as it seemed to promise her much facility in a project which was otherwise impossible It also happened very fortunately that the execution of offenders was put off till another day for certaine customes of antiquity and religion that are strong chaines among people and which gave her full scope to accomplish her desires Wee daily see among many occurrents of affaires that to be verified which an ancient Author said who having made a large recitall of all the naturall armes which God giveth creatures he affirmes a women eminently hath them all and that there is neither fire nor sword which yeeldeth not either to beauty or cunning wyles which with them are very frequent She is able to walke thorough a Corps-du-guard to pierce Rockes and to seat her selfe in places where nothing can penetrate but lightning Hildegardis so mannaged her businesse in a short time that a hundred iron gates were all-most ready to fly open at her command Shee having disposed so many affections to her service failed not to visite the prisoners whom she knew naturally much to desire their liberty Shee went about mid-night into the dungeon accompanied only with a trusty maid-servant and a page who bare a Torch before them The poore gentlemen extremely weary with the labours of the former day and who after so great a perplexity of thoughts began to sleep upon their sadnesse hearing the great dore to open with a confused noise they suddenly awakened but when they beheld this heavenly face which promised more day-light to their affaires then the torch could afford to their eyes it seemed unto them some Divinity favourable to their affections was descended into the dungeon to comfort them but perceiving it was the she-Priest of the Temple which had charge to attend the sacrifices they were somewhat astonished But the generous Ischyrion cried out aloud Madame what is the matter come you then to leade us out to butchery Shee desirous to sound them answered Sir trouble not your selfe but as you have fought valiantly dispose your selves to die bravely To which he replyed he was already thoroughly prepared and asked her if it were she must do the deed To which she answered That never had she learned the trade to cut mens throats but that she was onely to assist in the sacrifice and to cut off the tipps of the victimes haire to throw the first fruits into the flames I at the least render thankes to my fortune saith Faustin that we are fallen into so good a hand and that since wee must needes die our death shall be honoured with the eyes of such a beauty Vpon this Hildegardis felt her heart surprized and stood some distance of time without speaking one word casting her eyes on the yong Iacinthus kept in the same dungeon and who notwithstanding the light and voice still slept securely Behold saith Ischyrion how this child doth allie the brother to the sister that is sleepe to death Why should wee so much feare death since to speake truly it is as it were nothing else but to performe once for all what Iacinthus now doth and what wee daily doe many times Then turning himselfe with a smiling countenance to the vestall Madame saith he should wee dare to hope a favour from you we would not beg life For wee know wee are accounted in the number of the most wretched sacrifices and that the people must be appeased by our death Doe then but save this little innocent pardon the tendernesse of his age take pity on the sorrow of his father verely we may vaunt even in these dungeons hee is our deare conquest and that we have purchased him in a sharpe combat at the price of our bloud which causeth his death to afflict us more sensibly then our owne At this word Hildegardis breathed foorth a deepe sigh which shee notwithstanding sought to smoother yet turning to her companion she said Verely this heart is truly generous what could hee doe more should hee pleade his brothers cause Behold what contempt of death what resolution It is fittest for such to live since they so well know how to use life Therevpon drawing neere vnto him Sir said shee Doe me the honour to tell me your name and what you are He replyed there needed in him for sacrifice but body and soule as for his name it served for no other use That all which miserable men can doe is wisely to conceale themselves and that among disasters the most secret were ever the best for generous soules This answere more enkindled the curiosity of the Lady to enquire after that which he was willing to dissemble so that seeing himselfe pressed on all sides he said Madame I am called Ischyrion since you must needs know it and I intreat you to thinke I doe not now begin to fight with Monsters for my whole life resembleth those pieces of Tapistry where Dragons are seene among golden apples It is a perpetuall web of miseries and glories there was never any thing so various I have beene told I sprang from regall bloud but being very young and unknowne was stolne away by Pirates and then recovered againe by shepherds whereof Thoas the most eminent among them was pleased to breed mee with his owne sonne Faustin here present with whom I have vowed a most faithfull and strict amity After that I had a vehement desire to travell all the world over with him and to make enquiry into my birth which I have hitherto done nor is there any place of fame in the habitable world to which in this my youth I have not travelled and ennobled it with some conquest wee together have seene above a hundred times the gates of death wide open to receive us but still our good Genius found some way for our deliverance untill now I see no helpe at all verely in my opinion death alone must shew mee the place where my parents are He cut off these words very short unwilling to seeme either vaine-glorious in recitall of his owne adventures or suppliant to purchase life by the history of his travels But shee who considered these discourses like unto Pictures which tell more then they expresse not being able any longer to dissemble her heart which shee seemed to distill with her teares having broken some very deepe sobs said unto him Worthy sir and friend God hath not created me a rocke to be insensible of humane miseries I plainly see your atchievements very neere approach the fortunes of our house and it seemes the web of our destinies hath passed thorough the one and the same hand For my father had a sonne taken from him when he was very young a while after the death of his wife my thrice honoured Mother which drenched him into so deep a sorrow that thorough griefe he expected death Hee notwithstanding comforted himselfe in me beholding me in most innocent yeeres of a nature very cheerefull and doubted not but that I in time might bring him a
