was omitted which Art or Industrie Skill or Will could performe Andronicus dropping a shower of Gold to the Saylers to reward the Sweat that fell from them All in vaine For as indeed hee had offended the Fire with the Innocents hee burnt therein angred the Aire with hundreds of Carkasses which therein hee had caused to bee hanged provoked the Earth by burying men alive in her Bosome So most of all hee had enraged the Water against him now mindfull of his Injuries by him made a Charnell-house and generall Grave into which the body of the young Emperour ALEXIUS was cast with thousands of his Subjects God herein to prevent all mis-constructions of Casuality which otherwise men might fasten upon it and knowing that men are slow in their Apprehensions and dull in their Memory to learne the Lessons of his Justice he re-iterated and repeated it three severall times that the most blockish Scholler might learne it perfectly by heart This is the worke of the Lord and it may justly seeme marvellous in our eyes Thus ANDRONICUS was the third time sent backe to the place from whence hee came and so to the place of Execution For hee was no sooner come to the shore but Servants imployed by ISAACIUS who had way-laid all the Ports on the Blacke Sea stood ready to Arrest him The Sixt Book 1. ANDRONICUS hahaving now left him neither Army to fight or legges to flye being in the possession of his Enemies betook himselfe to his Tongue bemoaning his Case and with Teares begging their favour But those Eyes which weeping in jest had mock'd others so often could not now bee trusted that they were in earnest The storme at Land was more implacable than the tempest at Sea Two heavy Iron Chaines were put about his neck in Mettle and weight different from them he wore before and loaden with Fetters and Insolencies from the Souldiers who in such Ware seldome give scant measure hee was brought into the presence of Isaacius Here the most mercifull and moderate contented themselves with Tongue-revenge calling him Dogge of uncleannesse Goat of Lust Tygre of Cruelty Religions Ape and Envies Basilisk But others pull'd him by the Beard twitch't the haire left by Age on his head and proceeding from depriving him of Ornamentall Execrements dasht out his teeth put out one of his eyes cut off his right hand and thus maimed without Surgeon to dresse him man to serve him or meat to feed him he was sent to the publike Prison amongst Theeves and Robbers 2. All these were but the beginning of evill unto him Some dayes after with a shaved head crowned with Garliek he was set on a scab'd Cammell with his face backwards holding the Taile thereof for a Bridle and was led cleane through the City All the Cruelties which he in two yeares and upwards had committed upon severall persons were now abbreviated and Epitomised on him in as large a Character as the shortnesse of the time would give leave the subject it selfe was capable of they burnt him with Torches and Fire-brands tortur'd him with Pincers threw abundance of dirt upon him and withall such filthinesse that the Reader would stop his Nose if I should tell him the composition thereof it is enough to say that the worst thing that comes from Man was the best in the mixture thereof 3. Such as consult with their Credit will bee cautious how they report improbable Truthes fearing they will not be received for Truths but rejected for improbable Efpecially in this Age wherein men resume their Libertie conceiving it against the priviledge of their judgements to have their Beliefe which should be a Voluntary prest by the authority of others to give credit to what beares not Proportion with Likely-hood Could an old man such as Andronicus was passe the age of man three-score and ten who now onely lived by the curtesie of Death to spare him endure such paine three miles through so populous a City The Poets onely feigned Atlas to be weary of carrying of Heaven but must not our Andronicus be either stifled for want of breath or back-broken with store of weight under so much earth throwne upon him And was it possible that Hee who before these times had one foot in the grave should have the other not follow after when driven with such crueltie 4. To render this likely we may consider first that it was the intent of the People not to kill but to torment him Secondly when one Dish is to go clean through a Table of Guests men are mannerly all take some though none enough Besides he was one of a strong Constitution whose Brawny flesh Nature had knit together with Horny Nerves And yet had hee been a weak man a Candle with glimmering light will burne long in a Socket being thrifty of it selfe Life was sweet to Andronicus under all those noisome smells and he would not part with it whilst hee could keep it But what was the maine it was possible God might support his life either out of Justice or mercie And wee read in * Scripture of Men that they shall desire to dye and death shall flee from them I say not of Justice visibly to acquit himselfe in the eyes of the world by making such a Monster the open Marke for Mans Revenge or out of mercy giving him a long and large time of Repentance if hee had the happinesse to make use thereof 5. Behold here a strange Conflict betwixt the Crueltie of the People on the one side the Patience of Andronicus on the other and yet an indifferent Umpire would adjudge the Victory to the latter No