before his Father who had also a Father in Heaven by whom he hoped to be forgiven and if he would please to grant him his life he would assure him to be ever after a Loyal and Obedient Son who lived and would continually live in a constant forrow for what was past and if he intended to deal otherwise with him he yet desired him to remember That he was his own flesh and blood and that though the offence were only his yet the just Father must needs bear a part of the punishment inflicted upon the guilty Son but that in shewing mercy no inconvenience could ensue and that if he should be inexorable he should lose the most Obedient Son that ever Father had having ended these and many other words to the same effect he with great humility prostrated himself upon the Earth expecting his Fathers Sentence either of Life or Death this struck so great an impression into the Emperors heart to hear and see his Son shew such humility and to shed so many tears that he could not forbear to do the like and commanding him to arise from the ground with joy mixed with tears both from himself and his Attendants he immediately pardoned him and restored him to his Grace and Fatherly love and to the same Offices and Dignities he had before and from thence forward the Son continued constant in that Loyalty and Duty which he owed to his Father and Soveraign Lord so long as they lived together Imperial Hist p. 423. XXXVII A Son of the Lord Montpensier an Italian going to Puzzuolo to visit the Sepulcher of his Father was so overcharged with Passion that after he had washed all the parts of his Monument with his lamentable Tears he fainted and fell down dead upon the Sepulcher of his Father Guichardine Ital. Hist p. 261. XXXVIII Decimus Emperor of Rome had a purpose and earnest desire to set the Crown upon the head of his Son Decius out he utterly refused it saying I fear lest being made an Emperor I should forget that I am a Son I had rather be no Emperor and a dutiful Son than an Emperor and such a Son as hath forsaken his due obedience let then my Father bear the Rule and let this be my Empire to obey with all humility whatsoever he shall command me By this means the Solemnity was put off and the young Man was not Crowned unless you will say that his signal Piety towards his Parent was a more glorious Crown to him than that which consisted of Gold and Jewels Valer. Maxim lib. 4. XXXIX In the Civil Wars of Rome between Augustus and Mark Anthony as it often falls out that Fathers Sons Brothers Brothers take contrary part so in that last Battel at Actium where Augustus was Conqueror when the Prisoners as the Custom is were counted up Metellus was brought to Octavianus whose face tho much changed by anxiety and imprisonment was known by Metellus his Son who had been on the contrary part withtears therefore he runs into the imbraces of his Father and then turning to Augustus This thy Enemy said he hath deserved death but I am worthy of some reward for the service I have done thee I therefore beseech thee instead of that which is owing me that thou wouldst preserve this man and cause me to be killed in his stead Augustus moved with this piety though a great Enemy gave to the Son the life of the Father Lonic Theat 273. XL. Demetrius the King of Asia and Macedonia was taken Prisoner in Battel by Seleucus King of Syria after which Antigonus his Son was the quiet possessour of his Kingdom yet did he change the Royal Purple into a mourning habit and in continual tears sent abroad his Ambassadours to the Neighbouring Kings that they would interpose in his Fathers behalf for the obtaining of his Liberty he also sent to Seleucus and promised him the Kingdom and himself as an hostage and security if he would free his Father from Prison after he knew that his Father was dead he set forth a great Navy and went out to receive the body of the deceased which by Seleucus was sent toward Macedonia he received it with such mournful Solemnity and so many tears as turned all men into wonder and compassion Antigonus stood in the Poop of a great Ship built for that purpose cloathed in black bewailing his dead Father the Ashes were inclosed in a golden Urn over which he stood a continual and disconsolate Spectator he caused to be sung the Virtues and Noble Atchievements of the deceased Prince with voices form'd to Piety and Lamentation the Rowers also in the Gallies so ordered the stroaks of their Oars that they kept time with the mournful voices of the others in this manner the Navy came near to Corinth so that the Rocks and Shores themselves seemed to be moved to mourning Plutarchs Lives Thus far of Paternal and Filial Love let us proceed to that between Brethren XLI It is usually counted rare to see Brothers live together in mutual love and agreement with each other and it is likewise commonly observed that their Animosities have been managed with greater rancour bitterness than if they had been the greatest Strangers on the other side where this Fraternal Love has rightly seated it self in the Soul it has appeared as real and vigorous as any other sort of Love whatsoever of which there want not very remarkable Instances In the year 1585. the Portugal Ship called St. Jago was cast away upon the Shallows near St. Lawrence and towards the Coast of Mosambique here it was that divers Persons had leapt into the great Boat to save their lives and finding that it was overburdened they chose a Captain whom they swore to obey who caused them to cast Lots and such as the Lot fell upon to be cast overboard there was one of those that in Portugal are called New Christians who being allotted to be cast overboard into the Sea had a younger Brother in the same Boat that suddenly rose up and desired the Captain that he would pardon and make free his Brother and let him supply his place saying My Brother is elder and of better knowledge in the World than I and therefore more fit to live in the World and to help my Sisters and Friends in their need so that Thad rather die for him than live without him at which request they saved the elder Brother and threw the younger at his own desire into the Sea who swum at least six hours after the Boat and though they held up their hands with naked Swords willing him that he should not once come to touch the Boat yet laying hold thereon and having his hand half cut in two he would not let go so that in the end they were constrained to take him in again both these Brethren I knew saith my Author and have been in company with them Linschotens Voyages p. 147. XLII When the Emperor
