he found he had received as many as were intended to be offered he bound them up in one bundle and protesting That he had not so much as looked into any one of them he burnt them all in the sight of the Fathers giving them moreover a serious exhortation to Peace and a cordial agreement among themselves Chetwinds Hist Coll. p. 42. LXXVI It is reported of Julius Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey the Great he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles of Rome under their own hands which gave sufficient evidence to condemn them but he burnt them all that no Monument might remain of a future Grudge and that no man might be driven to extremities or to break the Peace through any apprehensions that he lived suspected or should therefore be hated Rogers Pen. Citizen p. 70. LXXVII James King of Arragon was a great Enemy to Contentions and Contentious Lawyers insomuch as having heard many complaints against Semenus Rada a great Lawyer who by his Quirks and Wiles had been injurious as well as troublesome to many he banished him his Kingdom as a man that was not to be endured to live in a place to the Peace of which he was so great an Enemy Clarks Mirrour p. 343. At Fez in Africa they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any Controversy amongst them both Parties Plaintiff and Defendant come before the chief Judge and all at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the cause is heard and ended Burtons Melancholy Servius Sulpitius was an Heathen Lawyer but an excellent Person it is said of him that he respected Equity and Peace in all that he did and alwaies sought rather to compose differences than to multiply Suits in Law Clarks Examples p. 344. LXXVIII It is noted of Phocion a most excellent Captain of the Athenians that although for his military ability and success he was chosen forty and five times General of their Armies by universal approbation yet he himself did ever persuade them to Peace Flutarchs Lives I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of England saith Mr. Trenchfield who was Married to David King of Scots that she was familiarly called Jane make peace both for her earnest and successful endeavours therein Trenchfield Hist Inproved p. 67. Sertorius the more he prospered and prevailed in his Wars in Spain the more importunate he was with Metellus and Pompey the Roman Generals that came against him that laying down arms they would give him leave to live in peace and to return into Italy again professing he preferred a private life there before the Government of many Cities Plutarch Vit. Sert. LXXIX The lovers of Justice and impartial Administrators thereof have been likewise famous in all Ages and the Persons hereafter mentioned were great lovers and observers of this excellent virtue which is of so much advantage to mankind Herkenbald a Man mighty noble and famous had no respect of Persons in Judgment but condemned and punished with as great severity the rich and his own Kindred as the poor and those whom he knew least in the world being once very sick and keeping his Bed he heard a great bustle in a Chamber next to that wherein he lay and withal a Woman crying and shrieking out he inquired of his Servants what the matter was but they all concealed the Truth from him at last one of his Pages being severely threatned by him and told that he would cause his Eyes to be pulled out of his head if he did not tell him plainly what all that stir was told him in few words My Lord said he your Nephew hath ravished a Maid and that was the noise you heard The Fact being examined and plainly proved Herkenbald condemned his dear Nephew to be hanged till he should be dead but the Officer who had the charge to execute the Sentence seeming as if he had been very willing and forward to do it went presently and gave the young man notice of all that had passed wishing him to keep out of the way awhile and some few hours after he comes again to his sick Lord and affirms contrary to truth that he had put his sentence in Execution and that the young man was dead about five days after the young Gentleman thinking his Unkle had forgotten all came and peeped in at his Chamber door the Unkle having espied him calls him by his name and with fair words inticeth him to his Beds head till he was within his reach and then suddenly catching him by the locks with the left hand and pulling him forcibly to him with his right hand he gave him such a ready blow into the Throat with a Knife that he died instantly so great was the love that this Nobleman bore to Justice Camerarius Meditat. p 468. LXXX Sir John Markham was Knighted by King Edward the Fourth and by him made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench at which time one Sir Thomas Cook late Lord Mayor of London and Knight of the Bath a man of a great Estate was agreed upon to be accused of High Treason and a Commission issued out to try him in Guildhall The King himself by private instructions to the Judge appeared so far in the cause that Cook though he was never so innocent must be found guilty and if the Law were too short the Judge must stretch it to the Kings purpose The fault they laid to his charge was for lending Monies to Queen Margaret Wife to King Henry the sixth the proof was the confession of one Hawkins who was rack'd in the Tower Sir Thomas Cook pleaded that Hawkins came indeed to request him to lend a Thousand Marks upon good security but that understanding who it was for he had sent him away with a refusal The Judge declared that this proof reached not to a charge of High-Treason and that Misprision of Treason was the highest it could amount to and intimated to the Jury to be tender in matter of life and discharging good consciences upon which they found it accordingly only Misprision for which the Judge was turned out of his Place and lived privately the rest of his days and gloried in this That though the King could make him no Judge yet he could not make him no upright Judge Fullers H. State p. 263. LXXXI Charles the bold Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders had a Nobleman in special favour with him to whom he had committed the Government of a Town in Zealand where living in a great deal of ease he fell in love with a Woman of a beautiful body and a mind and manners no whit inferior he passed and repassed by her door and soon after grew bolder entred into discourse with her discovers his passion and beseeches a compassionate resentment of it he makes large promises and uses all the ways by which he hoped to gain her but all in
