life at a deare rate and to that end he barricadoed himselfe within the house turning the Table and Stooles topsie turvie against the doore The newes being spread that little Iames was within the house made diverse people flock together to see the issue among others many of the Guard hastned thither and endeavoured by Ladders to enter through the Window but Little Iames having charged two Pistols and two Muskets with them watching his opportunity when their thoughts were at the highest humbled eleven of them to the ground his Wench at the same time charging as fast as hee discharged and by that last office testified the greatnesse of her courage and affection As for him he was so animated with rage and dispaire that he often thrust out his head at the Window endeavouring to hasten his assured death by the honourable blow of some Musket to eescape the dis-honour of the Gallowes The people assembled more and more and about an hundred persons had now encompassed the House armed with Muskets Pikes and Halberds little Iames after he had discharged divers shot at last fell into a scarcity of Bullets which being perceived some mounted upon the Ladders whilst others broke open the doores every one admired the desperate stoutnesse of this Theefe in resisting so many people but hee resisted in vain for his houre was then come yet would he not for a long time yeeld himselfe but would have killed himselfe had not his Wench hindred him at length the multitude entring he was forced to yeeld to the fury of the people who drag'd him to prison where hee lay not long before hee was condemned to bee broken on the Wheele The day of his death being spread abroad caused a multitude of people to be assembled in the place of execution every one wondring to see one so yong to have perpetrated halfe so many villanies Some pittied his youth others rejoyced to see him cut off so timely as for me I must confesse I was not a jot moved with pitty but was glad to see him punished according to his deserts Behold here the Life and death of this notorious Rogue whereby it may be considered how much it behooves Parents to chastise their children in their youth and not to suffer them to live in too great a liberty CHAP. XI The Story of Pallioly and his Choake-peare WE may compare youth to a young twigge whose tendernesse yeelds to the least motion and is easily bended either to the right or left hand being made fruitful or barren according to the industry or negligence of the Owner So is it with youth if he once findes the path of vertue by the care of his Parents he may be made continue and increase in the same but contrary acts produce contrary effects and wee cannot expect a greater comfort and joy from those that are vertuous then sorrow and griefe from those that continue in a vicious course of life I would therefore advise all Parents and Guardians to be exceeding carefull and wary in the education of their Children especially to beware of the poyson of ill example not suffering them to frequent the company of such as are debaucht for we naturally follow with eagernes those actions which we see authorized by former presidents Pallioly was a pretty well favoured youth a fit lodging to entertaine vertue as no doubt he would have done had not the over fond affection of his Father permitted him to make choice of those courses which are most opposite to vertue and best pleasing our sensuall appetites and inclination His ingenuity was such that had he beene trained up vertuously his wisdome might have made him as famous as his wit wrongly imployed hath now made him infamous he was borne neere unto Tholouse where he remained not long but out of a vaine curiosity and curious vanity he first forsaking his earthly father that hee might the better forget his heavenly betook himselfe towards Paris where he abode not long before his riot and excesse had wholly emptied his Purse of coyne and his wits being quickned by necessity he studied to supply his want by this following device Hee first makes a paire of hands of Wax and fastens them to his shoulders so artificially that he could when he pleased put them through his Cloak with these hee goes to the Church of S. Mederic where he understood that a great concourse of people would that day be by reason of a learned Man that then intended to preach being come into the Church hee espies a Gentlewoman with a silver Watch by her side who was praying in the body of the Church among many others who every minute expected the Preachers comming out of the Chancell by her he kneeles placing a Book on these his artificiall hands and seemes to fix his eyes on both The Gentlewoman wonders at his rudenesse in comming so neere her and conceives it to be only want of breeding in him she casts her eyes on him and sees him with a Book in his hand and praying modesty permitted her to look but not too earnestly to gaze on him she therefore without mistrust holds on her devotion and he his she hers to God and he his to the Devill as appeared by the sequell for while she at the elevation of the Host bowes downe to the ground and in humility kisseth it he nips off the Watch and having likewise hypocritically kissed the ground departed Not long after he goes to a Smith of his acquaintance a very skilfull man in his Trade and one wholly at his beck and gives him instruction how to make a kinde of Instrument in the likenesse of a little Bowle which by the helpe of small springs within it might open and inlarge it selfe so