Mankind Displayed: OR, THE HISTORY OF THE Little World: BEING A Curious Collection out of the best Authors of the most wonderful and remarkable Things that have been performed by Men and Women in the several Ages of the World; together with select Observations, Philosophical Precepts, Maxims of State, &c.  Longum Iter est per Praecepta, breve & efficax per Exempla. Seneca. 
LONDON, Printed, by H. C. for Thomas Northcott, in George-Yard, in Lumbard-street, 1690.   

THE PREFACE.  
WHen the Almighty had made the vast fabric of the Universe; composed of Fire, Air, Earth and Water, to glorify his infinite Wisdom, and exalt his Omnipotent Power; he comprehended all in the short Epitome, the Little, though Noble Creature, Man; he set him upon the Stage of the World to act as a free Agent, and to be Lord over all: But some, like the Giants of old, climbed the Hills to fight against their Maker; while others stormed the Heavens with their humble Prayers and penitential Tears. And therefore to show how well and ill Man has behaved himself is the Design of this ensuing Treatise: And certainly the History of Man is so delightful a Subject, that it must be entertaining to all, and especially to the curious; for therein is contained the Marrow of true History, the greatest things that have been acted by the most famous Men and Women in the World. But some may say, these are but Collections, the Works of other Men: To which I Answer, That, as the Spiders Web is not the better because it is extracted out of its own Bowels, so neither is the Honey the worse because it is produced from several Flowers: Though but Collections, our Examples are Great and True, and far exceeding the Romantick and fantastical Inventions of a Rambling Brain.   

INDEX.  

SOme Persons have unusual Fortune and felicity in their Affairs, page. 1  
Persons from mean Extraction and low Fortune advanced to great Honor, page. 3  
Various means of the Advancement of some Persons, page. 4  
Presages to some of good and evil Fortune, page. 8  
Some Persons warned of their approaching Fate, yet could not avoid it, page. 10  
Some have unwarily procured their own Death and downfall, Ibid.  
Some Persons very unfortunate, page. 11  
Of the Liberality and Bounty of some Persons, page. 12  
Of one despising Riches, page. 13  
The covetous Disposition of some, Ibid.  
The Frugality of some great Persons, page. 14  
Of the Hospitality of some People, Ibid.  
Of the strange Customs of several Nations, page. 15  
Of Atheists, page. 16  
Of the Perfidiousness and Treachery of a Court-Favourite, page. 17  
An Example of base Ingratitude, page. 20  
An Example of Gratitude, page. 21  
The peaceable, meek and merciful Disposition of some, page. 22  
The Patience of some, and their power over their passion, page. 23  
Some Persons have been improved, and well deported themselves in their Adversity, page. 25  
Injuries easily forgotten and forgiven by some, page. 26  
Of the bitter Revenges taken by some upon their Enemies, page. 27  
Of the light and gentle Revengement of Injuries, page. 30  
Some great Lovers of Justice, page. 32  
The unchaste Life of some, and incestuous Marriages, page. 33  
The singular Chastity and Modesty of some Persons, page. 36  
Of jealousy, page. 39  
Of great Love between some Men and their Wives, page. 40  
Parents great Love to their Children, page. 41  
Of the Reverence and Love of Children to their Parents, page. 42  
The Love of a Servant to his Master, page. 43  
Some Men unnatural to Parents and Wives, Ibid.  
Some Women are very unkind to their Husbands, page. 44  
The Hatred among Brothers, page. 45  
The cruel and bloody Dispositions of some, Ibid.  
Severe Punishments upon Malefactors, page. 46  
What strange Deaths some Men have died of, page. 50  
Some Bodies keep long in Tombs uncorrupted, page. 52  
How long some have lain in a Trance, and of some strangely saved from Death, Ibid.  
Some have eaten Poison without any harm, page. 58  
Some Persons strangely cured of Diseases, page. 59  
Some have used to walk and do strange things in their sleep, page. 60  
Some sleep much, others but little, Ibid.  
How long one slept, page. 61  
Extraordinary things that have happened to some Men, Ibid.  
Some Men very compassionate, page. 62  
The first Authors of divers famous Inventions; and the Works of some curious Artists, Ibid.  
Of keeping Secrets, page. 65  
Men of Industry and Haters of Idleness, page. 66  
Of the innocent Life of some, page. 67  
The exact Obedience of some to Superiors, Ibid.  
The Fidelity of some to their Oath and Trust, page. 68  
Some Persons great Lovers of Truth. page. 70  
Pope Benedict though raised to great Fortune, was not unmindful of his low Beginning, page. 72  
Of Religion, and the Reverence some great Persons have had for its Professors, page. 73  
Of the several Extents of the Roman catholic, and Protestant Religion, page. 76  
Of the Reverence of some to Clergymen, and Benefactors to Churches, &c. page. 77  
Of the early Appearance of virtue and Learning in some young Persons, page. 80  
vicious youth reclaimed, and afterwards become very virtuous, page. 81  
Reproofs taken patiently, though from Inferiors, page. 82  
Some very mindful of human Frailty, page. 83  
How highly some prise their Liberty, Ibid.  
Death received by some Persons with great Courage, page. 84  
Some mighty expensive in their Apparel, Ibid.  
Some great Gamesters, page. 85  
Of great Eaters and Feasting, and great Drinkers, Ibid.  
Great Misfortunes befallen Man, when drunk. page. 87  
The absurd and strange Follies of divers People, page. 89  
Of the Abstinence of some from Food, page. 90  
Of the inconstant Disposition of some, page. 91  
Of Tributes and Taxes imposed by some Kings on their People, page. 92  
Of the bold Theft of some, Ibid.  
Of Persons of base Birth, who have assumed the Names of Illustrious Persons, page. 93  
The huge Ambition, and desire of Glory in some Persons, page. 94  
Of Litigious Suits, page. 97  
The vain glorious boasting of some Men, Ibid.  
Of the Art of Painting, page. 98  
Some are apt to be guilty of those Faults they have reprehended in others, page. 99  
Scorn and Scoffing, how rewarded by some Persons, page. 100  
The Passion of Joy and its ill Effects, page. 101  
Of the Passion of Grief, and its mortal Effects, page. 102  
Of the good Wishes of some, page. 103  
Of the Appari●ion of Ghosts, page. 104  
Many have been destroyed unwarily by rash speaking, page. 107  
How some have suffered by their own Improcations, page. 108  
Some Men very affable and humble, Ibid.  
Of Conscience and the Effects of it, page. 109  
Of strange Recreations some delight in, page. 110  
Of the Natural Production of Man, Ibid.  
Of several strange Births in Women, page. 112  
A Woman delivered of a Monster, page. 114  
Many Persons have been observed to die on their Birthdays. Some Persons born with strange Marks upon them, page. 115  
Strange Constitutions in some Bodies, Ibid.  
How Nature supplies her own Defects, page. 116  
Of the five Senses in Man, page. 117  
Of the Senses and other Observations of the Soul and Body of Man, Ibid.  
Particular observations on Man, page. 119  
The numerous Issue of some People, page. 120  
Of the Majesty, Beauty and Gravity in some Persons, Ib.  
Of Beauty, page. 122  
Of the signal Deformity of some, Ibid.  
Of Giants and Dwarfs, page. 123  
Of the incredible Strength of some, Ibid.  
Of Strength, page. 124  
Some Persons of very long Lives, page. 126  
Some though aged, yet have renewed their Age, page. 127  
Some People have changed their Sex, page. 128  
Of the incredible Swiftness of some, Ibid.  
Of the wise Sentences of some Learned Men, page. 129  
The sundry Precepts of several Philosophers, page. 130  
Some few Maxims of State, page. 133  
The Contents of the Commission, for the Lord Lieutenant, or Lord Deputy of Ireland, page. 136    

Some persons have unusual fortune and felicity in their Affairs.  
ALexander the Great was a most fortunate and happy Prince in divers respects; he had Philip King of Macedon for his Father, the noblest warrior in his time, and in his Youth he had for his Master and governor( the Prince of Philosophers) Aristotle; besides which 'tis observed of him that he never gave Battle to any Enemy whom he did not at length overcome, never laid siege to any City which at last he did not take; nor never laid claim to any Nation or Kingdom which he did not subdue and bring under his subjection: He was but a little Man therefore was said of him, Mens tamen in parvo corpore magna fuit.  
Maud the Empress was so happy that she was the Daughter of a King, ( viz.) Henry the first, King of England; Mother of a King ( viz.) Henry the second, King of England; and Wife of a King ( viz.) Henry the Fourth, Emperour of Germany; therefore on her was made this Epitaph; 
Ortu magna, viro mayor, said maxima prole,  
Hic jac●t Henrici, filia, nupta, parens.   
'Tis likewise said of Charles Earl of clois that he was the Son of a King, Brother to a King, Uncle to a King, and Father to a King, and yet no King himself.[ Sere's Hist. of France.  
George Nevil, fourth Son of Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury, was consecrated Bishop of Exeter when he was not twenty years of age, at twenty five he was made Lord Chancellor of England; he discharged both offices with singular care and prudence, to his great commendation, his great abilities of mind supplying his lack of age.[ Fuller's Worthies, p. 273.  
Thomas Bourchier was successively Bishop of Worcester, Ely, and Archbishop of Canterbury, so that he wore a Mitre full fifty one years, a term not to be parallelled in any other person: he lived to see the Civil Wars between the two Houses of York and Lancaster begun and ended, having the honour to mary King Henry the Seventh to the Daughter of King Edward the Fourth, whereby both the said Houses of York and Lancaster were firmly united.[ Fuller's Worthies, p. 324.  
'Twas a rare Instance of propitious Fortune that befell Thomas Speramus, who in one and the same year was consecrated Bishop, elected Cardinal, and also attained to the Popedom, by the name of Nicholas the Fifth.  

Persons from mean Extraction and low Fortune advanced to great Honour.  
Cardinal Wolsey was but a Butchers Son in Ipswich, who from servile Employments insinuated himself into the favour of some Courtiers, by means whereof, and of his great sagacity and dispatch of Affairs, he was recommended to the favour of King Henry the Eighth, and by him raised to the highest Preferments both in Church and State; for he was not onely Cardinal, but also the Pope's Legate à laetere, chancellor of England, and Archbishop of York, Bishop of Durham, and Abbot of St. Albans, besides many other Offices: he was grown to that excessive degree of Arrogance that he used to writ, Ego & Rex meus; at length he fell into disfavour with the King, and going down to his archbishopric at York, he was sent for up by a Messenger from the King, and dyed on the way to London of a Lask at Leicester abbey, and was there interred.   

Various means of the Advancement of some persons.  
Thomas cromwell was born at Putney in Sussex, his Father was a Blacksmith, and he dying, his Mother was afterwards married to a Sheerman; he was first preferred to Cardinal Wolsey in some mean Office, afterwards by strange chance of fortune and various accidents, he was first Knighted by King Henry the Eighth, then made Master of his Jewel House, then one of his Privy Council, then Master of the Rolls, then Knight of the Garter, and lastly Earl of Essex, Great Chamberlain of England, and the King's Vicegerent, to represent his own person, but after all these great honours he was beheaded.[ Baker's Chron p. 412.  
Sir Walter raleigh, born at Budely in Devonshire, his introduction to the Court was upon this occasion; this Captain raleigh, coming out of Ireland into the English Court, in good habit,( his C●oathes being then a considerable part of his Estate) accidentally meeting Qu. Elizabeth walking one day, and she scrupling to go over some plashy place, presently raleigh cast and spread his new plush Cloak over the said place, whereon the Queen trod gently, rewarding him afterwards with many Suits, for his so free and seasonable a tender of so fair a Foot cloth: thus an advantageous admittance into the first notice of a Prince is more than half a degree to Preferment: when Sir Walter found some hopes of the Queens favour, he wrote in a glass window obvious to the Queens eye, Fain would I climb but that I fear a Fall. her Majesty espying it did underwrite, If thine Heart fail thee do not climb at all.  
'Tis most certain that afterwards this Knight came into great favour with Queen Elizabeth.  
Some Kings to make a good Jest have advanced men in earnest, for when amongst many Articles exhibited to King Henry the Eighth, against Gerald Earl of Kildare, the last was, finally, All Ireland cannot rule this Earl; then quoth the King, shall this Earl rule all Ireland; so for his Jests sake made him Deputy General of that Kingdom. 'Tis said further of the said Earl, that he being taxed before another Lord Deputy of that Kingdom, why he had committed so horrid a Sacrilege as to burn God's Church,( to wit the Cathedral at Cashel) he made Answer, That he had never burnt the Church but that he thought the Archbishop had been in it, there being a deadly feud then between him and the Archbishop.[ Cambden's Remains, p. 271.  
In the Reign of King William the Second, a rich abbey being vacant, two Monks of the Convent became suitors to the King for the place, offering great sums of money, and each of them out-bidding the other; whereupon the King looking about, and espying another Monk standing not far off, he asked him what he would give for the place, who answered, that he neither had, any thing to give, nor would give any thing if he had it, but came onely to wait upon him back whom the King should please to appoint Abbot: well, said the King, thou hast spoken honestly, thou art fitter to be Abbot than either of these, and so he bestowed the place upon him gratis.[ Baker's Chron. p. 49.  
Much about the same time there was a Bishop who had the Collation of a rich bnfice( in his Diocese) fallen to him, whereupon he gave out, that he would install none therein unless they could resolve him who was Melchisedeck's Father and Mother, several were puzzled at the matter, and thought it inextricable, there being no mention made of them in the Old Testament. But one cunning Priest, apprehending the intrigue, comes to the Bishop, and privately brings with him two bags, one of Gold, the other of Silver, and acquainted the Bishop he thought he came the nearest of any to resolve his question, and thereupon produced his bags, and  told him he thought the bag of Gold might be his Father, and that of Silver his Mother, wherewith the Bishop was well satisfied, and so immediately gave him the rich bnfice.   

Presages to some of good and evil fortune.  
Richard the Second, King of England, being at Flint Castle in Denbighshire, and having received in thither Henry Duke of Lancaster, he was by him thence conveyed to Chester, and being about to remove, they loosed a Greyhound of the King's, as was usual whensoever the King got on Horseback, which Greyhound used to leap upon the King's Shoulders, and fawn upon him exceedingly; being loosed at this time, he leaped upon the Duke of Lancaster, and fawned upon him in the same manner as he used to do upon the King his Master: the Duke asked the King what the Dog meant by it, 'tis an ill and unhappy o- men to me, said the King, but a fortunate one to you, for by this he acknowledges thee to be King now, and that thou shalt reign in my stead, which in short time came to pass accordingly.[ Speed's Hist. of Rich. II.  
Pope Paul the Second, upon that very day he had promoted Franciscus Ruvenus to a Cardinalship, when by accident he was speaking of it, I have this day, says he, chosen my Successor, the event made it appear he had spoken the truth; for Pope Paul dying, Franciscus succeeded him in the Popedom by the name of Sixtus the Fourth.  
Alfred a King of the West Saxons went out one day a hunting, and passing by a certain Wood he heard, as he supposed, the cry of an Infant from the top of a high three, he diligently enquired of the Huntsmen what that was, commanding one of them to climb the three, which being done, in the top thereof was found an Eagles Nest, and therein a pretty sweet faced Infant, wrapped up in a purple Mantle, and upon each Arm a Bracelet of Gold,( a sign of the Nobility of its Parents) this Child the King carried along with him, and caused him to be baptized, and from the Nest wherein he was found he gave him the name of Nesting, and after he had given him noble education, he advanced him to the dignity of an Earl: 'tis said from hence the Earls of Derby give for the Crest to their Arms the Eagle and Child.   