The poore Father who had already both the portalls of his eyes shut up from the spectacle of his calamities held perpetually those of his eares too open to his owne unhappinesse which was the cause that hearing the voice of Iacinthus hee waxed pale with horror and casting foorth a deepe sigh said nothing else but this is my sonne I am dead Griefe at that time choaking up the rest of his words On the other side the little Iacinthus beholding his Father blinde and considering the discomfort hee fell into at the instant of his arrivall imagined himselfe to bee the cause of his mis-hap whereupon hee wept so bitterly that it drew much compassion from those there present and made all the forrest resound with his out-cries Never was the storie of Iephte seene better personated This yong innocent held himselfe fast fixed to the knees of his father humbly beseeching him by all that which was most religious and sacred with him in the world to declare the remedy might be applyed for his recovery or else to take revenge on him and kill him with a Bore-speare which hee had in his hand protesting he would direct the blow and open his brest to the point which could not but find passage enough into the heart of a Parricide But the unfortunate Clodoaldus who then felt the most horrible convulsions may be imagined concealed his wound so much as hee could as one who more apprehended the remedie then the evill it selfe The father and sonne were long in a combat of pietie which ministred matter of teares to the most insensible and of admiration to all the world In the end Clodoaldus retiring somewhat apart to conferre with his friends who had accompanied him in hunting concerning this deplorable accident perceiving those who were very willing to transferre the storme upon their Neighbours field to free themselves from danger became earnest to perswade him speedily to accomplish this dolorous sacrifice he growing very angry and contesting with words sharpe enough some of them hastned to the eare of Iacinthus who presently understood the knot of the businesse and offered himselfe very freely to bee sacrificed But the father esteeming himselfe so much the more bound to preserve a vertue which hee saw prest to ruine it selfe for him ran to his sonne Love which is too cleere sighted supplyed the defect of his eyes and made so strong chaines about him of his two armes in holding him strictly embraced that it seemed death was not strong enough to dissolue the knots tyed by so great a charity He weeping said Iacinthus my most deare sonne thinke I am a Father and not a rocke That I have all those sensible apprehensions which nature can give in the like occasions You know your eldest Brother and your Sister have already beene stollen from mee in their tender yeeres to make up the measure of sorrow which I conceived upon the death of your Mother You are not ignorant that you onely remaine after this lamentable ship-wracke and that holding you in my armes it seemes to mee I possesse a broken planke of a vessell which bare my Treasures I saw all the hopes of my posteritie to flourish againe in you I saw a support of my declining yeeres Finally I there there beheld my flesh and bloud and yet have I given away your life to purchase eyes for my selfe and do I throw you alive into a Tombe and make of your bloud a plaister to enioy a cruell health and a life most infamous No my sonne let mee rather die in my miseries for which now behold mee standing within the gates of death The good blinde man speaking this sought to make a Bath of his teares for this lamentable sacrifice whilst others prepared one of bloud for him nor was it possible to appease him untill lacinthus had promised that nothing should bee done without his consent The youth notwithstanding seeing himselfe free secretly slipt aside with a purpose to visite the Priests of the Idols and obtayne his liberty of them But Clodoaldus desirous to hold him perpetually as it were incorporated to himselfe perceiving hee was gone entred into the furies of disconsolate sorrow In the meane time the sacrificers being dealt withall in the cause of the suppliant as praetexts of devotion are ever the most inexorable grew very stiffe in the bloodiest wayes encouraged in this affaire by a people timerous and sottish who entertaine no motive more violently then that which superstition suggesteth the poore lambe is seized on and taken by the throat to dispose him for sacrifice with so much fervour as it seemed they would purchase the Sun wind raine and fertility of yeeres through the effusion of his blood Reader Let us here stay a little and consider as we passe along the tyranny of superstition which forgeth horrible chaines to restraine the liberty of men making crimes to passe for acts of religion and rendring evill immortall vnder the colour of a false piety Wee have seene Tyrants who have inflicted most strange violences upon free men as that of Basilius Duke of Muscovia who commanded his people to bring him glasses filled with sweat for tribute and Nightingales in Winter and one 〈◊〉 who forbad teares to the afflctied which verily are the gentlest and most reasonable wayes nature hath found out for the discharge of a heart drenched in acâ—â—bities Yet never could these cruelties equall the rigours of a soule superstitions which is to it selfe seafold punishment and executioner when thinking to performe some notable sacrifice it becomes the instrument of its owne ruine Who would not tremble to heare that men could perswade men to thrust a knife into the throat of their Children and that to sprinkle Idols with their blood was an act merited honour and which might draw along with it the imitation of posterity Wee know that a vow ought to have three conditions Iustice Iudgement and Truth Iustice because it should bee of things iust and lawfull and therefore he that voweth a crime as did the Iewes protesting neither to eate nor drinke till they had killed S. Paul committeth a double sinne and if hee execute his vow hee commits a third Iudgement in so much as this vow ought to be accompanied with knowledge deliberation discretion and liberty it being unreasonable to proceed blind-fold in a matter of such importance Truth because it should be onely done to the true God Behold how that law of our Saviour is resolved into reasonable services but that of Devils bindes to most impious acts with knots of a necessity that admitteth no qualification There is not a creature which defendeth the bloud of this innocent but every one thinks to shed that with sinne which hath beene vowed without reason If the example of Iephte bee here obiected who made the like vow as Clodoaldus it is answered the promise was a rashnes and accomplishment a great sinne according to the decision which S. Hierome
