To dwell no longer on this unpleasant subject we had sinned and Charls must suffer Dilirant Archivi plectunâ—ur Reges He who had worn a Crown of Gold must now admit a crown of thornes that might fit him for the Crown of Glory They had promised to make him a glorious King and now was the time come Sit divus modo non sit vivus say they His Kingdom was not to be any longer of this world and therefore he prepares himself with humility piety charity and magnanimity to bear this earthly cross that he might attein his heavenly crown His enemies curse him he prays for them they slander him he forgives them they load him with affronts he carries them with patience And now his pious soul is on the wing and makes many a sally to the place where she longed to be at rest and in the fire of an ardent devotion he offers up himself an Holocaust being kindled with the flames of Divine Love and is fill'd with a large measure of celestial joy and holy confidence witnesse that admirable Anagram made by himself on the day before his death Carolus Rex Cras ero Lux. Hermigildus Son of Levigildus King of the Vâ—sogoths forsaking the Arrian Heresie which his Father maintain'd and embracing the Catholick truth was threatned by his Father with death unless he returned to his former errors To whom the pious Son Poteris saith he in me statuere pater quod lubet regno privas sed peritura tantum immortale illud eripere non potes In vincula me rapis ad coelum certè patet via ibimus illuc ibimus Vitam eripitâ—s restat melior aeterna Such were the pious resolves of the most Christian Charls You may doe with me what you will ye may deprive me of my Kingdomes alas these are perishing things but mine immortal Crown ye cannot reach If ye confine me to the narrow walls of a prison my soul vvill mount to Heaven thither thither vvill vve goe If ye take avvay this life I shall but exchange it for a better and eternal one Thus prepared he vvith all humility and Christan resignation offers up himself the peoples Martyr to the grief of his friends the shame of his enemies and the amazement of all the world Quis talia fando temperet à laâ—hrymis Many wiped up his blood with their handkercheifs which experience proved afterwards an admirable Collirium to restore the sight even to those I could name some of the recovered patients from whom I received the relation who were almost blind this wants not truth so much as a Roman pen to make it a miracle Sure I am his death opened thousands of eyes which passion and prejudice had blinded and those who whilst he lived wish'd him dead now he was dead wish'd him alive again That so great a Prince who yet chose rather to be good than great to be holy rather than happy might not die unattended many loyal subjects left this life with the very news of His death as it is reported of Hugh Scrimiger servant to S. W. Spotswood beheaded by the Covenanters of Scotland passing by the Scaffold before it was taken down fell into a swound and being carried home died at his own door The truth of this Relation I leave to the credit of the Historian the former I attest upon mine own knowledge my self being assistant at the Funeral of a Kinsman who with divers others died of no other disease than the newes of the Kings death on whom as I then bestowed I here deposite this Epitaph Here lies a loyal member dead Who scorned to survive his Head Thus died Charls Aliorum majori damno quam suo It being hard to determine whether the Church and State were more happy to have had or more miserable to lose so incomparable a King who wanted nothing but to have lived in an Age when it was in fashion to Deifie their Worthies or in a Country where it is a trade to be Sainted But alas He lived in an Age when vices were in fashion and virtues accounted vices Of whom his worst enemies sayes one who was none of his best friends cannot but give this civil yet true Character That he was a Prince of most excellent natural parts an universal Gentleman very few men of any rank or quality exceeding him in his natural endowments and the most accomplished King this Nation had ever since the Conquest FINIS Doloris nullus Oweni Epigr. in Regicidas Si manus offendat te dextra abscindito dextram Offendat si pes abjice Christus ait Corpus in errorem dexter si ducat ocellus Ipse oculus peccans effodiendus erit Quaelibet abscindi pars corporis aegra jubetur Excipiunt medici Theologique Caput An Elegie on Charls the First c. COme saddest Muse tragick Melpomine Help me to weep or sigh an Elegie And from dumb grief recover so much breath As may serve to express my Sovereigns death But that 's not all had Natures oil been spent And all the treasury of life she lent Exhausted had his latest sand been run And the three fatal Sisters thred been spun Or laden with yeares and mellow had he dropt Into our mothers bosome not thus lopt We could have born it But thus hew'd from life B'an Axe more hasty than the cruel knife Of grisly Atropos thus to be torn From us whom loyal death would have â—orborn This strikes us dead Hence Nero shall be kind Accounted he but wished and that wish confin'd Within the walls of Rome but here we see Three Kingdoms at one blow beheaded be And instead of the one head of a King Hundreds of Hydra-headed Monsters spring Scarce can I think of this and not engage My Muse to muster her Poetick rage To scourge those Gyanâ—s whose bold hands have rent This glorious Sun from out our Firmament Put out the light of Israel that they might Act their black deeds securely in the nighâ— When none but new and foolish lights appear Not to direct but cheat the traveller But biting births are monstrous Ours must be My Midwife Muse a weeping Elegie Well may we like some of whom Stories write From this Sun-set in mourning spend our night Until we see a second Sun arise That may exhale those vapours from our eyes Since the breath of our nostrils we have lost We are but moaning statues at the most Our wisedome reason justice all are dead As parts that liv'd and died with our Head How can we speak him praise or our loss when Our tongue of language silenc'd is with him Or can our fainter pensils hope to paint Those rayes of Majesty which spake him Saint In mortal weeds not man As great a King Of virtues as of men A sacred thing To such an heighth of eminency rais'd Easier by far to be admir'd than prais'd 'T would puzzle the sage Plutarch now to tell Or finde on earth our Charls's parallel Let Rome and Greece of
being sick to death said When I lived I provided for every thing but death now I must die I am unprovided to die Gerson brings in an Englishman asking a Frenchman Quot annos habes His answer was Annos non habeo I am of no years at all but death hath forborn me this 50 years A man said Luther lives forty years before he knows himself to be a fool and by that time he sees his folly his life is finished Anaxamander said of the Athenians That they had good Laws but used ill Augustus lamented for Varus death being asked why He said Now I have none in my Country to tell me truth A certain King of Tartaria writ to the Polonians then wanting a King that if they would choose him their King he would accept of it upon these terms Vester Pontifex meus Pontifex esto vester Lutherus meus Lutherus esto But the Polonians rejected him with this wise answer Ecce hominem paratum omni à sacra deos deserere regnandi causa Marius being accused by the Senate of treason tears open his garments and in the sight of them all shews them his wounds received in the service and defence of his Country saying Quid opus est verbis â—bi vulner a clamant Sir William Stanly railing against his native Country a Spanish Verdugo gave him this answer Though you have offended your Country your Country never offended you It is storied of a wicked City which fearing the invasion of a potent enemy sought relief of a neighbouring Prince charging their Embassadors to relate unto him what forces they were able to levy of their own The Prince replying to the Message demanded of them what coverture they had to defend their heads from the wrath of heaven telling them withal That unless they could award Gods anger he durst not joyn with them God being against them The Mother of Peter Lombard when having transgressed her vow of Continency she told her Confessor plainly that when she saw what a Son she had brought forth she could not repent that she had sinned in having him But her Confessor sadly answered her Dole saltem quod dolere non possis Caracalla said to them that desired that some honours might be spent upon his brother Geta now dead out of his way Sit divus saith he modo non sit vivus Edward the Third of England having sent to France to demand the Crown by Maternal Right the Council there sent him word That the Crown of France was not tied to a distaff which scoffing answer he replyed That then he would tie it to his sword Scaliger said He had rather have been the Author and Composer of one Ode in Horace than King of all Arragon Cato would say He wondred how one of their aruspices could forbear to laugh when he met with any of his fellows to see how they deceived men and made a great number of simple ones in the City King Lewis the 11th looking upon a Tapistry wherein a certain Nobleman who from a mean Clerk of the Exchequer was advanced to be Lord Treasurer of France had pourtray'd the steps and degrees whereby he had ascended himself represented sitting on the top of Fortunes wheel Whereupon King Lewis told him He might do well to fasten it with a good strong nail for fear lest turning about it brought him to his former estate again Which proved a true Prophecie of him One who before he was Pope was the most crouching submiss Cardinal that ever was His manner was to eat upon a net as it were in a way of devout humility but after he had obtein'd the Popedom he commanded them to take away the net saying He had caught that which he fish'd for When a French King seeing the Persian pomp of the Popes Court and pride of the Cardinals asked a Cardinal of Avinion Whether the Apostles ever went with such a Train after them He answered No verily but you must consider Sir that they were Apostles the same time that Kings were shepherds It was the saying of Rabbi Gamaliel He that multiplies servants multiplies thieves Melancthon said when he furthered the Edition of the Alchoran that he would have it printed Vt videamus quale poema sit That the World might see what a piece of poetry the Alchoran was Artabazus a Courtier received from King Cyrus a cup of gold At the same time Chrysantas the beloved Favourite received a kiss from him which the other observing said The cup which you gave me was not so good gold as the kiss you gave Chrysantes It was the Speech of an ancient Rabbi I learned much of my Rabbies or Masters more of my companions most of my Scholars The Emperor Sigismond demanding of Theâ—doricus Arch-Bishop of Collen the directest course to happiness Perform saith he when thou art well what thou promisedst when thou wert sick A certain King of the Lacedemonians being one day private in his garden was teaching one of his children of five years old to ride on a stick and unawares a great Embassador came to speak with him in that manner at which both the King and the Embassador in the Kings behalf began to blush at first but soon after the King putting away the blush and the hobby-horse together and with a pretty smile asked the Embassador if he had any children of his own He answered No. Then said he I pray you tell not what you found me doing till you have some little ones of your own and then tell it and spare not The Scouts of Antigonus relating unto him the multitude of his enemies and advising by way of information the danger of a Conflict that should be undertaken with so great an inequality He replyed And at how many do ye value me A West-Indian King having been well wrought upon towards his conversion to the Christian Religion and having digested the former Articles when he came to that He was crucified dead and buried had no longer patience but said If your God be dead and buried leave me to my old god the Sun for the Sun will not die Pythagoras said He that knoweth not what he ought to know is a brute beast among men he that knoweth no more than he hath need of is a man among brute beasts he that knoweth all that is to be known is a god among men The Lord Treasurer Burleigh was wont to say That he used to overcome envy and ill will more by patience than pertâ—nacy The Embassadors of the Council of Constance being sent to Pope Benedict the 11th when he laying his hand upon his heart said Hic est arca Noae they tartly and truly replyed In Noahs ark were few men but many beasts When one seemed to pity an one-ey'd man He told him he had lost one of his enemies a very thief that would have stolen away his heart The King of Navarre told Beza He would launch no farther into the Sea than he might be sure to return safe
