joqn and Cornelius de Wit at the Hague in Holland Remarks on the Life and Death of Sir W. Rawleigh with his last Speech and Behaviour on the Scaffold with Pictures Price One Shilling XXI VVInter Evenings Entertainments in Twâ— Parts Containing 1. Ten Pleasanâ— Relations of many Rare and Notable Accidents and Occurrences with brief Remarks upon every one 2. â—â—ty Ingenious Riddles with their Explanations and useful Observations and Morals upon each Enlivenâ— with above Threescore Pictures for Illustrating eveâ—â— Story and Riddle Excellently Accommodated to thâ— Fancies of Old or Young and useful to chearful Socâ—â—ty and Conversation Price One Shilling FINIS
' gainst Israel The Lord will vengeance take of those That ' gainst him do rebel He will put fire into their flesh And worms shall them annoy They shall much misery feel God will For ever them destroy After this Judith dedicated to the Temple the Pavilion of Holofernes and other rich habiliments given her by the People that the memory of this glorious Action might never be forgotten and then returning to her own house she there continued a chast widdow to the day of her death being honoured and respected of all the people as their Great Deliverer she made her servant a free woman and lived in the house of her husband Manasseh till she was an hundred and five years old and then dying was buried in his Sepulchre for whom all the Israelites made a deep and solemn mourning seven days without intermission and the terror of this admirable success made such an impression on all the Neighbour Nations that none of them troubled Israel all her days nor a long time after her death How great art thou O Lord of Hosts and how terrible is thy power thou God of Battels a General in the midst of an Army of an hundred thousand valiant Souldiers invironed all with steel and fire who says I will go I will do I will level with the ground who decreed the firing of Cities and destruction of Countreys behold him now conquered slain tumbled in his bloud by a woman who makes a play-game of his head and all this by the assistance of that God who acted in her and put courage into her soul to overthrow the mighty and bring to confusion the Sons of pride and violence The History of Queen Esther WHen Haman in his proud ambitious mind Utter destruction to the Jews design'd When for the fault of one they all must dye All must be ruin'd for poor Mordecai Then prudent Esther doth her self oppose Against her Uncles and her Peoples Foes Ventures her life her Nation to save And Mercy for them of the King doth crave Who hears and grants her suit most graciously Haman is hanged for his Treachery And Mordecai his Office doth enjoy Who for the Jews his Interest doth imploy IN the year from the Creation of the world 3543. and before the birth of our Saviour 521. during the Captivity of the Jews in Babylon Cyrus the son of Xerxes whom the Grecians called Artaxerxes was King of Persia in whose reign all the race of the Jews both men women and children were in danger to have been utterly exterminated had it not been happily prevented by the mercy of God and the excellent conduct and admirable courage of our renowned Heroine Queen Esther For the better understanding hereof we read that after Artaxerxes was setled in the Kingdom and had established Governors over an hundred and seven and twenty Provinces from India as far as Ethiopia in the third year of his reign he made a most Royal and Magnificient Feast for all the Grandees of his mighty Empire wherein he display'd the opulency and grandeur of his Dominions for one hundred and fourscore days together After which he for 7 days treated the Ambassadors of all Nations in the Palace of Shushan sitting in a Tent the Pillars whereof were Gold and Silver and the covering of Scarlet of such a vast extent that thousands might be entertained under it all the provisions were served in Vessels of Gold inriched with Jewels and of excellent workmanship The King commanded his Attendants that none should be enforced to drink but according to the Persian usage each at his own discretion He also sent an Order throughout all his Countreys that they should all cease from their labour many days and make Holyday in Honour of his Royalty At the same time Vashti his Queen made a Royal Banquet to her Ladies and the King being merry with wine the seventh day of the Feast sent one of his Eunuchs to cause her to come with the Crown upon her head in the most glorious manner and her most gorgeous attire to display her beauty to the eyes of all the people but she being too tenacious of the Persian custom that count it a crime to be seen by strangers refused to come and though he renewed his desires divers times yet she persisted in her denial upon which being extreamly displeased he rose suddenly from the Banquet and calling to him seven of his Councellors by whose advice he managed his affairs and who expounded the Law to him he desired to know what punishment they thought due to his wife who had put such an open affront and indignity upon him before that Great Assembly one of them answered That this was a crime of State and might occasion a general disorder throughout the Realm since all other women following the example of the Queen might from thence take a licentious power to disobey their husbands and every where domineer over them thereby overthrowing the order of Nature and cause quarrels and disturbance in all Families His opinion therefore was that she who had done him this publick dishonour should be divorced from the King her husband and that a Proclamation should be published throughout all his Provinces signifying the cause thereof and asserting the just subjection of wives to their husbands The