he appeared alive unto them according as the Prophets inspired by God had foretold and prophesied of him And yet in our time the doctrine and the name of Christians continues all the world over These are the words of Josephus who writ of the destruction of Jerusalem as an eye-witnesse which hapned fourty years after the death of Christ Pilate likewise that gave the sentence of death against him neverthelesse bears witnesse of his great miracles sending word of them by letters to the Emperour Tyberius so that the Senate was put to sit in Councell to advise whether they should receive Jesus Christ for a God and although they did not assent unto it Tyberius forbad any further persecuting the Christians As for the Earth-quake and the darknesse of the Sun during the time that Christ suffered upon the Crosse we have also Ethnicks for witnesses Flegon the Greek Historiographer born in Asia of whom Suydas makes speciall mention That in the fourth year of the two hundred and tenth Olympiade which will meet being well accounted with the eighteenth year of the Emperour Tiberius which was then when our Saviour suffered There was an eclipse of the Sun the greatest that ever was seen or found in any History and that it endured from the sixth to the ninth hour And that during this eclipse the Earth-quake was so great in Asia and Bithinia that there were an infinite number of houses fell to the ground It seems besides Flegon who lived in those times and writ this that Plinie vented and writ the same thing For he saith that in the time of the Emperour Tyberius the Earth-quake was greater than ever was any before it and saith thereby was thrown to the earth and ruined twelve Towns in Asia besides an infinite of other buildings So that the Historiographers who were Gentiles although they knew not the cause forbear not to write of the miracles of Christ The other miracle of the vail of the Temple which rent in sunder Iosephus recites it also Of the cruell death of the innocent children which Herod caused to die mention is made of it by another Jew named Filon a writer of great authority In his abridgement of time where he saith that Herod caused many children to be put to death and among them his own son because that he had heard that Christ a King promised to the Hebrews was born and this Authour was in the times of the other Herod called the Tetrark as he himself saith This History is again more amply recited by Macrobâ—us an Ethnick Historioagrapher who recites some pleasant and witty speeches of the Emperour Octavian in whose time our Saviour lived saying that the Emperour having heard of the cruelty of Herod towards his son and the other innocents said it was better in Herods house to be his hog than his child because the Jews killed no swine which witty conceit is alledged also by Dion in the life of the same Emperour So that there are many miracles whereof the Jews and the Gentiles not thinking of it be or witness to have been done by Christ besides those that the Christians make mention of What should we say any more of that the ancient Emperours have tasted of our belief and of that which they have done against the Christians The first Vicar of God St. Peter and likewise St. Paul died by the commandment of Nero the Emperour thirty six years after the death of our Saviour and then was the great persecution of the Church of which the Gentiles have not omitted to make mention And particularly Suetonus Tranquillus and Corneliâ—s Tacitus who lived in those times and of great authority Suetonus in the life of Nero speaking of some of his decrees and ordinances saith that he tormented and afflicted with great punishment a sort of people which called themselves Christians and followed a certain belief and new Religion and Cernelius Tacitus treatingon the acts of the same Nero saith that he persecuted and punished with terrible torments a sort of people which the vulgar called Christians And that the Author of this name was Christ of Jerusalem whom Pilate the Governour of Judea had caused to be crucified and by the means of his death his doctrine began to be extolled But now let us see what some other Gentiles write that are not of lesse authority Plinie in some of his elegant Epistles writes to the Emperour Trajan whose Proconful he was in Asia to know how he would that he should punish the Christians which were accused and brought before him that he might give his Lord a good account of what he found against them Amongst other things he writes that these Christians rose at certain hours in the night and assembled themselves together to sing hymns and praises to Jesus Christ whom they worshipped for God And being assembled into a Congregation they made vows to do no evil or hurt to any but promised not to steal not to be adulterers not to break their promises or vows not to deny what hath been lent or given them to keep And this Plinie saith further that they eat altogether without possessing any thing in proper By this we may know what was then the exercise of Christians and for what the world hated them and persecuted them These things were written by a Heathen and an Idolater sixty years after the Passion of our Saviour To which letters the Emperour made answer that seeing they were not accused for any excesse or other misdeeds that he should not trouble himself to punish them or make any inquisition against them Yet neverthelesse if they were accused and brought before him that he should find out a means to make them forsake their Religion but if they would not leave it yet he should do nothing to them Before this it is true that this Emperour Traian being a Heathen and deceived by accusers had persecuted the Christians To which Empire afterwards succeeded Adrian his Nephew of whom Aelius Lampridius a Heathen Historiagrapher and an Idolater writes that he began to honour the Christians suffering them to live in their belief and he himself worshipped Christ with the others and built Temples but afterwards he changed his copy and became hatefull odious and cruell towards the Christians being deceived and abused by the Masters and their false ceremonies and by the Bishops of those false Gods telling him that if he favoured the Christians all the world would be converted to their belief and they should loose the religion of their Gods This is certified by Peter Criniff It is found in the life of Saturninus that to this Empeaour Adrian there was a letter sent by Severinus the Consul where he writes that there was in Egypt divers Christians amongst which some called themselves Bishops and that none of them were idle but that all of them did work and employed themselves in some action and that there was not amongst them even those that were blind and lame that did not live
