Weaver's Mon. p. 202. Clark's Examp. Vol. 1. P. 655. It were tiresome to reckon up all the Superstitions of the Roman Church their particular Saints with their particular Vertues their Penances Pilgrimages Largesses of Devotion Postures of Worship Habits Ceremonies Holy-days c. all which have made such a noisome stench in the World that in the beginning of the Reformation the Protestants cried out aloud Vaugh upon them and now the Quietists among themselves hold their Noses out of a Principle of Nauseousness and Abhorrency of them and rather chuse to lay aside all the external part of Worship or almost all than carry so long a Train of Superstitious Observances along with them when they go to the Church of God CHAP. CI. Divine Judgments upon Blasphemy and Profaneness BY Blasphemy I mean Speaking Irreverently and Disrespectfully of Sacred things and by Prophaneness an open Conversation agreeable to such Dishâ—â—â—â—rable and Rude Idea's And such Crimes certainly have no foundation of Security no ground to build any hopes of Impunity upon for so long as there is a God existent in the World and that God concerned in the Government of the World he will take notice of such open Disrespects or none 'T is the Interest of the Deity at least now and then to make a sharp Animadversion upon such open Impiety even in this World 1. Eugenius being Emperor Flavianus the Prefect desired Leave of him to Build an Altar to Victory at Milan which Ambrose hearing of departed from thence to Bononia but after a while returned again Eugenius and Flavianus being gone to War against Theodosius But before their departure they had sent word That when they returned Conquerors they would make the Great Church in Milan a Stable for Horses but God prevented them for Engenius was Slain by his own Soldiers and Theodesius got the Victory Clark's Marrow of Ecclesiastical History 2. A. C. 1617. Marcus Antonius de Dominis Arch-bishop of Spalato a Man Old and Corpulent and so unfit for Travel being almost at his Journeys end by Nature came into England leaving his Countrey Italy as he affirmed for Religion whereof he set forth in Writing many Reasons and being thereupon Entertained he Preached Railed and Writ against Rome extolling the Protestant Religion till he became Dean of Windsor and Master of the Savoy which he enjoyed for some few years Then whether he had higher hopes at home or the Humour and Fancy altering he went Retrograde And after five years stay here he Retracted all that he had said and written which so Incens'd King James that he commanded him within three days at his Peril to depart the Realm Who thereupon went to Rome and there in veighed as bitterly against the Protestants as he had done in England against the Papists hoping at least for Pardon if not for Preferment But notwithstanding his Recantation according to the Law of the Inquisition having once Revolted though now Returned he Suffered the Death of an Heretick had the Punishment of a Martyr though not the Honour For he was publickly burnt at Rome yet not burnt alive but dying in Prison and being Buried his Body was afterwards taken up and Burnt Such Honour have all such Saints For they hold it as a Maxim That that Foundation is never to be Built upon that was once of a Tottering Temper Sir Richard Baker's Chron. Clark's Examples C. 10. P. 27. 3. A. C. 1550. There was at Ferrara in Italy on Faninus who by Reading of good Books was by God's Grace Converted to the knowledge of the Truth wherein he found such Sweetness that by constant Reading Meditation and Prayer he grew so expert in the Scriptures that he was able to instruct others And though he durst not go out of the Bounds of his Calling to Preach openly yet by Conference and private Exhortations he did good to many This coming to the knowledge of the Pope's Clients they Apprehended and Committed him to Prison where by the earnest Solicitation of his Wife and Children and other Friends he was over-perswaded to Renounce the Truth and thereupon was Released out of Prison But it was not long before the Lord met with him for it So as falling into horrible Torments of Conscience he was near unto utter Despair for preferring the Love of his Kindred and Friends before the Service of Jesus Christ neither could he possibly be freed from these Terrors before he had fully resolved to venture his Life more faithfully in the Service of Christ Clark's Examples p. 27. 4. About the Year 1541. There was one William Barber Master of Art in Oxford a Godly and Learned Man that Disputed stoutly and accurately against the Doctrine of Transubstantiation Yet through the Iniquity of the Times was at last brought over to make a Recantation after which he never Prospered but wore away with Grief and Sorrow till he died Ibid. 5. In the Reign of Queen Mary there was one Sir James Hales Justice of the Common-Pleas who though he had adventured his Life for Queen Mary by refusing to Subscribe to her Disinheriting by King Edward the VI's Will yet for giving the Statutes in Charge against the Pope's Supremacy c. at the Sessions he was cast into Prison and there so cruelly handled and terrified with the apprehension of the Torments which they said were preparing for him that partly by the Flattery of the Bishops and partly by their Threats he was drawn to Recant After which he fell into such terrors of Conscience that he attempted to kill himself with a Pen-knife Yet being by God's Providence prevented and his Wounds he had given himself Cured he was delivered out of Prison and went home to his House but neither could he have any inward Peace by reason of his Apostacy But setting his House in Order he drowned himself in a River not far from his Habitation Ibid. 6. A. C. 1556. There was one Mr. Thomas Whittle an Essex Minister apprehended and carried before Bishop Bonner by whom he was laid in the Porter's Lodge all night upon the bare ground The next day the Bishop sent for him to his Chamber and asked him many Questions about the Sacraments of the Altar c. to which Mr. Whittle returned such Answers as much anger'd the Bishop whereupon he told him that he should return to Prison and be fed with nothing but Bread and Water and not content with Threats he fell upon him and beat him with his Fists and then put him into a little Room where he lay two Nights upon a Table shortly after the Bishop sent for him again Flattered him proffering him Articles cunningly drawn up and at last prevailed with him to Subscribe them But said he after I had done it I had little Joy for by and by my Conscience told me by God's Word I had done Evil by so slight a means to shake off the sweet Cross of Christ Oh! the Crafty Subtilty of Satan in his Members Let every Man whom God
thee to Morrow Sigismund the Second King of Poland because of his perpetual delay and heaviness in weighty Affairs was called the King of to-morrow Such are we certainly Men of to-morrow we delay all things most willingly also if we could to put off Death it self but the business of dying admits of no delay suffers no put-offs Francis the First King of France being taken by Charles the Fifth when he had read at Madrid Charles's Impress upon the Wall Plus ultra Farther yet added thereto To day for me to morrow for thee The Victor took it not ill but to shew that he understood it wrote underneath I am a Man there is no Humane Accident but may befal me Barlaam the Hermit an Old Man of Seventy Years when Jehosaphat the King asked him how Old he was Answered Forty five at which when the King admired He reply'd that he had been absent rom his Studies Twenty five Years as if those Years which he had spent upon the Vanity of the World had been quite lost Sir Tho. Moor that no Age might delude a Person with the hopes of a longer Life gives this Admonition As he that is carried out of a Prison to the Gallows though the way be longer yet fears not the Gallows the less because he comes to it a little the later and though his Limbs are firm his Eyes quick his Lungs sound and that he relish his Meat and Drink yet this is still his Affliction that he is upon his Journey Thus are we all carried to the Gibbet of Death we are all upon the way only parted by some little Intervals The Elector of Brandenburg came to Visit Charles the Fifth being Sick of the Gout and advised him to make use of his Physicians To whom Charles replied The best Remedy in this Disease is Patience The compleat Armour of a Sick Man is Patience being so guarded he need fear neither Sickness Pain nor Death He is Proof against the blows of his Enemies and shall certainly overcome for Patience overcomes all things St. Austin Bishop of Hippo went to visit another Bishop of his Familiar Acquaintance lying in Extremity to whom as he was lifting up his Hands to Heaven to signifie his Departure St. Austin replyed That he was a great support of the Church and worthy of a longer Life To whom the sick Person made this Answer If never 't were another thing but if at any time why not now Thus Sitenus being taken by Midas and asked what was the best thing could happen to Man For a while stood silent At length being urg'd to speak he answer'd That the best thing was never to be born the next to die the soonest that might be This I must not omit very wonderful unheard-of and pleasant in the Relation Lodowick Cortusius a Lawyer of Padua forbid to his Relations all Tears and Lamentations by his Will And desir'd that he might have Harpers Pipers and all sorts of Musick at his Funeral who should partly go before partly follow the Corps leaving to every one of them a small Sum of Money His Bier he ordered to be carry'd by Twelve Virgins that being clad in green were to sing all the way such Songs as Mirth brought to their remembrance leaving to each a certain Sum of Money instead of a Dowry Thus was he buried in the Church of St. Sophia in Padua accompanied with a Hundred Attendants together with all the Clergy of the City excepting those that wore black for such by his Will he forbid his Funeral as it were turning his Funeral-Rites into a Marriage-Ceremony He died the 17th of July 1418. Admirable was the saying of St. Bernard Let them bewail their Dead who deny the Resurrection They are to be deplor'd who after Death are buried in Hell by the Devils not they who are plac'd in Heaven by the Angels Cyrus being about to die My Son said he when I am dead close up my Body neither in Silver nor in any other Metal but return its own Earth to the Earth again His last words were Be grateful to your Friends and you will never want the Power to punish your Enemies Farewel my dear Son and tell these my Words to your Mother also Wisely said Theophrastus upon his Death-Bed Many fine and pleasant things doth Life impose upon us under the pretence of Glory than the love of which there is nothing more vain Hither may be referred the saying of Severus the Emperor I was all things but nothing avails Alexander after many and great Victories overcome at length he fell not only into his Bed but into his Tomb contented with a small Coffin Peter Alphonsus reports That several Philosophers flock'd together and variously descanted upon the King's Death One there was that said Behold now four Yards of Ground is enough for him whom the spacious Earth could not comprehend before Another added Yesterday could Alexander save whom he pleas'd from Death to Day he cannot free himself Another viewing the Golden Coffin of the deceased Yesterday said he Alexander heaped up a Treasure of Gold now Gold makes a Treasure of Alexander This was their Learned Contention yet all ended in this Then he fell sick and died Lewis King of France gave these his last Admonitions to his Son Beware my Son that thou never commit any deadly Sin rather suffer all manner of Torments First chuse such about thee as will not be afraid to tell thee what thou art to do and what to beware To thy Parents give all Obedience Love and Reverence Ferdinand the Great King of Castile falling sick of his last Sickness caused himself to be carried to the great Church in all his Royal Robes where putting off all his Royal Ornaments and as it were restoring God his own he put on a Hair-Clâ—â— and casting himself upon the Ground with Tears in his Eyes Lord said he the Kingdom which thou gavest me I return to thee again seat me I beseach thee in Eternal Light Charles King of Sicily spoke these words Oh the Vain Thoughts of Men Miserable Creatures we are delighted with Honour heap up Treasure and neglect Heaven O the happy Fate of the Poor who content with little sleep in Tranquility What does now my Kingdom what do all my Guards avail me I might have been miserable without all this Pomp. Where is now the power and strength of my Empire The same necessity involves me as hampers the meanest Beggar Of so many Thousands of Clients Servants and Flatterers there is not one that will or can accompany me to the Tribunal of God Go Mortals go and swell your Breasts with great Thoughts to Day or to Morrow ye must die Farewel Earth would I could say welcom Heaven Dionysius the Areopagite being condemned to lose his Head with a Christian Generosity contemning the Reproaches of the Spectators Let the last words of my Lord upon the Cross said he be mine in this World Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit
in the Womb both Suck together or are both equally desirous of Nourishment together They were Christned by the Names of Aquila and Priscilla See the Printed Relation 22. Anno 1691. March 25. There was Calved about 8 miles from Bath in Somersetshire a Calf having the resemblance of a Woman 's Head-dress call'd a Commode near half a yard in height growing on its Head which hath been exposed to publick view in the Tower of London CHAP. XXVIII Instances of an Early or rather Ripe Wit THere is something in earliness of Parts that pleaseth mightily whether it be the preciousness of time much whereof is saved by this means or the hopes it gives of growing apace towards an Excellency and Perfection or the security of a present improvement which future Aâ—cidents of Life cannot endanger Whatever 't is it delighteth and obligeth and allureth both Eye Admiration and Affection And I was the more willing to insert this Chapter and muster up these instances for a spur to Childhood and Youth to provoke tender years to a virtuous Emulation and to make dull Flegmatick Souls that are overtaken with the Noon-Sun before they have done any thing of any value Ashamed and Penitent 1. Salmasius interpreted Pindar very exactly in the 10th year of his Age. L. Ant. Clement de ejus Laud. Vitâ 2. Avicenna born at Bochara at 10 understood human Sciences and the Alchoran and went through all the Encyclopedia before 18 during which time he slept not one whole night and minded nothing but Reading In and difficulty he went to the Temple and Prayed Hottinger 3. Thomas Aquinas is reported when a Child to take his Book always to Bed with him Pontan Attic. Bellar. 4. Cardinal Bellarmine whilst at School Interpreted publickly Cicero's Oration pro Milone at 16 began to Preach and openly Read the Grounds of Divinity Author of the Education of Young Gentlemen 5. Torquato Tasso spoke plain at 6 months old at 3 years went to Schook at 7 he understood Latin and Greek and made Verses before 12 he finished his Course of Rhetorick Poetry Logick and Ethicks At 17 he received his Degrees in Philosophy Laws and Divinity and then printed his Rinaldo Idem 6. Cardinal du Perron Read over all the Almagest of Ptolomy in 13 days before he was 18 years old Ibid. 7. Augustus at 19 contrary to the Advice of his Friends put himself upon the Management of Affairs claimed his Fathers Inheritance and Succession of his Uncle Julius Ibid. 8. Cosmo Medici took upon him the Government of Florence at 17. Ibid. 9. Vesalius when a Child began to cut up Rats and Mice Ibid. 10. Mich. Angelo when a Child began to draw Figures Ibid. 11. Galen when a Child began to compose Medicines Ibid. 12. Joha P.c. Mirandula out-went his Teachers The 900 Conclusions which he proposed to Defend against all Opposers he being but 21 years of Age shew what he was and he never retired till his Death Ibid. 13. Jos Sealiger all the time he lived with his Father in his Youth ever day Declaimed and before 17 he made his Tragedy of Oedipus Ibid. 14. Grotius at 8 years old made Verses and performed his publick Exercises in Philosophy before 15 he put forth his Comment upon Martianus Capella at 16 he pleaded Causes and at 17 he put forth his Comment upon Aratus Idem See his Life 15. Lipsius writ his Books Variarum Lectionum at 18 years old Ingenium habuit Docile omnium capax praeter Musices Ibid. 16. Sir Philip Sidney saith Sir Foulk Grevill though I knew him from a Child yet I never knew him other than a Man with such staidness of Mind and early and familiar Gravity as carried Grace and Reverence above greater years Lanquet and William Prince of Orange kept a Correspondence with him when a Boy 17. Calvin Printed his Iustitutions before he was 25. 18. Tostatus learned all the Liberal Sciences without being Taught and writ in the 40 years he lived as much as most in that time can Read And yet at the same time he was Councellor to the King Refendary Major of Spain and Professor of Philosophy Divinity and Law in Salamanca 19. Chreighton the Scotch-man at 21. understood 12 Languages and had Read over all the Poets and Fathers disputed de omni Scibili and answered ex tempore in Verse 20. Monsieur Pascal observing the Sound of an Earthen Dish at Table enquired the Reason and presently after made a Treatise concerning Sounds about 11 years of Age At 12 he read and comprehended Euclid's Elements with great Facility without and Master At 16 he composed a Treatise of Conics At 19 he invented that Instrument of Arithmetick now in Print At 23 he added a great number of Experiments to those of Torricelli 21. Mr. J. Janeway of Hertfordshire born Anno 1633. at 11 years of Age took a great fancy to Arithmetick and the Hebrew Tongue Before he was 13 he read over Oughtred with understanding whilst a Scholar at Eaton he made an Almanack at 17 was chosen Fellow of King's Colledge Cambridge See his Life 22. King Edward VI. with his Sister Elizabeth in his tender years was committed to the Tuition of Dr. Cox and Sir John Cheek wherein he profited to Admiration having in a short time attained to speak most usual Languages as Greek Latin French Italian Spanish and Dutch and also to know many other Sciences that he seemed rather to be Born than Brought up to them Nor was he ignorant in Logick Natural Philosophy or Musick and as he wanted not Happiness of Wit Dexterity of Nature nor good Instructions so neither was he himself wanting in Diligence to receive their Instructions for in the midst of his Recreations he would always be sure to observe his hours for Study where he was serious and intent during that time and would then return to his Pastime again Bishop Cranmer observing his readiness in the Greek and Latin Tongues declared to Dr. Cox That he could never have thought that to have been in him if he had not seen it himself When he was not above 7 years of Age he wrote two Letters to his Godfather Archbishop Cranmer in Latin Thus Englished Most Reverend Father and my most Dear God-Father I Wish you all Health and Happiness having been a good while from you I should be glad to hear of your good Health however my Prayers are continually for you that you may live long and may go on to promote the Gospel of God Farewell Your Son in Christ Edward Prince Another Letter of King Edward's to Archbishop Cranmer written in Latin which is thus Englished Most Reverend God-Father ALthough I am but a Child yet I am not altogether insensible or unmindful of your great love and kindness towards me and of your daily care for promoting my Good and Benefit Your kind and loving Letters came not to my hands till the Eve of St. Peter and the reason that I did not answer them all this
