he would take them by the hand and tell them that perhaps his wife which sate in a roome by could perswade them more effectually unto whom he would lead them When they approached the Image would rise up open her armes and imbrace them which armes and her breasts also were full of sharpe â—ron nailes wherewith she griped the poore wretch till she had killed him and then the Tyrant seised on his goods Philip King of Spaine out of an unnaturall and bloody zeale suffered his eldest son Charles to be murthered by the cruell Inquisition because he favoured the Protestants Religion which when the Pope heard of he abused that Scripture He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us Act. and Mon. Mahomet the great a most cruell and mercilesse Tyrant is said in his life-time to have been the cause of the death of eight hundred thousand men Turk Hist. Fernesius as he was going out of Italy towards Germany made this feral and bloody boast That he would make his horse swim in the blood of the German Lutherans A Frier Augustine of Antwerp openly in the Pulpit whilst he was preaching to the people wished that Luther was there that he might bite out his throat with his teeth and said that so doing he would nothing doubt to resort to the Altar with the same bloody teeth and receive the body of Christ. Eras. Epist. Tarquinius Superbius entering the Senate-house in Rome in royall Ornaments laid claime to the Kingdome but was opposed by his father-in-Law Servius whereupon he wounded him and forced him to depart which Tullia Tarquins wife hearing of came to the Senate-house and saluted her husband King causing him to send some after her father Servius who killed him leaving his body in so narrow a street that when Tullia returned that way the Charioter stayed lest he should drive over the the corps but she threw the seat of the Chariot at his head and forced him to drive over her fathers body since which time that street hath been called the wicked street Dioâ— Solyman the great Turk having obtained a victory against the Germans finding amongst the Captives a Bavarian Souldier of an exceeding high stature delivered him to a little dwarfe to be slaine whose head was scarce so high as the others knees that goodly tall man was mangled about the legs a long time by the apâ—sh dwarf with his little Scimeter till falling down with many feeble blowes he was at length slaine the Prince beholding it with great sport Turk Hist. p. â—09 The Spaniards when they had taken Heidelberg in the Palatinate took an ancient Minister a man of God called Monsieur Mileus and having abused his daughter before his face they tied a small cord about his head which with their truncheons they twisted about till they had squeezed out his braines Looking-glasse of the holy war In the reign of Saint Edward King of England two Earles that were brethren Harrould and Tosto fell out in the Kings Court at Windsor from words falling to blowes and Tosto having the worst secretly hied him to the Marches of Wales to his brother Harroulds house which was then in preparing to entertaine the King where he slew all his brothers servants and cutting them peece meale into gobbets salted some of their limbs and cast the rest into vessels of Meath and wine sending his brother word that he had furnished him with poudered meats against the Kings coming thither but this barbarous act caused his name to be so odious amongst his Northumbrians where he was Earle that at last it was repayed with his own death Speeds Chron. pag. 402. A rich Merchant in Paris jesting at the Franciscan Fiers was by their meanes apprehended accused and condemned to be hanged but he thinking to save his life made a publick and solemne recantation which when the Friers were informed of they commended him saying That if he so continued he should undoubtedly be saved and withall called upon the officers to haste him to the Gallows to hang him whilest he was in so good a minde which was accordingly done Act. Mon. In the persecution of the Saints of God in Calabria Anno 1560. fourscore godly persons being all thrust up in one house together like sheep for the slaughter the executioner comes in and taking forth one blindefolds him with a mufler about his eyes and so leades him forth to a large place where coâ—…ding him to kneele down he cuts his threat and so leaving him halfe dead and taking his Butchers knife and mufler all goare blood comes back to the râ—â—t and so leading them forth one after another he dispatched them all All the elder went to the slaughter more cheerfully the younger more timerously I tremble and quake saith a Romane Catholick out of whose letter to his Lord this is transcribed even to remember how the executioner