most excellent things in the worlde that euer were séene or heard of Now when all these ordinances of Alexander were red by Perdicas heard by the Macedonian Princes although they loued their master maruellously yet when they saw his enterprices to be such and of so great charge they all agreed with one consent that nothing should be done therin departing euery man to his Prouince whereunto he was appoynted by the gouernor Perdicas Shortly after they were all departed and seperated one from another Perdicas thought good hauing so fit oportunity to reuenge himselfe on those that first hindered him from being king And for because that Meleager now prince of Lydia whē he was sent ambassador to the footmē did earnestly stād against his desire altogether preuented his intent therefore Perdicas in reuenge first of all other most cruelly slew him with 30. of the most principall souldiers that were against his proceedings The other princes soon had intelligence of the things Perdicas had done fearing he would shew the like crueltie on them hearing also what their master Alexander had said on his deathbed which was that his kingdomes possessions should be possessed of the most worthy wherfore euery of them enioying so large prouinces and territories thought themselues as worthy personages as either Aride the king or Perdicas his gouernor insomuch that the most part of them would be subiect to neither but seniorized their Prouinces to their owne vses chalenging the name and title of kings deuiding themselues taking part one against the other euery one striuing who should bee worthiest Which words of Alexander together with their stately pride was the originall cause that the whole number of Princes and captaines successors to Alexander perished and were vtterly destroyed for they earnestly coueted each others kingdome raising among themselues bloudy war and cruell strife snatching after the most worthy place not forcing of cruell murthers or lamētable slaughters but with eger minds būted after y e goods life of ech other vntil they had vtterly rooted out consumed themselues for Perdicas hauing slaine Meleager and other of his fellow seruitors in Alexanders warres toke vpō him to go into Egypt to dispossesse Ptolome whom before he had placed in that Prouince But there because he behaued himselfe so proudly dismissing his captains vpon small occasions at his pleasure his souldiers set vpon him most fiercely slew him the greatest part of his army being gone to Ptolome King Philip Euridice his wife wer most cruelly murthered by Olympias Alexanders mother Craterus cōming against Eumenes in opē battail was by him slaine Eumenes also was slain in fight by Antigonus Antigonus likewise put to death Python and gaue his prouince to another Antigonus going to batel against Antioch the sonne of Seleucus was himselfe slain by default of his sonne Demetrius It was credebly reported that the night before Antigonus was slaine his son Demetrius dreamed that Alexander who before was dead came stood before him with his sword drawne saying I wil take part with thy enemies against thy father and thee in the morning also when Antigonus aranged his phalange or square battell of footmen comming foorth of his Tent to fight he stumbled and sell downe flat to the groūd and after he was lifted vp againe holding vp his hands to heauen he said I know hard fortune and euill successe drawethny but I pray the immortall Gods rather suffer me to be slaine in this battel than shamefully before mine enemie to flie Also old Antipater falling sick on a surfet which he had takē in these warres deceased and left the kingdome of Macedon to Polispercon his frend and not to Cassander his owne sonne which also caused great controuersie to arise betwixt his sonne Cassander and his friend Polispercon But in the end Cassander expelled Polispercon his fathers kingdome Not long after he himselfe came to vntimely death leauing behind him two sonnes the eldest hight Alexander the other Antipater which Antipater after he had slaine his owne mother sought meanes to driue his brother Alexander out of Macedon For which cause Alexander sent for ayde to king Pirrhus in Cyprus to Demetrius Antigone his sonne in Peloponnesus howbeit Demetrius being so occupied about the estate and affaires of Pelopōnesus whē the Ambassadors of Alexander came that hee coulde by no means help him In the mean time Pirrhus with a great armie came thether and in recompence of his ayde charge took possession of so large a peece of Macedon laying it to his owne countrey of Epyre that Alexander greatly dreaded him And while he abode in this feare he was aduertised that Demetrius was with his whole power comming to his ayde Wherupon he considering the authoritie great renowne of Demetrius and also the worthines of his déedes for which causes he was highly honoured through the whole world did now more than before feare his estate if he entered his realm wherfore he foorthwith went to méet him whom at their first méeting he right courteously and honorably entreated greatly thanking him for his courtesie and trauell in that he would leaue his own affaires of great importance and with so mightie an army come to his ayde further telling him that he already had wel quieted and established his estate so that he should not néede any further to trauell Neuertheles he thought himselfe so much bounde as if he had come at his first sending for or that all things had béen by his meanes quieted To these words Demetrius answered that he was right glad of his quietnes and that he had now no néed of his helpe besides many other louing and gentle words which gréeting ended either of thē for that night returned into his tent During which time there arose such matters betwixt thē that the one greatly suspected the other for as Demetrius was bid to supper with Alexander he was willed to take heede to himselfe for Alexander had practised by treason to slay him notwithstanding he by no mean shewed any countenance of mistrust but meant to go to the banquet to whose lodging Alexander was comming to bring him on his way But Demetrius diuersly detracted the time went a soft easie pace to y e ende his souldiers might haue leisure to arme them and cōmāded his garde being a greater number than Alexanders to enter with him also to waite neer his person but when Alexanders souldiers saw themselues the weaker part they durst not attempt it at that time And after supper because Demetrius would haue some honest cause to depart he fayned he was some what ill in his body therfore foorthwith took leaue of Alexander went thence The next day Demetrius feined that he had receiued letters out of his countrey of great importance so that he with his army must presently return into Peloponnese frō whēce he came praying Alexander to haue him excused offering him
flout and mock me that I despaired whether euer I should speake with your person or no so many of your abusers did represent your presence but now hoping to bee certified with the true reports of your owne mouth of those things and doubtes wherein you haue béen so often abused For it is crediblie reported that you are the greatest traueller in the world and haue séene all Kingdomes and nations of the earth by your vnspeakeable swiftnes the vttermost Iles in the maine Ocean hath had your presence the mightiest Kings and Princes of the earth can neither stop or hinder your appointed trauaile you passe their priuie chambers and know their secret counsailes your eyes haue séene the vncertaintie of time the mutabilitie of honor the vnconstancie of fortune the instabilitie varietie of the life of man the subuersion of kingdomes the ouerthrow of empires the ruine and destruction of stately townes and cities your eyes hath séene your eares hath heard your vnderstanding doth remember from the creation of the world and shall remaine vsque ad consummationem seculi therefore séeing your trauaile so wonderfull your cōtinuance so ancient and your memorie so notable I shall request you to vnfolde relate part of those things which your selfe are a witnesse of and haue with present eies beheld as the nature of things the condition of people with the inconueniences of this transitorie life and what calamities miseries troubles enormities and vexations doth commonly happen and incidently fall to man Fa. My good friend if the speaches of my mouth may chalenge such credite with you I am content to make you partaker of my great trauaile and what I know concerning the state of the world on this condition that your mind shall detaine carie away and perceiue with more liuelines of sense the effect of my words thā my tōgue by vttring can expresse so with your willing audience I shall bee content to resolue you in anie part wherein you shall demaund Scho. Sir I most hartely thanke you the condition shall be obserued kept to the vttermost of my power mine eares shal also be attendant in silent sort to uote your speaches wel therefore I pray you begin while I am armed with audience Fa. Well then my good friend it is requisit that I first begin with the enormities and inconueniences of the life state of man which he falleth oft into by the defalt of temperance without which gift he runneth headlong to his owne ruine destruction for Seneca saith If thou wilt esteeme and iudge truly what man is then set him naked before thee behold him well setting aside and laying a part from him possessions authoritie and all other giftes subiect to fortune then shall you see what he hath proper of himselfe and what he borroweth of other then shall you well perceiue this naked life of man without which gift it cannot well be preserued or gouerned but of necessitie must needes soone perish and decay Scho. Sir then by your leaue is temperance such a speciall necessary to the life of man Fa. Yea truely for on that hangeth and dependeth all other vertues requisite to the state and life of man it is the good ground of al gouernement a right direction to honest liuing and the true nurse and fosterer of prouident wisedom it keepeth the vnsatiable appetites of ambition vnder the yoke of reason and holdeth downe the immoderate desires of superioritie to be short I referre thée to the definition of Cicero who