by the neighbours who starting out of their beds and breaking open the doors found them in the very act before the body was cold for which they were apprehended and laid in Prison Fettered with heavy Chains After their condemnation for this horrid fact the morning before the time appointed for Execution the Father strangled himself and the Mother was carried by the Devil out of the Dungeon in the Prison and her body was found dead in a stinking ditch with her neck broken asunder Beards Theater p. 72. XXX In 1620 There was a young Gentleman whose name was Duncomb that fell in love with a Gentlewoman to whom he vowed his heart and promised Marriage but her fortune not answering his Fathers humour he threatned to disinherit him if he married her and the better to alienate him from her he sent him as a Souldier in the Earl of Oxfords Regiment into Germany hoping that time and absence might wear out those Impressions that his present fancy had fixed upon him charging him at his departure never to think of her more lest with the thoughts of her he lost him for ever The young man being now long absent from her and having his heart full with the remembrance of her could not contain himself but let her know that no threats or anger of Parents should ever blot her memory out of his thoughts which he illustrated with many expressions of love and affection but the careless young man writing at the same time to his Father superscribed his Fathers Letter to his Mistriss wherein he renounced her and his Mistrisses Letter to his Father wherein he admired her the Father swoln with rage and anger against his Son sent him a bitter Letter back again full of threats and whether that or the shame for his mistake that she should see he renounced her whom he professed to Love did overcome his reason is not known but he hereupon killed himself to the great grief of all the English there and by this example Parents may see what it is to be too rigid to their Children for it was not the young mans hand but the old mans hard heart that killed him Hist Great Brit. p. 140. XXXI There was a Peasant a Macedonian by Nation named Rachoses who being the Father of seven Sons perceived the youngest of them played the little Libertine and unbridled Colt he endeavoured to reclaim him by fair words and reasons but finding him to reject all manner of good Counsel he bound his hands behind him carried him before a Magistrate accused him and required that he might be proceeded against as an Enemy to Nature The Judges who would not discontent this incensed Father nor hazard the life of this young man sent them both to the King which at that time was Artaxerxes The Father went thither with a resolution to seek his Sons death where pleading before the King with much earnestness and many forcible reasons Artaxerxes stood amazed at his Courage But how can you my Friend said he endure to see your Son die before your face he being a Gardiner by Trade As willingly said he as I would pluck away Leaves from a rank Lettice and not hurt the root The King threatned the Son with death if his Carriage were not better and perceiving the old mans zeal to Justice of a Gardiner made him a Judge Causins H. Court p. 112. XXXII Epaminondas the Theban being General against the Lacedemonians it fell out that he was called to Thebes upon the Election of Magistrates at his departure he commits the care and government of the Army to his Son Stesimbrotus with a severe charge that he should not fight till his return The Lacedemonians that they might allure the young man to fight reproach him with dishonour and Cowardice he impatient of these Contumelies contrary to the commands of his Father ingages in a Battel wherein he obtained a signal Victory The Father returning to the Camp adorns the Head of his Son with a Crown of Triumph and afterward commanded the Executioner to take it off from his Shoulders as a violator of Military Discipline Plutarch XXXIII Philip the Second King of Spain out of an unnatural and bloody zeal suffered his eldest Son Don Carlos to be murthered by the Fathers of the Hellish Inquisition because he favoured the Protestant Religion which when the Pope heard of he abusively applied that Text of Scripture to him He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Acts and Monum XXXIV One of the Sons of Pyrrhus King of Epyrus being but a Boy asked his Father one day to which of his Sons he would leave his Kingdom to whom Pyrrhus answered To him that hath the sharpest Sword an answer not much unlike that Tragical Curse of Oedipus toward his Children Let them for me divide Both Goods and Rents and Lands With glittering Swords and bloody blows By force of mighty hands XXXV In the year 1551. at a Town called Weidenhasten in Germany Nov. 20. A cruel Mother inspired by the Devil shut up all her doors and began to murder her four Children in this manner she snatcht up a sharp Ax and first set upon her eldest Son being but eight years old searching him out with a Candle behind an Hogshead where he had hid himself and immediately notwithstanding his lamentable Prayers and Complaints clove his Head in two pieces and chopped off both his Arms next she killed her Daughter of five years old in the same manner another little Boy of three years seeing his Mothers madness hid itself poor innocent behind the Gate whom as soon as this Tyger espied she drew out by the hair of the head into the floor and there cut off his Head the youngest lay crying in the Cradle but half a year old him she without all compassion pluckt out and murdered in the same manner these Murders being committed this Devil incarnate for surely no Humanity was left in her to take punishment of her self for the same cut her own Throat and tho she lived nine days after and confessing her horrid Crimes died with abundance of Tears and great repentance yet we see how it pleased God to arm her own hands against her self as the fittest Executioner of Vengeance Beards Theat p. 225. XXXVI Fausta the Wife of Constantine the Great fell in love with Constantine her Son in Law whom when she could not persuade unto her Lust she accused unto the Emperor as if he had solicited her Chastity for which this innocent young man was condemned and put to death but the truth being afterward discovered Constantine ordered her to be put into an hot Bath and suffered her not to come forth till the heat had choked her revenging upon her own head her Sons death and her own Unchastity Idem p. 225. XXXVII Robert de Beliasme delighted much in Cruelty an Example whereof he shewed on his own Son who being but a Child and playing with him the Father for
Vnparalleld VARIETIES Or the Matchless Actions and Passions OF MANKIND Displayed in near Four Hundred Notable Instances and Examples Discovering the Transcendent Effects I. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude II. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity III. Of Chastity Temperance and Humility And on the contrary the Tremendous Consequences IV. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude V. Of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery VI. Of Unchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Proper Figures By R. B. Author of the History of the Wars of Eng. c. Remarks of London c. Wonderful Prodigies c. Admirable Curiosities in England c. Extraordinary Adventures of famous Men and Surprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in the Heavens Earth and Sea c. London Printed for Nath. Crouch at his Shop at the Sign of the Bell in the Poultry 1683. Unparaleld Varieties Iulius Caesar Slain in the Senate by Brutus Cassius others Page 15. London Printed for Nath Crouch TO THE READER IT is an usual saying that Variety Delights but especially in History and more it may be in this Age than in any other before wherein a great many seem to scorn the dull heavy humor of their Ancestors as they please to call it and therefore have not patience to read large Histories admiring their own briskness Ingenuity and Wit though much of it is altogether invisible but only to themselves and their own vain imaginations However since the light French Airiness is now so modish it may not be thought improper so far to comply therewith as to present the Reader with this brief Compendium out of many great Volumes of abundance of short delightful Relations and Instances upon various Subjects which may prevent both tediousness and charge and may likewise furnish the mind with apt matter both for Discourse and Instruction in brief here they may as in a Glass discover the excellent rewards of Virtue and the dreadful punishments of Vice in all Ages of the world and thereby be persuaded to follow and practise the one that they may escape the unavoydable consequences of the other and if it have this admirable effect I shall then reckon my time and pains well imployed in writing of it neither will the Reader repent of his in the Reading thereof R. B. CHAP. I. The Transcendent Effects of Love Friendship and Gratitude discovered in several Memorable Examples LOve and Friendship are the chief Bonds of Humane Society without which Mankind would be Wolves and destrovers of each other I shall therefore give some instances of the extraordinary Effects thereof in all Ages and that in the most large acceptation of it as of the Passion of Love between different Sexes the disquiets whereof have sometimes made deep impressions upon divers Persons of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives and Wives to their Husbands of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children and the reverence and Love of Children to their Parents of the extraordinary Love of Brethren and of many Servants to their Masters of the signal Love of some Persons to Religion and Truth and their hatred of Flattery and Falshood the Love of several to Peace Justice and to their Country together with the choicest instances of the most intire Friendship and the grateful dispositions of some Persons and what returns they have made of the benefits received these shall be the particulars of this first Chapter wherein the variety of the Relations cannot but administer some profit as well as delight since they are collected from Authors of undoubted Authority and Credit I shall therefore proceed in order and first as to Humane Love or that strictly called the Passion of Love I. Eginardus was Secretary of State to Charlemaign Emperour and King of France and having placed his The Emp. of Ger. Daughter caryes her Lover on her back to prevent Discovery Page .1 Affections much higher than his Condition admitted made love to one of his Daughters who seeing this Man of a brave Spirit and a grace suitable thought him not too low for her whom merit had so eminently raised above his Birth she affected him and gave him free access to her Person so far as to suffer him to have recourse unto her to laugh and sport in her Chamber on the Evenings which ought to have been kept as a Sanctuary where Relicts are preserved It happened on a Winters night that Eginardus ever hastning his Approaches and being negligent in his returns had too much slackned his departure in the mean time a â—…ow had fallen which troubled them both for when he thought to go forth he feared to be known by his feet the Lady was unwilling that such prints of steps should be found at her door they being much perplexed Love which taketh the Diadem of Majesty from Queens made her to do an Act for a Lover very unusual for the Daughter of one of the greatest Men upon Earth she took the Gentleman upon her shoulders and carried him all the length of the Court to his Chamber he never setting foot to ground that so the next day no impression might be seen of his footing it fell out that Charlemaign watched at his Study this night and hearing a noise opened the Window and perceived this pretty prank at which he could not tell whether he were best to be angry or to laugh the next day in a great Assembly of Lords and in the presence of his Daughter and Eginardus he asked what punishment that Servant might seem worthy of who made use of a Kings Daughter as of a Mule and caused himself to be carried on her Shoulders in the midst of Winter through Night Snow and all the sharpness of the Seasons Every one gave his opinion and not one but condemned that insolent man to death the Princess and Secretary changed colour thinking nothing remained for them but to be flead alive but the Emperour looking on his Secretary with a smooth brow said Eginardus hadst thou loved the Princess my Daughter thou oughtest to have come to her Father the disposer of her Liberty thou art worthy of death and I give thee two lives at this present take thy fair Portress in Marriage fear God and love one another these Lovers thought they were in an instant drawn out of the depth of Hell to enjoy the greatest happiness in the World Causins Holy Court Tom. 2. II. Pyramus a young Man of Babylon was exceedingly in love with Thisbe the Daughter of one that lived the very next House to his Father nor was he less beloved by her both Parents had discerned it and for some Reasons kept them both up so streightly that they were not suffered so much as to speak to one another at last they found opportunity of discourse through the Chink of a Wall betwixt them and appointed to meet together in a certain place without the City Thisbe came first to the place appointed but being terrified by a Lioness which passed by she
of Age when his Father John Duke of Burgundy was slain by the villany and perfidiousness of Charles the Dauphin being informed of that unwelcome news full of grief anger as he was he hasted into the Chamber of his Wife who was the Dauphins Sister O said he my Michalea thy Brother hath murdered my Father She who was a true Lover of her Husband streight broke forth into tears and cries and fearing not without reason that this accident would prove the occasion of a breach she lamented as one that refused all comfort though her Husband used all kind of loving words to chear up her Spirits Thou shalt be no less dear to me said he for this fault which though near related is yet none of thine and therefore take courage and comfort thyself in an Husband that will be faithful and constant to thee for ever He performed what he said he lived with her three years treating her alwaies with his accustomed love and the same respects and although the very sight of her did daily renew the memory of that wicked act of her Brother and though which is more she was Barren a sufficient cause of divorce among Princes yet he would not that any thing but death should dissolve the Matrimonial Bond that was betwixt them Lipsius Monitor lib. 2. X. Darius the last King of the Persians supposing that his Wife Statira was slain by Alexander filled all the Camp with Lamentations and Outcries O Alexander said he Whom of thy Relations have I put to death that thou shouldst thus retaliate my severities thou hast hated me without any provocation on my part but suppose thou hast Justice on thy side shouldst thou manage the War against Women Thus he bewailed the supposed death of his Wife but as soon as he heard she was not only preserved alive but also treated by Alexander with the highest Honour he then beseeched Heaven to render Alexander fortunate in all things though he was his Enemy Plutarch in vit Alex. XI Gratianus the Roman Emperor was so great and known a Lover of his Wife that his Enemies had hereby an occasion ministred to them to ensnare his life which was on this manner Maximus the Usurper caused a report to be spread that the Empress with certain Troops was come to see her Husband and to go with him into Italy and sent a Messenger with counterfeit Letters to the Emperor to give him advice thereof after this he sent one of his most subtle Captains with order that he should put himself into an Horse-litter with some chosen Soldiers and go to meet the Emperor pretending himself to be the Empress and so to surprize and kill him the cunning Captain performed his business for at Lyons in France the Emperor came forth to meet his Wife and coming to the Horselitter he was taken and killed Imperial Hist p. 344. XII Meleager challenged to himself the chief glory and honour of slaying the Caledorian Boar but this being denied him he sate in his Chamber so angry and discontented that when the Enemy who were the Curetes were assaulting the City where he lived he would not stir out to lend his Citizens the least of his assistance the Elders Magistrates the chief of the City and the Priests came to him with their humble supplications but he would not move they propounded a great reward he despised at once both it and them his Father Oenaeus came to him and imbracing his knees endeavoured to make him relent but all in vain his Mother came and tryed all ways but was refused his Sisters and his most familiar Friends were sent to him and begged he would not forsake them in their last extremity but neither this way was his fierce mind to be wrought upon in the mean time the Enemy had broken into the City and then came his Wife called Cleopatra trembling O my dearest Love said she help us or we are lost the Enemy is already entred the Hero was moved with this voice alone and roused