untimely death 8. Herod overcome with pain troubled with a vehement Cough and almost pined with fasting was determined to hasten his own death and taking an Apple in his hand he called for a Knife and then looking about him lest any stander by should hinder him he lifted up his Arm to strike himself But Achiabus his Cousin ran hastily unto him and stayed his hand and presently there was great lamentation made throughout all the Kings Palace as if the King had been dead His Son Antipater then in Prison having speedy news hereof was glad and promised the Keepers a piece of money to let him go but the chiefest of them did not only deny to do it but also went and immediately acquainted the King with it Herod hearing this commanded his guard to go and kill Antipater and bury him in the Castle called Hircanium Thus was that wicked man cast away by his own temerity and imprudence who had he had more patience and discretion might probably have secured both his life and the Kingdom to himself for Herod out-lived his death but five dayes 9. Anthony being at Laodicea sent for King Herod to answer what was objected against him touching the death of Young Aristobulus He was an impotent Lover of his Wife Mariamne and suspecting that her beauty was one cause of his danger before he went he committed the care of his Kingdom to Ioseph his Unkle withall leaving him order to kill Mariamne his Wiâ—e in case he should hear that any thing evil had befallen him He had taken his journey and Ioseph in Conversation with the Queen as an argument of the great love the King bare her acquainted her with the order he had left with him Herod having appeased Anthony returâ—ed with honour and speaking to the Queen of the truth and greatness of his love in the midst of Embraces Mariamne said to him It was not the part of a Lover to give commandment that if any thing should befall thee otherwise than well with Anthony I should presently be done to death No sooner were these words out of her mouth but the King entred into a strange passion and giving over his embraces he cryed out with a loud voice and tore his hair saying that he had a most evident proof that Ioseph had committed adultery with her for that he would not have discovered those things which had been spoke to him in secret except they had greatly trusted the one the other and in this emotion or rage of Jealousie hardly contained he from killing his Wife yet he gave order that Ioseph should be slain without admitting him audience or justification of his Innocency Thus Ioseph by his imprudent revealing of a dangerous secret unwarily procured his own death 10. The Emperour Probus a great and excellent Prince having well nigh brought the Empire into a quiet and peaceable from a troublesome and turbulent posture was heard to say that he would speedily take such a course that there should be no more need of Men of War This Speech was so distasted by the Souldiers that they conspired against him and procured his death CHAP. LIV. Men of unusual misfortune in their Affairs Persons or Families THe Ancients accounted him for a fool who being himself but a man would yet upbraid another of his kind with his calamity or misfortune For what reason can any man have to boast of his own estate or to insult over anothers unhappiness when how pleasant a time soever he hath for the present he hath yet no assurance that it shall so continue with him until the evening and though he be never so near unto good fortune yet he may possibly miss it as did the three Princes in the following Example 1. Anastasius Emperour of Constantinople being greatly hated and foreseeing he could not make much longer abode in the world he began to reflect on his Successours desiring to transfer to the Throne one of his three Nephewes whom he had bred up having no male issue to succeed him There was difficulty in the choice and he having a soul very superstitious put that to the lot which he could not resolve by reason for he caused three Beds to be prepared in the Royal Chamber and made his Crown to be hanged within the Tester of one of these Beds being resolved to give it to him who by lot should place himself under it this done he sent for his Nephews and after he had magnificently entertained them commanded them to repose themselves each one chusing one of the Beds prepared for them The eldest accommodated himself according to his fancy and he hit upon nothing the second did the same he then expected the youngest should go directly to the Crowned Bed but he prayed the Emperour he might be permitted to lye with one of his Brothers and by this means not any of them took the way of the Empire which was so easie to be had that it was not above a pace distant Anastasius amazed well saw God would transfer the Diadem from his Race and indeed Iustin succeeded a stranger to his blood 2. Anne Momorancy was a man of an exquisite wit and mature wisdom accompanied with a long experience in the changes of the World by which Arts he acquired happily for himself and for his Posterity exceeding great wealth and the chief dignities of the Kingdom himself having attained to be Constable of France But this man in his military commands had alwayes such ill fortune that in all the wars of which he had the Government he ever remained either a loser or grievously wounded or a Prisoner which misfortunes were the occasion that many times his fidelity was questioned even in that last action where fighting he lost his life he wanted not accusers 3. Thomas Tusser while as yet a Boy lived in many Schools Wallingford St. Pauls and Eaton whence he went to Trinity-hall in Cambridge when a man he lived in Staffordshire Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire and where not He was successively a Musician Schoolmaster Serving-man Husbandman Grasier and Poet more skilful in all than thriving in any Vocation he traded at large in Oxen Sheep Dairies Grain of all kinds to no profit whether he bought or sold he lost and when a Renter impoverished himself and never enriched his Landlord yet hath he laid down excellent Rules of Husbandry and Huswifery so that the observer thereof must be rich in his own defence He spread his Bread with all sorts of Butter yet none would stick thereon yet I hear no man charge him with any vicious extravagancy or visible carelesness but imputing his ill success to some occult cause in Gods Counsel 4. The Emperour Sigismumd passing a River his Horse stood still and pissed in it which when one of his Servants perceived that rode not far before him he said jestingly the Horse had directly the same quality with his Master Caesar heard him and bade him explain the meaning of what
Throat that it occasioned his death 17. Pope Adrian the Fourth being at Anagnia thundring out excommunication and curses against the Emperour Frederick the First retired to a Fountain for coolness sake out of which he drank a little water together with which a Flie entred his Mouth and so clave unto his Throat that it could not be removed by any endeavours of the Physicians so that to the amazement of all men he perished thereby 18. Tarquinius Priscus while he was at Dinner feeding upon Fish one of the Fish-bones stuck so unfortunately cross his Throat that not being to be remov'd he miserably dyed thereby on the same night 19. Drusus Pompeius the Son of Claudius Caesar by Herculanilla to whom the Daughter of Sejanus had a few days before been assured being a Boy and playing he cast up a Pear on high to receive it again into his mouth but it fell so full and descended so far into his Throat that stoping his breath he was presently suffocated by it before any help could be had 20. Terpander was an excellent Harper and while he was singing to his Harp at Sparta and opened his mouth wide an unhappy waggish person that stood by threw a Fig into his Mouth so unluckily that he was strangled by it 21. Lewis the Seventh sirnamed the Grosse King of France would needs have his Eldest Son Philip crowned King in his life time which Philip soon after riding in the Suburbs of Paris his Horse frighâ—ed at the sight of a Sow threw him out of his Saddle so unhappily that he dy'd within few hours after 22. We have seen saith Valleriola how Ludovicus Vives a Senator at Mompelier receiving but a slight and small hurt in the palm of his hand such as did scarce reach throw the skin to the flesh yet thereby fell into a sudden convulsion and dyed the seventh day after he had received the hurt 23. We have observ'd Iohannes Baptista an Argentine to dye at Padua of a hurt receiv'd in his little Finger saith Horatius Augenius 24. Marcus Sobiratius of Avignion a virtuous young man and of great hopes having a slighter hurt upon the heel than to suspect any misfortune from thence did yet dye of it upon the seventeenth day after he had receiv'd it 25. Discord arising about a year since in December betwixt the Students and the Servants of the Noblemen in Copenhagen Nicholas Andreas a Student in Divinity though innocent entring in at the Regent Gate receiv'd a hurt upon three of his Fingers a Surgeon took care of him and dexterously bound up his wounds but the day following a convulsion took him which every day encreasing was upon the eleventh day the death of that learned and well disposed young man 26. I saw a Woman who playing with a Boy it so fell out that he thrust a Needle into her Knee she neglected so slight a wound but being seis'd with a convulsion she dyed upon the third day after 27. Frederick the first Emperour of the Germans bathing himself in Cydnus a River of Cilicia of a violent course the swiftness of the stream tripp'd up his heels and he not able to recover himself was suddenly drown'd 28. Gerard Archbishop of York in the Reign of Henry the First a man though learned yet of many ill parts sleeping one day in his Garden after Dinner never awak'd again but was 〈◊〉 found dead 29. Pope Clement the Seventh was poyson'd by the smell of an empoysoned Torch that was born before him for having receiv'd of the smoak of it into his body he was kill'd by it Kornman de mirac mortuor lib. 6. cap. 28. p. 12. 30. Anno Dom. 830. Popiel the second of King Polonia careless of matters of State gave over himself to all manner of dissoluteness so that his Lords despised him and call'd him the Polonian Sardanapalus He feared therefore that they would set up one of his Kinsmen in his stead so that by the advice of his Wife whom he ragingly lov'd he feign'd himself sick and sent for all his Uncles Princes of Pomerania being twenty in number to come and see him whom lying in his bed he instantly pray'd that if he chanc'd to dye they would make choice of one of his Sons to be King which they willingly promised in case the Lords of the Kingdom would consent thereto The Queen enticed them all one by one to drink a health to the King as soon as they had done they took their leave But they were scarce got out of the Kings Camber before they were seis'd with intolerable pains and the corrosions of that poyson wherewith the Queen had intermingled their draughts and in a short time they all dyed The Queen gave it out as a judgemâ—nt of God upon them as having conspired the death of the King and prosecuting this accusation caused their bodies to be taken out of their graves and cast into the Lake Goplo But by a miraculous transformation an inuumerable number of Rats and Mice did rush out of those bodies which gathering together in crowds went and assaulted the King as he was with great jolity feasting in his Palace The Guards endeavoured to drive them away with weapons and flames but all in vain The King perplex'd with this extraordinary danger sled with his Wife and Children into a Fortress that is yet to be seen in that Lake of Goplo over against a City call'd Crusphitz whither he was pursued with such a number of these creatures that the Land and the Waters were covered with them and they cry'd and hiss'd most fearfully they entred in at the Windows of the Fortress having scaled the Walls and there they devoured the King his Wife and Children alive and left nothing of them remaining by which means all the race of the Polonian Princes was utterly extinguished and Pyast a Husbandman at the last was elected to succeed 31. Anno Dom. 968. Hatto the second Duke of Francoria sirnamed Bonosus Abbot of Fulden was chosen Archbishop of Mentz In his time was a grievous dearth and the poor being ready to starve for want of Food he caused great companies of them to be gathered and put into Barns as if there they should receive Corn and other relief But he caused the Barns to be set on fire and the poor to be consumed therein saying withal That they were the Rats that did eat up the Fruits of the Land But not long after an Army of Rats gathered themselves together no man can tell from whence and set upon him so furiously that into what place soever he retired himself they would come and fall upon him If he climb'd on high into Chambers they would ascend the wall and enter at the windows and other small chinks and crevises the more men attempted to do them away the more furious they seem'd and the more to encrease in their number The wretched Prelate seeing he could find
Lord Buckhurst was bred in Oxford took the degree of Barister in the Temple afterwards travelled into foreign parts was detained a time prisoner at Rome when his liberty was procured for his return into England he possessed the vâ—st inheritance left him by his Father whereof in a short time by his magnificent prodigality he spent the greatest part till he seasonably began to spare growing near to the bottom of his estate The story goes that this young Gentleman coming to an Alderman of London who had gained great pennyworths by his former purchases of him was made being now in the wane of his wealth to wait the coming down of the Alderman so long that his generous humour being sensible of the incivility of such attendance resolved to be no more beholding to wealthy pride and presently turn'd a thrifty improver of the remainder of his estate Others make him the Convert of Queen Elizabeth who by her frequent admonitions diverted the torrent of his profusion indeed she would not know him till he began to know himself and then heaped places of honour and trust upon him creating him Baron of Buckhurst in Sussex anno Dom. 1566 sent him Embassador into France 1571 into the Low Countries 1576 made him Knight of the Order of the Garter 1589 Treasurer of England 1599 he was also Chancellour of the University of Oxford Thus having made amends to his House for his mispent time both in encrease of estate and honour being created Earl of Dorset by King Iames he died April 19 1608. 10. Henry the Fifth while Prince was extremely wild the companion of riotous persons and did many things to the grief of the King his Father as well as to the injury of himself in his reputation with the subject but no sooner was he come to the Crown but the first thing that he did was to banish all his old companions ten miles from his Court and presence and reform'd himself in that manner that he became a most worthy and victorious King as perhaps ever reigned in England 11. S. Augustine in his younger time was a Manichee and of incontinent life he reports of himself that he prayed for continency but was not willing to be heard too soon for saith he I had rather have my lust satisfied than extinguished But being afterwards converted by the Ministry of S. Ambrose he proved a most excellent person as well in Learning as in all sorts of Virtues 12. The Ancients in old time attributed unto King Cecrops a double nature and form and that upon this ground not for that as some said of a good clement and gracious Prince be became a rigorous fell and cruel Tyrant but on the contrary because having been at first and in his youth perverse passionate and terrible he proved afterwards a mild and gentle Lord. 13. Gelon and Hiero in Sicily and Pisistratus the Son of Hippocrates were all Usurpers and such as attained to their Tyrannical Dominion by violent and indirect means yet they used the same virtuously and howsoever they attained the Sovereign Command and for some time in their younger years managed it injuriously enough yet they grew in time to be good Governours loving and profitable to the Common-wealth and likewise beloved and dear unto their Subjects for some of them having brought in and established excellent Laws in their Country and causing their Subjects to be industrious and painful in tilling the ground made them to be civil sober and discreet whereas before they were noted for a tatling playful and idle sort of people 14. Lydiades was a Tyrant in the City of Megalapolis but in the midst of his usurped Dominion he repented of his Tyranny and making conscience thereof he detested that wrongful oppression wherein he had held his Subjects in such sort that he restored his Citizens to their ancient Laws and Liberties yea and aâ—terwards died gloriously fighting manfully in the Field against the enemy in defence of his Country 15. Ceno Valchius King of the Western Saxons in the beginning of his Reign was an impious and debauched Prince whereupon he was expelled from his Kingdom and Government but at last being become a reformed man he was readmitted to his former command and he then ruled his Kingdom with great prudence justice and moderation 16. Offa King of the Mercians in the first flower of his age was immeasurable in his desires of acquiring wealth extreme ambitious of enlarging his Territories and highly delighted with the art of War and Military Discipline he was also all this while a contemner of all moral virtue but when he came to be of maturer and riper years he became famous and renowned for the integrity and modesty of his manners and the singular innocency of his life 17. Iohannes Picus Mirandula visited the most famous Universities of France and Italy and was so great a Proficient that while as yet he had no Beard he was reputed a perfect Philosopher and Divine Being ambitious and desirous of Glory he went to Rome where he proposed nine hundred Questions in all Arts and Sciences to dispute upon which he challenged all the Scholars of all Nations with a new kind of liberality promising to defray the charges of any such as should come from remote parts to dispute with him at Rome He stayed at Rome upon this occasion a whole year In the mean time there wanted not some that privily detracted from him and gave out that thirteen of his Questions were heretical so that he was constrain'd to set forth an Apology and while he studied to excuse himself of errours that were falsly objected to him he fell into others that were greater and worse for he entangled himself in the love of fair rich and noble women and at last was so engaged in quarrels upon this account that he thought it high time to forsake those youthful vanities whereupon he threw into the fire his Books of Love which he had writ both in the Latine and Hetruscan Languages and relinquishing the Dreams of prophane Philosophy he wholly devoted himself to the study of the sacred and holy Scriptures CHAP. III. Of punctual observation in matters of Religion and the great regard some men have had to it THe Athenians consulted the Oracle of Apollo demanding what Rites they should make use of in matters of their Religion The answer was the Rites of their Ancestors Returning thither again they said the manner of their Forefathers had been often changed they therefore enquired what custom they should make choice of in so great a variety Apollo replyed the best This constancy and strictness of the Heathens had been â—ighly commendable had their Devotions been better directed In the mean time they shame us by being more zealous in their Superstition than we are in the true Religion 1. Paulus Aemilius being about to give Battel to Perses King of Macedon at the first Break of Day made a Sacrifice to
concerning his Love to Truth 17. Euricius Cordus a German Physician hath this honour done to his memory It is said of him that no man was more addicted to truth than he or rather no man was more vehemently studious of it none could be found who was a worser hater of ing and falshood he could dissemble nothing nor bear that wherewith he was offended which was the cause of his gaining the displeasure oâ— some persons who might have been helpful to him if he would but have sought their favour and continued himself therein by his obsequiousness Thus much is declared in his Epigrams and he saith it of himself Blandire nescis ac verum Corde tacere Et mirare tuos displicuisse libros Thou canst not flatter but the truth dost tell What wonder is 't thy Books then do not sell. Paulus Lutherus Son to Martin Luther was Physician to Ioachimus the Second Elector of Brandenbuog and then to Augustus Duke of Saxony Elector It is said of him that he was verè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lover of liberty and freedom of Speech far from â—lattery and assentation and in all points like unto that Rhesus in Euripides who saith of himself Talis sum et ego rectam sâ—rmonum Viam secans nec sum duplex vir Such a one am I that rightly can Divide my Speech yet am no double man The virtues of this Luther were many and great yet I know not any wherein he more deservedly is to be praised than for this honest freedom of speaking wherein he mightily resembled his Father 19. When I lived at Vtricht in the Low Countries the Reply of that valiant Gentleman Colonel Edmonds was much spoken of There came a Country-man of his out of Scoâ—land who desiring to be entertained by him told him that my Lord his Father and such Knights and Gentlemen his Cousin and Kinsmen were in good health Colonel Edmonds turning to his friends then by Gentlemen said he believe not one word he says My Father is but a poor Baker in Edinburg and works hard for his living whom this Knave would make a Lord to curry favour with me and make you believe that I am a great man born when there is no such matter CHAP. V. Of such as have been great Lovers and Promoters of Peace THere is a certain Fish which Aelian in his History calls the Adonis of the Sea because it liveth so innocently that it toucheth no living thing strictly preserving peace with all the offspring of the Ocean which is the cause it is beloved and courted as the true darling of the Waters If the frantick world hath had any darlings they are certainly such as have been clad in Steel the destroyers of Cities the suckers of humane blood and such as have imprinted the deepest scars upon the face of the Universe These are the men it hath Crown'd with Lawrels advanc'd to Thrones and â—latter'd with the misbecoming Titles of Heroes and Gods while the Sons of peace are remitted to the cold entertainment of their own vertues Notwithstanding which there have ever been some who have found so many Heavenly Beauties in the face of Peace that they have been contented to love that sweet Virgin for her self and to Court her without the consideration of any additional Dowry 1. The Inâ—abitants of the Island Borneo not far from the Moluccas live in such detestation of war and are so great Lovers of peace that they hold their King in no other veneration than that of a God so long as he studies to preserve them in peace but if he discover inclinations to war they never leave till he is fall'n in Battle under the Arms of his Enemies So soon as he is slain they set upon the Enemy with all imaginable fierceness as Men that fight for their liberty and such a King as will be a greater Lover of peace Nor was there ever any King known amongst them that was the perswader and Author of a war but he was deserted by them and suffer'd to fall under the Sword of the Enemy 2. Datanes the Persian being employed in the besieging of Sinope received Letters from the King commanding him to desist from the Siege Having read the Letter he adored it and made gratulatory sacrifices as if he had received mighty favours from his Master and so taking Ship in the very next Night he departed 3. The Emperour Leo who succeeded Martianus having given to Eulogius the Philosopher a quantity of Corn one of his Eunuchs told him that such kind of largess was more fitly bestowed upon his Soldiers I would to God said the Emperour that the state of my Reign was such that I could bestow all the stipends of my Soldiers upon such as are learned 4. Constantinus the Emperour observing some differences amongst the Fathers of the Church called the Nicene Council at which also hmself was present At this time divers little Books were brought to him containing their mutual complaints and accusations of one another All which he received as one that intended to read and take cognizance of them all But when he found that 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 amongst themselvrs 5. 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 perswade them to peace 6. At Fez in Africk they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any controversies amongst them both parties Plaintiff and Defendant came to their Alsakins or Chief Judge and at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the Cause is heard and ended It is reported of Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles in Rome under their own hands 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 apprehension that he lived suspected and should therefore be hated 8. Iames 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 9. I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of
should think meet The Generous Emperour so abhorred this Villany that immediately he sent an express to Mysias to let him know the danger he was in By this action wherein so much of true Nobility did appear Mysias who before had not yielded to Conrade his Arms was perfectly subdued He goes to the Emperour lays his Crown at his foot and submits to the payment of the former Tribute 4. Dromichetes King of the Getes had overcome in Battel and also taken prisoner King Lysimachus who had causelesly and unprovoked invaded him yet though he had such just occasion to have dealt severely with him over-passing the injury he had received by his assault he familiarly as other Kings their treasures shewed him the poverty of himself and his people saying that he was very well contented therewith That done he gave him his liberty and presented him with such gifts as he could and withal at parting gave him this counsel that for the future he should not make war upon such people the conquest of whom would yield him no profit but rather use them as Friends 5. When Pyrrhus King of Epirus warred upon the Romans the King's Physician called Nicias sent a Letter to Fabricius the Roman Consul and General promising him therein to poison Pyrrhus Fabritius detesting to be rid of his Enemy in so base a way and desirous that the treacherous servant might meet with his due reward sent back the Letter to Pyrrhus himself withal advising him to take heed to himself for that as it seemed he was but an ill Judge of his Friends or Enemies The King having found out the Treason hanged up his Physician as he well deserved and sent back all the Prisoners to Fabritius without ransom but the generous Consul would not receive them in that manner but sent him an equal number of his which he had formerly taken 6. One of the Emperours of China going his progress met with a certain company leading away some other prisoners he caused his Coach to stop and enquired what the matter was which as soon as he understood he fell into a passionate weeping They who accompanied him began to comfort him and said one amongst them Sir in a Common-wealth there must be chastisements it cannot be avoided so have the former Kings your Predecessors commanded it to be so have the Laws ordained it so doth the Governmet of the State require it The Emperour replyed I weep not to see these men prisoners nor to see them chastised I know very well that the good without rewards are not encouraged and without chastisument the wicked are not retain'd that correction is as necessary to the Government of a Kingdom as Bread is for the nourishment and sustenance thereof but I weep because my time is not so happy as that of old was when the virtues of the Princes were such that they served as a Bridle to the people and their example was sufficient to restrain the whole Kingdom 7. Alphonsus the Twelfth King of Spain was driven out of his Kingdom by his Son Sancius and reduced to those Straights that he was enforced to offer to pawn his Crown to Abenyuza the King of Morocco for a great sum of money But Abenyuza as a noble and most generous Prince hearing of Alphonsus his extremity sent first his Embassadors to endeavour a reconcilement betwixt the Father and the Son that not succeeding he not only assisted him with moneys but also with a great Army and with his own treasure at his own cost he reinstated him in a great part of his Kingdom That which renders this action the more truly generous is that neither diversity of Religion nor the memory of those Wars that had long and bitterly been waged betwixt this Alphonsus and him could hinder him from lending him both men and money from venturing his own person in his behalf crossing the Seas in favour of him and exposing himself to foreign Nations and divers hazards in an affair whereof he could expect no profit to himself 8. The Bassa of Natolia leading a parcel of Turks as the Forerunners of Bajazet's Army was entrapped by an ambush of the Prince Ciarcan most of his Soldiers cut in pieces himself taken prisoner and sent to Tamerlane he demanded the reason why Bajazet shewed such contempt of his Army which he should find strong enough to abate his pâ—ide The Bassa replyed that his Lord was the Sun upon earth which could endure no equal that he was astonied to see how he had enterprised so dangerous a journey to hinder the fortune of his Lord and that he committed great â—olly in going about to resist the same I am said Tamerlane sent from Heaven to punish his rashness and to confound his pride Then changing his discourse he asked if his Master did come resolv'd to bid him Battel Assure your self said he there is nothing more he desireth and would to God I might acknowledge your goodness in giving me leave to assist my Lord at that Battel Good leave have thou said Tamerlane go thy ways and tell thy Lord that thou hast seen me and that in the Battel he shall find me on Horseback where he shall see a Green Ensign displayed And so gave the Bassa both his liberty and a fair Horse well furnished although he well knew he was shortly to use both against himself 9. There was amongst the Hugonots Faction one Iohn Poltrot Sieur de Mereborne of a Noble Family near Angoulesme this man lay in wait for the life of Francis Duke of Guise and upon the twenty fourth of February 1563 performed his wicked intention for the Duke being against Orleance retired that Evening unaâ—med to his Lodging Poltrot mounted on a swift Gâ—nnet discharged a Gun at him laden with three Bullets which all three hit him on the right Shoulder and passing through the body so wounded him that he died on the third day after his hurt But the proceedings of the Queen Mother were much different for when soon after this a Hugonot Captain commonly called La Motte having offered himself to find a means to kill Andelot she causing him to be apprehended by her Guards sent him bound to the same Andelot that he might punish him as he pleased himself and surely there are few examples of the like generous actions in any of our modern stories 10. The Emperour of China called Vamlie had no child by his Lawful Empress but had two Sons one by a Maid of Honour which was the eldest and another young Son by one of the Queens his Concubines This Son he loved very much and by reason of the particular affection he bore him he would by all means leave him the Kingdom saying that by reason he had no Sons by his Empress the succession was not of right to any of the rest but that it belonged to him to elect whom he pleased and because the elder was the Son of a Servant he chose rather
mind that with so true a generosity had preserved and yielded up the Kingdom to his Nephew 15. Titus Pomponius Atticus a Patrician of Rome would contribute nothing amongst those of his rank to Brutus and Cassius in their war upon Augustus but after that Brutus was forcibly driven from Rome he sent him one hundred thousand Sesterces for a present and took care that he should be furnished with as many more in Epirus contrary to the custom oâ— most other men while Brutus was fortunate he gave him no assistance but after he was expell'd and laboured under adverse fortune he administred to his wants with a bounty to be wondred at 16. Tancred the Norman was in Syria with Boemund his Uncle Prince of Antioch it fortun'd that Boemund was taken Prisoner in a fight with the Infidels Three Years Tancred governed his principality in his behalf in which time having enlarged his Territories and augmented his Treasure with a great sum he ransom'd his Uncle and resign'd up all into his hands 17. Ferdinand King of Leon by the instigation of some slanderous Informers was brought to make war upon Pontius Count of Minerba an old friend of his Fathers and had already taken divers places from him Sanctius the Third King of Castile and Brother to Ferdinand being inform'd hereof gathered a mighty Army and marched out with them against his Brother Ferdinand that least of any thing expected any such matter and terrified with the coming of so sudden and unlook'd for an Enemy mounting his Horse with a few of his followers came into the Camp of his Brother and told him he put himself into his hands to deal with him as he saw good as one whose only hope it was this way to preserve his Kingdom to himself but Sanctius that was a just King and a good Brother despising all the proffers he made him told him that he had not taken up arms for any desire he had to wrest his Kingdom out of his hands and annex it to his own but his sole design was that whatever had been taken away from Count Pontius should be restored him seeing he had been a great friend to their common Parent and had most valorously assisted him against the Moors This was gladly yielded to by Ferdinand and as soon as it was done Sanctius returned to his own Territories 18. Emanuel the first King of Portugal levied a most puissant Army with a design to pass into Africa where victory seemed to attend him when as being upon his march and just ready to transport his Army over those straits which divide Spain and Mauritania the Venetians dispatch Embassadors to intreat succours from him as their Ally against the Turk who had now declared war against them This generous Prince resolutely suspended his hopes of conquest to assist his ancient friends suddenly altered his design and sent his Army entirely to them deferring his enterprise upon Algiers to another season 19. The Venetians had leagu'd themselves with the Turks against the Hungarians they aided them to the ruine of that Kingdom and reduced that Country almost to a desolation and having been the cause of the death of two of their Kings of which the great Hunniades was the last yet notwithstanding seeing themselves afterwards all in flames by the Turks their Allies They sent Ambassadors to Hungary to implore succours from the famous Matthias Corvinus Son to Hunniades who after he had afforded them an honourable Audience and reproach'd them with their unworthy and hateful proceedings did yet grant them the succours which they had sought at his hands 20. Renatus Duke of Lorrain with fire and sword was driven out of his Dukedom by Charles the last Duke of Burgundy afterwards by the help of the Swissers he overcame and slew in Battel him from whom he had received so great a calamity With great industry he sought out the body of Charles amongst the multitude of the slain not to savage upon his Corps or to expose it to mockery but to bury it as he did at S. Georges in the Town of Nancy he and his whole Court followed it in mourning with as many Priests and Torches as could be procured discovering as many signs of grief at the funeral of his enemy as if it had been that of his own Father CHAP. XVI Of the Frugality and Thriftiness of some men in their Apparel Furniture and other things THe Kings of India used to dry the bodies of their Ancestors which done they caused them to be hung up at the Roof of their Palace in precious Cords they adorned them with Gold and Jewels of all sorts and so preserved them with a care and reverence little short of veneration it self of the like ridiculous superstition are they guilty who make over-careful and costly provisions for those bodies of theirs which will ere long be breathless and stinking carkasses They are usually souls of an over delicate and voluptuous constitution and temper that are so delighted with this kind of luxury whereas the most worthy men and persons of the greatest improvements by reason and experience have expressed such a moderation herein as may almost seem a kind of carelesness and neglect of themselves 1. Of Lewis the Eleventh King of France there is found in the Chamber of Accounts Anno 1461. Two Shillings for Fustian to new Sleeve his Majesties old Doublet and Three Half-Pence for Liquor to grease his Boots I chuse rather to call it his Frugality than Covetousness in as much as no man was more liberal of his Coin than himself where occasion did require as Comine who wrote his History and was also of his Council doth frequently witness 2. Charles the Fifth Emperour of Germany was very frugal especially once being to make a Royal Entrance into the City of Millain there was great preparation for his entertainment the Houses and Streets were beautified and adorned The Citizens dress'd in their richest Ornaments a golden Canopy was prepared to be carried over his head and great expectation there was to see a great and glorious Emperour But when he entred the City he came in a plain Black Cloth Cloak with an old Hat on his Head so that they who saw him not believing their eyes asked which was he laughing at themselves for being so deceived in their expectations 3. The meanness of the Emperour Augustus his furniture and houshold stuff doth appear to this day in the Beds and Tables that are left the most of which are scarce so costly as those of a private person It is said he used not to lye in any bed but such as was low and moderately covered and for his wearing Apparel it was rarely any other than such as was home spun and such as was made up by his Wife Sister Daughter and Grand-Children 4. Though the Ornament of the Body is almost a peculiarity to the Female Sex yet not only one woman but the whole family of
in the Reins of his back whereby he rotted above ground and died near unto the City Chiurli in the same place where he had formerly unnaturally assaulted his aged Father Bajazet a man he was of a fierce bloody and faithless disposition he died 1520. 82. Solyman Sirnamed the magnificent surprised Rhodes Belgrade and Buda with a great part of Hungary Babylon Assyria Mesopotamia spoiled Austria sharply besieged and assaulted Vienna it self took the Isle of Naxos and Paros and made them Tributaries to him War'd upon the Venetians and invaded the Islands of Corfu and Malta besieging the Town of Sigeth upon the Frontiers of Dalmatia he there fell sick of a looseness of his belly upon which he retired for recovery of his health to Quinque Ecclesiae a City near Sigeth and there died the fourth of September Anno 1566. having lived seventy six years and Reigned thereof forty six a Prince more just and true to his word than any other of his Predecessours but a great terrour unto all Christendom 83. Selymus the second an idle and effeminate Emperour by his Deputies took from the Venetians the Isle of Cyprus and from the Moors the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers Over this Emperour the Christians were Victorious in that famous Sea-fight called the Battel of Lepanto where of the enemies Galleys were taken an hundred threescore and one forty sunk of burnt and of Galliots and other small Vessels were taken about sixty besides the Admiral Galley which for beauty and riches had none in the whole Ocean to compare with it Selymus spent with Wine and Women died Decemb. 9. 1574. A man of a heavy disposition and of the least valour of all the Othoman Kings 84. Amurath the third took from the disagreeing Persians Armenia Media and the City Tauris and the Fort Gaino from the Hungarians To rid himself of all Competitors he at his first coming to the Crown caused his five Brethren to be all strangled in his presence He himself was a Prince unactive managing the Wars by his principal Bassa's Mustapha Sinan Osman and Ferat The insolent Ianizaries made such a tumult at Constantinople that the Emperour for grief and anger fell into a fit of the Falling Sickness which vexed him three daies and three nights his death not long after followed the 18 Ian. Anno 1595. when he had lived fifty one years and thereof Reigned nineteen At the time of his death such a sudden and terrible tempest arose that many thought the World would then be dissolved 85. Mahomet the third took Agria in Hungary which Kingdom in all likelihood had been lost if he had pursued his Victory at the Battel of Keresture he was never but then in any Battel and then was so frighted that he durst never see the face of an Army afterwards great harm was done him by Michael the Vayvod of Valachia and the Army of Sinan Bassa utterly routed by the Prince of Transylvania He was altogether given to sensuality and pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swollen unweildy overgrown body and a mind thereto answerable no small means of his death which fell out at the end of Ianuary in the year of our Lord 1604. when he had lived about forty four years 86. Achmet who the better to enjoy his pleasures made peace with the German Emperour and added nothing to his Empire Cicala Bassa his General was overthrown by the Persians and divers of his Armies under several Bassa's cut off by the fortunate Rebel the Bassa of Aleppo This Prince was of good constitution strong and active he would cast a Horse-man's Mace of nine or ten pounds weight farther than any other of his Court He was much given to sensuality and pleasure had three thousand Concubines one reason perhaps of his death at thirty years having Reigned fifteen 87. Mustapha brother to Achmet succeeded which was a Novelty never before heard of in this Kingdom it being the Grand Signiors Policy to strangle all the younger brothers howsoever this Mustapha was preserved either because Achmet being once a younger brother took pity on him or because he had no issue of his own body and so was not permitted to kill him It is said Achmet once intended to have shot him but at the instant was seised with such a pain in his arm and shoulder that he cryed out Mahomet would not have him die he carried himself but insolently and cruelly and was deposed 88. Osman succeeded his Uncle Mustapha and being unsuccessful in his War against Poland was by the Ianizaries slain in an uproar and Mustapha again restored yet long he enjoy'd not his Throne for the same hand that raised him did again pluck him down 89. Morat or Amurath the fourth brother of Osman of the age of thirteen years succeeded on the second deposition of his Uncle Mustapha he proved a stout and masculine Prince and bent himself to the reviving of the ancient discipline To the great good of Christendom he spent his stomach on the Persians from whom he recovered Babylon 90. Ibraim the brother of Morat preserved by the Sultaness his mother in his brothers life and by her power deposed again for interdicting her the Court He spent a great part of his Reign in the War of Creet against the Venetians but without any great success 91. Mahomet the fourth now Reigning was the son of Ibraim Lord of all this vast Empire containing all Asia and Greece the greatest part of Slavonia and Hungary the Isles of the Aegaean Sea and a great part of the Taurican Chersonese in Europe most of the Isles and Provinces in Asia and in Africk of all Aegypt the Kingdoms of Tunis and Algiers with the Ports of Snachem and Erocco nor is their stile inferiour to so vast an Empire Solyman thus stiling himself to Villerius great Master of the Rhodes at such time as he intended to Invade that Island i. e. Solyman King of Kings Lord of Lords and high Emperour of Constantinople and Trabâ—sond the most mighty King of Persia Syria Arabia and the Holy Land Lord of Europe Asia and Africa Prince of Meccha and Aâ—â—ppo Ruler of Hierusalem and Soveraign Lord of all the Seas and Isles thereof It remains That I acknowledge to whom I have been beholden in the making up this Catalogue of the forementioned Princes which I acknowledge to have borrowed from Mr. Prideaux his Introduction to History Carion's Chronology Dr. Heylin's Cosmography Knowles his Turkish History Zuingerus Nicaetas Zonaras Gaulterus Symson and such others as a slender Country Library would admit of CHAP. III. Of the Bishops and Popes of Rome and their Succession 1. SAint Peter was Crucified at Rome with his head downwards and was buryed about the Vatican in the Aurelian way not far from the Gardens of Nero having sat saith Platina in that See twenty five years He together with the Apostle Paul was put to death in the last year of Nero's Reign and was succeeded by 2.