the Jews asked one of the Rabbies his Master Whether he might read any of the humane Writers or not He gave him this Answer You may read them provided you read them neither day nor night Apelles when his boy shew'd him a painted Table and told him that it was done in haste He answered He might have spared to tell him so for the work sufficiently shew'd it Luther said The Cardinals were like Foxes sweeping the house with their tails raising more dust than they cleansed Mr. Greenham answered one that spake somewhat in his own disparagement Oh said he why do you praise your self so much Espenceus saith of the Bishops in the Council of Trent They were learned in their assistants Du Mouline said of Roniface his Extravagants They will doe well with a sword in hand The Roman General said of a recruited Army of Enemies That those African Nations muster'd under several names were but the same men whom they had formerly beaten under the notion of Carthaginians When a Roman Senator asked the Carthaginian Embassador How long the Peace should last That saith he will depend on the Conditions you give us If Just and Honourable they will hold for ever but if otherwise no longer than till we have power to break them Batton Desidiale who moved the people of Dalmatia to rebel against the Romans seeing them opprest too much with tributes and exactions making such sharp war against them as Tyberius the Emperor asked him on a time why he had caused the people to take Arms To whom he answered bâ—dly That the Romans were the cause thereof for they in sending them shepherds with good dogs to preserve them they had sent them wolves which devoured them The Emperor Maximilian the 2d could not endure that War should be made for Religion and was wont to say That it was a deadly sin to seek to force mens consciences the which belongs to God only At the Treaty for delivery of the Town of Antwerp the Hollanders insisting upon explaining the word scandal c. the Duke of Parma said Can you not do as the Countryman did at Rome who passing along the streets before an Ecce homo which is the figure of the representation which Pilate made of our Saviour Jesus Christ unto the people having made reverence and passing on he bethought himself that Pilate might attribute this honour unto himself wherefore turning and putting off his hat again He said It is to the Christ not to the Pilate Pieresk us the famous Frenchman was wont to say That whosoever seeks after the uncertain good things of this world should think and resolve that he gathers as well for thieves as for himself Plato saith That the Lawes of Necessity are so inevitable that the gods themselves cannot alter them Caracalla having miserably impoverished the people his Mother reproved him To whom he shewing his naked sword replyed As long as I have this I will not want Aurelian demanding how he might govern well Was answered by a great Personage You must be provided with iron and gold iron to use against your enemies and gold to reward your friends The Caliph of Babylon demurring to give the Embassador of Almerick King of Jerusalem his hand bare but gave it him in his glove To whom the resolute Earl of Caesarea said Sir truth seeks no holes to hide it self Princes that will hold Covenants must deal openly and nakedly give us therefore your bare hand we will make no bargain with your glove Lewis King of France going the second time to the Holy Land passing by Avignon some of the City wronged his Souldiers wherefore his Nobles desired him to besiege the City the rather because it was suspected that therein his Father was poysoned To whom Lewis most Christianly I come not out of France to revenge my own quarrels or those of my Father or Mother but injuries offer'd to Jesus Christ Lewis severely punished blasphemies searing their lips with an hot iron And because by his command it was executed upon a great rich Citizen of Paris some said He was a Tyrant He hearing it said before many I would to God that with searing my own lips I could banish out of my Realm all abuse of Oaths It was the Speech of Gustavus Adolphus but three dayes before his death Our affairs saith he answer our desires but I doubt God will punish me for the folly of the people who attribute too much unto me and esteem me as it were their God and therefore he will make them shortly know and see I am but a man He be my witness it is a thing distasteful unto me And whatever befall me I receive it as from his divine will onely in this I rest fully satisfied that he will not leave this great enterprize of mine imperfect Hormisda being asked what he thought of Rome Said He took contentment in this onely that he had now learned how even there also men are mortal Socrates appointed to suffer death would learn to sing And being asked what good it would do him seeing he was to die the next day He answered thus Even that I may depart out of this life learning more than I knew before Themistocles after a Battel fought with the Persians espying a pair of bracelets and a collar of gold lying on the ground Take up those things quoth he speaking to one of his company that stood near unto him thou art not Themistocles A Jew being turned Turk soon after buying of grapes of another Turk fell at variance with him about weighing the grapes from words they fell to blows and the Jew-Turk beat the other which he endured very patiently to encourage him as it seem'd in his new Religion Soon after another Jew came to the Turk who had been beaten and demanded of him why he suffered himself to be so abused Who answered You shall beat me as much if you will turn Musulman So zealous are they to win Proselytes Philip the 2d King of Spain was devoted to his Religion in so intense a degree that he would often say If the Prince his Son were an Heretick or Schismatick he would himself find fuel to burn him The Chyrurgeons being lancing his knee one day the Prince his Son ask'd him Whether it did not pain him much He answered My sins pain me much more Reading a letter that brought him the newes of the loss of his Fleet in 88. He said without the least motion or change of countenance Welcome be the will of God I sent my Cousin the Duke of Medina to fight with men not with the Elements He used to have a saying often in his mouth Time and I will challenge any two in the world Bias being demanded by a wicked man what was piety He was silent The other asking the reason of his silence I answer not saith he because you enquire after that which nothing concerns you It was the sentence of Cleobolus Do good to your friend that he may be
Duke of Britanny Son to John the 5th when he was spoken unto for a marriage between him and Isabel a Daughter of Scotland and some told him she was but meanly brought up and without any instruction of learning answered He loved her the better for it and that a woman was wise enough if she could but make difference between the shirt and doublet of her husband Demosthenes companions in their Embassage to Philip praised their Prince to be fair eloquent and a good quaffer Demosthenes said They were commendations rather fitting a woman an advocate and a spunge than a King Theodorus answered Lysimachus who threatned to kill him Thou shalt do a great exploit to come to the strength of a cantharides Aristotle being upbraided by some of his friends that he had been over-merciful to a wicked man I have indeed quoth he been merciful towards the man but not towards his wickedness When an Epigramatist read his Epigrams in an Auditory one of the hearers stopt him and said Did not I hear an Epigram to this purpose from you last year Yes says he it 's like you did But is not that vice still in you this year which last years Epigram reprehended Some came and told Philopoemen the enemies are with us To whom he answered and why say you not that we are with them When Sicily did curse Dionysius by reason of his cruelty there was onely one old woman that pray'd God to lengthen his life Whereat Dionysius wondering asked her for what good turn she should do that She Answered That it was not love but fear for said she I knew your Grandfather a great tyrant and the people desired his death then succeeded your Father more cruel than he and now your self worse far than them both so that I think if you die the Devil must come next Pompey being in Sicily pressing the Mammertines to acknowledge his authority they sought to avoid it pretending that they had Priviledges and ancient Decrees of the people of Rome To whom Pompey answered in choler Will you plead Law unto us who have our swords by our sides When Lewis the 11th demanded of Brezay Senescall of Normandy the reason why he said that his horse was great and strong being but little and of a weak stature For that answered Brezay he carries you and all your counsel He said That if he had entred his Reign otherwise than with fear and severity he had serv'd for an example in the last Chapter of Boccace his book of unfortunate Noblemen Considering that Secrecy was the Soul and Spirit of all Designes He said sometimes I would burn my Hat if it knew what was in my Head He remembring to have heard King Charls his Father say that Truth was sick He added I believe that since she is dead and hath not found any Confessor Mocking at one that had many Books and little learning He said That he was like unto a crook-back't man who carries a great bunch at his back and never sees it Seeing a Gentleman which carried a goodly chain of gold He said unto him that did accompany him You must not touch it for it is Holy Shewing that it came from the spoil of Churches On a time seeing the Bishop of Chartre mounted on a Mule with a golden bridle He said unto him that in times past Bishops were contented with an Ass and a plain halter The Bishop answered him That it was at such times as Kings were shepherds and did keep sheeâ— Abdolominus a poor man rich in plenty except plenty of riches to whom Alexander of Macedon proffering the Kingdom of Sydon who before was but a gardiner was by him refused saying That he would take no care to lose that which he cared not to enjoy When one told a Reverend Bishop of a young man that Preached twice every Lords day besides some Exercising in the week-days It may be said he he doth talk so often but I doubt he doth not Preach To the like effect Queen Elizabeth said to the same Bishop when She had on the Friday heard one of those talking Preachers much commended by some-body and the Sunday after heard a well labour'd Sermon that smelâ— of the candle I pray said she let me have your bosome-Sermons rather than your lip-Sermons for when the Preacher takes paines the auditory takes profit When Dr. Day was Dean of Windsor there was a Singing-man in the Quire one Wolner a pleasant fellow famous for his eating rather than his singing Mr. Dean sent a man to him to reprove him for not singing with his fellows the messenger that thought all worshipful that wore white Surplices told him Mr. Dean would pray his worship to sing Thank Mr. Dean quoth Wolner and tell him I am as merry as they that sing A Husbandman dwelling near a Judge that was a great builder and comming one day among divers of other neighbours some of stone some of tinn the Steward as the manner of the Country was provided two tables for their dinners for those that came upon request powder'd beef and perhaps venison for those that came for hire poor-John and apple-pyes And having invited them in his Lordships name to sit down telling them one board was for them that came in love the other was for those that came for money this husbandman and his hind sate down at neither the which the Steward imputing to simplicity repeated his former words again praying them to sit down accordingly But he answered He saw no table for him for he came neither for love nor money but for very fear Scipio being made General of the Roman Army was to name his Quaestor or Treasurer for the Wars whom he thought fit being a place in those dayes as is now of great importance One that took himself to have a special interest in Scipio's favour was an earnest suitor for it but by the delay mistrusting he should have a denial he importuned him one day for an answer Think not unkindness in me said Scipio that I delay you thus for I have been as earnest with a friend of mine to take it and yet cannot prevail with him A pleasant Courtier and Servitor of King Henry the 8ths to whom the King had promised some good turn came and pray'd the King to bestow a living on him that he had found our worth 100 l. by the year more than enough Why said the King we have no such in England Yes Sir said he the Provostship of Eaton for said he he is allowed his diet his lodging his hors-meat his servants wages his riding-charge and 100 l. per annum besides Ellmar Bishop of London dealing with one Maddox about some matters concerning Puritanisme and he had answered the Bishop somewhat untowardly and thwartly the Bishop said to him Thy very name expresseth thy nature for Maddox is thy name and thou art as mad a beast as ever I talked with The other not long to seek of an answer By your favour
