Asse The Queen-Mother of Scotland having received aid from France forced the Protestants for a while to retire towards the High-lands whereupon she scoffingly said Where is now John Knox his God My God is now stronger then his yea even in Fife but her brags lasted not long For within a few dayes six hundred Protestants beat above four thousand French and Scots c. See Master Knox his Life in my first Part. The same Queen-Mother when some English Scots attempted to take Leith by storme and many of them were slaine by reason that the scaling ladders proved too short beholding it from Edenborough Castle where she was burst out into a great laughter saying Now will I go to Masse and praise God for that which mine eyes have seen And when the French had stripped the slaine and laid the naked bodies along the walls the Queen looking on them said scoffingly Yonder are the fairest Tapestries that ever mine eyes beheld I would that the whole fields which are betwixt Leith and this place were all strewed with the same stuffe But this joy lasted not long For presently after a fire kindled in Leith which burnt up their store-houses and provision for the Army and the Queen-Mother fell sick and died Eodem When Christians complained to Julian the Apostate of the abuse and wrongs which his officers did to them he used scoffingly to answer It 's your part when you are injured to take it patiently for so your God commandeth you See my General Martyrology p. 86. In the late Persecution in Bohemia some godly Martyrs in Prague as they were at supper being to suffer the next day comforted themselves saying that this was their last supper upon earth that to morrow they should feast with Christ in heaven whereupon a great Papist flouted them saying Hath Christ Cooks for you in Heaven Eodem p. 170. Now therefore be no more mockers lest your bands be made strong Isa. 28. 22. CHAP. XXIV Examples of Gods judgements against Perjury SWearing Cursing and Perjury are such God-provoking and Heaven-outfacing sinnes that the Lord doth not only reserve wrath for these his enemies in the world to come but many times also even in this world he takes some of the eminentest of these sinners and as it were hangs them up in Gibbets to be monuments of his heavy wrath and indignation for the terrour of others that they may hear and fear and do no more so wickedly as these ensuing Examples may sufficiently evince It 's a great sinne 1 Tim. 1. 9. 10. Lev. 6. 3. Jer. 23. 10 Hos. 10. 4. Forbidden Lev. 19. 12. Mat. 5. 33. Threatened Jer. 5. 2 and 7. 9. Mal. 3. 5. Zach. 5. 3 4 Hos. 10. 4. Scriptural examples Princes and people Jer. 34 10 11 17. Zedekiah Ezek. 17. 18 19. Saul 2 Sam. 21. 1 2. Agesilaus being sent with a great Army from Sparta into Asia Minor against Tissaphernes the King of Persiu's Leiutenant there Tissaphernes desired to know the reason of his coming Agesilaus answered that it was to let the Grecian Cities free Tissaphernes intreated him to make a truce with him till he had sent to the King of Persia to know his pleasure therein Agesilaus consented and so a truce was made with solemne oaths on both sides but Tissaphernes dealt deceitfully and sent to the King for a great Army which being come to him he sent an Herauld to Agesilaus to command him presently to depart out of Asia Agesilaus being nothing daunted with the newes returned this answer That he gave him no small thanks for that by his perjury he had made the gods angry with the Persians and favourable to the Grecians and accordingly it so fell out for coming to a battel he gave the Persians a great overthrow Xenophon Lysander King of Sparta though otherwise a gallant man yet made no conscience of his oaths using to say that boyes used to be deceived with false dice and men with oaths Plut. Eumenes being made General of an Army against Antigonus by the young King of Macedonia Alexander M. his sonne and his protectour they wrote to the two Colonells of the Argyraspides to adjoyne themselves to him These were Alexanders old souldiers whom when he took them with him into India he made them silver shields and called them Argyraspides These Colonells obeying the command went with him into Asia and after some lesser conflicts the two armies met at last in Media where these silvershields of whom none were under sixty and most of them were seventy years old took in such scorne that their sonnes and boyes should fight against them that they charged them with such fury that after the slaughter of many they made Antigonus his infantry wholly to run away but in the mean time Antigonus his Cavalry had routed the Cavalry of Eumenes and seizing upon their carriges had driven them away the Silver shields hearing of it sent presently to Antigonus desiring him to restore them their carriages againe who answered that if they would deliver up Eumenes bound into his hands he would not only restore their carriages but greatly preferre them also Hereupon most treacherously they ran upon Eumenes took away his sword and bound his hands behinde him so that he could scarce get leave to speake before they carried him away but at last having obtained leave he thus spake O my souldiers ye see the habit and ornaments of your General not imposed upon him by his enemies but you your selves of a Conquerer have made him a Captive You that within one yeares space have bound your selves foure times to me by oath do now to redeem your carriages betray me to mine enemies therefore I desire you rather to kill me your selves for Antigonus desires not to have me living but dead and if you will but herein gratifie me I freely absolve you from all the oaths wherewith you have bound your selves to me or if you will not shew me so much favour then loose one of my bands and give me a sword that I may kill my selfe or if you dare not trust me with a sword cast me to the Elephants to be destroyed by them But when he saw that they would gratifie him in none of these he grew into a passion and said Ye cursed villaines I pray the gods who are the revengers of perjury to send you such ends as ye have brought your Generals unto for I am not the first whom you have thus betrayed c. And so being delivered to Antigonus he was shortly after murthered by him But withal he so hated these perjured Silver shields that he burned one of their Colonells and slew the other the rest of them he sent into remote Countreys and put them upon such desperate services that by degrees they were all cut off and never any one of them returned into his own Countrey againe Plut. King Henry the first of England in the twenty seventh year of his reigne caused the Bishops Abbats and Nobles
that Sirname was so bountiful to the poore that Queen Elizabeth would merrily complaine of him that he made all the beggars and sure it 's more honourable for Noblemen to make beggars by their liberality then by their oppression Holy State p. 297. Holy Mr. Bradford in a hard time solde his chaines rings and jewels to relieve those that were in want Act. Mon. George Wisehart a Scottish Martyr forbore one meal in three one day in four that he might have wherewithal to relieve the poor He lay also hard upon straw with new course canvas sheets which when ever he changed he gave away to the poor See his Life in my General Martyrology Giles of Bruxels Martyr gave to the poore all that he had that necessity could spare and lived by his trade which was of a Cutler some he refreshed with meat some with clothing some with shooes other with housholdstuffe A poor woman being delivered and wanting a bed to lie on he brought her his own bed contenting himselfe to lie on the straw Dr. Taylour Martyr used at least once in a fourtnight to call upon Sir Henry Doile and others of the rich Clothiers in his Parish to go with him to the Almes house and there to see how the poore lived what they lacked in meat drink apparel bedding or other necessaries ministering to them himself according to his power and causing his rich neighbours to do the like See his life in my first Part. Cimon a chiefe magistate amongst the Athenians went alwayes attended with many young men that were his friends to whom as he met with any poor men he commanded either to give them money or else to change garments with them Whence Gorgias Leontinus used to say That Cimon so possessed his