Historical Rarities. etc.  

2 A Costermonger's Daughter the cometh be Sultanes to the grand Seigivar: p 65  
1 Andris: Battles delivernce in his voyage to the River of plate P: 1  
3 The history of a famous Woman Captain: viz joan of arc: p 177  
4 Almansor a pleasant story of a Spanish Doh: p 185.  
5 A Notable Combat between a Kt. & Esq in K. Richard. 2 time P. 264.  
6 The fiery Irruption of mount Aetna: p. 287.    

HISTORICAL RARITIES AND CURIOUS Observations DOMESTIC & FOREIGN.  
Containing Fifty three several Remarks; viz. 1. The miraculous and strange Adventures and Deliverances of one Andrew Battle of Leigh in Essex. 2. A strange Deliverance of an Englishman from a Desolate Island near Scotland, wherein he had long continued in extreme Penury and Misery. 3. A strange Adventure of some Englishmen in the recovery of their own Freedom, and a Ship called the Exchange of Bristol, from the Turkish Pirates of Algiers. 4. A notable Story of Edgar King of England, and how he was revenged on him that circumvented him. 5. The Story of Macbeth King of Scotland. 6. Of a Costermonger's Daughter that came to be Sultaness to the Grand Signior of Constantinople. 7. Historical Observations out of several Authors. 8. A Description of Greenland and the Inhabitants thereof. 9 Several Varieties of the West Indies. 10. Several Rarities of divers Countries. 11. Of a mirthful Custom used at Dunmow in Essex. 12. Of what we find in credible Authors concerning Guy Earl of Warwick. 13. The Life of St. Patrick the Irish Apostle. 14. The Murder of duff King of Scotland, and how miraculously it came to be discovered. 15. The Cruelty of Albovine King of Lombardy to his Queen Rosamond, and how she was revenged of him. 16. The Miseries of enforced Marriage, exemplified in a Story of a Knight in Warwickshire, who was murdered by his own Lady. With Thirty seven more several Histories, very pleasant and delightful.  
Collected out of Approved Authors, By William Winstanley, Author of England's Worthies.  
London, Printed for Rowland Reynolds, next door to the Middle Exchange in the Strand. 1684.   

To the Noble and Generous, THE Pattern and Patron of Laudable Endeavours, Sir THOMAS MIDDLETON, Of Stansted Montfichet, Knight.  
Honoured Sir,  
TWO things have emboldened me to dedicate this Book unto you, the one is, your known Abilities to approve or reject what is good or bad in Histories, wherein your Judgement appears as sound and clear as the Sun is perspicuous in a serene day; so that we may say of you, as the Romanists in other things, of their Archpriest, that you are therein infallible. The other drift of my ambition in this Dedication is, to make a public expression of the Love and Service I bear to yourself and Noble Family, which for many Ages hath flourished in honour and best repute; and which caused you to be chosen one of the Senators of this flourishing Kingdom. To these I might add a third, that under your worthy Patronage others might be profited thereby, especially two sorts of People; First, those who have not money to buy great Volumes, and by that means are destitute of helps from such Books which should conduce to a general knowledge of History; and then most Volumes treating only of one continued subject, without the help of a great many, they cannot attain to a perfection in the general. Secondly, for those who have not time to peruse such voluminous Authors, herein may they he instructed with the marrow and quintessence of what others more largely treat of, like a little Watch, showing the time of the day as well as a great Clock. I suppose it needless to treat of the benefit and pleasure of these miscellaneous Histories, since variety gives the greatest pleasure to most sorts of People; When doth the Earth appear in its greatest glory, but in the month of May, when Lady Flora hath diapered the Meads with variety of flowers? Our Comedies would not give such general content, were they composed of one continued Subject, and not intermixed with several Humours. History is the mirror for us to look in, which represents to us, things past as if they were present, and enables us to make a rational conjecture of things to come. In brief, there is nothing completes a Gentleman so much as the knowledge of History, nor no kind of History so much as these miscellaneous Discourses. Deign Sir, to accept hereof as a mite of accknowledgment of the respests born to your worthy self, by,  
Your humbly devoted Servant William Winstanley.   

The PREFACE TO THE READER.  
ONE calls History the Work-mistress of Experience, and Mother of Prudence; It is the general Treasury of times past, present, and a lively pattern of things to come; It is that which reinforces Antiquity from her ruins, and makes the grey head of Time white again. History (says Sir Walter Raleigh) makes us acquainted with our dead Ancestors, delivering us their Memory and Fame; out of it we gather a Policy no less otherwise than Eternal, by the comparison and application of other men's forepast Miseries with our own like Errors and ill Deservings. Skill in History makes a Young Man to be Ancient without Wrinkles or grey Hairs, when ignorant Age is contemned and despised. Learning is such a precious Jewel, that it was highly honoured even among the Heathens themselves. Polybius that wrote the Roman History, and their Wars with the Carthaginians, was honoured with a Statue on a high Pillar at Megalopolis. Pompey the Great honoured Theophanes the Historian with the Privileges of the City of Rome. The Emperor Tacitus commanded the History of Tacitus to be placed in all Libraries; and lest it should perish, he caused it every Year to be written ten times over. Titus Vespasian bestowed great Wealth and Honours on Josephus the Jewish Historian, notwithstanding he had before been his deadly Enemy, and caused his Statue to be erected at Rome. Nay, that Enemy to all Goodness, even Julian the Apostate, had a Statue made for Aurelius Victor, the Roman Historiographer. Thus you see what a high esteem the Heathens had for their Historians; and shall we that have more Knowledge be more barbarous? We read of Alphonsus, King of Arragon, that he commanded the Musicians from his presence, saying, He heard a better Harmony out of Livy. And what greater delight can any man have, than sitting in safety to read of the dangers of other men; of which in this Volume you have an example of Tom Coriat; what indefatigable pains did he take, what miseries undergo, what extreme wants sustain, for the viewing Foreign Countries and their Rarities, of which he might have had as good a description at home. Is it not therefore better, and at a far cheaper rate, to buy the Experience of others, then to try them ourselves; for they that travel for to view Curiosities pay dearly for their Experience, but they who read Histories enjoy the experience of all that lived before, which is far greater and much cheaper. It is History that gives us a view of all Places and Times, by that we see with other men's eyes, and hear with their ears But in your reading have a great care in the choice of your Authors, avoiding such as be either false or impertinent, which to a judicious eye is easily discernible: for some I have known (otherwise ingenious enough) apt to believe idle Romances, and Poetical Fictions, for Historical Varieties. Not but that ingenious Romances and and witty Fables may be read, and profitably too; but to avoid such rude ones as Huon of Bourdeaux, Four Sons of Amon, Fortunatus, Chimon of England, and such like, lest you be brought into the belief of Don Quixot, which that Satirical Romance doth sufficiently whip.  
Indeed it were to be wished, that such rude depraved Books were utterly abolished, or restrained at least from Youth of both kinds, for preventing of fantastical Impressions, they being as deep taking as either the Juice of Malt or the Vine; of the effects of the which last I shall here insert a short Story. A Gentleman being sound dozed, had the Charity of his Conquerors to buttress him up from the Inn to his Chamber, where laying him on his Bed, he took quiet Repose for two or three hours; after he awakes intolerable dry, and inflamed i'th' Throat, roared out, and knocks (supposing he had been at the Inn, not in his Chamber) for the Tapster, whom loudly and often he called for, crying, I burn, I burn, Cans you Rogue; and impatient of delay, threatens to fetch him with another Alarm; which suddenly he puts in Execution, and storms his own glass Windows so furiously with Bedstaffs, old Shoes, and the like Weapons, that he made a Breach big enough, out of which he might have thrown the Room after. In like manner, what Impressions Books of that nature have made upon some much studious in them, is sufficiently known, who will believe no otherwise but that they are true, and for this only reason, Because they are Printed.  
As for my own Undertake in this following Work I shall neither extenuate nor extol; in the Composure thereof I have endeavoured to collect nothing but what is rare, and not vulgarly known, nor made use of any Authors for my Authority, but what I take to be of unquestionable Credit and Estimation. Indeed it was designed and drawn out for a far larger Volume, had not the Bookseller's Interest overswayed me to publish no more at this time; however, your kind Acceptance of this will engage us very suddenly to contrive the rest in a Second Part, it being already fitted and prepared for the Press.  
I hope this will not pass without a general Acceptance, I having in my time writ above seven score Books, some of them very considerable, and all which (excepting one) passing with a general Approbation; and that one also, how ever, sold with some Gain. I must confess, I have had my Juvenile Excursions, and my Loyal Intentions, by writing in defence of the Old King's Cause, is sufficiently known: I am now (by some time) past the Meridian of my Years, and shall for the future write nothing but what may be for the Benefit of my Country, and that they may be known as I am,  
A True Lover of Ingenuity, W. WINSTANLEY.   

THE TABLE.  
THE miraculous and strange Adventures and Deliverances of one Andrew Battle of Leigh in Essex. Page 1.  
A strange Deliverance of an Englishman from a desolate Island near to Scotland, wherein he had long continued in extreme penury and misery. 16.  
A strange Adventure of some Englishmen in the recovery of their own Freedom, and a Ship called the Exchange of Bristol, from the Turkish Pirates of Argier; published by John Rawlins.  
A remarkable Story of eight men left in Greenland, Anno Christi 1630. with a relation of their strange preservation. 43.  
A notable Story of Edgar King of England, and how he was revenged on him that circumvented him. 54.  
The Story of Macbeth King of Scotland. 59  
Of a Costermonger's Daughter that came to be Sultaness to the Grand Signior of Constantinople.  
Historical Observations out of several Authors. 71.  
How they baptise, marry, and bury in Russia. 82.  
The Life, Manners, and Customs of the Samoits, a People inhabiting Nova Zembla. 89.  
A Description of Groenland, and the Inhabitants thereof. 92.  
Several Varieties of the West-Indies. 96.  
Of the Tortoises in the West-Indies. 103.  
Several Rarities of divers Countries. 105.  
Of a mirthful Custom formerly used at Dunmow in Essex. 109.  
Of what we find in credible Authors concerning Guy Earl of Warwick. 111.  
The Life of St. Patrick the Irish Apostle. 120.  
A marvellous preservation of the Protestants in Ireland in the time of Queen Mary, by a merry accident. 126.  
The murder of duff King of Scotland, and how miraculously it came to be discovered. 127.  
The Cruelty of Albovine King of Lombardy to his Queen Rosamond, and how she was revenged of him. 134.  
The miseries of insorced Marriage, exemplified in a story of a Knight in Warwickshire murdered by his own Lady. 138.  
A remarkable story of the occasion of the Danes invading England, and of their murdering St. Edmund. 141.  
Histories of Parents crossing the affections of their Children, and the sad effects thereof. 149.  
Observations upon Kings of several Nations. 153.  
A strange change of Religion of the two Dr. Reynolds. 160.  
Why the Fish called Tunny is not sold in Venice. 161.  
Of Machamut, a Moorish King, of a poisonous nature. 163.  
A notable Imposture of Margaret Ulmer. 164.  
Of People long lived, who have had their Teeth and excrements of Hair renewed. 167.  
An Example of Divine Vengeance pursuing sinners. 170.  
Of two famous Virago 's, Joan of Arc, and Catarina d' Arcuso. 177.  
That the Italians are very revengeful, an Example. 183.  
Spanish pride exemplified in a story. 185.  
A mirthful conceit of Philip Duke of Burgundy. 188.  
Memorials of Thomas Coriat. 189.  
The reason inducing Mahometans to often prayer, exemplified by a story. 208.  
A strange murder in the time of K. James. 210.  
The Custom of Lapland for the marrying their Daughters. 213.  
Of Spirits or Devils, and that they have had Carnal knowledge of people. 214.  
The Life and Actions of the Impostor Mahomet, according to their Saracenical opinion of him. 223.  
The Talmud of the Jews, their Dreams, etc. 239.  
The opinion of the Chineses concerning the people of the World after the Flood. 244.  
A strange Relation of Ferdinand Mendes Pinto a Portugal, which he saw in his Journey in China. 245.  
The Letter of Agbarus Prince of the Edesseans, to our Saviour, with his Answer, taken out of Eusebius. 249.  
The conversion of a Thief by St. John the Apostle, taken out of the same Eusebius. 254.  
The Conspiracy of Earl Gowry to have murdered King James in Scotland, An. 1600. 257.  
A notable Combat betwixt a Knight and an Esquire in the time of King Richard the Second. 264.  
Of such another Combat fought in France. 269.  
A remarkable piece of Justice done by the Emperor Rodulphus. 270.  
Of the great Friendship betwixt Damon and Pythias, two Pythagorean Philosophers. 271.  
Another of Christian Friendship. 272.  
The admirable love and affection betwixt Titus and Gisippus, two Noble Young men, the one of Rome, the other of Athens. 273.  
Of Mount Aetna, and the fiery irruption there in the year 1669. 287.   

HISTORIES AND OBSERVATIONS Domestic and Foreign.  

The miraculous and strange Adventures and Deliverances of one Andrew Battle of Leigh in Essex.  
IN the Year of our Lord 1589, one Andrew Battle of Leigh in Essex, accompanied with Abraham Cock of Limehouse, and accommodated with two Pinnaces of 50 Tuns apiece; intending a Voyage to the River of Plate, upon the Coast of Brasil, were much necessitated for Victuals: so that returning Northwards upon the Isle of S. Sebastian, going on Land, he, with four others, were taken Prisoners by certain Negroes belonging to the Portugals, who sent him to Angola in Africa, where he continued in their Service several years; when desirous of freedom, he attempted an Escape in a Holland Ship, but being discovered, he was clapped in Prison for two months, and then banished to the Fort of Massangano, where he lived a miserable life for the space of six years.  
But this nothing daunting his Resolution, he, with ten other banished men, practised an Escape, having gotten a Canoe for that purpose, and furnished with Muskets, Powder, and Shot, wandering in great misery several days through the extremity of Heat, and want of Victuals and Water, being forced divers times to make their way through their Opposers with Musket shot; yet ere they could get into a place of security, the Captain of the City from whence they came overtook them, to whom they were forced to yield, and being carried back again, for their welcome home were clapped up in Prison, with Collars of Iron, and great Bolts upon their Legs.  
After three months hard Imprisonment, he, with four hundred more banished Portugals, were by Proclamation for ever destined to the Wars; and accordingly he served in many bloody Fights, where, whosoever gained, all that fell to his share was only Penury, Hardship, Wounds, and Scars.  
Having thus had his share in Land Service, he, with sixty more Soldiers, were sent in a Frigate with Commodities to Bahia de Tare, twelve degrees Southward, to trade with the Savages; and having made a prosperous Voyage, were sent out the second time to the Morro, or Cliff of Benguala, where they lighted into the hands of the Gaga's, a most warlike People, and the greatest Cannibals or Man-eaters in the world; yet by reason of their Commodities, and for that they helped the Gaga's against their Enemies, they in five month's space made three gainful Voyages from thence to the City of San Paulo, but coming the fourth time the Gaga's were gone up far higher into the Country.  
Being loath to return without Trade, they determined that fifty of their Company should follow them, and the rest stay with their Ship in the Bay of Benguala. Amongst those fifty was Andrew Battel one, who marching up the Country, were by a great Negro Lord detained, whilst such time as the Gaga's were gone clear away into another Land. Then did he force them to march with him against his Enemies, until he had clean destroyed them. Nor would he then suffer them to depart, but upon promise to come again, and leave one of their company in pawn with him until their return.  
Hereupon it was determined to draw Lots who should stay, but upon further thoughts, they agreed amongst themselves to leave the Englishman, and to shift for themselves, fearing to be all detained Captives. So Battle was fain to stay per force, having with him a Musket, Powder, and Shot, they promising the Negro Lord to come again in two months for his redemption. But that time expired, and none of them returning, the Chief of the Town would have put Battle to death, and in order thereto stripped him naked, and were ready to cut off his Head, when one of the chief amongst them interposing, his Execution was deferred upon hopes of the Portugals coming, and he set loose to walk at liberty.  
But finding no security of his life amongst them, he resolved to run away to the Camp of the Gaga's; and having traveled a whole night, the next day he came to a great Town called Cushil, which stood in a mighty overgrown Thicket, the People whereof great and small came round about him to wonder at him, having never seen a White Man before. Here he sound some of the great Gaga's Men, with whom he went to their Camp, at a place called Calicausamba.  
The Captain of the Gaga's welcomed him kindly, continuing in that place for four months together, with great abundance and plenty of cattle, Corn, Wine, and Oil, and great triumphing, drinking, dancing, and banqueting with Man's flesh; for (as I told you before) these Gaga's are the greatest Cannibals or Man-eaters in the world. Their Captain warreth all by Enchantment, and taketh the Devil's counsel in all his Exploits. Such of his Soldiers as are faint-hearted, and turn their backs to the Enemy, are presently condemned and killed for Cowards, and their Bodies eaten. They neither sow, nor plant, nor bring up any cattle more than they take by Wars. When they take any Town, they keep the Boys and Girls of thirteen or fourteen years of age as their own Children; but the Men and Women they kill and eat. These little Boys they train up in the Wars, and hang a Collar about their Necks for a disgrace, which is never taken off till he proveth himself a Man, and brings his Enemy's Head to the General; and than it is taken off, and he is a Freeman, and is called Gonzo or Soldier. This maketh them desperate, and forward to be free, and counted Men.  
When their chief Captain undertaketh any great Enterprise against the Inhabitants of any Country, he maketh a solemn Sacrifice to the Devil in the morning before the Sun riseth. He sitteth upon a Stool, having on each side of him a Man Witch; then he hath forty or fifty Women which stand round about him, holding in each hand a wild Horse's Tail, wherewith they do flourish and sing. Behind them are great store of Drums and other Instruments, which always play. In the midst of them is a great Fire, upon the Fire an Earthen Pot with white Powders, wherewith the Man-witches do paint him on the Forehead, Temples, and thwart the Breast and Belly, with long Ceremonies and Enchanting Terms. Thus he continueth till Sun is down; then the Witches bring him his Weapon, which is fashioned like a Hatchet, and put it into his Hand, bidding him be strong against his Enemies, for his Mokiso (which is the Devil) is with him. Presently there is a Manchild brought, which forthwith he killeth; then are four Men also brought before him, two whereof as it happeneth he presently striketh and killeth, the other two he commandeth to be killed without the Fort.  
When they bury the dead, they make a Vault in the ground, and a Seat for him to sit; the dead hath his Hair newly embroidered, his Body washed and anointed with sweet Powders. He hath all his best Robes put on, and is brought between two men to his Grave, and set in his Seat as though he were alive. He hath two of his Wives set with him, with their Arms broken, and then they cover the Vault on the top. These People are very kind one to another in their health, but in their sickness they do abhor one another, and will shun their company.  
At the end of four months the Gaga's decamped, marching thorough divers Countries, destroying all wheresoever they came. In this condition continued Andrew Battle amongst them for the space of above a year and a half, being highly esteemed of the great Gaga, because with his Musket he had killed divers of the Negroes, his Enemies. At last they coming within three days journey of Massangano, where the Portugals had their Fort aforementioned, he made means to get thither again with some Merchant Negroes, that came to the Camp to buy Slaves.  
At that time there was a new Governor come to Massangano, named Sienor Juan Continho, who brought Authority to conquer the Mines or Mountains of Cambamba; and to perform that Service, the King of Spain had given him seven years' Customs of all the Slaves and Goods that were carried thence to the West-Indies, Brasil, or whithersoever. This Gentleman was so bountiful at his coming, that his Fame was spread thorough all Congo, and many Mulatoes' and Negro came voluntarily to serve him. And being some six months in the City, he marched to the Outaba of Tomb, and there shipped his Soldiers in Pinnaces, and went up the River Coanza, and landed at the Outaba of Songo, sixty miles from the Sea. This Songo is next to Demba, where the Salt Mines be. In this place there is such store of Salt, that most parts of the Country are perfect clear Salt, without any earth or filth in it; and it is some three foot under the Earth as it were Ice. They cut it out in Stones of a yard long, and it is carried up into the Country, being the best Commodity that a man can carry to buy any thing whatsoever.  
From thence the Governor sent a Pinnace to Messangano, for all the best Soldiers that were there; so the Captain of that Castle sent Battle down amongst a hundred Soldiers more, whom the Governor kindly entertained, and made him a Sergeant of a Portugal Company. Here he continued with them two years, acting very valiantly in divers bloody Battles, against several Potent Lords that opposed the Portugals; during which time the Governor died, and another Captain was substituted in his room, who was so cruel to his Soldiers, that all his Voluntary men left him, and by these means he could go no further. At this time there came news by the Jesuits, that Elizabeth Queen of England was dead, and that King James, her Successor, had made Peace with Spain; whereupon he made a Petition to the Governor, who granted him Licence to go into his own Country; and so he departed with the Governor and his Train to the City of S. Paul.  
After six months' stay about some necessary businesses, he prepared for his Journey homewards: but the Governor denied his Promise, and instead of permitting him to come into England, commanded him within two days to provide himself to go to the Wars again. Battle startled at his perfidiousness, resolved to try one bout more for his deliverance; so the same night he departed from the City, with two Negro Boys that he had, which carried his Musket, six pounds of Powder, a hundred Bullets, and that little Provision of Victuals which he could make. In the morning he was some twenty miles from the City, up along the River Bengo; there he stayed certain days, and then passed Bengo, and came to the River Dande, being to the Northwards. Here he was cruelly put to his shifts, being forced to live a month in a Wood betwixt the foresaid Rivers for fear of a Pursuit. From thence he went to the Lake of Casausa; about this Lake he stayed six months, and lived only upon dried Flesh, as Buffeloes', Deer, Mokokes, Impolanca's, and Roe-bucks, and other sorts which he killed with his Musket, and dried the flesh as the Savages do, upon an Hurdle three foot from the ground, making underneath it a great Fire, and laying upon the flesh green Boughs, which keep the smoke and heat of the Fire down, and dry it. He made his Fire with two little Sticks, as the Savages use to do. Sometimes for variety he fed on Guinney Wheat, which his Negro Boy would get of the Inhabitants for pieces of dried flesh. In this manner he lived six months with dried Flesh and Fish, and seeing no end of his misery, he wrought means to get away, which he effected after this manner.  
About the Lake are many little Islands, full of Trees called Memba, which are as light as Cork, and as soft; of these Trees he built a Gingado, with a Knife he had of the Savages, in the fashion of a Boat, nailed with wooden Pegs, and railed round about because the Sea should not wash him out; and with a Blanket that he had made a Sail, and prepared three Oars to row withal. The Lake was eight miles over, and issued out into the River Bengo; so he entered into his Gingado with his two Negro Boys, and rowed into the River Bengo, coming down with the Current twelve Leagues to the Bar: Here he was in great danger, because the Sea was great; and being over the Bar, he rowed into the Sea, and then sailed afore the wind along the Coast, which he knew very well, minding to go to the Kingdom of Longo, which is toward the North. Being that night at Sea, the next day he saw a Pinnace come before the wind, which came from the City, and was bound to San Thome; being come near him, he found the Master was his great Friend, for they had been Mates together, who for pity sake took him in and his two Boys, and set them on shore in the Port of Longo, where he was well entertained of the King, because he killed him Dear and Fowls with his Musket.  
Here he continued the space of three years, during which time, he took a Survey of the Country, the Nature of the People, their Rites and Manners; all which he delivered to Posterity in writing as followeth.  
Here is great store of Palm-Cloaths of sundry sorts, which is their Merchandise; and great store of Victuals, Flesh, Hens, Fish, Wine, Oil, and Corn. Here is also very fine Logwood, which they use to die withal; (it is the Root of the Logwood which is the best;) and Molangos of Copper. Here is likewise great store of Elephants Teeth, but they sell none in the Marketplace. The King hath ten great Houses, and is never certain to be found but in the Afternoon, when he cometh to sit, and then he keepeth always one House; the House is very long, and at twelve of the clock it is full of Noblemen; they sit upon Carpets on the ground; the House is always full of People till midnight. The last King Gembe never used to speak in the day, but always in the night; but this King speaketh in the day: howbeit he spendeth most of the day with his Wives. And when the King cometh in, he goeth to the upper end of the House, where he hath his Seat, as it were a Throne; and when the King is set, they clap their hands and salute him, saying in their Language, Byam Pemba, Ampola, Moneya, Quesinge.  
On the South side of the King's Houses he hath a Circuit or Village, where his Wives dwell; and in this Circuit no man may come on pain of death. He hath in this place an hundred and fifty Wives or more; and if any man be taken within this Circuit, if he be with a Woman, or do but speak to her, they be both brought into the Marketplace, and their Heads be cut off, their Bodies quartered, and lie one day in the Streets. The last King Gymbe had four hundred Children by his Women.  
When the King drinketh he hath a Cup of Wine brought, and he that bringeth it hath a Bell in his Hand, and as soon as he hath delivered the Cup to the King, he turneth his Face from him and ring the Bell; then all that be there fall down upon their Faces, and rise not till the King have drunk. And this is very dangerous for any Stranger that knoweth not the fashions; for if any seeth the King drink, he is presently killed whatsoever he be. There was a Boy of twelve years old, which was the King's Son; this Boy chanced to come unadvisedly when his Father was a drinking; presently the King commanded he should be well apparelled, and Victuals prepared; so the Youth did eat and drink; afterwards the King commanded that he should be cut in quarters, and carried about the City, with Proclamation that he saw the King drink. Likewise for the King's Diet, when it is Dinnertime, there is a House on purpose where he always eateth, and there his Diet is set upon a Bensa, like a Table; then he goeth in and hath the door shut, and when he hath eaten he knocketh and cometh out, so that none see the King eat nor drink; for it is their belief, that if he be seen eating or drinking he shall presently die.  
This King is so honoured as though he were a God amongst them, and is called Sambe and Pongo, that is, God: and they believe that he can give them Rain when he listeth; so once a year, when it is time to rain, which is in December, the People come to beg it, and bring their Gifts to the King, for none come empty. Then he appointeth the day, and all the Lords far and near come to that Feast, with all their Troops as they go in the Wars: and when all the Troops of Men be before the King, the greatest Lord cometh forth with his Bow and Arrows, and showeth his skill with his Weapons, and then he hath a merry Conceit or Jest that he speaketh before the King, and kneeleth at his feet, and then the King thanketh him for his Love, and in like manner they do all. The King sitteth abroad in a great place, and hath a Carpet spread upon the ground which is some fifteen Fathoms about, of fine Eufacks, which are wrought like Velvet, and upon the Carpet his Seat, which is a Fathom from the ground. Then he commandeth his Dembes to strike up, which are Drums so great that they cannot carry them. He hath also eight Pongos, which are his Waits, made of the greatest Elephants Teeth, and are hollowed and scraped light, which play also; so that with the Drums and Waits they make a Hellish noise. After they have sported and showed the King pleasure, he ariseth and standeth upon his Throne, and taking a Bow and Arrows into his Hand, shooteth to the Sky; and that day there is a great rejoicing, because sometimes they have Rain, which when it happens is a great Confirmation of their Folly.  
Here is sometimes born in this Country White Children, which is very rare among them, for their Parents are Negroes; and when any of them are born, they are presented unto the King, and are called Dondoes. These are as white as any white man, and are made the King's Witches, being brought up in Witchcraft, and always wait on the King. There is no man that dares meddle with these Dondoes; if they go to the Market, they may take what they list, for all men stand in awe of them: the King of Longo hath four of them.  
This King is also a Witch, and believeth in two Idols which are in Longo; the one is called Mokisso a Longo, the other is called Checocke. This last is a little black Image, and standeth in a little House at a Village that is called Kinga, which standeth in the Landing-place of Longo. The House of Checocke standeth in the Highway, where all that go by clap their hands, which is the courtesy of the Country. Those that be Craftsmen, as Fishermen, Hunters, and Witches, do offer to this Idol that they may have good luck. This Checocke doth sometimes in the night come and haunt some of his best beloved; sometimes a Man, sometimes a Boy or a Woman, and then they befrantick for the space of three hours; whatsoever the frantic Person speaketh, that they think is the will of Checocke, making a great Feast and Dancing at his House.  
There is another Mokisso, which is also in Ringa, and it is called Gomberi; it is the name of a Woman, and is in an house where an old Witch dwelleth, and she is called Ganga Gomberi, which is, the Priest of Gomberi. Here once a year is a Feast made, and Ganga Gomberi speaketh under the ground; and this is a common thing every year. I have asked the Negroes what it was, and they told me, it is a strong Mokisso that is come to abide with Chacocke.  
There is a place two Leagues from the Town of Longo called Longeri, where all their Kings be buried; and it is compassed round about with Elephant's Teeth pitched in the ground as it were a Pale, being ten Roods in compass.  
These People will suffer no white man to be buried in their Land; and if any Stranger or Portugal come thither to trade, and chance to die, he is carried in a Boat two miles from the shore, and cast into the Sea▪ There was once a Portugal Gentleman that came to trade with them, and had his House on shore; thi● Gentleman died, and was buried four months: tha● year it did not rain so soon as it was wont, which beginneth about December; so that they lacked Rain some two months. Then their Mokisso told them, that the Christian which was buried must be taken out of the Earth and cast into the Sea, and so he was taken up and cast into the Sea, and within three days it reigned, which made them have a great belief in the Devil.  
Nineteen Leagues from Longo is the Province of Mayombe, which is all Woods and Groves, so overgrown that a man may travel twenty days in the shadow without any Sun or Heat. Here is no kind of Corn or Grain, nor any kind of tame cattle nor Hens, so that the People live only upon Plantans, and Roots of sundry sorts very good, and Nuts. But they have great store of Elephant's flesh, which they highly esteem; also they have many kinds of wild Beasts, and great store of Fish. The Woods are so covered with Baboons, Monkeys, Apes, and Parrots, that it will fear any man to travel in them alone. Here is also two kinds of Monsters, which are common in these Woods, and very dangerous; the greatest of these two Monsters is called Pongo in their Language, and the lesser is called Eugeco. This Pongo is in all proportion like a man, but more like a Giant in stature, for he is very tall and hath a Man's face, hollow cyed, with long Hair upon his Brows. His Face and Ears are without Hair, as also his Hands; his Body is full of Hair, but not very thick, and it is of a Dunnish colour. He differeth not from a Man but in his Legs, for they have no Calf. He goeth always upon his Legs, and carrieth his Hands clasped on the nape of his Neck when he goeth upon the ground. They sleep in the Trees, and build shelters for the Rain. They feed upon Fruit that they find in the Woods, and upon Nuts, for they eat no kind of Flesh. They cannot speak, and have no understanding more than a Beast. The People of the Country, when they travel in the Woods, make Fires where they sleep in the nights, and in the morning when they are gone the Pongoes will come and sit about the Fire till it goeth out, for they have no understanding to lay the Wood together. They go many in company, and kill divers Negroes that travel in the Woods. Many times they fall upon the Elephants, which come to feed where they be, and so beat them with their clubbed Fifts and pieces of Wood, that they will run roaring away from them. These Pongoes are never taken alive, because they are so strong that ten men cannot hold one of them; but yet they take many of their young ones, for the young Pongo hangeth on his Mother's Belly, with his Hands fast clasped about her; so that when any of the Country people do kill the Female with their poisoned Arrows, they easily take the young one so hanging about her. When they die among themselves, they cover the dead with great heaps of Boughs and Wood, which is commonly found in the Forest. One of these Pongoes took a Negro Boy of the Authors, which lived a month with them, for they hurt not those which they surprise at unawares, except they look on them, which he avoided. He said their height was like a Man's, but their bigness twice as great.  
The Morombes use to hunt with their Country Dogs, and kill many kinds of little Beasts, and great store of Pheasants. But their Dogs be dumb, and cannot bark at all; they hang wooden Clappers about their Necks, and follow them by the rattling of their Clappers. The Huntsmen have Petes, which they whistle their Dogs withal. The European Dogs are highly esteemed there because they do bark, one of them having been sold up in the Country for 30 l.  
In the Town of Mani-Mayombe is a Fe●isso or Idol called Maramba, and it standeth in a high Basket made like a Hive, and over it a great House. This is their House of Religion, for they believe only in him, and keep his Laws, carrying his Relics always with them. They are for the most part Witches, and use their Witchcraft for hunting and killing of Elephants, Fishing, helping of Sick and Lame men, and to forecast Journeys, whether they shall speed well or evil. By this Maramba are all Thefts and Murders tried, for in this Country they use to bewitch one another to death; therefore when any dieth, their Neighbours are brought before Maramba; and if it be a great man that dieth, the whole Town cometh to swear. The Order is, when they come before Maramba, to kneel and clasp the Idol in their Arms, and to say, Emeno, eyge bembet Maramba; that is, I come to be tried, O Maramba. And if any of them be guilty, they fall down stark dead for ever. The same way of Trial also they have for any other matter.  
In this Country of Mayombe did Battle continue the space of twelve months, going from thence to Mani-kesock; North-east of which place live a kind of little people called Matimbas, which are no bigger than Boys of twelve years old, but very thick, and live only upon Flesh, which they kill in the Woods with their Bows and Darts. Several other places in Angola did he also see; at last, desirous to return to his Native Country, he embarked and arrived safely in England, where he lived a long time after, leaving in writing behind him at his death, the Relation of these his Miraculous Travels and Deliverances.   

A strange Deliverance of an Englishman from a Desolate Island near to Scotland, wherein he had long continued in extreme penury and misery.  
IN the Year 1616, a Fleming named Pickman, who was well known in England and Holland, for his Art and dexterity in getting out of the Sea the great Guns of that Spanish Fleet, which was forced upon the Coasts of Scotland and Ireland in the Year 1588. This man coming from Dronthem in Norway, in a Vessel loaden with Board's, was overtaken by a Calm, during which, the Current carried him upon a Rock or little Island, towards the Extremities of Scotland, where he was in some danger to have been cast away. To avoid a Wrack, he commanded some of his men to go into the Shallop, and to tow off the Ship. They having done so, would needs go up into a certain Rock to look for Birds Eggs: But as soon as they were got up into it, they at some distance, perceived a man, whence they imagined that there were others lurking thereabouts, and that this man had made his escape thither from some Pirates, who if not prevented, might surprise their Ship: and therefore they made all the haste they could to their Shallop, and so returned to their Ship. But the Calm continuing, and the Current of the Sea still driving them upon the Island, they were forced to get into the Longboat, and to tow her off again. The man whom they had seen before, was in the mean time come to the Brink of the Island, and made signs with his hands lifted up, and sometimes falling on his knees, and joining his hands together, begging and crying to them for relief. At first they made some difficulty to go to him, but at last, being overcome by his lamentable signs, they went nearer the Island, where they saw something that was more like a Ghost then a living Person; a Body stark naked, black and hairy, a meager and deformed countenance, with hollow and distorted eyes, which raised such compassion in them, that they assayed to take him into the Boat. But the Rock was so steepy thereabouts, that it was impossible for them to land: whereupon they went about the Island, and came at last to a flat shore, where they took the man aboard. They found nothing at all in the Island, neither Grass nor Tree, nor ought else from which a man could procure any subsistence, nor any shelter, but the ruins of a Boat, wherewith he had made a kind of Hut, under which he might lie down and shelter himself against the injuries of Wind and Wether.  
No sooner were they gotten to the Ship, but there arose a Wind, that drove them off from the Island; observing this Providence, they were the more inquisitive to know of this man what he was, and by what means he came unto that uninhabitable place? Hereunto the man answered;  
I am an Englishman, that about a year ago, was to pass in the ordinary Passageboat from England to Dublin in Ireland; but by the way we were taken by a French Pirate, who being immediately forced by a Tempest which presently arose, to let our Boat go, we were three of us in it, left to the mercy of the Wind and Waves, which carried us between Ireland and Scotland into the main Sea: In the mean time we had neither Food nor Drink, but only some Sugar in the Boat: upon this we lived, and drank our own Urine, till our Bodies were so dried up, that we could make no more: whereupon, one of our company being quite spent, died, whom we heaved overboard; and a while after, a second was grown so feeble, that he laid himself along in the Boat, ready to yield up the Ghost. But in this extremity, it pleased God that I kenned this Island afar off, and thereupon encouraged the dying man to rouse up himself with hopes of Life: and accordingly, upon this good news, he raised himself up, and by and by our Boat was cast upon this Island, and split against a Rock.  
Now were we in a more wretched condition, than if being swallowed up by the Sea, we had been delivered out of the extremities we were now in for want of Meat and Drink. Yet the Lord was pleased to make some Provision for us; for on the Island we took some Sea-mews, which we did eat raw: we found also in the holes of the Rocks, upon the Seaside, some Eggs: and thus had we (through God's good Providence) wherewithal to subsist, as much as would keep us from starving: but what we thought most insupportable, was thirst, in regard that the place afforded no fresh water, but what fell from the Clouds, and was left in certain Pits, which Time had made in the Rock. Neither could we have this at all seasons, by reason that the Rock being small and lying low, in stormy weather the Waves dashed over it, and filled the Pits with Salt-water.  
When they came first upon the Island, about the midst of it, they found two long Stones pitched in the ground, and a third laid upon them, like a Table, which they judged to have been so placed by some Fishermen, to dry their Fish upon, and under this they lay in the Nights, till with some Board's of their Boat they made a kind of a Hut to be a shelter for them. In this Condition they lived together for the space of about six Weeks, comforting one another, and finding some ease in their common Calamity; till at last, one of them being left alone, the Burden became almost insupportable: for, one day awaking in the morning, he miss his Fellow, and getting up, he went calling and seeking all the Island about for him: but, when he could by no means find him, he fell into such despair, that he oft resolved to have cast himself down into the Sea, and so to put a final period to that Affliction, whereof he had endured but the one half, whilst he had a Friend that divided it with him. What became of his Comrade he could not guests; whether Despair forced him to that extremity, or whether getting up in the Night, not fully awake, he fell into the Sea; but rather thought that thorough Carelessness he fell from the Rock as he was looking for Birds Eggs, for he had discerned no Distraction in him, neither could he imagine that he should on a sudden fall into that Despair, against which he had so fortified himself by frequent and fervent Prayer. And his loss did so affect the Survivor, that he oft took his Beer, with a purpose to have leapt from the Rocks into the Sea; yet still his Conscience stopped him, suggesting to him, that if he did it he should be utterly damned for his self-murder.  
Another Affliction also befell him, which was this: His only Knife, wherewith he cut up the Sea Dogs and Sea Mews, having a bloody Cloth about it, was carried away (as he thought) by some Fowl of Prey, so that not being able to kill any more, he was reduced to this Extremity, with much difficulty to get out of the Board's of his Hut, a great Nail, which he made shift so to sharpen upon the Stones, that it served him instead of a Knife. When Winter came on, he endured the greatest Misery imaginable; for, many times the Rock and his Hut were so covered with Snow that it was not possible for him to go abroad to provide his Food; which Extremity put him upon this Invention; He put out a little Stick at the Crevice of his Hut, and baiting it with a little Sea Dogs Fat, by that means he got some Sea Mews, which he took with his hand from under the Snow, and so kept himself from starving: in this sad and solitary Condition he lived for about cleven Months, expecting therein to end his days, when God's gracious Providence sent this Ship thither, which delivered him out of the greatest Misery that ever Man was in. The Master of the Ship commiserating his deplorable Condition, treated him so well, that within a few days he was quite another Creature; and afterwards he set him a shore at Derry in Ireland, and some time after saw him at Dublin, where such as heard what had happened unto him, gave him Money wherewithal to return into his Native Country of England.   

