comming she marched couragiously toward thē willing them to execute their office With which boldnes the souldiers were all astonished sauing certaine of the friends of those whom she had slain before which stabbed her thorow the body whereof she presently died Yet this manly courage is to be noted in her that after she felt the wound to be mortall and that she fainted ready to yeeld vp her life she nesled her garmentes about her body plucking downe her neather skirts to her féete hauing a womāly care in all respects least that by striuing with life and death she might showe or vncouer the vndecent parts of her bodie Thus dyed the mightiest Princesse vnder the heauens for a iust reuenge of her former cruelties and merciles murders she was daughter to Neoptolome King of Epyre sister to Alexander then King of Epyre wife to Philip King of Macedon mother to Alexander the great and yet for all these high and mightie alliances the liuing God would not suffer her to scape vnpunished but caused such measure to be giuē to her which she before had meated to other In like sort Agrippina daughter to the noble Germanicus first being maried to Domitius had by him Nero and afterward was married to Claudius whom she poysoned with his sonne Britannicus to y e end she might make her first sonne Nero Emperor which indéede came accordingly to passe but now her sonne Nero being Emperour possessing the crowne by meanes of his mothers bloudie act whether it were that the liuing God would not suffer her to scape vnpunished or the wicked inclination of Nero but howsoeuer the case stood she receiued like reward for her son caused her to be most cruelly tormented commanding her wombe to be opened cut vp that he might sée the place wherein he lay and in the meane time while she was suffering such miserable torture he gaue so little regard to the wofull mournings pitifull cries of his naturall mother that he played on a cistern y e destruction of Troy and sung most pleasantly to his instrument Notwithstanding although he was ordeyned to scourge and plague his mother for the aforesaid horrible fact yet scaped not hee vnreuenged for so vile a déede For when he had a time raigned in Rome persecuting the guilties and innocent the Romanes at last detesting his bloudie disposition séeing y t his whole delight was in tormenting his natiue Country men began so deadly to hate him for his crueltie that by the whole consent of the Romanes the Senate decréed this sharpe sentence against him Vt more maiorum collo in furcā coniecto virgis adnecem caederetur his neck being fastned in a yoke or forke after the vilest order which was a most monstrous reproach and seruile slauerie amongst the Romanes should be beaten to death with rods But Nero hauing intelligence of their decrée fled in the midle of the night out of the citie taking with him not past one or two of his lewd cōpanions who also perished with him for feare of the Romans Thus being scaped from the punishment which was appointed for him he now determined to die a desperate death requiring one of his friēds which was with him to stab him through with his sword that he might ende his miserie Who when he had denied his sute as a thing vniust Nero cried out saying Itanè nec amicum habeo nec inimicum dedecorosé vixi turpius periam Surely neither haue I friend nor enemie meaning no friend in the Citie to defend his cause nor enemie nowe with him to ende his life I haue liued vilely I will perish as filthely and therewithall thrust himselfe through and so died Thus miserably ended Domitius Nero after hee had reuenged the cruell murther which his Mother committted and in the ende himselfe was driuen to the same shoare and forced to arriue at the same Port of miserable Destinie to be cut off with vntimely death for his most vile slaughters and cruelties Also Aristobulus sonne to Hircanus vnnaturally committed to prison his mother and his brother Antigonus and after most cruelly slew his said brother in prison for which grieuous offence God so strake him that all his bowells rent in his belly and hee vomited vp all the bloud in his bodie and so most pitifully he dyed in recompence of his former crueltie In like manner Antiochus Illustris sonne of the great Antiochus did also imbrew his hands in the bloud of his friends For giuing his sister in marriage to Ptolomaeus King of Aegypt and vnder pretence of familiaritie came to visite his brother in lawe vnder the coulour of alliance and that he might by treacherous meanes take from him the Kingdome of Aegipt and finding him sitting at supper saluted him with his sword which presently he thrust through his sides thus traiterously he slewe his brother Ptolome and ceazed on all Aegipt to his owne vse And after hée had done manie other cruelties at last hee was striken with a most horrible sicknesse that his bodie stanke and his flesh was so corrupt and putrified that no bodie could abide the sauour therof liuing wormes créeping and scrauling out of his bodie insomuch that in his great extremitie hee was forsaken of all his friends and seruants and so died as a iust recompence for his villanie It is farther well knowen that Archelaus King of Macedonia was murthered by the hands of Cratenas his Paramour who sore thirsted after his said kingdome which shamefull act beeing committed and Cratenas placed in the regall Throne according to his long desire raigned King not past thrée or foure dayes but was himselfe slaine in semblable manner by other mens meanes whereunto this saying may be well applyed Qui struit insidias alijs sibi damna dat ipse Who seeketh other men to insnare Nets for himselfe he doth prepare So that this man possessed his princely seate but a short space which he had purchased by wilfull murder I trust it is very well knowen also to the English Nation what cruell murders and miserable slaughters were committed by King Richard the third brother to Edward the fourth and sonne to the Duke of Yorke for that the Chronicles doo make mention thereof at large First bringing his owne brother the Duke of Clarence to vntimely death then shewing his tyrannie on the Barons and Nobles of the Land and after that his brother Edward the fourth died he miserably smoothered the two sonnes of his said brother Edward which were committed to his tuition and gouernment not sparing the néerest of his kinne but imbrewing himselfe in their bloud to the ende he himselfe might possesse the Crowne and Diadem of the Realme which in deede consequently came to passe But were it possible that such pitifull murders and execrable slaughters as he committed both in slaying of the Nobles of the Land and also in the deprauing of his swéete Nephewes of life and Kingdome should scape vnreuenged No truly it
Sceuola in which when he came to the place hee thrust his right hand willingly into the fire first suffering it to burne to ashes couragiously saying I willingly committe this my hand to the fire which fayled to kill Porsena the tyrant Further affirming at his death that there were thrée hundreth Romanes more redy prest which had also sworne the death of the king if he fayled and would as willingly venture themselues in their Countreys cause as he before them had done and as it were among themselues striuing who first should doe that good seruice to their countrey Which when Porsena had hearde he did not much discommend their faithfulnes towardes their Commonwealth but with all speed remoued his siege and departed from the walles of Rome to the great reioising of the citizens Thus ought euery man to haue a speciall care regard to preserue his natiue countrey and commonwealth For when both Princes and noble estates haue willingly ventured life nay run to present death for the sauegard of the weale publike much more then ought euery priuate person and meane subiect in Prince and Countreyes cause valiantly to venture both life and lim with right couragious mindes in defence of so honest and good a cause Scho. I confesse that euery subiect ought willingly to offer his body in defence of his Prince and natiue Soyle and not to haue so great a care for the preseruation of his priuate person as for the benefit and welfare of his Prince and Commonwealth Were it not a vile reproach and ignomie to those people that should by their cowardlines suffer their king to be slaine in the field and they themselues to remaine aliue and geue the looking on Contrariwise is it not great honor to him that shall hazard his life yea or run to right desperate exploites in the good cause or quarrell of his Prince To conclude it is the part of euery good prince to haue a care of the welfare of his commonwealth and of the preseruation of his subiects and also the part of all honest Subiects to haue a duetiful care to preserue their prince and a manly courage to defend their coūtrey Truely we read in most ancient histories of diuers who by their noble valoure wise policie and manly courage haue defended from the inuation of forrain foes both their weale publique from subuersion their stately townes and cities from ruine and decay also the whole body of their countreymen from most cruel murther and pitifull slaughter and yet in the end haue