himself at the apprehension of the danger of his beloved Wife he armed himself went forth and left not till he had repulsed the Enemy and put the City into its wonted safety and security Camerarius Hist Medit. Cent. 1. XIII Titus Gracchus loved his Wife Cornelia with that fervency that when two Snakes were by chance found in his House and that the Soothsayers had pronounced that they should not suffer them both to escape but that one of them should be killed affirming also that if the Male was let go Cornelia should die first on the other side that Gracchus should first expire if the Female were let go Dismiss then the Female said he that so Cornelia may survive me who am at this time the Elder It so fell out that he died soon after leaving behind him many Sons so entirely beloved by the Mother and the memory of her Husband so dear to her that she refused the proffered Marriage with Ptolomy King of Aegypt It seems the buried Ashes of her Husband lay so cold at her heart that the splendor of a Diadem and all the pomp of a rich and proffered Kingdom were not able so to warm it as to make it capable of receiving the impression of a new Love Valerius Maximus lib. 4. XIV Caligula the Emperour had Caesonia to Wife and though she was not of remarkable beauty nor of a just but declining Age though by another Husband she was already the Mother of three Daughters yet being one both of Prodigious Luxury and Lasciviousness he loved her with that ardency and constancy that he often shewed her to the Soldiers riding by him in her Armour and to his Friends even naked The day she was brought to Bed he made her his Wife professing that he was at once her Husband and the Father of a Child by her the Child which was named Julia Drusilla was by his order carried about to all the Temples of the Gods at last he laid it down in the lap of Minerva and commended the Child to her Education and Instruction nor did he conclude the Child to be his by any more certain sign than this that even in her Infancy she had a cruelty so natural that she would fly upon the Faces and Eyes of such Children as plaid with her with her fingers and nails Suetonius Hist XV. M. Plautius by the Command of the Senate of Rome was to bring back a Navy of sixty Ships of the Confederates into Asia he put ashore at Tarentum and thither had Orestilla his Wife followed him and there overcome with a Disease she departed this life Plautius having ordered all things for the celebration of the Funeral she was laid upon the Pile to be burnt as the Roman manner was the last Offices to be performed were to anoint the dead body and to give it a valedictory or farewel kiss but betwixt these the grieved Husband fell upon his own Sword and died his Friends took him
angrily said First let me know before I suffer myself to be imbraced by you whether I am come to a Son or an Enemy and whether I am a Captive or a Mother in your Camp Much more she added after this manner with tears in her Eyes he moved with the tears of his Mother Wife and Children imbracing his Mother You have conquered saith he and my Country hath overcome my just anger being prevailed upon by the intreaties of her in whose Womb I was conceived And so he freed the Roman Fields and the Romans themselves from the sight and fear of those Enemies he had led against them Plutarchs Lives p. 230. XXXII There happened in Italy sath Causin as it often happens a great irruption of Mount Aetna nowcalled Mount Gibel it murmurs burns belches up flames and throws out its fiery Entrails making all the world to fly from it it happened then that in this violent and horrible breach of flames every one flying and carrying away what they had most precious with them Two Sons the one called Anapias the other Amphinomus careful of the wealth and goods of their Houses reflected on their Father and Mother both very old who could not save themselves from the Fire by flight and where shall we said they find a more precious Treasure than those who begat us The one took up his Father on his Shoulders the other his Mother and so made passage through the flames it is an admirable thing saith my Author that Almighty God in consideration of this Piety though Pagans did a miracle for the Monuments of all Antiquity witness that the devouring flames stayed at this spectacle and the fire wasting and broiling all about them the way only through which these two Sons passed was tapestried with fresh verdure and greenness and called afterward by Posterity The Field of the Pious in memory of this Accident Causins Holy Court Tom 1. XXXIII There were three Brothers whoupon the death of the King their Father fell out amongst themselves about the Succession in the Kingdom at last they agreed to stand to the judgment and determination of a Neighbour King to whom they fully referred the matter he therefore commanded the dead body of the Father to be fetcht out of his Monument and ordered that each of them should shoot an Arrow at his heart and he that hit it or came the nearest to it should succeed the Elder shot first and his Arrow past through the Throat of his Father the second Brother shot his Father into the Breast but yet missed the heart the youngest detesting this wickedness I had rather said he yield all to my Brothers and utterly resign up all my pretences to the Kingdom than to treat the body of my Father with this Contumely this saying of his considered the King passed Sentence That he alone was worthy of the Kingdom as having given evidence how much he excelled his Brothers in Virtue by the Piety he had shewed to the dead body of his Father Leon. Theat p. 278. XXXIV A Roman Praetor or Judge had sentenced to death a Woman of good birth for a Capital Crime and had delivered her over to the Triumvir to be killed in Prison the Jaylor that received her moved with compassion did not presently strangle her but permitted her Daughter to come often to her being first diligently searched lest she should convey in any sustenance to her the Jaylor expecting that she should die of Famine when therefore divers days had passed wondring within himself what it might be that might occasion her to live so long he one day set himself to observe her Daughter with greater curiosity and then discovered how with the milk in her Breasts she allayed the Famine of her Mother the news of this strange spectacle of the Daughter suckling her Mother was by him carried to the Triumvir and from him to the Praetor who brought the cause to the Judgment of the Consul who pardoned the Woman as to the Sentence of death passed upon her and to preserve the memory of that act where her Prison stood they caused an Altar to be erected to Piety Plinys Nat. Hist XXXV When the City of Troy was taken the Greeks did as became gallant men for pitying the misfortune of their Captives they caused it to be proclaimed that every free Citizen had liberty to take along with him any one thing that he desired Aeneas therefore neglecting all other things carried out with him his Houshold Gods the Greeks delighted with the Piety of the man gave him a further permission to carry out with him any other thing from his House whereupon he took upon his shoulders his Father who was grown old and decrepit and carried him forth the Grecians were extreamly affected with this fight and deed of his and thereupon gave him all that was his own confessing that nature itself would not suffer them to be enemies but Friends to such as preserved so great Piety toward Heaven and so great a Reverence to their Parents Aelian Var. Hist XXXVI Otho the second Emperor of Germany had a Son named Luitolphus a valiant and haughty young man who taking offence at his Fathers second Marriage rebelled against him being assisted by many considerable Persons hereupon Otho raised a great Army to suppress them but Luitolphus not finding himself able to encounter his Father in the Field betook himself to the City of Mentz where his Father besieged him for the space of threescore days and severely battered the City which yet was as valiantly defended against him but at last the Besieged made a motion for Peace whereupon a Truce was granted during which Luitolphus and his Partizan found an opportunity in the night to leave Mentz and betake himself to Ratisbone the Emperor without one days delay followed them to Ratisbone which was better fortified and provided than Mentz and so the Siege was more difficult and doubtful and in the Assaults and Sallies many brave men perished on each side yet soon after Luitolphus sued to his Father for Peace and Pardon which the Emperor at length by the mediation of some Prelates limited to a certain time wherein his Sons faults and offences should be examined and a Treaty should be held to conclude all matters upon which Luitolphus surrendred the City and absented himself from his Fathers presence till he saw the issue but before the time prefixed was expired the Emperor being hunting Luitolphus having been convinced and really sensible of his Fault without any security from his Father came before him in the Fields bare-headed and bare-footed and kneeling at his Fathers feet wept the Father being amazed at this strange and unexpected rencounter stood still and the Son at last recovering his Spirits intreated him to have compassion on him acknowledging his faults and offences to have been very great and rather deserving a thousand deaths than any pardon but being heartily sorry for the same he like the Prodigal Son presented himself
Augustus had taken Adiatoriges a Prince of Cappadocia together with his Wife and Children in War and had led them to Rome in Triumph he gave order that the Father the elder of the Brothers should be slain The designed Ministers of this Execution were come to the place of restraint to this unfortunate Family and there inquiring which of the Brethren was the eldest there arose a vehement and earnest contention between the two young Princes each of them affirming himself to be the Elder that by his death he might preserve the life of the other when they had long continued in this pious Emulation the Mother at last not without difficulty persuaded her Son Dyetentus that he would permit his younger Brother to die in his stead as hoping that by him she might be more probably maintained Augustus was at length certified of this great example of Brotherly love and not only lamented that act of his severity but gave an honourable support to the Mother and her surviving Son Heywoods Hist Women XLIII Heliodorus the Brittain had afterward the Sirname of Pius upon this occasion the People provoked with the Cruelty and Avarice of Archigallus had deposed him and raised Heliodorus to the Throne of his Brother one time when the King went on hunting he accidentally met with his Brother Archigallus in a Wood whose altered visage and ragged cloths gave sufficient evidence of his afflicted condition as soon as the King knew him though he was not ignorant how he had sought his Restoration both by force and fraud yet he lovingly imbraced him and caused him privately to be conveyed into the City The King pretended he was sick and giving forth that he would dispose of the Affairs of the Realm by his last Will and Testament he called his Nobles together he then signified that he would confer in private with each of them singly and as every man entered into his Chamber he caused him to be laid hold on threatning him with death if he would not consent to the sparing of his Brother and that he should resign the Throne and Kingdom to him having by this means gained an universal assent he then opened the business in the presence of them altogether so that Archigallus was restored to the Kingdom and he dying in few years Heliodorus succeeded him with equal Justice and Glory Fulgosus Examples p. 634. XLIV There was a Soldier in the Camp of Pompeius who in the War with Sertorius perceiving a Soldier on the other side to press hard upon him he sought with him hand to hand and having slain him he went about to strip him of his Arms which when he had done he found it was his Brother who had fallen under him whereupon having a long time curst his unhappy Fate he carried his dead Brother into the Camp and having covered the Body with a precious Garment he laid the Corps upon the Funeral Pile and put fire to it which done he immediately drew the same Sword wherewith he had slain his Brother and thrust it into his own Breast and so falling prostrate upon the dead Body of his Brother they were both burned together Valerius Maximus p. 146. XLV There was a report though a false one that Eumenes King of Asia was slain by the fraud of Perseus upon the news whereof his Brother Attalus seized upon the Crown and married the Wife of his Brother but being informed of Eumenes his return he went forth to meet him not without apprehensions of fear in regard of what he had done in his absence Eumenes made no shew of his displeasure only whispered him in the Ear That before he married another Mans Wife he should besure her Husband was dead This was all and not long after dying though by his Wife he had a Son of his own yet he left the Kingdom to his Brother together with the Queen his Wife Attalus on the other side that he might not be surpassed in Brotherly love though he had many Children by his own Wife yet he educated that Son she had by Eumenes to the hope of the Kingdom and when he came of sufficient Age freely resigned up all to him and lived a private life many years after Burtons Melancholy p. 564. XLVI Darius King of Persia being extreamly provoked by Crimes of an extraordinary nature had pronounced Sentence of death upon Ithaphernes his Children and the whole Family of them at once the Wife of Ithaphernes went to the Kings Pallace and there all in tears was so loud in her mournful Lamentations that her cries coming to the Kings Ear moved him in such manner to compassion that the King sent her word That with her own he gave her the life of any single Person whom she would make choice of among the condemned the Woman begged the life of her Brother Darius wondred that she should rather ask his life than that of her Husband or any of her Children and therefore asked her the reason who replied That since her Father was dead she could never hope for a Brother more if she should lose this but that her self being but young as yet might hope for another Husband and other Children Darius was moved with this answer and being inclined to Brotherly love as well as prudence he gave her also the life of her eldest Son Heywoods Hist Women XLVII Tiberius being at Ticinum and hearing that his Brother Drusus lay sick in Germany he immediately put himself on an hasty Journey to give him a visit he passed the Alps and the Rhine and changing his Horse night and day he travelled outright two hundred miles with only one Person in his Company as his Guide Drusus though at that time labouring for life being informed of his coming commanded his Legions with their Ensigns to march out and meet him and to salute him by the Title of Imperator or Emperor he ordered a Praetorial Tent to be erected for him on the right hand of his own and gave him the Confular and Imperial name at the same time yielding this honour to his Brother and his Body to death Valerius Maximus p. 146. XLVIII Great was the love of Timolaeon the Corinthian to his Brother for when in a Battel with the Argives he saw his Brother fall down dead with the wounds he had received he leaped over the dead body of his Brother and with his Shield he protected the body as it lay and though in this enterprize he was sore wounded himself yet would he not retreat into any place of safety till such time as he had seen the dead body of his Brother carried off from the Field Fulgosus lib. 5. XLIX Neither has the extraordinary Love of Servants toward their Masters wanted great Examples some of whom have discovered eminent Fidelity and Virtue so that Fortune may seem to have treated them injuriously not to allot them as great advantages as their Masters they lived under for we read that the Servant of Vrbinius Panopion knowing
