Upon which Lipsius justly cries out I know not what I should herein chiefly wonder at whether that a man could so do or so speak 5. Solyman the Magnificent Emperour of the Turks having obtained a Victory over the Germans finding amongst the Captives a Bavarian Souldier a man of an exceeding high Stature he caused him to be delivered to his Dwarf to be by him slain whose head was scarce so high as the others knees and that goodly tall man was mangled about the legs for a long time by that apish Dwarf with his little Scimiter till falling down with many feeble blows he was at last slain in the presence of Solyman who took marvellous pleasure in this scene of cruelty 6. Mahomet the Great first Emperour of the Turks after the winning of Constantinople fell in love with a most beautiful young Greekish Lady called Irene upon whose incomparable perfections he so much doted that he gave himself up wholly to her love But when he heard his Captains and chief Officers murmured at it he appointed them all to meet him in his great Hall and commanding Irene to dress and adorn her self in all her Jewels and most gorgeous apparel not acquainting her in the least with any part of his design taking her hand he led this miracle of beauty into the midst of his Bassaes who dazzled with the brightness of this Illustrious Lady acknowledged their errour professing that their Emperour had just cause to pass his time in solacing himself with so peerless a Paragon But he on a sudden twisting his left hand in the soft curls of her hair and with the other drawing out his crooked Scimiter at one blow struck off her head from her shoulders and so at once made an end of his love and her life leaving all the assistants in a fearful amaze and horror of an act of that cruelty 7. Novellus Carrarius Lord of Padua enflamed with an ambition of greater Rule took away by poyson William Scaliger the Lord of Verona and Vincentia though a familiar friend of his And to enjoy Verona the more securely having betrayed into his power Antonius and Bruno his two sons he caused them also to be slain Being in the City of Vincentia he fell in love with a Maid of singular beauty and required her parents to send her to him but being refused he sent his Guards to fetch her when brought he basely violated her chastity two daies after he caused her to be cut in small pieces and sent her so back in a Basket to her Parents The father amaz'd with the atrocity of the fact represented the whole to the Senate beseeching their assistance in so great an injury The Senate having deliberated upon the matter sent the body of the Maid so inhumanely mangled to the Venetians declaring that they did commit themselves to their care and Patronage The Venetians took upon them their defence and having wearied out Carrarius with war at last pen'd him up in Padua and compelled him to yield himself being taken they strangled him together with his two sons Francis and William 8. Vitoldus Duke of Lithuania was a man of a truculent and cruel disposition if he had destin'd any to death his way was to cause them to be sew'd up in the skins of Bears and so expose them to be torn in pieces by doggs In all his Military expeditions he never was without a Bow in his hand and if he saw any Souldier to march out of his rank he used to shoot him dead with an arrow This fierceness of his that Nation though otherwise haughty and a contemner of death did so stand in awe of that many under his dominion at his command without expectation of an Executioner either hang'd or poyson'd themselves 9. Perotine Massey her Husband was a Minister in Q. Maries Reign he fled out of the Land for fear but she with her mother was condemn'd to be burnt as Hereticks which was done Iuly 18. 1556. she was near the time of her delivery and by force of the flame her young child burst out of her belly this babe was taken out alive by W. House a by-stander and by the command of Elier Gosseline the Bayliff supreme Officer in the then absence of the Governour of the Island Guernsey cast again into the fire and therein consumed to ashes here was a Spectacle without precedent a cruelty built three Generations high for the Grandmother Mother and Grandchild suffered all in the same flame at the same time 10. Demetrius the King of Syria after he had overcome Alexander the Jew in a Battel he led the Prisoners taken in that fight to Ierusalem where he caused eight hundred of them in the midst of the City to be Crucified the sons in the very sight of the mothers and after commanded the mothers themselves to be slain 11. In the Reign of King Edward the sixth upon the alteration of Religion there was an Insurrection in Cornwall and divers other Countries wherein many were taken and Executed by Martial Law The chief Leaders were sent to London and there Executed The Sedition being thus supprest it is memorable what cruel sport Sir William Kingston made by vertue of his Office which was Provost Martial upon men in misery One Boyer Major of Bodmin in Cornwall had been amongst the Rebels not willingly but enforced To him the Provost sent word that he would come and dine with him for whom the Major made great Provision A little before dinner the Provost took the Major aside and whisper'd him in the ear That an Execution must that day be done in the Town and therefore required that a pair of Gallows should be set up against dinner should be done The Major failed not of his charge presently after dinner the Provost taking the Major by the hand entreated him to lead him to the place where the Gallows was which when he beheld he asked the Major if he thought them to be strong enough Yes said the Major doubtless they are Well then said the Provost get you up speedily for they are provided for you I hope answered the Major you mean not as you speak In faith said the Provost there is no remedy for you have been a busie Rebel and so without respite or defence he was hang'd to death Near the said place dwelt a Miller who had been a busie actor in that Rebellion who fearing the approach of the Martial told a sturdy Fellow his servant that he had occasion to go from home and therefore bad him that if any came to enquire after the Miller he should not speak of him but say that he was the Miller and had been so for three years before So the Provost came and called for the Miller when out comes the servant and saith He was the man The Provost demanded how long he had kept the Mill These three years answered the servant then the Provost commanded his men to lay hold
had best to begin with this Fish upon my Trencher at the head or the tail At the head said the Emperour for that is the more noble part Then Sir said the Bishop in the first place renounce you that incestuous marriage you have contracted with Judith The Emperour took this reprehension so well that he dismissed her accordingly 6. Alexander the great having taken a famous Pyrate and being about to condemn him to death asked him Why dost thou trouble the Seas And why said he dost thou trouble the whâ—â—â— world I with one Ship seek my Adventures and therefore am called a Pyrate thou with a great Army warrest against nations and therefore are called an Emperour so that there is no difference betwixt us but in the name Alexander was not displeased with this freedom but in consideration of what he had said he dismissed him without inflicting any punishment upon him 7. Theodosius the Emperour having cruelly slaughtered some thousands of the Thessalonians for some insolency of the Citizens to the Statues of his Wife coming to Millain would have entred the Church to have communicated with other Christians but was resisted and forbid by St. Ambrose in which estate the Emperour stood for eight Months and then with great humility and submission acknowledging his offence was absolved and again received into the Congregation and notwithstanding St. Ambrose had reproved him with great liberty and opposed him with as much resolution yet the good Emperour both obeyed willingly and â—everenced exceedingly that great Prelate 8. There came a young man to Rome who in the opinion of all men exceedingly resembled the Emperor Augustus whereof he being informed sent for him being in presence he asked him if his mother had never been at Rome the stranger answered No but his Father had the Emperor took patiently this sharp reply and sent him away without harm 9. M. Antoninus Pius used to take well the free and facetious speeches of his friends even such as seemed to be uttered with too great a freedom and liberty Coming once to the house of Omulus his friend and beholding there at his entrance divers Columns of Porphyry he enquired whence they were brought Omulus told him that it became him that set his foot into another mans house to be both deaf and dumb he meant he should not be curious and inquisitive The Emperor was delighted with this freedom so far was he from resenting it in such manner as some others would have done 10. Philip King of Macedon with great patience admitted such liberty and freedom in speaking to him He had in one battel taken a considerable number of Prisoners and was himself in person to see them sold in port â—ale As he sate in his Chair his Clothes were turned or tucked up higher then was decent and seemly when one of the Prisoners who was upon sale cry'd unto him Good my Lord I beseech you pardon me and suffer me not to be sold amongst the rest for I am a friend of yours and so was to your Father before you And prethee good fellow said Philip whence grew this great friendship betwixt us and how is it come about Sir said the Prisoner I would gladly give you an account of that privately in your ear Then Philip commanded that he should be brought unto him he thus whispered in his ear Sir I pray you let down your mantle a little lower before for sitting thus in the posture as you do you discover that which were more meeâ— to be unseen Hereupon Philip spake aloud unto his Officers Let this man said he go at liberty for in truth he is one of our good friends and wisheth us well though I either knew it not before or at least had forgotten it 11. Demetrius won the City of Athens by assault before much distressed for lack of Corn but being Master of the Town he caused the whole body of the City to be assembled before him unto whom he declared that he bestow'd upon them freely a great quantity of Grain but in this his speech to the people he chanced to commit an incongruity in Grammar when one of the Citizenâ— set thereby to hear him arose and with a loud voice pronounced that word aright For the correction of this one Solecism said he I give unto thee besides my former gift 5000 Medimnes or measures of Corn more CHAP. XXXV Of the incredible strength of mind wherewith some Persons have supported themselves in the midst of torments and other hardship A Young Gentleman immediately before he was to enter into a battel was observed to be seised with a sudden shaking and shivering all over his body Whereupon one asked him what was the matter My flesh said he trembles at the foresight of those many and great dangers whereinto my resolved and undaunted heart will undoubtedly carry it The strength of some mens hearts hath not only prevailed over the weakness of their flesh but reduced it to a temper capable of enduring as much as if it had been brass or something that if possible is yet more insensible 1. When we were come within sight of the City of Buda there came by the Command of the Bassa some of his family to meet us with divers Chiauses But in the first place a Troop of Young Men on Horseback made us turn our eyes to them because of the Novelty of their Equipage which was thus Upon their bare heads which was in most of them shaven they had cut a long line in the Skin in which wound they had stuck feathers of all kinds and they were dew'd with drops of blood yet dissembling the pain they rode with as much mirth and chearfulness as if they had been void of all sense just before me there walked some on foot one of these went with his naked arms on his side in each of which he carried a knife which he had thrust through them above the Elbow Another walked naked from his Navel upward with the skin of both his loins so cut above and below that he carried a Club stuck therein as if it had hung at his Girdle another had fastned a Horse-shoo with divers Nails upon the Crown of his Head but that was old done the Nails being so grown in with the flesh that the shoo was made fast In this Pomp we entred Buda and was brought into the Bassa's Palace in the Court of which stood these generous contemners of pain as I chanced to cast my eye that way what think you of these men said the Bassa Well said I but that they use their flesh in such manner as I would not use my cloaths as being desirous to keep them whole he smiled and dismissed us 2. Andronicus Comnenus fell alive into the hands of his enemy who having loaden him with injuries and contumelies abandoned the miserable Emperor to the people for the punishment of his perfâ—diousness By these he had redoubled buffets given
was not some way indebted to her she said yea but she never durst call upon him for it though now she stood in great need of it He therefore presently sent her to his house with one of his Men and when he came from the Court he did not only discharge his Debt but gave her an yearly Pension of four pounds and a Livery every Year so long as she lived after He also took special notice of Frescobald the Florentine who had releived him in his youthful necessities And another time being with other Lords at the Monastery of Sheen as he sat at Dinner he spyed afar off a certain poor man who used to sweep the Cells and Cloysters of the Monks and to ring the Bells whom when the Lord Cromwel had well noted he called him to him and before all the Table took him by the hand and turning to the Lords My Lords said he see you this poor man this man's Father was a great friend to me in my necessity and hath given me many a Meals meat Then said he to the poor man Come unto me and I will so provide for thee that thou shalt not want while I live 9. Mr. Ignatius Iordan was born at Lime Regis in the County of Dorset and when he was young he was sent by his friends to the City of Exeter to be brought up in the Profession of a Merchant In this City having passed through the several inferior Offices he at last ascended to the highest place of honour to be Major there and was Justice of Peace for twenty four Years together yet his beginning was but very small and this upon occasion he was ready to acknowledge When some threatned him with Law-Suits and not to give over till they had not left him worth a Groat to these he chearfully replyed that he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came fast to Exeter For said he I brought but six pence with me hither He would often say that he wondred what rich men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and raked so much together for their Children do ye not see said he what becomes of it And would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children and they in a short time consumed it all on the other side he spake of such as had small beginnings and aâ—terwards became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular instance in himself I came said he but with a groat or six pence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Major of Exeter CHAP. XLIX Of such as have despised Riches and of the laudable Poverty of some Illustrious Persons SEbastianus Foscarinus some time Duke of Venice caused to be engraven on his Tomb in St. Mark 's Church this which follows Accipite cives Veneti quod est optimum in rebus humanis Res humanas contemnere Hear O ye Venetians and I will tell you which is the best thing in the World it is to contemn and despise the World This is durus sermo a hard saying and few there are amongst all the Living that can digest the Sermon of this dead Prince Only some choicer Spirits there are to be found here and there who seem to have been present at such a Lecture as this and to have brought it along with them firmly engraven upon their hearts Such was 1. Iohannes Gropperus of Cologne a German who was offered a Cardinalship by Pope Paul the Fourth but that Dignity and the vast Riches annexed thereunto which other Mortals for the most part have the most fervent ambition and desire to attain unto he with a modesty and greatness of mind rare to be met with in this or any other Age refused when freely proffered him 2. Thirty Mahumetan Kings the chief of whom was Smaragdus assailed the Kingdom of Castile with a purpose to drive the Christians out of Spain which they held already as good as conquered Whereupon Sancho King of Navarre levied an Army consisting of a small number of men but couragious and most resolute Souldiers with these he never left till he had broken defeated put to rout and utterly dispersed the Army of the Barbarians which done all the Christian Captains and Souldiers came running to him in crowds to kiss his hands and knees and to do him all possible Honours crying with loud voyces God save the Invincible Captain ond the most valorous Warriour Afterwards when they came to share the Booty which was great the Riches of thirty Kings being then assembled in one heap there was no man but confessed that how great a part soever Sancho should reserve of it to himself would yet be less than his deserts There was found a huge quantity of Silver and Gold some ready coined much cast into Ingots a number of Pearls and Stones of rich value great store of Hangings and Rich Vestures a large quantity of curious Housholdstuff such as the Moors use who are excessive and Pompous in War Almost innumerable Arms of all sorts forg'd wrought and curiously enriched Horses of service great store incredible numbers of Saddles Bridles c. and Prisoners by hundreds out of which might be drawn great ransoms All the Castilians and they of Navarre besought Sancho to take to himself of this rich Booty what he should please who by his chearful countenance shewing the pleasure he took in this liberal offer of his Army As for me saith he I desire nothing but this Iron Chain which I have hewen asunder in your sight and that Precious Stone which I have beaten down with my hands pointing at Smaragdus which signifies an Emerald lying dead on the ground and weltering in his blood In Memory of this Victory the Arms of Navarre were afterwards Chains born crosswise and disposed into a Square and those Chains set with Emeralds 3. After the winning of a Famous Battle Themistocles came to view the Bodies of the Dead and spying many a rich Booty lying here and there very thick he passed by saying to a Favourite of his Gather and take to thee for thou art not Themistocles 4. Ammianus Marcellinus magnifies Iulian the Emperor who shared a great Prey amongst the Souldiers according to every man's Valour and Demerits but as his custom was for his own part to be content with a little he reserved nothing for himself but a Dumb Child which was presented to him who knew many things and made them understood by convenient countenances and gestures 5. Numerianus was a Teacher of Boys in Rome when upon the suddain moved with I know not what kind of Impulses he left both his Boys and his Books he passed over hastily into Gaul there pretending that he was a Senator and commissioned by Severus the Emperor he began to raise an Army with which he vexed Albinus the Enemy of Severus He had routed divers of his Troops of Horse
est errare Errour and mistake is a kind of inseparable property to humanity the wisest of men has not always all his prudence about him sometimes our passions precipitate and transport us and at others unexpected and intervenient accidents help to mislead us And although time may so tarry for some men as to give them the leisure to repair their over-sights yet so much hath depended upon these little turns and the weightiest affairs have been so perplexed and disordered by them that time it self hath not been able to remedy 1. At the Siege of Perugia in Italy when the City was as good as won only a chain which was laid a thwart the Gate wanted cutting asunder to make a fuller entrance for the whole Army Upon a meer mistake of a Souldier crying out Give back meaning to get a fuller blow at the chain all behind taking it for a word of command and apprehensive of some new discovered danger before them faced about and ran directly away and so the City was saved 2. In that great Battel at Philippi betwixt Brutus and Cassius on the one part and Octavianus and Antonius on the other Brutus had routed and put to flight Octavianus in the right wing and Antonius had caused Cassius to retire in the left wing yet Cassius only retreated to a Hill not far off where he could easily have rallied his men again but by reason of the dust not knowing of Brutus his Victory he sent Lucius Titinnius his intimate Friend to see what was become of Brutus Titinnius meets with Brutus his Souldiers triumphing for the Victory and inquiring after Cassius he having informed them where he was along they march to acquaint him with the good news Cassius seeing them coming and by a-fatal mistake judging them to be enemies and Brutus to be overthrown caused his freed-man to cut his throat Titinnius finding him dead through his default cuts his own throat also Brutus hearing of these sad accidents loses both his courage and new-gained Victory 3. Iulia the Wife of Pompey the Great seeing certain cloaths of her Husbands brought home all besmeared with blood by the killing of some beasts at a Sacrifice whereat he was present she fearfully apprehended that some danger had befallen him and thereupon did suddenly fall into a swound and so dyed 4. While the Carthaginians lay encamped against Agathocles their Tents being made of reeds and straw accidentally caught fire and the winds so improved it that the Souldiers laboured but in vain to quench it and therefore divers of them â—led out of the Camp with a great deal of tumult and clamour There were 5000 Africans in the Army of Agathocles that revolting from him had resolved this night to joyn themselves with the Carthaginians their Country-men The Scouts and Forlornâ—hope of these Troops were discovered by those that fled out of the Camp making directly to the Camp of the Carthaginians they therefore hastily sent them word that the whole Forces of the Grecians were coming upon them Then was the Army put into a greater disorder some running others mistaking their friends for enemies rush upon them with their drawn Swords others with very fear ran headâ—long from steep places During this rule of ignorance 5000 and so the rest being still in a consternation were glad to retreat into Carthage The same mishap befel the Army of Agathocles that very same night for the revolted Africans seeing all their friends in flames and tumult durst go no further but return whence they came Some of the Greeks perceiving their March not knowing who they were brought word to Agathocles that the whole Carthaginian Army was coming against him He perceiving the Camp on fire and hearing the tumult amongst them could conceive no less Hereupon a sudden and panick fear seised upon his Army also and the Africans in this fright set on all they met as their enemies so that 4000 of Agathocles his Army perished through this mistake 5. Iohanna Queen of Navarre a Princess by birth being received by the Queen her Mother at a Feast the first of Iune 1572. upon the seventh day following she fell into a pleurisie some were therefore called to open the Basilick vein which in that kind of disease is judged to be a most present remedy but by a fatal mistake they opened the contrary which brings death by which upon the 9 of Iune she ended her life 6. Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset and Protector in the Minority of King Edward the Sixth being absent from the Council-table it was by the Lords there met contrived how all things should be ordered in relation to his Arraignment R. Rich Lord Chancellor then living in great St. Bartholomews though outwardly concurring with the rest began now secretly to favour the Duke of Somerset and sent him a Letter therein acquainting him with all passages at the Council-board superscribing the same either out of haste or familiarity with no other direction save to the Duke enjoyning his Servant a raw Attendant as newly entred into his Family safely to deliver it The man made more haste than good speed and his Lord wondring at his quick return demanded of him Where the Duke was when he delivered him the Letter In Charter-house said his Servant by the same token that he read it at the window and smiled thereat But the Lord Rich smiled not at his relation as sadly sensible of the mistake and delivery of the Letter to the Duke of Norfolk no great Friend of his and an utter Enemy to the Duke of Somerset This errour cost him his Chancellorship which the next morning early he besought the King he might resign and thereby saved himself from being stripped by others for revealing the secrets of the Council-board 7. The Funerals of Iulius Caesar being performed the enraged people trooped directly to the houses of Brutus and Cassius his Murtherers with lighted Torches on purpose to set them on fire and were difficulty restrained In their return they chanced to meet with Helvius Cinna whom they unhappily erring in the name mistook for Cornelius Cinna who the day before had publickly declamed against Caesar. Him they sought for but lighting on this other without giving space to clear up any errour they struck off his head and fixing it upon the top of a Lance they carried it about with them 8. In that memorable Battel at Cannas betwixt Hanibal and the Romans there was a strange and fatal mistake For L. Aemyliu Paulus the Consul being wounded was thrown by his Horse when divers of that Cohort cast themselves from their Horses with a purpose to assist the Consul on foot and to remount him assoon as might be The rest of the Horse perceived it and as if they had received such a command they all leaped from their Horses to fight with the Enemy on foot When Hanibal saw this with a military scoff I had rather said he that the Consul
are of that absolute necessity that scarce any thing of moment can be effected without them Various ways have the Ancients and others invented whereby they might convey their intelligences and advice with both these a taste whereof we have in the following Examples 1. Aleppo is so called of Alep which signifies Milk of which there is great abundance thereabouts there are here also Pigeons brought up after an incredible manner who will flye between Babylon and Aleppo being thirty days journey distant in forty eight hours space carrying Letters and News which are fastned about their necks to Merchants of both Towns and from one to another These are only employed in the time of hasty and needful intendments their education to this tractable expedition is admirable the flights and arrivals of which I have often seen in the time of my wintering in Aleppo which was the second winter after my departure from Christendom 2. The City of Ptolemais in Syria was besieged by the French and Venetians and it was ready to fall into their hands when the Souldiers beheld a Pigeon flying over them with Letters to the City who thereupon set up so sudden and great a shout that down fell the poor airy Post with her Letter being read it was found that the Sultan had therein sent them word that he would be with them with an Army sufficient to raise the Siege and that they should expect his arrival in three days The Christians having learnt this sent away the Pigeon with others instead of the former which were to this purpose That they should see to their own safety for that the Sultan had such other affairs as rendred it impossible for him to come in to their succour These Letters being received the City was immediately surrendred the Sultan performed his promise upon the third day but perceiving how matters went returned to his other imployments 3. Histaeus the Milesian being kept by Darius at Susa under an honourable pretence and despairing of his return home unless he could find out some way that he might be sent to Sea he purposed to send to Aristagoras who was his Substitute at Miletum to perswade his Revolt from Darius but knowing that all passages were stopped and studiously watched he took this course He got a trusty Servant of his the hair of whose head he caused to be shaved off and then upon his bald pate he wrote his mind to Aristagoras kept him privately about him till his hair was somewhat grown and then bad him haste to Aristagoras and bid him cause him to be shaved again and then upon his head he should find what his Lord had wrote unto him 4. Harpagus was a great Friend to Cyrus and had in Media prepared all things in as good forwardness as he could being therefore to send his Letters to Cyrus to hasten his Invasion upon that Country he thought it the safest way to thrust it into the belly of a Hare so by this unsuspected means his Letters went safe to Cyrus in Persia who came with an Army and made himself Master of the Empire of the Medes 5. The ancient Lacedemonians when they had a purpose to dissemble and conceal their Letters which they sent to their Generals abroad that the contents of them might not be understood though they should be intercepted by the Enemy they took this course They chose two round sticks of the same thickness and length wrought and plained after the same manner One of these was given to their General when he was about to march the other was kept at home by the Magistrates When occasion of secrecy was they wond about this stick a long scroll and narrow only once about and in such manner as that the sides of each round should lye close together then wrote they their Letters upon the transverse junctures of the scroll from the top to the bottom This scroll they took off from the stick and sent it to the General who knew well how to fit it to that stick he kept by him the unrolling of it did disjoin the Letters confound and intermix them in such manner that although the scroll was taken by the Enemy they knew not what to make of it if it passed safe their own General could read it at pleasure This kind of Letter the Lacedemonians called Scytale 6. I have read in the Punick History that an illustrious person amongst them whether it was Asdrubal or some other I do not now remember who on this manner used to conceal such Letters as he sent about matters of secrecy He took new Tables which were not yet covered with wax and cut out his Letter upon the wood then as the manner was he drew them over with wax these Tables as if nothing was writ upon them he sent to such as before-hand he had acquainted with the use of them who upon the receipt of them took off the wax and read the Letter as it was engraven upon the wood Demaratus used this way of writing 7. The way by Pigeons to give intelligence afar off with wonderful celerity is this They take them when they sit on their nests transporting them in open cages and return them with Letters bound about their legs like Jesses who will never give rest to their wings until they come to their young ones So Taurosthenes by a Pigeon stained with Purple gave notice of his Victory at the Olympick Games the self same day to his Father in Aegina 8. There are Books of Epistles from C. Caesar to C. Oppius and B. Cornelius who had the care of his affairs in his absence In these Epistles of his in certain places there are found single Letters without being made up into syllables which a man would think were placed there to no purpose for no words can be framed out of these Letters But there had been a secret agreement betwixt them of changing the situation of the Letters and that in writing they should appear one thing but in reading they should signifie another Probus the Grammarian hath composed a Book with curiosity enough concerning the occult signification of the Letters in the Epistles of Casar Suetonius saith of Caesar That any thing of privacy he wrote by notes or characters that is by so transposing the order of the Letters that no word could be made out of them But if any man would understand and imitate this practice of his he must know that he changed the fourth Letter of the Alphabet that is he set down D. for A. and so throughout all the rest of the Letters 9. Artabasus an illustrious person amongst the Persians after the departure of Xerxes was left with Mardonius in Europe he had taken Olynthus and was now set down before Potidaeu here there was intelligence betwixt him and Timoxenus an eminent person in the Town and the device they had to convey Letters to each other was this They wrapped their Letters round
witness therefore of the truth of this matter I shall cite the testimonies of Religious persons and such as are worthy of credit who by their Letters under their seals have confirmed the truth of that which we have now related I have thought fit to transcribe the Original it self which in our own Tongue is preserved by the foresaid Wormius We whose Names are here under written Ericus Westergard Rotalph Rakestad and Thor Venes coadjutors of the Pastor in the Parish of Niaess do certifie to all men That Anno 1639. upon the 20 th day of May by the command of the Lord President in Remerige the Lord Paulus Tranius Pastor in Niaess we went to receive an account of the monstrous birth in Sundby brought forth by an honest Woman Anna the Daughter of Amundus the Wife of Gudbrandas Erlandsonius who already had been the Mother of eleven Children the last of which she was delivered of upon March the 4 th 1638. This Anna in the year 1639. upon the 7 th of April began to grow ill and being in great pains in her belly she caused her Neighbours to be call'd in to her assistance the same day about the Evening in the presence of her Neighbours she brought forth an Egg in all respects like to that of an Hen which being broken by the Women then present Anna Grim Elen Rudstad Gyro Rudstad and Catharina Sundby they found that in the yolk and white it answer'd directly to a common Egg. Upon the eighteenth day of April about Noon in the presence of the same persons she was deliver'd of another Egg which in figure was nothing different from the former The Mother reported this to us the Women that assisted at her delivery confirmed the truth of it as also that the pains of this birth had been more sharp to her than all the rest of her former That this was the confession as well of the Mother as of them that were present we do attest by our Seals in the presence of the Lord President in the Parish of Niaess the day and year above said The great Wormius looks upon this as a diabolical work since by the artifice of the Devil many other things are convey'd into and formed in the bodies of Men and Women 8. Anne Tromperin the Wife of a certain Porter in our Hospital being about thirty years of Age was delivered of a Boy and two Serpents upon St. Iohn's day Anno 1576. She told me upon her faith that in the Summer before in an extreme hot day she had drunk of a Spring in the Grove call'd Brudetholk a place within a quarter of a mile from Basil where she suspected that she had drank of the sperm of Serpents she afterwards grew so big that she was fain to carry her belly in a swathing band the child was so lean as that he was scarce any thing but bones the Serpents were each of them an ell in length and thick as the Arm of an Infant both which alive as they were were buried by the Midwife in the Church-yard of St. Elizabeth This History is from the Relation of Caspar Bauhinus in his Appendix to the book of Franc. Rossetus de partu Caesareo 9. The Concubine of Pope Nicholas the third was deliver'd of a Monster which resembled a Bear Martin the fourth in the first year of his Popedom entertain'd this Lady and fearing lest she should bring forth other Bear-whelps he caused all the Bears which were painted or carv'd in the Pope's Palace whilst the Lords of the Family of the Vrsini bore sway in Rome to be blotted out and remov'd For this Pope was not ignorant how the shapes and pictures which are conceiv'd in a Womans imagination at the time of her conception do remain imprinted for the most part in the body of that which is conceived 10. Margaret Daughter to the Emperour Maximilian the first told the Ambassadour of Ferdinand King of Hungary that at Tsertoghenbosch a City in Brabant in a procession upon a solemn Festival some of the Citizens went disguised according to the custom of the place some in the habit of Angels and others in the shape of Devils as they are painted one of these Devils having play'd his gambols a great while ran home to his House in his Devils attire took his Wife threw her upon a bed saying that he would get a young Devil upon her He was not much deceiv'd for of that copulation there was born a child such as the wicked Spirit is painted which at his coming into the World began to run and skip up and down all over the Chamber 11. Anno Dom. 1578. upon the 17. day of Ianuary at eight a clock in the afternoon there was at the little Town of Quiero amongst the Subalpines an honest Matron who was then deliver'd of a child which had upon its head five horns opposite each to other and like unto those of a Ram. Also from the upper part of his forehead there hung backward a very long piece of flesh that cover'd most part of his back in form like a Woman's head-tire about his neck there was a double row of flesh like the Collar of an Horse at the ends of his finger were claws like to those Tallons we see in Birds of prey his knees were in the hinder part of the Leg. His right Leg and Foot were of a shining red colour the rest of his body all swarthy He is said to come into the World with a great cry which so frighted the Midwife and the rest of the Women then present that they ran immediately out of the house When the Prince of the Subalpines was inform'd of this Monster he commanded it should be brought to him which accordingly was done and 't is strange to think what various judgements were then pass'd upon it by the Courtiers 12. Lesina is the biggest Isle in all the Adriatick Sea the Governour of which was a Venetian who inviting me to dine with him told at his Table the story of a marvellous mishapen monster born in the Island asking if I would go thither to see it proffering me the honour of his company we went and the unnatural child being brought out to us I was amaz'd to behold the deformity of Nature for below the middle part there was but one body and above the middle there were two living souls each one separated from each other with several members their heads being both of one bigness but different in Phyâ—iognomy the belly of the one joyn'd with the posteriour part of the other and their faces looked both one way as if the one had carried the other on his back and often in our presence he that was behind would lay his hands about the neck of the foremost Their eyes were exceeding big and their hands greater then an Infant of three times their Age the excrements of both creatures issued forth at one place and their Thighs and Legs