That the Scythians did yield themselves together with the Earth and Water upon this reason That the Mouse is bred in the Earth and seeds upon the same food with man the Frog lives in the Water the Bird might represent the Horse and that by sending Arrows they seemed to deliver up themselves But Gobryas one of the seven Princes that had ejected the Magi was of opinion That those Presents intimated thus much O ye Persians unless as Birds ye fly in the Air or as Mice ye retreat under the Earth or as Froggs ye swim in the Water ye shall not return whence ye came but shall be slain by these Arrows The Persians interpreted it according to his opinion and had it not been by very accident neither Darius nor any of his Army had ever seen Persia more being glad to fly and happy that he found a way of escape for the Scythians though in pursuit missed of him as thinking he had taken another way 3. Alexander the Great was vehemently incensed against the Lampsacenians who sent Anaximenes as their Embassadour to appease him Alexander at the first sight of him that he might cut off all occasion of being prevailed with as to any favour in their behalf solemnly swore That although Anaximenes was his Master yet he would not either grant or do any of those things that he should desire of him Then said the other I desire of thee O King that thou wouldest utterly destroy the Country of Anaximenes thy Master Alexander for his Oaths sake was thus constrained though otherwise much against his mind to pardon the Lampsacenians 4. Nicholaus de Book a Knight was sent by Valdemarus the Marquess of Brandenburg as his Embassadour to Franckfurt in his Princes name about the Election of a King of the Romans The Competitors were Philippus Pulcher Duke of Austria and Lewis Duke of Bavaria the Marquess had sent his Letters in favour of Frederick that he might be King but his Embassadour expecting to receive nothing from Fredederick and perceiving that most mens minds were inclinable to Lewis he scraped out the name of Frederick out of all his Princes Parchments and contrary to his mind instead thereof put in the name of Lewis for which Inâ—idelity the Marquess upon his return kept him in Prison and suffered him there to dye of Famine 5. The people of Florence sent one Franciscus a Lawyer but indeed an unlearned Person as their Embassadour to Ioan Queen of Naples At his coming he was informed by a Courtier That it was her Majesties pleasure that he should return on the morrow In the mean time he had heard that the Queen had no aversion to a handsom man and therefore upon his return having had his Audience and discoursed with her about many things at last he told her That he had something to deliver to her in private The Queen withdrew with him into a Privy Chamber supposing that he had something to impart to her which was not fit to communicate with others here it was that the fool prepossessed with an opinion of his own handsomness desired the Queen that he might be admitted to her bed the Queen without alteration of her Countenance looking him in the face demanded if the Florentines had made that part of his Commission And while the Embassadour remained silent and covered with blushes she bad him return and caused it to be entred with the rest of his instructions and dismissed him without any other sign of her Anger 6. Arnald Whitfeild Chancellour of the Realm of Denmark with Christian Barmkan his Assistant came Embassadour from the King of Denmark to Queen Elizabeth His request was That the King his Master might make a motion of Peace betwixt her Majesty and the King of Spain and proceed farther therein if he found both Parties addicted thereto he also desired open Traffick with Spain and that Goods might not be stayed on the Narrow Seas as it had been heretofore And having Audience upon the day that her Majesty was born he took occasion to say That since it had pleased God on that day which he was informed was her Majesties birth-day to glorifie the World with so gracious a Creature who had brought so great happiness to the Realm and the Neighbour Kingdoms he doubted not but that the King his Master should in that happy day have an happy Answer of his request c. I blame you not said the Queen to expect a reasonable and sufficient Answer but you may think it a great Miracle that a Child born at four a clock this morning should be able to Answer so wise and learned a man as you are sent from so great a Prince as you be about so great and weighty Affairs you speak of and in an unknown Tongue by three of the clock in the afternoon and with like prudent and gracious words she gave him leave to depart 7. There was a Treaty on the part of Spain for a Marriage with our Prince Henry wherein Salisbury then Secretary a little man but a great Statesman instantly discovered the jugling before any other did think of any For although it went forward cunningly yet did Salisbury so put the Duke of Lerma unto it that either it must be so or they must confess their jugling The Duke of Lerma denied that there ever had been any treaty or any intention from that State Salisbury sent for the Embassadour to a â—ull Council told him how he had abused the King and State about a Treaty for Marriage which he had no Commission for that therefore he was liable to the Laws of our Kingdom for when any Embassadour doth abuse a State by their Masters Commission then the servant was freed but without Commission was culpable and liable to be punished by the Laws of that State as being disavowed to be Servant to the King his Master The Embassadour answered gravely He did not understand the cause of his coming therefore was then unprepared to give any answer but on Munday he would come again this being Saturday and give his Answer On Munday he comes begins with these words My Soul is my God's my Life my Master's my Reputation my own I will not forfeit the first and last to preserve the second then laies down his Commission and Letters of Instruction under the Kings own hand he acquitted himself honestly to this State but was lost to his own being instantly sent â—or home where he lived and died in disgrace 8. The Spartans sent their Embassadours to Athens who declared in the open Senate That they came from their State with full power to comprimise all matters of difference betwixt them and to put an end to all Controversie Alcibiades that in emulation to Nicias had a desire to continue the rupture was terrified with this Declaration of theirs and thereupon made means for a private conference with the Embassadours when he came What mean you my Lords said he have
was easily slain In the mean time Fleance so prospered in Wales that he gained the affection of the Princes Daughter of the Country and by her had a Son called Walter who â—lying Wales returned into Scotland where his descent known he was restored to the Honors and Lands of his House and preferred to be Steward of the House of Edgar the Son of Malcolme the Third sirnamed Conmer King of Scotland the name of Steward growing hence hereditary unto his Posterity From this Walter descended that Robert Steward who succeeded David Bruce in the Kingdom of Scotland the Progenitor of nine Kings of the name of Stewart which have reigned successively in that Kingdom 3. Oliver a Benedictine Monk of Malmesbury was much addicted to the Mathematicks and to Judicial Astrology a great Comet happened to appear in his â—â—e which he entertained with these expressions Venisti Venistâ— multis matribus lugendum malum Dudum te vidi sed multò jam terribilius Anglicae minans prorsus excidium Art thou come Art thou come thou evil to be lamented by many mothers I saw thee long since but now thou art much more terrible threatning the English with utter destruction Nor did he much miss his mark herein for soon after the coming in of the Norman Conqueror deprived many English of their lives more of their Laws and Liberties This Oliver dyed 1060. five years before the Norman Invasion and so prevented by death saw not his own prediction performed 4. Agrippa the Son of Aristobulus was accused to Tiberius Caesar and by his command cast into bonds standing thus bound amongst others before the Palace gates by reason of grief he leaned against a Tree upon which there sate an Owl A certain German that was also in bonds beholding the Bird inquired of a Souldier what Noble man that was who told him that it was Agrippa a Prince of the Jews The German desired he might be permitted to come nearer to him it was granted when he thus said Young man this sudden and unexpected mutation of Fortune doth torment and perplex thee but in a short time thou shalt be freed of these bonds and raised to a dignity and power that shall be the envy of all these who now look upon thee as a miserable person know also that whensoever thou shalt see an Owl pearch over thy head after the manner of this now present it shall betoken to thee that thy fatal end draweth nigh All this was fulfilled for soon after Tiberius dyed Caius succeeded who loosed the bonds of Agrippa and placed the Crown of Iudaea on his head there he reigned in great splendour when one day having ended a Royal Oration he had made to the people with great acclamation and applause turning back his head he spyed the fatal Owl sitting over his head whereupon he was seised with torments of the belly carried away and in few days dyed 5. When Flavius Vespasianus made War in Iudaea amongst the noble Captives there was one called Ioseph who being cast into bonds by his order did nevertheless constantly affirm that those shackles of his should in a short time be taken off by the same person who had commanded them to be put on but by that time he should of a private man become Emperour which soon after fâ—ll out for Nero Galba Otho and Vitellius the Emperors being slain in a short space Vespasian succeeded and commanded Iosephs setters not to be unlocked but for the greater honour to be broken off 6. Manahem a Jew an Essaean beholding on a time Herod the Ascalonite at School amongst the rest of the youth saluted him King of the Jews Herod supposing he either mocked or knew him not told him he was one of the meanâ—r sort Manahem smiling and giving him a gentle blow or two Thou shalt reign said he and prosperously too for so is the pleasure of God and remember then these blows of Manahem which may admonish thee of mutable Fortune but I foresee thou wilt be unmindful both of the Laws of God and man though otherwise most fortunate and illustrious Herod lived to fulfil all this 7. Iudas of the Sect of the Essaeans amongst the Jews being not used to fail in his predictions when he beheld Antigonus the Brother of Aristobulus the Brother of Aristobulus to pass by the Temple of Ierusalem of whom he had predicted that he should that day be slain in the Tower of Strato he turned to his friends wishing that himself might dye since he was alive The Tower of Strato said he is six hundred furlongs off so that my prediction is not possible to be fulfilled on this day as I pronounced but scarce had he finished his discourse when news comes that Antigonus was slain in a Cave that was called the Tower of Strato and thus the prediction was fulfilled though not well understood by him who was the Author of it 8. While Iulius Caesar was sacrificing Spurina a Soothsayer advised him to beware of the Ides of March when therefore they were come and that there was no visible appearance of danger Caesar sent for Spurina Well said he the Ides of March are come and I see nothing in them so formidable as thy caution to me would seem to import They are come indeed said Spurina but they are not past that unhappy accident which was threatned may yet fall out nor was he mistaken for upon the same day Iulius was slain in the Senate house by Brutus and Cassius and the rest of their Complices 9. When Vitellius the Emperour had set forth an Edict that the Mathematicians should at a certain day depart the City and Italy it self there was a Paper affixed to a publick place wherein was writ that the Cha daeans did predict good Fortune for before the day appointed for their departure Vitellius should no where be found nor did it miscarry in the event Vitellius being slain before the day came 10. Proclus Larginus having in Germany predicted that Domitian the Emperour should dye upon such a day was laid hold upon and for that cause sent to Rome where when before Domitian himself he had affirmed the very same he was sentenced to death with order to keep him till the day of his prediction was past and then that on the next he should dye in case what he had foretold of the Emperour proved false but Domitian was slain by Stephanus upon the very day as he had said whereupon the Soothsayer escaped and was enlarged with great honour 11. Ascletarion was one singularly skilled in Astrology and he also had predicted the day and hour of Domitians death and being asked by the Emperour what kind of death he himself should dye I shall shortly said he be torn in pieces by Dogs the Emperour therefore commands that he should be slain forthwith publickly burnt and to mock the vanity and temerity of his Art he ordered that the ashes of his body should be
help him he told his friends about him of that terrible resemblance of Symmachus which he had seen and deploring his wicked cruelty he soon after gave up the ghost 2. A certain Jesuit in Lancashire as he was walking by the way lost his Glove and one that came after him finding it followed him apace with an intention to restore it but he fearing the worst and being pursued with a guilty conscience ran away and hastily leaping over an hedge fell into a Marl-pit on the other side in which he was drowned 3. A Pythagorean Philosopher had bought a pair of Shoes of a Cobler but having no mâ—ney at present desired him to stay for it till the morrow and then he would return and pay him He came with his money according to agreement and then heard that the Cobler was newly dead he therefore without mention of the money departed with a secret joy for the unexpected gain he had made that day but finding that his conscience would not suffer him to be quiet he takes the money goes to the Coblers shop and casting in the money there Go thy ways said he for though he is dead to all the World besides yet he is alive to me 4. Thomas Curson Armourer dwelt without Bishopsgate London it happened that a Stage-player borrowed a rusty Musket of him that had long lain leiger in his shop now though his part was comical he therewith acted an unexpected Tragedy killing one of the standers by the Gun casually going off on the Stage which he suspected not to be charged Oh the difference in tenderness of conscience This poor Armourer was highly afflicted therewith though done against his will yea without his knowledge in his absence by another out of meer chance Hereupon he resolved to give all his Estate to pious uses no sooner had he gotten a round sum but presently he posted with it in his Apron to the Court of Aldermen and was in pain till by their direction he had setled it for the relief of the poor in his own and other Parishes and he disposed of some hundred pounds accordingly as I was credibly informed by the then Church-wardens of the said Parish 5. The wretched estate of King Richard the Third after he had murdered his Nephews is thus described by Sir Thomas Moor I have heard saith he by credible report of such as were secret with his Chamberers that after this his abominable deed done he never had quiet in his mind he never thought himself sure When he went abroad his eyes whirled about his body was privily fenced his hand ever on his Dagger his countenance and manner like one that was ever ready to strike he took no rest a nights lay long waking and musing sore wearied with care and watching rather slumbred than slept troubled with fearful dreams suddenly sometimes started up leapt out of his bed ran about the Chamber so was his restless heart tossed and tumbled with the tedious impression and stormy remembrance of his horrid and abominable deeds 6. Attalus King of Pergamus had slain his Mother and also Beronice his Wife for which he was so pursued with divine vengeance that he never after had a joyful day laying aside his Royal Ornaments he put upon him a poor and sordid garment he suffered the hair of his head and beard to grow he came not to shew himself in publick to the people there was nothing of mirth or feasting at his Court nor did he discover any signs of a found man To conclude he was so terrified with his conscience that yielding up the government of his Kingdom he betook himself to the imployment of a Gardiner digging up the earth and sowing seeds therein from this he passed to the Art of graving in Brass and therein he spent his time At last he purposed to make a Sepulchre for his Mother and being intent upon the work through the vehement heat of the Sun he contracted a Feaver and upon the seventh day following he dyed 7. After the Emperour Nero had slain his Mother Agrippina by the ministry of Anicetus although he was confirmed by the gratulations of the Souldiers and loud applauses of the Senate yet neither presently nor ever after was he able to bear the conscience of so great a guilt He often confessed that he was vexed with the Apparition of his Mother with the scourges of Furies and burning Torches insomuch that by certain horrid Sacrifices by the Magicians he attempted to call up and to appease her Ghost Being once present at the Eleusinian Solemnities and Ceremonies wherein the Cryer as the manner was proclaimed That all impious and wicked persons should depart he had not the confidence and assurance to remain In the day time he was terrified with the noise of Trumpets that sounded an Alarm and certain tumultuous noises that were heard in the place where the bones of his Mother rested For this reason he quitted that quarter and when notwithstanding he was pursued with the same noises he passed from one place to another never thinking himself secure from the contrivances of his enemies 8. Kenneth the Third King of Scotland was a wise and valiant Prince and might have been reckoned amongst the best if he had not stained his Fame with the Murder of Prince Malcolme his Nephew whom he made away by poyson the ambitious desire he had to settle the Succession in his own Posterity put him upon this villany which he carried in so covert a manner as no man did so much as suspect him thereof the opinion of his integrity being universally great but as wicked facts can never be assured though possibly they may be concealed his mind was never after that time quiet the conscience of the crime vexing him day and night with continual fears In the end whether it was so in effect or that his perplexed mind did form to it self such an imagination whilst he lay aâ—leep he heard a voice speaking to him on this sort Dost thou think that the death of Malcolme that innocent Prince treacherously murdered by thee is hidden from me or that thou shalt pass â—ny longer unpunished No there is a Plot laid for thy life which thou shalt not escape and whereas thou didst think to transmit the Crown firm and stable to thy Posterity thou shalt leave the Kingdom broken distracted and full of trouble The King awaked with the voice was stricken with great terrour and calling Moveanus his Confessor laid open to him the grief of his mind who advised him to bestow alms on the poor visit the Graves of holy men have the Clergy in greater regard than he accustomed and perform such other external satisfactions as were used in those times The King did thus and as he was visiting the Grave of Palladius he was invited to lodge in the Castle of Fettercarne where he was treacherously murdered 9. Constans the Emperour being offended with his Brother-in-law by
mark of those of that Family and discontinued in them for many years 6. I have heard saith Camerarius when I was young and it is at this day the common report and publick Fame although I have not met with it in any Authour that the Counts of Habspurg have each of them from the Womb a golden Cross upon the back that is to say certain white hairs after a wonderful manner formed into the figure of a Cross. 7. Marcus Venetus who for forty five years travell'd up and down in the Countries of Asia reports in his Itinerary that he came into the Kingdom of the Corzani the Kings of which place though subject to the Tartarian boast themselves of a Nobility beyond that of all other Kings of of the Earth and upon this account they are born into the World with the impress of a black Eagle upon their Shoulder which continues with them to the last day of their lives 8. I have received it from the Relations of Persons worthy to be believed that the most potent King of Great Britain now reigning that was King Iames brought with him from his Mothers Womb certain Royal and those not obscure signatures for as soon as he was born there was beheld imprinted upon his body a Lyon and Crown and some also add a Sword which impressions do undoubtedly portend great things and would require a further explication 9. That is a memorable thing and worthy of observation which is set down by Abrahamus Bucholtzerus Iohn Frederick saith he Elector of Saxony the Son of Iohn was born the 30 th of Iune Anno 1503. and brought with him from his Mothers Womb an omen of his future fate For as I had it from persons of unquestionable credit he was born with a Cross of a splendid and golden colour upon his back upon the sight of which a pious and very ancient Priest was sent for by the Ladies of the Court who thereupon said This Child shall carry a Cross Conspicuous to all the World the Emblem of which is thus apparent in his birth The truth is his Mother Sophia dy'd upon the twelfth day after his birth I have noted this the rather saith the fore-cited Authour because no Man hath done it before though worthy to be transcribed to Posterity and withal because the event did declare and confirm the truth of the presage 10. A Sister of mine saith Gaffarel had the figure of a Fish upon her left Leg caus'd by the desire my Mother had to eat fish when she was great and it is represented with so much perfection and rarity that you would take it to be drawn by some excellent Master and the wonder is that when ever the Girl eat any Fish that upon her Leg puts her to a sensible pain 11. That which I now relate to the same purpose is very well known to all Paris that are curious enquirers into these things The Hostess of the Inn in the Suburbs of St. Michael at Bois de Vincenne who dy'd about two years since had a Mulberry growing upon her nether Lip which was smooth and plain all the year long till the time that Mulberries began to ripen at which time hers also began to be red and began to swell more and more observing exactly the season and nature of other Mulberries and coming at length to the just bigness and redness of other ripe Mulberries 12. A Woman in the seventh Month of her being with Child long'd to eat Rose-buds in a time when they were diâ—ficultly to be procur'd She had passed two days thus when after much search there was a bough of them found in a private Garden she greedily devour'd the green buds of two Roses and kept the rest in her bosom In the ninth month she was happily deliver'd of a fair babe upon the Ribs of which there appear'd the representations of three Roses very red upon his Forehead and on either Cheek he had also depainted three other exact resemblances of a Red Rose so that he was commonly call'd the Rosie boy 13. Octavius Augustus the Emperour was all spotted on his body his Moles being dispers'd upon his Brest and Belly in the manner order and number with the Stars of the Celestial Bear CHAP. VIII Of the strange Constitution and marvellous properties of some humane Bodies THat the original of Man's body is nothing else besides the dust of the ground is a certain and unquestionable truth Yet as out of that dust there springs such variety of Trees Plants Flowers with different Forms Colours Vertues as may reasonably solicite a considering mind to a just veneration of the Wisdom and Bounty of the Creator so though all humane bodies are fram'd of the same course materials yet some of them are endow'd with such peculiar proprieties and qualities so remov'd from the Constitution of others that Man need travel no further then himself for a sufficient theme wherein he may at once inlarge his thoughts to the praises of his Maker and admiration of his own wonderful composure Every Man is a moving miracle but there are some that may justly move the wonder of all the rest For 1. Saint Austin saith he knew a Man who could sweat of his own accord as often as he pleas'd 2. Avicenna writes of one that when he pleas'd could put himself into a Palsie nor was he hurt by any venemous creature but when he forc'd and provok'd them to it of which notwithstanding themselves would die so poysonous was his body 3. I knew one saith Maranta who was of that strange constitution of body that he was made loose by asbringent simples and on the contrary bound up by those that were of a loosening Nature 4. There are some Families of that marvellous constitution that no Serpent will hurt them but instead of that they fly their presence the spittle of these Men or their sucking the place is Medicinable to such as have been bitten or stung with them of this kind are the Psylli and Marsi those also in the Island of Cyprus whom they call Ophiogenes and of this Race and house there came one Exagon Embassadour from that Island who by the commandment of the Roman Consul was put into a great Tun or Pipe wherein were many Serpents on purpose to make experiment and tryal of the truth The issue was the Serpents lick'd his body in all parts gently with their Tongues as if they had been little dogs and he remain'd unhurt to the great wonder of them who beheld the manner of it 5. Those Men that are bred in Tentyrus an Island lying within the River Nilus are so terrible to the Crocodiles that they will not abide so much as their voice but fly from them as soon as they hear it 6. When Pyrrhus King of Epirus was dead and all the rest of his body consum'd in the Funeral Fire the great Toe of his right Foot
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
were true was afterwards conâ—irm'd by the event 5. Charles the Eighth King of France invaded the Kingdom of Naples Alphonso was then King of it and howsoever before he brag'd what he would do yet when the French were in Italy and came so far as Rome he took such a fright that he cryed out every night he heard the Frenchmen coming and that the very Trees and Stones cry'd France And as Guicciardine affirmeth who was not a man either easily to believe or rashly write Fables it was credibly and constantly reported that the Spirit of Ferdinand his Father appear'd to one that had been his Physician and bad him tell his Son Alphonso from him that he should not be able to resist the Frenchmen for God had ordain'd that his Progeny should after many great afflictions be depriv'd of their Kingdom for the multitude and great enormity of their sins and especially for that he had done by the perswasion of Alphonso himself in the Church of St. Leander in Chaiae near to Naples whereof he told not the particulars the success was that Alphonso terrifi'd waking and sleeping with the representations of such Noblemen as he had caused secretly to be murdred in prison resign'd his Crown to his Son Ferdinando and ran away into Sicily in such haste that importun'd by his Mother-in-Law to stay for her only three days he told her that if she would not go presently with him he would leave her and that if any sought to stay him he would cast himself headlong out of the window His Son Ferdinand having assembled all his forces durst make no resistance but fled before the French from place to place till at length almost all his Subjects forsook him and rebelled against him whereupon he fled also into Sicily and within a while dyed there So Charles conquer'd the whole Kingdom his Soldiers having not had occasion so much as to put on their armour all the Voyage 6. Musâ—nius and Chrysanthius both Bishops dy'd in the time of the Nicene Council before such time as all present had subscribed to the Articles of Faith then agreed unto The rest of the Bishops went to their Sepulchers and desiring there subscription also as if they were alive they left the Schedule of Subscription at their Tombs when aâ—ter it was found that the dead persons had in a miraculous manner subscribed their names in this manner Chrysanthius and Musonius who were consenting with the Fathers in the sacred Oecumenical Synod of Nice though translated in respect of the Body yet with our own hands we have subscribed to this Schedule 7. Spâ—ridion Bishop of Cyprus had a Daughter call'd Irene with whom a friend of his had left certain Ornaments of a great value which she being over careful of hid under the earth and shortly after dyed In some time after came he who had intrusted her and finding that she was dead demanded his goods at the hands of the Father both with entreaties and threats Spiridion that knew not what to do in the case and saw that the mans loss was become his calamity went to the Tomb of his Daughter beseeching God that he would shew something of promised Resurrection before the time nor was he deceiv'd in his hopes for his Daughter Irene appeared to him and having declared in what place she had disposed of the mans goods she vanished away CHAP. XLI Of the strange ways by which Murders have been discover'd WIlliam the Norman built a fair Monastery where he wan the Garland of England and in the Synod held Anno 1070. at Winchester King William being present as also the Legats of Pope Alexander it was by that Synod decreed amongst other things that whoever was conscious to himself that he had slain a man in that great Battle should do penance for one whole year and as many years as he had slain men and should redeem his Soul either by building a Church or by establishing a perpetual allowance to some Church already built so great a crime did they esteem the sheding of Humane Blood though as they suppose in a just War Sure I am that God Almighty as well to declare his detestation of that crimson sin of murther as to beget and retain in us a horror thereof hath most vigorously employ'd his providence by strange and miraculous ways to bring to light deeds of darkness and to drag the bloody Authors of them out of their greatest privacies and concealment unto condign punishments It were an infinite thing to trace the several footsteeps of Divine Providence in this matter It will be sufficient to produce some Examples wherein we shall find enough to make us adore at once the Wisdom and Goodness and Justice of God 1. Iulianus Malacava a Black-smith by Profession was vehemently in love with a certain Maid and not knowing any other way to obtain his desires besides that of Marriage with his beloved began to think how he might compass the death of his Wife he accomplish'd his divellish design with a Halter and strangled his Wife who was then big with child the third day after the Woman was found dead her Husband was gone into the Country and of all others was the least suspected the Child in the mean time was taken out of the Womb of the dead Mother and laid by but at the entrance of the cruel Father the dead Child bled fresh at the Nose This was upon the third of the Nones of February 1632. At the sight of this blood the Magistrare entred into some suspition of the Murderer he sent him to prison and laid him in irons when he came upon further examination he confess'd the whole as it was and was deservedly executed the twelfth of the Kalends of December 1633. this History was sent me from the publick Records of Caesena for an unquestionable truth 2. Parthenius Treasurer to Theodobert King of France had traiterously slain an especial friend of his call'd Ausanius together with his Wife Papianilla when no man accused or so much as suspected him thereof he detected himself in this strange manner As he slept in his bed he suddenly roared out crying for help or else he perished and being demanded what he ailed he half asleep answered That his friend Ausanius and his Wife whom he had murdered long before did now summon him to answer it before the Tribunal of God Upon this confession he was apprehended and after due examination stoned to death Thus though all witnesses fail yet the murderers own conscience is sufficient to betray him 3. Anno Dom. 867. Lothbroke of the Blood Royal of Denmark and Father to Humbar and Hubba entred with his Hawk into a Cock-boat alone and by tempest was driven upon the coast of Norfolk in England where being found he was detain'd and presented to Edmund at that time King of the East Angles The King entain'd him at his Court and perceiving his singular dexterity and activity in Hawking and
Sea and his Wife at some distance from him the woman was seised upon by some Moorish Pyrates who came on shore to prey upon all they could find Upon his return not finding his Wiâ—e and perceiving a Ship that lay at anchor not far off conjecturing the matter as it was he threw himself into the Sea and swam up to the Ship when calling to the Captain he told him that he was therefore come because he must needs follow his Wife He feared not the Barbarism of the Enemies of the Christian Faith nor the miseries those Slaves endure that are thrust into places where they must tug at the Oar his love overcame all these The Moors were full of admiration at the carriage of the man for they had seen some of his Country-men rather chuse death than to endure so hard a loss of their liberty and at their return they told the whole of this Story to the King of Tunis who moved with the Relation of so great a love gave him and his Wife their freedom and the man was made by his command one of the Soldiers of his Life Guard 10. Gratianus the Emperour was so great and known a Lover of his Wife that his enemies had hereby an occasion administred to them to ensnare his life which was on this manner Maximus the Usurper caâ—sed a Report to be â—pread that the Empress with certain Troops was come to see her Husband and to go with him into Italy and sent a messenger with counterfeit Letters to the Emperour to give him advice thereof After this he sent one Andragathius a subtile Captain to the end he should put himself into a Horse Litter with some chosen Soldiers and go to meet the Emperour feigning himself to be the Empress and so to surprise and kill him The cunning Champion perform'd his business for at Lyons in France the Emperour came forth to meet his Wife and coming to the Horse-Litter was taken and killed 11. Ferdinand King of Spain married Elizabeth the Sister of Ferdinand Son of Iohn King of Arragon Great were the virtues of this admirable Princess whereby she gained so much upon the heart of her Husband a valiant and fortunate Prince that he admitted her to an equal share in the Government of the Kingdom with himself wherein they lived with such mutual agreement as the like hath not been known amongst any of the Kings and Queens of that Country There was nothing done in the affairs of State but what was debated ordained and subscribed by both The Kingdom of Spain was a name common to them both Embassadors were sent abroad in both their names Armies and Soldiers were levied and formed in both their names and so was the whole wars and all civil affairs that King Ferdinand did not challenge to himself an authority in any thing or in any respect greater than that whereunto he had admitted this his beloved Wife Bajazet the first after the great victory obtain'd against him by Tamberlain to his other great misfortunes and disgraces had this one added of having his beautiful Wife Despina whom he dearly loved to fall into the hands of the Conquerour whose ignominious and undecent treatment before the eyes of her Husband was a matter of more dishonour and sorrow than all the rest of his afflictions for when he beheld this he resolved to live no longer but knock'd out his Brains against the iron bars of that Cage wherein he was enclosed 13. Dion was driven from Sicily into Exile by Dionysius but his Wife Aristomache was detained and by him was compelled to marry with Polycrates one of his beloved Courtiers Dion afrerwards return'd took Syracuse and expelled Dionysius his Sister Arete came and spoke to him his Wife Aristomache stood behind her but conscious to her self in what manner she had wrong'd his Bed shame would not permit her to speak His Sister Arete then pleaded her cause and told her Brother that what his Wife had done she was enforced to by necessity and the Command of Dionysius whereupon the kind Husband received her to his House as before Meleager challenged to himself the chief glory and honour of slaying the Calidonian Boar but this being denied him he sate in his Chamber so angry and discontented that when the Curetes were assaulting the City where he lived he would not stir out to lend his Citizens the least of his assistance The Elders Magistrates the chief of the City and the Priests came to him with their humble supplications but he would not move they propounded a great reward he despised at once both it and them His Father Oenaeus came to him and embracing his knees sought to make him relent but all in vain His Mother came and try'd all ways but was refused his Sisters and his most familiar friends were sent to him and begg'd he would not forsake them in their last extremity but neither this way was his fierce mind to be wrought upon In the mean time the enemy had broken into the City and then came his wife Cleopatra trembling O my dearest Love said she help us or we are lost the Enemy is already entred The Hero was moved with this voice alone and rous'd himself at the apprehension of the danger of his beloved Wife He arm'd himself went forth and left not till he had repulsed the Enemy and put the City in its wonted safety and security CHAP. VIII Of the singular Love of some Wives to their Husbands THough the Female be the weaker Sex yet some have so superseded the fidelity of their nature by an incredible strength of affection that being born up with that they have oftentimes performed as great things as we could expect from the courage and constancy of the most generous amongst men They have despised death let it appear to them in what shape it would and made all sorts of difficulties give way before the force of that invincible Love which seemed proud to shew it self most strong in the greatest extremity of their Husbands 1. The Prince of the Province of Fingo in the Empire of Iapan hearing that a Gentleman of the Country had a very beautiful woman to his Wife got him dispatch'd and having sent for the widow some days after her Husbands death acquainted her with his desires She told him she had much reason to think her self happy in being honour'd with the friendship of so great a Prince yet she was resolved to bite off her Tongue and murther her self if he proffer'd her any violence But if he would grant her the favour to spend one Month in bewailing her Husband and then give her the liberty to make an entertainment for the Relations of the deceased to take her leave of them he should find how much she was his servant and how far she would comply with his Affections It was easily granted a very great dinner was provided whither came all the kinred of the deceased
