People there resembled should overcome Spain and so it happened By this former Example you may see the sad effects of Lust to which we may add another of like nature Ireland formerly was divided into five Provinces or petty Kingdoms namely Munster Connaght Ulster Meth and Leinster These petty Kings being divided amongst themselves became all of them a Prey to Turgesius King of the Norweigians who having conquered them reigned as King One of these petty Princes Omo Caghlen King of Meth had a Daughter of renowned Beauty whom Turgesius demanded of her Father to serve his Lusts and he seeming willing to condescend to the motion as if his Blood would be honoured thereby told him That besides his Daughter he had at his disposing many others of more exquisite Beauties which should all be ready at command Turgesius mistrusting nothing greedily swallowed this Bait and desired him with all speed to effect this meeting which he promised soon to do whereupon this politick Prince attired in the Habits of Women a company of young Gentlemen who durst for the common Liberty adventure their several Lives and conducted them to the Tyrant's Bed-chamber And they according to the directions given them when for that little modesty sake he had in him he had commanded all his Attendants to avoid the Room assaulted him now ready for and expecting more kind embraces and left him dead in the place The Methian King had by this time acquainted divers of the better sort with his Plot all which upon a sign given rush into the Palace and put to death all the Norwegians and other Attendants of the Tyrant and so recovered again their former Liberty John King of England notwithstanding he lived in continual Trouble yet bent his Mind to Love and Lasciviousness attempting the Chastity of the Lady Matilda Daughter to the Lord Fitz-Waters who being as averse to his Desires as Water to Fire he banishes her Father and several of her Friends seizing upon their large Estates whereupon she flies and takes upon her a Monastick Habit in the Monastery of Little Dunmow in Essex where he still prosecuted his Suit but finding her more contrary to his Desires than ever he sent a Messenger unto her who because she would not agree to his wicked motion he poisoned a boiled or potched Egg against she was hungry and gave it unto her whereof she died Anno 1213. It hapned that the next Year King John being then in France with a great Army that a Truce was taken betwixt the two Kings for the term of five years and a River or Arm of the Sea being betwixt either Host there was a Knight in the English Camp that cryed to them of the other side willing some one of their Knights to come and Just a Course or two with him whereupon vvithout stay the Lord Fitz-Water being on the French part made himself ready ferried over and getting on Horse-back shewed himself ready to the Face of the Challenger vvhom at the first Course he struck so hard vvith his great Spear that Horse and Man fell to the ground and when his Spear was broken he vvent back again to the King of France which King John seeing by God's Tooth quoth he that was his usual Oath he were a King indeed that had such a Knight The Friends of the Lord Fitz-Water hearing these Words kneeled down and said O King it is your Knight it is Robert Fitz-Water whereupon the next day he was sent for and restored to the King's Favour living in all affluence of Riches and Honour the space of sixteen Years afterwards His Father Walter Fitz-Water with his Wife Matilda do lye interred in Little Dunmow Chancel under a very fair Monument though by some Ruines of the Roof falling upon it the Legs of their Effigies were lately broken off there Grand-child Matilda also in these our late times of Rebellion had the Head of her Effigies stricken off as a monument of Superstition but since by the care of my worthy Friend Mr. Burre who liveth in the Priory it is restored to the Body again Anno 1680. Richard the First King of England being employ'd in his Wars against Philip King of France one Fulco a French Priest came unto him telling him he had three very bad Daughters which he wished him to bestow away from him in Marriage or else God's Wrath vvould attend him when the King denyed he had any Daughter yes quoth the Priest thou cherishest three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Leachery The King apprehensive of his meaning called his Lords there attending and said my Lords This Hypocrite hath found that I have three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Leachery which he would have me bestovv forth in Marriage and therefore if any such I have I have found out most fit Husbands for them all My Pride I bequeath to the haughty Templers and Hospitalers who are as proud as Lucifer himself my Covetousness I give to the Monks of the Cisteaux Order for they covet the Devil and all but for my Leachery I can bestow it no where better than on the Priests and Prelates of our Times for therein have they their most Felicity King