it O thou most generous among men said Darius art thou he then who when I had no power gavest me that which though small in it self was yet as acceptable to me then as greater things would be to me now Know I will reward thee with such a huge quantity of Gold and Silver that it shall never repent thee thou wast liberal to Darius the Son of Hystaspes O King said Syloson give me neither Gold nor Silver but when thou hast freed my Country of Samos which is now held by a Servant of my dead Brother Polycrates give me that without slaughter or plunder Darius hearing this sent an Army under the Conduct of Otanes one of the seven Princes of Persia commanding him that he should do for Syloson what he desired Valer. Maxim lib. 5. CXXIV The only Daughter of Peter Martyr through the Riot and Prodigality of her debauched Husband being brought to extream poverty the Senate of Zurich out of a grateful remembrance of her Fathers worth supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she lived Fullers Holy State p. 86. CHAP. II. The Transcendent Effects of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity discovered in several Remarkable Instances HAving thus displayed the Effects of Love Friendship and Gratitude let us now consider of three other excellent accomplishments namely Magnanimity Gourage and Fidelity of which we may find many rare Examples in Histories for some Persons have within them a Spirit so daring and couragious that the sear no nor the presence of the greatest danger or disaster whatsoever is not able to shake their Constancy wherein sometimes they have proved as successful as others who have managed their Counsels with the greatest care and conduct they are able I. Henry Earl of Holsatia Sirnamed Iron because of his strength being got into great favour with Edward the Third King of England by reason of his valour was envied by the Courtiers whereupon they one day in the absence of the King counselled the Queen that forasmuch as the Earl was preserred before all the English Nobility she would make Tryal whether he was so Nobly born as he gave out by causing a Lyon to be let loose upon him saying That the Lyon would not so much as touâ—h Henry if he was Noble indeed They got leave of the Queen to make this Tryal upon the Earl He was used to rise before day and to walk in the outward Court of the Castle to take the fresh Air of the morning The Lyon was let loose in the night and the Earl having a Nightgown A Polonian Souldier encounters overcomes a Lyon Page â—8â— Amurath Emp Turks Killed by Cobelitz a Christian Souldier Page 88 on cast over his shirt with his Girdle and Sword coming down Stairs into the Court met there with the Lyon bristling his hair and roaring he nothing astonished said with a slout voice stand stand you Dog at these words the Lyon couched at his feet to the great amazement of the Courtiers who looked out of their holes to behold the issue of this business the Earl laid hold of the Lyon and shut him within his Cage he likewise left his Nightcap upon the Lyons back and so came forth without so much as looking behind him Now said the Earl calling to them that looked out of the Windows let him amongst you all that standeth most upon his Pedigree go and fetch my Nightcap but they being ashamed withdrew themselves Camerar Med. p. 118. II. In the Court of Matthias King of Hungary there was a Polonian Soldier in the Kings pay who boasted much of his Valour and who in a Bravado would often challenge the Hungarians to wrestle or skirmish with Sword or Pike wherein he had alwaies the better One day as he stood by a great Iron Cage in which a Lyon was kept the greatest and fiercest that had been seen of a long time he began to say to those that were in his Company Which of you dares to take a piece of flesh out of this Lyons mouth when he is angry none daring to undertake it You shall see added the Polonian the proof of my speech All that day following the Lyon had not any meat given him the next day they threw him the four Quarters of a Sheep the Lyon begins to grunt to couch down at his Prey and to eat greedily herewith the Polonian enters his Gage and locking the Lyon betwixt his Legs gives him a blow with his Fist upon the Jaw crying Hah you Dog give me the flesh The Lyon amazed at such a bold voice let go his hold shewing no other countenance but casting his Eye after the Polonian who carried the flesh away Oamer p. 118. III. In the Reign of Tham King of China there was a Colao an Officer not unlike our Duke who having been Tutor to the King was very powerful with him and to preserve himself in his Grace and Favour studied more to speak what would please the King than to tell him the truth for the good of his Estate The Chineses forbore not to speak of it amongst themselves and to tax the flattery of this Coloa One time some Captains of the Guard were discoursing this point at the Palace when one of them being a little warmed with the discourse secretly withdrew himself went into the Hall where the King was and kneeling down upon his knees before him the King asked what he would have Leave said he to cut off the Head of a flattering Subject And who is that said the King Such a one that stands there replied the other The King in a rage What said he against my Master darest thou to propound this and in my presence too Take him away and strike off his Head When they began to lay hands on him he caught hold of a wooden Ballester and as there were many pulling of him and he holding with a great deal of strength it brake By this time the Kings heat was over he commands they should let him go and gave order that the Ballester should be mended and that they should not make a new one that it might remain as a witness of the Fact and a memorial of a Subject that was not afraid to advise his King what he ought to do Hist. China p. 109. IV. Alexander the Great being in Cilicia was seized with a violent disease so that when all other Physicians despaired of his Health Philip the Acarnanian brought him a Potion and told him if he hoped to live he must take that Alexander had newly received Letters from Parmenio one of his Generals wherein he advised him to repose no trust in Philip for he was bribed by Darius to destroy him with a mighty summ of Gold Alexander held the Letters in one hand and took the Potion in the other and having drank it off he shewed Philip the contents of them who though incensed at the slander cast upon him yet advised Alexander to confide in his Art and indeed he recovered him
