of Arms. And because they were to go against a King who was no less mighty and puissant than warlike as was the King of France there ought to be a time to make necessary provision for a War of so great importance The Embassador presently to no purpose or reason added these words Anchio hodetto piâ— volte questo medesimo à sua sanctita which is to say And I have oftentimes said the same to his Holiness these words which shewed the will of the Embassadour to be different from that of his Prince gave great doubt and suspicion to the Kings Council and they began to doubt that the Embassadour was rather inclined to favour the King of France than the Pope his Master and setting secret Spies about him to observe his behaviour it was perceived that by night he spake secretly with the French Embassadour by which means he was undone and if he had fallen into the hands of the Pope he had peradventure put him to death However by his imprudent answer he both wronged himself and was the occasion that the King of England was constrained to begin the War sooner than he would who in deferring the succours had possibly accorded the controversie betwixt the Pope and the French King 7. Demaratus which should have succeeded in the Kingdom of Sparta was deprived thereof by Ariston his father for one only imprudent word uttered without consideration in the Senate Which was that news being brought unto him that he had a son born he counted upon his fingers how long his Wife had been with him and seeing that there were no more than sâ—ven Months and that usually women are delivered at nine he said It is not possible that he should be my son these words turned to the great damage of Demaratus for after the death of Ariston his father the Spartans refused to give him the Kingdom because the Ephori bare record that Ariston had said that it was not possible that Demaratus born at the end of seven Months should be his son and that he had bound it with an Oath 8. Renzo de Ceri a most honourable Captain in hâ—s time was in the pay and â—ervice of Lawrence de Medici against Francis Maria Duke of Vrbin This Captain was advertised that certain Spanish Captains had plotted a Treason to deliver the Duke of Vrbin into the hands of the Duke of Florence wherefore the said Renzo talking with a Drum demanded of him in jest and laughing but with great inconsideration When will these Spaniards deliver your Duke Prisoner The Drum made no answer but being returned to the Camp he reported to his Duke the words which Renzo had used to him without any necessity or reason wherefore the Duke of Vrbin having engraven them in his heart stood upon his guard and marked the behaviour of the Spanish Captains In the end through certain Letters and writings found amongst their Baggage the truth appeared and the Conspirators against Duke Francis were known who were committed to Prison and convict of Treason Thus Renzo was the cause why the Treason took no effect the Captains were dispatched and that Lawrence his Master made not so soon an end of the Wars as otherwise he might probably have done 9. Famous was the Contention between Chrysostom on the one part and Thâ—ophilus Cyril and Epiphanius on the other about the burning or not burning of Origens Books all good and great men yet they grow so hot that because Chrysostom would not consent to the burning Theophilus and Cyril would hardly acknowledge him a lawful Bishop and Epiphanius in bitter chiding fell to such choler as he said he hoped he should not die a Bishop To whom Chrysostom answered as eagerly again That he trusted he should never return alive into his own Country of Cyprus which chiding words were not so bitter in sound as afterwards they proved true indeed For both Epiphanius died before he gat home to Cyprus and Chrysostom being put out of his Bishoprick ended his life in banishment CHAP. XXI Of the dangerous and destructive curiosity of some men VEssalius was busied in the dissection of the body of a Person of Quality meaning to find out the root of that distemper which was supposed to have given him his death when to his grief he found that which he looked not for The heart panted and there appeared other convincing signs that the unfortunate Noble-man might have lived had not he been so unseasonably Butchered this cost the Anatomist much trouble and disgrace and it hath fallen out with many others in the like maâ—ner who while they have been gratifying their curiosity have occasioned irreparable injuries to themselves or others 1. Cornelius Agrippa living in Lorrain had a young man who Tabled with him one day being to go abroad he left the Keys of his Study with his Wife but with great charge to keep them safe and trust them to no man The youth over-curious of Novelty never ceased to importune the woman till â—he had lent him the Key to take view of his Library he entred it and light upon a Book of Conjurations wherein reading he straight hears a great bouncing at the door but not minding that he reads on the knocking grew greater and louder but he making no answer the Devil breaks open the door and enters enquires what he commands him to have done or why he was called the youth amazed and through extreme fear not able to answer the Devil â—eises upon him and wriths his neck in sunder Agrippa returns and finds the young man dead and the Devils insulting over the Corpse he retires to his Art and calls his Devil to an account of what had been done who told him all that had passed then he commanded the Homicide to enter the body and walk with him into the Market-place where the Students were frequent and after two or three turns there to forsake the body he did so the body falls down dead before the Scholars all judge the reason of it some sudden fit of an Apoplexy but the marks about his neck and jaws rendred it somewhat suspicious Agrippa concealed this story in Lorrain but being banished thence he afterwards feared not to publish it in Lorrain 2. The Emperour Carracalla had a curiosity to know the name of him who was most like to succeed him and employed one Maternianus to enquire amongst the Magicians of the Empire by whom accordingly he was advertised that Macrinus was to be the man the Letters being brought unto Carracalla as he was in his Charriot were by him delivered with the rest of his Pacquets to the hands of Macrinus who was Captain of his Guard and by his oâ—fice to attend upon the person of the Emperour that he might open them and signifie unto him the contents thereof at his better leisure Macrinus finding by these the danger in which he stood resolved to strike the first blow and to that end entrusted
day of his Nativity which was the 13 th of the Calends of May. 13. The Emperour Charles the Fifth was born on the day of Matthias the Apostle on which day also in the course of his Life was King Francis taken by him in battel and the Victory likewise won at Biccoque he was also Elected and Crowned Emperour on the same day and many other great Fortunes befel him still on that day 14. M. Ofilius Hilarus an Actor of Comedies after he had highly pleas'd the people upon his birth-day kept a Feast at home in his own house and when Supper was set forth upon the Table he call'd for a mess of hot broth to sup off and withal casting his eye upon the Visor he had worn that day in the play he fitted it again to his face and taking off the Garland which he wore upon his bare head he set it thereupon in this posture disguized as he sat he was stark dead and cold too before any person in the company perceived any such thing 15. Augustus Caesar had certain Anniversary sicknesses and such as did return at a stated and certain time he commonly languished about the time of his birth-day which was the ninth of the Calends of October a little before Sun-rise M. Tullius Cicero and Antonius being Consuls 16. On the contrary the birth-days of some Men have been very fortunate to them as was that of the great Captain Timoleon general of the Syracusans who obtained for them the chiefest of his Victories upon the day of his birth which thereupon was annually and Universally celebrated by the Syracusans as a day of good and happy fortune to them 17. It is said of Iulius