their raigne of whom the firste had to name Acre A litle after this was Ioseph solde to the Egyptians in suche sorte as hath the Historie as also how his Father his brethren their children wente also into Aegypt where such Israelites as descended of them liued as accompteth Beda foure hundred thirty yéeres with whom accordeth S. Augustine in his booke De ciuitate Dei. Duringe this Age Hercules of Libya came into Spayne where he raigned ▪ after him Iuer Brigus Taga Beto Gerian others of whom Berosus with other good authors remembereth vs In this time was also firste founded the Cittie of Siuile which is accompted for one among the others of moste antiquitie in the worlde as well recordeth Berosus with others First this Citie had to name Ispalis of Ispal the sonne or Nephewe of Hercules who long raigned or ruled there who also as some say layde the first foundations thereof or buylte it although Isidorus affirme that it was named Ispalis for that it was seated in a place watry or in a marish where they were compelled for better assuraunce of their foundation to beate into the grounde great stakes beames or trées which how so euer it was this Cittie of Ispalis was after called Spayne as writeth Trogus Pompeius Iustine and others And after this agayne Iulius Caesar called it Siuile inriching and amplyfiing it in such large sort and manner that it after was the seate there or resting place of the Romaynes beyng also before that very noble and honorable But to returne to our purpose after this agayne was Moyses borne vnder whose conducte the Hebrewes came out of Aegypte in whiche time also liued Iob the iuste And after this came that general Inundation on Thessalie when great Kingdomes grew then in diuers Landes Contryes In Aethiopia then first raigned Ethiopus in Sicilia Siculus in Boecia Boecius So that Countryes then receiued their denomination of Princes as of Sardus Sardina also the first King or Prince there In these dayes flourished the famous Troye then also was Iason busied in conqueringe the Fliece of Goulde whence in like manner procéedeth the knowen Historie of Medea Nowe were the Amazones of greater power then in any other time and now began the Kingdome of the Latines in Italie About this time Paris also rauished Helena the onely cause of the longe warre and destruction of Troye of the comming of Aeneas into Italie as also of other things innumerable which in few may not bée spaken Then ended this thirde Age and the fourth began euen in the beginning of the raigne of Dauid seconde Kinge of the Hebrewes whiche continued vntill the transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon foure hundred foure score and fiue yéeres but Beda rekeneth fewer foure hundred seuentie and foure onely This Age might well bée termed the lustie Age of the world during which infinite matters happened whereof all Histories are full Now that good King Dauid obtayned sundry victories as well agaynst the Philistians as also agaynst the Ammonites reuenging him self for the iniurie done to his Ambassadours he did also to die the Capitayne of the Assyrians After him in that place succéeded the wise King Salomon who buylte that ritch famous Temple of Hierusalem after whose death the Kingdome was deuided Ieroboam succéeding in ten families Roboam his sonne in twoo After this the Empyre of the Assyrians whiche then had continued twelue hundred yéeres by the death of Sardonapalus was vtterly subuerted he was one of the richest greatest Monarches in the world who not withstanding by Arbactus slayne the Empyre came into the handes or possession of the Medes About this time the Princes of Macedonie began to frame their Empyre as the Greekes in manner semblable now vsed to accompte their yéeres by Olympiades which were certaine feastes and practises of agilitie whiche they continually vsed euery fiue yéeres with Prises appointed for such as beste deserued them Dido now builte the renoumed Citie of Carthage as Rome also by Romulus Remus then began where the Romaine Kinges continually aboade arested them In this time the greate Citie of Bizance waxed mightie and honorable whiche afterwardes loste her name and was called Constantinople After this wearye warres grew in most places and inpacable dissensions with alteration and chaunge of great Segnories and Empires Whereof the Histories of that Age are each where full and abundant In the ende of this Age Nabuchodonosor King of the Medes and of Babilon besieged Hierusalem which he sackte and subuerted as also the Temple whence he brought the people of Iudea prysoners with him thence is that that we now remember the transmigration of Babylon When or at whiche time began the fifte Age of the Worlde which continued vntill the Byrth Natiuitie of our Sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christe both God and Man fiue hundred foure scoare and nine yéeres by common accompte of all men In these dayes were many valiaunt and puissante Princes riche and politike common Weales and Contryes in such sorte that it greate maruaile is to reade consider the straunge and miserable subuertions immutations and chaunge of estates the rare raysing and gathering of huge Armies and troupes of men such were they so terrible and so common withall that better it is thereof nothing to speake then to speake in few Not long after this began that famous Monarchie of the Persians whiche aswell by meane of other victories that Cyrus echewhere obtained as also that he vanquished and subdued Cresus Kinge of Lidia waxed of all others moste riche and renowmed notwithstandinge Cyrus after he had raigned fully thirty yéeres was him selfe discomfited and beheaded by Tameris Quéene of Scithia Three scoare and tenne yéeres of this Age accomplished the Hebrewes were deliuered out of bondage and captiuitie and the Temple was reedified by Salomon at Hierusalem The Romaines now altered their state of gouernment they deposed their Kinges choase to them Consuls of whiche the firste was L. Brutus and after him L. Colatinus In Greece nowe florished good Letters and Chiualry so that thence issued no lesse famous Philosophers then Capitaynes excellent Thither came Xerxes to haue Conquered it with a multitude incredible but was forced to retire againe with equall shame and detriment After this began Philippe his raigne in Macedonie whiche subdued Greece the Mother of Learning Chiualrie whiche in that time fostered Demosthenes Themistocles Epaminondas Agesilaus Zeno Plato Aristotle with many sutche others Philippe deade his Sonne Alexandre dwelte not still in Greece but wente thence into Asia which in shorte time he conquered subuertinge the Empire of Persia and by meanes of the victorie obtained againste Darius he remained euer afterwarde the onely Emperour and sole Monarke of all the whole worlde But after his death diuision was made to his Capitaynes of all and euery his Segneuries by meane whereof mutch enmitie and discorde grewe and thence also
enimie Capitall to Rome and hidinge him selfe in an infectious sinke of mans ordure woulde there haue slayne him selfe but his forces fayled him in the execution of that so meritorious a déede whence he vsed in that exployte the healpinge hande of an other so in wrestinge and mowinge with his euill fauoured mouthe gaue foorthe his Spirite to the whole Senate of Diuels Diocletian in manner semblable depriued of the Empyre died of poyson by his owne handes ministred Domician beinge by Stephanus Saturnus Maximus others in seuen sundry places déepely wounded departed hence to Nero to raygne with him for euer Tullia of whom wée haue somethinge aboue remembered banished from Rome died no lesse a begger then a wretche most miserable Astiages graundfather to Cyrus whom he commaunded Arpalus priuely to murther to whome for that he had not executed his commaundement he gaue to be eaten in banquette his owne Sonne was deposed by Gods iuste iudgement by the very same Cyrus Herode also with others infinite whom all to remember here woulde be longe and tedious died a death to the others not dissemblable Lette those therefore that rule and gouerne the world in any wise leaue to be blouddy cruell leaninge on the staffe of compassion and clemencie to the intent they maye liue assured of the hartes of their vassaules for the beste assurance of his state that the Prince may haue is to be beloued of his people and Subiectes ¶ Of a straunge case whiche at twoo diuerse times chaunced after one and the same sorte vnto twoo Romayne Knightes of Honorable Families Chap. 16. THe chiefe and principall that conspired the death of Iulius Caesar as Plutarche at large with others recordeth were Brutus and Cassius whiche bothe with all their adherentes were after exiled declared for open enimies to the Romaines by Octauian Lepidus Marcus Antonius who commaunded as they pleased throughout the whole Citie Of the faction of Brutus and Cassius was Marcus Varro one emonge all the others of moste fame honour who beinge in the fielde with the other coniurates were discomfited by Octauian and Marcus Antonius who the better to saue if he might his life and to be reputed for none other then a common Souldier chaunged foorthwith incontinently his apparell thrustinge him selfe into the heape or company of Captiues and so without more adoo was solde for vile price emonge the others vnto a certaine Romayne who hight Barbulas who within very fewe dayes perceiuinge well his honest demeanoure dealinge supposed him to be as truthe was a Romayne although in very déede he knew him not for sutche a one On a time therefore he with drewe him aparte earnestly intreatings him to learne him what he was promisinge that if he would disclose vnto him what he hight of what House or Familie he would assuredly purchase him grace with M. Antonius and Octauian but M. Varro would for nothing vtter him self so that in fine Barbulas farre otherwise then he firste déemed concluded with him selfe that he was no Romayne Within fewe daies nowe Octauian and M. Antonius returned them to Rome as also Barbulas with his late bought Seruant who perchance notwithstandinge was better Gentleman then his Maister It chaunced him there shortly after his arriuall wayting at the Senate doore Barbulas his Lorde about his affayres within to be knowen of a certaine Romaine who incontinently aduertised Barbulas thereof whiche without any semblant that he knew any thinge or without any woorde paste thereof vnto him wrought so with Octauian whiche then ruled in Rome that he easily obtained him grace and pardon by meane whereof foorthwith he frankly infranchised him and brought him to Octauian who courteously receiued him from that time foorth helde him in the number of his friendes After this nowe Octauian and M. Antonius fell out in sutche sorte that Barbulas leaned to Antonius whome Octauian in fielde ouerranne and discomfited Barbulas then dreadinge the wrothe of Octauian vsed for his safetie the aboue remembred policie practised by Varro that is to wéete he did on him the coate of a poore Souldier M. Varro then for that he longe before had not séene him as also for that he had chaunged his apparel emong other Captiues unknowen bought him for a bondeman But after shorte time remembringe him againe he so practised with Octauian that he obtained him pardon doinge him to be frée possest of woonted libertie So that eche of them repayinge the dutie of courtesie to other leaue vs example sufficient of the lesse staide assurance of greate states in this life with admonition to all of what degrée they so be that they neuer leaue to feare the fall no not then when they highest shall sitte in Fortunes Chayre as also on the other side neuer to dispaire when the same Fortune shall laye them vnder her angry and disdainefull foote ¶ Of the distinction of the Age of Man accordinge to the opinion of moste Astrologians Chap. 17. BY the common diuision of Astrologians as well Arabies Caldees Greekes and Latines as also by the particuler opinion of Proclus Ptolomie and Al. Rasellus the life of Man is deuided in seuen Ages ouer euery one of which ruleth and gouerneth one of the seuen Planetes The firste therefore is called Infancie which continueth the space of foure yéeres onely during which time the Moone hath principal masterie on Man for that the qualities of this Age fitly answeare to the influence of that Planete for our bodies then are moyste delicate tender féeble and flexible rightly agreing with the qualities of the Moone For in this time for smal cause man easily is altered with none or very litle toile he waxeth streight werie his body groweth and increaseth almost sensibly to be perceyued And this generally nowe chaunceth to all of this Age principally and chiefly by the influence of the Moone yet notwithstandinge not equally but more to somme then vnto some others for as mutche as some other dissidente qualities by the influence of the Heauens and aspecte of the Planetes in mans Natiuitie or time of Birthe cause some secrete and priuie alteration in all menne as they fauourably or with lesse fauour beholde eche the other The seconde Age continueth fully tenne yéeres and endeth in the fourtenth of our life whiche Age the Latines call Pueritia the ende of Infancie and beginninge of Adolescencie In this parte chiefly ruleth an other Planete Mercurie whose place of arrest is in the second Spheare He easily altereth and chaungeth his countenaunce for in aspecte with the good he also is good as with the naughty he turneth and becometh nought Duringe this Age nature composeth her selfe to the qualities of this Planete for now yonge children make their firste shewe of their inclination and witte be it either in readinge writinge singinge or the like they are also then very tractable and docill in their deuises notwithstandinge light vnstayde inconstante and vnstable The thirde Age containeth eight yéeres
dronkennes the cause of the wrong doen. Aristotle in his problemes geueth a reason why such as are geuen to wine are lesse able in the acte of generation as also an other why among suche as are dronke some be pleasant some sory some ioyous some terrible Some Phisicians also are there among whom I onely remember Auicenna and Rasis whiche affirme it to be a thyng very medicinable and holsome at times to be dronke though not ordinarily and commonly but their reasons wherfore nothing at all content me by meanes whereof I vtterly refuce to be of their opinion And where as diuers honourable personages haue been subiect to wine had they assuredly forsaken that there wonted vse in bousing their glory and renoume had so muche been the greater Alexander the greate was taxed of this vice so that as some good writers haue least vs plainly of hym he did in these his cuppes sundry his frendes to death and afterwarde repenting him of that his rage and malice would for reuenge haue slaine also hym selfe and surely it maie be thought that by meanes of these hys tyrannies he in the ende also was traitrously impoisoned Marcus Antonius one of the three pillers of the Romaine empire hauyng espoused the sister of Octauian pleasing to muche as the other also in wine coÌ„sequently acquainted himself with Cleopatra Quéene of Egypte by meanes where of in fine hee both lost his life and also the empire first vanquished by wine and after by Octauian The Emperour Tiberius as in hym were many and sundry greate defaultes yet none so much annoied hym as that he to much loued excesse of wine drinking wheÌ„ce in place of his name Tiberius was eftsones in derision of many called Biberius endyng at the laste an infortunate and wretched miser Denis the yonger tyranne of Sicilia so much was geuen to excessiue drinking that he became blinde in both eies vnprofitable Cleomedes King of the Spartiens practising to immitate the Scithians in bousing and did so valiantly by his lusty quaffing that he proued in the ende a senlis and lothsum monster It is reported that the Philosopher Archesilas died of dronkennes and no other maladie The Poete Anacreon was also a greate drinker and in drinkyng was chockte with the Pepin of a grape whiche entered by the wrong waie or passage through hys throate The Bishoppe Flauius renoumed for his learning reporteth that Bonosus so pleased in wine that Aurelius would saie of him that he was not borne to liue but to drinke and herein he farre exceaded all others for when so euer he dranke