flat in an instant of Lions turning Calves halfe dead with feare received the fatall stroake of the Executioner So many were confusedly hudled to death it is hard to ranke them in order only wee will insist on some principall Persons 8. First Maria Caesarissa and her husband whether it was Conscience or Manners not to part man and wife And because Andronicus durst not for feare of the People bringe them to publick death their Physitian was brib'd with Gold which he conceived cordiall for himselfe And thereupon he did quickly purge out both theire Soules by Poyson an unsuspected way which robs men of their lives and yet never bids them to stand 9. Next followed Xene the Mother Empresse being accused of high Treason for attempting to be tray the City of Belgrade to Bela King of Hungarie A pack't councell condemn'd her to death which though otherwise vitious was generally bemoaned as most innocent in this particular But Andronicus the Emperour cunningly derived the whole hatred hereof on yong Alexius whose Power he never used or owned but onely to make him the Cloak-father for odious Acts vrging him to signe the warrant for her execution In the stout refusall whereof Alexius shew'd more Constancy then was expected to come from him clearely answering all Arguments herein shewing himselfe a childe in Affection and more then a childe in Judgement Whereupon some ground their presumptions that his soule deserved better breeding and that hee was not to bee censured for weaknesse of Capacity but rather his friends to bee condemned for want of care and himselfe to bee bemoaned for lack of Education Hee flatly told Andronicus that Nero was recorded Monster to all Ages for killing his Mother And that hee would never consent to her death that gave him life 10. But he proceeded to aggravate the Crime of Xene Belgrade being such a piece of strength that it was a whole Province in effect And though but a Towne in Bulke was a Kingdome in benefit All Greece awfully attending the fortune thereof Hee minded Alexius that Fathers of Countries should know no Mothers but that Soveraignes affections are onely of kin to the good and safety of their Subjects Besides saith he you need not scruple so much at her death who is dead whilst living and hath been many yeares drowned in Luxurie So that what was cruelty in Nero will be Exemplary Justice in you 11. Alexius rejoyned that if his Mother Xene was so drowned in Luxurie the more need she had to drowne her sins in penitent Teares except it were conceiv'd Charity to kill both her soule and body That Princes were not to owne private affections where they were destructive to the Common good but might and must where they consisted with the publike safety Or else to become a Prince would be all one as to leave off to be a man Grant Belgrade a strong Place it was still in their owne possession and her intended Treason succeeded not And therefore he conceiv'd it a middle and indifferent way that she should be depriv'd of liberty for Plotting of Treason and yet be permitted to live because the Plot took no effect A Cloister should be provided whereto she should bee close confin'd therein to doe Pennance for her former enormities And in this Sentence he conceived that hee impartially divided himselfe betwixt the affection of a Childe and severity of a Judge 12. But Andronicus who was resolved to have no denyall highly commended him for his filiall care of his Mothers soule Yet said he for the benefit thereof fifty Friers at my own proper charges shall bee appointed which after her Death Night and day shall dauly pay their prayers in her behalfe whose suffrages are as well knowne above as her Prayers are strangers there it being to bee presumed that whilst shee is living the Heavens will be deafe to her which so long have beene dumbe to them Speake not of her Project that it tooke no effect for had it succeeded none would have called it Treason but have beheld it under a more favourable Notion He minded Alexius that hee had sufficient power of himselfe being joynt-Emperour to put her to death but that he would in no case deprive him of this Peerelesse Opportunity of Eternizing his memory to Posterity and securing the State by his necessary Severity For all hereafter would be deterred from attempting of Treason as despairing of pardon when they beheld the Exemplary justice on his own Mother 13. Alexius still persisting in his denyall Andronicus at last fell to flat menacing yet so cunningly carryed it that his threats did not seeme to proceed from any anger but from love to the person and griefe for the perversenesse of Alexius Hee protested he would no more break his sleep he would steere the State no longer Let even the Windes and the waves hereafter bee the Pilots to that crazie vessell He call'd the Heavens to witnesse before whom hee entred a Caveat to preserve his owne Innocence how he had tendred happinesse to Alexius but could not force it upon him who wilfully refused it In a word so passionate he was and so violent was the streame of his importunity that the young Emperour either out of weaknesse or wearinesse to swimme against it was at last carryed away with the Current thereof and subscribed the Warrant 14. To divert whose minde from musing upon it a solemne Hunting in the Countrey was contrived that there he might take his pleasure In a Forrest not farre off a stately Stagge