others had a Flitch for proof whereof I have found out the Record of the House and the Names of the several Persons that at several times had it There was one Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in the County of Essex Husband-man that came to the Priory of Dunmow on our Lady-day in the seventh year of King Edward the Fourth and required a Gammon of Bacon and was sworn before Roger Rulcot then Prior and the Covent of that place as also before the multitude of other Neighbours and there was a Gammon of Bacon delivered unto him Also one Richard Wright of Badesnorth near the City of Norwich in the County of Norfolk came and required of the Bacon of Dunmow on the 17 day of April in the twenty third year of the Reign of Henry the sixth and according to the form of the Charter was sworn before John Canon Prior of the place the Covent and many other Neighbours and there was delivered unto him a Flitch of Bacon Hereby appeareth it was given according to Charter or Donation by some conceited Benefactor to the House and it was not to be doubted but at such a time the bordering Towns and Villages would resort and be Partakers of their Sport and laugh to scorn the poor Mens pains Also it is to be remembred that in the Year of our Lord 1510. upon Munday being the eighth day of September in the second year of King Henry the Eighth that Thomas Lee of Coxal in Essex was sworn before John Taylor the Prior of the House and the Covent as also before a Multitude of other Neighbours and there was delivered unto him a Gammon of Bacon Of what we find in credible Authors concerning the famous Guy Earl of Warwick THIS Guy was Son unto one Siward Baron of Wallingford who married unto Felicia sole Daughter and Heiress of Rohand the first we read of the Saxon Race that was Earl of Warwick and in her Right became Earl of that Earldom who for his Valour hath ever since been and yet is so famous that the Vulgar are of Opinion he was a Man of more than an ordinary Stature and the Welch taking notice of his brave Exploits will needs have him to be descended from Brittish Parentage Soon after his Marriage with Felicia aforesaid being now pretty well stricken in Years he went on Pilgrimage to the Holy-Land where he abode for some space during which time viz. Anno 926. in the third Year of King Athelstane the Danes having invaded England cruelly wasted the Countries where they march'd so that there was scarce a Town or Castle that they had not burnt or destroyed almost as far as Winchester and hearing that the King with his Nobles then was in that City consulting about some timely means to prevent the utter loss of all they sent Messengers to him proposing that either he would forthwith resign his Crown to the Danish Generals viz. Aulafe and Govelaph or submit to hold this Realm of them doing Homage and Fealty and paying Tribute according to their Appointment or lastly that the whole Dispute for the Kingdom should be determined in a single Combate by two Champions for both sides this being added by Aulafe that if in that Duel King Athelstane's Champion had the Victory he would presently depart the Land with his Army but otherwise without any more ado it should wholly belong to the Danes Of which Proposals King Athelstane accepted the last and calling together his Nobles offer'd that Province viz. Hantshire for a reward to him that should conquer the Danish Champion called Colbrand and to the end that God would direct him in the choice of one to undertake this Combate he enjoyned a Fast for three days in which with earnest Prayers and abundant Tears he besought his Favour but in this choice the English were exceedingly astonish'd forasmuch as one Herand a most valiant and hardy Knight of this Nation was then beyond Sea seeking after Reynburn the Son of his Lord and Master Earl Guy that had been stollen away by Merchants of a Foreign Country in his Infancy as also that Earl Rohand Guy's Father-in-law the most valiant of a thousand was dead and also Guy himself as we said before was gone in Pilgrimage to the Holy Land But it so fell out that God being moved with the sorrowful Tears and Intercessions of the English sent a good Angel to comfort the King as he lay upon his Bed the very Night of the Nativity of St. John Baptist directing that he should rise early on the Morrow taking two Bishops with him and get up to the top of the North-gate of that City staying there till the hour of Prime and then should he see divers poor People and Pilgrims enter thereat amongst which there would be a personable Man in a Pilgrim's Habit bare-footed with his Head uncovered and upon it a Chaplet of white Roses and that he should entreat him for the love of Jesus Christ the devotion of his Pilgrimage and the preservation of all England to undertake the Combate for he should conquer the mighty Colebrand and deliver his Realm from the Danish Servitude Whereupon King Athelstane with fervent Zeal hasted betimes in the Morning to Mass and sent for the Arch-bishop of Canterbury with the Bishop of Chichester to whom he related his Vision taking them along to the Gate assigned About this time it happened that our famous Guy returning from his Pilgrimage landed at Portsmouth and being there advertised of Sir Herand's Absence as also of Earl Rohand's Death together with the great distress that the King and his Nobles were then in hasted towards Winchester immediately and coming at night to an Hospital but little distant from the North-gate of that City in which place afterwards the Hospital in honour of the Holy Cross was founded where he rested himself and on the next morning went with other poor people to the City Gate to which place the King being come for the purpose before specified and espying one neatly clad in a white short sleeved Gown reaching to the mid-leg with a Garland of Roses upon his Head and a large Staff in his Hand but looking wan and much macerated by reason of his travelling bare-foot and his Beard grown to a very great length he concluded that the same was the Man described to him by that Angel and being full of Joy told those that were there with him as much The Palmer for so was he at that time called taking notice of the King and Bishops put off his Chaplet and reverently saluting them entered the Gate whereupon the King hasted down and laying hold of his Coat tendered him Entertainment with desire to hear some News but the Palmer returning humble Thanks answered that the Hour to take up his Lodging was not yet come for that he intended first to visit the Churches of that City and there offer up his Prayers unto God but afterwards seek some Food for to refresh himself withal which being