William Rufus was much noted to be a very covetous Prince and yet we find in the Chronicles a Story of him which denotes to the contrary namely how that when two Monks whose Abbot was lately dead repaired to his Coutt and each in large Offers out-vied and over-bad the other to succeed in the Abbacy a third Monk very sober and poor in shew accompanying them in their Business stood by whom the King asked what he would give to be made Abbot Nothing said the Monk for I entered my Profession to be poor and hitherto have been little esteeming the Pomp or Riches of the World then thou art the Man replied the King and shalt be their Abbot more worthy in thy Poverty than they for their Price and so conferring on him that high Honour checked the others to their open Infamy and Reproach Another Example of the same King touching his Pride take as followeth His Chamberlain bringing him a pair of new Hose and he demanding the Price was answered that they cost three Shillings Away base Fellow quoth he are these beseeming a King Bring me of a Mark Price his Servant went but brought him another pair of no greater Cost but told him that they were of the Rate appointed wherewith the King was very well pleased A strange Change of Religion of the two Dr. Reinolds These two Brothers the one named William the other John William was at first a Protestant of the Church of England and John trained up in Popery beyond the Seas William out of an honest Zeal to reduce his Brother to this Church made a Journey to him where on a Conference betwixt them it so fell out that John being overcome by his Brothers Arguments returned into England where he became one of the more strict or rigid sort of the English Protestants
denied the same the Emperour asketh him for his Proofs he takes his Outh of it but could produce no other Witnesses The Emperour bids him to stay in another Room enquiring of him what manner of Bag it was wherein the Money was put Then purposing to send for the man it fell out that he amongst other Citizens came to salute and welcome the Emporour The Emperour knowing the man said to him O Sir methinks you have a very handsome Hat pray thee give it me the Citizen gave it and took it for an Honour that the Emperour would accept of it then did he withdraw himself and sent a Servant to this Man's Wife desiring her from her Husband to send him such a Money-bag describing of it and that said he you may know that I come from your Husband he gave me his Hat for a Token The Woman sought out the Bag and gave it him the Emperour shews the Merchant the Bag who knew it and rejoyced at the sight of it Then the Emperour calling the Citizen tells him that this man had complained to him that he had cozened him of a Sum of Money delivered into his Custody the Citizen denies and swares that none was delivered to him the Emperour produceth the Bag the Citizen was confounded and faulters in his words whereupon the Emperour causeth him to pay the Merchant to the full and sets a good fine upon his head besides and so the business was ended Of the great friendship betwixt Damon and Pithias two Pythagorean Philosophers THese two Friends were both of them Students of Pythagoras's Learning it so happened that one of them was accused to have conspired against Dionysius King of Sicilie for which they were both taken and brought before the King who immediately gave sentence that he who was accused should be put to death This Judgment being passed on him he desired of the King that ' ere he died he might return home to set his houshold in order and to distribute his goods whereat the King laughing demanded of him scornfully what pledge he would leave him to come again At which words his Companion stept forth and said that he would remain there as a Pledge for his Friend that in case he came not again at the day appointed he willingly would lose his Head Which Condition the Tyrant received and the young man that should have dyed was suffered to depart home to his House where he did set all things in order and disposed his Goods as he thought meet The day appointed for his Return being come and most part of it past the King called for him that was Pledge who came forth merrily without any shew of Fear and freely offered to abide the Sentence of the Tyrant willing to dye for the saving the Life of his Friend But as the Officer of Justice had closed his Eyes with a Kerchief and had drawn his Sword to have stricken off his Head his Fellow came running and crying That the day of his Appointment was not yet fully past wherefore he desired the Minister of Justice to loose his Fellow and to prepare to do Execution on him that had given the occasion Whereat the Tyrant being much abashed commanded both of them to be brought to his Presence and when he had enough wondered at their noble Dispositions and their Constancy in Friendship he offering to them great Rewards desired them to receive him into their Company and so doing them much Honour did set them at Liberty Another of