restrayned from his accustomed tyrannie two of the most noblest young Gentlemen of the Citie conspired his death venturing their owne liues to deliuer and set free their Common-wealth from such a tyrannous enemie neuer resting vntill they had freed their Countreymen from his cruell tyrannie For Clearchus vnmercifully tormenting his guiltles subiects with most cruell torture sharp punishment and extreame banishment taking pleasure in the vntollerable paines of his distressed people finding out most sharpe and cruell inuentions to plague and torment his miserable Subiects withall At the last these two yong Gentlemen Chion and Leonides being both brought vp vnder the tutorship and gouernment of the wise and learned Philosopher Plato tendring their Countreyes libertie and detesting the cruell tyrannie of the wicked Tyrant fained themselues to be at variance and earnest controuersie in the Kings presence insomuch that they drewe their Daggers one at the other in the Kinges sight so betwixt them both they stabbed the Tyrant to death and deliuered their Common wealth from such a bloudie minded butcher It is also reported that after Pisistratus was dead who vsurped the crowne and raigned by force and crueltie that then his sonne Diocles excelling his Father in all kinde of tyranny was soone after him slaine for his wickednes and especially for that he had dishonourably rauished and with violence intreated a yong Maide whose brother in reuengement thereof slew the King Then raigned his Brother Hippias who also was a most wicked and bloudie Tyrant this Hippias caused the yong man that had slaine his brother to be racked to confesse who were the counsellers of him to that déede who named all the Tyrants frends Whom so soone as they were apprehended were presently put to death as chiefe ayders in the conspiracie whereof they were altogether ignorant and vnguiltie but the youngman appeached them for mainteining the tyrant in his wickednes Thus the tyrants frends being slaine the yong mā was againe demaunded if he knewe anie other that was consenting to the death and murder of his Brother The young man answered No truly Hippias there is none liuing that I would haue dead but thou thy selfe O thou Tyrant Saying further That he greatly reioyced that he had caused one Tyrant to execute tyrannie on another whereby he had freed his Countrey from a great number of them wishing and earnestly exhorting his Countrey men to haue as great a care in wishing well to their Countrey by rooting out of all such Tyrants which déede would sort the common good of their Countreymen as they had or should haue of their owne priuate Estates Did Nero purchase to himselfe the fauor and friendly harts of his Countrie men by such monstrous crueltie as he commōly vsed No truly but their disdainfull hate was thereby obtained He had such care ouer his Countrey and so tendered the welfare of his Countreymen that to satisfie and please his tyrannous minde on a time hee woulde néedes set the stately Citie of Rome on fire to see how rightly it would resemble the burning and ouerthrowe of Troy when the Greekes had taken it by which cruell déed he was the spoyle of manie a thousand Romane for the fire continued burning in the Citie the space of fiue dayes wonderfully consuming the goods and treasure of the Citizens to the great impouerishing of the whole Common wealth For which impious cruelties when he had committed other outragious tyrannies which before are specified he was by the common consent of his subiects condemned to be beaten to death with whips and roddes but the execution was not done accordingly for the preuented their sharp sentence with the murder of himselfe Diomedes the bloudie Thracian Tyraunt scaped not vnreuenged for his monstrous and abhominable murders in giuing to his horses the bodies of liuing men to bee deuoured of those rauenous iades which he kept for the same purpose executing dayly his accustomed tyrannie vpon the poore distressed Thracians his Countreymen delighting to embrewe himselfe in the bloud of his subiects but in the ende the noble Hercules disdaining to suffer so vile a wretch a liue made warre against him and tooke the cruell Tyraunt Diomedes prisoner giuing him to his owne horses who deuoured him as their wonted pray For being before by accustomed manner made fierce and fell in their iadish crueltie they were now the more apt and readie to teare in péeces and plucke lim-meale the bodie of the bloudie Tyrant Also the most odious and detestable Tyrant Phalaris in semblable manner receiued like reward for when he had long time studied and inuented for strange and cruell torments to plague and paine his poore subiects withall at last Perillus a notable and expert workman came to Phalaris hoping to receiue such reward as the Tyrants proclamation before had promised and sayd Sir King I haue inuented and made a most strange rare and cruell punishment to torment whom it shall please you after a most wonderfull and extreame order The engine was like a Bull made and shaped of brasse in euerie respect hauing in the side thereof a dore right artificially contriued to put in naked men which doore being closed vp fast againe with the man in the middle fire should bee put vnder the belly of the brasen Bull and so soone as the Engine began thoroughly to heate it would so scorch and burne the liuing man within that he shuld not choose but mainly and extreamely crie out whose voyce by comming thorough certaine hollowe holes in the Buls throte made for that purpose should séeme like to the cruell roaring of a mad Bull or some other bedlam Beast which was sharply goared or pricked Phalaris beholding this strange deuice greatly reioycing at the rarenesse thereof thought it long vntill he might sée the effect thereof put in execution Wherefore calling to him the running worke man who had taken great paines in framing and contriuing that straunge and rare torment saying Friend Perillus I most heartely thanke thee for this deuice and for because I would saine be satisfied and see some experience prooued in this thy hollowe deuice I commaund that thou prooue the first experience of thine owne handie crafte Which without stay was forced to bee done to the great terrifying of all the beholders Thus was Perillus beaten with his owne rodde for that which hee made for gaine to crucifie land torment others hee first of all tasted himselfe Yet notwithstanding Phalaris was not to be commended herein for that he had no respect to the cause but according to his accustomed manner of crueltie vsed the Engine afterwardes to the punishment of his subiects therewithall to delight and satisfie his tyrannous and bloudie minde vntill his Countrey men detesting such outragious crueltie could not suffer his tyrannie anie longer but rose vp against him and tooke the bloudie Tyrant putting him into the brasen Bull to make him tast the torment of his owne crueltie Thus also died the notable
flout and mock me that I despaired whether euer I should speake with your person or no so many of your abusers did represent your presence but now hoping to bee certified with the true reports of your owne mouth of those things and doubtes wherein you haue béen so often abused For it is crediblie reported that you are the greatest traueller in the world and haue séene all Kingdomes and nations of the earth by your vnspeakeable swiftnes the vttermost Iles in the maine Ocean hath had your presence the mightiest Kings and Princes of the earth can neither stop or hinder your appointed trauaile you passe their priuie chambers and know their secret counsailes your eyes haue séene the vncertaintie of time the mutabilitie of honor the vnconstancie of fortune the instabilitie varietie of the life of man the subuersion of kingdomes the ouerthrow of empires the ruine and destruction of stately townes and cities your eyes hath séene your eares hath heard your vnderstanding doth remember from the creation of the world and shall remaine vsque ad consummationem seculi therefore séeing your trauaile so wonderfull your cōtinuance so ancient and your memorie so notable I shall request you to vnfolde relate part of those things which your selfe are a witnesse of and haue with present eies beheld as the nature of things the condition of people with the inconueniences of this transitorie life and what calamities miseries troubles enormities and vexations doth commonly happen and incidently fall to man Fa. My good friend if the speaches of my mouth may chalenge such credite with you I am content to make you partaker of my great trauaile and what I know concerning the state of the world on this condition that your mind shall detaine carie away and perceiue with more liuelines of sense the effect of my words thā my tōgue by vttring can expresse so with your willing audience I shall bee content to resolue you in anie part wherein you shall demaund Scho. Sir I most hartely thanke you the condition shall be obserued kept to the vttermost of my power mine eares shal also be attendant in silent sort to uote your speaches wel therefore I pray you begin while I am armed with audience Fa. Well then my good friend it is requisit that I first begin with the enormities and inconueniences of the life state of man which he falleth oft into by the defalt of temperance without which gift he runneth headlong to his owne ruine destruction for Seneca saith If thou wilt esteeme and iudge truly what man is then set him naked before thee behold him well setting aside and laying a part from him possessions authoritie and all other giftes subiect to fortune then shall you see what he hath proper of himselfe and what he borroweth of other then shall you well perceiue this naked life of man without which gift it cannot well be preserued or gouerned but of necessitie must needes soone perish and decay Scho. Sir then by your leaue is temperance such a speciall necessary to the life of man Fa. Yea truely for on that hangeth and dependeth all other vertues requisite to the state and life of man it is the good ground of al gouernement a right direction to honest liuing and the true nurse and fosterer of prouident wisedom it keepeth the vnsatiable appetites of ambition vnder the yoke of reason and holdeth downe the immoderate desires of superioritie to be short I referre thée to the definition of Cicero who defineth it on this maner The property of temperance saith he is to couet nothing that afterward may be repented so that thorough the want thereof man falleth into infinite miseries Scho. Well sir then I perceiue that this gift is a most necessary and speciall maxime to the life and gouernement of man wherein I trust to be better instructed heereafter by some familiar examples which doth shew the fall and destruction in the wanters thereof and the quiet state and contentment to the possessors of the same Fa. Friend I will rehearse a very briefe example in the meane time for your better vnderstanding which shall