it O thou most generous among men said Darius art thou he then who when I had no power gavest me that which though small in it self was yet as acceptable to me then as greater things would be to me now Know I will reward thee with such a huge quantity of Gold and Silver that it shall never repent thee thou wast liberal to Darius the Son of Hystaspes O King said Syloson give me neither Gold nor Silver but when thou hast freed my Country of Samos which is now held by a Servant of my dead Brother Polycrates give me that without slaughter or plunder Darius hearing this sent an Army under the Conduct of Otanes one of the seven Princes of Persia commanding him that he should do for Syloson what he desired Valer. Maxim lib. 5. CXXIV The only Daughter of Peter Martyr through the Riot and Prodigality of her debauched Husband being brought to extream poverty the Senate of Zurich out of a grateful remembrance of her Fathers worth supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she lived Fullers Holy State p. 86. CHAP. II. The Transcendent Effects of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity discovered in several Remarkable Instances HAving thus displayed the Effects of Love Friendship and Gratitude let us now consider of three other excellent accomplishments namely Magnanimity Gourage and Fidelity of which we may find many rare Examples in Histories for some Persons have within them a Spirit so daring and couragious that the sear no nor the presence of the greatest danger or disaster whatsoever is not able to shake their Constancy wherein sometimes they have proved as successful as others who have managed their Counsels with the greatest care and conduct they are able I. Henry Earl of Holsatia Sirnamed Iron because of his strength being got into great favour with Edward the Third King of England by reason of his valour was envied by the Courtiers whereupon they one day in the absence of the King counselled the Queen that forasmuch as the Earl was preserred before all the English Nobility she would make Tryal whether he was so Nobly born as he gave out by causing a Lyon to be let loose upon him saying That the Lyon would not so much as touâ—h Henry if he was Noble indeed They got leave of the Queen to make this Tryal upon the Earl He was used to rise before day and to walk in the outward Court of the Castle to take the fresh Air of the morning The Lyon was let loose in the night and the Earl having a Nightgown A Polonian Souldier encounters overcomes a Lyon Page â—8â— Amurath Emp Turks Killed by Cobelitz a Christian Souldier Page 88 on cast over his shirt with his Girdle and Sword coming down Stairs into the Court met there with the Lyon bristling his hair and roaring he nothing astonished said with a slout voice stand stand you Dog at these words the Lyon couched at his feet to the great amazement of the Courtiers who looked out of their holes to behold the issue of this business the Earl laid hold of the Lyon and shut him within his Cage he likewise left his Nightcap upon the Lyons back and so came forth without so much as looking behind him Now said the Earl calling to them that looked out of the Windows let him amongst you all that standeth most upon his Pedigree go and fetch my Nightcap but they being ashamed withdrew themselves Camerar Med. p. 118. II. In the Court of Matthias King of Hungary there was a Polonian Soldier in the Kings pay who boasted much of his Valour and who in a Bravado would often challenge the Hungarians to wrestle or skirmish with Sword or Pike wherein he had alwaies the better One day as he stood by a great Iron Cage in which a Lyon was kept the greatest and fiercest that had been seen of a long time he began to say to those that were in his Company Which of you dares to take a piece of flesh out of this Lyons mouth when he is angry none daring to undertake it You shall see added the Polonian the proof of my speech All that day following the Lyon had not any meat given him the next day they threw him the four Quarters of a Sheep the Lyon begins to grunt to couch down at his Prey and to eat greedily herewith the Polonian enters his Gage and locking the Lyon betwixt his Legs gives him a blow with his Fist upon the Jaw crying Hah you Dog give me the flesh The Lyon amazed at such a bold voice let go his hold shewing no other countenance but casting his Eye after the Polonian who carried the flesh away Oamer p. 118. III. In the Reign of Tham King of China there was a Colao an Officer not unlike our Duke who having been Tutor to the King was very powerful with him and to preserve himself in his Grace and Favour studied more to speak what would please the King than to tell him the truth for the good of his Estate The Chineses forbore not to speak of it amongst themselves and to tax the flattery of this Coloa One time some Captains of the Guard were discoursing this point at the Palace when one of them being a little warmed with the discourse secretly withdrew himself went into the Hall where the King was and kneeling down upon his knees before him the King asked what he would have Leave said he to cut off the Head of a flattering Subject And who is that said the King Such a one that stands there replied the other The King in a rage What said he against my Master darest thou to propound this and in my presence too Take him away and strike off his Head When they began to lay hands on him he caught hold of a wooden Ballester and as there were many pulling of him and he holding with a great deal of strength it brake By this time the Kings heat was over he commands they should let him go and gave order that the Ballester should be mended and that they should not make a new one that it might remain as a witness of the Fact and a memorial of a Subject that was not afraid to advise his King what he ought to do Hist. China p. 109. IV. Alexander the Great being in Cilicia was seized with a violent disease so that when all other Physicians despaired of his Health Philip the Acarnanian brought him a Potion and told him if he hoped to live he must take that Alexander had newly received Letters from Parmenio one of his Generals wherein he advised him to repose no trust in Philip for he was bribed by Darius to destroy him with a mighty summ of Gold Alexander held the Letters in one hand and took the Potion in the other and having drank it off he shewed Philip the contents of them who though incensed at the slander cast upon him yet advised Alexander to confide in his Art and indeed he recovered him
taken Marcus Brutus nor shall ever any Enemy take him the Gods are more just than to permit fortune to trample upon so much virtue he will be found to be alive or at least dead in such manner as is worthy of him but 't is I that have imposed upon your Soldiers and I am here ready to undergo all the severity I shall be adjudged to for it All that were present were aftonished Antonius turning to them that had brought him You are displeased Fellow-Soldiers said he because you supppose you are deceived but make account with your selves that you have met with a more precious prize than that which you sought after for whilst you sought for an Enemy you have brought me a Friend I am not resolved what I should do with Brutus alive but I had rather obtain such Friends than Enemies Having so said he imbraced Lucilius and then committed him to one of his Familiars and afterward found him upon all occasions as firm and faithful to himself as he had been to Brutus Plutarchs Lives 1007. CXI One Menippus relates in Lucian how that one day seeing a man comely and of eminent condition passing along in a Goach with a Woman extreamly unhandsome he was much amazed and said he could not understand why a man of prime Quality and so brave a presence should be seen to stir abroad in the company of a Monster hereupon one that followed the Coach overhearing him said Sir you seem to wonder at what you now see but if I tell you the causes and circumstances thereof you will much more admire know this Gentleman whom you see in the Coach is called Zenothemis and horn in the City of Marseilles where he heretofore contracted a firm amity and Friendship with a Neighbour of his named Menecrates who was at this time one of the chief men of the City as well in Wealth as Dignities but as all things in the world are exposed to the inconstancy of Fortune it happened that as it 's thought having given a false Sentenâ—e he was degraded of Honour and all his Goods were confiscated every man avoyded him as a Monster in this change of Fortune but Zenothemis his good Friend as if he had loved miseries not men more esteemed him in his adversity than he had done in prosperity and bringing him to his House shewed him huge Treasures conjured him to share them with him since such were the Laws of Friendship the other weeping for Joy to see himself thus entertained in such sharp necessities said he was not so apprehensive of the want of worldly wealth as of the burthen he had in a Daughter ripe for Marriage and willing enough but blemished with deformities She was saith the History but half a Woman a body mishapen limping and blear-eyed a Face disfigured and besides she had the falling sickness with horrible Convulsions Nevertheless this noble heart said unto him Trouble not your self about the Marriage of your Daughter for I will be her Husband the other astonished at such goodness God forbid said he that I should lay such a burthen upon you No no replied the other she shall be mine and instantly he married her making great Feasts at the Nuptial being married he honoureth her with much regard and makes it his glory to shew her in the best company as a Trophy of his Friendship In the end she brought him a Son who restored his Grand-father to his Estate and was the Honour of his Family Gausins Holy Court p. 47. CXII Eudamidas the Corinthian had Araeteus the Corinthian and Charixenus the Sycionian for his Friends