share in this hideous office The gallants putting themselues in ambush failed not very seasonably to fall like Eagles vpon their prey and to use force to take the young man away Wherevpon certaine of the guards which encompassed the high Priest for the safety of the sacrifice made a shew of resistance but finding themselves from the beginning of the Combat so roughly handled that some armes were seene to fly off they retired being as sparing of their owne bloud as prodigall of the innocents Hereupon confusion fell aswell in their hearts as into the order of this direfull procession every one from thence forward thinking rather to save his life by the helpe of his feet then to accomplish his superstition The matter had beene dispatched had it not beene that these enraged Priests threw themselves on the sacrifice crying out and yelling in a most hideous manner But being not able to resist the valour of these two generous Lions the high Priest very cunningly told them they should get no honour by taking this young man from them in such a manner but if they desired to be victorious in a brave warfare they ought according to the custome of the Countrey to enter into combat with the wild beasts which guarded the forrest of the god The gallants who feared lest pressing any further they might stifle the little Iacinthus in their hands and having an ardent desire not to refuse any occasion which might honour their armes they freely accepted the conditions so that the battell with beasts was concluded on and deferred but till after Dinner It was an exercise so ordinary with this Nation that some were found who voluntarily sold themselves to give the people this contentment some others hastned thereunto thorough a furious ambition of glory not considering the danger The bruit thereof being spred abroad the Lists were encompassed with a great number of spectators who were infinitely delighted to behold the perill of those strangers in the safety of their owne persons The high Priest had his seat in a very eminent place and on the other side Hildegardis appeared among the Ladies as a rich Diamond amidst counterfeit stones Shee began from the first encounter to entertaine a great opinion of the worth of these two gallants But when she saw the braue Ischyrion to leape confidently into the List and to expect with a stable foot the dangers which others could not behold without trembling even then she felt most tender affections of his person and there were evidently observed during all this spectacle divers alterations of her countenance which one while took the scarlet tincture presently became pale and straight shee lifted up her eyes towards heaven in such manner that she felt a fierce combat in her selfe for him whom she had never known First of all a huge Beare was let loose who raising himselfe upon his feet made a shew hee would grapple with Ischyrion but the excellent Champion deelining the first seizure with a dexterous agility of body thought this beast being very weake about the head it were good to astonish him which he did when nimbly leaping on him and bestriding him as a horse hee gave him many blowes wherewith the Beare became so enraged that hee many times ran up and downe the Amphitheater as swift as a tempest whereupon loud out-cries were made on every side the gallant finding himselfe assured of his seat couragiously pursued the beast which utterly ashamed hastned to hide himselfe in a corner of the List no man being able to pricke him forward againe to undertake the like course An other beare was dispatched against Faustin whom he knocked downe with a clubbe hee held in his right hand a matter not difficult for his valour since many Beares haue beene heretofore killed with blowes of the fist by wrastlers in the Roman Amphitheater The high Priest extreamly offended cryed out a loud to the master of these Beasts to put out one of his fiercest Lions in the face of the Combatants which made Hildegardis waxe pale through feare she conceived therat This king of beasts shewed in the very beginning of the combat he had not much desire to assaile a man For he long time stood a good distance off with his eyes fixed on the ground so that needs must Ischyrion provoke him which he did throwing a little Iavelin at him to serve as an eatrance into this perillous Duel Then began hee to roare very loud and beating his sides with his taile ranne upon the gallant who offered a Iavelin at him which hee had in his hand but he avoiding the iron flew upon the wood which he rent and pulled in pieces with his teeth thundring out againe a hideous roare which cast astonishment among the spectators The valorous Ischyrion putting himselfe into a ready posture drew his sword out of the scabbard on which the beames of the Sun reflecting made a lustre to sparkle very lively into the eyes of his adversary which at that time began to amaze him and hee remembring hee had heard this beast bare part of his strength in his sight tooke a cloake which hee then had wreathed about his arme and unfolding it threw it very successefully upon the eyes of the Lion where with he found himselfe much disturbed so that watching his advantage hee transfixed his belly with his sword which made him fall downe rowling and tumbling in his owne gore Vpon this atchievement the clamours were redoubled thoroughout the Amphitheater some crying out with ioy and applause