swords into the Scales where the weights were that they might get the more which the Romans would not admit and while some difference arose upon this account Camillus with his Forces comes in amongst them and commands the Gold to be carried away since no composition could be made without consent of the Dictator and bid the Gauls prepare for battle who having more mind to the Gold than to fight were soon defeated many being slain and the rest flying out of the City Some affirm that a Peace was concluded between them and that Brennus went afterward into Germany and Belin returned home to Brittain imploying the rest of his reign in building Churches and beautyfying Citys and Pallaces among others he built a famous Gate at a Port in London on the top whereof was set a Vessel of Brass wherein the ashes of his body which was burnt according to the custom of those times were afterward put which was then called Bellinus but now Billingsgate He also built a Castle not far off which was called Bellins Castle now the Tower of London Having reigned 26 years he left the Kingdom to his son III Gurgint who sailed with a mighty Army into Denmark for recovering the Tribute promised to his Predecessors where he made such devastations with fire and sword that the King of Denmark by persuasion of his Nobles was compeil'd to continue the payment thereof As he returned home he met with thirty Ships near the Isles of Orkney freighted with men women and children under their Captain named Bartholin who being brought before the King declared They were banished out of Spain and were called Balenses who had sailed long on the Sea in hope to find some generous Prince who would assign them a place to inhabit and to whom they would willingly be subject humbly beseeching him to commiserate their condition Who with the advice of his Barons granted them Ireland for an habitation which then lay wast Though some writers relate that it was peopled long before by a people called Hibernensis from Hiberus their Captain who brought them from Spain Gurgint returning home made many good Laws and administred Justice worthily nineteen years In whose reign Cambridge and the University are said to be built by one Cantaber IV. Guintolin succeeded a prudent Prince and happy in a virtuous and beautiful Queen who after his death administred the affairs of the Kingdom during the minority of her Son After he had revived and inforced all the good old Laws and added what new were wanting whereby he setled the Land in peace and tranquillity he left it to his Son. V. Sicilius not then about seven years old who reigned about seventeen years most part of which his Mother Martia managed all State affairs VI. Kinarus his Son ruled after him who giving himself up to Luxury and Debauchery was slain by some of his enemies as he was a hunting in the Fields VII Elanius his Son or as others write his Brother was his Successor of whom little is recorded but his name and that he reigned eight years and then VIII Morindus his Son by a Concubine was admitted King of Brittain a man of much valour and conduct but withal so barbarously cruel that he delighted to inflict lingring torments upon those that offended him yea oftentimes with his own hands he severely tortured his people In his reign a certain King of a people called Moriani landed with a great Army in Northumberland and made horrid ravage with fire and sword Against whom Morindus having raised his Brittains marches with all expedition and in a dreadful battel defeated and pursued them to their Ships taking a great number Prisoners whom to satisfie his bloudy humor he caused to be executed in his presence some being beheaded some strangled and others ript up alive They were thought to come from some part of Germany At length this bloudy Prince hearing there was a Monster come ashore out of the Irish Sea resolved to encounter therewith but was devoured by it after he had reigned eight years leaving five Sons Gorbomen Archigallo Elidure Vigenius and Peredurus IX Gorbomen the eldest succeeded and was a very religious Prince according to the devotion of that age repairing many old Temples and erecting divers new He built the Town of Grantham and inclosed Cambridge with walls and a strong Castle procuring Philosophers to come thither from Athens who instructed the youth of the Kingdom in Learning and the Liberal Sciences he died without issue and X Archigallo his Brother came after him who much degenerated from his Father and caused dissension among his Nobility by taking away their Honours and Estates illegally and bestowing them upon mean unworthy persons whereby the Gentry were reduced to beggery and misery who therefore conspired against him and at length deprived him of his Royal Dignity having reigned only one year advancing XI Elidure the third Son of Morindus to the Throne who was a person of such a gallant temper that he used all manner of means for restoring his Brother to the Crown It happened that as he was one day hunting in a Wood near York he met Archigallo wandring to seek relief whom he treated with all kindness conveying him secretly to his own house soon after he feigned himself sick and sent with all speed for his Barons to attend him with whom he dealt so effectually one by one in his Privy Chamber that at length they agreed to admit his Brother again to be King and then assembling a great Council at York he resigned his Dignity to him after he had ruled with much wisdom three years A worthy example of fraternal love considering how ambitious all men naturally are of dominion Archigallo thus restored in hope of his upright administration of justice for the future did not disappoint his people but became a new man and acted with so much prudence and moderation that he