he found he had received as many as were intended to be offered he bound them up in one bundle and protesting That he had not so much as looked into any one of them he burnt them all in the sight of the Fathers giving them moreover a serious exhortation to Peace and a cordial agreement among themselves Chetwinds Hist Coll. p. 42. LXXVI It is reported of Julius Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey the Great he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles of Rome under their own hands which gave sufficient evidence to condemn them but he burnt them all that no Monument might remain of a future Grudge and that no man might be driven to extremities or to break the Peace through any apprehensions that he lived suspected or should therefore be hated Rogers Pen. Citizen p. 70. LXXVII James King of Arragon was a great Enemy to Contentions and Contentious Lawyers insomuch as having heard many complaints against Semenus Rada a great Lawyer who by his Quirks and Wiles had been injurious as well as troublesome to many he banished him his Kingdom as a man that was not to be endured to live in a place to the Peace of which he was so great an Enemy Clarks Mirrour p. 343. At Fez in Africa they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any Controversy amongst them both Parties Plaintiff and Defendant come before the chief Judge and all at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the cause is heard and ended Burtons Melancholy Servius Sulpitius was an Heathen Lawyer but an excellent Person it is said of him that he respected Equity and Peace in all that he did and alwaies sought rather to compose differences than to multiply Suits in Law Clarks Examples p. 344. LXXVIII It is noted of Phocion a most excellent Captain of the Athenians that although for his military ability and success he was chosen forty and five times General of their Armies by universal approbation yet he himself did ever persuade them to Peace Flutarchs Lives I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of England saith Mr. Trenchfield who was Married to David King of Scots that she was familiarly called Jane make peace both for her earnest and successful endeavours therein Trenchfield Hist Inproved p. 67. Sertorius the more he prospered and prevailed in his Wars in Spain the more importunate he was with Metellus and Pompey the Roman Generals that came against him that laying down arms they would give him leave to live in peace and to return into Italy again professing he preferred a private life there before the Government of many Cities Plutarch Vit. Sert. LXXIX The lovers of Justice and impartial Administrators thereof have been likewise famous in all Ages and the Persons hereafter mentioned were great lovers and observers of this excellent virtue which is of so much advantage to mankind Herkenbald a Man mighty noble and famous had no respect of Persons in Judgment but condemned and punished with as great severity the rich and his own Kindred as the poor and those whom he knew least in the world being once very sick and keeping his Bed he heard a great bustle in a Chamber next to that wherein he lay and withal a Woman crying and shrieking out he inquired of his Servants what the matter was but they all concealed the Truth from him at last one of his Pages being severely threatned by him and told that he would cause his Eyes to be pulled out of his head if he did not tell him plainly what all that stir was told him in few words My Lord said he your Nephew hath ravished a Maid and that was the noise you heard The Fact being examined and plainly proved Herkenbald condemned his dear Nephew to be hanged till he should be dead but the Officer who had the charge to execute the Sentence seeming as if he had been very willing and forward to do it went presently and gave the young man notice of all that had passed wishing him to keep out of the way awhile and some few hours after he comes again to his sick Lord and affirms contrary to truth that he had put his sentence in Execution and that the young man was dead about five days after the young Gentleman thinking his Unkle had forgotten all came and peeped in at his Chamber door the Unkle having espied him calls him by his name and with fair words inticeth him to his Beds head till he was within his reach and then suddenly catching him by the locks with the left hand and pulling him forcibly to him with his right hand he gave him such a ready blow into the Throat with a Knife that he died instantly so great was the love that this Nobleman bore to Justice Camerarius Meditat. p 468. LXXX Sir John Markham was Knighted by King Edward the Fourth and by him made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench at which time one Sir Thomas Cook late Lord Mayor of London and Knight of the Bath a man of a great Estate was agreed upon to be accused of High Treason and a Commission issued out to try him in Guildhall The King himself by private instructions to the Judge appeared so far in the cause that Cook though he was never so innocent must be