shew a differēce betwixt the vnsatiable appetite of aspiring minds and the quiet state and peaceable contentment which is thorowly to be perceiued in the life of Aleaxnder the Great and Diogenes the philosopher Scho. First sir crauing pardon for interrupting your speeches me think this comparison is very vnfit vnseemely and the difference of vertue and vice will hardly be made manifest by the liues of these two the one being a great Prince and Emperour of many stately countries and kingdoms the other a poore seely beggar who liued by the almes of the people hauing for his house a simple tunne or barrell to harbour himselfe in without any other wealth or substaunce at all Fa. Nay then my good friend you will driue mee from the matter and cause me to make digression for argument sake but before I proceede any further it shall not be amisse to manifest the state of these two and descry your errour Alexander indeede was a great Prince and Emperour of the most part of the world and yet not so rich as Diogenes was for whereas you think the comparison altogether vnfit the one being a beggar and wonderfull poore the other a king and inestimable rich therefore I referre thee to the wise saying of Marcus Cato who saieth Qui contentus est sua sorte Diues est He that is content with his owne estate and calling is sufficient rich We find that Diogenes was content with his poore estate and Alexander not satisfied with al his kingdomes wherefore according vnto the opinion of Cato Diogenes was rich and Alexander poore for truely he can not be rich which is not satisfied neither can he be poore that is contented And further to confirme this argument Mandanus a wise philosopher of India to whom this Alexander sent messengers commanding him to come to the feast of Iupiters sonne which was holden at Babilon meaning himselfe to be the sonne of Ioue declaring further That if hee would come he should haue great rewards and riches giuen him but if he refused and would not obey his commandement he should be put to a most cruell death wherevnto the graue Philosopher answered stoutly saying That Alexander was neither the sonne of God nor yet certaine lord of any part or parcel of the earth but was as mortall as himself as for the gifts rewards of him that was himselfe so vnsatiable couetous hee nothing regarded returning this answere That if it wold please him to receiue accept a gift at his hād he would willingly giue it might very conueniently spare it which was his good counsel that he should holde himselfe content and satisfied with sufficient and to couet no more than were necessary saying That his abilitie was better able to giue than Alexanders for saith he hee woulde
saith hee but lay you by me a little staffe that I may feare and keepe them away therein deriding their foolish curiosity that séemed to be so carefull to burie the dead carkasse as though there had béen great difference whether it had been deuoured of birdes and beastes in the field or eaten and consumed of wormes in the ground so rebuking their folly he died The wise Philosophers so little regarded their dead carcasses knowing by their natural wisdome what the substance thereof was making also no account or reckoning of life whose state was so fraile and fickle the learned Horace going about to quip and reprehend the fearefull minds of those that so much feared death said Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regúmque turries that pale death did as wel visit the rich as the poore therfore saith he it is a foolish thing so much to feare that which no man knoweth when it shall happen neither can it be auoyded or shunned by any praiers or gifts nor by the force or strength of man repelled or driuen back Whereunto also Homer replieth saying Nec vis Herculea fatum enitauit acerbum neither could Hercules strength resist or withstand death The wise Socrates when hée was to suffer punishment namely losse of life Apollodorus his familiar friend comming to the prison where hee was laide vp brought vnto him a verie fine coate of costlie wooll well wouen and wrought and therewithall a cloake of no courser stuffe desiring him to put them on and to weare them when he drunke the poyson that should procure his death For saith he Socrates cannot want a rich and honorable buriall if hee being attired with those gorgeous garments yeeld vp the sweete pledge of his life nor that he should lye dead altogether vndecently being decked with such beautifull and comely furniture These words vttered Apollodorus to Socrates but he not allowing thereof said to Crito Simmias and Phoedon O what a notable opinion dooth Apollodorus conceiue of vs if he hope to see Socrates in such brauerie after he hath drunke vp the poysoned potion ministred to him by the hands of the Athenians but if he did consider and beleeue that shortly after I should droupe downe grouel on the ground and at last lye like a lumpe of lead vnder feete he would not vouchsafe to knowe me Not long before the time of his death also he being at libertie was verie sick and féeble in bodie so that his friends asked him how it fared with him verie well said he how so euer the world shall wag for if I haue my life prolonged I shall increase mine enimies to baite me with rebukes againe if death shorten my dayes I shall winne more friendes to crowne me with commendation In like manner Plato at what time the Academy was reported to be infected with the pestilence the Phisicians gaue him counsaile to remoue his schoole from the Academy into Lyceus but hee neuer a whit agréed to their counsaile but saide Sed ego producendae vitae causa ne in Atho quidem summitatem transmigare velim I would not remoue to the high tops of the maine mountaine Athos for the prolonging of my daies and the preseruing of my mortall life so little also feared or regarded that wise Philosopher the fatall end Sch. Truly y e philosophers in this point do shew thēselues the folowers of wisedome indeede for by birth they perceiue themselues to be mortall therefore make they no great account of their vncertaine life but truely I coulde wish that there were many Philosophers now liuing amongest vs to instruct vs thorowly by their great wisedome whereby wee might as well learne to die as to liue Fa. Surely in mine opinion it were in vaine for the nature of man is rather to credite and followe the precepts and doctrine of those that are dead than to giue audience or be instructed at the mouth of the wise who liueth for Diogenes himselfe in his life was forsaken of al his friends because he vsed to reprehend them most sharpely therefore they termed him a Cinike or doggish Philosopher but after his death his deedes were recorded and had in great reuerence Socrates also was hated amongst his countrimen because he would tell them thorowly of their faults Wherefore in the ende he was accused and put to death but after had in great reuerence and admiration folowing his rules and precepts in gouerning their common wealth In like sort Aristotle Demosthenes Plato Callisthenes and diuers other were had in greater estimation after their death than they were in their life time If Christ himselfe did liue at this day amongest you as he did amongst the Iewes and his miracles shewed to you as they were in Iewry it is hardly to be thought whether you would haue beleeued so soundly on him being bodily liuing amongst you as you do nowe by the certaine reports of his passion and miracles But if the Philosophers would haue giuen themselues to please men to flatter their follie and to maintaine their vice they should haue beene in great estimation in their life but they should neuer haue purchased the name of Philosophers Xenophon saith that Socrates vpon a time had conference with the harlot Caliste who vttered these wordes in course of talke to Socrates Ego tibi Socrates multùm presto nam cùm tu neminem à me possis abalienare ego cum libitum est tuos omnes à te auoco I excell thee Socrates many degrees for when thou canst not allure men from me I can entise any of thine from thee when soeuer I list To whom Socrates shaped this answere Quid mirum est siquidem tu ad decline c. What wonder is that for thou dooest traile men downe in the dale of vice and destruction but I hale them vp the hill of vertue and eternitie wherevnto is no easie passage or common climing meaning that the nature of man were more easier to be entised by flattery to lewdnesse than by sharpe reprehension drawne to vertue The wise Philosophers also were of this minde and opinion that the most blessed and happiest thing which might fall and happen to man was death the end and conclusion of all miseries In like manner the ancient Poets in diuers of their workes haue confirmed the same opinion as a generall and vniuersall iudgement insomuch that it hath beene reported that Biton and Cleobis the sonnes of Araia when their mother being ministresse in a Temple of a goddesse should haue gone to the Temple in a chariot with great speede as the manner was and her horses coulde not be founde her two sonnes of childly pitie vouchsafed themselues to bend their bodies and draw their mother with speed to the Temple for which gentle affection the mother desired of the goddesse whom she serued to giue her children the greatest benefite which GOD might giue to man After the feast in the night when