he found he had received as many as were intended to be offered he bound them up in one bundle and protesting That he had not so much as looked into any one of them he burnt them all in the sight of the Fathers giving them moreover a serious exhortation to Peace and a cordial agreement among themselves Chetwinds Hist Coll. p. 42. LXXVI It is reported of Julius Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey the Great he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles of Rome under their own hands which gave sufficient evidence to condemn them but he burnt them all that no Monument might remain of a future Grudge and that no man might be driven to extremities or to break the Peace through any apprehensions that he lived suspected or should therefore be hated Rogers Pen. Citizen p. 70. LXXVII James King of Arragon was a great Enemy to Contentions and Contentious Lawyers insomuch as having heard many complaints against Semenus Rada a great Lawyer who by his Quirks and Wiles had been injurious as well as troublesome to many he banished him his Kingdom as a man that was not to be endured to live in a place to the Peace of which he was so great an Enemy Clarks Mirrour p. 343. At Fez in Africa they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any Controversy amongst them both Parties Plaintiff and Defendant come before the chief Judge and all at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the cause is heard and ended Burtons Melancholy Servius Sulpitius was an Heathen Lawyer but an excellent Person it is said of him that he respected Equity and Peace in all that he did and alwaies sought rather to compose differences than to multiply Suits in Law Clarks Examples p. 344. LXXVIII It is noted of Phocion a most excellent Captain of the Athenians that although for his military ability and success he was chosen forty and five times General of their Armies by universal approbation yet he himself did ever persuade them to Peace Flutarchs Lives I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of England saith Mr. Trenchfield who was Married to David King of Scots that she was familiarly called Jane make peace both for her earnest and successful endeavours therein Trenchfield Hist Inproved p. 67. Sertorius the more he prospered and prevailed in his Wars in Spain the more importunate he was with Metellus and Pompey the Roman Generals that came against him that laying down arms they would give him leave to live in peace and to return into Italy again professing he preferred a private life there before the Government of many Cities Plutarch Vit. Sert. LXXIX The lovers of Justice and impartial Administrators thereof have been likewise famous in all Ages and the Persons hereafter mentioned were great lovers and observers of this excellent virtue which is of so much advantage to mankind Herkenbald a Man mighty noble and famous had no respect of Persons in Judgment but condemned and punished with as great severity the rich and his own Kindred as the poor and those whom he knew least in the world being once very sick and keeping his Bed he heard a great bustle in a Chamber next to that wherein he lay and withal a Woman crying and shrieking out he inquired of his Servants what the matter was but they all concealed the Truth from him at last one of his Pages being severely threatned by him and told that he would cause his Eyes to be pulled out of his head if he did not tell him plainly what all that stir was told him in few words My Lord said he your Nephew hath ravished a Maid and that was the noise you heard The Fact being examined and plainly proved Herkenbald condemned his dear Nephew to be hanged till he should be dead but the Officer who had the charge to execute the Sentence seeming as if he had been very willing and forward to do it went presently and gave the young man notice of all that had passed wishing him to keep out of the way awhile and some few hours after he comes again to his sick Lord and affirms contrary to truth that he had put his sentence in Execution and that the young man was dead about five days after the young Gentleman thinking his Unkle had forgotten all came and peeped in at his Chamber door the Unkle having espied him calls him by his name and with fair words inticeth him to his Beds head till he was within his reach and then suddenly catching him by the locks with the left hand and pulling him forcibly to him with his right hand he gave him such a ready blow into the Throat with a Knife that he died instantly so great was the love that this Nobleman bore to Justice Camerarius Meditat. p 468. LXXX Sir John Markham was Knighted by King Edward the Fourth and by him made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench at which time one Sir Thomas Cook late Lord Mayor of London and Knight of the Bath a man of a great Estate was agreed upon to be accused of High Treason and a Commission issued out to try him in Guildhall The King himself by private instructions to the Judge appeared so far in the cause that Cook though he was never so innocent must be found guilty and if the Law were too short the Judge must stretch it to the Kings purpose The fault they laid to his charge was for lending Monies to Queen Margaret Wife to King Henry the sixth the proof was the confession of one Hawkins who was rack'd in the Tower Sir Thomas Cook pleaded that Hawkins came indeed to request him to lend a Thousand Marks upon good security but that understanding who it was for he had sent him away with a refusal The Judge declared that this proof reached not to a charge of High-Treason and that Misprision of Treason was the highest it could amount to and intimated to the Jury to be tender in matter of life and discharging good consciences upon which they found it accordingly only Misprision for which the Judge was turned out of his Place and lived privately the rest of his days and gloried in this That though the King could make him no Judge yet he could not make him no upright Judge Fullers H. State p. 263. LXXXI Charles the bold Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders had a Nobleman in special favour with him to whom he had committed the Government of a Town in Zealand where living in a great deal of ease he fell in love with a Woman of a beautiful body and a mind and manners no whit inferior he passed and repassed by her door and soon after grew bolder entred into discourse with her discovers his passion and beseeches a compassionate resentment of it he makes large promises and uses all the ways by which he hoped to gain her but all in