care not too much to indulge my body as knowing that those things the body inclines to most are of the world which is enmity with God and what the Spirit prompts to most must needs be best because the Spirit is heavenly and more of kin to the Deity Honestum ei vile est cui corpus nimis charum est said one that knew well what he said 'T is not for nothing that our inward spirit is alwayes most sad when our outward man is most merry In the second place 'T is my desie to avoid ill company because as 't is said of the Tyrant Mezantius Corpora corporibus jungebat mortua vivis In that the Living rather putrefied by reason of the Dead but the Dead did not revive by the Living Such is the nature of man saith St. Gregory Vt quoties bonus malo conjungitur non ex bono malus meliocriter sed ex malo bono contaminetur It is a good caution therefore St. Bernard gives in his 48th Serm. in Cantic writing upon these words As the Lilly among thorns c. Vide saith he quomodo cautè ambulas inter spinas I speak this the rather because I presume you walk there among thorns and I know not whether there be a place there like the street in Rome that was called vicus sobrius because there was never an Ale-house in 't And as Socrates said of Alcibiades that miracle of his time when he saw him among Gallants I fear not Him but his Company Now the number of this Company should not be a meanes to make us run with them but rather to run from them And to this end 't is necessary for a man to be ever resident on his Calling lest he be turn'd out of his Living or at least of his well living for non-residency Out of a mans Calling out of Gods Protection 'T is an Apothegme of a late Wit That he who counts his Calling a Prison shall at length make a Prison his Calling But whither do I straggle Me thinks I hear you say as Queen Elizabeth once did to an Embassador who made a long Oration before her in high terms She answer'd him Expectavi Legatum Inveni Heraldum I expected an Embassador but find an Herald So me thinks I hear you say Expectavi Epistolam Inveni concionem I must confess I might have learn'd so much modesty from Roscius the Roman Orator who was ever mute when he din'd with Cato and the Thrush never sings if the Nightingal be by I might very well have spar'd this labour it being perform'd so well by yet if I have done amiss it shall satisfie me that I did it to satisfie mine own conscience Now might I relaxare animum recreate your mind by making you some mirth with the discords of our Times but truly they appear to me a fitter subject for our tears of sorrow than of mirth Assure your self I had not thus far transgrest upon your patience did you not know me to be Perfectly your Friend T. F. To Mr. A. E. Sir THough I have not had the happiness of late to be so propitiously be-friended by occasion as to write to you yet am I so confident of your wonted ingenuitie that you will not attribute it to any neglect of mine which if I were conscious to my self were so I should judge it a crime so great that I should not forgive my self But the truth is I find more danger in the conveying of Newes than in the hearing of it Nay my misery is I cannot or dare not at least inform you of more than every Pamphlet can to such a height of suspition are we now arrived Besides so barren is each day of Newes that 't is not worth doing penance in a sheet yet because you are desirous to know and I as willing to satisfie your desire what 's done in the Assembly and P. I will venture to tell you in an old story 'T is this Mr. Popham when he was Speaker and the lower House had sate long and done in effect nothing comming one day to Queen Elizabeth She said to him Now Mr. Speaker what hath pass'd in the lower House He answered If it please your Majesty seven weeks You need fear no danger in this for 't is Nothing and the Treaty is come to as much both Parties being not like to meet standing still at their former distance This was prettily Emblem'd by two Sphaerical bodies touching onely in Puncto with this Motto Pungere possunt pacificari non possunt Thus Sir you see amidst these dusky clouds Friendship dares mingle flames in a Convex though not in a direct line Ascertain your self of this That as it shall ever rejoyce me to hear of your health so it shall be my endeavour alwayes to be Your unfeigned Friend T. F. To my Father Sir AFter the remembrance of my duty which at all times wants not in my will though sometimes in my power I lately saw Mr. M. but cannot tell you whether with greater joy or grief It rejoyc'd me exceedingly to hear of your health but grieved me more to hear of my Mothers grief for a false information that I was a Sectary and a Malignant Give me leave therefore to say something whereby I may at once recover her right opinion and my reputation And first for the Sectary Should I say nothing my practice were enough to testifie that I do as much shun their Companies as hate their Tenents I count them as moles and warts nay wens in the face of the Body Politick which if not timely lanced will in time not onely deface but destroy our Common Mother the Church Neither do I love to run into those by-wayes of Sects and Schismes but rather keep the safer road of the Churches practice There is but one Way one Truth and I account all those not one better than another but all out of that one Way all opposites to that one Truth I esteem them but as wilde beasts broken into the Vineyard of the Church the hedge of our Government being pull'd up but as nettles and weeds sown and water'd by that envious man grown up to such an height that will in time not onely o're-top but o'return the good corn They are true vipers a beast whereof Naturalists report that first the she-viper biteth off the he-vipers head and so she conceives with young and those young gâ—aw a passage through their dams belly so that their life is the death of both Father and Mother as I may so speak This story I onely relate not apply the Time and Times will not permit me But that these Vermin do daily encrease is as true as lamentable and they go on with that impudence that they dare to quote Authority for their false actions If this be not enough to evince my integritie in this particular I here protest that I am so far from falling or leaning after any of these wayes that I utterly abhor and detest them I come
turns goe before and not alwayes come lagging behind which the Head having yielded unto was the first that repented it not knowing how or whither she should goe and besides was all rent and bruised being forced against nature to follow a member that had neither seeing nor hearing to conduct it Our factions fractions and lawless liberty render us like the poor Bactrans of whom it is said that they are Sine Fide sine Rege sine Lege But whither is my pen running Since I began with the Excise in England I will waft you over into Holland where it first began and was invented there you shall see how ill the Dutchmen at first relished this Tax upon their drink It occasioned this Libel in Dutch which you shall read in English I wish long life may him befall And not one good day there withal And Hell-fire after this life here Who first did raise this Tax on Beer With this Postscript The Word of God and the Tax on Beer last for ever and ever But it is no wonder the Dutchman should be so angry with this charge upon his drink since you know it is said Germanorum vivere est bibere And they account the turning of water into wine the greatest Miracle that ever Christ did which miracle onely made one of them wish that Christ had lived in their Country No more now but that I am still as always Sir your Servant T. F. To Mr. T. C. Sir WE have now thanks to our Preserver lived to see those men confuted to their faces who would needs determine the end of the world before the end of the year and upon no better ground that I could hear from any of them than this because say they the old world was drowned in the year from the Creation 1657. And I find the Learned Alstedius fathering of this fancie because he found the same number of yeares in the Chronogram of Conflagratio Mundi How miserably and yet how often have the too credulous vulgar been deluded by the vain Predictions of such idle Astrologasters I remember Hollingshed tells a storie of the Prior of St. Bartholomews London who built him an house on Harrow-hill to secure himself from a supposed flood foretold by an Astrologer But at last he with the rest of his seduced company came down again as wise as they went up Such is the fate and folly of those false prophets that they often live to see themselves confuted It is a witty jeer the Cambro-Britannian Epigrammatist puts upon the Scotch Napier who more wisely had determined the end of the world at a farther distance Cor mundi finem propiorem non facis ut ne ant◠obitum mendax arguerere Sapis Thus as is well observed by a late and Learned Author Astrologers have told of a sad and discontented day which would weep it's eyes out in showers which when 't was born proved a Democritus and did nothing but laugh at their ignorance and folly Infinite are the Stories upon Record of the madness of those men and the vanitie and credulity of the easie multitude Strange that they should be so grossely and yet so often cheated with the same bait But I conclude with a more serious observation of Ludolphus of the two destructions of the world As the first sayes he was by water for the heat of their lust so the second shall be by fire for the coldnesse of their love In hopes that ours is not yet grown cold I subscribe my self Sir your loving Friend T. F. To Mr. E. M. Sir BOdin the Frenchman in his Method of History accounts Englishmen barbarous for their Civil Wars But his Countrymen at this time have no great reason to cast dirt in our faces till they have wash'd their own They who have hitherto set us on fire and warm'd their hands by it are now in the like flames themselves It hath been one of their Cardinal Policies to divide us lest our union should prove their ruine It was the saying of the D. of Rohan a great States-man That England was a mighty Animal and could never die unless it kill'd it self Certainly we have no worse enemies than our selves as if we had conspired our own ruine For Plutarch calls the ardent desire of the Graecians to make Civil Wars in Greece a Conspiracie against themselves But well may the winds and waves be Pilots to that ship whose inferiour Mariners have thrown their Pylot over-board Dum ille regnabat tranquillè vivebamus neminem metuebamus said the people of the Emperour Pertinax We remember the time when we lived in peace and plenty till we surfeited of our happiness and as our peace begat plenty so our plenty begat pride and pride brought forth animosities and factions and they if not prevented will be delivered of our ruine and destruction In times past sayes Cornelius Tacitus of our Countrymen they lived under a Monarchy now that they are subject to divers Masters one can see nothing but faction and divisions amongst them This was spoken of our forefathers and our Posteritie will think it meant onely of us The God of union re-unite us and out of this Chaos of confusion create an happy concord amongst us before our rents prove our ruine and our distractions our destruction This is the constant and hearty prayer of Sir your assured Servant T. F. To Mr. T. C. Sir I Must tell you you are not justly troubled at the injustice of our new Judges since they have thereby rendred those brave men Martyrs which otherwise had died as Criminals Socrates his wife exasperated her grief by this circumstance Good Lord said she how unjustly doe these bad Judges put him to death What wouldst thou rather they should execute me justly replyed he to her The injustice of the Judges sentence declare the justness of the condemned's cause It is not the being a Judge that makes his sentence just or the prisoner guilty There have been those and we have seen them who have committed murther with the Sword of Justice and executed Justice as a malefactor Nor have the friends of those happy Martyrs any cause to be ashamed of or grieved for their death or manner of it Damnari dissecari suspendi decolari piis cum impiis sunt communia sayes Erasmus Varia sunt hominum judicia Ille foelix qui judice Deo absolvitur The old Martyrs have accounted martyrdom the way to heaven on hors-back The first man that died went to heaven but the first man that went to heaven died a Martyr suffered a violent death by the hands of a cruel and unmerciful brother We have lived to see that politick principle of Periander put in practice who being consulted with how to preserve a tyranny bid the messenger stand still whilest he walking in a garden topt all the highest flowers thereby signifying the cutting off and bringing low of the Nobility Yet will not this do with us it is but like Cadmus his sowing of