raging no Raving no Muttering no Repining but swallowed all in Silence Onely he cryed out Lord have mercy upon me And Why breake yee a bruised Reed and sensible of his owne guiltinesse hee seemed contented to passe his Purgatory here that so hee might escape Hell hereafter 6. After multitudes of other Cruelties tedious to us to rehearse and how painfull then to him to endure hee was hanged by the Heeles betwixt two Pillars In this posture Hee put the stump of his right Arme whose wound bleeded afresh to his mouth so to quench as some suppose the extremity of his thirst with his owne Bloud having no other moysture allowed him When one ranne a Sword thorough his Back and Belly so that his very Entralls were seen and seemed to call though in vaine on the Bowells of the Spectators to have some compassion upon him At last with much a-doe his soul which had so many doores opened for it found a passage out of his body into another world 7. Heare how one of great Learning is charitably opinioned of his finall Estate making this Apostrophe to his Ghost Oh ANDRONICUS Oh thou Emperour of the East how much wast thou bound unto God whose will it was that for a few dayes thou shouldst suffer such things that thou
Stake are made only lookers on sometimes admitted to the Counsell out of Complement and for Countenance barely to concurre but for the maine kept in Ignorance of most materiall passages That their names are all branded for Death and that no love to their persons but fear what might follow had hitherto secured their lives In a word that they must speedily resolve on some projects for their protection or else they should approve themselves heirs to Epimetheus who is not found to have left any Land unto his Sonnes but only to have bequeathed an uselesse Sorrow unto them for their Portion Hereupon they entred into a strict Combination with themselves secretly vowing that they would improve their utmost might to bring in Andronicus Comnenus a Prince of the bloud one of great parts and abilities but lately banished out of the Empire to counterpoise the power of Proto-Sebastus and to free young Alexius from the wardship of such as abused him We wil present the Reader with a list of their Titles and offices who were ingaged in this designe intreating him not to be offended with us because of the hardnesse and length of their Names but rather with their God-fathers who Christened them We have an English Proverbe that bones bring meat to Town and those who are desirous to feast themselves on the pleasant profitable passages of Historie must bee content some time to stoope their stomacks to feed on hard words which bring matter along with them 7. First Maria Prophyrogenita Caesarissa daughter to Manuel the late Emperour by a former wife halfe sister to Alexius the young Emperour 2. Caesar her Husband an Italian Lord who was so overtopt with the high birth and spirit of his wife that in this Historie we find him not grown much above the bare mention of his Name 3. Conto-Stephanus the Great Duke Admirall of the Galleys 4. Camaterus Basilius President of the City 5. Hagiochristophorites Stephanus Captaine of the Guard 6. Disypatus Georgius Lecturer in the great Church an higher office then the moderne acceptation of the word doth imply 7. Tripsycus Constantinus one of the most noble extractions 8. Macroducas Constantinus no whit inferiour to him in pedegree or power 9. Andronicus Lapardas formerly mentioned together with the aforesaid 10. Theodorus the Patriark last named because least interessed For in matters of piety hee was governed by his conscience but in matters of Policy by good Company being therein himselfe utterly unskilled and strangers in unknowne waies commonly follow the most beaten Tract of others before them All these joyn'd in a league to bring Andronicus home to Constantinople who what he was and how qualified we will not forestall the Reader conceiving it though something painefull yet more healthfull for him to gaine his Character by degrees in the Sequell of his Actions wherein he will sufficiently discover himselfe without our description of him 8. Now Maria Caesarissa was imployed unto Andronicus having ability in her selfe and advantage by her Sex for the cunning carriage of the matter to acquaint him with their designes She comming to Oenaeum where he liv'd in Banishment informed him of the generall discontent in the Grecian Empire And how those which basely served Xene did only command in the State That besides those great persons whose names she presented in writing many others as yet scrupulous Newters would have their doubtes fully satisfied and declare on his side when they saw him appeare with a powerfull Army That it would be a meritorious worke to enfranchise his Kinsman Alexius from their slavery where-under he and the Grecian Empire did grone 9. Welcom was this Invitation to Andronicus to be requested to doe what of himselfe he desired How willingly doth the fire fly upwards especially when employed to fill up a vacuity because then doing 3. good Offices with one motion Namely expressing its Dutifulnesse to the Dictates of Dame Nature and contributing in Case of Necessity to the Preservation of the Universe and pleasing its owne peculiar Tendency which delights in ascending Such now the Condition of Andronicus who in this undertaking would show Courteous in granting the Request of his