Pontius Pilate being sent by Tiberius to be Governour over the Jews caused in the Night time the Statue of Caesar to be brought into Ierusalem covered which thing within three days after caused a great Tumult amongst the Jews for they who beheld it were astonished and moved as though now the law of their Country were prophaned for they hold it not lawful for any picture or Image to be brought into the City At their lamentation who were in the City there were gathered together a great multitude out of the Fields adjoyning and they went presently to Pilate then at Cesarea beseeching him earnestly that the Images might be taken away out of Ierusalem and that the Law of their Country might remain inviolate When Pilate denied their suit they prostrated themselves before his house and there remained lying upon their faces for five days and nights never moving Afterwards Pilate sitting in his Tribunal was very careful to call the Jews together before him as though there he would have given them an answer when upon the sudden a company of Armed Soldiers for so it was provided compassed the Jews about with a Triple Rank The Jews were hereat amazed seeing that which they expected not Then Pilate told them that except they would receive the Images of Caesar he would kill them all and to that end made a sign unto the Soldiers to draw their Swords The Jews as though they had agreed thereto fell all down at once and offered their naked Necks to the stroke of the Sword crying out that they would rather lose their lives than suffer their Religion to be prophaned Then Pilate admiring their constancy and the strictness of that people in their Religion presently commanded the Statua's to be taken out of the City of Ierusalem When King Ethelred and his Brother Alfred had encountred the Danes a whole day being parted by the Night early the next morning the Battel was renewed and Alfred engaged in fight with the Danes sent to his Brother to speed him to their help but he being in his Tent at his Devotions refused to come till he had ended Having finished he entred the Battel relieved the staggering Host and had a glorious Victory over his Enemies Fulco Earl of Anjou in his old Age minding the welfare of his Soul according to the Religion of those days went in Pilgrimage to Ierusalem and having bound his Servants by oath to do what he should require was by them drawn naked to Christs Sepulchre The Pagans looking on while one drew him with a wooden yoke put about his Neck the other whipt him on the naked Back he in the mean time saying Receive O Lord a miserable perjur'd and run away Servant vouchsafe to receive my Soul O Lord Christ. 30. Pompey having taken Ierusalem entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum and although he found a Table of Gold a sacred Candlestick a number of other Vessels and odoriferous drugs in great quantity and two thousand Talents of Silver yet he touched nothing thereof through the Reverence he bore to God but caused the Temple to be purged and commanded the Sacrifices to be offered according to the Law 31. When the Duke of Saaony made great preparations for war against a Pious and Devout Bishop of Magdeburg The Bishop not regarding his defence applied himself to his Episcopal function in the visiting and the Well Governing of his Church and when it was told him that the Duke was upon his March against him He replied I will take care of the Reformation of my Churches and leave unto God the care of my Safety The Duke had a Spy in the City who hearing of this answer of the Bishops gave his Master a speedy account thereof The Duke having received this Information did thereupon dismiss his Army surceased from his expedition saying he would not fight against him who had God to fight for him 32. Hannibal having given a great overthrow to the Romans and slain the Consul Flaminius the people were extremely perplexed and chose Fabius Maximus Dictator who to lay a good foundation for his Government began with the service of the Gods Declaring to the People that the loss they had received came through the rashness and wilful negligence of their General who made no reckoning of the Gods and Religion and therefore he perswaded them to appease the Gods and to serve and honour them And he himself in presence of the people made a solemn vow that he would sacrifice unto the Gods all the encrease and fruits that should fall the next year of Sheep Sows Milch-kine and of Goats throughout Italy CHAP. IV. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood THe Persians and Indians had a Law that whosoever had been thrice convicted of speaking untruth should upon Pain of death never speak word more all his life after And Plato saith it is only allowed to Physicians to lye for the comfort of the Sick that are under their custody and care But all other men are obliged to a severe and strict observance of truth notwithstanding which there hath been so great a scarcity of the true Lovers of it that 1. It is said of Augustus Caesar that after a long inquiry into all the parts of his Empire he found but one man who was accounted never to have told lye For which cause he was deemed capable and worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple of Truth 2. Epaminondas the Theban General was so great a Lover of Truth that he was ever exceeding careful lest his tongue should in the least digress from it even then when he was most in sport 3. Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur speaks of him as a person exremely devoted to Truth and gives him this threefold commendation Tâ—at he was never known to tell a Lye that he was never heard to speak ill of any man and lastly that he used not to speak at all but when necessity required 4. Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus a Knight of Rome and familiar friend to M. Cicero that he was never known to speak an untruth neither but with great impatience to hear any Related His uprightness was so apparent that not only private men made suit to him that they might commit their whole Estates to his trust but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices into his charge 5. Xenocrates the Philosopher was known to be a man of that fidelity and truth in speaking that whereas no mans Testimony might be taken in any cause but upon oath yet the Athenians amongst whom he lived gave to him alone this priviledge that his evidence should be lawful and good without being sworn 6. The Duke of Ossura as he passed by Barcelona having got leave of Grace to release some Slaves he went
her mighty Daughter that both her Parents were but of low stature nor were there any of her Ancestors who were remember'd to exceed the common stature of men This Maid her self to the twelfth year of her age was of a short and mean stature but being about that time seis'd with a Quartane Ague after she had wrestled with it for some months it perfectly left her and then she began to grow to that wonderful greatness all her limbs being proportionably answerable to the rest She was then when I beheld her about five and twenty years of age to which time it had never been with her as is usual to women yet was she in good health of feature not handsome her complexion somewhat swarthy of a stupid and simple wit and slow as to her whole body For The greater Virtue oftenest lies In bodies of the middle size 12. Fâ—rdinand Magellane before he came to those Straits which now bear his name came to the Country of the Patagons which are Giants some of these he enticed to come a Ship-board they were of an huge stature so that the Spaniards heads reached but to their waste Two of them he made his Prisoners by policy who thereupon roared like Bulls their feeding was answerable to their vast bulks for one of them did eat at a meal a whole basket of Biskets and drank a great bowl of water at each draught 13. As I travel'd by Dirnen under the jurisdiction of Basil Anno 1565. I was shew'd a Girl of five years of age who was playing with the Children she was of as vast a body as if she had been a woman of many years of age After I had looked more nearly upon her and measured I found that her thighs were thicker than the neck of my Horse the calf of her legs bare the proportion of the thigh of a lusty and strong man Her Father and Mother being set together might be compass'd within the girdle which she commonly wore about her middle Her Parents told me that before she was a year old she weigh'd as much as a sack of wheat that held eight modii Anno 1566. I saw her again for Count Henry of Fustenburg lodging at my house she was brought to him and there both of us admir'd at her wonderful bigness but in few years after she dy'd 14. That is a memorable Example of a Giant reported by Thuanus Anno 1575. where discoursing of an inroad made by the Tartarians upon the Polonian Territories he there speaks of a Tartar of a prodigious bigness slain by a Polander his words are thus translated Amongst whom there was one found of a prodigious bulk slain saith Leonardus Gorecius by Iames Niazabilovius his forehead was twenty four fingers breadth and the rest of his body of that magnitude that the carcase as it lay upon the ground would reach to the navel of any ordinary person that stood by it 15. There were in the time of Augustus Caesar two persons called Idusio and Secundilla each of them was ten foot high and somewhat more their bodies after their death were kept and preserved for a wonder in a Charnel house or Sepulcher within the Salustian Gardens vid. Kornman de mirac vivor 25. 16. In the 58 Olympiad by the admonition of the Oracle the body of Orestes was found at Tegaea by the Spartans and we understand that the just length of it was seven Cubits 17. The Son of Euthymenes of Salamina in the space of three years grew up to three Cubits in height but he was slow of pace dull of sense a strong voice and an overhasty adolescency soon after he was seis'd with manifold diseases and by immoderate afflictions of sickness made an over amends for the precipitate celerity of his growth 18. Anno 1584. In the Month of Iuly being at Lucerne I was there shew'd by the Senators the fragments of some bones of a prodigious greatness kept in the Senate House They were found in the Territories not far from the Monastery of Reiden in a Cave of the adjoyning Mountain under an old Oak which the wind had blown down When I had consider'd them and perceiv'd most of the lesser sort and such as are thinnest as the bones of the skull to be wanting whether neglected or consumed by age I know not I then turned over the greater sort as well such as were whole as the remainders of such as were broken Though they were wasted spungy and light yet as far as I could discern I observed that they answered to the body of a man I wrote upon each of them what they were and I the rather concluded them to be the bones of some Giant because I found amongst them the lowest bone of the thumb a cheek-tooth the heel-bone the shoulder-blades the Cannel-bone which are only found in man of that form Also the long and thick bones of the Thighs Legs Shoulders and Arms the utmost ends of which with their heads were found and they differed in nothing from the bones of a humane body Having afterwards all the bones sent me to Basil by the command of the Magistrates and looking diligently upon them and comparing them with a skeleton of mine own as well the whole as the broken I was confirm'd in my opinion and caused an entire skeleton to be drawn of such greatness as all those bones would have made if they had been whole and together it amounted to full nineteen foot in height and since no Beast is found of that stature it is the more probable they were the bones of a Giant 19. We find it left in the Monuments and Writings of the Ancients as a most received truth That in the Cretan War the Rivers and Waters rose to an unusual height and made sundry breaches in the earth when the Floods were gone in a great cleft and fall of the earth there was found the carcase of a man of the length of thirty and three cubits Lucius Flaccus the then Legate and Metellâ—s himself allured with the novelty of the repoâ—t went on purpose to the place to take view of it and there they saw with their eyes that which upon the hear-say they had refuted as a fable 20. While I was writing of this Book that is in December 1671. there came to the City of Coventry one Mr. Thomas Birtles a Cheshire Man living near unto Maxfeild he had been at London where and in his journey homewards he made publick shew of himself for his extraordinary stature his just height as himself told me was somewhat above seven foot although upon trial it appears to want something His Father he said was a man of moderate stature his Mother was near two yards high and he himself hath a Daughter who being but about sixteen years of age is yet already arrived to the height of six foot complete 21. Antonius was born in Syria in the reign of Theodosius he exceeded the measure of