they were both rich whereas he was exceeding poor he departing this life left a Will ridiculous perhaps to some wherein was thus written I Eudamidas give and bequeath to Araeteus my Mother to be kept and fostered in her old Age as also my Daughter to Charixenus to be Married with a Dowry as great as he can afford but if any thing in the mean time happen to fall out to any of these men my Will is that the other shall perform that which he should have done had he lived This Testament being read they who knew the poverty of Eudamidas but not his Friendship with these men accounted it all as meer jest and sport no man that was present but departed laughing at the Legacies which Araeteus and Charixenus were to receive but these Executors as soon as they heard it came presently acknowledging and ratifying what was commanded in the Will Charixenus died within five days after Araeteus his excellent Successor took upon him both the one and the others charge kept the Mother of Eudamidas as soon as might be he disposed of his Daughter in Marriage and of five Talents which his Estate amounted to he gave two of them as a Portion with his own Daughter and two more with the Daughter of his Friend and would needs have their Nuptials solemnized in one and the same day Lonic Theat p. 425. CXIII Alexander the Great was so true a lover of Ephestion that in his life-time he had him alwaies near him made him acquainted with the nearest and weightiest of his secrets and when he was dead bewailed him with abundant Tears he hanged up Glaucus his Phyfician for being absent when he took that which hastened his end in token of heavy mourning he caused the Battlements of the City Walls to be pluckt down and the Manes of Mules and Horses to be cut off he bestowed ten thousand Talents on his Funeral and that he might not want Attendants to wait upon him in the other world he in superstitious Cruelty caused some Thousands of men to be slain even the whole Cassean Nation at once Elian. Var. Hist lib. 7. CXIV At Rome saith Camerarius there are to be seen these Verses ingraven about an Urn or Tomb-stone Vrna brevis geminum quamvis tenet ista cadaver Attamen in Coelo Spiritus Vnus adest Viximus Vnanimes Luciusque Flavius idem Sensus amor studium vita duobus erat Though both our Ashes this Urn doth inclose Yet as one Soul in Heaven we repose Lucius and Flavius living had one mind One Will one Love and to one Course inclin'd CXV Lastly Let us give some examples of the grateful disposition of divers Persons Gratitude is justly held to be the Mother of all other Virtues seeing from this one Fountain many other streams do flow as Reverence and due respect to Masters and Governours Friendship among Men Love to our Country Piety to our Parents and Religion toward God as therefore the Ingrateful are every where hated as being suspected to be guilty of every other Vice so on the contrary Grateful Persons are esteemed of all men as having by their Gratitude put in security as it were that they are not without some measure of every other Virtue CXVI There was a Merchant in Florence whose name was Francis Frescobald of a Noble Family and liberal mind who through a prosperous
Vnparalleld VARIETIES Or the Matchless Actions and Passions OF MANKIND Displayed in near Four Hundred Notable Instances and Examples Discovering the Transcendent Effects I. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude II. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity III. Of Chastity Temperance and Humility And on the contrary the Tremendous Consequences IV. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude V. Of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery VI. Of Unchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Proper Figures By R. B. Author of the History of the Wars of Eng. c. Remarks of London c. Wonderful Prodigies c. Admirable Curiosities in England c. Extraordinary Adventures of famous Men and Surprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in the Heavens Earth and Sea c. London Printed for Nath. Crouch at his Shop at the Sign of the Bell in the Poultry 1683. Unparaleld Varieties Iulius Caesar Slain in the Senate by Brutus Cassius others Page 15. London Printed for Nath Crouch TO THE READER IT is an usual saying that Variety Delights but especially in History and more it may be in this Age than in any other before wherein a great many seem to scorn the dull heavy humor of their Ancestors as they please to call it and therefore have not patience to read large Histories admiring their own briskness Ingenuity and Wit though much of it is altogether invisible but only to themselves and their own vain imaginations However since the light French Airiness is now so modish it may not be thought improper so far to comply therewith as to present the Reader with this brief Compendium out of many great Volumes of abundance of short delightful Relations and Instances upon various Subjects which may prevent both tediousness and charge and may likewise furnish the mind with apt matter both for Discourse and Instruction in brief here they may as in a Glass discover the excellent rewards of Virtue and the dreadful punishments of Vice in all Ages of the world and thereby be persuaded to follow and practise the one that they may escape the unavoydable consequences of the other and if it have this admirable effect I shall then reckon my time and pains well imployed in writing of it neither will the Reader repent of his in the Reading thereof R. B. CHAP. I. The Transcendent Effects of Love Friendship and Gratitude discovered in several Memorable Examples LOve and Friendship are the chief Bonds of Humane Society without which Mankind would be Wolves and destrovers of each other I shall therefore give some instances of the extraordinary Effects thereof in all Ages and that in the most large acceptation of it as of the Passion of Love between different Sexes the disquiets whereof have sometimes made deep impressions upon divers Persons of the singular Love of some Husbands to their Wives and Wives to their Husbands of the Indulgence and great Love of some Parents to their Children and the reverence and Love of Children to their Parents of the extraordinary Love of Brethren and of many Servants to their Masters of the signal Love of some Persons to Religion and Truth and their hatred of Flattery and Falshood the Love of several to Peace Justice and to their Country together with the choicest instances of the most intire Friendship and the grateful dispositions of some Persons and what returns they have made of the benefits received these shall be the particulars of this first Chapter wherein the variety of the Relations cannot but administer some profit as well as delight since they are collected from Authors of undoubted Authority and Credit I shall therefore proceed in order and first as to Humane Love or that strictly called the Passion of Love I. Eginardus was Secretary of State to Charlemaign Emperour and King of France and having placed his The Emp. of Ger. Daughter caryes her Lover on her back to prevent Discovery Page .1 Affections much higher than his Condition admitted made love to one of his Daughters who seeing this Man of a brave Spirit and a grace suitable thought him not too low for her whom merit had so eminently raised above his Birth she affected him and gave him free access to her Person so far as to suffer him to have recourse unto her to laugh and sport in her Chamber on the Evenings which ought to have been kept as a Sanctuary where Relicts are preserved It happened on a Winters night that Eginardus ever hastning his Approaches and being negligent in his returns had too much slackned his departure in the mean time a â—…ow had fallen which troubled them both for when he thought to go forth he feared to be known by his feet the Lady was unwilling that such prints of steps should be found at her door they being much perplexed Love which taketh the Diadem of Majesty from Queens made her to do an Act for a Lover very unusual for the Daughter of one of the greatest Men upon Earth she took the Gentleman upon her shoulders and carried him all the length of the Court to his Chamber he never setting foot to ground that so the next day no impression might be seen of his footing it fell out that Charlemaign watched at his Study this night and hearing a noise opened the Window and perceived this pretty prank at which he could not tell whether he were best to be angry or to laugh the next day in a great Assembly of Lords and in the presence of his Daughter and Eginardus he asked what punishment that Servant might seem worthy of who made use of a Kings Daughter as of a Mule and caused himself to be carried on her Shoulders in the midst of Winter through Night Snow and all the sharpness of the Seasons Every one gave his opinion and not one but condemned that insolent man to death the Princess and Secretary changed colour thinking nothing remained for them but to be flead alive but the Emperour looking on his Secretary with a smooth brow said Eginardus hadst thou loved the Princess my Daughter thou oughtest to have come to her Father the disposer of her Liberty thou art worthy of death and I give thee two lives at this present take thy fair Portress in Marriage fear God and love one another these Lovers thought they were in an instant drawn out of the depth of Hell to enjoy the greatest happiness in the World Causins Holy Court Tom. 2. II. Pyramus a young Man of Babylon was exceedingly in love with Thisbe the Daughter of one that lived the very next House to his Father nor was he less beloved by her both Parents had discerned it and for some Reasons kept them both up so streightly that they were not suffered so much as to speak to one another at last they found opportunity of discourse through the Chink of a Wall betwixt them and appointed to meet together in a certain place without the City Thisbe came first to the place appointed but being terrified by a Lioness which passed by she
