This Work cost three hundred millions of Sesterces Certainly if a man consider the abundance of water that is brought thereby and how many places it serveth as well publick as private the Bains Stews and Fish-Pools Kitchens and other Houses of Office for Pipes and little Rivulets to water Gardens as well about the City as in Mannors and Houses of Pleasure in the fields near unto the City besides the mighty way that these waters are brought the number of Arches that must of necessity be built to convey them the Mountains that are pierced and wrought through the Vallies that are raised and made even and level he will confess that there never was any design in the whole World enterprised and effected more admirable than this CHAP. VI. Of the choicest Libraries in the World their Founders and number of Books contained in them AS Treasures both publickly and privately are collected and laid up in the Republick to be made use of when necessity requires and the greater and rarer they are the more precious they are accounted So the Treasures of Learning and of all good Arts and Sciences which are contained in Books as so many silent Teachers are worthily collected by publick and private persons and laid up amongst the choicest goods of the Common-wealth where they may be made use of to all sorts of persons as their studies incline them or as necessity shall require at any time whether in peace or war The most famous Repositories of Books were as followeth 1. Ptolomaeus Philadelphus the Son of Ptolomaeus Lagus reigning in Egypt and also by the concurrent and laborious endeavours of Demetrius Phalareus there was an excellent Library founded in Alexandria the noblest City of all Egypt in the year before Christs birth 280. and of the World 3720. This Library saith Baronius was enriched with more than 200000 Volumes brought out of all places in the World with exquisite care and diligence Amongst these were also the Books of the Old Testament translated by the LXX After which Translation the King also procured so many Greek Chaldee Egyptian Books and Latine ones translated into Greek as also of divers other Notions that at last he had heaped up therein saith Gellius seven hundred thousand Volumes But alas in how short a time did the splendour of so much vertue suffer an Eclipse for in the 183 Olympiad from the building of the City Caesar fighting in Alexandria that fire which burnt up the Enemies Navy took hold also of this burnt the greatest part of the City saith Orosius together with four hundred thousand Books so that from the founding of it to its destruction there were elapsed only 224 years 2. Eumenes the Son of Attalus and Father of that Attalus who was the last King of Pergamus and who dying made the people of Rome â—is Heir was the Founder of that excellent Library at Pergamus in the year from the Creation 3810. wherein were contained above twenty thousand choice Books 3. Queen Cleopatra about the year of the World 3950. and thirty years before the Birth of Christ gathered together such Books as had escaped the fire of Caesar in Alexandria built a place for them in the Temple of Serapis near to the Port and transferred thither 200000 Books from the Attalick or Pergamenian Library 4. M. Varro by the appointment of Iulius Caesar had the peculiar care committed to him of erecting a publick Library but it had come to nothing but for the helping hand of Augustus who succeeded him It was he that erected a famous Repository for Books in the Hill Aventine adorned it with Porticoes and Walks for the greater convenience of Students and enriched it with the spoils of conquered Dalmatia this was a little before the Birth of Christ and in the year of the World 3970. Nor did the bounty of this great Prince rest there but always aspiring to greater things he opened two other little inferiour to that in the Aventine one whereof he called the Octavian from the name of his Sister and the other the Palatine from the Mount or Hill on which it was erected Over the Keepers of which by his Imperial Order was C. Iulius Hyginnius an excellent Grammarian 5. Fl. Vespasianus about the sixth year of his Empire the seventy seventh from the Birth of Christ and of the World 4050. founded a Library in the Forum at Rome and contiguous to the Temple of Peace as if he thereby intended to shew that nothing was so requisite to advance men in Learning as times of peace 6. The Emperour Trajanus in the tenth year of his Reign one hundred and eight years after the Birth of Christ and from the Creation of the World 4092. built a sumptuous Library in the Market-place of Trajan which he called after his own sirname the Vlpian Library Dioclesian afterwards being to edifie some and adorn other Baths translated this Library unto the Viminal Hill which at this day hath the Gate of St. Agnes opening upon it 7. Domitianus the Emperour erected another near to his own house which he had built upon the Capitoline Hill which yet soon after was reduced to ashes in the Reign of Commodus which happened as Eusebius Dion and Baronius witness in the eighth year of Commodus his Empire the 189. year from the Nativity of Christ and from the Creation of the World about the four thousand one hundred sixty and third 8. Gordianus Senior about the two hundred and fortieth year after Christ built a Library which contained sixty and two thousand Books the greater part whereof were left as a Legacy to the Emperour by Geminicus Gammonicus 9. Constantinus the Emperour by the testimony of Baronius erected a sumptuous Library in the Province of Thrace at Byzantium called New Rome which was enriched with an hundred and twenty thousand Volumes he called that City Constantinople in the year from the Birth of Christ 324. but through the discord of his Sons about the year of the World 4321. and from the Birth of Christ 340. to wit of Constantinus Constantius and Constance the Emperours in the deplorable declination of the Empire and much more by fire it lost its fame and name being burnt by the people in hatred of Basilius the Emperour as saith Zonaras and Cedrenus which happened about the year from the Nativity of Christ 476. but being repaired and increased by the accession of three hundred and three Volumes Leo Isaurus in hatred of sacred Images burnt both it and its Keepers who were Counsellors of great renown This happened about the year of Christ 726. as witnesseth Zonaras Cedrenus and others In this Library was as is reported the gut of a Dragon 120 foot long upon which was written Homers Poems Iliads and Odysses in Letters of Gold 10. The Sâ—ptalian Libâ—aâ—y now in the possession of Manfrâ—d Septala a Patâ—ician of Mâ—llâ—ine 1664. contains seven thousand two hundred ninety Volumes amongst which are many
had been often seis'd with a palpitation of the Heart being apprehended he was adjudg'd to the Wheel by the Magistrate my self with two more of my Collegues desirous to see the Heart of this Man as soon as his Body was divided into four quarters cut it open yet beating and in the right Ventricle of it we found three stones of the bigness of a pease of an ash colour somewhat long and of the weight of one drachm these were not only seen but wondred at by divers persons of Learning and Curiosity 4. Upon the dissection of the Body of the Emperour Mâ—ximilian the Second there were found in his Heart three stones of the bigness of a pease one bigger than the other of a redish or rusty colour by reason of these he had in his life time been much aâ—flicted with the palpitation of the Heart 5. Hieronymus Schreiberus leaving Italy came to Paris Anno 1549. and under Sylvius Fernelius and Hollerius studied Physick In March the year aforesaid he fell into a violent and unknown Disease and in May following dy'd of it his body was opened and when the substance of the heart was cut therein was found a stone big as a Nutmeg hard somewhat black colour'd round and weighing some drams which his Masters and others taking in their hands not only saw but wondred at 6. In the dissection of the body of Cardinal Gambara Brixianus at Rome I found â—aith Columbus a very hard tumour in the left ventricle of his Heart which was of the bigness of an Egg. 7. Within the right ventricle of the heart near the oriâ—ice of the Vena Cava in such persons as die suffocate with sudden and unexpected death there are sometimes found pieces of fleshy substance growing together to the bigness of a Man's fist as was lately found by my self in the heart of the Bishop of St. Maloes 8. Anno Dom. 1602. there were these wonders seen in the hearts of two Polonians who were Brethren the heart of the one was solid without any Ventricles but towards the Basis of the Heart the Vessels were exceedingly dilated and those Anastomoses which are in the foetus did remain the Heart of the other Brother had in the middle Sept of it a remarkable glandule 9. Anno 1644. The Body of Pope Vrban the Eighth was opened in order to the embalming of it By Io. Trullus an excellent Anatomist and in the left Ventricle of his Heart there was found a triangular bone in form of the letter T as also five stones in his gall each of them of the bigness of an Hazel Nut. 10. Upon the dissection of the Body of a Rustick who dy'd at Copenhagen of a consumption his Heart was found so vast that oftentimes that of an Ox is neither bigger nor more weighty the left Ventricle as yet unopened felt more hard than usual to the touch which begat suspicion that a Cartilage might be bred there like to those that are found in the Hearts of Stags nor were we mistaken for at the Root of the Aorta there was a three corned bone resembling the figure of a Heart or the Letter Y but the bone was somewhat spungy and friable not unlike to some of those stones that are voided by Urine 11. I dissected a Scholar at the Academy at Rome in the presence of that excellent