serpents teeth which will raise up armed men to revenge the quarrel of those brave spirits For though our Curfeu-bell hath been rung out and the fire of our zeal rak'd up in the ashes of Acts and Orders yet it is not extinguished Witness those Sparks who have revenged the death of their Sovereign with the hazard of their own lives By this time I doubt not but they who most endeavoured his Majesties death have seen cause enough to wish him alive again and are ready to engrave that Motto upon his Statue which they threw down with contempt which was set upon the Statue of the Roman Brutus Vtinam viveres It is yet some comfort that we can mingle sighs and assist one another with mutual counsels and courtesies which shall never be wanting from Sir your assured Friend T. F. To Mr. T. L. Sir BEing lately at our New Court there I saw his Highnose so environed with his guard as if he had been their prisoner and wondred how he durst venture himself amongst so many dangerous weapons I was ready to have said unto him as Plato did to Dâ—onysius the tyrant when he saw him compassed about with many souldiers of his guard What hast thou committed so many evils that thou standest in need of such a guard of armed fellows To see the difference betwixt fearlesse innocence and fearful guilt M. Aurelius that good Prince never had any guard for sayes my Author he stood not in fear of his subjects Innocence is the surest guard as Pliny told Trajan the Emperour Haec arx inaccessa hoc inexpugnabile munimentum munimento non egere Frustra se terrore succinxeret qui septus charitate non fuerit Armis enim arma irritantur White-hall is now become Black-hall with the smoak of coals and matches But it would make one sad and sigh to see what havock is made of his Majesties goods and houshold-stuff and to whose using his house furniture is faln It minded me of a story in Q. Curtius who says Alexander that great robber as the petty Pyrat call'd him sitting in Darius Seat which was not fit for him but higher than served for his stature his feet could not touch the ground one of his Pages put a board underneath for him to tread upon whereat one of the Eunuchs that belonged to Darius looked heavily and fetch'd a deep sigh whose sadnesse when Alexander perceived he enquired of him the cause He answered That when he beheld the board whereon Darius was wont to eat employed to so base an use he could not behold it without grief Who can see those brave horses which used to draw his Majestics Coach now drag in enemies cart without pity indignation But enough of this and for this time I am Sir your very Friend Servant T. F. To Mr. E. H. Sir HAving now retrived my rude draught of that excellent but lost virtue of friendship I send the picture to you the pattern that it may be corrected by the comparison It cannot be expected that it should be an exact piece or that I should draw it to the life which hath been dead to us poor mortals especially having had so little light and at so great a distance as we are removed from that golden age wherein friendship flourished I cannot but admire that so noble a subject hath found so few friends For except that Triumvirate of Eloquence the Roman Cicero our English Seneca and that great Dictator of Learning Sir Fra. Bacon I have found few or none who have written any just discourse of it From their trine Aspect hath my discourse received some light and augmentation Yet have I not altogether trod in their steps nor made any better use of them than admire those I could not imitate neither have I used any gay or painted language but plain and simple like the subject I handle I have laboured to make it like rather than handsome An Embassador comming to Treat with the Roman Senate having his head powdered and his face painted Cato told them they could not expect any truth from him whose very locks and looks did lye I have therefore studied to represent this Lady sine fuco sine fallaciis without the dressings of any artificial handsomness or auxiliary beauty If you like it love it if not draw the curtain of your charity over it and let it lie till some abler workman shall take the pensil in hand It is enough for me if it can but speak the Author Sir your true Friend T. F. To Mr. J. A. Sir DId not the same peremptory businesse that pressed me down still keep me here I shoud at least have prevented the Office of this Paper and not been beholding to a mute proxie for the delivery of a message I should rather if not better have done in person Since fate will have it thus let me crave your credence that what you shall here read is not so much the dictate as the transcript of my heart Sir I left not my careful thoughts with your line of Communication they have been and will be my constant companions Haeret lateri lethalis arundo and I despair of any other cure than the dictamen of your friendly counsel I am confident your goodness will doe me not onely the courtesie but the justice to believe that my recesse was rather retreat than a flight from the negotiation we had in hand A businesse if my thoughts deceive me not too weighty to be carried to the end without a rest Pardon me if I am willing to look before I leap But after the verdict of my most considerate and serious thoughts I must professe I have a large and long experience of the skill and fidelity of you my leader Nor doe I fear a miscarriage where you are pleas'd to be my guide To say nothing of other circumstances I am not forgetful of though silent in allow me the liberty to tell you Spem de futuris foveo principium liquet and it shall not only be my wish but the most earnest of my endeavours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have hitherto but tythed my thoughts which should I allow my pen the liberty to write would be too tedious for you to read In a word therefore to doe you the courtesie of concluding I shall promise that one line from if he please to maintein his first favour with a second will easily and quickly draw me from the most earnest of my engagements to tell him Vis à vis that I am what I ever was and still hope to be accounted Sir your very very Friend T. F. To Mr. R. H. Sir IN my addreresses to my friends I do always intend too much reality to be beholding to a Complement in this to you if an excess of affection should unawares transport my pen to an extravagant flight your merits to me and my obliged respects to you may sufficiently secure me from the guilt of a suspitious hyperbole When I have said
ipsa juvat Charls the First whom but to name is to cast a cloud upon all former Ages and to benight Posterity In taking of whose Picture I shall not need to doe as that Painter did who drew Antigonus imagine luscâ halâ— faced that so he might hide his want of an eye from the view of the beholder There is nothing in Charls but what is lovely and admirable no deformity or imperfection I shall rather choose to imitate the famous Apelles who to express his art to the full in the picture of Venus rising naked out of the Sea assembled together all the most beautifull women of the Island of Coos his native place uniting in that piece all their divided perfections There is nothing eminent or excellent in all the deservedly admired antients that is not only met but out-done in Charls It is affirmed by the learned Raleigh that if all the pictures and patterns of a merciless Prince were lost in the world they might all again be painted to the life out of the Story of Hen. 8. But I shall with as much truth and perhaps more Charity maintain that if all the Pictures and Patterns of a mercifull Prince of a couragious and constant King of a vertuous and brave Man were lost they might be repaired if not infinitely excell'd in the Story of Charls the First whose life needs no Advocate whom detraction it self cannot mention without commendation I find not any man in all the Records of the antients or the Writings of the more modern authors over whom he hath not some advantage nor any ones life taken altogether so admirable as His nor any thing admirable in any that was not in Him Quâ— simul omnia uno isto nomine continentur In Him alone are to be found all the vertuous qualities of the best Princes in the world without the vices of any of them for he only hath made it appear that great vertues may be without the attendance of great vices It was said of our Hen. the 5th that he had something in him of Câ—sar which Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk and something of Alexander the Great which Caesar had not that he would not be flattered But Charls had the vertues of all without the vices of any tam extra viciâ— quam cum summis virtutibus He as much exceeded all other Kings as other Kings doe all other men In a word he was what ever a good Prince ought to be and what others should be yet was this Lilly born in the land of thorns and briers this Rose sprang up amidst a field of thistles I presume the description hath prevented me saying it was Scotland A Land that calls in question and suspence Gods Omni-presence but that Charls came thence In quo nihil praeter unum Carolum est quod commendemus A Nation famous for the birth of Charls but infamous for their treachery and disloyalty to so brave a Prince But the happiness of a brave and incomparable Father did sufficiently recompence for the place of his birth So that I may say of him what is said of Lewis the 8th of France father to St. Lewis that he was Son to an excellent Father and Father to an excellent Son a Son only worthy of such a Father a Father only worthy of such a Son A Father so admirable that Sir W. Raleigh hath left it upon Record to all Posterity that if all the malice of the world were infused into one eye yet could it not discern in his life any one of those foul spots by which the consciences of all forreign Princes in effect have been defiled nor any drop of that innocent bloud on the Sword of his justice with which the most that fore-went him have stained both their hands and fame This Encomium of the Father may justly descend to the Son as Heir apparant to his virtues as well as his Crowns In his Childhood the weaknesse of his lower parts which made him unapt for exercises and feats of activity rendred him more retired and studious and more intent upon his Book then perhaps he had been otherwise So great a Student was he in his younger dayes that his Father would say he must make him a Bishop Providence then seeming to design him rather to the Crosier then the Crown By his great study he became a great Historian an excellent Poet a great lover and Master of Musick and indeed a generall Scholar This rare Cien was not grafted upon a wilding or crab-stock but an innocent and studious youth was the prologue to a more active and vigorous manhood For being grown in years and state he shook off his former retiredness and betook himself to all manner of man-like exercises as vaulting riding the great Horse running at the Ring shooting in Cross-bowes Muskets and great Ordinance in which he became so expert that he was said to be the best Marks-man and the most comely Manager of a great Horse of any one in his three Kingdoms Nor were these excellencies ill-housed but his fair Soul was tenant to a lovely and well proportioned body His stature of a just proportion his body erect and active of a delicate constitution yet so strong withall as if nature had design'd him to be the strife of Mars and Venus His countenance amiable and beautiful wherein the White Rose of York and the Red of Lancaster were united his hair inclining to a brown till cares and grief changed them into a white at once the Embleme of his innocence and his fortune clear and shining eyes a brow proclaiming fidelity his whole frame of face and favour a most perfect mixture and composition of Majesty and Sweetness Thus long have we beheld him as a Man Let us now view him as a Husband as a Father as a King and we shall find him alike admirable in all relations As an Husband he is a rare Example of love and chastity at his first receiving of his Queen he professed that he would be no longer Master of himself then whilst he was a Servant to her and so well did he make his words good that on the day before his death he commanded his Daughter the excellent Princess Elizabeth to tell her Mother that his thoughts had never strayed from her and that his love should be the same to the last And indeed no man more loved or less doâ—â—â—d upon a wife As a father how tender was he of his children without a too remiss indulgence how carefull of their education in the true Protestant Religion which he alwayes professed and learnedly defended advising the Lady Elizabeth and in her the rest to read Bishop Andrews Sermons Hookers Ecclesiaistcall Politie and Bishop Laud's book against â—isher to ground them against Popery Let us now view him as a King and we shall see him as the Soul of the Common-wealth acting vigourously and regularly every particular member in its several place and office Behold him in