A strange Adventure of some English - mwn in the recovery of their own Freedom, and a Ship called the Exchange of Bristol, from the Turkish Pirates of Argier: Published by John Rawlins one of the Actors thereof.  
IN the Year 1621., the first of November, there was one John Rawlins, born in Rochester, and dwelling three and twenty Years in Plymouth, employed to the Straight of Gibraltar, by Mr. Richard and Stephen Treviles, Merchants of Plymouth, and freighted in a Bark called the Nicholas of Plymouth, of the burden of forty Tun, which had also in her Company another Ship of Plymouth, called the George Bonaventure, of seventy Tun Burden or thereabout; which by reason of her Greatness beyond the other, I will name the Admiral, and John Rawlin's Bark shall (if you please) be the Vice-Admiral. These two, according to the time of the Year, had a fair Passage, and by the eighteenth of the same month came to a place at the entering of the straits, named Trafflagar; but the next morning, being in the sight of Gibraltar, at the very Mouth of the straits, the Watch descried five Sail of Ships, who as it seemed, used all the means they could to come near us; and we (as we had cause) used the same means to go as far from them: yet did their Admiral take in both his Topsails, that either we might not suspect them, or that his own Company might come up the closer together: at last, perceiving us Christians, they fell from Devices to apparent discovery of Hostility, and making out against us; we again suspecting them Pirates, took our course to escape from them, and made all the Sail we possibly could for Terriff or Gibraltar: but all we could do could not prevent their approach; for suddenly one of them came right over against us to Wind-ward, and so fell upon our Quarter; another came upon our Luffe, and so threatened us there, and at last all five chased us, making great speed to surprise us.  
Their Admiral was called Callfater, having upon her main Topsail two top-gallant Sails, one above another. But whereas we thought them all five to be Turkish Ships of War, we afterwards understood, that two of them were their Prizes, the one a small Ship of London, the other of the West-Country, that came out of the Quactath laden with Figs, and other Merchandise, but now subject to the Fortune of the Sea, and the Captivity of Pirates. But to our business; three of these Ships got much upon us, and so much, that e'er half the day was spent, the Admiral, who was the best Sailer, fetched up the George Bonaventure, and made Booty of it. The Vice-Admiral again being nearest unto the lesser Bark, whereof John Rawlins was Master, showed him the force of a stronger Arm, and by his Turkish Name, called Villa-Rise, commanded him in like sort to strike his Sails, and submit to his Mercy; which not to be gainsaid nor prevented was quickly done: and so Rawlins with his Bark was taken, although the Rear-Admiral, being the worst Sailer of the three, called Reggiprise, came not in till all was done.  
The same day, before night, the Admiral, either loath to pester himself with too much Company, or ignorant of the Commodity was to be made by the Sale of English Prisoners, or daring not to trust them in his Company, for fear of Mutinies, and exciting others to Rebellion; set twelve Persons who were in the George Bonaventure on the Land, and divers other English whom he had taken before, to try their Fortunes in an unknown Country. But Villa-Rise, the Vice-Admiral, that had taken John Rawlins, would not so dispense with his Men, but commanded him and five more of his Company to be brought aboard his Ship, leaving in his Bark three men and his Boy, with thirteen Turks and Moors, who were questionless suffic'ent to overmaster the other, and direct the Bark to Harbour. Thus they sailed directly for Argier; but the Night following followed them with a great Tempest and foul Wether, which ended not without some effect of a Storm: for they lost the sight of Rawlins' Bark called the Nicholas, and in a manner lost themselves, though they seemed safe a Shipboard, by fearful conjecturing what should become of us: at last, by the 22 of the same month, they (or we, choose you whether) arrived at Argier, and came in Safety within the Mould, but found not our other Bark there; nay, though we earnestly enquired after the same, yet heard we nothing to our Satisfaction; but much matter was ministered to our Discomfort and Amazement. For, although the Captain and our Overseers were loath we should have any Conference with our Country men, yet did we adventure to inform ourselves of the present Affairs both of the Town and the Shipping: so that finding many English at work in other Ships, they spared not to tell us the danger we were in, and the mischiefs we must needs incur, as being sure if we were not used like Slaves, to be sold as Slaves: for there had been five hundred brought into the Market for the same purpose, and above a hundred handsome Youths compelled to turn Turks, or made subject to more vile Prostitutions, and all English: yet, like good Christians, they bid us be of good cheer, and comfort ourselves in this, that God's Trials were gentle Purgations, and these Crosses were but to cleanse the Dross from the Gold, and bring us out of the Fire again more clear and lovely. Yet I must needs confess, that they afforded us Reason for this Cruelty, as if they determined to be revenged of our last attempt to fire their Ships in the Mould; and therefore protested to spare none whom they could surprise and take alive, but either to sell them for Money, or torment them to serve their own Turns. Now their Customs and Usages in both these was in this manner.  
First, concerning the first, The Bashaw had the over-seeing of all Prisoners, who were presented unto him at their first coming into the Harbour, and so chose one out of every eight for a Present or Fee to himself: the rest were rated by the Captains, and so sent to the market to be sold; whereat, if either there were repining, or any withdrawing back, then certain Moors and Officers attended either to beat you forward, or thrust you into the sides with Goads. And this was the manner of the selling of Slaves.  
Secondly, concerning their enforcing them either to turn Turks, or to attend their Filthiness and Impieties, although it would make a Christians Heart bleed to hear of the same, yet must the Truth not be hid, nor the Terror left untold. They commonly lay them on their naked Backs or Bellies, beating them so long till they bleed at the Nose and Mouth, and if yet they continue constant, than they strike the Teeth out of their Heads, pinch them by their Tongues, and use many other sort of Tortures to convert them; nay, many times they lay them their whole length in the Ground, like a Grave, and so cover them with Board's, threatening to starve them if they will not turn; and so many, even for fear of Torment and Death, make their Tongues betray their Hearts to a most fearful Wickedness, and so are circumcised with new Names, and brought to confess a new Religion. Others again, I must confess, who never knew any God but their own sensual Lusts and Pleasures, thought that any Religion would serve their Turns, and so for Preferment or Wealth very voluntarily renounced their Faith, and became Renegadoes in despite of any Counsel which seemed to intercept them. And this was the first News we encountered with at our coming first to Argier.  
The 26 of the same month, John Rawlins his Bark with his other three Men and a Boy, came safe into the Mould, and so were put all together to be carried before the Bashaw, but that they took the Owners Servant, and Rawlins' Boy, and by Force and Torment compelled them to turn Turks; then were they in all seven English, besides John Rawlins, of whom the Bashaw took one, and sent the rest to their Captains, who set a Valuation upon them, and so the Soldiers hunted us like Dogs into the Market, where, as men sell Hackneys in England, we were tossed up and down to see who would give most for us; and although we had heavy Hearts, and looked with sad Countenances, yet many came to behold us, sometimes taking us by the Hand, sometimes turning us round about, sometimes feeling our Brawns and naked Arms; and so beholding our Prices written in our Breast, they bargained for us accordingly, and at last we were all sold, and the Soldiers returned with the Money to their Captains.  
John Rawlins was the last who was sold, by reason of his lame hand, and bought by the Captain that took him, even that Dog Villa Rise, who better informing himself of his Skill fit to be a Pilot, and his Experience to be an Overseer, bought him and his Carpenter at very easy Rates: for, as we afterwards understood by divers English Renegadoes, he paid for Rawlins but one hundred and fifty Dooblets, which make of English Money seven Pounds ten Shillings. Thus was he and his Carpenter with divers other Slaves, sent into his Ship to work, and employed about such Affairs as belonged to the wellrigging and preparing the same. But the villainous Turks perceiving his lame hand, and that he could not perform so much as other Slaves, quickly complained to their Patron, who as quickly apprehended the Inconvenience; whereupon he sent for him the next day, and told him he was unserviceable for his present purpose, and therefore unless he could procure him fifteen pound of the English there for his Ransom, he would send him up into the Country, where he should never see Christendom again, and endure the Extremity of a miserable Banishment.  
But see how God worketh all for the best, for the good of his Servants, and confoundeth the presumption of Tyrants, frustrating their Purposes, to make his Wonders known to the Sons of Men, and relieves his People when they least think of Succour and Releasement. Whilst John Rawlins was thus terrified with the dogged Answer of Villa-Rise, the Exchange of Bristol, a Ship formerly surprised by the Pirates, lay all unrigged in the Harbour; till at last, one John Goodale, an English Turk, with his Confederates, understanding she was a good Sailer, and might be made a proper Man of War, bought her from the Turks that took her, and prepared her for their own purpose. Now the Captain that set them on work was also an English Renegado, by the name of Rametham Rise, but by his Christian Name Henry Chandler, who resolved to make Goodale Master over her; and because they were both English Turks, having the Command notwithstanding of many Moors and Turks, they concluded to have all English Slaves to go in her, and for their Gunners English and Dutch Renegadoes; and so they agreed with the Patrons of nine English and one French Slave for their Ransoms, who were presently employed to rig and furnish the Ship for a Man of War: while they were thus busied, two of John Rawlins' Men, who were taken with him, were also taken up to serve in this Man of War, their names James Roe and John Davies, the one dwelling in Plymouth, and the other in Foy, where the Commander of the Ship was also born; by which occasion they came acquainted, so that both the Captain and the Master promised them good Usage, upon the good Service they should perform in the Voyage; and withal demanded of him if he knew of any English man to be bought that could serve them as a Pilot, both to direct them out of Harbour, and conduct them in their Voyage: for in Truth neither was the Captain a Mariner, nor any Turk in her of Sufficiency to dispose of her through the straits in security, nor oppose any Enemy that should hold it out bravely against them. Davies quickly replied, that as far as he understood, Villa-Rise would sell John Rawlins, his Master and Commander of the Bark which was taken, a man sufficient every way for Sea Affairs, being of great Resolution and good Experience; and for all he had a lame hand, yet had he a sound Heart and noble Courage for any Adventure.  
When the Captain understood thus much, he employed Davies to search for Rawlins, who at last lighting upon him, asked if the Turk would sell him? Rawlins suddenly answered, that by reason of his lame hand he was willing to part with him; but because he had disbursed Money for him he would gain something by him, and so prized me at three hundred Dooblets, which amounteth to fifteen pounds English; which I must procure, or incur sorer Indurances. When Davies had certified thus much, the Turks a Shipboard conferred about the matter, and the Master, whose Christian Name was John Goodale, joined with two Turks who were consorted with him, and disbursed a hundred Dooblets a piece and so bought him of Villa-Rise, sending him into the said Ship called the Exchange of Bristol, as well to supervise what had been done, as to order what was left undone, but especially to fit the Sails, and to accommodate the Ship; all which Rawlins was very careful and indulgent in, not yet thinking of any peculiar Plot of Deliverance, more than a general desire to be freed from this Turkish Slavery and Abuses.  
By the seventh of January the Ship was prepared with twelve good cast Pieces, and all manner of Munition and Provision which belonged to such a purpose, and the same day haled out of the Mould of Argier, with this Company, and in this manner.  
There were in her sixty three Turks and Moors, nine English Slaves, and one French, four Hollanders that were Freemen, to whom the Turks promised one Prize or other, and so to return to Holland; or, if they were disposed to go back again for Argier, they should have great Reward, and no Enforcement offered, but continue as they would, both their Religion and Customs: and for their Gunners they had two of our Soldiers, one English and one Dutch Renegado; and thus much for the Company. For the manner of setting out, it was as usual as in other Ships, but that the Turks delighted in the ostentous bravery of their Streamers, Banners, and Topsails; the Ship being a handsome Ship, and well built for any Purpose. The Slaves and English were employed under Hatches about the Ordnance, and other works of Order and accommodating of themselves: all which, John Rawlins marked, as supposing it an intolerable Slavery to take such Pains, and be subject to such Dangers, and still to enrich other Men, and maintain their voluptuous Filthiness and Lives, returning themselves as Slaves, and living worse than their Dogs amongst them. Whereupon, he burst out into these or such like abrupt Speeches, O hellish Slavery to be thus subject to Dogs! Oh! God strengthen my Heart and Hand, and something shall be done to ease us of these Mischiefs, and deliver us from these cruel Mahometan Dogs. The other Slaves pitying his Distraction (as they thought) bade him speak softly lest they should all far the worse for his Distemperature; the worse, (quoth Rawlins) what can be worse? I will either attempt my Deliverance at one time or another, or perish in the Enterprise: but, if you would be contented to hearken after a Release, and join with me in the Action, I would not doubt of facilitating the same, and show you a way to make your Credits thrive by some work of Amazement, and augment your Glory in purchasing your Liberty. I prithee be quiet (said they again) and think not of Impossibilities: yet, if you can but open such a door of Reason and Probability, that we be not condemned for desperate and distracted Persons, in pulling the Sun as it were out of the Firmament, we can but sacrifice our Lives, and you may be sure of Secrecy and Taciturnity.  
The fifteenth of January, the morning Water brought us near Cape de Gatt, hard by the Shore, we having in our Company a small Turkish Ship of War that followed us out of Argier the next day, and now joining with us, gave us notice of seven small Vessels, six of them being Sattees, and one polack, who very quickly appeared in sight, and so we made toward them: but having more advantage of the polack than the rest, and loath to lose all, we both fetched her up, and brought her past hope of Recovery; which when she perceived, rather than she would voluntarily come into the Slavery of these mahometans, she ran herself a shore, and so all the men forsook her; we still followed as near as we durst, and for fear of splitting, let fall our Anchors, making out both our Boats, wherein were many Musqueteers, and some English and Dutch Renegadoes, who came aboard home at their Congee, and found three Pieces of Ordnance, and four Murderers; but they straightway threw them all overboard to lighten the Ship, and so they got her off, being laden with Hides, and Logwood for dying, and presently sent her to Argier, taking nine Turks and one English Slave out of one Ship, and six out of the less, which we thought sufficient to man her.  
In the rifling of this Catelaynia our Turks fell at variance one with another, and in such a manner, that we divided ourselves, the less Ship returned to Argier, and our Exchange took the opportunity of the Wind, and plied out of the straits, which rejoiced John Rawlins very much, as resolving on some Stratagem when opportunity should serve: in the mean while the Turks began to murmur, and would not willingly go into the Marr Granada, as the Phrase is amongst them, notwithstanding the Moors being very superstitious, were contented to be directed by their Hoshea, who with us signifieth a Witch, and is of great Account and Reputation amongst them, as not going in any great Vessel to Sea without one, and observing whatsoever he concludeth out of his Divination: The Ceremonies he useth are many, and when they come into the Ocean, every second or third Night he maketh his Conjuration; he beginneth and endeth with Prayer, using many Characters, and calling upon God by divers Names, yet at this time all that he did consisted in these Particulars.  
Upon the sight of two great Ships, and as we were afraid, chase us, being supposed to be Spanish men of War, a great silence is commanded in the Ship, and when all is done, the Company giveth as great a Shriek, the Captain still coming to John Rawlins, and sometimes making him take in all his Sails, and sometimes causing him to hoist them all out, as the Witch findeth by his Book and Presages: then have they two Arrows and a Curtle-axe, lying upon a Pillow naked; the Arrows are one for the Turks and the other for the Christians; then the Witch readeth, and the Captain or some other taketh the Arrows in their hand by the Heads, and if the Arrow for the Christians cometh over the head of the Arrow for the Turks, then do they advance their Sails, and will not endure the Fight whatsoever they see: but if the Arrow of the Turks is found, in the opening of the hand, upon the Arrow of the Christians, then will they stay and encounter with any Ship whatsoever; the Curtle-axe is taken up by some Child that is innocent, or rather ignorant of the Ceremony, and so laid down again; then do they observe whether the same side is uppermost which lay before, and so proceed accordingly.  
They also observe Lunatics and Changelings, and the Conjurer writeth down their Sayings in a Book, grovelling on the Ground, as if he whispered to the Devil to tell him the Truth, and so expoundeth the Letter as it were by Inspiration. Many other foolish Rites they have, whereon they do dote as foolishly.  
Whilst he was busied, and made Demonstration that all was finished, the People in the Ship gave a great Shout, and cried out, a Sail, a Sail, which at last was discovered to be another Man of War of Turks; for he made towards us, and sent his Boat aboard us, to whom our Captain complained, that being becalmed by the Southern Cape, and having made no Voyage, the Turks denied to go any farther Northwards; but the Captain resolved not to return to Argier, except he could obtain some prize worthy his endurances, but rather to go to Salle and sell his Christians to victual his Ship; which the other Captain apprehended for his honour, and so persuaded the Turks to be obedient unto him; whereupon followed a Pacification amongst us, and so that Turk took his course for the straits, and we put up Northward, expecting the good hour of some beneficial Booty.  
All this while our Slavery continued, and the Turks with insulting Tyranny set us still on work in all base and servile actions, adding stripes and inhuman revile, even in our greatest labour; whereupon John Rawlins resolved to obtain his Liberty, and surprise the Ship, providing Ropes, with broad spikes of Iron, and all the Iron Crows, with which he knew a way, upon consent of the rest, to ram up, or tie fast their Scuttles, Grating, and Cabins; yea, to shut up the Captain himself, with all his Consorts, and so to handle the matter, that upon the Watchword given, the English being Masters of the Gun-room, Ordnance, and Powder, they would either blow them into the Air, or kill them as they adventured to come down one by one, if they should by any chance open their Cabins. But because he would proceed the better in his Enterprise, as he had somewhat abruptly discovered himself to the nine English Slaves, so he kept the same distance with the four Hollanders, that were freemen; till finding them coming somewhat toward him, he acquainted them with the whole Conspiracy, and they, affecting the Plot, offered the Adventure of their Lives in the business: then very warily he undermined the English Renegado, which was the Gunner, and three more, his Associates, who at first seemed to retract: Last of all were brought in the Dutch Renegadoes, who were also in the Gunner-room, for always there lay twelve there, five Christians, and seven English and Dutch Turks; so that when another Motion had settled their Resolutions, and John Rawlins his Constancy had put new Life as it were in the matter, the four Hollanders very honestly, according to their Promise, sounded the Dutch Renegadoes, who with easy Persuasion gave their Consent to so brave an Enterprise; whereupon John Rawlins not caring whether the English Gunners would yield or no, resolved in the Captain's morning Watch to make the Attempt. But, you must understand, that where the English Slaves lay, there hung up always four or five Crows of Iron, being still under the Carriages of the Pieces; and when the time approached, being very dark, because John Rawlins would have his Crow of Iron ready, as other things were, and other men prepared in their several places; in taking it out of the Carriage, by chance it hit on the side of the Piece, making such a noise, that the Soldiers hearing it awaked the Turks, and bid them come down; whereupon, the Boatswain of the Turks descended with a Candle, and presently searched all the Slaves places, making much ado of the matter; but finding neither Hatchet nor Hammer, nor any thing else to move suspicion of the Enterprise, more than the Crow of Iron, which lay slipped down under the Carriages of the Pieces, they went quietly up again, and certified the Captain what had chanced, who satisfied himself that it was a common thing to have a Crow of Iron slip from his place. But by this occasion we made stay of our Attempt, yet were resolved to take another or a better opportunity.  
For we sailed still more Northward, and Rawlins had more time to tamper with his Gunners, and the rest of the English Renegadoes, who very willingly, when they considered the matter, and prepended the Reasons, gave way unto the Project, and with a kind of Joy seemed to entertain the Motives; only they made a stop at the first Onset who should begin the Enterprise, which was no way fit for them to do, because they were no Slaves, but Renegadoes, and so had always beneficial Entertainment amongst them; but when it was once put in practice they would be sure not to fail them, but venture their Lives for God and their Country. But once again he is disappointed, and a suspicious Accident brought him to recollect his Spirits anew, and study on the danger of the Enterprise: thus it was; After the Renegado Gunner had protested Secrecy by all that might induce a man to bestow some Belief upon him, he presently went up the Scuttle, but stayed not aloft a quarter of an hour, nay, he came sooner down, and in the Gunner-room sat by Rawlins, who tarried for him where he left him; he was no sooner placed, and entered into some Conference, but there entered into the place a furious Turk, with his Knife drawn, and presented it to Rawlins' Body, who verily supposed he intended to kill him, as suspicious that the Gunner had discovered something; whereat Rawlins was much moved, and so hastily asked what the matter meant, or whether he would kill him or no? Observing his Countenance, and according to the nature of Jealousy, conceiting that his colour had a passage of Change, whereby his suspicious Heart condemned him for a Traitor; but that at more leisure he swore the contrary, and afterward proved faithful and industrious in the Enterprise: and for the present he answered Rawlins in this manner, No Master, be not afraid, I think he doth but jest: with that John Rawlins gave back a little, and drew out his Knife, stepping also to the Gunner's Sheath and taking out his, whereby he had two Knives to one, which when the Turk perceived, he threw down his Knife saying he did but jest with him. But (as I said) when the Gunner perceived Rawlins took it so ill, he whispered something in his Ear, that at last satisfied him, call Heaven to witness, that he never spoke word of the Enterprise, nor ever would, either to the prejudice of the Business or danger of his Person; notwithstanding, Rawlins kept the Knives in his Sleeves all night, and was troubled for that he had made so many acquainted with an Action of such Importance; but the next day, when he perceived the Coast clear, and that there was no cause of further fear, he somewhat comforted himself.  
All this while Rawlins drew the Captain to lie for the Northern Cape, assuring him, that thereby he should not miss Purchase, which accordingly fallen out as a Wish would have it; but his Drift was, in truth, to draw him from any Supply or Second of Turks, if God should give way to their Enterprise or success to their Victory; yet for the present, (the sixth of February) being twelve Leagues from the Cape, we descried a Sail, and presently took the advantage of the Wind in chase her, and at last fetched her up, making her strike all her Sails, whereby we knew her to be a Bark belonging to Tor Bay near Dartmouth, that came from Aucrare laden with Salt: 'ere we had fully dispatched, it chanced to be foul Wether, so that we could not, or at least would not make out our Boat, but caused the Master of the Bark to let down his, and come aboard with his Company, being in the Bark but nine Men and one Boy; and so the Master leaving his Mate with two Men in the same, came himself with five Men and the Boy unto us; whereupon, our Turkish Captain sent ten Turks to man her, amongst whom were two Dutch and one English Renegado, who were of our Confederacy, and acquainted with the Business.  
But when Rawlins saw this partition of his Friends, before they could hoist out their Boat for the Bark, he made means to speak with them, and told them plainly, that he would prosecute the matter either that Night or the next, and therefore whatsoever came of it they should acquaint the English with his Resolution, and make towards England, bearing up the Helm while the Turks slept, and suspected no such matter; for by God's Grace, in his first Watch about Midnight, he would show them a Light by which they might understand that the Enterprise was begun, or at least in a good forwardness for the Execution: and so the Boat was let down, and they came to the Bark of Tor Bay, where the Master's Mate being left (as before you have heard) quickly apprehended the matter, and heard the Discourse with Amazement; but time was precious, and not to be spent in disputing or casting of Doubts, whether the Turks that were with them were able to master them or no, being seven to six, considering they had the Helm of the Ship, and the Turks being Soldiers and ignorant in Sea Affairs, could not discover whether they went to Argier or no; or if they did, they resolved by Rawlins' Example to cut their Throats, or cast them overboard: and so I leave them to make use of the Renegado's Instructions, and return to Rawlins again.  
The Master of the Bark of Tor-Bay, and his Company, were quickly searched, and as quickly pillaged, and dismissed to the Liberty of the Ship, whereby Rawlins had leisure to entertain him with the lamentable News of their Extremities, and in a Word, of every particular which was befitting to the purpose: yea, he told him, that that Night he should lose the sight of them, for they would make the Helm for England, and he would that Night and evermore pray for their good Success and safe Deliverance.  
When the Master of Tor-Bay Bark had heard him out, and that his Company were Partakers of his Story, they became all silent, not either diffident of his Discourse, or afraid of the Attempt, but resolved to assist him: yet to show himself an understanding man, he damanded of Rawlins what Weapons he had, and in what manner he would execute the Business? To which he answered, that he had Ropes and Iron-Hooks to make fast the Scuttels, Grating, and Cabins; he had also in the Gunner-room two Curtle-Axes, and the Slaves had five Crows of Iron before them; besides, in the scuffling they made no question of some of the Soldier's Weapons: then for the manner, he told them they were sure of the Ordnance, the Gunner-room, and the Powder, and so blocking them up, would either kill them as they came down, or turn the Ordnance against the Cabins, or blow them into the Air by one Stratagem or other: and thus were they contented on all sides, and resolved to the Enterprise.  
The next Morning, being the 7th day of February, the Prize of Tor-Bay was not to be seen or found; whereat the Captain began to storm and swear, commanding Rawlins to search the Seas up and down for her, who bestowed all that day in the business, but to little purpose: whereupon, when the Humour was spent, the Captain pacified himself, as conceiting he should sure find her at Argier; but by the Permission of the Ruler of all Actions, that Argier was England, and all his Wickedness frustrated: for Rawlins being now startled lest he should return in this humour for the straits, the eighth of February went down into the Hold, and finding a great deal of Water below, told the Captain of the same; adding, that it did not come to the Pump, which he did very politicly, that he might remove the Ordnance; for, when the Captain asked him the reason, he told him the Ship was too far after the Head; then he commanded to use the best means he could to bring her in order: sure then, quoth Rawlins, we must quit our Cables, and bring four Pieces of Ordnance after, and that would bring the Water to the Pump, which was presently put in practice: so the Pieces being usually made fast thwart the Ship, we brought two of them with their Mouths right before the Biticle, and because the Renegado Fleming's would not begin, it was thus concluded; that the Ship having three Decks, we that did belong to the Gunner-room should be all there, and break up the lower Deck; the English Slaves, who always lay in the middle Deck, should do the like, and watch the Scuttels: Rawlins himself prevailed with the Gunner for so much Powder as should prime the Pieces, and so told them all there was no better Watchword nor means to begin, than upon the Report of the Piece to make a Cry and Shriek, for God and King James, and St. George for England.  
When all things were prepared, and every man resolved, as knowing what he had to do, and the hour when it should happen to be two in the Afternoon: Rawlins advised the Master Gunner to speak to the Captain that the Soldiers might attend on the Poop, which would bring the Ship after; to which, the Captain was very willing; and upon the Gunner's Information, the Soldiers got themselves to the Poop, to the number of twenty, and five or six went into the Captain's cabin, where always lay divers Curtle-axes, and some Targets, and so we fell to work to pump the Water, and carried the matter fairly till the next day, which was spent as the former, being the ninth of February, and as God must have the Praise, so the Triumph of our Victory.  
For by that time all things were prepared, and the Soldiers got upon the Poop, as the day before; to avoid Suspicion, all that did belong to the Gunner-room went down, and the Slaves in the middle Deck attended their Business, so that we may cast up our Account in this manner, first, nine English Slaves besides John Rawlins, five of the Tor-Bay men, and one Boy; four English Renegadoes, and two French, and two Hollanders, in all four and twenty and a Boy; so that lifting up our Hearts and Hands to God for the success of the Business, we were wonderfully encouraged, and settled ourselves till the report of the Piece gave us warning of the Enterprise. Now you must consider, that in this Company were two of Rawlins' Men, James Roe and John Davies, whom he brought out of England, and whom the Fortune of the Sea brought into the same Predicament with their Master. These were employed about Noon to prepare their Matches, whilst all the Turks, or at least most of them, stood on the Poop, to weigh down the Ship as it were, to bring the Water forward to the Pump; the one brought his Match lighted between two Spoons, the other brought his in a little piece of a Can; and so in the Name of God, the Turks and Moors being placed as you have heard, and five and forty in number: Rawlins having proined the Touch-holes, James Roe gave Fire to one of the Pieces, about two of the Clock in the Afternoon, and the Confederates upon the Warning shouted most cheerfully. The Report of the Piece did tear and break down all the Biticle, and Compasses, and the Noise of the Slaves made all the Soldiers amazed at the matter, till seeing the Quarter of the Ship rend, and feeling the whole Body to shake under them: understanding the Ship was surprised, and the Attempt tended to their utter Destruction, never Bear robbed of her Whelps, was so fell and mad; for they not only called us Dogs, and cried out Usance de Lamair, which is as much as to say, the Fortune of the Wars, but attempted to tear up the Planks, setting on work Hammers, Hatchets, Knives, the Oars of the Boat, the Boat-hook, their Curtle-Axes, and what else came to hand, besides Stones and Bricks in the Cook Room; all which, they threw amongst us, attempting still to break up the Hatches and Board's of the Steering, not desisting from their former Execrations and horrible Blasphemies and Revile.  
When John Rawlins perceived them so violent, and understood how the Slaves had cleared the Decks of all the Turks and Moors beneath, he set a Guard upon the Powder, and charged their own Muskets against them, killing them from divers scout holes, both before and behind, and so lessened their number, to the joy of all our hearts; whereupon they cried out, and called for the Pilot, and so Rawlins, with some to guard him, went to them, and understood them by their kneeling, that they cried for mercy, and to have their Lives saved, and they would come down, which he bade them do, and so they were taken one by one and bound, yea killed with their own Curtle-axes; which when the rest perceived, they called us English Dogs, and reviled us with many opprobrious terms, some leaping overboard, crying, it was the chance of War; some were manacled, and so thrown overboard, and some were slain and mangled with the Curtle-axes, till the Ship was well cleared, and ourselves assured of the Victory.  
At the first report of our Piece, and hurly-burly in the Decks, the Captain was writing in his cabin, and hearing the noise, thought it some strange accident, and so came out with his Curtle-Axe in his hand, presuming by his Authority to pacify the mischief; But when he cast his eyes upon us, and saw that we were like to surprise the Ship, he threw down his Curtle-Axe, and begged us to save his Life; intimating unto Rawlins how he had redeemed him from Villa-Rise, and ever since admitted him to a place of Command in the Ship, besides honest usage in the whole course of the Voyage. All which Rawlins confessed, and at last condescended to Mercy, and brought the Captain and five more into England. The Captain was called Ramtham-Rise, but his Christian name was Henry Chandler, and, as they say, a Chandler's Son in Southwark, John Good-ale was also an English Turk, Richard Clark, in Turkish, Jafar; George Cook, Ramdam; John Brown, Mamme; William Winter, Mustapha: besides all the Slaves and Hollanders, with other Renegadoes, who were willing to be reconciled to their true Saviour, as being formerly seduced with the hopes of Riches, Honour, Preferment, and such like devilish Baits, to catch the Souls of mortal Men, and entangle Frailty in the Tarriers of horrible Abuses, and imposturing Deceit.  
When all was done, and the Ship cleared of the dead Bodies, John Rawlins assembled his men together, and with one Consent gave the Praise unto God, using the accustomed Service on Shipboard, and for want of Books lifted up their Voices to God, as he put into their Hearts, or renewed their Memories; then did they sing a Psalm; and last of all, embraced one another for playing the Men in such a Deliverance, whereby our Fear was turned into Joy, and trembling Hearts exhilerated, that we had escaped such inevitable Dangers, and especially the Slavery and terror of Bondage, worse than Death itself. The same Night we washed our Ship, put every thing in as good Order as we could, repairing the broken Quarter, set up the Biticle, and bore up the Helm for England; where, by God's Grace and good guiding, we arrived at Plymouth the thirteenth of February, and were welcomed like the recovery of the lost Sheep, or as you read of a loving Mother that runneth with Embraces to entertain her Son from a long Voyage, and escape of many Dangers.  
As for the Bark that came from Tor-Bay, the next day after they left us (as you have heard) the three Renegadoes acquainted the Master's Mate and the two English in her, with Rawlins' Determination, and that they themselves would be true to them, and assist them in any Enterprise; then if the worst came there were but seven to six: but, as it fell out, they had a more easy Passage than turmoil or Manslaughter; for, they made the Turks believe the Wind was come fair, and that they were sailing to Argier, till they came within sight of England? which one of them amongst the rest discovered, saying plainly, that that Land was not Cape Vincent: Yes, saith he that was at the Helm, and you will be contented, and go down into the Hold, and trim the Salt over to Wind-ward, whereby the Ship may bear full Sail; you shall know and see more to morrow: whereupon five of them went down very orderly, the Renegadoes feigning themselves asleep, who presently start up, and with the help of the two English, nailed down the Hatches, whereat the principal amongst them much repined, and began to grow into Choler and Rage, had it not quickly been over-passed; for one of them stepped to him and dashed out his Brains: the rest were brought to Excester, and there put in Goal, where they continued until Justice was executed upon them.   

A remarkable Story of eight Men left in Greenland, Anno Christi, 1630. with a Relation of their strange Preservation until the Ship's Return.  
IN the Year of our Lord, 1630. May the first, the Muscovy Merchants of London sent a Ship called the Salutation of London, for Green-land, which arrived there in Safety the eleventh of June following, together with two other Ships; all which were commanded by Captain William Goodler. The Ship wherein the Captain was, stayed at Bell-sound; this of the Salutation, at the Fore-land; and the Captain meeting with store of Whales, quickly made a great Voyage, and so sent for the Salutation, to take in part of his train-oil. By the way as they went to him, meeting with cross Winds, the Master set eight of his Men on shore to kill some Venison, in a place where there used to be good store. These Men taking with them a Brace of Dogs, a Snap-hance, two Lances, and a Tinderbox, went on shore, and that day they laid fourteen good Deer upon the Ground; and then being weary, and the Night coming on, they betook themselves to rest, intending the next day to make an end of their Hunting, and to return to their Ship; but the next day proved foggy, and there was much Ice between the Shore and the Ship, and the Wind coming Southerly, the Ship was fain to stand so far off into the Sea to be clear of the Ice, that they lost the sight of her; and the Wether growing thicker and thicker they thought fit to hunt along the Shore to Green-Harbour, and there to stay aboard the Ship, till their own Ship should come into the Port.  
In this passage they killed eight Deer more, and so having laden their Shallop with Venison, they kept on their course to Green-Harbour; But when they came thither, they found, to their great astonishment, that the Ship was departed. Being thus frustrated of their expectation, and having but three days to the uttermost expiration of their limited time for their departure out of that Country, they thought it their best course to make all speed possible to Bell-sound to their Captain: and lest delay should prove dangerous, they lightened their Shallop by heaving their Venison overboard into the Sea; and so they hasted all they might, and that night got half way; but the dark Fog increasing, they were forced to come in a point of Land till the next day at noon: At which time, the weather being clearer, they hasted forward; but having no Compass to direct their Course by, they wandered up and down so long till the Ships were departed. This filled them with fear and astonishment, knowing that neither Christian nor Heathen had ever inhabited those desolate Climates: yea, they had heard that the Merchants had endeavoured, with proffers of great Rewards, and of sufficient Furniture, and provision of all things necessary, to hire some to undertake to winter in those Parts, but could never meet with any that would adventure their Lives to so hazardous an undertaking. They had heard also, that the Company of Muscovy Merchants had once procured the Reprieve of some Malefactors, condemned to death here in England, unto whom they promised Pardon, together with Rewards, and provision of clothes, Victuals, and all other necessaries, if they would stay one Winter there; but when they came thither, and took a view of the desolateness of the place, they conceived such horror and fear in their hearts, chose rather to return for England, and there to satisfy the Law with the loss of their Lives, than to stay in so desolate and darksome a Country. They remembered also, a more terrible Example of nine good and able men left there formerly by the same Master that had now left them, who all died miserably upon the place; and whose Bodies were fearfully disfigured by the savage Bears and hungry Foxes, which are the only Inhabitants of that comfortless Country. All which made them like amazed men to stand one looking upon another, every one foreseeing the future calamities both of himself and of his Fellows: and that which much increased their horror, was, their want of all necessary Provision for the Life of man, having neither clothes to keep them warm, nothing for shift, not Food to prevent the miseries of cruel Famine, nor a House wherein to shroud themselves from the extremity of Cold.  
But after a space, knowing that Delay in Extremities is the Mother of all Danger, they began to conceive Hope out of the depth of Despair; and therefore they consulted together of the likeliest course for their preservation in that place: and resolved upon the opportunity of the next fair Wether to go to Green-Harbor to kill some Venison for part of their Winter Provision; which accordingly they did, but found not so many Deer as they expected; yet the first day they killed seven, and four Bears to boot, which they also intended to eat: The next day they killed six Deer more; and as they returned they killed six more; and then the Wether proving foul and cold, they laded their Shallop with the Deer and Bears; and finding another Shallop left there, as usually they do from Year to Year, they laded it with Graves of Whales that had been boiled there that Year; and so dividing themselves into those two Shallops, they took the first opportunity of returning to Bell-sound, to their Tent, where they intended to take up their Rest for the Winter.  
But in their Passage, the Night coming on, and the Wind blowing hard, they were forced to stay in the midst way, at Bottle Cove, for that Night; there they fastened their Shallops one to another, and casting out their Anchor, they left them riding in the Cove.  
But here again, for the Trial of their Patience, and to teach them to rely more upon God's Providence than upon any outward means of their own, this Mischance befell them; The Wind blowing hard into the Cove, and their Anchor coming home, their Shallop sunk into the Sea, and so wet all their Provision, and some of it they found swimming up and down by the Shore. The Sight hereof wonderfully troubled them, to see the best part of their Provision, the only hope of their Lives under God, in danger either utterly to be lost, or to be spoiled by the Sea-Water, for which they had taken such Pains, and run so many Adventures in the getting of it: and in this their Misery they saw but one Remedy, and that was a desperate one; viz. to run into the Highwrote Sea to their Shallops, to save the remainder of their Provisions, now ready to be washed away by the Billows: this they did, and by main force drew the Shallops to the Shore, than they went along by the Sea side to gather up such of their Provisions as was swimming up and down; and when the Wether proved fair, they went on to Bell-sound, where being arrived, they took out their Provision, and viewed the great Tent which was built of Timber and Board's, and covered with Flemish Tiles; the use of it was for the Cooper's to work, and lodge in whilst they made Casks for the putting up of the Train Oil; and they resolved to build another smaller Tent within that for their Habitation; and accordingly taking down a lesser Tent that stood near to it, wherein the Land-men lay whilst they made their Oil, they fetched their Materials from thence, both Board's, Posts, and Rafters, and from the Chimneys of the Furnaces they took a thousand Bricks; they found also four Hogsheads of Lime, which mingled with Sand from the Shore, made good Mortar; but the Wether was grown so extreme cold, that they were fain to make two Fires on both sides to keep their Mortar from freezing: then they raised a Wall of one Brick thickness against the inner Planks of the side of the Tent; but by that they had walled two sides of their House, their Bricks failed, so that they were forced to build the other two sides of Board's, which being nailed on both sides the Posts, they were hollow between, which they filled up with Sand, that made it so tied, that the least breath of Air could not possibly annoy them. The length of their Tent was 20 foot, and the breadth 16; their Chimney was the breadth of a Deal-board, and four foot high; they seiled it with boards five or six times double, that no Wind could possibly get through: the Door they made as close as they could, and lined it with a Bed that they found there, which came over both the opening and shutting of it; they made no Windows, having no Light but what came through the Chimney; then set they up four Cabins, quartering themselves two and two in a Cabin; their Beds were the Dear Skins dried, which was a warm and comfortable Lodging for them in their Distress. Their next Care was for firing; and finding seven old Shallops which were unserviceable, they broke them up, and stowed them over the Beams in the great Tent to make it the warmer, and to keep the Snow from driving through the Tiles into the Tent: and by this time the cold increasing, and scarce having any day at all, they staved some empty Cask, and broke two old Coolers (wherein they cooled their Oil) providing whatsoever firing they could, without prejudice to the next Years Voyage: yet considering the small quantity of Fuel, the Extremity of Cold, and the long time of their Abode, they husbanded it as thriftily as possibly they could.  
Having thus fitted every thing in the best manner they were able, on the twelfth of September looking out into the Sound, they espied two Sea Horses, lying asleep on a piece of Ice, whereupon, taking up an old Harping-iron, they hasted to them, and first slew the old one and then the young one: and so bringing them ashore, they flayed them, roasted, and eat them. Not long after, they killed another; but the Nights and cold Wether increasing on them, and they viewing their Provision, found it too small by half; whereupon they stinted themselves to one reasonable meal a day, and agreed to fast Wednesdays and Fridays, excepting from the Graves, or Fritters of the Whale, (which was a very loathsome meat) of which they allowed themselves sufficient for their present hunger: at which Diet they continued about three Months.  
Having finished whatever they could invent for their Preservation, they found that all their clothes and Shoes were torn; to repair which, they had this new device; of Rope-yarn they made thread, and of Whalebones Needles, to sew their clothes withal: But October the tenth, the Night's being grown very long, and the Cold so violent, that all the Sea was frozen over, and they having nothing now to exercise their minds upon, were troubled with a thousand imaginations; sometimes they bewailed their absence from their Wives and Children, thinking what grief it would be to them to hear of their miscarriage: then thought they of their Parents, and what a cutting corrosive it would be to them to hear of their untimely deaths, etc. and being thus tormented in their minds with fear and grief, and pinched in their Bodies with hunger and cold, the hideous monster of Desperation presented his ugliest shape unto them: But thinking it not best to give way to grief and fear, they doubled their Prayers to Almighty God for strength and Patience in their miseries, by whose Assistance, they shook off their former Thoughts, and cheered up themselves to use the best means for their Preservation.  
Then, for the better husbanding of their Venison and lengthening of their firing, they thought best to roast every day half a Deer, and to stow it in Hogsheads, which accordingly they did, leaving so much raw as would serve to roast every Sabbath-day a Quarter, etc. And when this was over, they began again to think of their ensuing Misery, which they found much aggravated, by reason their Whale-Fritters, after they had been drenched in the Sea Water, lying close together, were grown mouldy and spoiled; and again surveying their Bear and Venison, they found that it would not afford them five Meals a Week, whereupon they were fain to cut off one Meal more; so that for three months after, four days in the Week they fed upon the unsavoury, mouldy Whale-Fritters, and the other three they feasted with Bear and Venison: But besides the want of Meat, they now began to want Light, so that all their Meals were Suppers; for from the fourteenth of October to the third of February, they never saw the Sun, so much as peep above the Horizon; but the Moon, when not obscured with Clouds, they always saw shining as bright as in England; all which darksome time, they could not certainly tell when it should be day and when night.  
In the beginning of this Darkness they sought some means to preserve Light, and finding a piece of Sheet-lead, and some Oil in the Cooper's Tents, and Rope-yarn, they made a Lamp, which they kept continually burning, and was a great Comfort to them in their extremity: and indeed, Comfort was much wanting to them; for, in the beginning of January the Wether was so vehement cold, that it raised Blisters on their Flesh as if they had been burnt with Fire, and if at any time they touched Iron it would stick to their Fingers like Birdlime; if they went out a doors to fetch in a little Water, it would so pinch them, that they were sore as if they had been beaten. In the beginning of Winter, with Pick-axes breaking the Ice daily, they got some Water on the Sea Shore; but, after the tenth of January they had none but Snow-Water which they melted with hot Irons, which was their only Drink till the twentieth of May following.  
By the last of January the Days were seven or eight Hours long, and then viewing their Victuals again, they found that it would not last above six Weeks longer, which made them fear further Famine; but they had recourse to God, who they knew could supply them beyond their Hopes.  
Looking out on a bright day, they saw a great she Bear with her Cub, coming towards their Tent; whereupon, arming themselves with their Lances, they went forth, and stayed her coming; she soon cast her greedy Eyes upon them, and hoping to devour them, hasted towards them; but, with their Lances they gave her such an hearty Welcome, that she tumbled upon the ground, biting the Snow for Anger: the Cub seeing this escaped by Flight: The Wether was so extreme cold, that they were fain presently to retire into the Tent, and having warmed themselves, they drew in the dead Bear, wherewith they dined merrily, and this Bear served them twenty days; only this mischance they had, eating her Liver, it made their Skin peel off. When she was spent, they yet feared that their Venison would not hold out till the Fleet came from England; but God sent many Bears to their Tents, by times, at least forty, whereof they killed seven; one of which was exceeding great, at least six foot high; so that their Food increasing they kept not themselves to such short Commons, but oft eat two or three meals a day, which much increased their Strength.  
By this, the cheerful days lengthened so fast, that several sorts of Fowl resorted thither: March the sixteenth, one of their Mastiffs went abroad which they never saw after. Upon the coming of the Fowls, the Foxes, which all Winter had kept their Burroughs under the Rocks, came abroad to seek for their Livings; whereupon they set up Traps, which they baited with the Skin of these Fowls; by which means, they caught, at times, fifty Foxes; all which they roasted, and found to be good Meat: then taking the Bear-skins, laying the fleshy side upwards, and making Springs of Whale-bone, they caught about sixty Fowls, as big as Pigeons.  
May the first the Wether began to be pretty warm, so that they went abroad to seek for Provision, but nothing they could find for many days; till at length they met with abundance of Willocks Eggs, of which they carried home thirty, intending the next day to stock themselves with Abundance more; but that day proved so cold that they could not stir out of their Tent. The same day there came two Ships of Hull into the Sound, who knowing that some men had been left there the Year before, being very desirous to know whether they were dead or alive, the Master manned forth a Shallop to go as near the Shore as they could, and so over the Ice to the Tent; when these men came near unto it they haled them with the usual Word at Sea, crying hay, to which one of them in the Tent answered again Ho; which sudden Answer almost amazed them all: but perceiving them to be the very men left there, with joyful Hearts they embraced one another; and so coming into the Tent, they showed the Hull-men the courtesy of the House, giving them some Venison which was roasted four months before, and a Cup of cold Water, which, for Novelty sake, they kindly accepted of.  
After a little Discourse, these eight men resolved to leave their Tent, and to go with them to their Ship, where they were welcomed after the heartiest and kindest English manner; and so they stayed with them till the London Fleet came, which was three days after; at which time, they went aboard the Admiral, in which Captain William Goodler was, who made them very welcome, and gave order that they should have any thing which was in the Ship that might do them good: he gave them Apparel also, to the value of twenty pounds, so that after fourteen days refreshment they grew all perfectly well; but, when some of them went to their own Master that had left them there, he fell foul upon them, call them Run-a-ways, with other harsh Terms, far enough from the Civility of an honest man. Thus they continued in the Fleet until the 20th of August, at which time, with joyful Hearts, they set Sail thorough the foaming Ocean; and though sometimes crossed with contrary Winds, yet at last they came safely to an Anchor, in the River of Thames, and the Muscovy Merchants dealt very well by them. The Names of those eight Men thus left in Green-land.  
William Fakely, Gunner; Edward Pelham, Gunner's Mate, that wrote this Story; John Wise and Robert Goodfellow, Seamen; Thomas Ayers, Whale-cutter, Henry Bet, Cooper; John Daws and Richard Kellet, Land-men.   

A notable Story of Edgar, King of England, how he was, by his chief Favourite, circumvented of the fair Lady Elfrida, and how afterwards the King was revenged of him for the same.  
THis Edgar, surnamed the Peaceable, the thirtieth Monarch of the English men, was a Prince endowed with a great many Virtues, and as many Vices; and of all Vices, most to Lasciviousness, of which the Chronicles relate many Examples: we shall only instance in one, which, for the variety of the matter, deserveth to be recorded unto Posterity.  
Fame's lavish Report of beauteous Elfrida (the Paragon of her Sex, and Wonder of Nature) the only Daughter of Ordgarus, Duke of Devonshire, sounded so loud in those Western parts, that the Echo thereof was heard into King Edgar's Court, and entered his Ears, which ever lay open to give his Eyes the Scope of Desire, and his wanton thoughts the Reins of Will: to try the Truth whereof, he secretly sent his Minion or Favourite, Earl Ethelwold of East-Anglia, who well could judge of Beauty, and knew the Diet of the King, with Commission, that if the Pearl proved so orient it should be seized for Edgar's own wearing, who meant to make her his Queen, and Ordgarus the Father of a King.  
Ethelwood a jolly young Gallant, posted into Devonshire, and guestwise visited Duke Ordgarus his Court; where seeing the Lady surpassing the Report, blamed Fame's oversight for sounding her Praise in so base and leaden a Trumpet; and wholly surprised with her Love himself, began to woo the Virgin, yea, and with her Father's good liking, so as the King would give his Assent. Earl Ethelwold returning, related, that the Maid indeed was fair, but yet her Beauty much augmented by babbling Reports, and neither her Feature or Parts any wise befitting a King. Edgar mistrusting no Rival in his Love, nor dreaming false Fellowship in Wooing, did, with a slight Thought, pass over Elfrida, and pitched his Affections the faster another way. Earl Ethelwold following the Game now on Foot, desired Edgar's Assistance to bring it to a stand, pretending not so much for any liking to the Lady as to raise his own Fortunes by being her Father's Heir; to which the King yielded, and (ignorant of what had passed) solicited Ordgarus in the behalf of his Minion Ethelwold. The Duke, glad to be shrouded under the favour of such a Favourite, willingly consented, and his Daughter's Destiny's assured to Earl Ethelwold.  
The Marriage solemnised, and the Fruits thereof a short time enjoyed, the Fame of her Beauty began to be spread, and that with a larger Epithet than formerly it had been: whereupon, Edgar much doubting of double dealing, laid his Angle fair to catch this great Gull; and bearing no show of wrong or suspect, invited himself to hunt in his Parks; and forthwith repairing into those parts, did not a little grace his old Servant, to the great Joy of Ordgarus the Duke. But, Ethelwold mistrusting the cause of his coming, thought by one Policy to disappoint another; and therefore revealing the truth to his Wife, how in his Proceedings he had wronged her Beauty and deceived his Sovereign, requested her loving assistance to save now his endangered Life, which lay in her power: and of the means he thus adviseth.  
Like as (said he) the richest Diamond, rough and uncut, yields neither sparkle nor esteem of great Price; nor the Gold unburnished gives better Lustre than the base Brass; so Beauty and Feature, clad in mean Array, is either slightly looked at with an unfixed Eye, or is wholly unregarded, and held of no Worth; for according to the Proverb, Cloth is the Man and Man is the Wretch: then to prevent the thing that I fear, and is likely to prove my present Ruin, and thy last Wrack, conceal thy great Beauty from King Edgar's Eye, and give him Entertainment in thy meanest Attires; let them (I pray thee) for a time be the nightly Curtains drawn about our new nuptial Bed, and the daily Clouds to hide thy splendent Sun from his sharp and too too piercing sight, whose Vigour and Rays will soon set his waxen Wings on Fire, that ready are to melt at a far softer Heat. Pitch (thou seest) defileth the hand, and we are forbid to give occasion of Evil: veil then thy Fairness with the Scaffs of Deformity from his over-lavish and unmastered Eye; for the fairest Face draws ever the Gaze, if not the Attempts; and Nature's Endowments are as the Bush for the Wine, which being immoderately taken doth surfeit the Sense, and is again cast up with as loathing a Taste. Of these Dregs drunk Amnon, after his fill of fair Thamer; Herod of Miramy; and Aeneas of Dido; yea, and not to seek Examples far off, King Edgar's variation in his unsteadfast motion doth easily bewray itself; for, could either holy Wolfhield, beautiful Ethelfled, or the wanton Wench of Andover, keep the Needle of his Compass certain at one Point? Nothing less, but it was still led by the Loadstone of his ever mutable and turning Affections. But thou wilt say he is religious, and by founding of Monasteries hath expiated those Sins: Indeed many are built, for which, Time and Posterities must thank holy Dunstan, from whose Devotion those good Deeds have sprung. But, is thy Person holier than sacred Wolfhield's? Thy Birth and Beauty greater than Ethelfled's, the white, Daughter also to a Duke? The former, of an holy Votary, he made the Sink of his Pollution; and the later is branded to all Ages by the hateful Name of a Concubine, and her Son, among us, esteemed for a Bastard. These should be motives to all beauteous and virtuous Ladies, not to sell their Honours at so low and too-late repented a price. Neither think (sweet Countess) that thy Husband is jealous, or suspects thy Constancy, which I know is great, and thyself wholly complete with all honourable Virtues; but yet consider, I pray thee, that thou art but young and may'st easily be caught, especially of him that is so old a Master of the Game: neither persuade thyself of such Strength as is able to hold out so great an Assault; for, Men are mighty, but a King is much more. I know thou art wise, and enough hath been said, only let me add this, That Evil Beginnings have never good Ends. And so with a kind Kiss, hoping he had won his Wife to his Will, prepared with the first to welcome King Edgar.  
Lady Elfrida thus left to herself, began seriously to think upon this Curtain Sermon, whose Text she distasted, being taken out of an overworn and threadbare Cloath-Proverb, as though her Fortunes had been wholly residing, and altogether consisting in her Parentage and Apparel, but nothing at all in any parts of herself; whereas Women commonly are more proud of their seeming inward Perfections than of any outward Ornaments whatsoever: so that Disdain taking Possession of her Heart, she breathed forth her Discontent in these Words.  
Hath my Beauty (said she) been courted of a King, famoused by Report, compared with Helen's, and now must it be hid? Must I falsify and belie Nature's Bounties, mine own Value, and all men's Reports, only to save his Credit who hath impaired mine, and belied my Worth? And must I needs defoul myself to be his only fair Foul, that hath kept me from the State and Seat of a Queen? I know the Name of a Countess is great, and the Wife of an Earl is honourable, yet no more than Birth and Endowments have assigned for me, had my Beauty and Parts been far less than they are. He warns me of the end when his own beginnings were with Treachery; tells me the Examples of others but observes none himself: He is not jealous, forsooth, and yet I must not look out; I am his Fair, but others Pitch, Fire, Wine, Bush, and what not? Not so holy as Wolfhield, not so white as Ethelfled, and yet that I am must now be made far worse than it is. I would men knew the heat of that Cheek wherein Beauty is blazed, then would they, with less Suspect, suffer our Faces unmasked to take Air of their Eyes, and we no whit condemnable for showing that which cannot be hid, neither in me shall, become of it what will; for, should my Husband miscarry thereby, yet were I unblameable, since it is no Deccit to deceive the Deceiver.  
Having taken upon her this Resolution, to be a right Woman, and like a true Daughter of Eve, desiring nothing more than the thing forbidden, she made preparation to put it in Practice: Her Body she endulced with the sweetest Balms, displayed her Hair, and bespangled it with Pearls, bestrewed her Breasts with Rubies and Diamonds, rich Jewels like Stars depended at her Neck, and her other Ornaments every way alike, costly and suitable, so that she seemed the Paragon of Nature, and appeared rather like an Angel than an earthly Creature. Being thus accoutered with all the additions of Art, to beautify Nature, she attended the Approach and Entrance of the King; whom with such fair Obeisance and seemly Grace she received, that Edgar's greedy Eye presently collecting the illustrious Rays of her shining Beauty, became a burning-glass to his Heart, and the Sparkles of her fair Eyes falling into the Train of his Love, set all his Senses on Fire: yet dissembling his Passions, he passed on to his Game, where having the false Ethelwood at Advantage, he ran him thorough with a Javelin; and having thereby made fair Elfrida a Widow, he soon after took her to be his Wife, on whom he begat a Son who was afterwards King of England, known by the name of Ethelred the Unready.   

The Story of Macbeth, King of Scotland.  
ABout the Year of our Lord, 1040. one Duncan was King of Scotland, who being of a soft, gentle Nature, unapt for Warlike Exercises, and to govern so robustious and rough a People as the Scots; he therefore, in all matters of Importance, employed two of the principal of his Nobles, Macbeth and Banquho. These two travelling together toward Foreste, whereas the King then lay, they went sporting by the way together, without other Company saving only themselves; as they thus journeyed through the Woods and Fields, suddenly, in the midst of a land, there met them three Women, in strange and antic Apparel, resembling Creatures of an elder World; whom when they attentively beheld, wondering much at such an uncouth sight, the first of them spoke and said, All hail Macbeth, Thane of Glammis: (Thane was a Title unto which that of Earl afterwards succeeded; and he had newly entered into that Dignity of Glammis by the Death of his Father who was Thane thereof;) the second of them said, Hail Macbeth Thane of Cawder; and the third coming up to him, said, All hail Macbeth that hereafter shall be King of Scotland. This is unequal dealing said Banquho, to give my Friend all the Honours, and none unto me; yes, (saith the first of them) we promise greater Benefits unto thee, than unto him, for he shall reign indeed, but with an unlucky end; neither shall he leave any Issue behind him to succeed in his place; where contrarily, thou indeed shalt not reign at all, but of thee those shall be born which shall govern the Scottish Kingdom by long Order of continual Descent: and having said these Words, they immediately vanished out of their sight.  
This strange Apparition was reputed at the first but some vain fantastical Illusion by Macbeth and Banquho; insomuch, that Banquho would oftentimes, in jest, call Macbeth King of Scotland, and Macbeth again would call him in sport likewise, the Father of many Kings. But afterwards, upon more serious Consideration, the common Opinion was, that these Women were the Weird Sisters, viz. the Goddesses of Destiny; or else some Nymphs or Fairies, endowed with knowledge of Prophecy by their Necromantical Science, because every thing came to pass as they had spoken.  
For, soon after their Arrival at Court, the Thane of Cawder being condemned of Treason against the King, his Title, Lands, Livings, and Offices, were given, of the King's Liberality, unto Macbeth.  
The same Night at Supper Banquho jested with him, and said, Now Macbeth thou hast obtained those things which the two former Sisters promised, there remaineth only for thee to purchase that which the third said should come to pass. Encouraged thus by Banquho's Words, but more by assurance of his helping hand, he resolved not to be wanting to himself to fulfil the Prophecy of the third Weird; his Wife also encouraging him much to the Attempt being very ambitious, and burning with unquenchable desire to bear the name of a Queen.  
Hereupon, to put his disloyal Thoughts into Execution, he murders the King; and by reason of his Command among the Soldiers and common People, he succeeded in his Throne, and was crowned at Scone, the usual place for the Coronation of their Kings: and being thus invested in the Regal Chair, he, for a while used great Justice and Liberality amongst his Subjects, whereby he gained the Affections both of the Nobles and Common People.  
But, as commonly those who make a Ladder of Mischief to climb up to Promotion, are ever jealous of those who may prejudice their unjust Titles, so he calling to Mind the Prediction given to his Companion Banquho, whom hereupon suspecting as his Supplanter, he caused to be killed, together with his whole Kindred, Fleance his Son only, with much difficulty, escaping into Wales. Glad he was now that he was freed from this Fear, but yet, for his further Security, he built a strong Castle on the top of an high Hill called Dunsinane, ten miles from Perth, on such a proud height, that standing there aloft, a man might behold well near all the Countries of Angus, Fife, Stermond, and Ernedale, as it were lying underneath him, making this his ordinary Seat; yet could not his guilty Conscience be still secure; but, upon new Fears consulting with certain Wizards about his future Estate, was told by one, that he should never be overcome till Bername Wood (which was some few miles distant) did come to Dunsinane Castle; and by another, that he should never be slain by any Man born of a Woman. Secure then as he thought, he omitted no kind of Libidiousness or Cruelty, putting to Death many of his Nobles upon slight pretences, thereby to get their Estates into his hands. Mackduffe, Thane of Fise seeing no end of his Cruelty, posted into England to Malcomne Cammore, a Prince of the Royal Blood, persuading him to take upon him the Crown of Scotland, and to free his Country from so detestable a Tyrant; and so far he prevailed, that Malcomne, with Syword, Earl of Northumberland, and ten thousand well appointed Soldiers, marched into Scotland, to whom joined some few Patriots which had not yet felt the Tyrants Sword. These marching with as much Privacy as so great an Army could be capable of, came one Night to Bermane Wood, and early in the Morning marched, every Man bearing a Bough in his hand the better to keep them from Discovery, toward Dunsinane Castle, which they presently took by Scalado. Macbeth escaping, was pursued, over-taken, and urged to fight by macduff, to whom the Tyrant half in Scorn replied, that in vain he attempted his death, for it was his Destiny never to be slain by any man born of a Woman; now then is thy fatal Hour come, said macduff, for I was never born of a Woman, but violently cut out of my Mother's Belly, she dying before her Delivery; which Words so daunted the Tyrant, though otherwise a man of good Performance, that he was easily slain, and Malcolmne Cammore, the true Heir of the Crown, seated in the Throne.  
In the mean time, whilst these things were acting, Fleance the Son of Banquho so thrived in Wales, that he grew into great favour and estimation with the Prince of that Country, and into such familiarity with his Daughter, that she, of courtesy, in the end, suffered him to get her with Child; which being once understood, her Father the Prince conceived such hateful displeasure towards Fleance, that he finally slew him, and held his Daughter in most vile state of servitude, for that she had consented to be on this wise deflowered by a Stranger.  
At the last yet she was delivered of a Son, named Walter, who within few years proved a Man of greater Courage and Valiancy than any other had commonly been found, although he had no better bringing up than (by his Grandfathers Appointment) amongst the base sort of People. Howbeit he showed ever, even from his Infancy, that there reigned in him a certain stoutness of Stomach, ready to attempt high Erterprises. It chanced, that falling out with one of his Companions, after many taunting Words which passed betwixt them, the other, to his Reproach, objected that he was Illegitimate; wherewith being sore kindled, in his raging Fury he ran upon him and slew him out of hand; then was he glad to flee out of Wales: and coming into Scotland to seek some Friendship there, he happened into the Company of such English men as were come thither with Queen Margaret, the Sister of Edgar Atheling, who was married to Malcolm; and now he behaved himself so soberly in all his Demeanour, that within a while he was highly esteemed amongst them.  
Not long after, by such means attaining to the degree of high Reputation, he was sent with a great Power of Men into the Western Isles, into Galloway and other parts of the Realm, to deliver the same of the Tyranny and injurious Oppression there exercised by divers misgoverned Persons; which Enterprise, according to his Commission, he atcheived with such prudent Policy and Manhood, that immediately upon his Return to the Court he was made Lord Steward of Scotland; from which Office the name of Steward became as the Surname of all his Posterity. From this Walter descended that Robert Steward, who was after, in Right of his Wife, King of Scotland; since which time, there was successively nine Sovereigns of that Name in Scotland, and three in England, King James, King Charles' the First, and King Charles' the Second.  
And may the Providence above so nourish,  
That Name in England may for ever flourish.   