Caesar that he had often found the Ides of Iuly to be very happy and auspicious to him at which time he was also born 18. King Philip of Macedon us'd to celebrate the day of his birth with extraordinary joy as the most favourable and fortunate to him of all other for once upon that day he had a triplicity of good tydings that he was Victor in the Chariot race in the Olympicks that Parmenio his General had gain'd a most important victory and that the Queen Olympias was delivered of his Son Alexander 19. Ophioneus was one amongst the Messenians had the gift of Prophecy and Pausanias says of him that immediately after his birth-day he was annually stricken with blindness nor is that less wonderful in the same person that after a vehement fit of the Head-ach he would begin to see and then presently fall from thence into his former blindness 20. It is a note worthy to be remembred that Thursday was observ'd to be a day fatal to King Henry the Eight and to all his Posterity for he himself died on Thursday the 28 th of Ianuary King Edward the Sixth on Thursday the sixth of Iuly Queen Mary on Thursday the seventeenth of November and Queen Elizabeth on Thursday the four and twentyeth of March 21. Franciscus Baudinus an Abbot a Citizen of Florence and well known in the Court of Rome died upon the Anniversary return of his birth-day which was upon the 19 th day of December he was buried in the Church of St. Silvester in Rome and it was the observation of him that made his Funeral Elegy that the number nine did four times happen remarkably in his affairs he was born on the 19 th day and died on the same being aged twenty nine and the year of our Lord being at that time 1579. 22. Wednesday is said to have been fortunate to Pope Sixtus the Fifth for on that day he was born on the same day made a Monk on that day created General of his Order on the same made Cardinal then chosen Pope and finally on the same inaugurated 23. Friday was observ'd to be very lucky to the great Captain Gensalvo on that day having given the French many notable overthrows Saturday was as fortunate to Henry the Seventh King of England CHAP. VII Of the Signatures and natural marks upon the bodies of some Men. IN Sicily there have been often digg'd up bones of a monstrous and prodigious bigness in all appearance resembling those of a humane body but whether they were the Skeletons of deceased Gyants whether bred and form'd in the Earth by some peculiar influx of the Stars and secret propriety of the Mould whether made by the Artifice of Man and there buried to beget wonder in after times or by the Devils to promote some of their malicious ends is yet variously disputed So concerning the causes of those impressions which some bodies bring upon them from the Womb and carry with them to their Graves there is not so great a clearness as not to leave us in some doubts For if the most of them are occasion'd through the strength of the Mothers imagination there have been others of so peculiar a Form so remote from being thought to leave such lively touches upon a Womans fancy so continued to the Descendants of the same Family and so agreeable with the after fortunes of the person so signed as may possibly encline unto farther enquiries Marinus Barletius reports of Scanderbeg Prince of Epirus that most terrible enemy of the Turks that from his Mothers Womb he brought with him into the World a notable mark of Warlike Glory for he had upon his right Arm a Sword so well set on as if it had been drawn with the pencil of the most curious and skilful Painter in the World 2. Among the people called the Dakes the Children usually have the Moles and Marks of them from whom they are descended imprinted upon them even to the fourth generation 3. Laodice the Wife of Antiochus dream'd that she received a Ring from Apollo with an Anchor engraven upon it Seleucus the Child that she then went with who afterwards was remarkable for his famous exploits was born with an Anchor impress'd upon his Thigh and so also his Sons and Grand-children carry'd the same mark upon the same place from the time of their birth 4. In the Race and Family of the Lepidi it is said there were three of them not successively one after another but out of order and after some intermission who had each of them when thâ—â— were born a little pannicle or thin skin growing over the eye 5. It is observ'd by Plutarch that the resemblance of the Natural properties or corporal marks of some Parents are continued in their Families for many Descents yea and sometimes not appearing in the second or third generation do nevertheless shew themselves in the fourth or fifth or others ensuing some Ages after whereof he brings an example of one in his time call'd Python who being descended of the Spartiatae the Founders of Thebes and being the last of that Race was born with the figure of a Lance upon his body which had been in former Ages a natural
the saddle and left a wound upon the back of the Horse The Mahometans observing that terrible blow provoked him no farther but departed as they came The Almain without mending his pace came up safely to the rest of the Army 26. Iohn Courcy Baron of Stoke Courcy in Somersetshire the first Englishman that subdued Vlster in Ireland and deservedly was made Earl of it he was afterwards surprised by Hugh Lacy corrivaâ— to his title sent over into England and by King Iohn imprisoned in the Tower of London A French Castle being in controversie was to have the title thereof tryed by combat the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy being a lean lank body with staring eyes is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because enfeebled with long durance a large bill of Fare was allowed him to recruit his strength The Monsieur hearing how much he had eat and drank and guessing his courage by his stomach or rather stomach by his appetite took him for a Cannibal who would devour him at the last course and so he declined the Combat Afterwards the two Kings desirous to see some proof of Courcy's strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him Courcy looking about him with a grim countenance as if he intended to cut with his eyes as well as with his arms sundred the Helmet at one blow striking his Sword so deep into the wood that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly Had I said he fail'd of my design I would have killed the Kings and all in the place Words well spoken because well taken all persons present being then highly in good humour He died in France anno Dom. 1210. 27. Polydamus the Son of Nicias born at Scotussa in Thessalia was the tallest and greatest man of that age his strength was accordingly for he slew a Lion in the Mount Olympus though unarm'd he singled out the biggest and fiercest Bull from a whole Herd took hold of him by one of his hinder feet and notwithstanding all his struggling to get from him he held him with that strength that he left his hoof in his hand being afterwards in a Cave under a Rock the earth above began to fall and when all the rest of his company fled for fear he alone there remain'd as supposing he was able with his Arms to support all those ruines which were coming upon him but this his presumption cost him his life for he was there crush'd to death 28. Ericus the second King of Denmark was a person of huge Stature and equal strength he would throw a Stone or a Javelin as he sate down with much greater force than another that stood as he sate he would struggle with two men and catching one betwixt his knees would there hold him till he had drawn the other to him and then he would hold them both till he had bound them He also would take a rope by both the ends of it and holding it thus in his hands sitting he gave the other part of it to four strong men to pull against him but while they could not move him from his seat he would give them such girds now with the right and then with the left hand that either they were forced to relinquish their hold or else notwithstanding all they could do to the contrary he would draw them all to the feat where he sate 29. The Emperour Tiberius had the joynts of his Fingers so â—irm and strongly compacted that he