King of the Heneâ—…tians and she her self beseiged by the same Enemy yet nevertheless this wretched woman fell so far in Love with him that upon promise of Marriage she agreed to deliver into his hands the City of Friol who burnt it slew the men and carried the women and Children Captives into Austria Cacanus took Rhomilda into his bed for one night only and then delivered her to be abused with the lust of twelve Henesians and soon after caused her to be impaled alive upon a sharp stake Ca. Op. CHAP. VI. The Tremendous Consequences of Vnchastity Intemperance and Ambition IT is not to be imagined that I should give an 〈◊〉 of the Thousandth part of the mischiefs and miâ—…ries that have been occasioned by Lust and Debauchery all Ages and Nations are full of lamentable Accidents proceeding therefrom for though this violent Passion may seem to promise a world of vain pleasure and though lascivious Persons use many times all manner of Patience services and profound submissions to gain the desired object yet when they have obtained their flagitious desires and think themselves absolutely happy in the midst of their libidinous and unchast Embraces even at that very instant there is sometimes brought in an unexpected Reckoning that drenches all their sweets in blood and closes up their unlawful pleasures in the black and dismal Sables of death as by the following Examples is demonstrated wherein Divine Vengeance has visibly appeared in the woful Tragedies which have been occasioned by Adultery Unchastity Lust I. The first I shall mention is partly Comical as well as Tragical A Knight of Eminent Fame and of great nore with Henry the Fifth King of England as being personally with him in all his Wars in France after the King had conquered and setled that Kingdom this noble Englishman retired himself into his own Country he had a Lady of such beauty as attracted the Eyes of all men who residing with her Husband in the City of Norwich he after so many troubles and adventures resolved to lead a more sequestred life and next to the pleasure of his fair Consort he desired to lead a contemplative life and being very rich according to the Devotion of that Age by the direction of the Priests he resolved to build a handsome Church near his own House which they said would be for the benefit of his Soul and likewise a Convent allowing maintenance to an Abbot and twelve Fryers having finished them there were two of the Friers one called Fryer John the other Fryer Richard who were at continual variance and enmity to each other and could not by any mediation be reconciled it was the dayly Custom of this Knight and Lady to rise every morning early to Mattins or Prayers and she being of an affable and courteous disposition to all Persons this good humour of hers bred a strange uncivil boldness in Fryer John so that she never came through the Cloyster but he was still attending her with many bows cringes and complements and she suspecting nothing returned him Thanks again which so far incouraged the Fryer that he made himself suspected by his Fellows who as much as they durst whispered it about the Convent he still growing more confident presumed at last to write to her wherein he at large discovered his violent Passion for her this Letter with great difficulty he conveyed to the Ladies hands who being much surprized that such lasciviousness should proceed from one that vowed and professed Chastity and not being certain but that it might be a design of her Husband to try her Virtue she thereupon resolves that to prevent her Honour from being called in question she would discover the whole intrigue to her Lord which she had no sooner done but he began to repent him of his former Charity in regard of this so great Ingratitude yet meditating Revenge he writes an answer to this Letter to which he commands his Wife to set her hand to this effect that she was very compassionate of his Love and that such a night her Husband being to ride toward London he should be admitâ—… lodged and entertained according to his own desire the Fryer received this Letter with extream Joy and providing himself with clean linnen a perfumed Nightcap and other necessaries he exactly observes the time and place and is accordingly admitted by the Lady her self alone and conveyed to a private Chamber where he was no sooner entred but in came the Knight and his Man and in great fury without giving him the least time either to call for help to the House or to Heaven they strangled the lustful Fryer and left him dead upon the place this deed was no sooner done and his rage somewhat appeased but he began to consider the horrour and danger of the Fact both as to his life and Estate and after several projects betwixt him and his Servant they concluded some way or other to have his body conveyed back into the Monastery it being divided from his own House only by a Brick-wall finding a Ladder hard by the man mounts it with the dead Fryer on his back and sits with him astride on the wall then drawing up the Ladder and letting it down on the other side he descends down into the Convent where espying the House of Office he sets the Body thereon as upright as possible and so leaves it and conveys himself over the wall again but for hast forgot the Ladder and tells his Master how and where he had bestowed the Fryer at which being better satisfied they both retired to Bed all being concealed both from the Lady and the rest of the Family who were fast asleep it happened at the fame instant that Fryer Richard being much troubled with a looseness in his Body had occasion to rise and being somewhat hastily and unhandsomely taken he hasts to the House of Office where by the light of the Moon he espied some Body before him and therefore contained himself as long as he was able but finding there was no Remedy he first called and then intreated to come away but hearing no body answer he imagined into be done on purpose and the rather because coming nearer he plainly perceived it was Fryer John his 〈◊〉 Adversary who the louder he called seemed the less to hear loth he was to play the sloven in the yard because the whole Convent had taken notice of a cold he had got and how it then wrought with him therefore judging this pretended deafness was out of spight and malice on purpose to shame him he snatcht up a Brickbat to be revenged and striking his Adversary full upon the Breast down tumbles Fryer John without life or motion which he seeing thought at first to râ—ise him up but after many Trials finding him to be stone dead he verily believes that he had killed him what shall he do now The Gates are fast locked and fly for his life he could not but as sudden extremities
Succours or Victuals John Lord of Vienna who there commanded for the King began to treat about the surrender of it desiring only that they might give it up with the safety of their Lives and goods which conditions being offered to Edward the Third King of England who by the space of eleven months had straitly besieged it he being exceedingly inraged that so small a Town should alone stand out against him so long and withal calling to mind that they had often galled his Subjects by Sea he was so far from accepting their Petition that contrariwise he resolved to put them all to the Sword had he not been diverted from that Resolution by some grave Counsellors then about him who told him That for having been faithful and Loyal Subjects to their Soveraign they deserved not to be so sharply dealt with Whereupon King Edward changed his first parpose into some more clemency promising to receive them to mercy upon condition That six of the principle Townsmen should present him the Keys of the Town bare-headed and bare-footed and with Halters about their Necks and to leave their lives to his mercy Hereof the Governor having notice he presently goes into the Market-place commanding the Bell to be tolled for assembling the People who being met he acquainted them with the Articles which he had received touching the yielding