will abundantly satisfie for the trouble of this Relation still provided the Speculative Theist who beleives a God be not after all a Practical Atheist Natural Hist Oxfordshire pag. 206. XXII The same ingenious Dr. Platt gives a Relation of another strange and unaccountable accident which he delivers with the same certainty as the former That of the Family of one Captain Wood formerly of Bampton then of Brise Norton in Oxfordshire Captain in the late Wars for the King some of them have had signal warnings given them before their Deaths by a certain knocking either at the door without or on the Tables and Shelves within the number of Stroaks and distance between them and the place where for the most part respecting the Circumstances of the Persons to dye or their deaths themselves as will easily be collected from the following Instances The first knocking that was heard or at least observed was about a year after the Restauration of the King 1661 in the afternoon a little before night at or upon the door it being then open as it was apprehended by Mrs. Eleano Wood Mother to Captain Basil Wood who only heard it none being then by or about the house but her self at which she was very much disturbed thinking it foretold some ill to her or hers and within fourteen days after she had news of the death of her Son in Law Mr. George Smith who dyed in London About three years after that there were three great knocks very audibly given and heard by all then in the house who were Mrs. Eleanor Wood aforesaid Mr. Basil Wood and his Wife Mrs. Hester and some Servants which knocks were so remarkable that one of the Maids came from the Well which was about 20 yards from the place to see what was the matter and Mrs. Eleanor Wood and another Maid who was within the House saw three great Pans of Lard shake and totter so upon a shelf in the Milk-house that they were like to fall down Upon this violent knocking Mr. Basil Wood and his Wife being then in the Hall came presently into the Milkhouse to their Mother where finding her somewhat disturbed and enquiring the reason she replyed God Almighty only knew the matter she could tell nothing but she heard the knocking which being within doors Mr. Basil Wood concluded it was a fatal warning to some of the Family at home since the other upon the door without signified death to some Friend abroad which accordingly fell out for three of the Family according to the number of the knocks died within half an year after that is Mrs. Hester Wood Wife to Mr. Basil Wood a Child of Mr. Wood's Sister and Mrs. Eleanor Wood his Mother About August 1674 Mr. Basil Wood Junior Son of Basil aforesaid living at Exeter in Devonshire heard the same kind of knocking at which being disturbed he writ word of it to his Father at Bampton in Oxfordshire That one Sunday He his Wife and her Sister and his Brother did distinctly hear upon a Table in their Chamber as they stood by it two several knocks struck as it were with a Cudgel one of them before and the other after Morning Prayer a little before dinner which Letter was shewn by Mr. Wood Senior as the other knocking 's before the deaths of any that died were beforehand told to several Neighbouring Gentlemen after which within about fourteen dayes Mrs. Hester Wood a second Wife of Mr. Basil Wood Senior and about a quarter of a year after her Father Mr. Richard Lisset died both at Bampton since which time they have heard nothing more as yet Natural History Oxfordshire pag. 206. XXIII Of this kind of unaccountable Accidents we may reckon that which is related by Mr. Clark in his 2d Vol. of Examples which he intitles A True and faithful Relation of one Samuel Wallas who was restored to his perfect health after 13 years sickness of a Consumption taken from his own mouth who for the last four years lay bedrid and so weak that he could not turn himself therein without help by which Distemper his body was so parched and dryed that he was like an Anatomy but upon this cure he recovered his former health and strength whereby he was inabled to follow his Trade being a Shoemaker and living at Stamford in Lincolnshire whereof he gave this following Account with much affection and sensibleness of Divine Mercy and Goodness to him upon April 7. 1659. Upon Whitsunday last before the date hereof about six a Clock in the afternoon after evening Sermon he finding himself a little lightsome and able to get out of his Bed without help there being no body in the house then with him his wife being gone in the Countrey to her Friends to seek some releif he crept to the Fire-side and as he was reading in a book called Abraham's suit for Sodom he heard some body rap at the door and thinking it to be some stranger because he struck as it were with a stick and being on the Lords day thereupon taking his stick in one hand and holding by the Wall with the other he went to the door and opening it he saw a proper grave old man who said unto him Friend I pray thee give to an old Pilgrim a Cup of small Beer to whom Wallas said Pray Sir come in He answered Call me not Sir for I am none but yet come in I must for I cannot pass by thy door To whom Wallas thinking he had been very dry said Come in Sir and welcome which he did and Wallas with the help of his stick drew him a Cup of Beer who took it and drank a little and then walked two or three times to and fro and drank again and so a third time before he drâ—nk it all up and setting down the pot Wallas thought he was going but he walked again backward and forward three or four times neither of them speaking a word to each other At last the old Man coming up to Wallas said Friend I perceive thou art not well No truly said Wallas I have not been well these many years What is thy disease said he Wallas replied a deep Consumption and our Doctors say it is past cure They said well answered he but what have they given thee for it Truly nothing said Wallas for I am a very poor man and not able to follow the Doctors prescriptions and so I have been willing to commit my selâ— into the hands of Almighty God to dispose of me as he pleaseth The Old man answered in that thou sayst very well But I will tell thee by the Almighty power of God what thou shalt do only remember my words and observe them and do it But whatsoever thou dost fear God and serve him To morrow morning go into thy Garden and get there two red Sage Leaves and one leaf of Bloodwort and put these three leaves into a Cup of small Beer and let them lye therein three days and
a small Grate where the Provost was The Provost conjured him as a Christian to go and tell the Duke of Alva That his Provost was there clapt up nor could he imagine why The Gentleman did his Errand and the Duke being astonished sent for the Warden and his Prisoner Hereupon the Provost was brought in Cuerpo full of Straws and Feathers Mad-man like before the Duke who at the sight of him breaking into a Laughter asked the Warden why he had made him a Prisoner Sir said the Warden it was by Virtue of your Excellencies Commission brought me by Captain Bolea Bolea stept forth and told the Duke Sir you have often asked me how these hairs of mine grew so suddenly Grey I have not revealed it to any Soul breathing but now I will tell your Excellency and so fell a relating the Passage in Flanders and Sir said he I have been ever since beating my brains how to get an equal revenge of him for making me old before my time The Duke was so well pleased with the Story and the wittiness of the Revenge that he made them both Friends and the Gentleman who told me this Passage says Mr. Howel said that this Captain Bolea was then alive so that he could not be less than ninety years of Age. Howel's Letters Vol. 1. XCV Not much unlike this is another peice of Innocent Revenge related by Mr. Chetwind The Pope that he might congratulate Charles Cardinal of Lorrain for his great Zeal against the Protestants sent him his Letters of Thanks and withal the Picture of the Virgin with Christ in her Arms being the curious Master-peice of Michael Angelo The Messenger in his Journey fell sick and lighting upon a Merchant of Lucca who pretended himself a Retainer to the Cardinal delivered the Popes Letter and Present to him to convey to the Cardinal who undertook it This Merchant was a bitter Enemy to the Cardinal for divers injuries from him received and therefore determined at this time to have upon him at least a moderate and bloodless Revenge Being therefore arrived at Paris he gets a Limner who also owed ill will to the Cardinal to draw a Picture of equal Bigness in which instead of the V. Mary were drawn to the Life the Cardinal the Queen his Neice the Queen Mother the Wife of the Duke of Guise all stark naked their Arms about his Neck and their Legs twisted in his This being put in the Case of the other with the Popes Letters were delivered to one of the Cardinals Secretaries while he was with the King in Council At his return the Cardinal having read the Letter reserved the opening of the Case till the next day where having invited those very Ladies with many Nobles and Cardinals they found themselves miserably deceived disappointed and exceedingly confounded and sham'd Chetwind's Hist Collections p. 359. XCVI The same Author relates another that An Astrologer foretold the death of King Henry the seventh such a year the King sent for him and asked him if he could tell Fortunes He said Yes The King then asked If he did not foresee some eminent danger which much about that time should hang over his own head He replied No Then said the King Thou art a foolish Figure-caster and I am more skilful than thou for as soon as I saw thee I instantly prophecied thou shouldst be in Prison before night which thou shalt find True and immediately sent him thither He had not been long in Custody but the King sent for him again enquiring if he could cast a Figure to know how long he should be in Prison He still answered No Then said the King Thou art an illiterate Fellow who canst not fâ—retell the good or bad that shall befal thee therefore I will conclude thou canst not tell of mine And 〈◊〉 set him at Liberty Chetwind's Hist Collect p 327. XCVII I shall add one more and so conclude this Subject A certain Jeweller had sold the Wife of Galienus the Roman Emperor counterfeit and glass Jewels for true Ones The Empress being informed of the Cousenage requested that he might have due punishment The Emperor having heard the Complaint of his Wife commands the man to be dragged from his Presence with this sentence That he should be exposed to a Lion to be torn to peices But while the Impostor fearfully and the People greedily expect that some fierce and Terrible Lyon should be let out of his Den to devour him The Head of a man only appears from the Den and it was a Cryer who by the Emperors Order proclaimed these words He has played the Cheat and now he is cheated himself and thereupon he was immediately pardoned and discharged Wanly's Little World pag. 177. XCVIII Stupendious was the Tragedy Acted at the Hague upon Mr. John de Wit Pentionary of Holland and West-Friesland and his Brother Mounsieur Cornelius The Tragical Deaths of Iohn and Cornelius de wit at the Hague in Holland Page 180. de Wit Ancient Burgomaster of the City of Dort Ruwart of the Countrey of Putten on the 20 of August 1672. which happened in the manner following On the last day of July 1672 the Counsellor Fiscal having according to the Orders of the Court of Holland fetched Cornelius de Wit called Ruwart Van Putten from Dort to the Hague secured him in the Castle where he was accused by a Barber who about a fortnight before had impeached him in the following manner That Ruwart Van Putten would have hired and obliged him the said Barber called William Tichelaar to murder his Highness the Prince of Orange Upon which several Examinations having been made the said Ruwart was ordered to be kept close Prisoner and August 6 was removed from the Castle to the Prison Gate as also the Barber who voluntarily surrendred himself August 15 in the Evening a Report was spread in the Hague that Ruwart had a design to break out of the Prison which made divers Flock to the Prison Gate and Guard the same all night Yet nevertheless the People were so dissatisfied fearing that by some means or other he might be got away that they threatned to pull down the adjacent houses if they did not find him which forced several Persons of Quality to go into the Prison and at their return assured the enraged Multitude that they had both seen and spoke with the said Ruwart But this availing little they resolved to be further satisfied by making this Ruwart shew himself to them all at a Window of the Prison that they might both see and know him which being done their Fury was somewhat allayed for that time yet the Prison was guarded Night and Day by the Burgers Aug. 20. The following Sentence was pronounced against Ruwart Van Putten by the Court of Holland and West-Friesland The Court of Holland having seen and examined the several Points and Articles given â—n by the Procurator General of the same Court against Mounsieur Cornelius de Wit Ancient Burgomaster
