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
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. The Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings and other curious Inventions in all Ages as the Seven Wonders of the World and many other excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the Earth beautitified with Sculptures Price One Shilling VII TWo Journeys to Jerusalem Containing first A strange and true Account of the Travels of two English Pilgrims some years since and what Admirable Accidents befel them in their Journey to Jerusalem Grand Cairo Alexandria c. With the wonderful manner of hatching many Thousand Chickens at once in Ovens Secondly The Travels of Fourteen Englishmen in 1669. from Scanderoon to Tripoly Joppa Ramah Jerusalem Bethlehem Jericho the River of Jordan the Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah and back again to Aleppo By S. B. With the rare Antiquities Monuments and memorable places and things mentioned in the Holy Scripture and an exact Description of the Old and New Jerusalem to which is added a Relation of the great Council of the Jews assembled in the Plains of Ajayday in Hungary 1650. to examine the Scriptures concerning Christ By S. B. an English man there present With the notorious Delusion of the Jews by a counterfeit Messiah or false Christ at Smyrna in 1666. and the event thereof Lastly The fatal and final Extirpation and Destruction of the Jews throughout the Kingdom of Persia whereby many thousands of all Qualities and Ages were cut off in 1666. and the remarkable occasions thereof The Epistle of K. Agbarus to our Saviour with our Saviour's Answer Beautified with Pictures Price One Shilling VIII THE Wars in England Scotland and Ireland containing an Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which have happened from the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First 1625. to His Majestys happy Restauration The illegal Tryal of King Charles I. at large with his last Speech at his Suffering And the most considerable matters which happened till 1660. With Pictures of several Accidents Price One Shilling IX HIstorical Remarks and Observations of the Antient and Present State of London and Westminster shewing the Foundations Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an account of the most remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above nine hundred years past in and about these Cities to the Year 1681. Illustrated with Pictures with the Arms of the 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating Price One Shilling X. ADmirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland or an Account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the Battles Sieges Prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fires Murders and other considerable Occurrences and Accidents for many hundred years past Together with the natural and artificial Rarities in every County in England with several curious Sculptures Price One Shilling XI WOnderful Prodigies of Judgment and Mercy discovered in above 300 memorable Histories containing 1. Dreadful Judgments upon Atheists Blasphemers and perjured Villains 2. The miserable ends of many Magicians Witches Conjurers c. with divers strange Apparitions and Illusions of the Devil 3. Remarkable predictions and presages of approaching death and how the event has been answerable 4. Fearful Judgments upon bloudy Tyrants Murderers c. 5. Admirable Deliverances from Imminent Dangers and Deplorable Distresses at Sea and Land. Lastly Divine Goodness to Penitents with the Dying Thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state after this Life Imbellished with divers Pictures Price One Shilling XII THE Divine Banquet or Sacramental Devotions consisting of Morning and Evening Prayers Contemplations and Hymns for every day in the Week in order to a more Solemn Preparation for the worthy Receiving of the Holy Communion Representing the several steps and degrees of the Sorrow and Sufferings of our Blessed Saviour till he gave up the Ghost As 1. His Agony in the Garden 2. His being Betrayed by Judas 3. His being falsly Accused Smitten Buffetted and Spit upon before Caiphas the High Priest 4. His Condemnation Scourging Crowning with Thorns and being delivered to be Crucified by Pontius Pilate 5. His bearing his Cross to Golgotha 6. His Crucifixion and bitter Passion Lastly Our Saviours Institution of the Blessed Sacrament Together with brief Resolutions to all those Scruples and Objections usually alledged for the omission of this important Duty With Eight curious Sculptures proper to the several parts To which is added The Devout Christians Daily Sacrifice or Morning and Evening Prayers for every day upon Ordinary Occasions with Graces Price One Shilling XIII THE Young Mans Calling or the whole Duty of Youth in a