other denial This is not all There was in Rome one Cajus Silius the most beautiful of all the Roman youth him she enticed enjoyed and openly loved as his reward she made him Consul and transferred the Riches and Ornaments of the Court to his House so that he was now revered as the Prince and yet not satisfied with this she must have a new sawce to her languishing pleasure she therefore openly marries him while her Husband had retired to Hostia the Nuptials were celebrated with all kind of pomp the flower of both orders in Rome were invited a great Feast was made the genial bed prepared and all usual solemnities performed the Bride lay in the lap of her new marryed Husband and treated him openly with all conjugal freedom this is strange her Husband being living and also Emperour but it was done and had passed untaken notice of for him but that his freed-men about him fearing such novelties would tend to a change and so hazzard their fortunes excited him to revenge at last therefore he gave order for his Wifes death but with so little concern and memory of what he had done that he often asked his Servants why their Lady came not to Dinner as if she had been still alive 5. When Valerianus the Emperour was taken prisoner by Sapores the Persian and by him made his footstool as oft as he mounted his horse His Son Gallienus succeeded him at Rome who no way solicitous what became of his Father or the Empire gave up himself to all manner of debauchery and voluptuousness ever and anon saying to those that were about him What have we for Dinner what pleasures are prepared for us what shall we have for Supper to morrow what Plays what Sports in the Cirque what sword-fights and what Scenick pastimes So far was he dissolved by his luxury into stupidity and insensibleness that when report was brought him of his Fathers death his answer was That he knew his Father was mortal When he heard Egypt was revolted What said he jesting can we not be without the flax of Egypt When he was told that Asia was wasted Can we not live said he without the delights of Asia When news came that Gallia was lost Cannot said he the state be safe without trabeated Cassocks Thus in his loss from all the parts of the world he jested as if he were only deprived of that which furnished him with some inconsiderable trifle So that in contempt of him not only foraign Nations rent away the Roman Provinces but also in divers parts of the world so many aspired unto the Empire that no less than thirty such pretenders are named from the time of his Fathers and his reign to his death 6. Polydorus by the Comick Poets is said to be a man of extraordinary dulness and stupidity of mind and he had also a skin of that hardness that a pin would not enter into it 7. Sivardus hearing of the death of his Father Regnerus King of the Danes and how he had been thrown amongst Serpents to be poysoned and eaten up by them at the command of Hella King of the Britains was so stupified with the grief he received thereat that while he stood full of thoughts leaning upon a Spear he held in his hand the point of his Spear ran quite through his foot and remained insensible of the wound he had received by it 8. Charles the eighth having conquered the Kingdom of Naples was upon his return into France when the Venetians Pope Alexander the sixth Maximilian the Emperour and Lewis Duke of Millaine entred into a league with that silence that Philip the King of France his Embassadour then at Venice though he was daily in the Court and called to by the other Embassadours yet could know nothing of it The next day when the League was ingrossed he was called into the Senate by the Duke and when he understood the League and the names of them that had entred into it he was almost quite bereâ—t of his understanding the Duke told him that the League was not made with purpose to war upon any but to defend themselves if they were warred upon Then Philip a little coming to himself What then said he shall not my King return into France Yes said the Duke if he will return in a friendly manner and we will assist him in all things With this answer Philip departed out of the Senate and being come into the Court-yard he turned to a Secretary of the Senates that had been with him all the while And for the love of God said he tell me over again all that the Duke said to me for at this time I do not remember one word of it CHAP. XXV Of the treacherous and infirm Memories of some men and what injuries have been done thereunto through Age diseases or other accidents THe Lynx is the sharpest sighted of all other beasts yet it is also observed of him that if he chance to look behind him he forgets all that was before him and his mind loses whatsoever it is that his eyes have ceased to see There are some indeed whose forgetfulness may be imputed to the stupidity of their natures but there are others also of extraordinary acuteness and ingenuity who are so unhappy as to be attended with a miserable frailty in their memory and some very learned men have been so unfortuâ—ate as through Age disease the vehement surprisal of some passion or other accident to have utterly lost all that their industry had gained 1. Pliny tells of one that with the stroke of a Stone fell presently to forget his Letters only in such manner as he could read no more otherwise his memory served him well enough Another saith he with a fall from the roof a very high house lost the remembrance of his own Mother his next Kinsfolks Friends and Neighbours and a third in a sickness of his forgat his own servants and upon the like occasion Messala Corvinus the great Orator forgat his own proper name though he remembred other things well enough 2. Franciscus Barbarus the friend of Hermolaus in his old age lost all memory of his Greek learning wherein before he was excellently skilled and the same thing befel Georgius Trapezuntius who in his extream age forgat all kind of Learning both Greek and Latine 3. Apollonius tells of Artemidoruâ— the Grammarian who having as he walked espied a Crocodile lying on the Sands and perceiving him to move was so smitten with the apprehension of fear that he verily believed that his left Leg and Hand were already devoured by the Serpent and utterly losâ— all the memory of his Learning 4. Seneca writes of Calvisâ—â— Sabinus a rich man that he had so slender a memory thaâ— sometimes he forgat the name of Vlyssâ—â— at others that of Achillâ—s and so of Priamus whose names yet he knew as well as we do those of our Schoolâ— masters and