found guilty and if the Law were too short the Judge must stretch it to the Kings purpose The fault they laid to his charge was for lending Monies to Queen Margaret Wife to King Henry the sixth the proof was the confession of one Hawkins who was rack'd in the Tower Sir Thomas Cook pleaded that Hawkins came indeed to request him to lend a Thousand Marks upon good security but that understanding who it was for he had sent him away with a refusal The Judge declared that this proof reached not to a charge of High-Treason and that Misprision of Treason was the highest it could amount to and intimated to the Jury to be tender in matter of life and discharging good consciences upon which they found it accordingly only Misprision for which the Judge was turned out of his Place and lived privately the rest of his days and gloried in this That though the King could make him no Judge yet he could not make him no upright Judge Fullers H. State p. 263. LXXXI Charles the bold Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders had a Nobleman in special favour with him to whom he had committed the Government of a Town in Zealand where living in a great deal of ease he fell in love with a Woman of a beautiful body and a mind and manners no whit inferior he passed and repassed by her door and soon after grew bolder entred into discourse with her discovers his passion and beseeches a compassionate resentment of it he makes large promises and uses all the ways by which he hoped to gain her but all in
Succours or Victuals John Lord of Vienna who there commanded for the King began to treat about the surrender of it desiring only that they might give it up with the safety of their Lives and goods which conditions being offered to Edward the Third King of England who by the space of eleven months had straitly besieged it he being exceedingly inraged that so small a Town should alone stand out against him so long and withal calling to mind that they had often galled his Subjects by Sea he was so far from accepting their Petition that contrariwise he resolved to put them all to the Sword had he not been diverted from that Resolution by some grave Counsellors then about him who told him That for having been faithful and Loyal Subjects to their Soveraign they deserved not to be so sharply dealt with Whereupon King Edward changed his first parpose into some more clemency promising to receive them to mercy upon condition That six of the principle Townsmen should present him the Keys of the Town bare-headed and bare-footed and with Halters about their Necks and to leave their lives to his mercy Hereof the Governor having notice he presently goes into the Market-place commanding the Bell to be tolled for assembling the People who being met he acquainted them with the Articles which he had received touching the yielding up of the Town and the assurance of their lives which could not be granted but with the death of six of the Chief of them with this news they were exceedingly cast down and perplexed when on a sudden there rises up one of their own Company called Stephen Petre one of the richest and most sufficient Men of the Town who thus spake aloud to the Governour Sir I thank God for the Goods he hath bestowed upon me but more that he hath given me this present opportunity to make it known that I prize the lives of my Countrymen and Fellow-Citizens above my own At the hearing of which Speech and sight of his forwardness one John Daire and four others after him made the like offers not without abundance of Prayers and Tears from the common People who saw them so freely and readily sacrifice their Lives for the publick good and instantly without more ado they address themselves to the King of England with the Keys of the Town with no other apprehension but to be put to death to which though they held themselves assured thereof they went as cheerfully as if they had been going to a Wedding yet it pleased God to turn the heart of the English King and at the request of the Queen and some of the Lords they were all sent back again safe and sound Daniels Hist Engl. p. 240. XCVII When Charles the Seventh King of France marched toward Naples they of the City of Florence set open their Gates to him as supposing they should thereupon receive the less damage by him in their City and Territories adjoining but the King being entred with his Army demanded the Government of the City and a sum of Money to secure their Liberties and Estates in this strait four of the principal Citizens were apppointed to transact and manage this affair with the Kings Ministers amongst these was Petre Caponis who having heard the rigorous terms of their composition recited and read by the Kings principal Secretary he was so moved that in the sight and presence of the King he snatched the Paper out of his hands and tore it in pieces crying out Now sound you your Trumpets and we will ring our Bells Charles astonished at the resolution of the man desisted from his design and thereupon it became a Proverb Gallum a Cock or a Frenchman a Capo victum fuisse The French Cock was overcome by a Capon Zuinglius Theat p. 256. XCVIII The Tartars in their invasion of China were prosperous on all sides and had set themselves down before the Walls of the renowned and vast City of Hunchen the Metropolis of the Province of Chekiang where the Emperor Lovangus was inclosed Lovangus his Soldiers refused to fight till they had received their Arrears which yet at this time he was not able to pay them it was upon this occasion that his heart not able to bear such a desolation of the City and Subjects as he foresaw he gave such an illustrious example of his humanity and tenderness to his People as Europe scarce ever saw for he mounted upon the City Walls and calling to the Tartarian General