spend an houre til the rest met in renewing the emperors pallace where his Concubins liued because he was told it was a rare and rich place and that it was not lawfull without great meanes to enter That report more inflamed his desire insomuch that in the end watching his time by stealth he got in Where being and staring vp and downe it chanced that one of the Women saw him who presently screeked out and ranne crying A man a man for you must note that if any one of them spy a Man except the Eunuches that attend them and doe not call for helpe it is death to her and what Man soeuer rudely presume to haue a fight of thē it is death to him It was knowne by inquiry vpon her noyse that it was Enhamet the Customers Sonne who had thus offended the lawes the Emperor being giuen to vnderstand so much made an oath he should dye for it Immediately vpon this by occasion of some busines comes the olde Man Enhamets Father to the King who supposing it hadde beene about his Sonnes pardon and his indignation being now a little cooler suddainely demaunded of him what that Man deserued that durst breake into the place where his Emperours Concubins were Cidde Abdela not suspecting the offender answered that hee deserued the sharpest sentence of death for so the Law would adiudge him Be thou then quoth the Emperor thine owne Sonnes condemnation As thou hast iudged him so let it be But the King beholding death sitting in the olde Mans face at that doome grew pittifull and for loue he bare the Father forgaue the Sonne which mercy notwithstanding Abdela Creme not truely laying holde of but mistaking the Noble spirit of a Prince and imagining that this fauor so strangely extended was but a snare to intrap his owne life because offences of that nature were neuer before pardoned in any home hee comes with sorrow in his afflicted looks and his heart euen murdered within him by the cruelty of his owne thoughtes his Sonne demaunded the cause of this so strange and suddaine distemperature but his Father giuing no answer sends for cordes shewes them onely insteade of speech and to make this dumb Tragedy fall in the end he causeth him before his owne eyes to bee strangled great were the lamentations of the Sonne and aboundant were the teares he let fall to soften his Fathers heart a mighty conflict was there in the poore old mans bosome betweene naturall piety to a Child and naturall feare of a Soueraigne but the last of the two preuailed and hauing bestowed vpon the dead body the ceremonies of the graue according to the custome of the Countrey hee caused the Act to bee registred downe for his owne safety alledging that howsoeuer the Emperor when he heard this blacke and vnnaturall deed reported would happily bee moued vnto wrath yet inwardly he would be highly contented with it Mahamet being thus feared and loued of his subiects wanted nothing that according to humane Iudgement could make a Prince happy pleasure was his slaue and waighted on him whensoeuer he lusted for her company Riches flowed into his houses of treasure in large Goldē streams his Court was ful of counsellors his Cittyes full Merchants his Castles full of souldiers he was a mightie King himselfe had sonnes that were as mightie as hee their Dominions were ample they were full of men and full of all thinges that maintaine men It seemed that the Father lost much of his imperiall state and dignitie when hee placed his three sonnes like three great lights to shine equally in his kingdome considering that all the beames of maiestie that came from them might if he had pleased haue beene sent foorth from the centred glory of his owne head but euen this borrowed reflexions of theirs made his brightnes the greater and his sonnes yeelding acknowledgement of all their royaltie to flow from him did like Riuers paying tribute to the Sea seeme not a whit the lesse for such homage and fealtie Fortune hauing turnd the wheele of this Emperours fate along time with steddie hand had now brought it about to the vppermost point highest on which she meant he should sitte he should be no more her darling and therefore shee tooke her fauours from him Or to speake of a power that cōtrolls Fortune and whose very finger throwes downe kingdoms to vtter confusion or holdes thē vp in their greatnesse whether the generall sinnes of the whole Nation deserued it or whether the people were punisht for the particular faults of the king and his Courtiers as many times it falls out and as it hapned to the Grecians for Quicquid delirant Reges plestantur Achini or for what other faultes soeuer the rodde of vengeance was made readie it is in man to thinke vppon and feare but not to examine yet sure it is that