were true was afterwards conâ—irm'd by the event 5. Charles the Eighth King of France invaded the Kingdom of Naples Alphonso was then King of it and howsoever before he brag'd what he would do yet when the French were in Italy and came so far as Rome he took such a fright that he cryed out every night he heard the Frenchmen coming and that the very Trees and Stones cry'd France And as Guicciardine affirmeth who was not a man either easily to believe or rashly write Fables it was credibly and constantly reported that the Spirit of Ferdinand his Father appear'd to one that had been his Physician and bad him tell his Son Alphonso from him that he should not be able to resist the Frenchmen for God had ordain'd that his Progeny should after many great afflictions be depriv'd of their Kingdom for the multitude and great enormity of their sins and especially for that he had done by the perswasion of Alphonso himself in the Church of St. Leander in Chaiae near to Naples whereof he told not the particulars the success was that Alphonso terrifi'd waking and sleeping with the representations of such Noblemen as he had caused secretly to be murdred in prison resign'd his Crown to his Son Ferdinando and ran away into Sicily in such haste that importun'd by his Mother-in-Law to stay for her only three days he told her that if she would not go presently with him he would leave her and that if any sought to stay him he would cast himself headlong out of the window His Son Ferdinand having assembled all his forces durst make no resistance but fled before the French from place to place till at length almost all his Subjects forsook him and rebelled against him whereupon he fled also into Sicily and within a while dyed there So Charles conquer'd the whole Kingdom his Soldiers having not had occasion so much as to put on their armour all the Voyage 6. Musâ—nius and Chrysanthius both Bishops dy'd in the time of the Nicene Council before such time as all present had subscribed to the Articles of Faith then agreed unto The rest of the Bishops went to their Sepulchers and desiring there subscription also as if they were alive they left the Schedule of Subscription at their Tombs when aâ—ter it was found that the dead persons had in a miraculous manner subscribed their names in this manner Chrysanthius and Musonius who were consenting with the Fathers in the sacred Oecumenical Synod of Nice though translated in respect of the Body yet with our own hands we have subscribed to this Schedule 7. Spâ—ridion Bishop of Cyprus had a Daughter call'd Irene with whom a friend of his had left certain Ornaments of a great value which she being over careful of hid under the earth and shortly after dyed In some time after came he who had intrusted her and finding that she was dead demanded his goods at the hands of the Father both with entreaties and threats Spiridion that knew not what to do in the case and saw that the mans loss was become his calamity went to the Tomb of his Daughter beseeching God that he would shew something of promised Resurrection before the time nor was he deceiv'd in his hopes for his Daughter Irene appeared to him and having declared in what place she had disposed of the mans goods she vanished away CHAP. XLI Of the strange ways by which Murders have been discover'd WIlliam the Norman built a fair Monastery where he wan the Garland of England and in the Synod held Anno 1070. at Winchester King William being present as also the Legats of Pope Alexander it was by that Synod decreed amongst other things that whoever was conscious to himself that he had slain a man in that great Battle should do penance for one whole year and as many years as he had slain men and should redeem his Soul either by building a Church or by establishing a perpetual allowance to some Church already built so great a crime did they esteem the sheding of Humane Blood though as they suppose in a just War Sure I am that God Almighty as well to declare his detestation of that crimson sin of murther as to beget and retain in us a horror thereof hath most vigorously employ'd his providence by strange and miraculous ways to bring to light deeds of darkness and to drag the bloody Authors of them out of their greatest privacies and concealment unto condign punishments It were an infinite thing to trace the several footsteeps of Divine Providence in this matter It will be sufficient to produce some Examples wherein we shall find enough to make us adore at once the Wisdom and Goodness and Justice of God 1. Iulianus Malacava a Black-smith by Profession was vehemently in love with a certain Maid and not knowing any other way to obtain his desires besides that of Marriage with his beloved began to think how he might compass the death of his Wife he accomplish'd his divellish design with a Halter and strangled his Wife who was then big with child the third day after the Woman was found dead her Husband was gone into the Country and of all others was the least suspected the Child in the mean time was taken out of the Womb of the dead Mother and laid by but at the entrance of the cruel Father the dead Child bled fresh at the Nose This was upon the third of the Nones of February 1632. At the sight of this blood the Magistrare entred into some suspition of the Murderer he sent him to prison and laid him in irons when he came upon further examination he confess'd the whole as it was and was deservedly executed the twelfth of the Kalends of December 1633. this History was sent me from the publick Records of Caesena for an unquestionable truth 2. Parthenius Treasurer to Theodobert King of France had traiterously slain an especial friend of his call'd Ausanius together with his Wife Papianilla when no man accused or so much as suspected him thereof he detected himself in this strange manner As he slept in his bed he suddenly roared out crying for help or else he perished and being demanded what he ailed he half asleep answered That his friend Ausanius and his Wife whom he had murdered long before did now summon him to answer it before the Tribunal of God Upon this confession he was apprehended and after due examination stoned to death Thus though all witnesses fail yet the murderers own conscience is sufficient to betray him 3. Anno Dom. 867. Lothbroke of the Blood Royal of Denmark and Father to Humbar and Hubba entred with his Hawk into a Cock-boat alone and by tempest was driven upon the coast of Norfolk in England where being found he was detain'd and presented to Edmund at that time King of the East Angles The King entain'd him at his Court and perceiving his singular dexterity and activity in Hawking and