up of the Town and the assurance of their lives which could not be granted but with the death of six of the Chief of them with this news they were exceedingly cast down and perplexed when on a sudden there rises up one of their own Company called Stephen Petre one of the richest and most sufficient Men of the Town who thus spake aloud to the Governour Sir I thank God for the Goods he hath bestowed upon me but more that he hath given me this present opportunity to make it known that I prize the lives of my Countrymen and Fellow-Citizens above my own At the hearing of which Speech and sight of his forwardness one John Daire and four others after him made the like offers not without abundance of Prayers and Tears from the common People who saw them so freely and readily sacrifice their Lives for the publick good and instantly without more ado they address themselves to the King of England with the Keys of the Town with no other apprehension but to be put to death to which though they held themselves assured thereof they went as cheerfully as if they had been going to a Wedding yet it pleased God to turn the heart of the English King and at the request of the Queen and some of the Lords they were all sent back again safe and sound Daniels Hist Engl. p. 240. XCVII When Charles the Seventh King of France marched toward Naples they of the City of Florence set open their Gates to him as supposing they should thereupon receive the less damage by him in their City and Territories adjoining but the King being entred with his Army demanded the Government of the City and a sum of Money to secure their Liberties and Estates in this strait four of the principal Citizens were apppointed to transact and manage this affair with the Kings Ministers amongst these was Petre Caponis who having heard the rigorous terms of their composition recited and read by the Kings principal Secretary he was so moved that in the sight and presence of the King he snatched the Paper out of his hands and tore it in pieces crying out Now sound you your Trumpets and we will ring our Bells Charles astonished at the resolution of the man desisted from his design and thereupon it became a Proverb Gallum a Cock or a Frenchman a Capo victum fuisse The French Cock was overcome by a Capon Zuinglius Theat p. 256. XCVIII The Tartars in their invasion of China were prosperous on all sides and had set themselves down before the Walls of the renowned and vast City of Hunchen the Metropolis of the Province of Chekiang where the Emperor Lovangus was inclosed Lovangus his Soldiers refused to fight till they had received their Arrears which yet at this time he was not able to pay them it was upon this occasion that his heart not able to bear such a desolation of the City and Subjects as he foresaw he gave such an illustrious example of his humanity and tenderness to his People as Europe scarce ever saw for he mounted upon the City Walls and calling to the Tartarian General upon his Knees he begged the life of his People Spare not me said he I shall willingly be a Sacrifice for my Subjects And having said this he presently went out to the Tartars Army and was by them taken by which means this noble City was preserved though with the destruction of the mutinous Army for the Tartars caused the City to shut the Gates against them till they had cut in pieces all that were without and then entred triumphantly into it not using any force or violence to any Martinius Hist China p. 281. XCIX In the year 393. from the building of Rome whether by an Earthquake or other means it is uncertain but the Forum or Market-place of Rome was opened and almost half of it was fallen in to a very strange depth great quantities of Earth were thrown into it but in vain for it could not be filled up the Soothsayers therefore were consulted with who pronounced That the Romans should devote unto that place whatsoever it was wherein they most excelled Then Martius Curtius a Person of admirable valour affirming That the Romans had nothing besides Arms and Virtue wherein they excelled he devoted and gave up his own life for the safety of his Country and so armed on Horseback and his Horse well accoutred he rode into the gaping Gulf which soon after closed itself upon him Livys Hist p. 122. C. When the Graecians of Doris sought counsel from the Oracle for their success in the Wars against the Athenians it was answered That then undoubtedly they should prevail and become Lords of that State when they could obtain any victory against them and yet preserve the A thenian King living Codrus the then King of Athens by some intelligence being informed of this answer withdrew himself from his own Forces and putting on the habit of a common Soldier he entred the Camp of the Dorians and killing the first he encountred was himself forthwith cut in pieces falling a willing sacrifice to preserve the liberty of his Country Rawleigh's Hist World p. 420. CI. Cleomenes King of Sparta being distressed by his Enemy Antigonus King of Macedon sent to Ptolomy King of Aegypt for help who promised it upon condition to have his Mother and Child in pledg of his Fidelity Cleomenes was a long time ashamed to acquaint his Mother with these conditions and though he went oftentimes on purpose to let her understand it yet when he came he had not the heart to discover it to her which she
success in his Affairs was grown up to an abundance of wealth while he was at Florence a young man presented himself to him asking him an Alms for Gods sake Frescobald beheld the ragged stripling and in despight of his tatters reading in his countenance some significations of Virtue was moved with pity and demanded his Country and name I am said he of England my name is Thomas Cromwell my Father meaning his Father in Law is a poor man a Clothshearer I am strayed from my Country and am now come into Italy with the French Army who were overthrown at Gatylion where I was Page to a Foot Soldler odrrying after him his Pike and Burganet Frescobald partly in pity of his condition and partly in love to the English Nation amongst whom he had received some Civilities took him into his House made him his Guest and at his departure gave him a Horse new Apparel and sixteen Duckets of Gold in his Purse Cromwell giving him hearty thanks returned into his Country where in process of time he became in such favour with King Henry the Eighth that he raised him to the dignity of Lord High Chancellor of England In the mean time Fresbobald by several great losses was become poor but remembring that some English Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Duckets he came to London to seek after it not thinking of what had passed betwixt Cromwell and him but travelling earnestly about his business he accidentally met with the Lord Chancellor as he was riding to Court as soon as the Lord Cromwell saw him he thought he should be the Merchant of Florence of whose liberality he had tasted in times past immediately he alights imbraces him and with a broken voice scarce refraining from Tears he demanded if he were not Francis Frescobald the Florentine yes Sir said he and your humble Servant my Servant said Cromwell no as you have not been my Servant in times past so will I not now account you any other than my great and especial Friend assuring