how they have been rewarded 119 Chap. 17. Of the envious Nature and Disposition of some men 120 Chap. 18. Of Modesty and the Shame-faced Nature of some men and women 122 Chap. 19. Of Impudence and the shameless Behaviour of divers persons 124 Chap. 20. Of Iealousie and how strangely some have been affected with it 125 Chap. 21. Of the Commiseration Pity and Compassion of some men to others in time of their Adversity 127 Chap. 22. Of the deep Dissimulation and Hypocrisie of some men 128 The THIRD BOOK CHap. 1. Of the early appearance of Virtue Learning Greatness of Spirit and Subtlety in some Young Persons 130 Chap. 2. Of such as having been extream Wild and Prodigal or Debauched in their Youth have afterwards proved excellent Persons 132 Chap. 3. Of Punctual Observations in Matters of Religion and the great regard some men have had to it 134 Chap. 4. Of the Veracity of some Persons and their great Love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood 137 Chap. 5. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace 139 Chap. 6. Of the signal Love that some men have shewed to their Country 140 Chap. 7. Of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives 142 Chap. 8. Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands 144 Chap. 9. Of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children 147 Chap. 10. Of the Reverence and Piety of some Children to their Parents 149 Chap. 11. Of the singular Love of some Brethren to each other 152 Chap. 12. Of the singular Love of some Servants to their Masters 154 Chap. 13. Of the Faithfulness of some men to their Engagement and Trust reposed in them 157 Chap. 14. Of the exact Obedience which some have yielded to their Superiours 159 Chap. 15. Of the Generosity of some Persons and the Noble Actions by them performed 161 Chap. 16. Of the Frugality and Thriftiness of some men in their Apparel Furniture and other things 164 Chap. 17. Of the Hospitality of some men and their free Entertainment of Strangers 165 Chap. 18. Of the blameless and innocent Life of some Persons 167 Chap. 19. Of the choicest Instances of the most intire Friendship 168 Chap. 20. Of the Grateful Disposition of some Persons and what returns they have made of Benefits received 171 Chap. 21. Of the Meekness Humanity Clemency and Mercy of some men 174 Chap. 22. Of the light and gentle Revenges some have taken upon others 177 Chap 23. Of the Sobriety and Temperance of some men in their Meat and Drink and other things 179 Chap. 24. Of the Affability and Humility of divers Great Persons 181 Chap. 25. Of Counsel and the Wisdom of some men therein 182 Chap. 26 Of the Subtilty and Prudence of some men in the Investigation and discovery of things and their Determinations about them 184 Chap. 27. Of the Liberal and Bountiful Disposition of divers Great Persons 186 Chap. 28. Of the Pious Works and Charitable Gifts of some men 189 Chap. 28. Of such as were Lovers of Iustice and Impartial Administrators of it 192 Chap. 30. Of such Persons as were Illustrious for their singular Chastity both Men and Women 195 Chap. 31. Of Patience and what power some men have had over their Passions 199 Chap. 32. Of such as have well deported themselves in their Adversity or been improved thereby 200 Chap. 33. Of the willingness of some men to forgive Injuries received 201 Chap. 34. Of such as have patiently taken free Speeches and Reprehensions from their Inferiors 203 Chap. 35. Of the incredible strength of Mind wherewith some Persons have supported themselves in the midst of Torments and other Hardship 205 Chap. 36. Of the Fortitude and Personal Valour of some famous Men. 207 Chap. 37. Of the fearless Boldness of some Men and their desperate Resolutions 210 Chap. 38. Of the immoveable Constancy of some Persons 213 Chap. 39. Of the great Confidence of some Men in themselves 214 Chap. 40. Of the great reverence shewed to Learning and Learned Men. 216 Chap. 41. Of the exceeding intentness of some Men upon their Meditations and Studies 218 Chap. 42. Of such Persons as were of choice Learning and singular Skill in the Tongues Chap. 43. Of the first Authors of divers famous Inventions 222 Chap. 44. Of the admirable Works of some curious Artists 224. Chap. 45. Of the Industry and Pains of some Men and their hatred of Idleness 229 Chap. 46. Of the Dexterity of some men in the instruction of several Crâ—atures 230 Chap. 47. Of the Taciturnity and Secrecy of some men instrusted with privacies 232 Chap. 48. Of such who in their raised Fortunes have been mindful of their low beginnings 233 Chap. 49. Of such as have despised Riches and of the laudable poverty of some illustrious persons 234 Chap. 50. Of such Persons as have preferred Death before the loss of thâ—ir Liberty and what some have endured in the preservation of it 237 Chap. 51. Of such as in highest Fortunes have been mindful of humane frailty 238 Chap. 52. Of such as were of unusual Fortune and Felicity 239 Chap. 53. Of the Gallantry wherewith some Persons have received death or the message of it 241 The FOURTH BOOK CHap. 1. Of Atheists and such as have made no account of Religion with their Sacrilegious actions and the punishments thereof 361 Chap. 2. Of such as were exceeding hopeful in youth but afterwards improved to the worse 363 Chap. 3. Of the rigorous Severity of some Parents to their Children and how unnatural others have shewed themselves towards them 364 Chap. 4. Of the degenerate Sons of illustrious Parents 366 Chap. 5. Of undutiful and unnatural Children to their Parents 368 Chap. 6. Of the Affectation of divine Honours and the desire of some men te be reputed Gods 370 Chap. 7. Of unnatural Husbands to their Wives 372 Chap. 8. Of such Wives as were unnatural to their Husbands or evil deported towards them 373 Chap. 9. Of the deep hatred some have conceived against their own Brethren and the unnatural actions of Brothers and Sisters 374 Chap. 10. Of the Barbarous and Savage Cruelty of some men 376 Chap. 11. Of the bitter Revenges that some men have taken upon their enemies 379 Chap. 12. Of the great and grievous oppressions and unmercifulness of some men and their punishments 382 Chap. 13. Of the bloody and cruel Massacres in several places and their occasions 384 Chap. 13. Of the excessive Prodigality of some Persons 385 Chap. 14. Of the Prodigious Luxury of some men in their Feasting 387 Chap. 15. Of the Voraciousness of some great Eaters and the Swallowers of Stones c. 390 Chap. 16. Of great Drinkers and what great quantities they have swallowed 391 Chap. 17. Of Drunkenness and what hath befallen some men in theirs 393 Chap. 18. Of the Luxury and Expence of some Persons in Apparel and their Variety therein and in their other Furniture 395 Chap. 19. Of Gaming
mark of those of that Family and discontinued in them for many years 6. I have heard saith Camerarius when I was young and it is at this day the common report and publick Fame although I have not met with it in any Authour that the Counts of Habspurg have each of them from the Womb a golden Cross upon the back that is to say certain white hairs after a wonderful manner formed into the figure of a Cross. 7. Marcus Venetus who for forty five years travell'd up and down in the Countries of Asia reports in his Itinerary that he came into the Kingdom of the Corzani the Kings of which place though subject to the Tartarian boast themselves of a Nobility beyond that of all other Kings of of the Earth and upon this account they are born into the World with the impress of a black Eagle upon their Shoulder which continues with them to the last day of their lives 8. I have received it from the Relations of Persons worthy to be believed that the most potent King of Great Britain now reigning that was King Iames brought with him from his Mothers Womb certain Royal and those not obscure signatures for as soon as he was born there was beheld imprinted upon his body a Lyon and Crown and some also add a Sword which impressions do undoubtedly portend great things and would require a further explication 9. That is a memorable thing and worthy of observation which is set down by Abrahamus Bucholtzerus Iohn Frederick saith he Elector of Saxony the Son of Iohn was born the 30 th of Iune Anno 1503. and brought with him from his Mothers Womb an omen of his future fate For as I had it from persons of unquestionable credit he was born with a Cross of a splendid and golden colour upon his back upon the sight of which a pious and very ancient Priest was sent for by the Ladies of the Court who thereupon said This Child shall carry a Cross Conspicuous to all the World the Emblem of which is thus apparent in his birth The truth is his Mother Sophia dy'd upon the twelfth day after his birth I have noted this the rather saith the fore-cited Authour because no Man hath done it before though worthy to be transcribed to Posterity and withal because the event did declare and confirm the truth of the presage 10. A Sister of mine saith Gaffarel had the figure of a Fish upon her left Leg caus'd by the desire my Mother had to eat fish when she was great and it is represented with so much perfection and rarity that you would take it to be drawn by some excellent Master and the wonder is that when ever the Girl eat any Fish that upon her Leg puts her to a sensible pain 11. That which I now relate to the same purpose is very well known to all Paris that are curious enquirers into these things The Hostess of the Inn in the Suburbs of St. Michael at Bois de Vincenne who dy'd about two years since had a Mulberry growing upon her nether Lip which was smooth and plain all the year long till the time that Mulberries began to ripen at which time hers also began to be red and began to swell more and more observing exactly the season and nature of other Mulberries and coming at length to the just bigness and redness of other ripe Mulberries 12. A Woman in the seventh Month of her being with Child long'd to eat Rose-buds in a time when they were diâ—ficultly to be procur'd She had passed two days thus when after much search there was a bough of them found in a private Garden she greedily devour'd the green buds of two Roses and kept the rest in her bosom In the ninth month she was happily deliver'd of a fair babe upon the Ribs of which there appear'd the representations of three Roses very red upon his Forehead and on either Cheek he had also depainted three other exact resemblances of a Red Rose so that he was commonly call'd the Rosie boy 13. Octavius Augustus the Emperour was all spotted on his body his Moles being dispers'd upon his Brest and Belly in the manner order and number with the Stars of the Celestial Bear CHAP. VIII Of the strange Constitution and marvellous properties of some humane Bodies THat the original of Man's body is nothing else besides the dust of the ground is a certain and unquestionable truth Yet as out of that dust there springs such variety of Trees Plants Flowers with different Forms Colours Vertues as may reasonably solicite a considering mind to a just veneration of the Wisdom and Bounty of the Creator so though all humane bodies are fram'd of the same course materials yet some of them are endow'd with such peculiar proprieties and qualities so remov'd from the Constitution of others that Man need travel no further then himself for a sufficient theme wherein he may at once inlarge his thoughts to the praises of his Maker and admiration of his own wonderful composure Every Man is a moving miracle but there are some that may justly move the wonder of all the rest For 1. Saint Austin saith he knew a Man who could sweat of his own accord as often as he pleas'd 2. Avicenna writes of one that when he pleas'd could put himself into a Palsie nor was he hurt by any venemous creature but when he forc'd and provok'd them to it of which notwithstanding themselves would die so poysonous was his body 3. I knew one saith Maranta who was of that strange constitution of body that he was made loose by asbringent simples and on the contrary bound up by those that were of a loosening Nature 4. There are some Families of that marvellous constitution that no Serpent will hurt them but instead of that they fly their presence the spittle of these Men or their sucking the place is Medicinable to such as have been bitten or stung with them of this kind are the Psylli and Marsi those also in the Island of Cyprus whom they call Ophiogenes and of this Race and house there came one Exagon Embassadour from that Island who by the commandment of the Roman Consul was put into a great Tun or Pipe wherein were many Serpents on purpose to make experiment and tryal of the truth The issue was the Serpents lick'd his body in all parts gently with their Tongues as if they had been little dogs and he remain'd unhurt to the great wonder of them who beheld the manner of it 5. Those Men that are bred in Tentyrus an Island lying within the River Nilus are so terrible to the Crocodiles that they will not abide so much as their voice but fly from them as soon as they hear it 6. When Pyrrhus King of Epirus was dead and all the rest of his body consum'd in the Funeral Fire the great Toe of his right Foot