she was by him well beaten with Myrtle Rods. And for that reason the women when they dress up and adorn the Chapel or Shrine of their goddess Bona they never bring home for that purpose any branches of the Myrtle Tree and yet otherwise take pleasure to make use of all sorts of branches and flowers in that solemnity 3. At Argos there were two of the principal Citizens who were the heads of opposite Factions one to another in the Government oâ— the City the one was named Nicostratus and the other Phaulius Now when King Philip came to the City it was generally thought that Phaulius plotted and practised to attained unto some absolute principality and soveraignty in the City by the means of his wife who was a young and beautiful Lady in case he could once bring her to the Kings bed and that she might lie with him Nicostratus was aware of as much and smelling his design walked before Phaulius his door and about his house on purpose to discover his intentions and what he would do therein He soon found that the base Phaulius had furnished his wife with a pair of high Shooes had cast about her a mantle and set upon her head a Chaplet after the Macedonian fashion Having thus accoutred her after the manner of the Kings Pages he sent her secretly in that habit and attire unto the Kings lodging as a Sacrifice to his lust and an agrument of an unparallel'd villany in himself who could endure to be the Pander in the prostitution of his own Wife 4. Periander the Corinthian in a high sit of passion trod his Wife under-foot and although she was at that time with child of a boy yet he never desisted from his injurious treatment of her till such time as he had killed her upon the place Afterwards when he was come to himself and was sensible that what he had done was through the calumniating instigation of his Concubines he caused them all to be burnt alive and banished his son Lycophron as far as Corcyra upon no other occasion than that he lamented the death of his Mother with tears and outcryes 5. Nero the Emperour being once incensed against his Wife Poppaea Sabina gave her such a kick with his foot upon the belly that she thereupon departed this life But though he was a man that seemed to be born to cruelty and blood yet he afterwards so repented himself of this act that he would not suffer her body to be burnt after the Roman manner but built the funeral pile for her of odours and perfumes and so ordered her to be brought into the Iulian monument 6. Herod the Sophist being offended with his Wife Rhegilâ—a for some slight fault of hers commanded his freed man Alcimedon to beat her She was at that time eight months gone with Child or near upon so that by the imprudence of him who was imployed to chastise her She received some blows upon her belly which occasioned first her miscarriage and soon after her death Her Brother Bradeas a person of great nobility cited her Husband Herodes to answer the death of his Sister before the Senate of Rome where if he had not it is pity but he should have received a condign punishment 7. When M. Antonius was overcome at Actium Herod King of Iudaea believing that he was in danger to lose his Kingdom because he had been a fast friend to Antonius determined to meet Caesar Augustus at Rhodes and there endeavour to assure his favour to him Having resolved upon his journey he committed the care and custody of his Wiâ—e to Sohemus his friendâ— giving him withall thus much in command That in case he should hear of his death by the way or at the place wither he was intended that then he should not fail forthwith to kill Mariamne his Wife yielding this only reason of his injunction that it might not be in the power of any man to enjoy so great a beauty after his decease Mariamne had extorted this secret from Sohemus and at Herod's return twitted him with it Herod caused Sohemus unheard to be immediately put to death and not long after he also beheaded Mariamne his beloved Queen and Wife 8. Amalasuenta had raised Theodahitus at once to be her Husband and King of the Goths but upon this proviso that he should make oath that he would rest contented with the title of a King and leave all matters of Government to her sole dispose But no sooner was he accepted as King but he forgat his Wife and benefactress recalled her enemies from banishment put her friends and relations many of them to death banished her self unto an Island in the Vulsiner lake and there set a strong guard upon her At last he thought himself not sufficiently safe so long as Amalasumha was alive and thereupon he dispatched certain of his instruments to the place of her exile with order to put her to death who â—inding her in a bath gave her no further time but strangled her there CHAP. VIII Of such Wives as were unnatural to their Husbands or evil deported towards them IN Italy there grows an herb they call it the Basilisco it is sweet scented enough but withal it hath this strange property that being laid under a stone in a moist place in a few dayes it produces a scorpion Thus though the Woman in her first creation was intended as a meet help for man the partner of his joyes and cares the sweet perfume and relish of his dayes throughout his whole pilgrimage yet there are some so far degenerated from their primitive institution though otherwise of exteriour beauty and perfection enough that they have proved more intolerable than Scorpions not only tormenting the life but hastning the death of their too indulgent Husbands 1. Ioan Gandchild to Robert King of Naples by Charles his son succeeded her Grandfather in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Anno 1343. a woman of a beautiful body and rare endowments of nature She was first married to her Cousin Andrew a prince of Royal extraction and of a sweet and loving disposition but he being not able to satisfie her wantonness She kept company with lewd persons at last she grew weary of him complaining of his insufficiency and caused him in the City of Aversa to be hung upon a beam and strangled in the night time and then threw out his Corpse into a Garden where it lay some dayes unburied It is said that this Andrew on a day coming into the Queens chamber and finding her twisting a thick string of silk and silver demanded of her for what purpose she made it she answered to hang you in which he then little believed the rather because those who intend such mischief use not to speak of it before-hand but it seems she was as good as her word 2. Cicero put away his wife Terentia for divers reasons as because she had made small