dishonour of the Emperor Mincelius pleaded That he was enjoyned by the Senate to do it which the Magistrates also affirmed The Prefect appealed then to the Council of Prague and commanded that Mincelius should be kept under an Arrest till he had answered them The Consuls that came with him protested against this affirming That their City could not want his Ministry offering to stand bound for his appearance and at length they prevailed after having given a Bond of Two Thousand Crowns for his forth coming Hereupon the Prefect poured out all his Indignation upon Cotterus removing him from his former Prison into a Dungeon where Malefactors used to be Tortured wherein he lay in Hunger Dirt and Cold for above three Months Now a special Providence from Heaven appeared For Cotterus his Enemies understood that a compleat Book of all his Prophecies was in the hand of a Citizen of Sprotovia This they got and carried it to the Governour of Oppersdorf who after he had read it was much taken with Cotterus and would no more meddle against him He also perswaded the Prefect to have his cause heard in the City of Glogow and prevailed that Cotterus should have an Advocate allowed him In the mean time the Prefect married a Noble Virgin and at the weeks end his Office necessitated him to go Sagan and in his return he was to lye at Sprotovia but as soon as he came into the Suburbs of that City he was taken with a violent pain in his Bowels whereupon he sent for a Physitian who not knowing what to make of his Disease forbore to administer any thing to him till the next Morning that he might see farther But it pleased God the Praefect died that night and in that very place where he had sworn to see these men hanged This dreadful Judgment being known to the Enemies of Cotterus they removed him out of the Dungeon into a better Prison and after some Months space they sentenced him and brought him to the Town-Stocks fastened a Collar of Iron about his Neck and set over his head a Paper thus written This is the false Prophet which foretold such things as came not to pass There he stood an hour after which he was banished out of all the Emperors Dominions upon pain of death From hence he went to Lusatia under the Jurisdiction of the Elector of Saxony where he lived quietly till the day of his death which was in the year 1647. But before this that is in 1628 when the Persecution grew hot in Silesia there was in the City of Spretovia one Adam Pohl a good Friend to Cotterus who knowing the great want and necessity he was brought unto not through any fault of his own but by Gods Providence he entertained him at his house gratis and Cotterus continued with him by the space of half a year to the time of his Imprisonment During which time Adam Pohl fell dangerously sick and after a while had his Nerves and Sinews so shrunk up that he could make no use of his Legs but for a half a year together was confined to his Bed But it pleased God that the very morning before the Emperours Commissioners came with Armed Troops to reform the City as they called it his Wife being risen and gone down there appeared by his Bedside a young man in white Clothing who after he had saluted him said Adam This is the day wherein God hath decreed to take Vengeance upon the Citizens of this City for their Ingratitude Arise go in the name of the Lord put on thy Cloths take thy wife and young Daughter and fly from hence make hast and so he disappeared After which Pohl prayed earnestly and then began to move his hands and feet and trying to rise found that he could stand on his feet whereupon he called to his Wife for his Cloths which had been laid up in a Chest all that half year of his lameness and when he was drest he fell down on his knees and praised God Then taking his Wife and Daughter he hasted to the City-gate and having sent for Mincelius to meet him there who was astonished to see him with sighs and Tears they took Council together and resolved to go to Gorlits and by Gods strength and as he judged the Ministry of an Angel he and his little Daughter went afoot eight miles that day Historia Prophetarum pag. 22. XXV Linschoten in his Discoveries and Voyages to the East-Indies gives this Account That in the Island of Ceylon there is a high Hill upon the top whereof standeth a great House as big as a Cloyster In this place in time past shrined in Gold and precious Stones was kept the Tooth of an Ape which was esteemed the holiest thing in all India and had the greatest resort to it from all the Countries round about it so that it surpassed St. James in Gallicia and St. Michaels Mount in France by reason of the great Indulgences and Pardons that were there daily to be had For which cause it was sought unto with much Devotion by all the Indians within four or five hundred Miles round about in vast multitudes But it happened that in the year 1554 when the Portugals made a Road out of India and entred the Island of Ceylon they went up upon the Hill where they thought to find great Treasure because of the Fame that was spread abroad of the great resort and Offerings in that place They diligently searched the Cloister and turned up every Stone thereof yet found nothing but a little Coffer made fast with many precious Stones wherein lay the Apes Tooth This Relique they took with them to Goa which when the Kings of Pegu Siam Bengala Bisnagar and others heard of they were much greived that so costly a Jewel was in that manner taken from them Whereupon by Common Consent they sent their Ambassadors to the Vice-Roy of India desiring him of all Friendship to send them their Apes Tooth again offering him for a Ransom besides other Presents which they then sent to him seven Hundred Thousand Duckets in Gold which the Vice-Roy for Covetousness of the Money did intend to do But the Arch-Bishop of Goa disswaded him from it saying That they being Christians ought not to give it to them again being a thing wherewith Idolatry might be furthered and the Devil worshipped but rather were bound by their Profession to root out and abolish all Idolatry and Superstition By this means the Vice-Roy was perswaded to change his Mind and flatly denied the Embassadors Request having in their Presence first burnt the Apes Tooth the Ashes whereof he caused to be thrown into the Sea The Embassadors departed astonished that he refused so great a sum of Money for a thing which he so little esteemed Not long after there was a Benjane or Priest that had gotten another Apes Tooth and gave out that he had Miraculously found the same Apes Tooth that the Vice-Roy had and that it was revealed
out and thereby drew out the Peasant from his sweet Prison which otherwise had proved his Tomb. Causin's Holy Court Tom. 1. and 3. XXXIX Dr. Fuller in his Worthies gives 3 notable instances of this kind First Sr. Richard Edgcomb being zealous in the cause of Henry Earl of Richmond afterward King Henry the seventh was in the time of King Richard the Third so hotly persued and narrowly searched for that he was forced to hide himself in the thick woods at his House at Cuttail in Cornwal Here extremity taught him a sudden Policy which was to put a stone in his Cap and tumbled the same into the water while these Persuers were fast at his heels who looking down after the noise and seeing his Cap swimming thereon supposed that he had desperately drowned himself and deluded by this honest fraud gave over their farther persuit leaving him at liberty to escape over into France XL. A Second is of one John Thornborough preferred by Queen Elizabeth to be Dean of York and Bishop of Lymerick in Ireland where he received a most remarkable deliverance in manner following Lodging in an Old Castle in Ireland in a large room partitioned but with Sheets or Curtains with his Wife Children and Servants in effect a whole Family These all lying upon the ground on Matts or such like in the dead time of the night the Floor over head being Earth and Plaister as in many places is used and overcharged with weight fell wholly down together and crushing all to pieces that was above two foot high as Cup-board Table Forms Stools rested at last on certain Chests as God would have it and hurt no living Creature He was after made Bishop of Worcester by King James XLI A Third Relation is concerning Sir Richard Edgcomb who fighting valiantly for the King at Edghil Battle received twenty six wounds and was left on the ground among the dead Next day his Son Adrian Scroop obtained leave of the King to find and fetch off his Fathers Corps and his hopes pretended no higher than a decent interment thereof Such a search was thought in vain amongst many naked bodies with wounds disguised from themselves and where pale death had confounded all Complexions together However he having some general notice of the place where his Father fell did meet with his Body that had some heat left therein which with rubbing within a few Minutes increased to motion that motion within some few hours into sense that sense within a day into speech that speech within certain weeks into a perfect recovery living more than Ten Years after a Monument of God's Mercy and his Sons Affection The Effect of this story I received from his own mouth in Lincoln Colledge Fuller's Worthies Page 151. 175. 274. XLII In the Year 1568 upon the Eve of All Saints by the swelling of the Sea there was so great a deluge as covered certain Islands of Zealand a great part of the Sea-Coast of Holland and almost all Friezland in which Province alone Two Thousand persons were drowned many men who had got up to the tops of Hills and Trees were ready to starve for hunger but were in time saved by Boats Among the rest upon an Hill by Sneace they found an Infant carried thither by the water in its Cradle with a Cat lying by it the poor Babe was soundly sleeping without any fear and then happily saved Strada XLIII William of Nassau Prince of Orange as he lay in his Camp near the Duke of Alva's Army some Spaniards in the night broke into his Camp and some of them run as far as the Prince of Orange's Tent where he lay fast asleep He had a Dog lying by him on his Bed that never left barking nor scratching of him on the face till he had awakened him and by this means he escaped the danger Strada XLIV In the Earthquake of Apulia in Italy which happened in 1627 on the last day of July one writeth That in the City of St. Severine alone Ten Thousand Souls were taken out of the World and that in the horror of such infinite ruines and Sepulchre of so many Mortals a great Bell thrown out oâ— the Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a child that it inclosed him and doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger And who ballanced the motion of this Metal but the same fingers that distended the Heavens even the Almighty Providence of God Causin's Holy Court Tom. 3. XLV Mr. Lermouth alias Williamson Chaplain to the Lady Anne of Cleve a Scotchman being cast into Prison for the Protestant Religion as he was on a time meditating he heard a voice probably of an Angel saying to him Arise and go thy wayes whereunto when he gave no great heed at the first he heard the voice a second time upon this he fell to his Prayers and about half an hour after he heard a voice the third time speaking the same words whereupon rising up immediately part of the Prison Wall fell down and as the Officers came in at the outward Gate of the Prison he went out at the breach leaped over the Prison Ditch and in his way meeting a Beggar he changed his Coat with him and coming to the Sea shore he found a Vessel ready to set Sail into which he entred and escaped Clarks Examples Vol. 1. Pag. 18. XLVI Richard White and John Hunt being apprehended by the Mayor of Marlborough in Queen Marie's Reign they were sent to Salisbury and kept a long time in Lollard's Tower and at last were brought before Bishop Capon and other Commissioners and there examined of their faith of which they made a stout and zealous Confession from which they could not be removed neither by frowns nor flatteries so that at length they were Condemned at the Sessions to dye and with other Malefactors were delivered over to Sir Anthony Hungerford the High Sheriff to be Executed But the Evening after Mr. Clifford Son in Law to Sir Anthony came to him exhorting and intreating him earnestly in no case to have a hand in the death of those two innocent persons Sir Anthony hearing him went presently to one Justice Brown to ask advice who told him that if he had not a Writ from above for their Execution he could not answer the doing it but if he had he must then do his Office The Sheriff hearing this took his Horse the next day and went out of Town leaving these men in Prison Dr. Jefferies the Bishop's Chancellor hearing of it rides after him and overtaking him told him He had delivered two Condemned men into his hands and wondred that he went away before he had Executed them according to his Office The Sheriff told him He was no Babe to be taught what belonged to his Office If you have said he a Wit to discharge me for the burning of them I know what I have to do Why said the Chancellor did not I give you a Writ