up in his Gown and Shoes as he was and laying his Body by that of his Wives burnt them both together the Sepulcher of these Two is yet to be seen at Tarentum and is called The Tomb of the Two Lovers Valer Max. lib. 4. XVI And though the Female be the weaker Sex yet such has been the fidelity and incredible strength of affection in some that they have oft-times performed as great things as the most generous Men they have despised death in the most dreadful shapes and all sorts of difficulties by an invincible Love to their Hushands in the greatest extremity Of which Histories are not silent for we râ—ad that Eumenes burying the dead that had fallen in the Battel of Gabine against Antigonus amongst others there was found the Body of Ceteas the Captain of those Troops that had come out of India this man had two Wives who accompanied him in the Wars one which he had newly married and an other whom he had married some years before but both of them bore an intire love to him for whereas the Laws of India require that one Wife shall be burnt with her dead Husband both these offered themselves to death and strove with that ambition as if it had been some glorious prize they sought after before such Captains as were appointed their Judges the younger Wife pleaded That the other was with Child and that therefore she could not have the benefit of that Law The elder alledged That whereas she was before the other in years it was also fit that she should be before her in Honour since it was customary in other things that the Elder should have place The Judges when they understood by Midwives that the Elder was with Child passed Judgment that the younger should be burnt which done she that had lost the cause departed rending her Diadem and tearing her Hair as if some grievous calamity had befallen her the other full of Joy at her Victory went to the Funeral Fire magnificently drest up by her Friends and led along by her Kindred as if to her Wedding they all the way singing Hymns in her Praises When she drew near the fire taking off her Ornaments she delivered them to her Friends and Servants as tokens of Remembrance they were a multitude of Rings with variety of precious Stones Chains and Stars of Gold c. This done she was by her Brother placed upon the combustible matter by the side of her Husband and after the Army had thrice compassed the Funeral Pile fire was put to it and she without a word of complaint finished her life in thell ames Diod Siculus lib. 9. XVII Arria the Wife of Cecinna Paetus understanding that her Husband was condemned to die and that he was permitted to chuse what manner of death liked him best she went to him and having exhorted him to depart this life couragiously and bidding him farewel gave her self a stab into the Breast with a Knife she had hid for that purpose under her Cloaths then drawing the Knife out of the wound and reaching it to Paetus she said The wound I have made Paetus smarts not but that only which thou art about to give thy self Camer Spare hours Whereupon Martial hath an Epigram to this purpose When Arria to her Husband gave the Knife Which made the wound whereby she lost her life This wound dear Paetus grieves me not quoth she But that which thou must give thyself grieves me XVIII The Prince of the Province of Fingo in the Kingdom of Japan in the East-Indies hearing that a Gentleman of the Country had a very beautiful Woman to his Wife got him dispatched and having sent for the Widow some days after her Husbands death acquainted her with his desires she told him she had much reason to think her self happy in being honoured with the Friendship of so great a Prince yet she was resolved to bite off her Tongue and murder her self if he offered her any violence but if he would grant her the favour to spend one month in bewailing her Husband and then give her liberty to make an entertainment for the Relations of the Deceased to take her leave of them he should find how much she was his Servant and how far she would comply with his affections it was easily granted a very great Dinner was provided whither came all the Kindred of the deceased the Gentlewoman perceiving the Prince began to be warm in his Wine in hopes of enjoying her promise she desired liberty to withdraw into an adjoyning Gallery to take the Air but as soon as she was come into it she cast her self headlong down in the presence of the Prince and all her dead Husbands relations and so put an end to her life Mandelsloes Travels XIX In the Reign of the Emperor Vespasian there was a Rebellion in France the chief Leader of which was Julius Sabinus they being reduced the Captain was sought after to be punished but he had hid himself in a Vault or Cave which was the Monument of his Grand-father he caused a report to be spread of his death as if he had voluntarily poysoned himself and the better to persuade men of the truth of it he caused his House to be set on fire as if his body had therein been burnt he had a Wife whose name was Eponina she knew nothing of his safety but bewailed his death would not be comforted there were only two of his freed men who were privy to it they pitying their Lady who was determined to die and in order thereunto had abstained from all manner of meat for three days together thereupon they declared her purpose to her Husband and besought him to save her that loved him so well it was granted and she was told that her Sabinus lived she came to him where they lived with secrecy and undiscovered for the space of nine years together she conceived and brought forth Children in that solitary Mansion at last the place of their abode came to be known they were taken and brought to Rome where Vespasian commanded they should be stain Eponina producing and shewing her Children Behold O Caesar said she these I have brought forth and brought up in a Monument that thou mightest have more suppliants for our Lives O cruel Vespasian that could not be moved with such words as these well they were both led to death and Eponina joyfully died with her Husband who had been before buried with him for so many years together Lipsius Monitor lib. 2. XX. Portia the Daughter of Cato and Wise of Marcus Brutus when she conjectured by the fleepless and disturbed nights of her Husband that he had conceived some great thing in his mind and concealed it from her in suspition of her weakness she to give her Husband an instance of her Constancy and Secrecy made her self a deep wound in her Thigh with a Razor upon which there followed a stream of blood weakness and a Feaver When Brutus
came home sad at so unexpected an accident and all being withdrawn Sit down Husband said she I have something serious to discourse with you when I married you I came to your House as a Wife not as a Mistress or Whore nor only as a Companion of your Bed and Board but of all prosperous and adverse things I am Cato 's Daughter and reckon you that I am of that blood what then do I complain of you Not at all if I look at other matters Conjugal Solemnities good will and this external love but I look higher and would have your Friendship also and that is the only grief of my mind which torments me that you have my fidelity in suspicion for wherefore should you dissemble do I not perceive the care you are in Thae there is some secret and great enterprize you are in agitation about Why do you conceal it from me If I can lend you no assistance expect some comfort at least from me for as to my secrecy I am able to ingage consider not the rest of my Sex I say again that I am the Daughter of Cato and I add thereunto that I am the Wife of Brutus either nature being from such a Father or Conversation with such a Husband will render me constant and invincible against all that is to be feared why do I multiply words I my self have made experiment of my self and see this wound which of my own accord I have given my self that I might know whether I could undergo with Courage any grief and torments I now fully believe that I am able to bear them to despise them and I my Brutus can die with and for my Husband if therefore you are about any thing that is just and honourable and worthy of us both conceal it no longer Brutus admiring the greatness of her mind and surprized with the discovery of such great affection lifting up his hands for joy burst out into these expressions O all ye Powers above said he be ye favourable and propitious to my desires and make me a Husband that is worthy of Portia then he recited in order to her the Conspiracy for killing Julius Caesar in the Senate House and who were concerned therein wherewith she was so far from being affrighted or disswading him from it that she incouraged him to proceed but the day on which they were to perform the Enterprize she being in fear for Brutus swooned away and was scarcely recovered by him at the last Brutus being overcome and slain at Philippi she determined to die when her Friends who were ever with her to prevent it deprived her of the opportunity and means she at last snatched the burning Coals with her Hands out of the fire and thrusting them into her mouth she kept them there till she was choaked Of this Conspiracy against Caesar for the Readers better understanding it I shall make a brief digression Marcus Brutus faith Plutarch was descended from Junius Brutus as great an enemy to Kings as he was to Tyrants he was well beloved by Caesar so that he gave order for his safety at the Battle of Pharsalia as for his own Son he moved nothing but what was honest and rational so grave and constant he was he carried what he moved so resolved was he after Caesar had past the Rulicon contrary to the Decree of the Senate and had so overpowered them that he was chosen perpetual Dictator and had thereby taken away the liberty of the Commonwealth Brutus Cassius some others conspired against him Brutus