any of them he had his finger ready to pull out one of their eyes and not only so but it seems that so great was his Antipathy towards all that laboured under that kind of Infamy that at the casual sight of any such with the very commotion of his mind he would vomit up choler and such a sudden burning would come into his face that he could not speak for the present so much as one single word Great sure is that filthiness which excited a loathing in so gallant and great a man but the Histories of these bold and subtil practitioners will not I hope prove altogether so nauseous 1. Richard Smyth of Shirford in Warwickshire having but one only daughter called Margaret and doubting of issue Male treated with Sir Iohn Littleton of Frankley in Worcestershire for a marriage betwixt his said daughter and William Littleton third son to the said Sir Iohn In consideration whereof he agreed to settle all his Lands in remainder after his own decease without other issue upon the said William and Margaret and the Heirs of their two bodies lawfully begotten but for lack of such issue to return to his own right Heirs And having writings drawn accordingly trusted the said Sir Iohn Littleton to get them engrossed which being effected and a day appointed for sealing Mr. Smith came over to Frankley where he â—ound very noble entertainment and some of Sir Iohn's friends to bear him company in whose presence the writings were brought forth and begun to be read but before they came to the uses stept in Sir Iohn Littletons Keeper in a sweat and told them that there were a brace of Bucks at Lare in the Park which carryed a Glass in their Tayls for Mr. Smiths Dogs to look in for he loved coursing well and had his Grey-hounds there but if they made not haste those Market people which passed through the Park would undoubtedly rouse them Whereupon Sir Iohn Littleton earnestly moved Mr. Smith to seal the Writings without further reading protesting they were according to the draughts he had seen and without any alteration Which bold asseverations putting him out of all suspicion of sinister dealing caused him forthwith to seal them and go into the Park Hereupon the two children for they were not above nine years old a piece were married together and lived in the House with Sir Iohn but about six years after the young man dyed by a fall from his Horse and Mr. Smith resolved to take his Daughter away Sir Iohn designing to marry her again to George his second Son refused to deliver her till which Mr. Smith never suspected any thing in the deed formerly so sealed as hath been said but then upon the difference betwixt him and Sir Iohn it appeared that for want of issue by the before specified William and Margaret the Lands were to devolve unto the right Heirs of the said William which was Gilbert Littleton his eldest Brother contrary to the plain agreement at first made What success attended all this take in short From Gilbert these Lands descended to Iohn his Son from him to the Crown as being one of the Conspiracy with Essex in the forty second of Eliz. and dyed in Prison After which Muriel his Wiâ—dow petitioned King Iames for a restitution of his Lands and obtained it but doubting further troubles by sutes with Mr. Smith sold them away to Serjeant Hele a great Lawyer who considering the first foundation of Littletons Title that they might be the better defended disposed of them to his five sons but such is the fate that follows these possessions that for want of a publick adversary these Brothers are now at suit among themselves for them And as none of the line of Gilbert Littleton to whom they descended by the fore-specified fraud doth enjoy a foot of them so 't is no less observable that the Son and Heir of George by the same Margaret to wit Stephen Littleton of Holbeach in Worcestershire was attended with a very hard fate being one of the Gunpowder Conspirators in 3 Iac. for which he lost his life and estate 2. Earle Godwin cast a covetous eye on the fair Nunnery of Berkley in Gloucestershire and thus contrived it for himself he left there a handsome Young Man really or seemingly sick for their charity to recover who quickly grew well and wanton He is toying tempting taking such fire and flax quickly make a flame The Sisters lose their chastity and without taking Wife in the way are ready to make Mothers The Young Man if sick returns to Earl Godwin in health leaving the healthful Nuns sick behind him The fame hereof â—ills the Country flies to Court is complained of by Earl Godwin to the King Officers are sent to enquire they return it to be true the Nuns are turned out their house and lands forfeited both bestowed on Earl Godwin surprized weakness being put out and designing wickedness placed in the room thereof 3. At another time the said Earl had a mind to the rich mannour of Boseham in Sussex and complemented it out of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury on this manner Coming to the Archbishop he said Da mihi Basium that is give me a buss or kiss an usual favour from such a Prelate The Archbishop returns Do tibi Basium kissing him there with an holy Kiss perchance as given but a crafty one as taken for Godwin presently poasts to Boseham and takes possession thereof and though here was neither real intention in him who passed it away nor valuable consideration to him but a meer circumvention yet such was Godwins power and the Archbishops poorness of Spirit that he quietly enjoyed it These rich and ancient Mannors of Berkley and Boseham Earl Godwins brace of Cheats and distant an hundred miles from each other are now both met in the Right Honourable George Berkley as Heir apparent thereof his Ancestors being long since possessed of them 4. Maccus a famous Cheat came into the Shop of a Shoomaker at Leyden and saluted him casting his eye upon a pair of Boots that hâ—ng up the Shoomaker asked if he would buy them the other seemed willing they were taken down drawn on and fitted him very well Now saith he how well would a pair of double sole Shoos fit these Boots They were found and fitted to his feet upon the Boots Now saith Maccus tell me true doth it never so fall out that such as you have so fitted for a race as you have now done me run away without paying Never said the other but said he if it should be so what would you then do I would follow him said the Shoomaker Well saith Maccus I will try and thereupon began to run the Shoomaker immediately followed crying stop thief stop thief at which the Citizens came out of their Houses but Maccus laughing Let no man said he hinder our race for we run for a Cup of Ale whereupon all set themselves quiet spectators of
of the Law so they were suddenly oppressed and overthrown but how numberless are they who have perished through the intemperance of the tongue 1. Fulvius one of the favourites and minions of Augustus the Emperour having heard him towards his later days lamenting and bewailâ—ng the desolate estate of his House in that he had no Children of his own body begotten and that of his three Nephews or Sisters Children two were dead and Posthumius who only remained alive upon an imputation upon him confined and living in banishment whereupon he was inforced to bring in his Wifes Son and declare him his successour in the Empire Notwithstanding upon a tender compassion he was sometime in deliberation with himself and minded to recall his Sisters Son from banishment Fulvius I say being privy to these moans and designs of his when home and told his Wife all that he had heard she could not hold but went to the Empress Livia Wife of Augustus and reported what her Husband Fulvius had told her Whereupon Livia in great indignation did sharply expostulate with Caesar in these terms Seeing said she you had so long projected such a thing as to call home your Nephew why sent you not for him at the first but exposed me to hatred and enmity with him who shall be Emperour after your decease The next morning betimes when Fulvius came as his manner was to salute Caesar and give him good morrow after he had said God save you Caesar he resaluted him with this God make you wise Fulvius Fulvius soon sound him and conceived presently what he meant thereby he retired then to his House with all speed and having called his Wife Caesar said he is come to the knowledge that I have not concealed his secret and therefore I am resolved to make away my self with mine own hands And well worthy quoth she for justly have you deserved death who having lived so long with me knew not all this while the incontinency of my tongue nor would beware of it yet suffer me first to dye upon your Sword and so killed her self before her Husband 2. A Barber who kept Shop at the end of the Suburbs called Pyraeum had no sooner heard of the great discomfiture of the Athenians in Sicily from a certain slave fled from thence out of the field but leaving his Shop at six and sevens he ran directly into the City to carry the tidings fire new For fear some other might the honour win And he too late or second should come in Now upon the broaching of these unwelcome tydings there was a great stir within the City the people assembled to the Market place search was made for the author of this rumour hereupon the Barber was haled before the body of the people and examined he knew not so much as the name of the party of whom he heard the news The whole assembly was so moved to anger that they cryed out Away with the Villain set the Varlet upon the Rack have him to the Wheel who hath devised this story of his own singers ends The Wheel was brought the Barber her was stretched upon it mean while came certain news of that defeat then brake up the assembly leaving the Barber racked out at length upon the Wheel till it was late in the evening when he was let loose and no sooner was he at liberty but he must enquire news of the Executioner what they heard abroad of the General Nicias and in what manner he was stain 3. The Temple of Iuno at Sparta was robbed and within it was found an empty Flagon great running there was and a concourse of people thither and men could not tell what to make of the Flagon when one that was there said My conceit of the Flagon is that these Church-robbers had first drunk the juice of Hemlock before they entred into this action and afterwards brought Wine with them in this Flagon that in case they were not taken in the manner they might save their lives by drinking a good draught of Wine the nature of which is as you know to dissolve the strength of that Poyson but if they were taken they might by the means of that Hemlock dye an easie death before they were put to torture by the Magistrate The whole company that heard these words concluded that such a reach