natural graceful curle and was of so fair a flaxen colour that some Turks would have given him a considerable sum of Money for it and kept it for a rarity but he chose rather to bring it along with him into France 14. At the Gymnick Games which Nero exhibited in the Septa during the solemn preparation of the great Sacrifice Buthysia he cut off the first beard he had which he bestow'd within a golden Box adorn'd with most precious Pearls and then consecrated it in the Capitol to Iupiter 15. Of old time amongst the Greeks and indeed almost throughout the East they used to nourish their beards reputing it an insufferable injury and ignominy to have but one single hair pluck'd out of it It was therefore ordained as the punishment of Whoredom and Adultery that whosoever should be convicted of that crime he should have his beard publickly chopt off with a hatchet and so be dismiss'd as an infamous person Besides this it was esteemed the most sacred pawn or pledge of any thing whatsoever a Man that had obliged his beard for the payment of a debt would not fail to pay it 16. The Candiots or Cretans look'd upon it as a punishment to have the beard clipt off from them And so of old amongst the Indians if a Man had committed some great crime the King of the Country commanded that his beard should be shaven or cut off and this was esteemed as the greatest mark of infamy and ignominy as could befal them CHAP. XIV Of the Teeth with their different Number and Scituation in some NAture hath provided Mankind with Teeth upon a two-fold account especially the one is to reduce his Meat and Food into so soft and pliant a posture as is most convenient for the Stomach to receive it and this by Physicians is call'd a first digestion A second and principal use of the Teeth is for the furtherance of Speech without which the pronunciation of some words cannot be so direct and express but how it comes to pass that some have come into the World with them and others have had none all the time they have liv'd in it let others if they please enquire 1. Some Children are born into the World with Teeth as M. Curius who thereupon was sirnamed Dentatus So also was Cn. Papyrius Carbo both of them great Men. 2. Pherccrates from whom the Pherecratick verse was so call'd was born Toothless and so continued to his lives end 3. The number of the Teeth are 32. sometimes I have seen one over saith Columbus as in a certain Noble Person sometimes two or one under in some also but 28. are found which is the least number that is ordinary though I observ'd that Cardinal Nicholaus Ardinghellus had only six and twenty in his mouth and yet he had never lost any 4. Pyrrhus King of Epirus had no Teeth in his upper Jaw that is distinguish'd as others have one from the other but one intire bone throughout his gumb mark'd a little at the top only with certain notches where the Teeth should be divided 5. In the Reign of Christian the Fourth King of Denmark there were brought by the King's Fleet some of the Inhabitants of Greenland to Hafnia that their language might be the better understood by us Amongst these Barbarians there was one who shew'd to as many as had the curiosity to see it that he had but one continued Tooth which reached from the one end of the Jaw to the other For which I have the sufficient testimony of Dr. Thomas Finchius a venerable person in whose house the Barbarian did often feed upon raw flesh according to the custom of his own Countrey 6. Euryphaeus the Cyrenian had in his upper Jaw one continued bone instead of Teeth So had Euryptolemus King of the Cypriots So saith Melancthon had a Noble Virgin in his time in the Court of Ernestus Duke of Lunebergh and the Duke said she was of great Gravity and Virtue 7. Dripitine ihe Daughter of King Mithridates by Laodice his Queen had a double row of Teeth and though this is very rare in Mankind yet saith Columbus of his Boy Phoebus that he had a triple row or order of Teeth 8. It is constantly reported of Lewis the Thirteenth King of France that he had a double row of Teeth in one of his Jaws which was some hindrance to him in the readiness of his Speech 9. There are Teeth found to be bred in the Palate of some men saith Benedictus Pliny propounds the Example of one such And it happened that I saw the same in a Roman Woman saith Eustachius which he caused to be cut out and burnt He instances in another Youth of eighteen years of Age who liv'd in a Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Eugubuim in whom the same thing was to be seen 10. Aristotle writes that not only men in old Age but also Women sometimes at eighty years of Age have put forth their-great Teeth My Wife saith Donatus in the thirty sixth of her Age put forth the furtherst jaw Tooth A learned man tells of himself that in the fortieth year of his age he had a jaw Tooth came Vessalius also writes that in the twenty sixth year of his age he had one of his Grinders that discovered it self 11. Mutianus saith that he saw one Zancles a Samothracian who bred his Teeth again after he was now arrived to the hundred and fortieth year of his Age. 12. Prusias the Son of Prusias King of Bythinia haâ— instead of Teeth one continued and intire Bone in his upper Jaw nor was it any way unhandsome to the sight or inconvenient to him for use 13. After the Battle at Plataea wherein so many thousands of the Persians fell when the Bones were gathered together to be bury'd in one place there was found amongst them a little Skull which though it had distinct Teeth in the Jaw yet were they all as well grinders as others consisting of one solid Bone 14. Zenobia the Queen of the Palmyrens as she was in divers other respects a beautiful person so had she Teeth of that bright and shining whiteness that in discourse or when she laugh'd she seem'd to have her Mouth rather full of Margarites than Teeth 15. Nicholaus Sojerus a Belgian a person of great integrity and prudence has a set of Teeth of such an unusual property that being struck upon with a sorâ— of Indian Wood they are seen to sparkle Fire as if they were Flints This was delivered me as a certain truth by his own Brother Guilielmus Sojerus a person well skill'd in the Greek Learning 16. The Ancients had a great opinion of the Teeth as the principles of their being they therefore bury'd them with care when they fell out through time or accident nor was this respect done to them by the vulgar alone but by the Law-makers themselves
aboard the Cape Gally and passing through the churms of Slave he asksd divers of them what their offences were every one excused himself one saying that he was put in out of malice another by Bribery of the Judge but all of them unjustly Amongst the rest there was one little sturdy black man and the Duke asking him what he was in for Sir said he I cannot deny but I am justly put in here for I wanted Money and so took a Purse hard by Sarragona to keep me from starving The Duke with a little Staff he had in his hand gave him two or three Blows upon the Shoulders saying you Rogue what do you amongst so many honest innocent men get you gone out of their company So he was freed and the rest remained still in statis quo prius to tug at the Oar. 7. The Emperour Constantius had besieged Beneventum when Romualdus the Duke thereof dispatch'd Geswaldus privily away unto Grimoaldus the King of Lombardy the Dukes Father to desire him to come with an Army unto the assistance of his Son He had prevailed in his Embassy and was by Grimoaldus sent away before to let his Son know that he was coming with some Troops to his Aid But in his return by misfortune he fell amongst the Enemies who being informed of the Auxiliary forces that were upon the march hoped to have Beneventum yielded to them before their Arrival if they could make Romualdus to despair of his Succours To this purpose having enjoyned Geswaldus to speak their sence they led him to the Walls but when he came thither he declared the whole truth to the besieged and gave them to understand that e're long Grimoaldus would be with them with a considerable Army This cost Geswaldus his Life and the Imperialists raised their Siege the next day after 8. King Lâ—dislaus was a great Lover of Truth and therefore amongst his Courtiers when any of them praised any deed of his or quality that was in him if he perceived that they said nothing but the truth he would let it pass by uncontroul'd But when he saw that a gloss was set upon it for his praise of their own making he would say with some heat I pray thee Good Fellow when thou sayest Grace never bring in Gloria Patri without a Sicut erat If thou make any report of an Act of mine report it as it was and no otherwise And lift me not up with Lies for I love it not It is written of our Henry the Fifth that he had something of Caesar in him which Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk And something of Alexander the Great that Caesar had not that he would not be flattered 10. One who was designed for an Agent waited upon the knowing and experienced Lord Went-worth for some direction in his conduct and carriage to whom he thus delivered himself To secure your self and serve your Country you must at all times and upon all occasions speak truth For saâ—th he you will never be believed and by this means your truth will both secure your self if you be questioned and put those you deal with who will still hunt counter to a loss in all their disquisitions and undertakings 11. The Emperour Tiberius had such an aversion to flatteries that he suffered no Senator to come to his Litter neither to wait upon him nor so much as about business When a Consular person came to him to appâ—ase his displeasure and sought to embrace his Knees he fled from him with that earnestness that he fell all along upon his face when in common discourse or in any set oration ought was said of him that was complemental he would interrupt the person reprehend him and immediately alter the form of his words when one called him Lord he commanded he should no more name him by way of reproach One saying his Sacred employments and another that he went to the Senate he being the Author he compellâ—d both to alter their expressions for Author to say Perswader and for Sacred to say Laborious 12. Pambo came to a Learned Man and desired him to teach him some Psalm he began to read unto him the thirty ninth and the first Verse which is I said I will look to my ways that I offend not with my Tongue Pambo shut the Book and took his leave saying he would go learn that point And having absented himself for some Months he was demanded by his Teacher when he would go forward he answered that he had not yet learn'd his old Lesson to spâ—ak in such a manner as not to offend with his Tongue 13. Albertus Bishop of Meâ—tz reading by chance in the Bible one of his Council coming in asked him what his Highness did with that Book The Arch-Bishop answered I know not what this Book is but sure I am that all that is written therein is quite against us When Aristobulus the Historian presented to Alexander the Great a Book that he had wrote of his glorious Atchievements wherein he had flatteringly made him greater than he was Alexander after he had read the Book threw it into the River Hydaspis and told the Author that it were a good deed to throw him after it The same Prince did also chase a certain Philosopher out of his presence because he had long lived with him and yet never reproved him for any of his vices or faults 15. Maximilianus the first Emperour of that name look how desirous he was to be famous to posterity for his noble Actions and Atchievements so much was he also aversâ— and afraid to be praised to his face When therefore on a time divers eloquent and learned men did highly extol him with immediate Praises in their Panegyricks he commanded Cuspinianus to return them an answer ex tempore and withal take heed said he that you praise me not for a mans own Praises from his own Mouth carry but an evil savour with them 16. Cato the younger charged Muraena and indicted him in open Court for Popularity and Ambition declaring against him that he sought indirectly to gain the peoples favour and their voices to be chosen Consul Now as he went up and down to Collect Arguments and Proofs thereof according to the manner and cuâ—tom of the Romans he was attended upon by certain persons who followed him in the behalf of the Defendant to observe what was done for his better instruction in the process and suit commenced These men would oftentimes be in hand with Cato and ask him whether he would to day search for ought or negotiate any thing in the matter and cause concerning Muraena If he said no such credit and trust they reposed in the veracity and truth of the man that they would rest in that answer and go their ways A singular proof this was of the reputation he had gain'd and the great and good opinion men had conceived of him
Domitius despairing of any mercy commanded a Servant Physician of his to bring him a cup of poyson the Physician that knew he would repent it upon the appearence of Caesars clemency gave him instead of poyson a soporiferous potion The Town being surrendred Caesar called all the more honourable persons to his Camp spake civily to them and having exhorted them to peaceable and quiet Counsels sent them away in safety with whatsoever was theirs When Domitius heard of this he repented of the poyson he supposed he had taken but being freed of that fear by his Physician he went out unto Caesar who gave him his life liberty and estate In the Battel of Pharsalia as he rode to and fro he cryed Spare the Citizens nor was any killed but such only as continued to make resistance After the Battel he gave leave to every man of his own side to save one of the contrary and at last by his edict gave leave to all whom he had not yet pardoned to return in peace unto Italy to their estates honours and commands When he heard of the death of Pompey himself by the villany oâ— others so far was he from insultation thereat that he brake out into tears and prosecuted his murderers with slaughter and blood 11. Lewis the Twelfth the next Heir to the Crown of France was eagerly persecuted by Charles the Eight the then King as one who was displeased that he had no issue of his own and so far was he pressed by him that at last he was shut up in Prison with little hope of his life most of the Nobles and people embracing the present times declared themselves against the unfortunate But Charles dying on the sudden Lewis ascended to the Throne to the amazement of many who now began to change their countenance and speech and sought to insinuate themselves into the good grace and favour of the new Prince Some also who had been constant to him in his adversity began now to lift up their heads high amongst these one with great conâ—idence came to the King and begged tâ—e Estate of a Citizen of Orleance who in that sad time had shewed himself to be one of the sharpest enemies of Lewis Here it was that the King with a Royal mind made him this Reply Ask something else of me said he and I will shew that I have respect unto your merits but of this say no more for the King of France doth not concern himself in the injuries of the Duke of Orleance this was his Title before he came to the Crown and withal he declared that he would have the same Counsellors and Guards as the dead King had in the same Honour and with the same Salaries 12. Sigismund the First King of Poland did so contemn the private injuries slaunderous reproaches and evil speeches of insolent men that he never thought them worthy of Revenge nor was he known for that cause alone to be afterwards the straiter handed to such kind of