success in his Affairs was grown up to an abundance of wealth while he was at Florence a young man presented himself to him asking him an Alms for Gods sake Frescobald beheld the ragged stripling and in despight of his tatters reading in his countenance some significations of Virtue was moved with pity and demanded his Country and name I am said he of England my name is Thomas Cromwell my Father meaning his Father in Law is a poor man a Clothshearer I am strayed from my Country and am now come into Italy with the French Army who were overthrown at Gatylion where I was Page to a Foot Soldler odrrying after him his Pike and Burganet Frescobald partly in pity of his condition and partly in love to the English Nation amongst whom he had received some Civilities took him into his House made him his Guest and at his departure gave him a Horse new Apparel and sixteen Duckets of Gold in his Purse Cromwell giving him hearty thanks returned into his Country where in process of time he became in such favour with King Henry the Eighth that he raised him to the dignity of Lord High Chancellor of England In the mean time Fresbobald by several great losses was become poor but remembring that some English Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Duckets he came to London to seek after it not thinking of what had passed betwixt Cromwell and him but travelling earnestly about his business he accidentally met with the Lord Chancellor as he was riding to Court as soon as the Lord Cromwell saw him he thought he should be the Merchant of Florence of whose liberality he had tasted in times past immediately he alights imbraces him and with a broken voice scarce refraining from Tears he demanded if he were not Francis Frescobald the Florentine yes Sir said he and your humble Servant my Servant said Cromwell no as you have not been my Servant in times past so will I not now account you any other than my great and especial Friend assuring you that I have just reason to be sorry that you knowing what I am or at least what I should be yet would not let me understand your arrival in this Country had I known it I would have certainly paid part of that debt which I confess I owe you but thanks be to God that I have yet time Well Sir in conclusion you are heartily welcome but having now weighty affairs in my Princes Cause you must excuse me that I can stay no longer with you therefore at this time I take my leave desiring you with the faithful mind of a Friend that you forget not to dine with me this day at my House Frescoblad wonders who this Lord should be at last after some pause he remembers him to be the same whom he had relieved at Florence he therefore repairs to his House not a little rejoyced and walking in the outward Court attended his return the Lord Cromwell came soon after and was no sooner dismounted but he again imbraced him with so friendly a countenance as the Lord Admiral and other Nobles then in his company much wondred at he turning back and holding Frescobald by the hand Do you not wonder my Lords said he that I seem so glad to see this man this is he by whose means I have attained to my present Degree and therewith related all that had passed betwixt them then holding him still by the hand he led him to the room where he dined and seated him next to himself the Lords being departed he desired to know what occasion had brought him to London Frescobald in few words truly opened his case to him to which Cromwell returned Things that are already past Mr. Frescobald can by no power or policy of Man be recalled yet is not your sorrow so peculiar to your self but that by the bond of mutual love I am able to bear a part therein whereby in this your distress you may receive some Consolation it is fit I should repay some part of that debt wherein I stand bound to you as it is the part of a thankful man to do and I further promise you upon the word of a true Friend that during this life and state of mine I will not fail to do for you in any thing wherein my Authority may prevail Then taking him by the hand he led him into a Chamber and commanding all to depart he locked the door then opening a Chest he first took out sixteen Duckets and delivering them to Frescobald My Friend said he here is your Money you lent me at my departure from Florence here are ten more bestowed upon mine Apparel with ten more you disbursed for the Horse I rode upon but considering you are a Merchant it does not seem honest to me to return your Money without some consideration for the long detaining of it take you therefore these four Bags in every of which is four hundred Duckets to receive and enjoy from the hand of your assured Friend The modesty of Frescobald would have refused them but Cromwell forced them upon him this done he caused him to give him the names of all his Debtors and the Sums they owed the List he delivered to one of his Servants and charged him to find out the men if they were within any part of the Kingdom and strictly to charge them to make payment within fifteen days or else to abide the hazard of his displeasure the Servant so well performed the command of his Master that in a very short time the whole Sum was paid in during all this time Frescobald lodged in the Lord Chancellors House who gave him the entertainment he deserved and oft-times persuaded him to continue in England offering to lend him sixty Thousand Duckets for four years if he would stay and make his Bank in London but he desired to return into his own Country which he did with the great favour of the Lord Cromwell and there richly arrived but he enjoyed his wealth but a short time for the first year after his return he died Clarks Lives p. 42. CXVII Not many years since in the Kingdom of Naples a young Merchant named Oliverio fell desperately in love with the Countess of Castelnovo and laid siege to her Chastity for a good while and the Count going to his Country House and taking his Countess and Family along with him the Marquess being still more inflamed goes into the Country one day hard by a Hawking and le ts fly his Hawk into Count Castlenovo's Garden where it chanced that he and his Countess were walking the Marquess made bold to follow his Hawk and the Count with very high Civilities did welcome him and caused a Banquet to be presently provided where he and his Lady entertained him when he was gone the Count began to commend him telling his Wife That he was one of the most hopeful Noblemen and of the most excellent accomplishments of any in the whole Kingdom of Naples These