the Heavens those of the Spots and Dinettick motion of the Sun the mountainous protuberances and shadows of the body of the Moon about nineteen magnitudes more of fixed Stars the Lunulae of Iupiter their mutual Eclipsing one another and its turning round upon its own Axis the ring about Saturn and its shadow upon the body of that Star the Phases of Venus the increment and decrement of light amongst the Planets the appearing and disappearing of fixed Stars the altitude of Comets and nature of the Via Lactea In the Air its spring the more accurate History and nature of Winds and Meteors the probable height of the Atmosphere have been added by the Lord Bacon Des Cartes Mr. Boyle and others In the earth new Lands by Columbus Magellan and the rest of the discoverers and in these new Plants new Fruits new Animals new Minerals and a kind of other world of Nature from which this is supplyed with numerous conveniencies for life In the Waters the great motion of the Sea unknown in elder times and the particular Laws of flux and reflux in many places are discovered The History of Bathes augmented by Savonarola Baccius and Blanchellus Of Metals by Agricola and the whole Subterranean World described by the universally Learned Kircher The History of Plants much improved by Mathioluâ— Ruellius Bauhinus and Gerhard besides the late account of English Vegetables published by Dr. Merrett a worthy Member of the Royal Society and another excellent Virtuoso of the same Assembly Mr. Iohn Evelyn hath very considerably advanced the History of Fruit and Forest Trees by his Sylva and Pomona and greater things are expected from his preparations for Elysium Britannicum a noble design now under his hands The History of Animals hath been much enlarged by Gesner Rondeletius Aldrovandus and more accurately enquired into by the Micographers and the late Travellers who have given us accounts of those more remote parts of the Earth that have been less known to these amongst whom the ingenious Author of the Carribees deserves to be mentioned as an instance In our Bodies Natural History hath found a rich heap of Materials in the particulars of the Venae Lacteae the Vasa Lymphatica of the Valves and Sinus of the Veins the several new passages and Glandules the Ductus Chyliferus the Origination of the Nerves the Circulation of the Blood and the rest 15. Great men and Learned saith Pliny who know more in natural causes than others do feared the extinction of the Stars or some mischief to befall them in their Eclipses Pindaruâ— and Stesichorus were subject to this fear attributing the failing of their lights to the power of Witchcraft CHAP. XXIII Of the Sloathfulness and Idleness of some men IT is said of the Elder Cato That he used to inflame the minds of his fellow Souldiers to the love of Industry Labour and Vertue with such kind of Memorials as this Si cum labore quippiam rectè geris Labor recedit facta rectè permanent Quod si jocosè nequiter quid egeris Abit voluptas turpe factum permanet which because it pleased me in the reading and may possibly do the like to some others for the sake of the English Reader I will adventure thus to translate When what is good we do perform with pain The pains soon pass the good deeds still remain When slothfully or basely ought is done Those base deeds stay when all the pleasure 's gone Indeed all the Ancient Romans were such haters of Idleness that whereas Agenotia which was to stir up to action Stimula which was to put on further and Strenua which was to make men Strenuous were all three received as Goddesses to be worshipped in Temples within the City they would not receive Quies or rest as a Goddess in publick but built a Temple for her in the Lavicanian way which was without the City And thither may those unprofitable Members of the Common-wealth go with their Sacrifices who are like unto these that follow 1. Altades the twelfth King of Babylon an idle and slothful person laid down these two as his Maxims He is a vain and foolish man who with continual labour and misery makes War to the destruction of himself and others His other was this He is the most fool of all that with toyl and labour heaps up Treasure not for himself but his Posterity From this idle Philosophy he collected two things That no War was to be made because of the labour and a second That we should enjoy the riches and glory that was got by the sweat and miseries of others Accordingly he framed his life and spent his whole time amongst Whores and Catamites 2. There was saith Olaus Magnus a Stage-player who was grown to an unreasonable corpulency and well he might for he could eat as much as ten men and daâ—ly used so to do one of the Kings of Denmark being informed of him and that he lived a kind of idle liâ—e that he might no longer be a publick grievance and a devourer of that â—ood which was only due to them that laboured in their employments he caused him to be hanged up 3. Varia Servilius descended of a Pretorian Family was remarkable for no other thing save only his idleness in which he grew old insomuch as it was commonly said by such as passed by his house Varia hic situs est Here lies Varia speaking of him as of a person that was not only dead but buryed 4. Domiâ—ianus the Emperour the son of Vespatianus and Domicilla while he held the Empire was so given up to sloth and idleness that he spent most part of his time in pricking of flies to death with the point of a needle or bodkin so that when once it was demanded of one who was come out from him Who was with the Emperour His answer was Ne musca quidem Not so much as a flie 5. Alexander the son of Basilius Macedo was Emperour when he was a young man about twenty years of age at which time and after he was so devoted to sloth and idleness that laying aside the care of all matters of weight and Moment he minded nothing else but Hunting Horses and Dogs placing therein all his employment and delight 6. Romanus the Grandchild of Romanus Laucapenus was a man the most slothful of all other men he wholly resigned up himself to drinking of Wine to idleness and other pleasures so that the care of the Empire was intrusted in the hands of Iosephus Bringa the Praefect meerly upon the account of the extreme wretchlesness of the Emperour 7. Charles the son of Ludovicus Carolinus King of France when he succeeded his father in the Kingdom was so noted for his singular sluggisâ—ness that he was commonly called Charles the slothful for he minded nothing that was serious insomuch that he consumed and wasted away with meer idleness and dyed young leaving his Throne to be possessed by his