be no heaven An Italian Prince being upon his death-bed and comforted by his friends touching the joys of the other world whereunto he was going he fetched a deep sigh and said Oh! I know what 's past but I know not what 's to come There is a saying fathered upon Paul 3d. when he lay upon his death-bed that shortly he should be resolved of two things Whether there be a God and Devil or whether there be a heaven and hell When a rare Italian Statuary offered Rh. 2d of Spain that without expence to the King he would set up his Majesties arms and portraicture over the gates of every City in Lombardy the King commending the mans good will answered He had rather have a workman that with any expence whatsoever could set up his image in Heaven When the souldiers demanded a donative of Galba he answered That he used to choose not to buy souldiers Vespasian was not moved with the scoffs of Demetrius Cynicus but slighted them saying I use not to kill barking dogs Domitian punished Informers saying That not to punish such was to encourage them Trajan delivered his sword to the Captain of the Guard willing him to use it for him if he did well but against him if otherwise Antonius Pius Emperor comming to see Omulus his house he enquired whence he had his marble pillars Omulus answered that in another mans house he should be both deaf and dumb When Julia Mother-in-law to Caracalla whom he married told him he was too prodigal he laid his hand on his sword saying I shall never lack money so long as this is with me Julian robbed the Church of her Revenues telling the Clergy that they should be the fitter for Heaven because it is written Blessed be the poor Tyberius Constantinus Co-Emperor with Justin when Sophia the Empress reproved him as being too prodigal in his bounty to the poor He answered that he should never want wealth on earth as long as he had laid up treasures on earth by relieving the poor Maximilian the Emperor was wont to say to compel the conscience is to force heaven It was not ill answered of Merope to King Polyphontes who therefore kill'd his brother because he had entertained a purpose to have killed him You should only have done the same injury to him which he did to you you should still have had a purpose to kill him Aquinas was once asked with what compendium a man might best become learned He answered By reading one Book A great Italian General seeing the sudden death of Alphonsus Duke of Ferrara kneeled down instantly saying And shall not this sight make me religious When the Duke of Candia had voluntarily entred into the incommodities of a Religious life and poverty he was one day spied and pitied by a Lord of Italy who out of tenderness wish'd him to be more careful and nutritive of his person The good Duke answered Sir be not troubled and think not that I am ill provided of conveniencies for I send a harbinger before who makes my lodgings ready and takes care that I be royally entertained The Lord asked him who was his harbinger He answered the knowledge of my self and the consideration of what I deserve for my sins which is eternal torments and when with this knowledge I arrive at my lodging how unprovided soever I find it me thinks it is ever better than I deserve 'T was a reasonable answer of Pericles to one that asked him Why he being a severe and Philosophical person came to a Wedding trimmed and adorned like a Paranymph I come adorned to an adorned person trim'd to a Bridegroom The Emperor Ferdinand the 2d had wont to say to those that brought him any ill newes 't is good 't is Gods pleasure I am contented Sir Thomas Moore somewhat before he was made Lord Chancellor built a Chappel in his Parish at Chelsey where the Parish had all ornaments belonging thereunto abundantly supplied at his charge and he bestowed thereon much plate often using these words Good men give it and bad men take it away The King of Sweden to the Dutch Embassador perswading him to a care of his person answered that his hour was written in heaven and could not be altered on earth Sir Jervis Ellwis when executed on Tower-hill for Overburies death left these two Items to Posterity 1. Not to vow any thing but to perform it 2. Not to take a pride in any parts though never so excellent A Lord Mayor of London in K. James his time stopping the Kings carriages as they were going through the streets with a great noise in time of Divine Service and the King being told of it he in a rage swore he thought there had been no more Kings in England but himself sent a warrant to the Lord Mayor to let them pass which he then obeyed with this answer While it was in my power I did my duty but that being taken away by a higher power it is my duty to obey Demodocus said of the Milesians they were no fools but they did the same things that fools did Vincentius Lyrenensis saith of St. Cyprian who had before the Council of Carthage defended re-baptizing the Author of this errour saith he is no doubt in heaven the followers and practisers of it now goe to hell A Gentleman having by fatherly indulgence tolerated the humour of gaming and wenâ—hing in his son dis-inherited him for drinking saying of the first If he had wit he would not lose much by it and of the second that in time for his own case he would leave it but of the third he said he would prove the elder the viler and hardly ever amend it A certain man comming to Athens meeting one of his friends in the street desired him to shew him the rarities of the City His friend carried him to Solon but the man having viewed him some time would have gone farther no said his friend You have seen all Vidisti Solon vidisti omnia It is said of the Germans that they understand more than they can utter and drink more than they can carry A certain old man being asked why he wore his beard so large and long that beholding those grey hairs said he I may doe nothing unbeseeming them Cyrus was wont to say that a good Prince was like a good Shepherd who can by no other means grow rich than by making his flock to thrive under him A maid in Plutarch being to be sold in the Market when a Chapman asked her Wilt thou be faithful if I buy thee Yes said she â—tiamsi non emeris whether you buy me or no. Demosthenes said to him that objected that his Speech smelt of the candle I know my candle stands in your light The man being suspected for a thief Melancthon was used to say He that dealeth with some men had need to bring a Divine a Lawyer and a Souldier with him to get his right St. Bernard comming to the great Church
to the Haven A clown said to the Bishop of Collen praying in the Church like a Bishop but as he was Duke going guarded like a Tyrant Whither thinkest thou the Bishop shall go when the Duke shall be damned King Edward the 3d. having the King of France prisoner here in England and feasting him one time most sumptuously pressed him to be merry The French King answered How can we sing songs in a strange Land Calvin answered his friends with some indignation when they admonished him for his healths sake to forbear studying so hard What said he would you that my Master when he comes should find me idle Spiridion a godly Bishop in Cyprus having not what else to set before a guest that came to him in Leut set him a piece of pork to feed on and when the stranger made a scruple of eating flesh in Lent saying I am a Christian and may not do it Nay therefore thou mayst do it said he because to the pure all things are pure Dr. Preston on his death-bed said He should change his place not his company A certain stranger comming on Embassage to Rome and colouring his hair and pale cheeks with vermilion hue a grave Senator espying the deceit stood up and said What sincerity are we to expect at this mans hands whose loâ—ks and looks and lips do lye Sir Horatio Vere when in the Palatinate a Council of War was called and debated whether they should fight or not Some Dutch Lords said That the enemy had many peeces of Ordnance in such a place and therefore it was dangerous to fight That Nobleman replyed My Lords if you fear the mouth of the Cannon you must never come into the field Sir John Burroughs receiving a mortal wound in the Island of Rhees and being advised not to fear death but to provide for another world He answered I thank God I fear not death and these thirty years together I never arose in the morning that ever I made account to live while night A learned Frier at a Council complaining of the abuse of the Clergy Preaching before the Emperor wished him to begin a reformation of the Clergy à minoribus The Emperor thanked him for his Sermon and said He had rather begin à majoribus from the better sort of the Clergy Aristippus being told that Lais loved him not No more saith he doth wine nor fish yet I cannot be without them The Lord Burleigh being at Cambridge with Queen Elizabeth viewing the several Schools said Here I find one School wanting and that is the School of Discretion Henry the 4th told the Prince his Son Getting is a chance but keeping is a wit A Philosopher that hearing his creditor was dead kept the money which he had borrowed without witnesses a night or two but after some strugling with his conscience he carried it to his Executor saying Mihi vivit qui aliis mortuus est though he be ded to others he 's still alive to me Severus the Emperor having passed through many adventures at last died in our land overladen with troubles weighing with himself what his life had been he brake forth into these speeches I have been all that might be and now am nothing the better Scipio viewing his army said There was not one who would not throw himself from the top of a tower for love of him Hildebert Bishop of Mentz said of the Roman Courtiers Employ them not and they hinder you Employ them in your causes and they delay them if you sollicite them they scorn you if you enrich them they forget you When Antonius had made away his brother Geta after the first year of their joynt Empire he entreated Papinianus a famous Lawyer to plead his excuses Who answered It is easier Paricidium facere quam excusare thou mayst said he command my neck to the block but not my tongue to the bar I prize not my life to the pleading of an evil cause Simonides being asked what did soonest grow old among men Made answer A benefit Apollonius Thianaeus having travelled over all Asia Africk and Europe said There were two things whereat he marvelled most in all the world the first was that he always saw the proud man command the humble the quarrellous the quiet the tyrant the just the cruel the pitiful the coward the hardy the ignorant the skilful and the greatest thieves hang the innocent A Philosopher being asked how he could endure so ill a Wife as he had The answer which he gave was I have hereby a School of Philosophy in my house and learning daily to suffer patiently I am made the more milder with others Alexander seeing Diogenes tumbling among dead bones he asked him what he sought To whom the other answered That which I cannot find the difference between the rich and the poor Demonax asked one a question who answered him in old obsolete affected words Prethee fellow said he where are thy wits I ask thee a question now and thou answerest 400 years ago Albertus Duke of Saxony was wont to say that he had three wonders in one City viz. three Monasteries For the Fries of the first had children and yet no wives the Friers of the second had a great deal of corn and yet no land the Friers of the third abounded with moneys and yet had no rents A Captain sent from Cesar unto the Senators of Rome to sue for the prolonging of his government abroad understanding as he stood at the Council-chamber-door that they would not condiscend to his desire clapping his hand upon the pummel of his sword Well said he seeing you will not grant it him this shall give it him When Anne Bolen that vertuous Lady had received a message from Henry the 8th that she must instantly prepare her self for death answered That she gave him humble thanks for all his favours bestowed upon her as for making her of a mean woman a Marchioness of a Marchioness a Queen but especially seeing he could not on earth advance her to any greater dignity that he would now send her to rest and reign upon Gods high and holy throne When Tully was asked which Oration of Demosthenes he liked best He answered The longest Diogenes said of one That he cast his house so long out at the window that at last his house cast him out of the door having left nothing rich except a nose There are two saying fathered on two great Counsellors Secretary Walsingham and Secretary Ceâ—il one used to say at the Council-Table My Lords stay a little and we shall make an end the sooner The other would oft-times speak of himself It shall never be said of me that I will defer till to morrow what I can do to day Adrian the Sixt said A Physician is very necessary to a populous Country for were it not for the Physician men would live so long and grow so thick that one could not live for the other It was a bold answer Captain Talbot