that the Soldiers commissioned to kill his Master were come to his House at Reatina changed cloths with him and having put his Masters Ring upon his Finger he sent him out at a postern door but went himself to the Chamber and threw himself upon the Bed where he was slain in his Masters stead Panopion by this means escaped and afterwards when the times would permit it erected a Noble Monument with a due inscription in memory of the true Fidelity of so good a Servant Lipsius Monitor p. 332. L. The Hungarians had conspired against Sigismund King of Hungary and Bohemia but the Plot being discovered the principal persons were all taken brought to Buda and there beheaded Stephanus Contius was the chief of these Conspirators who having thereupon lost his Head Chioka his Esquire lamented the death of his Lord with such outcries that the King took notice of him and said unto him I am now become thy Lord and Master and it is in my power to do thee much more good than can be expected from that headless Trunk To whom the young man replied I will never be the Servant of a Bohemian Hog I had rather be torn into a thousand pieces than to desert a Master of so great Magnanimity as all the Bohemians together are not able to equal And thereupon he voluntarily laid down his Head on the block and had it severed from his Shoulders that he might no longer survive his Master Zuinglius Theat p. 215. LI. Grimoaldus Duke of Benevento was invited by Gondibert King of the Lombards to assist him against Partharis his Brother he came accordingly and having thrown out the one he slew the other Brother he came to defend and so made himself King of Lombardy and when he knew that Partharis was retreated to Calanus Duke of Bavaria he wrought so that he was expelled from thence Partharis not knowing whither to betake himself in safety comes as a suppliant and commits himself to the faith of Grimoaldus but he observing that numbers of his Subjects flocked daily to visit him and fearing lest by the favour of the People he should some time or other recover the Kingdom not regarding his Oath he resolved to make him away and that he might perform it with less noise and tumult he intended first to make him drunk and then send his Guards to cut his Throat while he lay buried in Wine and sleep This Counsel of his was not so privately carried but that it came to the ear of Partharis he therefore commands his Cup-bearer to give him Water constantly instead of Wine lest his troubled head should prove unmindful of the danger he was in nor could he abstain altogether from drinking lest Grimoaldus his Spies should discover that he had intimation of his Intentions the better therefore to colour the matter after large drinking he caused himself to be carried by his Servants into his Chamber as if to sleep out his debauch there he consults with Hunulphus his most faithful Servant who thought it not safe to go forth since the Servants of Grimoaldus stood watching at the Gate but in regard necessity compelled and that there was no other way of escape he orders it thus he covers his Head and Shoulders with the skin of a Bear which was there by chance after the manner of a Country Clown and lays upon his back a Mattress as if he was a Porter to carry it away and then with good blows of a Cudgel drove him out of the Chamber by this Contrivance he passed unknown through the Guards and accompanied with one Servant got safe into France about midnight the Guards came to kill Partharis but were opposed by Hunulphus who besought them not to disturb the rest of his Master now sleeping but to suffer him to sleep out the large drinking he had that night twice they were thus put back but the third time they broke by force into the Chamber and not finding Partharis whom they had determined to kill they inquire of Hunulphus what was become of him who told them plainly he was fled and confessed that himself was the contriver of his flight Grimoaldus admiring his fidelity who to save his Master had cast himself into such manifest danger of his life freed him from that punishment that all cried he was worthy of and with many promises allured him that from thenceforth he would change Masters and serve him with the like fidelity as he had done the former Dinoth Memorab p. 301. LII There was a Citizen of Rome condemned by the Sentence of the Triumvirate who for fear of his life fled and hid himself in a Cave of the Earth one of his Servants observed the approach of them that came to murther him and having thereupon advised him to retire to the lowest and most secret part of the Cave he himself put on his Masters Gown pretending to the Pursuers that he was the Person they sought after being desirous to save the life of his Patron with the loss of his own but one of his fellow Servants betrayed him in this officious Design so that the Master was fetched out of his hiding place and slain when this was known to the People of Rome they would not be satisfied till the betrayer of his Master was Crucified and he that attempted to save him was set at liberty Dinoth p. 293. LIII The Tyrians having maintained long Wars against the Persians were much weakned thereby which occasioned their slaves being many in number to rise against their Masters whom they put all to the Sword together with their Children and then seized upon their Houses together with their Wives whom they Married only one of these slaves being more merciful than the rest spared his Master Straton and his Son and hid them the slaves having thus got possession of all consulted together to chuse a King and concluded that he who could first discern the Sun at his rising should be King whereupon the forementioned slave consulted with his Master about the business who advised him when others looked into the East that he should look into the West for which he was well scoffed at by his Companions but presently he espied the Sun-beams shining upon the high Towers and Chimnies in the City and so challenged the Kingdom his Companions would needs know who taught him his wit at last he told them whereupon fetching out old Straton they gave him not only his life but elected him their King who having once been a Master and free born they thought was fittest to rule all the rest that were slaves Justin Hist lib. 18. LIV. Menenius was in the number of those that were condemned by the Triumvirate and when a Servant of his perceived that his Masters House was inclosed with a company of Soldiers that came to kill him he caused himself to be put into a Litter wherein his Master used to be carried and ordered some of his fellow Servants to carry him forth in it the
himself yet he rated the Bassa with sharp language What saies he dost thou think it handsome to complain thus grievously of my Son Knowest thou not that both thy self and this Wife of thine are my Slaves and accordingly at my dispose If therefore my Son has imbraced her and followed the inclinations of his mind he has but imbraced a Slave of mine and having my approbation he hath committed no fault at all think of this and go thy way and leave the rest to my self This he said in defence of his absolute Empire but being unsatisfied in his mind and vexed at the thing he first sends for his Son examines him touching the Fact and he having confessed it he dismissed him with outragious Language and threatnings three days after when paternal love to his Son and Justice had striven in his Breast love to Justice having gained the Superiority and Victory he commanded his Mutes to strangle his Son Mustapha with a Bowstring that by his death he might make amends to injured and violated Chastity Turkish Hist p. 411. LXXXIV King Henry the second of France commanded that an Italian Lacky should be put into Prison without telling why whereupon the Judges set him at liberty having first delivered their opinion to the King who again commanded that he should be put to death having as he said taken him faulty in a foul and heinous Crime which he would not have to be divulged yet the Judges for all this would not condemn him but set open the Prison doors to let him go forth it is true that the King caused him to be taken afterwards and thrown into the River Seine and drowned without any form of Law to avoid Tumult but the Judges would not condemn a Person where no proof was made that he was guilty Camerarius Medit. p. 472. LXXXV Otho the first Emperor of Germany being upon a Military expedition a Woman threw her self at his feet beseeching a just revenge according to the Laws upon a Person who had committed a Rape upon her the Emperor being in hast referred the hearing of the cause till his return But who then replied the Woman shall recall unto your Majesties mind the horrid injury that hath been done to me The Emperor looking up to a Church there by This Church saith he shall be a witness betwixt me and thee that I will do thee Justice and so dismissing her he with his retinue set forward at his return seeing the Church he called to mind the Complaint and caused the Woman to be summoned before him who at her appearance thus bespake him Dread Soveraign the man of whom I heretofore complained is now my Husband I have since had a Child by him and have forgiven him the injury not so said the Emperor by the head of Otho he shall suffer for it for a collusion among your selves doth not make void the Laws And so he caused his head to be struck off Lonic Theat p. 475. LXXXVI Chabot was Admiral to King Francis the first of France a man most nobly descended of great Valour and in high favour with his Prince but as in other men the Passion of love grows cold and wears out by time so the Kings affection being changed toward the Admiral had charged him with some Offences which he had formerly committed The Admiral presuming upon the great good Services he had done the King in Piemont and in the defence of Marseilles against the Emperor gave the King other language than became him and desired nothing so much as a publick Tryal hereupon the King gave commission to the Chancellor Poyet as President and other Judges upon an information of the Kings Advocate to question the Admirals life the Chancellor being an ambitious man and of a large conscience hoping to please the King wrought so cunningly upon some of the Judges threatned others so severely and drew in the rest with fair promises that though nothing could be proved against the Admiral worthy of the Kings displeasure yet the Chancellor subscribed and got others to subscribe to the forfeiture of his Estate Offices and Liberty though not able to prevail against his Life But the King hating Falshood and though to any that should bewail the Admirals Calamity it might have been answered that he was tryed according to his own desire by the Laws of his Country and the Judges of Parliament yet I say the King made his Justice surmount his other Passions and gave back the Admiral his Honour his Offices his Estate his Liberty and caused the wicked Poyet his Chancellor to be Indicted Arraigned Degraded and Condemned Rawleighs Hist World p. 471. LXXXVII Totilas King of the Goths was complained to by a Calabrian that one of his Lifeguard had ravished his Daughter upon which the accused was immediately sent to Prison the King resolving to punish him as the Fact deserved but the Soldiers came about him desiring that their Fellow-Soldier a man of known Valour might be delivered back to them Upon which Totilas sharply reproved them What would you have said he know you not that without Justice neither any Civil nor Military Government is able to subsist do not you remember what slaughters and Calamities the Nation of the Goths underwent through the injustice of Theodahadas I am now your King and in the maintenance of Justice we have regained our ancient Fortune and Glory would you now lose all for the sake of one Villain Look to your selves ye Soldiers but for my part I proclaim it aloud being careless of what shall happen thereupon that I will not suffer it and if you are resolved to do so then first strike at me behold a Body and a Breast ready for your stroke The Soldiers were so moved at this Speech that they deserted their Client the King sent for the man from Prison condemned him to death and gave his Estate to the injured and violated Woman Lipsius Monit p. 250. LXXXVIII In the Reign of King James 1612. June 25. the Lord Sanquer a Nobleman of Scotland having upon private revenge suborned Robert Carlile to murther John Turner a Fencing Master thought by his greatness to have carried it off but the King respecting nothing so much as Justice would not suffer Nobility to be a shelter to Villany but according to the Law upon June 29. the said Lord Sanquer having been Arraigned and Condemned by the name of John Creighton Esquire was executed before Westminster-Hall Gate where he died very penitent Bakers Chronicle p. 464. LXXXIX The Chronicle of Alexandria relateth an admirable passage of Theodorick King of the Romans Juvenilis a Widow made her complaint that a Suit of hers in Court was drawn out for the space of 3 years which might have been dispatched in few days The King demanded who were her Judges she named them they were sent unto and commanded to give all the speedy expedition that was possible to this Womans Cause which they did and in two days determined it
to her good liking which done Theodorick called them again they supposing it had been to applaud their excellent Justice now done hastned thither full of joy being come the King asked of them How cometh it to pass you have performed that in two days which had not been done in three years They answered the recommendation of your Majesty made us finish it How replies the King when I put you into Office did I not consign all Pleas and proceedings to you and particularly those of Widdows You deserve death so to have spun out a business in length three years space which required but two days dispatch and that instant he commanded the heads of all the Judges to be struck off Causins Holy Court p. 90. XC In the Reign of the Emperor Constantius Acindinus the Praefect of Antioch had a certain Person under custody for a pound of Gold to be paid into the Exchequer threatning him That in case he paid it not by a certain day he should aie the death The man knew not where to have it and now the fatal day drew near he had a beautiful Wife to whom a rich man in the City sent word that for a nights lodging he would pay in the Gold She acquaints her Husband who for the safety of his life readily gave her leave she renders her self up to the rich man who at her departure gave her only a pound of Earth tyed up in a bag instead of the promised Gold she inraged at her injury together with this cheat added thereto complains to the Praefect and declares to him the truth of the whole matter who finding that his Threats of her Husband had brought her to these extremities pronounced Sentence on this manner The pound of Gold shall be paid out of the goods of Acindinus which was himself the Prisoner shall be free and the Woman shall be put into the possession of that Land from whence she received Earth instead of Gold Lonic Theat p. 476. XCI The Emperor Leo Armenus going out of his Pallace was informed by a mean Person that a Senator had ravished his Wife and that he had complained of his injury to the Praefect or Judge but as yet could have no redress The Emperor commanded that both the Praefect and the Senator should be sent for and wait his return in his Pallace together with their accuser being come back he examined the matter and finding it true as the man had represented he displaced the Praefect from his Office for his negligence and punished the Crime of the Senator with death Lipsius Monitor p. 250. XCII King Turquin being banished Rome for the rape of Lucretia Brutus and Collatinus Husband to Lucretia were chosen Consuls and in the time of their Consulship Tarquins Agents had corrupted two of the most ancient Families in Rome the Aquilians who were Nephews to Collatine and the Vitellians who were allied to Brutus and two of his Sons were drawn into this Treason by them the Conspiracy being at last discovered the Consuls met in the publick place and sent for the Conspirators and there before all the People discovered the Treason the People being much amazed hung down their heads only some few of them thinking to gratify Brutus moved that they might be banished but Brutus calling his Sons by Name asked them what they could answer for themselves and when being confounded they held their peace he said to the Serjeants They are in your hands do Justice then did the Serjeants tear off their cloths bound their hands and whipt them with Rods which sad spectacle moved the People to pity so that they turned away their faces but the Father never looked off nor changed his severe countenance till at last they were laid flat on the ground and had their heads struck off then did Brutus depart and left the Execution of the rest to his Fellow Consul but Collatine shewed more favour to his Kindred being solicited thereto by his Wife and their Relations Valerius a Nobleman of Rome seeing this partiality exclaimed against him for it saying That Brutus spared not his own Sons but Collatine to please a few Women was about to let manifest Traytors to their Country escape Hereupon the People called for Brutus again who being returned to his Seat spake thus For mine own Children I judged them and saw the Law executed upon them but for these others I leave them freely to the Judgment of the People whereupon they all cried out Execution Execution and accordingly their heads were presently struck off Plutarchs Lives XCIII The love of Queen Elizabeth to her People in general and her tender care over the poor and oppressed in particular was admirable and incomparable Fler Ears were always open to their Complaints and her Hands stretched forth to receive their Petitions her manner was always to recommend their Causes to her Council and Judges whom she used thus to charge Have a care of my People you have my Place do you to them what I ought to do they are my People yet every one oppresseth them and spoileth them without mercy They cannot help themselves nor revenge their own quarrel see to them I pray you see to them for they are my charge them therefore I charge you with even as God hath committed them to me I care not for my self my life is not dear unto me my care is for my people if you knew the care I have for them you might easily discern that I take no great Joy in wearing a Crown Clarks Mirrour p. 370. XCIV An English Merchant had sold a great quantity of Cloth to one of the Turks the next year when the Merchant came again the Turk told him That he was mistaken in the measure of his Cloth and that there was so much over-measure as came to fifteen pounds more and that he had put it into a bag that it might be ready against he came next the Merchant told him that he had got enough by him and said much good may it do you the Turk replied Sir take it or else I will otherwise dispose of it for it is none of mine XCV When Sysamnes one of the chiefest of the Persian Judges had given an unjust Judgment Cambyses the King caused him to be flead alive and his skin to be hung over the Judgment Seat and having bestowed the Office of the dead Father upon Otanes the Son he willed him to remember That the same partiality and injustice would deserve the same punishment Rawleigh's Hist World p. 37. XCVI Neither ought we to forget nor conceal the names of those who have discovered such a signal Love to their Country that they have not valued to redeem the lives of their Countrymen and Fellow Citizens at the price of their own of which the following relations are very considerable instances The Town of Calice during the Reign of Philip de Valois of France being brought to those streights that now there was no more hope left either of