been most vilely recompenced by their vnkind countreymen Was not Manlius a Roman surnamed Capitolinus who preserued the Capitoll or castle of Rome from the cruell force of the Gaules and did many other noble actes in his Countreis cause throwne down from the top of the same Castle headlong by his owne vnkind countreimen whom he many times both manfully and couragiously had defended and saued Also Miltiades a noble man of Athens which in the field of Marathaon with 10000. Gréekes discomfited and put to flight 600000. Persians and so by his great wisdome and prudent policie saued deliuered his countrey from being ouerrun with such a mighty and huge hoast which otherwise had beene vtterly subdued ouerthrowen but after being cast in arrerage of a certaine summe of mony he was by his vngratefull Countreymen condemned into most cruell prison and there died in fetters and being dead he might not be suffered to be buried vntill his sonne had put on him the giues that his father did weare In like sort Themistocles a noble captain of the same vngrateful town of Athens after he had deliuered his Countrey from the huge terrible power of Xerxes putting him to flight and al his great hoast making y t mightie king by his circumspect wisdome and policie shamefully to flie home in a Fishermans boate vnknowen for the safety and preseruation of himselfe notwithstanding was at the last driuē his Countrey and forced to flie by the vnkinde Citizens to his enemie Xerxes whō before he had driuen from the walles of Athens but Xerxes willingly receiued such a friende with great intertainment and sent him againe with a mighty armie to warre on his owne countrey hoping now that he would be sharply reuenged on his vnkinde citizens But Themistocles being now Lord Generall against his natiue countrey hauing in his power the whole destruction and ouerthrow of his deere commonwealth yet notwithstanding for all that the Athenians had dealt so extremely with him he rather chose to die than any way to hurt his countrey And because he would not shew himselfe a traitor to Xerxes who had put his whole power into his hand and receiued him so courteously in his extremitie nor that he would torment the bowels of his vngratefull citie vnmercifully to spoyle with forraine people his vnkind countreimē to frée himselfe of these two inconueniences hee poysoned him selfe and so died a more faithfull frend to his countreymē than they had deserued After that Demetrius sonne of Philip king of Macedon whom before I spake of had obteined pardon for his father and whole countrey by his great modestie temperance shewed in the Senat of Rome because the Senators did write to his father the king in this maner We the Senators of Rome do not pardō thee for thy owne sake but for the modest demeanor of thy sonne shewed here before vs in the Senate Which thing Philip by the instigation of certaine of his flattering Subiectes did take so displeasantly and gréeuouslie that his sonne was in such estimation and better accounted of than himselfe and therefore so hated his sonne for his great paines and diligent care whereby he preserued both his father and Countrey from the reuenge of the Romanes At whose good hap also certaine of his vnkinde Countreymen with the helpe of his vnnaturall brother Perses so repined insomuch that they procured false witnes to accuse him to his father being willing to heare any cause against his sonne Thus by the surmise of his vnnaturall Countreymen he was condemned to death by his vnkinde father who before had both studied to preserue the honor of his father and also to mainteine the flourishing estate of his countrey Did not the Romanes banish and exile the noble and worthie Cicero by the procurement of Clodius when he had preserued and defended his Countrey from ruine and vtter destruction and saued the noble Citie of Rome from the fury of Cataline euen for because he had put to death the chiefe traytors and enemies of the Common-wealth in that dangerous conspiracie who sought to spoyle sacke take and burne their natiue Citie Rome Was not the same vngratefull Citie Rome found vnkinde to her most deare frend and preseruer the worthie Scipio for when the Romanes were in great distresse thorow the bitter and sharpe warres which the Carthaginians long time most greeuously helde against them being also mightely ouermatched
chosen But surely the vaine babling of the prating Poets in this cause is vtterly to be condemned for vnder the colour that all women are euill they goe about to hide and cloake the foolish follie of mad doting men making women a veile or shadow to hide and couer the doting fondnes of vnsatiable men Indeede the olde prouerbe is Ignis mare mulier tria sunt mala That sire the sea and a woman are three euils Truely a strong reason then may it like wise be said that men are euill for that one man hath killed another and surely by this reason the former three are also euil For if a man will cast himselfe into the fier no doubt but that he shal burne or into the sea where he may be drowned or els into the calamities of such a mariage or otherwise ouer fondly to dote which he well knew before would purchase his trouble and vexation But my good friend my purpose is not to exclaime on or blame faultlesse women who cannot bridle the fond affection of their importunate louers wherefore I will somewhat more amply speake of fonde and doting loue which is as well in the one as in the other and what inconuenience doth consequently follow their doting folly Semiramis being the most amiable Lady of the world by reason of her surpassing beautie was sent for into Assiria to the king of that region that he might satisfie himselfe with the sight of her péerles pulchritude before whose presence she came according to the tenor of his message The king had no sooner cast his wanton eye vpon her passing beauty but was foorthwith inflamed with the fire of affection towards her then after certaine circumstances ouerpassed she required of the doting king a rich reward namely a robe of estate the gouernment of Assiria for fiue dayes continuance and the absolute authoritie in all thinges that were done in the kingdome Which petition of Semiramis was granted by the king no deniall made to the contrary In conclusion when things without exception were in the gripes of her aspiring minde she commanded the fonde king to be slaine whereby he was dispossessed of his dominion and she presently thereupon enioyed the scepter and crowne imperiall ouer all Assiria Did not Candaulus king of Sardis dote in foolish and fonde loue ouer his wife insomuch that he thought her the fayrest creature in the worlde yet not content to satisfie himselfe with her beautie but in fond and doting sort must needes shewe his wife naked to his frend to make him partaker of her surpassing beautie and peereles person and therfore he called his frēd Giges to his chamber and hid him secretely against his wife should come to bed but his frend Giges disswading him from his folly notwithstanding Candaulus would haue no nay in his importunate suite but that his frend should both know see his his priuie benefite so that he was constrayned to obey his fonde request Now when the wife of Candaulus perceiued herself so betrayed by the inuention of her husband for Giges incontinētly discloased himselfe she was mightely abashed wonderfully ashamed for in that countrey it was counted a most wonderfull dishonesty and reproach that a woman should be seene naked of any man sauing of her husband yet for all that she dissēbled the matter for a time meaning in the end to take sharp reuenge on her husband for the great villany he had offered her At the last she called Giges to her chamber who before had séene her naked to the end to haue slaine him threatening him that vnlesse he would presently reuenge the wrong and great abuse which her husband had offered her in his presence which he consequentlie consented vnto for the sauegard of his life with firme oathes solemne vowes which was that he should kil the king her husband and take her to wife with the kingdome hoping that hee would be content to possesse so good a benefite and not to make any other priuie or partaker of that which hee best esteemed Thus whether it were for the sauegard of his life which he stood in perill to lose or for the coueting of so beautifull a Queene large a kingdome which now was offered him it resteth doubtfull but he foorthwith executed the Queenes pleasure on his doting master which happened through his owne fonde follie What inconueniēce also hapned to Artaxerxes king of Persia by such foolish folly in doting ouer his sonne so fondly y t he must make him his master in his life time For being drownd in such fond affection toward his sonne Darius not content himselfe with his scepter and kingdome which he quietly possessed hee presently aduanced him to taste the secretnes and sweete of his kingdome not satisfieng himselfe to be a commander ouer his people but would be a seruant and be commanded by his sonne so it hapned to him as he deserued for this princox his sonne being established in the kingdome by his doting father became at the last so lordly ouer