Physicians had left him as a person whose case was utterly desperate and his Servants eager after the spoil enter his Chamber and seize upon all the Ornaments of it They took down the Hangings Pictures Statues carry out the Carpets Cushions and the very Clothes of their Master yea his Cardinals Gown while he yet breathed and looked upon them The Cardinal kept an Ape and he observing how his Fellow servants had been busied comes also himself into the Chamber looks round about him to see what was left for him he finds nothing but only the Cardinals Cap which lay neglected upon the ground this the Ape merrily takes up and puts upon his own head This Spectacle moved the almost dying Cardinal to an extream laughter the laughter broke the Impostume and after he had well vomited he was restored to his health and to the recovery of his imbezelled Goods Wanly's Hist Man pag. 631. LI. In the year 1602. saith the famous Crollius I saw at Prague a Bohemian Countrey Fellow named Matthew aged about 36 years this man for 2 years together with a strange and unheard of Dexterity in his Throat used often in Company of such as sate drinking to take a knife af the usual bigness with a haft of Horn and this after the manner of a Jugler he would put down his Throat and drink a good draught of Ale after it which was given him for his pains But he could recover it at his pleasure and with a singular Art take it by the point and draw it out But by I know not what misfortune the day after Easter the same year he swallowed the same knife so far that it went down into his very Stomach and by no Artifice of his could be drawn back any more He was half dead through the apprehension of death that would undoubtedly follow but after he had retained the knife in manner aforesaid for the space of seven weeks and two days entire by the use and means of Attractive Plaisters made up with Loadstone and other things the knife point by a natural impulse began to make its way out near the Orifice of the Stomach which the Patient perceiving though by many perswaded to the contrary because of the imminent hazard of his Life was very earnest that incision might be made and so the knife drawn out which he at length obtained to be done by many intreaties and upon Thursday after Whitsontide about seven a Clock in the Morning all was happily performed by Florianus Mathis of Brandenburg the chief Chirurgeon both of the City and Kingdom The Knife is laid up amongst the Emperors Rarities and shewed as an incredible miracle by the Courtiers and others in the City the length of this Knife is nine Inches and the colour of it was so changed as if it had all that time lain in the Fire The Countrey Fellow in some few weeks by the care of his expert Chirurgion without any further Sickness or Trouble and contrary to the Judgment of Physitians recovered his former health so perfectly that soon after he married and lived many years Crollius Chymistry pag. 125. LII This mans Recovery was very admirable but that which follows seems yet more strange being much more likely to kill than cure as having been the occasion of many a mans Death but however since a credible Author reports it I shall do the same Paleologus the Second Emperor of Constantinople was dangerously sick and when Nature nor the Art of his Physitians could any way help him and that he had kept his Bed for a whole year to the great prejudice of the State His Empress was informed by an old Woman that it was impossible her husband should recover unless he was continually vexed and provoked by her harsh dealing and ill usage for by that means the humors that were the occasion of his sickness would be dissipated and discharged This advice was approved and by this way of contrary cure as one would think the Empress proceeded For she began continually to vex and torment him to an exceeding height scarce observing him in any one thing that he commanded with these frequenâ— and incessant vexations the malignant Humors were dispersed by the Augmentation of heat and the Emperor did so perfectly recover that throughout those twenty years in which he afterward lived even to the sixtieth year of his Age he remained sound and well Camerarius's Spare Hours Cent. 3. LIII A certain man saith Solenander lay sick upon his Bed and in all appearance entring upon the last moments of his life at which time came an Enemy of his and inquires of his Servant where his Master was He is said he in his bed and in such a condition that he is not likely to live out this day But he as the manner of the Italians is resolving he should dye by his hands enters his Chamber and giving the sick Person a desperate Stab departs but by the Flux of Bloud that issued from that wound and the diligent attendance of his cure the man recovered receiving as it were a new life from him who came for no other purpose than to assure himself of his death Schenk Observat lib. 5. LIV. Sir John Cheek was once one of the Tutors to King Edward the 6th and afterwards Secretary of State much did the Kingdom value him but more the King for being once desperately sick the King carefully enquiring of him every day at last his Physitian told him there was no hope of his Life being given over by him for a dead man No said the King He will not dye this time for this morning I begged his life from God in my prayers and obtained it which accordingly came to pass and he soon after contrary to all expectation wonderfully recovered This saith Dr. Fuller was attested by the old Earl of Huntington bred up in his Childhood with King Edward to Sir Thomas Cheek who was alive in 1654. and eighty years of Age. Lloyds State Worthies pag. 194. LV. Duffe the Threescore and eighteenth King of Scotland laboured with a new and unheard of Disease no cause was apparent all Remedies insignificant his body languishing in a continual sweat and his strength apparently decaying insomuch that he was suspected to be bewitched which was increased by a rumor that certain Witches of Forrest in Murray practiced his destruction arising from a word which a Girl let fall That the King should dye shortly who being examined by Donald Captain of the Castle and Tortures shewed her Confessed the Truth and how her Mother was one of the Assembly And when certain Souldiers were sent in search they surprized them roasting the waxen Image of the King before a soft Fire to the end that as the wax melted by Degrees so should the King dissolve by little and little and his life should waste away with the Consumption of the other But the Image being broken and the Witches hanged for this Treason the King recovered his wonted
Duke of Guise in the Reign of King 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 reported in the Estates that the Exececution should be on St. Thomas his day the very Evening before the Dukes death the Duke himself sitting down to dinner found a scrole under his Napkin Advertising him of a secret design of the King and his Party against him but he writ underneath with his own hand they dare not and threw it under the Table seeing therefore that no warning would abate his confidence nor awake his security This 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 having fresh notice of the Plot and not daring to commit the News to any mans report tyes a note to one of the Corners thereof wherein was written Come forth and save your self or else you are but a dead man But Larchant the Captain of the Kings Guards staid the Page that carryed it and caused another Handkerchief to be given him by St. Prix the Chief Groom of the Kings Chamber The Spirit of man doth often Prophesie the mischief that doth persue him The Duke in the Council complains of strange alterations and extraordinary distemperatures and amidst his distrust a great fainting of his heart St. Prix presents unto him some Prunes of Brignolles he eats and thereupon the King calls him into his Cabinet by Revol one of his Secretaries of State as if 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 no less than forty five persons waited with Ponyards Rapiers and Partisans to dispatch him and so he was there slain Hist France Pag. 821. LXVII As by the foregoing Instances many mischiefs have happened by the intemperance of the tongue so by taciturnity and secresy great Enterprizes have been conducted with safety which might otherwise have proved frustrate or hazardous The secret Councels of the Senate of Rome saith Valerius Maximus were divulged by no Senators for many Ages together Only Caius Fabius Maximus and he also through imprudence meeting with Crassus as he went into the Countrey told him of the Third Punick war secretly decreed â—n the Senate for he knew he was made Questor three years before but knew not that he was yet chosen into the order of the Senators by the Censors which was the only way of admittance But though this was an honest error of Fabius yet he was severely reprehended by the Consuls for it since they would not that Privacy which is the best and safest bond in the Administration of Affairs should be broke Therefore when Eumenes King of Asia a Friend to Rome had declared to the Senate that Perseus King of Macedon was preparing to War upon the people of Rome it could never be known what he had said in the Senate house or what answer the Senators had made to him till such time as it was known that King Perseus was a Prisoner So that you would have thought that which was spoken in the ears of all was heard by none Valerius Maximus Lib. 2. LXVIII It was formerly a custom that the Senators of Rome carryed their Sons with them to the Senate house and thither did Papirius Praetextatus follow his Father Some great Affair was consulted of and deferred to the next day charge being given that none should disclose the Subject of their debate before it was decreed The Mother of the young Papirius at his return inquired of him what the Fathers had done that day in the Senate who told her that it was a secret and that he might not discover it The woman was the more desirous to know for this answer he had made her and therefore proceeds in her inquiry with more earnestness and violence The boy finding himself urged invented this witty Lye It was said he debated in the Senate which would be most advantagious to the Common wealth that one man should have two wives or one woman should have two husbands The woman in a terrible fright leaves the house and acquaints divers other Ladies with what she had heard The next day came a Troop of women to the door of the Senate house crying and beseeching