not enduring delay caught up a Ladder and rearing it against the wall and holding his shield over his head began to mount it all which he performed with that celerity that before the Guard of the place had observed it he had gained the top the Enemy durst not approach to deal with him hand to hand but at a distance threw Javelins and Darts at him in such number that he was much oppressed by them the Macedonians endeavoured to mount upon two Ladders they had advanced but their number and weight that ascended caused them to break under them then was Alexander left destitute of any assistance but scorning to retire by the way that he came armed as he was he leaped into the midst of his Enemies and made a bold and couragious resistance on his right hand he had a Tree that grew near the wall and on the left the wall itself to keep him from being inviroroned and there he fought it with the stoutest of them many a blow he received upon his Helmet and Shield at last he had a wound under the Pap with an Arrow with the pain of which he was struck to the ground then the Indian that had given him the wound carelesly approaching too near him to strike him as he lay received Alexanders Sword into his Bowels and tumbled down by his side The King catching hold of a Bough that hung downward again recovered his standing and then began to challenge the best of them to the Fight in this posture he was found by Peucestes who by this time had got over the wall and after him a multitude of others by which means the Castle was taken and most of them put to the Sword Justin Hist lib. 12. XII Sir Robert Knowls was born but of mean Parentage in the County of Chester yet for his valiant behaviour was advanced from a common Soldier in the French Wars under King Edward the Third to be a great Commander and being sent General of an Army into France in despight of all their power he drove all the People before him like so many Sheep destroying Towns Castles and Cities in such a manner and number that long after in memory of this Act their sharp Points and Gable ends of overthrown Houses and Minsters were called Knowls his Miters after which intending to make himself as much beloved of his Country as he was feared of Forreign Nations he built the goodly fair Bridge of Rochester over the River of Medway with a Chappel and a Chancery at the East end thereof He founded also a Colledge with an Hospital adjoining thereto in the Town of Pontfract in Yorkshire He likewise built an Hospital in the City of Rome for the entertainment of English Travellers and Pilgrims which since is turned into a Seminary for our English Fugitives he died at his Mannor of Scone-Thorp in Norfolk in 1407. Clarks Mirrour p. 217. XIII In a dangerous battel against the Danes at a place called Longcarty the Scots beginning to retreat there was living hard by one Hay a man of exceeding strength and of an excellent Courage who suddenly caught up an Ox Yoak and together with his Sons flew into the Battel and so valiantly and fortunately behaved himself that what by frighting the Enemy and incouraging his Friends he reinforced the Scots who were ready to shrink and fly and obtained for them a great and glorious Victory The King with the States of the Kingdom ascribed the Victory and their own safety to his Valour and Prowess whereupon in that very place the most fruitful grounds were assigned to him and to his Heirs for ever who in testimony hereof have set over their Coat a Yoke for their Crest Camb. Britt XIV Gunhilda the Daughter of King Canutus was Married to the Emperor Henry the Third who being accused of Adultery and none sound to defend her cause at last an English Page a meer Boy and Dwarf who for the littleness of his stature was generally and jestingly sirnamed Mimecan this Champion adventured to maintain her innocency against a mighty Giantlike Combatant who in the fight at one blow cutting the sinews of his Adversaries Legs with another felled him to the ground and then with his Sword taking his Head from his Sholders he redeemed both the Empresses life and Honour Bakers Chronicle p. 17. XV. In a bloody Fight betwen Amurath the Third Emperor of the Turks and Lazarus Despot of Servia many thousands fell on both sides but in conclusion the Turks had the Victory and the Despot was slain Amurath after that great Victory with some few others of his chief Captains taking a view of the dead bodies which without number lay on heaps on the Field like Mountains a Christian Soldier sore wounded and all gore blood seeing him in a staggering manner arose as if it had been from death out of a heap of slain men and making toward him for want of strength fell down many times by the way as he came as if he had been a drunken man at length drawing nigh to him when they that guarded the Kings Person would have stayed him he was by Amurath himself commanded to come nearer supposing that he would have craved his life of him This magnanimous half dead Christian pressing nearer to him as if he would for honour sake have kist his feet suddenly stabbed him in the bottom of his Belly with a short dagger which he had under his Coat of which wound that great King and Conqueror presently died the name of this man was Miles Cobeletz who shortly after was hewn in pieces Turk Hist XVI King William the Second called Rufus being reconciled to his Brother Robert he assisted him to recover the Fort of Mount St. Michael which their Brother Henry did forcibly hold in Normandy during which Siege stragling one time alone upon the shoar he was set upon by three Horsemen who assaulted him so fiercely that they drove him from his Saddle and his Saddle from his Horse but he catching up his Saddle and withal drawing out his Sword defended himself till rescue came and being afterward blamed for being so obstinate to defend his Saddle It would have angred me said he to the very heart that the Knaves should have bragged they had won the Saddle from me Bakers Chron. p. 50. XVII George Castriot or Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus was inspired with such a Spirit of valour by God in defending his Country from the barbarous Turks that in fighting against them for very eagerness of Spirit his blood would usually burst out of his lips and he struck with such violence that he clave many of them asunder from the head to the middle and usually he cut off an Arm with Armour on at one blow and with his own hands he slew above two Thousand of them at several times he was such a mirrour of Manhood and so terrible to the Turks that nine years after his death as they passed through Lyssa where his body lay