riches as one that knew how to use them For saith he the true use of riches is so to imploy them as may be for the owners honour Plut. He used also to entertain the poore at his table to cloath poor aged persons and by throwing down the enclosures of his lands he gave them leave freely to take of the fruits thereof Plut. Nerva the Romane Emperour though a heathen was very charitable to many who were unjustly dispossessed by Domitian he restored their goods and possessions he caused the sonnes of poor men to be educated at his charges To poor Citizens whom he knew to be in want he gave possessions which he purchased with his own money Dion King Henry the second of England sirnamed Beauclerk was very charitable and merciful to the poor And Anno Christi 1176. in a great dearth in his countreys of Anjou and Maine he fed every day with sufficient sustenance ten thousand persons from the beginning of April till the time that new corne was inned and whatsoever was laid up in his Granaries and storehouses he imployed the same for the reliefe of Religious and poore people Petrus Blesensis King Edward the sixth was as truly charitable in granting Bridewel for the punishment of sturdy Rogues as in giving Saint Thomas hospital for the relief of the poore Mr. Fox never denied to give to any one that asked for Jesus sake and being asked whether he knew a poore man that had received succour of him answered I remember him well I tell you I forget Lords and Ladies to remember such See his life in my first Part. Mr. Hooper Bishop of Worcester used every day at dinner to have a certaine number of the poore of the City by course where they were served by four at a Messe with whole and wholesome meat before himselfe would go to dinner See his Life in my first Part. Amedeus Duke of Savoy being asked by certain Ambassadours whether he had any hunting Dogs to shew them told them they should see them the next day and getting together many poor people he set them with him at his own Table on the morrow and said to the Ambassadours These be the Dogs that I keep daily and with which I use to hunt after heaven Queen Anne Bullen ever used to carry a little purse about her for the poore thinking no day well spent wherein some had not fared the better at her hand She kept her maides and such as were about her so imployed in working and sowing garments for the poore that neither was there seen any idlenesse amongst them nor any leasure to follow foolish pastimes Paulinus Bishop of Nola having consumed all his estate in Redeeming of poor Christian Captives at the length having nothing left paâ—â—ed himself for a certaine Christian widows sonnâ—… the Barbarians moved with his goodnesse and charity returned him home and many captives with him freely Paul Diac. The young Lord Harrington gave the tenth of his allowance which was one thousand pounds per annum during his minority to the poor and other good uses besides what he gave in the way as he walked which was often and much See his life in my second Part. Mr Whateley the late painful and powerful Preacher of Gods Word at Banbury for the space of many years together set apart the tenth part of his Revenues both Ecclesiastical and Temporal which he used to give to the poor See his Life in my first Part. It it storied of Stephen King of Hungary and of Oswald King of England that their right hands though dead yet never putrified because they were often ex-excised in relieving the wants of the poor Beda Hist. Ang. A certain good Bishop of Millaine journeying with his Servant was met by some poor people who begged something of him He commanded his man to give them all that little money that he had which was three Crowns the Servant gave onely two reserving the other for their own expences at night Soone after certaine Nobles meeting the Bishop and knowing him to be a good man and bountiful to the poor commanded two hundred Crowns to be delivered to the Bishops Servant for his Masters use The man having the money ran with great joy and told his Master Ah said the Bishop what wrong hast thou done both me and thy self Si enim tres dedisses trecentos accepisses If thou hadst given those three Crowns as I appointed thee thou hadst received three hundred â—â—lanc apud Job Manlium in loc com p. 360. Our General Norris never thought that he had that thing that he did not give The Emperour Tiberius the second being a valiant godly and liberal Prince the more bountiful that he was to the poor the more his riches encreased so that he had such quantities of gold silver and precious things as none of his Predecessors attained the like Plat. Titus Vespasianus though an Heathen yet was eminent for justice liberality and the love of all He was a great enemy to Promoters Petty-foggers and Extorters of penal Laws which Canker-worms of Common-wealths and Caterpillars of Courts of Justice he caused to be whipped and banished out of Rome Merciful he was to the poor and so ready to
to be taken prisoners and enow to runne away which resolute speecâ—â— much cheared up the King Eng. Hist. At the siege of Belgrave in Hungary by the Turks a certaine Turke getting upon the walls advanced his Ensigne upon them whereby the City was in great danger of being lost but a Bohemian souldier running to him caught him fast about the middle and calling to the Governour of the City who was not farre from him asked if he might be saved if he should cast himselfe down from the wall with that dog so so he called the Turke to whom the Governour answered Yea without doubt whereupon eâ—tsoones he tumbled himselfe with the Turke in his armes from off the wall and so died with him and by his death saved the lives of all in the City Turk Hist. The Romanes being ready to joyne battel with the Albanes that they might avoid bloodshed agreed that the victory should be determined by three against three Now there were in each campe three brethren born at one birth of equal years who were to be the Champions The three Horatii for the Romanes and the three Curiatii for the Albanes who after a doubtfull conflict two of the Horatii being slaine the third pretending feare ran away and thereby drew his adversaries asunder who by reason of their wounds could not runne with equal speed which being perceived by him he turned back and slew them one by one in single fiâ—ht before they could joyne together whereby the day fell to the Romanes Sir Walt. Raw. Hist The Tacchi a people in Asia rather then they would be captivated to the Greeks threw themselves down headlong from the rocks the very women throwing down their own children first and then casting themselves upon them Cato when the last battel was fought betwixt Julius Caesar and the Senators of Rome who stood for the liberty of their countrey Caesar having wonne the day Cato cast himselfe into the Sea at Utica choosing â—ather to drown himselfe then to survive his countreys liberty Lucan Darius the Persian Monarch invading Scythia sent unto the King thereof to yield himselfe as his subject whereunto the Scythians returned him this Hieroglyphical answer sending him back by his Ambassadors a bird a frog a mouse and five arrows which was diversly interpreted by Darius his Captaines But Gobrias one of his Princes truly interpreted them thus O ye Persians get ye wings like birds or dive under the water like frogs or creep into holes of the earth like mice or ye shall not escape our arrowes Socrates knowing that there was but one God in his Apology for his life said That if they would grant him his life upon condition to keep that truth to himselfe and not to teach it unto others he would not accept of his life upon such a condition Breda in the Low-Countreys being by treachery delivered to the Prince of Parma Anno 1580. was againe recovered by the Prince of Orange Anno 1590. by an hardy and dangerous enterprise which Captain Charles of Haraugiere made with seventy two resolute souldiers who being hidden in a boat full of turfes entering at noon day in a thousand dangers of their lives if they had been discovered they lay still all the day and the night following coming suddenly forth of the boat they cut in pieces the Corps Dugard giving entrance to the Prince and Earle of Hohenlo with their troops which lay not farre off whereupon the Garrison fled and the Towne was yielded