his foolish father that hee woulde commaund him in all causes as his duetifull and obedient subiect it chanced that his father Artaxerxes had married the concubine which he before had taken in his warres who at that time was péerelesse in beautie Now Darius being in possession of his fathers kingdome by vertue of his authoritie he called his father before his presence as a common subiect saying Father as you haue put the kingdome into my hand and made me absolute King thereof so whosoeuer this kingdome containeth is also my subiect and vnder my authoritie therfore sir my pleasure is that you deliuer and yéelde into my handes your wife which was the concubine for she is faire in my sight and therefore I greatly desire to haue her and by vertue of my authoritie I straightly commaund no resistance to the contrarie But Artaxerxes although he had made his sonne King knew that hee was his father wherefore hee contrary to his sonnes minde detained Aspasia his newe married wife which deniall caused his sonne Darius to conspire the death of his resisting father because as he thought hee was not absolute King to commaund as after the death of his father hee should be and also did associate in this his vnnaturall confederacie fifty brothers which were begotten by his owne father Artaxerxes by diuers concubines But this doting King as it chanced although he had made himselfe a subiect to his prowd sonne yet by good helpe of his nobles he detected the cause and found out the treason And in the same day that Darius made account to accomplish his wicked enterprise he was himselfe and all the rest of the confederates taken and fell into the same snare that they had prepared for their aged father for Artaxerxes put both them their wiues and children to the sworde that none of that wicked race should remaine aliue the aged King for verie griefe that he had conceiued
help whē he néeded desiring to vse him as one in whō he might repose his trust Now was Alexāder glad that of his own accord he would return and because he would better let him vnderstande some signe of good wil harty loue he accōpanied him into Thessaly but after they were arriued in the Citie of Larissa they a fresh began to practise new treason one against another and first Alexander to put Demetrius quite out of suspition either without armour or weapon or anie guard to attend on his person would oft visite him hoping thereby to make him doo the like but he was in his so thinking greatly deceiued for as Alexander one night came to supper to Demetrius without guard according to his accustomed wont and that they wer in the chiefe of their supper Demetrius sodainly arose from the table wherat Alexander was sore abashed insomuch that hee arose also followed him to the hall doore but so soone as Demetrius was without he gaue signe and token to his souldiors who incontinently fell vppon Alexander and slew him and certaine of his men which would haue defended him among whom a certain fellowe before he was killed said Demetrius hath preuented vs but a day onely Now was Demetrius King of Macedon and the Macedonians right glad of their change but not long after this Demetrius was taken prisoner by Seleuchus in battaile committed to prison where he continued vntill he died Then was the great fight betwixt Seleucus and Lysimachus which was the verie last battaile that was fought betwixt the successors of Alexander in which conflict Lysimachus was slaine Seleucus victor But Seleucus inioyed his victorie not long for he was shortly after slaine by Ptolome whose sister Lysimachus had married Also Olympias mother to Alexander the Great when she had slaine King Philip and his wife Euridice then to despite Cassander she put to death an 100. noble men of Macedon at one time also she made Nicanor brother to Cassander to be slaine and defaced the tombe and monument of Iole his other Brother to reuenge the death of Alexander her sonne as she said because it was suspected that he had poysoned him in giuing him drinke About the same time when Ptolome Lord of the Isle of Cypres vnderstood that Nicocles King of Paphos had secretly allied with Antigone hee sent two of his chiefe friends to wit Argey and Calicrate into Cypres charging them to kill the said Nicocles fearing that if he should leaue him vnpunished the rest would not sticke to doo the like When these messengers were arriued in Cypres hauing with them the souldiors of Ptolome they incompassed the house of Nicocles signifying to him their charge from Ptolome therefore they exhorted him to kill himselfe who from the beginning vsed manie words in the excusing of the fact but when hee did sée there was no account made of his tale hee at the last slewe himselfe and after that Axithia his wife vnderstood of his death she first slew two yong maides her daughters whom she had by him to the end they shuld not come into the hands of her husbands enemies and after exhorted Nicocles brothers wiues willingly to die with her which indéed they did In this sort also was the pallaice royall of Paphos ful of murders and wilfull slaughters and after in manner of a tragedie burnt for immediately after the brothers wiues of Nicocles were dead they shut vp the dores of the houses and set them on fire and foorthwith they that then liued in the pallaice killed themselues and so finished that lamētable murder In the same season while these things were done in Cypres great controuersie arose in the Countrey of Pontus after the death of Parisade sometime King of Bosphorus betwixt Satyre Eumele and Pritame Parisade his sonnes for the succession of the said Realme insomuch that the brothers made sharpe warre one against the other So it fortuned that Satyre and Pritame were both slaine in that warre wherefore the other Brother Eumele to assure himselfe of the Realme caused all the wiues children and friends of Pritame and Satyre his brethren to be slaine not long after was himselfe cruelly slaine by misfortune Now to returne to Alexander the Great and his line it was reported and partly beléeued that he himselfe consented with Olympias his mother to the death and murder of Philip his father for which gréeuous offence he himselfe with his whole line and stocke was punished accordingly For first it is to be considered that olde Antipater who in Alexanders life was his Lieutenant and after his death first had the Satrape of Macedon bestowed on him by Perdicas the Gouernour Which Antipater and Olympias could neuer agrée but still were at contention and strife both in the life time of her sonne Alexander and also after his death insomuch that when Alexander was comming from the conquest of the world making his abode in Babylon for a time and after minding to returne home into Macedon to visit his mother Olympias Antipater being then Lieutenant of Macedon considered with himselfe that if in case Alexander shuld return home that then his mother Olympias would make gréeuous complaints against him which thing he so much feared that he caused poyson to be giuen to Alexander at Babylon whereof hee presently died Thus when Alexander was dead and olde Antipater deceased there grew a new grudge and quarrell betwixt Olympias and Cassander sonne to Antipater insomuch that he tooke Olympias prisoner and in the end caused her to be slaine Aslo hee slewe Alexander sonne of Alexander the Great and Roxana his mother afterward he put to death Hercules the other sonne of Alexander with Arsinne his mother yet notwithstanding Cassander espoused Thessalonica one of the Sisters of Alexander the great who after the death of Cassander was also slaine by her own sonne Antipater Cleopatra also the other Sister of Alexander was also slaine by the commaundement of Antigonus After this sort was the whole line of Alexander for all his mightie conquests gained with lamentable slaughters and wonderfull effusion of bloud vtterly extinguished by Antipater and his Successours Also what gained his Successors by the large Kingdomes and possessions hee left For they were al by enuie depriued both of life and lands in miserable sort Insomuch that their remained not one that could iustly vaunt and brag of his happie successe but had rather good cause to mourne bewaile the cruel murders manifold slaughters and wastfull ruines both of themselues their wiues children and friends hauing also right good cause to wish that Alexander had neuer béen borne or els that he had neuer conquered so great a part of the world to leaue the possession therof to them wherby they were all driuen to vntimely death with the murder of infinite thousands of their people so that the whole whole world did lament and grieue at their