Succours or Victuals John Lord of Vienna who there commanded for the King began to treat about the surrender of it desiring only that they might give it up with the safety of their Lives and goods which conditions being offered to Edward the Third King of England who by the space of eleven months had straitly besieged it he being exceedingly inraged that so small a Town should alone stand out against him so long and withal calling to mind that they had often galled his Subjects by Sea he was so far from accepting their Petition that contrariwise he resolved to put them all to the Sword had he not been diverted from that Resolution by some grave Counsellors then about him who told him That for having been faithful and Loyal Subjects to their Soveraign they deserved not to be so sharply dealt with Whereupon King Edward changed his first parpose into some more clemency promising to receive them to mercy upon condition That six of the principle Townsmen should present him the Keys of the Town bare-headed and bare-footed and with Halters about their Necks and to leave their lives to his mercy Hereof the Governor having notice he presently goes into the Market-place commanding the Bell to be tolled for assembling the People who being met he acquainted them with the Articles which he had received touching the yielding up of the Town and the assurance of their lives which could not be granted but with the death of six of the Chief of them with this news they were exceedingly cast down and perplexed when on a sudden there rises up one of their own Company called Stephen Petre one of the richest and most sufficient Men of the Town who thus spake aloud to the Governour Sir I thank God for the Goods he hath bestowed upon me but more that he hath given me this present opportunity to make it known that I prize the lives of my Countrymen and Fellow-Citizens above my own At the hearing of which Speech and sight of his forwardness one John Daire and four others after him made the like offers not without abundance of Prayers and Tears from the common People who saw them so freely and readily sacrifice their Lives for the publick good and instantly without more ado they address themselves to the King of England with the Keys of the Town with no other apprehension but to be put to death to which though they held themselves assured thereof they went as cheerfully as if they had been going to a Wedding yet it pleased God to turn the heart of the English King and at the request of the Queen and some of the Lords they were all sent back again safe and sound Daniels Hist Engl. p. 240. XCVII When Charles the Seventh King of France marched toward Naples they of the City of Florence set open their Gates to him as supposing they should thereupon receive the less damage by him in their City and Territories adjoining but the King being entred with his Army demanded the Government of the City and a sum of Money to secure their Liberties and Estates in this strait four of the principal Citizens were apppointed to transact and manage this affair with the Kings Ministers amongst these was Petre Caponis who having heard the rigorous terms of their composition recited and read by the Kings principal Secretary he was so moved that in the sight and presence of the King he snatched the Paper out of his hands and tore it in pieces crying out Now sound you your Trumpets and we will ring our Bells Charles astonished at the resolution of the man desisted from his design and thereupon it became a Proverb Gallum a Cock or a Frenchman a Capo victum fuisse The French Cock was overcome by a Capon Zuinglius Theat p. 256. XCVIII The Tartars in their invasion of China were prosperous on all sides and had set themselves down before the Walls of the renowned and vast City of Hunchen the Metropolis of the Province of Chekiang where the Emperor Lovangus was inclosed Lovangus his Soldiers refused to fight till they had received their Arrears which yet at this time he was not able to pay them it was upon this occasion that his heart not able to bear such a desolation of the City and Subjects as he foresaw he gave such an illustrious example of his humanity and tenderness to his People as Europe scarce ever saw for he mounted upon the City Walls and calling to the Tartarian General upon his Knees he begged the life of his People Spare not me said he I shall willingly be a Sacrifice for my Subjects And having said this he presently went out to the Tartars Army and was by them taken by which means this noble City was preserved though with the destruction of the mutinous Army for the Tartars caused the City to shut the Gates against them till they had cut in pieces all that were without and then entred triumphantly into it not using any force or violence to any Martinius Hist China p. 281. XCIX In the year 393. from the building of Rome whether by an Earthquake or other means it is uncertain but the Forum or Market-place of Rome was opened and almost half of it was fallen in to a very strange depth great quantities of Earth were thrown into it but in vain for it could not be filled up the Soothsayers therefore were consulted with who pronounced That the Romans should devote unto that place whatsoever it was wherein they most excelled Then Martius Curtius a Person of admirable valour affirming That the Romans had nothing besides Arms and Virtue wherein they excelled he devoted and gave up his own life for the safety of his Country and so armed on Horseback and his Horse well accoutred he rode into the gaping Gulf which soon after closed itself upon him Livys Hist p. 122. C. When the Graecians of Doris sought counsel from the Oracle for their success in the Wars against the Athenians it was answered That then undoubtedly they should prevail and become Lords of that State when they could obtain any victory against them and yet preserve the A thenian King living Codrus the then King of Athens by some intelligence being informed of this answer withdrew himself from his own Forces and putting on the habit of a common Soldier he entred the Camp of the Dorians and killing the first he encountred was himself forthwith cut in pieces falling a willing sacrifice to preserve the liberty of his Country Rawleigh's Hist World p. 420. CI. Cleomenes King of Sparta being distressed by his Enemy Antigonus King of Macedon sent to Ptolomy King of Aegypt for help who promised it upon condition to have his Mother and Child in pledg of his Fidelity Cleomenes was a long time ashamed to acquaint his Mother with these conditions and though he went oftentimes on purpose to let her understand it yet when he came he had not the heart to discover it to her which she
comforted not only in Spirit but also in Body for he received a certain Tast of the Holy Communion of Saints whilst a most pleasant refreshing did issue from every part of the Body to the seat and place of the Heart and from thence to all the parts again Clar. Mar. p. 94. LIII Bishop Latimer being brought before the Privy Council was there entertained with many scoffs and scorns and from thence was sent Prisoner to the Tower where God gave him such a valiant Spirit that he did not only bear the terribleness of his Imprisonment with admirable patience but he derided and laughed to scorn all the doings and threats of his Enemies Ibid. p. 528. LIV. Mr. John Philpot having lain for some time in the Bishop of Londons Cole-house the Bishop sent for him and among other questions asked him why they were so merry in Prison Singing saith he and rejoicing in your naughtiness as the Prophet speaks whereas you should rather lament and be sad Mr. Philpot answered My Lord the mirth that we make is but in singing certain Psalms as we are commanded by St. Paul to rejoice in the Lord singing together Hymns and Psalms for we are in a dark comfortless place and therefore we thus sollace our selves I trust therefore your Lordship will not be angry seeing the Apostle saith If any be of an upright heart let him sing Psalms And we to declare that we are of an upright mind to God though we are in misery yet refresh our selves with such singing After some other discourse saith he I was carried back to my Lords Cole-house where I with my six Fellow-Prisoners do rouze together in the straw as cheerfully I thank God as others do in the Beds of Down And in a Letter to a Friend he thus writes Commend me to Mr. Elsing and his Wife and thank him for providing me some ease in my Prison and tell him that though my Lords Cole-house is very black yet it is more to be desired of the Faithful than the Queens Pallace the World wonders how we can be so merry under such extream miseries but our God is Omnipotent who turns misery into felicity believe me there is no such joy in the world as the People of God have under the Cross of Christ I speak by experience and therefore believe me and fear nothing that the world can do unto you for when they imprison our Bodies they set our Souls at liberty to converse with God when they cast us down they lift us up when they kill us then do they send us to everlasting life what greater glory can there be then to be made conformable to our Head Christ and this is done by Affliction O good God what am I upon whom thou shouldst bestow so great a mercy This is the way though it be narrow which is full of the Peace of God and leadeth to eternal bliss oh how my heart leapeth for Joy that I am so near the apprehension thereof God forgive me my unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great Glory I have so much Joy that though I be in a place of darkness and mourning yet I cannot lament but both night and day am so full of Joy as I never was so merry before the Lords name be praised for ever our Enemies do fret fume and gnash their Teeth at it O pray instantly that this Joy may never be taken from us for it passeth all the delights in this world this is the peace of God that passeth all understanding this peace the more his chosen are afflicted the more they feel it and therefore cannot fail neither for fire nor water Ibid. p. 534. LV. Thus the Lyon of the Tribe of Juda puts into his Servants his own Spirit from whence proceeds their transcendent zeal and courage for the Truth from this Spirit it was that John Rabeck a French Protestant being required to pronounce Jesu Maria and to join them together in one Prayer answered That if his Tongue should but offer to pronounce those words at their bidding himself would bite it asunder with his Teeth Another Martyr said If every hair of my head were a man I would suffer death in the Opinion and Faith I am now in This Spirit was in St. Athanasius Ambrose Favel and that noble Army of Martyrs one of them told the Persecutors That they might pluck the Heart out of his Body but could never pluck the Truth out of his Heart another said That the Heavens should sooner fall than he would turn a third said Can I die but once for Christ Thus did they undervalue life and despise death through that Divine Valour wherewith they were inspired though death in itself is the King of Terrours and very dreadful to man naturally as by the following Example is demonstrated with which I shall conclude this particular LVI A Christian King in Hungary being on a time very sad his Brother a Jolly Courtier would needs know of him what ailed him O Brother said he I have been a great sinner against God and I know not how to die nor to appear before God in Judgment These said his Brother are melancholy thoughts and withal made a jest at them the King replied nothing for the present but the custom of the Country was that if the Executioner came and sounded a Trumpet before any mans door he was presently to be led to Execution the King in the dead time of the night sends the Hangman to sound his Trumpet before his Brothers door who hearing it and seeing the Messenger of Death flies pale and trembling into his Brothers presence beseeching him to tell him wherein he had offended O Brother replied the King you have never offended me and is the sight of my Executioner so dreadful and shall not I that have greatly and grievously offended God fear to be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ Clarks Mirrour p. 138. LVII Thus far we have seen the excellent effects of Natural and Christian Magnanimity Courage and Faithfulness there is yet another sort of Fidelity which is exceeding Praise-worthy which is the Faithfulness of some men to their Engagements and the Trust reposed in them the Syrians were looked upon as men of no Faith and not fit to be trusted by any man and that besides their curiosity in keeping their Gardens they had scarce any thing in them that was commendable The Greeks also laboured under this imputation as being as false as they were Luxurious and Voluptuous It is strange that those who were so covetous after all other kinds of improvement and knowledge should in the mean time neglect that which sets a fuller value upon man than a thousand other accomplishments namely his fidelity to his Promise and Trust LVIII Ferdinand the first King of Spain left three Sons behind him Sanctius Alphonsus and Garcius amongst whom he had also divided his Kingdoms but they lived not long in mutual Peace for soon after the death of their Father Sanctius