You shall do your duty and I mine it is in you to kill me and in me to die without fear it is in you to banish me and in me to go to it cheerfully When Athanasius was banished by the Emperor Julian he said unto his friends that came to sorrow with him in his disgrace Courageâ— my children this is but a little cloud which will vanish presently Fabius Maximus having spoiled Tarentum and made it desolate with all kinds of cruelties when his Secretary came to ask him What shall we do with the enemies gods He answered Let us leave the angry gods unto the Tarentines Scanderbeg had it in particular in all his encounters and military actions always to begin his first Stratagems of Victory with the death of the head saying That the head should be first cut off and the rest of the body will fall alone and that he knew no kind of living creature that could survive the head being taken off It was a witty speech of him that said That mens actions were like notes of musick sometimes in spaces and sometimes in lines sometimes above and sometimes beneath and never or seldom straight for any long continuance Rubrius Flavius being condemned by Neroâ—o â—o lose his head when as the Executioner said unto him that he should stretch forth his neck boldly he answered Thou shalt not strike more boldly than I will present my head Croesus King of Lydia seeing Cyrus's souldiers running up and down the Town of Sardis he demanded whither they did run They go to the spoil of the Town answered Cyrus They take nothing from me replyed Croesus all they carry away is thine and not mine Signifying that the spoils of souldiers are the losses of the Conqueror rather than the conquered One demanded of Symâ—nides why he was so sparing in the extremity of his age For that said he I had rather leave my goods after my death to my enemies than in my life-time to have need of my friends When Antisthenes the Philosopher was in extream pain he cryed out Who shall deliver me from these miseries Diogenes presenting a knife unto him said This if thou wilt and that soon I do not say of my life replyed the Philosopher but of my pain One demanded of Cercidas the Megalapolitane if he died willingly Why not said he for after my death I shall see those great men Pythagoras among the Philosophers Hecateus among the Historians Homer among the Poets and Olympus among the Musicians A Babler demanding of Aristole if his discourse were not strange No answered he but yet a man having feet should not give himself so long patience to hear thee The Embassadors of Lacedemon being come to the King Lygdomnus he making difficulty to hear them and feigning himself sick the Embassadors said We are not come to wrestle with him but to speak with him Lewis the 11th of France one day went into the kitchin whereas he found a young lad turning the spit he demanded his name of whence he was and what he did earn This turn-spit who knew him not told his name and that though he were in the Kings service yet he got as much as the King For the King said he hath but his life and so have I God feeds the King and the King feeds me The Emperor Maximilian answered a Merchant who besought him to make him a Gentleman I can make thee much richer than thou art but it is not in my power to make thee a Gentleman Pope Julius the 2d having had a long feud with the Emperor Frederick against whom he had fought 12 Battels being one day gently admonished by the Arch-Bishop of Ostia how St. Peter his Predecessor was commanded to put up his sword 'T is true said Julius our Saviour gave the prime Apostle such a comand but 't was after he had given the blow and cut off Malchus ear Diogenes said That Troy was lost by horses and the Common-wealth of Athens by asses Alvaâ—o de Luna whom John King of Castile advanced and loved above all men of his Realm said to them that admired his fortunes Judge not of the building before it be finished He died by the hands of Justice Lewis the 1â—th King of France being but a child when crowned tired with being so long eight hours in the Church and bearing the Crown on his head with divers other heavy vests upon his body was asked what he would take to take the like pains again He answered For another Crown I would take double the pains Those of the Religion petitioning Lewis 13. for a continuance of holding their cautionary Townes as Hen. 3. and Hen. the great had done He told them What grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my Father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you noâ— love you The Marshal de Saint Geran comming to Sir Edward Herbert then Embassador from the King of England for the Rochellers after a counter-buff with Luynes the Constable and told him in a friendly manner you have offended the Constable and you are not in a place of security here Whereunto he answered That he held himself to be in a place of security wheresoever he had his sword by him The Duke of Suilli was a Favourite to Henry the 4th whom he had reduced from a Roman to be a Reformist when he was King of Navar onely and perswading him to become Roman again the Duke bluntly answered Sir you have given me one turn already you have good luck if you give me any more Lewis the 13th when but a youth he went to the Coutry of Bearn at his entrance to Pan the Inhabitants bringing a Canopy to carry over his Head He asked whether there was ever a Church in the Town And being answered No He said he would receive no honour in that place where God himself had no house to be honoured in William Prince of Orange to content those that reproved his too much humanity said That man is well bought who costs but a salutation A President of a Parliament in France whose friends came to see him at his new house began exceedingly to commend it for the rareness of the Workmanship and the goodness of the stone timber marble and such like You mistake said he the stuff whereof it is made the house is onely built de testes les fols of foolsheads Bias one of the seven wise men of Greece sailing in a ship where some fellows were that had given themselves over to lewdness and yet in a storm were calling unto their gods for help He said unto them Hold your peace for fear left the gods should know you be here Alexander Severus was wont to say That a Souldier is never afraid but when he seeth himself well apparelled and his Belt furnished with money Dionysius the Tyrant said We should deceive children with dice and cock-alls and men with Oaths Alexander the Great when one wondred
Sir said he your deeds answer your name righter than mine for your name is Elmar and you have marred all the Elms in Fulham by lopping them In the dayes of Edward the 6th the Lord Protector march't with a powerful Army into Scotland to demand their young Queen Mary in marriage to our King according to their promises The Scots refusing to do it were beaten by the English in Musleborough-fight One demanding of a Scotch Lord taken prisoner Now Sir how do you like our Kings mariage with your Queen I alwayes quoth he did like the marriage but I do not like the wooing that you should fetch a Bride with fire and sword Theocritus to an ill Poet repeating many of his verses and asking which he liked best Answered Those which he had omitted Castruccio of Luca saying to one that profest himself a Philosopher You are of the condition of dogs that alwayes goe about those who can best give them meat No sayes the party we are like Physicians who visit their houses that have most need of them Castruccio going from Pisa to Ligorn by water and a dangerous storm there arising and thereupon being much perplex'd was reprehended by one of his followers as pusillanimous saying himself was not afraid of any thing To whom Castruccio reply'd That he nothing marvel'd thereat for every one valu'd his life according to it's worth Being asked by one what he should doe to gain a good esteem He answered him See when thou goest to a Feast that a block sit not upon a block When one boasted that he had read many things Said Castruccio It were better thou couldst brag thou hast remembred much Another bragging Though he had tippled much he was not drunk Reply'd An Oxe doe the same Castruccio kept a young Lass which he lay with ordinarily and thereupon being reprov'd by a friend telling him that it was a great wrong to him that he had suffer'd himself to be so taken by a wench Thou art mistaken said he I took her not she me Being one night in a house of one of his Gentlemen where there were divers Ladies invited to a Feast and he dancing and sporting with them more than befitted his condition was reproved by a friend Answered He that is held a wise man in the day-time will never be thought a fool in the night When one ask'd him a favour with many and superfluous words Castruccio said to him Hereafter when thou wouldst any thing with me send another Having caus'd a Citizen of Luca to die who had help'd him in his rising to his greatnesse when it was said to him he had ill done to put to death one of his old friends He reply'd You are deceiv'd I have put to death a new enemy He said He wondred much at men that when they bought any vessel of earth or glass they sound it first whether it be good but in taking a wife they are content onely to see her Seeing that one had written upon his house in latine God keep the wicked hence Said The Master then must not enter here Treating with an Embassador of the King of Naples touching some goods of the Borderers whereat he was somewhat angry when then the Embassador said Fear you not the King then Castruccio said Is this your King good or bad And he answering That he was good Castruccio replyed Wherefore then should I be afraid of those that are good The Lord Tinteville said to a great Personage of France that none could write the life of his deceased Master Lewis the 11th so well as he To whom he answered wisely I am too much bound to him to speak the truth King James being invited in a hunting journey to dine with Sir Tho. J. of Barkshire turning short at the corner of a Common hapned near to a Country man sitting by the heels in the stocks who cryed Hosanna unto his Majesty which invited him to ask the reason of his restraint Sir Tho. said It was for stealing a goose from the Common The fellow reply'd I beseech your Majesty be Judge who is the greater thief I for stealing geese from the Common or his Worship for robbing the Common from the geese By my sale Sir said the King to Sir â—ho I se not dine to day on your dishes till you restore the Common for the poor to feed their flocks Which was forthwith granted to them and the witty fellow set free Prince Henry was never heard to swear an oath And it was remembred at his Funeral-Sermon by the Arch-Bishop That he being commended by one for not replying with passion in play or swearing to the truth He should answer That he knew no game or value to be won or lost could be worth an Oath There was a Duel between two eminent Persons of the Turks and one slain The Council of Bashaws reprehended the other thus How durst you undertake to fight one with the other Are there not Christians enough to kill Did you not know that whether of you were slain the loss would be the Great Seigniors King James having made a large and learned Speech to the Parliament the Lord Keeper as Speaker to the Peers whose place there usually adds to the Kings mind and meaning thus excuses himself After the Kings Eloquence to be silent not to enamel a gold ring with studs of iron As one sayes of Nerva That having adopted Trajane he was immediately taken away Ne post divinum immortale factum aliquid mortale saceret So he durst not after his Majesties divinum immortale dictum mortale aliquid addere Alphonsus King of Arragon seeing a young Lady dance with a Gentleman who made love to her said to him Comfort your self this Sybil will quickly render the Oracle you ask Because the Sybils gave no answers but in motion The Monk who ambitious of martyrdom told the Souldan That he was was come into his Court to die for Preaching of the Truth was answered He needed not to have rambled so far for death for he might easily find it among his Princes at home Antigonus being asked by his own son what time he would remove his Camp He said The sound of the trumpet should give them notice The Conspirator had learn'd the lesson of silence well who being asked his knowledge answered If I had known it you had never known it Pyrrhus King of the Eâ—irotes having in two set Battels with great loss of men put the Romans to the worst and hearing by a Favourite of his this his so great good fortune smoothingly congratulated He said unto him That two Victories indeed he had gotten of them but them so dear that should he at the same rate buy a third the purchase would no less than undo him A souldier of Augustus when his enemies throat was in his power hearing the Retreat sounded gave over his violence with these words Malo obedire Duci quà m occidere hostem The Janizaries are very true to a man that trusts