King who had an extraordinary passion for Vashti and could hardly entertain any thoughts of a separation from the dear object of his love seemed for some time wholly abandoned to grief and sorrow which his Nobles observing endeavoured to remove by representing the unreasonableness of his concernment for such an unworthy woman who had so extreamly disobliged him and that he might soon find out another who in beauty and all other Princely qualifications should far exceed her and by whose pleasing demeanor the thoughts of Vashti might be utterly extinguished The King confirming the Judgment they had given against Vashti sent abroad messengers to bring into his presence the fairest Virgins that were to be found in his Kingdoms Whereupon a great number being assembled there was among them a young Orphan whose parents being dead she was educated under the tuition of her uncle Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin and a principal man among the Jews her name was Esther and was judged the most beautiful of all that youthful company and for her amiable countenance caused all Spectators to stand still and admire her Whereupon the Eunuchs attended her with more than ordinary diligence and she was prepared for the kings pleasure with odors and perfumes for six months in the company of four hundred other Virgins After which the Officer judging them fit to approach the Royal bed sent one every night to the King who returned her back in the morning But when Esther came into his presence he was so surprized with her love that he took her for his lawful wife and setled his affections upon her above all the others The marriage was solemnized in the seventh year of
thanksgivings that there was no dishonesty nor unchastity found in her O thou most worthy to be fear'd Great God Who rul'st the nations with an iron rod But gently dost thine own Choice Israol bring To be refreshed at thy mercies Spring Our Fathers trust in thee was not mistaken Nor were they in their greatest wants forsaken Thou heard'st Susanna's fighs and tears even when She stood betray'd condemn'd by wicked men Who falsly charg'd her though no stain was found Whereby thy faithful handmaid to confound Blest and admired always be thy name May after ages praise thy mighty fame That to deaths door thou bringest man and then Proclaim'st Return agenye sons of men The History of the Chast Lucretia THE Chast Lucretia would no longer live When wicked Tarquin basely did deprive Her of her Chastity Hating to be Rather than lead her life in Infamy From her own hand she cold Death doth imbrace Which vengeance brings on Tarquins Treacherous race The Roman People utterly disclaim His Power His Family and his hated name The Ravisher to banishment is driven Wheresoon his just reward he meets from Heaven Being stain by those to whom for life he flyes Who seek revenge for former injuries HAving already related the Lives and Actions of four Jewish Worthies I now present you with a Noble Roman Lady even the chast Lucretia who to redeem her honour ravished away by Sextus Tarquin scorned to live any longer and therefore sacrificed her self for saving her Countrey yet I cannot commend this last and great act of her life since the Christian Law allows none to be their own Executioners and the principle of self preservation seems to be implanted in us by nature as well as in all other living creatures However she may serve as an example of extraordinary Chastity which she has been reckoned to be in all ages since and to discover great Magnanimity of Soul who rather than live with shame and disgrace chose not to live at all and though her mind were absolutely innocent yet put an end to her days with her own hands for the forcible defilement of her body This tragical accident happened about the year from the Creation of the World 3432. and about fix hundred years before the Birth of our Saviour It was in the reign of Tarquinius Superbus or Tarquin the Proud the seventh and last King of the Romans from Romulus the first Founder of that Kingdom which afterward arrived to such immense grandeur He was Sirnamed the Proud because he denied his Father-in-law and Predecessor Servius Tullius the common rites of Burial saying That Romulus was never buried after his death and killing all the Roman Senators whom he thought Favourers of him for having no pretence to the Kingdom besides force he endeavours to maintain his Usurpation by the same means therefore since he could repose no trust in the love and affection of the Citizens he was resolved to secure himself by fear taking cognizance of all Capital Causes alone in Person without the advice or consent of any of the Senators whereby he put to death banished or fined any whom he thought ill-affected to his Tyranny He reduceth the Senators to a small number that they may be less esteemed by others and more observant of himself He marrieth his daughter to the Latines to prevent the danger of allying her amongst his own Friends and increases his Guards with strangers that he might Tyrannize over the Romans and having by this marriage obtained much reputation among the Latines he desired their Nobility to meet him one day in the Florentine Wood to treat of publick affairs But delaying his coming at the appointed time Turnus one of the Nobility with great liberty but small discretion made a severe Speech against him intimating That the Romans might well intitle him Tarquin the Proud since he had now put so great an affront upon such an Illustrious Assembly and that it might well be suspected he designed to impose upon them and usurp Dominion over their Countrey who could put such a slight upon the whole Nobility that came so far only upon his request With much more to this