friends appeare pious in promoting the generall good and withall satisfie the Appetite of his owne Ambition and Revenge Wherefore with treasure whereof he had plenty he provided men and Armes and prepared with all speed for the Expedition 10. But he could not be more busie about his War then Xene was imployed about her wantōnesse counting in life all spilt that was not sport who to revenge herselfe on envious death meant in mirth to make herselfe Reparation for the Shortnesse of her life That time which flieth of it selfe she sought to drive a way with unlawful Recreations And though Musicke did jarre and mirth was prophanesse at this present time wherein all did feele what was bad and feare what was worse yet shee by wāton Songes Panders to Lust and other provocatives did awake the sleeping Sparks of her Corruption into a flame of open wickednesse 11. But it was a great and sudden abatement to her jollity to heare that Andronicus with a puissant Armie was approaching the City Alexius Protosebastus her minion did woe al people to make resistance But he found abundance of Neuters of that luke-warme temper which Heaven and Hell doth hate who would not out of their Houses but stay at * home and side with neither party these did maintaine that the publicke Good was nothing but the result of many mens particular good and therefore held that in saving their own they advanced the generall Indeed they hop'd though the great vessell of the State was wrackt in a private fly-boat of Neutrality to waft their own Adventure safe to the Shore But who ever saw dauncers on Rops so equally to poise themselves but at last they fell downe and brake their Necks And we will take the Boldnesse to point at these hereafter and to show what was their Successe 12. The best thing wch befrended Protosebastus next to his owne Money was the obliging disposition of Xene She had as many Nets as Gestures to catch affections in and with her Smiles did not onely presse but pay all Carpet Knights and amorous Persons to be of her partie The City of Constantinople was thrice walled with wood stones and bones plenty of Shipping artificiall Fortifications and multitudes of men The worst was their Arsenall was a goodly Stable of gallant wooden Horses but they wanted Riders to manage them The Grecians at this time being very simple Seamen though Nature may seeme both to woe and teach them to be skilfull Mariners by affording them plenty of Safe Harbours However the Grecians conceiving Navigation beneath their honour which indeed was above their Industrie resigned the benefit of Trading in their owne Seas to the Italians of Pisa Genoa Florence and Venice Protosebastus hired Mercenary Mariners of these and
it selfe and meant to serve him up as a dainty dish in a Charger or Tray to his Widdow had not some intervening accident diverted it He made a bloudy Decree which had a traine of indefinite and unlimited extent and would reach as farre as the desire of the measurer namely that all such of the nobility which were now or should hereafter be cast into Prison should bee executed without any legall Triall with their Children and Kindred Prince Manuel whose worst fault was that Andronicus begat him in vaine opposed this Decree alleaging this to be the ready way for his Father to un-Emperour himselfe by destroying that Relative Title and leaving himselfe no Subjects 28. But Andronicus had found Scripture whereby to justifie his Act and brought St. * Paul for his Patron whose practise and confession hee cited For the Good that I would I doe not But the evill which I would not that I doe Now if I doe that I would not it is no more I that doe it but sinne that dwelleth in me God keep us from Apocrypha-Comments on Canonicall Scripture send us his pure Text without the glosse of Andronicus who belike conceiv'd hee could not bee a perfect Tyrant by onely torturing of men except also he did rack Gods Word rending Text from Con-text and both from their true intent 29. This Decree startles such Lords of the Combination as were left alive together with Mamalus principall Secretary to the late Emperour and Alexius Ducas the most Active but not nearest Prince of the bloud These meeting together much bemoaned themselves till Mamalus counting such puling passion beneath Masculine Spirits thus uttered himselfe 30. You late adorers of Andronicus who did conceive it would pose the power of heavē to cure the State save oncly by his hand bee your owne Judges whether it be not just that they should dye of the Physicke who made a God of the Physitian Diseases doe but their kind if they kill and an evill expected is the lesse evill But no such Torment as to die of the remedie Onely one helpe is left us if secretly and speedily pursued We know Isaacius Angelus by birth and merit is intitled to the Crowne True hee lives privately in a Covent but worth cannot bee hid it shines in the darke and Greatnesse doth best become them to weare it by whom it is found before it is sought for as more deserved then desired by them say not that he is of too milde a disposition for his soft temper will make the beter Pultis for our sore necks long gauled with the yoke of Tyranny And seeing we have thus long been unhappy under the extremities the childe-hood of Alexius and old yeares of Andronicus let us try our Fortunes under the middle age of Isaacius And no doubt we shall light on the blessed