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 resign'd up all to him and lived a private life many years after 3. When the Emperour 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 and 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 enquiring which of the Brethren was the eldest there arose a vehement and earnest contention betwixt 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 prevailed with her Son Dyetentus that he would permit his younger Brother to dye in his stead as hoping that by him she might most probably be sustain'd 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 by some called Clitatus 4. Darius King of the Persians extremely provoked by crimes of an extraordinary nature had pronounced a sentence of death upon Ithaphernes his Children and the whole Family of them at once The wife of Ithaphernes went to the Kings Palace and there all in tears was so loud in her mournfull lamentations that her cryes 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 replyed that since her Father was dead she could never hope for a brother more if she should loose 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 himself repleat with brotherly love as well as prudence he gave her also the life of her eldest Son 5. Bernardus Iustitianus the Venetian had three Sons who the Father being dead were educated by the Mother so great and mutual a love there was betwixt these three that there was nothing more admirable in the City nor more frequently discoursed of Laurentius was one of these and although he had put himself into a Monastery yet this different choice of life hindred nothing of the true affection between them But though Marcus was an eminent Senator and Leonardus an excellent Orator and of singular skill in the Latine and Greek learning yet both went almost daily to the Monastery to dine and sup with their Brother 6. In the division of the Norman Empire Robert promised to his Brother Roger the half of Calabria and all Sicily but when it came to sharing and dividing Robert would give him nothing in Calabria but Meto and Squillacci and bad him to purchase the Realm which he already began to possess meaning Sicily and in the end resolved as Artaxander wrote to Darius that as the world could not endure two Suns so one Realm could not endure two Soveraign Lords Roger being much displeased herewith made war upon him and after many adventures having taken him prisoner in a Castle where Robert was unwisely entred in the habit of a Peasant with a purpose to bring it to his own devotion Roger of a Brotherly love and pity not only saved his life but also restored him to his estate which by right of war and being Prisoner he had lost 7. Anno 1585. The Portugal Ship called S. Iago was cast away upon the Shallows near to S. Lawrence and towards the Coast of Mosambique here it was that divers persons had leapt into the great Boat to save their lives and finding that it was over burthened they chose a Captain whom they swore to obey who caused them to cast lots and such as the lot light upon to be cast over board There was one of those that in Portugal are called new Christians he being allotted to be cast over board into the Sea had a younger Brother in the same Boat that suddenly rose up and desired the Captain that he would pardon and make free his Brother and let him supply his place Saying My Brother is elder and of better knowledge in the world than I therefore more fit to live in the world and to help my Sisters and Friends in their need so that I had rather dye for him than live without him At which request they remitted the elder Brother and threw the younger at his own request into the Sea who swum at least six hours after the Boat And although they held up their hands with naked Swords willing him that he should not once come to touch the Boat yet laying hold thereon and having his hand half cut in two he would not let go so that in the end they were constrained to take him in again Both these Brethren I knew and have been in company with them 8. Titus Vespasian the Emperour bare such a brotherly Love towards Domitian that although he knew he spake irreverently of him and that he had sollicited the Army to rebel against him yet he never treated him with the less love or respect for all this nor would endure that others should but called him his Copartner and successor in the Empire sometimes when they were alone together he besought him not only with earnest entreaties but with tears too that he would bear the same fraternal love towards him as he should ever find from him 9. Heliodorus the Britain had afterwards 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 a hunting he accidently met with his Brother Archigallus in the Wood whose altered Visage and ragged Cloaths 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 embraced 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 his Realm by his last
wealth as of the burthen he had in a Daughter ripe for marriage and willing enough but blemished with many deformities She was saith the History but half a woman a body mishapen limping and blear-eyed a Face disfigured and besides she had the Falling-sickness with horrible Convulsions Nevertheless this noble heart said unto him trouble not your self about the marriage of your Daughter for I will be her Husband The other astonished at such goodness God forbid said he that I should lay such a burden upon you No no replyed the other she shall be mine And instantly he married her making great Feasts at the Nuptials being married he honoureth her with much regard and makes it his Glory to shew her in the best company as a Trophy of his Friendship In the end she brought him a Son who restored his Grandfather to his Estate and was the honour of his Family 2. At Rome saith Camerarius there are to be be seen these Verses engraven about an Urn. D. D. S. Vrna brevis geminum quamvis tenet ista cadaver Attamen in Coelo spiritus unus adest Viximus unanimes Luciusque Flavius idem Sensus amor studium vita duobus erat Though both our ashes this Vrn doth enclose Yet as one Soul in Heaven we repose Lucius and Flavius living were one mind One will love and to one course enclin'd 3. Damon and Pythias two Pythagorean Philosophers had betwixt them so firm a friendship that when Dionysius the Tyrant of Syracuse had resolv'd the death of one of them and that he only besought he might have liberty first to go home and set his affairs in order the other doubted not to be surety in the mean time to the Tyrant for his return The Tyrant granted it intent upon what this new and strange action would come to in the event a day had passed and he came not then all began to condemn the rashness of the surety but he told them he doubted not of the constancy of his Friend At the same hour as was agreed with Dionysius came he that was condemned thereby freeing the other The Tyrant admiring the courage and fidelity of them both remitted the punishment and entreated that he himself might be admitted as a third person into the society of â—o admirable a Friendship 4. Pylades and Orestes were famous of old for their friendship Orestes being very desirous to ease himself of that grief which he had conceived for the death of his Motherâ— consulted the Oracle and understood thereby that he should forthwith take the way to the Temple of Diana in the Country of Taurica thither he went in the company of Pylades his friend Now it was the cruel custom of Thoas the then King of that Country to put to death every Tenth Stranger that came into his Dominions This unfortunate Lot fell upon Orestes the King at last asked which was that Orestes Pylades readily stepped forth and told him he was the man who had that name Orestes denyed it he again affirm'd so that the King was in doubt which of them he should kill 5. Eudamidas the Corinthian had Aretaeâ—s the Corinthian and Charixenus the Sycionian for his friends they were both rich whereas he was exceeding poor he departing this life left a will ridiculous perhaps to some wherein was thus written I give and bequeath to Aretaeus my Mother to be kept and foster'd in her Old Age as also my Daughter to Charixenus to be married with a Dowry as great as he can afferd but if any thing in the mean time fall out to any of these men my Will is that the other shall perform that which he should have done had he lived This Testament being read they who knew the poverty of Eudamidas but not his friendship with these men accounted of it all as mere jest and sport no man that was present but departed laughing at the Legacies which Aretaeus and Charixenus were to receive But those whose the Bequests were as soon as they heard of it came forthwith acknowledging and ratifying what was commanded in the Will Charixenus died within five days after Aretaeus his excellent Successor took upon him borh the one and the others charge kept the Mother of Eudamidas and soon as might be disposed of his Daughter in marriage of five Talents which his estate amounted to two of them he gave in Dowry with his own Daughter and two more with the Daughter of his Friend and would needs have their Nuptials solemnized in one and the same day 6. Alexander the Great was so true a Lover of Ephestion that in his life time he had him always near him made him acquainted with the nearest and weightiest of his secrets and when he was dead bewailed him with inconsolable tears he hanged up Glaucus his Physician for being absent when he took that which hastened his end In token of heavy Mourning he caused the Battlements of City Walls to be pulled down and the Manes of Mules and Horses to be cut off he bestowed ten thousand Talents upon his Funerals and that he might not want Attendants to wait upon him in the other world he caused some thousands of men to be slain even the whole Cussean Nation at once 7. Pelopidas and Epaminondas were singularly noted and commended for the perfect love and friendship that was ever inviolably kept betwixt them to the day of their deaths They went both together to Mantinea in assistance of the Lacedemonians then in league with the Thebans their place in Battel fell near together for they were appointed to oppose the Arcadians and to fight on foot It fell out that the Spartan wing wherein they were was enforced to retreat and some â—led outright but those two gallant young spirits were resolved to prefer death before slight and so standing close together with great courage they sustained the many enemies that came upon them till such time as Pelopidas having received seven dangerous wounds fell upon a heap of dead bodies Here it was that the brave Epaminondas though he thought he was slain stept before him defended his body and armour with invincible courage and resolution at last he was thrust through the Breast with a Pike and receiving a deep wound with a Sword on his Arm he was ready to sink when Agesipolis King of Sparta came in with the other wing and saved the lives of these incomparable friends 8. Lucilius was one of the friends of Brutus and a good man he when Brutus was overthrown at Philippi perceiving a Troop of the Barbarians careless in the pursuit of others but with loose Reins following hard after Brutus resolved to take off their eagerness with the hazard of his own life and being left somewhat behind he told them that he was Brutus They gave the more credit to him because he desired to be presented to Anthony as if he feared Caesar and reposed some confidence in the other They glad of
very time he was carried out in a Cart towards the gate all covered with dung The man overcome with these entreaties of his friend â—mmediately runs out to the gate where he finds the Cart he had seen in his dream he seiâ—es and searches it finds there the body of his friend and drags the Inn-keeper to his deserved punishment 23. Upon a Sally made upon some of the Forces of Alexander the Great out of Harmata a City of the Brachmans many of his Souldiers were wounded with empoysoned Darts and as well those that were lightly as those that were deeper wounded daily perished Amongst the wounded was Ptolomy a great Captain and exceeding dear to Alexander when therefore in the night he had been solicitous about his welfare as one whom he tenderly loved he seemed in his sleep to see a Dragon holding a certain herb in his mouth and withal informing him both of the virtue it had and of the place where it grew He rises finds the herb bruises it and applies it to Ptolomy's Wound and by this means that great Ancestor of the Royal Family in Egypt was speedily restored 24. A rich Vessel of Gold being stolen out of the Temple of Hercules Sophocles by a Genius was shewed the resemblance and name of the Thief in his sleep which for the first and second time he neglected but being troubled a third night he went to the Areopagi to whom he made relation of what had passed They upon no other evidence summoned the party before them who after strict examination confessed the fact and made restitution of the Vessel For which discovery the Temple was ever after called Templum Herculis Indicis The Temple of Hercules the Discoverer 25. When Marcus Cicero was forced into Exile by an opposite Faction while he abode at a Village in the fields of Atinas in his sleep he thought that while he wandred through desert places and unknown Countries he met with C. Marius in all his Consular Ornaments and that he asked him wherefore his countenance was so sad and whither he intended that uncertain journey of his And when he had told him of his misfortune he took him by the right hand and gave him to the next Lictor with command to lead him into his Monument in as much as there was reserved for him a more happy Fortune and change of his condition Nor did it otherwise come to pass For in the Temple of Iupiter erected by Marius there it was that the Senate passed the Decree for the return of Cicero from his Exile 26. In the year of our Redemption 1553. Nicholas Wotton Dean of Canterbury being then Embassador in France dreamed that his Nephew Thomas Wotton was inclined to be a party in such a project as if he were not suddenly prevented would turn to the loss of his life and ruine of his family The night following he dreamed the same again and knowing that it had no dependence upon his waking thoughts much less on the desires of his heart he did then more seriously consider it and resolved to use so prudent a remedy by way of prevention as might introduce no great inconvenience to either party And to this end he wrote to the Queen it was Queen Mary and besought her that she would cause his Nephew Thomas Wotton to be sent for out of Kent and that the Lords of her Council might interrogate him in some such feigned questions as might give a colour for his Commitment into a favourable Prison declaring that he would acquaint Her Majesty with the true reason of his request when he should next become so happy as to see and speak with Her Majesty It was done as the Dean desired and Mr. Wotton sent to Prison At this time a Marriage was concluded betwixt our Queen Mary and Philip King of Spain which divers persons did not only declare against but raised Forces to oppose of this number Sir Thomas Wyat of Bexley Abbey in Kent betwixt whose Family and that of the Wottons there had been an ancient and entire friendship was the principal Actor who having perswaded many of the Nobility and Gentry especially of Kent to side with him and being defeated and taken Prisoner was arraigned condemned and lost his life so did the Duke of Suffolk and divers others especially many of the Gentry of Kent who were then in several places executed as Wyats assistants And of this number in all probability had Mr. Wotton been if he had not been confined For though he was not ignorant that another mans treason is made mine by concealing it yet he durst confess to his Uncle when he returned into England and came to visit him in Prison that he had more than an intimation of Wyats intentions and thought he had not continued actually innocent if his Uncle had not so happily dreamed him into a Prison 27. This forementioned Thomas Wotton also a little before his death dreamed that the University Treasury was rob'd by Townsmen and poor Scholars and that the number was five and being that day to write to his Son Henry at Oxford he thought it was worth so much pains as by a Postcript in his Letter to make a slight inquiry of it The Letter which was writ out of Kent came to his Sons hands the very morning after the night in which the robbery was committed and when the City and University were both in a perplexed inquest after the Thieves then did Sir Henry Wotton shew his Fathers Letter and by it such light was given of this work of darkness that the five guilty persons were presently discovered and apprehended without putting the University to so much trouble as the casting of a figure 28. Aristotle writeth of one Eudemus his familiar Friend who travelling to Macedonia came to the noble City of Phaecas in Thessaly then groaning under the immanity of the barbarous Tyrant Alexander In which place falling sick and being forsaken of all the Physicians as one desperate of recovery he thought he saw a young man in his dream who told him that in a short space he should be restored to his health that within a few days the Tyrant should be removed by death and that at the end of five years he himself should return home into his Country The two first happened accordingly but in the fifth year when encouraged by his dream he had hope to return from Sicily into Cyprus he was engaged by the way in a Battel fought against the Syracusans and there slain It seems the soul parting from the body is said to return into its own Country 29. Actia the Mother of Augustus the day before she was delivered of him dreamed that her bowels were carried up as high as Heaven it self and that there they were spread out in such manner that they covered the whole Earth a notable presignification of the mighty Empire and Grandeur which her Son afterwards attained unto 30. When Themistocles lived
how they have been rewarded 119 Chap. 17. Of the envious Nature and Disposition of some men 120 Chap. 18. Of Modesty and the Shame-faced Nature of some men and women 122 Chap. 19. Of Impudence and the shameless Behaviour of divers persons 124 Chap. 20. Of Iealousie and how strangely some have been affected with it 125 Chap. 21. Of the Commiseration Pity and Compassion of some men to others in time of their Adversity 127 Chap. 22. Of the deep Dissimulation and Hypocrisie of some men 128 The THIRD BOOK CHap. 1. Of the early appearance of Virtue Learning Greatness of Spirit and Subtlety in some Young Persons 130 Chap. 2. Of such as having been extream Wild and Prodigal or Debauched in their Youth have afterwards proved excellent Persons 132 Chap. 3. Of Punctual Observations in Matters of Religion and the great regard some men have had to it 134 Chap. 4. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood 137 Chap. 5. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace 139 Chap. 6. Of the signal Love that some men have shewed to their Country 140 Chap. 7. Of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives 142 Chap. 8. Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands 144 Chap. 9. Of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children 147 Chap. 10. Of the Reverence and Piety of some Children to their Parents 149 Chap. 11. Of the singular Love of some Brethren to each other 152 Chap. 12. Of the singular Love of some Servants to their Masters 154 Chap. 13. Of the Faithfulness of some men to their Engagement and Trust reposed in them 157 Chap. 14. Of the exact Obedience which some have yielded to their Superiours 159 Chap. 15. Of the Generosity of some Persons and the Noble Actions by them performed 161 Chap. 16. Of the Frugality and Thriftiness of some men in their Apparel Furniture and other things 164 Chap. 17. Of the Hospitality of some men and their free Entertainment of Strangers 165 Chap. 18. Of the blameless and innocent Life of some Persons 167 Chap. 19. Of the choicest Instances of the most intire Friendship 168 Chap. 20. Of the Grateful Disposition of some Persons and what returns they have made of Benefits received 171 Chap. 21. Of the Meekness Humanity Clemency and Mercy of some men 174 Chap. 22. Of the light and gentle Revenges some have taken upon others 177 Chap 23. Of the Sobriety and Temperance of some men in their Meat and Drink and other things 179 Chap. 24. Of the Affability and Humility of divers Great Persons 181 Chap. 25. Of Counsel and the Wisdom of some men therein 182 Chap. 26 Of the Subtilty and Prudence of some men in the Investigation and discovery of things and their Determinations about them 184 Chap. 27. Of the Liberal and Bountiful Disposition of divers Great Persons 186 Chap. 28. Of the Pious Works and Charitable Gifts of some men 189 Chap. 28. Of such as were Lovers of Iustice and Impartial Administrators of it 192 Chap. 30. Of such Persons as were Illustrious for their singular Chastity both Men and Women 195 Chap. 31. Of Patience and what power some men have had over their Passions 199 Chap. 32. Of such as have well deported themselves in their Adversity or been improved thereby 200 Chap. 33. Of the willingness of some men to forgive Injuries received 201 Chap. 34. Of such as have patiently taken free Speeches and Reprehensions from their Inferiors 203 Chap. 35. Of the incredible strength of Mind wherewith some Persons have supported themselves in the midst of Torments and other Hardship 205 Chap. 36. Of the Fortitude and Personal Valour of some famous Men. 207 Chap. 37. Of the fearless Boldness of some Men and their desperate Resolutions 210 Chap. 38. Of the immoveable Constancy of some Persons 213 Chap. 39. Of the great Confidence of some Men in themselves 214 Chap. 40. Of the great reverence shewed to Learning and Learned Men. 216 Chap. 41. Of the exceeding intentness of some Men upon their Meditations and Studies 218 Chap. 42. Of such Persons as were of choice Learning and singular Skill in the Tongues Chap. 43. Of the first Authors of divers famous Inventions 222 Chap. 44. Of the admirable Works of some curious Artists 224. Chap. 45. Of the Industry and Pains of some Men and their hatred of Idleness 229 Chap. 46. Of the Dexterity of some men in the instruction of several Crâ—atures 230 Chap. 47. Of the Taciturnity and Secrecy of some men instrusted with privacies 232 Chap. 48. Of such who in their raised Fortunes have been mindful of their low beginnings 233 Chap. 49. Of such as have despised Riches and of the laudable poverty of some illustrious persons 234 Chap. 50. Of such Persons as have preferred Death before the loss of thâ—ir Liberty and what some have endured in the preservation of it 237 Chap. 51. Of such as in highest Fortunes have been mindful of humane frailty 238 Chap. 52. Of such as were of unusual Fortune and Felicity 239 Chap. 53. Of the Gallantry wherewith some Persons have received death or the message of it 241 The FOURTH BOOK CHap. 1. Of Atheists and such as have made no account of Religion with their Sacrilegious actions and the punishments thereof 361 Chap. 2. Of such as were exceeding hopeful in youth but afterwards improved to the worse 363 Chap. 3. Of the rigorous Severity of some Parents to their Children and how unnatural others have shewed themselves towards them 364 Chap. 4. Of the degenerate Sons of illustrious Parents 366 Chap. 5. Of undutiful and unnatural Children to their Parents 368 Chap. 6. Of the Affectation of divine Honours and the desire of some men te be reputed Gods 370 Chap. 7. Of unnatural Husbands to their Wives 372 Chap. 8. Of such Wives as were unnatural to their Husbands or evil deported towards them 373 Chap. 9. Of the deep hatred some have conceived against their own Brethren and the unnatural actions of Brothers and Sisters 374 Chap. 10. Of the Barbarous and Savage Cruelty of some men 376 Chap. 11. Of the bitter Revenges that some men have taken upon their enemies 379 Chap. 12. Of the great and grievous oppressions and unmercifulness of some men and their punishments 382 Chap. 13. Of the bloody and cruel Massacres in several places and their occasions 384 Chap. 13. Of the excessive Prodigality of some Persons 385 Chap. 14. Of the Prodigious Luxury of some men in their Feasting 387 Chap. 15. Of the Voraciousness of some great Eaters and the Swallowers of Stones c. 390 Chap. 16. Of great Drinkers and what great quantities they have swallowed 391 Chap. 17. Of Drunkenness and what hath befallen some men in theirs 393 Chap. 18. Of the Luxury and Expence of some Persons in Apparel and their Variety therein and in their other Furniture 395 Chap. 19. Of Gaming