while was not because I forgot or neglected them but that I might have the daily happiness of meditating upon them and might so imprint them in my Mind and Memory that I might afterwards answer them with all the Power and Skill I have I do therofore joyfully observe and honour that tender and fatherly Affection which you do therein express towards me and do beseech God that you may live many years and that you would still continue as my Godly Father to instruct me with your wholesome and godly Counsel and Advice for I desire to embrace Religion and Godliness above all other things for St. Paul saith That Godliness is profitable for all things I wish your Fatherhood many years of Health and happiness Your well-affected Son Edward Prince He had a particular Reverence for the Scriptures For he took it very ill when one about him laid a great Bible on the Floor to step upon for somewhat that was out of his reach He at 8 years old writ Latin Letters frequently to his Father King Henry VIII and to Queen Katherine Parre and his Uncle the Earl of Hartford c. Young Man's Calling p. 204. Dr. Burnet's Abridgment Hist Ref. Book 2. p. 2. 23. Queen Elizabeth writ a good hand before she was 4 years old and understood Italian for there are Letters extant written by her in that Language to Queen Jane when she was with Child in which she subscribed Daughter Ibid. 24. Zebertus Th. D. testifies That Delrius at 19 years of Age quoted 1100 divers Authors in divers Languages with very great Labour and Judgment in his Adversaria which he published for the Illustration of Seneca Drexel Aurif CHAP. XXIX Instances of An Extraordinary Memory WIsdom is the Daughter of Experience Memory the Repository of Experiences certainly then those have an Advantage by Nature above others who excel in this Faculty and 't is very strange that a little Cell or Apartment of Brain should be able to receive so many Ideas of Things and histories of Life without disorder and confusion as would be enough to fill a Volume of the largest Folio and yet such there are Persons of a good Commixture of Humours and a dry Brain that can carry in their Heads more than some can take in 1. Avicenna could repeat Aristotle's Metaphysicks without Book Zuin. Theat vol. 1. lib. 1. pag. 34. 2. Cineas the Ambassador of King Pyrrhus the very next day after he came to Rome both knew and also saluted by their Names all the Senate and the whole Order of the Gentlemen in Rome Solinus c. 7. p. 195. 3. Hortensius sitting at Rome in the Market-place for a whole day together recited in order all the things that were sold there their Price and the Names of the Buyers 4. Lucius Lucullus a great Captain and Philosopher was able to give a ready account of all Affairs at home and abroad Cicero Commends Hortensius's Memory for Words Lucullus's for Things Zuing. v. 1. l. 1. p. 34. c. 5. Carneades a Grecian is Celebrated for his singular Memory by Pliny l. 7. c. 24. So is Pertius Latro by Seneca and Zuinger c. 6. Antheny Walleus in 6 months learn'd by heart the whole Epitome of Pagnine Clarks Mar. of Eccles Hist 7. Antonius the Egyptian Eremite without knowledge of Letters had the whole Scriptures without Book Zuing. v. 1. l. 1. p. 33. Ex Aug. de Dectr Christ 8. Cardulus was able to write two Pages entire which any other man should read in due order or if they pleased repeat them backwards Ibid. p. 34. 9. J. Lipsius offered in the presence of a German Prince thus Set one here with a Poynard and if in repeating of Tacitus all over I shall miss but in one Word let him Stab me and I will freely open my Breast or Thorat for him to strike at Jani Nicii pina Coth 2. Imag. 1. pag. 2. 10. Pomp Gariglianus could repeat on occasion any Sentence of Plato Aristotle Hippocrates Galen Theinistius Tho. Aquinas c. Ibid. p. 69. 11. I could repeat saith Seneca 2000 Names in the same Order as they were spoken and when as my Masters Scholars above 200 in all brought each of them several Verses to him beginning at the last I could recite them orderly unto the first c. Senec. Controv. l. 1. Proaemio 12. Joseph Scaliger in 21 days committed all Homer to his Memory Wanley's Wonders l. 2. c. 2. 13. Mr. Humphry Burton of Coventry aged 83. Anno 1676. could give the sum of any Chapter in the New Testament and of the Chapters in divers Books of the Old Testament in a Latin Distich with great readiness Ibid. 14. Pontanus of Spoleto a Lawyer could recite not only the Titles but the entire Bodies of the Laws Hakew. Apol. l. 3. c. 6. Sect. 1. p. 226. 15. Fr. Suarez had St. Augustine ready by heart alledging every where as there was occasion fully and faithfully his Sentences and which is very strange his Words Strada prolus Acad. l. 1. Prolus 1. p. 7. 16. Dr. Raynold's excelled this way to the astonishment of all that were inwardly acquainted with him not only for St. Augustine's Works but also all Classical Authors Hakew. Apol. l. 3. c. 6. Sect. 1. p. 226. 17. Bishop Jewel was raised by Art and Industry to the highest pitch of human possibility for he could readily repeat any thing that he had Penn'd after once Reading And therefore usually at the Ringing of the Bell he began to commit his Sermons to Heart and kept what he had learn'd so firmly that he used to say That if he were to make a Speech premeditated before a thousand Auditors shouting or fighting all the while yet could he say whatsoever he had provided to speak Many barbarous and hard Names out of a Kalendar and 40 strange words Welsh Irish c. after once or twice Reading and short Meditation he could repeat both forwards and backwards without any hesitation Sir Fr. Bacon reading to him only the last Clauses of ten lines in Erasmus his Paraphrase in a confused and dismembred manner he after a small pause rehearsed all those broken parcels of Sentences the right way and the contrary without stumbling clark's Mirror c. 81. p. 356. 18. Murctus tells of a young Man of Corsica Student in the Civil Law at Padua who could repeat 36000 Latin Greek or barbarous Words significant or insignificant upon once hearing without any Hesitation in what order so ever a Person pleased Muretus saith he made trial of him several times and avers it to be true Murct Variar lect l. 3. c. 1. p. 54. c. 19. Francis King of France Jerome of Prague Longolius Matochites c. are mentioned as Persons of an excellent Memory by Zuinger As was also Dr. Fuller Ve ejus vitâ CHAP. XXX Instances of extraordinary Fatness c. EVery thing in the extremes in natural Bodies is an irregularity and distemper whether it be excess or defect a due
Fr Fowling Cardan adviseth thus Nux Vomica will stupifie Birds if you mingle it with their Meat I remember I took Crows in my Hand when I had powdered that Nut and mingled it with Flesh If small Birds eat Corn steeped in Wine-Lees and the Juice of Hemlock or Aqua-vitae or only in the Lees of stronger Wine or in the Decoction of white Helebore with an Ox-Gall this will astonish them Those Birds that Fly in Flocks to it are catched in Flocks as Partridges but Geese more than they but chiefly Ducks When you would make some Tame of the wild kind you must cut their wings and make a Trench about the Waters and feed them there with Plenty of pleasant Food For Ducks amongst other things that is the best which we call Sargum In the Night when the tame Ones cry the wild Ones will comethither to Meat For all Creatures agree in four things they all seek for Meat all seek for Pleasure all Fight and all are in Fear and here they understand one the other VVherefore in your Nets you shall sometimes catch a Thousand Ducks at once This may seem strange yet it is true and there is no bette way of Fowling you must chuse tame Ducks that are most like the wild Ducks in their Colour Cardan de Subtilit But this Art of Decoying is much Improved of late Years 2. There are other ways of Fowling which are well known in some places they use low Belling that is they go about in the Night with a Net in one hand to catch Birds in a Candle to draw the Birds towards the Light into the Net a Club to beat the Hedges and drive the Birds out and a little Bell which they ring continually to drown the noise of the Fowlers In other places they use a Stalking Horse especially for the killing of Woodcocks c. 3. For Fishing Sir Philip Harcourt in Oxfordshire hath so contrived his Fish-ponds that the Stews not only feed one another and may be served by letting the Water of the upper Ponds out into the lower but by a side Ditch cut along by them and places out of each may be any of them emptied without letting the Water into or giving the least disturbance to any of the rest Plot 's Nat. Hist. Oxford c. 9. p. 234. 4. Dr. Wilkins when Warden of Wadham College contrived an Engine for Fish of but few Gallons of Water 5. Cardan hath taught us an Ingenuous way to catch Fish thus Fishes are taken with Baits now the Baits must have four Properties they must smell well for this will make them come from remote places Such things are Anniseeds Juice of Panace and Cumin is best of them all They must tast well that they may the more desire them and they may be thereby deceived such are Blood especially Hogs Blood Cheese Bread principally of VVheat Butterflies the best are golden-coloured The Bait must Fume to the Head that it may make them drunk by its violent quality as Aqua-vitae Lees of VVine Last of all it must be Stupifactive to make them sensless Such are Marigold-Flowers that are to be had new every Month for this Herb whose Flowers are yellow cut in pieces will make great Fish astonished in one Hours time So is Lime for though it corrects VVater yet it kills Fish So is the Juice of all the Tithymals and both the Nux Vomica's called Nux Metelli or the sleeping Nut. But nothing is better than that Fruit which is brought from the East and is called Coculus Indicus It is a black Berry like unto a bay Berry but smaller and rounder Our Composition to take Fish is tried to be certain Take a quarter of an Ounce of Oriental Berries Cumin-seed and Aqua-vitae of each a sixth part of an Ounce Cheese one Ounce VVheat-meal 3 Ounces make little Pellats beating all together Cardan de Subtilitate 6. For Hunting it is distinguished according to the Animals we pursue or those we hunt with Those we pursue are Deer Hares Conies Foxes wild Bores Badgers Otters and sometimes Fowl Those Creatures we hunt with are Hounds Grey-Hounds Beagles and other Dogs trained up for particular Games In Sussex is much used the hunting of Moles Hawkes are used for the hunting of Fowl and Ferrets for Conies but what Improvements have been made in these Arts I leave the Curious to enquire CHAP. XIII Curiosities in Writing Cyphering c. THE Art of handling the Pen is much more Gentile and Liberal than that of handling the Spade and therefore no wounder if we find more strokes in Wit and Ingenuity in the one than in the other I intend not now to speak much of Brachygrphy tho an excellent late Invention of Contracting Words and Sentences into short Marks and Signatures nor the Art of writing well and giving Letters their due and decent Mathematical Proportions and Flourishes but of the Subtilty and Finenss of Delineation and Cyphering 1. There was one in Queen Elizabeth's time that wrote the Ten Commandments the Creed the Pater-Noster the Queen's Name and the Year of the Lord within the Compass of a Penny and gave a pair of Spectacles of such an artifical making that by the help thereof she did plainly and distinctly discern every Letter Dr. heylin 's Life of King Charles I. 2. One Francis Alumnius was so notable in the Mystery of Writing that he wrote the Apostle's Creed and the 14 first Verses of St. John's Gospel in the compass of a Penny and in full Words This he did in the presence of the Emperor Charles the V. and Pope Clement VII as is related by Genebrand in his Chronology and Simon Mayolus out of him who said he had the same Miracle at home in his keeping Hist Man Arts. Ch. 3. Pag. 34. 3. The Effigies of King William and Queen Mary with the Lord's Prayer the Creed and Ten Commandments the Magnificat the Prayer for the King and Queen the Prayer for the Royal Family the Prayer for the Clergy and People the Prayer of St. Chrysostom and the Blessing Engraven within a Circle two Inches and a half Diameter Engraven and Sold by John Sturt in Cranes-Court in the Old-Change near St. Pauls Price 2 d. 4. An Elegy on the Death of our most Gracious Soveraign lady Queen Mary engraven with so small a Circumference that it may be set in Rings or Lockets Engraven and Sold by and set in Rings or Lockets by Thomas Sturt 5. Mr. Mason the Author of a New Short-Hand is also very famous in writing many things in a little Compass 6. The written Picture of His Majesty King Charles the I. in St. John's-College Library taking up the whole Book of Psalms in the English Tongue and the written Picture of King James the I. and the Arms of England taking up the whole Book of Psalms in Latin in the Hands of Mr. Morehead Rector of Bucknel are pretty curiosities and much admired Dr. Plot 's Nat. Hist. Ox. p. 276. 7. The Polygraphy or
by his whole Army and afterward in process of time was confirmed in a miraculous manner He said moreover that in his sleep Christ appeared unto him with the former sign of the Cross And bid him make the like Figure to wear in his Banner Euseb in Vit. Constant l. 1. c. 22 23. See the next Chap. I dare not insist upon the Truth of that Relation that when this Emperour gave the Tithes to the Church a Voice was heard in the Air saying Nunc venenum infaesum est Ecclesia now Poison is poured into the Church though Hermannus Gigas Reports it for true Melleolus Relates it thus When Constantine gave to Pope Sylvester the Palace of the Laterane the City of Rome and Provinces of Italy a Hand was seen writing upon a Wall of the Laterane Hodie vacuum Ecclesia infusurus Centur. Magdeb cant 4. c. 13. 5. Voices Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery Esq In the Life of King Henry IV. of France writ by the Arch-bishop of Paris it is recorded That Charles IX who caused the Massacre was wont to hear Screaches like those of the Persons Massacred 6. St. Augustine heard a Voice saying Tolle lege He took up his Bible and dipt on Rom. 13.13 Not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness c. and Reformed his Manners upon it 7. One Mr. Smith a Practitioner of Physiek at Tamworth in Warwick-shire an understanding sober Person reading Hollinshead's Chronicle found a relation of a great Fight between Vortigern and Hengest about those Parts at a place call'd Colemore A little time after as he lay awake in his Bed he heard a Voice that said unto him You shall shortly see some of the Bones of those Men and Horses slain that you read of He was surprized at the Voice and ask'd in the Name of God who it was that spoke to him The Voice made answer That he should not trouble himself about that but what he told him should come to pass Shortly after as he went to see Colonel Archer whose Servants were digging for Marle he saw a great many Bones of Men and Horses and also Pot-sherds and upon a view it appeared to be according to the description in Hollingshead's Chronicle and it was the place where the Fight was but it is now called Blackmore This was about the Year 1685. and I had the account from my worthy Friend and old Acquaintance Tho. Mariett of Warwickshire Esq who is very well acquainted with Mr. Smith aforesaid 8. It was since the Restauration of King Charles II. that Martin Luther's Table Talk was Translated into English by but about half a Year before as he lay in his Bed awake he heard a Voice which did bid him Translate that Book but by reason of some Business he neglected it The Voice demanded Why he had not done it he replyed he had not leisure Said the Voice You shall have leisure enough shortly And shortly after he was Arrested and put in the Gate-house at Westminster where he remained many Months and there was the Translation finished See the Preface before the Book Thus far I 'm beholden to Mr. Aubrey's Collections 9. Philip Vp-John the Son of a Reverend Divine being about 11 Years of Age whilst he lived with Dr. Annesley in Spittle-yard in the Year 1686. being alone reading the Bible he thought he heard a Voice Bidding him prepare for Death for he should die in a short time Upon which this Boy being surprized he came down Stairs and acquainted the Family with it Two or three days after he heard this Voice he went to one Mr. Mallerye a Joyner who work'd to the Family and seeing him making a Coffin he told Mr. Mallerye he should die shortly and desired he would make for him such a Coffin as that was which passage Mr. Mallerye acquainted the Family with the same Day and though then in perfect health in a few days after fell sick of which sickness he died This remarkable Passage I received from a Person who was at Dr. Annesley's House when this hapned 10. Mrs. Elizabeth Dunton as she was walking through Moor-Fields to see her Reverend Father Dr. Annesley who then lay dangerously ill she fancied she heard a Voice saying to her You need not be so much concerned for your Father for as near as he is to death you shall go before him This made a great Impression upon her Mind and in a few Days after she fell Sick and her Recovery is much doubted This happened about the latter end of October 1696. CHAP. VI. The Discovery of things Secret or Future by Signs common Sounds and Voices THis Title is near a-kin to the fore-going and differs only in this that there an Articulate Voice and Express words were heard here only some Inarticulate sound of no natural signification or particular sence is requisite or some noise in General which can be supposed to import nothing move then the Presence and Agency of some Invisible being Of which it will not be necessary to give many Instances because of the Affinity this hath to several other Heads or Titles in this Book 1. A. D. 1630. A very Miraculous thing happened at Geismar in Hassia two Souldiers lying for safety in that Town one of them complained to the other who was in Bed with him that he was very cold the other Answer'd he could not believe it in regard that his own Body was very hot and wet intreating him to touch and feel his side which when he had done finding his hands exceeding wet and as it were glued and congealed together he suspected something extraordinary and looking on his hands by the light of the Moon he Judged them to be Bloody and endeavouring to wash off the Blood from his side presently more Blood issued out at length after the space of an hour it ceased of it self About three handfuls of Blond were taken out of the Sheets this with the Relation of other Circumstances they presented in the Morning to the Commander who enquired of him how he had felt himself that Night the Souldier Answered That he had been extream ill for some time but was afterwards restored to his former Health The two next years after this Prodigy this goodly Countrey of Hassia was miserably harassed by several Armies and the Inhabitants were Barbarously and Inhumanely treated by the Emperours Army and if the Prince or his Poor Subjects did at any time complain and Petition for Justice or Redress they were only scorned and rejected for their labours so that they were forced to endure Quarterings Taxations Burnings Robberies and Sacking of their Towns and Villages yea the Slaughter of Innumerable innocent Subjects of all sorts without being able to obtain any Pity or Compassion from their Enemies The same Year 1630 in May the Noremberg Carrier and several Passengers in their Journey towards Hamborough passing by the Town of Coburg at Night they observed with great Admiration a Prodigious fire going in