held his bloody knife between his teeth with the bloody mufler in his hand and his armes all goare blood up to the elbowes going to the fold and taking every one of them one after another by the hand and so dispatching them all no otherwise then a Butcher doth his Calves or Sheep In the Spanish Inquisition if any Protestant be secretly conveyed into it they bring him not unto a legal trial but make him away secretly For as Hoffeus the Jesuite was wont to brag they hold it a good peece of Piety instantly to condemne him to the fire Ut anima ejus in curru igneo ad inferos trahatur that his soul might forthwith be carried to hell in a fiery Chariot The poore Spaniards are kept in such aw by the Lords Inquisitors that one of those Inquisitors desiring to eat some peares that grew in a poor mans Orchard not farre from him sent for the man to come and speak with him This message put the poore man into such a fright that he fell sick and kept his bed But being informed that his peares were the cause of his sending for he caused his tree to be cut down and withall the peares on it to be sent to the Inquisitor and being afterwards by him demanded the reason of that unhusbandly action he protested that he would not keep that thing about him which should give an occasion to aâ—…f their Lordships to send for him any more The Numantines being assaulted by the Romanes made solemne vowes amongst themselves no day to break their fast but with the flesh of a Romane nor to drink before they had tasted the blood of an enemy Guevara Ep. In the Massacre of Paris which was the most abhorred prodigious villainy that ever the Sunne saw till the late Irish rebellion there were murthered in divers places of France threescore thousand Protestants so that the streets ran with blood and Rivers were died red with the same Besides there were three hundred faithful servants of Christ burnt to ashes in that Kingdom within lesse then five yeares space and in their late
them a great reward and presently brake all the vessels in pieces and being asked the reason of it he answered Because knowing that I am soon angry I may prevent being angry with those that might hereafter break them Eras. Lib. 5. Adag Alexander Magnus being of a cholerick disposition obscured three of his greatest victories with the death of three of his friends causing Lysimachus to be cast to a Lion Clitus to be slaine with a speare and Calisthenes to be put to death Theat vitae hum King Perses being overcome by Paulus AEmilius grew into such a passion that he slew two of his Nobles which came to comfort him which so provoked the rest that they all forsooke him Theat vitae hum L. Sylla who in his anger had spilt the blood of many at last in his fury raging and crying out against one that had broken promise with him thereby brake a veine within him vomiting out his blood soul and anger together Val. Max. lib. 9. Amilcar the Carthaginian did so extreamly hate the Romanes that having four sons he used to say that he bred up those foure Lions whelps for the destruction of the Romane Empire Probus in vita Semiramis as she was dressing her head newes being brought that Babylon rebelled against her she was so incensed that in that habit her haire halfe tied up and half hanging loose she hastened to reduce it and never dressed up her head till she had subdued that great City Polyb. Tomyris Queen of Scythia having overcome and taken Cyrus King of Persia caused his head to be cut off and thrown into a bowle of blood bidding him to drink his fill for that he had so much thirsted after blood and had slaine her sonne in the Warres Val. Max. Lysander the Lacedemonian was noted to be of such an implacable disposition tbat nothing could appease his malice but the death of the person with whom he was angry whereupon it grew to a proverb That Greece could not bear two Lysanders Pez Mel. Hist. Alexander M in a drunken feast that he made after his conquest of Persia began to boast of his great victories and atchievments to the distaste of his own Captaines insomuch as one of them called Clitus speaking to another said He boasts of those victories which were purchased with other mens blood Alexander suspecting that he spake against him asked what he said and when all were silent Clitus spake of the great victories which Philip his father had gotten in Greece preferring them before these which so incensed Alexander that he bade him be gone out of his presence and when Clitus hastened not but multiplied words the King rose up in a great fury and snatching a lance out of his Squires hand therewith he thrust Clitus thorow and killed him This Clitus had formerly saved the Kings life in the battel against Darius He was an old