Some persons warned of their approaching fate yet could not avoid it.  
A great Earl being at a Feast and very merry, there was brought him a Letter, wherein he was certified of a Plot against his Life; he would not give himself the leisure of reading it then, but gave order, that as a thing serious it should be deferred till the morrow, but neglecting that warning, he did not live to red if, for he was slain that night.   

Some have unwarily procured their own death and downfall.  
Certain 'tis that some good while before the Duke of Buckingham's death, by the Knife of Felton, one Sir Clement Throgmorton, a Gentleman then living, and a very great Friend of the Dukes, advised the Duke to wear a privy coat of Mail, whose counsel the Duke received very kindly but gave him this Answer; that against any popular fury a shirt of Mail would be but a silly defence, and as for any single mans assault he took himself to be in no danger, so dark is destiny.[ Hist. of K. Charles I.  
Some persons at Syracuse, discoursing in a Barbers shop concerning Dionysius the Emperour his great Tyranny, what, said the Barber, do we speak thus of Dionysius under whose Throat ever and anon I hold a razor: as soon as Dionysius was informed of this, he forthwith caused the Barber to be put to death, and so the Barber paid for his folly at the price of his life. Many have been undone by rash speaking, which made a Gentleman( imprisoned in the Tower for speaking high Treason) say, Vincula da linguae, vel tibi lingua dabit.   

Some persons very unfortunate.  
'Twas observed, as it were, in the destiny of King Henry the Sixth of England, that although he was a most pious and good Prince, yet no enterprise of War did ever prosper where he was present.[ Bakers Chron p. 283.  
There are many Examples of this kind, how an ill fate oft-times attends very just and good persons, so that there is no avoiding our fate be it good or bad.   

Of the Liberality and Bounty of some persons.  
Sir Julius Caesar, once Master of the Rolls, was so liberal to poor people, that 'tis said, A Gentleman once borrowing his Coach, which was as well known to the poor as any Hospital in England, was so importuned by Beggars going through London, that it cost him all the money in his pocket to satisfy their begging, so that he might have hired ten Coaches on the like terms.  
'Tis said of Pope Alexander the Fifth, that he was so bountiful to persons of merit and virtue, that he used to say that he had been formerly a rich Bishop and a poor Cardinal, but being Pope he was almost reduced to beggary.  
'Tis credibly reported of one of the old Earls of Derby, being General, and having taken a Town beyond Seas, he freely gave to every soldier the House which every one should first seize, whereupon one of his Souldiers, having broken into the House of a Mint-master, where he found much treasure, and thinking it to be much more than fell to his share, he acquainted the Earl therewith, to know whether he might keep it all to himself, and the Earl with a liberal mind answered, 'Tis not for my Honour to play Boys play to give and take, take thou all the money were it twice as much. [ Fuller's Worthies.  
Sir Francis Bacon Lord Verulam dyed very poor, though he had such great Preferments, in regard of his great Bounty and Hospitality.   

Of one despising Riches.  
Aristides the great Athenian Lawgiver, and one who by his great valour and prudence had made the Athenians both rich and honourable, neglected the opportunity he had of making himself very rich, and always lived magnificently, insomuch that he dyed so very poor, that he left nothing behind to bury him according to his quality, so he was butted at the charges of the Commonwealth. [ Plutarch's Lives.   

The covetous disposition of some.  
Pope Benedict the Ninth was so extremely desirous of Gold, that he disposed of the Popedom itself to Pope Gregory the Sixth for a considerable sum of money.  
Cardinal Angelot was so basely covetous, that by a private way he used to go into the Stable and steal the Oats from his own Horses; it happened that on a time the Master of his Horse going into the Stable in the dark, and finding him there, taking him for a Thief, he slay the Cardinal.   

The Frugality of some great Persons.  
Of Lewis the Eleventh, King of France, there is found, in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris, two shillings for Fustian to new sleeve his Majesties old Doublet, and three half pence for liquour to grease his Boots.  
'Tis said of the Emperour Augustus, that he seldom wore any clothes but such as were spun at home, and made up by his Wife or Children.   

Of the Hospitality of some people.  
In Italy and Spain they are generally very Hospitable and kind, especially to Strangers; for if one goes to view the Temples, Castles, Magazines, Buildings, or any other thing in that kind, or when you depart from the House of your Friend where you first lodged, if you give any money as a gratuity, to the Watchmen, Workmen, or any other Servant of your Friends, you shall depart an Enemy instead of a Friend, for so great is their Hospitality, that they do all good Offices for a Stranger gratis.[ Howel's Letters.   

Of the strange Customs of several Nations.  
Pharamond was the first absolute King of the French, and a Lawgiver amongst them; 'tis said that he was the maker of the Law called the salic Law, by which the Crown of France may not descend unto Females; or as their saying is, fall from the Lance to the Distaff.[ Heylin's Cosmogr. p. 177.  
The Old Irish at every change of the Moon worshipped her, bowed their Knees, and with a loud voice thus spake unto the Planet, We pray thee leave us in as good estate as thou findest us.[ Speed's Maps, p. 135.  
The Danes used, when the English drank, to stab them, or cut their Throats, to avoid which villainy the party then drinking, requested some of the next unto him to be his surety, or pledge, whilst he paid Nature her due; hence have we our usual custom of pledging one another.   

Of Atheists.  
The Persians never see their Children till they be seven years old, for this reason, that they may be better able to bear their death in case they die when they are very young.  
The Thracians do celebrate the birth of any with mourning, and their funerals with joy, in respect they are born to trouble, and when they die they are at rest from all miseries [ Howel's Letters.  
Alphonsus the tenth, King of Spain, would usually blame Providence, and say, that had he been present with Almighty God in the Creation of the World, many things should have been better ordered and disposed than they were.  
John King of England, having been a little before reconciled to the Pope, and then receiving an overthrow in France, in great rage cried out, that nothing had prospered with him since he was reconciled to God and the Pope. Another time the said King John seeing a fat Stag opened, jestingly said, see how prosperously this Beast has lived, yet never heard Mass. 'Tis said he was a very irreligious and unmerciful Prince, and a great oppressor of his people; he was poisoned by a Monk of Swinstead Abbey in Lincolnshire.[ Speed's Hist. of K. John.   

Of the perfidiousness and treachery of a Court-Favourite.  
There is nothing under the Sun more detestable than a traitor, who is commonly followed with the execrations and curses of those very men to whom his Treason hath been most useful, all men being apt to believe that he who hath once exposed his Faith to sale stands ready for any Chapman as soon as any occasion shall present itself.  
King Edgar of England hearing of the admirable beauty of Alfrida, the onely Daughter of Ordgarus Duke of Devonshire( founder of Tavestock Abbey in that County) sent his great Favourite, Earl Ethelwood,( who could well judge of Beauty) to try the truth thereof, with Commission( if he found her such as same reported) that he should seize her for himself, and he would make her his Queen; the young Earl having arrived at her Fathers house, and being brought into her presence, upon immediate sight of the young Lady he was so surprised that he declined the King's command and wooed her for himself, and had procured her Fathers good will in case he could obtain the King's consent; hereupon the Earl posted back to the King, relating to him that the Maid was fair indeed, but nothing answerable to the same that went on her, yet desired the King that he might mary her, as being her Fathers Heir thereby to raise his Fortune; the King consented, and immediately the Earl posted back, and demanded the young Lady in Marriage from her Father, acquainting him that he had gained the King's consent for so doing; whereupon the Marriage was solemnized with splendour and magnificence, which made the same of her Beauty spread abroad more than before, insomuch that it reached the King's ear, so that the King( much doubting that he had been abused) meant to try the truth himself, and thereupon taking occasion of hunting in the Duke's Park, the Duke invited the King to a Noble Entertainment at his House, whose coming Earl Ethelwoed suspecting, he acquainted his Wife with the wrong he had done both her and the King, and therefore to prevent the displeasure of the King, upon that occasion, entreated her, by all the persuasions he could use, to cloath her self in such attire as might be least fit to set her forth and to eclipse her Beauty; but she considering within her self, that then was the time to make the most of her Beauty, and desirous to be a Queen, she would not be accessary to her own Injury, but decked her self in her richest Ornaments, which so improved her Beauties that the King was struck with admiration at the first sight of her, and resolved to be fully revenged upon his perfidious Favourite; yet dissembling his passion till he could take him at advantage,( the King at length having an opportunity) he then with a Javelin thrust him through, and having thereby made the fair Elfrida a Widow he took her to be his Queen.[ Speed's Hist. p. 388.   

An Example of base Ingratitude.  
One Humphrey Banister was brought up and exalted to promotion by the means and interest of Stafford Duke of Buckingham, his Master, the Duke being afterwards driven to extremity, by reason of the separation of his Army, which he had mustered against King Richard the Usurper, knew not where to retire with more safety( as he thought) than to this Banister's House, supposing he would prove to him a most trusty Friend, and would keep him secret till he could find a fit opportunity to go beyond Seas: presently after there was a thousand pounds propounded as a reward to him that could bring forth the Duke, whereupon this ungrateful traitor, upon great hopes of gaining so great a sum, betrayed the Noble Duke, his Benefactor, into the hands of John Mitton, Esq; High Sheriff of Shropshire, who thence conveyed the Duke to the City of Salisbury, where King Richard then was, and soon after the Duke was put to death; but as for that perfidious Monster the vengeance of God pursued him, for presently after his eldest Son fell mad and dyed in a Boars Sty, his eldest Daughter was suddenly strucken with a leprosy, his second Son became strangely deformed in his Limbs, and lame, his youngest Son was drowned in a puddle, and he himself was arraigned for a Murder, but being found guilty of Manslaughter onely, he was saved by his Clergy: as for the thousand pound King Richard would not give him a farthing of it, saying he that was untrue to so good a Master, must needs be false to all others.[ Stow's Annals p. 465.   

An Example of Gratitude.  
Sir William Fitzwilliams, the Elder, being a Merchant tailor, and Servant sometime to Cardinal Wolsey, was afterwards chosen Alderman of Broadstreet Ward in London, Anno 1506. going afterwards to dwell at Milton in Northamptonshire, in the Fall of the Cardinal his former Master, he gave him kind Entertainment at his House in the country, for which, being called before the King, and demanded how he durst entertain so great an Enemy to the King and State, he answered mildly, That he had not wilfully or contemptuously done it, but onely because he had been his Master, and partly the means of his greatest Fortunes: the King was so well pleased with his ingenuous Answer, and saying himself had few such Servants, he immediately Knighted him, and made him one of his Privy Council. [ Stow's Annals.   

The peaceable, meek and merciful disposition of some.  
'Tis said of the Sister of Edward the Third, King of England, and married to David King of Scots, that she was familiarly called Jane Make-peace, both for her earnest and successful endeavours therein.  
At Fez, the great City of Morocco, in afric, they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates, but if there be any controversies amongst them, both parties, Plaintiff and Defendant come before their Alfakin, or Chief Judge, and at once without any farther appeal or delay the Cause is heard and ended.  
The Lord Treasurer Burleigh was wont to say, that he overcame envy and evil will more by patience and peaceableness than by pertinacy and stubbornness; and his private Estate he so managed that he never sued any man, neither did ever any man sue him, whereby he lived and died in glory.  
Quintus Fabius Maximus was of that meek and mildred disposition throughout his whole life, that he was commonly called the Lamb. [ Roman History.   

The patience of some, and their power over their passion.  
Augustus Caesar, walking near the skirt of a Wood, with one single man, by chance a wild Boar had broken the place of his restraint, and seemed fiercely to run directly towards the Emperour, his Man, in whom at that time there was more of fear than of prudence, consulting his own safety, took hold of the Emperour and placed him before himself, for which indiscreet Action Augustus never discovered any sign of anger, or offence he had taken at it, but rather imputed it to his timidity.  
King Henry the Sixth of England was of that admirable patience, that being dispossessed of his Throne, and taken Prisoner, he onely said, to one who abused and struck him, you wrong yourself more than me in striking the Lord's Anointed.  
Pericles a famous Athenian Philosopher, being in the Market-place, was railed at and grossly abused by a base fellow, and going home at night this lewd Varlet followed him, and railed at him all the way home, and defamed him, notwithstanding which, when Pericles came to his House, it being dark he called to his Man and bade him light the Fellow home, lest it being night he should lose his way.  
'Tis said that Philip the Second King of Spain, having written a Letter with his own hand, with much study and labour, to be sent to the Pope, when he asked for sand to be cast upon it, his Secretary half asleep, poured the Ink in the Standish upon it instead of the sand, this would have put most into a fury, yet behold a Person of so great Eminency bare it patiently, without speaking one angry word to his servant.  
Bishop Cowper's Wife, being a froward woman, she, lest her Husband sho●●● prejudice his health by his overmuch study, when he was compiling his famous Dictionary, one day( in his absence) got into his Study, and took all the Notes he had been for eight years a- gathering, and burned them, whereof when she had acquainted him, he onely said, Woman, thou hast but put me to eight years study more.   

Some persons have been improved, and well deported themselves, in their adversity.  
Diogenes the Philosopher, being banished his own native country, fell to the study of Philosophy, and became Excellent therein, which before he minded not.  Ingenium saepe mala movent.  

Injuries easily forgotten and forgiven by some.  
When Aristotle was asked what grew old soonest, and what latest, Benefits, said he, and Injuries; for most p●●●●●s are apt to be forgetful of Good-turns▪ but generally very mindful of Injuries.  
doctor Cranmer( Archbishop of Canterbury) his mildness, and gentleness in pardoning wrongs was so great, that it gr●w into a Proverb, do my Lord of Canterbury a shrewd turn, and then you shall be sure to have him for your friend while he lives.  
One of the Dukes of Orleans, while he was Duke, had many Enemies; and afterwards, coming to be King, he was asked, Why he did not revenge himself of his Enemies while he was Duke? To which he replied, That it did not svit with the Majesty of the King of France, to revenge the Injuries done to the Duke of Orleans.[ Sere's History of France.  
'Tis said of the Earl of Carnarvan, That he, being in a Coffee House, and accidentally falling into discoure with a doctor of physic, the doctor  told him, he lied: the Earl, though a Person of much Honour and Courage, without taking any offence at it, mildly said, doctor, I had rather take the lie of you twenty times, than physic once. [ human Prudence.  
Cardinal Wolsey, being incensed against one of the Lords of the Privy Council, said to him in the Council Chamber, in White-hall, Thou art the veriest Fool in the Council: When the said Lord, without taking notice of it any farther, onely said, God be thanked my Master has but one fool here.   