you that I have just reason to be sorry that you knowing what I am or at least what I should be yet would not let me understand your arrival in this Country had I known it I would have certainly paid part of that debt which I confess I owe you but thanks be to God that I have yet time Well Sir in conclusion you are heartily welcome but having now weighty affairs in my Princes Cause you must excuse me that I can stay no longer with you therefore at this time I take my leave desiring you with the faithful mind of a Friend that you forget not to dine with me this day at my House Frescoblad wonders who this Lord should be at last after some pause he remembers him to be the same whom he had relieved at Florence he therefore repairs to his House not a little rejoyced and walking in the outward Court attended his return the Lord Cromwell came soon after and was no sooner dismounted but he again imbraced him with so friendly a countenance as the Lord Admiral and other Nobles then in his company much wondred at he turning back and holding Frescobald by the hand Do you not wonder my Lords said he that I seem so glad to see this man this is he by whose means I have attained to my present Degree and therewith related all that had passed betwixt them then holding him still by the hand he led him to the room where he dined and seated him next to himself the Lords being departed he desired to know what occasion had brought him to London Frescobald in few words truly opened his case to him to which Cromwell returned Things that are already past Mr. Frescobald can by no power or policy of Man be recalled yet is not your sorrow so peculiar to your self but that by the bond of mutual love I am able to bear a part therein whereby in this your distress you may receive some Consolation it is fit I should repay some part of that debt wherein I stand bound to you as it is the part of a thankful man to do and I further promise you upon the word of a true Friend that during this life and state of mine I will not fail to do for you in any thing wherein my Authority may prevail Then taking him by the hand he led him into a Chamber and commanding all to depart he locked the door then opening a Chest he first took out sixteen Duckets and delivering them to Frescobald My Friend said he here is your Money you lent me at my departure from Florence here are ten more bestowed upon mine Apparel with ten more you disbursed for the Horse I rode upon but considering you are a Merchant it does not seem honest to me to return your Money without some consideration for the long detaining of it take you therefore these four Bags in every of which is four hundred Duckets to receive and enjoy from the hand of your assured Friend The modesty of Frescobald would have refused them but Cromwell forced them upon him this done he caused him to give him the names of all his Debtors and the Sums they owed the List he delivered to one of his Servants and charged him to find out the men if they were within any part of the Kingdom and strictly to charge them to make payment within fifteen days or else to abide the hazard of his displeasure the Servant so well performed the command of his Master that in a very short time the whole Sum was paid in during all this time Frescobald lodged in the Lord Chancellors House who gave him the entertainment he deserved and oft-times persuaded him to continue in England offering to lend him sixty Thousand Duckets for four years if he would stay and make his Bank in London but he desired to return into his own Country which he did with the great favour of the Lord Cromwell and there richly arrived but he enjoyed his wealth but a short time for the first year after his return he died Clarks Lives p. 42. CXVII Not many years since in the Kingdom of Naples a young Merchant named Oliverio fell desperately in love with the Countess of Castelnovo and laid siege to her Chastity for a good while and the Count going to his Country House and taking his Countess and Family along with him the Marquess being still more inflamed goes into the Country one day hard by a Hawking and le ts fly his Hawk into Count Castlenovo's Garden where it chanced that he and his Countess were walking the Marquess made bold to follow his Hawk and the Count with very high Civilities did welcome him and caused a Banquet to be presently provided where he and his Lady entertained him when he was gone the Count began to commend him telling his Wife That he was one of the most hopeful Noblemen and of the most excellent accomplishments of any in the whole Kingdom of Naples These
it O thou most generous among men said Darius art thou he then who when I had no power gavest me that which though small in it self was yet as acceptable to me then as greater things would be to me now Know I will reward thee with such a huge quantity of Gold and Silver that it shall never repent thee thou wast liberal to Darius the Son of Hystaspes O King said Syloson give me neither Gold nor Silver but when thou hast freed my Country of Samos which is now held by a Servant of my dead Brother Polycrates give me that without slaughter or plunder Darius hearing this sent an Army under the Conduct of Otanes one of the seven Princes of Persia commanding him that he should do for Syloson what he desired Valer. Maxim lib. 5. CXXIV The only Daughter of Peter Martyr through the Riot and Prodigality of her debauched Husband being brought to extream poverty the Senate of Zurich out of a grateful remembrance of her Fathers worth supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she lived Fullers Holy State p. 86. CHAP. II. The Transcendent Effects of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity discovered in several Remarkable Instances HAving thus displayed the Effects of Love Friendship and Gratitude let us now consider of three other excellent accomplishments namely Magnanimity Gourage and Fidelity of which we may find many rare Examples in Histories for some Persons have within them a Spirit so daring and couragious that the sear no nor the presence of the greatest danger or disaster whatsoever is not able to shake their Constancy wherein sometimes they have proved as successful as others who have managed their Counsels with the greatest care and conduct they are able I. Henry Earl of Holsatia Sirnamed Iron because of his strength being got into great favour with Edward the Third King of England by reason of his valour was envied by the Courtiers whereupon they one day in the absence of the King counselled the Queen that forasmuch as the Earl was preserred 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 touâ—h 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 outward 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 Nightgown A Polonian Souldier encounters overcomes a Lyon Page â—8â— Amurath Emp Turks Killed by Cobelitz a Christian Souldier Page 88 on cast over his shirt with his Girdle and Sword coming down Stairs into the Court met there with the Lyon bristling his hair and roaring he nothing astonished said with a slout 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 likewise left his Nightcap upon the Lyons back and so came forth without so much as looking behind him Now said the Earl calling to them that looked out of the Windows let him