were altogether wonderfull and verie vnlikely but that the liuing GOD who punisheth with shame such shameful murderers would be sharply reuenged on him for his monstrous crueltie in so slaying of the innocent For not long after he was slaine in Battaile by the right noble Henrie Earle of Richmond where his mangled corpes was laid being first despoyled of armes and stripped naked ouer a horse backe hanging downe in such sort that the filthie durt and myre did both spot and sprinkle the ill shaped carkasse of this abhorred Tyrant which was a most odious and detestable sight yet too worthie a funerall for so murderous a wretch This recompence happened to him for his intollerable crueltie Thus it plainly appeareth that murder is sharply punished as well in the Prince and Péere as in the silliest sot and poorest slaue for further proofe whereof to showe the iust reuengement of God on meaner personages this one example shall suffice The true and certaine report goeth that one Macharcus a sacrificing Priest of God Bacchus dwelling in Mityline in his exteriour countenaunce and fauour resembled great gentlenesse and courtesie yet in life manners and inward practises no man that liued coulde bee more wicked or abhominable It fortuned on a time y t a certaine soiorner lodged at his house and committed to his credite a certaine summe of mony in gold this Machareus being assaulted with auarice and carried as it were into captiuitie to couetousnesse makes a hole in a secret place of the temple with a mattocke and therein hides the gold which he was put in trust withall After a few dayes were expired the soiourner desired to haue his own again vpon which request Machareus led the man mistrusting no mischiefe nor doubting anie danger into the temple where vnder pretence cloake and colour to restore the man his right and hauing as he thought opportunitie time and place to worke his villanie murdred the man which being compassed to his contentation he tooke vp the golde and laid the right owner thereof whome he had iniuriously slaine in the selfe same place couering him ouer with earth and damd vp the pit in such sort as all things in his thinking were cock sure perswaded himselfe that as men be deceiued and mocked so the powers supernall the eternall God I meane might be deluded and blinded But the matter fell out vnhappely inough and had another euent than was hoped for on Machareus part for after a few dayes were passed the solemne Seruice and Obsequies of GOD Bacchus which were yearly approached and was celebrated according to ancient custome wherein Machareus behauing himselfe after a gorgeous and glorious estate being verie busie in the festiuall Ceremonie it chaunced that his two sonnes which were left at home as that day did imitate their Fathers order in holy seruice in such sort and effectuall manner that the yonger brother cast himselfe prostrate on the ground and laid his head vpon a blocke verie méekely which the elder brother with an olde rustie whinyeard or cankred wood-knife did chop off from the shoulders Anone came in the seruaunts which dwelled in the house séeing the childish murder that was committed gaue a great shoute making a terrible outcrie and pitifull noyse as men meruailously confounded and amazed at sight of so strange and bloudie a spectacle The vehemencie of which lamentable clamor and outragious roaring speedely pearced the eares of the frighted mother who came like a mad woman to vnderstand the meaning of the matter and then séeing one of her sonnes slaughtered and weltering in streames of bloud and the other holding still a rustie glaue in his hand all to be stayned with the crimsen blood of his brothers flesh she caught vp a firebrand very fiercely and in the heate of her great rigor did so thumpe and souse her liuing sonne that he died the death in her presence Then was tidings brought to Macareus what butcheries were committed at home in his priuate house who immediatly vpon the report therof left the holy seruice like a man moonesick or rather a fiend of hell ranne home with might and maine hauing in his hand at the same instant a burning torche or taper where with he did so beate bounce and baste his wife ouer euery limme and ioynt that she in like case was soone dispatched of life Thus when the multitude had intelligence of these rare and lamentable murthers they forthwith apprehended Macareus and vrged him thorow examination and torment to confesse each circumstance of this bloudy Tragedie and as he was opening the matter and discouering the mischief which he had committed in the holy temple prophaning a seuerall and sacred Chappel with two notorious and inexpiable trespasses the paines of death oppressed him insomuch that he died sodenly before the whole assembly of people These miserable chances hapned to Macareus by reason of his monsterous murthers as a terrible and most fearfull example to the followers and imitators of his horrible profession Scho. O miserable ende and yet deserued hap no better successe is to be hoped for than such ruine and cruell destruction to those that doe imbrue their hands in the bloud of the innocēt contrary to the law of God and nature Besides these your examples we sée dayly what reuengement falleth to the share of those bloudy minded persons though their villanies for a time he did yet in the end the true God will not suffer them to scape vnpunished For I thinke is no people of ciuill gouernment so voyde of good and holesome lawes in this cause but that they prouide a sharpe punishment for wicked murtherers prouided alwaies that whosoeuer shall transgresse or willingly breake the saide ordinances and decrées that then such persons by vertue of the law shall suffer worthy punishment namely losse of life In your exaumples it is also manifest that those whose power and person far excéedeth and surmounteth a lawe and whose high dignitie disdayneth to stoupe to the law and decrée of the lande notwithstanding when neither people nor Péeres may decrée sentence against them for such detestable sin and cruell murthers the liuing God plagueth them in the ende with most sharp and grieuous punishments without remorse being much higher aboue them then they aboue their lawe whereby it seemeth that if Princes by reason of their high estate and dignitie doe escape the punishment and decreed sentence of a law yet the very prouidence of the highest bringeth them in the ende to open confusion vtter destruction as your aforesaid examples haue verified it Further it remayneth to vs that at what time the people craued answere of the Oracles expecting from thence the very flat determination of their God heard often most sharpe decrees against murtherers by their diuine Oracles pronounced for at such time as a certayne Musicion who played on the harpe singularly well did both play and sing at Sybaris in a solemne feast made and set forth in the honour of
most excellent things in the worlde that euer were séene or heard of Now when all these ordinances of Alexander were red by Perdicas heard by the Macedonian Princes although they loued their master maruellously yet when they saw his enterprices to be such and of so great charge they all agreed with one consent that nothing should be done therin departing euery man to his Prouince whereunto he was appoynted by the gouernor Perdicas Shortly after they were all departed and seperated one from another Perdicas thought good hauing so fit oportunity to reuenge himselfe on those that first hindered him from being king And for because that Meleager now prince of Lydia whē he was sent ambassador to the footmē did earnestly stād against his desire altogether preuented his intent therefore Perdicas in reuenge first of all other most cruelly slew him with 30. of the most principall souldiers that were against his proceedings The other princes soon had intelligence of the things Perdicas had done fearing he would shew the like crueltie on them hearing also what their master Alexander had said on his deathbed which was that his kingdomes possessions should be possessed of the most worthy wherfore euery of them enioying so large prouinces and territories thought themselues as worthy personages as either Aride the king or Perdicas his gouernor insomuch that the most part of them would be subiect to neither but seniorized their Prouinces to their owne vses chalenging the name and title of kings deuiding themselues taking part one against the other euery one striuing who should bee worthiest Which words of Alexander together with their stately pride was the originall cause that the whole number of Princes and captaines successors to Alexander perished and were vtterly destroyed for they earnestly coueted each others kingdome raising among themselues bloudy war and cruell strife snatching after the most worthy place not forcing of cruell murthers or lamētable slaughters but with eger minds būted after y e goods life of ech other vntil they had vtterly rooted out consumed themselues for Perdicas hauing slaine Meleager and other of his fellow seruitors in Alexanders warres toke vpō him to go into Egypt to dispossesse Ptolome whom before he had placed in that Prouince But there because he behaued himselfe so proudly dismissing his captains vpon small occasions at his pleasure his souldiers set vpon him most fiercely slew him the greatest part of his army being gone to Ptolome King Philip Euridice his wife wer most cruelly murthered by Olympias Alexanders mother Craterus cōming against Eumenes in opē battail was by him slaine Eumenes also was slain in fight by Antigonus Antigonus likewise put to death Python and gaue his prouince to another Antigonus going to batel against Antioch the