or els in what quantie he neuer thence was séen or drounke or lesse aduised But it maie be supposed that he paste it againe in vrine as fast as he receiued it how be it in the ende he escaped not the pain of his excesse and malice for that beeyng vanquished of Probus was in moste shamefull and lothsome maner haÌ„ged Some also write that the king Antiochus which was maugre his bearde subdued by the Romaines so muche giuen to strong wines and feasting that he spent the greater parte of his tyme in sleapyng by meanes whereof he committed almoste the whole gouernment of the Empire to twoo his chosen and very trustie dearâ—ynÌ„ges hymself banquettyng and disportyng still with a certaine yonge damosell so that when after he should mete in field with the Romaines his armie was straight disordered he an effeminate captiue Eschilus the poete also did please in drincke by meanes whereof Sophocles left not to saie vnto hym Eschilus these thynges that thou hast saied and doen haue onely paste thée by happe and by fortune and by no knowledge that thou haste or ought that thou vnderstandest ¶ Of certaine greate personages whiche died called heÌ„ce by those whiche before them selues vniustly had caused to be executed euen in the instante and tyme to them assigned as also some what of the Archebishoppe of Magonce or Ments Chap. 12. WHen the aide of man faileth those to whom by man some wrong and grief is doen God assuredly notwithstandyng neuer leaueth to assiste theim and although it chaunce not at suche tymes so sone and so apertly as percase some would or could in harte desire yet God that knoweth when and howe he shoulde auenge hym on those that haue vniustly opprest or wronged the innocente so woorketh that at tymes suche trecheries come to lighte and eke mannes falce iudgementes to his heauie condemnation Whereof wée could remember many true straunge examples emong which we reade of a certaine knight of the house of the Templiers executed as is supposed very vniustly this knight an Italian borne in Naples beholding as he paste to the place of execution Pope Clement the fifte of that name aduaunced in a windowe as pleasyng in this spectacle whiche onely did this sentence to passe againste hym wrongfully and nigh to hym Philippe surnamed Bellus kyng then of Fraunce saied to hym with a high and loude voice incontinently O thou cruell and merciles Clement for as muche as in the worlde none other iudge is to whom from thy vniust sentence I might appeale I appeale yet from thée and from thy greate iniustice vnto him that all séeth that true and vpright iudge Iesus Christe the rightuous before whom I thee assomen as also the kyng there at whose sute thou hast sentensed me to death to appere in persone bothe before his tribunall seate there to receiue as ye by me haue deserued without fauour or perciallitie without respecte of persones and that also within the space of one yere followyng And so it came to passe that as he there had cited them the Pope died iuste at the tyme appoincted as also the kyng to holde theother companie Whiche thing assuredly onely proceded from the inscrutable iudgemeÌ„tes and iustice of god The semblable also happened to Ferdinande the fowerth kyng of Castile whiche also did to death twoo other worthie knightes of pretensed malice not hauyng any shadowe or pretexte at all of iustice whom no sorowfull teares or often supplications could or might deliuer from the blouddie miser In fine therefore arrestyng without more on this extremitie cited the king in like maner as before within thirtie daies folowng to appere before that iudge the laste of whiche in déede he made chaunge of life for death and so departed hence Suche was the happe also of a capitain of certain gallies of the toune of Genua of whiche Baptista Fulgosius in this sorte reporteth that he tooke a little Boate or Barke of Catelongna in whiche also was an other or capitaine or gentleman which neuer had dooen to the inhabitaÌ„tes of Genua any wroÌ„g or iniurie neuerthelesse for that priuate malice that this Capitaine of Genua bare to the Catelanes coÌ„maunded that he should incoÌ„tinently be hanged who mournfully besought hym not to do him that or any so greate vilanie for that he neuer had offended nor hym ne yet his countrie but findyng in the ende no kinde of
scatteryngly a loofe and farre of followed hym Whiche thyng Elanicus perceiuyng and thinkyng that occasion was then well offered not giuyng the signe betwixt them appoincted lifted vp his handes to the heauēs and with a loude voice said what longer abide you ye valiaunte and couragious Why shewe you not your prowes in the middle here of your Citée Then Cilon immediately draweth out his sworde and slue one of theim that in haste was come to waite on the tyranne out of the palace And on the other side Aristotimes seyng bothe Trasibolus and Lampidus assailyng hym and supposyng to escape theim fled to the Temple of Iupiter where he was slaine by the multitude pursuyug hym and his bodie drawen out thence in the sight of all men libertie beyng proclaimed throughout the whole Citee The multitude in heapes incontinently then assēbled but fewe yet came to see or behold that lothsome carrion before these women were deliuered whiche hastenyng to that place ioiously honoured them that by the death of the tyrāne had deliuered their countrie In the meane tyme the people running in hast to the palace where the Queene aduertised of the death of her housebande dreadyng muche that whiche in déede insued lockte her self vp in her closet secretly where she strangeled herself without the helpyng hande of any Now had this tyranne twoo very faire doughters bothe of ripe yeres and readie to bee married whiche vnderstādyng of the faule of their father withdrewe theimselues in all haste aparte into their cabinette whence thei incontinentely were drawen out by force of the people and diuers readie violently and without more to haue slaine theim Megestena with the reste of the imprisoned women skilfully appeased that their ragyng furie hesechyng theim to abstaine from the yonge gentle women consideryng the tyranne though other wise fell and cruell had neuer yet thei all beyng his prisoners imbrued hymself in the bloud of any one of thē At the request thē of these dames eche weight was sone appeased whiche after cōsultation resolued on this poinct that with their owne handes thei should doe themselues to dye chusyng what death so euer was to theim beste likyng Then were thei bothe shutte into a chamber togither the elder neither in gesture nor in woorde shewyng any kinde of sorrowe tooke from her waste her girdle fastenyng it to a poaste and beyng readie therein to dye exhorted her sister with manly courage to doe also the semblable but the yongest then taking her sister by the hande besought her moste humblie that she might dye first to whom the other aunswered euen as since our cradles hauyng still liued and continued togither I neuer yet denied you any your demaunde so am I contented to accorde you againe this your laste and fatall sute whiche is that I liue vntill you bee dedde although of all others this assuredly will goe nighest me to see thee myne owne sister to bee strangled here before me Now tooke then the youngest in hande her girdle whiche with trēblyng fingers moste pitifully she knotted the other aduisyng her well to fasten it aboute her necke that she more quickly and more easily might paie the tribute due vnto nature ▪ which she sone after her fare well giuen to her sister dolefullie accomplished When she now was this paste and gone the other stretched foorthe her bodie in moste reuerent maner possible semblablie coueryng it as appertaineth to the dedde After which she tourneth about to Megestena moste humblie intreatyng her that after her death she would not permitte her bodie to lie naked on the yearth whiche her requeste being easily graunted she tourning strangleth herself in the same girdle of her sister ¶ Why and for what causes men rarely aspire to the assured perfection of thynges in this life Chapt. 9. FIue principall thynges are there that distourne manne from the ripe and mature cognition of thynges in this life whiche if he well knewe he then might repute himself for perfecte and wise The firste is the ignorauncie or not knowyng of his ende to wette his not knowyng to what ende he is borne For assuredly if he well knewe it he would no thyng lesse pain hym self to attaine there vnto then he presently doeth to aspire to pompe and honour in whiche appetite rulyng hym his onely felicitie semeth to consiste But in this case I maie compare manne to a kynges soonne in his infancie of whom if you will aske whiche he loueth better the succession of a kyngdome or els an aple or a cherie whiche presently you shall offer hym it maie not bee doubted but he will refuse to bee kyng to plaie with or tast of the aple or cherie and that for that tofore he percase thereof hath tasted So fareth it with manne who if he be demaunded whiche he moste affecteth or riches or learnyng he at firste will desire to be maister of money ignoraunt and lesse wetyng that the learned onely and he alone is riche and father that it also is necessarie that the sage still order and gouerne his countrie and that also without knowledge honour is not honoured but rather becometh a note of ignominie and slaūder and that greate wealthe also without good letters is the true pathe to senslis brutalitie the roote of presumption and accomplishemente of rusticitie but the wise sufficeth to directe hymself and others posseste of these threasures that neuer maie faile hym But this all happeneth vnto manne for not knowyng to what ende he is borne The second is the immoderate vse of pleasures of the minde as well as also of the bodie whiche bothe annoye and droune no lesse the exteriour motions to vertue then the interiour also and these of the spirite So that manne so folded in the filthe of this worlde maie well bee resembled to the doughter of a Prince faire and beautifull to whom also appertained after her father the kyngdome but for hauyng committed fornication with a bond man deformed and odious is depriued thereof to her eternall infamie The thirde issueth of the euill disposition in mānes bodie whence manne of learnyng and good letters for the moste parte is incapable and this some tymes is caused by the place of his birthe whence he taketh to be of an imperfecte and impure complexion as in certaine countries in the East where as in partes of Africa men are borne so senslis and bestiall by meane of the extremitie of heate in these soiles that thei liue as brute beastes incapable of reason and on the other side in the coūtries Septentrionall or Northe in other some places by extreame coldnes are menne borne so wilde and sauage that some of them refuse not to feede on mannes fleshe suche are the Gothes and Ostrogothes with others And these people maie be compared to an Egle in whose foote there is fastened a stone of some waight whiche letteth her there to flie where by nature she desireth to wete aboue the cloudes in the supreme and higheste region of the aire
constitution of bodye as men takinge either theire beginninge or béeinge of a matter most pure and simple vntill sutch time as by the chaunge of Ages whose propertie is to alter and to impayre al thinges the state of Man beganne to weaken yéeldinge his daies in number fewer then before Againe in that Age one thinge to them was very helpinge and profitable the whiche same to vs is very noysome and contrary whiche was the greate temperancy vsed in Drinkinge as well in quantitie as in qualitie also with the small chaunge and varietie of Meates for neither had they so many sortes or sundrie dishes as wée ne knewe they any or newe or dainty inuentions To eate Fleashe what it was before the generall Floudde was vnto Man altogeather vnknowen Further some hold for common most assured opinion that bothe Fruites and Hearbes without all comparison were in those daies of farre greater efficacie and vertue then any founde any where in this our latter Age for that they then sprange out of a new and fyned soyle and not of sutche as nowe it is worne wasted weryed and consumed For the Generall Inundation tooke from it his woorthe or fatnesse leauinge it in respecte infertile and barren restinge salte and vnsauery by the rage of the Sea whiche many wéekes flowed ouer it These reasons then are good and eche of them sufficient to conclude that it neither was so straung or marueilous but rather a thinge most agréeant vnto nature that men then lyued longer then in these daies presently Farther it maie be saide that whiche wée for an assured truthe holde that Adam well knewe the vertues of all Hearbes Plantes and Stoanes whiche also his Successours of him in sutche sorte learned that to the like perfection after them neuer any attained This then was graunted them of somme parte for the preseruation of their healthe for the continuance and protraction of their daies in this worlde who to expel the causes of diseases if any grewe on them only vsed to minister Simples abhorring our venemous compoundes of this Age whiche in place to purge and purifie mans bodye weaken and dispatche for the moste parte the poore patiente Againe in these aboue remembred firste yéeres both the life and healthe of man was propte and sustained by the course of the Heauens with the influence of the Starres and Planettes then farre more beneficiall then they presently nowe are for that then there neither had paste so many Aspectes Coniunctions Eclipses with other infinite Impression Celestiall whence nowe procéede so many chaunges variations alterations on the Earth and emonge the Elementes also in those daies principal occasion of healthe and continuance contrarye nowe in this our Age of all sickenesse and deathe But aboue all that that wée haue here alleaged or by reason haue any waye proued I nowe mainteine the many yéeres of these our Firste Fathers to haue procéeded of the only and inspeakeable prouidence of God whose Maiestye would their continuance shoulde be sutch and so longe and that these aboue remembred causes ayded mutually one the other to the only intente that of twoo persons might then increase many that the Earthe might be inhabited and mankinde increased Also farther consideringe that for as mutche as Man after the fludde liued not so longe as before God licensed that they should enter into the Arke and there saue them selues more Men and Woomen then him selfe in the beginning and at the first had Created to the only ende that the world might the sooner be inhabited S. Augustine of this matter writinge some thinge reporteth that our Forefathers hadde not only in health and many daies aduantage of vs but also in huge and greate statures of body as is euident remembred by many their boanes as well found in their Sepulchres and Graues as also at times vnder great Mountaines and Hilles in sutche sorte that some assuredly hold that thei were the boanes of such as liued before the Inundation The same S. Augustine affirmeth that being at Vtica a towne in Aphrike beholding there the boanes of a dead mans bodie amonge others founde there some of his Iawes so great and weighty that they well would haue poised an hundred of these in our Age. Notwithstanding though yet our life be short yet maie wée not for iuste cause any where complaine for that if wée abuse it in contempt of the Diuine Maiestie a rare benefite receiue we that thei to vs be so shortned for wée will now no longer acknowledge our God and yet if wée would as becometh vs in all feare to serue him a time sufficient hath he to that purpose lente vs for that the bountie of our Sauiour is so great and ready that he receiueth for Attonement sufficiente mans bowinge harte and humble spirite ¶ That the opinion of those that supposed the yeeres of the former Ages paste to haue benne more short then these of our time is false As also whiche was the firste Cittie of the worlde and finally that our Forefathers had more Children then these that are remembered to vs in the Scriptures Chap. 2. FOr that it appeared vnto some that the space of nine hundred yéeres in our firste Fathers séemed a thing altogether impossible lesse able to cōprise or receiue these aboue remembred reasons by vs alleaged the only and sole causes of that so longe a life And where as they durste not to denie the foresaide number of yéeres so plainely and openly specified and geuen vs out of holy Write they affirme that the yéeres of the first age were farre more shorter then these of our time so that the aduantage of longe life whiche is vnto them attributed so farre aboue vs is not so greate as it hathe benne supposed Somme others emonge them would also assure vs that one of our yéeres containeth tenne of that age past Also many others haue saide that eche course of the Moone yéelded vnto them one whole full and compleate yéere whiche it pleased them to tearme Annus Lunaris Others some also dreamed that thrée of our Monethes gaue to them a yéere so that this accoumptinge foure of theire yéeres lendeth vs iuste one and no more For that in this sorte as wel the Chaldeans as also the Arcadians parted theire yéeres as remembreth Lactantius M. Varro a moste learned Romaine in others many besides this matter was of the opinion that these Anni Lunares were to be numbred from the Coniunction of the Moone vntil the newe Moone againe whiche maie be the space of xxix dayes and certaine odde houres Pline in like māner reckeneth it fabulous that any in the first Age shoulde liue so many dayes affirminge that the Inhabitauntes of Arcadia so numbred theire yéeres as wée aboue haue remembred by the space onely of thrée Monethes without more There is also emonge vs Christians a certaine Booke of the Ages of the worlde written by Eliconiensis where he also séemeth to be of the saide minde and aduice