prison in Chalciaeco where he was miserably starued to death But before he died wrastling with hunger and fighting for life death with famishment further séeing before his face a most miserable lamentable and wofull end remembred vpon a sodaine the saying of Simonides crying out with a loud and pitifull voice thrée seuerall times in this sort saying O Simonides magnum quiddam in tuo sermone inerat ego vero inani persuasione sum adductus vt eum nullius momenti putarem O friend Simonides in thy watchword was a great and weighty matter included but as for me I was caried away with vaine persuasions and made small account of thy wise warning Also Craesus the rich king of Lydia because Solon would not account of him aboue all mortall men then liuing but rather preferred other honest men in beautitude and happy estate farre aboue Crasus nothing regarding the huge heapes of money and mighty masses of treasure which he then possessed Wherewith he was so eleuated with pride that he farre excelled and excéeded all earthly and mortall creatures in his owne conceit Most sharply reprehending Solon for that he so little regarded his mighty power as to preferre any man in blessed estate aboue him whom he ought not so much as once to compare with any mortall man but rather to haue lifted and extolled him to the heauens and recounted him amongst the Gods immortall For which his stately pride and vaine folly he was accordingly punished as is before rehearsed Where he most hartely repented himself of his foolish vanitie Nay there were diuers kings which not onely contented themselues with the stately stile of immortall Gods or satisfied themselues when their subiects both seperated made a difference betwixt them as farre as the heauens from the earth but also commaunded themselues to be adored and worshipped as the very liuing God and that all knees should bowe and be obedient at the hearing of their names as Nabuchodonozer the great and mighty King of Babylon when he perceiued that his power made the worlde to shrinke grewe so proud that he would be a God on the earth setting vp his picture or image commaunding those to be slaine which would not fall downe worship it but see how the high God plagued him most iustly for his proud folly taking his kingdome from him for a time to the intent he might know perceiue a difference betwixt the liuing God and his mortall carkasse being also transformed to an vgly shape of a beast whose head was like the head of an Oxe his feete like to the feete of a Beare his taile like the tayle of a Lyon and euerie haire on his bodie as big as an Eagles feather and he that would be a God before thinking the earth too vile and base for him to tread on was now faine to lay his flapping lips to the ground to gather his food and did eate hay the space of 7. yeres together being at the last againe restored both to his former shape and dignitie Alexander Magnus when hee had conquered most part of the world returned to Babylon holding ther his Parliament summoning the Kings of the earth to come and worship the sonne of Iupiter making such account of himselfe putting diuers to most cruel death who would not consent to his vile folly nor adore him as a God yea and those that were his very friends who had before time preserued him from death and also from diuers dangers which otherwise had greatly annoyed and molested him hee plagued with most vile torments because they would not vphold and maintaine his monstrous errour Notwithstanding for all these gréeuous punishments there were that could not brooke his stately pride but sharply reprehended laughed him openly to scorne for the wise Anaxarchus hearing that this God fell sicke on some sodaine sicknesse and that the Phisitions were sent for to him who ministred purgations vnto him and prescribed certaine receipts and potions for the recouerie of his health whereat he floutingly said thus At deo nostro spes omnis in sorbilatione patellae pofita est What is all the hope of our goodly God come now to the sipping of a platter for in such vessells were the confections and sirops giuen by the Phisitions Further saying after a scoffing manner It had been necessarie first that he should haue been Gods fellowe before he presumed to be a God in deed for so perhaps hee might haue purchased and obtained the good will of the Gods in attaining to his desired seate But he scaped not vnpunished to show the difference betwixt God and man whose miserable death is néedlesse to repeate being before spoken of Also Agrippa the sonne of Aristobolus after his good successes by the lewd entisement of his flattering counsailors and thorough the foolish perswasions of seruants was cōtent to haue such honour done to him as was due to a God yea also to suffer himselfe to be called by the name of a God notwithstanding he had before béen taken prisoner by Tiberius and vsed most cruelly in prison not like a man for he was gyued chayned with mighty chaines to yron But beeing afterward deliuered by Caligula who made him King of the Iewes setting a crowne of golde on his head giuing him a chaine of golde of the same weight that he had before worne in prison of yron so that by such sodaine changes his minde was so eleuated and lifted vp with pride that he no longer would be man but suffered himself to be wondred at by the people as a God causing himselfe so to bee tearmed and called by his subiects but in the ende hee was striken with an Angell in the sight of an infinite number of people wherewith his bodie smelled and wormes issued out with intollerable paines and horrible stench In the which torments grieuous paines he looked on his euill counsailors and flattring seruants saying Loe I whom you called a God am nowe in the paines of death And so most miserably hee died In like sort Menecrates being but a Phisition because he had cured diuers and sundrie diseases to his great fame and commendation did so swell in pride that hee called himselfe Iupiter or Iuuans Pater this arrogant asse sent vpon a time to Philip king of Macedony a letter wherein was written this sawcie salutation Menecrates Iupiter Philipo salutem c. Menecrates Iupiter to Philip sendeth greeting c. Whose vaunting vaine the King perceiuing wrote back againe in this manner and forme folowing Philippus Menecrati sanitatem c. Philip Macedo to Menecrates wisheth well fare c. Consulo vt ad Anticyram te conferas I counsaile thee to take thy iorney to Anticyra meaning by this drye frump that the man was moonesick and besides his wittes the aforesaide Philip on a time made a sumptuous and costly banquet whereunto he inuited and bad Menecrates commanding his seruants that there
should bee a table prouided and set by it selfe in a place seuerall and that a cubbord should be furnished with dew preparation and swéet perfumes tempered burned and scattered against the comming of the said Menecrates all which costes was expended and laide out to pleasure the fine nosed gentleman who sat solitarie and alone at a side boorde by himselfe whilst all the companie that were bidden guests tasted of the toothsome cheere and sumptuous feast which wanted no varietie of delicates but nothing was serued vnto the table where he sat by himselfe notwithstanding hee held him content for a season and greatly delighted in the worship and honour which was exhibited to him being in a manner regall sauing that he was kept fasting which was after a sorte seruile But after that hunger griped his guts and appetite whetted his stomack insomuch that his téeth watered at the cates he saw brought in and none fell to his share then was he taught by experience that hée was not Menecrates Iupiter but Menecrates mortalis and foorthwith he arose from the table and went his way complayning on the iniurie which he suffered being a bidden guest to that banquet whereof hee not once tasted thus did Philip cut Menecrates his combe and detected the mad mans vanitie with a notable flout King Herod because he stood still to shew himselfe to the people when they magnified him as a God was wonderfullie slaine for his proud minde for when on a time hée had made a certaine oration in the hearing of a number of people he so pleased the companie by his eloquence that they made a great showte and crie saying It was the voyce of a God and not of a man by reason whereof hée was so eleuated and lifted vp with stately pride that he stoode vaunting himselfe before the multitude taking himself to be no lesse than they had termed him For which proud follie the liuing God to shew that he was but man did strike him in the presence of them all in so much that hee died with most grieuous paines liuing wormes issuing out of his body to the great terror of all the beholders thus dooth the immortal God reuenge himself on those mortall earthly gods to make them knowe they are but men and soone shall turne to dust Yet notwithstanding although they are taught by experience and daylie do sée most plaine and euidently that man is mortall both from the Prince and Péere to the poorest people yet for al that when they doo perceiue their mortall carkasses must néeds to the ground perforce they couet to leaue behind them at least their name and fame to be immortall for which cause they striue mightely in their life time And truly so in princes it commeth oft to passe for they are long time remembred either for their vertue liberalitie courtesie patience and constancie which no doubt but is both to the pleasing of God and drawing on of their successors to imitate folow their vertue But if their immortall fame bée purchased by their great tyrannie cruelty vnsatiable appetites dronkennes monsterous pride or such like horrible vices no doubt but they haue registred themselues to euerlasting ignomie and perpetuall infamie But diuers so that they may after their death attaine to perpetuall remembrance care not by what meanes they purchase that immortalitie For Herostratus a priuate Citizen liued not contented for that no man talked much of him wherefore he thought that after his death he shoulde be buried in the graue of obliuion and fully be forgotten In so much as whē he heard the dayly fame of worthy men set forth some for vertue some for valure yea and againe some dayly spoken of for their great crueltie auarice dronkennes and such like vices whose fame be also perceiued to liue after their death grew in the end himselfe so desirous of perpetuall remēbrance that his name might come in question to be as much noted in the Citie as the rest were But when he had long time studied and could not bring to passe any notable thing worthy to be talked of at the last he went priuily and set on fire y e stately temple of Diana in the Citie and vtterly consumed it downe to the ground Thus when the most sumptuous gallant temple was so vilely defaced great inquisition was made in the Citie who should doe that notorious fact talking much of the matter but none did know the mā For which cause Herostratus much repining in himselfe that although the matter was spoken of in euery part of the Citie yet notwithstanding his name was in no admiration amongst them Wherfore he went presently to the Citizens detected himselfe For which cause be foorthwith was most cruelly put to death Then in trueth he was therfore wonderfully spoken of and is in remembrance at this day Scho. In mine opinion he hath very well deserued perpetuall remembrance who was of that mad minde to register such meere folly to his euerlasting reproach and ignomie which is worthie to be noted throughout all ages But it séemeth that the vices of men doe much longer continue and are of more ancient antiquitie than their vertues For a few speciall vices do dimme and ouershadow a great number of good qualities and shall longer be remembred to their reprochfull infamie than the other to their praise and merite We also read of diuers notable Princes who by a few inordinate follies haue drowned a number of their especiall vertues as most plainly appeareth in your last examples For what good vertues are to be picked out of the liues of those that for their madde pride would be accounted as Gods on the earth although indéede diuers good qualities and examples of vertue procéede from them before Yet notwithstanding this most monstrous pride obscured and blotted out their meritorious remembrance shadowing as it were with a thick and darke veile their notable vertues from the face of the earth Therefore I beséech you to vnfold and lay open part of those monstrous vices which are such enemies and so repugnant to vertue which suffereth not the worthie fame of man to rise and flourish but croudeth and thrusteth it downe into the darke graue of obliuion wherein is drowned his worthie merites by the ouerflowing of his foolish follie Fa. There is remaining in man my good friend manie notable vices and sundrie misgouernments which are altogether repugnant to vertue as the vnsatiable pride of the minde which is alreadie spoken of as the most monstrous folly and vice in man The filthie vice of drunkennesse is also most odious detestable and a great enemie to the quiet gouernment of man it bringeth also with it manie vexations troubles enormities great incōueniences being a disturber daily breaker of peaceable amitie and friendly tranquilitie purchasing both reproachfull rebukes and sharpe reprehensions in their life time and also perpetuall infamie euerlasting ignominie after their death For as