who was of a fierce and violent disposition made War upon his Brother Alphonsus overcame and took him Prisoner and thrust him into a Monastery constrained Religion lasts not long and therefore he privately deserted his Cloyster and in company only of one Earl he fled for protection to Almenon King of Toledo who was a Moor and an Enemy to the others Religion but there had been Friendship and Peace betwixt him and Ferdinand the Father of this distressed Prince and upon this account he chose to commit himself unto his Faith and was cheerfully received by him he had not been long with him when in the presence of the King the hair of this Prince was observed to stand up an end in such manner that being several times stroked down by the hand they still continued in their upright posture The Mâ—orish Sooth sayers interpreted this to be a Prodigy of ill signification and told the King that this was the man that should be advanced to the Throne of Toledo and thereupon persuaded to put him to death the King would not do it but preferred his Faith given to the fear he might apprehend and thought it sufficient to make him swear that during his life he should not invade his Kingdom a while after King Sanctius was slain by Conspirators at Zamora and his Sister Vratta being well affected to this her Brother sent him a Messenger with Letters to invite him to the Kingdom advising him by some craft with all speed to quit the Country of the Barbarians where he was Alphonsus bearing a grateful mind would not relinquish his Patron in this manner but coming to Almenon acquainted him with the matter And now said he noble Prince compleat your Royal Favours toward me by sending me to my Kingdom that as hitherto I have had my life so I may now also receive my Scepter by your generosity The King imbraced him and wished him all happiness But said he you had lost both Crown and life if with an ungrateful mind you had fled without my knowledge For I knew of the death of Sanctius and I silently waited what course you would take and had disposed upon the way such as I should have returned you back from your flight had it been attempted But no more of this all I shall require of you is that during your life you shall be a true Friend to me and my elder Son Hissemus And so sent him away with Money and an honourable retinue this Alphonsus did afterward take the City and Kingdom of Toledo but it was after the death of Almenon and his Son Lipsius Mon p. 321. LIX Antaff King of some part of Ireland warring against King Ethelstan disguised himself like an Harper and came into Ethelstans Tent whence being gone a Soldier that knew him discovered it to the King who being offended with the Soldier for not declaring it sooner the Soldier made this answer I once served Antaff under his pay as a Soldier and gave him the same Faith I now give you if then I should betray him what trust could your Grace repose in my Truth let him therefore die but not by my Trechery and let your care remove your Royal self from danger remove your Tent from the place where it stands lest at unawares he set upon you Which the King did and the Bishop pitching in the same place was that night with all his Retinue slain by Antaff hoping to have surprized the King and believing he had slain him because he himself knew his Tent stood in that place Speeds Chrocle p. 381. LX. Henry King of Arragon and Sicily was deceased and left John his Son a Child of twenty two months of Age behind him intrusted to the care and fidelity of Ferdinand the Brother of the deceased King and Uncle to the Infant he was a man of great virtue and merit and therefore the Eyes of the Nobles and People were upon him and not only in private discourses but in the publick Assembly he had the general voice and mutual consent to be chosen King of Arragon but he was still deaf to these proffers alledging the right of his Infant Nephew and the custom of the Country which they were bound the rather to maintain by how much the weaker the young Prince was to do it yet he could not prevail though the Assembly was adjourned for that time they met again in hopes that having time to consider of it he would now accept it who being not ignorant of their purpose had caused the little Child to be clothed in Royal Robes and having hid him under his Garment went and sate in the Assembly then Paralus Master of the Horse by common consent did again ask him Whom O Ferdinand is it your pleasure to have declared our King He with a severe look voice replied Whom but John the Son of my Brother and withal took forth the Child from under his Robe and lifting him up upon his Shoulders cryed out God save King John and commanding the Banners to be displayed cast himself first to the ground before him and then all the rest moved by his example did the like Camer Horae Subs p. 154. LXI John the first K. of France was overthrown in Battel and made Prisoner by Edw. the Black Prince and afterwards brought over into England Here he remained four years and was then suffered to return into France upon certain conditions which if he could make his Subjects submit to he should be free if otherwise he gave his faith to return he could not prevail to make them accept of the hard Terms that were offered whereupon he returned into England surrendred himself up and there died Fulgosus ex p. 44. LXII Flectius a Nobleman was made Governor of the City and Castle of Conimbria in Portugal by King Sanctius 1243. This Sanctius was too much swayed by his Wife Mencia and over-addicted to some Court Minions and Favourites by reason of which there was a Conspiracy of the Nobles against him and the matter was so far gone that they had got leave of Pope Innocent to translate the Government of the Kingdom to Alphonsus the Brother of Sanctius hereupon followed a War the minds of most men were alienated from their natural Prince but Flectius was still constant induring the Siege and Arms of Alphonsus and the whole Nation nor could he any way be persuaded till he heard that Sanctius was dead in banishment at Toletum for whom now should he fight or preserve his Faith they advised him therefore to follow Fortune and to yield himself and not change a just Praise for the Title of a Desperado and a Madman Flectius heard but believed them not he therefore beg'd leave of Alphonsus that he himself might go to Toletum and satisfy himself It was granted and he there found that the King was indeed dead buried and therefore that he might as well be free in his own conscience as in the opinion of men he opened
the Sepulcher and with sighs and tears he delivers the very Keys of Conimbria into the Kings hands with these words As long O King as I did judge thee to be alive I endured all extremities I fed upon Skins and Leather and quenched my thirst with Vrine I repressed or quieted the minds of the Citizens that were inclining to Sedition and whatsoever could be expected from a faithful Man and one sworn to thy interest that I performed and persisted in only one thing remains that having delivered the Keys of the City to thine own hands I may return freed of my Oath and to tell the Citizens their King is dead God send thee well in another and a better Kingdom This said he departed acknowledged Alphonsus for his lawful Prince and was ever after faithful to him Lipsius Monit p. 324. LXIII King John had made Hubert Burgh Governor of Dover Castle and when King Lewis of France came to take the Town and found it difficult to be overcome by force he sent to Hubert whose Brother Thomas he had taken Prisoner a little before that unless he would surrender the Castle he should presently see his Brother Thomas put to death with exquisite Torments before his Eyes but this Threatning moved not Hubert at all who more regarded his own Loyalty than his Brothers life then Prince Lewis sent again offering him a great sum of Money neither did this move him but he kept his Loyalty as faithfully and inexpugnably as he did his Castle Bakers Chron. p. 110. LXIV Sanctius King of Castile had taken Tariffa from the Moors but was doubtful of keeping it by reason both of the Neithborhood of the Enemy and the great cost it would put him to there was with him at that time Alphonsus Guzman a noble and rich Person a great Man both in Peace and War he of his own accord offered to take the care of it and to be at part of the charge himself and the King in the mean time might attend other affairs A while after the Kings Brother John revolted to the Moors and with some Forces of their's suddenly sate down before Tariffa the Besieged feared him not but relyed upon their own and their Governors valour only one thing unhappily fell out the Son and only Son of Alphonsus was unfortunately taken by the Enemy in the Fields him they shewed before the Walls and threatned to put him to a cruel death unless they speedily yielded the Town the hearts of all men were moved only that of Alphonsus who cried with a loud voice that had they a hundred of his Sons in their power he should not thereupon depart from his Faith and Loyalty and saith he Since you are so thirsty for blood there is a Sword for you throwing his own Sword over the Wall to them away he went and prepared himself to go to Dinner when upon the sudden there was a confused noise and cry that recalled him he again repairs to the Wall and asking the reason of their amazement they told him That his Son had been put to death with barbarous Cruelty Was that it then replied he I thought the City had been taken by the Enemy And so with his former unconcernedness and tranquillity he returned again to his Wife and his Dinner the Enemies astonished at the greatness of his Spirit departed the Siege without any further attempt upon the place Lipsius LXV Boges the Persian was besieged in his City Etona by Cimon General of the Athenians and when he was offered safely to depart into Asia upon delivery of the City he constantly refused it lest he should be thought unfaithful to his Prince being therefore resolved he bore all the inconveniences of a Siege till his Provisions being now almost utterly spent and seeing there was no way to break forth he made a great fire and cast himself and his whole Family into the flames of it concluding he had not sufficiently acquitted himself of his Trust to his Prince unless he also laid down his life for his Cause Herodot p. 417. LXVI Liamgzus the Conductor of the Rebel Thieves had seized the Empire of China taken the Metropolis Peking and upon the death of the Emperor had seated himself in the Imperial Throne he displaced and imprisoned what great Officers he pleased amongst the rest was one Vs a venerable Person whose Son Vsangueius led the Army of China in the confines of Leatung against the Tartars the Tyrant threatned this old man with a cruel death if by his Fatherly power he did not reduce him with his whole Army to the acknowledgment of his Power promising great rewards to them both if he should prevail wherefore the poor old man writ thus to his Son Know my Son that the Emperor Zunchinus and the whole Family of Taimingus are perished the Heavens have cast the Fortune of it upon Licungzus we must observe the times and by making a virtue of necessity avoid his Tyranny and experience his liberality he promiseth to thee a Royal Dignity if with the Army you submit to his Dominion and acknowledge him as Emperor my life depends upon thy Answer consider what thou owest to him that gave thee life To which his Son Vsanguineus returned this answer He that is not faithful to his Soveraign will never be so to me and if you forget your duty and fidelity to your Emperor no man will blame me if I forget my duty and obedience to such a Father I will rather die than serve a Thief And immediately he sent an Ambassador to call in the aid of the Tartars to subdue this Usurper of the Empire Hist China p. 277. CHAP. III. The Transcendent Effects of Chastity Temperance and Humility discovered in divers notable Histories THere is no Vice whatever that is easy to overcome but that of the Lust of the Flesh seems to have a peculiar difficulty in the Conquest of it as being born with us and which accompanies us all along from the Cradle to the Tomb for the most part having so firmly fixed its roots within us that not one of manyis able to prevail against it by how much the more strong therefore the Enemy is and the more intimate and familiar he is with us the more noble is the Victory and the Conquest more glorious which yet some in all Ages have attained as may appear by the following instances I. Scipio had taken the City of New Carthage where besides the rest of the Spoil there were found a number of Boys Girls the Children of the Nobility amongst the rest one Virgin was brought presented to Scipio whose marvellous beauty had attracted the Eyes of all men whithersoever she went it was supposed this would be no unacceptable Present to the young General but he as soon as he looked upon her said only thus I would accept and enjoy this Virgin were I a private Person and not in such command as I am for the Commonwealth keeps my mind sufficiently imployed
too great a freedom and liberty coming once to the House of Omulus his Friend and beholding there at his entrance divers Pillars of Porphry he inquired whence they were brought Omulus told him That it became him that set his foot into another mans House to be both deaf and dumb He meant he should not be curious and inquisitive The Emperor was delighted with this freedom so far was he from resenting it in such a manner as some others would have done Wanly Hist Man p. 204. XLVIII Such has been the invincible patience of some men that the incredible strength of their minds hath not only prevailed over the weakness of their flesh but reduced it to a temper capable of induring as much as if it had been of Brass or something that if possible is yet more insensible Of such a temper Janus Auceps a wicked Person seem'd to be who dwelt in a lone house by the highway side without the East-gate of the City of Copenhagen in Denmark this man in the night had murdered divers Persons and knocked them on the head with an Ax at last he was discovered taken and condemned to a terrible death he was drawn upon a sledge through the City he had pieces of flesh plucked off from his Body with burning Pincers his Legs and Arms were broken his Tongue was pulled out of his Mouth thongs of his skin were cut out of his back his breast was opened by the speedy hand of the Executioner his heart was pulled out and thrown at his face all this the stout-hearted man bore with an invincible courage and when his heart lay panting by his side in the midst of such torments as he yet underwent he moved his head and looked upon the By-standers with a frowning aspect and seemed with curiosity to contemplate his own heart till such time as his Head was cut off Bartholin Anat. XLIX William Collingborn Esq being condemned for making this Rhime on King Richard the Third The Cat the Rat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog Alluding to Catesby Ratcliff and Lovel the three great Favourites of Richard in whose arms there was pictured a Hog the poor Gentleman was put to a most cruel death for being hanged and cut down alive his bowels ript out and cast into the fire when the Executioner put his hand into the bulk of his body to pull out his heart he said Lord Jesus yet more trouble and so died to the great sorrow of much people Fabians Chro. p. 519. L. When we were come within sight of Buda in Hungary saith Busbequius there came by the command of the Turkish Bassa some of his Family to meet us with divers great Officers but in the first place a Troop of young men on Horseback made us turn our Eyes to them because of the Novelty of their Equipage which was thus upon their bare heads most of which were shaven they had cut a long line in the skin in which wound they had stuck Feathers of all kinds and they were dewed with drops of blood yet dissembling the pain they rid with as much mirth and cheerfulness as if they had been void of all sense just before me there walked some on foot one of these went with his naked arms on his side in each of which he carried a Knife which he had thrust through his Arms just above the Elbow another walked naked from his Navel upward with the skin of both his Loins so cut above and below that he carried a Club which stuck therein as if it had hung at his Girdle another had fastened a Horse-shoe with divers nails upon the crown of his Head but that was done a long while the nails being so grown in the flesh that the Shoe was made fast in this pomp we entred Buda and were brought into the Bassa's Pallace in the Court of which stood these generous contemners of Pain as I chanced to cast my Eye that way What think you of these men said the Bassa Well enough said I but that they use their flesh in such a manner as I would not use my Cloths being desirous to keep them whole The Bassa smiled at this answer and dismissed us Busbequius Epist p. 226. LI. There is a notable example of tolerance which happened in our times in a certain Burgundian who was the Murderer of the Prince of Orange this man though he was scourged with rods of Iron though his flesh was torn off with red hot and burning Pincers yet he gave not so much as a single sigh or groan nay further when part of a broken Scaffold fell upon the head of one that stood by as a Spectator this burned Villain in the midst of all his Torments laughed at the Accident although not long before the same man had wept when he saw the curls of his hair cut off Wanly Hist Man p. 206. LII It was also an Example of great patience in this kind which Strabo mentions in his Geography that Zarmonochaga the Ambassadour from the Indian King having finished his negotiation with Augustus Caesar according to his own mind and having sent an account thereof to his Master because he would have no further trouble for the remaining part of his life after the manner of the Indians he burnt himself alive preserving all the while the countenance of a man that smiled Fulgosus Ex. p. 348. LIII Most eminent was the example of Hieronimus Olgiatus a Citizen of Millain who was one of those four that did assassinate Galeacius Sforza Duke of Millain being taken he was thrust into Prison and put to bitter Tortures now although he was not above two and twenty years of Age and of such a delicacy and softness in his habit of body that was more like to that of a Virgin than a man though he was never accustomed to the bearing of Arms by which it is usual for men to acquire vigour and strength yet being fastened to that Rope upon which he was tormented he seemed as if he sate upon some Tribunal and free from any expression of grief with a clear voice and an undaunted mind he commended the Exploit of himself and his Companions nor did he ever shew the least sign of Repentance in the times of the intermissions of his Torments both in Prose and Verse he celebrated the Praises of his Confederates being at last brought to the place of Execution beholding Carolus and Francion two of his Associates to stand as if they were almost dead for fear he exhorted them to be couragious and requested the Executioners that they would begin with him that his Fellow-sufferers might learn patience by his Example being therefore laid naked and at full length upon the Hurdle and his Feet and Arms fast bound down to it when others that stood by were terrified with the shew and horrour of that death that was prepared for him he with specious words and assured voice extolled the gallantry of their Action and appeared
