of this Fowle that in the time of Warre seven dayes before hand it smelleth and perceiveth by scent the place where the battaile shall bee and commonâ—y doth associate it selfe to that part which it perceiveth shall perish with the sword And therfore in ancient times Princes had their South-sayers and beholders of birds that did most diligently behold the eyes of the Ravens and marke to what part they turned their eyes and which side they did presage to perish in battaile S. Ambrose writeth that a Raven conceiueth without the seede of the male â—nd to have generation without conjunction of males femals and that they live exceeding long so that their age is full compleat with an hundred yeares and when they come to extreame old age that then the upper part of their bills doth so over grow the lower part so that it hindreth and restraineth it that they cannot open their bills to take foode and therefore are compelled to dye by famine for hee doth not sharpen this bill against a stone as the Eagle is wont to doe Certaine Rites and Lawes of the old Romans Romulus made a Law that the wife should bee equall fellow with her Husband in mony and other things in holinesse and sacrifices and that shee should live according to the manner of her Husband and as hee was Lord of the house so should she be Lady of the family that she should succeede her husband dying without issue and that with her children shee should have her equall portion If the Wife were convict of Adultry that then her husband kinsfolke might punish her with what kind of death they would It was not lawfull for the women of Rome to drinke wine and this was observed many yeares whereof was invented an instrument of dower in the which the Husband promised the father of the wife as often as she brought forth children that hee should give her as much wine to drinke the first 8 dayes as were decent and covenient and also so long as shee was sicke that shee should have Wine by the councell of the Physitian and that upon every solemne Feastivall day she might lawfully recreat her selfe with one draught of Wine Cato the Censor made a decree that they which were of propinquity to the wife might kisse her whereby they might learne if shee savoured of wine and that seemed to be done by the example of Egnatius Metentinus of whom it is said that hee slew his wife with a clubbe because she drunke wine from the barrell and that Romulus pardoned him of her death and this grew to such a custome amongst them that whensoever the husband returned home he would kisse his wife his daughters marking by the odour and scent of their breath if they had drunke wine or not They were very severe against women surcharged with wine because they did perceive that drunkennesse was the original cause of corporal corruption Romulus permitted and gave to the Parents all power over their children that by their owne judgement they might compell them to any kind of duty whether they would restrain beat or keep them bound to rusticall works or sell them or kill them Numa made a law that prohibited any lamentations or mournings to be made for a childe if that hee died within 3 years of age but if he were past 3 years of age that then hee should bee lamented as many moneths as hee had lived yeares and many other strange orders they had the which be at large set forth by other authors The lively and quicke Wit of Adrianus the Emperour ADrianus was the fifteenth Emperour of Rome of whom it is said that he would at one time both write and declare his minde and heare others and talke with his friends Sardinia IN the Countrey of Sardinia there is a certaine beast which they call Muflo the like whereof is not in all Europe beside It hath the skinne and haires like unto a Deere or Hart hornes like unto a Ramme not long but crooked and bending backward about the eares in bignesse he may be compared to a Bucke it feedeth upon grasse onely and herbes and keepeth most about Mountaines very swift in running and his flesh is good to be eaten There be no Wolves in this Countrey nor no hurtfull kind of vermine Fowle or Beast beside the Foxe which of all foure-footed beasts there is most hurtfull being of like bignesse to other Foxes in Italy In Sardinia a Foxe will kill a very strong Weather or Ramme a Goate and a Calfe Some write that in this Countrey there is no Serpent or any venemous thing but pestilent ayre which commeth through corrupt puddles and waters Also there is found in this Countrey a certaine herbe like unto a Baulme gentle whereof if any man shall eate much he shall perish and dye laughing Some say that there is a Fountaine and Spring in Sardinia whose waters doe reprove theeves and robbers after this sort If a theefe sweareth that he hath not committed the theft and washeth his hands or eyes with the water of that Fountaine by and by he is made blinde and so he may be knowne but if he hath not done the Felony his eyes are made more bright and clearer then they were before the notice of this famous Spring is growne out of memory in this our age The making of Sugar at Palermo in Sicily IN the fields about the City of Palermo groweth great plenty of sweete Reeds of whose juyce being well boyled Sugar is made First they dung well their Fields being not much distant from the Sea and then doe they make Furrows and ranges somewhat high and eminent Afterward in the Moneth of March they take the highest knots of the sweete Reeds made bare and voide of leaves and rindes the which they doe set and plant that they pierce through the sides of the ranges with three or foure having double knots even at one dinte and so doe they fill all the ranges of the field the earth is watered in Summer and is kept from ranknesse dayly about the Winter Solstice onely the roots left for another planting for it lasteth the space of two yeares the Reeds are broken and taken away of whose ripe and sweete joynts and knots divided and knit into small parts by the same artificious meanes that oile is made the juyce that commeth thereof is purged and purified in one Caldron of three which are set in a stew and afterward is strayned through a course cloth then they take a part of the juyce so strained and put it in another Caldron for so they make it boyle againe and out of this streight wayes they powre it againe into the third Caldron and they beate it and stirre it boyling whereof a kind of Sugar somewhat black is drawne and made thereof the same being sodden againe three times more and after that once againe boyled will be most fine and white Sugar The other harvest which commeth of the
and a laughing stock to the Gentiles they so thought for that he was borne in Bethlem a little village in Iudea that he lived and was conversant among simple people without pompe and glory and that he died the death of the crosse with reproach and shame supposing him to be a Carpenters son but they were deceived his birth was most glorious the appearing of the Starre prooved it â—he descending of Angels singing Gloria in excelsis did manifest it the comming of Magi from the East did confirme it his life was most Imperiall comanding Water into Wine the blinde to see the lame to go the sick to health and the dead to rise His death was most triumphant with the song of Hosanna he vanquished Devils subdued Hell and conquered the world and said ConsuÌ„matum est Therefore his nativity is to bee solemnized of all Christians his life to be worshipped and death to be glorified with Alâ—elujah Hosanna and Gloria in excelsis songs triumphant and fit for Jesus Christ our Saviour Of the ancient and strange ceremonies at the Election of the Prince of Carinthia CArinthia is a Province where the Sclavonians speach is spoken where manners and customes are most strange and the like Ceremonies not read of When any new elected Prince entreth into his goverment hee is brought into a faire large valley where was wont to bee an ancient Citty where some monuments are left as reliques so that time weare out the name of it In a wide faire medow hard by a marble stone is erected upon the which stone a Rusticall fellow standeth which by succession of blood that place and office by heritage doth possesse There he hath hard by him a deformed leane Mare and an olde leane Oxe and the Rusticall Countrey people in heapes about him On the farther side of the medowe is the new Prince with his Barons and States about him with great pompe very richly attired all in Purple