One asking a man that brought his Copies to the press Who the Author was He said 'T was one that desired to serve God invisibly My humbler ambition flies no such pitch 't is enough for me if it may but reach to the service of my friends of which number I know you to be so intensely one that as 't is said that Plutarch once being named the Eccho answer'd Philosophy so should I call R. I doubt not but it would return friendship This is the Happiness of him that cares not to sacrifice his credit to your worth T. F. To Mr. R. R. Sir THat my late lines have produced your later Letter I am not a little glad but that they should occasion a quarrel I should be more sorry If the exception be my fear of flatterie know that it was not the Height of your expressions but my own lowness that frighted me into such a fear Would not a little David think himself mock't to be proffer'd a Goliah's armour But for my part your merits are caveat sufficient to keep my words from the least suspition And the construction of my words will be best made by the Grammar-rule of friendship for I was never guilty of so much Rhetorick as to tell a learned lye My tongue and my pen if I deceive not my self are alwayes Relatives Because Favorinus praised the Feaver should not we praise Health And because some Romans sacrifice to that might not others to Aesculapius 'T were more shame to dâ—ny praises where they are due than to admit them where they are not Why therefore are you so bashful as if those parts something above the degree of admiration had erept into your bosome unawares And though your modesty is such as may silently shame my forwardness that you will not shew your self to the world like that plant in Pliny which buds inwardly and shooteth out no bud blossome or leaf outwardly yet give us leave to admire it though you bury your worth in the ore of obscuritie We count him a rich man that has his wealth in his chest not on his back yet excuse me if I think it an envious disposition in him that would play so softly on his Lute that none should hear but himself But whether is my pen stragled Surely as far from the matter of my first intentions as the answers of the two deaf persons were from one another that pleaded before a deaf Judge in the Greek Epigram To return therefore from my digression to your Letter How shall I interpret those expressions of exact ingenious and learned Comment rare transcendent and incomparable Answer not to say of flatterie but of very large Hyperbolies But you have made me amends for them when in the next sentence you handsomely call me fool under the name of the Indians where you tell me I look on my self afar off through a perspective and upon you near hand c. Me thinks I cannot obtein of my self to believe that I am farther from my self than I am from you and therefore the multiplying glass must go with the greater distance But I am afraid I have turn'd the wrong end and rather overseen than over-valu'd your crescent parts To your desire of seeing some other pieces of mine I must onely answer that I am very much unprovided of any for my store lies in a Chaos as yet unformed in mold unmelted or unminted but such as I have will be proud of your Sight and Censure And for a continuance of this literal correspondencie know that I cannot be so much an enemy to my self as not to desire it and with as much affection as I am Your humble Admirer T. F. To M. J. H. Honest Jack THe ancient Romans who made a Deity of every thing yet sacrificed not to death because from death are no Returns For the same reason should I not write to London and by consequence not to your self Trumpeters love to sound where there is an Eccho and I love to write whence I can hear an answer Seeing once a Weaver at work I observed that by casting his shuttle from one side to the other he finish'd his web Therein I saw a lively Embleme of friends correspondencie by letters if either fail the web's imperfect I make it now my imployment that the ball should not fall on my side I must confess I have been from home of late but now I am returned to that and to my custome Letters unanswered like meat undigested breed no sweet breath Well I shall expect an answer as long as the time I have waited for one till when I shall resolve to be Your most assured Friend T. F. To Mr. S. M. Sir OBliged by your courtesies your command and my duty that ingratitude must be more than Herculean that could break this three-fold tie I have resolved therefore now to be rather presumptuous than ingrateful that I may tender you thanks for the engagements you have laid upon me though the very act increase them and to assure you that I am nothing of the nature of that beast that is so forgetful that though he be feeding never so hard and hungrily if he cast but back his head forgets immediately the meat he was eating and runs to look after new And if my silence seems to accuse me believe me Sir it was meerly out to self-consciousness of my own unworthiness to present you with any thing worth the reading yet also remembring that the great Alexander would admit a return of Epistles between himself and Publius his Bit-maker I am a little encouraged you will at least pardon my poor scribling if not for it self or the sender yet because it carries thanks in the front and they are currant coyn and in which the poorest may be rich without â—ear of a Sequestration That word that ham-strings all industry and makes men embrace the Stoical saying for a Maxime Benè qui latuit benè vixit And truly for my part I think we are faln into Nero's age in which Tacitus saith Inertia sapientia fuit Sloth was a virtue When the Ship of the Common-wealth is steer'd by a Tempest 't is best lying still in the Harbour But I intend an Epistle no Satyre I am Sir without a complement your very humble servant T. F. To Mr. J. A. James PArdon the familiarity of the Title I use no complements to my friends not do I think them my friends that use them to me The Italians speak out of experience The more tongue the less heart and you know their Proverb La penna della Lingua si dove tingere nel inchiostro del cuore I could wish that all the letters of friends were like Tullies Epistolae Familiares and the Polite Polititian tells me that the greatest ornament of all Epistles is to be without any James I love thee I honour thee and that sine fuco sine fallaciis I would have my letters like the Herb Persica which the Egyptians offer'd to their
and that left me when I left London Like insects in Winter retired to their first nothing as resolving to enjoy no life in the absence of the Sun their Father Since I cannot encircle you in person let me embrace your picture and let your pen supply the silence of your tongue If you will sometimes vouchsafe me this happiness I shall quit scores with my wishes and resolve to be no happier in this unhappy Age. Thus because you have expected it long I have at length returned you a long Letter to assure you that I am and most sincerely Sir your Friend and Servant T. F. To Mr. C. A. Sir THis Letter must begin where yours ended ' because what you commend to me as an object of my pitie hath been the subject of my thoughts for it is impossible my friends should suffer any loss and my self not be sensible of and sorrowful for it If the stream of your grief may be substracted by division I refuse not and that willingly to take my part that yours may be the less The cause that challengeth our grief for now 't is mine as well as yours speaks it self in the loss of a Friend of a Mother To begin with that ends all Death me thinks I can find as little cause to lament as to wonder at it it being so general a necessitie that none ever did or ever shall avoid it We were born to live and live to die It is the onely thing we can here expect without a fortassâ— the onely certainty of which we cannot be deprived Epictetus wondred no more to see a mortal man dead than to see an earthen pitcher broken And as wise a Philosopher as the former entertained the newes of his Sons deaths with no more but a Scivi eos mortales esse natos As being a greater wonder that they should have so long than that they died so soon Why should we wonder or grieve to see one goe before us the same way that we our selves must follow Vale vale nos tâ— sequemur was the solemn leave the Ancients took of their deceased friends and if we believe the Grammarians from thence we call a Funeral Exequiae the same being noted not without a silent lesson in our common custome of the Coarse's going before and the attendants following after It is Seneca's observation Nature hath ordained that to be common which we account so heavy that the cruelty of the fate may be lessened by the equality But 't is the death of a Mother and here nature and affection will put in a plea and plead prescription for our grief yet may we entertain our fortune with dry eys We know she was mortal and so liable to the common â—ate a mother and so by the order of nature to goe before her children She was before them that they might be after her It was thought ominous among the Jewes and not without the re-mark of a punishment for the Father to burie the Son as if it were an inversion of the course of nature and not to be seen without a Prodigie But I remember what the Schools teach That an Angel of an inferiour cannot enlighten a superiour Hierarchy Yet I presume you will excuse the rashness of the attempt since it proceeds from the affection of one devoted to be in all relations Sir your ready servant T. F. To Mr. C. A. Sir THat a discourse of death from a sick person and firm arguments from an infirm and shaking brain should have the good hap to rout or at least to prevent the triumph of your sorrows was certainly to be ascribed to the benevolent Planet that co-operated in their production or rather to your own more favourable Aspect I shall not pursue a flying enemy nor torture that argument to a martyrdome that is already a willing Confessor Your quoted Author hath expressed himself Fuller than the smalness of my reserve pretends to That the death of one breaks anothers heart is not safe to contradict since it hath obteined the general vote of a Proverb But I shall humbly adventure to lay the Scene at a greater distance and date it from that Golden Age when hearts were so entwined they could not part without breaking when that Gordian knot of amitie was not to be united till it were cut by the Sythe of him that out-conquers Alexanders sword Were it not to upbraid the present Age by the comparison I could willingly venture at a Character or Encomium of that venerable Friendship the Imitation of former and Despiar of later Ages But I shall do the subject more right to commend it to your more commanding Pen and study always to make good the precise value you are pleased to put upon Sir the meanest of your servants T. F. To Mr. D. P. Sir WHether this should be an Apologie for my former perhaps too frequent visits or my later as uncivil forbearance I know not since both have been equally liable to the piquant censures of detracting tongues and in so loud an accent that I question not but they have long since arrived your eares It is not my intention to make this paper guilty by relating those stories which would be tedious for me to write and troublesome for you to read Had they been vented with as much innocence as falshood I could have looked upon them as some pretty Romances and at once both laugh'd at the Relation and pitied the Relator But finding them so loaded with the over-weight of scandal as well as slander I should belye my own thoughts if I should not say they have touched the most sensible part of my soul That I have hitherto been silent and contented my self to be an auditor onely was that so if it had been possible they might have found a grave in their birth And it is a common saying among the Jewes That lyes have their feet cut off they cannot stand long to what they say But since I see by what designe I know not that they have already out-lived the common age of a wonder though I know you are too wise to take up any ware upon trust from such walking-pedlers for so I am informed the original speaks a Tale-bearer I am not altogether diffident of your pardon if I shall enter my protests which is all the re-action I shall endeavour that whatever some have fancied or others reported I never propounded any other end to my self either in a direct or collateral line in my approches than to make my self happy by the enjoyment of your societie This was the cause that inducted me into your acquaintance and I am not conscient to my self of any Apostacy from my first resolutions or that those real intentions have suffered any dilapidations I must confess 't was my ambition to rival your goodness and to make my respects iâ— it had been possible as infinite as your merit and I have read that excesses in friendship are not onely tolerable but laudable But that what I