seeking his Corps were lost in a Wood when calling one to another Where art Where art Where art the martyred Head answered Here Here Here. However God forbid that these Monkish Lies should make us under-value this worthy King and Martyr thus cruelly tortured to Death which by an old Author is thus accurately express'd Utque cruore suo Gallos Dionysius ornat Graecos Demetrius gloria quisque suis Sic nos Edmundus nulli virtute secundus Lux patet patriae gloria magna suae Sceptra manum diadema caput sua purpura corpus Ornat ei sed plus vincula mucro cruor As Denis by his Death adorneth France Demetrius Greece each Credit to his place So Edmund's Lustre doth our Land advance Who with his Vertues doth his Country grace Scepter Crown Robe his Hand Head Corps renowns More famous for his Bonds his Blood his Wounds And of these his Sufferings another Poet of middle time thus versifies of him Jam loca vulneribus desunt nec dum furiosis Tela sed hyberna grandine plura volant Though now no place was left for Wounds yet Arrows did not fail These furious Wretches still they fly thicker than Winter Hail His Shirt was kept at the Abbey of Bury for a precious Relick which Monks also bragged that they had certain Drops of St. Stephen's Blood thou canst not O Reader but believe it which sprung from him at such time as he was stoned and some of the Coles with which St. Lawrence was broiled Some few notable Histories of Parents crossing the Affections of their Children and the sad Effects attended thereon IN Verona a famous City in Italy lived a young Gentlewoman named Julietta of the noble House of the Montesches or Montacutes her Father being not willing that she should marry when both the decency of Time and aptness of her Years made tender of themselves therefore in her fairest Flower she espoused her self unknown to her Parents to a Gentleman's Son of another House and Family called the Capelets whose Name was Romeo those two Families being mortal Enemies one to the other This Marriage sorted unto the lamentable Death of both the Lovers as you shall briefly hear in this manner They being secretly married by the hand of a Cordelier or Franciscan Fryar a man most expert in the Secrets of Nature who took great Compassion on their earnest reciprocal Affection and daily Torments between them endured It happened on a certain day that an Uncle to Julietta in regard of the inveterate Hatred betwixt the two Families drew upon Romeo who in defending himself slew the said Uncle whereupon he was banished or at the least inforced to be absent from Verona The woeful Gentlewoman having made her moan unto the honest minded Fryar under the shadow of Confession concerning the irksome absence of her best esteemed Friend he gave her advice to receive a little Potion when she went to Bed which should cause her to sleep for more than thirty hours so that she should be verily supposed to be dead She boldly adventured on his Counsel and her Parents imagining her to be dead indeed caused her to be buried in the Tomb or Vault belonging to the House of her Predecessors From thence the Fryar purposed to fetch her at a certain hour of the Night and to conduct her in the Habit of a Novice to banished Romeo who lived in a Land of another Jurisdiction yet not far distant from the City all this was possible and easie to be performed for it was and is a common Custom there not to bury deceased Bodies in Graves as it is observed among us but in Grotts or vaulted Caves While these things were framing themselves according to premeditated purpose it fortuned that a Servant belonging to Romeo came to Verona to bring Letters of Recommendation to Julietta and being returned back to his Master reported the certain Tidings of her Death and that himself was present at her interring Romeo confounded with Grief and extremity of Passions found the means in a disguised Habit before the shutting up of Verona Gates to enter the City In the dead time of the Night also he compassed his Intent entering the Church with a lighted Torch in his hand having opened the doors by the help of his Servant and also the Tomb wherein she lay inclosed Then commanding the absence of his Servant he entered into the Vault and after infinite Kisses bestowed by him on Julietta whom he verily conceited to be dead he drank a most deadly Poyson which he had bought of a needy Apothecary and which immediately fell to Operation so slept he for ever by the body of Julietta Now after her Drink had wrought his full Power she awaked and by means of the burning Torch perceiving her Romeo to be quite dead she was thereat greatly enraged with Grief so that snatching a Ponyard that hung at his Girdle she therewith desperately slew her self Not long after the Fryar knowing the time expired for the waking of Julietta came likewise to the Vault but when he beheld that tragick woeful Spectacle let his Sorrow be censured by such as are able to judge of the same On the morrow after the death of these two Lovers was discovered and all matters rehearsed by Fryar Lawrence for so was the Cordelier named to the great Grief and Admiration of every one that heard it Another History of as sad effects take as followeth In the City of Rome not long while since there was a young Maiden named Lucretia Daughter to a rich Merchant secretly espoused to a young man called Paulo Son also to another Merchant the two Fathers being vowed Enemies and both alike envious of each others Fortune The Father of Paulo perceiving how fast aged Years came stealing on him determined a marriage for his Son acquainting him therewith that he had made choice of one meet for him commanding him also to fashion himself to good liking thereof because he would have it accomplished within very few days The Son deferred it off so long as well he could yet to declare some Obedience to his Father he craved Respite to consider thereof but in the mean while it was generally noised thorough the City of Rome that Paulo must be married unto another This News coming to the Ears of Lucretia she dissembled her inward conceived Displeasure verily imagining the matter to be already done Paulo coming as oftentimes he did when fit time favour'd him to visit his Lucretia in the night time so jocund and merry as at no time more after accustomed Kindnesses passed between them Paulo fell into a very sound Sleep Lucretia beholding him in that fearless Estate with a great Knife she gave him so many Stabs and deep Wounds both in the Breast and Belly that she deprived him of his Life and afterward committed the like Violence on her self This Act so full of Sorrow and sad Mischance came to the Ear of Pope Paulus the Fourth who would not allow them