upon his Knees he begged the life of his People Spare not me said he I shall willingly be a Sacrifice for my Subjects And having said this he presently went out to the Tartars Army and was by them taken by which means this noble City was preserved though with the destruction of the mutinous Army for the Tartars caused the City to shut the Gates against them till they had cut in pieces all that were without and then entred triumphantly into it not using any force or violence to any Martinius Hist China p. 281. XCIX In the year 393. from the building of Rome whether by an Earthquake or other means it is uncertain but the Forum or Market-place of Rome was opened and almost half of it was fallen in to a very strange depth great quantities of Earth were thrown into it but in vain for it could not be filled up the Soothsayers therefore were consulted with who pronounced That the Romans should devote unto that place whatsoever it was wherein they most excelled Then Martius Curtius a Person of admirable valour affirming That the Romans had nothing besides Arms and Virtue wherein they excelled he devoted and gave up his own life for the safety of his Country and so armed on Horseback and his Horse well accoutred he rode into the gaping Gulf which soon after closed itself upon him Livys Hist p. 122. C. When the Graecians of Doris sought counsel from the Oracle for their success in the Wars against the Athenians it was answered That then undoubtedly they should prevail and become Lords of that State when they could obtain any victory against them and yet preserve the A thenian King living Codrus the then King of Athens by some intelligence being informed of this answer withdrew himself from his own Forces and putting on the habit of a common Soldier he entred the Camp of the Dorians and killing the first he encountred was himself forthwith cut in pieces falling a willing sacrifice to preserve the liberty of his Country Rawleigh's Hist World p. 420. CI. Cleomenes King of Sparta being distressed by his Enemy Antigonus King of Macedon sent to Ptolomy King of Aegypt for help who promised it upon condition to have his Mother and Child in pledg of his Fidelity Cleomenes was a long time ashamed to acquaint his Mother with these conditions and though he went oftentimes on purpose to let her understand it yet when he came he had not the heart to discover it to her which she
who was of a fierce and violent disposition made War upon his Brother Alphonsus overcame and took him Prisoner and thrust him into a Monastery constrained Religion lasts not long and therefore he privately deserted his Cloyster and in company only of one Earl he fled for protection to Almenon King of Toledo who was a Moor and an Enemy to the others Religion but there had been Friendship and Peace betwixt him and Ferdinand the Father of this distressed Prince and upon this account he chose to commit himself unto his Faith and was cheerfully received by him he had not been long with him when in the presence of the King the hair of this Prince was observed to stand up an end in such manner that being several times stroked down by the hand they still continued in their upright posture The Mâ—orish Sooth sayers interpreted this to be a Prodigy of ill signification and told the King that this was the man that should be advanced to the Throne of Toledo and thereupon persuaded to put him to death the King would not do it but preferred his Faith given to the fear he might apprehend and thought it sufficient to make him swear that during his life he should not invade his Kingdom a while after King Sanctius was slain by Conspirators at Zamora and his Sister Vratta being well affected to this her Brother sent him a Messenger with Letters to invite him to the Kingdom advising him by some craft with all speed to quit the Country of the Barbarians where he was Alphonsus bearing a grateful mind would not relinquish his Patron in this manner but coming to Almenon acquainted him with the matter And now said he noble Prince compleat your Royal Favours toward me by sending me to my Kingdom that as hitherto I have had my life so I may now also receive my Scepter by your generosity The King imbraced him and wished him all happiness But said he you had lost both Crown and life if with an ungrateful mind you had fled without my knowledge For I knew of the death of Sanctius and I silently waited what course you would take and had disposed upon the way such as I should have returned you back from your flight had it been attempted But no more of this all I shall require of you is that during your life you shall be a true Friend to me and my elder Son Hissemus And so sent him away with Money and an honourable retinue this Alphonsus did afterward take the City and Kingdom of Toledo but it was after the death of Almenon and his Son Lipsius Mon p. 321. LIX Antaff King of some part of Ireland warring against King Ethelstan disguised himself like an Harper and came into Ethelstans Tent whence being gone a Soldier that knew him discovered it to the King who being offended with the Soldier for not declaring it sooner the Soldier made this answer I once served Antaff under his pay as a Soldier and gave him the same Faith I now give you if then I should betray him what trust could your Grace repose in my Truth let him therefore die but not by my Trechery and let your care remove your Royal self from danger remove your Tent from the place where it stands lest at unawares he set upon you Which the King did and the Bishop pitching in the same place was that night with all his Retinue slain by Antaff hoping to have surprized the King and believing he had slain him because he himself knew his Tent stood in that place Speeds Chrocle p. 381. LX. Henry King of Arragon and Sicily was deceased and left