was found entire having receiv'd no damage at all by the flames this Toe that was so able to preserve it self after his death had also in his life time a healing kind of vertue in it against Diseases of the Spleen which us'd to retreat at the powerful touch of it Kornman de Mirac Mortuor lib. 3. cap. 8. pag. 8. 7. I know a Family at Liege in which all the Persons of both Sexes sick and well Summer and Winter sleeping and waking have their Nostrils extreme cold whence it fell out that administring Physick to two Brothers seiz'd with a burning Fever when upon the eleventh day there was no Crisis nor any appearance that there would be finding the Nostrils of both of them colder then Ice I adjudg'd they would die and so did three other Physicians with me yet both escap'd and are yet alive being the 14 th year after their Disease 8. A certain Canonical Person who having perfected his course in Philosophy had studied Divinity for five years space in Lovain by his over intense study he arriv'd at last to be a very Fool. Five years since he camâ— to the Spa where he was purg'd and drank the Waters but in vain Without my consent he would bleed often in a month and notwithstanding the clamours of all who were present he would not suffer the vein to be clos'd till above thirty and sometimes forty ounces of blood were slow'd out this he continued for three years and more When I told him by this means he would incur the danger of a Cachexy and Dropsie he was not mov'd at all In the mean time he daily eat divers handfuls of Wheat raw and unground When once he complain'd that his Potions did not work well with him I at last gave him two grains of our white Elaterium by which when he had been strongly purg'd he took them unknown to me more then twenty times notwithstanding all which he is well nor can we observe or discern that his strength is in the least impair'd by so many blood-lettings and purgations 9. Demophon the Steward to Alexander the Great is reported to be of that strange Constitution that standing in the Sun-shine or being in a hot Bath he was ready to freeze for cold and on the contrary would sweat in the shade 10. Quintus Curtius tells of Alexander the Great that as often as he sweat there issued a fragrant odour from his body that dispers'd it self amongst all that were near him the harmony of his Constitution was such as occasion'd that natural Balsom to slow from him 11. Not far from the City of Rome amongst the Falisci there are some few Families who are call'd Hirpiae who in that annual Sacrifice that is made to Apollo at the Foot of the Mountain Soracte use to walk upon the heaps of the live Coals of the burnt Wood and yet receive no damage by the fire 12. That is exceeding wonderful which is related by Iovianus Pentanus concerning one Coâ—an of Catana in Sicily sirnamed the Fish who liv'd longer in the Water then on the Land he was constrained every day to abide in the Water and he said that if he was long absent thence he could scarce breath or live and that it would be his death to forbear it he was so excellent in swimming that as a Sea-Fish he would cut the Sâ—as in the greatest storms and tempests and in despight of the resisting Waves swim more then five hundred furlongs at once At last in the Sicilian Sea at the Haven of Mâ—ssâ—na diving for a piece of Plate which the King had caus'd to be cast in as a prize to him that could fetch it from the bottom he there lost his Life for he was never seen after either devoured by a Fish or engaged in the Concaves oâ— the Rock 13. It is related of the Lord Verulame that he had one peculiar temper of body which was that he fainted always at an Eclipse of the Moon though he knew not of it and consider'd it not 14. Rodericus Fonsâ—ca a Physician of great reputation in Pisa bought for his Houshold employment a Negro slave she as often as she pleas'd took burning Coals into her hands or mouth without any hurt at all this was confirm'd to me by Gabriel Fonseca an excellent Physician in Rome and by another of deserved credit who told me he had frequently seen the trial and red hot Coals held in her hand till they were almost cold and this without any impression of fire left upon her and I my self saw the same thing done by a She-Negro in the Hospital of the Holy Ghost to which I was Physician 15. It is â—amiliarly known all over Pisa oâ— Martinus Ceccho a Townsman of Monteluâ—o that he us'd to take hot Coals in his hand put them in his mouth bite them in pieces with his Teeth till he had extinguish'd them he would thrust them up as a suppository into his Fundament and tread upon them with his baâ—e feâ—t he would put boiling lead into his mouth and suffer a burning Candle to be held under his Tongue as he put it out of his mouth and many such other things as may seem incredible all this was confirm'd to me by divers Capuchins and my worthy Friend Nicholaus Accursius of the Order of St. Francis 16. Andrenicus Comnenus Emperour of Greece was of that sound and firm Constitution vigorous Limbs c. that he us'd to say he could â—ndure the violence of any Disease for twelve Months together by his sole natural strength without being beholding to Art or any assistance of Physick CHAP. IX Of Natural Antipathies in some Men to Flowers Fruits Flesh Physick and divers other things WE read in the Poet of one saying Non amo te Sabidis c. Thee Sabidis I do not love Though why I cannot tell But that I have no love to thee This I know very well Thus the seeds of our aversion and Antipathy to this or that are often lodged so deep that in vain we demand a reason of our selves for what we do or do not The Enemies of our Nature work upon us it seems whether we are aware or not For the Lady Hâ—nnage of the Bed-chamber to Queen Elizabeth had her Cheeks blister'd by laying a Rose upon it while she was asleep saith Sir Kenelm Digby and worse hath be fallen others though awake by the smell of them 1. Cardinal Don Henrique a Cardâ—na would fall into a swound upon the smell of a Rose saith Ingrassia and Laurentius Bishop of Vratislavia was done to death by the smell of them saith Croâ—erus de rebus Polon lib. 8. 2. The smell of Roses how pleasing soever to most Men is not only odious but almost deadly to others Cardinal Oliverius Câ—raffa during the season of Roses used to inclose himself in a Chamber not permitting any to â—nter his Palace or come near him that had a
finger took him up and carried him to Pompey's Camp Bruson Facetiar lib. 2. cap. 43. p. 152. 13. Flavius Vopiscus writes that the Emperour Aurelian was of a very high Stature and marvellous strong and that in the war against the Sarmatians he slew in one day with his own hands eight and forty of his enemies that in divers days together he overthrew nine hundred and fifty When he was Colonel of the sixth Legion called Gallica at Mentz he made strange havock of the Franci who forraged over all the Country of Gaul for he slew with his own hands seven hundred of them and sold three hundred at Port-sale whom he himself had taken prisoners so that his Soldiers made a military song in praise of him 14. The Giant Aenother was born in Turgaw a a Village of Suevia he bore Arms under Charlemaign he felled men as one would mow Hay and sometimes broached a great number of them upon his Pike or Spear and so carried them all on his shoulder as one would do little Birds spitted upon a stick 13. George Castriot for his valiant exploits sirnamed of the Turks Ischenderbeg that is Lord Alexander he slew in several conflicts with his own hands two thousand Turks saith Iovius three thousand saith Barletius never using to give but one blow where he struck and whereas his Scimiter was very great and massy he handled it with such force that he never spent blow in vain but it fell so right that either he cleft them asunder whom he met with or cut them in two by the waste or whipped off their heads and sometimes all the top of the shoulders withal He cleft steel Helmets and all sorts of Harness with his Scimiter This most valiant Prince was taken out of the world by a fever in the sixty third year of his age Ian. 23. 1466. having defended his Kingdom twenty four years against two Turkish Emperours 16. Thomas Farel reports of Galeot Bardasin a Gentleman of Catana that he grew from time to time to such a height and bigness of body that he exceeded all other men how great soever from the shoulders upwards He was too hard for all others in leaping throwing a stone tossing the Pike and in Justing for he was strong and mighty according to his stature Being arm'd at all points his Casque on his head a Javelin in his right hand and holding the pommel of his Saddle in the left he would spring into the seat without help of Stirrop or other advantages sometimes he would bestride a great Courser unbridled and having given him the cariere would stop him suddenly in his course by straining him only with his Thighs and Legs with his hands he would take up from the ground an Ass with his load which commonly weighed three Kintals He struggled in the way of pastime with two of the strongest men that could be found of which he held one fast with one arm and threw the other to the ground and keeping him under with his knee at last he pulled down the second and never left till he had them both under him and bound their hands behind their backs 17. Potocova a Gentleman of Poland Colonel of the Cossacks who of late years was beheaded at Warsovia by the permission of Stephen Batoxe King of Poland at the instance of the Turkish Embassadour this Gentleman was of that strength that he could as readily with his bare hands break Horshooes new out of the Forge as he could have torn leaves of paper or other such like thing easily to be broken 18. Our Chronicles saith Bertius in his description of Zealand relate that from Gulielmus Bonus Earl of Holland unto the Marriage-Solemnities of Charles the Fair King of France was brought a woman of an unusual stature born in Zealand in respect of whom very tall men seemed but Dwarfs so strong that she would carry two Barrels full of Beer under both arms each of them weighing four hundred Italian pounds and a Beam which eight men could not lift she would wield at her pleasure 19. Iulius Valens a Captain-pensioner or Centurion of the Guard of Soldiers about the body of Augustus Caesar was wont to bear up a Wagon laden with Hogsheads or a Butt of Wine until it was discharged thereof and the Wine drawn out of it he would take up a Mule upon his back and carry it away also he used to stay a Chariot against all the force of the Horses striving and straining to the contrary and other wonderful masteries which are to be seen engraven upon his Tomb-stone 20. Fusius Salvius having an hundred pounds weight at his feet and as many in his hands and twice as much upon his Shoulders went with all this up a pair of Stairs or Ladder 21. My self have seen saith Pliny one named Athanatus do wonderful strange matters in the open view and face of the world he would walk upon the Stage with a Cuirace of Lead weighing five hundred pound and booted besides with a pair of greaves upon his Legs of the same weight 22. Milo the great wrestler of Crotona was of that strength that he carried a whole Ox the length of a furlong when he stood firm upon his feet no man could thrust him off his standing or if he grasped a pomegranate fast in his hand no man was able to stretch a finger of his and force it out at length 23. Tamberlane the Scythian was of a mighty body and exceeding strength so that he would draw the string of a Scythian Bow which few were able to deal with beyond his ear and caused his arrow to flie with that force that he would shoot through a brazen mortar which the Archers used to set up for themselves as their mark 24. Cunipertus King of the Lombards was of that strength in his arms that when a boy he would take two Rams of wonderful bigness in his hands by the wool upon their backs and lift them from the ground which no other was found that could do 25. When the Emperour Frederick Barbarussa lead his Army to the Holy War amongst divers other notable persons he had about him there was one an Almain of a vast body and invincible strength who not far from Iconium followed the Army at a great distance leading in his hand a Horse by the Reins which he had tired in the journey About fifty Mahometans scouting up and down there a way lighted upon this man and set upon him on every side with their Arrows he couching under his broad shield securely eluded their attâ—mpt upon him this way at last one bolder than the rest put spurrs to his Horse and assaulted him with his Sword but the Almain at the first blow struck off the fore legs of his Horse and redoubling his stroke struck with that mighty force upon the head of the Mahometan that dividing it in twain the sword passed through part of
brought to the Olympick Games and there as victor in the Race gain'd the Crown in the forty and sixth Olympiad saith Bocchus 15. The news of the defeat of the Persians by the Romans in their Country was quickly brought unto the Emperour Theodosius the younger by a man he had whose name was Palladius one that had rare gifts both outwardly in body and inwardly in mind he was able in three days to ride in such Post as was to be wondred at unto the furthest places and bounds of the Roman and Persian Dominions and back again in so many days to Constantinople Moreover he went with marvelous great speed throughout the World whither soever the Emperour sent him So that a wise man said once of him This fellow with his celerity maketh the Empire of Rome which is very wide to be narrow and strait When the King of Persia heard of him he could not chuse but wonder 16. They have Casqâ—is or Posts in Peru which are to carry tydings or Letters to which purpose they had Hoâ—ses a league and a half asunder and running each man to the next they would run fifty leagues in a day and a night 17. The Ruâ—he are a Tribe of the Arabians not rich but in agility of Body miraculous and account it a shame if one of their Footmen be vanquished by two Horsemen nor is any amongst them so slow that he will not out go any the swiftest Horse be the journey never so long 18. Brison was a famous runner of Races and reputed of great swiftness with this man Alexder the Great contended one time for the Victory in Footmanship Brison intending to please the King seem'd to saint and to lag behind and thereby to yield the honour of the course unto him but the King being advertised hereof was mightily offended and displeased with him about it 19. Iphiclus the Son of Phylacus and Clymenes hath wonderful things spoken of his swiftness of Foot especially by the Poet Hesiod by whom he is said I suppose by an Hyperbole to run over the Ears of standing Corn and by Demaracus to be able to walk upon the Sea CHAP. XXVIII Of Men of Expedition in their Iourneys and quick dispatch in other Affairs THe English Ambassador had prevailed with the Turkish Sultan to introduce some of our Musitioners into the Seraglio that he might hear a more excellent sort of Musick than as yet he had been acquainted with but they were so long in tuning their Instruments that whether he thought that the best they could make or that he would not allow himself any further leisure up he rose and departed He who made such haste in his Recreations was no doubt as enpedite in his business as the following in their Journeys and other Affairs 1. Titus Sempronius Gracchus a smart young man set out from Amphissa and with change of Horses upon the third day arriv'd at Pella 2. M. Cato with wonderful speed came from Hidruntum to Rome upon the fifth day 3. Iulius Caesar with incredible expedition made often such journeys that in his Litter he would travel at the rate of one hundred miles a day He came from Rome to Rhodanus saith Plutarch upon the eighth day that is about 800 miles 4. Icelus the freedman of Galba out went him far for as Plutarch saith to bring his Patron the news of Nero's death and to congratulate his arrival to the Empire he went from Rome and upâ—n the seventh day came to Clunia which is almost the middle of Spain 5. Mâ—thridates saith Appianus with change of Horses measured one thousand furlongs in one day that is one hundred twenty five Roman miles 6. Beyond him went Hambal as saith the same Appianus who being overthrown by Scipio with one in his company came in two days and two nights to Adrumetum whiâ—h is about three hundred seventy and five mâ—les that is in a day and a night one hundred eighty seven miles and a half 7. Yet was he also outstrip'd by that Messenger which was sent by Mâ—ximus to the Senate of Rome to carry news of Maximinus his death He ran saith Capitolinus with that post haste that changing Horses upon the fourth day from Aquileia he got to Rome seven hundred ninety seven miles which is almost two hundred miles for day and night 8. Tiberius Caesar when his Brother Drusus lay sick in Germany changing his Chariot Horses only three times in a night and a day dispatch'd a Journey of two hundred miles and dead he accompanyed his Corps out of Germany to Rome all the way on foot 9. Iohn Lepton of Kepwick in the County of York Equite one of the Grooms of the privy Chamber to King Iames undertook for a wager to ride six days together betwixt York and London being sevenscore and ten miles and he perform'd it accordingly to the greater praise of his strength in acting then his discretion in undertaking it He first set forth from Aldersgate May the 20 th being Munday Anno Dom. 1606. and accomplish'd his journey every day before it was dark After he had finish'd his Journey at York to the admiration of all men Munday the 27 th of the same Month he went from York and came to the Court at Greenwich to his Majesty upon Tuesday in as fresh and chearful a manner as when he first began 10. In the year 1619. the 17 th of Iuly of King Iames his Reign one Bernard Calvert of Andover rode from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Dover from thence passed by Barge to Callice in France and from thence return'd back to St. Georges Church the same day setting out about three a clock in the morning and return'd about eight a clock in the evening fresh and lusty 11. Osterly House in Middlesex was built in the Park by Sir Thomas Gresham who there magnificently entertain'd and lodg'd Q. Elizabeth her Majesty found fault with the Court of this House as too great affirming that it would appear more handsome if divided with a Wall in the middle What doth Sir Thomas but in the night time sends for Workmen to London Money commands all things who so speedily and silently apply their business that the next morning discover'd the Court double which the night had left single before its questionable whether the Queen next day was more contented with the conformity to her fancy or more pleas'd with the surprize and sudden performance thereof 12. Sir Thomas More was Lord Chancellor of England in which place he demeand himself with great integrity and with no less expedition In testimony of the latter it is recorded that calling for the next cause it was return'd unto him there are no more to be heard all suits in that Court depending and reading for hearing being finally determin'd whereupon a Rythmer had this When More some years had Châ—nc'lor been No more suits did remain The same shall
never more be seen Till More be there again 13. In Fabius Vrsinus a Child but of eleven years of age there was so rare a mixture of invention and memory that he could unto five or six several persons at the same time dictate the words and matter of so many several Epistles some serious some jocular all of different arguments returning after every short period from the last to the first and so in order and in the conclusion every Epistle should be so close proper and coherent as if it alone had been intended 14. Philip de Comines Knight and Lord of Argènton Privy Counsellour to Lewis the eleventh King of France was a person of those rare and quick parts that he often indited at one time to four Secretaries several Letters of weighty affairs with as great facility and readiness as if he had but one matter in hand 15. Anthony Perenot Cardinal Granvel was of so nimble a wit that he sometimes tired five Secretaries at once with dictating Letters to them and that in several tongues for he understood seven languages exactly none of that age surpassed him for eloquence he was Bishop of Arras at twenty four years of age and had audience in the Council of Trent for the Emperour Charles the Fifth where he made a quick and elegant Oration 16. Sir Thomas Lakes was born in the Parish of S. Michael in Southhampton and through several under offices at last preferred Secretary of Estate to King Iames incredible his dexterity in dispatch who at the same time would indite write discourse more exactly than most men could severally perform them Men resembled him to one of the Ships Royal of Queen Elizabeth called the Swiftsure such his celerity and solidity in all affairs He fell at last for the faults of others into the King's displeasure yet even then when outed of his Secretaries place King Iames gave him this publick Eulogy in open Court That he was a Minister of State fit to serve the greatest Prince in Europe 17. For vigour and quickness of spirit I take it that Caius Caesar Dictatour went beyond all men besides I have heard it reported of him that he was wont to write to read to indite Letters and withal to give audience to suiters and hear their causes all at one time And being employed as 't is well known in so great and important affairs he ordinarily indited Letters to four Secretaries at once and when he was freed from other greater business he would other whiles find seven of them work at one time 18. Henricus ab Heer 's mentions a young man of fourteen years of age who used to dictate to four of his School-fellows four different Verses and at the same time made a fifth himself He was called the youth with the great memory he afterwards applyed himself to Physick wherein he is a Practitioner saith he this year 1630. 19. It is said of Adrian the Emperour that he used to write dictate hear others discourse and talk with others at the same time and that he so comprehended all publick accounts that every diligent Master of a Family understood not so well the affairs of his own private house 20. King Henry the Seventh had occassion to send a Messenger to the Emperour Maximilian about a business that required haste he thought none more â—it for this employment than Mr. Thomas Woolsey then his Chaplain he call'd him gave him his errand and bade him make all the speed he could Woolsey departed from the King at Richmond about noon and by next morning was got to Dover and from thence by noon next day was come to Calis and by night was with the Emperour to whom declaring his message and having a present dispatch he rode that night back to Calis and the night following came to the Court at Richmond the next morning he presented himself before the King who blamed him for not being gone the matter requiring haste To whom Woolsey answered That he had been with the Emperour dispatched the business and shewed the Emperour's Letter The King wondred much at his speed bestowed presently upon him the Deanery of Lincoln and soon after made him his Almoner This was the first rise of that aâ—terwards great Prelate Cardinal Woolsey CHAP. XXIX Of the Fatness and Vnwieldiness of some Men and the Lightness of the Bodies of others ERasmus tells us of the Gordii that whereas other Nations were used to make choice of their Kings for some real excellency or virtue they had in them above others these people had a custom to advance him to the Throne of their Kingdom who was the fattest and most corpulent that could be found perhaps being of a peaceable disposition of themselves they would have their Princes whom they could no otherwise restrain to be clogged at least with Fetters of fiesh lest they should prove over active and more stirring than was conducing to their quiet I know not what ease can be expected from him who is become a burden to himself as some of the following persons were 1. Zacutus speaks of a young man who was grown to that huge thickness and fatness that he could scarce move himself much less was he able to go or set one step forward he continually sate in a Chair oftentimes he was oppressed with that difficulty of breathing that he seem'd to be choaked he was in perpetual fear of being suffocated or that he should speedily die of an Apoplexy Convulsion Asthma or Syncope How he was afterwards cured by Zacutus himself may be seen in that observation of his cited in the Margin 2. Polyeuctus Sphettius was a man of great corpulency he one time made a long Oration amongst the Athenians to perswade them to enter into a war with King Philip of Macedon In the speaking of which by reason of the heat and his own fat he had frequent recourse to a Bottle of Water which he had about him for that purpose When he had ended Phocion rose up And my Masters said he is it fit to give credit to this man concerning the management of a war What think you would become of him in the midst of a Battel when his Helmet and Brest-plate were on seeing he is in such danger of death with the bare labour of speaking 3. Dionysius the Son of that Clearchus who was the first Tyrant in Heraclea by reason of his voluptuous life and excessive feeding became so corpulent that by reason of his fat he was pressed with difficulty of breathing and in a continual fear of suffocation whereupon his Physicians appointed that as oft as he fell into any profound sleep they should prick his sides and belly with very long and sharp Needles he felt nothing while they passed through the fat but when they touch'd upon the sensible flesh then he awaked To such as demanded Justice he gave answers opposing a Chest betwixt him and them to cover
third day after he was offered by the Victor his liberty and restauration to the Kingdom in case he would confirm to Thebaldus what he was possessed of therein But he in an inconceiveable hatred to him that had made him his Prisoner reply'd That he should ever scorn to receive those and greater proffers from so base a hand as his Thebaldus had reason to resent this affront and therefore told him he would make him repent his so great insolence At which Gualterus inflam'd with a greater fury tare of his cloths and brake the 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 tare open the lips of his wounds and thrust his hands into his Intestines so that when he resolvedly refused all food and ways of cure he forcibly drave out his furious Soul from his Body and lest only one Daughter behind him who might have been happier had she not had a breast to her Father CHAP. X. Of Fear and the strange effects of it also of panick fears THe Spartans would not consecrate to the Gods any of those spoils which they had taken from the Enemy they thought they were unfit presents â—or them and no convenient sight for their own Children because they were things pluck'd off from them who suffer'd themselves to be taken through fear The meaning was they look'd upon the fearful man as neither pleasing to God nor profitable to Man the truth is an habitual coward is a man of no price but withal there are certain times wherein the worthiest of men have found their courage to desert them and upon some occasions more than others 1. Augustus Caesar was somewhat over timerous of Thunder and Lightning so that he always and every where carry'd with him the skin of a Sea-calf as a remedie And upon suspicion of approaching tempest would retreat into some ground or vaulted place as having been formerly affrighted by extraordinary flashes of Lightning in a nights journey of his 2. Caius Caligula who otherwise was a great contemner of the gods yet would wink at the least Thunder and Lightning and cover his head if there chanc'd to be greater and lowder he would then leap out of his bed and run to hide himself under it 3. Philippus Vicecomes was of so very timerous and a fearful Nature that upon the hearing of any indifferent Thunder he would tremble and shake with fear and as a person in distraction run up and down to seek out some subterranean hiding place 4. Pope Alexander the third being in France and performing divine Offices upon Good Fryday upon the sudden there was a horrible darkness and while the Reader was upon the Passion of Christ and was speaking of those words It is finished there fell such a stupendous Lightning and such a terrible crack of Thunder follow'd that Alexander leaving the Altar and the Reader deserting the Passion all that were present ran out of the place consulting their own safety by flight 5. Archelaus King of Macedon being ignorant of the effects of Natural Causes when once there hapned an Eclipse of the Sun as one overcome and astonish'd with fear he caus'd his Palace to be hastily shut up and as it was the usual custom in cases of extreme mourning and sadness he caus'd the hair of his Sons head to be cut off 6. Diomedes was the Steward of Augustus the Emperour as they two were on a time walking out together on the sudden there brake loose a wild Boar who took his way directly towards them here the Steward in the fear he was in gat behind the Emperour and interposed him betwixt the danger and himself Augustus though in great hazard yet knowing it was more his fear than his malice resented it no farther than to jest with him upon it 7. At the time when Caius Caligula was slain Claudius Caesar seeing all was full of sedition and slaughter thrust himself into a hole in a by corner to hide himself though he had no cause to be apprehensive of danger besides the illustriousness of his Birth being thus found he was drawn out by the Soldiers for no other purpose than to make him Emperour he besought their mercy as supposing all they said to be nothing else but a cruel mockery but they when through fear and dread of death he was not able to go took him up upon their shoulders carryed him to the Camp and proclaim'd him Emperour 8. Fulgos Argelatus by the terrible noise that was made by an Earthquake was so affrighted that his fear drave him into madness and his madness unto death for he cast himself headlong from the upper part of his house and so died 9. Cassander the Son of Antipater came to Alexander the Great at Babylon where finding himself not so welcome by reason of some suspicions the King had conceiv'd of his treachery he was seis'd with such a terrour at this suspicion of his that in the following times having obtain'd the Kingdom of Macedon and made himself Lord of Greece walking at Delphos and there viewing the Statues he cast his eye upon that of Alexander the Great at which sight he conceiv'd such horror that he trembled all over and had much ado to recover himself from under the power of that agony 10. The Emperour Maximilian the First being taken by the people of Bruges and divers of the Citizens who took his part slain Nicholaus de Helst formerly a prisoner together with divers others had the sentence of death pass'd upon him and being now laid down to receive the stroke of the Sword The people suddenly cry'd out Mercy he was pardon'd as to his life but the paleness his face had contracted by reason of his fear of his approaching death continued with him from that time forth to the last day of his life 11. We are told by Zacchias of a young man of Belgia who saith he not many years since was condemn'd to be burnt it was observ'd of him by as many as would that through the extremity of fear he sweat blood and Maldonate tells the like of one at Paris who having receiv'd the sentence of death for a crime by him committed sweat blood out of several parts of the body 12. Being about four or six years since in the County of Cork there was an Irish Captain a man of middle age and stature who coming with some of his followers to render himself to the Lord Broghil who then commanded the English forces in those parts upon a publick offer of pardon to the Irish that would lay down arms he was casually in a suspicious place met with by a party of the English and intercepted the Lord Broghil being then absent he was so apprehensive of being put to death before his return that that anxiety of mind quickly chang'd the colour of his
to be composed and set right which did hang and were ready to fall for weakness Then having admitted his Friends to come to him he asked them whether they thought he had acted well in this enterlude of life and withal added this as a Plaudite Now clap your hands and all with joy shout out After this he dismissed them all and whiles he questioned with some that were new come from the City concerning the Daughter of Drusus then sick suddenly amongst the kisses of Livia and in these words he gave up the Ghost Live mindful of our wedlock Livia and so farewel 16. Albertus Magnus five years before his death desired of God that he might forget all that he had learned in the studies of humanity and prophane Authors that he might give up himself entirely to devotion and the practice of piety The Lord Cordes a French Commander so sore longed to gain Calice from the English that he would commonly wish that he might lie seven years in Hell so that Calis were in the possession of the French 18. Aelfred King of the West Saxons being naturally inclined â—o incontinency desired that God would send him such a Disease as might repress and hinder his lust but not unsit him for the managing the Affairs of his Kingdom and he accordingly had the Disease called the Ficus the Hemorrhoids or Piles 19. When Darius was informed that Sardis was set on â—ire by the Ionians and Athenians he contemned the Ionians because he thought he might easily be revenged of their Rebellion but he called â—or a Bow and shot up an Arrow towards Heaven and in so doing O Jupiter said he grant it may come to pass that I may be avenged of the Atheninians And so mortal a hatred did he conceive against them that whensoever he sate down to eat he had one of those that ministred unto him who was ordered to say My Lord remember the Athenians 20. When Augustus Caesar was fifty four years of age he is said to have prayed to the Gods that he might have the valour of Scipio the favour of Pompey and the fortune of Caius Caesar Which said he is the overcomer in all great matters CHAP. XII Of Hope how great some have entertained and how some have been disappointed in theirs THe Poet Hesiod tells us that the miseries and calamities of mankind were included in a great Tun that Pandora took off the Lid of it sent them abroad and they spread themselves in great quantities over all Lands and Seas but that at this time Hope only did remain behind and slew not all abroad But underneaâ—h the upmost Brim and Ledge it still abode And this is that which is our principal Antidote which keeps our hearts from bursting under the pressure of evils and that slattering mirrour that gives us a prospect of I know not what greater good 1. When Alexander was resolved upon his Expedition into Persia he parted his Patrimony in Macedonia amongst his Friends to one he gave a Field to another a Village to a third a Town and to a â—ourth a Port and when on this manner he had distributed his Revenues and consigned them over to several persons by Patent What is it O King said Perdiceas that you have reserved for your self My Hopes replyed Alexander Of those hopes then said he we who are your followers will also be partakâ—rs And thereupon refused that which the King had before assured unâ—o him and his example therein was followed by divers there present 2. A certain Rhodian for his over freedom in speech was cast by a Tyrant into a Cage and there kept up as a wild Beast to his great pain and shame at once for his Hands were cut off his Nostrils slit and his Face deformed by several wounds upon it In this his extremity he was advised by some of his Friends to shorten his life by a voluntary abstinence from all food But he rejected their counsel with great indignation and told them while a man is alive all things are to be hoped for by him 3 Aristippus a Socratick Philosopher by shipwrack was cast upon the Rhodian Shore having lost all that he had walking alone upon the Shore he found certain Geometrical Figures that were traced upon the Sands upon sight of which he returned to his company and required them with a cheerful countenance to hope the best For said he even here I have met with the footsteps of men C. Marius was a man of obscure Parentage and Birth and having merited commendation in military affairs he purposed by that way to advance himself in the State and Republick And first he sought for the place of the Aedileship but he soon perceived that his hope in that matter was altogeger frustrate He therefore petitioned sor the minor Aedileship upon the same day but though he was refused in that also yet he laid not his hope aside but was so far from despairing that he gave out that for all this he hoped to appear one day the chief and principal person in all that great City The same person being driven out of the City by Sylla proscribed and his head set to sale for a great sum of money when he being now in his sixth Consulship was compelled to wander up and down from place to place in great hazards and almost continual perils he at this time chieâ—ly supported himself with the hope he had in a kind of Oracle he had received that told him he should be Consul the seventh time Nor did this hope of his prove in vain for by a strange turn of fortune in his Affairs he was again received into the City and elected Consul therein 5. C. Iulius Caesar the Dictator after the Civil Wars were ended had great things in his design and which he hoped to accomplish he intended to make war with the Parthians and hoped to overcome this done his purpose was through Hircania by the Caspian Sea and Mount Caucasus and by the way of Pontus to invade the Scythians then having conquered all the Nations about Germany and Germany it self to return through France into Italy and so to leave the Roman Empire on all sides surrounded with the Sea In the mean time while preparation was made for this Expidition he endeavoured to dig through the Corinthian Isthmus After this he had determined to receive the Rivers Anien and Tiber in vast Ditches and turning them towards Circeium to bring them near Tarracina into the Sea that there might be thence a secure and ready passage for Merchants to the City Besides this he hoped to drain the Fens and Marish Grounds in Nomentana and thereabouts and make them firm lands and pasture capable of receiving many thousands of Husbandmen and withal to make Havens in the Sea nearest to the City by framing Moles to cleanse the foul and hazardous Shores of Ostia and to make Ports and Block-Houses and places of receipt