having the Princes Ensignes and his Arms and 12 Banners carried solemnly before him the Prince being apparrelled like a poore simple country man in old broken garments his cap bare and his shoos worne with a countrey staffe in his hand seeming rather more like a shepherd then a Prince who comming nigh to the Clowne that standeth upon the stone hee cryeth out in the Sclavonian tongue and asketh who is this that is comming here so proude the Barons and the States answere he is a Prince of the Country then the Country man from the Marble stone demands againe Is this man a right and just Judge Doth he seek the benefit and wealth of this Countrey Is â—he of honest and vertuous condition Is he a sound Christian in religion Will he defend the true faith And is he worthy of this honour To whom al the States and Barons answere he is and shall be Againe he saith I aske you by what law and right should I bee removed from this seat The County of Goritia answereth for mony this place is bought then this Oxe and this Mare shal be thine and all the Garments which the last Prince did put off thy houâ—e shal be free without any tribute Then the countrey-man descendeth and meeteth the Prince and striketh him a little on the cheeke saying I command thee to be a good just Prince then he taketh his Mare and his Oxe and giveth the place to the Prince who streight standeth upon the Marble-stone taking a naked Sword into his hand first hee doth flourish it one way then he doth flourish it another way promising thereby equall Justice to the people there they bring water in a Countrey-mans cap to drink to signifie unto the Prince that he should abstaine from wine After these ceremonies the Prince coÌ„meth downe from the Marble-stone and is brought to the Temple called Our Ladies Chappel which was the seate sometime of a Bishop then from thence after some sacrifice which was to be used all things done and performed the Prince putteth off the rusticall garments that he put on before to performe the custome and ceremonies of the Countrey and weareth his princely wonted attire and after hee had feasted with his Barons and his Nobility he returned to the medow againe where the Marble-stone was and sitteth there on his Tribunall seat to heare causes pleaded and to give judgement according to Justice this is the manner and strange custome of the election of any Prince in Carinthia So strange were the customes and manners in old time aswell at the election and coronation of Princes as also in their ceremonies and Scepters For the first Kings of the world used for their Scepters long gilded speares The old Kings of Rome used a crooked staffe called Lituus Tarquiniuâ— Priscus the 5 King of Rome had his Scepter of Ivory The Kings of India had their Scepters of Ebony The Lydians carried before their Kings great Axes The Kings of Sicily used a silver staffe for their Scepter The Babylonians used divers kinds of Scepters with sundry figures as of Lyons Eagles c. The manner of the funerall pompe of the Grecians IN other parts of Greece they used more solemne mourneâ—ull ceremonies at the Funerall of their Kings and Princes â—hey tooke downe their Bulâ—arkes and Fortresses of Wars â—hey untile their Temples they â—â—bvert their Altars they reject â—nd depose their Idols they put â—ut their fire and the men shave â—oth their heads and beards and â—hey clip their horses and left â—othing undone that seemed â—ournefull Then al the Priests â—agistrates young Gentlemen â—nd children carryed Trophies â—nd Monuments of the dead â—ing with his Ensignes and â—rmes crowned with Garlands â—â—cording to the custome of â—reece The Noblemen carryed divers great Cups or Bowles some full of Wine others full of Milke and some full of Blood all in white Garments others carried Hony and Cakes which should be sprinkled and cast upon the funerall fire at what time they sung Hymnes Odes and songs called Ialemâ—â— in the praise of the dead Prince and lastly when the King is solemnly thus burned the Princeâ— and great men of his blood should carry his Ashes in Golden pots crowned over with all kinde of sweete flowers which should bee a memory or Trophie of the deaâ— King The Grecians had also these customes at the funerall of theiâ— deare friends as Parents Brethren Sisters both the Men and Woemen should have theiâ— long haire and offer it upon the Hearse of the dead So Achilles solemnized the funerall of his deare friend Patroclus cutting the fore locks of his haire to set it among many other of Patroclus friends upon his Hearse or Tombe Euripides funerall was of Arâ—bâ—laus King of Macedonia so honoured that hee lamented Euripides death with mourning apparrell and with a shaâ—en head and beard according to the use and custome of the Macedonians The great pompe and solemnity at the inauguration of the Pope of Rome THe Pope of Rome at his inauguration excelled all other Princes in solemnity
of which have and doâ— almost lye buried in Oblivioâ— and so intend the communication of the benefit of them anâ— my labours to this Iland where in I received my first breath doing neither wrong to the sacred esteeme of History nor yeâ— burthening my owne consciencâ— with unjust undertakings 〈◊〉 carrying my selfe by the ballaâ— of truth and steering my laboâ—â— by the rule of Equity I profeâ—â— no other thing but a briefe 〈◊〉 a true expression and digestiâ—â— of many special and remarkabâ—â— passages making the memoriâ— of many of them and the benâ—â—fit of my Country-men tâ—â— whole scope and aime of this 〈◊〉 travaile and labour And because Method is the guide of studies for who undertakes any action of consequence without it builds but without a Foundation or travels in a Wood without a way not perfectly knowing where he is or how to get forth that I may not be unjust or offensive to your memories or to the worth of the subject nor shew my owne disability to the world I doe intend to lay downe the subjects I treate of distinctly as I have gathered them both for the Readers benefit and contentment and first Of the Temple of Ephesus IN the Country called Ionia there is the noble Citty of Ephesus which was built in the 32 year of the reign of King David by Androchus the â—on of Codrâ—â— King of Athens The Amazons did erect in it in the honor 〈◊〉 Diana a noble Temple the like whereof was not then in all the world and therefore it was accounted amongst the 7 wonders of the world it was 215 yeares in making and that of all Aâ—ia and set in a miry ground for the avoyding of earth-quakes there were 127 pillars in it made of their kings one by one which were in height 60 foot whereof 36 were carved with marveilous workemanship The length of the whole Church was 425 feete and the breadth 220. All that tooke this Church for Sanctuary had great immunities and priviledges there were also so many gifts and monuments given to this Church from all Nations and Citties that none in 〈…〉 world might bee compare 〈…〉 wealth St. Paul preached at Ephesus 3 yeeres and converted many to the faith St. Iohn also the Evangelist dyed in this Citty But this sumptuous Temple was destroyed and set on fire in the reigne of Galienus the Emperour by one Erostratus who doing many notable feats in Warre and otherwise when he perceived that he got no reward nor renowne thereby to leave a continuall remembrance of his flagitious and horrible act did with great fires and monstrous flames consume this faire Church and brought it to ashes thinking thereby to be remembred in perpetuity and yet he was deceived for there were generall Edicts and Proclamations made that no man upon paine of death should presume once to put his name in any writing or Chronicle to the intent that he might have beene buried with everlasting oblivion M. Curius THere was in Rome about three hundred yeares before Christs time a strange and horrible gaping of the earth even about the middest of the market place with so vaste 〈◊〉 depth and infinite hollownesse that it might well have beene compared to the gaping of hell mouth the spectacle continuing thus for a time made great terror amongst the people aâ— the length the Southsayers by their interpretations perswaded that this horrible depth might be stopped if the most precious thingâ— in the Citty were cast therein Whereupon divers of the Matrones of Rome of their owne free will cast in divers goodly Jewels but all was in vaine Wherefore M. Curius a Knight of Rome comming of a noble house being