John his Son a Child of twenty two months of Age behind him intrusted to the care and fidelity of Ferdinand the Brother of the deceased King and Uncle to the Infant he was a man of great virtue and merit and therefore the Eyes of the Nobles and People were upon him and not only in private discourses but in the publick Assembly he had the general voice and mutual consent to be chosen King of Arragon but he was still deaf to these proffers alledging the right of his Infant Nephew and the custom of the Country which they were bound the rather to maintain by how much the weaker the young Prince was to do it yet he could not prevail though the Assembly was adjourned for that time they met again in hopes that having time to consider of it he would now accept it who being not ignorant of their purpose had caused the little Child to be clothed in Royal Robes and having hid him under his Garment went and sate in the Assembly then Paralus Master of the Horse by common consent did again ask him Whom O Ferdinand is it your pleasure to have declared our King He with a severe look voice replied Whom but John the Son of my Brother and withal took forth the Child from under his Robe and lifting him up upon his Shoulders cryed out God save King John and commanding the Banners to be displayed cast himself first to the ground before him and then all the rest moved by his example did the like Camer Horae Subs p. 154. LXI John the first K. of France was overthrown in Battel and made Prisoner by Edw. the Black Prince and afterwards brought over into England Here he remained four years and was then suffered to return into France upon certain conditions which if he could make his Subjects submit to he should be free if otherwise he gave his faith to return he could not prevail to make them accept of the hard Terms that were offered whereupon he returned into England surrendred himself up and there died Fulgosus ex p. 44. LXII Flectius a Nobleman was made Governor of the City and Castle of Conimbria in Portugal by King Sanctius 1243. This Sanctius was too much swayed by his Wife Mencia and over-addicted to some Court Minions and Favourites by reason of which there was a Conspiracy of the Nobles against him and the matter was so far gone that they had got leave of Pope Innocent to translate the Government of the Kingdom to Alphonsus the Brother of Sanctius hereupon followed a War the minds of most men were alienated from their natural Prince but Flectius was still constant induring the Siege and Arms of Alphonsus and the whole Nation nor could he any way be persuaded till he heard that Sanctius was dead in banishment at Toletum for whom now should he fight or preserve his Faith they advised him therefore to follow Fortune and to yield himself and not change a just Praise for the Title of a Desperado and a Madman Flectius heard but believed them not he therefore beg'd leave of Alphonsus that he himself might go to Toletum and satisfy himself It was granted and he there found that the King was indeed dead buried and therefore that he might as well be free in his own conscience as in the opinion of men he opened
continued there eight months before he was Absolved at the end whereof he said to one about him Truly I will go and see what Pennance my Pastor will lay upon me for mine offence and so he went to the Church door where St. Ambrose was and intreated him to absolve him But what Repentance have you shew'd said the Bishop for so hainous an Offence And with what Salve have you healed so mortal a wound You said the Emperor are to instruct and shew me what I am to do and you shall see I will accomplish what you shall prescribe The Bishop seeing the Emp. Mildness and Humility and judging it sufficient pennance that he had been so long Excommunicated courteously replied Your Pennance Theodosius shall be this that seeing in your hasty fury you committed such an horrid Murther you shall presently establish a Law that no man whom you shall adjudge to die shall be executed within thirty days after you have pronounced the Sentence at the end of which time you shall either ratify or disannul your Sentence as you shall see cause The Emperor immediately caused this Law to be written and proclaimed which he ever after observed and whereof much good ensued and so being absolved he came into the Church prayed and received the Sacrament and ever after loved St. Ambrose very dearly and used his Council in many matters and for his Companies sake he continued in Millain the remainder of his life Clarks Lives p. 20. XXXVII It is reported by Gualter Mapes an old Historian of ours who lived four hundred years since that King Edward the first of England and Leoline Prince of Wales being at an interview at or near Aust upon Severn in Glocestershire and the Prince being sent for but refusing to come the King would needs go over to him which Leoline perceiving went up to the Arms in water and laying hold on the Kings Boat would have carried the King out upon his Sholders adding That his Humility and Wisdom had triumphed over his pride and folly and thereupon was reconciled to him and did his homage Burtons Melanch p. 307. XXXVIII After what manner Humility and Compassion doth sometimes meet with unexpected rewards methinks is prettily represented by Vrsinus Velius in the following Verses A Fisher angling in a Brook With a strong line and baited Hook When he for his wish'd Prey did pull It happen'd he brought up a Skull Of one before drown'd which imprest A Pious Motion in his Breast Thinks he since I such leisure have Vpon it I 'le bestow a Grave For what did unto it befal May chance to any of us all He takes it wraps it in his Coat And bears it to a place remote To bury it and then digs deep Because the Earth it safe should keep And lo in digging he espies