recordeth in his firste Booke of the nature of Beastes Further emonge the Philosophers Naturall it is mainteined for an opinion Common that the first parte that commeth in Man to any fourme or proportion is the Harte the roote of al others his partes the fountaine and only springe of naturall heate as also the last member that looseth his mouinge and dyeth in him It is assuredly a moste delicate and daintye member and suâ—che as maie not be touched but Man foorthewith dyeth Pline recordeth a straunge matter which he for true affirmeth sayinge That there was one founde whiche had his Harte roughe and hearye and further that who so hathe the same is euermore valiante and curragius Whiche thinge was founde true beinge opened in Aristomenes who with his owne hande in one Battaile had slayne thrée hundred Lacedemonians who after hauinge escaped by his rare force sundrye daungers and afterwarde dyinge in his Bedde quietly was opened and his Harte founde as is abouesaide hearye Suetonius Tranquillus in the Life of Caligula as also the saide Pline togeather affirme that who so dieth donne to deathe with Poyson his Harte will at no time consume or waste with fire whiche was proued in Germanicus Father of Caligula whiche also happeneth to them that die of the Fallinge Euill Further it is euidente that the force of laughinge or Laughter it selfe resteth in the little cheastes or seates of the Harte For proufe whereof the aunciente Historians writinge of certaine Swoordeplayers in Rome auouch that these by meane of whose wouÌ„des the very thréedes or vaines of theire hartes fell out made chaunge of this life with extreame Laughter Also as this qualitie of Laughter procéedeth from the harte so Melancoly thence semblably taketh his beginninge as in like sorte all vertuous and naughty imaginations All woordes firste there ingender and beginne Many also mainteine that it is the chiefe seate and principall restinge place of the Soule Whiche seemeth to be wel confirmed by our Sauiour him selfe sayinge That wicked imaginations and naughtie thoughtes procéede directly from the hart and that that entereth at the mouthe sayleth not the man for that these be but thinges indiffereÌ„t Further Venerable Beda in his CommeÌ„taries on S. Marke remembreth the chiefe seate of the Soule not to be in the Brayne as mainteineth Plato but rather in the Harte as learneth vs our Sauiour ¶ Of the firste beginninge and springe of Warre as who were they that firste inuaded straunge Countries with the Inuentours of certaine Weapons and Armes who also first founde the vse of Artillerie Chap. 6. IT is euident that Warre discord emong men tooke their firste holde or staye on the sinne of our Forefathers as appeareth in that one of the first borne sonnes of Adam who leaft not to laie violent bloudye handes on his Brother so that loosinge euen here our Originall Iustice malice and discorde afterwarde neuer leaft their raigne emongest vs In sutche sorte that Warre and Enimitie began euen emonge the firste borne But the science of Warre or the Arte militarie it selfe with the perfect maÌ„ner to order many in Battaile against many for that the first fountaine thereof is of sinne the middle also continually and for the moste parte the ende is nothinge but crueltie bloude and miserable impietie is nowe in sutche woorthy and Honorable reputation that the Arte it selfe and the well skilled therein are farre nowe aduaunced aboue the Fautours of all other prudent and industrious exercises as moste estéemed aboue all other vertuous practises in the Worlde Diodorus Siculus with others affirme that Mars was the first that ordered and deuised the subtile polices of Warre for which causes the Poëtes termed him but fabulously the God of Battayle Cicero attributeth the Honour of this inuention to the Goddesse Pallas by meanes whereof she was named as he saithe Bellona vnto whiche opinion accorded diuerse Poëtes gaynesayinge the opinion of that firste and auncient springe of Warre whiche Iosephus in his first booke of his Antiquities euen in the first Age before the Floudde attributeth vnto Tubal the moste experte therein in his time who by his industrious and painefull practises perfected him selfe in the guiles and aduauntages of Warre Others somme suppose that it first began after the floudde so that to learne the truth it séemeth very difficill who was the very first beginner and Father of this matter Whiche how so euer it was it well appeareth that in the beginninge Warres and dissentions onely grewe amonge Princes more for Ambition desire of Honour then any where to impouerishe or spoyle one the other Iustine and Trogus Pompeius reporte that Nynus King of the Assyriens was the firste that leadde an Hoste out of his Countrie for Auarice to Conquere the Territories of an other Fabian the Pretor affirmeth well the same in the beginninge of that little parte that resteth vnto vs of his Historie to whiche also condescendeth S. Augustine This Nynus so bare him selfe in this practise of Warre that he subdued in shorte time many Citties and Countries whiche he lefte in quiet possession to his Successours whiche continued from time to time vnto his posteritie accordinge to the computation of S. Augustine Eusebius and Diodorus Siculus thirtene hundred yéeres descendinge euermore from the Father vnto the Sonne with out defaulte at any time of Heyres in right line by the number of thirtie and thrée Kinges and as some others reporte thirtie and sixe vntill in the ende it came into the gouernment of that Monster Sardonapalus in whose time this so longe continued an Empire came then into the handes and handlinge of the Medes This Nynus then as recorde these Authours was the firste Conquerer knowen in all the worlde although wée reade of certaine Warres before him but it appeareth as wée haue saide that it was not to possesse Conquere the Countries of others but for pryde onely and glory of the worlde as is written of Vessor Kinge of Egypte who paste out of his Countrie againste Tanais Prince of the Scythians which mette him and gaue him Battaile and remayned victorious who not withstandinge neuer deposed him from his Crowne or Countrie as had practised the aboue remembred Nynus Wherefore he maye be thought the first that euer gaue foorthe any Lawes of Armes grauntinge to the Conquerer all the possessions and treasures of the Conquered Touchyng their Weapons wherewith they inuaded defended putting in execution their wrouthfull angry malice and yre it is to be supposed that in the beginninge they vsed none inequalitie of Armes but as the Poete Lucretius recoumpteth they first began with the nailes and téeth and after that to acquainte them with the staffe stoanes whiche this daie yet are onely vsed of certaine barbarous Nations not yet by the malice of man hauinge drawne out of the earthe yron to doo force and oppression on their Neighbours Pline writeth that in the firste Warres of the Moores againste the
trées he founde an Oke halfe cliuen or sundred by force of Wedge and Bitle in whiche somme Wedge also was leaft then déepely fastened who incontinently desirous to perfecte the saide woorke laide handes on the trée righte againste the saide Wedge and with sutche force assayed to sunder it that it to him a little yéelded by meanes whereof the saide Wedge slipte out But immediately were it for so mighte it be that his force fayled him or that he lesse supposed any daunger in the matter he yéelded a little as though he would haue arested him by meanes whereof the Oke incontinently reioyned agayne bothe his handes faste lockte within the trée in sutch sorte that not being able thence to escape nor any man there passinge to healpe him in that daunger with payne and hunger died a prisoner miserable a fitte or fatte praye to the Wilde and Sauage beaste If the deathe of this Milo maie séeme to any man straunge no lesse straunge also was the Deathe of the Poete Eschilus for on a time goinge foorthe out of a certaine Towne in Sicile of pourpose onely to take the ayre and sunne him the weather then hauinge benne sommethinge sharpe and colde This poore vnfortunate man whose heade was eche where either balde or hearlesse after hauinge made somme litle shorte walke arested him on a Hil for his most aduantage in the Sunne where pruninge him selfe with open heade shininge an Egle by happe flewe ouer him in the ayre which hauing in her pawes a greate and heauie Tortois espyinge the glitteringe balde heade of the poore Poete Eschilus supposed it to haue benâ—e somme harde Stoane or Rocke wherefore lettinge fall her Tortois with minde theron to haue broken it for her present néede or dinner threw it so right that shée nothing failed of her desired marke but strake the sely Poete and sundred therewith his heade whence he fell downe suddainely deade a thinge right straunge and marueilous considerings he was then mounted euen to the toppe of the Hill assuringe him selfe that from aboue nothinge at all mighte gréeue him Baptista Fulgosius in a certaine pretye Booke of his written of examples remembreth emonge many other thinges the infortunate Death of Charles Kinge of Nauarre who being olde very sickly féelyng incesâ—ant insupportable paines créepinge and runninge through all the vaynes of his bodye to whiche that his disease his learned Phisitions coulde finde or frame none but this sole and onely remedie whiche was to folde him in a Shéete bedewed with Aqua Vitae which when it was sowed vp or stichte on euery side in defaulte of a Knife to cutte the thréede of one tooke in hande the Candle the flame whereof as soone as it had touched the Shéete sette all on fire suddainely in sutche sorte that before they coulde shape him any kinde of remedie the sicke Kinge was scorchte and burnte almoste to ashes Which was for his Vaynes and all other maladies his sole and laste remedie in this worlde The Deathe againe of Philemon mighte appeare to moste menne marueilous whiche beholdinge on a time an Asse eatinge Figges of from a Table brake into sutch and so extreame a laughter that he in that sorte there ended his life CoÌ„sider wée then if any where Man maye assure him of his beinge if Laughing and in iolitie Death gayne of him the maisterie Somme also affirme the same of Philistion a Poete Comicall as also of sundrie others who with extreame ioye made suddaine chaunge of life Emonge whom wée reade of Denis the Tyrante of Sicilia of Diagoras also and of that famous woorthy Romishe Matrone which beholding her Sonne returned whom shée supposed to haue benne slayne in Battaile with ioye in excesse fell straight into an Extasye whereof againe shée neuer after warde recouered The aduenture also of the Shéepehearde Cratis was in manner semblable rare and marueilons who beinge asléepe on a Mountain in the middle of his charge was slayne of a Maale Goate ielous of his mate with whiche Cratis moste abominably had subuerted the Lawes of Nature Whose strange happe deserued notwithstandinge Ludouicus Celius and Volateranus alleaginge also to that pourpose sundrye Greeke Authours in many confirme for assured truthe and veritie Infinite sutche others I leaue here to remember as Pope Bonifacius who throughe hunger onely miserably sterued in fowle and stinkinge Pryson The Archebishop of Magonce slayne and deuoured of a troupe of Rattes that eche where pursued him The Emperoure Decius of whome Emilius Victor reporteth that hauinge vanquished his enemies was founde deade drowned in a little small lake In manner semblable in our time died Lewes Kinge of Hungary and Sforce Father of that most famous Capitaine Duke Fraunces Sforce who bowynge him selfe somethinge to haue ayded his Page was as the other most miserably infortunately drowned Andrew Kinge of Prouace was by his owne Wife somme other Dames healpinge her as not to be boughte with price or Prayer in cruellest manner that thei might most dispitefully strangled The Emperoure Tiberius was also impoysoned of his wife Agripina Whence wée conclude that Kinges Princes and greate Personages are as well subiecte to these straunge deathes and infortunes as are any their poore Vassaules or subiectes although perhappes they make propte vp with swellinge and pompous pryde small reckeninge or accompte of these forepassed daungers ¶ What speache was vsed in the beginninge of the Worlde and how firste began the diuersitie of Languages Chap. 10. IN the firste Age or beginninge of the Worlde euen vntill the Fludde and many yéeres afterwarde men generally throughout had féelinge but of one Language al diuersitie then hidde and vnknowen manner of speakinge No man then spake with tongue or straunge or lesse familier no voice was from other in any thinge then different no newe deuise in speakinge was then knowen or thought on The diuersitie then firste or confusion of tongues the Mother of eche mischiefe cause of all annoye the sole Nurse of litigious and impacable debates was for mans sinne and pryde as a iuste scourge on him layde Moyses in the Historie of Genesis recordeth that Nemrod Nephewe to Noë by the lyne of Cain with others more lyke proude and of like ambitious nature were then borne when firste amonge men presumption and malice raigned without al reason At that time this Nemrod with his vnaduised companye determined togeather to frame or builde a Tower whiche from the Earth might reache to the face of Heauen it selfe Whiche thinge they onely did hauing in memory yet the late forepassed Fludde to escape the hande of God if he at any other time shoulde washe the Earth againe Iosephus in the first Booke of his Antiquities saithe that he from all partes had sutch syéedy healpe for the erection of his buildinges that in shorte time it grewe bothe marueilous prowde and pompous And againe he saithe that they layde the Fundations thereof so déepe and so broade that though it were of so incredible height as the Scriptures