motion doth easily bewray it self for could either holy Wolfhield beautiful Ethelfled or the wanton Wench of Andover keep the Needle of his Compass certain at one Point Nothing less but it was still led by the Load-stone of his ever mutable and turning Affections But thou wilt say he is religious and by founding of Monasteries hath expiated those Sins Indeed many are built for which Time and Posterities must thank holy Dunstan from whose Devotion those good Deeds have sprung But is thy Person holier than sacred Wolfhield's Thy Birth and Beauty greater than Ethelfled's the white Daughter also to a Duke The former of an holy Votary he made the Sink of his Pollution and the later is branded to all Ages by the hateful Name of a Concubine and her Son among us esteemed for a Bastard These should be motives to all beauteous and vertuous Ladies not to sell their Honours at so low and too-late repented a price Neither think sweet Countess that thy Husband is jealous or suspects thy Constancy which I know is great and thy self wholly compleat with all honourable Vertues but yet consider I pray thee that thou art but young and may'st easily be caught especially of him that is so old a Master of the Game neither persuade thy self of such Strength as is able to hold out so great an Assault for Men are mighty but a King is much more I know thou art wise and enough hath been said only let me add this That Evil Beginnings have never good Ends. And so with a kind Kiss hoping he had won his Wife to his Will prepared with the first to welcome King Edgar Lady Elfrida thus left to her self began seriously to think upon this Curtain Sermon whose Text she distasted being taken out of an over-worn and thred-bare Cloath-Proverb as though her Fortunes had been wholly residing and altogether consisting in her Parentage and Apparel but nothing at all in any parts of her self whereas Women commonly are more proud of their seeming inward Perfections than of any outward Ornaments whatsoever so that Disdain taking Possession of her Heart she breathed forth her Discontent in these Words Hath my Beauty said she been courted of a King famoused by Report compared with Hellen's and now must it be hid Must I falsifie and belye Nature's Bounties mine own Value and all mens Reports only to save his Credit who hath impaired mine and belyed my Worth And must I needs defoul my self to be his only fair Foul that hath kept me from the State and Seat of a Queen I know the Name of a Countess is great and the Wife of an Earl is honourable yet no more than Birth and Endowments have assigned for me had my Beauty and Parts been far less than they are He warns me of the end when his own beginnings were with Treachery tells me the Examples of others but observes none himself He is not jealous forsooth and yet I must not look out I am his Fair but others Pitch Fire Wine Bush and what not Not so holy as Wolfhield not so white as Ethelfled and yet that I am must now be made far worse than it is I would men knew the heat of that Cheek wherein Beauty is blazed then would they with less Suspect suffer our Faces unmask'd to take Air of their Eyes and we no whit condemnable for shewing that which cannot be hid neither in me shall become of it what will for should my Husband miscarry thereby yet were I unblameable since it is no Deccit to deceive the Deceiver Having taken upon her this Resolution to be a right Woman and like a true Daughter of Eve desiring nothing more than the thing forbidden she made preparation to put it in Practice Her Body she endulced with the sweetest Balms displayed her Hair and bespangled it with Pearls bestrewed her Breasts with Rubies and Diamonds rich Jewels like Stars depended at her Neck and her other Ornaments every way alike costly and suitable so that she seemed the Paragon of Nature and appeared rather like an Angel than an earthly Creature Being thus accoutered with all the additions of Art to beautifie Nature she attended the Approach and Entrance of the King whom with such fair Obeisance and seemly Grace she received that Edgar's greedy Eye presently collecting the illustrious Rays of her shining Beauty became a burning-glass to his Heart and the Sparkles of her fair Eyes falling into the Train of his Love set all his Senses on Fire yet dissembling his Passions he passed on to his Game where having the false Ethelwood at Advantage he ran him thorough with a Javelin and having thereby made fair Elfrida a Widdow he soon after took her to be his Wife on whom he begat a Son who was afterwards King of England known by the name of Ethelred the Unready The Story of Mackbeth King of Scotland ABout the Year of our Lord 1040. one Duncan was King of Scotland who being of a soft gentle Nature unapt for Warlike Exercises and to govern so robustious and rough a People as the Scots he therefore in all matters of Importance employed two of the principal of his Nobles Mackbeth and Banquho These two travelling together toward Fores whereas the King then lay they went sporting by the way together without other Company saving only themselves as they thus journeyed thorough the Woods and Fields suddenly in the midst of a Launde there met them three Women in strange and antick Apparel resembling Creatures of an elder World whom when they attentively beheld wondering much at such an uncouth sight the first of them spake and said All hail Mackbeth Thane of Glammis Thane was a Title unto which that of Earl afterwards succeeded and he had newly entered into that Dignity of Glammis by the Death of his Father who was Thane thereof the second of them said Hail Mackbeth Thane of Cawder and the third coming up to him said All hail Mackbeth that hereafter shall be King of Scotland This is unequal dealing said Banquho to give my Friend all the Honours and none unto me yes saith the first of them we promise greater Benefits unto thee than unto him for he shall reign indeed but with an unlucky end neither shall he leave any Issue behind him to succeed in his place where contrarily thou indeed shalt not reign at all but of thee those shall be born which shall govern the Scottish Kingdom by long Order of continual Descent and having said these Words they immediately vanished out of their sight This strange Apparition was reputed at the first but some vain fantastical Illusion by Mackbeth and Banquho insomuch that Banquho would oftentimes in jest call Mackbeth King of Scotland and Mackbeth again would call him in sport likewise the Father of many Kings But afterwards upon more serious Consideration the common Opinion was that these Women were the Weird Sisters viz. the Goddesses of Destiny or else some Nymphs or Fairies endowed with