Where a great heap of Treasure lies For Heaven do's never prove ingrate To such as are Commiserate XXXIX Alphonsus the most noble King of Arragon Naples and Sicily as he passed through Campania lighted by accident upon a Muleteer whose Mule overladen with Corn stuck in the Mire nor was he able with all his strength to deliver her thence the Muleteer beseeched all that passed by to help him but in vain at last the King himself dismounts from his Horse and was so good an help to the poor man that he freed his Beast when he knew it was the King falling on his knees he begged his pardon the King with courteous words dismist him this may seem a thing of small moment yet hereby several People of Campania became reconciled to the King This same Prince being informed by his Vice-Roy at Naples that in his absence one of those two mighty Ships which he had built and which seemed like Mountains by the negligence of the Seamen had taken fire and was burnt down he told the Messenger That he well knew that Ship though great and magnificent would yet after some years be corrupted or perish by some accident or other and that therefore the Vice-Roy if he were wise would bear that misfortune with an equal mind as he himself did By this may be discovered the humility and patience likewise of this great Personage which are both very excellent Accomplishments but especially when they have been improved so far as to repress our rising Passions in the midst of injurious Provocations and under great losses and injuries received in bearing patiently reproofs from Inferiors and likewise in supporting men in the midst of the most exquisite torments and hardships of all which we have divers instances in History and shall relate some of each particular XXXIX Philip King of Macedon had one Nicanor that went about rayling against him whereupon his Courtiers persuaded him to punish him severely for it to whom Philip answered Nicanor is none of the worst of my Subjects I must rather therefore observe and see whether I have not committed any evil whereby I have given him cause to speak so evil of me And making serious inquiry he found that there was a certain poor man who had deserved well of him to whom he had never given a reward whereupon he made him large satisfaction and the poor man did every where extol his goodness and bounty then said Philip to his Attendants You see my Friends it is in our own power either to be spoken well or ill of The Peleponesians who had received many and great favours from King Philip yet hated him spoke evil of him and when he came to the Olympick Games hissed at him whereupon his Friends stirred him up to revenge but he mildly answered them saying If they do thus when I do them good what would they do if I should do them hurt At another time the Athenians sending Ambassadors to request some favours of him he entertained them courteously and granted their requests asking them if there were any thing else wherein he might gratify the Athenians to which one of them answered Yes truly if thou wilt hang thy self This exceedingly inraged Philips Courtiers but he without being moved sent them away courteously only bidding them tell the Athenians That they who spake such things were far weaker than those who could hear and bear them patiently He used to say That he was beholding to the Athenian Orators who by their reproaches made him better whilst he was forced by his Actions to confute their slanders and make them Lyars As King Philip besieged the City of Methon and was walking about to view the Walls one shot an Arrow at him from thence whereby he put out his right Eye which yet he took so patiently that when the Citizens a few days after sent out to treat with him about the surrender he gave them honourable terms and after they had put the City into his hands took no revenge on them for the loss of his Eye In one Battle having taken a considerable number of Prisoners he was himself in Person to see them sold as he sate in
glass against the ground which being bruised and crushed together but not broke he drew out his Hammer and beat it again into form as if it had been Brass this done he imagined that he had conquered the world but it fell out otherwise for Tiberius's envy increased thereby and inquiring of him whether any other besides himself understood the secret he replied No whereupon he commanded to strike off his head adding That if this Art of Malleable Glass should be practised it would make Gold and Silver hut cheap and inconsider able things Wan Hist Man LVIII Ferrex and Porrex jointly succeeded their Father Gorboduc in the Government of this Land of Brittain in the year of the world 4711. and continued in love and amity for some time but at last Envy the Mother of all disorder and mischief so far prevailed with them that they both studied to supplant each other thereby to gain the whole Supremacy and first Porrex raising an Army unknown to his Brother designed suddenly to surprize and kill him of which he having notice and yet not being able for the present to provide for opposition he was forced to fly into France where being supplied with some Forces he landed in England gave his Brother Porrex Battle defeated his Army and slew him in the Field Ferrex proud of his Victory retired himself to his Tent whither his Mother Midan came by night with some of her Women and being freely admitted to the place where he lay sleeping she with the rest most cruelly murdered him Morindus K. of Brittain devoured by a Sea Monster Page .179 Q Tomyris puts the head of K. Cyrus into a Bowl of Bloud Page .181 and after cut his body into small pieces cansing them to be scattered in the Field and in these two Brothers ended the issue of Brute Thus we see the dreadful effects of Envy as well in the vanquisht as the victor