somewhat black and that of his left was grey 9. Olo the Son of Syward King of Norway by the Sister of Harold King of the Danes had so truculent an Aspect that what others did with Weapons that did he with his Eye upon his Enemies frighting the most valiant amongst them with the brandishes of his Eye 10. Apollonides tells that in Scythia there are a sort of Women which are call'd Bythiae that these have two sights in each Eye and that with the Eye they kill as many as they look upon when they are throughly angry 11. Theodorus Beza as was observ'd in him by those of his Family had Eyes of such a brightness that in the night time when it was dark they sent out such a light as form'd an outward Circle of it about the rounds of his Eyes 12. Mamertinus in his Panegyrick Orations saith thus of Iulian the Emperour while he warr'd upon the Barbarians Old men saith he have seen the Emperour not without astonishment pass a long life under the weight of Arms they have beheld large and frequent sweats trickle from his gallant Neck and in the midst of that horror of dust which had loaded both his Hair and Beard they saw his Eyes shining with a Star-like light 13. The Soldiers of Aquileia by a private sally set upon Attila being at that time attended with a small company they knew not then that Attila was there but they afterwards confess'd that nothing was so great a terrour to them as those fiery sparkles that seemed to break from his Eyes when he look'd upon them in the fury of the sight 14. It may seem incredible that there should be found a Nation that are born with one Eye alone And yet St. Augustine seems not to doubt of it but saith That he himself did behold such persons I was now saith he Bishop of Hippo when accompanied with certain of the Servants of Christ I went as far as Aethiopia that I might preach the holy Gospel of Christ to that people and in the lower parts of Aethiopia we saw men that had but one Eye and that placed in the midst of their Foreheads 15. Iulio de Este bad such a peculiar sweetness and alluring force in his Eyes that Cardinal Hypolito de Este his own Brother caused them to be put out because he had observed that they had been overpleasing to his Mistress 16. Maximus the Sophist a great Magician and of whom it was that Iulian the Emperour learn'd Magick at Ephesus Of this man it is reported that the Apples of his Eyes were voluble and turning and the vigor and agility of his swift and ready wit did seem to shine out of his Eyes whether he was seen or heard both ways he strangely affected such as had conversation with him while they were neither able to bear the sparkling motion of his Eyes nor the course and torrrent of his Speech so that even amongst eloquent persons and such as were improv'd by long practice and experience there was not one found that did dare to oppose him when he had conference with any of them 17. Edward the First King of England is describ'd by Polydor Virgil to be a Prince of a beautiful countenance his Eyes were inclining to black which when he was inflamed with anger would appear of a reddish colour and sparks of fire seemed to fly out of them CHAP. XVII Of the Face and Visage and admirable Beauty plac'd therein both in Men and Women THe Ancieâ—ts were so great admirers of Beauty that whereas Gorgon had such a loveliness imprinted upon her Face that she ravish'd the Eyes of her Spectators with it and made them stand as men amazed and astonished They hereupon fain'd in their Fable that she convertted Men into Stone with the sight of her The barbarous Nations had also such veneration for it that they thought no Man capable of any extraordinary action unless his person was thus digniâ—ied by Nature And further the accidental meeting of a beautiful person was held as a special passage of some future good whereas the sight of one deformed was reputed a most unlucky Omen Thus Beauty hath found its favourers amongst all sorts of persons it hath done so too in all places not excepting such as are the very Theatre of Blood and Death For 1. Parthenopaeus one of the seven Princes of the Argives was so exceeding beautiful that when he was in Battel if his Helmet was up no man would offer to hurt him or to strike at him 2. Tenidates the Eunuch was the most beautiful of all the Youth in Asia when Artaxerxes King of Persia heard that he was dead he commanded by his Edict that all Asia should mourn for him and he himself was difficultly comforted for his death 3. Antinous of Claudiopolis in Bythinia was a young Man exâ—eedingly dâ—ar to Adrian the Emperour for the perfection of his Beauty so that when he was dead the Emperour in honour of him built a Temple at Mantinea and another at Ierusalem he also built a City near the River Nilus and call'd it by his name he caus'd his Coyn too to be stamp'd with his Essigies 4. Alcibiades the Athenian was a person of incomparable Beauty and which is remarkable the loveliness of his form continued constant to him both in his Youth Manhood and Age It seldom falls out that the Autumn of a Man should remain â—lourishing as his Spring a thing which was peculiar to him with few others through the excellent temper of his constitution 5. Xerxes Army which he lead to Thermopylae against the Grecians is computed by Herodotus to amount to the number of five hundred twenty eight Myriad three thousand and twenty eight fighting men amongst all which almost incredible number of Mortals there was none found who could compare with Xerxes himself for extraordinary handsomeness in person or elevated Stature of Body nor any who in respect of Majestick port and meen seemed more worthy of that command than he 6. Dometrius Poliorcetes Son of Antigonus King of Asia was tall of Stature and of that excellent and wonderful Beauty in his Face that no Painter or Sratuary was able to express the singugar Graces of it there was Beauty and Gravity Terror And amiableness so intermingled a young and fierce Aspect was so happily confounded with an almost invincible heroick and kingly Majesty that he was the admiration of all strangers and was followed wheresoever he went on purpose to behold 7. Maximinus the younger was a most beautiful Prince In the Letter of Maximinus the Father to the Senate concerning him is thus written I have suffered my Son Maximinus to be saluted Emperour as in respect of the natural affection I bear him So also that the people of Rome and the Honourable Senate may swear they never had a more beautiful Emperour His Face had such Beauty in it that when it
County of Warwick Esquire He liv'd with the said Mary in one house full fifty two years and in all that time never buried Man Woman nor Child though they were sometimes twenty in houshold He had Issue by the said Mary five Sons and seven Daughters The said John was Mayor of the Town 1559. And again Anno 1572. The said Mary liv'd to ninety seven years and departed the eight of December 1611. She did see before her departure of her Children and Childrens Children and their Children to the number of one hundred forty and two 20. In St. Innocents Church-yard in the City of Paris is to be seen the Epitaph of Yoland Baily Widow to Mounsieur Dennis Capel a Proctour at the Chastelet which doth shew that she had lived eighty four years and might have seen 288. Verstegan saith 295 of her Children and Childrens Children she dy'd the seventeenth of April 1514. Imagine how she had been troubled to call them by a proper denomination that were distant from her in the fourth and fifth degree 21. In Markshal Church in Essex on Mrs. Honywoods Tomb is this Inscription Here lyeth the body of Mary Waters the Daughter and coheir af Robert Waters of Lenham in Kent Esquire wife of Robert Honywood of Charing in Kent Esquire her only Husband who had at her decease lawfully descended from her 367. sixteen of her own body 114 Grand-children 228. in the third Generation and nine in the fourth She liv'd a most pious life and in a Christian manner dyed here at Markshal in the ninety third year of her age and in the forty fourth of her Widowhood May 11. 1620. 22. Dame Esther Temple Daughter to Miles Sands Esquire was born at Latmos in Buckinghamshire and was marryed to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow Baronet She had four Sons and nine Daughters which liv'd to be marry'd and so exceedingly multiplyed that this Lady saw seven hundred extraâ—ted from her body Reader I speak within compass and have left my self a reserve having bought the truth hereof by a wager I lost saith Dr. Fuller Besides there was a new Generation of marriageable Females just at her death Had the Off-spring of this Lady been contracted into one place they were enow to have peopled a City of a competent proportion though her Issue was not so long in succession as broad in extent I confess very many of her descendants dy'd before death the Lady Temple dy'd Anno 1656. 23. Iohn Henry and Thomas Palmer were the Sons of Edward Palmer Esquire in Sussex It happened that their Mother being a full Fortnight inclusively in labour was on Whitsunday deliver'd of Iohn her Eldest Son on the Sunday following of Henry her second Son and the Sunday next after of Thomas her third Son This is that which is commonly call'd superfoeâ—ation usual in other Creatures but rare in Women the cause whereof we leave to the disquisition of Physicians These three were Knighted for their Valour and success as in their Nativiâ—ies 24. Another Example of superfoetation I will set down for the stories sake in the year of our Lord 1584. dyed the Noble Lord Philip Lewis of Hirshorne at his mansion House in the Palatinate three Miles from Heydelberg he left no Heir but his Lady was with Child his Kindred forthwith enter upon the Rents and Royalties and to gain the more full and perfect knowledge of them soon after the death of her Lord they pluck from her waste the Keys of all private places and that not without violence the better to enable them for the search they intended This outrage redoubled the grief of the poor Lady so that within few days after she fell in travel and brought forth a Son but dead and wanting the Skull Now were the next Heirs of the deceased Noblemam exceeding jocund as having attained to their utmost hopes and therefore now us'd the Estate as their own But it pleased God as out of a stone to raise up a Son to that desolate and disconsolate Widow For though she was not speedily deliver'd of him after the 〈◊〉 yet she remained somewhat big after her delivery suspecting nothing but that it was some prâ—â—ternatural humour or some disease that was remaining in her body She therefore consulted the Physicians who all thought any thing rather to be the cause of her disease than that in the leaâ—â— they suspected a second Birth so long after the â—irst They therefore advis'd her to go to the Baths by the Rhine she accordingly did as a sad and comfortless Widow attended only with one Maid came thither Iuly 1584. where it so fell out she found Augustus the Elector of Saxony together with the Princess his Wiâ—e as also many other Princes and their Ladies by which means all lodgings were so foretaken up that she could not find entertainment in any Inn especially being not known of what quality she was coming thither with so private a retinue as a single Maid At last discovering to the Governour of the place who she was and her last misfortunes not without some difficulty she procured lodging in his House for that night wherein she came thither But that very night when it was the tenth week from her former delivery it pleased God to send her in her aâ—â—liction and amongst strangers a lovely Boy The fame of which came to the ears of the Illustrious Princes who were then in Town The Elector of Mentz made her a noble provision for her Lying in The Elector of Saxony also sent her by way of Present one thousand Dollers Also all the Rents and Royalties before seiz'd upon were restored to this lawful Heir of her Husbands and Child of hers who also is yet alive saith Câ—spar Bauhinâ—s Superâ—oetation is by the distant Births of divers not raâ—ely confirmed A Dutch Woman in Southwark some twenty years since having invited divers of her Neighbours to her Upsitting found her self not well on a sudden and rising from the table was forthwith brought to bed of another This falling on a time into our discourse one then present reported that the like befel a Sister of his who three months after the birth of her first Son was delivered of a second CHAP. XXVI Of the strange Agility and Nimbleness of some and their wonderful feats HOmer in the commendation of the activity of Meriones calls him the Dancer in which Art he was so famous that he was known not only amongst the Greeks but to the Trojans also his enemies probably because that in time of Battel he made shew of an extraordinary quickness and nimbleness of body which he had acquired unto himself by the practice of this Art some of these who follow though they wanted an Homer to recommend them to posterity have excell'd not only Meriones in point of agility but have attain'd the utmost of what a humane body in this kind is capable of acquiring 1. Amongst those shews which were presented to the people
no place by Land safe for him resolved to seek some refuge by the waters and got into a boat to convey himself to a Tower in the midst of the Rhine near a little City called Bingen But the Rats threw themselves by infinite heaps into the Rhine and swam to the foot of the Tower and clambering up the wall entred therein and fell upon the Archbishop gnawing and biting and throttling and tearing and tugging him most miserably till he dyed This Tower is yet to be seen and at this day call'd Rats Tower It is also remarkable that whiles the Archbishop was yet alive and in perfect health the Rat 's gnawed and razed out his name written and painted upon many walls 32. Sylla the Dictator had at first an inward ulcer through which his flesh having contracted corruption was wholly turned into lice nor could any remedy be found for so great an evil the shifting of Garments use of Baths change of Diet would do no good but such a number of Lice did perpetually issue out together with flesh as overcame all endeavours to cleanse him long did this disease afflict him till at last in great misery and horrible torments he ended his days 33. Anno Dom. 1217. Henry the First was King of Spain being yet a Child nor did he long enjoy the Kingdom for after the second year of his Reign he was taken away by a sad and unexpected accident For while at Valentia he was playing in the Court-yard of the Palace with his equals it fortun'd that a tilâ— fell from the house upon his head which so brake his skull that he dy'd of the wound upon the eleventh day after he receiv'd it 34. Haquinus King of Norway had in pitch'd Field overcame Haraldus the Son of Gunilda who with the assistance of the Danes had invaded his Kingdom and while he was upon return to his Ships there was seen a Dart uncertain from what hand it came long hovering in the Air as if it knew not where to light while every man was apprehensive of the danger of his own person it at last fell with that force upon the head of Haquinus that it slew him in the place some suppose it was procur'd by the witchcraf of Gunilda in revenge of her Sons dishonour however Haraldus by this unhop'd for death of his enemy obtain'd the Kingdom of Norway 35. The Romans under Titus had entred the Temple of Ierusalem the Jews set fire on it with a purpose to drive them thence or consume them there amongst others that were distressed in the flames was one Artorius who having espy'd below his Camrade Lucius call'd to him wIth a loud voice That he made him his Heir of all he had if he would stand to receive him as he leapt down into his arms he readily came and stood to receive him Artorius was sav'd but Lucius oppressed with the fall of him was so bruised upon the stones that he dyed upon it 36. A certain Priest that was well skill'd in swimming and groping for Fish had in a deep place under the Banks light of a Pearch which to hold the better he put into his mouth and so to swim back to his companions the Pearch with her strugling slipt so far into his Throat that the miserable Priest was strangled by it notwithanding all the endeavours his associates could use to the contrary sic perca Parca fuit saith my Author thus the Fish was his fate 37. Nicon the Thasian Champion was dead and a Statue erected in memory of him and his exploits one of his Rivals in Honour out of a deep hatred he had conceiv'd against the deceased and being not able to reach his person with a club laid load upon his Statue which being thus beaten fell with such a weight upon the injurious person below it that it crush'd and bruised him to death upon the place saith Suidas 38. We read in Strada of a Baker in that Street of Rome which is call'd Suburra wâ—o having sneez'd twenty three times in one continued breath dy'd upon the twenty fourth 39. Grimoaldus King of the Lombards upon the ninth day after he had opened a vein in his arm by the advice of the Physicians took a Bow into his Hand and shot at a Pidgeon by which the Vein was again so suddenly and unhappily unclosed that it poured out so much Blood as sufficed to carry out his life along with it 40. I will shut up this Chapter with some such Examples of sudden death as I meet with in Pliny and they are such as followeth two of the Caesars that had been Pretors dy'd one at Pisa and the other at Rome in the Morning as they were putting on their Shooes Q. Aemylius Iaepidus as he was going out of his Bed-chamber hit his great Toe against the Door side and therewith dy'd Caius Aufidius going to the Senate stumbled and dy'd immediately An Embassador of the Rhodians who had to the admiration of all that were present pleaded their cause before the Senate in the very entry of the Council-house as he was going forth fell down dead and never spake word Cn. Bebius Pamphilus who had been Praetor dy'd suddenly as he was asking a Boy what it was a clock Aulus Pompeius as he had finished his Prayers Iuventius Thalna as he was sacrificing Servilius Pansa as he stood at a Shop in the Market-place leaning upon the shoulder of his Brother P. Pansa Bebius the Judge as he was adjourning the day of ones appearance in the Court Mr. Terentius Corax as he was writing Letters in the Market place C. Iulius a Surgeon as he was dressing the sore Eye of another L. Manlius Torquatus at Supper reaching a Cake to one of his Guests L. Durius Valla as he drank a Potion of honey'd Wine Appius Aufeius newly come out of the Bath and as he supp'd up a reer Egg. P. Quintius Scapula as he was at Supper in the House of Aquilius Gallus Decimus Saufeius the Scribe as he was at Dinner in his own House Nemo tam divos habuit faventes Crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri Res Deus nostras celeri citatas Turbine versat CHAP. XXXVII Of the dead Bodies of some great Persons which not without difficulty found their Graves and of others not permitted to rest there THe Grave is the common House and home that is appointed for all the living that safe harbour that lies open for all those Passangers that have been toss'd upon the troubled Sea of this mortal life Here The purpl'd Princes strip'd of all their pride Lye down uncrowned by the poor mans side Only it sometimes so falls out that some great persons are not suffered to go to rest when their bed is made and others are pull'd out of those Lodgings whereof they had once taken a peaceable possession 1. No sooner had the Soul of that victorious Prince William the Conquerour left his
fallen a sleep she call'd in her complices and casting a long Towel about his neck caus'd the Groom to lye upon him to keep him from struggling whilst her self and the Maid straining the Towel stop'd his breath Having thus dispatched the work they carry'd him into another room where a Close Stool was placed upon which they set him An hour after the Maid and Groom were got silently away to palliate the business she made an out-cry in the house wringing her hands pulling her hair and weeping extremely pretending that missing him some time out of bed she went to see what the matter was and found him in that posture By these feigned shews of sorrow she prevented all suspicion of his violent death and not long after went to London setting so high a value upon her Beauty that Robinson became neglected But within two years following this woful deed of darkness was brought to light in this manner The Groom before mentioned was entertained with Mr. Richard Smyth Son and Heir to the murder'd Knight and attending him to Coventry with divers other Servants became so sensible of his villany when he was in his cups that out of good nature he took his Master aside and upon his knees besought his forgiveness for acting in the murder of his Father declaring all the circumstances thereof Whereupon Mr. Smyth discreetly gave him good words but wished some others he trusted to have an eye to him that he might not escape when he had slept and better consider'd what might be the issue thereof Notwithstanding which direction he fled away with his Masters best Horse and hasting presently into Wales attempted to go beyond Sea but being hindred by contrary winds after three essays to lanch out was so happily pursu'd by Mr. Smyth who spared no cost in sending to several Ports that he was found out and brought prisoner to Warwick as was also the Lady and her Gentlewoman all of them with great boldness denying the fact and the Groom most impudently charging Mr. Smyth with endeavour of corrupting to accuse the Lady his Mother-in-law falsly to the end he might get her Joynture but upon his arreignment smitten with the apprehension of his guilt he publickly acknowledged it and stoutly justified what he had so said to be true to the face of the Lady and her Maid who at first with much seeming confidence pleaded their innocency till at length seeing the particular circumstances thus discovered they both confessed the fact for which having judgment to die the Lady was burnt at a stake near the Hermitage on Woolvey Heath towards the side of Shirford Lordship where the Country people to this day shew the place and the Groom with the Maid suffer'd death at Warwick This was about the third year of Queen Maries Reign it being May the 15.1 Mariae that Sir Walters murder so happened The end of the First Book of the Wonders of the Little World THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. Of the Imagination or Phantasie and the force of it in some persons when depraved by melancholy or otherwise IMagination the work of Fancy saith Dr. Fuller oftentimes produces real effects and this he confirms by a pleasanter instance than some of these that follow 1. A Gentleman had lead a company of children into the Fields beyond their wonted walk and they being now weary cryed to him to carry them The Gentleman not able to carry them all relieved himself with this device he said he would provide them Horses to ride home with and furnished himself and them with Geldings out of the next Hedge the success was saith my Author that mounted fancy put metal into their Legs and they came cheerfully home 2. There was one who fell into a vain imagination that he was perpetually frozen and therefore in the very Dog-days continually sate near the Fire crying out that he should never be warm unless his whole body should be set on fire and whereas by stealth he would cast himself into the fire he was bound in chains in a seat near the fire where he sate night and day not able to sleep by reason of this foolish fancy when all the counsels of his Friends were in vain I took this course for his cure I wrapped him in Sheepskins from head to foot the wool was upon them which I had well wetted with Aqua Vitae and thus dressed I set him at once all on fire he burnt thus for half an hour when dancing and leaping he cryed out he was now well and rather too hot by this means his former fancy vanished and he in a few days was perfectly well 3. A Noble Person in Portugal fell into this melancholy imagination that he continually cryed out God would never pardon his sins In this agony he continued pensive and wasted away various prescriptions in Physick were used to no purpose as also all kinds of Divertisements and other means At last we made use of this Artifice his Chamber door being locked about midnight at the Roof of his Chamber we had stripped off the tile for that purpose there appeared an artificial Angel having a drawn Sword in his right and a lighted torch in his left hand who called him by his name he straight rose from his Bed and adored the Angel which he saw cloathed in white and of a beautiful aspect he listned attentively to the Angel who told him all his sins were forgiven and so extinguished his Torch and said no more The poor man overjoyed knocked with great violence at the door raises the House tells them all that had passed and as soon as it was day sent for his Physicians and relates alâ—â—â— them who congratulated his felicity calling him a righteous person He soon after fell to his meat slept quietly perform'd all the offices of a sound man and from thence forth never felt any thing of his former indisposition 4. Anno Dom. 1610. attending upon my Prince at Prague as his Physician it fell out that upon the eighteenth of Iuly there was born a boy whose Liver Intestines Stomach Spleen with a great part of the Mesentery hung out all naked below his Navel He lived but a few hours and then with misery enough exchanged that life for death which he had newly begun If any demand the reason of so monstrous a deformity he shall find no other than the imagination of the Mother who being asked by Doctor Major and my self whether happily she had not given some occasion to such a Birth she answered with tears that three Months before her delivery she was constrain'd by some Soldiers to be present at the killing of a Calf at the opening of it she felt an extraordinary motion in her self when she saw how the bowels came tumbling down from the Belly 5. In the same City of Prague much about the same time there was the like if not a greater miracle of nature a woman was delivered of a Son who was born with