Macedonye exposest thy selfe to all kinde of daungers only to inlarge thine Empyre Dominion that also in sutche sorte manner that the whole worlde scarce suffiseth to asswage thine Aâ—arice On a time he was also taken of certaine light horsemen Athenians by meanes whereof though imprisoned he neuer yet became either faynte harted or dismayed whence afterwarde remoued in place common to be solde to any sutche without respecte as should offer most for him Where immediatly a certaine Marchant demaundeth of the Trumpeter or publique Officer whither he had authoritie to sell him as also whither he were a bonde man or naie Whereat Diogenes sayde to the Officer answeare him that thou haste here to sell a seruaunt or bondman but sutche an one as well knoweth how to commaunde and gouerne his Maister Aulus Gellius and Macrobius reporte that he in sutche sorte bespake Geniades who was the aboue remembred Marchant that bought him who also after gaue him Maister to his children The same day therefore that he firste had bought him comminge with him towardes his Inne or lodginge Diogenes saide to him as if him self had benne the Marchant take héede now Geniades it standeth thée on to obeye mée in all that I shal anywhere counsell or commaund thée To whom Geniades answeared it were farre besides al order or reason that the Seruant should prescribe lawes to his Lord or Gouernour but Diogenes saide séemeth it not vnto thée good reason that the ill affected patient prouidinge to him for his Monie somme good and learned Phisition should in al thinges what so euer obeye and followe him In manner semblable the more warely and safely to conducte him if the good Mariner for wage chose to him a Pilote muste he not doo in all thinges his commaundementes If then it be true in this case as also in the other concerninge the infirmitie and weakenesse of mans bodie howe mutche more then ought he that standeth in néede of counsell and comfort for the soule to obey the learned aduised Philosopher All these thinges obserued well Geniades and in euery of his affayres vsed the aduice of Diogenes his Seruant committinge to his charge for instruction his children whom he in vertues lore in shorte time mutche profited In this sorte and after this manner this Philosopher liued ninetie yéeres in this worlde Somme suppose that he died beynge bitten of a Dogge Others somme that seinge him selfe very olde and féeble without any force nowe or farther desire to liue with the very same courage and constancie that he had liued did him self to die and made chaunge of life the same daie that Nature to greate Alexander had for his laste also assigned A little before his ende his auditours seinge him so olde and so neare his death demaunded him where he meante or desired to be buried to whom he saide his desire was to be layde in the wyde and open fielde whereat they all meruaylinge replied he ill aduised them for that in sutche poore and simple manner bestowed the Birdes beastes would deuoure his Carion then saithe he to auoide that inconuenience cause yée that my staffe be sette there by mée at which incontinently they brake out into a laughter arguinge him forthwith of manifest folly for that the deade neither seeth nor perceiueth any thinge to whome if they lacke saithe he these remembred senses what mattereth it then if rather the Byrdes Beastes in their hungrie necessitie praye on mée then vnder the Earth I should be of the wormes consumed Diogenes had none then so greate a desire to imploye as dothe many this daie lesse aduised their Treasour or Ritches on pompuous Funeralles ¶ Of the Excellencye and commendation of Trauayle as also of the damages that growe of Idlenes Chap. 13. IT lyeth vs on of necessitie bothe by the Lawes and Commaundementes of God to swincke and toyle in this worlde continually For our first Father hauing broken the Commaundemente of God was bannished and chased out of Paradis Terrestriall the Earthe lotted to him for his portion or inheritaunce with charge notwithstandinge to labour here in continuall payne and trauaile Whiche charge he neither receiued for any tearme or time but for euer without ceasse as longe as he liued whiche neither appertained to the Firste man onely but vnto all his Posteritie and Succession to the ende And although this necessitie of Trauaile be laide on man to call him to penance yet is it a fitte Medicine to asswage the wronge passed for that by our labour wée regayne that whiche was loste by disobedience and so mutch the more although it be vnto vs a present scourg for that God hathe condemned nothinge that was of it selfe lesse good graunting to Man Trauaile to turne and laboure the Earthe Also Iob saithe That Man is borne onely to sweate and to payne Consider againe howe our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christe Mannes onely soueraigne Lorde and Maister to the example of vs all lyued in continuall payne and labour euen vntil the time of his Deathe and Passion Besides in his Parables he sharpely rebuketh such as any where consume and waste the time idlely imbrasinge all those that are vertuously busied vsinge in an other place these woordes to this pourpose Comme vnto mee all yee that are heauily loden and I will refreashe you If wée will paine our selues to reade the Scriptures wée shall finde that the auncient Sainctes spente all their dayes and Life in continuall exercise of Vertue and Godlinesse Further trauaile is not onely conducible to the Soule but also preserueth the healthe of the Body For it by daily practise becommeth agile stronge and well disposed in it are augmented and increased the Vitall Spirites the naughty and superflous humours consumed As touching the minde it thence exileth all impiÌ„ous and vnchaste thoughtes preuentinge al occasion of errour and offence Certaine is it that nothinge of weightie importance reacheth without paine to the desired effecte or ende as on the other side that ease that is purchased with paine is euer more then all others more pleasaunte and likinge He that taketh greate payne reposeth him selfe in ease for to the weary man all thinges are fittinge and agréeant His Meate to him is swéete and sauery He soundly sléepeth without dreame or vision and all pleasures whatsoeuer are to him bothe gratefull and acceptable Who so trauaileth not nor neuer becommeth wearye his repose to him lendeth vnperfite contentment But to returne to the commodities of the Bodye woonted exercise frameth a man discrete vigilante well aduised and sage and what els is profitable thence issueth it and springeth contintinually vnto man Trauaile is it that ordinarily prouideth a man of all thinges the same it is that frameth to him fayre houses to dwel in commodious lanes pathes to walke in for the more ease of the poore passenger greate shippes to crosse and ouerrunne the tumblinge Seas and armour to defende vs from the force of the enimie briefely innumerable
laste Seruis or Dishes of pleasance he caused in large Chargers solemnely to be serued in the heade féete and handes of the yonge Martyred childe vnto the good Father to the onely intente he should not be vnwéetinge that he then had banqueted and eaten of his owne Sonne Marius and Silla twoo capitall enimies on bothe sides so raged in execrable Tyrannye that thei contended as appeareth who might surmount and surpasse the other in villanye Silla bouchered in one daye foure Legions of Souldiers The Prenestines also a people of Italye crauinge with teares his fauoure and grace for that they had receiued the Capitaine Marius coulde notwithstandinge by no meanes escape his cruell hande For generally without excertion he murthered them all and gaue their bodyes for a praye to the Crowes and Rauens to féede on The semblable did also Marius his Companion in bouchery The Emperour Tiberius Successour to Octauian surpassed I trowe all others in his time who after his fainte clemencie in the entraunce of his Raygne passed no daye in whiche he spilte not the bloude of somme Innocentes Besides he diuised sutche a mercilesse policie as tofore hadde neuer benne in any place hearde of he inhibited that vnder payne of deathe none shoulde be so hardye to deplore lamente or make any shewe of mournefull semblant at the deathe of those that it shoulde please him any waye for any cause to execute A Crueltie straunge and suche as hathe not benne knowen for I déeme there can be no greater paine then to inhibite the poore harte that it vnloade and discharge not it self of his dolours by alarmes teares Also when he did to die any yonge maydens he firste committed them to his Tormentours to be deflowred of them to the intent that with their death they togeather shoulde lose their honour and Chastitie He so much was pleased in spillinge of bloude that vnderstandinge one had staine him selfe whom he before had Sentenced to death of pourpose to escape his mercilesse and cruell hande sighed with hawtie voice in lamentable manner sayinge Oh howe vnhappely hathe this Crows escaped mée by whiche name it pleased him to note the Condemned For you muste vnderstande that he in sutch sorte tormented the poore patient before he would suffer him by any meanes to die that they supposed presente deathe to be to them bothe a gaine and a grace Straunge were it to write what inuentions he vsed newe tormentes in Execution Sommetime he forced the Condemned excessiuely to drinke and immediately woulde cause the Cundittes of their Vrine so straitly to be bounde that they by no meanes possible mighte ease them selues that waye and so woulde he suffer them in excessiue paine to languishe till deathe shoulde take order for chaunge of theire life And further for his sale and onely pleasure he caused other somme to be throwne into the Sea from an excéedinge highe Cliffe or Rockys banke in the I le of Capraire adioyninge vnto Naples and for because that after that sorte to die in the Sea was as he thoughte a deathe too gentle he caused certaine Marriners and others with Pikes and sharpe weapons in Boates to stande directly vnderneathe the saide Rocke whiche receiued and bloudely martyred the miserable patientes before they might enioye the benefite of the Water Nowe after the shameful deathe of this incarnate Deuill such in déede as him selfe had wel deserued Caius Caligula succéeded in the Empire who either was equall or rather surpassed his Predecessours in all kinde of monsterous accursed tyrannies He on a time with greate affection wished that all the Inhabitauntes of Rome had togeather but one heade to the intent that at one blowe he might strike it of He strangly complained of the infelicitie of his time for that there chaunced not during his Raigne any Famine Plague Generall Inundations Subuersions and Diuastations of Countries with many sutche other dreadfull and miserable calamities Of a certaine man he demaunded bannished by Tiberius howe he liued or what he did duringe his Exile who in perfecte flattery answeared that he incessantly had praied to God to call hence Tiberius to the ende that he mighte succéede him without staye in the Empyre Whiche thinge considered of by this monsterous Traytour and doubtinge leaste so many thousandes whiche he had exiled shoulde in like manner pray to God for his deathe sente foorthewith into all partes to call them home againe whom immediately after their spéedie returne he commaunded to be executed without respect of any He straitly charged all his Tormentours that they by litle and litle shoulde tormente the afflicted Innocentes so that by small paines they might beginne to die protractinge their death as longe as was possible for he would he saide that they felte howe their life failed in them He also saide that others eftsoones of his complexion saide The people wishe me ill for that they feare mée After this Caligula succéeded Nero in execrable malice not at all his inferiour For proufe whereof he practised sutch a mercilesse tyrannie as wel in it comprised all other petie Treacheries For without any regarde to thinges holy or prophane to the Maiestrate what so euer he were or priuate Subiecte he caused the Citie of Rome to be sette on fire inhibitinge all men vnder paine of deathe by any meanes what so euer to quenche or asswage it neuer woulde he that any man shoulde saue any parte of his goodes So continued this fire wastinge and consuminge the Cittie seuen dayes fully seuen nightes to the ende him selfe out of a highe Tower not farre of beholdinge it reioysinge at this dolorous and mournefull spectacle He with villanous hande murthered his owne proper Moother He also did to die the Husbandes of Octauiana and Sabina bothe whiche he marryed but soone after beraughte them in manner semblable of theire liues Assuredly this was he that beyonde all others raged moste in crueltie for he was the firste that persecuted the Christians and in his time was the first greatest Persecution of the Church He made open she we of his surpassinge crueltie of his vnmeasurable and furious brutalitie for hearinge on a time a Greeke verse in effecte thus mutche signifiynge Woulde God the Heauen and Earthe the Sea and what so is After my deathe mighte cease and ende as eke all hope of blisse But I farre otherwise would that it chaunced by my life time saide he I coulde well be contented to take mine examples from barbarous Princes not touchinge any more the Emperours of Rome but the Successours againe of the aboue remembred in life and manners so outragious and execrable force mée to dwell stil emonge them rippinge and vnfoldinge their tragicall insolencie of Domitianus Vitellius Commodus Maximianus and others theire semblables I speake at all nothinge But of Diocletian whose manners so vnsauerye and bestiall furie Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Histories reciteth Sommething muste I speake before I passe him vtterly to the intente that all blasphemers
and féeble Christians of our time maie sée what they suffered in the Primitiue Churche for that they neuer leaft to acknowledg theire Lorde and Sauiour Christe This wretche trayned many at the tayles of Horses throughe the streates whom after he had in moste despitefull manner broken and brused ordeined that they immediately shoulde be broughte backe againe to prison where he lodged them not able to moue on prickinge sheardes and sharpe péeces of earthen pottes broken to the ende that lyinge on so restlesse a couche theire paine mighte be double to the other aboue remembred Sommetimes by Ingins and policies he caused to be bowed downe the armes and braunches of greate and highe trées to whiche he would binde the legges of the Condemned and then suddainely letting againe the braunches to slippe tent them most lamentably in pieces and quarters In the Citie of Alexandria he caused to be cutte of the eares the noses the lippes the handes and the toes of infinite innocent and harmelesse Subiectes onely leauinge to them their eâ—es the longer to liue and dwell in that payne He made to be sharpened many splinters of woode whiche as farre as was possible he caused to be thruste in betwixte the nayles and the fleashe Into boylinge Tinne or Leade other somme he did aliue to be throwen wéemen faste bounde to Scaffoldes or Fourmes he commaunded to be scortcht with hotte yrons on the backe So that by these meanes spilling still innocent bloud without any féelinge what he thereby did sente vnto Heauen greate numbers of Soules holy pleasinge and acceptable to God whiche oft times vseth the mercilesse Tyrante for an instrumente whereby he glorifieth the iuste and chosen These strange Cruelties and news diuised tormentes are written in approued and faithful Authours of whiche the greatest parte wée haue taken out of the Scriptures the reste are readde in Iosephus in his Antiquities and Warre Iudaicall in Suetonius Tranquillus Plutarchus T. Liuius Iustinus Valerius Maximus Eusebius P. Orosus Iulius Capitolinus with others of no lesse credite and authoritie ¶ How for the most parte cruell Kinges and Blouddy tyrannes are the Ministers of God and howe notwithstandinge they continually ende in state moste wretched and extreame miserie Chap. 15. WHho so hath or liueth subiecte vnder any of these accursed Monsters muste for his consolation or comforte consider that for the most parte though they be terrible and cruell yet be they notwithstanding the Ministers of god The Scriptures in many places as wée finde still termeth them by no woorse title then the seruantes of God for that by them it hath pleased him to chastice the wicked perfectinge and confirminge to him selfe sutche as loue and feare him The Hebrewes were longe time gouerned by Iudges and Priestes amonge whom when Samuel waxed féeble and olde the malice of the people and contempte of God eche where growyng Kinges then from God at theire requeste were geuen them whiche chastisement for greater then that mighte neuer any haue chaunced them they receiued as hauinge before bothe deserued and desired it Samuel therefore was geuen them for Kinge who in the beginninge was méeke and mercifull but shortly after became tyrannous and cruell spoilinge them of whatsoeuer they had without respecte in theire possession as also of theire desired fréedome and libertie Who although he were voyde of no kinde of vice yet in Holy write is he called the anointed of God by meane whereof the people were amazed and