as a fire catching hold at first but of some meane cottage in some one end or corner of a Cittie hath oftentimes ere the furie of it could bee put out swallowed vp in his flames the goodliest and most beautifull buildings that stoode euen fardest out of reach so did the clowdes of infection burst open their vaines and let fall the poyson of them on this kingdom of Barbary If euer the Plague in any place got his true name there he had it At the beginning it strooke like an Arrowe on the head but of one Citty but in a short time after it fleme from Cittie to Citty and in the end stucke in the very hart of the whole kingdome Insomuch that Death came like a tyrannous Usurper to the Court gates threatned to depose the Emperour himselfe Hee that before sate in his throne of maiestie greatly feared of other Nations round about him and strongly garded by his owne is on the suddaine daunted and beeing accounted one of the mightiest amongst the Kings of the earth is ready to submit to him with whom euen Infants doe euery howre fight hand to hand See the authoritie fame and terror of that Inuader Death hee strooke but vp an Allarum in this Emperous Pallace and the Emperour himselfe trembled through feare thereof his conceites that stood before like so many aged Oakes bowed presently to the earth like so many ranks of young Willowes yet his Cittie 's shooke at the voyce no lesse then if it had beene at an Earth-quake And so hardly did the pestilence pursue Mahamet that he durst not sleep for it in one place twice together euery night was he compelled for safety to flye vnto a contrary lodging As his Court remoued so did the plague whersoeuer the one kept his standing house there the other pitched vp his Pauilion as a proud and daring Challenger to all commers Insomuch that sicknesse in the end though weake of himselfe wrastled with so many that were neere and about the Princes person and still got the better of thē that Mahomet had not men to remoue those tents which hee was
execute this trechery vppon the english Nation should haue Iron giuen them that is to say should haue their throates cut but hee would also certifie the King of Spaine of this abuse so willing was hee to doe Iustice euen to strangers Another accident because it is worthy note for the example and may be a warning to our Countrey-men will I set downe and this is it An English man fallen out and struck by his maister desperately resolued whilest the fire was in his bloud to reuenge those blowes on his body by giuing wounds to his own soule and thereupon he presently went and denyed his religion forsooke Christ to follow Mahomet And from a Christian turned Moore It is the custome of that Countrey when any Man wil do so to obserue amongst others these ceremonies It is signified to those Christians that are in the Citty Towne c. that such a one will be an Elke or turne Moore A certaine equall number therefore aswel Barbarians as Christians are assembled in a place fit for such purposes one part sitting like Iudges on the one side the other opposite directly against them the Turne-coate iust in the middle of the roome betweene them and in presence of both he is there then demaunded whether he will deny the law of his owne religion and embrace theirs or no It is offered vnto him his free liberty to take the one or the other nay it is lawfull for those that sit there on the contrary part being Christians to vse all the power of Argument to winne him from this delinguishment Thus did they serue this man thus was he three seuerall times conuented before them and three seueral times did he most stifly defend what he had done and defie Christ no Physicke of Spirituall counsell doing good vppon him they gaue him ouer But note the iudgment of that Captaine the Lord of hoasts whose colours of saluation he had forsaken within a short time after this Apostasy rebellion of his soule this Traytor to God happened to kill a Man for which fact hee was adiudged by the Ladies of that Country not to loose his life but which was worse to liue But how to liue As the first Murderer that euer drew bloud of Man as Cayne liued wandering vp and down with none on paine of death to keep him company but his owne thoughtes which were tenne thousand executioners none to giue him bread so that he fed vpon despaire none to quench his thirst so that he drunke the poison of an infected conscience he knew he had killed a Man and therefore euen Infidels abhorred him he knew he had forsaken his Religion and therefore Christians would not pitty him In this wretehed state he went vp and downe in this misery he pyned till hee dyed let that death of his teach others how to line But leauing this let