Of the bitter Revenges taken by some upon their Enemies.  
An Italian, having got his Enemy into his power, he  told him, there was no possible way for him to save his life, unless he would immediately deny and renounce his Saviour Jesus Christ: the over timorous Wretch, in hopes of m●rcy from his cruel Adversary, did it; when the other forthwith stabbed him to the Heart; saying that he had then a full and noble revenge, for he had killed at once both his Soul and Body.  
George the first Duke of Buckingham, having denied one Lieutenant Felton twice a Captain's Commission, the said Felton acted this Revenge; on Saturday, August 23. 1628. for he being then in the Duke's house at Portsmouth, ●●ter Breakfast the Duke going out, one ●●lonel friar stepped before him, and stoping him upon some business, the said Felton, being behind, made a thrust with a common ten penny Knife, over Fryer's Arm, at the Duke, which lighted so fatally that it slit his Heart in two, the Knife was left sticking in his Body; the Duke took out the Knife, and threw it away; and laying his Hand on his Sword, drew it half out, and said, the Villain hath killed me( meaning as some think Colonel friar) for there had been some difference betwixt them; so, reeling against a Chimney, he fell down dead: the duchess, being with Child and hearing the Noise below, came in her Night Dress from her Bed-Chamber, which was in an upper Room, to a kind of Rail, and thence beholded him weltering in his own blood: Felton had lost his Hat in the Crowd, wherein there was a Paper sewed, in which he declared, that the reason which moved him to the Act, was no grudge of his own, though he had been far behind for his pay, and had been put by his Captain's place twice; but in regard he thought the Duke an Enemy to the State, because he was branded in Parliament; therefore what he did, was for the public good of his country: he was going to his Horse, which was tied to a Hedge hard by, but being amazed he missed his way, and so struck into the Pastry, and boldly confessed 'twas he had done the dead, and so he was in their hands, whereupon he was carried to Prison, and was tried, found guilty, and executed for it. [ History of King Charles the First,[ Howel's Letters, p. 141. § 5.  
In the Isle of Majorca, a Lord's Slave being by him beaten severely, the Slave resolved upon a Revenge, which he thus tragically acted; the Lord one day being gone abroad, the Slave presently shut to the door, and made it fast, and then went and violated the Honour of his Lady: and the Lord returning back, knocked at the door to get in, but the Slave reviled him, and threw his Lady and two of his young Children out at the Castle windows, and stood ready to do the like with the third and youngest Child; whereupon the Lord, seeing the ruin of all his Family but this one, begged hearty of the Slave, to save the Life of that little one, which the cruel Slave absolutely refused, unless his Lord would cut off his own Nose; the pitiful Father accepted of the condition, and had no sooner performed it, but the bloody Villain first cast the Infant down headlong, and then himself in a barbarous bravery.[ The Treasury of Ancient and Modern Times, l. 2. c. 10. p. 135.   

Of the light and gentle revengement of Injuries.  
Light Injuries are made none by a not regarding, which with pursuing to revenge grow both to height and burden: 'tis Princely to disdain a wrong; and, they say, Princes( when ambassadors offer Indecencies) do not use to chide them, but deny them Audience; as if Silence were the way Royal to revenge a wrong.  
A certain Jeweller having sold the Wise of Galenus the Emperour counterfeit Jewels instead of true ones, the Empress, being  told of the Cozenage, was mightily incensed against the Jeweller, and requested the Emperour that he might have some just punishment inflicted on him; upon this the Emperour commanded, that he should be exposed to a lion, to be torn in pieces, upon which, the day of Execution being come and the malefactor brought near the Lyon's den, while the said impostor fearfully, and the People greedily expect that some fierce and terrible lion should be let out of his Den to devour him, the Head of a Man onely appeared from the Den, and 'twas a crier, who by the Emperour's order proclaimed these words, He has played the cheer, and now he is cheated himself.  
'Twas the saying of a Wise man, That when an Injury is done a Man, and 'tis not in his power to revenge himself of it, 'tis best to dissemble, or take no notice of it, but when 'tis in his power to revenge it, then ought he generously to forgive it.   

Some great Lovers of Justice.  
Queen Mary, the first of England, caused the Lord Stourton( for a murder by him committed, and of which he was found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged) to be executed accordingly, having this onely favour, to be hanged in a Silken Halter.[ doctor Burner's second History of the Reformation, Life of Queen Mary.  
Henry the second, King of France, commanded, That a Man who had privily offended him, should be laid in Prison, without relling why: the Judges, upon his application to them, set the Prisoner at liberty, having first delivered their opinion to the King, who again commanded, that he should be put to death, having, as he said, found him tardy in a foul and heinous offence, which he would not have to be divulged; the Judges, for all that, would not condemn him, but ordered the Prison doors to be set open to let him forth; 'tis true, that the King caused him to be taken afterwards and thrown into the River Seines 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 of such Offence.  
[ A French Historian.  
The Casuists say, That he that lies with his Sister commits Incest; but he that marries her sins higher, by applying God's Ordinance to his Crime; so doubtless he that commits murder by the Sword of Justice aggravates that Crime to the utmost: This was spoken by the Lord Digby, upon the Earl of Strafford's Impeachment.   

The unchaste Life of some, and incestuous Marriages.  
Eugenius, the third King of Scotland, made a most beastly Act, which appointed the first nights lodging with the new married Woman to appertain to the Lord of the manor; this infamous Law was repealed by King Malcome, A. 1057. granting the Husband liberty to redeem the same, by payment of an half Mark of Silver, which Portion they call, Marchetas Mulierum, and is yet disponed by superiors, in the Charters they give to their Vassals.[ Hist. of the Church of Scot. lib. 2. p. 29.  
One Walter Bishop of Hereford, in the Reign of William the conqueror, attempting to force the Chastity of a Woman( who being a Sempstress was, out of pretence of cutting out of work, brought up into his Chamber) was by her, with her soldiers, thrust into his Belly, of which he dyed.  
There was a Man in Arabia who had fifteen Sons and one Daughter, now this Daughter was common to all her Brothers,( Incest it seems in that country being allowed of) who at length being tired with their continual company, she devised a means to rid herself, or at least to ease herself somewhat of that trouble; and therefore, whereas the custom was, that he which went in, left his Staff always at the door, to prohibit any of the others entrance; she got like Staves, and always having one of them at the door, was disburdened of their importunity; every one that came still thinking some other had been there before them: but they being once all together, one of them stolen from his fellows, and finding a Staff at the door, accused his Sister to his Father of Adultery, whereof upon discovery of the naked truth of the matter, she was cleared.[ Heylin's Cosm. Arabia.  
There was a young Man, the Son of a Widow, who would fain have debauched his Mother's Maid, whereof when the Maid had acquainted his Mother, the Mother, to be satisfied of the truth thereof, bid the Maid to appoint him a Night to come to her Bed, which she having done, his Mother, at the Night appointed, went into the Maids Bed, there to meet with her Son, and to give him a severe chiding, for being so wicked; the young man came at the Night appointed to the Maids Bed, where it seems the Mother, being overcome with Lust, together with the delusions of the Devil, she silently admitted her Son, and unknown to him was at that time got with Child, and at the usual time she was delivered of a Daughter, who at length being grown up to Womans Estate, was( by strange Chance of fortune) unknown married to this young Man, who was his Sister, and Daughter, as well as his Wife.  
There was a Roman Empress so excessively incontinent that 'twas observed of her, she would admit several men to her Embraces after she had conceived with Child by her own Husband, but not before, for this reason, lest the Father of the Child might be discovered by the Countenance of the Child.[ Howell's Letters.  
In Turkey they allow seven or eight Wives to each Man: the Turks are much addicted to Venery, and so are the Neapolitans; for 'tis observed there are several thousand courtesans in that City, 'twas in this place they say the French-Pox was first engendered.   

The singular Chastity and Modesty of some Persons.  
'Tis said of King Edward the confessor( who was so pious and religious a Prince) that he was the first King of England who had the Blessing of God given him of Curing the King's Evil, and since derived( under God) from him successively to the Kings of England; that he was so reserved and chast as to carnal Lust, that Queen Emme his Consort declared after his death, that in the several years she had been married to him, she never knew him carnally: some will say, it proceeded from debility of nature in him, but most agree 'twas his great Chastity; nay some Divines have been of opinion, that it becomes the sin of Lust in a Man to know his own Wife carnally once after she has conceived with Child by him; Marriage being chiefly intended for the propagation of mankind in an orderly method.[ Heylin's Cosmogr. Ed. the confessor.  
Queen Zenobia was such a precise piece of Modesty, that after she had conceived with Child, she would not admit her Husband to know her carnally.[ Howell's Letters.  
A Queen of England before the Conquest, having hard labour of a Child, solemnly vowed, she would never after admit her Husband to her Embraces, for that she would never undergo the like Sorrows again, whereupon she retired into a Nunnery.  
Thomas, Arch Bishop of York, in the Reign of Henry the First, King of England, falling very sick, sent for Physicians to apply some proper remedies for his Cure, but they all  told him, nothing would do him so much good as to accompany with a woman, but he replied, the remedy would be worse than the disease, and so dyed a Virgin.  
There was a Woman in Holland so exceeding modest and chast that 'tis said of her, she never so much as kissed any Man but her Husband; for he having a very stinking breath, and being at length  told so by some others, he asked his Wife why she had never  told him thereof, to the end he might have remedied it; to which she innocently replied, Truly I thought all other Mens breaths had smelled so.  
A grave Minister in Holland, having occasion, went into a Ditch to ease himself, where being unwarily surprised by some Women of his Parish walking that way, he was so ashamed thereupon that he did never after show his Head in public or come into the Pulpit, but pined himself away with Melancholy.  
Lucretia, a Roman Lady, was a great pattern of Chastity, who, for that she was ravished by King Tarquin, destroyed herself, on whom was made this Distich, 
Unfortunate Lucretia, thy chast mind,  
By life nor death, shall vindication find. [ Roman History.  
In Spain the Women of Quality usually when they appear abroad have their Faces covered with a Veil.   

Of jealousy.  
In Italy the disease of jealousy is epidemical, for they are great Imbracers of pleasure, which may proceed from the luscious rich Wines and luxurious Food, Fruit and Roots, wherewith the country abounds, insomuch that in some places Nature may be said to be Leua sui, A Bawd to herself. The Cardinal de Medici's Rule is of much authority amongst them, That there is no Religion under the Navel: and some of them are of the opinion of the Asians, who hold that, touching those natural passions, desires and motions, which run up and down in the blood, God Almighty and his Handmaid Nature did not intend they should be a torment to us, but to be used with comfort and delight.  
'Tis said that an Italian, having a handsome Wife, whom he suspected to be dishonest, but could not convince himself thereof by an Overt Act, grew at length so extremely jealous of her, that he caused himself to be gelded, with this design, that if from thenceforth his Wife should prove with Child, she might be palpably convinced of her dishonesty.  
Procris having a jealous Suspicion of her Husband Cephalus, that he was inflamed with the Love of some other Woman, she followed him into the Fields where he went a Hunting one day, and hide herself in a Bush, that she might privily observe what her Husband did, and unhappily stirring in the Bush where she was, Cephalus observing it, and supposing it was some wild Beast, he shot an Arrow into it, and slay her.  
There have been sad effects of jealousy.   

Of great Love between some men and their Wives.  
From the Nuptial Sacrifices of old, the gull was always wont to be taken away and cast upon the ground, to signify that betwixt the new-married couple there should be nothing of bitterness or discontent.  
Edward the First, King of England, warring in the Holy-land, was by a desperate Saracen unhappily wounded in the Body with an empoisoned Knife, which had certainly proved mortal, had not Queen Elizabeth, his Wife, out of her unspeakable love to him, sucked out the poison of his Wounds with her Mouth, whereby she effected the Cure, which otherwise had been incurable.  
[ Speed's History of Edw. the First.  
In some parts of the Indies those Wives do live in perpetual Infamy who will not throw themselves into their Husbands funeral Piles, and so bear them Company into the other World.   

Parents great love to their Children.  
Charles the Great, King of France, was so great a Lover of his Sons and Daughters, that he never dined or supped without them; he went no whither upon any Journey, but he took them along with him; and when he was asked why he did not mary his Daughters, and sand his Children abroad to see the World; his Answer was, that he was not able to bear their absence.  
Socrates, the great Philosopher, was surprised by Alcibiades, childishly sporting with his Son; and when he was sufficiently derided upon that accoun●… by Alcibiades; you have not, said he 〈…〉 such reason as you do imagine, to laug●… so profusely at a Father playing with hi●… own Child, seeing you know nothing of that affection which Parents have to their Children, pray contain your sel●… then till you come to be a Father your s●l● when perhaps you will be found as r●●●●lous as I now seem to you to be.   

〈◇〉 the Reverence and Love of Children to their Parents.  
Sir Thomas Moore, being Lord chancellor of England at the same time that his Father was a Judge of the King's Bench, he would always when he came to Westminster to Court, go first to the King's Bench, and ask his Father Blessing, before he went to sit in the Chancery.  
When Edward the First, King of England, heard of the Death of his onely Son, he took it grievously as a Father, but patiently as a Wise man; but when he understood shortly after of the Death of King Henry the Third, his Father, he was wholly dejected and comfortless; whereat when Charles, King of Sicily,( with whom he then sojourned in his return from the Holy-Land,) greatly marveled, King Edward satisfied him thus; God, says he, may sand me more Sons, but the Death of a Father is irrecoverable.[ History of King Edward I.   

The Love of a Servant to his Master.  
A Gentleman's Servant in France, knowing his Master should be killed, watching the opportunity, he took his Master's clothes, and laid him down in the Bed where his Master used to lye, and when the Executioner came to kill his Master, he suffered himself to be killed in his stead.   

Some Men unnatural to Parents and Wives.  
Nero, the Cruel Emperour of Rome, most inhumanly caused his good Mother Agrippina to be killed, and then had her Belly ript open, to see where he lay in her Body: he laid it no nearer his Heart than to say that, He did not think he had had so handsome a Mother.  
The aforesaid Nero, being incensed against his Wife, gave her such a kick with his Foot upon her Belly, being with Child, that thereof she instantly dyed. This Nero, 'tis said, caused-the Great City of Rome to be burned, and when 'twas in its flames, he laughed hearty, saying, If he might not be remembered for good, he would for Evil. 'Tis said farther of him, That when he was buried, the Devils did so haunt about the place where his body lay, that the Inhabitants were forced to dig it up, and bury it in some remote place.[ Roman History, in the Life of Nero.   

Some Women are very unkind to their Husbands.  
A Gentleman having invited several Friends to Dinner, and they going to sit down at the Table, his Wife coming to Dinner, but being angry at some thing; on a sudden she overthrew the Table, and tumbled down all the Meat underfoot; whereof when his Friends took notice, he said, Gentlemen, there none of you but has his across, and one thing or other wherewith to exercise his Patience; and, for my own part, this is my chiefest across; for were it not for this Shrew my Wife, I should have been one of the happiest men in the World.   

Many Examples of this Nature. The hatred among Brothers.  
Sir George Sands of Kent had two Sons, the younger of which murdered his elder Brother as he lay by him in Bed, having no apparent cause given him either by his Father or Brother, for which he was soon after condemned, and executed at Maidstone Assizes.   

The cruel and bloody Dispositions of some.  
The barbarous and inhuman Massacres in France and Ireland were dreadful Examples thereof.  
In Scotland, in a place called Kyle, there is a Rock about twelve foot high, and as much in breadth, 'tis by the Scotch men called the Deaf-Craig; for though a man call never so loud, or shoot off a Gun on the one side, yet his fellow on the other side cannot hear the noise, some persons hearts are as hard and deaf as this Rock.  
One Mackdonald, a notorious Robber in Scotland, among other his barbarous Cruelties, caused Horse shoes to be nailed to the Soles of a Widows feet, because in her grief she had sworn to report his great wickedness to the King; this Villain, being afterwards taken, was first by the Order of James the First, King of Scotland, shod in like manner as he had served the Woman, and afterwards beheaded.[ Drumond's History of Scotland, p. 15.   

