Then hauing eased herselfe by Lotions Fomentations Bathes and other fit helpes shee recouered her perfect health R. SOLENANDRE in the 5. booke of his Councells Chap. 15. art 40. Children miraculously preserued THe yeare 1546. in the Towne of Misnia in Saxony a seruant of THOMAS le FEVREs hauing a little Childe in her armes and looking out at a windowe three stories high by mischance let it fal into the streete whence it was taken vp not beeing hurt nor bruzed in any part of the bodie GEORGE la FEVRE in his Annales of Misnia lib. 3. pag. 200. In the moneth of Iune 1552. a girle of PETER PELICES a Cooke in the same Towne and the same streete fell out of the garret windowe of a house and had no harme The same Author pag. 207. The Sonne of SIMON CRAMES a Councellor of the same Towne and dwelling in the same streete fel from an high window downe on the pauement which was of hard stone and yet not hurt in any part of his body it happened in the yeare 1559. In the same Booke pag. 214. Of these three deliuerances GEORGE le FEVRE makes mention in these verses Hoc vidit vâ—…bs quae nobili Prouincia nomen dedit Vna in platea tres tribus Vicibus cadentes Angelo Custode vitam ducere In the moneth of September the yeare 1566. a Maide of SIMON RICHTERS a Citizen of Misna dwelling by Wolfgang Ber let a little Boy which shee held in her armes fall from a very high window Hee lighted first on the end of a Waggon and then on the pauement but was not any way hurt In the same Booke pag 227. 228. The yeare 1568. in the moneth of Iune ERASMVS the sonne of WOLFGANG BEME being but foure yeares old fell out of a window of his fathers house into the street had no harme In the same pa. 229 In a Village hard by Cygne a certaine Countri-woman willed a little boy shee had to go and fetch home their Oxen that were feeding by a woods side Whilst the child was away there fell so much Snowe that vpon a suddaine all the wayes were couered the night came on so fast that the boy was enclosed in the mountaines and could not get out The father mother taking more care for their child then Oxen rose betimes in the morning to go seeke him but the snow was so great that they knew not where to looke him The next day they traced the forrest to finde the body which they were verily perswaded was voide of life but at last they found him sitting on a banke which the Snowe had neither couered nor touched They asked him why he came not home all that while The child answered hauing felt no colde nor harme at all that he staied till it was euening Then they asked him whether hee had eaten any thing or no. A man that I knew not said he came hether gaue me Bread Cheese wherat exceeding ioyfull they carried him home I. MANLIVS in the first booke of his Collections The yeare 1565. about the end of September a maide in the towne of Misna that was an Ideot lead a little girle of three yeares old out of the Towne vnperceiued of any and hauing carryed her to a riuer called Trebisa which was risen some-what high with raine that was falne stripped the girle tooke her vpon her shoulder and waded ouer the riuer then returned and made the child ready againe but being weary of her carriage she left the poore infant in the winde the raine which was then very sharpe and bleake The girle remained all the whole night and halfe the next day on the bare ground where she was found as GOD would by a Countrie wench who tooke her vp in her armes carried her to a farme there by From whence she was conueyed to her Father and Mother that were in great perplexitie for the losse of their child GEORGE FEVRE in the 3. booke of his Annales of Misna The yeare 1558. there fell such an horrible raine and tempest in Thuringe that in an instant it ouer-threw diuers houses and the torrent was so furious that it carried away a great number of persons of all ages Amongst the rest a vyolent inundation of waters ouerwhelmed a poore labourers house of Burcktonne where his wife lay newly deliuered of a Sonne and swallowing vp the wretched Mother carryed away the young infant that a little before had beene laide in a Trough made like a kneeding-tub which was stayed by the bough of an Apple-tree where the childe remained and was found safe and sound after the rage of the waters was alayed euery one acknowledging the truth of this notable sentence that GODS assistance doth appeare when mans doth faile PH. LONICER in the Theater of Examples pag. 196. H. HVSANVS a Lawyer describes in excellent Latin verse such a like miracle which happened about that time in a certaine place of the same Countrie on the behalfe of a little Childe lying in a Cradle which was carryed away very farre by the furie of the waters and then layde gently in a safe shore where it was found aliue ANDREVV MERCKTER recites in a certaine funerall Oration by him written touching afflictions that being a little boy he had beene miraculously preserued from waters from manifest danger of drowning three seuerall times first at Sechouse next at Wittenberg and lastly at Perleberg where this which ensueth hapned vnto him As hee was standing on the bridge of that place which was very high certaine Roysters thronging along in great number and hast pushed him ouer the bridge into the middest of the streame It was in Winter and the Ice couered him so that carried from the top of the water vnder the Ice hee was driuen to a Mill that stood in the riuer where the water not being frosen by reason of the continuall motion which the wheeles of the Mill made he was taken vp and saued PH. LONICER in the same Theater in the examples of the third commandent pag. 198. In a Village called Zum Heniâ—…hen hard by Friberg in Misna a little Boy sonne to a certaine Weauer playing about the house fide fell into a great channell of water that serued to driue a Mill and was suddainly carried by the streame which ran very stiffe vnder his fathers house standing ouer the channell and then vnder a bridge so farre that it was enough to haue drowned him a dosen times without the protection of Heauen which would haue the childe carried to the Mill where he tooke hold with his little hands on the barre which serued to shutte the water-gate and cryed out as lowd as he could An old woman heard him who ran thither and called the Miller so that the Boy was taken vp safe out of the furious waters The same In the yeare 1565. the 10. day of March about seuen of the clock in the morning the Treasurer of Rofenbourg a towne situate on the
riuer Sala going from the towne to the Castle went as of necessity he was to do ouer the bridge followed by a pritty little boy his sonne who gazing on the swiftnes of the streame going to take away some durt that stuck on his shooes slid in such maner in an open slippery place of the bridge that he fell into the bottom of the riuer A fisher-man being in a garden not far of hearing the noyse of his fall ran thither and with great danger of his life leaped in after the poore childe whom the waues had carried all along the Castle walls He tooke hold on a piece of his coate which tearing the body fell againe into the water he caught him the secōd time by one of his feet carried him to his mother that almost dead with feare staid for him on the banke within two houres after he came to himlsefe two daies after that was as well as euer hee was to the no little ioy of all his friends that praised GOD for his miraculous assistance The same On Easter eue the same yeare about euening a furious inundation of waters rushing on the towne of Islebe in Saxonie did especially and as it were with an agreement made betweene the waters beate vpon the house of an honest Citizen named BARTHOLMEVV VOGT Incontinently the fore-part of the house and a piece of the Stoue fell downe within the Stoue was a little childe in a Cradle The Father and Mother astonished with so suddaine a visitation and hearing the noyse of the cradle tost with the waues got out the childe and carryed it to one MICHAEL FEARES a neighbor of theirs There remained foure other children lying in an high chamber of the house The Father more carefull for their liues then his owne entred againe into present death and hauing past many dangers got into the Chamber tooke vp two of those children in his armes Therevpon the floore sanke vnderneath his feete so that he fell into the water which carryed him to a great stacke of wood whereon hee caught hold and with much paine stayed himselfe by it some halfe an houre loden with his two sonnes and crying out for helpe But no body could get to him by reason of the wonderfull furye of the raging waters Seeing himselfe destitute of all humane assistance and as it were dispairing of his owne life his childrens he humbly commended both himselfe and them to the mercy of GOD calling the Prophet IONAS to mind that was preserued amidst the seas and in the belly of a Fish As he was praying vnto the Lord a great beame driuen along by the waues carried away one of his sonnes another greater then that comming vpon him with great violence made him let go the stake by the which he had held so long whether he would or no caried him with his other sonne into a garden behind his house Being there with their heads scarce aboue water and remembring his other sonne he began to call him the child answered him from a beame wheron the father espied him sitting astride Thether he swam and setting them both on his shoulders he got to a great pile of wood clammering vp on it there rested himself with his two sonnes some fiue houres The next morning betimes the waters being falne he carried them to Feures Stoue where they began to come to themselues As for the other two children lying a bed in the high chamber the goodnesse of GOD preserued them after a meruailous manner The Father because he could not go to them by the accustomed staires got his neighbour to breake open a way through the wall that parted their houses and entring into the chamber found them in their bed fast a sleepe the diuine prouidence hauing with his hand held vp that part of the chamber as it were in the ayre all the rest of the house being ouer whelmed and carried away by the waters assoone as euer he was returned againe through the wall with his children the chamber and the bed fell presently downe Thus were these fiue children miraculously preserued contrary to all hope or expectation The same Children in gratefull and peruerse A Certaine man become rich seeing his father beg was some-what ashamed at it and tooke him into his house One day hauing an exquisite dishe of meate brought to his table hearing his father comming into the roome he made it to be locked vp but when his father was gone hauing willed it to be brought in againe the seruant found the dish full of Snakes where-with hauing acquainted his Maister hee would needs go and see what it was And approching neere vnto them one of the greatest of those Snakes leaped in his face ioyning his mouth in such sorte to the mans that he could neuer eate any meate after but the Snake had his part of it and hee continued in that estate all the rest of his life MANLIVS in his Collections PH. LONICER in his Theater of examples pag. 283. A certaine father being old and poore went and desired his sonne to relieue him The sonne thinking it a great dishonor for him to acknowledge such a Father made as though he knew him not and hauing rayled at him bad him get him away The poore father with teares in his eyes departed but his backe was scarce turned when the ingratefull sonne fell madde and dyed in that miserable estate MANLIVS in his Collections PH. LONICER in his Theater pag. 283. The yeare 1550. in the capitall Cittie of the Duchie of Prussia called Conisprug a Lock-smith being a very lewd fellow killed his father and mother with an Yron Pestle in hope to haue their money Presently wherevpon he went to a Shoomakers shop and bought him a new paire of shooes leauing his old behind him which the Shoomakers sonne threw vnder a bench Two or three houres after the fathers shop hauing bene opened by the commandement of the Magistrate who had vnderstood that the neighbors had heard some great stirre in it they found the two old folkes murthered wherwith the Sonne seemed to bee so exceeding grieued that no man euer mistrusted him to bee the author of so execrable a deede Nowe it fortuned that the shoomaker looking for som what els vnder his bench found the old shoes which the young smith had left behinde him all be sprinkled with bloud And it was also noted by others that the wretch had his purse better lined then it was wont to bee which beeing reported to the Magistrate hee was straight-way aapprehended Wherevpon without any torture hee confessed the fact and was executed as hee deserued They say that the pestle which was set vp ouer the iudgement place doth continuallie shake yet PH. LONICER in his Theater page 284. Vpon the report of one of the greatest Diuynes of our time The yeare 1560 a wicked wretch in the Towne of Basill poysened his owne Father beeing a wealthy man and of an honest conuersation Which being
vsuall answere was that GOD did chastice him and that his mercy knew what issue his afflictions should haue which nothing hindered the assurance that he had of his eternal saluation through IESVS CHRIST At 7. yeares end he died peaceably full of the spirit of repentance faith and hope in the grace of his Sauiour on the eleuenth day of September in the yeare a thousand fiue hundreth fifty and two Not long ago sayth M. ANDREVVE HONDSDORFE we sawe an Almaigne very poore and sickly and as wretched and miserable as might be by reason of the imprecations which his Father had made against him a little before his death wyshing that all kinde of misfortune might accompany him as long as he liued A Mother hauing a very disobedient Sonne fell downe on her knees and prayed GOD that her wicked Childe might bee burnt with a secret fire This imprecation fell not to the ground for the Sonne beeing suddainly seized with that fire ouer all his body beganne to cry Mother Mother your praiers are heard and languished three dayes in vnspeakeable torments hee was consumed therewith A disobedient Sonne in the Cittie of Milan mocked his mother and made mouthes at her The Mother iustly ince◅sed with so vyllanous a pranke sayd would thou mightst make such mouthes at the gallowes It fell out not long after that this rogue beeing apprehended for theeuing was condemned to bee hanged and being on the ladder at the place of execution ready to be turned of by the hangman euery one sawe him make such mouthes as hee had made before to his Mother These Histories and infinite others such like warne Parents to shun such speeches and to reclaime their Children with good admonitions or conuenient corrections They likewise exhort Children to shew themselues humble tractable and obedient to the end they bee not confounded by the iust iudgement of GOD maintayning the rights of those which are his liuely images vpō earth In Silesia happened two memorable Histories which shew the dangerous fruite of imprecations the fauour of GOD assisting vs by the ministery of his Holy Angells against the fury of euil spirits A gentleman hauing inuyted certa◅ne of his friends prepared a sumptuous feast seeing his expectation frustrated by their excuses entred into some cholor sayd since none of them will vouchsafe to come would al the Diuills in hell were here Thervpon hee got him forth of dores and went to Church where the minister was preaching vnto whō he gaue very dilligent eare and continuing so behold certaine men came riding into his yard of tall stature and all in black which willed the gentlemans man to go and tell his maister that his guests were come They fellow exceedingly affraied ran to Church aduertised his Mr of it who very much dismayd asked Coūsell of the minister what he shold do He hauing finished his sermon willed that euery body shold voide the house It was no sooner cōmanded then performed but with hast that they made to get out they left a little Child behinde them sleeping in the Cradle Those guesse that is to say the Diuils beganne to fling the tables other things about the house to roare to looke out at the windowes in the likenes of Beares Wolues Cats terrible men holding glasses of wine dishes of meate in their pawes As the gentleman to gither with the minister and neighbors were in great feare beholding such a sight the poore Father began to cry alas where is my Child Scarce was the word out of his mouth when one of those black guests brought the Child to the windowe in his armes and shewed it to all that were in the streete The gentleman almost beside himselfe sayd to one of his men whom he made most account of alack what shal I do Sir answered his seruant I wil cōmend my life vnto GOD in whose name I wil enter the house through his fauor assistance bring you your Child Wilt thou sayd his Mr GOD be with thee strengthen thee The fellow hauing receiued the Ministers blessing went into the house cōming to the Stoue where those dreadfull guests were he fell downe on his knees commended himselfe to GOD then opened the dore sawe the Diuills in horrible formes some sitting some standing others walking some ramping against the walles but al of thē assoone as they beheld him ran vnto him crying Hoh Hoh what makest thou here The seruant sweating with feare and yet strengthned by GOD went to the fiend that held the Child and sayd vnto him Come giue me this Child No marry wil I not answered the other he is mine Go bid thy Maister come and fetch him The fellow insisting sayd I will execute the charge which GOD hath cōmitted vnto me for I know that all that I doe according there-vnto is acceptable vnto him Therfore in regard of mine office and in the name assistance vertue of IESVS CHRIST I will take this Child from thee and carry it to the father Saying so he caught hold on the Child and held it fast in his armes The black guests returned no answere but roared and cryed out Hoh sirra let alone the Child or we will teare thee all to peeces But he not respecting their menaces went safely away and presently restored the Child to the gentleman his Maister Certaine daies after all those guests vanished away and the gentleman become wiser and a better Christian returned to his house IOHN GEORGE GODELMAN Doctor of Lawe at Rostoch in his treatise of Witches and Witchcraft booke 1. Chap. 1. Another gentleman vsing to giue himselfe vnto the Diuell trauelling by night but with one man was set vpon by a companie of fiendes which would haue carryed him away The seruant beeing desirous to saue his Maister held him fast about the middle The Diuills beganne to crie Sirra let goe your hold but the fellowe persisting in his determination his Maister escaped The same In Saxony a young maid that was very riche promised mariage to a proper young man but poore He foreseeing that wealth and inconstancie of sexe might easily alter this maidens resolution freely opened his minde vnto her about it Wherevpon she made a thou◅and imprecations to the contrary and amongst others this which ensueth If euer I marry any other let the Diuill take me and carry me away on the wedding day What followed there-vpon A certaine time after the fickle wenche was betrothed to another hauing vtterly forgot the former who gently admonished her more then once of her promise and horrible imprecation She nothing regarding him made her ready to be marryed to the second but the wedding day come when euery body else was merry the bride being wakened by her conscience seemed sadder then shee vsed to bee Where-vpon two men on Horse back came and lighted at the house where the feast was kept who were presently caried vp and after dinner when they fell to dancing one of them as