knowledge of Prophecy by their Necromantical Science because every thing came to pass as they had spoken For soon after their Arrival at Court the Thane of Cawder being condemned of Treason against the King his Title Lands Livings and Offices were given of the King's Liberality unto Mackbeth The same Night at Supper Banquho jested with him and said Now Mackbeth thou hast obtained those things which the two former Sisters promised there remaineth only for thee to purchase that which the third said should come to pass Encouraged thus by Banquho's Words but more by assurance of his helping hand he resolved not to be wanting to himself to fulfill the Prophecy of the third Weird his Wife also encouraging him much to the Attempt being very ambitious and burning with unquenchable desire to bear the name of a Queen Hereupon to put his disloyal Thoughts into Execution he murthers the King and by reason of his Command among the Souldiers and common People he succeeded in his Throne and was crowned at Scone the usual place for the Coronation of their Kings and being thus invested in the Regal Chair he for a while used great Justice and Liberality amongst his Subjects whereby he gained the Affections both of the Nobles and Common People But as commonly those who make a Ladder of Mischief to climb up to Promotion are ever jealous of those who may prejudice their unjust Titles so he calling to Mind the Prediction given to his Companion Banquho whom hereupon suspecting as his Supplanter he caused to be killed together with his whole Kindred Fleance his Son only with much difficulty escaping into Wales Glad he was now that he was freed from this Fear but yet for his further Security he built a strong Castle on the top of an high Hill called Dunsinane ten miles from Perth on such a proud height that standing there aloft a man might behold well near all the Countries of Angus Fife Stermond and Ernedale as it were lying underneath him making this his ordinary Seat yet could not his guilty Conscience be still secure but upon new Fears consulting with certain Wizards about his future Estate was told by one that he should never be overcome till Bername Wood which was some few miles distant did come to Dunsinane Castle and by another that he should never be slain by any Man born of a Woman Secure then as he thought he omitted no kind of Libidiousness or Cruelty putting to Death many of his Nobles upon slight pretences thereby to get their Estates into his hands Mackduffe Thane of Fise seeing no end of his Cruelty posted into England to Malcomne Cammore a Prince of the Royal Blood persuading him to take upon him the Crown of Scotland and to free his Country from so detestable a Tyrant and so far he prevailed that Malcomne with Syword Earl of Northumberland and ten thousand well appointed Souldiers marched into Scotland to whom joyned some few Patriots which had not yet felt the Tyrants Sword These marching with as much Privacy as so great an Army could be capable of came one Night to Bermane Wood and early in the Morning marched every Man bearing a Bough in his hand the better to keep them from Discovery toward Dunsinane Castle which they presently took by Scalado Mackbeth escaping was pursued over-taken and urged to fight by Mackduffe to whom the Tyrant half in Scorn replyed that in vain he attempted his death for it was his Destiny never to be slain by any man born of a Woman now then is thy fatal Hour come said Mackduffe for I was never born of a Woman but violently cut out of my Mothers Belly she dying before her Delivery which Words so daunted the Tyrant though otherwise a man of good Performance that he was easily slain and Malcolmne Cammore the true Heir of the Crown seated in the Throne In the mean time whilst these things were acting Fleance the Son of Banquho so thrived in Wales that he grew into great favour and estimation with the Prince of that Countrey and into such familiarity with his Daughter that she of courtesie in the end suffered him to get her with Child which being once understood her Father the Prince conceived such hateful displeasure towards Fleance that he finally slew him and held his Daughter in most vile state of servitude for that she had consented to be on this wise deflowred by a Stranger At the last yet she was delivered of a Son named Walter who within few years proved a Man of greater Courage and Valiancy than any other had commonly been found although he had no better bringing up than by his Grand-fathers Appointment amongst the baser sort of People Howbeit he shewed ever even from his Infancy that there reigned in him a certain stoutness of Stomach ready to attempt high Enterprizes It chanced that falling out with one of his Companions after many taunting Words which passed betwixt them the other to his Reproach objected that he was Illegitimate wherewith being sore kindled in his raging Fury he ran upon him and slew him out of hand then was he glad to flee out of Wales and coming into Scotland to seek some Friendship there he happened into the Company of such English men as were come thither with Queen Margaret the Sister of Edgar Atheling who was married to Malcolme and now he behaved himself so soberly in all his Demeanour that within a while he was highly esteemed amongst them Not long after by such means attaining to the degree of high Reputation he was sent with a great Power of Men into the Western Isles into Galloway and other parts of the Realm to deliver the same of the Tyranny and injurious Oppression there exercised by divers misgoverned Persons which Enterprize according to his Commission he atcheived with such prudent Policy and Man-hood that immediately upon his Return to the Court he was made Lord Steward of Scotland from which Office the name of Steward became as the Sir-name of all his Posterity From this Walter descended that Robert Steward who was after in Right of his Wife King of Scotland since which time there was successively nine Sovereigns of that Name in Scotland and three in England King James King Charles the First and King Charles the Second And may the Providence above so nourish That Name in England may for ever flourish Of a Costermonger 's Daughter of London how after many strange Adventures she came at last to be chief Sultaness to the Grand Seignior of Constantinople OF all the Passions which possess the Spirits of Men there is none which yields such variety of Admiration and Wonder as those of Love of which I shall give you herein a most notable Example scarcely to be parallell'd in any of our Romantick Stories did not we know the Power of Beauty how it subdues far beyond the Sword by conquering the Conquerours and making all things subject to it In our Metropolitan City of London there lived a