That rather one woman might Marry two men than that one man should Marry two women The Senators entring the Court inquire what meant this intemperance of the women and what their request intended Hereupon young Papirius stept into the midst of the Court and told them what his Mother had desired to know and what answer he had given They commended his wit and secresie and then made an order that no Senators sons should enter their Court save only that one Papirius Wanly Hist Man Pag. 232. LXIX The Ambassadors of the King of Persia were at Athens invited to a Feast whereat also were present divers Philosophers who to improve the Conversation discoursed of many things both for and against amongst which was Zeno who being observed to sit silent all the while the Ambassadors pleasantly demanded what they should say of him to the King their Master Nothing said he farther than this that you saw at Athens an Old Man who knew how to hold his Tongue Metellus the Roman General was once asked by a young Centurion what design he had now in hand who told him That if he thought his own shirt was privy to any part of his Counsel he would immediately pluck it off and burn it Plutarchs Morals 506. LXX Leaena was an Athenian Strumpet who could play well upon an Harp and sing sweetly to it she was familiarly acquainted with Harmodius and Aristogiton and privy to their Plot and Project touching the murder of Pisistratus the Tyrant yet would she never reveal this purpose or intention of theirs to the Tyrant or his Favourites though she was put to most cruel and painful torments about it The Athenians therefore desirous to honour this woman for her resolute and constant secresie and yet loath to be thought to make so much of such an Harlot as she was devised to represent the memorial of her and her Act by a Beast of her name and that was a Lyoness the statue of which they gave order to Iphicrates to make and that he should leave out the tongue in the head of this Lyoness for some say That fearing least her torment should cause her to betray her friends she bit it off and spit it in the face of the Tyrant and Tormenters Pliny Lib. 3. LXXI When the King of Ala goes to War saith Mr. Purchas he Assembles his chief men into a Grove near the Pallace
Parliament House in the Old Pallace Yard Westminster where a Scaffold was erected for his beheading though it was reported over night that he should be hanged His Attire was a wrought Night-cap a Ruff band a hair coloured Sattin Doublet with a black wrought Wastcoat under it a pair of black cut Taffety breeches Ash-coloured silk Stockins and a wrought black Velvet Night-gown His first appearance on the Scaffold was with a smiling Countenance saluting the Lords Knights Gentlemen with others of his acquaintance there present when after Proclamation of silence by an Officer he addressed himself to speak in this manner I desire to be born withal because this is the third day of my Feaver And if I shew any weakness I beseech you attribute it to my Malady for this is the hour I look for it Then pausing a while directing himself toward a Window where the Lords Arundel Doncaster and other Lords and Knights sate he with a loud voice spake as followeth I thank God of his infinite goodness that he hath sent me to dye in the sight of so honourable an Assembly and not in darkness But by reason the place where they sate was some distance from the Scaffold that they could not easily hear him he said I will strain my self for I would willingly have your Honours hear me The Lord Arundel answered we will come upon the Scaffold where after he had saluted every one of them severally he proceeded as followeth My Honourable Lords and the rest of my good Friends who come to see me dye I thank my God heartily that he hath brought me into the light to dye and not suffered me to dye in the dark Prison of the Tower where I have suffered a great deal of Adversity and a long sickness and I thank God that my Feaver hath not taken me at this time as I prayed God it might not There are two main points of suspition that his Majesty hath conceived against me wherein he cannot be satisfied which I desire to clear and resolve you in First That I had a Plot with France His Majesty had some cause though grounded upon a weak Foundation to suspect mine inclination to the French Faction for not long before my departure from England the French Agent took occasion passing by my house to visit me and had some conference during the time of his aboad only concerning my Voyage and nothing else I take God to witness Though it was reported I had a Commission from the King of France But this I say for a man to call God to witness to a falshood at any time is a grievous sin and what shall he hope for at the Tribunal of the day of Judgment But to call God to witness to a falshood at the time of death is far more grievous and impious and there is no hope for such a one And what should I expect that am now going to render an account of my Faith I do therefore call the Lord to witness as I hope to be saved and as I hope to see him in his Kingdom which will be within a quarter of an hour I never had any Commission from the King of France nor any Treaty with the French Agent nor with any other from the French King neither knew I that there was an Agent nor what he was till I met him in my Gallery at my lodging unlookt for If I speak not true O Lord let me not come into thy Kingdom I cannot deny that when I came back from Guiana being come to Plymouth I endeavoured to go to Rochel which was because I would fain have made my Peace before I came to England having heard a rumor that there was no hope of my life upon my return to London I would have escaped for the safe-guard of my life and not for any ill intent or conspiracy against the State The second suspition was that his Majesty hath been informed I should speak dishonourably and disloyally of him there is no witness against me but only one Mimical Frenchman whom I entertained rather for his Jests than his Judgment His way was to incroach himself into the favour of the Lords and gaping after some great reward hath falsly accused me of seditious speeches against His Majesty against whom if I did either speak or think a thought hurtful or prejudicial the Lord blot me out of the Book of Life But in this now what have I to do with Kings I have nothing to do with them neither do I fear them I have now to do with God therefore to tell a Lye now to get the favour of the King were in vain It is not a time to flatter nor fear Princes for I am subject to none but death therefore have a charitable opinion of me and think me not now rashly or untruly to confirm or protest any thing Another suspition arose of me in that I perswaded Sir Levves Steukly my Guardian to flee with me from London to France but my answer to this is as to the other that only for my safeguard and nothing else was my intent as I shall answer before the Almighty It is alledged that I feigned my self sick and by Art made my body full of blisters at Salisbury True it is I did so the reason was because I hoped thereby to defer my coming before the King and Council and so by delaying might have got time to have gained my pardon I have an example out of Scripture for my Warrant The Prophet David in case of necessity and for the safeguard of his life feigned himself foolish and mad yet it was not imputed to him for sin As for other Objections that I was brought by force into England that I carried Sixteen Thousand Pounds in money out of England with me more than I made known That I should recieve Letters from the French King and such like He with many Protestations utterly denyed it Concluding thus And now I intreat you all to join with me in Prayer that the great God of Heaven whom I have grievously offended being a man full of all vanity and have lived a sinful life in all sinful callings having been a Souldier a Captain a Sea Captain and a Courtier which are all places of wickedness and vice That God I say would forgive me and cast away my sins from me and that he would recieve me into Everlasting Life and so I take my leave of you all making my peace with God Then Proclamation being made that all men should depart the Scaffold he prepared himself for death giving away his hat and wrought night-cap and some money to such as he knew that stood near him taking his leave of the Lords Knights and other Gentlemen and thanking the Lord Arundel for his Company intreating him to desire the King That no scandalous Writing to defame him might be published after his death adding I have a long Journey to go and therefore will take my leave Then putting off his Gown and
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the King and Bashaw the Lagaw is the next chief man in this City who is the first Person of the Divan or Council and General of the Armies abroad under whom are the Chenses like our Sheriffs or Justices of Peace next are the Boulgebushes like our Bailiffs who are Servants to the Divan and remain 3 years in their places going out after with the Armies as Comptrollers of the rest There are also other Bushes Captains and Officers of the Militia who wear a badg of Honour on their heads and are distinguished from the rest by their Turbant which is wound about in the form of a Sugar-loaf behind which a Redcross falls down and is a badg of their Office which others must not wear as the Red-scarf is a sign of Command among Christians In the Camp are other Great Officers as Daventees Mouchees c. An Achabasha is an experienced man among them who hath been in several Encounters and commands a Party when it is separated from the main Body He must be an old Man and when he once comes to that Employment he can rise no higher as other Officers can There are most pleasant Gardens and Orchards about Argiers and very good Corn upon the Hills near it with plenty of all things but wine which is forbidden to the Turks and Moors yet those of Argiers have not such scrupulous Consciences but that they will be drunk with wine when they take good store of Prizes Toward the East of the City is a very strong House built and some souldiers to keep Guard it being the Publick Treasury House wherein they every year cast in vast sums of Money according to their success against the Christians which they never take out so that its thought there are many Millions in that Hold When the ships come in there is alwayes something for the Treasury and a good Portion for Mahomet and those that read Prayers which is put into the hands of a Treasurer whom if they find to have converted the least part thereof to his private use he is cruelly put to death in this manner He is stript naked and at the door of the Marabut he is impaled alive that is a stake is thrust into his Fundament and driven leasurely up through his body In this manner he is raised to the top of the steeple of a Mosquet or Church where he is exposed to Publick view for three dayes and then his body is carried out of the City to be given for food to the wild beasts and his Estate sold for the benefit of the Religious men There are excellent Orders to stir them up to their Worship they are often called to Prayers that is in the Morning at twelve a Clock at four afternoon at Sunsetting at Twilight and at Midnight at all which times great numbers of all sorts reâ—ort to their Mosquetts and there in an humble manner on their Faces pray to God and Mahomet Those that are negligent in coming to Prayers are taken notice of and if formerly Christians are excluded from all hopes of Imployment and for the least offence severely Treated The Ceremonies used at Consecrating their Priests are observable The Father of the young man brings him before the Marabut or Cheif Preist who sits in the Principal Mosquette of the City with a numerous attendance to be Witnesses of his Dedication to that Service entring the place the Father holding his son on the right hand they both approach the Marabut and kiss the Hem of his Garment who ask's the Father whether he can read He answers yes and a book is immediately brought usually the Alcoran who reads a page in it If he miss not a word but read it distinctly he is then admitted and his name inrolled in the Order Then a Fellow with a sharp Knife cuts in his right