defineth it on this maner The property of temperance saith he is to couet nothing that afterward may be repented so that thorough the want thereof man falleth into infinite miseries Scho. Well sir then I perceiue that this gift is a most necessary and speciall maxime to the life and gouernement of man wherein I trust to be better instructed heereafter by some familiar examples which doth shew the fall and destruction in the wanters thereof and the quiet state and contentment to the possessors of the same Fa. Friend I will rehearse a very briefe example in the meane time for your better vnderstanding which shall shew a differēce betwixt the vnsatiable appetite of aspiring minds and the quiet state and peaceable contentment which is thorowly to be perceiued in the life of Aleaxnder the Great and Diogenes the philosopher Scho. First sir crauing pardon for interrupting your speeches me think this comparison is very vnfit vnseemely and the difference of vertue and vice will hardly be made manifest by the liues of these two the one being a great Prince and Emperour of many stately countries and kingdoms the other a poore seely beggar who liued by the almes of the people hauing for his house a simple tunne or barrell to harbour himselfe in without any other wealth or substaunce at all Fa. Nay then my good friend you will driue mee from the matter and cause me to make digression for argument sake but before I proceede any further it shall not be amisse to manifest the state of these two and descry your errour Alexander indeede was a great Prince and Emperour of the most part of the world and yet not so rich as Diogenes was for whereas you think the comparison altogether vnfit the one being a beggar and wonderfull poore the other a king and inestimable rich therefore I referre thee to the wise saying of Marcus Cato who saieth Qui contentus est sua sorte Diues est He that is content with his owne estate and calling is sufficient rich We find that Diogenes was content with his poore estate and Alexander not satisfied with al his kingdomes wherefore according vnto the opinion of Cato Diogenes was rich and Alexander poore for truely he can not be rich which is not satisfied neither can he be poore that is contented And further to confirme this argument Mandanus a wise philosopher of India to whom this Alexander sent messengers commanding him to come to the feast of Iupiters sonne which was holden at Babilon meaning himselfe to be the sonne of Ioue declaring further That if hee would come he should haue great rewards and riches giuen him but if he refused and would not obey his commandement he should be put to a most cruell death wherevnto the graue Philosopher answered stoutly saying That Alexander was neither the sonne of God nor yet certaine lord of any part or parcel of the earth but was as mortall as himself as for the gifts rewards of him that was himselfe so vnsatiable couetous hee nothing regarded returning this answere That if it wold please him to receiue accept a gift at his hād he would willingly giue it might very conueniently spare it which was his good counsel that he should holde himselfe content and satisfied with sufficient and to couet no more than were necessary saying That his abilitie was better able to giue than Alexanders for saith he hee woulde
giue mee that which himselfe wanteth whereof I haue sufficient but I will send him that which hee lacketh and I my selfe haue abundantly and as for threats and menaces I nothing at al regard for if I liue saith he my countrie will bring foorth things sufficiently to furnish my life withall so that I shall not need his rewards as for death I do nothing feare but exceedingly desire it which shall deliuer me from my old withered carkas Thus you may perceiue that this wise philosopher accounted them poore which were not satisfied and those rich which were contented Scho. Sir I doo verie well perceiue my error and doo acknowledge it for it standeth with good reason that the riches of this world is contentment and that a coueting and discontented minde is extreame pouertie therefore if it please you to procéed forward according to your pretence I shall according to my promise be attentiue Fa. Well séeing you are satisfied heerein I will proceede further The Philosopher Diogenes as I said before perceiuing the vnconstancie of vnfriendly fortune the mutability of honour with the vncertaintie of life so much contemned despised the vaine preferments and promotions of this transitorie life that he liued content and satisfied with a small portion of possession which was but his bare tub or tun wherein he was Lord and King without controlment crauing neither territories or confines to inlarge this his quiet kingdom finding this his poore patrimonie so voyd of all incumbraunces vexations and inuasions that he contented himself with this life vntill his end turning his tub in the summer toward the North for the coolenesse and shade from the Sunne in winter to the South for the heate and warmnes thereof making his vaunt merelie that he could rule his Lordship and possession as he listed from the inuasions of his enimies which was the sharpe bitter windes by turning his tumbling pallaice Thus liuing in contentment it chanced that Alexander the great king of Macedony hearing the rare fame of this Philosopher thought good to visit Diognes in his tub to heare his wisedome and the cause of his so solitarie liuing came vnto him being set in his tun saying My friend I haue long desired to see thee and to inrich thee being so a poore a philosopher therefore aske of mee what goods or liuing thou needest and I will inrich thee with it to thy great contentment To whom when Diogenes had giuen thankes for his great courtesie offered he saide If thou wilt doo mee this fauour as thou saist then I pray thee take not that from me which thou canst not giue me but stand from before the mouth of my tun that I may haue the light and warmnes of the Sunne which is to me great riches for now thou detainest that from me and canst not giue me the like therefore do me but this fauour and I will craue of thee no other substāce Then said Alexander My friend how much possession lands and reuenues woulde satisfie and content thee if now I should giue thee thyful contentment to whom Diogenes answered Euen as much Alexander as thou must be thy selfe contented with all in the end But at the first he misconstrued the meaning of Diogenes and thought him wonderfull couetous knowing that he himselfe had nowe most part of the world in possession and dayly striued to get the whole therefore he thought it an vnsatiable appetite of him not to be contented with lesse but after consideration on the cause he perceiued that Diogenes meant his length of ground to be sufficient patrimony for himselfe which in the end the greatest king of the earth must be contented withall then said Alexander to him againe My good friend what thing best contenteth thee in this world to whom Diogenes replied saying That thing sir King which thou art most discontented withall in the worlde which is a satisfied and contented mind to couet for no more than sufficeth which in thee saieth he I finde contrary Alexander was nothing at all offended at the reprehension of the wise Philosopher but rather smelling his owne follie said at that time Truely if I wer not Alexander I would be Diogenes But we see that he was Alexāder therefore he could not be Diogenes he was couetous therefore he could not be contented wherefore it appeareth that Diogenes had the gift of temperance not to couet his owne destruction as Alexander did but being rich in contentment despised fortune for that her force coulde not molest or touch him reiecting honour because of the mutablitie and varietie of the same regarding not life for the vncertaintie of it but liued as a man contented fearing no calamitie nor aduersitie whatsoeuer might happē to him but was readie with patience to digest it Sch. Truly it doth appeare most plaine that this man had the gift of temperance sufficiently and that he was nothing subiect to the wauering wheele of fortune neither passing of her smooth countenance nor louring looke liuing a stranger to her whereby he kept himself free from her force notwithstanding I would faine know if the end and death of him were as worthie as his life for No man is called happie before his end which being answerable I must needs confesse the man deserued merit Fa. Indeed you say true it is good in our conference orderly to proceede for the life of man cannot be so cleare but that it may be much dimmed and dusked by an ill ende making digression from the former life but truely Diogenes continued a sound Philosopher vntill his end at his death it is said that he lying grieuously sicke perceiuing it a thing vnpossible for him to recouer his former health by feeling his aged body so much weakened and hauing in this great extremitie of sicknesse smal friends to comfort or relieue him threw himselfe downe tumbling from the top of a bridge abutting néere to the common place of excercises and commanded the kéeper or ouer-séer of the bridge that when life failed and breath was quite departed hee should cast his carkasse into the riuer Ilissus Adeò pro nihilo duxit mortem sepulturam Diogenes So little regarded Diogenes the inuasion of death or the tranquilitie and quietnesse of his bodie in the graue But I say not that this end was commendable in a Christian for he was long before the incarnation of Christ being an heathen man notwithstanding indued with wonderfull wisdome Againe some report of his death after this sort saying he died when he was 90. yeares olde and being at the poynt of death willed his bodie to bee left vnburied saying That he would not be troublesome to his friends to digge and delue for him who had no pleasure in their paine vnlesse they would doo it to auoide the smell and stincking sauor whereby he were likely to annoy them but when his friends asked him whether he would lie aboue the ground to be deuoured of birds and beastes No friends