Pontius Pilate being sent by Tiberius to be Governour over the Jews caused in the Night time the Statue of Caesar to be brought into Ierusalem covered which thing within three days after caused a great Tumult amongst the Jews for they who beheld it were astonished and moved as though now the law of their Country were prophaned for they hold it not lawful for any picture or Image to be brought into the City At their lamentation who were in the City there were gathered together a great multitude out of the Fields adjoyning and they went presently to Pilate then at Cesarea beseeching him earnestly that the Images might be taken away out of Ierusalem and that the Law of their Country might remain inviolate When Pilate denied their suit they prostrated themselves before his house and there remained lying upon their faces for five days and nights never moving Afterwards Pilate sitting in his Tribunal was very careful to call the Jews together before him as though there he would have given them an answer when upon the sudden a company of Armed Soldiers for so it was provided compassed the Jews about with a Triple Rank The Jews were hereat amazed seeing that which they expected not Then Pilate told them that except they would receive the Images of Caesar he would kill them all and to that end made a sign unto the Soldiers to draw their Swords The Jews as though they had agreed thereto fell all down at once and offered their naked Necks to the stroke of the Sword crying out that they would rather lose their lives than suffer their Religion to be prophaned Then Pilate admiring their constancy and the strictness of that people in their Religion presently commanded the Statua's to be taken out of the City of Ierusalem When King Ethelred and his Brother Alfred had encountred the Danes a whole day being parted by the Night early the next morning the Battel was renewed and Alfred engaged in fight with the Danes sent to his Brother to speed him to their help but he being in his Tent at his Devotions refused to come till he had ended Having finished he entred the Battel relieved the staggering Host and had a glorious Victory over his Enemies Fulco Earl of Anjou in his old Age minding the welfare of his Soul according to the Religion of those days went in Pilgrimage to Ierusalem and having bound his Servants by oath to do what he should require was by them drawn naked to Christs Sepulchre The Pagans looking on while one drew him with a wooden yoke put about his Neck the other whipt him on the naked Back he in the mean time saying Receive O Lord a miserable perjur'd and run away Servant vouchsafe to receive my Soul O Lord Christ. 30. Pompey having taken Ierusalem entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum and although he found a Table of Gold a sacred Candlestick a number of other Vessels and odoriferous drugs in great quantity and two thousand Talents of Silver yet he touched nothing thereof through the Reverence he bore to God but caused the Temple to be purged and commanded the Sacrifices to be offered according to the Law 31. When the Duke of Saaony made great preparations for war against a Pious and Devout Bishop of Magdeburg The Bishop not regarding his defence applied himself to his Episcopal function in the visiting and the Well Governing of his Church and when it was told him that the Duke was upon his March against him He replied I will take care of the Reformation of my Churches and leave unto God the care of my Safety The Duke had a Spy in the City who hearing of this answer of the Bishops gave his Master a speedy account thereof The Duke having received this Information did thereupon dismiss his Army surceased from his expedition saying he would not fight against him who had God to fight for him 32. Hannibal having given a great overthrow to the Romans and slain the Consul Flaminius the people were extremely perplexed and chose Fabius Maximus Dictator who to lay a good foundation for his Government began with the service of the Gods Declaring to the People that the loss they had received came through the rashness and wilful negligence of their General who made no reckoning of the Gods and Religion and therefore he perswaded them to appease the Gods and to serve and honour them And he himself in presence of the people made a solemn vow that he would sacrifice unto the Gods all the encrease and fruits that should fall the next year of Sheep Sows Milch-kine and of Goats throughout Italy CHAP. IV. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood THe Persians and Indians had a Law that whosoever had been thrice convicted of speaking untruth should upon Pain of death never speak word more all his life after And Plato saith it is only allowed to Physicians to lye for the comfort of the Sick that are under their custody and care But all other men are obliged to a severe and strict observance of truth notwithstanding which there hath been so great a scarcity of the true Lovers of it that 1. It is said of Augustus Caesar that after a long inquiry into all the parts of his Empire he found but one man who was accounted never to have told lye For which cause he was deemed capable and worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple of Truth 2. Epaminondas the Theban General was so great a Lover of Truth that he was ever exceeding careful lest his tongue should in the least digress from it even then when he was most in sport 3. Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur speaks of him as a person exremely devoted to Truth and gives him this threefold commendation Tâ—at he was never known to tell a Lye that he was never heard to speak ill of any man and lastly that he used not to speak at all but when necessity required 4. Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus a Knight of Rome and familiar friend to M. Cicero that he was never known to speak an untruth neither but with great impatience to hear any Related His uprightness was so apparent that not only private men made suit to him that they might commit their whole Estates to his trust but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices into his charge 5. Xenocrates the Philosopher was known to be a man of that fidelity and truth in speaking that whereas no mans Testimony might be taken in any cause but upon oath yet the Athenians amongst whom he lived gave to him alone this priviledge that his evidence should be lawful and good without being sworn 6. The Duke of Ossura as he passed by Barcelona having got leave of Grace to release some Slaves he went
concerning his Love to Truth 17. Euricius Cordus a German Physician hath this honour done to his memory It is said of him that no man was more addicted to truth than he or rather no man was more vehemently studious of it none could be found who was a worser hater of ing and falshood he could dissemble nothing nor bear that wherewith he was offended which was the cause of his gaining the displeasure oâ— some persons who might have been helpful to him if he would but have sought their favour and continued himself therein by his obsequiousness Thus much is declared in his Epigrams and he saith it of himself Blandire nescis ac verum Corde tacere Et mirare tuos displicuisse libros Thou canst not flatter but the truth dost tell What wonder is 't thy Books then do not sell. Paulus Lutherus Son to Martin Luther was Physician to Ioachimus the Second Elector of Brandenbuog and then to Augustus Duke of Saxony Elector It is said of him that he was verè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lover of liberty and freedom of Speech far from â—lattery and assentation and in all points like unto that Rhesus in Euripides who saith of himself Talis sum et ego rectam sâ—rmonum Viam secans nec sum duplex vir Such a one am I that rightly can Divide my Speech yet am no double man The virtues of this Luther were many and great yet I know not any wherein he more deservedly is to be praised than for this honest freedom of speaking wherein he mightily resembled his Father 19. When I lived at Vtricht in the Low Countries the Reply of that valiant Gentleman Colonel Edmonds was much spoken of There came a Country-man of his out of Scoâ—land who desiring to be entertained by him told him that my Lord his Father and such Knights and Gentlemen his Cousin and Kinsmen were in good health Colonel Edmonds turning to his friends then by Gentlemen said he believe not one word he says My Father is but a poor Baker in Edinburg and works hard for his living whom this Knave would make a Lord to curry favour with me and make you believe that I am a great man born when there is no such matter CHAP. V. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace THere is a certain Fish which Aelian in his History calls the Adonis of the Sea because it liveth so innocently that it toucheth no living thing strictly preserving peace with all the offspring of the Ocean which is the cause it is beloved and courted as the true darling of the Waters If the frantick world hath had any darlings they are certainly such as have been clad in Steel the destroyers of Cities the suckers of humane blood and such as have imprinted the deepest scars upon the face of the Universe These are the men it hath Crown'd with Lawrels advanc'd to Thrones and â—latter'd with the misbecoming Titles of Heroes and Gods while the Sons of peace are remitted to the cold entertainment of their own vertues Notwithstanding which there have ever been some who have found so many Heavenly Beauties in the face of Peace that they have been contented to love that sweet Virgin for her self and to Court her without the consideration of any additional Dowry 1. The Inâ—abitants of the Island Borneo not far from the Moluccas live in such detestation of war and are so great Lovers of peace that they hold their King in no other veneration than that of a God so long as he studies to preserve them in peace but if he discover inclinations to war they never leave till he is fall'n in Battle under the Arms of his Enemies So soon as he is slain they set upon the Enemy with all imaginable fierceness as Men that fight for their liberty and such a King as will be a greater Lover of peace Nor was there ever any King known amongst them that was the perswader and Author of a war but he was deserted by them and suffer'd to fall under the Sword of the Enemy 2. Datanes the Persian being employed in the besieging of Sinope received Letters from the King commanding him to desist from the Siege Having read the Letter he adored it and made gratulatory sacrifices as if he had received mighty favours from his Master and so taking Ship in the very next Night he departed 3. The Emperour Leo who succeeded Martianus having given to Eulogius the Philosopher a quantity of Corn one of his Eunuchs told him that such kind of largess was more fitly bestowed upon his Soldiers I would to God said the Emperour that the state of my Reign was such that I could bestow all the stipends of my Soldiers upon such as are learned 4. Constantinus the Emperour observing some differences amongst the Fathers of the Church called the Nicene Council at which also hmself was present At this time divers little Books were brought to him containing their mutual complaints and accusations of one another All which he received as one that intended to read and take cognizance of them all But when he found that 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 amongst themselvrs 5. 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 perswade them to peace 6. At Fez in Africk they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any controversies amongst them both parties Plaintiff and Defendant came to their Alsakins or Chief Judge and at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the Cause is heard and ended It is reported of Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles in Rome under their own hands 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 apprehension that he lived suspected and should therefore be hated 8. Iames 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 9. I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of
betwixt us that needed reconciliation 3. The Emperour of China on certain days of the year visiteth his Mother who is seated on a Throne and four times on his feet and four times on his knees he maketh her a profound reverence bowing his head even to the ground The same custom is also observed through the greatest part of the Empire and if it chance that any one is negligent or deficient in this duty to his Parents he is complain'd of to the Magistrates who punish such offenders very severely But generally no people express more filial respect and duty than they 4. Sir Thomas Moore being Lord Chancellour of England at the same time that his Father was a Judge of the King's Bench he would always at his going to Westminster go first to the King's Bench and ask his Father blessing before he went to sit in the Chancery 5. Alexander the Great sent his Mother Olympias many Royal Presents out of the Asian Spoils but withal forbade her to intermeddle with State affairs or to challenge to her self such offices as appertained to the Governour Olympias expostulated these things very sharply with him which yet he easily endured But upon a certain time when he had received long Letters from Antipater filled with complaints against her Antipater said he doth not know that one single tear of my Mother is able to blot out six hundred of his Epistles 6. There happened in Sicily as it hath often an eruption of Aetna now called Mount Gibel it murmurs burns belches up flames and throws out its fiery entrails making all the world to flie from it It happened then that in this violent and horrible breach of â—â—ames every one flying and carrying away what they had most precious with them two Sons the one called Anapias the other Amphinomus careful of the wealth and goods of their Houses reflected on their Father and Mother both very old who could not save themselves from the fire by flight And where shall we said they find a more precious treasure than those who begat us The one took up his Father on his Shoulders the other his Mother and so made passage through the flames It is an admirable thing that God in the consideration of this piety though Pagans did a miracle for the monuments of all Antiquity witness that the devouring flames staid at this spectacle and the fire wasting and broiling all about them the way only through which these two good Sons passed was tapestryed with fresh verdure and called afterwards by posterity the Field of the Pious in memory of this Accident 7. Artaxerxes the First King of Persia was a fervent lover of Statyra his wife and though he knew that by the fraud of his Mother Parysatis she had been empoysoned and murdered yet piety to his Mother overcame his conjugal affection and he so dissembled the injury of his Mother that he not only spake nothing of revenging her wickedness but which is more strange he never gave the least sign of his being offended by any alteration of his countenance towards her unless in this that desiring to go to Babylon he gave her leave and said that he would not see Babylon while she lived 8. Q. Cicero Brother of Marcus being proscribed and sought after to be slain by the Triumvirate was hid by his Son who for that cause was hurried to torments but by no punishments or tortures could he be forced to betray his Father The Father mov'd with the piety and constancy of the Son of his own accord offered himself to death lest for his sake they should determine with utmost severity against his Son 9. Epaminondas the Theban General being asked what was the most pleasant thing that had happened to him throughout his whole life replyed it was this that he had carried away the Leuctrian Victory his Father and Mother being both alive Plut. in M. Coriolan p. 215. 10. There were three Brothers who upon the death of the King their Father fell out amongst themselves about succession in the Kingdom at last they agreed to stand to the judgment and determination of a Neighbour King to whom they fully referred the matter He therefore commanded the dead body of the Father to be fetched out of his monument and ordered that each of them should shoot an arrow at his heart and he that hit it or came the nearest to it should succeed The elder shot first and his arrow passed through the Throat of his Father the second Brother shot his Father into the Breast but yet missed the heart The youngest detesting this wickedness I had rather said he yield all to my Brothers and utterly resign up all my pretences to the Kingdom than to treat the body of my Father with this contumely This saying of his considered the King passed sentence that he alone was worthy of the Kingdom as having given evidence how much he excelled his Brothers in virtue by the piety he had shewed to the dead body of his Father 11. Caius Flaminius being a Tribune of the people had promulged a Law about the division of the Fields of Gallia man by man the Senate unwilling it should pass opposed it but he resisted both their entreaties and threats They told him they would raise an Army against him in case he should not desist from his intentions notwithstanding all which unaffrighted he ascends the Pulpit and being now ready with all the people about him by their suffrages to have it pass into a Law his own Father came and laid hands upon him enjoyning him to come down he broken with this private command descended from the Pulpit and was not so much as reproach'd with the least murmur of the people whom he had forsaken but the whole assembly seemed to approve this his piety to his Parent although so much to their own prejudice 12. The Pretor had sentenced to death a woman of good Birth for a capital crime and had consign'd her over to the Triumvir to be killed in prison The Jaylor that received her mov'd with compassion did not presently strangle her but besides permitted her Daughter to come often to her though first diligently searched lest she should convey in any sustenance to her the Jaylor expecting that she should die of famine When therefore divers days had passed wondring within himself what it might be that occasioned her to live so long he one day set himself to observe her Daughter with greater curiosity and then discovered how with the Milk in her Breasts she allayed the famine of her Mother The news of this strange spectacle of the Daughter suckling her Mother was by him carried to the Triumvir by the Triumvir to the Pretor from the Pretor it was brought to the judgment of the Consul who pardoned the woman as to the sentence of death passed upon her and to preserve the memory of that fact where her prison stood they caused an Altar
answer I once served Antaff under hisâ— pay as a Soldier and gave him the same faith I now give you if then I should betray him what trust could your Grace repose in my truth Let him therefore dye but not by my treachery and let your care remove your Royal self from danger remove your Tent from the place where it stands lest at unawares he assail you which the King did and a Bishop pitching in the same place was that night with all his retinue slain by Antaff hoping to have surprised the King and believing he had slain him because he himself knew his Tent stood in that place CHAP. XIV Of the exact Obedience which some have yielded to their Superiors WHen Metellus had dis-inherited his Sons they chose rather to have no shaâ—e in his estate than to admit of any disputation about the sorce of his will and some have freely parted with liberty and life it self when eithâ—r has come â—nto competition with the commandment of their Superiours 1. Tiribasus was a stout and valiant man when therefore some Persians came to lay hold on him he drew his Cymiter and manfully defended himself his aggressors thereupon fearing to be worsted by him cryed out That what they did was by the Kings command Tiribasus no sooner heard this but he threw away his weapon and gave his hands to be bound by them 2. The great Bassa of Aleppo who was also an Emir or Hereditary Prince the year before my coming thither had revolted from his Emperour and fighting the Bassas of Damascus and Carahemen overcame them the year following and in my being there the Grand Signior sent from Constantinople a Chiaus and two Janizaries in Embassage to him When they came to Aleppo the Bassa was in his own Country of Mesopotamia the Messengers made haste after him but in their journey they met him coming to Aleppo accompanied with his two Sons and five hundred Horsemen upon the High-way they delivered their message where he stood still and heard them The proffer of Sultan Achmet was that if he would acknowledge his Rebellion and for that Treason committed send him his Head his eldest Son should both inherit his Possessions and Bassa-ship of Aleppo that otherwise he would come with great Forces in all expedition and in his own person would extirpate him and all his from the face of the earth At the hearing of which the Bassa knowing he was not able to resist the invincible Army of his Master and his own person he dismounted from His Horse and went to counsel with his Sons and nearest Friends where he and they concluded it was best for him to die being an old man to save his race undestroyed and to preserve his Son in his Authority and Inheritance This done the Bassa went to prayer and taking his leave of them all kneeled down on his knees where the Chiaus strook off his Head putting it into a Box to carry with him to Constantinople the dead Corps was carried to Aleppo and honourably buried for I was an eye-witness to that Funeral Feast 3. No Monarch had ever the Glory of being so exactly obeyed as was that poor Fisher-boy in Naples vulgarly called Masaniello he ordered that all men should go without Cloaks Gowns wide Cassocks or such like which was universally obeyed not only of the common sort but the Nobility all Church-men and Religious Orders the two Cardinals Filomarino and Trivultio the Apostolical Nuncio and all the Bishops in that City He commanded that all women of what degree or quality soever should go without their Farthingales and that when they went abroad they should tuck their Petticoats somewhat high that no Arms might be carryed by them it was also obeyed He commanded that all Cavaliers should deliver their Arms as also all noble persons to the hands of such Officers as he should send with commission to receive them it was done He had at his beck an hundred and fifty thousand men and in the presence of the Vice-Roy of Naples he bade them cry out Let God live let the holy Virgin of Carmine live let the King of Spain live live Filomarino and the Duke of Arcos with the most faithful peoplâ—â— Naples The people followed him in every 〈◊〉 and at last he ended with Let the ill 〈◊〉 die which they also ecchoed This was his first proof he made a second upon the people putting his finger to his mouth there was a profound universal silence that scarce a man was known to breath For a last proof of his authority and the peoples obedience he commanded with a loud voice out of the Balcony wherein he was that every soul there present under pain of Rebellion and death should retire from the place wherein they then stood which was punctually and presently obeyed not one remaining behind as if they had all vanished away so that the Vice-Roy was amazed at such a ready and marvellous obedience If he said bring me the head of such a one or let such a Palace be burnt and the House of such an one be plundered or any other the least thing commanded at the very instant without any doubts or replyes it was put in execution All this was at Naples in the year of our Lord 1647 and in the Month of Iuly 4. Thienkius the Emperour of China had advanced an Eunuch called Gueio to such height and power that he stiled him by the name of Father and passed the absolute and Sovereign Command into his hands so that persons of greatest eminency were put to death by his orders for smallest matters it was enough if they could not bow themselves to flatter and fawn upon him Zunchinius succeeded in the Empire his Brother being dead without issue and he having resolved the destruction of this over-potent Eunuch sent him an order to go visit the Tombs of his Ancestors to consider if any of those ancient Monuments wanted reparation He had not gone far upoâ— his Journey but there was presented to him by order from the Emperour a Box of Silver gilt with a Halter of Silk folded up in it by which he understood he was commanded to hang himself which he accordingly did 5. Amongst the Persians before the Palace there perpetually stands a seat of Iron with three feet is it so fall out that the King is more than ordinarily displeased with any Persian he may not flie to any Temple or other Sanctuary but standing at this Tripos of the King 's he is there to expect his sentence and oftentimes at the distance of some days the King sends one to put an end to his fearful expectation by taking away his life 6. In that part of Syria which the Persians once held there is a people called Assassines or as Nicetas calls them Chasians these are wont so to reverence and observe the commands of their Prince that they perform them with all readiness and alacrity how dangerous or difficult
soever the execution of them be At the first sign or intimation by gesture of their King they will immediately cast themselves headlong from Rocks and Towers leap into the Waves throw themselves into the fire or being sent by him to kill any such Prince whose death he desires they set themselves about it despising all the tortures they must endure after they have performed the murther or discovery of their intention When once Henry Earl of Campania passed from Antioch towards Tyrus having obtained a safe conduct the Prince of this people called Vâ—tus gave him a strange assurance of his people's obedience for he shewed him several persons standing upon the top of a high Tower one of these he called out by name who no sooner understood his command but without any delay he cast himself down from thence in their sight and broken in pieces with the fall he immediately died The King would have called out others to the like trial and was difficultly diverted from his designs by the earnest entreaties of the Earl who was astonished with wonder and horrour of the experiment The Sâ—lsidas of the Sâ—quimar of Arabia the Happy perform the same at their Prince's command When Hannibal made war against the Romans in Italy he at that time had under his Standards Carthaginians Numidians Mâ—ors Spaniards Baleares Gauls Ligurians and a number of Italian people and yet the General was of that authority amongst them that though his Army consisted of so many and different Nations and that the War was drawn out into so long a continuance and that there was such variety of events therein yet in all that time there was never known that there was any stir tumult or sedition mov'd amongst them 8. The Inhabitants of those Islands that lie over against the Coast of Florida are in great subjection to their Lords and Masters in such manner as that if they should command them to throw themselves headlong from off a high Hill or do any other thing whatsoever they will not refuse to do it whatsoever danger there may be in the performance not once asking wherefore they should do it but only because their Master commandeth it 9. Instead of Crowns and Scepters the Ornaments of the Kings of Peru whereby they shew their Majesty are these They wear certain Tassels of Red Wool bound about their Heads hanging down upon their Shoulders almost covering their eyes whereat there hang other Threads which they use when they will have any thing done or executed They give that Thread unto one of their Lords that attend upon them by this token they command in all their Provinces and the King hath done whatsoever he doth desire At the sight of this Thread his pleasure is by his Subjects with so great diligence and dutiful obedience fulfilled that the like is not known in any place of the world for if by this way he chance to command that a whole Province shall be clean destroyed and utterly lest desolate both of men and all living creatures whatsoever both young and old it is done If he send but one of his Servants to execute the severest of his commands although he send no other power or aid of men nor other commission than one of the Threads of his Quispel it is sufficient and they willingly yield themselves to all dangers even to death and destruction 10. Xerxes flying out of Greece the Ship or Boat was so over-pressed with the numbers of such as were got within her that a Tempest arising they were all brought to the hazard of their lives here it was that Xerxes bespake them in this manner Since upon you O Persians depends the safety of your King let me now understand how far you take your selves to be concerned therein He had no sooner spoken these words but that having first adored him most of them leaped into the Sea and by their death freed their King of his present danger CHAP. XV. Of the Generosity of some Persons and the Noble Actions by them performed AS amongst those Starry Lights wherewith the arched Roof of Heaven is beautified and bespangled there are some more conspicuous for their extraordinary brightness and lustre and draw the eyes of men with greater admiration towards them so amongst the race of mankind there are some found to shine with that advantage in point of Generosity and true Nobleness of Mind above the common Standard of Humaniry that we fix our eyes with equal wonder and delight upon those actions which we know to be the effects whereof the vulgar are uncapable 1. Cardinal Petrus Damianus relateth how being a Student at Faenza one told him of an act of Charity and Generosity that happened of which he made more account than of all the Wonders of the World it was this a man whose eyes another had most traiterously pulled out was by this accident confined in a Monastery where he liv'd an unspotted life performing all offices of charity according to the ability of his body It fell out this cruel creature who had done this mischievous act sickened of a languishing malady and was enforced to be carried to that same place where he was whom he had bereaved of sight his heart said within him he could never endure him but for revenge would put out his eyes on the contrary the blind man made earnest suit to have the charge of him as if he had sought some great fortune from the hand of a Prince he prevailed and was deputed to the service of the sick man and he dedicated to him all the functions of his body except the eyes which the other had pulled out Notwithstanding saith the Cardinal he wanted not eyes you would say the blind man was all Eyes all Arms all Hands all Heart to attend the sick man so much consideration vigour diligence and affection he used 2. In the Cathedral Church of Roan in Normandy is the Sepulchre of Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France for King Henry the Sixth an envious Courtier perswaded Charles the Eighth to deface it God forbid said he that I should wrong him being dead whom living all the power of France was not able to withstand adding withal that he deserved a better Monument than the English had bestowed upon him 3. Conrade succeeding Henry in the Empire by this Henry Wenceslaus the Duke of Poland was overcome in Battel and made a Tributary of the Empire he afterwards rebelled and took upon him the Title of a King to whom succeeded Mysias in both the Kingdom and contumacy towards the Empire Conrade therefore by the help of his Brother had enforced him to quit Poland and flie to Vlrick Duke of Bohemia who at that time was also an Enemy to the Empire Vlrick despising all the Laws of Hospitality gives Conrade to understand that in case he would compound the difference betwixt them two he would send him Mysias as his prisoner to dispose of him as he
should think meet The Generous Emperour so abhorred this Villany that immediately he sent an express to Mysias to let him know the danger he was in By this action wherein so much of true Nobility did appear Mysias who before had not yielded to Conrade his Arms was perfectly subdued He goes to the Emperour lays his Crown at his foot and submits to the payment of the former Tribute 4. Dromichetes King of the Getes had overcome in Battel and also taken prisoner King Lysimachus who had causelesly and unprovoked invaded him yet though he had such just occasion to have dealt severely with him over-passing the injury he had received by his assault he familiarly as other Kings their treasures shewed him the poverty of himself and his people saying that he was very well contented therewith That done he gave him his liberty and presented him with such gifts as he could and withal at parting gave him this counsel that for the future he should not make war upon such people the conquest of whom would yield him no profit but rather use them as Friends 5. When Pyrrhus King of Epirus warred upon the Romans the King's Physician called Nicias sent a Letter to Fabricius the Roman Consul and General promising him therein to poison Pyrrhus Fabritius detesting to be rid of his Enemy in so base a way and desirous that the treacherous servant might meet with his due reward sent back the Letter to Pyrrhus himself withal advising him to take heed to himself for that as it seemed he was but an ill Judge of his Friends or Enemies The King having found out the Treason hanged up his Physician as he well deserved and sent back all the Prisoners to Fabritius without ransom but the generous Consul would not receive them in that manner but sent him an equal number of his which he had formerly taken 6. One of the Emperours of China going his progress met with a certain company leading away some other prisoners he caused his Coach to stop and enquired what the matter was which as soon as he understood he fell into a passionate weeping They who accompanied him began to comfort him and said one amongst them Sir in a Common-wealth there must be chastisements it cannot be avoided so have the former Kings your Predecessors commanded it to be so have the Laws ordained it so doth the Governmet of the State require it The Emperour replyed I weep not to see these men prisoners nor to see them chastised I know very well that the good without rewards are not encouraged and without chastisument the wicked are not retain'd that correction is as necessary to the Government of a Kingdom as Bread is for the nourishment and sustenance thereof but I weep because my time is not so happy as that of old was when the virtues of the Princes were such that they served as a Bridle to the people and their example was sufficient to restrain the whole Kingdom 7. Alphonsus the Twelfth King of Spain was driven out of his Kingdom by his Son Sancius and reduced to those Straights that he was enforced to offer to pawn his Crown to Abenyuza the King of Morocco for a great sum of money But Abenyuza as a noble and most generous Prince hearing of Alphonsus his extremity sent first his Embassadors to endeavour a reconcilement betwixt the Father and the Son that not succeeding he not only assisted him with moneys but also with a great Army and with his own treasure at his own cost he reinstated him in a great part of his Kingdom That which renders this action the more truly generous is that neither diversity of Religion nor the memory of those Wars that had long and bitterly been waged betwixt this Alphonsus and him could hinder him from lending him both men and money from venturing his own person in his behalf crossing the Seas in favour of him and exposing himself to foreign Nations and divers hazards in an affair whereof he could expect no profit to himself 8. The Bassa of Natolia leading a parcel of Turks as the Forerunners of Bajazet's Army was entrapped by an ambush of the Prince Ciarcan most of his Soldiers cut in pieces himself taken prisoner and sent to Tamerlane he demanded the reason why Bajazet shewed such contempt of his Army which he should find strong enough to abate his pâ—ide The Bassa replyed that his Lord was the Sun upon earth which could endure no equal that he was astonied to see how he had enterprised so dangerous a journey to hinder the fortune of his Lord and that he committed great â—olly in going about to resist the same I am said Tamerlane sent from Heaven to punish his rashness and to confound his pride Then changing his discourse he asked if his Master did come resolv'd to bid him Battel Assure your self said he there is nothing more he desireth and would to God I might acknowledge your goodness in giving me leave to assist my Lord at that Battel Good leave have thou said Tamerlane go thy ways and tell thy Lord that thou hast seen me and that in the Battel he shall find me on Horseback where he shall see a Green Ensign displayed And so gave the Bassa both his liberty and a fair Horse well furnished although he well knew he was shortly to use both against himself 9. There was amongst the Hugonots Faction one Iohn Poltrot Sieur de Mereborne of a Noble Family near Angoulesme this man lay in wait for the life of Francis Duke of Guise and upon the twenty fourth of February 1563 performed his wicked intention for the Duke being against Orleance retired that Evening unaâ—med to his Lodging Poltrot mounted on a swift Gâ—nnet discharged a Gun at him laden with three Bullets which all three hit him on the right Shoulder and passing through the body so wounded him that he died on the third day after his hurt But the proceedings of the Queen Mother were much different for when soon after this a Hugonot Captain commonly called La Motte having offered himself to find a means to kill Andelot she causing him to be apprehended by her Guards sent him bound to the same Andelot that he might punish him as he pleased himself and surely there are few examples of the like generous actions in any of our modern stories 10. The Emperour of China called Vamlie had no child by his Lawful Empress but had two Sons one by a Maid of Honour which was the eldest and another young Son by one of the Queens his Concubines This Son he loved very much and by reason of the particular affection he bore him he would by all means leave him the Kingdom saying that by reason he had no Sons by his Empress the succession was not of right to any of the rest but that it belonged to him to elect whom he pleased and because the elder was the Son of a Servant he chose rather
Whereas Anno Dom. 1535. The Roman Tyranny of Anti-Christ was ejected his Superstitions abolished the Holy Religion of Christ restored here in its proper purity the Church by the singular goodness of God put into better order the Enemy overcome and put to slight and the City it self by a remarkable miracle did then obtain its former liberty and freedom The Senate and People of Geneva have caused this Monument in perpetual Memory thereof to be made and erected in this place as also to leave a Testimony of their thankfulness to God and Posterity 10. In the time of the second Punick War when Fulvius besieg'd Capua there were two Women of Campania that were resolute in their good wishes to the Romans These were Vestia Opidia a Matron and Mistress of a Family and Cluvia Facula a common prostitute The one of these did daily sacrifice for the good fortune of their Army and the other ceased not to carry Provisions to such of ours as were made Prisoners amongst them When therefore Capua was taken these two had their liberty and goods restor'd by special order of the Senate of Rome and not only so but sent them a promise to grant what reward they should desire It is much that in so great and publick a Joy the Fathers had leisure to thank two poor Women of mean condition but it was more â—or them to make it a special part of their business and that by their own motion 11. Q. Fabius Maximus was the Person that sav'd the Roman State from being over-whelmed with the Torrent of Hannibal and had fortunately serv'd the Common-Wealth in five several Consul-ships When therefore he was dead the Roman people not unmindful of his good service did strive who should contribute most Money to render the pomp of his Funeral more glorious and that he might be interred with the greater magnificence 12. There was in Florence a Merchant whose name was Francis Frescobald of a noble Family and liberal mind who through a prosperous success in his affairs was grown up to an abundance of Wealth While he was at Florâ—nce a young Man presented himself to him asking his Alms for God's sake Frescobald beheld the ragged stripling and in despight of his Tatters reading in his countenance some significations of virtue was moved with pity demanded his Countrey 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 Cloth-shearer I am stray'd from my Countrey and am now come into Italy with the Camp of French-men that were overthrown at Gaâ—ylion where I was Page to a Foot-man carrying after him his Pike and Burganet Frescobald partly in pity of his State and partly in love to the English Nation amongst whom he had receiv'd 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 rendring him hearty thanks return'd into his Countrey where in Process of time he became in such favour with King Henry the Eight that he rais'd him to the Dignity of being Lord High Chancellour of England In the mean time Frescobald by great and successive losses was become poor but remembring that some English Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Ducats he came to â—â—ndon to seek after it not thinking of what had passed betwixt Cromwel and him But travelling earnestly about his business he accidentally met with the Lord Chancellour as he was riding to the Court. As soon as the Lord Chancellour saw him he thought he should be the Merchant of Florence of whose liberality he had tasted in times past immediately he alights embraces him and with a broken voice scarce refraining tears he demanded if he were not Francis Frescobald the Florentine Yes Sir said he and your humble Servant My Servant said Cromwel no as you have not been my Servant in times past so will I not now account you 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 would not let me understand of your Arrival in this Land Had I known it I should certainly have paid part of that debt which I confess I ow you but thanks be to God that I have yet time Wâ—ll Sir in conclusion you are heartily welcome but having now weighty affairs in my Princes cause you must hold me excused that I can no longer tarry 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 Frescobald wonders who this Lord should be at last after some pause he remembers him for the same he had relieved at Florence he therefore repairs to his house not a little joyed and walking in the base Court attended his return He came soon after and was no sooner dismounted but he again embraced him with so friendly a countenance as the Lord Admiral and other Nobles then in his company much marvelled at He turning back and holding Frescobald by the hand Do you not wonder my Lords said he that I seem so glad of this man This is he by whose means I have atchieved this my present degree and therewith recounted to them all that had passed between them Then holding him still by the hand he led him to the Chamber where he dined and seated him next himself The Lords departed he would know what occasion had brought him to London Frescobald in few words truly opened his cause to him To which Cromwel returned Things 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 to bear a part therein and that in this your distress you may receive some consolation It is fit I should repay some portion 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 in the word of a true friend that during this life and state of mine I will not fail to to do for you wherein my authority may prevail Then taking him by the hand he led him into a Chamber and commanded all to depart he locked the door then opening a Coffer he â—irst took out sixteen Ducats and delivering them to Frescobald My friend said he here is your money you lent me at my departure from Florence here are other ten you bestowed in mine Apparel with Ten more you disbursed for the Horse I rode upon But considering you are a Merchant it seemeth to me not honest 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 Ducats to receive and enjoy from the hand of your assured friend which the modesty of