Of a Costermonger 's Daughter of London; how, after many strange Adventures, she came at last to be chief Sultaness to the Grand Signior of Constantinople.  
OF all the Passions which possess the Spirits of Men, there is none which yields such variety of Admiration and Wonder as those of Love; of which, I shall give you herein a most notable Example, scarcely to be paralleled in any of our Romantic Stories, did not we know the Power of Beauty, how it subdues far beyond the Sword, by conquering the conquerors, and making all things subject to it.  
In our Metropolitan City of London, there lived a Costermonger, who had only one Daughter, but she the Paragon of Nature, of an admirable Beauty; and thereto was added such Excellencies of inward Qualifications, as made her to be desired in Marriage by many young Gallants and other wealthy Citizens: But Love, that knows no Laws nor Limitations, had settled her Affections upon a young Page, whose smooth Tongue and complacent Carriage had fettered her Heart in Cupid's Chains; he also seeming so amorously bend to her, as if he saw with no other Eyes but what she bestowed upon him, nor thought no other Thoughts but what she inspired.  
But under this green Grass of Dissimulation lay lurking the Serpent of Ingratitude and Deceit; for this innocent Maid mistrusting no Evil, as intending none, was by the sly Insinuations of that Deceiver, whose Love was Lucre, and Faith Falshood, under Pretence of seeing some Friends, carried on Board of a Barbadoss Ship, where this wicked Wretch (O Grief to hear) for twenty Pounds most villainously sold her to be a Slave. Thus the Cat having played a while with the Mouse, at last devours her; thus the innocent Lamb is, by the Wiles of the Fox, betrayed to her own Destruction.  
This wicked Wretch having received his Money, departeth home with the Reward of Iniquity, the whilst the Ship set Sail from Gravesend, manned with fourscore tall Men, and the Wind standing fair, they smoothly glide along the Thames, and enter into that vast Gulf, the boundless Ocean; but the Heavens being angry for the forcible carrying away of this innocent Virgin, sent forth such a violent Tempest on the Sea, as made the stoutest Spirit of them all to tremble; for they had not sailed far, when there arose a foggy Mist from out the Seas, so that the clearness of the Skies might not be seen for the darkness of the Air, dreadful Flashes of Lightning seemed to have set the Seas on Fire, and terrible Volleys of Thunder threatened the shaking of the Heavens, and sundering of the Earth; Showers of Rain poured down amain, which, with the Impetuosity of the Winds, caused Showers of Tears to trickle down the Cheeks of the stoutest Spirits there, who all of them now expected no other but to be devoured in that merciless Element of Water: the beautiful Virgin, who before had wished all ill both to the Master of the Ship, as also to the Mariners, for carrying her thus away against her Will, now, as heartily prayed for their Welfare; knowing, if they miscarried she were lost, if they failed she were cast away. Twelve hours did the Wind and Seas contend thus together for the Destruction of this Vessel, tossing her about like Fortune's Tennis-ball, tearing her Masts in Pieces, and making her Tackling unserviceable; when at last the Skies began to clear, and the Winds to cease the violence of their raging, which cheered up their drooping Spirits, hoping now all danger was passed; but Fortune, that is constant in nothing but Inconstancy, soon made them to see their Error, and that they were now entering into the hands of more violent Enemies than Storms and Tempests; for, being by the Fury of the Seas brought upon the Coast of Barbary, they were espied by a Turkish man of War, belonging to Tunis, a Receptacle of Pirates under the Protection of the Grand Signior, who presently seized upon this stately Vessel, altogether now disabled for Resistance; and having boarded her, secured her Goods, carrying all the Persons thereof into the Town; who (according to the Custom of that place) were immediately committed to Prison.  
Now were the Sailors in their Dumps, knowing their Lot was perpetual Slavery: but the lovely Maid, in whom Beauty sat triumphant, though lately shaded with the Clouds of Fear, began to pluck up her Spirits, knowing that she had not worsened her Condition, but changed her Masters; and this gave her great Content, to see those unto whom she was lately so subject, now to partake of the same Lot with her; so that those Roses which before seemed to die in her Cheeks now revived; each several Beauty resumed their former Estates, so that she soon appeared to those dark African Inhabitants, a Sun upon Earth, and rather an immortal Goddess than an earthly Creature.  
The Fame of her Beauty had soon filled the Ears of the Inhabitants of Tunis, who in multitudes came flocking to the Prison to behold her; amongst others was the Governor of the Town, who was so stricken with Admiration at the Perfection of her Excellencies, that he could not choose but break forth into these Words:  
O Mahomet, what do I behold! A Beauty able to tempt a Hermit from his Cell, and make grey Hairs to become young again: Who can look on her and not admire! Who can admire and not love, nay rather adore such great Virtues! for, can we think Nature would not put her best Jewels into so rich a Casket! Certainly so smooth a Forehead, diamond Eyes, rosy Cheeks, coral Lips, alabaster Neck, so well featured a Body, was not ordained for Captivity, but rather to be embraced by a mighty Monarch! I will therefore send her as a Present unto my Master, the mighty Ottoman, unto whom, I know she cannot but be welcome, as one that exceeds in Nature's Endowments the choicest Beauties in all his Seraglio.  
Accordingly, in pursuance of his intended Purpose, he taketh the lovely Damsel out of Prison, treats her nobly, and clothes her gorgeously; who, not willing to hide those Lustres wherewith she had captivated the Eyes of those mahometans, employs her utmost Skill, with the bravery of Apparel, to add to those Perfections of Nature. In the mean time, a Messenger is dispatched to the Grand Seignior's Court, to certify him of the beautiful Prize which was coming to him; the Governor, with his Charge, following more leisurely after. When they put forth to Sea, it is said, that the Fishes danced and leapt about their Ship, and though it was a Serene time and very calm Wether, yet the Billows rose up gently, as it were to behold her Face; and having seen it, sunk down again, as it were in Obeisance to her.  
They having arrived at Constantinople, and word thereof brought to the Grand Signior, he strait gave order for her Reception, which was (indeed) very magnificent, more like the Offspring of some mighty Potentate than a poor Costermonger's Daughter, being attended by several Bashaws, Cadies, Mudressies, Chiansies, and Sansiacks, with a great number of Saffies, Calsies, Hogies and Nupies, after whom followed a strong Guard of Janissaries, who altogether attended her to the Seraglio, where she was received by the Aga of the Women, and not long after visited by the Grand Signior himself; who beholding her exquisite Beauty, having never seen such peerless Perfections before; as if Nature herein had imitated Apelles, to draw the several Excellencies of all Women into one Piece, he stood as it were, wrapped into Admiration for a time; at last, recovering the use of his Speech, he thus accosted her:  
Most peerless Lady, whose heavenly Beauty hath captivated my Heart, and of a Conqueror made me thy Slave, thou shining like a Star of the first Magnitude in Beauty's Horizon; well dost thou deserve to be the Queen of my Affections, whom Nature hath already crowned with such transcendent Prerogatives: Know then, that I bid thee heartily welcome (rare English Damsel) and for those Excellencies which I do see in thee I will prefer thee before all the Women in my Seraglio, making thee Empress of all my Domions, as thou art already of my Heart.  
Now, though Women naturally do love to hear themselves praised, especially by great men, yet the sight to Majesty in so mighty a Prince, did raise a modest Bashfulness inhere, and bespread her Cheeks with a Vermilion Tincture: Silence for a while possessed her Lips; at last, recollecting herself, with an humble Obeisance she returned this Answer.  
Great Sir, how much I am bound to your Goodness, my Heart is as little able to conceive as my Tongue to express; for which, though I cannot in the least make you Satisfaction (my Means being so infinitely below my Will) yet shall not my Endeavours be at any time wanting wherewith to serve you in what may stand with my Honour.  
Gracious Lady (replied the Grand Signior) the only thing I desire of you, is, your real Affection, more worth to me than Crowns or Sceptres: 'tis not your Portion, but Person, that I sue for; and tho' I might have compelled you by Constraint, yet I rather seek to win you by Love; for, forced Affection is but feigned, and that Music of Marriage is but a jarring Melody where Hearts are not joined together as well as hands.  
Worthy Prince (answered the lovely Maid) should I deny so great Honour, I might justly be taxed of Folly in the highest degree: If therefore (dread Sir) there be any thing in me worthy to be loved, yours I am, the highest of my Ambition being only to be entitled your Servant in its largest Latitude.  
Being thus agreed, with reciprocal Joy on both sides, next day was the Marriage solemnised in one of the principal Mosches of the City: the Rites and Ceremonies were performed by the Mufti, in his Pontificalibus. She was most gorgeously attired at that time, the Jewels that she wore being estimated at five thousand Pounds: and that the Joy might be the more universal, the Grand Signior distributed amongst the Janissaries an hundred thousand Sultanies.  
The next day the Grand Signior sitting in the Divano, with the Beglerbegs of Greece and Anatolia, together with several Bassas, Sansiacks, and other high Ministers of State, the beautiful Lady was by a general Decree ordained chief Sultaness of all the Turkish Dominions, and so to be honoured of all the People, notwithstanding the former Custom, that she who bore the first Son to the Emperor had only that Title conferred on her. She was also made free at that time, a great Honour amongst the Turks, and immediately was by the Title of Sultaness proclaimed all over the City of Constantinople.  
The Proverb says, Give a Maid Luck and throw  
Her in the Sea, she'll thrive where ere she go.  
Stones being thrown hard against the ground, do by  
The force of that their Fall mount up on high.   

Historical Observations out of several Authors.  
AT such time as the Tartars began to reign, and were first known in the World, there were four Brethren, the eldest of which, Mongu, reigned in Sedia. These purposing to subdue the World, went one to the East, another to the North, to the South a third, which was Vlan, and the other to the West. This Vlan having an Army of an hundred thousand Horse, besides Foot, fought against the Caliph of Baldach, a great City in the Confines of Tartary, whom he overcame, and took both him and his City, wherein he found infinite store of Treasure; at which, he greatly wondering, sent for the Caliph, whom he sharply reproved, that having so much Treasure, he would not therewith provide himself of Soldiers for his Defence; and therefore, commanded that he should be enclosed in that Tower where his Treasure was, without any other Sustenance, so long as he lived. This (say the Historians of that time) seemed a just Judgement from our Lord Jesus Christ on him: for he, in the year 1225. seeking to convert the Christians to Mahomet, and taking advantage on that place of the Gospel, that he which hath Faith as much as a grain of Mustardseed should be able to remove Mountains; He convented all the Christians, Nestorians, and Jacobites, and propounded to them in ten days to remove certain Mountains, or turn Mahometans, or be slain, as not having one man amongst them which had the least Faith. They therefore continued eight days in Prayer: after which, a certain Shoemaker, by Revelation to a Biship, was designed to perform it. This Shoemaker, once tempted to Lust by sight of a young Woman, in putting on her shoe, zealously had fulfilled that of the Gospel, and literally had put out his right Eye: he now, on the day appointed, with other Christians, following the Cross, and lifting his hands to Heaven, prayed to God to have Mercy on his People; and then with a loud Voice commanded the Mountain, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to remove, which presently, with great Terror to the Caliph and all his People, was effected. And that day was for a long time after kept holy, with fasting also on the Evening.  
In Draugiana, a Province of Persia, near unto a City called Mulebet, lived a seditious Persian, named Aladine, commonly called the old man of the mountain; he had, in a pleasant Valley betwixt two Mountains, very high, made a goodly Garden, furnished with the best Trees and Fruits he could find, adorned with divers Palaces and Houses of Pleasure, beautified with Gold Works, Pictures, and Furnitures of Silk. There, divers Pipes, answering divers parts of these Palaces, were seen to run Wine, Milk, Honey, and clear Water. In them he had placed goodly Damsels, skilful in Songs, and Instruments of Music and Dancing, and to make Sports and Delights unto men, whatsoever they could imagine. They were also fairly attired in Gold and Silk, and were seen to go continually sporting in the Garden and Palaces. This Place thus furnished with Delights, he had made in imitation of Mahomet, who had promised such a sensual Paradise to his devout Followers; the entrance into which he fortified with a strong Castle called Tigado. Hither he brought all the lusty Youths he could light on, casting them into Prison, where they endured much Sorrow and Woe. And when he thought good, he caused a certain Drink to be given them, which cast them into a dead sleep: then he caused them to be carried into divers Chambers of the said Palaces, where they saw the things aforesaid as soon as they awaked; each of them having those Damsels to minister Meats and excellent Drinks, and all varieties of Pleasures to them, insomuch, that the Fools thought themselves to be in Paradise indeed. Having enjoyed this Happiness a whole day, they were in a like Sleep conveyed to their Irons again; after which, he caused them to be brought into his Presence, and questioned where they had been; which answered, by your Grace, in Paradise, and recounted all the Particulars before mentioned. Then the old man answered, this is the Commandment of our Prophet, That whosoever defends his Lord, he makes him enter into Paradise: and if ye will be obedient to me, and hazard your Lives in my Quarrel, ye shall have this Grace. This so animated them, that they swore to be obedient to his Commands; and he was thought happy whom the old man would command any thing, though it cost him his Life; so that other Lords, and his Enemies, were slain by these his Assassins, which exposed themselves to all Dangers, and contemned their Lives. These men the Italians call Assassins, (whence we use the Phrase to Assassinate) the name importing as much as Thiefs or Cutthroats: such a one was he who murdered the Count of Tripoli, in the Wars for the Holy Land; and such a one was he, who so desperately wounded our Edward the First, at the Siege of Acon, with a poisoned Knife, whose Venom could by no means be assuaged, till his virtuous Wife (proposing herein a most rare Example of conjugal Love) sucked out the Poison, which her love made sweet to her delicate palate; so sovereign a Medicine is a Wife's Tongue, anointed with the Virtue of lovely Affection: and indeed, it is no wonder that Love should do Wonders which is itself a Wonder. This Aladine thus playing the Tyrant, and robbing all which passed that way; Vlan, in the Year 1262. scent and besieged his Castle, which, after three years' Siege, they took, slew him, and ruined his Paradise, not being able, for want of Victuals, to hold out longer.  
Paulus Venetus reporteth, that in a City called Samarchan, subject to the Nephew of the Great Cham of Tartary, the Brother of the Great Cham, named Zagatai, governed that Country; who being persuaded to become a Christian, the Christians, through his Favour, built a Church, in honour of St. John Baptist, with such Cunning, that the whole Roof thereof was supported by one Pillar in the midst; under which, was set a square Stone, which by favour of their Lord, was taken from a Building of the Saracens. Zagathai's Son succeeded after his Death in the Kingdom, but not in the Faith; from whom, the Saracens obtained, that the Christians should be compelled to restore that Stone: and when they offered a sufficient valuable Price, the Saracens refused to receive any other Composition than the Stone; but the Pillar lifted up itself, that the Saracens might take away their Stone, and so continued.  
About the Year of our Lord 400. one Agilmond was King of the Lombard's, inhabiting Pannonia, now called Hungary. This King one morning going a hunting, as he was riding by a Fishpond he spied seven Children sprawling for Life, which one (as saith Paulus Diaconus) or (it may be) many Harlots had been delivered of, and most barbarously thrown into the Water. The King amazed at this Spectacle, put his Boar-spear or Hunting-pole among them; one of the Child's hands fastened to the Spear, and the King softly drawing back his Hand, wafted the Child to the Shore. This Boy he named Lamissus, from Lama, which in their Language signified a Fishpond. He was in the King's Court carefully brought up, where there appeared in him such Tokens of Virtue and Courage, that after the Death of Agilmond, he was by the Lombard's chosen to succeed him.  
In the time of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Anno 1161. Beatrix the Emperor's Wife, coming to see the City of Milan in Italy, was, by the irreverent People, first imprisoned, and then most barbarously handled; for, they placed her on a Mule, with her Face towards the Tail, which she was compelled to use instead of a Bridle: and, when they had thus shown her to all the Town, they brought her to a Gate and kicked her out. To revenge this Wrong, the Emperor besieged and forced the Town, and adjudged all the People to die, save such as would undergo this Ransom: Between the Buttocks of a skittish Mule a bunch of Figs was fastened; and such as would live, must, with their hands bound behind, run after the Mule, till, with their Teeth, they had snatched out one or more of the Figs. This Condition, besides the hazard of many a sound Kick, was by most accepted and performed. Since which time, the Italians, when they intent to scoff or disgrace one, use to put their Thumb between two of their Fingers, and say, Echo, la fico; which is counted a Disgrace answerable to our English Custom, of making Horns to that Man whom we suspect to be a Cuckold.  
Giraldus Cambriensis, who wrote an History of Ireland, reporteth, that in his time, in the North of England, a knot of Youngsters took a Nap in the fields. As one of them lay snorting with his Mouth gaping, as though he would have caught Flies, it happened that a Snake or Adder slipped into his Mouth, and glided down into his Belly, where harbouring itself, it began to roam up and down, and to feed on the young man's Entrails. The Patient being sore distracted, and above measure tormented with the biting pangs of this greedy Guest, incessantly prayed to God, that if it stood with his gracious Will, either wholly to bereave him of his Life, or else of his unspeakable mercy to ease him of his Pain. The Worm would never cease from gnawing the Patient's Carcase, but when he had taken his repast; and his Meat was no sooner digested, than it would give a fresh onset in boring his Guts. Divers Remedies were sought, as Medicines, Pilgrimages to Saints, but all could not prevail. Being at length schooled by the grave Advice of some sage and expert Father, who willed him to make his speedy repair to Ireland, where neither Snake nor Adder would live. He presently thereupon would tract no time, but busked himself over Sea, and arrived in Ireland. He had no sooner drank of the Water of that Island, and eaten of the Victuals thereof, but forthwith he killed the Snake, avoided it downward, and so being lusty and lively, he returned into England.  
When David Bruce was King of Scotland, in the beginning of his Reign, for the better proof of exercising Justice among them that coveted to live by truth, and to have more ready occasion to punish others that meant the contrary; he commanded that Saddles and Bridles, with all other such Instruments and Stuff as pertained to Husbandry, should be left abroad both day and night without the doors: and if it chanced that any of them were stolen or taken away, the Sheriff of the Shire should either cause the same to be restored again, or else to pay for it out of his own Purse. During the time, whilst such straight punishment was executed against Offenders, it fortuned that a Carl of the Country, because he durst not steal other men's goods, stole his own Plow-Irons, that he might have the value of them recompensed to him by the Sheriff: but such diligence was used in the search and trial who had the Plow-Irons, that finally the truth came to light; whereupon for his crafty falsehood, the Party guilty was hanged, as he had well deserved.  
Heliogabalus being chosen Emperor of Rome, assumed the name of Antonine. His Apparel was extreme brave and gorgeous, and yet he never wore one Garment twice. His Shoes were embellished with Diamonds, and Oriental Pearls of the greatest price. His Seats were strewed with Musk and Amber. His Beds were covered with Cloth of Gold, tissued on Purple, and embossed with Gems of inestimable value. His Way was strewed with filings of Gold and Silver. His Vessels, even of basest use, were of the purest Gold. His Lamps burned with precious Balms and Gums of India and Arabia. His Fishponds were filled with Rose-water. His Ships, in their Theatrical Sea-fights, floated in Rivers of Wine. His Baths, most magnificently built, when he had once used them, were pulled down, and new built. His Plate was of refined massy Gold; but never served twice to his Table. His Rings and Jewels infinitely rich, yet never worn twice. His Concubines numberless, yet never lain with twice. Every Supper in his Court cost a thousand pound Sterling. When he lay near to the Sea, he would eat no Fish, when he was farthest in the Continent, he would eat no Flesh. Whole meals were furnished with Tongues of singing Birds, and Brains of the rarest Creatures. All Asia, Europe, and Africa, with the adjacent Islands; in a word, the whole Globe of Earth and Sea (whereof he was Lord Paramount) was not able to fill this Gulf. In his Progresses he was attended with six hundred Chariots, fraught with Concubines, Catamites, and Panders: for whom he built a Seraglio in his Court, where himself (in the Habit of a Courtesan) used to make solemn Speeches unto them, terming them his brave Fellow-soldiers, and Companions in Arms. He caused to be gathered in Rome ten thousand weight of Spiders, ten thousand Mice, and a thousand Polecats, which he exhibited to the Roman Peers and People in a Public Show and Solemnity, professing that now he perfectly understood how mighty a City Rome was. Lastly, he summoned a Parliament of Women, to consult about Tires, Fashions, Dresses, Tinctures, and the like weighty and important Affairs.  
In the Province of Chamul, belonging to the Cham of Tartary, the Inhabitants are Idolaters, have a peculiar Language, and seem to be born for no other purpose but to apply themselves to Sporting, Singing, Dancing, Writing and Reading after their fashion, playing on Instruments, and to give themselves to delight. When any Traveller passing by, turneth into any man's House for entertainment, the Master of the Family receiveth him with great Joy, and commandeth his Wife and all the Family, that they, as long as he will abide with them, obey him in all things. In the mean space, he departeth, not to return so long as the Guest remaineth in his House: and mean while he lieth with the Wife, Daughter, and the rest, as with his own Wives. The Women of that Country are beautiful, and ready to obey all those Commandments of their Husbands, who are so besotted with this folly, that they think it a glorious thing for them, and acceptable to their Idols, for which they prosper with plenty of all things. Mangu Can having heard of this Folly, commanded them to observe this detestable Custom no longer; which they did about three Years, and then seeing not their wont Fertility, and troubled with some domestical Crosses, sent Ambassadors to the Cham, and earnestly entreated that he would revoke so grievous an Edict, and not abolish that Tradition which they had received from their Elders. The Cham answered, Seeing you desire your Reproach and Shame, 〈◊〉 it be granted you; go and do herein after your wont. The Messengers returning with this Answer, brought great Joy to all the People. This Custom is observed in that Country to this day.  
In another Province, called Tebeth, likewise under the Great Cham, they had a Custom, that no Man married a Wife who was a Virgin: for, when Travellers and Strangers, coming from other parts, pass through this Country, and pitch their Pavilions, the Women of that place having marriageable Daughters, bring them unto Strangers, desiring them to take them, and enjoy their Company as long as they remain there: thus the prettier are chosen, and the rest return home sorrowful. And when they will depart, they are not suffered to carry any away with them, but faithfully restore them to their Parents: the Maiden also requireth some Toy or small Present of him who hath deflowered her, which she may show as an Argument and Proof of her deflowering. And she that hath been loved, and abused of most men, and shall have many such Favours and Toys to show to her Wooers, is accounted more noble, and may more easily and honourably be married: and when she will go gallantly attired, she hangeth all her Lovers Favours about her Neck, and the more acceptable she was to many, of so much the more Honour is she adjudged worthy. But, when they are once married to Husbands, they are now no more suffered to be coupled with strange men: and the men of this Country are very wary that they offend not one another in this matter.  
In China, such there as be imprisoned for Debt, lie there until it be paid; the Taissu, or head Officer of that place, calling him many times before him by virtue of his Office; who understanding the cause wherefore they do not pay their Debts, appointeth them a certain time to do it, within the Compass whereof, if they discharge not their Debts, being Debtors indeed, than they be whipped, and condemned to perpetual Imprisonment: If the Creditors be many, and one is to be paid before another, they do contrary to our manner, pay him first of whom they last borrowed, and so ordinarily the rest, in such sort, that the first Lender's be the last Receivers. The same order is kept in paying Legacies; the last named receiveth his Portion first.  
In the same Country, all such Thiefs as are taken, are carried to Prison from one place to another, in a Chest, upon men's Shoulders, hired therefore by the King: the Chest is six handfuls high; the Prisoner sitteth therein upon a Bench, the Cover of the Chest is two Board's, amidst them both, a Pillory-like hole for the Prisoner's Neck; there sitteth he, with his head without the Chest, and the rest of his Body within, not able to move or to turn his Head this way or that way, nor to pluck it in; the Necessities of Nature he voideth at a hole in the bottom of the Chest; the Meat he eateth is put into his Mouth by others. There abideth he day and night during his whole Journey: if haply his Porters stumble, or the Chest do jog, or be set down carelessly, it turns to such great Pains unto him, that all such Motions are near as bad as a hanging.  
The Emperors of Russia, to show their Sovereignty in their Exactions for Money, have used very strange Cavillations. One of them, named Ivan Vasilowich sent into Permia for certain Loads of Cedar Wood, whereof, he knew that none grew in that Country: The Inhabitants returned answer they could find none there; whereupon, he assessed their Country in 12000 Rubbels or Marks, as if they concealed the Commodity of purpose. Again, he sent to the City of Mosko, to provide for him a Colpack or Measure full of live Fleas, for a Medicine. They returned Answer, that the thing was impossible; and if they could get them, yet they could not measure them for leaping out: whereupon, he praved, or beat out of their Skins 7000 Rubbles for a Mulct. By like Cavillation he extorted from his Nobility 30000 Rubbles, because he miss of his Game when he went a hunting for the Hare; as if their Hunting and murdering of Hares had been the cause of it.  

How they Baptise, Marry, and Bury in Russia.  
When any Child is born, it is not baptised till the next Sunday, and if it chance that it be not baptised then, it must tarry until the second Sunday after the Birth; and it is lawful for them to take as many Godfathers and Godmothers as they will; the more the better.  
When they go to the Church, the Midwife goeth fore-most, carrying the Child, and the Godfathers and Godmothers follow into the midst of the Church, where there is a small Table ready set, and on it an earthen Pot full of warm Water, about which the Godfathers and Godmothers with the Child settle themselves: then the Clerk giveth to every one of them a small Wax-candle, burning; then cometh the Priest, and beginneth to say certain words, which the Godfathers and Godmothers must answer word for word; among which, one is, that the Child shall forsake the Devil, and as that name is pronounced, they must all spit at the word as often as it is repeated. Then he blesseth the Water which is in the Pot, and doth breathe over it; then he taketh all the Candles which the Gossips have, and holding them all in one hand, letteth part of them drop into the Water, and then giveth every one his Candle again; and when the Water is sanctified, he taketh the Child and holdeth it in a small Tub, and one of the Godfathers taketh the Pot with warm Water and poureth it all upon the Child's Head. After this, he anointeth the Ears and Eyes with spital, and maketh certain Crosses with Oil upon the Back, Head, and Breast of the Child; then taking the Child in his Arms, carrieth it to the Images of St. Nicholas and our Lady, etc. and speaketh unto the Images, desiring them to take charge of the Child, that he may live, and believe as a Christian Man or Woman ought to do, with many other words. Then coming back from the Images, he taketh a pair of Shears and clippeth the young and tender hairs of the Child's head in three or four places, and then delivereth the Child; whereunto every one of the Godfathers and Godmothers lay a hand: then the Priest chargeth them, that the Child be brought up in the Faith and Fear of God and Christ, and that it be instructed to cringe and bow to the Images, and so they make an end. Then one of the Godfathers must hang a Cross about the Neck of the Child, which he must always wear.   

Their way of marrying.  
First, when there is Love between the Parties, the Man sendeth unto the Woman a small Chest or Box, wherein is a Whip, Needels, Thread, Silk, Linnen-cloth, Shears, and such like Necessaries as she shall occupy when she is a Wife, and perhaps sendeth therewithal Raisins, Figs, or some such things, giving her to understand, that if she do offend, she must be beaten with the Whip; and by the Needels, Thread, Cloth, etc. that she should apply herself diligently to sew, and do such things as she could best do; and by the Raisins or Fruits, he meaneth, if she do well, no good thing shall be withdrawn from her, nor be too dear for her: and she sendeth unto him a Shirt, Hand-kerchiefs, or some such things of her own making.  
When they are agreed, and the day of Marriage appointed when they shall go towards the Church, the Bride will in no wise consent to go out of the House, but resisteth and striveth with them that would have her out, and feigneth herself to weep; yet in the end two Women get her out, and lead her towards the Church, her Face being covered close, because of her dissimulation, that it should not be openly perceived: for she maketh a great noise, as though she were sobbing and weeping, until she come at the Church, and then her Face is uncovered. The Man cometh after, among other of his Friends, and they carry with them to Church a great Pot of Wine or Mead; then the Priest coupleth them together much after our Order, one promising to love and serve the other during their Lives together, etc. which being done, they begin to drink, and first the Woman drinketh to the Man, and when he hath drank he letteth the Cup fall to the Ground, hasting immediately to tread upon it, and so doth she, and whether of them tread first upon it must have the Victory, and be Master at all times after; which commonly happeneth to the Man, for he is readiest to set his Foot upon it, because he letteth it fall himself. Then they go home again, the Woman's Face being uncovered. The Boys in the Streets cry out, and make a noise in the mean time with very dishonest Words.  
When they come home, the Wife is set at the upper end of the Table, and the Husband next unto her: they fall then to drinking till they be all drunk; they perchance have a Minstrel or two, and two naked men which led her from the Church, dance naked a long time before all the Company. When they are weary of drinking, the Bride and the Bridegroom get them to Bed; for it is in the Evening always when any of them is married: and when they are going to Bed, the Bridegroom putteth certain Money, both Gold and Silver if he have it, into one of his Boots, and then sitting down in the Chamber, crossing his Legs, than the Bride must pluck off one of his Boots, which she will, and if she happen on the Boot wherein the money is, she hath not only the money for her Labour, but is also at such choice, as she need not ever, from that day forth, to pull off his Boots; but, if she miss the Boot wherein the money is, she doth not only lose the money, but is also bound, from that day forwards, to pull off his Boots continually.  
Then they continue in drinking and making good Cheer three days following, being accompanied with certain of their Friends; and during the same three days, he is called a Duke and she a Duchess, although they be very poor Persons. One common Rule is amongst them, if the Woman be not beaten with the Whip once a Week she will not be good, and therefore they look for it orderly; and the Women say, that if their Husbands did not beat them they should not love them. It is reported of a Germane Shoemaker, who travelling into this Country, and here marrying a Widow, used her with all Kindness that a Woman could (as he thought) desire, yet did not she seem content; at last learning where the Fault was, and that his not beating her was the cause of her Pensiveness, he took such a Vein in cudgelling her sides, that in the end the Hangman was fain to break his Neck for his Labour.   

Of their manner of Burial.  
When any Man or Woman dieth, they stretch him out, and put a new pair of Shoes on his Feet, because he hath a great Journey to go, and a Penny in his Mouth to bear his Charges by the way; then do they wind him in a Sheet as we do, but they forget not to put a Testimony in his right hand, which the Priest giveth him, to testify to St. Nicholas, whom they deem to be the Porter of Heaven, that he died a Christian Man or Woman. And they put the Corpse always in a Coffin of Wood, although the Party be very poor: and when they go towards the Church, the Friends and Kinsmen of the Party deceased, carry in their Hands small Wax Candles, weeping, and howling, and making much Lamentation. They that be hanged, or beheaded, or such like, have no Testimony with them; how they are received into Heaven it is a Wonder, without their Passport.   

Of their Priests in Muscovia.  
For their Priests, it is lawful to marry for the first time; but, if the first Wife die, he cannot take a second but he must lose his Priesthood, and his Living withal: the Reason they make out of that place of St. Paul to Timothy, 1. 3, 2. not rightly understood: thinking that to be spoken of divers Wives successively that the Apostle speaketh of at one and the same time. If he will needs marry again after his first Wife is dead, he is no longer called Papa, but Rospapa, or Priest quondam. This maketh the Priests to make much of their Wives, who are accounted as the Matrons, and of best Reputation among the Women of the Parish.  
For the Stipend of the Priest, their manner is not to pay him any tenths of Corn, or aught else; but he must stand at the Devotion of the People of his Parish, and make up the Incomes towards his Maintenance so well as he can, by Offerings, Shrists, Marriages, Burials, Dirges, and prayers for the Dead and the Living; (which they call Molitua) for besides their Public Service within their Churches, their manner is, for every private Man to have a Prayer said for him by the Priest, upon any occasion of Business whatsoever, whether he ride, go, sail, plough, or whatsoever he doth else; which is not framed according to the occasion of his Business, but at Random, being some of the ordinary and usual Church-prayers; and this is thought to be more holy and effectual, if it be repeated by the Priest's Mouth, rather than by his own. They have a Custom besides, to solemnize the Saint's day that is Patron to their Church, once every Year; what time all the Neighbours of their Country and Parishes about, come in to hear Prayers said to that Saint for themselves and their Friends, and so make an Offering to the Priest for his Pains: This Offering may yield them some ten pounds a Year, more or less, as the Patron or Saint of that Church is of Credit and Estimation among them. The manner is, on this day, (which they keep Anniversary for the Priest) to hire divers of his Neighbour-Priests to help him, as having more Dishes to dress for the Saint than he can well turn his hand unto. They use besides to visit their Parishioners Houses with holy Water and Perfume, commonly once a Quarter; and so having sprinkled and becensed the good Man and his Wife, with the rest of their Household and Householdstuff, they receive some Devotion, more or less, as the man is of Ability. This and the rest laid altogether, may make up for the Priest, towards his maintenance, about thirty or forty Marks a Year; whereof, he payeth the tenth part to the Bishop of the Diocese.   

The Manner of making Friars in Muscovia.  
First, the Abbot strippeth him of all his Secular or ordinary Apparel; then he putteth upon him, next to his Skin, a white Flannel Shirt, with a long Garment over it down to the Ground, girded unto him with a broad Leather Belt. His uppermost Garment is a Weed of Garras or Say, for colour and fashion much like to the upper Weed of a Chimney-Sweeper: then is his Crown shorn a hand breadth, or more, close to the very Skin; and these, or like Words pronounced by the Abbot, whilst he clippeth his Hair: As these Hairs are clipped off, and taken from thy Head, so now we take thee, and separate thee clean from the World and worldly things, etc. This done, he anointeth his Crown with Oil, and putteth on his Cool, and so taketh him in among the Fraternity. They vow perpetual Chastity, and Abstinence from Flesh.    

The Life, Manner, and Customs of the Samoits, a People inhabiting near Nova-Zembla.  
IN their Journey, their upper Coat is called a Park, which is for the most part of Deer-skin, and some of white Fox or Wolverin, which they wear the Hair or Fur outward; under that they have another Coat, which is called a Mallek, made of young Fawn Skins, or Hare Skins, or Swan Skins; very soft and well dressed; a Cap of Beaver, double, and close to their Heads, with two Flaps for their Ears, tied under their Chin, a Pair of Breeches of Deer-skin, with the Hair inwards; upon their Feet they have Socks or Stockings of Deer-skin, the Hair to their Skin, upon that long Boots, which they call Penyes, made of the Legs of Dear skins; thus apparelled, they sit upon the Sleds cross-legged, with a Deer-skin under them; two Deer being yoked to a Sled, they will run with such Swiftness, and so long continue, as is not to be believed, except to those that have seen the same; for, riding Post, they will ride without Rest or Sleep two hundred miles in four and twenty hours, but with their Argish or Stuff, thirty miles in twelve hours; their Women usually do guide their Argish, which is ten Sleds, and to every Sled a Buck, all made fast one after another; the Men in the way do provide Wood for firing, and do hunt for all manner of Beasts and Fowl, which the Women dress. It is the Woman's Labour to set up the Choom or Tent, making one place therein always holy, which the Woman must not set her Foot into, neither go about the Tent round, which if they chance to do, they will presently remove all, for fear of the Wolf or Bear, which they say would devour them if they did not remove. Their Tent or Choom is made in this manner; first, they set up long Firr-poles, than they have six Quarters double of Deer-skins, which being set up, they throw Snow round about the Edges a Yard thickness, leaving the top open for to vent Smoke, making a Fire in the middle, spreading Deer-skins, upon which they lie; in which manner, it is altogether as warm as the Stones in Russia: they have no Towns, neither any certain place of abode, but with their Deer they travel from place to place, where they find the best Moss, on which their Deer feed.  
Their Wives they buy for Deer, and will have, if he have ability, four or five Wives, with whom he lieth by turn every Night several; he is the richest man that hath most Dear or Daughters, selling them to any that will give most for them. In their Marriage, having agreed of Price, they use not great Ceremonies, only they make a Feast to their Friends, after which, the Woman is brought to the Man that hath bought her, she being hung with many Iron Rings and Brazen Bells, all departing out of the Tent, save they two, till the next morning, and then he departeth; but, if he be one of Wealth, they will continue their Feast seven days. It falleth out many times, that after they have had their Wives half a Year or a Year, they will turn them back to their Friends, taking their Deers again, paying for the charge of the Feast, which is always to be made at her Father's charge, and losing the increase of his Deer.  
They have no knowledge of the true God, but worship Blocks and Images of the Devil, unto which they will strangle tame Deer, rubbing the Blood on the Idols, and eating the Meat themselves. When a rich man dies, because he shall not travel on foot, his Friends will kill three Deer to draw him in the new World, and they will strangle a Slave to tend on him. The Deer they kill in this manner, to serve the dead man; they make a Stake sharp, which they thrust into the Beasts Fundament, with many Howl and Cry, till they be dead: the Master, with the Slave, they bury; the Deer they eat as well raw as boiled or roast, although they use all three. If a young Child die under fourteen of their Years, which is seven of ours, they do hang it by the Neck on some Tree, saying, it must fly to Heaven.  
If any Controversy be, which cannot be decided, or the Truth known, than one of the two betwixt whom the Controversy is, must be sworn, which is in this manner; they will make an Image of a Man in Snow, bringing a Wolf's Nose, and delivering a Sword to him that must swear, he rehearsing by name all his Friends, desiring that they might all be cut in Pieces in that manner as he doth cut that Image of Snow. Then he himself doth cut the Image of Snow all to pieces with the Sword; then after, the Wolves Nose being laid before him, he desires that the Wolf may destroy all his tame Deer, and that he may never more take or kill any wild Deer after that if he speak not the Truth: so cutting the Wolf's Nose in pieces, there is no more to be said of that Controversy.  
When they would know any thing to come, they send for their Priest or Witch to converse with the Devil, sitting in one side of the Tent, having before his Face a piece of an old Shirt of mail, hung with Bells and pieces of Brass; in his right hand a great Tabor made with a Wolves skin, beating upon the same with a Hare's foot, making a very doleful sound, with singing and calling for the Devil to answer his Demand; which being ended, they strangle a Deer for a Sacrifice, making merry with the Flesh.  
The Women be very hard of Nature; for, at their Childbearing, the Husband must play the Midwife; and being delivered, the Child is washed with cold Water or Snow, and the next day the Woman is able to conduct her Argish or Sled.   

A Description of Groenland, and the Inhabitants thereof: by an Eye-witness, Anno 1612.  
THE Northwest part of Groenland is an exceeding high Land to the Seaward, and almost nothing but Mountains, which are wonderful high all within the Land, as far as we could perceive: they are all of Stone, some of one colour, and some of another, and all glistering as though they were of rich Value, but indeed they are not worth any thing. There are some Rocks in those Mountains which are exceeding pure Stone, finer and whiter than Alabaster. The sides of these Mountains are covered with Snow for the most part, especially the North-sides; and the North-sides of the Valleys having a kind of Moss, and in some places Grass, with a little Branch running all along the Ground bearing a little black Berry. There are few or no Trees growing, as far as we could perceive, but in one place, some forty miles within the Land, in a River, which we called Ball's River; there I saw on the Southside of an high Mountain, which we went up, and found (as it were) a young Grove of small Wood, some of it six or seven Foot high, like a Coppice in England, that had been some two or three Years cut: and this was the most Wood that we saw growing in this Country, being some of it a kind of Willow, Juniper, and such like.  
We found in many places much Angelica; we suppose the People eat the Roots thereof for some Causes, for we have seen them have many of them in their Boats. There are great Store of Foxes in the Islands, and in the Main, of sundry colours: and there are a kind of Hares as white as Snow, with their Hair or Fur very long.  
Also there be Deer, but they are most commonly up within the Main very far, because the People do so much hunt them that come near the Sea: I saw at one time seven of them together, which were all that we did see in the Country; but our men have bought divers Coats of the People, made of Deers skins, and have bought of their Horns also; besides, we have divers times seen the Footsteps of some Beasts, whose Foot was bigger than the Foot of a great Ox. Furthermore, the Inhabitants have a kind of Dogs, which they keep at their Houses and Tents, which Dogs, are almost like unto Wolves, living by Fish, as the Foxes do: but one thing is very strange, as I thought, for the Pizzles of both Dogs and Foxes are Bone.  
The People, all the Summer time, use nothing but fishing, drying their Fish and Seals-flesh upon the Rocks, for their Winter Provision. Every one, both Man and Woman, have each of them a Boat made with long small pieces of Firr-wood, covered with Seals-skins very well dressed, and sewed so well with Sinews or Guts, that no Water can pierce them through, being some of them above twenty foot long, and not past two foot or two foot and an half broad, in form of a Weaver's Shuttle, and so light, that a man may carry many of them at once for the weight. In these Boats they will row so swiftly, that it is almost incredible: for no Ship in the World is able to keep way with them, although she have never so good a Gale of Wind: and yet they use but one Oar, who sitting in the middle of their Boat, and holding their Oar in the middle, being broad at each end like our Oars, will at an Instant go backward and forward as they please.  
We could not particularly learn their Rites or Ceremonies; but, generally, they worship the Sun, as chief Author of their Felicity. At their first Approach unto us they used with their hands to point up to the Sun, and to strike upon their Breasts, crying Ilyont; as who would say, I mean no harm; which they will do very often, and will not come near you until you do the like, and then they will come without any fear at all.  
They bury their Dead in the out-Islands, near the Seaside. Their manner of Burial is this; Upon the tops of the Hills they gather a Company of Stones together, and make thereof a hollow Cave or Grave, of the length and breadth of the Body which they intent to bury, laying the Stones somewhat close like a Wall, that neither Foxes, nor other such Beasts, may devout the Bodies, covering them with broad Stones, showing afar off like a Pile of Stones. And near to this Grave where the Body lieth is another, wherein they bury his Bow and Arrows, with his Darts, and all his other Provision, which he used while he was living. He is buried in all his Apparel, and the coldness of the Climate doth keep the Body from smelling and stinking, although it lie above the Ground.  
They eat all their Food raw, and use no Fire to dress their Victuals, as far as we could perceive. Also, we have seen them drink the Salt water at our Ships side; but, whether it be usual or no I cannot tell. Although they dress not their Meat with Fire, yet they use Fire for other things, as to warm them, and the like.  
Divers of our Men were of Opinion, that they were Man-eaters, and would have devoured us if they could have caught us; but I do not think they would; for if they had been so minded, they might at one time have caught our Cook and two other with him, as they were filling of Water at an Island a great way from our Ship. These three (I say) were in the Ships Boat, without either Musket, or any other Weapon, whenas a great Company of the Savages came rowing unto them, with their Darts and other Furniture, which they never go without, and stood looking into the Boat for Nails, or any old Iron, which they greedily desire, while our men were in such a fear that they knew not what to do. At length, our Cook remembered that he had some old Iron in his Pocket, and gave each of them some, as far as it would go, with his Key of his Chest, and presently they all departed, without offering any harm at all. But this I speak not that I would have men to trust them, or to go among them unprovided of Weapons; for, by so doing, they may chance to forfeit their Life for their fool-hardiness.   

Several Varieties of the West-Indies.  
OVideos in his fifteenth Book and first Chapter saith, That in the Year 1520. the City of St. Domingo in Hispaniola, was almost dishabited by a great Army of Ants; as in Spain a City was dispeopled by Coneys; in Thessaly another City was destroyed by Rats; amongst the Atariotaes one by Frogs; and the Minutines by Fleas; Amitle in Italy by Serpents; and another part thereof by Sparrows; as were divers places of Africa often by Locusts: so can the great God arm the least Creatures to the destruction of proud vainglorious Man. And this Misery so perplexed the Spaniards, that they sought as strange a Remedy as was the Disease; which was, to choose some Saint for their Patron against the Ants. Alexander Geraldine, the Bishop, having sung a solemn and Pontificial Mass, after the Consecration and Elevation of the Sacrament, and devout Prayers made by him and the People, opened a Book, in which was a Catalogue of the Saints, by lot to choose some he or she Saint whom God should please to appoint their Advocate against that Calamity; and the Lot fell upon St. Saturnine, whose Feast is on the 29th of November: after which, the Ant-damage (saith Ovideos') became more tolerable, and by little and little diminished, by God's Mercy, and Intercession of that Saint.  
The same Author reporteth, That going from the Gulf of Ovotigua to Panama, two hundred Leagues Eastward, near the Mouth of the Gulf, he saw a Fish, or great Water-monster, which at times lifted itself right up above the Water so far, that the Head and both the Arms might be seen, which seemed higher than their Carvel and all her Masts. Thus did she rise and fall divers times, beating the Water strongly, and not casting any Water out of her Mouth: a younger or lesser of the same kind did likewise swim a little distance from the greater. To Ovideos' Judgement, each Arm seemed five and twenty foot long, and as big as a Butt or Pipe; the Head fourteen or fifteen foot high, and much more in breadth; and the rest of the Body larger. That of her which appeared above Water was above five times the height of a mean man, which makes five and twenty Paces. She seemed to disport herself at a Tempest, which suddenly arose to their purpose, and brought them in few days to Panama.  
The Indians of Brasil are of a marvellous quick Sight; for at a League off they see any thing, and in the same manner hear; they guess very right, ruling themselves by the Sun; they go to all parts they list, 200 or 300 Leagues through thick Woods, and miss not one Jot; they travel much, and always running a Gallop, especially with some Charges; no Horse is able to hold out with them: they are great Archers, and so certain, that no Bird can scape them be it never so little, or any Vermin of the Woods; and there is no more, but if they will shoot an Arrow through the Eye of a Bird or Man or hit any other thing, be it never so small, they do it with great Facility and with their own Safety. They are great Fishers and Swimmer, they fear no Sea nor Waves, continue a day and a night swimming, and the fame they do rowing, and sometimes without Meat. They use also for Weapons, Swords of Wood, and enterlay the ends of them with Palmtree of sundry Colours, and set Plumes on them of divers colours, chiefly in their Feasts and Slaughters; and these Swords are very cruel, for they make no Wound, but bruise and break a Man's Head without having any Remedy of Cure.  
Near to the River of the Amazons is a place called Etvora, that is to say, the Stone-house, a very strong thing, for it is a great huge Rock, and it hath an Entrance like a great Door within it, as any Hall in England: The Indians say, that there St. Thomas did preach to their Forefathers. Hard by standeth a Stone as big as four great Canons, and it standeth upon the ground upon four Stones little bigger than a man's Finger, like Sticks; the Indians say it was a Miracle which the Saint showed them, and that that Stone had been Wood Likewise, by the Seaside there are great Rocks, upon which, are store of Prints of the footing of bare Feet, all which Prints are of one Bigness; they say they are the print of the Footsteps of that Saint, when standing upon the Rocks he called to the Fishes of the Sea, and they heard him.  
At the Antillus in Brasil they have a Bird, which, for the rareness and strangeness thereof, deserveth to be had in Remembrance. It is the finest Bird that can be imagined; it hath a Cap on his Head to which no proper Colour can be given; for, on whatsoever side ye look on it it showeth red, green, black, and more Colours, all very fine and shining; and the Breast is so fair, that on whatsoever side ye take it it showeth all the Colours, especially a yellow more finer than Gold: the Body is grey; it hath a very long Bill, and the Tongue twice the length of the Bill; they are very swift in Flight, and in their Flight they make a noise like the Bee; and they rather seem Bees in their Swiftness than Birds, for they always feed flying, without sitting on a Tree, even as the Bees do fly sucking the Honey from the Flowers. They have two beginnings of their Generation; some are hatched of Eggs like other Birds, others of little Bubbles, and it is a thing to be noted, a little Bubble to begin to convert itself into this little Bird, for at one Instant it is a Bubble and a Bird, and so converts itself into this most fair Bird, a wonderful thing, and unknown to the Philosophers, seeing one living Creature, without Corruption, is converted into another.  
Also, in this Country of Brasil, a certain Tree groweth in the Fields, and the Main of the Bay, in dry places where no Water is, very great and broad; it hath certain Holes in the Branches, as long as an Arm, that are full of Water, that in Winter nor Summer never runneth over, neither is it known whence this Water cometh; and drink as many or drink few of it, it is always at the same stay; and so it serveth not only for a Fountain, but also for a great main River: and it happeneth five hundred Persons to come to the Foot of it, and there is harbour for them all; they drink and wash all that they will, and they never want Water; it is very savoury and clear, and a great Remedy for them that travel into the Main, when they can find no other Water.  
John Lerius, a Frenchman, who lived in Brasil for some time, writeth, That the Barbarians much wondered to see Frenchmen and other Strangers, coming far off, from remote Countries, to take so much Pains to carry back their Ships laden with Brasil or Red Wood; and therefore, one of the ancientest of them questioned him in this manner concerning that matter: What meaneth it that you Mair and Peros, (that is Frenchmen and Portugals) come so far to fetch Wood? Doth your Country yield you no Wood for the Fire? Then said I, It yieldeth Fuel surely, and that in great Plenty, but not of that kind of Trees, such as yours are; especially Brasil, which our men carry from hence, not to burn, as you suppose, but for to die. Here he presently excepting, But have you (said he) need of so great plenty of that Wood? yea surely, (said I) for seeing even one Merchant with us possesseth more Scarlet clothes, more Knives and Scissors, and more Looking glasses (alleging known and familiar Examples unto him) than all those which were ever brought hither unto you, he only will buy all the Brasil, to the end that many Ships might return laden from hence. Ah! (saith the Barbarian) you tell me strange and wonderful things. Then presently remembering what he had heard, he proceeded to demand further Questions of me. But, saith he, That great rich Man, of whom you make Report, doth he not die? He dieth, said I, as also other men do. Who then (said he) is Heir of those Goods which this man leaveth when he dieth? His Children, said I, if he have any: if he have none, his Brethren, Sisters, or his next Kindred. When I had said this, Surely (saith that my discreet old Fellow) hereby I easily perceive, that you Mair (that is, Frenchmen) are notable Fools: for what needeth you so greatly to tyre and turmoil yourselves in sailing over the Sea, in passing whereof (as being here arrived you report to us) you sustain so many Miseries? Is it forsooth, that you might get riches for your Children, or living Kinsfolk? Is not the Earth which hath nourished us, sufficient also to maintain them? We surely have both Children and Kinsfolk, and them, as you see, we love dearly; but seeing we confidently hope, that it shall come to pass that after our death, the same Earth which nourished us, shall also relieve and cherish them, therein we repose ourselves, and rest content.  
One of these Islands, on the South-part of the straits, is called Baldivia, which took its name of a Spanish Captain so called, whom afterwards the Indians took Prisoner; and it is said, they inquired of him the reason why he came to molest them, and to take their Country from them, having no Title or Right thereunto? He answered, to get Gold: which the Barbarians understanding, caused Gold to be molten, and poured down his Throat, saying, Gold was thy desire, glut thee with it.  
When the Spaniards first began to inhabit the West-Indies, Sancta Domingo was an Island as full of Indians as any place of that bigness in all America; but by the cruelty of the Spaniards, in their excessive labour in the Mines, they were most of them destroyed, which labour was so grievous, that many of the surviving Indians would rather kill themselves than endure it. It happened on a time, that a Spaniard called certain of them to go work in the Mines, which rather than they would do, they proffered to lay violent hands on themselves; which the Spaniard perceiving, he said unto them, Seeing you will rather hang yourselves than to go and work, I will likewise hang myself and go with you, because I will make you work in the other World: but the Indians hearing this, said, We will willingly work with you, because you shall not go with us; so unwilling they were of the Spaniards company: so that of all the Inhabitants of this Island, there was none escaped Death but only these few, which was by the means of this Spaniard, or else they would have hanged themselves also.  
The cruelty of the Spaniards to the Indians of Peru was so extraordinary great, that those silly People would not believe that the Spaniards were born into the World like other men, supposing, that so fierce and cruel a Creature could not be procreated of Man and Woman. They called them therefore Viracochie, that is, Sea-froth: as if they thence had received their Original. Nor can any alter this their Opinion, so deeply rooted, saying, The Wind's overthrow Trees and Houses, Fire burns them, but these Viracochie devour all things, insatiably seeking Gold and Silver, which as soon as they have gotten, they play away at Dice, War, kill one another, rob, blaspheme, wickedly forswear and deny God, never speak truth; and us they have spoiled of our Country and Fortunes: and therefore they cursed the Sea, which brought to the Land so fierce and dreadful an Issue.  
Before the Spaniards conquered Peru, the Tribute which the poor People were tied to pay to their Juca's or Kings, was, on certain days to give him so many Pipes of Lice, so to acknowledge subjection, and keep themselves clean.   

Of the Tortoises in the West-Indies.  
The Tortoise is reasonable toothsome, and wholesome Meat, of such largeness, that one of them will make a dozen Messes, appointing six to every Mess. It is such a kind of Meat as a man can neither absolutely call Fish nor Flesh; keeping most in the Water, and feeding upon Sea-grass, like an Heifer, in the bottom of the Coves and Bays, and laying their Eggs (of which we should find five hundred at a time in the opening of a she-one) in the Sand by the Shoar-side and so covering them close, leave them to the hatching of the Sun: like the Monatis at St. Dominick, which made the Spanish Friars (at their first arrival) make some scruple to eat them on a Friday, because in colour and taste the Flesh is like to Morsels of Veal. Concerning the laying of their Eggs, and the hatching of their Young, Peter Martyr writeth thus in his Decades of the Ocean: At such time as the heat of Nature moveth them to generation, they come forth of the Sea, and making a deep Pit in the Sand, they lay three or four hundred Eggs therein; when they have thus emptied their Bag of Conception, they put as much of the same again into the Pit as may satisfy to cover the Eggs, and so resort again to the Sea, nothing careful of their succession. At the day appointed of Nature to the procreation of these Creatures, there creepeth out a multitude of Tortoises, as it were Pismires out of an Anthill, and this only by the heat of the Sun, without any help of their Parents. Their Eggs are as big Goose-Eggs, and themselves, grown to Perfection, bigger than great round Targets.  
The Indians of Virginia, at the first coming of the English thither, were so simple and ignorant, that having surprised some Gunpowder from the English, their King caused it to be sown, thinking it would grow up and increase, as did Corn and other Seeds.  
Throughout all the Mountains, either of the Islands, or firm Land of Nova Hispania, Carthagena, etc. there are infinite numbers of Monkeys, which are a kind of Apes, but very different, in that they have a Tail, a very long one. And amongst them there are some kinds which are thrice, yea four times bigger than the ordinary; some are all black, some bay, some grey, and some spotted. Their agility and manner of leaping is admirable, for that they seem to have Reason and Discourse to go upon Trees, wherein they seem to imitate Birds. My Author, going from Nombre de Dios to Panama, saw in Capira one of these Monkeys leap from one Tree to another, which was on the other side of a River, making him much to wonder. They leap where they list, winding their Tails about a Branch to shake it; and when they will leap farther than they can at once, they use a pretty device, tying themselves by the Tails one of another, and by this means make, as it were, a Chain of many: then do they launch themselves forth, and the first, holpen by the force of the rest, taketh hold where he list, and so hangs to a Bough, and helps all the rest till they be gotten up. It were long to report the Fooleries, Tricks, Traverses, and pleasant Sports they make when they are taught, which seem not to come from brute Beasts, but from a manlike understanding. The same Author saw one in Carthagena, in the Governors' House, so taught, as the things he did seemed incredible: They sent him to the Tavern for Wine, putting the Pot in one hand and the Money in the other; and they could not possibly get the Money out of his hand before he had his Pot full of Wine. If any Children met him in the street, and threw any stones at him, he would set his Pot down on the one side, and cast stones against the Children, till he had assured his way, than would he return to carry home his Pot: and which is more, although he were a good Bibber of Wine, yet would he never touch it until leave was given him. They told him moreover, that if he saw any Women painted, he would fall upon them, pull off their Attire, and would seek to bite them.   