spared not but beate down the stately walles of his owne natiue Citie Rome because his countriemen fearing his crueltie at the first would not open the gates of the Citie vnto him for which cause hee made the Romans yéelde themselues on their knées to become his faithfull and true subiectes making himselfe Emperour ouer the Romane State which was neuer subiect to Emperour before his time Thus did the pride of his minde still clime for dignitie not béeing satisfied but catching at the verie heauens if his power had extended so farre being fleshed with so manie bloudie broyles and animated with such lordly statelinesse that no Roman péere or potentate might stirre or speak against his wilfulnes Therfore true is the saying of Tully who saith Quem metuunt oderunt quem quisque odit perijsse expetit Whom they feare they hate whom euerie man dooth hate his death is wished for Which saying was truly verefied in him for he grewe in such detestable hate dayly amongst the Romanes that they continually wished and heartely desired his destruction and confusion which came thorough his great pride and in that he would so much be feared Neither was it vnknowen to him that by his aspiring minde and stately behauior he was growen into deadly hate amongst the Romanes for which cause fearing the destruction of expected hap he made a law and instituted a decrée that no Romane should come into the Senate house with anie weapon at all vnder paine of death which was where he most commonly sate in iudgement and where the States of the Romanes assembled themselues together to conferre and determine of causes yet notwithstanding in the end Cassius Brutus extreamely hating the vnquenchable pride of his aspiring minde brought priuely into the Senate in their pockets and sléeues small bodkins little kniues and such other fit instruments for their purpose and sodainely in the Senate house set vpon him vnlooked for stabbing him into the bodie most miserably vntill he died This was the end of mightie Caesar which happened through the default of Temperance which gift if he had possessed he had not so died Scho. O good God what meant the vnsatiable Caesar by his inordinate coueting and by the vncessant climing for vaine superioritie had he delight and pleasure in such cruell slaughters and miserable murders of so many destressed people was his gréedie appetite so hungrie after honour that his minde could neuer be satisfied would not so manie pitiful murders so manie lamentable chances so manie cruell acts so manie hard escapes in his warres which he both beheld in others also felt himselfe mollifie and abate the hautie pride and loftie courage of his aspiring minde wherein he might haue perceiued himselfe as mortall as the rest Surely I much meruaile how hée could register and set downe with his owne pen the whole discourse of his warres and victories compiled in a volume called Caesars Commentaries without blushing chéeks wonderful shedding of teares and déepe sighes from the heart to thinke that for his owne vaine glorie and pride of heart so manie Nations were subdued so manie stately Townes beaten downe sacked so manie people slain and murdred most lamentably that all Europa stood floating with y e blood of his slaughters He might haue considered the nature of man by the disposition of himself for before their Countrey should be sacked spoyled robbed and destroyed by the inuasions and forces of forreign enemies they will most willingly venter life and runne with desperate minds to death in defence of Countrie and libertie but the wise Cato saith Sic facias alteri quòd tibi vis fieri So doo vnto another as thou wouldest thy self be done vnto Euen such measure as he gaue to others such measure was heaped to him againe For when he had depraued diuers kings of their kingdomes spoyled them of their liues wrested from them their goods in the ende as it séemeth he was in one houre depraued of his Empire which he had made firme to himselfe perforce despoyled of his princely regiment and most miserably murdred by the hands of his owne subiects O most vnhappy end Fa. If wee shall goe forward according to promise it is not conuenient to stand long vpon this one example but to procéed Alexander the Great who was the sonne of Philip King of Macedonie in like manner was one whome fortune highly fauored for being but twentie yeares old when first he began his raigne at which time hee set forward to conquere the whole World and at the first subduing the Athenians Getes Lacedemonians Argeans Thalants with all the whole countrey of Greece from thence he went to Hellespont where he conquered all the countries there about marching from thence into Asia where at the first hee slew in one day of Persians 20200. causing also many Cities and strong townes in the same country to yéelde to his mercie as Sardis Lydia Magnesia Phrygia Ephilos Pamphilia Caria Pysidia Lysia Gordin Helicarnus Melyton Selenas Aucyre Paphlagony Solos Malon Lernesus Islon Sebestus with strong Castabulon Then passing to the large country Cilicia where he tooke prisoners the mother and wife of King Darius putting him to flight sleying of the Persians 100000. compelling also Strato the great King of Arade with all the Kings of Syria to yéeld themselues on their knées to his mercie he put to sacke the stately and strong Citie Tyre that neuer before since the beginning of the World had been conquered then sayled hee into Aegypt and so ouer the riuer Nilo where he subdued all the country marching forward to Araby where hee slew the mightie King Darius with manie thousand of his people from thence he passed to the great Citie Babylon which was presently yeelded to him then he conquered the whole countrey of Armenia Atrapine Persepolis Paralacen marching to the huge Nation of the Mardons where he vanguished the Medes Parthians Spartans Thracians Acabians Boetians Cannians Besyrians Nisans Pisides with many more vntill he was letted by the Caspian seas the countrie of Amazon he also subdued and vtterly destroyed the great Prouince of Dranga compelling their King to flie into India to saue his life he ouercame the whole land of Aracosia sacking the Cities Acadera Bactria Cyroposis Scythia Bubacen Basannes Duhanes and the Maurians from thence hee conueyed his armie into India that neuer was inuaded by any one before but by Hercules passing ouer and conquering the high and stéepe Mountaines of Meroae and Dedala with rich Amzaga Mount Arum hee long besiedged and in the end gat it which Hercules before him could not subdue making the Kings of India Omphis Abiazaris and Gamaxus to yeeld themselues on their knees then passed he ouer Hidaspis streames where he vanquished the great King Porus and slewe all his armie still marching to the Sabians Sugdrians and Mallians which he also conquered then to the Oxidricans whome hee vtterly ouerthrew marching on to the vttermost
geare but very basely vsed and as present occasion craued priuily sent away by secret and vnknowne wayes to the intent it might not be intercepted or stayed Now when Perdicas had espied the sumptuous simulachre of dead Alexander and sawe euery thing as he thought roially executed and pompously performed he pawsed from his speedy pursuit after Ptolomey perswading himselfe that he had obtained the thing namely the body of Alexander wherabout such strife and contention kindled and burned betwixt them both so egerly but hee was deluded and mocked for all that and vnderstood the truth somewhat too late and perceiued that he was craftily circumuented and was forced in the end to retire backe being shamefully flowted This was the end of this earthly god and the vnquietnes which fell to his dead carkasse which could not for a time obtaine the rights of buriall and also after it was committed to the ground it could not rest but was tossed and remoued from place to place for whereas hee in his life time despised to be counted mortal he was at his death denied the cōmon benefite of a mortall man Of whose life and manners hereafter shall be more sufficiently spoken according as the cause shall require and occasion be offered Scho. O most vnhappy Prince that euer liued woulde hee needs be a god Was there no remedy Well therefore as it seemeth he could not enioy the common benefit of a man what meant he by this vaine wish when he heartily wished that his armes might reach from the orient to the occident and that he might beare his banners displayed in all kingdoms and nations of the earth to the intent he might be knowne their Lorde and King nay rather what meant he when that he could not satisfie himselfe with so great a parte of the world as he had already gotten and wonne but mourned for the other worldes which he heard of which he thought vnpossible for him to get Was his appetite so vnquenchable O vnsatiable minde that hearkened not to the wise saying of Diogenes who saide His length of ground were sufficient patrimony for him which in the ende the greatest prince and peere of the earth must be contented withall but he being kept so long aboue the ground as seemeth lesse than his length in his life might containe his dead rotten carkas For a small hole would serue to croud and thrust the remaine of the decayed and putrified corps with ease wherefore he needed not so large measure of ground as Diogenes spake of before But sée the power of the immortall God in shortning the armes of this mortall God so much that so small a rowme would with ease hold and containe him which before groped in a manner after the verie heauens the vpper face of the earth not contenting his greedie appetite Therefore truly in my opinion he needed not to write vpon his graue or Tombe as Ennius did who ingraued these verses be cause the people should not bewaile his death saying Nemo me lacrimis decoret neque funerafletu Faxit cur volito docta per ora virûm No man shall bewaile mee with teares nor shall make sad my funerall with weeping For Alexander might well assure himselfe hauing so much troubled and molested the world that his name which in his life time was both odious and detestable should not at his death bee bewailed and deplored but rather that his funerall should turne the whole world to great gladnes and common ioye Fa. Cyrus the Persian King although he liued a while contented and in fauour and good liking of his people yet notwithstanding in the end hee was drowned in couetousnesse giuing himselfe