hated the Tyranny and Cassius the Tyrant Brutus was incensed against Caesars Empire by his Ancestors Enterprize against Kings and the Peoples expectation from him for under their Images they writ O that Brutus were aâ—…ve and before his face when he was Praetor they said Brutus is asleep Cassius first sounded Brutus who said He would die or Caesar should not be King Cassius replied Rome will not suffer thee to die they look for Plays and Pastimes from other Praetors hands but they expect Liberty at thine then they proceeded in their Design and though many ill Omens might have hindred Caesar from going to the Senate that day yet he resolved to go on and being sate Cimber one of the Conspirators seems to Petition Caesar and the rest seconded him kissing Caesars hand and then all falling upon him at once they stabbed him with twenty three wounds who when he saw Brutus cryed out what and thou my Son and so gave up the Ghost Brutus would have satisfied the other Senators but they fled the other Conspirators would have killed Mark Anthony but Brutus refused it because he said he was a Person principled for Liberty though ingaged to the Tyrant At first the multitude abhorred and were amazed at the Fact but afterwards they applauded it when they saw that neither power nor spoil was the design but honest Liberty yea the Senate entertained secured honoured imployed them in several Provinces particularly Brutus in Creet who committed two Faults first in saving Anthony their close Enemy and next in publishing Caesars popular will and solemnizing his Funeral at which Anthony by his Speech and shewing Caesars bloody Garments inraged the multitude so far that Brutus and his Friends retired to Athens for fear of Gaesars Soldiers and there got as many Romans together as he could prevail upon with whom he resolved to try his Fortune affirming That he would either die or live with Liberty and rid his Country of Bondage by Battle or himself by death Here Cassius met him with more Forces and as they were about to pass their Army toward Rome an horrible Spectacle is said to appear to Brutus for in the dead of the night when the Moon shined not very bright and all the Army was in silence a black Image of an huge and horrid Body appeared to Brutus standing silent by him his Candle being almost out and he sitting musing about the issue of the War Brutus with an equal constancy both of mind and countenance said What Man or God art thou The Spirit answered I am thy evil Genius and thou shalt see me again at Philippi Brutus couragiously replied I will see thee there then so the Spirit disappeared but as he had said appeared to him again in those Fields of Philippi where Brutus and Cassius soon after lost a great Battle against Anthony and Octavius and their Army being utterly routed Brutus passed the following melancholy night with some few others in the Woods and Rocks where the same Spectre appear'd again to him and vanished without speaking a word he then recollecting the loss of his Friends pitying his Country more than himself and applauding his own virtue more then his Enemies Conquest did what he looked upon to be neither offensive to Heaven nor unworthy of a Man for like Cato his Father in Law his Friends refusing to do it he killed himself with his own Sword Plutarchs Lives Of this great Person
before his Father who had also a Father in Heaven by whom he hoped to be forgiven and if he would please to grant him his life he would assure him to be ever after a Loyal and Obedient Son who lived and would continually live in a constant forrow for what was past and if he intended to deal otherwise with him he yet desired him to remember That he was his own flesh and blood and that though the offence were only his yet the just Father must needs bear a part of the punishment inflicted upon the guilty Son but that in shewing mercy no inconvenience could ensue and that if he should be inexorable he should lose the most Obedient Son that ever Father had having ended these and many other words to the same effect he with great humility prostrated himself upon the Earth expecting his Fathers Sentence either of Life or Death this struck so great an impression into the Emperors heart to hear and see his Son shew such humility and to shed so many tears that he could not forbear to do the like and commanding him to arise from the ground with joy mixed with tears both from himself and his Attendants he immediately pardoned him and restored him to his Grace and Fatherly love and to the same Offices and Dignities he had before and from thence forward the Son continued constant in that Loyalty and Duty which he owed to his Father and Soveraign Lord so long as they lived together Imperial Hist p. 423. XXXVII A Son of the Lord Montpensier an Italian going to Puzzuolo to visit the Sepulcher of his Father was so overcharged with Passion that after he had washed all the parts of his Monument with his lamentable Tears he fainted and fell down dead upon the Sepulcher of his Father Guichardine Ital. Hist p. 261. XXXVIII Decimus Emperor of Rome had a purpose and earnest desire to set the Crown upon the head of his Son Decius out he utterly refused it saying I fear lest being made an Emperor I should forget that I am a Son I had rather be no Emperor and a dutiful Son than an Emperor and such a Son as hath forsaken his due obedience let then my Father bear the Rule and let this be my Empire to obey with all humility whatsoever he shall command me By this means the Solemnity was put off and the young Man was not Crowned unless you will say that his signal Piety towards his Parent was a more glorious Crown to him than that which consisted of Gold and Jewels Valer. Maxim lib. 4. XXXIX In the Civil Wars of Rome between Augustus and Mark Anthony as it often falls out that Fathers Sons Brothers Brothers take contrary part so in that last Battel at Actium where Augustus was Conqueror when the Prisoners as the Custom is were counted up Metellus was brought to Octavianus whose face tho much changed by anxiety and imprisonment was known by Metellus his Son who had been on the contrary part withtears therefore he runs into the imbraces of his Father and then turning to Augustus This thy Enemy said he hath deserved death but I am worthy of some reward for the service I have done thee I therefore beseech thee instead of that which is owing me that thou wouldst preserve this man and cause me to be killed in his stead Augustus moved with this piety though a great Enemy gave to the Son the life of the Father Lonic Theat 273. XL. Demetrius the King of Asia and Macedonia was taken Prisoner in Battel by Seleucus King of Syria after which Antigonus his Son was the quiet possessour of his Kingdom yet did he change the Royal Purple into a mourning habit and in continual tears sent abroad his Ambassadours to the Neighbouring Kings that they would interpose in his Fathers behalf for the obtaining of his Liberty he also sent to Seleucus and promised him the Kingdom and himself as an hostage and security if he would free his Father from Prison after he knew that his Father was dead he set forth a great Navy and went out to receive the body of the deceased which by Seleucus was sent toward Macedonia he received it with such mournful Solemnity and so many tears as turned all men into wonder and compassion Antigonus stood in the Poop of a great Ship built for that purpose cloathed in black bewailing his dead Father the Ashes were inclosed in a golden Urn over which he stood a continual and disconsolate Spectator he caused to be sung the Virtues and Noble Atchievements of the deceased Prince with voices form'd to Piety and Lamentation the Rowers also in the Gallies so ordered the stroaks of their Oars that they kept time with the mournful voices of the others in this manner the Navy came near to Corinth so that the Rocks and Shores themselves seemed to be moved to mourning Plutarchs Lives Thus far of Paternal and Filial Love let us proceed to that between Brethren XLI It is usually counted rare to see Brothers live together in mutual love and agreement with each other and it is likewise commonly observed that their Animosities have been managed with greater rancour bitterness than if they had been the greatest Strangers on the other side where this Fraternal Love has rightly seated it self in the Soul it has appeared as real and vigorous as any other sort of Love whatsoever of which there want not very remarkable Instances In the year 1585. the Portugal Ship called St. Jago was cast away upon the Shallows near St. Lawrence and towards the Coast of Mosambique here it was that divers Persons had leapt into the great Boat to save their lives and finding that it was overburdened they chose a Captain whom they swore to obey who caused them to cast Lots and such as the Lot fell upon to be cast overboard there was one of those that in Portugal are called New Christians who being allotted to be cast overboard into the Sea had a younger Brother in the same Boat that suddenly rose up and desired the Captain that he would pardon and make free his Brother and let him supply his place saying My Brother is elder and of better knowledge in the World than I and therefore more fit to live in the World and to help my Sisters and Friends in their need so that Thad rather die for him than live without him at which request they saved the elder Brother and threw the younger at his own desire into the Sea who swum at least six hours after the Boat and though they held up their hands with naked Swords willing him that he should not once come to touch the Boat yet laying hold thereon and having his hand half cut in two he would not let go so that in the end they were constrained to take him in again both these Brethren I knew saith my Author and have been in company with them Linschotens Voyages p. 147. XLII When the Emperor