to satisfie her Revenge Paradine keeping her there company a long time imagining no other but that it was the Mistress of his Affections The Queen who spent all this while in soft whispers and dalliance not using any one word whereby she might be discovered perceiving opportunity so aptly to fit her spake thus unto him Knowest thou Paradine who it is that keepeth thee Company Full well quoth he with my Mistress and then named her Thou lyest false Traytor replyed the Queen I am Rosamond thy Sovereigns Wife whom thou hast dared to abuse in this manner and dye thou must by the just Wrath of Albovine except thou save thy Life by killing him advise thee therefore whether his Life or thine own be dearest unto thee When Paradine considered his dangerous estate without any means or escape he resolved to kill the King and for his better furtherance therein both he the Queen and Hermigilde took counsel together contriving his Murther in this manner The King used to Sleep in the heat of the day when all else avoided the Chamber except the Queen Now he being a King of Courage and high Resolution ever slept like a Souldier with his Sword girded about him which at this intended time of Treason the Queen had tied so fast in the Scabbard as he could by no means help himself therewith Paradine and Hermigilde waiting the hour which was upon the Queens coming forth they entered and for all their treading the King heard them and started from his Bed when he saw two men armed with Weapons a sudden fury possessed his Spirit perceiving their intentions were against him he sought to defend himself with his Weapon which failing him by the aforesaid means of the Queen and they with their Weapons every where striking at him and wounding him he caught up a Stool and therewith defended himself for a Space till in the end they deprived him of Life without any noise heard or any suspition of Murther The King being thus Dead all was carried with a smooth Countenance Hermigilde possessed himself of the Palace intending to make the Queen his Wife as immediately he did But notwitstanding all their close packing the Lombards not long after came to the knowledge of their Kings Death and in what manner he was murthered which so incensed them that they purposed severely to revenge the same This being notified to Rosamond and her complices she packed up most of her Jewels and Royal Treasure and fled away thence carrying with them Alvisinda Daughter to King Albovine by his first Wife and hasted with all the speed they could to Ravenna where then governed a Lieutenant of the Empire named Longinus who kept that place for Tiberius Son to the Emperour Constantine of Constantinople by whom they were courteously entertained Not long had they been there but Longinus became enamoured on Rosamond and therefore partly to enjoy her Love partly to possess that Mess of Money and Jewels which she brought with her and partly by her faction to raise a beneficial War against the Lombards he perswaded her to procure the Death of Hermigilde and take him to her Husband to which he found her very tractable for she having lost all love and fear of God respect of Woman-hood and dreadless of the shame of Men coveting withal to advance the down-faln estate by marrying with the Emperours Lieutenant gave to Hermigilde an empoysoned Potion at his coming forth of his Bath perswading him that it was most Sovereign for his Health by which perswasion he drank a good part thereof but when he found it to afflict his Body so as he plainly perceived himself to be poysoned drawing forth his Sword in extremity of Rage he compelled Rosamond to drink up all the rest that remained in the Cup. So that at one instant time they were both justly requited for the Death of Albovine Tidings hereof being brought to the Lieutenant Longinus he caused the young Lady Alvisinda to be seized on and sent her with all her Jewels and Treasure to the Emperour Tiberius at Constantinople with Paradine also as a Prisoner who for reward of his former Treason to his Sovereign had his eyes pulled forth after which he lived but a while and then dyed most miserably The miseries of inforted Marriage exemplified in a story of a Knight in Warwickshire Murthered by his own Lady IN the days of Queen Mary there lived at Shirford in Warwick-shire one Sr. Walter Smith Knight who being grown an Aged Man at the death of his first Wife considering of a Marriage for Richard his Son and Heir then at Mans Estate to that end made his mind known to Mr. Thomas Chetwyn of Ingestre in Staffordshire a Gentleman of an ancient Family and a fair Estate who entertaining the motion in behalf of Dorothy one of his Daughters was contented to give 500 pound Portion with her But no sooner had the old Knight seen the young Lady then that he became a Suiter for himself being so captivated with her Beauty that he tender'd as much for her besides a good Joynture as he should have received in case the Match had gone on for his Son Which liberal Offer so wrought upon Mr. Chetwyn as that with sparing not for arguments to perswade his Daughter to accept of Sr. Walter for her Husband adding to his perswasions something of Menaces that at length with much unwillingness she consented thereunto Whereupon the Marriage ensued accordingly but with what a tragique Issue will quickly be seen for it was not long ' ere that her affections wandering after younger men she gave entertainment to one Mr. William Robinson then of Drayton-Basset a young Gentleman of twenty two years of age Son to George Robinson a rich Mercer of London and grew so impatient at all Impediments which might hinder her full Enjoyment of him that she rested not till she had contrived a way to be rid of her Husband For which purpose corrupting her waiting Gentlewoman and a Groom of the Stable she resolved by their help and the assistance of Robinson to strangle him in his Bed appointing the time and manner how it should be effected And though Robinson failed in coming on the designed Night perhaps thorough a dismal Apprehension of so horrid a Fact she no whit stagger'd in her Resolutions for watching her Husband till he was fallen asleep she then let in those Assassinates before specified and casting a long Towel about his Neck caused the Groom to lye upon him to keep him from strugling whilst her self and the Maid straining the Towel stop'd his Breath It seems the good old Gentleman little thought that this his Lady had acted therein for when they first cast the Towel about his Neck he cryed out help Doll help but having thus dispatch'd the Work they carried him into another Room where a Close-stool was plac'd upon which they set him and after an hour that the Maid and Groom were silently got away to palliate the business she