third day after he was offered by the Victor his liberty and restauration to the Kingdom in case he would confirm to Thebaldus what he was possessed of therein But he in an inconceiveable hatred to him that had made him his Prisoner reply'd That he should ever scorn to receive those and greater proffers from so base a hand as his Thebaldus had reason to resent this affront and therefore told him he would make him repent his so great insolence At which Gualterus inflam'd with a greater fury tare of his cloths and brake the ligatures of his wounds crying out that he would live no longer since he was fallen into the hands of such a man that treated him with threats upon which he tare open the lips of his wounds and thrust his hands into his Intestines so that when he resolvedly refused all food and ways of cure he forcibly drave out his furious Soul from his Body and lest only one Daughter behind him who might have been happier had she not had a breast to her Father CHAP. X. Of Fear and the strange effects of it also of panick fears THe Spartans would not consecrate to the Gods any of those spoils which they had taken from the Enemy they thought they were unfit presents â—or them and no convenient sight for their own Children because they were things pluck'd off from them who suffer'd themselves to be taken through fear The meaning was they look'd upon the fearful man as neither pleasing to God nor profitable to Man the truth is an habitual coward is a man of no price but withal there are certain times wherein the worthiest of men have found their courage to desert them and upon some occasions more than others 1. Augustus Caesar was somewhat over timerous of Thunder and Lightning so that he always and every where carry'd with him the skin of a Sea-calf as a remedie And upon suspicion of approaching tempest would retreat into some ground or vaulted place as having been formerly affrighted by extraordinary flashes of Lightning in a nights journey of his 2. Caius Caligula who otherwise was a great contemner of the gods yet would wink at the least Thunder and Lightning and cover his head if there chanc'd to be greater and lowder he would then leap out of his bed and run to hide himself under it 3. Philippus Vicecomes was of so very timerous and a fearful Nature that upon the hearing of any indifferent Thunder he would tremble and shake with fear and as a person in distraction run up and down to seek out some subterranean hiding place 4. Pope Alexander the third being in France and performing divine Offices upon Good Fryday upon the sudden there was a horrible darkness and while the Reader was upon the Passion of Christ and was speaking of those words It is finished there fell such a stupendous Lightning and such a terrible crack of Thunder follow'd that Alexander leaving the Altar and the Reader deserting the Passion all that were present ran out of the place consulting their own safety by flight 5. Archelaus King of Macedon being ignorant of the effects of Natural Causes when once there hapned an Eclipse of the Sun as one overcome and astonish'd with fear he caus'd his Palace to be hastily shut up and as it was the usual custom in cases of extreme mourning and sadness he caus'd the hair of his Sons head to be cut off 6. Diomedes was the Steward of Augustus the Emperour as they two were on a time walking out together on the sudden there brake loose a wild Boar who took his way directly towards them here the Steward in the fear he was in gat behind the Emperour and interposed him betwixt the danger and himself Augustus though in great hazard yet knowing it was more his fear than his malice resented it no farther than to jest with him upon it 7. At the time when Caius Caligula was slain Claudius Caesar seeing all was full of sedition and slaughter thrust himself into a hole in a by corner to hide himself though he had no cause to be apprehensive of danger besides the illustriousness of his Birth being thus found he was drawn out by the Soldiers for no other purpose than to make him Emperour he besought their mercy as supposing all they said to be nothing else but a cruel mockery but they when through fear and dread of death he was not able to go took him up upon their shoulders carryed him to the Camp and proclaim'd him Emperour 8. Fulgos Argelatus by the terrible noise that was made by an Earthquake was so affrighted that his fear drave him into madness and his madness unto death for he cast himself headlong from the upper part of his house and so died 9. Cassander the Son of Antipater came to Alexander the Great at Babylon where finding himself not so welcome by reason of some suspicions the King had conceiv'd of his treachery he was seis'd with such a terrour at this suspicion of his that in the following times having obtain'd the Kingdom of Macedon and made himself Lord of Greece walking at Delphos and there viewing the Statues he cast his eye upon that of Alexander the Great at which sight he conceiv'd such horror that he trembled all over and had much ado to recover himself from under the power of that agony 10. The Emperour Maximilian the First being taken by the people of Bruges and divers of the Citizens who took his part slain Nicholaus de Helst formerly a prisoner together with divers others had the sentence of death pass'd upon him and being now laid down to receive the stroke of the Sword The people suddenly cry'd out Mercy he was pardon'd as to his life but the paleness his face had contracted by reason of his fear of his approaching death continued with him from that time forth to the last day of his life 11. We are told by Zacchias of a young man of Belgia who saith he not many years since was condemn'd to be burnt it was observ'd of him by as many as would that through the extremity of fear he sweat blood and Maldonate tells the like of one at Paris who having receiv'd the sentence of death for a crime by him committed sweat blood out of several parts of the body 12. Being about four or six years since in the County of Cork there was an Irish Captain a man of middle age and stature who coming with some of his followers to render himself to the Lord Broghil who then commanded the English forces in those parts upon a publick offer of pardon to the Irish that would lay down arms he was casually in a suspicious place met with by a party of the English and intercepted the Lord Broghil being then absent he was so apprehensive of being put to death before his return that that anxiety of mind quickly chang'd the colour of his
do it He asked him again and again but he persisted in his denial he therefore takes him up into a high part of the House and threatens to throw him down thence unless he would promise to assist them but neither so could he prevail with him whereupon turning to his companions We may be glad said he that this Merchant is so young for had he been a Senatour we might have despaired of any success in our suit 3. When Alcibiades was but yet a child he gave insâ—â—nâ—e of that natural subtlety for which he was afterwards so remarkable in Athens â—or coming to his Unâ—le Pâ—ricles and â—inding him sitting somewhat sad in a retiring Room he asked him the cause of his trouble who told him he had been employed by the City in some publick Buildings in which he had expended such sums of money as he knew noâ— well how to give account of You should therefore said he think of a way to prevent your 〈◊〉 câ—llâ—d to accouâ—â— And thus that great and wise 〈◊〉 being dâ—stitute of counsel himself made me of this wâ—ich was given him by a child for he involved Athens in a foreign War by which means they were not at leisure to consider of accounts 4. Themistocles in his childhood and boyage bewrayed a quick spirit and understanding beyond his years and a propensity towards great matters he used not to play amongst his equals but they found him employing that time in framing Accusatory or Defensive Orations for this and that other of his Schoolfellows And therefore his Master was used to say My Son thou wilt be nothing indifferent but either a great Glory or Plague to thy Country For even then he was not much affected with Moral Precepts or matters of accomplishment for urbanity but what concern'd providence and the management of affairs that he chiefly delighted in and addicted himself to the knowledge of beyond what could be expected from his youth 5. Richard Carew Esquire was bred a Gentleman Commoner at Oxford where being but fourteen years old and yet three years standing in the University he was called out to dispute ex tempore before the Earls of Leicester and Warwick with the matchless Sir Philip Sydney Ask you the end of this contest They neither had the better both the best 6. Thucydides being yet a Boy while he heard Herodotus reciting his Histories in the Olympicks is said to have wept exceedingly which when Herodotus had observ'd he congratulated the happiness of Olorus his Father advising him that he would use great diligence in the education of his Son and indeed he afterwards proved one of the best Historians that ever Greece had 7. Astyages King of the Medes frighted by a dream caused Cyrus the Son of his Daughter Mandane as soon as born to be delivered to Harpaâ—us with a charge to make him away He delivers him to the Herdâ—man of Astyages with the same charge but the Herdsman's wife newly delivered of a dead child and taken with the young Cyrus kept him instead of her own and buried the other instead of him When Cyrus was grown up to ten years of age playing amongst the young Lads in the Country he was by them chosâ—n to be their King appointed them to their several Oâ—â—ices some for Builders some for Guards Couâ—tiers Messengers and the like One of those Boys that played with them was the Son of Aâ—â—embaris a Noble Person amongsâ— the Mâ—des who not obeying the commands of this new King Cyrus commanded him to be seised by the rest of the Boys and that done he bestowed many stripes upon him The Lad being let go complain'd to his Father and he to Astyages for shewing him the bruised Shoulders of his Son Is it thus O King said he that we are treated by the Son of thy Herdsman and slave Astyages sent for the Herdsman and his Son and then looking upon Cyrus How darest thou said he being the Son of such a Father as this treat in such sort the Son of a principal person about me Sir said he I have done to him nothing but what was fit for the Country Lads one of which he was chose me their King in play because I seemed the most worthy of the place but when all others obeyed my commands he only regarded not what I said for this he was punished and if thereupon I have merited to suffer any thing I am here ready to do it While the Boy spake this Astyages began to take some knowledge of him the figure of his â—ace his generous deportment the time of Cyrus his exposition agreeing with the age of this Boy he concluded he was the same which he soon after made the Herdsman to confess But being told by the Magi that now the danger was over for having played the King in sport they believed it was all that his dream did intend So he was sent into Persia to his Father not long after he caused the Persians to revolt overcame Astyages his Grandfather and transferred the Empire of the Medes to the Persians 8. Thomas Aquinas when he went to School was by nature addicted to silence and was also somewhat more fat than the rest of his Fellow-Scholars whereupon they usually called him the dumb Ox but his Master having made experiment of his wit in some little Disputations and finding to what his silence tended This dumb Ox said he will shortly set up such a lowing that all the world will admire the sound of it 9. Origines Adamantius being a young boy would often ask his Father Leonidas about the mystical sense of the Scriptures insomuch that his Father was constrain'd to withdraw him from so over early a wisdom Also when his Father was in prison for the sake of Christ and that by reason of his tender age for he was but seventeen and the strict custody of his Mother he could not be companion with him in his Martyrdom he then wrote to him that he should not through the love of his children be turned from the true faith in Christ even in that age discovering how undaunted a Preacher Christianity would afterwards have of him 10. Grimoaldus a young noble Lombard was taken with divers others at Forum Iulii by Cacanus King of the Avares and contrary to sworn conditions was lead to death perceiving the perfididiousness of the Barbarians in the midst of the tumult and slaughter he with his two Brothers brake from amongst them but he being but a very youth was soon overtaken by the pursuer was retaken by a Horseman and again by him led to death But he observing his time drew his little Sword slew his Guardian overtook his Brethren and got safe away By this his incredible boldness he shewed with what spirit and wisdom he would after both gain and govern the Kingdom of Lombardy 11. Q. Hortensius spake his first Oration in the Forum at Rome when he was but nineteen years of
so fortunate as to break their Chain and recover their liberty A certain blackness in the Cradle has been observed to give beginning and rise unto the most perfect Beauties and there are no sort of men that have shined with greater Glory in the world than such whose first days have been sullied and a little overcast 1. Themistocles by reason of the Luxury and Debauchery of his life was cast off and disowned by his Father his Mother over-grieved with the villanies he frequently committed finished her life with an Halter notwithstanding all which this man proved afterwards the most noble person of all the Grecian Blood and was the interposed pledge of hope or despair to all Europe and Asia Patrit lib. de Reipub. instit 4. tit 6. p. 208. 2. C. Valerius Flaccus in the time of the second Punick War began his youth in a most profuse kind of luxury afterwards he was created Flamine by P. Licinius the chief Pontiff that in that employment he might find an easier recess from such vices as he was infected with addressing his mind therefore to the care of Ceremonies and sacred things he made Religion his Guide to Frugality and in process of time shewed himself as great an example of Sanctity and Modesty as before he had been of Luxury and Prodigality 3. Nicholas West was born at Putney in Surrey bred first at Eaton then at Kings College in Cambridge where when a youth he was a Rakehel in grain for something crossing him in the College he could find no other way to work his revenge than by secret setting on fire the Master's Lodgings part whereof he burnt to the ground Immediately after this little Herostratus lest the Colledge liv'd for a time in the Country debauched enough for his conversation But he seasonably retrenched his wildness turned hard Student became an excellâ—nt Scholar and most able Statesman and after smaller promotions was at last made Bishop of Ely and often employed in foreign Embassies Now if it had been possible he would have quenched the fire he kindled in the College with his own tears and in expression of his penitence became a worthy Beneâ—actor to the House and rebuilt the Master's Lodgings firm and fair from the ground No Bishop in England was better attended with Menial Servants or kept a more bountiful House which made his death so lamented anno 1533. 3. Polemo was a youth of Athens of that wretched Debauchery that he was not only delighted in vice but also in the very infamy of it Returning once from a Feast after Sun-rise and seeing the Gate of Xenocrates the Philosopher open full of Wine as he was smeared with Ointments a Garland on his head and cloathed with a loose and transparent Garmâ—nt he enters the School at that time thronged with a number of learned men not content with so uncivil an entrance he also sate down on purpose to affront a singular eloquence and most prudent precepts with his drunken follies His coming had occasion'd all that were present to be angry only Xenocrates retaining the same gravity in his countenance and dismissing his present Theam bâ—gan to discourse of Modesty and Temperance which he presented so lively before him that Polemo affected therewith fiâ—st laid aside the Crown from his head soon after drew his arm within his Cloak changed that Festival Merriment that appeared in his face and at last cast off all his Luxury By that one Oration the young man received so great a cure that of a most licentious person he became one of the greatest Philophers of his time 5. Fabius Gurges was born of a Noble Family in Rome and left with a very plentiful estate by his Father but he spent all in the riots of his first youth which he left many brands upon and occasioned then to himself the sirname of Gurges But afterwards relinquishing the unbridled lusts of his first age he arrived to that temperance that he was thought worthy by the people of Rome to have the office of Censorship committed to him and no man more fit than he to inspect the manners of the City 6. Titus Vespasianus while he was young and before he came to the Empire gave just causes of censure for his cruel covetous riotous and lustful way of living insomuch that men reputed and also reported him to be another Nero. But having arrived to the Empire he made himself conspicuous for the contrary virtues His Feasts were moderate his Friends select and choice persons necessary members of the Common-wealth his former minions he endured not so much as to look upon Queen Berenice whom he was known to love too well he sent away from Rome from no Citizen did he take any thing by violence and from the Goods of Aliens he abstain'd if ever any did and yet was he inferiour to none of his Predecessors in Magnificence and Bounty when he took upon him the supreme Pontificate he protested it was only upon this account that he would keep his hands pure and innocent from the blood of any wherein he made good his word and in all things he demeaned himself with that integrity and innocency that he was worthily stiled Delitiae humani generis the very darling of mankind 7. Agis while yet a youth was brought up in all kind of delights that such of his age are used to be affected with but as soon as ever he was come to be King of Sparta though yet but a young man with an incredible change of mind and manners he renounced all the pleasures of his former life and bent his mind wholly unto this to recal Sparta unto its priâ—tine frugality that was extremely debauched and corrupted with the manners of the Greeks and Barbarians This honest endeavour of his proved the occasion of his death 8. Cimon the Son of Miltiades in his youth was infamous amongst his people for his disorderly life and excesses in drinking and they looked upon him as resembling in his diâ—position his Grandfather Cimon who by reason of his stupidity was called Coalemus that is the Sot Stesimbrotus saith of him that he was neither skilled in Musick nor instructed in any other liberal Science and far removed from the Attick Acumen and smartness of wit Some say he had too private familiarity with his Sister Elpenice and others that he publickly married her and liv'd with her as his wife besides his being deeply in love with Aristeria and Mnestra c. yet this man was afterwards so improv'd that a singular generosity and sincerity appear'd in his manners and merited to have this as part of his just praise that whereas he was no whit inferiour to Miltiades in valour nor to Themistocles in prudence he was more innocent than both of them He was not in the least below either of them in the Art Military but in his administration in time of peace he exceedingly surpassed them both 9. Thomas Sackvil afterwards
England and marryed to David King of the Scots that she was familiarly called Iane make peace both for her earnest and successful endeavours therein 10. In old time the Month of March was the first Month amongst the Romans but afterward they made Ianuary tha first the reason of which is thus rendred by some Romulus being a Martial Prince and one that loved Feats of War and Arms and reputed the Son of Mars he set before all the Months that which carried the Name of his Father But Numa who succeeded him immediately was a man of peace and endeavoured to draw the hearts and minds of his Subjects and Citizens from War to Agriculture so he gave the prerogative of the first place unto Ianuary and honoured Ianus most as one who had been more given to politick and peaceable Government and to the husbandry of Ground than to the exercise of War and Arms. 11. The Lord Treasurer Burleigh was wont to say that he overcame Envy and Evil will more by patience and peaceableness than by pertinacy and stubbornness And his private Estate he so manag'd that he never sued any man neither did ever any man sue him whereby he lived and dyed with glory 12. Numa Pompilius instituted the Priests or Heraulds called Feciales whose office was to preserve peace between the Romans and their Neighbouring Nations and if any quarrels did arise they were to pacifiâ— them by reason and not suffer them to come to violence till all hope of peace was past and if these Feciales did not consent to the Wars neither King nor people had it in their power to undertake them 13. Heraclitus was brought by the earnest prayers and entreaties of his Citizens that he would bring forth some sentence of his concerning Peace Unity and Concord Heraclitus got up into the Desk or Pulpit where he called for a cup of sair water which he sprinkled a little bran or meal upon then he put into it a little Glacon which is a sort of herb and so supped it off This done without speaking one word he departed leaving the more prudent and wiser sort of people to collect from thence that if they would cease from immoderate expences and costly matters and betake themselves to such things as were cheap and easie to be had that this was a sure way wherein the lovers of peace and concord might attain unto their desires 14. Otho the Emperour when he saw that he must either lay down the Empire or else maintain himself in the possession thereof by the blood and slaughter of a number of Citizens he determined with himself to die a voluntary death When his Friends and Soldiers desirâ—d him that he would not so soon begin to despair of the â—vent of the War he replyed That his liâ—e to him was not of that value as to occasion a Civil War for the defâ—nce of it Who can chuse but admire that such a spirit as this should be found in a Heathen Prince and he too not above thirty years of age 15. Alphonsus made use of Ludovicus Podius for the most part as his Embassador in Italy as having found him a person of singular diligence and fidelity when therefore this his Embassador gave him to understand that he might easily extort two hundred thousand Crowns for that peace which he was to grant to the Florentines and Venetians This noble and most generous Prince made him this return That his manner was to give peace and not to sell it 16. Servius Sulpitius was an Heathen Lawyer but an excellent person it is said of him that Ad facilitatem aequitatemque omnia tulit neque constituore litium actiones quam controversias tollere maluit He respected equity and peace in all that he did and always sought rather to compose differences than to multiply Suits of Law 11. Sertorius the more he prospered and prevailed in his Wars in Spain the more importunate he was with Metellas and Pompey the Roman Generals that came against him that laying down Arms they would give him leave to live in peace and to return into Italy again professing he preferred a private life there before the Government of many Cities CHAP. VI. Of the signal Love that some men have shewed to their Country JOhn the Second King of Portugal who for the nobleness of his mind was worthy of a greater Kingdom when he heard there was a Bird called a Peliâ—an that tears and gashes her Breast with her Bill that with her own blood thus shed she might restore her young ones to life that were leâ—t as dead by the bitings of Serpents This excellent Prince took care that the figure of this Bird in this action of hers should be added to other his Royal Devices that he might hereby shew that he was ready upon occasion to part with his own blood for the wellfare and preservation of his people and Country Pity it is to conceal their names whose minds have been in this matter as pious and Princely as his not doubting to redeem the lives of their Fellow-Citizens at the price of their own 1. The Town of Calis during the Reign of Philip de Valois being brought to those straits that now there was no more hope left either of Succours or Victuals Iohn Lord of Vienna who there â—ommanded 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 King of England who by the space of eleven months had straitly besieged it he being exceedingly enraged 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 was so far from accepting their petition that contrariwise he resolv'd to put them all to the Sword had he not been diverted from that resolution by some sage Counsellors then about him who told him that for having been faithful and loyal Subjects to thâ—ir Sovereign they deserved not to be so sharply dealt with Whereupon Edward changing his â—irst purpose into some more clemency promised to receive them to mercy conditionally that six of the principal Townsmen should present him the Keys of the Town bare-headed and bare-footed and with Halters about their Necks their lives being to be left to his disposition whereof the Governour being advertised he presently gets him into the Market place commanding the Bell to be tolled for the conventing of the people whom being assembled he acquainted 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 the sudden there rises up one of their own company called Stephen S. Peter one of the richest and most sufficient men of the Town