Augustus had taken Adiatoriges a Prince of Cappadocia together with his Wife and Children in War and had led them to Rome in Triumph he gave order that the Father the elder of the Brothers should be slain The designed Ministers of this Execution were come to the place of restraint to this unfortunate Family and there inquiring which of the Brethren was the eldest there arose a vehement and earnest contention between the two young Princes each of them affirming himself to be the Elder that by his death he might preserve the life of the other when they had long continued in this pious Emulation the Mother at last not without difficulty persuaded her Son Dyetentus that he would permit his younger Brother to die in his stead as hoping that by him she might be more probably maintained Augustus was at length certified of this great example of Brotherly love and not only lamented that act of his severity but gave an honourable support to the Mother and her surviving Son Heywoods Hist Women XLIII Heliodorus the Brittain had afterward the Sirname of Pius upon this occasion the People provoked with the Cruelty and Avarice of Archigallus had deposed him and raised Heliodorus to the Throne of his Brother one time when the King went on hunting he accidentally met with his Brother Archigallus in a Wood whose altered visage and ragged cloths gave sufficient evidence of his afflicted condition as soon as the King knew him though he was not ignorant how he had sought his Restoration both by force and fraud yet he lovingly imbraced him and caused him privately to be conveyed into the City The King pretended he was sick and giving forth that he would dispose of the Affairs of the Realm by his last Will and Testament he called his Nobles together he then signified that he would confer in private with each of them singly and as every man entered into his Chamber he caused him to be laid hold on threatning him with death if he would not consent to the sparing of his Brother and that he should resign the Throne and Kingdom to him having by this means gained an universal assent he then opened the business in the presence of them altogether so that Archigallus was restored to the Kingdom and he dying in few years Heliodorus succeeded him with equal Justice and Glory Fulgosus Examples p. 634. XLIV There was a Soldier in the Camp of Pompeius who in the War with Sertorius perceiving a Soldier on the other side to press hard upon him he sought with him hand to hand and having slain him he went about to strip him of his Arms which when he had done he found it was his Brother who had fallen under him whereupon having a long time curst his unhappy Fate he carried his dead Brother into the Camp and having covered the Body with a precious Garment he laid the Corps upon the Funeral Pile and put fire to it which done he immediately drew the same Sword wherewith he had slain his Brother and thrust it into his own Breast and so falling prostrate upon the dead Body of his Brother they were both burned together Valerius Maximus p. 146. XLV There was a report though a false one that Eumenes King of Asia was slain by the fraud of Perseus upon the news whereof his Brother Attalus seized upon the Crown and married the Wife of his Brother but being informed of Eumenes his return he went forth to meet him not without apprehensions of fear in regard of what he had done in his absence Eumenes made no shew of his displeasure only whispered him in the Ear That before he married another Mans Wife he should besure her Husband was dead This was all and not long after dying though by his Wife he had a Son of his own yet he left the Kingdom to his Brother together with the Queen his Wife Attalus on the other side that he might not be surpassed in Brotherly love though he had many Children by his own Wife yet he educated that Son she had by Eumenes to the hope of the Kingdom and when he came of sufficient Age freely resigned up all to him and lived a private life many years after Burtons Melancholy p. 564. XLVI Darius King of Persia being extreamly provoked by Crimes of an extraordinary nature had pronounced Sentence of death upon Ithaphernes his Children and the whole Family of them at once the Wife of Ithaphernes went to the Kings Pallace and there all in tears was so loud in her mournful Lamentations that her cries coming to the Kings Ear moved him in such manner to compassion that the King sent her word That with her own he gave her the life of any single Person whom she would make choice of among the condemned the Woman begged the life of her Brother Darius wondred that she should rather ask his life than that of her Husband or any of her Children and therefore asked her the reason who replied That since her Father was dead she could never hope for a Brother more if she should lose this but that her self being but young as yet might hope for another Husband and other Children Darius was moved with this answer and being inclined to Brotherly love as well as prudence he gave her also the life of her eldest Son Heywoods Hist Women XLVII Tiberius being at Ticinum and hearing that his Brother Drusus lay sick in Germany he immediately put himself on an hasty Journey to give him a visit he passed the Alps and the Rhine and changing his Horse night and day he travelled outright two hundred miles with only one Person in his Company as his Guide Drusus though at that time labouring for life being informed of his coming commanded his Legions with their Ensigns to march out and meet him and to salute him by the Title of Imperator or Emperor he ordered a Praetorial Tent to be erected for him on the right hand of his own and gave him the Confular and Imperial name at the same time yielding this honour to his Brother and his Body to death Valerius Maximus p. 146. XLVIII Great was the love of Timolaeon the Corinthian to his Brother for when in a Battel with the Argives he saw his Brother fall down dead with the wounds he had received he leaped over the dead body of his Brother and with his Shield he protected the body as it lay and though in this enterprize he was sore wounded himself yet would he not retreat into any place of safety till such time as he had seen the dead body of his Brother carried off from the Field Fulgosus lib. 5. XLIX Neither has the extraordinary Love of Servants toward their Masters wanted great Examples some of whom have discovered eminent Fidelity and Virtue so that Fortune may seem to have treated them injuriously not to allot them as great advantages as their Masters they lived under for we read that the Servant of Vrbinius Panopion knowing
himself yet he rated the Bassa with sharp language What saies he dost thou think it handsome to complain thus grievously of my Son Knowest thou not that both thy self and this Wife of thine are my Slaves and accordingly at my dispose If therefore my Son has imbraced her and followed the inclinations of his mind he has but imbraced a Slave of mine and having my approbation he hath committed no fault at all think of this and go thy way and leave the rest to my self This he said in defence of his absolute Empire but being unsatisfied in his mind and vexed at the thing he first sends for his Son examines him touching the Fact and he having confessed it he dismissed him with outragious Language and threatnings three days after when paternal love to his Son and Justice had striven in his Breast love to Justice having gained the Superiority and Victory he commanded his Mutes to strangle his Son Mustapha with a Bowstring that by his death he might make amends to injured and violated Chastity Turkish Hist p. 411. LXXXIV King Henry the second of France commanded that an Italian Lacky should be put into Prison without telling why whereupon the Judges set him at liberty having first delivered their opinion to the King who again commanded that he should be put to death having as he said taken him faulty in a foul and heinous Crime which he would not have to be divulged yet the Judges for all this would not condemn him but set open the Prison doors to let him go forth it is true that the King caused him to be taken afterwards and thrown into the River Seine and drowned without any form of Law to avoid Tumult but the Judges would not condemn a Person where no proof was made that he was guilty Camerarius Medit. p. 472. LXXXV Otho the first Emperor of Germany being upon a Military expedition a Woman threw her self at his feet beseeching a just revenge according to the Laws upon a Person who had committed a Rape upon her the Emperor being in hast referred the hearing of the cause till his return But who then replied the Woman shall recall unto your Majesties mind the horrid injury that hath been done to me The Emperor looking up to a Church there by This Church saith he shall be a witness betwixt me and thee that I will do thee Justice and so dismissing her he with his retinue set forward at his return seeing the Church he called to mind the Complaint and caused the Woman to be summoned before him who at her appearance thus bespake him Dread Soveraign the man of whom I heretofore complained is now my Husband I have since had a Child by him and have forgiven him the injury not so said the Emperor by the head of Otho he shall suffer for it for a collusion among your selves doth not make void the Laws And so he caused his head to be struck off Lonic Theat p. 475. LXXXVI Chabot was Admiral to King Francis the first of France a man most nobly descended of great Valour and in high favour with his Prince but as in other men the Passion of love grows cold and wears out by time so the Kings affection being changed toward the Admiral had charged him with some Offences which he had formerly committed The Admiral presuming upon the great good Services he had done the King in Piemont and in the defence of Marseilles against the Emperor gave the King other language than became him and desired nothing so much as a publick Tryal hereupon the King gave commission