souldier of King Philips and had performed many excellent exploits Besides his mother had nursed Alexander and he was brought up with him as his foster-brother So that Alexander when the heat of his anger was over was so enraged against himselfe for this murther that he was about with the same lance to have murthered himself if he had not been violently restrained by his servants Q. Cur. Caius Caligula was of a most malicious disposition for which end he kept two books which he called his sword and dagger wherein he wrote the names of all such as he had appointed to death He had such a chest of all sorts of the most exquisite poisons that when afterwards it was thrown into the sea by his successor Claudius it poisoned a great multitude of fishes Sueto Amilcar the Carthaginian at what time he did sacrifice being ready to take his journey into Spaine called his young son Hannibal being then but nine years old and caused him to lay his hand upon the Altar and to sweare that being come to mans estate he should pursue the Romanes with immortal hatred and work them all the mischief that possibly he could Sir W. Raw. King Edward the first of England going against Bruce King of Scotland caused his eldest sonne and all his Nobles to swear that if he died in his journey they should carry his corps about Scotland with them and not suffer it to be interred till they had vanquished the Scots and subdued the whole Kingdom Sed ira mortalium debet esse mortalis saith Lactantius Darius being offended with the Athenians for assisting his enemies he called for a bowe wherewith he shot up an arrow towards heaven saying O Jupiter grant that I may be revenged upon the Athenians He appointed also one of his servants every night when he was at supper to say to him Here memento Atheniensium Master remember the Athenians Pez Mel. Hist. Camillus a Noble Romane after many great services done for the Common-wealth was at the instigation of a wicked detractor condemned by the common people to pay a greater summe of money then he was able But he scorning such an open shame resolved to go into voluntary exile and so taking leave of his wife children and friends he went out of the City-gate but then turning again and lifting up his hands towards the Capitol he said O ye gods if it be of spite and malice that the common people thus drive me away then let them have quickly cause to repent and stand in need of me Put. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Leviticus 19. 17. Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen. 49. 7. CHAP. XIX Examples of Patience Moderation and Meeknesse SOme of the Heathens have attained to a great eminencie in this vertue of Patience but Christians are to adde it to the number of their graces 2 Pet. 1. 6. And indeed it is that that gives a great lustre to all the rest Humility is the root whence it springs and the fruit of it is both amiable and profitable It puts and keeps a man in possession of his soul Luk. 21. 19. It makes all burthens light and is much improved by exercise Rom. 5. 3. Moses his meeknesse and Jobs patience are exemplary and so held forth in the Scripture And these which follow also may be useful to quicken us to an earnest pursuit after this so excellent a vertue Commanded Luke 21. 19. Col. 1. 11. Rom 12. 12. 1 Thes. 5. 14. Jam. 5. 7 8. c. 1 Tim. 6. 11. Heb. 10. 36. 12. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 20. Mat. 11. 29. Commanded Eccles. 7. 8. 2 Cor. 6. 4. 12. 12. 1 Tim. 3. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 24. 2 Thes. 1 4. Tit. 2. 2. Heb. 6. 12. Jam. 1 3 4. Rev. 2. 2 3 19 13. 10. 14. 12. Psal. 22. 26. 25. 9. 37. 11. 76. 9. 147. 6. 149 4. Isa. 29. 19. Mat. 5. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 4. Scriptural examples Paul 2 Cor. 6. 4. Moses Num. 12. 3.
followers and by his meaner servants he was dispoiled of Armour Vessels Apparel and all Princely furniture and his naked body left upon the floore his Funeral wholly neglected till one Harluins a poore countrey Knight undertook the carriage of his Corps to Caen in Normandy to Saint Stevens Church which this dead King had formerly founded At his entrance into Caen the Covent of Monks came forth to meet him but at the same instant there happened a great fire so that as his Corps before so now his Hearse was of all men forsaken every one running to quench the fire which done his body being at last carried to the Church and the Funeral Sermon ended and the stone Coffin set into the earth in the Chancel as the body was ready to be laid therein one Ascelinus Fitz-Arthur stood up and forbâ—de the burial alleadging that that very place was the floore of his fathers house which this dead Duke violently took from