that being clapt into a mans mouth it could not be removed without the Key purposely made to that end this being finished according to his minde and brought unto him he termed a Choke-peare he might have termed it a Devils Peare for never was there a worse tasted fruit Eridas a rich Citizen dwelling about the Royall Exchange was the first who made triall how hard this Peare was of digestion for Pallioly knowing by common report that he was rich chose out his opportunity when all his houshold servants were busied in country affaires and none at home with him but one Lackey and then being accompanied with three or foure such spend-thrifs as himselfe he came to the house and boldly desired to speake with Eridas the Lackey supposing them to have been Gentlemen of worth by reason of their decent apparell went unto his Master and told him that there were some Gentlemen below that desired to speake with him but Eridas comming unto them and desiring to know their pleasure was taken aside by Pallioly who in no lesse brief then rough terms told him that they were poore Souldiers pinched by poverty whose wants must be releeved by his excesse that it was needlesse for him to endeavour resistance for
feare as if a thunderbolt had fallen among them and all their bold mirth is now turned into whispering and their joy into sorrow they are hungry but cannot eat and a cold trembling so possesseth them thorowout that they seeme rather dead then alive imagining these men pursued no other but themselves These officers called for wine and intended onely their owne recreation meaning nothing against them but they much wondred that upon the sudden those that sate neere them had taken their flight and left their wine and meat on the table departing without paying the shot All which the officers well noting demanded of the Host what was the cause of their sudden flight to which the Host said that he could not chuse but much wonder thereat and told them what kinde of people they were and how well furnished with money being formerly very poore and needy people Then the officers consulted together and concluded that there was something more then ordinary in the matter and that these men their consciences accusing them of some offence by them committed and fearing them as officers had taken their flight and that it was requisite they should be pursued which being resolved on they presently put in execution and parting themselves some one way and some another by their diligence and speed overtook them they then stayed them in the Kings Name and perswading them to confesse the cause of their flight they told them that if they would not by fair meanes they would constraine them by force and thereupon took the eldest of them and gave him the Strapado which made the old fellow quickly confesse that they had all foure deserved death namely by the murdering of Melander at the which his companions grew inraged he with the rest having before resolved to endure all the tortures that could be inflicted upon them rather then they would confesse moreover the said old man confessed that he had been the cause of the deaths of threescore persons whom he at severall times taking into his barge under pretence of passing them over the River had tied stones about their necks and having so drowned them at night took them up and so stripped them he moreover related unto them that he had one day most wickedly killed a boy about the age of seventeen yeers who had no more then twelve pence about him and that of all the thefts and murders he had committed he had never grieved but for that as being the cause of the death of one of the most comely and hopefull young men that ever he saw Alexis having notice of their taking for it is to be noted that of foure which were pursued one escaped and advised Alexis and his companion who was a Mason to take their flight Alexis fled into England and the Mason into Touraine where we will anon overtake them The officers having thus done their devoire led the offenders unto Paris where they were condemned first to have their hands cut off and their bodies to be broken on the wheele before the house of Melander which was performed in the sight of a multitude of people One of those which were thus broken confessed that he was accustomed in the woods neer Paris to strangle the passengers with a cord which he for that purpose carried about him and that when any demanded of him whither he went he would answer he went to buy a calf shewing unto them the cord We will now return to our Renegadoes he which was at Tours having escaped the danger which threatned him had changed his name and lived by his trade being welcome among others of the same profession in those parts by reason of his great skill therein he being at length become amorous of a young maid in the countrey by the consent of her parents married her Behold him at the height of his desires but yet so troubled in his conscience that he could not rest for the bloud of those innocent souls which he had shed ceased not to cry for vengeance but the mischiefs which troubled him happened chiefly in that he either in malice or jollity so charmed the Cod-peece-point of one of his neighbours that he could not make use of his own wife which being done he came about three or foure dayes after unto the married man and told him that he partly knew that his point had been knit with a charming knot and that if he would give him a reasonable reward he would untie it The man who desired