Arm the Figure of an half Moon into the wound is put Gun-powder which being blown up leaves a blue Impression that nothing can take away unless the place be cut off After some Prayers for Confirmation he is obliged to swear by Mahomets Lock to observe certain Rules He is then clothed in another manner before the People and the Marabut takes him into his Armes and gives him a Kiss which sanctifies him for ever The Solemnity ends in Musick and Dancing Their Marriages Circumcisions and other Customs are not much different from the Turks Many other particulars I observed during the Happy time of my Slavery having liberty to walk up and down my business and work being only to wait upon my Lady at the time of her Devotions But after two years she departed this Life leaving me sufficient cause to Lament Another of the Kings Wives was supposed to have poysoned her because he had a greater love for her by reason of her constant Devotions than for the other About six months before her Death she was brought to bed of a Girl somewhat whiter than ordinary which the old Fool thought himself to be the Father of During her sickness she sent to her Cosens house where I lay to speak with him whom she ingaged to release me after her Burial in requital of my good Service and sent me by her Gentlewoman a considerable present in Gold which I did not possess long After her death her Cosen did not perform her request but led me to the Market where I was sold for 300 Dollars I durst not anger him for fear he should publish the Mystery which would infallibly cost me my head My next Master was a Gardiner who put me into his Orchards and there with a good Cudgel made me understand a new Trade I never knew before I endured much with him for he made me labour above my strength and often threatned to stab and kill me therefore fear of Death made me endeavour my escape I was sometimes sent for Lime for a building he had in hand near the Seashore A Vessel was lately arrived from France to redeem the Captives and lay without the Mold at what time I was on the shore it was dusky a Frenchman offered me his assistance I accepted of it and went into his Boat but was discovered before I could get off the Mold and sent back to my Master who punished me with an 100 blows on the soles of my Feet whereby I became unserviceable many days He was soon weary of my Company and sold me to the English Renegado aforesaid I expected from him a kinder entertainment but found worse he was cruel severe to me making me work night and day I often treated for my ransom but his demands were so high that I could not comply with him He abused we wretchedly about five Months and then death put an end to his Tyranny His Executors sold me again among his Goods and Chattels I fell next into the hands of an Italian Renegado who was no kinder to me than my former Masters my work was painful my Diet mean my Labour continual and my Rewards the blows
where to prevent discovery its white colour was changed in an instant into that of the Bush which alteration gave us much trouble and we had never found it again if one of the Company had not discharged a Musket at the noise whereof it rose affrighted and run for its life we did not think it the same yet some ventured after it and others stay'd in the place seeking the white beast The Persuers shot off one of its Legs and then cried to us to forbear seeking and that the Counterfeit Lamb was caught It was the same shaped Beast but the colour was no more white as before but changed into a blackish Gray Its Coat was a Fine Wool the head like a Wolf but not quite so long with very sharp Teeth and a fierce look the hinder parts like a sheep we wondred at this change of colour and imagined it to be that Beast mentioned by by the Learned and is a good Emblem of a Hypocrite Having in three days got over these Mountains and lying down to refresh our selves in the Morning an Alarum was sounded at which we all ran to our Arms and put our selves in Order expecting the coming of the Arabs but no Enemy appeared only a Company of Apes persued by a few Jackalls who made such a noise in running about the branches of the Wood near us yet those upon the skirts of the Army thought them to be the Enemy who had taken the advantage of the place to fall upon us their needless fear did as soon appear as the nimble Creatures recovered the tops of the highest Trees to whose protection they durst commit themselves yet the Alarum continued and ran as nimbly as the Apes all over the Army which could not be stopt till every one was informed of the true cause of the Fright The Cruelties upon the Slaves at Argiers their manner of selling Christians c Page 33 After we had taken all the Country which was revolted we returned to the Maritime City of Argiers My Master was grown very rich and powerful and had got great honour and great wealth for his Services And I having likewise served him faithfully all this time and helped him out of many streights and difficulties by my Advice and Council with whom he constantly consulted in any Exigency according to his promise often made me he gave me my Liberty and a sum of Money to carry me home so that after so many strange Adventures and Discoveries which I had made in this my long time of Slavery I met with a French Vessel of Marseilles in the Harbour wherein I embarqued for my Native Countrey Adventures T. S. 1670. VIII The Adventures Dangers and Troubles of Katherine Dutchess Dowager of Suffolk are very remarkable as we find them recorded in the Book of Martyrs This Dutchess was the Widow of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and after his death was married to Richard Berty Esq In the first year of Queen Mary Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester knowing this Dutchess to be a zealous Protestant and no good Friend of his resolved to be revenged of her husband first and subpoena'd him before him alledging That it was the Queens pleasure he should presently pay 4000 pound due to her Father from D. Charles late husband to his Dutchess whose Executrix she was Mr. Berty replyed That Debt was already truly satisfied The Bishop answered The Queen would not be put off with payments in the time of Kets Government so he in scorn called King Edward the sixth's Reign Mr. Berty said It was acknowledged to be paid by K. Henry the Eighth If that be true said the Bishop I will shew you favour but Mr. Berty says he I must tell you another thing because I intend you well I hear ill of your Religion and pray is your Lady now as forward to set up Mass as she was to pull it down when she caused a Dog in a Rochet to be carried with her which she called by my name or doth she now think her Lambs as safe as when she saw me vail my Bonnet to her out of the Tower window at which time she said That it was merry with the Lambs when the Wolves were shut up And at another time when my Lord her husband invited me amongst other Lords to Dinner desiring every Lady to chuse him whom she liked best and so place themselves together your Lady taking me by the hand said That since she might not sit by her husband whom she loved best she had chosen me whom she loved worst To which Mr. Berty replyed My Lord Of the device of the Dog she was neither the Author nor Allower As for her words she can answer her self and for the Mass she hath been taught by learned men to abhorre it and therefore if she should outwardly pretend to it she would be a false Christian to Christ and a masquing Subject to her Prince you know my Lord one Judgment reformed is better than a Thousand Transformed Time-servers Yea marry says the Bishop deliberation is good if she were to come from an old Religion to a New but she is to return from a new one to an old one when I was her Ghostly Father she was as earnest a Papist as any My Lord said Mr. Berty she told a Friend lately That Religion went not by Age but by Truth and therefore she was to be converted by Argument and not by Compulsion Pray do you think it possible says the Bishop to perswade her I hope said Mr. Berty you will find no fruits of Infidelity in her The Bishop then perswaded Mr. Berty to take pains in her Conversion promising him large Favours to effect it and so dismist him When Mr. Berty came home he had frequent intimations from his Friends That the Bishop intended to call his Dutchess to an Account for her Faith and therefore they designed to go beyond Sea In pursuance whereof Mr. Berty made such Friends to the Queen as to obtain her License to pass and repass at pleasure to receive several summes of money due to Duke Charles from the Emperor of Germany Mr. Berty went beyond Sea accordingly but without his Dutchess who yet by agreement was to follow and made her escape from this desperate danger in the manner following She dwelt at that time in Barbiean and acquainted none of her Servants with her design but only one old Gentleman neither did she take any but the meanest of her Servants with her fearing the others would not run so dangerous an adventure she took also her young Daughter of a year old with her Upon New-years-day about four a Clock in the Morning she went from her own house and an Herald of the Queens who lay in her house to guard her hearing the noise rose up and came down with a lighted Torch in his hand so that for fear of discovery she was forc't to leave most of her Childs necessaries behind and ordered her Servants to make hast to
the Lantgraves Captain was slain by the Walloons which much enraged the Common people against them The Dutchess understanding their danger perswaded her husband to leave them and by the swiftness of his horse to recover some Town for his Security which Mr. Berty attempting to do was eagerly pursued by the Countrymen and the Captains Brother who thought he had been slain indeed And in the pursuit they came so near him that he had certainly been murthered but that as God would have it spying a Ladder standing against a Window he leapt off his Horse and ran up the Ladder whereby he got into a Garret on the top of the house where he defended himself for some time with his Sword and dagger till the Magistrates came and perswaded him to submit to the Law Mr. Berty knowing himself to be clear and the Captain alive yielded himself upon condition to be protected from the rude multitude and delivering up his weapons was committed to Custody till the Case should be heard Mr. Berty then writ to the Lantgrave and the Earl of Erbagh declaring his Case to them and the next morning the Earl came to Town where the Dutchess was now arrived in the Waggon The Earl having before heard of the Dutchess came to see her shewing much civility and respect toward her which the Townsmen observing and finding the Captain was alive they began to shrink away and make Friends to Mr. Berty and the Dutchess not to represent their Actions at the worst And thus through Divine Providence escaping this great danger also they proceeded in their Journey and at last arrived safely in Poland where they were entertained by the King with all humanity and kindness The King likewise settling them safely and Honourably in the Earldom of Crozan where they had as absolute a Power in Government as the King himself so that it proved to them a quiet Haven after so many Troubles in a Tempestuous Sea and there they lived with much Honour and Comfort till the Death of bloudy Q. Mary and then returned together with the Protestant Religion into their native Countrey in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth of Glorious Memory Clarks Martyr 521. IX A. B. Spotswood gives a very notable Relation of the Adventures and Dangers of Mr. John Craig as followeth In the year 1600. Mr. John Craig who had been Minister to King James in Scotland but through Age was compelled to quit the charge departed this Life whilst he lived he was had in great esteem a great Divine and an excellent Preacher of a grave behaviour sincere and inclining to no Faction and which increased his Reputation he lived honestly without Ostentation or desire of outward Glory Many tossings and troubles he indured in his life-time For in his younger years having passed his course in Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews he went from thence into England and waited on the