sonne of Seleucus was himselfe slain by default of his sonne Demetrius It was credebly reported that the night before Antigonus was slaine his son Demetrius dreamed that Alexander who before was dead came stood before him with his sword drawne saying I wil take part with thy enemies against thy father and thee in the morning also when Antigonus aranged his phalange or square battell of footmen comming foorth of his Tent to fight he stumbled and sell downe flat to the groūd and after he was lifted vp againe holding vp his hands to heauen he said I know hard fortune and euill successe drawethny but I pray the immortall Gods rather suffer me to be slaine in this battel than shamefully before mine enemie to flie Also old Antipater falling sick on a surfet which he had takē in these warres deceased and left the kingdome of Macedon to Polispercon his frend and not to Cassander his owne sonne which also caused great controuersie to arise betwixt his sonne Cassander and his friend Polispercon But in the end Cassander expelled Polispercon his fathers kingdome Not long after he himselfe came to vntimely death leauing behind him two sonnes the eldest hight Alexander the other Antipater which Antipater after he had slaine his owne mother sought meanes to driue his brother Alexander out of Macedon For which cause Alexander sent for ayde to king Pirrhus in Cyprus to Demetrius Antigone his sonne in Peloponnesus howbeit Demetrius being so occupied about the estate and affaires of Pelopōnesus whē the Ambassadors of Alexander came that hee coulde by no means help him In the mean time Pirrhus with a great armie came thether and in recompence of his ayde charge took possession of so large a peece of Macedon laying it to his owne countrey of Epyre that Alexander greatly dreaded him And while he abode in this feare he was aduertised that Demetrius was with his whole power comming to his ayde Wherupon he considering the authoritie great renowne of Demetrius and also the worthines of his déedes for which causes he was highly honoured through the whole world did now more than before feare his estate if he entered his realm wherfore he foorthwith went to méet him whom at their first méeting he right courteously and honorably entreated greatly thanking him for his courtesie and trauell in that he would leaue his own affaires of great importance and with so mightie an army come to his ayde further telling him that he already had wel quieted and established his estate so that he should not néede any further to trauell Neuertheles he thought himselfe so much bounde as if he had come at his first sending for or that all things had béen by his meanes quieted To these words Demetrius answered that he was right glad of his quietnes and that he had now no néed of his helpe besides many other louing and gentle words which gréeting ended either of thē for that night returned into his tent During which time there arose such matters betwixt thē that the one greatly suspected the other for as Demetrius was bid to supper with Alexander he was willed to take heede to himselfe for Alexander had practised by treason to slay him notwithstanding he by no mean shewed any countenance of mistrust but meant to go to the banquet to whose lodging Alexander was comming to bring him on his way But Demetrius diuersly detracted the time went a soft easie pace to y e ende his souldiers might haue leisure to arme them and cōmāded his garde being a greater number than Alexanders to enter with him also to waite neer his person but when Alexanders souldiers saw themselues the weaker part they durst not attempt it at that time And after supper because Demetrius would haue some honest cause to depart he fayned he was some what ill in his body therfore foorthwith took leaue of Alexander went thence The next day Demetrius feined that he had receiued letters out of his countrey of great importance so that he with his army must presently return into Peloponnese frō whēce he came praying Alexander to haue him excused offering him
that monthly fee whereunto he answered that hee could neuer thorowly recompence that man but in token of his good will he would giue him two of his white stéedes which iuels of al earthly things he had most pleasure in now Hercules for that he alwaies striued to do good coueting rather to deliuer the distressed people than after that guift of Laomedon although he made countenance of acceptance insomuch that he gaue battaile to that mōstrous beast where betwixt them was fought a cruell fight but in conclusion the monster was slaine the Troyans fréed from that monethly fée then was Hercules much made of in Troy vntill such time that vnfaithfull Laomedon forgeting the great pleasure and benefit that he had receiued at his hands priuily repining and grudging at his being in the citie chiefly for that the Citizens much honored fauored the man which was altogeather displeasant to him insomuch that Laomedon awaighted when Hercules went to sport himselfe out of the Citie and then presently shut vp the gates of Troy against him also denying to giue the horses which before he had promised Thus whē Hercules did see himselfe so deluded by the twise periured King being mightely moued vowed that hee in time would take reuengement on that disloyal wretch and not long after he came with mighty force against the citie of Troy and made warre on the King slaying many thousands of his people defasing the towne of Troy which Laomedon by his vile periurie had built and erected taking prisoners Priamus and Hesione children of the vnfaithful king but the wretch Laomedon their father was fled to kéepe himselfe from the hands of Hercules whom before he had so mightily abused thus for his periurie disloyaltie accustomed discourtesie his stately Citie was ouerthrown his children led captiue and himself forsed to flée Yet againe Laomedon was suffered to erect vp the walls of Troy and replenish it with people the second time not long after also Hercules came againe into the Troyan roade when hee was going with Iason to Colchos to fetch the golden fléece there required ayd of Laomedon for his pay but the discurteous King denied his lawful sute for which spightfull part Hercules whē he returned frō that voyag the second time came against Troy with a great power whom the king minding to encounter was slaine in the sight of the Citizens and Troy againe taken Yet the noble minded Hercules being moued with pitie suffered Priamus the sonne of Laomedon the slain king to be redéemed from his captiuitie who a new erected and built the walls of vnfortunate Troy This periurie and vnfaithfull dealing of Laomedon whether it be true or false it is recorded by the Troyans themselues and especially reiterated made extant by the Romanes who of all other Nations doo most proudly brag and vaunt of the Troyans their predecessors and progenitors This I am sure no Nation of the world can denie but that Hercules was alwayes a fréer to Countreyes from tyrannie a reformer of wrongs a helper of the afflicted and neuer in his life did iniure or hurt anie prince people or Commonwealth without iust cause of shamefull villanie For it is well knowen that at y e verie hower of his Natiuitie the sacred Oracle of Apollo was heard to pronounce these words Heraclem te alio Phoebus cognomine dicit Gratificando etenim decus immortale tenebis Phoebus cals thee Hercules thy name so tearmeth he By dooing good and gratious deeds thy praise shall endles be Wherefore it is to bee considered that Hercules either did wrongfully suppresse the Troyans and subdue their Citie or els that vnfaithfull Laomedon was iustly punished for his periurie and discurtesie Priamus quoque filius Laomedontis seruitutem perpetuam seruisset si non precio fuisset redemptus etenim puer ab Hercule captus cum Hesione sorore pecunia solus redimi potuit vnde Priamus dictus qui prius appellatus Podarces Porrò si qua fortasse fuerunt ineo virtutis ornamenta Paris tamen ab ijs deflexit ad omnem libidinis turpitudinem Also Priamus the son of Laomedon should haue liued in perpetuall seruitude if hee had not been redeemed with money for the boy being taken by Hercules with his sister Hesione could be redeemed no otherwise saue only by ransome wherfore he was euer after called Priamus whose name was first Podarces Furthermore if hee had anie ornaments of vertue yet Paris his sonne did cleane digresse from any such good qualitie to all filthinesse of carnall pleasures First it is to be remembred that he violated most shamefully his vow made to Oenone who before had saued his life which otherwise by the consent of his owne father had perished After manie such vnfaithfull parts by the prouocation of his owne lecherous motion whereunto hee alwaies was verie apt and prone and partly by the instigation of Priamus his father to the intent he might crie quittance with the Greekes who then held his sister Hesione captiue he sayled into Greece where he was right Princely intertained by Menelaus King of Lacedemon who right honorably banqueted and feasted both him and his companions And for that the curteous King had not conuenient leasure in his own person to welcome sir Paris beeing at that