The end was that from that time they poluted themselues with a horrible and infamous Adultery Being plonged into this Gulfe Satan and their filthy lusts did th◅ust them head-long into others that were more horrible and fearefull fo◅ hauing made many practises together the first attempt of their cruell wickednesse was against the Signior of Chabrie who was massacred walking alone in his warren by two murtherers subordned by the Aduocate After this paracide the Adulterers returne to their accustomed filthye course without all shame or remorce giuing scope to theyr execrable lusts the which the eldest son◅e could not disgest and seeing his mother could not liue any where without the Aduocate hee gaue her a graue admonition adding many reasons to excuse his boldnesse This cursed mother dissembling her rage against her Sonne complaynes of his conceit iustifies her selfe impudently and these drops of water of good and necessary aduice did more inflame the fire of their vnbridled lust After shee had bitterly reprehended the indiscretion of her Sonne and highly extolled the Adulterous and Murtherous Aduocate she forced her sonne to make a submissiue speech vnto him full of excuses But not content herewith she resolued to kill him There was a Gallery in the Castle whereas the yong Gentleman did vsually walke to behold the Gardin and pleasant countrie about It was high aduanced and hung ouer a steepe Rocke at the foote whereof lay this Garden The Aduocate by the aduice of this cursed Mother did cunningly loosen certaine boards in the Gallery so as the young Gentleman comming soone after in the morning according to his custome to take the aire of this prospect setting his foote vpon these disioynted boards hee fell down head-long where his brains were beaten out This was the second murther A yonger sonne was yet remayning in the house who doubting nothing that his Mother had beene the cause of these two Parricides was yet greeued to see the Aduocates carriage In the ende hee descouered so much villany in their familiarity as he held them to bee the cruell murtherers of that noble Familye making some shew of his discontent to see their brutish conuersation Hee speakes roughly to the Aduocate and lookes but sowerly of his Mother These wicked wretches resolued to preuent him fearing that he would attempt something against them The Aduocate corrupts one in the house with money to murther him who obserued this young Gentleman so diligently as one day being a hunting whilest his Hunts-men rewarded his Hounds hee staying vpon the side of a Rocke which ouer-looked a lowe champian the descent whereof was very dangerous towards the valey by reason of the steepnesse This murtherer who had all the day watcht for an aduantage did runne behinde him and thrust him downe so forceably as this poore Gentleman was sooner at the bottome slaine then hee felt the murtherer who had so outragiously murthered him These murtherers after all this finding that the seruants of the house did marke and obserue them did practise to mar◅ie together but there was one betwixt them the Aduocates wife They conspire her death and the Aduocate hauing many imaginations lying one night by her he strangled her with a Napkin and shee being ready to giue vp the ghost he began to crie out aloud and to call for his seruants and neighbours to helpe him They come from all parts and he cryes and laments saying that a violent Catarre had suffocated his wife The simple and vulgar sort beleeued this report But the father of this honest Gentlewoman looking neerely into it and seeing her face extraordinarily swelled and her throate black and pale with other signes of a violent death seemed to allow of their opinions and hauing perswaded his Sonne in lawe to prouide for his Wiues funerall hee went speedily to the criminall Iudge and brought him with his officers and some friends to visit this poore carcase and to demand Iustice. The Sonne in Lawe being accused and charged by the Magistrate to answer directly is mute and by his silence confesseth the crime the Phisitions and Surgions hauing giuen their opinion that the Gentlewoman had been strangled The Iudge sends this execrable Parricide to prison who without any torture confesseth the fact The Parliament of Aix aduertised of this fact sends for him to see him As for his detestable associate hauing some notice thereof she packs vp the greatest wealth she had and flyes speedily into Sauoy from thence to Genoa where she changed her name The Aduocate being brought to Aix besides his last Parricide confesseth the detestable crimes before mentioned with all the circumstances He was condemned by a sentence of the Court of Parliament to bee sent backe to Grasse there to bee quartered aliue in the Market-place where he was executed to the great content of his father in Law and of the whole country As for that cruell Ladie of Chabrie shee was condemned by contempt and executed in picture In her voyage to Genoa she was accompanied by a base fellow called IAMES PALLIER who being some-what iealous of the cause of her flight a moneth after her cōming to Genoa in a morning when she was gone into the Towne he tooke away all she had but the apparrell shee wore and was neuer more heard of At her returne finding her selfe bare and naked after many discourses opprest with care and despaire in the end shee went to serue a Widow woman whose Daughters she did teach liuing yet some yeares confounded in her conscience with shame and dying in the hands of GODS Iustice hauing escaped that of worldly Iudges The Historie of our times About fiftie yeares since a Milanois hauing notice giuen him in France that his wife carried her selfe but loosely who beeing wel informed thereof as it seemed tooke post to come the sooner to Milan where being arriued without going vp into his house he caused his wife to bee called for who comming downe speedely to imbrace him counterfetting great ioye at her husbands arriuall she receiued a stabbe with a dagger in exchange of her imbracing calling her villanous wicked disloyall and treacherous After which blowe leauing his wife in that estate as hee should no more neede to feare any such lewde dealing hee tooke his horse and saued himselfe The histony of Italie Many yeares before a rich Gentleman of Sienna called NELLO beeing well aduanced in yeares married a yong Gentlewoman who suffred her selfe to bee corrupted by a young Gentleman vsing a Chamber-maide for the close conuaying of their filthy trade NELLO hauing discouered by the meanes of a seruant of his the wrong that was done him and not able to surprise the yong gentleman that had so vilanous◅y poluted his house hee reuenged himselfe vpon his Wife and her Chamber-maide the which he caused to be strangled in a Countrie house of his whether he had retired himselfe for the better effecting of his purpose where he past the rest of his dayes like a man confined The
them his clothes and would haue stript himselfe before them to the end they should succor his poore Father Passing on farther sometimes standing sometimes lying downe GOD presented vnto him an other of his Sonnes about ten yeares olde and beeing supported by him on the other side GOD gaue him strength ynough to come vnto an other village where with some difficulty he recouered two eggs with some hurds the which were applyed to his greatest wounds then giuing him a little wine and setting him as well as they could vpon a Mare they conducted him to an other village where his Wife who remayned with a gentleman that was neighbour to that place came presently vnto him and was assisted by the singular and extraordinary grace of GOD so as hee recouered his life and helth History of France vnder CHARLES the 9. During the sayd first troubles among other battaâ—…les that were giuen that of Saint Gilles in Prouence is noted beeing the 27. of September 1562. In the which certaine Spanish Captaines with their companies who striuing to make it good vpon the dis-route got nothing but blowes and were in a manner all cut in peeces and slaine vpon the place Those which suruiued laie still and did counterfet themselues dead Of this number there were two Captaines the one called ALPHONSO the other MANRIC both were Castillians ALPHONSO had seauen wounds with a Courtelas vpon the head his caske hauing beene beaten of and hee ouerthrown foure of them had entred into his head the other three had but cut the flesh vnto the boane on either arme hee had foure great cutts two about one of his Elbowes and his wrist besides hee had sixe thrustes in his thighes Hee and MANRIC with 260. others that were wounded did saue themselues as they could and were carried to Arles a neere Towne where they were drest MANRIC had manie wounds in the head armes brest sides and face contynuing two daies without speech or pulce In flying hee had cast himselfe into the Riuer of Rohan where hee had remayned in the Water vppe to the chyne for the space of 4. houres sometimes lifting vp his head sometimes playing the Diue-dopper vntill the night was come and the victors being retyred he swamme ouer the riuer Aboue a hundred others that were wonded did striue to passe the riuer desyring rather to hazard themselues in that sort then to fall into the hands of the French who were iustly incensed against them But many of them were drowned their strength fayling them in the midest of the waues Those which escaped halfe dead died in a manner all in the Hospitall at Arles The two aboue named Captaines after they had endured newe deathes in the hands of Surgions and Physitions were after some weekes set on foote againe but well marked in diuers places to serue for a remembrance and an example to their Countrymen who notwithstanding haue not well considered of it MANRIC had receiued two thrusts with a Halbard betwixt the ribbes but there came not much matter out of his wounds but at the ende of three weekes hee voided aboundance of rotten filthe by his fondement to the great amazement of the Physitions for that from the brest vnto the gutts there is no common passage for any corrupt matter that is in the sayd brest In the same Battayle a foote-man had a shot with a Harguebuse the which peerst the lest Temple and came out on the other side a little vnder the right Temple hauing shattered his head in two yet he was miraculously cured He had beene drest at Nismes but finding himselfe not well cured he came to mee and I did succor him with my best skill Yet he contynued blinde and deafe of this wounde Neither the braine nor the filme of it had not beene toucht but the boullet hauing broken the head had past close by it vnto the other side Moreouer by reason of the blowe and the contusion some little bloud dispersing it selfe into the sinnews of the sight and hearing it caused an obstruction whereof followed a blindnesse and deafnesse An other borne at Marseilles being Ancient to a company had a Harquebuse shot in the brest so as the Bullet came forth at his back and yet he was cured Another of Arles had his head halfe cut off with a Courtelas so as it had neede to be propt vp the blowe being giuen betwixt the first and second Vertebre a ioint in the body where the ioynts so meete that they may turne as in the hucle-bone so deepe and so large as they might lay their hand in it yet hee was cured and liued foure yeares after this wonderfull wound Another called CLAVDE of Sauoy hauing his head almost cleft in two with a Courtelas he neuer had feuer nor any other accident the which are vsuall in such like wounds but the broken bones being taken out according vnto Arte in two moneths he was cured Two others the one hauing his thigh all broken in peeces with a Faucon shott the bullet whereof was drawne out of it and the other wounded in the Ancle after they had suffered much were cured without cutting of thigh or leg FR. VALLERIOLA in the 4. Booke of his Phisicall obseruations sets downe these Histories at large and the remedies that were applyed and the meanes that were vsed to cure these hurt men the which we describe not it belonging to learned Phisitions and Surgions who besides the medicaments haue respect to many necessary circumstances which are to be considered of in such accidents In an incounter neere vnto Cisteron a Gentleman called the Cadet of Monstier was shot with a Harguebuse betwixt the fift and sixt rib the Bullet crost his brest and came forth within two fingers of the back bone There were drawne forth with the Bullet twelue ringles of a shirt of Mayle which this Gentleman did weare manie others ringles of the same side remained among the Muscles betwixt the ribbes and the backe and some others driuen into the body came forth with the corruption of the wound whereof hee was cured within a yeare But hee had a difficultie in breathing the which continued the remainder of his dayes by reason of this wound A seruant belonging to the Seigneur of Meianes a Gentleman of Arles being shot in the right arme in the same incounter betwixt the elbow and the shoulder and ill handled by the Surgions that were in the Armie he came to Arles hauing his Arme putrified and stinking so strongly as no man could endure him it was all black soft and extreamly colde the patient falling somtimes into a swound The Surgions being assembled with me wee resolued to cut off his Arme speedily to saue the rest of the body Hauing therefore with a Raisor cut his Arme aboue the dead flesh they cut the bone in sunder with a Sawe and stopt the Flux of bloud with Canters fitte for it so as within one moneth the man was cured VALLERIOLA in the same Obseruation At
hauing his armes and his seruants ready hee valiantly resists these theeues slue some put the rest to flight layes hold vpon his Host and deliuers him vnto the Magistrate who caused him to bee executed The same Author Some yeares past I did see broken vpon the wheele by the iudgement and sentence of the Bayliffe of Morges vnder the gouernment of the Seigneurie of Berne a young man about the age of twenty yeares who counterfetting himselfe dumbe and asking almes of passengers vnder colour of passing on his way with a little Bell in his hand which was as a watch-word to his companions the number of the stroakes making them to discerne the number of the persons and their qualities was found to haue beene at two and twenty murthers and with his owne hand had cut many mens throates He dyed miserably roaring like a Bull when they brake his bones The Emperout CHARLES the fift beeing in Germanie whereas affayres of warre kept him hee was constrained to send one of the cheefe of his Court into Spaine to haue a care of affaires and difficulties that should arise This Viceroy a young Prince much giuen to hunting was one day in the kingdome of Granado and being in pursute of a wilde Beast hee strayed so farre from his people as following his game through a great wood without respect of time or waye hee found himselfe in a desolate place and be-nighted By meanes whereof hee began to looke all about him to see if hee could discouer some house or other place where hee might shrowde himselfe Therevpon he sees a little Cottage and riding thether hee intreates the Peasant that dwelt there to lodge him that night The which the peasant granted and receiued him into his Cottage where at that time there were sixe personnes that is the Peasant his Wife his Sunne of twenty yeares of age his Daughter in Lawe newely married a seruant which kept his Cattell a rough fellowe and of an ill aspect and then a little Daughter The Prince beeing lighted from his horse recommends him vnto this vallet and then he enters into the Peasants house and drawes neere the fire whilest they make ready supper not dreaming of any harme These people not knowing the Prince nor he discouering himselfe to any they seeing him so richly appareled and of a goodly presence they held him to bee some great rich-man and thinking it not fit to let go so fat a preye they beganne to deuise some meanes to kill him and to get his spoyles After supper they prepare him a bedde in a certaine Chamber which had but a weake doore easie to force In going vp and downe the Daughter in Lawe newly married who had an Inckling of this cruell plot taking pittie of this young Prince whome shee did see of so goodly a stature and of an honourable port and carriage called him aside hauing drawne him a part and intreated him to keepe secret what shee should tell him shee discouers the enterprise breefely vnto him whilest the Father Sonne and vallet were complotting againe a newe in the stable The Prince mooued at this report and inclyning to beleeue some thing was readie to discouer what hee was But doubting presently that it would but hazard his life in committing it to the fayth of such barbarous people which did so wickedly violate all the rights of humanitie and hospitality to conspire against any man whome they did see in so braue equipage well mounted and courteously receiued by them hee chose rather vnder GOD to trust vnto his owne valour then vnto the worde of men that had no faith and whose hearts were couered with dissimulation and bloud Hee suffers himselfe then to bee conducted by the Peasant into this little chamber and hauing shut the doore vnto him hee drewe a great heauy Chestvnto it to serue as a Barricadoe and then hee held his rapier ready and by him was a long pistoll bended and primde watching and attending what would become of the report of the Daughter in Lawe Presently the Peasant who thought he had beene a sleepe by reason of his trauell of hunting came softly to the doore thinking to enter it without any difficultie But being frustrate of his expectation he beganne to intreate his guest to open him the doore for that he would take a couering for a bed out of the Cofer of the which hee had great neede The Prince who slept not answered Retyre importunate man I am nowe at rest and will not open the dore at this time Then the Peasant beganne to exclaime crie out and say that hee was vndone and that there was one would braue him in his owne house wherevpon hee falls to his armes and threatens to breake all yea to kill him that was in that little chamber if he did not presently open and yeeld vnto his mercy The Peasant his man cōming to breake downe the doore the Sonne sought to enter the Chamber by a windowe and all togither made a marueilous attempt The Prince seeing himself reduced to extremity dischargeth his pistoll at the doore peerceth it easily and kills the Peasant then drawing backe the Chest hee issues forth with his rapier in hand dispatcheth the Sonne and runnes after the seruant who saues himselfe by flight But all was not yet done for the cryes of the hostesse and the extraordynarie noyse that shee made did awake the other neighbour shepards who came running with their Armes enuironed the house and cried out murther The Prince standing vpon his gard had patience vntill it was day and seeing this troupe of mutiners to encrease he beganne to let them as then vnderstand what hee was threatning to cause them all to bee hanged if they did refuse to assist him and to conduct him If they would not beleeue him they should fetch the Magistrate of the next place and if they did not accept of that condition their ruine and confusion was at hand Being mooued with the speech and presence of a personage so farre different from their condition they beganne to growe some-what milde yet in such sort as they lay hold of him binde him and are leading him to the Gouernor of a Towne which was some leagues frō rhence The Princes gardes arryuing in the meane time seeing him in this equipage were readie to cut all this troupe of Peasants in peeces but the Prince did expresly forbid them All the former being discouered and examined the Peasants confederates were punished according to their merits the seruant was broken vpon the wheele the theeues house burnt and the Daughter in Lawe was richely recompenced for her faith-full aduertisement An Italian called FRANCISQVINO hauing cōtinued some-time at Bolonia the fatte one of the best Gentlemens houses of the Cittie and had beene held for some honest gentleman and of a good house considering his stately carriage In the end hee was discouered to leade this life which followeth vnder collour of keeping the ordynarie house for play at dice and