was beloved of all his Subjects to the end of his life and having reigned ten years was buried at York After which Elidure having right by Succession as well as by the inclination of the Brittains was acknowledged King with general Applause who had not sate on the Throne a year when his two Brothers raised a Rebellion against him and in a pitcht Field he was taken Prisoner and committed to the Tower of London after which XII Vigenius and Peredurus the two youngest Sons of Morindus divided the Kingdom between them all the Countrey from Humber west falling to the eldest and the other northward to Peredurus Vigenius after seven years died and Peredurus took possession of the whole Land and reigned very tyrannically eight years and then dying without issue XIII Elidure as next Heir was the third time admitted King having continued in Prison all this while and during his four years reign managed all matters to the great satisfacton of his people and being then grown very aged dyed and was buried at Carlisle From this time to the reign of
Let all that dwell In Tents thy Act O Jael tell She brought him milk above his wish And butter in a princely dish A hammer and a nail she took And into Sisera's Temples strook He fell fell down unto the floor Lay where he fell bath'd in his gore Lay groveling on his feet and there His wretched Soul sigh'd into air His mother at her window staid And looking out from thence she said Why are his Chariot whee it so slow And don 't my Son in Triumph show When her wise Ladies standing by Yea she her self made this reply Have not their Swords yet won the day Have they not shar'd the wealthy prey Now every Souldier for his pains A Hebrew Dame or Virgin gains While Sisera choosing lays aside Rich Robes in various colours dy'd Rich Robes with curious needles wrought On either side from Phrygia brought The thread spun from the Silk-worms womb Such as a Conqueror become Great God! so perish all thy Foes Love such as love thee On let those Shine like the Sun when he displays I' th Orient his increasing Rays The History of the Valiant Judith WHen Holofernes by the proud command Of Nebuchadnezzar was sent the Land Of Israel to invade and overthrow Their Towns and Cities so to bring them low The Hearts of all were fill'd with fear and dread How such great force should be encountered Then Valiant Judith for her Countries sake Deliverance for them does undertake Couragiously the General she slays And Israels dying hopes doth thereby raise Who do their flying foes fiercely pursue And unto Judith render praises due THough the History of Judith is placed among the Apocryphal writings and not allowed to be canonical Scripture as not being delivered by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit yet it is thought by the learned that the matter thereof is true and the worthy and reverend Arch-bishop Usher in his Scripture Chronology sets it down as a matter very certain and that it happened in the year from the Creation 3348. in the raign of Manasseh King of Israel and before the birth of our Saviour about 652. Having premised this to incourage the reading the life of this famous Heroine not as a fiction or Romance but a story full of veracity I proceed Nothing feminine must be expected in this woman all her actions were manly and full of generosity and what was wanting in her Sex was fully recompenced in her Virtue and Valour her hand was triumphant in destroying above an hundred thousand men by cutting off only one head but her eye did much more than her hand that first conquered Holofernes and with a little ray of its flames burnt up a whole Army It was in the raign of Nebuchadnezzar King of Assyria that this female worthy lived who being elevated by the many victories and successes he had obtained his ambition sweld him so much that he resolved to afflict the whole earth and to destroy all the Gods of the Lands and oblige all Nations to worship him and that all Tongues and people should adore him only as God to prosecute this impious design he commanded Holofernes his Chief Captain to muster an Army of an hundred and twenty thousand foot and twelve thousand Horse with this mighty force this renowned General ruined all before him that made resistance and received those to mercy who desired peace and submitted to those idolatrous terms he required of them the motions of this dreadful host brought terror to the stoutest hearts and confusion to the weak and cowardly before it marches Noises Affrights and Threats after it Weepings Ruins and Desolations The report of this overflowing deluge of men came to the poor Israelites at Jerusalem which raised Sighs and Groans in the most obdurate Souls who being sensible of this furious tempest approaching their courage was dismaid their hands hang down and their tongues were silent having no other defence but their tears which they poured out abundantly in prospect of the Funerals of their Native Countrey At this time Manasseh was king of Jerusalem who not foreseeing any possibility of stoping this violent torrent or preventing the impending misery of his kingdom abandoned himself to sorrow and desperation but Joachim the High Priest who likewise executed the Office of a General used all possible means to revive the drooping Spirits of this disconsolate people he sends Messengers to all the Cities to furnish what men and provisions they were able to stop if possible the course of this barbarous enemy and to endeavour to take possession of the streights and narrow passages of the Mountains where a few might do great execution and thereby prevent their descent into the Plains where the multitude of their Forces would soon incompass and swallow all that opposed them He then commands publick supplications to be made to the