them plainly that as they came both into the Room she saw a Man with a Scarlet Cloak and a white Hat betwixt them giving the Lady a Kiss over the Shoulder and this was the Cause of her weeping All which came to pass after Macklend's Death the Tutor of Lovat marry'd the Lady in the same Habit the Woman saw him 33. One Instance I had from a Gentleman here of a Highland Gentleman of the Mackdonalds who having a Brother that came to visit him saw him coming in wanting a Head yet told not his Brother he saw any such thing but within 24 Hours thereafter his Brother was taken being a Murderer and his Head cut off and sent to Edinburgh Many such Instances might be given 34. Diembrooke in his Book de Pete gives us a Story of Dimmerus de Raet that being at Delft where the Plague then raged sent then his Wife Thirty Miles off And when the Doctor went to see the Gentleman of the House as soon as he came in the old Chair-woman that washed the Cloaths fell a weeping He asked her Why said she My Mistress is now dead I saw her Apparition but just now without a Head and that it was usual with her when a Friend of hers died to see their Apparitions in that manner tho' never so far off His Wife died at that time 35. Th. May in his History Lib. 8. writes That an old Man like an Hermit Second-sighted took his Leave of King James the First when he came into England He took little notice of Prince Henry but addressing himself to the Duke of York since King Charles I. fell a weeping to think what Misfortunes he should undergo and that he should be one of the miserablest unhappy Princes that ever was 36. A Scotch Noble Man sent for one of these Second-sighted Men out of the Highlands to give his Judgment of the then great Favourite George Villers Duke of Buckingham as soon as ever he saw him Pish said he he will come to nothing I see a dagger in his Breast and he was stabb'd in the Breast by Capt. Felton Thus far I am beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections 37. Before the Battle at Philippi began two Eagles sought in the Air between the two Armies Both the Armies stood still and beheld them and the Army was beaten that was under the vanquished Eagle See Appian's Hist Part 2. Lib. 4. Sect. 2. 38. 'T is commonly reported That before an Heir of the Cliftons of Clifton in Nottinghamshire dies that a Sturgeon is taken in the River Trent by that place 39. Thomas Fludd of Kent Esq told me That it is an old Observation which was pressed earnestly to King James I. that he should not remove the Queen of Scots Body from Northamptonshire where she was Beheaded and Interred For that it always bodes ill to the Family when Bodies are remov'd from their Graves For some of the Family will die shortly after as did Prince Henry and I think Queen Anne 40. A little before the Death of Oliver Protector a Whale came into the River Thomas and was taken at Greenwich Foot long T is said Oliver was troubled at it 41. When I was a Freshman at Oxford 1642. I was wont to go to Christ-Church to see King Charles I. at Supper where I once heard him say That as he was Hawking in Scotland he rode into the Quarry and found the Covey of Partridges falling upon the Hawk and I do remember this Expression farther viz. And I will swear upon the Book 't is true When I came to my Chamber I told this Story to my Tutor said he That Covey was London 42. The Day that the Long Parliament began 1641. the Scepter fell out of the Figure of King Charles in Wood in Sir Trenchard's Hall at Wullich in Dorset as they were at Dinner in the Parlour Justice Hunt then dined there 43. When the High Court of Justice was voted in the Parliament-House as Berken-head the Mace-bearer took up the Mace to carry it before the Speaker the top of the Mace fell off This was avowed to me by an Eye-witness then in the House 44. The Head of King Charles I.'s Staff did fall off at his Tryal that is commonly known 45. King Charles II. went by long Sea to Portsmouth or Plymouth or both an extraordinary Storm arose which carried him almost to France Sir Jonas Moor who was then with his Majesty gave me this Account and said that when they came to Portsmouth to refresh themselves they had not been there above half an Hour but the Weather was Calm and the Sun shone His Majesty put to Sea agian and in a little time they had the like Tempestuous Weather as before 46. The Gloucester-Frigot cast away at the Lemanere and most of the Men in it the Duke of York escaping in a Cockboat An. 1682. May the fifth on a Friday 47. When King James II. was Crown'd according to the antient Custom the Peers go to the Throne and kiss the King the Crown was almost kiss'd off his Head An Earl did set it upright And as he came from the Abbey to Westminster-Hall the Crown totter'd extreamly 48. Mr. Hill at Shellen in Herefordshire in 1648. after saying God bless our Gracious Soveraign he puts the Cup to his Lady to drink at which a Swallow flew in at the Window and pitch'd on the Brim of the Earthern Cup not half a Pint and sipt and so flew out again This was in the Presence of Parson Still Major Gwillim and two or three more that I knew very well The Cup is preserv'd here still as a Rarity See Mr. Aubrey 's Mscellanies for a larger Account 49. When King James II. was at Salisbury Anno 1688. the Iron Crown upon the Turret of the Councel-House was blown off 50. I did see Mr. Chr. Love beheaded on Tower-Hill in a delicate clear day About half an Hour after his Head was struck off the Clouds gathered blacker and blacker and such terrible Claps of Thunder came that I never heard greater 'T is reported that the like happened after the Execution of Alderman Cornish in Cheapside Octob. 23. 1685. 51. Anno 1643. as Major John Morgan of Wells was marching with the King's Army into the West fell sick of a Malignant Fever at Salisbury and was brought dangerously ill to my Father 's at Broad-Chalk where he was lodged secretly in a Garret there came a Sparrow to the Chamber-Window which peck'd the Lead of a certain Pannel only and only one side of the Lead of the Lozenge and made one small hole in it He continued this pecking and biting of the Lead during the whole time of his Sickness which was not less than a Month when the Major went away the Sparrow desisted and came thither no more 52. Sir Walter Long 's Widow of Dorset in Wilts did make a solemn Promise to him on his Death-bed that she would not marry after his Decease But not long after one Sir Fox
Qualities upon any but as Dispositions to Eternal Glory and a Token of special Love and everlasting Favour I shall therefore in the next place proceed to enquire after a few Remarkable Instances of this Nature and first of all of Faith that Grace that is so mightily commended under the Oeconomy of the New Testament 1. Luther was a Man of great Faith and Resolution as appears by these Passages in his Sermons Sir Devil I gear not thy Threatenings and Terrors for there is one whose Name is Jesus Christ in whom I believe He hath abolished the Law condemned Sin vanquished Death and destroyed Hell And again Good Mrs. Death Dost thou know this Man Christ Come and bite out his Tooth Hast thou forgotten how little thy Biting prevailed with him once Faith kills Reason that Beast and Monster that all the World cannot kill and Laughs at all the Iniquiry Rage and Fury of the World c. 2. Arch-Bishop Vsher though he fore-told in the time of his greatest Prosperity that he should die in Poverty yet made little Provision for the Storm and though his Losses in Ireland upon the turn of the Times were great and his Straits in England very considerable yet when two several Offers were made him from Foreign Nations the one from Cardinal Richlieu in relation to his great Learning with a promise of large Maintenance and Liberty to live where he listed in France among the Protestants the other from the States of Holland who proffered him the Place of Honorarius Professor at Leyden which had an ample Stipend belonging to it yet he refused both and chose rather to put himself upon Divine Providence in his own Countrey Clâ—rk in his Life 3. Mr. Heron on his Death-bed being minded of his young Children whom he had made but slender Provision for made this Answer which my Author saith was Censured for too light by some Persons That he did not fear but He that fed the young Ravens when they cried unto him would likewise take care of and provide for the young Herons Dr. Fuller in his Meditations 4. Mr. Lancaster being by Birth a good Gentleman and sometime Fellow in King's College in Cambridge he was but little of Stature but eminent as for other things especially for his living by Faith His Charge being great and his Means so small his Wife would many times come to him when she was to send her Maid to Banbury Market to buy Provision and tell him that she had no Money his usual Answer was Yet send your Maid and God will provide and though she had no Money yet she never returned empty for one or other that knew her to be Mr. Lancaster's Maid either by the way or in Banbury Town meeting her would give her Money which still supplied their present wants Mr. Clark in the Life of Dr. Harris 5. Mr. Edw. Lawrence formerly Minister of Basckarth in Shropshire but refusing to comply with the Act of Vniformity and thereupon being in danger of being turned out of his Living being ask'd How he would maintain his VVife and so many small Children as he had Made Answer I intend to live and maintain my Family upon the Fifth Chapter of Saint Matthew CHAP. XXVIII Remarkable Courage and Boldness FEar not thou them saith our Saviour that can destroy the Body and after that have nothing that they can do c. certainly a good Christian Courage in a good Cause and under the Conduct of an humble Prudence is the Gift of God and Blessing of Heaven and one of those Graces that bespeak the person endowed therewith to be somewhat more than common Man Our dear Saviour was taken notice of for one that Preach'd with Authority and the Apostles with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a liberty of Speech and boldness of Spirit which their Adversaries were not able to resist And sometimes we may pick up such Examples of boldness in succeeding Ages of the Church as these that follow 1. Ignatius being required to be present at the Gratulatory Sacrifices appointed by Trajan after the Parthian War which were to be offered in every City before Trajan's Face did justly and sharply reprove the Idolatry for which cause he was delivered to ten Soldiers to be carried to Rome Clark's Mar. of Eccl. Hist 2. Polycarp would not flie when in danger of Persecution and Martyrdom saying The will of the Lord be done and coming to the Searchers he communed with them very chearfully and commanded that the Table should be spread for them intreating them to eat and dine well requesting but one Hours space for his Prayers which was granted him Ibid. 3. Origen was in his early Years desirous of Martyrdom and would have thrusted himself into the Persecutors Hands had not his Mother in the Night time privily convey'd away his Cloathes on purpose to restrain him and when he could do no more he stoutly Exhorted his Father then â—â—â—â—rison by Letters that he would not alter his purpose of Suffering for his Son's sake Dr. Cave Prim. Christ Clark Marrow of Eccl. Hist. c. 4. Valentinian Jun. compassing the Church where Ambrose was in a great rage with a great number of Armed Souldiers commanded him to come forth but he nothing terrified answered That I will never willingly do neither will I betray the Sheepfold of my Sheep to the Wolves nor deliver up the Temple of God to the Authors of Blasphemy but if thou pleasest to kill me here 's my Breast peirce it as thou pleasest with Spear or Sword I am willing to embrace such a Death Upon which resolute Answer the Emperor with-drew ibid. 5. Luther's Courage and Boldness is well known when disswaded from going to Dispute at Worms for fear of his Enemies If I thought saith he there were danger of our Cause I would go tho' there were as many Devils in Worms as Tiles upon the Houses And another time to his Friends quaking for fear of future troubles Come saith he let 's sing the 46th Psalm and let all the Devils in Hell do their worst Pref. to his Sermons 6. John Frith to certain Messengers sent by the Arch-Bishop to bring him before him and they disswading Frith from stiffness in his Opinion about the Sacrament made answer I most heartily thank you for your Good-will and Councel whereby I see your Good-will to me yet my Cause and Conscience is such that in no wise I may or can without danger of Damnation start aside and fly from the Truth whereof I am convinced and which I have Published concerning the Lord's Supper so that if I be askt what my Judgment is about it I must needs declare my Judgment and Conscience therein as I have formerly written tho' I was sure to lose Twenty Lives if I had so many Clarks Eccl. Hist p. 158. 7. King Arthur to increase the Courage of his Soldiers Instituted the Order of Knights of the Round Table that he might reward the well deserving with Titles of Honour None
were admitted into this Order but such of the Nobility as were in all the number of 150. the chiefest of them being Sir Lancelot Sir Tristram Sir Lamrock Sir Grawine and others These were all Recorded for Knights of great Renown and had not King Arthur's Valour been most transcendent each of them might have passed fpr no less than a Worthy tho' they must fall short of the Deeds of King Arthur of whom it is written that in one Battle against the Saxons with his own Sword named Callibourn he slew 800 of them England's Worthies by William Winstanley p. 10. 8. Lucius Hiberius the Roman Legate demanded of him a Tribute for Britain which he not only deny'd but also threatned to have a Tribute from Rome as appeareth in his Letter sent unto the Senate where I find it thus written in an old Manuscript Vnderstand among you of Rome that I am King Arthur of Britain and freely it hold and shall hold and at Rome hastily will I be not to give you Truage but to have Truage of you For Constantine that was Hellen's Son and other of my Ancesters Conquered Rome and thereof were Emperors and that they had and held I shall have yours God's grace And accordingly he set forward against Lucius Hiberus who with great Power and vain Confidence came Marching against him where after a long and Bloody Fight the Romans were Discomfited their General killed and his slain Body sent to the Senate for the Tribute of Britain ibid 9. Mr. Broughton was exceedingly Courageous and Bold and free in inveighing against Popery Jesuitism among the Papists and Jesuits and also Judaism among the Jews As once more especially at the B. of Mentz's Table where also diverse Jesuits were present with whom he Discoursed so freely and sharply against the Papacy as Anti-Christian and against the Blindness and Wickedness of the Romanists that the Protestants who were present with him were afraid that would have endanger'd both himself and them At another time being in one of the Jews Synagogues at the time of their Servce where their publick Minister Read and Prayed in a strange and uncouth Tone one of the Jews as he came out said unto him Did not our Minister Sing like an Angel No saith he he Barked like a Dog and so called for a Dispute with him where they had long and much tugging 10. He was once Travelling here in England and being in his Inn a Royster in the Room next to him was Swearing horribly and at no measure in went he boldly to him and Who art thou saith he thou Wretch who darest thus to Blaspheme and Profane the Glorious Name of the great God And some other like words which he set on with so great an awe and boldness that the Roarer became calm and took his sharp reproofs especially when he came to understand who he was in very good part In his Life p. 4.7 11. It was the saying of one who suffered in Queen Mary's Regn. I was an honest poor Man's Daughter never brought up at the University as you have but I have driven the Plow before my Father many a time I thank God yet notwithstanding in defence of God's Truth and in the cause of my Master Christ by his Grace I will set my Foot against the Foot of any of you all in the maintenance of the same and if I had a Thousand Lives they should go for payment thereof Fox Matyrol 12. If I had a Hundred Bodies said Mr. Hawks I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces rather than Abjure or Recant ibid. 13. Mr. Rothwel called afterwards by the Devil in a posessed Person Bold Rothwel being recommended to the Lady Bowes for a fit Minister to be employed in the North in the Bishoprick of Durham after his first Days Labour there for Tryal being well liked of by the People and returning afterwards to the Lady Bowes he told her he would go she replied tho' for their sakes she was glad yet she was afraid to send him understanding that they were of a fierce Disposition and having never heard the Gospel might deal unkindly with him He answered Madam if I thought I should never meet the Devil there I would never come there he and I have been at odds in other places and I hope we shall not agree there See his Life by Mr. Clark p. 70. 