time vrgently forced to goe into Crete to take order and dispose the goods of olde Atreus his father lately dead he commaunded Helena his beautiful Quéen so entertaine her guest in his absence that he might both haue vse of his pallaice country and subiects with all other reuerēce to be done to him at his owne will and commaundement for which friendly entertainment and gentle courtesie hee not digressing from the Troians his vnfaithfull progenitors to requit the gentle King stole away from thence his wife Helena whom he entirely loued But Menelaus and the other angrie Greekes not digesting such a proud and shamefull rape foorthwith prepared a mightie and huge Armie against the Troians minding to be reuenged on their Citie and Countrey for the abuse of that vnfaithfull lechour insomuch that in the ende by reason of his filthy folly both the aged king his father was cruelly slaine his Countrey ruinously wasted and spoyled the Citie of proud Troy most miserably burnt defaced with the slaughter of manie thousands of his Countrimen Thus after Troy was thrice ouerthrowen by the vnfaithfulnes of her own natiue people and especially vtterly destroied in the last subuersion with the losse of the whole Empire by the vnkinde Citizens For Aeneas as Dictys Cretensis saith who in the same warre serued against Troy vnder the conduct of Idomeneus King of Crete whose workes at this day are extant with the consent of old Anchises his father and Antenor his confederate companion yelded vp and betrayed Troy with their aged king into the hands of their enemies the Greekes and by this faythlesse meanes obtained life both for themselues their wiues children
of such cruell hate Was by Patroclus haplesse death who was his louing mate Whom Hector slewe in open fight with many a Greeke that day And spoylde him of his armor bright that naked there he lay Which armor was the chiefest canse that brought him to his end The angry gods displeasde with vs such haplesse hap did send All things thus done my other sonnes reuenge did vowe to take On vile Achylles for this deede and for slaine Hectors sake That presently vpon the Greekes with mightie force they went And thousands on ech part that day to dreadfull death were sent Thus dayly they did still contend by force of cruell warre And Princes fell on eyther side that thither came from farre The Greekes did waxe the Troyans grew as desperat men in fielde To daunt eche others haughty minde and make eche other yeelde At last againe as fortune woulde Achylles fierce did slay My other sonne sir Troylus who was our chiefest stay A valiant youth the Greekes can tell although he thus did die For that before the proudest Greekes he forced had to flie In turrets tall from toppe of towne my hap was still so bad To see my louing sonne to die a wofull sight most sad For mothers eie still to beholde her louing children so To end their dayes and be abusde by such a spitefull so From loftie walls I then beheld sir Troylus my sonne To course the Greekes on euery side and made them fast to run Vntill that fierce Achylles came who sure I thinke was borne To breede my woe and that the gods against me wretch had sworne To plague with hellish torments vile the plagues of furthest hell Should hap to me and greater paines than any tongue can tell For that what time soeuer I on walls did see the fight Some childe of mine was sure to die within his mothers sight When nowe to turrets top I climde with many Ladies more Whereto I did not once ascend since Hector dide before But then too soone such was my chaunce I thinke the gods decreede That while I did behold the fight no better they should speede Achylles braue on horse did mount whom Troylus had spide To brag amongst the Greekes his mates well mande on euery side But when my sonne had found his foe and thought on Hectors foile Like mighty Mars he layd on lode and made that day great spoile He thrust amongst the thicest throng Achylles out to finde That he might knowe his brothers death as yet he had in mind With couched launce and courage good my sonne did run amaine In hope to haue by manly force his cruell foe there slaine He mist the marke but yet he strake Achylles from his steede And if the Greekes had not giuen ayde he then had done the deede And yet for all the Greekes could do he gaue his foe a wound Thorowe plated thigh he thrust his launce a handful in the ground Achylles horsde by helpe of Greekes and mounted vp anew And then with troupe of armed Knights my sonne he did pursue The wounded Greeke that folowed fast sir Troylus had spide Who turnd his horse and willd his mates his fury to abide With monstrous force the Greekes did fight the Troyans did not flie On either side to lay it on the people fiercely cry At last the Greekes had giuen the horse that then my sonne did beare A mortall wound that paind him so the iade did fiercely fare In plunging sort the horse did play with mighty gyrds at last From setled seate my haplesse sonne the winsing iade had cast In falling downe ah heauy chance his foote the stirrop helde The wounded horse so scard before ran raging in the field And dragd my childe before my face vpon the bloody ground For blood did flow that day ful fresh from many a mortal wound Achylles hauing spide my sonne in such a woful case With piercing speare to him halfe dead he hied him then apace Through backe and side his launce he sent and cride I now am quit With this my wound receiude before and therewithal did hit The staggring horse that downe he fel and there together lay Both man and horse thus fortune vile her froward pranks did play Sir Troylus by chance thus slaine the Greekes from armour stript Whose bowels hung about his feete for they his body ript And naked on a gibe they hang for Troyans there to see Their champion stout whom earst before had made the Greekes to flee Olde Pryamus and I beheld our louing sonne so kinde In vgly sort to hang on high starke naked in the winde Whose corps did waue in swinging-sort which way each wind did blowe And as he hung the angry Greekes at him great stones did throwe Their speares did passe through senselesse corps before him slaine they vaunt So fierce the fooles his carkasse dead with bitter words did taunt Hang here quoth they thou wicked wretch and rue thy brothers deede If he by Grecian fist be caught no better shall he speede For causing of this bloody warre that many thousands rue Their haplesse chance but he himselfe we trust shall haue his due And that ere long wherefore till then feele thou his earned smart We Greekes do hope that Paris proude shal rue his wilful part These words we heard this sight we see the Greekes like mad men rage They threaten stil for Paris deede sharp war with vs to wage A sight ful strange yet not so rare for fortune did present More harder haps to me than this to plague me she was bent A messenger we sent to craue the carkasse of our childe Whose bones were broke and skin from flesh with blows the Greeks had hilde Achylles straight did send my sonne which something pleasde my minde I did not thinke such curtesie at his handes then to finde But with my sonne to comfort me these louing words did send My friend quoth hee tel Hecuba that oft I do intend Such gifts on her for to bestow to breed her further ioy Til such time serue wish her to take of me this mangled boy Thus Troylus was brought to Troy a heauie sight God knows His body foule disfigured with many bloody blows They layde him downe before my face that mothers eies might see Her sonne whom fierce Achylles vsde with such extremitie His martyrde corps I did intoombe though part were left behinde Which Grecian iades did tread to dirt yet al that I could finde To graue was sent the funerals and al things else wel done The Troyans al in woful wise do much lament my sonne That al the towne with houlings sound ech one did waile his fil Him dead I know it was in vaine but that did shew good will Now did the Greekes afresh begin the Troyans to suppresse And they as fierce did fight it out in hope to haue redresse Of former wrongs but al in vaine for Hector now was gone And Troylus my other sonne wherefore there was not one Aliue