nothing more then to be freed of this infirmity yet without thinking that the Mason had charmed it promised to give him twenty shillings in present and twenty shillings more when he was eased thereof of he received the twenty shillings and his neighbour being cured he demanded of him the other twenty shillings according to promise who then called him Sorcerer and told him that he was a Witch and had bewitched him and deserved to be burnt the Mason not being able to beare such language called him in question for scandalizing his reputation The Judges having seriously considered the matter by a common consent agreed that hee was the sole cause whence proceeded this evill which being after a sort prooved for that about ten dayes after the marriage the said Mason had publikely bragged unto some that hee had done it which was prooved against him he was condemned to be whipt through the Market-place and then banished which to avoid he presently appeales to the Parliament of Paris whither he was sent and where hee found his death The time being come wherein he must be recompensed according to his merit for being come to Paris he is heard of by some of the inhabitants of the said Village who presently gave notice and advertised the heires of Melander who so eagerly pursued him that by the deposition of the former witnesses he was forced to confesse the deed and so was judged to the same punishment as his companions which last Execution was done in the yeere 1616. five yeeres after the murder of Melander There remaines now onely Alexis who passing by Calis it happened as theeves cannot forbeare misdoing that he entred the house of a rich Merchant and stole from him a great summe of money while he was at Masse he is thereupon taken and condemned to be hanged Thus were they by the Divine justice deservedly put to death who so cruelly had murdered Melander CHAP. XIII The dangerous adventures and miraculous escapes of Colyrias COlyrias was descended of a good family in Guien and of a father whose vertue might have been a paterne unto him in his actions had he not been withdrawne by the over-commanding power of the destinies This young man his father being dead was committed to the tuition of his Vncle who slacking the severity which at first he shewed soone after permitted him to follow his licentious desires as do most Tutors and Guardians of children in these dayes they are forward to receive the benefit of their place
Maillard cheated a Goldsmith of a rich piece of Plate c. NEcessity is the mother of inventions said a Philosopher not without good reason for when we are once falne into this labyrinth our owne mishaps doe quicken our wits and furnish us with some pollicy whereby to save our selves if it be possible from the lowest degree of misery An example whereof we will shew in the notable exploits of Maillard whose ill education increased his natural propēsion to wickednesse and whose present wants enforced him to work his wits for a Remedie The first action he did after his arrival at Paris was to enroll himselfe among the crew of cutpurses and with them to frequent the new Bridg their Rendevous he chiefly associated himselfe with two of the most subtill of the troupe from thence hee came to the Cordeliers where hee insinuated himselfe into the acquaintance of one of the Friers of the house that hee might cause him to act a part in a Comedie Good Father said he I have a brother that within these few dayes hath conceived such griefe and melancholly for the death of his wife whom he loved as his owne soule that it hath almost distracted him sometime hee telleth us that hee seeth her Ghost and that it talketh unto him wherefore I am come purposely to intreat you to use your indeavour to draw him back into the good way and to settle his distracted senses otherwise I feare that the Devill who still presents unto him a thousand fancies and Chimera's will set him wholly and irrecoverably beside himselfe tomorrow I will bring him unto you that you may give him admonitions and withdraw those thicke clouds of sorrow which darken his understanding Amidst his ravings and idle talke hee cryes out that hee is robbed and demands his Money Plate and other things to bee restored unto him wee have given him some Physick to purge these melanchollie humours from him but to small purpose how ever I hope that your advice and holy admonitions will more effectually worke upon his understanding You may bring him hither said the Frier I will use my best endeavours to settle his minde this proceeds out of a drynesse of the braine caused by his vehement and extreame griefe Upon these words Maillard returnes being very glad that hee had laid his nets so handsomely to catch the first Partridge hee therefore returns unto his Comerades and certifies them of his plot and purpose the next morning very early he takes one of his companions with him being clothed in the habit of a Priest goes unto the Exchange bridge and there cheapeneth a silver Chalice which was worth eight pounds The Goldsmith doubted nothing of the deceit supposing that his companion being like a Priest should have payed him for it they having agreed upon the price Maillard desires him to send it by his man along with them to the Covent of Cordeliers and that there he should receive his money they thence went strait to the Cordeliers about nine of the clocke in the morning and by the way entertained the Goldsmiths man with so good discourse that hee never dreamed ought of