14. King Charles the I. spending one Sunday in a serious debate of the Lord Strafford's Case in the Morning with the four Bishops of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle the Arch-Bishop of Armagh not being there but Preaching in the Church of Covent-Garden as he used to do was sent for by a particular Order from his Majesty The Bishop descended from the Pulpit and told the Messenger that he was then as himself saw employed in God's business which assâ—on as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his Pleasure See his Life by Mr. Clark p. 297. 15. In like manner Sir Thomas Moor sent answer to King Henry 8th when a Messenger came to call him from Mass as is elsewhere spoken of in this Book CHAP. XXIX Remarkable Patience THE Patience of Christian Confessors and Martyrs in the early Ages of the Church was a Potent Argument to persuade many of their Adversaries that they were bore up with somewhat more than the Principles of mere Philosophy or the stiffness of a depraved Nature and that the Christian Religion furnished them with a better Assurance and a clearer ground of Confidence in their Cause than was obvious to a common Age or to be found in any other System of Religion in the World and therefore it cannot be amiss to enquire what Examples of this kind we can meet with 1. Ignatius to the Church of Trallis exhorting them not to refuse Martyrdom useth these Expressions From Syria to Rome I had a Battle with Beasts as well by Sea as by Land Night and Day being bound by Ten cruel Leopards Soldiers which the more Benefits they receive at my hands became so much the worse to me but I being exercised and now well acquainted with their Injuries am taught every Day more and more to bear the Cross yet hereby am I not Justified Would to God I were once come to the Beasts prepared for me which I wish also to fall upon me with all their violence c. Vid. Dr. Cave's Prim. Christ Clark's Mar. of Eccl. Hist c. 2. S. Hierom Reports of Melania That her Husband lying dead by her she lost two of her Sons at the same time but she instead of bursting into a Passion fell down and said Lord I shall serve Thee more nimbly and readily by being eased of this weight which thou hast taken from me Dr. Cave's Prim. Christ 3. When Lucius one of the Primitive Martyrs for speaking in behalf of one of the Christians that he had very hard measure was Condemned forth-with he heartily thanked his Judge for it that by this
Life he recover'd his former Health and Beauty See Mr. Clark 's Lives of the Fathers p. 160. 9. Philip Melancthon was very sparing in his Diet In his Apparel he had Respect only to his Health and was well content with a small Stipend On a time Prince Maurice Elector of Saxony asked him if he wanted any thing for the Supply of his Necessities He said No. The Elector bad him ask what he would he answer'd That he had his Stipend with which he was well content The Elector wonder'd that he was so well pleased with so small Means Ibid. p. 571. 10. Dr. William Whitaker was always very Temperate in his Diet from his Childhood and afterwards he drank very little Wine and in the Summer time he mixed it with water He never overloaded his Stomach with Meat no not in the greatest Feasts but always used a sparing and moderate Diet. Ibid. p. 815. 11. Dr. Harris was exactly Temperate confining himself to hours for Diet Sleep c. He would often say That he would rather pour Liquor into his Boots than into his Mouth between Meals He was a strict observer of those Laws of Sobriety which St. Paul had Pressed upon Ministers and which himself in his Drunkards Cup had taught to others He used to Eat seasonably and sparingly which without question was one great means of preserving such vigourous Spirits to so great an Age. See his Life in Mr. Clark's 3 vol. of Lives 12. Bishop Joseph Hall saith thus of himself If I see a Dish to tempt my Palat I fear a Serpent in that Apple and would please my self in a wilful denial 13. Dr. Hopkins late Bishop of London-Derry in his Discourse of the Vanity of the World tells us That Epicurus himself the great Master and Servant of Pleasure who made it the highest Good and chiefest Happiness of Man set himself certain Days of Abstinence in course wherein he would but niggardly satisfie his Stomach well knowing that the pleasure of Gluttony could never be so much enhanc'd as an Interval of Hunger for that continues the same Author is a furnisht Table to him whose constant Meals overtake one another but only the heaping of Food upon Crudities and Indigestion What the Titles of Honour to a Person Born Noble They signifie no more to him than it doth to another Man when he hears himself called by his ordinary Name What is Respect and Honour to a Man long accustomed to it It brings him no great content when he hath it but torments him when he fails of it give these things to those that are unacquainted with them If you would have them valued Bring a poor Man to a Table of Delicates Invest an Ignoble Person with Honours and Dignities give Respect to a dispised Person and for the present you bless him but Time and Custom will wear of this Content and Tediousness even of such a Life as this will make them willing at least for their Divertisment and Recreation to retire to their homely Cells and Station For as it is with those that are accustomed to strong Perfumes they themselves cannot scent those Odours which to others that use them not are most Sweet and Fragrant So it fares with us in the long continuance of Worldy Engagements our Senses are so stuft and even Soffocated with them that we cannot perceive them and unless we purchase Pleasure by Alternate Sorrow they are but lost upon us Now how vain must the World needs be whose Comforts are not valuable while we have them but while we have them not And how vain are those Joyes for which we must pay down as much Grief as the Joyes themselves are worth So that upon Ballancing the Accompt there remains nothing to us And it had been altogether as good to have enjoyed nothing Thus far Bishop Hopkins 14. 'T is said of Martin Luther though he was big of Body and in very good Health that he would usually continue four Days together without Eating or Drinking any thing at all and that for many Days together he would content himself with a little Bread and one single Herring Melanchton in Vita Lutheri CHAP. XXXIII Remarkable Temperance in Drinks DRunkenness is a Vice not fit to be Named much less Practised among Christians nay we are forbid so much as to look upon the Wine when it is Red when it sparkles in the Cup or to rise early in the Morning to follow the Strong Drink and as to the Quantity these Sinners are marked with a Note of Infamy that drink Wine in Bowles When at the same time they are Incurious as commonly such Persons are about the Poverty and Afflictions of their Brethren And we have frequently in Sacred Scriptures the ill Effects of Intemperate Drinking intimated to us for which reason we find all along that the best Christians are generally the Soberest Persons 1. Pontanns writes that in his time there was a Woman who in all her Life time did never drink either Wine or Water and that being once enforced to drink Wine by Command of Ladislaus King of Naples she received much hurt thereby Marcel Donat. Hist Med. Mira. l. 6. c. 3. p. 306. But this seems a natural Infirmity rather than a Christian Virtue and the next hath some Affinity with it 2. A Noble Man of Piedmont being Sick of that kind of Dropsie which is called Ascites sent for Dr. Albertus Roscius who finding the Dropsie confirmed and the Patient averse from all kind of Remedies he said thus to him Noble Sir if you will be cured and perfectly freed of this mighty Swelling that is if you desire to live there is an absolute necessity that you Determine with your self to dye of that Thurst wherewith you are so Tormented if you will do this I hope to cure you in a short time The Noble Man at the hearing of this did so command himself that for a Month he refrained not only all kind of Drink but not so much as tasted of any thing that was liquid by which means he was restored to his former Health Fabi Obs Chirurg Cent. 4. Obs 41. p. 319. 3. Paul the Hermit St. Anthony St. Hierom Patroclus drank Water Alcibiades Martyr Water with Salt Amodeus the Spaniard Simeon of Antioch Sisinnius the Monk Serapion Nicolaus Torlentinas Maxentius the Abbot c. all drank Water 4. The Drink which Mr. John Eliot still used was very small he cared not for Wines or Drams and I believe he never once in all his Life knew what it was to feel so much as a noxious Fume in his Head from any of them Good clear Water was more precious as well as more usual with him than of those Liquors with which Men do so frequently spoil their own Healths while perhaps they drink those of other Men. When at a Stranger 's House in the Summer time he hath been entertained with a Glass which they told him was of Water and Wine he hath with a Complaisant Gravity
Princes he had brought home with him he answered That he had brought home incomparable Treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his Delights and presently after he made him Bishop and Superintendant over all his Churches in that Country with an ample Salary for the same Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 190. 9. Capito was very dear to the Elector of Mentz for his rare Wisdom joyned with Piety his Elocution and Mildness of Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February 7. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and his Posterity with the Ensigns of Nobility under the Imperial Seal Ibid. p. 192. The Fame of Capito being spread abroad Margaret Queen of Navar and SiSter to Francis King of France sent James Faber Stabulensis and Gerard Rufus privately to him and Bucer to be informed in their Principles of Religion Ibid. p. 192. 10. Spanhemius being chosen first of all Professor of Philosophy at Geneva and then Professor of Divinity and next Rector of the University at last the Bernates consulted about drawing him to Lausanna to succeed in the Place of James à Portu they of Groning endeavoured to get him to them and the Prince Elector Palatine sought also the same at last Leiden obtained him tho' with much difficulty the Magistrates and Church of Geneva much opposing it Yet the Curators of Leiden insisted so earnestly by their frequent Letters to which were added the Request of the King of Bohemia of the Illustrious States of Holland and West-Friesland and lastly of the States-General that with much ado at length they extorted rather than obtained his Dismission from Geneva But it 's worth observation what Means they used to retain him with what Grief and Sorrow they parted with him what a Confluence of People brought him forth of the City and with what Sighs and Tears they parted with him as if in losing him they had lost a principal Member of their Body He had almost as many Friends as Acquaintance especially of those that excelled in Learning in England Vsher Selden Prideaux Morton and Twisse in France Molinaeus Trouchinus Rivet Parissaeins Beaumontius Mestrezatius Drelincourtius Bonterovius Muratus Blondellus Ferrius Pelitus Croius Vincentius Bochartus almost all of them famous for their Writings in Germany Zuingerus Vlricus Buxtorfius Crocius c. yea out of Sweden the Queen herself the Miracle of her Sex did kindly Salute him by her Bishop and by her Letters did signifie how much she esteemed him and was delighted with his Works Salmasius was his dear Friend the Prince of Orange had a singular kindness for him and to the Queen of Bohemia he was most dear Ibid. p. 503. 11. Constantine the Great at the Council of Nice when it was first opened coming in with an humble Countenance and modest Aspect all the Bishops and Ministers rose up but he continued to stand a-while at the upper end of the Hall and would not sit down 'till he had given a Sign to the Bishops to sit down also He used to kiss the hollow of old Paphnutius's Eye which he had lost for the Cause of Christ in the former Persecutions and was so tender of the Honour of the Clergy that he used to say If he saw a Bishop committing Wickedness he would rather cast the Skirt of his Gown over it than by speaking of it dishonour his holy Calling Clark in Vit. Constantin Sparsim 12. Erasmus an Ingenious Learned and Good Man when he was scarce crept out of his Shell pronounced a Panegyrick of his own Composure before Philip Father to Charles the Fifth as he came out of Spain into Germany for which he honoured him with a yearly Pension during Life King Henry the Eighth of England wrote to him with his own Hand offered him a goodly House belike some dissolved Abbey worth 600 Florins yearly and besides gave him several Tastes rather than Surfeits of his Princely Bounty Francis the French King wrote likewise unto him offering him a Bishoprick and 1000 Florins per Annum to set up his rest in France Charles the Fifth offered him a Bishoprick in Sicily made him of his Council and besides many other Expressions of his Liberality bestowed upon him a yearly Pension of 200 Florins Ferdinand his Brother King of Hungary made him a tender of 400 Florins yearly with promise to make them up 500 to profess at Vienna Sigismund as much to come into Poland and further with a Royal and Liberal Hand supplied his present Necessities Mary Queen of Hungary wrote to him often and ever with her own Hand her Bounty without question equalled her exceeding Humanity Anne Princess Veriana gave him a yearly Pension of 100 Florins Frederick Duke of Saxony presented him with two Medals one of Gold the other of Silver George Duke of Saxony with divers Ingots of Gold dug out of his own Mines and a great Drinking-Bowl of the same William Duke of Gulick imitated him in the latter but outstript him in the Capacity Adrian the Sixth to whom he Consecrated Arnobius wrote to him thrice which Grand Respects from the Pope much abated the Fury of the Friars his Enemies He Congratulated the Papacy to Clement the Seventh who in requital sent him 500 Florins and by his Apostolical Letters invited him to Rome Paul the Third had brought him into the College of Cardinals but that he was prevented by Death in the Interim he sent him a Collation to the Praepositure of Daventry which he refused saying He was now near the end of his Journey and hoped to get thither without it William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury changed his Prebend into a Pension and scarce ever wrote to him but in Letters of Gold his last Token was a Gelding of whom he used to say That tho' he wanted Original Sin he was guilty of two Mortal Ones Sloth and Gluttony Cardinal Wolsey a stately Prelate yet wrote unto him Letters full of singular Humanity and besides other Remembrances bestowed on him a Pension out of a Prebend in York The Bishop of Lincoln and Rochester bountifully supplied him upon all occasions Hammond and Vrswick sent him a Brace of Geldings Polydore Virgil Money to buy a Third Cromwel the First out of his Sacrilegious Brokage at twice Thirty Angels Montjoy More Tonstal and Colet were his containual Supporters to say nothing of many others within this Kingdom Cardinal Matthaeus offered him a yearly Pension of 500 Duckets to live at Rome and sent him a Cup of beaten Gold He received another from Albert Arch-Bishop and Cardinal of Mentz of the same Metal but greater and more curiously graven with sundry Poetical Fancies Cardinal Gambegius amongst other Tokens sent him a Diamond Ring of no mean value Stanislaus Olmucensis a Silver Bowl double Gilt with Four Pieces of Gold the Coyn of Ancient Emperours The Bishop of Basil offered him for his Society half his Bishoprick which alluding to the Name he termed