decked and adorned with his warlike furniâ—ure and ornaments rid headâ—ong into that horrible depth and hollownesse of the earth and so immediately it closed together againe and was stopped Some say that he demanded this one thing before he would grant to ride and and leape into that depth that for a whole yeares space it might bee lawfull for him every night to lie with what woman hee would chuse and that then of his owne mind he cast himselfe suddenly down headlong into that denne and so the earth closed againe Of the warres and manners of the Turkes THe Turkes have a marvellous celerity in doing a constancy in dangers and observation of the Empire They will swimme over very deepe and dangerous waters they passe over strange hills and being commanded they goe through thicke and thinne headlong having no regard of their lives but of the Empire Most apt and ready to suffer fasting and watching There is no sedition amongst them no tumult They use horrible sounds and not out-cries in War in their Tents in the night-time there is â—uch diligent silence that they â—ad rather suffer their prisoners â—o escape then to move any tumult The Turkes of all kinde of â—eople are said at these dayes to 〈◊〉 most lawfull fighting so that 〈◊〉 is no marvel why their Comâ—on-wealth continueth so long â—nd encreaseth so much that â—â—eir Nation is almost invinâ—â—ble except they be destroyed â—y some plague or pestilence â—r civill discord The Souldiâ—rs have an honest kinde of apâ—arrell In their saddles and briâ—els there is no curious superfluâ—y No man goeth armed but 〈◊〉 the time of War their weaâ—ons are brought after them in â—urdens they use no banners â—or standerds but in the tops of â—heir Javelins they have certaine â—hreads of divers colours hanging where one Captaine known from another They use the Drumme at the Fluite to call and mooâ—â— men to fight They pray fâ—â— their souldiers in every congrâ—â—gation and solemne meetinâ— but rather for such as have dye for their Countrey calling the happy and blessed that they dâ—â—ed not at home in the lamentaâ—â—â—on of their Wives and Childreâ— but abroad amongst their enâ—â—mies weapons and terrible noâ—ses They write and describâ— the victories of their ancestoâ— they sing and extoll them beiâ—â— written for they thinke the souldiers mindes to bee muâ—â— encouraged by these meaneâ— They doe so abhorre picture and engraved Images that upâ—â— such causes they call the Châ—â—â—stians Idolaters They have 〈◊〉 Bells nor yet doe suffer the Christians abiding amongst â—hem to have Bells They neâ—er play for mony or any other â—â—ing but such as bee found â—laying be grievously slandred 〈◊〉 every mans mouth No man â—f what state or degree so ever â—e be desireth to sit on a bench â—ut they lye downe and sit on â—â—e earth like Children with a â—ery comely folding of their â—â—rments under them The table whereon they feed â—â—r the most part is prepared of â—n Oxe hide or an Harts skinne â—ndressed and rough with haire â—â—ill having the roundnesse of â—oure or five hand breadthes No man entreth into any house Church or other place whereâ—n they must sit unlesse his â—hooes be off because it is acounted an unhonest and undecent point for any man to 〈◊〉 with his shoes on his feete anâ— therfore
a gate made all of massie Brasse and was usually to have twenty men to shut or close the Gates together and then being locked and bolted besides other Barres of Iron which went a crosse about the first houre of the Morning or just after 12 of the Clocke the said Gate flew open of its owne accord which the Magistrates hearing of went presently to see and all of them with their greatest power could hardly shut them againe the vulgar interpreted it and affirmed that God openeâ— unto them the Gate of his blessings The fifth Chariots and armed men seene in the Ayre shooting as it were one against another with arrowes and darts all of them just over the Citty The sixt was at the celebration of the full Moone at the day called Pentecost when the Priests all in their vestments adorned for their wonted Sacrifice at first felt the ground to quiver or shake under them and then a voyce which said Let us depart hence The seventh which is most wonderfull being one of their owne Countrey men but a devout man and having a great desire to celebrate the Feast which they call the Feast of Tabernacles and being present among the assembly on a sudden tryed out a voice from the East â— voice from the West a voyce from the foure windes a voyce â—gainst the Temple Ierusalem â—nd thus crying against al men women and all manner of people of what degree soever continually cryed thus night and day in the streets of Jerusalem which some of the Nobility heard disdaining any misfortune whatsoever seized upon him by their command and their servants holding him with Chaines and cords till other Magistrates that were then in office did pronounce some punishment upon him for his foretelling them of the destruction of their famous Citty and Temple they stripped him and beat him very sorely yet hee persevered in his crying O Ierusalem woe woe unto thee Albinus then being his Judge which pronounced his former punishment was in amazement at his words which continually spake for that the stripes were layd and afflicted on him still and thus they suffered him to cry for the space of 7 yeares and almost 6 months and none tooke it to heart his voyce neither waxing hoarse nor weary till the time of the siedge still saying woe woe to this faire City and at last presaging his own death cryed out Woe to my own selfe and as some report a stone being conveyed from an engine smote him on the fore-head but some relate that it was a dart flung from an envious hand which had often heard him cry with teares and say O Ierusalem woe woe This Albinus as it is reported was one of the first that was taken prisoner and after put to death by Titus some sixe dayes after the east end of the Temple was fired Of Ireland THE earth in Ireland is so fruitfull and so good of pasture that their cattell except they bee restrayned sometimes from pasture in Summer are like to be in danger through satiety There is no hurtfull thing nor noysome beast no Spider no toade nor such like either breedeth there or else being brought from other Countries thither continueth or liveth there The earth of this Countrey cast in powder upon any dangerous beast or venemous Serpent of any other Countrey destroyeth and kill them There bee no Bees in this Countrey the temperatenesse of the ayre is marvellous the fertility and fruitfulnesse of the Countrey is notable the people of the Countrey bee voide of hospitality they are uncivill and cruell and therefore not unapt for warlike affaires they attribute great honour to Martiall acts and knightly prowesse The Sea betwixt Ireland and England doth rage almost continually so that there is no safe passage but at certaine times Of England and Scotland IN England there be no wolvs and it any be brought thither they doe not continue and therefore their heards of Cattell keepe well together without any great attendance of men The Sheepe have hornes contrary to those of other countries In Scotland there be certaine Trees which bring forth a fruit folded and wrapped up in the leaves and that fruite when in convenient time it falleth into the water running by the tree it reviveth and taketh life and is transformed into a living fowle which some call a Goose of the tree or a Barnacle This tree also groweth in the Isle of Pomenia which is not far from Scotland towards the North. The ancient Cosmographers and especially Saxo the Grammarian maketh mention of this tree likewise and therefore it is not like to bee any feigned or devised thing of late writers Aeneas Syluius writeth of this tree in this manner We heard say there was a tree in Scotland which growing upon a banke by the waters side bringeth forth fruit much like in forme to Ducks and the fruit of that tree when it is ripe doth fall of it selfe some upon the land and some into the water and those that fal upon the earth do putrifie and rot but those thâ—t fall into the water straight waies with life to swim out of the water and to fly in the aire with feathers and wings of the which thing when we made more diligent search being in Scotland with King IAMES a wise sad and grave man wee learned to flye from wondring making such things miracles as were common and that this famous