Almighty and covers the Altar-of the Lord with Sackcloath and the Priests with Haircloth who with tears and fastings even the little children too prostrated themselves on the earth to implore the mercy of Heaven toward them but knowing that prayers without endeavours would be fruitless he visits all the Cities in person comforting the afflicted strengthning the weak and enlivening the dull thereby giving life and vigor to all the members of the body politick Holofernes having advice that the Jews made preparations to oppose him by force was filled with rage and disdain and called the Princes of Ammon Moab and the Governors of the Sea-coasts to him of whom he demanded what people they were who inhabited canaan what strength they had and who was their King that they presum'd to withstand them and would not come and submit themselves as the other Nations had done To whom Achor Prince of Ammon thus replyed If my Lord will not be angry I will give him a full Account of those people which dwell near the Hill Countreys without diminishing or concealing any thing of the truth Be it known to my Lord that they are originally descended from the Caldeans but separated themselves from them by reason of their Religion refusing to worship the Gods of their Fathers and adoring only one God the Maker of Heaven and Earth and departed into Mesopotamia where they continued many years but were at length commanded by their God to depart from thence and go into the Land of Canaan where they dwelt and multiplyed exceedingly increasing in Gold Silver Cattle and all the blessings of this life After this a terrible Famine happening in their Countrey they went down into Egypt to get food where they were kept alive and grew to a very great number insomuch that they began to be a terror to the Egyptians and that King endeavoured by all means to diminish them imposing cruel bondage upon them in making bricks thereby to bring them low upon which they cried to the Lord their God who revenged their wrongs by horrible plagues upon the Egyptians so that they were forced to let them go whithersoever they pleased
and this sudden discomfiture struck such terror into the other German Princes that they speedily sent to desire Peace and became Tributary to him The Queen was very joyful at this notable success but much more at the devout resolution of her husband and therefore went several miles to meet him in his return accompanied by a renowned Bishop called Remigius a person famous for piety in that age Clovis no sooner approached the Queen but even ravished both with her presence and his great Victory he told her That he had indeed triumpht over the Almains but she had conquered him and that he would now defer his Baptism no longer The Queen extreamly pleased at the news told him that the glory of his Conquests was only due to the God of Battels to whom he could not make a more pleasing return than by giving up himself to his worship and service and that she had brought an Holy person with her to perform that acceptable duty to the Almighty Soon after he was accordingly Baptized with great Solemnity at Rhemes and it is said that his Children his Sisters and above three thousand Courtiers Gentlemen Commanders and Souldiers were made partakers of the like blessing at the same time After which Clovis publishing a favourable Edict toward the Christians almost all the French Nation were converted and with much Zeal threw down the Idols and Altars of their former Superstition The Queen to prosecute this blessed work she had so happily begun persuaded Clovis to build divers Christian Churches and endow them with considerable revenues after which he subdued Burgundy and united it to his Kingdom together with Provence Dauphine and Savoy and then marches with his Victorious Army into Langudoc against the Visegoths where he slew Alarick their king with his own hand and obtained a remarkable Victory seeming irresistible in all his attempts and having extended his Empire from the Rhine to the Sein and from the Pyrenean Mountains to the Ocean he at length submited to the fate of all other Mortals and died leaving his dominions divided between his four Sons Clotilda was very sensibly afflicted for the loss of so indulgent an husband and so great a Conqueror but time having in some measure abated her sorrows she resolved to wear out the remainder of her days in a devout and retired life but however was much disturbed in this her recluse condition by hearing of the horrible confusions and disorders among her Sons who not content with their Fathers allotment raised dreadful wars against each other till at length after the destruction of all the rest Clotair the third Son alone enjoyed the whole kingdom Clotilda used her utmost endeavours to have appeased their quarrels and one time among the rest prevented a battel ready to begin by her prudent advice saying My Dear Children I had great expectation that after the death of my loving Lord I should have reaped much comfort from your mutual agreement and never expected that you could believe it a worthy matter to unpeople the World or that you ought to violate the law of nature and brotherly love for inlarging your power or to establish your Thrones by the bloud of each other Return then my Children to the waies of peace which you have forsaken and be united in an indissoluble affection do justice to your people and live now as you expect to dye I give you my last farewel and pray remember the words of your dying Mother and bury me in the Sepulcher of the King your Father as I have ever desired At which words they laid by all their anger and were at present made Friends After this being sensible of her death approaching she continued in sweet extasies of Soul and praises to God