he ouercame Aspar whilst he gouerned in the East there raigned with lawfull and vnlawfull tytles in Italy sixe or seauen Emperours he dyed at Constantinople Leo the Nephew of this Leo deceased was obeyed as Emperour but hee yeelded it to his Father Zeno crowning him vvith hys own hands and shortly after dyed who ruled like a tyrant and died when he had gouerned the Empire 18 yeares Anastasius raigned 27. yeares and vvas slaine with a thunderbolt that fell from heauen Iustinus the first ruled 11. yeares and dying adopted for Caesar his Nephew Iustinian Iustinian was a wise and iust Prince most happy in two Captaines Belizarius Narses when he was old hee elected in the Empire his Nephew Iustine and dyed in the 39. yeare of his Empire Iustinus the 2 raigned 11. yeares and dyed of the gowte but a little before he created Caesar a Captaine called Tiberius Tiberius the 2 was a vertuous iust mercifull Prince he raigned 7. yeares and nominated Mauritius his sonne in law successour Mauritius was slaine by Phocas with his wife sonnes and daughters this punishment histories doe note was for not redeeming the Christians which being taken captiues were in thraldome with an infidell Prince Phocas gouerned 7. yeares and was slayne by Priscus one of his Captaines his leggs armes head and priuities were cut off hee made the Bishop of Rome supreame head aboue all other Bishops which Gregory the first discommended in Phocas he tooke the Crosse of Christ from Ierusalem Heraclius brought againe the Crosse to Ierusalem he gouerned 30. yeares in his time began the kingdome of Mahomet Anno Domini 644. Constantinus his sonne was poysoned by his step-mother Martina the first yeare of his raigne to make her sonne Heraclionas Emperour who raigned 2. yeares the Senate hauing knowledge of theyr trecherous dealings cutte off the nose of Heraclionas Martinaes tonge and the Patriarchs sending them all 3. into banishment Constans the sonne of Constantius was strangled in a bath at Syracusa when he had raigned 27. yeares Constantinus Barbatus made peace in the Empire of the East and in the Church died when he had gouerned 17. yeares Iustinianus the 2 ruled 10. yeares before he was banished and being restored 6. yeares more many troubles befell him for two flatterers by whom hee was ruled the one Theodosius a Monke whom his Subiects called General the other Stephen his Chaplaine who determined all matters concerning religion Leontius the Patriarch helping him was made Emperour and cut off Iustinianus nose Apsimarus expulsed him and gouerned 7. yeares Iustinian before mentioned returned from Exile ayded by the Bulgarians and cut off the heads of Leontius and Apsimarus pulled out the eyes of Callinicus the Patriarch in the end his Souldiours killed him and his sonne Tiberius when they had taken them from a Sanctuary Philippus Bardanes ruled 2 yeres he pulled downe Images in Churches but Artemius his Secretary caused his eyes to be pulled out Artemius otherwise called Anastatius held his Empire 1 yeare and 3 moneths he was deposed by Theodosius who put himselfe into a monastry when he had raigned 1 yere fearing to be inuaded of Leo but Artemius gathering an hoast out of Bulgaria went about to recouer the Empire but he was betrayed to Leo who killed him Leo sirnamed Iconomachus that is an assaulter of Images raigned 26 yeres he made an edict that all Images in Churches should be pulled downe Constantinus Copronymus so called because at his baptisme hee defiled the Fount was a great destroyer of Images he dyed in in the 35 of his Empire Leo the 4 his sonne gouerned 5. yeares and vvas crowned of the Patriarch in hys life time Irene with her young Sonne Constantine â—uled the Empire 10 yeares after he being 20 yeares of age tooke the gouernment aâ—one which she enuying when he had raigned 7. yeares caused his eyes to be pulled out of which greefe he died she raigned after him 3 yeares and then the gouernment of Italy was committed to Carolus Magnus by a generall consent Nicephorus possessed the Empire of the East and made peace with Charles the great hee was slaine of the Bulgarians the ninth yeare of his raigne he made his sonne Stauratius Emperour who the third moneth after he gouerned was deposed by Michaell Curopalates and put into a monastry Michaell Curopalates married Procopia the sister of Stauratius made a league with Charles and after he had raigned 2 yeares became a Monke Since Iulius Caesar was murdered in the Senate vnto Charles the great there are found aboue thirty Emperors that were slaine and foure that killed themselues Sleidan Of the Empire of Germany THE Empire of Germany began in the yeare of our Lord eight hundred one whose first Emperour of the VVest was Carolus Magnus so sirnamed for his noble acts whose Grandfather was Carolus Martellus his Father Pipinus of Fraunce his Mother Birrha daughter to Heraclius Emperour of Constantinople he was excellently learned in the Greeke and Latine tongue hee dyed at Aquisgrane when hee had raigned 14. yeares Lodouicus Pius his sonne was so called of a religious superstition not hauing the perfect knowledge of God but as religion went in those dayes for he encreased the worshipping of Idols and Images he was farre inferiour to his Father both in wisedome and vertue hee caused his brothers sonne Barnardus King of Italy his eyes to be pulled out he made his sonne Lotharius Emperor with him who with his brother Pipinus deposed him but afterwards restored he dyed at Magunze and raigned 27. yeares Lotharius the first vexed by the ciuill wars of his brethren was forced to make a Tetrarchia deuiding his Empire into 4. parts that â—e himself shold eÌ„ioy Italy with the Empire â—nd a part of Germany which lieth between â—hene and Moselletta Lodouicus should â—ule Germany Charles Fraunce and Pipiâ—us Aquitania he made his sonne Lodouiâ—us pertaker with him in the Empire and â—hortly after deposing himselfe went into a monastry called Brumia and there died haâ—ing raigned 15. yeares Lodouicus the 2 excelled in learning godâ—ines humanity liberality profound wit he dyed at Millaine in Italy when hee had raigned 19. yeares Carolus Caluus the sonne of Lodouicus Pius succeeded him for that he had no heire male when hee fled from Charlemaine and Carolus Crassus the sonne of Lodouicus Germanicus to Mantua he was there as som write poysoned by his Phisition Sidechias a Iew he was couetous proud ambitious and vaine-glorious he raigned in the Empire 2. yeares Lodouicus the third sirnamed the Stammerer contrary to the will of the Nobles of Rome was made Emperour by Pope Iohn the eight he gouerned two yeares and dyed in the warres against Bernardus in the marches of Italy Carolus Crassus expelled the Sarazins oâ— of Italy afterwards through his misfortunâ— in warre and euill leagues with his enemies he came into hatred with his Subiects sicknes also bringing him low he was not of right mind and therefore