amongst you all that standeth most upon his Pedigree go and fetch my Nightcap but they being ashamed withdrew themselves Camerar Med. p. 118. II. In the Court of Matthias King of Hungary there was a Polonian Soldier in the Kings pay who boasted much of his Valour and who in a Bravado would often challenge the Hungarians to wrestle or skirmish with Sword or Pike wherein he had alwaies 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 to say to those that were in his Company Which of you dares to take a piece of flesh out of this Lyons mouth when he is angry none daring to undertake it You shall see added the Polonian the proof of my speech All that day following the Lyon had not any meat given him the next day they threw him the four Quarters of a Sheep the Lyon begins to grunt to couch down at his Prey and to eat greedily herewith the Polonian enters his Gage and locking the Lyon betwixt his Legs gives him a blow with his Fist upon the Jaw crying Hah you Dog give me the flesh The Lyon amazed at such a bold voice let go his hold shewing no other countenance but casting his Eye after the Polonian who carried the flesh away Oamer p. 118. III. In the Reign of Tham King of China there was a Colao an Officer not unlike our Duke who having been Tutor to the King was very powerful with him and to preserve himself in his Grace and Favour studied more to speak what would please the King than to tell him the truth for the good of his Estate The Chineses forbore not to speak of it amongst themselves and to tax the flattery of this Coloa One time some Captains of the Guard were discoursing this point at the Palace when one of them being a little warmed with the discourse secretly withdrew himself went into the Hall where the King was and kneeling down upon his knees before him the King asked what he would have Leave said he to cut off the Head of a flattering Subject And who is that said the King Such a one that stands there replied the other The King in a rage What said he against my Master darest thou to propound this and in my presence too Take him away and strike off his Head When they began to lay hands on him he caught hold of a wooden Ballester and as there were many pulling of him and he holding with a great deal of strength it brake By this time the Kings heat was over he commands they should let him go and gave order that the Ballester should be mended and that they should not make a new one that it might remain as a witness of the Fact and a memorial of a Subject that was not afraid to advise his King what he ought to do Hist. China p. 109. IV. Alexander the Great being in Cilicia was seized 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 one of his Generals wherein he advised him to repose no trust in Philip for he was bribed by Darius to destroy him with a mighty summ of Gold Alexander held the Letters in one hand and took the Potion in the other and having drank it off he 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
despoiled of all and turned out a begging yea all Persons were forbid to harbour or relieve him Acts and Monum Vol. 1. XXXIV St. Jerom discovered his Christian Resolution by this Speech If said he my Father stood weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behind and all my Brethren Sisters Children Kindred and Kinsfolks howling on every side to retain me in a sinful life I would fling my Mother to the ground despise all my Kindred run over my Father and tread him under my feet that I might run to Christ when he calleth me After his Condemnation by the cruel Papists he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your Consciences and a Nail in your hearts and I here cite you all to answer to me before the high and just Judge within an hundred years when he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Devils which when he beheld throwing away his Hood he put on this Miter upon his head saying Our L. Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me the most wretched Sinner did wear a Crown of Thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap As he went to his suffering he sang some Hyms and coming to the place of Execution he was bound to the stake and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valour for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behind him he bid him kindle it before his face For said he if I had been afraid of it I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his Christian Courage and Resolution At his giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This Soul of mine in flames of fire O Christ I offer thee XXXV Many Christians being assembled together in a Church Maximinus the Tyrant Emp commanded it to be surrounded with armed Men and set on fire but first proclaimed that whosoever desired life should come forth and worship the Idols whereupon one stepping up into a Window answered in the name of all the rest We are all Christians and will do service to none but the true God Upon which speech the fire was kindled and there were burnt many Thousands of Men Women and Children In Thebaide so many Christians were slain that the Swords of the Tormentors grew blunt and they were so tired that they were fain to sit down and rest them while others took their places and yet the Martyrs were no whit discouraged but to the last gasp sung Psalms of Praise unto God Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXXVI Theodosius the Great a Christian Emperor having in Aegypt abolished their Heathenish Sacrifice and Worship upon pain of Confiscation and death the People fearing that the omission of their accustomed Superstitions would make the River Nilus which they honoured as a God keep in his streams and not water the Land as formerly they thereupon began to mutiny whereupon the President writ to the Emperor beseeching him for once to gratify the People by conniving at their Superstition to whom he Heroically answered That it was better to continue faithful and constant to God than to prefer the over flowing of Nilus and the fertility of the Earth before Piety and Godliness and that he had rather Nilus should never overflow than that they should make it rise by Sacrifices and Inchantments Sozomen XXXVII Benevolus was offered preferment by Justina the Empress an Arrian if he would be an instrument of some vile service What saith he do you promise me an higher place for a reward of Iniquity nay take this away that I have already with all my heart so that I may keep a good conscience And thereupon he threw his Girdle at her feet which was the Ensign of his Honour Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXXVIII It is said of Luther that he alone opposed all the world he used to say Let me be counted proud or passionate so I be not found guilty of sinful silence when the cause of God suffereth Madness in this case is better than mildness Moderation here is meer sottishness yea it is much worse He being cited by an Herald of Arms to appear before the Coun. at Wormes many of his Friends persuaded him not to adventure himself to such a present danger to whom he answered That he was resolved and certainly determined to enter into Wormes in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ although he knew that there were as many Devils to resist him as there were Tiles