Physician Alexander Trajanus Petronius the Heart of the miserable young man was found without its pericardium by reason of which he fell into frequent Syncope's and of this kind of disease he dy'd 12. We read of some Hearts quite dry'd and shrunk up for want of the Water in the pericardium such was the Heart of Casimire Marquess of Brandenburg which was like unto a roasted Pear and shrivell'd up in that manner 13. The Body of a Noble Roman who dyed vex'd with a continual disease being opened there was found in him no Heart at all only the tunicle it was wrapt in the Heart it self and every portion thereof being dry'd up and consum'd by an immoderate heat 14. I remember when I was at Venice saith Muretus there was a famous Thief executed and when he was cut open by the Executioner his Heart was found all hairy 15. Aristomenes the Mâ—ssenian was a valiant person he was several times taken by the Athenians and shut up in prison from whence notwithstanding by admirable subtilty he made his escape but at length when they had retaken him by reason of his craftiness they resolv'd to make sure work with him they cut out his Heart and found it all hairy 16. The Greeks write of that Hermogenes whose Books of Rhetorick are yet extant and compos'd with a great deal of wit that his Heart both for bigness and hairiness was remarkable above tâ—ose of all other mortals 17. Leonidas a Noble Spartan Captain the same who kept the striats of Thermopylae against the huge Army of Xerxes where also he was slain Xerxes in revenge of the affront caus'd his heart to be pull'd out and found it all rough with hair he liv'd Anno Mundâ— 3470. Lysander a Lacedemonian Captain under whose conduct Sparta overcame the Aâ—henians he was a crafty man one that cared not for oath or truth longer than they serv'd his turn when he was dead his Heart was found hairy He liv'd An. Mund. 3550. 18. Zuinglius fighting valiantly in the foremost ranks of his party against the Swissers was by them beaten down and slain after which his Body was cut into four parts by the Enemy and cast into the â—lames to be burnt to ashes three days after some of his friends came to the place and amongst the ashes found his Heart whole and untoucht by the Fire This was Anno Dom. 1531. 20. Upon the 14. of Febr. in the 30 year of Q. Marry was Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury brought to the stake where he first thrust his right hand into the â—ire with which he had before subscribed a recantation till it first and then his whole Body was consumed only which was no small miracle his Heart remain'd whole and not once touch'd by the â—ire 21. I remember I have seen the heart of one that was bowell'd as suffering for high Treason that being cast into the fire leap'd at first a foot and half in height and after by degrees lower and lower for the space as we remember of seven or eight minutes 22. Prosper Cecchinus a Roman Surgeon related an accident above all admiration A certain Priest in his madness had guelded himself and persisting in the same fury he thrust himself with divers stiff needles into the Brest under the lest Pap. At last that is after five or six days as he had hated life so he easily obtain'd death by these wounds Upon the opening of his Body it appear'd that all the Needles had pierc'd the very substance of the Heart with all which yet he
shortness of their stature the one of them was an Actor in Plays and Interludes the other was a famous Robber by the high way both of them were so little that the name of them passed into a Proverb men using to say of a little man that he was as very a dwarf as Molon CHAP. XXIV Of the mighty Force and Strength of some persons THe Northern Nations have made frequent invasions and irruptions into the Southern parts wherein as an irresistible torrent they have born all away before them yet it is observed they never established any durable Empire there the reason is said to be because the Southern wit in the upshot hath always prov'd an overmatch for the Northern Strength What might we not expect from an able body in conjunction with a fertile brain when we see such wonders perform'd by each of them single Admirable are the instances of bodily strength from the relations of most credible Authors 1. A few years since there was one Venetianello well known throughout all Italy a famous Dancer upon the Ropes a Venetian by birth and called Venetianello because of the lowness of his stature yet was he of that strength and firmness that he broke the thickest shank bones of Oxen upon his knee three pins of Iron as thick as a man's finger wrapping them about with a Napkin he would twist and writhe as if they were softened by fire A beam of twenty foot long or more and a foot thick laid upon his shoulders sometimes set on end there he would carry without use of his hands and shift from one shoulder to another My Son Theodorus was an eye-witness of all this and related it to me 2. George l' Feur a learned German writes that in his time in the year 1529 there liv'd at Mâ—saia in Thuring one called Nicholas Klunher Provost of the great Church who was so strong as without Cable or Pulley or any other help he fetched up out of a Cellar a Pipe of Wine carried it out of doors and laid it upon a Cart. 3. I have seen a man saith Mayolus an Italian Bishop in the town of Aste who in the presence of the Marquess of Pescara handed a pillar of Marble three foot long and one foot in Diameter the which he cast high in the air then received it again in his arms then lash'd it up again sometime after one fashion sometime after another as easily as if he had been playing with a Ball or some such little thing There was saith the same Author at Mantua a Man called Rodomas of little stature but so strong that he brake a Cable as big as a man's arm as easily as if it had been a small twine-thred Mounted upon a Horse and leading another by the bridle he would run a full career and stop in the midst of his course or when it liked him best 5. Froysard a Man much esteemed for the truth and â—idelity of his History reports that about two hundred years since was one Ornando Burg a Spaniard he was companion to the Earl of Foix one time attending the Earl he accompanied him into a higher room to which they ascended by twenty four steps the weather was cold and the fire not answerable so that espying certain Asses out of the window laden with wood as they stood in the lower Court he goes down thither lifts up the greatest of them with his burthen upon his shoulder and carrying it to the room from whence he came cast both as he found them into the fire together 6. Lebelski a Polander in his description of the things done at Constantinople in the year 1581 at the Circumcision of Mahomet the Son of Amurath Emperour of the Turks writes that amongst many active men who there shewed their strength one was most memorable who for proof thereof lifted up a piece of wood which twelve men had much ado to raise from the earth and afterwards lying down â—lat upon his back he bore upon his breast a weighty stone which ten men had with much ado rolled thither and this he made but a jest of 7. Many yet alive know how strong and mighty George of Fronsberg Baron of Mindlehaim was he was able with the middle finger of his right hand to remove a very strong man out of his place sate he never so sure He stopped a Horse suddenly that ran in a full carriere by only touching the Bridle and with his shoulder would he easily shove a Cannon whither he listed His Joynts seemed to be made of Horn and he wrested twisted Ropes and Horse-shooes in sunder with his bare hands 8. Cardan writes that himself saw one dancing with two in his arms two upon his shoulders and one hanging about his neck 9. Of later days and here at home Mr. Richard Carâ—w a worthy Gentleman in his Survey of Cornwal assures us that one Iohn Bray well known to himself as being his Tenant carried upon his back at one time by the space of well near a Butt's length six bushels of wheaten meal reckoning fifteen Gallons to the Bushel and the Miller a lubber of twenty four years of age upon the whole whereunto he addeth that Iohn Roman of the same Shire a short clownish Grub would bear the whole carcase of an Ox though he never tugged with it when it was a Calf as Milo did 10. Iulius Capitolinus and others report of the Tyrant Maximinus who murdered and succeeded the good Emperour Alexander Severus that he was so strong that with his hands he drew Carts and Wains full loaden with a blow of his fist he struck out a Horses teeth and with a kick brake his thighs he crumbled stones of Tuph betwixt his fingers he cleft young Trees with his hands so that he was sirnamed Hercules Anteus and Milo 11. Trebellius Pollio writes of Caius Marius a Cutler by his first occupation and who in the time of Galiâ—nus was chosen Emperour by the Soldiers that there was not any man who had stronger hands to strike and thrust than he the veins of his hands seemed as if they had been sinews with his fourth finger he stayed a Cart drawn with Horses and drew it backward If he gave but a fillip to the strongest man that then was he would feel it as if he had received a blow on the forehead with an hammer with two fingers he would wrest and break many strong and twisted things 12. Tritanus a Samnite Fencer was of such a making that not only his Breast but his hands also and arms were furnished with sinews both long-wise and a-cross and side-ways so that without any pain and with the least blow he overthrew all them that encountred him The Son of this Fencer of the same name and make a Soldier in Pompeys Army when he was challenged by an enemy set so slight by him that he overcame him by the blows of his bare hand and with one