could thrust his Finger through a green and unripe Apple and could give a â—illip with that force that thereby he would break the head of a lusty man CHAP. XXV Of the marvelous fruitfulness of some and what number of their descendants they have liv'd to see also of superfoetation IN the front of this Discourse it will not be amiss to revive the memory of a Roman Matron in whom there were so many wonders concentred that it would almost be no less to forget her Ausonius calls her Callicrate and thus Epitapheth for her as in her own person Viginti atque novem genitrici Callicrateae Nullius Sexus mors mihi visa fuit Sed centum quinque explevi bene messibus annos Intremulam baculo non subeunte manum Twenty nine birth 's Callicrate I told And of both Sexes saw none sent to grave I was an hundred and five Summers old Yet stay from staff my hand did never crave A rare instance which yet in the two former respects you will find surpass'd in what follows 1. There lyes a Woman bury'd in the Church at Dunstable who as her Epitaph testifies bore at three several times three Children at a Birth and five at a Birth two other times 2. Elionora Salviata the Wife of Bartholomew Frescobald a Citizen of Florence was delivered of fifty and two Children never less than three at a Birth 3. One of the Maid-servants of Augustus the Emperour was delivered of five Children at a Birth the Mother together with her Children were bury'd in the Laurentine way with an Inscription upon them by the order of Augustus relating the same 4. Also Serapia a Woman of Alexandria brought forth five Children at one Birth saith Coelius 5. Anno 1553. The Wife of Iohn Gissinger a Tigurine was delivered of Twins and before the year was out brought at once five more three Sons and two Daughters 6. Here is at Bononia one Iulius Seutinarius yet living and is also a fruitful Citizen himself he came in the World with six Births and was himself the seventh his Mother was the Sister of D. Florianus de Dulphis my Kinsman saith Carpus 7. Thomas Fazel writes that Iane Pancica who in his time was marryed to Bernard a Sicilian of the City of Agrigentum was so fruitful that in thirty Childbirths she was delivered of seventy and three Children which saith he should not seem incredible seeing Aristotle affirms that one Woman at four Births brought forth twenty Children at every one â—ive 8. There is a famous story of the beginning of the Noble Race of the Welfs which is this Irmentrudes the Wife of Isenbard Earl of Altorf had unadvisedly accus'd of Adultery a Woman that had three Children at one Birth being not able to believe that one man could at one time get so many Children adding with all that she deserv'd to be sow'd up in a Sack and thrown into the River and accusing her in that regard to the Earl her Husband It hapned that the next year the Countess felt her self with Child and the Earl being from home she was brought to Bed of twelve Male-children but all of them very little She fearing the reproach of Adultery whereof yet she was not guilty commanded that eleven of them should be taken and cast into a River not far from the House
with Arrows Those of his Company having almost reached the top of the Wall were slain with Stones or wounded and carried into the Camp 27. The Romans having won the Tower Antonia the Jews â—led into the Inner Temple and there maintained sight from the ninth hour of the night to the seventh hour of the day at which time the Romans had the worst of it This was observed by Iulian a Centurion born in Bithinia who at that time stood by Titus in Antonia he therefore presently leaped down thence and all alone pursued the Jews who had the Victory in the Inner Temple And the whole multitude â—led deeming him by his force and tourage not to have been a man in the midst of them he slew all he lighted upon whilst for haste the one overturned the othe This deed seemed admirable to Caesar and terrible to his Enemies Yet did the destiny befal him which no man can escape for having his Shooes full of sharp Nails as other Soldiers have running upon the Pavement he slipped and fell down his Armour in the fall making a great noise whereat his Enemies who before fled now turned again upon him Then the Romans in Antonia fearing his life cryed out but the Jews many at once strook him with Swords and Spears He defended many blows with his Shield and many times attempting to rise they strook him down again yet as he say he wounded many neither was he quickly slain because the nobler parts of his body were all armed and he shrunk in his neck a long time till other parts of his body being cut off and no man helping him his strength failed Caesar sorrowed to see a man of that force and fortitude slain in the sight of such a multitude The Jews took his dead body and did beat back the Romans and shut them in Antonia only the brave Iulian left behind him a renowned memory not only amongst the Romans and Caesar but also amongst his Enemies CHAP. XXXVII Of the fearless Boldness of some Men and their desperateâ— solutions SOme men have within them a Spirit so daring and adventurous that the presence and more than probability of any disaster whatsoever is not able to conjure down To desperate Diseases they apply as desperate Remedies and therein Fortune sometimes so befriends them that they come off as successfully with their Presumptions and Temerities as others who mannage their Counsels with the greatest care and conduct they are able 1. A Dutch Sea man being condemned to death his Punishment was changed and he was ordered to be left at St. Hellen's Island This unhappy person representing to himself the horrour of that Solitude fell upon a resolution to attempt the strangest action that ever was heard of There had that day been interred in the same Island an Officer of the Ship The Sea-man took up the body out of the Coffin and having made a kind of Rudder of the upper board ventured himself to Sea in it It happened fortunately to him to be so great a Calm that the Ship lay immoveable within a League and half of the Island when his Companions seeing so strange a Boat â—loat upon the Waters imagined they saw a Spectre and were not a little startled at the resolution of the man who durst hazard himself upon that Element in three boards slightly nailed together though he had no confidence to find or be received by those who had so lately sentenced him to death Accordingly it was put to the question whether he should be received or not some would have the Sentence put in execution but at last mercy prevailed and he was taken aboard and came afterwards to Holland where he lived in the Town of Horn and related to many how miraculously God had delivered him 2. The French King Charles the Eighth through the weakness of Peter de Medices in his Government had reduced the City of Florence unto such hard terms that he had the Gates of it set open to him he entred it not professing himself friend or foe to the Estate in a triumphant manner himself and his Horse armed with his Lance upon his thigh Many Insolences were committed by the French so that the Citizens were driven to prepare to fight for their Liberty Charles propounds intolerable Conditions demanding high summs of money and the absolute Rule of the State as by right of Conquest he having entred armed into it But Peter Caponi a principal Citizen catching these Articles from the King's Secretary and tearing them before his face bad him sound his Trumpets and they would ring their Bells Which bold and resolute words made the French better to bethink themselves and came readily to this Agreement that for forty thousand pounds and not half that money to be paid in hand Charles should not only depart in peace but restore whatever he had of their Dominion and continue their assured friend 3. Henry Earl of Holsatia sirnamed Iron because of his strength being gotten into great favour with Edward the Third King of England by reason of his Valour was envied by the Courtiers who one day in the absence of the King counselled the Queen that for as much as the Earl was preferred before all the English Nobility she would make tryal whether he was so nobly born as he gave out by causing a Lyon