Severe punishments upon Malefactours.  
Among the Tartars they used to beat the Soles of their Feet with great Clubs, that so the Veins which assemble there might convey the pain to all other parts of the body.  
In Barbary they had a sort of Engine to punish Malefactours, whereby they were presently cut in two parts, the uppermost of which was immediately clapped on a Red-hot Gridiron, that seared up the Veins, whereby they were a short while kept in extreme pain, and while the upermost part was thus barbarously used, they threw the nethermost to be devoured by Beasts before their Eyes.  
The grievous torture of Monsieur Ravilliac, for killing Henry the Fourth, King of France, was inflicted on him as followeth King Henry going one afternoon to the bastille, to see his Treasure and Ammunition, his Coach stopped suddenly by reason of some Colliers Carts that were in that narrow Street, whereupon this Ravilliac, a Lay-Jesuite,( who had a whole twelve month watched an opportunity to do the Act,) put his Foot boldly upon one of the Wheels of the Coach, and with a long Knife, stretched himself over their Shoulders who were in the Boot of the Coach, and reached the King, and stabbed him in the left side to the Heart, and pulling out the fatal Steel, he doubled his Thrust; the King with a ruthful voice cried out, Jesu bless,( I am hurt) and suddenly the blood issued out of his Mouth. The Regicide Villain was apprehended, and command given, that no violence should be offered him, that he might be reserved for some exquisite torture, which was thus; His body was pulled between four Horses, that any one might have heard his Bones crack, and after the dislocation they were set again, and so he was carried in a Cart, standing half naked, to the place of Execution, where was prepared a Pot with boiling Brimstone, into which the Hand wherewith he stabbed the King, with the Knife chained to it, was put in, and miserable burnt off; then were there Pincers made read hot, with which they pulled off the Paps of his Breasts, and Brawns of his Thighs and legs; then a pair of Boots was drawn upon his legs half full of boiling Oil; then he was laid on his Back, and a roundel of day made round his Belly, wherein was poured melted, led; upon which he gave a doleful shriek, he bore up against all these Torments about three hours, before he dyed; all the Confession that could be drawn from him was, that he thought to have done God good service to take away that King which would have embrolled Christendom in an endless War, his body was afterwards burned to Ashes, and the Ashes thrown up in the Air, his House was pulled down, and his Wife and Children banished the Kingdom, and none to bear the name of Ravilliac ever after.[ Sere's general History of France, page. 1178.  
A fatal thing 'twas, that France should have three Kings come to violent Deaths in a short revolution of time; Henry the Second, running at Tilt with Monsieur Montgomery, was killed by a Splinter of a Lance that pierced his Eye; Henry the Third, not long after, was killed by a young friar, who, in lieu of a Letter he pretended to have for him, pulled out of his long Sleeve a Knife, and thrust him therewith into the bottom of the Belly, as he was coming from his Closestole, and so dispatched him, but that Regicide was hacked to pieces in the place by the Nobles.  
All the Apostles, except S. John, and most of the ancient Fathers and doctors of the Church suffered persecution under several Emperours.   

What strange Deaths some men have dyed of.  
Charles the Second, King of Navarre, having wasted his spirits with voluptuousness and lechery, in his Old age fell into a Lethargy or else a Dead-palsie, and therefore to comfort his benumbed limbs, he was by the advice of his Physician● sewed up in a sheet steeped in Aqua vitae, the Chirurgeon, having made an end of fewing the sheet, wanting a Knife to cut the thread, thereupon he took up the Wax Candle that stood by him to burn it off, but the flamme running by the thread, caught hold of the sheet in an instant, which according to the nature of Aqua vitae, burnt with such violence tha● notwithstanding all endeavours, the aged King miserable expired in the midst of the Flames.[ Heylin's Cosmogr. p. 253.  
One John Child, a Gentleman, hunting in the depth of Winter, in Dartmore forest in Devonshire, lost both his Company and his way, in a bitter Snow, and to preserve himself from perishing with extreme could, he killed his Horse, and crept into his bowels for warmth, and wrote the following Verses with the blood.  
He that finds and brings me to my Tomb,  
The Land of Plinistock shall be his doom.  
That night he was frozen to death, and being soon after found by some Monks of Tavestock Abbey, the Abbot of Tavestock, having caused him to be decently butted, got that rich Manor.  
The King of Polonia, being accessary to a grievous murder, was pursued by a multitude of Rats, and to avoid them, he retired with himself and Family into a strong Fortress, in the Lake of Goplo, whither nevertheless he was pursued with these Creatures, insomuch that the Land and Water was covered with them, and they cried and hissed most fearfully, at length they entred in at the Windows of the Fortress, and scaled the Walls, and there they devoured the King, his Wife and Children, and left nothing of them remaining.[ Heylin's Cosmogr. Gopolo in Polonia.   

Some bodies keep long in Tombs uncorrupted.  
In the Reign of King James the First, of England, in the Church of Astly in Warwickshire, the body of Thomas Grey, marquis of Dorset was found in that Church, being a new Building, who was there butted in the twenty second year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, and albeit he had lain butted for the space of seventy eight years, yet his Eyes, Hair, Flesh, Nails and Joints, remained in a manner as if he had been but newly buried.  
I read of a Roman Bishop that lay uncorrupted in his Grave for the space of two hundred years.[ Baker's Chron. page. 578.   

How long some have lain in a Trance, and of some strangely saved from Death.  
William Withers of Walsham in Sussex lay in a Trance for ten days without any sustenance, and at last coming to himself, he spake much against Pride and Covetousness and other Sins.  
There was at Sir Thomas Read's house in Oxfordshire, a Maid servant of his, who happened to be got with child by one in the family; the Woman used several ways to make herself miscarry, and at length, finding her self much indisposed, she went to the Jakes, and there straining herself, she miscarried,( being well nigh her full time) and her burden droped into the Jakes; having recovered herself pretty well, she kept it private; however one of the other Maid-servants espying the foulness of her linen, quickly apprehended how matters stood with her, and she strait ways acquainted her Master therewith, who quickly examined the Maid-servant what became of her child, she giving an imperfect relation therein, was sent to the Gaol at Oxford, and the next Assizes was indicted and arraigned for murdering her child, and upon presumptive circumstances was found guilty, and received Sentence to be hanged therefore, which was put in Execution, and after having hanged above half an hour; she was cut down, being dead to all appearance. Dr. Willis, the great Physician of Oxford, had her to dissect, and feeling about her, he felt her Pulses had some faint motion, which created in him a fancy she might be restored to life, whereupon, to try his skill he poured some choice Cordials into her Mouth, and fomented her Nostrils, and did other things to her, incident to his Profession; and afterwards caused a Bed to be well warmed and she put into it, and two other young Women to go to Bed to her, and keep her warm, so that in a small time she recovered by degrees, and came to her self soon after, when she could speak, Dr. Willis made all persons to depart the Room, onely himself and two other Physicians stayed with the Woman, and they asked her where she had been and what she had seen since she was turned off the Ladder at the Gallows, she answered, that she remembered nothing at all from that time till she recovered; this was done to prevent false stories: she lived several years afterwards, they having procured her Pardon, in regard her Innocency appeared; the child being found to be abortive.[ History of the Civil Wars of England.  
A Gentlewoman; having lain in a Trance for some days, was at length butted for dead, with a Gold-ring on her Finger, the Sexton knowing thereof, he and his wife with a lantern and Candle, went privily the next night and digged up the Coffin, opened it, untied the winding sheet, and was going to take off the Ring; when suddenly the buried Lady raised up herself,( being just then supposed miraculously to come out of her Trance) the Sexton and his wife ran away in a horrible fright, leaving their lantern behind them, which she took up, and made hast to her house, and she knocking hard at the door, and the Maid-servant asking who was there, she said, 'tis I, let me in, the Maid being much surprised thereat, neglected to open the door, but ran away to her Master, and acquainted him therewith, he would scarce believe it, till himself went to the door, and heard her voice, and let her in; got her into a warm Bed, and being well looked after, she perfectly recovered, and lived to have three Children afterwards [ I red this in a Book called the Victory of Patience.  
In the Massacre of Paris, one Merlin, a Minister of the Reformed Religion, fled from the persecutors to save his life, and hide himself in a Haymow, where he was strangely preserved and nourished for the space of a fortnight, by a Hen that came constantly and every day laid an Egg by him, by which he was sustained.[ Clark's Mirr. page. 365.  
In the same Persecution, another Man, being closely pursued for his life, got into a little Cellar in an old Castle, over the door of which presently came a Spider, and spun a thick web, where the persecutors came presently after to look for him, but they seeing a thick web over the door, declined seeking him there, by which he was miraculously saved.  
Very just and remarkable was the judgement of God upon Pope Alexander the sixth for his Covetousness and wicked means which he intended to make use of to obtain other mens wealth and reches to himself; this Pope had a Son called Caesar Borgias, who was made a Cardinal by his Father, and a Duke by some King, or by the Emperour, and commonly called Duke Valentine, it was a common practise with this Pope and his Son, to procure the Death of many rich men, that they might become Masters of their wealth, and for this end they upon a time conspired together to take away the life of divers of the senators and Chief Nobility of Rome, to bring which their purpose to pass, they could device no better means, than to invite them in a friendly manner to supper, which was accordingly done, and the place appointed( as the custom in Italy is) was under a Vine, to avoid the heat; Duke Valentine, having poisoned two Pots of Wine, which he intended for his guests, delivereth them to his servant who knew nothing of the matter, to be carried to the Vine for Supper, with a strait charge that he should give of that Wine to no man, before he himself did come and give him order for it.  
The Pope cometh to the place before his guests, and being thirsty with heat calleth for some Wine, the Duke's servant supposing by the strait charge his Master did give unto him, that the Wine delivered unto him by his Master with his own hands, was onely some special choice Wine to be preserved for the Pope's own use, poureth out thereof and brought it to his Holiness, who had no sooner drunk, but in cometh the Duke, to whom the Pope did give the Cup to pledge him, he mistrusting nothing, taketh the Cup from his Father, and did drink thereof after him; the Pope presently sickneth and was carried away almost dead, and languishing a little while dyed in great torment, the Son by reason of his youth and strength after certain months grievous sickness, by the help of physic escaped; the intended Supper by reason of the Pope's sudden sickness was put off, and by that means the Guests were delivered from the Hel●ish Plot, and the Plotters were punished ●ith their own rod.   

Some have eaten Poison without any harm.  
A Prisoner condemned to be executed, without any previous Antidote( to dispatch himself out of the way) swallowed down almost an Ounce of arsenic, and received no hurt thereby.  
Mithridates, King of Pontus in Asia, used himself to eat Poison by small degrees, till at last his Body became an Antidote against Poison, insomuch that, when he would have poisoned himself he could not, which verifies the old Saying, Usus altera fit natura.[ Poetical Dictionary.   

Some persons strangely cured of Diseases.  
A Gentleman being in his Barn with his Thrashers, was suddenly taken with a violent fit of the Gout, and as a present Remedy, he thrust therefore his legs above his Knees into a heap of Wheat, and by this way of drying his feet received ease in a wonderful manner, and afterwards upon the same occasion, made use of the same Remedy.[ Observations on physic.  
Another being given over by the doctors, for that he had an impostume in his Throat, which they thought incurable, one day by a particular merry accident, he was taken with such an extreme fit of Laughter, that it broken his impostume, and after he had well vomited, he was restored to his health.[ Howell's Letters.   

Some have used to walk and do strange things in their sleep.  
John Poultny, born in Little-Sheepy in Leicestershire, in his sleep would frequently rise out of his Bed, dress himself, open the doors, walk round about the fields, and return again to his Bed, without wakening, he would also fight in his sleep, and being awaked, he never knew what passed.[ Fuller's Worthies, page. 137. Leicester.   

Some sleep much, others but little.  
Augustus Caesar was so intent on the Affairs of his Empire, that he never slept above seven hours, and those also not so continued, but in that space he usually awaked three or four times, and to provoke him to sleep, he had Water poured long and constantly( by his bed's-head) into a Cistern.[ Suetonus in vita Augusti.   

How long one slept.  
William Foxley, Pot-maker for the mint in the Tower of London, fell asleep on Tuesday in Easter Week, and could not be awaked with pinching or burning till the first day of the next Term, which was full fourteen days, and when he was then awaked, he was found in all points, as if he had slept but one night, he lived forty years after, this matter fell out in the thirty seventh year of King Henry the Eighth's Reign.[ Baker's Chronicle, p. 428. faithful Annalist, page. 76, 77.   

Extraordinary things that have happened to some men.  
There was a Man that was executed at tyburn, where being cut down half dead, and after his privy members were cut off, that rushed on the Executioner, and gave him a blow on the Ear, to the wonder of the standers-by.[ Fuller's Worthies, page. 84.  
There was one blind till he was 7 years old, then saw; and dumb till he was 30, and then spake.[ B●ker's Chron. page. 8.  
Socrates, 'tis said of him, that whether he was merry or sad, he still, had the same Countenace.   

Some men very compassionate.  
A King beyond Seas, who was very merciful, being once importuned to sign the Execution of a malefactor, wished then, he was neither able to writ nor read.  
The King's Justice is bound by the Law, but his Mercy is not.   

The first authors of divers famous Inventions: and the works of some curious Artists.  
As there is a time for every thing that is done under the Sun, so there is no Art or practise, no custom or Calling but what had its first Introducer, and some one or other from whom it did commence.  
Edward the Third, King of England, brought the Art of making Cloth first 〈◇〉 England, by transporting some Artificers from Gaunt, in Flanders, hither, who were the first inventors of Cloth-making; to the Flemings we are likewise indebted for the making of Arras Hangings, Tapestries, for the Invention of Clocks, Watches, Chariots, the laying on of Colours with Oil, and the working of Pictures in Glass.[ Heylin's Cosmog. Flanders.  
As touching that of guns, they were invented by a German Monk, accidentally making some Experiment in chemistry, first used in the year 1380.[ Heylin's Cosmogr. Germany.  
The Instrument of perpetual Motion was invented by one Cornelius van Dreble a German here in England, and by him presented to King James the First.  
Ralph Lane was the first person that brought Tobacco into England, in the 28th year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, Anno Dom. 1585.[ Baker's Chronicle, page. 529.  
The first person that built an House in Athens was the Son of Caelius, who taking his Pattern from the Swallows Nest, began the way of making Houses with day; for in old times People lived in Holes and Cares of the Earth.  
There was a Mathematician who made a Wooden Eagle, that flew aloft into the Air, to the great wonder of all spectators. [ Dubartas History.  
There was one in Qu. Elizabeth's Reign that wrote the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Pater Noster, the Queen's Name, and the Year of our Lord within the Compass of a Penny, and gave the Queen a Pair of Spectacles, of such an artificial making, that by the help thereof, she did plainly and distinctly read every Letter.[ Dr. Heylin's Life of King Char. the first, p. 1.  
In the twentieth year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, one Mark Scaliot, Blacksmith, made a Lock consisting of eleven pieces of Iron, Steel, and Brass, all which, together with a Pipe Key to it, weighed but one Grain of Gold, he made also a Chain of Gold, consisting of forty three Links, whereunto having fastened the Lock and Key aforesaid, he put the Chain about a pleas neck, which drew them all with ease. Now all these together, Lock and Key, Chain and flay, being weighed, they weighed but one Grain and a half.[ Heylin's Gosmogr. Q. Elizabeth.  
Dr. Scaliger saw in the French King's Court A Crow that was taught to fly at Partridges or any other small fowl from the Faulkoner's fist.  
There was a Baboon in the King of Spain's Court was seen to play upon the Guittar, and a Monkey in the King of Spain's Court was skilful in Chess play.   

Of keeping Secrets.  
Metellus the Roman General being asked by a young Centurion,( after the first onset of the battle,) what design he intended to pursue next, the General  told him, that if he thought his own Shirt was privy to any part of his Council, he would immediately pluck it off and burn it.  
Secrecy and Celerity are the two main wheels on which all great Actions move. Strange designs have been effected by Secrecy.   