men in respect of Beneficence and Princely Liberality 13. Hadrianus the Emperor while he was a private man had one that in divers occasions had shewed himself his Enemy This man when the other was arrived to the Imperial Dignity presents himself before him in a trembling posture and scarce able to bring forth words wherein to implore his pardon The Emperor immediately upon the sight of him said unto him Evasisti thou hast escaped me As if he had said thou hadst been undone if we had equally contended but I being now thy Superior do surceass and chuse rather to shew my Power by Clemency than Revenge 14. Alphonsus King of Naples and Sicily was all Goodness and Mercy He had besieged the City of Cajeta that had insolently rebelled against him and it was evident that the City was straitned for want of necessary Provisions themselves did confess as much for they put forth all their Old Men Women and Children and such as were unserviceable and shut their Gates upon them The King's Council advised that they should not be permitted to pass but should be forced back again into the City by which means he should speedily become the Master of it The King pitying the distressed multitude suffered them to depart though he knew it would occasion the protraction of the Seige But when he could not take the City some were so bold as to tell him that it had been his own in case he had not dealt in this manner but said the King I value the safety of so many persons at the rate of an hundred Cajeta's Yet he was not long without that neither for the Citizens moved with so great a virtue and repenting themselves of their disloyalty yielded it to him of their own accord Antonius Caldora was also one of the most powerful and obstinate Enemies of the Realm of Naples but being in a great Battle overthrown and made prisoner all men perswaded the King to rid his hands of so insolent a person and so dangerous to the Kingdom Alphonsus was he alone that opposed it and not only gave him his Life but also restored him to his forfeited Estate he also gave back unto his Wife all his Plate precious Furniture and Houshold stuff that were fallen into his hands only reserving to himself one Vessel of Crystal These were the Deeds of this Illustrious Prince whereunto his Speeches were also agreeable For being asked why he was thus favourable to all men even to those that were evil Because saith he Good men are won by Iustice and the Bad by Clemency and when some of his Ministers complained of his Lenity and said it was more than became a Prince what then said he would you have Lions and Bears to reign over you For Clemency is the property of men as cruelty is that of the wild beasts Nor did he say other then what is the truth for the greater a man is and as I may say the more he is a man the more prone and inclinable will he be to this virtue which is therefore called Humanity 15. M. Antonius the Philosopher and Emperor excelled other men in this excellent virtue as he manifestly shewed in that glorious action of his towards Avidius Cassius and his Family who had rebelled against him in Egypt For whereas the Senate did bitterly prosecute Avidius and all his Relations Antonius as if they had been his Friends did always appear as an â—ntercessor in their behalf Nothing can represent him herein so much unto the life as to recite part of that Oration which upon this occasion was made by him in the Senate to this purpose As for what concerns the Cassian Rebellion I beseech you Conscript Fathers that laying aside the severity of your Censure you will preserve mine and your own Clemency Neither let any man be slain by the Senate nor let any man suffer that is a Senator Let not the blood of any Patrician be spilt let the banished return Exiles
the difference or excess of the one above the other whereby he learned what proportion in quantity is betwixt Gold and Silver of equal weight and then putting in the Crown it self into the Water brim â—ull as it was before marked how much the water did run out then and comparing it with the Water run out when the Gold was put in noted how much it did exceed that and likewise comparing it with the Water that run out when the Silver was put in marked how much it was less then that and by those proportions found the just quantity of Gold that was stollen from the Crown and how much Silver was put in instead of it By the which ever since the proportions of Metals one to another are tryed and found 9. Praxiteles that famous Artist in the making of Statues had promised Phryne a beautiful Courtezan the choice of all the pieces in his Shop to take thence some such single Statue as should be most pleasing to her but she not knowing which was most valuable devised this Artifice to be satisfied therein she caused one to come in as in great hast and to tell Praxteles that his Shop was on â—ire he startled at the news cryed out Is the Cupid and the Satyre safe By this subtilty she found out wherein the Artist himself believed he had expressed the most skill and thereupon she chose the Cupid 10. When the Duke of Ossuna was Vice-Roy of Sicily there died a great rich Duke who left but one Son whom with his whole Estate he bequeathed to the Tutele of the Jesuits and the words of the Will were when he is past his Minority Darete al mio Figlivolo quelque voi volute you shall give my Son what you will It seems the Jesuits took to themselves two parts of three of the Estate and gave the rest to the Heir the young Duke complaining to the Duke of Ossuna then Vice-Roy he commanded the Jesuits to appear before him he asked them how much of the Estate they would have they answered two parts of three which they had almost employed already to build Monasteries and an Hospital to erect particular Altars and Masses to sing Dirges and Refrigeriums for the Soul of the deceased Duke Hereupon the Duke of Ossuna caused the Will to be produced and found therein the words afore-recited when he is past his Minority you shall give my Son of my Estate what you will then he told the Jesuits you must by Vertue and Tenour of these words give what you will to the Son which by your own confession is two parts of three and so he determined the business 11. A poor Beggar in Paris being very hungry staid so long in a Cook 's Shop who was dishing up of Meat till his Stomach was satisfied with the only smell thereof The cholerick Cook demanded of him to pay for his Breakfast the poor Man denyed it and the controversie was referred to the deciding of the next Man that should pass by which chanced to be the most notorious Ideot in the whole City He on the relation of the matter determined that the poor Man's Money should be put betwixt two empty dishes and the Cook should be recompensed with the gingling of the poor Man's Money as he was satisfied with the only smell of the Cook 's Meat and this is affirmed by credible Writers as no Fable but an undoubted truth 12. Antiochus the Son of Seleucus daily languished and wasted away under a Disease whereof the cause was uncertain to the great trouble and affliction of his Father who therefore sent for Erasistratus a famous Physician to attend the care of his beloved Son Who addressing himself with his utmost dexterity to find out the root of his infirmity he perceived it was rather from the trouble of his mind then any effect of his constitution But when the Prince could not be prevail'd with to make any such acknowledgement by frequent feeling of his pulse he observed it to beat with more vigour and strength at the naming or presence of Stratonica that was the beloved Concubine of his Father having made this discovery and knowing the Prince would rather die then confess so dangerous a love he took this course He told Seleucus that his Son was a dead Man for saith he he languishes for the love of my Wife and what said Seleucus have I merited so little at thy hands that thou wilt have no respect to the love of the young Man Would you said Erasistratus be content to serve the love of another in that manner I would the gods said Seleucus would turn his love towards my dearest Stratonica Well said Erasistratus you are his Father and may be his Physician Seleucus gave Stratonica to Antiochus and sixty thousand Crowns as a reward to the prudent Physician CHAP. XXVII Of the liberal and bountiful disposition of divers Great Persons THat is Tully's saying Nihil habet Fortuna magna majus quam ut possit nec Natura bona melius quam ut velit bene facere quam plurimis A great Fortune hath nothing greater in it then that is able and a good nature hath nothing better in it then that it is willing to do good to many In the Examples that follow the Reader may find a happy conspiracy of great Fortunes and good natures several Illustrious Persons no less willing then they were able to do good who dispersed their Bountyes as liberally as the Sun doth his Beams such was 1. Gillias a Citizen of Agrigentum who possessed as I may say the very Bowells of Liberality it self he was a Person of extraordinary wealth but the riches of his mind excell'd the great plenty of his estate and he was ever more intent upon the laying out then the gathering of mony in so much that his house was deservedly look'd upon as the very Shop of munificence there was it that Monuments for publick uses were framed delightful Shewes presented to the people with magnificent Feasts prepared for their entertainment the scarcity of provision in dear years were supplied from thence and whereas these charitie 's extended to all in general he relieved the poverty of particular persons gave dowryes to poor Virgins entertained strangers not only in his City but also in his Country houses and sent them away with presents At once he received and clothed 500 Gelensian Knights that by tempest were driven upon his possessions To make short he seemed rather the Bosome of good Fortune then any Mortal whatever Gillias possessed was as the common Patrimony and therefore not only the Citizens of his own City but all persons in the countryes about him did continually put up Prayers and offer Vows for the continuance of his life and health 2. Frances Russel second Earl of Bedford of that sirname was so bountiful to the poor that Queen Elizabeth would merrily complain of him that he made all the Beggars and sure saith mine Author
him word that the Tryal was put off to the next day he was so over-joyed that he gave him his freedom who had brought him so acceptable tidings So far also was he from dissembling this his thirst after Glory that in a long Epistle he openly and earnestly entreated Luceius a Roman Citizen that he would gratifie him in these three things First that he woulâ— write the Conspiracy of Catiline distinctly from all Foreign and external Wars and thereby procure to him an immortal name Secondly That he would more studiously adorn that than any other part of his Works and that in some things he would rather consult his love than what the truth it self would bear And lastly That he would do this with the greatest expedition that he himself while yet living might enjoy some part of his Glory 4. When Alexander the Great had demolished the Walls of Thebes Phryne that beautiful and rich Curtesan went to the Thebans and proffered to rebuild them at her own Charges provided that to the eternal memory of her Name she might be permitted to engrave upon them these words Alexander overthrew Thebes and Phryne did in this manner restore it 5. Thales the Milesian was a man of great and high reach he found out many admirable things as in other Arts so also in that of Astronomy when he had found out what proportion the Suns greatness did bear to the greatness of that Circle which he finisheth in his annual course and how by the Rules of Geometry this might be clearly demonstrated he communicated thâ—s experiment of his to a rich man of Priene that was a curious enquirer into such matters who admiring the comprehensive wit of Thales together with the excellency of the Invention bad him ask what reward he would I said Thales ask no other reward than this That at no time you challenge the Glory of this Invention to your self but that if you are desirous at any time to impart the secret to any other you shall ever acknowledge that I was the man who first â—ound it out for saith my Author even the wisest of men do not despise glory much less are we able who are not wise to bear it patiently if any with impudence and injustice challenge to themselves any praise worthy observation of ours 6. Erostratus a young man seeing he could not make himself famous by any vertuous or praise worthy action resolved to perpetuate the memory of himself by performing something of the highest infamy having settled his mind upon such a design he set the Temple of Diana at Ephesus on fire which for the stately Fabrick of it was worthily reputed amongst the wonders of the World he confessed it was for this only end that he might be discoursed of in aâ—ter times which occasioned the Ephesians by a severe Decree to prohibit so much as the mention of his name that the memorial of him might be utterly abolished which had accordingly been but that Theopompus an Historian of great eloquence did make mention of him in his writings 7. In the Reign of Henry the seventh there was a commotion begun in Cornwall about the payment of a Subsidy lately granted the Ring-leaders in this Insurrection were Thomas Flamock and Michael Ioseph a Smith for which they were soon after hang'd drawn and quartered It is memorable with what comfort Ioseph the Black-smith cheared up himself at his going to Execution saying That yet he hoped by this that his Name and Memory should be everlasting So dear even to vulgar Spirits is perpetuity of name though joined with Infamy what is it then to noble Spirits when it is joined with glory 8. Platerus speaks of a Student in Physick that came to Basil on purpose to Commence Doctor Anno 1598. and falling grievously sick towards