to be let loose upon him saying that the Lyon would not so much as touch Henry if he was Noble indeed They got leave of the Queen to make this Tryal upon the Earl He was used to rise before day and to walk in the base Court of the Castle to take the fresh Air of the morning The Lyon was let loose in the night and the Earl having a night Gown cast over his Shirt with his Girdle and Sword and so coming down the Stairs into the Court met there with the Lyon bristling his hair and roaring he nothing astonished said with a stout voice Stand stand you Dog At these words the Lyon couched at his feet to the great amazement of the Courtiers who looked out of their holes to behold the issue of this business The Earl laid hold of the Lyon and shut him within his Cage he left his Night-cap upon the Lyon's back and so came forth without so much as looking behind him Now said the Earl calling to them that looked out at the Windows let him amongst you all that standeth most upon his Pedigree go and fetch my Night-cap but they ashamed withdrew themselves 4. In the Court of Matthias King of Hungary there was a Polonian Soldier in the King's Pay who boasted much of his valour and who in a bravado would often challenge the Hungarians to wrastle or skirmish with the Sword or Pike wherein he had always the better One day as he stood by a great Iron Cage in which a Lyon was kept the greatest and fiercest that had been seen of a long time he began
he added the Estates thereof to the house of Austria He was coursely used in the Low Countries by a company of rude Mechanicks detained in Prison which he endured with patience and after nine Months freed himself with admirable prudence He was joined Emperour with his Father in his Fathers life-time with whom he Reigned seven years and after his decease he Reigned alone twenty five years more his Motto was Tene mensuram respice finem 97. Charles the â—iâ—th this man was the glory of the House of Austria a Puissant Prince he liked three Books especially Polybius's History Machiavel's Prince and Castalion's Courtier In fifteen Wars which he waged for the most part he was successful the last of which was by Cortez and Pizarro in the newly discovered parts of America where in twenty eight Battels he beâ—ame Master of so many Kingdoms Near home he took Rome by the Duke of Burbon captivated the French King Francis in the Battel of Pavia frighted Solyman the Turk from Vienna setled Muly Hassen in his Kingdom in Africk he defeated Barbarossa that formidable Pirat and took Tunis By the Popes continual instigations he carried a hard hand towards the Protestants whose patience and perseverance with intervenient crosses abated his edge at last Wearied at length with the Worlds incessant troubles he devested himself of all Imperial Authority and retired to a Monastery his Motto was Plus Vltra opposite to that of Hercules He Reigned thirty and seven years 98. Ferdinand the first Arch-Duke of Austria the brother of Charles King of Hungary and Bohemia elected King of the Romans by the procurement of Charles Anno 1531. upon whose resignation he was chosen Emperour Anno 1558. a compleat and judicious Prince Under him in the treaty of Passaw was granted Liberty of Conscience to the Professours of the Augustane Confession which much startled the Fathers of the Trent Council as also did the grant to the Bohemians for receiving the Supper in both kinds He subdued Iohn Sepusius Vaywode of Transylvania and strongly kept back the Turk from encroachments upon his Dominions his Motto was Fiat Iustitia pereat mundus 99. Maximilian the second the son of Frederick elected King of the Romans in the life of his Father Anno 1562. succeeded in the Empire after his decease He was constant to the Tenent that mens Consciences are not to be forced in matters of Religion In his time began the Wars in the Low Countryes chiefly occasioned by the Spanish cruelty executed by the Duke of Alva the Civil Wars in France the Massacre of the Protestants began at Paris the famous defeat was given to the Turks in the Sea-sight at Lepanto he Reigned twelve years married his two daughters to two Puissant Princes Elizabeth to Charles the ninth King of France and Anna his eldest to Philip King of Spain his Motto was Dominus providebit 100. Rodolphus the second the eldest son of Maximilian a Prince much addicted to Chymistry he granted liberty of Religion to the Protestants had great Wars against the Turks with whom in the year 1600. he concluded a Peace but being undermined by his brother Matthias was forced to surrender to him the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia and to content himself with Austria and the Empire only In his time Henry the fourth King of France was stab'd by Ravilliac and the Gunpowder Treason was hatched here in England his Motto was Omnia ex voluntate Dei 101. Matthias brother of Rodolphus King of Hungary Bohemia and Arch-Duke of Austria succeeded in whose time were sown the seeds of that terrible War which had almost destroy'd the Empire the Protestants standing for their Priviledges in Bohemia were withstood by some of the Emperours Council of whom they threw Slabata and Fabritius Smesantius with a Secretary out of a Window at Prague his Motto was Concordia lumine major Having no children he declared 102. Ferdinand the second of the House of Gratz to be Emperour this Prince was more zealously affected to the See of Rome than any of his Predecessours and a great enemy of the Protestant Religion occasioning thereby that long and bloody War in the Empire of Germany The King and Queen of Bohemia forsaken of their States are forced to â—ly he is proscribed and put out of his Elâ—ctâ—rship Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden like a tempest falls upon Germany and frâ—es divers oppressed Princes but at last was slain in the Battel at Lutzen uncertain whether by the â—nemy or the Treason of his own his Motto was Legitime certantibus 103. Ferdinand the third son of Ferdinand the second broke the great power of the Swedes who were called in for the support of the German liberty against the violent resolutions of Ferdinand the second For he overthrew them at the Battel of Norlingen This Prince is the twelfth Emperour of the House of Hapsburg anâ— the ninth of the House of Austria without intermission The cause of which is to be attributed to Charles the fifth who procured in his life-time that his brothâ—r might be chosen King of the Romans as his Successour in the Empire A Policy which hath ever since been continued by his Successours and the Germans are the more willing to hâ—arken to it because the Austrian Princes are not only Natives but also better able to back the Empire in its compleat Majesty than any other of the Nation The Motto of this Emperour is Pietate Iustitia In the Collection of these Emperours I have made use of Suetonius Zonaras Carion ....... Heylen Sympson Prideaux and others CHAP. II. Of the Eastern Greek and Turkish Emperours 1. COnstantinus aged thirty one in the year 306. took upon him the care of the Empire he overcame Maxentius and Licinius restored Peace to the Church took Byzantium and having enlarged it called it Constantinople and New Rome He died in Nicomedia Anno 337. aged sixty five Gault tab Chronogr p. 279. 2. Constantius his son succeeded him in the East he favoured the Arrians hearing that Iulianus his Kinsman conspired against him he made Peace with Sapores the Persian King and moved towards him but in his march seised with a Fevor he died Anno 361. Gaulter tab Chron. p. 283. 3. Iulianus succeeded Sirnamed the Apostate son of Constantius the brother of Constantine the Great at first a Christian afterwards a professed enemy of the Gospel fortunate in his Wars against the Almanes Franks and other Transalpine Nations whilest he was a Christian. Prodigiously slain in the Persian War when become a Persecutor aged thirty eight his Motto was Pennis suis perire grave he Reigned but one year and eight months dying he threw his blood up into the Air saying Satiare Nazarene Zon. tom 3. fol. 119. 4. Iovian or Iovinian chosen by the Army a Religious Prince made Peace with the Persian setled the affairs of the Church who being dead Valentinian one of mean birth but great abilities in War was elected Emperour he Reigned