trembled But leaue wée here him as also al others whiche bothe knewe the Lawe and liued vnder it and turne wée our penne to write of Idolaters whiche also are called the Ministers of God in the Scriptures for this saithe our Sauiour by the mouthe of Esaie I will that my Capitaines enter at the gates of Babylon I haue commaunded my Holy ones and haue called togeather my menne valiant and disposed in my wrothe to the intente they glorifie themselues togeather in my Glory The Prophete spake these woordes of the twoo Kinges Cyrus and Darius Behold then how he calleth the Medes the Persians sanctified which notwithstanding neither were either iuste or sanctified but onely executours of Gods iuste will for the punishment of Babylon And in an other place by the Prophete Ezechiel I will bringe forthe my Seruant Nabuchodonosor and because he hath well serued me nighe vnto Tyre Aegypte will I also geue him in possession Yet was he not the Seruant of God for as mutche as he neither serued him knew him or any waie beleued in him onely he executed his Iustice on the rebellious and in this respect was called his Seruante The accursed Totila Kinge of the Gothes was named the Scourge of God and reputed for the same The greate Tamburlayne that raygned not so many yéeres hence a Capitayne no lesse blouddy then valiant which also subdued so many Countries and Prouinces beinge demaunded why he so more then tyrannously vsed his Captiues whereunto he answeared forewrapped in coller Supposest thou me to be any other then the yre of God whence wée haue in fine to conclude that all sutche cruell and incarnate Deuils are instruments wherewith God chastiseth sinne as also with the same approueth and trieth the iuste and yet they notwithstandinge are not hence helde for iuste ne shall they escape the heauy iudgement of god For necessarie is it that example of ill happen but woe be vnto him by whom it happeneth Further in this life God assuredly at sometime dothe punish them besides that in an other worlde Hell damnation is certainely alloâ—ted them Neither at any time hath it almoste benne séene as wée haue remembered in the forepassed Chapiter but that sutche Mercilesse and Transubstantiate Monsters haue died of somme violent and ignominious deathe Phalaris was miserably consumed in the same Bull in which he had tormented many an innocent roringe the same Notes whiche he to heare of others had to fore so great likinge Plutarche recordeth that Silla was filthely deuoured of Lyse that he neuer coulde finde any playster for that payne And Pline farther saithe that he died in sutche sorte tormented that with extreame and miserable anguishe he gnewe teare and with his téeth horribly dismembred his owne lothsome body and deformed carrion Marius also his Capitall enimie a perfecte paterne of bestiall feritie fell in the ende into sutche extreame miserie that flyinge and séekinge a place to hide him in was gladde to laye his Heade in the handes of Poncius Teselinus to the intent that he shoulde strike it of The Emperoure Tiberius was stifled betwixte twoo pillowes or bolsters and so ended in the handes of his owne Seruantes How be it Suetonius saith that he was impoysoned Caligula that infernall furie after he had receiued thirtie great woundes by Chereus as well and Cornelius Sabinus as also by the others of that coniuration made chaunge of life to the contentation of many Cruell Nero before he died was depriued of his Honour and Empyre iudged and pronounced an
whom he beste loued his father or his mother who aunswered his mother where at thei meruailyng demaunded againe why for that my father said he with small regarde begatte me of parte a Thracian and soonne of á poore mother but she on the other side hath borne me of part an Athenian the sonne and heire of an excellent capitaine Concerning the beautie of women leauyng to speake of those that counsaile vs to refuse bothe the faire the foule prefarryng onely those whom mediocritie commendeth my aduise is that man chuse euermore the beste that he possible maie finde the fairest I meane and of cleareste complexion so that she bee vertuous as we before haue saied otherwise wishe I that he chuse the hardeste fauoured chaste with all and honeste rather then the faireste of leude and lighte demainure My reason is that wee should alwaies preferre the faireste if for none other yet for generation and cause of the posteritie onely to the intente our children bee suche as we would wishe of moste perfecte I meane and amiable complexion Virgil remembreth that the goddes Iuno desirous to gratifie her beloued Eodus promised to giue hym one of her faireste Nimphes to the ende she should beare hym children in beautie resemblyng her self We reade againe that Archiadamus kyng of the Athenians was condemned in a pecuniall paine for that he had married a wife of small stature his counsaille hardly chargyng hym that he mente to leaue the race roiall of little thinne wretched and impotente bodies as if thei were but halfe men To conclude therfore what so is in any place aboue remembred mine aduise is that it bee taken as counsaile and no commaundemeÌ„t which you maie execute at your pleasures without daunger or difficultie as also without all exception of persones For Matrimonie contracted with the harder fauoured is as holie as that other with the moste faireste as good with the poorest as also with the riche with the widdowe also as with the maide or virgin for that euery of them is lawfull verteous and honeste groundyng on loue whiche in greateste differentes and cases of inequalitie woorketh euer more a perfecte conformitie and vnion Of the cordiall and hartie loue that should be in maerriage with diuers examples seruyng to that purpose Chap. 4. THE mutuall loue and affection betwixt man and his wife bothe is and ought to bee for iuste cause commended for that marriage of it self is a thyng so excellent as well for respect of hym whiche firste did institute it God with the place also of that institution Paradis as also that thence procedeth th' onely propagation and continuance of mankinde with remedie sufficient against all sensuall appetites and concupiscencie of the fleshe All other amities incident in mannes life with whom or in what sorte so euer thei happen are loues improper and affections lesse perfect â–ª in respect of this so holy â–ª and diuine This is that same that ioineth bothe bodie and soule together this is that that is confirmed and sealed vnto vs by a sacred miracle neither is there any thing betwixt the married in particularitie proper for that betwixt the honest couple the body and will is one that whiche neuer happeneth in any other kinde of amitie whiche for small cause oftentymes is dissolued and broken and that also whiche worste is the moste assuredste of these affections continueth but for a tyme for gaine or aduauntage for proofe whereof wee rarely haue heard of any that without chauÌ„ge haue still helde on and neuer broken vntill death For so daintie and obnoxious to all chaunges is mannes minde that commonly we see newe friendes to remoue and dispossesse for little cause the olde but that loue holdeth still whiche is betwixte man and his wife neither maie it be sundred by any aduerse fortune by infirmitie pouertie mishappe or chaunge of beautie onely death hath power to cutte this knotte in sunder Some tymes it also liueth and continueth after death as we haue seen in certaine widdowes of whiche wee could remember infinite examples emongest whom aboue all others we maie consider of the mutuall loue or affection betwixte our first parentes Eue and Adam vnto whom the fruite of life vnder paine of death was prohibited Adam notwithstaÌ„dyng to gratifie his wife refused not to hassarde hymself by breache of that commaundemente When Paulina the wife of the sage and learned Seneca of Cordoua vnderstode that cruell Nero had doen to death her husband who by openyng all his vaines in a bathe gaue vp his spirite would not onely dye to accompanie hym by death but also did chuse to ende her smart by the said maner of tormente for more better accomplishemente whereof the did her self to bee prickte as did before her Seneca Whereof Nero with spede aduertised and knowyng that it proceded of assured loue onely caused her with greate diligence to bee saued from the daunger of death for beyng euen then on the poincte of passage he caused her vaines skilfully to be bounde carefully attendyng on her that she to her self did none other kinde of violence by meanes whereof this chaste and verteous matrone paste the reste of her life in greate paine and miserie paie coulerlesse in signe of loiall loue that she beare to her husbande In the life of the Emperours we also reade that Lucius Vitellius brother to the Emperor Vitellius beyng on a nighte in a perillous battaile his wife whiche hight Triata by the greate and inspeakable force of loue onely came thrustyng in emong the souldiars to aide and assiste Vitellius mindyng in that straite to liue or dye with hym where she then so did her painfull indeuour that she vtterly forgatte all feminine debilitie with small accompte of her life or safetie without her husbande Q. Curtius reciteth that the kyng of Aira vanquished by Alexander spoiled and depriued of a greate parte of his realme paciently bare it with a valiaunt and manly courage without any shewe of pain or anguishe but when newes was broughte hym that his wife was dedde in token that he more loued her then he did his kyngdome brake out into teares and wepte verie bitterly Ouide Iuuenal and Marcial with others affirme that the wife of kyng Adâ—…etus chose willyngly to dye to saue her sicke and diseased husbande for hauing receiued aunswere from thoracle that the kyng should liue if any of his dearest frendes would vouchsafe to dye for hym Notwithstandyng for the little credite that menne commonly giue to Poetes I had hereof saied no thyng had not saincte Hierome hymself recoumpted it Plinie the younger in a letter of his writeth that a certaine Fisher beyng sicke of an incurable disease or maladie by meanes whereof he daiely indured suche tormentes and paines as was almoste impossible for man to sustaine where at his wife moued with meruailous compassion as she that intierly and hartely loued hym seyng no hope of healthe or recouerie nor any where could finde any kinde of
remedie hauyng sought it euery where to the vttermoste of her power perswaded with her husbande by death to make an ende of these gripyng paines saiyng sithe that to death at some other tyme of necessitie you â—…ste yelde preuente her commyng to ende there by this insupportable anguishe To whiche her aduise this poore wretche accorded wherefore passyng forthe bothe to the toppe of an high rocke this woman there bounde her self verie faste to her housebande whence castyng them selues doune where dismembered together Baptista Fulgosius the like historie remeÌ„breth of a poore labourer or housebande man of Naples which walkyng with his wife vpon the sandes or sea coast but she for some her affaires for slowyng her pace was immediatly appreheÌ„ded by a small skiffe of Moores whiche thyng her housebande when he ones had perceiued beganne to screche and torment hymself lamentablie and in fine tooke the water swimmyng after the bote with moste dolefull teares criyng still on the Marriners to take hym also sithe thei had his wife awaie with them for prisoner so was he in th' ende to them also receiued not without lesse meruaile of the Moores then teares of his wife Shortly after this within few daies landed thei bothe were preseÌ„ted vnto the kyng of Thunnis who vnderstandyng of all thynges as thei truely had happened was moued to compassion and graunted them perdon To witnes of the good minde that Artemisia bare to Mausolus we onely must not consider of that famous Sepulchre whiche she to hym builte and called Mausoleum whiche also this daie for the sumpteous and curious woorke thereof is accompted not the leaste of the seuen wounders of the worlde but also of others her honeste desertes towardes hym The singuler affection also of Tiberius Gracchus towardes his wife is then the others no lesse straunge or meruailous whose historie though it be common redde in Valerius Maximus yet in fewe to touche it shall not bee superfluous he therefore on a tyme findyng twoo Serpentes in his bedde chamber straungely amased at so lâ—thesome a sight demaunded of the augurers or sothsaiers what it mighte portende to whom was aunswered that of necessitie he muste kill one but if the male then hymself should firste dye moste assuredly before his wife but if the female then contrary wise his wife before hym he then that better loued his wife then himself made perfect demonstration of his loiall affection for he rather did chuse to dye first hymself then to see his wife to dye before hym and so in killyng the male serpent made chaunge of life forthwith as is aboue remembred leauyng his wife after hym a widdowe for some other But here a manne maie for iuste cause doubt whether she were more happie that had suche a housebande or more vnhappie in deede that so infortunately loste hym Harde were it to saie whiche of these twoo followyng should be argumeÌ„t of greatest loue to wete whether that woman whiche willyngly would haue dooen her self moste painfully to dye onely for the griefe conceiued of her housebandes death on the other side or she that continually so mourned that by languishyng paine and teares with sorowe to death consumed Concernyng the first for that parte alreadie some thyng aboue is saied as touchyng the seconde a notable example finde wée of a famous gentlewoman of Iulia to wete the doughter of Iulius Caesar wife also to that valiant and renoumed capitaine Pompie to whom one presentyng a certaine robe of her housbandes all stained soiled with the blood of one freashely wounded supposyng incontinentely her housebande traiterously to haue been murthered before she could haue tyme there of more to vnderstande she sodainly so altered with sorrowe and displeasure that she became straight senselesse depriued of her feelyng deliuered also wherewith she then wente quicke of an abortiue and so foorthwith made chaunge of this vncertaine life By whose death that generall peace whiche by her meanes onely was then coÌ„tinued almost throughout the whole worlde was chaunged into warre and bloodie hostilitie principally and first bet wixte Caesar and Pompie The chaste loialtie of Lucretia was suche towardes her housbande so well knowen and so notorious that superâ—luous were it to speake of it for vnkindely abused by force of an vnchaste lecherer sâ—ue her self in the presence of diuers worthie personages The meruailous loue also of the wife of Fernandus Goncales an Earle or Counte is no lesse in my iudgemente commendable then was also her policie by whiche she deceiued the king and well deliuered the countrie for she in stature not muche vnlike to her housebande did on her his apparell arrestyng still in prison and he attired as woman paste for the by her aduice fledde thence and escaped the angrie wrathe of the prince Here might I longer dwell with infinite examples whiche I leaue to remember not mindyng to bée tedious whiche although the lawes of God forbidde that we doe no murther are notwithstandyng worthie of perpetuall memorie especially beyng executed of Panimes and Gentiles whiche had no kinde of féelyng in Godslawes and ordinaunces Of the straunge customes obserued by our elders in mariage Chap. 5. MAriage is contracted by the sole and onelie consent of man and woman but to the ende this consente may the better bée authorised it is farther requisite that it bée manifested by certaine exteriour signes and words for that GOD onlye knoweth and searcheth mans harte Whence it cometh that men in this case haue instituted sundrie ceremonious and solemne ordenances Concernyng these this day in vre among the Christians thei are euident and knowen sufficientlye vnto all men Wherfore I will payne my selfe presentlie to speake of certaine auncient customes practised as well in sundrie barbarous countries as also amoÌ„g the olde Romaines theim selues especiallie in their Esponsalles and Mariages of whiche so maie it be the diuersitie maye lende some contentment to the reader The auÌ„cient Romaines as writeth Cicero maried them selues in two sortes lottyng vnto theym twoo diuers kindes of wiues accordyng to the diuersitie of their matrimoniall ceremonies The one was more common and called her selfe matrone the other more proper and was named mother of the familie As touchyng the latter sorte it maye easelie be thought that they so maried theym selues as dooe in manner all Christians in oure daies For the husbande would demaunde of his wife whether she would be mother and ruler of his familie and she aunsweryng yea would in case semblable also aske hym whether hee mente to be father of her familie againe to whom if he gaue affirmatiue aunswere then should they take eche other by the hande immediatly in token of assured faith and amitie and this contract was reputed for most perfect and excellent By whiche meanes the wife so gained such place in the husbandes house as otherwise she should haue hadde hadde she been hys owne sister for that she nowe came as by adoption to be of the saide line and as true doughter to her father in lawe