Others laid themselves backwards on their running Horses and taking their tails put them in their mouths and yet forgot not their aim in shooting Some after every shot drew out their Swords and flourished them about their heads and again sheathed them Others sitting betwixt three Swords on their right and as many on the left thinly cloathed that without geart care every motion would make way for death yet before and behind them touched the Mark. One stood upon two Horses running very swiftly his feet loose and shot also at once three Arrows before and again three behind him Another sitting on a Horse neither bridled nor sadled as he came at every Mark arose and stood upon his feet and on both hands hitting the Mark sat down again three times A third sitting on the bare Horse when he came to the Mark lay upon his back and lifted up his leg and yet missed not his shoot One of them was kill'd with a fall and two sore wounded in these their feats of activity All this is from Baumgustens relation who was an eye-witness thereof 10. Bemoine in an accident of Civil Wars in Gia laff came ro the King of Portugal for aid with his followers amongst whom some were of such admirable dexterity and nimbleness of body that they would leap upon a Horse as he gallopped and would stand upright in the Saddle when he ran fastest and turn themselves about and suddenly sit down and in the same race would take up stones laid in order upon the ground and leap down and up at pleasure CHAP. XXVII Of the extraordinary swiftness and footmanship of some Men. THe news of the overthrow of King Perseus by L. Paulus Aemylius is said to be brought from Macedonia to Rome in a day but then it is suspected to be performed by the ministration of Spirits who free from the burden of a body may well be the quicker in their intelligence We here have an account of some such who may seem to have divested themselves of flesh and almost to contend with Spirits themselves in the quickness of their conveyance of themselves from place to place 1. Philippides being sent by the Athenians to Sparta to implore their assistance in the Persian War in the space of two days ran one thousand two hundred and sixty furlongs that is one hundred fifty seven Roman miles and a half 2. Euchidas was sent by the same Athenians to Delphos to desire some of the holy Fire from thence he went and return'd in one and the same day having measured 1000 furlongs that is 125 Roman miles 3. When Fonteius and Vipsanus were Consuls there was a Boy of but nine years of age Martial calls him Addas who within the compass of one day ran 75 miles outright 4. But that amazes me saith Lipsius which Pliny sets down of Philonides the Courier or furlongs that he dispatch'd in nine hours of the day 1200 furlongs even as far as Scycione to Elis and returned from thence by the third hour of the night And the same Pliny speaks of it as a known thing We know those now a-days saith he who will dispatch 160 miles in the Cirque upon a wager 5. There was one Philippus a young man a Soldier and one of the Guard to Alexander the Great who on foot and arm'd and with his weapons in his hand did attend the King for 500 furlongs as he rode in his Charriot Lysimachus often profer'd him his Horse but he would not accept him I wonder not at the space he measured as that he perform'd it under such a weight of arms 6. King the Henry Fifth of England was so swift in running that he with two of his Lords without Bow or other Engine would take a wild Buck or Doe in a large Park 7. Harold The Son of Canutus the Second succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of England he was sirnamed Harefoot because he ran as swift as a Hare 7. Ethus King of the Scots was of that swiftness that he almost reached that of Stags and Grey-hounds he was therefore vulgarly call'd Alipes wing'd-foot though otherwise unâ— it for Government cowardly and a slave of pleasure 9. Starchaterus the Suecian was a valiant Giant excelling in strength of body and of incredible swiftness of foot so that in the compass of one day he ran out of the upper Suecia into Denmark a journey which other men could hardly perform in the compass of twelve days though on horseback 10. The Piechi are a sort of Footmen who attend upon the Turkish Emperour and when there is occasion are dispatch'd hither and thither with his Orders or other Messages They run with such admirable swiftness that with a little Polaxe and a Viol of sweet Waters in their hands they will run from Constantinople to Hadrianople in a day and a night that is about 160 Roman miles 11. Luponus a Spaniard was of that strength and swiftness that with a Ram laid on his shoulder he equall'd any other in the Race that was to be found in his time 12. Under the Emperour Leo who succeeded Marcian there was a Greek named Indacus a valiant man and of a wonderful footmanship he would run faster than any other of the Athenian or Spartan Footmen before mentioned One might see him at parting but he vanished presently like lightning seeming as if he flew over Mountains and steep places rather than run he could ride more way in one day without being weary than the best Post could have done with so many Horses of release as he could take without staying in any place when he had made in a day much more way than a Post could do with all his speed the next day he return'd to the place from whence he departed the day before and went again from thence the next day for some other place and never left running nor could stay long in any place 13. Iustin tells how the Daughter of Gargoris King of the Curetes having suffer'd her self to be defil'd was delivered of a Son call'd Habides whom the Grand-father desirous to hide his Daughters shame caus'd to be expos'd and in a solitary place left to the mercy of the wild Beasts but an Hind brought him up tenderly as if he had been a Fawn of her own so that being grown somewhat great he would run swiftly like the Stags with which he leap'd and skip'd in the Mountains Finally he was taken in a snare presented to Gargoris and by peculiar marks upon his body known and owned by him to be the Son of his Daughter who admiring the strange way of preservation left the Crown to him as his Successor 12. Polymnestor a Boy of Milesia was set out by his Mother to keep Goats under a Master who was the owner of them while he was in this imployment he pursu'd a Hare in sport overtook and catch'd her which known he was by his Master
secrecy and undiscovered for the space of nine years together She conceived and brought forth Children in that solitary mansion At last the place of their Abode came to be known they were taken and brought to Rome where Vespasian commanded they should be slain Eponina producing and shewing her Children Behold O Caesar said she such as I have brought forth and brought up in a Monument that thou mightest have more suppliants for our lives Cruel Vespasian that could not be mov'd with such words as these Well they were both led to death and Eponina joyfully dyed with her Husband who had been before buried with him for so many years together 15. Eumenes burying the dead that had fall'n in the Battel of Gabine against Antigonus amongst others there was found the Body of Ceteas the Captain of those Troops that had come out of India This man had two Wives who accompanied him in the Wars one which he had newly married and another which he had marryed a few years before but both of them bare an entire love to him for whereas the Laws of India require that one Wife shall be burnt with her dead Husband both these proffered themselves to death and strove with that ambition as if it was some glorious prize they sought after Before such Captains as were appointed their Judges the younger pleaded that the other was with child and that therefore she could not have the benefit of that Law The elder pleaded that whereas she was before the other in years it was also fit that she should be before her in honour since it was customary in other things that the elder should have place The Judges when they understood by Midwives that the elder was with child passed judgment that the younger should be burnt which done she that had lost the cause departed rending her Diadem and tearing her hair as if some grievous calamity had befallen her The other all joy at her victory went to the Funeral Fire magnificently dressed up by her Friends led along by her Kinred as if to her Nuptials they all the way singing Hymns in her praises when she drew near the fire taking off her Ornaments she delivered them to her Friends and Servants as tokens of remembrance they were a multitude Rings with variety of precious Stones Chains and Stars of Gold c. this done she was by her Brother placed upon the combustible matter by the side of her Husband and after the Army had thrice compassed the Funeral Pile fire was put to it and she without a word of complaint finished her life in the flames 16. Clara Cervenda was one of the most beautiful and fairest Virgins in all Bruges she was married to Bernard Valdaura at that time above forty four years of age The first night after her marriage she found that her Husbands Thighs were rolled and wrapped with Clouts and that he was a man very sore and sickly for all which she lov'd him not a whit the less Not long after Valdaura fell so sick that all the Physicians despaired of his life then did she so attend upon him that in six weeks space she put not off her cloaths only for shift nor rested above an hour or two at the most in a night and that in her cloaths This Disease was a venemous Relique of the Pox and the Physicians counselled Clara not to touch the sick man or come near him and so also did her Kinred and Neighbours All which moved her not but having taken order for that which concerned the benefit of his Soul she provided him all things that might tend to the health of his body she made him Broths and Juleps she changed his