cause afraid to go to Sea Before I answer you said the Captain I pray tell me Where dyed your Father In bed said he and where your Grandfather In his bed said he also and said the Captain Are you not afraid for that cause to go to bed 4. A certain Captain that thought he had performed much for his Country in the Fight with Xerxes in an insulting manner was comparing his deeds with those of Themistocles who thus returned There was said he a contention betwixt a Holy-day and the day after the day after boasted of the labours and sweat which it was spent in and that what was gained thereby was expended by those that kept Holy-day True said the Holy-day but unless I had been thou hadst not been and so said he Had I not been where had you all been 5. The Spaniards sided with the Duke of Mayenne and the rest of those Rebels in France which called themselves the holy League and a French Gentleman being asked the causes of their Civil Broils with an excellent allusion he replied They were Spania and Mania seeming by this answer to signifie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Penury and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fury which are indeed the causes of all intestine tumults but covertly therein implying the King of Spain and the Duke of Mayenne 6. Sir Robert Cateline Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the first of Queen Elizabeth had a prejudice against those who wrote their names with an alias and took exceptions at one in this respect saying That no honest man had a double name or came in with an alias The party asked him What exception his Lordship could take at Jesus Christ alias Jesus of Nazareth 7. The Goldsmiths of London had a custom once a year to weigh Gold in the Star-Chamber in the presence of the Privy Council and the Kings Attorney This solemn weighing by a word of Art they call the Pixe and make use of so exact Scales therein that the Master of the Company affirmed that they would turn with the two hundredth part of a grain I should be loth said Attorney Noy standing by that all my actions should be weighed in those Scales 8. Dr. Andrew Perne Dean of Ely was excellent at blunt sharp Jests and sometimes too tart in true ones he chanced to call a Clergy-man Fool who indeed was little better he replied That he would complain thereof to the Bishop of Ely Do saith the Dean when you please and my Lord Bishop will confirm you 9. Iohn Iegon D. D. Master of Bennet Colledge in Cambridge after made Bishop of Norwich by King Iames a most serious man and grave Governour yet withal of a most facetious disposition Take this instance While Master of the Colledge he chanced to punish all the Undergraduates therein for some general offence and the penalty was put upon their heads in the Buttery and because he disdained to convert the money to any private use it was expended in new whiting the Hall of the Colledge whereupon a Scholar hung up these Verses on the Screen Dr. Jegon Bennet Colledge Master Brake the Scholars head and gave the walls a plaister But the Doctor had not the readiness of his parts any whit impaired by his age for perusing the Paper eâ—â—tempore he subscribed Knew I but the Wag that writ these Verses in a bravery I would commend him for his wit but whip him for his knavery 10. When the Wars in Queen Elizabeths time were hot betwixt England and Spain there were Commissioners on both sides appointed to treat of Peace They met at a Town of the French Kings And first it was debated in what Tongue the Negotiation should be handled A Spaniard thinking to give the English Commissioners a shrewd guird proposed the French Tongue as most fit it being a Language the Spaniards were well skilled in and for these Gentlemen of England I suppose saith he that they cannot be ignorant of the Language of their fellow-Subjects their Queen is Queen of France as well as of England Nay in faith my Masters replied Dr. Dale a civil Lawyer and one of the Masters of Requests the French Tongue is too vulgar for a business of this secrecy and importance especially in a French Town we will therefore rather treat in Hebrew the Language of Ierusalem whereof your Master is King and I suppose you are therein as well skilled as we in the French 11. The Inhabitants of Tarracon as a glad presage of prosperous success brought tydings to Augustus how that upon his Altar a young Palm-tree was suddenly sprung up to whom he made this answer By this it appears how often you burn Incense in our honour 12. Thomas Aquinas came to Pope Innocent the Third in whose presence they were at that time telling a great sum of money Thou seest Thomas said the Pope that the Church need not say as she did at her beginning Silver and gold have I none Thomas without study replied You say true holy Father nor can the Church say now as the ancient Church said to the same Cripple Arise walk and be whole 13. There was in the Kings Wardrobe a rich piece of Arras presenting the Sea-fight in 88. and having the lively Portraictures of the chiefest Commanders wrought on the borders thereof on the same token that a Captain who highly prized his own service missing his Picture therein complained of the injury to his friend professing of himself that he merited a place there as well as some therein seeing he was engaged in the middle of the Fight Be content quoth his friend thou hast been an old Pirate and art reserved for another Hanging 14. A great Lord in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth that carried a white Staff in his hand as the Badge of his Office was spoken to by her Majesty to see that such a man had such a place conferred upon him Madam said that Lord the disposal of that place was given to me by your Majesty at such time as I received this Staff The Queen replied That she had not so bestowed any thing but that she still reserved her self of the Quorum Of the Quarum Madam said the Earl At which the Queen somewhat moved snatched his Staff out of his hand And Sir said she before you have this again you shall understand that I am of the Quorum Quarum Quorum and so kept his Staff for two or three days till upon his submission it was restored to him 15. Alexander Nequam or Bad in English was born at St. Albans an excellent Philosopher Rhetorician Poet and a deep Divine insomuch that he was called Ingenii Miraculum His name gave occasion to the Wits of the Age to be merry with Nequam had a mind to become a Monk in St. Albans the Town of his Nativity and thus Laconically wrote to the Abbot thereof for leave Si vis veniam sin autem tu autem
the one was born in Asia and the other beyond the Alps But when Antonius came after to the knowledge thereof and that the fraud was bewray'd by the Language of the Boys he sell into a furious sit of choler rating Toranius that he had made him pay two hundred Sesterces as for Twins and they were none such The wily Merchant answer'd that it was the cause why he held and sold them at so dear a rate For said he it is no marvel if two brethren Twins who lay in the same Womb resemble one another but that there should be any sound born as these were in divers Countries so like in all respects as they he held it as a most rare and wonderful thing Antonius at this was appeased and well contented with his Bargain 10. Anno 1598. There were with us at Basil two Twin-brothers who were born at one Birth in the seventh Month 1538. they were so like to one another in the features of the Body that I have often spoke to the one instead of the other though both were very well known to me and that they had been frequently conversant with me Nay they were so like in their natural inclinations that as they often have told me what the one thought has secretly come into the mind of the other at the same time if the one was sick the other was not well as it fell out when one was absent and sick in Campania the other at the same time was sick at Basil. 