Gold bound up in a white Napkin telling her that God had now remembred her Husband and sent him his pay for his constant pains taken in his Devotion withall charging her not to send for her Husband for though he had taken such a solemn leave of her that morning yet he would come home again to her that Night and so he departed from her The Woman presently bought in some necessaries for her house for they had eaten up all before and further made some good provision for her Husband against his coming home in the evening for so he did and finding all his Family very chearful and merry his Wife presently told him that there had been such a one there as before described and left so much Gold behind him with that fore-mentioned message delivered with it Her Husband presently replyed that it was the Angel Gabriel sent from God for the Mahometans speak much of that Angel and he further added that himself had nothing to bring home unto her but a little Grett or Sand which he took up in his way homeward and bound it in his Girdle which he presently opening to shew her it was all turn'd into precious Stones which amounted unto a very great value in Money the seventh part of which as of his Gold likewise he presently gave to the poor for say they Musulmen are very charitable and infer that if we do not neglect God God will not forget us but when we stand most in need of help will supply us Unto which conclusion we may all subscribe leaving the Premises which are laid down in this Story unto those that dare believe them Of a strange Murther related by Sanderson in his History of King James IN the Year of our Lord 1618. there lived a man at Perin in Cornwal who had been blessed with an ample Possession and fruitful Issue unhappy only in a younger Son who taking Liberty from his Father's Bounty joyned with a Crew like himself who weary of the Land went roving to Sea and in a small Vessel South-ward made Prize of all whom they could master and so increased in Wealth Number and Strength that in the Streights they adventured upon a Turk's Man of War where they got a great Booty but their Powder by mischance taking Fire our Gallant trusting to his skilful swimming got to shore upon the Isle of Rhodes with the best of his Jewels about him where after a while offering some of them to sale to a Jew he knew them to be the Governour 's of Algier whereupon he was apprehended and for a Pirate condemned to the Gallies amongst other Christians whose miserable Slavery made them use their Wits to recover their former Liberty and accordingly watching their opportunity they slew some of their Officers and valiantly released themselves After which this young man got aboard an English Ship and came safe to London where his former Misery and some skill that he had gotten that way preferred him to be Servant to a Chirurgion who after a while sent him to the East-Indies there by his Diligence and Industry he got Money with which he returned home and longing to see his Native Country Cornwal in a small Ship from London he sailed Westward but e're he attained his Port he was cast away upon that Coast where once more his excellent skill in swimming brought him safe to shore but then having been fifteen years absent he understood that his Father was much decayed in his Estate and had retired himself to live privately in a place not far off being indeed in Debt and Danger His Sister he finds married to a Mercer a meaner Match than her Birth promised to her he at first appeared as a poor Stranger but after a while privately reveals himself to her shewing her what Jewels and Gold he had concealed in a Bow-case about him and concluded that the next day he intended to appear to his Parents yet to keep his Disguise till she and her Husband should come thither to make their common Joy compleat Being come to his Parents his humble Behaviour sutable to his poor Sute of Cloaths melted the old Couple into so much Compassion as to give him shelter from the cold Season under their outward Roof and by degrees his Stories of his Travellings and Sufferings told with much Passion to the aged People made him their Guest so long by the Kitchin Fire that the Husband bad them Good Night and went to Bed and soon after his true Stories working Compassion in the weaker Vessel she wept and so did he but withal he taking pity of her Tears comforted her with a piece of Gold which gave her Assurance that he deserved a Lodging which she afforded him and to which she brought him and being in Bed he shewed her his Wealth which was girded about him a very indiscreet Act for by revealing his Wealth and concealing who he was he wrought his own utter Destruction For the old Woman being tempted with the golden Bait that she had received and greedily thirsting after the enjoyment of the rest she went to her Husband and awaking him presented him with this News and her Contrivance what farther to do and though with horrid Apprehensions he oft refused yet her pewling Eloquence Eve's Enchantments moved him at last to consent and to rise to be Master of all that Wealth by murthering the Owner thereof which accordingly they did and withal covered the Corps with Cloaths till opportunity served for their carrying it away The early Morning hastens the Sister to her Fathers House where with signs of great Joy she enquires for a Sailer that should lodge there the last Night The old Folk at first denyed that they had seen any such till she told them that he was her Brother and lost Brother which she knew assuredly by a Scar upon his Arm cut with a Sword in his Youth and that they were resolved to meet there the next Morning and be merry The Father hearing this hastily run up into the Room and finding the mark as his Daughter had told him with horrid regret of this monstrous Murther of his own Son with the same Knife wherewith he had killed him he cut his own Throat The Mother anon after going up to consult with her Husband what to do in a strange manner beholding them both weltring in Blood wild and agast finding the Instrument at hand readily rips up her own Belly till the Guts tumbled out The Daughter wondering at their delay in returning seeks about for them whom she found out too soon and with the sad sight of this bloody Scene being overcome with sudden Horror and Amazement for this deluge of Destruction she sunk down and died The Names of these Parties were concealed in favour of some Neighbours of Repute and Kin to the Family The Custom of Lapland for the marrying of their Daughters IT is Death in Lapland to marry a Maid without her Parents or Friends Consent wherefore if one