Sheets and Clouts although by reason of a continual loosness and many sores about him his body never left running with matter and filth so that he never had any clean part about him All the day she rested not the strength of her love supporting the delicacy of her body by this good means Valdaura escaped that danger After this by reason of a sharp and hot Rheum falling from his Brain the Gristle within his Nose began to be eaten away wherefore the Physicians appointed a certain powder to be blown up softly into his Nose at certain times with a Quill no body could be found to take such a loathsome service in hand because of the stench that came from him but Clara did it chearfully and when his Cheeks and Chin were all covered over with Scabs Wheals and Scales so as no Barber could or would shave him she with her little Scissars played the Barber and made him a deft Beard From this Sickness he fell into another which lasted seven years during which time with incredible diligence she made ready his meat put in his Tents laid on his Plaisters dressed and bound up his Thighs all rotten with Scabs and Ulcers his Breath was such that none durst come near by ten paces and abide by it which yet she protested was sweet to her This long sickness and the nourishing and medicining of a body oppressed by so many Diseases was a great matter in a House that had no Rents or Profits coming in and where Trade had ceased of a long time and consequently the gain she therefore to furnish expences sold her Pretious Jewels her Gold Chains her rich Carcanets her Garments of great value a Cupboard of Plate not caring for any thing so her Husband was relieved and contenting her self with little so he wanted nothing Thus Valdaura lingred on a life by the help of his Wife within a rotten body or rather within a Grave for twenty years together in which time she had eight children by him yet neither she nor they had so much as a Scab Wheal or Pimple in any part of their bodies Valdaura died an old man for whose death his Wife Clara made such mourning as they who knew her well say never woman did for any Husband When some instead of comforting her told her God had done much in taking him away and that they therefore came to congratulate with her she detested their speeches wishing for her Husband again in exchange of five children and though she was yet both young and lusty and sought to by many she resolved not to marry saying she should never meet with any whom she could like so well as her dear Bernard Valdaura CHAP. IX Of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children THat natural affection which we bear towards them that proceed from us we have in common with other creatures The Poet hath expressed it in the most cruel of all other Beasts The Tiger which most thirsts for blood Seeing her self robbed of her tender Brood Lies down lamenting in her Scythian Den And licks the prints where her lost whelps had lain Only this affection reigns with greater power in the Souls of some than others and the effects of it have been such as cannot but detain us
avitâ Relligione Iaem senescente ne dicam sublatá Mutavit chorum altiorem ut capesceret Vade nunc si libet imitare R. W. 24. Manutius in his Preface to his Paradoxes tells us of one Creighton a Scotch-man who at twenty years of Age when he was killed by the Order of the Duke of Mantua understood twelve Languages had read over all the Fathers and Poets disputed de omni scibili and answered extempore in Verse Ingenium prodigiosum sed de fuit Iudicium He had a prodigious Wit but was defective in Iudgment CHAP. XLIII Of the first Authors of divers Famous Inventions THe Chineses look upon themselves as the wisest People upon the Face of the Earth they use therefore to say that they see with both eyes and all other Nations but with one only They give out that the most famous inventions that are so lately made known to the Europaean world have been no Strangers to them for a number of Ages that are passed I know not what Justice they may have in these pretensions of theirs but shall content my self to give some account of the most useful amongst them by whom and when they were conveyed down to us 1. The Invention of that Excellent Art of Printing Peter Ramus seems to attribute to onâ— Iohn Faust a Moguntine telling us that he had in his keeping a Copy of Tully's Offices Printed upon Parchment with this Inscription added in the end thereof viz. The Excellent Work of Marcus Tullius I John Faust a Citizen of Ments happily I up 〈◊〉 not with writing Ink or Brass Pen but with an Excellent Art by the help of Peter Gerneshem my Servant finished it was in the Year 1466. the Fourth of February Pasquier saith the like had come to his hands and Salmuth says that one of the same Impression was to be seen in the Publick Library of Ausburg another in Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge and a fifth Dr. Hakewell saith he saw in the Publick Library of Oxford though with some little difference in the Inscription Yet Polydor Virgil from the report of the Moguntines themselves affirms that Iohn Gutenberge a Knight and dwelling in Mentz was the first Inventor thereof Anno 1440. and with him agree divers Learned Persons believing he was the first Inventor of this Invaluable Art but Faust the first who taking it from him made proof thereof in Printing a Book Iunius tells it was the Invention of Lawrence Ians a Citizen of Harlem in the Low Countries with whom joyned Thomas Peters a Kinsman of his for the perfecting of it and that the forementioned Iohn Faust stole his Letters and fled with them first to Amsterdam thence to Collen and aferwards to Ments According to their Books they of China have used Printing this 1600 years but 't is not like unto ours in Europe for their Letters are engraven in Tables of Wood. The Author gives his Manuscript to the Graver who makes his Tables of the same bigness with the Sheets that are given him and pasting the Leaves upon the Table with the wrong side outwards he engraves the Letters as he finds them with much facility and exactness their Wooden Tables are made of the best Pear-tree So that any Work which they print as they do in great numbers remains always intire in the Print of the Table to be Reprinted as oft as they please without any new expence in setting for the Press as there is in our Printing It was brought into England by William Caxto of London Mercer Anno 1471. who first practised it As touching that of Guns though Lipsius calls it the Invention of Spirits and not of men and Sir Walter Raleigh will have it found out by the Indians and Petrach and Valâ—urius refer it to Archimedes for the overthrow of Marcellus his Ships at the Seige of Syracuse Yet the common opinion is that it was first found out by a Monk of Germany Forcatulus in his fourth Book of the Empire and Philosophy of France names him Berthold Swartz of Cullen and Salmuth calls him Constantine Aâ—klitzen of Friburg but all agree that he was a German Monk and that by chance a Spark of Fire falling into a pot of Nitre which he had prepared for Physick or Alchymy and causing it to fly up he thereupon made a composition of Powder with an Instrument of Brass or Iron and putting Fire to it found the conclusion to answer his desire The first publick use of Guns that we read of was thought to be about the year 1380. as Magius or 400 as Ramus in a Battel betwixt the Genowayes and the Venetians at Clodia Fossa in which the Venetians having got it seemes the invention from the Monk so galled their enemyes that they saw themselves wounded and slain and yet knew not by what means nor how to prevent it as witnesseth Platina in the life of Pope Vrban the sixth 3. The Mariners compass is an admirable Invention of which â—odinus thus though there be nothing in the whole Course of Nature that is more worthy of wonder then the Loadstone yet were the ancients ignorant of the divine use of it It points out the way to the skillful Mariner when aâ—l other helps fail him and that more certainly though it be without Reason sense or life then without the help thereof all the Wisards and learned Clerks in the world using the united strength of their wits and cunning can possibly do Now touching the time and Author of this invention there is some doubt Dr. Gilbert our country man who hath written in Latine a large and learned discourse of this stone seems to be of opinion that Paulus Venetus brought the Invention of the use thereof from the Chineses Osorius in his discourse of the Acts of King Emanuel refers it to Gama and his Country men the Portugals who as he pretends took it from certain barbaroâ—s Pirates roaving upon the Sea about the Cape of good Hope Goropius Becanus thinks he hath good reason to intitle it upon his countrymen the Germans in as much as the thirty two points of the Wind upon the Compass borrow the name from the Dutch in all Languages But Blondâ—â— who is therein followed by Pancirollus both Italians will not have Italy lose the prayse thereof telling us that about Anno 1300 is was found out â—t Mâ—lâ—hiâ— or Melphis a Citty in the Kingdome of Naples in the province of Câ—â—â—pania now called Terra di Lovorador But for the Author of it one names him not and the other assures us he is not known Yet Salmuth out of Câ—â—zus and Gomara confidently christens him with the name of Flavius and so doth Dubartas whose verses on this subject are thus translated We 'r not to Ceres so much bound â—or bread Neither to Bacchus for his Clusters red As signior Flavio to thy witty tryal For first inventing of the Seamens Dyal Th' use of th' needle turning in the same