betwixt us that needed reconciliation 3. The Emperour of China on certain days of the year visiteth his Mother who is seated on a Throne and four times on his feet and four times on his knees he maketh her a profound reverence bowing his head even to the ground The same custom is also observed through the greatest part of the Empire and if it chance that any one is negligent or deficient in this duty to his Parents he is complain'd of to the Magistrates who punish such offenders very severely But generally no people express more filial respect and duty than they 4. Sir Thomas Moore being Lord Chancellour of England at the same time that his Father was a Judge of the King's Bench he would always at his going to Westminster go first to the King's Bench and ask his Father blessing before he went to sit in the Chancery 5. Alexander the Great sent his Mother Olympias many Royal Presents out of the Asian Spoils but withal forbade her to intermeddle with State affairs or to challenge to her self such offices as appertained to the Governour Olympias expostulated these things very sharply with him which yet he easily endured But upon a certain time when he had received long Letters from Antipater filled with complaints against her Antipater said he doth not know that one single tear of my Mother is able to blot out six hundred of his Epistles 6. There happened in Sicily as it hath often an eruption of Aetna now called Mount Gibel it murmurs burns belches up flames and throws out its fiery entrails making all the world to flie from it It happened then that in this violent and horrible breach of â—â—ames every one flying and carrying away what they had most precious with them two Sons the one called Anapias the other Amphinomus careful of the wealth and goods of their Houses reflected on their Father and Mother both very old who could not save themselves from the fire by flight And where shall we said they find a more precious treasure than those who begat us The one took up his Father on his Shoulders the other his Mother and so made passage through the flames It is an admirable thing that God in the consideration of this piety though Pagans did a miracle for the monuments of all Antiquity witness that the devouring flames staid at this spectacle and the fire wasting and broiling all about them the way only through which these two good Sons passed was tapestryed with fresh verdure and called afterwards by posterity the Field of the Pious in memory of this Accident 7. Artaxerxes the First King of Persia was a fervent lover of Statyra his wife and though he knew that by the fraud of his Mother Parysatis she had been empoysoned and murdered yet piety to his Mother overcame his conjugal affection and he so dissembled the injury of his Mother that he not only spake nothing of revenging her wickedness but which is more strange he never gave the least sign of his being offended by any alteration of his countenance towards her unless in this that desiring to go to Babylon he gave her leave and said that he would not see Babylon while she lived 8. Q. Cicero Brother of Marcus being proscribed and sought after to be slain by the Triumvirate was hid by his Son who for that cause was hurried to torments but by no punishments or tortures could he be forced to betray his Father The Father mov'd with the piety and constancy of the Son of his own accord offered himself to death lest for his sake they should determine with utmost severity against his Son 9. Epaminondas the Theban General being asked what was the most pleasant thing that had happened to him throughout his whole life replyed it was this that he had carried away the Leuctrian Victory his Father and Mother being both alive Plut. in M. Coriolan p. 215. 10. There were three Brothers who upon the death of the King their Father fell out amongst themselves about succession in the Kingdom at last they agreed to stand to the judgment and determination of a Neighbour King to whom they fully referred the matter He therefore commanded the dead body of the Father to be fetched out of his monument and ordered that each of them should shoot an arrow at his heart and he that hit it or came the nearest to it should succeed The elder shot first and his arrow passed through the Throat of his Father the second Brother shot his Father into the Breast but yet missed the heart The youngest detesting this wickedness I had rather said he yield all to my Brothers and utterly resign up all my pretences to the Kingdom than to treat the body of my Father with this contumely This saying of his considered the King passed sentence that he alone was worthy of the Kingdom as having given evidence how much he excelled his Brothers in virtue by the piety he had shewed to the dead body of his Father 11. Caius Flaminius being a Tribune of the people had promulged a Law about the division of the Fields of Gallia man by man the Senate unwilling it should pass opposed it but he resisted both their entreaties and threats They told him they would raise an Army against him in case he should not desist from his intentions notwithstanding all which unaffrighted he ascends the Pulpit and being now ready with all the people about him by their suffrages to have it pass into a Law his own Father came and laid hands upon him enjoyning him to come down he broken with this private command descended from the Pulpit and was not so much as reproach'd with the least murmur of the people whom he had forsaken but the whole assembly seemed to approve this his piety to his Parent although so much to their own prejudice 12. The Pretor had sentenced to death a woman of good Birth for a capital crime and had consign'd her over to the Triumvir to be killed in prison The Jaylor that received her mov'd with compassion did not presently strangle her but besides permitted her Daughter to come often to her though first diligently searched lest she should convey in any sustenance to her the Jaylor expecting that she should die of famine When therefore divers days had passed wondring within himself what it might be that occasioned her to live so long he one day set himself to observe her Daughter with greater curiosity and then discovered how with the Milk in her Breasts she allayed the famine of her Mother The news of this strange spectacle of the Daughter suckling her Mother was by him carried to the Triumvir by the Triumvir to the Pretor from the Pretor it was brought to the judgment of the Consul who pardoned the woman as to the sentence of death passed upon her and to preserve the memory of that fact where her prison stood they caused an Altar
to be erected to piety 13. Nicholaus Damascenus assures us that the Pisidians used to present the First Fruits of all the Viands of a Feast to their Fathers and Mothers esteeming it an unworthy thing to take a plentiful refection without due honours â—irst done to the authors of life 14. Martius Coriolanus having well deserved of the Common-wealth was yet unjustly condemned whereupon he sled to the Volsci at that time in Arms against Rome followed with an Army of these he streight rendred himself very formidable to the Romans Embassadors were sent to appease him but to no purpose the Priests met him with entreaties in their Pontisical Vestments but were also returned without effect The Senate was astonished the people trembled as well the men as the women bewailed the destruction that was now sure to â—all upon them Then Volumnia the Mother of Corolianus taking Velumnia his wife along with her and also his Children went to the Camp of the Volsci whom as soon as the Son saw as one that was an entire Lover of his Mother he made hast to embrace her She angrily said â—irst let me know before I suffer my self to be embraced by you whether I am come to a Son or an Enemy and whether I am a Captive or a Mother in your Camp and much she said after this manner with tears in her eyes He moved with the tears of his Mother Wife and Children embracing his Mother You have conquer'd said he and my Country hath overcome my just anger prevailed with by her entreaties in whose womb I was conceiv'd and so he freed the Roman fields and the Romans themselves from the sight and fear of those enemies he had led against them Livy calls Veluria the Mother and Volumnia the Wife of Corolianus 15. Marcus Cotta upon that very day that he came to age and was permitted to take upon him the Virile Gown forthwith as soon as he descended from the Capitol he accused C. Carbo by whom his Father had been condemned and having proved him guilty had him condemned Thus happily and by a gallant action he began his manhood and gave proof of his eloquence and wit 16. M. Pomponius Tribune of the people accused L. Manlius the Son of Aulus who had been Dictator for that he had added a few days wherein he continued his Dictatorship as also for that he had banished his Son Titus from the society of men and commanded him to live in the Country which when the young man heard he got to Rome by break of day and to the house of Pomponius It was told him that Manlius was there and he supposing the angry young man had brought him something against his Father rose from his bed and putting all out of the Room sent for the young man to him But he as soon as entred drew his Sword and swore he would kill him immediately unless he would give him oath that he would cease to accuse his Father Pomponius compelled by this terror gave his oath assembled the people and then told them upon what account it was requsite for him to desist from his accusation Piety to mild Parents is commendable but Manlius in this his action so much the more that having a severe Parent he had no invitation from his indulgence but only from his natural affection to hazard himself in his behalf In the Civil Wars betwixt Octavianus and Antonius as it often falls out that Fathers and Sons and Brothers and Brothers take contrary parts so in that last Battle at Actium where Octavianus was the Victor when the Prisoners as the custom is were counted up Metellus was brought to Octavianus whose face though much chang'd by anxiety and a Prison was known to Metellus his Son who had been on the contrary part With Tears therefore he runs into the embraces of his Father and then turning to Octavianus This thy enemy said he hath deserved death but I am worthy of some reward for the service I have done thee I therefore beseech thee instead of that which is owing me that thou wouldst preserve this man and cause me to be killed in his stead Octavianus mov'd with this piety though a great enemy gave unto the Son the life of the Father 18. Demetrius the King of Asia and Macedonia was taken Prisoner in battle by Seleucus King of Syria Antigonus his Son was the quiet Possessor of the Kingdom yet did he change the Royal Purple into a mourning habit and in continual tears sent abroad his Embassadors to the neighbouring Kings that they would interpose in his Fathers behalf for the obtaining of his liberty He also sent to Seleucus and promised him the Kingdom and himself as a hostage if he would free his Father from Prison After he knew that his Father was dead he set forth a great Navy and went forth to receive the body of the deceased which by Seleucus was sent towards Macedonia He received it with such mournful solemnity and so many tears as turned all men into wonder and compassion Antigonus stood in the Poop of a great Ship built for that purpose cloathed in black bewailing his dead Father The ashes were inclosed in a Golden Urn over which he stood a continual and disconsolate spectator He caused to be â—ung the virtues and noble Atchievements of the deceased Prince with voices form'd to piety and lamentation The Rowers also in the Gallies so order'd the stroaks of their Oars that they kept time with the mournful voices of the other In this manner the Navy came near to Corinth so that the Rocks and Shores themselves seemed to be moved unto mourning 19. Opius a Citizen of Rome was proscribed by the Trium-Virate and whereas he was infeebled by old Age and had a Son who might without danger have remained at home yet the Son chose rather with the hazard of his own life to deliver his Father out of the present danger he was in He therefore took him upon his Shoulders and with great labour carried him out of the City where he lay concealed under the habit of a Beggar At last he got with him safe into Sicily where Sextus Pompeius received all the Proscribed It was not long e're for this singular piety he had shewed to his father the people of Rome were mov'd to recal him and restore him to his Country where upon his return he was by them also created Aedile in which magistracy when through the seisure of his goods he had not wherewithal to set forth the publick plays that he might not want the accustomed honour the Artificers for the Theatre gave him their work gratis and that nothing might be lacking for the furniture of the Plays the whole people of Rome threw him in so largely that not only there was sufficient preparation for all things but also he was thereby exceedingly inriched and highly commended for his piety 20. Miltiades for an expedition he had not so advisedly
tops of Thistles nor can we expect any thing from men that live under the continued frowns of the world and whose Souls are humbled by bondage and servitude but what is agreeable to their abject condition want of education and converse yet as we have sometimes seen Apes in Silk and men in Rags and that a Jewel of great value may casually be found upon a Dunghil so we may sometimes read of such eminent fidelity and virtue in men of base degree and low estate that fortune may seem to have treated them injuriously that did not allot them as great advantages as the Masters they lived under 1. Publius Catienus Philotimus was left by his Master the Heir of his whole Estate yet did he resolvâ— to die with him and therefore cast himself alive into that Funeral Fire which was prepared to burn the dead body of his Master 2. The Tyrians having maintained long Wars against the Persians were much weakened thereby which occasioned their Slaves being many in number to rise up against their Masters whom they put all to the Sword together with their children and then seised upon their Houses together with their Wives whom they married Only one of these Slaves being more merciful than the rest spared his Master Straton and his Son and hid them The Slaves having thus got possession of all consulted together to chuse a King and agreed that he that could first discern the Sun at his Rising should be King Whereupon this fore-mentioned Slave consulted with his Master about the business who advised him when others looked into the East that he should look into the West and accordingly when they were all assembled in the Fields and every man's eyes were fixed upon the East he only looked Westward for which he was well scoffed at by his companions but presently he espyed the Sun-beams shining upon the high Towers and Chimneys in the City and so challenged the Kingdom His companions would needs know who taught him this wit at last he told them whereupon fetching out old Straton they gave him not only his life but elected him their King who having once been a Master and free born they thought was fittest to rule all the rest that was Slaves 3. Grimoaldus Duke of Benevento was invited by Gondibert King of the Lombards to assist him against Partharis his Brother he came accordingly and having ejected the one he slew the other Brother he came to defend and so made himself King of Lombardy and when he knew that Partharis was retreated to Cacanus Duke of Bavaria he wrought so that he was expelled from thence Partharis not knowing whither to betake himself in safety comes as a suppliant and commits himself to the faith of Grimoaldus But he observing that numbers of the Ticinensians flocked daily to visit him and fearing lest by the favour of the people he should some time or other recover the Kingdom not regarding his Oath he resolved to make him away and that he might perform it with less noise and tumult he intended first to make him drunk and then send his Guards to cut his Throat while he lay buried in wine and sleep This counsel of his was not so privately carried but that it came to the ear of Partharis he therefore commands his Cup-bearer to give him water all along instead of Wine knowing then he could not indulge his Genius lest his troubled head should prove unmindful of the danger he was in nor could he abstain altogether from drinking lest Grimoaldus his spies should discover that he had intimation of his intentions The better therefore to colour the matter after large drinking he caused himself to be carried by his servants into his Chamber as to sleep out his debauch There he consults Hunnulphus his most faithful Servant who thought it not safe to go forth since the servants of Grimoaldus stood watching at the Gate But in regard necessity compelled and that there was no other way of escape he orders it thus he covers his head and shoulders with the skin of a Bear which was there by chance after the manner of a Rustick and lays upon his back a mattress as if he was a Porter to carry it away and then with good blows of a Cudgel drive him out of the Chamber by this artifice he passes unknown through the Guards and accompanied with one servant got safe into France When about Midnight the Guards came to kill Partharis they were opposed by Hunnulphus who besought them not to disturb the rest of his Master now sleeping but to suffer him to sleep out his large compotation he had that night twice they were thus put back but the third time they broke by force into the Chamber and not finding Partharis whom they had determined to kill they enquire of Hunnulphus what was become of him who told them plainly he was fled and confessed that he was himself conscious to his slight Grimoaldus admiring his fidelity who to save his Master had cast himself into such manifest danger of his life freed him from the punishment that all cryed he was worthy of with many promises alluring him that from thenceforth he would change Masters and serve him with the like fidelity as he had done the former 4. The Babylonians sought to recover their liberty and to shake off the Persian Yoak whereof Darius being advertised prepared an Army to recover that City and State revolted but â—inding the same a difficult work he used the service of Zopyrus who for the love he bare Darius did cut off his own Ears and Nose and with other wounds fresh bleeding he seemed to flie to the Babylonians for succour to whom he accused the cruelty of Darius who for having given him advice to give over the Siege of their City had in this sort dismembred and deformed him whereupon the Babylonians gave him that credit as they trusted him with the disposition and commandment of their greatest Forces which when Zopyrus had obtain'd after some colourable overthrows given to the Persians upon sally he delivered the City into Darius his hand who had lain beâ—ore it twenty months and used to say that he had rather have Zopyrus unhurt than twenty Babylons besides that he had gained 5. M. Antonius an excellent Oratour being accused of incest his servant the witness deposing that he carried the Lanthorn before his Master when he went to commit this Villany was apprehended and to extort a confession from him he was torn with Scourges set upon the Rack burnt with hot irons all which notwithstanding he would not let fall a word whereby he might injure the fame or life of his Master although he knew him guilty 6. There was a Citizen of Rome condemned by the proscription of the Triumvirate who in fear of his life had fled and hid himself in a Cave of the Earth one of his servants observed the approach of them that were sent to murder him and having
with the Army thou submit to his Dominion and acknowledge him as Emperour my life depends upon thy answer Consider what thou owest to him that gave thee life To this his Son Vsanguincus return'd He that is not faithful to his Soveraign will never be so to me and if you forget your duty and â—idelity to our Emperour no man will blame me if I forget my duty and obedience to such a Father I will rather dye than serve a Thief and immediately sent an Ambassador to call in their aid to subdue this usurper of the Empire 7. Gelon the Tyrant of Sicilia as soon as he heard the Persians under Xerxes had passed the Hellespont sent Cadmus the Son of Scythes who had before been the Tyrant of Coos and voluntarily resign'd it to Coos with three Ships a mighty Summ of money and instructed with a pleasing Embassy giving him in charge to observe which way the victory should fall that if the Persian should prevail he should then deliver him the Money and earth and water for such places as were under the dominion of Gelon but if the Greeks prov'd victorious he should return back with the money This Cadmus although it was in his power to have perverted this vast sum to his own use yet would he not do it but after the Greeks had obtain'd a Naval Victory he returned back into Sicily and restored all the money 8. Sanctius King of Castile had taken Tariffa from the Moors but was doubtful of keeping it by reason both of the Neighbourhood of the enemy and the great cost it would put him to there was with him at that time Alphonsus Peresius Guzman a noble and rich person a great man both in peace and war he of his own accord offered to take the care of it and to be at part of the charge himself and the King in the mean time might attend other affairs A while after the Kings Brother Iohn revolted to the Moors and with Forces of theirs suddenly sate down before Tariffa the besieged feared him not but relyed upon their own and their Governours valour only one thing unhappily fell out the Son and only Son of Alphonsus was casually taken by them in the fields him they shewed before the Walls and threatned to put him to a cruel death unless they speedily yielded the Town the hearts of all men were mov'd only that of Alphonsus who cryed with a loud voice that had they a hundred of his Sons in their power he should not thereupon depart with his Faith and Loyalty And saith he Since you are so thirsty of blood there is a Sword for you throwing his own over the wall to them away he went and prepared himself to go to dinner when upon the sudden there was a confused noise and cry that recalled him he again repairs to the wall and asking the reason of their amazement they told him that his Son had been done to death with barbarous cruelty Was it that then said he I thought the City had been taken by the Enemy and so with his former tranquillity return'd to his Wife and his Dinner The Enemies astonished at the greatness of his Spirit departed without any further attempt upon the place 9. Flectius a noble man was made Goveâ—nour of the City and Castle of Conimbra in Portugal by King Sanctius Anno 1243. This Sanctius was too much swayed by his Wise Mencia and over addicted to some Court Minions by reason of which there was a conspiracy of the Nobles against him and the matter was so far gone that they had got leave of Pope Innocent to translate the Government of the Kingdom to Alphonsus the Brother of Sanctius Hereupon follow'd a War the minds of most men were alienated from their natural Prince but Flectius was still constant enduring the Siege and arms of Alphonsus and the whole Nation nor could he any way be swayed till he heard that Sanctius was dead in Banishment at Toletum â—or whom now should he fight or preserve his faith they advised him therefore to â—ollow fortune yield himself and not to change a just praise for the Title of a desperado and a madman Flectius heard but believed them not he therefore beg'd leave of Alphonsus that he himself might go to Toletum and satisfie himself It was granted and he there found that the King was indeed dead and buried and therefore that he might as well be free in his own conscience as in the opinion of men he opened the Sepulchre and with sighs and tears he delivers the very keys of Conimbra into the Kings hands with those words As long O King as I did judge thee to be alive I endured all extremiâ—ies I fed upon Skins and Leather and quenched my thirst with Vrine I quieted or repressed the minds of the Câ—tizens that were enclining to Sedition and whatsoever could be expected from a faithful man and one sworn to thy interest that I perform'd and persisted in Only one thing remains that having delivered the Keys of the City to thine own hands I may return freed of my oath and to tell the Citizens their King is dead God send thee well ia another and a better Kingdom This said he departed acknowledg'd Alphonsus for his Lawful Prince and was ever faithful to him 10. When the Portugals came first into the East Indies the King of Cochin called Trimumpara made Peace and a League of Amity with them Soon after there was a conspiracy against a new and suspected Nation especially the King of Calecut who was rich and strong in Soldiers he drew his forces and friends together and sent to him of Cochin in the first place that he would deliver up those few Portugals and himself from â—ault and all them from fear But he replied that he would lose all rather than falsifie his Faith When any of his subjects perswaded him to yield them up he said he esteemed them worse enemies than the King of Calecut for he did endeavour to take away only his Kingdom or Life but they would take from him the choicest virtues That his life was a short and definite space but the brand of perfidiousness would remain for ever In the mean time the King of Calecut wars with him overcomes drives him from his Kingdom and enforces his retreat unto an Island not far off In his flight he took no greater care for any thing then to preserve those few Portugals nay when thrust out though his enemy offered him his Kingdom again upon condition he would surrender them he constantly refused it and said that his Kingdom and Scepter might be taken from him but not his faith 11. Sextus Pompeius had seiz'd upon Sicilia and Sardinia and made a hot war upon the Trium-Virate and people of Rome and having pressed them with want and scarcity had reduced them to treat with him of peace Octaviâ—nus Caesar therefore and Antonius met him about Misenum with their Land Forces he being
drawn thither with his Fleet Being agreed upon the terms the Captains must mutually entertain one another and the â—irst lot fell upon Sextus who received them in his Ship there they supp'd and discoursed with all freedom and mirth when Mâ—nas the freed man of Sextus and Admiral of the Navy came and thus whispered Sextus in the Ear Wilt thou said he that I sâ—all cut the Cables put off the Ship and make thee Lord not only of Sicily and Sardinia but of the whole World it self He said it and it was easie to do it there was only a Bridge which joyn'd the Ship and Shore together and that remov'd the other fell in and who could hinder or oppose the design and upon those two whom he had in his hand all the Roman welfare relyed but Sextus valued his faith given And said he thou Menas perhaps oughtest to have done it and unknown to me But since they are here let us think no more of it for Perjury is none of my property 12. Fabius had agreed with Hannibal for the exchange of Captives and he that had the most in number should receive money for the over-plus Fabius certifies the Senate of this agreement and that Hannibal having two hundred and forty more Captives the money might be sent to reduce them The Senate refused it and withal twitted Fabius that he had not done rightly and orderly nor for the honour of the Republick to endeavour to free those men whose Cowardise had made them the prey of their enemies Fabius took patiently this anger of the Senate but when he had not money and purposed not to deceive Hannibal he sent his Son to Rome with command to sell his Lands and to return with the money to the Camp He did so and speedily came back he sent Hannibal the money and received the Prisoners many of whom would afterwards have repaid him but he freely forgave them 13. Guy Earl of Flanders and his Son were freed from Prison by Philip the fair King of France upon their saith given that in case they could not return the Flemings to their obedience who rebelled and with the English molested Philip that then they should reuurn themselves to their wonted durance They were not able to effect the one and therefore perform'd the other and in that prison Guy shortly after dyed 14. Ferdinand the first King of Spain left three Sons behind him Sanctius Alphonsus and Garcius amongst whom he had also divided his Kingdoms but they lived not long in mutual peace for soon after the death of their Father Sanctius who was of a fierce and violent disposition made war upon his Brother Alphonsus overcame und took him Prisoner and thrust him into a Monastery constrained Religion lasts not long and therefore he privily deserted his Cloyster and in company with Petrus Ansurius an Earl he fled for protection to Almenon King of Toledo He was a Moor and an enemy to the others Religion but there had been friendship and peace betwixt him and Ferdinand the Father of this distressed Prince and upon this account he chose to commit himself unto his faith and was chearfully received by him Long he had not been with him when in the presence of the King the hair of this Prince was observed to stand up an end in such manner that being several times stroked down with the hand they still continued in their upright posture The Moorish Southsayers interpreted this to be a prodigy of evil abodement and told the King that this was the man that should be advanced to the Throne of Toledo and thereupon perswaded to put him to death The King would not do it but preferred his faith given to the fear he might apprehend and thought it sufficient to make him swear that during his life he should not invade his Kingdom A while after King Sanctius was slain by Conspirators at Zamora and his Sister Vrrata being well affected to this her Brother sent him a messenger with letters to invite him to the Kingdom advising him by some craft and with celerity to quit the borders of the Barbarians where he was Alphonsus bearing a grateful mind would not relinquish his Patron in this manner but coming to Almâ—â—on acquainted him with the matter And now said he noble Prince compleat your Royal savours to me by sending me to my Kingdom That as I have hitherto had my liâ—e I may also have my Scepter of your generosity The King embraced him and wished him all happiness But said he you had lost both Life and Crown if with an ungrateful mind you had fled without my privity for I knew of the death of Sanctius and silâ—ntly I awaited whaâ— course you would take and had dispos'd upon the way such as should have return'd you back from your â—light had it been attempted But no more of this all I shall require of you is that during life you shall be a true friend to me and my elder Son Hissemus and so sent him away with money and an honourable retinue This Alphonsus did afterwards take the City and Kingdom of Toledo but it was after the death of Almenon and his Son 15. Iohn the first King of France was overthrown in battle and made prisoner by Edward the black Prince and afterwards brought over into England Here he remained four years and was then suffered to return unto France upon certain conditions which if he could make his Subjects submit to he should be free if otherwise he gave his faith to return He could not prevail to make them accept of the hard terms that were proffered whereupon he returned into England and there dyed 16. Renatus Duke of Berry and Lorrain was taken in Battle by the Soldiers of Philip Duke of Burgundy and was set at liberty upon this condition that as oft as he should be summon'd he should return himself into the power of the Duke while he was thus at liberty it fell out that upon the death of his Brother Lewis King of Naples he was called to succeed him in that Kingdom and at this time it was that the Duke of Burgundy demanded his return according to his oath Renatus well understood that this came to pass by the means of Alphonsus of Arragon who gaped after Naples and he was also proffered by Eugenius the fourth to be dispensed with in his oath notwithstanding all which he determin'd to keep his faith inviolate and so return'd to the Duke by him he was put in safe custody yet at last he was again set at liberty but not before such time as that through this his constrained delay the enemy had secured the Kingdom to himself 17. Antaâ—f King of some part of Ireland warring against King Ethelstan disguised himself like a Harper and came into Ethelstans Tent whence being gone a Soldier that knew him discovered it to the King who being offended with the Soldier for not declaring it sooner the Soldier made this
to leave the Kingdom to the other But for all this the great Officers of the Court did most stoutly oppose him saying that since he had commerce with that servant she was ennobled by a superior Law and that her Son being the eldest ought not to lose the Rights and Privileges of his Birth The King notwithstanding persisted in his intentions and the rest to oppose them whereupon many were by the King's orders thrust out of their places othâ—rs left them of their own accords and having let down the Ensigns of their Dignity hung theâ— at the Gate of the Palace and departed to their own Homes despising at once the Honour Profit Dignity and Revenue of their place only for the defence of Reason and the Laws and Customs of the Realm and the preservation of a just right of a youth that wanted protection The King at length though a more potent than himself had seldom sate on the Throne was yet enforced besides his custom to hold a Royal Audience and taking his eldest Son now as Prince he placed him next behind him and shewing him to the Mandarines he recommends unto them the care of the publick peace and quiet without doors assuring them that all was quiet in the Palace and that Thai Cham that was the name of the Prince should succeed him in the Kingdom as in effect it fell out 11. The Daughters of the Emperours of China have their Palaces in the City of Pekin one of the domestick Servants of one of those Princesses had committed sundry insolencies and amongst those one such crime as deserved death The Mandarines much desired to apprehend him but in the Palace they could not and he never went abroad but when he waited on his Princess At length a Mandarine resolved to take him by any means he could and therefore when the Princess went next abroad he with his men set himself before the Coaches made them stop and then presently laid hands on that man and carried him away The Princess resenting the affront that was done her returned presently to the Palace full of indignation and was so transported with choler that not staying the Kings return from the Audience where he then was she went thither in person to complain The Mandarine was presently sent for who had put himself in readiness supposing he should be called He presented himself before the King who sharply reproved him He answered Sir I have done nothing but that which your Majesty commandeth and your Law ordaineth But you ought replied the King to haue sought some other time and opportunity I have sought it long enough answered the Mandarine but I should never have found it At least said the King ask my Daughter pardon and bow your head Where there is no fault said the other there is no need of pardon neither will I ask pardon for having discharged my office Then the King commanded two Mandarines that by force they should bow down his head to the ground but he by strength kept up himself so stiff that it was not possible for them to do it so that the King sent him away and a few days after gave order he should have a better office bestowed upon him being well pleased with his integrity and generous zeal to Justice 12. The Turks had taken the City of Buda in Hungary the Inhabitants being fled out of it for fear But the Castle was guarded by German Soldiers under the command of Thomas Nadast the Governour these Germans also affrighted began to confer with the enemy about the surrender of the Castle which Nadast not enduring being full of courage and constancy he brake off their conference and commanded the Guns to be planted against the enemy these cowards converting their minds to villany laid hands upon their Captain bound him while he threatned in vain and having conditioned for the safety of their lives and goods yield up the Castle when the Turks were entred and found Nadast in Bonds they related all to their Emperour as they had heard it from him who was so incensed with their persidious cowardise that he immediately sent out his Janizaries after them to cut them all in pieces as for Nadast he freed him of his bonds caused him to be brought into his presence highly commended him invited him with a liberal stipend to serve on his side and when he refused honourably dismissed him 13. Papinianus was the honour of Lawyers and to this great man it was to whom the Emperour Severus dying recommended his two Sons with the government of the Empire but the impious Caracalla having embrew'd his hands in the blood of his Brother Geâ—a was desirous that this excellent person should set some colour by his eloquence before the Senate and people upon an action so barbarous to which proposal of 〈◊〉 freely made answer it was more easie to commit a patricide than to justifie it uttering this truth to the prejudice of his head which this wretched Prince caused to be cut off 14. The Father of Lycurgus being slain in a popular tumult the Kingdom of Sparta descended to Polydecta the elder Brother but he soon after dying it came in all mens opinion to Lycurgus and he reigned till such time as it was known that the wife of his Brother was with child This once clearly discovered he declared that the Kingdom did appertain to the Son of Polydecta in case his Wife should be delivered of a Male Child in the mean time he administred the Kingdom in the quality of Protector But the Lady privately sent to Lycurgus offering him to cause an abortion in case that he thereby receiving the Kingdom would also receive her as his Wife He though detesting the impiety of the woman yet rejected not her offer but as one that approved and accepted the condition represented to her that by no means she should endanger the state of her body by any such harsh medicaments as that case would require but that as soon as she was safely delivered it should be his care to see that the Child should be made away By this means he fairly drew on the woman even to the time of her Travel which as soon as he was informed of he ordered persons to be present together with a Guard attending there with this precept that in case she should be delivered of a Girl they should leave it with the women but if otherwise they should by all means forthwith convey it to himself It so fell out that as he sate at Supper with the Nobles she was delivered of a Male Child and the Boy was brought to him where he then was As soon as he received him he said to them that were present O ye Spartans there is a King born to us and so placed him in the Throne of the Kingdom he gave him the name of Câ—arilaus because all persons received him with greatest expressions of joy and highest admiration of the justice and greatness of his