serious and compassionate Address to all young persons to remember their Creator in the days of their Youth Together with Remarks upon the Lives of several excellent Young Persons of both Sexes as well ancient as modern who have been famous for Virtue and Piety in their Generations namely on the Lives of Isaac and Joseph in their Youth On the Martyrdom of seven Sons and their Mother of Romanus a young Nobleman and of divers holy Virgins and Martyrs On the Lives of King Edward 6. Q. Jane Q. Elizabeth in her Youth Prince Henry Eldest Son to King James and the young Lord Harrington c. With Twelve curious Pictures illustrating the several Histories Price Eighteen Pence XIV THE English Heroe or Sir Francis Drake Revived Being a full Account of the Dangerous Voyages Admirable Adventures Notable Discoveries and Magnanimous Atchievements of that Valiant and Renowned Commander As I. His Voyage in 1572. to Nombre de Dios in the West-Indies where they saw a Pile of Bars of Silver near seventy foot long ten foot broad and 12 foot high II. His incompassing the whole World in 1577. which he performed in Two years and Ten months gaining a vast quantity of Gold and Silver III. His Voyage into America in 1585. and taking the Towns of St. Jago St. Domingo Carthagena and St. Augustine IV. His last Voyage into those Countreys in 1595. with the manner of his Death and Burial Recommended as an Excellent Example to all Heroick and Active Spirits in these days to endeavour to benefit their Prince and Countrey and Immortalize their Names by the like worthy Undertakings Revised Corrected very much inlarged reduced into
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
' gainst Israel The Lord will vengeance take of those That ' gainst him do rebel He will put fire into their flesh And worms shall them annoy They shall much misery feel God will For ever them destroy After this Judith dedicated to the Temple the Pavilion of Holofernes and other rich habiliments given her by the People that the memory of this glorious Action might never be forgotten and then returning to her own house she there continued a chast widdow to the day of her death being honoured and respected of all the people as their Great Deliverer she made her servant a free woman and lived in the house of her husband Manasseh till she was an hundred and five years old and then dying was buried in his Sepulchre for whom all the Israelites made a deep and solemn mourning seven days without intermission and the terror of this admirable success made such an impression on all the Neighbour Nations that none of them troubled Israel all her days nor a long time after her death How great art thou O Lord of Hosts and how terrible is thy power thou God of Battels a General in the midst of an Army of an hundred thousand valiant Souldiers invironed all with steel and fire who says I will go I will do I will level with the ground who decreed the firing of Cities and destruction of Countreys behold him now conquered slain tumbled in his bloud by a woman who makes a play-game of his head and all this by the assistance of that God who acted in her and put courage into her soul to overthrow the mighty and bring to confusion the Sons of pride and violence The History of Queen Esther WHen Haman in his proud ambitious mind Utter destruction to the Jews design'd When for the fault of one they all must dye All must be ruin'd for poor Mordecai Then prudent Esther doth her self oppose Against her Uncles and her Peoples Foes Ventures her life her Nation to save And Mercy for them of the King doth crave Who hears and grants her suit most graciously Haman is hanged for his Treachery And Mordecai his Office doth enjoy Who for the Jews his Interest doth imploy IN the year from the Creation of the world 3543. and before the birth of our Saviour 521. during the Captivity of the Jews in Babylon Cyrus the son of Xerxes whom the Grecians called Artaxerxes was King of Persia in whose reign all the race of the Jews both men women and children were in danger to have been utterly exterminated had it not been happily prevented by the mercy of God and the excellent conduct and admirable courage of our renowned Heroine Queen Esther For the better understanding hereof we read that after Artaxerxes was setled in the Kingdom and had established Governors over an hundred and seven and twenty Provinces from India as far as Ethiopia in the third year of his reign he made a most Royal and Magnificient Feast for all the Grandees of his mighty Empire wherein he display'd the opulency and grandeur of his Dominions for one hundred and fourscore days together After which he for 7 days treated the Ambassadors of all Nations in the Palace of Shushan sitting in a Tent the Pillars whereof were Gold and Silver and the covering of Scarlet of such a vast extent that thousands might be entertained