was born it hapned in Rome that in a publick Inne was discovered and broke forth a Fountain of pure oil which for the space of a whole day incessantly issued out in great abundance and it seemed that such a sudden spring of oil would signifie the comming of Christ That is to say anointed by which all Christians are so And the publick Inne in which all are indisterently received and lodged signifies our Mother Church the great Hostlery of Christians from whence should issue and proceed incessantly all good people Eutropius adds further That in Rome and adjacent places at high noon in a clear and fair day was seen a circle about the Sun as shining and resplendant as the Sun which shewed as much brightnesse or more than the Sun Paul Horatius writes also that at the same time the Senate and people of Rome offred to Octavus Augustus the title of Lord which he refused and would not accept of Prognosticating unknowing that a greater Lord than he was upon the earth to whom that title belonged Commestor in his scholastick history affirms That the same day the Temple in Rome dedicated by the Romans to the Goddesse Paix fell to the earth ruined And he saith that from the time it was built by the Romans they addressed to the Oracle of Apollo to know how long time it should endure Who made them answer even till a Virgin should bring forth a child which they judged impossible and by that means their Temple should last eternally nevertheless at the Virgins bearing a child the King of heaven it fell to the earth Luoas de Tuy in his Chronicle of Spain writes that he hath found in ancient histories of the Country having conferred and computed the time that the same night in which our Saviour was born there appeared in Spain at the hour of midnight a cloud which gave so great light that it seemed as midday I remember also that I have read in St. Ierom. That when the Virgin fled with her son into Egypt all the Idols and Images of the Gods which were there tombled to the ground from above their Altars And that the Oracles which hese Gods or to say better these Devils gave them ceased and never after gave them any answers This miracle alledged by Saint Jerom seems to be approved by the excellent Plutarch although he were a Pagan Who not believing any thing of these things nor knowing wherefore they were come to passe hath writ a particular Treatise of the defects of Oracles for already in his time which was a little after the death of Christ men perceived that such Oracles were wanting And in that Treaâ—â—s e could alledge no other reason but that there were some Demons dead But he said it as a man without faith because he did not understand that the spirits were immortall Neverthelesse this thing was wonderfull and truly worthy of great consideration to see so apparently that the Devil should demonstrate himself incontinently beaten down and discomfited and that after the death of our Saviour he remained so vanquâ—shed that never since he could give an answer And that the Gentiles without understanding the cause had knowledge of this defect by means whereof Plutarch writ this Treatise in which are these words whereof Eusebius makes mention writing to Theodoras as a thing of note I remember saith he to have heard say upon the death of the Demons to Emilius the Orator a prudent and an humble man That his father comming one time by Sea towards Italy and coasting by night an Island not inhabited named Paraxis as all in the ship were silent and at rest they heard a great and fearful voice which came from that Island The which voice called Ataman who was the Pilot of the ship an Egyptian born And although this voice was heard once or twice by Ataman and others yet had they not the hardinesse to answer till the third time he answered Who is there who is it that cals me what would you have Then the voice spake more high and loud and said to him Ataman I will that when you passe by near the Gulf called Laguna you remember to cry aloud and mâ—ke them understand that the great God Pan is dead At which all that were in the ship were in great fear and consulted all that the Pilot of the ship should not mind it nor speak a word of it nor stay in that Gulf at least if they could passe beyond it but go forward on their voyage but comming to the place where the voice had designed them the ship arrested and the sea was calm without wind so that they could not sail by means whereof they all concluded that Ataman should do his Ambassage and so he placed himself in the Poop of the ship and cried as loud as he could saying I do make you know that the great Pan is dead But as soon as he had spoke these words they heard so many voices cry and complain that all the air resounded again and this complaint lasted for a space of time so that those in the ship being astonied and having a prosperous wind followed on their course and being arrived at Rome told of this adventure and what happened Which being come to the ears of the Emperour Tyberius would be truly informed and found that it was truth wherefore it is evident that through all parts the Divels complained at the birth of our Saviour because it was their destruction For by the supputation of time we shall find that these things happened at the time that he suffered for us or a little before then when he chased and banished them from the world It is to be supposed that this great Pan as to the restriction of great Pan God of the Shepheards which they said was dead was some great Master Divel which then lost his Empire and power as the others had Besides these things Josephus writes in those very daies there was heard in the Temple of Jerusalem a voice though there was no living creature in the Temple which said let us abandon and go out of this Country speedily which was to say they perceived the persecution that they were to suffer and that it drew near by the death of him who was the giver of life In the Gospel of the Nazarites it is found that the day of the passion that gate of the Temple fell which was of a sumptuous and perpetual structure Behold how we find these wonderfull things which happened in that time though the Evangelists makes no mention of them as things unnecessary We must needs know that this great Eclipse of the Sun which lasted three hours whilest Christ was on the Crosse was not naturall as that which we see sometimes by the conjunction of the Sun and the Moon the Moon being interposed between the Sun and the earth And nevertheless the Eclipse which happened then at the passion was in opposition the Moon being then at full and distant from