had murthered his wife and children he also murthered himselfe falling downe headlong from the top of a high Tower hauing first written in a paper which he pinned about him the fact he had committed and the reasons which had induced him therevnto and that knowing he should die for the said fact hee chose rather to execute himselfe then to suffer a shamfull death In the same treatise A Millanois about the yeare 1560 vnderstanding in France that his wife plaid false with him and as it is to be supposed being thereof thorowly informed tooke post horse and rode home to Milan where alighting he went not in but sent for his wife to the dore who comming to him and seeming to be very ioyfull of his returne he shot her thorow with his Pistoll which done he suddenly mounted againe on his horse and saued himselfe In the same treatise About the same time or a little after a woman of Switzerland hauing receiued another into her bed in steed of her husband perceiuing afterward that she had beene deceiued and that it was not her husband that had line with her was so ouercome with anger and griefe that she went and drowned her selfe In the same IOVIAN PONTANVS recounts that an Italian Lord hauing killed one whom he suspected with his wife was so straightly besieged by his brother that out of all hope to escape he killed her first his children after and then threw himselfe downe headlong from the highest towre of his Castle Wherevpon the brother of him that was killed most cruelly murthered all such as he could meet withall and knew to be any way of kinne to that Italian Lord. In the same Treatise A yong Spanish Maide hauing abandoned her selfe to a Gentleman vpon promise of marriage which he had made her though she were but meanly descended vnderstanding that he was married to another conceiued such hatred against him that she conspired his death by all the meanes possible she could deuise And at last vsed this same shee perswaded him by her flattering letters to come againe and see her The time appointed she attended him hauing made all things ready with the ayde of an old woman confederat with her for to intreate him as her wicked minde prouoked with an extreame desire of reuenge counselled her vnto Wherfore the better to accomplish her designe although at first she had receiued him with teares complaints yet seeming at length to be satisfied with reasons that he alledged and to bee som-what appeased she permitted him to vse the same priuitie with her as before Wherevpon the Gentleman got him to bed and she with him staying but till he was a sleepe for to execute her furious enterprise which she performed not contented with many mortall wounds that she had giuen him for awaking at the first he found himselfe so pestered with a corde which the old woman drew ouer him that he was not able to stirre either hand or foote she vsed diuerse cruelties against the dead bodie before the furie of her rage could be extinguished And for this strange murther she was beheaded hauing voluntarily accused her selfe In the same Treatise The Wife of GEORGE WEDERING of Halberstad of the age of 24. yeares modest and vertuous beeing brought in bed the 15. of Nouember 1557. of a Daughter baptised the next day was not found in her bed The seruant hearing the Childe crie came to the bed thinking to finde her Misters and to awake her Being amazed at her absence shee runnes to her Master who being wonderfully perplexed takes the Childe in his armes and seekes the Mother in euery corner of the house The streetes were couered with snowe so as there was no shewe that she had past out of the house In the end the husband and the seruant with others went into the seller but they here some trampling in the wel which was neere vnto it The husband much perplexed calls to his neighbours and tells them his misery wherevpon they heard one in a gardine which knocked at the doore and hauing opened it they see the poore woman almost dead with colde complayning that she had beene long in the well as her apparell did witnesse Being demanded howe shee came into this well beeing closse and which had but a verie little entrance shee could giue no reason neither was there any one that could conceiue howe it came Beeing afterwards very sicke for some daies shee beganne to recouer her helth so as the 24. of December shee did rise swadled her Child and set her downe to dinner The maide going into the Celler to drawe beere she goes to bed and falls a sleepe The seruant being returned findes her mistresse a sleepe and the Cradle emptie Being amazed shee runnes to the well comming vnto her minde and sees the Infant vpon the water the which was taken out by two of the Senators of the Towne in the presence of CONRADE de la PERCH Minister of the Church The Mother slept soundly After they had praied at her beds feete shee opened her eyes and began to say vnto the assistants why haue you awaked me I did enioye an vnspeakable content I haue seene my the Sauiour and I haue heard the Angells falling a sleepe againe after foure houres she did awake remembers her child and calls for it and finding it not she afflicts and torments her selfe after a pittifull manner A certaine man named IOHN GVY Sonne to EME GVY a Capper in the towe of Chastillon vpon Lion had bin very disordred all his life caused for the most part by the indulgence of his parents It happened one Sater day in September 1565. that the Sonne was debauched according to this custome and returned home very late wherat the Father was much displeased saying that seeing he continued this wicked course he should be in the end constrayned to chase him out of his companie To whome the Sonne beeing full of pride answered presomptuously that he was ready to depart euen presētly so as they would giue him his clothes vpon this dispute the Father went to bed beeing forced to threaten his Sonne if he would not be silent In the ende seeing that hee preuailed not and not able any longer to beare the proude replies of his Sonne hee rise out of his bedde in chollor to punnish his vndutifullnesse who seeing his Father approche in choller to beate him hee sodenly layed his hand vpon his sword and rebelling against his Father thrust him through the Bodie wherevpon hee fell sodenly to the ground crying out with a loude voice that hee was dead The neighbours amazed at this crie came in presently and soone after the Iustice who found the olde man layed all along readie to giue vp the Ghost dying presently after The bloudie sword was also found by his Sonne who warmed himselfe to whome the Father mooued with compassion and forgetting the crueltie hee had vsed against him had often saied Sonne saue thy selfe I pardon thee my death
no cause discerned of such a death but only a liue worme which the A◅atomists found in the capsula or filme of the heart P. SPHARER Physition in his Obseruations A certaine woman hauing voyded for the space of many da◅es together a thick and purulent vrine at length died and beeing opened was found interressed in the heart with certaine impostumes and two stones I. HOVLIER Comment 1. on the 6. booke sect 2. aphoris 4. of HIPPOCRAT and the Comment on the 75. aph of the 4. booke The Emperour MAXIMILIAN the second had three little stones found in his heart of the bignes of a pease but not of equall quantity and weight In his life time hee was very much afflicted with a panting of the heart I. WIER in the 4. booke Chap. 16. of the impostures of euill spirits In the heart of IEROME SCHEIBER that died at Paris in the yeare 1547. was opened in the presence of SYLVIVS HOVLIER FERNEL professors in Physick there was foūd an hard blackish roūd stone as big as a nutmeg and weyghing Certaine drammes to the great wonder of all men AER MVRGEL Physition In diuers mens hearts there are found Cornes or hard things like vnto stoanes of the bignes of a nut in others fat in the ventricles or verie thicke Carnosities sometimes of two pounde weight or other substance like the marrowe of sodden beefe Also tumors impostumes of the bignes of an hens egge which in some haue caused co◅ruption of the membrane of the heart in others wasting of the heart it selfe in others mattory and long congealed vlcers The History of them are described by the Doctors of Physick BENIVENIVS IACOT VESALIVS ERASTVS COLVMBVS FERNELIVS HOVLIER IOVBERT and others in their obseruations Commentaries and disputations Which it shall suffise to haue touched in a worde Touching the hurts of the heart FERNELIVS in the fi◅t booke of his Panthologia Chap. 12. holds that if they bee not deepe and penetrated farre into the ventricles of the heart the person hurt dies not presently To which effect IOHN SCHENCK of Grafenberg Doctor of Phisick at Fribourg recounts in the 2. booke of his Physickall Obseruations Obserue 209. that hee had heard a learned Physition tell how a certaine scholler studying at Ingolstad beaing stabbed with a poygnard into the heart the two ventricles wherof were found pearced through and through ranne a good way bleeding and liued a full houre after speaking and cōmending himselfe to GOD. I protest I haue seene a gentleman at Thurin which fought with another that gaue him a thrust vnder the left pappe penetrating euen into the substance of the heart and yet for all that he struck diuers blowes at his enemy that ranne away from him pursuing him the length of two hundred pace and then fell downe dead to the ground After which I opened him and found a wound in the very substance of the heart so bigge that one might haue laid his finger in it and a great quantity of bloud falne vpon the Diaphragma AMER PARE in the 9. Booke Chap. 32. Of Comets IN this Section I will briefly represent the Comets seene in Europe for these hundred yeares or thereabouts adding that which GARCEVS in his Meteorologie LICHOSTENES and others haue obserued vpon this point In the yeare 1500. in the moneth of Aprill a Comet appeared in the North vnder the signe of Capricorne The same yeare Prince CHARLES was borne afterwards Emperor the 5. of that name and SOLYMAN Sultan of the Turkes Soone after folowed the spoile which the Tartares made in Polonia the famine in Swabe a plague throughout all Germanie the taking of Naples by the French A rising of the peasants in the Bishop rike of Spire against the Bishop and the Canons the taking of Modon and some other places in Morea by the Turkes ISMAEL Sophie expelled out of the kingdome of Persia by the Turkes whereof they ceazed The second yeare after the plague made a horrible spoile almost throughout all the whole world the which had for fore-runners figures of crosses falling out of the ayre vpon mens clothes A warre followed in Bauaria two yeares after this plague after the which many great men both spirituall temporal died The Emperor MAXIMILIAN the 1. vanquished the Guelders and then the Hongariens whom he reduced vnder his obedience In the yeare 1506. a Comet appeared in August towards the North couering the signes of Leo and Virgo hauing neere vnto the Chariot a thick and shining taile stretched out betwixt the wheeles of this Chariot for which cause some Astronomers called it the Peacocks taile In September after died PHILIP the 1. king of Spaine father to CHARLES and FERDINAND Emperors The same yeare the Turkes were defeated in battaile by the Persians and on the other side they tooke Modon in Morea from the Christians and defeated their fleete Then followed a ciuill warre betwixt BAIAZET and his sonne SELIM and FRANCIS SPORCE Duke of Milan was taken in Italy by the French As for that which happened in the following yeares the History of our time doth shew it as well in respect of warres Inundations death of famous men and merueilous alterations in Europe the causes whereof we will attribute to the iust iudgements of GOD punishing the sinnes of the world we say only that Comets seeme oftentimes to be fore-runners and Trumpets of the wonderfull iudgements of the Lord as a French Poet speaking of a Comet seene in the yeare 1577. said in the 2. day of his weeke O frantick France why doost not thou make vse Of the strange signes whereby the Heauens induce Thee to repentance canst thou teare-lesse gaze Euen night by night on that prodigious blaze That hairy Comet that long streaming Starre Which threatens Earth with Famine Plague and Warre The Almighties Trident and three forked fire Wherewith he strikes vs in his greatest ire But let vs consider the other Comets according to the order of the yeares In Nouember 1523. there was seene a Comet and soone after the heauens seemed all on fire casting forth infinite flames of lightning vpon the earth the which did tremble afterwards there hapned strange Inundations of water in the realme of Naples Soone after followed the taking captiuity of Francis 1. King of France Germanie was troubled with horrible seditions LEVVIS King of Hungary was slaine in battaile against the Turkes There were wonderfull stirres throughout all Europe and Rome was taken and spoiled by the imperiall Armie In the same yeare of the taking and sack of Rome which was 1527. there was seene another more fearefull Comet then the precedent there followed after it the great spoiles which the Turkes made in Hungary a famine in Swabe Lombardie and at Venice warre in Zuitzerland the siege of Vienna in Austria the Sweat in England the ouer-flowing of the Sea in Holland and Zeland where it drowned a great Country and an Earthquake in Portugall which continued eight dayes In the yeare 1531. from
the 6. of August vnto the 3. of September there appeared a Comet marching slowly by the signes of Cancer Leo Virgo Libra the which was followed by many troubles great changes in Germany in Denmarke and else-where and another Comet was seene the yeare following greater then it Soone after in the yeare 1533. appeared an other Comet in the end of Iuly Historians write the wonderfull changes which followed it Those of the yeare 1538. 1556. 1558. and in the following yeares vnto this age â—…aue bin wonderfull hauing Ecclipses of the Sunne most commonly going before them And as for that which hath happened since in Europe no man is ignorant thereof if hee bee not exceeding ignorant The most fearfull of all the Comets in our time was that in the yeare 1527 for the sight of it strooke such a terror into many as some died others fell sick It was seene of many thousands of people seeming very long and of a bloudy colour On the top therof was seene the representation of a crooked arme holding a great sword in his hand as if he would strike At the point of this sword were three starres but that which toucht the point directly was more cleere and shining then the rest On either side of the beames of this Comet were seene many battle-axes daggers bloudy swords among the which they did marke a great number of mens heads cut off hauing their beards haire horribly curled And haue we not seene for the space of 3â—… yeares throughout all Europe the terrible effects vpon the earth of this presage in Heauen But we may not forget the new starre as great as the day starre the which appeared among the fixed Starres neere vnto Cassiopeia the 9. of Nouember 1572. hauing the forme of a Lozenge CORNELIVS GEMMA and other learned Astronomers which haue written Bookes thereof say that it continued still in one place for the space of three weekes and they hold that it resembled the starre the which appeared to the Wisemen comming to adore IESVS CHRIST in Bethlehem presently after his birth It continued in the firmament 9. moneths or there abouts Others say that it lasted vntill the beginning of March 1574. fading by little and little GEMMA speakes wonders in the 2. Booke of the Cosmocritique Chap. 3. But for that he doth discourse dispute thereof at large it shall suffice vs to note this wonder the which he esteemes merueilous as in deed it was among all the extraordinary wonders of Heauen since the natiuitie of our Sauiour A violent Compassion HVSSAN AGA one of SVLTAN SOLIMANS Chamberlins sent by his Maister to treat a Peace with the Persian according to the commision that was giuen him hee seazed vpon BAIAZET sonne to SOLIMAN beeing prisoner in Persia and by the fathers commandment strangled him with a bow-string His foure sonnes past the same way Flying out of Amasia hee had left one newely borne the which SOLIMAN had caused to bee carried to Prusse in Bithinia where it was brought vp But newes being come that BAIAZET was dispatcht SOLIMAN sent a grome of his Chamber in whom he trusted much to Prusse to put this little Infant to death This Eunuch or Grome of his Chamber being a man of a milde disposition had carryed with him one of the Vshers of the Chamber a man fit to execute all desperate and bloudy Commissions to vse him for the strangling of BAIAZETS little sonne He enters into the Chamber and putting the cord about the childes neck to strangle him the Infant began to smile on him and rising vp stretcheth forth his little armes to imbrace him striuing to kisse him This countenance did so moue the heart of this Barbarian as not able to passe any further hee fell downe dead in a swone The Eunuch amazed at his long stay goes vp and offring to enter he found the Vsher lying all along at the Chamber dore but not daring to fayle in his Commission hee strangled this poore Infant with his owne hands Which shews that the Grand-father SOLIMAN had not spared his little grand-child a while for any pity that he had but delayed it according to the opinion of the Turkes who say that GOD is the author of all things that are done so as the euent bee to their liking And therefore so long as BAIAZETS affaires were in any doubt or suspence SOLIMAN would not haue the little Infant toucht least that if hee did prosper they would say that SOLIMAN had resisted the will of GOD. But after the death of BAIAZET held as it were condemned by a diuine decree seeing had beene disapointed of his disseignes and then rooted out SOLIMAN resolued that the child was no longer to bee kept The Seignior of Busbeque in the discourse of his voyages into Turkey Epist. 4. Conceptions and Deliueries before they were of age FERRAND of S. Seuerin the worthy Prince of Salerne last deceassed hath told me in the Towne of Alais where he was marryed that for certaine in his Country of Salerne a yong Maide had borne a child beeing but 9. yeares old the which liued I haue heard speake of an other at Paris who was deliuered of a child at ten yeares of age It is very credibly reported that at Lectore a Town in Gascony one had a child at 9. yeares of age Shee is yet liuing called IOAN DE PEIRIE who was married to VIDAV BEGHE beeing in his life time Receiuer of the Fines for the King of Nauarre in that place she miscarried of a Sonne at the age of 9. yeares then at 11. she had a Daughter which liued and hath had children at 14. she had a sonne called LAVRENCE yet liuing at 16. an other also liuing called PETER Fiue yeares after which was the 21. yeare of her age she had a daughter at this day Widow to an Apoticary And then she left being with child although her husband liued shee was a little Woman nor very corpulent who in Aprill 1577. was 44. yeares old I haue seene her and talked with her fully of these matters She told mee among other things that after her first child whereof shee miscarried being but 9. years old she had alwaies her courses very orderly Hauing left bearing of children at the age of 21. yeares she continued still with her husband the space of 19. yeares Maist. LAVRENCE IOVBERT lib 2. of popular errors ca. 2. Monsieur CHAPPELAIN Physition to King FRANCIS the 1. protested vnto me that he had seene a maid that at nine yeares of age was with child went out her time and was deliuered SILVIVS in his Comentary of Womens termes I. FOXIVS hath written the like of a maid of 9 yeares old Notable Continency LVCHIN VIVALDE a rich Gentleman of Genoa yong goodly and of a good fashion fell extreamely in in loue with a poore yong Maid that was exceeding fayre called IANIQVETTE and tryed all meanes possible to winne her for his Concubine But it was in vaine this Virgins