Men of Industry and Haters of Idleness.  
Elfred, a King of the West Saxons, before the Conquest here in England, disposed the day and night equally divided into three parts to three special uses, and observed them duly by the burning of a great Taper set up in his Chapel: Eight hours he spent in meditation, reading, prayers, for his Souls health; Eight hours in provision for himself, his recreation and repose, for the health of his body; and the other Eight hours he spent about the Affairs of his Kingdom.[ Baker's Chronicle.  
'Tis said of Dr. Thomas Aquinas, that he could scarce see those before him, or hear the voice of any so as to understand what was said, he was continually so intent on his Studies.  
The Learned Dr. John Scaliger, one of the greatest Scholars that ever was in the World, 'tis said of him, that he did usually spend sixteen of the twenty four hours of the day, in his Studies, he did scarce allow himself moderate repose.   

Of the innocent Life of some.  
'Tis said of Henry the Sixth, King of England, that his Father confessor did declare, that in ten years Confession, he never found, that the King had done or said any thing, for which he might justly be enjoined penance.[ Speed's History.  
'Tis said of Thomas the second Duke of Norfolk that when his Corps was carried to be interred in the abbey of Thetford; Anno Dom. 1524. as likewise of Edward Earl of Derby when he was butted, not a Tradesman could demand the payment of a Groat they owed him, nor a Neighbour the Restitution of a Penny wherein they had wronged him.   

The exact obedience of some to superiors.  
There is much difference between an active and passive Obedience, for though Subjects are not bound to do or perform the Commands of Magistrates or superiors, where they apparently contradict the Laws of God or Nature, yet there must be a passive Obedience used, that is not to oppose or withstand directly.  
'Tis reported of the Inhabitants of those Islands against the cost of Florida, that they always contain themselves in great Subjection to their Lords and Masters, insomuch that if they should be commanded by them, to throw themselves headlong off the Rocks into the Sea, or do any other possible thing, they will not refuse to do it, nor never dispute the Command.   

The Fidelity of some to their Oath and Trust.  
King John of England, having left Hubert Burgh governor of Dover Castle, when King Lewis of France came to storm the Castle, and take the Town, and finding it difficult to be done by force, he sent a Messenger to Hubert, whose brother Thomas, he had a little before taken Prisoner, that unless he would surrender the Castle, he should presently see his brother Thomas put to death, with exquisite Torments, before his Eyes, but this threatening moved not Hubert at all, who more regarded his own Loyalty than his brother's Life; then King Lewis sent to him again, offering him a great sum of money, neither did this move him, for he had resolved to preserve his Loyalty inexpugnable as his Castle. Baker's Chron. King John.  
John the First, King of France, being overthrown in battle and made Prisoner by Edward, surnamed the Black Prince, and afterwards brought over into England and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he remained four years, and was then permitted to return into France, upon certain Conditions, which if he could make his Subjects submit to, he should be free, if otherwise, he gave his Faith to return; he could not prevail with his Subjects to accept of those Terms, whereupon he returned to England and there dyed.[ Speed's History.   

Some persons great Lovers of Truth.  
The Persians and Indians had a Law, that whosoever had been convicted thrice of speaking untruth, should upon pain of death never speak word more all his life after: And Plato saith 'tis onely allowed Physicians to lie, for the comfort of the sick that are under their C●stody and Care, but all other person●… are obliged to a severe and strict observance of Truth.  
The Duke of Ossuna having got leav●… to release some Slaves, went on boar●… the scape Galley; and passing throug●… the Ch●rms of Slaves, he asked diver●… of them what their Offences were, every one excused himself, saying, he wa●… either put in out of malice or by inju●…stice; amongst the rest there was on●… sturdy littly black man, and the Duk●… asking him what he was in for, Sir, sai●… he, I cannot deny, but I am justly pu●… in here, for I wanted money, and 〈…〉 took a Purse hard by Tarragona, to kee●… me from starving, the Duke thereupo●… with a little staff he had in his han●… gave him two or three blows upon the Shoulders, saying, You Rogue, what do you do amongst so many honest innocent men, get you gone out of their company, so he was freed, and the rest remained still in statu quo prius, to tug at the Oar.[ Howell's Letters, vol. 2. p. 37.  
'Tis reported that a Scotchman, coming once to be entertained as a Servant to one colonel Edmunds, being then in the Low Countries, he said unto him, Sir, my Lord, your Father, and such Knights and Gentlemen( naming several) your Cosins and Kinsfolks, were in good health, Colonel Edmunds; turning to his Friends then by, Gentlemen, said he, Believe not one word this lying Varlet says, my Father is but a poor Baker in the City of Edinburgh, and works hard to gain a livelihood, whom this Knave would make a Lord, to cury favour with me, and to make you believe I am a great man born, when there is no such matter.   

Pope Benedict though raised to great fortune, was not unmindful of his low beginning.  
Pope Benedict the Eleventh, soon after his Exaltation to the Popedom, having sent for his mother to come to him, being a poor mean Woman, his Servants, being unwilling to let her appear before him in so me●●● garb, they dressed her in such good fashion, that she almost appeared to be another Woman, and brought her to h●r Son the Pope, he seeing her so finally dressed, pretended he did not know her, saying, what mean you, bring me my Mother, as for this Lady, I know her not; they, under●●●●●●n● his Humility, withdrew her, and undressed her, an● put her on her old Cloth●, and so returned with her; then the Pope imbra●●d her; In this Habit, said he, 〈…〉 my Mother; in this I know her, and in this I receive her.   

Of Religion, and the Reverence some great Persons have had for its Professors.  
'Tis said, that the constancy, and strictness of the very Heathens, had been highly commendable, had their Devotions been better directed; in the mean time they shamed us, by being more zealous in their Superstition, than the Christians in the true Religion.  
The first Religion, that ever was reduced to exact Rules, and ritual observances, was that of the Hebrews, the Ancient People of God, called judaisme; the second was Christianity, and the third Mahometism: Touching Paganism, and Heathenish Idolatry, they scarce deserve the Name of Religion; but for the former three, there is this Analogy between them, That they all agree in the first Person of the Trinity. What kind of Religion there was before the Flood, 'tis in vain to make any researches, there having been no Monuments at all left,( besides that little we find in Moses, and the Phenician Story) but Seth's Pillars, with those so defaced, that nothing was legible upon them; as also the Oak, under which Abraham feasted God-Almighty, which was two Thousand Years after the Religion of the Hebrews was transferred from the patriarches to Moses, and from him to the Prophets; it was honoured with the Promulgations of God himself, and his glorious appearance, especially the Ten Commandments, which being most of them Moral, and agreeing with the common Notions of Man, are in force all the World over.[ Howel's Letters, vol. 2. p. 16, 17.  
The Christian Religion, is the most purely spiritual of all other Religions; there is no Religion that excites Man, more to the love and practise of virtue, and hatred of 'vice, or that prescribes greater rewards for the one, or punishments for the other; it has propagated her self by simplicity, humbleness, and by a mere passive way of fortitude, growing up like the Palm three, under the heavy weight of persecution.  
As to the Mahometans, the newest of all Religions, they have a great opinion of Christ, and say, he was a greater Prophet than Moses, yet inferior to Mahomet; Nay in their Alcoran, they term him the Breath and Word of God, and they punish all that blaspheme him; they have their Alcoran only in one Language, the arabic, and 'tis as bad as death, for any to raise Scruples of the Alcoran; the Mufti,( their Priest) is in as great reverence amongst them, as the Pope is amongst the Romanists; for they as well as others hold it, to be a true Principle in Divinity, That no one thing preserves, and improves Religion more than a venerable high pious esteem of the Chiefest Ministers: They have no other Guide, or Law, both for Temporal, and Church Affairs than the Alcoran, which they hold to be the Rule of Civil Justice, as well as the Divine Charter of their Salvation: They have one extraordinary piece of humanity, to be so tender of the rational Soul, as not to put Christian, Jew, Greek, or any other to his Oath, in regard that if for some advantage of gain, or occasion of inconvenience and punishment, any should forswear himself, they hold the imposers of the Oath to be accessary to the Damnation of the perjured Man: By this and other Policy they conserve the great Ottoman Empire, which extends without interruption,( the Hellespont only between) in one continued piece of Earth, two and thirty Hundred miles from Buda, in Hungaria, a good way into Persia.[ History of the Ottoman Empire.   

Of the several Extents of the Roman catholic, and Protestant Religion.  
Among Roman catholics there is th●… Emperor, and in him the King of Hungary, the three Kings of Spain, France, an●… Poland, all Italy, the Dukes of Savoy Bavaria, and Lorain, the three spiritua●… Electors of Cologne, Triers, Mentz, wit●… some few more: Touching them who hav●… renounced all obedience to Rome, ther●… are the three Kings of Great Britai●… Denmark, and Sweedland: The Elector●… Duke of Saxony, Holstein, and Witte●…burgh; The Electoral Duke of Brande●…burgh; The marquis of Baden, and th●… Landgrave of Hesse Cassel, most of th●… Hansiatick Towns, which are eighty eig●… in number, some whereof are equal 〈…〉 republics, and the almost seven Pr●…vinces the Hollander hath; The five Ca●…rons of Swiss, and Geneva, the Protestan●… of France, who are reputed the fifth part of the Kingdom, the Prince of Transilvania, they of Hungary, and the large Kingdom of Bohemia, they of the Marquisates of Lusatia, Moravia, and the Dukedom of Silesia, as also many in the huge Kingdom of Poland, wherein Protestants are diffused through all quarters in great Numbers.[ Howel's Letters, vol. 2. p. 23.  
'Twas a rambling speech of one, who said, that to make a Man a complete Christian, he must have the Works of a Papist, the words of a Puritan, and the Faith of a Protestant; yet if well expounded may bear a good sense.  
The Jews and Turks hold, that Women are of an Inferior Creation to Man, so the Jews exclude them from their Synagogues, the Turks out of their Mosques.   

Of the Reverence of some to Clergymen, and Benefactors to Churches, &c.  
'Tis remarkable how the House of Austria,( whence the Emperor, and Kings of Spain are now directed) came to that eminent height from a mean Earl, the Earl of Ha●burg in Germany, who having been one day a hunting, he over●ook a Priest, who had been with the Sacrament to visit a poor sick Body, the Priest being tired the Earl lighted off his Horse, helped up the Priest, and so waited upon him afoot all the while, till he brought him to the Church; the Priest giving him his Benediction at his going away,  told him, that for that great Act of Humility and Piety his Race should be one of the greatest the World ever had; and ever since, which was about three Hundred years ago, the Empire hath continued in that House, which was since called the House of Austria.[ Howel's Collections, p. 91.  
The Spaniards are very full of Reverence in their Devotion, and very bountiful to the Churches, as appears frequently in the great Chalices, Lamps, and Candlesticks of Silver; besides there are bishoprics, divers of ten thousand Pound per annum, some of thirty thousand Pound, and the archbishopric of Toledo, is valued at one Hundred Thousand Pound yearly Revenue; 'tis the Richest in the World next to the Popedom.  
Philip the Second, King of Spain, made a vow at the Battle of St. Quintin, where he was forced to demolish a Monastery of St. Laurence friars, That if he had the Victory, he would erect such a Monastery to St. Laurence, that the World had not the like, and 'tis reckoned the Eighth wonder of the World, that which he built; 'tis built( amongst a company of craggy barren Hills, which makes the Air the wholesomer) all of Freestone and Marble, and of a moderate height; it cost eight Millions, and was twenty four years a building, and the Founder himself saw it finished, and enjoyed it twelve Years after, and was there butted; the form of it is like a Gridiron, the handle is a huge Royal Palace( called the Escurial) and the Body a vast Monastery, or Assembly of quadrangular cloisters, for there be as many as there be Months in the Year: There be an Hundred Monks, and every one hath his Man and his Mule, and a multitude of Officers; there are three Libraries there, full of the choicest Books for all Sciences; 'tis beyond expression, what Grots, Gardens, Walks, and Aqueducts there are, and what curious Fountains in the upper cloisters; for there be two stages of cloisters; to take a view of every Room in the House, one must make account to go ten Miles: There is a Vault called the Pantheon, under the highest Altar, which is all paved, walled and arched with Marble; there be a Number of huge Silver Candlesticks, as tall as any Man, Lamps three yards compass, and divers Chalices, and Crosses of massy Gold; there is one choir made of all burnished Brass, Pictures and Statues like giants, and rich Shrines of Saints, and other glorious things.[ History of Spain.  
The Spaniard is much addicted to game, and that in excess; yet he will say his Prayers before, and if he win, he will thank God for his good fortune after.   

Of the early Appearance of virtue and Learning in some young Persons.  
The angelic Dr. Thomas Aquinas, when he went to School, he was much given to silence, and being somewhat more fat than the rest of his Schoolfellows, he was by them usually called the dumb Ox; but his Master soon after by some disputation of ●his, having discovered his Wit, and good natural Parts, said th●● dumb Ox,( as you call him) shall hereafter set up such a lowing, that all the World will admire the sound of it, which he did accordingly by the famous Books he writ. [ A French Historian.   

vicious youth reclaimed, and afterwards become very virtuous.  
One Nicholas West born at Putney in Surrey, being a Student in Kings college in Cambridge, proved a great rakehell and very wicked, for something crossing him in the college, he could not find how to be revenged but by setting on fire the Master's Lodgings, part whereof he burnt to the ground, and immediately after he left the college, and lived very loosely; but soon after by the influence of the Grace of God, and good advice, he seasonably retrenched his Wildness, turned hard Student, and became an excellent Scholar, and after smaller promotions, he was at last made Bishop of Ely, after which he became a worthy Benefactor to that college, and rebuilt the Master's Lodgings, which he before had caused to be burnt: He died Anno Domini, 1533. [ Memorands of Kings college.  
Those Bodies are usually the most healthful, that break out in their youth; and many times the Souls of many prove the sounder, for having vented themselves in their younger days; commonly none are greater Enemies to 'vice, than such as have formerly been the Slaves of it; a certain blackness in the Cradle hath been observed to give beginning and rise unto the most perfect Beauties; and there are no sort of Men, that have shined in greater Glory in the World, than such whose first days have been sullied and a little overcast.   

Reproofs takes patiently, though from Inferiors.  
Prince Henry, Son to Henry the Fourth, King of England, coming into the Court of Kings-Bench at Westminster, and there keeping disturbance to have a Prisoner set free,( that was a Servant of his) and was there indicted for Felony, the Prince was by the Lord Chief Justice Gascoign, then in Court, committed to the Marshal of the Kings-Bench, where after the heat of this fury was over, he readily went; This Action of the Judge was not at all resented by the King, for that the ancient Laws are not to be violated, no, not by the King himself. [ In an Old Law Manuscript.   

Some very mindful of human frailty.  
Philip King of Macedon, walking by the Sea-side got a fall, and after he was risen, perceiving the Impression of his Body upon the Sand, Good God, said he, what a small parcel of Earth will contain us, who aspire to the Possession of the whole World?  
Xerxes Son of Darius, being at the Head of his vast Army, consisting of one Hundred Thousand Men, and being on a high Hill, and looking over them, he wept, considering Man's Mortality, knowing, as he said, that no one of all those should be alive after an hundred years.   

How highly some prise their Liberty.  
The Tucchi a People in Asia, rather than they would be captivated by the Greeks, many of them threw themselves down headlong from the Rocks.   

