bound up he was brought unto the same place where they had formerly taken him up there did they uncover his eyes and set him on foot delivering him a Billet sealed with greene Wax wherein was written these words in great Letters THE GREAT BANDE HATH LET HIM PASSE and withall advised him if he met with any one that would offer him any kinde of violence to shew unto him this Passeport telling him That by that means he should be permitted quietly to passe So Polidamor parted from them happy to have escaped out of their hands with life But scarce had he gone into the second street but he found three other Theeves ready to rifle him and now he who at first made no account of the Billet which they had given him bethought himselfe that perhaps it might stand him in stead he therefore presents it unto them which was read by one of them that carried a dark Lanthorne so they suffred him to passe and return unto his house where his wife remained in great perplexity not knowing what was become of her husband but her anxious feare was soone turned into joy by his presence and into delight by the Relation which hee made unto her of his adventures She like a loving wife not regarding the losse which he had sustained seeing smile-frowning Fortune had shewed her constant inconstancy by converting his former losse and danger into a safe returne CHAP. VIII A prodigious History of the treacheries of Valesio THose men who are perswaded that they can bring the greatest things to perfection finde themselves most often entangled by their naturall imbecility and weakenesse and most commonly the mischiefes which they contrive against their neighbours and the evills which they project against them take not successe but to their owne losse and disgrace yea those very darts which they most despightfully cast at others doe often by Gods justice reverberate against themselves Antiquitie furnisheth mee with many examples but our latter Age hath noated out one above the rest as prodigious and fearefull as beyond the sence and common opinion of men There hath not past an Age wherein the great Creator hath not made some signes of his just indignation appeare to punish the treacheries of those that imbrace actions so wicked and abominable as if hatcht in hell rather then sprung from mans invention The History which I now describe unto you is true and happened not long since the sequell whereof is as much to be admired as his end who was the cause of it was prodigious and horrible Valesio was borne in Berne a Canton of Switzerland and was sent by his father to the City of Lucerne to bee there instructed hee had a spirit full of subtilty and fit to undergoe great matters had he been honestly enclined In Lucerne hee for a time studied the Law where during his abode hee often resorted to the house of an Inn-keeper named Lucio of Zurich a man rich and wealthy with whom he grew so familiarly acquainted that he could neither eat nor drinke but in his company he lodged over against his house and it seem'd that heaven was not favourable unto him when he enjoyed not the company of this man but his affection increased when it had taken footing within his house and when hee became enamor'd with the beauty of his onely daughter This yong Valesio being inflamed with an earnest desire of injoying the feature of this maid the oftner frequented the house under pretence of visiting the Father when as indeed his greatest happinesse consisted in beholding the beauty of the daughter their eyes had already given to each other friendly enterchanges and had privately practised an alliance in their thoughts by the encounter of their rayes and their hearts quickly approved of that within which their eyes had practised without so that Valesio perceiving his affection seconded by a favourable Zephir resolved to acquaint his Love with that which his heart as yet concealed The father being advertised therof and perceiving that the inclinations and affections of these Lovers were mutuall knit them together in marriage under the sweete bonds of Hymen happy and thrice happy had they been had they not abused it but finished the number of their yeres without straying from the path of Vertue They lived two yeeres and an halfe together in all sorts of Temporall delight at the end whereof the father died of a lingering feaver happy in that he survived not to bee a spectator of the ensuing Tragedy By the death of Lucio all the inheritance fell into the possession of Valesio for his wives mother deceased long before He therefore resolved to take the same course of life as his father in law had done before him being that he found the house so well furnished The good entertainment which he at the beginning gave unto his guests purchased him a good report of every one so that if any man desired to entertaine a friend sumptuously whither must they go but to the house of Valesio there were they joyfully receaved and used with all kinde of contentment but at length the swinge which Valesio had taken made him so swell with pride that he began to forget his family that he might the better forget himselfe the courtesie which he formerly shewed unto his guests was now changed into most cruell tyranny which he often exercised upon travellers killing and massacring them like unto another Licaon his house heretofore the receptacle and seat of courtesie was now become the cut-throat and deadly place where poor Passengers were entrapped he hacked them most cruelly in peeces and made Pies therewith an unnaturall and monstrous barbarisme hee durst not have practised these cruelties towards the Citizens of Lucerne for so his wickednesse had beene discovered the delicate relish of his meat which hee provided drew unto him a multitude of guests which they with joyful greedinesse devoure whiles that he Villaine laughs at their simplicity little thinking that he himselfe should shortly feele the just judgement of God heavily lighting upon him for his monstrous and barbarous cruelties A strange blindnesse in humane conceits which perswade themselves that there is no Divinity to revenge or punish their heynous crimes and misdeeds we so flatter our selves in our wicked prosperities that we cannot beleeve we shall ever fall into those miserable punishments which wee deserve Valeio could never beleeve that the Heavens would reveale or revenge the death of those innocent Soules which hee had most barbarously slaine but the Great mover of the Heavens could no longer suffer so cruell crimes the bloud of so many poore wretches unjustly shed cried for vengeance before the glorious majesty of his face and yet this great and mercifull God staied for a time the furie of his justice to hearken to the sweet requests of mercy but hee wretched Caitiffe deferred so long repentance for his heinous misdeeds untill the weight of so many deadly crimes drew the arme of the just vengeance