the close of his life he had an earnest desire that he might die a Doctor to gratifie him therefore he was privately and in his bed created Doctor of Physick with which he was well satisfied 9. Themistocles was exceedingly enflamed with the love of Glory and the ambition of performing great matters being yet but young he importuned with most earnest entreaties Epicles an Harper in great esteem with the Athenians to practise his Art at his house not that he himself would learn but that divers persons might enquire for his house and by this means discourse of him and it When the Battel at Marathon was fought and the famous exploits of Miltiades were celebrated he was observed to be thoughtful for the most part and to pass the nights without sleep and to leave off his usual compotations and when they that were amazed at this change of his life asked him the reason of it The Trophies of Miltiades said he will not suffer me to sleep Being chosen Admiral by the people he referred the dispatch of all kind of affairs that were brought before him to that day wherein he was to take Ship that so at one and the same time being busied in so many matters and called upon by so many several men he might be looked upon as a person of great Authority And when chiefly by his means Xerxes had received that notable defeat at Sea Themistocles was present at the Olympick Games next after where the Spectators not regarding those that strove for the Masteries fastened their eyes upon him all the day and as admiring his vertue shewed him to strangers with great applause he tickled with Glory turning to his Friends told them he had now received the fruits of all his labours for Greece The same man being once asked in the Theatre whose voice it was that pleased him best His said he that sings most in my praise 10. Gabrinius Fundulus the Tyrant of Cremona when he was to lose his head at Millaine for all his horrible crimes and was exhorted by some to repent himself of his Villanies and hope in God for pardon he frowningly replyed That he did not in the least repent himself of what he had done in the right of War but it was an especial grief to him that he had not executed one act which once he had conceived in his mind to do which was That he had once determined to throw down head-long the Emperour Sigismund the Pope and Balthazar Cossa from the top of an high Tower whereinto they were invited into the Market-place below And now at the closing up of his life when he was not able to boast of the fact yet he boasted of the will and purpose he had to do it and griev'd he had lost the opportunity of doing a famous exploit as he thought it 11. C. Iulius Caesar coming to Gades in Spain and beholding there in the Temple of Hercules the Statue of Alexander the Great he sighed detesting his own sloth who as he said had done nothing worthy of memory in such an Age wherein Alexander had subjected the World unto himself He therefore earnestly desired
according to his sentence 7. Cicero flying for his life was pursued by Herennius and Popilius Lena this latter at the request of M. Caelius he defended with equal care and eloquence and from a hazardous and doubtful cause sent him home in safety This Popilius afterwards not provoked by Cicero in word or deed of his own accord asked Antonius to be sent after Cicero then proscribed to kill him Having obtained licence for this detestable employment with great joy he speeded to Cajeta and there commands that person to stretch out his throat who was not to mention his dignity the Author of his safety and in private to be entertained by him with little less than veneration There did he with great unconcernedness cut off the head of the Roman Eloquence and the renowned right-hand of peace With that burden he returned to the City nor while he was laden with that execrable portage did it ever come into his thoughts that he carried in his Arms that head which had heretofore pleaded for the safety of his 8. Parmenio had served with great fidelity Philip the father of Alexander as well as himself for whom he had first opened the way into Asia He had depressed Attalus the Kings enenemy he had alwaies and in all hazards the leading of the Kings Vanguard he was no less prudent in counsel than fortunate in all attempts a man beloved of the men of War and to say the truth that had made the purchase for the King of the Empire of the East and of all the glory and fame he had After he had lost two of his sons in the Kings Wars Hector and Nicanor and the other lost in torments upon a suspicion of Treason This great Parmenio Alexander resolved to deprive of life by the hands of murderers without so much as acquainting him with the cause and would choose out no other to expedite this unworthy business but the greatest of Parmenio's friends which was Polydamus whom he trusted most and loved best and would alwaies have to stand at his side in every fight He and Cleander dispatched this great man as he was reading the Kings Letter in his Garden in Media So fell Parmenio who had performed many notable things without the King but the King without him did never effect any thing worthy of praise 9. Philip King of Macedon had sent one of his Court to Sea to dispatch something he had given him in command but a storm came and he was shipwrack'd but saved by one that lived there about the Shore in a little Boat wherein he was taken up He was brought to his Farm and there entertained with all civility and humanity and at thirty daies end dismissed by him and furnished with somewhat to bear his charges At his return he tells the King of his Wrack and dangers but nothing of the benefits he had received The King told him he would not be unmindful of his fidelity and dangers undergone in his behalf He taking the occasion told the King he had observed a little Farm on the Snore and besought him he would bestow that on him as a monument of his escape and reward of his Service The King orders Pausanias the Governour to assign him the Farm to be possessed by him The poor man being thus turned out applied himself to the King told him what humanity he had treated the Courtier with and what ungrateful injury he had returned him in lieu of it The King upon hearing of the Cause in great anger commanded the Courtier presently to be seised and to be branded in the sorehead with these Letters Hospes ingratus The ungrateful Guest restoring the Farm to its proper owner 10. When the Enmity brake out betwixt Caesar and Pompey Marcellinus a Senatour and one of them whom Pompey had raised estranged himself so far from his party unto that of Caesars that he spake many things in Senate against Pompey who thus took him up Art thou not ashamed Marcellinus to speak evil of him through whose bounty of a mute thou art become eloquent and of one half starved art brought to such a plenty as that thou art not able to â—orbear vomiting Notably taxing his ingratitude who had attained to all his Dignity Authority and Eloquence through his favour and yet abused them all against him 11. Henry Keeble Lord Major of London 1511. besides other Benefactions in his life-time rebuilded Aldermary Church run to very ruines and bequeathed at his death one thousand pounds for the finishing of it yet within sixty years after his bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast out of the Vault wherein they were buried his Monument plucked down for some wealthy Person of the present times to be buried therein Upon which occasion saith Dr. Fuller I could not but rub up my old Poetry which is this Fuller to the Church Vngrateful Church o'rerun with rust Lately bury'd in the Dust Vtterly thou hadst been lost If not preserv'd by Keeble's cost A thousand pounds might it not buy Six foot in length for him to lye But outed of his quiet Tomb For later Corpse he must make room Tell me where his dust is cast Though 't be late yet now at last All his bones with scorn ejected I will see them recollected Who fain my self would Kinsman prove To all that did Gods Temples love The Churches Answer Alas my innocence excuse My Wardens they did me abuse Whose Avarice his Ashes sold That goodness might give place to gold As for his Reliques all the Town They are scatt'red up and down Seest a Church repaired well There a sprinkling of them sell. Seest a new Church lately built Thicker there his Ashes spilt Oh that all the Land throughout Keeble's dust wâ—re thrown about Places scatt'red with that sâ—ed Would a crop of Churches breed 12. Anno 1565. upon the fifth of February one Paulus Sutor of the Village of Breswâ—il near the City of Basil came into the house of Andreas Hager a Bookseller he was then old and sick and had been the others Godfather at the Font and performed to him all the good offices that could be expected from a father Being entred his house he told him he was come to visit him as one that esteemed him as his father But as soon as the Maid was gone out of the Parlor that attended upon the sick man he caught up a hammer gave him some blows and then thrust him through with his knife As soon as the Maid returned with the same fury he did the like to her and then sâ—ising the Keys he searched for the prey intended he found eight pieces of plate which afterwards in want of money he pawned to a Priest of St. Blasms who suspecting the man sent the plate to the Senate at Basil by which means the Author of the detestable murder was known he was searched after taken at the Village of Hagenstall brought prisoner to Basil where he had his legs and arms broken
being once all together one of them stole from his Fellows and finding this Staff at the Door accused his Sister to his Father of adultery whereof by discovery of the truth she was cleared 9. Bassianus Caracalla the Emperour after he had slain the Son of Iulia his Mother-in-law did also take her to his Wife upon this occasion Iulia was a most beautiful woman and she one day as if through negligence or accident having discovered a great part of her body naked to the eyes of her Son Bassianus sighing said thereupon I would if I might Iulia replyed If you please you may know you not that you are Emperour and that it is your part to give and not to receive Laws Hearing this he publickly marryed her and kept her as his Wife Not long after being slain by the hand of Martialis Macrinus having burnt his body sent the reliques thereof in an Vrn to Iulia his Wife and Mother then at Antioch in Syria who casting her self upon the Urn slew her self and this was the end of this incestuous copulation 10. Artaxerxes Mnemon King of Persia fell in love with his own Daughter a beautiful Virgin called Atossa which his own Mother Parysatis perceiving perswaded him to marry her and so to take her for his Wife and though the Persian Laws forbad such incestuous Marriages yet by the counsel of his wicked Mother and his own lust he had her for his Wife after which time he never prospered in any thing he took in hand 11. Lucretia the Daughter of Pope Alexander the sixth not only lay with the Pope her Father but also with her Bother the Duke of Candy which Duke was also slain by Caesar Borgia for being his Rival in his Sisters Bed Of this Lucretia is this Epitaph extant Hic jacet in tumulo Lucretia nomine sed re Thais Alexandri Filia Sponsa Nurus Here Lucrece lies a Thais in her life Pope Sixtus Daughter Daughter-in-law and Wife 12. When we came to the Court of the King of Queda we found that with a great deal of Pomp excellent Musick Dancing and largess to the poor he was solemnizing the Funerals of his Father whom he himself had stabbed on purpose to marry his own Mother after he had already gotten her with Child As a remedy in these evils he made proclamation that on pain of a most rigorous death no person whatsoever should be so daring as to speak a word of that which had passed and it was told us how for that cause he had already put to death divers principal personages of his Kingdom and a number of Merchants CHAP. LII Of such as have been warned of their approaching death who yet were not able to avoid it WHen Alexander the Great then in India had been told by an Oracle that he should dye by Poyson at Babylon and that within the compass of the next eight months he was importunate to know further who was the person that should give him that Poyson But he had no other answer than this That the Fates cannot be deceived So it seems for when the appointed time is come 't is easie to observe how some push on themselves by a wilful and presumptuous foolhardiness and to others their very caution and circumspection hath proved as fatal to them as any other thing 1. Advâ—rtisements were come from all parts both within and without the Realm from Spain Rome Lorrain and Savoy to give notice to Henry of Lorrain Duke of Guise in the reign of Henry the third of France that a bloody catastrophe would dissolve that assembly he had then occasioned of the Estates The Almanacks had well observed it it was generally bruited in the Estates that the execution should be on St. Thomas day the very Eve before the Dukes death the Duke himself sitting down to Dinner found a scrole under his Napkin advertising him of a secret ambush of the King and his but he writ underneath with his own hand They dare not and threw it under the Tabâ—e seeing therefore that no warning would abate his confidence nor awake his security his murder was performed on this manner Upon December 23. 1588. the King assembles his Council having before prepared seven of his Gentlemen that were near his person to execute his will The Duke of Guise came and attending the beginning of the Council sends for an Handkerchief Pericart his Secretary not daring to commit this new advertisement to any mans report tyes a note to one of the corners thereof saying Come forth and save your self else you are but a dead man But Larchant the Captain of the Kings Guard staid the Page that carried it and caused another to be given to him by St. Prix the chief Groom of the Kings Chamber The spirit of man doth often prophesie the mischief that doth pursue him the Duke in the Council feels strange alterations and extraordinary distemperatures and amidst his distrust a great fainting of his heart St. Prix presents unto him some Prunes of Brignolles and Raysins of the Sun he eats and thereupon the King calls him into his Cabinet by Revol one of the Secretaries of State as it were to confer with him about some secret of importance the Duke leaves the Council to pass into the Cabinet and as he lift up the Tapestry with one hand to enter they charge him with Swords Daggers and Partisanes and so he was slain 2. Certain it is that some good while before the Duke of Buckinghams death by the Knife of Felton Sir Clement Throckmorton a Gentleman then living advised him to wear a privy Coat whâ—se Council the Duke received very kindly but gave him this answer That against any popular fury a Shirt of Male would be but a silly defence and as for any single mans assault he took hiâ—self to be in no danger so dark is destiny 3. The night before King William the second was killed a certain Monk dreamed that he saw the King gnaw the Image of Christ cruciâ—ied with his teeth and that as he was about to bite away the legs of the same Image Christ with his feet spurned him down to the ground and that as he lay on the earth there came out of his mouth a flame of fire with abundance of smoak this being related to the King by Robert Fitz Mammon he made a jest of it saying This Monk would sain have something for his dream go give him an hundred Shillings but bid him look that he dream more auspicious dreams hereafter Also the same night the King himself dreamed that the veins of his arms were broken and that the blood issued out in great abundance and many other like passages there were by which it seems he had Friends somewhere as well as Iulius Caesar that did all they could to give him warning but that as Caesars to his malus Genius would not suffer him to take it for King William notwithstanding forewarned by many signs