by composition Belg. Com. Wealth p. 292. In an assault made by the Turks upon the suburbs of Alba Regalis in Hungary many of the Turks having scaled the Italian Fort a tall Hungarian woman whose courage farre exceeded the weaknesse of her sexe thrust in amongst the souldiers and with a great sithe in her hand at one blowe struck off two of the Turks heads which so encouraged others that the Turks were repelled thereby Turk Hist. p. 741. At Numantia in Spaine foure thousand souldiers withstood fourty thousand Romanes for fourteene yeares together in which time having often valiently repulsed them and forced them unto two dishonourable compositions at last when they could well hold out no longer they gathered all their armour money and goods together and laid them on a heap which being fiered they voluntarily buried themselves in the flames also leaving unto Scipio nothing but the bare name of Numantia to adorne his triumph with The City of Saguntum having been besieged by Hannibal for the space of nine moneths in which time the famine was so great that the inhabitants were inforced to eat mans flesh at the last when they could hold out no longer rather then they would fall into the hands of their enemies they made a fire in which themselves and their City were consumed to ashes Aug. de Civ l. 3. c. 20. Philip King of Macedon besieging Abidus when the people saw that they could not escape they first cast their goods into the Sea and then killed their wives and children and themselves leaving an empty City for him Livi. Martius the Romane General going against the Sarini which were Gaules at the foot of the Alpes rather then they would lose their liberty they killed their wives and children and then cast themselves into the fire and some of them which were surprized starved themselves Oros. l. 5. The Isle of Goze neare unto Malta being taken by the Turks a certain Sicilian that had lived long there and had married a wife by whom he had two faire daughters being then in state to be married seeing this last calamity approaching rather then he would see his wife and daughters to be brought into shamefull servitude having called them to him he first â—lew with his sword his two daughters and then their mother this done with an harquebuse and a crosse bowe bent as clean bereft of senses he made towards his enemies of whom he slew two at the first encounter and afterwards fighting a while with his sword being invironed with a multitude of Turks brought himselfe to the end of his most unhappy life Pur. Pil. v. 2. p. 878. Caesar entering into a boat in tempestuous weather the waterman was afraid to put forth from the shoar to whom he said Perge contra tempestatem forti animo Caesarem fers fortunam Caesaris Beare up couragiously against the stormes thou carriest Caesar and Caesars fortune Godfrey of Bulloigne with his followers in lesse then foure yeares conquered all the goodliest Provinces of Asia and drove out the Turks In that cruel conflict in Solomons Temple as himselfe reports in a letter his men by the great slaughter of the enemies stood in blood above the ankles in a terrible battel at Ascalon he slew an hundred thousand of the Infidels Turk History Huniades that Bulwarke of Europe like a violent tempest and impetuous torrent did so batter and beat down the enemies of Christ that his name became dreadfull amongst the Turks who used the same to
shop who was dishing up of meat till his stomach was satisfied with the only smell thereof the cholerick covetous Cook demanded of him to pay for his breakfast the poore man denied it and the controversie was referred to be decided by the next man that went by which chanced to be the most notorious Ideot in the whole City He upon the relation of the whole matter determined that the poore mans money should be put betwixt two empty dishes and the Cook should be recompenced with the gingling of the mans money as he was satisfied only with the smell of the Cooks meat Holy State p. 182. A Courtier having begg'd a rich-landed Fool used to carry him about to waite upon him He coming with his Master to a Gentlemans house where the picture of a foole was wrought in a rich suit of Arras cut the picture out with a penknife and being chidden for so doing You have more cause said he to thank me for if my Master had seen the picture of the Fool he would have begged your hangings of the King as he did my land Eodem The standers by comforting of a Natural that lay on his death-bed telling him that foure proper fellows should carry his body to the Church Yea quoth he but I had rather by half go thither my self and then prayed to God at his last gaspe not to require more of him then he gave him Eodem Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God throw the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart Eph. 4. 18. The times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent Act. 17. 30. CHAP. XLIII Examples of Contempt of the World of Riches Honours c. WE must not love the world 1 John 2. 15. for it passeth away ver 17. Love of the world is a character of the wicked 1 Joh. 2. 15. We must so love it as not to abuse it 1 Cor. 7. 31. All the glory of the world is but a fancy Act. 25. 23. Scriptural examples Abram Gen. 14. 22 c Gideon Jud. 8. 23. Christ Mat. 8. 20. Luk. 9. 58. Iohn 6. 15. Paul Phil. 3. 8. Peter Marke 10. 28 c. â—uk 18. 28 c. After the battel of Marathon wherein the Grecians had overthrown the Persians they found their enemies tents full of gold silver rich apparel and other treasures yet Aristides to whom a great share of them did belong would not touch any of them nor take to himselfe the worth of one farthing Plut. Aristides who by his prudence Policy and valour had exceedingly enriched the Athenians did so contemne riches that when others abounded he only remained poore and when a kinsman of his callâ—d Callias who had exceedingly enriched himself by the Persian treasure was accused to the people for neglecting to relieve him in his wants Aristides himself undertook his defence telling them that Callias had often offered him much but he had alwayes refused it For there are many saith he that abuse their riches but few can bear poverty well Plut When he died he was burâ—ed at the publick charges of the City not leaving so much as would pay for his own funeral Plato thought that amongst all those famous and worthy men that Athens had bread none deserved so much honour as Aristides for that whereas others had filled Athens with stately buildings money and other trifles only Aristides in managing the affairs of the Common-wealth had proposed nothing to himself but the advancement of virtue Pez Mel. Hist. Cimon the sonne of Aristides after his fathers death governing the Common-wealth of Athens would by no means take any bribes but did and spake all things gratis and when a certaine Persian exile with a great Masse of treasures fled to Athens meeting there with some affronts went to the house of Cimon and there set down before him two great goblets full of gold and silver Cimon seeing it laughed and said unto him Whether wouldst thou have me thy friend Gratis or thy Patron hired by a great summe of money Therefore said he take these things away and mâ—ke use of me as thy friend and imploy thy money otherwise as thou pleasest Plut. This Cimon when he had gotten a compeâ—ent estate caused the hedges of his fields to be thrown down that so every one might freely make use of the fruits thereof He kept a frugal Table yet enough for many and so entertained all comers Plut. Epimenides a very wise and good man having taken great paines in reforming Athens when he was to returne home the people offered him great summes of money but he refused all only desiring them to give him a branch of Olive with which he returned into his own countrey See his example in Reformation Plut. Epaminondas that was one of the gallantest men that ever Greece bred who freed his countrey of Thebes from the Lacedemonian slavery and obtained many great and admirable victories yet was he such a contemner of riches that when he died he left not enough to discharge the charge of his funeral Just. The Lacedemonians having freed themselves from those Tyrants that had lorded it over them they sold their houses and goods by which they raised one hundred and