from the two vehement apprehention of GODS Iustice vnto his mercie which was open vnto him hee answered very coldly you saie true GOD is GOD but of his Children not for me his mercie is certaine for his elect but I am a reprobate a vessell of wrath and cursing and I doe alreadie feele the toâ—…ments of hell When they did exhort him to call GOD his Father and IESVS CHRIST his Sonne My mouth sayd hee doth speake it but my heart hath horror of it I beeleeue that hee is the Father of others but not of mee When they did laie before him that hee had knowne GOD heard his worde and receiued his Sacraments I but hee added that I was an hipocryte and guilty of many blasphemies against GOD. And then he returned to his ordinary discourses I am a vessell prepared to wrath and damnation I am damned I burne H. BELON in the treasor of a Christian soule A learned man at Louvain called M. GERLACH hauing profited so well in his studies as hee was one of the first among the Learned of our time beeing toucht with a greeuous sickenesse hee sighed continualy and feeling himselfe to drawe neere his ende hee beganne to descouer the grounde of his sighes speaking such fearefull wordes as desperate men are accustomed to proferre crying out and lamenting that hee had liued verie wickedly and that hee could not endure the Iudgement of GOD for that hee knewe his sinnes were so great as he should neuer obtaine pardon so as in this distresse hee died opprest with greeuious and horrible despaire The Historie of our Times M. ARNOVL BOMEL a learned man of the same place receyuing an impression in his braine from a Sophister of strange opynions touching our Saluation hee beganne to growe wilde One daie going out of Louvaine with three Schollers to walke Vpon his returne vnto the Towne hee did sit downe neere a fountayne fayning to rest him The Schollers went a little before not doubting any thing In the meane time BOMEL doth secretly drawe forth a little knife and stabbes himselfe in the brest The Schollers returning towardes him espied him to fall and running to him they did see the fountaine red with bloud They came to him all amazed and findâ—…ng the wounde they carried him as well as they could to the neerest house and doubting that it might bee deadly they exhorted him to aske GOD mercie for that hee had done violence vnto himselfe Hee seemed vnto them to haue some remorse as well by his outward countenance as by some wordes which hee deliuered with a languishing voice But in the meane time seeing a knife hang at one of the Schollers girdels hee seized thereon sodenly and strikes himselfe to the heart whereof hee died presently In the same Historie Mr. IAMES LATOMVS one of the chiefe Doctors in the Vniuersitie of Louvain beeing one daie out of countenance in a Sermon before the Emperour CHARLES the fifte returning ashamed and confounded from Brâ—…xelles to Louvaine so as after hee did so apprehend this dishonour as hee fell sodenlie into despaire whereof hee gaue manie testymonies in publike the which did mooue his friendes to keepe him close in his house from that time vnto his last gaspe poore LATOMVS had no other speech but that hee was reiected of GOD that hee was damned and that he hoped for no mercy nor saluation as hauing maliciously made warre against the grace and truth of GOD. Hee died in this despaire neither was it possible for any friendes nor Physitions to make him change this opinion The same author In the end of the yeare 1545. in a smal towne of the territory of Padoua called Ciuitelle there was a learned Lawier and Aduocate a wise and verie Rich man and an honourable Father of a famelie called FRANCIS SPIERA who hauing said and done diuers things against his conscience to maintaine himselfe and his charge being returned to his house he could neuer rest an houre no not a minute nor feele any ease of his continuall anguish And euen from that night he was so terrified and had such horror of his actions as hee held himselfe for lost For as he himselfe did afterwards confesse he did see plainly before his eies all the torments all the paines of hell and of the damned and in his soule did heare the fearefull sentences being drawne before the iudgement seate of IESVS CHRIST The next day and so following it was impossible to see him resume any courage but his spirits were strangely troubled and the terror tooke from him all rest and appetite This Accident was so grieuous to his friends and familiars as some repented them much that they had beene the cause of so great an inconuenient by their prayers and intreaties Others thinking it did proceed from some cholerick or melancholy humor the effects whereof are often-times strange in those braines which are violently toucht were of opinion to send him to Padoua to be Physicked by the learned Physitions reuiued by honourable companie and setled by the conference of learned men that were there to some of the which he was well knowne His wife and children with some of his familiar friends did accompany him and hee was lodged in one of the chiefe houses FRISIMILEGA BELLOCAT and CRASSVS famous and excellent Physitions did visit him and giue him Physicke with a singular affection and found soone that he was little sicke in body but grieuously in minde for in all other things he discoursed grauely and constantly so as none of his familiar friends could decerne that the quickenesse of his discourse and reason was any thing impaired or weakened continnuing still in this continuall anguish manie were much troubled and daylie his Chamber was full of people some curious to see and to heare others but very fewe were desirous to drawe him to hope in the mercies of GOD. I was present at many of his speeches with some men of honour and learning To deliuer that which I could obserue I beganne first to note his age and his fashion He was about fifty yeares old free from the violent passions of youth and from the coldnesse of old age Nothing came out of his mouth that was lighly or foolishly spoken or that might discouer any doting in him although hee did day lie discours of graue and important matters with the learned and that some did propound vnto him high questions especially in diâ—…inity I will briefely relate some speeches they had with him during his aboad at Padoua and I will not forget that hee declared with a setled Iudgement that hee did see the eternall vengeance of GOD prepared against the sinne which hee had committed For that he did finde in him selfe that those things which GOD had giuen to others to reioyce their spirits and to liue well and happely had all conspired against him in despight of his horrible forfet For although said hee that GOD for a great blessing had promised to many holie men a goodly issue
and a great number of Children in whose loue and obedience they may repose their age and that there was nothing more pleasing in this present life yet in the middest of his miseries the hands and faces of his Children were as horrible vnto him as the hang-mans It cannot well be exprest what greefe and vexation hee seemed to receiue when his Children brought him meate forcing him to eate and threatning him when hee refused it Hee confessed his Children did their duties yet he tooke al in ill part saying that he did not acknowledge GOD any more for his Father but did feare him as an aduersary armed with iudgement For he had bin three weekes in this apprehension when hee spake these things without eating or drinking but what they forced him vnto the which he receiued with great difficulty the which hee resisted withall his power spitting out that which they forced him to take Some of the Assistants were of opinion to make him a fraied to make him the more apt to receiue foode first for the Soule then for the bodie asking him if hee did not feare greater and sharper torments after this life then those heethen felt Hee confessed that hee did expect farre more sharpe and had alreadie horror of them yet hee desired nothing more then to bee cast head-long into them that hee might not feare other more greeuious torments They asked him againe if hee thought his sinne to bee so fowle as it could not bee pardoned through the bountie and infinite mercie of GOD His answere was that hee sayd sinned against the Holie Ghost which was so great a sinne as it is called a sinne vnto death that is to say subiect to the eternall vengeance of GOD and to the paines of hell Whereof this poore wretch discoursed amplie learnedly and to subtilie against himselfe Learned and Godly men which did assist him omitted no testymonies that might assure a wounded conscience that GOD is mercifull gentle and readie to pardon But all this could not diuert him from his opinion neither could they drawe any other thing from him but that hee desired much that hee might returne to some hope of pardon But it fares with mee sayth hee as with Cryminall persons shut vp in close prisons and fettered hand and foote Sometimes they are saluted by their friends passing by who aduise them to breake prison and to deceiue their gards if they can Such prisoners would gladly followe their counsell but it is a vaine desire Euen so is mine saied hee As for the scriptures which were cited vnto him touching the loue and affection of GOD the Father by reason of his Sonne IESVS CHRIST hee did aduowe them adding that they did belong onelie to them whome IESVS CHRIST did repute his Bretheren and his members but as for him hee had renounced that loue and willingly reiected all Brotherly allyance neither was hee ignorant in howe great tranquillity of minde they might bee who had once imbraced the promises of saluation and did rest themselues continually therein For confirmation whereof this his sad desaster sayd hee was propounded for an example before all mens eyes that if they were wise they should not hold it light nor happened by any chance but to learne by his ruine howe dangerous it is to fall anie thing from that which beelongs to the great glorie of the Sonne of GOD. Adding that it was a slipperie and a very dangerous passage yea most fearefull to him that stood not carefully vpon his gard Moreouer forasmuch as such euident examples of the vengeance of almightie GOD did seldome appeere to the eyes of men they deserued to bee the more carefullie regarded That amongest a great multitude and number of reprobates in the worlde his calamitie was not singular but his onely punnishment and ruyne did satisfie GOD a iust Iudge to admonish all others to haue a care of themselues He added with all that therein hee did acknowledge the seuerity of GODS iudgement who had chosen him to make him a spectacle rather then any other and to admonish all by one mans mouth to abstaine from all impietie confessing moreouer that there was no reproch nor punnishment which hee had not deserued by reason of his fowle offence After that hee had discoursed sincerely and grauely of the diuine Iustice hee sayd that they should not take it strange this his long speech touching the true reason of the will of GOD for that oftentimes GOD doth wrest out of the mouth of reprobates most assured testymonies of his Maiestie his Iustice and his fearefull vengance as wee see in IVDAS confessing his owne sinne and iustefying his Master Vsing a long discours vpon this sentence and desirous to shewe the greatnesse of GODS Iudgements there are some sayd hee who haue all things so wishfully as they liue in all delights without feare or apprehension of any harme as hauing attained the higth of all felycitie who notwithstanding are registred for perdition whereof IESVS CHRIST propounds an example in the rich man enioying all the pleasures of the world with a full gorge beeing after his death tormented in hell whereof mention is made in the sixteenth Chapter of the Gospell after Saint Luke That GOD doth often propound vnto makinde a hope of reward to drawe him to the right beleefe of His holy will and oftimes hee doth withdrawe them from their Impieties by prodigious and fearefull signes And yet as Impietie is naturall to Men they make not their profit of such instructions and thinke not that it concernes them but contrarywise impute it to any other thing rather then to the wisedome of GOD to feare and reuerence him Herevpon he made a bitter inuectiue against a certaine Philosopher whom hee had knowne aboue twenty yeares before for that this MOROSOPHE had beene so impudent to deliuer in his lessons yea to write it and to publish it in Print that all the miracles that IESVS CHRIST had done vpon the earth might well be done by a man that were skilfull in the knowledge of Naturall things It were hard to represent the admiration where-with they were surprised and with what compassion they were moued that came to visit him for the discourses which they heard from his mouth Euery man laboured earnestly to reduce this poore man to some hope of his saluation Among others there was one a reuerend man for his holynesse of life who departed not from the patients bed It was the Bishop of Capo d' Istria in the Venetians territories Hee ceased not to exhorte SPIERA and laboured by many testimonies of the holy Scriptures to diuert him from that apprehension beseeching him by their friendship by his loue to his Wife and Children and for that his health should bee precious vnto him that hee should haue a care of himselfe and print in his heart a hope and trust of saluation by IESVS CHRIST Adding that hee did not thinke that his spirit was altogether voide and destitute of some
good and heauenly inspiration seeing hee spake so holylye and deuoutly of the excellencie of Christian religion Although the sicke man knew well that these admonitions proceeded from a sincere and true heart yet for that hee had diuerse times reiected them hee began to frowne saying vnto the Bishop You beleeue as I thinke that I doe willingly nourish this obstinacie in my minde and that I take delight in this vehement passion of despaire If you bee of that opinion you are deceiued I will tell you to the ende you may knowe my resolution that if I could bee perswaded that the iudgement of GOD might by any meanes bee changed or mitigated for mee it should not greeue me to bee tormented ten thousand yeares with the sharpest paines of Hell so as I might haue any hope of rest after this long sufferance But euen in that whereby you doe exhorte me to gather some hope I see all meanes of health and pardon taken from mee For if the testimonies of holye Scripture haue any authoritie as they haue doe you thinke that IESVS CHRIST hath sayd in vaine That he which hath renounced him before men hee will renounce him before his heauenly Father doe you not see that it concernes mee and that it is as it were particularly verified in my person what shall become of him whom the Sonne hath disauowed before his Father when as you say that wee must hope for no saluation but in IESVS CHRIST Therevpon hee did expound certaine passages of the Epistle to the Hebrews and of the second Catholike Epistle of Saint Peter out of the which hee drewe terrible conclusions against himselfe Wee cannot beleeue with what grauitie and vehemencie his wordes were deliuered neyther was there euer man heard pleading better for himselfe then SPIERA did then against himselfe Hee did alledge notable things of GODS Iustice detesting his fore-passed life admonishing all that were about him very earnestlie not to thinke that a Christians life was a light thing and easily discharged That it doth not consist onely in hauing the head Baptized in reading certaine verses and Texts of the Gospell and to bee termed an honest man but it was needfull he should liue as the doctrine of trueth doth command him Therevpon hee repeated a Text out of Saint Peter exhorting vs to shewe through holynesse of life certaine signes of the loue of GOD towards vs and of the confidence wee should haue in him Hee sayde moreouer that hee had knowne many who after they had tasted the sweetnesse of true felicitie they suffered them-selues to bee so carryed away as they had no longer care to performe that which belonged to a Childe of GOD. Hee protested that hee had some-times imagined that his sinnes had beene hidden and that hee could not bee punished for that CHRIST had made satisfaction for them but then hee knew too late that those things belonged onely to the elect and chosen of GOD betwixt whose sinnes and the heauenly and celestiall Throne IESVS CHRIST setts his precious bloud and the dignitie of his obedience as a vale and shadowe to couer them and doth plant them against the diuine vengeance as a high and strong Rampar that sinners repenting them might not bee opprest nor drowned with the deluge and ouer-flowings of their offences and sinnes As for himselfe seeing that hee had renounced our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST hee had as one should say ouerthrowne this strong Rampar with his owne hands so as after this ruine and ouer-flowing the deluge of waters of this vengeance had couered and swallowed vp his soule One of his most familiars said vnto him that he did hold the cause of this his great torment to proceed from aboundance of melancholie humours which did so trouble his braine SPIERA remembring that hee had many times refuted that opinion and seeing they were to begin againe sayd vnto the other you may thinke what you please but GOD in trueth hath troubled my spirit and depriued mee of iudgement seeing it is impossible for mee to haue any hope of my saluation Hauing continued in such and the like speeches during his aboad at Padoua they carryed him backe to his house at Ciuitelle where hee dyed in this despaire This which is worthy of consideration among the Histories of our time is drawne out of a discourse published by Maister HENRIE SCRINGER a learned Lawyer who was then at Padoua did see and many times talke with this poore SPIERA About twenty yeares before a very famous Doctor throughout all Germanie called KRAVS remaining at Halle in Swabe hauing often-times turned his conscience sometimes towards GOD sometimes towards the worlde hauing inclined in the end to the worser part sayd and confest publikely that hee was vndone and fell so deepe into despaire as hee could neyther receiue nor take any comfort nor consolation so as in this miserable and wretched estate of his soule hee slew him-selfe most miserably In the Historie of Germanie Cardinall CRESCENCE being at Verona to passe on farther about some matters of importance was much troubled the 25. of March with writing and hauing laboured very late at night rising a little out of his chaire to take breath he imagined that he did see a black Dog of an exceeding greatnesse hauing fiery eyes and his eares hanging to the ground which came directly towards him and then hid himselfe vnder the Table Hee was presently like one in a sowne but beeing come againe to himselfe hee cryed out alowd calling his seruants that were in the former Chamber and commanded them to seeke this Dogge with a light But not finding him there nor in the anti-chamber a Feauer seized on him and encreased in such sort as hee dyed Towards the ende of his life hee cryed often to his seruants Driue away this Dogge which comes vp to my bed It was not possible to resolue nor to comfort him But hee died in great despaire at Verona Historie of our time SLEIDAN lib. 23. of his Comentaries Vnder the raigne of King FRANCIS the second the Kings Aduocate in the Parliament of Daulphiné called PONSENAS after that he had sold his patrimonie his wiues and borrowed much money of his friends to buie this office hee consumed what remained in keeping of open house hoping to be soone recompenced to the double But beeing falne sicke of a disease vnknowne to the Physitions hee fell into despaire of GODS helpe and mercy and representing daylye vnto himselfe the death of some innocent persons executed at Romans and at Valence whome hee had pursued Hee denyed GOD called vpon the Diuill and made all the horrible curses and Imprecations that might bee imagined His Clarke seeing him in this despaire spake to him of the mercies of GOD alledging certaine passages of the Scripture to that purpose But insteed of turning vnto GOD and asking pardon for his offences he sayd vnto him O STEPHEN how black thou art the young man who was redish hayrd excused himselfe the Aduocate replyed againe