under it all the provisions were served in Vessels of Gold inriched with Jewels and of excellent workmanship The King commanded his Attendants that none should be enforced to drink but according to the Persian usage each at his own discretion He also sent an Order throughout all his Countreys that they should all cease from their labour many days and make Holyday in Honour of his Royalty At the same time Vashti his Queen made a Royal Banquet to her Ladies and the King being merry with wine the seventh day of the Feast sent one of his Eunuchs to cause her to come with the Crown upon her head in the most glorious manner and her most gorgeous attire to display her beauty to the eyes of all the people but she being too tenacious of the Persian custom that count it a crime to be seen by strangers refused to come and though he renewed his desires divers times yet she persisted in her denial upon which being extreamly displeased he rose suddenly from the Banquet and calling to him seven of his Councellors by whose advice he managed his affairs and who expounded the Law to him he desired to know what punishment they thought due to his wife who had put such an open affront and indignity upon him before that Great Assembly one of them answered That this was a crime of State and might occasion a general disorder throughout the Realm since all other women following the example of the Queen might from thence take a licentious power to disobey their husbands and every where domineer over them thereby overthrowing the order of Nature and cause quarrels and disturbance in all Families His opinion therefore was that she who had done him this publick dishonour should be divorced from the King her husband and that a Proclamation should be published throughout all his Provinces signifying the cause thereof and asserting the just subjection of wives to their husbands The King who had an extraordinary passion for Vashti and could hardly entertain any thoughts of a separation from the dear object of his love seemed for some time wholly abandoned to grief and sorrow which his Nobles observing endeavoured to remove by representing the unreasonableness of his concernment for such an unworthy woman who had so extreamly disobliged him and that he might soon find out another who in beauty and all other Princely qualifications should far exceed her and by whose pleasing demeanor the thoughts of Vashti might be utterly extinguished The King confirming the Judgment they had given against Vashti sent abroad messengers to bring into his presence the fairest Virgins that were to be found in his Kingdoms Whereupon a great number being assembled there was among them a young Orphan whose parents being dead she was educated under the tuition of her uncle Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin and a principal man among the Jews her name was Esther and was judged the most beautiful of all that youthful company and for her amiable countenance caused all Spectators to stand still and admire her Whereupon the Eunuchs attended her with more than ordinary diligence and she was prepared for the kings pleasure with odors and perfumes for six months in the company of four hundred other Virgins After which the Officer judging them fit to approach the Royal bed sent one every night to the King who returned her back in the morning But when Esther came into his presence he was so surprized with her love that he took her for his lawful wife and setled his affections upon her above all the others The marriage was solemnized in the seventh year of
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
Morgan and Cunegad her sisters sons disdaining to live under the government of a woman raised a rebellion against her and having destroyed great part of the Countrey and defeated her Forces they took her and kept her close Prisoner wherewith being much disturbed and despairing of regaining her liberty she out of Feminine valor stab'd her self to the heart and died after five years reign XII After her death the two Nephews divided the Land that part beyond Humber even as far as Caitness in Scotland falling to Morgan and the other to Cunegad Having reigned jointly two years Morgan was incited by some evil counsellors to endeavour to gain the whole to himself he being Son of the eldest daughter and was told it was a shame to be partner with a younger brother Pride Covetousness and Ambition soon prevailed upon him to raise an Army for effecting this unjust design wherewith entring the Territories of Cunegad he miserably ruined all before him but was quickly met by his brothers Forces who gave him battel wherein a great number of Morgans men being slain the rest fled and were pursued from one Countrey to another till they came into Wales where Morgan resolved once more to try his fortune but being too weak for a victorious army