the familiar acquaintance and auncient loue which had been by their long felowship Nowe the couragious minde of Alexander being stirred vp by the good perswasions of his deare friend Calisthenes in so much that he presently againe fell to warre and conquered many kingdomes whereby he grewe to such hautie pride after the maner of the proud Persians and Parthians as is before spoken of for then Non salutari sed adorari se iubet He would no longer be worshipped as a man but adored as a God For which cause when diuers of the noble Macedonians woulde haue disswaded him from that foolish follie he put them to most cruell and strange death and torments But then againe Calisthenes thought to perswade Alexander from such a mighty error bearing himselfe somewhat bolder on the king than y e rest both for his approued wisdome and holesome counsaile which the king often had tried and felt as also on the auncient familiaritie and long acquaintance which had been betwixt the king and him so that he began earnestly to disswade him from this arrogant and fond vaine But Alexander being so puffed vp with pride and desiring so vnmeasurably to be a God that he would not heare the admonition and wise counsell of his approued frend but was wonderfully moued against him for his labour in so much that he caused him who before had preserued and saued his life to be most miserably martyred cutting off his nose lips eares hands and other members of his body to the pitiful paine and great deformitie of poore distressed Calisthenes commaunding him also to be cast into a most vile and stinking dike or pit there to languish vntill he died But the noble Lysimachus greatly pitying the miserable paine foule deformitie of the wise Philosopher gaue him poyson whereby he ended his grieuous smart Wherewith Alexander being greatly offended caused the said Lysimachus to be throwen into the Lyons denne to be deuoured of those cruell fierce beasts Notwithstanding he was deliuered by the mighty hande of God which as the common saying is was no gramercie to the King Scho. O most barbarous and vnciuill déede But what other fruites are to be expected or hoped for at the handes of such immoderate quaffers and vnsatiable suckers of wine than in recompence of their good seruice such cruell and outragious dealings Truely sir as you haue said either he was wonderfully drowned in the pride of the Parthians or els miserably ouercome in his accustomed swilling for otherwise such barbarous crueltie could neuer haue procéeded from temperate gouernment The most wise and learned Erasmus hauing somewhat touched and nipped the monstrous vice of dronkennesse at last to make manifest that such horrible beastlines was vntollerable and mightely detested meaning to quippe the whole companie and crewe of such vnsatiable ale-tasters concluded in the end with this saying Vereor plurimum ne quisobrij sunt operam hanc meam in ebrios dicendi ceu superuacaneam rideant dicent enim sobrijs castigatione hac nihil opus esse Ebrios autem sic vino sepultos vt nullius vocem exaudiant c. I feare me greatly saith he lest the wise and sober will deride and laugh at this my superfluous and needles paines in speaking so farre against dronkards For they may say there needeth no reprehension or castigation to the sober and persons of good gouernment And as for those that are dronke they are so buried in wine and so drowned in their filthie folly by keeping companie with such good cup-companions that they cā heare no mans voice vnderstand no admonition of the wise perceiue no rebuke or sharpe reprehension Therfore saith he as the body of a dead man doth seeme not to be stirred by pricking or sharpe pinching so in like sort no maruell though the mind and sense of a dronken man can by no honest warnings or good meanes be stirred vp or brought to amendment for that his whole pleasure and delight is in such gulling swilling That most commonly as Erasmus saith Neque pes neque manus satis suum officium facit Neither feete nor handes can wel do their office The legs not able to support and beare the weight of his body nor his handes with the help of a staffe able to support himselfe but that he tumbleth and walloweth in his owne vomit and filth more like a beast then man which most filthie vse and order the wise Seneca perceiuing Ebrietatem nihil ait esse quam voluntariam insaniam said that Drunkennesse was nothing else but a voluntarie madnesse and wilfull fransinesse which with good gouernment might easily bee auoyded and shunned saying further that Nothing did more better become and beautifie man than sobernesse so in like maner nothing did seeme more filthie nor more to be detested than a drunken man as alreadie you haue set downe and manifested as it were to the beholders eye showing the wilfull folly desperate madnesse which the vnsatiable bibbers of wine doo ouer rashly commit to their euerlasting reproach and ignomie also in the end to their great sorrow and displeasure for it doth not onely cause their infamie to bee perpetually registred but also their owne hands to commit most horrible and shamefull murders whereby they oft embrewe themselues in the bloud of the innocent and hurtlesse person which no doubt but in the end is most sharply punished on the committers Fa. My good friend first I beseech you to marke diligently our purposed procéedings then shall you right well perceiue to what end our conference tendeth and also to note that hee who liueth not in contentmēt dooth runne headlong to vnsatiable couetousnes from that gréedie appetite to monstrous pride from that intollerable vice to most lasciuious and licentious liuing from that vile and detestable sinne to most odious and filthie quaffing and imimoderate bibbing which bad life and disordered gouernment dooth soone purchase to the practisers thereof most condigne punishment as by our aforesaid conference doth most euidently appeare were it possible that the bloud of the innocent should not be reuenged or that the murthering hand should scape vnpunished No there is no doubt but that the liuing God dooth aswel plague the Prince and péere as the meanest person for such cruell and tyranous déeds will be sharply reuenged on their intemperancie For first it is to be considered that for lack of temperance man runneth headlong to those wilfull murders either by an ouer coueting mind or by desperate quarrelling or otherwise beeing ouercome by inordinate swilling and vnsatiable quaffing of liquor al which proceedeth through the default of the aforesaid gift Iezabel wife to Ahab King of Samaria when y e King her husband had required Naboth to part with his vineyard which lay verie conuenient for his vse profering him as great possession in some other place but Naboth denying his sute as a thing vniust saying God for bid that I should passe ouer
my patrimonie which my Father left me but be contented therewith and leaue it to my sonne as it was left me Wherewith the king being not content went home sorowing remaining verie pensiue and heauie for that he could not lawfully or without great shame take away the vineyard of Naboth but when Iezabel fully perceiued the cause of the Kings sorowing and heauines she directed letters to y e Rulers of y e place wher Naboth dwelt making them priuie of her bloudie practise wishing and commaunding them to proclaime a fast in their Citie and then to hire and suborne two witnesses that should falsely accuse him before the Iudges and presently therevpon to lead him out of the Citie and stone him to death which cruel doome and execrable murder was forthwith accordingly executed But notwithstāding although for a time reuengement was deferred yet could she not scape vnpunished for so soone as Iehu was annointed King he was straightly cōmanded from the verie mouth of God to persecute the house of King Ahab with great crueltie and not to leaue anie one liuing that should pisse against the wall wherefore he presently warred on the Citie of Iezrael and spoiled the house and frends of Ahab vntill he came where Iezabel lodged who was most cruelly vsed in consideration of her former trespasse for she was throwen and tumbled downe headlong from a lofty window to the hard pauements of the stréete wherewith her bloud sprong about the postes and walles of the stréet so that dogges came and licked vp her bloud and eate her flesh the rest being troden to durt with horseféete and marching souldiers insomuch that there remayned no more vnspoyled and defaced but onely the palmes of her hands Thus was Iezabel most cruelly slaine and miserably vsed by the very commaundement of God for the murdering and sheading of innocent bloud Also Olimpias wife to Philip the Macedonian king and mother to Alexander the great cōmitted diuers most horrible shamefull murthers namely first it was suspected and layd to her charge the consenting to the murther of her husband king Philip who was slaine by the hande of Pausanias For after this Pausanias had trayterously slaine the king her husband had receiued iust punishment for his villanie she openly mourned for the death of the said murtherer And also it was well knowē that she had prouided horses ready against the deede was committed to the end the slayer of her husbande might the better escape Further when his body did hang on the galous she came thether the first night and crowned the dead head of Pausanias with a crowne of gold taking also the carkasse from the trée burying it most nobly and made a famous Tombe in the same place for his remembrance Which causes being thorowly considered can import no otherwise than an accessary and guilty mind This Olimpias after the death both of Philip her husband and Alexander her sonne in the time that the Macedonian Princes and successors to her sonne Alexander did contend and striue for the superioritie and regiment of their dead master came down into Macedon with a great power to warre on Philip king thereof and Euridice his wife who at that time were lawfull inheritors of that kingdome and gaue them battaile In which conflict she tooke the King prisoner and all his whole familie But Euridice his wife fled for her safetie into the Citie