twenty Talents then bethinking themselves where to choose a worthy General they at last pitched upon Philopoemen the most accomplished man in all Greece and thereupon resolved to send Ambassadours to make a tender to him of this Masse of money but every one knowing how far he was from being caught with such baits refused that office At last they chose one Timolaus of his ancient acquaintance who wen to him at Megalopolis where being entertained and feasted by Philopoemen observing his gravity frugality and temperance was so discouraged that not daring to deliver his message he returned without effecting any thing the like did a second but a third being sent to him took the boldnesse to tell him how much the Lacedemonians esteemed and honoured his virtues whereby he prevailed with Philopoemen to go to Lacedemon who there in a publick Assembly of the people exhorted shem that they would not go about to buy friends by their gifts who were ready to serve them without them perswading them rather to imploy that money in bribing their turbulent Oratours that disturbed the peace of the City with so high a minde did he despise their money Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta used to say that he had rather make his souldiers rich then to be rich himself Xenoph. Lysander King of Sparta having overcome the Athenians in a great battel did wonderfully enrich his Countrey with the spoiles yet himself remained poor not enriching himself one penny thereby And when Dionysius the Sicilian Tyrant sent him costly garments for his daughters he returned them back again saying That he feared lest his daughters should be disgraced by them Plut. Xenoph. The King of Persia sending to Epaminondas
condemne him to death Theramenes hearing it fled to the Altar saying I flie to this Altar not that I think it will save my life but that I may shew that these Tyrants are not onely cruel towards men but prophane and wicked towards the gods Critias commanded armed men to fetch him away to his death and as they led him through the City he cried out against the Tyrants cruelty whereupon one of their Captaines said to him Flebis si non silebis Thou shalt weep if thou wile not hold thy peace to whom he answered Annon fleba si tacebo Shall I not weep if I do hold my peace when they put the cup of poison into his hand he drank it off and throwing away the bottome he said I drink this to faire Critias After his death they raged more extremely filling all places with rapines and slaughter and not suffering the friends of the murthered to interre their dead bodies Having amongst others slaine one Phidon they at their feast sent for his daughters to come and dance naked upon the floore that was defiled with their fathers blood but the maides abominating such immanity threw themselves down from an high place and brake their necks And to fill up the measure of the Athenians miseries whereas many thousands of them were â—led or banished into all the neighbouring countreys of Greece their proud insulting adversaries the Lacedemonians forbade all persons to entertaine any of these miserable exiles but to returne them to the Tyrants again and that upon the paine of forfeitting three thousand crowns Diod. Sic. Lysander King of Sparta when the Argives came to Lacedemon to dispute about the borders of their country pleading that they had ajuster cause then the Lacedemonians he drew his sword and said They that can hold this best can best dispute about their coasts Xenoph. Alexander the Tyrant of Thessaly was of such a cruel nature that he buried many of his Subjects alive others he sowed up in the skins of boares and beares and worried them with his dogs others he thrust through with darts and that not for any offences that they had done but meerely to make himself sport and when he had gathered the inhabitants of two confederate Cities about him as if he had something to impart to them he caused his guard to fall upon them and murther them all without distinction of Sex age or condition He slew his own uncle Polyphron and then consecrated the speare wherewith he did it to the gods But not long aâ—ter himself was slaine by the conspiracy of his own wife Plut. Euphron the Lacedemonian having made himself a Tyrant in the City of Cicyon was shortly after murthered by the Senators as he sat in counsel with them who defended themselves by this Apology quòd qui manifesti sceleris proditionis tyrannidis rei sunt non sententiâ âliqua dammandi videantur sed ab omnibus hominibus jam antè dammati sunt quòd nulla Graecorum lex ostendi possit quae proditionibus aut Tyrannis securitatem praestet That those which are guilty of Treason and Tyranny need not to be proceeded against in a legal way for that they are before-hand condemned in all mens judgements neither was there any law amongst the Grecians that gave security to traitours and Tyrants Plut Ochus King of Persia succeeding his father Artaxeâ—xes Mnemon presently after his getting the Kingdome filled and defiled all his palace with blood murthered all the Princes and Royal seed without any respect of age or sex and yet through Gods patience he lived ninety three years and reigned fourty three years Diod. Sic. But in the end growing odious and burthensome to all by reason of his bloodshed and cruelty one of his Eunuches called Bagoas poisoned him and threw his dead body to be devoured of cats AElian Lib. 6. Alexander M. after his great victories grew proud and tyrannical and upon bare suspition he cruelly tortured Philotas one of his brave captaines the sonne of Parmenio who had a chief hand in all his victories and after grievous torments caused him to be slaine and not content therewith thinking that his father might seek to revenge the wrong he caused him to be murthered also Qu. Cur. See Alexander M. also in Anger Alexander M. as he was rowing upon a lake in his galley neer Babylon a sudden tempest arising blew off his hat and crown fastened upon it into the lake whereupon one of his Mariners leaping into the lake swam and fetched it to him and to keep it the drier he put it upon his own head Alexander rewarded him with a talent for saving his Crown but withall caused his head to be cut off for presuming to put his Crown upon it Plut. Dionysius the Sicillian Tyrant was so suspicious of every one that he durst not suffer a Barber to trim him but caused his daughters to do it neither when they were grown to womans estate durst he suffer them to use any sizers or rasour about him but caused them to burn his haire with burning walnut-shells He had two wives and when he lodged with either of them he carefully searched all the chamber before he went to bed He durst not come amongst them when he was to speak to the people but spake out of an high Tower to them When he was going to play at tennis he gave his cloke and sword to a boy that waited on him whereupon one said to him Sir you have now put your life into his hands at which the boy smiled whereupon Dionysius caused them both to be slaine the man for teaching the boy how to kill him and the boy for laughing at it There was one Damocles a great slatterer of his who told him what an happy man he was that did so abound in riches Majesty Power c. affirming that there was never any man more happy then himselfe Well said Dionysius wilt thou O Damocles try how happy a man I am seeing thou doest so admire my condition Yea said Damocles with all my heart Hereupon Dionysius caused him to be cloathed in Kingly apparel to be set upon a golden seat in a room richly hung and curiously adorned with pictures then a table to be furnished with all sorts of dainty dishes with a company of beautifull boyes to waite upon him He had also precious ointments Crownes musick and what not So that Domacles thought himselfe a woundroâ—s happy man But presently Dionysius caused a sharp glittering sword tied in an horse-haire to be hung just over his head the terrour whereof so afflicted Damocles lest it should fall on his head that he durst not stirre nor enjoy any of those felicities whereupon he sent to the Tyrant desiring him to give him leave to go away for he desired that happinesse no longer Citero Antiochus Epiphanes warring against Egypt Ptolomy the King of Egypt sent to the Senate at Rome to make them his Guardians and to desire their help against Antiochus