Several Rarities of divers Countries.  
THe Coco-tree is one of the most admirable Rarities in the whole World, which Mr. Herbert in his Travels thus describes. The Tree that bears the Coco is straight and lofty, without any Branches save at the very top, where it spreads its beautiful plumes, and Nuts like Pearls or Pendants adorning them. It is good Timber for Canoes, Masts, Anchors: the leaves for Tents or Thatching: the Rind for Sails, Matteresses, Cables, and Linen: the Shells for Furniture, the Meat for Victualling. The Nut is covered with a thick rind, equal in bigness to a Cabbage. The Shell is like the Skull of a man, or rather a Deaths-head; the Eyes, Nose and Mouth being easily discerned: within it is contained a quart of sweet and excellent Liquor, like new White-wine, but far more aromatic tasted: The Meat or Kernel is better relished than our filberts, and is enough to satisfy the Appetite of two reasonable men.  
— the Indian Nut alone  
Is Clothing, Meat, and Trencher, Drink and Can,  
Boat, Cable, Sail, Mast, Needle, all in one.  
The Divine Du Bartas hath celebrated its praises unto the Life, in these Verses, translated by Joshua Sylvester.  
The Indian Isles most admirable be  
In those rare Fruits, called Coco's commonly;  
The which alone far richer wonder yields,  
Than all our Groves, Meads, Gardens, Orchards, Fields.  
What wouldst thou drink? the wounded leaves drop Wine?  
Lackest thou fine Linen? dress the tender Rind.  
Dress it like Flax, spin it, then wove it well,  
It shall thy Cambric and thy Lawn excel.  
Longest thou for Butter? bite the pulpous part,  
For never better came to any Mart.  
Dost need good Oil? then bolt it to and fro,  
And passing Oil it soon becometh so.  
Or Vinegar? to whet thine Appetite;  
Why Sun it well, and it will sharply bite.  
Or want'st thou Sugar? steep the same a stound,  
And sweeter Sugar is not to be found.  
'Tis what you will, or will be what you would,  
Should Midas touch it, sure it would be Gold.  
And God, all good, to crown our Life with Bays,  
The Earth with Plenty, and his Name with Praise;  
Had done enough, if he had made no more  
But this one Plant, so full of choicest store;  
Save that the World (where one thing breeds satiety)  
Could not be fair without so great Variety.  
Sir James Lancaster, in his East-India Voyage, in the Isle of Sombrero, found on the Sea Sands a young Twig growing up to a Tree, and offering to pluck up the same, it shrunk down into the Ground; and when it was by Strength pulled up, a great Worm was the Root of it; and as the Tree groweth in greatness the Worm diminisheth. This Tree plucked up, the Leaves and Pill stripped off, by that time it's dried, is turned into a hard Stone. So that this Worm was twice transformed into different Natures after a wondrous manner.  
In Aethiopia is a Lake of that poisonous Nature, that whosoever drinketh of the Water of it either falleth immediately mad, or is for a long time troubled with an extreme Drowziness; as saith Ovid,  
Aethiopesque Lacus; quos si quis faucibus hausit,  
Aut furit, aut patitur mirum gravitate soporem.  
Who doth not know the Aethiopian Lake,  
Whose Waters he that drinks his Thirst to slake;  
Either groweth mad, or doth his Soul oppress  
With an unheardof heavy Drowziness.  
The Persians have a very great Aversion for Swine, and conceive they have especially Reason for it, following the Example of the Jews; and to that purpose, tell a ridiculous and obscene Story, which they take out of the Alcoran, and relate, That one day the Apostles entreated our Saviour to tell them after what manner Noah lived in the Ark during the Deluge: but our Saviour, without saying a Word to them, having taken a handful of Dirt, made the Figure of a Man with it, cast it upon the ground, and said to it, rise up in the name of the Father; immediately there started up an old Man, all white, whom our Saviour asked, Who art thou? He made answer, I am Japhet the Son of Noah. Our Saviour asked him whether he were so white when he died; whereunto he answered, that he was not, but that he became so just that moment, out of the fear he was in to appear before God, as believing he had been raised up to come to the last Judgement. Upon that, Jesus Christ commanded him to acquaint the Apostles with all that had been done in the Ark; Japhet obeyed, and told them, among other things, that one day the Ark being so full of Dirt at that place where the house of Ease stood, that Noah fearing it might take in Water there, thought fit to consult God in that Extremity. The Divine Answer was, that he should send an Elephant to the said common House, and that of the Dung of that Creature and Man's mixed together, there was immediately engendered a Swine, which so turned up that heap of Ordure with his Snowt, that the Ark went very even. This nasty Creature having filled its Nostrils with Filth, sneezed very violently; by means of which sneezing, there came out a Rat, which put Noah into greater Perplexity than before; insomuch, that to be delivered out of these Troubles he addressed himself once more to God, and asked him what he should do in that unhappy Conjuncture. The Answer was, that God commanded him to strike the Lion upon the Head with a Wand, and that he being thereby put into a Fury, fell a roaring so loud, that out of his Nostrils there came out a Cat, which immediately pursued the Rat. Now Noah knowing that he was to continue forty Years in the Ark, separated the Males from the Females, out of a fear, that the several Species multiplying, the Ark would not be able to contain them, and that they might want Meat. Of all Creatures, only the Dog had the Freedom allowed him to stay with the Bitch at the bottom of the Ark; one day the Cat having observed that those Creatures had the liberty to do what all the rest were denied, went and made her Complaints to Noah, who reproaching them with what they had done, the Dog would not acknowledge the Fact. But, word was so often brought to Noah of the Dog's Transgression, that he desired God to make known the Truth of it by an infallible Proof, and that afterwards, the Dog desirous to line the Bitch, became fastened to her; wherewith the Cat having acquainted Noah, they were taken in the Fact, and found guilty of having lied before. Thence it comes, that ever since that time, Dogs have been so fastened in the Act of Generation, and have an inveterate Feud against Cats.   

Of a mirthful Custom, formerly used at Dunmow in Essex.  
FOrmerly there was a Priory at this Dunmow, founded (saith Speed) by Juga, a noble Lady, Anno 1111. for black Nuns; but it seems afterwards the Property thereof was altered into a Male Monastery; the mortified men wherein were mirthful sometimes, as it appeared; for, if any Person, from any part of England, came thither, and humbly kneeling on two Stones at the Church-door, before the Prior or Covent, he might demand at his own Pleasure a Gammon or Flitch of Bacon, upon the solemn taking of the ensuing Oath.  
You shall swear by the Custom of our Confession,  
That you never made any Nuptial Transgression  
Since you were married, Man or Wife,  
By household Brawls or contentious Strife;  
Or otherwise, in Bed or at Board  
Offended each other in deed or word;  
Or, since the Parish-Clark said Amen  
Wished yourselves unmarried again;  
Or, in a Twelvemonth and a Day  
Repent not in Thought any way;  
But continued true and in desire,  
As when you joined hands in holy Quire.  
If to these Conditions, without all fear,  
Of your own Accord you will freely swear,  
A Gammon of Bacon you shall receive,  
And bear it hence with Love and good Leave  
For, this is our Custom, at Dunmow well known;  
Though the Sport be ours, the Bacon's your own  
The Party or Pilgrim for Bacon was to take his Oath before the Prior, the Covent, and the whole Town, humbly acknowledging in the Churchyard, upon two hard Stones, which some say are yet to be seen in the Priory Church-yard: his Oath was administered with such long Process, and such solemn singing over him, as doubtless must make his Pilgrimage, as I may term it, painful. After this, he was taken upon men's Shoulders, and carried, first about the Priory Church-yard, and after through the Town, with all the Friars and Brethren, and all the Towns-folk, young and old following him, with Shouts and Acclamations, and with his Bacon before him, and in such manner he was sent home with his Bacon; of which, I find some had a Gammon, and others had a Flitch; for proof whereof, I have found out the Record of the House, and the Names of the several Persons that at several times had it. There was one Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in the County of Essex, Husbandman, that came to the Priory of Dunmow, on our Lady-day, in the seventh year of King Edward the Fourth, and required a Gammon of Bacon, and was sworn before Roger Rulcot then Prior, and the Covent of that place, as also before the multitude of other Neighbours; and there was a Gammon of Bacon delivered unto him. Also one Richard Wright of Badesnorth, near the City of Norwich, in the County of Norfolk, came and required of the Bacon of Dunmow, on the 17 day of April in the twenty third year of the Reign of Henry the sixth; and, according to the form of the Charter, was sworn before John Canon Prior of the place, the Covent, and many other Neighbours, and there was delivered unto him a Flitch of Bacon. Hereby appeareth it was given according to Charter or Donation by some conceited Benefactor, to the House; and it was not to be doubted, but at such a time the bordering Towns and Villages would resort, and be Partakers of their Sport, and laugh to scorn the poor men's pains.  
Also it is to be remembered, that in the Year of our Lord 1510. upon Monday, being the eighth day of September, in the second year of King Henry the Eighth, that Thomas Lee of Coxal in Essex, was sworn before John Taylor the Prior of the House, and the Covent, as also before a Multitude of other Neighbours; and there was delivered unto him a Gammon of Bacon.   

Of what we find in credible Authors concerning the famous Guy, Earl of Warwick.  
THIS Guy was Son unto one Siward, Baron of Wallingford, who married unto Felicia, sole Daughter and Heiress of Rohand, the first we read of the Saxon Race that was Earl of Warwick, and in her Right became Earl of that Earldom; who, for his Valour, hath ever since been, and yet is so famous, that the Vulgar are of Opinion he was a Man of more than an ordinary Stature; and the Welsh taking notice of his brave Exploits will needs have him to be descended from British Parentage.  
Soon after his Marriage with Felicia aforesaid, being now pretty well stricken in Years, he went on Pilgrimage to the Holy-Land, where he abode for some space; during which time, viz. Anno 926. in the third Year of King Athelstane, the Danes having invaded England, cruelly wasted the Countries where they marched, so that there was scarce a Town or Castle that they had not burnt or destroyed, almost as far as Winchester; and hearing that the King with his Nobles then was in that City consulting about some timely means to prevent the utter loss of all, they sent Messengers to him, proposing, that either he would forthwith resign his Crown to the Danish Generals, viz. Aulafe and Govelaph, or submit to hold this Realm of them, doing Homage and Fealty, and paying Tribute according to their Appointment; or lastly, that the whole Dispute for the Kingdom should be determined in a single Combat, by two Champions, for both sides; this being added by Aulafe, that if in that Duel King Athelstane's Champion had the Victory, he would presently depart the Land with his Army; but otherwise, without any more ado it should wholly belong to the Danes.  
Of which Proposals, King Athelstane accepted the last; and calling together his Nobles, offered that Province (viz. Hantshire) for a reward to him that should conquer the Danish Champion called Colbrand; and to the end that God would direct him in the choice of one to undertake this Combat, he enjoined a Fast for three days, in which, with earnest Prayers and abundant Tears; he besought his Favour: but in this choice the English were exceedingly astonished, forasmuch as one Herand a most valiant and hardy Knight of this Nation, was then beyond Sea, seeking after Reynburn, the Son of his Lord and Master Earl Guy, that had been stolen away by Merchants of a Foreign Country, in his Infancy; as also, that Earl Rohand, Guy's Father-in-law, the most valiant of a thousand, was dead; and also Guy himself (as we said before) was gone in Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. But it so fell out, that God being moved with the sorrowful Tears and Intercessions of the English, sent a good Angel to comfort the King, as he lay upon his Bed, the very Night of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, directing that he should rise early on the Morrow, taking two Bishops with him, and get up to the top of the North-gate of that City, staying there till the hour of Prime, and then should he see divers poor People and Pilgrims enter thereat; amongst which, there would be a personable Man in a Pilgrim's Habit, barefooted, with his Head uncovered, and upon it a Chaplet of white Roses, and that he should entreat him, for the love of Jesus Christ, the devotion of his Pilgrimage, and the preservation of all England, to undertake the Combat, for he should conquer the mighty Colebrand, and deliver his Realm from the Danish Servitude. Whereupon, King Athelstane, with fervent Zeal, hasted betimes in the Morning to Mass, and sent for the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the Bishop of Chichester, to whom he related his Vision, taking them along to the Gate assigned.  
About this time it happened that our famous Guy, returning from his Pilgrimage, landed at Portsmouth; and being there advertised of Sir Herand's Absence, as also of Earl Rohand's Death, together with the great distress that the King and his Nobles were then in, hasted towards Winchester immediately, and coming at night to an Hospital, but little distant from the North-gate of that City (in which place afterwards the Hospital in honour of the Holy Cross, was founded) where he rested himself, and on the next morning went with other poor people to the City Gate; to which place the King being come for the purpose before specified, and espying one neatly clad in a white short sleeved Gown, reaching to the leg, with a Garland of Roses upon his Head, and a large Staff in his Hand, but looking wan, and much macerated by reason of his travelling barefoot, and his Beard grown to a very great length, he concluded that the same was the Man described to him by that Angel; and being full of Joy told those that were there with him as much.  
The Palmer (for so was he at that time called) taking notice of the King and Bishops, put off his Chaplet, and reverently saluting them, entered the Gate; whereupon, the King hasted down, and laying hold of his Coat, tendered him Entertainment, with desire to hear some News; but the Palmer returning humble Thanks, answered, that the Hour to take up his Lodging was not yet come, for that he intended first to visit the Churches of that City, and there offer up his Prayers unto God, but afterwards seek some Food for to refresh himself withal; which being done, he purposed to depart thence, and perform such Penance as he was to do for his Sins. Whereunto the King replied, the reason why we have here stayed, hath been only to wait upon your coming; for it is the Will of God, that you must encounter with that wicked Colebrand the Saracen, for the Safeguard of us and all the English Nation, and Freedom thereof, from the Yoke of Slavery; for Olaus' King of Denmark, and Golanus of Norway, have besieged us here almost a Twelvemonth; and now we have concluded a Truce, upon Condition that we must find a Man to undergo the Combat with Colebrand their Champion; and in case our Champion shall overcome him, they are forthwith to quit the Land, without doing Injury to any, and not disturb this Realm any more: therefore we do desire you, for the love of Christ our Saviour, and for the Pardon of your own Sins, that you will heartily undertake this Duel against that cursed Pagan, for the cause of God's Church and Christian Religion. To whom the Palmer answered, O my Lord the King, you may easily see that I am not in any Condition to take upon me this fight, being feebled and weakened with daily Travel: Alas! where are your stout and hardy Soldiers, who had wont to be in great Esteem with you?  
Ah! quoth the King, some of them are dead, and some of them are gone to the Holy-Land, but not yet returned: I had one valiant Knight which was Earl of Warwick, called Guy, and he had a courageous Servant, named Sir Herand de Ardene, would to God I had him here, for than should this Duel be soon undertaken, and the War finished: And as he spoke these Words, the Tears fell from his Eyes; whereat the Palmer being very sorrowful, besought him to sorbear further grieving, assuring him, that for the love of Christ Jesus, and the Blessed Virgin, as also for the honour of God's Holy Church, and for the Soul of Guy, and Herand his Companion, he would in the fear of God undergo the Combat. Then did they bring him into the City, and to the Church, with ringing of Bells, and Te Deum was begun with cheerful Voices; and entertained him with Meat and Drink, as also with bathing, putting Apparel upon him, and for the space of three Weeks cheered him up with the best Refreshments.  
After which, when the day appointed for that Duel was come, the Palmer rose early, and heard three Masses, the first of the Holy Ghost, the second of the Blessed Trinity, and the third of the Holy Cross; which being ended, he forthwith armed himself with the King's best Harness, and girt the Sword of Constantine the Great about him; and taking St. Maurice his Lance in his hand, got up on the King's best Courser, being accounted, of all that beheld him, the most proper and well-appointed Knight that ever they saw. From thence road he through the midst of the City, towards the place assigned for the Combat, which was in a Valley called Chiltecumbe, where he waited for Colebrand, who shortly after came so weightily harnessed, that his Horse could scarcely carry him, and before him a Cart loaded with Danish Axes, great Clubs with knobs of Iron, squared bars of Steel, and Iron Hooks to pull his Adversary to him; and so soon as he saw the Palmer make towards him, calling loudly, he bade him get off his Horse and cast himself down with Submission; but, the Palmer arming himself with the sign of the Cross, and commending himself to God, put Spurs to his Horse to meet the Giant. This Battle is thus described by the Poet:  
Here Colebrand forward made, and soon the Christian Knight  
Encounters him again with equal Power and Might;  
Whereas, betwixt them two might easily have been seen  
Such Blows, in public Throngs, as used, had they been,  
Of many there the least might many men have slain;  
Which none but they could strike, nor none but they sustain.  
Sir Guy in the first Encounter pierced the Giant's Shield so far that his own Lance broke into Shivers, which so enraged the Giant, that he bore up fiercely towards the Palmer, and smote his Horse with such Strength, that he cut off his Head. The Palmer therefore being dis-mounted, nimbly, and with great Courage, directed his Blow at the Giant's Helmet; but, by reason of his height, could reach no farther than his Shoulder. Then Colebrand smote at the Palmer with a square bar of Steel, but he seeing his Danger, interposed his Shield, which bore off the Blow, and on a sudden, did so vigorously lay at the corner of the giant's Target, that his Club, bossed with Iron, fell to the ground, which, whilst he stretched out his Arm to take up, the Palmer with his Sword cut off his Hand; whereupon the Danes grew much dismayed, and on the other side was there as great rejoicing by King Athelstane and the English; and yet notwithstanding did Colebrand hold out the Combat till the Evening of that day, that by losing so much Blood he fainted, so that Guy with all his strength fetching a blow, cut off his Head. The other valiant Exploits of Guy are thus in few Lines expressed by the Poet:  
He for dear Phillis name, and Country to advance,  
Left Warwick's wealthy Seat, and sailing into France,  
At Tilt, from his proud Steed, Duke Otton threw to ground,  
And with th' invalued Prize of Blanch the beauteous crowned;  
(The Almain emperor's Heir) high Acts did there achieve,  
And Lorain he again did valiantly relieve.  
Then in the Sultan's Blood his worthy Sword imbrued;  
And next, in single Fight great Amarant subdued.  
'Twas his Herculean Hand which happily destroyed  
That Dragon which so long Northumberland annoyed;  
And slew that cruel Boar which waste our Wood-lands laid,  
Whose Tusks turned up our Tilths, and Dens in Meadows made,  
Whose Shoulderblade remains at Coventry till now:  
And afterwards did quell that monstrous fearful Cow,  
The Passengers, that used, from Dunsmore to affright:  
Of all our English yet the most renowned Knight.  
But to return where we left: Guy having thus happily obtained the Victory, occasioned the Danes with great Confusion to hasten away; and the valiant Guy, to give thanks unto God, repairing forthwith to the Cathedral, where he was honourably received with solemn Procession, by the Clergy and others, and offered his Weapon to God and the Patron of that Church before the high-Altar, which, my Author saith, even to his time, was kept in the Vestry there, and called by the name of Colbrand's Axe, but, this being done, re-assumed his Pilgrim's Habit. Whereupon, the King became most importunate with him to discover his Name, but he utterly refused so to do, except to himself, and that upon his Oath not to reveal it; unto which Condition the King assenting, they walked out alone in a Bye-path to a certain Cross, at some distance from the City: and as soon as they came thither, humbly bowing himself to the King, and saying, that he was Guy, Earl of Warwick, the King embraced him in his Arms, kissed him, and promised him large Rewards if he would live in his Court; but he, with much Thankfulness, refusing to receive any, besought the King that he would not disclose what he had said, in regard his Resolution was to continue in that Pilgrim's state; and so they there parted with Tears.  
From whence, the Earl bent his Course towards Warwick; and coming thither not known of any, for three days together took Alms at the hands of his own Lady, as one of those twelve poor People unto which she daily gave Relief herself, for the Safety of him and her, and the Health of both their Souls. And having rendered thanks to her, he repaired to an Hermit that resided amongst the shady Woods hard by, desiring, by Conference with him, to receive some Spiritual Comfort, where he abode with that holy Man till his Death, and then succeeded him in that Cell, and continued the same course of Life for the space of two Years after; but then discerning Death to approach, he sent to his Lady their Wedding Ring, by a trusty Servant, wishing her to take care of his Burial; adding also, that when she came she should find him lying dead in the Chapel, before the Altar; and moreover, that within fifteen days after, she herself should depart this Life. Whereupon, she came accordingly, and brought with her the Bishop of the Diocese, as also many of the Clergy and other People; and finding his Body there did honourably inter it in that Hermitage, and was herself afterwards buried by him, leaving her paternal Inheritance to Reynburn her only Son. Which departure of our famous Guy happened in the Year of our Lord, 929. and of his own Age the 70.   

The Life of St. Patrick the Irish Apostle.  
SAint Patrick was born in the Marches between England and Scotland, in a Town by the Seaside, named Eiburn, whose Fathers name was called Calphurnius, a Deacon, and Son to a Priest; his Mother, named Couches, was Sister to St. Martin, that famous Bishop of Tours in France. Patrick of a child was brought up in Learning, and well instructed in the Faith, being much given to Devotion. The Irishmen, (in those days) assisted with some Scots and Picts, were become arch-Pirates, greatly disquieting the Seas about the Coasts of Britain, and used to sack little small Villages that lay scatteringly along the shore, and would lead away the Inhabitants captive home into their Country. And, as it chanced, Patrick being a Lad of sixteen years old, and a Scholar then in Secular Learning; was taken among others, and became Slave to an Irish Lord, called Macbuaine, from whom (after the term of six years) he redeemed himself with a piece of Gold, which he found in a Clod of Earth that the Swine had newly turned up, as he followed them in the time of his Captivity, being appointed by his Master to take charge of them, and keep them.  
And as Affliction (commonly) maketh men Religious, the regard of his former Education had stamped in him such remorse and humility, that being thenceforth weaned from the World, he betook himself to Contemplation, ever lamenting the want of Grace and Truth in that Island, and alluring one of that Nation to bear him company, for exercise sake, he departed thence, and got him into France, ever having in his mind a desire to see the Conversion of the Irish People, whose Babes yet unborn, seemed to him in his dreaming, from forth their Mother's Wombs to call for Christendom.  
In this purpose he sought out his Uncle Martin, by whose means he was placed with Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre, continuing with him as Scholar or Disciple for the space of forty Years; all which time, he bestowed in the study of Holy Scriptures, Prayers, and such godly Exercises. Afterwards being renowned through the Latin Church, for his Wisdom, Virtue, and Learning, he went to Rome, bearing Letters with him in his Commendation from the French Bishops unto Pope Celestine, to whom he uttered his whole Mind and Secret Vow, which long before he had conceived as touching Ireland. Celestine invested him Archbishop and Primate of the whole Island, set him forward with all Favour he could, bringing him and his Disciples onward to their Country.  
In the twenty third Year of the Emperor Theodosius the younger, being the year of our Lord 430, Patrick landed in Ireland, and because he spoke the Tongue perfectly, and withal being a reverend Personage in the eyes of all Men, many listened and gave ear to his preaching. And the rather, because (as some Writers have recorded) he confirmed his Doctrine with divers Miracles, of which, that called St. Patrick's Purgatory is most remarkable, the description of which, out of Giraldus Cambrensis, an eminent Irish Author, take as followeth.  
In the Parts of Ulster (saith he) there is a Pool or Lake which environeth an Island, in the one part whereof there standeth a Church, much enlightened with the brightsome recourse of Angels: the other part is ugly, and ghastly, as it were a Bedlam, allotted to the visible Assemblies of horrible and grisly Bugs. This part of the Island containeth nine Caves, and if any dare be so hardy as to take his lodging a Night in one of them, straight these Spirits claw him by the back, and tug him so ruggedly, and toss him so crabbedly, that now and then they make him more frank of his Bum than of his Tongue; a payment correspondent to his entertainment. This place is called St. Patrick's Purgatory, of the Inhabitants; for when St. Patrick laboured the Conversion of the People of Ulster, by setting before their eyes in great heat of Spirit, the Creation of the World, the Fall of our Progenitors, the Redemption of man by the blessed and precious blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the certainty of Death, the Immortality of the Soul, the general Resurrection, the day of Judgement, the Joys of Heaven, the Pains of Hell; how that at length every man, small and great, young and old, rich and poor, King and Keisar, Potentate and Peasant, must either, through God's gracious mercy, be exalted to the one, to flourish in perpetual Felicity; or through his unsearchable Justice, tumbled down to the other, to be tormented in eternal misery. These and the like grave and weighty Sentences, wherewith he was abundantly stored, so far sunk into their Hearts, as they seemed very flexible in condescending to his Doctrine, so that some proof of his strange preaching could have been verified; whereupon, without farther delay, they spoke to the Prelate after this manner. Sir, As we like of your preaching, so we dislike not of our Liberty; you tell us of many gew gaws, and strange Dreams, you would have us to abandon Infidelity, to cage up our Liberty, to bridle our Pleasure; for which you promise us for our toil and labour, a Place to us, as unknown, so as yet uncertain. You sermon to us of a Dungeon appointed for Offenders and Miscreants; indeed if we could find that to be true, we should the sooner be weaned from the sweet nipple of our Liberty, and frame ourselves pliant to the Will of that God that you reveal unto us.  
St. Patrick considering that these silly Souls were (as all carnal ones for the most part are) more to be terrified from Infidelity through the Pains of Hell, than alured to Christianity by the Joys of Heaven, most heartily besought God, for the Honour and Glory of his Divine Name, to give some evident token of the matter they so importunately required. Finally, by the especial direction of God, he found in the North-edge of Ulster a desolate corner, hemmed in round, and in the middle thereof a Pit, where he built a Church; at the East end of which was a door which led to a Closet of Stone, like to a long Oven, which was called St. Patrick's Purgatory, for that the People for several Ages after resorted thither to do Penance, reporting at their return strange Visions of Pain and Bliss appearing unto them; and this is the Cave which the Inhabitants in these days call Ellan u ' Frugadory, that is, the Isle of Purgatory, and St. Patrick's Purgatory, and is by the Irish had in great Veneration to this day.  
Those that repaired to this place for Devotion-sake, used to continue therein twenty four hours, sometimes with Ghostly meditations, and otherwhiles with dread for the Conscience of their Deserts, when they said they saw a plain resemblance of their own Faults and Virtues, with the horror thereunto belonging; the one so terrible, the other so joyous, that they verily deemed themselves for the time to have had a sight of Heaven and Hell. The Revelation of Men, (St. Patrick yet living) were kept written within the adjoining Abbey for many Ages after. Now when any Person was disposed to enter, (for the Door was always kept fast shut up) he repaired first to the Archbishop, who cast before him the Perils and Dangers belonging thereunto, because it was known that divers entering into that Cave, were never seen to return back: but if the Party were fully resolved, he recommended him to the Prior, who in like manner would exhort him to choose some other kind of Penance, and not to hazard such a danger. If notwithstanding he found the party fully bend, he conducted him to the Church, enjoining him to begin with Prayer, and Fast of fifteen days together, or so long as in discretion could be endured; That time expired, if yet he persevered in his purpose, the whole Convent accompanied him with solemn Procession and Benediction to the Mouth of the Cave, where they let him in, and so barred up the door till the next morning; and then with like Ceremonies they waited his return; if he were seen no more, they fasted and prayed fifteen days after.  
But to return to St. Patrick; what with his Doctrine and the Holiness of his Life, he won many to embrace Christianity, so that the better part of the Kingdom were converted to the Faith of Christ; for; Laigerius Son to Nealus the great Monarch, although he received not the Gospel himself, yet permitted all that would, to embrace it: but, because he refused to be baptised and apply to his Doctrine, the Bishop denounced against him a Curse from God accordingly, but yet tempered with Mercy and Judgement; as thus, That during his Life he should be victorious; but after him, neither should the Kingdom stand, nor his Lineage inherit. Thence he took his way to Conil Lord of Connaught, who honourably received him, and was converted, with all his People, sending him afterward to his Brother Logan, King of Leinster, whom he also converted. In Munster he found great Friendship, by the means of an Earl there named Davis, who honoured him highly, and gave him a dwelling-place in the East-Angle of Armagh, called Sorta, where he erected many Cells and Monasteries, both for religious Men and Women. He traveled thirty years in preaching through the Land, planting Bishops and Priests in convenient places, whose Learning and Conversation, by the especial Grace and Favour of God, established the Faith in that rude Nation: other thirty years he spent in his Province of Armagh, among his Brethren placed in those Houses of Religion, which by his means were founded. So he lived in all about 122 Years, and then he died; being after his Death canonised for a Saint, and had in such venerable Esteem in his Country, that in Controversies and solemn Protestations they were accustomed to swear by St. Patrick's Staff, which Oath they feared more to break than if they had sworn by the Holy Evangelists. His See also of Armagh, was, by reason of him, had in such honourable Estimation in old time, that not only Bishops and Priests, but Kings also and Princes, were (in general) subject to the Metropolitan thereof in all Obedience, and to his Government alone. After his Death rose as great difference for his Sepulchre, as was for Homer amongst them of Greece; they of Down challenged his Grave to be with them, upon certain Verses written on a Tomb, which ascribes Patrick, Bridget, and Columbe to be buried therein; they of Armagh lay claim by the Warrant of St. Bernard, who saith, that Patrick in his Life time there ruled, and after Death there rested; Glassenbury in England, by ancient Records, will have his Body interred with them; and Scotland avoucheth his Birth to be at Glasco, and Bones to rest at Kirk-Patrick with them: thus is his Burial place left dubious, such striving there is for the Interment of honourable Persons; as it happened to St. Telion, a famous Bishop of Landaff in Wales, at whose Burial, it is said, that three places did strive to have the interring of his Body; Pen-allum, where his Ancestors were buried; Lanfolio naur, where he died; and Landaff, his Episcopal See: Now after Prayer to God to appease this Contention, in the place where they had left him, there appeared suddenly three Hearses, with three Bodies so like as no Man could discern the right, and so every one taking one, they were all well pleased.   

A marvellous Preservation of the Protestants in Ireland in the time of Queen Mary, by a merry Accident.  
ABout the third Year of the Reign of Queen Mary, a Pursuivant was sent with a Commission into Ireland, to empower some eminent Persons to proceed with Fire and Faggot against poor Protestants. It happened by divine Providence, this Pursuivant, at Chester, lodged in the House of a Protestant Innkeeper, who having gotten some Inkling of the matter, secretly stole his Commission out of his Cloak-bag, and put the Knave of Clubs in the room thereof. Some Weeks after, he appeared before the Lords of the Privy Council at Dublin, whereof Bishop Coren, Archbishop of Dublin, was then a Principal; but, instead of a Commission he produced a Card, which so incensed them, that they caused him to be committed to Prison for such an Affront, as done on design to deride them. Here he lay for some Months, till with much ado, at last he got his Enlargement. Then over he returned for England, and quickly getting his Commission renewed, makes with all speed for Ireland again; but before his Arrival there, he was prevented with the News of Queen Mary's Death: and so the Lives of many, and the Liberties of more poor Servants of God were preserved.   

Of the horrid Murder of duff, King of Scotland, and how miraculously it came to be discovered.  
THis duff began his Reign over Scotland about the Year of our Lord 968. being a Prince of an upright Justice, and one who would not favour Offences in any Person whatsoever. This his zeal of Justice was by his Subjects (to whom former Kings had let lose the Reins of Government) termed Severity: so that the Nobles being restrained from insulting and making Slaves of the Commonalty, broke forth into several Insurrections, especially in Murrayland, who all rose up against the King, unless it were the Castle of Foreste, of which one Donwald was Governor. These Rebels seeing they could not prevail upon the King by force, hired certain Witches to bewitch him to Death: these things being murmured amongst the People, and at last coming to the King's Ear, who then lay sick of a languishing Disease, and could take no rest day nor night, he sent two men into Murrayland, to discover, if they could, the Truth of the Business: These men dissembling the cause of their Journey, did so effectually pursue the same, that they were received into the Castle of Foreste in the dark of the Night, and declared unto Donwald the cause of their coming; requiring his Aid for the Accomplishment of the King's pleasure. The Soldiers which lay there in Garrison, had an inkling that there was some such matter in hand, as was talked of amongst the People, by reason that one of them kept as Concubine, a young Woman, which was Daughter to one of the Witches, as his Paramour, who told him the whole manner used by her Mother and other her Companions, with the Intent also which was to make away the King. The Soldier having learned this of his Leman, told the same to his Fellows, who made report thereof to Donwald, and he showed it to the King's Messengers, and therewith sent for the young Damsel which the Soldier kept, as then being within the Castle, and caused her upon strict Examination to confess the whole matter, as she had seen and knew: whereupon, learning by her Confession, in what House in the Town it was where they practised their hellish Mystery, he sent forth Soldiers about the midst of the Night, who breaking into the House, found one of the Witches, roasting upon a wooden Broach, an Image of Wax at the Fire, resembling in each Feature the King's Person, devised as is to be thought, by Craft and Art of the Devil: another of them sat reciting certain Words of Enchantment, and still basted the Image with a certain Liquor very busily. The Soldiers finding them occupied in this wise, took them, together with the Image, and led them into the Castle, where being strictly examined for what purpose they went about such manner of Enchantment; they answered, to the end to make away the King: for as the Image did waste before the Fire, so did the Body of the King break forth in sweat; and as for the words of Enchantment, they served to keep him still waking from Sleep, so that as the Wax ever melted, so did the King's Flesh, by which means it should have come to pass, that when the Wax were once clean consumed, the Death of the King should immediately follow. So were they taught by the Devil, and hired by the Nobles of Murrayland to do the same. The standers by, that heard such an abominable tale told by the Witches, straight ways broke the Image, and caused the Witches (according as they had well deserved) to be burnt to death. It is said, that the King, at the very same time that these things were a doing in the Castle of Foreste, slept that night without any Sweat breaking forth upon him at all; and being thus restored to his Strength, and certified what the Rebels of Murrayland had done, he raised an Army, and with the same marched against them, pursuing them thence unto Rosse, and from Rosse into Cathnesse where apprehending several of them, he brought them back to the Castle of Foreste, and there caused them to be hanged on divers Gallows and Gibbets. Amongst those that were thus executed, were some Gentlemen of note, near of Kin unto Donwald the Captain of the Castle, for whose lives he much interceded to the King; but receiving from him a flat denial, he conceived such an inward malice to his Sovereign, and being further instigated by his Wife, that he never left off till he found means to murder him: which was brought to pass in this wise;  
The King tarrying some time in that Country, was accustomed to lie most commonly within the same Castle, having a special Trust in Donwald, as a man whom he never suspected; but, Donwald not forgetting the Reproach which his Lineage had sustained, by the Execution of those his Kinsmen, carried a sorrowful Countenance amongst his Family; which his Wife perceiving, ceased not to travel with him till she understood what the cause was of his Displeasure; which when she had learned by his own Relation, she, as one that bore no less malice in her Heart towards the King, for the like cause, on her behalf, than her Husband did for his Friends, counselled him (since the King oftentimes used to lodge in the Castle without any Guard about him, other than the Garrison thereof, which were wholly at his Command) to devise some ways to rid him of his Life. Donwald thus by her persuaded, (as he must needs go whom the Devil drives) determined to follow her Advice: and the Night before the King was to depart, he being brought to Bed by two of his Chamberlains, those Chamberlains were invited by Donwald and his Wife to a Supper or Collation; whereat they sat up so long, till they had charged their Stomaches with such full Gorges, that their Heads were no sooner got to the Pillow, but a sleep they were so fast, that a man might have removed the Chamber over them rather than to have awakened them out of their drunken Sleep. These Chamberlains thus secured, Donwald called to four of his Servants whom he had made privy to his purpose, and declared to them which way they should work the Feat, who, according to his Instructions, entered the Chamber wherein the King lay, immediately before the Cocks crowing, where they cut his Throat as he lay sleeping, without any bustling at all; which having done, by a Postern Gate they conveyed the dead Body into the Fields, and throwing it upon a Horse provided ready for that purpose, conveyed it to a place distant about two miles from the Castle, whereby ran a little River, where they stayed, and got certain Labourers to help them to turn the Course thereof, and diging a deep hole in the Channel, they bury the Body in the same; and having turned the Water into the right Course again, they flew those whose Help they had used therein, and thereupon fled into Orkney.  
Donwald, about the time that the Murder was a doing, got him amongst them that kept the Watch, and so continued in Company with them all the residue of the Night: but, in the Morning, when the noise was raised in the King's Chamber, how the King was slain, his Body conveyed away, and the Bed all bewrayed with Blood, he, with the Watch, ran thither as though he had known nothing of the matter; where finding Cakes of Blood on the Bed, and on the Floor, and about the sides of it, he forthwith slay the Chamberlains, as guilty of that heinous Murder; and then like a Madman running to and fro, he ransacked every Corner within the Castle, pretending to have seen if he might have found either the Body, or any of the Murderers hid in any privy place; but at the length, coming to the Postern Gate, and finding it open, he burdened the Chamberlains, whom he had slain, with all the fault, they having the keys of the Gates committed to their keeping all the Night.  
It is said, that after this heinous Murder thus committed, there appeared no Sun by Day, nor Moon by Night, for the space of six Months together, in any part of the Realm, but still was the Sky covered with continual Clouds, and sometimes such outrageous Winds arose, with Lightnings and Tempests, that the People were in great fear of a general Destruction.  
In the mean time, the Scots crowned Culene, Prince of Cumberland, their King; who resolving to punish the Murderers of his Predecessor, marched with an Army into Murrayland; the Inhabitants of which Country hearing of his Approach, and the cause of his coming, were stricken with exceeding fear: but namely, Donwald being guilty in Conscience, doubted if he were put to Torture he should be enforced to confess the Truth; whereupon, without making his Wife privy to his Departure, or any other of his Family, save a few such as he took with him, he secretly got him to the Mouth of the River of Spey, where finding a Ship ready, he went aboard the same, purposing to have fled his ways by Sea into Norway. But, by this his Flight he detected himself; for, King Culene being hereof advertised, imagined assuredly that Donwald must needs be the Author of this horrid Murder, and thereupon passed over Spey Water, and taking the Castle of Foreste, slay all that he found therein, and put the House to Sack and Fire. Donwald's Wife, with his three Daughters, were taken alive, for so was the King's Command to whosoever should light on them; they being had to the Rack, the Mother upon Examination, confessed the whole matter, how by her Procurement chiefly, her Husband was moved to cause the Deed to be done, who they were that by his Commandment did it, and in what place they had buried the Body. The King, with the Residue, for that Night rested themselves, and in the Morning took order for Provision of all things necessary to take up the Body of King Duffe, and then to convey it unto Colmekill, there to be buried amongst his Predecessors. But, as they were preparing thereunto, word came that the Traitor Donwald was by Shipwreck cast upon the Shore, within four miles of the Castle, as though he were by God's Provision brought back into his own Country, to suffer worthy Punishment for his Demerits. Hereupon the King sent a Band of men to fetch him unto him, who were scarcely returned when likewise came in divers Lords of Rosse, bringing with them Donwald's four Servants, which (as before is said) did execute the Murder. Thus all the Offenders being brought together unto the place where the Murder was both contrived and executed, they were arraigned, condemned, and put to Death: being first scourged by the Hangman, then bowelled, their Entrails being thrown into the Fire and burnt; the other parts of their Bodies were cut into Quarters, and set upon the Gates and highest Towers of the chiefest Cities of the Realm.  
Next they proceed to take up the Body of King Duffe; which, notwithstanding it had lain six Months under the Ground, was nothing impaired in Colour, or otherwise, but was found as whole and found as though it had been yet alive, the Scars of the Wounds only excepted. But which is more strange, no sooner was the Body brought above the ground, but the Air began to clear up, and the Sun break forth, shining more brighter than it had been seen afore-time to any of the Beholder's Remembrance: but that which was most strange of all, was the sight of abundance of Flowers, which sprung forth over all the Fields immediately thereupon, clean contrary to the Time and Season of the Year. Not long after there was a Bridge made over the Water, in the same place where the Body had been buried; and a Village builded at the one end of the Bridge, called Killflos, that is, the Church of Flowers, taking that name of the Wonder that happened at the removing of the King's Body. Afterwards was there in the same place built a most magnificent Abbey, together with a very fair Church; which in the general decay of Abbeys felt also its Fate, being nothing of it left now, but only its remembrance in History.   

Of the Cruelty which Albovine, King of Lombardy, used to his Queen Rosamond; and by what means she was revenged on him; with her miserable end.  
THE first King of the Longobards which conquered that part of Italy since from them called Lombardy, was named Albovine, a Man of great Spirit, and very valiant in Actions of War. He conquered in Battle, Cunmond, King of the Girpideses, and causing his Head to be smitten off, made a drinking Cup thereof, wherein he used to drink in Triumph of his Conquest and Victory. Rosamond, Daughter to this King, a very beautiful Damsel, he took to Wife, and being one day over merry in Verona, he compelled her to drink out of her Father's Skull; whereat she conceived such high displeasure, that the entire Love which she had formerly borne him, was converted into deadly Hatred, with an absolute resolution to kill him, in revenge of this disgrace. And to assist her in this determination, she conferred with a Gentleman named Hermigilde, who told her, that to the execution of such an important Business, she should require the aid of a Valiant Knight in the Court, called Paradine, which instantly she did, but he would not yield thereto, because he took it to be too horrid a Treason. Finding her hope therein frustrated, and fearing lest her intent would be discovered, but ambitious to accomplish her Enterprise, being advertized by Hermigilde that Paradine dearly affected one of her attending Ladies, she devised thereby to effect her purpose. Being acquainted with the secret resort where Paradine and his Lover met together, she found some other Employment for the Lady, and made use of her place for the time, prostituting her Honour to satisfy her Revenge; Paradine keeping her there company a long time, imagining no other, but that it was the Mistress of his Affections.  
The Queen, who spent all this while in soft whispers and dalliance, not using any one word whereby she might be discovered, perceiving opportunity so aptly to fit her, spoke thus unto him; Knowest thou, Paradine, who it is that keepeth thee Company? Full well, (quoth he) with my Mistress, and then named her. Thou liest (false Traitor) replied the Queen, I am Rosamond, thy Sovereign's Wife, whom thou hast dared to abuse in this manner, and die thou must by the just Wrath of Albovine, except thou save thy Life by killing him: advise thee therefore whether his Life or thine own be dearest unto thee. When Paradine considered his dangerous estate, without any means or escape, he resolved to kill the King: and for his better furtherance therein, both he, the Queen, and Hermigilde took counsel together, contriving his Murder in this manner.  
The King used to Sleep in the heat of the day, when all else avoided the Chamber except the Queen. Now he being a King of Courage and high Resolution, ever slept like a Soldier, with his Sword girded about him; which, at this intended time of Treason, the Queen had tied so fast in the Scabbard, as he could by no means help himself therewith. Paradine and Hermigilde waiting the hour, which was upon the Queen's coming forth, they entered, and for all their treading the King heard them, and started from his Bed: when he saw two men armed with Weapons, a sudden fury possessed his Spirit, perceiving their intentions were against him, he sought to defend himself with his Weapon; which failing him by the aforesaid means of the Queen, and they with their Weapons every where striking at him and wounding him, he caught up a Stool, and therewith defended himself for a Space; till in the end they deprived him of Life, without any noise heard, or any suspicion of Murder.  
The King being thus Dead, all was carried with a smooth Countenance; Hermigilde possessed himself of the Palace, intending to make the Queen his Wife, as immediately he did. But notwitstanding all their close packing, the Lombard's not long after came to the knowledge of their King's Death, and in what manner he was murdered, which so incensed them that they purposed severely to revenge the same. This being notified to Rosamond and her complices, she packed up most of her Jewels and Royal Treasure, and fled away thence, carrying with them Alvisinda Daughter to King Albovine, by his first Wife, and hasted with all the speed they could to Ravenna, where then governed a Lieutenant of the Empire named Longinus, who kept that place for Tiberius, Son to the Emperor Constantine of Constantinople, by whom they were courteously entertained.  
Not long had they been there, but Longinus became enamoured on Rosamond, and therefore partly to enjoy her Love, partly to possess that Mess of Money and Jewels which she brought with her, and partly by her faction to raise a beneficial War against the Lombard's, he persuaded her to procure the Death of Hermigilde, and take him to her Husband; to which he found her very tractable: for, she having lost all love and fear of God, respect of Womanhood, and dreadless of the shame of Men, coveting withal to advance the downfallen estate, by marrying with the Emperor's Lieutenant; gave to Hermigilde an empoisoned Potion at his coming forth of his Bath, persuading him that it was most Sovereign for his Health; by which persuasion, he drank a good part thereof: but when he found it to afflict his Body, so as he plainly perceived himself to be poisoned; drawing forth his Sword, in extremity of Rage, he compelled Rosamond to drink up all the rest that remained in the Cup. So that at one instant time they were both justly requited for the Death of Albovine. Tidings hereof being brought to the Lieutenant Longinus, he caused the young Lady Alvisinda to be seized on, and sent her, with all her Jewels and Treasure to the Emperor Tiberius at Constantinople, with Paradine also, as a Prisoner, who for reward of his former Treason to his Sovereign, had his eyes pulled forth; after which, he lived but a while, and then died most miserably.   

The miseries of inforted Marriage; exemplified in a story of a Knight in Warwickshire, Murdered by his own Lady.  
IN the days of Queen Mary, there lived at Shirford in Warwickshire, one Sr. Walter Smith, Knight, who being grown an Aged Man, at the death of his first Wife, considering of a Marriage for Richard his Son and Heir, then at Man's Estate, to that end made his mind known to Mr. Thomas Chetwyn, of Ingestre in Staffordshire (a Gentleman of an ancient Family and a fair Estate) who entertaining the motion in behalf of Dorothy, one of his Daughters, was contented to give 500 pound Portion with her. But no sooner had the old Knight seen the young Lady, then that he became a Suitor for himself, being so captivated with her Beauty, that he tendered as much for her besides a good Jointure, as he should have received in case the Match had gone on for his Son. Which liberal Offer so wrought upon Mr. Chetwyn, as that with sparing not for arguments, to persuade his Daughter to accept of Sr. Walter for her Husband, adding to his persuasions something of Menaces, that at length, with much unwillingness, she consented thereunto. Whereupon the Marriage ensued accordingly; but with what a tragic Issue, will quickly be seen: for it was not long 'ere that her affections wandering after younger men, she gave entertainment to one Mr. William Robinson (then of Drayton-Basset, a young Gentleman of twenty two years of age) Son to George Robinson, a rich Mercer of London; and grew so impatient at all Impediments which might hinder her full Enjoyment of him, that she rested not till she had contrived a way to be rid of her Husband. For which purpose, corrupting her waiting Gentlewoman, and a Groom of the Stable, she resolved by their help, and the assistance of Robinson, to strangle him in his Bed, appointing the time and manner how it should be effected. And though Robinson failed in coming on the designed Night (perhaps through a dismal Apprehension of so horrid a Fact) she no whit staggered in her Resolutions: for, watching her Husband till he was fallen asleep, she then let in those Assassinates before specified, and casting a long Towel about his Neck, caused the Groom to lie upon him to keep him from struggling, whilst herself and the Maid straining the Towel, stopped his Breath.  
It seems the good old Gentleman little thought that this his Lady had acted therein; for, when they first cast the Towel about his Neck, he cried out, help Doll help: but, having thus dispatched the Work, they carried him into another Room where a Close-stool was placed, upon which they set him; and, after an hour, that the Maid and Groom were silently got away, to palliate the business, she made an Outcry in the House, wring her hands, pulling her Hair, and weeping extremely; with pretence, that missing him for some time out of Bed, she went to see what the matter was, and found him accidentally on the Close-stool in that Posture: which subtle and feigned Shows of Sorrow she acted so to the Life, as prevented all suspicion of his violent Death. And not long after, went to London, setting so high a value upon her Beauty, that Robinson, her former Darling, (perhaps for not keeping touch with her, as before is related) became estranged. But, within two Years following, it so happened, that this woeful deed of Darkness was brought to light, and that by the means of the Groom one of the Actors thereof, above specified; who being entertained a Servant with Mr. Richard Smith, Son and Heir to the murdered Knight, and attending him to Coventry with divers other Servants, his guilty Conscience which had oftentimes before flew in his Face, made him become so sensible of his Villainy, and being in his Cups, (a bad cause of a good effect) that out of good Nature he took his Master aside, and upon his Knees, humbly desiring Forgiveness of him for the Murder of his Father, made him acquainted with all the Circumstances belonging thereunto; which, tho' it struck in Mr. Smith a great Amazement and Abhorrency of the Fact, yet discreetly he gave him good Words, but privately commanded some other of his Servants to have an especial Eye on him, that he might not escape when he had slept and better considered what might be the Issue thereof; but notwithstanding this strict Charge, those careless Servants, either not knowing the horridness of his Fact, or out of love to his Person, suffered him to escape, and that on one of his Master's best Horses; who being thus mounted, hasted presently into Wales, attempting to go beyond Sea; but being hindered by contrary Winds, after three Essays to launch out, was so happily pursued by Mr. Smith, who spared for no cost in sending to several Ports, that he was apprehended and brought Prisoner to Warwick, as was also, about the same time, the Lady and her Gentlewoman, who notwithstanding the Circumstances before recited, did all of them, with great Boldness deny the Fact; the Groom to his other Wickedness most impudently charging Mr. Smith endeavour of corrupting him to accuse the Lady (his Mother-in-law) falsely, to the end he might possess her Jointure: but afterwards, upon his Arraignment, he was so smitten at apprehension of that load of guilt which lay upon him, that he publicly acknowledged it, and stoutly justified what he had so said, to be true, to the Face of the Lady and her Maid; who at first, with a great deal of Confidence, pleaded their Innocency: but at last, seeing each particular Circumstance so clearly discovered and avowed, they both confessed the Fact; for which, having Judgement to die, the Lady was burnt at a Stake, near the Hermitage on Wolvey Heath (towards the side of Shirford Lordship) where the Country People to this day show the place; and the Groom, with the Maid, suffered Death at Warwick. This was on May 15. in the third Year of Queen Mary's Reign.   