to the Chancellor Poyet as President and other Judges upon an information of the Kings Advocate to question the Admirals life the Chancellor being an ambitious man and of a large conscience hoping to please the King wrought so cunningly upon some of the Judges threatned others so severely and drew in the rest with fair promises that though nothing could be proved against the Admiral worthy of the Kings displeasure yet the Chancellor subscribed and got others to subscribe to the forfeiture of his Estate Offices and Liberty though not able to prevail against his Life But the King hating Falshood and though to any that should bewail the Admirals Calamity it might have been answered that he was tryed according to his own desire by the Laws of his Country and the Judges of Parliament yet I say the King made his Justice surmount his other Passions and gave back the Admiral his Honour his Offices his Estate his Liberty and caused the wicked Poyet his Chancellor to be Indicted Arraigned Degraded and Condemned Rawleighs Hist World p. 471. LXXXVII Totilas King of the Goths was complained to by a Calabrian that one of his Lifeguard had ravished his Daughter upon which the accused was immediately sent to Prison the King resolving to punish him as the Fact deserved but the Soldiers came about him desiring that their Fellow-Soldier a man of known Valour might be delivered back to them Upon which Totilas sharply reproved them What would you have said he know you not that without Justice neither any Civil nor Military Government is able to subsist do not you remember what slaughters and Calamities the Nation of the Goths underwent through the injustice of Theodahadas I am now your King and in the maintenance of Justice we have regained our ancient Fortune and Glory would you now lose all for the sake of one Villain Look to your selves ye Soldiers but for my part I proclaim it aloud being careless of what shall happen thereupon that I will not suffer it and if you are resolved to do so then first strike at me behold a Body and a Breast ready for your stroke The Soldiers were so moved at this Speech that they deserted their Client the King sent for the man from Prison condemned him to death and gave his Estate to the injured and violated Woman Lipsius Monit p. 250. LXXXVIII In the Reign of King James 1612. June 25. the Lord Sanquer a Nobleman of Scotland having upon private revenge suborned Robert Carlile to murther John Turner a Fencing Master thought by his greatness to have carried it off but the King respecting nothing so much as Justice would not suffer Nobility to be a shelter to Villany but according to the Law upon June 29. the said Lord Sanquer having been Arraigned and Condemned by the name of John Creighton Esquire was executed before Westminster-Hall Gate where he died very penitent Bakers Chronicle p. 464. LXXXIX The Chronicle of Alexandria relateth an admirable passage of Theodorick King of the Romans Juvenilis a Widow made her complaint that a Suit of hers in Court was drawn out for the space of 3 years which might have been dispatched in few days The King demanded who were her Judges she named them they were sent unto and commanded to give all the speedy expedition that was possible to this Womans Cause which they did and in two days determined it
with many and cruel blows and threatned to be beheaded to which he answered You worship such Gods as will perish like dung upon the Earth but as for me come life come death I will worship none but the God of Heaven and Earth Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXVI St. Origen when he was but seventeen years old his Father being carried to Prison had such a fervent mind to suffer Martyrdom with him that he would have thrust himself into the Persecutors hands had it not been for his Mother who in the night time privately stole away his Cloths and his very shirt also whereupon more for shame to be seen naked than for fear of death he was forced to stay at home yet he writ thus to his Father Pray Sir be sure you do not change your Resolution for my sake Clarks Mar. XXVII Valence the Emperor being an Arrian sent Messengers to St. Basil to persuade him to imbrace that Heresy they gave him good words and promised him great Preferment if he would do it but he answered Alas Sir these Speeches are fitter to catch little Children that look after such things than such as me who being taught and instructed by the Holy Scriptures had rather suffer a thousand deaths than that one syllable or tittle of Gods Word should be altered the Governor being in a rage threatned him with confiscation of his Goods Torments Banishment and Death Basil replied He need not fear Confiscation that had nothing to lose nor Banishment to whom Heaven only is a Country nor Torments when his Body may be dashed in pieces by one blow nor Death which is the only way to set him at liberty and I wish it would fall out so well on my side that I might lay down this Carcase of mine in the Quarrel of Jesus Christ and in the defence of his Truth The Praefect told him that he was mad I wish said he that I may be for ever thus mad Clarks Examples XXVIII The same Emperor Valence coming to the City of Edessa perceived that the Christians did keep their Assemblies in the Fields for their Churches were pulled down and demolished whereat he was so inraged that he gave the President Methodius a box on the Ear for suffering such their Meetings commanding him to take a Band of Soldiers and to scourge with Rods and knock down with Clubs as many as he should find of them this his order being proclaimed there was a Christian Woman who with a Child in her Arms ran with all speed toward the place and was got amongst the ranks of those Soldiers that were sent out against the Christians and being by them asked whither she went and what she would have she told them That she made such hast lest she and her little Infant should come too late to be partakers of the Crown of Christ amongst the rest of those that were to suffer When the Emp. heard this he was confounded desisted from his enterprize and turned all his fury against the Priests and Clergy Wanly Hist Man p. 214. XXIX St. Chrysostom stoutly rebuked the Empress Eudoxia for her Covetousness telling her That she would be called a second Jezabel and when she sent him a threatning Message Go tell her said he I fear nothing but Sin and when she confederating with his other Enemies had procured his banishment as he went out of the City he said None of these things trouble me for I said before within my self if the Queen will let her banish me the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof if she will let her saw me asunder the Prophet Isaiah was so used if she will let her cast me into the Sea I will remember Jonah If she will let her cast me into a burning fiery Furnace or to the wild Beasts the three Children and Daniel were so dealt with If she will let her stone me or cut off my head I have St. Stephen and John the Baptist for my blessed Companions If she will let her take away all my goods and substance naked came I out of my Mothers Womb and naked shall I return thither again He was so beloved that on a time when he was like to be silenced the people cried out we had better want the shining of the Sun then the Preaching of Chrysostom Clarks Lives p. 78. XXX In the persecution of the Church under the Arrian Vandals who committed all manner of Cruelties upon the true Christians there were a great number condemned to be burnt in a Ship to which they were accompanied by a multitude of their Brethren being led like innocent Lambs to the Sacrifice and looking upon their weighty Chains and Irons wherewith they were loaded as rare Jewels and Ornaments they went with all cheerfulness and alacrity to the place of Execution even as though they had gone to a Banquet singing praises with one voice unto the Almighty as they went along the Streets saying This is our desired day more joyful to us then any Festival behold now is the accepted time now is the day of Salvation when for the faith of our Lord God we suffer death that we may not lose the Garment of Faith and Glory The People likewise with one voice cried out Fear not O Servants of God neither dread the Threats of your Enemies die for Christ who died for us that he might redeem us with the price of his saving blood Amongst them was a little Boy to whom a subtle Seducer said why hastest thou my pretty Boy unto death let them go they are mad take my Counsel and thou shalt not only have life but great advancement in the Kings Court to whom the Lad answered You shall not get me from the fellowship of these Holy Men who bred me up and with whom I have lived in the fear of God and with whom I desire to die and with whom I trust I shall obtain the Glory to come and so being all put into the Ship they were burnt together Clarks Martyr XXXI Among others who were terribly tormented they tortured Women and especially Gentlewomen stark naked openly without all shame and particularly a young Lady called Dyonisia whom they saw bolder and more beautiful than the rest they first commanded her to be stripped stark naked and made ready for the Cudgels who spake stoutly to them saying I am assured of the love of God vex me how you will only my Womanhood disclose you not But they with the greater rage set her naked upon an high place for a publick spectacle then did they whip her till the streams of blood did flow all over her body whereupon she boldly said Ye Ministers of Satan that which you do for my reproach is to me an honour And beholding her only Son that was young and tender and seemed fearful of Torments checking him with a Motherly Authority she so incouraged him that he became more constant than before to whom in the midst of his terrible Torments she said Remember O my