drew his face so exactly that he was immediately known His Picture of Venus arising out of the Sea in the nether part of it had catched some hurt by mischance but there never could be found that Painter who would take in hand to repair the same to make it suitable with the rest he flourished about the hundred and twelfth Olympiad 12. Aristides the Theban was a famous Painter the first that would seem to paint the conceptions of the mind and to express the inward disposition and actions thereof yea the very perturbations and passions of the soul but his colours were unpleasant and somewhat too harsh He painted the taking of a Town by assault wherein was an Infant making means to creep to the Mothers Pap who lay a dying upon a mortal wound received in her Breast but it passed how naturally the poor womans affection was expressed in this Picture how a certain sympathy and tender affection might be perceived to her Babe in the midst of her deadly pangs This Table King Alexander the Great translated from Thebes to Pella the City where himself was born He painted a fight of an hundred Greeks and Persians and sold it to Mnason the Tyrant of Elate for ten pounds for every head therein depainted King Attalus also gave him for one Table and the Picture in it one hundred Talents of Silver 13. Protogenes was born at Caunos a City in Cilicia subject to the Rhodians his Picture of Ialysus and a Dog in that Table is accounted his Master-piece which is now dedicated at Rome within the Temple of Peace It was so highly esteemed that King Demetrius when he might have forced the City of Rhodes on that side where Protogenes dwelt forbare to set it on fire because he would not burn it amongst other painted Tables and thus for a Picture he lost the opportunity of winning a Town 14. Asclepiodorus was admired by Apelles himself for his singular skill in observing symmetry and just proportion he pourtrayed for the King of the Elateans the twelve principal gods and received for every one of them three hundred pound of Silver 15. Nicomachus painted the ravishment of Proserpina by Pluto which standeth in the Chapel of Minerva in the Capitol and the Mermaid Sylla which at this day is to be seen at Rome in the Temple of Peace a ready Workman he was and no Painter had a quicker hand than he 16. Philoxenus painted a Table for King Cassander containing the Battle betwixt Alexander the great and King Darius which for exquisite art cometh not behind any other whatsoever 17. Cydias was he who in a Table represented the Argonautes or Knights that attended Prince Iason in his expedition to Colchos Hortensius the Orator was content to pay for this Piâ—ce one hundred forty four thousand Sesterces and Shrined this Picture in an Oratory or Chappel built on purpose for it in a House of Pleasure that he had at Tusculum 18. Timomachus the Byzantine flourished in the dayes of Iulius Caesar for whom he painted Ajax and Medea which Pictures when he bought of him for eighty talents he caused to be hung up in the Temple of Venus by talent I mean the Attick talent which is six thousand Roman deniers his pieces of Orestes and Iphigenia are also much praised but especially he is renowned for his Medusa's head which he painted in Minerva's shield CHAP. XIII Of the most eminent Artists for making of Statues and Images in Clay Marble Ivory Brass c. THat of Painting is a noble Art but this of the framing of Statues is perhaps no whit inferiour to it since it makes a nearer approach unto nature than the other Pictures may be seen indeed but these are also to be felt have an entire and solid body and thereupon are also the more durable The most excellent Artificers in this kind were such as follow 1. Lisistratus of Sicyone was the first that in Plaister or Alabaster represented the shape of a mans visage in a mould from the lively face indeed which Image he after took in Wax nor stayed he there but begun to make Images to the likeness of the person when before him every man studied only to make the fairest faces and never regarded whether they were like or no. 2. Phidias was the most excellent Graver that ever was as all Nations will confess that have ever heard of that Statue of Iupiter Olympius which he made at Olympia or the stately Statue of Minerva which he wrought at Athens in height six and twenty Cubits all made of Ivory and Gold upon the swelling round of the shield of this Goddess he engraved the Battle wherein the Amazons were defeated by Theseus in the hollower part he enchased the conflict between the Gods and the Gyants Upon the Shoos and Pantophles she wears he framed the fight betwixt the Centaures and Lapithae In the Base or Pedestal of the Statue he cut the Genealogy of Pandora and the nativity of the Gods to the number of thirty and amongst them the Goddess of Victory of most admirable Workmanship with a Serpent and Sphinx of Brass under the Spear that Minerva holds in her hand admired by all Workmen he flourished the eighty third Olympâ—ad 3. Praxiteles his Venus which he wrought for them of Gnidos surpasses all Images that ever were made by others or himself and in truth so exquisite and singular it was that many a man hath sailed to Gnidos for no other business but only to behold it King Nicomedes offered to free their City of all debts which were great sums for this piece of work but they resolved to stand to all hazards rather than part with it It is reported that a wretched fellow was enamoured of this Venus as one Alchidas a Rhodian loved his naked Cupid that he made for them of Parium a City within Propontis 4. Scopas deserveth praise for his worthy workmanship in which most account is made of those Images in the Chapel of Cn. Domitius in the Cirque of Flaminius viz. Neptune Thetis and her Son Achilles the Sea Nymphs or Nereides mounted upon Dolphins Whales and mighty Sea-horses The Tritons with all the Quire attending upon Phorcus a Sea-God and the mighty Fishes called Pristes besides many other Monsters of the Sea all of them wrought by him so curiously that had he sate about the making of them all his life-time and done nothing else a man would have thought it work enough 5. Menestratus his Hercules men have in high admiration as also his Hecate which standeth in a Chapel at Ephesus behind the great Temple of Diana the Sextons or Wardens of which Chapel give warning unto those that come to see it that they look not too long upon it for dazling and hurting their eyes the lustre of the Marble is so radiant and resplendent 6. Apollonius and Tauriscus were the makers of that brave piece of Zetus Amphion Dirce the Bull
he had governed the Church of Alexandria forty six years full of dayes he dyed in peace in the reign of Valens though an Arrian persecutor 10. Eusebius Pamphili Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine lived and was familiar with Constantine the Emperour he refused the Chair of Antioch tumultuously made void by the Arrians for which the Emperour commended his modesty and counted him worthy to be Bishop of the whole world yet he was not altogether free of the heresie of Arrius before the Nicene Council he dyed about the year of our Lord 342. 11. Gregorius Nazianzenus born in a Town of Cappadocia called Nazianzum he was trained up in learning at Alexandria and Athens where his familiarity with Bazil began He detected the Heresie of Apollinaris and the abominations of Heathenish Idolatry under Iulian more than any other had done so peaceable that like another Ionas he was content te be thrust out of his place to procure unity and concord amongst his Brethren He had excellent gifts and flourished under Constantius Iulian and Theodosius 12. Basilius Magnus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia he repented he spent so much time in searching out the deepness of humane learning as things not necessary to eternal life The Arrians and Eunomians who seemed excellently learned when they encountred with him and Nazianzenus were like men altogether destitute of learning when the Emperours Deputy threatned him with banishment or death he astonished him with his resolute answer The Emperors Son Galaces fell sick and the Empress sent him word she had suffered many things in her dream for the Bishop Basilius whereupon he was dismissed and suffered to return to Caesarea 13. Gregorius Nysse was Brother of Basilius and Bishop of Nyssa a City in Mysia in the second General Council the oversight of the Country of Cappadocia was committed to him Though his works are not extant yet he is renowned in the mouths of the Learned as a man of Note and remark 14. Epiphanius was born at Barsanduce a Village in Palestine was Bishop of Salamina the Metropolis of the Island Cyprus he refuted the heresies preceding his time in his Book called Panarium He had so great a regard to the poor that he was called Oeconomus Pauperum He opposed St. Chrysosthom in Constantinople and returning to Cyprus dyed in the way 15. Lactantius Firmianus was the Disciple of Arnobius in Eloquence nothing inferiour to his Master yet it is thought that he opposed errors with greater dexterity than he confirmed the Doctrine of the Truth 16. Hilarius Bishop of Poictiers in France a man constant in Religion in Manners meek and courteous he was banished to Phrygia he took great pains to purge France from the poyson of the Arrian heresie whereof he there saw both the growth and decay he dyed in the reign of Valentinian 17. Ambrosius the Son of Symmachus was Governour of Lyguria under Valentinian appeasing a Sedition at Millain he was there chosen Bishop and confirmed therein by the Emperour He lived also under the Emperour Theodosius whom he sharply reproved and excommunicated for the slaughter of the innocent people at Thessalonica and dyed in the third year of the reign of Honorius having sate at Millain twenty two years 18. Ierome was born at Stridona Town of Dalmatia instructed in the rudiments of Learning at Rome where he acquainted himself with honourable women such as Marcella Sophronia Principia Paula and Eustochium to whom he expounded places of holy Scripture His great gifts were envyed at Rome wherefore he left it and went for Palestine and there chose Bethlehem the place of our Lords Nativity to be the place of his death he there guided a Monastery of Monks he was a man of a stern disposition he dyed in the ninety first year of his age in the twelfth year of the reign of Honorius 19. Iohn Chrysosthome had been an helper to Flavianus Bishop of Antioch thence he was called by the Emperour Arcadius to be Bishop of Constantinople In Oratory he had profited in the School of Libanius and in Philosophy in that of Andragathius above his fellows His liberty in reproving sin both in Court and Clergy procured red him the hatred of Eudoxia the Empress and of the whole Clergy Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria was his great enemy by whose malice and that of Eudoxia he was deposed then banished and journeyed to death he governed the Church in Constantinople seven years 20. Augustinus in his young years was infected with the error of the Manicheans his Mother Monica with prayers and tears begged of God his conversion to the truth and God heard her for being sent to Millain to be a Teacher of Rhetorick by the Preaching of Ambrose the Bishop and the devout behaviour of the People in singing Psalms to the praise of God he was much affected Also by reading the life of Antonius the Hermit he was wonderfully moved to dislike his former Conversation He went then to a Garden where with his friend Alypius he bewailed the insolency of his past life wishing the time to be now that his soul should be watered with the dew of the converting grace of God As he was pouring out the grief of his wounded heart to God with a flood of tears he heard a voice saying Tolle lege take up and read at first he thought it to be the voice of Boyes and Girles in their sport but seeing no body he received it as a Celestial admonition he took up then the Bible he had there with him and in the opening of the Book the first place he met with was Rom. 13.13 14. Not in Gluttony nor Drunkenness not in Chambering nor Wantonness not in Strife or Envying but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it At the reading hereof he was fully resolved to become a Christian and was baptized by Ambrose Bishop of Millain Thence he returned into Asrick and there was an Assistant to Valerius Bishop of Hippo whom he succeeded being incessant in teaching the people and confuting Hereticks the Donatists Pelagians and Manichees when he had lived seventy six years he rested from his labours 21. Gregorius the first sirnamed the Great was chosen Bishop of Rome both by the Clergy and people which Office he sought by all means to avoid he brought into the Roman Church the form of the Greek Liturgies He first stiled himself servus servorum Dei and whereas Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople called himself Universal Bishop he said of him that he was the forerunner of Antichrist he sate in Rome thirteen years six months and ten days 22. Bernardus Abbot of Claraval born in Burgundy was respected in his Country above others though he lived in a most corrupt age yet he was found in the point of Justification He detested the corruption of manners that abounded in his time He subdued his body by