tree was not onely to bee found in Scotland but also in the Isle called the Orchades Of an Isle in Spaine named Gades THere is a little Isle in Spaine called Gades Erythraea the the pastures whereof doe feede cattell so well that they cannot draw or sever any whay from milke but they must needs powre water when they will have their milke to curd Their cattell also be like to dye at every thirty daies end except they be let blood and so lose some quantity of their blood The grasse whereon their sheep feed is somewhat dry but yet it encreaseth a marvellous fatnesse both in their flesh and also in their milke Seneca the Schoole-master of Nero the Emperour SAint Hierom saith that hee was a man of most continent â—ife and therefore hee accounâ—eth him in the number of holy men but especially for the often letters that he wrote to Saint Paul and Saint Paul to him This Seneca being the Schoole-master of Nero was of great power and authority hee wished himselfe to bee in the like degree with his Country-men that Paul had amongst â—he Christians Among divers of his excellent gifts and properties hee had so singuâ—ar and notable a memory that he could rehearse two thousand mens names in the same order that they were told him and also hee was able to rehearse 2 hundreth Verses being said of 2 hundred Schollers from the first to the last most perfectly It is written that Nero his cruell and cursed scholler in recompence of his paines and teaching put him to death two yeares
before the martyrdome of Peter and Paul When Seneca waxed old Nero calling to remembrance the punishment of the rod wherewith Seneca corrected him in his childhood admonished and commanded him to chuse what kind of death he would dye whereby Seneca understanding the Emperours will and pleasure desired that he might bee set in warme water and that his veines might bee cut and opened in it and so they were and he bled untill all his vitall spirits issued out of his body and thus he desired to finish his life because he thought it an easie kinde of death to lose his life in cutting of his veines To divers Nations in ancient times were obiected divers vices and deformities ENvy to the Iewes disloyalty and unfaithfulnesse to the Persians craftinesse to the Aegyptians Deceitfulnesse to the Grecians Cruelty to the Saracens Levity and lightnesse to the Caldeans Variety and changeablenesse to the Affricans Gluttony to the French men Vaine glory to the Lombards Unmercifull severity of the Hungarians The uncleannesse and and filthinesse of the Sâ—evians The foolishnesse of the Saxons The hardinesse of the Picts the luxury of the Scots the drunkennesse and vinolency of the Spaniards the anger of the Britains the rapacity and greedinesse of the Normans And as those vices were noted in these kindes of Nations severally so divers vertues and honest properties were attributed to them severally As Prudence to the Hebricians Stedfastnesse to the Persians Subtilty and wittinesse to the Egyptians Wisedome to the Grecians Gravity to the Romans Sagacity to the Caldeans Wit to the Assyrians Strength and Fortitude to the French-men Faithfulnesse to the Scots Subtile sophistry to the Spaniards Hospitality to the Britaines Mutuall particiâ—ation to the Normans These properties were of anâ—â—ent writers ascribed to divers Nations in old time the which â—ow in these our dayes seeme to â—e much changed and to have â—ad great alteration Sugar groweth in a part of Italy IN Calabria which is a part of Italy there groweth Sugar which is a kinde of Hony gatheâ—ed out of great canes or reeds â—irst of al it is like unto a kind of narrow resolved into liquour which some call white gum a â—hing easie to bee separated and â—ivided and afterward this liâ—uor being boyled and sodden â—fter the manner of Salt is reâ—olved into a spume of froth â—ntill at the length that which 〈◊〉 good falleth to the bottome and then the corruption and dregs may be cleane taken away by the froth A Mountaine alwayes casting forth flames and smoke THe Mountaine called Vesâ—vius Mons being nigh unto the great water Sarnum not far from Naples sendeth forth continually flames of fire and smoke like unto Aetna in Sicily This Hill in the Reigne of TITUS the Emperour being broken in the very top did cast forth so great flames that it set the Countries adjoyning on fire The Writers of Histories say such abundance of ashes and hot imbers to have beene throwne out of this Hill that the fields round about have beene filled with the said ashes even to the tops of the trees It is also found in ancient writings that Pliny the second being a very grave and wise man in the Reigne of Traianus the Emperour was suffocate and destroyed with the flames and ashes of this Hill when that for the desire he had to see and note the nature and motion of it hee presumed to goe too neare This Mountaine also burned with flames of fire when T. Vespasian and F. Domitian were Consuls and breaking out in the top first it cast forth stones aloft after that so great flames of fire followed that through the fervent heate thereof two Townes were consumed with Fire the smoke thereof was so thicke that it tooke away the light of the Sunne and in the day time made the darknesse of the night casting forth Pumice stones and divers other kinde of black stones Last of all ashes sprang out so thicke and such a multitude that the Countries hard by were covered therewith as it were with Snow and these ashes were driven by the force of the windes partly into Affricke and partly into Aegypt and Syria The which outragious burning as the elder Pliny did contemplate and behold the smoke did so obstruct and stop his winde-pipe that in the restraint of respiration he was suffocate and strangled The properties of the Eagle IN Italy there bee many Eagles this fowle is a rapacious cruell and a devourer of flesh she is so much given to greedinesse and to her prey that she doth not onely seeke for preys in necessity of food but also when shee hath enough shee seeketh for superfluities shee doth greedily invade and set upon Hares Harts Geese and Cranes the eyes of the Eagle be so sharpe and quicke of sight that being in the very highest part of the Ayre shee can easily see what falleth on the land Amongst all fowles onely the Eagle can move her selfe streight upward and downward perpendicularly with her flying without any collaterall declining The Egle is commended for his faithfulnesse towards other birds when he hath gotten meat or feeding for hee doth familiarly communicate the same unto such Fowles as do accompany him and when hee hath no more to make distribution of then he attacheth his guest and dismembreth and devoureth him All Fowle tremble when they see the Eagle having as it were some understanding of his tyranny against them Hee loveth his yong with great affection so that the Eagle putteth his owne body in danger for them bearing his yong on his back when hee perceiveth them to be assaulted with Arrowes When he laboureth to drive the Hart headlong to ruine hee gatheâ—eth much dust as hee flyeth â—nd sitting upon the Harts â—ornes hee shaketh the dust â—â—to his eyes and with his â—ings beateth him about the â—outh untill he bringeth him to all downe headlong Hee hath great conflicts with the Dragon and the Dragon most greedily coveteth â—he Egles Egges and for this â—ause they fight wheresoever â—hey meeâ—e It is said that â—he Eagle of all kinde of Fowles â—an keepe the sharpnesse of his â—ight and his eyes steadfast against the Sunne beames and â—hat hee is never hurt by lightâ—ing A Description of the Raven THe Raven is a fowle give to rapacity and devoâ—â—ring of flesh great of body slow in flight sharpe in sight and frequenteth much in Italy in the Alpes in Spaine and in Egypt And this is to be understood oâ— the great kinde of Ravens Thâ— skinne of the Raven is prepareâ— and dressed artificially of thâ— white tawyers with the featheâ— remaining upon it and that 〈◊〉 laid to a stomacke not well 〈◊〉 sickly doth marvellously helpâ— digestion This Fowle doâ—â— greatly above all other covâ—â— mens carcases and by a singulaâ— wit and naturall gift it underâ—standeth of mans death presâ—â—ging it few dayes before With his sharpe eye-sight also it perceiveth a farre off his most desired foode There bee some that writeth marvellous things