for her deliverance out of this troublesom World and about midnight uttering with much earnestness these words To thee O Lord I commit my Soul O God I have put my trust in thee therefore let me never be ashamed She gave up the ghost Her name and memory being in much reverence in France to this very day The History of Andegona Princess of Spain SWeet Andegon the most endeared wife Of Ermangild who lov'd her as his life Though of Great Sufferings she did partake Yet the true Faith by no means would forsake Neither could all the Wiles nor cruelty Of a Step-mother shake her constancy Which o're her husbands Soul such power did gain He the same Faith with zeal did entertain And with such courage doth the same profess His bloudy Father could not dispossess His mind thereof But with unnatural rage Puts him to death his fury to asswage OUr Ninth and last Feminine Worrhy I shall fetch from Spain her name Andegona who in the year of our Lord 486. was married to Ermangild Son to Lenigild King of Spain an Arrian she was one of the most accomplisht Princesses in the World in whom virtue grace and beauty made an admirable harmony Her native Countrey was France being the daughter of Sigebert grand-child of the pious Clotilda our former Heroine At her arrival in Spain her husband Ermangild was surprized with her graces and his Soul was transported with a sweet violence toward a person of such extraordinary endowments so that never were Nuptials more full of content nor amities more faithful than between these two endeared Lovers which yet in a short time met with some Clouds of discontent and trouble Lenigild her Father in Law was about this time married to a second Wife an Arrian named Gosintha as deformed in body as mind who notwithstanding had obtained such Soveraignty over the heart of this old King that she had the sole management of his affairs and all was acted according to her will and pleasure However she pretended an extraordinary contentment at the consummation of this marriage and went in Person to wait upon and entertain the Princess seeming to overwhelm her with kindness and courtesy Yet at length out of an envious or malicious disposition she seemed much disturbed at the chast dalliances between them especially since she saw Ermangild wholly transported with love to his excellent Lady so that he could hardly endure her out of his fight whereby their discourses conversation and pleasures became as troublesom to Gosintha as if she had been one of those Infernal Spirits that possess and torment poor mortals Though Andegona had the greatest passion in the World for her Lord yet she durst not refuse the company of this troublesome Creature whereby her husband to his great regret was deprived of it who told her That she ought to be satisfied with the power and interest she had in affairs of state and not pry into nor interrupt his converse with his dearest spouse Gosintha repled That the frequent Conferences she had with his Princess were only in order to convert her to the Arrian Faith so called from Arrius Bishop of Alexandra the author of a wicked and blasphemous Heresy against the Divinity of our
Baruc whose name signifies Lightning of the Tribe of Napthali to be their Chief to him therefore Deborah sends a message That he should instantly raise ten thousand choice men and lead them against their Enemies affirming that they were sufficient with the assistance of Heaven to conquer that mighty Host But Baruc denying to undertake the War except she would join with him and accompany him in the War Deborah being somewhat moved Wilt thou said she surrender up the Dignity that God hath given thee to a Woman well I will not refuse to go with thee but remember that this expedition will not be for thine honour since the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a Woman Whereupon having levyed ten thousand Soldiers they pitched their Tents near the Mountain Itabar of which Sisara having notice proceeded presently by the Kings command to fall upon them and incamped near them Baruc and the Israelites being terrified with the multitude of their Enemies were incouraged by Deborah who commanded them that very day to give Battel assuring them that God would assist and certainly deliver their Adversaries into their hands Whereupon they charged the Canaanites with much valour who were in a short time wholly discomfited and all their Host fell with the edge of the Sword Sisera alighted from his Chariot and fled away afoot Josephus relates that in the beginning of the fight there suddenly fell a storm of rain mixed with hail which the wind drove against the faces of the Canaanites and took away their sight whereby those that fought with Darts and Slings were made unserviceable and the Targetiers had their hands so benummed with cold that they could scarce weild their Swords but the Tempest being on the back of the Israelites was so far from disturbing them that believing it a manifest token of the immediate favour and assistance of Heaven they were thereby incouraged to assault their enemies with the greater vigor and breaking through the front of their Battel they made a very great slaughter of them so that a vast number fell by the Sword and the rest were over-run by their own Chariots and Horsemen Sisera flying with all speed after he saw his Army turn their backs arrived at the Tent of a woman of Cenetis called Jael the wife of Heber and earnestly besought her to conceal him which she seemed very willing to do and covered him with a Mantle who being very dry desired a Cup of water when she presented him with a dish of milk And then covering him again he intreated her That if any came to inquire she should deny she had seen him and then fell asleep whilst he lay buried in slumbers by