an Oath that he would rest contented with the Title of a King and leave all matters of Government to her sole dispose But no sooner was he accepted as King but he forgot his Wife and Benefactress he recalled her Enemies from Banishment and put many of her Friends and Relations to death he banished her into an Island and set a strong Guard upon her at last he thought himself not sufficiently safe so long as Amalasuntha was alive and thereupon he dispatched several of his wicked Instruments to the place of her Exile with order to put her to death who finding her in a Bath gave her no further time but strangled her there Zuinglius Theat XVI Mrs. Joyce Lewis being questioned for her professing the Protestant Religion in Queen Maries Reign was cited to appear before the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield who after Examination gave her a months time to consider of it taking a Bond of her Husband at the months end to bring her thither again when the time was near expired many Friends advised him rather to forfeit his Bonds than to cast her into the fire but he churlishly answered That he would lose nothing for her sake and so delivering her up she was condemned and burned Clarks Martyr p. 191. XVII Arsinoe the Widdow of Lysimachus was afterward Married to her own Brother Ptolomy according to the Custom of that Country she received him into her City Cassandrea but he presently seizing upon the Castle there he slew her two Sons which he had by Lysimachus one being sixteen years old and the other but three and in their Mothers Arms at which she rending her Cloths and tearing her hair was by his Command halled out of the Gates of the City with two Servants only to attend her and sent into banishment to the Isle of Samothracia but shortly after this barbarous Wretch was overthrown in a Battel against the Gauls and himself being taken was by them torn in pieces A. B. Vshers Annals XVIII Some Wives have likewise been unnatural in their hatred to their Husbands and have deported themselves so ill toward them that they have not only tormented the Lives but hastened the death of their too indulgent Husbands We read that Alborinus King of the Lumbards having slain the King of the Gepidae made a drinking Cup of his Skull Rosamond the Daughter of that King he had taken to Wife and being one day very merry at Verona he forced her to drink out of that detested Cup which she so stomached that she promised Helmichild a Courtier that if he would aid her in killing the King she would give him both her self and the Kingdom of Lumbardy This he consented to and performed after which they were both so hated that they were constrained to fly to Ravenna unto the protection of Longinus who persuaded her to dispatch Helmichild out of the way and to take him for her Husband to which she willingly agreed Helmichild coming out of the Bath called for drink and she gave him a strong poyson when he had drunk half of it and found by the strong operation how the matter went he compelled her to drink the rest and so both died together Heylin Cosmog p. 64. XIX Among those who were persecuted and miserably imprisoned for the Profession of the Protestant Religion in the Reign of Queen Mary there was one John Fetty a Religious Man living in Clerkenwell in London who was complained of to the Parson of the Parish by his own Wife because he came not to Church nor would partake of their Idolatrous Services whereupon the Parson caused the Constables to apprehend him but it pleased God that his unnatural Wife immediately fell mad upon it and the Constables were so far moved with pity that they let him go home to look to his Wife and Children who otherwise were like to perish this good man forgetting this unkind and wicked Act of his Wife was very careful of her and so cherished and provided for her that through Gods mercy she was well amended and in about three weeks recovered her wits again yet such was the power of the Devil in this wicked and malicious womans heart that so soon as she was recovered not regarding her Husbands kindness she again accused him whereby he was apprehended and cast into Lollards Tower where he was put into the tormenting stocks with a dish of water and a stone in it set by him to shew what favour he should receive at their hands There he lay for many days sometimes hanging by one leg and one arm and somtimes by another and at other times by both At last one of his Children of about eight or nine years old came to the Bishops House to see if he could get leave to speak with his Father and one of the Bishops Chaplains meeting with the Boy asked him what he looked for The Child answered That he came to see his Father who was in Lollards Tower why said the Priest thy Father is an Heretick the Boy being of a bold and quick Spirit and well educated by his Father answered My Father is no Heretick but you are an Heretick for you have Balaams Mark on you With that the Priest took him by the hand and led him into the Bishops House where amongst them they stripped the Child naked and cruelly whipt him till he was all over gore blood then Cluny the Bishops Sumner putting on his shirt and carrying his Coat on his arm led him to the Prison with the blood dropping at his heels to his Father At his coming in the Boy fell on his knees and craved his Fathers blessing the Father being full of grief to see his Child thus cruelly dealt with said Alas William who hath done this The Boy answered As I was coming to see you a Priest with Balaams Mark took me into the Bishops House where I have been thus used Hereupon Cluny violently plucked him from his Father and carried him back to the Bishops House where they kept him three days and then bloody Bonner intending to appease the poor man for the usage of his Child sent for him out of Lollards Tower to his Chamber whilst this John Fetty was standing there with the Bishop he spied a great pair of black Beads hanging by his Bed and thereupon said to him My Lord I think the Hangman is not far off for the Halter pointing to the Beads is here already this much inraged the Bishop yet Fetty spying also a Crucifix standing in the Window said My Lord what is that the Bishop answered It was Christ was he handled said Fetty so cruelly as he is here pictured Yes said Bonner that he was and even so cruelly said Fetty do you handle such as come before you for you are to Gods People even as Caiaphas was to Christ the Bishop was so inraged at this that he swore he would burn him or else spend all that he had to his Gown yet afterward bethinking himself of the
Nature and the bloodiness of their disposition XXVI Artaxerxes King of Persia had fifty Sons by his several Concubines one called Darius he made King in his own life-time contrary to the Custom of that Nation who having sollicited his Father to give him Aspatia his beautiful Concubine and being denied by him he stirred up all the rest of his Brothers to join with him in a Conspiracy against the old King it was not carried so privately but that the design came to Artaxerxes ear who so incensed thereat that casting off all Humanity as well as Fatherly affection not contented with Prisons or Exile he caused them all at once to be put to death and thus by his own hand he brought a woful desolation into his House which was so lately replenished by so numerous an Off-spring Sabel Exem p. 132. XXVII Ptolomy Phiscon having fetched his eldest Son out of Cyrene he put him to death lest the Alexandrians should set him up King against him whereupon the People pluckt down his Statue and his Images And Ptolomy supposing that this was done by the instigation of his Sister and Wife Cleopatra and not well knowing how to be revenged any other way he commanded his Son Memphitis who was an ingenious and hopeful Child and whom he had by her to be slain before his Eyes and cutting off his head hands and feet put them into a Chest close covered with a Soldiers Coat and gave it to one of his Servants to carry it to Alexandria and to present it to Cleopatra at the Festival of her Nativity when she was in the height of her Jollity this was a sad and grievous Spectacle not to the Queen only but to the whole City and it struck such a damp upon their merry meeting that the Court on a sudden was overcast with a general sadness and the Nobles turning their Festival into a Funeral shewed the mangled Limbs to the People to let them see what themselves were to expect from their King who had thus murthered his own Child A. B. Vshers Annal. p. 494. 28. In the reign of Queen Mary there was one Julius Palmer a Religious man and afterward a Martyr for the Protestant Profession who being driven from the Town of Redding in Barkshire where he taught School went to Evesham where his Mother dwelt hoping to obtain a Legacy which his Father had left him in her hands his Mother hearing before hand what was the occasion of his coming when upon his knees he asked her Blessing she said Thou shalt have Christs curse and mine where-ever thou goest He being amazed at this heavy greeting paused a while and then said Oh Mother your curse you may give me which God knows I never deserved but Gods curse you cannot give me for he hath already blessed me Nay said she thou wentest out of Gods blessing when thou wast banished out of Oxford for an Heretick and now for the like knavery art driven out of reading Alas Mother said he you are misinformed I resigned my places of mine own accord and Heretick I am none for I stand not stubbornly against any truth but defend it to my power well said she I am sure thou dost not believe as thy Father did and as I do nor as our fore-Fathers did but as thou art taught by the new Law in King Edwards days which is damnable Heresy indeed said he I do so believe but it is not Heresy but the truth and not new but as ancient as Christ and his Apostles well said she get thee out of my house and sight and ne're take me for thy Mother more as for money I have none for thee thy Father bequeathed no Legacies to Hereticks Faggots I have to burn thee and more thou gettest not at my hands Mr. Palmer for her cursings returned blessings and Prayers for her and so weeping abundantly he departed from her this so mollified her hard heart that she threw an Angel after him saying Take that to keep thee a true man Book Martyrs vol 3. 29. Doctor Otho Melander reports this horrible Parricide to be Committed in the year 1568. at a place called Albidos in Saxony there lived saith he a Father who had two Sons the one he brought up to Husbandry the other in Merchandise both very obedient dutiful and thriving the Merchant traded to Lubeck where in few years he got a very fair Estate and falling sick even in the chief of his trade he made his will wherein he bequeathed to his Brother about five hundred pound and to his Father ten and some few hours after he had setled his Estate he died but before his death he sent to his Brother to come in Person and receive those Legacies the Father not knowing how things were disposed of dispatched away his other Son with all possible speed to Lubeck being more coverous after what his Son had left him then sorrowful for his death though he were a youngman of great expectation the surviving Son who was the younger arrived at the City and having first deplored the death of his Brother he takes a Copy of the will and receives all the money to a penny and with this new stock he joyfully returns into his own Country where at his first arrival he was gladly welcomed by his Father and Mother who were overjoyed to behold the bags he had brought but when by the reading of the will they saw how the money was disposed and that so little came to their share they first began bitterly to curse the dead Son and then barbarously to rail on the living outfacing him that he had changed the will by altering the old and forging a new one which the innocent youth denying and excusing himself by telling them that the Original was upon record and by that they might be fully satisfied yet all would give them no satisfaction till very weariness made them give over their heavy Cursings then the Son offered them the whole to dispose freely of it at their pleasure which they very churlishly refused and bid him take all and the Devil give him good with it which drew tears from the Sons Passionate Eyes who after asking their blessing which they denied he parted very sadly from them he was no sooner departed from them but they wickedly contrived to get this money by murdering him that very night and when he was innocently asleep in his bed they both set furiously and violently upon him stabbing him with daggers into the breast so that with the Agony of the wounds he opened his Eyes and espying both his Parents with their hands imbrued in his blood he with a loud exclamation uttered these words or to the same purpose O Gold to what dost thou not compel mankind What villany dost thou not persuade them to act for thou causest Parents to sheath their weapons into their own bowels even those of their own Children these dying Speeches were uttered with such a doleful and shrill voice that they were heard
Naples p. 62. LXXVI There are no greater Instances of Revenge saith Sabellicus than in the factious Citys of Italy where the chiefs of one faction falling into the hands of the other it was a great favour to be beheaded or strangled Pontanus adds that he has heard his Grand-Mother tell how in certain mortal differences betwixt some families one of the opposite faction being taken he was immediately cut into small gobbets his Liver was broiled upon the Coals and being divided into little morsels it was distributed among their friends who were invited to breakfast to that purpose after which execrable feeding there were brought Cups in which some of the blood was mingled then followed congratulations amongst themselves laughter Jests and witty Passages to season their Viands and to conclude they blasphemously drank to God himself as if he were the favourer of this their horrible and tremendous revenge Wierus Op. p. 830. LXXVII Having thus seen the dismal effects of revenge let us next consider the base Ingratitude of some unworthy Persons which was accounted so great a crime among the Ancients that they judged Ingratitude ought to be punished with death and very worthily it deserved to be so at least in the Persons of some who have been dreadfully guilty of this base and unworthy crime LXXVIII In the time of the bloody Popish Massacre at Paris one of the Murtherers with some Companions of his came to the City of Orleance and went to the house of a noble Counsellor inviting themselves to Supper the Counsellor Ignorant of their intent made them very welcome but when Supper was ended with horrible blasphemies they murthered him and then plundered his house Clarks Martyr p 348. LXXIX Humfry Banister was brought up and exalted to promotion by the Duke of Buckingham his Master the Duke being afterward driven to extremity by reason of the Separation of his Army which he had mustered against Crookbackt Richard fled to this Banister as his most trusty friend not doubting to be kept secret by him till he could find an opportunity to escape there was a thousand pound propounded as a reward to him that could bring forth the Duke and this Ingrateful Traytor upon hope of this sum betrayed the Duke his Benefactor into the hands of John Metton Sheriff of Shropshire who conveyed him to the City of Salisbury where King Richard then was and soon after the Duke was put to death but as for this ingrateful Monster the vengeance of God fell upon him to his utter ignominy and shame in a very visible and strange manner for presently after his Eldest Son fell mad and died in an Hog-sty his Eldest Daughter was suddenly stricken with a foul Leprosy his second Son became strangely deformed in his Limbs and lame his youngest Son was drowned in a Puddle and he himself was arraigned and found guilty of a Murder though saved by reading his neck verse as for his thousand pounds King Richard gave him not a farthing saying That he who would be so untrue to so good a Master must needs be false to all others Beards Theat LXXX In the Persecution of Germany a worthy Protestant Divine for reproving his Prince sharply for his cruelty was condemned by him to be hanged and a bloody Gentleman with a Troop of Souldiers was sent to see Execution done upon him the Gentleman coming to his house Saluted him very kindly pretending that he came to make good cheer with him for he was a good House-keeper and the Gentlemen in the Country did often resort to his House the Minister in a short time prepared a Sumptuous Banquet for them whereof they did eat freely Dinner being ended the Gentleman said to his men Take this Priest our host and hang him up without delay the Souldiers were astonished at this Command and abhorring to do the deed said God forbid that we should Commit such a Crime as to hang him that hath used us so courteously it is a wicked act thus to render evil for good but the Gentleman still provoked them to execute his Command then said the Minister I beseech you use not such cruelty toward me but rather carry me to my Prince before whom I doubt not but to clear my self from any thing shall be laid to my charge neither do you so violate the Laws of Hospitality which I have shewed you and other Noblemen who resort to my House Consider what a sting this ingrateful act will leave in your Consciences for I have truly and faithfully taught the Doctrine of the Gospel which is the Principal cause that my Prince bears me this ill will but whatsoever this good man could alledge in his own behalf the furious Gentleman continued in his Resolution calling upon his Servants to accomplish it and withal said to the Minister You shall gain nothing by your Preaching in this manner for I am fully resolved to fulfil the will of the Prince at last the Servants took the Minister and with great Lamentation and mourning hanged him upon a beam in his own House the Gentleman standing by and looking on Clarks Martyr p. 280. LXXXI In the Bohemian Persecution some Popish Souldiers coming to the House of another Protestant Minister he entertained them courteously and made good Provision for them but when they knew he was a Minister they first beat him cruelly and then killed him stript him and plundred his House they also burned his Library and would not suffer his body to be buried for Seven weeks space during their abode there Idem p 184. LXXXII In the third Primitive Persecution under the Emperor Adrian there was a noble Christian Captain called Eustachius whom Trajan the Predecessor of Adrian had sent to war against some Barbarians and after he had subdued his Enemies and returned homeward with Victory Adrian for joy of his success went to meet him and bring him home in Triumph but by the way the Emperor would needs Sacrifice to Apollo for the Victory obtained requiring Eustachius to do the same with him but when by no means he could be persuaded thereto as soon as he came to Rome he with his Wife and Children suffered Martyrdom for the Christian Faith by the command of this Ingrateful Emperor Idem p. 30. LXXXIII When Xerxes had resolved on his expedition against Greece he caused his Army to make their Rendevouz at Sardis in Lydia and when he had assembled to the number of seventeen hundred thousand Foot and eighty eight thousand Horse as he entred the Country he was by one Pythias the Lydian entertained who out of his Flocks and Herds of Cattle gave food to Xerxes and his whole Army the Feast ended he also presented him with two thousand Talents of Silver and four Millions in Gold then Pythias besought Xerxes to spare one of his five Sons from his attendance into Greece because himself was old and had none whom he could so well trust as his own Son but Xerxes like a barbarous and ingrateful Tyrant