others for rage but the high Priest who at any price would have the life of these strangers very vchemently declared to the people They had killed the nurslings of god thorough a most insolent bravado and that if they instantly revenged not his quarrell nothing might bee expected all this whole yeere but dearths ruines and extreme desolations As for himselfe hee was satisfied with giuing them advice and that if these his counsels were not followed hee at least washed his hands from the pollution of sacred bloud vnworthily shed before their eyes It is a strange thing the motiues of superstition proceed to points of fury such as one would hardly imagine Wee know by the History of Diodorus that a furious sedition was raised in Egypt for the death of a Cat one of the Beasts sacred among those which these Idolaters adored and impossible it was otherwise to appease it then by the murther of a Roman Soldier who by chance gave the blow not thinking thereon Wherefore let no man esteeme it incredible if the people enflamed by the orations of the high Priest for the revenge of a Beare and a Lion sodainly raised so desperate a sedition that almost the whole Amphitheater fell upon the poore Gentlemen no man daring to afford them helpe and there is no doubt but they had been torne in peeces had not the high Priest who would husband his crimes and drinke vengeance in full draughts made
the furies of Hell both Priest altars and sacrifices to which shee had hitherto offered her service thorough a superstition which had therein as much infamy as credulity It was the time that all living creatures were involved in the veyle of night and charmed with the naturall sweetnesse of sleepe when the sad Hildegardis like a sick eie did nothing but watch weepe and tremble for her wel-beloved One while unable any longer to endure the disturbances of her bed as if it had beene the cause of her cares she walked up and downe her chamber like a ghost sometimes shee opened the window and seeing Heaven enameled with an infinite number of stars shee said to herselfe Amongst so many eyes which watch in this great Temple of God is there not some one that undertakes the commission of the events of the world which may command some ray to arise in the confusion of my affaires Then remembring within her selfe the contentment of her fathers house which she had tasted in her most innocent yeeres her taking away her fortune her imployment the tedious yeeres which saw her drenched in this miserable servitude she breathed foorth sighes and moystened her bosome with teares which seemed ought to be without measure as her evill was without remedy Sometime it came into her thoughts that perhaps some divine power had sent these two young gallants for her deliverance and that shee should not refuse the good fortune which now did as it were knocke at her dore then instantly shee smiled at her owne imagination and thorough an infinite care she had to preserve her virginity perpetually inviolable it seemed to her that her minde was too much employed on the image of her deare Ischyrion her young heart which had not learned to love any creature in this manner doubted her first flames and feared to trust her selfe with her owne secret Then she blamed her owne simplicity as too scrupulous being perswaded shee ought not to resist the inspiration of so holy an amity and that this fire was not unlike the rayes of the Sunne which enkindle the Phoenix his nest If in the agitation of her thoughts she strove to shut an eye her repose was presently assailed with affrightments and fantasies which figured unto her hideous images of her calamity sometimes shee thought she saw her best beloved cut in peeces in this most enormous sacrifice and that hee implored her aide with a dying voice One while she brake prison with him and found therein resistance that hindered her designes an other while shee ranne thorough frightfull forrests and wildernesses in the company of her Ischyrion another while she sayled vpon seas full of Monsters and Tempests and in an instant saw her selfe surprised by the high Priest who reproached her with ingratitude and infidelity His menacing countenance pursued her as a shadow of hell it shut her up in dungeons it put fetters on her feet and hands it in her opinion condemned her to dye in flames and to serue for a spectacle of terrour to all those who had adored her as a Divinity Amongst all these horrours shee had not any thought more sweet than death which shee began to reflect on with an amorous eye as the Haven of the perturbations of her minde She perswaded her selfe that who can no longer hope for ought should feare nothing and that the most undoubted remedy of all miseries was the extremity of those miseries which ended in the last period of their violence since the divine providence hath not made an immortall evill for things mortall So soone as shee saw the first rayes of day-light to breake forth she went to seeke out her faithfull Araspus who was at that time the only creature of the world into whose heart she might powre forth her thoughts with full security He was her foster father bred up formerly in her fathers house a man of extraction noble enough witty and couragious no whit degenerating from his Nobility Hee had ever bred the yong Mayd with unspeakable tendernesse and being in her company when she was surprized had put himselfe into defence and received some wounds which caused him stil to cary notable characters of his loyalty Afterwards hee being taken together with her by these theeves they seeing the childe was in danger of death if shee lost the company of this man thought it unfit to remove him from her And he being very discreet quickly got credit among the Barbarians mannaging with much dexterity the safety and repose of his Hildegardis untill such time as God sent some fayre occasion to worke her libertie Araspus then seeing her enter into his chamber well perceived she was not in any good tune and said unto her Daughter what brings you hither Hee who should behold your countenance would thinke your mind were full of discontent But she at that time laying aside all complements and thinking of nothing but to empty her heart of what surcharged it demaunded of him whither hee had thoroughly observed all that passed in