he advised men to marry their daughters when Virgins for age and women for wisdom thereby obscurely hinting that Virgins were to be instructed To do good to friends and enemies to oblige the one and reconcile the other that going forth we should ask what we are about to do and returning what we have done to be more ready to hear than speak not to dally nor quarrel with our Wives in the presence of others to overcome pleasure and not to be insolent in prosperity he died seventy years of age his saying was A Measure is the best Laert. lib. 1. p. 23 24. 7. Periander the Corinthian was the son of Cypselus he seised upon the Government and became the Tyrant of Corinth being the first that kept a Life-guard about him he said They that would Rule safely must be rather fenced with love and good will than arms that rest is desirable petulancy dangerous gain â—ilthy pleasures fading but honour is immortal He advised to keep promises reveal no secrets to be the same towards our friends fortunate or otherwise and to punish not only those that commit a fault but those also that are about to do it he held his Tyranny forty years and flourished in the thirty eighth Olympiad his saying was In meditation there is all Laert. lib. 1. p. 24 25. 8. Anacharsis the son of Gnurus and brother of Cadvides King of the Scythians came to Athens and was received by Solon as his friend he used to say That the Vine had three Clusters the first of pleasure the second of drunkenness and the third of sorrow and repentance that Sea-men are but four inches distant from death and that the Market-place is a spot of ground where men meet on purpose to deceive oâ—e another Being asked what Ships were the â—afest he replied Those in the Haven when reproached by one of Athens for being a Scythian My Country said he is a reproach to me but thou art so to thy Country When abused by a young man at a Feast Youngster said he if you cannot bear your Wine while young you will carry Water when you are old He is said to have found out the Anchor and the Potters Wheel returning into Scythia he highly commended the Laws of Greece and endeavouring to abolish those of his own Country he was shot dead at a hunting by the King his brother Laert. lib. 1. p. 26. 9. Epimenides the son of Phaestius a Cretans is said to have slept fifty seven years was illustrious amongst the Greeks and a friend of the gods he purged the City of Athens and thereby freed it of the pestilence Phlegon saith he lived one hundred fifty seven years he was contemporary with Solon Laert. lib. 1. p. 29. 10. Pherecydes the son of Badys was a Syrian strange things are reported of him as that walking upon the Shore and seeing a Ship sailing with a prosperous wind he said that Ship would be presently cast away as it was in their sight also having drank water out of a pit he foretold there would be an Earthquake within three daies which also came to pass coming to Messana he warned Perilaus his Host to depart thence with all that he had which he neglecting to do Messana was taken he is said to have died of the lowsie disease he lived in the fifty ninth Olympiad Laert. lib. 1. p. 31. 11. Anaximander the Milesian held Infinityâ— to be the beginning and element of all things not air or water which changed in its parts but immutable in the whole that the Earth is the Center and round that the Moon has no light of her own the Sun is bigger than the Earth and is the purest fire he found out the Gnomon upon Dials first described the compass of Sea and Land and made a Sphear he lived to sixty two years and died about the fifty eighth Olympiad Laert. lib. 2. p. 33. 12. Anaxagoras the son of Euâ—ulus a Clazomenian was noble and rich but left all to his friends when one said he had no care of his Country Yes but I have said he pointing towards Heaven He said the Sun was a red hot iron bigger than Peloponnesus that the Moon was habitable and that there were Hills and Valleys therein that the Milky way was the reflex light of the Sun that the Origine of Winds is the extenuation of the air by the Sun Being asked what he was born for To contemplate said he the Sun Moon and Heavens he said the whole frame of Heaven consisted of Stone and that it was kept from falling by the swift turning of it He died at Lampsacum in the first year of the seventy eighth Olympiad Laert. lib. 2. p. 34. 13. Socrates the son of Sophroniscus was an Athenian he was valiant patient constant and contented His food was so wholsom and he so temperate that though the Pestilence was often in Athens yet he alone was never sick seeing a multitude of things exposed to sale What a number of things said he have I no need of He took no notice of those that reproached or backbited him He was powerful in perswasion and disswading as he apprehended the occasion for either he said it was a strange thing that all men could tell what Goods they had but no man how many friends he hath so remiss are they in that matter that knowledge is the only good thing and ignorance the only evil that Riches and Nobility have nothing of worth in them that his Genius did presignifie future things to him that other men liv'd to eat but he did eat to live Being asked what was the principal vertue of youth He replyed Not to over-do and Whether it were best to marry or live single he answered In both you will repent He advised youth daily to contemplate themselves in a glass that if handsome they might make themselves worthy of it if deformed they might cover it with Learning By the Oracle of Apollo he was judged the wisest of men by which he fell into the envy and hatred of many was accused as the despiser of the old and a setter forth of new gods and thereupon being condemned he drank poyson the Athenians soon after bewailed the loss of him he died in the ninety fifth Olympiad aged seventy Laeâ—t lib. 2. p. 37 38. 14. Aristippus the Cyrenian moved with the glory of Socrates came to Athens and there professing himself a Sophist was the first of the Socraticks that exacted a reward he was a man that knew how to serve every place time and person and he himself aptly sustained what person he pleased upon which account he was more gracious with Dionysius than any other and by Diogenes called the Royal Dog Being asked what he had learned by Philosophy To use all men said he with confidence When one upbraided him that he lived sumptuously If that were evil said he we should not use it in the Festivals of the gods Dionysius asked him the reason Why Philosophers came to
29. Pythagoras the Son of Mnesarchus a Ring-maker or Marmacus a Samian when young being desirous to improve himself he travelled Greece Egypt to Epimenides in Creet and to the Magi in Chaldaea thence he returned to Samos which being oppressed under the Tyrannie of Polycrates he forsook and setled at Crotona in Italy He held the transmigration of souls his Scholars possessed all things in common and kept silence for five years The Philosopher himself had great command over his passions lived inoffensively permitted no bloody sacrifices nor to swear by the gods used Divination himself and permitted it to his whom yet he interdicted from feeding upon Beans he held all things to be ruled by fate that there are Antipodes that the Sun Moon and Stars are gods and that all the Air is full of Souls that all things even God himself do consist of Harmony He forbad to taste of that which fell from the Table whether as belonging to the dead or to use men to temperate eating is uncertain Sitting in the house of Mylo it was set on fire supposed by them of Crotona fearing to fall under Tyrannie the Philosopher running away was pursued and killed having lived eighty some say ninety years he flourished in the sixtieth Olympiad the form of his Discipline remained for nineteen ages Laert. lib. 8. p. 214. 30. Empedocles of Agrigentum was the Son of Meton and Scholar of Pythagoras of noble birth a great Rhetorician and Physician he is said to have refused a Kingdom when profered him having cured one of a disease that seemed incurable he was sacrificed to as a god whence he went to Aetna and to beget an opinion that he was a god he cast himself into the midst of the flames that he might not be found but one of his Shoos detected the matter for it was cast up again being of Brass as he used to wear them others say he went into Peloponnesus and returned not which makes the time of his death uncertain In his way to Messana he fell and broke his Leg of which falling sick he dyed saith Aristotle in the sixtieth year of his age others in the seventy and seventh his Sepulchre was at Megaris Laert. lib. 8. p. 226. 31. Heraclitus an Ephesian he used to play with the Boys in the Temples of Diana and to the Ephesians that stood about him O ye worst of men what saith he do you wonder at is not this better than to have to deal with you in the Common-wealth He declined the society of men lived in the mountains and fed upon Grass and Herbs He heard no man but learned all of himself He held that all things came of fire and should be destroyed by it that all places are full of Devils and Souls Darius the King was desirous of his society as appears by his Letter to him to come to him which he refused to do some say he dyed of a Dropsie others that being covered with Cow-dung he was worried with Dogs he flourished in the sixty ninth Olympiad Laert. lib. 9. p. 237. 32. Democritus of Abdera when young heard the Magi and Chaldeans afterwards Anaxagoras dividing the Patrimony with two other Brothers his part came to an hundred Talents with which he travelled to Egypt to Aethiopia and India say some he had great knowledge in natural and moral things great experience in the Mathematicks and all the liberal Sciences and lived solitarily amongst the Tombs and so poor that he was maintained by his Brother Damasus afterwards he became very famous for his predictions of future things was honoured with great Presents and Statues and buried at the publick charges he held that all things came of Atoms that there are infinite Worlds he protracted his death three days by smelling to hot Bread dyed near the eightieth Olympiad having lived to an hundred and nine years Laert. lib. 9. p. 245. 