be restored to their Estates and I heartily wish that I could restore them that are already dead unto life again In an Emperor I could never approve of the revenge of his own injuries which howsoever it may be oftentimes just yet for the most part if not always it appears to be sharp You shall therefore pardon the Children Son in Law and Wife of Avidius Cassius But why do I say pardon them since there is none of them that hath done amiss Let them live therefore and let them know that they live in security under Marcus Let them live in the enjoyment of their Patrimony and in the possession of their Garments and Gold and Silver and let them be not only rich but safe Let them have the freedom to transport themselves into all places as they please that throughout the whole world and in the sight of all people they may bear along with them the true and unquestionable instance of yours and my clemency Neither O ye Conscript Fathers is this any remarkable clemency to pardon the Children and Wives of the Rebellious I therefore desire you that you would free at once all Senators and Knights of Rome that are under accusation not only from death and banishment but also from fear and hatred from infamy and injury Allow thus much to my present times that in these conspiracies framed for the erection of Tyranny the blood of those that fell in the tumult it self may suffice and that the punishment may proceed no further This Oration was so pleasing to the Senate and populacy of Rome that they extolled the Clemency of Marcus with inâ—inite prayses 16. Some young men had publickly reproached the Wife of Pisistratus the Athenian Tyrant the next day sensible of their errour in great fear they presented themselves before him and with tears implored his pardon He without any motion to anger or revenge made them this answer Hereafter demean your selves more modestly although my Wife did not as you suppose go out of the doors yesterday By this saying of no less prudence than humanity he covered at once both the error of the young men and the disgrace that was done to his Wife 17. After what manner compassion and mercy doth sometimes meet with unexpected rewards me thinks is pretily represented by Vâ—sinus Velius and I will close up this Chapter with his Verses that are thus Englished A Fisher angling in a Brook With a strong Line and baâ—ted Hook When he for his wish'd Prey did pull It happn'd he brought up a Skull Of one before drown'd which imprest A pious motion in his breast Thinks he since I such leisure have Vpon it I 'll bestow a Grave For what did unto it befal May chance to any of us all He takes it wraps it in his coat And bears it to a place remote To bury it and then digs deep Because the Earth it safe should keep And lo in digging he espies Where a great heap of treasure lies The Gods do never prove ingrate To such as others commiserate CHAP. XXII Of the light and gentle Revenges some have taken upon others EXcellent was the advice that was given to the Romans by the Embassadors of some Cities in Hetruria that since they were men they would not resent any thing beyond humane nature and that in mortal bodies they would not carry immortal feuds Light injuries are made none by a not regarding which with a purfuing revenge grow both to height and burden and live to mischieve us when they might die to secure us It is Princely to disdain a wrong and they say Princes when Embassadors have offered Indecencies use not to chide but deny them Audience as if Silence were the way Royal to revenge a wrong thus the upper Region is the most composed Age the wisest ever rage the least and it was the Maxim of a Great Lord that discontent is the greatest weakness of a generous Soul while it is so intent upon its unhappiness that it forgets its remedies Gentle revenges of abuses you may see as â—ollows 1. Diogenes the Grammarian was wont to dispute every Seventh day at Rhodes and when Tiberius then a private man came to hear him upon a day wherein he was not accustomed to read he admitted him not but sent his servant to him to let him know that he should expect the seventh day wherein there would be opportunity both for him and others to see and hear him When Tiberius came to be Emperor of Rome this man amongst others came to salute him Tiberius having observed him at the gate sent one to let him know that at present he could not speak with him and that he should come to him again at seven years end 2. A certain Jeweller had sold the Wife of Galienus the Emperor counterfeit and glass Gems for true ones The Empress being told of the cousenage requested that he might have due punishment The Emperor having heard the complaint of his Wife commands the man to be dragged from his presence with this Sentence that he should be exposed to a Lion to be torn in pieces But whiles the Impostor fearfully and the people greedily expect that some fierce and terrible Lion should be let out of his Den to devour him the head of a man only appears from the Den and it was a Cryer who by the Emperor's Order proclaimed these words He has played the cheat and now he it cheated himself 3. When Alceus the Poet with a bitter hatred had used all the advantages of his wit against Pittacus the Mytelenian Pittacus having afterwards obtained the Sovereignty by the consent of the City contented himself to let him understand by a Messenger that he had suffiâ—ient power to make himself an amends with his ruine 4. Artaxerxes King of Persia when Alcides Sampson did every where abuse him with words behind his back caused one to tell him that indeed he had the liberty impudently to reproach and slaunder him but that the King besides the liberty of speech which he had assumed to himself had also the power to take off his head for so doing contenting himself with this mild and gentle admonition to reprove both the rashness of Alcides and to shew his own power and clemency 5. Philemon the Comoedian had scurrilously derided Magas the prefect of Paretonium in the publick Theater objecting his unskilfulness and what not not long after by Tempest he was cast upon the Shore where Magas was Governor who being speedily advertized of his arrival presently caused him to be apprehended and gave Sentence upon him to lose his head he was brought to the Scaffold his Neck laid out on the Block which the Executioner by private order gently touched with his Sword and so let him go unhâ—rt Magas sent after him some Jackstones and Cockals such as boys play with and only gave him to understand it was in his power to have punished his scurrility as it did
who supposing the King had forgot them converted them to his own use Alphonsus dissembled the matter instead of those put on other Rings and kept on his accustomed way After some days the King being about to wash he who had received but not restored the former put forth his hand to take from him his Rings as he had used to do But Alphonsus putting his hand back whispered him in the Ear I will give thee these Rings to keep as soon as thou hast returned me those I did formerly entrust thee with and further than this he proceeded not with him 15. Sarizanarus was the Author of that Hexastick which was made of the famous City of Venice Viderat Adriacis Venetam Neptunus in undis Stare Vrbem et toti ponere Iura mari Nunc mihi Tarpeias quantumvis Iupiter Arces Objice illa tui moenia Martis ait Sic pelago Tibrim praefers Vrbem aspice utramque Illam homines dices hanc posuisse Deos. The Poet had small reason to repent of his ingenuity for as a reward of his pains he had assign'd him out of the publick treasury of that state an hundred Zecchins for every one of those verses which amounts to three hundred pounds of our money 16. When Henry of Lancaster sirnamed the Good Earl of Darby had taken Bigerac in Gascoign Anno 1341. He gave and granted to every Soldier the house which every one should seize first upon with all therein A certain Soldier of his brake into a Mint Masters house where he found so great a mass of money that he amazed therewith as a prey greater than his desert or desire signified the same unto the Earl who with a liberal mind answered It is not for my state to play Boys play to give and take Take thou the money if it were thrice as much 17. At the Battel of Poictiers Iames Lord Audley was brought to the black Prince in a Litter most grievously wounded for he had behaved himself with great valour that day To whom the Prince with due commendations gave for his good service four hundred Marks of yearly Revenues the which he returning to his Tent gave as frankly to his four Esquires that attended him in the Battle whereof when the Prince was advertised doubting that his gift was contemned as too little for so great good service the Lord Audley satisfied him with this answer I must do for them who deserved best of me these my Esquires saved my life amidst the enemies and God be thanked I have sufficient revenues left by my Ancestors to maintain me in your service Whereupon the Prince praising his prudence and liberality confirmed his gift made to his Esquires assign'd him moreover six hundred marks of like Land here in England 18. King Canutus gave great Jewels to Winchester Church whereof one is reported to be a Cross. worth as much as the whole Revenue of England amounted to in a year and unto Coventry he gave the Arm of St. Augustine which he bought at Papia for an hundred Talents of Silver and one of Gold 19. Clodoveus Son of Dagobert King of France in a great death caused the Church of St. Dennis which his Father had covered with Plates of Silver to be covered with lead and the Silver given to the relief of the Poor 20. Isocrates the Son of Theodorus the Erecthian kept a School where he taught Rhetorick to an hundred Scholars at the rate of one hundred drachms of silver a piece He was very rich and well he might for Nicocles King of Cyprus who was the Son of Evagoras gave him at once the summ of twenty Talents of Silver for one only oration which he dedicated unto him 21. The Poet Virgil repeated unto Augustus Caesao three Books of his Aeneads the Second Fourth and Sixth the latter of these chiefly upon the account of Octavia Sister to Augustus and Mother of Marcellus whom Augustus had adopted but he died in the Eighteenth year of his Age. Octavia therefore being present at this repetition when Virgil came to these Verses at the latter end of the sixth book wherein he describes the mourning for Marcellus in this manner Heu miserando Puer si qua fata asperarumpas Tu Marcellus eris Alas poor Youth if Fates will suffer thee To see the Light thou shalt Marcellus be Octavia swooned away and when she was recovered she commanded the Poet to proceed no further appointing him Ten Sesterces for every verse he had repeated which were in number twenty one So that by the bounty of this Princess Virgil received for a few Verses above the Summ of fifty thousand Crowns CHAP. XXVIII Of the Pious Works and Charitable Gifts of some men WHereas saith the Learned Willet the professors of the Gospel are generally charged by the Romanists as barren and fruitless of good works I will to stop their mouths shew by a particular induction that more charitable works have been performed in the times of the Gospel than they can shew to have been done in the like time in Popery especially since the publick opposition of that Religion which began about two hundred and fifty years since counting from tâ—e times of Iohn Wickliâ—fe or in twice so much time now going immediately before To make good this he hath drawn out a Golden Catalogue of persons piously and charitably devoted together with their works out of which I have selected as I thought the chiefest and most remarkable to put under this head only craving leave to begin with one or two beyond the compass of his prescribed time which I have met with elsewhere 1. In the Reign of King Henry the Fourth the most deservedly famous for works of Piety was William Wickham Bishop of Winchester his first work was the building of a Chappel at Tichfield where his Father and Mother and Sister Perrot were burled Next he founded at Southwick in Hampshire near the Town of Wickham the place of his Birth as a supplement to the Priory of Southwick a Chauntry with allowance of five Priests for ever He bestowed twenty thousand marks in repairing the houses belonging to the Bishoprick he discharged out of prison in all places of his Diocess all such poor prisoners as lay in execution for debt under Twenty pounds he amended all the high ways from Winchester to London on both sides the River After all this on the Fifth of March 1379. he began to lay the foundation of that magnificent structure in Oxford called New Colledg and in person laid the first Stone thereof In the year 1387. on the twenty sixth of March he likewise in person laid the first stone of the like Foundation in Winchester and dedicated the same as that other in Oxford to the memory of the Virgin Mary 2. In the Reign of King Edward the Fourth Sir Iohn Crosby Knight and late Lord Mayor of London gave to the Repairs of the Parish Church of Henworth in Middlesex forty
pound To the repairs of St. Hellens in Bishopsgate-street where he was buried five hundred Marks to the repairing of London Wall one hundred pounds to the repairing of Rochester Bridge ten Pounds to the Wardens and Commonalty of the Grocers in London two large Pots of Silver Chased half guilded and other Legacies 3. In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and in the year 1596. Ralph Rokeby one of her Majesties Masters of Requests then dying gave by his Will to Christs Hospital in London one hundred pounds to the Colledge of the poor of Queen Elizabeth one hundred Pounds to the poor Scholars in Cambridge one hundred pounds to the poor Scholars in Oxford one hundred pounds to the Prisoners in the two Compters in London one hundred pounds to the Prisoners in the Fleâ—t one hundred pounds to the Prisoners in Ludgate one hundred pounds to the Prisoners in Newgate one hundred pounds to the Prisoners in the Kings Bench one hundred pounds to the Prisoners of the Marshalsea one hundred pounds to the Prisoners in the White Lyon twenty pounds A liberal and pious Legacy and not worthy to be forgotten 4. Richard Sutton Esquire born of Gentile Parentage at Knaith in Lincolnshire sole founder of Charter-House Hospital which he called the Hospital of King Iames for the maintenance thereof he setled these mannors in several Counties Basham mannor in Cambridgshire 2. Bastingthorp manner in Lincolnshire 3. Blackgrove mannor in Wiltshire 4. Broadhinton land in Wiltshire 5. Castlecamps mannor in Cambridgshire 6. Chilton mannor in Wiltshire 7. Dunby mannor in Lincolnshire 8. Elcomb mannor and Park in Wiltshire 9. Hackney land in Middlesex 10. Hallinburg Bouchiers mannor in Essex 11. Missunden mannor in Wiltshire 12. Much Stanbridge mannor in Essex 13. Norton mannor in Essex 14. Salthrope mannor in Wiltshire 15. Southminster mannor in Essex 16. Tottenham land in Middlesex 17. Vfford mannor in Wiltshire 18. Watalescote mannor in Wiltshire 19. Westcot mannor in Wiltshire 20. Wroughton munnor in Wiltshire It was founded finished and endowed by himself alone disbursing thirteen thousand pounds paid down before the ensealing of the conveyance for the ground whereon it stood with some other appurtenances besides six thousand expended in the building thereof and that vast yearly endowment whereof heretofore not to mention the large sums bequeathed by him to the poor to Prisons to Colledges to mending high ways to the Chamber of London besides twenty thousand pounds left to the discretion of his Executors He dyed 1611. in the ninth year of King Iames his Reign 5. Anno Dom. 1552. King Edward the sixth in the sixth year of his Reign founded the Hospitals of Christ-Church in London and of St. Thomas in Southwark and the next year of Bridewel for the maintenance of three sorts of poor the first for the education of poor children the second for impotent and lame persons the third for idle persons to imploy and set them on work A Princely gift whereby provision was made for all sorts of poor people such as were poor either by birth or casualtie or else willfully poor Besides by the said vertuous Prince were founded two Free Schools in Louth in Lincolnshire with liberal maintenance for a Schoolmaster and Usher in them both Likewise Christs Colledge in the University of Cambridge enjoyeth a fellowship and three Schollars by the gift of the said excellent Prince 6. Sir William Cecil not long since Lord Treasurer in his life time gave thirty Pounds a year to St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge he founded also an Hospital at Stamford for twelve poor people allowing to each of them six pounds per Annum he also left great sums of money in trust in the hands of Mr. Iohn Billet one of his Executors who as carefully performed that trust and partly by this means and partly out of his own estate hath done those excellent works He repaired at the expence of divers hundred pounds the great Church in the City of Bath he enlarged the hot and cross Bath there walling them about he built an Hospital there to entertain twelve poor people for a month at the Spring and three months at the fall of the leaf with allowance of four pence a day he gave two hundred pounds to the repairs of St. Martins Church an hundred marks to St. Clements to build a window five pounds to each of the four Parishes in Westminster for twelve years Upon the building of the Market house there he bestowed three hundred pounds whereof is made ten pounds a year for the benefit of the poor He also gave twenty pounds per Annum to Christs Hospital till two hundred pounds came out 7. Robert Earl of Dorchester Anno 1609. by his last Will and Testament ordained an Hospital to be built in East Greenstead in Sussex allowing to the building thereof a thousand pounds to the which the Executors have added a thousand pounds more and three hundred and thirty pound of yearly revenue to maintain twenty poor men and ten poor women to each of them ten pounds by the year and besides to a Warden twenty pounds and to two Assistants out oâ— the Town to be chosen three pounds six shillings eight pence a piece per Annum 8. Iohn Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury at his own proper charge caused an Hospital to be built at Croyden for the maintenance of thirty poor people with a free School having a Master and an Usher and laid unto it two hundred pounds per Annum besides the charge of the building which is supposed to have cost two thousand pounds more 9. William Lamb Clothworker gave to these charitable uses following he built the Conduit near Holborn with the Cock at Holborn-Bridge bringing the water more than two thousand yards in pipes of lead at the charge of fifteen hundred pounds he gave also to these uses following to twelve poor people of St. Faiths Parish weekly two pence a piece To the company of Clothworkers four pounds per Annum for reading divine service in St. Iames Church Sundays Wednesdays and Fridays and for four yearly Sermons and for twelve poor men and twelve poor women so many Gowns Shirts Smocks Shooes he gave Lands to the yearly value of thirty pounds to each of the Towns of Ludlow and Bridgnorth one hundred pounds to Christs Hospital yearly six pounds and to purchase lands ten pounds to St. Thomas Hospital yearly four pounds to the Savoy to buy bedding ten pounds He erected a Free School at Sutton Valens in Kent with allowance to the Master of twenty pounds to the Usher eight pounds He built six Alms-houses there with the yearly maintenance of ten pound He gave also toward the Free School at Maidstone in Kent to set the poor Clothiers on work in Suffolk he gave one hundred pounds 10. Sir Wolston Dixy Mayor free of the Skinners gave as followeth To the maintenance of a Free School in Bosworth yearly twenty pound to Christs Hospital in London
colour do you know too added he the complaints she makes of you they are sad ones and such as I would not thâ—y should be true he shakes faulters in his speech says and unsays being urged home he confesses all frees the woman from any fault and casting himself at the Dukes feet said he placed all his refuge and comfort in the good grace and mercy of his Prince and that he might the better obtain it he offered to make amends for his unlawful lust by a lawful Marriage of the person whom he had injured The Duke as one that inclined to what he said and now somewhat milder you woman said he since it is gone thus far are you willing to have this man for your Husband she refuses but fearing the Duke's displeasure and prompted by the Courtiers that he was Noble Rich and in favour with his Prince overcome at last she yields The Duke causes both to joyn hands and the Marriage to be lawfully made which done You Mr. Bridegroom said he you must now grant me this that if you die first without Children of your body that then this Wife of yours shall be the Heir of all that you have he willingly granted it it is writ down by a Notary and Witness is to it Thus done the Duke turning to the woman Tell me said he is there enouâ—h done for your satisfaction There is said she But there is noâ— to mine said he And sending the woman away he commands the Governor to be led away to that very Prison in which the Husband was slain and dead to be laid in a Coffin headless as he was This done he then sent the woman thither ignorant of what had passed who frighted with that second unthought of misfortune of two Husbands almost at one and the same time lost by one and the same punishment fell speedily sick and in a short time died having gained this only by her last Marriage that she left her Children by her former Husband very rich by the accesâ—ion of this new and great Inheritance 19. Sir Iohn Markham was Knighted by King Edward the fourth and by him made Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench at which time one Sir Thomus Cooke late Lord Major 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 granted forth to try him in Guild-Hall The King by private instructions to the Judge appeared so far that Cooke though he was not must be found guilty and if the Law were too short the Judge must stretch it to the purpose The fault laid to his charge was for lending Moneys to Queen Murgaret the proof was the Confession of one Hawkins who was wracked in the Tower Sir Thomas Cooke 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 shewed the proof reached not the charge of high Treason that Misprision of Treason was the highest it could amount to and intimated to the Jury to be tender in matter of life and discharge good Consciences they found it accordingly For which the Judge was outed of his place and lived privately the rest of his days and gloried in this that though the King could make him no Judge he could not make him no upright Judge CHAP. XXX Of such persons as were illustrious for their singular Chastity both Men and Women THere is no Vice whatsoever that is very easie to overcome but that of the Lusts of the Flesh seems to have a peculiar difficulty in the Conquest of it for whereas Covetousness hath its seat in the mind alone this seises upon the mind and body also whereas other Vices use to grow upon us only through our loosing the Reins unto desire this is ingenerate born with us and accompanies us all along from our Cradles to the Tomb for the most part having fixed its roots so deep within us through long indulgence that not one of many is able to prevail against it By how much the more strong therefore the enemy is and the more intimate and familiar he is with us the more noble is the Victory and the Conquest more glorious 1. St. Ierome Relates a Story of one Nicetas a young man of invincible Courage who when by all sorâ—s of threatnings he was not to be frighted into idolatry his enemies resolved upon another course They brought him into a Garden â—lowing with all manner of sensual pleasures and delights there they laid him in a bed of Down safely enwrapped in a Net of Silk amongst the Lilies and Roses with the delicious murmur of the Rivulets and the sweet whistling of the winds amongst the Leaves and then all departed There was then immediately sent unto him a young and most beautiful Strumpet who used all the abominable tricks of her impure art and whorish villanies to draw him to her desire The youth now fearing that he should be conquered with folly who had â—riumphed over fury resolutely bit off a piece of his own tongue with his teeth spitting it in the face of the whore and so by the smart of his wound extinguished the rebellion of his flesh 2. While King Demetrius was at Athens there was a young boy of so lovely a Countenance that he was commonly called Democles the fair him did Demetrius send for and court with fair speeches large promises and great gifts at other times he sought to terrifie him by threats and all thaâ— he might gain the use of his body But the chast Lad was proof against all these and to avoid the importunity of the King he resorted not to the publick places of exercise or to the Baths with his companions as before but used to wash himself in private and alone Demetrius was inform'd of it and finding his time rushed in upon him being alone the boy perceiving he could not now avoid the lust of this Royal Ravisher though he had infinite horrors at the apprehension of it he snatched off the cover of the Cauldron where the water was boyling and leaping into it soon choaked himself chusing rather to dye than to outlive the violation of his Chastity 3. Thomas Arch-Bishop of York in the Reign of Henry the first falling sick his Physicians told him that nothing would do him good but to company with a woman to whom he replied that the reamedy was worse than the disease and so dyed a Virgin 4. Anno â—421 Pelagius was in Spain and after the terrible slaughter received in the Battel of Iuncaria under King Ordonius he was given as hostage to the Moors for his Uncle Hermogius the Bishop Abderamine King of the Moors was surprised and strangely taken with the beauty of this Prisoner of his for he was a lovely youth to look upon and therefore determined to reserve this flower for himself accordingly he began
variously and cruelly tormented by the Tyrant Nicocreon and yet by all his crueltiâ—s could never be restrained from urging of him with opprobrious terms and the most reproachful language At last the Tyrant being highly provok'd threatned that he would cause his tongue to be cut out of his mouth Effeminate yong man said Anaxarchus neither shall that part of my body be at thy disposal And while the Tyrant for very rage stood gaping before him he immediately bit off his Tongue with his Teeth and spat it into his mouth A Tongue that had heretofore bred admiration in the ears of many but especially of Alexander the Great at such time as it had discours'd of the State of the earth the properties of the Seas the motion of the Stars and indeed the Nature of the whole World in a most prudent and eloquent manner 12. William Colingborn Esq being condemned for making this Rhime on King Richard the third The Cat the Rat and Lovel our Dog Rule all England under the Hog was put to a most cruel death for being hang'd and cut down alive his bowels rip 't out and cast into the fire when the executioner put his hand into the bulk of his body to pull out his heart he said Lord Iesus yet more trouble and so dy'd to the great sorrow of much people 13. Amongst the Indians the meditation of patience is adhered to with that obstinacy that there are some who pass their whole life in nakedness one while hardning their bodies in the frozen rigours and piercing colds of Mount Caucasus and at others exposing themselves to the â—lames without so much as a sigh or groan Nor is it a small glory that they acquire to themselves by this contempt of pain for they gain thereby the reputation and Title of Wise Men. 14. Such Examples as I have already recited I have furnished my self with either by reading or by the relation of such as have seen them but there now comes into my mind a most eminent one whereof I can affirm that I my self was an eye witness and it was this Hieronymus Olgiatus was a Citizen of Millain and he was one of those four that did Assassinate Galeatius Sforza Duke of Millain Being taken he was thrust into Prison and put to bitter tortures now although he was not above two and twenty years of age and of such a delicacy and softness in his habit of body that was more like to that of a Virgin than a man though never accustomed to the bearing of Arms by which it is usual for men to acquire vigour and strength yet being fastned to that rope upon which he was tormented he seemed as if he sat upon some Tribunal free from any expression of grief with a clear voyce and an undaunted mind he commended the exploit of himself and his Companions nor did he ever shew the least sign of repentance In the times of the intermissions of his torments both in Prose and Verse he celebrated the praises of himself and his Confederates Being at last brought to the place of Execution beholding Carolus and Francion two of his associats to stand as if they were almost dead with fear he exhorted them to be couragious and requested the Executioners that they would begin with him that his fellow sufferers might learn patience by his example Being therefore laid naked and at full length upon the hurdle and his feet and Arms bound fast down unto it when others that stood by were terrified with the shew and horror of that death that was prepared for him he with specious words and assured voyce extolled the gallantry of their action and appeared 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 voyce but with a Prayer to God he ended his life 15. Caius Marius the Roman Consul having the chief veins of his legs swelled a Disease of those Times he stretched out one leg to be cut off by the hand of the Chirurgeon and not only did he refuse to be bound as 't is customary with such Patients or to be held by any man but not so much as by any word or sign did he bewray any sence of pain all the time of the operation no more than if the incision had been made in any other body or that he himself had been utterly voyd of all sence But afterwards when his Chirurgeon propounded to him the same method of cure for his other leg in regard the Disease was rather deforming than extreamly dangerous Marius told him that the matter seemed not to him of that importance as that upon the account thereof he should undergo such tormenting pain By which words he discovered that during the time of the incision of his leg he had indured very great pain but that through the strength and tollerance of his mind he had dissembled and supprest what he felt 16. This was also an Example of great patience in this kind which Strabo mentions in his Geography from the Authority of Nicholaus Damascenus viz. that Zarmonochaga the Ambassador from the Indian King having finished his Negotiation with Augustus to his mind and thereof sent account to his Master because he would have no further trouble for the remaining part of his life after the manner of the Indians he burnt himself alive preserving all the while the countenance of a man that smiled CHAP. XXXVI Of the Fortitude and Personal Valour of some Famous Men. THere is a Precious Stone by the Greeks called Ceraunia as one would say the Thunderstone for it is bred among Thunders and is found in places where Heaven all swollen with anger hath cleft the Master-pieces of the Worlds Magazine saith Caussine such is the valiant man bred up so long in dangers till he hath learned to contemn them And if the Poet be a Prophet you shall hear him say He that smiling can gaze on Styx and black wav'd Acheron That dares brave his ruine he To Kings to Gods shall equal be At least if he fall in a Noble Cause he dies a Martyr and the Brazen Trumpet of Fame shall proclaim this glorious memorial to late Posterity as it hath done for those that follow 1. Sapores the Persian King beseiged Caesaria in Cappadocia a Captive Physician shewed him a weak place of the City where he might enter at which the Persians gaining entrance put all indifferently to the Sword Demosthenes the Governour of the City hearing the Tumult speedily mounted and perceiving all lost sought to get out but in the way fell upon a Squadron of the Enemy that gathered about him to take him alive but he setting Spurs to his Horse and stoutly laying about him with his Sword slew many and opening himself a way through the midst of them escaped 2. When L. Sylla beheld his
to say to those that were in his company Which of you dares to take a piece of flesh out of this Lyon's throat when he is angry None daring to take it in hand You shall see added the Polonian the proof of my Speech All that day following the Lyon had not any meat given him the next day they threw him the fore Quarters of a Sheep the Lyon begins to grunt to couch down at his Prey and to eat greedily Herewith the Polonian enters and loâ—king the Lyon betwixt his legs gives him a blow with his fist upon the Jaw crying hah you Dog give me the flesh The Lyon amazed at such a bold voice let go his hold shewing no other Countenance but casting his eye after the Polonian that carried the flesh away 5. The City of Rome being taken by the Gauls and those that fled to the Capitol besieged in this distress some of the Romans that were fled to Veientum brought that same Camillus whom before they had ungratefully forced into Exile to take upon him the Supreme Command He answered that while those in the Capitol were safe he took them for his Country and should obey their Commands with all readiness but should not obtrude himself upon them against their will But all the difficulty was to send to them that were inclosed in the Capitol by the way of the City it was impossible as being full of Enemies But amongst the young men of Ardaea where Camillus then was there was one Pontius Cominius of a mean Birth but desirous of Glory and Honour who offered himself to this piece of service He took no Letters to them lest being taken the design should be betrayed to the Enemy But in meat habit and pieces of Cork under it he performed part of his journey by day-light as soon as it grew dark being near the City because the Bridge was kept by the Enemy he could not that way pass the River with his light Garment therefore bound about his head and bearing up himself upon his Cork he swam over the River and perceiving by the fire and noise that the Guards were awake he shunn'd them and came to the Carmental Gate there all was silent and the Capitoline Hill was most steep and hard to ascend By this way he climbs up and at last came to the Sentinels that watched upon the Walls he salutes them and tells them who he was He was taken up led to the Magistrates acquaints them with all his business They presently create Camillus Dictator and by the same way dismiss Pontius who with the same wonderful difficulty escaped the Enemy as before and came safe to Camillus and Camillus to the safety of his Countrey 6. In the Reign of Tham King of China there was a Colao an Officer not unlike that of our Duke who having been Tutor to the King was very powerful with him and to preserve himself in his Grace and Favour studied more to speak what would please the King then to tell him the truth for the good of his Estate The Chineses forbare not to speak of it amongst themselves and to tax the flattery of this Coloa once some Captains of the Guard were discoursing this Point at the Palace when one of them being a little warmed with the Discourse secretly withdrew himself went into the Hall where the King was and kneeling down upon his knees before him the King asked what he would have Leave said he to cut off the head of a flattering Subject And who is that said the King Such a one who stands there replied the other The King in a rage What said he against my Master darest thou to propound this and in my Presence too Take him away and strike off his head When they began to lay hands upon him he caught hold of a wooden balanster and as there were many pulling of him and he holding with a great deal of strength it brake by this time the King's heat was over he commands they should let him go and gave order that the balanster should be mended and that they should not make a new one that it might remain a witness of the Fact and a memorial of a Subject that was not afraid to advise his King what he ought to do 7. Phocion the Athenian was a man that stood with unmoveable constancy against the Multitude the Nobles Fortune and Death it self There was once an Oracle recited at Athens viz. that there was amongst them one single man that ever dissented from the agreeing opinions of all the rest All the people were enraged and enquired after that man Now pray said Phocion surcease your enquiry I am the man you seek for for not one thing of all that you do did ever please me 8. In a Parliament at Salisbury in the twenty fifth year of King Edward the First the King requires certain of his Lords to go to the Wars in Gascoigne which needed a present Supply by reason of the death of his Brother Edmund but all the Lords made excuses each for themselves Whereupon the King in great rage threatned they should either go or he would give their Lands to others that would Upon this Humphry Bohune Earl of Hereford High Constable and Robert Bigod Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England made their Declaration that if the King went in Person they would attend him otherwise not which Answer offended the King more and being urged again the Earl Marshal protested he would willingly go thither with the King and march before him in the Van-guard as by right of Inheritance he ought to do But the King told him plainly he should go with any other though he went not himself in person I am not so bound said the Earl neither will I take that Iourney without you The King swore By God Sir Earl you shall go or hang. And I swear by the same Oath said the Earl that I will neither go nor hang and so departed without leave 9. Avidius being General of the Army when a part of the Auxiliaries without his privity had slain three thousand of the Sarmatians upon the Banks of the Danubius and returned with a mighty Spoil the Centurions expecting mighty Rewards for that with so small Forces they had overthrown so great a number but he commanded them to be seized and crucifyed For said he it might have fallen out that by a sudden eruption of the Enemy from some Ambush the whole Army might have been hazarded But upon this Order of his a Sedition arose in the Army when he straight goes forth into the midst of the Mutineers unarmed and without any Life-Guard where unappalled he spake in this manner Kill me if you dare and give a glorious instance of your corrupted Discipline When they saw his undaunted boldness they all grew quiet and willingly submâ—tted themselves to Discipline which thing not only preserved the Romans themselves in obedience but struck such an awe into