11. Martinus Guerre and Arnoldus Tillius in features and lineaments of the Face were so exceedingly alike that when Martinus was gone abroad to the Wars Tillius by the near resemblance of his form betray'd the chastity of Martinus his Wife and not only so but impos'd upon four of his Sisters and divers others both Neighbours and Kindred who were not able to discover the difference betwixt them and which is the strangest of all he liv'd with this Woman as her Husband for some years together the companion both of her board and bed 12. Sporus the freed-man of Nero the Emperour was very like unto Sabina a most beautiful Lady beloved also by the same Emperour he so resembled her in all lineaments that Nero caused him to be cut that so instead of Sabina he might filthily use him as his beloved Lady 13. Medardus and Gerardus were Twin-brothers and French men they were not only born one and the same day but also both of them in one day preferred to Episcopal Dignity the one to the See of Rhotomage and the other to that of Noviodunum and lest any thing should be wanting to this admirable parity they also both deceased in one and the same day So that the Philosophers Hypoclides and Polystratus are no way to be preferred before these remarkable Twins one of these Twins instead of Gerhardus is call'd Chiladius by Kornmannus 14. Lucius Otho the Father of Otho the Emperour one of very Noble Blood by the Mothers side and of many great Relations was so dear unto and not so unlike unto Tiberius the Emperour that most men did verily believe he was begotten by him 15. Even in our days we have heard of two young Children which were Brothers at Riez an Episcopal City of Provence in France who being perâ—ectly like one another if one of them was sick the other was so too if one began to have pain in the Head the other would presently feel it if one of them was asleep or sad the other could not hold up his Head or be merry and so in other things as I have been assured by Mr. Poitevin a very honest man and a Native of that City 16. At Mechlin there were two Twin-brothers the Sons of Petrus Apostolius a Prâ—dent Senator of that place and at whose House Vives had friendly entertainment the Boys were both lovely to look upon and so like that not only strangers but the Mother her self often erred in the distinction of them whilst she liv'd and the Father as often by a pleasing errour calling Peter for Iohn and Iohn for Peter 17. Babyrtus a Messenian was a man of the meanest degree and of a lewd and silthy life but was so like unto Dorymachus both in the countenance all the lineaments of the Body and the very voice it self that if any had taken the Diadem and Robe of State and put it upon him it would not have been easie to discover which was which whence it came to pass that when Dorymachus after many injuries to the Messenians had also added threats to the rest of his insolence Sciron one of the Ephori there a bold man and lover of his Country said openly to him Dost thou Babyrtus suppose that we matter either thee or thy threats at which he was so nettled that he rested not till he had rais'd a War against the Messenians 18. That in the two Gordiani is a most memorable thing that the Elder of them was so very like unto Augustus that he not only resembled him in the Face but also in Speech behaviour and stature The Son of this man was exceeding like unto Pompey the Great and the third of the Gordiani begotten by him immediately before mention'd had as near a resemblance to Scipio Asiaticus the Brother of Scipio Affricanus the Elder so that in one Family there were the lively pourtraiture of three illustrious persons dead long before 19. I have seen saith Fulgosus amongst the Soldiers of Franciscus Sfortia the Duke of Millain a young man who did so resemble that countenance of his then which nothing was more amiable to look upon nor more worthy of a Prince that by the general consent of the whole Court he was call'd the Prince Franciscus himself as he was most courteous in all things not without pleasure did sometimes contemplate his own Image in him as in a Glass and in most things beheld and acknowledged his own gestures and voice 20. Io. Oporinus the Printer at Basil was so like unto Henry the Eighth King of England in the Face but especially to Albertus the Marquess of Brandenburgh that they might well seem to be natural Brothers there was also this further similitude betwixt them that as one fill'd all Germany with Wars so the other replensh'd all the Christian World with Books 21. Sigismundus Malatesta Prince of Ariminum was so very like in all the features of his Face to Marchesinus the Mimick that when he went to Millain this Marchesinus was sent away elsewhere by Franciscus Sfortia Duke of Millain and Father-in-law to Sigismundus as being ashamed of him for Marchesinus in his prattle by reason of this resemblance used to call Sigismond his Son 22. A certain young Man came to Rome in the shape of his body so like unto Augustus that he set all the people at gaze upon that sight Augustus hearing of it sent for the young man who being come into
Body but that his dead Corps was abandon'd by his Nobles and Followers and by his meaner Servants he was dispoil'd of Armor Vessels Apparel and all Princely Furniture his naked Body left upon the Floor his Funeral wholly neglected till one Harluins a poor Country Knight undertook the carriage of his Corps to Caen in Normandy to St. Stephens Church which the dead King had formerly sounded At his entrance into Caen the Covent of Monks came forth to meet him but at the same instance there happen'd a great Fire so that as his Corps before so now his Herse was of all men forsaken every one running to quench the Fire That done they return and bear the Corps to the Church The Funeral Sermon being ended and the stone coffin set in the earth in the Chancel as the Body was ready to be laid therein there stood up one Anselm Fitz-Arthur and forbad the Burial alledging that that very place was the Floor of his Fathers House which this dead King had violently taken from him to build this Church upon Therefore said he I challenge this ground and in the name of God forbid that the body of this dispoiler be covered with the Earth of my Inheritance They were therefore inforced to compound with him for one hundred pounds Now was the Body to be laid in that stone Coffin but the Tomb prov'd too little for the Corps so that pressing it down to gain an entrance the Belly not bowel'd brake and sent forth such an intolerable stink amongst the assistants at the Funeral that all the Gums and Spices fuming in their Censers could not relieve them but in great amazement all of them hasted away leaving only a Monk or two to shuffle up the Burial which they did in haste and so gat them to their Cells Yet was not this the last of those troubles that the Corps of this great Prince met with but some years after at such time as Caen was taken by the French unner Chastilion 1562. his Tomb was rifled his Bones thrown out and some of them by private Soldiers brought as far as England again 2. Katherine de Vâ—â—ois Daughter to Charles the Sixth King of France Widow of King Henry the Fifth she was marry'd after to and had Issue by Owen ap Tudor a Noble Welshman her Body lies at this day unburied in a loose Coffin at Westminister and shew'd to such as desire it It 's said it was her own desire that her Body should never be buried because sensible of her fault in disobeying her Husband King Henry upon this occasion There was a Prophecy amongst the English people that an English Prince born at Windsor should be unfortunate in loosing what his Father had acquir'd Whereupon King Henry forbad Queen Katherine being with Child to be delivered there but she out of the corrupt principle of nitimur in vetitum and affecting her Father before her Husband was there brought to bed of King Henry the Sixth in whose Reign the fair Victories woven by his Fathers Valor were by cowardice carelesness and contentions unravell'd to nothing Yet the Story is told otherwise by others viz. that she was bury'd by her Son King Henry the Sixth under a fair Tomb and continued in her Grave some years until King Henry the Seventh laying the foundation of a new Chappel caus'd her Corps to be taken up But why the said Henry being her great Grand-child did not order it to be re-inâ—err'd is not recorded