accordyng to their perfection were able in what quantitie so euer iustlie to value theim This Zeuxis with suche perfection depainted Penelope that hymself therein besides others had most perfect likyng by meanes whereof he subscribed these fewe wordes commended of all menne more easie shal it be to all suche as shall beholde this vnkindlie to enuie it then with filed hande learnedlie to follow it He besides these did manie other thinges so perfecte so absolute and in suche sort estimed that Plinie reporteth that euen vntill his tyme there was reserued of his doyng a draught of Helena in Rome as also some other thinges moste curiously depainted and yet was there as hath Eusebius from the tyme of his death till Plinie afterward was and did these thinges to wryting by iuste accompte fiue hundred and eight yeres The Agrigentines became suters vnto hym to frame theÌ„ some skilfull purtratie whiche they might offer vnto their Goddesse Iuno but he to theim accorded nothing before by his commaundemente thei had presented vnto hym a greate number of naked maides of rare and comelie beautie out of whiche he chose fiue whiche among the reste he déemed to be fairest and best feutered who takyng from euerie of these that whiche in theim best liked hym he finished this excellent and this fore desired peece Of Parrasus his competitor straunge matters also finde we Strabo writeth that among sundry other thinges he fashioned in the Iâ—le of Rhodes a Satyre standing fast by a certaine Columne or Piller on the highest part of whiche he had depainted a Partridge but although this Columne and Satyre were absolutely doen yet this Partridge so farre surpaste theim in perfection that in the iudgement of all men she séemed to haue life so that without regarde of thother parte of the table eche man was amased at the excellencie of the birde whose perfection in déede was suche and so absolute that thei placing before the saied table certeine tame Partridges as presentlie we may in cages verie easelie kepe theim began to call and offered to flie to hym being as is aboue saied onely painted By meane whereof Parrasus besought the Magistrates of Rhodes that he might with their licence deface and remoue hym considering it stained the beautie of the other partes of the table whiche were assuredlie most famous and excellent Plinie also writeth of him matters straunge and merueilous affirming that some of his woorkes were also fonnde in Rome And farther addeth that amonge others sundrie his perfections he had a subtill or secrete kinde of practise besides his open and séemely proportions whereby he gaue men plainlie to vnderstande the nature or conditions of what soeuer he depainted as is written he did in the Idoll of the Atheniens which in such order and maner he handled that besides the rare beautie and excellencie of the subiecte eche man might sée the ordenaunces maners and customes of the Atheniens who as he was assuredly a prince in that his arte so was he in all other thinges of a moste sharpe and fined witte neither in drawyng his lines or proportions was he bolder then he was pleasaunt with all men merie and well disposed Whence he ofte tymes would saie that paintyng had well schooled hym in the perfecte loare and vsage of wisedome and knowledge But beyng entered into the consideration of this matter it shall not bee besides the purpose some thyng to speake in fewe of Apelles Prince and maister of all other Painters as also som what of Protogines singuler also and excellent in this arte Of that excellent Painter Apelles as also of Protogenes an other in his tyme Chap. 7. THat of one and of the saied subiecte we haue here presently written twoo chapiters is though for some others yet chiefly for twoo causes the one for that the lengthe and continued prorsis wearieth commonlie whatsoeuer the reader whiche some times before thei come to the ende forgette what thei redde at the first or beginnyng the other for the dignitie of hym of whom our penne shall speake here presently well deserueth or meriteth his chapiter a parte to the intent it maie the better bee considered of the readers This then is Apelles in the skill of Paintyng the onely Phenix and mercour of all others He had to maister one Panphilus verie excellent in his science who neuer tooke scholer by the yere for lesse price then for one whole talente Attique valuyng by our accompte sixe hundred croâ—nes sterlyng In the tyme of this Apelles Protogines also liued in this arte moste famous suche bothe and so perfecte in their profession that hardly men knewe whiche merited higheste commendation By meane whereof Apelles aduertised of his excellencie determined on a time to go to visite him and happely in fewe daies arriuyng at Rhodes where at that tyme Protogines dwelt dissimulyng that he was driueÌ„ thither by aduerse winde and weather and entering at the gates or house of Protogines founde hym not whom he sought then presently at home and hauyng demaunded where he might be of an olde woman that kept the house tooke leaue to depart about other his affaires but this olde woman saied whom shall I saie you are that haue sought here Protogines Apelles straight takyng in hand a pinselle whiche he there founde tournyng to her saied thou shalt saie to Protogines that he that drewe this line here would gladly haue spoken with hym and in vttryng these wordes framed there so curious a line so straighte so well proportioned that it wel argued what he was that with learned hande had drawen it Now after this Protogines immediatly retournyng aduertised of all thinges as is afore saied who after he had aduised hym selfe of this skilfull line said that besides Apelles no man that liued could dooe it and so incontinently taketh in hande an other pinselle and with a contrary coloure vpon Apelles his line draweth then the seconde so fine and so well fashioned that besides hym self none could by common iudgement doe it commaunding forthwith his woman that if he by happe retourned that she should shewe him that line as also farther learne hym that Protogines had doen it whom he so muche desired Apelles then retournyng the other beyng for the the old woman as she receiued in commaundement of her maister presenteth forthwith to him this second line to consider of Where at as all amased at the greate aduantage that Protogines had gained tooke in hande againe the second time the pinselle and sondereth in the middle Protogines his line againe whiche hardly might be seen so small it was subtile but with the third colour Apelles notwithstandyng in suche extreme perfection parteth bothe the others that for the fowerth he leaueth no kinde of place in the worlde Protogines then retournyng and seyng what had chaunced confeste the truthe Apelles to bee in deede his better and runneth all aboute with painfull care to seke hym to the onely intente he might doe hym conuenient
although they woulde in no wise there vnto accorde yet Tyberius of hymself streatly inhibited that no man shoulde be so hardie to touche or greue a Christian As concernyng the yearthquake and darknyng of the Sunne continuyng the full tyme that Christ was on the Crosse we haue also good testimonies and assured of Ethnikes Flegon a gréeke historiogripher borne in Asia of whom Swydas especially remembreth reporteth for a thing almost incredible that in the forth yere of the two hundred and tenth Olympiade whiche by iust accompte was in the eightinth yere of the raigne of Tyberius at whiche tyme our sauiour suffered there was a greate Eclipse of the Sunne suche as earste had neuer been séen or written of continuyng from the sixt hower euen vnto the ninth and farther during the time of this defect of the Sunne such and so inspekable were the yearthequakes in Asia and Bithinia that infinite houses fell doune to the grounde It appeareth farther that besides this Flégon that in the same time liued Plinie also felte it and discoursed on the saide matter for saieth he in the tyme of Themprour Tyberius greater yearth quakes were then seen then euer had been before by meanes of whiche were subuerted twelue famous cities in Asia with infinite and innumerable other houses and buildynges in suche sort that the historiogriphers Gentiles though lesse wéetyng the cause lefte not yet to write the miracles of Christ The other miracle of the veale of the Temple that sundred Iosephus in like sorte recordeth it faithefully The cruell murther dooen by Herode vppon the harmelesse innocentes is writen of on other Iewe whiche hight Phylon an historian of greate aucthoritie in his abridgemeÌ„t of tyme where he thus muche reporteth that Herode did to bee murthered certaine yong infantes and with them also his owne naturall soonne for that he heard say that Christ the king promised to the Iewes was borne and this man liued in the tyme of Herode the Tetrarche as him selfe writeth This history of the innocentes is of Macrobius also more fully remembred a man excellentlie learned and of greate antiquitie who in rehersall of certaine pleasant and merie conceites of the Emperour Octauian aboute the tyme of the birth or natiuitie of our sauiour whiche saied beyng aduertised of the crueltie of Herode as well towardes hys owne soonne as also the others that he rather would be a Hogge in the house of Herode then his soonne whiche he saied for that the Iewes did neuer eate any swines fleshe whiche pretie ieste is repeted by Dion in the life of the saide Emperour so that in fine there were many miracles written as wel by Iewes as by Gentiles lesse supposing to haue witnessed them to haue been doen by Christe besides infinite the others reported by Christians What farther shall I write of the auncient Emperours and what thei thought of our faith as what discourtisies they also practised against the true professors of Christ and his truth The first good Bishoppe or seruaunt of Christ S. Peter S. Paule also a faithfull minister were doen to death at the commaundement of the Emperoar Nero thirtiesix yeres after the death of our redemour at whiche tyme was the greate persecution of the Churche of whiche the Gentiles left not to make mentioÌ„ as among others many these twoo especially Cornelius Tacitus and Suetonius Tranquillus whiche liued at that tyme bothe famous and honourable Suetonius in the life of Nero spekyng of certaine his owne ordinaunces faieth that hee tormented and afflicted with sundry and greuous puishmentes a certaine kinde of people whiche called theimselues Christians folloyng a newe faith or religon And Cornelius T. writyng of the saied Nero affirmeth that he chastised and pursued with terrible tormentes a sort of people named commonly Christians the author of whiche name saieth he was Christ of Hierusalem the verie same whiche Pilate gouernour of ludea did openly to be crucified by whose death his doctrine grewe more and more and increased But consider wee also what some other Gentiles haue written of honour and authoritie like vnto the others Plinie the yonger in one of his Epistles demauÌ„deth of the Emperour Traian whose LiuetenaÌ„t he was in Asia how he would that he should punishe the Christians that were aceused and brought before hym and the better to informe his Lorde of what soeuer he founde against them he among other thinges many reporteth that these Christians rise ordinarilie at certaine houres of the night assembling and meetyng together singyng Hymmes and Songes of praise vnto Iesus Christe whom they honoured for their God and Messias and besides this meetyng in congregations together they made also vowes not to doe annoie or domage to anie not robbyng or takyng from any manne what so euer that they would not committe adulterie that thei neuer woulde false their faith or promis not to denie what soeuer had been lent theim or committed to their kepyng And farther the saide Plinie writeth that they alwaies did feede or eate together not holding or possessyng any thyng as proper or priuate By these are well knowen what were euen then the exercises of the christians as also for what cause the worlde pursued theim Those thinges were recorded thus by an idolatrous infidell sixtie yeres fullie after the Passion of our Lorde and sauiour Vnto whiche letters the Emperour aunswered for as muche as thei were accused of no kind of riote or wrong he should in no wise afflict or chastice theim â—e yet make any inquisition what so euer against theim not withstandyng when they shoulde yet be accused before hym that he then did his pain to withdrawe theim from that Religion but if they in no wise would forgo or leaue it that he should not for all that do theim any kinde of violence How be it true it is that this saied Emperour Traian before this as an infidell and deceaued by the guile and fraude of the accusers punished both and persecuted the poore harmlis christians After succided in th' empire his Nephew Adrian of whoÌ„ Aelius Lampridius an historiogripher voide of faithe and idolatrus writeth that he began first to honour the christians permitting theim to liue after their loore and order and that hym selfe also with the people reuerensed Christ building and grauntyng theim Temples for their behoofe but afterwardes alteryng his good minde and zeale towardes theim began cruelly again and odiously to persecute theim abused by the maisters of his false cerimonies as by the Bishops also of his false gods perswadyng with hym that if he any waie fauoured the Christians that all the worlde woulde shortly be conuerted to that lawe whence a generall rume would followe to their gods and religion all whiche is reported by Petrus Crinitus It is written in the life of Saturninus that from Seuerinus the Consull a letter was writen to the said Adrian the'mperor wherin he certified him that in Egipt were sundrie christiaÌ„s among which some called theimselues Bishops of which all no