was lodged ambitious as they told him to fall by the hand of an Emperour or else to bee dubbed an Hart Imperiall if chancing to escape All things being ready Alexius is carried thither but withall those are sent along with him which hunted this Hunter markt all his motions learnt the language of his looks and hands with the different Dialects of his severall fingers so that hee could not speake a word or make signe to any of his faithfull servants but presently it was observed and if materiall reported to Andronicus None of his friends durst shew any discontent If any was seen sadly to wag his head it was a certaine signe that that head stood but loose on his shoulders and by the next returne the newes would bee ' that 't was fallen off so miserable was the condition of this Prince and of all his followers But Andronicus had a Hinde to hunt at home and must provide for the Execution of Xene And now to enter the tender yeares of his sonne Manuel for great Actions he thought first to bloud him with an Empresse in private delivering the Warrant unto him Behold here an unexpected accident This good Childe of a bad Father Grace can cut off the oldest and strongest Entaile of Wickednesse refused the Employment alledging there was no such dearth of hangmen that a Prince need take their Office and that it was against his Conscience her
mightest not perish for ever Thou wast miserable for a short time that thou mightest not bee miserable for all eternity I make no doubt but thou hadst the yeares of Eternity in minde seeing that thou didst suffer such things so constantly and couragiously 8. But doth not so strong charity argue a weak judgement Despaire it selfe may presume of salvation if such an-one was saved How improperly did he usurp that Expression comparing himselfe to a * Bruised Reed when another Scriptureresemblance was more applyable unto him of a * Bul-rush bowing downe his head onely top-heavy for the present with sense of suffering not inwardly contrited in heart for the sinnes hee had committed Must not true Repentance have a longer season to ripen it and by workes ensuing to avouch to the world the sincerity thereof Insomuch that of late some affirme that the good Theefe on the Crosse did not then first begin but first renew his Repentance lately interrupted by a fellonious Act. Allow Andronious for a Saint and we shall people Heaven with a new Plantation of Whores and Theeves how volumnious will the Booke of Martyrs be if Paine alone does make them 9. On the other side we must be wary how in our Censures wee shut Heaven-doore against any Penitents Farre bee it from us to distrust the power of Gods mercy or to deny the efficacie of true though late Repentance the last groan which divorces the soule from the body may unite it to God though the Arme of his body was cut off the Hand of his faith might hold All that I will adde is this if Andronicus his soule went to Heaven it is pitty that any should know of it lest they bee encouraged to imitate the wicked Premises of his life hoping by his Example to obtaine the same happy Conclusion after death 10. After his Execution the tide of the Peoples fury did turne who began to love his memory and lament his Losse Such as before were blinded with Prejudice against him could now clearely see many good deeds he had done for the Publique and began to recount with themselves many Sovereigne Lawes which hee had enacted some bemoaned the misery which he had endured as if his punishment was over-proportion'd to his deserts Whether this pitie proceeded out of that generall humour of men never to value things till they are lost or because their revenge had formerly surfeted upon him now began to disgorge it selfe againe Or which is most probable this Compassion arose from the mutability and inconstancy of humane Nature which hates alwaies to be imprisoned in one and the same minde but being in constant Motion through the Zodiac of all Passions will not stay long in the same Signe and sometimes goes from one Extremity to another 11. By this time Isaacius was brought by Basilius the Patriarch unto the Throne and placed thereon with all solemnity then the Crowne was put upon his head on the top whereof was a Diamond-Crosse greatnesse and Care are twins which Isaacius kissed I welcome thee said he though not as a stranger who have been acquainted with Crosses from my Cradle Thou art both my Sword and my Shield for hitherto I have conquered with suffering Then weighing the Crowne in his hand it is faith he a beautifull burthen which loads more than it adornes 12. Here Basilius the Patriark made a Sermon-like Oration unto him which as it was uttered with much Gravity so it was heard with no lesse Attention and embraced by the Emperour with great Thankfulnes Not presuming Sir to teach you what you doe not know I am incited by my Calling and encouraged by your Clemency to put you in minde of what otherwise you may forget This Crowne and Sceptre were sent you from Heaven onely we have done our duty in delivering them unto you And now me thinks that Divine Majesty perfectly shines in You his Image These our Eyes upheld folded hands and bared heads and bended knees are due from us to God and wee pay them to him by paying them to you his Receiver And wee doubt not but you will improve the Power and Honour bestowed on you for the protection of the people committed unto you 13. In