to the vaine pride of the world hunting after honour climing after superioritie striuing vncessantly for the kingdomes of his neighbours whereby he grewe both odious to his countrimen also vntollerable to his confines and borderers neither could he take example by Croesus the rich King of Lydia whom hee had taken prisoner before with all his people which happned thorowe his coueting and vnsatiable minde and yet for all that hee gaue himselfe so much to the conquering of the kingdomes of others that in the end he lost both his own patrimonie and life also But first to showe the preseruing election and establishing of this King it shall not much digresse from our purpose Astyages King of the Medeans in the night dreamed that out of his daughters loynes should spring a vine whose branches should ouer shadowe al Asia The King being feareful asked counsaile of y e Southsaiers cōcerning y e euent of his troublesome dreame whose answeres were y t his daughter should bring foorth to him a nephewe which should take his kingdome from him Thus being terrified with this answere he would neither giue his daughter to any forreigne Prince or worthie state nor to his owne countriemen which discended or came of any honorable parentage to the intent that no stock or race of nobilitie might bréed or bring vp such a nephewe to him But at the last he gaue her in mariage to Cambises a Persian which was at that time a most obscure Nation notwithstanding fearing the future hap of his dreame he sent for his daughter being great with child vnder colour of being graundfather that he might looke well and carefullie to his daughters Child when it should be borne Not long after the young Childe his nephew was borne and then foorthwith Astiages the Graundfather gaue it to Harpagus chiefe Lord of his counsaile to bee presently slaine but Harpagus fearing least after the death of his Lord Astiages his daughter mother to that child should raigne in the kingdome and so reuenge the murder of the innocēt on him wherfore he gaue it to one of the kings shepheards to bee priuelie brought vp returning this answere to the King that he had slaine the child his nephew therefore he should not néede to feare his dreame But in time the boy growing vp to a pretie stripling being in companie with his fellowe shepheard boyes in the field and by lot was chosen King in their childish sportes and plaies when certaine of his little subiects had transgressed his cōmandement he caused them to be holden vp in iest whilest he whipped them in earnest the boyes complained of this abuse to their parents and they in like sort taking in hard part such whipping cōplained of it also to the King how that the sonne of a hired seruant had scorged and whipped their children which they tooke grieuousely then Astiages sending for the boy demanding of him the cause Where with the boy with a bolde and manly face Fecisse se vt regem respondit he answered That hee had done as became a King and no otherwise Astiages hearing this maiesticall answere of the pretie boy called to minde his forepassed dreame viewing well the lad he asuredly thought that y e boy much fauored his daughter whose Childe hee had caused
to bée slaine but both by the face and similitude of the youth and by the confession of the shepheard and the time of the receit thereof Hee then knewe that hee was his right Nephew vanishing all feare from himselfe of the aforesaide Dreame and Prophecie for thinking himself to bée as a dead man in his sleepe and his Nephew to bee King and as the Southsayers had declared hee should be thought himselfe clearelie freede from all perill But Harpagus scaped not vnpunished for breaking the kings commandement for Astiages catching the sonne of Harpagus slew him and caused his cookes to dresse the mangled boy inuiting after the father of the child causing him vnawares to eate his owne flesh Which thing being afterward knowne vnto Harpagus he dissembled the matter vntill he might with fit oportunitie reuenge this villanie foorthwith sending priuily into Persia to Cyrus shewing him how his grandfather had dealt with him for sauing his life wishing him also to prepare an army and come to chalenge his kingdome which his grandfather meant to defraud him of Cyrus hauing receiued the letters considering the ancient wrongs that his grandfather had offered him before and nowe also howe greatly hee had abused him who had preserued his life wherefore he presently gathered an army minding now to chalenge his right whilest that he had such a faithfull friend as Harpagus was who offered himselfe to do his vttermost in the behalfe of Cyrus But Astiages hearing of such great preparation against him by his nephew in like sort also prouided a mightie hand against him the conduction whereof he committed whollie to the gouernement of his counseller Harpagus who presently when he had receiued them yéelded vp the whole army to Cyrus to reuenge himselfe on the king for the great iniurie hee had offered him the king hauing knowledge thereof gathered a newe power of men and went himselfe against his nephew marching on to the borders of Persia where was fought betwixt the grandfather and the nephew a most cruell and bitter fight in which conflict this notable courage in the Persian women is remembred for the battell being planted on both partes woonderfull strong And Astiages to the intent his souldiours should fight manfully had diuided his army in such sorte that he placed at the backes of those that should fight the battell an other army of souldiors saying Vnles they ouercame and went forward they should finde as hard fight behinde them as their enemies were before them If in case they should offer to retire backe the battelles on both sides being come to handstrokes and deadly blowes the Persian army at the first began to flee backe and retire which sorrowfull sight the Persian women had soone espied wherefore foorthwith the matrons wiues and daughters assembled themselues in haste and running to méet them who came fléeing before Astiages and the Medeans as men despairing of their good fortune plucking and folding vp their clothes shewing the priuie secrets of their bodies asking them whether or no they would flée for succor into the wombs of their mothers or wiues requesting them ernestly to returne into the battell and fight for their liues saying That if they would needes runne home they coulde neither succour or helpe them any otherwise than by what meanes they had already shewed them By which castigation of the women the Persian souldiours retired into the battell againe and put their enemies to shamefull flight taking also prisoner Astiages the Medean king Thus far digressing from our purpose to shew both the crueltie of Astiages the valiantnesse of the Persian women and the good happe of Cyrus in attaining vnto the crowne But now to returne to our purpose againe Cyrus possessing all Persia and Medea was not contented with those large kingdomes and dominions but still coueted to enlarge his possessions delighting in bloudie battailes reioycing at the ruine and destruction of statelie Townes and Cities For after manie cruell fightes and bloudie broyles hee entered into Lydia where in a great battaile hee tooke Croesus the rich King thereof Notwithstanding he was not satisfied with all the treasure Kingdome of Lydia which was then the most richest Region vnder the heauens but marched forward into Asia conquering that also returning at the last with all the East part of the world which he held vnder the subiection Yet being not filled with bloudie fight nor satisfied with victorie he waged warre with the Scythians who at that time were gouerned by Quéene Thomyris which sent her Sonne with a great Armie to defend her Countrey but the subtile Captaine Cyrus perceiuing the yong man to be but a fresh water soldier fraughted his Tents well with wine and fresh vittaile in which he knewe the Scythians much delighted and after faining a flight as if thorough feare of the Scythian Armie he departed leauing his Tents wholly furnished to intrap the Scythians withall which fel out accordingly for the lustie youth ouer rashly and without good consideration seazed on those Tents being forsaken of the enemie and according to their accustomed manner fell to such excessiue quaffing and bibbing that the whole Armie was soone drunken therewith being void of all feare for that they supposed the Enemie to be fled But Cyrus being aduertised therof returned in the night to his tents againe finding the Scythians ouercome with his wine so that he easily slew the Sonne of Thomyris and the whole Scythian Armie The Quéene hearing of the losse of her deere Sonne also of her Armie did not spende the time in wéeping but presently sought meanes to reuenge her selfe on that vnsatiable wretch with such like subtiltie as Cyrus beguyled her sonne with such pollicie she trained him to his destruction for the Persians greatly reioycing in their first victorie and happie successe in the beginning and the Scythians contrariwise making shew as if they were greatly discomfited with the losse of their Armie and former foyle retiring still backe from their enemies to traine them in like sort into the marishes and straight places of their Countrey where the enemie was intangled before they knewe of any such practise or suspected anie such craft at all There was Cyrus slaine with 200000. Persians whereof there remained not one to carrie newes or message back into Persia how they had sped in Scythia in which great conflict slaughter when Thomyris had found out the dead bodie of Cyrus she caused the head to be cut from the carkasse flinging the head into a tub of mans blood which was filled for the same purpose saying Satia te sanguine quem sit isti cuiúsque insatiabilis semper fuisti Cyrus now satisfie thy selfe with blood which thou hast long thirsted after wherof thou couldest neuer haue thy fill Thus died Cyrus when he had raigned 30. 〈◊〉 Pompeius Magnus so called for his incomparable Uictories being the sonne of Pompeius Strabo in like case wanted the gift of temperance for