A remarkable Story of the occasion which made the Danes first to invade England: and of their murdering St. Edmund.  
AT such time as the Westsaxons had gotten the Sway of the whole Heptarchy, there reigned under them, in the Kingdom of Northumberland, as Viceroy, one Osbright; who, as he followed his disport in Hunting, came to the House of a Nobleman, named Beorn Bocador, whose Lady, of passing Feature, (in his Absence) gave him honourable Entertainment, and entreated both himself and Train to repose themselves there a while after their wearisome Delights. The Viceroy already ensnared with her Beauty, accepted her courteous offer, not so much to taste her Meats as to surfeit his Eyes with her rare Beauty, and lasciviously to dote in his own Affections. The Dinner ended, and all ready to depart, (as though some weighty matters were to be handled) he commanded an Avoidance from the Presence, and taking the Lady into a withdrawing Chamber, under pretence of secret Conference, greatly tending to the Advancement of her Lord and self, most unnobly, being not able to prevail by smooth Persuasions, did by force violate her constant Chastity: which Dishonour thus received, and her Mind distracted, like to Thamar's, at her Husbands Return, all ashamed to behold his Face, whose Bed had so been wronged, with floods of Tears she thus set open the Sluices of her Passions.  
Had thy Fortunes accorded to thy own Desert, or thy Choice proceeded as by Vow was obliged, then had no stain of Blemish touched thine Honour, nor cause of Suspicion once approached thy Thought; nor had myself been myself, these blushing Cheeks had not invited thy sharp piercing Eye to look into my guilty and defiled Breast, which owe thou may'st see disfurnished of Honour, and the Closet of pure Chastity broken up; only the Heart and Soul is clean, yet fears the Tincture of this polluted Cask, and would have passage (by thy revenging hand) from this loathsome Prison and filthy Trunk. I must confess our Sex is weak, and accompanied with many Faults, yet none excusable, how small soever; much less the greatest, which Shame doth follow and inward Gild continually attend: Yours is created more inviolable and firm, by whose Constancy, as our flexible Weakness is guarded, so our true Honours by your just Arms should be protected. O Beorn! Beorn! (for Husband I dare not call thee) revenge therefore my Wrongs, that am now made thy Shame, and Scandal of my Sex, upon that hideous Monster, nay incarnate Devil, Osbright, (O that very name like Poison corrupts my Breath, and I want Words to deplore my Grief!) who hath no Law but his Lust, nor measure of his Actions but his Power, nor privilege for his loathsome Life but his Greatness, whilst we with a self Fear, and servile Flattery, mask our Baseness with crouching Obedience, and bear the Wrongs of his most vile Adulteries. Thou yet art free from such dejected and degenerate Thoughts, nor hast thou smoothed him in his wicked and ever-working Devices; be still thyself then, and truly noble as thou art. It may be, for his place thou owest him respect; but what? therewith the loss of Honour? Thine Affection, but not thy Bed; thy Love, but not thy beloved; yet hast thou lost at once all these, and he thy only Bereaver; thou wast my Stay whilst I stayed by thee, and now being down, revenge my Fall. The Instinct of Nature doth pity our Weakness, the Law of Nations doth maintain our Honour, and the Sword of Knighthood is sworn by to be unsheathed for our just Defence; much more the link of Wedlock claims it, which hath locked two Hearts in one: But alas! that Ward is broken, and I am thy Shame, who might have been thy Honour. Revenge thyself therefore on him and me, else shall this hand let out the Ghost that shall still attend thee with Acclamations till thou revenge my stained Blood.  
Beorn, who was not used to be welcomed home in such a Dialect, much amazed at his Wife's Maladies, with gentle Words drew from her the Particulars of her inward Grief, who revealed (as well as Shame, Tears, and Sobs, would suffer) the manner of the deed, still urging Revenge for the Wrong. Beorn touched thus to the Quick, (to pacify his distressed Wife) did not a little dissemble his Wrath; and excusing the Fact with the Power of a Prince, that might command, and her own Weakness, unable to resist the Strength of a man, commended much her Love and Constancy; and alleging his Wrongs to be equal with hers, (if not greater) in regard of their Sex, willed her to set her string to his Tune, till fit opportunity would serve to strike: but she distasting that sweet Consort, wrested her Passion into so high a Strain, that nothing could be heard but Revenge and Blood.  
Beorn thus instigated by the continual Cries of his Wife, whose Rape already of itself had given sufficient cause of Wrath; first consulting with his nearest Friends, was offered their Assistance against that wicked and libidious Prince, and then repairing to his Court, in the presence of them all, made known his unsufferable Wrongs, resigning into his Hands all such Services and Possessions as he did hold of him, and with utter defiance departed, threatening his Death.  
This done, he took shipping, and sailed into Denmark, where he had great Friends, as having his bringing up there before, and is reported to have been allianced unto the Danish Blood: so coming to Godorick, King of that Country, made his Case known, instantly desiring his Aid against the Villainy of Osbright.  
Goderick, glad to have some Quarrel to invade England, levied an Army with all speed, and, preparation made for all things necessary, sendeth forth Inguar and Hubba, two Brethren, to command in chief over an innumerable Multitude of his Danes; which two, he thought at this time the fittest for the attempt, not only for their good Conduct and approved Valour, but also, for that he knew them to be, on particular Motives (which usually more affect than doth a common Cause) implacably enraged against the English, on an occasion unfortunately happening, but most lamentably pursued; which came to pass in manner as followeth.  
A Danish Nobleman of Royal Extraction, named Lothbroke, (which is in English no other than Leather-Breech) the Father to the two Brothers Inguar and Hubba; being upon the shore, his Hawk, in flying the Game, fell into the Sea, which to recover, he entered a little Skiff or Cockboat, nothing foreseeing the danger that immediately did ensue; for, a sudden Tempest arising, carried the Boat into the Deep, and drove him upon the Coast of Norfolk, where he came to land at the Port called Rodham; but see his Fortune, no sooner had he scaped one danger but he fell into another; for, the People there took him for a Spy, and as such a one, presently sent him to Edmund, than King of that Province: but in his Answers he sufficiently cleared that Suspicion, and also declaring his Birth and Misfortune, was honourably entertained in the Court of that East-Angles King, whom Edmund much esteemed for his other good Parts: but, for his dexterity and expertness in Hawking, held him in special regard; insomuch, that his Falconer, named Berick, envying the good parts of Lothbroke, as being endued with none himself, he therefore conceived such deadly hatred and malice thereat, as having him at advantage alone in a Wood, he cowardly murdered him, and hid his dead Body in a Bush.  
But Lothbroke, whose noble Parts had made him eminent, was soon missed, and diligent Inquisition being made, could not be found; until his Spaniel, which would not forsake his dead Master's Corpse, came fawningly unto the King, as seeming to beg Revenge of so bloody an Act, which he did more than once; and at length being observed, and followed by the Trace, the dead Body was found, and Bericke demonstrated to be the Murderer; and on sufficient Evidence convicted for the same: his Judgement being, to be put into Lothbroke's Boat, and that without either Tackle or Oar, as he therein arrived, and so left to the Seas Mercy, to be saved by Destiny, or swallowed up by just desert. But behold the Event; the Boat returned to the same place, and upon the same Coast arrived from whence it had been driven; where being known to be Lothbroke's Boat, Bericke was laid hands on; who to free himself from the punishment of his butcherly Fact, added Treason to Murder, laying it to the charge of innocent King Edmund, saying, that the King had put him to death in the Country of Norfolk.  
This was thought sufficiently worthy of Revenge, to which Goderick's Quarrel being added, did very much inflame the Courages of Inguar and Hubba, the two Sons of the murdered Prince, who thereupon having their Army in readiness, set forth to Sea; and first arriving at Holderness, burned up the Country, and without Mercy massacred all before them, sparing neither Sex, Calling, nor Age; and surprising York, which Osbright had taken for his Refuge, there slew that lustful Prince, with all his Forces, making thereby good that Saying of the Poet.  
Those whose Delights are in the Cyprian Game,  
Warming themselves in Lust's alluring Flame,  
And wallowing in that Sin, their Lives do spend,  
Do seldom to the Grave in Peace descend.  
Afterwards, the two furious Brethren marched with their Army into Norfolk, where they sent this Message unto King Edmund; That Inguar the most victorious Prince, dread both by Sea and Land, having subdued divers Countries unto his Subjection, and now arrived in those Parts, where he meant to Winter, charged Edmund to divide with him his Riches, and to become his Vassal aend Servant. The King being stricken into Astonishment at this strange and unexpected Message, consulted with his Counsel what to do therein; where one of his Bishops (than his Secretary, and a principal man) used Persuasions to him to yield, for preventing greater mischief; who notwithstanding returned this Answer: Go tell thy Lord, that Edmund the Christian King, for the love of this temporal Life, will not subject himself to a Heathen and Pagan Duke.  
Inguar and Hubba herewith exasperated, with the furious Troops of their Danes pursued the King to Thetford, and from thence to his Castle of Framingham, where he, pitying the terrible Slaughter of his People, yielded himself to their Persecutions; who, because he would not deny Christ and the Christian Faith, those Pagans first beat him with Bats, then scourged him with Whips, he still calling upon the name of Jesus; for rage whereof, they bound him to a Stake, and with their Arrows shot him to death; and cutting off his Head, contemptuously threw it into a Bush. Of which Head, we have a Monkish Story, written by the Author of their English Martyrology; for which, the Author doth very well deserve the Whetstone; viz. That when St. Edmund was murdered by the Danes, the Christians seeking his Corpse, were lost in a Wood, when calling one to another, Where art? Where art? Where art? the martyred Head answered, Here, Here, Here. However, God forbid that these Monkish Lies should make us undervalue this worthy King and Martyr, thus cruelly tortured to Death, which by an old Author is thus accurately expressed:  
Utque cruore suo Gallos' Dionysius ornat,  
Graecos Demetrius, gloria quisque suis;  
Sic nos Edmundus nulli virtute secundus,  
Lux patet, & patriae gloria magna suae.  
Sceptra manum, diadema caput, sua purpura corpus  
Ornat ei, sed plus vincula, mucro, cruor.  
As Denis by his Death adorneth France,  
Demetrius, Greece; each Credit to his place;  
So Edmund's Lustre doth our Land advance,  
Who with his Virtues doth his Country grace.  
Sceptre, Crown, Robe, his Hand, Head, Corpse, renowns,  
More famous for his Bonds, his Blood, his Wounds.  
And of these his Sufferings another Poet of middle time, thus versifies of him:  
Jam loca vulneribus desunt, nec dum furiosis  
Tela, sed hyberna grandine plura volant.  
Though now no place was left for Wounds, yet Arrows did not fail; These furious Wretches, still they fly thicker than Winter Hail.  
His Shirt was kept at the Abbey of Bury, for a precious Relic, which Monks, also bragged that they had certain Drops of St. Stephen's Blood (thou canst not, O Reader, but believe it) which sprung from him at such time as he was stoned; and some of the Coals with which St. Laurence was broiled.   

Some few notable Histories of Parents crossing the Affections of their Children, and the sad Effects attended thereon.  
IN Verona, a famous City in Italy, lived a young Gentlewoman named Julietta, of the noble House of the Montesches, or Montacutes; her Father being not willing that she should marry, when both the decency of Time, and aptness of her Years, made tender of themselves; therefore (in her fairest Flower) she espoused herself, unknown to her Parents, to a Gentleman's Son of another House and Family, called the Capelets, whose Name was Romeo, those two Families being mortal Enemies one to the other. This Marriage sorted unto the lamentable Death of both the Lovers, as you shall briefly hear in this manner. They being secretly married by the hand of a Cordelier or Franciscan Friar, a man most expert in the Secrets of Nature, who took great Compassion on their earnest reciprocal Affection, and daily Torments between them endured. It happened, on a certain day, that an Uncle to Julietta, in regard of the inveterate Hatred betwixt the two Families, drew upon Romeo, who (in defending himself) slew the said Uncle; whereupon he was banished, or (at the least) enforced to be absent from Verona. The woeful Gentlewoman having made her moan unto the honest minded Friar, under the shadow of Confession, concerning the irksome absence of her best esteemed Friend; he gave her advice to receive a little Potion when she went to Bed, which should cause her to sleep for more than thirty hours, so that she should be verily supposed to be dead. She boldly adventured on his Counsel, and her Parents imagining her to be dead indeed, caused her to be buried in the Tomb or Vault belonging to the House of her Predecessors.  
From thence the Friar purposed to fetch her at a certain hour of the Night, and to conduct her, (in the Habit of a Novice) to banished Romeo, who lived in a Land of another Jurisdiction, yet not far distant from the City: all this was possible and easy to be performed; for it was and is a common Custom there, not to bury deceased Bodies in Graves, as it is observed among us, but in Grotts or vaulted Caves. While these things were framing themselves, according to premeditated purpose, it fortuned, that a Servant belonging to Romeo came to Verona, to bring Letters of Recommendation to Julietta; and being returned back to his Master, reported the certain Tidings of her Death, and that himself was present at her interring. Romeo, confounded with Grief and extremity of Passions, found the means (in a disguised Habit) before the shutting up of Verona Gates, to enter the City. In the dead time of the Night also he compassed his Intent, entering the Church with a lighted Torch in his hand, having opened the doors by the help of his Servant, and also the Tomb wherein she lay enclosed. Then commanding the absence of his Servant, he entered into the Vault; and after infinite Kisses bestowed by him on Julietta, whom he verily conceited to be dead, he drank a most deadly Poison, which he had bought of a needy Apothecary, and which immediately fell to Operation, so slept he (for ever) by the body of Julietta. Now after her Drink had wrought his full Power, she awaked; and by means of the burning Torch, perceiving her Romeo to be quite dead, she was thereat greatly enraged with Grief, so that snatching a Poniard that hung at his Girdle, she therewith desperately slew herself. Not long after, the Friar, knowing the time expired for the waking of Julietta, came likewise to the Vault; but when he beheld that tragic woeful Spectacle, let his Sorrow be censured by such as are able to judge of the same. On the morrow after, the death of these two Lovers was discovered, and all matters rehearsed by Friar Laurence (for so was the Cordelier named) to the great Grief and Admiration of every one that heard it.  
Another History of as sad effects take as followeth. In the City of Rome, not long while since, there was a young Maiden (named Lucretia, Daughter to a rich Merchant) secretly espoused to a young man, called Paulo, Son also to another Merchant, the two Fathers being vowed Enemies, and both alike envious of each others Fortune. The Father of Paulo perceiving how fast aged Years came stealing on him, determined a marriage for his Son, acquainting him therewith; that he had made choice of one meet for him, commanding him also to fashion himself to good liking thereof, because he would have it accomplished within very few days. The Son deferred it off so long as well he could; yet to declare some Obedience to his Father, he craved Respite to consider thereof: but in the mean while, it was generally noised through the City of Rome, that Paulo must be married unto another. This News coming to the Ears of Lucretia, she dissembled her inward conceived Displeasure, verily imagining the matter to be already done. Paulo coming (as oftentimes he did) when fit time favoured him, to visit his Lucretia, in the night time, so jocund and merry as at no time more: after accustomed Kindnesses passed between them, Paulo fell into a very sound Sleep; Lucretia beholding him in that fearless Estate, with a great Knife she gave him so many Stabs and deep Wounds, both in the Breast and Belly, that she deprived him of his Life, and afterward committed the like Violence on herself. This Act, so full of Sorrow and sad Mischance, came to the Ear of Pope Paulus the Fourth, who would not allow them to have Christian Burial; but a Learned Divine, a Jacobine by Religion, made so excellent an Oration to the Pope against the unkind Parents of the deceased Lovers, that Obsequies were granted, and Burial given them: and an aged Woman, a Servant to Lucretia, who had been the means of their private Marriage, was (by Authority of Justice) burned alive, because she had not advertised the Parents thereof.  
A third Story, as dismal as the two former, here followeth. Damoiselle Geneviefue, Daughter unto Monsieur Megrelim, a Gentleman in ordinary in the Court of Francis the second, King of France, espoused herself by Word only, and without Knowledge of any in her Father's House, to one that was Schoolmaster unto her Brethren, named Medard, a Picar by Nation, born in Laon, a young man, of passable Handsomeness, and of indifferent Knowledge for his time, being about twenty three years old. After some space, being thus contracted, she found herself to be with Child; and fearing the Displeasure of her Parents, especially of her Mother, who was a very severe Woman, she forsook her Father's House and the goodly City of Paris, accompanied with none but her Troth-plighted Husband the Schoolmaster. Travelling through the Country, they made their stay in a great Burrough Town of Champaign, where likewise he became Schoolmaster, taking great Pains to supply their Necessities. Within some few Months after their residing there, Medard died; and she, five days after the death of her Husband, one Evening, after Supper, in a public place, declared to all such as gave Favour to her, the whole History of their forepassed Love, her Marriage by promise, her Extraction, want of Government, and the Injury done by her to her Servants, desiring (very heartily) Pardon both of God and them: so feigning as if she intended to go to Bed with her young Infant, which was about six Weeks old, she went and hanged herself that Night, on a Beam-end of a poor Cottage which they had taken upon hire.  

Certain Observations upon Kings of several Nations.  
A Menophis, one of the Kings of Egypt, being blind, was assured by some of his Wizards, that if he washed his Eyes with the Urine of a Woman which had never known any but her own Husband, he should be restored to his Sight. After a long Search and many vain Trials, he met with one whose Water cured him; whom he took to Wife: and causing all the rest whom he had made Trial of to be brought together to a Town called Gleba Rubra, he set the said Town on Fire, and burned both it and all the Women therein assembled.  
Sesostris, another King of Egypt, was a Prince of so great Wealth and Substance, that he brought in Subjection all his neighbouring Kings, whom he compelled in turns to draw his Chariot. It happened, that one of these unfortunate Princes cast his Eye many times on the Coach-wheels; and being by Sesostris demanded the cause of his so doing, he replied, that the falling of that Spoke lowest which but just before was in the height of the Wheel, put him in mind of the Instability of Fortune; which the King considering of, would never afterward be so drawn in his Chariot: And indeed, he found the same quickly after to be true, by woeful Experience; for, leading his Army against the Scythians, whom in conceit he had already conquered, he found himself deceived in his Expectation. These Scythians marvelled that a King of so great Revenues would wage War against a Nation so poor, with whom the Fight would be doubtful, the Victory unprofitable, but to be vanquished a perpetual Infamy and Disgrace: so joining Battles, Sesostris was discomfited, and pursued even to his own home by the Enemy, learning him by that to moderate his Prosperity, and to beware of Fortune's Instability.  
Charles the second King of Navarr, was a Prince much given to Voluptuousness, and sensual Pleasure, which so wasted his Spirits, that in his old Age he fell into a kind of Lethargy: to comfort his benumbed Joints he was bound and sowed up naked in a Sheet, steeped in boiling Aquavitae. The Chirurgeon having made an end of sowing him, and wanting a Knife to cut off the Thread, took a Wax Candle that stood lighted by him, but the Flame running down by the Thread, caught hold on the Sheet; which (according to the nature of Aquavitae) burned with that Vehemency, that the miserable King ended his days in the Fire.  
Ewen the third also, King of Scotland, was a Prince much addicted, or rather wholly given over to Lasciviousness; insomuch, that he made a Law that himself and his Successors should have the Maidenhead, or first Night's lodging with every Woman whose Husband held Land immediately from the Crown; and the Lords and Gentlemen, of all those whose Husbands were their Tenants or Homagers. This was, it seems, the Knight's Service which men held their Estates by; and continued in force till the days of Malcolm Conmor, who marrying Margaret, Sister to our King Edgar Atheling, at her Request abolished the same; and ordained, that the Tenants, by way of Commutation, should pay unto their Lords a Mark in Money; which Tribute, the Historians of that Nation say is still in force.  
Roderick the last King of the Goths in Spain, had for the Governor of one of his Provinces an honourable Person named Count Julian, whom he sent upon an Embassy to the Moors of Africa, and in the mean time deflowered his Daughter Cana; which the Father took in such indignation, that he procured the Moors (amongst whom he had gotten much credit) to come over into Spain. This request they performed, under the Conduct of Musa and Tariffe; and having made a full Conquest, subjected it to the Great Caliphs', or Mahometan Emperors. It is recorded, that at the first coming of Tariffe into Spain, a poor Woman of the Country, being willingly taken Prisoner, fell down at his feet, kissed them, and told him, that she had heard her Father, (who was lettered) say, that Spain should be conquered by a People, whose General should have a Mole on his right shoulder, and in whom one of his hands should be longer than the other. He, to animate his Soldiers against the next encounter, unclothed himself, and showed the mark, which so encouraged them, that they now doubted not the Victory. Roderick had in his Army 130000 Foot, and 25000 Horse: Tariffe had 30000 Horse, and 180000 Foot. The Battle continued seven days together, from morning to night; at last the Moors were victorious. What became of King Roderick was never known; his Soldiers took one arrayed in the King's Apparel, whom, upon examination, they found to be a Shepherd, with whom the King, after the Discomfiture, had changed clothes. It is recorded also in Rodericus Toletanus, that before the coming of those Saracens, King Roderick, upon hope of some Treasure, did open a part of the Palace, of long time forbidden to be touched, but found nothing but Pictures which resembled the Moors, with a Prophecy, that whensoever the Palace was there opened, the People there resembled should overcome Spain: and so it happened.  
By this former Example, you may see the sad effects of Lust, to which we may add another of like nature.  
Ireland formerly was divided into five Provinces, or petty Kingdoms; namely, Munster, Connaght, Ulster, Meth, and Leinster. These petty Kings being divided amongst themselves, became all of them a Prey to Turgesius' King of the Norweigians, who having conquered them, reigned as King. One of these petty Princes, Omo Caghlen, King of Meth, had a Daughter of renowned Beauty, whom Turgesius demanded of her Father to serve his Lusts: and he, seeming willing to condescend to the motion, as if his Blood would be honoured thereby, told him, That besides his Daughter, he had at his disposing many others of more exquisite Beauties, which should all be ready at command. Turgesius' mistrusting nothing, greedily swallowed this Bait, and desired him with all speed to effect this meeting, which he promised soon to do; whereupon this politic Prince, attired in the Habits of Women, a company of young Gentlemen, who durst, for the common Liberty, adventure their several Lives, and conducted them to the Tyrant's Bedchamber. And they, according to the directions given them (when for that little modesty sake he had in him, he had commanded all his Attendants to avoid the Room) assaulted him, now ready for, and expecting more kind embraces, and left him dead in the place. The Methian King had by this time acquainted divers of the better sort with his Plot, all which, upon a sign given, rush into the Palace, and put to death all the Norwegians, and other Attendants of the Tyrant, and so recovered again their former Liberty.  
John, King of England, notwithstanding he lived in continual Trouble, yet bend his Mind to Love and Lasciviousness, attempting the Chastity of the Lady Matilda, Daughter to the Lord Fitzwaters; who being as averse to his Desires as Water to Fire, he banishes her Father and several of her Friends, seizing upon their large Estates; whereupon she flies, and takes upon her a Monastic Habit in the Monastery of Little Dunmow in Essex, where he still prosecuted his Suit; but finding her more contrary to his Desires than ever, he sent a Messenger unto her, who (because she would not agree to his wicked motion) he poisoned a boiled or potched Egg against she was hungry, and gave it unto her, whereof she died. Anno 1213. It happened, that the next Year, King John being then in France with a great Army, that a Truce was taken betwixt the two Kings, for the term of five years; and a River or Arm of the Sea being betwixt either Host, there was a Knight in the English Camp that cried to them of the other side, willing some one of their Knights to come and Just a Course or two with him; whereupon, without stay, the Lord Fitz-Water, being on the French part, made himself ready, ferried over, and getting on Horseback, showed himself ready to the Face of the Challenger, whom at the first Course he struck so hard with his great Spear, that Horse and Man fell to the ground; and when his Spear was broken, he went back again to the King of France: which King John seeing, by God's Tooth, quoth he, (that was his usual Oath) he were a King indeed that had such a Knight. The Friends of the Lord Fitz-Water hearing these Words, kneeled down, and said, O King, it is your Knight, it is Robert Fitz-Water; whereupon, the next day he was sent for, and restored to the King's Favour, living in all affluence of Riches and Honour, the space of sixteen Years afterwards. His Father, Walter Fitz-Water, with his Wife Matilda, do lie interred in Little Dunmow Chancel, under a very fair Monument, though by some Ruins of the Roof falling upon it the Legs of their Effigies were lately broken off; there Grandchild Matilda also, in these our late times of Rebellion, had the Head of her Effigies stricken off as a monument of Superstition; but since, by the care of my worthy Friend Mr. Burr, who liveth in the Priory, it is restored to the Body again, Anno 1680.  
Richard the First, King of England, being employed in his Wars against Philip King of France, one Fulco a French Priest came unto him, telling him he had three very bad Daughters, which he wished him to bestow away from him in Marriage, or else God's Wrath would attend him; when the King denied he had any Daughter, yes (quoth the Priest) thou cherishest three Daughters, Pride, Covetousness, and Lechery. The King, apprehensive of his meaning, called his Lords there attending, and said, my Lords, This Hypocrite hath found that I have three Daughters, Pride, Covetousness, and Lechery, which he would have me bestow forth in Marriage; and therefore (if any such I have) I have found out most fit Husbands for them all. My Pride I bequeath to the haughty Templars and Hospitalers, who are as proud as Lucifer himself; my Covetousness I give to the Monks of the Cisteaux Order, for they covet the Devil and all; but for my Lechery, I can bestow it no where better than on the Priests and Prelates of our Times, for therein have they their most Felicity.  
King William Rufus was much noted to be a very covetous Prince, and yet we find in the Chronicles a Story of him which denotes to the contrary; namely, how that when two Monks, whose Abbot was lately dead, repaired to his Court, and each in large Offers out-vied and over-bad the other, to succeed in the Abbacy; a third Monk, very sober, and poor in show, accompanying them in their Business, stood by; whom the King asked what he would give to be made Abbot? Nothing, said the Monk; for I entered my Profession to be poor, and hitherto have been, little esteeming the Pomp or Riches of the World: then thou art the Man, (replied the King) and shalt be their Abbot, more worthy in thy Poverty than they for their Price; and so conferring on him that high Honour, checked the others to their open Infamy and Reproach.  
Another Example of the same King, touching his Pride, take as followeth. His Chamberlain bringing him a pair of new Hose, and he demanding the Price, was answered, that they cost three Shillings; Away base Fellow (quoth he) are these beseeming a King? Bring me of a Mark Price: his Servant went, but brought him another pair of no greater Cost, but told him that they were of the Rate appointed: wherewith the King was very well pleased.   

A strange Change of Religion of the two Dr. Reinolds.  
These two Brothers, the one named William, the other John; William was at first a Protestant of the Church of England, and John trained up in Popery beyond the Seas. William, out of an honest Zeal to reduce his Brother to this Church, made a Journey to him; where, on a Conference betwixt them, it so fell out, that John being overcome by his Brother's Arguments, returned into England, where he became one of the more strict or rigid sort of the English Protestants: and William being convinced by the Reasons of his Brother John, stayed beyond the Seas, where he proved a very violent and virulent Papist. Of which strange Accident, Dr. Alabaster, who had made Trial of both Religions, and amongst many notable Whimsies had some fine Abilities, made this following Epigram.  
Bella inter geminos plusquam Civilia fratres,  
Traxerat ambiguus Religionis apex.  
Ille Reformatae fidei pro partibus instat;  
Iste Reformandum denegat esse fidem,  
Propositis causae rationibus, alterutrinque  
Concurrere pares, & cecidere pares.  
Quod fuit in verbis, Fratrem capit alteruterque;  
Quod fuit in fatis, perdit uterque fidem.  
Captivi gemini sine captivante fuerant,  
Et victor victi transuga castra petit.  
Quod genus hoc pugnae est, ubi victus gaudet uterque  
Et tamen alteruter se superasse dolet.  
Thus Englished by Dr. Heylin.  
In points of Faith, some undetermined Jars,  
Betwixt two Brothers kindled Civil Wars:  
One for the Church's Reformation stood,  
The other thought no Reformation good.  
The Points proposed, they traversed the Field  
With equal Skill, and both together yield.  
As they desired, his Brother each subdues,  
Yet such their Fate, that each his Faith did lose:  
Both Captives, none the Prisoners thence to guide;  
The Victor flying to the vanquished side.  
Both joyed in being conquered, (strange to say)  
And yet both mourned because both won the day.    

Why the Fish called Tunny is not suffered to be sold at Venice.  
THE Story goes, How the Genoa's having seized on a part of Venice, and driven the Venetians into their Houses, a Woman running to a Window to behold the Tumult, by chance threw down a Mortar of Brass, which lighting upon the head of their General, struck him dead to the Earth: whereupon discomfited, the Genoa's retired in such haste, that they left a number of their men behind them; who saved themselves for a time by mingling with the Venetians, being not to be distinguished by Habit, Language, Favour, nor Behaviour. At length, all generally were commanded to ascend an high Tower, where (not unlike as the Gileadites served the Ephramites) a Sheep being set before them they were compelled to name it: so being distinguished, (the Name differing in their Dialect) they were thrown down headlong. The Genoa's having after taken certain of their Galleys, wherein were the Prime of their Gentry, in Revenge of that Cruelty, caused them to be cut in pieces and dressed like Tunny, nailing their hands to the bottom with Schedules of Time containing their Names, and so sent it thither to be sold; who bought, and had almost devoured it all before it was discovered. And indeed it is said that this Tunny doth in taste much resemble Flesh, as also in colour and solidity; so as it is reported how certain Merchants being bound to serve the French Army at the Siege of Naples, with so many Tun of Tunny, and not able to perform it, hearing of a late fought Battle in Barbary, repaired to the place, and supplied the quantity with man's Flesh, dressed in the same manner; which proved so over-high a feeding (most easily converting into the like) that their Bodies broke forth into loathsome Ulcers, and from that Infection the Disease that taketh from them the name. And Scalliger in his 181 Exercise upon Cardan, and the 19 Section, doth also affirm, that it proceeded not originally from the Impurity of Women, but from Contraction; and that the Spaniards did first transport these rare Wares from the Indians, as common among them as the Measles amongst us, and equally contagious: which seemeth to confirm the former Assertion, they having been Man-eaters for the most part.   

Of Machamut a Moorish King, of a poisonous Nature.  
MR. Purchas in his Pilgrimage relateth of one Machamut, a Moorish King, who deserveth mention for one thing, wherein the Sun hath scarce beheld his like. He so accustomed himself to Poisons, that no day passed wherein he took not some, for else he himself had died, (saith my Author) as it fareth with Amsian or Opium, the use whereof killeth such as never took it, and the Disease such as have; and beyond that which we read of Mithridates, in the like Practice. His Nature was transformed into so venmous an Habit, that if he did mean to put any of his Nobles to Death, he would cause them to be set naked before him; and chewing certain Fruits in his Mouth, which they call Chofolos and Tambolos, with Lime made of Shells, by spitting upon him, in one half hour deprived him of Life: if a Fly sat upon his hand it would presently fall off dead. Neither was his Love to be preferred to his Hatred, or with Women was his Dealing less deadly; for, he had three or four thousand Concubines, of whom none lived to see a second Sun, after he had carnally known them. His Mustachos (or Hair of his upper Lip) was so long, that he bound it upon his Head, as Women do with an Hair-lace; and his Beard was white, reaching to his Waste. Every day when he arose, and when he dined, fifty Elephants were brought into the Palace to do him reverence on their Knees, accompanied with Trumpets and other Music.  
Caelius Rhodiginus mentions the like of a Maid thus nourished with Poisons; her spital (and other Humours coming from her) being deadly: such also as lay with her carnally, presently dying. Avicenna hath also a like Example of a man, whose Nature, infected with a stronger Venom, poisoned other venomous Creatures, if any did bite him. And when a great Serpent was brought for Trial, he had by the biting thereof a two days Fever, but the Serpent died; the other did not harm him.   

A notable Imposture of one Margaret Ulmer, at Elsing in Germany.  
ABout the Year of our Lord 1545. there was one Margaret Ulmer, the Daughter of John Ulmer, a single Woman, who through grievous Sickness, and extremity of Pain, had her Belly so exceedingly swelled, that it over-shadowed her Face, and in compass was more than ten hands breadth: she said that she fed divers living Creatures in her Belly, yet neither did she eat nor drink, but took only some Apothecary's Confections, and used the smell of Herbs and Flowers. There was heard by those that stood by the Bed where she lay, the Voices of divers living Creatures; as, the crowing of Cocks, the cackling of Hens, the gagling of Geese, the barking of Dogs, the bleating of Sheep, the braying of Asses, the grunting of Swine, the bellowing of cattle, and the neighing of Horses. She voided Serpents and Worms of a marvellous greatness, about fifty in number. When the Report hereof was spread abroad, not only in the Towns and Villages adjoining, but almost through all Germany, multitudes resorted to the place to see the Miracle, and beheld the Maid with no less Wonder than Compassion, who also gave her much Money. The advice of divers Physicians and Chirurgeons was asked; and at last the Physicians of the Emperor Charles the fifth, and of Ferdinand King of the Romans, and of Hungary, came thither, accompanied with divers Noblemen and Gentlemen, who notwithstanding found no deceit therein. Thus she continued for the space of almost four years. Her Torments seemed to increase more and more upon her. At last the chief Magistrate of the City sent for her Parents, and asked them whether they desired to have their Daughter delivered from so great Torments, by the Physicians making incision into her Belly? Her Father being a plain man, answered: that he was willing to leave his Daughter to God's Providence, and to lawful Remedies of Physicians. But the Mother (being guilty of the Deceit) said, that she would not have them to attempt any thing to the endangering of her daughter's life; adding moreover, that she would pray that God's Vengeance might light upon them, if her Daughter miscarried under their hands.  
Yet some were sent to the Maid, to mind her, that they had many times craved help of Physicians, that now there was a proffer made of their help, who, by God's assistance, might either wholly free her from her Distemper, or, at least, assuage the violence of it: But she (being instructed of her Mother) answered, That she, with a willing mind, would patiently suffer what it should please God to inflict upon her: that she desired not any Physic; but that as for the space of four years she had undergone the extremity of her Pains, so she was still willing to bear the Cross which God had laid upon her, till it pleased him to remove it; hoping that she should still be as able to bear the violence of her Disease as hitherto she had been. But the Magistrate of Elsing, being better pleased with her Father's Answer, sent a Dr. of Physic, with two Surgeons, and a Midwife, to search the Maiden's Belly by Incision. These came to her, and searching her Belly, found it stuffed with Clouts very cunningly, and with Pillows, and such like Materials, with divers Hoops, wherewith her Belly was made round, she crying out all the while; and when all these were removed, they saw the Maiden stark naked, with as well a compact, and as fair a Body as might be. When now the Deceit was discovered, the Parents, with the Daughter, and all they which were accessary (with whom in the Night, whilst others slept, she made good cheer) were carried to Prison, and afterwards put to the Rack. The counterfeit Belly was brought to the Townhouse, and there showed to the Burgo-masters; and the Maid's Mother was found to be a Witch, who, by the Devils help, had caused those strange noises, which seemed to proceed out of the Maid's Belly; and upon strict examination, she confessed, that she had done all these things by the Devil's persuasion and help, for Gain-sake, all these four years; for which she was condemned by the Judge, had first her Neck broke, and afterwards was openly burned: The Daughter had her Cheek burned through with an hot iron, and was condemned to perpetual Imprisonment. The Father (who took his Oath that he was deceived by his Wife and Daughter, even till that day wherein this wicked Fact was discovered) was acquitted, and freely dismissed: the other Accessories were banished, and some of them that were most guilty, were otherwise punished.   

Of People long-lived, who have had their Teeth and Excrements of Hair renewed.  
MR. Purchas in his Pilgrimage relateth, that whilst the Portugals were busy in building a Fort in the Kingdom of Decan, belonging to Asia, that there came a certain Bengalan to the Governor, which had lived, as he affirmed, three hundred thirty five years. The old men of the Country testified, that they had heard their Ancestors speak of his great Age, and himself had a Son fourscore and ten years old, and not at all Book-learned, yet was a speaking Chronicle of those passed Times. His Teeth had sometimes fallen out, others growing in their places; and his Beard, after it had been very hoary, by degrees returned into his former blackness. About an hundred years before that time, he had altered his Pagan Religion into the Arabian or Moorish. For this his Miraculous age, the Sultan's of Cambaya had allowed him a Stipend to live on, the continuance of which he sought, and did obtain of the Portugals.  
Friar Joano does Santos, tells a Story of one who was alive Anno 1605, of whom the Bishop of Cochin had sent men to inquire, who by diligent search found that he was then 380 years old, and had married eight times; the Father of many Generations. They said his Teeth had thrice fallen out, and were thrice renewed; his hair thrice hoary, and as oft black again. He could tell of nineteen successive Kings which reigned in Horan his native Country in Bengala. He was also born a Gentile and after turned Moor, and hoped (he said) to die a Christian, rejoicing to see a Picture of St Francis, saying (as the Friar tells us) such a man, when he was twenty five years old, had foretold him that long life.  
Nic-di Conti saith he saw a Bramane three hundred years old.  
But to come nearer to our home, Mr. Morison reporteth of the Irish Countess of Desmond, that she lived to the age of a hundred and forty Years, being able to go on foot four or five miles to the Market-Town, and using weekly so to do in her last Years: and not many years before she died she had all her Teeth renewed.  
He also tells of one Jemings a Carpenter, in Beverly, a Town of holderness in England, whom the men of those Parts reported to have lived a hundred and twenty years, and that he married a young Woman some few years before his death, by whom (being of good Fame) he had four Children; and that his eldest Son by his first Wife, then living, was a hundred years old or thereabouts, but was so decrepit, as he was rather taken for the Father than the Son.  
King James going a Progress into Hereford-shire, the ingenious Sergeant Hoskin gave him an Entertainment, where he provided ten aged People to dance the Morris before him, all of them making up more than a thousand years; so that what was wanting in one was supplied in another. A Nest of Nestor's (saith Mr. Fuller) not to be found in another place.  
In the Year 1634. Thomas Earl of Arundel (a great Lover of Antiquities in all kinds) brought out of the Country, unto King Charles the First, an old man named Thomas Parr, Son of John Parr, born at Alberbury, in the Parish of Winnington in Shrop-shire, who lived to be above a hundred and fifty Years of Age, verifying his Anagram.  
Thomas Parr.  
Most rare hap.  
He was born in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth, 1483. and towards his latter end slept away most part of his time; being thus charactered by an Eye-witness of him.  
From Head to Heel, his Body had all over,  
A quickset, thick-set, natural hairy Cover.  
Having been at Westminster about two Months, change of Air and Diet (better in itself, but worse for him) with the trouble of many Visitants or Spectators rather, are conceived to have accelerated his Death; which happened November the 15. 1634. and was buried in the Abbey Church at Westminster, all present at his Burial, doing Homage to this aged Thomas de temporibus.  
There was (if not still) living in Northumberland a Scottish Minister named Michael Vivan, a Person who may give just matter of Admiration both to the present and future Ages; as by the perusing of this ensuing Letter may appear: written by a Person of Quality to Dr. Fuller, and by him inserted into his England's Worthies.  
THere is an Acquaintance of mine, and a Friend of yours, who certified me of your desire of being satisfied of the truth of that Relation I made concerning the old Minister in the North. It fortuned in my Journey to Scotland, I lay at Alnwick in Northumberland, one Sunday, by the way; and understanding from the Host of the House where I lodged, that this Minister lived within three miles of that place, I took my Horse after Dinner, and rid thither to hear him preach, for my own satisfaction. I found him in the Desk, where he read unto us some part of the Common-Prayer, some of Holy David's Psalms, and two Chapters, one out of the Old, the other out of the New Testament, without the use of Spectacles: The Bible out of which he read the Chapters was a very small printed Bible. He went afterwards into his Pulpit, where he prayed and preached unto us about an hour and half. His Text was, Seek you the Kingdom of God, and all hangs shall be added unto you. In my poor Judgement, he made an excellent good Sermon, and went clearly through without the help of any Notes. After Sermon, I went with him to his House, where I proposed these several following Questions to him. Whether it was true the Book reported of him, concerning his Hair? whether or no he had a new set of Teeth come? whether or no his Eyesight ever failed him? and whether, in any measure, he found his strength renewed unto him? He answered me distinctly to all these, and told me, he understood the News-book reported his Hair to become a dark brown again, but that is false; he took his Cap off, and showed me it; It is come again like a Child's, but rather flaxen, than either brown or grey. For his Teeth, he hath three come within these two years, not yet at their Perfection; while he bred them he was very ill. Forty years since he could not read the biggest print without Spectacles, and now (he blesseth God) there is no print so small but he can read without them. For his strength, he thinks himself as strong now as he hath been these twenty years. Not long since, he walked to Alnwick to dinner, and back again, six North-Countrey miles. He is now an hundred and ten years of age, and ever since last May, a hearty Body, very cheerful, but stoops much He had five Children, after he was eighty years of age, four of them lusty Lasses, now living with him, the other died lately; his Wife yet hardly fifty years of age. He writes himself Machel Vivan, he is a Scottish-man, born near Aberdeen. I forget the Towns name where he is now Pastor, he hath been there fifty years.  
Windsor, 28 Sept. 1657. Your assured loving Friend THOMAS ATKIN.   

An Example of Divine Vengeance pursuing Sinners.  
IN the Year 1614 ten Englishmen having received the Sentence of Death for their several Crimes, at the Sessions-House at the Old-Bayly in London, had their Execution respited by the entreaty of the East-India Merchants, upon Condition that they should be all banished to Souldania-Bay, to the end (if they could find any peaceable abode there) they might discover something advantageous to their Trade: and this was accordingly done. But two of them, when they came thither, were taken thence, and carried on the Voyage: one whose Surname was Duffield, by Sir Thomas Row, that Year sent Ambassador to the Great mogul; that Fellow thus redeemed from a most sad Banishment, was afterward brought back again into England by that noble Gentleman, and here, being entrusted by him, stole some of his Plate, and run away: another was carried on the Voyage likewise, but what became of him afterward is not known: so that there remained eight, which were there left with some Ammunition and Victual, with a small Boat to carry them to and from a very little uninhabited Island lying in the very mouth of that Bay, a place for their retreat and safety from the Natives on the Main. The Island called Pen-guin Island, probably so named at first by some Welshman, in whose Language, Pen-guin signifies a White-head; and there are many great lazy Fowls upon and about this Island, with great coal black Bodies, and very white Heads, called Penguins. The chief man of the eight there left, was sir-named Cross, who took upon him the name of Captain Cross. He was formerly Yeoman of the Guard to King James: but having had his Hand in Blood twice or thrice, by men slain by him in several Duels, and now being condemned to die with the rest, upon very great Suit made for him he was hither banished with them; whither the Justice of Almighty God was dispatched after him, as it were in a Whirlwind, and followed him close at the very heels, and over-took him, and left him not till he had paid dear for that Blood he had formerly spilt. This Cross was a very stout and a very resolute man, who quarrelling with, and abusing the Natives, and engaging himself far amongst them, immediately after, himself, with the rest were left in that place, many of these Savages being got together, fell upon him, and with their Darts thrown, and Arrows shot at him, stuck his Body so full of them, as if he had been larded with Darts and Arrows, making him look like the Figure of the man in the Almanac, that seems to be wounded in every part; or like that man described by Lucan, Totum pro vulnere corpus, who was all Wound, where Blood touched Blood; a just Retaliation of God for his Cruelty showed unto others. The other seven, the rest of these miserable Banditi, who were there with Cross, recovered their Boat, and got off the Shore, without any great hurt; and so rowing to their Island, the Waves running high, they split their Boat at their landing, which engaged them to keep in that place, they having now no possible means left to stir thence: And which made their Condition, whilst they were in it, extremely miserable, it was a place wherein grew never a Tree, neither for Sustenance, or Shelter, or Shade, nor any thing beside to help sustain Nature; a place that had never a drop of fresh Water in it, but what the showers left in the holes of the Rocks. And besides all this, there were a very great number of Snakes in that Island, so many of those venomous Worms, that a man could not tread safely in the long Grass which grew in it, for fear of them. And all these put together, must needs make that place beyond measure uncomfortable to these most wretched men. To this may be added, their want of Provision, having nothing but dry Biscuit, and no great quantity of that; so that they lived with hungry Bellies, without any place fit for Repose, without any quiet Rest, for they could not choose but sleep in fear continually. And what outward Condition could make men more miserable than this? Yet notwithstanding all they suffered, these seven vile Wretches all lived to be made Examples afterward of Divine Justice: for after they had continued in, and endured this sad place for the space of five or six Months, and they were grown all even almost mad, by reason of their several pressing Wants and Extremities, it pleased God by Providence to bring an English Ship into that Road, returning for England: four of these seven men being impatient of any more hours stay there, immediately after that Ship was come in, made a Float with the ruins of their split Boat, which they had saved together, and with other Wood which they had gotten thither, and with ravelled and untwisted Boat-ropes, fastened, as well as they could, all together, (for there are no such sudden Teachers and Instructors as Extremities are.) These four got upon the Float, which they had thus prepared, and poizing it as well as they could by their several weights, hoped by the benefit of their Oars, and strength of the Tide (that then ran quick toward the Ship newly arrived) they might recover it; but this their Expectation failed them: for, it being late in the day when they made this Attempt, and they not discovered by the Ship which then road a good way up in the Bay, before they could come up near unto her, the Tide returned, and so carried them back into the Main Sea, where they all miserably perished. The day following, the Ship sent a Boat to the Island, which took those three, yet surviving, into her, as the other four might have been, if they could but have exercised their Patience for one Night longer. These Survivers coming aboard the Ship, related all that had befallen to their Fellows: but these three, notwithstanding all their former Miseries, when they were taken into the Ship, behaved themselves so lewdly as they returned homewards, that they were often put into the Bilbowes, or Ship-stocks, and otherwise many times punished for their great and several Misdemeanours. At last the Ship being safely arrived into the Downs, she had not been there at an Anchor above three Hours, but these three Villains got on shore, and had not been a shore above three Hours, but they took a Purse, and a very few hours after were apprehended, and all taken for that Fact; and suddenly after that, their very foul Story being related to the Lord Chief Justice, and they looked upon as men altogether incorrigible, and uncapable of Amendment by lesser Corrections, by his Special Warrant were executed upon their former Condemnation, (for which they were banished not to return hither again, but never pardoned) near Sandwich in Kent, where they committed the Robbery.  
As for the People which inhabit this Bay of Souldania, the Sun shines not upon any Nation in the whole World more barbarous than they; Beasts in the skins of Men, rather than Men in the skins of Beasts, (with which they are partly clothed:) as may appear by their Ignorance, Language, Habit, Diet, with other things which make them most brutish.  
First, for God, the great God of Heaven and Earth, whom generally all the People in the World, Heathens, Mahometans, Jews as well as Christians, do confess; they acknowledge none. For their Speech, it is an inarticulate noise rather than Language, like the clucking of Hens, or gambling of Turkeys; when they walk, they go in rank one after the other, as Kine in Summer many times do, when they come home to the Pail; or as Wild-Geese fly in Ranks, and as they fly make a noise; so these walking together, gabble from the first to the last in the Company, as if all spoke, but none answered. Their Habits are their Sheepskins undressed, thonged together, which cover their bodies to the middle, with a little flap of the same Skin tied before them, being naked downward, and when 'tis cold, keep the woolly, when hotter weather, the fleshy side of those Skins next to their Bodies. Their Ornaments and Jewels, are Bullocks or Sheeps-guts, full of Excrement, about their Necks: and therefore when any strangers buy their cattle, and kill them, they will beg again their Guts to adorn themselves. And at other times, when hunger pincheth them, they will sit down upon some Hillock, and shaking out some of that filthy pudding out of the Guts they wear about their Necks, bowing and bringing their Mouths to their Hands, almost as low as their Knees, like hungry Dogs gnaw and eat the raw-guts. The Women, as the men, are thus adorned, thus habited, and so dieted. And (by they way) they carry their sucking Infants under their Skins, upon their Backs, and their Breasts hanging down like Bagpipes, they put up with their hands to their Children, that they may suck them over their shoulders. Both Sexes make cover for their Heads, like to Skull-caps, with Cowdung, and such like filth, mingled with a little stinking grease, with which they likewise besmear their Faces, which makes their company unsufferable, if they get the Wind of you. Yet notwithstanding all this their brutishness, they are so cunning, and have their cattle at such command, that when Seamen had bought any of their Bullocks, (which they would sell for pieces of Brass, Iron-hoops, or such trifles) if they did not presently knock them down, they would with a Call make them presently run to them again, and then there is no getting them out of their hands, by new buying them, so that oftentimes they sell one Beast two or three times over.  
And now that these People will be hardly brought to leave their brutishness, may appear by this Story. About three years before those wretched Persons were carried thither, that we spoke of before, it happened that one of the East-India Company's Ships returning thence, and arriving at this Harbour, after a little stay, when she was ready to set sail for England, and having then two of those Savages aboard, her Commander resolved to bring them both home with him, thinking that when they had got some English here, they might discover something of their Country, which could not be known before. These poor wretches being thus brought away, very much against both their minds, one of them (merely out of extreme fullenness, though he was very well used) died shortly after they put to Sea; the other, who called himself Cooree, lived, and was brought to London, and there kept for the space of six months, in Sir Thomas Smith's House (than Governor of the East-India Company) where he had good Diet, good Clothes, good Lodging, with all other fitting Accommodations: Now one would think that this Wretch might have conceived his present, compared with his former condition, an Heaven upon Earth: but he did not so, though he had to his good Entertainment made for him a Chain of bright Brass, an Armour, Breast, Back, and Head-piece, with a Buckler of Brass, his beloved Metal, and which his Countrymen esteemed far above Gold, yet all this contented him not; for never any seemed to be more weary of ill usage, than he was of Courtesies, none ever more desirous to return home to his Country than he: For when he had learned a little of our Language, he would daily lie upon the Ground, and cry very often thus, in broken English, Cooree home go, Souldania go home go. And not long after when he had his desire, and was returned home, he had no sooner set footing on his own shore, but presently he threw away his Clothes, his Linen, with all other Covering, and got his Sheepskins upon his back, Guts about his neck, and his Cow-turd Cap upon his head. Thus you see what manner of Life they affect, the name of Cleanliness not being known amongst them. And for their Religion, Cooree being asked by the Minister of the Ship, who was their God? he, lifting up his hands, in his bad English said thus; England God, great God; Souldania no God. And so much for Souldania.   

Of two famous Viragoes, the one a French-woman, called Joan of Arc, or, La Pucelle de Dieu, the other a Biscainer, called Catarina d' Arcuso.  
JOAN of Arc, was Daughter to one James of Arc, dwelling in Domremy, near Vaucaleurs in France; in her younger years, she tended Sheep under her Father, at which time France groaned under the Victorious Arms of the English, John Duke of Bedford being then Regent thereof, in the minority of our King Henry the sixth, who was crowned King of France in Paris, the principal City. Charles the seventh having little left to him of that spacious Kingdom but only the Title. He being at this Exigent, this young Maid, then about eighteen years of age, presented herself unto him at Chinon, bidding him not to faint, but constantly affirmed, that God had sent her to deliver the Realm of France from the English yoke, and restore him to the fullness of his Fortunes. At first, it seems, she was not much credited, (though judged to be set on by the Nobles) but when the Wise of both sorts, as well Clerks as Soldiers, had sifted her with manifold Questions, she continuing in her first Speech so steadfastly, uttering nothing (saith Serres) but that which was modest, chaste, and holy, that honour and faith were given to her Sayings. An old Woman directed her. She soon armed herself like a man, and required to have that Sword which hung in St. Katherine's Church of Fierebois in Tourain. This demand increased their admiration of her, for such a Sword was found among the old Donaries, or Votive Tokens of that Church. Thus warlikely arrayed, she rides to Blois, where Forces and fresh Victuals lay for the Relief of Orleans, then closely besieged, and ready to yield unto the English: She joining with the Admiral and Marshal of France, they entered the City in despite of the Besiegers.  
This greatly encouraged the fainting French; Joan, the Maid of God, (so Superstition had now entitled her) having thus fortunately begun, writes this Letter to the English General before the City.  
King of England, Do reason to the King of Heaven, for his Blood-Royal, yield up to the Virgin the Keys of all the good Cities which you have forced. She is come from Heaven to reclaim the Blood-Royal, and is ready to make a Peace, if you be ready to do reason: Yield therefore, and pay what you have taken. King of England, I am the chief of this War: wherefore I encounter your men in France, I will chase them, will they or no. If they will obey, I will take them to mercy. The Virgin comes from Heaven to drive you out of France. If you will not obey, she will cause so great a stir as the like hath not been this thousand years in France. And believe certainly, that the King of Heaven will send to her, and her good men of Arms, more force than you can have. Go in God's name into your Country, be not obstinate, for you shall not hold France of the King of Heaven, the Son of St. Mary, but Charles shall enjoy it, the King and lawful Heir to whom God hath given it. He shall enter Paris with a goodly Train. You William de la Pole Earl of Suffolk, John Lord Talbot, Thomas Lord Scales, Lieutenants to the Duke of Bedford, and you Duke of Bedford, terming yourself Regent of the Realm of France, spare innocent Blood, and leave Orleans in liberty. If you do not reason to them whom you have wronged, the French will do the goodliest Exploit that ever was done in Christendom. Understand these News of God and the Virgin.  
This Letter was entertained by the English with laughter, and Joan reputed no better than a Bedlam, or Enchantress. Yet however thus disesteemed, by her Encouragements and Conduct, the English had Orleans plucked out of their hopes, and with much loss were driven to raise the Siege. Joan herself was wounded at one Sally, in which she led, being shot through the Arm with an Arrow. Judge what she esteemed of that hurt, when she used these admirable and terrible words, This is a Favour, let us go on; they cannot escape the hand of God; nay, in all Adventures she was one, and fore-most. In memory of this admirable Deliverance, they of that City erected a Monument, where Charles the seventh, King of France, and Joan, the Martial Maid, were represented kneeling in Armour, elevating their eyes and hands to Heaven, in sign of thanks and acknowledgement of so great a benefit.  
Still the Martial Maid goes on victoriously; she and the Duke of Alanzon recover Jergeaux from the Earl of Suffolk, forcing it by Assault, slaying one of the Earl's Brothers, and taking the Earl himself Prisoner; and, having their numbers augmented, encounter the Lord Talbot (that terror of France) at a Village called Poitiers, whom they discomfit, and slew of the English above a thousand. The Lords, Talbot, the glory of the English, Scales, Hungerford, and Sir Thomas Rampestone were taken Prisoners. These Losses shook the whole Fabric of the English greatness in France, and caused the Revolt of many Towns to King Charles, who, encouraged by these Successes, marcheth into Champagne, where, by composition, he taketh the Cities of Troy's and Auxerre; Chalons and Rheims yield themselves; in which last, according to the Maid's direction, he was solemnly crowned King.  
But now, our Martial Maids good Fortune having ascended the Meridian, began to decline; for though by her subtle practices King Charles was possessed of the Town of St Dennis, a neighbour to Paris, then in possession of the English, she with the Duke of Alanzon, going with their Forces to attempt it, the English gave them so rough an Encounter, that Joan herself was wounded, and the rest, with much slaughter, driven to fall off. Afterwards, attempting to raise the Siege of Champagne, engird by the English, she with some Forces entered in; but soon after sallying out, their Troops were beaten, and Joan herself taken Prisoner by John of Luxemburgh, a Burgundian Knight, who, for the value of ten thousand pound Turnois, and three hundred Crowns yearly Rend, delivered her to the Regent, and he to the Bishop of Beauvoirs, in whose Diocese she was taken; by whom, being legally examined, she was, for Sorcery, Bloodshed, and unnatural use of manlike Apparel, condemned to die; yet notwithstanding, upon her solemn abjuring of such her lewd Practices, was pardoned her Life; till again perjuriously relapsing, though acknowledging herself a Strumpet, and feigning herself to be with Child, she deservedly underwent that Punishment which she sought to delay, being burnt to death at the City of Rouen.  
Many sundry Opinions were conceived of this Woman, some judging her miraculously raised up by God for the good of France; others, that she was but a mere Impostor. We will suspend our Judgement herein, and refer you to the Epitaph which we find thus written on her.  
Here lies Joan of Arc, the which  
Some count Saint, and some count Witch:  
Some count man, and something more,  
Some count Maid, and some a Whore:  
Her Life's in question, wrong or right,  
Her Death's in doubt, by Laws or Might:  
Oh, Innocence! take heed of it,  
How thou too near to Gild dost sit.  
(Mean time France a Wonder saw,  
A Woman rule, 'gainst Salic Law)  
But, Reader, be content to stay  
Thy Censure till the Judgment-day,  
Then shalt thou know, and not before,  
Whether Saint, Witch, Man, Maid, or Whore.  