that I might have done you a greater courtesie to have forborn them now Onely this rudeness may serve to let you see how much I esteem you my friend in that I have taken no more care to entertain you with that studied respect which I should to any but my Familiar I shall not Apologize for the rudeness of this undrest Pamphlet which now waits upon you in obedience to your call nor tell you that I desire you would read it to your own ears onely nor that I shall long to see it again But onely desire you to remember what place you hold in the number of his first friends who is Sir your old Friend and Servant T. F. To M. C. F. Sir I Have heard of those men-moles that Nerâ—like rip up the entrails of their Mother Earth to plunder her of her hidden Excrements who many times dig so long under ground that they meet with their own graves before they are willing though none of the best men yet have they this good qualitie that they are continually calling and talking to one another that if a sudden damp should surprize any of them the rest may speedilie be readie to help and assist them It is no shame for the best to learn what 's good though from the worst of men Considering therefore the many clouds and vapours that continually are readie to overwhelm and stifle us in this vault of earth where we are but day-labourers it is a necessarie dutie of friends to be frequent in these Offices of friendship How unhappie had I been had that boisterous wind blown down your earthlie tabernacle and deprived me of a friend without any warning And though my eyes and ears were lately the happie witnesse of your recoverie Yet me thinks I know not how to credit them till you vouchsafe to give it me under your hand and seal and confirm to me the continuance of my health and happiness in yours Certainly there is more intended in these visits than common custome and complement Letters are the lawful Spies and Intelligencers of amitie the honourable Leigers to continue a good correspondencie amongst friends And if as our late Physicians hold most diseases and distempers of the bodie are occasioned by the stopping of the bloods circulation surely the omitting of these correspondencies breed no good blood but like the intermitting pulse proclame the decay if not the death of friendship It is not enough that you are alive and well unless you tell me so and communicate your happiness to me by the information I cannot safely say I am well unless I know my friends are so who are my self Let your Letters sometimes tell me how I do and be at once my physick and Physician and I shall duly pay you the Fee of being Sir your officious servant T. F. To Mr. S. S. Sir HAving sounded a retreat to my self from my former perhaps too familiar converse with the world being able by experience to confirm the wise mans censure that it is not only vanity but vexation of spirit I have confined my self to my own home Yet because man is Animal sociale and God himself thought it not fit for Him to be alone I have undertaken that lawful Negromancie to converse with the dead the best and most impartial instructors I shall make bold in obedience to your command from your well-furnished Market to borrow some supply For knowledge is truly pabulum Animae and Books the best Caterers of that entertainment Had I time I would venture at an Encomium of those best of Companions But the messenger stayes and I cannot Let me therefore without a Preface crave the priviledge of your Fuller from whose Pisgath I am ambitious to take a view of that Holy Land for which and your many former favours I must subscribe my self Sir yours obliged T. F. To Mr. T. L. Sir AMongst the ill turns of my cross fortune it was not the least that I could not attein the happiness of seeing you when last in London though your goodness often endeavoured it and I was not idle in the like returns If you will pardon me my City-misfortune in recompence I will enjoyn my self the penance or rather the happiness of a twelve miles pilgrimage to kiss your hands at your own home when the weather and the way shall so far be-friend me In pursuance of that service I owe you I have now sent c. I suppose you expect and I presume as good and as cheap as you could have bought them For I would willingly obtein your belief that my service to my friends is not mercenary and that I look not to be paid again for those acts of dutie which your courtesies have paid me for before-hand This is no complement but the real though ex tempore dictates of my Heart Sir your humble servant T. F. To Dr. S. Noble Dr. THe ingenious Italians have three significant phrases whereby they character a work exactly done They say it was performed Con diligenza con studio con amore Without any ambition I must crave leave to tell you that in order to the content I take in serving my friends and especially your self to whom I am bound by so many repeated acts of friendship I have not failed in any of those particulars in my search for For to have enjoy'd the pleasure of satisfying your expectations I used all the diligence and care that could be thought on For I think I left not a shop unvisited though yours were my onely errand and but for one place I must have returned with a non est inventus Sir your goodness makes me apt to believe that you will not censure the Act by the Issue and I shall live in hope that some other command may render me more happy in the performance Let the shortness of my time and paper excuse this abrupt tender of my thanks and service to your self your good bedfellow and the rest of your happie Familie and do me the favour or rather the justice to believe me to be Sir your very ready and real servant T. F. To Mr. S. S. Sir AS needie debtors pay one sum but with an intent to borrow a bigger so I send you home three Books with a request to borrow a fourth Thus doe I link your courtesies and my engagements together and knowing the undoubted fertilitie of your friendship I shall make every former favour the Parent of another So that if it be a fable that Pliny tells of some Mice in Caria that are so fruitful that the young ones are with young in their Dams belly The pregnant acts of your Friendship may be the Moral I shall therefore request the use of your Plutarch's Morals which I doubt not will instruct me how to return you due thanks for your many courtesies whereby you have so many times bound me to be Sir your thankeful Friend and Servant T. F. To Mr. C. F. Sir OF all pleasures reading is the best of
fame Where every whisper every sound Is taken at the first rebound And like an aiëry bubble blown By vainer breath till it be grown Too big to be conceal'd it flies About a while gaz'd at then dies Something he tells and hasts away He could not and fame would not stay To near the rest for she well knew By mixing of false tales with true To make it more To Rome she plyes Her greatest Mart of truths and lyes The gods says she will dwell on earth And give themselves a mortal birth But they of fame had got the ods For they themselves made their own gods And car'd not to encrease their store For they had gods enough before To Solyma she takes her flight And puts the Citie in a fright Unwelcome newes fills Herods ears And then his head with thoughts and fears The King of whom the Sages told And all the Prophecies of old Is born sayes fame a King who shall Deliver Judah out of thrall Kings shall his subjects be and lay Their scepters at his feet his sway Shall know no bounds nor end but he Beyond all time so fates decree By this the Sun had cross'd the seas And told the newes to th' Antipodes The aiëry spirits pack'd hence away Chas'd by the beams of this bright day The fiends were in an uproar hell Trembl'd with the dismal yell The Prince of darkness was in doubt The Lord of light would find him out And that the word of truth being come His oracles must all be dumb Pale death foresaw he was betray'd That King of terrors was afraid Glory be to God above For this miracle of love Ever blessed be the morn When the God of Love was born Love so charming that it can Contract a God into a Man And by the magick of his birth Make an Heaven of the Earth Ever ever sing we thus Till Angels come and joyn with us They rejoyce with all their powers Yet the Benefit is Ours They with joy the tydings bring Shall We be silint when They sing The 25. Cap. of Job Paraphras'd Then Bildad answers dominion and fear Which rule us mortals loe his In-mates are Can numbers shallow bounds confine his hoasts Or does his light baulk any unknown coasts Can man be Gods Corrival to be just Can he be clean that is defiled dust The Moon in th' ocean of his light is drown'd The stars impure in his bright eyes are found Then what is man alas poor worthless span Or what 's his son a worm less than a man 35. Cap. of Job Then 'gan Elihu speak vileness dost dare Thy righteousness with Gods thus to compare Thou sayst what gain will righteousness bring in Or shall I thrive by that more than by sin I 'll answer thee Behold the clouds that stand His surer guard against thy sinning hand Legions of doubled sins cannot assault Thy God or pierce his starry-guarded vault Nor can thy stock of good encrease his store Thy hand may hurt or help like thee the poor c. On the Widows 2 Mites How comes it that the widows mites are more Than the abundance the rich gave the poor Whilst they their worldly goods lib'rally hurl'd She gave her heart more worth than all the world On Christs Cross As from a Tree at first came all our woe So on a tree our remedie did grow One bare the fruit of death the other life This was a well of Salem that of strife On Christs Death and Resurrection What can God die or man live being slain He dy'd as man as God he rose again Gen. 2. 18. When man was made God sent an helper to him And so she prov'd for she help'd to undoe him On the miracle of the Loaves This was a miracle indeed when bread Was by substraction multiplied Why wonder we at this strange feast When Gods's both giver and a guest On Christ's Resurrection The Lord of life lay in a tomb as in the womb His Resurrection was a second birth from th'womb of th' earth On M. M. weeping at Christs death What weep to see thy Saviour die Whereby thou liv'st eternally But now I know 't was cause thy sins Were the sharp spears that wounded him Mark 12. Give to God c. And to Caesar c Give God and Caesar both how shall I do Give Gods receiver and thou giv'st him too On the world That the worlds goods are so inconstant found No wonder is for that it self is Round Similis simili gaudet Wherefore doth Dives love his Money so That 's earth So 's Hee Like will to like we know On Calvus Calvus of late extream long locks doth wear The reason is Calvus hath lost his Hair On Malâ—ido Malâ—ido on his neighbour looks so grim Proximus is Postremus sure with him On Will who had run through all trades and was now a Cobler I prethee Will whither wilt thou so fast Thou canst not farther for th' art at thy Last Better fortune Whilst that the Huntsman stared he became Unto his dogs their banquet and their game But from Acteons fortune I am free Because whilst I saw her she could not me On Cornuto Cornuto cries Hee 's weary of his life He cannot bear the Lightness of his wife She wants so many Grains she 'l go with loss Yet a Light Woman is an Heavie Cross Mart. Ep. 24. lib. 2. If unjust fortune hale thee to the bar In rags paler than guilty prisoners are I 'll stick to thee banîshd thy native soyl Through Seas and Rocks I will divide thy toyl On one who fell in love with Julia throwing Snow-balls at him I 'me all on fire strange miracle of Love These Watry Snow-bals Hand-Granadoes prove If from cold clouds thou dost thy lightnings dart Julia what Element will â—ence my heart J. Cesaris Epigram A Thracian lad on Ice-bound Heber playes The glassie Pavement with his waight decayes Whilsts with his lower parts the river fled The meeting Ice cut off his tender head Which having found the Son-less mother urnd Those to be drownd were born this to be burnd Hensii Epitaph Trina mihi juncta est variis aetatibus vxor Haec Juveni illa viro tertia nupta seni est Prima est propter Opus teneris sociata sub annis Altera propter Opes tertia propter Opem Englished Three wives I had in severall ages Past A Youth a Man an old man had the last The first was for the Work a tender maid The second was for VVealth the third for Ayd Out of Italian My Mistris hath my heart in hold But yet 't is under locks of gold In which the wind doth freely play But my poor heart doth prisoner stay What happier prison can there be Confinement is my libertie H. Grotius S. Petâ—i Querela Quae me recondet recondet regio quâ moestum diem Fallam latebrâ quaero nigrantem specum Quâ me sepeliem vivus ubi nullum videns Nulli videndus lachrymas foveam meas Englished