by the neighbours who starting out of their beds and breaking open the doors found them in the very act before the body was cold for which they were apprehended and laid in Prison Fettered with heavy Chains After their condemnation for this horrid fact the morning before the time appointed for Execution the Father strangled himself and the Mother was carried by the Devil out of the Dungeon in the Prison and her body was found dead in a stinking ditch with her neck broken asunder Beards Theater p. 72. XXX In 1620 There was a young Gentleman whose name was Duncomb that fell in love with a Gentlewoman to whom he vowed his heart and promised Marriage but her fortune not answering his Fathers humour he threatned to disinherit him if he married her and the better to alienate him from her he sent him as a Souldier in the Earl of Oxfords Regiment into Germany hoping that time and absence might wear out those Impressions that his present fancy had fixed upon him charging him at his departure never to think of her more lest with the thoughts of her he lost him for ever The young man being now long absent from her and having his heart full with the remembrance of her could not contain himself but let her know that no threats or anger of Parents should ever blot her memory out of his thoughts which he illustrated with many expressions of love and affection but the careless young man writing at the same time to his Father superscribed his Fathers Letter to his Mistriss wherein he renounced her and his Mistrisses Letter to his Father wherein he admired her the Father swoln with rage and anger against his Son sent him a bitter Letter back again full of threats and whether that or the shame for his mistake that she should see he renounced her whom he professed to Love did overcome his reason is not known but he hereupon killed himself to the great grief of all the English there and by this example Parents may see what it is to be too rigid to their Children for it was not the young mans hand but the old mans hard heart that killed him Hist Great Brit. p. 140. XXXI There was a Peasant a Macedonian by Nation named Rachoses who being the Father of seven Sons perceived the youngest of them played the little Libertine and unbridled Colt he endeavoured to reclaim him by fair words and reasons but finding him to reject all manner of good Counsel he bound his hands behind him carried him before a Magistrate accused him and required that he might be proceeded against as an Enemy to Nature The Judges who would not discontent this incensed Father nor hazard the life of this young man sent them both to the King which at that time was Artaxerxes The Father went thither with a resolution to seek his Sons death where pleading before the King with much earnestness and many forcible reasons Artaxerxes stood amazed at his Courage But how can you my Friend said he endure to see your Son die before your face he being a Gardiner by Trade As willingly said he as I would pluck away Leaves from a rank Lettice and not hurt the root The King threatned the Son with death if his Carriage were not better and perceiving the old mans zeal to Justice of a Gardiner made him a Judge Causins H. Court p. 112. XXXII Epaminondas the Theban being General against the Lacedemonians it fell out that he was called to Thebes upon the Election of Magistrates at his departure he commits the care and government of the Army to his Son Stesimbrotus with a severe charge that he should not fight till his return The Lacedemonians that they might allure the young man to fight reproach him with dishonour and Cowardice he impatient of these Contumelies contrary to the commands of his Father ingages in a Battel wherein he obtained a signal Victory The Father returning to the Camp adorns the Head of his Son with a Crown of Triumph and afterward commanded the Executioner to take it off from his Shoulders as a violator of Military Discipline Plutarch XXXIII Philip the Second King of Spain out of an unnatural and bloody zeal suffered his eldest Son Don Carlos to be murthered by the Fathers of the Hellish Inquisition because he favoured the Protestant Religion which when the Pope heard of he abusively applied that Text of Scripture to him He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Acts and Monum XXXIV One of the Sons of Pyrrhus King of Epyrus being but a Boy asked his Father one day to which of his Sons he would leave his Kingdom to whom Pyrrhus answered To him that hath the sharpest Sword an answer not much unlike that Tragical Curse of Oedipus toward his Children Let them for me divide Both Goods and Rents and Lands With glittering Swords and bloody blows By force of mighty hands XXXV In the year 1551. at a Town called Weidenhasten in Germany Nov. 20. A cruel Mother inspired by the Devil shut up all her doors and began to murder her four Children in this manner she snatcht up a sharp Ax and first set upon her eldest Son being but eight years old searching him out with a Candle behind an Hogshead where he had hid himself and immediately notwithstanding his lamentable Prayers and Complaints clove his Head in two pieces and chopped off both his Arms next she killed her Daughter of five years old in the same manner another little Boy of three years seeing his Mothers madness hid itself poor innocent behind the Gate whom as soon as this Tyger espied she drew out by the hair of the head into the floor and there cut off his Head the youngest lay crying in the Cradle but half a year old him she without all compassion pluckt out and murdered in the same manner these Murders being committed this Devil incarnate for surely no Humanity was left in her to take punishment of her self for the same cut her own Throat and tho she lived nine days after and confessing her horrid Crimes died with abundance of Tears and great repentance yet we see how it pleased God to arm her own hands against her self as the fittest Executioner of Vengeance Beards Theat p. 225. XXXVI Fausta the Wife of Constantine the Great fell in love with Constantine her Son in Law whom when she could not persuade unto her Lust she accused unto the Emperor as if he had solicited her Chastity for which this innocent young man was condemned and put to death but the truth being afterward discovered Constantine ordered her to be put into an hot Bath and suffered her not to come forth till the heat had choked her revenging upon her own head her Sons death and her own Unchastity Idem p. 225. XXXVII Robert de Beliasme delighted much in Cruelty an Example whereof he shewed on his own Son who being but a Child and playing with him the Father for
him condemned him to death the Executioner being in readiness and he stretching forth his Neck to receive the stroke of the Ax behold in the very instant his Comerade appears in the place whereupon the Centurion who had the charge of the Execution commands the Executioner to forbear and carries back the condemned Soldier to Piso toge her with his Comerade thereby to manifest his innocency and the whole Army waited on them with joyful Acclamations But Piso in a rage gets him up to the Tribunal and condemns both the Soldiers the one for returning without his Comerade and the other for not returning with him and lastly he likewise condemns the Centurion for staying the Execution without Warrant which was given him in charge and thus three suffered death for the innocency of one Causins Holy Court XVII Mahomet the Great first Emperor of the Tarks after the winning of Constantinople fell in love with a most beautiful young Greekish Lady called Irene upon whose incomparable Perfections he so much doted that he gave himself wholly up to her love but when he heard his Captains and chief Officers murmured at it he appointed them all to meet him in his great Hall and commanding Irene to dress and adorn her self in all her Jewels and most gorgeous Apparel not acquainting her in the least with any part of his design taking her by the hand he led this Miracle of Beauty into the midst of his Nobles and Bassa's who dazled with the brightness of this illustrious Lady acknowledged their Errour professing that their Emperor had just cause to pass his time in solacing himself with so peerless a Paragon but he on a sudden twisting his left hand in the soft curls of her hair and with the other drawing out his sharp Scimeter at one blow he struck off her Head from her Shoulders and so at once made an end of his love and her life leaving all the Assistants in a fearful amaze and horror of an act of that Cruelty Turkish Hist p. 351. XVIII Vladus Dracula as soon as he had gained the Kingdom of Moldavia he chose out a multitude of Spear-men as the Guard of his Body after which inviting as many as were eminent in Authority in that Country to come to him he singled out from them all that he thought did not love him or had any inclination to a change all these together with their whole Families he empaled upon sharp stakes sparing neither the innocent age of young Children the weak Sex of Women nor the obscure condition of Servants the Stakes and place where they were set took up the space of seventeen furlongs in length and seven furlongs in breadth and the number of those that were thus murdered and in this barbarous manner were said to be no less than twenty Thousand Idem p. 363. XIX Johannes Basilides Emperor of Russia in 1569. Used for his Recreation to cause noble and well deserving Persons to be sewed up in the skins of Bears and then himself set Mastiss upon them which cruelly tore them in pieces he often invited Michael his Father in Law to banquet with him and then sent him home to his â—…ily through the snow having first caused him to be stript stark naked sometimes he shut him up in a room in his own House till he was almost famished causing four Bears of Extraordinary bigness to be tyed at the door to keep all Provisions from him these Bears he at other times would let loose among the People especially when they were going to Church and when any were killed by them he