an extraordinary and irrevocable act of his own he made him Overseer and Administrator of all his goods moveable and immoveable in such manner that he might dispose of them at his pleasure Nor was Barbadicus satisfied with this but that he might provide for the profit of his friend in case he should dye he leaves it in his will that though he had a Wife and Brother yet Trivisanus should be his sole Executor that he should have sole power of disposing his Daughters in marriage nor should at any time be compelled to render an account of his trust or of any thing pertaining to that estate He also bequeathed him a legacy large as his estate would permit without apparent prejudice to the fortunes of his Children Barbadicus was moved to do all this for that he perceived Trivisanus as soon as he had entred his house by a singular modesty of mind of a prodigal of his own estate become sparing of anothers and from that moment had left off all gaming and other such pleasures of youth he had also betaken himself to the company and converse of learned and wise men and by addicting himself to the perusal and study of the best Authors had shewed him that he would answer his liberality with sincerity uprightness and unblameable fidelity which fidelity Barbadicus had often before and also since this liberality of his experienced in him his beloved and most constant friend when he alone defended the life and honour of Barbadicus in his greatest straits and worst dangers as well open as concealed so that he openly professes to owe the safety of them both to Trivisanus The whole City knows how he supported the innocency of his friend in the false and devilish calumnies that were raised upon him and would not desert him in the worst of his fortunes though he was slandered for taking his part While he did this he not only interrupted the course of his preferments to the chiefest places of honour in his Country unto which to the amazement of all men he was in a most hopeful way But he also forfeited and lost those opportunities It is also well known to all men that he contracted great and dangerous enmities with some that had afore time been his companions upon the sole score of this friend of his He despised all that extrinsick honour which depends upon the opinion of the brutish multitude and at the last also exposed his own life to frequent and manifest hazards as also he would yet do in any such occasion as should require it and whereas Trivisanus hath lived many years and is yet alive through this incomparable expression of a grateful mind in Barbadicus he lives with great splendour and in great Authority He is merciful to the afflicted courteous to his friends and is especially a most worthy Patron of all those that are vertuous He is honourably esteemed by the daughters of his friend in such manner as if he were their own Father he is also chearfully received by his Wife and truly honoured by her as her Brother as well because she is not ignorant of his merits in respect of her Husband as also for his excellent Temper and such other uncommon qualities as render him worthy the love and admiration of all men 13. In the time of the proscription by the Trium-Virate at Rome there was threatned a grievous punishment to any person that should conceal or any way assist one that was proscribed on the other side great rewards promised the discoverers of them Marcus Varro the Philosopher was in the list of the proscribed at which time Calenus his dear friend concealed him some time in his house and though Antonius came often thither to walk yet was he never affrighted or changed his mind though he daily saw men punished or rewarded according to the Edicts set forth CHAP. XX. Of the Grateful Disposition of some Persons and what Returns they have made of Benefits Received THis of Gratitude is justly held to be the Mother of all other virtues seeing that from this one Fountain those many Rivulets arise as that of Reverence and due respect unto our Masters and Governours that of Friendship amongst men Love to our Country Piety to our Parents and Religion towards God himself As therefore the ungrateful are every where hated as being under the suspicion of every vice on the contrary grateful persons are in the estimation of all men having by their Gratitude put in a kind of security that they are not without some measure of every other sort of virtue 1. Sir William Fitzwilliams the Elder being a Merchant Taylor and Servant sometime to Cardinal Woolsey was chosen Alderman of Broadstreet Ward in London Anno 1506. Going afterwards to dwell at Milton in Northamptonshire in the fall of the Cardinal his former Master he gave him kind entertainment there at his House in the Country for which being called before the King and demanded how he durst entertain so great an enemy to the State His answer was That he had not contemptuously or wilfully done it but only because he had been his Master and partly the means of his greatest fortunes The King was so well pleased with his answer that saying himself had few such Servants immediately Knighted him and afterwards made him one of his Privy Council 2. Thyreus or as Curtius calls him Thriotes was one of the Eunuchs to Statira the Wife of Darius and taken at the same time with her by Alexander the Great When she was dead in Travail he stole out of the Camp went to Darius and told him of the death of his Wife perceiving that he resented not her death so passionately as he feared that her chastity together with that of his Sister and Daughters had been violated by Alexander Thyreus with horrible oaths asserted the chastity of Alexander then Darius turning to his friends with his hands lift up to Heaven O ye Gods of my Country said he and Presidents of Kingdoms I beseech you in the first place that the fortune of Persia may recover its former Grandeur that I may leave it in the same splendor I received it that I may render unto Alexander all that he hath performed in my adverse estate unto my dearest pledges But if that fatal time is come wherein by the envy of the Gods there is a decreed revolution to pass upon us and that the Kingdom of Persia must be overthrown then I beg of you that no other amongst mortal men besides Alexander may sit in the Throne of Cyrus 3. Ptolemaeus King of Aegypt having overcome Demetrius Poliorcetes in Battel and made himself Master of all his carriages he sent back to Demetrius his Royal Tent with all the wealth he had taken and also such Captives as were of the best account with him sending him word withal that the contention betwixt them was not for Riches but Glory When Demetrius had returned him thanks he added that he
Tribune to be found to intercede for his life at last he escaped by anothers mediation the fury of his adversary whom in his Censorship he had removed from the Senate And yet though there were so many of the family of the Mâ—telli in great authority and power in the state the villany of this Tribune was overpassed both by him that was injured and all the rest of his Relations CHAP. XXXIV Of such as have patiently taken free Speeches and Reprehensions from their Inferiors THe fair speeches of others commonly delight us although we are at the same time sensible they are no more than flatteries and falshoods nor is this the only weakness and vanity of our nature but withal it is very seldom that we can take down the pill of Reproof without an inward resentment especially from any thing below us though convinced of the necessity and justice of it Great therefore was the wisdom of those men who could so easily dispense with any mans freedom in speaking when once they discern'd it was meant for their reformation and improvement 1. A senior Fellow of St. Iohn's College in Cambridge of the opposite faction to the Master in the presence of Dr. Whitaker in a common place fell upon this subject what requisites should qualifie a Scholar for a Fellowship concluded that Religion and Learning were of the Quorum for that purpose hence he proceeded to put the case if one of these qualities alone did appear whether a Religious Dunce were to be chosen before a Learned Rake-Hell and resolv'd it in favour of the Latter This he endeavoured to prove with two arguments First because Religion may but Learning cannot be counterfeited He that chuseth a Learned Rake-Hell is sure of something but who electeth a Religious Dunce may have nothing worthy of his choice seeing the same may prove both Dunce and Hypocrite His second was there is more probability of a Rake-Hells improvement to Temperance than of a Dunces conversion into a Learned Man Common place being ended Dr. Whitaker desired the company of this Fellow and in his Closet thus accosted him Sir I hope I may say without offence as once Isaac to Abraham here is wood and a knife but where is the Lamb for a burnt offering you have discovered much keenness of language and fervency of affection but who is the person you aim at who hath offered abuse to this Society The other answered If I may presume to follow your Metaphor know Sir though I am a true admirer of your most eminent worth you are the sacrifice I reflected at in my discourse for whilst you follow your studies and remit matters to be managed by others a company is chosen into the College of more zeal than knowledge whose judgments we certainly know to be bad though others charitably believe the goodness of their affections and hence of late there is a general decay of Learning in the College The Dr. turn'd his anger into thankfulness and expressed the same both in loving his person and practising his advice promising his own presence hereafter in all elections and that none should be admitted without his own examination which quickly recovered the credit of the house being replenished with hopeful Plants before his death which fell out in the 38th of Q. Eliz. Anno 1593. 2. Augustus Caesar sitting in judgment Mecaenas was present and perceiving that he was about to condemn divers persons he endeavoured to get up to him but being hindred by the Crowd he wrote in a Schedule Tandem aliquando surge Carnifex Rise Hangman and then as if he had wrote some other thing threw the Note into Caesars Lap Caesar immediately arose and came down without condemning any person to death and so far was he from taking this reprehension ill that he was much troubled he had given such cause 3. A poor old Woman came to Philip King of Macedon intreated him to take cognisance of her cause when she had often interrupted him with her clamors in this manner the King at last told her he was not at leisure to hear her No said she be not then at leisure to be King the King for sometime considered of the Speech and presently he heard both her and others that came with their complaints to him 4. One of the Servants of Prince Henry Son to Henry the fourth whom he favored was arraigned at the Kings Bench for Fellony whereof the Prince being informed and incensed by lewd persons about him in a rage he came hastily to the Bar where his servant stood as Prisoner and Commanded him to be unfettred and set at liberty whereat all men were amazed only the Chief Justice who at that time was William Gascoign who exhorted the Prince to be ordered according to the Ancient Laws of the Kingdom or if he would have his servant exempted from the rigour of the Law that he should obtain if he could the gracious Pardon of the King his Father which would be no derogation to Law or Justice The Prince no way appeased with this answer but rather inflamed endeavoured himself to take away the Prisoner The Judge considering the perilous Example and inconveniency that might thereupon ensue with a bold Spirit and Courage Commanded the Prince upon his Allegiance to leave the Prisoner and to depart the place At this Commandment the Prince all in a fury and chafed in a terrible manner came up to the place of Judgment men thinking that he would have slain the Judge or at least done him some harm But the Judge sitting still without moving declaring the Majesty of the Kings place of Judgement and with an assured bold countenance said thus to the Prince Sir Remember your self I keep here the place of the King your Sovereign Lord and Father to whom you owe double Allegiance and therefore in his name I charge you to desist from your wilfulness and unlawful enterprize and from henceforth give good example to those which hereafter shall be your own Subjects and now for your contempt and disobedience go you to the prison of the Kings Bench whereunto I commit you until the pleasure of the King your Father be further known The Prince amazed with the words and gravity of that worshipful Justice laying his Sword aside the doing reverence departed and went to the Kings Bench as he was commanded When the King heard of this action he blessed God that had given him a Judge who feared not to minister Justice and also a Son who could patiently suffer and shew his obedience thereunto 5. Fridericus was consecrated Bishop of Vtrecht and at the feast the Emperour Ludovicus Pius sitting at his right hand admonished him that being mindful of the profession he had newly taken upon him he would deal justly and as in the sight of God in the way of his Vocation without respect of persons Your Majesty gives me good advice said he but will you please to tell me whether I
darkness but the best oâ— it is they have found fairer respects from the greatest of Princes yea and the most barbarous Nations 1. I dwelt saith Mâ—rtinus Martinius in the City of Venxus in a fair House the City and People being all in a â—umult by reason of the Tartar 's approach Assoon as I understoed it I fixed over the fairest Gate of the House a Red Paper very long and broad with this Inscription upon it Here dwells the European Doctor of the Divine Law likewise at the entrance of the greater Hall I set out my greatest and fairest bound Books to these I added my Mathematical Instruments Perspective and other Optick Glasses and what else I thought might make the greatest shew and withal I placed the Picture af our Saviour upon an Altar erected for that purpose by which fortunate Stratagem I not only escaped the violence and plunder of the common Souldiers but was invited and kindly entertained by the Tartarian Vice-Roy 2. Alexander the Great having found amongst the Spoils of King Darius his Perfumier or Casquet of sweet Ointments richly embelished with Gold costly Pearls and Precious Stones when his Friends about him shewed him many uses that curious Cabinet might be put to It shall serve said he for a Câ—se for Homer 's Works also in the forcing and Saccage of the City of Thebes he gave express commandment that the Dwelling House and the whole Family of Pindarus the Poet should be spared he caused also the City where Aristotle his Master had been born to be rebuilt and seeing a Messenger coming to him with a chearful countenance as one that brought him good News What said he canst thou tell me that Homer is alive again 3. Dionysius the Tyrant though otherwise proud and cruel being advertized of the coming of Plato that great Philosopher sent out a ship to meet him adorned with goodly streamers and himself mounted a chariot drawn with four white horses gave him the reception of a great King at the Haven where he disembarked and came on shore 4. Pompey the Great after he had ended the War with Mithridates went to visit Posidonius that Renowed Professor of Learning and when he came to his house gave straight Commandment to his Lictours that they should not after their usual manner with all others rap at the door This Great Warrior to whom both the East and West parts of the World had submitted veil'd as it were the Roman fasâ—es and the Ensigns of his Authority before the door of this Philosopher 5. The Kings of Aegypt and Macedon gave a singular testimony how much they honoured Menander the Comical Poet in that they sent Embassadors for him and a Fleet to waft him for his more security though he more esteemed of his private studies then all the honours designed for him by the bounty and savour of these great Princes 6. In the first Publiâ—k Library that ever was erected in Rome there was also set up the Statue of M. Varro that Learned man and for his greater Honor it was also done while he himself was yet living 7. Pomponius saith in his fourth book of the Pandects By reason of the desire I have to learn which to this seventy and eight year of mine age I have ever looked upon as the best account to desire to live I am mindful of this sentence which is said to be one of Iulians Though I had one foot in the grave yet should I have a desire to learn something 8. Claudius Caesar eraz'd the name of a Greek Prince out of the Roll of the Judges because he understood not the Latine Language and sent him to travel 9. Solon the Athenian travelled as far as Aegypt Cyprus nay survey'd all Asia and this for no other reason then the desire he had to encrease his knowledge which was so great and constant that it was his saying By learning every day something I am grown old About the time of his death when he lay languishing npon his bed he raised up his head to hearken to some friends of his discoursing at his bed side and when they asked him to what purpose he did so he gave that Noble answer that I may die the more Learned 10. Theodosius the younger continually turn'd over the Greek and Latine Historians and that with such eagerness that whereas he spent the day in Civil and Military affairs he set apart the night for the Lecture of them and that neither himself might be disturbed in his reading nor any of his servants constrain'd to watch with him he caused a Candlestick to be made with that artifice as to supply the light with oyl of its own accord as oft as there was any want 11. The Greek Emperor Leo was exceeding bountiful to Learned Men and when once an Eunuch of his told him that such expences were sittest to be made upon his men of War I would said he it might come to pass in my time that the Salaries of the Soldiers might be spent upon the Professors of the Liberal Arts. 12. Alphonsus that great King of Naples was wont to say he had rather suffer the loss of his Kingdoms and he had seven then the least part of his Learning nor did he love it only in himself but others it is to this King that we are indebted for Laurentius Valla Antonius Panormitanus Bartholomaeus Faccius Georgius Trapezuntius Ioannes Aurispa Ievianus Pontanus and a considerable number of Juniors to them He set up Universities and erected or adorned Libraries up and down in his Kingdoms and a choice book was to him the most acceptable present of all other In his Ensigns he carried Pourtray'd an Open Book importing that knowledge drawn from thence became Princes when he heard the King of Spain should say that Learning was below Princes he said angrily it was the voice of an Ox and not a Man As for himself he read Caesar and Livy with great diligence he translated the Epistles of Seneca into Spanish with his own hand so conversant in the Sacred Writings that he said he had read over the Old and New Testament with their glosses fourteen times all this he did being stricken in years for he was fifty before he intermedled with studies his improvement therein having been neglected in his younger time and yet we may say of this Prince how great a man was he both at home and abroad a greater both in virtue and fortune Europe hath not seen 13. The Emperor Charles the fifth being at Genoa was entertained with an Oration in Latin and when he found that he could not fully comprehend the sense of it with a sad countenance he made this ingenuous confession that he now underwent the punishment of his youthful negligence and that his Master Hadrianus was but too true a Prophet when he told him as he often had that one day he would surely repent it Paulus Iovius who was
was not some way indebted to her she said yea but she never durst call upon him for it though now she stood in great need of it He therefore presently sent her to his house with one of his Men and when he came from the Court he did not only discharge his Debt but gave her an yearly Pension of four pounds and a Livery every Year so long as she lived after He also took special notice of Frescobald the Florentine who had releived him in his youthful necessities And another time being with other Lords at the Monastery of Sheen as he sat at Dinner he spyed afar off a certain poor man who used to sweep the Cells and Cloysters of the Monks and to ring the Bells whom when the Lord Cromwel had well noted he called him to him and before all the Table took him by the hand and turning to the Lords My Lords said he see you this poor man this man's Father was a great friend to me in my necessity and hath given me many a Meals meat Then said he to the poor man Come unto me and I will so provide for thee that thou shalt not want while I live 9. Mr. Ignatius Iordan was born at Lime Regis in the County of Dorset and when he was young he was sent by his friends to the City of Exeter to be brought up in the Profession of a Merchant In this City having passed through the several inferior Offices he at last ascended to the highest place of honour to be Major there and was Justice of Peace for twenty four Years together yet his beginning was but very small and this upon occasion he was ready to acknowledge When some threatned him with Law-Suits and not to give over till they had not left him worth a Groat to these he chearfully replyed that he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came fast to Exeter For said he I brought but six pence with me hither He would often say that he wondred what rich men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and raked so much together for their Children do ye not see said he what becomes of it And would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children and they in a short time consumed it all on the other side he spake of such as had small beginnings and aâ—terwards became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular instance in himself I came said he but with a groat or six pence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Major of Exeter CHAP. XLIX Of such as have despised Riches and of the laudable Poverty of some Illustrious Persons SEbastianus Foscarinus some time Duke of Venice caused to be engraven on his Tomb in St. Mark 's Church this which follows Accipite cives Veneti quod est optimum in rebus humanis Res humanas contemnere Hear O ye Venetians and I will tell you which is the best thing in the World it is to contemn and despise the World This is durus sermo a hard saying and few there are amongst all the Living that can digest the Sermon of this dead Prince Only some choicer Spirits there are to be found here and there who seem to have been present at such a Lecture as this and to have brought it along with them firmly engraven upon their hearts Such was 1. Iohannes Gropperus of Cologne a German who was offered a Cardinalship by Pope Paul the Fourth but that Dignity and the vast Riches annexed thereunto which other Mortals for the most part have the most fervent ambition and desire to attain unto he with a modesty and greatness of mind rare to be met with in this or any other Age refused when freely proffered him 2. Thirty Mahumetan Kings the chief of whom was Smaragdus assailed the Kingdom of Castile with a purpose to drive the Christians out of Spain which they held already as good as conquered Whereupon Sancho King of Navarre levied an Army consisting of a small number of men but couragious and most resolute Souldiers with these he never left till he had broken defeated put to rout and utterly dispersed the Army of the Barbarians which done all the Christian Captains and Souldiers came running to him in crowds to kiss his hands and knees and to do him all possible Honours crying with loud voyces God save the Invincible Captain ond the most valorous Warriour Afterwards when they came to share the Booty which was great the Riches of thirty Kings being then assembled in one heap there was no man but confessed that how great a part soever Sancho should reserve of it to himself would yet be less than his deserts There was found a huge quantity of Silver and Gold some ready coined much cast into Ingots a number of Pearls and Stones of rich value great store of Hangings and Rich Vestures a large quantity of curious Housholdstuff such as the Moors use who are excessive and Pompous in War Almost innumerable Arms of all sorts forg'd wrought and curiously enriched Horses of service great store incredible numbers of Saddles Bridles c. and Prisoners by hundreds out of which might be drawn great ransoms All the Castilians and they of Navarre besought Sancho to take to himself of this rich Booty what he should please who by his chearful countenance shewing the pleasure he took in this liberal offer of his Army As for me saith he I desire nothing but this Iron Chain which I have hewen asunder in your sight and that Precious Stone which I have beaten down with my hands pointing at Smaragdus which signifies an Emerald lying dead on the ground and weltering in his blood In Memory of this Victory the Arms of Navarre were afterwards Chains born crosswise and disposed into a Square and those Chains set with Emeralds 3. After the winning of a Famous Battle Themistocles came to view the Bodies of the Dead and spying many a rich Booty lying here and there very thick he passed by saying to a Favourite of his Gather and take to thee for thou art not Themistocles 4. Ammianus Marcellinus magnifies Iulian the Emperor who shared a great Prey amongst the Souldiers according to every man's Valour and Demerits but as his custom was for his own part to be content with a little he reserved nothing for himself but a Dumb Child which was presented to him who knew many things and made them understood by convenient countenances and gestures 5. Numerianus was a Teacher of Boys in Rome when upon the suddain moved with I know not what kind of Impulses he left both his Boys and his Books he passed over hastily into Gaul there pretending that he was a Senator and commissioned by Severus the Emperor he began to raise an Army with which he vexed Albinus the Enemy of Severus He had routed divers of his Troops of Horse
Martialis one of his Centurions with the Execution by whom the Emperour was slain at Edessa as he was going to make water 3. Natholicus King of Scotland sent a great favorite of his to enquire of a famous Witch what should be the success of a War which he had in hand and other things concerning his person and estate to whom she answered That Natholicus should not live long and that he should be killed by one of his own servants and being further urged to tell by whom She said that the Messenger himself should kill him who though he departed from her with great disdain and reviled her protesting that first he woâ—ld suffer ten thousand deaths yet thinking better upon the matter in his return and imagining that the King might come to know of the Witches answer by some means or other and hold him ever after suspected or perhaps make him away resolved to kill him which he presently after performed Thus was that Prince punished for his wicked curiosity in seeking by such unlawful means to know the secret determinations of God 4. Such was the fatally venturous curiosity of the elder Pliny that as the younger relates he could not be deterred by the formidableness of the destructive flames vomited by Vâ—suvius from endeavouring by their light to read the nature of such Vulcanian Hills but in spight of all the disswasions of his friends and the affrighting eruptions of that hideous place he resolved that flaming wonder should rather kill him than escape him and thereupon approached so near that he lost his life to satisfie his curiosity and fell if I may so speak a Martyr to Physiologie 5. Alipius the intimate friend of St. Augustine went to Rome to improve himself in the study of the Law and one day was unwillingly drawn to accompany them to a sword-Play Though saith he you may compel my body yet my eyes and mind you can lay no force upon And therefore when he came to the Theatre he sat with his eyes closed but hearing a mighty shout of the people overcome with curiosity and trusting to himself that he was able both to see and despise whatsoever it should be he opened his eyes and saw the blood that was drawn drinking up with the sight the same immanity wherewith it was shed and beheld by others so that falling into a present delight and approbation of that bloody pleasure he not only returned thither often himself but drew others to the same place upon the like occasion 6. Nero the Emperour about the sixty sixth year of Christ possessed at once with a mad spirit of cruelty and I know not what kind of foolish curiosity that he might have the lively representation of the burning of Troy caused a great part of the City of Rome to be set on fire and afterwards to conceal himself from being thought the author of so great a villany by an unparalleled slander he cast the guilt of so horrid a fact upon the Christians whereupon an innumerable company of those Innocents were accused and put to death with variety of most cruel tortures 7. In the Land of Transiane there was a Prince tributary to the King of Pegu and his near Kinsman named Alfonge who married a sister of the Prince of Tazatay her name was Abelara one of the greatest beauties in the Eastern parts they lived a sweet and happy life with intire affection and for their greater felicity they had two Twin sons who in their under-growth discovered something of great and lofty and appeared singularly hopeful for the future These Infants having attained their ten years loved so cordially they could not live asunder and the ones desire still met with the others consent in all things but the Devil the enemy of concord inspires a curiosity into the minds of the father and mother to know their fates and to their grief they were told the time should come when these two Brothers that now loved so fondly should cut one anothers throats which much astonished the poor Princes and filled them with fearful apprehensions The two Princes being come to their fifteen years one said to the other Brother it must needs be you that must murther me for I will sooner die a hundred deaths than do you the least imaginable harm The other replied Believe it not good brother I desire you for you are as dear and dearer to me than my self But the father to prevent the misfortune resolved to separate them whereupon they grew so troubled and melancholy that he was constrained to protract his design till an occasion happened that invited all three the father and two sons to a War betwixt the Kings of Narsinga and Pegu upon title of Territories but by the mediation of Bramins a peace was concluded upon condition these two young Princes should espouse the two daughters of the King of Narsinga and that the King of Pegu on him that married the elder should confer all the Countries he took in the last War with the Kingdom of Martaban and the other brother besides the Kingdom of Tazatay should have that of Verma the Nuptials consummated each departed to his Territory Lands spaciously divided Now it fell out that the King of Tazatay was engaged in a sharp War with the King of Mandranella and sent to the two brother Princes for aid who both hastened unknown to each other with great strength to his assistance He from Verma came secretly to Town to visit a Lady once their ancient Mistress and the other brother being on the same design they met at the Ladies gate by night not knowing one another where furious with jealousie after some words they drew and killed each other One of them dying gave humble thanks to God that he had prevented the direful Destiny of his Horoscope not being the Assasine of his brother as 't was prejudicated hereupon the other â—inding him by his voice and discourse drawing near his end himself crept to him and embraced him with tears and lamentations and so both dolefully ended their daies together The father being advertised of it seeing his white hairs led by his own fault to so hard fortune over-born with grief and despair came and slew himself upon the bodies of his sons and with the grief and tears of all the people were buried all three in one Monument which shews us the danger of too great curiosity CHAP. XXII Of the Ignorance of the Ancients and others THere never was nor is there ever like to be in this World a beauty of that absolute compleatness and perfection but there was some Mole to be discerned upon it â—r at least some such thing as might have been wished away It is not therefore the design of this Chapter to uncover the nakedness of our Fathers so as to expose it to the petulancy of any but rather to congratulate those further accessions of light and improvements in knowledge which these latter Ages have attained unto
and to celebrate the wisdom and goodness of the great Creator who hath not been so liberal in his impartments to our Progenitours but that he hath reserved something wherewith to gratifie the modest inquiries and industrious researches of after-times 1. That there were any such men as Antipodes was in former times reckoned a matter so ridiculous and impossible that Boniface Archbishop of Mentz happening to see a Tractate written by Virglius Bishop of Saltzburg touching the Antipodes not knowing what damnable Doctrine might be couched under that strange name made complaint first to the Duke of Bohemia and afterwards to Pope Zachary Anno 745. by whom the poor Bishop unfortunate only in being Learned in such a time of ignorance was condemned of Heresie Even S. Austin and Laâ—tantius and some other of the ancient Writers condemn this point of the Antipodes for an incredible ridiculous fable and venerable Bede esteemed it for no better 2. The famous King Ethelbert had this Epitaph set upon him which in those daies passed with applause Rex Ethelbertus hic clauditur in Polyandro Fana pians certus Christo meat absque Meandro King Ethelbert lies here Clos'd in this Polyander For building Churches sure he goes To Christ without Meander 3. And how low Learning ran in our Land amongst the native Nobility some two hundred years since in the Reign of King Henry the sixth too plainly appears by the Motto on the sword of the Martial Earl of Shrewsbury which was Sum Talboti pro occidere in imicos meos the best Latin that Lord and perchance his Chaplains too in that Age could afford 4. Rhemigius an Interpreter of St. Paul's Epistles Commenting upon these words A vobis diffamatus est sermo tells us that diffamatus was somewhat improperly put for divulgatus St. Paul being not very solicitous of the propriety of words Whereupon Ludovicus Vives demands What shall we say to these Masters in Israel who know not that St. Paul wrote not in Latin but in Greek 5. It appears by the rescript of Pope Zacchary to Boniface a German Bishop that a Priest in those parts baptized in this form Baptizo te in nomine patria filia spiritua sancta And by Erasmus that some Divines in his time would prove that Hereticks were to be put to death because the Apostle saith Haereticum hominem devita which it seems they understood as if he had said De vitâ tolle 6. Du Pratt a Bishop and Chancellour of France having received a Letter from Henry the eighth King of England to King Francis the first of France wherein amongst other things he wrote Mitto tibi duodecem Molossos I send you twelve Mastiff Doggs the Chancellour taking Molossos to signiâ—ie Mules made a Journey on purpose to Court to beg them of the King who wondring at such a Present to be sent him from England demanded the sight of the Letter and smiling thereat the Chancellour finding himself deceived told him that he mistook Molossos for Muletos and so hoping to mend the matter made it worse 7. The ignorance of former Ages was so gross in the point of Geography that what time Pope Clement the sixth had elected Lewis of Spain to be the Prince of the Fortunate Islands and for his aid and assistance therein had Mustered Souldiers in France and Italy our Country-men were verily perswaded that he was chosen Prince of Britain as one of the Fortunate Islands And our very Leiger Embassadours there with the Pope were so deeply settled in this opinion that forthwith they with-drew themselves from Rome and hasted with all speed into England there to certifie their friends and Country-men of the matter 8. The head of Nilus was to the Ancients utterly unknown as witnesseth Herodotus Strabo and Diodorus Siculus to which Ovid alludes Nilus in extremum fugit perterrituâ— orbem Occuluitque caput quod adhuc laâ—et Nile sled for fear to the Worlds utmost bound And hid his head which cannot yet be found But saith Pererius upon Genesis as many other things are found out unknown to the Ancients so likewise amongst others the head-spring of Nilus and that in vast Marishes near the Mountain of the Moon not far from the famous Promontory of Good Hope where is the utmost bound of the Continent according to the Latitude of the Globe of the earth Southward 9. It is very observable and indeed admirable that neither Herodotus nor Thucydides nor any other Greek Author contemporary with them have so much as mentioned tâ—e Romans though then growing up to a dreadful power and being both Europeans And for the Gauls and Spaniards the Grecians as witnesseth Budaeus in his Book De Asse were so utterly ignorant of them that Ephorus one of the most accurate Writers took Spain which he calls Iberia to be a City though the Cosmographers make the circuit of it to contain above 1136 French Miles 10. The Ancients held that under the middle or burning Zone by reason of excessive heat the earth was altogether uninhabitable but it is now made evident by experience that there is as healthful temperate and pleasant dwelling as any where in the World as appears by the relations of Benzo Acosta Herbert and others 11. They were also altogether ignorant of the New World which is known to us by the name of America or the West Indies till such time as it was discovered by Christopher Columbus a Genoan Anno 1492. 12. Arch-Bishop Parker in his Antiquitates Britannicae makes relation of a French Bishop who being to take his Oath to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and â—inding the word Metropoliticae therein being not able to pronounce it he passed it over with Soit pour dict Let it be as spoken And others of the Clergy when they had most grossly broken Priscians head being taken in the fact their common defence was those words of St. Gregory Non debent verba coelestis oraculi subesse regulis Donati The wordâ— of the Heavenly Oracles ought not to be subject to the Rules of Donatus 13. King Alfred in his Preface upon the Pastorals of St. Gregory which he translated into English saith That when he came first to his Kingdom he knew not one Priest on the South side of the River Humber that understood his service in Latin or that could translate an Epistle into English 14. Archelaus King of Macedon was so ignorant in the things of nature that upon an Eclipse of the Sun amazed with fear he caused the Gates of the Palace to be shut up and the hair of his son to be cut off as he used in solemn mournings A further survey of the ignorance of the Ancients may be taken from a re-collection of some of the instances of the newly discovered Phaenomena at least if we believe Mr. Glanvile which are scattered as he saith under the heads of the Arts and Instruments which are as follow In
other denial This is not all There was in Rome one Cajus Silius the most beautiful of all the Roman youth him she enticed enjoyed and openly loved as his reward she made him Consul and transferred the Riches and Ornaments of the Court to his House so that he was now revered as the Prince and yet not satisfied with this she must have a new sawce to her languishing pleasure she therefore openly marries him while her Husband had retired to Hostia the Nuptials were celebrated with all kind of pomp the flower of both orders in Rome were invited a great Feast was made the genial bed prepared and all usual solemnities performed the Bride lay in the lap of her new marryed Husband and treated him openly with all conjugal freedom this is strange her Husband being living and also Emperour but it was done and had passed untaken notice of for him but that his freed-men about him fearing such novelties would tend to a change and so hazzard their fortunes excited him to revenge at last therefore he gave order for his Wifes death but with so little concern and memory of what he had done that he often asked his Servants why their Lady came not to Dinner as if she had been still alive 5. When Valerianus the Emperour was taken prisoner by Sapores the Persian and by him made his footstool as oft as he mounted his horse His Son Gallienus succeeded him at Rome who no way solicitous what became of his Father or the Empire gave up himself to all manner of debauchery and voluptuousness ever and anon saying to those that were about him What have we for Dinner what pleasures are prepared for us what shall we have for Supper to morrow what Plays what Sports in the Cirque what sword-fights and what Scenick pastimes So far was he dissolved by his luxury into stupidity and insensibleness that when report was brought him of his Fathers death his answer was That he knew his Father was mortal When he heard Egypt was revolted What said he jesting can we not be without the flax of Egypt When he was told that Asia was wasted Can we not live said he without the delights of Asia When news came that Gallia was lost Cannot said he the state be safe without trabeated Cassocks Thus in his loss from all the parts of the world he jested as if he were only deprived of that which furnished him with some inconsiderable trifle So that in contempt of him not only foraign Nations rent away the Roman Provinces but also in divers parts of the world so many aspired unto the Empire that no less than thirty such pretenders are named from the time of his Fathers and his reign to his death 6. Polydorus by the Comick Poets is said to be a man of extraordinary dulness and stupidity of mind and he had also a skin of that hardness that a pin would not enter into it 7. Sivardus hearing of the death of his Father Regnerus King of the Danes and how he had been thrown amongst Serpents to be poysoned and eaten up by them at the command of Hella King of the Britains was so stupified with the grief he received thereat that while he stood full of thoughts leaning upon a Spear he held in his hand the point of his Spear ran quite through his foot and remained insensible of the wound he had received by it 8. Charles the eighth having conquered the Kingdom of Naples was upon his return into France when the Venetians Pope Alexander the sixth Maximilian the Emperour and Lewis Duke of Millaine entred into a league with that silence that Philip the King of France his Embassadour then at Venice though he was daily in the Court and called to by the other Embassadours yet could know nothing of it The next day when the League was ingrossed he was called into the Senate by the Duke and when he understood the League and the names of them that had entred into it he was almost quite bereâ—t of his understanding the Duke told him that the League was not made with purpose to war upon any but to defend themselves if they were warred upon Then Philip a little coming to himself What then said he shall not my King return into France Yes said the Duke if he will return in a friendly manner and we will assist him in all things With this answer Philip departed out of the Senate and being come into the Court-yard he turned to a Secretary of the Senates that had been with him all the while And for the love of God said he tell me over again all that the Duke said to me for at this time I do not remember one word of it CHAP. XXV Of the treacherous and infirm Memories of some men and what injuries have been done thereunto through Age diseases or other accidents THe Lynx is the sharpest sighted of all other beasts yet it is also observed of him that if he chance to look behind him he forgets all that was before him and his mind loses whatsoever it is that his eyes have ceased to see There are some indeed whose forgetfulness may be imputed to the stupidity of their natures but there are others also of extraordinary acuteness and ingenuity who are so unhappy as to be attended with a miserable frailty in their memory and some very learned men have been so unfortuâ—ate as through Age disease the vehement surprisal of some passion or other accident to have utterly lost all that their industry had gained 1. Pliny tells of one that with the stroke of a Stone fell presently to forget his Letters only in such manner as he could read no more otherwise his memory served him well enough Another saith he with a fall from the roof a very high house lost the remembrance of his own Mother his next Kinsfolks Friends and Neighbours and a third in a sickness of his forgat his own servants and upon the like occasion Messala Corvinus the great Orator forgat his own proper name though he remembred other things well enough 2. Franciscus Barbarus the friend of Hermolaus in his old age lost all memory of his Greek learning wherein before he was excellently skilled and the same thing befel Georgius Trapezuntius who in his extream age forgat all kind of Learning both Greek and Latine 3. Apollonius tells of Artemidoruâ— the Grammarian who having as he walked espied a Crocodile lying on the Sands and perceiving him to move was so smitten with the apprehension of fear that he verily believed that his left Leg and Hand were already devoured by the Serpent and utterly losâ— all the memory of his Learning 4. Seneca writes of Calvisâ—â— Sabinus a rich man that he had so slender a memory thaâ— sometimes he forgat the name of Vlyssâ—â— at others that of Achillâ—s and so of Priamus whose names yet he knew as well as we do those of our Schoolâ— masters and