Because he held his lawful wife he would reuenge that rape For when that Paris late was slaine then this my sonne did take Faire Helen Menelaus wife which did against him make And now before my face this Greeke my louing sonne had cought Whom he before through all the towne full egerly had sought To make him rue his former deede and Paris being slaine He vowde my sonne that held his wife should yeeld her vp againe Lo thus I say before my face the greedy Greeke there helde My sonne who to the bedlem beast in humble sort did yelde But he in steade of clemencie did shewe his cruell minde My sonne that yeelded at his foote the tyrant vile did binde His nose he cut his eares and lips and plucked out his sight His other limmes in spiteful sort he did dismember quite Take heere quoth he the due reward of Paris fault forepast Thy brother dead for if he liude a worser plague should taste Wherefore commend me to his ghost and truely to him tell That I for his offences vile did send thy soule to hell And therewithall he stabde my sonne that willing was to die Which thing once done yet further griefe I chanced to espie For presently right neare my sight it was my hap to see My daughter whom full deare I loude my sweete Cassandra she Most vilely to be drawne along whose handes and feete were bound In spitefull sort by haire of head they dragged on bloody ground They hallde her still along the streetes where gory blood did flowe That when she past along by me I scarce her face did knowe But soone she spide me where I stoode and lifting vp her eies To haughty heauens and for redresse in wofull sort she cries And calls aloude to haue my ayde when I myselfe had neede Of ayde to succour my mishap and that to haue with speede Yet still she cryes O mother helpe lay to your helping hand Let not this Greeke misuse me thus while you on looking stand But rather seeke to succour me from this vile tyrant wilde And saue me from this cruell Greeke that mindes to force your childe Sweet mother help quoth she againe get Troyans to defend Me thus abusde But she in vayn her wofull voice did spend For I my selfe did quaking stand expecting still the end Amongst my foes I there was placde I could not spie a frend Yet following fast my daughter deere to see what might betide Who still for ayd on me poore soule continually cride To Pallas temple she was drawn in Troy a sacred place And there my daughter was abusde before her mothers face That bad vngodly Greek did deale with her and did abuse The holy place with such a fact her body to misuse Which when I saw I could not stay to geue the looking on But cried aloud for Troyan ayd although I could get none That holy temple was defilde with such a filthy deed For which offence that wretch ere long vnhappily did speed Away I trudgd opprest with grief vnable to geue ayd Or to reuenge my selfe on him that this vile part had playd And as I past from place to place it was my chance to see A hundred of my daughter-lawes which did enquire for me And quaking stood in open street with minds resolud to dy For well they knew the wayes were stopt that none away could fly With wofull cries we wayld a good down dropt the brinish teares But all in vain for dreadfull death in ougly shape appeares Yet lingring still in hope to line we seek to find reliefe And rangde about in streets vnknown which bred vs further grief For as I past I might behold an altar huge to stand In open street wherto we went to shun their cruell hand A sacred place where all our Gods were painted on a row There throngd we thick about that place to shrowd vs from our foe Which place we thought the angry Greeks durst not once be so bold Before the Gods our bloud to shed wherfore on them we hold And thought the Gods would vs defend and priuiledge the place And as a sanctuary safe to help in such a case Thus sitting there at last I spide old Priamus my mate Who yet had scapt their murdring hand but this his heauy state VVas death to me yea death it selfe my husband deare to see So chacte as hare before the hound who fast for life did flee The aged man whose quaking limmes could scant his body beare Had weapons got and armour bright vpon his back did weare His bending hams did beare the waight vnfit for Priams yeares VVith speare in hand as if no state of Grecian land he feares His manly mind was bent to fight his feeble force to try And he amongst his louing frends most willingly would dy The heauy harnesse ouer huge my husband would assay That being on his speare in hand could scarce his body stay But staggering stood not fit to fight infeebled so by age Yet he against his cruell foes in desperat wise did rage VVhich soon I spide wherfore as then I humbly did desire To rage no more but seeme content and pacifie his ire I wild him then without delay to sacred place repare VVhich thing to touch the greedy Greeks would haue especiall care For that the Gods there present were to keep vs free from spoyle VVhose presence what bold Grecian dares pollute with bloudy foyle And therwithall in hast I drew him to the altar side And set him down old feeble man but see what did betide By this time Pryams pallace faire was yealded to the Greekes And Pyrrhus fierce Achilles sonne in euery corner seekes For Priamus that aged sire and for his louing sonnes In hope to gaine them with the spoile full eagerly he runs And hauing found Polytes out in cruell sort did chase The fearfull youth who for his life did trudge the streets apace And comming where his father sate there hoping to haue ayd Yet scarcely come to wished place but that proud Pyrrhus stayd Our sonne and there within our sight with churlish fist fast held And presently in parents view Polites there he feld There panting lay our louing sonne by breathles course neare spent VVhile Pyrrhus stern his fatall speare through back and side had sent That dying straight his hands vp held to take his last farewell It makes me shrink to call to mind and greeues me now to tell VVhat after did ensue for that King Priam could not rest VVith such a sight as commonly each father dooth detest For to reuenge his sonne so slain he needs would take in hand VVhen he good man vnable was with feeble age to stand But he to shew his noble mind bad Pyrrhus proud pack hence Forth of his sight or els he would with speed driue him from thence VVhat darst thou now thou wretch quoth he thus in my presence stay VVhen that my sonne whom well I loude thou didst before me slay And wilt thou stand
to braue it out to breed me further paine No that I will not sure digest though I my selfe be slaine And therwithall in feeble fist his speare he trembling held Whose quaking lims by age opprest could scant his weapon weld And at proud Pyrrhus he lets driue his hurtles speare God knowes Wherof strong Pyrrhus might haue born for need a thousand blowes Achilles bastard borne quoth he by this I know thou art That dares presume before my face to play so hard a part Thou wretch thou misbegotten wretch that thus hast shewd thy kind For well I know thou art the man that bearst so bad a mind With that quoth he Neoptolemus my fathers sonne the same That was the bastard and not I for Pyrrhus is my name And for because in time to come thou shalt not vse me so With these hard tearms a token I will geue thee how to know My brother and my selfe apart wherfore thou shalt enquire Ere long of slaine Achilles ghost to proue thy selfe a lier And therwithall the spitefull Greek from sacred place did draw My noblemate by haire of head contrary to all law And through the bloud of his slaine sonne the aged man he drew And right before our sacred Gods my husband deare he slew With fatall blade before my face he piercde his tender side That right against the Gods themselues my louing husband dide The Gods no help at all would geue the Grecian to preuent Nor that the Troyan Prince should liue but they with one consent Did vow his death for former fault and for his sinnes offence No earthly wight for this his sinne could with their power dispence But die he must it was decreed and dreadfull death should end This bloudy war that after none in like case should offend My husband dead I did behold a grieuous sight to see His daughters all bewayld his hap which then did stand with me The cellers deep and hollow caues with wayling all did sound And from the hauty houses tops the Echo did rebound Ah heauy chaunce to see him slaine who was my chiefest ioy The Emperor of Asia great and stately King of Troy Who now lay slaine before my face but being then starke dead With louing zeale on Priam slaine my greedy eyes I fed What hath this princox boy quoth I my louing husband slaine Beside our Gods without reuenge what shall he still remaine Aliue to vaunt of this his deed or brag of such a fact Before the Greeks his cruell mates who ioyes at this his act Ye Gods ye sacred Gods I cride although your wrath be great Against vs Troyans now subdude whose ruine ye did threat For Paris sinne yet haue regard on Triam thus betrayd VVho now is dead by your decree wherfore his debt is payd But now quoth I graunt my request that this vile Greek may rue This cruell deed in time to come that euer he so slue The aged King for reuerence of gray and aged haires VVhose youth was come by yearly course to old and aged yeares Let not the slaughter of a King make proud his hauty hart Nor that he long may make his vaunt of this so hard a part But as your iustice now is seen in so reuenging wrong So Pyrrhus proud by your consent may rue this deed ere long VVhen Priam thus by Pyrrhus sword had breathed out his last And that the town was quite subdude by Grecians fighting fast The Greeks demaund Polixena because she first procurde Achilles death by fained loue through which he was allurde VVhom when they found this Pyrrhus craude to haue my louing child That so had causde his fathers death by working such a wilde But when she knew the earnest suite of fierce Achilles sonne For succour to me helples wretch with vaine hope fast did run VVith clasping armes about my neck on me she cride for ayd For Pyrrhus dead Achilles sonne had made her sore afrayd Help mother now at need quoth she still weeping on my brest A place too weak for greedy