my patrimonie which my Father left me but be contented therewith and leaue it to my sonne as it was left me Wherewith the king being not content went home sorowing remaining verie pensiue and heauie for that he could not lawfully or without great shame take away the vineyard of Naboth but when Iezabel fully perceiued the cause of the Kings sorowing and heauines she directed letters to y e Rulers of y e place wher Naboth dwelt making them priuie of her bloudie practise wishing and commaunding them to proclaime a fast in their Citie and then to hire and suborne two witnesses that should falsely accuse him before the Iudges and presently therevpon to lead him out of the Citie and stone him to death which cruel doome and execrable murder was forthwith accordingly executed But notwithstāding although for a time reuengement was deferred yet could she not scape vnpunished for so soone as Iehu was annointed King he was straightly cōmanded from the verie mouth of God to persecute the house of King Ahab with great crueltie and not to leaue anie one liuing that should pisse against the wall wherefore he presently warred on the Citie of Iezrael and spoiled the house and frends of Ahab vntill he came where Iezabel lodged who was most cruelly vsed in consideration of her former trespasse for she was throwen and tumbled downe headlong from a lofty window to the hard pauements of the stréete wherewith her bloud sprong about the postes and walles of the stréet so that dogges came and licked vp her bloud and eate her flesh the rest being troden to durt with horseféete and marching souldiers insomuch that there remayned no more vnspoyled and defaced but onely the palmes of her hands Thus was Iezabel most cruelly slaine and miserably vsed by the very commaundement of God for the murdering and sheading of innocent bloud Also Olimpias wife to Philip the Macedonian king and mother to Alexander the great cōmitted diuers most horrible shamefull murthers namely first it was suspected and layd to her charge the consenting to the murther of her husband king Philip who was slaine by the hande of Pausanias For after this Pausanias had trayterously slaine the king her husband had receiued iust punishment for his villanie she openly mourned for the death of the said murtherer And also it was well knowē that she had prouided horses ready against the deede was committed to the end the slayer of her husbande might the better escape Further when his body did hang on the galous she came thether the first night and crowned the dead head of Pausanias with a crowne of gold taking also the carkasse from the trée burying it most nobly and made a famous Tombe in the same place for his remembrance Which causes being thorowly considered can import no otherwise than an accessary and guilty mind This Olimpias after the death both of Philip her husband and Alexander her sonne in the time that the Macedonian Princes and successors to her sonne Alexander did contend and striue for the superioritie and regiment of their dead master came down into Macedon with a great power to warre on Philip king thereof and Euridice his wife who at that time were lawfull inheritors of that kingdome and gaue them battaile In which conflict she tooke the King prisoner and all his whole familie But Euridice his wife fled for her safetie into the Citie Amphipolis where not long after she also was taken Then seised Quéene Olimpias into her hand all the whole Realm of Macedon howbeit she very vngently entreated these her prisoners For first she caused the king and Euridice his wife to be put into a straite prison that they could hardly turne themselues within and had their meat geuen thē in at a little hole but after they had béen there awhile thus miserably dealt withall Olympias perceiuing that the Macedonians for very compassion they had of the said captiues greatly maliced and hated her wherefore she caused King Philip by certaine souldiers of Thrace to be slaine after he had reigned king sixe yeares and foure moneths And for because that Euridice not well digesting her shamefull crueltie in so treacherously betraying her dead husband and also somewhat insolently spake said that she had better right and title to the crowne and realme of Macedonia than Olympias had she therefore either without regard of the late dignitie royall that the sayd Euridice had béen in or yet the common mutability variety of fortune sent her three liberall gifts to make her choyse thereof which was a sword a halter and poyson to end her life withal who of necessitie was forced to take one Thus whē the wofull Queene had receiued this present of Olympias seeing no remedie but that needs she must take and accept of one she said The Gods graunt like choyce to this cruell Olympias and that she may receiue like guerdon for her liberalitie heerein Thus when she had adorned the bodie of her husband Philip slaine in her presence and stopped vp the wounds to couer the deformitie of them then refusing the aforesaid presents of the curteous Queene in the best manner she could with her own girdle strāgled her selfe and so died Yet was not Olympias satisfied with these lamentable and execrable murders but soone after she had thus shamefully put them to death she made Nicanor Cassanders brother to be slaine and spitefully defaced the tombe of Iolas his other brother Ouer and besides this she picked weeded out an hūdred noble men of Macedonie which were frends to Cassander and caused their throates to be cut for which cruell and barbarous deed Cassander being moued gathered an Armie minding to reuenge himself on the Queen for her great crueltie and draue her at the last to the Citie Pidue where hee besieged her long vntil such time that vittaile failed her yet notwithstanding she would not yeeld although both her company and the Citizens dyed wonderfully by famine and greeuous plagues which chanced to them by reason of the dead bodies which lay in the town diches vnburied most horribly stinking insomuch that there dyed daily in the towne through these two causes aforesaid verie many citizens and soldiors Being also forced thorough extreame and miserable hunger to feed on the dead carkasses of the pined men The townesmen seeing theyr lamentable estate yeelded vp the Citie against Olympias will and humbled themselues willingly to the mercie of Cassander Then after this Queen was taken prisoner Cassander caused all the friends of them whom she had murdred to accuse her in the common place of iudgment before the assembly of the Macedonians Which thing they accordingly did where the Macedonians in the absence of Olympias hauing there neither any patrone or aduocate to defend her vniust cause condemned her to death For execution wherof Cassander sent 200. of his trustiest souldiers to kil her which entered her Pallace where she was Streightway so soone as she perceiued them
comming she marched couragiously toward thē willing them to execute their office With which boldnes the souldiers were all astonished sauing certaine of the friends of those whom she had slain before which stabbed her thorow the body whereof she presently died Yet this manly courage is to be noted in her that after she felt the wound to be mortall and that she fainted ready to yeeld vp her life she nesled her garmentes about her body plucking downe her neather skirts to her féete hauing a womāly care in all respects least that by striuing with life and death she might showe or vncouer the vndecent parts of her bodie Thus dyed the mightiest Princesse vnder the heauens for a iust reuenge of her former cruelties and merciles murders she was daughter to Neoptolome King of Epyre sister to Alexander then King of Epyre wife to Philip King of Macedon mother to Alexander the great and yet for all these high and mightie alliances the liuing God would not suffer her to scape vnpunished but caused such measure to be giuē to her which she before had meated to other In like sort Agrippina daughter to the noble Germanicus first being maried to Domitius had by him Nero and afterward was married to Claudius whom she poysoned with his sonne Britannicus to y e end she might make her first sonne Nero Emperor which indéede came accordingly to passe but now her sonne Nero being Emperour possessing the crowne by meanes of his mothers bloudie act whether it were that the liuing God would not suffer her to scape vnpunished or the wicked inclination of Nero but howsoeuer the case stood she receiued like reward for her son caused her to be most cruelly tormented commanding her wombe to be opened cut vp that he might sée the place wherein he lay and in the meane time while she was suffering such miserable torture he gaue so little regard to the wofull mournings pitifull cries of his naturall mother that he played on a cistern y e destruction of Troy and sung most pleasantly to his instrument Notwithstanding although he was ordeyned to scourge and plague his mother for the aforesaid horrible fact yet scaped not hee vnreuenged for so vile a déede For when he had a time raigned in Rome persecuting the guilties and innocent the Romanes at last detesting his bloudie disposition séeing y t his whole delight was in tormenting his natiue Country men began so deadly to hate him for his crueltie that by the whole consent of the Romanes the Senate decréed this sharpe sentence against him Vt more maiorum collo in furcā coniecto virgis adnecem caederetur his neck being fastned in a yoke or forke after the vilest order which was a most monstrous reproach and seruile slauerie amongst the Romanes should be beaten to death with rods But Nero hauing intelligence of their decrée fled in the midle of the night out of the citie taking with him not past one or two of his lewd cōpanions who also perished with him for feare of the Romans Thus being scaped from the punishment which was appointed for him he now determined to die a desperate death requiring one of his friēds which was with him to stab him through with his sword that he might ende his miserie Who when he had denied his sute as a thing vniust Nero cried out saying Itanè nec amicum habeo nec inimicum dedecorosé vixi turpius periam Surely neither haue I friend nor enemie meaning no friend in the Citie to defend his cause nor enemie nowe with him to ende his life I haue liued vilely I will perish as filthely and therewithall thrust himselfe