Sea and his Wife at some distance from him the woman was seised upon by some Moorish Pyrates who came on shore to prey upon all they could find Upon his return not finding his Wiâ—e and perceiving a Ship that lay at anchor not far off conjecturing the matter as it was he threw himself into the Sea and swam up to the Ship when calling to the Captain he told him that he was therefore come because he must needs follow his Wife He feared not the Barbarism of the Enemies of the Christian Faith nor the miseries those Slaves endure that are thrust into places where they must tug at the Oar his love overcame all these The Moors were full of admiration at the carriage of the man for they had seen some of his Country-men rather chuse death than to endure so hard a loss of their liberty and at their return they told the whole of this Story to the King of Tunis who moved with the Relation of so great a love gave him and his Wife their freedom and the man was made by his command one of the Soldiers of his Life Guard 10. Gratianus the Emperour was so great and known a Lover of his Wife that his enemies had hereby an occasion administred to them to ensnare his life which was on this manner Maximus the Usurper caâ—sed a Report to be â—pread 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 Emperour to give him advice thereof After this he sent one Andragathius a subtile Captain to the end he should put himself into a Horse Litter with some chosen Soldiers and go to meet the Emperour feigning himself to be the Empress and so to surprise and kill him The cunning Champion perform'd his business for at Lyons in France the Emperour came forth to meet his Wife and coming to the Horse-Litter was taken and killed 11. Ferdinand King of Spain married Elizabeth the Sister of Ferdinand Son of Iohn King of Arragon Great were the virtues of this admirable Princess whereby she gained so much upon the heart of her Husband a valiant and fortunate Prince that he admitted her to an equal share in the Government of the Kingdom with himself wherein they lived with such mutual agreement as the like hath not been known amongst any of the Kings and Queens of that Country There was nothing done in the affairs of State but what was debated ordained and subscribed by both The Kingdom of Spain was a name common to them both Embassadors were sent abroad in both their names Armies and Soldiers were levied and formed in both their names and so was the whole wars and all civil affairs that King Ferdinand did not challenge to himself an authority in any thing or in any respect greater than that whereunto he had admitted this his beloved Wife Bajazet the first after the great victory obtain'd against him by Tamberlain to his other great misfortunes and disgraces had this one added of having his beautiful Wife Despina whom he dearly loved to fall into the hands of the Conquerour whose ignominious and undecent treatment before the eyes of her Husband was a matter of more dishonour and sorrow than all the rest of his afflictions for when he beheld this he resolved to live no longer but knock'd out his Brains against the iron bars of that Cage wherein he was enclosed 13. Dion was driven from Sicily into Exile by Dionysius but his Wife Aristomache was detained and by him was compelled to marry with Polycrates one of his beloved Courtiers Dion afrerwards return'd took Syracuse and expelled Dionysius his Sister Arete came and spoke to him his Wife Aristomache stood behind her but conscious to her self in what manner she had wrong'd his Bed shame would not permit her to speak His Sister Arete then pleaded her cause and told her Brother that what his Wife had done she was enforced to by necessity and the Command of Dionysius whereupon the kind Husband received her to his House as before Meleager challenged to himself the chief glory and honour of slaying the Calidonian Boar but this being denied him he sate in his Chamber so angry and discontented that when 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 embracing his knees sought to make him relent but all in vain His Mother came and try'd all ways but was refused his Sisters and his most familiar friends were sent to him and begg'd 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 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 rous'd himself at the apprehension of the danger of his beloved Wife He arm'd himself went forth and left not till he had repulsed the Enemy and put the City in its wonted safety and security CHAP. VIII Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands THough the Female be the weaker Sex yet some have so superseded the fidelity of their nature by an incredible strength of affection that being born up with that they have oftentimes performed as great things as we could expect from the courage and constancy of the most generous amongst men They have despised death let it appear to them in what shape it would and made all sorts of difficulties give way before the force of that invincible Love which seemed proud to shew it self most strong in the greatest extremity of their Husbands 1. The Prince of the Province of Fingo in the Empire of Iapan hearing that a Gentleman of the Country had a very beautiful woman to his Wife got him dispatch'd and having sent for the widow some days after her Husbands death acquainted her with his desires She told him she had much reason to think her self happy in being honour'd with the friendship of so great a Prince yet she was resolved to bite off her Tongue and murther her self if he proffer'd her any violence But if he would grant her the favour to spend one Month in bewailing her Husband and then give her the liberty to make an entertainment for the Relations of the deceased to take her leave of them he should find how much she was his servant and how far she would comply with his Affections It was easily granted a very great dinner was provided whither came all the kinred of the deceased
with some pleasure in the perusal of them 1. Charles the Great was so great a Lover of his Sons and Daughters that he never dined or supped without them he went no whither upon any journey but he took them along with him and when he was asked why he did not marry his Daughters and send his children abroad to see the world his reply was That he was not able to bear their absence 2. Nero Domitius the Son of Domitius Aenobarbus and Agrippina by the subtlety of his Mother obtained the Empire She once enquired of the Chaldeans if her Son should reign they told her that they had found he should but that withal he should be the death of his Mother Occidat modo imperet said she let him kill me provided he live to be Emperour And she had her wish 3. Solon was a person famous throughout all Grecce as having given Laws to the Athenians being in his Travels came to Miletum to converse with Thales who was one of the seven wise men of Greece these two walking together upon the Market place one comes to Solon and told him that his Son was dead aâ—flicted with this unexpected as well as unwelcome news he fell to tearing of his Beard Hair and Cloaths and fouling of his face in the dust immediately a mighty conâ—lux of people was about him whom he entertained with howlings and tears when he had lain long upon the ground and delivered himself up to all manner of expressions of grief unworthy the person he sustain'd so renowned for gravity and wisdom Thales bade him be of good courage for the whole was but a contrivance of his who by this artifice had desired to make experiment whether it was convenient for a wise man to marry and have children as he had pressed them to do bur that now he was sufficiently satisfied it was no way conducible seeing he perceived that the loss of a child might occasion a person famous for wisdom to discover all the signs of a mad man 4. Seleucus King of Syria was inform'd by Erasistratus his Physician that his Son Antiochus his languishment proceeded from a vehement love he had taken to the Queen Stratonice his beautiful and beloved Wife and that his modest suppression of this secret which he had found out by his art was like to cost the life of the young Prince The tender and indulgent Father resigned her up unto his Son by a marvellous example overcoming himself to consult the life and contentment of his Son 5. M. Tullius Cicero was so great a Lover of his Daughter Tulliola that when she was dead he laboured with great anxiety and his utmost endeavour to consecrate her memory to posterity he says he would take care that by all the monuments of the most excellent wits both of Greek and Latine she would be reputed a Goddess how solicitously doth he write to Atticus that a piece of ground should be purchased in some eminent place wherein he might cause a Temple to be erected and dedicated to Tulliola He also wrote two Books concerning the death of his Daughter wherein it is probable that he made use of all that riches of wit and eloquence wherein he was so great a master to perswade the people that Tulliola was a Goddess 6. The elder Cato was never so taken up with employment in any aâ—â—air whatsoever but that he would always be present at the washing of his Son Cato who was but newly born and when he came to such age as to be capable of Learning he would not suffer him to have any other Master besides himself Being advised to resign up his Son to the Tutorage of some learned servant he said he could not bear it that a servant should pull his Son by the ears nor that his Son should be indebted for his Learning and Education to any besides himself 7. Agesilaus was above measure indulgent to his children the Spartans reproached him that for love of his Son Archidamus he had concerned himself so far as to impede a just judgment and by his intercession for the Malefactors had involv'd the City in the guilt of being injurious to Greece He used also at home to ride upon the Hobby-horse with his little children and being once by a friend of his found so doing he entreated him not to discover that act of his to any man till such time as he himself was become the Father of Children 8. Antigonus resented not the Debauches Luxury and drunken Bouts of his Son Demetrius to which that Prince in times of peace was overmuch addicted though in time of war he carried himself with much sobriety When the publick fame went that Demetrius was highly enamoured of Lamia the Courtisan and that at his return from abroad he kissed his Father What said Antigonus you think you are kissing of Lamia Another time when he had spent many days in drinking and pretended he was much troubled with Rheum I have heard as much said Antigonus but is it Thasian or Chian Rheum Having heard that his Son was ill he went to visit him and met with a beautiful Boy at the door being entred the Chamber and sate down he felt of his pulse and when Demetrius said that his Feaver had newly left him Not unlike Son said he for I met it going out at the door just as I came hither Thus gently he dealt with him in all these his miscarriages in consideration of divers other excellent qualities he was master of 9. Syrophanes a rich Aegyptian so doted on a Son of his yet living that he kept the Image of him in his House and if it so fell out that any of the servants had displeased their Master thither they were to flie as to a Sanctuary and adorning that Image with Flowers and Garlands they that way recovered the favour of their Master 10. Artobarzanes resign'd the Kingdom of Cappadocia to his Son in the presence of Pompey the Great the Father had ascended the Tribunal of Pompey and was invited to sit with him in the Curule Seat but as soon as he observ'd his Son to sit with the Secretary in a lower place than his fortune deserved he could not endure to see him placed below himself but descending from his Seat he placed the Diadem upon his Sons head and bade him go and sit in that place from whence he was lately risen tears fell from the eyes of the young man his body trembled the Diadem fell â—rom his head nor could he endure to go thither where he was commanded And which is almost beyond all credit he was glad who gave up his Crown and he was sorrowful to whom it was given nor had this glorious strife come to any end unless Pompeys authority had joyned it self to the Father's will for he pronounced the Son a King commanded him to take the Diadem and compelled him to sit with him in the Curule Seat 11. Mahomet
Thus a true and holy humility was the constant Collyrium that this devout person made use of 9. When Robert the Norman had refused the Kingdom of Ierusalem the Princes proceeded to make a second choice and that they might know the nature of the Princes the better their servants were examined upon oath to confess their Masters faults The Servants of Godfrey of Bouillon protested their Masters only â—ault was this that when Mattins were done he would stay so long in the Church to know of the Priest the meaning of every Image and Picture that Dinner at home was spoiled by his long tarrying All admired hereat that this mans worst vice should be so great a virtue and unanimously chose him their King He accepted the place but refused the solemnity thereof saying that he would not wear a Crown of Gold there where the Saviour of Mankind had worn a Crown of Thorns 10. Upon the death of Pope Paul the Third the Cardinals being divided about the Election the imperial part which was the greatest gave their voice for Cardinal Pool which being told him he disabled himself and wished them to chuse one that might be most for the Glory of God and good of the Church Upon this stop some that were no friends to Pool and perhaps looked for the place themselves if he were put off laid many things to his charge amongst other that he was not without suspicion of Lutheranism nor without blemish of incontinence but he cleared himself so handsomly that he was now more importan'd to take the place than before and therefore one night the Cardinals came to him being in bed and sent him in word that they came to adore him a circumstance of the new Popes honour but he being awaked out of his sleep and acquainted with it made answer That this was not a work of darkness and therefore required them to forbear till next day and then do as God should put it into their minds But the Italian Cardinals attributing this his humility to a kind of stupidity and sloth in Pool looked no more after him but the next day chose Cardinal Montanus Pope who was afterwards named Iulius the Third I have read of many that would have been Popes but could not I write this man one that could have been Pope but would not 11. Vlpius Trajanus the Emperour was a person of that rare affability and humility that when his Soldiers were wounded in any Battle he himself would go from Tent to Tent to visit and take care of them and when swaths and other cloaths were wanting wherewithal to bind up their wounds he did not spare his own Linnen but tare them in pieces to make things necessary for the wounds of his Soldiers And being reproved for his too much familiarity with his subjects he answered that he desired to be such an Emperour to his subjects as he would wish if he himself was a private man CHAP. XXV Of Counsel and the Wisdom of some men therein NO man they say is wise at all hours at least there are some hours wherein few are wise enough to give such counsel to themselves as the present emergency of their affairs may require Being dulled by calamity our inventions are too barren to yield us the means of our safety or else by precipitancy or partiality we are apt to miscarry in the conduct of our own business In this case a cordial friend is of singular use and if wise as well as faithful may stand us in as much stead as if the Oracle of Apollo was yet in being to be consulted with 1. A certain Chaquen that is a Visiter of a Province in China one of the most important employments in the Kingdom receiving of his visits after a few days were over shut up his Gates and refused to admit any further their visits or business pretending for his excuse that he was sick This being divulged a certain Mandarine a friend of his began to be much troubled at it and with much ado obtained leave to speak with him Being admitted he gave him notice of the discontent in the City by reason that businesses were not dispatch'd the other put him off with the same excuse of his sickness I see no signs of it replied his friend but if your Lordship will be pleased to tell me the true cause I will serve you in it to the utmost of my power conformable to that affection I bear you in my heart Know then replied the Visiter they have stoln the Kings Seal out of the Cabinet where it used to be kept leaving it lock'd as if it had not been touched so that if I would give audience I have not wherewithal to seal dispatches If I discover my negligence in the loss of the Seal I shall as you know loose both my Government and my life Well perceived the Mandarine how terrible the cause of his retirement was but presently making use of the quickness of his wit asked him if he had never an enemy in that City He answered yes and that it was the chief Officer in the City that is the Chief or Governour who of a long time had born him a secret grudge Away then quoth the Mandarine in great hast let your Lordship command that all your goods of worth be removed into the innermost part of the Palace let them set fire on the empty part and call out for help to quench it To which the Governour must of necessity repair with the first it being one of the principal duties of his office As soon as you see him amongst the people call out aloud to him and consign to him the Cabinet thus shut as it is that it may be secured in his possession from the danger of the fire for if it be he who hath caused the Seal to be stoln he will put it in its place again when he restores you the Cabinet if it be not he your Lordship shall lay the fault on him for having so ill kept it and so you shall not only be freed of this danger but also revenged of your enemy The Visiter followed his Counsel and it succeeded so well that the next morning after the night this fire was the Governour brought him the Seal in the Cabinet both of them concealing each others fault equally complying for the safety of both 2. Edwaerd Norgate was very judicious in Pictures for which purpose he was imployed into Italy to purchase some of the choicer for the Earl of Arundel Returning by Marsellis be missed the money he expected and being there unknowing of or unknown to any he was observed by a French Gentleman to walk in the Exâ—hange as I may call it of that City many hours every Morning and Evening with swift feet and sad face forwards and backwards To him the Civil Mounsieur addressed himself desiring to know the cause of his discontent and if it came within the compass of his power he promised
had best to begin with this Fish upon my Trencher at the head or the tail At the head said the Emperour for that is the more noble part Then Sir said the Bishop in the first place renounce you that incestuous marriage you have contracted with Judith The Emperour took this reprehension so well that he dismissed her accordingly 6. Alexander the great having taken a famous Pyrate and being about to condemn him to death asked him Why dost thou trouble the Seas And why said he dost thou trouble the whâ—â—â— world I with one Ship seek my Adventures and therefore am called a Pyrate thou with a great Army warrest against nations and therefore are called an Emperour so that there is no difference betwixt us but in the name Alexander was not displeased with this freedom but in consideration of what he had said he dismissed him without inflicting any punishment upon him 7. Theodosius the Emperour having cruelly slaughtered some thousands of the Thessalonians for some insolency of the Citizens to the Statues of his Wife coming to Millain would have entred the Church to have communicated with other Christians but was resisted and forbid by St. Ambrose in which estate the Emperour stood for eight Months and then with great humility and submission acknowledging his offence was absolved and again received into the Congregation and notwithstanding St. Ambrose had reproved him with great liberty and opposed him with as much resolution yet the good Emperour both obeyed willingly and â—everenced exceedingly that great Prelate 8. There came a young man to Rome who in the opinion of all men exceedingly resembled the Emperor Augustus whereof he being informed sent for him being in presence he asked him if his mother had never been at Rome the stranger answered No but his Father had the Emperor took patiently this sharp reply and sent him away without harm 9. M. Antoninus Pius used to take well the free and facetious speeches of his friends even such as seemed to be uttered with too great a freedom and liberty Coming once to the house of Omulus his friend and beholding there at his entrance divers Columns of Porphyry he enquired 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 manner as some others would have done 10. Philip King of Macedon with great patience admitted such liberty and freedom in speaking to him He had in one battel taken a considerable number of Prisoners and was himself in person to see them sold in port â—ale As he sate in his Chair his Clothes were turned or tucked up higher then was decent and seemly when one of the Prisoners who was upon sale cry'd unto him Good my Lord I beseech you pardon me and suffer me not to be sold amongst the rest for I am a friend of yours and so was to your Father before you And prethee good fellow said Philip whence grew this great friendship betwixt us and how is it come about Sir said the Prisoner I would gladly give you an account of that privately in your ear Then Philip commanded that he should be brought unto him he thus whispered in his ear Sir I pray you let down your mantle a little lower before for sitting thus in the posture as you do you discover that which were more meeâ— to be unseen Hereupon Philip spake aloud unto his Officers Let this man said he go at liberty for in truth he is one of our good friends and wisheth us well though I either knew it not before or at least had forgotten it 11. Demetrius won the City of Athens by assault before much distressed for lack of Corn but being Master of the Town he caused the whole body of the City to be assembled before him unto whom he declared that he bestow'd upon them freely a great quantity of Grain but in this his speech to the people he chanced to commit an incongruity in Grammar when one of the Citizenâ— set thereby to hear him arose and with a loud voice pronounced that word aright For the correction of this one Solecism said he I give unto thee besides my former gift 5000 Medimnes or measures of Corn more CHAP. XXXV Of the incredible strength of mind wherewith some Persons have supported themselves in the midst of torments and other hardship A Young Gentleman immediately before he was to enter into a battel was observed to be seised with a sudden shaking and shivering all over his body Whereupon one asked him what was the matter My flesh said he trembles at the foresight of those many and great dangers whereinto my resolved and undaunted heart will undoubtedly carry it The strength of some mens hearts hath not only prevailed over the weakness of their flesh but reduced it to a temper capable of enduring as much as if it had been brass or something that if possible is yet more insensible 1. When we were come within sight of the City of Buda there came by the Command of the Bassa some of his family to meet us with divers Chiauses 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 which was in most of them shaven they had cut a long line in the Skin in which wound they had stuck feathers of all kinds and they were dew'd with drops of blood yet dissembling the pain they rode with as much mirth and chearfulness 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 them 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 stuck therein as if it had hung at his Girdle another had fastned a Horse-shoo with divers Nails upon the Crown of his Head but that was old done the Nails being so grown in with the flesh that the shoo was made fast In this Pomp we entred Buda and was brought into the Bassa's Palace 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 said I but that they use their flesh in such manner as I would not use my cloaths as being desirous to keep them whole he smiled and dismissed us 2. Andronicus Comnenus fell alive into the hands of his enemy who having loaden him with injuries and contumelies abandoned the miserable Emperor to the people for the punishment of his perfâ—diousness By these he had redoubled buffets given