he added the Estates thereof to the house of Austria He was coursely used in the Low Countries by a company of rude Mechanicks detained in Prison which he endured with patience and after nine Months freed himself with admirable prudence He was joined Emperour with his Father in his Fathers life-time with whom he Reigned seven years and after his decease he Reigned alone twenty five years more his Motto was Tene mensuram respice finem 97. Charles the â—iâ—th this man was the glory of the House of Austria a Puissant Prince he liked three Books especially Polybius's History Machiavel's Prince and Castalion's Courtier In fifteen Wars which he waged for the most part he was successful the last of which was by Cortez and Pizarro in the newly discovered parts of America where in twenty eight Battels he beâ—ame Master of so many Kingdoms Near home he took Rome by the Duke of Burbon captivated the French King Francis in the Battel of Pavia frighted Solyman the Turk from Vienna setled Muly Hassen in his Kingdom in Africk he defeated Barbarossa that formidable Pirat and took Tunis By the Popes continual instigations he carried a hard hand towards the Protestants whose patience and perseverance with intervenient crosses abated his edge at last Wearied at length with the Worlds incessant troubles he devested himself of all Imperial Authority and retired to a Monastery his Motto was Plus Vltra opposite to that of Hercules He Reigned thirty and seven years 98. Ferdinand the first Arch-Duke of Austria the brother of Charles King of Hungary and Bohemia elected King of the Romans by the procurement of Charles Anno 1531. upon whose resignation he was chosen Emperour Anno 1558. a compleat and judicious Prince Under him in the treaty of Passaw was granted Liberty of Conscience to the Professours of the Augustane Confession which much startled the Fathers of the Trent Council as also did the grant to the Bohemians for receiving the Supper in both kinds He subdued Iohn Sepusius Vaywode of Transylvania and strongly kept back the Turk from encroachments upon his Dominions his Motto was Fiat Iustitia pereat mundus 99. Maximilian the second the son of Frederick elected King of the Romans in the life of his Father Anno 1562. succeeded in the Empire after his decease He was constant to the Tenent that mens Consciences are not to be forced in matters of Religion In his time began the Wars in the Low Countryes chiefly occasioned by the Spanish cruelty executed by the Duke of Alva the Civil Wars in France the Massacre of the Protestants began at Paris the famous defeat was given to the Turks in the Sea-sight at Lepanto he Reigned twelve years married his two daughters to two Puissant Princes Elizabeth to Charles the ninth King of France and Anna his eldest to Philip King of Spain his Motto was Dominus providebit 100. Rodolphus the second the eldest son of Maximilian a Prince much addicted to Chymistry he granted liberty of Religion to the Protestants had great Wars against the Turks with whom in the year 1600. he concluded a Peace but being undermined by his brother Matthias was forced to surrender to him the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia and to content himself with Austria and the Empire only In his time Henry the fourth King of France was stab'd by Ravilliac and the Gunpowder Treason was hatched here in England his Motto was Omnia ex voluntate Dei 101. Matthias brother of Rodolphus King of Hungary Bohemia and Arch-Duke of Austria succeeded in whose time were sown the seeds of that terrible War which had almost destroy'd the Empire the Protestants standing for their Priviledges in Bohemia were withstood by some of the Emperours Council of whom they threw Slabata and Fabritius Smesantius with a Secretary out of a Window at Prague his Motto was Concordia lumine major Having no children he declared 102. Ferdinand the second of the House of Gratz to be Emperour this Prince was more zealously affected to the See of Rome than any of his Predecessours and a great enemy of the Protestant Religion occasioning thereby that long and bloody War in the Empire of Germany The King and Queen of Bohemia forsaken of their States are forced to â—ly he is proscribed and put out of his Elâ—ctâ—rship Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden like a tempest falls upon Germany and frâ—es divers oppressed Princes but at last was slain in the Battel at Lutzen uncertain whether by the â—nemy or the Treason of his own his Motto was Legitime certantibus 103. Ferdinand the third son of Ferdinand the second broke the great power of the Swedes who were called in for the support of the German liberty against the violent resolutions of Ferdinand the second For he overthrew them at the Battel of Norlingen This Prince is the twelfth Emperour of the House of Hapsburg anâ— the ninth of the House of Austria without intermission The cause of which is to be attributed to Charles the fifth who procured in his life-time that his brothâ—r might be chosen King of the Romans as his Successour in the Empire A Policy which hath ever since been continued by his Successours and the Germans are the more willing to hâ—arken to it because the Austrian Princes are not only Natives but also better able to back the Empire in its compleat Majesty than any other of the Nation The Motto of this Emperour is Pietate Iustitia In the Collection of these Emperours I have made use of Suetonius Zonaras Carion ....... Heylen Sympson Prideaux and others CHAP. II. Of the Eastern Greek and Turkish Emperours 1. COnstantinus aged thirty one in the year 306. took upon him the care of the Empire he overcame Maxentius and Licinius restored Peace to the Church took Byzantium and having enlarged it called it Constantinople and New Rome He died in Nicomedia Anno 337. aged sixty five Gault tab Chronogr p. 279. 2. Constantius his son succeeded him in the East he favoured the Arrians hearing that Iulianus his Kinsman conspired against him he made Peace with Sapores the Persian King and moved towards him but in his march seised with a Fevor he died Anno 361. Gaulter tab Chron. p. 283. 3. Iulianus succeeded Sirnamed the Apostate son of Constantius the brother of Constantine the Great at first a Christian afterwards a professed enemy of the Gospel fortunate in his Wars against the Almanes Franks and other Transalpine Nations whilest he was a Christian. Prodigiously slain in the Persian War when become a Persecutor aged thirty eight his Motto was Pennis suis perire grave he Reigned but one year and eight months dying he threw his blood up into the Air saying Satiare Nazarene Zon. tom 3. fol. 119. 4. Iovian or Iovinian chosen by the Army a Religious Prince made Peace with the Persian setled the affairs of the Church who being dead Valentinian one of mean birth but great abilities in War was elected Emperour he Reigned