as this came not from one that barely suspected the matter but knew it was so indeed whereupon they flocked round about him one asked who and whence he was a second who knew him a third how he came to the light of all he had delivered and in short they handled the matter so well that they in the end forced him to confess that he was one of them that committed the Sacriledge The End of the Fourth Book THE FIFTH BOOK CHAP. I. The Succession of the Roman and Western Emperours 1. JVlius Caesar the last of Dictatours and first of Emperours in memory of whom the following Emperours were called Caesars his Exploits are famous in the Gallick German British and Civil Wars in which he is said to be Victorious in fifty set Battels He reformed the Calendar from him we retain the Iulian Account His Motto was Semel quam semper and he was murdered in the Senate with twenty three wounds Sueton. Heyl. Sympson Ioseph c. 2. C. Octavianus Caesar to him the Senate gave the name of Augustus he added to the Roman Empire the Provinces of Nâ—ricum Pannonia Rhaetia a great part of Spain and all Aegypt In the forty second of his Reign the Lord Christ was born His Motto was Festina lente sut cito si sat benè having Reigned fifty six years he dy'd at Nola. Sueton. Heyl. c. 3. Tiberius Nero Son-in-law of Augustus subdued many German Nations and added Galatia and Cappadocia to the Empire in the fifteenth of his Reign our Saviour suffered His Motto was Melius est tondere quam deglubere he Reigned twenty two years Suet. Ioseph 4. C. Caligula the son of Germanicus His Motto was Oderint dum meluant he was slain by Cassius Cherea and Cornel. Sabinus after he had lived twenty nine and Reigned three years Suet. Ioseph 5. Claudius Caesar in his time fell the Famine predicted by Agabus his Motto was Generis virtus Nobilitas He was poysoned by his Wife Agrippina with a Mushrome after he had Reigned thirteen years 6. Domitius Nero he was the Author of the first great Persecution he fired Rome and charg'd it upon the Christians his Motto was Quaevis terra Artem alit despairing of safety he slew himself after he had Reigned thirteen years Suet. Ioseph 7. Sergius Sulpitius Galba elected by the French and Spanish Legions his Motto was Legendus est miles non emendus he was slain by the Souldiers aged seventy three and having Reigned seven Months Sueton. 8. M. Salvius Otho made Emperour by the Praetorian Souldiers his Motto was Vnus promultis he stab'd himself in the thirty
County of Warwick Esquire He liv'd with the said Mary in one house full fifty two years and in all that time never buried Man Woman nor Child though they were sometimes twenty in houshold He had Issue by the said Mary five Sons and seven Daughters The said John was Mayor of the Town 1559. And again Anno 1572. The said Mary liv'd to ninety seven years and departed the eight of December 1611. She did see before her departure of her Children and Childrens Children and their Children to the number of one hundred forty and two 20. In St. Innocents Church-yard in the City of Paris is to be seen the Epitaph of Yoland Baily Widow to Mounsieur Dennis Capel a Proctour at the Chastelet which doth shew that she had lived eighty four years and might have seen 288. Verstegan saith 295 of her Children and Childrens Children she dy'd the seventeenth of April 1514. Imagine how she had been troubled to call them by a proper denomination that were distant from her in the fourth and fifth degree 21. In Markshal Church in Essex on Mrs. Honywoods Tomb is this Inscription Here lyeth the body of Mary Waters the Daughter and coheir af Robert Waters of Lenham in Kent Esquire wife of Robert Honywood of Charing in Kent Esquire her only Husband who had at her decease lawfully descended from her 367. sixteen of her own body 114 Grand-children 228. in the third Generation and nine in the fourth She liv'd a most pious life and in a Christian manner dyed here at Markshal in the ninety third year of her age and in the forty fourth of her Widowhood May 11. 1620. 22. Dame Esther Temple Daughter to Miles Sands Esquire was born at Latmos in Buckinghamshire and was marryed to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow Baronet She had four Sons and nine Daughters which liv'd to be marry'd and so exceedingly multiplyed that this Lady saw seven hundred extraâ—ted from her body Reader I speak within compass and have left my self a reserve having bought the truth hereof by a wager I lost saith Dr. Fuller Besides there was a new Generation of marriageable Females just at her death Had the Off-spring of this Lady been contracted into one place they were enow to have peopled a City of a competent proportion though her Issue was not so long in succession as broad in extent I confess very many of her descendants dy'd before death the Lady Temple dy'd Anno 1656. 23. Iohn Henry and Thomas Palmer were the Sons of Edward Palmer Esquire in Sussex It happened that their Mother being a full Fortnight inclusively in labour was on Whitsunday deliver'd of Iohn her Eldest Son on the Sunday following of Henry her second Son and the Sunday next after of Thomas her third Son This is that which is commonly call'd superfoeâ—ation usual in other Creatures but rare in Women the cause whereof we leave to the disquisition of Physicians These three were Knighted for their Valour and success as in their Nativiâ—ies 24. Another Example of superfoetation I will set down for the stories sake in the year of our Lord 1584. dyed the Noble Lord Philip Lewis of Hirshorne at his mansion House in the Palatinate three Miles from Heydelberg he left no Heir but his Lady was with Child his Kindred forthwith enter upon the Rents and Royalties and to gain the more full and perfect knowledge of them soon after the death of her Lord they pluck from her waste the Keys of all private places and that not without violence the better to enable them for the search they intended This outrage redoubled the grief of the poor Lady so that within few days after she fell in travel and brought forth a Son but dead and wanting the Skull Now were the next Heirs of the deceased Noblemam exceeding jocund as having attained to their utmost hopes and therefore now us'd the Estate as their own But it pleased God as out of a stone to raise up a Son to that desolate and disconsolate Widow For though she was not speedily deliver'd of him after the 〈◊〉 yet she remained somewhat big after her delivery suspecting nothing but that it was some prâ—â—ternatural humour or some disease that was remaining in her body She therefore consulted the Physicians who all thought any thing rather to be the cause of her disease than that in the leaâ—â— they suspected a second Birth so long after the â—irst They therefore advis'd her to go to the Baths by the Rhine she accordingly did as a sad and comfortless Widow attended only with one Maid came thither Iuly 1584. where it so fell out she found Augustus the Elector of Saxony together with the Princess his Wiâ—e as also many other Princes and their Ladies by which means all lodgings were so foretaken up that she could not find entertainment in any Inn especially being not known of what quality she was coming thither with so private a retinue as a single Maid At last discovering to the Governour of the place who she was and her last misfortunes not without some difficulty she procured lodging in his House for that night wherein she came thither But that very night when it was the tenth week from her former delivery it pleased God to send her in her aâ—â—liction and amongst strangers a lovely Boy The fame of which came to the ears of the Illustrious Princes who were then in Town The Elector of Mentz made her a noble provision for her Lying in The Elector of Saxony also sent her by way of Present one thousand Dollers Also all the Rents and Royalties before seiz'd upon were restored to this lawful Heir of her Husbands and Child of hers who also is yet alive saith Câ—spar Bauhinâ—s Superâ—oetation is by the distant Births of divers not raâ—ely confirmed A Dutch Woman in Southwark some twenty years since having invited divers of her Neighbours to her Upsitting found her self not well on a sudden and rising from the table was forthwith brought to bed of another This falling on a time into our discourse one then present reported that the like befel a Sister of his who three months after the birth of her first Son was delivered of a second CHAP. XXVI Of the strange Agility and Nimbleness of some and their wonderful feats HOmer in the commendation of the activity of Meriones calls him the Dancer in which Art he was so famous that he was known not only amongst the Greeks but to the Trojans also his enemies probably because that in time of Battel he made shew of an extraordinary quickness and nimbleness of body which he had acquired unto himself by the practice of this Art some of these who follow though they wanted an Homer to recommend them to posterity have excell'd not only Meriones in point of agility but have attain'd the utmost of what a humane body in this kind is capable of acquiring 1. Amongst those shews which were presented to the people