have caused dissention in regard that the Goldsmith would have forced the Basin on him Little Iames having thus acted his part returned unto his Companions and shewed them the Purse whereat they rejoyced but this their joy was short for Little Iames hating them deadly for their disobedience led them to a by-place called Mount Pernassus where hee commanded the one to stay for him and having drawne the other about a Flight-shot from thence told him in great fury that he could hardly forbeare to kill him whereupon his Comrade desired to know the cause of his anger and the reason why hee spoke such words but Little Iames perceiving that he saucily reasoned with him suddenly drew forth his Sword and ranne him thorow thence he came back to the other whom he had commanded to stay for him on the Mount but lest his companion should suspect any harme or ill intent from him he drew neere unto him with a smiling countenance when the other asking him where his Comrade was he snatcht forth a Poniard and stabbing him therewith he said behold there he is go thou to him He once killed a begging Frier and having taken on him his habit and Letters of Order came unto the Friers at S. Vincents where he was by them for the space of fifteene dayes kindly entertained and being resolved to furnish himselfe before his departure he brought with him from Paris divers sorts of Pick-lock instruments with which hee while the rest of the Convent were about midnight as their custome is at Mattens excusing himselfe for his absence as being constrained thereto by in-disposition of body pickt open a doore where their money lay which hee having taken away cunningly shut the doore and went to bed the next day he arose early and taking his leave of the Superiour returned to Paris where by his begging from doore to doore hee greatly distressed those that were of that Order for when any of them went forth to beg provision they were answered that they were served already and that they had given it to one of their fellowes whereat the Fryers were mightily amazed and could not conceive by any meanes who it was that so grosly abused them by this meanes did Little Iames commit sundry great thefts within the Citizens houses he having free entrance by reason of his habit but it came to passe at length that the Fryers of Saint Vincents having found out his arch knavery desired some Officers within the City to search for him but their labour was in vaine untill it hapned that one of those Fryers not long after entring into a certaine house for an almes met this Iames comming forth of the same House whereupon hee intreated the Servants to lay hands on him which they did and having lustily beaten him were about to have led him to a Justice but by the comming of some of his Associates who guarded him hee was rescued Little Iames taking an especiall notice of them came the the next morning having changed his habit neere unto the place where those Servants dwelt and craftily enquires their names and the names of their Parents which having fully understood he appointed 2. or 3. of his companions to meet him at a house not far from thence at which time he wrote this Letter unto one of the Lackeys which had beaten him whose name was Francis Maire the Contents of the Letter was as followeth Sonne I Am come purposely into this City to acquaint you with some affaires which have lately happened in our parts you have lived long here with little profit I have found a Match fit for you in our Countrey which you must not neglect It is not alwayes time to sow we must sometimes reape I would willingly have come unto your lodging but that perhaps in so doing your Master would have suspected that I came purposely to entise you away wherefore I should bee glad to see you at my lodging whither this bearer will conduct you I will in the meane time cause a Breakfast to be provided for you against you come and if you bring a friend with you he shall be welcome and his entertainement shall be the best we can provide Farewell Having sealed this Letter he directs one of his young Cut-purses unto the house where this Maire dwelt who having received it failed not to come with his Companion where being arrived he was informed that his father was gone into the City and had left command for them to goe to Breakfast and not to stay for him They therefore being earnestly intreated to sit down did but they had not sate long before little Iames entred and saluted them but they at first knew him not untill he withdrawing himselfe into an innerroome presently came forth in his Fryers habit then were the Lackyes in extreme perplexity and would have forsaken the Table but Little Iames and his company suddenly seazed on them and stripping them naked he first lashed them with Stirrop-leathers then with a more then barbarous cruelty caused their skins to bee gashed and after they being all bloudy hee put them into a great Tub of feathers where they had little ease nothing could their cryes availe them by reason that the House stood in a by-place farre from any common resort and after having done them many other injuries hee at mid-night sent them away feathered like so many Fowle and immediately he and his company forsooke the house Having discoursed of the manner of his Life let us come now unto his Death and see whether it bee as tragick as the actions of his life did prognosticate The fame of this notorious Theef augmented daily in Paris and twenty Leagues round there about so that the Provost thought it a part of his duty to make diligent search after him hee gives strict order therefore to his Troopes deligently to give attendance with whom hee made a Rode towards the Forrest of Fountaine-bleau it being the common place where he lurked but the subtilty of little Iames deceived him for he having intelligence of it disguising himselfe like a country Ploughman passed through the middest of them and came to Paris without being knowne but in vaine escapes he who drawes his punishment after him For he being one day in a Tennis Court was earnestly noated by some of the Provosts men who were going to play which exceedingly daunted him yet without seeming to feare or suspect any thing he passed by them but the Officers presently following him saw him enter into a house where a yong Wench dwelt whom he had debaucht and and at that time maintained whereupon they besetting the house and one of them knocking at the doore hee himselfe came to the Window and demanded their businesse although hee too well knew their intent the Officers without using many words began to break open the doore when little Iames on the other side arming himselfe with a fierce resolution foreseeing that he could not escape death resolved to sell his
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