and that with so much appetite and delight as that he needed not the cure of Aristotle's drowsiness to awake him 11 Sir Iohn Ieffrey was born in Sussex and so profited in the study of our Municipal Laws that he was preferred secondary Judge of the Common Pleas and thence advanced by Queen Elizabeth in Michalmas Term the nineteenth of her Reign to be Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer which place he discharged for the term of two years to his great commendation This was he who was called the plodding Student whose industry perfected nature and was perfected by experience It is said of him Nullus illi per otium dies exit partem noctium studiis vindicat non vacat somno sed succumbit oculos vigilia fatigatos cadentesque in opere detinet He spent no day idly but part of the nights he devoted to study he had no leisure to sleep but when surprised by it for want of it his weary eyes when closing and falling by reason of his overwatching he still held to their work and compelled to wait upon him 12. Aristotle the Philosopher is said to be so addicted to his meditations that he unwillingly gave way to that necessary repose which nature called upon him for and therefore to repress the ascent of vapours and thereby to hinder his being overtaken with sleep he used sometimes to apply a vessel of hot oyl to his Stomach and when he slept he would hold a brazen Ball in his hand over a Basin that so when the Ball should fall down into it he might again be awaked by the noise of it 13. Callistus the third hath this as part of his character set down by the Pen of Platina that he was sparing in his diet of singular modesty in his speech of easie access and that although he was arrived to fourscore years of Age yet even then he remitted nothing of his usual industry and constancy in his studies but both read much himself and had others who read to him when he had any time to spare from the great weight of his affairs 14. Iacobus Milichius a German Physician was so enflamed with a passionate desire of Learning that he would not spare himself even then when ill in respect of his health and when old age began to grow upon him when some of his friends would reprehend this over-eagerness of his and his too much attentiveness to his studies his reply was that of Solon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. I grow old in learning many things He was so careful and sparing afterwaâ—d of his time that no man could find him at his own house but he was either reading or writing of something or else which was very rare with him he was playing at Tables a sport which he much delighted in after dinner After Supper and in the Night he was at his Studies and Lucubrations which was the reason that he slept but little and was also the cause of that disease which took away his life for the over constant and the unseasonable intention of his mind in his studies was doubtless the occasion of that affliction which he had in his Brain and Stomach so that he dyed of an Apoplexy Nov. 10th 1559. 15. Iacobus Schegkius though he was blind many years together had frequent fits of an Apoplexy was in extreme age and found therein a deficiency of all his strength yet could not he indulge himself in idleness but continued then intent upon his thoughts and meditations had one to read for him and put forth most learned Commentaries upon the Topicks of Aristotle CHAP. XLII Of such Persons as were of choice Learning and singular skill in the Tongues WHen Basilius Amerbachius heard of the death of Theodorus Zuingerus a German Physitian he sighed and brake out in these words Piget me vivere post tantum virum cujus magna fuit Doctrina sed exigua si cum Pietate conferatur It grieves me to live after so great a Person whose Learning was great but if compared with his Piety but small The Piety of these Persons underwritten for ought I know was as great as their Learning however since the Learning of most of them hath survived them we have the less reason to be sorry that we come after them 1. Wonderful is that Character which Vives gives of Budaeus himself being a man of eminent parts France saith he never brought forth a sharper Wit a more piercing Iudgment one of more exact diligence and greater Learning nor in this Age Italy it self There is nothing written in Greek or Latin which he hath not read and examined He was in both these Languages excellent speaking both as readily perhaps more than the French his Mother tongue He would read out of a Greek Book in Latin and out of a Latin one in Greek Those things which we see so excellently written by him flowed from him extempore He writes more easily both in Greek and Latin than the most skilful in those Languages understand Nothing in those Tongues is so abstruse which he hath not ransack'd and brought as another Cerberus out of Darkness into Light Infinite are the significations of Words Figures and Properties of Speech which unknown to former Ages by the only help of Budaeus studious men are now acquainted with and these so great and admirable things he without the direction of any Teacher learned merely by his own industry I speak nothing of his knowledge in the Laws which being in a manner ruin'd seem by him to have been restored Nothing of his Philosophy whereof he hath given such an Instance in his Books De Asse which no man could compose without an assiduous conversation in the Books of all the Philosophers He adds that notwithstanding all this he was continually conversant in Domestick and State Affairs at home and abroad in Embassies and concludes all with that Distich which Buchanan made of him Gallia quod Graecia est quod Gracia barbara non est Vtraque Budaeo debeâ— utrumque suo That France is turn'd to Greece that Greece is not turn'd rude Both owe them both to thee their dear great learned Bude 2. Tostatus Bishop of Abulum at the age of two and twenty years saith Possevine attained the knowledge of all Arts and Sciences For besides Philosophy and Divinity Canon and Civil Laws History and the Mathematicks he was well skill'd both in the Greek and Latin Tongues So that it was written of him by Bellarmin Hic stupor est mundi qui scibile discutit omne The Wonder of the World for he Knows whatsoever known may be He was so true a Student and so constant in sitting to it that with Didymus of Alexandria he was thought to have had a body of Brass and so much he wrote and published that a part of the Epitaph engraved upon his Tomb was Primae natalis luci folia omnia adaptans Nondum sic fuerit pagina trina
mouth nostrils ears and all open passages of his body with unslaked lime this was the only embalming and conditure he required and that for this purpose that his body might by this eating and consuming thing be the sooner resolved into its earth 2. Saladine that great Conquerour of the East after he had taken Ierusalem perceiving he drew near unto death by his last Will forbad all funeral pomp and commanded that only an old and black Cassock fastned at the end of a Lance should be born before his body and that a Priest going before the people should aloud sing these verses as they are remembred by Boccace Vixi divitiis regno tumidusque trophaeis Sed pannum heu nigrum nil nisi morte tuli Great Saladine the Conqu'rour of the East Of all the State and Glory he possess'd O frail and transitory good no more Hath born away than that poor Shirt he wore 3. The Emperour Severus after many wars growing old and about to dye called for an Urn in which after the ancient manner the ashes of their burnt bodies were to be bestowed and after he had long looked upon it and held it in his hands he uttered these words Thou said he shalt contain that man whom all the world was too narrow to confine Mors sola fatetur Quantula sint hominum Corpuscula 'T is only death that tells How small he is that swells 4. Philip King of Macedon had a fall and after he was risen perceiving the impression of his body upon the sand Good Gods said he what a small parcel of earth will contain us who aspire to the possession of the whole world 5. Luther after he had successfully opposed the Pope and was gazed and admired at by all the world as the invincible Champion of the true Christian faith not long before his death sent a fair Glass to Dr. Iustus Ionas his friend and therewith these following verses Dat vitrum vitro Jonae vitrum ipse Lutherus Se similem ut fragili noscat uterque vitro Luther a Glass to Jonah Glass a Glass doth send That both may know our selves to be but Glass my Friend 6. Antigonus lay sick a long time of a lingring disease and afterwards when he was recovered and well again We have gotten no harm said he by this long sickness for it hath taught me not to be so proud by putting me in mind that I am but a mortal man And when Hermodorus the Poet in certain Poems which he wrote had stiled him the Son of the Sun he to check that unadvised speech of his He who useth to empty my Close-Stool said he knoweth as well as I that it is nothing so 7. Croesus that rich King of Lydia shewed unto Solon his vast riches and asked of him who it was that he could esteem of as an happier man than he Solon told him that riches were not to be confided in and that the state of a man in this life was so transitory and liable to alteration and change that no certain judgment could be made of the felicity of any man till such time as he came to dye Croesus thought himself contemned and despised by Solon while he spake to him in this manner and being in his great prosperity at that time thought there was little in his speech that concerned him But afterwards being overthrown by King Cyrus in a pitcht battle his City of Sardis taken and himself made prisoner when he was bound and laid upon a pile of wood to be publickly burnt to death in the sight of Cyrus and the Persians then it was that he began to see more deep into that conference he heretofore had with Solon And therefore being now sensible of the truch of what he had heard he cryed out three times O Solon Solon Solon Cyrus admired hereat and demanded the reason hereof and what that Solon was Croesus told him who he was and what he had said to him about the frailty of man and the change of condition he is subject to in this life Cyrus at the hearing of this like a wise Prince began to think that the height of his own fortune could as little excuse from partaking in this fragility as that of Croesus had done and therefore in a just sense and apprehension of those sudden turns which the destinies do usually allot to mankind he pardoned Croesus set him at liberty and gave him an honourable place about him 8. Antiochus at the first stood mute and as one amazed and afterwards he burst out into tears when he saw Achaeus the Son of Andromachus who had married Laodice the Daughter of Mithridates and who also was the Lord of all that Country about the Mountain Taurus brought before him bound and lying prostrate upon the earth That which gave the occasion to these tears of his was the consideration of the great suddenness of these blows which Fortune gives and how impossible it is to guard our selves from them or prevent them 9. Sesostris was a Potent King of Aegypt and had subdued under him divers nations which done he caused to be made for him a Chariot of gold and richly set with several sorts of precious Stones Four Kings by his appointment were yoked together herein that they instead of Beasts might draw this Conquerour as oft as he desired to appear in his glory The Chariot was thus drawn upon a great Festival when Sesostris observed that one of the Kings had his eyes continually fixed upon the wheel of the Chariot that was next him He then demanded the reason thereof the King told him that he did wonder and was amazed at the unstable motion of the wheel that rowled up and down so that one while this and next that part was uppermost and the highest of all immediately became the lowest King Sesostris did so consider of this saying and thereby conceived such apprehensions of the frailty and uncertainty of humane affairs that he would no more be drawn in that proud manner 10. Xerxes Son of Darius and Nephew to Cyrus after five years preparation came against the Grecians to revenge his Fathers disgraceful repulse by Miltiades with such an Army that his men and Cattel dried up whole Rivers he made a Bridge over the Hellespont where looking back on such a multitude considering mans mortality he wept knowing as he said that no one of all those should be alive after an hundred years CHAP. LII Of such as were of unusual Fortune and Felicity MEn in a Dream find themselves much delighted with the variety of those images of things which are presented to their waking fancies that felicity and happiness which most men count so and please their thoughts with is more of imaginary than real more of shadow than substance and hath so little of solidity and stableness in it that it may be â—itly looked upon as a dream All about us is so liable to the blows of fortune
to him only in the middle for the space of about fourty dayes leaving the extremities entire which he hangs up in his Hut to serve at the entertainment he afterwards intends to make for all his Friends nay after all this he abstains sometimes for the space of ten months or a whole year from several kinds of meat as Lamantin Tortoises Swines-flesh Hens Fish and delicious things being so pitifully simple as to fear that those things might prejudice the Child at the expiration of the fast the shoulders of the poor Father who hath a Child born are scarified and opened with the tooth of an Agouty and it is requisite that the besotted wretch should not only suffer himself to be so ordered but he must also endure it without expressing the least sentiment of pain Their perswasion is that the more apparent the Fathers patience shall be in these trials the more recommendable shall be the valour of his Son But this noble blood must not be suffered to fall to the ground since the effusion thereof contributes so much to future courage it is therefore carefully saved to rub the Childs face withal out of an imagination he will be the more generous 2. The Sinitae or the Sinenses have in their houses little Images which they worship as their gods yet make they not so much of them but in case any thing befall them contrary to their expectation they will have them to suffer for it so that after they have scourged them they often cast them out into the streets when soon after moved with repentance they take them up again adore them seek to appease them and offer them Wine and Incense 3. The King of Catona at his Coronation swears that it shall not rain unseasonably neither shall there be famine or pestilence within his Dominions during his Reign 4. In Sophala in the East Indies the King is called the Quiteve and hath many that sing his praises when he goes abroad calling him Lord of the Sun and Moon King of the Land and Rivers Conquerour of his enemies in every thing great great Witch great Thief great Lion and all other names of greatness which they can invent whether they signifie good or bad they attribute to him 5. Xexes having made a Bridge of Boats over the Hellespont for the transportation of his huge Army out of Asia into Europe there arose a great tempest which brake his Bridge in sunder wherewith he was so enraged that he sent a Chartel of defiance to the Sea and commanded his Servants to give it three hundred stripes and to throw fetters into it to bind it to its good behaviour with hot Irons to burn ignominious brands in it his Officers performing his commands were to say O thou unruly water thy Lord hath appointed thee this punishment for that thou hast wronged him that deserved it not from thee but whether thou wilt or not he is resolved to pass over thee nor shall any man hereafter sacrifice unto thee as being a deceitful and bitter River 6. C. Caligula the Roman Emperour had a Horse called Swift whom he invited to Supper with himself he caused his provender to be set before him in Gold he gave him Wine to drink in goblets of Gold he swore by his health and fortune he promised to make him Consul and had done so if the Horse had lived he did make him Priest yea a Colleague with himself in the Supream Pontiâ—icate his Stable was of Marble his Manger of Ivory his Caparisons and harness Purple and a pendant Jewel of Precious Stones at his Poictrel and he allowed him a House Family Servants and Houshold-stuff 7. The Great Cham of Tartary was wont when he had Dined to cause his Trumpeters to sound their Trumpets before his Palace Gate thereby to give notice and proclaim to all the Kings in the World that now the Great Cham had Dined they might all take leave to go to Dinner 8. I knew a Lady so over-curious and nice that seeing Hogs and other creatures cut up and bowelled tormented herself with the thought that she also carried about with her in her own body such stinking filth as she called it inclosed Upon which she conceived such an abhorrence that â—â—e hated her own body saying she knew not what course to take to free herself from that uncleanness and with this fancy she was continually vexed of which she often seriously and with great anxiety complained to me and when I had much ado to forbear laughing she would be very angry 9. The same Author mentions another Woman that was exceedingly afflicted and with tears complained to the Minister of the Parish of the great trouble she had that whereas in the morning when she rose she put on her clothes at night when she went to bed she was constrained to put them off again 10. Pharnuches was a great Commander of Horse in the Army of Xerxes which he designed against Greece who marching out of Sardis mounted upon a stately Horse a Dog ran betwixt the legs of his Horse the Horse affrighted reared up and threw Pharnuches out of his Saddle with the bruise of which fall he spat blood His Servants soon after the fall of their Master dealt with the Horse as they had received his orders to do which was to lead him to the place where he had thrown his Lord and there to cut off his legs and knees 11. The South-wind had dryed up all the receptacles of water amongst the Psilli a people in Africk for that all their Country which is within the Syrtis is without Rivers they therefore had a publick conference about it where it was concluded that an expedition should be made by them against that Wind when they came amongst the Sands that are plentiful thereabouts the same Wind blowing overwhelmed them all with the Sands and so the Nasamones seised upon their Country 12. The Mossines are a people who performed all the actions of most secrecy in publick yea even those which are ordained for the necessities of nature and treated the affairs of the Common-wealth in their Houses 13. The Tibarenes as soon as their Wives were delivered bound up their own heads with a Kerchief lay down on their Beds and made themselves to be attended like women in Child-bed The poor Women in the mean time were up and about the House endeavouring to make ready Baths for their Husbands to dress and season their viands to tend and cherish them as if they had born all the pain of feminine travel 14. It is said of the Abderitae after they had beheld the Tragedy of Andromeda and Medusa that they all even from the least to the greatest became so frantick and foolish that they ceased not to sing to clap their hands to cry to whistle through the streets and to have no discourse nor thought of any thing but Andromeda and Medusa 15. Queen Stratonica
the next Assize there to be set on the Pillory with the like Paper and his other ear to be there cut off also to stand in the Pillory one Market-day at Canterbury another at Rochester and in all these places his offence to be openly read which sentence was accordingly executed CHAP. XXIX Of Perjured persons and how they have been punished AN Oath is the most solemn and Sacred security that one man can possibly give to another notwithstanding which there are a multitude of men who bear no more regard to what they have sworn than if they had been words which had never been said Nemesis is in pursuit of all these sons of falshood and fraud and having once overtaken them will no doubt inflict a vengeance upon them agreeable to their merit 1. Vladislaus King of Poland and Hungary had fortunately fought against the Turks at the Mountain Haemus and taken Carambey the General of their Army by means of this Victory he occasioned Amurath the Turkish King to sue to him for Peace the terms of it were both honourable and every way advantageous it was mutally sworn to by the King upon the holy Evangelists and Amurath by his Embassadours upon the Turkish Alcoran This known to the Pope and other Christian Princes they spake of it as unseasonable unprofitable and dishonourable whereupon the Cardinal Iulian is sent by the Pope as his Legate to break the Peace and to absolve the King from his Oath The young King therefore at their instance breaks the League and undertakes the War with greater preparations and vigour than his former he advances with his Army to Varna a City upon the Pontick Shore doing all the mischief he was able to the Enemies Country which so soon as the Turk had knowledge of he returns out of Cilicia and enters battel with the Christians where at first the Turks were made to retire by the King and Huniades with great slaughter and almost to flye Amurath seeing all brought into extreme danger beholding the Picture of the Crucifix in the displayed Ensigns of the voluntary Christians pluck'd the writing out of his bosom wherein the late League was comprized and holding it up in his hand with his eyes cast up to Heaven said Behold thou Crucified Christ this is the League thy Christians in thy name made with me which they have without cause violated now if thou be a God as they say thou art and as we dream revenge the wrong now done unto thy Name and me and shew thy power upon thy Perjured people who in their deeds deny thee their God It was not long e're the battel turned Vladislaus was slain his head cut off by Ferizes an old Ianizary and fastened on the end of a Launce Proclamation was made that it was head of the Christian King by which the rest were so daunted that they fled the Legate also who exhorted to this War was slain and his dead Corpse laden with the outrage and contumelies of the Infidels for that being a Priest he had contrary to the Law of Nations advised and perswaded to break the Peace This battel was fought Anno 1444. 2. Ibraim Bassa Grand Vizier the Minion and darling favorite of Solyman the Magnificent upon a time in familiar conference with his Lord and Master besought him that he would not persist to accumulate so many honours upon him lest flourishing and being improved to an unbecoming height his Majesty e're long should think it fit to tumble him headlong from that high Pinacle of honour whereunto he had raised him by putting him to death Solyman then assured him with an Oath That so long as he lived he should never be put to death by his order Afterwards this so fortunate Ibraim grew into dislike with his Master and Solyman having purposed his death was yet somewhat troubled about the Oath that he had before made him when one of the Priests told him That when a man is asleep he cannot be said to live seeing that life is a continual Vigil and Watch that therefore opportunity should be sought to find the Bassa asleep and then he might be conveniently sent out of the World without breach of the Princes Oath Solyman liked well of this base and fradulent device and one time when the Vizier was sleeping sent an Eunuch with a Razour to cut his Throat as accordingly he did 3. Ludovicus the son of Boso King of Burgundy came into Italy against the Emperour Berengarius the second where he was by him overcome in Battel and taken but as a singular instancâ— of humanity in Berengarius he was by him set free having first received his Oath That during his life he should no more return into Italy but the ungrateful Prince unmindful both of his own Oath and the others benefits not long after enters Italy a second time with mighty Forces and about Verona was again made Prisoner and had his eyes put out by the Victor as a punishment of his ingratitude and breach of Faith 4. Anno 1070. or thereabouts so great a feud arose betwixt the Emperour Henry the fourth and Pope Gregory the seventh that the Pope excommunicated him and depriving him of his Imperial Dignity caused that Rodulphus Duke of Suevia should be as he was by some of the German Princes substituted in his stead there was therefore a great Battel betwixt them at the River Ellester where the Emperour Henry had the Victory Rodulphus by a terrible blow had his right arm struck off from his body at which he cryed out Behold O ye Nobles that right hand of mine which I gave to Lord Henry in confirmation of the fidelity I had sworn to him which Oath notwithstanding contrary to all Justice and Equity I have violated and am now thus justly punished 5. Ptolomaeus one of the Successours of Alexander the Great having driven out Anâ—igonus had seized upon Macedonia made Peace with Antiochus and a League with affinity with Pyrrhus So that now he was secure on all hands except his own Sister and the Children she had It was Arsinoe who had been the Wife of Lysimachus King of Macedon he therefore bent his mind and used all his arts to take her together with her Children but finding her cautious advised and fearing all things he made use of the strongest engine with the weaker sex which is Love she was his Sister but that was nothing in the East where such relation is rather an incentive than otherwise He therefore sent his Embassadours with presents and letters he offers her the society of the Kingdom and the inheritance of it to her Children and professes that he had employed his Arms upon it for no other end than that he might leave it to them the truth of this he was ready to depose upon oath whereever she pleased to appoint even at the holiest Altars and Temples she should make choice of In short Arsinoe is perswaded she sends the most faithful
told him the journey was long and an early hour of the day and therefore he thought iâ— best to return to the Castle and refresh themselves with a Breakfast that they might aâ—terwards travel the better Adelbert suspecting no evil with great courtesie invites him back with him they returned and after breakfast again they set forward As soon as Adelbert came in presence of the Emperour he is there yielded up into the power of his enemy and condemned to death Upon which with as great boldness as truth he accused Hatto of his treachery and perjury who replied that he had performed his Oath in returning with him to Breakfast in his Castle Adelbert by the Emperours command was executed and soon after the noble Family of the Palatines of the Oriental France was extinct and so the Castle together with all his other Territories fell into the hands of the Emperour 13. Paches the Athenian General called out Hippias Captain of the Arcadians and Governour of the Town of Notium to a Treaty upon this sworn condition That in case they should not agree amongst themselves he would set him in safety within the Town When Hippias was come forth to him he set a Guard upon him and forthwith leading his Army against the Town he assaulted and took it put all the Arcadians and Barbarians he found there to the Sword This done he took Hippias along with him to the City where he gave him his liberty as he said according to their agreement but soon after causing him again to be apprehended he appointed him to be put to death 14. The Aequi having made a League with the Romans and sworn to the same afterwards revolted chose a General of their own spoiled the Fields and Territories belonging to Rome Ambassadours were thereupon sent to complain of the wrong and to demand satisfaction But the General so little esteemed them that he bad them deliver their message to an Oak that grew thereby Accordingly one of the Ambassadors turning to the Oak said Thou hallowed Oak and whatsoever else belongs to the gods in this place hear and bear witness of this persidiousness and favour our just complaints that by the assistance of the Gods we may be revenged for this perjury So returning the Romans gathered an Army and having in Battle overthrown the Aequi they utterly destroyed that perjured Nation CHAP. XXX Of the Inconstancy of some Men in their Nature and Disposition IN the Country of the Troglodytae they say there is a Lake the taste of whose Waters is bitter and salt thrice in a day then it returns to sweet again and in the same manner it is with it in the night also whereupon it hath gained the name of the mad River Men are no less unequal and inconstant in their manners than these Waters are in their taste now courteous and then rough now prodigal and straight sordid one while extreamly kind and e're long vehemently hating where they passionately loved before 1. Mena was the Freed-man of Sextus Pompeius and in the War betwixt him and Octavianus Caesar he revolted from his Master with sixty Ships in his company of all which Caesar made him the Admiral not long after Caesar having lost most of his Navy by shipwrack Mena returned to Pompeius his forsaken Lord carrying along with him six Ships and was received by him with great humanity here endeavouring to repair his formerly lost honour he burnt divers of Caesars Ships and yet after all this when he found himself circumvented and overcome by Agrippa in a Naval fight he again went over to Caesars side with six Gallies this Runnagate the third time was received by Caesar who indeed indulged him his life but left him without employment under him 2. As long as Marius the younger managed the War with prosperity and success he was then called by the people of Rome the Son of Mars but no sooner did fortune begin to frown upon him but they altered their stile and called him the Son of Venus such is the levity and vanity of the inconstant multitude and brake down the Statues made for him in every street 3. Pope Innocent while as yet he was a private man used more than all others to cry out of the Popes that they did not employ the uttermost of their endeavours to root out that schism under which the Church of Rome had so long laboured and that they did not oppose with all their might the enemies of the Christian faith But when this man had himself attained to the Popedom he was so altered in his opinion and manners that divers persons are supposed to be prosecuted by him with great violence upon no other account than that they earnestly exhorted him to the performance of those things the want of which he had so blamed in his Predecessors 4. The Athenians had given Divine Honours to Demetrius Phalaraeus in a base manner had flattered him during his victories had set up two hundred Statues in his honour but when they heard of his overthrow by Ptolomy King of Egypt and that he was coming to them for succour they sent some to meet him to let him know he should not come near them for they had made a decree that no King should come into Athens They subverted and took down all those Statues which they had before erected and that also while Demetrius was living and before either rust or dust had any way disfigured them three hundred and sixty Statues saith Pliny and brake before the year was out 5. Cains Caligula was so inconstant and difficult in the management of affairs that no man knew what was fit for him to say or do in his presence sometimes he delighted in a numerous and full attendance and soon after he was in love with solitude he would often be angry when nothing was begged of him and at other times when any thing was asked he would haste away with all the speed imaginable to the performance of this or that and when he came upon the place do little or nothing in it he was prodigal in the expending and sordid in the procurement of monys he was now pleased with flatterers and such as spake freely in his presence and immediately incensed against both he dismissed many villanous persons without any punishment and caused many excellent persons to be killed by his command and he freequently treated his best friends with severity and in an injurious manner 6. Alcibiades varied his manners according to the custom of those he conversed with he passed through more mutations than the Cameleon doth colurs In Sparta he was very frequent in exercises fed sparingly went frugally was austere and kept himself to their black broth no way differing from the natural Spartans In Ionia he was voluptuous merry and slothful in Thrace he gave himself to riding and drinking of Wine and when he was with Tissaphernes he strove to exceed the very Persians themselves in
the course till Maccus had run quite away and the poor Shoomaker returned sweating and out of breath and declared how he had been dealt with 5. At Antwerp not long since there was a Priest who had received a pretty round sum in Silver which he had put into a great Purse that hung upon his Girdle a certain Cheat had observed it who came and saluting of him civilly tells him that he was appointed by the Parish where he lived to buy a new Surplice he humbly begs therefore that he would please to go with him to the place where they were sold that he might be the better fitted in as much as he was of the very same pitch and habit of body with the Priest of their Parish he prevailed and together they went a Surplice was brought forth and put upon him the Seller said it fitted exactly the cheat when he had surveyed the Priest now before and then behind said it was too short before that 's not the fault of the Surplice said the Shop-keeper but is occasioned by the distension of the Purse the Priest therefore laid down his Purse that they might view it again but no sooner had he turned his back but the Cheat catched up the Purse and away he ran with it the Priest followed in the Surplice as he was the Shop-keeper pursued the Priest the Priest called stop the Thief the Shop-keeper said stop the Priest the Cheat said stop the Priest for he is mad the people easily believed no less when they saw him running in publick and so habited so that while one was a hindrance to the other the Cheat got off clear with the purse and mony of the poor Priâ—st 6. In the reign of King Francis the first of that name King of France a notable Thief apparrelled like a Gentleman as he was diving into a great pouch which Iohn Cardinal of Lorrain had by his side was espyed by the King being at Mass and standing right over against the Cardinal the Thief perceiving himself discovered held up his finger to the King making a sign he should say nothing and he should see good sport The King glad of such merriment towards let him alone and within a while after coming to the Cardinal took occasion in talking with him to make the Cardinal go to his Pouch who missing what he had put therein begins to wonder but the King who had seen the Play was merry on the other side after the King had even weâ—ried himself with laughter he would gladly that the Cardinal should have again what was taken from him as indeed he made account that the meaning of the taker was But whereas the King thought he was an honest Gentleman and of some account in that he had shewed himself so resolute and held his countenance so well experience shewed that â—e was a most cunning Thief that meant not to jest but making as if he jâ—sted was in good earnest Then the Cardinal turned all the laughter against the King who using his wonted Oath swore by the faith of a Gentleman that it was the first time that ever a Thief had made him his Companion 7. The Emperour Charles the fifth commanding a remove while every man was busied in putting up his stuff there entred a good Fellow into the Hall where the Emperour then was being meanly accompanied and ready to take Horse this Thief for so he was having made great reverence presently went about the taking down of the Hangings making great haste as if he had much business to do and though it was not his profession yet he went about it so nimbly that he whose charge it was to take them down coming to do it found that some body had eased him of that labour and which was worse of carrying them away too 8. Great was the boldness of an Italian Thief who in the time of Pope Paul the third played this prank A certain Cardinal having made a great feast in his house and the Silver Vessels being looked up in a Trunk that stood in a Parlour next the Hall where the Feast had been while many were sitting and waiting in this room for their Masters there came a man in with a Torch carried before him bearing the countenance of the Steward and having a Jacket on who prayed those that sate on the Trunk to rise up from it because he was to use the same which they having done he made it to be taken up by certain Porters that followed him in and went clean away with it And this was done while the Steward and all the Servants of the House were at Supper 9. The Emperour Charles the fifth had a little Watch of admirable and rare Workmanship in a great croud he was robbed of it by a Courtier that attended upon him but the Watch it self betrayed the Thief for it struck the hour of the day in his pocket at the sound of which the poor man surprized and affrighted cast himself on his knees before the Emperour imploring his pardon which the Emperour easily granted saying that the fear of ignominy had been far more to him than the hope of gain could ever be 10. When the Emperour makes his entrance into the Imperial Cities the custome is that the Deputies of the said Cities in congratulation of his coming present him with certain gifts These gifts are most commonly great Cups of Gold or other Vessels curiously wrought and of great value filled sometimes with pieces of Gold stamped with the Impress of the Cities that have the priviledge to Coin mony In one of the chiefest Cities of Germany such presents being made to the Emperour Maximilian the first in the presence of some of his greatest favourites they were left in his Chamber and placed upon the Cupboard even as they were presented at which time in the streets some pleasant Pastimes and Shews were made to delight the Emperour with all the Courtiers were so intent to look upon these that they had filled all the Windows of the Emperours Chamber One of the Emperours greatest Familiars thinking his Lord and Master would be as busie in beholding the sports as the rest pretending in kindness to leave his place to one that stood by him a greater man than himself he withdrew himself back into the Chamber by the Cupboard and seeing all was clear puts his hand into the Cup that was given and takes out an handful of Gold and puts it into his Pocket assuring himself that no man saw him But the Emperour who seemed as if he thought of nothing but the Shews took heed to something else for he wore on his finger a Ring set with a certain Stone which would shew all that was done behind him wherefore casting his eye upon it he looked where one would not think he did The Pastimes ended the Courtiers stood in the Chamber waiting what the Emperour would say when he called him that had fingered part of the