Corvinus attained to the fulfilling of an hundred years betwixt whose first and sixth Consulship there was the distance of forty seven years yet was he sufficient in respect of the entireness of his bodily strength not only for the most important matters of the Commonwealth but also for the exactest culture of his fields a memorable example both of a Citizen and Master of a Family 6. Metellus equall'd the length of his life and in extream age was created Pontiffe for twenty two years he had the ordering of the Ceremonies in all which time his tongue never faultred in solemn prayers nor did his hand tremble in the offering of the sacrifices 7. Nicholaus Leonicenus famous in the Age he lived and an Illustrator of Dioscorides He was in the ninety sixth year of his age when Langius heard him at Ferrara where he had taught more than seventy years He used to say that he enjoyed a green and vegete age because he had delivered up his youth chaste unto his man's estate 8. Massanissa was the King of Numidia for sixty years together and excell'd all other men in respect of the strength of an admirable old age appears by the relation of Cicero that for no rain or cold he could be iuduc'd to cover his head they say of him that for some hours together he would continue standing in one and the same place not moving a foot till he had tired young men who endeavour'd to do the like when he was to transact any affair sitting he would in his Throne persist oftentimes the whole day without turning his body on this or the otherside for a more easeful posture when he was on Horseback he would lead his Army for the most part both a complete day and the whole night also nor would he in extreme age remit any thing of that which he had accustomed to do when he was young He was also ever so able in the matter of Venus that after the eighty sixth year of his age he begat a Son whose name was Methymnatus and whereas his Land was waste and desart he left it fruitful by his continual endeavours in the cultivation of it he liv'd till he was above ninety years of age 9. Appius Claudius Caecus was blind for the space of very many years yet notwithstanding he was burden'd with this mischance he govern'd four Sons five Daughters very many dependants upon him yea and the Common-wealth it self with abundance of Prudence and Magnanimity The same person having liv'd so long that he was even tired with living caus'd himself to be carry'd in his Sedan to the Senate for no other purpose than to perswade them from making a dishonourable peace with King Pyrrhus 10. Gorgias Leontinus the Master of Isocrates and divers other excellent persons was in his own opinion a very fortunate man For when he was in the hundred and seventh year of his age being ask'd why he would tarry so long in this life Because saith he I have nothing whereof I can accuse my old age being entred upon another age he neither found cause of complaint in this nor left any in that which he had pass'd 11. Xenophilus the Pythagorean Philosopher was two years younger than the former but not a whit inferiour in respect of his good fortune for as Aristoxenus the Musician saith he dy'd free of all those incommodities that attended upon humane Life he enjoy'd a very perfect health and left the world when he was in the highest splendor and reputation for a person of the most perfect and exact Learning 12. Lemnius tells of one at Stockholm in Sweden in the Reign of Gustavus Father of Ericus who at the age of one hundred marry'd a Wife of thirty years and begat Children of her and saith moreover that this man as there are many others in that Country was of so fresh and green old age that he scarce seem'd to have reach'd more than â—ifty years 13. Isocrates in the ninety fourth year of his age put forth that Book of his which he intitles Panathenaâ—tus he liv'd fifteen years after it and in that extreme age of his he was sufficient for any work he undertook both in Strength and Judgement and Memory 14. Agesilaus King of Sparta though he had attained to a very great age yet was often seen to walk without Shooes on his Feet or Coat on his Back in Frost and Snow and this for no other cause than that being now an old man he might give those that were young an example of patience and tolerance 15. Asclepiades the Prusian gave it out publickly that no man should esteem of him as a Physician if ever he should be sick of any Disease whatsoever and indeed he credited his Art for having liv'd to old age without alteration in his health he at last fell headlong down a pair of Stairs and dy'd of the fall 16. Mithridates King of Pontus who for forty years managed a War against the Romans enjoy'd a prosperous health and to the last of his life us'd to ride to throw Javelins and on Horses dispos'd at several Stages rode one thousand furlongs in one day and also could drive a Chariot that was drawn with sixteen Horses CHAP. XXXII Of some such Persons as have renew'd their Age and grown young again IT is the fiction of the Poets that Medaea was a Witch that she boyled men in a Cauldron with I know not what powerful ingredients till such time as she had restored the Aged unto Youth again The truth was that being a Prudent Woman by continued Exercise and hard Labours in hot places she restored tâ—ose to health who were soft and effeminate and had corrupted their bodies by idleness and sloth Much may be done this way to preserve the body in its useful vigor and firmness and to prevent those Dilapidations and mines which an unactive life usually brings upon a man but what is this to the following wonderful relation 1. Concerning Machel Vivan Dr. Fuller hath set down a Letter sent him from Alderman Atkins his Son thus There is an acquaintance of mine and a friend of yours who certifi'd me of your desire of being satisfi'd of the Truth of that Relation I made concerning the old Minister in the North. It fortun'd in my Iourney to Scotland I lay at Alnwick in Northumberland one Sunday by the way and understanding from the Host of the House where I lodg'd that this Minister liv'd within three miles of that place I took my Horse after dinner and rode thither to hear him preach for my own satisfaction I found him in the Desk where he read unto us some part of the Common Prayer some of holy David's Psalms and two Chapters one out of the Old and the other out of the New Testament without the use of Sâ—â—ctacles The Bible out of which he read the 〈◊〉 was a very small printed Bible He wâ—nt afterwards into the
the Snow lay thick upon the ground and finding some footsteps he pursued them till he overtook the Priest whom he seis'd and found his purse upon him he ty'd him therefore to the tail of his Horse and so drag'd him to the Magistrate to be punished his sentence was to be thrown into a Caldron of boyling Oyl which was accordingly executed on Ianuary 20. 1656. 16. A Soldier in the Army of King Pyrrhus being slain a Dog which he had could by no means be enticed from the dead body but the King passing by he fawn'd upon him as it were craving help at his hands whereupon the King caused all his Army to march by in order and when the Murderers came the Dog slew fiercely upon them and then fawn'd upon the King those Souldiers being hereupon examined confessed the fact and were hang'd 17. A Locksmith young and given to luxury kill'd both his Parents with Pistols out of a desire to enjoy their Money and Estate having committed this horrible murder he went presently to a Cobler and there bought him a pair of Shooes leaving behind his old and torn one which the Cobler's Boy threw under his seat which he sate upon Some hours after the door of the house where the slain were was commanded by the Magistrate to be open'd where were â—ound the dead bodies which the son so lively lamented that no man had the least suspicion of him to be the author of so great a villany But it fell out by accident that the Cobler had observed some spots of blood upon the Shooes left with him and it was noted that the son had more Money about him than he us'd to have the Magistrates mov'd with these things put the man into prison who soon confessed the fact and received the punishment worthy of his crime This was by the relation of Luther at Regimont in Borussia Anno 1450. 18. In Mets a City of Lorain the Executioner of the City in the night and absence of the Master got privily into the Cellar of a Merchants House where he first slew the Maid who was sent by her Mistress to fetch some Wine in the same manner he slew the Mistress who wondring at her Maids stay came to see what was the reason This done he fell to rifling Chests and Cabinets The Merchant upon his return finding the horrible murder and plunder of his House with a soul full of trouble and grief complains to the Senate and when there were divers discourses about the murder the Executioner had also put himself in the Court with the crowd and murmur'd out such words as these That seeing there had been frequent brawls betwixt the Merchant and his Wife there was no doubt but he was the author of that Tragedy in his House and said he were he in my hands I would soon extort as much from him By these and the like words it came to pass that the Merchant was cast into prison and being in a most cruel manner tortured by this Executioner though innocent confessed himself the murderer and so was condemned to a horrible death which he suffer'd accordingly Now was the Executioner secure and seemed to be freed of all danger when the wakeful Justice of God discovered his villany For he wanting Money had pawn'd a Silver Bowl to a Jew who finding upon it the Coat of Arms of the Merchant newly executed sent it to the Magistrate and with notice that the Merchants Coat was upon it Whereupon the Executioner was immediately cast into Prison and examined by torture how he came by that Cup he there confessed all as it had been done by him and that he was the only murderer Thus the innocency of the Merchant was discover'd and the Executioner had the due punishment of his wickedness 19. Ibycus the Poet was set upon by Thieves in hope of prey and seeing their Knives at his Throat he call'd to some Cranes which he saw then flying over his head that they would revenge his death These Murderers afterwards sitting in the Market-place a Flock of Cranes again flew over them upon which saith one of them Behold the revengers of Ibycus This saying was catch'd up by some present they were suspected of his murder examined by torture confessed the fact and were executed 20. Certain Gentlemen in Denmark being on an Evening together in a Stove fell out amongst themselves and from words fell to blows the Candles being put out in this blind fray one of them was stab'd by a Poynard Now the Deed-doer was unknown by reason of the number although the Gentleman accused a Pursevant of the Kings for it who was one of them in the Stove Christernus the Second then King to find out the Homicide caus'd them all to come together in the Stove and standing round about the dead Corps he commanded that they should one after another lay their right hand on the slain Gentlemans naked brest swearing they had not kill'd him The Gentlemen did so and no sign appeared to witness against them the Pursevant only remain'd who condemned before in his own conscience went first of all and kissed the dead mans â—eet but as soon as he laid his hand on his brest the blood gushed forth in great abundance both out of his Wound and Nostrils so that urg'd by this evident accusation he confessed the murder and by the Kings own sentence was immediately beheaded Hereupon arose that practice which is now ordinary in many places of finding out unknown murders which by the admirable Power of God are for the most part reveal'd either by the bleeding of the Corps or the opening of its Eye or some other extraordinary sign as daily experience teaches 21. Sir Walter Smyth of Shirford in Warwickshire being grown an aged man at the death of his Wife consider'd of a Marriage â—or Richard his Son and Heir then at mans estate to that end made his mind known to Mr. Thomas Chetwin of Ingestre in Staffordshire who entertaining the motion in the behalf of Dorothy his Daughter was contented to give 500 l. with her But no sooner had the old Knight seen the young Lady but he became a Suiter for himself proâ—ering 500 l. for her besides as good a Joynture as she should have by his Son had the match gone forward this so wrought upon Chetwin that he effectually perswaded his Daughter and the Marriage ensued accordingly It was not long e'er her affections wandring she gave entertainment to one William Robinson of Drayton Basset a Gentleman of twenty two years of age And being impatient of all that might hinder her full enjoyment of him she contriv'd how to be rid of her Husband Having corrupted her waiting Gentlewoman and a Groom of the Stable she resolv'd by their help and the assistance of Robinson to strangle him in his bed and though Robinson came not the designed night she no whit stagger'd in her resolutions for watching her Husband till he was