a mans body whilst naturall Heat and radicall Moisture observe their limits all is preserved in health if either exceedes their bounds the body either drownes or burnes It fareth thus in the constitution of the State betwixt your Power and our Prosperity whilst both agree they support one another but if they fall out about Masterie even that which over-comes will be destroyed in a generall confusion And if you should betray your Trust though we bow and beare and sigh and sob armed with Prayers and Teares yet know that our sad Mournings will mount into that Court where lye the Appeales of Subjects and the Censures of Soveraignes which will heavily bee inflicted by him whom you represent Speake I not this out of any distrust of your Justice but out of earnest desire of your happinesse wishing that the greatnesse of Constantine Founder of this place the goodnesse of Jovian the successe of Honorius the long life of Valens the quiet death of Manuel the immortall fame of Justinian and what soever good was singl'd on them may joyntly be heaped upon you and your Posterity 14. Hereupon followed such a shout of the people as the oldest man present had not heard the like and all interpreted it as a token presaging the future felicity of the new Emperour And thus we have presented the Reader with the remarkable intricacie and perplexity of successe as if Fortune were like to lose her selfe in a Labyrinth of her owne making winding backward and forward within the compasse of five yeares with more strange varieties then can easily bee paralell'd in so short a continuance of time 1. First Alexius no Andronicus 2. Then Alexius and Andronicus 3. Then Andronicus and Alexius 4. Then Andronicus no Alexius 5. Then Isaacius no Andronicus Thus few strings curiously plaid upon by the cunning fingers of a skilfull Artist may make much Musick and Divine Providence made here a miraculous harmony by these odd expected transpositions tuneing all to his owne glory 15. Here I intended to end our History save that I cannot discharge my Trust and bee faithfull to the Truth without taking some speciall observation of Basilius Wee cannot forget how Active an Instrument hee had been to serve the cruelty of Andronicus and when first I looked wishly upon his hands so busied in wicked employments I presently read his Fortune that hee should come to a violent death The old Hermite seemed to mee a Prophet to confirme me in my opinion when reproving him for stickling in temporall matters and my conjectures grew confident that this Patriarke in processe of time would either shake his Mitre from his head or his head from his shoulders And perchance if the ingenuous
their former deserts and present Dignities but employed those Osiers of his owne planting which might be easily wreathed to all purposes being base up-starts depending on his absolute Pleasure And as he used these alone so these onely in matter of Execution who taking himself and therein not mistaken to be sole friend to himselfe would not impart his Counsells to any one being wont to say that Ships sinke as deep with one as with onehundred Leaks 19. Wee will conclude this Book with an Independent Story hoping the Reader will take it as wee finde it There was a noted Begger in Constantinople well known to the people thereabouts as who had almost worne the Thresholds of Noble mens doores as bare as his owne cloathes an exceeding tall raw-bon'd Body with a meagre and lanke Belly so that hee might have passed for Famine it selfe This man was found begging about the lodgings of Andronicus very late at night at an unseasonable houre except one would say that men of his profession as they are never out of their way so they are never out of their time but may seasonably beg at any houre when they are hungry Being apprehended at the Guard and accused for a Conjurer his ugly face being all the Evidence against him Andronicus delivered him over to the indiscreet discretion of the People to doe with him as they pleased These wilde Justicers without legall proofe or further proceeding for Almes bestowed on him a Pile of Wood and a great fire where they burnt him to Ashes whose fact might justly have intitled him to a whipping Post but not to a Stake 20. Say not that this is beneath our History to insert the Death of a Begger in the life of an Emperour For all Innocents are equall in the Court of Heaven And this poore man who whilst alive was so loud at great Mens doores for meat to preserve his life his bloud may be presumed to bee as crying and clamorous at the gates of Heaven to revenge his death For herein Andronicus taught the People to bee Tyrannicall a needlesse Lesson to such apt Schollers who afterwards proved Proficients herein to the cost of their Teacher as God willing shall be shewed hereafter The third BOOK 1. THE newes of Andronicus his being chosen joynt-Emperour no sooner arrived at the eares of Maria Caesarissa but shee was drowned in a deluge of griefe being beholden to nature that she could vent her selfe in teares seeing that sorrow which cannot bleed in the eyes doth commonly fester in the heart And when her Nurse lovingly chid her for excessive sadnesse she pleaded her sex which can scarce doe any thing without over-doing so that Feminine passions must either not be full or over-flow 2. But Anger soon after having got the conquest of her owne grief with furious speed she