King of the Heneâ—…tians and she her self beseiged by the same Enemy yet nevertheless this wretched woman fell so far in Love with him that upon promise of Marriage she agreed to deliver into his hands the City of Friol who burnt it slew the men and carried the women and Children Captives into Austria Cacanus took Rhomilda into his bed for one night only and then delivered her to be abused with the lust of twelve Henesians and soon after caused her to be impaled alive upon a sharp stake Ca. Op. CHAP. VI. The Tremendous Consequences of Vnchastity Intemperance and Ambition IT is not to be imagined that I should give an 〈◊〉 of the Thousandth part of the mischiefs and miâ—…ries that have been occasioned by Lust and Debauchery all Ages and Nations are full of lamentable Accidents proceeding therefrom for though this violent Passion may seem to promise a world of vain pleasure and though lascivious Persons use many times all manner of Patience services and profound submissions to gain the desired object yet when they have obtained their flagitious desires and think themselves absolutely happy in the midst of their libidinous and unchast Embraces even at that very instant there is sometimes brought in an unexpected Reckoning that drenches all their sweets in blood and closes up their unlawful pleasures in the black and dismal Sables of death as by the following Examples is demonstrated wherein Divine Vengeance has visibly appeared in the woful Tragedies which have been occasioned by Adultery Unchastity Lust I. The first I shall mention is partly Comical as well as Tragical A Knight of Eminent Fame and of great nore with Henry the Fifth King of England as being personally with him in all his Wars in France after the King had conquered and setled that Kingdom this noble Englishman retired himself into his own Country he had a Lady of such beauty as attracted the Eyes of all men who residing with her Husband in the City of Norwich he after so many troubles and adventures resolved to lead a more sequestred life and next to the pleasure of his fair Consort he desired to lead a contemplative life and being very rich according to the Devotion of that Age by the direction of the Priests he resolved to build a handsome Church near his own House which they said would be for the benefit of his Soul and likewise a Convent allowing maintenance to an Abbot and twelve Fryers having finished them there were two of the Friers one called Fryer John the other Fryer Richard who were at continual variance and enmity to each other and could not by any mediation be reconciled it was the dayly Custom of this Knight and Lady to rise every morning early to Mattins or Prayers and she being of an affable and courteous disposition to all Persons this good humour of hers bred a strange uncivil boldness in Fryer John so that she never came through the Cloyster but he was still attending her with many bows cringes and complements and she suspecting nothing returned him Thanks again which so far incouraged the Fryer that he made himself suspected by his Fellows who as much as they durst whispered it about the Convent he still growing more confident presumed at last to write to her wherein he at large discovered his violent Passion for her this Letter with great difficulty he conveyed to the Ladies hands who being much surprized that such lasciviousness should proceed from one that vowed and professed Chastity and not being certain but that it might be a design of her Husband to try her Virtue she thereupon resolves that to prevent her Honour from being called in question she would discover the whole intrigue to her Lord which she had no sooner done but he began to repent him of his former Charity in regard of this so great Ingratitude yet meditating Revenge he writes an answer to this Letter to which he commands his Wife to set her hand to this effect that she was very compassionate of his Love and that such a night her Husband being to ride toward London he should be admitâ—… lodged and entertained according to his own desire the Fryer received this Letter with extream Joy and providing himself with clean linnen a perfumed Nightcap and other necessaries he exactly observes the time and place and is accordingly admitted by the Lady her self alone and conveyed to a private Chamber where he was no sooner entred but in came the Knight and his Man and in great fury without giving him the least time either to call for help to the House or to Heaven they strangled the lustful Fryer and left him dead upon the place this deed was no sooner done and his rage somewhat appeased but he began to consider the horrour and danger of the Fact both as to his life and Estate and after several projects betwixt him and his Servant they concluded some way or other to have his body conveyed back into the Monastery it being divided from his own House only by a Brick-wall finding a Ladder hard by the man mounts it with the dead Fryer on his back and sits with him astride on the wall then drawing up the Ladder and letting it down on the other side he descends down into the Convent where espying the House of Office he sets the Body thereon as upright as possible and so leaves it and conveys himself over the wall again but for hast forgot the Ladder and tells his Master how and where he had bestowed the Fryer at which being better satisfied they both retired to Bed all being concealed both from the Lady and the rest of the Family who were fast asleep it happened at the fame instant that Fryer Richard being much troubled with a looseness in his Body had occasion to rise and being somewhat hastily and unhandsomely taken he hasts to the House of Office where by the light of the Moon he espied some Body before him and therefore contained himself as long as he was able but finding there was no Remedy he first called and then intreated to come away but hearing no body answer he imagined into be done on purpose and the rather because coming nearer he plainly perceived it was Fryer John his 〈◊〉 Adversary who the louder he called seemed the less to hear loth he was to play the sloven in the yard because the whole Convent had taken notice of a cold he had got and how it then wrought with him therefore judging this pretended deafness was out of spight and malice on purpose to shame him he snatcht up a Brickbat to be revenged and striking his Adversary full upon the Breast down tumbles Fryer John without life or motion which he seeing thought at first to râ—ise him up but after many Trials finding him to be stone dead he verily believes that he had killed him what shall he do now The Gates are fast locked and fly for his life he could not but as sudden extremities