the matter of these gallants and hee replying one must be without eyes if they were not open to behold so prodigious valour This word extremely pleased the faithfull Lover and gave her occasion to enlarge upon their praise with discourses superlative enough which she could not end but with compassion of their misery for she bitterly bewayled to see such eminent vertues under the knife of furies But Araspus seeking to comfort her and shewing that in a matter already passed we have no better remedy then forgetfulnesse and in case of impossibility no other power but the acknowledgement of our infirmities she wide opened her heart and said unto him Araspus you know you have beene obliged to all our family and by how many titles I may account you mine Needs must I confesse since my misfortune hath enthralled mee with captivity I have ever cast an eye on you as an Angel-guardian appointed by the gods for my safety I have made you the depository of all my crosses counsels all my thoughts and if in such confusion of affaires I have received any hope I no sooner felt it bud in my hart but have beene willing to make it bloome in your bosome You are not ignorant that since my captivity I have lived on gall and teares nor have found anything else then thornes in an age wherein Mayds of my condition use not to walke but on roses How often have you seene mee in the accesses of sorrow so violent as they were able to rend my soule foorth if my good Genius had not preserved it for a more prosperous fortune you used to tell mee I must bee patient and that a happy day would come which should breake my fetters and wipe away all my teares Now know my deare Araspus that day is come that if I once neglect my happinesse it will passe away nor ever shall I againe so much as touch the tips of its wings It is most undoubted that
one comming who opened a little window to give day-light to the darkenesse of the dungeon she much amazed to behold other countenances of men then such as shee had knowne plainly discovered them by their habits and fashions to be strangers They commanded her to follow them wherevpon she replyed Sirs whither will you lead mee and instantly shee understood shee was no longer to give answere to a company of Priests who had forsaken the place but before the throne of the prime Monarch of the world This newes made her conceive at first great hope of liberty imagining with her selfe she should plead her cause before a benigne Prince who would give sentence with all equity But hearing some to murmure round about her who spake what fame published that shee must bee burnt as a sorceresse and that it was she who had lent her hand to so many enormous sacrifices committed in this cursed place this greatly amazed her But forgetting her proper danger for the love shee bare to Ischyrion shee asked whither those gentlemen shut up in the next prison were already put to death or no to which it was answered they were alive and should bee sentenced with her and even at the same time they were taken out of prison to bee brought before the King who called for them and it happened they both met upon the way Verily this was a very heavy meeting for the noble Ischyrion perceiving his dearest Hildegardis led along enchayned and knowing shee had no other crime but for obliging him felt his heart so seized with griefe that he thought to yeeld up the ghost betweene the armes of Faustinus and Iacinthus who supported him although bound as well as they could So soone as he a little had recovered his spirits and got liberty of speech he cryed out What Madame am I then the instrument of your death There needs no question be asked whither I be criminall since I see my selfe defiled with bloud and am guilty of the murder of a person in whom nothing may bee desired but immortality Where shall I find limbs enow in my body to expiate such a guilt I from hencefoorth defie Wheeles Gibbets keene Razors and flames and if it bee true which is said that the burning pile is already prepared for us I will mount to the top of it without bands or fetters I wil first of all try the violence of the fire I wil render an honorable payment before the eyes of Heaven and earth I most faithfully promise when my soule shall bee separated from my body it shall every where waite on your most purified spirit as the shadow of it but if it must be condemned to darkenesse for eclipsing so divine a light I will onely begge of thee oh great intelligence that from the sphere of splendors due to thy merrit thou wilt some times deigne to send forth a ray of thy clemency to enlighten the dusky nights of my miseries and offences Hildegardis answered this speech with her weeping eyes the dart whereof was not so blunted by teares but that they made impression on the heart of her beloved and so much as her voyce might cleaue a sunder the sharpe sighes of her heart she said Sir accuse not your innocency but my unhappinesse which hath made mee become so unfortunate that even meere benefits have power enough to make mee criminall If death separate our lives at the least I am glad it may perhaps unite our ashes and that wee shall preserve the immortality of our affections in the immortality of our soules This pleasing spectacle softned the heart of the Commissary and guards that they almost forgat themselves so transported they were In the meane time Charlemagine sate on his Throne covered over with a faire pavillion and appeared on that day resplendent in the attires of a Maiestie absolutely Royall encompassed with his Nobility which afforded him the same lustre that leaves doe roses He caused Clodoaldus to bee placed in his Throne that hee might finde out his sonne if happily hee were yet among the prisoners As they were put forward to be presented before the King it hapned Iacinthus who was very carelesly bound for the assurance they had of his liberty seeing his father instantly brake his cords and ranne to leape about his necke in the presence of Charlemaigne and all this goodly company The father tenderly imbracing him said with a confused voice How my sonne What come you now out of your Tombe Ah my poore sonne How were you to your father when you left him in the Forrest to goe to the altar of Irminsul Tell me who hath raised you up againe The son on the other side beheld