left his kingdome to Arnolphus the Sonne of Charlemaine he was brought to great misery and not hauing sufficient whereby to liue dyed at Sweuia in the 7 yeare of his raigne Arnolphus a couetous Prince raigned 12 yeares and dyed of Lyce after him the maiesty of the Empire came to the Germains which continued with the French-men for the space of 100 yeares Lodouicus the sonne of Arnolphus gouerned sixe yeares to vvhom also Conradus Duke of Austria ioyned and raigned seauen yeares Henry the sonne of Otho Duke of Saxony succeed him and ruled eighteene yeares by theyr ambition many tumults arose for the space of 60 yeares from Arnolphus death to Otho the first The Italians created Berengarius Emperour who at Verona ouercame Arnolphus and put out hys eyes hee gouerned foure yeares Berengarius the second succeeded him who was driuen out of the Countrey by Roâ—olphus King of Burgundy this Rodolph â—aigned three yeares and was expulsed his â—ingdome by Hugo a Duke he gouerned â—enne yeares leauing behind him Lothariâ—s his Sonne vvho ruled two yeares after â—hom Berengarius the third with his Sonne Adelbertus gouerned eleuen yeares vvho â—sing themselues vvith all tyrannie vvere by Otho dryuen out of Italy Otho the first the Sonne of Henry the first deposed Pope Iohn the thirteenth he vvas a Prince endued vvith singuler vertue hee dyed vvhen hee had ruled thirty yeares Otho the second restored Nicephorus Emperour of Constantinople beeing put â—ut of his kingdome into it agayne and married Theoponia his sister Henry Duke of Bauiers rebelled agaynst him but hee vvas by force of armes brought to obedience hee fought vvith the Greekes and Sarazens and being ouer-throwne he fled and vvas taken by Mariners who not knowing him for that hee spake the Greeke language redeemed him-selfe for a small price and returned to Rome soone after he dyed when hee had ruled 11. yeares somâ— write he was poysoned by the Italians Otho the third put Crescentius to death and put out the eyes of Pope Iohn the 10 who deposed Gregory the fifth whom he had made Pope and for that there was greaâ— dissention for the succession of the Empire with the assent of Gregory ordayned that 7. Princes of Germany should choose the Emperour 3. ecclesiasticall and 4. secular The Archbishop of Mentz Colein Trier to these were ioyned the Prince of Boheme for as then Bohemia had no King the CouÌ„ty Palatine of the Rhene the Duke of Saxony and the Marquesse of Bradenborough but amongst these the Elector Boheme is appoynted an Vmpeere to breake off all dissension in election if any rise This institution of Otho is farre more profitable then was the ordayning of the Areopagites amongst the Athenians or the Statutes of the Ephories to the Lacedemonians these Electors were appoynted the yerâ— of Christ 1002. Otho was poysoned by the wife of Crescentius whom he put to death when he had raigned 19. yeares his wifes namâ— was Mary daughter to the King of Aragon a woman giuen to all beastlines and intemperancâ—â—f life Henry the 2. sirnamed the haulting D. of â—auier succeeded him he was the first Emâ—eror chosen by the Electors raigned 22. â—eares he was wholy giuen to religion and godly life he brought the Hungarians to the Christian faith gaue his sister to Stephen theyr King in mariage and dyed at Bamâ—rige Conradus the French-man after an Interâ—egnum for 3. yeares was chosen Emperor â—orne of the daughter of Otho the first he â—ad fortunate wars against the Pannonians â—e subdued Burgundy and dyed in the 15. yeare of his raigne Henry the 3. called the Black the sonne of Conradus was elected in his time 3. vsurâ—ing Popes Gregory 6 Syluestes 3 and Benedict 9 were by him deposed and a 4. â—nstalled who was the Bishop of Bambrige called Clement the 2. he dyed when he had â—aigned 17. yeares Henry the fourth his sonne was cursed by Pope Hildebrand and by his treasons ouerthrowne he being very young his mother gouerned the Pope made Rodolphus Emperour and sent him a crowne whereon was written Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Râ—â—dolpho but this vsurper was ouercom by HeÌ„â—ry his hand cut off in the battel the whicâ— when he saw ready to die he sayd Loe 〈◊〉 Lords yee Bishops this is the hand where-witâ— I promised my Lorde Henry fayth and loyaltie iudge ye then how well you haue aduised me The Pope set the sonne also against the Father vvho besieged him at Mentz but by meanes of the Princes he departed thence the Father died when he had ruled 50 yeres his body lay vnburied 5 yeares by reason of the Popes curse Henry the fifth his Sonne withstoode the tiranny of Pope Paschalis and tooke his crowne from him he gouerned the Empire 20 yeares and dyed Lotharius the 2. Duke of Saxony raigned 13 yeares against whom Conradus made warre in his time the ciuill law gathered together by Iustinian and neglected through the tumults of warre was called againe to light he dyed of a Feauer Conradus the third Duke of Bauaria and Nephew to Henry the fourth had great wars with the Sarazins in Asia assisted by Richard sirnamed Cordelion and Lewes the French King he died without all glory renowne â—n the fifteene yeere of his Empire Fredericke the first called Oenobarbus or â—ith the red beard vvas a Prince indued â—ith very good qualities of minde and boâ—ie he ouerthrew Millaine to the ground â—hased Pope Alexander out of Rome and â—laced Octauius in his seate but vvhen hee â—ooke his iourney into Syria in the passage â—uer a riuer he vvas drowned vvhen he had â—aigned thirty and seauen yeeres hee made â—he Prince of Bohemia king for his faithfulâ—esse to him at Millaine Henry the 6. the sonne of F. Barbarossa â—ubdued the realme of Apulia he tooke Naâ—les and spoyled it He made his sonne Frederick being a childe Emperour with him â—y consent of the Electors whose wardshyp â—e dying committed to his brother Philip he ruled 8. yeeres Philip the sonne of F. Barbarossa was chosen Emperour for young Frederick raigned tenne yeeres against whom Innocentius the third erected Otho a Saxon but Philip ouercame him and vvas murthered of Otho Prince of Brunsinia in his Chamber this vvas called Otho the fourth who vvas excomunicated by the Pope was murdered in the 4. yeere of his raigne Fredericke the second sonne of Henry the sixt succeeded him and raigned 27. yeeres and yet before hee dyed vvas depriued fiue yeeres of the Empire by Innocentius hee vvas a vertuous and learned Prince in his time the faction arose betweene the Guelphes and the Gibelines the one vvith the Emperour the other with the Pope Conradus the fourth the son of Frederick vvas ouercome by the Lantgraue who wheÌ„ he perceiued himselfe destituted of the Germaine Princes ayde went to his hereditarie kingdome of Naples and there dyed vvhen he had raigned 4. yeeres VVilliam Countie of Holland vvas chosen Emperor after him a Prince of noble and vertuous actions
he was slaine by the Frizelanders in the second yere of his raigne VVhen hee was dead there vvas an InterregnuÌ„ for 17. yeeres by reason of the Pope Some chose Alphonsus King of Spaine Emperour for his vvisedome and vertues which he refused the other part of the Electors elected Richard the King of Englands brother and brought him to Basill but he vvas not accepted of the Empire Rodolphus the Countie of Haspurge vvas elected and ruled 18. yeares hee killed Oâ—hocarus King of Bohemia and burned one â—hat sayd he was Frederick the second he did 〈◊〉 a manner set vp the decaied Empire ere â—e died Adolphus County of Nason succeeded â—im but the Princes annoyed with his bad â—â—fe ambition chose in his place Albertus â—he first of vvhom Adolphus in a battaill â—as slaine hauing raigned 8. yeeres Albertus the first son of Rodulphus went â—vith a great power against the King of France but in passing ouer the riuer Rhene â—e vvas killed of Iohn his brothers sonne afâ—er he had ruled ten yeeres Henry the seauenth CouÌ„ty of Lusenbruge â—aigned 32. yeeres and vvas poysoned by a Dominick Frier in the sacrament he made his sonne Iohn King of Bohemia by marryâ—ng the Kings Daughter vvhose sonne vvas Charles the 4. king of Bohemia Lodouicus Duke of Bauier vvas chosen Emperor by the Bishop of Mentz Trier the King of Bohemia and the Marquesse of Bradenbrough and against him was erected Fredericke Duke of Austria by the Bishop of Coleine the Count Palatine and Duke of Saxonie vvhereupon neyther of them vvould giue place in the Empire but rather for the space of eyght yeres they made warre one against the other in the end Lodouicus