meane and happy temper of Moderation 31. The motion found entertainment beyond beliefe And yet Alexius Ducas offer'd it to their consideration that so meek a Dove would never make good Eagle Giving a Character how a Prince should be accomplished with valour and experience by insinuation designing himself It is pleasant to heare a proud man speaking modestly in his owne praise whilst the Auditors affect a wilfull deafenesse and will not heare his whispering and slenting expressions till at last hee is faine to hollow downe-right Selfe-flattery into their Eares Here it fared thus with Ducas who thereby only exposed himselfe to contempt and perceiving no successe zealously concurr'd with the rest for advancing of Isaacius All necessary particulars were politiquely contrived each one had his taske appointed him some to seize on the ships others to secure the Pallace make good the great Church and the whole modell was exactly methodized considering the vast Volumne thereof which consisted of many persons of qualitie therein ingaged The Fourth Booke 1. BUT great designes like wounds if they take Arie corrupt This project against Andronicus could not be covertly carried because consisting of a medly of persons of different tempers and un-suiting soules having private intents to themselves not cordiall uniting their affections but only Freinds for the time being against the common Foe So that through the Riftes and chinks of their severall aimes and ends which could not be joynted close together the vigilancie of Andronicus did steale a glymps of their designe apprehensive enough to light a candell for himselfe form the sparke of the smallest discoverie 2. And now let him alone to prevent their proceedings by cutting both them and theirs off that no mindfull heire might succeed to their spite and that with all posible speed for hee steer'd his actions by the compas of that character which one made of him as followeth I love at leasure favours to bestow And tickle men by dropping kindnesse slow But my revenge I in one instant spend That moment which begings it doth it end Halfe doing undoe's many 't is a sinne Not to be soundly sinfull to begin And tire I 'le do the work They strike in vain Who strike so that the stricken might complain .3 Mamalus was the first who was brought to Execution on this manner A mighty fire was made and to provoke the Tyrannie thereof as if that pure Element of it selfe had been too fine and slender effectually to torment him they made the flame more stiffe and stuffie by the mixture of pitch and brimstone Then Mamalus was brought forth starke naked insomuch that all ingenuous beholders out of a modest Sympathy conceived that they saw themselves naked in seeing him and therefore as much as lay in their power they covered him by shutting their eyes When the Souldiers with Pikes were provided to thrust Mamalus into the fire whil'st many Spectatours durst not expresse their pittie to him out of pittie to themselves lest commiserating of him should be understood complying with him but were cautious to confine their Compassion within the Compasse of their brest that it should not sallie forth into their eyes and outward gestures 4. Betwixt this Dilemma of Deaths the sharpe Pikes of the Soldiers on the one side furie of the fire on the other he preferred the former not as most honourable and best complying with a militarie Soule not being at leasure alasle in time of torment to stand on termes of credit but as least painfull But the Soldiers denied him this choyce and forc'd him into the fire and then hearing his Shreekes even those who refus'd out of favour to give any pitie to his person could not out of justice denie the payment of some compassion bound there-unto by the Specialtie of Humanitie unto his miserable condition 5. Meane time Andronicus was a spectatour tickling himselfe with delight only offended that the sport was so short and Mamalus dead too soone The stench of whose burning flesh offensive to others was a perfume to him who had the Roman-Nose of Caligula Nero Domitian and such
mightest not perish for ever Thou wast miserable for a short time that thou mightest not bee miserable for all eternity I make no doubt but thou hadst the yeares of Eternity in minde seeing that thou didst suffer such things so constantly and couragiously 8. But doth not so strong charity argue a weak judgement Despaire it selfe may presume of salvation if such an-one was saved How improperly did he usurp that Expression comparing himselfe to a * Bruised Reed when another Scriptureresemblance was more applyable unto him of a * Bul-rush bowing downe his head onely top-heavy for the present with sense of suffering not inwardly contrited in heart for the sinnes hee had committed Must not true Repentance have a longer season to ripen it and by workes ensuing to avouch to the world the sincerity thereof Insomuch that of late some affirme that the good Theefe on the Crosse did not then first begin but first renew his Repentance lately interrupted by a fellonious Act. Allow Andronious for a Saint and we shall people Heaven with a new Plantation of Whores and Theeves how volumnious will the Booke of Martyrs be if Paine alone does make them 9. On the other side we must be wary how in our Censures wee shut Heaven-doore against any Penitents Farre bee it from us to distrust the power of Gods mercy or to deny