him to build this Church upon Therefore saith he I challenge this ground and in the Name of God forbid that the body of this dispoiler be covered in my earth so that they were enforced to compound with him for one hundred pounds But when the body came to be laid in the Tombe it proved too little for it so that being pressed the belly not bowelled brake and with an intolerable stench so annoyed the by-standers that all their Gums and spices â—uming in their Censers could not relieve them whereupon all with great amazement hasting away left the Monks only to shuffle up the burial which they did in haste and so gat them to their Cells Speeds Chron. William Rufus King of England as he was hunting in the new Forrest was by the glance of an arrow against a tree shot in the breast he hastily taking hold of so much of the arrow as stuck out of his body brake it off and with one only groane fell down and died whereupon most of his followers hasted away and those few which remained laid his body basely into a Colliers cart which being drawn with one silly lean beast in a very foul and filthy way the cart brake where lay the spectacle of wordly glory both pitifully goared and filthily bemired till being conveyed to Winchester he was buried under a plain Marble-stone Sp. Chron. page 449. Pithias pined away for lack of bread who formerly was able to entertain and feast Xerxes and his whole Army Bajazet the Great Turke being overcome and taken prisoner by Tamerlane was carried about in an Iron Cage and fed with scraps from Tamerlanes Table Sir Edward de Sancto Mauro commonly Seimor being advanced by King Edward the sixth was most powerfull honourable and loaden with titles being Duke of Summerset Earle of Hartford Vicount Beauchamp Baron Seimor Uncle to the King Governour of the King Protector of his Realmes Dominions and Subjects Leiutenant of all his Forces by Land and Sea Lord High Treasurer and Marshal of England Captaine of the Isles of Garnsey and Jarsey c. Yet this great man was suddenly overwhelmed and for a small crime and that upon a nice point subtilly devised and packed by his enemies was bereaved both of his dignities and life also Camb. Brit. p. 240. Henry Holland Duke of Exeter and Earle of Huntington who married the sister of King Edward the fourth was driven to such want that Philip Comines saith that he saw him runne on foot bare-legged after the Duke of Burgundies traine begging his bread for Gods sake concealing himselfe but afterwards being known what he was Burgundy gave him a small pension to maintaine his estate The Duke of Buckingham who had been a chief instrument of advancing Richard the third to the Crown and the chiefest man of power in the Kingdome falling into the displeasure of the King and forced to hide himselfe at a servants house of his called Humphrey Banister was betrayed by him and apprehended disguised like a poor countrey-man and digging in a grove near to Banisters house and being carried to Salisbury where the King was without arraignment or judgement there lost his head Speed Chron. page 927. Queen Elizabeth in the life of her sister Mary being kept prisoner at Woodstock chanced to see a maid milking of Kine in the Parke and singing merrily over her paile which struck this pensive prisoner into a deep meditation preferring the maides fortunes farre above her own heartily wishing that her selfe were a Milk-maide Sp. Chron. p. 1120. Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanitie Eccles. 1. 2. CHAP. LIII Examples of Gratitude Tanksgiving WHat we are to give thanks to God for For deliverances 2 Sam. 22. 50. 1 Chron. 16. 35. Ps. 35. 17 18. 18. 49. 30. 4 11 12. 105. 1 5. 106. 1. 107. 1. For willingnesse to do good 1 Chron. 29. 13 14. For wisdome Dan. 2. 23. For Gods grace to others Rom. 1. 8. 16. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 4. Phil. 1. 3 5. Eph. 1. 16. For deliverance from sinne Rom. 7. 25. 1 Cor. 15. 57. For the free passage of the Gospel 1 Thes. 2. 13. for being made able Ministers 1 Tim. 1. 12. For Christ. Luk. 2. 38. For health Luk. 17. 16. For food Acts 27. 35. For Gods Ministers deliverances 2 Cor. 1. 11. For blessing upon the Ministery 2 Cor. 2. 14. For Gods grace on others 2 Cor. 9. 15. For fitting us for Heaven Col. 1. 12. For all things Eph. 5. 20. 1 Thes. 5. 18. As all good comes from him Jam. 1. 17. So all praise is due to him Thanks also is due to men for kindnesse received by remembring it publishing it and remunerating it Scriptural Examples of thankfulnesse to God The Priests Ezra 3. 11. Moses Exod 15. Hannah 1 Sam. 2. 1 c. David 2 Sam. 22. Psal. 69. 30. 116. 17. Mary Luke 1. 46. Zachary Luke 1. 68. The Sheepherds Luke 2. 20. Simeon Luke 2. 28. The Leper Luke 17. 