he was there slain in the Field the Countrey being afterward called from his name Glamorgan After which Cunegad became sole Governor of Brittain which he ruled peaceably thirty three years and was buried at Troynovant He is reported to have built three Temples one dedicated to the God Mars at Perth in Scotland another to Mercury at Bangor and a third to Apollo in Cornwall XIII Rival his Son ruled after him in much prosperity In whose time it rained bloud three days together after which followed such a multitude of noisome and poysonous flies that breeding a great contagion many died thereof Rome was built about this time He reigned forty six years and was buried at York leaving the Realm to XIV Gurgusius his Son in the year of the world 3249. of whom little is related in our Brittish Chronicle but that having reigned thirty seven years he was buried at York likewise XV Sysillus his Son who succeded or his Brothers Son as some write has as little recorded of him nor of XVI Jago Cozen of Gurgusius but that he died without issue XVII Kinmark his Brother governed after him and reigned fifty four years XVIII Gorbodug succeeded and after sixty three years died and was buried at London leaving the Land to be ruled jointly by XIX Ferrex and Porrex his two Sons who continued some years in good correspondence but flattery and thirst of Dominion at length raised variance between them whereby Ferrex was forced to fly into France and having received aid from that Prince returned in hope to conquer all for himself but his Brother being ready to receive him he was slain with the greatest part of his Army The Mother of them having greater love for Ferrex than his Brother was so inraged at his death that she contrived to murther the Survivor which she effected with the help of her women while he was asleep in the night and then cut him into small pieces to evidence the malice of her feminine revenge After this for fifty years the Kingdom was in great distraction the Government being divided between five Governors who were all at length subdued by Dunwallo Duke of Cornwall And here ancient writers affirm the line of Brute ended there being none of his Race left alive after the two brethren Ferrex and Porrex The names oâ— the five Rulers are said to be Rudacus King of Waleâ— Clotenus King of Cornwall Pinnor King of Loegria Stâ—â—terus King of Albania and Yewan King of Northunberland but Dunwallo having obtained the rule of tâ—â— whole Land begun his Reign about seven hundrâ—â— years after Brutes arrival who was the first Crowâ—ed King of Brittain for before this the Chief Maâ—â—strates of the Kingdom were indifferently calâ— Kings Rulers or Governors but had not any solâ— Coronation according to the custom of other Countries I shall therefore now begin a new Catalogue with a new Family of which I. Malmutius Dunwallo Duke of Cornwall was the first in the year of the world 3529. and about five hundred years before our Saviours Nativity He built in Troynovant or London the Temple of Peace which some think is Blackwell Hall now used for selling cloth He made many good Laws which were called by his name and long after translated out of Brittish into Latin and mingled among the Statutes of King Alfred He gave priviledges to Temples Ploughs and Cities that whoeser fled to either in any criminal cause should be secured and have liberty to go thence into what Countrey he pleased he built Malmsbury and the Devizes After he had setled the Kingdom he by the advice of his Lords caused himself to be Crowned with a Crown of Gold with all the Heathen Ceremonies of that Age and was therefore called the first Monarch of Brittain He ordained rules about Weights and Measures and made strict Laws against Robbers and after forty years reign was buried in the Temple of Peace leaving the Kingdom to be ruled by his two Sons II. Belinus and Brennus the first governing Loegria Wales and Cornwall and Belin all the Countrey beyond Humber They both reigned very quietly about seven years when Brennus ambitious of gaining the whole was perswaded by some unquiet youths to sail into Norway where he married the daughter of Elsing Duke of that Countrey Belin vext that he should marry without his advice in his absence seiz'd all his Castles and Fortresses and put Garrisons therein of which Brennus having intelligence he was assisted by his Father-in-law with a great Fleet of Ships and a stout Army of Norwegians wherewith sailing homeward he was encountred by the way by Guldac King of Denmark who with his Navy lay in wait to surprize the young Lady Brennus had married to whom Guldac had been long a Servant but could never obtain her Fathers consent The two Fleets meeting a bloudy fight ensued but at length the King of Denmark prevailed and took the Ship wherein the Lady was whom he brought into his own Vessel Brennus making his escape The Danes had no sooner obtained this great victory and prize when a sudden tempest arising the navy was scattered and the King in danger of being lost but after five days he was driven by storm into Northumberland with the few Ships that remained Belin being then in that Countrey providing defence against his brother having notice of it caused the King to be detained Mean time Brennus having again got together his dispersed Ships and furnisht them and his Souldiers with all necessaries sent to his brother to demand the restoring his wife and his Countrey both which were wrongfully detained from him But receiving a positive denial to both he landed his Army in Albany now Scotland and his brother coming toward him a