as one that esteemed him as a Father but as soon as the Maid that attended upon the sick man was gone out of the room he caught up a Hammer gave him some blows and then thrust him through with a Knife as soon as the Maid returned he with the same fury did the like to her and then seizing the Keys he searched for his intended Prey he found eight pieces of Plate which afterward for want of money he pawned to a Priest of St. Blasius who suspecting the man sent the Plate to the Senate at Basil by which means the Author of the detestable murther was known he was searched after taken and brought Prisoner to Basil where after Condemnation he had his Legs and Arms broken upon the Wheel and his head while he was yet alive being tied to a part of the Wheel he was burnt with flaming Torches till in horrible Tortures he gave up the Ghost Lonic Theat XCI I shall conclude this Chapter with the Charity of Henry Keeble Lord Mayor of London in 1511. who besides other great Gifts in his life-time re-builded Aldermary Church which was run to ruines and bequeathed at his death a thousand pounds for the finishing of it yet within sixty years after his bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast out of the Valut wherein they were buried His Monument was pluckt down for some wealthy Person of those present times to be buried therein Upon which occasion saith Dr. Fuller I could not but rub up my old Poetry which is this Fuller to the Church Vngrateful Church o're run with rust Lately buried in the Dust Vtterly thou hadst been lost If not preserv'd by Keebles cost A Thousand pounds might it not buy Six foot in length for him to lie But outed of his quiet Tomb For later Corpse he must make room Tell me where his dust is east Though 't be late yet now at last All his bones with scorn ejected I will see them recollected Who fain my self would Kinsman prove To all that did Gods Temple love The Churches Answer Alas my Innocence excuse My Wardens they did me abuse Whose Avarice his Ashes sold That Goodness might give place to Gold As for his Reliques all the Town They are scatter'd up and down Seest a Church repaired well There a sprinkling of them fell Seest a New Church lately built Thicker there his Ashes spilt Oh that all the Land throughout Keebles Dust were thrown about Places scatter'd with that seed Would a Crop of Churches breed Fuller's Worthies p. 33. CHAP. V. The Tremendous Consequences of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery THese three evil Qualities or vicious Inclinations of the Mind are much of the same kind for Cruelty and Treachery do commonly proceed from base Cowardly Dispositions As touching Cowards that is such as preserving their Lives or Estates before their Country's welfare and that either will not or dare not stand coâ—ragiously in defence of it in time of Danger they were alwaies reckoned to deserve the greatest punishments and therefore the Romans did sharply chastise them and endeavoured to render them odious for they were commanded and sworn never to eat their meat but standing Nay they were accounted so hateful amongst them that when Hannibal offered the Roman Senate eight thousand Captives to be redeemed they refused his offer saying That they were not worthy to be redeemed who had rather be basely taken than die honestly and valiantly I. The Senate of Rome indeed dealt more favourably with the Captives which King Pyrrhus took for they redeemed them but with this mark of contumel and disgrace that they were degraded from all their Offices and Honours until by getting a double Victory they had won their Reputation again Beards Theatre II. Titias a Captain of Horsemen in Sicilia being overcharged with too great a number of Enemies delivered up his Arms to them which was counted so heinous a Crime that Calpburnius Piso his General pronounced this Sentence against him That he should go barefooted before the Army wearing a Garment without seams and that he should have society with none but such as were guilty of the same fault and from a General over Horsemen he was degraded and made a common Souldier Idem III. How did the Roman Senate correct the Cowardise of Caius Vatienus who that he might prevent his being ingaged in the Wars of Italy cut off all the Fingers of his left hand Why they seized upon his Goods and cast him into perpetual Imprisonment that he might thereby consume that life in Bondage and Fetters which he refused to hazard in the defence of his Country Idem IV. Fulgosus saith That among the Germans it was judged so dishonourable to lose a Shield in War that whosoever happened to do it was suspended from any Civil Office in the State and likewise forbid to enter into any of their Temples insomuch that many he saith killed themselves to avoid the infamy and shame thereof Idem V. The People called Daci punished Cowards on this manner They suffered them not to sleep but with their heads to the feet of the Beds and besides they by a Law ordained that they should be Slaves and Subjects to their own Wives What more vile disgrace could there be than this And yet the Lacedemonians used them more reproachfully for with them it was a dishonour to marry into the stock of a Coward any man might lawfully strike them without punishment and they went with their Cloths rent and their Beards half shaven Idem VI. Artaxerxes after the Battel was ended which he sought with his Brother Cyrus punished one of his Commanders called Arbaces for his cowardliness by compelling him to carry a Whore on his back stark naked all the day long about the Market-place And another that had basely yielded himself to his Enemies and yet boasted that he had slain two men he caused his Tongue to be bored thorow in three several places with an Awl Plutarch VII It is likewise a token of a weak mind and an infirm Soul to anticipate troubles by their own fearful apprehensions before they arrive which is oftentimes occasioned by a too great fearfulness of death and being over-desirous of life which kind of Cowardize hath occasioned great mischiefs and miseries as by the following Examples appears VIII Lewis the Eleventh King of France when he sound himself sick sent for one Fryer Robert out of Calabria to come to him to Toures this man was an Hermite and famous for his Sanctity and while in his last sickness this Holy man lay at Plessis the King sent continually to him saying That if the Hermite pleased he could prolong his life The King had reposed his whole confidence in Mounsieur James Cothier his Physician to whom he gave monthly Ten thousand Crowns in hope he would lengthen his life Never man saith Philip Comines feared death more than he nor sought so many waies to avoid it as he did moreover saith he in all his life-time he
had given commandment to all his Servants as well to my self as others we should only move him to confess himself and dispose of his Conscience but never to mention nor sound in his Ear that dreadful word Death knowing that he should not be able patiently to bear that cruel Sentence His Physician aforementioned used him so very roughly that a man would not have given his Servant such sharp language as he usually gave the King and yet the King so much feared him that he durst not command him out of his presence for though he complained to divers of him yet he durst not change him as he did all his other Servants because this Physician said once thus boldly to him I know that one day you will command me away but swearing a great Oath he added you shall not live eight daies after it which word put the King into so great a fear that he ever after flattered him and bestowed such gifts upon him that he received from him in five months time Fifty four thousand Crowns besides the Bishoprick of Amiens for his Nephew and other Offices and Lands for him and his Friends Philip Comines Hist IX Mecenas the great Friend and Favourite of Augustus was so soft and effeminate a Person that he was commonly called Malcinus he was so much afraid of death that saith Seneca he had often in his mouth this saying All things are to be endured so long as life it continued Of whom these Verses are to be read Make me lame on either hand And of neither foot to stand Raise a Bunch upon my back And make all my Teeth to shake Nothing comes amiss to me So that life remaining be X. Heraclides writes of one Artemon a very skilful Engineer but withal saith of him that he was of a very timerous disposition and foolishly afraid of his own shadow so that for the most part of his time he never stirred out of his house That he had alwaies two of his Men by him who held a brazen Target over his head for fear lest any thing should fall upon him and if upon any occasion he was forced to go from home he would be carried in a Litter hanging near to the ground for fear of falling Plutarch Vit. XI The Emperor Domitian was in such fear of receiving death by the hands of his followers and in such a strong suspition of Treason against him that he caused the Walls of the Galleries wherein he used to walk to be set and garnished with the stone Phengites to the end that by the light thereof he might seeall that was done behind him Suetonius Hist XII Antigonus observing one of his Soldiers to be a very valiant man and ready to adventure upon any desperate piece of Service and yet withal taking notice that he looked very pale and lean would needs know of him what he ailed And finding that he had upon him a secret and dangerous disease he caused all possible means to be used for his recovery which when it was effected the King perceived him to be less forward in Service than formerly and demanding the reason of it he ingenuously confessed that now he felt the sweets of life and therefore was loth to lose it Clarks Mirrour p. 354. XIII Caligula the Emperor was so exceedingly afraid of death that at the least Thunder and Lightning he would wink close with both Eyes and cover his head all over but if the Thunder were very great and extraordinary he would run under his Bed He fled suddenly by night from Messina in Sicily being affrighted with the noise smoak and roaring of Mount Aetna being once in a German Chariot in a streight passage where his Army were forced to march very close together and one happening to say that if any Enemy should now appear it would make a very great hurliburly he was presently so affrighted with the apprehension of the Danger that getting out of the Chariot he mounted his Horse and finding the way filled up with Slaves and Carriages he again dismounted and was from hand to hand conveyed over mens heads till he came on the other side of the water Soon after hearing of the revolt of the Germans he provided to fly and prepared Ships for his flight comforting himself in this that if the Conquerors should come into Italy and possess themselves of the City of Rome yet he should have some Provinces beyond Sea where he might still live Sueton. Hist XIV What a miserable life Tyrants have by reason of their continual fears of Death we have exemplified in Dionysius the Syracusan who finished his thirty eight years rule in this manner removing his Friends he committed the Custody of his Body to some Strangers Barbarians being in fear of Barbers he taught his Daughters to shave him when they were grown up he durst not trust them with a Rasor but taught them how they should burn off his Hair and Beard with the white films of Walnut Kernels and whereas he had two Wives Aristomache and Doris he came not to them in the night before the place was thoroughly searched and though he had drawn a large and deep moat of water about the room and had made a passage by a wooden Bridge yet he himself drew it up after him when he went in and not daring to speak to the People out of the common Rostrum or Pulpit appointed for that purpose he used to make Orations to them from the top of a Tower when he played at Ball he used to give his Sword and Cloak to a Boy whom he loved and when one of his familiar Friends had jestingly said You now put your life into his hands and the Boy smiling thereat he commanded them both to be slain one for shewing the way how he might be killed and the other for approving of it with a smile At last being overcome in Battle by the Carthaginians he perished by the Treason of his own Subjects Wanly Hist Man XV. And this introduces another particular namely the barbarity and bloody mindedness of some Persons Theodorus who was Tutor to Tiberius the Roman Tyrant observing in him while he was a Boy a sanguinary nature and disposition which lay hid under a shew of meekness and a pretence of clemency was used to call him a lump of Clay steeped and soaked in blood and this his prediction of him did not fail in the event this being that savage Tyrant who thought that death was too light and easy a punishment for hearing that Carnulius being in his disfavour had cut his own Throat Carnulius said he hath escaped me and to another who begged of him to die quickly he told him He was not so much in his favour Yet even this cursed Artist in Villany hath been since out-acted by Monsters more overgrown than himself XVI It is in this kind a memorable example that Seneca relates of Piso who finding a Soldier to return from forraging charging him to have slain