33. Anaxarchus of Abdera lived in great honour with Alexander the great Nicocreon the Tyrant of Cyprus was his mortal enemy being taken by him he was pounded in a Mortar he spat his Tongue into the Tyrants Face he flourished in the one hundred and tenth Olympiad Laert. lib. 9. p. 251. 34. Pyrrhon followed Anaxarchus he held all things indifferent that only Custome and the Laws made them otherwise to us accordingly he led his life and did all things indifferently he endeavoured to live free from perturbations and bare torments with invincible patience his followers were called Scepticks he himself liv'd much in solitudes yet honoured in his Country he lived to ninety years Laert. lib. 9. p. 253. 35. Timon the son of Timarchus a Phliasian lived mostly at Athens had but one eye was a lover of Gardens equally acute in Invention and for derision of others he himself loved a quiet life was well known to Antigonus and Ptolomaeus Philadelphus Laert. lib. 9. p. 264. 36. Epicurus was the son of Neocles an Athenian he is charged by Timocrates as a man of pleasure a Glutton and a Lecher but the honours he had in his Country the number of his friends the continuance of his discipline when that of others was extinct his Piety to his Parents love and bounty to his Brethren and mildness to his servants are luculent testimonies of an excellent person he lived upon bread and water and when he fared sumptuously he required a little Cheese he lay sick of the Stone fourteen daies died in the hundred and seventh Olympiad leaving Hermachus as his successour in his School he ordained by his will the Annual celebration of his birth-day the first ten daies of the month Gamelion and that on the twentieth day of every month all his Scholars should be feasted at his charges and he and Metrodorus should then be remembred he lived seventy and two years Laert. lib. 10. p. 267. CHAP. XVII Of the most famous Printers in several places THe Art of Printing doth with wonderful celerity convey Learning from one Country and Age unto another so that the Verse is not altogether untrue Imprimit ille die quantum vix scribitur Anno. The Press transfers within a day or near All that which can be written in a year 1. This worthy Science was brought into Italy by two Brethren named Conrades They Printed at Rome in the house of the Maximes where the first Book that was ever Printed there was Augustinus de civitate Dei and next the Divine Institutions of Lactantius Firmianus 2. An Invention of this merit could not be concealed but it succeeded in divers Countries and by divers worthy men who besides their Art of Printing were Learned and judicious Correctors of Errours and falsifications easily over-slip'd by unskilful work-men Amongst these men of note are especially commended Aldus Manutius at Venice a great restorer of the Latin Tongue Francis Priscianez at Rome Baldus Colinetus Frobenius and Oporinus at Basil Sebastian Gryphius at Lyons Robert Stephanus at Paris and Antwerp and William Caxton at London 3.
he never swam out again as is affirmed by them that saw it 19. Clemens Romanus saith of Simon Magus that he framed a man out of air that he became invisible as oft as he pleased he animated Statues stood unhurt in the midst of slames sometimes he would appear with two faces as another Ianus change himself into the shape of a Sheep or Goat and at other times would fly in the air That he commanded a Syth to go mow oâ— it s own accord and that it mowed down ten times more than any other When Selene the Harlot was shut up in a Tower and thousands of people went to see her and had compassed the castle about for that end he caused that her face seemed to shew it self out at every Window in the Castle at the same time to which Anastasius Nicenus adds that he would seem all made of Gold sometimes a Serpent or other beast in Feasts he shewed all kind of Spectres made Dishes come to the Table without any visible Servitor and he caused many shadows to go before him which he gave out were the Souls of Persons deceased 20. Pasetes had many Magical pranks he would cause the appearance of a sumptuous Feast to be upon the sudden and at his pleasure all should immediately vanish out of sight he would also buy several things and pay down the just price but then the mony would soon after return to him again 21. Iohannes Teutonicus a Canon of Halberstadht in Germany after he had performed a number of prestigious Feats almost incredible was transported by the Devil in the likeness of a black Horse and was both seen and heard upon one and the same Christmas-day to say Mass in Halberstadht in Mentzâ— and in Collen CHAP. XXI Of the Primitive Fathers and Doctors of the Church LIpsius in an Epistle of his to Thuanus tells him that these new things did little please his Palate that for his part he was a lover of the ancient both manners and men and then goes on Hos utinam inter Heroas natum tellus me prima tulisset Would I with ancient Heroes had been born He could not wish to be born amongst greater Heroes than some of these that follow who for their Learning and Piety Christian Courage and Fortitude are more renowned than Alexander the Great for all his Victories 1. Ignatius Bishop of Antioch in the reign of Trajan the Emperour he was the Scholar of the Apostle St. Iohn when he had sate nine years in Antioch he was by ten Souldiers brought to Rome to be devoured by wild Beasts when his martyrdom drew near he said Let me be ground in the Teeth of wild Beasts that I may be found fine â—lower in the House of my Father he was thrown to the Lions Anno 110. 2. Polycarpus was also the Scholar of St. Iohn and by him constituted Bishop of Smyrna he went to Rome probably to compose the controversie about Easter Three dayes before he was apprehended by his Persâ—cutors he dreamed that his Bed was set on fire and hastily consumed which he took for a Divine advertisement that he should glorifie God by suffering in the fire Being urged to deny Christ by the Roman Deputy he said that he had served him fourscore years and received no injury by him and therefore could not now renounce him He refused to swear by the fortune of Caesar and so patiently suffered death at Smyrna being aged eighty six years 3. Iustinus Martyr was a Philosopher afterwards converted to Christianity by an old man who counselled him to be a diligent Reader of the Prophets and Apostles who spake by Divine inspiration who knew the truth were neither covetous of vain glory nor awed by fear whose Doctrine also was confirmed with miraculous works which God wrought by their hands This Iustinus wrote two Books of Apology for Christians to the Emperour Antoninus Pius and to his Sons and the Senate of Rome In the second Book of his Apology he declareth that Christians were put to death not for any crime they had committed but only for their Profession in witness whereof if any of them would deny his Christian Profession he was straightway absolved he was beheaded at Rome Anno Dom. 166. 4. Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons in France a Disciple of Polycarpus in his Youth his meek Conversation and peaceable carriage answered to his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Peaceable and made his name to be in great account amongst Christianâ— yet he lacked not his infirmities in Doctrin◠〈◊〉 was entangled with the error of the Chiliasts and he supposed that Christ was fifty years of age when he suffered he flourished in the raign of Commodus suffered Martyrdom in the raign of Severus Anno Dom. 176. 5. Clemens Alexandrinus was the Disciple of Pantenus these two seem to be the Authors of Universities and Colledges for they taught the people the grounds of Religion not by Sermons and Homilies to the people but by Catechetical Doctrine to the Learned in the Schools he flourished in the reign of Commodus 6. Tertullianus a learned Preacher of the City of Carthage in Africk a man of a quick pregnant wit coming to Rome he was envyed and reproached by the Roman Clergy whereat moved with anger he declined to the Opinion of the Heretick Montanus He wrote learned Apologies for the Christians and mightily confuted the error of Marcion he flourished in the reign of the Emperour Severus Anno Christi 197. 7. Origen the Son of Leonidas an Egyptian he was so pregnant in his youth and so capable of all good instruction that his Father would often uncover his Breast when he was asleep and kiss it giving thanks to God who had made him the Father of so happy a Son He was very learned yet had he failings he took the words of Matth. 19. 12. in a literal sense and guelded himself he held many worlds successive to one another and that the pains of men and Devils after long torments should be finished he offered to Idols rather than suffer his chast body to be abused he dyed in Tyrus and was there buried in the sixty ninth year of his age having lived until the days of Gallus and Volusianus 8. Cyprianus Bishop of Carthage in his youth altogether given to the study and practice of Magical Arts his conversion was by the means of Cecilius a Preacher and hearing of the History of the Prophet Ionah after his Conversion he distributed all his substance to the Poor he was a man full of love and modesty was banished in the persecution of Decius and Martyred under Valerian he held that erroneous opinion that such as had been baptized by Hereticks should be rebaptized he â—lourished Anno Dom. 250. 9. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria he duelled with the whole world when it was become Arrian and stood for the Truth with an undaunted resolution amidst all oppositions and after