purpose when in the midst of his Oration Tarquin arrived and endeavoured to excuse his delay but having notice how Turnus had inveighed against him he instantly contrived his destruction and that very night again calling the Latin Nobles together he in a studied Oration strove to possess them with the belief of a dangerous design laid by Turnus to kill him and all the Chief of the people and having corrupted one of the Servants of Turnus with money to let him carry a great number of Swords into his Masters Lodgings Tarquin told the Lords That to confirm what he had said he could make it appear that Turnus had conveyed a great quantity of Arms into his own house wherewith he intended with the assistance of his accomplices to massacre them all next day when they should come to Council Desiring them to accompany him to Turnus his house that they might be eye-witnesses of the truth of what he had asserted The Lords go to his house prepared to believe all if they found that of the Arms true Coming thither the Officers waked Turnus and stood round about him having first secured his servants who out of love to their Master were endeavouring to make resistance the Swords which were hid were brought forth out of every corner of the room which with the fierce disposition of Turnus and the Speech he had made the day before seemed a full confirmation of this treacherous Design which so extreamly incensed the Latines that they would not suffer him to make the least defence for himself but presently sentenced him to lose his life by a new kind of execution for he was thrown into a River with an hurdle upon his head whereon stones were piled to prevent his rising again and by this means was drowned Tarquin having again summoned a Council of the Latin Nobles commends the revenge they had taken upon such a seditious Rebel and desires them to renew their League and friendship with the Romans who were easily induced thereto and then commanding all the armed Youth of both Nations to meet together he out of both formed an Army with which he makes war against the Volscians and took some Towns from them by storm with a booty to the value of four hundred Talents of Silver and Gold wherewith he designed to build a magnificent Temple to Jupiter After this he ingaged in a War against the Gabins who inhabited a Neighbouring City which he attempted to gain by storm but being beaten back with great loss he began to despair of obtaining his end by main strength he solved to add policy thereto therefore while he pretended to have laid aside all thoughts of War and seemed imploy'd in the foundation of his Temple and other stately buildings in Rome he had recourse to treacheries wherein he found none so fit to be
this Sword shall instantly end your life He then proceeded to declare his transcendant passion for her and uses all manner of inducements to bring her to his will tells her That her beauty is the cause of this misfortune that he had considered the fatal event of it but yet had rather endure the greatest torments yea death it self than not to fulfil his desire says he I have debated even in my Soul What wrong what shame what sorrow it will breed But nothing can my furious Love controul Or stop the headlong current of its speed Although repentant Tears insue the deed Together with reproach and enmity Yet I must needs imbrace my infamy He speaks her fair and then intermixes threats but seeing her readier to imbrace death than him rather willing to lose her life than honour he adds disgrace to fear and tells her he would first kill her and then stab a slave and lay him naked by her so that it should be certainly believed she was slain in the very act of adultery Lucrece says he this night I must enjoy thee If thou deny then force must work my way For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee And then some wretched slave of thine I 'le slay To kill thine honour with thy lives decay And in thy dead arms I resolve to place him And swear I slew him finding thee imbrace him See how this villain threatens to bereave her of her honour that he may thereby bereave her of it Lucretia thus assaulted makes many compassionate pleas in defence of her chastity upbraids him with his unreasonable and brutish lust adjures him by all manner of Arguments not to use violence against a poor weak woman but nothing she could say had the least influence upon him She him conjures by fear of Heaven above By her untimely tears her husbands love Quoth she Reward not hospitality And Friendship with such wicked treachery Think but how vile a spectacle it were Did thy crime in another man appear If ever man was mov'd with womans moans Be moved with my tears my sighs my groans Melt at my tears and be compassionate Some pity enters at an iron gate Thou seem'st not what thou art a God a King. For Kings like Gods should govern every thing Have done quoth he my uncontroulled tyde Turns not but swells the higher by this let Small lights are soon blown out huge fires abide And with the wind in greater fury fret And putting his words into act he first gag'd and then ravished her notwithstanding the utmost resistance she could possible use so that she forcibly yielded to Sextus prevailing lust who having obtained his will goes away over-joyed and returns to the Camp Triumphant while the most unhappy Lucretia remains overwhelmed with grief She sends to her Father Spurius Lucretius and her husband that they would instantly repair to Collatia with two or three of their most assured Friends since a most unfortunate and grievous accident had befallen her They make speed to come and bring Publius Valerius and Lucius Junius Brutus along with them They find Lucretia in a very desolate condition who upon