Amphipolis where not long after she also was taken Then seised Quéene Olimpias into her hand all the whole Realm of Macedon howbeit she very vngently entreated these her prisoners For first she caused the king and Euridice his wife to be put into a straite prison that they could hardly turne themselues within and had their meat geuen thē in at a little hole but after they had béen there awhile thus miserably dealt withall Olympias perceiuing that the Macedonians for very compassion they had of the said captiues greatly maliced and hated her wherefore she caused King Philip by certaine souldiers of Thrace to be slaine after he had reigned king sixe yeares and foure moneths And for because that Euridice not well digesting her shamefull crueltie in so treacherously betraying her dead husband and also somewhat insolently spake said that she had better right and title to the crowne and realme of Macedonia than Olympias had she therefore either without regard of the late dignitie royall that the sayd Euridice had béen in or yet the common mutability variety of fortune sent her three liberall gifts to make her choyse thereof which was a sword a halter and poyson to end her life withal who of necessitie was forced to take one Thus whē the wofull Queene had receiued this present of Olympias seeing no remedie but that needs she must take and accept of one she said The Gods graunt like choyce to this cruell Olympias and that she may receiue like guerdon for her liberalitie heerein Thus when she had adorned the bodie of her husband Philip slaine in her presence and stopped vp the wounds to couer the deformitie of them then refusing the aforesaid presents of the curteous Queene in the best manner she could with her own girdle strāgled her selfe and so died Yet was not Olympias satisfied with these lamentable and execrable murders but soone after she had thus shamefully put them to death she made Nicanor Cassanders brother to be slaine and spitefully defaced the tombe of Iolas his other brother Ouer and besides this she picked weeded out an hūdred noble men of Macedonie which were frends to Cassander and caused their throates to be cut for which cruell and barbarous deed Cassander being moued gathered an Armie minding to reuenge himself on the Queen for her great crueltie and draue her at the last to the Citie Pidue where hee besieged her long vntil such time that vittaile failed her yet notwithstanding she would not yeeld although both her company and the Citizens dyed wonderfully by famine and greeuous plagues which chanced to them by reason of the dead bodies which lay in the town diches vnburied most horribly stinking insomuch that there dyed daily in the towne through these two causes aforesaid verie many citizens and soldiors Being also forced thorough extreame and miserable hunger to feed on the dead carkasses of the pined men The townesmen seeing theyr lamentable estate yeelded vp the Citie against Olympias will and humbled themselues willingly to the mercie of Cassander Then after this Queen was taken prisoner Cassander caused all the friends of them whom she had murdred to accuse her in the common place of iudgment before the assembly of the Macedonians Which thing they accordingly did where the Macedonians in the absence of Olympias hauing there neither any patrone or aduocate to defend her vniust cause condemned her to death For execution wherof Cassander sent 200. of his trustiest souldiers to kil her which entered her Pallace where she was Streightway so soone as she perceiued them
Sceuola in which when he came to the place hee thrust his right hand willingly into the fire first suffering it to burne to ashes couragiously saying I willingly committe this my hand to the fire which fayled to kill Porsena the tyrant Further affirming at his death that there were thrée hundreth Romanes more redy prest which had also sworne the death of the king if he fayled and would as willingly venture themselues in their Countreys cause as he before them had done and as it were among themselues striuing who first should doe that good seruice to their countrey Which when Porsena had hearde he did not much discommend their faithfulnes towardes their Commonwealth but with all speed remoued his siege and departed from the walles of Rome to the great reioising of the citizens Thus ought euery man to haue a speciall care regard to preserue his natiue countrey and commonwealth For when both Princes and noble estates haue willingly ventured life nay run to present death for the sauegard of the weale publike much more then ought euery priuate person and meane subiect in Prince and Countreyes cause valiantly to venture both life and lim with right couragious mindes in defence of so honest and good a cause Scho. I confesse that euery subiect ought willingly to offer his body in defence of his Prince and natiue Soyle and not to haue so great a care for the preseruation of his priuate person as for the benefit and welfare of his Prince and Commonwealth Were it not a vile reproach and ignomie to those people that should by their cowardlines suffer their king to be slaine in the field and they themselues to remaine aliue and geue the looking on Contrariwise is it not great honor to him that shall hazard his life yea or run to right desperate exploites in the good cause or quarrell of his Prince To conclude it is the part of euery good prince to haue a care of the welfare of his commonwealth and of the preseruation of his subiects and also the part of all honest Subiects to haue a duetiful care to preserue their prince and a manly courage to defend their coūtrey Truely we read in most ancient histories of diuers who by their noble valoure wise policie and manly courage haue defended from the inuation of forrain foes both their weale publique from subuersion their stately townes and cities from ruine and decay also the whole body of their countreymen from most cruel murther and pitifull slaughter and yet in the end haue been most vilely recompenced by their vnkind countreymen Was not Manlius a Roman surnamed Capitolinus who preserued the Capitoll or castle of Rome from the cruell force of the Gaules and did many other noble actes in his Countreis cause throwne down from the top of the same Castle headlong by his owne vnkind countreimen whom he many times both manfully and couragiously had defended and saued Also Miltiades a noble man of Athens which in the field of Marathaon with 10000. Gréekes discomfited and put to flight 600000. Persians and so by his great wisdome and prudent policie saued deliuered his countrey from being ouerrun with such a mighty and huge hoast which otherwise had beene vtterly subdued ouerthrowen but after being cast in arrerage of a certaine summe of mony he was by his vngratefull Countreymen condemned into most cruell prison and there died in fetters and being dead he might not be suffered to be buried vntill his sonne had put on him the giues that his father did weare In like sort Themistocles a noble captain of the same vngrateful town of Athens after he had deliuered his Countrey from the huge terrible power of Xerxes putting him to flight and al his great hoast making y t mightie king by his circumspect wisdome and policie shamefully to flie home in a Fishermans boate vnknowen for the safety and preseruation of himselfe notwithstanding was at the last driuē his Countrey and forced to flie by the vnkinde Citizens to his enemie Xerxes whō before he had driuen from the walles of Athens but Xerxes willingly receiued such a friende with great intertainment and sent him againe with a mighty armie to warre on his owne countrey hoping now that he would be sharply reuenged on his vnkinde citizens But Themistocles being now Lord Generall against his natiue countrey hauing in his power the whole destruction and ouerthrow of his deere commonwealth yet notwithstanding for all that the Athenians had dealt so extremely with him he rather chose to die than any way to hurt his countrey And because he would not shew himselfe a traitor to Xerxes who had put his whole power into his hand and receiued him so courteously in his extremitie nor that he would torment the bowels of his vngratefull citie vnmercifully to spoyle with forraine people his vnkind countreimē to frée himselfe of these two inconueniences hee poysoned him selfe and so died a more faithfull frend to his countreymē than they had deserued After that Demetrius sonne of Philip king of Macedon whom before I spake of had obteined pardon for his father and whole countrey by his great modestie temperance shewed in the Senat of Rome because the Senators did write to his father the king in this maner We the Senators of Rome do not pardō thee for thy owne sake but for the modest demeanor of thy sonne shewed here before vs in the Senate Which thing Philip by the instigation of certaine of his flattering Subiectes did take so displeasantly and gréeuouslie that his sonne was in such estimation and better accounted of than himselfe and therefore so hated his sonne for his great paines and diligent care whereby he preserued both his father and Countrey from the reuenge of the Romanes At whose good hap also certaine of his vnkinde Countreymen with the helpe of his vnnaturall brother Perses so repined insomuch that they procured false witnes to accuse him to his father being willing to heare any cause against his sonne Thus by the surmise of his vnnaturall Countreymen he was condemned to death by his vnkinde father who before had both studied to preserue the honor of his father and also to mainteine the flourishing estate of his countrey Did not the Romanes banish and exile the noble and worthie Cicero by the procurement of Clodius when he had preserued and defended his Countrey from ruine and vtter destruction and saued the noble Citie of Rome from the fury of Cataline euen for because he had put to death the chiefe traytors and enemies of the Common-wealth in that dangerous conspiracie who sought to spoyle sacke take and burne their natiue Citie Rome Was not the same vngratefull Citie Rome found vnkinde to her most deare frend and preseruer the worthie Scipio for when the Romanes were in great distresse thorow the bitter and sharpe warres which the Carthaginians long time most greeuously helde against them being also mightely ouermatched