principal fundamentals of virtue the patience of silence The Romans amongst other of the vanities of their Gods had one a Deesse of silence named Angeron which they painted with her finger in her mouth in sign of silence And saith Plinie they sacrificed to her the 21 of December whereof Varro Solinus and Macrobius make mention The God of silence was likewise adored by the Egyptians and they pourtraied it with the finger in the mouth Catullus and Ovid have also written the same thing whereby one may know in what reverence they had secresie seeing they adored it for a God Solomon saith that a King ought not to drink wine for no other reason but that where there is drunkenness there can be no secrets kept in his opinion he being unworthy to reign that could not keep his own secrets And faith further he which discovers a secret is a Traitor and he that keeps it is a faithfull friend CHAP. V. How commendable it is to speak little TO speak little and in that little to be succinct and short is a great virtue and very commendable for all men to know Solomon saith that much speech cannot be without much in and he tht refrains his tonge is wise And again he that keeps his tongue guards his soul And on the contrary he that speaks inconsiderately gives himself a prey to many mischiefs one might bring here the testimony of many learned men But the text in the holy Evangelists shall serve us where it is said that we are bound to give an account for every idle word The Lacedemonians amongst all the Nation of the Greeks delighted most to speak short in such sort that if any were succinct in his speech one would say presently he spake Laconian Philip the father of Alexander demanded to pass through their Country with his army and in what manner they would have him pass a friend or an enemy To whom they answered briefly and without many words neither the one nor the other Artaxerxes King of Asia threatned likewise that he would come and sack and pillage them to which threatnings they answered come and do what you will My thinks they could not in many words have answered more gravely The Ambassadors of the Samians made a long speech in their consistory so that the Auditours being wearied with such a long discourse gave them this answer We have forgot the first part of your propositions and for the rest we cannot understand it Again the other Ambassadors of the Abderits for that they affected too much the exposition of their Ambassage and desiring their dispatch for a return was answered by Agis King of the Lacedomonians Tell the Abderits we have heard you all along and as long as you would speak A man once speaking to Aristotle held him with such a long prolix discourse that himself finding his own fault concluded with an excuse that he would pardon him that he had used so many words to so wise a Philosopher Aristotle answered him very mildly Brother you need not ask me pardon for I was thinking of another matter wherein Aristotle payed him and answered in few words to purpose We have another example of the Theeves that robbed and killed the Poet Livie for as they were pillaging of him in the high-waies far from any company and where none could espy them He saw a flight of Cranes in the air to whom he cried aloud O Cranes you shall be witnesses of what these men do now unto me After his death it was a long time before any could be known or suspected of the murther till a time that there was a solemn meeting in the Country at which were these two murtherers where they heard a great company of Cranes make a noise in the ait whereat one of them said to his companion in a jeering manner not thinking any else had heard him hark hark yonder are the witnesses of the death of Livie But by chanee one that was by overheard them and could not tell what it meant but suspected some evill which made him advertise the Judge and the Governours what he had heard To make short my two gallants were taken and confessed the truth and were executed according to justice proceeding from their too much talk without heed taking For this reason ought to a man take heed what he would speak before he let a word escape from him and to consider before whom and in what time and place to speak Hecates the Greek Orator was reprooved for that being at a feast he spake never a word which Archimides understanding answered for him Do not you know that those which know when to speak well know as well when to be silent I might alledge infinite examples in divers histories in severall times of the dangers ignominies and death it self which hath happened to men by their too much babling Therefore a man ought well to consider before he opens his mouth whether that which he intends to speak may not turn to his prejudice The great Cato called the Censorian was from his infancy naturally slow of speech whereof being reprehended by many who conceited that he affected too much extream taciturnity made them this answer I am not displeased that I am reproved for holding my peace seeing none hath occasion to reprove me for my course of life for then and not before I shal break silence and shall then know to speak what I cannot keep in Isocrates in his book to Dominicus writes that there are two times set for to speak one when the businesse is necessary the other when a man speaks of what he knows Plutarch compares him that speaks of what he knows not to an empty vessell which sounds more than one that is full The Philosopher Zeno shews us that nature hath given us two ears only one tongue for this cause that we may hear much and speak little Horace counsels us to shun those that ask many questions because they are occasion of much babling Suetonus reports and divers others confirm it that the principall reason that moved Octavian so much to favour Mecenas was because of his Taciturnity and little speech Cicero affirms that Cato the Oratour would never put any oration of his in writing saying that if he should speak any thing he might repent of he would not have his hand brought as a reproach against him which he could not deny And lest in reprehending too much speech I should run into the same errour I will hold my peace with the Philosopher concluding that I have repented me many times for speaking but never for holding my peace CHAP. VI. Of the strange opinion of the Egyptians touching the life of Man judging it by the proportion of the Heart WHat I shall say of this will seem novelty to some fabulous to others because it is a difficult thing to prove neither do I intend to oblige my self to make it good nevertheless me thinks the authority of those that