to cover the Houses in Wormes His Christian Courage was extraordinary and therefore when Melancthon knowing the rage of the Papists and the Emperors threats to subvert the Gospel was much troubled at it gave himself wholly up to grief sighs and tears Luther writ thus to him In private conflicts I am weak and you are strong but in publick conflicts you are found weak and I strongâ—r because I am assured that our cause is just and true if we fall Christ the Lord and Ruler of the world falleth with us and suppose he fall I had rather fall with Christ than stand with Caesar I extreamly dislike your excessive cares with which you say you are almost consumed that these reign so much in your heart it is not from the greatness of your dangers but from the greatness of your incredulity if the cause be bad let us recant it and flie back if it be good why do we make God a Lyar who hath made us these great promises cast thy care upon the Lord c. Be of good comfort I have overcome the world If Christ be the Conqueror of the world why should we fear it as if it would overcome us A man would fetch such sentences as these upon his knees from Rome to Jerusalem be not afraid be couragious and cheerful sollicitous for nothing the Lord is at hand to help us When King Henry the Eighth of England had writ bitterly against Luther Let the Henries says he the Bishops the Turk and the Devil himself do what they can we are Children of the Kingdom worshipping and waiting for that Saviour whom they and such as they spit upon and crucify Erasmus writes thus If saith he Luther commending the Kings good intention had proceeded by strong Arguments without violating Kingly Majesty in my judgment he had taken a better course for the defence of his cause for what made Luther use these words in his Book come hither my Lord Henry and I will teach you to this Luther replies If any man saith he be offended at my sharpness against the King let him know that in that Book I deal with senseless Monsters who contemned my best and most modest writings and by my Humility and Modesty were more hardned in their Errors Besides I abstained from bitterness and Lies with
consolation of their Friends prevailed any thing but being more subtle and witty than those who were set to watch them they dayly thus died by their own hands it was therefore thought that this dreadful thing came to pass by the express will of Heaven and was therefore greater than could be provided against by humane industry till at last according to the advice of a wise Man the Council published this Proclamation That every Virgin which from henceforth should lay violent hands upon her self should dead as she was be carried stark naked along the Market place by which means they were not only restrained from killing themselves but also their desire of dying was utterly extinguished a strange thing that those who trembled not at death which is the most formidable of all things should yet through an innate Modesty not be able to conceive in their minds much less endure a wrong and reproach to that modesty though dead Causins Holy Court p. 42. XIII A young Gentlewoman of Japan in the East-Indies being on her knees at the end of the Table waiting on her Master in the apartment of the Women and over-reaching her self to take a Flaggon that stood a little too far from her she chanced to break wind backwards which she was so much ashamed of that putting her Garment over her head she would by no means shew her face afterward but with an inraged violence taking one of her Nipples of her Breasts into her mouth she bit it off with such fury that she died in the place Mandelsloes Travels p. 190. XIV In the same Country 1639. there was a great Lord who having had an exact search made for all the young handsome Damsels in his Province to be disposed into his Ladies Service amongst the rest there was one brought whom he was so taken with that he made her his Concubine she was the Daughter of a poor Soldiers Widow who hoping to make some advantage to her self by her Daughters Fortune wrote her a large Letter wherein she expressed her necessitous condition and how she was forced to sue to her for relief while the Daughter was reading this Letter her Lord comes into the room and she being ashamed to discover her Mothers poverty endeavours to hide the Letter from him yet could she not convey it away so but that he perceived it the disorder he observed in her countenance made him suspect something of design so that he pressed her to shew him the Letter but the more importunate he was the more unwilling was she to satisfy him and perceiving there was no way to avoid it she thrust it into her mouth so hastily that thinking to swall wit down it choaked her this so incensed the Lord that he immediately commanded her Throat to be cut whereby they only discovered the Mothers Poverty and the Daughters Innocency he was so moved thereat that he could not forbear expressing it by Tears and it being not in his power to make any other demonstration of his affection to the deceased he sent for the Mother who was maintained saith my Author amongst his other Ladies at the time we spake of with all imaginable respect Mandelsloes Travels p. 190. XV. King Henry the sixth of England was so modest that when in a Christmas a shew of Women was presented before him with their naked Breasts laid out he presently departed saying Fie fie for shame forsooth you are to blame Bakers Chron. p. 287. XVI A grave and learned Minister and ordinary Preacher at Alcmar in Holland one day as he walked in the Fields for his recreation was suddenly taken with a lask or looseness and thereupon compelled to retire to the next Ditch but being surprized at unawares by some Gentlewomen of his Parish wandring that way he was so abashed that he did never after shew his head in publick or come into the Pulpit but pined away with Melancholy Burtons Melanch p. 92. XVII Marcus Scaurus was termed The delight and glory of his Country He at such time as he heard the Cimorians beat the Romans at the River Athesis and that his Son who was a Roman Soldier was flying toward the City sent his Son word That he should much more willingly meet with his Bones after he had been killed in sight than to see him guilty of such horrible Cowardice as to fly and therefore that if he had any kind of Modesty remaining in him degenerate Son as he was he should shun the sight of his displeased Father for the memory of his own youth did admonish him what a kind of Son Marcus Scaurus should esteem of or despise Upon this news from the Father the Sons modesty was such that not presuming to shew himself in his sight he was constrained to be more valiant against himself than the Enemy and slew himself with his own Sword Val. Maxim p. 154. XVIII Temperance and Sobriety is likewise a very commendable virtue whether in meat drink or other things and therefore when one of the Spartans was asked why his Countrymen did use to eat and drink so very sparingly he answered It is because we had rather consult for others than that others should do so for us Sharply implying that Luxurious and Intemperate men were utterly indisposed and unfit for Council and that Temperance and Sobriety do usually produce most wholsom advice indeed as all other virtues are obscured by the want of