a pledge of his just meaning by means of these men he was brought into a safe place where promising to pay them in money he took back his Vessels and refused to give them any thing in lieu of them whereupon being deserted by the Cretans also he sled into Samothracia without other company than his Gold was taken by Aemylius and led in Triumph through Rome and lost both his Kingdom and Liberty as his Covetousness deserved 9. Pope Benedict the ninth was so very desirous of Gold that he sold the very Popedom it self to Gregory the sixth for money and 't is very probable that he would have sold himself his liberty and life too in case he could have found a purchaser that would part with good store of Coin 10. In the Siege of Cassilinum where Hannibal had reduced them within to a grievous Famine there was a Souldier that had taken a Mouse and sold it to another for two hundred pence rather than he would eat it himself to asswage his cruel hunger but the event was both to the buyer and seller as each did deserve for the seller was consumed with lamine and so enjoyed not his money the buyer though he paid dear for his Morâ—el yet saved his life by it 11. Quintus Cassius being in Spain M. Silius and A. Culpurnius were purposed to slay him as they went about it they were seized upon with their Daggers in their hands the whole matter was confessed by them but such was the extreme covetousness of Cassius that he let them both go having agreed with one for fifty and the other for sixty thousand Sesterces It is scarce to be doubted but that this man would willingly have sold his own Throat to them in case he had had another 12. Ptolomaeus King of Cypâ—â—s by sordid means had heaped up much Treasure and saw that for the sake of his Riches he must perish he therefore embarked himself together with all his Treasure in a Ship and put to Sea that he might bore the bottom of his Vessel die as himself pleased and withal disappoint the expectation of his enemies that gaped for the prey but alas the covetous wretch could not find in his heart to sink so much Gold and Silver as he had with him but returned back with those Riches which should be the reward of his death 13. Vespasian the Emperour practised such kind of Traffick as even a private man would shame to do taking up Commodities at a cheap that he might vend them at a dearer rate He spared not to sell Honours to such as sued for them or Pardons to such as were accused whether they proved guilty or guiltless He made choice of the most ravenous polling Officers he could any where find out advanced them to the highest Places that thereby being grown Rich he might condemn their persons and conâ—iscate their Estates These men he was commonly said to use as Spunges because he both moâ—stened them when dry and squeezed them when wet When some of his special Friends for his honour intended to erect to him a sumptuous Statue worth a Million of Sesterces â—os vero inquit mihi argentum daie he desired rather to receive from them the value thereof in ready Coin as being less troublesom to them and more acceptable to him 14. C. Caligula was the Successour of Tiberius as well in Vice as the Empire some with threats he forced to name him their heir and if they recovered covered after the making of their Wills he dispatched them by poyson holding it ridiculous that they should live long after their Wills were made For the bringing in of money he set up Stews both of Boyes and Women in the Palace it self and sent some through the Streets to invite persons thither for the increasing of the Emperours Revenues and having by this and such like wretched means amassed huge heaps of Treasure to satiate his appetite being inâ—lamed with a longing desire of touching money he would sometimes walk upon heaps of Gold and sometimes as the pieces lay spread abroad in a large Room he would rowle himself over them stark naked Most transcendent and excessive covetousness which blinded so great a Prince and cast him into such an extremity of baseness as to become a publick Pander and Poysoner for the love of money 15. Galba being Proconsul in Spain under Nero the Tarraconians sent him for a Present a Crown of Gold affirming that it weighed fifteen pounds he received it and caused it to be weighed found it to want three pounds which he exacted from them laying a side all shame as if it had been a true debt And to shew he was no Changling after his coming to the Empire he gave with his own hands to a certain Musician that pleased him out of his own Purse twenty Sesterces about three shillings English money and to his Steward at making up of his Books of Account a reward from his Table 16. Lewis the eleventh in fear of his father Charles the seventh abode in Burgundy where he contracted a familiarity with one Conon an Herb-man succeeding his father in the Kingdom Conon took his Journey to Paris to present the King with some Turnips which he had observed him to eat heartily oâ— when he sometimes came from Hunting in the way hunger constrained him to eat them all up save only one of an unusual bigness and this he presented the King with The King delighted with the simplicity of the man commanded him a thousand Crowns and the Turnip wrapt up in Silk to be reserved amongst his Treasures a covetous Courtier had observed this and having already in his mind devoured a greater summ bought a very handsome Horse and made a Present of him to the King who chearfully accepted the gift and gave order that the Tuâ—nip should be brought him when unwrapt and that it was seen what it was the Courtier complained he was deluded No said the King here is no delusion thou hast that which cost me a thousand Crowns for a Horse that is scarcely to be valued at an hundred CHAP. XXXII Of the Tributes and Taxes some Princes have imposed upon their Subjects I Have read of Henry the second King of England that he never laid any Tax or Tribute on his Subjects in all his Reign and yet when he died he left nine hundred thousand pounds in his Treasury a mighty and vast summ if we consider the time wherein this was There are waies it seems for Princes to be Rich without â—ullying their Consciences with heavy and unheard of Oppressions of their Subjects some indeed of the following imposts were but a moderate sheering of the Sheep but others were the â—â—eaing off skin and all and the Princes tyrannically sporting of themselves with the bitter Oppression and woful miseries of their overburdened people Thus 1. Iohannes Basilides the great and cruel Duke of Muscovia commanded from his Subjects a
are as rare as black Swans and few but degenerate into Pride or baseness according as the scene of their fortune turns and changes to black or white 1. Lepidus was one of that Triumvirate that divided the Roman Empire amongst them coming out of Africa he met with Octavianus Caesar in Sicily who had newly been beaten by Sextus Pompeius here Lepidus puffed up with Pride that he had now about him twenty Legions of Souldiers with terrour and threats demanded the chief place of command he gave the spoil of Messana to his own Souldiers and when Caesar repaired to him he rejected him once and again and caused same Darts to be thrown at him which Caesar wrapping his Garment about his left hand difficultly bare off speedily therefore he set Spurs to his Horse and returned to his own Camp disposed his Souldiers into Military posture and led them immediately against those of Lepidus some were slain and many Legions of the adverse part were perswaded to come over to Caesars part Here Lepidus finding whereunto his former insolency and vanity began now to tend casting off his Generals Coat and having put on the habit of mourning he became a miserable suppliant to that Caesar whom he had but now despised who gave him his Life and Goods but condemned him to perpetual banishment 2. The Duke of Buckingham that great Favorite sent a Noble Gentleman to Bacon then Atturney General with this Message That he knew him to be a man of excellent parts and as the times were fit to serve his Master in the Keepers place but he also knew him of a base ungrateful disposition and an arrant knave apt in his prosperity to ruine any that had raised him from adversity yet for all this he did so much study his Masters service that he had obtained the seals for him but with this assurance should he ever requite him as he had done some others he would cast him down as much below scorn as he had now raised him high above any honour he could ever have expected Bacon patiently hearing this Message replyed I am glad my Noble Lord deals so friendly and freely with me But saith he can my Lord know these abilities in me and can he think when I have attained the highest preferment my profession is capable of I shall so much fail in my judgement and understanding as to lose those abilities and by my miscarriage to so noble a Patron cast my self headlong from the top of that honour to the very bottom of contempt and scorn Surely my Lord cannot think so meanly of me Now Bacon was invested in his Office and within ten daies after the King goes to Scotland Bacon instantly begins to believe himself King lies in the Kings Lodgings give Audience in the great Banquetting-house makes all other Councellours attend his motions with the same state the King used to come out to give Audience to Embassadours When any other Councellours sat with him about the Kings affairs he would if they sat near him bid them know their distance upon which Secretary Winhood rose went away and would never sit more but dispatched one to the King to desire him to make hast back for his Seat was already Usurped If Buckingham had sent him any Letter he would not vouchsafe the opening or reading it in publick though it was said it required speedy dispatch nor would vouchsafe him any answer In this posture he lived until he heard the King was returning and began to believe the Play was almost at an end and therefore did reinvest himself with his old rags of baseness which were so tattered and poor at the Kings coming to Windsor that he attended two daies at Buckingham's Chamber being not admitted to any better place than the Room where Trencher-scrapers and Lacquies attended there sitting upon an old wooden Chest with his Purse and Seal lying by him on that Chest. After two daies he had admittance and at his first entrance he sell down flat on his face at the Dukes foot kissing it and vowing never to rise till he had his pardon then was he again reconciled and since that time so very a slave to the Duke and all that Family that he durst not deny the command of the meanest of the kindred nor oppose any thing 3. Tigranes King of Armenia when Lucullus came against him had in his Army twenty thousand Bow-men and Slingers fifty five thousand Horse-men whereof seventeen thousand were men at Arms Armed Cap-a-pee and one hundred and â—ifty thousand Armed Foot-men of Pioneers Carpenters c. thirty five thousand that marched in the Reer He was so puffed up with the sight of his huge Army that he vaunted amongst his familiars that nothing grieved him but that he should fight with Lucullus alone and not with the whole force of the Romans he had divers Kings who attended upon his greatness whom he used in a proud and insolent manner and when he saw the Forces of Lucullus upon the march towards him he said If these men come as Embassadours they are very many if as Enemies they are very few Yet this man who bare himself so high in time of his prosperity when he saw his Horse-men give way was himself one of the first that fled out of the Field casting away the very Diadem from his head into the plain â—ield lest any thing about him might retard the swift-ness of his slight deploring with tears his own fate and that of his sons and after all this in great humility he laid down his Crown or his Diadem at the foot of Pompey thereby resigning his Kingdom to his pleasure 4. Perseus the last King of the Macedonians as he had many vices and was above measure covetous so he was also so puffed up with the pride of the Forces of his Kingdom that he carried himself with insolence enough divers waies he seemed to contemn all the power of the Romans he stirred up Gentius King of the Illyrians against them for the reward of three hundred Talents then provoked him to kill the Roman Embassadour and at last when he saw he had far enough engaged him refused to pay him the money This man was at last overcome by and fell into the hands of Paulus Aemylius and then he discovered as much baseness in his Adversity as he had done arrogance in his prosperity For when he came near the Consul the Consul arose to him as to a great Person who was fallen into adversity by the frowns of fortune and went to meet him with his â—riends and with tears in his eyes Then it was that Perseus in an abject posture cast himself at the feet of the Consul embraced his knees and spake words and made Prayers so far from a man of any Spirit that the Consul could no longer endure them but looking upon him with a stern and severe countenance he told him He was an unworthy enemy of the Romans and one that by the
upon the Wheel and his head being while yet alive tyed to a part of the Wheel he was burnt with â—laming Torches till in horrible tortures he gave up the Ghost 13. Furius Camillus was the great safety of Rome and the sure defence of the Roman power a person whom the Romans had stiled the second Romulus for his deserts of them yet being impeached by L. Apuleius a Tribune of the people as having secretly embezzelled a part of the Vâ—â—entine spoils by a hard and cruel sentence he was adjudged to banishment and that at that very time when he was in tears for the loss of a son of admirable hopes when he was rather to be cherished with comfort than opprest with new miseries Yet Rome unmindful of the merits of so great a man to the Funerals of the son added the condemnation of the father and all this for fifteen thousand Asses which was the poor summ he was charged with and banished for 14. Scipio Africanus the elder did not only restore the Common-wealth sore bruised and torn by the armes of the Punick War but brought in a manner the Queen of Africk upon her knees and even to deaths door whose most renowned acts yet the people of Rome rewarded by forcing him to live in a base obscure Village Linternum in Campania standing upon a forlorn Lake neither did he die altogether silent as being sentible of the bitterness of this his banishment but at his parting gave order that upon his Sepulcher should be Ingraven this Memorandum Ingrata patria neâ— ossa quidem mea â—abes Ungrateful Country that hast not so much as my Bones 15. Scipio Africanus the younger was to the former nothing inferiour in vertue nor his end less unhappy for after he had utterly razed those two great Cities of Numantia and Carthage which had long threatened ruine to Rome and its Empire he found one at home ready to spoil him of his life in his bed and sleep but no man in the Court of Justice that offered to revenge so horrid and execrable a murder 16. In latter times that great and famous Captain Gonsalvo after he had conquered the Kingdom of Naples and driven the French beyond the Mountains and brought all the Italian Princes to stand at the Spaniards devotion was most ungratefully called home by his Master the King of Spain where he died obscurely and was buried without any solemnity or tears 17. Miltiades a renowned Captain of the Athenians after that glorious Victory at Marathon and other great Services having miscarried in an Enterprize whereof the consequence was of small value he was â—ined â—iâ—ty Talents and being not able to pay it was kept bound in Prison though sore wounded in the thigh till his son Cymon to redeem his father paid the money and set him at liberty but he soon after died of his wounds 18. Theodatus was adopted and made partner and successour in the Kingdom by Amalasuntha Queen of the Goths as soon as she was deprived of her son Athalaricus who in reward of so great and noble a favour sent her to an Island in the Vulsinian Lake where she was put into Prison and not long aster strangled by his order putting her to an unworthy death by whose bounty he had received a Kingdom 19. Cardinal Charles Caraffa and Duke Iohn his brother were they that managed all affairs under Pope Paul the fourth He being dead Pius the fourth was made Pope and that chiefly by the favour and diligence of these Carassa's and as a reward of their good Service he made it his first business to over throw them he sent the Cardinal and his brother Duke together with Count Alifane and many others of their Kindred and Clients to Prison in the Castle of St. Angelo there were they nine months indurance and expectation of death At last by order from the Pope the Cardinal was hanged the Duke and Count beheaded and their dead bodies exposed as a publick spectacle to the people 20. Anaxagoras was of singular use to Pericles the Athenian in the Government of the Common-wealth but being now burdened with old age and neglected by Pericles that was intent upon publick affairs he determined by obstinate fasting to make an end of himself When this was told to Pericles he ran to the Philosophers house and with prayers and tears sought to withdraw him from his purpose entreating him to live for his sake if he refused to do it for his own The old man being now ready to expire O Pericles said he such as have need of the Lamp use to pour in oyl upbraiding him with the neglect of his friend who had been of such advantage to him 21. Belisarius was General of all the Forces under the Emperour Iustinian the first a man of rare valour and vertue he had overthrown the Persians Goths and Vandals had taken the Kings of these people in War and sent them Prisoners to his master he had recovered Sicilia Africk and the greater part of Italy he had done all this with a small number of Souldiers and less cost he had restored Military Discipline by his authority when long lost he was ally'd to Iustinian himself and a man of that uncorruped fidelity that though he was offered the Kingdom of Italy he refused it This great man upon I know not what jealousie and groundless suspicion was seiz'd upon his eyes put out all his house rifled his estate confiscate and himself reduced to that miserable state and condition as to go up and down in the common Road with this form of begging Give a half-penny to poor Belisarius whom vertue raised and envy hath overthrown 22. Scipio Nasica deserved as much by the Gown as did either of the Africans by Arms he rescued the Common-wealth out of the jaws of Tiberius Gracchus was the Prince of the Senate and adjudged the honestest person in all Rome yet his vertues being most unjustly undervalued and disesteemed by his fellow Citizens under pretence of an Embassage he retired to Pergamus and there spent the rest of his life his ungrateful Country not so much as finding him wanting or desiring his return 23. P. Lentulus a most famous man and a dear lover of his Country when in Mount Aventine he had frustrated the wicked attempts of C. Gracchus and in a pious fight wherein he had received many dangerous wounds had put to flight the Traytors Army he bare away this reward of that and other his gallant actions that he was not suffered to die in that City the Laws and peace and liberty whereof he had by his means settled So that forced by envy and slander to remove he obtained of the Senate an Employment abroad and in his Farewel Oration prayed the immortal Gods That he might never return again to so ungrateful a people nor did he but died abroad 24. Achmetes the Great Bassa was by the confession of all men the
the prohibition of Religion Amongst those where Religion hath had but little to do whole Nations are at this day at once both polluted and delighted with all sorts of incestuous copulations The Persians and Parthians approve of incest in their Royal Families by reason of which it is often committed but seldome so punished as in the following history 1. About a league and a half from the City of Amadabat the Metropolis of Guzuratta we were shewed a Sepulchre which they call Betti Chuit that is to say the Daughters shame discovered there lieth interred in it a rich Merchant a Moor named Hajam Majom who falling in love with his own Daughter and desirous to shew some pretence for his incest went to an Ecclesiastical Judge and told him in general terms that he had in his youth taken pleasure to plant a Garden and to dress and order it with great care so that now it brought forth such excellent fruits that the neighbours were extreamly desirous thereof that he was every day importuned to communicate unto them but that he could not yet be perswaded to part therewith and that it was his design to make use of them himself if the Judge would grant him in writing a licence to do it The Kasi who was not able to dive into the wicked intentions of this unfortunate man made answer that there was no difficulty in all this and so immediately declared as much in writing Hajam shewed it his Daughter and finding nevertheless that neither his own authority nor the general permission of the Judge would make her consent to his brutish enjoyments he ravished her She complained to her Mother who made so much noise about it that the King Mahomet Begeran coming to hear thereof ordered him to lose his head 2. Semiramis Queen of the Assyrians was a woman of incessant and insatiable lust to gratifie which she selected the choice young men in her Army and after the act commanded them to be slain She had also incestuous society with her Son and covered her private ignominy with a publick impiety for she commanded that without any regard of reverence had unto nature it should be held lawful for Parents and Children to marry each other as they pleased 3. Ptolomeus King of Egypt did first violate the chastity of his own Sister and afterwards made her his Wife nor was it long before he as basely dismissed her as he had impiously received her for having sent her away he then took to Wife the Daughter of that his Sister whom he had but lately divorced he murdered the Son he had by his Sister as also his Brothers Son being therefore become hateful for his Incests and Murders he was expelled the Kingdom by those of Alexandria Anno ab V. C. 622. 4. Cambyses King of Persia falling in love with his own Sister sent for the Judges of his Kingdom and enquired of them if there were any Law that permitted him to marry his own Sister to whom fearing to exasperate the natural cruelty of his disposition they replyed that they found not any such Law as he had mentioned but they found another Law whereby the Kings of Persia were enabled to do whatsoever they pleased whereupon he marryed her and after that another of his Sisters also 5. In the family of the Arsacidae that is the Kings of Parthia he was looked upon as no lawful Heir of the Kingdom and Family who was not conceived in incestuous copulation of the Son with the Mother 6. Luther in his Comment upon Genesis tells that at Erford there was a young man the Son of a Widdow woman of good quality who had often solicited his Mothers Maid to admit him to her Bed she wearyed with his continual importunity acquainted her Mistress with it The Mother intending to chastise the petulant lust of her Son bad the Maid to appoint him an hour and agreed amongst themselves to exchange Beds The Mother lay expecting the Son intending to give him a very severe chiding but while she thus went about to deceive the young man she her self was by the delusion of Satan deceived also for taking flame she silently admitted her Son and unknown by him was at that time got with Child at the usual time she was delivered of a Daughter which was brought up by her as one that was Fatherless and Motherless When this Girl was grown up the young man her Son fell in love with her and notwithstanding the Mother laboured with anxiety against it would needs have her to his Wife so that though unwittingly the young man lay at once with his Sister and Daughter as well as his Wife The Mother through grief being ready to lay violent hands upon her self confessed the whole to the Priest and Divines being acquainted with the case agreed that seeing the whole was unknown to both they should not be divorced lest their Consciences should be burdened 7. C. Caligula familiarly polluted himself with all his Sisters and at any great Feast he evermore placed one or other of them by turns beneath himself while his Wife sate above He is believed to have defloured his Sister Drusilla while a Virgin and he himself but a Boy and was one time surprised in the Act of uncleanness with her by his Grand-mother Antonia in whose House they were brought up together Afterwards when she was marryed to L. Cassius Longinus a Consular person he took her from him and kept her openly as if she had been his lawful Wife When he lay sick he ordained her his Heir and his Successor in the Empire for the same Sister deceased he proclaimed a general cessation of Law in all Courts and a time of solemn mourning during which it was a capital crime to have laughed bathed or supped together with Parents Wife or Children And being impatient of this sorrow he fled suddenly out of the City and having passed through all Campania he went to Syracuse and from thence returned with his Hair and Beard overgrown neither at any time after in his Speeches to the People or the Souldiery about the most weighty affairs would he swear otherwise than by the name or Deity of Drusilla 8. Strabo reporteth of the Arabians that they used incestuous copulation with Sister and Mother Adultery with them is death but that only is adultery which is out of the same Kindred otherwise for all of the same blood to use the same woman is their incestuous honesty When fifteen Brothers Kings Sons had by their continual company tired their one and only Sister she devised a means to rid her self or at least to ease her somewhat of that trouble And therefore whereas the custome was that he which went in left his Staff at the Door to prohibit others entrance she got like Staves and always having one at the Door was disburdened of their importunity every one that came thinking some other had â—een there before them but they
may see thee end thy Race Death is a Nown yet not declin'd in any Case No certainly we cannot decline it for we run into the Jaws of death by the very same ways we endeavour to avoid it The Sons of Esculapius sometimes dig our graves even then while they are contriving for our health rather than fail we bespeak our Coffins with our own tongues not knowing what we do as in the following Examples 1. King Francis of France had resolved upon the murder of the chief Lords of the Hugonots this secret of Council had been imparted by the Duke of Anjou to Ligneroles his familiar friend he being one time in the Kings Chamber observed some tokens of the Kings displeasure at the insolent demands of some Hugonot Lord whom he had newly dismissed with shew of favour Ligneroles either moved with the lightness incident to Youth which often over-shoots discretion or moved with ambition not to be ignorant of the nearest secrets told the King in his ear That his Majesty ought to quiet his mind with patience and laugh at their insolence for within a few days by that meeting which was almost ripe they would be all in his Net and punished at his pleasure with which words the Kings mind being struck in the most tender sensible part of it he made shew not to understand his meaning and retired to his private Lodgings where full of anger grief and trouble he sent to call the Duke of Anjou charged him with the revealing of this weighty secret he confessed he had imparted the business to Ligneroles but assured him he need not fear he would ever open his Lips to discover it no more he shall answered the King for I will take order that he shall be dispatched before he have time to publish it he then sent for George de Villequier Viscount of Guerchy who he knew bare a grudge against Ligneroles and commanded him to endeavour by all means to kill him that day which was accordingly executed by him and Count Charles of Mansfield as he hunted in the field 2. Candaules the Son of Myrsus and King of Lydia doted so much upon the beauty of his own Wife that he could not be content to enjoy her but would needs enforce one Gyges the Son of Dascylus to behold her naked body and placed the unwilling man secretly in her Chamber where he might see her preparing to bedward This was not so closely carried but that the Queen perceived Gyges at his going forth and understanding the matter took it in such high disdain that she forced him the next day to requite the Kings folly with treason so Gyges being brought again into the same Chamber by the Queen slew Candaules and was rewarded not only with his Wife but the Kingdom of Lydia also wherein he reigned thirty eight years 3. Fredegundis was a woman of admirable beauty and for that reason entertained by Chilperick King of France over whose heart she had gained such an empire that she procured the banishment of his Queen Andovera and the death of his Mother Galsuinda yet neither was she faithful to him but prostituted her body to Landric de la Tour Duke of France and Mayor of the Palace Upon a day the King being to go a hunting came up first into her Chamber and found her dressing her Head with her Back towards him he therefore went softly and struck her gently on the backpart with the hinder end of his hunting Spear she not looking back What dost thou do my Landrick said she it is the part of a good Knight to charge a Lady before rather than behind By this means the King found her falshood and went to his purposed hunting but she perceiving her self discovered sent for Landrick told him what had hapned and therefore enjoyned him to kill the King for his and her safety which he undertook and effected that night as the King returned late from his hunting 4. Muleasses the King of Tunis was skilled in Astrology and had found that by a fatal influx of the Stars he was to lose his Kingdom and also to perish by a cruel death when therefore he heard that Barbarossa was preparing a Navy at Constantinople concluding it was against himself to withdraw from the danger he departed Africa and transported himself into Italy to crave aid of Charles the Emperour against the Turks who he thought had a design upon him In the mean time he had committed the government of his Kingdom to Amida his Son who like an ungrateful Traytor assumed to himself the name and power of the King and having taken his Father upon his return put out his eyes Thus Muleasses drew upon himself that fate he expected by those very means by which he hoped to have avoided it 5. There was an Astrologer who had often and truly predicted the event of divers weighty affairs who having intentively fixed his eyes upon the face of Ioannes Galeacius and contemplated the same Dispose Sir said he of your affairs with what speed you may for it is impossible that you should live long in this world Why so said Galeacius Because replyed the other the Stars whose sight and position on your birth-day I have well observed do threaten you and that not obscurely with death before such time as you shall attain to maturity Well said Galeacius you who believe in these positions of the birth-day-stars as if they were so many Gods how long are you to live through the bounty of the Fates said he I have a sufficient tract of time allotted for my life But said Galeacius that for the future out of a foolish belief of the bounty and clemency of the Fates thou maist not presume further upon the continuance of life than perhaps it is fit thou shalt dye forthwith contrary to thy opinion nor shall the combined force of all the Stars in Heaven be able to save thee from destruction who presumest in this manner to dally with the destiny of Illustrious persons and thereupon commanded him to be carryed to Prison and there strangled 6. Some persons at Syracuse discoursing in a Barbers shop concerning Dionysius they said his tyranny was adamantine and utterly inâ—â—â—ugnable What said the Barber do we speak thus of Dionysius under whose throat I ever and anon hold a Rasor As soon as Dionysius was informed of this he caused his Barber to be crucified and so he paid for his folly at the price of his life 7. Though the Mushroom was suspected yet was it Wine wherein Claudius the Emperour first took his Poyson for being Maudlin-cupped he grew to lament the destiny of his Marriages which he said were ordained to be all unchast yet should not pass unpunished This threat being understood by Agrippina she thought it high time to look about her and by securing him with a ready poyson she provided to secure her self so Claudius stands indebted to his unwary tongue for his
he added the Estates thereof to the house of Austria He was coursely used in the Low Countries by a company of rude Mechanicks detained in Prison which he endured with patience and after nine Months freed himself with admirable prudence He was joined Emperour with his Father in his Fathers life-time with whom he Reigned seven years and after his decease he Reigned alone twenty five years more his Motto was Tene mensuram respice finem 97. Charles the â—iâ—th this man was the glory of the House of Austria a Puissant Prince he liked three Books especially Polybius's History Machiavel's Prince and Castalion's Courtier In fifteen Wars which he waged for the most part he was successful the last of which was by Cortez and Pizarro in the newly discovered parts of America where in twenty eight Battels he beâ—ame Master of so many Kingdoms Near home he took Rome by the Duke of Burbon captivated the French King Francis in the Battel of Pavia frighted Solyman the Turk from Vienna setled Muly Hassen in his Kingdom in Africk he defeated Barbarossa that formidable Pirat and took Tunis By the Popes continual instigations he carried a hard hand towards the Protestants whose patience and perseverance with intervenient crosses abated his edge at last Wearied at length with the Worlds incessant troubles he devested himself of all Imperial Authority and retired to a Monastery his Motto was Plus Vltra opposite to that of Hercules He Reigned thirty and seven years 98. Ferdinand the first Arch-Duke of Austria the brother of Charles King of Hungary and Bohemia elected King of the Romans by the procurement of Charles Anno 1531. upon whose resignation he was chosen Emperour Anno 1558. a compleat and judicious Prince Under him in the treaty of Passaw was granted Liberty of Conscience to the Professours of the Augustane Confession which much startled the Fathers of the Trent Council as also did the grant to the Bohemians for receiving the Supper in both kinds He subdued Iohn Sepusius Vaywode of Transylvania and strongly kept back the Turk from encroachments upon his Dominions his Motto was Fiat Iustitia pereat mundus 99. Maximilian the second the son of Frederick elected King of the Romans in the life of his Father Anno 1562. succeeded in the Empire after his decease He was constant to the Tenent that mens Consciences are not to be forced in matters of Religion In his time began the Wars in the Low Countryes chiefly occasioned by the Spanish cruelty executed by the Duke of Alva the Civil Wars in France the Massacre of the Protestants began at Paris the famous defeat was given to the Turks in the Sea-sight at Lepanto he Reigned twelve years married his two daughters to two Puissant Princes Elizabeth to Charles the ninth King of France and Anna his eldest to Philip King of Spain his Motto was Dominus providebit 100. Rodolphus the second the eldest son of Maximilian a Prince much addicted to Chymistry he granted liberty of Religion to the Protestants had great Wars against the Turks with whom in the year 1600. he concluded a Peace but being undermined by his brother Matthias was forced to surrender to him the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia and to content himself with Austria and the Empire only In his time Henry the fourth King of France was stab'd by Ravilliac and the Gunpowder Treason was hatched here in England his Motto was Omnia ex voluntate Dei 101. Matthias brother of Rodolphus King of Hungary Bohemia and Arch-Duke of Austria succeeded in whose time were sown the seeds of that terrible War which had almost destroy'd the Empire the Protestants standing for their Priviledges in Bohemia were withstood by some of the Emperours Council of whom they threw Slabata and Fabritius Smesantius with a Secretary out of a Window at Prague his Motto was Concordia lumine major Having no children he declared 102. Ferdinand the second of the House of Gratz to be Emperour this Prince was more zealously affected to the See of Rome than any of his Predecessours and a great enemy of the Protestant Religion occasioning thereby that long and bloody War in the Empire of Germany The King and Queen of Bohemia forsaken of their States are forced to â—ly he is proscribed and put out of his Elâ—ctâ—rship Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden like a tempest falls upon Germany and frâ—es divers oppressed Princes but at last was slain in the Battel at Lutzen uncertain whether by the â—nemy or the Treason of his own his Motto was Legitime certantibus 103. Ferdinand the third son of Ferdinand the second broke the great power of the Swedes who were called in for the support of the German liberty against the violent resolutions of Ferdinand the second For he overthrew them at the Battel of Norlingen This Prince is the twelfth Emperour of the House of Hapsburg anâ— the ninth of the House of Austria without intermission The cause of which is to be attributed to Charles the fifth who procured in his life-time that his brothâ—r might be chosen King of the Romans as his Successour in the Empire A Policy which hath ever since been continued by his Successours and the Germans are the more willing to hâ—arken to it because the Austrian Princes are not only Natives but also better able to back the Empire in its compleat Majesty than any other of the Nation The Motto of this Emperour is Pietate Iustitia In the Collection of these Emperours I have made use of Suetonius Zonaras Carion ....... Heylen Sympson Prideaux and others CHAP. II. Of the Eastern Greek and Turkish Emperours 1. COnstantinus aged thirty one in the year 306. took upon him the care of the Empire he overcame Maxentius and Licinius restored Peace to the Church took Byzantium and having enlarged it called it Constantinople and New Rome He died in Nicomedia Anno 337. aged sixty five Gault tab Chronogr p. 279. 2. Constantius his son succeeded him in the East he favoured the Arrians hearing that Iulianus his Kinsman conspired against him he made Peace with Sapores the Persian King and moved towards him but in his march seised with a Fevor he died Anno 361. Gaulter tab Chron. p. 283. 3. Iulianus succeeded Sirnamed the Apostate son of Constantius the brother of Constantine the Great at first a Christian afterwards a professed enemy of the Gospel fortunate in his Wars against the Almanes Franks and other Transalpine Nations whilest he was a Christian. Prodigiously slain in the Persian War when become a Persecutor aged thirty eight his Motto was Pennis suis perire grave he Reigned but one year and eight months dying he threw his blood up into the Air saying Satiare Nazarene Zon. tom 3. fol. 119. 4. Iovian or Iovinian chosen by the Army a Religious Prince made Peace with the Persian setled the affairs of the Church who being dead Valentinian one of mean birth but great abilities in War was elected Emperour he Reigned