but the greatest in the last to be so cruelly murdered rather by a Monster than a Mother Beards Theat p. 27. LIX Morindus was the Bastard-Son of Flavius King of Brittain by his Concubine Fanguestella and reigned in the year of the World 1880. The Chronicle reports him to have been of a comely and beautiful Personage having an active Body and a most daring Spirit and strength withal above any Peer or Subject in the Land but as a grievous stain and blemish to all these good parts and endowments he was of a cruel and envious disposition for he grew jealous of all such as were either wealthy or remarkable in his Court for any vertue or excellency confiscating the Estates of the one and discountenancing the other and hindring them from all Preferment he was so furious that when he was vexed he would kill his Subjects with his own hand His Kingdom being invaded by a Forreign Prince he fought with him and chased him to Sea taking many Prisoners whom to satisfie his Cruelty and Tyranny he caused to be put to death before his Eyes with several sorts of Torments as beheading hanging burning drowning and other kinds of Execution but at length this Morindus called by our Historians Morwith walking by the Sea side and espying a dreadful Monster upon the shoar which he out of his valiant and Royal Courage endeavouring to destroy after a long fight was devoured and swallowed by this Monster Beards Theatre p. 26. LX. When K. Richard the First of England K. Philip of France were Fellow-Souldiers together at the siege of Acon in the holy Land and Richard had approved himself to be the more valiant Man insomuch that all mens Eyes were fixed upon him it so galled the heart of King Philip that he was scarce able to bear the Glory of King Richard but cavilled at all his proceedings and sell at length to open defiance nor could he contain any longer but out of very Envy hastening home he invaded his Territories and professed open War Burtons Melancholy p. 86 LXI We read of a Rich man in Quintilian that was possessed of this Evil Disease to that strange height and degree that he is said to have poisoned the Flowers in his Garden to the end that his neighbours Bees might get no more Honey from them Quintilian LXII Alexander the Great both envied and hated Perdiccâ—…s because he was warlike Lysimuchus because he was skilful in the Arts of a General Seleusâ—…s because he was of great Courage He was offended with the Liberality of Antigonus with the Imperial Dignity and Authority of Attalus and with the prosperous Felicity and good Fortune of Ptolemaeus Elian. Var. Hist LXIII Hypatia of Alexandria the Daughter of Theon the Philosopher had made such progress in Learning that she exceeded all the Philosophers of her time and not only succeeded in the School of Plato but also explained the Precepts and Aphorisms of all sorts of Philosophers so that a mighty Confluence was made to her by all such as were desirous to improve themselves in Philosophy she came into the knowledg and Courts of princes where she behaved her self with singular modesty and doubted not to present her self in publick amongst the Assemblies of men where by reason of her Gravity and Temperance of mind she was received by all sorts till at last the long suppressed flames of Envy began to break forth and a number of malevolent and hot-brain'd men whereof Petrus of the Church of Cesarea was the Leader seized upon her in her return home pluckt her out of her Coach vearried her to that Church where having ostript her of her Cloths they tore her flesh with sharp shells till she died then they pulled her in pieces and carried her torn Limbs into a place called Gâ—…aros where they were burned This deed was no small matter of Infamy to Cyrillus the Bishop and to the whole Church of Aerandria Socrates Ecclesiast History LXIV Revenge is near of kin to Hatred and Envy and it is observable that great and Generous Souls are ever found to be most easily appeased while the weak fearful are guilty of the greatest Barbarities as not knowing how to allot any measure or bounds to their Anger of which the following Relations are too real Evidences and Instances LXV Pope Stephen the Seventh having been hindred from the Popedom by Formosus his Predecessor after his death he caused his dead body to be taken out of the Sepulchre to be stript of his Pontificial Garments wherein he was buried to be clothed in others and to be buried without the Church He also caused his Fingers to be cut off and to be cast into the River for the Fish to devour When Sergius the Third came to be Pope he caused the Body of the same Formosus to be drawn out of its second burying place to be beheaded in the Market-place and then to be cast into the River Tyber to gratifie Lotharius the King of France who thus hated the dead Formosus because by his means the Empire was translated from
King of the Heneâ—…tians and she her self beseiged by the same Enemy yet nevertheless this wretched woman fell so far in Love with him that upon promise of Marriage she agreed to deliver into his hands the City of Friol who burnt it slew the men and carried the women and Children Captives into Austria Cacanus took Rhomilda into his bed for one night only and then delivered her to be abused with the lust of twelve Henesians and soon after caused her to be impaled alive upon a sharp stake Ca. Op. CHAP. VI. The Tremendous Consequences of Vnchastity Intemperance and Ambition IT is not to be imagined that I should give an 〈◊〉 of the Thousandth part of the mischiefs and miâ—…ries that have been occasioned by Lust and Debauchery all Ages and Nations are full of lamentable Accidents proceeding therefrom for though this violent Passion may seem to promise a world of vain pleasure and though lascivious Persons use many times all manner of Patience