this so both the body and mind are wonderfully improved by it XIX When Pausanias had overcome Mardonius in Battel and beheld the splendid Utensils and Vessels of Gold and Silver belonging to the Barbarian he commanded the Bakers and Cooks to prepare him such a Supper as they used for Mardonius which when they had done and Pausanias had viewed the Beds of Gold and Silver the Tables Dishes and other magnificent preparations to his amazement he then ordered his Servants to prepare him such a Supper as was usual in Sparta which was a course Treat with black Broth and the like when they had done it and the difference appeared to be very strange he then sent for the Graecian Commanders and shewed them both Suppers and laughing said O ye Greeks I have called you together for this purpose that I might shew you the madness of the Median General who when he lived such a life as this must needs come to invade us who eat after this homely and mean manner Cam. Med. p. 365. XX. Augustus Caesar the Master of the World was a Person of a very sparing Diet and as abstemious in his drinking he would feed of course Bread and small Fishes Cheese made of Cows Milk green Egs and the like he drank but a small quantity at once and but thrice at one Supper his Supper consisted generally of three and when he desired to exceed but of six Dishes he delighted most in Rhetian Wine yet seldom drank in the day time but instead of drink he took a sop of Bread in cold water or a
continued there eight months before he was Absolved at the end whereof he said to one about him Truly I will go and see what Pennance my Pastor will lay upon me for mine offence and so he went to the Church door where St. Ambrose was and intreated him to absolve him But what Repentance have you shew'd said the Bishop for so hainous an Offence And with what Salve have you healed so mortal a wound You said the Emperor are to instruct and shew me what I am to do and you shall see I will accomplish what you shall prescribe The Bishop seeing the Emp. Mildness and Humility and judging it sufficient pennance that he had been so long Excommunicated courteously replied Your Pennance Theodosius shall be this that seeing in your hasty fury you committed such an horrid Murther you shall presently establish a Law that no man whom you shall adjudge to die shall be executed within thirty days after you have pronounced the Sentence at the end of which time you shall either ratify or disannul your Sentence as you shall see cause The Emperor immediately caused this Law to be written and proclaimed which he ever after observed and whereof much good ensued and so being absolved he came into the Church prayed and received the Sacrament and ever after loved St. Ambrose very dearly and used his Council in many matters and for his Companies sake he continued in Millain the remainder of his life Clarks Lives p. 20. XXXVII It is reported by Gualter Mapes an old Historian of ours who lived four hundred years since that King Edward the first of England and Leoline Prince of Wales being at an interview at or near Aust upon Severn in Glocestershire and the Prince being sent for but refusing to come the King would needs go over to him which Leoline perceiving went up to the Arms in water and laying hold on the Kings Boat would have carried the King out upon his Sholders adding That his Humility and Wisdom had triumphed over his pride and folly and thereupon was reconciled to him and did his homage Burtons Melanch p. 307. XXXVIII After what manner Humility and Compassion doth sometimes meet with unexpected rewards methinks is prettily represented by Vrsinus Velius in the following Verses A Fisher angling in a Brook With a strong line and baited Hook When he for his wish'd Prey did pull It happen'd he brought up a Skull Of one before drown'd which imprest A Pious Motion in his Breast Thinks he since I such leisure have Vpon it I 'le bestow a Grave For what did unto it befal May chance to any of us all He takes it wraps it in his Coat And bears it to a place remote To bury it and then digs deep Because the Earth it safe should keep And lo in digging he espies Where a great heap of Treasure lies For Heaven do's never prove ingrate To such as are Commiserate XXXIX Alphonsus the most noble King of Arragon Naples and Sicily as he passed through Campania lighted by accident upon a Muleteer whose Mule overladen with Corn stuck in the Mire nor was he able with all his strength to deliver her thence the Muleteer beseeched all that passed by to help him but in vain at last the King himself dismounts from his Horse and was so good an help to the poor man that he freed his Beast when he knew it was the King falling on his knees he begged his pardon the King with courteous words dismist him this may seem a thing of small moment yet hereby several People of Campania became reconciled to the King This same Prince being informed by his Vice-Roy at Naples that in his absence one of those two mighty Ships which he had built and which seemed like Mountains by the negligence of the Seamen had taken fire and was burnt down he told the Messenger That he well knew that Ship though great and magnificent would yet after some years be corrupted or perish by some accident or other and that therefore the Vice-Roy if he were wise would bear that misfortune with an equal mind as he himself did By this may be discovered the humility and patience likewise of this great Personage which are both very excellent Accomplishments but especially when they have been improved so far as to repress our rising Passions in the midst of injurious Provocations and under great losses and injuries received in bearing patiently reproofs from Inferiors and likewise in supporting men in the midst of the most exquisite torments and hardships of all which we have divers instances in History and shall relate some of each particular XXXIX Philip King of Macedon had one Nicanor that went about rayling against him whereupon his Courtiers persuaded him to punish him severely for it to whom Philip answered Nicanor is none of the worst of my Subjects I must rather therefore observe and see whether I have not committed any evil whereby I have given him cause to speak so evil of me And making serious inquiry he found that there was a certain poor man who had deserved well of him to whom he had never given a reward whereupon he made him large satisfaction and the poor man did every where extol his goodness and bounty then said Philip to his Attendants You see my Friends it is in our own power either to be spoken well or ill of The Peleponesians who had received many and great favours from King Philip yet hated him spoke evil of him and when he came to the Olympick Games hissed at him whereupon his Friends stirred him up to revenge but he mildly answered them saying If they do thus when I do them good what would they do if I should do them hurt At another time the Athenians sending Ambassadors to request some favours of him he entertained them courteously and granted their requests asking them if there were any thing else wherein he might gratify the Athenians to which one of them answered Yes truly if thou wilt hang thy self This exceedingly inraged Philips Courtiers but he without being moved sent them away courteously only bidding them tell the Athenians That they who spake such things were far weaker than those who could hear and bear them patiently He used to say That he was beholding to the Athenian Orators who by their reproaches made him better whilst he was forced by his Actions to confute their slanders and make them Lyars As King Philip besieged the City of Methon and was walking about to view the Walls one shot an Arrow at him from thence whereby he put out his right Eye which yet he took so patiently that when the Citizens a few days after sent out to treat with him about the surrender he gave them honourable terms and after they had put the City into his hands took no revenge on them for the loss of his Eye In one Battle having taken a considerable number of Prisoners he was himself in Person to see them sold as he sate in