death by Andronicus was in a popular election proclaimed his Successour deposed by Alexius his own brother and his eyes put out 63. Alexius Angelus deprived his brother and excluded his Nephew from the Empire but it held not long 64. Alexius Angelus the second the son of Isaac Angelus being unjustly thrust out of his Empire by his Uncle Alexius had recourse to Philip the Western Emperour whose daughter he had married so an Army was prepared to restore him On the approach whereof Alexius the Usurper fled and the young Emperour seated in his Throne was not long after slain by Alexius Ducas in revenge whereof the Latins assault and win Constantinople make themselves Masters of the Empire share it amongst them the main body of the Empire with the Title of Emperour was given to 65. Baldwin Earl of Flanders first Emperour of the Latines Reigning in Constantinople was taken in Fight by Iohn King of Bulgaria and sent Prisoner to Ternova where he was cruelly put to death 66. Henry the brother of Baldwin repelled the Bulgarians out of Greece and died a Conquerour 67. Peter Count of Auxerre in France succeeded in the Empire after his decease was cunningly entrapped by Theodorus Angelus a great Prince in Epirus whom he had besieged in Dyracchium but of an enemy being perswaded to become his Guest was there murdered by him 68. Robert the son of Peter having seen the miserable usage of his beautiful Empress whom a young Burgundian formerly contracted to her had most despitefully mangled cutting off both her Nose and Ears died of hearts grief as he was coming back from Rome whither his melancholy had carried him to consult the Pope in his Affairs 69. Baldwin the second son of Robert by a former Wife under the protection of Iohn de Brenne the Titulary King of Ierusalem succeeded in his Fathers Throne which having held for the space of thirty three years he was forced to leave it the City of Constantinople being regained by the Greeks and the poor Prince compelled in vain to sue for succours to the French Venetians and other Princes of the West When Constantinople was lost to the Latines the Empire of the Greeks was transferred unto Nice a City of Bythinia by Theodorus Lascaris Son-in-law to Alexius the Usurper there it continued till the Empire was restored to the Greeks in the person of 70. Michael the eighth Sirnamed Palaeologus extracted from the Comnenian Emperours most fortunately recovered Constantinople the City being taken by a Party of fifty men secretly put into it by some Country Labourers under the ruines of a Mine This Prince was present in person at the Council of Lyons at the perswasion of the Pope he admitted the Latin Ceremonies into the Churches of Greece for which he was greatly hated by his Subjects and denied the honour of Christian burial 71. Andronicus the second vexed with unnatural Wars by his Nephew Andronicus who rebelled against him 72. Andronicus the third first Partner with his Grandfather afterwards sole Emperour 73. Iohn Pelaeologus son of Andronicus the third in whose minority Contacuzenus his Protector usurped the Empire and held it sometimes from him and sometimes with him till the year 1357. and then retired unto a Monastery leaving the Empire unto Iohn during whose Reign the Turks first planted themselves in Europe 74. Andronicus the fourth the son of Iohannes Palaeologus 75. Emanuel Palaeologus brother of Andronicus the fourth in his time Bajazet King of the Turks did besiege Constantinople but found such notable resistance that he could not force it 76. Iohn the second son of Andronicus the fourth 77. Iohn the third son of Emanuel Palaeologus was in person at the Council of Florence for reconciling of the Churches in hope thereby to get some aid from the Western Christians but it would not be 78. Constantinus Palaeologus the brother of Iohn the third in his time the famous City of Constantinople was taken by Mahomet the Great Anno Dom. 1452. The miserable Emperour being lamentably trod to death in the Throng who had in vain gone from door to door to beg or borrow money to pay his Souldiers which the Turks found in great abundance when they took the City It had in vain been besieged by King Philip of Macedon siding with Niger in his War against Severus the Emperour it endured a Siege of three years against all the Forces of the Romans The Caliph Zulciman had besieged it and was forced to desist with the loss of three hundred thousand men but now it stooped under the weighty Scepter of 79. Mahomet the second Sirnamed the Great and first Emperour of the Turks he Conquered the two Empires of Constantinople and Trebisond twelve Kingdoms and two hundred Cities He had mighty Wars with the two renowned Captains Huniades and Scanderbeg in Hungary and Epirus from whom he received divers overthrows He left the Siege of Belgrade with dishonour as he also was compelled to do that of the Rhodes By Achmetes Bassa he Landed an Army in Apulia foraged all the Country took the City of Otranto by assault to the terrour of Sixtus the fourth then Pope and of all Italy Being passed over into Asia to go against the Caramanian King a daies journey short of Nicomedia a City in Bythinia at a place called Geivisen he fell sick and died as some say of the Cholick as others of poyson having lived about fifty two years and thereof Reigned thirty one in the year of our Lord 1481. He was of an exceeding courage and strength of a sharp wit and thereunto very fortunate but withal he was faithless and cruel in his time the death of eight hundred thousand men 80. Bajazet the second subdued the Caramanian Kingdom and part of Armenia and drove the Venetians from Moraea and their part of Dalmatia Invaded Caitbeius the Sultan of Aegypt by whom the Arabians and Mountainers of Aladeules his subjects he was divers times shamefully overthrown and enforced by his Embassadours to conclude a Peace He bribed the Bishop of Rome to the empoysoning of his brother Zemes thither fled for security This Prince by nature was given to the study of Philosophy and conference with learned men more than to the Wars which gave encouragement to his son Selymus to raise himself to the Throne as he by the Treason of the great Bassa's of the Court shortly did and then caused his father to be poysoned by his Physician a Jew when he had Reigned thirty years this Prince died in the year of our Lord 1512. 81. Selymus having poysoned his father subverted the Mamalukes of Aegypt bringing it with Palestine Syria and Arabia under the yoke of the Turks He invaded the Kingdom of Persia subdued and slew Aladelues the Mountainous King of Armenia reducing his Kingdom into the form of a Turkish Province He repressed the Forces of the Hungarians by a double invasion and intending to turn all his Forces upon the Christians he was suddenly seised with a Cancer
his Tiara and Robe of State for the Bishops Miter But his Courtiers prevented him saying that he was a meer Impostor and Enchanter instead of an Ambassador All Greece made vows for his safe return from thence but he never came back again 17. C. Iulius Caesar learned of Apollonius Molon at Rhodes he is said to be admirably fitted for the City Eloquence and had so improved his parts by his diligence that without all question he merited the second place in point of Eloquence the â—irst he would not have as one that intended rather to be the first in Power and Armes Cicero himself writes to Brutus that he knew not any to whom Caesar should give place as one that had an Elegant Splendid Magnificent and Generous way of Speaking And to Cornelius Nepos Whom saith he will ye prefer before this man even of those who have made Oratory their busineCâ—ess who is more acute or frequent than he in sentences who more Ornate or Elegant in words He is said to have pronounced his Orations with a sharp voice and earnest motion and gesture which yet was not without its comliness CHAP. VIII Of the most famous Greek and Latine Historians BY the singular providence of God and his great goodness it was that where the prophetick history of the Holy Scriptures breaks off there we should have an immediate supply from elsewhere and we may almost say that in the very moment where they have left there it was that 1. Herodotus the Halicarnassian began his History who relates the Acts of Cyrus and the affairs of the Persian Monarchy even unto the War of Xerxes the Histories of the Kingdoms of Lydia Media and especially of Aegypt are set down by him An account he gives of the Ionians the City of Athens and the Spartan and Corinthian Kings excelling all prophane Writers of History both in the Antiquity of the things he treats of the multitude of Examples and the purity and sweetness of his Stile His History is continued for the series of two hundred and thirty years from Gyges the King of Lydia the contemporary with Manasses King oâ— Iudah to the flight of Xerxes and Persians out of Greece which was in the year of the world 3485. Herodotus himself flourished in the beginning of the Peloponnesian war which was about the year of the world 3540. 2. Thucydides the Athenian immediately succeeds him who imbraceth in his History the space of seventy years that is from the flight of Xerxes unto the twenty first year of the Peloponnesian war for although he professedly describes only that war betwixt the Athenians and Peloponnesians wherein himself was a General yet by way of digression he hath inserted an account of those fifty years that are betwixt the end of Herodotus his History and the beginning of this war Here he explains the affairs of Cities as the former had done of Monarchies and hath framed so illustrious and express an Image of all those things that usually happen in the government of a Common-wealth hath so lively represented the miseries that attend upon war especially a civil and intestine one hath composed his many Orations with that artifice and care that nothing can be thought more sinewy and agreeable unto all times in the world than his History 3. Xenophon the Attick Bee whose unaffected sweetness and elegancy of Stile is such that Antiquity admiring thereat said the Graces had framed and directed his Speech He beginning at the end of Thucydides hath in seven Books comprehended the events of forty years wars betwixt the principal Cities of Greece as far as to the battle of Mantinea and the year of the world 3600. 4. Diodorus Siculus hath set forth his Bibliotheque or an universal history of almost all the habitable world accurately distinguished by times and years in forty Books In the five first of which he discourses the original of the world the Egyptian Assyrian Libyan Greek Antiquities and the affairs of other Nations before the Trojan War The other thirty five contain a Series of years no less than 1138. from the Trojan War to Iulius Caesar of all these there are but fifteen Books extant his sixteenth Book almost immediately follows Xenophon in which he treats of Philip of Macedon who began to Reign Anno Mumd 3604. From thence he passes to Alexander and his Successours and in the end of his twentieth Book which is the last of his extant he reaches to the year of the World 3664. which year falls directly into the tenth Book of Livy and upon the four hundred fifty second year from the building of Rome 5. Titus Livius born at Padua was the Prince of the Latin History excelling all Latin Writers in the admirable gravity copiousness and beauty of his Speech He hath written a continued History of seven hundred forty six years from the building of Rome in the year of the World 3212. to the fourth year before the birth of Christ which was the thirty seventh year of Augustus Now although of fourteen Decades or one hundred and forty Books of Livy there are only three Decades and half a fifth left yet the Arguments of the rest of the Books and the Series of the principal Histories may easily be observed from Florus his Epitome Livy died the twenty first year after the birth of Christ. 6. Câ—esias Gâ—idius a famous Historian of the Assyrian and Persian Affairs about the year of the World 3564. in the Expedition of Cyrus the younger against his brother Artaxerxes was taken Prisoner and for his skill in Physick was received into the Kings House and Family where out of the Royal Commentaries and Records he composed the ancient History of the Kings of Assyria Babylon and Persia in twenty Books having brought it down from Ninus as far as the seventh year after the taking of Athens by Lysander 7. Plutarchus of Cheronaea flourished about the year of our Lord 100. the ample Treasury of the Greek and Latin History he wrote about fifty Lives of the principal men amongst the Greeks and Romans full of the best matter wise sentences and choice rules of life The Greek Lives he begins with Theseus King of Athens and ends with Philopoemenes General of the Achaeans who died one hundred and eighty years before the birth of Christ. The Roman Captains he describes from Romulus as far as to Galba and Otho who contended for the Empire in the seventeenth year after the birth of Christ. 8. Arrianus of Nicomedia flourished Anno Christi 140. and in eight Books wrote the Life and Acts of Alexander the Great his Affairs in India are handled most copiously by him of all other the whole is wrote in a singular sweetness and elegancy of stile 9. Dionysius Halicarnassaeus wrote accurately the Roman History the Original of the City Magistracy Ceremonies and Laws are faithfully related by him and his History continued to the beginning of the first Punick War and the four hundred eighty ninth year from
own time and King Canutus the sixth almost to the year of Christ 1200. but more like a Poet than Historian commonly also omitting an account of the time 30. Conradus Abbot of Vrsperga a Monastery in Suevia as worthy of reading as any of the German Writers hath described the Affairs of Germany beginning two hundred years after the Flood and carrying on his relation to the twentieth year of Frederick the second that is Anno Dom. 1230. 31. Iohannes Aventinus wrote the Annals of the Boii and memorable matters of the Germans in seven Books beginning from the Flood and continuing his History to Ann. 1460. 32. Iohannes Nauclerus born not far from Tubinga hath an intire Chronicon from the beginning of the World to his own time and the year of our Lord 1500. in two Volums 33. Albertus Crantzius hath brought down the History of the Saxons Vandals and the Northern Kingdoms of Denmark Sweden Gothland and Norway to Ann. 1504. 34. Iohannes Sleidanus hath faithfully and plainly written the History of Luther especially and the contests about matters of Religion in the Empire of Germany the Election and Affairs of Charles the fifth Emperour and other of divers of the Kings of Europe from Anno Dom. 1517. to Ann. 1556. 35. Philippus Comineus wrote five Books of the Expedition of Charles the eighth into Italy and Naples and eight Books of the Acts of Lâ—wis the eleventh and Charles Duke of Burgundy worthy to be read of the greatest Princes 36. Froisardus wrote the sharp Wars betwixt the French and English from Anno 1335. to Ann. 1400. 37. Hiâ—ronymus Osorius wrote the Navigation of the Portugals round Africa into India and the Acts of Emanuel King of Portugal from Anno 1497. to his death in twelve Books 38. Antonius Bonfinius in four Decades and an half hath wrote the History of the Hungarian Kings to the death of Matthias the son of Huniades and the beginning of the Reign of Vladislaus 39. Polydor Virgil hath wrote the History of England in twenty six Books to the death of Henry the seventh 40. Iustinus flourished Anno Christi 150. and wrote a compendious History of most Nations from Ninus the Assyrian King to the twenty fifth year of Augustus compiled out of forty four Books of Trogus Pompeius a Roman Ecclesiastical Writers I have here no room for but am content to have traced thus far the steps of David Chytraeus in his Chronology whose help I have had in the setting down of this Catalogue CHAP. IX Of the most famous and ancient Greek and Latin Poets THE Reader hath here a short account of some of the most eminent of Apollo's old Courtiers as they succeeded one another in the favour of the Muses not but that those bright Ladies have been I was about to say equally propitious to others in after-times nor is it that we have given these only a place here as if our own Land were barren of such Worthies Our famous Spencer if he was not equal to any was superiour to most of them of whom Mr. Brown thus He sung th' Heroick Knights of Fairy Land In lines so elegant and such command That had the Thracian plaid but half so well He had not left Eurydice in Hell But it is fit we allow a due reverence to Antiquity at least be so ingenuous as to acknowledge at whose Torches we have lighted our own The first of these Lights 1. Orpheus was born in Libethris a City of Thrace the most ancient of all Poets he wrote the Expedition of the Argonauts into Colchis in Greek Verse at which he was also present this Work of his is yet extant together with his Hymns and a Book of Stones The Poets make him to be the Prince of the Lyricks of whom Horace in his Book De Arte Poeticâ Sylvestres homines sacer interpresque deorum Caedibus foedo victu deterruit Orpheus Dictus ob hoc lenire Tygres rabidosque leones His Father was Oeagrus his Mother Caliopea and his Master was Linus a Poet and Philosopher Orpheus is said to have flourished Anno Mundi 2737. Vid. Quenstedt Dial. de Patr. vir illustr p. 453. Voss. de Nat. Constit. artis Poet. cap. 13. sect 3. p. 78. Patrit de Instit. reipub l. 2. tâ— 6. p. 83. 2. Homerus the Prince of Poets born at Colophon as Cluverius doubts not to affirm but more Cities besides that strove for the honour according to that in Gellius Septem urbes certant de stirpe illustris Homeri Smyrna Rhodos Colophon Salamis Ios Argos Athenae Many are the Encomiums he hath found amongst learned men as The Captain of Philosophy The first Parent of Antiquity and Learning of all sorts The original of all rich Invention The Fountain of the more abstruse Wisdom and the father of all other Poets à quo cen fonte perenni Vatum Pieriis ora rigantur aquis Of him this is part of Quintilians Charaâ—ter In great things no man excelled him in sublimity nor in small matters in propriety In whom saith Paterculus this is an especial thing that before him there was none whom he could imitate and after him none is found that is able to imitate him He flourished Anno Mund. 3000. Vid. Quenstedt dialog p. 483. Gell. Noct. Attic. lib. 3. cap. 11. p. 104. Quintil. instit orator lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 466. 3. Hesiodus was born at Cuma a City in Aeolia bred up at Ascra a Town in Boeotia a Poet of a most elegant genius memorable for the soft sweetness of his Verse called the son of the Muses by Lipsius the purest Writer and whose labours contain the best Precepts of Vertue saith Heinsuis Some think he was contemporary with Homer others that he lived an hundred years after him I find him said to flourish Anno Mundi 3140. Vid. Quintil. instit orat lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 466. Vell. Pâ—tercul hist. lib. 1. ...... Voss. de Poet. Graec. cap. 2. p. 9. Quenstedt dial p. 478. 4. Alcaeus a famous Lyrick Poet was born in the Isle of Lesbos in the City of Miâ—ylene whence now the whole Isle hath its name what Verses of his are left are set forth by Henricus Stephanus with those of the rest of the Lyricks Quintilian saith of him That he is short and magnificent in his way of speaking diligent and for the most part like Homer he flourished Olymp. 45. Vid. Quenstedt dialog p. 433. Quintil. instit orat lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 468. 5. Sappho an excellent Poetress was born in the Isle of Lesbos and in the City of Eraesus there she was called the ninth Lyrick and the tenth Muse she wrote Epigrams Elegies Iamâ—icks Monodies and nine Books of Lyrick Verses and was the Invetress of that kind of Verse which from her is called the Sapphick she attained to no small applause in her contention first with Stesichorus and then with Alcaeus she is said to flourish about the 46 Olympiad Voss. Instâ—t Poet. lib. 3. cap. 15. p.
at Lambeth were dasht one against another and were broke to pieces the snafts of two Chimneys were blown down upon the roof of his Chamber and beat down both the Lead and Rafters upon his Bed in which ruine he must needs have perished if the roughness of the water had not forced him to keep his Chamber at Whitehall The same night at Croyden a retiring place belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury one of the Pinnacles fell from the Steeple beat down the Lead and Roof of the Church above twenty foot square The same night too at the Metropolitical Church in the City of Canterbury one of the Pinnacles upon the Belfrey Tower which carried a Vane with this Archbishops Arms upon it was violently struck down but born a good distance from the Steeple and fell upon the Roof of the Cloister under which the Arms of the Archiepiscopal See it self were engraven in stone which Arms being broken in pieces by the former gave occasion to one that loved him not to collect this inference That the Arms of the present Archbishop of Canterbury breaking down the Arms of the See of Canterbury not only portended his own fall but the ruine of the Metropolitical Dignity by the weight thereof Of these he took not so much notice as he did of an accident which happened on St. Simon and Iude's Eve not above a week before the beginning of the late long Parliament which drew him to his final ruine On which day going to his upper Study to send some Manuscripts to Oxon he found his Picture at full length and taken as near unto the life as the Pencil was able to express it to be fallen on the floor and lying flat upon its face the string being broke by which it was hanged against the Wall At the sight whereof he took such a sudden apprehension that he began to fear it as an Omen of that ruine which was coming towards him and which every day began to be threatned to him as the Parliament grew nearer and nearer to consult about it These things occasioned him to look back on a former misfortune which chanced on the 19. of Septemb. 1633. being the very day of his translation to the See of Canterbury when the Ferry-boat transporting his Coach and Horses with many of his Servants in it sunk to the bottom of the Thames CHAP. III. Of the famous Predictions of some men and how the Event has been conformable thereunto SOcrates had a Genius that was ever present with him which by an audible voice gave him warning of approaching evils to himself or friends by dehorting as it always did when it was heard from this or that counsel or design by which he many times saved himself and such as would not be ruled by his counsel when he had this voice found the truth of the admonition by the evil success of their affairs as amongst other Charmides did I know not whether by such way as this or some other as extraordinary the ministry of good or evil Spirits some men have come to the knowledge of future events and have been able to foretel them long before they came to pass 1. Anno Christi 1279. there lived in Scotland one Thomas Lermouth a man very greatly admired for his foretelling of things to come He may justly be wondred at for foretelling so many ages before the union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in the ninth degree of the Bruces blood with the succession of Bruce himself to the Crown being yet a Child and many other things which the event hath made good The day before the death of King Alexander he told the Earl of March that before the next day at noon such a tempest should blow as Scotland had not felt many years before The next morning proving a clear day the Earl challenged Thomas as an Impostor he replied that noon was not yet past about which time a Post came to inform the Earl of the Kings sudden death and then said Thomas this is the tempest I foretold and so it shall prove to Scotland as indeed it did 2. Duncan King of the Scots had two principal men whom he employed in all matters of importance Mackbeth and Banquho these two travelling together through a Forest were met by three Witches Weirds as the Scots call them whereof the first making obeysance unto Mackbeth saluted him Thane that is Earl of Glammis the second Thane of Cauder and the third King of Scotland This is unequal dealing said Banquho to give my friend all the honours and none unto me to which one of the Weirds made answer That he indeed should not be King but out of his loins should come a Race of Kings that should for ever rule the Scots And having thus said they all vanished Upon their arrival to the Court Mackbeth was immediately created Thane of Glammis and not long after some new service requiring new recompence he was honoured with the Title of Thane of Cawder Seeing then how happily the prediction of the three Weirds fell out in the two former he resolved not to be wanting to himself in fulfilling the third He therefore first killed the King and after by reason of his Command amongst the Souldiers he succeeded in his Throne Being scarce warm in his seat he called to mind the prediction given to his Companion Banquho whom hereupon suspecting as his Supplanter he caused to be killed together with his whole posterity only Fleance one of his Sons escaping with no small difficulty into Wales freed as he thought of all fear of Banquho and his issue he built Dunsinan Castle and made it his ordinary Seat afterwards on some new fears consulting with his Wizards concerning his future estate he was told by one of them that he should never be overcome till Bernane Wood being some miles distant came to Dunsinan Castle and by another that he should never be slain by any man which was born of a Woman secure then as he thought from all future dangers he omitted no kind of libidinous cruelty for the space of eighteen years for so long he tyrannized over Scotland But having then made up the measure of his iniquities Mackduffe the Governour of Fife with some other good Patriots privily met one evening at Bernane Wood and taking every one of them a bough in his hand the better to keep them from discovery marched early in the morning towards Dunsinan Castle which they took by storm Mackbeth escaping was pursued by Mackduffe who having overtaken him urged him to the Cambat to whom the Tyrant half in scorn returned that in vain he attempted to kill him it being his destiny never to be slain by any that was born of a Woman Now then said Mackduffe is thy fatal end drawing fast upon thee for I was never born of a Woman but violently cut out of my mothers belly which so daunted the Tyrant though otherwise a valiant man that he
the water Upon this accident there was an Insurrection of the Frisons the Hollanders were by them driven out or slain and the Body of King William was seised and laid in the forementioned Tomb according to the prediction Twenty seven years after his bones were removed by Earl Florence his Son and the fifth of that Name to a Nunnery in Middleburg in Zealand he was slain An. 1255. 31. Appius Claudius Proconsul of Achaia at the time of the difference betwixt Pompey and Caesar was desirous to know the event of so great a Commotion and thereupon consulted the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos when he was told on this manner Thou art not concerned in these things O Roman in Euboea thou shalt find Caesar he supposing he was warned by the Oracle to sit down there in quiet not interessing himself for either Party he retired thither where he fell into a disease whereof he dyed before such time as the matter was decided in the fields of Pharsalia 32. Walter Devoreux Earl of Essex having wasted his spirits with grief fell into a Dysentery whereof he dyed after he had requested of such as stood by him that they would admonish his Son who was then scarce ten years of age that he should always propound and set before him the thirty sixth year of his life as the utmost he should ever attain unto which neither he nor his father had gone beyond and his Son never reached unto for Robert Devereux his Son and also Earl of Essex was beheaded in the thirty fourth year of his age so that his dying Father seemed not in vain to have admonished him as he did but to speak by divine inspiration and suggestion 33. Guido Bonatus shewed the wonderful effects of Astrology when he foretold to Guido Count of Montsferat the day wherein if he would sally out of Forolivium and set upon his Enemies he should defeat them but withal himself should receive a wound in the Hip to shew how certain he was of the event he would also himself march out with him carrying along with him such things as were necessary for the wound not yet made The fight and victory was as he said and which is most wonderful the Count was also wounded in the very place predicted CHAP. IV. Of several illustrious persons abused and deceived by Predictions of Astrologers and the equivocal Responses of Oracles SUch is the inveterate envy and malice of the Devil which he bears to poor man that from the Creation to this day he never was without his engines and subtile contrivances whereby he might undo him or at the least dangerously deceive and delude him In subservience to these his designs he set up his places of Oracular residence and though it was a lower way of trading amused the World with Judicial Astrology by both which he continually mocked and abused the curiosity and credulity of over-inquisitive men and still doth which is no wonder notwithstanding all Ages by their experience have detected his falshood 1. Henry the Second to whom Cardan and Guuricus two Lights of Astrology had foretold verdant and happy old age was miserably slain in the flower of his youth in games and pleasures of a Turnament The Princes his Children whose Horoscopes were so curiously looked into and of whom wonders had been spoken were not much more prosperous as France well knew 2. Zica King of the Arabians to whom Astrology had promised long life to persecute Christians dyed in the year of the same prediction 3. Albumazar the Oracle of Astrology left in writing that he found Christian Religion according to the influence of the Stars should last but one thousand four hundred years he hath already bely'd more than two hundred and it will be a lye to the Worlds end 4. The year 1524. wherein happened the great Conjunction of Saturn Iupiter and Mars in the Sign Pisces Astrologers had foretold the World should perish by water which was the cause that many persons of Quality made Arks in imitation of Noah to save themselves from the Deluge all which turned into laughter 5. It was foretold a Constable of France well known that he would dye beyond the Alpes before a City besieged in the 83. year of his age and that if he escaped this time he was to live above an hundred years which was notoriously untrue this man deceasing in the 84. year of a natural death 6. Croesus King of Lydia having determined to war upon Cyrus consulted the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos touching the success whence he received this Answer Croesus Halyn penetrans magnam disperdet opum vim When Croesus has the Halys past A world of Treasure shall he wast He interpreted this of the riches of his Adversaries but the event shewed they were his own for he lost his Army Kingdom and Liberty in that Expedition 7. Cambyses King of Persia was told by the Oracle that he should dye at Ecbatana he therefore concluding that he should finish his life at Ecbatana in Media did studiously decline going thither but when by the falling of his Sword out of its Scabbard and his falling upon it he was deadly wounded in his Thigh being then in Syria he inquired the name of the place and being informed it was Ecbatana he acknowledged it was his Fate to dye there and that he had hitherto mistaken the name of the place 8. Anibal was told by the Oracle that the Earth of Libyssa should cover the Corps of Anibal while therefore he was in a foreign Country he was not very apprehensive of any danger as thinking he should dye in his own Country of Libya But there is a River in Bythinia called Libyssus and the fields adjoyning Libyssa in this Country he drank poyson and dying confessed that the Oracle had told him truth but in a different manner to what he had understood it 9. Pyrrhus King of Epirus had resolved a War against the Romans and consulting the Oracle of Apollo about the success had this Verse for his Answer Aio te Aeacida Romanos vincere posse Achilles Son the Romans may o'recome The sense was ambiguous and might be construed in favour of Pyrrhus or the Romans but he interpreted it to his own advantage though the event proved quite otherwise 10. There was an Oracle that e're long it should come to pass that the Athenians should be Masters of all the Syracusans They therefore equipped a great Navy and in favour of the Leontines warred upon them of Syracusa It so fell out that when their Navy drew near to Syracuse they seised a Ship of the Enemy which carried the Tables wherein were enrolled the names of all the Syracusans that were able to bear Arms by which means the Oracle was fulfilled but not agreeable to the hopes of the Athenians for they became not the Lords of the Syracusans as they supposed they should but were beaten
altogether unmindful that Chaerea the Tribune was also called Cassius by whose Conspiracy and Sword he dyed 31. Alvaro de Luna who had been thirty years Favourite to Iohn King of Castile fell at last into disgrace was condemned and beheaded An Astrologer or a Wizard had told him that he should dye in Cadahalso Now the King had given him a County so called which for that reason he would never enter into not minding that Cadahalso signifies a Scaffold on which indeed he ended his life 32. Walter Earl of Athol conspired the Murder of Iames I. King of Scotland in hopes to be crowned and by the encouragement of certain Sorcerers whom he kept about him who had assured him that he should be crowned and crowned he was but not with the Crown of the Kingdom but of red hot Iron clapt upon his head which was one of the Tortures by which at once he ended his wicked days and traiterous designs 33. Stephen Procurator of Anjou under King Richard the First consulted with a Necromancer who sent him to inquire his mind of a brazen Head that had a Spirit inclosed he therefore asked it Shall I never see King Richard The Spirit answered No. How long said he shall I continue in my Office To thy lifes end replied the Spirit Where shall I dye In pâ—umâ said the other Hereupon he forbad his Servants to bring any feathers near him but he prosecuting a Noble man the Noble man fled to his Castle called Pluma and Stephen following was there killed 34. Albericus Earl of Northumberland not contented with his own Estate consulted with a Wizard who told him he should have Graecia whereupon he went into Greece but the Grecians robbed him of what he had and sent him back He after weary of his travel came to King Henry in Normandy who gave him a noble Widow to Wife whose name was Graecia CHAP. V. Of the magnificent Buildings sumptuous and admirable Works of the Ancients and those of later times AVgustus Caesar had several ways adorned and fortified the City of Rome and as much as in him lay put it into a condition of bravery and security for after-times whereupon he gloried that he found Rome of Brick but he left it of Marble Certainly nothing makes more for the just glory of a Prince than to leave his Dominions in better state than he received them The vast expences of some of the following Princes had been more truly commendable and their mighty Works more really glorious had they therein consulted more of the publick good and less of their own ostentation 1. Immediately after the universal Deluge Nimrod the Son of Chus the Son of Cham perswaded the people to secure themselves from the like after-claps by building some stupendious Edifice which might resist the fury of a second Deluge The counsel was generally embraced Heber only and his Family as the Tradition goes contradicting such an unlawful attempt The major part prevailing the Tower of Babel began to rear a head of Majesty five thousand one hundred forty six paces from the ground having its Basis and circumference equal to its height The passage to go up went winding about the outside and was of an exceeding great breadth there being not only room for Horses Carts and the like means of carriage to meet and turn but Lodgings also for man and beast And as Verstegan reports Grass and Corn-fields for their nourishment But God by the confusion of Tongues hindred the proceeding of this Building one being not able to understand what his fellow called for 2. On the Bank of the River Nilus stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psammiticus King of Egypt situate on the South-side of the Pyramides and North of Arsinoe it contained within the compass of one continued Wall a thousand houses three thousand and five hundred saith Herodotus and twelve Royal Palaces all covered with Marble and had one only entrance but innumerable turnings and returnings sometimes one over another and all in a manner invious to such as were not acquainted with them The Building more under ground than above the Marble-stones laid with such Art that neither Wood nor Cement was employed in any part of the Fabrick the Chambers so disposed that the doors upon their opening did give a report no less terrible than a crack of Thunder the main entrance all of white Marble adorned with stately Columns and most curious Imagery The end at length being attained a pair of stairs of ninety steps conducted into a gallant Portico supported with Pillars of Theban Marble which was the entrance into a fair and stately Hall the place of their general Convention all of polished Marble set out with the Statues of their Gods A Work which afterwards was imitated by Daedalus in the Cretan Labyrinth though that fell as short of the glory of this as Mâ—nâ—s was inferiour unto Psammitisus in power and riches 3. Babylon was situate on the Banks of the River Euphrates the ancientest City of the World on this side the Floud the compass of its Walls was three hundred eighty five furlongs or forty six miles in height fifty cubits and of so great breadth that Carts and Carriages might meet on the top of them It was finished in one year by the hands of two hundred thousand Work-men employed in it Aristotle saith it ought rather to be called a Country than a City 4. In the Island of Rhodes was that huge Colossus one of the seven Wonders of the World It was made by Chares of Lindum composed of Brass in height seventy cubits every finger of it being as big as an ordinary man It was twelve years in making and having stood but sixty six years was thrown down in an instant by an Earthquake which terribly shook the whole Island It was consecrate to the Sun and therefore the Brass and other materials of it were held in a manner sacred nor medled with till Mnavias the General of Osman the Mahometan Caliph after he had subdued this Island made prey thereof loading nine hundred Camels with the very Brass thereof 5. Ephesus was famous amongst the Gentiles for that sumptuous and magnificent Temple there consecrated to Diana which for the largeness furniture and workmanship of it was worthily accounted one of the Wonders of the World the length thereof is said to be four hundred twenty five foot two hundred twenty foot in breadth supported with one hundred twenty seven Pillars of Marble seventy foot in height of which twenty seven were most curiously engraven and all the rest of Marble polished The Model of it was contrived by one Ctesiphon and that with so much art and curiosity of Architecture that it took up two hundred years before it was finished When finished it was fired seven times the last by Erostratus only to get himself a name amongst posterity thereby 6. Niniveh as it was more ancient than almost any other City so