vs againe fixe our eyes vpon Mahamet the Emperor who thinking it would be as great a glory to him to create others Kings as to be a King himselfe did by the aduice of his counsell but most of all out of the working and height of his owne spirit determine to diuide his large and fruitful Empire amongst his Sonnes Of all the Wiues and Concubins that this Emperor had three onely aboue the rest had a soueraignty ouer his amorous affections and of those three he did still prefer one before the other Lilia Isa was the fairest and her did he loue dearest shee was empresse ouer the rest yet were the rest Queenes ouer others shee had the supreame commaund of the Kinges house and none commaund her but the King Lilia Ageda was a Negro yet had she a second place in his heart Lilia Myriem had the third of Lilia Myriem being a blacke Woman likewise did hee beget a Son called Muly-Shem being one of the fairest Children that euer he had but this Muly-Shem offring some offence to a youth that attended on him was by him slaine The young-man afterward knowing the Emperours wrath killing himselfe Lilia Agede was mother to Muly-Beferris and Muly-Sheck the youngest Brother Lilia Isa Mother to Muly-Sidan the eldest Betweene these three were these late ciuell warres in Barbary And thus did Mahamet make diuision of his Kingdome which afterwarde bred diuision amongst his people and set all in a Combustion to Muly sidan who was giuen to Armes and to loue a Souldier gaue he the Kingdome Tadula and Taphalet to Mulibefarris whose soule lusted after nothing but sensuall pleasure gaue he the Kingdome of Sus to Muly-Sheck the Kingdome of Fez appoynting Mustapha that was born a Christian and turned Moore but a Souldier and a Gentleman of a Noble Spirit to attend on Sheck as his Guardian because he was but young Before we step any farther it shall not be amisse because I would draw this Barbary-picture with as much life and delightfull colours as I could to set downe a pretty combat betweene two of the Emperours Wiues playd before the Emperour himselfe Thus it was Mahamet sitting one morning with Lilia Ageda the Negro by him talking mearily for hee tooke pleasure in her speech because shee was wise In comes Isa his fairest bedfellow and seeing the Blacke-one so neere her beloued she blushed and shewed anger euen in her eyes for what Woman woulde not be angry to see another robbe her of the loue of an Emperour At length bowing to the earth she fell at the Kings feete and with a pretty smile beganne to tell a tale of the Larke and the Crow the shutting vppe of her morrall being that the Larke was the Bird of the morning and of the day and therefore might be bold to challenge the mornings due and all Rytes of the day But the Crow was the Bird of the night and had nothing to do with the morning The emperor vnderstanding her sweete witty bitternesse that by the Larke thee ment her selfe and by the Crow Lilia Ageda because of her blacknesse was so delighted with the comparison that hee gaue charge none should euer after presume to giue the Emperour his good morrowe till Lilia Isa had bin with him and thereupon was Isa called the emperors Larke or his Bird of the morning Let vs loose one poynt more of our compasse and sayle a little out of our intended way to finde out in what feare and awful reuerence the subiects of this Kingdome hold the anger of their Soueraigne to vnderstand which receiue this only as a tast One of the emperours officers of his Custome whose name was Cidde Abdela Creme being an olde Man had one Sonne onely called Enhamet whom he tendred as his life being the hope and health of his age him had the father put into his owne place the young man comming in a morning betimes to the Custome-house but the rest of the officers being not present he could not enter for euery one hath a seuerall Key and vnlesse all be there together not one can get in he determined within himselfe to
as if the whole kingdome had beene sacked and the enemie had had all the people in execution A rich and abundant haruest couered the face of the earth but the Husbandmen in steade of filling their Barnes were busied in filling vp graues the fruites which the ground brought forth shee herselfe did againe denoure A strange haruest was it for Corne was had in without Reapers it was gathered sowed againe all at one time for the Earth did now play the good Huswife shee saued all to herselfe and yet euen in sauing it did she spill all there were not handes enough to gather the foode which she out of her plenteous lappe bestowed amongst her children nor mouthes enough to eate it The Country-Lasse sate not nowe singing by her Milking-payle for the poore beastes ran