three years entire and afterwards by degrees returned to her food and to a laudable habit of body 11. Gulielmus Fabritius tells of a Marsiacensian Maid that she lived above fifteen years without either meat or drink and that she was then living when he wrote his Book which was An. 1612. and promised a large account of it at further leisure to Paulus Lentulus 12. Licetus tells of a young Maid of Piedmont that An. 1601. being then a great Girl was by the command of the excellent Prince Auria brought to Genoa and there kept almost two months under strict guards nothing came into her mouth but water or diluted wine and confirmed by undoubted experiment that fame that had gone of her fasting for divers years together 13. I my self saith Wierus I speak it without boasting have lived four days entire without food or drink and could have continued longer were it not that I apprehended something worse from continual watchings My Brother hath persisted to the eighth day fasting without hurt taking only a morsel of Quince 14. An. 1470. Franciscus Nicholaus Petra Vnderus an Helvetian after he had had five children by his Wife betook himself to a solitary life far from any Town where he dyed after he had lived full fifteen years without any manner of food or drink he predicted several things that came to pass and by his austere life made the belief of his fasting unquestionable Certain it is that the Bishop of Constantia in whose Diocess he lived went to him on purpose to see him and after diligent observation confirmed the truth of the report by his Letters and withal for the greater certainty he compelled him upon his obedience to taste some food though very little which caused him to have extreme pain in his stomach for three days after the which Nicholas told him before-hand was his fear nor had only the Bishop this tryal of him but divers Princes of France and Germany went to him to make experiment of the reality of his fasting and found it accordingly he himself spake but sparingly of it and attributed it rather to his nature than to any thing that was miraculous Thus far Fulgosus and saith Zacchias I chanced to see the Picture of this Helvetian not long since as it was drawn to the life he was of a squalid aspect and extenuated in a wonderful manner so that his Image would strike a kind of horrour into those that looked upon it He lived seventy years and died upon the day of St. Benedict An. 1470. after he had fasted saith he twenty years 15. In the Popedom of Eugenius the Fourth there was one Iacobus a French man who was an Amannensis in the Court of Rome this man falling sick of a disease vowed a pilgrimage to Ierusalem in case he should recover he performed it accordingly and returned to Rome when Nicholas the Fifth was Pope It was the admiration of all men that he was observed neither to eat nor to drink any thing and he solemnly swore that he had not done either for two years together last past 16. In the Reign of the Emperour Lotharius say the Writers of the French Chronicles there was a Girl in Agro Tullensi of about twelve years of age who lived three whole years without any kind of meat or drink viz. from the year 822. to 825. when about the beginning of November she began again to take to her meat and drink as is usual with others to do Fulgosus says this was An. 1320. and that her fasting came upon her after she had been at Church and received the Sacrament Gault Tab. Chron. p. 595. 17. An. Dom. 1595. a Maid of about thirteen years of age was brought out of the Dukedom of Iuliers unto Collen and there in a broad street at the Sign of the White Horse exposed to the sight of as many as desired it The Parents of this Maid affirmed that she had lived without any kind of food or drink for the space of three years and this they confirmed by the testimony of divers persons such as are worthy of credit I viewed her with great observation she was of a sad and melancholy countenance her whole body was sufficiently fleshy except only her belly which was compressed so as that it seemed to cleave to her back-bone Her liver and the rest of her bowels might be perceived to be scirrhous by laying the hand upon her belly As for excrements she voided none and did so far abhor all kind of food that when one that came to see her privately conveyed a little Sugar into her mouth she immediately swounded But that which is most wonderful is that this Maid walks up and down plays with other Girls dances and does all other things that are done by Girls of her age neither has she any difficulty of breath speaking or crying out The original of this was thus related by her Parents being recovered of a disease about seven years past she fell into a loathing of food so that sometimes for three or four days she would eat nothing then she took a little new milk afterwards for six or seven days would neither eat nor drink and when she had lived in this condition for four years she altogether abstained from and loathed all manner of food and so hath continued to do for the last three years in which she hath neither eaten nor drunk 18. In St. Augustines days one lived forty days without eating any thing Another in the time of Olympiodorus the Platonist who for so long as he lived neither fed nor slept but only stood in the Sun to refresh himself The Daughter of the Emperour Clotarius fasted eleven years and Petrus Aponus saw one that had fasted full eighteen years 19. From Essere in Ethiopia we made towards Bigan having taken in provision because we had four days journey thither the way is something dangerous by reason of certain Cafies Assassines who murder the Passengers These can subsist three or four days together without eating any more than a little Butter and two Dates a day They are of a large size by a good span taller than the ordinary but very meagre and lean and they never lye down 20. Charles the Seventh King of France having a jealousie that those about him by the instigation of his Son did intend to poyson him abstained from all food so long that when he would have eaten he could not his passages being shrunk up with too much abstinence and so he died miserably of famine 21. Amongst the Mahometans there is a superstitious Sect called Dervises whose sharp and strict Penances far exceed those of the Papists Some of them live upon the tops of Hills remote from any company there passing their time in contemplation and will rather famish than remove from their retired Cells where they would undoubtedly be pined to death but that the people who dwell nearest to them
wherein we have any understanding it can never be suâ—ficiently wondred at that it should be so very little that we are able to comprehend with any certainty concerning the Soul it self The most learned amongst men are at a loss as often as they would speak distinctly touching its nature manner of working the way of its conjunction with the body and principal place of its residence and so are they also for the manner of its retreat and the place of its retirement in such cases as are propounded in this Chapter 1. William Withers born at Walsham in Sussex being a child of eleven years of age did An. 1581. lye in a trance ten days without any sustenance and at last coming to himself uttered to the standers by many strange speeches against pride and covetousness coldness of charity and other outragious sins 2. Hermotimus the Clazomenian seemed frequently to have his body deserted of the soul and as if it had wandred about in the World at the return of it he would relate such things at a distance performed that none could tell of but such as were present by which means he was long the admiration of such as he dwelt amongst At last being in one of these trances his enemies seised upon his body and burnt it by which means the returning soul was disappointed of its usual place of residence and retreat Plin. lib. 7. cap. 52. pag. 184. 3. Iohannes Scotus the same who hath treated with such subtilty concerning divine matters is also said to have been in frequent raptures in such manner that he hath been observed to sit sometimes for the space of a whole day and more immoveable with his mind and senses bound up or at least wandring far off from the body In which condition at length he was taken up by some such as were unacquainted with him and so buried alive 4. Restitutus a Presbyter could at his pleasure deprive himself of all sense and would do it as oft as he was asked which many did as desirous to be the eye-witnesses of so admirable a thing At the imitation of some notes and the tone of lamenting persons he would lie as one that was dead altogether sensless of his being pulled or pricked nay once being burnt with fire he had no apprehension or feeling at all of it for the present only the wound was painful to him at his return to himself In these his trances he did not breathe at all only he would say that the voices of men only if they spake louder than ordinary were heard by him as if they were at some great distance from him 5. Thomas Aquinas by his daily and constant contemplations had so accustomed himself that frequently falling into an Ecstasie of the mind he seemed to all that were present to be dead yet in the mean time he gained the knowledge of the abstruser Mysteries in Divinity and being returned to himself he imparted to others the fruits of this his philosophick death both in his Writings and Converse 6. Hieronymus Cardanus of Millain writes of himself that he could pass as oft as he would into such an Ecstasie as only to have a soft hearing of the words of such as discoursed by him but not any understanding of them at all he felt not any pullings or pinches of him nor was at such times in the least manner sensible of the pains of the Gout or any other thing but only such things as were without him The beginnings of this were first in the head especially from the brain diffusing it self thence all along to the back bone At first he could perceive a kind of separation from the heart as if the soul were departing and this was communicated to the whole body as if a door did open He adds that he saw all that he desired with his eyes not by any force of the mind and that those images of things did perpetually move as Woods Mountains living Creatures and what else he pleased He imputes all this to the vigour of his fancy and the subtilty of his sight 7. The Father of Prestantius saith St. Augustine was often in such an Ecstasie that upon the return of his spirit he would affirm that he had been transformed into a Horse and that he with other Horses had carried relief and forrage into the Camp whereas his body lay then at his own house in the manner of a dead Corps 8. The English Histories relate that Elizabeth Burton a Maid of Canterbury had contracted a custom of entrancing her self and taking away her senses which first came upon her by reason of a disease which she had upon her CHAP. XIX Of extraordinary things in the Bodies Fortunes Death c. of divers persons TRavellers that have determined to pass through divers Countries lightly touch those common occurrences that present themselves to every mans eye but if they meet with any thing extraordinary these they set a special and particular remark upon as matter wherewith mens knowledge may be improved and their curiosity gratified If I have staid the longer upon this Chapter it is possibly for some such reason as this that the Reader may have something if not so profitable as he could wish yet not altogether unpleasant in the perusal 1. Antonius Cianfius a Book-seller at Pisa some few years since putting off a shirt which was made straiter to his body than usual flames were seen to issue from his back and arms and that also with a crackling noise to the affrightment of the whole family The truth of this is attested as well as the History related by Fortunius Licetus that great Philosopher of this Age in the second Book and 28. Chapter of his Commentary of the Causes of Monsters 2. That is strange which is recorded of M. Furius Camillus that though he had gained many important Victories was often General in the head of an Army was Censor was five times created Dictator and at four several times had triumphed and was also called the second Founder of Rome yet was he never chosen Consul 3. Nicholas Wotton was termed a Center of Remarkables so many met in his person he was Dean of the two Metropolitan Churches of Canterbury and York he was the first Dean of those Cathedrals he was Privy Counsellor to four successive Soveraigns King Henry the Eighth King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth he was employed thirteen several times in Embassies to foreign Princes and which is not the least remarkable in the first of Queen Elizabeth he was offered the Archbishoprick of Canterbury and refused it he died 1566. 4. Iohn Story Doctor of Law a cruel Persecutor in the days of Queen Mary fled afterwards into Brabant being trained into the Ship of Mr. Parker an English man the Master hoised Sail and over was this Tyrant and Traitor brought into England where refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy and professing