their coming into her Chamber burst out into a floud of Tears Her husband asked her art thou not well my Dear No said she how can that woman be well who hath lost her Chastity the signs of another man O dear Collatine are yet to be seen upon the bed yet is my body only violated my mind is still guiltless of which my death shall be an undoubted evidence but first give me your hands and solemn promises that you will not suffer the Adulterer to go unpunished Sextus Tarquin is the man who like an enemy rather than a Guest came last night armed to my bed and thence forced pleasures which if you are men of courage may prove as fatal to him as they are like to be to me They all one after another engaged to revenge the injury she had received and endeavoured to comfort and perswade her grieved soul that she was altogether innocent and the guilt lay only upon the Ravisher and that her mind not her body could only commit the offence and where was no consent there was no crime Do you says she consider what the Ravisher deserves for though I absolve my self from the crime yet I will not be free from the punishment Nor shall any unchast woman ever plead hereafter that Lucretia was an Example of lendness to her And then proceeded to this purpose And what could unfortunate Lucretia do If she had died that she might have lived Chast you would have thought her slain for having been unchast O most cruel Law of Honour which savest not the innocent A Law never descended from Heaven but came from the deepest Abyss of Hell I who would have my honesty proclaimed to all have more studied glory than chastity and whilst I was ambitious of the name of Chast I am with infamy become unchast I was inforced to chuse life that I might preserve my honour and by my living I have lost it I am resolved to dye if not for what hath already befallen me at least for what may hereafter happen to me But what then If I die I shall seem to acknowledge I have done amiss they will say my guilty conscience kill'd me If I live you will believe I have done so too and say I consented out of two much love of life O of all others the most unfortunate Lucretia whose innocence neither life nor death can justify This Soul O Collatine whose delight was chastity abhors now that body which is polluted and as being wholly thine cannot indure to have any longer a being since I can no more be only thine The wicked Ravisher did never prostitute me it was not Lucretia it was a Carcase for the Soul is not where it consents not sin is the off-spring of the will not of the body where consent is not there is no sin yet I think my self worthy of death ' cause he desired and blame my self though faultless because I pleased him O Beauty perniciously coveted by our unsound minds O frail and fading vanity of the body whereby the eternal beauty of the Soul is clouded they which are endowed with you either sin with you or cause others to sin by you But what was there in me that incouraged this vile miscreant to commit so great a crime perhaps my honesty which he thought greater than others Most sacred Honesty art thou then become an incitement to lust and instead of defending dost thou offend Instead of bridling unlawful desires dost thou provoke to fury and violence His cruel heart that delights only to kill the innocent is likewise a receptacle of wicked lust that covets none but the Chast To attain what they desire is not that which the Tarquins desire they find no pleasure where they use no force and like lightning rend and destroy most where they meet most resistance And whither can
she was sensible how treacherously he was destroyed yet durst not discover her knowledge lest it should prevent her revenge Mariamne who suffered in the sorrows of her mother had not the least share in this deplorable misfortune especially in the death of a Brother whom she loved as her own life and though endued with extraordinary patience and discretion could now hardly resist the impetuous violence of her passion and approaching the Corps of her Brother I have nothing now left in this world says she either to fear or hope he for whom I feared and for whom I hoped being now by a secret providence of Heaven taken from me to whose will I desire entirely to resign my self in all things resolving for the future to wean my soul from all temporal felicities and place my affections upon more divine and sublime objects Herod endeavoured to make it appear by his external behaviour and the magnificence of his Funeral whereat he shed many tears that he was no way accessary to his death though Alexandra who knew the truth of the business was the more inraged thereat and resolved to bring speedy vengeance on his head for the same and therefore sent Cleopatra a full account of the whole matter and incited her by all means to assist her who having long desired occasion against Herod enjoined Mark Anthony the Roman General and her Lover to call him to account for his Villanies who having obtained the Kingdom without any just Title imbrued his hands in the bloud of the Royal Family Mark Anthony disliking this cruel act sent for Herod to appear and answer the accusations laid against him who not daring to deny though he much feared Cleopatra's violent prosecution went to Anthony committing the Government of his Kingdom in his absence to his Uncle Joseph with secret Orders That if any mischief should happen to him and prevent his return he should put Mariamne to death for whom he had such an extravagant passion that he was either jealons or envious any should enjoy her even after his decease When Herod was gone Joseph was very conversant with Mariamne both upon account of publick affairs and for his own private divertisement wherein he often