continue there to this day The History of Mariamne the wife of King Herod HErod a furious Monster made of bloud Who boldly God and Natures Laws withstood Neither with Virtue nor with Grace indu'd Of Visage hideous and of manners rude To whom the beautious Mariamne was A Chaft and Loyal wife But yet alas He that us'd Tyranny and foul debate As well in Love as in his Royal state This Virtuous Queen did from the Earth remove To seat her in a Higher state above Who lives thus bravely and thus leaveth breath Makes of a Dying life a living Death ABout fifty years before the birth of our Saviour the Kingdom of Judea which had continued through many invissitudes from the time of King David almost a thousand years was brought into great distractions by the discord between two Brothers The Chief Rulers over the Jews who had for many years contented themselves with the title of Governors or High Priests now aspire to the name of Kings among whom Hircanus reigned a good man but a bad King who had honesty and innocence but not sufficient prudence nor courage to manage so great a charge He being sensible of his own weakness freely resign'd the Kingdom to his brother Aristobulus a valiant and stout though unsuccessful Prince At which time Antipater the Father of Herod an Idumean being a wealthy desiquing person resolved to take the opportunity of those concussions in the state to advance himself to the Throne but found it would be very difficult to attain his ends whilst the couragious Aristobulus bare sway he therefore sowes seditious seeds of revolt among the People intimating That they had done very ill in removing so good a Prince and suffering him to be dethroned to promote another who was of so turbulent and violent a spirit that they should soon find his ill management of affairs would occasion much defolation in Palestine but however it was not yet too late to prevent the threatned mischeifs if they would return to their Loyalty and duty and again restore Hyrcanus to the Government whose modesty in declining advancement made him appear most worthy of having it bestowed upon him The common people not reaching the depth of Antipaters designs who if he could again advance Hyrcanus did not question but by the facility of his nature he might bring all into his own power and raise up a Monarchy to himself and Heirs began to give ear to his Remonstrancers especially those that loved change and some out of a sense of Justice Antipater having thus begun resolved to prosecute the buâ—â—ess to the utmost endeavouring to gain the good opinion of Hyrcanus by all manner of observances and pretences of friendship which at length prevailed so much upon his easy temper that Hyrcanus resigned himself and his affairs absolutely to his conduct whereupon Antipater proceeded to represent to him his great miscarriage in suffering the Kingdom to be taken from him and earnestly persuaded him to endeavour to resume it but found this motion received very cold entertainment from Hyrcanus who objected the breach of his Oath whereby he had absolutely renounced the Soveraignty and his inability to regain it with force to the first Antipater replied That the matter of the Oath was illegal and thereby void in it self and to the second that he would supply him with Arabians who should inable him to recover his right By such discourses he at length gained him especially by instilling jealousies into his mind that Aristobulus designed to take away his life so that Antipater having ingaged Arethas an Arabian King in the quarrel he comes into Judeâ— â—ith a great Army ruining all before him and at length driving Aristobulus into Jerusalem which they besieged At which very time the Romans ambitious of inlarging their already immense Dominions sent Pompey the Great into Syria whose Forces so far surmounted the Arabians that they durst not stand before him but were scattered as chaff before the wind and the whole Countrey soon reduced to their obedience The two Brothers both plead their cause at the feet of Pompey who seemed more inclined to Aristobulus he having prepossest his mind by a Noble present of a Golden