he had made triall of their wisedome But the wise Athenians seeing the blinde conceit of the olde Emperour fayned that they woulde not at all speake anie thing of their message if it woulde please the Emperour but to doo them this fauour as to suffer them for to come into his presence to beholde his person of whome they had before time so often heard they woulde thinke their paines right well bestowed although they had no answere at all of their Embassade Unto which request the olde Emperour soone graunted sitting in great maiestie for the Athenians to beholde him Thus when they were brought before him they began after this manner to flowe the olde doting Emperour for his rash iudgement saying Most renowmed sir if the states of Athens had thought that wisedome had cōsisted in gray beards and whitish haires they no dout woulde haue sent for Embassadours to you gray bearded Buckes and Goates and detained those in Athens still whose approoued wisedome hath as well beene tried at home in Athens as also in thy countries of Greece O thou aged Emperour Wherefore as I haue saide not altogether condemning yong men as vnsufficient for to haue anie rule or charge committed to them by reason of their yong yeares for that oftentimes we sée vaine follie to be couered and shadowed with gray haires also wisdome to spring and proceed from beardlesse cheeks Yet truely in mine opinion graue yeres is partly a signe that all youthfull follie wilfull rashnes and childish gouernement is well ouerpassed and laide aside so no doubt but that there are diuers yong Gentlemen of sufficient experience grauitie and wisedome to take charge and authoritie in an army notwithstanding it is necessary that both their liues maners conuersation and vsuall dealings be thorowly looked into before they haue any charge committed to them to the end they may be the better able to punish vice execute true iustice and rule with good gouernement in the armie for no remedy but that there must be sharpe punishment seuere iustice and martiall lawe in such a multitude of people to correct the malefactour and lewd fellowe without partialitie for example sake and to cherish the honest true and painefull souldiour with friendly and good vsage to encourage others to liue in the army accordingly The ancient Romanes did alwayes vse sharply to punish and correct the intolerable abuses committed in the host for whosoeuer had stolne purloyned or filched from his fellow any of his goods furniture or other necessaries which thing being openly prooued by some honest witnes the offendor was presently iudged to die without partialitie in this sort the partie being lawfully condemned by the Tribune he brought foorth a club and therewithall striketh the offendor not hurting the partie himselfe but as it were in token of lawfull conuiction and guiltinesse Which when the Tribune had done the whole armie and companie with great furie doo strike and lay on with clubbes slaues and stones vntil they haue vtterlie slaine and dismembred the offendor and if that in the whole Campe there bee anie found that refuse or would not put too his helping hand so to punish vice in the malefactor after the Tribune had striken him with his club such persons for their so refusing were iudged as aiders and maintainers of such disordered fellows so that they euer after were forbidden on paine of death not to return into their coūtry any more to their parēts wiues or childrē being also vnlawful for them to craue or demaund any necessaries out of their countrey for their maintenance in other places The Romanes also punished with death him that lacked in the watch he that forsook the place that was geuen him to fight he that caried any trifle hid out of the campe if any man should say he had done some worthie thing in fight and had not done it if any for feare had cast away his weapon and when it hapned that a Legion had committed the like fault because they woulde not put all to death their names were taken and put together in a bag and so by lot they drew out the tenth person and put those to death And againe for lesser faults which deserued not death they sharply punished by whippings continual stāding appoynted fastings and such other paines which they prouided for that purpose But the good and honest Souldier was courteously entertayned gently vsed and much made of lacking nothing that appertayned necessarie to men whereby it appeareth that the honest Soldier is frendly to be cherished and the lewde and disordered sharply to be punished Which order in euery hoast is carefully to be obserued and kept and vsed with great discretion and good gouernment by the wise Captaine But now it may be obiected concerning the hardines of young Captaines saying Haue we not knowen or heard of such lustie young Gentlemen or youthfull Captaines who by their valiant prowes and couragious mindes haue brauely and desperatly set vpon such a strong Castle Towne or Fort and being as eager on the enemie as a hauke on her pray haue atchieued most wonderful notable exploites by their lustie braue courages And therefore say ye what are young Captaines to be disalowed not worthie to beare charge Whereunto I answere that although some braue Gentleman or youthfull Captaine haue by his desperate boldnes or ouer hardie valour obteined or atchieued some notable victorie or great exploite to the great glory and fame both of his Countrey and himselfe yet for all that it is commōly no consequent that victorie followeth desperate boldnes nor conquest rash hardines For although that Fortune at some one time doeth fauour rash attēpts yet presume not ouer much on her for she is mutable and vnstedfast least that subtile Hanniball may insnare wilfull Minutius Achilles desperat Troylus and circumspect Themistocles intrap vnaduised Xerxes Paulus Aemilius a noble State of Rome was alwaies woont to say when Fortune fauoured and smiled most of all on him that then he mistrusted and feared her mutabilitie most of all Insomuch that when he triumphed in the Citie of Rome for certain noble actions by him most happely atchieued seeing the people so woonderfully praise and extoll his name clapping of their hands flinging vp their caps and honouring him in such maiesticall sort seeing Fortune so sweetly smile and fauour him after such an extraordinarie manner he turned to the people and said with a lamentable voice I greatly seare me least that Fortune doeth meane highly to displease and disquiet mee after this her vnaccustomed flatterie Which indéede fell out accordingly For the same time returning to his owne house in this most sumptuous manner he found his sweete sonnes sodainly dead The wise and learned Cicero thorowly perceyuing the vncertaintie and mutable estate of vnfriendly fortune seeing likewise by his prouident wisdome how much more prudent counsell and wise gouernment auayleth than force and strength of the body was not ashamed boldly to
most excellent things in the worlde that euer were séene or heard of Now when all these ordinances of Alexander were red by Perdicas heard by the Macedonian Princes although they loued their master maruellously yet when they saw his enterprices to be such and of so great charge they all agreed with one consent that nothing should be done therin departing euery man to his Prouince whereunto he was appoynted by the gouernor Perdicas Shortly after they were all departed and seperated one from another Perdicas thought good hauing so fit oportunity to reuenge himselfe on those that first hindered him from being king And for because that Meleager now prince of Lydia whē he was sent ambassador to the footmē did earnestly stād against his desire altogether preuented his intent therefore Perdicas in reuenge first of all other most cruelly slew him with 30. of the most principall souldiers that were against his proceedings The other princes soon had intelligence of the things Perdicas had done fearing he would shew the like crueltie on them hearing also what their master Alexander had said on his deathbed which was that his kingdomes possessions should be possessed of the most worthy wherfore euery of them enioying so large prouinces and territories thought themselues as worthy personages as either Aride the king or Perdicas his gouernor insomuch that the most part of them would be subiect to neither but seniorized their Prouinces to their owne vses chalenging the name and title of kings deuiding themselues taking part one against the other euery one striuing who should bee worthiest Which words of Alexander together with their stately pride was the originall cause that the whole number of Princes and captaines successors to Alexander perished and were vtterly destroyed for they earnestly coueted each others kingdome raising among themselues bloudy war and cruell strife snatching after the most worthy place not forcing of cruell murthers or lamētable slaughters but with eger minds būted after y e goods life of ech other vntil they had vtterly rooted out consumed themselues for Perdicas hauing slaine Meleager and other of his fellow seruitors in Alexanders warres toke vpō him to go into Egypt to dispossesse Ptolome whom before he had placed in that Prouince But there because he behaued himselfe so proudly dismissing his captains vpon small occasions at his pleasure his souldiers set vpon him most fiercely slew him the greatest part of his army being gone to Ptolome King Philip Euridice his wife wer most cruelly murthered by Olympias Alexanders mother Craterus cōming against Eumenes in opē battail was by him slaine Eumenes also was slain in fight by Antigonus Antigonus likewise put to death Python and gaue his prouince to another Antigonus going to batel against Antioch the sonne of Seleucus was himselfe slain by default of his sonne Demetrius It was credebly reported that the night before Antigonus was slaine his son Demetrius dreamed that Alexander who before was dead came stood before him with his sword drawne saying I wil take part with thy enemies against thy father and thee in the morning also when Antigonus aranged his phalange or square battell of footmen comming foorth of his Tent to fight he stumbled and sell downe flat to the groūd and after he was lifted vp againe holding vp his hands to heauen he said I know hard fortune and euill successe drawethny but I pray the immortall Gods rather suffer me to be slaine in this battel than shamefully before mine enemie to flie Also old Antipater falling sick on a surfet which he had takē in these warres deceased and left the kingdome of Macedon to Polispercon his frend and not to Cassander his owne sonne which also caused great controuersie to arise betwixt his sonne Cassander and his friend Polispercon But in the end Cassander expelled Polispercon his fathers kingdome Not long after he himselfe came to vntimely death leauing behind him two sonnes the eldest hight Alexander the other Antipater which Antipater after he had slaine his owne mother sought meanes to driue his brother Alexander out of Macedon For which cause Alexander sent for ayde to king Pirrhus in Cyprus to Demetrius Antigone his sonne in Peloponnesus howbeit Demetrius being so occupied about the estate and affaires of Pelopōnesus whē the Ambassadors of Alexander came that hee coulde by no means help him In the mean time Pirrhus with a great armie came thether and in recompence of his ayde charge took possession of so large a peece of Macedon laying it to his owne countrey of Epyre that Alexander greatly dreaded him And while he abode in this feare he was aduertised that Demetrius was with his whole power comming to his