bellowing vp and downe with swolnevdders mourning before their Maisters doores because they could not be eased of their burdens The Pestilence hauing thus like a mercilesse Inuader destroyed both Citties Uillages and hauing oftentimes made the greatest Lords in the kingdome stoope to his commaund and determining to conclude his conquest with taking the Generall ouer so great a Nation prisoner did at the last set vpon the Emperour Mahamet himselfe and with her venemous breath kild him Which glorious victorie beeing gotten Death and his Liefetenant Sicknes beganne to sound a retraâ—te to march from their walls and to let them liue in quiet No sooner were their backes turnd but againe in multitudes came the people downe from the Mountaines and as all Riuers when Land-waters haue opprest theÌ„ flie to the bosome of the Sea for safety so did the Nation of this great Empire froÌ„ all parts thereof come marching ioyfully and yet fearefully to fill vp make good againe theyr disinhabited houses What stories are now tolde of lamentable Funeralls what friends and kinsfolkes are missing what sorrowe there is for so much Acquaintance lost what gladnes to meete with any whom they heard or doubted were in their graues Their Citties doe now looke with cheerefull countenaunces streetes are filled with men houses with families euery one applies himselfe to his former labour euery Merchant to his trafficke But behold in the heate of all this Sun-shine when no wrinkle could be seene in the browe of Heauen when all was calme and that men lay safely snorting on their secure pillowes a seconde storme burst out of the clowdes a second a more fearefull God poured another vengeance on the heads of this people he sent Famine to breath vpon them and to suck the life-blood out of theyr bosoms so that they that before durst not come neere one another for feare of beeing infected with the Pestilence are now ready to lay hold each of other and to turne their owne bodies into nourishment The Plague was mercifull to them in dispatching them quickly out of the world but this tyrant put theÌ„ to lingering deaths They had once more meate then mouthes now they had many mouthes and no meate O Hunger how pittilesse art thou a monster thou art of a most strange condition for how small a thing will appease thee and yet what wilt thou not destroy to satisfie thy rauenous appetite thou art most cruell to them that most seeke to relieue thee and when thou hast nothing to feede vpon thou plaiest the murderer and eatest vp thy selfe How tirannous hast thou shewed thy selfe to this great Nation thou hast heard children crying for bread to their Parents yet wouldest not relieue them whilst the Parents went mourning and pyning vp and downe that they wanted foode themselues Men that were strong of body didst thou by thy sorcerie bring so lowe that they could scarce stand on their legs Weomen that had fresh blood in theyr cheekes and were louely to be lookt vppon didst thou make leaue and turnedst them into Anatomies O Famine thou cruellest executioner of Gods wrath thou dishonest guest for into what house soeuer thou commest thou destroiest all that is set before thee thou traytor to Plentie enuious hag malicious Witch that with thy vnsauorie breath blasteth whole fieldes of Corne away gette thee gone the hand of Heauen keepe thee from landing vpon the English share hide thy head for shame in the graues of those whom most vnmercifullie thou hast slaughtered bee buried there for euer for if thou shouldest set footing vpon this little Ile thou wouldest quickly turne it into a great Land of miserie But was the terrible Iudge of the world satisfied with punishing this people twice in this manner had their offences towardes him deserued no more blowes It seemes they had run into a most proude rebellion and that hee had sworne in his indignation to be reuenged vppon them for it for loe the spirit of his rage comes nowe in a consuming fire it is wrapt vp in clowdes of lightning and the thunder of it breakes into Ciuill warre The three sonnes of so great an Emperour shine now like three Meteors in the firmament all in steele their Courts now are Campes and none are Courtiers but Souldiers Three Brothers beeing all three Kings are vp in Armes only to make of three but one miserie vpon miserie They that escaped the stripes of the Pestilence were eaten to death by Famine they that saued themselues out of the Iawes of Famine are now in danger to perish on the Sword O noble France if I should bid thee onely to tell the horror the terrors the vnbounded mischiefe and calamity that come marching in with intestiue Broyles thou needest to say nothing but to open thy bosome and