the ensuing deceit Being come to the gate Maillard seeming to be well acquainted with the house rang the Bell and demanded to speake with such a Father the Porter answered that hee was at Church with a Gentleman Sir then said he to the Goldsmith you may leave the Plate with the Porter whilst we goe heare Masse and as soone as it is done you shall receive your money to the which he being willing delivered it to Maillards companion who gave it to the Porter so they went into the Vestry where the Frier was putting on his Cope to say Masse Maillard taking his opportunity steps unto him and tells him that that was his brother of whom hee had spoken the day before The Frier dreaming nothing of the deceit turnes to the Goldsmith my friend saith hee have a little patience till Masse be ended and I will satisfie you The Goldsmith imagining that he should certainly receive money after Masse was content to stay and take his place in the Chancell whither Maillard and his Comerade bare him company till the time of offering But not being willing to let goe the present occasion hee whispered the Goldsmith in the eare that they would goe before to the next Taverne which they named to drinke a quart of wine and there they would expect his company content quoth the Goldsmith and so they parted The Goldsmith yet doubted not of any deceit or fraud in their discourse or carriage but thought it sufficient that hee had the Friers words for his satisfaction and that hee had seene the Plate delivered into the hands of the Porter of the Covent Maillard meane while comes with his Comerade unto the Porter and askes for the Chalice which hee had left with him faining that he would goe say Masse in a Chappel neer adjoyning at the request of some devout ones as the manner is in Paris The Porter beleeving that according to the usuall custome hee would goe say Masse delivered him the Chalice who immediately departed and being out at the gate you may conceive they lost little time in going for they were not troubled with the Gout The Frier the mean while who knew nothing of the deceit having said Masse came into the Vestrie whither the Goldsmith followed him pricking his ears like an Hare and preparing his Bag and Gold-weights to receive money for his Chalice to whom the good Frier drawing him aside began this discourse My friend saith he is it long since your wife died and that you have been troubled with this malady for I must know the cause and beginning thereof that I may the better apply a Remedy What wife said the Goldsmith I am not married this is not the matter that brought me hither I know well said the Frier that you are not married for then you would soone have forgot your former wife and it is not likely being you bare her so great affection that you would so soon seeke a new one but it is good to know the time since she died that I may the better ease you of your griefe But Sir said the Goldsmith I suppose you take me for some other I have no Wife neither yet intend to have one I come onely for to receive money that is due unto me My friend said the Frier I knew very well you would demand money neverthelesse I doubt not but to restore you to your perfect minde Have you beene at Confession since you perceived your selfe troubled with this disease Have you purged your conscience from the evill deeds you have done by Confession and Repentance for sometimes God doth afflict us for our sinnes and offences excuse me if I search so narrowly into your affairs it is not but for your good Sir replyed the Goldsmith excuse me if I must needs say one of us wants his sences and is not
poor wearied passengers The third who was the man to whom Cyran had some few dayes before given the almes of five sols Companions said hee what good will his life doe us his bloud will cry louder against us for vengeance then his voyce we shall have a Sermon replyed one of the others those that use the trade that we exercise ought to stop their eares against these considerations which are good for none but old men and children the dead bite no more neither doe they speake a word the voyce of blood hath no eyes and hee will bee well nigh rotten before any can possibly finde him in this place Friends replyed the good Theefe I beg of you his life for it I will willingly forsake that part of the booty due unto me I will tell you a very good course to spare his life and yet to provide for our own safetie let us binde him to some tree and so leave him unto Gods protection so we shall not bee defiled with his blood This advice was by his earnest perswasions followed and Cyran was bound to a tree w th the headstall of his horse and his own garters the theeves taking away his horse and furniture but the good Theefe bowing himselfe toward Cyran as if hee had beene busied in tying him said softly unto him Friend take courage I will come this night to unbinde thee I have not forgot thine almes Comfortable words but proceeding from the mouth of a Theefe therefore not greatly to bee relied upon yet hee made a vertue of necessity and that hee might not seeme desperately ungratefull he thanks him for a benefit not yet received thus he remaines fast bound all the rest of that day trusting in the mercy and providence of God and expecting the uncertaine event of the Purse-takers most certaine promise but at night he entred into the horrour of death when in the duskenesse of the evening hee heard the yeelling and howling of the Wolves which were in that Forrest two of them