perfumes of the East she would not wash her self but in the dews of Heaven which must be preserved for her with much skill her Garments were so pompous that nothing remained but to seek for new stuffes in Heaven for she had exhausted the Treasures of Earth her Viands so dainty that all the mouths of Kings tasted none so exquisite nor would she touch her meat but with Golden Forks and precious stones God to punish this cursed Pride and superfluity cast her on a bed and assailed her with a malady so hideous so stinking and frightful that all her nearest Kindred were enforced to abandon her none stayed about her but a poor old woman throughly accustomed to stench and death the delicate Seniora was infected with her own persumes in such manner that from all her body there began to drop a most stinking humour and a kind of matter so filthy to behold and so noysom to the smell that every man plainly perceived that her dissolute and excessive daintiness had caused this infection in her 2. Tigranes King of Armenia had ever in his Court divers Kings that waited upon him four of which alwaies attended upon his Person as his Foot-men and when he rode abroad they ran by his Stirrup in their Shirts when he sat in the Chair of State they stood about him holding their hands together with countenances that shewed the greatest bondage and subjection imaginable shewing thereby that they resigned all their liberty and offered thâ—â—r bodies to him as their Lord and Master and wâ—â—e persons more ready to suffer than to do any thing 3. Sesostris King of Aegypt though otherwise a Prince of great vertues was yet of a most intolerable Pride For he caused â—our of his Captive Kings instead of Horses to draw his Chariot when he was disposeâ— to be seen and to ride in Triumph One of these â—our at such time as Sesostris was carried out to take the air cast his head continually back upon the two formost Wheels next him which Sesostris obsâ—rving asked him What he found worthy of his admiration in that motion To whom the Captive King answered That in those he beheld the mutability of all worldly things for that both the lowest part of the Wheel was suddenly carried above and becamâ— the highest and the uppermost part was as suddenly turned downwards and under all Which when Sesostris had judiciously weighed it helped to prick the blister of his Pride and he dismissed those Kings and all other from the like servitude in the future 4. Aldred Arch-bishop of York had a certain suit to William the Conquerour and having a râ—pulse therein the Arch-bishop in great discontent offered to depart The King standing in awe of his displeasure stayed him fell down at his feet desired pardon and promised to grant his suit The King all this while being down at the Arch-bishops feet the Noble-men that were present put him in mind that he should cause the King to arise Nay saith the Prelate let him alone let him find what it is to anger St. Peter 5. Anibal was so exalted with the Victory he had got at Cannas that aâ—â—erwards he admitted not any of his Citizens of Carthage into his Camp nor gave answer to any but by an Interpreter Also when Maherbal said at his Tent door That he had found out a way whereby in a few daies if he pleased he might sup in the Capitol he despised him So hard is it for felicity and moderation to keep company together 6. King Henry the second of England Anno Dom. 1170. caused his son Prince Henry at seventeen years of age to be Crowned King that he might in his own life-time participate in the Government with him And on his Coronation day for honours sake placed the first dish on the Table himself while the new King was sate down Whereupon the Arch-bishop of York said pleasantly to him Be merry my best Son for there is not another Prince in the whole World that hath such a Servitor at his Table To whom the young King scornfully answered Why do you wonder at this my Father doth not think that he doth more than becomes him for he being a King only by the Mothers side serveth me who have a King to my Father and a Queen to my Mother 7. Frederick the first Sirnamed Barbarossa in prosecution of Pope Alexander the third had sent his son Otho to pursue him with seventy five Galleys The Pope had saved himself at Venice and Otho was made Prisoner and carried to Venice by Cian the Venetian Admiral Whereupon Frederick grew more mild and accepted conditions of Peace prescribed by Alexander as that he should crave absolution on his knees and in his own person should lead his Army into Asia So Frederick comes to Venice and being prostrate at the Popes feet in a solemn Assembly he asketh pardon The Pope sets his foot on his neck and cries with a loud voice Super Aspidem Basiliscum ambulabis The Emperour moved with this disgrace answers Non tibi sed Petro The Pope replyed Et mihi Petro. This happened at Venice Anno 1171. in the presence of the Embassadours of the Kings and Princes and of the greatest States in Europe 8. Simon Thurway born in Cornwall bred in our English Universities until he went over unto Paris where he became so eminent a Logician that all his Auditors were his Admirers Most â—irm his memory and fluent his expression and was knowing in all things save in himself For prophanely he advanced Aristotle above Moses and himself above both But his Pride had a great and sudden fall losing at the same instant both language and memory becoming compleatly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Reason or Speech Polydor Virgil saith of him Iuvene nihil acutius sene nihil obtusius whilst others add That he made an inarticulate sound like unto lowing This great Judgement befell him about the year of our Lord 1201. 9. Iulius Caesar after he had overcome Pompey was created Dictatour in the Month of Iuly whereupon he gave it his name whereas before it was called Quintilis The Dictatorship which was a Dignity only of six Months he took upon him for perpetuity He greedily accepted of the Title of Imperatour given him by the Senate He challenged to himself the Title of Pater Patriae he placed his own Statua amongst those of the Kings In the Senate he used a Seat of Gold to sit in he also permitted divine honours to be given to him Nay he was arrived to that excess of pride that he would have whatever he spake to be received as Law nor would he give the least respect unto any that came to him Through this insolency he fell into an inexpiable hatred and was slain in the Senate-house with twenty three wounds in the fifty sixth year of his age 10. The felicity and vertue of Alexander the Great was obscured by three
are as rare as black Swans and few but degenerate into Pride or baseness according as the scene of their fortune turns and changes to black or white 1. Lepidus was one of that Triumvirate that divided the Roman Empire amongst them coming out of Africa he met with Octavianus Caesar in Sicily who had newly been beaten by Sextus Pompeius here Lepidus puffed up with Pride that he had now about him twenty Legions of Souldiers with terrour and threats demanded the chief place of command he gave the spoil of Messana to his own Souldiers and when Caesar repaired to him he rejected him once and again and caused same Darts to be thrown at him which Caesar wrapping his Garment about his left hand difficultly bare off speedily therefore he set Spurs to his Horse and returned to his own Camp disposed his Souldiers into Military posture and led them immediately against those of Lepidus some were slain and many Legions of the adverse part were perswaded to come over to Caesars part Here Lepidus finding whereunto his former insolency and vanity began now to tend casting off his Generals Coat and having put on the habit of mourning he became a miserable suppliant to that Caesar whom he had but now despised who gave him his Life and Goods but condemned him to perpetual banishment 2. The Duke of Buckingham that great Favorite sent a Noble Gentleman to Bacon then Atturney General with this Message That he knew him to be a man of excellent parts and as the times were fit to serve his Master in the Keepers place but he also knew him of a base ungrateful disposition and an arrant knave apt in his prosperity to ruine any that had raised him from adversity yet for all this he did so much study his Masters service that he had obtained the seals for him but with this assurance should he ever requite him as he had done some others he would cast him down as much below scorn as he had now raised him high above any honour he could ever have expected Bacon patiently hearing this Message replyed I am glad my Noble Lord deals so friendly and freely with me But saith he can my Lord know these abilities in me and can he think when I have attained the highest preferment my profession is capable of I shall so much fail in my judgement and understanding as to lose those abilities and by my miscarriage to so noble a Patron cast my self headlong from the top of that honour to the very bottom of contempt and scorn Surely my Lord cannot think so meanly of me Now Bacon was invested in his Office and within ten daies after the King goes to Scotland Bacon instantly begins to believe himself King lies in the Kings Lodgings give Audience in the great Banquetting-house makes all other Councellours attend his motions with the same state the King used to come out to give Audience to Embassadours When any other Councellours sat with him about the Kings affairs he would if they sat near him bid them know their distance upon which Secretary Winhood rose went away and would never sit more but dispatched one to the King to desire him to make hast back for his Seat was already Usurped If Buckingham had sent him any Letter he would not vouchsafe the opening or reading it in publick though it was said it required speedy dispatch nor would vouchsafe him any answer In this posture he lived until he heard the King was returning and began to believe the Play was almost at an end and therefore did reinvest himself with his old rags of baseness which were so tattered and poor at the Kings coming to Windsor that he attended two daies at Buckingham's Chamber being not admitted to any better place than the Room where Trencher-scrapers and Lacquies attended there sitting upon an old wooden Chest with his Purse and Seal lying by him on that Chest. After two daies he had admittance and at his first entrance he sell down flat on his face at the Dukes foot kissing it and vowing never to rise till he had his pardon then was he again reconciled and since that time so very a slave to the Duke and all that Family that he durst not deny the command of the meanest of the kindred nor oppose any thing 3. Tigranes King of Armenia when Lucullus came against him had in his Army twenty thousand Bow-men and Slingers fifty five thousand Horse-men whereof seventeen thousand were men at Arms Armed Cap-a-pee and one hundred and â—ifty thousand Armed Foot-men of Pioneers Carpenters c. thirty five thousand that marched in the Reer He was so puffed up with the sight of his huge Army that he vaunted amongst his familiars that nothing grieved him but that he should fight with Lucullus alone and not with the whole force of the Romans he had divers Kings who attended upon his greatness whom he used in a proud and insolent manner and when he saw the Forces of Lucullus upon the march towards him he said If these men come as Embassadours they are very many if as Enemies they are very few Yet this man who bare himself so high in time of his prosperity when he saw his Horse-men give way was himself one of the first that fled out of the Field casting away the very Diadem from his head into the plain â—ield lest any thing about him might retard the swift-ness of his slight deploring with tears his own fate and that of his sons and after all this in great humility he laid down his Crown or his Diadem at the foot of Pompey thereby resigning his Kingdom to his pleasure 4. Perseus the last King of the Macedonians as he had many vices and was above measure covetous so he was also so puffed up with the pride of the Forces of his Kingdom that he carried himself with insolence enough divers waies he seemed to contemn all the power of the Romans he stirred up Gentius King of the Illyrians against them for the reward of three hundred Talents then provoked him to kill the Roman Embassadour and at last when he saw he had far enough engaged him refused to pay him the money This man was at last overcome by and fell into the hands of Paulus Aemylius and then he discovered as much baseness in his Adversity as he had done arrogance in his prosperity For when he came near the Consul the Consul arose to him as to a great Person who was fallen into adversity by the frowns of fortune and went to meet him with his â—riends and with tears in his eyes Then it was that Perseus in an abject posture cast himself at the feet of the Consul embraced his knees and spake words and made Prayers so far from a man of any Spirit that the Consul could no longer endure them but looking upon him with a stern and severe countenance he told him He was an unworthy enemy of the Romans and one that by the
life but he having lived in great piety and justice must shut up his days so speedily The Oracle returned that therefore he dyed because he did not that which he should have done for Egypt should have been afflicted one hundred and fifty years which the two former Kings well understood but himself had not When Mycerinus heard this and that he was thus condemned he caused divers lamps to be made which when night came on he lighted by these he carowsed and indulged his genius this course he intermitted not night nor day but wandred through the Fenns and Woods and such places where the most convenient and pleasurable reception was and this he did for this purpose that he might deceive the Oracle and that whereas it had pronounced he should live but six years he intended this way to lengthen them out to twelve 13. Antigonus observing one of his Souldiers to be a very valiant man and ready to adventure upon any desperate piece of service and yet withal taking notice that he looked very pale and lean would needs know of him what he ailed And finding that he had upon him a secret and dangerous disease he caused all possible means to be used for his recovery which when it was effected the King perceived him to be less forward in service than formerly and demanding the reason of it he ingenuously confessed that now he felt the sweets of life and therefore was loth to lose it 14. The most renowned of the Grecian Generals Themistocles having passed the hundred and seventh year of his age and finding such sensible decayes growing upon him as made him see he was hastning to his end he grieved that he must now depart when as he said it was but now chiefly that he began to grow wise 15. The Emperour Hadrianus a little before his death made this complaint and sorrowful Soliloquy Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis Quae nunc abibis in loca Palidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis Iocos 16. Titus Vespasianus the Emperour going towards the territories of the Sabines at his first lodging and baiting place was seised with a Fevor whereupon removing thence in his Litter it is said that putting by the Curtains of the Window he looked up to the Heavens complaining heavily that his life should be taken from him who had not deserved to dye so soon For in all his life he had not done one action whereof he thought he had reason to repent unless it were one only what that one was neither did he himself declare at that time nor is it otherwise known he dyed about the forty second year of his age 17. C. Caligula the Emperour was so exceeding afraid of death that at the least thunder and lightning he would wink close with both eyes cover his whole head but if it were greater and any thing extraordinary he would run under his Bed He fled suddenly by night from Messina in Sicily as affrighted with the smoak and rumbling noise of Mount Aetna Beyond the River Rhine he rode in a German Chariot between the Straights and the Army marched in thick squadrons together and when one on this occasion had said here will be no small hurliburly in case any enemy should now appear he was so affrighted that he mounted his Horse and turned hastily to the Bridges and finding them full and choaked up with Slaves and Carriages impatient of delay he was from hand to hand and over mens heads conveyed on the other side of the water Soon after hearing of the revolt of the Germans he provided to fly and prepared Ships for his flight resting himself upon this only comfort that he should yet have Provinces beyond Sea in case the Conquerors should pass the Alpes or possess themselves of the City of Rome 18. Amestis the Wife of the great Monarch Xerxes buryed quick in the ground twelve persons and offered them to Pluto for the prolonging of her own life CHAP. XLIV Of the gross Flatteries of some men AS the Heliotrope is alwayes turning it self according to the course of the Sun but shuts and closes up its leaves as soon as that great Luminary hath forsaken the Horizon So the Flatterer is alwayes fawning upon the Prosperous till their fortune begins to â—rown upon them in this not unlike to other sorts of Vermine that are observed to desert falling Houses and the Carcases of the dying Hope and fear have been the occasions that some persons otherwise of great worth have sometimes declined to so low a degree of baseness as to bestow their Encomiums upon them who have merited the severest of their reproofs Even Seneca himself was a broad flatterer of Nero which may make us the less to wonder at that which 1. Tacitus saith of Salvius Otho that he did adorare vulgus projicere oscula omnia serviliter pro imperio adore the people scatter his kisses and salutes and crouch unto any servile expressions to advance his ambitious designs in the attainment of the Empire 2. The like unworthy Arts Menelaus objects to his Brother Agamemnon in the Tragedian thus You know how you the Rule o're Grecians got In shew declining what in truth you sought How low how plausible you apprehended The hands of meanest men how then you bended To all you met how your Gates open flew And spake large welcome to the pop'lar crew What sweetned words you gave ev'n unto those Who did decline and hate to see you gloze How thus with serpentine and guileful Arts You screw'd and wound your self into the hearts O'â—h ' vulgar and thus bought the poor which now Makes you forget how then you us'd to bow 3. Tiridates King of Armenia when he was overcome by Corbulo and brought prisoner to Nero at Rome falâ—â—ng down on his knees he said I am Nephew to the great Lord Arsaces Broâ—her to the two great Kings Vologesus and Pacorus and yet thy Servant and I am come to worship thee no otherwise than I worship my God the Sun Truly I will be such an one as thou shalt please to make me for thou art my fate and fortune Which Flattery so pleased Nero that he restored him to his Kingdom and gave him besides an hundred thousand pieces of Gold 4. Publius Asfranius a notable Flatterer at Rome hearing that Caligula the Emperour was sick went to him and professed that he would willingly dye so that the Emperour might recover The Emperour told him that he did not believe him whereupon he confirmed it with an Oath Caligula shortly after recovering forced him to be as good as his word and to undergo that in earnest which he had only spoken out of base and false Flaâ—tery for he caused him to be slain and as he said lest he should be â—orsworn 5. Canutus King of England and Denmark was told by a Court Parasite that all things in his Realme were at his beck
amongst his Writings he found a Roll of one hundred and twenty men who had Petitioned Otho for a reward as having been present or assisting in the murder of Galba but though Vitellius was Galba's enemy yet he thought it unfit not only that such men should receive a reward but that they should be suffered to live seeing that they had set the life of their Prince to sale He therefore caused diligent searâ—h to be made for them and as many as he could lay hands upon he caused to be slain 18. Guntramus King of the Burgundians when he Warred against Gondoaldus who under a false name as if he were his Brother had seised upon part of Burgundy and Usurped the Title of a King contracted with Sagittarius and Monnialus two Bishops whom Gondoaldus used as his entire Friends about the slaying of Gondoaldus which done he caused the Bishops also who had been his Ministers therein to be slain lest a villanous Example should remain upon which any man should presume to betray him whom he had once owned and acknowledged for his Lord. 19. The City of Sfetigrade defended against Amurath the second was then watered but with one great Well in the midst of the City into which a Trayterous person who had contracted for a mighty reward to cause the City to be yielded up unto the Turks had cast a dead Dog this had been no great matter to other men but he well knew that the Garrison consisted of the Souldiers of Dibra who as they were the most valorous of all Epirus so were they more superstitious than the Jews about things clean and unclean and he knew these would starve die any manner of death or yield up the City rather than drink of that polluted drink nor was he deceived for it was straight yielded up on certain conditions He that corrupted the water was rewarded with three Suits of rich Apparel fifty thousand Aspers and a yearly Pension of two thousand Duckats but short was his joy for after he had a few daies vainly triumphed in the midst of Amurath his favours he was suddenly gone and never afterwards seen or heard of being secretly made away as was supposed by the commandment of Amurath whose noble heart could not but detest the Traytour although the Treason served well for his purpose 20. Luther was once asked Whether if one had committed a murder and confessed it to the Priest in case the Magistrate should otherwise hear of it and cite the Priest for a Witness the Priest was bound to reveal what he had learned by confession Luther answered no and added this Example At Venice a woman had privily killed one that had lain with her and thrown his body into the Sea and then having confessed all to a Monk received from him a Schedule in testimony of her Absolution Afterwards corrupted with money he betrayed her the woman produces the Schedule of the Monks Absolution and thereby would excuse her self The Senate therefore gave sentence That the Monk should be burnt and the woman banished this Judgement of the prudent Senate Luther did highly applaud CHAP. XLIX Of Voluptuous and Effeminate Persons TIberius the Emperour is said to have instituted a new Office at Rome for the invention of new pleasures over whom he appointed as their Prefect T. Caesonius Priscus had he wanted Officers he might have been more than sufficiently supplied out of these that follow 1. The Kings of Persia were so addicted to pleasure that their manner was to spend their Winter at Susa their summer at Ecbatana their Autumn in Persepolis and the rest of the year in Babylon 2. Plotius the brother of L. Plotius twice Consul was proscribed by the Triumvirate and in his place at Salernum where he lay hid he was betrayed to his murderers by the smell of his sweet unguents and perfumes which he had upon him 3. Sinyndirides the Sybarite was of that softness and effeminacy that he excelled therein all those of his Nation though the world it self had not a more luxuâ—ious generation than they this man upon a time had cast himself upon a bed prepared for him of the leaves of Roses and having there taken a sleep at his rising complained that he had Pustules made upon his body by reason of the hardness of his bed The same person was moreover so addicted to his belly that when he went to Sicyone as a servant to Agarista the daughter of Clisthenes he took along with him a thousand Cooks a thousand Fowlers and as many Fishers 4. Demetrius Poliorcetes when he had taken divers Cities by Siege exacted yearly from them one thousand two hundred Talents the least part of which went to his Army the greatest he consumed in all kinds of Luxury both himself and the Pavements where he resided slow'd with Unguents and throughout every part of the year the fresh leaves of Flowers were strow'd for him to walk upon A man immoderate and excessive in his loves both of women and young men and his great endeavour was to seem beautiful and to that purpose studiously composed his hair into curles and sought by artifice to have it of a Golden colour 5. Straton of Sidon and Nicocles the Cypriot strave not only to excel all other men in luxury and effeminate pleasures but there was also an emulation betwixt themselves enkindled by the relations they heard of each other their Feasts were attended with musical women and Harlots of selected faces for beauty were to Sing and Dance before them while they Feasted but they could not long indulge themselves in these kind of delights for both of them perished by a violent death 6. Sardanapalus King of Assyria was the most effeminate of all men he was continually hid in the apartments of the women and there sat disguised amongst them in a habit like unto theirs where he also was busied with the Distaff as they Upon his Sepulcher he caused a Statue to be cut attired like a woman holding her right hand over her head with some of the fingers close after the manner of one that is ready to give a fillip and by it these words were engraven Sardanapalus the son of Anacyndaraxes hath builded Anchiala and Tarsus in one day Eat drink and be merry the rest is not worth the fillip of a finger Cicero saith That Aristotle lighting upon this Tomb and Inscription said it should have been written upon the grave of a Beast not upon the Tomb of a King 7. Muleasses King of Tunis was a man of pleasure it 's said of him That his manner was to vail his eyes that he might catch the harmony of Musick more deliciously as having learned that two Senses are not at once to be gratified in the highest manner Ioviâ—â— saies of him That having fought but unfortunately with his son Amida for the recovery of his Kingdom being all disfigured with dust and sweat and his own blood amongst
a numerous crowd of them that sled he was known to his enemies by nothing so much as the odour of his Unguents and sweetness of his perfumes thus betrayed he was brought back and had his eyes put out by his sons command 8. The City Sybaris is seated two hundred furlongs from Crotona betwixt the two Rivers of Crathis and Sybaris built by Iseliceus the affaires of it were grown to that prosperity that it commanded four Neighbour Nations and had twenty five Cities subservient to its pleasure they led out three hundred thousand men against them of Crotona all which power and prosperity were utterly overturned by means of their luxury They had taught their Horses at a certain tune to rise on their hinder feet and with their fore-feet to keep a kind of time with the Musick a Minstril who had been ill used amongst them fled to Crotona and told them If they would make him their Captain he would put all the enemies horse their chief strength into their hands it was agreed he taught the known Tune to all the Minstrels in the City and when the Sybarites came up to a close charge at a signal given all the Minstrels played and all the Horses fell to dancing by which being unserviceable both they and their Riders were easily taken by the enemy 9. The old Inhabitants of Byzantium were so addicted to a voluptuous life that they hired out their own houses familiarly and went with their Wives to live in Taverns they were men greedy of Wine and extremely delighted with Musick but the first sound of a Trumpet was sufficient almost to put them besides themselves for they had no disposition at all to War and even when their City was besieged they left the defence of their Walls that they might steal into a Tavern CHAP. L. Of the libidinous and unchaste life of some Persons and what Tragedies have been occasioned by Adulteries IN an ancient Embleme pertaining to Iohn Duke of Burgundy there was to be seen a Pillar which two hands sought to overthrow the one had Wings and the other was figured with a Tortoise the word Vtcunque as much as to say by one way or other There are Amourists who take the same course in their prohibited amours some strike down the Pillars of Chastity by the sudden and impetuous violence of great promises and unexpected presents others proceed therein with a Tortoises pace with long patience continual services and profound submissions yet when the Fort is taken whether by storm or long siege there is brought in an unâ—â—pected reckoning sometimes that drenches all their sweets in blood and closes up their unlawful pleasures in the â—ables of death Thus 1. A certain Merchant of Iapan who had some reason to suspect his Wife pretended to go into the Country but returning soon after surprized her in the very act The Adulterer he killed and having tyed his Wife to a Ladder he left her in that half hanging posture all night The next day he invited all the Relations on both sides as well Men as Women to dine with him at his own house sending word that the importance of the business he had to communicate to them excused his non-observance of the custom they have to make entertainments for the women distinct from those of the men They all came and asking for his Wife were told that she was busie in the Kitchen but Dinner being well nigh past they entreated the Husband to send for her which he promised to do Whereupon rising from the Table and going into the room where she was tyed to the Ladder he unbound her put a Shrowd upon her and into her hands a Box wherein were the privy Members of her Gallant covered with Flowers and saying to her go and present this Box to our common Relations and see whether I may upon their mediation grant you your life She came in that equipage into the Hall where they sate at Dinner and falling on her knees presented the Box with the precious reliques in it to the kindred but as soon as they had opened it she swounded her Husband perceiving that it went to her heart and to prevent her returning again now she was going cut off her head which raised such an horrour in the Friends that they immediately left the room and went to their several homes 2. Schach Abbas King of Persia coming to understand that one of his menial servants who was called Iacupzanbeg Kurtzi Tirkenan that is to say he whose Office it was to carry the Kings Bow and Arrows had a light Wife sent him notice of it with this message that if he hoped to continue at Court in his employment it was expected he should cleanse his House This message and the affliction he conceived at the baseness of his Wife and his reflection that it was known all about the Court put him into such a fury that going immediately to his House which was in the Province of Lenkeran he cut in pieces not only his Wife but also her two Sons four Daughters and five Chamber-maids and so cleansed his House by the blood of twelve persons most of them innocent 3. The Egyptians do not presently deliver the dead bodies of the Wives of eminent persons to Conditure and embalming nor the bodies of such women who in their life-time were very beautiful but detain them after death at least three or four dayes and that upon this reason There was once one of these Embalmers empeached by his Companion that he had carnal knowledge of a dead body committed to his care to be Salted and Embalmed Dr. Brown in his Vulgar Errors speaking of the like villanies used by these Pollinctors elegantly writes Deformity needeth not now complain nor shall the eldest hopes be ever superannuated since Death hath Spurs and Carcases have been Courted 4. After King Edred not any of his Sons but his Nephew Edwin the eldest Son of King Edmund succeeded and was anointed and Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Otho Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the year 955. This Prince though scarce fourteen years old and in age but a Child yet was able to commit sin as a man for on the very day of his Coronation and in sight of his Lords as they sate in Council he shamefully abused a Lady of great estate and his near Kins-woman and to mend the matter shortly after slew her Husband the more freely to enjoy his incestuous pleasure For this and other infamous acts a great part of his Subjects hearts were so turned against him that the Mercians and Northumbrians revolted and swore fealty to his younger Brother Edgar with grief whereof after four years reign he ended his life and was buried in the Church of the New Abbey of Hide at Winchester 6. Eugenius the third King of Scotland made a beastly Act which appointed the first night of the new married Woman to appertain to the Lord of the Soil
in the Reins of his back whereby he rotted above ground and died near unto the City Chiurli in the same place where he had formerly unnaturally assaulted his aged Father Bajazet a man he was of a fierce bloody and faithless disposition he died 1520. 82. Solyman Sirnamed the magnificent surprised Rhodes Belgrade and Buda with a great part of Hungary Babylon Assyria Mesopotamia spoiled Austria sharply besieged and assaulted Vienna it self took the Isle of Naxos and Paros and made them Tributaries to him War'd upon the Venetians and invaded the Islands of Corfu and Malta besieging the Town of Sigeth upon the Frontiers of Dalmatia he there fell sick of a looseness of his belly upon which he retired for recovery of his health to Quinque Ecclesiae a City near Sigeth and there died the fourth of September Anno 1566. having lived seventy six years and Reigned thereof forty six a Prince more just and true to his word than any other of his Predecessours but a great terrour unto all Christendom 83. Selymus the second an idle and effeminate Emperour by his Deputies took from the Venetians the Isle of Cyprus and from the Moors the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers Over this Emperour the Christians were Victorious in that famous Sea-fight called the Battel of Lepanto where of the enemies Galleys were taken an hundred threescore and one forty sunk of burnt and of Galliots and other small Vessels were taken about sixty besides the Admiral Galley which for beauty and riches had none in the whole Ocean to compare with it Selymus spent with Wine and Women died Decemb. 9. 1574. A man of a heavy disposition and of the least valour of all the Othoman Kings 84. Amurath the third took from the disagreeing Persians Armenia Media and the City Tauris and the Fort Gaino from the Hungarians To rid himself of all Competitors he at his first coming to the Crown caused his five Brethren to be all strangled in his presence He himself was a Prince unactive managing the Wars by his principal Bassa's Mustapha Sinan Osman and Ferat The insolent Ianizaries made such a tumult at Constantinople that the Emperour for grief and anger fell into a fit of the Falling Sickness which vexed him three daies and three nights his death not long after followed the 18 Ian. Anno 1595. when he had lived fifty one years and thereof Reigned nineteen At the time of his death such a sudden and terrible tempest arose that many thought the World would then be dissolved 85. Mahomet the third took Agria in Hungary which Kingdom in all likelihood had been lost if he had pursued his Victory at the Battel of Keresture he was never but then in any Battel and then was so frighted that he durst never see the face of an Army afterwards great harm was done him by Michael the Vayvod of Valachia and the Army of Sinan Bassa utterly routed by the Prince of Transylvania He was altogether given to sensuality and pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swollen unweildy overgrown body and a mind thereto answerable no small means of his death which fell out at the end of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1604. when he had lived about forty four years 86. Achmet who the better to enjoy his pleasures made peace with the German Emperour and added nothing to his Empire Cicala Bassa his General was overthrown by the Persians and divers of his Armies under several Bassa's cut off by the fortunate Rebel the Bassa of Aleppo This Prince was of good constitution strong and active he would cast a Horse-man's Mace of nine or ten pounds weight farther than any other of his Court He was much given to sensuality and pleasure had three thousand Concubines one reason perhaps of his death at thirty years having Reigned fifteen 87. Mustapha brother to Achmet succeeded which was a Novelty never before heard of in this Kingdom it being the Grand Signiors Policy to strangle all the younger brothers howsoever this Mustapha was preserved either because Achmet being once a younger brother took pity on him or because he had no issue of his own body and so was not permitted to kill him It is said Achmet once intended to have shot him but at the instant was seised with such a pain in his arm and shoulder that he cryed out Mahomet would not have him die he carried himself but insolently and cruelly and was deposed 88. Osman succeeded his Uncle Mustapha and being unsuccessful in his War against Poland was by the Ianizaries slain in an uproar and Mustapha again restored yet long he enjoy'd not his Throne for the same hand that raised him did again pluck him down 89. Morat or Amurath the fourth brother of Osman of the age of thirteen years succeeded on the second deposition of his Uncle Mustapha he proved a stout and masculine Prince and bent himself to the reviving of the ancient discipline To the great good of Christendom he spent his stomach on the Persians from whom he recovered Babylon 90. Ibraim the brother of Morat preserved by the Sultaness his mother in his brothers life and by her power deposed again for interdicting her the Court He spent a great part of his Reign in the War of Creet against the Venetians but without any great success 91. Mahomet the fourth now Reigning was the son of Ibraim Lord of all this vast Empire containing all Asia and Greece the greatest part of Slavonia and Hungary the Isles of the Aegaean Sea and a great part of the Taurican Chersonese in Europe most of the Isles and Provinces in Asia and in Africk of all Aegypt the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers with the Ports of Snachem and Erocco nor is their stile inferiour to so vast an Empire Solyman thus stiling himself to Villerius great Master of the Rhodes at such time as he intended to Invade that Island i. e. Solyman King of Kings Lord of Lords and high Emperour of Constantinople and Trabâ—sond the most mighty King of Persia Syria Arabia and the Holy Land Lord of Europe Asia and Africa Prince of Meccha and Aâ—â—ppo Ruler of Hierusalem and Soveraign Lord of all the Seas and Isles thereof It remains That I acknowledge to whom I have been beholden in the making up this Catalogue of the forementioned Princes which I acknowledge to have borrowed from Mr. Prideaux his Introduction to History Carion's Chronology Dr. Heylin's Cosmography Knowles his Turkish History Zuingerus Nicaetas Zonaras Gaulterus Symson and such others as a slender Country Library would admit of CHAP. III. Of the Bishops and Popes of Rome and their Succession 1. SAint Peter was Crucified at Rome with his head downwards and was buryed about the Vatican in the Aurelian way not far from the Gardens of Nero having sat saith Platina in that See twenty five years He together with the Apostle Paul was put to death in the last year of Nero's Reign and was succeeded by 2.