16. Paul Acts 27. 35. 1 Cor. 15. 57 2 Cor. 2. 14. Of thankfulnesse to man Ahashuerus to Mordicai Est. 6. 3. David to Abigail by marrying her for her good advice 1 Sam. 25. King of Sodom by proffering Abraham all the goods taken Gen. 14. Naaman to Elisha by proffering a reward for his clensing 2 Kin. 5. 15. One siphorus by Ministering unto Paul 2 Tim. 1. 16 17. Gaoler to Paul and Barnabas Acts 16. 33. and Lydia Acts 16. 15. Pharaoh by advancing Joseph Gen. 41. 39 c. and Paul by praying for him 2 Tim. 1. 16 17. Other Examples Darius Hystaspis whilst he was a Captaine under Cambyses seeing one Siloson to have a very curious vesture desired to buy it of him but Siloson told him that he was resolved not to sell but yet he would freely give it him afterwards Darius being King Siloson came to salute him and Danius remembring his former kindenesse entertained him curteously and told him that in consideration of that garment he would give him
provided them meat and drink dressed their wounds and carrying them home to their houses shewed them that they were Mistresses there with their husbands highly loved and honoured by them So that in the end a peace was concluded and amongst other Articles of agreement these were some that the Sabine women should remaine with their husbands that they should be exempted from all service and work save spinning of wooll that they should have the upperhand of their husbands that the men should speak no foule nor dishonest words nor discover their nakednesse before them c. Plut. A woman of another Countrey being in talk with Gorgona the wife of Leonidas King of Sparta said to her There be no wives in the world that so much love and commend their husbands as you Lacedemonian wives do the Queen straight replied Neither be there any women but we that bring forth men Plut. Numa enacted a Law amongst the Romanes that when any man died his wife should remaine a widow for the space of ten moneths Augustus Caesar died in the kisses of his wife Livia of whom he took this farewell Livia nostri conjugii memor vive vale She was alwayes exceeding dear to him and being asked how she kept his love so long she answered Quòd diligenter prudenter agens summum adhibuisset studium ut omnia faceret ex animo Augusti nec curiose perquisivisset quidquam eorum quae Augustus faceret Plut. Portia the daughter of Cato was married to M. Brutus who having conspired with some others the death of Iulius Caesar was something melancholy and troubled in minde about the thing his wife Portia observing it and being grieved that her husband should conceale any thing from her she took a rasour and wounded her thigh and losing much blood fell into a feaver Her husband coming home and hearing of the sicknesse of his wife was much grieved and went to visit her She taking the opportunity they being alone said thus unto him My deare husband sit down and let us talke seriously together when I married you I came to your house as a wife not as a friend or harlot and gave up my self unto you not onely at bed and board but as a companion of all your joy and sorrows I am Cato's daughter and I desire that you will take notice of what stock I come What therefore shall I complaine of you truly I cannot do it in other things onely one thing troubles me that you make me not a partaker of your secrets as doubting of my fidelity and taciturnity you cannot dissemble with me I discerne that your minde is full of trouble and there is some great secret that you are about Why do you conceale it from me if you cannot expect help yet expect comfort from me and I will assure you of my silence Do not consider what others of my sex are but remember againe that I am Cato's daughter and Brutus's wife either nature from my father or custome from my husband hath made me valiant and constant so as not to fear any danger What need more words I have made trial of myself by this wound the smart and paine whereof I can easily beare yea assure your self that I can die with Brutus and for my husband Wherefore if thou art about any honest thing that beseemes us both do not conceale it from me Brutus wondring at her courage kissed her and with his hand lift up to heaven he said O ye Celestial gods I pray you make me an husband fit for such a wife and so discloseth the whole matter to her Afterwards when she heard of his death after the battel in the Philippic fields she resolved to die and being for a while hindred by those about her she at last snatched some burning coles out of the fire and putting them into her mouth and throat suffocated herself Lipsius See the Example of Zenobia in Fortitude Licurgus the Lacedemonian Lawgiver enacted that all they should be infamous that would not marry So