the drinking of plaine waâ—er They have also Gold and Silver in admiration as well as other Nations The King of Denmark that ruleth also Norway maketh a ruler among them yearly all things be common amongst them saving their wives they esteem their yong cattel as much as their children of the poorer sort you may sooner obâ—aine their Childe then their Cattell They honour their Bishop as a King to whose will â—nd pleasure all the people hath great respect whatsoever he determineth by Law Scripture or by custome of other Nations that they doe curiously observe and yet now the King hath compelled them to take a ruler They have so great store of fish in this Isle that they make their sales of them in piles as high as houses they live most commonly there by fish for the great penury of wheat and corne which is brought unto them from nations that with great lucre and and gaines carry away fish for it There is a notable Hill or Mountaine called Hecla not farre from which he Mines of Brimstone the singlar Merchandize of that Country For divers Merchants loade their ships with it when this Hil doth rage it thundreth terrible noyses iâ— easteth out stones it belcheth out Brimstone it covereth the earth so farre round about with the ashes cast forth that unto the twentieth stone it is unhabited they that desire to contemplate the nature of so great flames and therefore adventure more nigh unto the Hill are suddenly swallowed and consumed with some inorable gulfe or vorage for there be many such blasts so covered and hidden with ashes that none can sufficiently beware or take heede of them and there commeth out such a fire from that Hill that consumeth Water but stubble or stâ—aw it doth not burne This place is thought of some to be the prison of ununclean soules For the Ice being divided and broken into many parts swimmeth about the Isle almost eight moneths and being broken and bruised with rushing upon the banks with the beatings and noise of the cracking against the banks and rocks giveth so horrible a sound almost representing the miserable lamentation of humane voyce and weeping that it maketh the â—uder sort the more simple and unwife to beleeve that mens soules bee tormented there in cold The inhabitants use instead of bread whereof they lacke store fish dryed made hard and ground to meale and yet out of divers Countries Wheate is brought unto them but not so much as may suffice There bee spirits commonly seene shewing themselves manifestly in doing such things as belong to men but especially they appeare in the formes of such as have beene drowned or â—estroyed by some other vioâ—ent chance and thus doe they â—ppeare commonly in the comâ—any of such men as have had faâ—iliar acquaintance with the deâ—arted and doe use them so in â—ll points that they be taken many times for the living perâ—ons in deed of such as be ignoâ—ant of their deaths offering â—heir right hands for acquainâ—ance and this falsehood and â—rroneous sight cannot bee perâ—eived before the spirit it selfe â—anisheth out of sight and conâ—umeth away being required of â—heir familiars to come home â—nd to see their Friends againe with great sighes and weeping â—hey answer That they must go â—o Hecla the Mountaine and so â—uddenly they vanish out of â—ight Of the Countrey called Laponia IN Laponia the people be of a meane stature but they be of such agility of body that being girded and prepared with a sheafe of arrowes and Bow they will suddenly passe through 〈◊〉 hoope or circle whose Diameter is but halfe a yard They bee taught the Art of shooting from their childhood and a Boy there shall have no meate before hee can touch his marke with his arrow When the Sun goeth downe after the Equinox in September they have one continuall night for three Moneths almost all which time they have no other light but as it were a twiter light and when the Sunne commeth to them before the Equinox in March they celebrate that day as a festivall day with much solemnity Of Whales THere bee great Whales as bigge as Hills almost nigh unto Iseland which are sometimes openly seene and those will drowne and overthrow Shippes except they be made afeard with the sound of Trumpets and Drummes or except some round and empty vessels be cast unto them wherewith they may play and sport them because they are delighted in playing with such things Sometimes many cast their anchors upon Whales backes thinking them to be some Isles and so become in great danger Many in Iseland of the Bones and Ribs of such monstrous Whales make posts and sparres for the building of their houses Munster saith this is a good remedy against such dangerous Whales to take that which the Apothecaries call Castoreum and temper it with water and cast it into the Sea for by this as by a poyson they are utterly driven and banished to the bottome of the Sea How a marvellous horrible Dragon was destroyed in Polonia IN Graccovia a Citty of Polonia there was a marvellous horrible and huge Dragon which consumed and devoured all things and was the cause of great damages for when hee came out of his denne under the mountaine hee did rape and snatch all kind of cattel and men wandring uncircumspectly devouring them with his horrible jawes Gracchus being very sad and lamenting this matter commanded three severall bodies to be cast unto him every day for being contented with those he would looke for no more The which thing although it was grievous yet hee perswaded that three either of sheepe or of some other cattell should be offered him every day wherein Brimstone and some fiery powder or device of flame should be included hidden and mingled with waxe and pitch privily for so that beast and Dragon being provoked with naturall greedinesse or with a rapacious famine and hunger devouring without respect or choise the offered prey by little and little was weakned and extinguished The like example is read in Daniel the Prophet A strange History of a King devoured of Mice THere was in Polonia a King named Pompilius who was wont in all his execrations and and curses to say I pray God the Mice may devoure me Trâ—ly with evill luck and forespeaking evill to himselfe and to his for the Mice devoured his sonne who was also called Pompilius after his Father This sonne after the death of his father being left in his childhood his Uncles administred and governed the Kingdome untill hee came to mans years and was married then suddenly as he was in the middest of his â—easts overcharged with Wine being adorned with Coronates and Garlands dawbed with his â—yntments oppressed with luxury and surfeiting a great number of Mice comming from the carcases of his uncles did invade him the which hee and his wife â—he Queen did destroy but they came forth so fast and in such a multitude assaulted and set upon this Tyrant in
or Ants for they say it is as acceptable unto God to give and offer almes to bruit beastes and Fowles needing it as unto men when it is offered for the love of God There bee some that set Birds at liberty to fly which were restrained and shut up giving money according to to the value of the birds Some cast bread to fish in the water for Gods sake saying that they shall get of God a noble reward for such bounty and pitty towards those that need it The Turkes have also three divers manners of washing them the first is a sprinkling of all the whole body with Water and that this should not be in vaine nor frustrate they shave the haires from every part of their body saving onely the beards in men and the haires upon womens heads And yet they wash them very curiously and kembe them often therefore in the more famous Cities there be Bathes which they use continually Where there bee no such they have some secret place prepared to wash them in houses that they may bee well clarified with water before they go out of the house They have another kinde of washing nothing necessary as when they ease nature of superfluities For then in some secret place they wash their secret parts there is none seene standing or upright when hee delivereth nature of superfluous burdens The third kinde of washing is to purifie the instruments of sences wherein they wash both hands and arms even to the elbowes then their mouth their nostrills and all their face Both men and women doe make a scraping of filthy places every moneth twice or thrice but especially when they frequent the Temples otherwise they should be burnt as violaters prophaners of a sacred place They use such severity in warre that no souldier dare take away any thing unjustly for if he