Of Catarina d' Arcuso.  
CAtarina d' Arcuso was born in Biscay in Spain, and was in her Childhood bred up in a Monastery of Biscay, her own Country, where she wore a Nun's Habit; but repenting of that Life before she made Profession, she went away; and fancying to live like a man, fled disguized from her Father's House, and went to the Court of Spain, where, for some time, she served in the Habit of a Page; Afterwards, she was minded to go to Sevil, and from thence to the West-Indies, where, at first she served as a Manservant to certain Merchants, but within a little while, upon occasion of a quarrel which befell her, she was fain to fly, and betook herself to the Life of a Soldier, being naturally much inclined to Arms, and Martial Affairs. This course she followed a great while in those Parts, being engaged in several Actions, wherein she always gave good account of herself as a Soldier; as also in sundry civil Quarrels, so that she got the repute of a gallant man; but because she wanted a Beard, they believed and called her Eunuch. Among other Battles, she was in a dangerous one, wherein, her Company being routed, and the Ensign left to the Enemies, she effected by her valour, that she stayed her Companions flight, re-incouraged them against the Enemies, and leading them on valorously, recovered the lost Ensign with her own hand, killing him that had taken it; for which Service, she remained Ensign-bearer of that Company. At length, Suspicions arising that she was a Woman, the matter came to be discovered, in a great Quarrel which she had; wherein, after many proofs of her Courage, she was mortally wounded, and to save herself from the Court of Justice, which persecuted her, she was constrained to put herself into the Bishop's hands; to whom she confessed the former passages of her Life, saying, that she was a Woman, and what she had done was not out of any evil end, but only through an inclination which she had to a Military Life; and for proof hereof, she desired the Bishop he would cause her to be searched, which was accordingly done, and the Matrons and Midwives found her a Woman. The Bishop put her into a Monastery, and because 'twas known she had been a Nun, but doubtful whether she was professed or no, he kept her there till certainty came from her own Country that she was not: Wherefore, being set at liberty, and unwilling to become a Nun, but rather inclined to a Military Life, she returned into Spain, where, petitioning the King for a Reward of her Military Service, (her case being examined, as the custom is, in the Council, and by the way of Justice) she obtained of the King eight hundred Crowns of yearly Revenue, there in the Indies, being styled in the Patents L' Alfiere, or Ensign-bearer, and having Liberty given her to live as a man, and to serve in the Wars in any of the King's Dominions, without molestation. Hereupon she came into Italy, running several Adventures by the way, to beseech the Pope for some favours in reference to her course of Life, which, by the mediation of many principal Persons, she did obtain: and where my Author (Peter della Valle) did both behold and discourse with her, she being then aged betwixt thirty five or forty years; of a large and portly stature for a Woman, wearing clothes and a Sword after the Spanish manner. What became of her afterwards, I am ignorant of, only thus far of her passed Life, out of the foresaid Peter della Valle, in his Travels to the East-Indies, pag. 318, 319.    

That the Italians are very revengeful; an Example out of Howel 's History of Naples.  
IN the ancient City of Nocera, there were three young Noblemen, called Conrado, Cesare, and Alexandro, the eldest was Prince of the Place. Now there was, and is still in Nocera, a strong Castle, where the Prince Conrado had a Garrison, whereof he made a Confident of his Captain, and Keeper of the Castle; The Prince most of his time kept in his Countryhouse, and his Brothers also; but sometimes he would come and lie some days in his Castle. It fortuned, that his Captain having a comely Woman to his Wife, the Prince fell in love with her, and never left till he enjoyed her, which he had done often to the knowledge of her Husband, who, upon occasion thereof, was still hammering in his head how to be revenged of him, which at last he brought to pass on this wise. The Prince being at his Countryhouse, the Captain sent him word that there were two wild Boars discovered in the Forest hard by, therefore if he and his two Brothers would come such a day with their Dogs, he doubted not but they should find very Princely sport; so Conrado came with his second Brother, Cesare, but Alexander could not come till two days after. Against their coming, the Captain had provided a fitting Supper for the Prince and his Brother, who had brought another Nobleman with him to partake of the Sport; the Prince and the said Nobleman lodged in the Castle, but Cesare lay in the Town. The Captain was wonderful officious to attend the Prince to his Chamber, but having confederated with the chiefest of the Garrison, in the dead of the Night they rushed into the Chamber, and the first thing they did, they chopped off his Genitories, than his head, which they put to stand on a Window, and quartered the rest of his Body. This being done very sisilently, in the morning betimes they sent in the Prince his name for his second Brother to come in all haste; who being come, the Captain waited on him to his Brother's Chamber, where the first object he beheld was Conrado's head upon a Window, and his Members quartered, and strewed up and down the room: Ah! said Cesare, Is this the wild Boar you writ of? Yes, answered the Captain, but I writ to you of two; so they fell upon him also, and made the like Sacrifice of Revenge upon him. This being done, the Captain barred up the Gates, and going upon the Walls of the Castle, he sent for the chief of the Town, and made a Speech unto them, in what slavery they lived under Conrado, therefore if ever they desired liberty, there was a fair opportunity offered now, because he had Conrado in his custody, and he could do with him what he pleased. But the Citizens would hearken to no such motion, but sent speedy word to Alexander, the younger Brother, who coming with some Country Forces, the City joined with them, and beleaguered the Castle. The Captain finding his case to be desperate, takes his Wife first on a high Turret, and hurled her down amongst them, than his Children, and afterwards murdered himself, in the Eye of all the City.   

Spanish Pride exemplified, in a Story taken out of Sir Thomas Row's Voyage to East-India.  
ABout the Year 1616, there came to the English Factory at Surat (where Sir Thomas Row's Chaplain then was) a most valiant Portugal, (if you will believe all what he related to them of himself) for he told them he was by birth an Hidalgo, which signifies in Spanish, the Son of some body, or no ordinary man, but a Gentleman of Spain, and that he came from thence as a Companion to the King of Spain's Viceroy, sent to Goa, and himself was called the Knight of the Golden Rapier, though to outward appearance his Person promised little Valour, being quantus tantus, tantillus, (saith my Author) a very poor little dwarfish man. But he told them, that suddenly after his coming to Goa, he was honourably invited into the Field, there to fight a single Combat with a very gallant man of that place, but he soon left him there dead: and having done so, the Viceroy prevented him with a Pardon for that Fact before he asked it, but willing him withal, now he had been sufficiently tried, to confine his Rapier to its Scabbard. Then he told them further, that he could not long after live quietly there, but was provoked again by a Man of high Resolution, unto a second Encounter, when he had the like Success as before, in killing his Adversary. The Viceroy now was very angry with him; but, upon much Entreaty, as he said, pardoned him a second time: upon the receipt of which Favour, he told them, that he was then resolved to throw away his Rapier, to get into a Religious House, and there to remain the residue of his days a Convertado or Penitent: but the Viceroy could not be long without his Company, and therefore to gain it, restored him again into his former Favour; but for himself, he was still so unhappy (the fame of his great Valour being spread abroad) as that he could not long enjoy that Peace and Quiet which he now so much desired, but received a third Challenge from a very gallant and very valiant man, as he described him, a man big enough to beat a Goliath; and then further told them, that his Honour was ever more dear to him than his Life, and therefore notwithstanding the loss of the Viceroy's Favour, and what else might happen, he entered the Lists with him; and though he found him the stoutest Adversary that ever he opposed, yet after a long Conflict this little Knight killed that great Giant, and left him dead there likewise: which done, he (not daring to return any more to Goa) told them, that he came naked out of the Field as they saw him, with no Ornaments about him, (as my Author assures us) either fit to make him a Viceroy's Companion, or any Weapon fit to dub him Knight of the Golden Rapier.  
When this Rhodomantadist had ended his perilous Story, it being Dinnertime, the Merchants bid him to sit down with them and eat, which he did, laying about him more valiantly than ever he had done before in the Field, giving the Meat many a Cut, and eating as if he had been more than half starved. This was more savoury Victuals than that which his Fellow Rhodomantadist spoke of, when he said, Go to my Cook, and tell him, it is my Command, that he spit me immediately a dozen and half of Demicanon, larded with Pikes, Muskets, and Halberds, which I have taken from my Enemies in pitched Battles; and let there be the Bandeliers of a Foot-Company to hang about instead of Sausages: having done this, let him put over the Grid-iron, and broil me three or four dozen of Carbines, with a score or two of Pocket Pistols, fried with Brimstone, and Salt-peter Sauce. And it seems such kind of Victuals as this was for a good space the Diet of our Spanish Soldier, notwithstanding his being an Hidalgo, and Knight of the Golden Rapier.  
There he continued with them for some few days, but after, when his Hunger was well satisfied and his Spirits refreshed, he began to take some Exception against his place at the Table, because he eat at the lower end thereof; saying, that the Company there were but Factors Servants, but he was a Gentleman, and therefore his due place was higher at the Board; but then correcting himself, he said, that it was not to be much considered where he sat, for his place made the upper end of the Table wherever he was placed; thus you see, according to our English Proverb, he had a proud Heart and a Beggar's Purse: but not long after, this Don Quixot being weary of his stay with them, having a greatmind to ramble further, told the Company, that he being an Hidalgo, it was very dishonourable for him to take Entertainment upon the terms he had it, and therefore desired them to make a little Purse for him, on which he would live as long as he could, and then creep into some desert place, and there repent and die; which his Request the Merchants granted, and so departed this Knight-Errant, being seen half a year after at the Mogul's Court: no doubt but when his Money was spent, and hunger pinching him, put his Wits upon the tenterhooks to provide for his Belly, which otherwise than by Industry doth but  
Delude the Throat by swallowing empty Fare,  
And for affected Food devour the Air;  
So dream of Feasts, and with an idle Jaw,  
Do with their Teeth fantastically chaw.   

A mirthful Conceit of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.  
THIS Duke, at the Marriage of Elionara, Sister to the King of Portugal, at Bruges in Flanders, which was solemnised in the deep of Winter, whenas, by reason of unseasonable Wether, he could neither hawk nor hunt, and was now tired with Cards, Dice, etc. and such other domestical Sports, or to see Ladies dance; with some of his Courtiers, he would in the Evening walk disguised all about the Town. It so fortuned, as he was walking late one Night, he found a Country-Fellow dead drunk, snorting on a Bulk; he caused his Followers to bring him to his Palace, and there stripped him of his old clothes, and attired him after the Court Fashion; when he waked, he and they were ready to attend upon his Excellency, persuading him he was some great Duke. The poor Fellow admiring how he came thither, was served in state all the day long: After Supper he saw them dance, heard Music, and the rest of those Courtlike Pleasures; but late at night, when he was well tippled, and again fast asleep, they put on his old clothes, and so conveyed him to the place where they first found him. Now the Fellow had not made them so good sport the day before, as he did when he returned to himself; all the Jest was, to see how he looked upon it. In conclusion, after some little Admiration, the poor man told his Friends he had seen a Vision, constantly believed it, would not otherwise be persuaded, and so the Jest ended.   

Memorials of Thomas Coriat, the famous Odcombian Traveller.  
MR. Thomas Coriat was born at Odcombe, nigh Evil in Somerset-shire, and bred at Oxford, where he attained to admirable fluency in the Greek Tongue: he was a Man in his Time, Notus nimis omnibus, very sufficiently known; one who seemed to carry Folly in his Face, the shape of his Head being like a Sugar-loaf inverted, with the little end before: but such as conceived him Fool ad duo, and something else ad decem, were utterly mistaken; for he drove on no Design, cared for Coin and Counters alike; so contented with what was present, that he accounted those men guilty of Superfluity who had more Suits and Shirts than Bodies, seldom putting off either till they were ready to go away from him. Noble Prince Henry, King James his Son, allowed him a Pension, and kept him for his Servant; Sweetmeats and Coriat made up the last Course at all Court-Entertainments: indeed he was the Courtier's Anvil to try their Wits upon, and sometimes this Anvil returned the Hammers as hard Knocks as it received, his Bluntness repaying their Abusiveness.  
He being addicted to travel, took a Journey into several places of Europe, and at his Return made a Book thereof, known by the name of Coriat's Crudities, printed about the year 1611. being ushered into the World by very many Copies of excellent Verses, made by the Wits of those times, which made one to say, that the Porch was more worth than the Palace, the Preface of other men's mock-commending Verses than the Book itself; however, they did very much advantage and improve, if not enforce the Sale thereof, doing themselves much more Honour than him whom they undertook to commend in their several Encomiastics. Now because the Book is very scarce, and hard to come by, I shall give you a Copy of one of their Encomiums, (there being about sixty in all) by which you may give a guess at the rest.  
To the no less learned than wise and discreet Gentleman, Mr. Thomas Coriat, in some few months' Travels born and brought up to what you see, viz. To be the delight of a world of noble Wits, to be a shame to all Authors, as the Gout and Quartane Fever have been to all Physicians. This plain Song sendeth Christopher Brooke, his poor Friend, to attend the Descant of his famous Book, through all Hands, Tongues, Arts, Trades, Mysteries, and Occupations, whatsoever.  
THE subtle Greek, Ulysses, needs must travel  
Ten years sorsooth, over much Sand and Gravel,  
And many Cities see, and Manners know,  
Before there could be writ a Book or two  
Of his Adventures; and he travelled still  
(Else there are Liars) sore against his Will:  
But this rare English-Latin-Grecian,  
Of Orators and Authors, the Black Swan,  
A voluntary Journey undertook  
Of scarce six Months, and yet hath writ a Book  
Bigger than Homer's, and (tho' writ in Prose)  
As full of Poetry, spite of Homer's Nose.  
If he lived now, that in Darius' Casket  
Placed the poor Iliads, he had bought a Basket  
Of richer stuff t' entomb thy Volume large,  
Which thou (O noble Tom) at thine own charge  
Art pleased to print; but thou needest not repent  
Of this thy bitter cost; for thy brave Precedent  
Great Caesar is, who penned his own Gests,  
And (as some write) recited them at Feasts:  
And at's own Charge had printed them they say,  
If printing had been used at that day.  
The Press hath spent the three for one you got  
At your Return; What's that? Poor thing God wot:  
Manure this Land still with such Books, my Friend,  
And you shall be paid for it in the end;  
For I (methinks) see how men strive to carry  
This jovial Journal into each Library:  
And we, e'er long, shall well perceive your Wit,  
(Grave learned Bodley) by your placing it.  
Therefore launch forth, great Book, like Ship of Fame,  
Th' Hopewel of Odcombe thou shalt have to name.  
Explicit Christopherus Brook Eboracensis. Amongst others that writ mock-commendatory Verses of this Book of Crudities, was John Taylor the Water-Poet, which, though of the same nature with the other, yet gave great offence to Mr. Coriat, complaining of him therefore to King James. The Verses were these:  
What matters for the place I first came from,  
I am no Dunce-comb, Coxcomb, Odcombe Tom,  
Nor am I like a Woolpack crammed with Greek,  
Venus in Venice minded to go seek;  
And at my back-return to write a Volume  
In memory of my Wits Gargantua Column;  
The choicest Wits would never so adore me,  
Nor like so many Lackeys run before me:  
But, honest Tom, I envy not thy state,  
There's nothing in thee worthy of my hate;  
Yet I confess thou hast an excellent Wit,  
But that an idle Brain doth harbour it.  
Fool thou it at the Court, I on the Thames,  
So farewell Odcombe Tom: God bless King James.  
Afterwards Taylor wrote a Book, called Laugh and be fat; wherein he paraphrased upon all those Gentlemen that had written on Mr. Coriat's Book; which Book, by the Command of King James, he procured to be burnt; and afterwards adding more Complaints against Tailor, to the King, his Majesty was pleased to tell him, that when the Lords of his Honourable Privy Council had leisure, and nothing else to do, than they should hear and determine the Differences betwixt Mr. Coriat the Scholar, and John Taylor the Sculler. Whereupon, Taylor wrote these following Verses to the King.  
Most mighty Monarch of this famous Isle,  
(Upon the Knees of my submissive mind)  
I beg thou wilt be graciously inclined  
To read these Lines my rustic Pen compile.  
Know (Royal Sir) Tom Coriat works the wile,  
Your high Displeasure on my Head to bring;  
And well I wot, the Sot, his Words can file,  
In hope my Fortunes headlong down to fling.  
The King whose Wisdom through the World did  
Did hear the cause of two offending Harlots; (ring,  
So I beseech thee (great) Great Britain's King,  
To do the like for two contending Varlets.  
A brace of Knaves your Majesty implores  
To hear their Suits, as Solomon heard Whores.  
But to return to more serious matters: Mr. Coriat being desirous to see the most remote parts of the Earth, in the Year 1612. he shipped himself from London for Constantinople; where being arrived, he took special notice of all things there most observable. In this place (as indeed in all places wherever he came, for his facetious Conceits) he found very great Respect and Encouragement from Sir Paul Pinder, then and there Ambassador, to whose House he had free and welcome Access whensoever he pleased: being there for some time, he took his opportunities to view divers parts in Grecia, and in the Hellespont, as those two famous Castles of Sestos and Abydos, so celebrated of old by the famous Musaeus, for the Habitations of Hero and Leander. He also saw what yet remains of the Ruins of renowned Troy,  
So rich, so powerful, that so proudly stood,  
That could for ten years' space spend so much blood,  
Now prostrate, only her old Ruins shows,  
And Tombs that famous Ancestors enclose.  
The very Ruins of that place being now almost gone to Ruin; the most remarkable thing there yet remaining, is part of an exceeding great House, which is continued by Tradition to have been sometimes a part of the famous Palace of great King Priamus.  
From Smyrna he found a passage to Alexandria in Egyyt, where he observed what remains of the once famed Pyramids, with the other rarities of that famous Country; which having viewed, he, with one Englishman more, found a Pass by Sea to Joppa in the Land of Judaea, and not above twenty miles distant from Jerusalem; whither, accompanied with divers others, he went, and found it a very solitary, rocky, uncomfortable way, full of Danger, by reason of the wild Arabs, who keep about those Passages to make poor Travellers their Prey and Spoil. But they came safe to Jerusalem, now inhabited by Turks, by them called Cutts, which signifieth Holy; where he was courteously received by the Father Guardian of the Convent of Franciscan Friars that keep their residence in Jerusalem, and by some of them were met at the Gate of the City, where they were compelled by the Turkish Soldiers who keep those Gates, to redeem their Heads by paying each of them the value of five Shillings, before they could have admittance into that place; which they had no sooner entered, but they were presently carried by those Franciscans which met them, to their Convent; and then the first thing they did to or for them, they washed their Feet, than set some comfortable Refection before them, and after went in Procession about a little Cloister they had, praising God that he had brought in Safety those two Votaries (as they called them) to visit that holy place. A day or two after they accompanied them to Bethlehem, the place of our Blessed Saviour's Birth, about five English miles distant from Jerusalem; and in the way betwixt these two places, showed them a Rock, on which, (as they said) the Blessed Virgin sat down, as she went on a time betwixt Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to give her Babe suck; and, that the Rock might not feel hard under her, it yielded (as they told them) to her Body like a Cushion, and that Impression made by her so sitting remaineth unto this Day; and is most devoutly kissed by Votaries as they pass up and down. After this they returning back, were showed all that was to be seen in and about Jerusalem, as Mount Calvary, (where our Blessed Saviour suffered) that Hill being now enclosed within the Walls of Jerusalem. They undertook also to show them the place wherein our Blessed Saviour was buried; and after that, upon Mount Olivet, the very place whence he after ascended; where, upon a Rock there was an Impression of the former part of two Feet, such as is seen in soft Earth when a man lifts up his Body to leap thence; and these Franciscans confidently affirmed, and seemed undoubtedly to believe, that it was as they showed and told them.  
At Jerusalem this our Traveller had made upon the Wrist of his left Arm, the Arms of Jerusalem, a Cross crossed, or Crosslets; and on the Wrist of his right, a single Cross, made like that which our Blessed Saviour suffered on; and on the sides the Stem or Tree of that Cross these Words written, Via, Veritas, Vita, some of the Letters being put on the one side of that Stem or Tree, and some of them on the other; and at the foot of that Cross three Nails, to signify those which fastened our Saviour unto it: All these Impressions were made by sharp Needles bound together, that pierced only the skin, and then a black Powder put into the places so pierced, which became presently indelible Characters, to continue with him so long as his Flesh should be covered with skin; and they were done upon his Arms so artificially as if they had been drawn by some accurate Pencil upon Parchment. This poor man would pride himself very much in the beholding of these Characters, and seeing them, would often speak those Words of St. Paul to the Galatians, Gal. 6. 17. (far besides the Apostles meaning) I bear in my Body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  
And now having seen what he desired in and about Jerusalem, after his Repast the Shot came to pay, Money to recompense the Courtesy of the Franciscans, who being very poor, are unable to entertain People without such Requitals, which he and his Comrade willingly gave, as having had a good Pennyworth of Eyesight.  
From hence they took their way to take a view of the Dead Sea, so called, either because the Water therein is still, and moves not; or because no living Creature is in it, suffocating Birds that fly over it with the Poison of the ascending Vapours.  
— A name of Right  
Imposed, in that to all Birds opposite,  
Which when those Air's swift Passengers o'er fly,  
Forgetful of their Wings they fall from high  
With outstretched Necks—  
Hence they went to have a sight of the River Jordan, which dischargeth itself into that most uncomfortable Lake; and from hence they journeyed North-East through those ten Tribes, (which for the Sin of Solomon were rend from his Son Rehoboam) till they came to Mount Libanus, thence back to Sidon, from whence they got a Passage by Sea to Alexandretta, now called Scandaroon, where his English Companion left him, and turned his Face towards England; but our Greek-travelling-Thomas still coveting to see more of the World, presently took his way towards Aleppo in Syria, about seventy miles or more distant from Scandaroon. Here he being kindly received by the English Consul, stayed a time to gain the Company of a Caravan, which consists of a great mixed multitude of People from divers parts, which get and keep together, travelling those parts, for fear of the Incursions and Violences by Thiefs and Murderers, which they would undoubtedly meet withal if they traveled single, or but few together: with these he set forwards to that City anciently called Nineveh in Assyria, which we find in the Prophecy of Jonah was sometimes a great and excellent City of three days Journey, Jonah 3. 3. but now so exceedingly lessened and lodged in Obscurity, that Passengers cannot say of it, This was Nineveh, which hath now its old Name changed, and is called Mozel. From hence they journeyed to Babylon in Chaldaea, situated upon the River Euphrates, once likewise so great, that Aristotle called it a Country, not a City; but now it is very much contracted, and is called Bagdat. From this place they proceeded through both the Armenia's, where he saw the Mountain Ararat, where the Ark of Noah rested after the Flood, Gen. 8. From hence they went forward towards the Kingdom of Persia, to Uzspahan, the usual place of Residence for that great King, then called Shakstone Abbas, or King Abbas, a victorious Monarch, and though of a bloody and tyrannic Disposition, yet very kind and respectful to the English. Next they went to Seras, anciently called Sushan, where the great King Ahasuerus kept his Royal and most magnificent Court; as you may read in Esther 1. From hence (for you must think his Shoes were made of running Leather) he journeyed to Candahor, the first Province North-East under the Subjection of the Great mogul, and so to Lahore, the chiefest City but one belonging to that great Empire, and afterwards to Agra, the Mogul's Metropolis or chief City.  
And here it is very observable, that from Lahore to Agra, it is 400 English miles, and that the Country betwixt both these great Cities is rich, being a pleasant and flat Campania; and the Roadway on both sides all this long distance, planted with great Trees, which are all the year clothed with Leaves, exceeding beneficial unto Travellers, for the Shade they afford them in those hot Climes. This very much extended length of way 'twixt these two places, is called by Travellers the Long walk, very full of Villages and Towns for Passengers every where to find Provision.  
At Agra our Traveller made an Halt, being there lovingly received in the English Factory, where he stayed till he had gotten, to his Turkish and Morisco, or Arabian Languages, some good Knowledge in the Persian, and Indostan Tongues, in which Study he was always very apt, and in little time showed much Proficiency. The first of these two, the Persian, is the more acquaint; the other, the Indian, the vulgar Language spoken in East-India: in both these he suddenly got such a Knowledge and Mastery, that it did exceedingly afterwards advantage him in his Travels up and down the Mogul's Territory; he wearing always the Habit of that Nation, and speaking their Language.  
In the first of these, viz. the Persian Tongue, he terwards made an Oration to the Great mogul; which, for the rareness of the Language, and the honour of our great perambulating Traveller, we have transcribed verbatim, as followeth.  
HAzaret Aallum pennah salamet, fooker Daruces ve tehaungeshta hustam kemia emadam azwellagets door, ganne az mulk Inglizan: ke kessanaion pethee mushacas cardand ke wellagets, mazcoor der acres magrub bood, ke mader hamma iezzaerts dunmast. Sabebbe amadane mari mia boosti char cheez hast an valbe dedane mobarreckdeedars. Hazaret ke seete caramat ba hamma Trankestan reesedast ooba tamam mulk. Musulmanan der sheenedan awsaffe. Hazaret daveeda amadam be deedane astane akdus musharaf geshtam duum bray deedane feelhay Hazaret, kin chumn iavooar der heech mulk ne dedam sen in bray deedane mamwer daryaee shumma Gauga, ke Serdare hamma daryaha dumiest. Chaharum e'en hast, keyer fermawne alishaion amayet fermayand, ke betwanam der wellayetts Uzbeck raftan ba Shahre Samarcand, bray zeerat cardan cabbre mobarrec Saheb crawncah awsaffe tang oo mosacheere oo der tamam aallum, meshoor hast belkder wellagotte uzber eencader meshoor neest chunan che der mulc Inglisan hast digr, bishare eshteeac daram be dedane mobarrec mesare Saheb crawnca bray een Saheb, The awne samanche foeheer de shabr stambol boodam, ycaieb cohuu amarat deedam dermean yecush bung nasdec shaht mascoor coia che padshaw, Eezawiawn i numesh Manuel bood che Saheb crawnca cush mehmannec aseem carda bood, baad as gristane Sulteri Baiasestra iange aseem che shuda bood nos dec shahere Bursa, coimache Saheb crawn Sultan Baiasetra de Zenicera tellaio bestand, oo der cases nahadond e'en char cheese meera as mulche man ium baneed ta mia, as mulc Room oo Arrac peeada geshta, as door der een mulc reseedum, i char hasorr pharsang raw dared, beshare derd oo mohuet casheedam che heech ches der een dunmia een cader mohuet ne casheedast bray deedune mobarrec dedaret Hasereret awn roo chee be tacte shaugh ne shaughee musharaf fermoodand.  
The same in English.  
LOrd Protector of the World, all hail to you. I am a poor Traveller and World-seer, which am come hither from a far Country, namely England, which ancient Historians thought to have been situated in the farthest Bounds of the West, and which is the Queen of all the Islands in the World. The cause of my coming hither is for four Respects: first, to see the blessed face of your Majesty, whose wonderful Fame hath resounded over all Europe and the Mahometan Countries; when I heard of the fame of your Majesty, I hastened hither with speed, and traveled very cheerfully to see your glorious Court; secondly, to see your Majesty's Elephants, which kind of Beasts I have not seen in any other Country; thirdly, to see your famous River Ganges, which is the Captain of all the Rivers of the World: the fourth is this, to entreat your Majesty that you would vouchsafe to grant me your gracious Pass, that I may travel into the Country of Tartary, to the City of Sarmacand, to visit the blessed Sepulchre of the Lord of the Corners, (viz. Tamburlaine) whose Fame, by reason of his Wars and Victories, is published over the whole World; perhaps he is not altogether so famous in his own Country of Tartary as in England. Moreover, I have a great desire to see the blessed Tomb of the Lord of the Corners for this cause, for that when I was at Constantinople I saw a notable old Building in a pleasant Garden near the said City, where the Christian Emperor that was called Emanuel made a sumptuous great Banquet to the Lord of the Corners, after he had taken Sultan Bajazet in Fetters of Gold, and put him in a Cage of Iron. These four causes moved me to come out of my Native Country thus far, having travelled on foot through Turkey and Persia; so far have I traced the World into this Country, that my Pilgrimage hath accomplished three thousand miles, wherein I have sustained much labour and toil, the like whereof no mortal man in this World did ever perform, to see the blessed Face of your Majesty, since the first day that you were inaugurated in your glorious Monarchal Throne.  
In answer to this Oration, the mogul told him, that concerning his Travel to the City of Samarcand, he was not able to do him any good, because there was no great Amity betwixt the Tartarian Princes and himself; so that his commendatory Letters would do him no good: also he added, that the Tartars did so deadly hate all Christians, that they would certainly kill him when he came into their Country. So that he earnestly dissuaded him from the Journey if he loved his Life and Welfare; and at last concluded his Discourse with him by a Sum of Money that he threw down from a Window out of which he looked, into a Sheet tied up by the four Corners, and hanging very near the Ground, a hundred Roopas, which amounts to the value of twelve pounds and ten Shillings of our English Money, the mogul looking upon him as a Derveese, Votary or Pilgrim, (for so he called him) and such as bear that name in that Country, seem not much to care for Money; and that was the Reason (as was supposed) that he gave him not a more plentiful Reward.  
However, this Money was very welcome to Mr. Coriat at that time, for (as he wrote in a Letter to his Mother) he had then but twenty shillings sterling left in his purse, by reason (as he wrote) of a mischance he had in one of the Turks Cities, called Emert, in the Country of Mesopotamia, where a miscreant Turk stripped him of almost all his moneys. So that you see our Pilgrim or World-seer was oftentimes put hard to his shifts, such straits did his curiosity of seeing bring him often unto, and all for the itch of a little Fame, which engaged him to the undertake of those very hard, long, and dangerous Travels. For he was a man of a very coveting Eye, that could never be satisfied with seeing, as Solomon says, Eccles. 1. 8. though he had seen very much, and some were persuaded that he took as much content in seeing, as many others in the enjoying of great and rare things.  
He was a man that had got the mastery of many hard Languages, as, besides the Latin and Greek which he brought out of England with him, he attained to the Persian, Arabic, and Indostan Tongues, in which last he was so perfect, that when at Agra, he lodged at Sir Thomas Row's, the Ambassadour's house, where there was a Woman, a Laundress belonging to the House, that was so tongue-valiant, that she would sometimes scold, brawl, and rail from the Sunrising to the Sunset; one day he undertook her in her own Language, and by eight of the clock in the morning he so silenced her, that she had not one word more to speak. Now had he had Wisdom to husband and manage these Languages, as he had sklil to speak them, he had deserved more Fame in his Generation. But his knowledge and high attainments in several Languages made him not a little ignorant of himself, he being so covetous, so ambitious of praise, that he would hear and endure more of it than he could in any measure deserve, being like a Ship that hath too much Sail, and too little Ballast; yet, had he not fallen into the smart hands of the Wits of those times, he might have passed better, since many thousands more (and therefore he was not alone in this) have entered into strange attempts to be talked of.  
Now, as he was very ambitious of Fame, so the least seeming undervaluing did much trouble him; as when, upon a time, one Mr. Richard Steel a Merchant, and Servant to the East-India Company, came from Surat to Mandoa, the place then of the Mogul's residence, where Mr. Coriat then was with the English Ambassador. This Merchant had not long before traveled over Land from East-India through Persia, and so to Constantinople, and so for England, who, in his Travel homeward, had met with Tom Coriat as he was journeying towards East-India; Mr. Steel then told him, that when he was in England, King James (then living) enquired after him, and when he had certified the King of his meeting him on the way, the King replied, Is that Foolyet living? which when our Pilgrim heard, it seemed to trouble him very much, because the King spoke no more nor no better of him, saying, That Kings would speak of poor men what they pleased.  
At another time, when he was ready to depart from Agra, Sir Thomas Row gave him a Letter, and in that a Bill to receive ten Pounds at Aleppo, when he should return thither; The Letter was directed to one Mr. Libbaeus Chapman, there Consul at that time, in which, that which concerned our Traveller was thus: Mr. Chapman, when you shall hand these Letters, I desite you to receive the Bearer of them, Mr. Thomas Coriat, with Courtesy, for you shall find him a very honest poor Wretch; and farther, I must entreat you to furnish him with ten pounds, which shall be repaid, etc. Our Pilgrim liked the Gift well, but the Language by which he should receive it, did not at all content him, telling the Ambassadour's Chaplain, That his Lord had even spoiled his Curtsy in the carriage thereof; so that if he had been a very Fool indeed, he could have said very little less of him than he did, to write Honest poor wretch! and to say no more of him, was to say as much as nothing. And furthermore, he then told the Chaplain, that when he was formerly undertaking his Journey to Venice, a Person of Honour wrote thus in his behalf unto Sir Henry Wootton, then and there Ambassador: My Lord, Good wine needs no Bush, neither a worthy man Letters Commendatory, because whithersoever he comes he is his own Epistle, etc. There (said he) was some Language on my behalf, but now for my Lord to write nothing of me by way of Commendation, but Honest poor wretch, is rather to trouble me, than to please me with his Favour. And therefore afterwards his Letter was phrased up to his mind. By which may be seen, how tender he was to be touched in any thing that might in the least measure disparage him. O what pains this poor man undertook to make himself a Subject for present and after Discourse! being troubled for nothing at the present, unless with the fear of not living to reap the fruit he was so ambitious of in all his undertake.  
Now for his Religion, that he was a true Christian Protestant, not tainted with travelling those Pagan and Mahometan Countries, may appear by these two Examples. In each great City where there is a Concourse of People, their Mosquits or Mahometan Churches, at the four corners of them, have high and round, but small Turrets, which are made open with Lights every way, that a man in them may be easily seen and heard. Now their Moolaas, or devout Priests, do five times every day ascend unto the tops of those high Turrets, whence they proclaim, as loudly as they can possibly speak, their Prophet Mahomet thus in Arabian, La alla illa alla, Mahomet Resul-alla, that is, There is no God but one God, and Mahomet the Messenger from God. Upon a time, Tom Coriat, when their Moolaa was to cry as aforesaid, he got upon an high place directly opposite to one of those Priests, and contradicted him thus; La alla illa alla, Hasaret Eesa Benalla, that is, No God, but one God, and the Lord Christ the Son of God; and farther added, that Mahomet was an Impostor, and all this he spoke in their own Language, as loud as possibly he could, in the ears of many Mahometans that heard it. But whether (Circumstances considered) the zeal or discretion of our Pilgrim were more here to be commended, I leave to the judgement of the Reader. No doubt but had this bold attempt of his been acted in many other places of Asia, it would have cost him his Life, with as much torture as cruelty could have invented. But he was here taken for a Madman, and so let alone.  
Haply the rather, because every one there hath liberty to profess his own Religion freely, and, if he please, may argue against theirs, without fear of an Inquisition; as this our Pilgrim did at another time with a Moolaa, who had called him Giaur, that is, Infidel, or false Believer; which Mr. Coriat took in such Dudgeon, that he made a Speech to him as followeth.  
Mr. Coriat's Speech to a Mahometan.  
But I pray thee tell me, thou Mahometan, dost thou in sadness call me Giaur? That I do (quoth he.) Then, quoth I, in very sober sadness I retort that shameful word in thy Throat, and tell thee plainly; that I am a Musulman, and thou art a Giaur: for by that Arab word Musulman thou dost understand that which cannot properly be applied to a Mahometan, but only to a Christian; so that I do consequently infer, that there are two kinds of Musulmen, the one an Ortho-musulman, that is, a true Musulman, which is a Christian, and the other a Pseudo-musulman, that is, a false Musulman, which is a Mahometan. What thy Mahomet was, from whom thou dost derive thy Religion, assure thyself I know better than any one of the Mahometans amongst many Millions: yea all the particular Circumstances of his Life and Death, his Nation, his Parentage, his driving Camels through Egypt, Syria, and Palestina, the marriage of his Mistress, by whose Death he raised himself from a very base and contemptible Estate, to great Honour and Riches; his manner of cozening the sottish People of Arabia, partly by a tame Pigeon that did fly to his Ear for meat, and partly by a tame Bull that he fed by hand every day; with the rest of his Actions both in Peace and War; I know as well as if I had lived in his time, or had been one of his Neighbours in Mecha; the Truth whereof if thou didst know as well, I am persuaded thou wouldst spit in the face of thy Alcoran, and trample it under thy Feet, and bury it under a Jakes; a Book of that strange and weak matter, that I myself (as meanly as thou dost see me attired now) have already written two better Books, (God be thanked) and will hereafter this (by God's gracious Permission) write another better and truer: yea I would have thee know (thou Mahometan) that in that renowned Kingdom of England, where I was born, Learning doth so flourish, that there are many thousand Boys of sixteen years of Age, that are able to make a more learned Book than thy Alcoran: neither was it (as thou and the rest of you Mahometans do generally believe) composed wholly by Mahomet, for he was of so dull a Wit he was not able to make it without the help of another, namely, a certain Renegado Monk of Constantinople, called. Sergis: so that his Alcoran was like an Arrow drawn out of the Quiver of another man. I perceive thou dost wonder to see me so much inflamed with Anger, but I would have thee consider, it is not without great cause I am so moved: for, what greater Indignity can there be offered to a Christian which is an Artho-musulman than to be called Giaur by a Giaur, etc.  
By this which hath been said, you may perceive our Coriat thus distinguished, that himself was the Orthodox Musulman or true Believer. The Moolaa the Pseudo-Musulman or false true Believer, a distinction which must needs make an Intelligent Reader to smile. It also shows what an opinion he had of his former writings, and (how if he had returned) what a bustle he would have made in the World with another Volume, but death prevented him; for, having left it Thomas Rowe the English Ambassador at Mandoa, he went to Surat, where he was over-kindly used by some of the English, who gave him Sack, which they had brought from England, he calling for it as soon as he first heard of it, and crying, Sack, Sack! is there such a thing as Sack? I pray you give me some Sack, and drinking of it, though moderately (for he was a very temperate man) it increased his Flux which he had then upon him; and this caused him within a few days after his very tedious and troublesome Travels, (for he went most on foot) at this place to come to his journey's end; for here he overtook Death, December, 1617. and was buried under a little Monument, like one of those usually made in our Churchyards, upon whom a joking Wit made this Epitaph.  
Here lies the Wonder of the English Nation,  
Within the bosom of old Tellus' maw,  
For fruitless Travel, and for strange Relation,  
He past and repast all thy eyes e'er saw.  
Odcomb produced him, many Nations fed him,  
And worlds of Writers through the World have spread him.   

The reason inducing the Mahometans to often Prayer, exemplified by a Story.  
IN a great City where Mahomet was zealously professed; there lived (say they) a devout Musulman, who for many years together spent his whole day in the Mosquit, or Church; in the mean time, he minding not the World at all, became so poor that he had nothing left to buy bread for his Family; yet notwithstanding his poor condition, he was resolved still to ply his Devotions: and in a morning (when he perceived that there was nothing at all left for the further subsistence of himself and household) took a solemn leave of his Wife and Children, resolving for his part to go and pray and die in the Mosquit, leaving his Family (if no relief came) to famish at home. But that very day he put on this resolution, there came to his house in his absence a very beautiful young Man (as he appeared to be) who brought and gave unto his Wife a very good quantity of Gold bound up in a white Napkin, telling her, that God had now remembered her Husband, and sent him his pay for his constant pains taken in his Devotion; withal charging her not to send for her Husband; for though he had taken such a solemn leave of her that morning, yet he would come home again to her that Night; and so he departed from her. The Woman presently bought in some necessaries for her house (for they had eaten up all before) and further made some good provision for her Husband against his coming home in the evening, (for so he did) and finding all his Family very cheerful and merry, his Wife presently told him, that there had been such a one there (as before described) and left so much Gold behind him, with that forementioned message delivered with it. Her Husband presently replied, that it was the Angel Gabriel sent from God, (for the Mahometans speak much of that Angel) and he further added, that himself had nothing to bring home unto her but a little Grett or Sand, which he took up in his way homeward, and bound it in his Girdle; which he presently opening to show her, it was all turned into precious Stones, which amounted unto a very great value in Money; the seventh part of which, as of his Gold likewise, he presently gave to the poor: for (say they) Musulmen are very charitable, and infer, that if we do not neglect God, God will not forget us; but when we stand most in need of help will supply us. Unto which conclusion we may all subscribe, leaving the Premises which are laid down in this Story unto those that dare believe them.   

Of a strange Murder, related by Sanderson in his History of King James.  
IN the Year of our Lord 1618. there lived a man at Perin in Cornwall, who had been blessed with an ample Possession and fruitful Issue, unhappy only in a younger Son, who taking Liberty from his Father's Bounty; joined with a Crew like himself; who, weary of the Land, went roving to Sea, and in a small Vessel, southward made Prize of all whom they could master; and so increased in Wealth, Number, and Strength, that in the straits they adventured upon a Turk's Man of War, where they got a great Booty; but their Powder by mischance taking Fire, our Gallant trusting to his skilful swimming, got to shore upon the Isle of Rhodes, with the best of his Jewels about him; where, after a while, offering some of them to sale to a Jew, he knew them to be the governor's of Algiers; whereupon, he was apprehended, and for a Pirate condemned to the Galleys amongst other Christians; whose miserable Slavery made them use their Wits to recover their former Liberty; and accordingly, watching their opportunity, they slew some of their Officers, and valiantly released themselves. After which, this young man got aboard an English Ship, and came safe to London, where his former Misery, and some skill that he had gotten that way, preferred him to be Servant to a Chirurgeon, who, after a while, sent him to the East-Indies: there, by his Diligence and Industry, he got Money, with which he returned home: and longing to see his Native Country, Cornwall, in a small Ship from London he sailed Westward; but, ere he attained his Port, he was cast away upon that Coast, where once more his excellent skill in swimming brought him safe to shore; but then, having been fifteen years absent, he understood that his Father was much decayed in his Estate, and had retired himself to live privately in a place not far off, being indeed in Debt and Danger.  
His Sister he finds married to a Mercer, a meaner Match than her Birth promised: to her he at first appeared as a poor Stranger; but, after a while, privately reveals himself to her, showing her what Jewels and Gold he had concealed in a Bow-case about him; and concluded, that the next day he intended to appear to his Parents, yet to keep his Disguise till she and her Husband should come thither to make their common Joy complete.  
Being come to his Parents, his humble Behaviour, suitable to his poor Suit of clothes, melted the old Couple into so much Compassion, as to give him shelter from the cold Season, under their outward Roof: and by degrees, his Stories of his Travelling and Sufferings, told with much Passion to the aged People, made him their Guest so long by the Kitchen Fire, that the Husband bade them Good Night, and went to Bed; and soon after, his true Stories working Compassion in the weaker Vessel, she wept, and so did he; but withal, he taking pity of her Tears, comforted her with a piece of Gold, which gave her Assurance that he deserved a Lodging, which she afforded him, and to which she brought him; and being in Bed, he showed her his Wealth, which was girded about him, a very indiscreet Act; for, by revealing his Wealth, and concealing who he was, he wrought his own utter Destruction.  
For, the old Woman, being tempted with the golden Bait that she had received, and greedily thirsting after the enjoyment of the rest, she went to her Husband, and awaking him, presented him with this News, and her Contrivance what farther to do; and though, with horrid Apprehensions, he oft refused, yet her puling Eloquence (Eve's Enchantments) moved him at last to consent, and to rise to be Master of all that Wealth, by murdering the Owner thereof; which accordingly they did, and withal, covered the Corpse with clothes, till opportunity served for their carrying it away.  
The early Morning hastens the Sister to her Father's House, where, with signs of great Joy, she inquires for a Sailer that should lodge there the last Night. The old Folk at first denied that they had seen any such, till she told them that he was her Brother, and lost Brother, which she knew assuredly by a Scar upon his Arm, cut with a Sword in his Youth, and that they were resolved to meet there the next Morning and be merry.  
The Father hearing this, hastily run up into the Room, and finding the mark as his Daughter had told him, with horrid regret of this monstrous Murder of his own Son, with the same Knife wherewith he had killed him, he cut his own Throat. The Mother anon after going up to consult with her Husband what to do, in a strange manner beholding them both weltering in Blood; wild and aghast, finding the Instrument at hand, readily rips up her own Belly, till the Guts tumbled out.  
The Daughter, wondering at their delay in returning, seeks about for them, whom she found out too soon; and with the sad sight of this bloody Scene, being overcome with sudden Horror and Amazement for this deluge of Destruction, she sunk down, and died. The Names of these Parties were concealed, in favour of some Neighbours of Repute and Kin to the Family.   

The Custom of Lapland for the marrying of their Daughters.  
IT is Death in Lapland to marry a Maid without her Parents or Friends Consent; wherefore, if one bear affection to a young Maid, upon the breaking thereof to her Friends, the fashion is, that a day is appointed for their Friends to meet, to behold the two young Parties to run a Race together. The Maid is allowed in starting the advantage of a third part of the Race, so that it is impossible, except willing of herself, that she should ever be overtaken. If the Maid overrun her Suitor, the matter is ended, he must never have her, it being penal for the man again to renew the motion of Marriage. But, if the Virgin hath an Affection for him, tho' at the first running hard, to try the Truth of his Love, she will (without Atalanta's golden Balls to retard her speed) pretend some Casualty, and make a voluntary halt before she cometh to the Mark, or end of the Race. Thus none are compelled to marry against their own Wills; and this is the cause that in this poor Country the married People are richer in their own Contentment than in other Lands, where so many forced Matches make feigned Love, and cause real Unhappiness.   

Of Spirits or Devils, and that they have had carnal Knowledge of People.  
PHilostratus, in his fourth Book de vita Apollonii, relateth of one Menippus Lycius, a young Man 25 years of Age, that going betwixt Cenchreas and Corinth, met a Phantasm in the Habit of a fair Gentlewoman, which taking him by the Hand, carried him home to her House, in the Suburbs of Corinth, and told him she was a Phoenician by Birth, and if he would tarry with her, he should hear her sing and play, and drink such Wine as never any drank, and no man should molest him; but she, being fair and lovely, would live and die with him that was fair and lovely to behold. The young man, a Philosopher, otherwise stayed and discreet, able to moderate his Passions, though not this of Love, tarried with her a while to his great Content, and at last married her; to whose Wedding, among other Guests, came Apollonius, who, by some probable Conjectures, found her out to be a Serpent, a Lamia, and that all her Furniture was like Tantalus' Gold described by Homer, no Substance, but mere Illusions. When she saw herself descried, she wept, and desired Apollonius to be silent, but he would not be moved; and thereupon she, Plate, House, and all that was in it, vanished in an instant. Multi factum cognovere, quod in media Gracia gestum fit. Many thousands took notice of this Fast, for it was done in the midst of Greece.  
Sabine, in his Comment on the tenth of Ovid's Metamorphosis, at the Tale of Orphaeus, telleth us of a Gentleman of Bavaria, that for many Months together bewailed the loss of his dear Wife; at length the Devil, in her Habit, came and comforted him, and told him, because he was so importunate for her, that she would come and live with him again, on that condition he would be new married, never swear and blaspheme as he used formerly to do; for if he did she should be gone. He vowed it, married, and lived with her, she brought him Children, and governed his House, but was still pale and sad, and so continued, till one day falling out with him, he fell a swearing; she vanished thereupon, and was never after seen. This Story (saith he) I have heard from Persons of good Credit, which told him that the Duke of Bavaria did tell it for a certainty to the Duke of Saxony.  
Florilegus, an honest Historian of our own Nation, telleth us, that in Anno 1058. a young Gentleman of Rome, the same day that he was married, after Dinner, with the Bride and his Friends, went a walking into the Fields, and towards Evening to the Tennis Gourt, to recreate themselves; whilst he played, he put his Ring upon the Finger of the Statue of Venus, which was there by made in Brass: After he had sufficiently played, and now made an end of his Sport, he came to fetch his Ring, but Venus had bowed her Finger in, and he could not get it off; whereupon, loath to make his Company tarry at present, there left it, intending to fetch it the next day, or at some more convenient time, went thence to Supper, and so to Bed. In the night, when he should come to perform those Nuptial Rites, Venus steps between him and his Wife, (unseen or felt of her) and told him that she was his Wife, that he had betrothed himself unto her by that Ring, which he put upon her Finger: she troubled him for some following Nights. He not knowing how to help himself, made his moan to one Palumbus, a learned Magician in those days, who gave him a Letter, and bid him at such a time of the Night, in such a cross-way, at the Towns-end, where old Saturn would pass by with his Associates in Procession, as commonly he did, deliver that Script with his own hands to Saturn himself: the young man, of a bold Spirit, accordingly did it; and when the old Fiend had read it, he called Venus to him, who road before him, and commanded her to deliver his Ring, which forthwith she did, and so the Gentleman was freed.  
Hector Boetius, the Scottish Historian, writes, that in the Year, 1480. it chanced, as a Scottish Ship departed out of the Forth towards Flanders, there rose a wonderful great Tempest of Wind and Wether, so outrageous, that the Master of the Ship, with other the Mariners, wondered not a little what the matter meant, to see such Wether that time of the Year, for it was about the midst of Summer. At length, when the furious rage of the Winds still increased, in such wise that all those within the Ship looked for present Death, there was a Woman underneath the Hatches, called unto them above, and willed them to throw her into the Sea, that all the residue, by God's Grace might yet be saved; and thereupon told them, how she had been haunted a long time with a Spirit, daily coming unto her, in man's Likeness, and that even as then, he was with her using his filthy Pleasure, after the manner of carnal Copulation. In the Ship there chanced also to be a Priest, who, by the Master's appointment, going down to this Woman, and finding her like a most wretched and desperate Person, lamenting her great Misfortune and miserable Estate, used such wholesome Admonitions and comfortable Advertisements, willing her to repent and hope for Mercy at the hands of Almighty God, that at length she seeming right penitent for her grievous Offences committed, and fetching sundry Sighs, even from the bottom of her Heart, being witness (as should appear) of the same; there issued forth of the Pump of the Ship, a foul and evil favoured black Cloud, with a mighty terrible Noise, Flame, Smoak, and Stink, which presently fell into the Sea; and suddenly thereupon the Tempest ceased, and the Ship passing in quiet the residue of her Journey, arrived in safety at the place whither she was bound.  
Not long before the hap hereof, there was in like manner a young man dwelling in Gareoth, within a Village there, not passing fourteen miles from Aberdeen, right fair and comely of Shape, who declared by way of Complaint, unto the Bishop of that Diocese, how there was a Spirit which haunted him in the shape of a Woman, so fair and beautiful a thing, that he never saw the like, the which would come into his Chamber a Nights, and with pleasant Enticements allure him to have to do with her, and that by no manner of means he could be rid of her. The Bishop, like a wise Man, advised him to remove into some other Country, and to give himself to Fasting and Prayer, so to avoid his hands of that wicked Spirit. The Young man following the Bishop's Counsel, within few days was delivered from further Temptation.  
About the same time also, there was in the Country of Mar a young Gentlewoman of excellent Beauty, and Daughter unto a Nobleman there, refusing sundry wealthy Marriages offered to her by her Father, and other Friends. At length she proved with Child; and being rigorously compelled by her Patents to tell who was the Father, she confessed, that a certain young man used nightly to come unto her, and keep her Company, and sometimes in the day also; but how, or from whence he came, or by what means he went away, she was not able to declare. Her Parents not greatly crediting her Words, laid diligent Watch to understand what he was that had defiled their House; and within three days after, upon signification given by one of the Maidens that the Fornicator was at that very Instant with their Daughter, incontinently thereupon, making fast the doors, they enter the Chamber with a great many of Torches and Lights, where they find in their Daughter's Arms a foul monstrous thing, right horrible to behold. Here a number coming hastily in, to behold this evil favoured sight; amongst other, there was a Priest of right honest Life, who seeing some of them running their ways for fear, began to recite the beginning of St. John's Gospel; and coming to these Words, Verbum caro factum est, suddenly the wicked Spirit, making a terrible roaring Noise, flew his ways, taking the Roof of the Chamber with him, the Hangings and Cover of the Bed being also burned therewith. The Gentlewoman was yet preserved, and within three or four days after, was delivered of such a misshapen thing, as the like before had not been seen; which the Midwives, and Women present at her Labour, to avoid the dishonour of her House, immediately burned in a great Fire made in the Chamber for the same intent.  
John Major, in the Life of John the Monk, that lived in the days of Theodosius, commends this Monk to have been a Man of singular Continency, and of a most austere Life: but one Night by chance the Devil came to his Cell, in the habit of a young Market-Wench, that had lost her way, and desired, for God's sake, some Lodging with him. The old man let her in, and after some common Conference of her mishap, she began to inveigle him with lascivious Talk and Jests, to play with his Beard, to kiss him, and do worse, till at last she overcame him. As he went to address himself to that business, she vanished on a sudden, and the Devils in the Air laughed him to Scorn.  
We shall conclude this Discourse with a Story of a later date, how that in a small Village, in one of the Northern Islands, there dwelled an ancient Boor and his Wife, who had but one Child, and that a Daughter, whom they looked upon as the staff of their declining Age; she was just entered into her nineteenth Year, and gave great hopes of proving an excellent Woman, being very saving, industrious, and handsome; which good Qualities, had invited most of the youngmen of her Rank throughout the Country, to take particular notice of her, and list themselves her Servants. But she, like a discreet Maid, still checked her roving Fancy, and was deaf to all their flattering Courtship, resolving to entertain no Addresses which should not be authorized by her Parent's Approbation; and well had it been she had never suffered herself to be divorced from that Resolution: for so it chanced, that within a while after, the Devil came in the Likeness of a man, and took up his Lodging within two or three doors of her Father's House, pretending his Business was to look after some Debts he had owing him not far from thence: he was a Person of a proper Stature, meager Visage, large sparling Eyes, long Hair, but curling, and exceeding black; he generally went in Boots, (perhaps to conceal his cloven feet) and though his Habit was but ordinary, he appeared very full of Money, which made his Landlord very sweet upon him; and the more to oblige him, there happening a Wedding in that Town within few days after his Arrival, his Host would needs carry this his strange Guest with him to it; though it was observed he could by no means be got into the Church where the Nuptial Rites were solemnised; but as soon as they came home to Dinner, he was as busy and as merry as the joviallest of them. And here it was that the fatal Acquaintance between him and Margarita (for so was the Maiden called) unhappily first begun. That time allowing a greater Liberty of Discourse to the younger sort (amongst whom commonly one Wedding is the begetter of another) furnished our black Stranger with the larger opportunity to court this innocent Maid to her destruction. To repeat the particular Compliments he used, we purposely omit, lest we should injure the Devil's Eloquence by our Courser Rhetoric; suffice it to know, his devilish Courtship was so charming as to raise an unknown Passion in her Virgin Breast, who so far doted on his Company, as to be sorry when all the Companies breaking up obliged them to part; so that being come home, and after some time got into her Chamber, she makes her unready, but not without a thousand kind Thoughts on this Stranger she had left, whom at last (just as she was going into her Bed) she saw come into the Chamber; you may easily imagine her not a little surprised at so strange an Adventure, knowing all the Doors fast locked, and no body up but herself: but he soon superseded both her Fears and Wonder, by telling her in submissive Language, that he came out of pure love ●o have a little free discourse with her, and that he had an Art to open any Lock without Noise or Discovery. Then beginning to talk amorously, and having wantonized a while, he told her at last in plain Terms, he was resolved to lie with her that Night; Merry Company before, and his Dalliances now, had raised such a springtide in her Veins, that after a few faint formal Denials to gratify her Modesty, she consents: but, no sooner were they in Bed, but her Ears were courted with the most excellent Music in the World, which so captivated the Spirits of this ensnared Damsel, that she suffered him for many Nights together to enjoy his beastly Pleasures with her, without being taken notice of by any: but no Eyesight so sharp and piercing as that of Jealousy; some of her former Sweethearts observing her kind Looks in the daytime to this Stranger, and finding themselves wholly out of Favour, conclude he was the man that supplanted them in their Affection, for which they vow Revenge; and four of them joined together, armed with trusty Back-Swords, waylay him one Evening in the Fields, who no sooner comes up to them, but these valiant Heroes fell all four upon him at once with their dead-doing Bilboes; but they do but Duel a Shadow, though they see him plainly they cannot reach him, and their mighty Strokes are lost in insignificant cleaving down the empty Air; on the other side, tho' they behold him only single, yet they feel more than a hundred Flails, belabouring them so severely, till their Backs seem Brawn, and their Heads Jelly, which obliged them to cry out for Quarter, which he very generously (to show that he was a Devil of Honour) grants, but withal tells them, they must undergo a further small Penance for their Presumption; saying this, he ties their Hands behind them, and letting down their Breeches, whips them with Rods of Holly and Nettles intermixed, till the Crimson Gore in Streams flowed down their Posteriors; then having fast pined the hinder lap of their Shirts to their Shoulders, with their Hands bound, and Breeches about their Heels, as aforesaid, he dismissed them; who rambling all Night they knew not whither, found themselves in the morning hard by the Village, where they me● two Wenches going a milking, amazed and ready to run away seeing them in that ridiculous Posture these, with much Rhetoric, and some Tears, they entreat to lose them, which the hardhearted Sluts, ready to bepiss themselves with laughing, refusing they are forced to march on into the middle of the Village, and there too they could not get unbound till they had made an ingenious Confession how they came thus pickled.  
At another time, a Miller, living in that Village took some occasion to fall out with our Stranger upbraiding him as an idle Fellow, and one that having no Employment, was very fit to serve in the Wars: the Stranger replied little, but told him he should be even with him for his Sawsiness before he slept; accordingly, the Miller and his Family wer● no sooner got to Bed, but he heard his Mill set going very furiously, whereupon, getting up to se● what the matter was, he found a whole Cartload of Office-Marmalade brought to be ground, and thrown into his Hopper and Bynns. At this unexpected Sight poor Dusty-Pell began to swear, an● wished a thousand Tun of Devils damn the Author of this Roguery; when lo! on a sudden, as a Punishment for his Profaneness, as he went to shut down the Mill, he is taken up, and ducked above forty times over head and Ears in the Stream, and then his Toll-dish, full of the before mentioned Frankincense, clapped so fast on his Head, that it could not be got off for above two days.  
For these, and some other extravagant Pranks that he played, he was at last carried before a Justice, in whose Presence he was no sooner come, but there was heard all about the House a hideous Noise, as of hissing of Serpents, whilst he fell into such a loud excessive Laughter, that he made the whole House to shake; which fit of Mirth being over, the Magistrate demanded of him what Countryman he was? to which he replied, that he was an Inhabitant of another World, and only a Sojourner in this: as he spoke which words, the Room seemed full for almost half an hour of fiery Flashes, accompanied with a most dreadful Clap of Thunder, in which he vanished away, and was never seen after.   