reason of his extream toyl and weariness Jael took a nail and with a hammer struck it through his temples and fastned it to the ground whereby he instantly gave up the Ghost soon after Barue with his Souldiers coming thither she brought them in and shewed what she had done and thus a woman according to the prediction of the worthy Prophetess Deborah was the Author of this glorious Victory The Army being likewise managed by the conduct of Deborah a woman the Israelites thereby subduing their inveterate Foes the Canaanites And Baruc leading his Army to Hazor slew Jabin their King who came out against them levelling the City to the ground and thereby freed the Land from bondage which had rest forty years after this notable success And that they might not seem ingrateful to the Lord for so great a deliverance Deborah and Baruc composed the following Song of praise and thanksgiving which they sung in the hearing of all the people Deborah lived in the year from the creation 2641. and before the Nativity of our Saviour 1350. Judges 5. YOur Great Preserver celebrate He who reveng'd our wrongs of late When you his Sons in Israels aid Of life so brave a tender made You Princes with attention hear And you who awful Scepters bear While I in sacred numbers sing The praise of our Eternal King. When he through Seir his Army led In Edoms Fields his Ensigns spread Earth shook the Heavens in drops descend And Clouds in tears their substance spend Before his face the Mountains melt Old Sinai unknown servor felt When Israel Shamgars Rule obey'd And Jael that Virago swaid She bold of Heart He great in War Yet to the fearful Traveller All ways were then unsafe who crept Through woods or past when others slept The land uncultivated lay When I arose I Deborah A mother to my Countrey grew At once their Foes and Fears subdue When to themselves new Gods they chose Then were their Walls besieg'd by Foes Did one of forty thousand wear A Coat of Steele or shook a Spear You who with such alacrity Led to the Battail O how I Affect your valour with me raise Your voices sing Jehovahs praise Sing you who on white Asses ride And justice equally devide You who those ways so fear'd of late Where now no thieves assassinate You lately from your Fountains barr'd Where you their clattering quivers heard There with united joy record The Righteous Judgments of the Lord You who your Cities repossess Who reap in peace his praise profess Arise O Deborah arise In heavenly Hymns express thy Joys Arise O Baruc Thou the Fame And Off-spring of Alcinoam Of Israel the renowned head Captivity now Captive lead Nor shall the noble memory Of our strong aids in silence dye The quiver bearing Ephraimite Marcht from his Mountain to the fight Those who on Amalek confine The small remains of Benjamine From Machir Princes not a few Wise Zebulun with Letters drew The valiant chiefs of Issachar With Deborah hasted to this war Who down into the valley tread The way which noble Baruc led But Reuben from the rest disjoin'd By Hills and Flouds was so in mind Did'st thou these glorious wars refuse To hear the bleating of thy Ewes O Great in Council Oh how wise That couldst both Faith and Fame despise Gilead of thundring drums afraid Or slothful beyond Jordan staid Dan his swift failing ships affects And publick liberty neglects While Ashur on his clifts resides And fortifies against the Tydes But Zebulun and Napâ—hali Who never would from danger fly Were ready for the publick good On Tabors top to shed their bloud Then Kings Kings of the Cananites To Tanach Plains addrest their fights Where swift Megiddo's waters ran Yet neither spoil nor Trophy wan The Heav'ns ' gainst Sisera fought the Stars Mov'd in their Courses to those wars By Ancient Kishon swept from thence Whose Torrent falling clouds incense Thou O my joyful Soul at length Hast trod to dirt their mighty strength Their wounded Horse with flying hast Fall headlong and their Riders cast Thus spake an Angel cursed be Thou Meroz all who dwell in thee That basely wouldst no aid afford In that great battel to the Lord. O Jael Hebers wife thou best Of women be thou ever blest Blest above all
Chamberlains had conspired to murther him and in all probability their Treason had succeeded but that Mordecai the Jew happily discovered the whole Conspiracy for which the Traitors received their deserved punishment At the recital of this passage the King was somewhat moved and asked whether there were no mention of any honour or reward bestowed upon Mordecai as a recompence for this worthy service who replyed That he found nothing set down of that kind neither had he as yet received any reward upon that account Hereupon in the morning the King demanded who was in the Court and being told Haman was there who came thither more early than usual to beseech the king that he would please to give him leave to put Mordecai to death The K. commanded him to come into his presence to whom he said That as his faithful friend and servant he desired him to advise what honour and dignity was fit to be bestowed on that Person whom the K. had a very great favour respect for Haman who did not in the least doubt but the person designed to be thus advanced was himself made this confident-reply The man to whom your Majesty intends so much honour as to be counted the Kings Friend and Favourite ought to be mounted upon one of your own Horses and to be clothed with the Royal Robes with a Chain of Gold about his neck and the Imperial Crown upon his head and let one of your most Worthy Princes go before him through all the streets of the City and make proclamation That thus it shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour The King liking the proposal commands Haman to go instantly to Mordecai that sate at the gate