afterwards discouered and proued against him hee was first of all laied starke naked on a bare planke so drawne through the chiefest streetes of the towne then hee had his flesh plucked away in foure principall places of his body with hot burning pincers lastly hee had his bones broken and was left so a liue on a cart wheele where hauing languished in grieuous torments the space of nine houres with great acknowledgement and detestation of his damnable fact he gaue vp the ghost GASPAR HEDIO in the 4. part of his Chronicles On Sattarday the last sauing one of September 1565. it happened that IOHN GVY the Sonne of EME GVY an Haberdasher of hattes and cappes in the Towne of Chastillon vpon Loire being a very lewd vnruly youth stayed forth according to his custome and came not home till it was very late in the night Whereat his Father being much offended told him that if he continued in those fashions he should be constrained to turne him out of dores Wherevnto the Sonne answered very sawcily that it should not neede for hee would goe of himselfe and that forth-with if hee might haue his clothes Therevpon the Father went to his Chamber and being a bedde was faine to threaten his Sonne for to make him hold his peace he was so lusty with his tongue At length seeing hee but lost his labour and not able any longer to endure his proud and sawcy answeres hee rose in an anger out of his bedde for to go and Chastice the arrogancie and disobedience of this vnruly youth who seeing his Father comming to beate him caught a sworde which hunge in his Chamber and rebelling against his Father ranne him quite through the bodie Wherewithall he fell presently downe crying out he was slaine The neighbors flighted with his crie came running in and found the poore Father lying all along on the floore ready to giue vp the Ghost as within a little while after he did and his Sonne standing by him with the sword all bloudie in his hands who notwithstanding that his Father mooued with compassion and forgetting his vnnaturall cruelty towards him had willed him to saue himselfe and that his Mother had also perswaded him therevnto yet had not the power to stirre a foote So that apprehended and examined at first he excused himselfe saying that his Father ranne vpon the sword himselfe But his excuses found friuolous hee was condemned to haue his right hand cut of then to haue his flesh plucked away in foure places of his body with burning pincers and finally to bee hanged by the feete on a gibbet and there strangled with a stone of a hundreth and twentie pounds weight which should be tyed about his neck All which hauing confessed his fault hee patiently endured calling vpon GOD for mercy euen to the verie last gasp In the Historie of our time A friend of mine a man of a great spirit and worthie of credit beeing one night at Naples with a kins-man of his heard the voice of a man crying out for helpe in the streete Whereat he arose lighted a candle and ranne out to see what it was and comming into the streete hee sawe an horrible fantosme of a dreadfull and furious aspect which would haue carried away a young youth that cried out and struggled with him aswell as he could but seeing him comming hee ranne suddainely vnto him and caught him fast about the middle and after his feare was some-what past hee beganne to call vpon GOD whereat the fantosme vanished presently away My friend carried this young man to his lodging and after hee had comforted him hee would haue sent him home but hee could not get him to go by any meanes for the youth was so frighted that hee shaked euery ioynt of him through the apprehension of so hideous an encounter At last being some-what come to himselfe hee confessed that till then hee had lead a very wicked life that hee had beene a contemner of GOD and disobedient to his Father and Mother whom he had so intollerably misused that they had cursed him Wherevpon hee went forth of dores and was presently encountred by that fiend ALEXANDER of Alexandria in the 4. booke of his geniall daies Chap. 19. A young man borne at Gabies not farre from Rome being of a wilde and vnruely nature and verie lewdly giuen hauing abused his Father diuers and sundry waies got him in a rage out of dores and went towardes Rome entending to plot some newe villany there against his sayd Father Vpon the way hee met the Diuell in the likenesse of a desperate ruffian with long haire and ragged apparel who comming to him demanded the cause of his discontent The young man answered that hee had beene at some wordes with his Father and determined to be meete with him some way or other Whervnto the Diuell replyed that such an inconuenient had befallen him and therefore desired him they might keepe company togither for to deuise some meanes to bee reuenged of the wrongs they had sustained Night approching they went into an Inne and lay togither in one bedde But the wicked fiend when the young man was a sleepe caught him by the throate and had strangled him if hee had not awaked and called to GOD for helpe Wherevpon the Diuell vanished away and in his departure so shaked the Chamber that both the roofe and walles crackt in sunder Whereat this young man was greeuiously terrified with such a soddaine spectacle and almost dead with feare repented him of his wicked life and guided from thence forward by a better spirit became an enemy to vice past the rest of his life farre from the rumors of people and serued for a good example to his neighbors In the same booke and Chapter Children brought vp among Wolues GOD repented that he had made man saith MOYSES Gen. 6. And Philosophers Bookes are full of complaints touching the malice of mans heart PLATO in the 7. Booke of his lawes saith That a child is the wildest beast the vnruliest and hardest to bee tamed of all other and that it cannot be too neerely looked vnto ARISTOTLE also in the first Bookes of his Politickes confirmes the same Lyons Beares and other sauage beasts are vntractable but yet not so much as children left to themselues and destitute of good direction It is reported that a childe of a village in the Landgrauiat of Hesse was lost through the rechlesnesse of his Father and Mother who sought him a long time after but could not finde him This Village was full of Trees and Gardens hard by a Forrests side wherein were a great number of Wolues Certaine yeares after there was perceiued among the Wolues which came into the Gardens to seeke their prey a creature not altogether like a Wolfe nor nothing so nimble as they which seene many and sundry times with great meruaile by the Country-folkes and thinking it was a beast of some other kinde they went and reported it to the
Gouernor of the place who there-with acquainted the Landgraue He hauing commanded that it should be hunted and by some way or other taken aliue the Country-men vsed such meanes that they caught it and lead it to the Landgraues Court going on foure feete like a beast and of a grim and terrible looke Beeing in the Princes hall it went and hidde it vnder a bench where it beganne to houle and crie like a Wolfe But some lyniaments though disfigured of a humane face beeing discouered in it the Prince commanded it to bee brought vp among men vntill such time as it might bee more exactly knowne what it was Those which had it in charge so diligently imployed themselues that the creature beganne to growe tame to stand vpright and to goe like other men finally to speake distinctly and then as farre forth as euer his memory would permit him hee declared that hee had liued in a Caue among Wolues which vsed him verie gently and alwaies gaue him the better parte of their prey M. DRESSERVS in his booke of newe and ancient discipline Diuers French Gentlemen can testifie that they haue seene a man which was taken in the forrest of Compiegne and brought to the late King CHARLES the 9. Who went vpon foure feete like a beast and ranne swifter then anie horse Hee could not stand vpright had a verie hard skinne was heary almost all ouer and in stead of speech vsed a feare-full crie accompanied with so hiddeous a looke and countenance that there is no beast so ill-fauored to see-to as that poore creature was which had liued amongest the rauenous Wolues and learned of them to howle Moreouer with his teeth he strangled Dogges dealt no better with men whensoeuer hee met them I could neuer knowe what become of him afterward EXTRACTED out of the Memorialls of our time Touching the first History extracted out of DRESSERVS I knowe not whither it bee the same which is presented by the D. PHILIP CAMERARIVS in his excellent Historicall meditations Chap. 75. The repeticion being but short wil not be offensiue I hope It is a meruaylous thing sayth he if true which is read in the additions to the History of LAMBERT of SCHAFNABOVRG as followeth The yeare 1544. a Child was taken in the Country of Hesse who as hee himselfe hath since declared and was so verified being but three yeares olde was carried away brought vp by Wolues When they got any prey they alwaies brought the better parte of it to the Child which fed vpon it In winter when it was cold they scraped a hole which they trimmed with grasse and leaues of trees whereon they layed the Childe and compassing him about defended him from the iniury of the time afterwards they made him goe vpon his handes and feete and runne along with them whither soeuer they went so that at length and through vse hee could leape and runne aswell as they Being taken he was taught by little and little to go onely vpon his feete He oftentimes sayd that if it had beene in his choice hee would rather haue liued among Wolues then men Hee was brought to the Court of HENRY LANDGRAVE of Hesse for to be seene In the same yeare befell the like case in the farme of Echtzel for a Childe of twelue yeares olde running amongest the Wolues in the Forrest adioyning was taken in the winter time by certaine Gentlemen that hunted the Wolues Children supposed or practised THis Inuention hath beene found out by some barren women some drawne therevnto of their owne motion to please their husbands and to bring an heire into the house vnder their charge to the preiudice of the right heire others consenting to the Impostures of their owne husbands pretending to aduance their estates by such Diuelish practises haue stuft vp their bellies with cloth little cushions but in such sort as they swelling should growe by degrees counterfetting themselues to bee distasted way-ward melancholie and heauie and at the end of 9. monethes to suppose some Child brought secretly from the house of some poore neighbour or for want of one from the hospitall Som-times bought for money or supposed by the husbād hauing had it of some Concubine This is not all for as some that haue beene barren haue vsed the meanes of such suppositions so others haue made vse of it when as they had a great desire to haue a Sonne for the greater contentment of their husbands they see that GOD had sent them a Daughter It is well knowne that about fiftie yeares since a Ladie of Daulphine seeing her selfe in disgrace with her husband for that shee had brought him none but Daughters forged such a tricke to giue him satisfaction shee corrupted a woman of base condition in the beginning of this womans conception and drewe a promise from her to giue her her Childe presently vpon her deliuerie After which practise the Ladie hauing counterfetted all the signes of a woman with Childe in the ende to plaie the last and chiefe part as soone as euer shee herd that the poore woman was in labour and that shee was deliuered of a Sonne shee goes to her bedde feyning to bee in the same paine expecting the little Boy that was promised her The which was done and brought her so secretly by certaine Midwiues as it was receiued of the husband as issued from his Wiues wombe and so generally reputed Wherein I will not ommit a notable example of the almightie GODS iust iudgement for this Ladie who could not bee induced by nature to beare any loue nor to giue any countenance in the house to this Childe although that by meanes of the sayd supposition hee had beene left heire by him who thought himselfe to bee his Father disdayning him daylie more and more in the ende shee forced him to bandie himselfe against her and to haue recourse vnto Iustice challenging his rights as Sonne and heire and offring to force her to an account Ths which did so incense the sayd Ladie as shee conspired his death at the least it was supposed that the murther committed vpon him was by her solliciting Booke first of the conference of ancient wonders with moderne A Childe of Stone A Woman of the Towne of Sens in Bourgondie called COLOMBE CHATRY married to LEVVIS CHARITE a Taylor hauing liued long with him without any children in the end shee conceiued and during the time of her being great she had all the accidents of a womā with child But the time of lying in being come all the endeuours of poore COLOMBE and the helpe of Midwiues were in vaine so as her fruit died and she laye three whole yeares languishing in her bed In the end being some-what eased shee liued in paine 25. yeares more carrying this dead fruite in her body whereof in the end she dyed hauing carryed it 28. whole yeares in her belly Her Husband caused her to be opened and the childe was found conuerted into a hard stone then
horsshooes with their hands Fronsperg neuer found man so strong but he would remooue him out of his place with the little finger of his right hand he would stay a Horse how strong so euer in his swiftest course with one hand And would remooue with his shoulder a Cannon whether hee list Schuartzbourg would wreath Horse-shooes as if hee had beene some plyable substance POTOCOVA Captaine of the Casiques of Poland beheaded by the commandement of the late King STERVEN would breake Horse-shooes as easily as a man would teare a peece of Paper GEORGE le FEVRE a learned Germaine writes that in his time in the yeare 1529. liued at Misnia in Thuringe one called NICHOLAS KLVNHER Prouost of the great Church that was so strong as without Cable or Pully or any other helpe hee fetcht vp out of a Cellar a Pipe of Wine caried it out of doores and laid it vpon a Cart. A Chanoin of the same Church called ERNEST of the house of the Earles of Mansfelt a strong and tall man would needs one day wrestle with him NICOLAS tooke him vp and lifted him into the ayre and afterwards cast him against a doore with such force that he broke it not-with-standing that it was fast lockt King CHARLES the ninth taking pleasure in exercises of the body being at Blois caused a Breton a man of little stature but well set to be sent for to the Court to wrestle body to body against all comers many both great and small tryed their strength with him but hee foyld them all casting one ouer his head another into the ayre with his heeles vpwards some a if they had bin Fethers others like little stones he cast into the ayre and so against the ground it being vnpossible for any to cast him to the ground Some-times he would lye flatt vpon the ground but who so-euer came neere him was forced to make one leape or other to the great contentment of the beholders To conclude another braue wrestler would needes buckle with him but in the end the Breton hauing his aduersary vpon his knee first lift him vp into the ayre and afterwards lockt him so fast in his armes as hee crusht him sore and to end his conquest he cast him with such violence against the earth as he was lifted vp and caried halfe dead to his lodging whereof he dyed shortly after In the Histories of our Times Thunder and Lightning IN the yeare 1562 beeing in Champatgne and passing by a little Village called Villeneufe not farre off from Sens the Arch-bishopricke certaine Gentlemen and honourable personages tolde mee a strange chance that happened to two young Priests by Thunder who in Haruest time comming from singing of masse for a ritch man dead after dinner retiring themselues were incountred with a torment of the aire accompanied with thunder and strange lightning These two young men recouering a little wood sat them downe togither vnder the Trees But they were kild by thunder where the next day after dilligent search for them their kins-folkes found them They thought at first they had but slept but it proued a perpetuall sleepe stripping and searching them they could finde neither hurt nor marke on their bodies but either of their hatts a little singed and in the middest their was a spot of the bignesse of a Carolus which is about the breadth of a groate Their poore bodies stunck so wonderfully that none could indure about them M. D. BEAVLIEV in his treatise of thunder and lightning About the yeare 1536. vpon a Sunday in summer was kept an excessiue and dissolute marriage in a village halfe a daies iorney from Poitiers the which hath but one streight and long streete In this day and place about noone happened a strange and fearefull thunder a Globe of fire of the greatnesse of a bowle fell in one of the corners of the Towne and ranne along the streete without hurting any bodie to Saint Georges Church where it beeing entred it made a strange spoile taking away the Tombes of the dead ranne to the grear Altar and spoiled a faire Image of our Ladie holding her little Childe in her armes besides it tore away the pauement in diuers places of this Church and brake a chaine of iron that held vp the Crucifix cast it downe brake one arme of it and afterwards grazing along the walles on the left hand without hurting them that were tolling the bells more then for feare to runne away it mounted vp into the Steeple a very faire building the which it burnt in sutch sorte that all the Belles both great and smal were melted the mettall falling vpon the pauement of the Church The same Traualing through Italie not farre from Eugubio I sawe thunder light vpon two peasants riding vpon Asses killing both men and beastes vpon the place they had a third man in their companie who had the bones of one of his armes so broken as one could not see whether their were any bone at all this blowe caused such pittifull greefes in this poore man and did so torment him as he desired not to liue I haue seene two men the Father and the Sonne haue their bodies so amazed and deaded with thunder that I thought verily they had beene falne into an Apoplexy They remained seauen daies togither without eating drinking speaking or moouing In the ende I caused them to bee let bloud giuing them sharpe glisters rubbing and norishing their bodies so as in short time they recouered their former healths Certaine months before the death of HIPOLITO of Este Cardinall of Ferrara thunder fell vpon his Pallace and entred into my Chamber light vpon one of my seruants swordes hanging at the bedde-side melted the point of it making a little bullet of it and neither broke nor hurt the sheath MVRETVS in his Annotations vpon the 31. Chap. of the 2. booke of Senecas naturall questions About the yeare 1560. Neere to Beneuida a Towne of Spaine as two men walked togither in the open fildes a strange tempest arose to the great astonishment of them both they seeking by flight to get some couert and perceiuing the tempest to encrease cast themselues flat to the ground where they felt the tempest readie to lift them from the ground In the ende one of them perceiuyng the noise to cease lifted himselfe vp the whirl-winde hauing much amazed him those which perceiued him comming the other lying still went towards him but him they found dead hauing his bones so broken as one might haue writhed his armes legs like a gloue all his Bodie seeming nothing but flesh likewise his tongue was taken away and could not bee found notwithstanding that they made dilligent search for it Their were diuers Iudgements vpon this accident one sayd hee was an ordinary swearer and blasphemer of the holie name of GOD and therefore was perticularlie chasticed in that parte that had most dishonored his creator By such a fore named whirl-winde a Towne of Spaine called