the efficacie of true though late Repentance the last groan which divorces the soule from the body may unite it to God though the Arme of his body was cut off the Hand of his faith might hold All that I will adde is this if Andronicus his soule went to Heaven it is pitty that any should know of it lest they bee encouraged to imitate the wicked Premises of his life hoping by his Example to obtaine the same happy Conclusion after death 10. After his Execution the tide of the Peoples fury did turne who began to love his memory and lament his Losse Such as before were blinded with Prejudice against him could now clearely see many good deeds he had done for the Publique and began to recount with themselves many Sovereigne Lawes which hee had enacted some bemoaned the misery which he had endured as if his punishment was over-proportion'd to his deserts Whether this pitie proceeded out of that generall humour of men never to value things till they are lost or because their revenge had formerly surfeted upon him now began to disgorge it selfe againe Or which is most probable this Compassion arose from the mutability and inconstancy of humane Nature which hates alwaies to be imprisoned in one and the same minde but being in constant Motion through the Zodiac of all Passions will not stay long in the same Signe and sometimes goes from one Extremity to another 11. By this time Isaacius was brought by Basilius the Patriarch unto the Throne and placed thereon with all solemnity then the Crowne was put upon his head on the top whereof was a Diamond-Crosse greatnesse and Care are twins which Isaacius kissed I welcome thee said he though not as a stranger who have been acquainted with Crosses from my Cradle Thou art both my Sword and my Shield for hitherto I have conquered with suffering Then weighing the Crowne in his hand it is faith he a beautifull burthen which loads more than it adornes 12. Here Basilius the Patriark made a Sermon-like Oration unto him which as it was uttered with much Gravity so it was heard with no lesse Attention and embraced by the Emperour with great Thankfulnes Not presuming Sir to teach you what you doe not know I am incited by my Calling and encouraged by your Clemency to put you in minde of what otherwise you may forget This Crowne and Sceptre were sent you from Heaven onely we have done our duty in delivering them unto you And now me thinks that Divine Majesty perfectly shines in You his Image These our Eyes upheld folded hands and bared heads and bended knees are due from us to God and wee pay them to him by paying them to you his Receiver And wee doubt not but you will improve the Power and Honour bestowed on you for the protection of the people committed unto you 13. In a mans body whilst naturall Heat and radicall Moisture observe their limits all is preserved in health if either exceedes their bounds the body either drownes or burnes It fareth thus in the constitution of the State betwixt your Power and our Prosperity whilst both agree they support one another but if they fall out about Masterie even that which over-comes will be destroyed in a generall confusion And if you should betray your Trust though we bow and beare and sigh and sob armed with Prayers and Teares yet know that our sad Mournings will mount into that Court where lye the Appeales of Subjects and the Censures of Soveraignes which will heavily bee inflicted by him whom you represent Speake I not this out of any distrust of your Justice but out of earnest desire of your happinesse wishing that the greatnesse of Constantine Founder of this place the goodnesse of Jovian the successe of Honorius the long life of Valens the quiet death of Manuel the immortall fame of Justinian and what soever good was singl'd on them may joyntly be heaped upon you and your Posterity 14. Hereupon followed such a shout of the people as the oldest man present had not heard the like and all interpreted it as a token presaging the future felicity of the new Emperour And thus we have presented the Reader with the remarkable intricacie and perplexity of successe as if Fortune were like to lose her selfe in a Labyrinth of her owne making winding backward and forward within the compasse of five yeares with more strange varieties then can easily bee paralell'd in so short a continuance of time 1. First Alexius no Andronicus 2. Then Alexius and Andronicus 3. Then Andronicus and Alexius 4. Then Andronicus no Alexius 5. Then Isaacius no Andronicus Thus few strings curiously plaid upon by the cunning fingers of a skilfull Artist may make much Musick and Divine Providence made here a miraculous harmony by these odd expected transpositions tuneing all to his owne glory 15. Here I intended to end our History save that I cannot discharge my Trust and bee faithfull to the Truth without taking some speciall observation of Basilius Wee cannot forget how Active an Instrument hee had been to serve the cruelty of Andronicus and when first I looked wishly upon his hands so busied in wicked employments I presently read his Fortune that hee should come to a violent death The old Hermite seemed to mee a Prophet to confirme me in my opinion when reproving him for stickling in temporall matters and my conjectures grew confident that this Patriarke in processe of time would either shake his Mitre from his head or his head from his shoulders And perchance if the ingenuous