that on a time Dercillides a Noble Captaine coming into a place there was a young man that refused to rise up and do him reverence for said he Thou hast not gotten a son that may do the like to me in time to come Plut. Solon the Athenian Lawgiver ordeined that no joyntures nor dowries should be given or made to maides at marriage commanding that wives should bring to their husbands no more then three gownes and some other movables of small value Utterly forbidding that they should buy their husbands or make merchandize of marriages as of other trades he willed that men and women should marry together for issue pleasure and love but not for money Plut. Two men being suiters to the daughter of Themistocles he preferred the honester before the richer saying that he had rather have to his sonne in Law a man that wanted goods then goods that wanted a man Plut. A Virgin of Lacaena being poore was demanded what dower she had to bring to an husband and to marry her with she answered That which was left me as an inheritance from mine Ancestors viz. Vertue and Modesty Hist. of women p. 331. It was a custome among the Grecians for the bride to be carried through the streets in a Chariot the Axeltree whereof at her coming home was taken off and burned before the gates of her house to signifie that she must ever after be an houswife and keepe within as a faithful and industrious overseer of their domestick affaires and businesse Hist. of women p. 336. Prince Edward of England whilest he was warring in Palestine against the Turks was stabbed by an Assâ—ssine with a poisoned knife but by the diligence of his Chirurgions and the unparallel'd love of his wife who sucked the poison out of his wounds without doing any hurt to her selfe he quickly recovered so sovereigne a medicine is a womans tongue anointed with the vertue of loving affections Holy Warre The Emperour Conrade besieging the City of Winsperge in Germany and the women perceiving that the Town could not hold out long petitioned the Emperour that they might depart onely with so much as each of them could carry upon her back which the Emperour condescended unto expecting that they would have loaden themselves with silver gold c. but they came all forth with every one her husband on her back whereby the men were all saved and their wives gat immortal credit to themselves Rubenius Celer would needs have it ingraven on his Tombe that he had lived with his wife Ennea fourty three years and eight moneths and yet they never fell out The Lord of Harlem in the Low-countries having by his exactions and cruelty made himself odious to all his people was together with his wife besieged in his Castle by them and so prest for want of victuals that he was compelled to enter into treaty His wife a true mirrour of piety and love towards her husband amongst other Articles
honestate quà m sol à cursu suo averti potest It's easier to turne the Sun out of his course then Fabricius from his honesty Eutropius Marcus Attilius Regulus a Romane Consull fighting in Affrica against the Carthaginians was at last by subtility taken prisoner Yet was sent to Rome for the exchange of prisoners upon his oath that in case he prevailed not he should return and yield up himself prisoner to them again when he came to Rome he made a speech in the Senate-house to disswade them from accepting of the conditions and so without respecting his wife and children he returned to Carthage where he was grievously tormented in a Little-Ease knocked full of nailes that he could neither leane sit nor lie till he died Cicero When the Corps of Thomas Howard second Duke of Norfolk was carried to be interred in the Abbey of Thetford Anno 1524. No person could demand of him one groat for debt or restitution for any injury done by him Weav Fun. Mon. p. 839. It was said of the famous Lawyer Andreas Taraquillus that singulis annis singulos libros liberos Reipublicae dedit Thuanus Obit Doct. vir anno 1558. In the dayes of Queen Mary Judge Morgan chief Justice of the Common Pleas refusing to admit any witnesse to speak or any other matter to be heard in favour of the adversary her Majesty being party the Queen declared that her pleasure was that whatsoever could be brought in favour of the Subject should be admitted and heard Qui pro veritate est pro Rege est Holinsh. in Q. Mary p. 1112. A certaine Lawyer in France was so much delighted in Law-sport that when Lewis the King offered to ease him of a number of suits he earnestly besought his Highnesse to leave him some twenty or thirty behinde wherewith he might merrily passe away the time we have too many such that love to fish in troubled waters Bassanus King of the Sicambrians was so severe in the execution