if not done by casualty and neglect it is very strange and stranger if out of design 3. Aristobulus King of the Jews was by Cn. Pompeius sent to Rome in bonds afterwards he was enlarged by Caesar when he had overcome Pompey and sent into Syria there by the favourites of Pompeys part he was taken away by poyson and for some time deny'd buryal in his Native Country the dead Body being kept preserv'd in Honey till at last it was sent by Marcus Antonius to the Jews to be laid in the Royal Monuments of his Ancestors 4. The great Alexander who had attain'd to the height of Military Glory dy'd at Babylon not without suspicion of poyson this great man for whom so much of the world as he had conquered was so much too little was compell'd to expect the leisure of his mutinous Captains till they would be so kind as to bury him Seven days together his dead Corps lay neglected in those heats of Mesopotamia greater than which are rarely to be found in any Country At last command was given to the Aegyptians and Chaldeans to embalm the Body according to their Art which they did yet was it two years before the miserable remainders of this Heroe could be sent away towards its Funeral then it was receiv'd by Ptolemaeus by him carry'd first to Memphis and some years afterwards to Alexandria where it lay and some ages after was shew'd to Augustus Caesar after his Victory over Antonius and Cleopatra 5. Michael Palaeologus Emperour of Constantinople in the Council at Lions under Pope Gregory the Twelfth was reconciled to the Latin Church there in sign of his agreement he and those that were with him publickly sang the Nicene Creed By reason of which he fell into such a hatred of the Greeks that when he dy'd the Monks and Priests forbad his Body to be bury'd and his Son Andronicus who succeeded him though otherwise dutiful enough not only deny'd him the honour of an imperial Funeral but scarce allow'd him that of a mean person he only commanded a few in the night to carry him far from the Camp and there cover him with Earth that the Body of so great a person might not be torn in pieces by wild Beasts 6. Iacobus Patius had conspired against the Medices for which he was publickly hang'd but by the permission of the Magistrates his dead body was laid in the Monuments of his Ancestors but the enraged multitude dragg'd it out thence and buryed it in the common Field without the Walls of the City where yet they would not suffer it to rest but in another popular fury they fetch'd it out thence drew it naked through the City by the same halter wherewith he had been before hanged and so threw it into the River Arnus 7. The Carcase of Pope Iulius the Second was digg'd up and his Ring taken from off his Finger by the Spaniards at such time as Rome was taken by the Army of the Emperour Charles the Fifth which was Anno Dom. 1527. 8. Scanderbeg the most famous Prince of Epirus dy'd in the sixty third year of his age upon the 17 th of Ianuary Anno Dom. 1466. when he had reigned about twenty four years his dead Body was with the great lamentation of all men buryed in the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas at Lyssa where it rested in peace until that about nine years after the Turks coming to the siege of Scodra by the way took the
the Barbarians that they sent Ambassadors to Antonius to grant them Peace for an hundred years for they were astonished above measure to find such Authority in Military Laws as that by the Judgment of the Roman General even they were condemned to die who had gloriously though unlawfully overcome 10. Alexander the Great being in Cilicia was detained with a violent Disease so that when all other Physicians despaired of his health Philip the Acarnanian brought him a potion and told him if he hoped to live he must take that Alexander had newly received Letters from Parmenio wherein he advised him to repose no trust in Philip for he was bribed to destroy him by Darius with a mighty Summ of Gold Alexander held the Letters in the one hand took the Potion in the other and having supped it off shewed Philip the Contents of them who though incensed at the slander cast upon him yet advised Alexander to confide in his Art and indeed he recovered him 11. Charles the Fifth Emperor of Germany had his Forces and Camp at Ingolstadt and was compassed about with a huge number of Confederated Enemies yet would he not â—ight whether because some Forces he expected were not yet come or that he foresaw a safe and unbloody Victory In the mean time the Enemy that abounded with great Guns thundered amongst his Tents in such manner that six thousand great Shot was numbred in one day so that the Tents were every where boared through the Emperor 's own Tent escaped not the fury of the Guns men were killed at his back on each side of him and yet the Emperor changed not his place no nor his carriage nor his Countenance And when his Friends entreated him that he would spare himself and all them in him smiling he bad them be of good courage for no Emperor was ever killed with a great Gun These things are short in the relation but so mighty to consider of as to deserve the memory and applause of Ages to come The like constancy and gravity in all his actions and behaviour accompanied him throughout his whole life 12. In the Reign of King Henry the Third was Simon Montford Earl of Leicester a man of so audacious a Spirit that he gave King Henry the lye to his face and that in the presence of all his Lords and of whom it seems the King stood in no small fear for passing one time upon the Thames and suddenly taken with a terrible Storm of Thunder and Lightning he commanded to be set on Shore at the next Stairs which happened to be at Durham-house where Montford then lay who coming down to meet the King and perceiving him somewhat frighted with the Thunder said unto him Your Majesty need not fear the Thunder the danger is now past No Montford said the King I fear not the Thunder so much as I do thee 13. Malcolme King of Scots besieging Alnwick Castle an English Knight unarmed only having a light Spear in his hand on the end of which he bare the Keys of the Castle came riding into the Camp where being brought to the King couching his Spear as though he intended to present him with the Keys ran him into his left eye left him dead hence some say came the name Pierceye the Knight by the swiftness of his Horse escaped CHAP. XXXVIII Of the immoveable Constancy of some persons THis admirable Vertue is to the Soul as the Balast to the Ship it keeps it steady and preserves it from fluctuation and uncertainty at such times as any tempest of adversity shall assault it It holds the middle place betwixt levity and obstinacy of the Mind and being now to give some examples thereof let none be displeased that I make choice of one of the other Sex to begin with seeing a more illustrious one is not very easily to be met with 1. The Baron de Raymond having married the Daughter of an English Gentleman called William Barnsley soon after to comply with the great Duke of Moscovy he changed his Religion Now the Law of the Country is that if in a family the Husband or Wife be of theirs the rest shall be inforced to profess it so that by this Law his Wife was to follow his example Her Husband â—irst used all the mild means imaginable but finding so great a constancy on the other side was forced to recur to the Authority of the great Duke and Patriarch These offered her at first great advantages but she though but fifteen years of age and the handsomest Stranger in the Country cast her self at the Dukes feet praying him rather to take away her life than to force her to a belief she was not satisfied of in her Conscience The Father used the same submission but the Patriarch put him off with Kicks told him that she was to be treated as a Child and baptized whether she would or no. Accordingly she was dragg'd to a Brook where she was rebaptiz'd notwithstanding her protestations she made against it when they plunged her in the water she drew in along with her one of the Religious Women when they would oblige her to detest her former Religion she spit in their faces and would never abjure After her Baptism she was sent to Stuatka where her Husband was Governour where she staid the three years of his Government Those expired he returned to Mosco and there dyed she then thought she might profess the Protestant Religion but that would not be permitted her two Sons were taken from her and she with a little Daughter was sent to the Monastery of Belossora where she lived five years amongst the Nuns in all which time she was not suffered to speak with any and but once by the means of a German heard of her friends The Patriarch dying she got out of the Monastery and his Successor allowed her Liberty of Conscience at her own house and to give and receive visits I often visited this virtuous Lady in this condition and have heard that she dyed some two years since constant in her Religion to the last gasp I may add that her Father William Barnsley dyed in England not long since aged one hundred twenty six years after he had married a second Wife at one hundred The former History commenced Anno Dom. 1636. 