a pledge of his just meaning by means of these men he was brought into a safe place where promising to pay them in money he took back his Vessels and refused to give them any thing in lieu of them whereupon being deserted by the Cretans also he sled into Samothracia without other company than his Gold was taken by Aemylius and led in Triumph through Rome and lost both his Kingdom and Liberty as his Covetousness deserved 9. Pope Benedict the ninth was so very desirous of Gold that he sold the very Popedom it self to Gregory the sixth for money and 't is very probable that he would have sold himself his liberty and life too in case he could have found a purchaser that would part with good store of Coin 10. In the Siege of Cassilinum where Hannibal had reduced them within to a grievous Famine there was a Souldier that had taken a Mouse and sold it to another for two hundred pence rather than he would eat it himself to asswage his cruel hunger but the event was both to the buyer and seller as each did deserve for the seller was consumed with lamine and so enjoyed not his money the buyer though he paid dear for his Morâ—el yet saved his life by it 11. Quintus Cassius being in Spain M. Silius and A. Culpurnius were purposed to slay him as they went about it they were seized upon with their Daggers in their hands the whole matter was confessed by them but such was the extreme covetousness of Cassius that he let them both go having agreed with one for fifty and the other for sixty thousand Sesterces It is scarce to be doubted but that this man would willingly have sold his own Throat to them in case he had had another 12. Ptolomaeus King of Cypâ—â—s by sordid means had heaped up much Treasure and saw that for the sake of his Riches he must perish he therefore embarked himself together with all his Treasure in a Ship and put to Sea that he might bore the bottom of his Vessel die as himself pleased and withal disappoint the expectation of his enemies that gaped for the prey but alas the covetous wretch could not find in his heart to sink so much Gold and Silver as he had with him but returned back with those Riches which should be the reward of his death 13. Vespasian the Emperour practised such kind of Traffick as even a private man would shame to do taking up Commodities at a cheap that he might vend them at a dearer rate He spared not to sell Honours to such as sued for them or Pardons to such as were accused whether they proved guilty or guiltless He made choice of the most ravenous polling Officers he could any where find out advanced them to the highest Places that thereby being grown Rich he might condemn their persons and conâ—iscate their Estates These men he was commonly said to use as Spunges because he both moâ—stened them when dry and squeezed them when wet When some of his special Friends for his honour intended to erect to him a sumptuous Statue worth a Million of Sesterces â—os vero inquit mihi argentum daie he desired rather to receive from them the value thereof in ready Coin as being less troublesom to them and more acceptable to him 14. C. Caligula was the Successour of Tiberius as well in Vice as the Empire some with threats he forced to name him their heir and if they recovered covered after the making of their Wills he dispatched them by poyson holding it ridiculous that they should live long after their Wills were made For the bringing in of money he set up Stews both of Boyes and Women in the Palace it self and sent some through the Streets to invite persons thither for the increasing of the Emperours Revenues and having by this and such like wretched means amassed huge heaps of Treasure to satiate his appetite being inâ—lamed with a longing desire of touching money he would sometimes walk upon heaps of Gold and sometimes as the pieces lay spread abroad in a large Room he would rowle himself over them stark naked Most transcendent and excessive covetousness which blinded so great a Prince and cast him into such an extremity of baseness as to become a publick Pander and Poysoner for the love of money 15. Galba being Proconsul in Spain under Nero the Tarraconians sent him for a Present a Crown of Gold affirming that it weighed fifteen pounds he received it and caused it to be weighed found it to want three pounds which he exacted from them laying a side all shame as if it had been a true debt And to shew he was no Changling after his coming to the Empire he gave with his own hands to a certain Musician that pleased him out of his own Purse twenty Sesterces about three shillings English money and to his Steward at making up of his Books of Account a reward from his Table 16. Lewis the eleventh in fear of his father Charles the seventh abode in Burgundy where he contracted a familiarity with one Conon an Herb-man succeeding his father in the Kingdom Conon took his Journey to Paris to present the King with some Turnips which he had observed him to eat heartily oâ— when he sometimes came from Hunting in the way hunger constrained him to eat them all up save only one of an unusual bigness and this he presented the King with The King delighted with the simplicity of the man commanded him a thousand Crowns and the Turnip wrapt up in Silk to be reserved amongst his Treasures a covetous Courtier had observed this and having already in his mind devoured a greater summ bought a very handsome Horse and made a Present of him to the King who chearfully accepted the gift and gave order that the Tuâ—nip should be brought him when unwrapt and that it was seen what it was the Courtier complained he was deluded No said the King here is no delusion thou hast that which cost me a thousand Crowns for a Horse that is scarcely to be valued at an hundred CHAP. XXXII Of the Tributes and Taxes some Princes have imposed upon their Subjects I Have read of Henry the second King of England that he never laid any Tax or Tribute on his Subjects in all his Reign and yet when he died he left nine hundred thousand pounds in his Treasury a mighty and vast summ if we consider the time wherein this was There are waies it seems for Princes to be Rich without â—ullying their Consciences with heavy and unheard of Oppressions of their Subjects some indeed of the following imposts were but a moderate sheering of the Sheep but others were the â—â—eaing off skin and all and the Princes tyrannically sporting of themselves with the bitter Oppression and woful miseries of their overburdened people Thus 1. Iohannes Basilides the great and cruel Duke of Muscovia commanded from his Subjects a