Lord Dacres Children as a Tutor for two years But Wars then happening between England and Scotland he returned home and became a Fryer of the Dominican Order He had not lived long among them when upon suspicion of Heresie he was put into Prison after his Release he went back to England hoping by means of the L. Dacres to have got a place in Cambridge but his expectation being frustrated he went into France and from thence to Rome There he won such favour with Cardinal Pool that by his recommendation he was received among the Dominicans of Bononia and by them was first appointed to instruct the Novices of the Cloyster Afterwards when they perceived his diligence and dexterity in businesse he was employed in their Affairs throughout Italy and was sent in Commission to Chios an Island in the Ionick Sea to redress things that were amiss among those of their Order Herein he discharged himself so well that at his return he was made Rector of the School and thereby had access to the Libraries especially to that of the Inquisition where meeting with Calvins Institutions he was taken with a great liking thereof and one day discoursing with a Reverend Old Man of the Monastery he was by him confirmed in the opinion he had entertained but withall was warned by no means to discover himself or to make his mind known because the times were dangerous But he neglecting the Counsel of the old Man and disclosing his Opinions too freely was accused of Heresie and being sent to Rome after Examination he was Imprisoned for Nine Moneths at the end whereof being brought before the Judge of the Inquisition and making a clear Confession of his Faith he was condemned to be burnt the next day being the 29 of August It happened that the same night Pope Paul 4 died upon the noise of whose death the People came in a Tumult to the place where his Statue in Marble was erected and pulling it down did for the space of three dayes drag it through the Streets and in the end threw it into the River of Tiber During this Tumult all the Prisons were broke open and the Prisoners set free and among others Mr. Craig had his Liberty And as he endeavoured to escape as not thinking it safe to continue in the City two things happened to him not unworthy relating First in the Suburbs as he passed along he met a sort of Outlawed People whom they call Banditi One of the Company taking him aside demanded if he had ever been at Bononia He answered That he had been sometime there Do you not remember said he that walking on a time in the Feilds with some young Noblemen there came a poor maimed Souldier to you intreating some releis Mr. Craig said He did not well remember it But I do said he and I am the man to whom you then shewed kindness be not afraid of us for you shall incur no danger and so conveying him through the Suburbs and directing him the securest way he gave him so much money as might bear his Charges to Bononia for he intended to go thither thinking to find entertainment among his acquaintance there but at his coming to them they looked strangely upon him whereupon being afraid to be betrayed by them he got secretly away intending his Course for Millain By the way another Accident befell him which he afterwards often related to many Persons of Quality as a singular Testimony of Gods Providence and care over him and thus it was when he had travelled some days going out of the High-ways for fear of Discovery he came into a wild and desart Forrest and being sorely tired he lay down among some Bushes on the side of a little Brook to refresh himself lying there Pensive and full of thoughts not knowing where he was nor having money to bear his Charges a Dog with a Purse in his Teeth came fawning upon him and laid it down before him He being struck with fear rose up and judging it to proceed from God's favourable Providence toward him he followed his way till
he came to a little Village where he met with some who were travelling to Vienna in Austria whereupon changing his former intentions he went in their Company to that City Whilst he continued there professing himself one of the Dominican Order he was brought to preach before Maximilian 2. Emperor of Germany who likeing the Man and his manner of Preaching would have retained him if by Letters from Pope Paul 3. he had not been required to send him back to Rome as one that was condemned for Heresie The Emperor being unwilling to deliver him and on the other hand not willing to quarrel with the Pope sent him privately away with Letters of safe Conduct and so travelling through Germany he came into England where being informed of the Reformation begun in his own Countrey he went into Scotland and offered his Service to the Church but the long disuse of his Native Language having lived abroad 24 years made him unuseful at the first only now and then he preached a Sermon in Latin to the Learned in Magdalens Chappel in Edenburgh â—nd in the year 1567. having recovered the use of â—he language he was appointed Minister of Holy-rood House Next year he was removed to Edenburgh and was joyned as Colleague with Mr. Knox for Nine years space Then by Order of the General Assembly he was removed to Montress where he continued two years and upon the Death of Adam Heriot was removed from thence to Aberdeen having the inspection of the Churches of Mar and Buchan committed to his care In 1579 he was called to be K. James his Minister and served in that charge till born down with the weight of years he was forced to retire himself After which time forbearing all Publick exercises he lived privately at home comforting himself with the remembrance of the Mercies of God that he had experienced in his life past and this year Decemb. 12. without any pain he died peaceably at Edenburg in the 88 year of his Age. A. B. Spotswood History of Scotland pag. 461. X. The Great King Henry the Fourth of France saith Mr. Howell was as remarkable an Example of the Lubricity and unstableness of Mundane Affairs and of the Sandy Foundation whereon the highest Pomp and purposes of men are grounded as almost any Age can Parallel For this Illustrious Prince having a most potent and irresistible Army composed of Forty Thousand Combatants all choice men led by Old Commanders and the most expert Europe could afford in a perfect Equipage having also a Mount of Gold as high as a Lance estimated at sixteen Millions to maintain this Army having assured his Confederates abroad setled all things at home caused his Queen to be Crowned with the highest Magnificence imaginable and appointed her Regent in his absence behold this mighty King amongst these Triumphs of his Queens being to go next day â—o his Army when his Spirits were at the highest elevation and his heart swelling with assurances rather than hopes of Success and Glory going one Afternoon to his Armory he was stopped in a small streâ—t by so contemptible a thing as a Colliers Carâ— and there from amongst the Arms of his Nobles he was thrust out of the World by the meanest of his own Vassals the Villain Ravilliac who with a Prodigious Confidence put 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 Let us now see the deserved punishment of this Notorious bloudy Wretch This Francis Ravillac was born in Angoulesme by Profession a Lawyer who after the committing of that Horrid Fact being siezed and put upon the Rack May 25. the 27 he had Sentence of Death passed on him and was executed accordingly in the manner following He was brought out of Prison in his Shirt with a Torch of two pound weight lighted in one hand and the Knife wherewith he Murdered the King chained to the other he was then set upright in a Dung-cart wherein he was carried to the Greve or place of Execution where a strong Scaffold was built At his coming upon the Scaffold he crossed himself a sign that he died a Papist then he was bound to an Engine of wood made like St. Andrew's Cross which done his hand with the Knife chained to it was put into a Furnace then flaming with Fire and Brimstone wherein it was in a most Terrible manner consumed at which he cast forth horrible cryes like one tormented in Hell yet would he not confess any thing After which the Executioner having made Pincers Red hot in the same Furnace they did pinch his Paps the brawns of his Arms and Thighs the Calves of his Legs with other fleshy parts of his Body pulling out Collops of Flesh and burning them before his Face then they poured into those wounds scalding Oyl Rosin Pitch and Brimstone melted together after which they set a hard Roundel of Clay upon his Navel having a hole in the middle into which they poured melted Lead at which he again roared out most horribly yet confessed nothing But to make the last act of his Tragedy equal in Torments to the rest they caused four strong Horses to be brought to tear his body in pieces where being ready to suffer his last Torment he was again questioned but would not reveal any thing and so died without calling upon God or speaking one word concerning Heaven His Flesh and Joints were so strongly knit together that those four Horses could not in a long time dismember him but one of them fainting a Gentleman who was present mounted upon a mighty strong Horse alighted and tied him to one of the Wretches Limbs yet for all this they were constrained to cut the flesh under his Armes and Thighs with a sharp Razor whereby his body was the easier torn in pieces which done the Fury of the People was so great that they pulled his dismembred Carcass out of the Executioners hands which they dragged up and down the dirt and cutting off the fllesh with their Knives the Bones which remained were brought to the place of Execution and there burnt the Ashes were cast in the Wind being judged unworthy of Earths Burial By the same Sentence all his Goods were forfeit to the King It was also ordained that the House where he had been born should be beaten down a recompence being given the owner thereof and never any house to be built again on that ground That within fifteen dayes after the Publication of the Sentence by sound of Trumpet in the Town of Angoulesme his Father and Mother should depart the Realm never to return again if they did to be hanged up presently His Brethren Sisters
under my hand for it Well said the Sheriff that is not sufficient to discharge me if I have not a Writ from the Superior Powers I will not burn them for any of you all Dr. Jefferies hearing this returned home and presently fell sick upon it Not long after came down a Writ from above to the under Sheriff for their Execution but he being a good Protestant cast the Writ into the Fire saying I will not be guilty of these mens blood Within four dayes after Jefferies dyed About which time Richard White and John Hunt being in a low and dark Dungeon were going to Prayer but on a sudden knowing no reason for it they burst forth into a great weeping so that they could not speak a word and the next Morning they understood just at the same time the Chancellor dyed Presently after the Bishop dyed also so that these two good men continued in Prison till Queen Maries death and by that means it pleased God to deliver them Clarks Martyr Pag. 510. XLVII In the time of Queen Mary's sickness one Cox a Promoter taking the Constable and some others with him went to the House of Mr. William Living a Minister in Shoo-lane and there searching amongst his books found a book of Astronomy made by Johannes de Sacro Bosco wherein were many Figures Cox taking this book and seizing Mr. Living and his Wife carryed them away to the house of one Darbyshire Chancellor to the Bishop of London and by the way opening the Book he said I have found him at last It 's no marvel though the Queen be sick when there are such Conjurers in corners but now I hope he shall conjure no more Then Darbyshire Examined him and told him that he was a Schismatick and a Traytor To whom Mr. Living answered I should be sorry if that were true but I know I am no Traytor for I have alwayeâ— Preached Obedience according to the Tenor of God's Word and when Tumults have been raised I have suppressed theâ— by God's word But said the Chancellor you deny thâ— Church of Rome And therefore he bid Cluny the barbarous Jaylor take him away and put him into the Cole-house Then did Cluny violently hale