ouercame and killed Fredericke vvas sole Emperour raigning thirty and two yeeres hee dyed and vvas a Prince indued with all vertuous qualities Gunther Earle of Swartzenburge was named Emperour yet not vvith consent of all the Electors and shortly after hee vvas suddaily poysoned at Franckford Charles the fourth sonne to Prince Iohn the sonne of Henry the seauenth enioyed the Empire to the honour of this election were inuited Edvvarde the third King of England Frederick Earle prouinciall of Misen but they refused it Hee vvas a learned Prince and erected the Vniuersity of Prage and raigned 32. yeeres Venceslaus succeeded his Father Charles and gouerned 22. yeeres he through slothfulnesse let the Empire fall to ruine he vvas deposed by his brother Sigismund Rupertus or Robertus County Palatine of Rhene hauing possessed the empire after his warres against Galatius vvho was the first Duke of Millaine so created by Venceslaus as Sleidan reporteth gaue himselfe to peace and religion died raigning 9. yeeres Sigismundus the sonne of Charles the 4. vvas a most noble vertuous and learned Prince much condemning the Germaines â—or that they hated the Latine tongue hee â—ooke avvay the ambitious contention of â—hree Bishops of Rome draue them from â—heyr seates he died raigning 27. yeeres Albert the second Duke of Austria married the onely daughter of Sigismund vvho â—hereby vvas King of Bohemia Hungaria â—nd was the successor of Sigismund in hys time the most excellent and necessary Arte of Printing vvas inuented by the which the knowledge of God was renued he subdued â—he Normaines and the people of Svveuia he dyed of the bloody flixe raigning but 2. yeeres Frederick the third Duke of Austria gouerned the state for the space of 53. yeeres vvith so great vvisedome that it florished in â—ll prosperitie and quietnes hee died the 79. yeere of his age Maximilian the sonne of the Emperour Frederick Leonora daughter to the king of Lusitania raigned 32. yeeres he married Mary the daughter of Charles Duke of Burgundie by vvhom hee had the Dukedome and Matthew the King of Pannonia beeing dead he obtained the kingdome thys vvas a Prince noble valorous and a patron of all learning nor thought hee it dishonour hauing taken King Henry the 8. his pay to serue against Fraunce vnder his conquering colours Charles the 5. sonne of Philip vvho vvas Archduke of Austria and the sonne of Maximilian and Mary succeeded of this Philip came Carolus and Ferdinandus vvhose mother was Ioane Queene of Castile he had also foure daughters Leonora married to the King of Lusitania Isabell to the King of Fraunce Mary to the king of Denmark and Katherine to the king of Hungaria Charles the fift vvas crovvned at Aquisgrane with the siluer crovvne for it is an auncient custome that all Emperors should be crowned vvith 3. diuers crownes vvhich were of gold siluer and yron At Rome Bononie they were crowned with the crowne of golde for the Empyre oâ— Rome with the siluer at Aquisgrane for the Empire of Germany and at Menza with the yron crowne for Lombardie Charles Duke of Burbon with the Emperors host besieged Rome and sacked it constrayning Pope Leo to flie to his Castle Anâ—elo but the Duke was vnfortunatly slaine â—n the assault with an harguebuze Hee was elected Emperor at 19. yeeres of â—ge Fraunces the French king was his comâ—etitor he conquered Millaine ouercame â—he Frenchmen and Switzers in which wars Fraunces there king was taken prisoner hee â—ooke the kingdome of Tunis from Aenoâ—arbus Lieuetenant of the Turke conquered by assault the towne of Affrick VVhen he had raigned 37. yeeres he resigned to his sonne Philip all the estate and â—ignories his Empire to his brother Ferdinando King of the Romaines this doone hee vvent into a Monastery of the Monkes of the order of Saint Hierome and therein dyed Ferdinand the brother of Charles sonne of Philip Archduke of Austria and Ioane Qu. of Castile blessed by God in many prosperous victories and in a small power in comparison of the forces of Solyman was made a Conquerour ouer the Turke Anno 1529. hee was a Prince of great clemencie a louer of learning studying to preserue peace in Europe among Christian Princes hee dyed when hee had raigned sixe yeeres and foure months Maximilian the sonne of Ferdinand vvas chosen Emperor 1564. Hee made prosperous expeditions against the Turkes died vvhen he had raigned 11. yeeres Rodolphus his sonne succeeded him who gouerneth the Empire at this day The maiestie of the Romaine Monarchie florished especially in the house of Haspurge and hath lineally brought foorth tenne Emperours The Romaine Empire hath surmounted all others that haue been or shal be it is novv much dismembred in Asia it hath nothing beeing as now possessed of the Turkes and Tartarians all Affricke almost is lost Portingall Spayne England France Poland Denmarke Hungaria Slauonia and all Greece are cut from the Empire vvith the Countries there abouts and the Iles of Sicilia Sardinia Corsica and Sauoy Italy vvhich hath alwaies beene the first most auncient patrimony of the Romain Empire scarce acknowledgeth the Emperour Spaine holds Calabria Puel Campania and the Kingdome of Naples c as by succession of their auncestors The old and auncient seate of the Empire the Popes possesse
Christendome was deuied some taking part with Vrban and some with Clement he died 1392. Boniface the 9. being scarce 20. yeeres old was made Pope by coÌ„sent of those Cardinals that remained at Rome hee could neyther write nor sing as Theodoricus witnesseth and nothing during his time could bee demaunded were it neuer so vniust absurd but he would grant it for money There was neuer any Pope did beare such rough sway ouer the Romaines as hee dyd as Cranzius writeth hee canonized Briget borne in Sweazeland and ann 1404. he died of the Collick and stone Benedict the 13. before called Peter of the moone before he was Pope disputed against such authority the Clergy he died 1424. Innocent the 7. was much troubled about a murder that his Nephewe Lewes dyd in Rome which he maintained and therfore he his Cardinalls were hotely pursued to Viterbium but commaunding the halfe of ecclesiasticall liuings both in Fraunce England hee tooke the foyle as Gaguinus sayth and died shortly after at Rome an 1407. Gregory the 12. Patriarch of Constantinople promised that he would renounce the bishopricke if Benedictus likewise dyd not refuse to renounce also But when Benedictus fled into Spaine Gregory reuoked hys promise whereupon by a Counsell they were both deposed and in theyr sted Alexander the 5. was chosen and Gregory for griefe dyed suddenly 1415. Alexander the 5. vvas a Franciscan Frier and vvoorthily called Alexander as Platina sayth because hee being but a beggerly and begging Fryer might now be matched with the proudest Prince in Europe for prodigalitie and courage vvherevpon hee vvould oftentimes say I am a rich Bishop a poore Cardinall and a beggerly Pope He was poysoned by his phisition Marcillius Parmensis as Baptista Panaelius reporteth Iohn the 24. caused this Alexander to bee poysoned VVhen hee vvas in Bononia hee threatned the people and Clergy to bee reuenged if they did not chuse a pope according to his minde and of many named hee allowed none vvhereupon hee was desired to appoynt one Giue me said he the robe of Saint Peter and I wil bestow it vpon him that shall be pope which hee then put vpon himselfe and sayd In the name of God amen I Balthazar Cossa am Pope which they durst not reproue although mislike In the Counsell at Rome at two sundry times an Owle sitting vpon a beame of the Temple and fastening her eyes vppon the pope did with her noyse salute him wherevppon it brake vp and nothing was doone nor so