with Child and after to Ismael and God told him That the Soul of Mahomet in the beginning of the Creation was mingled with his and that his Name in Heaven though he were never like to come there should be Asmet in Earth Mahomet in Paradise Abualtrazim At this Sarah grieved until three Angels comforted her with the Promise of Isaac From Ismael it removed to Keidar his Son who was endued with seven gifts viz. Sound Couragious Fair Swift Just a Hunter and an Archer This Keidar married Nulia of the Land of Isaac but being warned by an Oracle he took to wife Algadira an Arabian and after by Divine warning carried the chest of this Light to Jacob. Then was Hamel born to him and received the same Light in which succeeded Thebicht Hamiessa Adeth Adnue Adue Machat Nizar Musar Aliez Madraca Horeima Knieua Anofra Melic Falhrem Luie Galiben Rab Murran Cudai Abdamenef Hesim a man by Divine testimony free of all uncleanness and that was more than Mahomet was himself To him did all Kings offer their Daughters in marriage and among the rest Constantine which he refused and married Seline the Daughter of Zeit and had by her Abdulmatalib whose Light caused Rain in drought To him an Elephant prostrated himself and said with man's voice thou canst not O Reader but believe it Salvation be on you and on the Light that shineth out of your Reins Dignity Fame Honour and Victory be on you and that there should proceed from him a King greater than all the Kings of the Earth Another time as he slept on the stone which was placed by Abraham in his Oratory at Mecca he dreamed of a Chain reaching East and West and to Heaven and to the Depth which was presently converted into a flourishing Herb. Noah and Abraham presented themselves Interpreters of this Dream Abdalla his Son the Father of Mahomet had a Tutor given unto him to defend him from his Enemies who seemed a man but was none He was preserved from the lying in wait of the Jews by threescore and ten Angels which seemed men He wedded Ermina and therefore two hundred Women perished for his Love some hanging some burning themselves But if this be the effects of Love Heavens send that I may dote on nothing but upon Canary powder'd Beef and Mustard When the prescribed time was come in the Month Dulheia on a Fryday night God bad Aridunan to open the Gates of Paradise that the innermost of his Secrets might be manifested for it pleaseth me saith he this Night to transport the Light of my Prophet from the reins of Abdalla into the Womb of Ermina and that it come into the World This being done as Abdalla the Judge and Lord of the Arabians went into the House of Prayer he perceived a great Light to lighten from his House up toward Heaven and presently died On the twelfth day of Rab on a Tuesday Mahomet was born circumcised and all Frolick And then all Idols fell and became Black All Kingdoms were destroyed and not one stood upright Lucifer was cast into the bottom of the Sea and in forty days could not get out 't was wonder he was not drowned in all that while but then he called to his Fellows and told them that Mahomet was born with the Power of the Sword who would take away all their Power The same also God caused to be proclaimed in Heaven and Earth His Mother said that she was delivered of him without pain and Angelical Birds came to nourish the Child and a man clothed in white presented him with three Keys like to Pearls which he took and these forsooth were the Key of Victory the Key of the Law and the Key of Prophecy and with these Keys he did pick-lock the Hearts of all his Followers After came three Persons with shining Faces presenting him a Cauldron of Emeralds with four handles which Mahomet accepted can you blame him as a sign of his Rule over all the World The Birds Clouds Winds Angels contended for the Nourishment of the Child there was old striving for a thing of nothing but the cause was determined by Heavenly Voice affirming that he should not be taken from the hands of men An Ass also almost famished worshipped him and since many more Asses have done the like and receiving him on her back became Herald to this new Prophet with mans voice proclaiming the worthiness of her carriage Three men carried him up into a Mountain of which one opened him from the Breast unto the Navel and washed his Entrails with Snow the second cleaved his heart in the midst and took out of it a black grain saying that it was the Portion of the Devil The third made him whole again Seraphin nourished him three years and Gabriel nine and twenty who gave unto him in the fortieth year of his Age the Law and carried him to Heaven you cannot chuse but believe it for this his Journey is related by Fryar Richard sometimes a Student in the University of Baldach Chap. 14. and is as true a story as that of the Fryar and the Boy Now as concerning his going up to Heaven there is several relations of it and all alike true In La vita Mahometi it is said that Mahomet went up to Heaven with the Angel Gabriel in a shining ladder where the Stairs hung by Chains of Gold as big as Mount Notho by Medina Another saith that Gabriel with threescore and ten pair of Wings came to Mahomet in the Chamber of Aissa his best beloved Wife and said that God would have him to visit him where he is and brought with him the Beast Elmparac or Alborach of nature between a Mule and an Ass This Beast told Mahomet for Asses then could speak as well as those that believed in Mahomet that he would not take him on his back till he had prayed to God for him His steps were so far as one could see for he was swister by half then Paccolet or Pegasus so that in the twinkling of an eye he had brought Mahomet to Jerusalem Then Gabriel with his Girdle tyed the Beast to a Rock and carried Mahomet on his shoulders into Heaven where he knocked and the Porter opened Others say that it was not Gabriel but another Angel that carried him up to Heaven and that Gabriel being Porter there let him in so that varying so much in their reports you may well conclude he never came thither But as their story lyes we will go on with it In the first Heaven say they he saw Angels of the shape of all Creatures praying for the Creatures of their shapes and a Cock so great that standing upon the Moon his Coxcomb reach'd into the Imperial Heaven many millions of miles Altitude and when this mighty Chanticleer crowed all the Cocks upon earth re-ecchoed him Then he brought him to the second Heaven which was a Journey of five hundred years wherein was Noah and this Heaven was of Gold The