through and so died Thus miserably ended Domitius Nero after hee had reuenged the cruell murther which his Mother committted and in the ende himselfe was driuen to the same shoare and forced to arriue at the same Port of miserable Destinie to be cut off with vntimely death for his most vile slaughters and cruelties Also Aristobulus sonne to Hircanus vnnaturally committed to prison his mother and his brother Antigonus and after most cruelly slew his said brother in prison for which grieuous offence God so strake him that all his bowells rent in his belly and hee vomited vp all the bloud in his bodie and so most pitifully he dyed in recompence of his former crueltie In like manner Antiochus Illustris sonne of the great Antiochus did also imbrew his hands in the bloud of his friends For giuing his sister in marriage to Ptolomaeus King of Aegypt and vnder pretence of familiaritie came to visite his brother in lawe vnder the coulour of alliance and that he might by treacherous meanes take from him the Kingdome of Aegipt and finding him sitting at supper saluted him with his sword which presently he thrust through his sides thus traiterously he slewe his brother Ptolome and ceazed on all Aegipt to his owne vse And after hée had done manie other cruelties at last hee was striken with a most horrible sicknesse that his bodie stanke and his flesh was so corrupt and putrified that no bodie could abide the sauour therof liuing wormes créeping and scrauling out of his bodie insomuch that in his great extremitie hee was forsaken of all his friends and seruants and so died as a iust recompence for his villanie It is farther well knowen that Archelaus King of Macedonia was murthered by the hands of Cratenas his Paramour who sore thirsted after his said kingdome which shamefull act beeing committed and Cratenas placed in the regall Throne according to his long desire raigned King not past thrée or foure dayes but was himselfe slaine in semblable manner by other mens meanes whereunto this saying may be well applyed Qui struit insidias alijs sibi damna dat ipse Who seeketh other men to insnare Nets for himselfe he doth prepare So that this man possessed his princely seate but a short space which he had purchased by wilfull murder I trust it is very well knowen also to the English Nation what cruell murders and miserable slaughters were committed by King Richard the third brother to Edward the fourth and sonne to the Duke of Yorke for that the Chronicles doo make mention thereof at large First bringing his owne brother the Duke of Clarence to vntimely death then shewing his tyrannie on the Barons and Nobles of the Land and after that his brother Edward the fourth died he miserably smoothered the two sonnes of his said brother Edward which were committed to his tuition and gouernment not sparing the néerest of his kinne but imbrewing himselfe in their bloud to the ende he himselfe might possesse the Crowne and Diadem of the Realme which in deede consequently came to passe But were it possible that such pitifull murders and execrable slaughters as he committed both in slaying of the Nobles of the Land and also in the deprauing of his swéete Nephewes of life and Kingdome should scape vnreuenged No truly it
gratia venistis Why doe ye not dispatch your purpose in respect of the accomplishment whereof you be resorted hether Then they all looked on ech other in the face being troubled in their mindes greatly repenting their enterprise that euer they went about to worke such villany to so noble a minded Prince who knew their practise before and yet spared to punish them rather choosing himselfe to die than to vse tyrannie on his subiects which indeede had been no cruelty but vpright iustice wherefore they all with one accorde threwe downe their speares and lighted from their saddles confessing their trespasse humbly submitting themselues on their knees crauing mercie at the hands of Darius proffering their voluntarie seruice to doe whatsoeuer hee hencefoorth gaue them in commaundement Thus with the great mercie and clemencie of Darius without bloudshed the vnbrideled stomackes of his nobles were pacified and made quiet which by a bloudy hand he coulde neuer haue brought to passe And from that time foorth they were mindfull of so gratious a benefite remayning euer after most faithfull obedient and full of duetie to Darius their milde and gentle Prince In like maner Titus a Roman Emperor sonne to Vespasianus excelled in humilitie clemencie and courtesie for at such time as two of his chiefest Péeres had consented conspired to the murthering of their master the king Titus hauing knowledge thereof first calling them into a priuie chamber telling them home of their wicked intent wishing them by milde and gentle meanes to become better Subiectes to their hurtles Prince who so farre as he knew had not deserued at their hands the very thought of such a wicked inuention And afterward taking them both with him to a common game or play setting himselfe betweene them both willing them to sit neere his person and so soone as the sword-players came out with their glittering swords Titus called for one of them which was presently deliuered to him then he foorthwith gaue it to the one and after to the other vnder colour of feeling how sharp it was beholding them with a smiling countenance saying Videtisne potestates fato dari frustrà que tentari facinus potiundi spe vel admittendi metu See ye not saith he that authoritie and power is geuen by destinie therefore it is vaine to trie by wicked practise to possesse the place and as vaine it is to feare the losing thereof Meaning thereby that although they had the sword in their handes yet could they not displace him whoÌ„ God had setled Thus courteously did Titus intreate his Nobles saying that he had greater pleasure and more delight to correct offenders with lenitie than to chastice them with cruelty which caused him to raigne more quietly in his life and also at his death to be bewayled thorow the whole earth calling him the darling and delight of mankind He was wont to say y e night that the day before he had not geuen well to the poore or béene liberall amongst his friends Amici perdidimus diem Frends we haue lost a day Gelon king of Syracusa behaued himselfe wonderfull mildly gently and peaceably in his kingdome yet notwithstanding he was of some tearmed a tyrant But this is most certaine that when diuers of his commonwealth sought wayes to shorten his life by cruell murther wayting for fit occasion to execute and accomplish their vile pretended villanie Whereof when Gelon was enformed and certified he called a court and sommoned an assemblie of Syracusians which being done in the presence and countenance of them all hee went vp into an hauty and high place in maner of a pulpit hauing on his bodie harnesse and in his hands weapons bright and glistring In which sort and order he stoode before them making a declaration of his faithfull care which he alwayes had ouer the weale publique tendering the welfare of them all euen as his owne life Hauing thus done he vnarmed himselfe laying down both armour and weapon at his féete and vttered these words to the congregation which was there assembled saying En amictus tunicula nudus armorum asto dedo me vobis vt pro voluntate libitóque mecum agatis Behold I stand before you naked vnarmed in a thinne wastcote I yeald my life into your handes my body is at your commandement deale with me according to your pleasure For saith he I detest the place if you despise my person neither doe I wish any longer to liue in my calling than you shall well like of my gouernment When Gelon had thus yealded himselfe to his subiects the whole assembly of the Syracusians were much amased and thereupon were so affectioned in mind that néeds they would there was no way to the coÌ„trary deliuer those traiterous varlets and rebellious villaines to the kings power to punish them according to the proportion of their offence and gaue him their suffrages vniuersall consents to continue ouer them his dominion gouernmeÌ„t yet not withstanding would not Gelon correct those offenders but fréely forgaue theÌ„ their trespasses counselling them euer after to become better subiects and to wish to him in their harts no otherwise than he would deserue at their hands Which great mercy and fauor of Gelon the king made the Syracusians to honor and duetifully obey him so long as he liued among them and after his death to haue him in perpetuall remembrance for his singular courtesie and notable clemencie They erected and planted a standing image wearing a single peticote representing to the beholder that this king did raigne and rule by gentle and courteous meanes more safer and far stronger than he that should raigne like a tyrant with harnes and armour of proofe Scho. Truely Sir it is now in these our dayes most manifest how mightely the lenitie and gentlenes of Princes is of force and auayleth and with what willing hearts their subiects will venture both life land and limme in the seruice and defence of their so milde and gentle a Prince yea if it were possible that one body should venture the losse of life ten times or presently to runne to ten deaths for the preseruation â—o safetie of such a noble and mercifull Prince no doubt they could make no curiositie in the cause nor scrupulositie on the matter but with willing and fierce mindes boldly venture themselues Contrariwise we both dayly see and reade that cruell tyrants by their tyrannie cannot compell their Subiectes to beare or carry towardes them a duetifull minde and louing heart neither willingly to venture themselues in their causes but drawen as it were by the eares to their defence or els they should fight in their owne quarrels the people also delight reioyce to heare of the ruine and destruction of such tyrannicall Princes yea and that which is worse doe often conspire and practise vnnaturally the death and destruction of such tyrants Wee reade of the cruell tyrant Clearchus King of the Heraclians that when by no perswasions he could be