said His Sons had taken great pleasure in the sport and that they were happy who perished in this manner since it was no small diversion to himself Upon a mere suspition which he had conceived against the City of Novogorod he entred the same and caused to be slain and thrown into the River two thousand seven hundred and seventy Persons without any respect of Age Quality or Sex besides an Infinite number of poor People who were trampled to death by a Party of his Horse and there were so many bodies cast into the River of Volga that being stopped therewith it overflowed the Neighbouring fields the Plague which followed this Butchery was so great that no body venturing to bring provisions into the City the Inhabitants were forced to feed on the dead Carcases The Tyrant took a pretence from this inhumanity to cause all those that had escaped the Plague Famine and his former cruelty to be cut in pieces The Arch-Bishop of this place having escaped the first fury of the Souldiers either as an acknowledgment of the favour or to flatter the Tyrant entertained him at a great Feast in his Archiepiscopal Pallace whither the Duke failed not to come with his Guards about him but while they were at dinner he sent to plunder the rich Temple of St. Sophia and seized on all the treasures which had been brought thither and to other Churches as to places of safety After dinner he caused the Arch-Bishops Pallace to be in like manner Pillaged and then told the Arch-Bishop That it would now be ridiculous for him to act the Prelate since he had not wherewithal to support the dignity of his place that he must put off his rich habit which henceforth would be but troublesome to him and that he would bestow on him a bagpipe and a Bear which he should lead up and down and teach it to dance to get money that he must resolve to marry and that all the other Prelates and Abbots that were about the City should be invited to the Wedding setting down a precise Sum of money which each of them should present to the new married Couple And there were none of them but brought what they had made a shift to save thinking the poor Arch-Bishop should have had it but the Tyrant took all the money and causing a white Mare to be brought he said to the Arch-Bishop This is thy Wife get upon her and go to Mosco the poor Arch-Bishop was forced to obey and as soon as he was mounted they tyed his legs under the Mares belly and thenhung about his neck some Pipes a Fiddle and a Tymbrel and would needs make him to play on the Pipes all the other Abbots and Monks who were present were either cut in peices or with Pikes and Halberds forced into the the River this Tyrant had a particular longing for the money of one Theodore Sircon a rich Merchant whereupon he sent for him to his Camp at Novogorod and having fastened a Rope about his wast he commanded him to be cast into the River drawing him from one side to the other till he was ready to give up the Ghost then he asked him what he had seen under water the Merchant stoutly answered That he had seen a great number of Devils carrying the Dukes Soul with them into Hell the Tyrant replyed Thou art in the right but it 's just I
feasts and entertainments in which he always took high contentment and satisfaction passing a most Lascivious life in his Seraglio and consuming an immense treasure on his women whereby he was seized with an apoplexy which was attributed to his excessive use of them to whom he was so immoderately addicted that he consumed his days and nights in the womens apartments wherein Amber was the Common perfume which burned perpetually and the Common sawce to most of his Dainties not perhaps because it so much pleased his Palate as that it was a provocative incitement to his Lusts and notwithstanding the great number of women within the Seraglio which were all at the Devotion of the Sultan yet Ibrahim not being contented therewith passing one day to Scutari had by chance cast his Eye upon an Object which much pleased him what it was becomes me not to relate but being returned to his Seraglio he sent orders to the Vizier to seek out the biggest and best proportiond woman which was to be found in all Constantinople and the parts thereabout hereupon Emissarys were dispatched into all quarters of the City at length he found a huge tall Armenian woman well proportioned according to her height and a giantess for her stature who being found she was presently washed and perfumeâ— in the bath and as richly clothed and adorned as the shortness of the time would permit there was no great difficulty to persuade her to become Turk having so high preferment in her prospect so that being introduced to the grand Seigniors presence he became immediately inamoured and was so pleased with her society that he preferred her before all the women of his Court an evidence whereof he gave in that he could not deny her any request she could make and particularly about that time the Government of Damascus being void this woman begged it for her self placing another in the Office who was accountable to her for all the profits and benefits thereof by these particulars of favour the Queen Mother becoming jealous one day inviting her to dinner caused her to be strangled and persuaded Ibrahim that she died suddenly of a violent sickness at which he poor man was greatly afflicted And though during his reign the seige of Candia began and a bloody war continued against the Venetians yet Sultan Ibrahim like a stout Souldier of Venus continued his Debaucherys to the height and at length fell in Love with the widdow of his Brother Sultan Morat but she resolving upon widdowhood he assaulted her by force but his Mother coming in at the outcry hindred his design and gave opportunity to the Sultana to escape out of the hands of this Satyr after this he had a great Passion for the Daughter of the Mufti or chief Priest among the Turks offering her Father to marry her prefer her in honour equal to any other of his Sultana's but the old man knowing the wandring humour of Ibrabim refused him and instructed his Daughter to do the same which so inraged him that resolving to have his will of her he caused her to be seized going from the â—ath and carrying her into the Seraglio he possessed and enjoyed her for some days but with such tears reluctancy and sullenness aâ— took off from the edgâ— and appetite of his enjoyment so that he returned her back with scorn contempt to her Father who at first dissembled the injury but resolving on Reverge he first complains to Mahomet Pasha a great Man in the Council afterward to the Q. Mother who hated her Son extreamly because he had lately committed her to Prison for reproving him hereupon they concluded to confine Ibrahim to his old Prison not that he should be absolutely laid aside and deposed but only corrected a while and being put in remembrance of his past condition might be taught wisdom and instructed for the future what â—…oderation Justice Sultans are obliged to exercise in the administration of Government they then got the two Lord Chief Justices into the Conspiracy and Aug. 7. 1648. was the day appointed for the Insurrection of the Janizaries who being all in a readiness on that day went in a tumultuary manner to call the Musti and other Officers and Ministers of the Law to go with them to the Grand Seignior and then they demanded of the Mufti Whether that according to their Law Sultan Ibrahim as a Fool and a Tyrant and unfit for Government ought not to be deposed to which the Mufti answering Yâ—s he sent to ciâ—e Sultan Ibrahim to appear the day following in the Divan or Council to administer Justice to his Soldiers and Subjects who expected it from him but Ibrahim laughed at the Summons which the Mufti made him which being seconded by a Fetsa which is a point of Law resolved by the Mufti who is the Month or Oracle thereof that is That the Grand Seignior being called to account is obliged to appear before the Justice the Sultan in high disdain tore the Paper threatning the head of the Mufti but it was now too late he having already sufficiently fortified himself with the power and strength of his rebellious Companions this Fetfa was immediately seconded by another of a higher Nature which declared That whosoever obeyed not the Law of God was not a Mussulman or true Believer and though that Person were the Emperor himself yet being become by his filthy Actions a Kasir or Irsidel he was ipso facto fallen from his Throne and no further capable of Authority and Government this Fetfa being seen by Ibrahim he tore it in pieces commanding the Grand Vizier instantly to put the Mufti to death as guilty of Treason against his Prince but he having now lost his Authority his Commands were no longer regarded nor any Reverence had of his Person for the Janizaries being again assembled about five a clock in the afternoon came with their usual Tumult to the Gates of the Seraglio and now Sultan Ibrahim losing all Courage fled into the Arms of his Mother begging her assistance and protection she being a bold and subtle Woman imployed all her Rhetorick and Eloquence to persuade the Soldiers not to offer violence to the Person of their Lord and Master promising that he should relinquish the Government and retire himself with a Guard to his old Lodgings Ibrahim comforted a little that he should save his life shrunk himself willingly into his old shell wherein he had so long conserved his life In the mean time the Conspirators taking forth his eldest Son Sultan Mahomet set him on the Throne of his Father and planting the Sargouch or Imperial Feathers on his Head saluted him for Emperor with loud Acclamations Ibrahim continued his Imprisonment for some days with great patience but at length growing desperate and furious he often beat his head against the Wall until at length on August 17. 1648. he was strangled with a Bow string by 4 Mittes or dumb Executioners in this manner Sultan Ibrahim