of his laws that he executed his own sonne for adultery and being reviled by his wife for it he put her away sending her back to her father who was King of the Orcades Isac Chron. p. 152. Henry the fourth King of England when his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales was by the Lord chief Justice committed to prison for affronting him on the bench gave thanks to God for that he had a Judge so impartial in executing justice and a sonne so obedient as to submit to such a punishment Speed A Judge in Germany aggravating the fault of a murtherer that was before him told him that he deserved no favour for that he had killed six men No my Lerd said an Advocate that stood by he killed but one and you are guilty of the blood of the other five because you let him escape upon the murther of the first The Egyptian Kings usually and solemnly presented this oath to their Judges Not to swarve from their consciences no though they should receive a command from themselves to the contrary It 's a principle in moral policy That an ill executor of the Laws is worse in a State then a great breaker of them Pericles a famous Oratour of Greece who for the excellency of his speech and mightinesse of his eloquence was said to thunder and lighten at the Barre from the Principles of nature ever before he pleaded a cause intreated his gods that not a word should fall from him besides his cause An old woman complaining to the Emperour Adrian of some wrong that was done her her he told her that he was not at leasure to heare her suit to whom she plainly replied That then he ought not to be at leasure to be Emperour which came so to the quick that he was ever after more facile to suitours Fulgâ— Lewis the first King of France used three dayes in the week publickly to hear the complaints and grievances of his people and to right their wrongs A Macedonian Gentleman called Pausanias ran at King Philip and slew him because he had refused to do him justice when he complained against a Peer of the Realme Some of the kindred of Tatius King of the Romans robbed and murthered certain Ambassadours that were going to Rome for which their â—â—â—â—olk demanded justice of Tatius but he connâ—ving at the wrong because of his relation to them the kindred of the slaine watched their opportunity and slew him as he was sacrificing to his gods Plut. Lewis called Saint Lewis of France having given a pardon to a Malefactor upon second thoughts revoked it again saying That he would give no pardon where the Law did not pardon For that it was a work of mercy and charity to punish an offendor and not to punish crimes was as much as to commit them A certaine husbandman coming to Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne challenged kindred of him and thereupon desired him to preferre him to such an office Cousen quoth the Bishop if your cart be broken I will mend it If your plâ—ugh be old I will give you a new one or seed to sowe your land But an husbandman I found you and an husbandman I will leave you Domitius the Emperour used to say that he had rather seem cruel in punishing then to be dissolute in sparing It was said of Chilperick King of France that he was Titularis non Tutelaris Rex Defuit Reipublicae non praefuit Cambyses King of Persia dying without issue his Nobles agreed that his horse that should first neigh at the place where they appointed to meet the next morning he should be their King Whereupon Ocbares Gentleman of the horse to Darius led his horse over-night to that place and let him there cover a Mare and the next morning when they were all met Darius his horse knowing the place and missing the Mare neighed and so Darius was presently saluted for King Herod l. 5. St. Bernards counsel to Eugenius was that he should so rule the people as that they might prosper and grow rich under him and not he be wealthy by the people It was observed of Varus Governour of Syria that he came poore into the Countrey and found it rich but departed thence rich and left the Countrey poore Ptolomaeus Lagi though a great King yet never had but little of his own and his usual saying was That it was fit for a King rather to make others rich then to be rich himselfe Plut. Tiberius Caesar being solicited by the Governours of his Provinces to lay greater taxes and subsidies upon his people answered That a good shepherd ought to sheare his sheep not flay them St. Lewis King of France on his death-bed advised his sonne never to lay any taxe upon his subjects but when necessity urged him and when there was just cause for it Otherwise saith he you will not be reputed for a King but a Tyrant The Emperour Theodosius was wont to say That he accounted it a greater honour to be a member