over-looked by their Creator with more Contempt as being more Vile than their Neighbours Our Savioar gave a Check to this Humour when he vindicated the Blind Man in the Gospel and told his Auditory the Cause was neither his Sins nor his Parents 1. Martial who was a notable Scoffer makes a Mockery at Coelius in his Epigrams who counterfeiting to be Gouty anointed himself with Oils and other things wrapping and binding up his Joints because he would have nothing to do at the Court either by Night or by Day or attend as Courtiers do upon any Great Person But in the end his Fortune so fell out that he happened to have the Gout indeed Treasur of Anc. and Mod. Times 2. Appianus Alexandrinus reporteth also of another Roman who to escape the Proscriptions of the Roman Triumviri and not to be known for what he was by such as might take notice of him kept himself close and wore an Emplaster of Velvet upon one of his Eyes which he continued for a long time After all such Search and Pursuit was passed over the Man took off his Plaister and found the utter Loss of the Eye indeed Ibid. p. 272. 3. During those Troubles of the Union or League in France it chanced that near unto a Castle certain honest Men were set upon by Thieves and robb'd in such sort that they had nothing left them but their Shirts When they perceived the Castle they went presently thither and entreated the Lord thereof that he would lend them some Assistance for the Apprehension of the Thieves in regard that he had a certain Knowledge of them and was armed with such Authority as might at least help them to their Garments again But the uncharitable Gentleman would afford them no Favour no not so much as to see them but feign'd that he had the Cholick and was unable to stir out of his Bed or to attend upon any Business whatsoever It was then the coldest Season of the Year and the Servants albeit unknown to their Master lodged these despised poor Men for that Night in a Stable whence they departed homeward the next Morning without drawing the least Courtesie that could be from that ungenteel Gentleman Now I know not whether it happened by just Vengeance of Heaven or by some natural Occasion thereto leading but he fell into the Cholick indeed and was forced to keep his Chamber for the space of Twenty Days and at last died by the violent Extremity thereof Ibid. p. 273. 4. An Abbot of Guyenne and Archdeacon in a Bishoprick was cited by the Bishop and Chapter to appear at a Visitation for Assessing of each Benefice in the Diocess according to their Faculties for the Relief of poor Parishes from whence they derived Demesnes and Rents The Abbot made Excuse saying he had a Pleurisie which was meerly false and therefore he could not be there present But within few Days after he was taken with such a grievous Pain in his Side that he kept his Bed a whole Year together and was glad to have his Side cauterized in two Places Notwithstanding which he could not recover Health while he lived Ibid. c. 14. p. 273. 5. Suibdager King of Swecia being very Covetous counterscited Deafness to the end be might hear to Requests made to him for bestowing of any Gifts For in that Country he negotiated his whole Reign by Conference with the People and not by Writing or Petition as they do to this Day But in a short time the King became both Deaf and Blind indeed Ibid. 6. I knew a young Scholar descended of good Parentage in the Franche-Comtè who was a very facetious Scoffer and Mocker and continually used to counterfeit the Gate Gesture and Behaviour of his Sister the Wife of his elder Brother descended of a very Worthy and Vertuous Family and who had brought great Estates and Means for her Portion who was Lame and as she halted so in scorn he would do the like But undoubtly by God's Judgments he chanced to break one of his Legs which could never after be recovered or brought to any Form so that he halted downright to his Dying-day Ibid. CHAP. CIII Divine Judgments upon Atheism ATheism and the Effects of it are bidding an open Defiance to all the Powers of Heaven so that 't is no Wonder if the Almighty who resides there and governs here resents the Crime with a mere than ordinary Indignation The most Renowned for Professed Ungodliness saith Bishop Fotherby are these In Holy Writings King Pharach and Antiâ—â—hus the King of Tyre and the Two Herâ—ds in Ecclesiastical History Caligula Domitian Maximinus and Julian in Profane History Prâ—tagoras Diagoras Theodoras Socrates Epicurus Bion Pherecides and Dionysius Of all whom there was not one that cited in his Nest of a fair and kindly Death saving only this last whose Damnation yet slept not but all the rest of them ended their Lives by the Stroke of God's Justice 1. Julius Caesar suffered as an Atheist Dr. Tenison 2. There are a Sect of Atheists in Turkey sprung up of late Years called Muserin i. e. The True Secrâ—t is with us Which Secret is no other than the absolute Denial of a Deity that Nature or the Intrinsical Principle in every individual Thing directs the ordinary Course which we see and admire and that the Heavens Sun Moon and Stars have thence their Original and Motion and that Man himself riseth and fades like the Grass and Flower It is strange to consider what Quantities there are of Men that maintain this Principle in Constantinople most of which are Cadi's and Learned Men in the Arabian Legends and others are Renegado's from the Christian Faith who conscious of their Sin of Apostacy and therefore desirous all Things may conclude with this World are the more apt to entertain those Opinions which come nearest to their Wishes One of this Sect called Mahomet Effendi a Rich Man educated in the Knowledge of the Eastern Learning I remember was in my Time executed for impudently proclaiming his Blasphemies against the Being of a Deity making it in his ordinary Discourse an Argument against the Being of a God for that either there was none at all or else not so wise as the Doctors preached he was in suffering Him to live that was the greatest Enemy and Scorner of a Divine Essence that ever came into the World And it is observable saith my Author That this Man might notwithstanding his Accusation have saved his Life would he but have confessed his Error and promised for the future an Assent to the Principles of a better But he persisted still in his Blasphemies saying That tho' there were no Reward yet the Love of Truth obliged him to die a Martyr Mr. Ricaut's History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire Book II. c. 12. p. 246. A great Raja a Gentile a notorious Atheist glorying to profess That he knew no other God than the King nor believing nor fearing any other Deity fitting
Blessings but when by the King and Pope's leave he had dissolved Forty small Monasteries to Erect two Colleges the one in Oxford the other in Ipswich the King seizeth upon his Palace at Westminster takes the Great Seal Wealth and Liberty from him his College at Ipswich destroyed before it was built that at Oxford receives a new Name himself is arrested of High Treason and to prevent a Publick and Ignominious Death Poisons himself 10. The Cardinal in dissolving his Forty Monasteries had made use of five Men besides Cromwel whereof two fought a Duel in which one was slain and the other hanged for Murder a third drowns himself in a Well a fourth a Rich Man too lives to beg his Bread from door to door the fifth a Bishop was cruelly murdered in Ireland by Tho. Fitz-Garret Son to the Earl of Kildare Pope Clement the Seventh that gave consent to this Dissolution is forced out of his Palace besieged at his Castle constrained there to eat Asses Flesh and at last dies of a miserable Disease Cromwel Cardinal Woolsey's Servant and Successor whilst sitting at the Council-Table is suddenly Apprehended sent to the Tower and thence to the Place of Execution 11. King Henry the Eighth who engrossed Sacrilege and entailed it to Posterity is afflicted with the Rebellion of his Subjects in Suffolk Lincoln Somerset York-shire the North Ireland c. with a great Dearth falls from one sin to another in the case of his Wives the three last die Childless the Children of the two first are declared Illegitimate And though he entail'd the Crown upon his Children and they all successively wore it yet they all die Childless and his Family is extinct and not to be mentioned but with his Crimes 12. Charles Brandon was an Active Man and aiding to Henry the Eighth in the Dissolution of Monasteries and received great Rewards out of his Church-Spoils and though he had four Wives yet by the fifth of Edw. 6. the Name Title and Family of Brandon was extinct 13. The Duke of Norfolk had by the Statute of Hen. 8. c. 13. the Monastery of Sibaton in Suffolk and the Lord Cobham the Chantry of Cobham in Kent since which time my Author remarks how heavy the Hand of Justice hath fallen upon those two Families 14. The Duke of Somerset had in the First Year of Edward the Sixth procured the Dissolution of some Chantries Free-Chapels and Hospitals defaceth part of St. Paul's Church converts the Charnel-House and a Chapel by it into Dwelling-Houses destroys the Steeple and part of the Church of St. John's of Jerusalem and with the Stone begins to build his House in the Strand but the consecrated Stone becomes unsuccessful so as the Builder doth not finish his House nor his Son Inherit it Afterwards the Duke was Indicted of Felony found Guilty and suffered by a Law that was but the year before passed by himself Sir Hen. Spelman De non Temerand Eccl. Epist to the Reader p. 28-38 CHAP. CXVII Divine Judgments upon Treachery TReachery had ever an ill Name and not undeservedly for it discovers the falseness of a Man's Heart and represents him to the World as a Man to fit to be trusted For who dares lean with any confidence upon a broken Reed And accordingly though it meets often with fine Promises yet is often served in self as it serves others with poor and miserable Performances Every one is ready to retort upon the traitor in the words of the Emperor Aâ—no proditionem odi proditorem I love the Treachery but hate the Traitor 1. Sir Robert Carre afterwards Earl of Somerset a great Favourite of King James admitted Sir Thomas Overbury into his Favour and put him in Trust with his most Secret Employments in which he behaved himself so discreetly and honestly that afterwards when the Earl of Somerset falling in Love with the Lady Frances Howard late Wife of the Earl of Essex but then divorced or intended to be divorced consulted with Sir Thomas about it and Sir Thomas freely disswading him from the Match with words reflecting much on the Countess's Reputation and doing this upon a Principle of unfeigned Love the Earl with the Advice of the Countess resolved upon Revenge and contrived the murdering of Sir Thomas afterwards in the Tower but after a mighty Celebration of the Wedding the Murder was discovered the Instruments hanged the Earl and Countess both convicted their Estate seized only their Lives by the King's favour were reprieved Select Lives of England 's Worthies p. 286 287. Detect of the Court and State in the Four last Reigns p. 39 40 c. 2. Nicholas Keretschen Governour of Gyula in Transylvania betrayed the same unto the Turks for a great Sum of Money but when he expected the Reward he was by the Command of Solyman the Great Turk thrust into an Hogshead stuck full of Nails with the points inward with this Inscription upon it Here receive the Reward of thy Treason if thou beest not faithful to thy Master neither wilt thou be so to me And so he was rolled up and down till he died Turk Hist p. 824. 3. Banister Servant to the Duke of Buckingham in the Reign of Richard the Third upon the Promise of a Thousand Pounds basely betrayed his Lord and Master from whom he had formerly received great Favours but after this base Treachery he never had the Reward promised and beside had these Judgments befel him His Eldest Son fell Mad and so died in a Swine-stye His second Son became deformed in his Limbs and fell Lame His third Son was drowned in a small Puddle of Water His Eldest Daughter was suddenly struck with a Leprosie and himself in his Old Age was arraigned found guilty of Murther and escaped Hanging very narrowly Speed Chron. p. 97. 4. One Mr. Roscadden going on Pilgrimage according to the Blindness and Superstition of those Times his Wife had in his absence one if not more Children Whereupon at his return one John Tregoss advised and perswaded him to settle his Estate upon some Friend for the Use and Benefit of his Wife and Children lest after his Death the Heir at Common Law should turn his Wife and Children out of Doors Mr. Roscadden entertained and approved the Motion and entreated him to accept of the Trust which Request the said John Tregoss readily embraced But instead of a Deed in Trust he made it Absolute to himself and his Heirs for ever And accordingly so soon as Mr. Roscadden was dead he entred upon all his Lands and turned his Children out of Doors who for some time were fain to lie in a Hog-stye and every Morning went forth to the Dunghil and there upon their Knees imprecated and prayed that the Vengeance of God might fall upon this Tregoss and his Posterity for this so perfidious and merciless dealing And after this God's severe but righteous Judgments fell upon Tregss's Family For his Son Walter one day riding upon a Horse in a fair way
the King's Absence these Penalties were inflicted upon the chief Officer whose manifest Corruptions the Hatred of the People to Men of that Profession who are apt to abuse their Science and Authority procured in Parliament to be thus punished Sir Ralph Hengham Chief Justice of the King's-Bench was Fined 7000 Marks Sir John Loveton Justice of the Lower Bench 3000 Sir William Brompton Justice 6000 Sir Solomon Rochester 4000 All Itenerant Justices Sir Richard Boyland 4000 All Itenerant Justices Sir Tho. Sadington 2000 All Itenerant Justices Sir Walter Hopton 2000 All Itenerant Justices Sir W. Sakam 3000 Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls 1000 Roger Leicester 1000 Henry Bray Escheator and Judge for the Jews 1000 Sir Adam Stratton Chief Baron of the Exchequer was Fined 34000 Marks See the Relation of that memorable Parliament begun An. Regni 10. Richard II. p. 36 37. 2. Sir Francis Bacon Baron Verulam and Viscount St. Albans that Atlas of Learning suffer'd for but his Connivance at the Bribery and Corruption of his Servants and was by the Parliament put out of the Office of Lord Chancellor Ibid. 3. Judge Morgan who gave the Sentence of Death upon the Lady Jane Grey presently after fell and and in all his distracted Fits cried out continually Take away the Lady Jane Take away the Lady Jane from me and in this extream Distemper ended his Life Fox's Martyrol 4. June 24. 1678. Mr. Daniel Bachelor Minister told me of a Citizen of London to whom he was sent for in his Sickness whâ—n God had let loose Conscience upon him The Man repeated over all the Commandments and confessed the Sins be was guilty of against each Command such as Incest and Adultery lived in many Years The Chastity of his Servant he sollicited but was repulsed But his Master-Sin was Perjury taking false Oaths and hiring Met Knights of the Post as they are called frequently to do so The Devil led him into that Sin first as he said thus He wanted Proof for a Debt that was a just Debt and hired one of those who procured his Debt that was just in this unjust way By this he contracted Hardness of Heart and plunged himself in Villainies of that nature There were above an Hundred Actions against him when he died He fell sick on a Friday lay about ten Days under the horrid gnawings of the Worm that dieth not upon his Bed not in Distraction but Desperation crying out once in his presence I am damned for ever and added most fearful to hear Amen Amen Amen and had an Expression so blasphemous of the Holy and Ever-blessed God that for Horror I shall draw a Veil over it Yet some have Robb'd hard by the Gallows And this poor Wretch thus hung up in Chains by the Lord did not awaken sufficiently one of his Knights of the Post that came to see him while the Minister my Friend was present O take heed said he by my Example now I smart for what I have done and put you upon doing The Man in Health told him he was melancholick and was not moved He had a Charge to relate this woful Death of his to his Sister with whom he had been incestuously Wicked She gave a seemingly courteous Reception to him and seemed sensible of it The Minister my Friend when he had done his Errand coming down from her Chamber at the Door of which he had left his Galosho's missing them went up again and over-heard her say to a Companion of hers there The Fool thought I had been in earnest The Man though he had unjustly ravish'd Thousands out of Men died miserably poor This Relation was sent me by the Reverend Mr. Singleton now living in Hoxdon-Square near the City of London and is printed in the same Words I received it 5. It may not be altogether impertinent to take notice here what King Charles the I. applied to himself on the Scaffold that for one unjust Sentence which he had suffer'd to pass meaning the Earl of Strafford God had suffered the like unjust Judgment to be passed on him â—ee his Speech on the Scaffold 6. Sir P. P. in Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln saith That in the famous Marriage-Cause between Mrs. Isabella Jones and Sir Robert Carr in the Arches where Sir Robert Carr was claimed by her for her Husband though for want of full Proof of the Marriage Sir Giles Sweit the Dean of the Arches pronounced Sentence against the Marriage yet condemning Sir Robert Carr in 1500 Pound Costs to Mrs. Jones Which the Judge did because he was in Conscience convinced that Sir Robert Carr and Mrs. Jones were really married To this Sir Peter Pett in the aforesaid Letter adds I can saith he at any time acquaint you with the Circumstances of that Cause and give you an Account of the Remarkable Judgments of God inflicted on the Persons who tampered with the Witness in that Cause whereby the Marriage failed of Sentence Remains of Dr. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln p. 368. 7. The Emperor of Muscovy sent for a Judge who had taken a Bribe viz. a Goose with its Belly full of Gold commanded him and the other Judges to appear before him not discovering the least Displeasure They all appeared chearful he commanded the Hangman to be brought in and ask'd him if he knew how to cut up a Goose Answer being made very well Then said the Emperor take away that Judge and cut him up after the same manner which was forthwith done accordingly Smythy's Treatise of Restitution p. 19. who says he had the Relation from a Minister whose Brother was an Eye-witness CHAP. CXXXV Divine Judgments upon Lying and Slandering OVR Tongues are the Indexes of our Mind to signifie the Thoughts and Meanings thereof to the World if the one agree not to the other the Motions are false and the Wheels out of order What is a Clâ—â—k good for if it doth not tell the true Hour of the Day Lyars are shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven and deserve but little Favour upon Earth and some times meet with just Punishments Prov. 19.5 1. Alexander the Great having read a History out of Aristobulus wherein the Author had intermingled certain counterfeit Praises flung the Book into the River saying the said Writer deserved to be flung there himself Coguet's Polit. Disc p. 130. 2. The Emperor Trajan sirnamed the Good Prince took away from the Son of Cabalus the Kingdom of Dacia that is Transilvania and Valachia only because he caught him in a Lye and told him That Rome the Mother of Truth could not permit a Lyar to possess a Kingdom Ibid. 3. Cyrus told the King of Armenia That a Lye was not capable of Pardon Ibid. 4. Monstrelet writes That Popiel King of Poland who had ever in his Mouth these Words If it be not true I would the Rats might cat me that he was so assailed by Rats in a Banquet that neither his Guards nor Fire nor Water could preserve him from them Ibid.