discourst of the extraordinary Passion Herod had for her whom he valued above all the World Alexandra the mother seemed to laugh and slight these pretended kindnesses of Herod to her daughter judging them not real but upon design when Joseph being earnest to confirm the truth of his assertions unadvisedly replyed That nothing could be a greater evidence of his ardent love for her than that he could neither live nor die without her since if he should miscarry in his Journey he had commanded him to put her to death to accompany him into the other World. The Ladys were much scandalized at this kind of passion and considered it not as a demonstration of Herods good will to her but rather a manifestation of his sanguinary and malicious nature who at his death would have her perish with him At this time there was a report raised by Herods enemies in Jerusalem that M. Anthony had inflicted so great torments upon him that he died under them whereupon all his Court were much disturbed and especially the Ladys so that Alexandra persuaded Joseph to remove from Court and secure themselves under the protection of the Roman Legions who were at that time quartered about the City under the command of Julius the Tribune where they might be safe if any mischief should happen in the Kings house and have the Romans assistance and that afterward if M. Anthony did but see her daughter Mariamne he would be so taken with her beauty that she might obtain all things at his hands and no doubt he would restore her to her Kingdom and Royal dignity While they were thus consulting there came Letters from Herod of his sudden return who coming into the presence of M. Anthony obtained so much favour by the rich Presents he made him that the matter being suddenly heard it was soon determined in his favour and Anthony fully appeased and satisfied though it were little pleasing to Cleopatra to whom Anthony pleaded That there was no reason a King should be acountable for what he did in his own Kingdom since he would thereby cease to be King who with that dignity had all other Regal power and authority given to him Herod at length returned with large Testimonials of the favour of M. Anthony who entertained him with much kindness in several publick Feasts and Assemblies Cleopatra likewise renounced her pretences to Judea having received of M. Anthony Caelosyria instead of it Upon his arrival his Mother and Sister Solome the wife of Joseph gave him a full account of the intentions of Alexandra and her Friends accusing also her husband Joseph of two much intimacy with Mariamne who it seems had once objected to them the meanness of their birth Herod was much disturbed at the news but however the inflamed affection he bore toward Mariamne restrained him from that violence which his rage and jealousy suggested to him and therefore examining her strictly what secret familiarity had passed between her and Joseph she by many solemn Oaths and Protestations with all manner of Allegations of her innocency so far appeased him that he was fully satisfied she had sufficiently cleared her self from all those slanders raised against her so that he gave her a thousand thanks for her conjugal fidelity and affection to him and openly declared the great esteem and love he had for her At length as it oft happens among Lovers both fell into tears and imbraced each other with a most indearing passion whereupon Mariamne said covertly to him It is no great sign of such unfeigned Love that thou wast so unkind to give command if any ill should happen to thee I should instantly be put to death had who never in the least offended thee neither is it any great argument of love to a wife to desire her company in another World. Herod seemed thunderstruck with these words and fell into such a monstrous rage that he cryed out and tore his hair with the greatest fury imaginable saving He had now very evident proof that Joseph had committed Adultery with her since he would never have discovered what he had so strictly enjoined him to keep secret unless they had put great confidence in each other and that there were much intimacy between them And in this furious jealousy he could hardly refrain from killing his wife yet his former love at length returning he forbore though with much inward trouble and emotion However he ordered Joseph to be instantly put to death without Tryal or Justification and committed Alexandra the author of all these troubles close Prisoner After this Aretas the Arabian King refusing to pay Herod his accustomed Tribute he pretends to make War against him and coming suddenly upon the Arabians was in great probability of obtaining the conquest when Athenio
I might not enter the bed of a Pagan the first night of my Nuptials but that I may imbrace a Christian for my Husband and Soveraign than which nothing can be more desirable to your most obedient Wife The King a little surprized told her It was not yet time to think of that matter though he would take the first opportunity to consider seriously of it and act accordingly his thoughts being now too much imploy'd in admiring her perfections to think of any thing else but however she need not scruple in the mean time to converse with a Pagan Husband since her own Law taught her That the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife Clotilda somewhat doubted whether she should imbrace his company till he had fulfill'd his promise but fearing to exasperate and make him quite reject Christianity she resolved to render him all marriage duties and endeavour to gain him by her prayers and good example The King observing her discreet carriage was very much pleased and respected her the more who finding she had an absolute Empire over his heart used