doth he shall be punished without mercy as you shall read in this discourse of the 3 severall deaths that the Romans and the Iewes punished their offenders withal They have ordinary keepers and defenders of those things as be in souldiers waies the which are bound to maintaine the Orchards and Gardens with their fruits about high waies so that they dare not take an apple or such like without the licence of the owner For if they did they should suffer death for it Of this writeth one Bartholomew Giurgevitus that was captive thirteene yeares in Turkie after this sort When I was in the Turkes army in his expedition against the Persians I did see a certain Horseman headed with his Horse and Servant also because his Horse being loose entred into the fields of another man None of the Princes or Dukes possesseth any Prouince or Citty as rightfull inheritance nor they they cannot leave any such thing after their death to their children or successors without the coÌ„sent of the king supream governour But if any Duke desireth to have any certaine possessions it is granted to him upon this condition there is a certaine note of the price and of the rents and revenues of those possessions The Turke knoweth also how many souldiers may be kept with that yearely revenue and so many souldiers hee enjoyneth him to keepe the which ought alwayes to be in a readinesse at every commandement other the Lord shall lose his head if he did not answere his duty and office How the Christians taken of the Turkes in warre be handled and tormented and how they are made free THe Emperour of the Turks when he maketh is expedition against the Christians he hath alwayes wayting upon him a company of Butchers and sellers of Boyes to abhominable uses who carry with them a great number of long chaines in hope of bondmen and captives wherein they linke and binde 50 or 60 easily by order The same men do buy also of such as have booties or preys as many as have not perished with sword the which thing is permitted them upon this condition if they give unto the Prince the tenth or tithe of their bondmen prisoners and captives The other it is lawfull for them to keepe to their owne use and merchandize and there is no better nor more plenteous a Mart amongst them then of bond-men The Emperour doth so separate the old men and the youth of both kinds which commeth to him in the name of the tenth or tithes that he selleth them of ripe age for the plough and husbandry Young maides and young men he sendeth away to a certaine place to be instructed in certaine Arts that he might use them afterward more commodiously and first they goe about this to make them deny their Christian Faith and then to have them circumcised and when they are once entred into their Ceremonies according to every mans disposition and wit he is appointed either to study the Lawes of their Nation or else to practise feats of Warre if more strength appeareth in the body than in his wit they are so instructed in the principles of warlike affaires that for the weaknesse of their strength first they use an easie Bow afterward as their strength encreaseth and they have more exquisite knowledge they have a more strong Bow untill they be meete for Warre There is a Master which calleth severely upon dayly exercise as often as they swarve from the marke so oftentimes are they whipped Others are made meet cunning to fight with staves But they in whom there is a greater grace of beautifull forme are so mangled that no manlinesse appeareth in their bodies they have beene so abused with great danger of life and if they do escape they bee meete for nothing else but for ministers of most flagitious voluptuousnesse and when their beauty waxeth old they are deputed into the office of Eunuches to observe and keepe Matrons or else they are addicted to the custody of Horses or Mules or to kitching drudgery Maydens that are very comely and beautifull are chosen to bee their concubines those of the meaner sort are given to Matrons to waite upon them where they have such filthy fervices and functions that they cannot bee named with honesty for they are compelled to follow them with a vessell of water when they goe to discharge the belly and those parts Other be kept at maidens worke as spinning and baking When the Turkes have gotten any yong prisoners they urge them with threatnings promises and flatterings that their new bondmen would bee circumcised and when any hath admitted that he is used with a little more humanity but all hope of returnâ—ng againe into his countrey is utterly taken away and if he once goeth about it he is in danger of burning These because they are thought more stedfast and lesse given to runne away they are preferred of their Lords to warlike affaires their liberty is then due unto them when they being unprofitable for yeares bee rather rejected of their Lords than dismissed or else where their Lord hath given them liberty in war for the danger of
which was speedily done to the satisfaction of some and the example of all The third kinde of death was that of stoning as some suppose borrowed from the Iews and this they inflicted principally upon such as were robbers of Temples or mockers either of â—heir Priests or their Gods Thus Lucius Publius one that â—efore this Fact had deserved â—ell of the Common-wealth â—eing the Priests of Mars saâ—rificing in their Temple laughâ—d at their seeming foolish Ceâ—emonies as needlesse was atâ—â—ched and presently commitâ—ed to dye at a stake by being â—astned to it and having stones â—ast at him in the open streets with these words spoken by the â—rincipall executioner So let â—ll deriders of the Gods deservedly perish They did exercise and indeed invent a fourth kinde of death and that was the fastning of the party to a Crosse made of wood and thus the Saviour of the World was the first that endured this punishment and shame under Tiberius then Emperour of Rome and Pontius Pilate being his Vice-Roy for Iury he was made to carry his owne Crosse upon which he was to suffer till being wearied with the weight of it they compelled one Simon to carry to the place of Execution upon which his hands and feete being nailed to it he gave up the Ghost and upon his suffering a souldier named Longinus standing by thrust a speare into his side from which issued water and blood who upon the act was strucke blind immediately yet repenting of his Fact had his eyes touch'd with the blood upon the speare and recived thereby his sight againe and so proved a famous member of Gods Church and was made Bishop of Cappadoria Thus have I expressed to you in â—riefe the manner how the Romans punnished any with death Of the Tartarians THe Tartarians are most deformed of all men their bodies are but small their eyes be grosse and bolstring out their faces be broad without haire saving that in their over lip and the chinne they have thin and moisie haire they be common-small in the middle they shave their heads from one eare to another by the top of the crown to the hinder part keeping long haire like unto a woman whereof they make two folds and windings and binde them both behinde the eares and so be all other shaven that tarry amongst them They be good Horsemen and ill Foot-men and therfore none goeth afoot but rides eyther on Horseback or upon some Oxe They have a glory to hang good sounding Bells about their Horses neckes When they drinke they powre it in untill they be drunken the which is a great praise amongst them They have no bread nor use any baking nor table-clothes nor towells they use no handkirchifs nor never wash their hands body nor apparell They eate no pot-herbes nor pulse but onely the flesh of all kinde of living things as Cats Dogs Horse and all kinde of great Mice They roste the bodies of such as they take in Warre to shew their cruelty and desire of revenging and where many meete together in the eating of them they teare them with their teeth like Wolves and drinke the blood thereof which they reserved afore in cups otherwise they drinke Cowes milke One of them eateth the lice from anothers head saying thus will we doe to our Enemies It is an hainous thing with them to suffer any drinke to bee lost or any meate and therefore they cast no bones to Dogges before that the marrow be taken away and many other things are reported of them which Munster setteth forth more at large In Warre they have swords of a yard in length their Horsemen are very skilfull