in the performance of that Duty which like Jacob's Ladder tho' it stand upon the Earth yet it reaches up to Heaven Here 's the Love of God made manifest to a poor Sinner at the last hour like the Thief upon the Cross he that never new before what the Love of God was to his Soul finds it now filled with it and running over Now bless the Lord O my Soul yea all that is within me Bless his holy Name for this Dispensation Now Light appears out of Darkness in the Face of Jesus now all Worldly Joy and Comforts seem to me as they are things not hard to part with Father Mother Brothers Sister Wife Children House and Lands are as my dear Saviour saith to be parted with for him or we are not worthy of him I bless his Name I find no reluctancy to do it he hath brought me to his Foot-stool and I can say heartily the Will of the Lord be done in this matter I never before but saw a Beauty in Worldly Comforts but now those seem so faded by the greater Lustre and Beauty that I see in God in Christ Jesus that I am astonished where I have been wandring all my days spending my Time and my Money for that which is not Bread O strive to get a taste of this Love of God in Christ Jesus and it will perfectly wean you from this deceitful foolish World What is worldly Honour and Riches O set not your hearts upon them but get a Treasure in Heaven that your hearts may be there also O lose no time for if you ever knew the sweetness of it you would never be at rest till you found him whom your Soul loved it will be more yea infinitely more than all worldly Enjoyments can afford you tho' in their greatest Perfection it will make your Life sweet and your Death most comfortable It is the Bread which this World knoweth not of and therefore maketh little or no Enquiry after it Dearest Relations whilst you and my other dear Friends are like Aaron and Hur holding up the Hands of Moses I am through Grace getting Victory over the Amalekites I â—n embrace my dear and beloved Brother and Companion with more Joy in the Field of Suffering than ever I could have done had I met him crowned with the Lawrels of Victory Oh the Mercy to die with such a Friend and such a valiant Soldier of Jesus who hath kept his Garments clean I now begin to pity you that stay behind who have many Temptations to conflict with for a little yea a very little time and my Warfare will be accomplished and if God continue his Love and Influence upon my Soul it will be both short and sweet I have little of this World about me I leave you all the Legacy of what was ever dearest to me the best of Wives and five poor Children who must pass through an evil and sinful World but I have committed them to God who hath commanded to cast our Fatherless Children and Widows upon him Dear Parents Brothers Sister all adieu my time draws on my Paper is finished and your dying Child and Brother recommends you all to him who is All-sufficient to the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant who will make you Perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen RICHARD NELTHROP From the Palace of Newgate Octob. 30. 1685. Two of the Clock in the Morning Mr. Nelthrop's Last Speech THE great and inexpressible trouble and distraction I have been under since I came into Trouble especially since my close Confinement in Newgate hath so broken my Reason that for many Weeks last past till the day my Sentence was passed I have not had any composure of Mind and have been under the greatest trouble imaginable Since my dearest Wife hath had the Favour granted her of coming to me I am at present under great composedness of Mind through the Infinite Goodness of the Lord. As to what I stand Outlawed for and am now sentenced to die I can with comfort Appeal to the great God before whose Tribunal I am to appear that what I did was in the simplicity of my heart without seeking any private Advantage to my self but thinking it my Duty to hazard my Life for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and English Liberties which I thought invaded and both in great danger of being lost As to the Design of Assassinating the late King or his present Majesty it always was a thing highly against my Judgment and which I always detested and I was never in the least concerned in it neither in Purse nor Person nor ever knew of any Arms bought for that intent nor did I believe there was any such Design or ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair or Arms or Time or Place save what after the Discovery of the General Design Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him And as to my self I was in the North when the late King was at New-Market and the first News I had of the Fire was at Beverly in York-shire As to my coming over with the late Duke of Monmouth it was in prosecution of the same ends but the Lord in his Holy and Wise Providence hath been pleased to blast all our Undertakings tho' there seemed to be a very unanimous and zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas And as to the Duke of Monmouth's being declared King I was wholly Passive in it I never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair and should never have advised it but complained of it to Col. Holmes and Captain Patchet I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. F the chief Promoters of it As to the Temptation of being an Evidence and bringing either into trouble or danger of his Life the meanest Person upon the Account for which I suffer I always abhorred and detested the thoughts of it both when in and out of danger and advised some very strongly against it except when under my Distraction in Prison that amongst other Temptations did violently assault me but through the goodness of my dearest God and Father I was preserved from it and indeed was wholly incapable and could never receive the least shadow of comfort from it but thought Death more eligible and was some time afore out of my distracted and disquieted condition wholly free from it though not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of Men. I bless the Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his finding infinitely more comfort in Death than ever I could place in Life tho' in a condition that might seem honourable every hour seeing the Will of God in ordering
p. 101. 3. Luther had many made upon him as Roma Orbum domuit Romam sibi Papa subegit Viribus illa suis fraudibus iste suis Quanto isto major Lutherus major illâ Istum illamque uno qui domuit calamo I nunc Alciden memorato Graecia mendax Lutheri ad calamum ferrea clava nihil Theod. Beza Another Lutherus Decimum confregit strage Leonem De clava noli quaerere penna fuit Joh. Major 4. Zuinglius had this Zuinglius arderet gemino cum Sanctus amore Nempe Dei imprimis deinde suae Patriae Dicitur in solidum se devovisse duobus Nempe Deo imprimis deinde suae Patriae Quam benè persolvit simul istis vota Duobus Pro Patrià exanimis pro Pietate Cinis Theod. Beza 5. John Picus Mirandula who lived apace and did a great deal in a little time dying in the 32d Year of his Age had this Epitaph engraven upon his Tomb in St. Mary 's Church in Florence belonging to the Jacobine Friars Joannes jacet hic Mirandula caetera norunt Et Tagus Ganges forsan Antipodes Boisardus in Biblioth 6. John Brentius was buried with much Honour and had this Epitaph Voce Stylo Pietate Fide Candore probatus Joannes tali Brentius ore fuit In English With Voice Style Piety Faith and Candour grac'd In outward shape John Brentius was thus fac'd Full. Abel Rediv. p. 298. 7. John Knox had this Epitaph bestowed upon him in extempore Expression while his Corpse was putting in the Ground by the Earl of Murray Here lieth one who in his Life-time never feared the Death of any Man Ibid. p. 324. 8. Wigandus made his own Epitaph In Christo vixi morior vivoque Wigandus Do sordes morti caetera Christe tibi In English In Christ I lived and die and live again My Filth to Earth I give my Soul with Christ shall reign Ibid. p. 369. 9. Mr. John Fox hath this upon his Tomb in St. Giles 's Church without Cripplegate Christo S. S. Johanni Foxo Ecclesiae Anglicanae Martyrologo Fidelissimo Antiquitatis Historicae indagatori sagacissimo Evangelicae Veritatis Propugnatori acerrimo Thaumaturgo Admirabili qui Martyres Marianos tanquam Phoenices ex cineribus redivivos praestîtit Patri suo omni pietatis Officio imprimis colendo Samuel Foxus illius primogenitus hoc Monumentum posuit non sine lachrymis Obiit die 18 Mens Apr. A. D. 1587. jam Septuagenarius Vita vitae mortalis est spes vitae immortalis Ibid. p. 38â— 10. Bishop Andrews had this most excellent significant and speaking Epitaph Lector Si Christianus es siste Morae pretium erit Non nescire Te Qui vir hic situs sit Ejusdem tecum Catholicae Ecclesiae membrum Sub eadem foelicis Resurrectionis spe Eandem D. Jesu praestolans Epiphaniam Sacratissimus Antistes Lancelotus Andrews Londini oriundus educatus Cantabrigiae Aulae Pembrock Alumnorum Sociorum Praefectorum Unus nemini secundus Linguarum Artium Scientiarum Humanorum Divinorum Omnium Infinitus Thesaurus stupendum Oraculum Orthodoxae Christi Ecclesiae Dictis scriptis precibus exemplo Incomparabile Propugnaculum Reginae Elizabethae a Sacris D. Pauli London Residentiarius D. Petri Westmonast Decanus Episcopus Cicestrensis Eliensis Wintoniensis Regique Jacobo tum ab Eleemosynis Tum ab utriusque Regni Consiliis Decanus denique Sacelli Regii Idem ex Indefessà operà in studiis Summà sapientià in rebus Assiduà pietate in Deum Profuâ—â largitate in egenos Rarâ amenatate in suos Spectatâ probitate in omnes Aeternum admirandus Annorum pariter publicae famae satur Sed Bonorum passim omnium cum luctu denatus Celebs hinc migravit ad Aureolam caelestem Anno Regis Carolis Secundo Aetatis suae 71. Christi MDCXXVI Tantum est Lector Quod Te merentes Posteri Nunc volebant atque ut ex voto tuo valeas Dicto Sit Deo Gloria Mr. Issaacson in his Life 11. Dr. Reinolds had this Epitaph bestowed upon him by Dr. Spencer his Successour with an Inscription in Golden Letters Virtuti Sacrum Johanni Rainolde S. Theologiae D. Eruditione Pietate Integritate hujus Collegii Pres. qui obiit Maii 21. A. 1607. Aetatis suae 58. Johannes Spencer Auditor Successor Virtutum Sanctitatis admirator h. e. amoris ergô posuit Fuller Abel Rediviv p. 491. 12. Archbishop Parker had this engraven upon his Tomb in Lambeth Chapel composed by Dr. Haddon Matthew Parker lived sober and wise Learned by study and continual practice Loving True of Life uncontroll'd The Court did foster him both young and old Orderly he dealt the Right he did defend He lived to God to God he made his End Ibid. p. 530. 13. In the last Year of the Reign of King Henry he Second more than 600 Years after the time of his Death the Body of King Arthur was found in the Church-yard of Glastenbury betwixt two Pyramids therein standing He was laid no less than 16 foot deep in the Ground for fear as Hollinshead writes the Saxons should have found him and surely the searchers for his Body would have never digged so deep had they not at seven foot depth found a mighty broad Stone to which a Leaden Cross was fastened and in that side that lay downwards in barbarous Letters according to the rudeness of that Age this Inscription was written upon that side of the Lead that was towards the Stone Hic jacet sepultus inclytus Rex Arturius In insula Avalonia Here lieth King Arthur buried in the Isle of Avalodonia Nine foot deeper in the Trunk of a Tree was his Body found buried his Bones being of a marvellous bigness the space of his Forehead betwixt his two Eyes was a span broad and his Shin-bone being set in the Ground reached up to the middle Thigh of a very tall Man ten Wounds appeared in his Scull one whereof was very great and plain to be seen His Wife Queen Guinever lay buried likewise with him the Tresses of whose Hair the last of our Excrements that perish finely pleated and of coulour like the burnish'd Gold seemed whole and perfect until it was touched but then to shew what all Beauties are it immediately fell to dust Engl. Worthies by Will Winstanley p. 14. 14. The old Verses which were written on Geoffery Chaucer's Grave at first were these Galfridus Chaucer vates sama Poesis Maternae haec sacra sum tumulatus humo 15. Mr. Michael Drayton was buried Anno 1631. in Westminster Abby near the South Door by these two eminent Poets Geoffery Chaucer and Edmund Spencer with this Epitaph Do pious Marble let the Readers know What they and what their Children owe To Drayton's Name whose sacred Dust We recommend unto thy Trust Protect his Memory and preserve his Story Remain a lasting Monument of his Glory And thy Ruines shall disclaim To be the Treasurer of his Name His Name that cannot fade shall be An everlasting Monument to thee
this to be written upon his Tomb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was able to do all things Monstrous Ambition Mr. Baker 's Flores 79. Similius being buried in the Cares of the Court and living rather for his Emperor's sake than for his own caused this Inscription to be put upon his Tomb. Here lies Similius an Old Man of Seven Years of Age. 80. Adrian appointed this to be his Epitaph Adrianus Sixtus hic situs est qui nihil sibi infoelicius in vitâ duxit quam quod regnaverat Here lies Adrianus Sixtus who never thought any thing so unhappy to him in his Life as his Reigning Mr. Barker 's Flores 81. I have read of the People called Sicyonians that they would have no Epitaph written upon the Tombs of their Kings but only their Names that they might have no Honour but what did result from their Merits Mr. Barker 's Flores 82. Earl Morton put this Epitaph upon John Knox his Tomb. Here lieth the Body of that Man who in his life-time never feared the Face of any Man Mr. Barker's Flores 83. Semiramis ordered this to be written upon her Tomb. If any King stand in need of Money let him break open this Monument Hereupon Darius ransack'd the Tomb and found within another Writing Hadst thou not been unsatiably Covetous thou wouldst never have invaded thus the Monument of the Dead And so went away ashamed Mr. Barker 's Flores 84. On Sardanapalus's Tomb by his own appointment was written So much I had as I eat and drank Chetwind 's Hist Collections 85. A Monk bestows this Epitaph on Wickliff The Devil's Instrument Churches Enemy Peoples Confusion Hereticks Idol Hypocrites Mirror Schismes Broacher Hatred's Sower Lyes Forger Flattery 's Sink who at his Death despaired like Cain and stricken by the horrible Judgment of God breathed forth his wicked Soul to the dark Mansions of the black Devil-Whereby God's Children may learn not to regard while they live the Malice nor to expect after their Death ought else but the slanderous rancour of the wicked Speed's Hist p. 622. 86. One John Child a Gentleman Hunting in the depth of Winter in Dartmore Forest in Devonshire lost both his Company and his Way in a bitter Snow and to preserve himself from perishing with extream Cold he killed his Horse and crept into his Bowels for warmth and wrote the following Verses with the Blood He that finds and brings me to my Tomb The Land of Plinistock shall be his doom That Night he was frozen to Death and being soon after found by some Monks of Tavestock Abbey the Abbot of Tavestock having caused him to be decently buried got that Rich Manor See a Book called Mankind displayed Some Remarkable Epitaphs now to be found in Westminster Abbey Stepney Churchyard and the New Burying-Place in Bunhill-Fields the last of which was inclosed with a Brick-Wall at the sole Charge of the City of London in the Mayoralty of Sir John Lawrence Knight Anno Dom. 1665. And afterwards the Gates thereof were built and finished in the Mayoralty of Sir Thomas Bloudworth Anno Dom. 1666. Here lies waiting for the Resurrection of the Just Mary late Wife of John Merrion who died Nov. 25th 1693. in the 26th Year of her Age. From my sad Cradle to my Sable Chest I found few Days of Joy or Months of Rest My Race was short yet tedious ending soon For suddenly my Sun did set at Noon I groan'd for Rest and fell asleep at Even So when I wak'd behold I was in Heaven Weep not dear Husband do not weep no more Because I am not lost but sent before Here lieth the Body of Mrs. Dorcas Bentley the Faithful tender Wife of Johathan Bentley Citizen and Watch-maker of London who lived much desired and died much lamented Aug. 3. 1693. My Dear Thy zealous care to serve thy God And constant Love to Husband dear Thy harmless Heart to every one Remains still tho' thy Corps lie here J. B. Mary Morris died Novemb. 13th Aged Three Quarters of a Year and Nine Days 1695. If I cou'd ever write a lasting Verse It shou'd be laid Dear Saint upon thy Herse Ah beauteous Blossom too untimely dead Whither Oh whither is thy sweetness fled Where are the Charms that always did arise From the prevailing Language of thy Eyes Here lies Interred the Body of Mr. Edward Bagshaw Minister of the Gospel who received from God Faith to embrace it Courage to defend it And Patience to suffer for it When by the most despised and by many persecuted esteeming the Advantage of Birth Education and Learning all Emiaâ—â—t in him as things of worth to be accounted loss for the Knowledge of Christ from the Reproaches of pretended Friends and Prosecutions of professed Adversaries he took Sanctuary by the Will of God in Eternal Rest 28th of December 1671. Here also lies the Body of Mrs. Margaret Wife of Mr. Edward Bagshaw who departed this Life 20th of February 1692. Here the Wicked cease from troubling and here the weary be at rest Here the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the Oppressor Upon a Stone adjoyning to Stepney Church is writ Of Carthage great I was a stone Oh Mortals read with pity Time levels all and spareth none Man Mountain Town nor City Therefore Oh Mortals all bethink You whereunto you must Since now such stately Buildings lie Buried in the Dust An Odd Epitaph on Will. Wheatly Whoever treadeth on this stone Pray now tread most neatly For underneath this stone here lies Your honest Friend Will. Wheatly Here lieth Interred the Body of Mary Wife of Captain Malachy Simons Mariner who departed this Life the 29th of June Anno Dom. 1677. Aged 50. Rest thou whose Rest gives me a restless Life Because I 've lost a kind and vertuous Wife I 'll visit thee and when I leave this Light Come spend my time in the same Cell at Night Till then farewel farewel I cannot take A final leave until thy Ashes wake Here lieth Interred the Body of Dame Rebecca Berry the Wife of Thomas Elton of Stratford Bow Gent. who departed this Life April 26. 1696. Aged 52. Come Ladies ye that wou'd appear Like Angels fair come dress ye here Come dress you at this Marble stone And make that humble Grace your own Which once adorn'd as fair a Mind As ere yet lodg'd in Womankind So she was dress'd whose humble Life Was free from Pride was free from Strife Free from all envious Brawls and Jars Of Humane Life the Civil Wars These ne'er disturb'd her Peaceful Mind Which still was gentle still was kind Her very looks her garb her meen Disclos'd the humble Soul within Trace her through every Scene of Life View her as Widow Virgin Wife Still the same humble she appears The same in Youth the same in Years The same in low in high estate Ne'er vex'd with this ne'er mov'd with that Go Ladies now and if you 'd be As fair as great as good as