ayde Wherupon he considering the authoritie great renowne of Demetrius and also the worthines of his déedes for which causes he was highly honoured through the whole world did now more than before feare his estate if he entered his realm wherfore he foorthwith went to méet him whom at their first méeting he right courteously and honorably entreated greatly thanking him for his courtesie and trauell in that he would leaue his own affaires of great importance and with so mightie an army come to his ayde further telling him that he already had wel quieted and established his estate so that he should not néede any further to trauell Neuertheles he thought himselfe so much bounde as if he had come at his first sending for or that all things had béen by his meanes quieted To these words Demetrius answered that he was right glad of his quietnes and that he had now no néed of his helpe besides many other louing and gentle words which gréeting ended either of thē for that night returned into his tent During which time there arose such matters betwixt thē that the one greatly suspected the other for as Demetrius was bid to supper with Alexander he was willed to take heede to himselfe for Alexander had practised by treason to slay him notwithstanding he by no mean shewed any countenance of mistrust but meant to go to the banquet to whose lodging Alexander was comming to bring him on his way But Demetrius diuersly detracted the time went a soft easie pace to y e ende his souldiers might haue leisure to arme them and cōmāded his garde being a greater number than Alexanders to enter with him also to waite neer his person but when Alexanders souldiers saw themselues the weaker part they durst not attempt it at that time And after supper because Demetrius would haue some honest cause to depart he fayned he was some what ill in his body therfore foorthwith took leaue of Alexander went thence The next day Demetrius feined that he had receiued letters out of his countrey of great importance so that he with his army must presently return into Peloponnese frō whēce he came praying Alexander to haue him excused offering him
help whē he néeded desiring to vse him as one in whō he might repose his trust Now was Alexāder glad that of his own accord he would return and because he would better let him vnderstande some signe of good wil harty loue he accōpanied him into Thessaly but after they were arriued in the Citie of Larissa they a fresh began to practise new treason one against another and first Alexander to put Demetrius quite out of suspition either without armour or weapon or anie guard to attend on his person would oft visite him hoping thereby to make him doo the like but he was in his so thinking greatly deceiued for as Alexander one night came to supper to Demetrius without guard according to his accustomed wont and that they wer in the chiefe of their supper Demetrius sodainly arose from the table wherat Alexander was sore abashed insomuch that hee arose also followed him to the hall doore but so soone as Demetrius was without he gaue signe and token to his souldiors who incontinently fell vppon Alexander and slew him and certaine of his men which would haue defended him among whom a certain fellowe before he was killed said Demetrius hath preuented vs but a day onely Now was Demetrius King of Macedon and the Macedonians right glad of their change but not long after this Demetrius was taken prisoner by Seleuchus in battaile committed to prison where he continued vntill he died Then was the great fight betwixt Seleucus and Lysimachus which was the verie last battaile that was fought betwixt the successors of Alexander in which conflict Lysimachus was slaine Seleucus victor But Seleucus inioyed his victorie not long for he was shortly after slaine by Ptolome whose sister Lysimachus had married Also Olympias mother to Alexander the Great when she had slaine King Philip and his wife Euridice then to despite Cassander she put to death an 100. noble men of Macedon at one time also she made Nicanor brother to Cassander to be slaine and defaced the tombe and monument of Iole his other Brother to reuenge the death of Alexander her sonne as she said because it was suspected that he had poysoned him in giuing him drinke About the same time when Ptolome Lord of the Isle of Cypres vnderstood that Nicocles King of Paphos had secretly allied with Antigone hee sent two of his chiefe friends to wit Argey and Calicrate into Cypres charging them to kill the said Nicocles fearing that if he should leaue him vnpunished the rest would not sticke to doo the like When these messengers were arriued in Cypres hauing with them the souldiors of Ptolome they incompassed the house of Nicocles signifying to him their charge from Ptolome therefore they exhorted him to kill himselfe who from the beginning vsed manie words in the excusing of the fact but when hee did sée there was no account made of his tale hee at the last slewe himselfe and after that Axithia his wife vnderstood of his death she first slew two yong maides her daughters whom she had by him to the end they shuld not come into the hands of her husbands enemies and after exhorted Nicocles brothers wiues willingly to die with her which indéed they did In this sort also was the pallaice royall of Paphos ful of murders and wilfull slaughters and after in manner of a tragedie burnt for immediately after the brothers wiues of Nicocles were dead they shut vp the dores of the houses and set them on fire and foorthwith they that then liued in the pallaice killed themselues and so finished that lamētable murder In the same season while these things were done in Cypres great controuersie arose in the Countrey of Pontus after the death of Parisade sometime King of Bosphorus betwixt Satyre Eumele and Pritame Parisade his sonnes for the succession of the said Realme insomuch that the brothers made sharpe warre one against the other So it fortuned that Satyre and Pritame were both slaine in that warre wherefore the other Brother Eumele to assure himselfe of the Realme caused all the wiues children and friends of Pritame and Satyre his brethren to be slaine not long after was himselfe cruelly slaine by misfortune Now to returne to Alexander the Great and his line it was reported and partly beléeued that he himselfe consented with Olympias his mother to the death and murder of Philip his father for which gréeuous offence he himselfe with his whole line and stocke was punished accordingly For first it is to be considered that olde Antipater who in Alexanders life was his Lieutenant and after his death first had the Satrape of Macedon bestowed on him by Perdicas the Gouernour Which Antipater and Olympias could neuer agrée but still were at contention and strife both in the life time of her sonne Alexander and also after his death insomuch that when Alexander was comming from the conquest of the world making his abode in Babylon for a time and after minding to returne home into Macedon to visit his mother Olympias Antipater being then Lieutenant of Macedon considered with himselfe that if in case Alexander shuld return home that then his mother Olympias would make gréeuous complaints against him which thing he so much feared that he caused poyson to be giuen to Alexander at Babylon whereof hee presently died Thus when Alexander was dead and olde Antipater deceased there grew a new grudge and quarrell betwixt Olympias and Cassander sonne to Antipater insomuch that he tooke Olympias prisoner and in the end caused her to be slaine Aslo hee slewe Alexander sonne of Alexander the Great and Roxana his mother afterward he put to death Hercules the other sonne of Alexander with Arsinne his mother yet notwithstanding Cassander espoused Thessalonica one of the Sisters of Alexander the great who after the death of Cassander was also slaine by her own sonne Antipater Cleopatra also the other Sister of Alexander was also slaine by the commaundement of Antigonus After this sort was the whole line of Alexander for all his mightie conquests gained with lamentable slaughters and wonderfull effusion of bloud vtterly extinguished by Antipater and his Successours Also what gained his Successors by the large Kingdomes and possessions hee left For they were al by enuie depriued both of life and lands in miserable sort Insomuch that their remained not one that could iustly vaunt and brag of his happie successe but had rather good cause to mourne bewaile the cruel murders manifold slaughters and wastfull ruines both of themselues their wiues children and friends hauing also right good cause to wish that Alexander had neuer béen borne or els that he had neuer conquered so great a part of the world to leaue the possession therof to them wherby they were all driuen to vntimely death with the murder of infinite thousands of their people so that the whole whole world did lament and grieue at their
there was on either side in lamentable sort That Phrygia soile did flowe with blood the world can giue report When Phrygia thus was ouer-run by Grecians ouer stout Vnto the Troyan walls they marchde and compast it about Where Pryam held his stately court not passing of their spight Nor fearing future hap at all but still maintained fight Where from the top of stately walls we dayly might beholde Right neere our sight the slaughters great of Troyan youth full bolde And Greekes likewise on euery side the Troyans fierce did daunt They lay on heapes wherefore as yet they iustly could not vaunt Nor brag for that their mighty peeres in bloodie broile were slaine Wherefore to end the warre begun to sue did not disdaine To haue faire Helen backe againe for whom this warre begunne And eke to boote they offer made yong Polidore my sonne Whom Polymnestor King of Thrace had to the Greeks betrayde When Pryam first had placed him there in hope of better ayde For when we knew the Greekes did minde to make sharpe warre with Troy To Polymnestor King of Thrace we sent our yongest boy A mighty masse and treasure great with this our sonne we sent In hope to keepe him free from warre and from the Greekes intent But then the Thracian King betrayde O vile disloyall wretch The harmelesse lad vnto the Greekes this was the traitours fetch To holde the coyne which then he had and so to yeelde the childe Vnto the Greekes for lucres sake lo thus we were beguilde Which boy the Grecians brought to Troy and made request againe That Helen Menelaus wife in Troy might not remaine But be restorde then Polidore from their hands should be free And we our sonne might haue againe and warre should ended bee But if in case that we denied and Helen did detaine Then Polidore for brothers fault should presently be slaine Olde Pryamus would not consent that Helen backe should goe But helde perforce the wanton wench in spite of proudest foe And willd them for to doo their worst for Helen meant to bide Wherefore he would not yeeld her vp what euer might be tide It well was knowne