fallen a sleep she call'd in her complices and casting a long Towel about his neck caus'd the Groom to lye upon him to keep him from struggling whilst her self and the Maid straining the Towel stop'd his breath Having thus dispatched the work they carry'd him into another room where a Close Stool was placed upon which they set him An hour after the Maid and Groom were got silently away to palliate the business she made an out-cry in the house wringing her hands pulling her hair and weeping extremely pretending that missing him some time out of bed she went to see what the matter was and found him in that posture By these feigned shews of sorrow she prevented all suspicion of his violent death and not long after went to London setting so high a value upon her Beauty that Robinson became neglected But within two years following this woful deed of darkness was brought to light in this manner The Groom before mentioned was entertained with Mr. Richard Smyth Son and Heir to the murder'd Knight and attending him to Coventry with divers other Servants became so sensible of his villany when he was in his cups that out of good nature he took his Master aside and upon his knees besought his forgiveness for acting in the murder of his Father declaring all the circumstances thereof Whereupon Mr. Smyth discreetly gave him good words but wished some others he trusted to have an eye to him that he might not escape when he had slept and better consider'd what might be the issue thereof Notwithstanding which direction he fled away with his Masters best Horse and hasting presently into Wales attempted to go beyond Sea but being hindred by contrary winds after three essays to lanch out was so happily pursu'd by Mr. Smyth who spared no cost in sending to several Ports that he was found out and brought prisoner to Warwick as was also the Lady and her Gentlewoman all of them with great boldness denying the fact and the Groom most impudently charging Mr. Smyth with endeavour of corrupting to accuse the Lady his Mother-in-law falsly to the end he might get her Joynture but upon his arreignment smitten with the apprehension of his guilt he publickly acknowledged it and stoutly justified what he had so said to be true to the face of the Lady and her Maid who at first with much seeming confidence pleaded their innocency till at length seeing the particular circumstances thus discovered they both confessed the fact for which having judgment to die the Lady was burnt at a stake near the Hermitage on Woolvey Heath towards the side of Shirford Lordship where the Country people to this day shew the place and the Groom with the Maid suffer'd death at Warwick This was about the third year of Queen Maries Reign it being May the 15.1 Mariae that Sir Walters murder so happened The end of the First Book of the Wonders of the Little World THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. Of the Imagination or Phantasie and the force of it in some persons when depraved by melancholy or otherwise IMagination the work of Fancy saith Dr. Fuller oftentimes produces real effects and this he confirms by a pleasanter instance than some of these that follow 1. A Gentleman had lead a company of children into the Fields beyond their wonted walk and they being now weary cryed to him to carry them The Gentleman not able to carry them all relieved himself with this device he said he would provide them Horses to ride home with and furnished himself and them with Geldings out of the next Hedge the success was saith my Author that mounted fancy put metal into their Legs and they came cheerfully home 2. There was one who fell into a vain imagination that he was perpetually frozen and therefore in the very Dog-days continually sate near the Fire crying out that he should never be warm unless his whole body should be set on fire and whereas by stealth he would cast himself into the fire he was bound in chains in a seat near the fire where he sate night and day not able to sleep by reason of this foolish fancy when all the counsels of his Friends were in vain I took this course for his cure I wrapped him in Sheepskins from head to foot the wool was upon them which I had well wetted with Aqua Vitae and thus dressed I set him at once all on fire he burnt thus for half an hour when dancing and leaping he cryed out he was now well and rather too hot by this means his former fancy vanished and he in a few days was perfectly well 3. A Noble Person in Portugal fell into this melancholy imagination that he continually cryed out God would never pardon his sins In this agony he continued pensive and wasted away various prescriptions in Physick were used to no purpose as also all kinds of Divertisements and other means At last we made use of this Artifice his Chamber door being locked about midnight at the Roof of his Chamber we had stripped off the tile for that purpose there appeared an artificial Angel having a drawn Sword in his right and a lighted torch in his left hand who called him by his name he straight rose from his Bed and adored the Angel which he saw cloathed in white and of a beautiful aspect he listned attentively to the Angel who told him all his sins were forgiven and so extinguished his Torch and said no more The poor man overjoyed knocked with great violence at the door raises the House tells them all that had passed and as soon as it was day sent for his Physicians and relates alâ—â—â— them who congratulated his felicity calling him a righteous person He soon after fell to his meat slept quietly perform'd all the offices of a sound man and from thence forth never felt any thing of his former indisposition 4. Anno Dom. 1610. attending upon my Prince at Prague as his Physician it fell out that upon the eighteenth of Iuly there was born a boy whose Liver Intestines Stomach Spleen with a great part of the Mesentery hung out all naked below his Navel He lived but a few hours and then with misery enough exchanged that life for death which he had newly begun If any demand the reason of so monstrous a deformity he shall find no other than the imagination of the Mother who being asked by Doctor Major and my self whether happily she had not given some occasion to such a Birth she answered with tears that three Months before her delivery she was constrain'd by some Soldiers to be present at the killing of a Calf at the opening of it she felt an extraordinary motion in her self when she saw how the bowels came tumbling down from the Belly 5. In the same City of Prague much about the same time there was the like if not a greater miracle of nature a woman was delivered of a Son who was born with
the difference or excess of the one above the other whereby he learned what proportion in quantity is betwixt Gold and Silver of equal weight and then putting in the Crown it self into the Water brim â—ull as it was before marked how much the water did run out then and comparing it with the Water run out when the Gold was put in noted how much it did exceed that and likewise comparing it with the Water that run out when the Silver was put in marked how much it was less then that and by those proportions found the just quantity of Gold that was stollen from the Crown and how much Silver was put in instead of it By the which ever since the proportions of Metals one to another are tryed and found 9. Praxiteles that famous Artist in the making of Statues had promised Phryne a beautiful Courtezan the choice of all the pieces in his Shop to take thence some such single Statue as should be most pleasing to her but she not knowing which was most valuable devised this Artifice to be satisfied therein she caused one to come in as in great hast and to tell Praxteles that his Shop was on â—ire he startled at the news cryed out Is the Cupid and the Satyre safe By this subtilty she found out wherein the Artist himself believed he had expressed the most skill and thereupon she chose the Cupid 10. When the Duke of Ossuna was Vice-Roy of Sicily there died a great rich Duke who left but one Son whom with his whole Estate he bequeathed to the Tutele of the Jesuits and the words of the Will were when he is past his Minority Darete al mio Figlivolo quelque voi volute you shall give my Son what you will It seems the Jesuits took to themselves two parts of three of the Estate and gave the rest to the Heir the young Duke complaining to the Duke of Ossuna then Vice-Roy he commanded the Jesuits to appear before him he asked them how much of the Estate they would have they answered two parts of three which they had almost employed already to build Monasteries and an Hospital to erect particular Altars and Masses to sing Dirges and Refrigeriums for the Soul of the deceased Duke Hereupon the Duke of Ossuna caused the Will to be produced and found therein the words afore-recited when he is past his Minority you shall give my Son of my Estate what you will then he told the Jesuits you must by Vertue and Tenour of these words give what you will to the Son which by your own confession is two parts of three and so he determined the business 11. A poor Beggar in Paris being very hungry staid so long in a Cook 's Shop who was dishing up of Meat till his Stomach was satisfied with the only smell thereof The cholerick Cook demanded of him to pay for his Breakfast the poor Man denyed it and the controversie was referred to the deciding of the next Man that should pass by which chanced to be the most notorious Ideot in the whole City He on the relation of the matter determined that the poor Man's Money should be put betwixt two empty dishes and the Cook should be recompensed with the gingling of the poor Man's Money as he was satisfied with the only smell of the Cook 's Meat and this is affirmed by credible Writers as no Fable but an undoubted truth 12. Antiochus the Son of Seleucus daily languished and wasted away under a Disease whereof the cause was uncertain to the great trouble and affliction of his Father who