a meal hath so much the greater charge and weight And neverthelesse it is so and we need not marvel at it for eating and drinking augments the spirits and chears him which makes him grow and increase in natural heat From hence it comes that when one man assays to lift up another if he wil that is lifted up he can make himself heavier by forcing forth his breath with in him which if he should keep in he would weigh lighter also one that runs breaths but little that he may run the more swift because the air being a very light Element desires to lift it self up high where its place is naturally as we see a piece of skin of chejucel or a bladder unblown thrown into the water it sinks presently but blow it up with air and it swims above the water In the same place Plinie saith That a body dead in the water when it comes to float if it be a man his face will be upwards towards heaven if it be a woman she wil rise with her face downwards which provident nature hath so ordeined to cover the shamefull parts of a woman There is yet an other natural reason for it And that is that women weigh heavier in the foreparts because of their breasts And men in their back-parts because of their shoulders CHAP. IX That death is to be judged good or evil according to the condition one dies in with examples of the death of divers IT is common to all once to die but to know when or how or what manner of death is revealed to none but all consists in being found in a good or evil estate That death may not be termed unfortunate unlesse that which finds not a man in that condition which he ought to be It often hides it self and keeps in houses and places where we least suspect And for this cause we ought not to live one day without consideration of it To this purpose examples are infinite and I will bring some here worthy note considering the effects are so strange though such happen daily Aullus Gelius writes and after him Valerius that there is in Italy a Town called Croton in Calabria in which lived one called Milo that was so strong and fit for any thing he undertook that at all games feasts and publick wrestlings never could be found his like and for the most part carried away the victory in such sort that he was accounted the strongest and most valiant that could be found in his time This Milo travelling over a Mountain and withdrawing himself out of the common rode for refreshment saw amongst other Trees an Oak having two great branches which some had begun to cleave by great force with wedges and left them behind not able to perform it which he being very desirous to accomplish put both his hands into the cleft and drew till he had opened them a little more so that the wedges fell to the ground but whether because it may be his strength failed him or that it may be he thought the branches were not of so great force he let go a little whereby the Tree closed on such a sudden that both his hands were fast taken therein so that he could not escape out and none passing by to help him he died there in great pain and of famine one of the most miserable and unhappiest deaths that could be imagined for he was made a prey to the most salvage beasts and so his own strength killed him If the death of Milo was so strange this of Echilus the Poet is no less strange for he one day walking out of a Town in Sicilie where he dwelt to take a little warmth of the Sun because it was then cold weather and he being old and bald-headed whose head shone again with whiteness seated himself in a high place where the Sun beat and having his head bare an Eagle by chance flew over him in the Air having in his tallons a Tortoise and seeing the white head of Echilus took it for a stone and so let it fall a great heighth thereupon so to break it that afterwards he might get the flesh of the Tortoise to eat it which broke his skull whereof he died presently A wonderfull thing seeing that he sate so high in an open place where one would have thought it impossible for any thing to fall upon his head Baptista Fulgosa in a near book that he hath written of Examples recites the unfortunatee death of a King of Navarre named CHARLES this King was old and very ill and troubled with a great pain in all his Nerves for which pain by the counsel of all the learned Physitians there could be found no Remedie but one which was to wrap him in a linnen cloath steeped in Aqua-vitae and sow him in it round on every side and he which sowed him in having nothing by him to cut off the thread took a candle lighted that was next him the flame whereof took hold of the Aqua-vitae so suddenly that before the King could be unsowed again or have any help he was burned in the flame and so he was cured of the pain he had in his Nerves and likewise of all his other diseases The death of Philemon was very pleasant for seeing an Asse come near to a table where on there was figs and fell to eating them fell into so great a laughter that the end of his laugh accompanied the end of his life And it is reported that Philiston the Commique Poet died laughing And so we find many men that have died of joy of which number was Dennis the Tyrant of Cicilie Diagoras and that Roman Dame who seeing her son return home who was thought to be slain in the battell died presently That death of the Shepheard Cratis whether it be so or no is likewise very strange for being asleep on a Mountain amongst his Goats a Buck-Goat killed him for jealousie he had of one of the She-Goats with whom Cratis abhominably perverted the order of nature Lewis Celius and Volateran recites this story alledging for it some Greek authors I leave divers other sorts of deaths as that of Pope Bonniface who died mad being famished in prison Of Richard the second of England Of the Arch-Bishop of Magunce who was killed and eaten up by a multitude of Rats Of Decius the Emperour of whom Familius Victor writes that though victorious he was found dead swimming in a Lake In this sort in our time died Lewis King of Hungary And Sforza father to that gallant Captain Duke Francis Sforza drowned himself thinking to save one of his Pages Andrew King of Provance died by the hand of his wife assisted by some other women who strangled him and hanged him up The Emperor Tiberius was also poisoned by his wife Agripina So Kings Princes and great Lords are subject to unfortunate and unhappy deaths as well as poor men although somtimes they are advised thereof yet in vain CHAP. X. How many