Iohn Thornborough preferred by Queen Elizabeth Dean of York and Bishop of Lymbrick in Ireland where he received a most remarkable deliverance in manner following Lodging in an old Castle in Ireland in a large room partitioned but with Sheets or Curtains his Wife Children and Servants in effect a whole Family these all lying upon the ground on Mats or such like in the dead time of the night the floor over head being earth and plaster as in many places is used and over-charged with weight fell wholly down together and crushing all to pieces that was above two foot high as Cupboards Table-forms Stools rested at last on certain Chests as God would have it and hurt no living creature In the first of King Iames 1603. he was consecrated Bishop of Bristol and from thence was translated to Worcester 16. In the Massacre of Paris one Merlin a Minister fled and hid himself in a Hay-mow where he was strangely nourished and preserved for all the time he lay there which was a fort-night together a Hen came constantâ—y and every day laid an Egg by him by which he was sustained 17. Chingius Chan first Emperour of the Tartarians slying from a Battel where he had unprosperously fought hid himself amongst bryers and shrubs to escape the pursuit of the Enemy An Owl sate upon the bush whereinto he had crept to preserve himself The Enemy passing that way and seeing an Owl to sit upon the bush declined the search of that place as supposing no man was there where a bird had pearched so securely and by this means Chingius escaped From that time forth an Owl was in great honour amongst the Tartars they looking upon it as a bird of fortunate presage and carrying the feathers of them in their Caps with great devotion 18. Leo Son to the Emperour Basilius Macedo was accused by Theodorus Sandabarenus a Monk as having designed upon the life of his Father and was thereupon cast into prison and was freed thence by these strange means The Emperour on a time feasted divers of the greatest Lords in his Court they were all sate when a Parrot that was hung up in a Cage in the Hall in a mournful tone cryed Alas alas poor Prince Leo it is like he had frequently heard Courtiers passing to and fro bewailing the Princes hard fortune in those terms and when he had often spoke these words the Lords at the Table were seised with such a sudden sadness that all of them neglected their meat the Emperour observed it and called to them to eat inquiring the reason why they did not When one of them with tears in his eyes replied How should we eat Sir being thus reproached by this bird of our want of duty to your Family the brute Creature is mindful of his Lord and we that have reason have neglected to supplicate your Majesty in the behalf of the Prince whom we all believe to be innocent and to suffer under calumny The Emperor moved with these words commanded to fetch Leo out of prison admitted him to his presence and restored him first to his favour and then to his former Dignity of Caesar. 19. Guy Earl of Burgoigne Grandchild to Richard the Second Duke of Normandy grew sensible of his Right to the Dukedom of Normandy and joyning with Viscount Neele and the Earl Bessin two powerful Normans conspired the death of Duke William who afterward conquered England and they had effected it if a certain Fool about him had not stoln away in the night to the place where the Duke was and never left knocking and crying at the Gate till he was admitted to his presence willing him to flye for his life instantly or he would be murdered The Duke considering that being related by a Fool it was like to be the more probable and that there might be danger in staying none in going rode instantly away all alone toward Falais his principal Castle But missing his way he happened to pass where a Gentleman was standing at his door of whom he asked the way and was by him as knowing him directed Which he had no sooner done but the Conspirators came presently inquiring if such a one had not passed that way which the Gentleman affirmed and undertook to be their Guide to overtake him but leading them on purpose a contrary way the Duke by this means came safely to Falais From thence he journies to the King of France complains of his injuries who so aided him that he made him greater than he was before 20. Mr. Lermouth alias Williamson Chaplain to the Lady Anne of Cleve a Scotch man being cast into prison for the Truths sake as he was on a time meditating he heard a voice probably of an Angel saying to him Arise and go thy ways whereunto when he gave no great heed at the first he heard the same voice a second time Upon this he fell to prayer and about half an hour after he heard a voice the third time speaking the same words whereupon rising up immediately part of the prison-wall fell down and as the Officers came in at the outward gate of the prison he went out at the breach leaped over the prisonditch and in his way meeting a Beggar he changed his Coat with him and coming to the Sea-shore he found a Vessel ready to set sail into which he entred and escaped 21. The people of Sicily being oppressed by divers Tyrants craved assistance of the Corinthians who sent them for their succour a Captain of theirs called Timoleon a man famous for military Discipline and for moral Vertues Timoleon in a short time had such success that the Tyrants despairing either to overcome him or to defend themselves by force one of them called Icetes suborned a couple of desperate Villains to assassinate him who perswading themselves they might best perform it as he should be sacrificing to his Gods and wholly attentive to his devotions watched an opportunity for that purpose They found him one day in the Temple ready to sacrifice and drew near him to execute their design but as they were ready to strike him one of the standers by who suspected nothing of their intention upon a sudden gave one of the Conspirators such a mortal wound that he fell dead in the place The other seeing his Fellow killed and thinking the Conspiracy was discovered fled to the Altar took hold thereof craved pardon of the Gods and of Timoleon and promised that if he would save his life he would discover all the practice In the mean time he thaâ— killed the other Conspirator being â—led was taken and brought back calling God and man to witness that he had done nothing but a most just and lawful act in killing him that had killed his Father which being known to some that were present and testified by them to be true filled all the assistants with admiration of the divine Providence which by such an accident had not only
number of Serpents to be gathered and inclosed in earthen pots these he ordered to be thrown into the Roman Vessels in the heat of the fight in great plenty the Romans amused and terrified with these unlooked for enemies began first to abate their vigour in fighting and their fears increasing upon them soon after betook themselves to plain flight 2. Mithridates King of Pontus was overcome by Lucullus in a great Battel and enforced to quit the field to save himself by a hasty flight the pursuers followed close after him when he caused great quantities of gold to be scattered whereby the edge of the pursuit was taken off and though the Romans thereby had a great prey yet they suffered a more noble one to escape their hands by the only fault of their inconsiderate covetousness 3. The Island of Sark joyning to Garnesey and of that Government was surprized by the French and could never have been recovered again by strong hand having Corn and Cattel enough upon the place to feed so many as would serve to defend it and being every way so inaccessible as it might be held against the great Turk yet in Q. Mary's time by the industry of a Gentleman of the Netherlands it was in this sort regained He anchored in the Road with one Ship of small burden and pretending the death of his Merchant besought the French being some thirty in number that they might bury their Merchant in hallowed ground and in the Chappel of that Isle offering a present to the French of such Commodities as they had aboard whereunto the French yielded upon condition they should not come ashore with any weapon no not so much as a knife Then did the Flemmings put a Coffin into their Boat not filled with a dead carcass but with Swords Targets and Harquebusses The French receiving them at the landing and searching every of them so narrowly as they could not hide a Penknife gave them leave to draw their Coffin up the Rocks with great difficulty some part of the French took the Flemish Boat and rowed aboard the Ship to fetch the Commodities promised and what else they pleased but being entred they were taken and bound The Flemmings on Land when they had carried their Coffin into the Chappel shut the door to them and taking their weapons out of the Coffin set upon the French they run to the cliff and cry to their company aboard the Flemming to come to succour but finding the Boat chaâ—ged with Flemmings yielded themselves and the place 4. The Stratagem by which Philip the Father of Perseus King of Macedon won Prinassus is worthy of noting saith Sir Walter Raleigh He attempted it by a Mine and finding the earth so stony that it resisted his work he nevertheless commanded the Pioneers to make a noise under ground and secretly in the night time he raised great mounts about the entrance of the Mine to breed an opinion in the besieged that the work went marvellously forward At length he sent word to the Townsmen that by his undermining two Acres of their Wall stood upon wooden Props to which if he gave fire and entred by a breach they should expect no mercy The Prinassians little thought that he had fetched all his earth and rubbish by night a great way off to raise up those heaps which they saw but rather that all had been extracted out of the Mines wherefore they suffered themselves to be out-fac'd and gave up the Town as lost which the Enemy had no hope to win by force 5. When Kiangus had declared himself a Subject to the Empire of China the Tartars sent a great Army against him Kiangus feigned to â—ly but in the reer he placed very many Carts and Waggons which were all covered carefully as if they had carried the richest Treasures they possessed but in real truth they carried nothing but many great and lesser pieces of Artillery with their mouths turned upon their enemies The Tartars intending to rifle their Carriages hastily pursue fight without order and fall upon the prey with all the greediness imaginable but those that accompanied the Waggons firing the Artillery took off a great part of the Army and withal Kiangus wheeling about came upon them and made a strange carnage amongst them 6. Xerxes his Navy was come to Phalericum and lay upon the neighbouring shores of the Athenian Territories he had also drawn his Land-army to the Sea-coasts that so he might be in the sight of the Grecians with all his Forces at once then did the Peloponnesians resolve of retiring to the Isthmus and would hear no propositions to the contrary They intended therefore to set sail in the night and all the Captains of the Ships had orders to be accordingly prepared Themistocles perceiving the Greeks would by this means lose the Commodities of the Streights and the conveniency of their present station dispersing themselves into their particular Towns bethought himself of this Stratagem He had with him one Sicinus a Persian Captive of whose fidelity he did not dâ—â—bt as being the Instructor of his children him he sends privately to Xerxes with this message That Themistocles the General of the Athenians was of his party and that in the first place he gave him to understand that the Grecians were preparing for flight that he advised him not to suffer their escape but that forthwith he would set upon them while in disorder and before their Land-army was with them that by this means he should be sure to overthrow all their naval Forces at once Xerxes received this advice with great thanks as from a friend and immediately gave order to the Admirals of his Navy that they should silently prepare all the Ships for sight and send two hundred of them to shut up all passages and surround the Islands that there might be no way of escape for the Enemy It was done and thus the Greeks were forced to fight where they would not though the most convenient place for themselves and by this prudenâ— management of Themistocles they obtained a naval Victory such as had not been before amongst the Greeks on Barbarians After which Xerxes still intending to press upon them with his Land-forces and such others as he had yet unbroken at Sea Themistocles found amongst the Captives Arnaces one of Xerxes his Eunuchs him he â—ends to the King to leâ— him know that the Greeks being now Masters at Sea had decreed to sail with their Navy to the Hellespont to cut down the Bridge he had there built to hinder his return home that he being solicitous for his safety would advise him with all speed to retire thitherward and to pass over his Army while in the mean time he would contrive delays to hinder the Greeks from the pursuit of him The Barbarian terrified with this message hastily retired and by this sleight the Greeks eased themselves of a heavy burden 7. The Persian War with Greece being over