much as the Owle chased avvay as Nicholas Clemanges writeth This pope dyed being deposed ann 1419. Martin the fift vvas made pope by the decree of the counsell of Constance vvhich to establish him did depriue Benedict Gregory and Iohn He dyed at Rome of the falling sicknes an 1431. was buried in a tombe of Brasse in Lateran Eugenius the 4. refused to come to the Counsell of Basill because it was sayde that a Counsell was aboue the pope and therefore he was deposed and condemned for an Heretick and Amadeus Duke of Subandia an Heremite was placed in his stead hee dyed ann 1446. Faelix the 5. before a Duke being an aged man before he came to be pope lyued to see the day that the sonnes of his sons matched in marriage with Kings daughters and in the end vvent into the vvildernesse vvith sixe Knights to leade an Hermites life This pope beeing demaunded vvhether he kept any hounds and to shewe them hee brought theÌ„ that asked him to a place where a great company of poore people sate down together at dinner saying Behold these are my hounds which I feede daily with the which I hâ—pe to hunt for the kingdom of heauen he deposed himselfe for vnitie sake died 1447. Nicholas the 5. in one yeere gotte to bee Bishop of Bononia Cardinall and Pope in his time the Turke vvone Constantinople He reuiued with great diligence learning knowledge which was theÌ„ almost drowned vvith barbarous sophistrie and appoynted stipends for the maintenaunce of learned men he dyed ann 1455. Calixtus the 3. vvas an old impotent man he decreed that no man should appeale from the Pope to a generall Counsell and dyed ann 1458. Pius the 2. among the learned Popes hee was most learned and a most diligent vvriter he vvas made Poet Laureat in his youth by Frederick the third Volateranus writeth that ambition did ouerthrow many vertues in him among many of his prouerbiall sentences he left this in vvriting There is a great cause why the Clergy should be depriued of mariage but greater cause why they should be suffered to marry he dyed ann 1464. Paule the second being made Pope gaue his minde vvholy as Volateranus wryteth to ambition riotousnes and pleasure he died suddenly of an Apoplexie 1470. Sixtus the fourth in the space of 2. yeeres for he raigned no longer spent of himselfe alone in riot 200000. crownes and becam in debt aboue threescore thousand hee dyed at 28. yeeres of age beeing vvasted through his incontinent lyfe 1474. Innocentinus the 8. was altogether vnlearned yet to get money he found out the title written vppon Christes Crosse in three languages which was found hidden in a vvall also the yron head of the speare where-with his side was wounded and before any one might see or kisse these reliques hee shoulde pay well for it he dyed 1492. Alexander the sixt first called Rodericus Borgia was a riotous tyrant and in league with the deuill for the papacie He made his sonne Duke of Valentia by magick who was called Caesar Borgia Of his warres and hys sonnes reade Guichardine and Volateranus He made his eldest sonne Duke of Candie who a litle while after not vvithout his brothers procurement vvas murdered in the night cast into Tyber His daughter Lucretia was married to three Princes one after another the Duke of Pisauria Alosius of Aragon and Alphonsus of Ferrara He prepared a feast for diuers Cardinalls Senators purposing to poyson them but by the prouidence of God hee was poysoned himselfe 1499. Pius the 3. called first Franciscus Picolhomeneus succeeded him hee raised an Armie to driue the Frenchmen out of Italy died seeing no euent thereof of an Vlcer in hys legge ann 1503. Iulius the second rose A remo ad tribunall from a vvhirry-slaue to bee Pope for so hee vvas in his youth he made Rauenna Seruia Imola Fauentia Foroliuinium and Bononia subiect to his Empire Vicelius saith that he was rather giuen to warres then to Christ. He cast Peters keyes into Tyber saying Because Peters keyes are able to doe no more let the sword of Paule helpe to doe it Thys Bibliander vvryteth of him He dyed 1513. Leo the tenth of the house of Medices was of his owne nature a gentle and quiet person but greatly ouer-ruled by the counsaile of cruell and contentious men He had no care of preaching the Gospell but rather contemned it for Cardinall Benbus moouing a question
but also odious to all men The Grecian women were fayrer then the vvomen of Rome but the Romaines had a better grace and were more rich in apparell then they Eutropius Amongst the Romaines it vvas counted a great infamy if any praysed the beauty of a woman for in praysing her hee let them vnderstand that he knew her and knowing her he courted her and courting her hee opened his hart to her and this doing hee plainly defamed her Macrobius Of Chastity This vertue is generally taken for a chasticeâ—ent of the troublesome perturbations of man 〈◊〉 Varro witnesseth but is more properly vnderâ—â—ode of that power which in no case will suffer 〈◊〉 body to be polluted or defiled being an espeâ—iall braunch of temperance NVma Pompilius first instituted and erected a temple for the Vestall virgines â—ho made this law that thâ—se which had betrayed theyr chastity should be put into a Caue in campo scelerato with water milke and a burning taper and there be buried quicke Liuius The vvomen of Teutonica hearing that theyr husbands vvere slaine of Marius besought him that they might spende the remainder of theyr lifes in the seruice of Vesta Electra the daughter of Agamemnon was called at the first Laodica but after the death of her father she was named Electra for that she continued all her life a maide Phaedon of Athence vvas slaine at a banquet by the 30. Tyrants whose daughters to preserue their virginity embracing each other cast themselues headlong into a vvell Thucidides S. Augustine would not dwell with his sister because he might not be mooued with the least spark of incontinency and being asked the reason why he aunswered It is dangerous to see a woman more dangerous to speake with her but worst of all to touch her Origen caused himselfe to be gelded for that he would auoid the motions of the flesh Rauisius The Athenian Priests called Hierophontes did vsually drinkâ— kind of poyson to aswage the insurrection of the flesh Idem S. Hierome being halfe broyled with the heate of the Sunne in the desert confessed that he could not refraine from thinking vppon the beautifull dames of Rome Eusebius Amabaeus albeit he had to his wife a woman of rare beauty yet he neuer knew her carnally the like is recorded of Dionysius the Tragedian Aelianus Xenocrates because he was not prouoked to lust by the wantonnes of Phryne was sayd of her and others to be an Image no man Valerius Alexander sharply rebuked Cassander for kissing one in his presence and was angry with Philoxenus for seeming to inuite him 〈◊〉 vnhonest actions by letters VVhen Pompey had put Mithridates to â—ight he would not touch his Concubines â—ut sent them all home to theyr friends Apâ—ian Dioclesian hauing taken the wife daughâ—ers of the King of Persia prisoners did as Alexander had done to the wife and daughters of Darius which deed caused the Persians to render vnto the Romains all they had taken from them Eutropius Nero beeing monstrous incontinent himselfe was of opinion that there was not a chast person in the world but that men cloaked their vice with hipocrisie Tacitus The Lady Bona of Lombardie fearing her chastity should be assailed in her husbands absence followed him in the holy warres to Palestine and rescued him from many dangers to her eternall honour Guicchard Androchia and Alcida two vertuous Theban virgins hearing by the Oracle of Apollo that their Country should be victor ouer the Orchimenians if two of