Death received by some Persons with great Courage.  
Queen and, the Wife of King Henry the Eighth, when she was lead to be beheaded in the Tower, espying one of the King's Privy-Chamber, she called him unto her, and said unto him, Commend me unto the King, and tell him he is constant in his course of advancing me, for from a private Gentlewoman he made me a Marchioness, from a Marchioness a Queen, and now that he hath left no higher Degree of worldly Honour for me, he hath made me a Martyr.[ Baker's Chron. Hen. VIII.   

Some mighty expensive in their Apparel.  
Sir Walter raleigh being in great favour with Queen Elizabeth, went gorgeously arrayed always in that Cour; he was observed to wear his Shoes so set with Pearls and precious Stones, that they exceeded the value of six Thousand six Hundred Crowns.[ Fuller's History.   

Some great Gamesters.  
The People in China exceed in game all other Nations; for when they have lost all their money at game, they will at last, and do usually stake their Wives and Children, whom if they chance to lose, they do part with them, till they can pay the money they were staked for.[ Herbert's Travels.   

Of great Eaters and Feasting, and great Drinkers.  
There was a Man, one Nicholas Wood by names of Harrison in Kent, who eat thirty Dozen of pigeons at a meal; at another time he eat a whole Sheep worth sixteen Shillings; at another time at the Earl of Dorset's House at Knowl in Kent, he eat fourteen Green goose, as big as the Old ones, at one meal; yet one undertaking for a Wager to fill his Belly for the value of half a Crown in Victuals, he was filled by eating twelve white new penny Loaves, and drinking six Quarts of the strongest Ale: He lived about the latter End of King James the First's Reign.  
There was a Woman of Alexandria, that at one meal would eat twelve Pounds of Flesh, and above four Pounds of Bread, and together with it drink up ten Pints of Wine.  
The Old English were great Eaters, for in former times their Tables were usually spread four time a day.  
At the Duke of Cornwall's Wedding there were three thousand Dishes of Meat.[ Heylin's Cosmog.  
The Emperor Maximinus did often drink in one day, nine Gallons of Wine of English measure.  
One of the Turkish Emperors, once drank in one day three and thirty Quarts of Wine; the accident happened thus; he had an Eunuch that was used to be drunk, and whom he had commanded twice upon pain of death to refrain; swearing by Mahomet, that he would cause him to be strangled, if he found him the third time drunk; yet the Eunuch conti●●●● 〈◇〉 D●●●●e●ness; whereupo●… the Great Turk co●●eaving with himself that there must needs be some extraordinary delight in Drunkenness, because thi●… Man preferred it before his his Life, fell to it himself, and so drunk himself to death.[ Howel's Letters, vol. 2. p. 73.   

Great misfortunes befallen Men when drunk.  
The Devil tempted a Man to commit one of these three Sins, either to be drunk once, or commit Adultery with the Wife of his Neighbour, or else murder his Neighbour; at last being overcome, he yielded to be drunk, as judging it a crime that had less horror in it than either of the other two; but being drunk, and the flamme of his lust being filled with his luxury, he feared not to violate the Chastity of his Neighbours Wife, and the Husband casually surprising him in the Act, receiving a mortal wound at his hand, whereof he soon after died; thus he that had given way to Drunkenness was involved in Adultery and murder.  
An English Lord sent his Son to Paris, to learn the Language and Mode of the French Court, and withal Instructions to a Friend of his there, to have an eye of observance upon him as to his course of living; the Lord's Friend sent him word his Son was much addicted to game, and neglected all other business; the Lord returned Answer to his friend, that he could make his Son refrain that 'vice speedily, by retrenching his allowance; the next advice the Lord had from his Friend was, that his Son was fallen from game, to the immoderate use of Women: The Father replied, that was a 'vice his Age would rectify, and make him avoid it of course: But the last advice the Father had from his Friend was, that from Whoredom, his Son was fallen to Drunkenness; nay, then said the Lord, I give him over for a Reprobate, the older he grows he will be the worse.  
There was in the City of Salisbury, not long since, one who in a Tavern in the midst of his carousing and healths, drank also a health to the Devil, saying, that if the Devil would not come and pledge him, he would not believe that there was either God or Devil, whereupon his Companions strucken with horror, hastened out of the Room, and presently after hearing a hideous noise ●nd smelling a stinking savour, the Vintner ran up into his Cha●●er, and looking in, he missed his Gu●●t, found the Window broken the Iron Bar in it bowed, and all bloody, but the Man was never more heard of.  
'Tis said that Spain and Italy are the only Countries freest from excess of drinking: By the Ancient Laws of Spain, if a Woman could have proved her Husband to have been thrice drunk, she might have pleaded for a divorce from him, for the Spaniard being not brained, he cannot bear much drink. The boonest Companions for drinking are the Greeks and Germans.[ Howel's Letters.   

The absurd and strange Follies of divers People.  
The great Cham of Tartary, was wont when he had dined, to cause his Trumpeters to found their Trumpets before his Palace Gate, thereby to give notice, and proclaim to all the Kings of the Worl●, that now the great Cham had dined, they might all take leave to go to dinner.  
The King of Catona at his Coronation swears, that it shall not rain unf●●●●nably, neither shall there be Famine ●●●●●●lence within his Dominions durin● his Reign.[ Clark's Mir.  
〈…〉 Prince in his Anger 〈…〉 t, and whipped the Sea.  
'Tis said of Henry the second King of England, he was a Magnanimous Prince; for being about to pass over to France by Sea, and the Pilot seeing the Seas boisterous, and the Tempest violent, durst not put forth the Ship to Sea, whereupon King Henry said, Come venture out, what, did you ever hear of a King, that was drowned?[ Speed's History.  
Another time a Nobleman telling King Henry the II. what a brave spacious and noble Hall, Westminster Hall was, which he built? The King replied, 'tis more fit for a Chamber, than a Hall for a King of England.  
The Wives and Servants of the Moscovites, take it most kindly, when they are beaten and evil entreated, by their Husbands and Masters.  
A Man would not piss, for fear all his ●●●od should run out that way.   

Of the Abstinence of some from Food.  
●●●●les the Seventh, King of France, be 〈…〉 id of being poisoned, abstaine●… 〈◇〉 all manner of food so long, tha●… ●hen he would have eaten he could not 〈◇〉 passag●● being shrunk 〈◇〉 ●●o●… much abstinence, and so he died most miserable of Famine.  
'Tis said of Martin Luther, though he was big of body, and in very good health, that he would usually continue four days together, without eating or drinking any thing at all; and that for many days together, he would content himself with a little Bread, and one single Herring.[ Melanchton in vita Lutheri.  
'Tis credibly reported, that there was a Priest at Rome, who( like the chameleon) lived forty years together, without any manner of food, but only sucking in the Air.   

Of the inconstant Disposition of some.  
Bray is a Village well known in berkshire, the vivacious Vicar whereof, living under King Henry the Eighth, King Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, he was first a Papist, then a Protestant, then a Papist, then a Protestant again; this same Vicar being taxed by an old Parishioner of his own, for being a Turncoat; Not so, said he, for I have always kept my Principle, which is to live and die the Vicar of Bray.[ Fuller's Worthies, p. 82. berkshire.  
Some Men make Religion only a Footstool, to the Seat of Advancement.   

Of Tributes and Taxes imposed by some Kings on their People.  
The great and cruel Duke of Moscovia, commanded from his Subjects a Tribute of Sweat, and of nightingales, in the midst of Winter, when scarce any of those Birds are to be seen.  
'Tis said of Henry the Second, King of England, that he never laid any Tax or Tribute on his Subjects in all his Reign, and yet when he died, he left nine-Hundred Thousand Pounds in ready money in his Treasury; a mighty and vast sum in those days.[ Baker's Chronicle, K. Hen. the II.   

Of the bold Theft of some.  
A Certain Cardinal in Rome having made a great Feast in his House, and the Silver Vessels being locked up in a Trunk that, stood in a parlour next the Hall, ●●●●e the Feast had been, while many Persons were sitting, and waiting in this Room for their Masters, there came in a Man with a Torch carried before him, bearing the Countenance of the Steward, and having a Jacket on, who prayed those that sate upon the Trunk to rise up from it, because he was to use the same, which they having done, he made it to be taken up by certain Porters that followed him in, and went clear away with it: This Thief took the advantage of the opportunity while the Steward and all the rest of the Servants of the House were at supper; but the Man possessed the rich Booty, for he could never be found afterwards.   

Of Persons of base Birth, who have assumed the Names of Illustrious Persons.  
One Lambert Symnel, of mean Degree, pretended himself to be Richard Duke of York, second Son of King Edward the Fourth( who died in France) and thereupon laid claim to the English Crown; and after a terrible Battle fought in his quarrel, he was taken alive, and by Order of King Henry the Seventh, put first into his kitchen to turn his Spits, and was afterwards advanced to be his Falconer, in which Office he died.[ Speed's History, p. 706.   

The huge Ambition, and desire of Glory in some Persons.  
Richard the Third, King of England, caused several Persons to be murdered, to make way for himself to possess the Crown without Competitors.[ Clark's Mir.  
Solon, one of the seven wise Men of Greece, said of a young Nobleman of Athens, That if he could but have plucked out of his Head the Worm of Ambition, and heal him of his greedy desire to rule, that then there could not be a Man of greater virtue than he.  
'Twas well advised by Henry the Great of France, when having promoted a Person of low Degree to be Chancellor, who thereupon had his own lively Effigies( made in a curious Piece of Arras Hangings) standing upon the uppermost part of Fortunes-wheel, which he having shewed the King, You would do well, said the King, to pin the Wheel fast, lest it ●●ould turn again.  
The Pride of the Jesuits, is as generally as justly taxed, who being the youngest of all other Orders, and therefore by Canon obliged to go last, will never go in procession with other Orders, because they will not come behind them. The Society of Jesuits were first founded by St. Ignatius Loyola,( a Spaniard) about the year 1546, and were sworn to the common Vows of Poverty, Obedience and Chastity, to which Pope Paul the Fifth added Mission, that is, they were to go whithersoever the Pope or their General should sand them, though to the furthest parts of the World, and through the greatest Dangers, without any Tergiversation or Excuse.[ Fuller's Holy State, p. 45.  
In the Reign of King Henry the Seventh, of England, one Michael Joseph a Smith, being to be executed for Treason, said, he hoped by that, his Name and Memory should be everlasting.[ Baker's Chron. page. 349, 350.  
Aldred Archbishop of York, having had a repulse from William the Conqueror, upon some request he made to him, the Archbishop in great discontent offered to depart; but the King standing in awe of his displeasure, stayed him, fell down at his feet, desired pardon, and promised to grant his svit; the King being all the while down at the Archbishop's Feet, the Noblemen that were present, put him in mind that he should cause the King to arise, nay, said the Prelate, let him alone, let him find what it is to anger St. Peter.[ Baker's Chron. p. 40.  
King Henry the Second of England, Anno Domini 1170. Caused his Son Prince Henry, at seventeen Years of Age to be crwoned King, that he might in his own Life time participate in the Government with him, and on his Coronation day,( for Honor's sake) he placed the first Dish on the Table himself, while the New King his Son sate down; whereupon the Archbishop of York said pleasantly unto him, Be merry my best Son, for there is not another Prince in the whole World, that hath such a Servitor at his Table; to whom the young King scornfully answered, Why do you wonder at this? My Father( I am certain) doth not think, that he doth more than becomes him, for he being a King only by the Mothers-side, serveth me, who have a King to my Father, and a Queen to my Mother.[ Speed's Hist. p. 478.  
'Tis said, that a poor Priest, being asked why he was going to Rome, from his own Country, he answered; 'twas because the Pope being dead, he did not know but that he might be chosen Pope.   

Of Litigious Suits.  
Gloucestershire did breed a plaintiff, and Defendant, which betwixt them( with many Altercations) traversed the longest svit I ever red of in England; for a svit was commenced betwixt the Heirs of Sir Thomas Talbot, Viscount Lisle, against the Heirs of Lord Berkley, about certain Lands in this County; the svit began in the End of the Reign of Edward the Fourth King of England, and was depending until the Beginning of King James the First his Reign, when( and was it not high time) 'twas finally compounded, which was about 140 Years.[ Fuller's Worthies, pag. 2.   

The vain-glorious boasting of some Men.  
A young brisk person, newly beneficed with a good rich Living, being at a Table with some other good Divines, and bragging much of his Parts and Learning; at length made a Challenge, saying, Here are many Learned men present: Now if any of you, will propound any question in Divinity or Philosophy, I will dispute with him, resolve him his doubts, and satisfy him fully; All at the Table( except himself) were silent for a while; then one Mr. Carter, when he saw, that no other would speak to him, calling him by his Name; I will, said he, go no farther than my Trencher to puzzel you: Here is a Fish called a Sole; Now tell me the reason why this Fish, that hath always lived in the Salt-water, should come out, and eat fresh? To this the forward Gentleman could say nothing, and so was laughed at, and shamed out of his vanity.[ Clark's Lives of Ten eminent Divines, page. 12.   

Of the Art of Painting.  
Apelles was a famous Painter, and being resolved to make a curious Picture of Venus the Goddess of Love; he borrowed a large high Forehead of one Face, a delicate brisk Eye of another, and so the rest of the best Features he could gather, which being put together made a most disproportionate Face; Another time he was for some years drawing exactly the Foam dropping from a Horse's mouth; which at last despairing to effect, he carelessly threw away his Pencil, and with that throw effected it.   

Some are apt to be guilty of those Faults they have reprehended in others.  
In former times, the married Clergy of England would not hear of being divorced from their Wives; the Bishops therefore, were fain to call in the Aid of the Pope; whereupon he sent one John de Crema an Italian Cardinal, jolly with his youthful Blood, and gallant equipage, who came over into England, with his bigness and bravery, to bluster the Clergy out of their Wives; he made a most gaudy Oration, in the commendation of Virginity( a● one who in his own Person knew well, how to value such a Jewel by the loss thereof) most true it is, that the same Night, at London, he was caught in bed with a Harlot.[ Fuller's Church-History, Cent. pag. 23. Baker's Chron. page. 60.  
In a Nunnery beyond Seas, a grave Old Nun, accidentally stepping into a young Nun's Chamber, saw a friar in bed with her; whereupon the Old Nun seemed to be very angry, and said, she should be expelled the Nunnery with all Ignominy, for being so horribly wicked; but it seems the young Nun viewing the grave one, espied a Frier's pair of Breeche on her head, which she had unwarily pu●… on, instead of her hood, the young one acquainting her therewith, Ay Joy, said she, we are all Sinners.  
Some men grown weary of Honor, hav●… been glad to give up their great employments, merely to live retired, as thinking it far more satisfactory and easy: Th●… Court is for Honor, the City for Gain, an●… the Country for Quietness.   

Scorn and Scoffing, how rewarded b●… some Persons.  
King William the Conqueror, being 〈…〉 years, was very corpule●●, and by th●… means much distempered in his Body once he had retired himself to rouen 〈…〉 Normandy, upon that occasion, the Fren●… King hearing of his Sickness, scoffing said, that King William lay in Childb●… of his great Belly, which so incensed him, that he swore by God's Resurrection, and his Brightness,( his usual Oath) that as soon as he should be churched of that Child, he would offer a thousand Lights in France; and indeed he performed it, for he entred France in Arms, and set many Towns, and Corn-fields on fire.[ Baker's Chron. Speed's History.  
Romulus first King of the Romans, when he had lain the Foundation of the great City of Rome, his Brother Remus, in derision of the lowness of the Walls, leaped over them; whereat Romulus was so offended, that he killed his Brother Remus.[ Roman Antiquities.   