the use of his limbs and cast him to the ground tormenting him as if he were mad And he saith more that the Enchantment which it brings by the eys pierceth or striketh through one person to another by the imagination of him that causeth the charm So S. Thomas speaking after Avicon asks which soonest kills a body the melancholy imagination or the delectable imagination by the violence of the one or the other Joy expels and forceth out the spirits and leaves a man without life the other binds them in so strong that thereby grows a violent suffocation We saw in Sivile James Osorius who was taken by the Catholick King by the strong imagination of the fear which he conceived became old and white haired onely in one night being the day before strong and young Again we see that imagination many times makes men become fools and at such times so ill and crazie that its effects and power is wonderfull CHAP. XVII What Countrey-man Pilate was How he died And of the Lake called the Lake of Pilate and of its property And also of the Den of Dalmatia PIlate the most wicked and unjust Judge that ever was or ever shall be was according to common opinion born at Lyons in France yet some of that Nation will not have any such thing but say this name Pontius comes from a house in Italie and of Pontius Ireneas Captian of the Samnites which vanquished the Romans Be it how it will this Pilate either for respect to his person or to his parentage came to be of great note in Rome and being known to Tiberius successour to Octavius according to Josephus and Eusebius was sent by him in the twelfth year of his Empire to govern Jerusalem and stiled him with the dignity of Proctor of the Empire So then Pilate governed the holy City and all the Province of Judea which is called Palestina And he held this Officeren years in the seventh of which and the eighteenth of the Emperor Tiberius according to Eusebius and Beda he gave sentence of death upon the Saviour and Redeemer of all mankind our Lord Jesus Christ God and Man at which time came to passe those things which are written by the holy Evangelists of his Death and Passion whose Resurrection was so publick in Jerusalem although they sought by all means to hide it that Pilate thought although he were wicked that such Resurrection and Miracles were not of humane power but of God For this cause as Eusebius and Tertullian recites he advertised the Emperour Tyberius for it was the custome of Consuls and Pro-consuls to advertise the Emperour or the Senate what things happened in their Provinces This news marvellously amazed the Emperour which made him refer it to the Senate to sit ill Councel to know if it mighâ— seem good that this Prophet should be worshipped for a God which he did because they could not without the authority of the Senate worship any new God in Rome without the slighting of their other Gods But as the divinity of Christ hath no need to confirm it self by the approbation of men onely God suffered that the Senators would do nothing in it On the contrary as these Authours say they were displeased that Pilate had not writ to them as well as to Tyberius yet for all this Tyberius forbad the further persecution of Christians After these things Pilate coming to live in Rome and confirmed by the Devil for his loyal servant did never after do any thing in his Office but unjust and unlawfull acts Whereof being accused before Cajus Caligula Successour to Tyberius And also to have profaned the Temple by putting in Statues and Images and to have robbed the common Treasury and other grievous crimes was banished to the town of Lions some say to Vienna in Dauphenie and because this place was assigned for his banishment some say that this was the place of his birth he was so handled that he killed himself with his own hands which was by divine permission that he might die by the hand of the most wickeddest man in the world Eusebius saith that he killed himself eight years after the death of our Saviour of which this accused Pilate made no profit to himself forasmuch as he died in despair For the goodnesse of God is so great that although he had condemned his son to death yet if he had repented him of his sin him whom he had condemned to die would have given him eternall life And now we speak of Pilate I remember of a Lake so called this Lake is in Suisse near a Town called Lucerna in a Plain environed with very high Mountains from the highest of which as some say he casts himself into the water And the common report is that every year he shews himself there in his Judges habit but whosoever it be that by chance happens to see him either man or woman dies within the year Over and beyond this I will bring upon the stage to witnesse it Ioachin Vadian a learned man who expounded Pomponius Mela he writes also an other notable thing of this Lake very true and wonderfull he saith it hath such a property that if any one cast a stone into it or a piece of wood or any other thing this Lake swels and grows into such a boisterous Tempest that it runs beyond its bounds in great fury in such sort that sometimes it drowns a great part of the Country from whence proceeds great losse and damage as well to trees and Plants as to beasts and neverthelesse if these things are not cast in expresly it swels not at all And this Ioachin saith further that there are Edicts that forbids upon pain of life for any one to cast any thing into this Lake and that divers that have transgressed this edict have been executed whether this proceeds of a naturall cause or by a miracle I know not howsoever some waters have great and wonderfull properties part whereof there may be reasons given for and for others none Plinie recites a thing like to this and saith that in Dalmacia there is a very deep Pit or Den into which if one cast a stone or any other heavy thing there arises such a boistrous and furions air out of it that it breeds a dangerous tempest to the neighbours thereabout It may very well be but I am not certain of it that Pilates body was cast into it and that Devil by divine permission because of his ignominie executes such effects in that place CHAP. XVIII Of a strange thing that happened to one of the sons of Cresus King of Lydia and to the child of another King amongst which there in a discourse That is to say whether speech be a thing natural to man and whether man onely hath speech HErodotus writes a wonderfull thing that hapned to a son of Cresus King of Lydia and so it is reported by Aulus Gelius This Cresus was a rich King and he which Cyrus destroyed as