her power with all kind of sweetness and complasance exercising her devotions with the greatest sincerity and constancy so that her Apartment seemed rather like an Oratory or Chappel than a place dedicated to vanity or pleasure which the King having very often observed it bred in him a very great inclination and reverence to her Religion and caused him more highly to honour her Person But upon occasion he would be objecting to her some difficulties that appeared in the Christian Religion as beleiving the Trinity and the Doctrine of a Crucified Jesus The threats of Judgment and promises of mercy in another life And therefore he thought it better to continue in his own Religion wherein he was educated and did not doubt but God would have mercy upon him since he practised to the best of his knowledg To this Clotilda answered That he ought not to be deterred by such seeming difficulties fince God who created the Soul of man hath made it capable of beleiving things above the reach of human reason and whose small understanding must submit to the Divine Wisdom and his finite knowledge must not think to equal that which is infinite since God alone is the immense Fountain of Goodness Wisdom and Knowledg That if his Majesty should promise a Servant what to his reason might seem impossible and incredible yet he is bound to beleive it without any reply as depending upon the Kings infallible word now if one smful mortal man doth thus exact faith of another why should you doubt says she what the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth has declared to be true Why should we not believe there are three Persons and one only God fince we dayly find our memory understainding and will make but one Soul Why should we scorn to adore a Crucified Man since nothing can more confirm our believe than that Consideration For if our blessed Saviour had come to subdue the World by Legions of Horses Armies as your Majesty conquers Kingdoms it would not have appeared so great a wonder but when only by sufferings and the cross he hath brought the greatest part of the World yea many Crowned heads under the Dominion of his Laws and Precepts this makes it appear that all is done only by the Almighty power of God since so little of man is seen in it I would therefore humbly beseech your Majesty no longer to defer your Baptism that you may be one of the most glorious Kings on earth that France ever enjoyed and happy in Heaven to all Eternity Clovis replyed that her persuasions and arguments were unanswerable and that his soul was convinced of the truth of what she had affirmed but Policy and Religion being different things he ought maturely to confider whether forsaking the Gods of his own Countrey who were worshipped by such a multitude of his Subjects might not occasion some rebellion or disturbance among his people in defence of their Old Religion Clotilda who found this one of the main obstacles of his Conversion briskly answered That his Nobility and People were already sufficiently convinc't of the falsity of their Idolatrous superstition and wanted nothing but his example and incouragement to declare their belief of the truth of the Christian Faith but that if it were otherwise yet he ought to encounter all difficulties and venture all dangers for the salvation of his Soul. These earnest sollicitations of the Queen being often renewed the King at length began seriously to consider the reasonableness of them and soon after Clotilda being delivered of a Son he permitted him to receive Christian Baptism but the Child dying soon after he told her Shewas too vehement in her Religion and that he feared the health of the Child was impaired by its being so soon Baptized The Queen answered that life and death were in the hands of God and this Infant was not so much to be lamented having now changed this vain life into that of Angels and that God if he pleased could yet bless their Royal Bed with a numerous issue and she was sure Baptism was no prejudice to him since it was an Ordinance and Appointment of Heaven and therefore being delivered of a second Son she conferred Baptism upon it as well as on the former which likewise dying soon after Clovis was more offended than before saying He believed that that water was fatal to Children and she should take care never to move him for the like liberty again Clotilda with a resolved mind alledged that if God should have made her barren he ought to have been contented and adore the divine providence and not to reflect upon the Baptism of Christians but upon her sins as the cause of the loss of her Children The King was fully pacified with this prudent return and at length became resolved to profevs Christianity which was hastened upon this occasion The Swevi a People of Germany passing the Rhine under the command of several Princes with design to root out the Gauls or French and ruin their new erected Monarchy Clovis with the assistance of some of his neighbours resolved to oppose their numerous Forces and a great Battel was fought near Collen where the King commanding in chief he was suddenly surrounded by his Enemies and in great danger of his life and though he performed the duty both of a great Captain and a valiant Souldier yet terror had so seized his flying Army that his affairs were in a very desperate posture when by the perfuasion of one of his chief Favourites he made a solemn Vow to God That if he returned victorious he would perform his promise made to the Queen and be Baptized a Christian and then calling aloud upon the God whom Clotilda worshipped for assistance and deliverance his Forces rallied and his Foes seemed to decline whom he so vigorously prosecuted that the Fields were all covered with dead bodies