theyr chastest virgins dyed voluntarily couragiously killed them selues Drias the daughter of Faunus did so little regard the company of men that she was neâ—uer seene abroade wherfore it was not lawfull for any men to be present at her sacrifice Plut. The women of Chios were so continent that amongst them at no time was found eyther an adultres or defiled virgine Dion Pelagia with her mother and sisters drowned themselues therby to preserue their honour Ambrose Lucia a virgine of Syracuse knowing that the tyrant was enamoured of her and daily sought to dishonour her pulled out her eies and sent them to him Sabellicus Chilo seeing Hippocrates doe sacrifice and vessels in Olympus to burne without fire counsailed him eyther to liue chast or if he were maried to put away his wife Herodotus In the warres of M. Torquatus against the Gallogrecians the wife of Oriontes being taken prisoner by a Centurion who importunatly assaulted her for loue caused him to be slaine by her slaues after she was ransomed and caried the leachers head as a token of her chastity to her barbarous husband Antiochus beholding a beautious and religious woman that was vowed to Diana so-daily surprised with the loue of her for feare he might be vnhonestly prouoked forsooke the place The Souldiers of Frauncis Sforza brought to him a young virgine there prisoner of incomparable beauty whom hee attempted with prayers gifts threats but preuailing in none of these he sent her home ransomlesse and gaue her part of his spoiles for being so carefull of her chastity Guicchard The Turtle male or female after the death of her male neuer brauncheth more vpon a greene bough Plinie The Romaines vsed to crowne such wiues with the crowne of chastity vvho after the death of their husbands liued in perpetuall widow-hood wher-vnto the Stockdoue and Turtle did inuite them these in regard of their continency nature hath adorned with a circle or coller of feathers which they weare about their necks as reward for theyr chastity Idem Of 50 Spartaine virgines meruailously prouoked by the Messanians to yeeld them selues to bee abused by them not one was found that would condescend but all rather chose to be slaine Nicetes the Martyr pulled out his owne tongue because hee would not consent to the vvanton dalliance of a vvicked harlot Loncerus Of Fayth Promises By this the society of men is only maintayned vpon this the authority power and safety of Princes dependeth a vertue without which not onely the parts of Iustice but also all other vertues are imperfect NO Nation vnder the sunne was comparable to the Romaines for keeping of promise Contrary the Carthagenians were called Faedifragi truce-breakers Ptolomey King of Aegipt hauing by experience tried the fidelity of the Romaines in his death-bed committed his heire beeing then a child to their tuition Amongst the Scythians if any were periured he was by the law adiudged to dye Pausanias The Phrygians vse no oathes at all compell none to sweare Stobaeus The ioyning of hands amongst the Persians was the fairest signe of giuing keeping fayth inuiolate The Romains in old time dedicated a temple to Faith the better to cause the people to keepe and reuerence it Pausanias VVhen Antiochus vvoulde haue vsurped Egypt vpon Ptolomey Epiphanes vvhose protection the Romaines had already taken vpon theÌ„ they sent vnto him Popilius who made a circle about the same Antiochus and forced him before hee departed to promise that hee woulde enterprise nothing against
according to the laws who had hardly escaped iudgement if he had not gotten three children by her Idem Albinus obtained his purpose of the Emperour Adrian for none other desert of his but that hee had begotten an house full of children Eutropius Lycurgus made a law that they which maried not should be kept in Sommer from the sight of Stage playes and other showes and in VVinter they should go naked about the market place confessing that they had iustly deserued that punishment because they liued not according to the lawes The Greekes punished the breach of matrimony with ten yeares wars Homer Among the Hebrewes if a thiefe restored foure times the value of that he tooke away he was acquitted but an adulterers offence was punished with death It was also lawfull among them to kill the adulterer Among the Hebrewes and the Persians he was most commended that had most wiues as though the Cuntry were most beholding to him that encreased the same with the gretest number of children Tib. Gracchus finding two Serpents in his chamber inquired the meaning thereof by a South-sayer that if he slew the male first hee should dye before his wife but if the female his wife before him but louing his wife derely he killed the male and dyed shortly after Valerius Orpheus wife Euridice dying vppon her wedding day he kept his loue inuiolable and would neuer set it vpon any other Ninus King of the Assirians falling in loue with Semeramis the wife of Menon his vassal requested that hee might haue her to wife and he should haue his daughter in mariage but Menon loued her so well that hee would not yeeld thereto the King enraged caused his eyes to be pulled out tooke her away by force Menon for griefe hanged him selfe M. Lepidus being driuen into banishment hearing that his wife was maried to another dyed for griefe VVhen word was brought to Plautius Numidius a Romaine Senator that his wife was dead he stabbed him selfe Silanus after Nero had tooke his wife from him slew him selfe Domitius Catalusius Prince of Lesbos loued his wife so well that althogh she grew leprous he neuer forbad her his bord or bed Hector when he saw Troy burning was not so much greeued for his Parents his brethren nay his selfe as for Andromache his wife Homer Antonius Pius loued his wife Faustine so wel that when she died he caused her picture to be made to be set vp before his face in his bed chamber that he alwayes might remember her M. Plancius sailing with his wife into Asia in the midst of his great glory for that his wife died stabbed himselfe with his dagger saying two bodies shall possesse one graue Antimachus a Poet bewailed the death of his wife in mournfull Elegies Pericles being at Athence was found kissing of his wife at Athence being from Athence hee was found more sad to depart from his vvife then vvilling to dye for his Country Orpheus loued his wife so well that hee went to hell redeemed her from thence but through too much loue looking backe he lost her againe Ouid. Alcestes a Q. of Thessalie at what time K. Admetus should die hauing by an Oracle giuen an aunswer that if any would die for the King he should liue which when all refused his vvife offered her selfe to saue her husbands life Iulia Pompeius wife seeing him come sore wounded from the field supposing that hee was slaine beeing great with child trauailed straight and dyed Paulina the wife of Seneca when shee had heard of the death of her husband enquiring the manner of it she killed her selfe Ipsicratea the wife of Mithridates followed him lyke a Lacky in the warres vnknown to him desirous rather to bewitch him then liue a Queene in Pontus Aemilia the wife of Affricanus perceauing her husband to be in loue vvith one of her maydes and oftentimes to vse the mayde as her selfe neuer hated the mayd nor told her husband therof and when he was dead shee maried her wealthily in Rome Triara when shee knew by letters that her husband Vitellius was enuironed of his enemies she rushed into the campe and pressed to her husband ready to die with him Laodamia loued her husband so well that when she heard that Protesilaus was slaine onely desired that she might see his shadow which when shee saw and offering to embrace dyed presently Valeria