gathered put into an Urn and carefully buried But the body was no sooner laid upon the funeral pile in order to his burning but a sudden tempest and vehement shower of rain extinguished the fire and caused the attendants of the Corps to betake themselvâ—s to shelter when came the Dogs and pulled in pieces the half-burnt carkass Domitian being certified hereof began to grow into more fearful apprehensions of his own safety but the irresistable force of Destiny is no way to be eluded but he was slain accordingly 12. Alexander Severus the Emperour marching out to the German Wars Thrasybulus a Mathematiciâ—n and his Friend told him that he would be slain by the Sword of a Barbarian and a Woman Druid cryed out to him in the Gallick Tongue Thou mayst go but neither hope for the Victory nor trust to the faith of thy Souldiers It fell out accordingly for before he came in sight of the Enemy he was slain by some German Souldiers that were in his own Camp 13. A Greek Astrologer the same that had predicted the Dukedome of Tuscany to Cosmo de Medices did also to the wonder of many foretel the death of Alexander and that with such assuredness that he described his Murtherer to be such a one as was his intimate and familiar of a slender habit of body a â—mall face and swarthy complexion and who with a reserved silence was almost unsociable to all persons in the Court by which description he did almost point out with the singer Laurence Medices who murdered Prince Alexander in his Bed-chamber contrary to all the Laws of Consanguinity and Hospitality 14. Pope Paul the Third wrote to Petrus Aâ—oisius Farnesius his Son that he should take special care of himself upon the 10. of September for the Stars did then threaten him with some signal misfortune Petrus giving credit to his Fathers admonition with great anxiety and fear took heed to himself upon that day and yet notwithstanding all his care he was slain by thirty six that had framed a conspiracy against him 15. Alexander the Great returning out of India and being about to enter Babylon the Chaldean Soothsayers sent him word that he would speedily dye if he entred the Walls of it This prediction was derided by Anaxarchus the Epicurcan and Alexander not to shew himself over-timerous or superstitious in this kind would needs put himself within the City where as most hold he was poysoned by Cassander 16. The very same day that the formentioned Alexander was born the Temple of Diana at Ephesus was set on fire and certain Magicians that were then present ran up and down crying that a great calamity and cruel scourge to Asia was born that day nor were they mistaken for Alexander over-ran all Asia with conquering Arms not without a wonderful slaughter of the men and desolation of the Country 17. When Darius in the beginning of his Empire had caused the Persian Scimitar to be made after the manner of the Greeks and commanded all men to wear them so forthwith the Chaldeans predicted that the Empire of the Persians should be devolved into the power of them whose Arms and Weapons they thus imitated which also came to pass for Darius overcome in three Battels and in his flight left treacherously wounded by some of his own men lost his life and left his Empire to his Conqueror the Grecian Alexander 18. While Cosmo Medices was yet a private man and little thought of the Dukedom of Florence Basilius the Mathematician foretold tâ—at a wonderful rich inheritance would certainly fall to him in as much as the Ascendant of his Nativity was beautified and illustrated by a happy conspiracy of Stars in Capricorn in such manner as had heretofore fallen out to Augustus Caesar and the Emperour Charles the Fifth upon the 5. of the Ides of Ian. he was advanced to the Dignity of the Dukedom 19. Belesus a Babylonish Captain skilled in Astrology and Divination beyond all the Chaldeans told Arbaces the Prefect of Media that he should be Lord of all that Sardanapalus did now possess since his Genesis was favoured as he knew with a lucky Position of Stars Arbaces encouraged by this hope conspired with the Babylonians and Arabians but the Revolt being known the Rebels were thrice in plain field overthrown by Sardanapalus The Confederates amazed at so many unhappy chances determined to return home But Belesus having all night made observation of the Stars foretold that a considerable body of friends were coming to their assistance and that in a short time their affairs would go on more prosperously Thus confirmed they waited the time set down by Belesus in which it was told them that the Bactrians were come in aid of the King It seemed good to Arbaces and the rest to meet the Bactrians with an expedite and select Body and perswade them to the same Revolt or force them he prevailed without stroke they joyned with his Forces In the night he fell upon the Camp of Sardanapalus who feared nothing less and took it twice after they overcame him in the field with great slaughter and having driven him into Niniveh after two years siege took that also and so fulfilled the prediction of Belesius 20. The great Picus Mirandula who for writing more against the Astrologers and also more reproachfully than others or indeed than any man ever did was called Flagellum Astrologorum the Scourage of Astrologers met at last with one Bellantius of Syena who was not at all deceived in the Judgement that he gave upon his Nativity for he foretold him that he should dye in the thirty fourth year of his age which accordingly came to pass 21. Iunctin an Italian of the City of Florence foretold that himself should dye of some violent death and upon the very same day was knocked on the head by the Books in his own Study falling upon him 22. The Duke of Biron being then only Baron of Biron and in some trouble by reason of the death of the Lord Cerency and others slain in a quarrel is said to have gone disguised like a Carrier of Letters unto one la Brosse a great Mathematician whom they held to be skilful in casting Nativities to whom he shewed his Nativity drawn by some other and dissembling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he served and that he desired to know what end that man should have La Brosse having rectified this Figure said to him that he was of a good House and no elder than you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his The Baron answered him I will not tell you but tell me said he what his life and means and end shall be The old man who was then in a little Garret which served him for a Study said unto him My Son I see that he whose Nativity this is shall come to great honour by his industry and military valour
and may be a King but there is a Caput Algol which hinders it And what is that said the Baron Ask me not said la Brosse what it is I must know it replied he In the end he said to him My Son it is that he will do that which shall make him lose his head Whereupon the Baron beat him cruelly and having left him half dead he went down and carried with him the key of the Garret door whereof he afterwards brag'd He had also conference with one Caesar who was a Magician at Paris who told him that only a back blow of the Bourguignon would keep him from being a King He remembred this prediction being a Prisoner in the Bastille and intreated one that went to visit him to learn if the Executioner of Paris was a Bourguignon and having found it so he said I am a dead man and soon after was beheaded for his Conspiracy 23. Upon St. Nicholas day in the year 1422. Queen Katherine Wife to King Henry the Fifth was brought to bed of a Son at Windsor who was by the Duke of Bedford and Henry Bishop of Winchester and the Countesse of Holland christned by the name of Henry whereof when the King had notice out of a prophetick rapture he said Good Lord I Henry of Monmouth shall small time reign and much get and Henry born at Windsor shall long time reign and lose all but Gods will be done 24. On the 30. day of October 1485. was Henry the Seventh with great Solemnity anointed and crowned King of England and even this was revealed to Cadwallader last King of the Britains 797 years past that his Off-spring should reign and bear dominion in this Realm again 25. Although Henry the First came not to the Crown of England by the gift of his Father the Conqueror as his Brother William did yet he came to it by the Prophecy of his Father for when his Father made his Will and divided all his Estate in Land between his two eldest Sons giving to Henry his youngest only a Portion in Money with which division he perceived him to be much discontentend he said unto him Content thy self Harry for the time will come that thy turn shall be serv'd as well as theirs His prediction was accomplished August the 5. An. 1100. he being then crowned in Westminster 26. The Great Cham Cublai intending to besiege the Metropolis of the Province of Mangi made one Bajan Chiusan the General of his Army which name signifies the light of an hundred eyes the Queen that was within the Walls of the City with a Garrison sufficient hearing the name of the General not only delivered the City but also the whole Province into the hands of Cublai for that she had before heard it predicted by the Astrologers that the City should be taken by him that had an hundred eyes 27. Thrasyllus the Mathematician was in the Retinue of Tiberius when he lived at Rhodes as an Exile and though under that cloud and that Caius and Lucius were both alive whose pretences were before his yet he constantly told him that he should be Emperour Tiberius believed him not but suspecting he was suborned by his Enemies to betray him into dangerous words he determined privily to make him away He had a house in Rhodes in which there was a Tower built upon a Rock which was washed by the Sea hither he brought him accompanied by a Servant of his own of great strength resolved to cast him headlong from thence When therefore they were come up Tell me said he by all that is dear unto thee if that is true which thou hast hitherto so confidently affirmed to me concerning the Empire It is said Thrasyllus a certain truth and such is the pleasure of the Stars If then said Tiberius you have such assurance of my Destiny what say you of your own Presently be erected a Scheme and considering the situation and distance of the Stars he began to fear look pale and cryed out I am in doubtful and hazardous state and the last end of my life seems nearly to approach At this Tiberius embraced him and told him he doubted not his skill in predictions acquainting him with his design against his life The same Thrasyllus not long after walking with Tiberius upon the shore of Rhodes having discovered a Ship under Sail afar off told him that Ship came from Rome and therein were Messengers with Letters from Augustus concerning his return which also fell out accordingly 28. Apollonius Tyanaeus was at Ephesus in Asia reading a Lecture in a Grove there a great space both of Land and Sea interposed betwixt him and Rome when he began to speak low and then more slowly streight he looked pale and stood silent at last stepping hastily on some paces as one transported O brave Stephanus said he strike the Tyrant kill the Murderer thou hast struck him thou hast wounded him thou hast slain him This spoke in publick was carefully gathered up the time diligently observed and as it was after well known that Domitian the Emperour was slain in Rome that day and the same hour of the day by one Stephanus that was of his Bed-chamber 29. Diocletian being in Gallia with the Roman Army and at that time but a Knight of Rome and of a slender Fortune paid his quarters but indifferently his Hostess upbraided him that he paid her too sparingly and he on the other side jestingly replied that he would discharge his Reckoning more bountifully assoon as he should be Emperor the Woman who was a Witch told him that he should be Emperour assoon as he had slain the Boar he thereupon betook himself to hunting and had killed many wild Boars yet still found himself never the nearer at last Numerianus the Emperour being slain by the fraud of Aper his Father-in-law Diocletian slew Aper in the Council his name in English is a Boar and thereupon was elected Emperour 30. William Earl of Holland upon the death of Henry Lantgrave of Hassia and King of the Romans was chosen King in his stead after which he warred upon Frisia and subdued it when near unto a City there he light upon a Tomb adorned with great curiosity of Workmanship and asking who was intombed therein he was told by the Inhabitants that at present there was not any body interred therein but that by a secret Fate it was reserved for a certain King of the Romans The King having assured his new Conquest was marching out of Frisia and rode himself before with few of his Attendance to seek out a convenient place for the quartering of his Army when it chanced that his Horse breaking into the Ice overthrew him There were certain fugitive Frisons that lay hid in the reeds thereabouts who observing his misfortune brake out upon him and before any could come in to his assistance he was partly slain by them and partly choaked with his Helmet about him in
that City and all its Inhabitants and was more exactly obeyed in all his orders and commands than ever Monarch had the glory to be in his own Kingdom This most astonishing revolution in the City of Naples began upon Sunday the seventh of Iuly An. 1647. and ended with the death of Masaniello which was upon Iuly the 16. 1647 the tenth day from its beginning 3. The Lord Cromwel was born at Putney a Village in Surrey near the Thames-side Son to a Smith after whose decease his Mother was married to a Sheer-man This young Cromwel for the pregnancy of his wit was first entertained by Cardinal Wolsey and by him employed in many great Affairs The Cardinal falling the King that was Henry the Eighth took him to his service and finding his great abilities advanced him by degrees to these Dignities Master of the Kings Jewel-house and of the Kings Privy Council Secretary to the King and Master of the Rolls Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal made Lord Cromwel and Vicar General under the King over all the Spirituality created Earl of Essex and at last Lord High Chancellor of England 4. In the Reign of King Henry the Second one Nicholas Breakspear born at St. Albans or as others write at Langley in Hartfordshire being a Bond-man of that Abbey and therefore not allowed to be a Monk there went beyond Sea where he so profited in Learning that the Pope made him first Bishop of Alba and afterwards Cardinal and sent him as his Legate to the Norways where he reduced that Nation from Paganism to Christianity and returning back to Rome was chosen Pope by the name of Adrian the Fourth 5. The War betwixt the Chineses and Tartars began in the year 1206. which lasting 77 years at last the Tartars in the year 1288. having totally subdued all that mighty Empire extinguished the Imperial Family of the Sunga's and erected a new Royal Family which they called Iuena of which Tartarian Race nine Emperours by descent ruled the Kingdom of China for the space of 70 years in peace and quietness In this tract of time the Tartars declining from their ancient vigor and having their warlike Spirits softned by the pleasures and delights of the Country there was a contemptible person called Chu he was Servant to one of those that were deputed to offer Sacrifice to their Idols a Native of China and this man presumed to rebel against them At the first he acted the part of a Thief or High way man and being of a generous nature bold quick of hand and wit he gathered such a multitude in a short time that they made up the body of a great Army then deposing the person of a Thief he became a General set upon the Tartars and fought many Battels with them with such fortune and success that in the year 1368. he drove them quite out of the Empire of China receiving for so illustrious an action the whole Empire of China as a worthy reward of his Heroical Exploits It was he that first erected the Imperial Family of the Taminges and was the first Emperour of that Race stiling himself by the name of Hunguuâ— which is the famous Warriour He placed his Court at Nanking near the great River of Kiang and having speedily ordered and established that Empire he made an irruption into Tartary it self and so followed the course of his Victories that he defeated them several times wasted their Territories and finally brought the Oriental Tartars to such streights as he forced them to lay down their Arms to pay Tribute and to beg an inglorious Peace 6. Sinan that great Bassa in the Court of Selymus the First was born of base Parentage as he being a child was sleeping in the shade he had his Genitals bitten off by a Sow The Turkish Officers which usually provided young Boys for the service of the Grand Signior being in Epirus for that was Sinans Country and hearing of this so extraordinary an Eunuch took him amongst others with them to the Court where under Mahomet the Great Bajazet the Second and his Son Selymus he so exceedingly thrived that he was made the chief Bassa of the Court and so well deserved it that he was accounted Selymus his right hand and was indeed the man to whose Valour especially the Turks owe their Kingdom of Egypt in which Kingdom then not fully setled he was also slain 7. Eumenes being a poor Carriers Son attained to such an ability in the Art of War that after the death of Alexander the Great under whom he served he seised on the Provinces of Cappadoâ—ia and Paphlagonia and siding though a Stranger to Macedon with Olympias and the Blood Royal against the Greek Captains he vanquished and slew Craterus and divers times drove Antigonus afterwards Lord of Asia out of the field but being by his own Souldiers betrayed he was by them delivered to Antigonus and by him slain 8. When Alexander the Great had taken the City of Tyre he permitted Ephestion his chief Favourite to chuse whom he would to be King there Ephestion proffered it to him with whom he had lodged a rich and honourable person but he refused it as not touching the blood of their Kings in any degree Then being asked by Ephestion if he knew any of the Royal Lineage yet living he told him there was a wise and honest man remaining but that he was in extremity of poverty Ephestion went to him forthwith with the Royal Robes and sound him in a Garden lading water out of a pit for a little money and in ragged apparel Ephestion tells him the intent of his coming cloaths him in all the Royal Ornaments and brings him into the Forum where the people were convented and delivers him the Soveraignty over them The people chearfully accepted of a person that was so accidentally and wonderfully found out to rule over them His name was Abdolonymus or as others Ballonymus 9. Licungzus at first a common Thief then a Captain of a Troop of Robbers by degrees arrived to that force and power in China that he took all the Province of Honan subjected the Province of Xensi and gave Sigan the Metropolis of it as a prey to his Souldiers These and many other his fortunate Exploits caused him to take the name of King with the addition of Xungvan which sounds as much as Licungzus the prosperous and at last thinking himself secure of the Empire he took the name of Emperour upon him and stiled the Family wherein he thought to establish this Dignity Thienxunam as much as to say obedient to Heaven By which he endeavoured to perswade the Souldiers and people that it was by the disposition of the Heavens that he should reign He besieged Peking the Metropolis of all China and with his victorious Army he entred and took it An. 1644. and coming into the Palace sate him down in the Imperial Throne though it was observed in this first act
poverty and miserable want that Prince as he was he was forced to learn the Art of a Turner and Joiner whereby he got his living 9. My Father hath told me from the mouth of Sir Robert Cotton how that worthy Knight met in a morning a true and undoubted Plantagenet holding the Plough in the Country Thus gentile blood fetcheth a circuit in the body of a Nation running from Yeomanry through Gentry to Nobility and so retrograde returning through Gentry to Yeomanry again 10. â— Philip King of Macedon after many famous Exploits by him performed and being chosen by all Greece as their General in the Asian Expedition an honour he had long thirsted after conâ—ulted the Oracle of Apollo and from thence received as he did interpret it a very favourable Answer touching his success against the Persian He therefore ordains great and solemn Sacrifices to the Gods marries his Daughter Cleopatra to Alexander King of Epirus and that he might appear amongst the Greeks in his greatest glory and magnificence he invites throughout all Greece divers great persons to this nuptial Feast and desires them to bring with them as many as they pleased whom he would also entertain as his Guests There was therefore a marvellous confluence of people from all parts to these Royal Nuptials and the musical contests which he had also ordained At Aegis a City in Macedonia was this great Solemnity where he then received divers Crowns of Gold from several illustrious persons as also others that were sent to him in his honour from the most famous Cities in Greece even from Athens it self Now was the Feast over and the musical concertation deferred to the next day a multitude of people were assembled in the Theatre while it was yet night and at the first appearance of day then began the Pomp to set forth in which besides other glorious preparations there were twelve Statues of the Gods carried upon huge and triumphant Arches and together with these a thirteenth which was the Statue of Philip himself adorned with divine Habit by which he would it should be understood that he was in Dignity equal with the Gods themselves The Theatre being now crowded Philip himself appears all clothed in white having ordered his Guards to keep at a distance from him that the Greeks might know he thought himself sufficiently guarded with their love At this his glorious appearance he was openly extolled and looked upon as the happiest person amongst all other mortals But this his dazelling brightness was soon over-cast with a black cloud and all the Pageant of his Glory wrapt up in the â—ables of death For while his Guards kept at their commanded distance there ran up to him one Pausanias one of those that had the nearest charge of his body and with a short Gallick Sword he had hid about him for that purpose â—mote him into the side and laid him dead at his foot in the sight of thousands of his Souldiers and Friends 11. Polycrates the Tyrant of Samos was so fortunate that not so much as a light touch of adversity had for a long time befallen him he was allied with Amasis King of Egypt who hearing of the great prosperity of his friend feared like a wiâ—e Prince that it would not continue long wherefore he wrote unto him to this effect I am glad to understand that my friend fareth so well nevertheless I have this great felicity in suspicion knowing how envious Fortune is For my part I had rather that my affairs and the affairs of my friends went in â—uch sort as that some adversity might cross them in this life than that they should go always to our liking If herein thou wilt believe me carry thy self in thy prosperity as followeth Look what thou hast about thee that thou holdest most dear and wouldst be most sorry to lose cast that away so far and in such sort as none may ever see it If thy prosperity change not for all that apply thereunto from time to time for thy easâ— some such remedy as this is which I have propounded to thee Polycrates liked this counsel and having a gold Ring set with an Emerauld engraven which he used for his Seal he cast it into the Sea but within a while after this Ring was found in a fishes belly and brought again to Polycrates Of which when Amasis heard he renounced by an express message the right of friendship and hospitality which he had contracted with Polycrates alledging for his reason that he feared he should be forced to sorrow and lamentation because of his friend overwhelmed with misery It happened that after certain days Oraetes Lieutenant of Cyrus in the City of Sardis drew unto him by crafty means this Minion of Fortune Polycrates whom he caused to be hanged upon a Gibbet and his body there left to the heats of the day and the dews of the night 12. Henry Holland Duke of Exeter and Earl of Huntingdon who married the Sister of Edward the Fourth was driven to such want that passing into Flanders Philip de Comines saith that he saw him run on foot bare-leg'd after the Duke of Burgundy's Train begging his bread for Gods sake whom the Duke of Burgundy at that time not knowing though they had married two Sisters but hearing afterwards who it was allotted him a small pension to maintain him till not long after he was found dead upon the shore of Dover and stripped all naked but how he came to his death could never by any inquiry be brought to light This was about the thirteenth year of the Reign of Edward the Fourth 13. In the Reign of King Iames the Lord Cobham was condemned for high Treason but yet reprieved by the King though notwithstanding he came to a miserable end For before his death he was extremely lousie for want of apparel and linen and had perished for hunger had not a Trencher-scraper at Court sometimes his Servant relieved him with such scraps as he could spare In this mans house he dyed being so poor a place that he was forced to creep up a Ladder through a little hole into his Chamber which was a strange change he having been a man of 7000 l. per annum and of a personal Estate of 30000 l. his Lady also being rich who yet in this his extremity of misery would not give him of the crums that fell from her table 14. Hugolin Giradesca of Pisa was the Chief of the Faction of the Guelphs that stuck to the Pope having foiled a part of the Gibbellines who affected the Emperour and stricken a fear into the rest became so great amongst those of his party that he commanded with a white Wand was both in name and in deed Lord of his City a rich and noble Personage learned magnificent married to a great Lady had goodly Children and Grandchildren abounding in all manner of wealth more than he could wish living happy in all pleasure both
in the judgment of himself and all his Citizens He made a solemn Feast upon his Birth-day and having invited all his friends setteth himself to the displaying of all his prosperity which himself magnifieth admireth and extolleth above the clouds and at last comes to this he asks one of his inward friends if there wanted any thing to make up his felicity compleat who considering what little stay there is in worldly matters and how they roll and flye away in a moment or rather inspired from above made this answer Certainly the wrath of God cannot be long from this thy so great prosperity Well the Forces of the Guelphs beginning to decay the Gibbellines run to Arms beset the house of this prosperous Hugolin break down the Gates kill one of his Sons and a Grandchild that opposed their entrance lay hold on Hugolin himself imprison him with two other of his Sons and three Granchildren in a Tower shut all the Gates upon them and throw the keys into the River of Arne that ran hard by Here Hugolin saw those goodly Youths of his dying between his arms himself also at deaths door He cryed and besought his enemies to be content that he might endure some humane punishment and to grant that he might be confessed and communicate e're he dyed But their hearts were all flint and all he requested with tears they denied with derision so he dyed pitifully together with his Sons and Grandchildren that were inclosed with him So sudden and oftentimes so tragical are the revolutions of that life which seems most to promise a continuance of prosperity 15. Amongst all those that have been advanced by the favour of mighty Princes there was never so great a Minion nor a more happy man in his life until his death than was Ibraim Bassa chief Vizier to Solyman the Great Turk This Bassa finding himself thus highly caressed by his Lord and Master he besought him on a day as he talked with him with great familiarity that he would forbear to make so much of him lest being elevated too high and flourishing beyond measure it should occasion his Lord to look a scance upon him and plucking him from the top of Fortunes wheel to hurl him into the lowest of misery Solyman then swore unto him that while he lived he would never take a way his life But afterwards moved against him by the ill success of the Persian War by him perswaded and some suspicion of Treachery yet feeling himself tyed by his oath he forbore to put him to death till being perswaded and informed by a Talisman or Turkish Priest that a man asleep cannot be counted amongst the living in regard the whole life of man is a perpetual watch Solyman sent one night an Eunuch who with a sharp razor cut his throat as he was quietly sâ—eeping upon a Pallet in the Court. And thus this great Favourite had not so much as the favour to be acquainted with his Masters displeasure but was sent out of the world at unawares his dead body was reviled and curst by Solyman after which a weight was tyed to it and it cast into the Sea 16. George Villiers was the third Son of Sir George Villiers Knight was first sworn Servant to King Iames then his Cupâ—bearer at large the Summer following admitted in ordinary the next St. Georges day he was Knighted and made Gentleman of the Kings Bedâ—chamber and the same day had an annual pension of a thousand pound given him out of the Court of Wards At New-years tide following the King chose him Master of the Horse After this he was installed of the most noble Order of the Garter In the next August he created him Baron of Whaddon and Viscount Villiers In Ianuary of the same year he was advanced Earl of Buckingham and sworn of his Majesties Privy Council The March ensuing he attended the King into Scotland and was likewise â—worn a Councellor in that Kingdom At New-years Tide after he was created Marquess of Buckingham and made Lord Admiral of England Chief Justice in Eyre of all the Parks and Forests on the South-side of Trent Master of the Kings Bench Office head Steward of Westminster and Constable of Windsor Castle chosen by the King the chief Concomitant of the Heir apparent in his Journey into Spain then made Duke of Buckingham and his Patent sent him thither After his return from whence he was made Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Steward of the Mannor of Hampton-Court But in the midst of all these Honours of the Duke upon Saturday the 23. of August at Portsmouth when after break-fast he came out of the room into a kind of Lobby somewhat darker and which led to another Chamber where divers waited with Sir Thomas Fryer close at his ear in the moment as the said Knight withdrew himself from the Duke one Iohn Felton a younger Brother of mean fortunes in Suffolk gave him with a back blow a deep wound into his left side leaving the knife in his body which the Duke himself pulling out on a sudden effusion of spirits he sunk down under the table in the next room and immediately expired One thing in this enormous accident is I must confess to me beyond all wonder as I received it from a Gentleman of judicious and diligent observation and one whom the Duke well favoured that within the space of not many minutes after the fall of the body and removal thereof into the first room there was not a living creature in either of the Chambers with the body no more than if it had lain in the Sands of Ethiopia whereas commonly in such cases you shall note every where a great and sudden conâ—lux of people unto the place to hearken and see but it seems the horrour of the Fact stupisied all curiosity Thus dyed this great Peer in the thirty sixth year of his age compleat and three days over in a time of great recourse unto him and dependence upon him The House and Town full of Servants and Suitors his Dutchess in an upper room scarce yet out of her bed and the Court at this time not above six or nine miles from him which had been the Stage of his Greatness 17. Charles the Gross the twenty ninth King of France and Emperour of the West began to reign in the year 885. the eyes of the French were fixed upon him as the man that should restore their Estate after many disorders and confusions He went into Italy and expelled the Saracens that threatned Rome being returned he found the Normans dispersed in divers Coasts of his Realm Charles marches with his Army against them but at the first encounter was overthrown this check though the loss was small struck a great terrour and at last caused an apparent impossibility to succour Neustria and recover it from so great Forces He was therefore advised to treat with them to make them of enemies friends and to leave them that which
draught without taking his breath for that he fairly drank off his liquor and left no snuff behind him and after he had drank so very much he neither stammered in his speech nor unburdened his stomach by vomiting and how late soever he sate up at the Wine over-night he would be sure to relieve the Morning-watch and Sentinels For these rare qualities he was dubbed Knight by the sirname of Tricongius that is the three Gallon Knight 12. For the like quality C. Piso did first rise and afterwards was advanced to the Provostship of the City of Rome by the same Tiberius namely for that in his Court being now Emperour he sate two days and two nights drinking continually and never stirred foot from the table 13. In the time of William Rufus King of England there was one Roger a poor Priest serving a Cure in a Village near Caen in Normandy It chanced that Henry the Kings youngest Brother passing that way made some stay in the Village and being desirous to hear Mass this Roger then Curate was the man to say it which he dispatched with such celerity that the Souldiers who commonly love not long Masses commended him for it telling their Lord that there could not be found a fitter Priest for Men of War than he Whereupon Henry appointed him to follow him and when he came to be King preferred him to many great places and at last to be Chancellor of England and Bishop of Salisbury When King Stephen came to the Crown he held this man in as great account as his Predecessor King Henry had done and perhaps in greater He arrived to such wealth that he builded the Castles of Salisbury the Vies Sherburn Malmsbury and Newark to which there were no Structures comparable in the Kingdom He had also 40000 Marks in money which together with his Castles the King seised into his own hands upon displeasure 14. Claudius upon the rumour of C. Caligula's being slain was so extremely terrified and so doubtful and solicitous of his own safety that he slily crept forth of a Parlour at the Court wherein he then was and conveyed himself up into a Garret near thereabouts and there hid himself betwixt the Hangings that hung before the door Whiles he lurked close there a private Souldier chancing to run to and fro that way looking for plunder espied his feet and by earnest inquiry and asking who he was happened to take knowledge of him He drew him forth out of the place and when he for fear fell down humbly at his feet took hold of his knees to move his compassion saluted him Emperour From thence he immediately brought him to his Fellow-Souldiers who as yet stood wavering by them was he bestowed in a Litter and for that his own Servants were fled they by turns supported the Litter upon their shoulders and so he was brought into the Pretorian Camp all sad and amazed for fear pitied also by the multitude that met him upon the way as if some innocent had been haled to execution Being received within the Entrenchments he lodged in the Camp all night and in the morning the Souldiers swore Allegiance to him Thus was he unexpectedly made Emperour in the fiftieth year of his age 15. Regillianus was General in Illyricum and the Souldiers being ill-affected to Galienus the Emperour were busying themselves upon new designs It fortuned that many of them supped together and Valerianus a Tribune in his wine and mirth was asking Whence may we believe the name of Regillianus did first come A regno from reigning replied one then said all the Souldiers there present He may then be a King and thus upon the sole occasion of this one word spoken at all adventures he was fetched out of his Tent and saluted Emperour and behaved himself with great Gallantry against the Sarmatians 16. Tacitus the Emperour was dead and Florianus his Brother aspired to the Empire but while the Election was depending the Oriental Armies were resolved to have an Emperour of their own choice They were assembled together on purpose to pitch upon some one when the Tribunes as it was fit in that case advised them to chuse fortem clementem probum Imperatorem they catched at the word and suddenly cryed out Probus Augustus the Gods preserve thee so they clad Probus in Purple and other the Imperial Ornaments and proclaimed him Emperour 17. Pisistratus came this way to the chief Rule and sole Power in the City of Athens He shewed himself very affable and courteous to the Citizens and liberal where occasion required it so that he was looked upon as the sure refuge and Sanctuary of such as were oppressed with injury or poverty The Nobility held this course of his suspected and he was well aware thereof and therefore he bethought himself which way he might cajole the Nobility and procure a Guard about his own person to this purpose he gives himself several wounds and then all wounded and bloody comes into the Market-place tells the Citizens that these were the rewards of his goodness to them and theirs which he had now newly received at the hands of the men of power in the City as also that his life was in perpetual hazard unless they would take â—ome course to secure it unto whom alone he had devoted himself and life The people were moved with indignation they decreed him a Guard about his person by means of which he supprest the Nobility made himself the Tyrant of that City and oppressed the people 18. Phrynichus was chosen General of their Forces by the Athenians not because of any grace or favour he was in with them not for any Nobility in his descent nor that he had the reputation of a rich man for which reasons they had often preferred others but in a certain Tragedy having framed his Poem and Musick so much unto military motion that for this reason alone the whole Theatre cryed out that they would have him for their General supposing that he could not be without military skill who had composed a Poem that had in it a spirit not unfitted to the condition of men of War 19. Alfredus King of the West Saxons went out one day a hunting and passing by a certain Wood he heard as he supposed the cry of an infant from the top of a tree he diligently inquired of the Huntsmen what that was commanding one of them to climb the tree where in the top of it was found an Eagles Nest and therein a pretty sweet-fac'd Infant wrapt up in a Purple Mantle and upon each arm a Bracelet of Gold a sign of the Nobility of his Parents This Child the King carried with him caused him to be baptized and from the Nest wherein he was found he gave him the name of Nesting after he had given him noble Education he advanced him to the Dignity of an Earl CHAP. XI Of sundry Customs that were in use and force with
Portugals thought they had burned but that he had been there invisible and taken it away laying another in the place This the Heathens presently believed so that it came unto the King of Bisnagars ears who thereupon desired the Beniane to send it him with great joy he received it giving the Beniane a great sum of Gold for it Whereupon this Tooth was holden and kept in the same honour and estimation as the other that was burnt had been 15. Adad and Atergatis that is the Sun and the Earth were the chief Gods of the Assyrians and saith Macrobius they ascribe all power to these two The Image of Adad shined with rays or beams downwards designing the Suns force that of Atergatis with beams upwards as noting thereby the Earth ascribing to the heavenly influence all her plenty Lucian also saith That the Assyrians did sacrifice to a Dove the only touching of which Fowl required much Ceremony for Expiation 16. The Philistinis and all that Sea-coast are reckoned to the Phoenicians and they worshipped Dagon what Dagon was saith Martyr is not well known but by the derivation of his Name which signifieth a Fish it seemeth he was a Sea-God Above his belly he was of humane shape beneath like a fish When Cicero saith the Syrians worshipped a Fish it may be construed of this Dagon happily saith Martyr they intended Neptune or I know not what Devil Tremellius thinketh Triton Derceto's or Dagons Image Lucian saith he saw in Phoenicia not unlike to that of the Mermaid the upper half like a Woman the other like a fish in reverence of whom the Phoenicians were said to abstain from fish They offered unto her Fishes of Gold and Silver and the Priests all day long set before her true fishes roast and sodden which afterwards themselves did eat 17. At Ekron was worshipped Baalzebub that is the Lord of Flies â—o called either from the multitude of Flies that attended the multitude of his Sacrifices wherefrom the Sacrifices of the Temple of Ierusalem as some say were wholly free or for that he was their Larder God to drive away flies or for that form of a flye in which he was worshipped as Nazianzen against Iulian reporteth yet Scaliger saith the name of Baalzebub was in disgrace and contempt and that the Tyrians and Sydonians did not so call him Baal or Belus being the common sirname to their Gods which they distinguished by some addition as Baalsamen Lord of Heaven but the Hebrews and not the Phoenicians called him Baalzebub or Fly-Lord 18. Those of Peru worshipped the dead bodies of their Inguas that is Emperours preserving them with a kind of Rosin so that they seemed alive The body of Yupangui the Grandfather of Atabalipa was thus found having eyes made of a fine Cloth of Gold so artificially made and set as they seemed natural having lost no more hair than if he had died the same day and yet he had been dead threescore and eighteen years 19. Ptolomeus Philopater erected a Temple to Homer the Poet in which his Image was placed comely sitting environed with those Cities which challenged him for theirs and Strabo mentions a Temple and Image of Homer at Smyrna with a Coin called Homerium As for the Egyptians they worshipped not only Crocodiles and Goats and Hawks but even Frogs and Beetles and Onions and which is strangest of all as Ierome derides them they made a Deity of a stinking Fart Crepitus ventris inflati saith he quae Pelusiaca religio est which they worshipped at Pelusium 20. The old Irish at every change of the Moon worshipped her bowed their knees and made their supplications and with a loud voice thus spake unto the Planet We pray thee leave us in as good estate as thou findest us 21. Some leagues from the Town of Iunquileu in China we arrived at a place encompassed with great Iron Grates in the midst whereof stood two mighty Statues of Brass upright sustained by Pillars of cast Metal of the bigness of a Bushel and seven fathom high the one of a man and the other of a woman both of them seventy four spans in height having their hands in their mouths their cheeks horribly blown out and their eyes so staring that they affrighted all that looked upon them That which represented a man was called Quiay Xingatalor and the other in the form of a Woman was named Apancapatur Having demanded of the Chineses the explication of these Figures they told us that the male was he which with those mighty swollen cheeks blew the fire of Hell to torment all those miserable Wretches that would not liberally bestow alms in this life and for the other Monster that she was the Portress of Hell-gate where she would take notice of those that did her good in this World and letting them fly away into a River of very cold water called Ochilenday would keep them hid there from being tormented by the Devils as other damned were At such time as we arrived here we found twelve Bonzoes or Priests upon the place who with silver Censers full of Perfumes of Aloes and Benzoin censed those two devillish Monsters and chanted out aloud Help us even as we serve thee whereunto divers other Priests answered in the name of the Idol with a great noise So I promise to do like a good Lord. In this sort they went as it were in Procession round about the place singing with an ill-tuned voice to the sound of a great many Bells that were in Steeples thereabouts In the mean time there were others that with Drums and Basons made such a din as I may truly say put them all together was most horrible to hear 22. We arrived at the great Temple of Singuafatur in Tartary where we saw an Inclosure of above a league in circuit in which were builded an hundred threescore and four houses very long and broad after the fashion of Arsenals all full up to the very Tiles of dead mens skulls whereof there was so great a number that I am afraid to speak it for that it will hardly be credited Without each of these houses were also great piles of the bones belonging to these heads which were three fadom higher than the ridges of them so that the houses seemed to be buried no other part of them appearing but the Frontispiece where the Gate stood Not far from thence upon the South-side of them was a kind of Platform whereunto the ascent was by certain stairs of Iron winding about and through four several doors Upon this Platform was one of the tallest the most deformed and dreadful Monster that possibly can be imagined standing upon his feet and leaning against a mighty Tower of hewed stone he was made of cast Iron and of so great and prodigious a stature that by guess he seemed to be above thirty fathom high and more than six broad This Monster held in both his hands a Globe of the