and it bestows those blows with that blindness and prodigality and oftentimes sullies the last hours of it very minious with that blackness that we count those happy men that have felt least of her frowns In which respect 1. Lucius Matellus may well pass for one of these fortunate persons for he was one of the Quindecimviri that is one of the fifteen men appointed for the keeping of the Sibylline Oracles and to see that sacrifice and all Ceremonial Rites were duely performed he was General of the Horse twice Consul chief Pontiff the first that shewed Elephants in his Triumph and a person in whom all those Ten Ornaments met which may befal a most happy Citizen In a most flourishing City for he was a stout warrior good Orator fortunate Leader performed great matters being personally present had ascended to the greatest honours was very wise a complete Senator had attained great riches by honest means left many Children and was most eminent in the most celebrious City 2. Quintus Metellus by incessant degrees of indulgent Fortune from the day of his birth to that of his death at last arrived to the top of a most happy life He was born in a City that was the Princess of the World and was born of noble Parents he had rare gifts of the mind and a sufficiency of bodily strength to undergo labour and travel he had a Wife conspicuous at once for her chastity and fruitfulness he had born the Office of a Consul been General of an Army and had gloriously triumphed he had three Sons of Consular degree one whereof had been Censor and also triumphant and the fourth was a Pretor he had three Dunghters bestowed in Marriage whose Children he had with him How many Births and Cradles how many of his Descendants at man's estate how many Nuptials what Honours Governments and what abundant Congratulations did he behold in his Family And all this felicity at no time interrupted with any Funeral any sighs or the least cause of sadness Look up to Heaven it self and you shall scarce find the like state in that place seeing our greatest men have assigned mourning and grief to the Gods themselves The last act of his life was agreeable to all the rest for having lived to a great age he expired by a gentle and easie way of death amongst the kisses and embraces of his dearest Relations and when dead was born upon the shoulders of his Sons and Sons in Law through the City and by them laid upon his Funeral fire 3. The very same day that Philip King of Macedon had the City of Potidaea surrendred up to himself there came a Messenger that brought him word of a great Victory that Parmenio his General had obtained over the Illyrians Another brought him news that his Horse had won the Prize and Victory at the Olympick Games And then came a third to acquaint him that Olympias his Queen was delivered of a young Prince which afterwards proved the unconquerable Alexander 4. It is a rare happiness of the Family of St. Lawrence Barons of Hâ—ath in Ireland that the Heirs thereof for four hundred Years together have always been of age before the death of their Fathers Clarks Mirr cap. 104. pag. 493. 5. Polycrates of Samos was a petty Kieg but a Minion of Fortune had such a Series of Prosperity in all his Affairs that he was advised by Amasis King of Egypt and his Alley to apply some remedy to his over-great Fortune and that he might have some occasion of trouble exhorted him to cast away what he most esteemed in such manner as he should be sure never more to hear of He therefore threw into the Sea that precious Emerald of his which he used as his Signet but not long after it was sound in the belly of a Fish that was dressed for his Table 6. And to shew us that there is a kind of recurrency of remarkable Accidents one Anderâ—â— a Townsman and Merchant talking with a friend on Newcastle-Bridge and fingering his Ring before he was aware let in â—all into the River and was much troubled with the loâ—â— thereof until the same was found in a Fish caught in the River and restored unto him 7. It is said of the Emperor Antoninus Pius that his Affairs had so good success that he never repented him of any thing he did that he was never denyed any thing he asked and that he never commanded any thing wherein he was not obeyed And being asked by a Senator who marvelled at these things the reason of them Because said he I make all my doings conformable to Reason I demand not any thing which is not rightful I command not any thing which redoundeth not more to the benefit of the Commonwealth than to mine own profit 8. That was a marvellous happy Accident that fell out to a Rower in a Tyrian Vessel he was cleansing of the Deck when a Wave took him on the one side and struck him into the Sea and soon after a contrary Wave hoisted him up into the Ship again so the lamentations of his misfortune were mixed with congratulations for his safety 9. L. Sylla might well be sirnamed The Happy for whereas he had attained the Dictatorship with many hazards and therein had put to death two thousand six hundred Knights of Rome had slain ten Consuls proscribed and exiled so many and forbid so many others the Rights of Burial yet when he had voluntarily resigned the Dictatorship and devested himself of so great a Power all Rome beheld him securely walking in the Market-place and no man attempted to revenge upon him so great miseries as he had occasioned to that City 10. Arnulphus Duke of Lorrain when he had dropp'd his Ring into the Mosella had it restored to him again from the belly of a Fish 11. Matthias King of Hungary caused his Money and other things to be stamped with the Figure of a Crow carrying a Ring with an Emerald in her bill whereof I find this to be the reason having upon some occasion laid his Ring with an Emerald in it besides him a Crow came and snatched it away the King followed the Crow shot her with a Pistol Bullet and thereby became again the Master of his Ring 12. Timotheus a General of the Athenians had Fortune so favourable and propitious to him that in every War he had an easie and assured Victory So that his Rivals in Glory at that time envying his great prosperity painted Fortune casting Cities and Towns into his lap as he lay sleeping besides it Timotheus once beholding this Emblem said If I take Cities while I sleep what think you shall I do when I am awake 13. Xanthus writes of Alcimus King of the Lydians that he was a Prince of a singular both Piety and Clemency that thereupon he not only had an uncommon prosperity in the matters relating to his Person but
God to take care of heavenly things and not to cross him in his worldly actions He kept no promise further than for his advantage and took all occasions to satisfie his lust 18. Philomelus Onomarchus and Phaillus had spoil'd the Temple of Delphos and had their punishment divinely allotted to them For whereas the ordained punishment of sacrilegious persons is this That they shall die by being thrown head-long from some high place or by being choak'd in the water or burnt to ashes in the fire Not long after this plunder of theirs one of them was burnt alive another drowned and the third was thrown head-long from an high and steep place so that by these kinds of deaths they suffered according to that Law which amongst the Grecians was made against such as are found guilty of Sacriledge 19. Agathocles without any provocation came upon the Liparenses with a Fleet and exacted of them fifty Talents of Silver The Liparenses desired a further time for the payment of some part of the money saying they could not at present furnish so great a summ unless they should make bold with such gifts as had been devoted to the gods and which they had never used to abuse Agathocles forc'd them to pay all down forthwith though part of the money was inscribed with the names of Aeolus and Vulcan so having received it he set sail from them but a mighty wind and storm arose whereby the ten Ships that carryed the money were all dasht in pieces Whereupon it was said that Aeolus who is said thereabouts to be the god of the Winds had taken immediate revenge upon him and that Vulcan remitted his to his death for Agathocles was afterwards burnt alive in his own Country 20. Cambyses sent fifty thousand Souldiers to pull down the Temple of Iupiter Ammon but all that number having taken their repast betwixt Oasis and the Ammonians before they came to the place perished under the vast heaps of sand that the wind blew upon them so that not so much as one of them escaped and the news of their calamity was only made known by the neighbouring Nations 21. When those bloody wars in France for matters of Religion saith Richard Dinoth were so violently pursued between the Hugonots and Papists there were divers found that laughed them all to scorn as being a sort of superstitious fools to lose their lives and fortunes upon such slender accounts accounting Faith Religion immortality of the Soul meer fopperies and illusions And as Mercennus thinks there are fifty thousand Atheists in Paris at this day 22. Bulco Opiliensis sometimes Duke of Silesia was a perfect Atheist he lived saith Aeneas Sylvius at Vratislavia and was so mad to satisfie his lust that he believed neither Heaven nor Hell or that the Soul was immortal but married Wives and sent them away as he thought good did murder and mischief and whatsoever he himself took pleasure to do 23. Frederick the Emperour saith Matthew Paris is reported to have said that there were three principal Impostors Moses Christ and Mahomet who that they might rule the world had seduced all those that liv'd in their times And Henry the Lantgrave of Hesse heard him speak it That if the Princes of the Empire would adhere to his institutions he would ordain and set forth another and better way both for Faith and Manners CHAP. II. Of such as were exceeding hopeful in Youth but afterwards improv'd to the worse THere is nothing saith Montaigne at this day more lovely to behold than the French Children but for the most part they deceive the hope that was fore-apprehended of them for when they once become men there is no excellency at all in them Thus as many a bright and fair morning has been followed with dark and black Clouds before Sun-set so not a few have out-liv'd their own vertues and utterly frustrated the good hopes that were conceived of them 1. Dionysius the younger the Tyrant of Sicily upon the death of his father shew'd himself exceeding merciful and of a Princely liberality he set at liberty three thousand persons that were under restraint for debt making satisfaction to the Creditors himself He remitted his ordinary Tributes for the space of three years and did several other things whereby he gain'd the favour and universal applause of the people But having once established himself in the Government he re-assumed that disposition which as it appears he had only laid aside for a time He caused his Uncles to be put to death whom he was aw'd by or stood in fear of he slew his own Brethren that he might have no Rival in the Soveraignty and soon after he raged against all sorts with a promiscuous cruelty in such manner that he deserved to be called not so much the Tyrant as Tyranny it self 2. Philip the last King of the Macedonians but one and who made war upon the Romans was as Polybius saith of him who saw and knew him a Prince adorned with most of the gifts and perfections both of body and mind he had a comely visage a straight and proper body a ready eloquence a strong memory comprehensive wit a facetious ingenuity in his speeches and replyes accompanyed with a Royal gravity and majesty he was well seen in matters of Peace and War he had a great spirit and a liberal mind and in a word he was a King of that promising and fair hope as scarcely had Macedon or Greece it self seen any other his like But behold in a moment all this noble building was overturn'd whether by the fault of Fortune that was adverse to him in his dispute with the Romans brake his spirit and courage and wheel'd him back from his determined course unto Glory or whether it was by the fault of Informers or his own who gave too easie and inconsiderate an ear to them however it came to pass he laid aside the better sort of men poysoned some and slew others not sparing his own blood at length for he put to death his own son Demetrius To conclude that Philip concerning whom there were such goodly hopes and in the beginning of whose Reign there had been such happy and auspicious discoveries declin'd unto all kind of evil prov'd a bad Prince hated and unfortunate 3. Herod King of Iudea in the six first years of his Reign was as gallant mild and magnificent a Prince as any other whatsoever but during the rest of his Rule which was one and thirty years he was fierce and cruel both to others and to his own friends and family to that degree that at one time he caused seventy Senators of the Royal blood to be put to death he slew his Wife and three of his own sons and at the last when he saw that he himself was at the point to die he sent for all the Nobles from every part of Iudea upon the pretence of some weighty occasion and when they were
might fall upon her as she slept in the night when this was discovered he made a Ship that should be taken in pieces that so she might perish either by wrack or the fall of the Decks upon her but she escaped this danger also by swimming Which when Nero understood he commits the slaughter of his mother to Anicetus the Centurion who taking along with him to the Villa of Agrippina persons fit for the employment compassed the house brake open the door and with his drawn sword presented himself with the rest of the Murderers at her bed-side apprehending his intention she shew'd him her belly and bad him strike there This Womb of mine said she is deservedly to be digged up that has brought forth such a Monster and so after many wounds died It 's said that Nero came thither to behold the Corpse of his mother that he took her limbs into his hands and commended this and dispraised that other as his fancy led him he caused her Belly to be opened that he might see the place where once he had lain while this was doing finding himself a dry he was so unconcerned as to call for drink without leaving the place saying He did not think he had so handsome a mother 7. Bajazet the second of that name being thrust out of his mighty Empire by his son Selymus when he was near fourscore broken with years and grief resolved to forsake Constantinople before he was enforced to it by his son and to retire himself to Dymotica a small and pleasant City in Thrace where he had formerly bestowed much cost for his pleasure and now thought it the fittest place wherein to end his sorrowful daies But the cursed impiety of Selymus had provided otherwise for him for with the promise of ten Duckets a day during life and threats of a cruel death in case it was not performed he prevail'd with Haman a Jew chief Physician to the old Emperour to make him away by poyson as he was upon his Journey so that with horrible gripings and heavy groans he gave up the Ghost in the year 1512. when he had Reigned thirty years The perfidious Jew upon the delivery of the poysonous potion had hasted to Constantinople to bring Selymus the first news of it who commanded his head to be presently struck off saying That for the hopes of reward he would not stick to do the like to Selymus himself 8. Orodes was the King of Parthia the same who had overcome Crassus his Army and slain himself in the field he was grown old in grief for the death of his son Pacorus slain by Ventidius and was fallen into a Dropsie not likely to live long his son Phraates thought his death too slow and did therefore determine to hasten it by poyson which being administred had an effect so contrary that only putting him into a looseness it carried the disease away with it and instead of a messenger of death it proved a medicine of health His son incensed at so strange a miscarriage of his design passed from secret to open Parricide and caused the old King his father to be openly smothered He mounted the Throne and sending back the Ensigns and spoils of the defeated Army of Crassus he was so much in the favour of Augustus that he sent him a beautiful Italian Lady for his Concubine of her he begat Phrataces who when he was grown up with the privity and endeavours of his mother became the murderer of his father making him the example of the same impiety whereof in times past he had been the detestable Author 9. Eucratides King of the Bactrians in all his Wars behaved himself with much prowess when he was worn out with the continuance of them and was closely besieged by Demetrius King of the Indians although he had not above three thousand Souldiers with him by his daily Sallies he wasted the enemies Forces consisting of sixty thousand and being at liberty in the fifth Month reduced all India under his command In his return homewards he was slain by his own son whom he had made joynt Partner with him in the Kingdom he did not go about to dissemble or smother his Parricide but drave his Charriot through the blood and commanded the dead Corpse to be cast aside into some by-place or other unburied as if he had slain an enemy and not murdered a father 10. When saith Howell I was in Valenâ—ia in Spain a Gentleman told me of a Miracle which happened in that Town which was That a proper young man under twenty was Executed there for a crime and before he was taken down from the Tree there were many gray and white hairs had budded forth of his Chin as if he had been a man of sixty It struck amazement into all men but this interpreâ—ation was made of it That the said young man might have lived to such an age if he had been dutiful to his Parents unto whom he had been barbarously disobedient and unnatural 11. Scander late King of Georgia by a Circassian Lady had three hopeful sons Scander-Cawne Thre-Beg and Constandel all born Christians but for preferment the two last named became Bosar-men or Circumcised Thre-Beg served the Turk Constandel the Persian Constandel was naturally deformed but of such an active Spirit that his bodily imperfections were not noted but his hateful ambition rendred him more than Monstrous It happened that Acbas King of Persia had vow'd some revenge upon the Turks and to that end gave order to Ally-Cawne to trouble them Constandel perceives the occasion right to attempt his hellish resolutions and therefore after long suit got to be joined in Commission with the Persian General Through Georgia they go where Constandel under a pre-text of duty visits his sad parents who upon his protests that his Apostasie was counterseit joyfully welcomed him but he forgetting that and all other ties of nature next night at a solemn Banquet caused them to be murdered and till the Georgians saluted him King perpetrated all sorts of Villanies imaginable But how secure soever he stood in his own fancy the dreadful Justice of an impartial God retaliated him the rest of his life after this hated Parricide was infinitely miserable For first near Sumachan Cycala's son the Turkish General wounded him in the arm and by that gained the Victory over the Persian The same night he was also assaulted in his Tent by his enraged Country-men who in his stead for at the first alarm he escaped cut a Catamite in pieces his accursed bed-fellow And though he so far exasperated the Persian to revenge that he brought the whole Army into Georgia resolving there to act unparallel'd Tragedies yet was he over-reach'd in his Stratagems for upon parley with the Queen his late brothers Wife he was shot to death at a private signal given by that Amazon to some Musquetteers ambushed of purpose betwixt both the Armies a just punishment for such a Viper
she was by him well beaten with Myrtle Rods. And for that reason the women when they dress up and adorn the Chapel or Shrine of their goddess Bona they never bring home for that purpose any branches of the Myrtle Tree and yet otherwise take pleasure to make use of all sorts of branches and flowers in that solemnity 3. At Argos there were two of the principal Citizens who were the heads of opposite Factions one to another in the Government oâ— the City the one was named Nicostratus and the other Phaulius Now when King Philip came to the City it was generally thought that Phaulius plotted and practised to attained unto some absolute principality and soveraignty in the City by the means of his wife who was a young and beautiful Lady in case he could once bring her to the Kings bed and that she might lie with him Nicostratus was aware of as much and smelling his design walked before Phaulius his door and about his house on purpose to discover his intentions and what he would do therein He soon found that the base Phaulius had furnished his wife with a pair of high Shooes had cast about her a mantle and set upon her head a Chaplet after the Macedonian fashion Having thus accoutred her after the manner of the Kings Pages he sent her secretly in that habit and attire unto the Kings lodging as a Sacrifice to his lust and an agrument of an unparallel'd villany in himself who could endure to be the Pander in the prostitution of his own Wife 4. Periander the Corinthian in a high sit of passion trod his Wife under-foot and although she was at that time with child of a boy yet he never desisted from his injurious treatment of her till such time as he had killed her upon the place Afterwards when he was come to himself and was sensible that what he had done was through the calumniating instigation of his Concubines he caused them all to be burnt alive and banished his son Lycophron as far as Corcyra upon no other occasion than that he lamented the death of his Mother with tears and outcryes 5. Nero the Emperour being once incensed against his Wife Poppaea Sabina gave her such a kick with his foot upon the belly that she thereupon departed this life But though he was a man that seemed to be born to cruelty and blood yet he afterwards so repented himself of this act that he would not suffer her body to be burnt after the Roman manner but built the funeral pile for her of odours and perfumes and so ordered her to be brought into the Iulian monument 6. Herod the Sophist being offended with his Wife Rhegilâ—a for some slight fault of hers commanded his freed man Alcimedon to beat her She was at that time eight months gone with Child or near upon so that by the imprudence of him who was imployed to chastise her She received some blows upon her belly which occasioned first her miscarriage and soon after her death Her Brother Bradeas a person of great nobility cited her Husband Herodes to answer the death of his Sister before the Senate of Rome where if he had not it is pity but he should have received a condign punishment 7. When M. Antonius was overcome at Actium Herod King of Iudaea believing that he was in danger to lose his Kingdom because he had been a fast friend to Antonius determined to meet Caesar Augustus at Rhodes and there endeavour to assure his favour to him Having resolved upon his journey he committed the care and custody of his Wiâ—e to Sohemus his friendâ— giving him withall thus much in command That in case he should hear of his death by the way or at the place wither he was intended that then he should not fail forthwith to kill Mariamne his Wife yielding this only reason of his injunction that it might not be in the power of any man to enjoy so great a beauty after his decease Mariamne had extorted this secret from Sohemus and at Herod's return twitted him with it Herod caused Sohemus unheard to be immediately put to death and not long after he also beheaded Mariamne his beloved Queen and Wife 8. Amalasuenta had raised Theodahitus at once to be her Husband and King of the Goths but upon this proviso that he should make 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 forgat his Wife and benefactress recalled her enemies from banishment put her friends and relations many of them to death banished her self unto an Island in the Vulsiner lake and there set a strong guard upon her At last he thought himself not sufficiently safe so long as Amalasumha was alive and thereupon he dispatched certain of his instruments to the place of her exile with order to put her to death who â—inding her in a bath gave her no further time but strangled her there CHAP. VIII Of such Wives as were unnatural to their Husbands or evil deported towards them IN Italy there grows an herb they call it the Basilisco it is sweet scented enough but withal it hath this strange property that being laid under a stone in a moist place in a few dayes it produces a scorpion Thus though the Woman in her first creation was intended as a meet help for man the partner of his joyes and cares the sweet perfume and relish of his dayes throughout his whole pilgrimage yet there are some so far degenerated from their primitive institution though otherwise of exteriour beauty and perfection enough that they have proved more intolerable than Scorpions not only tormenting the life but hastning the death of their too indulgent Husbands 1. Ioan Gandchild to Robert King of Naples by Charles his son succeeded her Grandfather in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Anno 1343. a woman of a beautiful body and rare endowments of nature She was first married to her Cousin Andrew a prince of Royal extraction and of a sweet and loving disposition but he being not able to satisfie her wantonness She kept company with lewd persons at last she grew weary of him complaining of his insufficiency and caused him in the City of Aversa to be hung upon a beam and strangled in the night time and then threw out his Corpse into a Garden where it lay some dayes unburied It is said that this Andrew on a day coming into the Queens chamber and finding her twisting a thick string of silk and silver demanded of her for what purpose she made it she answered to hang you in which he then little believed the rather because those who intend such mischief use not to speak of it before-hand but it seems she was as good as her word 2. Cicero put away his wife Terentia for divers reasons as because she had made small