the 1. booke of his Essayes Chapter 21. Not long agoe a certaine woman thinking shee had swallowed a pinne in her meate cryed and tormented herselfe as hauing an intollerable paine in her throate where she thought she felt it stick but because no swelling nor alteration appeared on the out-side a witty fellowe iudging that it was but fantasie opynion taken frō some morcell that had pricked her throate in going downe made her vomit and priuily threwe a crooked pinne into that shee vomited This woman thinking she had cast it vp felt her selfe presently ridde of her paine The same I knew a gentleman that hauing feasted a sorte of his friends bragged three or foure daies after in ieasting manner for it was nothing so that hee had made them eate a cat baked in a pie whereat a gentlewoman of the company conceiued such horror that thereby falling into a weakenesse of the stomach and a feauer it was impossible to saue her The same I do not thinke that euer I haue reade a more admyrable matter in any history then that which is written by that learned personage LEVVIS VIVES Commentary on the 25. Chap. of the 12. booke of the Cittie of GOD. The bookes of Naturalistes sayth hee are full how things seene in conceiuing haue great efficacy in the woman with Childe and in her fruite By reason whereof they command women to haue faire images and pourtraytures aboute their beddes There is a towne in Fland◅rs called BOSLEDVC where euery yeare as in other places of those Countries on the day of the dedication of the great Church of their towne they set forth diuers plaies and pageants disguysing themselues some like Angells and other some like Diuells One of them inflamed with the regard of a certaine young gentlewoman went leaping and dauncing home where meeting his wife all disfigured and masked as he was he threwe her downe on a pallet saying hee would make a little Diuell in her By this approch the woman conceiued but assone as shee was deliuered beganne to skip and daunce like one of these same painted Diuells MARGARET of AVSTRICH the Daughter of MAXIMILIAN Aunt to CHARLES after-ward Emperor the fifth of that name recounted this History to IOHN LAMVS Embassador for FERDINAND King of Romanes M. MARTIN WEINRICH Physition in his Commentary treating of Monsters Chapter 17. AMBROSE PARE an expert and famous Chirurgion reports how a certaine woman of Beausse had a liue Frog tied in the paulme of her hand where she held it till such time as it was stif◅ed and that for to helpe her of a certaine feauer The night following this woman conceiued by her husband and at length was deliuered of a Childe which had a face like the muzzell of a Frog In the same Commentary and Chap. A learned Diuine declares in a certaine Commentary of his vpon Genesis how hee had seene a woman honest faire chast that was deliuered of a Bat. Which happened through one of the neighbors that hauing caught a Bat tied a little bell about him to the end he should fray away others This woman with Childe meeting the Bat conceiued such feare that her fruite receiued the whole forme of it through a strange and exceeding vehement imagination He relates also how he had seene a man wel stroken in years at Witteberg who had a face like death because his mother beeing with Childe of him was affraid of a deaths head and through her imagination had imprinted the forme of it in her Child The same Wee haue seene a woman in the towne of Breslaw in Silesia that beholding a Child newely borne without an hole in the fūdament not long after was deliuered of the like Likewise a Cuntry-woman with Child who returning home alone frō the Citty did eate a snake in steede of an eele which her husband when he came home was so ill-aduised to tell her of where at she conceiued such horror that suddainly shee died of it There haue bin many imprisoned for offences apprehending the losse of their liues as in one night of black or yellow which they were as in the floure of their age haue become all white like old men It is reported that a certaine man being in doubt that one layd waite for his life although this apprehensiō was false yet chancing to meete the party and the other stabbing him in ieast on the stomach with a great turnep imagined that it was a stab with a poygnard and fell downe dead in the place The like is sayd of a Ieaster who being condemned only in shew to be beeheaded for putting a great Prince his Maister in danger of his life as things were in a readinesse for his executiō insteed of striking him with the axe the hang man threw a bole of cold water on his neck but cōming to vnbinde him he found him starke dead in such sort as if his head had beene cleane cut off frō his shoulders The same Not long since one of our Princes whose naturall beauty and liuely disposition the goute had very much impaired suffered himselfe to bee so carried away by the report that went of the meruailous operations of a Priest who with certaine words healed all disseases that he vndertooke a long iourney for to finde him out by the powre of his apprehēsion so perswaded his leggs for certaine houres togither that he drewe the seruice from thē which they had forgot to do him a long time before There was so much simplicity so little art found afterward in the architect of such workes that hee was thought vnworthy of any punishment MONTAIGNE in the 3. booke of his Essayes About 25. years agoe a gentleman in Bassigni hauing bin at a great feast among other honorable company within 3. weekes after meeting some of the guesse one of them said merrily how at that feast insteed of a quarter of Kid they had bin serued with the leg of a Dog very well seasoned and drest and that she aswell as the l◅st had eaten her part of it Whether it were true or no I knowe not but immediately this Gentlewoman conceiued such horror at it that rysing from table she fell into swounings continuall vomytings sincopes and so vyolent a feauer that it was impossible to saue her Extracted out of mine owne notes Notable Impostures IN the towne of Artigules part of the dioces of Rieux and vnder the iurisdiction of the Parliament of Tholouse it happened that one MARTIN GVERRE hauing beene maried the space of ten or eleauen years to BERTRAND ROSLI afterward vpon what discontent I knowe not betweene him and his Father for-sooke his house went and serued vnder the Emperor CHARES the fifth and King PHILIP his Sonne where he continued some dosen yeares till at the taking of the towne of Saint Quintins he lost a legge Now his wife hauing heard no tydings of him in eight yeares before one named ARNOLD TYLLIER some call him ARNOLD of TILL borne in the Country
a notable engastrinyth he affirmed in one of his publick lectures where my 2. Sons THEODOR the Lawier and HENRY Doctor of Physick were present that once in Paris he had seene such another impostor as EVRYCLES who was called PETER the BRABANÇON This fellow when he listed spake out of his belly holding his mouth open but neuer wagged his lippes by such dexterity or the working of the Diuil he connicatched diuers folkes He fel in loue with a faire yong Parisian whose Father was dead and not able to induce the Mother to let him haue her As they were in talke togither about it hee began to send forth a voice out of his body as if the deceased husband cōplained that he was tomented in Purgatory because his widow did not giue her Daughter to Brabanson who had so often demanded her was so honest a man The woman terrified with such complaynts and hauing compassion of her husband consented to this Connicatchers desire who togither with the maide sought also for a certaine great summe of money that was left her by her Fathers will as it appeared shortly after For within halfe a yeare after he was married to her that hee had spēt all her portion he left her with his Mother in law ranne away to Lions There hee learnt that a rich Banker died not long before who in his life time had had a very bad name by reason of his vsurie and extortions Wherevpon he went and found out this Bankers onely Son and heire that was walking in a gallery fast by the Church-yard and told him he was sent vnto him to acquaint him with a matter of great importance which very much cōcerned him There-withall as he was exhorting him to haue more regard to his late Fathers credit and soule then to his death suddainly was heard a voice coūterfetting the Father which BRABANÇON sent out of his belly and in the meane time with a singular dexterity made as though he were wonderfully amazed at it By this voice the Sonne was admonyshed of the estate wherevnto the Father was reduced by his wickednesse and with what paine hee was tormented in the fire of purgatory aswell for himselfe as for his Sonne whom hee had left heire of all his goods gotten with an euill conscience declaring that hee could not bee deliuered vnles his Sonne made dewe satisfaction bestowing almes on those that were then in most neede of them which were the Christians prisoners with the Turke and that therefore he should rely on him that talked with him who was sent to Constantinople by diuers other good folkes and was also very opportunely directed by GOD vnto him for the same effect The Sonne who was none of the wisest in the world although hee suspected no deceite yet not very well digesting this word of furnishing money answered he would thinke vpon it and appointed BRABANÇON to meete him againe the next day in the same place In the meane while he was in a meruailous perplexity mistrusting the place where hee had heard the voice because it was close fit for knauery Wherfore the next day hee carried BRABANĈON into an open place where was neither bush nor any other Couert Notwithstanding talking togither the Son heard the old song with this new addission that without any delay he should giue BRABANĈON 6000. franks should cause 3. Masses to be sung euery day for the saluation of his Fathers soule who otherwise was damned for euer The Son being conscionable astonished without any more deliberation il-gotten goods hauing wings deliuered the Impostor the sum of 200. pound neuer taking any receipt or wittnesse of matters how they past the father came no more to importune his Son but remained quiet As for the Son after he had bid BRABANĈON adiew got him out of Lyons with his prey shewing himselfe some what merier then he had vsed to be the other Bankers wondring at it he told them the occasiō whervpō they laughed him to skorn for that he had so foolishly suffered himself to be Connicatched discouered the imposture vnto him which so strock him to the heart that within a little after he died with griefe went to his Father for to know the truth of the matter I. WIER in his 2. booke of Witches Chap. 14. In the raigne of King CHARLES the 9. a certaine fellow got him to Geneua naming himself IOHN ALLARD beeing but little knowne because he liued by the trade of a gardiner Hauing endured much by reason of the small profit and great labor of so poore a vocation he went after a while into Almaigne finally into Sweath-land where heevsed such means that he came to bee the Kings gardiner By his deuises he aduanced himself by little little so farre forth that he cūningly obtained to be agent for the King to the Seignory of Venice where remayning hee made a voiage to Milan visited the Duke of Sessa who commanded there for the King of Spaine played his part so wel that the Duke lent him sum eight thousand Crownes Not content with this purchase hee labored to make another and returning to Venice he propounded a certaine sale of artillery vnto the Lords and sung so sweete a note that he drewe from them in way of a lone the summe of foureteene thousand Crownes Herevpon he dislodged for to returne sayd hee vnto some of his friends into Sweath-land And passing by Milan he went to do his dutie to the Duke and payd him his 8000. Crownes Being at table in his lodging and his head some-what intoxicated he spake so rudely of the Pope and his Ceremonies that he was arrested prisoner frō Milan cōueied to Naples Pope GREGORY the 13. vnderstanding that a prisoner qualifing himselfe Embassador for the King of Sweath-land was in the hands of the Inquisition cōmanded him to be brought frō Naples to Rome Where being arriued he wold needes see heare him whence sprung at length so great a familiarity betweene them that the Pope promised him a certaine kins-womā of his to wife Thē he set him at liberty appointing him lodging gaue him leaue to visit his Mistres who like-wise went often to see him where-vpon ensued such priuitie betweene them that her belly beganne to swell which was couered with a report of indisposition that required the Signora should change the aire ALLARD fore-seeing that he should be called in question for this pranke of his practised in such sorte with an Englishman seruant to a certaine French Cardinall soiouring for that time at Rome that by his meanes he was carryed along the riuer of Tyber and so escaped away then he got him with all speede into Prouence where beeing arriued at the Port of Antibo hee went to the Baron of Alemagne and there continued a certaine time with his Englishman The Baron dispatched his hands of them and sent them with two or three seruants of their retiniew to the Lords of Dediguieres
them that at TERNAVLTS departure he would send a couple of men along with him with the 6500. crownes appointed for the voyage to Rome when TERNAVLT was ready to set forth on his iourney his men were not but promised to be at Lyons assoone as hee offring notwithstanding to deliuer him this summe of 6500. Crownes if he would stand to the venture which he refused to doesince ALLARD and his associates were to send after him Not long after the Suitzers departure the Pope aduertised of ALLARDS being in the Court of France complained to the King of him who committed him to prison where hee found a certaine Gentleman naming himselfe the Earle of Sanssy a man of a quick spirit and father to three or foure sonnes whereof one had beene brought vp with the Elector Palatine as also to one Daughter whom during this imprisonment he promised to one DV VAL by ALLARDS meanes that said he was DV VALS Vnckle and promised to giue him two hundreth thousand crownes to his marriage But all this practise remained vnperfected by reason of this which ensueth Within a while after was enlarged whereupon he desired TERNAVLT by letters to come to him to Paris wherein TERNAVLT excused himselfe certifying the other that if he would come into Switzerland Sauâ—…y or to Lausanne Geper Morges other places adioyning TERNAVLT would meete him Vpon these letters ALLARD set forth accompanied with two of the Earles sonnes and his traine and came into the countrey of Burgâ—…ngny where he intruded himselfe into the acquaintaince of a gentleman of the countrey whom with great promises hee carried along with him to Morges and there lodged at the signe of the white Crosse. From thence he sent to Geneua for TERNAVLT who beeing arriued ALLARD would haue induced him to haue lent him a thousand crowns adding that he desired that TERNAVLT would take the paines to goe into Sweathland to receiue eighteene hundred thousand dollars for him and he should haue an hundred thousand of them for his labour And further hee promised a very great gift to an honest gentleman brother in law to the said TERNAVLT who refusing to meddle in the matter all contracts were broken off except it were touching three thousand crownes which ALLARD was to pay him out of hand but they are yet to paie This promiser renewed another practise with the Bay liffe of Lausanne and Morges who conducted him to Berne where hee contracted with certaine Lords vnto whom among other things hee promised to deliuer an Obligation of the summe of fiue hundred thousand crownes to him due by EMANVEL PHILIBERT Duke of Sauoy which Obligation he said hee had left at Paris Departing from Berne with promise to be honoured and recompenced he drew towards Neuf-chastel In the mean time his impostures were discouered on euery hand It was known that the Duke of Sauoyes Obligation was of the same nature as the Constables Bill and that all the negotiation with the Embassadors of the small Cantons was but meere knauery on ALLARDS part Therefore order was giuen that he should be attached at Neufchastel where fearing it would not bee long ere he should haue terrible articles framed against him and gathering by some questions which had bin asked him that part of his impostures were discouered his traine beeing vanished away euen in an instant hee resolued with himselfe to inuent all the wayes possibly hee could to escape But meeting with no certaine meane one night going to let himselfe down at an high window of the prison where he was inclosed that which held him chancing to break his fall was so high that he dashed himselfe all to pieces so giuing an end to his life and impostures both at once The Burguignian gentleman whom hee had carried with him to Morges was laid vp in prison and compelled to sell his land for to satisfie the Hoste of the white crosse for ALLARDS expences whilst he lay there Infinit were the tricks where-with this M. GARDYNER cunnicatched all sorts of persons wheresoeuer he came It shall suffice for a conclusion to note the knauish pranke hee plaied the Host of the Stork at Basil where he had lien a long time and was deepely run in arrereages When he was going away in stead of paying he borrowed a newe summe of money of this honest Switzer and for a pawne left him a Portmanteau made faste with three lockes and strong chaines affirming it was full of golde iewels of exceeding value and papers of great importance promising if it were well kept till his returne to giue his said Hoste thirtie thousand Dollars besides his due The newes of his death comming to Bafil the poore Hoste in a maruelous pitteous taking went with the leaue of the Magistrate and got this Portmanteau to bee opened which was found full of nothing but brickes and stones finely packed vp together I had this Discourse from Monsieur TERNAVLT in whose hands I haue seene diuers contracts acts and writings approouing some part of the History of this notable Impostor Imprecations prophane and blasphemous speeches WHen we would obtaine any thing that we greatly desire we care not what we promise and many in this case happen to make imprecations either against themselues or others the fruit whereof they oftentimes reape to their own destruction Wee haue a notable example of it in CHARLES Duke of Burbon who as it is recited by BELLAY in his 8. Booke and FR. GVICHARD IN in his 17. Booke of the warres of Italie labouring to draw some money from the Millanois for to pay his souldiers and because he could not get so great a summe as hee required by reason of the exceeding charge the Citie was at during the warre hee promised them that if they would but furnish him with so much money for that once hee would neuer do them the least extortion in the world againe if he did he prared GOD that at the first skirmish or assault he were in he might be shot through killed Or as GVICHARDIN saith If the Citty of Millan would furnish him with thirty thousand Duckets for a moneths pay that the armie should depart out of Milan and lodge some other where assuring them that though at other times they had beene deceiued with the like promises they should not be so then because he would neuer go against his word and faith on which they might safely relie adding that he prayed GOD if he brake his promise with them his head might bee taken from his shoulders with the first shott of the enemies artillerie Vpon this promise the Millanois strained themselues and paide him the summe But they were so oppressed afterward that many through dispaire hung themselues others threw themselues downe head-long from the tops of their houses and brake their owne necks Shortly wher-vpon the Duke of Bourbon marched forth with his armie and drew towards Rome for to surprise it but hee was slaine with an Harguebuse shott in the assault which many saith