in the judgment of himself and all his Citizens He made a solemn Feast upon his Birth-day and having invited all his friends setteth himself to the displaying of all his prosperity which himself magnifieth admireth and extolleth above the clouds and at last comes to this he asks one of his inward friends if there wanted any thing to make up his felicity compleat who considering what little stay there is in worldly matters and how they roll and flye away in a moment or rather inspired from above made this answer Certainly the wrath of God cannot be long from this thy so great prosperity Well the Forces of the Guelphs beginning to decay the Gibbellines run to Arms beset the house of this prosperous Hugolin break down the Gates kill one of his Sons and a Grandchild that opposed their entrance lay hold on Hugolin himself imprison him with two other of his Sons and three Granchildren in a Tower shut all the Gates upon them and throw the keys into the River of Arne that ran hard by Here Hugolin saw those goodly Youths of his dying between his arms himself also at deaths door He cryed and besought his enemies to be content that he might endure some humane punishment and to grant that he might be confessed and communicate e're he dyed But their hearts were all flint and all he requested with tears they denied with derision so he dyed pitifully together with his Sons and Grandchildren that were inclosed with him So sudden and oftentimes so tragical are the revolutions of that life which seems most to promise a continuance of prosperity 15. Amongst all those that have been advanced by the favour of mighty Princes there was never so great a Minion nor a more happy man in his life until his death than was Ibraim Bassa chief Vizier to Solyman the Great Turk This Bassa finding himself thus highly caressed by his Lord and Master he besought him on a day as he talked with him with great familiarity that he would forbear to make so much of him lest being elevated too high and flourishing beyond measure it should occasion his Lord to look a scance upon him and plucking him from the top of Fortunes wheel to hurl him into the lowest of misery Solyman then swore unto him that while he lived he would never take a way his life But afterwards moved against him by the ill success of the Persian War by him perswaded and some suspicion of Treachery yet feeling himself tyed by his oath he forbore to put him to death till being perswaded and informed by a Talisman or Turkish Priest that a man asleep cannot be counted amongst the living in regard the whole life of man is a perpetual watch Solyman sent one night an Eunuch who with a sharp razor cut his throat as he was quietly sâ—eeping upon a Pallet in the Court. And thus this great Favourite had not so much as the favour to be acquainted with his Masters displeasure but was sent out of the world at unawares his dead body was reviled and curst by Solyman after which a weight was tyed to it and it cast into the Sea 16. George Villiers was the third Son of Sir George Villiers Knight was first sworn Servant to King Iames then his Cupâ—bearer at large the Summer following admitted in ordinary the next St. Georges day he was Knighted and made Gentleman of the Kings Bedâ—chamber and the same day had an annual pension of a thousand pound given him out of the Court of Wards At New-years tide following the King chose him Master of the Horse After this he was installed of the most noble Order of the Garter In the next August he created him Baron of Whaddon and Viscount Villiers In Ianuary of the same year he was advanced Earl of Buckingham and sworn of his Majesties Privy Council The March ensuing he attended the King into Scotland and was likewise â—worn a Councellor in that Kingdom At New-years Tide after he was created Marquess of Buckingham and made Lord Admiral of England Chief Justice in Eyre of all the Parks and Forests on the South-side of Trent Master of the Kings Bench Office head Steward of Westminster and Constable of Windsor Castle chosen by the King the chief Concomitant of the Heir apparent in his Journey into Spain then made Duke of Buckingham and his Patent sent him thither After his return from whence he was made Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Steward of the Mannor of Hampton-Court But in the midst of all these Honours of the Duke upon Saturday the 23. of August at Portsmouth when after break-fast he came out of the room into a kind of Lobby somewhat darker and which led to another Chamber where divers waited with Sir Thomas Fryer close at his ear in the moment as the said Knight withdrew himself from the Duke one Iohn Felton a younger Brother of mean fortunes in Suffolk gave him with a back blow a deep wound into his left side leaving the knife in his body which the Duke himself pulling out on a sudden effusion of spirits he sunk down under the table in the next room and immediately expired One thing in this enormous accident is I must confess to me beyond all wonder as I received it from a Gentleman of judicious and diligent observation and one whom the Duke well favoured that within the space of not many minutes after the fall of the body and removal thereof into the first room there was not a living creature in either of the Chambers with the body no more than if it had lain in the Sands of Ethiopia whereas commonly in such cases you shall note every where a great and sudden conâ—lux of people unto the place to hearken and see but it seems the horrour of the Fact stupisied all curiosity Thus dyed this great Peer in the thirty sixth year of his age compleat and three days over in a time of great recourse unto him and dependence upon him The House and Town full of Servants and Suitors his Dutchess in an upper room scarce yet out of her bed and the Court at this time not above six or nine miles from him which had been the Stage of his Greatness 17. Charles the Gross the twenty ninth King of France and Emperour of the West began to reign in the year 885. the eyes of the French were fixed upon him as the man that should restore their Estate after many disorders and confusions He went into Italy and expelled the Saracens that threatned Rome being returned he found the Normans dispersed in divers Coasts of his Realm Charles marches with his Army against them but at the first encounter was overthrown this check though the loss was small struck a great terrour and at last caused an apparent impossibility to succour Neustria and recover it from so great Forces He was therefore advised to treat with them to make them of enemies friends and to leave them that which
that stood near him This young man will be the occasion that no man hereafter will resign a Dictatorship 7. When Sir Henry Wotton returned from his last Embassie into England at all those houses where he rested or lodged he left his Coat of Arms with this Inscription under them Henricus Wottonius Anglo-cantianus Thomae optimi viri filius natu minimus à Serenissimo Iacobo Primo Mag. Brit. Rege in Equestrem titulum adscitus ejusdemque ter ad Rempubâ—icam Venetam Legatus Ordinarius semel ad Confoederatorum Provinciarum Ordines in Iuliacensi Negotio bis ad Carolum Emanuel Subaudiae Ducem semel ad Vnitos Superiorie Germaniae Principes in Conventu Heilbrunensi postremò ad Archiducem Leopoldum Ducem Wittembergensem Civitates Imperiales Argentinam Vlmamque ipsum Romanorum Imperatorem Ferdinandum Secundum Legatus Extraordinarius tandem hoc didicit Animas fieri sapientiores quiescendo 8. Ramirus lived a Monk in a Monastery from whence upon the death of his Brother he was called by the Nobles and people of Arragon to succeed his Brother in the Kingdom the Pope also dispensed with his Vow and he had his allowance to accept of the Kingdom Ramirus therefore left the Monastery married a Wife of whom he had Daughter called Vrraca after which neither conjugal affection nor the desire of a Kingdom two of the strongest bonds amongst men were able to retain him but that he would return unto that Ecclesiastical humility which he had experienced in the Convent where he formerly had lived 9. The Parthians by civil discords had ejected Artabanus their King who endeavoured his Restauration to his Kingdom by the Arms of Iazates King of the Adiabeni The Parthians not only upon the account of an imminent War but moved also with other reasons repented that they had expelled Artabanus They sent therefore Ambassadors both to him and to Iazates giving them to understand that they would most willingly do what they did require them but that upon the expulsion of Artabanus they had set up Cynamus in his stead and having sworn Allegiance unto him as their King they durst not recede from their Oath Which when Cynamus understood he wrote to Artabanus and Iazates that they should come for he would resign up the Kingdom of Parthia to Artabanus When they were come Cynamus went forth to meet them adorned in Royal Robes and the Diadem upon his head assoon as he drew near to Artabanus dismounting from his Horse he thus spake When the Parthians had driven thee Artabanus from the Kingdom and were resolved to confer it on another at their intreaty I received it but so soon as I knew it was their desire to restore it to thee their true and lawful King and that the only hindrance of it was that they should do it without my consent I not only forbare to oppose them but as thou seest of mine own accord and without any other respect I restore it to thee And having so said he took the Diadem from his own head with his own hands he fitted it to that of Artabanus and freely returned to his former privacy 10. Albertus was a Dominick Fryer and for his great Learning sirnamed Magnus he was made Bishop of Ratisbone by Pope Alexander the Fourth but he freely left his Bishoprick and returned home again to Colen that he might retire himself and enjoy the greater quiet for reading and writing 11. In the year of our Lord 1179. and the Reign of King Henry the Second Richard de Lucy Lord Chief Justice of England resigned his Office and became a Canon in the Abbey of Westwood And in the Reign of King Henry III. upon the 29. of Iune An. 1276. Walter Maleclarke Bishop of Carlisle renounced the Pomp of the World and took upon him the Habit of a preaching Fryer 12. In a preliminary Discourse before the Monasticon Anglicanum we have an account of divers Kings in this our Island who for devotions sake left their Crowns and took upon them the Habit and Profession of Monks Such were Pertocus King of Cambria Constantinus King of Cornwal Sebby King of the East Saxons Offa King of the East Saxons Sigebert King of the East Angles Etheldredus King of the Mercians Kynred King of the Mercians Ceolwulphus King of the North Humbers and Edbricthus King of the North Humbers Whereupon one hath wrote these metrical Verses Nomina Sanctorum rutilant cum laude piorum Stemmate regali cum vestitu Monachali Qui Reges facti spreverunt culmina regni Electi Monachi sunt coeli munere digni 13. Prince Lewis the eldest Son of Charles King of Naples at the age of twenty one years and just when he should have been married to the youthful Princess of Majorica did suddenly at Barcellona put on the rough and severe Habit of the Franciscans The Queens and Princesses there met to solemnize the Marriage of his Sister Blanch with Iames King of Arragon employed their Rhetorick to disswade him from it but to no purpose he loved his Sackcloth more than their Silks and as Monsieur Mathieu alluding to the young Princess speaks of him lâ—â—t Roses to make a Conserve of Thorns 14. King Agrippa took the High Priesthood from Simon Canthara and gave it again to Ionathan the Son of Anani whom he esteemed more worthy than the other But Ionathan declared that he was not worthy of this Dignity and refused it saying O King I most willingly acknowledge the honour you are pleased to bestow upon me and know you offer me this Dignity of your fâ—ee will notwithstanding which God judgeth me unworthy It sufficeth that I have once been invested with the sacred Habit for at that time I wore it with more holiness than I can now receive it at this present yet notwithstanding if it please you to know one that is more worthy of this honour than my self I â—ave a Brother who towards God and you is pure and innocent whom I dare recommend to you for a most fit man for that Dignity The King took great pleasure in these words and leaving Ionathan he bestowed the Priesthood on Mathias his Brother as Ionathan had desired and advised 15. Constantine the Third King of Scotland being wearied with the troubles of a publick life renounced his temporal Dignities and Kingdom and betook himself to a private life amongst the Culdees in St. Andrews with whom he spent his five last years and there dyed about the year 904. 16. Celestine the Fifth an Italian and foâ—merly an Anchorite was chosen Pope was a man of pious simplicity though unskilful in the managâ—mâ—nâ— of Affairs this man was easily perswaded by his Cardinals that the employment he had was too great for his capacity so that he had thoughts of resigning and was furthered therein by the crafty device of Boniface who succeeded him For this man feigning himself to be an Angel spake through a Trunk
in a Wall where the Pope lodged saying Celestine Celestine give over thy Chair for it is above thy ability The poor man was deluded this way and though the French King perswaded him to keep his Seat yet he decreed that a Pope might quit his place to turn Hermit again as he did though his voluntary resignation proved no security to him from the jealousie of his Successour but that he was by him taken imprisoned and there made to dye CHAP. X. Of persons advanced to Honor through their own subtilty some accident or for some slight occasion AMongst the Romans the Temple of Honour was so contrived that there was no way of passage into it but through that other of Vertue By which they intended to declare that the entrance and ascent unto Honour ought to be only by vertuous actions But things are oftentimes far otherwise than they ought to be Vertue is as familiary persecuted as rewaâ—â—â—d nor have Persons of Worth been always barely beholden to their Merit for their preferment but perhaps to some petty accident or some inconsiderable circumstance that served to set the wheels of their advancement a going 1. Some Kings to make a jest have advanced a man in earnest When amongst many Articles exhibited to King Henry the Seventh by the Irish against the Earl of Kildare the last was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King shall this Earl rule all Ireland and made him Deputy thereof 2. Cambyses King of Persia dying without issue the Princes agreed amongst themselves that at an hour appointed they would meet in a certain place no Horse-back and that he whose Horse should neigh first after they were upon the place should be chosen King Oebarus the Groom of Darius his Horse having understood thus much from Darius told him he would give him the Kingdom Where upon over-night he led the Horse of Darius to that place and suffered him there to cover a Mare and the next morning when they were all met Darius his Horse knowing the place and missing the Mare neighed and so Darius was presently saluted King 3. Guymond Chaplain to King Henry the First observing that for the most part unworthy men were advanced to the best dignities of the Church as he celebrated Divine Service before the King and was to read these words out of St. Iames It rained not upon the earth three years and six months he read it thus It rained upon the earth one one one years and five one months The King observed his reading and afterwards blamed him for it But Guymond answered That he did it on purpose for such Readers were soonest preferred by his Majesty The King smiled and in short time after preferred him to the Government of St. Frideswids in Oxford 4. I find it related in the Commentaries of the Greeks that Semiramiâ— was the Concubine of one of the Kings Slaves Assoon as Ninus had taken notice of her he was so taken with her beauty and wit that he seised her for himself by degrees she had gained such an empire over him that he could deny her nothing nor was there any thing but she durst ask When once she had let fall in discourse that there was one thing which she did earnestly desire and he had bid her freely and openly speak it whatsoever it was I have desired said she to sit for one day in your Throne and do justice and that for that whole day all should obey me in the same manner as they do you The King smiled granted her request and forthwith sent out his Edict that on such a day all men whatsoever should obey the commands of Semiramis for such was the Kings pleasure When the day came the Lady ascends the Throne in her Royal Apparel a mighty concourse there was she at the first as matter of tryal of their obedience commands something to be done of no great moment When she perceived that she was exactly obeyed in all her precepts she commands the Guards of the Kings body that they seise the King himself he is brought that they bind him he is bound that they strike off his head it was done and by this means from a day she prolonged the date of her Empire many years which she ruled with great wisdom success and glory 5. Sir Walter Raleigh born at Budely in Devonshire his introduction to the Court was upon this occasion This Captain Raleigh coming out of Ireland into the English Court in good habit his Cloaths being then a considerable part of his Estate found the Queen walking till meeting with a plashy place she seemed to scruple going thereon presently Raleigh cast and spread his new Plush Cloak on the ground whereon the Queen trod gently rewarding him afterwards with many Suits for his so free and seasonable tender of so fair a foot-cloth An advantageous admittance into the first notice of a Prince is more than half a degree to preferment When Sir Walter found some hopes of the Queens favour reflecting on him he wrote in a Glass-window obvious to the Queens eye Fain would I climb but that I fear to fall Her Majesty either espying or else being shewed it did under-write If thy heart fail thee do not climb at all How great a person in that Court this Knight did afterwards prove to be is scarcely unknown to any 6. There was in the City of Capua an ambitious Noble man called Pacuvius Calavius his credit grew and was upheld by furthering all popular desires There was at this time a plebeian Faction in the Town and that so prevalent as that all was governed by the pleasure of the multitude which also wholly followed the direction of this Pacuvius The people had promised to yield up the Town to Anibal and to meet him on the way to them with so many of their Nobility but they were unable to maintain any such Negotiation without the advice of the Senate and the Senate mainly oppugned it The people therefore were incensed against the Senate as having occasioned them to fail their new Friend and withal since by their promise they had discovered themselves they feared lest their own Senate together with the Romans should hold them in straiter subjection than before This fear being ready to break into some outrage Pacuvius made use of to serve his own ambition thus He discoursed unto the Senate as they sate in Council about these motions troubling their City and said That he himself had both married a Roman Lady and given his Daughter in Marriage to a Roman But that the danger of forsaking the Roman Party was not now the greatest for that the people were violently bent to murder all the Senate and after to joyn themselves with Anibal who should countenance the Fact and save them harmless This he spake as a man well known to be beloved by the people and privy unto their designs Having throughly terrified the Senate by laying
open the danger hanging over them he promised them nevertheless to deliver them all and to set things in quiet if they would freely put themselves into his hands offering his oath or any other assurance they should demand for his faithful meaning They all agreed Then shutting up the Court and placing a Guard of his own Followers about it that none might enter or issue forth without his leave he called the people to assembly and speaking as much evil of the Senate as he knew they would be glad to hear he told them that these wicked Governours were surprized by his policy and all fast ready to abide what sentence they would lay upon them Only thus much he advised them as a thing which necessity required that they should chuse a new Senate before they satisfied their anger upon the old So rehearsing to them the names of two or three Senators he asked what their judgment was of those All cryed out that they were worthy of death Chuse then said he first of all some new ones into their places Hereat the multitude unprovided for such an election was silent until at last some one or other adventured to name whom he thought fit The men so nominated were utterly disliked by the whole Assemblyâ— either for some fault baseness and insufficiency or else even because they were unknown and therefore held unworthy The difficulty of the new election appearing more and more whilst more were to be chosen the fittest men to be substituted having been named amongst the first and not thought fit enough Pacuvius intreated and easily prevailed with the people that the present Senate might for this time be spared in hopes of amendment hereafter which doubtless would be having thus obtained pardon for all offences past Henceforth not only the people as in former times honoured Pacuvius and esteemed him their Patron but the Senators also were wholly governed by him as a person to whom they acknowledged themselves indebted for the safety of their lives 7. Iohn Russel his Father an Esquire was bred beyond Sea arrived at great accomplishments and returned home about the time when Philip King of Castile Father to Charles the Fifth Emperour was forced by foul weather into the Haven of Weymouth But it is an ill wind that blows no body profit this accident proved the foundation of Mr. Russels preferment For when Sir Thomas Trenchard bountifully received this Royal Guest Mr. Russel was sent for to compleat the entertainment King Philip taking such delight in his company that at his departure he recommended him to King Henry the Seventh as a man fit to stand before Kings and not before mean men Indeed he was a man of spirit carrying a Badge of Valour no blemish but a beauty in his face the loss of an eye at the Siege of Montrule King Henry the Eighth much favoured him making him Controller of the Houshold and Privy Counsellor and 1538. he created him Lord Russel and made him Keeper of the Privy Seal A good share of the golden showre of Abbey-lands fell into his lap two mitred ones Tavistock and Thorney King Edward the Sixth made him Earl of Bedford he dyed 1554. 8. Tiberius the Emperour advanced a vulgar and mean person to the Dignity of the Questorship and preferred him before all the Noble persons that were Candidates for the Office and that only for taking off an Amphora of Wine at a Feast which he had made at one draught 9. There was amongst the Medes a wise man named Dejoces the Son of Phraortes who aspiring to a Soveraignty over them dealt in this manner When the Medes dwelt up and down in Villages Dejoces observing great licence amongst them managed all things that came before him with studious and affected equity Upon which the Medes that dwelt in the same Village made him the Judge of all their Controversies which he compounded with great justice and grew popular amongst such as lived near him This undeâ—stood by others that lived in other Villages they also assembled to Dejoces upon all occasions as being the person alone that judged without corruption and in conclusion would suffer none to determine their Causes in the whole Province but only Dejoces He now finding all to attend upon him refuses any longer to sit in Judicature saying he could not attend upon Causes all day long as he had done without apparent neglâ—ct of his own affairs Upon this there followed much more rapine and villany than before so thaâ— the Medes enter into Council about their affairs where by agreement the friends of Dejoces advise to the choice of a King saying else they could not long abide in their Country by reason of the unbridled liberty of the people It was resolved upon then the question was who should be the man they should elect Dejoces is extolled by all and by general suffrage electedâ— Being brought amongst them and approved he commands that a palace be built him worthy of a Prince that Guards be allotted him for the security of his person this was performed which done he compels them to build one City and this to be well fortified and adorned it was so and called Ecbatana And Dejoces having thus firmly fortified himself and his Palace he caused the rest of the Medes to dwell up and down as before Then made he a Law that none should enter in to the King but should transmit his business by such as were appointed on purpose and no other should see the King That no man should laugh or spit in his presence When he had thus confirmed and established himself he was fevere in his Justice for they sending in their Causes they were sent back to them decided Thus Dejoces got the Kingdom of Media in which were these Nations the Busae Paretaceni Struchates Arizanti Budii the Magi and having reigned fifty three years left Phraortes his Son his Successour 10. In the Reign of King William the Second an Abbey being vacant two Monks of the Covent became Suitors to him for the place offering great sums of money and each of them out-bidding the other Whereupon the King looking about and espying another Monk standing not far off asked him what he would give for the place Who answered That he neither had any thing to give nor would give any thing if he had it but came only to wait upon him back whom it should please the King to appoint the Abbot Well said the King thou hast spoken honestly thou art fitter to be Abbot than either of these and so bestowed the place upon him gratis 11. Novellius Torquatus a Millanois was highly honoured amongst the Romans and especially by Tiberius for by him he was advanced to the Proconsulship of Syria a Government of great honour and large command in the Empire and will you know by what means he ascended to this high Dignity The cause of his advancement was for that he could drink three Gallons of Wine at a
draught without taking his breath for that he fairly drank off his liquor and left no snuff behind him and after he had drank so very much he neither stammered in his speech nor unburdened his stomach by vomiting and how late soever he sate up at the Wine over-night he would be sure to relieve the Morning-watch and Sentinels For these rare qualities he was dubbed Knight by the sirname of Tricongius that is the three Gallon Knight 12. For the like quality C. Piso did first rise and afterwards was advanced to the Provostship of the City of Rome by the same Tiberius namely for that in his Court being now Emperour he sate two days and two nights drinking continually and never stirred foot from the table 13. In the time of William Rufus King of England there was one Roger a poor Priest serving a Cure in a Village near Caen in Normandy It chanced that Henry the Kings youngest Brother passing that way made some stay in the Village and being desirous to hear Mass this Roger then Curate was the man to say it which he dispatched with such celerity that the Souldiers who commonly love not long Masses commended him for it telling their Lord that there could not be found a fitter Priest for Men of War than he Whereupon Henry appointed him to follow him and when he came to be King preferred him to many great places and at last to be Chancellor of England and Bishop of Salisbury When King Stephen came to the Crown he held this man in as great account as his Predecessor King Henry had done and perhaps in greater He arrived to such wealth that he builded the Castles of Salisbury the Vies Sherburn Malmsbury and Newark to which there were no Structures comparable in the Kingdom He had also 40000 Marks in money which together with his Castles the King seised into his own hands upon displeasure 14. Claudius upon the rumour of C. Caligula's being slain was so extremely terrified and so doubtful and solicitous of his own safety that he slily crept forth of a Parlour at the Court wherein he then was and conveyed himself up into a Garret near thereabouts and there hid himself betwixt the Hangings that hung before the door Whiles he lurked close there a private Souldier chancing to run to and fro that way looking for plunder espied his feet and by earnest inquiry and asking who he was happened to take knowledge of him He drew him forth out of the place and when he for fear fell down humbly at his feet took hold of his knees to move his compassion saluted him Emperour From thence he immediately brought him to his Fellow-Souldiers who as yet stood wavering by them was he bestowed in a Litter and for that his own Servants were fled they by turns supported the Litter upon their shoulders and so he was brought into the Pretorian Camp all sad and amazed for fear pitied also by the multitude that met him upon the way as if some innocent had been haled to execution Being received within the Entrenchments he lodged in the Camp all night and in the morning the Souldiers swore Allegiance to him Thus was he unexpectedly made Emperour in the fiftieth year of his age 15. Regillianus was General in Illyricum and the Souldiers being ill-affected to Galienus the Emperour were busying themselves upon new designs It fortuned that many of them supped together and Valerianus a Tribune in his wine and mirth was asking Whence may we believe the name of Regillianus did first come A regno from reigning replied one then said all the Souldiers there present He may then be a King and thus upon the sole occasion of this one word spoken at all adventures he was fetched out of his Tent and saluted Emperour and behaved himself with great Gallantry against the Sarmatians 16. Tacitus the Emperour was dead and Florianus his Brother aspired to the Empire but while the Election was depending the Oriental Armies were resolved to have an Emperour of their own choice They were assembled together on purpose to pitch upon some one when the Tribunes as it was fit in that case advised them to chuse fortem clementem probum Imperatorem they catched at the word and suddenly cryed out Probus Augustus the Gods preserve thee so they clad Probus in Purple and other the Imperial Ornaments and proclaimed him Emperour 17. Pisistratus came this way to the chief Rule and sole Power in the City of Athens He shewed himself very affable and courteous to the Citizens and liberal where occasion required it so that he was looked upon as the sure refuge and Sanctuary of such as were oppressed with injury or poverty The Nobility held this course of his suspected and he was well aware thereof and therefore he bethought himself which way he might cajole the Nobility and procure a Guard about his own person to this purpose he gives himself several wounds and then all wounded and bloody comes into the Market-place tells the Citizens that these were the rewards of his goodness to them and theirs which he had now newly received at the hands of the men of power in the City as also that his life was in perpetual hazard unless they would take â—ome course to secure it unto whom alone he had devoted himself and life The people were moved with indignation they decreed him a Guard about his person by means of which he supprest the Nobility made himself the Tyrant of that City and oppressed the people 18. Phrynichus was chosen General of their Forces by the Athenians not because of any grace or favour he was in with them not for any Nobility in his descent nor that he had the reputation of a rich man for which reasons they had often preferred others but in a certain Tragedy having framed his Poem and Musick so much unto military motion that for this reason alone the whole Theatre cryed out that they would have him for their General supposing that he could not be without military skill who had composed a Poem that had in it a spirit not unfitted to the condition of men of War 19. Alfredus King of the West Saxons went out one day a hunting and passing by a certain Wood he heard as he supposed the cry of an infant from the top of a tree he diligently inquired of the Huntsmen what that was commanding one of them to climb the tree where in the top of it was found an Eagles Nest and therein a pretty sweet-fac'd Infant wrapt up in a Purple Mantle and upon each arm a Bracelet of Gold a sign of the Nobility of his Parents This Child the King carried with him caused him to be baptized and from the Nest wherein he was found he gave him the name of Nesting after he had given him noble Education he advanced him to the Dignity of an Earl CHAP. XI Of sundry Customs that were in use and force with
goes home and puts himself to death To change death into banishment is held unlawful and it is said that when one had received the sign of death and had intentioâ—s to flye out of Ethiopia his Mother being apprehensive of it fastned her girdle about his neck and he not offering to resist her with his hands lest he should thereby fasten a reproach upon his Family was strangled by her 15. In the greater India in the Kingdom of Var in which St. Thomas is said to be slain and buried he amongst them who is to undergo a capital punishment begs of the King that he may rather dye in honour of some God than an inglorious death by the hands of the Hang-man If the King in mercy grant him it by his kindred with great joy he is led through the City with mighty pomp he is placed in a chair with sharp knives all hung about his neck When he comes to the place of Execution with a loud voice he affirms he will dye in honour of this or that God then taking one of the knives he wounds himself where he pleases then a second then a third till his strength fail and so he is honourably burnt by his friends 16. The Mosynaeci that live beyond the River Carambis if their King whom they have chosen have done any thing amiss they punish him in this sort they suffer him not to eat any thing for one day entire 17. The Scots have a Custom which is also at Millain they call it an Indictment there is a Chest in the Church into which any man may cast a paper having suppose the name of the Wizard the thing done by him the place and time and also the Witnesses set down This Chest in the presence of the Judge is opened the Kings Proctor being by and this is done every fifteenth day that there may be a private inquiry made of all such persons whose names are there found and they accordingly to be brought before them 18. The ancient Romans appointed that about the Axes which were carried before the Magistrates bundles of Rods should be bound that while those bundles were unloosing a convenient space of time should be given to the Magistrate â—est in a heat of passion he should command such things to be done whereof afterwards he should but in vain repent himself 19. The Egyptians yearly compelled all persons to give in their names and profession to the Magistrate and such as they found to lye or live upon unlawful gains they adjudged to death Also about the neck of their principal Justice there is hung the Image of a Deity of Gold and Gems which Deity they called Truth by which they shewed that truth ought always to be in the heart and mouth of a Judge and when they beheld that they should prefer it before all other things 20. The Romans used to take away the horses from such men as were of a fat and corpulent body as a mark of infamy upon them For when through luxury they had unfitted themselves for the service of their Country they would they should be without publick honour in it Also they caused such as were convicted of cowardise to be let blood in the arm that they might dishonourably lose that blood which they feared to shed for the honour and safety of their Country 21. That was also a praise-worthy Custom of the Romans whereby it was forbidden that those spoils which they had taken from their enemies and consumed through length of time should ever be renewed By which they seemed to take care that that hatred which might appear to be retained while the spoils were standing should in some time be obliterated and cease with the spoils themselves 22. The Corinthians were wont without much examination to hang up such as were suspected of theft and upon the third day after the matter was strictly examined by the Judge then if it was found that they had really committed the theft whereof they had been accused they left them hanging upon the Gallows but if they were adjudged to be innocent they were taken thence and buried with a preface of honour at the publick charge 23. The Thracians did celebrate the birth of any with mournful complaints and their Funerals with all the signs of mirth and expressions of joy this they did without any directions therein from the learned but only moved thereunto with apprehensions of the miserable condition of humane life 24. The Lycians when any matter of mourning doth befal them use to put upon themselves the cloaths and habit of a Woman that so being moved with the deformity of their array they might be willing the sooner to lay aside their foolish grief 25. The old Gaules had a Custom that when they were about to make War they called forth their armed Youth unto Council and he whosoever he was that came last upon that summons was put to death by divers torments 26. The Romans whether they went into the Country or travelled further at their return used to send a Messenger before them to their Wives to let them know that they are at hand and upon this reason they did it because women in the absence of their husbands are supposed to be detained with many cares and much employment possibly they have brawls and discontents in the family that therefore all these might be laid aside and that they might have time to receive their husbands in peace and with chearfulness they send before them the news of their arrival 27. Plutarch saith that the King of Persia hath one of his Bed-chamber who hath this given him in charge that in the morning when he first enters the Kings Chamber he should awake him with these words Arise O King and take care of those affairs which Mâ—soromasdes hath commanded thee to take care of 28. The Iews before they entred Battel by publick Edict commanded them to depart from the Army who were newly married and had not brought home their wives also all those that had planted a Vineyard and had not yet eaten of the fruit of it and those who had begun to build a house and had not yet finished it together with these all such as were cowardly and fearful lest the desire of those things which the one had begun or the saint-heartedness of the other should occasion them to fight feebly and also by their fears possess the hearts of such as were bold and valiant 29. The manner of making War amongst the Romans and the recovery of such things as were injuriously detained was this They sent forth Feciales or Heralds whom they also called Orators crowned with Vervain that they might make the Gods witnesses who are the Revengers of broken Leagues He that was crowned with Vervain carried a Turff with the grass upon it out of the Tower and the Ambassador when he came to their borders who were the offerers of the