repaired to the place where the Lords of the Combination were assembled ther she abruptly vented her self in these Expressions 3. Greece is growne barbarous and quite bereft of its former worth not so much as the ruines of valor left in you to reach forth unto posterity any signes that you were extracted from brave ancestors Time was when the Grecian Youth adventured for the Golden-Fleece you may now adventure for the Asses Skin the dull Embleme of your owne Conditions The merry Greek hath now drowned the Proverbe of the valiant Greek Tame Traytors all that could behold an Usurper Mate and check your lawfull Emperour and neither wag hand or tongue in opposition Did my father Manuel for this impaire his owne to raise your estates He made you honourable and great Oh that hee could have made you gratefull The best is your very sin will be your punishment And though your practice hath beene so base your judgement cannot be so blinde as to believe that your Channells of Nobility can have a stream when the Fountaine of Honour is dammed up by your unworthinesse 3. The Lords though by their Silence they seemed first to swallow her words yet the expression of Tame Traitors would not goe downe their Throats the largest soules being narrowest in point of credit and soonest choakt with a disgrace Mamalus therefore in the behalfe of the rest Madam said he sufficeth it now for us barely to deny your speech Had you been a man we should have proceeded to defie the Speaker What your passion now condemnes in us for base your judgement will not onely acquit for right and approve for safe but even commend for honourable and advantageous for our Master Alexius Our Lives and Lands are at the sole dispose and the cruell mercy of our enemies We are instantly undone if we whisper the least and lowest syllable of Loyalty and utterly disabled from any future service to Alexius We conceive it therefore better for a time to bow to our foes rather than to bee broken by them To spare in words and spend what wee please in thoughts We want not a will but wait a time to expresse our Reallity to the Emperour with most safety to our selves and effect for him in a season least subject to suspition 5. Pacified with these words she was contented to attend the performance of the Promise in time Convenient though never living so long as to behold it being prevented by violent Death For now Andronicus began freely to rage in Innocent bloud cutting off such Nobles as hee thought would oppose him Something like truth was alledged against them to stop the Clamours of the multitude And Power never wants pretences those legall to Compasse what it doth desire They were indicted of Conspiracy against Andronicus and Knights of the Post of the Devils owne dubbing did depose it against them Yea silence was not enough to preserve mens Innocence some being accused that their Noses did wrinkle or their Eyes winke or their Fore-heads frowne or their Fingers snap Treason against Andronicus 6. In this his Epidemical cruelty it was much that a famous Iester of the Court escaped his furie Of this Fellow his body downwards was a Foole his Head a knave who did carefully note and cunningly vent by the priveledges of his Coate many State-Passages uttering thē in a warie twilight betwixt sport earnest But belike Andronicus would not break himselfe by stooping to so low Revenge and made Conscience in breaking the antient Charter of Iesters though wronging the Liberty of others of greater Concernment 7. Of such as were brought to Publicke Execution it was strange to behold the difference of their demeanour Some who were able to be miserable with an undaunted minde did become their afflictions and by their Patience made their miseries to smile not bowing their Soules beneath themselves only appealing for Iustice in another world Others did foolishly rage and ramp mustring whole Legions of Curces as if therewith to make the Axe turne Edge And then seeing no Remedie but Death their Soules did not bow by degrees but fell
it selfe and meant to serve him up as a dainty dish in a Charger or Tray to his Widdow had not some intervening accident diverted it He made a bloudy Decree which had a traine of indefinite and unlimited extent and would reach as farre as the desire of the measurer namely that all such of the nobility which were now or should hereafter be cast into Prison should bee executed without any legall Triall with their Children and Kindred Prince Manuel whose worst fault was that Andronicus begat him in vaine opposed this Decree alleaging this to be the ready way for his Father to un-Emperour himselfe by destroying that Relative Title and leaving himselfe no Subjects 28. But Andronicus had found Scripture whereby to justifie his Act and brought St. * Paul for his Patron whose practise and confession hee cited For the Good that I would I doe not But the evill which I would not that I doe Now if I doe that I would not it is no more I that doe it but sinne that dwelleth in me God keep us from Apocrypha-Comments on Canonicall Scripture send us his pure Text without the glosse of Andronicus who belike conceiv'd hee could not bee a perfect Tyrant by onely torturing of men except also he did rack Gods Word rending Text from Con-text and both from their true intent 29. This Decree startles such Lords of the Combination as were left alive together with Mamalus principall