were so bold as to approach him but having for a time viewed him and being somewhat distrustfull of their strength they presently retired but it was not long before they returned with greater forces This beast is not onely cruell but also so subtile and cautelous that even when men make curious invented Gins to catch them yet can they very seldome take or entrap any of them This beast feares the stock of a Peece hee shunneth snares hee lookes about him hee hearkens considers and narrowly observes the least motions all which is marvellous to be found in a beast that hath not reason Poor Cyran thinking himselfe to have now seen the last of his daies heartily recommended himselfe to God as a man that was at the point of yeelding up his Ghost for they had long since sented him and now at length began to assaile him in troopes endeavouring to make of him a Supper for themselves but suddenly with most fearfull yeelling they sound a retreat wherwith the whole Wood resounded and the Ecchoes multiplying made Cyran thinke that there were a whole Legion of Wolves which came to devoure him They had now perceived the approch of him whose comming poore Cyran had long expected surely if his succours had been delayed but a very little longer his comming had been too late and it is likely hee should have found poore Cyran dismembred by the Wolves But God who sendeth aide in tribulation and whose assistance comes alwayes opportunely sent him at an instant when his long expectation was turned almost into despaire to deliver Cyran not only from the feare of death but also from the death of feare for already had terrour seazed on his heart and he thought there was no way but inevitable and present death but behold now the extreamity of one passion turned into another Griefe and Despaire turned into Confidence and Joy Cyran no sooner saw him but he became confident of his delivery hee had na sooner conceived this latter hope but hee enjoyed his long desired liberty by this good Theefe his willingly untying those knots which hee had before so unwillingly knit I leave it to you to judge with what excessive words he testified his thankfulnesse to the good Theefe who had in one day given him his life twice first from retyring him from the throat of those roaring lions the other Theeves and secondly from the ravening Wolves who are Theeves living upon prey Cyran was desirous to make him some part of requitall for this great benefit and the better to expresse his desire hee offers the Souldier to use him as his brother if hee would but reside with him and forsake that miserable kinde of life which could not but leade him to a very shamefull end and would give him so much of his estate as hee should have just cause to bee contented therewith To leave this course of Robbing replyed the Souldier is my full resolution I have long since inwardly conceived such an earnest hatred thereof that it continually seemes an hell unto me My intent is to become religiously penitent for those many mischiefes which I have wrought in following this accursed mistery I never in all my life killed any man but have beene present at divers murthers I began to Rob being prest thereunto by necessity but continued in it through a kinde of wicked pleasure that there is in taking although it served but to feed our unlimitted deboistnesse now finding no sure place of retreat in France where I am alway in danger of the Law I am resolved to passe into Italie and having visited Loretto and Rome to cast my selfe into some religious house and if I cannot bee there admitted to retire my selfe into some Hermitage I humbly intreat you to pray unto God for mee that hee may continue in me his inspiration and give me grace to execute this good designe This poore Theefe thinking that the curtesie already done unto Cyran had not extended unto a full requitall for his former Charity laboured to perswade him to accept of his part of the hundred Crownes which was taken from him freely offering unto him a hundred Franks But Cyran not onely refused it but freely forgiving him protested that if hee would take the paines to accompany him to the next Towne he would inlarge his bounty towards him The penitent Souldier for I make it a matter of Conscience to call him Theefe after so godly a change either mistrusting a subtilty in the Offer or being fully satisfied for what he had done refusing it heartily thanked him and after their mutuall imbracements having made a mixture of their teares Cyran took one way and the Souldier the other whom hee never saw after But the two others he saw about two moneths after being discovered by the Cloke and horse of Cyran and being accused of other Robberies fell into the hands of the Provost Marshall who justly gave them a quick dispatch they being fastened to the Bough of an accursed tree commonly called a Gibbet where they never descended but by the pendant The good successe of Alms shines with such lustre in this Relation that if there were no other motive to exercise liberality towards the needy then that centuple which is in the Scripture promised in this life it were sufficient to draw it from the hands of Covetousnes it selfe sithence there is no usury so excessive as to take a hundred for one to which if you adde the infinite worth of eternall life who will be so hide bound as not to give with a free will that NOTHING or flitting toy of things transitory to attaine unto that great ALL and that one necessary thing most blessed ETERNITY FINIS