and to invest him and proclaim before him according to his own advice Haman with a heavy heart performs the Kings Orders through the whole City and Mordecai returned triumphantly to the Pallace Haman hastned home confounded and ashamed at what had happened and with tears related his strange misfortune to his Wife and Friends who all concluded That it was a very ominous accident for Mordecai was of the seed of the Jews and since he had begun to fall before him it was much to be feared that it would end in his ruin because God was with that Nation to save and defend them from their Enemies While they were thus discoursing a Messenger came from Esther to call Haman to the Banquet The King seated at this second Entertainment began again to be earnest with Esther to declare the petition and request she had to make to him since he was fully resolved to gratifie her therein yea to divide his Crown and Scepter with her rather than deny her suit To whom Esthe after a sad sigh declared the danger she and her people were in to this purpose If in the bounty of your Princely grace Your sad Petitioner may find a place To shroud her most inutterable grief Which if not there may hope for no relief If I have favour found O let my Lord Grant me my life my life so much abhorr'd To do him service and my peoples life Which now lye open to a Tyrants knife Our lives are sold 't is I 't is guiltless I Your Loyal Spouse 't is she and hers must dye The spotless bloud of me your faithful Bride Must swage the swelling of a Tyrants pride The King inraged at her discourse asks who was the man that had thus conspired the destruction of her self and all the Jews she replyed Even that wicked Haman to whom your Majesty hath given your Seal it is that perfidious Traytor that hath caused bloudy Letters to be written not to banish or sell us for Slaves for then I should have held my peace but that we should be cut off by the Sword in the Provinces of the Empire Who is the man that durst attempt this thing Where is the Traytor what am I a King May not our Subjects serve but must our Queen Be made the Subject of a Villains Spleen Is not Queen Esther bosom'd in our heart What Traytor then dares be so bold to part Our heart and us who dares attempt this thing Can Esther then be slain and not the King Reply'd the Queen the man that hath done this That cursed Haman wicked Haman is The King rose furiously from the Table and went into the Garden when Haman began to beseech Esther to intercede for him and forgive the offence he had committed and being very earnest he fell down on the bed where the Queen was when the King returning hastily back and finding him in that posture was much more displeased than before and cryed out O thou most cursed among men wilt thou ravish my Queen also Haman was so confounded at these words that he could make no reply and the Officers covered his face Hereupon one of the Chamberlains stept forth and told the King that Haman had erected a Gallows fifty foot high at his own house whereon he designed to have hanged Mordecai whereupon Ahasuerus commanded that Haman himself should be hanged thereon which was instantly executed accordingly For says the King it seemeth just and good To shed his bloud that thirsteth after bloud Who plants the tree deserves the fruit 't is fit That he who bought the purchase hansel it Hang Haman there for it is his own wood So let the Horse-leech burst himself with bloud And herein was the Justice of Heaven manifested ' not only in punishing the wickedness of Haman according to his deserts but in causing him to fall into that snare and pit he had prepared for an innocent person This was the end of that great but wretched Favourite who by abusing the interest he had in the Kings breast brought woful ruin upon himself and his whole Family his goods were given to the Queen who bestowed them on Mordecai whom the King understanding to be her Uncle he was called to the Pallace and had Hamans Ring given unto him and succeeded in his dignity After this Esther humbly intreated the King to command Letters to be sent through all the Provinces to countermand those contrived by Haman for the utter destruction of the Jews for how said she can I endure to see the ruin of my Nation and all my Relations This her request was thought very reasonable and the King granted it adding that as he had hanged Haman because of his bloudy intentions against her people so she her self should write on their behalf in his name and by his Authority to all the Governors of his Kingdom to reverse the dreadful sentence that was gone out against them In pursuance whereof the Secretaries of State were instantly imploy'd in that affair and writ to all the Magistrates of the Kingdom to this purpose Ataxerxes the Soveraign Lord and King of all the Nations that are from India to Ethiopia To the Princes and Governors of the seven and twenty Provinces of our Empire Greeting Whereas many through