his father with admiration a blinde man become cleere sighted and said unto him Father who hath restored you your eyes There upon both stood seized with so inexplicable joy that they were unable to expresse the cause of their happinesse but that the father distilling some teares of gladnesse spake thus Oh my sonne It is a worke of God and then perceiving he had done an act of a man transported not considering hee was in the presence of a King hee hastned to prostrate himselfe at the feet of Charlemaigne saying Sir excuse the power of nature otherwise this childe is more yours then mine Then turning to Iacinthus Sonne draw neere and kisse the feet of the chiefe Monarch of the World to whom you owe your happinesse and mine His God hereafter shall be yours his Altars shall be your Altars and you shall have no other Religion with me then his Vpon which the childe making a most lowly obeysance cast himselfe on the earth and the King causing him to be lifted up againe tooke him by the hand and gave him to the Bishop to bee instructed in the faith This matter for a long time entertained the eyes of all the company with his happinesse and this novelty untill Hildegardis was brought forth to take her turne then was the time when all the World shewed it selfe to bee mooved with much curiosity to know who this virgin was and for what offence shee was fettered in the dungeon shee was of a goodly stature and had a body well proportioned in all the parts thereof the lineaments of her face very delicate her colour bright and lively port grave and which sufficiently declared her to bee borne of some noble family And though her countenance was then deiected her eyes dull her haire negligently discheveled and attire very plaine yet all this did much grace her for her beauty failed not to shine thorow so many obstacles as the Sunne in a winters day which is ever constantly the Sunne though the sharpenesse of the season robbe us of the vigour and lustre of his rayes The King at the beginning was amazed seeing such a creature reduced to this state and commanded her to draw neere vnto him which she did with an excellent grace when prostrating her selfe at
renewed by fire when all the elements shall be purified when this great house of nature going out from the last consumption by fire as from a furnace shall appeare more resplendent then ever to the eyes of it's workeman What a spectacle to behold the Saviour of the world so long expected to come upon the chariot of clouds accompanied with so many Saints and intelligences to command over the heads of Emperours who have persecuted his Saints in all the parts of the world What rejoycing of Angels what glory of bodies raised againe what City of peace what kingdomes of the Elect Then shal be the time when fathers mothers who haue had the happinesse to become of the number of the blessed shall embrace their Children so much desired and deplored not as this Clodoaldus to desire and bewaile them once more againe but to see them for ever triumphant over death in that glorious immortallity which shall cause all our torments to die to make all our glories survive Then shall be the time when chast lovers who have affected each other so entirely in conjugall amities and who were separated by deaths so dolorous that they as it were forced their eyes to dissolve with their hearts over the Tombes of their deare consorts shall recover their losses and shall behold those persons they so much esteemed encompassed round about with inestimable glory what embracements then what profusions of hearts what entertainments what discourses when all that which we shall see of the earth we being seated over those vast Temples of starres lights and intelligences shall seeme little and unworthy to possesse a heart made for eternity There it is great Countesse where I hope we shall behold that wel-beloved and so worthy to bee beloved sonne of yours there it is where we shall see that brave Duke of Frons sac issuing out out of his Tombe as out of the enkindled pile of the Phoenix out of a chariot of glory from an Altar of immortality The bloud of the most illustrious house of Orleans which ranne in his veines those rayes of Majesty which his celestiall spirit imprinted on his forehead that grace of speach which dwelt on his lips that valour which possessed his heart that piety which entertained all the powers of his soule all those gifts of God which waited on his person shall bee much fairer then ever since they shall never desist to be faire The mountaine of Gelboa hath taken away from us this Ionathas yet mortall and the mountaines of Sion will restore him us immortall Hee hath printed the earth with his courage and loyalty with the characters of his bloud voluntarily sacrificing himselfe for the glory of God the service of the King the repose of France in an age wherein the most deplored die but in a manner whereof none are fit to die but the most glorious At this great day he shall impresse on the firmament of lights which shall issue from his body the excellent beauties of his soule and shall appeare to our eyes more lustrous then the brightest of starres Lift up the eyes of hope and faith above all that is mortall to behold him now in this state of immortality Prevent your joyes by the stability of your beliefe Let weake mothers weepe who thinke they have enclosed in a Tombe all they possessed and confidently take palmes and lillies to crowne his image and honour his ashes oft-times repeating this noble saying which so worthily replenished your lips in the most vehement smarts of your wounds My God thou hast broken my fetters I wil sacrifice an hoast of praise unto thee Let us preserve our selves wholy pure for this great day Let us sigh after it in the fervour of so many miseries Let us anticipate its splendors amongst so much darkenesse Let us looke upon it thorough so many obstacles with an eye mingled with teares and love And that we may leave the mind satisfied in these discourses Take good Reader three notable instructions where in this whole History is concluded The first shal be upon the subject of these reacknowledgements and Christian accidents to adore the divine providence with a most humble reverence to be willing to depend on it in all the parts of our life to commit all the time