and draw him and carrying him to his house there robbed him of all his Money his Psalter and New Testament c. After which he carryed him to the Cole-house and there put both his Arms and Legs into thâ— Stocks saying That except he gave him Forty Shillings he would put a Collar of Iron about his Neck also I am never able to pay so much said Mr. Living and so he was left in the Stocks At Evening a Kinswoman of his brought him his Supper who seeing how miserably he was used told Cluny That she would give him Ten groats to let him loose Cluny took her Money and so let him eat his Supper but presently after set him in the Stocks again within a few dayes he was removed and put into Lollard's Tower and there laid in Irons where he remained a Prisoner but the sudden death of Queen Mary and the coming in of Queen Elizabeth of happy Memory prevented the cruel death designed to be inflicted on him Clarks Martyrology Pag. 511. XLVIII Leo Son to the Emperour Basilius Macedo was accused by a Monk as having designed upon the life of his Father and was thereupon cast into Prison in order to the taking away his life from which he was freed by this strange means The Emperour on a time feasted divers of the greatest Lords in his Court who being all sate a Parrot that was hung up in a Cage in the Hall cryed out in a mournful Tone Alas alas poor Prince Leo which words it is like he had frequently heard from Courtiers passing to and fro who bewailed the Princes mis-fortunes in those Terms And when the Parrot had often repeated these words The Lords at the Table were siezed with such a sudden sadness that all of them neglected their Meat The Emperour observed it and called to them to eat inquiring the reason why they did not When one of them with tears in his eyes replyed How should we eat Sir being thus reproached by this bird of our want of Duty to your Family The brute Creature is mindful of his Lord and we that have reason have neglected to supplicate your Majesty in behalf of the Prince whom we all believe to be innocent and to suffer under Calumny and false Accusation The Emperour moved with these words commanded to fetch Leo â—ut of Prison admitted him to his Presence and restored him first to his favour and then to his former Dignity of Caesar Wanly Hist Man Pag. 628. XLIX In the Year 1552 Francis Pelusius of Sixâ—y three Years old digging a Well Forty foot deep â—n the Hill of St. Sebastian the Earth above him fell in upon him to Thirty five Foot depth He was somewhat sensible before of what was coming and opposed a plank which by chance he had with him against the Ruines himself lying under it By this means he was protected from the huge weight of Earth and retained some room and breath to himself by which he lived seven dayes and nights without food or sleep supporting his Stomach only with his own Urine without any pain or sorrow being full of hope which he placed in God only Ever and anon he called for help as being yet safe but was heard by none though he could hear the motion noise and words of those that were above him and could count the hours as the Clock went After the seventh day he being all this while given for dead they brought a Bier for his Corps and when a good part of the Well was digged up on a sudden they heard the voice of one crying from the bottom At first they were afraid as if it had been the voice of a Subterranean Spirit the voice continuing they had some hope of his life and hastened to dig to him till at last after they had given him a glass of Wine they drew him up living and well his strength so entire that to lift him out he would not suffer himself to be bound nor would use any help of another Yea he was of so sound Understanding that jesting he drew out his Purse and gave them Money saying He had been with such good Hosts that for seven dayes it had not cost him a farthing Soon after he returned to his work again and was then alive when I writ this saith Bartholomew Aumulus Thus we see many have been providentially saved from death by very strange wayes and means And we likewise read that others have been as happily cured of very dangerous Diseases by very strange Accidents of which the following Relations give an account L. A certain Cardinal was sick of an Impostume and at last the Collected matter was got in such manner into his Throat that it caused great difficulty of breathing and threatned to strangle him immediately The
found the Pictures of the then King of Spain which they placed under a Rich Canopy crying aloud Let God live let our King live and let the ill Government dye Then they planted many pieces of Ordnance in all places and set Guards and amongst their Company marched many women in Warlike Equipage like so many Amazons and after them little Girls with battoons and sticks in their hands and amongst all several Banditi or thieves mingled themselves under a pretence to help the people but indeed to inrich themselves by plunder or plot some Treason During these stirs they kept all Provisions our of the Castle where the Vice-Roy was and being Masters both of Sea and Land they held him as it were Besieged So that he at last delivered the Original Charter to the Archbishop together with a Writing wherein the Vice Roy promised firmly to observe it With these he went to the Market place not doubting but to give them satisfaction and probably he had done it but that at the same instant a Conspiracy was discovered for the cutting off Massanello and when the Charter came to be read they suspected it not to be real whereupon the Archbishop was in danger of his Life but he told Massanello it was the right and one was appointed to examine it all night which happened well for some for otherwise thirty six stately Houses were appointed to have been burned down but at the request of the Archbishop Massanello preserved them Again when the Instrument from the Vice Roy came to be read wherein was this passage That be pardoned the People for whatsoever they had done promising to obtain such pardon from his Catholick Majesty for any Act of Rebellion that had happened they were greatly moved and cryed out That they never committed any Act of Rebellion but had alwayes been his most faithful Vassals praying that he might live a Thousand years And so thinking they were cheated and betrayed they went on in forming their Militia amongst whom marched the women in great numbers armed some with Battoons on their necks some with naked swords in their hands others with swords daggers and knives strutted about the Streets and marching before the Palace Royal having a man in the Front and another in the Reer still crying out Let the King of Spain live but the ill Government dye These Commotions being reported abroad the Spanish Souldiers quartered in the adjacent Villages hastned toward Naples which the People hearing of sent out parties who disarmed them and turned them back the like they did to Five Hundred Germans who were coming from Caprea And Massianello made an order That all those Houses wherein were the Pictures of the King and Queen of Spain should be thrown down and the Arms of the most faithful people of Naples should be set up under Canopies And truly it was a wonder that he should have so much regard and respect as to be able to rule things at his pleasure in such a City wherein were so many Doctors Merchants Notaries Scriveners Proctors Physicians Lawyers Souldiers and worthy Artizans with a multitude of others who were men of Judgment Wit Wealth and Valour the meanest of them far Superiour to him in condition But from this third day when he went from the people to negotiate with the Archbishop the Prelate remained astonished at his Spirit and Parts whereupon the People made him Captain General of all their Forces and he erecting a Scaffold in the Market place with two more that assisted him gave publick Audience recieving from all sorts whether Laicks or Ecclesiasticks Petitions Memorials passing orders decreeing Civil Criminal and Military Sentences and had at his command an Army of an Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men besides Women and Boys who were an incredible number and thus ended the Third day which was Tuesday The Fourth day early in the Morning Massanello commanded his Life-guard consisting of Seven or Eight Thousand men to repair upon pain of death to the Palace of the Duke of Caivano who was accounted one of the Peoples greatest enemies and again to plunder his house notice being given of far richer goods than were before discovered and accordingly when they had broken it open they found two Chambers full of the richest Tapestry that could be seen with much other costly goods then they went into his Gardens where they brake the Marble Statues grubbed up the Trees Flowers c. and putting fire to several places they burnt the house and all down to the ground From thence they went to the Palace of the young Duke his Son to get the residue of his Fathers Goods preserved happily by him and rushing in they miserably spoiled every thing and to quicken them the Women and Boys brought Faggots Pitch Oyl and Straw crying out We have but this little Straw left in our Houses and it shall serve to burn down the Kennels of these Dogs who have imposed and exacted these cursed Taxes and Gabels from us and thereby sucked out our blood Other Women would bring their Children in their Arms and putting fired Matches into their hands they would make them throw them into the fire saying These poor Lambs shall take vengeance on these Thieves for the bread which they have taken out of their Mouths Yea sometimes they added Let God live for ever and our King and let these Dogs dye the death While the People thus vented their discontents the Arch-Bishop had prevailed with the Vice-Roy for a Pacification and it was agreed that the Vice-Roy and Nobles should come to the Church of Carmine and there Treat with Massanello who consented to it yet charged the People upon pain of Death to maintain their Station The Vice-Roy in the mean time sent an Instrument wherein he confirmed all the Peoples Priviledges which the Archbishop having recieved He requested Massanello to call together all the Captains of the People to hear it read and there were great hopes of a final Conclusion which yet again was interrupted by this Accident Peronne who was Massanello's Assistant conspiring with the Duke of Mataloni and his Brother to destroy Massanello hoping that then he might easily disperse the People had sent five Hundred Banditi who just then entred at one of the Gates on Horseback and being brought before Massanello they pretended to come for the Service of the People Massanello welcomed them and ordered them to serve in several Places on Foot But Peronne would have them keep altogether on Horseback whereupon Massanello suspecting somewhat commanded peremptorily that they should be on Foot and keep the place which he assigned them to The Banditi being vexed at this discharged seven Harquebuss Shot at him but all missed him though some of the Bullets burnt part of his Shirt which was esteemed a Miracle The People being herewith inraged fell upon thâ— Banditi slew some took others and forced the rest to fly over the Walls for their safety Peronne also was apprehended by Massanello's Order and