same Iron being six and thirty spans in the compass of it We demanded of the Tartar Ambassador the explication of so monstrous a thing You must know said he that this great Saint which you see there is the Treasurer of the bones of all those that are born into the World to the end that at the last day he may give to every one the same bones which he had upon Earth so that he who in this life shall be so ill advised as not to honour him nor present him with something will be but in an ill case for he will give him some of the rottenest bones he can meet withal and one or two less than he should have by means whereof he will become deformed lame and crooked The Globe he holdeth is to fling at the head of the gluttonous Serpent that liveth in the profound Abysme of the house of smoak when he shall come thither to steal away any of those bones He told us moreover that the name of this Idol was Pachinavan du occulem Prinaufaque and that it was threescore and fourteen thousand years since he was begotten on a Tortoise called Migoma by a Sea-horse that was an hundred and thirty fathom long named Tybrem Vucam who had been King of the Giants of Fanius He also assured us that the gifts which were presented to this Idol amounted to above 200000 Tacies per annum without comprising therein what came from Chappels and foundations of Obits from the principal Lords of the Country the yearly Revenue whereof amounted to a far greater sum than the gifts He added that this Idol had ordinarily twelve thousand Priests attending on his service maintained with all necessaries only to pray for the dead unto whom those bones belonged who also had allowed them without the Temple six hundred Servants who took care for the providing all things necessary for them As for the Priests themselves they never went without the limits of the Temple but by the permission of their Superiors There was also a Seragliâ— there wherein many Women appointed for that purpose where shut up whom their Governesses permitted to have too near an acquaintance with the Priests of this beastly and diaboliâ—â—â— Sect. CHAP. XIII Of the manner of Food which hath been or is yet in use amongst divers Nations and People or persons addicted to some idolatrous Sect. ALL the stores of Nature and the greatest plenty and variety that is imaginable is scarcely sufficient to satisfie the boundless and excessive luxury of some men When they have surveyed all the delicacies that the Mountains and Seas afford yet even then they are at a loss and can difficultly resolve with themselves what they should eat Others as carelesly pass by all the choicer provisions their Countries can furnish them with and devote themselves to such a manner of feeding as reason would condemn as inconvenient and abominable were it not superseded by a pertinacious adherence to some custom formerly received amongst them 1. There were several Nations amongst the Scythians who used to feed upon humane flesh such also were the Cannibals in the New Indies and it seems that in Sicily it self where there is all sorts of fruits there were heretofore such a sort of people as they called Cyclops and Lestrigones who fed themselves in such manner as Polyphemus is described to do in Virgil. Visceribus miserorum sanguine vescitur atro The entrails of slain Wretches are his food And then he quaffes their black and luke-warm blood There were also amongst the Greeks such as did curiously search into the bowels of men and what kind of taste they had Galen saith he was informed by such as had made tryal thereof that the flesh of man is in taste much like unto that of Beef 2. The Nation of the Ethiopians whose Country reaches as far as from Meroe to the River Hydaspis feeds upon Scorpions and Aspes and Quintinus Hedâ—us writes that he saw one in the Isle of Malta who eat up a Scorpion without hurt for there the Scorpions are without venom or poyson So the Candaei by the Greeks called Ophiophagi fed upon Serpents 3. The people that are called Medunni live upon the Milk of certain Creatures that are called Cynocephali they are a sort of Apes of these they have whole herds of which they kill all the males but such as are requisite for generation and keep the females in great numbers for the sake of their milk 4. In Ethiopia there is a people who are called the Acridophagi they border upon the Desart they are somewhat lower than the common stature lean and exceeding black these live after this manner In the Spring time the West and South-West winds bring an infinite number of Locusts from the Wilderness amongst them these Locusts are very great but of a filthy and ugly colour in the wings of them The Ethiopians that are accustomed to their coming carry abundance of combustiblâ— matter into a Plain that is many furlongs in the length and breadth of it When the Locusts are brought with the wind as a thick Cloud over that placeâ— they set fire upon the grass and other stuff they have brought thither for that purpose by which and the smoak it makes the Locusts that fly above are killed and fall down a little beyond this Valley in such number and plenty that they are more than sufficient for the food of the whole Nation these they salt up and keep long by them as a food which they delight to feed upon 5. The Phrygians and they of Pontus have a certain white and thick worm amongst them with a blackish head which is bred in rotten and putrified stuff these worms they look upon as delicates and feed deliciously upon them Also those great worms that are found upon Oaks which they call Maggots or green Worms were received amongst the Romans for a delicate kind of repast and to this purpose they preserved them in Brans till they came to their due colour and fatness 6. The Tartars when they ride far and are vexed with hunger or thirst they open a vein of the Horse they ride upon and with a draught of that blood they qualifie their hunger and thirst Also they are exceedingly delighted with Mares milk supposing that they are made both strong and fat by it The Bisaltae in Scythia mix the blood of Horses and milk of Mares and so feed upon it 7. The Budini a people in Scythia familiarly feed upon Lice and the Vermine that is bred upon the bodies of men 8. The Zygantes a people of Africa paint themselves with red Lead and feed upon the flesh of Apes which are plentifully bred for them upon the Mountains 9. In that Ethiopia which is beyond Egypt near unto the River Astapa there is a Nation who are called Rhizophagi these live upon the roots of Reeds which they dig up out of the places near them they wash these
himself a Subject to the King of Spain he was executed at Tyburn where being cut down half dead after his privy members were cut off he rushed on the Executioner and gave him a blow on the ear to the wonder of the by-standers 5. It is said of Crassus Grandfather to that Crassus who was slain in the Parthian War that he was never known to laugh all his life time and thereupon was called Agelastus or the man that never laught 6. Antonia the Wife of Drusus as it is well known never spit and Pomponius the Poet one that had sometimes been Consul never belched 7. It is memorable which is recorded of a King named Wazmund and was the Founder of Warwick Town that he had a Son named Offa tall of stature and of a good constitution of body but blind till he was seven years old and then saw and dumb till he was thirty years old and then spake 8. In the first year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth died Sir Thomas Cheney Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports of whom it is reported for a certain that his pulse did beat more than three quarters of an hour after he was dead as strongly as if he had been still alive 9. George Nevil fourth Son of Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury was consecrated Bishop of Exeter when he was not as yet twenty years of age at twenty five he was made Lord Chancellor of England and discharged it to his great commendation his ability supplying the luck of age in him 10. When I was in Italy that Paradise of the World the outward skin of a Lady of Verona though lightly touched did manifestly sparkle with fire This spectacle so worthy of the research of the inquisitive and curious is faithfully exposed to the World by the publick Script of Petrus à Castro the learned Physician of Verona in his Book de Igne lambente whom I shall follow in the relation of this story The illustrious Lady Catherina Buri the Wife of the noble Io. Franciscus Rambaldus a Patritian of Verona of a middle age indifferent habit of body her universal temper hot and moist her liver hot and dry and so abounding with bilious and black blood with its innate fervour and an age fit for adustion increased by vehement grief This noble Lady the Creator endued with so stupendous a Dignity and Prerogative of Nature that as oft as her body was but lightly touched with linen sparks flew out plentifully from her limbs apparent to her domestick Servants as if they had been struck out of a flint accompanied also with a noise that was to be heard by all Oftentimes when she rubbed her hands upon the sleeve of her smock that contained the sparkles within it she observed a flame with a tailed ray running about as fired exhalations are wont to do insomuch that her Maids were oftentimes deluded supposing they had left fire in the bed after warming of it in Winter in which time also fire is most discernible This fire was not to be seen but in the dark or in the night nor did it burn without it self though combustible matter was applied to it nor lastly as other fire did it cease within a certain time but with the same manner of appearance of light it shewed it self after my departure out of Italy 11. I have read saith Rossâ— of one who had a horn grew upon his heel a foot long which being cut off grew again and would doubtless have still renewed if the tough and viscous matter had not been diverted and evacuated by Issues Purges and Phlebotomy 12. Fernelius saith he saw a Girl that lived in near neighbourhood to him the ligaments of whose joynts were so very loose that you might bend and turn any of them this or that way at your pleasure and that it was so with her from the time of her birth 13. Sir Iohn Mason born at Abington bred at All souls in Oxford died 1566. and lies buried in the Quire of St. Pauls I remember this Distick of his long Epitaph Tempore quinque suo regnantes ordine vidit Horum à Consiliis quatuor ille fuit He saw five Princes which the Scepter bore Of them was Privy Counsellor to four That is to Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth 14. Thomas Bourchier successively Bishop of Worcester Ely and Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinal by the Title of St. Cyriacus in the Baths being consecrated Bishop of Worcester An. 1435. the fourteenth of Henry the Sixth he died Archbishop of Canterbury 1486. the second of King Henry the Seventh whereby it appears that he wore a Miter full fifty one years a term not to be parallel'd in any other person he saw the Civil Wars of York begun and ended having the honour to marry King Henry the Seventh to the Daughter of King Edward the Fourth Nor is it the least of wonders that he lost not himself in the Laâ—yrinth of such intricate times 15. Sir Thomas Frowick was made Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the eighteenth year of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh four years he sate in his place accounted the Oracle of the Law in his Age though one of the youngest men that ever enjoyed that Office He 〈◊〉 reported to have died floridâ juventute before full forty years old so that he was Chief Justice at thirty five he died 1506. Octob. 17. 16. That was great and excellent in Socrates that whatever fell out of joy or otherwise he returned with the same countenance he went forth with and was never seen to be more merry or melancholy than at other times in any alteration of times or affairs 17. In the Reign of King Iames in the year 1613. on the 26. of Iune in the Parish of Christ-Church in Hampshire one Iohn Hitchel a Carpenter lying in bed with a young child by him was himself and the child burnt to death with a sudden Lightning no fire appearing outwardly upon him and yet lay burning for the space of almost three days till he was quite consumed to ashes 18. Lucius Fulvius being Consul of the Tusculani who at that time rebelled he deserted them and was thereupon made Consul at Rome and so it fell out that in one and the same year in which he was an Enemy to Rome he triumphed at Rome and a Consul over those to whom he had been Consul 19. It is said of Charles Earl of Valois that he was the Son of a King Brother to a King Uncle to a King and Father to a King and yet no King himself 20. There was amongst the Magnesians one Protophanes who in one and the same day won the Prize in the Olympick Games both at Wrastling and other Games when he was dead certain Thieves opened his Sepulchre and went into it hoping to have found something to prey upon after which
number of poor people on whom the new Pope having opened that Gate bestoweth his fatherly benediction and remitteth to them all their sins Then striketh he continually on the same door with a golden Mallet which whilst he is doing workmen without break it open The chips stones dust and dirt which fall from the Gate while it is opening are gathered and preserved as choicest Reliques and the golden Mallet is usually given to that Cardinal who is in most grace with the new Pope 4. The Tartarians when they chuse and elect their Prince they meet together in a large field and then they set him in a stately Throne richly gilded placed in the view of all that are then present and falling down before him they all proclaim after this sort and with one consent We beseech we will and command that thou bear rule over us Then their new King which is chosen answereth If you will have this done of me it is necessary that you be ready to do all that I shall command you when I call to come and wheresoever I send to go and to commit and put the whole Rule into our hands When they have answered We be ready he saith again Therefore my Word shall be my Sword then all the people clap their hands with great rejoicing Then the Noble-men take him from the Regal Seat and make him to sit softly upon a Cushion or Carpet upon the ground saying thus Look up and acknowledge God and look downward to the Cushion whereon thou fittest If thou dost govern and rule well thou shalt have all things according to thy desire but if thou dost ill thou shalt be brought so low and so bare that this small Cushion whereon thou sittest shall not be left thee At which saying they adjoin unto him his dearest and best beloved Wife and lifting them both up with the Cushion they salute them as their Emperour and Head 5. When the King of the Cumbae and Capi a people in Guinea dies his Son Brother or his next Kinsman succeeds but before he is admitted to the exercise of full Regality they bind him at his house and lead him bound to the Palace there they whip him after which he is loosed then they attire and lead him to the Judgment-seat where the eldest Counsellor makes an Oration concerning his Right and Duty which ended he puts a Hatchet into his hand which they use in Executions and after this all acknowledge their subjection to him 6. The Sâ—minaries or Alberges of Malta are seven France in general Auvergne Provence Castile Arragon Italy and Germany over every one of which they have a grand Prior. An eighth Seminary they had in England till the suppression of it by King Henry the Eighth yet they have one to whom they give the Title They have sixteen amongst them of great Authority called the great Crosses The Election of their Master is performed on this manner The several Seminaries nominate two Knights and two also are nominated for the English These sixteen from amongst themselves chuse eight these eight chuse a Knight a Priest and a Fryer-servant and they out of the sixteen great Crosses elect the great Master The great Master being thus chosen is stiled the most Illustrious and most Reverend Prince the Lord Fryer N. N. great Master of the Hospital of St. Iohn of Ierusalem Prince of Malta Gauls and Gosa 7. The Electors of the Emperour of Germany are six the Archbishops of Mentz Colen and Triers the Count Palatine of the Rhine the Duke of Saxony and the Marquess of Brandâ—nburg upon equality of Voices the King of Bohemia comes in for a seventh The Election is usually celebrated at Frankford on the Main where the Electors meet on the day appointed by the Archbishop of Mentz as Chancellor of the Empire Being met they go into St. Bartholomews Church where after high Mass is said the three spiritual Electors laying their hands upon their breasts and the temporal Princes on the Book make Oath to chuse a fit temporal Head for the people of Christendom If in thirty days they are not agreed then must they have no other allowance but of bread and water nor may they go out of the City till necessity compel them to agree Being at last resolved on and declared the Prince so elected is presently saluted by the Title of King of the Romans not usually that of Emperour till he have received the Crown at the hands of the Pope CHAP. XXV Of the Games and Plays of sundry Nations by whom they were instituted and when THE troubles and cares of humane life are so many and so great that the spirit would fail under the weight and burden of them should there not be something of mirthful and pleasant found out wherewith to counterbalance and take off the Taedium of them All Nations therefore have thought it meet to make necessary provision of certain periodical Solemnities of Joy on purpose to recreate and renew the decayed and almost exhausted vigour of the mind and to sweeten the acerbities of the painful pilgrimage of their present life 1. The Nemaean Games were so called from Nemea where Hercules killed the dreadful Lion which annoyed the whole Country In honour of which noble act were instituted in time following the Games aforesaid which continued of great fame in Greece for many Ages The Exercises were Running with swift horses Whorlbats Running on foot Quoiting Wrastling Darting and Shooting celebrated first in honour of Opheltes afterwards by Hercules in honour of Iupiter the Crown at first was a Branch of Olive afterwards a Garland of Ivy. 2. The Olympick Games were instituted by Hercules in honour of Iupiter and celebrated on the Plains of the City Olympia in the Country of Elis A. M. 2757. The Exercises in them were for the most part bodily as running in Chariots running on Foot Wrastling fighting with Whorlebats and the like But so that there repaired thither also Orators Poets and Musicians and all that thought themselves excellent in any quality to make tryal of their several abilitiâ—â— The rewards given the Victor were only Garlands of Palm or such slight remembrances and yet the Greeks no less esteemed that small sign of Conquest than the Romans did their most magnificent Triumphs Those who were Conquerors herein being met by the principal men of the City in which or under which they lived and a passage broken in the main Walls thereof for their reception Crotona a City of the higher Calabria was once so famous for this that one year all the Victors in these Games were of that City They were celebrated once in five years he who had been Victor the third time had his Statue erected agreeable to his own features and proportion which the Greeks call Icones 3. In the Isthmus near the City of Corinth were celebrated yearly the Isthmian Games ordained by Theseus in the honour of Neptune in imitation of the
in the Judge or other circumstances as may lay no great imputation upon such as have not the gift of infallibility But when men that sit in the place of God shall through corruption or malice wilfully prevaricate and knowingly and presumptuously oppress the innocent in such cases the supreme Judge oftentimes reserves the decision of the Cause to be made at his own Bar and thereupon hath inspired the injured persons to give their oppressors a summons of appearance which though at prefixed days they have not been able to avoid 1. In the Reign of Frederick Aenobarbus the Emperour and the year 1154. Henry was Archbishop of Mentz a pious and peaceable man but not able to endure the dissolute manners of the Clergy under him he determined to subject them to some sharp censure but while he thought of this he himself was by them before-hand accused to Pope Eugenius the Fourth The Bishop sent Arnoldus his Chamberlain to Rome to make proof of his innocency but the Traitor deserted his Lord and instead of defending him traduced him there himself The Pope sent two Cardinals as his Legates to Mentz to determine the cause who being bribed by the Canons and Arnoldus deprived Henry of his Seat with great ignominy and substituted Arnoldus in his stead Henry bore all patiently without appealing to the Pope which he knew would be to no purpose but openly declared that from their unjust judgment he made his Appeal to Christ the just Judge there I will put in my Answer and thither I cite you the Cardinals jestingly replied When thou art gone before we will follow thee About a year and half after the Bishop Henry died upon the hearing of his death both the Cardinals said Lo he is gone beforâ— and we shall follow after their jest proved in earnest for both of them died in one and the same day one in a house of office and the other gnawing off his own fingers in his madness Arnoldus was assaulted in a Monastery butcher'd and his carcass cast into the Town-ditch 2. Ferdinand the Fourth King of Spain was a great man both in peace and war but something rash and rigid in pronouncing Judgment so that he seemed to incline to cruelty About the year 1312. he commanded two Brothers Peter and Iohn of the noble Family of the Carvialii to be thrown headlong from an high Tower as suspected guilty of the death of Benavidius a Noble person of the first rank they with great constancy denied they were guilty of any such crime but to small purpose When therefore they perceived that the Kings ears were shut against them they cryed out they died innocent and since they found the King had no regard to their pleadings they did appeal to the divine Tribunal and turning themselves to the King bid him remember to make his appearance there within the space of thirty days at the furthest Ferdinand at that time made no reckoning of their words but upon the thirtieth day his Servants supposing he was asleep found him dead in his bed in the flower of his age for he was but twenty four years and nine months old 3. When by the counsel and perswasion of Philip the fair King of France Pope Clement the Fifth had condemned the whole Order of the Knights Templars and in divers places had put many of them to death at last there was a Neapolitan Knight brought to suffer in like manner who espying the Pope and the King looking out at a window with a loud voice he spake unto them as followeth Clement thou cruel Tyrant seeing there is now none left amongst mortals unto whom I may make my appeal as to that grievous death whereunto thou hast most unjustly condemned me I do therefore appeal unto the just Judge Christ our Redeemer unto whose Tribunal I cite thee together with King Philip that you both make your appearance there within a year and a day where I will open my Cause Pope Clement died within the time and soon after him King Philip this was An. 1214. 4. Rodolphus Duke of Austria being grievously offended with a certain Knight caused him to be apprehended and being bound hand and foot and thrust into a Sack to be thrown into the River the Knight being in the Sack and it not as yet sown up espying the Duke looking out of a window where he stood to behold that spectacle cryed out to him with a loud voice Duke Rodolph I summon thee to appear at the dreadful Tribunal of Almighty God within the compass of one year there to shew cause wherefore thou hast undeservedly put me to this bitter and unworthy death The Duke received this summons with laughter and unappalled made answer Well go thou before and I will then present my self The year being almost spent the Duke fell into a light Feaver and remembring the appeal said to the standers by The time of my death does now approach and I must go to Judgment and so it fell out for he died sooner after 5. Francis Duke of the Armorick Britain cast into prison his Brother Aegidius one of his Council who was falsely accused to him of Treason where when Aegidius was almost famished perceiving that his fatal hour approached he spyed a Franciscan Monk out of the window of the prison and calling him to confer with him he took his promise that he would tell his Brother that within the fourteenth day he should stand before the Judgment-seat of God The Franciscan having found out the Duke in the Confines of Normandy where he then was told him of his Brothers death and of his appeal to the high Tribunal of God The Duke terrified with that message immediately grew ill and his distemper daily increasing he expired upon the very day appointed 6. Severianus by the command of the Emperour Adrianus was to die but before he was slain he called for fire and casting Incense upon it I call you to witness O ye Gods said he that I have attempted nothing against the Emperour and since he thus causelesly pursues me to death I beseech you this only that when he shall have a desire to die he may not be able This his appeal and imprecation did not miss of the event for the Emperour being afflicted with terrible tortures often broke out into these words How miserable is it to desire to die and not to have the power 7. Lambertus Schasnaburgensis an excellent Writer as most in those times tells That Burchardus Bishop of Halberstadht in the year 1059. had an unjust controversie with the Abbot of Helverdense about the Tiths of Saxony these the Bishop would take from the Monks and by strong hand rather than by any course of Law sought to make them his own It was to small purpose to make any resistance against so powerful an Adversary but the injured Abbot some few days before his death sent to Frederick the Count Palatine and intreated him
occasion he immediately led forth his Army against the Carthaginians they who saw them upon their March supposed them to be the Revolters that came over to their side not at all dreaming of what had fallen out in the Army But so soon as Agathocles drew near them he soon put them out of their mistake he caused his Trumpets to sound a Charge and fell in fiercely upon his unprepared Enemies that expected nothing less so that he made a great slaughter of them 28. Sempronius the Consul warring with the Aequi the Battel between them continued until night with variable fortune on either side The night being come and both Camps in disorder neither of the Armies returned into their own Camp but each Party retired into the next Mountains where they thought to be most assured And the Roman Army divided it self into two parts whereof the one went with the Consul and the other with Tempanius a Centurion The morning being come the Consul without knowing any thing of the affairs of the Enemy went to Rome thinking that he had lost the Battel and the Aequi did the like both having left their Camps to him that would and thought himself victorious It happend that Tempanius in retiring with the rest of the Army understood by chance from certain wounded Souldiers of the Aequi how their Captains abandoning their Camp were fled and gone wherefore he returning saved the Roman Camp sacked the Camp of the Enemy and came victorious to Rome 29. There was one Mr. Mallary Master of Arts of Cambridge Scholar of Christs Colledge who for opinions held contrary to the determination of holy Mother Church of Rome was convented before the Bishops and in the end sent to Oxford there openly to recant and to bear his Faggot to the terrour of the Students of that University It was appointed that he should be brought solemnly into St. Mary's Church upon a Sunday where a great number of the Head-Doctors and Divines and others of the University were assembled besides a great number of Citizens which came to behold the sight Dr. Smith then Reader of the Divinity Lecture was appointed to make the Sermon at this Recantation All things thus prepared cometh forth poor Mallary with his Faggot upon his shoulder the Doctor was also in the Pulpit to make his Sermon he had scarce proceeded into the midst thereof when suddenly was heard into the Church the voice of one crying in the street Fire fire The occasion of which was one Heuster coming from Alhallows Parish saw a Chimney on fire and so passing in the street by St. Mary's Church cryed Fire fire meaning no hurt This sound of fire being heard in the Church went from one to another till at length it came to the ears of the Doctors and at last to the Preacher himself These amazed with sudden fear began to look up to the top of the Church and to behold the walls the rest seeing them look up looked up also Then began in the midst of the Audience some to cry out Fire fire Where saith one Where said another In the Church saith one The Church was scarce pronounced when in a moment there was a common cry the Church is on fire the Church is on fire by Hereticks Then was there such fear concourse and tumult of people through the whole Church that it cannot be declared in words as it was in deed After this through the stir of the people running to and fro the dust was so raised that it shewed as if it had been smoak This and the out-cry of the people made all men so afraid that leaving the Sermon they began all together to run away but such was the press of the multitude running in heaps together that the more they laboured the less they could get out they thrust one another in such sort that they stuck fast in the door that there was no moving forward or backward They then ran to another little Wicket on the North-side but there was the like or greater throng There was yet another door towards the West which though shut and seldom opened yet now they ran to it with such sway that the great Bar of Iron which is incredible to be spoken being pulled out and broken by force of mens hands the door notwithstanding could not be opened for the press or multitude of people At last when they were there also past hope to get out they were all exceedingly amazed and ran up and down crying out That the Hereticks had conspired their death one said he plainly heard the fire another affirmed that he saw it and a third swore he felt the molten Lead dropping down upon his head and shoulders None cryed out more earnestly than the Doctor that preached who in a manner first of all cryed out in the Pulpit These are the subtilties and trains of the Hereticks against me Lord have mercy upon me Lord have mercy upon me In all this great amaze and garboil nothing was more feared than the melting of the Lead which many affirmed they felt dropping upon their bodies The Doctors seeing no remedy that no force nor authority would prevail fell to intreaty and offered rewards one offering 20 l. anotherâ— his Scarlet Gown so that any man would pull him out though it were by the ears A President of a Colledge pulling a board out from the Pews covered his head and shoulders therewith against the scalding Lead which they feared much more than the falling of the Church one thought to get out at a window and he had broken the glass and got his head and one shoulder out but then stuck fast betwixt the Iron Bars that he could move neither way others stuck as fast in the doors over the heads of which some got out A Boy was got up to the top of the Church door and seeing a Monk of the Colledge of Gloucester who had got upon the heads of men coming towards him with a great wide Cowl hanging at his back the Boy thought it a good occasion for him to escape by and handsomly conveyed himself into the Monks Cowl The Monk got out with the Boy in his Cowl and for a while felt no weight or burden at last feeling his Cowl heavier than accustomed and hearing a voice behind him he was more afraid than while in the throng believing that the evil Spirit that had set the Church on fire was flyen into his Cowl then began he to play the Exorcist In the Name of God said he and all Saints I command thee to declare what thou art that art behind at my back I am Bertrames Boy said the other but I said the Monk adjure thee in the Name of the inseparable Trinity that thou wicked Spirit do tell me who thou art and from whence thou comest and that thou go hence I am Bertrames Boy said he good Master let me go When the Monk perceived the matter he took the Boy out who ran away as fast as
That the Scythians did yield themselves together with the Earth and Water upon this reason That the Mouse is bred in the Earth and seeds upon the same food with man the Frog lives in the Water the Bird might represent the Horse and that by sending Arrows they seemed to deliver up themselves But Gobryas one of the seven Princes that had ejected the Magi was of opinion That those Presents intimated thus much O ye Persians unless as Birds ye fly in the Air or as Mice ye retreat under the Earth or as Froggs ye swim in the Water ye shall not return whence ye came but shall be slain by these Arrows The Persians interpreted it according to his opinion and had it not been by very accident neither Darius nor any of his Army had ever seen Persia more being glad to fly and happy that he found a way of escape for the Scythians though in pursuit missed of him as thinking he had taken another way 3. Alexander the Great was vehemently incensed against the Lampsacenians who sent Anaximenes as their Embassadour to appease him Alexander at the first sight of him that he might cut off all occasion of being prevailed with as to any favour in their behalf solemnly swore That although Anaximenes was his Master yet he would not either grant or do any of those things that he should desire of him Then said the other I desire of thee O King that thou wouldest utterly destroy the Country of Anaximenes thy Master Alexander for his Oaths sake was thus constrained though otherwise much against his mind to pardon the Lampsacenians 4. Nicholaus de Book a Knight was sent by Valdemarus the Marquess of Brandenburg as his Embassadour to Franckfurt in his Princes name about the Election of a King of the Romans The Competitors were Philippus Pulcher Duke of Austria and Lewis Duke of Bavaria the Marquess had sent his Letters in favour of Frederick that he might be King but his Embassadour expecting to receive nothing from Fredederick and perceiving that most mens minds were inclinable to Lewis he scraped out the name of Frederick out of all his Princes Parchments and contrary to his mind instead thereof put in the name of Lewis for which Inâ—idelity the Marquess upon his return kept him in Prison and suffered him there to dye of Famine 5. The people of Florence sent one Franciscus a Lawyer but indeed an unlearned Person as their Embassadour to Ioan Queen of Naples At his coming he was informed by a Courtier That it was her Majesties pleasure that he should return on the morrow In the mean time he had heard that the Queen had no aversion to a handsom man and therefore upon his return having had his Audience and discoursed with her about many things at last he told her That he had something to deliver to her in private The Queen withdrew with him into a Privy Chamber supposing that he had something to impart to her which was not fit to communicate with others here it was that the fool prepossessed with an opinion of his own handsomness desired the Queen that he might be admitted to her bed the Queen without alteration of her Countenance looking him in the face demanded if the Florentines had made that part of his Commission And while the Embassadour remained silent and covered with blushes she bad him return and caused it to be entred with the rest of his instructions and dismissed him without any other sign of her Anger 6. Arnald Whitfeild Chancellour of the Realm of Denmark with Christian Barmkan his Assistant came Embassadour from the King of Denmark to Queen Elizabeth His request was That the King his Master might make a motion of Peace betwixt her Majesty and the King of Spain and proceed farther therein if he found both Parties addicted thereto he also desired open Traffick with Spain and that Goods might not be stayed on the Narrow Seas as it had been heretofore And having Audience upon the day that her Majesty was born he took occasion to say That since it had pleased God on that day which he was informed was her Majesties birth-day to glorifie the World with so gracious a Creature who had brought so great happiness to the Realm and the Neighbour Kingdoms he doubted not but that the King his Master should in that happy day have an happy Answer of his request c. I blame you not said the Queen to expect a reasonable and sufficient Answer but you may think it a great Miracle that a Child born at four a clock this morning should be able to Answer so wise and learned a man as you are sent from so great a Prince as you be about so great and weighty Affairs you speak of and in an unknown Tongue by three of the clock in the afternoon and with like prudent and gracious words she gave him leave to depart 7. There was a Treaty on the part of Spain for a Marriage with our Prince Henry wherein Salisbury then Secretary a little man but a great Statesman instantly discovered the jugling before any other did think of any For although it went forward cunningly yet did Salisbury so put the Duke of Lerma unto it that either it must be so or they must confess their jugling The Duke of Lerma denied that there ever had been any treaty or any intention from that State Salisbury sent for the Embassadour to a â—ull Council told him how he had abused the King and State about a Treaty for Marriage which he had no Commission for that therefore he was liable to the Laws of our Kingdom for when any Embassadour doth abuse a State by their Masters Commission then the servant was freed but without Commission was culpable and liable to be punished by the Laws of that State as being disavowed to be Servant to the King his Master The Embassadour answered gravely He did not understand the cause of his coming therefore was then unprepared to give any answer but on Munday he would come again this being Saturday and give his Answer On Munday he comes begins with these words My Soul is my God's my Life my Master's my Reputation my own I will not forfeit the first and last to preserve the second then laies down his Commission and Letters of Instruction under the Kings own hand he acquitted himself honestly to this State but was lost to his own being instantly sent â—or home where he lived and died in disgrace 8. The Spartans sent their Embassadours to Athens who declared in the open Senate That they came from their State with full power to comprimise all matters of difference betwixt them and to put an end to all Controversie Alcibiades that in emulation to Nicias had a desire to continue the rupture was terrified with this Declaration of theirs and thereupon made means for a private conference with the Embassadours when he came What mean you my Lords said he have
you forgotten that our Sâ—nate is humane and moderate towards those they treat with But the people are high spirited and desirous of great matters If therefore in the Assembly of the people you shall declare you come with full power they will impose upon you what they please rather deal so with them as if you had not the full power and I for my part will do all I am able in favour of your State and confirm'd it to them with an Oath Next day at the Assembly of the people Alcibiades with great civility demanded of the Embassadours in what quality they came whether as Plenipotentiaries or not They denied what they had said before in the Senate and declared before the people that they had not full power to conclude matters Hereupon Alcibiades immediately cryed out That they were a sort of unfaithful and inconstant men no way to be trusted by this means he so excited both the Senate and People against them that they could do nothing CHAP. VI. Of such as were eminent Sea-men or discoverers of Lands or Passages by Sea formerly unknown WHen Anacharsis was once asked which he thought to be the greatest number of the living or the dead Of which sort said he do you take those to be that Sail upon the Seas He doubted it seems whether they were to be reputed amongst the living who permitted their lives to the pleasure â—f the Winds and Waves Had all others been possessed with the same timerous Sentiments the World had wanted those Noble Spirits who could not rest satisfied till by their own hazards they had brought one Hemisphere to some acquaintance with the other 1. Christopher Columbus born at Nervy in the Signiory of Genoa being a man of great abilities and born to undertake great matters could not perswade himself the motion of the Sun considered but that there was another World to which that glorious Planet did impart both his life and heat when he went from us This World he purposed to seek after and opening his design to the State of Genoa Anno 1486. was by them rejected Upon this repulse he sent his Brother Bartholomew to King Henry the seventh of England who in his way happened unfortunately into the hands of Pirates by whom detain'd a long while at last he was enlarged As soon as he was set at liberty he repaired to the Court of England where his proposition found such a chearful entertainment at the hands of the King that Christopher Columbus was sent for to come thither also But Christopher not knowing of his brothers imprisonment and not hearing from him conceived the offer of his Sâ—rvice to have been neglected and thereupon made his desires known at the Court of Castile where after many delayes and six years attendance on the business he was at last furnished with three Ships only and those not for conquest but discovery With this small strength he sailed on the Ocean more than sixty daies yet could see no Land so that the discontented Spaniards began to mutiny and refused to move a foot forwards just at that time it happened that Columbus did discern the Clouds to carry a clearer colour than they did before and therefore besought them only to expect three daies longer in which space if they saw not Land he promised to return toward the end of the third day One of the company called Roderigo de Triane descried fire an evident token they drew near unto some shore The place discovered was an Island on the Coast of Florida called by Columbus St. Saviours now counted one of the Lucaios Landing his men and causing a Tree to be cut down he made a Cross thereof which he erected near the place where he came on Land and by that ceremony took possession of the New World for the Kings of Spain October 11. 1492. Afterwards he discovered and took possession of Hispaniola and with much Treasure and content returned to Spain and was preferred by the Kings themselves for this good service first to be Admiral of the Indies and in conclusion to the title of the Duke De la Vega in the Isle of Iamaica The next year he was furnished with eighteen ships for more discoveries in this second Voyage he discovered the Islands of Cuba and Iamaica and built the Town of Isabella after called Domingo in Hispaniola from whence for some severities used against the mutinous Spaniards he was sent Prisoner to Castile but very honourably entertained and absolved of all the crimes imputed to him In 1497. he began his third Voyage in which he discovered the Countrys of Pana and Cuâ—â—na on the firm land with the Islands of Cubagna and Margarita and many other Islands Capes and Provinces In 1500. he began his fourth and last Voyage in the Course whereof coming to Hispaniola he was unworthily denyed entrance into the City of Domingo by Nicholas de Ovendo then Governour thereof After which scowring the Sea-Coasts as far as Nombre de Trias but adding little to the fortune of his â—ormer discoveries he returned back to Cuba and Iamaica and from thence to Spain where six years after he dyed and was buried honourably at Sevil Anno 1506. 2. Columbus having led the way was seconded by Americus Vesputius an adventurous Florentine employed therein by Emanuel King of Portugal Anno 1501. on a design of finding out a nearer way to the Molucca's than by the Cape of good Hope who though he passed no further than the Cape of St. Augustines in Brasile yet from him to the great injury and neglect of the first Discoverer the Continent or main Land of this Country hath the name of America by which it is still known and commonly called 3. To him succeeded Iohn Cabott a Venetian the Father of Sebastian Cabott in behalf of Henry the seventh King of England who discovered all the North Out-coasts of America from the Cape of Florida in the South to New-found-land and Terra de Laborador in the North causing the American Roytolets to turn homagers to the King and Crown of England 4. Ferdinandus Cortesius was as I suppose the most famous of all the Spaniards for the discovery of new Lands and People For passing the Promontory of Cuba that points directly to the West and is under the Tropick of Cancer and leaving Iucatana and Colvacana on the left hand he bent his course till he attained the entrance of the great River Panucus where he understood by Interpreters he had in his former Voyage that these were the Shores of the Continent which by a gentle turning was on this side connected with the Shores of Vraban but on the other Northward after a vast tract oâ— Land did conjoyn it self with those Countreys which Seamen call Baccalaurae He also was informed that the large and rich Kingdoms of Mexico were extended from the South to the West these Kingdoms he was desirous to visit as abounding in Gold and all kind of plenty the