2. Tarquinius the Son of Demaratus in the Sabine War had vowed a Temple to Iupiter Capitâ—linus Tarquinius Superbus the Son of him that had vowed it built it but dedicated it not as being expelled Rome before it was perfectly finished Poplicola one of the Consuls had a great desire to dedicate this Temple but the dedication thereof fell to M. Horatius his Colleague in the Consulship All were assembled in the Capitol for this purpose Horatius had commanded silence other Rites were performed and now as the custom is holding a Post in his hands he was beginning to speak the words of dedication when M. the brother
he said The horse said he pisses in a river where there is no want of water and so Caesar is liberal to them that are otherwise rich The Emperour observed that he was modestly tax'd for that as yet he had given nothing to him who had been his old servant and thereupon replyed that he had indeed been alwayes a faithful servant but that the gifts of Princes are not properly theirs that deserve well but theirs to whom they are destinied by fate and that he would convince him of the same assoon as he had some leisure Afterwards Caesar commanded two boxes to be made of the same bigness and form in the one he put gold in the other lead of the same weight caused his servant to be called and bade him choose which box he would who takes them up poises both in his hands and at last fixes upon that box that had the lead in it which when the Emperour saw at the opening of the box Now said he thou maist plainly see that not my good will has been hitherto wanting but that it was through thine own ill fortune that hitherto thou hast had no reward from me 5. It was observed as it were in the destiny of King Henry the sixth of England that although he was a most pious man yet no enterprize of war did ever prosper where he was present 6. Franciscus Busalus a Citizen of Rome was so extreamly unfortunate in his Children that he saw two of his Sons fall dead by mutual wounds they had received at each others hands two other of his Sons beheaded for a sedition which they had been authors of a fifth Son of his slew his Mother-in-law and his Daughter poysoned her self in the presence of her Husband 7. Helvius Pertinax commonly but corruptly called Aelius was so variously exercised with the chances of inconstant fortune and so often from a good thrust down into an adverse condition that by reason hereof he was called Fortunes Tennis-ball 8. Robert the Norman Son to William the Conqueror was chosen King of Ierusalem but he refused this honourable proffer whether he had an eye to the Kingdom of England now void by the death of William Rufus or because he accounted Ierusalem would be encumbred with continual war But he who would not take the Crown with the Cross was fain to take the Cross without the Crown and it was observed that afterwards he never prospered in any thing he undertook He lived to see much misery in prison and poverty and he felt more having his eyes put out by King Henry his Brother and at last sound rest when buried in the New Cathedral Church of Glocester under a wooden Monument bearing better proportion to his low fortunes than high birth and since in the same Quire he hath got the company of another Prince as unfortunate as himself King Edward the second 9. Tiberius being at Capreas fell into a lingring disease and his sickness encreasing more and more he commanded Euodus whom he most honoured amongst all his Freemen to bring him the young Tiberius and Caius because he intended to talk with them before he dyed and it should be at the break of day on the morrow next This done he besought the gods of that place to give him an evident sign whereby he might know who should succeed him for though he vehemently desired to leave the Empire to his Sons Son that was Tiberius yet made he more account of that which God should make manifest to him He therefore conceived a presage that he who the next day should enter first to salute him it should be he who in the Empire should necessarily succeed him And having setled this thing in his fancy he sent unto the young Tiberius his Master charging him to bring him unto him by break of day supposing that the Empire should be his But by the evil fortune of Tiberius it fell quite contrary to his Grand-fathers expectation For being in this thought he had commanded Euodus that as soon as day should arise he should suffer him of the two young Princes to enter in unto him who should arrive the first Who walking out met with Caius at the door of the Chamber and saying to him that the Emperour had called for him suffered him to enter Tiberius the mean while being at breakfast below When the Emperour beheld Caius he suddainly began to consider of the power of God who deprived him of the means to dispose of the Empire according as he had determined with himself so Caius was declared successor in the Empire and no sooner was the old Emperour dead but the young unfortunate Tiberius was made away 10. Antiochus was overcome in battle by his brother Seleucus whereupon he fled to Artamenes King of Cappadocia his brother-in-law where after some dayes he found there was a Conspiracy against him to betray his life He got him therefore away from thence with all speed and put himself into the protection of Ptolomaeus his Enemy supposing that he might better rely upon his generosity than any kindness he could expect from his brother But Ptolomaeus at his first arrival put him into custody under special guards Here he remained a while till by the help of a certain Harlot he escaped â—rom his prison and recovered his liberty but this unfortunate Prince had not travelled far but he was set upon by thieves and by them murdered 11. Ferdinand Mendez Pinto a Portuguese in the Book of his travels and adventures sets forth of himself that nothing being to be met with in his Fathers house besides poverty and misery an Uncle of his put him into the service of a Lady at Lisbon when he was about twelve years old where he remained but a year and a half before he was constrained by an accident to quit her house and service for the safety of his life With this unfortunate beginning he put himself upon travel and the seeing of remote parts where all along Fortune continued so extreamly unkind to him that in the space of twenty one years wherein he was abroad besides the hardships and variety of evil accidents that strangers are liable unto he suffered shipwrack five times was thirteen times a Captive and sold for a slave seventeen times in the Indies Aethiopia Arabia China Tartaria Madagascar Sumatra and divers other Kingdoms CHAP. LV. Of the Loquacity of some men their inability to retain intrusted secrets and the punishment thereof THe City of Amyclas is said to have perished through silence and it was on this manner Divers rumours and false reports had been brought to the Magistrates concerning the coming of an enemy against them by reason of which the City had several times been put into disorderly and tumultuous frights they therefore set forth an Edict that for the future no man should presume to make any such report by this means when the enemy came indeed no man durst discover it for fear