a Romaine Lady sayde that her husband dyed for others but liued to her for euer Sulpitia being carefully restrained by her mother Iulia frō seeking her husband Lentulus in Sicilia whether he was banished she went thither apparailed like a Page Hipparchia a very faire and rich woman so much loued the Phylosopher Crates who was hard fauoured and poore that she maried him against all her friends minds The King of Persia hauing taken prisoner the wife of Pandanns and killed him would haue maried her but she slew her selfe vttering these words GOD forbid that to bee a Queene I should euer wed him that hath beene the murderer of my deere husband Fuluia the wife of Anthony not bearing his vnkindnes in leauing her sicke and not bidding her farewell dyed for sorrow Appian Phaethusa the wife of Pytheus thought so earnestly vpon her husbands absence that at his returne she had a beard growne vpon her chinne Hier. Merc. Melanthus sayde of Grogias the most eloquent Oratour that he laboured to exhort men to concord yet could he not quiet his wife and therefore held it great presumption to perswade others to that which hee could not procure himselfe in his owne priuate family Amongst the Romaines if any discention happened betweene the husband the wife the Parents of both parties met in a temple consecrated to the Goddesse Viriplica and there tooke notice of their griefes and also reconciled them Vlisses albeit Penelope were both faire chast would neuer trust her vntill the very extreamity Homer In Florence euen at this day he that is Father of twelue children male or female presently vpon the birth of the twelueth is free and exempt from all taxe impost loane or Subsidy Volateranus Adrian of all the Emperors the most learned in the Mathematiques Greeke tong vpon the confiscation of any mans goods attainted and conuicted hearing that hee had children vvould restore the goods of the condemned Fathers vnto them Eutropius The Arabians Grecians and Italians did vsually keepe theyr vvyues shut vp in theyr houses almost as prisoners and now likewise the Turks Antonius Geff. In Gascoine the wiues are in no subiection at all but gad vp and downe at theyr pleasures like antient Amazons Gilb. Graap Isis Queene of Aegipt made a law that vppon the marriage day the husband should take a solemne oath betvveene his vvyues hands that hee should not meddle with any houshold affaires and the wife likewise betweene her husbands hands that shee should neuer entermedle with any forraine affaires or businesses Diodorus The wiues of Sparta were reported in
that in graue senteÌ„ces the Grecians had the best in eloquent speech the Romains had the victory Idem The Romaine vvomen returned to Rome the Grecians to Greece where they were receiued with such tryumph as if they had wonne a battaile the Rhodians for memory of these women in place of disputations set vp twenty high pyllers in euery one of the which were the names of the VVomen vvhich were so sumptuous a building that none in Rhodes was comparable vnto it except the Coloslus Idem These pyllars stoode still vntill the time of Heliogabalus the Emperour who inuented new vices and destroyed ancient memories L. Sylla had a Daughter called Lelia Sabina of all the Romaine Ladies the vvisest she read openly in a chayre both Greeke Latine â—hee when her father after the warres of Mithridates beheaded 3. thousand Romaines which came to salute him although by his word he had assured them safety was â—ondemned by the Senate for the fact but â—y the learned and eloquent oration of 〈◊〉 he was saued Shee writ diuers orations which her father â—fterward learned by â—art and as hee vvas â—uicke of spirit so hee alwayes vsed to recite â—hem in the Senate for his purpose Aristippus had a daughter called Aretha â—ho was so renowned in Greeke and Latine â—etters that the common report vvas that â—he soule of Socrates was entred into Areâ—ha This Aretha writ forty bookes had Audiâ—ors one hundred and ten Philosophers shee â—ead naturall and morrall philosophy in the â—choole of Athence and died at the age of 77. yeeres Zenobia Queene of the Palmerians vvrit an Epitome of the oriental historie of Alexander Pollio Dama the daughter of Phythagoras vvas famous for her learning Cornelia the vvife of Africanus and mother to the Graâ—chi writ a volume of eloquent Epistles Cicero Polla the wife of â—ucaâ— helped her husband to finish his three bookes of the warres in Pharsalia Statius Sappho vvrit nine bookes of Leriques besides Epigrams Elegies and other Poems shee flourished when Alcaeus Stesichorus liued Of the auncient Thracians there vvas noâ— one endued with learning The Barbarians thoght it a thing reprochfull to haue knowledge and vnderstanding The people of Asia attaining cleerer light of learning were so bold that they said Orpheus the excellent Musitian wanted wisedom because he was a Thracian borne The Lacedemonians vvere vnlearned for they regarded nothing but the exercises of the body The Emperour Licinius and Valentianus vvere such enemies to learning that they called learning the only poison of the world and those that were learned the Asses of Cuma Ignatius Albeit that Traian was one of the best Emperours that liued yet he gaue not himselfe to learning for any commendation that Plutarch made thereof but sayd The Gods haue not made me to turne ouer the leaues of a booke but to deale with martiall affaires Eutrop. Agricola restrained his minde sette on fire with desire of learning knowing it to bee a very hard thing for a man to holde a meane â—n vvisedome Tacitus Of Opinion Among the Philosophers some were Stoicks some Academicks some Peripatetickes some Epicures of Lawyers some Cassians some Sabians some Proculeians among Phisitions some affect Gallen some Hippocrates some Paracelsus the Iewes had their Esses Saduces Pharises In the Vniuersities some are Libertines some Germaines some Alexandrians some Cilicians in the Church some Protestants some Papists some Puritans c. VArro collected in his time 288. opinions out of the bookes of Philosophers concerning the felicity of the soule Socrates was reprooued of Plato Plato of Aristotle Aristotle of Alberius Lelius of Varro Ennius of Horace Seneca of Aulus Gellius Tesato of Gallen Hermogaras of Cicero Origen of Saint Hierome Ruffinus of Donatus All the auncient Phylosophers sauing Plato beleeued that Tyme is vvithout beginning Proclus Ptolomey vvas of opinion that the midst of the earth is vnder the Equinoctiall circle Agrippa Berosus holdeth the Mountaine of Armenia vpon which Noahs Arke rested to bee the middle of the earth Some Diuines say that Ierusalem is the middest because it is written Deus operatus est salutem in medio terrarum Zeno the Phylosopher held opinion that all sinnes are equall Epicurus maintained that pleasure vvas the chiefest felicity The Saduces Zadukes not the meanest Doctors among the Iewes held opinioÌ„ that there were neyther Angels nor spyrits nor soules immortall Tremelius Crates the Thebane helde that there vvas no soule in our bodies but onely a motion gouerned by nature Leucippus thought it a subtile ayre or an heate and so did Possidonius One reading the diuersity of theyr opinions sayd That clocks woulde sooner agree then Philosophers The Switzer is of opinion that too much study hurteth the braine â—â—â—â—hagoâ—as held opinion that Earthquakes proceeded from none other cause then from the meeting together of dead bodies Epicurus Gargettius was of this opinion that he which was not contented with a litle was insatiable and neuer had enough Democritus vvas of opinion that there were worlds infinite and innumerable which made Alexander weepe that he was not lord of one among so many The Stoicks