grace or fauour his laste recourse was vnto the diuine Iustice saiyng to this cruell and to this merciles capitain that sith he nedes would take his life for no cause from hym that he then presently appealed for iustice vnto God assummonyng also hym with hym that daie to appere before the Iudiciall seate or throne of the moste highest to yelde to hym accompt of that his greate iniustice in whiche same daie as the others this capitain also died and past to plaide his cause in the true courte in deede of iustice where as well maie bee presumed suche was his rewarde as his tretcherie had deserued I could here longer dwell in others like to these but for a finall example I will one onely more remember you no lesse perchaunce straunge then very true and certaine whiche happened at Magonce in Almaignie troublyng disorderyng the whole state of that citie as briefly remembreth Gontier the Poete in his descriptiō of the life and geastes of Fredericke the Emperour the firste of that name as he recordeth The bishoppe Contadus in his historie also recordeth it as also Henry the sixte soonne to the saied Fredericke In this fore saied toune then of Ments or Magonce in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred fiftie or some thyng more there dwelte an Archebishop who had to name Henrie a man for his vertues of all men eche where renoumed this Archebishoppe then as became a good pastour punished synne and vice seuerely with a speciall regard to his flocke and charge true seruaunte vnto GOD and friende vnto his neighbour by occasion whereof some libertines and enemies of Gods honour beganne to malice to enuie his estate and conditiō so that he was accused of euill demanure before the Pope and saied to bée lesse worthie of suche an office or honour chargyng him with many open and slaunderous infamies whiche vnderstoode by the Pope although in trouthe he thought hym to bee bothe iuste and vertuous yet would he not deny audience to those that craued it and hauyng heard their plaint aduertised thereof incontinently the Archbishop By meanes whereof the better to discharge and pourge hym he chose out emong his friendes suche a one as he loued moste for whom also he had doen more then for any other this was a Prieste or Prelate and had to name Arnoulde highly aduaunced to sundrie dignities by the bishop This Arnoulde now was riche eloquent and learned and beyng entered into Rome suborned by the deuill determined on a sodaine to depriue his lorde and maister inrichyng hym self with that honour if it were possible whiche thyng the better to accomplishe with greate summes of money he corrupted twoo impious and twoo accursed Cardinalles before whom to the hearyng of this cause deputed in place to haue spokē the truthe as bothe faithe and loialtie willed he vttered againste hym what so he fasly could imagine saiyng that he more stode bounde to god to the truthe then in any wise he was or could be vnto man and therefore muste nedes confesse that the bishop in deede was suche as he to be was accused by meanes whereof the Pope as abused by this Arnoulde sente vnto Magonce these twoo honeste Cardinalles there to depriue and remoue the Archebishope whiche beyng arriued caused by prorses this good manne to appere before theim whose matter was there in suche order handeled that sentence was there in fine pronounced againste hym depriued of that honour and of that postorall dignitie in whose rome this Arnoulde was presently then substituted whiche so had solde his maister as Iudas did our sauiour at which sentence vttered the Archebishop saied God knoweth that I am vniustly here condemned how bee it I minde not to appeale from this your sentence for that I surely knowe that you soner shal be credited though liers then I in truthe wherefore I receiue this sentence a punishmente for my synnes appealyng neuer the lesse from you vnto the eternall Iudge before whom I assomon you all three to appere at whiche woordes these Prelates burste out into a laughter saiyng that when so he wente before thei incontinently would followe hym This chaunsed in the yere of mannes redemption a thousande a hundred fiftie and sixe whiche wronge this good priest tooke verie paciently withdrawyng hymself into a certain monasterie where he obserued the straite rules of that order without any coule or habite religious But to conclude God neuer long permitteth suche tretcherie and iniustice any where vnpunished to the intente especially that the innocencie of the iuste might the better alwaies be knowen One yere and a halfe after this this Henry died very vertuously in his Abbey mountyng straight into heauen as maie well bee presumed Newes hereof was broughte and of his death to Rome whereat these twoo Cardinalles foorthwith began to ieaste either chargyng other to séeke and searche out the Archebishop according as thei had promised And beholde immediatly or within very fewe daies afterward the one of them was so brused by mishappe of his owne seruaunte that his bowelles and intrailes burste out at his foundment The other fel madde incontinently in suche extremitie that he brake his bones eatyng and deuouryng his owne wretched carrion and as concernyng Arnoulde in recompence of his disloialtie and sedicious tumultes whiche he moste carefully fostered eche where emong the people he became so odious and lothsome to the multitude that about that tyme thei also inuironed hym shutte vp into a monasterie where in fine thei tooke hym and mangled him most miserablie castyng his carriō into the diche of the citie where it laie full thrée daies followyng all the people as well womē as menne doyng to it though dedde the moste villanie that was possible ¶ Of a pretie guile practised by a vertuous and good Quene towardes her housebande by meanes where of I ames Kyng of Aragon was begotten and of his birthe and death Chapt. 13. IN the old Chronicles or annales of Aragon it is recorded that the Lorde Peter Counte of Barcelon afterward by succession the seuenth kyng of Aragon receiued in marriage the ladie Marie doughter to the Earle of Mont Pesulin nephue to the Emperour of Constantinople a ladie no lesse faire then vertuous and honest The kyng notwithstādyng who pleased muche in varietie of concubines and therefore lesse forste of this faire and vertuous ladie not vsyng her cōpanie as reason woulde he should haue dooen ministred to her occasion of greate annoye and sorrowe and especially for that the kyng had then no issue to inherite and succede in that kyngdome after hym Wherfore by the meanes of one of the kynges owne Chamberlaines whiche also perhaps had serued hym in other suche like affaires she was conueighed vnto him though vnder the pretexte and name of an other where hauyng vsed his companie to her full contentation and the kyng perceiuyng that it drewe towardes daie commaunded her to withdrawe her self for the sauyng of his honour but she
saied my housebande and my lorde I am none suche as you suppose me to be but am your wife your obediente and your lawfull bedfellowe dooe me what paine or sorrowe shall beste like you for assuredly I will not departe out from your companie before you doe to bee called some one of sufficient credite that maie if neede bee witnes that I alone this night was with you and with none other to the intent that if it please God to graunt me to be with childe by you whiche is my sole and onely desire that the worlde then maie knowe that it also is yours The kyng consideryng of her honest guile was though in deede he thought that he had been serued otherwise contented to fatisfie that her expectation and did to bée there of witnesses twoo honest and sober gentlemē Now so it came to passe that this vertuous dame within shorte tyme after knewe well she had conceiued and at the terme by accompte well aunsweryng to this purpose was deliuered of a soonne the firste daie of Februarie in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred ninetie and sixe whiche as sone as he was borne the Quéene commaunded immediatly that he should be carried to the Churche and incontinently as thei whiche is to be considered to whom this charge was carefully cōmitted were on the point of entrie into the Churche or Temple the priestes assuredly lesse wetyng of any suche matter began to syng Te deum laudamus in moste solemne maner And thence departing afterward with the saied childe vnto an other Churche thei also not knoweyng of any such gehaste commyng euen as he entred beganne that Psalme of Benedictus dominus deus Israel whiche was a meruailous signe and assured presage of the great vertue and bountie that should be in the yong prince And the Kyng and Quéene not knowyng now what name thei beste might giue hym did to bee lighted twelue Torches of equall length and bignes lottyng to euery of theim the name of an Apostle with this determination that the name of that Torche that first should be consumed should be giuen to this Prince for name at his Baptisme and the first that failed was that of sainct Iames. So afterward then baptised thei gaue hym Iames to name he was an excellente Prince in peace no lesse wise then valiaunte and fortunate in all affaires of warre His inuasions and incursions were terrible against the Mores he was large and liberall at all tymes to his souldiars and emong others his notable attemptes he leuiyng on a tyme a greate and grosse armie past into the Isle of Maiorque whiche then was onely inhabited of the Mores where he foughte many bothe bloudie and daungerous battailes but after he there long had besieged their principall citie in th' ende wonne it as all the other Isles adioignyng nigh vnto it and in fine subdued all the other Mores as also the citie of Carthage it self He had many children as well soonnes as doughters whiche all while he liued he aduaunsed to greate and mearueilous honours The Prince Peter was after hym kyng also of Aragon Iames kyng of the Isles Maiorque and Minorque his thirde soonne was Archebishop of Toledo the ladie Yollant was espoused to the kyng of Castile the ladie Isabeau to the kyng of Fraūce the ladie Vrroque to the lorde Emanuel prince also of Castile and the prince Peter in his fathers daies espoused the doughter of the kyng of Nauar. This kyng liued seuentie and twoo yeres and died then vertuously and in his death bedde chose to him the habite of a religious man renounsyng his kyngdome and his roiall scepter with assured determination if he euer had recouered of that maladie to haue imploied the residue of his daies in the sole seruice and veneration of God but his paines growyng and doublyng continually he gaue ouer vnto nature in the towne of Valence in the yere of our lorde God a thousande twoo hundred sixtie and sixe in the beginnyng of the moneth of August ¶ Of an aunciente and straunge custome obserued by the inhabitauntes of the Prouince of Carinthia at the coronation of their prince as also how thei sharply punished thieues Chapt. 14. POpe Pius the seconde of that name a manne no lesse learned then painfull and still busied in aunciente histories when he liued reporteth in his Cosmographie or description of the worlde that the prouince of Carinthia is inclosed within the territorie and seignorie of Austria saieth that the inhabitauntes there at the coronation of their prince vsed a very straunge and pretie custome whiche also is remembred by A. Sabellicus in his tenth Decade as also by Sebastianus Munsterus in his newe Cosmographie In this Prouince of Carinthia there is a greate plaine of very olde and ruinous bulidynges as if the were the steppes or monumētes of some auncient citie in whiche also standeth a certaine greate stone wherevpon at the coronation of their newe duke the daie and tyme appointed a housebande man or labourer incontinently ascendeth vnto whom that office by inheritance belongeth On his right hande standeth nigh to hym a blacke Cowe and on his left a lame a weake and an ill fauored Mare Rounde about the stone standeth a great heape of clounes or countrie carels Then commeth the Duke on with a greate noumber on horsebacke all in very good and in decent order hauyng twelue ensignes borne there before them of which one is more large and more apparent then the others whiche is borne by a certaine Earle there by especiall priueledge so now approcheth this Archduke cladde like a shepherd vnto the stone where as is plaste this carell who incontinentlie crieth out with a loude and haute voice demaunding what hée might be that cometh in such pompous in such proude arraie to whom the others aunswere that stande there about hym he is the Prince and gouernour of this countrie Then thundereth out this vilaine as harde as he maie possiblie is he a iudge rightuous will he doe iustice to all men will he seke the aduauncement and commoditie of the countrie will he defende it and saue it from the enemie Is he a free man and of a free house borne Is he valiante and worthie of honour Is he a true christian man and will he defende the faithe Thei all aunswere yea he is and euer shall be Then beginneth he againe a freashe to demaunde by what right maie he dispossesse me of this place Then aunswereth the Earle that bare that beste enseigne thou shalt receiue for this thy place sixtie Duckettes of golde this Cowe also and Mare in like sort shall be thine also the Princes roabe whiche he laste of al did of finally thy familie and kinne shall all bee free from all kinde of taxes or paimentes what soeuer This carell then giueth the Prince a small buffette on the cheke admonishing him to be an vpright and a vertuous Iudge and so leauyng the stone giueth place vnto the duke carriyng
is this desire of his in vaine but rather accordeth perfectly with nature but not to attaine to the effecte or ende thereof is to manne an accident and therefore lesse naturall For God created man firste to liue immortall in suche sorte that accordyng to the opion of moste diuines he neuer should haue died or tasted of any miserie had he or kepte or obserued the coÌ„maundementes geuen him but hauing transgrest theim he streight became subiecte to the stormie tempestes of this world and finally to death and this by disobedience man here hath purchaste anguishe the graue and corruption So as the Apostle saieth by the sinne of disobedience death first crepte in and entered into this worlde Hence nowe it then is euident that death was neither naturall in our first father Adam ne after him in vs but casuall and accidentall as nothyng at all lesse mente vs by the diuine prouidence Now then this doubte maie also this be resolued that the desire neuer to die or to endure annoie is lent vs from nature and that not in vain for that it some tymes was in vs if manne then had not sinned assuredly to haue attained the effecte so much desired but beyng as we are rebellious and obstinate this desire still remaineth but so to be is denied vs The seconde doubte also by this meanes may be resolued for that through glotteny and venerie we hasten our fall and ruine In semblable sorte the thirde also by the sinne of Adam by meanes where of he fell from that originall iustice or state of grace whiche God before to hym had freely geuen and graunted seruyng hym to moderate his life and each his actions Whence immediatly began to followe this disordre for reason that should rule and order thinges aright lieth subiecte vnto the will and to euery the senses so that it appeareth plainly that thys peruerse order is in no respecte naturall but as is saide of fortune and altogether casuall By which meanes we here conclude that thinges of greatest excellencie and of assured perfection should and ought to gouerneth others of base condition and this neuer misseth or faileth at any tyme as is more then plaine in euerie the bodies immixte and celestiall but although in manne experience shewe the contrarie that issueth of fortune who by hys fall hath merited not that but greater punishment and not at all from nature What ceremonies the Romaines vsed before they denounced warre to any prince or countrie Chap. 5. WHo so hath readde of the holy ceremonies and religious obseruations practised coÌ„tinually by the aunciente Romaines as wel in matters concerning peace as in those also of warre maie nothing at all mearuaile of all theirs so many and so famous victories against suche migtie Princes suche warlike and bluddie nations nor on the other side might thinke it or strauÌ„ge or els impossible to sée the fatall ruine of this greate and stately empire which first of all beganne when contemptuously thei first disdained these solemnities For as we see by examples of infinite histories by how muche the more deuoutly they obserued the â—boue saide vsages so muche the more grewe this Romaine state and empire their capitaines also happy and renoumed and dreadde throughout the world as is and maie be seen in Pompe and in Brennus with others more knowen and more then I canne remember whiche though they were in deede idolaters voide of al knowledge or perfecte feling of God yet of parte it appeareth that God still was propitious to the fautors of religioÌ„ which percase might be to this and none other ende that as this people was ialous of this religion of which thei yet had no perfect nor none other assured grounde so by more sure reason they gladly should haue bene Patrones and Protectors of the true and Christian faith if it had been to theim as to vs it is reuealed By the effecte it then is euident that long tyme he kepte and preserued theim in prosperitie with fortunate successe in their affaires teÌ„porall The ceremonies then which the Romaines vsed in time of peace are many and diuers whiche I leaue to speake of for that if I should all penne theim I should wery greue percase the reader to speake therof to little were iniurious in my phantasie Wherfore I shall in this place remember fiue onely whiche they orderly obserued before thei proclaimed warre against any prince or