Torch it puts it out and if you put it in unlighted it will light it and alwaies at midday it is dry then when the day darkneth it begins to encrease again that at midnight it will be so full that it runs over In Persia they say there is a Fountain which makes their teeth fall out that drinks of it In Arcadia there are certain Fountains which run from some hils which water is so cold that there is no vessel neither gold nor silver nor any other mettal could hold it for as far as they fill it it breaks in pieces nor can be held in any other vessel but such as are made of the hoof of a Mule We will scarce believe that amongst Rivers although very great there are some that run into the earth and then rise again a good way off if we would have examples even Vadian in Spain Tigris doth so likewise in Armenia and Licus in Asia There are also Fountains of sweet water which entring into the Sea keep above the salt water Of which number there is one in Sicilie and an Isle named Enarie upon the coast of Naples We know wel that in Egypt it rains not but that naturally the River Nilus overflows and waters all the ground leaving it moist and fit to bring forth fruit There are two Rivers in Beocia In the one of which all sheep that are dipt it makes their fleeces black the other makes them white In Arabia there is another Fountain that makes all beasts that drink of it vermilion red of all which waters that have these properties Aristotle speaks copiously The River Lyncestis hath this quality that it makes any that drinks of it drunk as if it were wine In the Island Cea according to Pliny there is a fountain which he that drinks of becomes sottish There is a Lake in Thrace which if any one drink of or if they but bathe in it they die incontinent There is also a River in Pontus which brings forth a kind of Stones that burn and when there is the least wind they light and the more they are in the water the more they burn They also write of divers waters which heal diseases whereof there is one in Italy called Zize which heals sore eys Another in Achaia which if a woman great with child drink of she shall have a good delivery Divers others also that heal other infirmities As the Stone the Leprosie and the Tertian Ague and the Quartan Ague whereof Therphrastus Plinie and Vitruvius speaks There is another River in Mesapotomia that sends forth a sweet odour Baptista Fulgosa saith in his collections That in our time there was a Fountain in England in which if you cast in a piece of wood in the space of a year it would become Stone Himself testifies that which Albertus Magnus speaks of which is That there is a Fountain in high-Germany and Albertus saith that with his own hands he put a piece of wood into that water which became perfect stone and that part that touched not the water remained wood as before The same Fulgosa reports another property of a Fountain which is very strange for if a man walk about it viewing of it and looking into it without speaking any word he shall find it clear and quiet but if he speak never so little when he is near or going away from it the water will be roubled and begin to bubble he himself witnesseth to have seen iâ— and to have tried the experience himself for looking into the Fountain intentivery without speaking he saw it fair and clear But when he spake the water was troubled and moved with such force as though one had been stirring in it with something In France there is one as he writes that is extream cold yet many times there is flames of fire seen to come out of it Plinie saith that divers make a conscience to join faith to these things But they may be well perswaded that the great effects of nature shew themselves more evidently in that element of water then in any other Though the wonders are so many yet ought we not to think any one of them impossible and especially those that are cerufied by such Authors as I have alledged here Again we are sufficiently certified by the testimony of those that have seen in our time in an Island in the Canaries called For in a place well inhabited with people which serve there selves with no other water but what they draw out of a Trough or Cistern into which distils and drains abundantly the juyce of a Tree which is in the middle of this Island at the foot of which Tree nor any place near it there is neither Fountain nor Prock and neverthelesse this Tree is alwaies so moist that from its leaves branches and boughs the water drops necessantly and runs into this trough or cistern in so great abundance that night and day they receive enough to serve for their necessiâ—ies throughout the Island which we should hardly believe if it were but onely put to writing Therefore none ought to think strange that which we have before recited for this element of water is so powerfull and so necessary that its forces and qualities are neverstrange As for the Sea it is said it is more hot in winter than in Summer and more salt in Autumn than at any other time And it is a thing of great wonder that casting oil into the Sea appeaseth the rage and fury thereof Again we know for certain that it never snows in the places near about the Sea that are far from firm land Of all these things many give divers reasons the greatest part of which is attributed to the propriety and quality of the earth and Mines whence Fountains spring and Rivers runs through That it is true it is proved by that which we see daily that Vines and other fruits of the earth are better in one place than in another because in one place they are sweet and in another sharp and sower the one good and profitable the other damageable and hurtfull The air it self is corrupted and becomes pestilential by passing through a naughty Country What marvel is it then if water which washes and penetrates the earth stones mettals hearbs roots and trees take their good or evil qualities be they as strange as may be especially being assisted by the force of the Planets and the Stars CHAP. XXII Of many things which happened at the Birth and Death of our Saviour recited by many Historians besides that which is recorded by the Evangelists ALthough the things certified by the Evangelists to be manifested by great wonder at the Birth and Death of our Saviour are most certain and worthy of all belief yet me thinks it convenient to make some mention of other wonderfull things that were seen by other persons that have writ them Paul Horatius and Eutropius Secretaries to Octavian and likewise Eusebius say That at the time that Jesus Christ