therefore sent for Erasistratus a famous Physician to attend the care of his beloved Son Who addressing himself with his utmost dexterity to find out the root of his infirmity he perceived it was rather from the trouble of his mind then any effect of his constitution But when the Prince could not be prevail'd with to make any such acknowledgement by frequent feeling of his pulse he observed it to beat with more vigour and strength at the naming or presence of Stratonica that was the beloved Concubine of his Father having made this discovery and knowing the Prince would rather die then confess so dangerous a love he took this course He told Seleucus that his Son was a dead Man for saith he he languishes for the love of my Wife and what said Seleucus have I merited so little at thy hands that thou wilt have no respect to the love of the young Man Would you said Erasistratus be content to serve the love of another in that manner I would the gods said Seleucus would turn his love towards my dearest Stratonica Well said Erasistratus you are his Father and may be his Physician Seleucus gave Stratonica to Antiochus and sixty thousand Crowns as a reward to the prudent Physician CHAP. XXVII Of the liberal and bountiful disposition of divers Great Persons THat is Tully's saying Nihil habet Fortuna magna majus quam ut possit nec Natura bona melius quam ut velit bene facere quam plurimis A great Fortune hath nothing greater in it then that is able and a good nature hath nothing better in it then that it is willing to do good to many In the Examples that follow the Reader may find a happy conspiracy of great Fortunes and good natures several Illustrious Persons no less willing then they were able to do good who dispersed their Bountyes as liberally as the Sun doth his Beams such was 1. Gillias a Citizen of Agrigentum who possessed as I may say the very Bowells of Liberality it self he was a Person of extraordinary wealth but the riches of his mind excell'd the great plenty of his estate and he was ever more intent upon the laying out then the gathering of mony in so much that his house was deservedly look'd upon as the very Shop of munificence there was it that Monuments for publick uses were framed delightful Shewes presented to the people with magnificent Feasts prepared for their entertainment the scarcity of provision in dear years were supplied from thence and whereas these charitie 's extended to all in general he relieved the poverty of particular persons gave dowryes to poor Virgins entertained strangers not only in his City but also in his Country houses and sent them away with presents At once he received and clothed 500 Gelensian Knights that by tempest were driven upon his possessions To make short he seemed rather the Bosome of good Fortune then any Mortal whatever Gillias possessed was as the common Patrimony and therefore not only the Citizens of his own City but all persons in the countryes about him did continually put up Prayers and offer Vows for the continuance of his life and health 2. Frances Russel second Earl of Bedford of that sirname was so bountiful to the poor that Queen Elizabeth would merrily complain of him that he made all the Beggars and sure saith mine Author
the Nobles conspired against him enters his Castle and Chamber by night and advised him to yield himself but he refused and fought it out till such time as he was killed by the Conspirator There was then with the Count one of Hardvicus his own sons who waited upon him him also Hardvicus did kill at that time with his own hands and this he did as he said that none might suspect his son as being privy to the Treason intended against his Master 12. Deiotarus had a great number of sons but he caused them all to be slain save only that one whom he intended for his Successour and he did this for his sake that the surviver might be the greater both in power and security 13. Pausanias was a great Captain of the Spartans but being convicted by the Ephori of a Conspiracy with the Persians against his Country he fled to the Temple of Minerva for Sanctuary it being unlawful to force him thence the Magistrates gave order to build a Wall about it that being guarded and kept in he might be pin'd to death As soon as his mother Alcithea understood this though he was her only son yet she brought the first stone to make there a Prisoner till his death one that was so nearly related to her 14. Antonius Venereus Duke of Venice caus'd his son Ludovicus to die in Prison for that being incensed with his Mistress he had caused divers pairs of Horns to be fastened to the doors of her Husband 15. Robert de Beliasme delighted in cruelty an Example whereof he shewed on his own son who being but a child and playing with him the father for a pastime put his thumbs in his childs eyes and crush'd out the balls thereof CHAP. IV. Of the degenerate Sons of Illustrious Parents WHen Aristippus shewed himself altogether mindless of his Children who liv'd in a different manner from his Instruction and Example one blaming his severity remembred him that his Children came of him and yet said he we cast away from us Phlegme and Vermin though one is bred in us and the other upon us Augustus too look'd upon his but as Ulcers and Wens certain excrescencies that were fit to be cut away and forbad the two Iulia's to be buried in the same Monument with him such a one was 1. Scipio the son of Scipio Africanus who suffered himself to be taken by a small Party of Antiochus at such time as the glory of his Family went so high that Africa was already subjected by his father and the greater part of Asia subdued by his Uncle Lucius Scipio the same man being Candidate for the Pretorship had been rejected by the people but that he was assisted by Cicereius who had been formerly the Secretary of his father when he had obtained that Office his debauchery was such that his relations would not suffer him to execute it but pull'd off from his finger a Ring wherein was engraven the Effigies of his father what a darkness was this that sprang from so glorious a light 2. How base a life did the son of Quintus Fabius Maximus live and although all the rest of his Villanies were obliterated this one thing was enough to make discovery of his manners that Quintus Pompeius the City Pretor prohibited him from intermeddling with his fathers Estate nor was there found one man in so great a City that went about to oppose that decree all men resenting it that that money which ought to be subservient to the glory of the Fabian Family should be expended in debauchery so that him who through the fathers indulgence was left his heir the publick severity disinherited 3. Hortensius Corbio was the Grandchild of Quintus Hortensius who for Estate and admirable eloquence was comparable with the Citizens that were of the greatest rank yet this wretched young man led a more base and abject life than the vilest obscene persons in Rome and at the last put his tongue to the vile use of more persons in Brothel-houses than his Grandfather had made good use of his for the safety of the Citizens 4. Cresippus was the son of Chabrias the Athenian a person equally famous for his great vertues and victories and who had been much more happy had he died without issue for this son of his was so degenerate from the vertue of his father that he often occasioned Phocion his Tutor though otherwise a most patient man to say that what he endured through the folly of Cresippus was more than enough to compensate all that his father had merited of him 5. Caligula was as infamous for his sloth lust and folly as his father Germanicus was famous for his vigour of mind prudence and integrity and although fortune advanced this degenerate son to the Empire yet most of the Romans desired rather the vertue of Germanicus in the fortune of a private man than an Emperour of so flagitious a life Add to this that the people of Rome the confederate Nations yea and barbarous Princes bewailed the death of Germanicus as the loss of a common Parent but Caligula the son was not thought worthy of tears or honour or so much as a publick funeral at his death 6. Valerianus Augustus for the greatness of his vertues deserves a memorial amongst the most Illustrious of Princes at least if his fortune had been equal to his vertue But his son Galienus was of a disposition so unlike to his father that by reason of his impious behaviour his unchastity and sloth he not only occasioned his fathers Captains to rebell against him but which was never before seen he encouraged Zenobia and Victoria weak women to aspire to the Crown so that the great and peaceable Empire which he received of his father he left diminished and torn in a miserable manner 7. Marcus Antonius Philosophus Emperour of Rome was a singular example of vertue and left Commodus his son the heir of his Empire but of no kind of alliance to him in any other respect The people of Rome saw the goodness of one exchang'd for the malice of the other and the sharpest cruelty to succeed in the room of an incomparable clemency weary of this they were compelled to rid their hands of Commodus it being openly bruited in the City that he was not the son of Marcus but a Gladiatour for they thought it impossible that so much wickedness should arise from the vertue of him that was deceased so that there seemed nothing wanting to the glory of Marcus but that he did not die without issue 8. Carus the Emperour succeeded Probus both in his Empire and good qualities he had extended the limits of the Roman Empire and governed it with great equity but he left his son Carinus his successour that resembled his father in no one thing for whereas Carus was of great Courage Justice Moderation and Continence this other was an unchast and unjust and a coward his