to come thereof to it 's direction and to condemne the vanity of those who are ready to maintaine this History was an effect of the starres We have now a dayes in the World too many spirits ill rectified which make no scruple to impute these great vicissitudes to Heavenly constellations and to appoint the starres to be as the distributors of all the fortunes in the world These discourses were tollerable among Pagans borne with a yoake on their necks under the servitude of Divels But to see Christians dig into the sepulchres of Gentiles to draw from thence superstitions observations figments and Chimeraes how can this be tolerable to those who beare as much reverence towards Truth as they have otherwise prudence in their carriage It is not my purpose in this worke to combat long against such-like opinions I will not enlarge my selfe upon that Oracle of Ieremy which saith The faithfull are not to beleeve stars and signes of Heaven in that manner as Pagans doe as if they had any superiority over our lives and fortunes I will not cite the counsell of Braga nor Tolledo against the Priscillianists nor likewise borrow armes from the sixt homily of S. Basil upon Genesis nor from St. Chrysostome nor St. Gregory the great upon St. Mathew nor from Eusebius in the booke of preparation to the Gospel nor from an infinite number of others I onely say with St. Ambrose for instruction of those who shall vouchsafe to read these lines that the Astrologie of these ill composed spirits and the webbs of spiders are two things of like nature they are fit to entangle flies not soules well grounded in the sincerity of ancient beliefe They who undoubtedly promise themselves vain haps from their Horoscopes those who deceive them are so much unfurnished of reason as disposed to a coldnesse in Religion And of this there are cleere pertinent proofes For first of all those who deale with setting Horoscopes as much understand the great Oeconomy of Heaven and the pretended signification of so many stars as we know the Canadois since we find their most knowing masters are as it were involved in perpetuall contradictions not upon articles indifferent but things meerely essentiall upon principles as it appeareth by the writings of Ptolomy Albumazar Abenezra Cardan and others much later In such sort that these contradictions destroy all experience which notwithstanding is the onely foundation of judiciary Astrologie These great Temples of light are now reserved to God and Angels the soveraigne Creator hath spred over a Cypres of night and darknes to cast a veyle on our curiosity He who cannot perfectly know the slip of an hearbe nor
in the thing we love These poore soules naturally desirous of eternity tie themselves by love to many obiects to find out the contentment they pursue but as all creatures are necessitous they starve and deceive them teaching them in the end by their proper hunger and deceit that there is but one onely meanes to make them happy and eternall which is to enter into the heart and love of a Being supreame independent Notwithstanding God though inuisible traceth on the lights of the Heavens on the enamell of flowers on the christall of fountaines and upon so many other creatures Beauties and Vertues which are visible characters of his divinity and if we learne to use holy the blessings he powreth upon essence created to apply them wholy to the essence increate wee very soone shall arrive to the perfection of love But in stead of following these pathes which the Saints tracked out unto us the most part of men brutish of sence and benummed in Reason shut up the maiesty of love in a caytive and miserable passion wherein they commit as great a crime as those Egyptian Idolaters who lodged their Divinities in the bodies of Rats and reremice The loue which now adayes beares sway in the world with so much fury is the house of stormes a sweet poyson a golden snare a pleasing cut-throat an ungoverned feaver a perpetuall folly A vertigo a losse of wit which having rendered man unprofitable to all things maketh him unable for love it selfe It entreth into the heart as the Indian Rat into the belly of the Crocodile where after it hath left impressions of qualities most maligne and infectious it parcheth up all the flowers of it it vilifieth all that which is generous and perverteth what is Religious What man is there who as yet having some little wisedome and understanding would make himselfe a slave to such a passion to deliver his soule over to sinne his body to infection his reputation to opprobry and his life to a perpetuall bondage If we must love as one cannot live without it let us goe to this chaste loue the altar whereof alwayes pure ever burning is supported by foure Columns which are Intention Discretion Faith and Patience Intention that one may love to the honour of God and have an object wherein vertue may be exercised Discretion that amities may be guided and contained in duty and decorum Faith that promises may be kept secrets and rights of amity inviolably observed Patience that one may constantly persevere in loving notwithstanding all oppositions which may interpose to dissolve this vnion But when shall we finde these qualities in the amities of the world Is not intention effeminate and mercenary discretion inconsiderate fidelity most unconstant patience uncertaine There needeth but one word ill understood but a cold countenance but an ill tale but a bad interest to breake amities that were thought most strong wherein they plainly shew themselves to have been never what they professe since they so soone desist to be what they protested If we speake of amities between sexe and sexe and that in those we observe any to be most pure and ardent as some such may be found they are Angels which exeecise it in mortall flesh and howsoever the matter goes the approaches unto them are ever fearefull since vertues themselves as said St. Austine cannot be loved without danger The ancients beleeved women by their conversation had transformed their gods into beasts to teach us men might therein become something worse and that there was not any sanctity so strong which had not ever in these amities a slippery foot if it tooke not the feare of God and discretion for companions If we consider the amities of youth among the