their Complices that stood not far off put the Governour into safe keeping enter and kill man woman and child yea and the very horses in the stable That done they force the Governour to command open the City gates and so they depart and disperse into private places amongst their friends some fled to the next Sea Ports and so gat far off but such as staid any whit near were so diligently searched for that they were found drawn out of their holes and put to death with grievous tortures after which their hands and feet being cut off were nailed to that Tablet saith he which you saw as you entred the City as a lesson to Posterity The Sun having broiled those limbs so fastened makes Travellers that know nothing of the Tragedy to suppose they are Reermice 4. Dionysius the younger a Tyrant of Sicily came to Locris the birth place of his Mother Doris there he took the most stately and capacious house in all the City he caused all the rooms of it to be strew'd with a sort of wild Beteny and Roses and having utterly cast off all shame sent for several of the Locrensian Virgins whom having stripped naked he tumbled with upon a bed being also naked himself But the incensed Citizens took a sharp revenge upon him for this affront in the persons of his Wife and Children for having inflicted a thousand torments upon these innocent persons at last they thrust Needles into their fingers betwixt their flesh and the nails and then cut their throats after which they chopt their flesh into small pieces of which they boiled some cursing all those that would make dainty to eat of it the rest they dried and grinded that it might be swallowed down in pottage by poor people that which remained they cast into the Sea their bones were beaten in Mortars and the powder mingled with those horrible Messes and the pottage which they had made of humane flesh As for the Tyrant himself he was reduced to that necessity that he went up and down playing upon a Cymbal to procure food for his belly and died in that miserable state 5. Conrade Trincio Lord of Fulingo in the Dutchy of Spoleto hearing that the Captain of the Castle of Nocera had slain Nicholas Trincio his brother upon suspicion of Adultery came and besieged this Captain and held him so strait to it that being out of all hope to save himself he first cut the throats of his Wife and Children and then threw himself down from an high Tower that he might not fall alive into the power of Conrade Who seeing himself frustrated of the means to torment him according to his intention set upon the kindred allies friends and familiars and as many of them as he could take he tortured without all mercy and after he had murdered them plucked out their bowels chopt their bodies into small parcels hung up their quarters in the High-waies their bowels and guts upon bushes and places of shew for Travellers to gaze on behaving himself with that savage and outragious cruelty that no man can call it a punishment or revenge but must study to find out a fit name for it and after all perhaps shall lose his labour 6. Altobel a Citizen of Tudertum which some call Todi in the Dutchy of Spoleto made War upon his fellow Citizens seized upon the City and State After which he behaved himself with great cruelty amongst them both towards rich and poor Many in-roads he also made up on the Neighbour Territories spoiled and risted some other Cities near Tudertum At last he was defeated and taken Prisoner by the Popes Army forthwith he was bound stark naked to a Post in the Market place to the end that all they whom he had wrong'd might revenge themselves upon him in what manner they pleased Thither run the Mothers whose Children he had killed who like so many wild beasts begin to tear his body with their greedy Teeth others wound cut and slash him some in one sort some in another the fathers kindred and friends of such as he had Massacred pulled out his eyes heart entrails not forgetting any point of extream rigour which they made him not to feel He with a courage desperately obstinate endured these torments with constancy saying between times That no new thing had happened unto him and that long since he had foreseen within himself this punishment Being dead they put an end to their fury by cutting his body into morsels which like flesh in a Butchers Shop were sold by weight and afterwards eaten by those that bought them Leander in his description of Italy saith this fell out in his time 7. The Duke of Limbourg deceasing without issue the Duke of Brabant and the Earl of Gelders strove about the succession each of them pretending right to it when they could not agree they fell to arms at last the Duke of Brabant wan the Victory in a Battel and took amongst other Prisoners the Bishop of Collen who followed the party of the Earl of Gelders This Bishop after he had been Prisoner to the Earl of Heynault the space of seven years was set at liberty upon certain conditions which he accepted and being ready to return home he prayed the Earl that he would honour him so far as to convey him into his Country The Earl willingly condescended and having brought him almost to Collen not mistrusting any thing he saw himself upon the sudden enclosed with a Troop of Horse-men which took him and delivered him to the Bishop who locked him up in a Prison where he ended his daies And the more to vex and torment him the Bishop caused an Iron Cage to be made and anointed all over with honey which was laid out to the Sun the Earl being locked fast within it This was done in the memory of our Fathers saith Philip Camerarius 8. Ranimirus the base son of Sanctius the great was fetched out of a Monastery by those of Tarracon Anno 1017. and made King After which in an expedition against the Moors having taken his shield in his left and his lance in his right hand he was bid by some Nobles about him to take the bridle of his Horse how can I said he unless you reach it to be held in my teeth seeing both my hands are already full At this the Nobles fell into a laughter and he thereat conceived such displeasure against them that having sent for eleven of the chief of them to Ostea he caused their heads to be struck off only saying the Fox knew not who he played with 9. Anaximenes one of the Master and Companions of Alexander the Great that he might revenge himself of Theopompus the son of Damostratus wrote a malevolent history exquisitely expressed this he sent forth under the name of Theopompus whose stile he had imitated to the very life and dedicated it to the Athenians and Lacedemonians by which means he raised bitter and
potent enemies to Theopompus throughout all Greece 10. C. Cornisicius a Poet and Emulator of Virgil when he saw the Souldiers often flying he called them Helmetted Hares who so far resented this term of ignominy that upon the first opportunity they all deserted him in fight and so he was slain upon the place by the enemy 11. Vitellius the Emperour upon the coming of Vespasian was seised upon by the people of Rome they bound his hands behind him put a halter about his neck torâ— his garments and drew him half naked into the Forum they taunted him all along the street called the Sacred way with the most opprobrious speâ—ches They drew backward the hairs of his head as is usual with heinous Malefactours they underser his chin with the point of a Sword that he might carry his face aloft to be seen of all men some cast dirt and dung upon him others called him Incendiary and Gormandizer others upbraided him with defaults in his body at the last he was cruelly put to death at the Gemonies with little blows and by slow degrees thence he was drawn with a hook and his dead body thrown in Tiber. 12. M. Tullius Cicero had made some invective Orations against M. Antonius for which when Antonius came to be of the Triumvirate he caused him to be slain Fulvia the Wife of Antonius not satisfied with the death of that great Orator caused his head to be brought to her upon which she bestowed many curses she spat in the face of it she placed it upon her lap and opening the mouth drew out the tongue and pricked it in divers places with a needle and after all caused it to be set up in a high and eminent place over those Pulpits from whence the Orators use to speak their Orations to the people Reynolds Treat pass chap. 15. p. 150. 13. Pope Stephen the seventh having been hindred from the Popedom by Formosus his Predecessour when after his death he was made Pope he caused his dead body to be taken out out of the Sepulchre to be stript of the Pontificial Ornaments cloathed in secular garments and to be buried without the Church he also caused his fingers to be cut off and to be cast into the River for the Fish to devour When Sergius the third came to be Pope he caused the body of the same Formosus to be drawn out of its second burying place to be beheaded in the Forum or Market-place and then to be cast into the River Tiber to gratifie Lotharius the King of France who thus hated the dead Formosus for that by his means the Empire was translated from the French to the Berengarians others say that Sergius did this to Formosus because he had also opposed him in the Election 14. Cambyses the son of Cyrus King of Persia sent to Amasis King of Egypt that he should send him his Daughter Amasis knowing that the Persian would use her but as one of his Concubines not his Wife and withall dreading his power he sent Nitetes the Daughter of Apries the former King adorned after the manner of his Daughter The Daughter of Apries made known this deceit to Cambyses at her first coming who was thereupon so incensed that he resolved upon a war with Egypt and though Amasis was dead before he could take Memphis yet as soon as he had he went thence to the City Sais enters the Palace of Amasis caused the body of him to be taken out of his Sepulcher which done he would have it to be scourged pulled beaten prickt and used with all the contumely he could devise this being done till the ministers of his pleasure were wearied and seeing the salted Carcase opposed their blows so that no particle fell from it thereby he at last caused it to be cast into the fire where it was burt to ashes 15. Cyrus warring against Tonyris Queen of the Massagetes had by a stratagem taken her Son Spargapises for he had left part of his army with plentiful provisions of meats and wines on purpose to be seised upon These troops Spargapises had cut in pieces and that done set himself and his army to feasting and carowsing and while they were secure asleep and enfeebled by drinking Cyrus set upon them killed and took most of them Spargapises brought before Cyrus desired him that he might be unbound when he was loosed and his hands at liberty grieved for the discomfiture of his army he slew himself After which Tomyris in a great battle overthrew the forces of Cyrus and having found him amongst the dead in revenge of her Sons death she caused his head to be cut off and to be thrown into a vessel full of humane blood with this bitter sarcasm say some Satiate thy self with blood which thou hast so much thirsted after but Herodotus thus Thou hast destroyed my Son taken by guile while I am alive and victorious but as I threatned I will satiate thee with blood 16. A Noble Hungarian having found one in bed with his Wife committed the Adulterer to prison there to be famished to death and that he might the better attain his end he caused a roasted Hen ever and anon to be let down to his nose that by the smell of the meat his appetite might be excited to the greater eagerness but he was not suffered to taste of it only it was presented to make his punishment the more bitter when the miserable creature had endured this manner of usage for six days the seventh it was found that he had eaten the upper part of his own arms 17. When Paris was dead Helena was married to another of the Sons of Priamus called Deiphobus and Troy being taken by the Greeks Menelaus her first from whom she had been stolen acted his revenge upon this later Husband with great severity for he cut off his ears and arms and nose and at the last when he had maimed him all over and in every part he suffered him to dye in exquisite torments 18. Fridericus Barbarossa the Emperour with a strong army besieged Millaine that had withdrawn it self from under his obedience and had lately affronted his Empress on this manner The Empress desirous to see the City and not fearing to meet with any disrespect from a place under her Husbands jurisdiction had put her self into it The mad people seise upon her set her upon the back of a Mule with her face to the tail-ward and the tail in her hand instead of a bridle and in this contumelious manner put her out at the other gate of the City The Emperour justly incensed urged the besieged to yield who at last did and he received them to mercy upon this condition that every person who desired to live should with their teeth take a Fig out of the genitals of a Mule as many as refused were immediately to be beheaded divers preferred death before this ignominy those that desired life did
to walk with them day by day without the Walls he did it often and by degrees trained them so far onwards that he brought them unawares into the danger of the Roman Stations where they were all taken He bids them lead him to Camillus he was brought into his Tent where standing in the middle I am said he the Master of these Boyes and having a greater respect to thee than to my relation I am come to deliver thee the City in the pledges of these Children Camillus heard him and looking upon it as a base action he turned to them about him War said he is a cruel thing and draws along with it a multitude of injuries and wrongs yet to good men there are certain Laws of War nor ought we so to thirst after Victory as to purchase it at the price of unworthy and impious actions A great Captain should relye upon his own vertue and not attain his ends by the treachery of another Then he commands his Lictours to strip the School-master and having tyed his hands behind him to deliver rods into the hands of his Scholars to whip and scourge the Traytor back into the City The Faliscans had before perceived the Treason and there was an universal mourning and out-cry within the City for so great a Calamity so that a concourse of Noble persons both men and women like so many mad creatures were running to and fro upon the Walls when came the Children driving with lashes their Master before them calling Camillus their Preserver and Father The Parents and the rest of the Citizens were astonished at what they beheld and having the justice of Camillus in great admiration they called an Assembly and sent Embassadours to let him know That subdu'd by his vertue they rendred up themselves and theirs freely into his hands 5. Agathocles was very prosperous in Africk had taken all the rest of the Cities and shut up his enemies in Carthage alone about which he lay when he invited Ophellas the Cyrenian to join with him promising that the Crown of Africk should be his Ophellas won with this hope came to him with great Forces and was together with his Army chearfully received and provided for by Agathocles but soon after a great part of his power being gone forth to Forage and Ophellas but weak in the Camp he was fallen upon and slain in the fight and his whole Army by vast promises won to the Colours of Agathocles But observe how successful this treachery proved It was not long e're Agathocles was forced to fly out of Africa his Army lost and two of his sons slain by the fury of the mutinous Souldiers and which is worthy of observation this was done by the hands of them that came with Ophellas and in the same Month and day of the Month that he had treacherously slain Ophellas both his friend and his Guest 6. Ladislaus Kerezin a Hungarian trayterously delivered up Hiula a strong place to the Turks and when he looked to receive many and great Presents for this his notable piece of Service certain Witnesses were produced against him by the command of Sâ—lymus himself who deposed That the said Ladislaus had cruelly handled certain Musulmans that had been Prisoners with him Whereupon he was delivered to some friends of theirs to do with him as they should think good They inclosed this Traytor stark-naked in a Tun or Hogâ—head set full of long sharp nails within side and rolled it from the top of a high Mountain full of steepy downfals to the very bottom where being run through every part of the body with those sharp nails he ended his wretched life 7. Leo Armenius Emperour of Constantinople was slain by some Conspiratours in the Temple there and Michael Balbus set up to succeed in his room He also dead Theophilus his son was advanced to the Imperial place of his father who was no sooner confirmed in his Empire but he called together the whole Senate into his Palace and bids those of them that assisted his father in the slaughter of Leo to separate themselves from the rest which when they had chearfully done turning to the Prefect over Capital offences he commanded him to seise and carry them away and to execute condigne punishment upon them 8. When the Emperour Aurelian marched against Thyana and found the Gates of the City shut against him he swore he would make such a slaughter that he would not leave a Dog alive in the whole City The Souldiers enticed with the hope of spoil did all they were able to take it which one Heracleon perceiving and fearing to perish with the rest betrayed the City into their hands Aurelian having taken it caused all the Dogs in the City to be slain But gave to all the Citizens a free pardon as to life except only the treacherous Heracleon whom he caused to be slain saying He would never prove faithful to him that had been the betrayer of his own Country 9. Solyman the magnificent employed one in the Conquest of the Isle of Rhodes promising the Traytor to give him for his wife one of his daughters with a very great Dowry He after his service done demanding that which was promised Solyman caused his daughter to be brought in most Royal Pomp assigning him the Marriage of her according to his desert The Traytour could not keep his Countenance he was so transported with joy Thou seest said Solyman I am a man of my word but for as much as thou art a Christian and my daughter thy Wife that shall be is a Mahumetan by birth and profession you cannot so live in quietness and I am loth to have a Son-in-law that is a not Musulman both within and without and therefore it is not enough that thou abjure Christianity in word as many of thy Sect are wont to do but thou must forthwith doff thy skin which is Baptized and uncircumcised Having so said he commanded some that stood by to flea alive the pretended Son-in-law and that afterwards they should lay him upon a bed of Salt ordaining That if any Mahumetan skin came over him again in place of the Christian that then and not before his promised Spouse should be brought unto him to be marryed the wretched Traytor thus shamefully and cruelly sâ—outed died in most horrible torments 10. The Venetians put to death Marinus Falierus their Duke for having conspired against the State and whereas the Pictures of their Dukes from the first to him that now liveth are represented and drawn according to the order of their times in the great Hall of the General Council yet to the end that the Picture of Falier a pernicious Prince might not be seen amongst other of those Illustrious Dukes they caused an empty Chair to be drawn and covered over with a black Veil as believing that those who carryed themselves disloyally to the Common-wealth cannot be more severely punished than if their names be covered
appeared to him in the night he repeated a Greek verse which would have no credit given to dreams and so clearing his mind of that suspicion he had conceived gave opportunity to Cassander to administer that poyson which was already prepared for him 9. The last night that Iulius Caesar was alive upon earth he was told by Calpurnia his Wife that she had then newly dreamed that she saw him lye dead in her bosome done to death by many wounds and being in great perplexity and fright with her vision she desisted not with most importunate entreaties to deterr him from going the next morning to the Senate-house he had also notice by Spurina to beware of the Ides of March in which he was slain nay in the morning as he passed to the Senate one thrust into his hands a note of all the Conspirators which he also shuâ—fled amongst the rest of his Papers and never looked upon 10. Aterius Rufâ—us a Knight of Rome when a great Sword-play was to be performed by the Gladiators of Syracuse dreamed the night before that one of those kind of Fencers which are called Retiarii which use Nets in the Theatre to entangle their Adversaries with that they should neither offend nor defend gave him a mortal wound which dream he told to such of his Friends as sate next him It happened presently after that one of those Retiarii was forced by his Adversary to the place where Aterius and his Friends were seated as Spectators whose face he no sooner beheld but he started and told his Friends that he was the man from whose hands he had dreamed he received his death and would thereupon have departed his Friends endeavour to detain him by discussing his fear and so occasioned his murder for the Retiarius having then compelled his Adversary to that very place and overthrown him while he was busie to thrust his Sword through him as he lay prostrate he so wounded Aterius that he dyed upon it 11. Mauritius the Emperour dreamed that both himself and his whole Stock were killed by one Phocas not without some fearful apprehensions he discourses this dream of his unto Philippicus his Son-in-Law Exact enquiry is made if any could be found of that name and in so numerous an Army as he had then there was but one and he a Notary he therefore supposed himself secure enough from one of so low and mean a Fortune But before he took any further course therein there was a mutiny in the Army upon the detention of their pay in that tumult Phocas was saluted Emperour the Army returning towards Constantinople Mauritius fled to Chalcedon where both he and his whole Progeny by the commandment of Phocas were put to death 12. Marcus Antonius Taurellus Earl of Guastalla warring in the Kingdom of Naples one morning as he rose told the Souldiers that stood round about him that he dreamed that night that he was drowned in the Water and that thereupon he was determined to give over his swimming whereunto he had so much accustomed himself but the same day after Dinner walking by the side of a Lake and spying therein divers of his acquaintance and having only an upper Garment upon him he forgat his dream leapt in amongst them and was drowned before any of his Friends could come in to his assistance 13. Archias the Thebane Tyrant being at a Feast where were present all sorts of merriment and mirth there was brought him a Letter wherein he was certified of a plot that was upon his life he never read it but gave order that as a thing serious it should be deferred to the morrow but neglecting that warning he did not live to read it for he was slain that night 14. It is a very memorable thing which from the mouth of a very credible person who saw it George Buchanan relates concerning Iames the fourth King of Scotland that intending to make a Waâ— with England a certain old man of a venerable aspect and clad in a long blew Garment came unto him at the Church of St. Michaels at Linlithgow while he was at his devotion and leaning over the Canons Seat where the King sate said I am sent unto thee O King to give thee warning that thou proceed not in the War thou art about for if thou do it will be thy ruine and having so said he withdrew himself back into the press the King after service was ended enquired earnestly for him but he could no where be found neither could any of the standers by feel or perceive how when or where he passed from them having as it were vanished in their hands but no warning could divert his destiny which had not been destiny if it could have been diverted His Queen also had acquainted him with the visions and affrightments of her sleep that her Chains and Armlets appeared to be turned into Pearls she had seen him fall from a great Precipice she had lost one of her eyes but he answered these were but dreams arising from the many thoughts and cares of the day he marched on therefore and fell with a number of his Nobility at the battle of Flodden field September 9. 1513. 15. There was an Italian called David Risio who had followed the Savoyan Embassadour into Scotland and in hope of bettering his fortune gave himself to attend the Queen Mary at first in the quality of a Musician afterwards growing in more favour he was admitted to write her French Letters and in the end preferred to be principal Secretary of State had only the Queens Ear and governed all the affairs at Court. To that excess of Pride and Arrogance was he grown that he would out-brave the King in his Apparel in his domestick Furniture in the number and sorts of his Horses and in every thing else This man had warning given him more than once by Iohn Damiott a French Priest who was thought to have some skill in Magick to do his business and be gone for that he could not make good his part he answered disdainfully The Scots are given more to brag than fight Some few days before his death being warned by the same Priest to take heed of the Bastard he replyed that whilest he lived he should not have credit in Scotland to do him any hurt for he took Earl Murray to be the man of whom he was advertised to take heed but the first stroke was given him by George Douglass base Son to the Earl of Angus after whom every man inflicted his wound till he was dispatched this was in the year 1565. CHAP. LIII Of such as have unwittingly or unwarily procured and hastned their own death and downfall THe Ancients erected no Altars to death because it is inexorable and no way to be prevailed upon or to be escaped by any of us agreeable to this is that of Mr. Benlows in his Divine Poem Time posts on loose rein'd Steeds the Sun er 't face To West