Christian Friendship UNDER the seventh Persecution Theodora a godly Virgin for her Religion was condemned to the Stews where her Chastity was to be a Prey to all Comers which Sentence being executed many wanton young men were ready to press into the House But one of the brethren called Didymus putting on a Soldiers habit would have the first turn and so going in perswaded her to change Garments with him and so she in the Soldiers habit escaped and Didymus being found a man was carried before the President to whom he confessed the whole matter and so was condemned Theodora hearing of it thinking to excuse him came and presented her self as the guilty Party desiring that she might die and the other be excused but the merciless Judge caused them both to be put to death The admirable love and affection betwixt Titus and Gisippus two Noble young men the one of Rome the other of Athens THere was in the City of Rome a noble Senator named Fulvius who sent his Son called Titus being a child to the City of Athens in Greece the fountain then of good Letters there to learn and be instructed boarding him with a worshipful man of that City called Chremes This Chremes had a Son named Gisippus who not onely was equal to the said young Titus in years but also in stature proportion of body favour countenance and speech in a word so like that without much difficulty it could not be discerned of their own Parents which was Titus from Gisippus or Gisippus from Titus These two young Gentlemen as they seemed to be one in form and personage so shortly after acquaintance the same Nature wrought in their hearts such a mutual affection that their wills and appetites daily more and more so confederated themselves that it seemed no other when their names were declared but that they had onely changed their places issuing as I might say out of one body and entring into the other They went to their Learning and Study together as also to their Meals and Pastimes delighted both in one doctrine and profited equally therein with such fruitful encrease that in few years scarce any in Athens were comparable unto them At last died Chremes leaving his Son Gisippus a vast Estate and being now of ripe years his friends and kindred were at him to marry as also his friend Titus thereby to propagate his Posterity They having found one in all respects answerable unto him with much importunity he was contented to go and see her whom he liked so well that he became greatly enamoured of her taking great delight in the contemplation of her most excellent beauty and rare endowments of mind But no happiness could betide him without his friend participated with him therefore on a time he took Titus along with him to see this Idol of his Soul who having beheld so Heavenly a personage adorned with Beauty inexplicable such an amiable countenance mixt with maidenly shamefac'dness and the rare and sober words so well couched proceeding from her pretty mouth struck him with so much admiration that neither the Study of Philosophy nor the remembrance of his dear friend Gisippus who so much loved and trusted him could put the remembrance of her out of his mind so that withdrawing himself as it were into his Study tormented and oppressed with Love he threw himself on a Bed and there ruminating upon what was passed and thereby his unkindness to his dear friend Gisippus he began to curss
done he purposed to depart thence and perform such Penance as he was to do for his Sins Whereunto the King replyed the reason why we have here stayed hath been only to wait upon your coming for it is the Will of God that you must encounter with that wicked Colebrand the Saracen for the Safe-guard of us and all the English Nation and Freedom thereof from the Yoke of Slavery for Olaus King of Denmark and Golanus of Norway have besieged us here almost a Twelve-month and now we have concluded a Truce upon Condition that we must find a Man to undergo the Combate with Colebrand their Champion and in case our Champion shall overcome him they are forthwith to quit the Land without doing Injury to any and not disturb this Realm any more therefore we do desire you for the love of Christ our Saviour and for the Pardon of your own Sins that you will heartily undertake this Duel against that cursed Pagan for the cause of God's Church and Christian Religion To whom the Palmer answered O my Lord the King you may easily see that I am not in any Condition to take upon me this fight being feebled and weakned with daily Travel Alas where are your stout and hardy Souldiers who had wont to be in great Esteem with you Ah! quoth the King some of them are dead and some of them are gone to the Holy-Land but not yet returned I had one valiant Knight which was Earl of Warwick called Guy and he had a couragious Servant named Sir Herand de Ardene would to God I had him here for then should this Duel be soon undertaken and the War finish'd And as he spake these Words the Tears fell from his Eyes whereat the Palmer being very