reason of it answered There is no need of them when we may live more sparingly Eus. Lib. 8 Apoth Cn Martius a young noble man of â—ome having by his valour won the strong â—â—y of Câ—râ—â—lus from the Volsci Post Cominius the Romane Coâ—â—ull proffered to him for a reward an hundred acres of land his choice amongst the Câ—â—tives divers horses bravely traped an hundred oxen and as much silver as he could stand under amongst all these large proffers he onely chose the horse that he served on and to beg the life of one of the Captives rejecting all other rewards Val. Max. Marcus Curius was famons amongst the Romanes for his fâ—ugality and valour when Ambassadours came to him from the Samnites they found him sitting in a Countrey-house upon a stoole by the fire and supping upon short Commons out of a woden platter he contemning their riches and thy wondring at his poverty and when they brought him a great sum of gold â—ntreating him to accept favourably of it he smilingly answered You are very superfluous I will not say foolish Ambassadors Tell the Samnites that I had rather rule over rich men then be rich my self and carrie back that precious but ill provided gift and remember that I can neither be overcome in battell nor corrupted with bribes Val. Max. The same man when he had driven King Pyrrhus out of Italy and thereupon the Senate had allotted him a great deal of land refused it neither would he have any of the spoiles which were so great as enriched both the Army and whole City of Rome Ibid. His saying was that he was very rich without money and had company enough without a great family because he accounted himselfe rich not because he possessed much but because he desired little Idem Alexander M. travelling through some deserts in Persia himselfe and his army were in great straits for want of water and one of the Souldiers having two sons ready to die with thirst sought up and down and at last found a little water with which he filled a leather bottell and so was running with it to his sons but by the way meeting Alexander he filled out the water in a dish and proffered it to him Alexander asked him whither he was carrying it The man told him to his sons that were ready to die with thirst But said he Pray you Sir do you drink it for if my sons die I can get more but if you die we shall not have such another King Alexandor hearing this gave him the water again and bad him carrie it to his sons At another time being in the like strait in the deserts of Arabia some of his souldiers seeking about found some muddy water wherewith one of them filling his helmet ran with it to Alexander who took it and thanked him for his diligence but poured the water upon the ground though he was exceeding thirsty saying If I alone should drink it would make my souldiers languish and accordingly they seeing his abstinence encouraged themselves by his example and marched forward Q. Cur. Wo unto you that are full now for you shall hunger Luk. 6. 25. CHAP. VIII Examples of drunkennesse THe sinne of Drunkennesse is a bewitching sinne Hos. 4. 11. It steales away the heart from God and all goodnesse It is an old sinne it began presently after the Flood It is a malignant sinne it drownes the braine wastes the time consumes the estate and fills the body with as many diseases as hath an horse It is an Epidemical sinne that hath almost drowned the whole world with another deluge In these moderne times it began in Germany whence grew that proverbe Germani possunt cunctos tolerare labores O utinam possint tam bene ferre sitim The Germans can all labours undergo Would they as well could bear their thirst also But since it hath infected all Europe It is grown into fashion to quaffe soul-sick healths till they make themselves like Swine and worse then beasts whence one gives us this excellent rule Unasalus sanis nullam potare salutem Non est in pota verasalute salus The odiousnesse and danger of this sinne may farther appear to us by these following Scriptures and Examples Dangerous Prov. 23. 29 â— 31. 4. Deut. 21. 20. Prov. 20. 1. Hos. 4. 11. Nah. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 11. 21. Threatened Esa. 5. 11 22. Amos 6. 6. Prov. 23. 2â— Esa. 28. 1 3. Joel 1. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Forbidden 1 Cor. 5. 11. Luke 21. 34. Ephes. 5. 18. Hab. 2. 15. Mat. 24. 49. Luke 12. 45. Rom. 13. 13. Staggering is a signe of a drunkard Job 12. 25. Psal. 107. 27. Esa. 19. 24. And trembling of the body Jer. 23. 9. And vomiting Jer. 25. 27. It 's a shameful sin 1 Thes. 5. 7. A work of the flesh Gal. 5. 21. Esa. 28. 7. Scriptural Examples Lot Gen. 19. 32. c. Noah Gen. 9. 21. Amalekites 1 Sam. 30. 16. Amnon 2 Sam. 13. 28. Benhadad 1 King 20. 12. Elah 1 King 16. 9. David made Uriah drunk 2 Sam. 11. 13. Belshazer Dan. 5. 2. Nabal 1 Sam. 25. 36. Other examples Whilest the Gaules besieged the Romane Capitol they sent out a great party to sack the countrey thereabouts who being loaden with spoile were returning towards Rome and at night being full of wine they laid them down to sleep not fearing any enemy at which time Camillus with his men came upon them all his souldies giving a mighty shout yet could the Gaules hardly be awakened they were so deadly drunk so that they were easily all of them slain either upon the place or by the horsmen in the pursuit Plut. The Tuscans besieging Sutrium a City that was confederate with Rome Camillus marched privately with his Army against them and coming upon them found the Tuscans secure eating and drinking themselves drunken by which meanes he â—lew most of them without resistance and thereby freed the City from danger Plut. Many Dutchmen in Joppa drinking themselves drunk upon Saint Martins day their Arch-Saint the Turks came in suddenly upon them and cut every ones throat to the number of twenty thousand and indeed they were quickly stabbed with the sword who were cup-shot before Ful. Holy War Edgar King of England perceiving that his people had learned of the Danes many of which were in this land at that time to drink excessively whereupon ensued much drunkennesse together with many other vices he ordained certain wooden Cups with pins or nailes â—et in them to be commonly used making also a Law that whosoever drank past that marke at one draught should forfeit a summe of money one part to the Informer and the other to the Judge or chief Officer Sp. Chron. AEschines commending Philip King of Macedon for a Jovial man that would drink freely Demost henes answered That this was a good quality in a spunge but not in a King Plut. in vit Demost. Alexander the Great having taken Persepolis wherein was a
and valiant man who in a battel against the Corinthians slew one hundred men with his own hands the like he did in divers other battels whereupon he used to offer to Jupiter a sacrifice called Hecatomphonia or Centicidium Pausan. See the example of Xenophon in Ingratitude Epaminondas with his Thebans having given the Spartans a great overthrow at Leustra went presently to Lacedaemon and made an attempt upon the City it selfe at which time a valiant young man of Lacedaemon called Isadas neither defended with armour nor apparrel but being stark naked and his body anointed with oile and his sword in his hand did wonders both in the judgement of his citizens and of his very enemies of whom he slew all that he met and yet never received any wound himselfe and after the fight was ended the Ephori crowned him as a reward of his valour and then fined him a thousand Drachma's for exposing himselfe to such danger without his armour Plut. Epaminondas in another battel that he fought against the Lacedaemonians and Arcadians was sorely wounded with a dart and being carried into his tent after the battel was ended the Chyrurgeons coming to him told him that when the dart was drawn forth of his body he must needs die whereupon he called his Squire to him and asked him if he had not lost his shield he told him No and withal shewed it to him Then he asked if his army had gotten the victory they told him Iea. Then said he it 's now time for me to leave my life and so bade them pull out the dart whereupon his friends cried out grievously and one of them said to him O Epaminondas thou diest without children To whom he answered Nay truly for