Religion doth prize Which to promote she spar'd no cost nor pains Fully assur'd of Everlasting gains CLovis the husband of our worthy Heroine was King of France in the year of our Lord 485. And had scarce arrived to fifteen when he was seated on the Royal Throne a Prince of growing hopes born to build up that Great Monarchy where of his Predecessors had laid the foundation having the honour to be the first king who received the Christian Religion which was the choicest Jewel in his Crown France was at that time divided into several petty Royalties to which great priviledges were annexed yet acknowledging Clovis to be their Soveraign But this being little more than having the name and Title of King Clovis resolved if possible to become absolute Master of this goodly Countrey to obtain which he begins with the weakest and most obnoxious whereby he at length attained his end getting possession of the greatest part of Gaut and then having the County of Burgundy in his eye he desires Gombalt at that time Duke to let him have Clotilda the daughter of his younger brother Chilperick whom he had barbarously murthered to wife Gombalt was very averse to this alliance yet not daring to discover the real cause alleaged that his Niece had never the ambition to aim so high as to be Queen of France and besides there was one essential hindrance namely the diversity of their Religion it being a thing without example that a Christian Lady should marry an Heathen Prince which he could not permit to be done without manifest danger to her Soul and wounding his own honour to all posterity The French Ambassador replied That since his Master had a great respect for Clotilda he was very well pleased with her quality and that it was probable his Master by converse with a Princess of such admirable virtues and perfections might be at length induced to imbrace Christianity Gombalt said Matters of so great consequence ought not to be left at uncertainty And with this answer dismist the Messenger hoping he had now utterly prevented the match but Clovis transported with an entire affection to her soon returned an answer to this objection solemnly promising to renounce his Pagan Superstition and imbrace Christianity Whereat Gombalt was extreamly disturbed since he understood that in case he gave a denial the King of France would proceed to arms which might be fatal to his Countrey especially since many of the Burgundian Gentry were very conversant in the French Court and passionately desired this alliance as the greatest security and advantage to their Nation This business being of much importance was not thought fit to be concluded without the general consent of the States of the Countrey who being assembled to that purpose Gombalt endeavoured by many arguments to infuse jealousies into their minds of the great danger of being so nearly allied to so potent a Monarchy but found his allegations had little effect upon the Burgonians who unanimously concurred to have the marriage consummated as the surest bond of peace since the French were become so powerful it was dangerous to deny them any thing and it might therefore be feared that the entreaties of a Lover would be changed into the rage of a Conqueror That Clotilda whose Piety to God and love to her Countrey were both very eminent might by her worthy demeanor to her husband prevail upon him both to imbrace Christianity and to be very kind to her Nation Gombalt could not well find an answer to these convictive reasons but at length raised another scruple That Clotilda had vowed Virginity to Heaven and was resolved not to be married at all At this the Ambassador smiled desiring she might be called that her self might give him his answer Clotilda being asked the question replyed That she had never yet been so devout to make any vow of Virginity and though she were extreamly pleased with her present retirement yet if her Uncle thought fit to marry her to the King of France upon condidition he would become a Christian she would not be so undiscreet to refuse it At these words the Ambassador and his Attendants gave a loud shout declaring the marriage was concluded Gombalt dissembled his resentment fince he could not prevent the appointments of Heaven and therefore made speedy provision for her Journey into France saying Well Neice I now find you are of the humour of most other women and had rather be a Queen than continue with an Uncle your affectation of glory exceeding your devotion however I am very well satisfied with your choice and wish you all manner of content therein having alwaies made it my endeavour to advance your family according to my power And as for the death of your Parents I take God to witness no man was more concerned thereat than my self it being done by the advice of my Council to secure the peace and welfare of my Subjects and now I hope though you leave your Countrey you will not forget to perform all good Offices in your power for the benefit thereof After this he kissed her and taking his leave Clotilda began to weep though she had never more cause of Joy being now delivered out of the paw of the Lion and going to be the wife of a Great Monarch who expected her at Soissons with the utmost impatience and at her arrival was even transported at his happiness in the enjoyment of so absolute a beauty and so discreet a Princess He imbraced her with the most tender affection and was never weary of gazing on her She fell at his feet and told him She came to offer her service to him as her Lord and King and to be subject to all his commands He quickly takes her up kisses her and entertains her with the most indearing expressions of kindness The Nobility and People adored her even almost to Idolatry and nothing was to be seen in the Court but Feasting Comedies and all manner of diversions and demonstrations of satisfaction The Queen would not suffer her self to be too much elevated with these prosperities for she had still some kind of concernment how to manage the main affair which was the Conversion of her Lord and therefore during the preparations for solemnizing the Nuptials she offered divers occasions to him to discourse of Religion which he as politickly evaded but at length taking courage she resolved to discover her mind and spake thus to him I find your Majesty has so generous a soul that you bestow your bounty and liberality upon all the World and have therefore no reason to doubt your denial of one request that I shall make to you The King supposing she would ask some favour for one of her Attendants readily answered Madam Whatever you defire cannot be denied and therefore ask confidently what you please and it shall be granted Well then says she if your Majesty has that kindness for me which you seem to demonstrate I would beseech you that