Miniâ—r the President of the Council at Aix For having condemned this poor people of Heresie he mustered a small army and set fire on the Villages they of Merindol seeing the flame with their Wives and Children fled into Woods but were there butchered or sent to the Galleys One Boy they took placed him against a Tree and shot him to death with Calivers Twenty five which had hid themselves in a Cave were in part stifled in part burnt In Chabriers they so inhumanely dealt with the young Wives and Maids that most of them dyed immediately after The Men and Women were put to the sword the Children were re-baptized Eight hundred men were murthered in a Cave and fourty Women put together into an old Barn and burnt yea such was the cruelty of these Souldiers to these poor Women that when some of them had clambered to the top of the Barn with an intent to leap down the Souldiers beat them back again with their Pikes 7. King Etheldred the younger Son of Edgar being oppressed and broken by the Danes was forced to buy his peace of them at the yearly tribute of ten thousand pounds which in a short time after was inhanced to fourty eight thousand pounds which moneys were raised upon the Subjects by the name of Danegelt Weary of these exactions sending forth a secret commission into every City of his Kingdom he plotted warily with his Subjects to kill all the Danes as they slept in their beds which accordingly was put into execution on St. Brices night November 13. Anno 1012. 8. That Tribe of the Tartars who are called Hippophagi from their feeding upon Horse-flesh made an expedition into Asia the greater leaving Albania behind them they fell into Media Phraortes the then King encountred them but was overthrown finding therefore he was not able to remove them by force he assayed it by policy perswading them to look Southward as unto richer Countreys hereupon full of prey and presents they marched towards Egypt but were met in Syria by Psamniticus the Egyptian King outâ—ying the Median for he was the richer King he loaded them with gifts and treasure and sent them back again into Media from whence they came where for many years they afflicted that people and the neighbouring Provinces doubling their tributes and using all kind of insolencies till in the end Cyaxares the Son and Successour of Phraortes acquainting some of his most faithful Subjects with his design caused the better part of them to be plentifully feasted made them drunk and slew them recovering thereby the possession of his whole estate CHAP. XIII Of the Excessive Prodigality of some Persons AT Padua in Italy they have a stone called the stone of Turpitude it is placed near the Senate House hither it is that all Spendthrifts and such as disclaim the payment of their debts are brought and they are enforced to sit upon this Stone with their hinder parts bare that by this note of publick infamy and disgrace others may be terrified from all such vain expenses or borrowing more than they know they are able to pay Great pity it 〈◊〉 that there is not such a Stone in all the Countreys of the World or at least some other happy invention whereby it might be provided that there should be fewer followers of such pernicious examples as were those that are hereafter related 1. Cresippus Son to Chabrias a noble Athenian was so prodigal that after he had lavishly consumed all his goods and other estate he sold also the very stones of his Fathers Tomb in the building whereof the Athenians had disbursed one thousand Drachms 2. Paschisyrus King of Crete after that he had spent all that he had and could otherwise make he at length sold his Kingdom also and lived afterwards privately in the City of Amathunta in Cyprus where he dyed miserably 3. Heliogabalus the Emperour was possâ—ssed rather with a madness than excess of prodigality he filled his Fish-ponds with Rose-water he supplied his Lamps with the precious Balsam that distills from the Trees in Arabia he wore upon his Shoos Pearls and Precious Stones engraven by the hands of the most skilfull Artists his Dining room was strewed with Saffron and his Portico's with the dust of Gold and he was never known to put on any Garment a second time whether it was of the richest Silk or woven with Gold 4. A young Prodigal the Son of a rich and wealthy Citizen and newly left the Heir of his deceased Father did determine at once to please and gratifie his five Senses and to that purpose he allowed to the delight of every several Sense an hundred pounds In the first place thereâ—ore he bespake a curious fair Room richly hanged and furnished with the most exquisite Pictures to please his Eye he had all the choycest Musick that could be heard of to please the Ear he had all the Aromatick and Odoriferous Perfumes to content his Smell all the Candyes Sweet-meats Preserves and Junkets even to the stretching of the Confectioners Art to delight his Taste lastly a fair and beautiful young Lady to lodge with him in a soft Bed and the finest Linnen that could be bought to accommodate his Touch all which he enjoyed at one time He spent thirty thousand pounds in three years and after all swore if he had three times more than ever he had he would spend it all to live one week like a God though he was sure to be damned in Hell the next day after 5. King Demetrius having raised a Tax upon the Athenians of two hundred and fifty Talents when he saw all that mass of mony laid on a heap before him he gave it amongst his Curtezans to buy them Sope. 6. C. Caligula in less than a year scattered and consumed those infinite heaps of Gold and Silver which Tiberius his Predecessor had heaped up amounting to no less than seven and twenty hundred millions of Sesterces 7. Of Vitellius Iosephus yields this Testimony that having reigned but eight months and five dayes he was slain in the midst of the City whose luxury and prodigality should he have lived longer the Empire could not have satisfied And Tacitus also saith of him that holding it fully sufficient and not caring for the future within the compass of a few months he is said to have set going nine hundred millions of Sesterces which sum Budaeus having cast it up thus pronounces of it I affirm saith he is no less than twenty five hundred thousand Crowns 8. When Nero had given so unreasonable a sum that his Mother Agrippina thought it fit to restrain his boundless prodigality She caused the whole sum to be laid upon the Table as he was to pass by that so the sight of it might work him to a sense of his folly but he as it seems suspecting it to be his Mothers device commands presently so much more to be added to it and
expected what she would do she took one of them from her ear and so soon as it was liquified drank it off and as she was about to do the like by the other L. Plancus the Judge of the wager laid fast hold on it with his hand and withal pronounced That Antony had lost the wager whereat Antony fell into a passion of anger After this brave Queen was taken Prisoner and deprived of her Royal State the other Pearl was cut in twain and in memory of that one half Supper that it might remain to Posterity it was hung at both the ears of the Statue of Venus in the Temple of Pantheon at Rome 16. And yet saith the same Pliny as Prodigal as these were they shall not go away with the prize in this kind but shall lose the name of the chief and principal in superfluity of expence For long before their time Clodius the son of Aesop the Tragedian the only heir of his father who died exceeding wealthy practised the like in Pearls of great price so that Antony need not be over proud of his Triumvirate seeing he hath to match him in all his magnificence one little better than a Stage-player who upon no wager at all laid and that was more Princely and done like a King but only in a bravery and to know what taste Pearls had mortified them in Vinegar and drank them up and finding them to content his Pallate wondrous well because he would not have all the pleasure by himself and know the goodness thereof alone he gave every Guest at Table one Pearl a-piece to drink in like manner the same Author calls this Clodius a young man not only of a ruinous but of a mad kind of Luxury and saith he he threw away a vast Inheritance with all the speed he could as if it had been an insupportable burden CHAP. XV. Of the Voraciousness of some great Eaters and the Swallowers of Stones c. WHereas we should eat to Live and to enable these frail bodies of ours to a more chearful attendance upon the Soul in her several Functions many of these who are hereafter mentioned may seem to have lived for no other purpose than to eat Something may be said in favour of those whom Disease hath brought to a Dog-like appetite but nothing in the behalf of those Gluttons whose paunches have been so immeasurably extended only by a bestial custom and an inordinate desire to gratifie their own sensuality 1. Aristus an Arcadian at one supper usually eat three Chenix of Bread besides flesh and other provisions which would abundantly satisfie six ordinary persons at a meal 2. Astydamas the Milesian who had three times overcome in the Olympick Games being once invited by Ariobarzanes the Persian to Supper promised that he would eat up all that which was provided for the whole company which he also performed devouring all that was the appointed provision for nine men 3. Herodotus a Trumpeter of Maegara usually eat six loaves of half a strike apiece and twenty pounds of such flesh as came to hand drinking therewith two Congies of Wine 4. There was a woman of Alexandria saith Athenaeus that used to eat at once twelve pounds of flesh and above four pounds of Bread and together with it drank up ten pints of Wine 5. The Emperour Maximinus used saith Capitolinus to eat in one day forty pounds of flesh sixty saith Cordus and to drink with it an Amphoâ—a of Wine Capital measure which is eight Congies I should fear to speak this saith Lipsuis but that it is affirmed by a good Author and one most worthy of credit 6. Clodius Albinus the Emperour would eat so many Apples Quantum ratio humana non patitur as no man would believe he would eat for his break-fast five hundred of those Figgs the Greeks call Callistruthia Cordus adds an hundred Peaches of Campania ten Melons of Ostia twenty pound weight of the Grapes of Lovinium one hundred Gnat-sappers and four hundred Oysters Out upon him saith Lipsuis God keep such a Plague from the Earth at least from our Gardens which he together with the Herb Market would swallow up and devour at once 7. King Hardiknute as Harold his brother for his swiftness was sirnamed Harefoot so he for his intemperance in Diet might have been sirnamed Swinesmouth for his Tables were spread every day four times and furnished with all kinds of curious dishes as delighting in nothing but gormandizing and swilling but he had soon the reward of his intemperance for in a solemn Assembly and Banquet at Lambeth revelling and carousing he suddenly fell down without speech or breath after he had Reigned only two years and was buried at Winchester 8. Theagenes Thasuis a Wrastler was of that voracity that in one only day without any other assistance he would devour a whole Oxe 9. Milo the Crotonian was also a notable devourer he used to eat twenty pounds of flesh and as many of bread in a day and drank three Choas of Wine In the Olympick Games when he had taken up an Ox on his shoulders and born him a Furlong he alone the same day eat him up 10. The Emperour Aurelianus was delighted exceedingly with one Phagon who eat so very much that in one day at his Table he would devour a whole Boar an hundred Loaves a Sheep and a Pigg and drink above an Orca I know saith Lipsius it was a Wine Vessel and bigger than the Amphora but how much I know not 11. Will you have an example saith Lipsius little beyond the memory of our fathers Vguccio Fagiolanus was one of the Tyrants of Italy and his abode for the most part was at Lucca till he was forced away being therefore a banished man and withal aged he boasted at the Table of Canis Scaliger in Verona that when he was young he could eat four fat Capons and as many Partridges the roasted hind quarters of a Kid a breast of Veal stuffed besides all kind of Sawces at one Supper this he did to lay his hunger what if he had eat for a wager 12. Anno 1511. the Emperour Maximilian being at Augusta there was presented to him a man of a prodigious bigness and incredible strength and stomach insomuch that at one meal he would eat a whole Sheep or Calf raw and when he had so done professed he had not satisfied his hunger It 's said he was born in the Northern parts where by reason of the cold men use to have great stomachs although the edacity of this man is almost incredible 13. Nicolas Wood of Harrisom in the County of Kent Yeoman did with ease eat a whole Sheep of sixteen shillings price and that raw at one meal another time he eat thirty dozen of Pidgeons At Sir William Sydleyes he eat as much as would have sufficed thirty men at the Lord Wottons in Kent he eat at one meal fourscore and