The Birth, Life, and Actions of the Impostor Mahomet, according to their Saracenical Story of him.  
THEY have written a Book of the Generation of Mahomet, to this effect: The Book of the Generation of Mahomet (you see they would Ape the Genealogy of our Saviour) the Messenger of God, from Adam and Eve, to the time when God brought him forth, (permitted him for the Sins of his People,) gracious, perfect, and fit for himself. When as Rabachbar had learned out of the Scriptures, and by Astrology, (together with a little Witchcraft) that this Prophet should be born to the World, he heard, That there was a man born in Jeseras, a City of Arabia, having all such Marks and Tokens as he had soreseen by the Prophecies, (and his Witchcraft,) viz. A spot on his Forehead, a print between his Shoulders, (and the Brand of Lucifer:) to satisfy his Desire he went thither to see; where finding those Tokens fulfilled in young Mahomet, he thereupon expounded the dark mystery of his farfetched Light, learned of his Master Rabelnedi, (and his Master the Devil) in this manner. When Adam was newly created, as he stood up, his Brain shaked and made a noise, as the Leaves do which are shaken with the Wind; whereat Adam wondering, (how could he do otherwise) God said unto him, The Sound which thou hast heard, it is the sign of the Prophets and Messengers of my Commandments; take heed therefore that thou commit the Seed of Light only to worthy Loins, and to a clean Womb. And this light of Mahomet (put into a dark Lantern) that should be born, shined from the face of Adam, as the Sun or Moon at the Full. And when he had begotten Seth, that Light passed instantly from the face of Adam into the face of Eve, insomuch, that the Birds of the Air, and Beasts of the Earth, wondered at her Beauty: yea, the Angels every day saluted her, and brought her Odours out of Paradise, till she brought forth Seth alone, having before at every burden brought forth a Brother and a Sister.  
Seth inherited this Light, which remained between Heaven and Earth, the Angels thereby ascending and descending upon Seth, and crying always, Rejoice thou Earth, worthy of the Light of Mahomet, on him be Prayer and Salvation of God. Adam drawing near to his end, declared unto him, by his Testament, the mystery of that Light, and the Genealogy of the Prophets. Then descended Gabriel, attended with threescore and ten thousand Angels, bearing every one of them a white Leaf and a Pen, which signed the writing, for the continuance of the Order of the Prophetical generation. Seth received this writing, and was clothed with a double red Garment, shining as the Sun, and as soft as the Violet-flower.  
From him it passed by succession to Noah and Sem: then to Abraham, at whose Birth two Lights from the East and West (meeting in the midst) lightened the whole World: and the Angels were heard singing. That it was the Light of the Prophet Mahomet, who should be born of his Seed, whose Word should be in the Virtue of God. This Light (say they) passed from Abraham to the Face of Hagar, being with Child, and after to Ishmael: and God told him, That the Soul of Mahomet, in the beginning of the Creation, was mingled with his, and that his Name in Heaven (though he were never like to come there) should be Asmet, in Earth Mahomet, in Paradise Abualtrazim. At this Sarah grieved, until three Angels comforted her with the Promise of Isaac. From Ishmael it removed to Keidar his Son, who was endued with seven gifts, viz. Sound, Courageous, Fair, Swift, Just, a Hunter, and an Archer. This Keidar married Nulia of the Land of Isaac; but, being warned by an Oracle, he took to wife Algadira, an Arabian; and after, by Divine warning, carried the chest of this Light to Jacob. Then was Hamel born to him, and received the same Light; in which succeeded Thebicht, Hamiessa, Adeth, Adnue, Adieu, Machat, Nizar, Musar, Aliez, Madraca, Horeima, Knieva, Anofra, Melic, Falhrem, Luie, Galiben, Rab, Murran, Cudai, Abdamenef, Hesim, a man by Divine testimony free of all uncleanness, (and that was more than Mahomet was himself.) To him did all Kings offer their Daughters in marriage, and among the rest Constantine, which he refused, and married Seline the Daughter of Zeit, and had by her Abdulmatalib, whose Light caused Rain in drought. To him an Elephant prostrated himself, and said with man's voice, (thou canst not, O Reader, but believe it) Salvation be on you, and on the Light that shineth out of your Reins. Dignity, Fame, Honour, and Victory be on you; and that there should proceed from him a King greater than all the Kings of the Earth. Another time, as he slept on the stone which was placed by Abraham, in his Oratory at Mecca, he dreamt of a Chain reaching East and West, and to Heaven, and to the Depth, which was presently converted into a flourishing Herb. Noah and Abraham presented themselves Interpreters of this Dream. Abdalla his Son, the Father of Mahomet, had a Tutor given unto him to defend him from his Enemies, who seemed a man, but was none. He was preserved from the lying in wait of the Jews, by threescore and ten Angels, which seemed men. He wedded Ermina; and therefore two hundred Women perished for his Love; some hanging, some burning themselves. (But if this be the effects of Love, Heavens send that I may dote on nothing, but upon Canary, powdered Beef and Mustard.  
When the prescribed time was come, in the Month Dulheia, on a Friday night, God bad Aridunan to open the Gates of Paradise, that the innermost of his Secrets might be manifested; for it pleaseth me (saith he) this Night, to transport the Light of my Prophet from the reins of Abdalla into the Womb of Ermina, and that it come into the World. This being done, as Abdalla, the Judge and Lord of the Arabians, went into the House of Prayer, he perceived a great Light to lighten from his House up toward Heaven, and presently died. On the twelfth day of Rab, on a Tuesday Mahomet was born, circumcised, and all Frolic; And then all Idols fell and became Black: All Kingdoms were destroyed, and not one stood upright. Lucifer was cast into the bottom of the Sea, and in forty days could not get out, ('twas wonder he was not drowned in all that while) but than he called to his Fellows, and told them that Mahomet was born with the Power of the Sword, who would take away all their Power. The same also God caused to be proclaimed in Heaven and Earth. His Mother said, that she was delivered of him without pain, and Angelical Birds came to nourish the Child, and a man clothed in white presented him with three Keys, like to Pearls, which he took, and these forsooth were, the Key of Victory, the Key of the Law, and the Key of Prophecy, and with these Keys he did picklock the Hearts of all his Followers.) After came three Persons with shining Faces, presenting him a Cauldron of Emeralds, with four handles, which Mahomet accepted (can you blame him) as a sign of his Rule over all the World. The Birds, Clouds, Winds, Angels, contended for the Nourishment of the Child, (there was old striving for a thing of nothing) but the cause was determined by Heavenly Voice, affirming, that he should not be taken from the hands of men. An Ass also almost famished worshipped him, (and since many more Asses have done the like) and receiving him on her back, became Herald to this new Prophet, with man's voice proclaiming the worthiness of her carriage. Three men carried him up into a Mountain: of which one opened him from the Breast unto the Navel, and washed his Entrails with Snow: the second cleaved his heart in the midst, and took out of it a black grain, saying, that it was the Portion of the Devil. The third made him whole again. Seraphin nourished him three years, and Gabriel nine and twenty, who gave unto him, in the fortieth year of his Age, the Law, and carried him to Heaven, (you cannot choose but believe it) for this his Journey is related by Friar Richard, sometimes a Student in the University of Baldach, Chap. 14. and is as true a story as that of the Friar and the Boy.  
Now as concerning his going up to Heaven, there is several relations of it (and all alike true.) In La vita Mahometi it is said, that Mahomet went up to Heaven with the Angel Gabriel in a shining ladder, where the Stairs hung by Chains of Gold, as big as Mount Notho by Medina. Another saith, that Gabriel, with threescore and ten pair of Wings, came to Mahomet, in the Chamber of Aissa, his best beloved Wife, and said, that God would have him to visit him where he is, and brought with him the Beast Elmparac, or Alborach, of nature between a Mule and an Ass. This Beast told Mahomet (for Asses than could speak as well as those that believed in Mahomet) that he would not take him on his back till he had prayed to God for him. His steps were so far as one could see, (for he was swister by half then Paccolet or Pegasus;) so that in the twinkling of an eye he had brought Mahomet to Jerusalem. Then Gabriel, with his Girdle, tied the Beast to a Rock, and carried Mahomet on his shoulders into Heaven, where he knocked, and the Porter opened. Others say, that it was not Gabriel, but another Angel, that carried him up to Heaven; and that Gabriel, being Porter there, let him in; so that varying so much in their reports, you may well conclude he never came thither. But, as their story lies, we will go on with it. In the first Heaven (say they) he saw Angels of the shape of all Creatures, praying for the Creatures of their shapes, and a Cock so great, that standing upon the Moon, his Coxcomb reached into the Imperial Heaven, many millions of miles Altitude; and when this mighty Chanticleer crowed, all the Cocks upon earth re-ecchoed him. Then he brought him to the second Heaven, which was a Journey of five hundred years, wherein was Noah; and this Heaven was of Gold. The third was of Pearls, wherein was Abraham, and the huge huge Angel of Death, with his Book and Pen in Hand, writing the Times and men's Lives; (which fatal opinions make them hardy.) In the fourth, he beheld an infinite company of Angels, whereof every one was a thousand times bigger than the Globe of the earth; (exactly to an inch) each of them had ten thousand Heads, every head threescore and ten thousand tongues, and every tongue praised God in seven hundred thousand several Languages. Amongst other of these Angels (saith he) was one named Phatyr, or the Angel of mercy, who was of that immense greatness, that every step he trod was twelve times more than the distance betwixt the Poles. This Angel (said he) had a Quill or Pen of orient Pearl, of such a length (never a Scrivener in London hath the like) that an excellent Arabian Courser could hardly reach to the end of it in five hundred years continual galloping; with this Pen (saith he) doth God record all things past, present, and to come, in such a mysterious Character, that none but He and Seraphael can understand it; with this Quill were written all the hundred and four Holy Books; viz. the ten which Adam received, Seth fifty, Enoch thirty, and Abraham the Remainder: this Pen forsooth, also writ Moses Law, David's Psalms, Christ's Gospel, and Mahomet's Alcoran. The fifth Heaven of Diamond, and in it Moses; the sixth of Ruby, and in it John Baptist; in the seventh Heaven he saw the Throne of God supported by seven Angels, each of them so great, that a Falcon, with incessant flying, could scarce in a thousand Years reach the distance of one Eye from another; fourteen everlasting burning Candles hung about the Throne, whose length (according to Mahomet's measure) was as much as a Horse could run in five hundred Years. There (saith this Blasphemer) did he see the Almighty, who bid him welcome, and stroked him on the Face with his hand, which was a thousand times colder than Ice. Here Mahomet for shame of his own Baseness, blushed, (a thing he never did for lying) and sweat six drops, which he wiped from his Brow, and threw into Paradise, where one became a Rose, another a Grain of Rice, and the other four became four Learned Men, viz. Armet, Sembelin, Almamed Moler-zed, and Seh-nassin. Then returning to his Elmparac, or Mule, he road back to his house at Mecha; all this was done in the tenth part of the Night: but when he was requested to do thus much in the People's sight, he answered, Praised be God, I am a man, and an Apostle.  
The Book Asear (saith Bellonius) telleth further, That in his Journey Mahomet heard a Woman's Voice, crying, Mahomet, Mahomet, but he held his Peace; afterwards another called him, but he gave no Answer. Mahomet asked the Angel who they were? He answered, That the one was she which published the Jews Law, and if he had answered her, all his Disciples should have been Jews: the other was she which delivered the Gospel, whom if he had answered all his Followers had been Christians.  
Now, who would think People should be so credulous to believe such antic Stories: but his other Opinions were full as ridiculous; as concerning the Day of Judgement, that he should paint it out by a great and fearful Duel betwixt him and Death, who being overcome, shall be so enraged, that he shall destroy all the World presently; and being armed in flaming Brass, shall sound his Trumpet to each Quarter of the World, whose affrighting Noise shall make all Creatures to give up the Ghost; yea, the very Angels also shall die; as also Adriel, who wrapping his iron Wings about him, shall strangle himself with such a hideous Noise as is not to be imagined.  
Then shall ensue a terrible Earthquake, and a violent shower of parching Brimstone, which shall turn the World into a disordered Chaos, in which Condition it shall remain the space of forty days; when God shall take it in his Fist, and say, Where are now the Haughty Princes, the Cruel Tyrants, Lascivious Wantoness, and Covetous Muck-worms of the Earth? Then will he rain down Mercy for forty Days and Nights together incessantly, which shall reduce the World again into a flourishing Condition. Then shall the Angel Seraphiel take a Golden Trumpet in his hand, of length five hundred Years Travel from one end to another; with which he shall give such a Sound, as shall revive again both Angels and Men, who shall reassume their former Estate: after this, Michael the Archangel comes with a mighty Balance, and poises every man's Actions in either Scale; those whose good Deeds outweigh their evil, are put on the right hand, the other on the left; then is every man loaden with his Sins in a Satchel, and hung about his Neck, with which they pass on a narrow weak Bridge over the Mouth of Hell: now, those that be heavy laden break the Bridge and fall therein; but such as have but few Sins pass over securely. On the other side of the Bridge stands Mahomet, who shall be transformed into the shape of a mighty Ram, full of Locks and long Fleeces of Wool, in which all his Sectaries, like Fleas, shall shroud themselves; then will he jump into Paradise, and so convey them all thither.  
Paradise he described to be as many miles about as there be Atoms in the Sun, and that it is enclosed with a Wall of ninety times refined Gold, ten thousand miles high, and three thousand thick, having seven Gates to enter in at, and is divided into seven spacious Gardens, and those subdivided into seventy times seven several places of Delight. In this place he promises to his Musselmen or true Believers, all sensual Pleasures and Delights imaginable; namely, That they should have Garments of Silk, with all sorts of Colours, Bracelets of Gold and Amber; Parlours and Banquetting-houses upon Floods and Rivers, Vessels of Gold and Silver, Angels serving them, bringing, in Gold and Silver Flagons, Milk and Wine; curious Lodgings rarely furnished, Cushions, Pillows, and Down-beds, most beautiful Women to accompany them, Maidens and Virgins with twinkling Eyes, Gardens and Orchards with Arbours, Fountains, Springs, and all manner of pleasant Fruit, Rivers of Milk, Honey, and spiced Wine, all manner of sweet Odours, Perfumes, and fragrant Scents, yea, whatsoever the Flesh shall desire to have. In this Paradise (saith Mahomet) there is a Table of Diamond seven hundred thousand days Journey long; (does not he, think you, deserve the Whetstone) this is for men to feast upon, sitting on Chairs of Gold and Pearl. Gabriel, the Porter of Paradise, hath seventy thousand Keys which belong to his Office, and every Key is seven thousand miles long, (questionless he must be very strong, or else those Keys must needs tyre him.) Here (saith the Alcoran) men shall tumble in all manner of Pleasure, reposing upon fair Beds lined with Crimson, there shall they gather the Fruits of the Garden to their Contentment; there shall they enjoy the Company of fair and beautiful Damsels, whose Hairs be Threads of Gold, their Eyes of Diamonds, as big as the Moon, their Lips of Cherries, their Teeth of Pearl, their Tongues of Rubies, their Cheeks of Coral, their Noses of Jaspar, (very rich Girls) their Foreheads of Saphyr, their Eyes exceeding black, and Bodies exceeding white, round faced, sweet as Musk, amorous, and very beautiful all over; there shall they spend the time with these Virgins in pleasant Arbours, who being enjoyed, shall have their Virginities again renewed as often as lost. In the midst of this delightful place (saith he) is a very high spreading Tree, higher than all the Mountains in the World, were they heaped one upon another, and so broad that it shadeth all Paradise. The Trunk of this extraordinary rare Tree is all of Diamond, the leaves of Ophirian Gold, and the Boughs of Jet; each Leaf hath an Antic Shape, having on one side growing the Name of God, and on the other that of Mahomet.  
Nor were his ridiculous Fopperies of Hell less than the other; namely, that it was the Navel of the World, compassed with a large high Wall of attractive Adamant, having seven Gates of flaming Brass to enter in at; that it was divided into several Cells or Dungeons, whereof some were more loathsome and fuller of Torments than others, which are prepared for those Souls who have highest transgressed. Some of these Caves (saith he) are so deep, that a Millstone in a thousand years cannot attain to the bottom, and other places are without Bottom: In the descent of these deep Caves or Dungeons, are placed sharp Pikes and Swords, to wound and torment the Souls that move there. These Dungeons are full of flaming Oil and Brimstone, which striketh such a Terror, that the very Devils themselves do howl, screetch, and rage there beyond measure: other Dungeons be full of Serpents, Toads, and all manner of venomous and noisome Creatures that can be imagined. Here shall the Wicked eat of the Fruit of the Tree Zacon, which, being in their guts, shall flame like Sulphur; they shall drink boiling water, and every day of new Torments shall have alteration. Some Rivers (saith he) be full of Crocodiles, others so cold as makes them gnash and chatter, others boil with violence of heat; yet (saith the Alcoran) shall not these pains endure for ever; for after so many thousand years, when each Soul hath suffered according to the demerits of the Sins which he hath committed, then shall they be delivered by Mahomet; (yea his Charity is so great, that he will deliver the Devils also) first, changing their affrighting shapes into others more tolerable, and then by washing them in a River flowing out of Paradise called Alcanser, they shall become whiter than the driven Snow, and from thence forward Sing Lala Hillulaes' unto Mahomet. And this is that he delivers of Hell, whose description he might the better give, as being the place of his proper residence.  
His Doctrine of Angels was, that they were either good or bad, yet both subject to death; the good, as consisting of Flame, because Lucifer, an Angel, by Ambition was cast out of Paradise; the bad Angels are imprisoned in Dogs, Swine, Toads, Wolves, Bears, Tigers, etc. After the Judgment-day they must be tormented in Hell some Millions of years, and afterwards be delivered by Mahomet, and received into Paradise; but as for the Women, poor Souls! be they never so good, they have the Gates shut against them; yet are consigned to a Mansion without, where they shall live happily, as wicked Women to another place, replete with all dolour and misery.  
As absurd and ridiculous were his opinions concerning our Saviour Christ, as that the Virgin Mary conceived him by smelling to a Rose, presented to her by the Angel Gabriel, and that he was born out of her Breasts; also that she was free from Original Sin, and the Temptations of the Devil. Christ is called in the Alcoran, the Breath and Word of God, said to know the Secrets of Hearts, to raise the dead to life, cure diseases, restore sight to the Blind, and speech to the Dumb, and that his Disciples wrought Miracles by his Virtue. Yet visit they not his Sepulchre in their Pilgrimages, (not thinking him to have died) as generally bruited; for being (as they say) led towards the Place of Execution, God, not permitting so base a People to put to death so holy a Prophet, did assume him into Heaven: when mist, and sought by the Soldiers in the throng, they laid hold of one of the Judges that had condemned him, who resembled him much in favour and proportion, telling him that he should not escape from them again; and so not believing whatsoever he said, did Execute him in his Room. They sharply punish all such as blaspheme him; and say that he shall return to Judgement about forty years before the World's ending; and that at the last day the Righteous shall enter into Heaven, the Jews under the Banner of Moses, the Christians under the Banner of Christ, and the Saracens under his Banner.  
Having with these and the like odd whimsies, patched up his Alcoran, to give it the better credit, that the People might imagine it to come from Heaven, he devised this cunning way; He secretly caused a wild Ass to be taken and bound, his Alcoran being fairly written about his Neck; then, as he preached unto the People, he pretended a sudden Rapture, of some extraordinary thing that was revealed to him from above, and with a loud voice spoke to the People, Ye have desired a Law, behold God hath sent you a Law from Heaven; go to such a Desert, there shall ye find an Ass, and a Book tied about his Neck, which will direct you in the ways which God hath commanded. Thereupon the People run in great haste (and as they could do no other) found it according as he had said; so with great Pomp they bring back the Ass with the Book about his neck, suitable to the Bearer; and now (as thoroughly convinced) they give great Honour to this their new Prophet.  
Thus were these silly Souls deluded by this cunning Impostor to embrace a brutish, sensual Religion; but fleshly People will have a fleshly Religion, and a fleshly Paradise to inhabit: But like Prophet, like People, and like Religion, for Mahomet himself was such a fleshly Fellow, that in glorying of his Strength, he boasted, that he had known his eleven Wives successively in one hour, and permitting, by his impure Law, to his followers, to take unto them four Wives, (though they be nigh of Kin) yea five, marrying them Virgins; and to take besides as many of them which they have bought and taken Captives, as their ability will serve to maintain. These were his sensual brutish baits to catch the credulous inconsiderate Multitude; but his devices are so ridiculous, that a wise man cannot choose but smile at his conceits in Pleasure: this indeed hath made many of the most serious of them to mislike his inventions and sensual delights. Amongst the rest, hear Avicena, one of his own Sect; Mahomet (saith he) hath given us a Law, which showeth the perfection of felicity to consist in those things which concern the Body; whereas the Wise and Sages of old had a greater desire to express the felicity of the Soul then of the Body; as for the bodily felicity, though it were granted them, yet they regarded it not, nor esteemed it, in comparison of the felicity which the Soul requireth.  
Mahomet had also in him a spice of the transmigration of Souls from one Body unto another, by which means he devised how a Camel might pass through the Eye of a Needle; the Soul of a Sinner for Purgation entering first into the Body of a Camel, then of a lesser Beast, and finally of a little Worm, which should creep through the eye of a Needle, and so become perfect.  
The Saracens, his Followers, esteem Rice as a great Delicacy, by reason of their Tradition that it came of Mahomet's Sweat; for say they, when Mahomet compassed the Throne of God in Paradise, God turned and looked on him, which made the modest Prophet sweat, and wiping it off with his finger, six drops fell out of Paradise; one whereof produced the Rose, the second Rice, the other four his four Associates.  
Concerning the Death of this Impostor there is several Opinions: The Book of the Policy of the Turkish Empire, saith, That he was poisoned by one of his Disciples called Albunor, to make. Trial of his boasting Prophecy, That he would rise again within three days after his Death. This Albunor after coming to see him, found his body torn in pieces, and devoured of Dogs; whereupon, gathering together the Bones that remained into a Coffin, he caused them to be buried. Mr. Smith, in his God's Arrows against Atheists, saith, That sitting up late one Evening in his Palace, and having taken his fill of Wine, wherein one of his Companions had poured some Poison, felt his wont Sickness approaching, and made haste forth, saying, He must needs depart to confer with the Angel Gabriel, and go aside, lest his glorious Presence should be an occasion of their Deaths: forth he went, and remembering that a soft place was best for his Falling Sickness, down he fell upon a Dunghill, grovelling along with great Pain, foaming at the Mouth, and gnashing his Teeth. The Swine came about the Dunghill, fell upon him, wounded him sore, and had eaten him up had not his Wife and others of his House heard the noise of the Hogs, and rescued the false Prophet; however, he died fourteen days after.  
His Death happened in the sixty third Year of his Age, and in the eleventh after his Hegira or Flight, dying at Medina, and was buried there, in the Grave of Avisee his Wife; Here is a stately Temple and huge, erected with elegant and magnificent Structures, daily increased and adorned by the Costs of the Othomans, and Gifts of other Princes. Within this Building is a Chapel not perfectly square, covered with a goodly Roof, under which is the Urn of Stone called Hagiar Monavar, sometimes belonging to Avisee aforesaid. This is all covered with Gold and Silk, and compassed about with Iron Grates gilded: within this, which shineth with Gold and Gems, Mahomet's Carcase was placed, and not lifted up by force of Loadstone or other Art, but that stone Urn lieth on the ground.  
The Musulman Pilgrims, after their return from Mecha, visit this Temple, because Mahomet, yet living, was wont to say, That he would, for him which should visit his Tomb, as well as if he had visited him living, intercede with God for a life full of Pleasures. Therefore do they throng thither with great veneration, kiss and embrace the grates, (for none have access to the Urn of Stone) and many for love of this Place, leave their Country, yea, some madly put out their Eyes to see no Worldly thing after, and there spend the rest of their days. So zealous are these sottish People in this sensual, senseless, irreligious Religion.   

Of the Talmud of the Jews, their Dreams concerning Adam, etc.  
THIS Talmud saith, that Adam's Body was made of the Earth of Babylon, his Head of the Land of Israel, his other members of other Parts of the World; so R. Meir thought he was compact of the Earth, gathered out of the whole Earth, as it is written, Thine eyes did see my Substance; now it is elsewhere written, The eyes of the Lord are over all the Earth. There are twelve hours of the Day, saith R. Aha, in the first whereof, the Earth of Adam, or earthly matter was gathered: in the second, the Trunk of his Body fashioned; in the third, his Members stretched forth: in the fourth, his Soul infused: in the fifth, he stood upon his Feet: in the sixth, he gave Names to the Creatures: in the seventh, Eve was given him in Marriage: in the eighth, they ascended the Bed two, and descended four: in the ninth, he received the Precept, which in the tenth he broke, and therefore was judged in the eleventh: and in the twelfth was cast out of Paradise: as it is written, Man continued not one night in honour. The Stature of Adam, was from one End of the World to the other, and for his Transgression, the Creator, by laying on his Hand, lessened him: for before, saith R. Eleazar, with his Hand he reached (a reacher indeed) the very Eirmament: His Language was Syriack, or Aramitish, saith R. Juda, and, as Raschlakis addeth, the Creator showed him all Generations, and the wise men in them. His sin, after Jehuda, was Heresy; R. Jsaac thinketh the nourishing his foreskin.  
They farther tell, that he was an Hermaphrodite, a Man-woman, having both Sexes, and a double Body; the Female part joined at the Shoulders and back parts to the Male, their Countenances turned from each other. This they prove by Moses his words, So God created Man in his Image, Male and Female created he them, and he called their name ADAM. Yet after this, is mention of Adam's solitariness, and forming of Eve out of his side, that is, cutting the Female Part from the Male, and so fitting them to Generation. Thus doth Leo Hebraeus reconcile the Fable of Pluto's Androgynus, with Moses' narration, out of which he thinketh it borrowed. For, as he telleth, that Jupiter in the first forming of Mankind, made them such Androgini, with two Bodies of two Sexes, joined in the Breast, divided for their Pride, the Navel still remaining as a Scar of the wound then made: so with little difference is this their Interpretation of Moses.  
As ridiculous and extravagant are their Opinions about their women's Conceptions and Travel, and of one Lilich a she Devil, which should kill their children; to prevent which, they have divers expedients, which take out of their own Writings, as followeth. When a Jewish Woman is great with Child, and near her Time, her Chamber is furnished with necessaries; and then some holy and devout Man (if any such may be had) with Chalk maketh a Circular Line round, and in the Chamber upon all the walls, and writeth on the Door, and within and without on every wall, and about the Bed in Hebrew Letters, Adam, Chama, Chuts, Lilich, or (after the Jewish pronunciation) Lilis. Hereby they signify their desire, that if a woman shall be delivered of a Son, God may one Day give him a Wife like to Eve, and not a shrew like Lilis. This Word Lilis is read in the Prophet Isaiah 34. 14. interpreted a Scritchowl; but the Jews seem to mean by it a devilish Spectrum in Woman's shape, that useth to slay or carry away Children, which are on the eighth Day to be circumcifed. Elias Levita writeth, that he hath read that a hundred and twenty years Adam contained himself from his wife Eve, and in that space there came to him Devils, which conceived of him, whence were engendered Devils and Spirits, Fairies and Goblins: and there were four Devils, Mothers, or Dams of them, Lilith, Nuemah, Ogereth, and Machalath. Thus is it read in Ben Sirrah, When God had made Adam, and saw it was not good for him to be alone, he made him a Woman of the Earth, like unto him, and called her Lilis. These disagree for Superiority, not suffering Caesarve priorem Pompeiusve Parem: Lilis (made of the same mould) would not be underling, and Adam would not endure her his equal. Lilis seeing no hope of agreement, uttered that sacred word Jehovah, with the Cabalistical interpretation thereof, and presently did fly into the Air. Adam plaining his case, God sent three Angels after her, viz. Senot, Sensenoi, Saumangeleph, either to bring her back, or to denounce unto her, that a hundred of her Children should die in a day. These overtook her over the troublesome Sea (where one day the Egyptians should be drowned) and did their message to her: she refusing to obey, they threatened her drowning: but she besought them to let her alone, because she was created to vex and kill Children on the eighth day, if they were men; if women Children, on the twentieth day: They nevertheless forcing her to go, Lilis swore to them, that whensoever she should find the name or figure of those Angels, written or painted on Schedule, Parchment, or any thing, she would do Infants no harm, and that she would not refuse that punishment, to lose an hundred Children in a day. And for this cause do they write these names on a Scroll of Parchment, and hang them on their Infant's necks. Thus far Been Sirrah.  
In their Chambers always is found such a scroll or painting: and the names of the Angels of Health (this office they ascribe to them) are written over the Chamber-door. In their Book Brandspiegel, Printed at Cracovia, 1597. is showed the authority of this History, collected by their wise men out of those words, Gen. 1. 27. Male and female created he them, compared with the forming of Eve of a Rib in the next Chapter, saying, That Lilis the former was divorced from Adam for her pride, which she conceived, because she was not made of Earth as well as he; and God gave him another flesh of his flesh; and concerning her, R. Moses tells, that Samael the Devil came riding upon a Serpent, which was as big as a Camel, and cast water upon her, and deceived her.  
When any Jewish Woman is in travel, she must not send for a Christian Midwife, except no Jewish can be gotten: and then the Jewish Women must be very thick about her, for fear of negligence or injury. And if she be happily delivered of a Son, there is exceeding joy through all the house, and the Father presently makes festival provision against the Circumcision on the eighth day. In the mean time ten Persons are invited, neither more nor fewer, which are all past thirteen Years of Age: The night after her delivery, seven of the invited Parties, and some others sometimes, meet at the Child's house, and make there great cheer and sport all Night, Dicing, Drinking, Fabling, so to solace the Mother, that she should not grieve too much for the Child's Circumcision.   

Of the Opinion of the Chinesses concerning the peopling of the World after the Flood.  
THAT after the waters of Heaven had overflowed the Earth, so that all mankind was drowned by an universal Deluge; God seeing that the World would be desolate, and no body to inhabit it, he sent the Goddess Amida, the chief Lady of Honour to his Wife Nacapiran, from the Heaven of the Moon, that she might repair the loss of drowned mankind, and that when the Goddess having set her feet upon a Land whence the waters were withdrawn, called Calemphuy, she was changed all into Gold, and in that manner standing upright with her face looking up unto Heaven, she sweat out at her armpits a great number of Children, namely Males out of the right, and Females out of the left, having no other place about her body whence she might bring them forth, as other Women of the World have, who have sinned, and that for a chastisement of their sin, God by the order of Nature hath subjected them to a misery full of corruption and filthiness, for to show how odious unto him the sin was that had been committed against him. The Goddess Amida having thus brought forth these Creatures, which they affirm were thirty three thousand three hundred thirty and three, two parts of them Females, and the other Males, for so say they the World was to be repaired, she remained so feeble and faint with this delivery (how could she do otherwise) having no body to assist her at her need, that she fell down dead in the place, for which cause the Moon at that time in memory of this death of hers, whereat she was infinitely grieved, put herself into mourning, which mourning they affirm to be those black spots we ordinarily behold in her face, occasioned indeed by the shadow of the Earth, and that when there shall be so many Years run out, as the Goddess Amida brought forth Children, which were, as I have delivered, thirty three thousand three hundred thirty and three, than the Moon will put off her mourning, and afterwards be as clear as the Day.   

A strange and wonderful Relation of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto a Portugal, which he saw in his Journey in China.  
AFTER the Relation of many and divers things, we came (saith he) to a Town anciently called Cohilonza, that is, the flower of the field, and had in former times been in very great prosperity; but about a hundred forty and two years before, a certain stranger chanced to come thither, being as it seems an holy man, although the Bonzes (which are their Priests) said, he was a Sorcerer, by reason of the wonders he did, having raised up five dead men, and wrought many other miracles, whereat all men were exceedingly astonished; and that having divers times disputed with the Priests, he had so shamed and confounded them, as fearing to deal any more with him, they incensed the Inhabitants against him, and persuaded them to put him to death, affirming that otherwise God would consume them with fire from Heaven: whereupon all the Townsmen went unto the House of a poor Weaver, where he lodged, and killing the Weaver, with his Sons, and two Sons in law of his, that would have defended him, the Holy man came forth to h●em, and reprehending them for this uproar, he old them amongst other things, That the God of the Law whereby they were to be saved, was called Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven to the Earth, for to become a man, and that it was needful he should die for men, and that with the price of his precious blood, which he shed for sinners upon the Cross, God was satisfied in his Justice, and that giving him the charge of Heaven and Earth, he had promised him, that whosoever professed his Law with faith and good works should be saved, and have everlasting life; and withal, that the Gods whom the Bonzes served and adored with sacrifices of blood, were false, and Idols, wherewith the Devils deceived them. Hereat the Priests entered into so great a fury, that they called unto the People, saying, Cursed be he that brings not wood and fire for to burn him, which was presently put in execution by them, and the fire beginning exceedingly to rage, the Holy man said certain Prayers, by virtue whereof the fire incontinently went out, wherewith the People being amazed, cried out, saying, Doubtless the God of this man is most mighty, and worthy to be adored throughout the whole world; which one of the Bonzes hearing, who was Ringleader of this mutiny, and seeing the Townsmen retire away in consideration of that they had beheld, he threw a stone at the Holy man, saying, They which do not as I do, may the Serpent of the night ingulf them into Hell fire. At these words all the other Bonzes did the like, so that he was presently knocked down dead with the stones they flung at him, whereupon they cast him into the River, which most prodgiously stayed his course from running down, and so continued for the space of five days together that the Body lay in it: by means of this wonder many embraced the Law of that Holy man, whereof there are a great number yet remaining in that Country. Whilst the Chinesses (saith he) were relating this story to us, we arrived at a point of Land, where going to double the Cape, we descried a little place environed with Trees, in the midst whereof was a great Cross of stone, very well made, to which we going, prostrated ourselves before it with Tears in our Eyes. The People of the Village beholding us in this posture, came to us, and kneeling down also, with their hands lift up to Heaven, they said, Christo Jesus, Jesus Christo, Maria micamuidan late impone model; which in our Tongue signifieth, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Mary always a Virgin conceived him, brought him forth, and a Virgin still remained; whereto we weeping, answered, that they spoke the very truth; Then they asked us if we were Christians, we told them we were; which as soon as they understood, they carried us home to their houses, where they entertained us with great affection; Now all these were Christians, and descended of the Weaver in whose House the Holy Man was lodged; of whom demanding, whether that which the Chinesses had told us was true; they showed us a Book that contained the whole History thereof at large, with many other wonders wrought by that holy man, who they say was named Matthew Escandel, and that he was an Hermit of Mount Sinai, being an Hungarian by Nation, and born in a place called Buda: The same Book also related, that nine days after this Saint was buried, the said Town of Cohilonza, where he was murdered, began to tremble in such sort, as all the People thereof in a mighty fright, ran out into the Fields, and there continued in their Tents, not daring to return unto their Houses, for they cried out all with one common consent, The Blood of this Stranger craves Vengeance for the unjust death the Bonzes have given him, because he preached the Truth unto us. But the Bonzes rebuked and told them, that they committed a great Sin in saying so; nevertheless, they willed them to be of good cheer, for they would go all to Quiay Tiguarem, God of the Night, and request him to command the Earth to be quiet, otherwise they would offer him no more Sacrifices: Immediately whereupon, all the Bonzes went accordingly in procession to the said Idol, which was the chiefest in the Town, but none of the People durst follow them, for fear of some Earthquake, which the very next night, about eleven of the Clock, as these devilish Monsters were making their Sacrifices, with odoriferous Perfumes, and other Ceremonies accustomed amongst them, increased so terribly, that by the Lord's permission, and for a just punishment of their wickedness, it quite overthrew all the Temples, Houses, and other Edifices of the Town to the ground, wherewith all the Bonzes were killed, not so much as one escaped alive, being in number 4000, as the Book delivereth. Wherein it is further said, that afterwards the Earth opening, such abundance of Water came forth, as it clean overwhelmed and drowned the whole Town, so that it became a great Lake, above a hundred fathom deep; moreover, they recounted many other very strange particulars unto us, and also how ever since that time the place was named Fiunganorsee, that is, the Chastisement of Heaven, whereas before it was called Cohilonzaa, which signifies the Flower of the Field, as we have declared before.   

The History of Agbarus Prince of the Edesseans, Saviour's Answer, taken out of Eusebius, lib. 1. cap. 14.  
AFter that the Divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was made manifest unto all men, through the working of Miracles, he drew unto him an innumerable sort of Strangers, far distant from Judaea, afflicted with sundry diseases, and every sort of Malady, hoping to recover their Health, of which number King Agbarus, Governor of the famous Nations inhabiting beyond the River Euphrates, grievously diseased in Body, incurable by the cunning of Men, hearing the renowned fame of Jesus, and the wonderful Works which he wrought agreeable unto the same, published of all men; made petition unto him by Letters, requiring deliverance from this disease: Jesus (though not presently) yielding unto his Petition, vouchsafed to answer him by an Epistle, that shortly he would send one of his Disciples, which should cure his Disease, promising withal, that he should not only cure his Disease, but as many as belonged unto him, which promise not long after he performed, for after his Resurrection from the dead, and Ascension into Heaven, Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles, sent his Brother Thaddaeus, accounted among the seventy Disciples of Christ, by Divine inspiration, unto the City Edessa, to be a Preacher and Evangelist of the Doctrine of Christ, by whom all things which concerned the promise of our Saviour were performed. The Reader hath an approved Testimony of these things in writing, taken out of the recorded Monuments of the Princely City Edessa: for there are found enrolled in their public Registry, things of Antiquity, and which were done about Agbarus' time, yea, and preserved unto this day. There is no reason to the contrary, but that we may heat the Letters themselves, copied out of the Registry, and translated by us out of the Syrian Tongue.  

The Epistle of Agbarus to our Saviour.  
Agbarus' Governor of Edessa, unto Jesus, the good Saviour, showing himself in Jerusalem, sendeth greeting. I have heard of thee, and thy Cures, which thou hast done without Medicines and Herbs; for, as the report goeth, thou makest the Blind to see, the Lame to go, the Lepers thou cleansest, soul Spirits and Devils thou castest out; the long diseased thou restorest to health, and raisest the dead to life. When that I heard these things of thee, I imagined with myself one of these two things; either thou art a God come from Heaven, and dost those things; or the Son of God that bringest such things to pass: wherefore by these my Letters I beseech thee, to take the Pains to come unto me, and that thou wilt cure this my grievous Malady, wherewith I am sore vexed. I have heard moreover that the Jews murmur against thee, and go about to mischiefthee, I have here a little City and an honest, which will suffice us both.   

Our Saviour's Answer to Agbarus.  
AGbarus, blessed art thou, because thou hast believed in me when thou sawest me not, for it is written of me, that they which see me shall not believe in me, that they which see me not may believe, and be saved. Concerning that thou wrotest unto me, that I should come unto thee, I let thee understand, that all things touching thy message are here to be fulfilled, and after the fulfilling thereof I am to return again to him that sent me. But after my assumption I will send one of my Disciples unto thee, which shall cure thy Malady, and restore life unto thee, and them that be with thee.  
These, Epistles Eusebius saith, he translated out of the Records of Edessa, written in the Syrian Tongue, in which Records it afterward followed, that when Jesus was taken up, Judas (which is also called Thomas) sent unto him Thaddaeus the Apostle, one of the seventy, who, when he came, remained with one Tobias the Son of Tobias. When that the same was spread of him, and that he was made manifest by the Miracles which he wrought, it was signified to Agbarus, and said, the Apostle of Jesus is come, of whom he wrote unto thee Thaddaeus by that time began, through the power of God, to cure every sore and sickness, so that all men greatly marvelled. Agbarus hearing of the weighty and wonderful works which he wrought, that he cured in the name and power of Jesus, forthwith suspected the same to be he of whom Jesus had written, saying, after my Ascension I will send one of my Disciples unto thee, which shall cure thy Malady. And when he had called unto him Tobias, where Thaddaeus hosted, he said unto him, I hear say, that a certain mighty man come from Jerusalem is lodged with thee, and cureth many in the name of Jesus. Who made answer, and said: yea, Lord, there came a certain Stranger and hosted at my House, which hath done wonderful things. To whom the King said, Bring him unto me. Tobias returning unto Thaddaeus, said unto him, Agbarus the Governor sent for me, and commanded that I should bring thee unto him, that thou may'st cure his Disease. Thaddaeus' answered, I go, for it is for his sake that I am sent thus mightily to work. Tobias stirring betimes the next day, took with him Thaddaeus, and came to Agbarus. As he came, even at his Entrance, there appeared unto Agbarus, in the presence of his chief men, a great and strange show in the Countenance of Thaddaeus the Apostle; at which sight Agbarus did reverence unto Thaddaeus, so that all they which were present marvelled. None of them saw the sight save Agbarus alone, which questioned with Thaddaeus, and said, Art thou of a truth a Disciple of Jesus the Son of God, which made me this promise; I will send unto thee one of my Disciples, which shall cure thy Disease, and show Life unto thee and all thine? To whom Thaddaeus made Answer, Because thou hast greatly believed in the Lord Jesus that sent me, therefore am I sent unto thee, but in case that thou believe him as yet, thy hearty Petitions according unto thy Faith thou shalt obtain. To whom Agbarus said, I have continued so believing in him, that I could have found in my heart mightily to destroy the Jews which crucified him, were not the Roman Empire a Let unto my purpose. Thaddaeus' said again, our Lord and God Jesus Christ fulfilled the Will of his Father, which being finished, he is ascended unto him. Agbarus' answered, And I have believed in him and in his Father. To whom Thaddaeus replied; Therefore in the name of the same Lord Jesus I lay my hand upon thee: which when he had done, he was forthwith cured of his Malady, and delivered of the pain that pressed him sore. Agbarus marvelled at this, that even as it was reported to him of Jesus, so in truth by his Disciple and Apostle Thaddaeus, without Apothecary stuff and virtue of Herbs, he was cured. And not only he, but also Addus the Son of Abdus, grieved with the Gout, and falling at the feet of Thaddaeus, recovered his former Health by the laying on of his Hands. He cured also many other of his Fellow-Citizens, working marvellous and miraculous things, and preaching the Word of God. To whom Agbarus said again, Thou Thaddaeus, through the Power of God, dost these things, and we have thee in admiration: I pray thee moreover, that thou expound unto me the coming of Jesus, how he was made Man, his Might, and by what Power he brought such things as we heard to pass. To whom Thaddaeus; At this Season (saith he) I will be silent, though I am sent to preach his Word, but to morrow call together to my Sermon all thy People and Fellow-Citizens, then will I show to them the Word of God, and sow the Word of Life, and teach the manner of his coming, how he was made Man, of his Meslage, and to what end he came, being sent from the Father; moreover, of his Miracles and Mysteries uttered in this World, and Power in bringing things to pass: besides this, his new preaching, and how bare, slender, and humble he seemed in outward Appearance; how he humbled himself, and died, and abated his Divinity; what great things he suffered of the Jews, how he was crucified, and descended into Hell, and rend that Hedge and mid-wall never severed before, and raised the dead that of long time had slept; how that he descended alone, but ascended unto the Father accompanied with many; how that he sitteth in Glory at the right hand of God the Father, in Heaven; and last of all, how he shall come again with Glory and Power to judge both the quick and the dead. When the Morning was come, Agbarus commanded his Citizens to be gathered together to hear the Sermon of Thaddaeus; which being ended, he charged, that Gold, coined and uncoined, should be given him: but he received it not; saying, insomuch that we have forsaken our own, how can we receive other men's?  
These things (saith Eusebius) were done the three and fortieth Year, which being translated word for word out of the Syrian Tongue, he thought good to publish.    

The Conversion of a Thief by St. John the Apostle, related by Clemens, and quoted by Eusebius, Lib. 3. ch. 20.  
HEAR (saith he) a Fable, and yet not a Fable, but a true Report of John the Apostle, delivered unto us, and committed to memory. After the decease of the Tyrant, when he had returned to Ephesus, out of the Isle Patmos, being requested, he went unto the Country's adjoining, partly to consecrate Bishops, partly to set in order whole Churches, and partly to choose by Lot unto the Ecclesiastical function, of them whom the holy Ghost had assigned. When he was come unto a certain City not far distant, (the name whereof divers do express) and among other things had recreated the Brethren, beholding a young man of a goodly body, gracious face, and fervent mind, he turned his face unto him that was appointed chief over all the Bishops, and said, I commend this young man unto thy Custody, with an earnest desire, as Christ and the Church bear me witness. When he had received his charge, and promised diligence therein, he spoke and protested unto him the second time in words to the like effect. Afterwards he returned to Ephesus. But the Elder taking the young man that was delivered unto him, brought him up at home, and ceased not, but cherished him still: and in process of time baptised him. He came at length to be so diligent and serviceable, that he made him a Phylacterie or Livery Garment, signed with his master's Arms. But this young man became very dissolute, and perniciously accompanied himself with them of his own years, idle, dissolute, and acquainted with ill behaviour. First, they bring him to sumptuous Banquets: next they guide him in the night to steal and to rob: after this, they require that he consent to the committing of a greater offence. Thus he acquainting himself by little and little, through the greatness of his capacity, much like a Horse of a hardened mouth, fierce, strong, and hardy, forsaking the right way, with the biting of the Bridle, bringeth himself into a bottomless pit of all misorder and outrage. At length, despairing of the Salvation that cometh of God, being past all hope of Grace, he practised no toy nor trifle, but once being over shoes, he proceeded forward, and took the like lot with the rest of his Companions; and a rout of Thiefs being gathered together, he became a most violent Captain over them, wholly bend to slaughter, murder, and extreme cruelty. In the mean while, necessity so constraining, the Bishop sent for John: He, when he had ended and finished the cause of his coming. Go to (saith he) O Bishop, restore to us thy Charge, which I and Christ have committed unto thy Custody, the Church, whereof thou art Head, bearing witness. The Bishop at the first was amazed, supposing some deceit to be wrought touching Money which he had not received, yet was he not able to answer him, for that he had it not, neither to mistrust John. But when John had said, I require the young man, and the Soul of our Brother; then the Elder looking down with a heavy Countenance, sobbing and sighing, said, He is dead. To whom John said, How? and by what kind of Death? He answered, He is dead to God, for he is become wicked and pernicious, and in short, a Thief; for, he keepeth this Mountain over against the Church, together with his Associates. The Apostle then rending his Garment, and beating his Head with great Sorrow, said, I have left a wise Keeper of our Brother's Soul; prepare me a Horse, and let me have a Guide. He hastened out of the Church, and road in Post; being come to the place appointed, he is straightway taken of the thievish Watch; he neither flieth nor resisteth, but exclaimeth: for this purpose came I hither, bring me unto your Captain, who in the mean space, as he was armed, beheld him coming: But when he saw his Face, and knew that it was John, he was stricken with Shame, and fled away. The old man, forgetful of his Years, with Might pursueth him flying, and cryeth, My Son, why fliest thou from me thy Father, unarmed and old? Tender my Case, O Son, be not afraid, as yet there remaineth hope of Salvation; I will undertake for thee with Christ, I will die for thee if need be, as Christ died for us; I will hazard my Soul for thine, trust to me, Christ sent me. He hearing this, first stood still, casting his countenance to the Ground, next shook off his Armour, trembling for Fear, and wept bitterly. He embraced Saint John, and coming unto him, answered, as well as he could for weeping, so that again he seemed to be baptised with Tears, the shaking of the Hand only omitted. The Apostle, when he had promised and protested to procure for him Pardon of our Saviour, and prayed, and fallen upon his knees, and also kissed his right hand, now cleansed through repentance, brought him unto the Church again. When that also he had poured forth oftentimes prayers for him, and struggled with him in continual fastings, and mollified his Mind with divers and sundry Sermons, and confirmed him, departed not before he had fully restored him unto the Church, and exhibited a great example of true repentance, a great trial of new Birth, and a singular token of the visible Resurrection.   