vnto the Greekes that Pryam bade her chuse To stay in Troy or goe to Greece which she did flat refuse And forbecause she willing was with Paris to be still He would by no meanes send her backe against her owne good will Then sent he word to Grecian campe if that they had decreed His sonne should die his other sonnes should make them rue the deede And that the fieldes of Troy should flowe with gorie blood full fast Vntill the Grecians did repent their enterprised hast But now alas began my woe my sorrowe did increase For neuer day from this time foorth mine eies from teares did cease O Polidore my yongest boy sweete Polidore my sonne From Troyan walles I did behold how fast the Grecians run To doe thee wrong my harmelesse childe and mightie stones did bring Thicke thronging fast with furie great at Polidore they sling Who sure was tyed at fastned stake which I from Troyan wall Might well beholde how bouncing blowes did make my childe to sprall Not ceasing till my sonne were slaine nor then but still did smight The brused bones of my sweet boy within his mothers sight O hellish plague O torture vile me thinke I see it still How Grecians raging mad did strike the harmelesse soule to kill With wringing hands I looked on yet loath to see him die I turnd my backe and strait againe I coulde not chuse but prie For this my sonne who bleeding lay so bobde with waightie stones The flesh with blowes was mangled so eche man might see the bones Yet would mine eies haue passage still to this his carkasse dead Till that my liuing sonnes from top of Troyan wals had lead Their mother downe whose folding feete her body could not stay Which they perceiued so that from thence me wretch they did conuay To Grecian campe a messenger we did commaund to trudge To craue the body of my sonne which thing they did not grudge But sent the martyrde corps to Troy as custome did require They said not nay but graunted straight when Priam did desire And also did a present send to breede me further woe The bloudy stones that kild my sonne on me they did bestowe VVhose bloud and braines in vgly sort about the stones was seen A homely present to be sent to me most wretched Queen Then shrinde we vp with weeping teares our sonne so vilely slaine And put the stones in tombe with him for euer to remaine His brothers mad with this mischaunce for battell strong prouide And to reuenge their brother slaine to Grecian Campes they hide VVhere from the walles we had in view such cruell sturdy fight That mightie men to death were sent thus battell raignd downright The Greekes by thousands fell to ground their people goe to wracke And that ere long the Troyans stout by Greekes are beaten backe Thus Fortune playes in double sort sometime with vs to stand And then to flie to thother part and geue the vpper hand But while that Hector liued in Troy king Priams eldest sonne The proudest Peere that came from Greece his mightie hand would shun And fly the field before him fast they feared so his name So fierce he fought amongst their men each Greeke dooth know the same At last my lot was so extreame to see him likewise die In turret top from lofty towne his death I did espie For when as he had slaine that day in mighty battell strong Of kingly Peeres the chiefe of all that oft had doone vs wrong And there amongst the rest he had a noble Grecian slaine VVhose armour all was beaten golde which pray he went to gaine And drew him vp vpon his steede and rode foorth of the throng And for his better ease his shield vpon his back he slong VVhile he did spoyle him of his weedes carelesse of any wight His naked breast vnarmed then Achilles had in sight How he was busie and therefore from couert where he lay By stealing steppes behinde his backe he tooke the ready way And suddenly with fatall speare ere that he could aduert He vnawares with furie great thrust Hector to the heart Thus died he thorowe auarice whom thousands could not kill Vntill his wilfull foolishnesse himselfe did fondly spill My selfe I say that time did see from top of lofty towers The Troyan fieldes besprinckled with dew of bloudy showers That Hectors launce had letten out but now his latest fate I soone had spide and did lament to see the wofull state Of this king Priams eldest sonne and eke my chiefest ioy For well I wist that while he liude no harme could hap to Troy But now Achilles ouercrowed him whom he fearde before Wherefore he stabde him thorowly that he might liue no more I saw I saw how Hector lay as dead as any stone And yet the tyrant would not leaue but
chop should staine Because I feard the prophesie therfore I did consent But what of that the Gods themselues did hinder mine intent For if the Gods decree it once I know it will fall out Let no man think the powers diuine by any meane to stout Sir Satire sonne to Pariside of Bosphore sometime king Was wild by Oracle to shun a mouse of any thing For that a mouse should be his death except he took great heed The Oracle did tell him flat his fate was so decreed But he to shun the warned harme did slay the silly mice In field and town that none might liue his death to enterprice And in his land no man might dwell that mouse was cald by name He sought each way to saue himselfe he feared so the same He stopt the holes of creeping mice in euery place full sure For that the vermins by no meanes his death might once procure Yet see the end when least he thought of this forewarned harme He wounded was vpon the brawne or muscle of the arme For Musculus a little mouse in Latine we doo call And Mus a mouse which Satire slew as after did befall A dagger piercd Sir Satirs arme right where the muscle grew And muscle comes of Musculus though then too late he knew And Philip King of Macedon was warned to beware Of wagon or of wheeled coach wherfore he had a care To keep himselfe from any such he neuer could abide To come in coach for feare of that but still on horse did ride For all his care it so fell out he could it not preuent He was deceiud no running coach by this before was ment For being slaine the sword that slew the King was brought to sight And viewed well where on the hilts a coach was grauen right To Pelius it was declarde when that he chauncd to see One barefoot doing rights vnto his fathers ghost that he Should then of death in danger stand the prophesie was so Because he should take heed of him and shun the warned foe When he was doing of his rights vnto his fathers ghost His nephew Iason came by chance whose right foot shoo was lost And there vnto his grandsire dead the youth his dewes did giue The vncle then with ielous mind not long did think to liue For that he feard his neuew now who barefoot there did stand Should be the cause of his dispatch wherfore he out of hand Did counsell Iason being young to Colchos Ile to sayle To fetch the golden fleece from thence wherin he did preuaile His meaning was that Iason should be lost or drownd therin The conquest seemd vnpossible the golden fleece to win And for because he might not feare the prophesie forepast He shipt his neuew speedely and sent him thence in hast But Iason soon returnde again and brought away the fleece And brought Medea home with him to be old Pelias Neece To Thessalie Medea came and hearing what was done Against the aged Pelias she presently begun To practise treason at the last and causd the aged sire By his own daughters to be slaine this was for Pelias hire For he that could not trust the man that was his kinsman near But purposely did seek his death to free himselfe from fear Had such a chance ere that he wist Medea did the deed His ielous mind was chiefest cause that made him so to speed The Oracle long time before did know old Pelias mind Wherfore it told what destenie was to the man assignde Of fiftie daughters Danaus to be the sire was knowne Aegiptus then his brother had so many sonnes his own Aegiptus would haue all these his sonnes his brothers daughters wed But Danaus would not consent wherfore away he fled And tooke his daughters all with him because he did suspect A sonne in law would be his death therfore he did reiect The offer that his brother made but why he did refraine The cause was thus the Oracle did say he should be slaine By him that was his sonne in law wherefore he sought to shunne Such destinie as might befall through such a wicked sonne Aegyptus wroth with this his deede did send his sonnes to stay Their vncle that before was fled and pact from thence away His sonnes according to his will old Danaus did take And causde him there against his will a marrige day to make His daughters all were wedded then against their fathers will Eche man his cousin germaine had Aegyptus did fulfill His mind at last and did reioyce in this so strange a march But Danaus not well content did worke a swift dispatch Because he fearde the prophecie least that on him should light He did commaund his daughters all they should appoint a night Wherein eche one with willing minde her slumbring mate should slay And disappoint the prophecie before the morrow day His iealous minde did vexe him so he still did doubt the worst Til it was done he could not rest the man did so mistrust According to the fathers minde they did commit the act The nuptiall bed was so defilde with such a filthie fact All sauing one was slaine that night a hard and cruel part Whose life was saude for that his wife did wil him thence to start For very loue she bare to him though all her sisters had Destroyde their mates which deede she thought to be right vile and bad Thus being saude by such a meane the sonne in law did wexe Right fierce against his father law and earnestly did vexe He vowde reuenge on Danaus that thus vniustly delt He swore that he should taste the same that they before had felt And in the end he slue the wretch for doing of that deede The Oracle pronouncde before how Danaus should speede Thus seeking how to shunne his fate his death he did procure Himselfe was cause of his dispatch when he thought all things sure The Theban king that Laius hight by Oracle was tolde That Oedipus his onely sonne would proue a man too bolde And in the end should be the death of him that was his sier But Laius thought to frustrate that and proue his god a lier Vnto a shepheard of his owne his sonne he gaue to slay And chargde the man vpon his life there should be no delay But presently his sonne to kill and bring him home his heart He shall not liue so long quoth he to make his father smart The shepheard tooke the lad a field but loath he was to kill His Masters sonne that he loude well and yet he must fulfill His masters minde which grieude him sore wherefore he did inuent How he might satisfie the King and saue the innocent That Oedipus were dead he wisht so that his hands were freed From doing hurt vnto the youth and from so vile a deede Wherefore the hurtlesse lad he tooke his legs with twigs he bound And by the heeles vpon a tree he hung him from the ground That no wilde beasts might reach the