Present bidding him to put his hand in the Cup and to take out as much as he could of that which was in it The Thief not knowing whereunto it tended and confounded with the sting of a guilty Conscience took but a very few of the pieces which having done the Emperour willed him to tell them while the rest waited very attentively not knowing what this Ceremony tended to and thinking those pieces should be distributed amongst them all The Emperour smiling said to the Thief Draw me now out those other pieces which thou didst put up into thy Pocket a while since that I may see whether thou didst gripe more then or now The poor soul confounded with that word begins to frame excuses and prayers in the end he emptied his Pocket upon the Table and tells before them all the pieces of Gold he had put up the number of which being far greater than those he took the second time the Emperour said unto him Take all these pieces to thee to defray the charges of thy Journy and be gone and take heed thou never come any more in my sight and thus was the Courtier banished the Court with shame enough 11. A certain Candiot called Stamat being at Venice when the treasure was shewed in kindness to the Duke of Ferrara entred into the Chapel so boldly that he was taken for one of the Dukes domestical servants and wondring at so much wealth instead of contenting himself with the sight intended to purloin thence a part at least for himself St. Markes Church gilded well nigh all over with pure Gold is built at the bottom round about within and without with pieces or tables of Marble This Grecian Thief with marvellous cunning devised to take out finely by night one of those tables or stones of Marble against that place of the Church where the Altar stands called the Childrens Altar thereby to make himself an entrance into the treasury and having laboured a night because in that time the Wall could not be wrought through he laid the Stone handsomly into its place again and fitted it so well that no man could perceive any shew of opening it at all As for the Stones and Rubbish which he took out of the wall he carried it away so nimbly and so cleanly and all before day that he was never discovered Having wrought thus many nights he got at length to the Treasure and began to carry away much riches of divers kinds He had a God-father in the City a Gentleman of the same Isle of Candy called Zacharias Grio an honest man and of a good Conscience Stamat taking him one day aside and near to the Altar and drawing a promise from him that he should keep secret that which he should impart to him discovered from the beginning to the end all that he had done and then carries him to his House where he shews him the inestimable Riches he had stollen The Gentleman being vertuous stood amazed at the sight and quaking at the horror of the offence began to reel and was scarce able to stand Whereupon Stamat as a desperate Villain was about to kill him in the place and as his will of doing it encreased Grio mistrusting him stayed the blow by saying That the extream joy which he conceived in seeing so many precious things whereof he never thought to have had any part had made him as it were besides himself Stamat contented with that excuse let him alone and as a gift gave Grio a Precious Stone of exceeding great value and is the same that is now worn in the fore part of the Dukes Crown Grio pretended some weighty matter to dispatch forth he goes and hastens to the Palace where having obtained access to the Duke he revealeth all the matter saying withal that there needed expedition otherwise Stamat might rowse himself look about him disguise himself and be gone To gain the more credit to his words he drew forth of his bosome that Precious Stone that had been given him Which seen some that were present were immediately sent away to the House where they laid hold on Stamat and all that he had stollen which amounted to the value of two millions of Gold nothing thereof being as yet removed So he was hanged betwixt two Pillars and the Informer besides a rich recompence which he at that time received had a yearly pension assigned him out of the publick treasury for so long as he lived 12. Anno Dom. 1560. when Hadrianus Turnebas read in Paris Lectures upon Aristophanes he openly averred That heretofore in that City he had seen a crafty fellow called Petrus Brabantius who as often as he pleased would speak from his Belly with his mouth indeed open but his lips unmoved and that this way he put divers cheats upon several persons Amongst others this was well known There was a Merchant of Lions who was lately dead that had attained to a great estate by unjust arts as all men believed Brabantius comes to Cornutus the only Son and Heir of this Merchant as he walked in a Portico behind the Church-yard and tells him that he was sent to inform him of what was to be done by him that it was more requisite for him to think of the soul and reputation of his Father than his death Upon the sudden while they are discoursing a voice is heard as if it was that of the Father which though it proceeded from the belly of Brabantius yet he feigned to be wonderfully affrighted at it The voice was to inform the Son what state his Father was now in by reason of his injustice what tortures he endured in Purgatory both upon his own and his Sons account whom he had left Heir of his ill gotten goods that no freedom thence was to be expected by him without just expiation by his Son by alms to such as stood most in need which were the Christians who were taken by the Turks That he should credit the man who was by special providence come to him to be employed by Religious persons for the redemption of such persons that were captive at Constantinople Cornutus a good man though loth to part with his mony told him that he would advise upon it that day that on the next Brabantius should meet him in the same place In the mean time he suspected there might be some fraud in the place because shady dark and apt enough for echoes or other delusions The next day therefore he takes him into an open plain place where no bush nor bryar was where notwithstanding he heard the same song with this addition that he should deliver Brabantius six thousand Franks and purchase three Masses daily to be said for him or else the miserable soul of his Father could not be freed Cornutus bound by Conscience Duty and Religion though loth yet delivered him the mony without witness of the receipt or payment of it and having dismissed him and hearing no more of his
he led an Army into Asia where he recovered the Possession of the Realm of Ierusalem At his return again Excommunicated not long after poyson'd 83. Contradus the fourth son of Frederick last Emperour of the House of Schwaben subdu'd his Rebels in Apulia and the Kingdom of Naples but he was soon cut off by his brother Manfred who caused him to be empoysoned after he had Reigned two years 84. Rodolphus the first by the joint consent of the Princes Electors Assembled at Frankfort was chosen Emperour he was the raiser of the Austrian Family had deadly War with Ottocarus King of Bohemia whom he overthrew and slew in Battel he Reigned eighteen years was buried at Spires his Motto was Melius bene imperare quam imperium ampliare 85. Adolphus Count of Nassau was chosen Emperour he was unfortunate in all things he went about and therewith so needy and poor that when he had received money of King Edward the first of England to aid him against the French he spent the money upon his Houshold and had not wherewith to fulfil his promise when time required He was overthrown by Albert Duke of Austria in the Fields of Spire and there slain having Reigned six years his Motto was Animus est qui divites facit 86. Albert son of Rodulphus the Emperour himself being Duke of Austria in his time happened seven things remarkable As 1. The removal of the Papal seat from Rome to Avignion 2. The subversion of the Knights Templars 3. The setling of the Knights of St. Iohn in the Rhodes 4. The Scaligers in Verona 5. Estei in Ferrara 6. The first Jubilee at Rome in the West And 7. The beginning of the Ottomans in the East He Reigned ten years and was slain by his brothers son his Motto was Quod optimum illud jucundissimum 87. Henry the seventh Earl of Luxemburg a pious prudent and valorous Prince having composed matters in Germany he hastened to do the like in Italy where he omitted no opportunity to give all content Yet he was tumultuously driven out of Rome by the Faction of the Vrsini and through hatred of the Florentines poysoned in the Eucharist by one Bernard an hired Monk that passeth for his Motto which he uttered upon the first feeling of the operation of the poyson Calix vitae Calix mortis 88. Lewis the fourth Duke of Bavaria Crown'd at Aix in the wonted manner he was opposed by Frederick Dâ—ke of Austria who was chosen by another Faction cruel Wars were between the Competitours wherein at last Lewis overcame took the other Prisoner then came to this agreement Both to keep the Title of Emperours but Lewis to have the right and power after which he was Excommunicated and the Electors commanded to chuse a new Emperour which they obeyed his Motto was Sola bona quae honesta 89. Charles the fourth son of Iohn King of Bohemia and Grandson to Henry the seventh against him were set