â— shall leave two daughters behinde me viz. my two great victories one aâ— Leuctra and this at Mantinea and so the dart being pulled out he gave up the ghost Plut. After the battel of Cheronaea wherein Philip K. of Macedon overcame the Athenians after the victorie looking upon the dead bodies of his adversaries he much commended them for their valour for that all their wounds were in their fore-parts and for that they died in those very stations which were assigned by their Captaines Also when with his friends in token of joy for the victory he celebrated a drunken feast and danced amongst the Captives deriding them in their calamity Damades one of those Athenian Captives freely said to him O King now that fortune hath put upon thee the person of Agamemâ—on art thou not ashamed to act the part of drunken Thersites Philip wondering at his courage set both Damades and all the rest of the Athenian captives at liberty and sent them home without ransom and buried the dead bodies of the slaine and afterwards made peace with the Athenians Diod. Sic. The two Scipio's brethren Pub. and Cn. Cornelius were famous for their warres in Spaine and against the Carthaginians so that they were called Duo fulmina belli the two thunderbolts of warre Polyb. Claudius Marcellus fought one and fifty battels and was for his valour called Gladius Romani populi the sword of the Romanes as Fabius M. was called Clypeus their buckler for his policy Plut. Cato being but fourteen years old used to go with his Master Sarpedon to Sylla's house to salute him not farre off was the executioners house whither Sylla sent whom he pleased to be tormented and slaine Cato seeing this said to his Master Why doth no man kill this tyrant Sylla Sarpedon answered Because they more fear him then hate him Cato replied Why then will you not give me a sword that I may kill him and free my countrey from such a savage beast Afterwards Pompey being returned out of the East with great glory after his victories sought to oblige Cato to him thinking to strengthen himself thereby and for this end desired to marry with Cato's sister which the maid much desired but Cato liked not the motion returning this answer That he would not be ensnared with women If Pompey did that which was just and profit able for the Common wealth he should easily have him for his friend otherwise no bribes or contracts should procure it Suetonius Jotopata a City in Galilee being besieged by the Emperour Vespasian and the walls thereof sore shaken by the force of a great battering Ramme one Eleazer a Jew in the City took up an huge stone and threw it with such violence upon the Ramme that he brake off the head thereof and then leaping down into the midst of his enemies took up the same and brought it into the City in despite of them all Joseph Hist. George Castriot alias Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus was inspired with such a spirit of valour by God in defending his Countrey against the barbarous Turks that in fighting against them for very eagernesse of spirit his blood would usually burst out of his lips and with such violence he struck that many of them he clave in sunder from the head to the middle and usually cut off an armed arme at a blow and with his own hands he slew above â—wo thousand of them at several times Hist. of Turk The earth opening about Rome the wizards resolving that it would not close againe till the best thing the City had were cast into it M. Curtius expounding that to be a martial man leaped himselfe into it armed at all points whereupon the place was afterwards called Lacus Curtâ—i Livie A Romane Captaine being hindred in his march by the Augurs trifling stay to divine what the successe of their journey should be by a bird that sat by the way-side he took abowe and killed the bird saying How should this silly bird read us our fortune when she could not foretell her own and so undauntedly marching on he prospered never the worse for it Newes heing brought to the Grecians of the huge Army that Xerxes had brought over into Greece whose archers were so many as it was reported that the flight of the Persians arrowes would be so thick as that they would darken the light of the Sunne Dieneces a Spartan answered It 's good newes for then we shall fight in the shade Before the great battel of Cannae fought between the Carthaginians and Romanes Hannibal sent his brother Mago to view the number and countenance of the enemy and at his returne asked him what work they were like to have with the Romans Work enough answered Mago for they are an horrible company As horrible a company as they be said Hannibal I will warrant thee there is not one Mago amongst them and therewith all fell a laughing which his souldiers took for a certain signe of victory which accordingly fell out Sir Walt. Rawley Honry the fifth King of England before the battel at Agincourt hearing of the great and warlike preparations of the French was somewhat perplexed but onâ—â— Captain Gam standing by said That if there were â—sâ—â— many there were enow to be killed enow
corps was heard of and the blinde man also came to light who being sent for amongst many others knew the voice of this murtherer who at last confessed the fact and was executed for the same Pasquier Anno Christi 1551. at Paris a young woman as she was going to midnight-Masse was brained with an hammer and her rings and jewels taken from her the hammer was stolne from a Smith hard by which being known the Smith was suspected and so strictly examined by torture that he was lamed and died in misery but about twenty yeares after the murtherer arreigned and condemned for another offence confessed this murther to the clearing of the Smiths innocency and Gods righteous judgement upon him Pasquier Neare Lutterworth in Leicestershire a Miller murthered one in his Mill and buried the corps in the ground and not long after went into another countrey and there dwelt about twenty yeares at the end whereof he returned to his former habitation to visit some friends about which time it pleased God that a Miller who succeeded him digging in that place found the bones of a man whereupon it was suspected that he had been murthered and the inhabitants remembred that about twenty yeares before a neighbour was missed whom they supposed to have died in a strange countrey and so bethinking themselves who was Miller at that time behold God had brought him amongst them who being apprehended and examined confessed the fact and was justly executed for the same In Denmark a traveller was murthered by the way near the City of Itzehow but the murtherer could not be found out whereupon the Magistrates of the City caused one of the hands to be cut off and hanged up in the town-Gaol And about ten yeares after the murtherer accidentally comes into that roome whereupon the drie hand drops blood upon the table which the Gaoler taking notice of carries the man before the Magistrates who being examined confessed the fact and was justly executed Ranzorius in a letter to D. Chytraeus A murtherer at Tubing betrayed himselfe by his deep sighes which was not for griefe of his fact but for his small booty and being but asked the question he confessed the crime and was hanged for it Lonicer In Spaine a murther was committed in a tumult and when all denied the fact the Judge caused all their bosomes to be opened and he whose heart trembled most upon examination confessed the fact and was executed At Isenac a young man to get money slew his host and threw his body into a cellar but by Gods just judgement was so besotted that he could not stirre a foot till he was apprehended so that he was condemned to death Luther and Melancthon being in the town at that time spake with him and brought him to repentance before his death CHAP. XXXVII Examples about Marriage and Conjugal Love MAn and wife are as the two branches in the Prophet Ezekiels hand inclosed in one barke and so closing together that they make but one piece and therefore marriage is rather a fellowship of the dearest amity then disordered love and though before marriage we may endeavour to fit our choice to our minde yet after we must fit our minde to our choice yea though all other contentions betwixt man and wife are unlawful yet may they contend each who should love other most and the more to quicken us hereunto observe these Scriptures and examples following Women married Gen. 20. 