Man living from those Opinions concerning Religion wherewith she was so throughly seasoned Nor would he be the occasion that any one should attempt to Discourse her any more upon that occasion unless he intended to lose his Labour And this was what he also wrote to K. James In this Conference with the English Agent the most prudent Princess added thus much farther That she could not sufficiently admire nor indeed imagine how it should come to pass that any Man not void of Reason or Sence or that had a right Judgment of God and Divine Matters or had comprehended in his Mind the true manner of Worshipping him could prove a Deserter and run from our Religion to the Ceremonies of Rome When the Agent replied That her Father the King of Great Britain was a living Example of a better Approbation of the Romish Worship She made answer That there was nothing griev'd her more and the only thing she wonder'd at by whose Seduction upon what Occasion by what Arguments he could be induced to betray the Bulwark of purest Truth and having left that upon what Supporters the Security and Tranquility of his Mind could rely These things the most wise and prudent Mary Not long after when there was no question but the King James had been certified of all these things by his Agent 's Letters the Father sends a long and weighty Epistle to his Daughter wherein he set forth at large the Occasion the Reasons and Methods he had followed in abandoning our Worship and embracing the Opinions of Rome This Letter from King James was delivered to Mary upon Tuesday in the Evening the Messengers who brought it being to return into England the next Day Wherefore when she had read it over and over again with extraordinary attention and studiously considered every thing she set herself to return an Answer wherein she spent the greatest part of the Night and thô frequently put in mind that it was time to go to Bed and that it behov'd her to take care of her Health which would be much disorder'd by watching the most prudent Queen made answer That the Duty of Answering the King's Letters was to be preferr'd before Sleep lest she should be straitned in time the next Day and thereby be hindred from performing what she ow'd to her Father That therefore she made the more haste lest if the Messenger should slip away without her Answer it might be suspected that she had made use of help and got some Divine to write her Letters for her which if her Father should believe they would want that weight and effect which by the Favour of God she promised herself from dispatching 'em with all speed she could The King 's chief Argument was taken from the Antiquity and the long and immovable Endurance of the Roman Church establish'd and founded upon the Promises of Christ Thou art Peter c. To which were added other Places Arguments and Testimonies heaped together to corroborate that Opinion All which the most ingenious Princess answered and refuted in so short a time and with so much Politeness and Judgment that an eminent Divine and some few other Persons conspicuous for their Quality and Integrity who afterwards were permitted to see a Copy of that Epistle ravish'd into admiration asserted that they could never have perswaded themselves that such a Letter so full of grave and efficacious Arguments could have been written by any Man much less by a Woman unless by one who had devoted his whole Life to the Study of the Scriptures and true Divinity Grevius 's Oration on the Queen at Utrecht 57. Such was also the Sanctity of Mary's Life that King William after her Decease calling to mind her Piety toward God the Integrity of her Life and here extraordinary Knowledge of Sacred Things brake forth into this Expression That if he could believe that ever any mortal Man could be born without the Contamination of Sin he would believe it of the Queen And she preserv'd herself so chast and spotless that while she resided upon Earth she liv'd the Life of the Saints even in the hurry of the Court Ibid. 58. When the News was sent from England That Mary the Eldest Daughter of King James was by Decree of Parliament to be the next Day proclaim'd Queen of England the Messenger was to pass through the Hague and to impart the News in the Resident's Name to a Person of high Authority and no less high both in William and Mary's Esteem He immiedately hastens to the Court and informs Mary of this Vote of the House and congratulates her Advancement to the Royal Dignity She according to her wonted Good Nature mildly indeed but with a less familiar Countenance and a more contracted Brow made answer That she neither hop'd those Things to be true which he related neither did she believe that William would accept the Kingdom as a Substitute to Female Authority or as one that was to be beholden to a Woman for a Crown Ibid. 59. When it was admir'd that Mary should be so implacable to deny her Pardon to one that had done nothing against her nor had injur'd her either in Word or Deed when William justly offended had pardon'd the Delinquent she order'd this Answer to be made That had the Crime been committed against her she would not have been either severe or inexorable but that she could not forget an Attempt against her Husband nor grant her Pardon so easily to him who had so highly offended William Who can sufficiently extol this Conjugal Fidelity this unusual Affection of a Queen toward a Husband For my part I am not able to admire it as I ought to do Nor was the Queen belov'd with less Affection by the King that the King was belov'd by her there was no need of falling out to renew their Love but such was the harmonious Agreement of their Minds and Counsels from the first Day of their auspicious Marriage that their Wills were still the same whatever pleas'd whatever dislik'd the one always dislik'd still pleas'd the other such an Agreement of Opinion in all Things both private and publick that thô in Persons divided by long Intervals of distant Leagues yet by an unaccountable Sympathy they were always of one Mind in all Affairs most difficult and of dubious Event which would have puzled the most acute and experienc'd Politicians So that they might be said to be born under one Constellation or rather that one Soul resided in two Bodies And that you may not think I speak a Fiction behold an Example of a real Harmony of Minds almost beyond belief When the King sent word That Forty of the Men of Wwar with the Admiral should steer away toward the Coast of France with the Design That if they found an Opportunity they should burn all the Enemies Transport-Ships Before the Yachts and the Messenger who was sent with the King 's Expresses arriv'd in England the Queen's Letters were brought
to abstain till the Evening yet was he a Person of great Liberalit to others Drex Oper. Tom. â— p. 796. 3. Theophrastus tells of one Philinus who in the whole course of his Life never made use of any manner of Drink or Food except Milk only Celi Rhod. l. 11. c. 13. p. 500. 4. Pontanus writes of a Woman who in all her Life time did never Drink either Wine or Water and being once inforced to Drink Wine by the Command of Ladislaus King of Naples she received much hurt thereby Bow Hist Med. Mir. l. 6. c. 3. p. 306. 5. There was one in Naples of the Family of Fernacelli that never Drank c. Rhod. l. 13 p. 309. CHAP. XX. Immoderate Drinkers 'T IS strange to observe how a Continuation of Acts begets a Habit and that Habit by Custom becomes so fixt and inâ—eterate that Nature it self seems at length to Challenge it as her own for which Reason the Wise Solomon forbids us to look upon Wine when it is Red when it sparkles in the Cup and Moralists to give the least Countenance to the first Principles and beginnings of any Vice for 't is much easier to Prohibit the first entrance of a fore-seen Disease and shut the Door against a Rude Guest then to Cure the Disease when it hath seized us or restrain the Exorbitant Humours of an Ill Guest when he is entred 1. In that Publick drinking before Alexander one Promachus drank 4 Congii that is 40 pound we Read the same of Protcus of Macedonia in Athanaeus Nov. Torquatus of Milan drank 30 Pints at one Draught Tiberius the Emperor stood by to see the Wonder Pliny says that he never failed of his Speech nor did he Vomit nor did he Sleep he drank most at one Draught and drank many more little ones Bonaesus as Spartianus says drank more then any Man Aurelianus said of him he was not born to live but to drink Yet he Honoured him for military Affairs He drank with barbarous Ambassadours to make them drunk and so would know their Secrets he drank what he pleased and was always Sober A certain Man drank 6 Gallons at a Nobleman's Marriage in the days of Lipsius Jobnst Clas 10. p. 312. 2. Maximinus often drank in one day an Amphora of the Capitol which is 9 Gallons our measure Capitolin p. 602. 3. Lipsius tells of one at a Noble Bavarian's Wedding that to exhilarate the Guests drank little less then 6 Congies in a short space that is 60 pound Lips Epist Misc Ep. 51. p. 456. 4. The Son of Marcus Tullius Cicero would ordinarily fetch off the quantity of two Congies at once that is to say 2 Gallons and a Quart Din. Mem. l. 6. p. 448. 5. Bartholinus tells of one Pâ—â—â—us of Malta who from place to place made Tryal of his Artifice he having drank 20 or 30 Cups of Water at the pleasure of the Spectators he would suddenly restore them all by Vomit and Water running out of a Fountain he would orderly fill up the Cuâ—s as he drank them off at other times he would suddenly spout out the whole quantity at the distance of 20 Foot or more besides if the Company desired it he would not only restore the clear Water but so as that it should be of different both Colour and Taste one while Rose-water another Spirit of Wine Sack Claret White wine c. and thus he filled several Cups with several sorts of drinks at the same time He confessed that he could do this with the most ease when he was Pasting and his Stomach empty for if soon after Dinner he was called by great Persons to see this Tâ—yal he used to Vomit up his Meat before his Ventricle would be rightly disposed for the Reception of such a quantity of Water when he was to discharge himself of the Liquor he had drunk up he performed it only with the pressure of his Hand on his Stomach or Breast that he might not be suspected of Magick and to obtain Licence of shew his Art Publickly he revealed his Secret to Pope Vrban VIII at Rome to Cardinal Richelieu at Paris and to the Prince of Orange at the Hague when some suspected that the Glasses gave the several Colours he caused them first to be clearly washed with Water and to shew he had no such Fraud he not only received Glasses at the Hand of the Spectators themselves but also offered his several Vomits as well to the Taste as to the Eye of any that desired to make the Experiment Barâ—h Hist Anat. Cent. 1. Hist 39. p. 54 55. 6. And Aelian tells of a Woman too much addicted to this desire of drinking to her Eternal Infamy that not only she used to contend with her own Sex in drinking but also used to provoke Men thereunto with such success in her Bestiality that she was known to be able to drink and bear away a greater quantity of drink then any Man she could meet with Ael var. His l. 2. c. 41 p. 82. CHAP. XXI Great Fasters MR. Reynold's well observes that the long Finger of Powerful Providence is to be observed in these wonderful Effects and Doctor Willis that the Parent of Nature orders Natural Principles as to their Quantity Mixture and Operations and 't is as evident when higher Causes put asunder what Nature hath joyned together very astonishing results appear upon the Stage of Humane Nature Now to supply the Defect of Aliment it is observable that at such Times and Cases aâ— these are the Expences of the â—â—crocosm by Stool Vrine Spittle Menses and it may be Transpiration are in great measure Retrench'dâ— the Igneous Parts of the Body restrained from Excursion and a fresh supply made by the continual entrance of Breach and Air together with Pituitous Humours and a Viscous Oyl produced by a Colliquation of the Emaciated Parts but I leave it to my Reader to judge of 1. In St. Austin's days one lived 40 days without eating any thing another in the time of Olimpiodorus the Platonish for so long as he lived he neither slept nor fed but only stood in the Sun to refresh himself The Daughter of the Emperor Cloturius fasted eleven years Petrus Aponus saw one fasted 18 years Rondeletius saw one fasted 10 and afterwards became a fruitful Mother Hermolus knew a Priest who lived in Health 40 years without any thing but by sucking in the Air. One Nicholaus Helvetius Anno 1640. after that he had 5 Children by his Wife lived a solitary life and neither eat nor drank in 15 years he predicted several things that came to pass and by his austere Life made the belief of his fasting unquestionable Certain it is that the Bishop of Constantia in whose Diocess he lived went to him on purpose to see him and after diligent Observation confirmed the Truth of his Report by his Letters and for the greater certainty compel'd him to taste some food thô very little which caused him to have extream Pain in
Gryllus Acheta the Cricket It is a Winged Insect like a Locust or Grashopper lives in Chimneys and warm Places and sings almost continually 18. â—â—mica Murmos the Pismire or Ant. It is a small but wise Creature gathering its Food in Summer in the Full Moons and resting in the New Moons They are like a Commonwealth and gather Corn which they dry and bite at both Ends that they may not grow they wear away Stones by their Assiduity and make beaten Road-ways they help one another in drawing their Burthens dam out Water and bury their Dead The Greater lead the way and the Lesser drag the Corn and when dirty they cleanse themselves before they enter into their Habitations They teach their Young to labour but expel the Idle and when they carry their Grain it is said to be a sign of foul Weather They cast up the Earth over the Mouths of the Caves that the Water may not enter in wherein they have three Cells in the first they live in the second they breed and bury and in the third they keep their Corn. They generate in Winter bring forth Eggs which in Spring are Ants when old they grow Winged and then suddenly after die Salmon's Disp l. 2. p. 260. 19. Hirudo Sanguisuga the Horse-Leach The Great are best with a Line on their Back They are used to draw Blood with but they ought fisrt to be cleansed of purged with clean Water and then applied to the Part it being first rubbed with Sal Nitre Blood Milk Clay or Honey then apply them To remove them cast upon their Mouth Salt Ashes Aloes Vinegar c. and they will fall off In the River of Mauretania they are said to be seven Cubits long 20. Julus Centumpeda the Gally-Worm They are a short kind of Scolopendra's exceeding in number of Feet all other Insects 21. Locusta It was formerly used as a Food in the Eastern Countries and John Baptist fed upon them It is an Insect which has a Head like a Horse six Legs and Wings being of divers Colours Anno 852 they wasted France 20 Miles in one Day going in Troops the Leaders with a few more went before to take up Quarters the next Day at the same Hour they all arrived In the Sixth Year of the Emperour Argyropolus they drove the Inhabitants of certain Provinces of the East to such Necessity that they sold their Children and passed into Thrace next Year they returned again and having spoiled the Provinces three Years perished at Pergamos In some Places the Magistrate appoints them to be killed thrice a Year and he that refuseth is punished Johnston's Nat. Hist p. 254. 22. Musca the Fry 23. Papilio Compilo Avicula Isiodori the Butterfly They generate in May June and July and lay Eggs. 24. Pediculus the Louse breeds first in the Skin of the Head and abounds in Hectick Feavers not so in Putrid Feavers It leaves those that are dead Eating of Figs is said to produce them but 't is certain it breeds Warts on the Skin Johnston 25. Pulex the Flea they are generated by Dust as also of putrified Sweat The only Remedy to destroy them is the Pulp or Decoction of Coloquintida Salmon Some say Silk-Yarn put into the Bed will gather them together into it 26. Ricinus Redivivus the Tike is a filthy Creature or kind of Louse that troubles Oxen Goats Sheep Dogs c. 27. Scarabeus the Beetle the smell of Roses is said to kill them 28. Scincus the Sea-Skink 29. Scolopendra they differ from a Galley-Worm as a Lobster from a Crevise They are Poisonous and their Poison causes Putrifaction 30. Scorpio it is almost like a Craysish having little Eyes Oval form eight Feet and two Arms. Of great use in Physick especially for the Stone and Gout 31. Stella Mariana or the Sea-Pad is of great use in Physick 32. Tabanus Asilus Musca Caballonia the Ox-Fly 33. Teredo the Wood-Worm breeds and feeds in many Trees except the Oak and some others The Frygians are said to eat of them thence called Xylophagi Elian writes that the King of the Indies used for a second Course a Worm breeding in Plants which was broiled at the Fire Johnst Nat. Hist p. 263. 34. Vespa the Wasp breeds most when Wolves kill Horses or Oxen Sometimes they are found in a Stags Head One brought one of these formed Wasp-Houses wonderfully made to Pierius Valerianus at Belunum from some Wood in a Desart which he describes thus There are seven Rounds one above another at two Fingers distance distinguished by little Pillars between that every one might have space enough to go and come to his House the Diameter of the Rounds unto the fifth was about 12 Digits the others narrowed by degrees The first Round or Chamber was hanged to a Bough of an old Tree guarded with a Crust against Wind and Weather beneath were six angled Cells close together so that the other Chambers were all overcast with the same Crust c. All these Creatures flew out of the upper Stations those in the lowest Rooms seemed like to Embrio's c. part their Belly from their Breast and they will live long and will sometimes prick one that touches their Sting an Hour after A Swarm of Wasps among the Romans was accounted an ill Omen Johnst Nat. Hist p. 267. 35. We will conclude this Chapter with a general Discourse of Worms especially such as are bred in living Creatures for they are found in Cattle and in Men as well as Plants or in the Earth Anno 1549 there were many Men about the River Thaysa in whose Bodies were found Creatures called Lutrae and Lizards Wierus saw a Country-man that voided a Worm 8 Foot long with Mouth and Head like a Duck. Wier de Praestig Daemon l. 3. c. 15. A Maid at Lovain saith Cornelius Gemma voided many prodigious Creatures amongst the rest a living Creature a Foot and half long thicker than a Man's Thumb like an Eagle but the Tail hairy Forestus out of Hostim Obs Med. p. 1. obs 2. shews that at beneventum in Italy there was a great Mortality which much troubled the Physicians not knowing the Cause thereof till they opened one of the dead Bodies in whose Brain they found a red Worm yet alive this they tried to kill by divers Medicaments but nothing was effectual At last they boiled some slices of Rhadish in Malaga Wine and with this it was killed He shews also that one being cured of the french Malady was still tormented with the Head-ach till his Skull by Advice was open'd under which upon the Dura Mater was found a black Worm which being taken out and killed he was cured Brassavola records in 16 Aphorism l. 3. Hippocr that an old Man of 82 Years by a Potion made of Scordium and Sea-Moss voided 500 Worms Alexander Benedict speaks of a young Maid who lay speechless 8 Days with her Eyes open and upon the voiding of 42 Worms recovered her Health Alexand. Bened. lib.