well and at ease As touching the other Furniture of this Theatre in rich Hangings which were of Cloth of Gold painted Tablets the most exquisite that could be found Players Apparel and other stuff meet to adorn the Stage there was such abundance thereof that there being carried back to his House of Pleasure at Tusculum the surplusage thereof over and above the daintiest part whereof he had daily use at Rome his Servants and Slaves there upon indignation for this waste and monstrous superfluity of their Master set the said Country-house on fire and burnt as much as came to an hundred millions of Sesterces Yet was this magnificent piece of Building by the testimony of Pliny but a temporary Theatre and scarce to endure for a month 15. C. Curio desirous to shew pleasure unto the people of Rome at the Funerals of his deceased Father and seeing he could not out go the forementioned Scaurus in rich and sumptuous Furniture devised to surpass him in Wit This Curio then in emulation caused two Theatres to be framed out of Timber and those exceeding big yet so as they might be turned about as a man would have them approach near one to the other or be removed farther asunder as one would desire and all by the means of one Hook apiece they hung by which bare the weight of the whole Frame the counterpoise was so even and all the whole Fabrick thereof sure and â—irm Now he ordered the matter thus that to behold the several Stage-plays and Shews in the forenoon they should be set back to back that the Stages should not trouble one another and when the people had taken their pleasure that way he turned the Theatres about in a trice against the afternoon so that they fronted one another and toward the latter end of the day when the Fencers and Sword-players were come in place he brought both Theatres nearer together and yet every man sute still and kept his place according to his rank and order In so much that by the meeting of the horns or corners of them both together he made a fair round Amphitheatre of it wherein he exhibited to them Fencers fighting at sharps Thus the bold man carried the whole people of Rome round about at his pleasure bound sure enough for stirring or removing supported betwixt heaven and earth and sitting at the devotion only of two Hooks or Pins A marvellous work in the Framer and as strange a folly in them that sate there 16. The Temple of Peace was built by Vespasian three hundred foot in length and in breadth two hundred so as Herodian deservedly calls it the greatest and fairest of all the Works in the City of Rome and the most sumptuous in Ornaments of Silver and Gold Iosephus writes that upon this Temple were bestowed all the rarities which before men travelled through the World to see and Pliny saith of all the choice Pieces I have spoken of in the City the most excellent are laid up and dedicated by Vespasian in the Temple of Peace which were before in the Golden House of Nero. 17. The Amphitheatre begun by Vespasian but finished and dedicated by Titus was most famous the height of which was such saith Ammianus that the eye of man could hardly reach it It was reared saith Cassiodore with Rivers of Treasure poured out It contained only upon the steps or degrees sufficient and easie seats for eighty seven thousand persons so as the vacant places besides might well contain ten or twenty thousand more Martial prefers it before all the rare and great Works at Rome It stood in the place where sometimes were Nero's Ponds 18. The Escurial or Monastery of St. Laurence in New Castile was built by Philip the Second a place saith Quade of that magnificence that no Building in times past or the present is comparable to it The Front towards the West is adorned with three stately Gates the middlemost whereof leadeth into a most magnificent Temple a Monastery in which are one hundred and fifty Monks of the Order of St. Ierome and a Colledge The Gate on the right hand openeth into divers Offices belonging to the Monastery that on the left unto Schools and Out-houses belonging to the Colledge At the four corners there are four Turrets of excellent workmanship and for height majestical Towards the North is the Kings Palace on the South part divers beautiful and sumptuous Galleries and on the East side sundry Gardens and Walks very pleasing and delectable It containeth in all eleven several Quadrangles every one encloistered and is indeed so brave a Structure that a Voyage into Spain were well employed were it only to see it and return 19. The Aquaduct vaulted Sinks and Draughts of Tarquinius Priscus King of the Romans were the greatest Works of all his other which he devised by undermining and cutting through the seven Hills whereupon Rome is seated and making the City hanging as it were in the Air between heaven and earth like unto the ancient City of Thebes in Egypt so as a man might pass under the streets and houses with Boats And if this were the marvel of men in those days how would they be astonished now to see how M. Agrippa in his Edileship after he had been Consul caused seven Rivers to meet together under the City in one main Chanel and to run with such a swift stream and current that they take all afore them whatsoever there is in the way and carry it down into Tyber and being sometimes increased with sudden showers and Land-slouds they shake the paving under them they drive against the sides of the Walls about them sometimes also they receive the Tyber water into them when he riseth extraordinarily so as a man shall perceive the stream of two contrary waters affront and charge one another with great force and violence within and under ground And yet for all this these Water-works aforesaid yield not a jot but abide firm and fast without any sensible decay occasioned thereby Moreover these streams carry down ever and anon huge and heavy pieces of stones within them mighty loads are drawn over them continually yet these arched Conduits neither settle and stoop under the one nor are endamaged by the other Many a house falleth of it self upon them many are made to fall by frequent fires and sometimes terrible Earthquakes shake the whole Earth about them yet for all these injuries they have continued since the days of Tarquinius Priscus inexpugnable and that is almost eight hundred years 20. Of all the Aquaducts that ever were before this time that which was begun by Caligula and finished by Claudius his Successour surpassed in sumptuousness for they commanded the two Fountains Curtius and Ceruleus whose heads were forty miles distant and these they carried with such a force before them and to such a height that they mounted up to the highest Hills in Rome and served them that dwelt thereupon
the quantity of two hundred pounds weight her urine was thin and of like consistence with water in which there swimmed above something like â—lakes of snow and which was observ'd equally wonderful in this profusion of water wherein she had continued for divers days she vehemently abhorred all kinds of drink when I perswaded her to it lest she should wholly melt into urine she thereupon hated me wept and was angry with the Physician that attended her for calling me to his assistance There was with us the excellent Benedictus Averrhinus a famous Physician in the City also Io. Iacobus Baldinus a Physician of great reputation both in the City and the World the Physician in ordinary to the Nunnery in Campo Martio wherein she abode and yet this Nun in a few days after recovered After two Months she fell into an absolute suppression of urine burning with extraordinary thirst when I then attended by reason of the absence of the ordinary Physician and that she had made no water in fourteen days at last with the use of the Spirit of Turpentine she voided urine copiously with a matter in it resembling Sand and chalk 20. The end of Maximinus the Tyrant is thus described by Eusebius Having staid in the House while his Army was abroad and hiding himself in his privy Chambers and Closets he was stricken throughout all his body with a strange and unknown Disease so that he threw himself upon the ground transpierced with griefs vexed with the cruel twinge of torment and overwhelmed with a wolvish hunger that could never be satisfied All his flesh was taken with a secret fire sent from Heaven so that as it were burnt and coming by little and little to be turn'd to ashes there was no more any shape of man to be seen in him nothing being left but a carcase of bones all dry and as it were broiled insomuch that they who attended him in that case gave out that his body was as a sepulchre in which stinking carcase the soul was buried The heat increasing within the marrow â—his eyes fell out of his head so that he utterly lost his sight Being in this miserable state he confess'd himself taken calling for death and acknowledging it was the just recompence of his fury and insolence against Christ he drave his soul out of that infested den wherein it was detain'd 21. Antiochus the Son of Demetrius as he returned from Persia was smote with a remediless pain in his Bowels intolerable torments in all his inward parts his Body breeding abundance of Worms which issued out from the same so that he rotted above ground and by reason of the intolerable stink of his putrefi'd Body no man could endure to come near him nor was he himself able to endure that noisome smell that proceeded from him so that he ended his life in much misery 22. Schenckius tells of a certain melancholy Rustick who always when the Moon was combust made Verses but the combustion being over about two days he utter'd not one learnrd word He tells also of a Woman who falling into a Disease familiarly spake Latin who yet so soon as she was cured knew not a word of that Tongue 23. Anno Dom. 654. in the eleventh year of Constance the Emperour it rain'd ashes at Constantinople Fire fell from Heaven and a most grievous Plague followed for three Months