12. 24. 67. 25. 1. Deut. 22. 22. Called a meet help Gen. 2. 18. given into mans bosome Gen. 16. 5. Mich. 7. 5. appointed of God for man Gen. 24. 14 44. the desire of his eyes Ezek. 24. 26. his companion Mal. 2. 14. the glory of man 1 Cor. 11. 8. the weaker vessel 1 Pet. 3. 7. They must honour their Husbands Est. 1. 20. Obey them Eph. 5. 22 24. Col. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 1. Tit. 2. 5. Live chastly 1 Pet. 3. 2. Be of meek and quiet spirits ver 4. Do their Husbands good and not evil Prov. 31. 12. Be industrious vers 17 c. See the evil of contention Prov. 19. 13. A good wife is Gods gift Prov. 19. 14. 18. 22. A crowne to her husband Prov. 12. 4. A help Pro. 14. 1. Scriptural examples Sarah 1 Pet. 3. 6 Rebecca The good wife Prov. 31. Cont. Exod. 4. 25. Husbands must love their wives and how Eph. 5. 25 c. Col. 3. 19. Instruct them 1 Cor. 14. 35. Dwell with them according to knowledge 1 Pet. 3. 7. Commend them when they do well Prov. 31. 28. yield them due benevolence 1 Cor 7. 3. Scriptural examples Elkanah 1 Sam. 1. 8. Abraham Gen. 16. 6. Joseph Mat. 1. 19. Other examples Some Trojans that escaped in the sacking of Troy took such Ships as they found in the Haven and putting to sea were driven by the windes to a part of Tuscany near that place where Rome now stands and the men being gone on hunting the women having been very sea-sick the noblest of them called Roma perswaded the other women to set their Ships on fire that so they might go to sea no more the men at their returne finding their Ships burnt were exceeding angry with their wives whereupon to pacifie them they went and kissed them on their mouthes whence that custome was taken up which continues till this day of saluting by a kisse Plut. The Romanes at the first building of their City wanting wives made a great feast and when as the Sabine virgins came to see their pastimes they seized upon them every man catching one for his wife this was the cause of great and long Warres between the Sabines and the Romanes but at last when the two armies were ready to joyn battel these women ran betwixt them some of one side others of the other with lamentations and cries stepping between their weapons and seeking out their fathers and husbands with their babes in their armes and their haire dishevelled they called sometimes upon the Romanes other sometimes upon the Sabines with the movingest expressions they could devise which so melted the enraged hearts of both Armies that they gave back a little Then Hersilia that was married to Romulus and some other of the chiefest women said to the Sabines What offence have we done to you that we should deserve such an heap of evils we were indeed violently and against Law ravished by those who are now our husbands but you left us so long with them that now we are tied to them by the strongest bonds of nature that can be You came not to our rescue when we were Virgins untouched but now you come to take the wives from their husbands and the mothers from their little ones so that the help which you now think to give us doth but grieve us more then your former neglect of us These and such like speeches brought the two Armies to a parley during which the women brought their husbands to their parents and brethren
command saying Receive this Sword which if that I command and rule in reason as a Prince should do draw it out and use it for me but if I do otherwise use it against me Spart in vita Hadriani Lewis King of France having upon intreaty spared a man that deserved death and not long after reading that Text Psal. 106. 3. Blessed are they that keep judgement and he that doth righteousnesse at all times this doing righteousnesse at all times so wrought upon him that presently he reversed what he had granted saying He that hath power to punish sinne and doth it not becometh a Patron of it and is as guilty before God as if himself had committed it Annals of France Aristides the Athenian had the rating of the Cities of Greece in a common taxe referred unto him wherein he dealt so equally and impartially that he obtained the name of Just yet died he so poore that he left not wherewithal to bury him Diodo As Furius Camillus besieged the Falisci a people in Italy a perfidious Schoole-master who taught the children of all the principal Citizens under pretence of recreating them took them into the field and trained them on till they came into the Romane Camp and there yielded them all up unto the enemy expecting a great reward for his paines But Camillus deresting such treason bound the Traitor and put him into the hands of his Scholars wishing them to whip him back into the Town which forthwith yielded themselves to him in reverence to his justice Sir W. Raw. Aristides amongst the Athenians carried himself so exactly in all matters of judgement that he obtained the sirname of Iust. Plut. King Tarquin being banished Rome for his rape of Lucretia Brustus and Collatinus husband to Lucretia were chosen Consuls and in the time of their Consulship Tarquins agents had corrupted two of the ancientest famâ—lies in Rome the Aquillians who were Nephews to Collatine and the Vitellians who were allied to Brutus and two of his own sons were drawn into this treason by them The conspiracy being at last discovered the Consuls met in the publick place and sent for the conspirators and there before all the people discovered the treason The people being much amazed hung down their heads only some few thinking to gratifie Brutus moved that they might be banished but Brutus calling his sons by name asked them what they could answer for themselves and when being confounded they held their peace he said to the Sergeants They are in your hands Do justice Then did the Sergeants teare off their cloathes bound their hands and whipt them with rods which sad spectacle moved the people to pitty so that they turned away their faces But their father never looked off nor changed his severe countenance till at last they were laid flat on the ground and had their heads struck off Then did Brutus depart and left the execution of the rest to his fellow-Consull But Collatine shewed more favour to his kindred being solicited thereto by his and their wives Valerius a Noble man of Rome seeing this partiality exclaimed against him for it saying That Brutus spared not his own sons but Collatine to please a few women was about to let manifest Traytors to their countrey escape and the people called for Brutus again who being returned to his seate spake thus For mine own children I judged them and saw the Law executed upon them for these other I leave them freely to the judgement of the people whereupon they all cried out Execution execution and accordingly their heads were presently struck off Plut. See the example of Isadas in Valour Alexander M. returning out of India into Media great complaints were made to him of the covetousnesse and injustice of Cleander and Sitales whom he had made Governours over that countrey whereupon he commanded them to be slaine for the terror of others the like he did in divers other countreys upon the like complaints made against them Q. Cur. Domitian the Romane Emperour though otherwise a wicked man yet was severe in punishing Bribery in his Judges and Officers Sueto Alexander the Great though full of military affairs yet would many times sit in judgement to heare criminal causes and while the accuser was pleading he used to stop one of his eares to keep it pure and unprejudiced therewith to heare the accuseds defence and play for himself Plut. Augustus Caesar took such delight in hearing causes and administring Justice that oft-times the night could scarce take him off yea in his sicknesse he would cause the parties to come to his bed-side that he might heare them Sueto Nero in the beginning of his Reigne was so tender-hearted that when he was to signe a warrant for the execution of a condemned person he wished that he could neither write nor read that so he might be exempted from such actions David King of Scotland Anno Christi 1125. used himself in person to heare the causes of the poore and if he understood that any were oppressed by wrongful judgement he recompenced