aduertised the Bishop of Guattimall how they had heard a meruailous strange noyse at the foote of the Mountaine adioyning to the Cittie The Bishop sent them away and told them it was nothing but illusions But an houre after midnight an inundation of waters began to rush out at the bottom of the mountaine and to disgorge it selfe on the plaine with such fury that it caried away whole rocks of an incredible thicknesse These waters rouling along cast downe all that they encountred Amidst the which nothing was heard but fearfull cries in the ayre there were some that marked a black Cow amōg the waues which went in out doing much mischiefe The first house ouer-whelmed by this deluge was ALVARADOES where perished BEATRICE his widdow with all such as accompanied her in an Oratory where she was at her deuotions Instantly after the Towne was buried in the waters Some sixe score persons men and women were drowned They which gott away at the beginning of the noyse escaped When the waters were fallen the Spaniards were found hauing their armes and legges all cut and mangled I will adde this one worde How a little girle which ALVARADO had begotten on an Indian carryed away with the rest by the floud was found a good way from the Towne safe and vn-hurt in any part of her body I. BENZO in his History of the new world Booke 2. Chap. 17. For to returne againe into Europe it is not long agoe saith Doct. PHILIP CAMERARIVS that my brother called IOACHIM comming out of Hesse tolde me this which ensueth I sawe a Boy said he in the Landgraue WILLIAMS Court that was both dumbe and deafe but so witty that I could not meruaile sufficiently at his dexteri◅ie to performe all that hee was willed to doe for by the onely twinckling of an eye hee vnderstood what-so-euer the Prince and others meant the Landgraue seeing mee to wonder so at it sayd vnto mee See you this dumbe boy all that euer happens eyther here in my Court or in the Towne if hee can come to haue neuer so little inckling of it he presently acquaints mee very cunningly with it by his signes But I will tell you further for a notable History of GODS iustice His Mother accused of theft seeing no other meane to escape had recourse to imprecations and because she was then big with this child for to adde more credit to her words shee made this imprecation That if the matter were true which shee was charged with shee prayed GOD that the Childe where-with-all shee went might neuer speake but continue dumbe as long as it liued Her imprecations discouered her hauing ioyned periurie to theft PH. CAMERARIVS in the 86. Chap. of his Historicall meditations Not long since it happened that a certaine Gentleman our neighbour vexing his poore tenants with imprecations and curses constrained them to build his Castle In driuing them to worke he ordinarily called them his Dogges Before the building was finished hee fell sick and continuing his imprecations and curses GOD so repressed him that he became speechlesse and when I wrote this History hee could not pronounce any one word distinctly but barked like a Dog The same Another example no lesse memorable happened not long agoe in a Princes Court here-by where a certaine Gentleman being charged with many iniurious wordes spoken at randon for to couer the matter and to perswade that the accusation was false hee began to protest and sweare adding that he desired of GOD if hee had vsed any such speeches to shew some token on him euen at that very instant or if GOD would not that then the Diuill would Presently vpon these words and other such like imprecations hee fell downe flatte on his face being so grieuously taken with the falling siknesse which hee had neuer felt before that after hee had tormented and beaten himselfe against the ground where hee laye foming at the mouth like one halfe dead he was carried to a Chamber there continued very sick in the yeare 1591. when I collected this Historie being iustly punished for his rashnesse impious imprecation The same IOHN WIER in his workes of the Diuels impostures recites a memorable History which happened at Guclders about the yeare 1575. A Captaine bearing Armes for the King of Spaine being marryed to an honest Gentlewoman whom he entreated most vnworthily vnderstanding that she was with child began to make imprecations against her and to say I will stab this little Diuell which thou hast in thy belly Not long after shee was deliuered of a Sonne which from the hipps downeward was very well shaped but the vpper part was all couered ouer with redde and blacke spottes the eyes stood in the fore-head it had a round and black hideous mouth and long eares like a bloud-hound with two little crooked hornes on the crowne of the head which became as redde as bloud assoone as they were touched PLATO writes in his 7. Booke of Lawes that there is nothing more to be feared then the Fathers cursses against the Childe The contrary is to be wished of all good children It is a singular testimony of GODS fauour to such as lawfully desire and purchase their Father and Mothers ◅sing The same Maister ANDREVV HONSDORF in his Theater of examples on the 4. commandement propoundeth certaine Histories to the purpose wherof we entreat which I will briefly touch Another dwelling in the Duchie of Saxony carried a Daughter of hers that was possessed of the Diuell to Wittenberg for to receiue some reliefe and to commend her to the prayers of the Church She confessed that this affliction came vpon her Daughter one day when being in an anger she had made an imprecation wishing the Diuel would possesse her as incontinently he did Being caried on a time into the Church as the congregatiō were in praier for her a learned personage hearing certaine fu◅ies of the euill spirit sayd vnto him O Satan the Lord rebuke thee The spirit imediatly answered let him rebuke me let him rebuke me and then held his peace At Friburg in Misnia it fortuned that a Father being in a mighty rage with a Sonne he had that dispatched not some-thing so soone as he would haue had him began to say would to GOD thou mightst neuer stirre frō the place where thou art It was no sooner sayd then done for suddainly the Sonne remained as it were fastned and nailed to the place where as he stood and could not bee remooued by any strength or deuise whatsoeuer And because he could neither bowe nor bend his body for to sit they set a stay behinde his back to ease him Hauing continued in this estate three whole yeares togither GOD hearing the prayers which were made for this poore Child permitted that he could sit and stoupe and th◅n rise againe In this manner he continued foure other yeares more leane of face eating very little and speaking but seldome Being asked at any time how he felt himselfe his
answere in euill parte accused the young man for killing their kins-man Pre sently the Iudge committed the innocent Sonne to prison where the intollerable torment of the torture made him confesse that hee had killed the seruant and throwne his body into a riuer thereby Where-vpon he was condemned to loose his head Being lead to the place of execution he was admonished to tell the truth he answered I am innocent but will it auaile me to tell the truth I haue killed him To conclude he was executed yeelded vp the ghost in the inuocation of the name of GOD. Shortly after the seruant and the widow were found out where they were and being apprehended suffered such punishment as they rightly merited I GEORGE GODELMAN in the Treatise of Witches witchcrafts Book 3. Ch. 10. Two young Artificers dwelling in a towne of Germanie went out together for to trauell the Country shortly after one of them returned againe in his companions apparell with whom he had changed clothes The others friends coniecturing by this change of apparell that hee had made away their kinsman accused him of murther to the Iudge of the place who immediatly committed him to prison where denying the fact and put to torture by force of torment he confessed that he had murthered his companion and got on his apparell hauing eaten out his owne in an Ale-house Where-vpon hee was condemned to death executed dying like a good Christian. Not long after his companion returned safe and well In perpetuall remembrance of this proceeding and vniust sentence pronounced against this innocent in the Church of the place is the figure of a man laid vpon a wheele cut out in stone For indeed one ought not proceede vnto torture if the party accused bee not charged with many likely signes and as Vâ—…PIAN saith li. 1. § 2. l. 18. sect 1. l. 20. l. fin D. de quaestio almost conuinced by euident testimonies for in criminall processes it is requisite that proofes should bee apparant and cleerer then the day L. Sciant cuncti 25. C. de proba The same LADISLAVS King of Hungary hauing established IOHN CAPISTRAN Lord Marshall of his house it happened that a certaine Count was accused of treason and being laid on the Rack confessed that where-withall he was charged insomuch that CAPISTRAN condemned the Count to be beheaded together with his sonne but vnder a secret reseruatioÌ„ that the father only should be executed first and the sonne spared if it were neuer so so little perceiued that hee were innocent but yet commanded that he should be lead to the place of â—…xecution The sonne seeing his father loose his head being fully perswaded that his should be chopped off too strucken with a vehement feare hee fell downe starke dead where he stood CAPISTRAN very much troubled with such an accident gaue ouer his estate and became a Friar ANDREVV HONSDORFF in his Theater of examples BAPTIST FVLGOSA reports that HERMOLAVS DONAT one of the ten Lords at Venice a personage of great authority hauing in charge to examine a certaine young man accused of an infamous crime caused him diuers times to be tortured for to draw out the truth of him which not able to do a coÌ„federate of the prisoners desiring to bee reuenged on him for it and to procure some ease to the other watched him one night as he was returning homeward very late from the Pallace accompanied but with one man carrying a Torche which suddainly put out HERMOLAVS receiued a stab with a Poinard and fell downe dead in the place The Lords of Venice meruailouslie incensed and offended with the haynousnesse of the fact and not able to discouer the murtherer purposed to search out diligently all circumstances that might serue there-vnto They called to minde how before-times there had beene great variance betweene HERMOLAVS and IACQVES sonne to FRANCISCO FOSCATI Duke of Venice Imagining there-vpon that IACQVES relying on the dignitie of his father might well haue enterprised this murther they committed him to prison and tortured him extreamly But he would neuer confesse that where-of hee was guiltlesse not-with-standing they confined him into Candy where hee dyed The murtherer vrged by his conscience became a Monke and certaine yeares after in his death-bed opened this murther to his Confessor which after his decease was signified to the Seignorie In the 8. Booke of his Examples Chap. 4. Famous and remarkable Iudgements AN Italian Gentleman very rich well fauored of ALEXANDER de MEDICIS the first Duke of Florence falling in loue with a very honest faire yong maide but very poore and of base parentage being a Milners daughter who liued in the Country not farre from Florence tryed many meanes to corrupt her but all in vaine the Virgin hauing her honor in great recommendation In the end transported with this violent passion and followed by men which did second him in his humour hee goes in the night towards this Mill takes the Maide violently from her father and carries her to a house of his in the Country where shee was rauished This poore father goes to Florence and attends the Duke at his returne from Masse makes his complaint vnto him and demands Iustice. The Duke concealing his thoughts sends him backe to his house promising to take order for it Presently after dinner hee goes to horse making a shew hee would goe Hunte and goes towards this Gentlemans house staying thereby in a place of pleasure The Gentleman aduertised that the Duke was so neere and drunke with his passion thinking the Milner would not haue presumed to complaine of him and trusting in his owne credit he shuts the Maide vp in a secret place of his house out of the way and then goes to doe his dutie vnto the Duke offering him his Pallace for his lodging the which the Duke doth accept and seemes to take great delight in the building of this house of pleasure hee doth visit and view euery part member and corner thereof very curiously with their ornaments and causeth all the chambers and Cabynes to be opened finally he enters into a faire and long gallerie at the end where-of was a close doore but painted and inriched with rare deuises The Duke seemes to haue more delight in that then in all the rest and smiling hee sayde That hee thought that it was the Store-house of all his Euidences Treasure and most precious Iewels It was the prison of this honest Mayden that had beene rauished And for that the Gentleman made some delaye to open it the Duke did presently doubt that what he sought was there and therefore hee commands them to open it but the Gentleman pretended that a seruant of his was gone to Florence and had carryed the Keye with him But finding the Duke at these wordes to bee the more earnest to enter hee came to him and after a great reuerence he tolde him softly in his eare that there was a wench within the which he was loath to
had with SIGISMOND of Gonzague the Popes Legat in that place They retired speedely then to Sienna but they must needes depart from thence being expelled by ALPHONSO CASTRACIO Cardinal of Sienna and by the Iustice of Sienna After diuers consultations they resolued to retier to Venise and to that ende to take the way of Romagnia but beeing vpon the territory of Furlie they descouer a farre off a troupe of horses galloping towards them The Duchesse was presently of an opynion that BOLOGNE should saue himselfe with his Sonne who was nowe growne bigge the which they did beeing both well mounted and retired to Milan These Horse-men hauing fayled of part of their preye spake gratiously vnto the Duchesse and conducted her with her other two Children into the Realme of Naples into one of the Castells of the young Duke her Sonne where shee was presently imprisoned with the two Children shee had by BOLOGNE and her Chamber-maide Some fewe daies after three of them which had taken her in the plaine of Furli came into her Chamber and denounce her death vnto her suffring her to recommende her selfe vnto GOD then they tied a corde about her necke and strangled her which done they lay hold on the Chamber maide who cryed out with open throate and strangle her also and in the ende they seize vpon the two young Children and send them after the Mother and the maide The two Brethren contynuing their course caused BOLOGNES goods at Naples to bee confisked and hauing descouered that hee was at Milan they suborne certaine men to feede him with hope that in time they will make his peace making him beleeue that his Wife and Children were yet aliue who although he were aduertised by a gentleman of Milan of the Duchesse death of an ambush that was layed for him yet wold he not beleue any thing nor retier himself out of Milan where there were murtherers suborned to kill him of which number there was a certaine Lombard a Captaine of a companie of foote so as soone after BOLOGNE going out of the Friars where hee had beene to heare Masse hee was compassed aboute by a troupe of Soldiars and their Captaine who slue him presently beeing about two yeares after the Duchesse death As for his Sonne who was not then with him hee was forced to slie out of Milan to change his name and to retier himselfe farre off where he died vnknowne Historie of Italie At what time Pope IVLIO the second made warre in Italie all the Townes in a manner beeing troubled with the factions a young Romaine Gentleman called FABIO fell in Loue with a Gentlwoman named AEMILIA Daughter to one of his Fathers mortall enemies Shee beeing inflamed with the like affection by the meanes of her Gouernesse they did write Letters one vnto an other and then spake togither and in the ende they made a mutuall promise of marriage vpon a vaine hope that it should be a meanes to vnite their houses that were enemies The worst was they did consumate this marriage After some daies FABIOS Father feeling himselfe old commanded his Sonne to take a partie and to tell him what maiden he desired to haue to Wife FABIO hauing delayed to giue him any answere in the ende hee names AEMILIA whereof hee was with great chollour refused by his Father to whose will in the end hee yeelded abandoning AEMILIA after that hee had excused himselfe as well as hee could vnto her This sorrowfull Virgin growne madde to see her-self so abused seemed to disgest this pill quietly intreating her Gouernesse to obtaine so much of FABIO that he would bee pleased to come some-times in the weeke to see and comfort her and so by little and little to burie their passed friendship FABIO yeelding to that passion came to see her She gaue him kinde well-come deuising very familiarly all the euening togither and then to lie with her as hee had done beefore But hauing intreated him in any case not to touch her but to staie vntill the morning pretending her fore-passed greefe as soone as this miserable wretch was fallen a sleepe shee takes his dagger and killes him then hauing called her gouernesse shee stabbes her selfe in her presence with the same poynard and died presently The next day this pittifull accident did much amaze and afflict the two Fathers and their families for that remedie was past History of Italie Detestable Cursings THere was a certaine learned and reuerent man in Spaine had two Sonnes the one beeing thirteene yeares olde or there aboutes did some malitious acte wher-with the Mother was so incensed with choller as she began to curse him and to giue him to the Diuell wishing that he might carry him away This was about ten of the clock at night and when as the Mother continued her cursing the childe being amazed went downe into the Court where he vanished away so as it was impossible to finde him not-with-standing any search they could make All were troubled at this accident seeing there was no doore nor windowe open whereby hee might get out After two houres the Father and the Mother being much discomforted they heard a great noyse in a chamber ouer theirs and the child which groned pittifully They goe vp and opening the chamber dore with the key they finde this child in so poore estate as it was a pitty to behold him for besides that his garments were all torne he had his face hands and almost all his body so brused and scratched as it were with thornes and so disfigured as all the night hee could scarse come to him-selfe The Father and the Mother did all they could deuise to ease him and then the next daye seeing that he was come something to himselfe they inquired of him the reason of his aduenture the night past Hee answered that beeing in the Court certaine men wonderfully great vggly and fearefull approching neere vnto him without speaking any word had lifted him vp into the ayre with an incredible swiftnesse then setting him downe in certaine Mountaines full of thorns had drawne him through them and left him in the same estate they had now found him in That finally they had slaine him if he had not recōmended himselfe vnto GOD these executioners then brought him backe againe and made him to enter by a little window of the Chamber and so vanished away The boy remained deafe and in verye bad case by this Visitation beeing ashamed and greeued if any one did question with him or put him in minde of it A. TORQVEMADOE in the thirdiourney of his Hexameron Melancholike Madd Franticke Furious and enraged persons I Meddle not with the controuersies of learned Physitions touching the differences of these diseases according to the humour most predominant either in the braine or in the Hypocondres or throughout all the body neither will I enter into consideration of the remedies which they bring And without subiecting my selfe to any exact order for this beginning I will endeauour to