may see thee end thy Race Death is a Nown yet not declin'd in any Case No certainly we cannot decline it for we run into the Jaws of death by the very same ways we endeavour to avoid it The Sons of Esculapius sometimes dig our graves even then while they are contriving for our health rather than fail we bespeak our Coffins with our own tongues not knowing what we do as in the following Examples 1. King Francis of France had resolved upon the murder of the chief Lords of the Hugonots this secret of Council had been imparted by the Duke of Anjou to Ligneroles his familiar friend he being one time in the Kings Chamber observed some tokens of the Kings displeasure at the insolent demands of some Hugonot Lord whom he had newly dismissed with shew of favour Ligneroles either moved with the lightness incident to Youth which often over-shoots discretion or moved with ambition not to be ignorant of the nearest secrets told the King in his ear That his Majesty ought to quiet his mind with patience and laugh at their insolence for within a few days by that meeting which was almost ripe they would be all in his Net and punished at his pleasure with which words the Kings mind being struck in the most tender sensible part of it he made shew not to understand his meaning and retired to his private Lodgings where full of anger grief and trouble he sent to call the Duke of Anjou charged him with the revealing of this weighty secret he confessed he had imparted the business to Ligneroles but assured him he need not fear he would ever open his Lips to discover it no more he shall answered the King for I will take order that he shall be dispatched before he have time to publish it he then sent for George de Villequier Viscount of Guerchy who he knew bare a grudge against Ligneroles and commanded him to endeavour by all means to kill him that day which was accordingly executed by him and Count Charles of Mansfield as he hunted in the field 2. Candaules the Son of Myrsus and King of Lydia doted so much upon the beauty of his own Wife that he could not be content to enjoy her but would needs enforce one Gyges the Son of Dascylus to behold her naked body and placed the unwilling man secretly in her Chamber where he might see her preparing to bedward This was not so closely carried but that the Queen perceived Gyges at his going forth and understanding the matter took it in such high disdain that she forced him the next day to requite the Kings folly with treason so Gyges being brought again into the same Chamber by the Queen slew Candaules and was rewarded not only with his Wife but the Kingdom of Lydia also wherein he reigned thirty eight years 3. Fredegundis was a woman of admirable beauty and for that reason entertained by Chilperick King of France over whose heart she had gained such an empire that she procured the banishment of his Queen Andovera and the death of his Mother Galsuinda yet neither was she faithful to him but prostituted her body to Landric de la Tour Duke of France and Mayor of the Palace Upon a day the King being to go a hunting came up first into her Chamber and found her dressing her Head with her Back towards him he therefore went softly and struck her gently on the backpart with the hinder end of his hunting Spear she not looking back What dost thou do my Landrick said she it is the part of a good Knight to charge a Lady before rather than behind By this means the King found her falshood and went to his purposed hunting but she perceiving her self discovered sent for Landrick told him what had hapned and therefore enjoyned him to kill the King for his and her safety which he undertook and effected that night as the King returned late from his hunting 4. Muleasses the King of Tunis was skilled in Astrology and had found that by a fatal influx of the Stars he was to lose his Kingdom and also to perish by a cruel death when therefore he heard that Barbarossa was preparing a Navy at Constantinople concluding it was against himself to withdraw from the danger he departed Africa and transported himself into Italy to crave aid of Charles the Emperour against the Turks who he thought had a design upon him In the mean time he had committed the government of his Kingdom to Amida his Son who like an ungrateful Traytor assumed to himself the name and power of the King and having taken his Father upon his return put out his eyes Thus Muleasses drew upon himself that fate he expected by those very means by which he hoped to have avoided it 5. There was an Astrologer who had often and truly predicted the event of divers weighty affairs who having intentively fixed his eyes upon the face of Ioannes Galeacius and contemplated the same Dispose Sir said he of your affairs with what speed you may for it is impossible that you should live long in this world Why so said Galeacius Because replyed the other the Stars whose sight and position on your birth-day I have well observed do threaten you and that not obscurely with death before such time as you shall attain to maturity Well said Galeacius you who believe in these positions of the birth-day-stars as if they were so many Gods how long are you to live through the bounty of the Fates said he I have a sufficient tract of time allotted for my life But said Galeacius that for the future out of a foolish belief of the bounty and clemency of the Fates thou maist not presume further upon the continuance of life than perhaps it is fit thou shalt dye forthwith contrary to thy opinion nor shall the combined force of all the Stars in Heaven be able to save thee from destruction who presumest in this manner to dally with the destiny of Illustrious persons and thereupon commanded him to be carryed to Prison and there strangled 6. Some persons at Syracuse discoursing in a Barbers shop concerning Dionysius they said his tyranny was adamantine and utterly inâ—â—â—ugnable What said the Barber do we speak thus of Dionysius under whose throat I ever and anon hold a Rasor As soon as Dionysius was informed of this he caused his Barber to be crucified and so he paid for his folly at the price of his life 7. Though the Mushroom was suspected yet was it Wine wherein Claudius the Emperour first took his Poyson for being Maudlin-cupped he grew to lament the destiny of his Marriages which he said were ordained to be all unchast yet should not pass unpunished This threat being understood by Agrippina she thought it high time to look about her and by securing him with a ready poyson she provided to secure her self so Claudius stands indebted to his unwary tongue for his