the party wronged according to his losse and hindrance out of the estate of the Judge that had pronounced false judgement John Mayor in his Chronicle Themistocles being Praetor of Athens Simonides the Poet much importuned him for an unjust thing to whom he answered Neque tu bonus Poeta esses si praeter leges carminis caneres neque ego câ—vilis Praetor essem si praeterquam quod leges permittunt tibi gratificarer As thou Simonides shouldest be no good Poet if thou shouldst swarve from the rules of Poetry so neither can I be a good Magistrate if to gratifie thee I should swarve from the rule of the Lawes Herod Themistocles telling the Athenians that he had found out a way to make Athens the greatest of all the Cities in Greece but it was a secret not fit to be imparted to all the people they thereupon commanded him privately to communicate it to Aristides of whose honesty and Justice they all relied this Themistocles did telling him that if they would presently burne the Grecian Navy they by their shipping might command all Greece Aristides coming forth to the people told them that nothing was more profitable but withal nothing was more unjust then the project of Themistocles whereupon the people commanded him to forbeare the execution of it Pez Mel. Hist Darius Junior was so strict and a severe Justicer that men might travel safely through all his dominions with out any danger Xenophon Pyrrhus King of Epyrus war ring in Italy against the Romanes Fabricius was sent with an army against him and the Tents of each Army being pâ—…ed nâ—ere together the Physician of Pyrrhus came to Fabricius and proffered to poison his King if he would give him a good reward but Fabricius instead of rewarding him bound him and sent him to Pyrrhus telling him of his treason Pyrrhus admiring him for his justice said Ille est Fabricius qui difficiliùs ab
countervail this great prosperity and victory some bitter adversity be predestinated for us I then beseech you to spare the City of Rome and this our Army and let it wholly fall upon my person alone Plut. Whilest Codrus was K. of Athens the Peloponesians upon an old grudge came with a great Army against the Athenians and sending to the Oracle to know the event of the War They were answered That they should have good successe if they did not kill the King of Athens Whereupon they charged all their Souldiers to be sure not to hurt Codrus the King when they came to the battell Codrus understanding all this changed his apparel with a common Souldier and with a Snapsack on his back he went to the Peloponesian Army and there picking a quarrel with one of the Souldiers wounded him whereupon the Souldier slew him and after his death being found to be Codrus the Peloponesians returned back expecting no good successe and thus Codrus out of love to his Country voluntarily dyed to deliver it from danger Pez Mel. Hist. Agesilaus King of Sparta did so love and esteem his Countrey that for the profit of it he neither spared his pains nor shunned dangers nor favoured his old age and though by his prudent and upright dealing he had gotten all the power into his own hands yet he studied nothing more then to maintain the Lawes and to shew himself subservient to them and amongst those which raised up dissensions in the Common-Wealth he carried himself as a father to his children chiding those that erred and honouring those that did well Plut. Sylla having overcome Marius in Battel commanded all the Citizens of Praeneste to be slain excepting onely one that was his intimate friend But he hearing the Bloody sentence against the rest stepped forth and said That he scorned to live by his favour who was the destroyer of his Country and so went amongst the rest who were to be slain Fulgos Sertorius the more he prospered and prevailed in his Wars in Spain the more importunate he was with Metellus and Pompey the Captains of his enemies that laying down Armes they would give him leave to return into Italy again professing that he had rather live a private life with the sweet enjoyment of his Countrey then to obtain the Government of many Cities Sabi l. 8. Nescio quâ natale solum dulcedine cunctos Ducit et immemores non sinit esse sui CHAP LXVI Examples concerning Death ALI must die Heb. 9. 27. Psal. 89. 48. It 's called a Bed to rest in Isa. 57. 2. A being with Christ Phil. 1. 23. A changing 1 Cor. 15. 51. A cutting down Job 14. 2. A cutting off Job 6. 9. A depriving of years Isa. 38. 10. A dissolution Phil. 1. 23. A destruction of the body 2 Cor. 5. 1. A day of darknesse Eccles. 12. 7. A departing Luk. 2. 29. A going forth of the breath Psal. 146. 4. An entrance into the way of all the world Joshu 23. 14. An end of all flesh Gen. 6. 13. An end of mans daies 1 Sam. 26. 10. A falling asleep Act. 7. 60. A finishing our course 2 Tim. 4. 7. A fleeting away Job 20. 8. A gathering to the people Gen. 25. 8. A going to the grave Job 5. 26. The way of all the earth 1 King 2. 2. To our fathers Gen. 15. 15. To the dead 2 Sam. 12. 23. To the place of silence Psal. 115. 17. Into the pit Job 33. 24. Home Psal. 39. 13. To the long home Eccles. 12. 5. Into the Land of darknesse Job 10. 21. A hiding in the Grave Job 14 13. A house for the living Job 30. 23. A lying still Job 3. 13. A Land of oblivion Psal. 88. 12. A rest from labour Rev. 14. 13. A returning to the dust Gen. 3. 9. Job 34. 15. A sleep Job 3. 13. 1 Thess. 4. 14. 1 King 1. 21. Job 7. 21. A translation Heb. 11. 15. A vanishing Job 14. 2. A giving up the ghost Gen. 25. 8. Vita citò avolat nec potest retineri Mors quotidie ingruit nec potest resisti Death happy to the godly Psal. 116. 15. 72. 14. Eccles. 7. 1. Rev. 14. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 5 52. Death cursed to the wicked Psal. 37. 9 10 20 22. Job 18. 17. Phil. 3. 19. Qualis vita finis ità Vita vitrea Fumus et umbra sumus Mors ubique nos expectat Solon enacted a Law amongst the Athenians that none should speak evil of the Dead Plut. Xerxes getting upon an hill near to Abydus and beholding the Sea covered over with his Ships and all the Plains filled with his Army which consisted of above a million of men thought himself a very happy man yet withal fell a weeping and being asked the reason of it by Artabanus his Uncle he answered Considering with my self how short the life of man is I cannot but pity this great multitude of gallant men of whom within an hundred years there shall not one be left alive Herod Lycurgus made a Law in Lacedaemon that they should bury their dead round about their Temples that the young men having the graves alwaies in their eyes should mind their own mortality Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta used to say That they which live virtuously are not yet blessed persons but that they had attained true felicity who dyed virtuously Xenophon When Agesilaus was ready to dye he charged his friends that they should neither make any picture nor statue of him for saith he If I have done any thing that is good that will be my monument but if I have done otherwise all the statues that you can make will not keep my good name alive Idem Democritus the Philosopher as he was travelling abroad in the world came to the Court of Darius King of Persia whom he found overwhelmed with grief for the death of one of his most beautifull wives to whom Democritus promised that he would restore her to life again if he would provide him things necessary for such a businesse Darius much rejoycing at this promise bade him ask for whatsoever he would have Democritus told him that amongst other ingredients he must have the names of three men that had never met with any sorrow in the whole course of their lives The King told him that that was impossible to be done Then said Democritus What a fool art thou which desirest to be freed from that fortune which is common to all men Pez Mel. Hist. Alex. M. being twice wounded in the siege of an Indian City feeling the pain of his wounds said I am called the son of Jupiter but I perceive that I am subject to wounds and death as well as other men Q Cur. Epaminondas finding his Sentinel asleep slew him saying I left him but as I found him Plut. A certain Christian King in Hungary being on a time very sad His brother a jolly Courtier would needs know on him what ailed him O brother said he I have been