by the labor of their hands and that they all worshipped one God which was also worshipped by the Jews We also read in the History of these times that this Emperour beginning to persecute the Christians by the perswasion of their chief Bishops there was one of his Embassadors called Serene Eramy an Ethnick like himself which writ a letter unto him in which he said in his opinion it was cruelty to oppress the Christians being accused for no other thing than observing their Religion seeing that he found them not charged with any other crime or trespasse By means of which letter The Emperour Adrian forbade Minus Fondan Proconful in Asia to condemn any Christian if he were not convicted of any other crime than that of Christian Religion CHAP. XXIIII What opinions the ancient Emperours have had of the person of Christ by the Testimony which Ethnick Historiagraphers give of them TO this Emperour Adrian of whom we have spoken in the last Chapter succeeded Antoninus Debonair who although he had that name was perverse and wicked he favoured ill the belief of Christ and persecuted the Christians But his Successour Marcus Aurelius was more moderate to them for instead of persecuting them he led them along with him in his army by whose prayers he was delivered from the danger wherein he was for want of water which his enemies had cut from him because he sent them water and to his enemies Thunder-bolts and Thunder Of these things are made mention in one of his leters and Julius Capitoline also speaks of it although he doth not attribute it all to the Christians These hapned about the forty and five years after the Passion of our Saviour The fifteenth or twentieth year following Severus being chosen Emperor Elius Spartine an Ethnick like himself writ that he should make a law by which he should forbid upon pain of great punishment that none should turn Christian nor Jew After which Severus Antoninus Heliogabolus was Emperor who as Lampridius recites that writ his life caused a Temple to be built in Rome dedicated to his God onely to which he would have the Christians resort to perform their sacrifices which the Christians would not do After this Heliogabolus succeeded the Emperour Alexander Severus in the year of our Saviour one hundred ninety two and was in great doubt whether or no he should become a Christian Also we find by the history that is written of him that he had a good opinion of that belief and that he much esteemed of the Christians and gave them places and plots for buildings in Rome to make their Temples and places for prayer He kept the picture of our Saviour in his closset This is written by Elius Lampridius besides what the Christians write And he saith further that divers Victuallers and Pastry-Cooks went to the Emperour with a complaint against the Christians that they had taken away their harbours and their houses to make places for their superstitious hypocrisie and that they observed a Religion contrary to that of the Romans To which complaint the Emperour made answer that he had rather God should be worshipped in those places than to imploy them in the affairs of their vocations This Severus being dead Maximinian succeeded him an enemy and persecutor of the Christians but he lived not long and died an ill death Since whom and two others more which lived but a short while the Empire fell into the hands of Philip who was baptized as some say and was the first that received the Christians Eusebius affirmeth it yet the Heathen Historiographers write nothing of it Every day God enlightned more and more the hearts of men and a great number were converted to the Christian faith in spight of Decius and Dioclesian and others such like and even till they being weary of persecuting them they connived at them and suffered them for a time as appears clearly by a letter of Maximinian the Emperour a companion to Dioclesian which was two hundred years after our Redemption Which letter saith as followeth Caesar Maximinian invincible great Bishop of Germany Egypt Thebes Sarmacia Persia Armenia and victorious over the Medes and for his victories named nineteen times Emperour and eight times Consul and father of his Country At the beginning of our Empire Amongst other things which we determined to do for the publick good we do ordain that the order which was kept in all things strengthened by our ancient Laws be conserved and kept And for the same reason we command that those men which call themselves Christians and have forsaken our ancient Religion be pressed constrained and forced to forsake the new Religion which they have taken up and that they observe our ancient Religion established by our predecessors But being it is come to our knowledge notwithstanding this commandment and rigour used against them to make them observe it they have not left to follow their own wils and are so firm and constant to their purposes that there is neither force nor punishment so grievous which can make them draw back from their Religion or make them observe ours but will rather expose themselves to grievous torments and death it self and that they are still at this day in the same constancie and will not reverence or worship any of the gods in Rome our often remembring of our accustomed clemencie and pity determined to be used towards the Christians for that cause we do from hence-forward permit and suffer that all persons may make and call themselves Christians have places for their meetings and build themselves Temples where they may pray and sacrifice Which licence and leave we grant unto them upon condition they shall not do any thing contrary to our Common-wealth and Religion and that in other things they shall observe our Laws and Constitutions and that in acknowledgement of this permission they shall be bound to pray to their God for our life and health and also for the estate of the Common-wealth of Rome that the Town being prosperous and entire they themselves may live of their labour in rest and safety O truly unfortunate Emperour if thou shouldest force the Christians to leave and renounce their Faith as wicked how wouldest thou have them pray for thee and force them to have remembrance of thee in their prayers At the least this Letter will serve us in that thou thy self doest testifie of the Constancy Virtue and Spirit that the Martyrs and holy Christians had in suffering patiently for a long space of time the torment and punishments that were inflicted upon them for the love of Christ Now sometime after Maximinian there came to succeed in the Empire Constantine which was surnamed The great son of that good Dame Hellen which found the true crosse which was about two hundred and ninety years after the Redemption of Mankind He was a good Christian and did so many good deeds for the honour of God and the holy Church and the Ministers thereof that