unconcerned with that cruel kind of death he was speedily to undergo yea when by the Executioners knife he was cut from the shoulder to the middle of the breast he neither changed his Countenance nor his voice but with a Prayer to God 〈◊〉 ended his life Fulgo Ex. p. 365. CHAP. IV. The Tremendous Consequences of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude Displayed in many memorable Histories HItherto we have discovered only the light side of the Cloud by shewing the extraordinary effects of Love Friendship Magnanimity Courage Fidelity Chastity Temperance and Humility Let us now consider a little the dark side thereof by giving an account of the dreadful consequences of the contrary Vices that is Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude which three will suffice to give some considerable instances in this Chapter wherein I shall observe the same method as in the former and therefore shall insist first of the extream Hatred in some Persons toward others for as amongst the kinds of living Creatures there are certain Enmities and Dissentions whereof there is no apparent reason to be given as of that betwixt the Spider and the Serpent the Ant and Weasel and the like so amongst Men implacable Hatreds are conceived many times upon undiscernible but most times upon unjustifiable grounds I. When Sigismund Marquess of Brandenburg had obtained the Kingdom of Hungary in right of his Wife it then appeared what a mortal hatred there was betwixt the Hungarians and Bohemians for when Sigismund commanded Stephanus Konth and with him twenty more Hungarian Knights to be taken and brought him in Chains as Persons that had delivered the obedience they owed him not one of all those would name or honour him in the least as their King and before either they or their Servants would change their minds they were desirous to lose their heads Pulgosus p. 1189. 2. Timon the Athenian had the Sirname of Manhater he was once very rich but through his liberality and overgreat bounty he was reduced to extream poverty in which condition he had large experience of the malice and ingratitude of such as he had formerly been helpful to he therefore fell into a vehement hatred of all mankind he was glad of their misfortunes and promoted the Ruine of all men as far as he might with his own safety when the People in honour of Alcibiades attended on him home as they used when he had obtained a Cause Timon would not as he was wont to others turn aside out of the way but would meet him on purpose and use to say to him Go on my Son and prosper for thou shalt one day plague all these People with some signal Calamity which accordingly happened some years after he built him an House in the Fields that he might shun the converse of men he admitted to him only one Apemantus a Person much of his own humour and he saying to him Is not this a fine Supper It would said he be much better if thou wert absent This Timon gave order his Sepulcher should be placed behind a Dunghill and this to be his Epitaph Hic sumpost vitam miseramque inopemque sepultus Nomen non quaeras Dii te Lector male perdant Here now I lie after my wretched fall Ask not my Name the Gods confound you all III. Hyppolitus was also of the same Complexion as he expresses himself in Euripides and Seneca if you will have a tast of his language that in Seneca sounds to this purpose I hate stie curse detest them all Cail't Reason Nature Madness as you please In a true Hatred of them there 's some ease First shall the water kindly dwell with fire Dread Gulphs shall be the Mariners desire Out of the West shall be the break of day And cruel Wolves with tender Lamb-skins play Before a Woman gain my conquer'd mind To quit this hatred and to grow more kind IV. Gualter Earl of Brenne had married the eldest Daughter of Tancred King of Sicily and as Heir of the Kingdom went out with four hundred Horse to take possession thereof by the help of these and a marvellous felicity he had recovered a great part of it but at the last he was overcome and taken Prisoner by Theobaldus Germanus at the City Sarna upon the third day after the Conqueror offered him his liberty and restoration to his Kingdom upon condition he would confirm to Theobaldus what he was possessed of therein but he in an unconceivable hatred to him that had made him his Prisoner replied That he should ever scorn to receive these or greater offers from so base a hand as his Theobaldus had reason to resent this affront and therefore told him He would make him repent his so great insolence at which Gualter inflamed with a greater fury tore his Cloths and broke the swathings and ligatures of his wounds crying out That he would live no longer since he was fallen into the hands of such a man that treated him with Threats upon which he tore open his wounds and thrust his own hands into his Bowels and after that resolvedly refusing all food and ways of cure he forcibly drove out his furious Soul from his Body and left only one Daughter behind him who might have been happier had she not had a Beast to her Father Fulgosus p. 1182. V. Who can sufficiently declare the mighty hatred which Pope Boniface the Eighth bore toward the Gibelline Faction It is the custom that upon Ash-Wednesday the Pope sprinkles some Ashes upon the heads of the chief Prelates of the Church and at the doing of it used to say Remember thou art Ashes and that into Ashes thou shalt return When therefore the forementioned Pope came to perform this to Porchetus Spinola Archbishop of Genoa and suspected him to be a favourer of the Gibellines he cast the Ashes not on his head but into his Eyes and perversely changed the use of the former words into these Remember thou art a Gibelline and that with the Gibellines thou shalt return into Ashes B. Reynolds on the Passions VI. Calvin was so odious to the Papists that they would not name him hence in their Spanish Expurgatory Index p. 204. they give this direction Let the name of Calvin be suppressed and instead of it put Studiosus quidam a certain Student or Schollar and one of their Proselites went from Mentz to Rome to change his Christian name of Calvinus into the adopted name of Baronius Chetwinds Collect. p. 90. VII This passion of Hatred Malice Anger Wrath and Envy is a very dangerous disease where-ever it prevails and like the mischievous evil Spirit in the Gospel it casts us into all kind of dangers and frequently hurries us into the Chambers of Death itself The Sarmatian Ambassadors cast themselves at the Feet of Valentinian the first Emperor of Rome imploring Peace he observing the meanness of their Apparel demanded if all their Nation were such as they who replied It was their Custom to send to him such as