too great a freedom and liberty coming once to the House of Omulus his Friend and beholding there at his entrance divers Pillars of Porphry he inquired whence they were brought Omulus told him That it became him that set his foot into another mans House to be both deaf and dumb He meant he should not be curious and inquisitive The Emperor was delighted with this freedom so far was he from resenting it in such a manner as some others would have done Wanly Hist Man p. 204. XLVIII Such has been the invincible patience of some men that the incredible strength of their minds hath not only prevailed over the weakness of their flesh but reduced it to a temper capable of induring as much as if it had been of Brass or something that if possible is yet more insensible Of such a temper Janus Auceps a wicked Person seem'd to be who dwelt in a lone house by the highway side without the East-gate of the City of Copenhagen in Denmark this man in the night had murdered divers Persons and knocked them on the head with an Ax at last he was discovered taken and condemned to a terrible death he was drawn upon a sledge through the City he had pieces of flesh plucked off from his Body with burning Pincers his Legs and Arms were broken his Tongue was pulled out of his Mouth thongs of his skin were cut out of his back his breast was opened by the speedy hand of the Executioner his heart was pulled out and thrown at his face all this the stout-hearted man bore with an invincible courage and when his heart lay panting by his side in the midst of such torments as he yet underwent he moved his head and looked upon the By-standers with a frowning aspect and seemed with curiosity to contemplate his own heart till such time as his Head was cut off Bartholin Anat. XLIX William Collingborn Esq being condemned for making this Rhime on King Richard the Third The Cat the Rat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog Alluding to Catesby Ratcliff and Lovel the three great Favourites of Richard in whose arms there was pictured a Hog the poor Gentleman was put to a most cruel death for being hanged and cut down alive his bowels ript out and cast into the fire when the Executioner put his hand into the bulk of his body to pull out his heart he said Lord Jesus yet more trouble and so died to the great sorrow of much people Fabians Chro. p. 519. L. When we were come within sight of Buda in Hungary saith Busbequius there came by the command of the Turkish Bassa some of his Family to meet us with divers great Officers but in the first place a Troop of young men on Horseback made us turn our Eyes to them because of the Novelty of their Equipage which was thus upon their bare heads most of which were shaven they had cut a long line in the skin in which wound they had stuck Feathers of all kinds and they were dewed with drops of blood yet dissembling the pain they rid with as much mirth and cheerfulness as if they had been void of all sense just before me there walked some on foot one of these went with his naked arms on his side in each of which he carried a Knife which he had thrust through his Arms just above the Elbow another walked naked from his Navel upward with the skin of both his Loins so cut above and below that he carried a Club which stuck therein as if it had hung at his Girdle another had fastened a Horse-shoe with divers nails upon the crown of his Head but that was done a long while the nails being so grown in the flesh that the Shoe was made fast in this pomp we entred Buda and were brought into the Bassa's Pallace in the Court of which stood these generous contemners of Pain as I chanced to cast my Eye that way What think you of these men said the Bassa Well enough said I but that they use their flesh in such a manner as I would not use my Cloths being desirous to keep them whole The Bassa smiled at this answer and dismissed us Busbequius Epist p. 226. LI. There is a notable example of tolerance which happened in our times in a certain Burgundian who was the Murderer of the Prince of Orange this man though he was scourged with rods of Iron though his flesh was torn off with red hot and burning Pincers yet he gave not so much as a single sigh or groan nay further when part of a broken Scaffold fell upon the head of one that stood by as a Spectator this burned Villain in the midst of all his Torments laughed at the Accident although not long before the same man had wept when he saw the curls of his hair cut off Wanly Hist Man p. 206. LII It was also an Example of great patience in this kind which Strabo mentions in his Geography that Zarmonochaga the Ambassadour from the Indian King having finished his negotiation with Augustus Caesar according to his own mind and having sent an account thereof to his Master because he would have no further trouble for the remaining part of his life after the manner of the Indians he burnt himself alive preserving all the while the countenance of a man that smiled Fulgosus Ex. p. 348. LIII Most eminent was the example of Hieronimus Olgiatus a Citizen of Millain who was one of those four that did assassinate Galeacius Sforza Duke of Millain being taken he was thrust into Prison and put to bitter Tortures now although he was not above two and twenty years of Age and of such a delicacy and softness in his habit of body that was more like to that of a Virgin than a man though he was never accustomed to the bearing of Arms by which it is usual for men to acquire vigour and strength yet being fastened to that Rope upon which he was tormented he seemed as if he sate upon some Tribunal and free from any expression of grief with a clear voice and an undaunted mind he commended the Exploit of himself and his Companions nor did he ever shew the least sign of Repentance in the times of the intermissions of his Torments both in Prose and Verse he celebrated the Praises of his Confederates being at last brought to the place of Execution beholding Carolus and Francion two of his Associates to stand as if they were almost dead for fear he exhorted them to be couragious and requested the Executioners that they would begin with him that his Fellow-sufferers might learn patience by his Example being therefore laid naked and at full length upon the Hurdle and his Feet and Arms fast bound down to it when others that stood by were terrified with the shew and horrour of that death that was prepared for him he with specious words and assured voice extolled the gallantry of their Action and appeared