up Edward the third of England Frederick of Misui and Gunter of Swartzburg whereof the first waved the dignity with such trouble the second was brib'd off with money the third made away by poyson Charles was Crowned with the Iron Crown at Millaine As he was Learned himself so was he a savourer of Learning Founded the University of Prague was the Author of the Golden Bull called Lex Carolina which requires Emperours to be good Linguists to confer themselves with Embassadours and prescribes the Solemnity of their Election he Reigned thirty two years procured at the hands of the Princes Electors That his son Wenceslaus should be proclaimed King of the Romans in his own life-time his Motto was Optimum est alieâ—â frui insaniâ 90. Wenceslaus granted divers Priviledges to the Norimbergers for a Load of Wine Executed Barthold Swartz for inventing Gunpowder a man very unlike his Father for he was sluggish and careless more inclin'd to riot excessive drinking and voluptuous pleasures than to any Princely vertue In his time Bajazet the Great Turk was enclosed in an Iron Cage by Tamberlain This Emperour for his beastliness was deprived of the Imperial Dignity by the Princes Electors he Reigned twenty two years his Motto was Morosophi moriones pessimi 91. Rupertus Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine was elected in his place and from him came the four Palatine Families Heidleberg Neuberg Simmeren and Swibrooke He passed into Italy for the recovery of the Dukedom of Millaine sold by Wenceslaus but was well beaten by Iohn Galeazzes and so returned In his time two Popes were deposed by the Council of Pisa his merciful Motto was Miseria res digna misericordiâ he Reigned ten years 92. Iodocus Barbatus Marquess of Moravia and Uncle to Wenceslaus of whom I find so little that by divers he is not so much as mentioned in the Series and Succession of the Emperours 93. Sigismund brother of Wenceslaus King of Hungary and Bohemia and Earl of Luxembourg was Crowned at Rome on Whitsunday 1432. He travelled exceedingly for establishing the Peace of Christendom distracted at that time with three Popes at once a great promoter of the Council of Constance He is reported nine times to have assailed the Turk but never with success for though he was a Prudent Witty Learned Noble Prince yet was he ever unfortunate in his Wars at home and abroad he Reigned twenty seven years his Motto was Cedunt munera fatis 94. Albertus the second Duke of Austria Son-in-law of Sigismund whom he succeeded in all his Estates and Titles excepting only Luxembourg for his liberality justice and manhood in Wars he was greatly renowned he subdued the Bohemians carried a heavy hand over the Jews and Hussites subdued Silesia and the people of Moravia Governed eight years his Motto was Amicus optima vitae possessio 'T is thought he â—urfeited upon Melons and died thereof in his time the Hungarians and other Christians received from the Turks that terrible blow in the Fields of Varna 95. Frederick the third Duke of Austria the son of Ernestus of Austria and next heir of Albert the second he procured the calling of the Council of Basil for the Peace of Christendom travelling for that cause to Rome he was there declared Emperour being a person of agreeable accomplishments to so high a Calling In his time Printing was Invented by Iohn Gutenberg at Mentz the Noble Scanderbeg defended with great valour his Dominions against all the Forces of the Turks Constantinople was taken by Mahomet and made the chief Seat of the Turkish Empire The Emperour Frederick Reigned fifty and three years his Motto was Rerum irrecuperabilium foelix oblivio 96. Maximilian son of Frederick Duke of Austria so great a Scholar that he spake Latine and other Tongues elegantly and in imitation of Iulius Caesar wrote his own Acts. Scaligers testimony of him was That he excelled all his Predecessours great stirs he had with the Venetians whom at last he brought to submit by his marriage with Mary of Burgundy
This Work cost three hundred millions of Sesterces Certainly if a man consider the abundance of water that is brought thereby and how many places it serveth as well publick as private the Bains Stews and Fish-Pools Kitchens and other Houses of Office for Pipes and little Rivulets to water Gardens as well about the City as in Mannors and Houses of Pleasure in the fields near unto the City besides the mighty way that these waters are brought the number of Arches that must of necessity be built to convey them the Mountains that are pierced and wrought through the Vallies that are raised and made even and level he will confess that there never was any design in the whole World enterprised and effected more admirable than this CHAP. VI. Of the choicest Libraries in the World their Founders and number of Books contained in them AS Treasures both publickly and privately are collected and laid up in the Republick to be made use of when necessity requires and the greater and rarer they are the more precious they are accounted So the Treasures of Learning and of all good Arts and Sciences which are contained in Books as so many silent Teachers are worthily collected by publick and private persons and laid up amongst the choicest goods of the Common-wealth where they may be made use of to all sorts of persons as their studies incline them or as necessity shall require at any time whether in peace or war The most famous Repositories of Books were as followeth 1. Ptolomaeus Philadelphus the Son of Ptolomaeus Lagus reigning in Egypt and also by the concurrent and laborious endeavours of Demetrius Phalareus there was an excellent Library founded in Alexandria the noblest City of all Egypt in the year before Christs birth 280. and of the World 3720. This Library saith Baronius was enriched with more than 200000 Volumes brought out of all places in the World with exquisite care and diligence Amongst these were also the Books of the Old Testament translated by the LXX After which Translation the King also procured so many Greek Chaldee Egyptian Books and Latine ones translated into Greek as also of divers other Notions that at last he had heaped up therein saith Gellius seven hundred thousand Volumes But alas in how short a time did the splendour of so much vertue suffer an Eclipse for in the 183 Olympiad from the building of the City Caesar fighting in Alexandria that fire which burnt up the Enemies Navy took hold also of this burnt the greatest part of the City saith Orosius together with four hundred thousand Books so that from the founding of it to its destruction there were elapsed only 224 years 2. Eumenes the Son of Attalus and Father of that Attalus who was the last King of Pergamus and who dying made the people of Rome â—is Heir was the Founder of that excellent Library at Pergamus in the year from the Creation 3810. wherein were contained above twenty thousand choice Books 3. Queen Cleopatra about the year of the World 3950. and thirty years before the Birth of Christ gathered together such Books as had escaped the fire of Caesar in Alexandria built a place for them in the Temple of Serapis near to the Port and transferred thither 200000 Books from the Attalick or Pergamenian Library 4. M. Varro by the appointment of Iulius Caesar had the peculiar care committed to him of erecting a publick Library but it had come to nothing but for the helping hand of Augustus who succeeded him It was he that erected a famous Repository for Books in the Hill Aventine adorned it with Porticoes and Walks for the greater convenience of Students and enriched it with the spoils of conquered Dalmatia this was a little before the Birth of Christ and in the year of the World 3970. Nor did the bounty of this great Prince rest there but always aspiring to greater things he opened two other little inferiour to that in the Aventine one whereof he called the Octavian from the name of his Sister and the other the Palatine from the Mount or Hill on which it was erected Over the Keepers of which by his Imperial Order was C. Iulius Hyginnius an excellent Grammarian 5. Fl. Vespasianus about the sixth year of his Empire the seventy seventh from the Birth of Christ and of the World 4050. founded a Library in the Forum at Rome and contiguous to the Temple of Peace as if he thereby intended to shew that nothing was so requisite to advance men in Learning as times of peace 6. The Emperour Trajanus in the tenth year of his Reign one hundred and eight years after the Birth of Christ and from the Creation of the World 4092. built a sumptuous Library in the Market-place of Trajan which he called after his own sirname the Vlpian Library Dioclesian afterwards being to edifie some and adorn other Baths translated this Library unto the Viminal Hill which at this day hath the Gate of St. Agnes opening upon it 7. Domitianus the Emperour erected another near to his own house which he had built upon the Capitoline Hill which yet soon after was reduced to ashes in the Reign of Commodus which happened as Eusebius Dion and Baronius witness in the eighth year of Commodus his Empire the 189. year from the Nativity of Christ and from the Creation of the World about the four thousand one hundred sixty and third 8. Gordianus Senior about the two hundred and fortieth year after Christ built a Library which contained sixty and two thousand Books the greater part whereof were left as a Legacy to the Emperour by Geminicus Gammonicus 9. Constantinus the Emperour by the testimony of Baronius erected a sumptuous Library in the Province of Thrace at Byzantium called New Rome which was enriched with an hundred and twenty thousand Volumes he called that City Constantinople in the year from the Birth of Christ 324. but through the discord of his Sons about the year of the World 4321. and from the Birth of Christ 340. to wit of Constantinus Constantius and Constance the Emperours in the deplorable declination of the Empire and much more by fire it lost its fame and name being burnt by the people in hatred of Basilius the Emperour as saith Zonaras and Cedrenus which happened about the year from the Nativity of Christ 476. but being repaired and increased by the accession of three hundred and three Volumes Leo Isaurus in hatred of sacred Images burnt both it and its Keepers who were Counsellors of great renown This happened about the year of Christ 726. as witnesseth Zonaras Cedrenus and others In this Library was as is reported the gut of a Dragon 120 foot long upon which was written Homers Poems Iliads and Odysses in Letters of Gold 10. The Sâ—ptalian Libâ—aâ—y now in the possession of Manfrâ—d Septala a Patâ—ician of Mâ—llâ—ine 1664. contains seven thousand two hundred ninety Volumes amongst which are many