he had governed the Church of Alexandria forty six years full of dayes he dyed in peace in the reign of Valens though an Arrian persecutor 10. Eusebius Pamphili Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine lived and was familiar with Constantine the Emperour he refused the Chair of Antioch tumultuously made void by the Arrians for which the Emperour commended his modesty and counted him worthy to be Bishop of the whole world yet he was not altogether free of the heresie of Arrius before the Nicene Council he dyed about the year of our Lord 342. 11. Gregorius Nazianzenus born in a Town of Cappadocia called Nazianzum he was trained up in learning at Alexandria and Athens where his familiarity with Bazil began He detected the Heresie of Apollinaris and the abominations of Heathenish Idolatry under Iulian more than any other had done so peaceable that like another Ionas he was content te be thrust out of his place to procure unity and concord amongst his Brethren He had excellent gifts and flourished under Constantius Iulian and Theodosius 12. Basilius Magnus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia he repented he spent so much time in searching out the deepness of humane learning as things not necessary to eternal life The Arrians and Eunomians who seemed excellently learned when they encountred with him and Nazianzenus were like men altogether destitute of learning when the Emperours Deputy threatned him with banishment or death he astonished him with his resolute answer The Emperors Son Galaces fell sick and the Empress sent him word she had suffered many things in her dream for the Bishop Basilius whereupon he was dismissed and suffered to return to Caesarea 13. Gregorius Nysse was Brother of Basilius and Bishop of Nyssa a City in Mysia in the second General Council the oversight of the Country of Cappadocia was committed to him Though his works are not extant yet he is renowned in the mouths of the Learned as a man of Note and remark 14. Epiphanius was born at Barsanduce a Village in Palestine was Bishop of Salamina the Metropolis of the Island Cyprus he refuted the heresies preceding his time in his Book called Panarium He had so great a regard to the poor that he was called Oeconomus Pauperum He opposed St. Chrysosthom in Constantinople and returning to Cyprus dyed in the way 15. Lactantius Firmianus was the Disciple of Arnobius in Eloquence nothing inferiour to his Master yet it is thought that he opposed errors with greater dexterity than he confirmed the Doctrine of the Truth 16. Hilarius Bishop of Poictiers in France a man constant in Religion in Manners meek and courteous he was banished to Phrygia he took great pains to purge France from the poyson of the Arrian heresie whereof he there saw both the growth and decay he dyed in the reign of Valentinian 17. Ambrosius the Son of Symmachus was Governour of Lyguria under Valentinian appeasing a Sedition at Millain he was there chosen Bishop and confirmed therein by the Emperour He lived also under the Emperour Theodosius whom he sharply reproved and excommunicated for the slaughter of the innocent people at Thessalonica and dyed in the third year of the reign of Honorius having sate at Millain twenty two years 18. Ierome was born at Stridona Town of Dalmatia instructed in the rudiments of Learning at Rome where he acquainted himself with honourable women such as Marcella Sophronia Principia Paula and Eustochium to whom he expounded places of holy Scripture His great gifts were envyed at Rome wherefore he left it and went for Palestine and there chose Bethlehem the place of our Lords Nativity to be the place of his death he there guided a Monastery of Monks he was a man of a stern disposition he dyed in the ninety first year of his age in the twelfth year of the reign of Honorius 19. Iohn Chrysosthome had been an helper to Flavianus Bishop of Antioch thence he was called by the Emperour Arcadius to be Bishop of Constantinople In Oratory he had profited in the School of Libanius and in Philosophy in that of Andragathius above his fellows His liberty in reproving sin both in Court and Clergy procured red him the hatred of Eudoxia the Empress and of the whole Clergy Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria was his great enemy by whose malice and that of Eudoxia he was deposed then banished and journeyed to death he governed the Church in Constantinople seven years 20. Augustinus in his young years was infected with the error of the Manicheans his Mother Monica with prayers and tears begged of God his conversion to the truth and God heard her for being sent to Millain to be a Teacher of Rhetorick by the Preaching of Ambrose the Bishop and the devout behaviour of the People in singing Psalms to the praise of God he was much affected Also by reading the life of Antonius the Hermit he was wonderfully moved to dislike his former Conversation He went then to a Garden where with his friend Alypius he bewailed the insolency of his past life wishing the time to be now that his soul should be watered with the dew of the converting grace of God As he was pouring out the grief of his wounded heart to God with a flood of tears he heard a voice saying Tolle lege take up and read at first he thought it to be the voice of Boyes and Girles in their sport but seeing no body he received it as a Celestial admonition he took up then the Bible he had there with him and in the opening of the Book the first place he met with was Rom. 13.13 14. Not in Gluttony nor Drunkenness not in Chambering nor Wantonness not in Strife or Envying but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it At the reading hereof he was fully resolved to become a Christian and was baptized by Ambrose Bishop of Millain Thence he returned into Asrick and there was an Assistant to Valerius Bishop of Hippo whom he succeeded being incessant in teaching the people and confuting Hereticks the Donatists Pelagians and Manichees when he had lived seventy six years he rested from his labours 21. Gregorius the first sirnamed the Great was chosen Bishop of Rome both by the Clergy and people which Office he sought by all means to avoid he brought into the Roman Church the form of the Greek Liturgies He first stiled himself servus servorum Dei and whereas Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople called himself Universal Bishop he said of him that he was the forerunner of Antichrist he sate in Rome thirteen years six months and ten days 22. Bernardus Abbot of Claraval born in Burgundy was respected in his Country above others though he lived in a most corrupt age yet he was found in the point of Justification He detested the corruption of manners that abounded in his time He subdued his body by
amongst them that was stirred up by vision whose name was Cangius and it was on this manner There appeared to him in a dream a certain person in Armour sitting upon a white Horse who thus spake to him Cangius it is the will of the Eternal God that thou shortly shalt be the King and Ruler of the Tartars that are called Malgotz thou shalt free them from that servitude under which they have long groaned and the neighbour Nations shall be subjected to them Cangius in the morning before the seven Princes and Elders of the Malgotz rehearses what he had dreamed which they all at the first looked upon as ridiculous but the next night all of them in their sleep seemed to behold the same person he had told them of and to hear him commanding them to obey Cangius Whereupon summoning all the people together they commanded them the same and the Princes themselves in the first place took the Oath of Allegiance to him and intituled him the first Emperour in their language Chan which signifies King or Emperour All such as succeeded him were aâ—ter called by the same name of Chan and were of great Fame and Power This Emperour freed his people subdued Georgia and the greater Armenia and afterwards wasted Polonia and Hungary 5. Antigonus dreamed that he had sowed Gold in a large and wide field that the seed sprang up flourished and grew ripe but that streight after he saw all this golden harvest was reaped and nothing left but the worthless stubble and stalks and then he seemed to hear a voice that Mithridates was fled into the Euxine Pontus carrying along with him all the golden harvest This Mithridates was descended of the Persian Magi and was at this time in the Retinue of this Antigonus King of Macedonia his Country of Persia being conquered and his own Fortunes ruined in that of the publick The dream was not obscure neither yet the signification of it The King therefore being awaked and exceedingly terrified resolves to cut off Mithridates and communicates the matter with his own Son Demetrius exacting of him a previous oath for his silence Demetrius was the Friend of Mithridates as being of the same age and by accident he encounters him as he came from the King The young Prince pities his Friend and would willingly assist him but he is restrained by the reverence of his oath Well he takes him aside and with the point of his Spear writes in the sand Fly Mithridates which he looking upon and admonished at once with those words and the countenance of Demetrius he privily flies into Cappadocia and not long after founded the famous and potent Kingdom of Pontus which continued from this man to the eighth descent that other Mithridates being very difficulty overthrown by all the Power and Forces of the Romans 6. The night before the Battel at Philippi Artorius or as others M. Antonius Musa Physician to Octavianus had a dream wherein he thought he saw Minerva who commanded him to tell Octavianus that though he was very sick he should not therefore decline his being present at the Battel which when Caesar understood he commanded himself to be carried in his Litter to the Army where he had not long remained before his Tents were seised upon by Brutus and himself also had been had he not so timely removed 7. Quintus Catulus a noble Roman saw as he thought in his depth of rest Iupiter delivering into the hand of a child the Ensign of the Roman People and the next night after he saw the same child hug'd in the bosome of the same God Whom Catulus offering to pluck from thence Iupiter charged him to lay no violent hands on him who was born for the Weal and preservation of the Roman Empire The very next morning when Q. Catulus espy'd by chance in the street Octavianus then a child afterwards Augustus Caesar and perceiving him to be the same he ran unto him and with a loud acclamation said Yes this is he whom the last night I beheld hug'd in the bosome of Iupiter 8. Iulius Caesar was excited to large hopes this way for he dreamed that he had carnal knowledge of his Mother and being confounded with the uncouthness of it he was told by the Interpreters that the Empire of the World was thereby presaged unto him for the Mother which he beheld subject unto him was no other than that of the Earth which is the common Parent of all men 9. Arlotte the Mother of William the Conquerour being great with him had a dream like that of Mandane the Mother of Cyrus the first Persian Monarch namely that her bowels were extended and dilated over all Normandy and England 10. Whilst I lived at Prague saith an English Gentleman and one night had sate up very late drinking at a Feast early in the morning the Sun-beams glancing on my face as I lay in my bed I dreamed that a shadow passing by told me that father was dead At which awaking all in a sweat and affected with this dream I rose and wrote the day and hour and all circumstances thereof in a Paper-book which Book with many other things I put into a Barrel and sent it from Prague to Stode thence to be conveyed into England And now being at Nuremberg a Merchant of a noble Family well acquainted with me and my Relations arrived there who told me that my father dyed some two months past I list not to write any lies but that which I write is as true as strange when I returned into England some four years after I would not open the Barrel I sent from Prague nor look into the Paper-book in which I had written this dream till I had called my Sisters and some other Friends to be witnesses where my self and they were astonished to see my written dream answer the very day of my fathers death 11. The same Gentleman saith thus also I may lawfully swear that which my Kinsmen have heard witnessed by my Brother Henry whilst he lived that in my youth at Cambridge I had the like dream of my mothers death where my Brother Henry lying with me early in the morning I dreamed that my mother passed by with a sad countenance and told me that she could not come to my Commencement I being within five months to proceed Master of Arts and she having promised at that time to come to Cambridge when I related this dream to my Brother both of us awaking together in a sweat he protested to me that he had dreamed the very same and when we had not the least knowledge of our mothers sickness neither in our youthful affections were any whit affected with the strangeness of this dream yet the next Carrier brought us word of our mothers death 12. Doctor Ioseph Hall then Bishop of Exeter since of Norwich speaking of the good offices which Angels do to Gods servants Of this kind saith he was that
his foot upon the Coach-wheel reached him over the shoulders of one of his greatest Lords and stabbed him to the very heart and with a monstrous undauntedness of resolution making good his first stab with a second dispatched him suddenly from off the earth as if a Mouse had strangled an Elephant Sic parvis pereunt ingentia rebus And thus the smallest things Can stop the breath of Kings 4. While the Emperour Charles the Fifth after the resignation of his Estates staid at Vlushing for wind to carry him to his last journey into Spain he conferred on a time with Seldius his Brother Ferdinand's Ambassadour till the deep of the night and when Seldius should depart the Emperour calling for some of his Servants and no body answering him for those that attended upon him were some gone to their Lodgings and all the rest asleep the Emperour took up the candle himself and went before Seldius to light him down stairs notwithstanding all the resistance he could make and when he was come to the stairs foot he said thus unto him Seldius remember this of Charles the Emperour when he shall be dead and gone that him whom thou hast known in thy time environed with so many mighty Armies and Guards of Souldiers thou hast also seen alone abandoned and forsaken yea even of his own domestical Servants c. I acknowledge this change of Fortune to proceed from the mighty hand of God which I will by no means go about to withstand 5. Darius entituled himself King of Kings and Kinsman to the Gods having knowledge of Alexanders landing on Asia side so much scorned him and his Macedonians that he gave order to his Lieutenants of the lesser Asia that they should take Alexander alive whip him with rods and then convey him to his presence that they should sink his Ships and send the Macedonians taken Prisoners beyond the Red Sea In this sort spake the glorious King in a vain confidence of the multitudes over whom he commanded But observe here a wonderful revolution his vast Armies were successively routed by the Macedonians his riches that were even beyond estimation seised his Mother Wife and Daughters made Prisoners and himself by the Treachery of Bessus his Vassal taken from the ground where he lay bewailing his misfortune and bound in a Cart covered with Hides of Beasts and to add derision to his adversity he was thereunto fastned with a Chain of Gold and thus drawn on amongst the ordinary Carriages But the Traitor Bessus being hastily pursued by Alexander he brought a Horse to the Cart where Darius lay bound perswading him to mount thereon But the unfortunate King refusing to follow those that had betrayed him they cast Darts at him wounded him to death wounded the Beasts that drew him slew his two Servants that attended him which done they all fled Polystratus a Macedonian being by pursuit prest with thirst while he was refreshing himself with water espyed a Cart with wounded beasts breathing for life and not able to move he searched the same and there found the miserable Darius bathing in his own blood impatient death pressing out his few remaining spirits he desired water with which Polystratus presented him after which he lived but to tell him that of all the best things which the World had which were lately in his power he had nothing remaining but his last breath wherewith to desire the Gods to reward his compassion 6. Charles the Eighth King of France had conquered Naples and caused himself to be crowned King thereof but the 8. of April 1498. upon Palm-Sunday even the King being in this Glory as touching this World departed out of the Chamber of Queen Anne Dutchess of Britain his Wife leading her with him to see the Tennis-Players in the Trenches of the Castle whither he had never led her before and they two entred into a Gallery called Haquelebacks Gallery It was the filthiest uncleanneâ—t place in or about the Castle for every man made water there and the entry into it was broken down moreover the King as he entred knocked his brow against the door though he was of very small stature Afterward he beheld the Tennis-playing a great while talking very familiarly with all men The last words he spake being in health were that he hoped never aâ—ter to commit deadly sin nor venial if he could in the uttering of which words he fell backwards and lost his speech about two of the clock in the afternoon and abode in this Gallery till eleven of the clock at night Every man that listed entred into the Gallery where he lay upon an old Mattress of straw from which he never arose till he gave up the ghost which was nine hours from his first lying upon it Thus departed out of this World saith mine Author this mighty puissant Prince in this miserable place not being able to recover one poor Chamber to dye in notwithstanding he had so many goodly houses of his own and had built one so very sumptuous immediately before 7. In a bloody Fight betwixt Amurath third King of the Turks and Lazarus Despot of Servia many thousands fell on both sides but in conclusion the Turks had the honour of the day and the Despot was slain Amurath after that great Victory with some few others of his chiefest Captains went to take a view of the dead bodies which without number lay on heaps in the field piled one upon another as little mountains While this happy Victor was beholding with delight this bloody Trophy of his Souldiers valour a Christian Souldier sore wounded and all gore blood seeing him in a staggering manner arose as if it had been from death out of an heap of the slain and making towards him for want of strength fell down many times by the way as he came as if he had been a drunken man At length drawing near to him when they that guarded the Kings person would have staid him he was by Amurath himself commanded to come nearer supposing that he would have craved his life of him but this resolute half-dead Christian pressing nearer to him as he would for honors sake have kissed his feet suddenly stab'd him in the bottom of his belly with a short Dagger which he had under his Coat of which wound that great King and Conquerour suddenly dyed when the Victory was his in the place where he had newly gained it while his heart swelled with glory when a thousand Swords and Lances and Darts had missed him when he might now seem secure as to death then fell he as a great Sacrifice to the Ghosts of those thousands he had in that Battel sent to their graves The Souldier by whose hand this glorious action was performed was called Miles Cobelitz and the Battel it self was fought Anno 8. Alexander the Son of Perseus King of Macâ—don being carried away Captive together with his Father to the City of Rome was reduced to that
in the same sentences so that the Gentiles then present pronounced those Scriptures to have been translated by the inspiration of the holy Spirit of God 30. When Anterus had sate Bishop of Rome for one month only he died after whose death it was that Fabianus came from the Country together with certain others to dwell at Rome when such a thing as never was seen before at the Election of a Bishop happened then by the divine and celestial Grace of God For when all the Brethren had gathered themselves together for to make choice of a Bishop and many thought upon divers notable and famous men Fabianus being there present with others when as every one thought least nay nothing at all of him suddenly from above there came a Dove and rested upon his head after the example of the Holy Ghost which in likeness of a Dove descended upon our Saviour and so the whole multitude being moved thereat with one and the same Spirit of God cryed out chearfully with one accord that he was worthy of the Bishoprick and immediately he was taken and installed Bishop 31. Constantine the Emperour going against the Tyrant Maxentius had a certain Vision It was about noon the day somewhat declining when he saw in the Sky a lightsom Pillar in form of a Cross wherein these words were engraven In hoc vince i.e. In this overcome This so amazed the Emperour that he mistrusting his own sight demanded of them that were present whether they perceived the Vision which when all with one consent had affirmed the wavering mind of the Emperour understand it of Religion whether he should become a Christian or not was setled with that divine and wonderful sight The night following he dreamed that Christ came unto him and said Frame to thy self the form of a Cross after the example of the sign which appeared unto thee and bear the same against the enemies as a fit Banner or token of Victory which he accordingly did and was victorious 32. That was a rare instance of propitious Fortune which befel Thomas Serranus who in one and the same year was consecrated Bishop elected Cardinal and also attained to the Popedom by the name of Nicholas the Fifth 33. Franciscus Trovillon was a man of a middle stature a full body bald except in the hinder part of the head which had a few hairs upon it his temper was morose and his demeanour altogether rustick he was born in a little Village called Mezieres and bred up in the Woods amongst the Charcoal men About the seventh year of his age he began to have a swelling in his forehead so that about the seventeenth year of his age he had a horn there as big as a mans finger end which afterwards did admit of that growth and increase that when he came to be thirty five years old this horn had both the bigness and resemblance of a Rams horn It grew upon the midst of his forehead and then bended backward as far as the coronal â—uture where the other end of it did sometimes so stick in the skin that to avoid much pain he was constrained to cut off some part of the end of it whether this horn had its roots in the skin or forehead I know not but probably being of that weight and bigness it grew from the skull it self nor am I certain whether this man had any of those teeth which we call Grinders For two months together the man was exposed to shew in Paris where saith Vrstitius in the year 1598. I in company with Dr. Iacobus Faeschius the publick Professor at Basil and Mr. Iohannes Eckenstenius did see and handle this horn From Paris he was carried to Orleance where as I am informed he died soon after he came 34. In the time of a grievous Persecution Felix Presbyter of the City of Nola by a divine instinct hid himself in the corner of a ruined Wall and before the Persecutors had pursued him thither a Spider had drawn her web at the mouth of the hole whereinto the Presbyter had put himself His enemies told them that Felix was crept in at that very place but they beholding the Spiders web could not be perswaded that any man could enter and lurk there where the Spiders lived and laboured so securely and thereupon by their departure Felix escaped Paulinus once Bishop of that City hath these Verses upon this occasion which I will also try to English Eccubi Christus adest tenuissima aranea muro est At ubi Christus abest murus aranea fiet Where God is present Spiders spin a wall He gone our Bulwarks like to cobwebs fall 35. In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth there was one Mr. Gresham a Merchant of London who was sailing homewards from Paâ—ermo a City in Sicily wherein was dwelling at that time one Antonio sirnamed the Rich who had at one time two Kingdoms mortgaged to him by the King of Spain Mr. Gresham crossed by contrary winds was constrained to anchor under the Lee of the Island of Strombulo where was a burning Mountain Now about the mid-day when for a certain space the Mountain used to forbear sending forth flames he with eight of the Sailors ascended the Mountain approaching as near the vent as they durst where amongst other noises they heard a voice cry aloud Dispatch dispatch the Rich Antonio is a coming Terrified herewith they hasted their return and the Mountain presently vomited out fire but from so dismal a place they made all the haste they could and desiring to know more of this matter since the winds still thwarted their course they returned to Palermo and forthwith inquiring for Antonio they found that he was dead about the instant so near as they could compute when that voice was heard by them Mr. Gresham at his return into England reported this to the King and the Marinâ—â—s being called before him confirmed the same by their Oaths Upon Gresham this wrought so deep an impression that he gave over all merchandizing distributed his Estate partly to his Kindred and partly to good uses retaining only a competency for himself and so spent the rest of his days in a solitary devotion 36. That is much to be admired at as being little less than a Miracle which is related of Xenophilus a Musician who lived to the age of an hundred and five years without any manner of disease or indisposition of body throughout his whole life 37. The Governour of Mountmarine besieged by Augustus the base Son of the Prince of Salucia was called forth as it were to parley and then held Prisoner he was threatned with death if he yielded not up the place and was so frighted with the apprehensions of this undeserved death that he sweat blood over all his body CHAP. XX. Of matters of importance and high Designs either promoted or made to miscarry by small matters or strange accidents PLutarch tells us of a