was sirnamed the Ape because he was able to express any thing by a most ingenious imitation 10. Alexander the Great carried his neck somewhat awry and thereupon all the Courtiers and Great men took up the same as a fashion and framed themselves to his manner though in so mall a matter 11. The luxury of the Romans was exceeding great in their Feasts Cloaths Houshold-stuff and whole Families unto the time of Vespasian and it was so confirmed amongst them that it could not be restrained by the force of those many Laws that were made against it But when he came to be Emperour of it self it streight became out of fashion for while he himself observed the ancient manner both in his diet and attire the love and fear of the Prince swayed more with the people than the Law it self 12. It is said of the Emperour Titus Vespasian That he could write in Cyphers and Characters most swiftly striving by way of sport and mirth with his own Secretaries and Clerks whether he or they could write fastest also he could imitate and express exactly any hand-writing whatsoever he had once seen so that he would often profess he could have made a notable Forger and Counterfeiter of Writings 13. When King Henry the Eighth of England about the year 1521. did cut his hair short immediately all the English were so moved with his example that they were all shorn whereas before they used to wear long hair 14. Lewis the Eleventh King of France used to say he would have his Son Charles understand nothing of the Latine Language further than this Qui nescit dissimulare nescit reguare He that knows not how to dissemble knows not how to reign This advice of King Lewis was so evil interpreted by the Nobles of France that thereupon they began to despise all kind of learning On the contrary when Francis the First shewed himself a mighty Favourer of learning and learned men most men in imitation of his example did the like 15. Ernestus Prince of Lunenburg complaining to Luther of the immeasurable drinking that was at Courts Luther replied That Princes ought to look thereunto Ah! Sir said he we that are Princes do so our selves otherwise it would long since have gone down Manent exempla regentum In vulgus When the Abbot throweth the Dice the whole Covent will play 16. Queen Anne the Wife of King Iames had a Wen in her neck to hide which she used to wear a Ruff and this they say was the original and first occasion of that fashion which soon after spread it self over the most part of England 17. A certain Duke of Bavaria before he went to his Diet or Council used to call his Servant to bring him water in a Bason in the bottom whereof was stamped in Gold the Image of Cato Major that so he might fix the impression of his Image in his mind the imitation of whose vertues he had prudently proposed for his practice 18. The Emperour Charles the Fifth having resigned his Kingdom and betaken himself to a Monastery laboured to wash out the stains of his defiled Conscience by Confession to a Priest and with a Discipline of platted Cords he put himself to a constant and sharp Penance for his former wicked life This Discipline his Son King Philip ever had in great veneration and a little before his death commanded it to be brought unto him as it was stained in the blood of Charles his Father Afterwards he sent it to his Son Philip the Third to be kept by him as a Relique and a sacred Monument 19. Antoninus Caracalla being come to Troy visited the Tomb of Achilles adorning it with a Crown and dressing it with flowers and framing himself to the imitation of Achilles he called Festus his best beloved Freed-man by the name of Patroclus While he was there Festus died made away on purpose as it was supposed by him that so he might bury him with the same Solemnities as Achilles did his Friend Indeed he buried him honourably using all the same Rites as Achilles had done in the Funerals of Patroclus In this performance when he sought for hair to cast upon the funeral Pile and that he had but thin hair he was laughed at by all men yet he caused that little he had to be cast into the fire being clipped off for that purpose He also was a studious Imitator of Alexander the Great he went in the Macedonian Habit chose out a Band of young men whom he called the Macedonian Phalanx causing them to use such Arms as were used when Alexander was alive and commanded the Leaders of the Roman Legions to take upon themselves the names of such Captains as served Alexander in his Wars CHAP. XXII Of the Authority of some persons amongst their Souldiers and Country-men and Seditions appeased by them divers ways NEar Assos there are stones which in few days not only consume the flesh of dead bodies but the very bones too and there is in Palestine an Earth of the same operation and quality Thus there are some men who by their singular prudence and authority are able not only to cease the present tumult and disorder of a people but to take such effectual course that the very seeds and causes of their fermentation and distemper should be utterly consumed and removed Of what force the presence of some and the eloquence of others hath been in this matter see in the Chapter following 1. Caius Caesar the Dictator intending to transfer the War into Africa his Legionaries at Rome rose up in a general mutiny desiring to be disbanded and discharged from the War Caesar though otherwise perswaded by all his friends went out to them and shewed himself amongst the enraged multitude He called them Quirites that is Commoners of Rome by which one word he so shamed and subdued them that they made answer they were Souldiers and not Commoners and being then by him publickly discharged they did not without difficulty obtain of him to be restored to their Commissions and places 2. Arcagathus the Son of Agathocles had slain Lycifcus a great Captain for some intemperate words whereupon the friends of the dead put the Army into such a commotion that they demanded Arcagathus to death and threatned the same punishment to Agathocles himself unless he did yield up his Son Besides this divers Captains with their Companies spake of passing over to the Enemy Agathocles fearing to be delivered into the hands of the Enemy and so to be put to some ignominious death thought in case he must suffer he had better die by the hands of his own Souldiers so laying aside the Royal Purple and putting on a vile garment he came forth to them silence was made and all ran together to behold the novelty of the thing when he made a Speech to them agreeable to the present state of things he told them of the great