were of opinion that who soeuer receaued their doctrine if in the morning he were wicked in the euening he shold become a very good man Empedocles sayth that the soule is in the blood Plato in the braine but Beda wryting vppon Marke sayth that it is in the hart Heraclitus was of opinion that all thinges were led by strife and friendship Thales Milesius and Hesiodus held that water was the beginning of all thinges saying that it was the auntientest and mightest of the Elements because it ruled all the rest Zacharias writing to Mithridates was of opinion that mens destinies are in the vertues of hearbs and stones Alexander the Peripatetike holdeth that the hidden vertues of hearbs and stones proceede of the elements and their qualities The Academicks with theyr Plato attribute these vertues to the Ideas the shapers or formers of things Auicen doth referre these operations to the intelligencies Hermes to the starres Albertus to the especiall formes of things Democritus and Orpheus were of opinion that al things were ful of the Gods meaning that there is nothing of such excellent force which being voyd of Gods helpe is content with his owne nature Anaxagoras held opinion that snow was black because the water it is congealed of is blacke Cicero Acad. Plato was of opinion that community in a common-wealth was best Pythagoras held the contrary Demosthenes would haue two names banished the common-wealth to the end as he thought the people might be best gouerned that is Lords and Subiects Maisters Seruants Laertius Scipio Africanus was of opinion that hee did all things rather by the counsaile of the Gods then of men which he maintained all his life Appian In Prince Demylas time there fell a stone from heauen which made Anaxagoras of opinion that heauen was made of stone and that but for the great compasse of the
the name of pouerty was honoured at Rome vvhich was by the space of 400. yeares after the foundation thereof Pleasure could neuer set foote as there but â—fter that Pouerty began to be contemned â—ertue immediatly tooke her flight from â—hence which was their vtter ouerthrow Valerius Publicola hauing foure times â—eene Consull of Rome the onely man for gouernment in war and peace his pouerty is â—ecorded not to his shame but to his praise Liuius Poore Aristides had not the least honour â—n the seruice at Salamis and at Plateus was â—he chiefe leader of all the Athenian forces â—hoÌ„ Vertue did put forward Pouerty could not hold back nor dismay Herodotus Fabritius being in pouerty was sent in Emâ—assage amongst other Romaines to Pyrrhus of whom Pyrrhus tooke such lyking â—hat to winne him to be his he proffered him â—he fourth part of his kingdome Eutropius Ephialtes beeing cast in the teeth with his pouerty sayde VVhy doost not thou make â—ehearsall of the other thing namely that I loue â—aw and regard right Aelian One of Catoes sonnes of 15. yeares age was banished for breaking of an earthen pot in a maydes hand that went for water so waâ— Cinnaes sonne because hee entered a Garden and gathered fruite without leaue The Ostracisme amongst the Athenians was a banishment for a time whereby the brought dovvne them that seemed to exceede in greatnes This was inuented by Clisthenes A rude rusticke fellow happened to meet Aristides bearing a scroale of paper in hyâ— hand and desired him to wryte the name oâ— Aristides therein who meruailing thereat asked whether any man had been by him iniured No quoth he but I cannot in any wisâ— endure the sirname of Iustus Plutarch At such time as the Ephesi banished theyâ— Prince Hermodonus they pronounced thiâ— sentence Let none of vs excell another but iâ— any so doe let him no longer heere dwell but inhabite else where Cicero Celliodorus the Phylosopher was banished in the prosperity and fury of the Marians not for the euils they found in him buâ— for the vices he reproued in them Vulturnus a man in Astrology profoundly learned was banished by M. Antonius because Cleopatra hated him Bestius and Colla Gentlemen of Rome when they had boldly declared theyr seruice for the common-wealth and reprehended the Senatours before they would be cast out by decree voluntarily exiled themselues Appian Sittius was the first and onely man that as a stranger was an outlaw in his owne Country Idem Of Death Death is faigned of the Poets to be the sister of Sleepe both borne of their mother Night a Goddesse impartiall and inexorable as sparing none and the Aegiptians by an Owle sitting vpon a tree signifie death This all-killing power triumphans cedit and by death is ouercome EPaminondas ready to giue vp the ghost willed the poysoned shaft to bee pulled from his deadly wound wheÌ„ it was giuen him to vnderstand that his shield was found safe and his enemies put to flight he cheerefully departed out of this world Cicero Gorgias Leontinus being very sick a frend of his demanded of him how he felt himselfe in body he answered Now Sleepe beginneth to deliuer me to the power of his brother Death Asdrubals wife the last Lady of Carthage had the lyke end in death as the first Lady Dido had for she threw her selfe and her two sonnes into the fire Herod because hee would make the Iewes sorry for his death whether they would or no dying commanded to sley all the Noble mens children of Iury. Iosephus Vespasian ready to dye stoode vp sayd It becommeth an Emperour to passe out of this world standing Calanus an Indian Gymnosophist when he had taken his long leaue of Alexander piled vp a bonfire in the suburbs of Babilon of dry wood of Cedar Rosemary Cypres Mirtle Laurell then he mounted the pile the Sunne shining in his face whose glorious beames he worshipped then he gaue a token to the Lacedemonians to kindle the fire stoutly and valiantly dyed Cercidas an Arcadian ready to dye said to his companions I am not loath to depart this life for I hope to see and talke with Pythagoras among the Phylosophers with Liuius among the Historiographers with Orpheus among the Musitians and with Homer among the Poets which words as soone as he had vttered hee gaue vp the ghost Plato dying thanked nature for three cauâ—es the first that he was borne a man not beast the second that hee was borne in Greece and not in Barbary the third that â—ee was borne in Socrates time who taught â—im to die well Antemon was so desirous to liue and so â—earefull to dye that scarse he would trauaile â—broade and compelled to goe two of his â—eruants bore ouer his head a great brazen Target to defend him from any thing which might happen to hurt him Massinissa King of Numidia rather committed his estate and life vnto dogs then vnto men as his gard to keepe and defend him from death Hector sayd to Andromache Be not sorry for my death for all men must die Homer Polydamas entering into a Caue to defend himselfe from the rayne through the violence of the water the Caue fell downe vpon him Cicero Anacreons breath was stopped with a grape kernell that stucke in his throate Plinie Euripides returning home from King Archelaus his supper was torne in peeces of dogs Gellius Aeschilus sitting in a sunny place in Sicily an Eagle flying ouer taking his white bald head for a stone strooke the shell of a Tortoyse which was in his bill against his head and dashed out his braine Valerius Pyndarus laying his head downe to sleep in the bosome of a boy whom he loued neueâ— awaked Suidas Ennius would not haue his death lamented because he was famous in his works yet Solon would haue his death bewailed writ to put his friends in minde Let my departure wayed be let my friends draw sighs for me Trophonius and Agamedes hauing built a sumptuous temple to Apollo of Delphos begged the most profitable thing that might bee giuen to man after the third day they were found dead Cicero Velcurio the learned Phylosopher lying vpon his death-bed when his friends came to comfort him sayde The Father is my Creatour the Sonne my Redeemer the holy Ghost my Comforter how can I then be sorrowfull or dismayde The day before that Caesar went to the Senate hee had beene at a banquet with Lepidus talking meerely vvhat death was best for a man some saying one and some another he of al praised the sodaine death which happened to him Appian The Scots in theyr owne Chronicles haue recorded that of one hundred fiue Kings â—here dyed not aboue 50. of naturall deaths Gasper Peucerus Of Vsurie Vsury of some called Interest but without reason why sith money let to interest returneth but with his proper summe the daughter of Couetousnes and Ambition may well be called a continuall sire which euer encreaseth through