danger that the Child was in by reason of their cruel usage of him he discharged him bidding him go home and take his Child with him which he accordingly did with an heavy heart for his poor Boy who within fourteen days after dyed Book Martyrs vol. 3. 20. Joan Grand-Child to Robert King of Naples by Charles his Son succeeded his Grand Father in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily 1343. A woman of a beautiful body and rare indowments of nature she was first Married to her Cousen Andrew a Prince of Royal Extraction and of a sweet and loving disposition but he being not able to satisfy her wantonness she kept company with leud Persons at last she grew weary of him complaining of his insufficiency and caused him to be hung and strangled upon a beam in the night-time in the City of Aversa and then threw out his body into a Garden where it lay some days 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 Fullers H. state p. 348. 21. Bithricus King of the West Saxons Married Ethelburga Daughter of Offa King of Mercia by whom after he had reigned seventeen years he was poysoned and buried at Warham upon which occasion it was ordained by the nobles that from thenceforth the Kings Wives should not be called Queens nor be suffered to sit with them in place of Estate this Ethelburga fled into France with infinite Treasure where offering a mighty Sum of her Gold to Charles King of France he put her to her choice whether she would have him or his Son to her Husband she chose the Son by reason as she said That he was the youngest then said Charles hadst thou chosen me thou shouldest have had my Son but now thoushalt neither have him nor me and then sent her into a Monastery to be made a Nun where she continued an Abbess for some years but afterwards being found to have committed Adultery with a Lay-man she was cast out of the Monastery and ended her life in poverty and much misery Stows Chronicle p. 77. 22. When Alexander the great had determined to invade the Dacae where he knew Spitamenes was who not only had revolted himself but had also drawn divers others into the society of his Rebellion and had at sometimes overthrown some of Alexanders Captains there fell out one thing Remarkable the Wife of Spitamenes upon whom he extreamly doted when by her Feminine Flatteries she was not able to perswade her Husband to make tryal of the victors Clemency and to endeavour to appease Alexander whom he could not avoid nor escape she set upon her husband when being intoxicated with wine he lay fast a sleep and drawing a sword that she had concealed under her Garments she cut off his head delivering it to a Servant who was accessary thereunto and with him only in her Company as she was with her Garments besprinkled with his blood she went directly to Alexanders Camp and sent word that there was one there to inform him of something that he was concerned to know from her when she was admitted she desired the Servant might come in who shewed the head of Spitamenes to those that searched what he carried wrapt up in his Garment when the King knew this though he looked upon it as a considerable peace of service to him that a Renegado and a Traytor was dispatched yet had he a horror of the fact that she should insnare his life who had well deserved at her hands who was her husband and Parent of the Children that they had betwixt them and therefore considering the wickedness of the Fact overweighed any pretended merit from himself he sent her word That she should forthwith depart his Camp lest she should infect the Greeks with the Barbarity of her Example Wanly Hist Man p. 374. XXIII Fulvius understanding that he was condemned by the Triumviri betook himself to his Wife hoping to be hid and some way kept private by her in this time of his extremity he might the rather expect her fidelity in this thing because that of a slave he had made her a Free-woman and received her to his Bed but he found a deadly Enemy instead of a Friend for she suspecting that he was in love with another Woman did her self accuse and discover him to the Triumviri by whose order he died in a miserable manner Fulgosus Exercit. p. 609. XXIV The noble Pittacus so famous for his Valour and as much renowned for his Wisdom and Justice feasted upon a time certain of his Friends who were strangers his Wife coming in at the midst of Dinner being angry at something else overthrew the Table and tumbled down all the Provision under foot now when his Guests were wonderfully dismayed abashed thereat Pittacus undisturbed at the matter turned to them said There is not one of us all but he hath his Cross and one thing or other wherewith to exercise his patience and for my own part this is the only thing that checketh my felicity for were it not for this shrew my Wife I were the happiest man in the world So that of me these verses may be verified This Man who while he walks the Street Or publick place is happy thought No sooner sets in House his Feet But wo is him and not for nought His Wife him rules and that 's a spight She scolds she fights from noon to night Here likewise what Mr. Francis Quarles says of this matter describing a loving Husband and Wife They were so one that none could justly say Which of them rul'd or whether did obey He rul'd because she would obey yet she In so obeying rul'd as well as he What lik't him best it need no other cause To like her too but only his Applause But on the contrary Ill thrives that hapless Family that shews A Cock that 's silent and a Hen that Crows I know not which live more unnatural Lives Obeying Husbands or Commanding Wives XXV We are next to consider the rigorous severity of some Parents to their Children and what unnatural hatred others have shewed toward them for though every thing is carried on by a natural instinct to preserve itself in its own being and the Monsters of the Sea draw out the Breast and give suck to their young Ones yet the Extraordinary severities of some Parents to their Children may assure us that there are greater Monsters upon the Land then are to be found in the bottom of the Deep and if some of these may extenuate their Inhumanities by I know not what virtues or pretences yet the barbarities of the rest must be wholly imputable to their savage