in shooting their Princes never enter into War but standing a far off they cry unto their owne company and exhort them if they see any thing needfull they carry their wives and their children because their Wives be attyred like men and also images of Men on Horseback to their Warres that they might seeme a great number and more terrible to their Enemies They thinke no shame nor ignominy in flying if it be necessary and expedient so to doe If they get the victory they spare none neither Women nor Children nor olde folkes they slay al saving craftsmen and artificers whom they reserve to their uses They are very incontinent and therfore they take as many Wives as they will and may sustaine and they except none but the mother the daughter and sister and yet they bee much given to the Sodomiticall sinne They doe not make account of any Woman as of their Wife nor yet thinke her worthy of dower before that shee hath brought forth a Childe and therefore they may refuse her which is barren and take another they which are taken in adultery both Men and women are put to death by the Law Every Wife hath her mansion her owne Family and liveth very chastely This Nation observeth many superstitions No man maketh urine in his Mansion but if hee doth he is slain without pitty if necessity compelleth him then his tent and all things therein are purged with fire after a curious sort When they chuse and elect their Prince they meete together in a faire field and then they set him in a Golden throne and Chayre to whom the Kingdom is due either by succession or by election and falling down before him they cry all after this sort with one consent and a loud voyce We beseech we will and command that thou beare rule over us He answereth If you will have this done of me it is necessary that you be ready to doe all that I shall command when I call to come and whithersoever I send to goe and to commit and put the whole rule into our hands When they have answered we bee ready Hee saith againe Therefore my word shall bee my sword and all the people clap their hands with great rejoycing Then the Noblemen take him from the regall seate and make him to sit softly upon a cushin or a cloth layd upon the ground saying thus Looke up and acknowledge God and looke downeward to the cushin wheron thou sittest if thou doest well governe and rule thou shalt have all things according to thy desire but if thou doest ill rule us thou shalt bee brought so low and so bare that this small cushin whereon thou sittest shall not be left thee at the which saying they adjoyne unto him his dearest and best beloved wife and lifting them both up with the cushin they salute him Emperour of all Tartarians and her the Empresse Then to such as be present of other Nations he commandeth gifts to bee given out of hand There is also all the treasure and jewels which the late deceased Emperour left wherewith this new Emperour rewardeth every Noble-man and that which remayneth he commandeth to bee kept to his owne use In his hands and power all things bee and no man dare say this is mine or his No man ought to tarry in any part of
the valleyes of the desarts The tenth was Albunea surnamed Tiburtina because she was borne at Tiber 15 miles from Rome The invisible Word shall be borne of a Virgine hee shall converse among sinners and shall of them bee despised Lactantius Firmianus rehearseth divers of their prophesies without making any particular mention of them they are to bee referred specially notwithstanding as it should seeme unto Sibylla Samberta who wrot 24 bookes in verse chiefly intreating of the comming miracles and life of Christ whereunto the sayings of all the other Sibyls are conformable S. Austine likewise in the 23 Chapter of his 18 booke Dâ—â—civitate dei reciteth these Prophesies as followeth Then he shall bee taken by the wicked â—ands of the Infidells and they â—hall give him buffets on his face with their sacrilegious hands â—nd they shall spit upon him with their foule and accursed â—outhes Hee shall turne unto â—hem his shoulders suffering â—hem to bee whipped yea he â—hall hold his peace without â—peaking ere a word to the end â—at none shall know from â—henee his words proceede â—ee shall also be crowned with â—hornes they shall give him â—all to eate and Vinegar to drinke Behold the feast that â—hey shall make him in so much â—hat thou ignorant and blinde â—eople shalt not know thy God â—onversing among men but â—hou shalt crowne him with â—hornes mingling for him gall â—nd vinegar then the vaile of â—he Temple shall rend and at mid-day it shall be darke night for the space of three houres So the just shall dye the death and this death or sleepe shall continue three dayes and when he shall have been in the bowels of the earth he shall rise againe and returne to life Lactantius moreover Lib. 4. Chap. 15. rehearseth these Pâ—â—phesies of them He shall raise the dead the impotent and lame shall goe and runne nimbly the deafe shall heare the blinde shall see the dumbe shall speak freeâ—ly And a little before that saith with five loaves and two fishes hee shall nourish in the Desartâ— 5000 men and the fragment thereof shall bee sufficient to satisfie many more Many otheâ— things were foretold by theâ—â— Sibyls as well of the ruins oâ— great States as of Christ. The eleventh called Epyrotica some hold her to bee the same that Phrigia was she came from Troas to Dodona where she prophesied and was as well as the other denominated from the place but the most hold that she was diverse from the other and was called Phaënni so writes Iohannes Tsetses she prophesied that the pure word should come from a Virgin how hee should willingly come down from heaven seem poore to the world yet should governe all things whose rule kingdome should never cease that he should be both God and Man and that this his kingdome should principally reside in the souls of men whom he would governe and save to another life thus Laelius Cleopassus and others affirme Colophonia Lampusia the twelfth she came out of Greece from Colophonia a City of Ioniâ— shee prophesied of the changes of Kingdomes of Inundation Earthquakes and of Warres shee told that God was onely to be adored that hee was angry at vice and punished it that hee did delight in holy and upright men shee told also that the whole World should bee burnt and wished men to adore that God while they lived here which would punish them so severely hereafter for their contempt Of India IN the Country of India they have two Summers their ayre is most gentle and pleasant and temperant great fruitfulnesse of the soyle and plenty of waters and therefore some â—â—ve 130 yeares especially the Musitanes There be others whose lives â—re longer there be marvellous â—reat beasts bred in that Counâ—rey and trees of such height â—hat a man cannot shoote to the â—op of them this commeth by â—he fertility of the soile temâ—eratenesse of the Ayre and â—lenty of waters Their reeds â—re of such bignesse and length â—hat the space betwixt every â—not may beare three men â—ometimes in a little River â—here bee store of Parrats It â—ringeth forth Nard Cinamon Pepper Calamus Aromaticus â—nd other spices and also divers Pearle and precious stones Pliny saith that in the Countrey of India all things are bredde of a greater magnitude then in any other Countrey as men beasts and trees The people have a bushy haire and a speciall decking with precious stones they are very divers 〈◊〉 apparrell some weare woollen garments and some linnen many goe naked and some cover their privy parts onely the colour of the body is commonly blacke being in their Motherâ— wombe such through the disposition of their Parents they bee of a good tall stature and strong They bethrifty in living and very continent from theft they know no Letters but doe all things by memory and for their simplicity and thriftinesse all things have prosperous successe they drinke no wine but in Sacrifice they make drinke of Rice and Barley their meate 〈◊〉 commonly rice-pottage they â—â—ve no prerogative to their old â—ge except they excell in wiseâ—ome He that is reprehended â—s a false witnesse hath the tops â—f his fingers cut off hee that â—epriveth any man of any memâ—er hath the law Talio that is â—o lose the like member and alâ—o his hand is cut off And if aâ—y man putteth out the eye or â—utteth away the hand of an Arâ—ificer he loseth his life for it If any woman killeth a drunken