the Sun a hundred and eighty degrees in the other Hemisphere inferiour to the Town of Jerusalem to shew that it was true beyond that which Authors write The Text of holy Scripture proves it for it is certain that they never offered up the Lamb in sacrifice but upon the fourteenth day of the Moon Which Lamb was eaten by Jesus Christ and his disciples the day before his death As it was commanded in Exodus the twelfth Chapter and Leviticus the three and twentieth The next day was the feast of unlevened bread Christ the immaculate Lamb was crucified the Moon of necessity being at ful and opposite to the Sun which could not possibly make an Eclipse neither could any of the other Planets do it therefore it was miraculous and contrary to the order of nature and onely in the power of God who deprived the Sun of its light for that space of time By means whereof St. Denn is the Areopagite being that day in Athens and seeing the Sun so darkned and also knowing as a man learned in Astrologie and the course of the heavens that such an Eclipse must needs be contrary to the rule of nature spake with a loud voice saying Either the world would end or the God of nature suffer For this cause saith one that the Sages of Athens being astonied hereat caused an Alter incontinently to be built to the unknown God since which time St. Paul arriving there declared unto them who was the unknown God which was Christ our Redeemer God and Man which then had suffered by means whereof he converted many to the faith Some have been in doubt to know of this Eclipse and darknesse of the Sun were universal through all the world and grounded their argument upon that which the Evangelists saith over all the earth which is to say by a manner of speaking all the Country round about And Origen was of this opinion But what We see that in Greece even at Athens this tenebrosity was seen which makes me believe that this Eclipse was universal over all our Hemisphere and over all where the Sun might be seen I say so because over all the other Hemesphere where it was then night it could not be seen the sight of the Sun for that time being not there for it cannot illuminate at one instant but one half of the earth because of the shadow it makes Nevertheless we ought to know that the Moon being then at full and having no light but what she hath from the splendor of the Sun and again being in the Hemesphere which is under us she came to be violently eclipsed and darkenned by the onely cause and for default of the light of the Sun and so the darkness was universall over all the world because the Moon and the Stars can give no light unless they receive it first from the Sun CHAP. XXIII Of many passages quoted by divers Authors whâ—h have made mention of Christ. I Have divers times heard many learned and curious men which would ask a reason why and whence it proceeds that the Gentiles and Ethnicks have made so little mention in their writings of the life of Jesus Christ and of his miracles which were in so great a number and so publickly manifested even by his Disciples seeing that these Ethnicks have not failed to make mention in their books of other things particularly hapning in their times and yet not of so great importance To which I answer First that it is against truth to say that the prophane Historiographers have not spoken of them For there is an infinite whereof I will bring some examples for those that have no great knowledge in ancient histories My second reason is that we must consider upon this that saving faith and the law of grace given by Christ begun by him and his Apostles to be published through all the world was accepted by some which determined to live and die in it Others obstinate in their vices and sins did not onely refuse it but persecute it There was again others that kept the middle for although this seemed good unto them yet for fear of Tyrants and persecutors and other worldly considerations which made this holy profession disesteemed they would neither embrace it nor accept it The world being thus divided in three opinions those which confessed Christ did notable and marvellous things whereof many bear witnesse of their truth of which number are St. Dennis Tertullian Lactantius Firmian Eusebins and many others too long to recite The other wicked sort which persecuted it as a strange thing and utterly disagreeing to their law did eagerly pursue totally to ruine it and to hide the miracles life and doctrine of Christ For this cause they speak not of them or those among them which did speak any thing of them was but to make them contemned and to cloud them as did the wicked Porfice Iulian Vincent Celsus African Lucian and others such divellish men Against whom Ciprian Origen St. Augustine and others have written learnedly The other which either for fear or worldly considerations refused to be Christians or to love and to know the truth for the same reasons abandoned to speak of it and if some of them have touched any thing it hath been with jests and lies and that succinctly enough And neverthelesse even as when one would hide the truth under the vail of some colorable truth It often happens by a certain hidden propriety in the truth that he which would hide it disguiseth it and palliates it in such sort that by his own drift or discourse he discovereth his lies and the truth is discovered openly and manifestly So it hapned in this sort to these two kind of people For although they strove to put to an end and destroy the miracles and doctrine of Christ yet every time they spake of them they spake something by which they discovered their malice and the sincerity of that doctrine I could speak of many things that the Sibils have said and written but because that which they spake proceeded not from their own proper judgement but from the spirit of prophesie and as God had communicated it to them although they were Heathens I will leave them to come to other authorities The first and most evident testimony though it be the most common is that of our greatest enemies in the number of which is Iosephus by linage and nation a Jew and also by his life and profession He saith these words In these very times lived Jesus a very wise man if it be lawful to call him man because in truth he doth marvellous things and was master and Tutor to them that loved him and sought the truth The Jews and Gentiles assembled unto him and followed him in great troups And he was the Christ And although he were afterwards accused by the principals of our faith and crucified yet was he not cast off by them which had followed him before And three days after his death