denied the same the Emperour asketh him for his Proofs he takes his Outh of it but could produce no other Witnesses The Emperour bids him to stay in another Room enquiring of him what manner of Bag it was wherein the Money was put Then purposing to send for the man it fell out that he amongst other Citizens came to salute and welcome the Emporour The Emperour knowing the man said to him O Sir methinks you have a very handsome Hat pray thee give it me the Citizen gave it and took it for an Honour that the Emperour would accept of it then did he withdraw himself and sent a Servant to this Man's Wife desiring her from her Husband to send him such a Money-bag describing of it and that said he you may know that I come from your Husband he gave me his Hat for a Token The Woman sought out the Bag and gave it him the Emperour shews the Merchant the Bag who knew it and rejoyced at the sight of it Then the Emperour calling the Citizen tells him that this man had complained to him that he had cozened him of a Sum of Money delivered into his Custody the Citizen denies and swares that none was delivered to him the Emperour produceth the Bag the Citizen was confounded and faulters in his words whereupon the Emperour causeth him to pay the Merchant to the full and sets a good fine upon his head besides and so the business was ended Of the great friendship betwixt Damon and Pithias two Pythagorean Philosophers THese two Friends were both of them Students of Pythagoras's Learning it so happened that one of them was accused to have conspired against Dionysius King of Sicilie for which they were both taken and brought before the King who immediately gave sentence that he who was accused should be put to death This Judgment being passed on him he desired of the King that ' ere he died he might return home to set his houshold in order and to distribute his goods whereat the King laughing demanded of him scornfully what pledge he would leave him to come again At which words his Companion stept forth and said that he would remain there as a Pledge for his Friend that in case he came not again at the day appointed he willingly would lose his Head Which Condition the Tyrant received and the young man that should have dyed was suffered to depart home to his House where he did set all things in order and disposed his Goods as he thought meet The day appointed for his Return being come and most part of it past the King called for him that was Pledge who came forth merrily without any shew of Fear and freely offered to abide the Sentence of the Tyrant willing to dye for the saving the Life of his Friend But as the Officer of Justice had closed his Eyes with a Kerchief and had drawn his Sword to have stricken off his Head his Fellow came running and crying That the day of his Appointment was not yet fully past wherefore he desired the Minister of Justice to loose his Fellow and to prepare to do Execution on him that had given the occasion Whereat the Tyrant being much abashed commanded both of them to be brought to his Presence and when he had enough wondered at their noble Dispositions and their Constancy in Friendship he offering to them great Rewards desired them to receive him into their Company and so doing them much Honour did set them at Liberty Another of Christian Friendship UNDER the seventh Persecution Theodora a godly Virgin for her Religion was condemned to the Stews where her Chastity was to be a Prey to all Comers which Sentence being executed many wanton young men were ready to press into the House But one of the brethren called Didymus putting on a Soldiers habit would have the first turn and so going in perswaded her to change Garments with him and so she in the Soldiers habit escaped and Didymus being found a man was carried before the President to whom he confessed the whole matter and so was condemned Theodora hearing of it thinking to excuse him came and presented her self as the guilty Party desiring that she might die and the other be excused but the merciless Judge caused them both to be put to death The admirable love and affection betwixt Titus and Gisippus two Noble young men the one of Rome the other of Athens THere was in the City of Rome a noble Senator named Fulvius who sent his Son called Titus being a child to the City of Athens in Greece the fountain then of good Letters there to learn and be instructed boarding him with a worshipful man of that City called Chremes This Chremes had a Son named Gisippus who not onely was equal to the said young Titus in years but also in stature proportion of body favour countenance and speech in a word so like that without much difficulty it could not be discerned of their own Parents which was Titus from Gisippus or Gisippus from Titus These two young Gentlemen as they seemed to be one in form and personage so shortly after acquaintance the same Nature wrought in their hearts such a mutual affection that their wills and appetites daily more and more so confederated themselves that it seemed no other when their names were declared but that they had onely changed their places issuing as I might say out of one body and entring into the other They went to their Learning and Study together as also to their Meals and Pastimes delighted both in one doctrine and profited equally therein with such fruitful encrease that in few years scarce any in Athens were comparable unto them At last died Chremes leaving his Son Gisippus a vast Estate and being now of ripe years his friends and kindred were at him to marry as also his friend Titus thereby to propagate his Posterity They having found one in all respects answerable unto him with much importunity he was contented to go and see her whom he liked so well that he became greatly enamoured of her taking great delight in the contemplation of her most excellent beauty and rare endowments of mind But no happiness could betide him without his friend participated with him therefore on a time he took Titus along with him to see this Idol of his Soul who having beheld so Heavenly a personage adorned with Beauty inexplicable such an amiable countenance mixt with maidenly shamefac'dness and the rare and sober words so well couched proceeding from her pretty mouth struck him with so much admiration that neither the Study of Philosophy nor the remembrance of his dear friend Gisippus who so much loved and trusted him could put the remembrance of her out of his mind so that withdrawing himself as it were into his Study tormented and oppressed with Love he threw himself on a Bed and there ruminating upon what was passed and thereby his unkindness to his dear friend Gisippus he began to curss