King she hath her reward to be conjoyned with his successour There be seven speciall orders amongst the Indians the first is of Philosophers which being few in number were preferred before the rest in honour and dignity they are free from all workes and neither serve any body nor governe or rule they take such things of private follâ—â— wherewith they doe Sacrifice and they have a care of the dead and especially know what is done in Hell and therefore many gifts and honours are bestowed upon them they profit much to the life of the Indians for they meete together in the beginning of the yeare and foretell drought raine windes diseases and other things the knowledge whereof is profitable that Philosopher which foresheweth any thing that is false hath no other punishment but to keepe silence for ever The second order is of Husbandmen which exceeding the rest in multitude being free from Wars and other worke doe onely bestow their time in tilling their ground no enemy offereth any injury to them because they are thought to be occupied about the common profit they live in the fields with their Wives and Children and come not into the City they give tribute to the King the fift part of â—heir profit The third order is Shepheards which neither inâ—abite in Cities nor Townes but have their tabernacles and â—heir nets and things for hunâ—ing and these keep the Countrey from the danger of beasts and fowles The fourth degree â—s of Artificers whereof some maketh weapons some other
the World 3634 and before Christ 320 yeares after whose death it was divided among the Prefects which in his life-time he had appointed in divers Countries by which division Seleucus was King of Syria Ptolomeus of Egypt Antigonus of Asia Cassander of Macedonia and Greece all which Countries were after subdued by the Romans The fourth Monarchy or Empire was of the Romans founded by Iulius Caesar in the yeare of the World 3914 after the building of Rome 706 yeares and before Christ 47 yeares This Monarchy flourished about the space of 470 yeares till that after the death of Theodostus the great it was divided by his two Sonnes into two Empires Arcadius was Emperor of Constantinople which Empire endured though afterwards much diminished by the invasions of barbarous Nations untill the yeare of our Lord 1453 and then was quite lost by Constantine and conquered by Mahomet second King of Turkes Honorius was Emperour of Rome which Empire shortly after in the yeare of our Lord five Hundred Seventy five and about the ninth Moneth of the Reigne of Augustus was utterly ruinated and spoyled by Othacar King of Gothes And long after in the yeare of our Lord Eight Hundred and one it was restored by Charles the great and by him united to the Crown of France and by his successours translated into Germany where it yet remaineth as a shadow onely or representation of the greatnesse and majesty of the ancient Roman Empire How the Torneyments and Iustes beganne first in Saxony HEnry Duke of Saxony in the yeare of our Lord 931 beeing assaulted and incombred much with Infidels and Heathen Nations made an assembly of a great multitude of the Nobility to assist him in his Warres against the Saracens wherein he had so good successe that triumphantly he had the victory over them Thus after hee had given the repulse to the Infidels considering what a number of the Nobility he had dayly exercising themselves in Martiall acts thought it meet that after the end of his long and great Warres to recreate them with â—ome honest and pleasant exerâ—â—se Hee had compassion over â—hem because some of them â—â—habiting amongst Cittizens â—hould bee occupied with civill â—usinesse and not in the exerâ—â—se of noble and honourable paâ—imes meete for such personaâ—es as they were and therefore â—e prescribed certaine articles â—ccording to the which they â—hould live and if they did transâ—resse them that they should be â—unished in the open Torniaâ—ent these articles were twelve â—n number The first whosoever of the Nobility should say or doe aâ—y thing against the Holy faith â—â—e should be restrained from the Torneyment and if under â—he colour or excuse of the Noblenesse of any of his ancestors â—ny doth presume to enter the lists or the Torneyment let him with shame be driven away The second whosoever comming of noble blood doth attempt any thing against the royall Majesty of Caesar let him be punished openly in the Torneyment and of this article was the Authour Conradus a Prince of Palatine The Duke of Franconia was the Authour of the third which is this Whosoever comming of a noble house betrayeth has Lord or forsaketh him or exciteth to fly away in an Army without any necessary cause or slayeth his innocent companions let him have punishment in the open Torneyment The Duke of Sueneland made the fourth after this sort Whosoever comming of Noble Parentage doth violate or defame by words or deeds Virgins or Women let him be openly corrected in the Torneyment The fift Article the Duke of Bavaria made in this manner If any of the Nobility bee apprehended or reproved to have corrupted or falsefied the Seale or to have violated his Oath or hath beene noted of infamy let him as unworthy bee kept from the Torneyment The sixt is if any Noble-man did either secretly or openly slay his wife or bed-fellow or had helped by his counsell or deede to the destroying of the Lord the law of the Torneyment should take place against him The seventh if any did spoile and rob Churches Chappels Widdows or Wards or kept by force that which was theirs from them wheras they were rather to be helped and maintaâ—â—ned that he should bee duely corrected for it The eighth If any noble man were become an enemy to another and did not maintaine hâ—â— cause by lawfull order or by martiall law but would 〈◊〉 his adversary by robberies 〈◊〉 by destroying of his goods especially his Wines and Corne whereby the Common-wealth is endamaged let him be tormented in the Torneyment The ninth If any did presume to make any alteration or sâ—â— any heavy burden upon others otherwise then of ancient times were used howsoever it were done c. that hee should have his correction in open Torneyment The tenth If any were convict of Adultery c. in like â—anner let him be amended The eleventh Whatsoever Noble-man doth not live as a Noble-man should doe c. in â—â—ke manner let him bee puniâ—hed The twelfth Hee that will â—e at the Torneyment not comâ—ing of noble parentage or â—annot prove his Nobility in â—ure descents hee may not â—nter into the exercise of the Torneyment Thus in a briefe summe you â—ay see the manner of the Torâ—eyment in Saxony The eight Parliaments of France THE chiefe and generalleâ— Justice of the Realme 〈◊〉 France is continually kept 〈◊〉 eight Citties wherein are Palaâ—ces made expresly for the puâ—â—pose and this generall kinde oâ— Justice is divided into eigâ—â— parts according to the eigâ—â— Citties and every of them aâ—â— called Parliaments which diffeâ— very little from our Tearmâ—â— but whereas these are but fouâ— times in a yeare those are conâ—tinually kept each of them haâ—ving instead of our Lord Chanâ—celour a chiefe President The first and chiefest of thesâ— Parliaments is that of Pariâ— called the Court of the Peereâ— of France and to the equitâ— â—nd judgement of this Parliaâ—ent many forraigne Kings and â—rinces have submitted themâ—â—lves in matters of greatest imâ—ortance as to the most veneâ—ble and chiefest Senate of Juâ—â—â—ce in the world Such were â—â—e Emperour Frederick the seâ—â—â—nd called Barberossa King 〈◊〉 both Scycils when he subâ—itted himselfe to the judgment 〈◊〉 this Court of Parliament as â—uching all the controversies 〈◊〉 his Empire and Kingdomes â—hich he had against Pope Inâ—â—cent the Fourth Philip Prince 〈◊〉 Tarente and the Duke of â—urgundy who submitted themâ—â—lves to this Parliament for â—â—e controversie betwixt them â—â—on the expences of the recoâ—ery of the Empire of Constanâ—â—nople The Duke of Lorraineâ—bject â—bject to the Empire and the Lord Guy of Chastillon who submitted themselves to the judgement of this Court as concerning the limitation of their lands and possessions the Daulphin of Vienna and the Earle of Savâ—y submitted themselves to the judgement of this Parliament concerning the suite betwixt them for the homage of the Marquisat of Saluces Moreover without the consent of this Parliament it hath not beene seene that the Kings of France have