ended his lascivious days which puts me in mind of the saying of a Wiser better King than he That there is little distance between the Prisons and the Graves of Princes this Example made a great Officer understand how K. Charles the Martyr was put to death for he discoursing with the chief English Interpreter at Constantinople not then calling to mind the Fate of Sultan Ibrahim demanded how and when K. Charles was put to death Sure said he Your King must have no Power or your People must be more Rebellious and Mutinous than other Nations of the world who durst commit an Act so horrid and vile as this see said he how our Emperor is revered and observed and how submissive and obedient half the world is to the Nod four great Monarch the Interpreter replied it would be to lious to recount to him the History occasion of this prodigious Fact but that the time it happened was some months after the death or murther of Sultan Ibrahim which was a sufficient item to the Grand Vizier to give him a perfect understanding of what he required The Poet makes Ibrahim speak thus of himself I that of Ottoman blood remain alone Call'd from a Prison to ascend a Throne My silly mind I bend to sift Delights Hating unpleasing business and Fights Till mad with wanton Loves I fall at first Slave to my own then to my Peoples Lust IV. Neither has Intemperance in Drinking been sometimes less fatal for we read that there was one at Liege in Germany who was addicted to daily drunkenness in his Cups as oft as he had emptied his pockets of his mony by playing at Cards he used to swear that he would be the death of his Wives Uncle because he refused to furnish him with more mony to play with this Uncle was a Canon a Person of great hospitality one night when he entertained a Letter carrier he was murdered by him together with a Neice a little Nephew of his All men admiring that the Canon was not present at Mattens or morning Prayer who never used to absent himself having long knocked at his doors in vain this Drunkard of ours having scarce digested his yesterdays Ale set up a Ladder to the Windows with others entred the House espying there three dead Corpse they raise the Neighbourhood with a lamentable cry amongst the whispers of whom when some said that the Drunkard was the Murtherer he was laid hold on cast into Prison and thrown upon the Rack where he saith that he doth not think that he did it that by reason of his dayly continual drunkenness he could affirm nothing of a certainty that he had sometimes a will or desire to kill the Canon but that he should never have touched his Niece or young Nephew well he was condemned and the Innocent wretch even in the presence of this execrable Letter-carrier was long wearied with exquisite Torments and at last died an unheard of death The Letter-carrier being again returned to Liege and not able to endure the hourly Tortures of a revenging God inflicted upon his Soul of his own accord presented himself before the Judges beseeching them that by a speedy death he might be freed from that Hell he felt here alive affirming that when he was awake though feldom when asleep the Image of the little Babe whom he had strangled presented itself to his Eyes shaking the furies whips at him with such flames as the Drunkard had perished in when he spake this at the Tribunal he continally fanned his face with his hands as if to discuss and abate the flames The thing being evident by the Goods taken and other discoveries he also the same year Aug. 23. was hanged till dead and then burnt at a stake Wanly Hist Man V. There was in Salisbury not long since one who in a Tavern in the midst of his carousing and healths drank also a health to the Devil saying That if the Devil would not come and pledg him he would not believe that there was either God or Devil whereupon his Companions being struck with horrour hastned our of the room presently after hearing an hideous noise and smelling a stinking savour the Vintner ran up into the Chamber and coming in he mist his Guest found the window broken the iron bar in it bowed all bloody but the man was never after heard of Cla. Mir p. 148. VI. In 1446. There was a Wedding near Zegbuick in Germany celebrated as it appears with such unheard of Intemperance and dissolute doings that there died of extream surfeiting no less than one hundred fourscore and ten Persons as well Women as Men. Stowes Annals p. 385. VII A Gentleman having been revelling abroad was returning home when it was late at night his head that was overladen with Wine proved too heavy for the rest of his body so that he fell down in the street not able to rise through the feebleness of his legs he had a Sword by his side when another coming that way hearing the voice of his Enemy at some distance suddenly snatcht out the Drunkards Sword having run it into the heart of his Adversary left it sticking in the wound in all hast conveyed himself away from the place The Watch at that time chanced to pass by who finding a man lie dead with a Sword in his body this drunken Person lying near him with his Scabbard empty they took him along with them to the Magistrate who having received such apparent Testimony against him committed him to Prison he was hanged for the Murther tho Innocent afterward the real Murtherer being to be hanged for some other matter confessed it was himself who had made use of his Sword to act his own private Revenge Wan VIII Lastly Ambition Pride has produced no less mischievous effects upon several Persons Caesar Borgia the Son of Pope Alexander was a most Ambitious man he caused his Brother to be murdered in the streets his dead body to be cast into the River Tyber then casting off his Priestly Robes Cardinals habit he took upon him the leading of his Fathers Army with exceeding Prodigality he ingaged to him many desperate Ruffians for the execution of his horrible devices having thus strengthened himself he became a terrour to all the Nobility of Rome he first drove out the honourable Family of the Columnii then by execrable Treachery poysoned or killed the chief Personages of the great Houses of the Vrsini Cajetani seizing upon their Lands Estates he strangled at once 4 Noblemen of the Camertes drove Guido Feltrius out of Vrbin took the City of Faventia from Astor Mar fredus whom heast beastly abused then strangled In his thoughts he had made himself Master of all Italy but was cast down when he least feared it being at Supper with the Pope his Father which was prepared on purpose for destroying several rich Cardinals by
the mistake of a Servant he his Father were both poysoned by deadly Wine prepared for the Guests and so he was rewarded for his Ambition and intent of Murther both at once Clarks Mirrour IX Staveren in Holland was the chief Town of all Friezland rich and abounding in all wealth the only staple for all Merchandize whither Ships came from all parts The Inhabitants thereof through ease knew not what to do nor desire but shewed themselves in all things excessive and licentious not only in their Apparel but also in the furniture of their Houses gilding the Seats before their Lodgings c. So that they were commonly called The debauched Children of Staveren but observe the just punishment of this their Pride There was in this Town a Widow who knew no end of her wealth which made her proud and insolent she freighted out a Ship for Dantzick giving the Master charge to return her in exchange of her Merchandize the farest stuft he could find The Master of the Ship finding no better Commodity than good wheat freighted his Ship therewith and so returned to Staveren this did so discontent this foolish glorious Widow that she said to the Master That if he had laden the Corn on the Starboard side of the Ship he should cast it into the Sea on the Larboard which was presently done and all the wheat poured into the Sea but the whole Town yea all the Province smanted for this one Womans errour for presently in the same place where the Marriners had thrown the Corn there grew a great Bar or Bank of Sand wherewith the Haven was so stopt that no great Ship could enter and at this day the smallest Vessels that will anchor there must be very careful least they strike against this flat or Sand bank which ever since hath been called Vrawelandt that is the Womans Sand hereby the Town losing its Traffick in a little time declined the Inhabitants also by reason of their Wealth and Pride grew intellerable to the Nobility who in sumptuousness could not endure to be brayed by them so that this Town is now become one of the poorest of that Province though it hath the greatest Privitedges of all the Hanse Towns Hist Netherlands X Deminicus Sylvius Duke of Venice Married a Gentlewoman of Constantinople she was plunged into sensuality with so much prosusion that she could not endure to lodge but in Chambers full of delicious persurnes of the Fast she would not wash her self but in the dews of Heaven whell must be preserved for her with much skill her Garments were so pompous that nothing remained but to seek for new Sâ—…s in Heaven for she had exhausted the Treasures of the Earth her Viands so dainty that all the mouths of Kings tasted none so exquisite nor would she touch her meat but with Golden Forks and precious Stones God to punish this cursed pride and superfluity cast her on a Bed and assailed her with a malady so hideous so stinking and frightful that all her nearest Kindred were forced to forsake her none staid about her but a poor old Woman throughly accustomed to stench and death this delicate Lady was poysoned with her own perfumes in such a manner that from all her body there began to drop a most stinking humor and a kind of matter so filthy to behold so noysom to the â—…ell that every many ainly perceived that her dissolute excessive Pride and daintiness had caused this Infection in her which brought her to such a miserable and tragical end Causins Hely Court FINIS There are lately published Seven very useful pleasant and necessary Books which are all sold by Nath Crouch at his Shop at the Sign of the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside I SVrprising Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts Containing 1. The Miracles of Natre or the wonderful signs and prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea With an account of the most famous Comets and other prodigies since the Birth of our blessed Saviour particularly the dreadful Apparitions before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple The terrible Presages during the Wars and Desolations in Germany as several Suns appearing at once the water in Ponds and Conduits turned to blood and blood rained from Heaven Armies of Crows Dogs and other Creatures fighting and destroying each other Intermixt with Remarks on the Life of the renowned Gustavus Adolphus K. of Sweden Also a particular Description of the 5 Blazing Stars seen in England since 1663. A Relation of the burning of Mount Aetna with the horrid River of Fire and Brimstone which issued thence in 1669. burning near 20 Towns and Villages with abundance of other unaccountable Accidents and Productions of all kinds to 1682. Likewise a true account of the Groaning Board II. The Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings and other curious Inventions in all Ages as the Seven wonders of the world and many other excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the Earth Beautified with Sculptures Price One Shilling EXtraordinary Adventures of several Famous Men with the strange Events and many signal Mutations and Changes in the Fortunes of many Illustrious Places and Persons in all Ages Being an account of a multitude of stupendious Revolutions Accidents and observable Matters in many Kingdoms States and Provinces throughout the whole World Namely the Adventures of Christ Columbus and the manner of his Discovery of America or the New World the Cruelties used by the Turks upon the Christians at Argiers their manner of selling Slaves c. The dreadful Mutiny in the City of Naples about their Priviledges in 1647. and how Messanello a Fisher-Boy ruled there for 10 days with greater Power than any King or Emperour An Account of several Nations destroyed or driven from their Habitations by Gnats Moles Pismires Sparrows Locusts Hares Conies Fleas Frogs Mice Grashoppers Serpents Worms and other inconsiderable Creatures The Tragical Deaths of John and Cornelius de Wit at the Hague in Holland Remarks on the Life and Death of Sir W. Rawleigh with his last Speech and behaviour on the Scaffold with Pictures Price One Shilling III. Admirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland Or an Account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the Battles Sieges prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fives Murders and other considerable occurrences and accidents for many Hundred years past and among others the Battle of Bosworth and the miserable Death of Crookbackt Richard The beheading of the Lord Cromwel and the Earl of Essex with their last Speeches the Rebellion of the Papists in Cornwal c. against the Common-Prayer in King Edward 6 time and the Kings Letter to them The Rebellion under Ket the Tanner and his Laws and Ordinances in the Oak of Reformation near Norwich The Association in Qu. Elizabeth's time The proceedings against Mary Queen of Scots Mother to K. James with her last words on the Scaffold
The Lady riding naked through Coventry Together wit the natural and artified rarities in every County in England with several curious Sculptures Price One Shlling IV. VVOnderful Prodigies of Judgment and Mercy discovered in above 300 memorable Histories containing 1. Dreadful Judgments upon Atheists Blasphemers perjured Villains c. As of several forsworn Wretches carried away by the Devit and how an horrid Blasphemer was turned into a black Dog c. 2. The miserable ends of many Magicians Witches Conjurers c. with divers strange apparitions and illusions of the Devil 3. Remarkable predictions and presages of approaching Death and how the event has been answerable with an account of some Appeals to Heaven against unjust Judges and what vengeance hath fallen upon them 4. The wicked Lives and woful Deaths of several Popes Apostates and Persecutors with the manner how K. Hen. 2. was whipt by the Popes order by the Monks of Canterbury and how the Queen of Bohemia a desperate Persecutor of the Christians was swallowed up in the Earth alive with all her followers c. 5. Fearful Judgments upon bloody Tyrants Marderers c. also how Popâ—el King of Poland a cruel Tyrant his Queen and Children were devoured by Rats and how a Town near Tripoly in Barbary with the Men Women Children Beasts Trees Walls Rooms Cats Dogs Mice and all that belonged to the place were turned into perfect Stone to be seen at this day for the horrid crimes of the Inhabitants c. 6. Admirable Deliverances from imminent Dangers and Deplorable Distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divine Goodness to Penitents with the dying Thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state after this Life Imbelliâ—hed with divers Pictures Price One Shilling V. HIstorical Remarks and Observations of the Ancient and present state of London and Westminster shewing the Foundations Wills Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Hâ—…s Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an account of the most remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above Nine hundred years past in and about these Cities and among other particulars the Rebellion of Wat. Tyler who was slain by the Lord Mayor in Smithfield and the Speech of Jack Straw at his Execution The Murder of King Hen. 6. and likewise of Edward 5. and his Brother by Richard 3. called Crook-back The Insurrection in London in King Henry 8. time and how 411 Men and Women went through the City in their shifts and ropes about their Necks to Westminster-Hall where they were pardoned by the King with several other Remarks to this Year 1681. and a discription of the manner of the Trial of the late Lord. Stafford in Westminster-Hall Illustrated with Pictures with the Arms of the 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating Price One Shilling VI. The Fourth Edition of the Wars in England Scotland and Ireland being near a third part enlarged with very considerable Additions containing an impartial Account of all the Battles Seiges and other remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which have happened from the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First 1625. to His Majesties happy Restauration 1660. And among other particulars the Debates and Proceedings of the Fourforst Parliaments of King Charles The Murder of the Duke of Buckingham by Felton The Tumults at Edenburgh in Scotland upon the reading the Common-Prayer The Insurrection of the Apprentices and Seamen and their assaulting of A. B Laud's House at Lambeth Remarks on the Trial of the E. of Strafford and his last Speech The horrid and bloody Rebellion of the Papists in Ireland and their murdering above 200000 Profestants in 1641. The Death of Arch-Bishop Land Duke Hamilton Lord Capel Mr. Love Dr. Hewet and others The illegal Trial of King Charles 1. at large with his last Speech at his Suffering And the most considerable matters which happened till 1660. with Pictures of several remarkable Accidents Price One Shilling VII THe Young mans Calling or the whole Duty of Youth in a serious and compassionate Address to all young Persons to remember their Creator in the days of their Youth Together with Rmarks upon the Lives of several excellent young Persons of both Sexes as well ancient as modern who have been famous for Virtue and Piety in their Generations namely on the Lives of Isaac and Joseph in their Youth On the Martyrdom of seven Sons and their Mother and of Romanus a young Nobleman with the invincible courage of a Child of seven years old who was martyred On the Martyrdom of divers holy Virgins and Martyrs On the Life of that blessed Prince King Edw. 6. with his earnest Zeal for the Protestant Religion and his ingenious Letters to his Godfather A. B. Cranmer when but 8 years old with his last words and Prayer against Popery On the Life and Death of Queen Jane as her learned Dispute with Fecknam a Priest about the Sacrament her Letters to her Father the Duke of Suffolk to her Sister and to Harding an Apostate Protestant On the Life of Queen Elizabeth in her Youth with her many Sufferings and Dangers from bloody Bonner and Gardiner and her joiful Reception to the Crown On the Religious Life and Death of the most Noble and Heroick Prince Henry eldest Son to King James And also of the Young Lord Harrington c. With Twelve curious Pictures Illustrating the several Histories Price Eighteen Pence All sold by Nath Crouch at his shop at the sign of the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside 1683. FINIS