Greeks for there she might not rest Grim Pyrrhus with an eager look did teare her from my lap VVith churlish fist he gript the girle O hard and cruell hap That still mine eyes should witnes beare of this my wofull case And that both mate and children deare should die before my face By haire of head Polixena was drawne along the street VVhere diuers of her wofull frends in sorrowing sort did meete To waile with her for well they wist to dreadfull death she went Achilles death now to reuenge they knew proud Pyrrhus ment And as they thought it came to passe for Pyrrhus did deuise Vpon his fathers tombe as then my child to sacrifise Vnto the ghost of his slaine Sire his death to recompence And that Achilles ghost might know it was for her offence Polixena so halde along by such a cruell foe VVhat should become of this my child as then I did not know VVherfore to see I followed fast what would to her betide VVhere round about Achilles tombe a troup of Greeks I spide Which readie were to giue their aide if need should so require My daughters death with one consent each Gretian did desire And there before my face they bound both hand and foote full fast Of this my child that willing was of bitter death to tast But hauing spide me where I stood her hands and feete fast bound In token of her last farewell her head towards me she twound And fixt her eyes on me poore wretch with such a wofull looke With nodding head for want of limmes her last farewell she tooke Then Pyrrhus mad vntill reuenge did drawe his fatall blade And slewe my child vpon the tombe which he before had made In honour of his father dead and there with gorie blood Imbrewd the graue which cruell act did all the Gretians good These words he spake which well I heard quoth he take here thine end Thy soule vnto my fathers ghost for thine offence I send And for the fault of Paris slaine King Priam late did rewe His sonnes vile part for with this hand the aged man I slewe O fortune vile that sparde my life to see this wofull day My friends starke dead whom Grecians slewe in euery corner lay Not one was left to comfort me that could my woe redresse But mourning matrons whose hard hap increasde my heauinesse And last of al the angry Greekes to breede vs further care The traytours of our common wealth from sacke or spoile they spare Aeneas and Antenor he those that betrayde our towne In conquerde Troy had liberty as walkers vp and downe The spoile once had our stately towne with fire fierce did flame The gods decreed my life should last that I might see the same Then did I see our lofty towers consumde with fire to fall In burning houses children cride which number was not small A world of woe to call to minde the latter spoile of Troy When Greekes with fire
chop should staine Because I feard the prophesie therfore I did consent But what of that the Gods themselues did hinder mine intent For if the Gods decree it once I know it will fall out Let no man think the powers diuine by any meane to stout Sir Satire sonne to Pariside of Bosphore sometime king Was wild by Oracle to shun a mouse of any thing For that a mouse should be his death except he took great heed The Oracle did tell him flat his fate was so decreed But he to shun the warned harme did slay the silly mice In field and town that none might liue his death to enterprice And in his land no man might dwell that mouse was cald by name He sought each way to saue himselfe he feared so the same He stopt the holes of creeping mice in euery place full sure For that the vermins by no meanes his death might once procure Yet see the end when least he thought of this forewarned harme He wounded was vpon the brawne or muscle of the arme For Musculus a little mouse in Latine we doo call And Mus a mouse which Satire slew as after did befall A dagger piercd Sir Satirs arme right where the muscle grew And muscle comes of Musculus though then too late he knew And Philip King of Macedon was warned to beware Of wagon or of wheeled coach wherfore he had a care To keep himselfe from any such he neuer could abide To come in coach for feare of that but still on horse did ride For all his care it so fell out he could it not preuent He was deceiud no running coach by this before was ment For being slaine the sword that slew the King was brought to sight And viewed well where on the hilts a coach was grauen right To Pelius it was declarde when that he chauncd to see One barefoot doing rights vnto his fathers ghost that he Should then of death in danger stand the prophesie was so Because he should take heed of him and shun the warned foe When he was doing of his rights vnto his fathers ghost His nephew Iason came by chance whose right foot shoo was lost And there vnto his grandsire dead the youth his dewes did giue The vncle then with ielous mind not long did think to liue For that he feard his neuew now who barefoot there did stand Should be the cause of his dispatch wherfore he out of hand Did counsell Iason being young to Colchos Ile to sayle To fetch the golden fleece from thence wherin he did preuaile His meaning was that Iason should be lost or drownd therin The conquest seemd vnpossible the golden fleece to win And for because he might not feare the prophesie forepast He shipt his neuew speedely and sent him thence in hast But Iason soon returnde again and brought away the fleece And brought Medea home with him to be old Pelias Neece To Thessalie Medea came and hearing what was done Against the aged Pelias she presently begun To practise treason at the last and causd the aged sire By his own daughters to be slaine this was for Pelias hire For he that could not trust the man that was his kinsman near But purposely did seek his death to free himselfe from fear Had such a chance ere that he wist Medea did the deed His ielous mind was chiefest cause that made him so to speed The Oracle long time before did know old Pelias mind Wherfore it told what destenie was to the man assignde Of fiftie daughters Danaus to be the sire was knowne Aegiptus then his brother had so many sonnes his own Aegiptus would haue all these his sonnes his brothers daughters wed But Danaus would not consent wherfore away he fled And tooke his daughters all with him because he did suspect A sonne in law would be his death therfore he did reiect The offer that his brother made but why he did refraine The cause was thus the Oracle did say he should be slaine By him that was his sonne in law wherefore he sought to shunne Such destinie as might befall through such a wicked sonne Aegyptus wroth with this his deede did send his sonnes to stay Their vncle that before was fled and pact from thence away His sonnes according to his will old Danaus did take And causde him there against his will a marrige day to make His daughters all were wedded then against their fathers will Eche man his cousin germaine had Aegyptus did fulfill His mind at last and did reioyce in this so strange a march But Danaus not well content did worke a swift dispatch Because he fearde the prophecie least that on him should light He did commaund his daughters all they should appoint a night Wherein eche one with willing minde her slumbring mate should slay And disappoint the prophecie before the morrow day His iealous minde did vexe him so he still did doubt the worst Til it was done he could not rest the man did so mistrust According to the fathers minde they did commit the act The nuptiall bed was so defilde with such a filthie fact All sauing one was slaine that night a hard and cruel part Whose life was saude for that his wife did wil him thence to start For very loue she bare to him though all her sisters had Destroyde their mates which deede she thought to be right vile and bad Thus being saude by such a meane the sonne in law did wexe Right fierce against his father law and earnestly did vexe He vowde reuenge on Danaus that thus vniustly delt He swore that he should taste the same that they before had felt And in the end he slue the wretch for doing of that deede The Oracle pronouncde before how Danaus should speede Thus seeking how to shunne his fate his death he did procure Himselfe was cause of his dispatch when he thought all things sure The Theban king that Laius hight by Oracle was tolde That Oedipus his onely sonne would proue a man too bolde And in the end should be the death of him that was his sier But Laius thought to frustrate that and proue his god a lier Vnto a shepheard of his owne his sonne he gaue to slay And chargde the man vpon his life there should be no delay But presently his sonne to kill and bring him home his heart He shall not liue so long quoth he to make his father smart The shepheard tooke the lad a field but loath he was to kill His Masters sonne that he loude well and yet he must fulfill His masters minde which grieude him sore wherefore he did inuent How he might satisfie the King and saue the innocent That Oedipus were dead he wisht so that his hands were freed From doing hurt vnto the youth and from so vile a deede Wherefore the hurtlesse lad he tooke his legs with twigs he bound And by the heeles vpon a tree he hung him from the ground That no wilde beasts might reach the