Vine accounted one of the greatest rarities in the world and other rich Gifts Antipater perceiving which way things tended and doubting his projects would miscarry endeavoured by all kind of aspersions and misrepresentations to render Aristobulus odious and suspected by the Romans who penetrating into his designs was so inraged that he desperately ingaged against the strength of that mighty Empire but soon found the match very unequal Aristobulus himself was taken Prisoner and laid in fetters and with his two Sons and as many daughters carried to Rome to heighten the glory of Pompeys Triumph Jerusalem is brought under Tribute and Hyrcanus late King now constituted High Priest but the chief authority given to Antipater who in his name managed all affairs and at length being sensible of the weakness of the High Priest and his own strength he makes his eldest Son Phaselus Governour of Jerusalem and Herod his youngest Tetrarch of Galilee After his death the two brothers endeavour equally to obtain the favour of Hyrcanus making him own what either of them had done Yet Herod seemed to be of the most aspiring humour who being as politick and intreguing as his Father gained much interest among the Romans by all manner of submission and Services thereby hoping at length to obtain the kingdom which yet seem'd at a great distance from him his elder brother being alive and ruling the greatest part of Judea and Aristobulus who was in Chains at Rome having likewise two Sons The eldest named Alexander Father to our excellent Mariamne and Antigonus the youngest Alexander who succeeded his Father in misfortune getting some forces together attempted the recovering his Countrey but was soon suppressed by the Romans who assisted Herod and by their Order beheaded Antigonus and his Father Aristobulus escaping from Rome fled to the Parhians who ingaged to reestablish him in the kingdom and came upon Herod so suddenly and with so much fury though Hyrcanus and Phaselus were joined with him that they discomfited Herods Army and had almost surprized his Person which so much astonished him that he was ready to have fallen upon his own Sword Phaselus his brother unable to bear so strange a change of fortune beat out his brains against the side of a rock and Hyrcanus by the cruel command of Antigonus had his ears cut off being thereby made forever uncapable of the Office of High-priest Herod being a little recovered from his amazement resolved still to throw himself upon the assistance of the Romans imploring their help and representing the mischiefs committed by Antigonus and with all manner of arts so far insinuated himself into their favour that he is declared King of Judea and Antigonus at the same time proclaimed an utter enemy to the Empire who being taken by Mark Antony was
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
Letters to him full of fair promises and invitations to return to Court not without some sharp reflections upon the change of his Religion without his consent and that he had put himself into a posture of War and rebellion against his own Father which no pretence to Piety could possibly justify Ermangild seemed doubtful what answer to return but his young Councellors too warmly alledged That there was now no place to retire since he had to do with a Prince who was both imperious and turbulent and with a Mother in Law altogether irreconcileable and revengeful who would never be satisfied but in his utter destruction and that if he did not now take arms to secure his life he would be chased like awild Beast and hardly find security even in the desarts He therefore sent back to his Father That his Religion had taught him to bear patiently the sharpness of his words to whom he was bound by immortal obligations but that he could not think his life safe in a place where his wife for whose sake only he lived had received such horrible abuses and as for his changing his Religion he ought to know That a Father requireth imnatural obedience when he exacteth it of a Child against his conscience and therefore humbly desired that he would suffer him to repose peaceably at Sevil least their arms might be as shameful to the Conquerour as miserable to the vanquished Lenigild more exasperated now than before especially by the constant aggravations of the wicked Step-mother resolved to reduce his son by force and acts of Hostility were begun till at length Ermangild was besieged in Sevil where he had continued three years since his departure from Court The Religious Andegona apprehending the sad effects of these impending distractions besought her husband with the utmost tenderness and tears in her eyes to reconcile himself to his Father who unable to resist such potent pleaders seemed wholly changed at her motion and told her that since she desired it he was resolved to submit to his father but