services and profound submissions to gain the desired object yet when they have obtained their flagitious desires and think themselves absolutely happy in the midst of their libidinous and unchast Embraces even at that very instant there is sometimes brought in an unexpected Reckoning that drenches all their sweets in blood and closes up their unlawful pleasures in the black and dismal Sables of death as by the following Examples is demonstrated wherein Divine Vengeance has visibly appeared in the woful Tragedies which have been occasioned by Adultery Unchastity Lust I. The first I shall mention is partly Comical as well as Tragical A Knight of Eminent Fame and of great nore with Henry the Fifth King of England as being personally with him in all his Wars in France after the King had conquered and setled that Kingdom this noble Englishman retired himself into his own Country he had a Lady of such beauty as attracted the Eyes of all men who residing with her Husband in the City of Norwich he after so many troubles and adventures resolved to lead a more sequestred life and next to the pleasure of his fair Consort he desired to lead a contemplative life and being very rich according to the Devotion of that Age by the direction of the Priests he resolved to build a handsome Church near his own House which they said would be for the benefit of his Soul and likewise a Convent allowing maintenance to an Abbot and twelve Fryers having finished them there were two of the Friers one called Fryer John the other Fryer Richard who were at continual variance and enmity to each other and could not by any mediation be reconciled it was the dayly Custom of this Knight and Lady to rise every morning early to Mattins or Prayers and she being of an affable and courteous disposition to all Persons this good humour of hers bred a strange uncivil boldness in Fryer John so that she never came through the Cloyster but he was still attending her with many bows cringes and complements and she suspecting nothing returned him Thanks again which so far incouraged the Fryer that he made himself suspected by his Fellows who as much as they durst whispered it about the Convent he still growing more confident presumed at last to write to her wherein he at large discovered his violent Passion for her this Letter with great difficulty he conveyed to the Ladies hands who being much surprized that such lasciviousness should proceed from one that vowed and professed Chastity and not being certain but that it might be a design of her Husband to try her Virtue she thereupon resolves that to prevent her Honour from being called in question she would discover the whole intrigue to her Lord which she had no sooner done but he began to repent him of his former Charity in regard of this so great Ingratitude yet meditating Revenge he writes an answer to this Letter to which he commands his Wife to set her hand to this effect that she was very compassionate of his Love and that such a night her Husband being to ride toward London he should be admitâ—… lodged and entertained according to his own desire the Fryer received this Letter with extream Joy and providing himself with clean linnen a perfumed Nightcap and other necessaries he exactly observes the time and place and is accordingly admitted by the Lady her self alone and conveyed to a private Chamber where he was no sooner entred but in came the Knight and his Man and in great fury without giving him the least time either to call for help to the House or to Heaven they strangled the lustful Fryer and left him dead upon the place this deed was no sooner done and his rage somewhat appeased but he began to consider the horrour and danger of the Fact both as to his life and Estate and after several projects betwixt him and his Servant they concluded some way or other to have his body conveyed back into the Monastery it being divided from his own House only by a Brick-wall finding a Ladder hard by the man mounts it with the dead Fryer on his back and sits with him astride on the wall then drawing up the Ladder and letting it down on the other side he descends down into the Convent where espying the House of Office he sets the Body thereon as upright as possible and so leaves it and conveys himself over the wall again but for hast forgot the Ladder and tells his Master how and where he had bestowed the Fryer at which being better satisfied they both retired to Bed all being concealed both from the Lady and the rest of the Family who were fast asleep it happened at the fame instant that Fryer Richard being much troubled with a looseness in his Body had occasion to rise and being somewhat hastily and unhandsomely taken he hasts to the House of Office where by the light of the Moon he espied some Body before him and therefore contained himself as long as he was able but finding there was no Remedy he first called and then intreated to come away but hearing no body answer he imagined into be done on purpose and the rather because coming nearer he plainly perceived it was Fryer John his 〈◊〉 Adversary who the louder he called seemed the less to hear loth he was to play the sloven in the yard because the whole Convent had taken notice of a cold he had got and how it then wrought with him therefore judging this pretended deafness was out of spight and malice on purpose to shame him he snatcht up a Brickbat to be revenged and striking his Adversary full upon the Breast down tumbles Fryer John without life or motion which he seeing thought at first to râ—ise him up but after many Trials finding him to be stone dead he verily believes that he had killed him what shall he do now The Gates are fast locked and fly for his life he could not but as sudden extremities
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