countrie to the intent that Princes of our tyme may see how muche they erre rashlie to denouÌ„ce warre and hostilitie not crauing firste Gods assistaunce his aide and his succour and farther that thei also maie knowe that heÌ„ce onely on them befalleth commonly suche euill aduerse and finister fortune and finally how farre in pointes of religion thei in truthe be inferiour to these Ethnikes and Idolaters Now then when newes came to Rome of any rebellion or that any prince barbarous had inuaded their territories or that any other had doen iniurie to their confederates thei immediatly sente foorthe their ambassadours vnto hym by whiche the Senate by faire meanes aduised hym to make restitution of the domage and wronge committed and farther that he euer afterwarde refrained from suche incursions whiche aduise if he estemed not then did thei warre to bée proclaimed immediately The Senate then hauyng chosen some capitaine for this iourney did all their Sacrificatours incontinently to be called whiche receiued in commaundement to praie vnto their Goddes for the happie successe and good fortune of their people For the Romaines went neuer forthe to spill the blood of their enemies before their priestes had bitterly wepte and praied in their Temples After this the Senate beyng assembled all togither wente in good order to the Churche of Iupiter where solemnely thei swore al or plighted this faith that when so euer yet the enemie againste whom warre by theim was then denounced would desire a truse or peace againe with theÌ„ or otherwise would craue pardoÌ„ of his defaute that mercie should not in any case be denied hym This dooen the newe Consull chosen for this expedition hastneth theÌ„ce againe forthwith vnto the Capitoll where he voweth to hym of the Gods in whom he reposeth or moste hope or confidence that he will offer if he retourne victorious the beste thyng that he hath of what price so euer And although the thyng offered were of neuer so greate value yet were the people bound to repais it hym againe After this an Ensigne hauing in it an Egle whiche was the true and auncient armes of the Romaines was brought out into the filde of Mars whiche thei onely did to this ende or purpose that the people might knowe that it was then lesse lawfull to vse any plaies or other pleasant spectacles whilste that their frendes and kinsmenne were then in filde and in armes and in fine the Pretor beyng mounted on high on one of their gates sounded a Trumpette to call together their Souldiars deliueryng with the same certeine Ensignes
more woorthy of commendation then this that he punisshed with deathe all those that any where were founde vnbusied or that walkte vp and downe idlely for their pastime and pleasure Howe the Gentiles were affected towardes all those that perseuered in any vertuous actions is euidente for that to this purpose especially and aboue all others they had in Adoration thrée Idolles or Goddesses the first hight Strenua whiche is to saie Dexteritie the seconde Agenoria whiche signifieth Virilitie the thirde Stimula whiche soundeth as mutche as a Spurre of honour or Vertue in sutche sorte reuerenced they incessant trauaile that they erected these thrée Idolles in the name of them to be reuerenced for euer But wée will not arrest our selues on the opinion of the Gentiles but will descende to the authoritie of the Scriptures whiche no lesse bindeth vs to the aboue remembered then it chargeth vs to abstayne from thinges that be prophaned Salomon in his Prouerbes emonge many other places where he sharply argueth idlenesse in one to this ende vttereth these woordes He that in Winter ceaseth from labour shal receiue for his portion indigent beggerie S. Paule a Doctour emonge the Gentiles neuer ioyed so mutche for any thinge as for that he at no time was founde a Treuante or Loyterer extollinge aboue al thinges paineful Laboure In this sorte writeth he to the Thessalonians admonishinge them in al thinges to imitate him for neuer was he founde idle emonge them ne at any time did he eate not hauinge firste deserued it he toyled daie and nighte not to annoye but by al meanes to profite them And againe Who so laboureth not neither muste he eate as is commaunded To the Corinthians in manner semblable he writeth remembringe them for their better instruction of his restlesse Payne and incessant Trauaile which the same he also doothe in many other places Imploye wée then hereafter our time in vertuous exercises auoiding to the vttermoste of our power the contrary whence neuer issueth any thinge that is commendable Neither geue wée this our commaundement with sutch extreame vigor as thoughe wée woulde haue no time exempted to eate drinke sléepe honestly repose vs for these thinges are necessarie as also moderate recreation at times is likewise commendable For this cause Cicero so mutch extolleth Scipio in that he saide that he neuer was lesse idle then when in déede he was idle And further addeth Cicero that this sayinge of his was moste assuredly and doubtlesse notable for that thereby he gaue others to vnderstande that when he idly had arested him from his studies he then notwithstanding had in minde the whole course of his affayres and that then and at suche times of them he earnestly and with aduice consulted with him selfe Seneca the Morall Poete affirmeth that Idlenesse without somme practise of studie or good Letters is to man a very perfecte Graue or Sepulchre and that those that studie Wisedome are they that féele and enioye the true Idlenesse Plutarche writeth that the Wise man spendeth his time in the onely exercise of vertue and Learninge Let Man then aduise him howe he spende his time whiche passeth without staye and is altogeather vncertaine for that he muste yéelde a straite accoumpte thereof yea and of eche woorde that shal passe him rashely Cato though he were a Panym yet coulde he thus muche saie that all greate and hawtie personages were as well bounde to yéelde an accoumpte of their time without profite spente as to receiue iuste guerdon for that they well had imployed For conclusion in suche honest exercises shoulde wée passe our fewe dayes that wée mighte reape the fruite thereof in the Kingedome of God whiche is prouided for those that are called into the Vineyarde to Laboure it where they shall receiue the dette to them belonginge To this pourpose sutche fittinge woordes vseth S. Iohn Blessed are those that die in the Lorde for that their Spirites repose them nowe in quiet from all Labour but theire Woorkes and theire trauailes sutche as they were shall folowe them Whiche authoritie well proueth that paine onely and trauaile is the Marchandice of this worlde whiche is bought solde and deliuered into Heauen as S. Paule him selfe not vnfitly remembreth wheras he saith that eche man shal receiue his Salery or payment according to that he hath trauailed in this worlde ¶ Howe detestable a matter Crueltie is with somme examples seruinge to that pourpose Chap. 14. AMonge all other vices repugnant to mans Nature whiche also yéelde men moste abominable Monsterous Crueltie is assuredly the chiefe and principall for as mutche as Man a Creature moste Honorable framed to the Image and similitude of God borne to vse courtesie compassion by Crueltie is transformed into a brute beaste terrible furious of nature accursed and enimie to God who is the sole soueraigne Clemencie Aristotle saithe that Crueltie fiercenesse inhumanitie are vices incident to some sauage wilde beaste Seneca in his seconde Booke of Clemencie termeth it the execrable felony of the Soule whence he concludeth it opposite and contrary to the vertue of compassion and humilitie Crueltie is capitall enimie of Iustice and of reason and mutche worse is this vice then eyther pryde or malice for that wrothe or malice séemeth to procéede of somme certaine displeasure as when wée beholde any one that either annoyeth or wrongeth an other but emonge sutche as in their Crueltie outrage wée finde many that euen laughinge and withoute any suspition of crime onely of pure malice and disdaine miserably doo to die murther the innocent So is it then a capitall enimie to Iustice whiche permitteth not any fautlesse to smarte of vndeserued paine as it on the other side also chargeth with moderate and measurable correction the fautie or culpable without respecte of person Seneca in his Booke of manners saithe That commonly wée terme those mercilesse tormentors that in correction of vices holde no kinde of measure what title then to those menne shall wée iustly attribute that by straunge deuised meanes soyle them in Innocent and harmelesse bloudde Examples of sutche Monsters wée reade infinite emonge whome wée finde Herode Kinge of the Iewes which raigned in the birthe of our Sauiour Christe Who after the deathe of so many innocentes thinkinge emong them also to haue slaine him who then was newly for mans redemption borne would yet make more ample and more ful shew of his tyrannie not onely in the time of his wretched life but also in the instant and moment of his death so that him selfe perceiuinge his death to approche caused to be assembled al the chiefe of Hierusalem whom as soone as they at his commaundment appeared he caused without staye to be safely imprysoned geuinge charge to his Sister that in the same pointe of time that he shoulde make chaunge of life shée also should doo to die all the foresaide Elders whiche to doo shée fayled God workinge to the contrary Whiche thinges he did as him selfe
somewhat before his deathe confessed for that he knew the inhabitantes of Hierusalem woulde reioyce of his chaunge and to the intente it otherwise might succéede to the people then they at that time assuredly supposed he of accursed and detestable pretence to the intent they al in that day should mourne and lamente determined to cause to be donne that horrible murther The tyrannie also of Abimelech Sonne of Gedeon the Greate was no lesse straunge and marueilous for the intente he onely might raigne alone he trayterously slewe thrée scoare of his Brethren whose mercilesse hande none escaped but onely Ionathas which by the onely permission of God fledde to the intent the Traytour might neuer liue without suspition or feare of reuenge And yet here againe is it doubtfull to saye whether the treachery that he vsed towardes the Sichimites were more tollerable then this or not on whom for that they had chaste him out of their Citie into which afterwardes reentering by force in the night reuenged him selfe by the vniuersall slaughter of them all for he committed to the swoorde all them that he there founde Man Wooman yonge and olde and certaine suche as for there safetie ranne into the Churches he foorthwith inuironned with greate heapes of woode whiche as soone as it had taken fire the heate and smooke thereof was sutche so intollerable that the prysoners that thought to haue liued in assured Sanctuarye were scortcht eche one and wasted there miserably to powder this after he had then distroyed the whole Towne with ploughe he turned in despite the soyle coueringe it with Salte in stéede of other grayne A. Regulus by the people of Carthage was in manner semblable intreated who beynge there prysoner vpon his promisse of gainecome was sente vnto the Romaines to conclude a peace or at the least to practise the permutation of Captiues but beinge returned lesse answearing their expectation not by constrainte but for performance of his promisse was shutte vp into a greate pype or tunne thicke sette with sharpe nayles pearsinge on euery side so that he coulde on no side either leane or arrest him selfe in whiche sorte they did him cruelly to die All Tirannes are ordinarily of nature cruell but who so of them is blouddy is more execrable then the others Phalaris Kinge of Sicilia a most wretched tyranne who although he executed sundrie without cause or reason yet in truthe and iustly to consider of him he was in harte and affection then in déede more cruell This manquayler had a Bull of Brasse whiche one Perillus had skilfully wrought him in which when he had inclosed whom he minded to torment hauinge vnder the sayde Bull a greate and hoate fire the poore patient gaue foorth thence his sorowfull Notes as though it had benne the bellowinge of an Oxe whiche he did to this intente onely that by the lamentable shrikes vnder a Bulles voyce vttered he mighte in no wise be moued to pitie or compassion One thinge did he while he liued honestly for the first that euer he tormented in this his Brassy Bull was Perillus him selfe the authour thereof Straunge was the vnnaturall and vnreuerent Crueltie practised by Tullia doughter to Tarquine Kinge of the Romaines which to inioye the Crowne caused her Father before his time to be murthered which him selfe would haue geuen her had shée neuer so litle tarried and that whiche is more agayne in her to be noted her Fathers bodye layde forthe deade on the grounde shée aduaunced her selfe in her coche incontinently paste foorth ouer it at al not appalled although the Horses that drewe her trembled at that sighte and would haue chosen some other waie to haue paste it the Cocheman also that draue them féeling somme pricke of conscience would in like manner haue chosen some other pathe to the intent the Kinge beinge dead might not be so shamefully dismembred brused but so much stil pleased shée in her cruell affection that euen that whiche the insensible beastes of pitie would haue refused in despite shée brake them of that their choyse will forcinge them to passe ouer the martyred body of her Father The Scithians a people in warre very furious and valiante are in sundrie Histories taxed of Crueltie But emonge other sortes this one geueth ful cause of marueile They would kill greate beastes as Oxen or Horses in whose bellies they inclosed sutche as they meante to execute whom they caused in sutch sorte so faste to be bounde that they neuer coulde moue or by any meanes comme thence where continually they gaue them as nature asketh somme thinge to eate to the intents that they lyuinge thus might rotte and corrupte with the stinking carrion of the beaste theire Graue or Sepulchre and to aggrauate the matter that they might be also consumed lyuinge by the wormes that of custome growe still in sutche lothesome as were these and putrified carrions Wée reade agayne of Maximianus Emperour of Rome who also practised so horrible a Cruelty as hardly might enter into the harte of man He bounde men lyuinge to sutche as were deade which he caused to be leaft straitly in this sorte coupled vntill the deade had infected and impoysoned the liuinge The very semblable to this recordeth Virgil of Maxentius Agayne wée finde of the straunge tyrannies practised by Alexander Fereas who buried men quicke linckte face to face and grapled fast as before togeather Others somme he woulde apparell in the skinne of a Woulfe or other Sauage and Wilde beaste whom after he had in beste manner so attyred caused to be carried out into the middle of somme fielde where he bayted them with Mastyues vntill they were miserably dismembred and eaten I knowe not whether any man maie heare to speake of the accursed bouchery practised by Astiages Kinge of the Medes againste Arpalus one of his greatest States and approued friende in necessitie This Astiages by occasion of a Dreame which here to recoumpte shoulde be longe and tedious gaue to Arpalus in secrete commission spéedely to dispatche and murther a yonge Sonne of his who moued with compassion beholdinge the poore infante whiche afterwarde had to name Cyrus the Greate as also that he feared the Moother of the yonge Prince woulde in no wise accomplish that commaundement of Astiages but on the other side dissemblinge it did his carefull paine safely to foster him Longe after the Tyrante aduertised that his childe yet then lyued without semblant of displeasure called vnto him Arpalus whom in consideration of his clemencie vsed towardes the little Cyrus priuily did to be slaine a yonge Sonne of his callinge the daye folowinge the Father to him to dinner whome emonge other meates he fedde with the bodye of his owne childe of whiche Feaste the vnhappy Father had no kinde of misliking as one that knewe nothinge whereof he had eaten Astiages not yet contente with this insupportable Tyranny procéedeth yet further with an vnhearde crueltie for in stéede of the