same sexe they are for the most part inconstant inconsiderate without weight without reason without measure They often begin by chance proceed upon slights and shiftings and conclude upon neglect If they be amities of men tied to estates fortunes and conditions of the world they all reflect upon their owne interests and have not that spirit of community which is the soule of good will Finally all worldly loves resemble the statue of the god Moloch which had outwardly goodly semblances and inwardly emptinesse and flames how pleasing and gentile soever they seeme exteriorly they are hollow within they are burning troublesome and having possessed a heart leave it nothing but smoake and barke Let us then learne the love of God and in God and for God deriving our affections from Heaven and perpetually making them reascend to their source In the end for a third consideration strive by imitation of our great Charles to destroy Idols not of Temples but of hearts to render that glory to the true God which creatures usurpe by defiling with such basenesse that which they stole away with so unbounded arrogance That grosse Idolatry which set gods on altars which wee now would take for Monsters is no longer in vogue of this world wherein wee live but another is slipt into the place thereof much more subtile and spirituall which maketh men and women who live in some eminence of greatnesse to adore riches beauty and other gifts much esteemed by the world All is ful of idolaters in the secular life all is replenished with flatterers who reverence the fortune of great ones and speake of them in so bold tearmes that after they have left shame they put themselves in hazard to loose Religion A Lord or Lady is not now adayes praysed if we say not It is a creature to be adored It is a Divinity sent on earth to make it selfe knowne and beloved in mortall members that its spirit begins where that of the most supreame intelligencies ends that it is the prime of faces so renowned amongst the Hebrews That it hath nothing common with others but birth and death That there needs the life of a Phoenix to make up such another master-peece and such like vaine complements intollerable even to those who are most greedy of applauses Is it not to fill the world with idols thus to proceed and to make cannonizations grounded upon Capritches of a giddy spirit who desire to make the dreams of lovers to passe into Maximes of verity Let us learne to looke on all the greatnesses of the world as things mortall and on all these images of vanity as gliding shadowes which have nothing solid in them Let us looke on them as eggs which make a faire shew outwardly but have oft-times an Aspicke within Let us looke on them as enchanted apples which invite all the world to taste and poyson all that eate them Let us look on them as those pieces of Tapistry which on the best side shew countreys and people and on the backe side seames stitches knots and vgly shapes When we see some prosperity which smileth on us let us think it resembles those Indian reeds which grow not without knots and windings If we behold some good in the creature let us presently lift up our eies to the Creator and give thanks to this spirit of lights this most pure Act this intelligible sphere fountain of Idaeas source of Essences the chiefe of beauties to whom I consecrate my heart and pen in this little peece beseeching him to continue his blessings over my designes and workes * ⎠* FINIS Divers conditions of men The foundation of this History Sap. 4. The originall of Idolatry Cyril lib. 1. conâ—ra Iulian Didymus lib. Exegeseon S. Hierome in Epistol ad Titum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ammonius in antiquis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fâ— Taranis Scythicae non mitiorara Dianae Hunting of Clodoaldus in the Grove of Jrminsul â—ad meetâ—â—g Combat of pâ—etie betweenâ— the father anâ— sonne Tyranny of superstition Condition of vowed Whether the daughter of Iephte were sacrificed Arrivall of certaine Gentlemen for the deliverance of Iacinthus An accident of a prisoner Preparation for sacrifice Iaâ—inthus taken away The taking of the gentlemen Diodor. â— 4. An honourâ—ble passion â—â— Hildegardis Concharum 〈◊〉 semata Diversitie of Loves Proceeding of spirituall amities Divers agitations of mind in Hildegardis Hildegardis discovered her purpose to foster-Father Araspus â—nswer of Araspus Sticking passions Proper iudgment to be feared in Devotion Prudence of Araspus Power of women Hildegardis visiteth the prisoners Hildegardis betrayed What worldly amities are Amity in what sexe most constant Plin l. 7. c. 〈◊〉 velocitas cogitâ—â—tionum animi celeritas et inâ—â—nij vaâ—ietas muâ—tiformes notas imprimit â—apere et amare â—ix Deo concediâ—r Publ. Syrus â—urprise of Hildegardis Passions of the high Priest Quicquid in faeminam committitur si virgo fuerit dupliciter componatur Iu cod legum anliauarum Beauty persecuted Non punitur fectus si non sequatur effectuâ— Hildegardis prâ—â—ueth her virginity Robert Archbishop oâ— Canterbury saitâ— the Saxons called this triall in their language Ordâ—leum Triall by fire what it is Baron â—â—â— 998. Otho 3. Mary of Arragon Revolution of affaires Chances from whence they come S. Thomas q. 117 Gulieâ—â—s Paris r. part de â—niuers part 30. c. 24. Greatnesse of France In Panigir Maxâ—â—â—iani Vertues of Charlemaigne Warre of the Saxons The Castle of Irminsul rendered Clodoaldus prostrated to Charlemaigne Gods of the Saxons Sorrow of Hildegardis The meeting of Hildegardis and ischyrion Iudgment of Charlemaigne Iacintbus delivered Description of Hildegardis Her speech to the King Ischyrions gratitude True lawes of Amity The conclusion and instructions of the History To the Lady Countesse of S. PAVL Horoscopes A signiâ— Coeâ—i nâ—liâ—e timere quae timent gentes Hier. 10. 2. Concil Braccarense 1 Tolat 〈◊〉 Chryst et Greg. in Math c. 2. Ambr. Hex l. 4. c. 4. Sapientia Chaldâ—â—oâ—um Tela araneae in quam si cuâ—ex inciderit exvere se non potest Gene. 49. v. 6 Secundum Hebr. Tertul. de resur Carnis Iugenij divini cura magna molitionis Regina Christi Sorâ—â— Cael. Rod. Nicatas Cardan Augustin de doctrina Christiana Nugatoria et noxia superstitio ex quadam pestifera societate hominum et daemonum Instruction concerning amitie