in the Summer A good and evil Angel did visibly appear to all men walking round the City the evil Angel seemed to carry a hunting Spear in his hand and look how oft he stroke with that upon the Door of any mans House by the command of the good Angel so many Corps were found in that same House the day following 24. In the Reign of Lysâ—machus the Abderitae were infected with a new and strange Disease the manner of it was thus First a violent and burning Fever universally seis'd them Upon the seventh day after they bled at Nose very copiously or others of them fell into an exceeding sweat and this was the end of the Fever But a ridiculous affection was left upon their minds for they all fell to acting of Tragedy they thundred out lambicks loud as they could Especially Euripides his Andromeda and the part of Perseus therein so that the City was full of these pale and extenuated Actors crying up and down the Streets O Love thou tyrant over Gods and Men and such like This dotage lasted till Winter and sharp cold put an end to it The occasion of all was this Archelaus a famous Tragedian had in Summer represented Andromedae and in the Theatre they had got the cause of their Fever and these representations remain'd in their minds after their recovery CHAP. XXXVI Of the different and unusual ways by which some men have come to their deaths THe Indian King of Mexico upon the day of his Coronation was cloathed with a Garment all painted over with Skulls and dead Mens bones those rude people intending to admonish him in his new Sovereignty of his own Mortality and we read of Ioseph of Arimathaea that he had his Tomb in his Garden certainly it was to season his pleasures there with the remembrance of his own frailty it will be our Wisdom to expect death in every place and in every condition seeing there is none that is priviledged against his approaches By various accidents the Rich and Poor promiscuously perish and so do the Young and Old sometimes as it was in the race to the Sepulcher of Christ Iohn over-ran Peter the Young and Strong make more haste to the Tomb than the Aged and Weak For the great Creator hath planted us round with death and the ways to it are such and so many as mock the prudence and best foresight of the wisest amongst mortality to evade them 1. Charles the Second King of Navar having wasted his spirits with voluptuousness and luxury in his old age fell into a lethargy or else a palsie and therefore to comfort his benummed limbs he was by the advice of his Physicians sewed up in a sheet steeped in Aqua vitae the Chirurgeon having made an end of sewing the sheet wanted a knife to cut off the thread whereupon he took up the wax candle that stood by him to burn it off but the flame running by the thread caught hold of the sheet in an instant which according to the Nature of Aqua vitae burnt with such violence that notwithstanding all endeavours the aged King miserably expir'd in the midst of the flames This fell out Anno 1386. 2. The Emperor Iovinian Successor to Iulian the Apostate being come to Dadastana that bordereth on Bythinia and Galatia lay in a Chamber that was new plaister'd with Lime upon the Walls where his Head being surcharg'd with a venemous vapour call'd on and increas'd by a Fire of Charcoal made in the Room he was found that night stisâ—ed in his Bed being in the three
and thirtieth year of his age 4. In Devonshire there is a stone call'd the Hanging Stones being one of the bound-Stones which parteth Comb-Martin from the next Parish It got the name from a Thief who having stoln a Sheep and ty'd it about his own Neck to carry it home at his Back he rested himself for a while upon this Stone which is about a foot high until the Sheep strugling slid over the Stone on the other side and so strangl'd the Man 4. Dr. Andrew Perne though very facetious was at last heart-broken with a Jest as I have been most credibly inform'd from excellent hands He is tax'd much for altering his Religion four times in twelve years from the last of King Henry the Eighth to the first of Queen Elizabeth a Papist a Protestant a Papist a Protestant but still Andrew Perne now it fortun'd he was at Court with his Pupil Archbishop Whitgift in a rainy afternoon when the Queen was I dare not say willfully but really resolv'd to ride abroad contrary to the mind of her Ladies who were on horseback Coaches as yet being not common to attend her Now one Clod the Queens Jester was employ'd by the Courtiers to laugh the Queen out of so convenient a Journey Heaven saith he Madam disswades you this heavenly minded man Archbishop Whitgift and Earth disswades you your Fool Clod such a lump of clay as my self and if neither will prevail with you here is one that is neither Heaven nor Earth but hangs betwixt both Dr. Perne and he also disswades you Hereat the Queen and the Courtiers laugh'd heartily whilst the Doctor look'd sadly and going over with his Grace to Lambeth soon saw the last of his life 5. Anastasius the Emperor was slain with Lightning so was Strabo the Father of Pompey the Great so was also Garus the Emperour who succeeded Probus whilst he lodged with his Army upon the River Tigris 6. Child his Christian name is unknown was a Gentleman the last of his Family being of ancient Extraction at Plimstook in Devonshire and had great Possessions It hapned that he hunting in Dartmore lost both his company and way in a bitter snow having kill'd his Horse he crept into his bowels for warmth and wrote this with his blood He that finds and brings me to my tomb The land at Plimstook shall be his doom That Night he was frozen to death and being first found by the Monks of Tavistock they interr'd him in their own Abbey and sure it is that the Abbot of Tavistock got that rich Manor into his possession 7. Arrius who deny'd the Divinity of Christ was sent for by the Emperour Constantine to make recantation of his former heresies but he first wrote out a copy of his own opinions which he hid in his bosome and then writing out the recantation expected from him took oath that he did really mean as he had writen which words the Emperour reserr'd to the recantation he to the paper in his bosome but God would not be so cozened though the Emperour was for as he pass'd in triumph through the Streets of Constantinople he drew aside into a private house of ease where he voided his guts into the draught and so dyed 8. Alexander the Elean Philosopher swimming over the River Alpheus light with his breast upon a sharp reed which lay hid under the water and receiv'd such a wound thereby that he dy'd upon it 9. Heraclius the Ephesian fell into a Dropsie and was thereupon advertis'd by the Physicians to anoint himself all over with Cow-dung and so to sit in the warm Sun his servant had left him alone and the Dogs supposing him to be a wild Beast fell upon him and killed him 10. Milo the Crotonian being upon his journey beheld an Oak in the Field which some body had attempted to cleave with Wedges conscious to himself of his great strength he came to it and seising it with both his hands endeavoured to wrest it in sunder but the Tree the Wedges being fallen out returning to it self caught him by the hands in the cleft of it and there detain'd him to be devour'd with wild Beasts after his so many and so famous exploits 11. Polydamas the famous wrestler was forc'd by a tempest into a cave which being ready to fall into ruines by the violent and sudden incursion of the waters though others fled at the signs of the dangers approach yet he alone would remain as one that would bear up the whole heap and weight of the falling Earth with his shoulders but he found it above all humane strength and so was crush'd in pieces by it 12. Attila King of the Hunns having marryed a Wife in Hungary and upon his Wedding Night surcharg'd himself with Meat and Drink as he slept his Nose fell a bleeding and through his Mouth found the way into his Throat by which he was choak'd and kill'd before any person was apprehensive of the danger 13. Calo-Iohannes Emperour of Constantinople drew a Bow against a Boar in Cilicia with that strength that he shot the Arrow through his own hand that held the Bow the Pile of it was dipt in poyson as 't is usual in huntings and of that wound he dyed in a few days and left the Empire to his Son Emanuel Anno 1130. 14. Giachetus Geneva a man of great reputation amongst the Salucians though he was stricken in years and had had some Children by his Wife yet being addicted to Venus he privily let in a Girl at the back door and when one night he delay'd his coming to bed longer than he was accustomed to do after they had knock and call'd in vain at his Study door his Wife caused it to be broken open and there was Giachetus and the Girl found both dead in mutual imbraces and in a shameful and base posture 15. In the nineteenth year of Queen Elizabeth at the Assize held at Oxford Iuly 1577. one Rowland Ienks a Popish Bookseller for dispersing scandalous Pamphlets defamatory to the Queen and State was arreigned and condemned but on the sudden there arose such a damp that almost all present were endanger'd to be smothered The Jurors dyed that instant Soon after dyed Sir Robert Bell Lord Chief Baron Sir Robert de Oly Sir William Babington Mr. de Oly high Sheriff Mr. Wearnam Mr. Danvers Mr. Fettiplace Mr. Harcourt Justices Mr. Kerle Mr. Nash Mr. Greenwood Mr. Foster Gentlemen of good account Serjeant Barham an excellent Pleader three hundred other persons presently sickned and dyed within the Town and two hundred more sickning there dyed in other places amongst all whom there was neither Woman nor Child 16. Anacreon the Poet had exceeded the stated term of humane life yet while he was endeavouring to cherish the poor remainders of his strength by the juyce of Raisins the stone of one of them stuck so fast in his dry and parched