honie sugar or any thing that was compounded there-with all which was poyson vnto him and would soone kill him if he did but tast of it He could eate no grapes figges peares plummes quinces poungranets or apples saying that they were sweete but hee could well disgest nuts almonds and pignors Vineger was his sauce and hee tasted salt things well He could drinke no white wine nor malmsey His drinke was water This disposition considered I prescribed remedies fit for his disease where-with he was eased AMATVS a Portugal in the 6. Centur. cure 6. There are some bodies whome milde and gentle Phisicke doth as much offend as that which is violent the which the Physitions haue often obserued in a great Ladie in our time giuing her a little Manna to purge her gently for after that shee had taken it shee complayned of her bellie she had a desire to cast cried out and grewe weake shee sweat after an extraordynarie manner and was tormented with sundrie other Accidents and yet shee hath beene often purged with other stronger potions without any offences A Nephewe of hers a Nobleman that was war-like and learned in all sciences of a cholerick constitution could neuer bee purged by Manna so as this family seemed to haue that peculiar that Manna was contrary to their dispositions MARANTA Booke 3. of the methode to knowe simples Chap. 4. A dolefull Marriage ANTHONIE PERILLE a Neapolitaine a riche yong man but wanting councell hauing spent almost all his estate at Cardes and Dyce sodenly he fell in loue with the Daughter of a notable Marchant and hauing sounded her minde he demanded her in Marriage The Father called PETER MINIO refused him by reason of his ill husbandry so generally knowne PERILLVS stong with shame and loue began to reuiue himselfe and gathering together the remainder hee resolued to make a voyage to Alexandria in Egypt to begin some trafficke To this end he imbarkes with certaine Marchants but hauing past a good part of the way they are surprised with a great storme and after three dayes the ship which carried him was taken by a Pirate Being a Captiue and in great miserie MINIO a rich Marchant and charitable a custome which he had long vsed sent certaine factors of his vpon the Coast of Barbarie to redeeme tenne Neapolitain prisoners out of the hands of the Turkish Pirats of whome if they had any goods in their Countrie hee would seeke satisfaction in time And as for the poore he did gratefie them with their ransome PERILLVS was of the number of these ten and at his returne to Naples hauing conferred secretly with MINIOS Daughter who promised him marriage hee found meanes to paie his ransome and to make a newe voiage into the East where he made a happie trafficke so as in short time he found him-selfe in better estate thâ—…n his Father had left him carrying himselfe moreouer so vertuously as he purchased the loue of al men especially of MINIO of whome hauing the second time demanded his Daughter in marriage shee was graunted him to the great content of all his kins-folkes and friends The marriage was celebrated in Iune with great ioye as these two young copple were in bedde deuising of strange things that were past behold a violent storme ariseth with strange thunder and terrible lightning and in the ende there came a clappe which slue them both imbracing one an other ending the pleasure of their marriage sollemnized that day with the greefe and sigthes of their life They were very honorably interred both together being followed by all the Cittie with great pompe History of Italie Adulterers punnished WHen as LEVVIS the 12. made warre against the Venetians and that all Italie was sore shaken by the fury of this long warre a certaine gentleman of Milan being tired with so many miseries retired himselfe to a 〈◊〉 of his to liue there more priuately He was a Widower about threescore yeares olde hauing one Sonne of twentie yeares of age and an other much yonger His age the misery of the time and his qualitie should haue retayned him in the way of honour but forgetting the dutie of a gentleman hee fell in loue with a poore farmers Daughter of his whom hee bought for readie money of the execrable Father who sold her and deliuered her This strumpet being full of lust and desperatly impudent hauing serued for a time the Fathers villenie fell strangely in loue with the eldest Sonne whome hauing sought with diuers trickes and deuises in the ende on a certaine day taking a Cousin ofâ—…ers that was her Baâ—…de to helpe her shee comes vnto him and after the accustomed prefaces of such impudent Creatures shee discouers her brest and her heart vnto him seeking with teares and sigâ—…hes to drawe him to commit Incest The honest young man amazed at this speech is so fortefied by GOD as not content with a modest and simple repulse he did sharpely apprehend both her that tempted him and the other that did second her threatning them with big words The furious lust of this bitch was presently turned into horrible hatred which makes her to take the way of confusion As soone as the Father was returned this strumpet complaines vnto him saying that his Sonne had sought three or foure times to corrupt her and in the ende would haue forced her if her seruant had not come to helpe her He giuing credit to this wicked report confirmed by the Baude beganne to murmure to him-selfe wher-vpon his Son comes in against whome without speaking any other words but ha wicked Traitor it is against mee that thou darest presume to plaie these partes hee goes with his sword drawne The young Gentleman turning away to auoide the blowe and not remembring that hee was vpon a straite not supported which answered vnto two lodgings hee fell backward downe to the grounde and was all bruzed so as hauing fallen vpon a stone in the botome of the ditch hee died presently The Parricide thinking that hee had leapt downe of his owne accord did runne after him vsing newe threates But beeing come downe and seeing his Sonne in that estate after cries of â—…urie and despaire with a detestation of his former life and of the wickednesse of his strumpet hee thrust himselfe through with his sword falling vpon the bodie of his Sonne which was yet hot and trembling and wallowing in their common bloud went the same way As for the strumpet hearing by the fearefull cries of the seruantes what had happened thrust on by the reuenging furies or rather pursued by the fearefull iudgement of almighty GOD the reuenger of innocent bloud shee flies towards a well in the house and leapes into it where shee was drowned The Iustice of Milan beeing called to see this accident apprehends the seruant and makes her confesse al vpon the racke where-vpon she was hanged Her bodie with the strumpets and the olde mans were cast vpon the dunghill as a preie for Birds and Wolues But
the young Gentleman was carried to the earth with great pompe and lamented of all men for his vertues as much as the others were are yet detested of posterity Historie of Italie A Fleming borne at Gand of so base a parentage as it was not knowne hauing runne through France and other Countries learned to bee hardie both in his wordes and actions beeing growne cunning speaking diuers languages and well appointed hee came to Bruges where hee get to bee admitted into the house of a 〈◊〉 honest and rich merchant the Father of a verie honest maide of sixteene yeares of age This gallant makes them beleeue that hee is of a very good house in Germanie for that he would not bee forced to marry a maide that was not pleasing vnto him hee absented him-selfe for a time from his Fathers house Herevpon hee carries himselfe so cunningly as vnder a promise of marriage hee corrupts his hostes Daughter and gets her with Child The Mother after some weekes hauing descouered this foule trade takes her Daughter a part who in the presence of the Father confesseth her fault The Father a man of courrage not able to endure this affront laies hold of that Cosener and pursues him cryminally Being straightly examined by the Iudges hee confesseth that hee knewe not who was his Father and his Mother had died of pouerty hauing neither kinred nor any person that did avowe him at Gand where hee thought hee was borne nor in any other place The Iudges seeing the Impudencie of this roage who had so vnworthly polu ted an honorable house condemned him to be publikely executed Histories of our time NICHOLAS Prince of Opolia in Silesia was in his time strangely giuen to corrupt Wiues and Maidens so as the chaâ—…est were not assured neere him hauing continued this wretched course for some time the Iudgement of GOD laied hold of him in the yeare 1498. as followeth Hee and Prince IOHN his Brother beeing at Nisse at an Assemblie of the States of Silesia beeing called by CASIMIR Prince and gouernor of the Countrie It happened that in open assembly one brought a packet vnto CASSIMIR the which being opened he gaue the letters to the Bishop of Nisse being then present to read them NICHOLAS a turbulent and violent man imagining it was some party made against him to seize vpon his person layes hold on his Dagger and suddenly runns against CASSIMIR and the Bishop whom he hurt but lightly for that many Noble-men and Gentlemen thrust them selues presently betwixt them NICHOLAS hauing failed of his attempts saues himselfe in the Sanctuarie of the Temple from whence he was drawne by the Bishops commandement who alledged that in such cases they should not respect the Ecclesiasticall lawes and that hee would easily consecrate the place againe NICHOLAS being brought backe vnto the assembly and greatly blamed was committed to prison and the next day the 27. of Iune by a sentence giuen by the Magistrate he was publikely beheaded The custome of those times was that they weare no breeches when they came to that place when as the body of NICHOLAS fell it was seene in that estate that Nature so much corrupted by him seemed to reproche him with his former filthinesse before all the world IOACH CVREVS in his Annales of Silesia pag. 218. Vehement Passions of Sorrow Ioy Iealousie Feare and Heauinesse IN the time that CAESAR Bâ—…RGIA Duke of Valentinois and sonne to Pope ALEXANDER the sixt did rule in Româ—…gnia as FRANCIS GVICâ—…HARDINE doth shew in his History of the warres of Italy there was in the Towne of CESENA a young man called LIVIO who being in loue with his neighbors Daughter named CAMILLA and repulst at the first fell so sick as he was euer at deaths dore CAMILLA hearing thereof changed her opinion and going to see LIVIOS Sister who was also grieuously sick in a chamber neere vnto him her voyce being knowne by LIVIO he was surprised with so vehement a passion as after some noyse his speech and strength failed him His Sister and CAMILLA running vnto him for there was none but a thinne partition of wood CAMILLA not able to dissemble any longer began to ioyne her face to his so as hee came againe vnto him selfe and heard her say that if her Father would like of the marriage she would not contradict it LIVIO being recouered demands CAMILLA according to the accustomed course among Men of honor The Father referres all to the returne of his eldest Sonne from Rome CAMILLA expecting this returne grew so familiar with LIVIO as without any longer stay they contract marriage by a present promise This Brother named CLAVDIO diuerted the Father from this marriage so as LIVIO was dismist and CAMILLA grew so sorrowfull that after many faintings shee be-tooke her to her bedde LIVIO on the other side did presse her by Letters and secret messages to the accomplishment of their marriage They finde meanes to talke together and appoint an houre 〈◊〉 night for their secret marriage The which hauing performed and lieâ—… together the young man transporâ—… with ioye and the violence of his desire dyed lying 〈◊〉 CAMILLA who feeling him starke colde and withâ—… 〈◊〉 gaue also vp the ghost The seruant who had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Instrument to carry messages began to crye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brother came running and seeing this desaster 〈◊〉 her a mortall wound Shee declares all and dyes two dayes after CLAVDIO had his head cut off for this murther Historie of Italie In the warre which King FERDINAND made against the widow of IHON King of Hungarie about Buda a Man at Armes was especially noted for that he carryed him-selfe very valiantly in a certaine charge and being vnknowne was wonderfully commended and lamented being slaine there but of none so much as of RAISCIAT a Germaine Noble-man who admired his rare vertue The body being brought backe and hee approching to see it after a common curiositie his Armes being taken off hee descouered that it was his Sonne This did moue more compassion in the assistants but hee alone with-out speaking any worde or shutting his eyes but standing right vp and stedfastly beholding the body of his Sonne vntill that the violence of his griefe had so vanquished his vitall spirites as hee fell downe dead to the ground PAVL IOVIVS in his Histories MONTAIGNE lib. 1. of his Essaies Chap. 2. In the yeare 1501. when as the French did conquer the realme of Naples the second time vnder the command of the Lord of Aubigny Lieutenant to King LEVVIS the twelfth One of the Sonnes of GILBERT Duke of Montpenzier going to Pouzzol to see his Fathers Tombe being dead in the former warres of Italie and there interred was so opprest with griese as after the shedding of many teares hee fell doowne dead vpon the Sepulchre FRA. GVICâ—…HARDINE Lib. 5. of the warres of Italie Sect. 5. About the end of the yeare 1505. the Cardinall HIPPOLTTO of Este louing a young Maide his kinswoman verye vehementlye and
which of them was the elder shee shewed me the one saying that shee was halfe an houre elder then the other for that they were both of one birth and that with them there came a Son also into the world who liued with an vncle of his in SEGOVIA And as I wondred at her speech shee saied vnto me The Brother is so like to his two Sisters as comming to see vs and to be merrie at Easter last one day he and his eldest Sister changed their apparell and deceiued both Father and me all the daie long making great sport that wee did not knowe them and that we tooke the one for the other vntill night that they made themselues knowne and yet wee could hardlye beleeue it In the same Author In our time there were in Auignon two Gentlemen Brethren one resembling an other both borne at one birth sonnes to an Audiencâ—…er of the Popes Court. They liued long well limbd and strong flaxen haired both short sighted of a sweete speech gentle spirits and pleasing aspects They were both learned affecting to follow great men and to deale in affaires They playde both of the Lute Song their parts and did write one like vnto another the sound of their voyce words gesture going and all their actions were so like as their Father Mother and Brethren were deceiued to shewe the difference IHON WILLEMIN a learned man hath confest vnto me that liuing vsually with these two Bretheren and talking in a manner hourely vnto them yet he could not distinguish them so as thinking to impart some secret vnto the one hee found afterwards that it was the other so as it was a reuiuing of SOSIAS in PLAVTVS AMPHITRIO More-ouer these two Bretheren haue beene surprised at one instant and seperated one from another they haue beene toucht with one desire and thought vpon the like desseine Besides one being sicke the other did likewise feele the apprehension and did suffer some part of his Brothers greefe More-ouer the one not knowing any thing of the other being both affected to one great woman shee made them the like answers but seuerally and at diuerse houres vnknowne one vnto an other to whome the Gentle-woman answered some-times to the one thinking it had beene the other then to the second whome shee made much of vnder this vaile which deceiued her by the report of his countenance with his Brothers To conclude the difference could neuer bee knowne but by themselues the one hauing a certaine marke on his necke which hee brought from his Mothers wombe by the impression whereof Nature would make some difference thereby to take away that perfect resemblance and to holde her propriety which is to reioyce in the diuersitie of things In the 2. Tome of Prodigious Histories parte 2. hist. 1. In the time of FRANCIS SFORZA Duke of Milan there was a Bâ—…uffon or Iester in his Court called MARQVESIN who in face iesture and countenance did so resemble SIGISMOND MALATESTE Lord of Riminy who had married SFORZAS Daughter as if MALATESTE came to Milan SFORZA knowing that it did offend him to haue a Bouffon taken for him of euery man was forced to send MARQVESIN to some other place whilest that SIGISMOND staied at Milan B. FVLGOSE in his Examples lib. 9 Gold and Siluer contemned IHON REVLHIN being sent by EVERARD Duke of Wirtemberg in Ambassage to the Emperor after he had faithfully executed his Commission The Emperor giuing to euery one riche presents REVCLIN refused all that was offered him beseeching the Emperor seeing there was no reason to refuse any thing from the liberalitie of so great a Prince that hee would bee pleased to giue him a certaine coppie of an Hebrew Bible written with the hand many ages before the which he obteined IOHN BRASSICAN in his Preface vpon SALVIAN Of the Prouidence of GOD. A Pittifull Ruine IN the yeare 1540. three Bourguignon Gentlemen of the first houses in France the Baron of Senâ—…se the Baron of Corberon and the Baron of Sarry all three young great Noblemen French-men and good friends came together to Lions to buie Iewels and Silkes for those whom they should marry They lodged in an Inne called the Hogg in Flanders streete a famous lodging but an olde building and very ruinous For the loue that was betwixt them they would lodge in one Chamber and after they had spent the day together merrily they would lye together that they might haue the more commoditie to talke It happened as they were in bed the one reading on a Booke and the other two striuing who should be in the middest sodenly the vpper plancher of the Chamber fell vpon them so as all three were smothered vnder the burthen of this ruine They were much lamented and vpon this pittifull and fearefull accident were made these verses following Memorials of Lions Within a wondrous Lyons body wide A perillous Bore but without tuske descride Slew three ADONIS and yet did not bite Who rather were interd then slaine out-right Strange Ruines I Giue this Title to the following Historie which is euery way admirable written by a Marchant of the Lowe Countries in a discourse of his Voyage to Muscouia not yet Printed that I knowe the which I will set downe as briefly as possibly I can Moscow the chiefe Cittie of all the Duke of Muscouies Countries is a great Cittie but ill compact beeing three Gâ—…rmaine Leagues and a halfe in compasse comprehending the Suburbes as much inhabited as the Cittie the which hath not aboue a good French League about The Streetes and Causeys are planted with great Trees set very neere togetheâ—… and boarded along the houses beeing so durtie there in time of raine as it is impossible to goe through the Cittie but on Horse-backe according to the custome of the Countrie where-as Horses are verye cheape and of small charge beeing vnshod how long so euer the iourney bee but when the Yâ—…e lyes The Houses are but of one storie or two at the most all built of Wood placed one vpon another There are in the Cittie Suburbes and Castell fiue thousand fiue hundred Temples all in a manner like vnto Chappels many beeing made with great Trees one layde vpon the toppe of another And they had high Towers with-out eyther Yron or Stone very fine and artificially made The great Dukes lodging is also of Wood the which hee holds farre more healthfull then if it were of harde Stone The Castell is reasonably strong of Walles and deepe Ditches It containes as much ground as the rest of the Citty On the one side of it remaine the Sins on the other side the Oprissins which are as it were ouetseers of the great Dukes treasure These dispatch all Marchant strangeâ—…s and assoone as you arriue there you must deliuer into one of their hands all your goods Being gone from the Narue about the 10. of Iuly 1570. I arriued at Moscow about the beginning of August where I found the great Duke and his people busied to