Secretary to the late Emperour and Alexius Ducas the most Active but not nearest Prince of the bloud These meeting together much bemoaned themselves till Mamalus counting such puling passion beneath Masculine Spirits thus uttered himselfe 30. You late adorers of Andronicus who did conceive it would pose the power of heavē to cure the State save oncly by his hand bee your owne Judges whether it be not just that they should dye of the Physicke who made a God of the Physitian Diseases doe but their kind if they kill and an evill expected is the lesse evill But no such Torment as to die of the remedie Onely one helpe is left us if secretly and speedily pursued We know Isaacius Angelus by birth and merit is intitled to the Crowne True hee lives privately in a Covent but worth cannot bee hid it shines in the darke and Greatnesse doth best become them to weare it by whom it is found before it is sought for as more deserved then desired by them say not that he is of too milde a disposition for his soft temper will make the beter Pultis for our sore necks long gauled with the yoke of Tyranny And seeing we have thus long been unhappy under the extremities the childe-hood of Alexius and old yeares of Andronicus let us try our Fortunes under the middle age of Isaacius And no doubt we shall light on the blessed meane and happy temper of Moderation 31. The motion found entertainment beyond beliefe And yet Alexius Ducas offer'd it to their consideration that so meek a Dove would never make good Eagle Giving a Character how a Prince should be accomplished with valour and experience by insinuation designing himself It is pleasant to heare a proud man speaking modestly in his owne praise whilst the Auditors affect a wilfull deafenesse and will not heare his whispering and slenting expressions till at last hee is faine to hollow downe-right Selfe-flattery into their Eares Here it fared thus with Ducas who thereby only exposed himselfe to contempt and perceiving no successe zealously concurr'd with the rest for advancing of Isaacius All necessary particulars were politiquely contrived each one had his taske appointed him some to seize on the ships others to secure the Pallace make good the great Church and the whole modell was exactly methodized considering the vast Volumne thereof which consisted of many persons of qualitie therein ingaged The Fourth Booke 1. BUT great designes like wounds if they take Arie corrupt This project against Andronicus could not be covertly carried because consisting of a medly of persons of different tempers and un-suiting soules having private intents to themselves not cordiall uniting their affections but only Freinds for the time being against the common Foe So that through the Riftes and chinks of their severall aimes and ends which could not be joynted close together the vigilancie of Andronicus did steale a glymps of their designe apprehensive enough to light a candell for himselfe form the sparke of the smallest discoverie 2. And now let him alone to prevent their proceedings by cutting both them and theirs off that no mindfull heire might succeed to their spite and that with all posible speed for hee steer'd his actions by the compas of that character which one made of him as followeth I love at leasure favours to bestow And tickle men by dropping kindnesse slow But my revenge I in one instant spend That moment which begings it doth it end Halfe doing undoe's many 't is a sinne Not to be soundly sinfull to begin And tire I 'le do the work They strike in vain Who strike so that the stricken might complain .3 Mamalus was the first who was brought to Execution on this manner A mighty fire was made and to provoke the Tyrannie thereof as if that pure Element of it selfe had been too fine and slender effectually to torment him they made the flame more stiffe and stuffie by the mixture of pitch and brimstone Then Mamalus was brought forth starke naked insomuch that all ingenuous beholders out of a modest Sympathy conceived that they saw themselves naked in seeing him and therefore as much as lay in their power they covered him by shutting their eyes When the Souldiers with Pikes were provided to thrust Mamalus into the fire whil'st many Spectatours durst not expresse their pittie to him out of pittie to themselves lest commiserating of him should be understood complying with him but were cautious to confine their Compassion within the Compasse of their brest that it should not sallie forth into their eyes and outward gestures 4. Betwixt this Dilemma of Deaths the sharpe Pikes of the Soldiers on the one side furie of the fire on the other he preferred the former not as most honourable and best complying with a militarie Soule not being at leasure alasle in time of torment to stand on termes of credit but as least painfull But the Soldiers denied him this choyce and forc'd him into the fire and then hearing his Shreekes even those who refus'd out of favour to give any pitie to his person could not out of justice denie the payment of some compassion bound there-unto by the Specialtie of Humanitie unto his miserable condition 5. Meane time Andronicus was a spectatour tickling himselfe with delight only offended that the sport was so short and Mamalus dead too soone The stench of whose burning flesh offensive to others was a perfume to him who had the Roman-Nose of Caligula Nero Domitian and such