was sirnamed the Ape because he was able to express any thing by a most ingenious imitation 10. Alexander the Great carried his neck somewhat awry and thereupon all the Courtiers and Great men took up the same as a fashion and framed themselves to his manner though in so mall a matter 11. The luxury of the Romans was exceeding great in their Feasts Cloaths Houshold-stuff and whole Families unto the time of Vespasian and it was so confirmed amongst them that it could not be restrained by the force of those many Laws that were made against it But when he came to be Emperour of it self it streight became out of fashion for while he himself observed the ancient manner both in his diet and attire the love and fear of the Prince swayed more with the people than the Law it self 12. It is said of the Emperour Titus Vespasian That he could write in Cyphers and Characters most swiftly striving by way of sport and mirth with his own Secretaries and Clerks whether he or they could write fastest also he could imitate and express exactly any hand-writing whatsoever he had once seen so that he would often profess he could have made a notable Forger and Counterfeiter of Writings 13. When King Henry the Eighth of England about the year 1521. did cut his hair short immediately all the English were so moved with his example that they were all shorn whereas before they used to wear long hair 14. Lewis the Eleventh King of France used to say he would have his Son Charles understand nothing of the Latine Language further than this Qui nescit dissimulare nescit reguare He that knows not how to dissemble knows not how to reign This advice of King Lewis was so evil interpreted by the Nobles of France that thereupon they began to despise all kind of learning On the contrary when Francis the First shewed himself a mighty Favourer of learning and learned men most men in imitation of his example did the like 15. Ernestus Prince of Lunenburg complaining to Luther of the immeasurable drinking that was at Courts Luther replied That Princes ought to look thereunto Ah! Sir said he we that are Princes do so our selves otherwise it would long since have gone down Manent exempla regentum In vulgus When the Abbot throweth the Dice the whole Covent will play 16. Queen Anne the Wife of King Iames had a Wen in her neck to hide which she used to wear a Ruff and this they say was the original and first occasion of that fashion which soon after spread it self over the most part of England 17. A certain Duke of Bavaria before he went to his Diet or Council used to call his Servant to bring him water in a Bason in the bottom whereof was stamped in Gold the Image of Cato Major that so he might fix the impression of his Image in his mind the imitation of whose vertues he had prudently proposed for his practice 18. The Emperour Charles the Fifth having resigned his Kingdom and betaken himself to a Monastery laboured to wash out the stains of his defiled Conscience by Confession to a Priest and with a Discipline of platted Cords he put himself to a constant and sharp Penance for his former wicked life This Discipline his Son King Philip ever had in great veneration and a little before his death commanded it to be brought unto him as it was stained in the blood of Charles his Father Afterwards he sent it to his Son Philip the Third to be kept by him as a Relique and a sacred Monument 19. Antoninus Caracalla being come to Troy visited the Tomb of Achilles adorning it with a Crown and dressing it with flowers and framing himself to the imitation of Achilles he called Festus his best beloved Freed-man by the name of Patroclus While he was there Festus died made away on purpose as it was supposed by him that so he might bury him with the same Solemnities as Achilles did his Friend Indeed he buried him honourably using all the same Rites as Achilles had done in the Funerals of Patroclus In this performance when he sought for hair to cast upon the funeral Pile and that he had but thin hair he was laughed at by all men yet he caused that little he had to be cast into the fire being clipped off for that purpose He also was a studious Imitator of Alexander the Great he went in the Macedonian Habit chose out a Band of young men whom he called the Macedonian Phalanx causing them to use such Arms as were used when Alexander was alive and commanded the Leaders of the Roman Legions to take upon themselves the names of such Captains as served Alexander in his Wars CHAP. XXII Of the Authority of some persons amongst their Souldiers and Country-men and Seditions appeased by them divers ways NEar Assos there are stones which in few days not only consume the flesh of dead bodies but the very bones too and there is in Palestine an Earth of the same operation and quality Thus there are some men who by their singular prudence and authority are able not only to cease the present tumult and disorder of a people but to take such effectual course that the very seeds and causes of their fermentation and distemper should be utterly consumed and removed Of what force the presence of some and the eloquence of others hath been in this matter see in the Chapter following 1. Caius Caesar the Dictator intending to transfer the War into Africa his Legionaries at Rome rose up in a general mutiny desiring to be disbanded and discharged from the War Caesar though otherwise perswaded by all his friends went out to them and shewed himself amongst the enraged multitude He called them Quirites that is Commoners of Rome by which one word he so shamed and subdued them that they made answer they were Souldiers and not Commoners and being then by him publickly discharged they did not without difficulty obtain of him to be restored to their Commissions and places 2. Arcagathus the Son of Agathocles had slain Lycifcus a great Captain for some intemperate words whereupon the friends of the dead put the Army into such a commotion that they demanded Arcagathus to death and threatned the same punishment to Agathocles himself unless he did yield up his Son Besides this divers Captains with their Companies spake of passing over to the Enemy Agathocles fearing to be delivered into the hands of the Enemy and so to be put to some ignominious death thought in case he must suffer he had better die by the hands of his own Souldiers so laying aside the Royal Purple and putting on a vile garment he came forth to them silence was made and all ran together to behold the novelty of the thing when he made a Speech to them agreeable to the present state of things he told them of the great
in the Judge or other circumstances as may lay no great imputation upon such as have not the gift of infallibility But when men that sit in the place of God shall through corruption or malice wilfully prevaricate and knowingly and presumptuously oppress the innocent in such cases the supreme Judge oftentimes reserves the decision of the Cause to be made at his own Bar and thereupon hath inspired the injured persons to give their oppressors a summons of appearance which though at prefixed days they have not been able to avoid 1. In the Reign of Frederick Aenobarbus the Emperour and the year 1154. Henry was Archbishop of Mentz a pious and peaceable man but not able to endure the dissolute manners of the Clergy under him he determined to subject them to some sharp censure but while he thought of this he himself was by them before-hand accused to Pope Eugenius the Fourth The Bishop sent Arnoldus his Chamberlain to Rome to make proof of his innocency but the Traitor deserted his Lord and instead of defending him traduced him there himself The Pope sent two Cardinals as his Legates to Mentz to determine the cause who being bribed by the Canons and Arnoldus deprived Henry of his Seat with great ignominy and substituted Arnoldus in his stead Henry bore all patiently without appealing to the Pope which he knew would be to no purpose but openly declared that from their unjust judgment he made his Appeal to Christ the just Judge there I will put in my Answer and thither I cite you the Cardinals jestingly replied When thou art gone before we will follow thee About a year and half after the Bishop Henry died upon the hearing of his death both the Cardinals said Lo he is gone beforâ— and we shall follow after their jest proved in earnest for both of them died in one and the same day one in a house of office and the other gnawing off his own fingers in his madness Arnoldus was assaulted in a Monastery butcher'd and his carcass cast into the Town-ditch 2. Ferdinand the Fourth King of Spain was a great man both in peace and war but something rash and rigid in pronouncing Judgment so that he seemed to incline to cruelty About the year 1312. he commanded two Brothers Peter and Iohn of the noble Family of the Carvialii to be thrown headlong from an high Tower as suspected guilty of the death of Benavidius a Noble person of the first rank they with great constancy denied they were guilty of any such crime but to small purpose When therefore they perceived that the Kings ears were shut against them they cryed out they died innocent and since they found the King had no regard to their pleadings they did appeal to the divine Tribunal and turning themselves to the King bid him remember to make his appearance there within the space of thirty days at the furthest Ferdinand at that time made no reckoning of their words but upon the thirtieth day his Servants supposing he was asleep found him dead in his bed in the flower of his age for he was but twenty four years and nine months old 3. When by the counsel and perswasion of Philip the fair King of France Pope Clement the Fifth had condemned the whole Order of the Knights Templars and in divers places had put many of them to death at last there was a Neapolitan Knight brought to suffer in like manner who espying the Pope and the King looking out at a window with a loud voice he spake unto them as followeth Clement thou cruel Tyrant seeing there is now none left amongst mortals unto whom I may make my appeal as to that grievous death whereunto thou hast most unjustly condemned me I do therefore appeal unto the just Judge Christ our Redeemer unto whose Tribunal I cite thee together with King Philip that you both make your appearance there within a year and a day where I will open my Cause Pope Clement died within the time and soon after him King Philip this was An. 1214. 4. Rodolphus Duke of Austria being grievously offended with a certain Knight caused him to be apprehended and being bound hand and foot and thrust into a Sack to be thrown into the River the Knight being in the Sack and it not as yet sown up espying the Duke looking out of a window where he stood to behold that spectacle cryed out to him with a loud voice Duke Rodolph I summon thee to appear at the dreadful Tribunal of Almighty God within the compass of one year there to shew cause wherefore thou hast undeservedly put me to this bitter and unworthy death The Duke received this summons with laughter and unappalled made answer Well go thou before and I will then present my self The year being almost spent the Duke fell into a light Feaver and remembring the appeal said to the standers by The time of my death does now approach and I must go to Judgment and so it fell out for he died sooner after 5. Francis Duke of the Armorick Britain cast into prison his Brother Aegidius one of his Council who was falsely accused to him of Treason where when Aegidius was almost famished perceiving that his fatal hour approached he spyed a Franciscan Monk out of the window of the prison and calling him to confer with him he took his promise that he would tell his Brother that within the fourteenth day he should stand before the Judgment-seat of God The Franciscan having found out the Duke in the Confines of Normandy where he then was told him of his Brothers death and of his appeal to the high Tribunal of God The Duke terrified with that message immediately grew ill and his distemper daily increasing he expired upon the very day appointed 6. Severianus by the command of the Emperour Adrianus was to die but before he was slain he called for fire and casting Incense upon it I call you to witness O ye Gods said he that I have attempted nothing against the Emperour and since he thus causelesly pursues me to death I beseech you this only that when he shall have a desire to die he may not be able This his appeal and imprecation did not miss of the event for the Emperour being afflicted with terrible tortures often broke out into these words How miserable is it to desire to die and not to have the power 7. Lambertus Schasnaburgensis an excellent Writer as most in those times tells That Burchardus Bishop of Halberstadht in the year 1059. had an unjust controversie with the Abbot of Helverdense about the Tiths of Saxony these the Bishop would take from the Monks and by strong hand rather than by any course of Law sought to make them his own It was to small purpose to make any resistance against so powerful an Adversary but the injured Abbot some few days before his death sent to Frederick the Count Palatine and intreated him
and precious sort of Wine brought of it to the Pope and while he was drinking his Son Borgia came in and drank also of the same whereby they were both poysoned but the Pope only overcome with the poyson dyed his Son by the strength of youth and Nature and use of potent remedies bore it out though with long languishing 9. Hermotimus being taken Prisoner in War was sold to Panionius of Chios who made him an Eunuch This base Merchant made a traffick of such dishonest gain for all the fair Boys he could lay his hands on at Fayrs or in the Ports for his money he handled in this sort and afterwards carried them to Sardis or to the City of Ephesus where he sold them for almost their weight in Gold Hermotimus was presented amongst other Gifts to King Xerxes with whom in process of time he grew into greater credit than all the other Eunuchs The King departing from Sardis to make War upon the Grecianâ— Hermotimus went about some affairs into a quarter of the Country which was husbanded by those of the Isle of Chios where finding Panionius he took acquaintance of him and in a large conference recounted to him the large benefits he enjoyed by means of his adventure promising him to promote him to great wealth and honour if he would remove himself and his family to Sardis Panionius gladly accepted of this offer and a while after went with his wife and children Hermotimus assoon as he had him and his in his power used these words to him O thou most wicked man of all the wickedest that ever were in the world that usest the most vile and detestable traffick that can possibly be devised what hurt or displeasure didst thou or any of thine receive of me or any that belong to me that thou shouldst bring me into that case wherein I am and of a man that I was make me neither man nor woman Didst thou think that the Gods were ignorant of thy practices Dost thou not see how they doing right and justice have delivered thee wicked Wretch into my hands that thou mayst not find fault with the punishment I shall inflict upon thee After these and such like reproaches he caused Panionius his four Sons to be brought into his preâ—ence and compelled the miserable Father to gueld them all one after another with his own hands and after that was done the children were also forced to gueld their own father 10. Alboinus King of the Lombards having in a great Battel overcome and slain Cunimundus King of the Gepidae married Rosamund Daughter of the dead King On a time at a Feast he drank to her out of the Skull of her dead Father which he had caused to be made into a Cup the offended Lady resolved to be revenged and knowing that Helmichild a Knight of Lombardy was in love with a Lady in her attendance she caused him to be brought into a dark Chamber in pretence of there enjoying his Mistress her self lay in the bed to receive him and afterwards that he might know what he had done she caused the window to be set upon and then told him that unless he would kill Alboinus her Husband she would discover all he had acted with her Hâ—lmichild overcome with her threats and his own fears in the night slew Alboinus as he lay in his bed The Murder committed both of them fled to Ravenna where she also intended to destroy Helmichild by a present poyson He had drank off a part of it and finding that the deadly operation of it began to insinuate and creep along his veins he drew his Sword and enforced Rosamund to drink off the rest of the potion she had prepared for him and so by that means they both of them dyed together 11. Eutropius the Eunuch was the Minion and Darling of the Court in the Reign of Arcadius the Emperour he sold places of Honour Justice and the Laws gave and took away Provinces as he pleased at last was made Consul then was he accused of a Conspiracy against the Emperour the Emperour gave order for his death but he was fled into a Temple or Sanctuary and it is remarkable that he was the first who had made a Law that any guilty person might be taken out of a Sanctuary per force by virtue of which Law himself was dragged out and slain 12. Clisthenes was the first amongst the Athenians who made a Law for the banishment of persons and it was not long before he himself suffered the same penalty by his own Law 13. Gryphus King of Egypt had scarce recovered the Kingdom of his Father and newly overcome the dangers abroad before he saw himself ready to be ensnared at home by his own Mother One day as he came from hunting she presented him with a poysoned Cup but he forewarned of the ambush counterfeiting the mannerly Son prayed his Mother to begin which she refusing he pressed her to it and withal plainly told her what he had heard of the poyson reproving her sharply and swearing that to clear her self of such an accusation there was no way for her but to swallow down the drink The miserable Queen overwhelmed with the conscience of her own offence drank the poyson whereof she presently dyed 14. In the year 1477. there was cast in the City of Tourâ— a very great piece of Ordnance which was carried to Paris where being mounted and placed without the Walls by St. Anthonies Port it was often discharged At last as they were loading it with an iron Bullet of fifty pounds weight by some accident the powder in the Piece took fire which beginning to vomit forth the furious Ball the chief Founder of the Piece Iohannes Manguaus and fourteen other men that stood near him were so rent and scattered abroad that scarce could there be found any little pieces of their bodies The Bullet after all grasing a great way off killed a poor Fowler as he was laying his Nets for Birds six other men being only stricken with the wind of the Gun and the stench of the powder fell extremely sick 15. Marius one of the thirty Tyrants in the Reign of Galienus was chosen Emperour by the Souldiers on the one day reigned as Emperour the second and was slain by a Souldier on the third who striking him said This is with a Sword which was made by thy self for this Marius had afore time been a Cutler 16. The Emperour Henry the Fourth used to go often to Prayers in St. Mary's Church in the Mount Aventinâ— Pope Gregory the Seventh who carried a watchful eye over all the actions of this Prince commanded one to take notice of the place where he was wont to pray and got a certain Fellow with promise of great recompence to get up upon the top of the Church and there upon the Beams to place certain huge stones which should be so fitly laid that with the least touch they should
334 Robberies and Thefts 420 S. SCoffing and Scorn 119 Sea-meâ—â—amous 486 Secrecy 232 Seditions appeased 603 Servants love to Masters 154 Sepulchres violated 62 Sepulture hardly obtained ibid. Sex changed 52 Shamefacedness 122 Sight and Seeing 99 Slothfulness 403 Smelling the Sense 104 Sleepers long 594 Sleep walked in 592 Sobriety 179 Solitude loved 575 Stage Players 502 Statuarie famous 501 Stature and Tallness 34 Stratogems 6â—â— Strength very great 37 Study very hard â—â—8 Stupidity 404 Swiftness 44 Swimmers and Divers under Water 504 T. TAst the Sense 183 Teeth their Number 20 Temperance 179 Thefts very bold 420 Time well spent 229 Torments born 205 Touch the Sense 101 Tongue 21 Trances and Raptures 595 Treachery 447 Treasures found 604 Tributes and Taxes 418 Truth loved 137 V. VAlour and Courage 297 Unavoidable Fate 455 Unchastity 452 Unfortunate men 459 Unmerciful men 382 Voice and Speech 21 Voluptuous men 451 Voracity and Greediness 390 W. WAlkers in their sleep 592 Warnings of death 455 Wishes and desires 1â—7 Witches and Witchcraft 5â—◠〈◊〉 unnatural 373 Wives 〈◊〉 good 144 Works of Art 224 Work of 〈◊〉 189 Wise sayings 646 Witty speeches 649 Wives well beloved 142 X. XErxes his folly 407 Y. YOuth hopeful 130 Youth wild reclaimed 132 Youth hopeful declined 363 Youth restored 51 Z. ZOpyrus his fact 155 Zoroastres how born 4 ADVERTISEMENT BY reason of the Authors Absence some Errors have passed the Press though few such as make any considerable Alteration of the Sence or that may not easily be Corrected by 〈◊〉 Pen of the Reader FINIS Lib. 4. c. 1. p. 179 180.181 Hist. of the Netherlands pag. 91. Clark's mir cap. 104. p. 497. Barthol Hist. Anatomic Cent. 1. Hist. 1. page 1.2 Sennert pract Med. lib. 4. part 2 § 5. cap. 8. p. 359. Barthol Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 1. p. 2. Sennert prax l. 4. par 2. § 5. c. 8. p. 359.360 Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 1. p. 3. Salmas responâ— ad Beverov de calculo p. 198. Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 1. p. 3. Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 1. p. 4.5 Nâ—edh disquisit Anat. cap. 3. p. 84. Schenck observat l. 1. p. 13. obs 1. Weinrich de Monstris c. 26. p. 62. Sennert pract Med. l. 4. part 2. § 5. cap. 8. p. 359. Ovid Epist. l. 1. Ep. 21. Schenck observ lib. 4. p. 575. obs 8. Donat. Hist. Med. Mir. lib. 2. c. 22. p. 240. Schenck observ lib. 4. p. 577. obs 9. Zuing. Theatr vol. 2. lib. 4. p. 357 col 2. Donat. Hist. Med. Mir. lib. 2. c. 22. p. 239. Zacut. Lusit praxis Medic. admirand lib. 2. obs 157. p. 276. Donat. Hist. Med. Mir. lib. 2. c. 22. p. 241. †Lâ—ps de constant lib 2. c. 1â— p. 172. Ovid Metaâ— l. 6. p. 101. Sennert prax Med. lib. 4. par 2. § 4. c. 7. p. 311. Schâ—â—k obs lib. 4. obs 21. p. 537. Barth Cent. 2. Hist. 100. p. 76. Rosse Arcan Micrososm lib. 3. cap. 3. p. 76. Addit ad Doâ—at per Greg. Hâ—rit lib. 7. cap. 2. p. 659. Iohns Nat. Hist. Cent. 16. cap. 5. p. 334. Konaman de Mir. Mort. par 3. c. 34. p. 117. Addit ad Donat. per Greg. Hâ—râ—i lib. 7. cap. 2. p. 663. Ad. Donat. lib. 7. pâ—â— Hâ—st cap. 2. p. 664. Zâ—â—ch qu. Medico-legal lib. 4. tit 1. qu. 10. p. 235. Karnman de Mir. Mort. par 3. cap. 36. p. 18. Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 7. c. 16. p. 164. Solin cap. 4. p. 181. Zuing. Theatr Vol. 2. lib. 5. pag. 414. col 1. Plut. parel p. in Cicerone Solin c. 4. p. 180. Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 7. c. 8. p. 160. Zuing. Theatr vol. 2. l. 1. p. 270. col 2. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 16. p. 164. Solin c. 4. p. 181. Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 7. c. 9. p. 160. Schenck obs Med. lib. 4. obs 15. p. 580. Hâ—yl Cosm. p. 336. Baker chr p. Schenck obs Med. lib. 4. obs 15. pag. 580. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. lib. 1. p. 270. col 2. Schenck obs p. 580. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 1. p. 270. col 2. Schenck obs p. 580. Sennert prax Med. l. 4. part 2. § 6. cap. 8. p. 419. Schenck obs Med. p. 580. Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 7. c. 3. p. 158. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 1. p. 270. col 1. Camerar horae subcisiv Cen. 1. c. 55. p. 241. Schenck obs Med. lib. 5. obs 1. pag. 674. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 1. p. 270. col 1. Barth Hist. Anat. Cen. 2. Hist. 8. p. 159. Barth Ibid. Cent. 2. Hist. 8. p. 157. Val. Max. l. 1. c. 8. p. 30. Zuin. Theâ—t vol. 2. l. 1. p. 270. col 1. Zuing. Ibid. p. 270. Senn praâ— Med. l. 4. par 2. § 6. c. 8. p. 419. Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 1. p. 6.7 Id. Cent. â— Hist. 99. p. 307. Rosse Arcan Microcosm l. 3. c. 7. § 7. p. 89. Camerar Hor. Subcis Cen. 2. c. 67. p. 275. Iohâ—st Nat. Hist. Cent. 10. c. 5. p. 334. Schenck obs Med. l. 1. obs 1. p. 7. Barth Hist. Aâ—at Cent. 1. Hist. 66. p. 103. Lemnius de Natur. Mir. lib. 1. cap. 8. p. 38. Camer hor. subcis Cent. 1. cap. 54. p. 240. Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 10. p. 20. Barth Hist. Anat. Cen. 1. Hist. 10. p. 19. Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 4. p. 10 11 12. Sâ—nnert pract Med. l. 4. par 2. § 4. cap. 10. p. 326. Camer hor subcisâ—v Cen. Schenck obs Med. l. 4. obs 1. p. 543. Camer hor. subcis Cent. Schenck obs Med. l. 4. obs 1. p. â—54 Zuin. Theat Vol. 2. l. 2. p. 305. col 2. Paraeus de Monstris l. 24. Lithgow's Travels par 2. p. 52.53 P. Orosii Hist. l. 5. c. 6. p. 190. Fabrit obs Chirurg Cen. 3. obs 55. p. 239. Lycosth de prodigiis p. 582. Iohnst Nat. Hist. Class 10. c. 5. p. 334. Dr. Henry More 's Immort of thâ— Soul l. 3. c. 7. p. 173. Clark's Mir. c. 63. p. 249. Aul. Gell. Noct. Attic. l. 19. c. 9. p. 511. Tibul. l. 1. Eleg. 8. Horat. l. 4. â—dâ— 11. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 51. p. 184. Schenck obs Med. l. 6. ob 1. p. 721. Valer. Max. l. 1. c. 8. p. 32 Schenck observ lib. 6. obs 1. p. 721 Epiph. Ferd. casus Med. casus 81. p. 259. Bak. Chron. p. 360. Schenck obs Med l. 6. obs 1. p. 721. Alex. l. 4. c. 20. fol. 233. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 7. p. 561. Plut. in Camil p. 135. Sabel l. 9. c. 4. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 7. p. 561. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 7. p. 561. Zuin. Theat Ibid. Zuin. Theat Ibid. Crantz l. 2. Saxon. c. 20. Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 7. Zuin. Theat Ibid. Treasury of Ancient modern times l. 4. c. 12. p. 330. Heyl. Cosm. p. 734. Plin. l. 7. c. 53. p. 186. Suet. p. 105. p. 55. in Augustâ— Alex. ab Alex dies Gen. l. 4. c. 20. fol. 233. Idem Ibid. fol. 233. Idem ut sup fol.