shew those deepe scars which thine owne sons haue set there There are teares yet in thine eyes for those sad funeralls which the Ciuill sworde prepared The Low-Countries haue beene in labour a long time and are not yet deliuered of that Monster if they could not expresse the paynes and pangs that followe this inward disease of a kingdome this griefe about the heart of a Land this very Earth-quake that hath power to ouer-turne Townes and Towers wee haue too many leaues in our own Chronicles spotted with the inuenomed Inck of Ciuill discord Too many of our Kings haue beene too famous by that miserie too many of our noblest Families haue shaken their ancient Houses by that thunder This fire of Discention hath now taken holde of Barbarie a kingdome full of people abundant in riches flowing with Arts and trafficke with all Nations how happy therefore are we that haue peace in our Citties and plentie in our fieldes yet doubtlesse our sinnes are in number infinite in nature abhominable wee deserue as little pardoning as they yet is our wickednes as blacke and detestable as theirs Let vs therfore stray aside awhile and by comparing the heauy afflictions which the Diuine Iusticer hath layd vpon other Countries in times past acknowledge an incommensurable loue and mercy of his to this Iland of ours nowe in these present dayes For in the yere of Christ 81. and in the yeere 188 the breath of the Pestilence was so strong and so contagious that in Rome there died daily two thousand people In the yeere 254 fifteene Prouinces of the Romaine Empyre were almost coÌ„sumed with the like calamitie Nay in Constantinople the rage of the disease was so great that in the yeere 530 there fell euery day for many dayes together fiue thousand sometimes tenne thousand Within tenne yeeres after that which was in Anno 540 there began an vniuersall plague ouer the whole world which continued 50 yeeres with hot violence In the yeere 1359 so mortall a blow did Death giue to Italy by infection that there was scarce left tenne of a thousand And to Rome in the yere 1521 that shee made graues for a hundred thousand Millan likewise Padua and Venice in the yeres 1576 and 77 opened the Earth to receiue into her womb a hundred thousand dead carkasses that were left breathlesse in each of those Citties by the tyrannie of this pestiferous disease And in Bohemia beeing but a small kingdome there died three hundred thousand the same time In the yeere 1596 fel such a plague in Constantinople that it strooke downe in sixe moneths space seauen hundred thousand persons And this misery was seconded by so terrible a Famine that a penny loafe of breade of English mony was worth a crowne in golde by reason of which the people were worse consumed theÌ„ before by the Pestilence We will now set forth some of our owne home-borne tragedies wrought by the Plague of which take this as Prologue to the rest In the raigne of K. Edward the third the Infection spred it selfe in the East Indies amongst the Tartars Saracens and Turks which had a hand ouer them by the space of 7 yeeres and this vengeance which was poured downe from heauen vpon this people strooke their soules into such amazement and terror that many of the Heathen with the very feare thereof offred to be conuerted and turne Christians Shorthe after by reason of Passengers from one Prouince to another the same mortall plague was dispersed in many Christian kingdoms amongst others brought into England where it was so forcible all ouer the Land that not onely men but also beasts birdes and fishes were smitten there-with and found dead with botches vpoÌ„ them Yea such a massacre did it make amongst the liuing that they were scarceable to burie the dead At which time with the rest that then died of the Plague Henry Duke of Lancaster Blanch Dutchesse of Lancaster and the Earle of Warwick ended their liues So that in one yeere in a little plot of ground of 13 Acres compasse then called Spittle-croft and nowe the Charter-house were buried 50000. persons besides all them that were then buried in the Church yards diuers other places Our late calamities infliced vpon vs for our sinnes are fresh in memory the eyes of many people are yet wet with mourning at burials the rod is stil held ouer vs the stripes of it are euen nowe to bee seene sticking in our flesh Yet you see howe the Great Father of Nations keepes vs vnder his wing he is loth to chide more loath to strike vs let vs not therefore like foolish haire-braind children prouoke him too often and too much to anger least he take vp his triple Mace of hote vengeance and with it bruze our people as hee hath already stretcht out his Arme to smite those of Barbarie FINIS