The Passion of Joy and its ill Effects.  
In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, Arthur Plantagenet, base Son to King Edward the Fourth, being imprisoned in the Tower of London, upon suspicion of betraying Callis to the French; while he was the King's Lieutenant there, and being afterwards found innocent of the Fact, the King thereupon, to make him some reparation for his disgrace, sent him a Ring, and with it a very gracious Message, by his Secretary; whereat the said Lord took such excessive Joy, that the Night following of that excess of Joy he died.[ Speed's History.   

Of the Passion of Grief, and its mortal Effects.  
An Excellent Painter, fell into a very great fit of Laughter, at the fancy of a Picture he had drawn himself, whereof he instantly died, his Breath failing.  
Margaret, Daughter to James the Fourth, King of Scotland, married to Lewis the Dolphin of France, was of so nasty a Complexion, and stinking Breath, that her Husband, after the first Night, loathed her Company; whereupon she pined away with Melancholy, and died of extreme Grief.  
Queen Mary the First of England, 'tis thought she contracted a dropsy, of which she died, through extreme Grief, by reason of the separation of her Husband King Philip from her, he then abiding in Spain, and the loss of Callis to the French, which had been so long in the English Possession, for she said, the loss of Callis was written in her heart, which might be there seen, when she should be opened.[ 2d. part, Dr. Burnet's History of the Reformation and Life of Queen Mary.  
An Old man in the City of Milan in Italy, having for the space of sixty Years, never been without the Walls of the said City, yet when the Duke, hearing thereof sent him a peremptory Command never to go out of the Gates, during Life; he that before had no inclination to do so, died of very grief, to be denied the Liberty of doing it.   

Of the good Wishes of some.  
St. Augustine used to wish, that he might have seen three things, which were, Rome in its chiefest Glory, the Apostle Paul in the Pulpit, and Christ Jesus in the Flesh.  
The Spartans used to wish to their Enemies, that they might always be affencted with the humour of building, that they might keep Race Horses, and that their Wives might be dishonest to their Beds.  
Sophocles the Philosopher, being demanded what harm he would wish to his greatest Enemy, he answered, that he might love where he was not fancied. Plutarch's Life of Sophocles.  
When King James the First, came first to view the public Library at Oxford; seeing the little Chains, wherewith the Books were fastened to their Places, he wished, that if it should ever be his destiny to be made a Prisoner, that Library might be his Prison, those Books his fellow Prisoners, and those Chains his Fetters: He was a Prince much addicted to Learning, and very notable at Ex tempore Sayings; he was a Prince very sagacious, and prudent: A notable Instance whereof, was his discovery of the Powder Plot, by reading the Letter sent to the Lord Monteagle.   

Of the Apparition of Ghosts.  
'Tis a matter much disputed among Learned men; some say 'tis the Devil only, that assumes the Airy form of the Person he would represent, as in the Case, when Saul went to the Witch at Endor, to get her to raise up Samuel, and most do conclude 'twas only the Devil assumed the form of Samuel; but 'tis certain many murders have been found out strangely by them, as will appear in the following Examples I find cited for Truths.  
In some part of Cheshire, a man lived, who after his Wife died, took home a young Woman, a Relation of his own to look after his House; this man some way or other debauched this young Woman, and got her with Child; some while after, fearing lest it might be divulged in the Neighbourhood, he procured a Rogue to murder her, and the better to compass it, he gave out to the young Woman, that he had provided her a place where to lie in privately, whither she was to go with speed, and that when she was delivered, and well, he would take care of the Child, and she should return, and look after his House as formerly; she consented to this plausible Story, and the day appointed, he sent her away with the Rogue he had engaged to destroy her; the Fellow and she, at length coming to a great Moss, and being far from People, he with a Pick they dig Coals with, knocked her in the head, therewith giving her several wounds; he received some of her Blood on his stockings, which he took off, and threw them with the said Pick, into a Tust of Moss, and then covered her with Moss, and so went on his way; her Ghost appeared the same Night to a Miller about half a Mile off, in his Mill; the man being much affrighted, seeing a Woman all bloody with the wounds in her head, and resembling in all parts her that was killed; she spake to him and  told him the whole matter, as before recited; and bid him not be afraid, for she came to do him no harm, but to desire him to discover what she  told him, to the next Justice of the Peace, with all speed, that the Rogues might be apprehended, and suffer death for so horrid a murder, and so she disappeared; the Miller either through neglect, or much business neglected to discover it the next day, so she appeared again next night to him, as he lay in his bed, and  told him, that she should not be at rest, nor let him rest, till he had discovered the matter to some Magistrate; he promised faithfully to do it the next day, and so she vanished: The next day he went, and related the whole matter to the next Justice of the Peace, who sent others with him to the place where the murder was committed, where the Body of the Woman was found, and the Stockings and Pick just as he had been  told by the Ghost; from thence they went, and seized him that got her with Child, and he discovered the other murderer; they were both indicted and tried at the Assizes, and upon these circumstantial Proofs, and a faint defence by them made, they were both found guilty of the murder, and executed. 'Tis said the Woman appeared to the Foreman of the Jury.[ I red this in a Book written, by a Learned Person styled the Apparition of Ghosts: 'Tis cited there for a great Truth.   

Many have been destroyed unwarily by rash speaking.  
Some Persons at Syracuse, discoursing in a Barber's Shop, concerning dionysius the Emperor his great Cruelty; what, says the Barber, do we speak thus of dionysius, under whose Throat, I ever and anon, hold a razor? as soon as dionysius, was informed of this, he caused the Barber to be put to death; and so the Barber paid for his folly, at the price of his Life. [ Cited before.   

How some have suffered by their own Imprecations.  
Godwin Earl of Kent, in the Reign of King Edward the Confessor, as he sate at Table with the King on Easter-Monday, was speaking as to the Justification of himself, from the death of Prince Alfred: And, said he, if I be any ways guilty of it, I pray God I may never swallow down one Morsel of Bread more; and thereupon, eating the next piece of Bread, he was choked.[ Baker's Chron. page. 26, 1.   

Some men very affable and humble.  
When Duke Robert, King William the Conqueror's Son, had refused the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Princes proceeded to make a second choice; and that they might the better know the nature of the Princes, their Servants were examined upon oath, to confess their Master's faults; the S●●●●●ts of godfrey of Bovillon, protested 〈◇〉 Master's only fault, was this, ●●●t when Mass was done, he would stay 〈◇〉 long in the Church, to know of the Priest, the meaning of every Picture, and Image, that Dinner at home was usually spoiled by his long tarrying: All the rest of the Princes admired hereat, that this Man's worst 'vice, should be so great a virtue; so they unanimously choose him to be their King; he accepted the Office, but refused the Solemnity thereof, saying, that he would not wear a Crown of Gold, where the Saviour of Mankind, had worn a Crown of Thorns.[ Fuller's Holy War, page. 44.   

Of Conscience and the Effects of it.  
Memorable is the Example of Francis Spira, an Advocate of Padua, for becoming an Apostate to his Religion; whereof you may red at large in his own Book, and in Burton's Melancholy, page. 630.  
One Mrs. Honywood, was so dissatisfied in her Conscience, touching her future Estate,( for that in the Time of Persecution of Protestants in Queen Mary's Reign, she denied that she was a Protestant, to save her Life, when the Persecutors came to her) that several Divines could not convince her, but that she should be damned: One Minister labouring hard with her, to satisfy her, that God in his infinite Mercy would save her; she having then a Venice Glass in her hand, and throwing it out of her hand upon a ston Floor, No, said she, I am, as sure damned as this Glass is broken, which did not break, but rebounded up whole; after which she was quiet in her Conscience.[ Foxe's Book of Martyrs.   

Of strange Recreations some delight in.  
Socrates being aged, yet used to play upon the Harp, and sing to it, saying; 'twas not absurd for any man to learn a thing whereof he was ignorant; besides he spent some time daily in dancing, supposing Exercise did conduce much to bodily Health.  
Domitian the Emperor, at his leisure hours used to catch Flies, and to thrust them through with a Needle.   

Of the Natural Production of Man.  
To make Man, there are many Acts must preceded; first a Meeting and Copulation of both Sexes; then Conception, which requires a well disposed Womb, to retain the prolifical Seed, by the constriction, and occlusion of the Orifice of the Matrix, which Seed being first Blood, and afterwards as 'twere Cream, is by a gentle Ebullition coagulated into a crudded Lump, which the Womb by virtue of its Natural heat, prepares to be capable to receive Form, and to be organized; whereupon Nature falls a working, to delineate all the Members, beginning with those that are most noble; as the Heart, the Brain, the Liver, whereof Galen, would have the Liver; which is the Shop and Source of the Blood; and Aristotle the Heart to be the first framed, in regard 'tis primum vivens, & ultimum moriens; Nature continues in this labour, until a perfect shape be introduced, and this is called Formation, which is the third Act, and is a production of an Organical Body, out of the spermatic Substance, caused by the plastic virtue of the vital Spirits; and sometimes this Act is finished thirty days after the Conception, sometimes fifty, but most commonly in forty two, or forty five, and is sooner done in the Male: This being done, the Embryol is animated with three Souls, the first with that of Plants, called the vegetable Soul; then with a sensitive, which all brute Animals have; And lastly the rational Soul is infused; and these three in Man, are like Trigonus in Tetragono, the two first are generated, ex traduce parentium, but the last is by immediate infusion from God; and 'tis controverted betwixt Philosophers, when this Infusion is made.  
This is the fourth and last Act, which goes to make Man, and is called Animation: The Naturalists do allow Animation, double the time that Formation had from the Conception, so they allow, to the ripening of the Embryo in the Womb, and to the Birth thereof, treble the the Time, that Animation had; which happens sometimes in Nine, sometimes in Ten Months, according to the strength of the Child or Mother.   

Of several strange Births in Women.  
The wonder of Nature is a Church-Monument in the Hague in Holland, where an Earl and a Lady are engraven, with three hundred and sixty five Children about them, which were all delivered at one Birth, they were half Male, half Female, the odd one an hermaphrodite; the basin hangs in the Church, which carried them to be christened, and the Bishop's Name who did it, and the Story of this Miracle, with the Year, and the day of the Month mentioned, which is about awo hundred and odd Years-since; the Story is this: That Countess walking about her door after Dinner, there came a beggar Woman, with two Children upon her Back to beg Alms; the Countess asking, whether those Children were her own, she answered, she had them both at one Birth, and by one Father, who was her Husband; the Countess would not only give her any Alms, but reviled her bitterly, saying, 'twas impossible for a poor Man to get two Children at once. The beggar Woman being thus provoked with ill words, and without Alms, fell to Imprecations, and that it might please God to show some judgement upon her, and that the Countess might not depart the World till she should bear ●s many Children, as there were days in the year; which she did before the same years end, having never born Child before.[ Heylin's Cosmog. Holland. Howel's Letters, page. 14. Sect. 2.  
A Woman in Holland, being great with Child, the Child in her Womb was heard to cry and lament, for the space of a Fortnight, before her Travail.  
There was a Woman carried a dead Child in her Womb, for the space of twelve Years, before all the Bones of it came away from her.   

A Woman delivered of a Monster.  
A Woman at Boston in New England, was delivered of a Monster, which had no Head, the Face was on the Breast, the Ears like Apes, grew upon the Shoulders, the Eyes and Mouth stood far out, the Nose hooking upward, the Breast and Back full of Prickles, the Navel and Belly were where the Lips should have been; instead of Toes, it had on each Foot three Claws; upon the Back, it had two holes like Mouths; above the Eyes, it had four Horns, and was of the Female Sex.[ Herbert's travels.   

Many Persons have been observed to die on their Birth days. Some Persons born with strange Marks upon them.  
There was a Woman, who had a Mulberry growing upon her nether Lip, which was smooth and plain, all the year long, till the Time that Mulberries began to ripen; at which time also hers began to be read, and began to swell more, and more, observing exactly the Season, and Nature of other Mulberries, and coming at length to the just bigness, and redness of other ripe Mulberries.   

Strange Constitutions in some Bodies.  
I heard of a Person, who in the hot Sunshine, or being in a hot Bath, would almost frieze; and being in any could Shade, or could Water, would sweat.  
There was a Man, who would usually swoon away upon the smell of a Rose.  
There was a Man, who could eat nothing, that was roasted, boiled, or fried; he fed only upon Bread, Fruits, and Milk   

How Nature supplies her own defects.  
Some Persons born without Arms, have done the same things with their Feet, as they could with their Arms if they had them.  
'Tis reported of Count Mansfelt, that though he was blind, yet with the touch alone, he was able to distinguish white from black, or between any other Colours.[ Howel's Letters.  
In Spain, many Ladies were used to make their Hair seem to be of a golden yellow Colour, perfume it with Sulphur, steep it in Aqua Fortis, and expose it to the Sun in the hottest Days.  
In Spain, there was a Woman about sixty years old, who had a Beard from her youth, which she suffered to grow; so that in her old Age, it reached down to the Pit of her Stomach.  
There was a Man had so long a Tongue, that he could lick his Nostrils therewith, like an Ox.  
There was a juggler in Spain, of such strange Agility, that by the help of Iron Gloves, he had, he would skip from place to place, and climb up a smooth Wall like a Cat.  
There was another Person, of such exceeding Leanness, and Lightness, that he commonly wore Shoes of led, and carried led about him, lest sometime, he might be blown away with the Wind.   

Of the five Senses in Man.  
'Tis allowed by all Physitians, that the most exquisite Senses ever dwell with temperate Persons.   

Of the Senses and other Observations of the Soul and Body of Man.  
And as Seeing is allowed by all Naturalists to be the best and choicest of the Senses, so the Smelling is held to be the least needful; the five Senses are said to be the Council of the Body; and 'tis observed, that some Beasts do excel us in the exquisiteness of our Senses; to wit, 
Nos Aper auditu praecellit, Aranea tactu,  
vulture Odoratu, Lynx visu, Simia gustu.   
Next to Reason, Man is not endowed with a choicer or more necessary Faculty, than Memory.  
The internal, and eminent Faculties of the reasonable Soul in Man,( besides those of common Sense, phantasy, Memory, Passion, and Appetite common to Men, and inferior Animals) are Intellect and Will; and the proper Acts of the Intellect are Intellection, Deliberation, and Determination, or Decision: The proper Acts of the Will, are Volition, Nolition, Choice, Purpose, or Resolution, and Command, in relation to subordinate Faculties, and these do or should regularly precede all the imperate Acts of the Soul. Before I writ, or speak, or go a journey, or eat, &c. there is the Deliberation of the Understanding, whether I shall do this Action; the Decision of the Understanding, that 'tis fit to be done; the Choice of the Will to do it; the Purpose of the Will, that it shall be done.  
The Arms being extended at full length, very near answers the length of any Person, from head to foot.  
Children breed Teeth at seven Months, breed new Teeth at seven Years breed their great Teeth at twenty; the Number of the Teeth, are usually thirty two.   

Particular observations on Man.  
At five Years, in an Ordinary growth, the Procerity is half of that, which will be attained at full Age.  
The Ordinary Period of human procreative Faculty in Males, is sixty five, or at most seventy; in Females forty five, or at most fifty.  
The several Periods of the Ages of the Life of Man, according to hippocrates, are divided into seven, viz. at fourteen, at twenty two, at thirty five, at forty two, at sixty one, and from thence to the End of the Life, which at most is eighty one, or eighty four.  
Nasty smells suddenly strike to the Brain, poison the Spirits, and oft-times prove deadly: An Example whereof is the Judges, and others, that were killed by the stench of the Prisoners in Oxford Goal.   