chosen But surely the vaine babling of the prating Poets in this cause is vtterly to be condemned for vnder the colour that all women are euill they goe about to hide and cloake the foolish follie of mad doting men making women a veile or shadow to hide and couer the doting fondnes of vnsatiable men Indeede the olde prouerbe is Ignis mare mulier tria sunt mala That sire the sea and a woman are three euils Truely a strong reason then may it like wise be said that men are euill for that one man hath killed another and surely by this reason the former three are also euil For if a man will cast himselfe into the fier no doubt but that he shal burne or into the sea where he may be drowned or els into the calamities of such a mariage or otherwise ouer fondly to dote which he well knew before would purchase his trouble and vexation But my good friend my purpose is not to exclaime on or blame faultlesse women who cannot bridle the fond affection of their importunate louers wherefore I will somewhat more amply speake of fonde and doting loue which is as well in the one as in the other and what inconuenience doth consequently follow their doting folly Semiramis being the most amiable Lady of the world by reason of her surpassing beautie was sent for into Assiria to the king of that region that he might satisfie himselfe with the sight of her péerles pulchritude before whose presence she came according to the tenor of his message The king had no sooner cast his wanton eye vpon her passing beauty but was foorthwith inflamed with the fire of affection towards her then after certaine circumstances ouerpassed she required of the doting king a rich reward namely a robe of estate the gouernment of Assiria for fiue dayes continuance and the absolute authoritie in all thinges that were done in the kingdome Which petition of Semiramis was granted by the king no deniall made to the contrary In conclusion when things without exception were in the gripes of her aspiring minde she commanded the fonde king to be slaine whereby he was dispossessed of his dominion and she presently thereupon enioyed the scepter and crowne imperiall ouer all Assiria Did not Candaulus king of Sardis dote in foolish and fonde loue ouer his wife insomuch that he thought her the fayrest creature in the worlde yet not content to satisfie himselfe with her beautie but in fond and doting sort must needes shewe his wife naked to his frend to make him partaker of her surpassing beautie and peereles person and therfore he called his frēd Giges to his chamber and hid him secretely against his wife should come to bed but his frend Giges disswading him from his folly notwithstanding Candaulus would haue no nay in his importunate suite but that his frend should both know see his his priuie benefite so that he was constrayned to obey his fonde request Now when the wife of Candaulus perceiued herself so betrayed by the inuention of her husband for Giges incontinētly discloased himselfe she was mightely abashed wonderfully ashamed for in that countrey it was counted a most wonderfull dishonesty and reproach that a woman should be seene naked of any man sauing of her husband yet for all that she dissēbled the matter for a time meaning in the end to take sharp reuenge on her husband for the great villany he had offered her At the last she called Giges to her chamber who before had séene her naked to the end to haue slaine him threatening him that vnlesse he would presently reuenge the wrong and great abuse which her husband had offered her in his presence which he consequentlie consented vnto for the sauegard of his life with firme oathes solemne vowes which was that he should kil the king her husband and take her to wife with the kingdome hoping that hee would be content to possesse so good a benefite and not to make any other priuie or partaker of that which hee best esteemed Thus whether it were for the sauegard of his life which he stood in perill to lose or for the coueting of so beautifull a Queene large a kingdome which now was offered him it resteth doubtfull but he foorthwith executed the Queenes pleasure on his doting master which happened through his owne fonde follie What inconueniēce also hapned to Artaxerxes king of Persia by such foolish folly in doting ouer his sonne so fondly y t he must make him his master in his life time For being drownd in such fond affection toward his sonne Darius not content himselfe with his scepter and kingdome which he quietly possessed hee presently aduanced him to taste the secretnes and sweete of his kingdome not satisfieng himselfe to be a commander ouer his people but would be a seruant and be commanded by his sonne so it hapned to him as he deserued for this princox his sonne being established in the kingdome by his doting father became at the last so lordly ouer his foolish father that hee woulde commaund him in all causes as his duetifull and obedient subiect it chanced that his father Artaxerxes had married the concubine which he before had taken in his warres who at that time was péerelesse in beautie Now Darius being in possession of his fathers kingdome by vertue of his authoritie he called his father before his presence as a common subiect saying Father as you haue put the kingdome into my hand and made me absolute King thereof so whosoeuer this kingdome containeth is also my subiect and vnder my authoritie therfore sir my pleasure is that you deliuer and yéelde into my handes your wife which was the concubine for she is faire in my sight and therefore I greatly desire to haue her and by vertue of my authoritie I straightly commaund no resistance to the contrarie But Artaxerxes although he had made his sonne King knew that hee was his father wherefore hee contrary to his sonnes minde detained Aspasia his newe married wife which deniall caused his sonne Darius to conspire the death of his resisting father because as he thought hee was not absolute King to commaund as after the death of his father hee should be and also did associate in this his vnnaturall confederacie fifty brothers which were begotten by his owne father Artaxerxes by diuers concubines But this doting King as it chanced although he had made himselfe a subiect to his prowd sonne yet by good helpe of his nobles he detected the cause and found out the treason And in the same day that Darius made account to accomplish his wicked enterprise he was himselfe and all the rest of the confederates taken and fell into the same snare that they had prepared for their aged father for Artaxerxes put both them their wiues and children to the sworde that none of that wicked race should remaine aliue the aged King for verie griefe that he had conceiued
by his owne follie soone ended his life a more happier King than a father It were but a tragicall historie of Leyr sometime King of this land which is so sufficiently set down and made manifest in their English Chronicles what enormities calamities and infinite miseries hapned to him by the fond and doting loue which he bare towards his daughters For by a foolish conceipt which he had taken toward them so farre doating in an vnmeasurable sort and as it were being ouer much blinded with a fond conceipt and foolish affection towards the yong nice wenches that hee must néedes forsooth diuide his Kingdome betwixt them in his life willingly dispossesse himselfe standing euer after to their reward courtesie Thus when hée had displaced himselfe and deuision of the Kingdom was made ioyntly to the vse of his daughters being bestowed and married in seuerall parts of the Land hée himselfe thought good to remaine a time with the one and as long a space with the other vntill the good olde King had tyred both his daughters who soone began to be wearie of their aged Father denying and abbridging him in a maner of things necessarie and néedfull so that the poore old King was forced thorough extreame néede to séeke redres at his yongest daughters hand whom he neuer could well fancie neither had euer giuen anie thing vnto remaining out of his Kingdome because hee had bequeathed her no part thereof at whose hand the poore distressed King found reliefe and also redresse of his wrongs to his great comfort in his olde age Thus it remaineth euident extant at this day what miseries calamities enormities infinit troubles and dayly vexations consequently doo fall to man by that fond conceipt in doating folly inordinately louing and immoderately fonding ouer wife sonne daughter or others whosoeuer as the tenor of our conference hath hethertoo tended and expressed therefore my good friend leauing to your consideration our former speaches to be well and diligently noted wherby I may somewhat hereafter perceiue that you are profited and then I shall thinke my paines well bestowed and our first méeting right happie And now in the meane time for the better recouerie of your memorie and also beeing loath to trouble your senses with ouer much tediousnes I willingly craue pardon to rest vntill our next méeting expecting at this time no further replication but committing our conference to the safe tuition of your memorie Farewell FINIS The miserable calamities and lamentable distresses of bloudie Battaile and ruinous Warre with the vnspeakable mischiefes that consequently followeth disdainfull enuie WHereas diuers calamities and miseries incident to man are alreadie sufficiently explayned and set downe wherein he wilfully runneth to perdition and present destruction by his inordinate and vnsatiable appetites not withstanding there remaineth as yet vnspoken of the greeuous enormities of despitefull Warre with the infinite miseries and distressed calamities thereunto belonging which also hapneth to man by his immoderate and vntollerable pride But now first to decipher the cruell state of ruinous Warre it hath béene most vainely prooued by Logicall probations that Warre is incident and vneuitable to a Common wealth For as they say Warre bringeth ruine ruine bringeth pouertie pouertie procureth peace and peace in time increaseth riches riches causeth statelinesse statelinesse increaseth enuie enuie in the end procureth deadly mallice mortall mallice proclaimeth open warre and battaile and from warre againe as before is rehearsed so that by this argument the weale publike must either be in pouertie or els in war which truly we oftentimes sée to fall out accordingly But is this sophisticall