caused the Body of the young man for whom his Father Petitioned to be divided into two parts commanding that one half of his Carcase should be laid on the right and the other half on the left hand of the Highway by which the Army was to march Rawleighs Hist World LXXXIV It is remarkable what is reported by Zonaras of the Emperor Basilius Macedo who being hunting wherein he much delighted a great Stag turned furiously upon him and fastened one of the Branches of his Horns into the Emperors Girdle and lifting from his Horse carried him a distance off to the great danger of his life which when a Gentleman in the Train espied he drew his Sword and cut the Emperors Girdle by which means he was preserved and had no hurt at all but observe his reward the Gentleman for this Act was questioned and adjudged to have his head struck off because he presumed to expose his drawn Sword so near the Person of the Emperor and so he by an high Act of Ingratitude was put to death accordingly Heywood of Angels p. 528. LXXXV Philip King of Macedon had sent one of his Court to Sea to dispatch something he had given him in command but a storm came and he was Shipwracked but saved by one who lived there about the shore in a little Boat wherein he was taken up he was brought to his Farm and there entertained with all civility and humanity and at thirty days end was dismissed by him and furnished with somewhat to bear his Charges at his return he tells the King of his wrack and dangers but nothing of the benefits he had received the King told him he would not be unmindful of his fidelity and dangers undergone on his behalf he taking the occasion told the King he had observed a little Farm on the shore and besought him he would bestow that on him as a Monument of his Escape and reward of his Service the King orders Pausanias the Governor to assign him the Farm to be possessed by him the poor man being thus turned out applied himself to the King told him what humanity he had treated the Courtier with and what ingrateful injury he had returned him in lieu of it The King upon hearing the Cause in great Anger commanded the Courtier presently to be seized and to be branded in the fore-head with these letters with a hot Iron Hospes Ingratus The Vngrateful Guest And then restored the Farm to the right owner Lonic Theat LXXXVI Pope Adrian the sixth having built a fair Colledge at Lovain in Flanders caused this Inscription to be written upon the Gates of it in letters of gold Trajectum plantavit Lovanum rigavit Caesar dedit Incrementum with an unworthy allusion to that of St. Paul to the Corinthians that is Vtrecht planted me for there he was born Lovain watered me there he was bred up in Learning And Caesar gave the Increase for the Emperor had preferred him one that had observed this Inscription and withal his Ingratitude to reprove at once both that and his Folly writ underneath Hic Deus nihil fecit Here God did nothing Luthers Colloq p 305. LXXXVII Cardinal Charles Cariffa and Duke John his Brother managed all affairs under Pope Paul the fourth he being dead Pius the Fourth was made Pope and that chiefly by the favour and diligence of these Caraffa's but as a reward of their good service he made it his first business to overthrow them He sent the Cardinal and his Brother Duke together with Count Alifane and many others of their Kindred and Clients to Prison in the Castle of St. Angelo there were they nine months in durance and expectation of death at last by order from the Pope the Cardinal was hanged the Duke and Count beheaded and their dead Bodies exposed as a publick spectacle to the People Lipsius Mo. LXXXVIII Bellisarius was general of all the Forces under the Emperor Justinian the first a man of rare valour and virtue he had overthrown the Persians Goths and Vandals had taken the Kings of these People in War and sent them Prisoners to his Master he had recovered Sicilia Africk and the greater part of Italy he had done all this with a small number of Soldiers and less cost he had restored Military Discipline by his Authority when long lost he was allied to Justinian himself and a man of that uncorrupted Fidelity that though he was offered the Kingdom of Italy he resused it this great man upon I know not what Jealousy and groundless suspicion was seized upon his Eyes put out all his House rifled his Estate confiscate and himself reduced to that miserable state and condition as to go up and down in the common Road with this form of begging Give a half-penny to poor Bellisarius whom Virtue raised and Envy hath overthrown Fulgosus LXXXIX Achmetes the Great Turkish Bassa was by the confession of all Men the best Man of War and the most expert Captain amongst the Turks Bajazet made him General of his Army against his Brother Zemes where the conduct and valour of the General brought Bajazet the Victory at his return to Court this great Captain was invited to a Royal Supper with divers of the Principal Bassa's where the Emperor in token of their welcome and that they stood in his good grace caused a Garment of pleasing colours to be cast upon every one of his Guests and a gilt Bowl full of Gold to be given to each of them but upon Achmetes was cast a Gown of black Velvet all the rest rose and departed but Achmetes who had on him the Mantle of Death according to the Turkish Custom was commanded to sit still for the Emperor must talk with him in private the Executioners of the Emperors wrath came they stripped and tortured him hoping that way to gain from him what he never knew of for Isaac Bassa his great Enemy had secretly accused him of intelligence with Zemes but he was delivered by the Janizaries who would no doubt have slain Bajazet and rifled the Court at his least word of Command but though he escaped with his life at the present he not long after was thrust through the Body as he sate at Supper in the Court and there slain this was that great Achmetes by whom Mahomet the Father of this Bajazet had subverted the Empire of Trapezund took the great City of Caffa with all the Country of Taurica Chersonesus the impregnable Cities of Croia Scodra and all the Kingdom of Epirus a great part of Dalmatia and at last Otranto to the terrour of all Italy Turk Hist p. 443. XC In 1565. Feb. 5. One Paul Sutor near Basil in Switzerland came to the House of Andreas Hager a Bookseller he was then old and fick and had been the Godfather of Paul at the Font and performed to him all the good Offices that could be performed by a Father being entred his House he told him he was come to visit him