like Amber and is found in Germany c. an excellent Lithontriptic and Vulnerary 17. Lapis Humanus or the Stone found in the Reins or Bladder of a Man open Obstructions and expels the Stone c. 18. Marcasita Lapis Moralis the Mill-Stone in Powder with Rosin drys up Milk in Womens Breasts 19. Marble is either white black green red c. Alablaster Ophites and Porphyrites are certain Species of it 'T is good for the stone Cholick Pleurisie c. 20. Nephritic-Stone is green sometimes whitish green yellowish pale found in Spain and Bâ—hemia The Superficies always sweats with Fat and is good against the Stone and pain of the Reins 21. The Ophite is a kind of very hard Marble of a dark green having spots like a Serpent eminently good against Head-aches and stinging of Serpents 22. Ostiocolla Ossifragus Sabulosus the Bone-Binder is almost like a Bone white or ash-coloured and sometimes like Coral found in Germany c. speedily Knitts Bones together 23. Phrygice Lapis the Phrygian Stone mixed with Wax it helps burning and is profitable against putried Ulcers used as Cadmia 24. Porphâ—ry-Stone or Red-Marble taken inwardly breaks and expels the Stone c 25. Pumex Lapis Bibulus the Pumice Stone It is a white light dry spongey porous Stone full of holes easily broken and free from Sand found chiefly in Germany It cools drys cleanses Uclers Incarnates and Skins The Clax is used in Eye-Medicines c. 26. Pyrites Lapis Luminis Lapis Aeraâ—ius it is two-fold viz. a Golden or Silver colour doth heat dry discuss Humours and soften Swellings Is found in Persia Cypus Gâ—slaria 27. Samnius Lapis the Samian-Stone the best is hard and white is good to polish Gold Is cold and astringent being Drunk it helps them which cannot digest their Food but Vomit it up again 28. Schistus Iscistus Isidori the Cleaving-Stone 't is a king of Talc of the Nature of the Blood-Stone it is brought to us out of Germany 29. Silex Lapis Tiliceus and Vivus the Flint is harder than Marble some black some cloudy some white and some with a thick white crusty out-side which when broken have been as transparent as Crystal Flints are hot and dry discussive digestive and resolutive They open Obstuctions and dissolve the Stone and Tartarous Humours outwardly they cleanse the Teeth 30. Smyris a Stone which Glasiers use to cut Glass is found in the Earth of Samot the Powder of it serves to polish Gems withal 31. Spongites the Spunge Stone breaks the Stone in the Reins and Bladder and discusses Tumours of the Kings-Evil mixt with Sal Gem and Tartar and Drunk in a Man's Urine every morning Fasting 32. Talcum Phengites Stella-Terrae Talc is brought from Muscovy and Venice and is almost like the specular Stone but thinner scaly greenish resisting Fire and fixed That which is greenish is best It s used for a Fucus for the Face 33. Vnicorn Stone is of the colour smoothness and form of an Horn found in Germany c. It has been often found so great and thick as could never be produced from an Animal Sometimes hard sometimes soft always stoney brittle close without pores sticking to the Tongue and of a pleasant scent It is drying binding cardiac and sudorifick CHAP. XLVII Strange Stones and of Admirable Figures or Signatures As the Psalmist saith of the Heavens That they declare the Glory of God and the Firmament shews his handy-work there is neither Speech nor Language where their Voice is not heard So I may say of the very Stones of the Earth that if all the other Preachers of Nature were suspended from their Office and commanded to be silent the very Stones would speak and declare the Wisdom and Power of their Creator And it is not in my opinion credible that the variety which appears in these works of Nature is altogether accidental or fâ—rtuitous but the effect of a wise Providence which leads on all things to their end and which makes nothing but to some purpose I shall take notice of their Figures called by some Gamahes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chamaiâ—u from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chemaia as Gaffarel thinks signifying as the waters of God because saith he you shall see some Agats streaked in such a manner as that they perfectly represent the figure of Waters The Word God being added according to the Hebrew Idiotisim which speaking of any thing excellent usually add the Holy Name after it as the Paradise of God for an excellent Garden the Army of the Lord for a great Army the Cedars of God for tall Cedars c. Some of these Figures or Gamahes are Natural others Accidental others Artificial The two former ate either embossed rising up or hollowed engraved or only painted Among the Painted ones the Agats are well known That of King Pyrrhus where the nine Muses richly apparell'd were represented Dancing with Apollo in the midst of them playing upon a Harp seems mighty strange and served to puzzle Cardan and yet is swallowed glibly by Gaffarel Card. de Subl 1.7 Gaffarel unheard of Curios part 3. c. 5. That which M. de Brevâ—s reports That he saw in his Voyages into the Levant of a Crucisix represented on a Marble-Stone and the other at St. George's in Venice where the Figure of a Crucifix was represented on Marble with so much Life as that you might distinguish in it the Nails Wounds and drops of Blood and in a word all the particulars that the most curious Painter could have expressed As also another of a Death's-Head so exactly drawn upon an Altar of Jasper coloured Marble in the same Church at Venice seem to me to have been made by the Art of the Painter though Gaffarel believes them to be meerly Natural and therefore breaks out upon the mention of them into those Words How prodigiously full of Wonder the Effects of Nature are which shews herself admirable in all her Ways Gaffar Ibid. I dare hardly impose upon my Readers Faith that which he relates afterwards of a kind of Stones found in Mauritania which naturally represent all the Words of the Ave-Maria written at length As for Example In one you shall have Ave-Maria in another Gratia Plena in others Dominus Tecum That is more Credible which he reports of a company of little Flint-Stones that had been presented to the late King of France that by the Letters naturally figured on them did make up his Name at large Ibid. In the Imperial Repository at Vienna is a large Stone of Agate on the outside and a Bed of large Amethysts naturally in the middle of it which is an extraordinary and pleasant Rarity Dr. Brown's Trav. p. 148. Selenites the Moon-Stone represent the Image of the Moon in all its Phases Asteria or Star-Stone is formed like a Star the Thunderstone c. CHAP. XLVIII Strange Hills THO' the Earth of late Ages be acknowledged to be a round Globular Figure yet the unevennesses of it and
as if they had been new made the Roof was of Cedar the Image of Diana was made by one Camesia some say of Ebony others of the Vine having holes in it filled with Spikenard it was adorned with rich and unvaluable Gifts Is was contrived by Ctesiphon and after it was finished was fired seven times but last of all by Erostratus who observing the Soveraign Magnificence thereof was resolved to burn it to get himself a Name Some write that this Temple was afterwards rebuilt much more sumptuous and magnificent than before Ibid. 6. The Watch Tower Pharos was built by Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt for the Benefit of Saylors to guide them over the Bar of Alexandria It was of a wonderful height ascended by Degrees and having many Lanthorns on the top wherein Lights were burn'd every Night flaming like a Beacon for Direction to Seamen It was erected of Marble marvellous in curious Workmanship and Scituate upon a Mountain encompasse with Water The Workman Sostratus of Cnidus 7. the Idol of Jupiter Olympus which stood in his Temple at Achaia between the Cities of Ellis and Pisa this Statue was renowned as well for Artificial Perfections and admirable Workmanship as for the greatness thereof being 60 Cubits high composed by the excellent Workman Phidias of Gold and Ivory Ibid. 8. The Temple of Jerusalem was built upon a Rocky Mountain the Plain on the Top whereof was at first scarce big enough for the Temple and Court the Hill being very steep but the People bringing Earth thither they at last made it large enough and with wonderful Curiosity and Labour inclosed the Hill with a Treble-Wall the Foundations of the Temple were laid 300 Cubits deep The Stones thereof were four Cubits the Porches were double supported by many stately pillars 25 Cubits high all of one piece of white Marble the Tops of them were of Cedar so exactly wrought as astonish'd the Beholders These Porches were 30 Cubits broad and the compass of all was six Furlongs The Courts were curiously wrought and paved with all sorts of Stones The way to the inward Temple was all inclosed with Stones wrought like Lattice-work which were three Cubits high of curious Workmanship To this there was an Ascent of 14 Steps and above it was four square and inclosed with a Wall by its self 40 Cubits high on the outside and all cover'd with Stairs to ascend up to it and within it was 25 Cubits high at the top of the 14 Stairs within the Wall was a Level compassed with a Wall of 300 Cubits which had Gates in it and between the Gates were Porches opposite to each other reaching to the Wall of the Treasury supported with mighty Pillars all the Gates were cover'd with Plates of Gold and Silver only one was cover'd with Corinthian Brass which for Beauty far excell'd the other dazzling and surprizing the Eyes of the Spectators In every Gate were two Doors each of them 30 Cubits high and 15 broad an on each side they had Seats 30 Cubits long and 40 in height each of them supported with two Pillars 12 Cubits thick only the Gate which was cover'd with Corinthian Brass was 50 Cubits high and the Gates 40 more richly adorn'd than the rest Lastly the Holy of Holies was Scituate in the midst of all and had 12 Stairs to go up to it the fore part of it was 100 Cubits high and as many broad backward it was 40 Cubics on each side it had as 't were two Shoulder rising up in height 20 Cubits The first Gate was 20 Cubits high and 25 wide and had no Doors to shew that Heaven was always open c. All the fore part was gilded and all within was covered with the Gold the inward part was divided into two Rooms whereof the first only might be seen which was in height 90 Cubits in length 49 and in breadth 20 Round about the Wall was a Golden Vine whereon hung many Clusters all of Gold every Cluster being about six Foot long it had Golden Gates 55 Cubits high and 16 broad it had curious Hangings of the same length admirably wrought with Purple Violet and Scarlet Silk all the Fabrick was so exquisitely and richly wrought that it wanted no Workmanship for it was all cover'd with a Massie Plate of pure Gold which astonished the Beholders the top was all set with Rods of Gold sharp like Pikes at the ends lest Birds should sit thereon and defile it The Stones wherewith it was built were 45 Cubits in length six broad and as many thick Joseph Hist l. 6. 9. Rome when first built was but 22 Miles in compass scituated upon dainty Hills in a most Healthful Air the River Tiber running by it about 16 Miles distant from the Sea It was almost round in compass The Suburbs in Process ' of Time grew so great that Aurelian the Emperor built new Walls which were almost 50 Miles in compass the Walls were adorned with 740 Turrets And yet again the Suburbs in a little time grew so great that one of them was 15 Miles long and reached even to the Sea And in Augustus his time there were numbred in Rome above 320 Thousand poor People relieved by the Publick Besides a great number of Bondmen few rich Men but had 100 and some 400 a piece Seneca saith that the number of Inhabitants were reckoned to be at feaâ—â— four Millions There were in it 424 Temples erected to their Idol Gods 10. There were two Capitals in Rome the old built by Numa the new begun by Tarquin Priscus finished by Horatius Pulvillus Consul It was 800 Feet in compass almost four square it was ascended on the South side by 100 Steps it would hold 8000 Men it was covered with Brass Tiles all gilt with Gold there were three Chappels in it to one of which viz. Jupiter's Augustus gave 16000 pound weight of Gold and Jewels worth almost as much more 12000 Talents were spent in gilding of it The Gates were cover'd with thick Plates of Gold the very Foundation cost Tarquinius 40000 pound weight of Silver the Pillars of it were cut out of a Quarry of Rich Marble called Pentick Marble Clark's Descript of Countreys p. 126. 11. The Pantheon built by Agrippa Son-in-Law to Augustus was 144 Feet in breadth and as much in height cover'd with Brass richly gilt burnt by Lightning in the Reign of Trojan and rebuilt by Hudrian Ibid. 12. The Temple of Peace built by Vespasian was 300 Foot long and 200 broad was the most beautiful of all the Temples mightily enriched with Gifts Statues Pictures and Rarities the Vessels of the Temple of Jerusalem were brought hither by Titus In the time of Commodus it was burnt with Fire either from Heaven or out of the Earth upon the occasion of an Earthquake Ibid. 13. The Baths of the Romans were infinite in Number some paved with Silver and set with Rows of Pillars Antonius his Bath had 1600 Seats of polished Marble in it
Writing-Engine invented by Mr. George Ridpath a Native of Scotland that one Man may with great Facility write two four six or more Copies of any one thing upon so many different Sheets of Paper at once is of extraordinary Life for expediting Business whereof many Copies is required either in Affairs of Law State or otherwise and might be very useful likewise to Merchants and Tradesmen or any others who keep Copies of their Letters and also to Authors who may dispatch several Copies of any thing they would consult their Friends in without the Fatigue or Charge of transcribing as usual It is likewise attended with this Advantage that being moved by the Foot while the Hand guides the Pens it keeps the whole Body in Warmth and Exercise which prevents many of the usual Inconveniencies of a Sedentary Life besides the time which the Engine saves in dispatch That same Gentleman did also invent a Tachygraphy call'd Short-hand yet shorter which has this peculiar Advantage yet he lays down a Method for expressing all the signs of Cases Tenses Moods and Degrees of Comparison by their proper Places which none that writ on that Subject before him did ever observe and adds much to the Expedition of the Writer and renders the Art more natural Regular and less burdensome to the Memory than formerly CHAP. XIV Improvements in Sculpture Picture c. THE Ingenuity of Man hath found out several ways to imitate Nature and represent natural Bodies to the Eye by Sculpture Picture Carving Wax-work c. and tho some of the Ancients were famed for this Art as Zeuxes and Apelles yet our last Ages have out-stript them and made considerable Improvements as may be easily discernable to those who are skill'd in Antiquities and have observed the rude and course Pieces of the Ancients 1. A Cat painted over one of the Compartments including the Arms of the University in the South side of the Gallery at the Schools of Oxford looks directly upon all Beholders where-ever they stand which common yet surprizing Effect of the Painter's Art is caused says Honoratus Faber in all Pictures of this Nature by their turning the Nose to one Side and the Eyes to the other whence it comes to pass that such Pictures seem to look to the Right side because indeed the Eyes are turned that way and to the Left in like manner because the point of the Nose is turned to the Left Where by the way he also notes that 't is necessary that all such Pictures be drawn on flat Tables so that the Beholder perceive not that the Eyes of the Picture are turned contrary tothe Nose which he must needs do if the Eyes of the Portrait were convex concluding that no Figure can be made in Ritievo thus to look every way Dr. Plot Nat. Hist Oxf. p. 277. 2. To this place also belongs the Invention of drawing Pictures by Microscopial-Glasses by Sir Chr. Wren and by the Invention of Mr. Bird Stone-cutter or Carver of Oxford of sinking a Colour a considerable depth into the Body of polished white Marble by the Application of it to the outside only so that the same Figures delineated without shall be as perfectly represented within deeper or shallower according as he continues his Application to the Surface a longer or shorter while Ibid. 3. For Etching which is painting in Copper there is a very curious and speedy way lately invented by Sir Chr. Wren Ibid. 4. Amongst the Rarities in the Repository of the Emperor at Vienna there are these particulars A Picture in Oyl of Ganymede by Corregio a fine Picture of an old Man's Head in Oyl by Alb. Durer a curious Landskip in Oyl by Corregio a Cupid by the same Hand with a fine Copy of it an Indian Basket of an Indian sort Filegrane mixt with Birds a Bason of Agate finely wrought with Silver Crawfishes in it a noble Head in Oyl by Hans van Ach a large Agate whereon is wrote the History of that Victory which Augustus Caesar obtain'd over the Dalmatians and Pannonians about five Inches long and four broad highly valued an exact Cut whereof Dr. Edw. Brown presents us with in his Description of Vienna an Onyx with the Head of Alexander and Olympia a Shell with a Battle carved in it a Chain with the Heads of all the Austrian Family a Dog in a very large Sardonix a noble Vessel about a Yard and half high made out of one piece of Chrystal the Head of the Empress in another Chrystal a fair Dragon in another another wherein the Picture of our Saviour may be seen thrice one way and once another way a Ship in an Emerald a large high Vessel of Bohemian Topaz Flowers well made out of precious Stones a Cup out of the notable rich Smaragdus Baccus and other Statues out of a very high Rhinocerets Horn a fine Picture of the Mountain Vesuvius an Angel in Ivory with Hair and Cloths of Filegrane of Gold all the Gospels written and painted the Picture of St. Catherine of Siena drawn by Sigismund King of Poland a picture of the Emperor as he gives Audience to be look'd upon through a little round Hole a neat Table of insaied Stone made by the Empress Dowager Eleonora a neat picture of an old Man courting a young Woman with this Motto Antum Anulum ne gestato with many others which we forbear to mention Dr. Edw. Brown's Trav. p. 146. c. 5. The Effigies of Her late Majesty Queen Mary of Blessed Memory is curiously done to the Life in Wax drest in Coronation-Robes with so Majestic a Mien that nothing seems wanting but Life and Motion as Persons of great Honour upon the strictest View have with Surprize declared Likewise the Effigies of several Persons of Quality with a fine Banquet and other Curiosities in every Room passing to and from the Queens Apartment All to be seen at Mr. Goldsmith's in Green-Court in the Old-Jury London CHAP XV. Curiosities in the Hydratilick Art or Water-works THE Water of all the Elements seems the least capable of the Operations and curiosities of Art yet besides what I have spoken of in the Chapters precedent of Experimental Philosophy and Navigation we find this Fluid Element reduced by the Wit of Man to many useul and pleasant Purposes So that we may conclude in good Earnest that the Brain of Man hath left no part of the whole Creation within its reach untried unransacked uncultivated 1. At Tibur or Tivoly near Rome in the Gardens of Hippolitus d'Este Cardinal of Farrara there are the Representations of sundry Birds sitting on the tops of Trees which by Hydratilick Art and secret Conveyances of the Water tho' the Trunks or branches of the Trees are made to sing and clap their Wings but at the sudden Appearance of an Owl out of a Bush of the same Artifice they immediately become all mute and silent it was the work of Claudius Gallus as Possevine informs us Hist Man Art Ch. 3. Pag. 37.