argument of sufficient force to blinde and cloake the badde corruption of mans nature as though riches were master to the man not the man ouer his riches either is it consequently incident vnto him that is rich to carrie mallice enuie and mortall hatred in his minde or otherwise to him that is in pouertie to séeke for peace Then let vs attribute it to the whéele wherein one thing successiuely followeth another and not to bee redressed by the prouident gouernment of man Surely I am not of that mind although riches doth oft abuse the man and the man his riches yet notwithstanding it is no generall consequent that all rich men are malicious persons séeking after ruinous warre bloodie battaile for then should I thinke it a vaine thing for a man to striue with the corruption of his nature to preuent and disappoint such miserable calamities by his prouident wisedome as maye after incidently happen and fall out but rather wish him to runne headlong with his vnbridled affections to such casuall chaunces as may howsoeuer the world falleth out come to passe But truly I am of this opinion that whosoeuer hath the gift of temperance can neither bee proud in authoritie and high dignitie whereby mallice and enuie maye growe and encrease nor in pouertie to be so vnsatiable couetous that sufficient shall not serue him but whether riches encrease continue or diminish no doubt but that Temperance hath such a prouident foresight and prudent care to holde it selfe content without battaile Wherefore to make frustrate this former fond Argument Warre is not so incident to man but that by wisedome it may easely be preuented But now to returne to our purpose againe concerning the calamitie of warre the ancient Historiographer Trogus Pompeius reporteth that Ninus King of Assyria first made warre being stirred vp with pride and couetousnesse and first of all others assayed to bring other Nations and Regions vnder his subiection fighting with his neighbours and confines for superioritie wherein he made great effusion of bloud and mightie slaughters of people Yet notwithstanding the same Trogus affirmeth that there were certaine Kings before him who inuaded barbarous Nations and rude Regions to the intent to bring them to be ciuill people For saith hee Fuere quidem temporibus antiquiores Vexores rex Aegypti Scythiae rex Tanais quorum alter in Pontum alter in Aegyptum excessit sed longinqua non finitima bella gerebant nec imperium sibi sed populis suis gloriam tenebant contentique victoria imperio abstinebant There were before him Vexores King of Aegypt and Tanais King of Scythia the one going into Pōtus the other into Egypt and making warre a farre off and not on their neighbors neither did they séeke to get principalitie to themselues but perpetuall glorie to their Countrey men contenting themselues with victorie refrained to holde them vnder subiection sauing in repressing their barbarous maners Therfore saith Pompeius Ninus was the first that made warre because he inuaded his confines and borderers striuing for regiment fighting for superioritie and earnestly going about to get the Kingdomes of his neighbours vnder his subiection and not these Kings who sent their power into forraine countries to tame and make ciuill such barbarous people and to bring them to good gouernment and then to leaue their kingdomes
the wilely Greekes doo lurke Also faire Helena her selfe who was the originall cause of that bloudie warre greatly suspected that a troupe of Greekes were secretly inclosed in that hollowe frame insomuch that she her selfe came priuely to the horse beeing before time acquainted with the right voyces of the Ladies of Greece began most artificially to counterfaite their voyces in the Gretian tongue meaning thereby that if there were anie Lords of Greece therein inclosed they wold speake to her whē she did rightly counterfet their Ladies But the subtle Greeks were as mistrustfull as she was wyly refusing to aunswere to her voyce onely Anticlus would haue spoken when as he déemed he had heard the liuely voyce of Laodamia his wife had not Vlysses letted him by laying his hand on his mouth vntill Helena departed whereby Anriclus was strangled and foorthwith died What cause then had the victorious Grecians to reioyce at the ruine and destruction of Troy when as their chiefe Péeres were slaine at the same siege some of them violently being chased at sea so that they returned not home to Greece in the space of 20. yeres some of them also being slain at their returne to Greece by treason which was knowen to happen thorough the occasion of the Troian warre So that there remained aliue of 70. Kings not fully 15. but either they were slain before Troy at their returne by treason or else through dissention for diuiding the Troian spoyles Insomuch that all Greece had as great cause to bewaile the losse of their noble péeres slain by the Troian warre as the vanquished Troians had to mourn at the destruction and subuertion of their aged prince worthie Peeres and stately empire wherefore neither the Gretians Romans Macedonians nor any other countriemen whatsoeuer who by their notable victories haue brought manie Countries vnder subiection that euer had iust cause to ioye ouer their conquest or triumph ouer their great and mightie victories but rather had in the ende good cause to mourne lament sorrowe and hartely repent their achiued victories for that many calamities miseries lamentable losses and pitifull slaughters is as well incident to the victor as vneuitable to the vanquished therefore what gaineth the victor but losse and although it procureth priuat ioy to some yet notwithstanding it purchaseth publique sorrow to many Thus dooth despitefull warre both wast destroy ruinate confound and vtterly subuert the Kingdomes countries stately prouinces and worthie Cities of the conquered and also cruelly spoyle displeasantly voxe and miserably torment the conqueror so that where the vanquished haue cause to bewaile their subuerted state there most commonly the victor lamenteth his losse and hath good cause to complaine on fortunes crueltie That it is both a disgrace and also a foule discredit to Englishmen to chaleng their genealogie of the Troyans or to deriue their pedigree frō such an vnfaithfull stock who were the chiefe causers of their own perdition IT hath béen is at this day amongst Christians a meere folly and wonderfull madnes to deriue and fetch their genealogie and pedegree from the ancient Troyans because for sooth that they would be knowne to descend and spring from the Gods as the old foolish saying is that the Troyans did for it is said that old Anchises begot Aeneas on the goddes Venus and after the fatall subuertion of Troy Aeneas much increased that stock and kindred as hereafter shall more manifestly apeare The proud Troyans the stately Gretians falling into controuercie about their ancient generositie séeking out which of them descended from the most ancientest stock and line the Troyans affirming that Hector was far more worthy then Achilles the Gretians also stoutly mainetaine that Achilles was superior to Hector which thing the Troyans not well digesting vnfould their fond pedegree as followeth Etsi enim Peleifilius Achilles fuit Aeaci verò Peleus Aeacus Iouis sic quóque Hector Priami Priamus autem Laomedontis Dardani Laomedon silius Dardanus quóque Ioue prognatus est Alijgenus Hectoris paulò aliter deriuant Iupiter inquiunt ex Electra genuit Dardanum Dardanus Assaracum Ilium Ilius Laomedontē Laomedon Priamum Priamus Hectorem vide Tortellium after this sort they deriue themselues from the gods but if it be possible that a wicked a peruerse generation should spring and descend from the gods themselues then no doubt but that the Troyans came linially frō the gods and if as they say Dardanus was begotten of a God how soone then did his son Laomedon digres from that sacred genelogie for of him thus it was sayde Laomedon insignis perfidia fiut qui pactam pro constructis Troiae maenibus mercedū neganit Apolloni atque Neptuno violauitque sacram iurisiurandi religionem quae semper abalijs inuiolatè santissiméque habita Laomedon was the vnfaithfullest Prince that liued for hauing borrowed a great summe of money of the priests of Apollo Neptune to reare and build vp againe the decayed walls of Troy which being done the priests craue their money againe he mightily forsweres the debt protesting and vowing by the sacred gods he ought them no such summe therefore he would pay no such debt Wherfore by the iust plague of the Gods their predicessors as they thēselues affirme their citie was part ouer flown with the raging seat by reason where of there arose afterwards in the citie when the water was retired a most miserable deadly plague whereof many thousands of the Troyans died which plague to appease they asked counsaile aduice of the oracle at Delphos how they should satisfie the angrie gods answer was giuen thē that no other waies they could apease their wrath and displeasure but onely by this means by giuing monthly a virgin to a sea monster with should appeare for the nonce at the shore or banck before Troy which custome being obserued and dewly kept y e gréeuous plague seased it hapned in time that the daughter of Laomedon the King whose name was Hesione was chosen by lot and chance to be the virgin that should satisfie the gréedy monster thus when the time drew on that the sea monster was ready waighting at his wonted port crauing his accustomed pray and thus pensiue Laomedon with diuers of the lamenting Troyans came forth with the virgin bound presently to bee giuen to the eager monster to be deuoured in the meane time pitifully be wailing the destressed state of the guiltlesse virgin Hercules by great chance at that time comming from the voyage of Hespere hapned to be against Troy when such a mightie throng of people stoode on the shore wherefore he forthwith drew neere and demanded the cause and why they did so lament then trembling Laomedon told all that is before rehearsed confessing his owne periurie for which all this miserie chanced The noble minded Hercules greatly pittying their their distressed state demanding of Laomedon what he would giue the man that should frée their citie from