returned in the Evening he gave all them that attended him 1O Measures of Wheat apiece The same afternoon Massanello's Wife Mother and Sister clad in Cloth of Silver with Chains of Gold and other Rich Jewels went in a stately Coach valued at eight Thousand Crowns to give the Vice-Queen a Visit attended with divers other Gentlewomen and when she came to the Palace Sedans were sent for her and her Company with a Guard of Halberdiers Pages and Lacquies to attend them The Vice-Queen presented her with a rich Diamond giving her great welcome and many Dainties and so returned where they found Massanello so heated with his Wine that he scarce knew what he said or did and thus ended Sunday On Monday Morning he would have resigned his Power but his Wife and Kindred disswaded him and himself conceived that if he should do it he could expect no other but death but now when he came to manage his Authority he committed so many Fopperies and Tyrannical Acts as made him hated by those who before had adored him and the reason of his distempered Brain was conceived to be from a fatal drink given him by the Vice-Roy the day before To which may be added want of Food and Sleep for he was seldom at leasure to do either in regard of multiplicity of business which wholly took him up Early that morning he rode into the Market-place with a naked Sword in his hand striking many for no cause offered A Captain who came to him about business he wounded in the Face and meeting with one that was said to be a Spy he caused his head presently to be chopped off another complaining that his Wife was gone away with another man he caused the Woman to be hanged and the Man to be broken on the wheel Then going to the Kings Stables he took for himself and his Followers six of the best Horses but before he had gone far better bethinking himself he sent them all back again The Vice-Roy himself hearing of such Extravagancies trembled and retired into the inner Palace causing it to be fortified and increased his Guard Then Massanello sent to two Noblemen to come to him into the Market-place upon pain of burning their Palaces if disobeying who returned answer That they would wait on him But instead thereof having secured their Goods they went to the Vice-Roy to complain of their Slavish Condition and whilst they were considering how to remedy it there came two of his chief Friends and Counsellors making the same Complaint saying That they were in continual danger of their Lives and that the People began to hate Massanello for his extream Cruelty whereupon it was concluded That the People should be perswaded to make their Addresses to the Vice-Roy and therein to declare that they would have no more dependance upon him but upon his Excellency only provided that they might be assured to enjoy their Priviledges lately confirmed by Oath This the Vice-Roy willingly assented to and the People were perswaded to accept of the Conditions and Massanello being gone abroad to take his pleasure many of them met with the Vice-Roy where it was concluded That Massanello should be laid hold on and kept in chains during his life but not put to death because of the good he had done for the People At Massanello's return being extreamly inflamed with Wine he began to play many mad Pranks whereupon the Captains of the People apprehended him and put him in Custody under a Guard of Souldiers and the People confederating with the Vice-Roy hastened his End Tuesday July 16 in the Morning Massanello's Secretary meeting some Bands of men going towards the Castle proudly asked them By whose Authority they Acted One of the Captains answered By the Authority of the Vice-Roy Well said the Secretary thy head shall pay for this whereupon the Captain wounded him with his Sword and another shot him through and so they put him into a Sepulchre But the people that adhered to the Vice-Roy drew him out cut off his head and dragged his body about the Streets Presently after Massanello escaping out of Prison went to the Church of the Virgin of Carmine and the Archbishop coming to sing Mass there it being a great Festival day to that Saint Massanello met him saying Most Eminent Lord I perceive that the People will now forsake me and go about to take away my life I desire that a Solemn Procession may be made to this most holy Lady for being to die I shall then die with greater content The Church being full of People Massanello went to the Altar and taking a Crucifix in his hand he commended himself to the People remembring then what great things he had done for them the difficulties he had encountered with and the hatred that he had procured to himself thereby c. and then prostrating himself at the Archbishops Feet he desired him to send the Vice-Roy word That he would willingly renounce his Command and resign it into his Excellencies hand which the Archbishop promised him to do and seeing him all in a sweat he conveyed him into a Dormitory to be refreshed and so he left him Massanello after a while went into the Hall and some that were hired to murther him rushed into the room crying aloud Let the King of Spain live and let none hereafter upon pain of death obey Massanello Massanello seeing them said You go perhaps to search for me behold me here my people Whereupon some shot at him and he crying out Ah ingrateful Traytors fell down dead Then came a Butcher and cut off his Head and carried it upon a Lance first into the Church and then to the Market-place crying out Let the King of Spain live Massanello is dead Massanello is dead and withal they discharged some Harquebusses whereupon the affrighted people slunk away not daring to Revenge their Captains death so that they carried his head up and down the City and the Boys dragged his Body up and down the Streets and at last his head was thrown into one Ditch and his Body into another And thus as the Almighty for the sins of the Egyptians punished them by small and inconsiderable means so did he Correct Humble and Chastize the Stately proud City of Naples by so mean a Person who in ten dayes time acted the part of the Greatest Monarch upon Earth and then fell to the lowest Contempt and died the most vile death of the greatest Malefactor Thus Massanello being raised by the popular Air slain and scorned by the same people Honoured and Idolized by the same persons may be compared to a Ball tossed up and down by Fortune The voice went afterward that a Chappel should be built for him and the prime Wits of Naples composed several Epitaphs upon him amongst which the following is thus Englished by J. H. Esq Massanello's Lamentation concerning the People of Naples I did expect from thee a better Fate Ingrateful City People more ungrate Thou chop'st his
in our Eyes but may be able to disturb yea to destroy us even when we are in the fulness of our sufficiency LXXX Strange was the Accident which we find reported in the Treasury of Times as followed In the year 1563 Upon St. Andrews Day in the presence of Mounsieur Brother to King Charles and afterward Henry the third King of France Monsieur de Humier made report of the following History the sum of whose Relation I have thus abridged In Picardy in the Forrest of Arden certain Gentlemen undertook a Hunting of Wolves amongst others they slew a She-wolf that was followed by a young Boy aged about seven years stark naked of a strange Complexion with fair curled hair who seeing die Wolf dead ran fiercely at them but was beset and taken the Nails of his Hands and Feet bowed inward he spake nothing but sent out an inarticulate sound they brought him thence to a Gentlemans House not far off where they put Iron Manacles upon his Hands and Feet in the end by being long kept Fasting they had brought him to a Tameness and in seven months had taught him to speak He was afterward by Circumstance of time and six Fingers he had on one hand known to be the Child of a Woman who stealing Wood was pursued by the Officers and in her fright left her Chile then about nine Months old which as is supposed was carried away by the She-wolf aforesaid and by her nourished to the time of his taking When his Guardians had got much money by shewing him from place to place he afterward was a Herdsman of Sheep and other Beasts for seven years in all which time the Wolves never made any attempts on the Herds and Flocks committed to his charge though he kept great store of Oxen Kine Calves Horses Mares Sheep and Poultry This was well observed by neigbouring Villages and that they might participate of this Benefit they drove their Herds and Flocks where he kept his and desired him but to stroke his hands upon them which he would do with some of his phlegm or spittle upon them after which done let others conjecture as they please for the space of fifteen days Dogs of the greatest fierceness nor any Wolves would by any urgency touch them By this means he got great store of money for he would have a double Turnois which is the value of two-pence in that Countrey for every Beast he so laid his hands on or stroked their Ears But as all things have a certain Period so when he had attained to past fourteen years of Age this Virtue which he had left him himself observed that the Wolves would not come so near him as before but keep aloof off as being fearful of him which possibly might proceed from the change of his Complexion and Temperature through so long alteration from his Wolvish Diet which was raw Flesh c. His gain by this means failed and he went to the Wars where he proved Brave Bold and Valiant at length he fell to be a Thief excelling all others in craft and subtilty he was slain 1572. by the Souldiers of the Duke of Alva though he sold his Life at a dear rate even with the death of a great many of his Enemies Treasury of Times Lib. 7. ch 37. LXXXI In the year 1534. This notable piece of Fallacy was acted by the Franciscans at Orleance in France a chief Judges Wife dying desired of her Husband that she might be buried in the Franciscans Church which was done accordingly and the Judge gave them six Pistols which was a Reward far beneath their expectation and Avarice but they hoped for some amends by the fall of a Wood which the Judge was to cut and accordingly they desired some Trees of him which he denied them This defeat did so exasperate the Franciscans that they resolved to be revenged and to that purpose they reported abroad That the Judges Wife was damned in Hell for ever To carry on this Villany more secretly and effectuall they hired a young man to make hideous noises about the Church at the time of their Publick Devotions and the Prior of that Order who had used many such cheats was to play the Conjurer and had so ordered it that the young man should not answer to any Question but by signs which were agreed upon between the Lad and the Prior who was to explain them to the Spectators Accordingly when the young man had amused and frighted the people with his dreadful Tricks The Conjurer boldly asked him whether he were a Spirit or not and if a Spirit whose Spirit he was repeating the names of all such as had been buried there of late and when he named the Judges Wife he made a sign That he was his spirit Then the Conjurer asked if she were damned and for what offence whether for Covetousness Lust Pride or Lutheranism c. and what he meant by those Clamours and that unquietness which he made whether the body must be digged up and carried elsewhere c. To all which the Spirit answered Yea But the Judge hearing of it and knowing their Jugling complained to the King and Parliament of Paris procuring a Commission to examine the Business whereby the Knavery of the Franciscans was discovered and the Actors punished according to their deserts Lavater de Spectris ch 8. LXXXII Notable has been the subtlety and prudence of some men in the Discovery of difficult matters Lipsius writes That Rodolphus Austriacus Emperor of Germany being at Norimberg intent upon the publick Affairs of the Empire a Merchant presented himself before him imploring his Justice upon an Inn-keeper well known in that City who as he said had cheated him of two Hundred Marks in Silver which having deposited in his hands he had impudently denied the Receipt of any such sum and withal did most injuriously detain it The Emperor asked him what Evidence he had of the Truth of what he had spoken who replied as it is usual in such Cases That he had none other but himself The Emperor therefore considering the Thing apprehended that some subtlety must be used to find but the Truth of the business He enquires what manner of Bag it was wherein the pretended Money was delivered The Merchant describes the Shape Colour and other particularities of it The Emperor commands him to withdraw into the next room and there to attend It was his purpose to send for the Inn-keeper but Fortune disposed it otherwise and more commodiously For the cheif men of the City as it is usual came to present and wait upon the Emperor amongst whom was this Cozening Host The Emperor knew him before and as he was very courteous in a jesting way said to him Sir you have a very handsome hat pray give it me and let us change The Inn-keeper was proud of the Honour and readily presented his Hat The Emperor retired a while as if he were called off by publick business and sends a