The numerous Issue of some People.  
Dame Esther Temple, Daughter of Miles Sands, Esquire, was born at Latmos in Buckinghamshire, and was married to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow, Baronet; she had four Sons, and nine Daughters, which lived to be married, and so exceedingly multiplied, that this Lady lived to see seven Hundred extracted from her own Body.  
In the Annals of Silesia, 'tis recorded, that a Woman at one Birth, was delivered of thirty and six Children.  
A Citizens Wife in Florence, had at several Births, fifty and two Children; oft-times three at a Birth.   

Of the Majesty, Beauty and Gravity in some Persons.  
The Sophitia, a People of India, had the Stature, and Comeliness of the Body in such Estimation; that in their Infancy, they make such difference of their Children, this way, that they would rear none, but such as they Judged to have such a Nature and Limbs, as did presignify a good Stature of Body, and convenient strength, as for the rest, supposing their education would prove but labour in vain, they put them to Death, and amongst them and the Ethiopians likewise, they made choice of such to be their Kings, as were most remarkable for Statute, and Strength; nor hath Nature itself seemed to ordain it otherwise, seeing that for the most part, Persons of Illustrions Families and Fortunes have a Character of Majesty Imprinted upon them, very different from the Common sort.  
Alexander the Great, though he took little care of his Body, is yet reported to be very Beautiftl; he had yellow Hair, and his locks fell into natural rings and Curls, besides which in the composure of his Face, there was something so great and August, as begot a fear in them that beholded him.[ Justin's History.  
One own ap Theodore, Esquire, of Wales, after the death of Henry the Fifth, Married Queen catherine● his widow, the meanness of his Estate, was recompensed with, the delicacy of his parsonage; so absolutely charming in all the lineaments of his Body, that the only contemplation of it made the Queen forget all other circumstances.[ Bakers Chron.   

Of Beauty.  
King Edward the Fourth, was exceeding Beautiful, so that when a Benevolence was devised to carry on his Wars in France, a Rich Widow being called before him, the King merrily asked her, What she would willingly give him, towards his great expenses in the Wars? By my troth, quoth she, for thy lovely countenance, thou shalt have even twenty Pounds: the King not expecting scarce half that sum, thanked her, lovingly kissed her, which so wrought upon the Old Widow, that she presently swore he should have twenty Pounds more, and paid it willingly.[ Speed's History.  
There was a Young Man in Italy, so very Beautiful in his Face and Body, that all sorts of Women who beholded him, fell in love with him, who at length disfigured his Face, for that his Beauty, should not be an occasion of their unchastity.[ Spurina   

Of the Signal Deformity of some.  
Of Richard the Third, once King of England, 'tis thus remembered, That of Body, he was but low, Crooked-back; Hook-shouldred; Splay-footed, and Go●gle-eyed: his Face little and round, his Complexion very Swarthy, his left Arm from his Birth, dried and withered, born a Monster in Nature, with all his Teeth, with Hair on his Head, and Nails on his Fingers, and Toes, and just such were the qualities of his mind.[ Baker's Chron. Speed's History.   

Of Giants and Dwarfs.  
There were the Bones of a Giant-found near Kilmainham in Ireland, his skull would have held a perk, and his Thigh Bone was an Ell long, he was thought to have been Sixteen foot high.  
Gogmagog the famous British Giant, was twelve Cubits high.  
The Queen of Spain, had a Dwarf, that was but two Foot and a handful high.  
There was a Dwarf so little, that at the Wedding of the Duke of Bavaria, he was put into a pastry, which being served up to Table, and being Cut up, he leaped thereout, to the wonder of all the Nobility, and others that were present.   

Of the Incredible Strength of some.  
The Emperor Tiberius, had the joints of his Fingers so firm and strong, that he could thrust his Finger through a green, and unripe Apple; and could give a Fillip with that force, that thereby he would break the Head of any Man.   

Of Strength.  
John Courcey, Baron of Stoke Courcy in Somersetshire, the first Englishman that subdued Ulster in Ireland, and deservedly was made Earl of it; he was afterwards surprised, and taken Prisoner, by Hugh Lacy( Corrival to his Title) and sent over into England, and by King John Imprisoned in the Tower of London: A French Castle being then in controversy, was to have the trial of its Title by combat, and the Kings of England, and France, to behold it; and there having been former Proofs of Courcy's Valour and Courage, Courcy being a lean, lank, and raw Bone Man, with staring Eyes; he was sent for out of the Tower, to undertake the French Champion; and because 'twas supposed Courcy might have been enfeebled with long durance, a large Bill of fare, was allowed him to recruit his Strength. The Monsieur hearing how much he had eaten and drank, and guessing his Courage by his Stomach, or rather Stomach by his Appetite; took him for a cannibal, who would devour him at the last Course, and so he declined the combat: Afterwards the two Kings being desirous to see some Proof of Courcy's Strength, caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a Block before him; Courcy looking about him with a grim Countenance( as if he intended to cut with his Eyes, as well as his Arms) divided the Helmet at one blow, striking the Sword so deep into the Wood, that none but himself could pull it out: Again being demanded the Cause, why he looked so sternly, Had I, said he, failed of my Design, I would have killed the Kings, and all in the place; words well spoken, because well taken; he died in France, Anno Domini 1210.  
'Tis reported that King John, being desirous to give this Courcy a good Reward for the former Exploit, and asking Courcy what Reward he should give him; Courcy only desired, that the King should give him a Charter of Liberty for him and his Heirs, to wear their Hats on before himself, or any King or Queen that should succeed him; which the King granted accordingly; and 'tis said, the Lord Courcy of Ireland now claims it, as derived to him, from that Courcy his Ance ●or.   

Some Persons of very long Lives.  
There was at St. Albans in Hertfordshire, a Morrice-dance of Eight men thereabouts, whose years put together, made up eight hundred; what was wanting of a hundred years in some, being made up in another.  
In cornwall, they say that ninety years, is but an ordinary Age there; the People generally live to be very aged, in most places of that County.  
There was a man in Queen Elizabeth's Time, who live in the Fens in Essex, that butted eight Wives, after he was sixty year of Age, the reason of it appears to be this: This man having always lived there, 'twas as natural to him as Eel in Mud; but bringing his Wives out of other wholesome and open clear Countries; as soon as they came there, they were choked with the Fogs and Mists, and so quickly died.[ Morrison's Travels.  
Sir Walter raleigh, in his discovery of Guiana, saith, that the King of Aromaja, being one hundred and ten years old, came in a Morning on foot to his House, which was fourteen English Miles, and returned home on foot the same Day.  
There was a Sexton at the Church of Peterborough in Northamptonshire, that lived to bury two Generations, or the People in that place twice over; the Instance of his long Life is alleged, by such who maintain, that the smelling to perfect mould, made of men's consumed Bodies, is a great preservative of Life.  
Thomas Par, was married at one hundred and twenty years Old, and got his Wife with child; he lived to be one hundred and fifty two years Old.   

Some though aged, yet have renewed their Age.  
An Old Abbatess in Spain, being very aged, and decrepit, suddenly became young again; her monthly Courses returned, her rugged and wrinkled Skin grew smooth, her hoary Hairs became black, and new Teeth in her Head, and her Paps hardened, and swelled after the manner, as is usual with Virgins.  
The Flesh of a Viper, duly prepared and eaten, clarifies the Eye-sight, strengtheners the Nerves and Sinews, corroborates the whole Body; and according to Dioscorides, procures a long and healthful Age, insomuch that they are proverbially said, to have eaten a Snake, who look younger than accustomend; nor is Viper Wine less sovereign, as hath been experienced by some.   

Some People have changed their Sex.  
'Tis credibly reported, that at Rome in the time of Alexander the Great, A Maid upon her Wedding-day, became a Man; 'tis supposed, the Violent Motion of the Spirits emitted those parts of a Man, which before appeared not.   

Of the incredible Swiftness of Some.  
In the Reign of King James the First, one Bernard Calvert of Andover, road from St. George's Church in Southwark to Dover; from thence passed by Barge to Callis in France, and from thence returned to St. George's Church the same day, setting out about three of the Clock in the Morning; and returned about eight a Clock in the Evening, fresh and lusty.[ Heylin's Cosmog.  
There was a Boy of Nine years of Age, who in one day did run seventy five Miles outright.   

Of the wise Sentences of some Learned Men.  
Envy is the hatred of another's Felicity, in respect of Superiors, because they are not equal to them; in respect of Inferiors, lest they should be equal to them; and in respect of Equals, because they are equal to them: Through Envy proceeded the Fall of the World, and the Death of Christ.[ St. Augustine.  
All things are driven by their own weight, and tend to their own Center; my weight is my Love, by that I am driven, whither-soever I am driven.[ St. Augustine.  
The sufficiency of my Merit, is to think my Merit is not sufficient. He goes better that creeps in his way, than he that runs out of his way.[ St. Augustine.  
The greatest pain damned Souls have, is to be separate, and cut off from the Presence of God for ever.[ St. Chrysostome.  
Hurtful pleasures for a minute of Joy; do bring an Age of Sorrow. [ Damasenus.  
The Heart of man is but a small thing, 'tis not sufficient for a Kite's Dinner; yet the whole World is not sufficient for it.[ St. Hugo de Anima.  
Lust is an immoderate Wantonness of the Flesh, a sweet Poison, a pernicious Potion, which weakens the Body of Man, and effeminates the Strength of an heroic Mind.  
He that gives himself over to the immoderate Love of Women, changes a Sanctuary destined to the Holy Ghost, into a Temple of Idols, whose Worship leads him to Damnation.  
He that goes about to commit Sin privately, takes pains to deceive himself.  
He that prefers the Pleasures of his Body, before the Salvation of his Soul, suffers the Man to be drowned, while he is saving his Cloak.  
He that's forgetful of Obligations that are done him, does not deserve to receive any.   

The sundry Precepts of several Philosophers.  
Chilon being asked, what were the hardest things, said: To keep Secrets to dispose well of our leisure Hours, and to bear an Injury; never to tell a lie never to speak evil of any Man, and no●… to speak at all, but when Necessity requires.  
Pythagoras used to say, dig not up Fire with a Sword, that is, do not provoke a Person that is angry with evil Speeches; to restrain the Tongue, especially in Feasts; to threaten none, because 'tis womanish; to visit our Friends most in Adversity; not to speak evil of the dead; to honor Old Age; to prefer loss to a reproachful gain; not to wish for things that cannot be; not to discover what we are about, till we have attained it; to keep a measure in all our Actions, and to have a respect to the End of them.  
Socrates being asked what was the Principal virtue of Youth, he replied, Not to overdo. And whether 'twere best to mary, or live single? He said, in both you may repent. And what was the difference betwixt a Wiseman and a Fool? He said, sand both naked, where they are not known, and you will soon discover it: Having entreated dionysius the Emperor, in behalf of his Friend, but in vain, he threw himself at his Feet; and being blamed for so doing: Not I, said he, but dionysius is in the fault, who hath his Ears in his Feet.  
Plato said, that the Seat of Reason is in the Head: The Seat of Anger is in the Heart: The Seat of Love in the Liver. Bion being asked, whether a Man had better mary a fair, or a foul Woman? Said, if she be fair, she will be common, if foul, a torment; he said Old Age is the Haven of Evils.  
Aristotle being asked what a liar gains, said, not to be believed when he speaks Truth: Being upbraided for showing mercy to a bad Man: I pitied, said he, not the manners but the man: Being asked what Hope was? He replied, the Dream of a waking Man: Being  told of one that spake evil of him behind his back, he said, let him beat me too when I am absent. He said, the Roots of Learning were bitter, but the Fruit sweet.  
Sophocles said, that the loss of Time, was the greatest expense; that an ungoverned Tongue, is less to be trusted than an unbridled Horse; that we then die, when we begin to live; and as Iron is consumed with its own rust, so is the envious man with his own manners, when taxed for keeping ill Company; so said he, do Physitians, and yet have no Fevers.  
Diogenes being asked, what Hour was best to dine in? If, said he, thou art rich, when thou wilt; if poor, when thou canst: Lighting up a Candle at Mid-day, and going about the Streets with it, he said, he sought an honest man: A rich man unlearned is a Sheep with a golden Fleece. Hearing a handsome Youth speaking indecently, What, said he, are you not ashamed, to draw a leaden Sword out of an Ivory scabbard?  
Zeno said, there was nothing more indecent than Pride, especially in a young Man; being asked, what a Friend was? He said, another myself: He was so temperate, that he lived ninety eight Years in health, without any Disease.  
Crates said, 'twas impossible to find a man without fault, but that as in a pomegranate, there would ever be some rotten Kernels.   

Some few Maxims of State.  
The Earl of Salisbury, the great Statesman in King James the First's Reign, said, that when an Ambassador doth abuse a State, by his Master's Commission, then the Servant is freed; but when he doth it without Commission he is culpable, and liable to be punished by the Law of that State, as having discovered to be a Servant to the King his Master.[ Court of King James.  
The best Course of Government is, that Justice may take place, the King's Charges lessened, his Revenue increased, and the Subject not oppressed.  
A deanery or Hospital bing Livings without Cure of Souls, may by the King, be justly conferred upon a Lay-man, with dispensation De non promovendo.  
The public good, ought, to be the End of all Governments, and the Aim of all Governors.  
Marriage among Princes, as it seldom confirms a sound Friendship, so doth it never extirpate an Ancient hatred.  
In an Elective Kingdom, scarce ever is the Heir put aside, if equally deserving with others.  
We ought not to despise Princes, by reason of their Imperfections, nor to censure either their Persons or Government.  
The King's Justice is bound by the Law, but his Mercy is not.  
The Prince is the Pilot of the Commonwealth, and the Laws are his Compass.  
'Tis a sure Maxim, that the best Christians are ever the best Subjects.  
The Emperor Basilius, in his Advice to his Son, bad him always make use of the Counsel of those, who through Care and Prudence had bettered their Estates, and not of those, who through imprudence, had made them to decay; for he that cannot husband well his own things, will never be able to husband well the things of another.  
Kings are to consider themselves, under these three Notions; as Men; as Christians; as Princes.  
The higher any Building is, the more it requires exquisite Proportion; so a man in any high Calling, ought to be exquisitely good.  
When a man enters first upon any Preferment, he ought to do some Notable Act, thereby to get a Name.  
They that have not the Grace to be religious out of Conscience, ought to be so out of Policy.  
Some men make Religion only a Foot-stool to the Seat of Advancement.  
The Parliament is prorogued or dissolved by the King, but each House may adjourn itself.  
That State is in an ill condition, wherein the justly accused shall take revenge of the just Accuser, and where he that would save his Prince, must ruin himself.  
'Tis a Rule, that great Designs of State, should be Mysteries, till they come to the Act of Performance, and then they should t●●● to Exploits.  Salus Populi Suprema Lex.  

The Contents of the Commission, for the Lord Lieutenant, or Lord Deputy of Ireland.  
To conserve the Peace; to punish Offenders; to make Orders and Proclamations; to receive Offenders to Grace; to give Pardons, and impose Fines; to levy Forces; to fight, and make Peace; to dispose of Rebel's Lands; to pardon all Treasons, saving touching the King's Person, and counterfeiting of coin; to give Offices, saving the Chancellor, Treasurer, two Chief Justices, Chief Ba●on, and Master of the Rolls; to dispose o● Ecclesiastical Livings, except Archbi●●●ps, and Bishops; to receive Homage, and the Oath; to make Provision for his household, according to the Ancient Cu●●●m; to assemble the Parliament with 〈◇〉 King's Privity; to receive the Ac●●●nts of Officers, saving the Treasurers, 〈◇〉 to exercise marshal Law.   
FINIS.