in the same sentences so that the Gentiles then present pronounced those Scriptures to have been translated by the inspiration of the holy Spirit of God 30. When Anterus had sate Bishop of Rome for one month only he died after whose death it was that Fabianus came from the Country together with certain others to dwell at Rome when such a thing as never was seen before at the Election of a Bishop happened then by the divine and celestial Grace of God For when all the Brethren had gathered themselves together for to make choice of a Bishop and many thought upon divers notable and famous men Fabianus being there present with others when as every one thought least nay nothing at all of him suddenly from above there came a Dove and rested upon his head after the example of the Holy Ghost which in likeness of a Dove descended upon our Saviour and so the whole multitude being moved thereat with one and the same Spirit of God cryed out chearfully with one accord that he was worthy of the Bishoprick and immediately he was taken and installed Bishop 31. Constantine the Emperour going against the Tyrant Maxentius had a certain Vision It was about noon the day somewhat declining when he saw in the Sky a lightsom Pillar in form of a Cross wherein these words were engraven In hoc vince i.e. In this overcome This so amazed the Emperour that he mistrusting his own sight demanded of them that were present whether they perceived the Vision which when all with one consent had affirmed the wavering mind of the Emperour understand it of Religion whether he should become a Christian or not was setled with that divine and wonderful sight The night following he dreamed that Christ came unto him and said Frame to thy self the form of a Cross after the example of the sign which appeared unto thee and bear the same against the enemies as a fit Banner or token of Victory which he accordingly did and was victorious 32. That was a rare instance of propitious Fortune which befel Thomas Serranus who in one and the same year was consecrated Bishop elected Cardinal and also attained to the Popedom by the name of Nicholas the Fifth 33. Franciscus Trovillon was a man of a middle stature a full body bald except in the hinder part of the head which had a few hairs upon it his temper was morose and his demeanour altogether rustick he was born in a little Village called Mezieres and bred up in the Woods amongst the Charcoal men About the seventh year of his age he began to have a swelling in his forehead so that about the seventeenth year of his age he had a horn there as big as a mans finger end which afterwards did admit of that growth and increase that when he came to be thirty five years old this horn had both the bigness and resemblance of a Rams horn It grew upon the midst of his forehead and then bended backward as far as the coronal â—uture where the other end of it did sometimes so stick in the skin that to avoid much pain he was constrained to cut off some part of the end of it whether this horn had its roots in the skin or forehead I know not but probably being of that weight and bigness it grew from the skull it self nor am I certain whether this man had any of those teeth which we call Grinders For two months together the man was exposed to shew in Paris where saith Vrstitius in the year 1598. I in company with Dr. Iacobus Faeschius the publick Professor at Basil and Mr. Iohannes Eckenstenius did see and handle this horn From Paris he was carried to Orleance where as I am informed he died soon after he came 34. In the time of a grievous Persecution Felix Presbyter of the City of Nola by a divine instinct hid himself in the corner of a ruined Wall and before the Persecutors had pursued him thither a Spider had drawn her web at the mouth of the hole whereinto the Presbyter had put himself His enemies told them that Felix was crept in at that very place but they beholding the Spiders web could not be perswaded that any man could enter and lurk there where the Spiders lived and laboured so securely and thereupon by their departure Felix escaped Paulinus once Bishop of that City hath these Verses upon this occasion which I will also try to English Eccubi Christus adest tenuissima aranea muro est At ubi Christus abest murus aranea fiet Where God is present Spiders spin a wall He gone our Bulwarks like to cobwebs fall 35. In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth there was one Mr. Gresham a Merchant of London who was sailing homewards from Paâ—ermo a City in Sicily wherein was dwelling at that time one Antonio sirnamed the Rich who had at one time two Kingdoms mortgaged to him by the King of Spain Mr. Gresham crossed by contrary winds was constrained to anchor under the Lee of the Island of Strombulo where was a burning Mountain Now about the mid-day when for a certain space the Mountain used to forbear sending forth flames he with eight of the Sailors ascended the Mountain approaching as near the vent as they durst where amongst other noises they heard a voice cry aloud Dispatch dispatch the Rich Antonio is a coming Terrified herewith they hasted their return and the Mountain presently vomited out fire but from so dismal a place they made all the haste they could and desiring to know more of this matter since the winds still thwarted their course they returned to Palermo and forthwith inquiring for Antonio they found that he was dead about the instant so near as they could compute when that voice was heard by them Mr. Gresham at his return into England reported this to the King and the Marinâ—â—s being called before him confirmed the same by their Oaths Upon Gresham this wrought so deep an impression that he gave over all merchandizing distributed his Estate partly to his Kindred and partly to good uses retaining only a competency for himself and so spent the rest of his days in a solitary devotion 36. That is much to be admired at as being little less than a Miracle which is related of Xenophilus a Musician who lived to the age of an hundred and five years without any manner of disease or indisposition of body throughout his whole life 37. The Governour of Mountmarine besieged by Augustus the base Son of the Prince of Salucia was called forth as it were to parley and then held Prisoner he was threatned with death if he yielded not up the place and was so frighted with the apprehensions of this undeserved death that he sweat blood over all his body CHAP. XX. Of matters of importance and high Designs either promoted or made to miscarry by small matters or strange accidents PLutarch tells us of a
was sirnamed the Ape because he was able to express any thing by a most ingenious imitation 10. Alexander the Great carried his neck somewhat awry and thereupon all the Courtiers and Great men took up the same as a fashion and framed themselves to his manner though in so mall a matter 11. The luxury of the Romans was exceeding great in their Feasts Cloaths Houshold-stuff and whole Families unto the time of Vespasian and it was so confirmed amongst them that it could not be restrained by the force of those many Laws that were made against it But when he came to be Emperour of it self it streight became out of fashion for while he himself observed the ancient manner both in his diet and attire the love and fear of the Prince swayed more with the people than the Law it self 12. It is said of the Emperour Titus Vespasian That he could write in Cyphers and Characters most swiftly striving by way of sport and mirth with his own Secretaries and Clerks whether he or they could write fastest also he could imitate and express exactly any hand-writing whatsoever he had once seen so that he would often profess he could have made a notable Forger and Counterfeiter of Writings 13. When King Henry the Eighth of England about the year 1521. did cut his hair short immediately all the English were so moved with his example that they were all shorn whereas before they used to wear long hair 14. Lewis the Eleventh King of France used to say he would have his Son Charles understand nothing of the Latine Language further than this Qui nescit dissimulare nescit reguare He that knows not how to dissemble knows not how to reign This advice of King Lewis was so evil interpreted by the Nobles of France that thereupon they began to despise all kind of learning On the contrary when Francis the First shewed himself a mighty Favourer of learning and learned men most men in imitation of his example did the like 15. Ernestus Prince of Lunenburg complaining to Luther of the immeasurable drinking that was at Courts Luther replied That Princes ought to look thereunto Ah! Sir said he we that are Princes do so our selves otherwise it would long since have gone down Manent exempla regentum In vulgus When the Abbot throweth the Dice the whole Covent will play 16. Queen Anne the Wife of King Iames had a Wen in her neck to hide which she used to wear a Ruff and this they say was the original and first occasion of that fashion which soon after spread it self over the most part of England 17. A certain Duke of Bavaria before he went to his Diet or Council used to call his Servant to bring him water in a Bason in the bottom whereof was stamped in Gold the Image of Cato Major that so he might fix the impression of his Image in his mind the imitation of whose vertues he had prudently proposed for his practice 18. The Emperour Charles the Fifth having resigned his Kingdom and betaken himself to a Monastery laboured to wash out the stains of his defiled Conscience by Confession to a Priest and with a Discipline of platted Cords he put himself to a constant and sharp Penance for his former wicked life This Discipline his Son King Philip ever had in great veneration and a little before his death commanded it to be brought unto him as it was stained in the blood of Charles his Father Afterwards he sent it to his Son Philip the Third to be kept by him as a Relique and a sacred Monument 19. Antoninus Caracalla being come to Troy visited the Tomb of Achilles adorning it with a Crown and dressing it with flowers and framing himself to the imitation of Achilles he called Festus his best beloved Freed-man by the name of Patroclus While he was there Festus died made away on purpose as it was supposed by him that so he might bury him with the same Solemnities as Achilles did his Friend Indeed he buried him honourably using all the same Rites as Achilles had done in the Funerals of Patroclus In this performance when he sought for hair to cast upon the funeral Pile and that he had but thin hair he was laughed at by all men yet he caused that little he had to be cast into the fire being clipped off for that purpose He also was a studious Imitator of Alexander the Great he went in the Macedonian Habit chose out a Band of young men whom he called the Macedonian Phalanx causing them to use such Arms as were used when Alexander was alive and commanded the Leaders of the Roman Legions to take upon themselves the names of such Captains as served Alexander in his Wars CHAP. XXII Of the Authority of some persons amongst their Souldiers and Country-men and Seditions appeased by them divers ways NEar Assos there are stones which in few days not only consume the flesh of dead bodies but the very bones too and there is in Palestine an Earth of the same operation and quality Thus there are some men who by their singular prudence and authority are able not only to cease the present tumult and disorder of a people but to take such effectual course that the very seeds and causes of their fermentation and distemper should be utterly consumed and removed Of what force the presence of some and the eloquence of others hath been in this matter see in the Chapter following 1. Caius Caesar the Dictator intending to transfer the War into Africa his Legionaries at Rome rose up in a general mutiny desiring to be disbanded and discharged from the War Caesar though otherwise perswaded by all his friends went out to them and shewed himself amongst the enraged multitude He called them Quirites that is Commoners of Rome by which one word he so shamed and subdued them that they made answer they were Souldiers and not Commoners and being then by him publickly discharged they did not without difficulty obtain of him to be restored to their Commissions and places 2. Arcagathus the Son of Agathocles had slain Lycifcus a great Captain for some intemperate words whereupon the friends of the dead put the Army into such a commotion that they demanded Arcagathus to death and threatned the same punishment to Agathocles himself unless he did yield up his Son Besides this divers Captains with their Companies spake of passing over to the Enemy Agathocles fearing to be delivered into the hands of the Enemy and so to be put to some ignominious death thought in case he must suffer he had better die by the hands of his own Souldiers so laying aside the Royal Purple and putting on a vile garment he came forth to them silence was made and all ran together to behold the novelty of the thing when he made a Speech to them agreeable to the present state of things he told them of the great
Olympick devised by Hercules in honour of Iupiter The Exercises were much the same and the reward no other than a Garland of Oaken boughs yet drawing yearly a mighty confluence of people to them These Games were first celebrated by Sisyphus in honour of Melicerta and the Masteries were performed in the night but being intermitted through the robberies of Scyron and Sinnis for fear of whom all strangers feared to come they were renewed and restored by Theseus who had overcome the Robbers by him they were ordered to be in the day They were celebrated every fifth year say Pliny and Solinus but Pindar himself saith they were kept every third year 4. The Pythian Games were instituted in honour of Apollo and celebrated not only at Delphos but also amongst the Magnetes Sicyonians and others They were of great reputation amongst the Greeks more ancient than the Isthmian and not so old as the Olympick The death of the Serpent Python is supposed to administer the first occasion of them The Assembly to them was in the beginning of the Spring at first every ninth year and afterwards every fifth The same Exercises were here as in the Olympick the reward various at first a Laurel Theseus made it a Garland of Palm Eurylochus appointed it should be of Money 5. The Scenick Plays at Rome so called from Scena The first institution of them was occasioned by reason of a great pestilence which by no medicinal help could be removed The Romans then superstitiously conceiting that some new Games or Sports being found out the wrath of the Gods would thereby be averted They thereupon about the 400. year from the building of Rome sent for certain Stage-players out of Hetruria which they call Histriones from the Hetrurian word Hister which signifies such a Player 6. The Ludi Compitales in Rome were such as usually were solemnized in Compitis that is in the croâ—s-ways and streets Servius Tullus who succeeded Tarquin in the Kingdom was the first that instituted these solemn Games in honour of the Houshold-Gods or familiar Spirits he himself being thought to be begotten by one of these Genii or Goblins 7. The old Romans at the expulsion of their Kings annually solemnized the Fugalia according to which pattern the joyful English having cleared their Country of the Danes instituted the annual Sports of Hock-Tide the word in their old Tongue the Saxon importing the time of scorning or triumphing This Solemnity consisted of the merry Meetings of the Neighbours in those days during which the Festival lasted and were celebrated by the younger sort of both sexes with all manner of Exercises and Pastimes in the streets even as Shrove-Tide yet is But now time hath so corrupted it that the name excepted there remaineth no sign of the first institution 8. Lactantius speaking of the Plays called Floralia They are made saith he with all dissoluteness and fitly correspond with the memory of the infamous Harlot that erected them For besides the lasciviousness of words in which all villany overfloweth at the request of the people the common Harlots are stript stark naked and brought upon the Stage where in open view they exercise all the wanton gestures and motions of their Trade till the beholders have glutted their lustful eyes with such shews 9. The Athenians having overcome the Persians under the Conduct of Themistocles did ordain by a particular Law that from thenceforth annually upon a certain day there should be a fighting of Cocks exhibited in the publick Theatre the occasion of which was this When Themistocles had drawn out the City-forces to fight against the Barbarians he saw two Cocks fighting which he beheld with earnâ—stness and having shewed them to his whole Army Yet these said he do not undergo this danger either for their Houshold-Gods or for the Monuments of their Ancestors they â—ight neither for glory nor for liberty nor the safety of their children but only because the one will not be inferiour or give place to the other By this means he mightily confirmed the minds of the Athenians and thereupon what had once been to them so strong an incitement to vertue they would preserve the memorial of against the like occasions 10. The Argives had certain solemn Games in their City called Sthenia where there was Wrastling and their Musick was that of Hautboys These Games were by report instituted at first in honour and mâ—mory of their King Danaus and were afterwards consecrated to the honour of Iupiter sirnamed Sthenius 11. The Ludi Seculares were so called because they were to be exhibited but once in an Age at the proclaiming of which the Cryer used to invite Spectators in such terms as these Come to those Plays which no man now living hath yet seen or shall see again Claudius Caesar pretending that Octavianus Augustus had anticipated the time and had celebrated them before the just return of them resolved to exhibit them himself He therefore placed in the great Cirque for the Racers Pillars of Marble from whence they were to set out and the Goals or ending places of their Races were gilt over He appointed proper places for all the Senators where they might behold what was done whereas before they sate intermixed with the Commons Besides the contentions of Charioteers he exhibited the Games of Troy There were also appointed Thessalian Horse-men who hunted wild Bulls all along the Cirque who leaped upon their backs when they were weary and by their horns drew them down to the earth Besides these there was a Troop of Pretorian Horse-men who had Tribunes for their Leaders and these hunted and killed a number of Panthers and Leopards This sort of Play was also celebrated by Philip the Emperour at his return from the Persian Expedition 1000 years after the building of Rome there was then a notable Hunting performed and there were given to be killed thirty two Elephants twenty Tygers sixty tame Lions an hundred Hyenae one Rhinocerote ten Archoleontes ten Camelopards forty wild Horses thirty tame Leopards and besides all this theâ—e were appointed a thousand pair of Fencers or Sword-players at sharps to delight the câ—uel eyes of the people with their blood and wounds 12. The Quinquennalia Decennalia Vicennalia and Tricennalia were solemn Games Plays and Spectacles exhibited by the Roman Emperours in honour of their arrival to the fifth tenth twentieth and thirtieth year of their Reign All these were performed with great magnificenceâ— and vast expences and that successively by the Emperour Constantine the Great CHAP. XXVI Of such persons as have made their Appeals to God in case of injury and injustice from men and what hath followed thereupon IT was the Saying of the Emperour Maximilian Fiat justitia ruat coelum Let Justice be done and it matters not what shall come after The Tribunals of men may sometimes fail in the distribution of Justice through such intricacy of the Cause want of discerning
all the Rules of Art passed for miraculous One of the Souldiers of the Dukes Guards called Faure received a Cannon shot in his belly which passed quite through leaving an orifice bigger than a Hat-crown so that the Chirurgions could not imagine though it were possible the bowels should remain unoffended that Nature could have supplied so wide a breach which notwithstanding she did and to that perfectionâ— that the party found himself as well as before Another of the same condition called Ramee and of the same place they being both Natives of St. Iean de Angely received a Musket-shot which entring at his mouth came out of the nape of his neck who was also perfectly cured Which two extravagant wounds being reported to the King his Majesty took them both into his own particular dependence saying Those were men that could not die though they afterwards both ended their days in his service 12. I was familiarly acquainted with a man of no mean condition who about sixteen years ago being accused of high matters was brought to Berne where he was several times put and tortured upon the Rack with great rigour notwithstanding he constantly affirmed in the midst of all his pain that he was innocent so that at last he was freed and restored to his dignity This person for many years past had been miserably tormented with the Gout but from the time of his torturâ—s before-mentioned and his use of the Valesian Baths his health was so far confirmed that being alive at this day he never was sensible of the least pain of his Gout but although he is now old he is able to stand and walk in a much better manner than before he could 13. A young Woman married but without chiâ—dren had a disease about her Jaws and under her Cheâ—k like unto Kernels and the disease so corrupted her face with stench that she could scaâ—câ— without great shame speak unto any man Tâ—is Woman was admonished in â—er sleep to go to King Edward and get him to wash her face with water and she should be whole To the Court she came and the King hearing of the matter disdained not to undertake it but having a Bason of water brought unto him he dipped his hand therein and washed the Womans face and touched the diseased part oftentimes sometimes also signing it with the sign of the Cross. When he had thus washed it the hard crust or skin was softned the tumours dissolved and drawing his hand by divers of the holes out thence came divers little Worms whereof and of corrupt matter and blood they were full The King still pressed it with his hand to bring forth the corruption and endured the stench of it until by such pressing he had brought forth all the corruption This done he commanded her a sufficient allowance every day for all things necessary until she had received perfect health which was within a week after and whereas she was ever before barren within one year she had a child by her Husband This disease hath since been called the Kings Evil and is frequently cured by the touch of the Kings of England 14. Sir Iohn Cheeke was once one of the Tutors to King Edward the Sixth afterwards Secretary of State much did the Kingdom value him but more the King for being once desperately sick the King carefully inquiring of him every day at last his Physician told him there was no hope of his life being given over by him for a dead man No said the King he will not die at this time for this morning I begged his life from God in my prayers and obtained it which accordingly came to pass and he soon after contrary to all expectation wonderfully recovered This saith Dr. Fuller was attâ—sted by the old Earl of Huntington bred up in his childhood with King Edward to Sir Thomas Cheeke who was alive Anno 1654. and eighty years of age 15. Duffe the threescore and eighteenth King of Scotland laboured with a new and unheard of disease no cause apparent all remedies bootless his body languishing in a continual sweat and his strength apparently decaying insomuch as he was suspected to be bewitched which was increased by a rumour that certain Witches of Forest in Murry practised his destruction arising from a word which a Girl let fall that the King should die shortly who being examined by Donald Captain of the Castle and Tortures shewed her confessed the truth and how her mother was one of the Assembly When certain Souldiers being sent in search surprized them roasting the waxen Image of the King before a soft fire to the end that as the Wax melted by degrees so should the King dissolve by little and little and his life consume with the consumption of the other the Image broken and the Witches executed the King recovered his woâ—ted health in a moment 16. When Albertus Basa Physician to the King of Poland returned out of Italy he diverted to Paracelfus who then lived at the City of St. Vitus with him he went to visit a sick person of whom all who were there present said That he could not possibly live above an hour or two and by reason of an indisposition in his brest a defect in his pulse and failing of his spirits they pronounced of him that he would not live out a few hours Paracelsus said it would be so indeed in despite of all that skill in Physick which the Humourists have but that he might easily be restored by that true Art which God had shut up in Nature and thereupon he invited the sick man to dine with him the next day then he produced a certain distillation three drops of which he gave to the Patient in Wine which immediately â—o restored the man that he was well that night and the next day came to Paracelsus his Inn and dined with him in sound and perfect health to the admiration of all men CHAP. XXXVI Of Stratagems in War for the amusing and defeating of the Enemy and taking of Cities c. MArcellus was called the Roman Sword and Fabius their Shield or Buckler for as the one was a resolute and sharp Aâ—saulter of the Enemy so the other was as cautious and circumspect a Preserver of his Army These two Qualities whensoever they are happily met together in one man they make an able Commander but to render a General compleat there ought to be a certain fineness of wit and invention and a quickness of apprehension and discerning by the one to intrap the Enemy and by the other to avoid the snares which the Enemy hath laid for him in these no man was perhaps a greater Master than he who is next mentioned 1. When the strength and power of the Carthaginians was broken Anibal betook himself to Antiochus the great King of Asia him he stirred up against the Romans and made him victoâ—ious in a naval fight by this subtil device of his He had caused a great
you forgotten that our Sâ—nate is humane and moderate towards those they treat with But the people are high spirited and desirous of great matters If therefore in the Assembly of the people you shall declare you come with full power they will impose upon you what they please rather deal so with them as if you had not the full power and I for my part will do all I am able in favour of your State and confirm'd it to them with an Oath Next day at the Assembly of the people Alcibiades with great civility demanded of the Embassadours in what quality they came whether as Plenipotentiaries or not They denied what they had said before in the Senate and declared before the people that they had not full power to conclude matters Hereupon Alcibiades immediately cryed out That they were a sort of unfaithful and inconstant men no way to be trusted by this means he so excited both the Senate and People against them that they could do nothing CHAP. VI. Of such as were eminent Sea-men or discoverers of Lands or Passages by Sea formerly unknown WHen Anacharsis was once asked which he thought to be the greatest number of the living or the dead Of which sort said he do you take those to be that Sail upon the Seas He doubted it seems whether they were to be reputed amongst the living who permitted their lives to the pleasure â—f the Winds and Waves Had all others been possessed with the same timerous Sentiments the World had wanted those Noble Spirits who could not rest satisfied till by their own hazards they had brought one Hemisphere to some acquaintance with the other 1. Christopher Columbus born at Nervy in the Signiory of Genoa being a man of great abilities and born to undertake great matters could not perswade himself the motion of the Sun considered but that there was another World to which that glorious Planet did impart both his life and heat when he went from us This World he purposed to seek after and opening his design to the State of Genoa Anno 1486. was by them rejected Upon this repulse he sent his Brother Bartholomew to King Henry the seventh of England who in his way happened unfortunately into the hands of Pirates by whom detain'd a long while at last he was enlarged As soon as he was set at liberty he repaired to the Court of England where his proposition found such a chearful entertainment at the hands of the King that Christopher Columbus was sent for to come thither also But Christopher not knowing of his brothers imprisonment and not hearing from him conceived the offer of his Sâ—rvice to have been neglected and thereupon made his desires known at the Court of Castile where after many delayes and six years attendance on the business he was at last furnished with three Ships only and those not for conquest but discovery With this small strength he sailed on the Ocean more than sixty daies yet could see no Land so that the discontented Spaniards began to mutiny and refused to move a foot forwards just at that time it happened that Columbus did discern the Clouds to carry a clearer colour than they did before and therefore besought them only to expect three daies longer in which space if they saw not Land he promised to return toward the end of the third day One of the company called Roderigo de Triane descried fire an evident token they drew near unto some shore The place discovered was an Island on the Coast of Florida called by Columbus St. Saviours now counted one of the Lucaios Landing his men and causing a Tree to be cut down he made a Cross thereof which he erected near the place where he came on Land and by that ceremony took possession of the New World for the Kings of Spain October 11. 1492. Afterwards he discovered and took possession of Hispaniola and with much Treasure and content returned to Spain and was preferred by the Kings themselves for this good service first to be Admiral of the Indies and in conclusion to the title of the Duke De la Vega in the Isle of Iamaica The next year he was furnished with eighteen ships for more discoveries in this second Voyage he discovered the Islands of Cuba and Iamaica and built the Town of Isabella after called Domingo in Hispaniola from whence for some severities used against the mutinous Spaniards he was sent Prisoner to Castile but very honourably entertained and absolved of all the crimes imputed to him In 1497. he began his third Voyage in which he discovered the Countrys of Pana and Cuâ—â—na on the firm land with the Islands of Cubagna and Margarita and many other Islands Capes and Provinces In 1500. he began his fourth and last Voyage in the Course whereof coming to Hispaniola he was unworthily denyed entrance into the City of Domingo by Nicholas de Ovendo then Governour thereof After which scowring the Sea-Coasts as far as Nombre de Trias but adding little to the fortune of his â—ormer discoveries he returned back to Cuba and Iamaica and from thence to Spain where six years after he dyed and was buried honourably at Sevil Anno 1506. 2. Columbus having led the way was seconded by Americus Vesputius an adventurous Florentine employed therein by Emanuel King of Portugal Anno 1501. on a design of finding out a nearer way to the Molucca's than by the Cape of good Hope who though he passed no further than the Cape of St. Augustines in Brasile yet from him to the great injury and neglect of the first Discoverer the Continent or main Land of this Country hath the name of America by which it is still known and commonly called 3. To him succeeded Iohn Cabott a Venetian the Father of Sebastian Cabott in behalf of Henry the seventh King of England who discovered all the North Out-coasts of America from the Cape of Florida in the South to New-found-land and Terra de Laborador in the North causing the American Roytolets to turn homagers to the King and Crown of England 4. Ferdinandus Cortesius was as I suppose the most famous of all the Spaniards for the discovery of new Lands and People For passing the Promontory of Cuba that points directly to the West and is under the Tropick of Cancer and leaving Iucatana and Colvacana on the left hand he bent his course till he attained the entrance of the great River Panucus where he understood by Interpreters he had in his former Voyage that these were the Shores of the Continent which by a gentle turning was on this side connected with the Shores of Vraban but on the other Northward after a vast tract oâ— Land did conjoyn it self with those Countreys which Seamen call Baccalaurae He also was informed that the large and rich Kingdoms of Mexico were extended from the South to the West these Kingdoms he was desirous to visit as abounding in Gold and all kind of plenty the
Clime temperate as scituate under the Aequator Here making advantage of the difference betwixt two Kings contending with each other having strengthned himself but especially by the terrour of his Guns and Horses he overcame Montezuma the most potent of all the Kings made himself Master of the great City Temistitana and took possession of that rich and fertile Country in the Name of his Master But long he did not enjoy it for the same of these great actions drew the envy of the Court upon him so that he was sent for back having as a reward of his virtue received the Town of Vallium from Charles the Emperour to him and his Posterity for ever He afterwards followed Caesar in his African Expedition to Algier where he lost his precious Furniture by Shipwrack Of a mean mans Son of the poor Town of Medelinum Caesar raised him to the degree of a Noble-man some few years after which he dyed at home not as yet aged 5. Sir Francis Drake was born nigh South Tavestock in Devonshire and brought up in Kent being the Son of a Minister who fled into Kent for fear of the six Articles and bound his Son to the Master of a small Bark which traded into France and Zealand his Master dying unmarried bequeathed his Bark to him which he sold and put himself into farther employment at first with Sir Iohn Hawkins afterwards upon his own account Anno 1577. upon the thirteenth of December with a fleet of five Ships and Barks and one hundred seventy four men Gentlemen and Saylers he began that famous Navigation of his wherein he sayled round about the world with great vicissitude of Fortune he finished that Voyage arriving in England November the third 1580. the third year of his setting out having in the whole Voyage though a curious searcher after the time lost one day through the variation of several climates He feasted the Queen in his Ship at Dartford who Knighted him for his service being the first that had accomplished so great a design He is therefore said to have given for his device a Globe with this Motto Tu primus circumdedisti me Thou first didst Sayl round me A Poet then living directed to him this Epigram Drake pererrati novit quem terminus Orbis Quemque simul Mundi vidit uterque Polus Si Taceant homines facient te sydera notum Sol nescit comitis non memor esse sui Drake whom th'encompast Earth so fully knew And whom at once both Poles of Heav'n did view Should Men forget thee Sol could not forbear To Chronicle his fellow Travailer 6. Sebastian Cabot a Venetian rigged up two Ships at the cost of Henry the seventh King of England Anno 1496. intending to the Land of Cathai and from thence to turn towards India to this purpose he aimed at a passage by the Northwest but after certain dayes he found the Land ran towards the North he followed the Continent to the fifty sixth degree under our Pole and there finding the Coast to turn towards the East and the Sea covered with Ice he turned back again sayling down by the Coast of that Land towards the Aequinoctial which he called Baccalaos from the number of fishes found in that Sea like Tunnies which the Inhabitants call Baccalaos Afterwards he sayled along the Coast unto thirty eight degrees and provisions failing he returned into England was made Grand Pilot of England by King Edward the sixth with the allowance of a large pension of one hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence during life 7. Mr. Thomas Candish of Trimley in the County of Suffolk Esquire departed out of Plimouth Thursday the twenty first of Iuly 1586. with the Desire a Ship of one hundred and twenty Tun the Content of sixty Tun and the Hugh-gallant a Bark of forty Tun with one hundred twenty three Persons of all sorts with these he made an admirable and successful Voyage into the South Sea and from thence about the circumference of the whole Earth and the ninth of September 1588. after a terrible Tempest which carried away most part of their Sayls they recovered their long wished for Port of Plimouth in England whence they set forth in the beginning of their Voyage CHAP. VII Of the Eloquence of some men and the wonderful power of perswasion that hath been in their Speeches and Orations AMongst the Heathen Mercury was accounted the God of Eloquence and with the rest of his Furniture they allotted him a Rod or Wand by virtue of which he had the power of conducting some souls to Hell and â—reeing others from thence By which they would signifie that the power of Eloquence is such as it frees from death such as the Hangman waited for and as often exposes innocence to the utmost severity of the Law See something of the force of it in the following Examples 1. Hegesias a Cyrenean Philosopher and Oratour did so lively represent the miseries of humane life in his Orations and fixed the Images of them so deep in the minds and hearts of his Auditors that many of them sought their freedom thence by a voluntary death Insomuch that King Ptolomaeus was enforced to send him a command that he should forbear to make any publick Orations upon that Subject for the future 2. Pericles the Athenian was said to thunder and lighten and to carry a dreadful thunderbolt in his tongue by reason of his Eloquence Thucydides the Milesian one of the Nobles and long his enemy in respect of State matters being asked by Archidamus the Spartan King which was the best Wrastler of Pericles or him As soon saith he as wrastling with him I have cast him to the ground he denies it and perswades that he had not the fall and withall so efficaciously that he makes all the Spectators to believe it Whensoever Pericles was to make an Oration he was very solicitous in the composure of it and whensoever he was to speak in any cause he ever used â—irst to pray to the gods that no single word might fall from his lips which was not agreeable to the present matter in hand 3. Many were famous amongst the Romans for Eloquence but this was never an hereditary priviledge save only in the family of the Curio's in which there were three Oratours in immediate succession to each other 4. Iohn Tiptoft Earl of Worcester was bred in Baliol Colledge he was the â—irst English person of honour that graced Learning with the study thereof in the dayes of King Edward the fourth both at home and in foreign Universities He made so eloquent an Oration in the Vatican in the presence of Pope Pius the second one of the least bad and most learned of his Order that his Holiness was divided betwixt weeping and wondring thereat 5. Demades was the Son of Demaeas a Mariner and from a Porter betook himself to the Commonwealth in the City of Athens all men