Incomparable Poem Intituled Majesty in Misery or an Imploration to the King of Kings written by his late Majesty King Charles the First with his own Hand during his Captivity in Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight 1648. with a curious Emblem Collected by R. B. Price half a Crown VI. SUrprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts containing I. The Miracles of Nature or the wonderful Signs and Prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea With an Account of the most famous Comets and other Prodigies from the Birth of Christ to this time II. 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Chapters with Contents and beautified with Pictures By R. B. Licensed according to Order Price One Shilling XV. THE History of the Nine Worthies of the World Three whereof were Gentiles 1. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy. 2. Alexander the Great King of Macedon and Conqueror of the World. 3. Julius Caesar first Emperor of Rome Three Jews 4. Joshua Captain General and Leader of Israel into Canaan 5. David King of Israel 6. Judas Maccabeus a Valiant Jewish Commander against the Tyranny of Antiochus Three Christians 7. Arthur King of Brittain who couragiously defended his Countrey against the Saxons 8. Charles the Great K. of France and Emperor of Germany 9. Godfrey of Bullen King of Jerusalem Being an account of their Glorious Lives Worthy Actions renowned Victories and Deaths Illustrated with Poems and the Picture of each Worthy By R. B. Price One Shilling XVI A Guide to Eternal Glory Or Brief Directions to all Christians how to attain Everlasting Salvation To which are added several other small Tracts As 1. Saving Faith discovered in Three Heavenly Conferences between Our Blessed Saviour and 1. A Publican 2. A Pharisee 3. A Doubting Christian II. The Threefold state of a Christian 1. By Nature 2. By Grace 3. In Glory III. The Scriptures Concord compiled out of the words of Scripture by way of Question and Answer wherein there is the sum of the way to Salvation and Spiritual things compared with Spiritual IV. The Character of a True Christian A brief Directory for the Great Necessary and Advantagious Duty of Self-Examination whereby a serious Christian may every day Examine himself VI. A short Dialogue between a Learned Divine and a Beggar VII Beams of the Spirit or Cordial Meditations Enlivening Enlightning and Gladding the Soul. VIII The Seraphick Souls Triumph in the Love of God. With short remembrances and Pious thoughts IX History Improved or Christian Applications and Improvements of some remarkeable passages in History X. Holy Breathings in several Divine Poems upon divers Subjects and Scriptures Price One Shilling XVII EXcellent Contemplations Divine and Moral Written by the Magnanimous and truly Loyal A. L. Capel Baron of Hadham Together with some Account of his Life and his Affectionate Letters to his Lady the day before his Death with his Heroick Behaviour and last Speech at his Suffering Also the Speeches and Carriages of D. Hamilton and the E. of Holland who suffered with him With his pious Advice to his Son. Price One Shilling XVIII Youths Divine Pastime Containing Forty Remarkable Scripture Histories turned into common English Verse With Forty curious Pictures proper to each Story very delightful for the virtuous imploying the vacant hours of Young Persons and preventing vain and vitious Divertisements Together with several Scripture Hymns upon divers occasions Price Eight pence XIX UNparrallel'd Varieties Or the Matchless Actions and Passions of Mankind Display'd in near four hundred notable instances and examples Discovering the transcendent effects 1. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude 2. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity 3. Of Chastity Temperance and Humanity And on the contrary the Tremendous Consequences 4. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude 5. Of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery 6. Of Vnchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Proper Figures Price One Shilling XX. EXtraordinary Adventures of several Famous Men with the strange Events and signal Mutations and Changes in the Fortunes of divers Illustrious Places and Persons in all Ages Being an account of a Multitude of Stupendious Revolutions Accidents and Observable matters in States and Provinces throughout the whole world The Cruelties usued by the Turks upon the Christians at Argiers their manner of selling Slaves c. The dreadful Mutiny in the City of Naples in 1647. and how Massanello a Fisher-boy ruled there for 10 days with greater Power than any King or Emperor An account of several Nations destroyed or driven from their Habitations by Gnats Moles Pismires Sparrows Locusts Hares Conies Fleas Frogs Mice Grashoppers Serpents Worms and other inconsiderable Creatures The Tragical Deaths of Joqn and Cornelius de Wit at the Hague in Holland Remarks on the Life and Death of Sir W. Rawleigh with his last Speech and Behaviour on the Scaffold with Pictures Price One Shilling XXI VVInter Evenings Entertainments in Twâ— Parts Containing 1. Ten Pleasanâ— Relations of many Rare and Notable Accidents and Occurrences with brief Remarks upon every one 2. â—â—ty Ingenious Riddles with their Explanations and useful Observations and Morals upon each Enlivenâ— with above Threescore Pictures for Illustrating eveâ—â— Story and Riddle Excellently Accommodated to thâ— Fancies of Old or Young and useful to chearful Socâ—â—ty and Conversation Price One Shilling FINIS