sorrowful besought him to sorbear further grieving assuring him that for the love of Christ Jesus and the Blessed Virgin as also for the honour of God's Holy Church and for the Soul of Guy and Herand his Companion he would in the fear of God undergo the Combate Then did they bring him into the City and to the Church with ringing of Bells and Te Deum was begun with chearful Voices and entertained him with Meat and Drink as also with bathing putting Apparel upon him and for the space of three Weeks cheared him up with the best Refreshments After which when the day appointed for that Duel was come the Palmer rose early and heard three Masses the first of the Holy Ghost the second of the Blessed Trinity and the third of the Holy Cross which being ended he forthwith armed himself with the King 's best Harness and girt the Sword of Constantine the Great about him and taking St. Maurice his Lance in his hand got up on the King 's best Courser being accounted of all that beheld him the most proper and well-appointed Knight that ever they saw From thence rode he through the midst of the City towards the place assigned for the Combate which was in a Valley called Chiltecumbe where he waited for Colebrand who shortly after came so weightily harnessed that his Horse could scarcely carry him and before him a Cart loaded with Danish Axes great Clubs with knobs of Iron squared bars of Steel and Iron Hooks to pull his Adversary to him and so soon as he saw the Palmer make towards him calling loudly he bad him get off his Horse and cast himself down with Submission but the Palmer arming himself with the sign of the Cross and commending himself to God put Spurs to his Horse to meet the Gyant This Battel is thus described by the Poet Here Colebrand forward made and soon the Christian Knight Encounters him again with equal Power and Might Whereas betwixt them two might easily have been seen Such Blows in publick Throngs as used had they been Of many there the least might many men have slain Which none but they could strike nor none but they sustain Sir Guy in the first Encounter peirced the Gyants Sheild so far that his own Lance broke into Shivers which so enraged the Gyant that he bore up fiercely towards the Palmer and smote his Horse with such Strength that he cut off his Head The Palmer therefore being dis-mounted nimbly and with great Courage directed his Blow at the Gyants Helmet but by reason of his height could reach no farther than his Shoulder Then Colebrand smote at the Palmer with a square bar of Steel but he seeing his Danger interposed his Sheild which bore off the Blow and on a sudden did so vigorously lay at the corner of the Gyant 's Target that his Club bossed with Iron fell to the ground which whilst he stretched out his Arm to take up the Palmer with his Sword cut off his Hand whereupon the Danes grew much dismayed and on the other side was there as great rejoycing by King Athelstane and the English and yet notwithstanding did Colebrand hold out the Combate till the Evening of that day that by losing so much Blood he fainted so that Guy with all his strength fetching a blow cut off his Head The other valiant Exploits of Guy are thus in few Lines express'd by the Poet He for dear Phillis name and Country to advance Left Warwick's wealthy Seat and sailing into France At Tilt from his proud Steed Duke Otton threw to ground And with th' invalued Prize of Blanch the beauteous crown'd The Almaine Emperour 's Heir high Acts did there atcheive And Lorain he again did valiantly relieve Then in the Soldans Blood his worthy Sword imbru'd And next in single Fight great Amarant subdu'd 'T was his Herculean Hand which happily destroy'd That Dragon which so long Northumberland annoy'd And slew that cruel Boar which waste our Wood-lands laid Whose Tusks turn'd up our Tilths and Dens in Meddows made Whose Shoulder-blade remains at Coventry till now And afterwards did quell that monstrous fearful Cow The Passengers that us'd from Dunsmore to affright Of all our English yet the most renowned Knight But to return where we left Guy having thus happily obtained the Victory occasioned the Danes with great Confusion to hasten away and the valiant Guy to give thanks unto God repairing forthwith to the Cathedral where he was honourably received with solemn Procession by the Clergy and others and offered his Weapon to God and the Patron of that Church before the high-Altar which my Author saith even to his time was kept in the Vestry there and called by the name of Colbrand's Axe but this being done re-assumed his Pilgrims Habit. Whereupon the King became most importunate with him to discover his Name but he utterly refused so to do except to himself and that upon his Oath not to reveal it unto which Condition the King assenting they walk'd out alone in a Bye-path to a certain Cross at some distance from the City and as soon as they came thither humbly bowing himself to the King and saying that he was Guy Earl of Warwick the King embraced him in