advised her That to prevent falling again into the hands of the merciless Gosintha he should retreat to Constantinople for safety till she faw what entertainment he should meet with Andegona was extreamly afflicted at this proposal and wept bitterly at the thoughts of being separated from the chief object of her love But however necessity compelling them Ermangild took his little Son that hung at the breast and told her See here Madam the most precious pledge of our marriage which I recommend to your care Let God dispose of it as he please but you must bring it up as a King At which redoubling her sighs they parted with violent convulsions of grief Andegona at her last farewel adjuring him that by no means he should lose his faith which he assuring her to maintain to the last moment they were then separated never to meet again in this World. The King understanding his Son was inclined to peace rejoiced thereat and dispatcht his younger brother Ricardo to his Camp who arriving there and seeing his brother Ermangild cried out O my brother before I imbrace thee I desire to know whether I am come to a friend or an enemy Ermangild imbraced him tenderly in sight of the whole Army assuring him of the great affection he had ever born both to his Father and himself and instantly both hasten to the Court where the Prince prostrating himself at the feet of the King he with all kind of submission declared That he was ready to live or dye at his feet The King either feignedly or in earnest told him that he found he had been much misrepresented but that this action had cleared all his suspicions and that he was very welcom inquiring where his wife was Who replyed she would speedily be at Court Gosintha then present seemed mightily pleased shewing him all manner of kindness upon which Ermangild banishing all suspition resolved to send for Andegona to Court But all her pretences were only pernicious flatteries for much doubting if he should gain his Fathers heart her faction might be disturbed she forged Letters and suborned witnesses to swear that all this submission of his Son was only a trick and design to bereave him of the Kingdom which she seemed so clearly to demonstrate that the old doting King was in a greater fury than before and commanded him to be arrested for treason and committed him close Prisoner loaden with irons and clothed in Sackcloth The Prince by this violent procedure perceiving his hour was nigh renounced all the concernments of this World and couragiously prepared himself for death when the King coming to visit him was so far transported with rage as to call him Ingrateful wicked wretch To whom the Prince mildly answered that he could not possibly imagine what he was guilty of and therefore must dye in silence and without making any defence His father told him his own evil conscience sufficiently accused him if he would be so just as to acknowledge his vile intentions and of which he should be very glad to find him innocent Hereupon Ermangild made a large Apology wherein he fully cleared himself from all things charged upon him So that the King being convinced had nothing to charge him with but the change of his Religion which the Prince freely acknowledged and vowed That he would dye a thousand deaths rather than reneunce that True faith which he had now imbraced The father called him fool and remanded him back to Prison wherewith some difficulty he writ a letter to his dear Andegona wherein he returns her many thanks that from her he had received the true knowledge of God and was resolved to suffer the utmost extremity in defence of the same advising her after his death to make her escape to Constantinople Mean while Ricardo his younger brother was extreamly troubled that by being a mediator for peace he had been the occasion of this deplorable Tragedy and seeing Ermangild covered with sackcloth and loaded with chains he stood at first mute like a statue and then breaking forth into tears said Ah brother it is I that have betrayed you it is I who have fettered you like an ignominious slave take therefore my dagger and revenge your wrongs upon my guilty head for being accessary though against my will to your destruction His brother endeavoured by gentle words to appease his passion and told him it was no fault of his and that he would most willingly lay down his life for his Religion which was the only charge his enemies had against him Riccardo went to the King and by all manner of intreaties endeavoured to mollify his bloudy mind but the Faction of Gosintha much doubting the resentment of the brothers sounded nothing in his ears but the danger of so great an Offender who shewed himself so insolent in his misery that nothing could be expected but his utmost vengeance in his prosperity The credulity of the unfortunate
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