flying foules Mulcasses king of Thunis after he was deâ—riued of his kingdome in his returne out of Almaigne being without hope that the Emperour Charles the fift vvould helpe him at â—ll hee spent one hundred crownes vpon a Peacock dressed for him P. Iouius Maximilian the Emperour deuoured in one day forty pounds of flesh and drunke an â—ogshead of vvine Geta the Emperour for three dayes together continued his feastiual and his delicates vvere brought in by the order of the Alphabet Astydamas beeing inuited by Ariobarzaâ—es to a banquet eate vp al that alone which vvas prouided for diuers guests Vopisc There vvas a contention betweene Hercules and Lepreas vvhich of them both should first deuoure an Oxe in which attempt Lepreas vvas ouer-come afterwards hee chalenged him for drinking but Hercules vvas his maister Aelianus Aglais vvhose practise was to sounde the trumpet deuoured at euery meale tvvelue poundes of flesh with as much bread as tvvo bushels of wheate vvould make and three gallons of vvine Philoxenes a notorious glutton vvished he had a necke like a Crane that the svveetâ— meate vvhich he eate might bee long in going downe Rauisius Lucullus at a solemne and costly feast he made to certaine Embassadors of Asia aâ—mong other things he did eate a Griph boiâ—led and a Goose in paste Macrob. Salust in his inuectiue against Cicero aâ—mongst many graue matters vvhereof he accused him he spake of his wanton excesse as hauing poudred meats from Sardinia anâ— wines from Spayne Lucullus tooke great paynes himselfe iâ— furnishing of a feast and when he was askeâ— vvhy he was so curious in setting out a banâ—quet hee aunswered That there was as greaâ— discretion to be vsed in marshalling of a feast 〈◊〉 in the ordering of a battaile that the one mighâ— be terrible to his enemies and the other acceptable to his friends Plut. In Rhodes they that loue fish are accounted right curteous and free-harted men buâ— he that delighteth more in flesh is ill though of and to his great shame is reputed a bond slaue to his belly Aelianus Sergius Galba was a deuouring and glutâ—tonous Emperour for he caused at one banquet 7. thousand byrds to be killed Suet. Xerxes hauing tasted of the figges of Aâ—hence sware by his Gods that hee vvoulde â—ate no other all his life after and went forthâ—vith to prepare an Army to conquer Greâ—ia for no other cause but to fill his belly full of the figges of that Country Plut. Plato returning out of Sicill into Greece told his schollers that he had seen a monster meaning Dionisius because hee vsed to eate â—wice a day Idem Aristotle mocking the Epicures sayd that â—pon a time they vvent all into a temple together beseeching the Gods that they wold gyue them necks as long as Cranes and Heâ—ons that the pleasures and tastes of meates might be more long complayning against Nature for making their necks too short The Sicilians dedicated a Temple to Glutâ—ony and erected images to Bacchus Ceâ—es the God and goddesse of vvine corne Pausanias M. Manlius in times past made a booke of diuers vvayes hovv to dresse meate and another of the tastes sauces and diuers meanes of seruices vvhich were no sooner published but by the decree of the Senate they were burned and if hee had not fled speedily â—nto Asia he had been burned with them There was a lawe in Rome called Fabia bâ— which it was prohibited that no man shoulâ— dispend in the greatest feast hee made abouâ— an hundred Sexterces Aul. Gellius The law Licinia forbad all kindes of sauce at feastes because they prouoke appetite are cause of great expence Idem The lawe Ancia charged the Romaines tâ— learne all kinde of sciences but cookerie The law Iulia vvas that none should bee 〈◊〉 hardie as to shutte theyr gates vvhen theâ— vvere at dinner that the Censors of the Citâ—tie might haue easie accesse into theyr houâ—ses at that time to see if their ordinary werâ— according to their ability Macrob. Nisaeus a tyrant of Syracuse vvhen he vnderstood by his Soothsayers that he had noâ— long to liue the little time hee had left heâ— spent in belly-cheere and drunkennesse anâ— so dyed Rauisius Mar. Anthonius set foorth a booke of hyâ— drunkennesse in which hee prooued thosâ— prancks he played when hee vvas ouercomâ— with vvine to be good and lawfull Plut. Darius had written vpon his graue thys inâ—scription I could drinke good store of wine beare it well Rauisius Ptolomey vvho in mockery vvas calleâ— Philopater because hee put to death his Father and mother through wine and women dyed like a beast Valer. Lacydes a Phylosopher by too much drinking fell into a palsie whereof he dyed Aruntius a Romaine beeing drunken deflowred his own daughter Medullina whom she forthwith killed Plutarch Tiberius Caesar vvas preferred to a Pretorshyp because of his excellencie in drinking Diotimus was sirnamed Funnell or Tunnell because he gulped downe wine through the channell of his throate vvhich was powred into a Funnell the end whereof was put into his mouth vvithout interspiration betweene gulpes Rauisius In the feast of Bacchus a crowne of golde vvas appoynted for him that coulde drinke more then the rest Agron the King of Illyrium fell into a sicknesse of the sides called the Plurisie by reason of his excessiue drinking and at last died thereof Cleio a vvoman was so practised in drinking that shee durst challenge all men and vvomen what soeuer to try maisteries who could drinke most and ouercome all Cleomenes king of Lacedemonia beeing disposed to carouse after the manner of the Scythians dranke so much that hee became and continued euer after sencelesse Cyrillus sonne in his drunkennes wickedly slevv that holy man his father his mother great with child he hurt his two sisters and deflowred one of them August Androcides a Gentleman of Greece hearing of Alexanders excesse in drunkennesse vvrote a letter to him wherein was a Tablet of gold with these words thereon ingrauen Remember Alexander when thou drinkest wine that thou doost drinke the blood of the earth Those of Gallia Transalpina vnderstanding that the Italians had planted Vines in Italy came to conquer theyr Countrey so that if they had neuer planted Vines the French-men had not destroyed the Countrey Liuius Foure old Lombards being at banquet together the one dranke an health rounde to the others yeeres in the end they challenged two to two and after each man had declared how many yeeres old he was the one dranke as many times as he had yeeres and likewise his companion pledged him the one vvas 58. the second 63. the third 87. the last 92. so that a man knoweth not vvhat they did eate or drinke but he that dranke least dranke 58. cups of vvine P. Diaconus Of thys euill custome came the lawe that the Gothes made that is VVee ordaine and commaund vppon paine of death that no olde men vpon payne of death shoulde drinke to one anothers health at the