The Conspiracy of Earl Gowry to have murdered King James in Scotland. Anno 1600.  
WIlliam Lord Ruthen, Earl Gowry, was for Rebellion put to death at Sterlin Anno 1584., yet notwithstanding, his eldest Son John not long after was restored in blood, and had leave to travel beyond Seas; where he carried a cankered Heart against the King for his Father's Death, although his Majesty were then but two years old; for at Padova, amongst other impressa's in a fencing School, he caused a hand and Sword, aiming at a Crown for his Device. Returning home, and too big in his own thoughts to be comprehended with Court observance, he retired to his Family, accompanied with such of his Creatures that could descend to observe him, only a Brother of his named Alexander was designed to play the Courtier to take off the suspicion, being of the King's Bedchamber. In the mean time the Earl gets what Confederates he could into his conspiracy, and so the Murder of the King was resolved of on this manner.  
The Earl sends his Brother Alexander from Saint johnston's, his House, to the King at Faulkland, to entice him thither with as much privacy as could be. And overnight, the fourth of August 1600. commands one of his servants, Andrew Henderson, toride with his Brother Alexander, and one Andrew Ruthen, to Faulkland to the Court the next morning by seven a clock. The King putting his foot in the stirrup to hunt, Alexander tells him, that he had apprehended one lately come from beyond Seas, with much Gold coin, and sundry suspicious Letters to Popish Lords; advising his Majesty to receive the Money and Letters, and to examine the Person, being in safety with his brother at Saint johnston's (but ten miles) and this to be done speedily and privately; which was concluded on, and to be done at Noon, whilst his Train and Attendants should be at dinner, Alexander immediately commands Henderson to speed to his Brother, finding him in his Chamber, where they had communication, that the King would be there by Noon, and that the business took well with the King, for he clipped him about the neck. That he was accompanied with a slender Train, the Duke of Lenox, Sir Thomas Erskin, and about a dozen persons more. Well, says the Earl, get on your plate sleeves; for I must take an High-land Robber.  
The King staying longer in his sport of hunting than was expected, the Earl at middle of dinner; Andrew Ruthen came in haste, and signified the King to be near at hand; presently after came Alexander, and William Bloire, and withdrew themselves to consult, sending Henderson for the Earl's Gauntlet and Steel Bonnet; at the istant the King comes in, is received by the Earl, and retires to dinner.  
Alexander bids Henderson to fetch the keys of the Chambers from one William Rynd, and presently after Crauston requires Henderson to come to the Earl, who commanded him to attend his Brother Alexander, and to do what e'er he did bid him; which was to be locked up within the round Chamber, and to stay in silence till his return.  
Near the end of dinner, the King at his Fruit, and the Lords and Waiters gone to eat, Alexander begs of his majesty in this opportunity to withdraw, and to dispatch the business. And up he leads him through four or five rooms, locking each door behind them, till they came into the round Chamber, where Henderson stood armed. No sooner entered, but instantly Alexander clapping on his Hat, pulls out Henderson's Dagger, and holding it to the King's breast, with a stern countenance faces the King, and says, Now Sir, you must know I had a Father, whose blood calls for revenge, and you must die, and pointing to the King's heart with the dagger, Henderson tripped it out of his hand, who afterwards deposed, that he did verily believe if Alexander had retained the Dagger so long as one might go six steps, he had killed the King therewith; but wanting the Dagger, the King gave him gentle Language, excusing himself from the Death of Gowry, by his then infancy; advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his anointed Sovereign, especially in a cause of his innocency, pleading the Laws of God and man; and his merits, by restoring his Brother in Blood and Honours; by breeding his Sister the nearest in the Queen's affection, and by his reception of his Bedchamber, withal promising Pardon of all that is past, which wrought so much upon Alexander for the present, that he leaves the King in Custody of Henderson until he returns from his Brother, having taken oath of the King nor to stir nor cry out, and so locks them in.  
Alexander gone, Henderson trembles with reverence of his Sovereign, and craves Pardon; the King works upon his passion, and asks him what he was? who answered, a servant of the Earls; and wilt thou kill me? says the King; he replied with an oath, himself would sooner die.  
Presently Alexander enters with a Garter in his hand, and says, Sir, there is no remedy, by God you must die, and strives to bind the King's hands; who said, Nay, shall you not, Ise die a free man, and struggling together, Alexander got the King's head under his arm, and his hand upon his mouth, which the King bit by the thumb, and dragging him to the window, bade Henderson open it; which being done, the King cried out into a back Court, where the Duke, the Earl of Mar, and others were in pursuit of him, who was rumoured to be gone out the back way into the Park.  
At this sudden cry of Treason, and known to be the King's voice, they hastened to the Chamber where he dined, but no entrance was found. The while John Ramsey and Sir Thomas Erskin got up by a turn-pike back pair of stairs, directed that way by a boy of the House, who saw Alexander ascend that way, and forcing one door finds them panting. Ramsey casts off his Hawk from his Fist, draws out his Falchion, and wounds him deadly in the Belly, (being bid to strike low, for the King found him armed with a Male;) and at that instant comes in Sir Thomas Erskin, Doctor Herres, and one Wilson, and by them was the Body dispatched, whilst Henderson slipped away. But soon they suspected, by the noise of unlocking doors, that Gowry himself was coming to assail them; wherefore they advised the King to withdraw into the Lobby, and cast the King's Coat upon the dead Body.  
The Earl soon entered by his double Keys, with seven Servants, the foreway, and his Case of Rapiers, his usual Weapon, ready drawn, to whom Erskin earnestly said, (to divert him from his purpose) What do you mean my Lord? The King is killed, and points to his Brothers covered Body, bleeding on the ground.  
At the uttering of those Words, Gowry stops, and abating of his Fury, sinks the points of his Weapons; when suddenly Herres assails him with his rusty Sword, Ramsey steps in and strikes him to the Heart, yet not so soon but the Earl thrust him into the Thigh, assisted by Crawston, who hurt Erskin and Herres in the hand, and they run him through his Body, who lived only long enough to be hanged and quartered.  
Forthwith came up all the Lords, the Court, and Townsmen; where, after thanks to God for this Mercy, they surveyed Gowry's Body, which did not bleed until a Parchment was taken out of his Bosom with Characters, and these Letters, which put together, made TETRAGRAMMATON; having been told, His Blood should not spill whilst he had that Spell. Being thus deceived by the Devil, he thought he should not die until he had Power and Rule, which he had of the King, and so suffered by the Sword.  
The Bodies of the two Brothers were sentenced by the Parliament, hanged on a Gibbet, dismembered, and their Heads set upon the Prison House, and then ordained the fifth day of August, in all Ages to come, should be solemnly kept for public Prayers.  
Thus this Earl, by his horrid Treason, undid his Family, two of his Brothers, William and Patrick, flying beyond Sea: there still remained in Scotland a younger Son, being then a Child, who was from that time imprisoned by Act of Parliament, and so continued afterwards in the Tower of London, until King James his Death, but by King Charles restored to Liberty, with a small Pension, which kept him like a Gentleman, until discontinued by the Rump Parliament; by which means that failing, he walked the Streets poor, only enriched in his Skill of Chemical Physic, and in other parts of Learning, which he got whilst he lost his Liberty.  
Now remaineth to tell ye the King's Grace and Preferment unto his Rescuers; Sir Thomas Erskin was created Earl of Kelly, and by degrees, Knight of the Garter, Captain of the King's Guard, and Groom of the Stool. Dr. Herres was well rewarded, but lived not long after. Henderson had a large Pension confirmed by Act of Parliament, which he lived to enjoy a long time. Ramsey had the honour of Knighthood, with additional bearing of his Coat of Arms, A Hand holding forth a Dagger, moumed proper, piercing a bloody Heart, the Point crowned Imperial, with this Motto;  
Haec dextra vindex, Principis & Patriae.  
Upon which, one thus versified.  
An Arm and Hand (well armed with heavenly might) That gripes a just drawn Sword thrust through a heart Adorned with a Royal Diadem;  
This, and this Motto was his own by Right,  
Given by his Sovereign for his just Desert,  
And in his Coat of Arms inserted them.  
His right hand did revenge, and overcame,  
His Prince and Country's Foes, and purchase Fame.  
Next he attained to be Lord Viscount Hadington, and Earl of Holderness, living in great Love and Splendour all the days of King James, whom he quickly after followed to the Grave, dying on Tuesday the 24th. of January, 1625. and was buried in the Abbey Church of Westminster, the last of February next following. Seven notable Observations were remarkable in his Life, happening each of them upon a Tuesday, which one thus comprehended in a Sonnet.  
Upon a Tuesday he his Birth began,  
Upon a Tuesday he his Baptism had,  
Upon a Tuesday he his Honour won  
Upon the Gowries, (whose Intents were bad)  
Upon a Tuesday he at first did wed  
The noble Sussex Daughter, who deceased;  
Upon a Tuesday than he married  
Sir William Cockain's Child, by Heaven's behest.  
Upon a Tuesday he did taste Death's Cup,  
And to his blessed Redeemer gave his Spirit,  
Upon a Tuesday he was closed up  
Within his Tomb, which doth his Corpse inherit.  
Thus upon Tuesdays 'twas his Lot to have,  
Birth, Baptism, Honour, two Wives, Death, and Grave.  
Eight years after this treasonable Attempt of the Gowries, George Sprot, one of the Earl's Confederates, Notary Public at Aymouth in Scotland, from some Words of his, sparingly and unawares expressed, and some Papers found in his House; whereof being examined, with little ado he confessed, and was condemned and executed at Edinburgh. August 12. 1608.  
He died very penitently, and to those Ministers which visited him after his Condemnation, he confessed his Gild with great Humiliation. Afterwards ganging up the Ladder, with his Hands loose and untied, he was again put in Mind of his Confessions; and for the greater assurance thereof, performed an Act marvellous, promising by God's Assistance to give them an evident Token before the yielding up of his Spirit, which was, when he had hung a very good while, he lift up both his hands a good height, and clapped them together three several times, to the Wonder of thousands of Spectators.   

A notable Combat betwixt a Knight and an Esquire in the time of Richard the Second.  
THIS Combat was fought before the King's Palace at Westminster, on the Pavement there, betwixt one Sir John Annesly Knight, and one Thomas Katrington, Esquire, the seventh of June, Anno 1380. the occasion thus.  
The Knight accused the Esquire of Treason, for that where the Fortress of S. Saviour, within the Isle of Constantine in Normandy, belonging sometime to Sir John Chandos, had been committed to the said Katrington as Captain thereof, to keep it against the Enemies; he had for Money sold and delivered it over to the Frenchmen, whereas he was sufficiently provided of Men, Munition and Victuals, to have defended it against them. And since the Inheritance of that Fortress and Lands belonging thereto, had appertained to the said Annesly in right of his Wife, as nearest Cousin by Affinity to Sir John Chandoz, if by the false Conveyance of the said Katrington it had not been made away, and alienated into the Enemy's Hands, he offered therefore to try the Quarrel by Combat against the said Katrington: which being put to the Judgement of ancient Knights, it was by them delivered, That for such a Foreign Controversy that had risen within the Limits of the Realm, but touched Possession of things on the further side the Sea, it was lawful to have it tried by Battle, if the cause were first notified to the Constable and Marshal of the Realm, and that the Combat was accepted by the Parties.  
Hereupon was the Day and Place appointed, and all things provided ready, with Lists, railed and made so substantially, as if the same should have endured for ever. The Concourse of People that came to London to see this tried, was thought to exceed that of the King's Coronation; so desirous men were to behold a sight so strange and unaccustomed.  
The King, and his Nobles, and all the People, being come together in the morning of the day appointed, to the place where the Lists were set up, the Knight being armed, and mounted on a fair Courser, seemly trapped, entereth first as Appellant, staying till his Adversary the Defendant should come. And shortly after was the Esquire called to defend his Cause, in this form; Thomas Katrington, Defendant, come and appear, to save the Action for which Sir John Annesly, Knight and Appellant, hath publicly and by Writing appealed thee: He being thus called thrice by a Herald at Arms, at the third Call he cometh, armed likewise, and riding on a Courser trapped with Traps, embroidered with his Arms.  
At his approaching to the Lists, he alighted from his Horse, lest, according to the Law of Arms, the Constable should have challenged the Horse if he had entered within the Lists: but his shifting nothing availed him; for the Horse, after his Master was alighted, ran up and down by the Rails, thrusting his Head sometimes over, and sometimes both Head and Breast; so that the Earl of Buckingham, because he was High Constable of England, claimed the Horse afterwards, swearing that he would have so much of him as had appeared over the Rails, and so the Horse was adjudged unto him.  
But now to the matter of the Combat; (for this Challenge of the Horse was made after) as soon as the Esquire was come within the Lists, the Indenture was brought forth by the Marshal and Constable, which had been made and sealed before them, with consent of both Parties, in which were contained the Articles exhibited by the Knight against the Esquire, and there the same was read before all the Assembly. But the Esquire, whose Conscience was thought not to be clear, but rather guilty, went about to make Exceptions, that his cause by some means might have seemed the sounder. But the Duke of Lancaster hearing him so stay at the matter, swore, that except, according to the Conditions of the Combat and the Law of Arms, he would admit all things in the Indentures comprised, that were not made without his own Consent, he should, as guilty of the Treason, forthwith be had to Execution. The Esquire hearing this, said, that he durst fight with the Knight, not only in those Points, but in any other matter whatsoever: for, he trusted more to his strength of Body, and favour of his Friends, than in the cause which he had taken upon him to defend, being a mighty man of Stature, whereas the Knight among those that were of a mean Stature, was one of the least.  
Before they entered the Battle, they both took an Oath, as well the Knight as the Esquire, that the Cause in which they were to fight was true, and that they dealt with no Witchcraft nor Art Magic, whereby they might obtain the Victory of their Adversary; nor had about them any Herb, or Stone, or other kind of Experiment which Magicians use to triumph over their Enemies. This Oath received of either of them, and therewith having made their Prayers devoutly, they began the Battle, first with Spears, after with Swords, and lastly with Daggers; fight so a long time, till at last the Knight had bereft the Esquire of all his Weapons, manfully overth rowing his Enemy. But as the Knight would have fallen upon the Esquire, through Sweat that ran down by his Helmet, his sight was hindered, so that thinking to fall upon the Esquire, he fell down sideling by him; which being perceived by his Enemy, although he was almost overcome with long fight, yet made he to the Knight, and threw himself upon him, so that many thought the Knight would be overcome, though others doubted not but that the Knight would recover his Feet again, and get the Victory of his Adversary.  
The King in the mean time caused it to be proclaimed, that they should stay, and that the Knight should be raised up from the ground, and so meant to take up the matter betwixt them. But those that were sent for that purpose, the Knight besought them, that it might please the King to permit them to lie still, for he thanked God he was well, and doubted not to obtain the Victory, if the Esquire might be suffered still to lie on him.  
But when it would not be so granted, he was contented to be raised up, and was no sooner set on his feet, but he cheerfully went to the King without any man's help; whereas the Esquire could neither stand nor go without the help of two men to hold him up, and therefore was set in his Chair to take his ease, to see if he might recover his strength.  
The Knight at his coming before the King, besought him and his Nobles to grant him so much, that he might be laid on the ground, as before, and the Esquire to be laid upon him; for the Knight perceived that his Adversary, through excessive heat, and the weight of his Armour, did marvellously faint, so as his Spirits were in a manner taken from him. The King and the Nobles perceiving the Knight so courageously to demand to try the Battle forth to the uttermost, offering great Sums of Money that so it might be done, decreed, that they should be restored again to the same plight in which they lay when they were raised up. But in the mean time, the Esquire fainting, and falling down in a swoon, fell out of his Chair, as one that was like to yield up his last Breath presently among them. Those that stood about him cast Wine and Water upon him, seeking so to bring him again, but all would not serve, till they had plucked off his Armour, and his whole Apparel, which thing proved the Knight to be the Vanquisher, and the Esquire vanquished.  
After a little time, the Esquire began to come to himself, and lifting up his Eyes, began to hold up his head, and to cast a ghastly look on every one about him; which when it was reported to the Knight, he cometh to him armed as he was, (for he had put off no piece since the beginning of the Fight) and speaking to him, called him Traitor, and false perjured man, ask of him if he durst try the Battle with him again: but the Esquire having neither Sense nor Spirit whereby to make answer; proclamation was made that the Battle was ended, and every one might return home.  
The Esquire, immediately after he was brought to his lodging, and laid in Bed, grew distracted, and so continning still out of his Wits, about nine of the Clock the next day he died.  

Of such another like Combat fought in France.  
THIS Combat was between one Robert le Blanch and Lewis le Force, in a case of Treason, Blanch the Appellant grapples Le Force, and casts him down, sets his left foot upon the others stomach, holding up his right hand, with his Sword by the Hilt, his left hand within a Foot of the point, and therewith presently he meant to stab him: but to add more strength, his right foot was somewhat raised from the Ground; when instantly the King cried hold, hold, casting his Truncheon to part them, whereat Le Force nimbly leapt up without hurt.  
The King being willing to preserve Le Force's Life, not with any good affection (for he supposed him guilty) but for the future examination of Confederacy; yet he adjudged him vanquished, which the defendant utterly denied, and craved Judgement of the Constable and Marshal, who had a pretty way to save the King's Honour, and yet to do justice, which was, that Le Force should be prostrate to the fatal stroke as before, and the Appellant with all his former advantage and form of Postures, and so they did. When Le Force with nimble strength lifted up Blanche his right foot, which tripped him down, skipped up himself, and stabbed the other to the Heart. And forthwith kneeling to the King, told him, That besides the Assistance of his Patron Saint, the merit of Innocency, and the event of this legal Trial, which he in honour would not refuse; yet for more satisfaction to his Majesty he produced six sufficient Witnesses, attending in the Field, whom he preserved upon all events, and who cleared him.  
However, the King quarrelled with the Constable and Marshal for declining his Sentence, being Supreme; which they humbly denied. The King being a Party in case of Treason, or Felony, cannot be Judge; in Lands and Honour he may. This distinction in those times of Treason, was taken for Reason.    

A remarkable piece of Justice done by the Emperor Rodolphus.  
ROdulph the Emperor of Germany being at Norimberg, intent about the affairs of the Empire; there came a Merchant to him, and complained, that having left a Bag with two hundred Marks in it, with a Citizen with whom he had lodged, the man now denied the same; the Emperor asketh him for his Proofs: he takes his Outh of it, but could produce no other Witnesses: The Emperor bids him to stay in another Room, enquiring of him what manner of Bag it was, wherein the Money was put. Then purposing to send for the man, it fell out, that he amongst other Citizens came to salute and welcome the Emporour. The Emperor knowing the man, said to him: O Sir, methinks you have a very handsome Hat, pray thee give it me: the Citizen gave it, and took it for an Honour that the Emperor would accept of it; then did he withdraw himself, and sent a Servant to this Man's Wife, desiring her from her Husband to send him such a Moneybag (describing of it) and that (said he) you may know that I come from your Husband, he gave me his Hat for a Token. The Woman sought out the Bag, and gave it him; the Emperor shows the Merchant the Bag, who knew it, and rejoiced at the sight of it. Then the Emperor calling the Citizen, tells him, that this man had complained to him that he had cozened him of a Sum of Money delivered into his Custody; the Citizen denies, and swears that none was delivered to him: the Emperor produceth the Bag; the Citizen was confounded, and falters in his words; whereupon the Emperor causeth him to pay the Merchant to the full, and sets a good fine upon his head besides, and so the business was ended.   

Of the great friendship betwixt Damon and Pythias, two Pythagorean Philosophers.  
THese two Friends were both of them Students of Pythagoras' Learning; it so happened, that one of them was accused to have conspired against Dionysius King of Sicily, for which they were both taken, and brought before the King, who immediately gave sentence, that he who was accused should be put to death. This Judgement being passed on him, he desired of the King that 'ere he died, he might return home to set his household in order, and to distribute his goods; whereat the King laughing, demanded of him scornfully, what pledge he would leave him to come again. At which words, his Companion stepped forth, and said, that he would remain there as a Pledge for his Friend; that in case he came not again at the day appointed, he willingly would lose his Head. Which Condition the Tyrant received; and the young man that should have died was suffered to depart home to his House, where he did set all things in order, and disposed his Goods as he thought meet. The day appointed for his Return being come, and most part of it past, the King called for him that was Pledge, who came forth merrily, without any show of Fear, and freely offered to abide the Sentence of the Tyrant, willing to die for the saving the Life of his Friend. But as the Officer of Justice had closed his Eyes with a Kerchief, and had drawn his Sword to have stricken off his Head, his Fellow came running, and crying, That the day of his Appointment was not yet fully passed; wherefore he desired the Minister of Justice to lose his Fellow, and to prepare to do Execution on him that had given the occasion. Whereat the Tyrant being much abashed, commanded both of them to be brought to his Presence; and when he had enough wondered at their noble Dispositions, and their Constancy in Friendship, he offering to them great Rewards, desired them to receive him into their Company: and so doing them much Honour, did set them at Liberty.  

Another of Christian Friendship.  
UNDER the seventh Persecution, Theodora, a godly Virgin, for her Religion was condemned to the Stews, where her Chastity was to be a Prey to all Comers: which Sentence being executed, many wanton young men were ready to press into the House. But one of the brethren, called Didymus, putting on a Soldiers habit, would have the first turn, and so going in, persuaded her to change Garments with him, and so she in the Soldiers habit escaped: and Didymus being found a man, was carried before the Precedent, to whom he confessed the whole matter, and so was condemned. Theodora hearing of it, thinking to excuse him, came and presented herself as the guilty Party, desiring that she might die, and the other be excused; but the merciless Judge caused them both to be put to death.    

The admirable love and affection betwixt Titus and Gisippus, two Noble young men, the one of Rome, the other of Athens.  
THere was in the City of Rome, a noble Senator named Fulvius, who sent his Son called Titus, being a child, to the City of Athens in Greece (the fountain then of good Letters) there to learn and be instructed, boarding him with a worshipful man of that City, called Chremes. This Chremes had a Son named Gisippus, who not only was equal to the said young Titus in years, but also in stature, proportion of body, favour, countenance and speech; in a word, so like, that without much difficulty it could not be discerned of their own Parents which was Titus from Gisippus, or Gisippus from Titus. These two young Gentlemen, as they seemed to be one in form and personage, so shortly after acquaintance, the same Nature wrought in their hearts such a mutual affection, that their wills and appetites daily more and more so confederated themselves, that it seemed no other when their names were declared, but that they had only changed their places, issuing (as I might say) out of one body and entering into the other. They went to their Learning and Study together, as also to their Meals and Pastimes, delighted both in one doctrine, and profited equally therein, with such fruitful increase, that in few years scarce any in Athens were comparable unto them. At last died Chremes, leaving his Son Gisippus a vast Estate, and being now of ripe years, his friends and kindred were at him to marry, as also his friend Titus, thereby to propagate his Posterity.  
They having found one in all respects answerable unto him, with much importunity he was contented to go and see her, whom he liked so well, that he became greatly enamoured of her, taking great delight in the contemplation of her most excellent beauty, and rare endowments of mind. But no happiness could betid him without his friend participated with him? therefore on a time he took Titus along with him to see this Idol of his Soul, who having beheld so Heavenly a personage, adorned with Beauty inexplicable, such an amiable countenance, mixed with maidenly shamefacedness, and the rare and sober words, so well couched, proceeding from her pretty mouth, struck him with so much admiration, that neither the Study of Philosophy, nor the remembrance of his dear friend Gisippus, who so much loved and trusted him, could put the remembrance of her out of his mind; so that withdrawing himself as it were into his Study, tormented and oppressed with Love, he threw himself on a Bed, and there ruminating upon what was passed, and thereby his unkindness to his dear friend Gisippus, he began to curse his fate, and wish he had never come to Athens; and these thoughts took such a deep impression upon him, that what for lack of sleep and other perturbations, he was brought into a very languishing condition. His friend Gisippus perceiving this alteration, and willing to remedy what was amiss in him, demanded of Titus what was the cause of his disease, blaming him for unkindness in not revealing it unto him, protesting there was nothing which lay in his power which he would not undergo to pleasure his friend; with which words the mortal sighs renewed in Titus, and the salt tears broke out of his eyes in such abundance as it had been a Land-flood running down off a Mountain after a storm, so that Titus as it were constrained, blushing and ashamed, holding-down his head, with much difficulty returned this answer.  
My dear and most loving friend, withdraw your friendly offers, cease your courtesy, refrain your tears and regretting, rather take a knife and slay me here where I lie, or otherwise take vengeance on me, most miserable and false Traitor unto you, and of all other most worthy to suffer shameful death. For whereas God of Nature, like as he hath given to us similitude in all the parts of our body, so had he conjoined our wills, studies, and appetites together in one; so that between men was never like concord and love, as I suppose. And now notwithstanding, only with the look of a woman, those bonds of love be dissolved, reason oppressed, friendship excluded; there availeth no Wisdom, no Doctrine, no Fidelity or trust: yea, you yourself is the cause of all this. Alas, Gisippus! what envious Spirit moved you to bring me with you to her whom ye have chosen to be your Wife, where I received this poison; I say, Gisippus, where was then your wisdom, that you remembered not the frailty of our common Nature? what needed you to call me for a witness of your private delights? why would ye have me see that, which you yourself could not behold without ravishing of mind and carnal appetite? Alas! why forgot ye, that our minds and appetites were ever one? and that also what you liked, was ever to me in like degree pleasant? what will ye more? Gisippus, I say, your trust is the cause that I am entrapped. The rays or beams issuing from the eyes of her whom you have chosen, with the remembrance of her incomparable virtues, hath pierced my heart in such wise, that I desire nothing more than to be out of this wretched Life, which is not worthy the company of so noble and loving a Friend as you be; concluding his Speech with a profound Sigh, and such plenty of Tears, as as if his whole Body would be dissolved into salt drops.  
But Gisippus, nothing dismayed at his words, embracing and kissing him, thus answered, Why Titus, Is this your only sickness and grief, that ye so uncourteously have so long concealed, and with much more unkindness kept from me than ye have conceived it? I acknowledge my folly wherewith ye have rightly upbraided me, that in showing her to you whom I loved, I remembered not the estate of our Nature, nor the agreeableness, or (as I may say) the unity of our two Appetites: surely that default can be by no reason excused; wherefore it is only I that have offended: I confess to you Titus, I love that Maid as much as any wise man may possible, and took in her company more delight and pleasure, than of all the Treasure and Lands that my Father left me, which you know was very much; howbeit, for the servant love I bear to your Virtues, here I renounce to you clearly all my title and Interest that I now have, or might have in that Maiden.  
And therefore call to you your former Courage, abandon all the Heaviness, the day appointed for our Marriage approacheth, let us consult how without difficulty ye may wholly attain your desire. Now you know that we two be so alike, that being apart, and in like Apparel, few men do know us from each other, also you know the custom is, that notwithstanding any Ceremony done at the time of the Spousals, yet the Marriage is not confirmed until at Night, that the Husband puts a Ring on the Finger of his Wife, and unlooseth her Girdle. Wherefore I myself will be present with my Friends to perform all the parts of a Bridegroom, and you shall abide in a secret place where I shall appoint you, until it be Night, when you shall be conveyed into the Maid's Chamber, and for the likeness of our Personages and of our Apparel, you will not be known by the Women, which have with us no acquaintance; then get you to Bed, and put your own Ring upon the Maid's Finger, and undo her Girdle of Virginity, by which the Marriage will be consummated. With these words Titus began to move as it were out of a Dream, and doubting whether he heard Gisippus speak, or else saw but a Vision, lay still as a man abashed, but having a little recovered himself, he thanked Gisippus for his incomparable kindness, but refused the Benefit that he offered, saying, that it were better a hundred such unkind wretches as he was should perish, then so noble man as was Gisippus should suffer any reproach or damage. But Gisippus swore and protested that he freely resigned the Lady unto him, and therewith embraced and kissed Titus; who thereupon setting himself up in his Bed, the blood somewhat resorted unto his visage, and after a little good Meats and Drinks taken, he was in a few days restored again to his former strength and vigour.  
In short, the day of Marriage was come, when Gisippus accompanied with his Friends, went to the Bride's House, where they were nobly entertained and feasted, and after the Covenants were read and sealed, the Dowry appointed, and all other things concluded, the Friends of either part took their leave and departed; the Bride with a few Women (as was the custom) brought into her Chamber; then, (as it was before agreed) Titus was conveyed into her Chamber, and being taken for Gisippus) into her Bed; where he first demanded of her, if that she loved him, and vouchsafed to take him for her Husband, forsaking all other, which she with a blushing countenance, half laughing and half mourning, (as in point to depart from her Maidenhead, but supposing it to be Gisippus that asked her) affirmed. Then did he ask her, if that she in ratifying that promise, would receive his Ring? whereto she consenting, put the Ring on her Finger, and unloosed her Girdle, and so they lovingly sunk down into the Bed together, where, what they did there, I leave to married men's imagination.  
The morrow being come, Gisippus thinking it expedient that the truth should be discovered, assembled the Nobility of the City to his House, where a full Assembly being come, Titus made to them this following Oration.  
Most noble Athenians, there is at this time showed amongst you an example almost incredible, of the divine power of honourable Love, and therefore give due thanks to God, if there remain among you any token of the ancient Wisdom of your most Noble Progenitors. But I shall not stay you long in my preamble, but come to the matter. It is not unknown to you all wherefore I came to this City, and how that happening into the house of Chremes, I found there his Son Gisippus, of my own age, and in every thing so like each other, that neither his Father, nor any other man could discern of us the one from the other, but by our own means or showing, insomuch as there were put about our Necks Laces of sundry Colours to declare our Personages. What mutual agreement and Love hath been always between us during this eight years that we have been together, ye all be witnesses, that have been beholders and wonderers at our most sweet Conversation, and consent of Appetites, wherein was never any discord or variance. And as for my part, after the Decease of my Father, notwithstanding that there was descended unto me very large Possessions, fair Houses, with abundance of Riches: also I being called home by the importunate Letters of my Allies and Friends, which be of the most noble of all the Senators, offering me the advancement to the highest dignities in the Publick-Weal; as also the loving Letters from my tender Mother, wherein she accuseth me of unkindness for my long tarrying, especially now in her most discomfort; Yet could not all this once remove me from my dear Friend Gisippus, and, but by force, could not I, nor yet may be drawn from his sweet company, I choosing rather to live with him as his companion and fellow, yea, as his Servant, rather than to be Consul of Rome. Yet this my kindness hath he well requited, or, (as I may say) redoubled, delivering me from the death, yea, the most painful death of all other. I perceive you wonder hereat, noble Athemans, and no marvel; for what Person should be so hardy to attempt any such thing against me, being a Roman, and of the Noble blood of the Romans; or who should be thought so Malicious to slay me, who (as all ye be my judges) never trespassed against any Person within this City: No, no, my Friends, I do not suspect any of you. I perceive you desire to know what he was that would presume on such an enterprise? It was Love, noble Athenians, the same Love, which (as your Poets feign) did wound the most part of the Gods; who constrained Jupiter to transform himself into a Swan, a Bull, and divers other likenesses. The same Love that caused Hercules, the vanquisher and destroyer of Monsters and Giants, to spin on a Wheel, sitting amongst Maidens in women's Apparel. The same Love that caused to assemble the Princes of Asia and Greece in the Fields of Troy. The same Love (I say) against whose Assaults may be found no resistance, hath suddenly and unawares stricken me to the heart, and that with such force, that I had immediately died, had not the incomparable Friendship of Gisippus holpen me: I perceive you would fain know who she is that I loved. I will no longer delay you, noble Athenians, it is Sophronia, the Lady whom Gisippus had chosen for his Wife, and whom he most entirely loved. But when his most gentle heart perceived, that my love was in a much higher degree than his towards that Lady, and that it proceeded neither of wantonness, nor any corrupt desire or fantasy; but in an instant, by the only look, and that with such fervency, as made me so captivated in Cupid's thrall, that I desired Death rather than life; he by his wisdom perceived (as I doubt not but that ye now do) that it was the very provision of God, that she should be my Wife, and not his, whereto he giving place, and more esteeming true Friendship than the love of a Woman, whereunto he was induced by his Friends, and not by violence of Cupid, constrained as I am, hath willingly granted to me the interest that he had in the Lady; and it is I, Titus, that have really wedded her, I have put the Ring on her Finger, I have undone the Girdle of shamefacedness, what will ye more? I have lain with her, confirmed the Matrimony, and made her a Wife.  
This Oration, instead of applause, was received of the Auditors with a general murmuring, and disdainful looks on Gisippus; whereupon Titus proceeded thus.  
I wonder (noble Athenians) what should make you thus to grudge at Gisippus, who knew he might find in Greece another Lady, as fair and as rich as this he had chosen; and one perchance that he might love better. But such a Friend as I was (having respect to our likeness, the long approved concord, also my Estate and condition) he was sure to find not one; also the Lady suffers no disparagement in her blood, nor hindrance in her marriage, but is much rather advanced (no dispraise to my dear friend Gisippus.) Also consider, noble Athenians, that I took her not, my Father living, when ye might have suspected, that as well her Riches as her Beauty should have thereto alured me, but soon after my Father's decease, when I far exceeded her in Possessions and Substance, when the most notable men of Rome and of Italy desired my alliance; ye have therefore all cause to rejoice and thank Gisippus, and not to be angry, and also to extol his wonderful kindness towards me, whereby he hath won me and all my blood, such friends to you and your City, that ye may be assured to be by us defended against all the World: which being considered, Gisippus hath well deserved a Statue of Gold to be set on a Pillar in the midst of your City, for an honourable Monument in the remembrance of our incomparable Friendship, and of the good that thereby may come to your City. But if this persuasion cannot satisfy you, but that ye will imagine any thing to the damage of my Friend Gisippus after my departure, I vow to God, Creator of all things, that as soon as I shall have knowledge thereof, I shall forthwith resort hither, with the invincible Power of the Romans, and revenge him in such wise against his Enemies, that all Greece shall speak of it to their perpetual dishonour, shame, and reproach. And therewith Titus and Gisippus arose, the Athenians for the present dissembling their Malice, for the fear they had of Titus.  
Soon after, Titus, being sent for by the Authority of the Senate and People of Rome, prepared to depart out of Athens, and would fain have had Gisippus to have gone with him, offering to divide with him all his Substance and Fortune. But Gisippus, considering how necessary his counsel should be to the City of Athens, would not depart out of his Country, though he most earnestly desired the Company of Titus.  
Thus Titus with his Lady is departed towards the City of Rome, where, at their coming, they were, of his Mother, his Kinsmen, and of all the Senate and People most joyfully received. And there lived Titus with his Lady in Joy inexplicable, having by her many brave Children, and for his Wisdom and Learning was so highly esteemed, that there was no Dignity or honourable Office within the City, that he had not with much favour and praise achieved and occupied.  
But to return to Gisippus, who immediately upon the departure of Titus was so maligned at, as well by his own Kinsmen, as by the Friends of the Lady, which he, to their seeming, most shamefully abandoned, leaving her to Titus, that they spared not daily to vex him with all kinds of reproach that they could devise or imagine; and first, they excluded him out of their Council, and prohibited from him all honest Company; but not being therewith satisfied, they finally adjudged him unworthy to enjoy any Goods or Possessions left him by his Parents, whom he (as they supposed) by his undiscreet Friendship had so distained, wherefore they despoiled him of all things, and almost naked expelled him out of the City. And thus was Gisippus, lately Wealthy, and one of the most Noble men of Athens, for his kind heart, banished his own Country; where, as a man dismayed, wand'ring hither and thither, finding no man that would succour him; atlast remembering in what pleasure his friend Titus lived with his Lady, for whom he suffered these damages, concluded to go to Rome, and declare his misfortune to his friend. In short, with much pain, cold, hunger and thirst, he came to that City, where, enquiring for the house of Titus, at the last he came to it: but beholding it so beautiful, large and Princely, he was ashamed to enter it, being in so simple and mean Array; standing by therefore, that in case Titus came forth out of his House, he might present himself to him. He being in this thought, Titus, holding his Lady by the hand, came forth of his Palace, and taking their Horses to solace themselves, saw Gisippus, but beholding his simple Apparel, regarded him not, but passed forth on their way, wherewith Gisippus was so wounded to the heart, thinking Titus had contemned his fortune, that, oppressed with mortal heaviness, he fell in a swoon, but being recovered by some that stood by, thinking him to be sick, forthwith departed, intending not to tarry any longer, but as a wild Beast, to wander abroad in the World, and so passing forwards, he for weariness was constrained to enter into an old Barn without the City, where, casting himself on the bare ground, with weeping and dolorous crying he bewailed his fortune; but most of all accusing the ingratitude of Titus, for whom he suffered all that misery, the remembrance whereof was so intolerable, that he determined no longer to live in that anguish and dolour; and therewith drew his Knife, purposing to have slain himself: but the wisdom (which he by the study of Philosophy had attained) withdrew him from that desperate act. And in this contention between wisdom and will, fatigate with long Journeys and watch, or as God would have it, he fell into a deep sleep. His Knife (wherewith he would have slain himself) falling down by him. In the mean time, a bloody Thief which had robbed and slain a man, was entered into the Barn where Gisippus lay, intending to lie there all that Night; who seeing Gisippus bedewed with Tears, and his Visage replenished with Sorrow, also the naked knife by him, judged that he was a man desperate, and so overwhelmed with grief, that he was weary of his Life; which the said Ruffian taking for a good occasion to escape, took the Knife of Gisippus, and putting it in the wound of him that was slain, put it all bloody in the hand of Gisippus, being fast a sleep, and so departed. Soon after, the dead man being found, the Officers made diligent search for the Murderer: at last, entering into the Barn, and finding Gisippus asleep, with the bloody Knife in his hand, awaked him, laying unto him the death of the man, and the having of the bloody Knife. Gisippus hereat nothing dismayed, desiring death more than life, and to die rather by the Laws, then by the violence of his own hand; wherefore he denied nothing that was laid to his charge, but desired the Officers to make haste, that he might be shortly out of his life.  
Quickly Report hereof came to the Senate, that a man was slain, and that a Stranger, a Greek born, was found in such form as is above mentioned; wherefore they forthwith commanded him to be brought into their presence, sitting there at that time, Titus being then Consul, or in other such like Dignity.  
The miserable Gisippus being brought to the Bar with Bills and staves like a Felon, it was demanded of him, if he slew the man that was found dead? he nothing denied it, but in most sorrowful manner cursed his fortune, naming himself of all others most miserable. At last, one demanding of what Country he was, he confessed to be an Athenian, and therewith cast his sorrowful Eyes upon Titus with much indignation, breaking forth into fighs and abundance of tears. Titus now marking him very well, perceived it was his dear friend Gisippus, and thinking he was brought in despair by this misadventure, he rose out of the place where he sat, and falling on his knees before the Judges, said, that he had slain the man, for old malice that he bore to him, and that Gisippus being a stranger, and all might perceive that he was a desperate Person, who to abbreviate his sorrows confessed the act whereof he was innocent, to the intent that he would finish his sorrows with death, wherefore Titus desired the Judges to give sentence on him according to his merits. But Gisippus perceiving his friend Titus (contrary to his expectation) to offer himself to death for his safeguard, more importunately cried out to the Senate to proceed in their judgement on him, that was indeed the very offender.  
Thus they of long time, with abundance of tears, contended which of them should die for the other, whereat all the Senate and People were wonderfully abashed, not knowing what it meant. Now it happened, that the Murderer was in the press at that time, who perceiving the marvellous contention of these two Persons, which were both innocent, and that it proceeded of an incomparable Friendship, was vehemently provoked to discover the truth: wherefore, breaking through the press, and coming before the Senate, spoke in this wise;  
Noble Senators, I am here come to accuse myself, having lived a lewd Life for many years: It is not unknown to you that Titus is of noble blood, and one approved to be always a man of excellent Virtue and Wisdom, and never was malicious. This other Stranger seemeth to be a man full of simplicity, and that more is, desperate, for some evil which hath befallen him: I say to you, Fathers, they both be innocent; I am the Person that slew him who was found dead by the Barn, and robbed him of his money; and when I found in the Barn this Stranger lying asleep, having by him a naked knife, I, the better to hide my offence, did put my knife into the wound of the dead man, and so all bloody laid it again by this Stranger. This was my mischievous device to escape your Judgement, whereunto now I remit me wholly, rather than this Noble man Titus, or this innocent Stranger should unworthily die.  
The truth coming thus unexpectedly to light, caused a general acclamation of the People, and the Friendship betwixt Gisippus and Titus being declared, was published, extolled, and magnified throughout the whole City. The Senate consulting of this matter, at the instance of Titus and the People, discharged the Felon. Titus' acknowledged his negligence in forgetting Gisippus, and having him home to his House, (where he was with incredible joy received of the Lady whom he should have wedded) honourably apparelled him, offering him to use all his Goods and Possessions as his own. But Gisippus desiring to be again at Athens, Titus, by the consent of the Senate and People, with a great Army went with him thither, where he had delivered to him all those which were causers of banishing and despoiling Gisiptus, on whom he did sharp execution, and restoring to Gisippus his Lands and Substance, established him in perpetual quietness, and so returned unto Rome.   

Of mount Aetna, and of the fiery irruption there in the year 1669.  
Aetna, called by Pindarus the Celestial column, is the highest mountain of Sicilia, for a great space leisurely rising; insomuch as the top is ten miles distant from the uttermost Basis. It appeareth towards the East with two shoulders, having an eminent head in the middle. The lower parts are luxuriously fruitful, the middle woody, the upper rocky, steep, and almost covered with snow, yet smoking in the midst like many conjoining Chimneys, and vomiting intermitted flames, though not but by night to be discerned, as if Heat and Cold had left their contentions, and embraced one another. This burning Beacon doth show her fire by night, and her smoke by day, a wondered way off: some adjudging the matter to be diminished by so long an expense, though our late times can evince the contrary. This is that place which the Poets did report to be the Shop of Vulcan, where Cyclops framed the Thunderbolts for Jupiter, whereof Virgil doth make his Tract called Aetna. Under this Hill the Poets feign the Giant Enceladus to be buried, whose hot breath fireth the Mountain, lying on his face: whereof thus the Poet Virgil.  
Enceladus, with lightning struck (fame goes)  
This mass o'rewhelmes: who under Aetna laid  
Expireth flames by broken vents conveyed,  
As often as he turns his weary fides  
All Sicil quakes; and Smoke Days beauty hides.  
Into this Fiery Furnace it was that the Philosopher Empedocles, affecting Divine honour, withdrew himself privately from his Companions, and leapt in at the mouth thereof, but was revealed by his Brazen Shoes which the fire had thrown up again.  
— Deus immortalis haberi  
Dum cupit Empedocles, ardentem fervidus Aetnam  
Insiluit—  
Empedocles to be a God desires,  
And casts himself into the Aetnean Fires.  
The extraordinary eruption of this Mountain hath been accounted very ominous, for so it did after the death of Caesar, when not only the Cities thereabout were damnified thereby, but divers in Calabria. And in the Year of the World 3982. hard before the Civil Wars of Sicilia, wherein threescore and ten thousand Slaves were slain by the Praetors, it raged so violently, that Africa was thereof an astonished witness. In the Year 1614 it ran down like a combustible Flood, which falling in a bituminous Soil, where Wine and Olives grew, there seized, spoiling the Lands of two Barons in Rindatza. But the most prodigious was that Earthquake and Eruption in the Year 1669. which being so lately, we shall give you a full relation of it, as it was sent to His Majesty from Naples, by the right Honourable the Earl of Winchelsea, his Majesty's late Ambassador at Constantinople, who in his return from thence visited Catania, and was an eye-witness of that dreadful spectacle.  
May it please Your Majesty,  
IN my Voyage from Malta to this place, wherein I have used all the diligence the Season hath given me leave, I touched at the City of Catania in Sicily, and was there most kindly invited by the Bishop to lodge in his Palace, which I accepted, that so I might be the better able to inform your Majesty of that extraordinary fire which comes from Mount Gibel, 15 miles distant from that City, which for its horridness in the aspect, for the vast quantity thereof, (for it is fifteen miles in length, and seven in breadth) for its monstrous devastation, and quick progress, may be termed an Inundation of Fire, a Flood of Fire, Cinders and burning Stones; burning with that rage as to advance into the Sea 600 Yards, and that to a mile in breadth, which I saw; and that which did augment my admiration was, to see in the Sea this matter like ragged Rocks, burning in four fathom water, two fathom higher than the Sea itself, some parts liquid and moving, and throwing off, not without great violence, the stones about it, which like a crust of a vast bigness, and red hot, fell into the Sea every moment, in some place or other, causing a great and horrible noise, smoke and hissing in the Sea; and thus more and more coming after it, making a firm foundation in the Sea itself. I stayed there from nine a Clock on Saturday morning, to seven next morning, and this Mountain of fire and stones, with Cinders, had advanced into the Sea twenty Yards at least, in several places; in the middle of this fire, which burned in the Sea, it hath formed a passage like to a River, with its Banks on each side very steep and craggy, and in this Channel moves the greatest quantity of this fire, which is the most liquid, with stones of the same composition, and Cinders all red hot, swimming upon the fire, of a great magnitude. From this River of fire doth proceed under the great mass of the stones, which are generally three fathom high all over the Country where it burns, and in other places much more; there are secret Conduits or Rivulets of this liquid matter, which communicates fire and heat into all parts more or less, and melts the stones and cinders by fits, in those places where it toucheth them, over and over again; where it meets with Rocks or Houses of the same matter (as many are) they melt and go away with the fire; where they find other compositions they turn them to lime or ashes (as I am informed.) The composition of this fire, stones and cinders, are Sulphur, Nitre, Quicksilver, Salarmoniac, Led, Iron, Brass, and all other Metals. It moves not regularly, nor constantly downhill; in some places it hath made the Valleys Hills, and the Hills that are not high are now Valleys. When it was night, I went upon two Towers in divers places, and could plainly see at ten Miles distance, as we judged, the fire to begin to run from the Mountain in a direct line, the flame to ascend as high and as big as one of the highest and greatest Steeples in your Majesty's Kingdoms, and to throw up great stones into the Air; I could discern the River of fire to descend the Mountain of a terrible fiery or red colour, and stones of a paler red, to swim thereon, and to be, some as big as an ordinary Table. We could fee this fire to move in several other places, and all the Country covered with fire, ascending with great flames, in many places, smoking like to a violent Furnace of Iron melted, making a noise with the great pieces that fell, especially those which fell into the Sea. A Cavalier of Malta, who lives there, and attended me, told me, that the River was as liquid where it issues out of the Mountain, as water, and came out like a torrent, with great violence, and is five or six fathom deep, and as broad, and that no stones do sink therein. I assure your Majesty, no Pen can express how terrible it is, nor can all the art and industry of the World quench, or divert that which is burning in the Country. In forty days time it hath destroyed the Habitations of twenty-seven thousand Persons, made two hills of one, one thousand paces high apiece, and one is four miles in compass, as your Majesty will see by the draught, that I take the boldness to send herewith; it was the best I could get, but hath nothing of the progress into the Sea; the confusion was so great in the City, which is almost surrounded with Mountains of fire, that I could not get any to draw one, but I have taken care to have one sent after me for your Majesty. Of 20000 persons which inhabited Catania, 3000 did only remain; all their Goods are carried away, the Canons of Brass are removed out of the Castle, some great Bells taken down, the City Gates walled up next the fire, and preparation made all to abandon the City.  
That Night which I lay there, it reigned ashes all over the City, and ten miles at Sea it troubled my Eyes. This fire in its progress met with a Lake of four miles in compass, and it was not only satisfied to fill it up, though it was four fathom deep, but hath made of it a Mountain.  
I send also to your Sacred Majesty, a Relation in Print, which the Bishop gave me, wherein the beginning is related, and several curious passages. I most humbly beseech your pardon for the hindering your Majesty so long from your better employments: and I beseech you, Great Sir, ever to believe I love and reverence your Person above all expressions, for I am  
Your Majesty's most obedient most humble and most faithful Subject and Servant, WINCHELSEA. Naples the 27. of April. 7. of May, 1669.  

The Relation that was sent Enclosed.  
ON Friday the 18th. of March, 1669. the Sun was observed before its setting, to appear of a pale and dead colour, which (being contrary to what it ever appeared before to us) struck no small terror into the Inhabitants, all objects appearing also of the same colour, with a Paleness received from that of the Sun. The same Night happened in this City as well as the whole Country hereabouts, a terrible and unusual Earthquake, whose strange and unequal motions, joined with horrible roar from Monte Gibello, exceedingly frighted the Inhabitants, but was so extraordinarily violent in the Country adjacent, that the People were forced to abandon their houses, and to fly into the Fields, to avoid the danger threatened them from the falling of their houses. The Village of Nicolosi was of all others the most dreadfully handled by this furious Earthquake, the Houses and other Buildings being shaken all in pieces, and buried in their own ruins; the poor People (who had preserved their lives by a timely flight, with such little of their Goods, as their hasty fears would permit them to carry out with them) continued a Night or two in the Fields, beholding with grief and astonishment the ruin of their Habitations: but observing that by these violent concussions, the Earth began to open in several places, and to threaten them with inevitable ruin, they fled, though with much trouble and amazement, to this City. These shake of the Earth being so frequent and violent, that the People went reeling and staggering, with much difficulty, supporting one another from falling, insomuch as what with their want of sleep, the pains they were forced to take in travelling, and the great terror imprinted on them by what they had seen and suffered, they appeared at their arrival in this City as so many distracted people, wholly insensible of what they did.  
This dreadful convulsion of the Earth was immediately followed on Monday, March. 11 about 10 at night by three terrible Eruptions, much about the same time, and at a little distance one from the other.  
These said Eruptions were observed to be on the side of Monte Gibello, about two miles beyond the Mountain called Mont Pilen, from whence, with a terrible noise, it threw up its flames with such fury and violence about a hundred yards in height, its noise not roaring only inwards from the belly of the mountain as before, but violently cracking like Peals of Ordnance or Thunder from the side of it, throwing out vast Stones, some of them of 300 pound weight, which being (as it were) shot through the Air, fell several miles distant from the place, whilst the whole Air was filled with smoke, burning cinders, and ashes which fell like a fiery rain upon the Country.  
In the mean time issued from the side of this prodigious mountain a vast torrent of melted and burning matter, which like an inundation drowned as in a flood of fire, the Country on this side of it.  
This burning River ran down upon the mountain Monpeleri, which opposing its divers course, it divided itself into two streams, which encompassed the said mountain; one of them taking its way by La Guardia, the Convent of Saint Ann and Malpasso; the other by the Towns of Onpileri and Falicchi, which in few hours were wholly destroved and lost, not so much as any sign of them remaining, with several lesser Villages and Farms, and with them the famous Image of the blessed Lady of the Annuntiata, which, though highly reverenced throughout the whole Island, esteemed the wonder of Sicily and the whole world, and to which the People with much devotion resorted in pilgrimage from the remotest Parts, was also swallowed up and consumed by this dreadful torrent.  
This fiery and burning deluge immediately spread itself to about six miles in breadth, seeming to be somewhat of the colour of melted and burning Glass, but as it cools becomes hard and rocky, and every where in its passage leaves Hills and Pyramids of that matter behind it.  
At the same time Monte Gibello from its top raged with dreadful flames, which with its noise, and concussions of the earth still continuing, added not a little to the terror of the People, who ran with cries and lamentations about the City and Country, expecting nothing but to be swallowed up or consumed by fire, having no other apprehensions but of death, and a general Conflagration.  
The two torrents of fire forward destroying all things in their way, and by Wednesday, March 13. had on the West side branched itself into several streams and overran Campo Rotundo, St. Pietro and Mostorbianco, with La Pitielli, and St. Antonino; and on the East part ruined the lower part of Mascalucia and Le Placchi, taking its way towards this City.  
On Tuesday the 14th. the Wind came Eastward, on which day fell abundance of Rain, which abated not the progress of the fire; which on the East side had from Mascalucia made its way to St. Giovanni di Galermo, the lower part whereof it destroyed; and Passing on, seemed to threaten this City on one side, as did that on the West side the other.  
As the fire approached, the Religious every where appeared with much devotion, carrying in Procession their Relics, especially those of St Agatha, the famous Mattyr of Catania, in which they reposed no small confidence, followed by great multitudes of People, some of them mortifying themselves with Whips, and other signs of Penance, with great complaints and cries, expressing their dreadful expectation of the events of those prodigious fiery inundations.  
Whilst the People were thus busied in their Devotions, and astonished by their Fears, news was brought to the Magistrates of the City, that a considerable number of Thiefs and Robbers had taken the opportunity of this general distraction, to make a prey of the already distressed People, and that they had murdered several of them for their Goods; and that it was to be feared that the City of Catania itself might run some danger, from the great numbers of them which were about the Country, and from thence take their opportunity to get into the Town. Whereupon, consultation being had for prevention of further mischief from them, the Commander of the Castle was ordered with a considerable number of Horse, and a party of Spaniards, to secure the Country and City against these Robbers: who immediately sent out several parties with his Provost-Marshal, with order to seize upon all suspected Persons, and such as were not able to give a good account of themselves; and for such as were taken in the fact robbing, to execute them by Martial Law, without any further trial: and accordingly caused three pair of Gallows to be set up for their speedy Execution; one before the Gate Di Aci, a second in the Marketplace, and a third before the Gate Della Decima, setting strong Guards upon the Gates of the City, and causing all suspected houses to be searched, an account to be given in of all Lodgers, and such Persons to be secured, as could any ways fall under a suspicion.  
The poor People out of the Country being by this prodigious calamity stripped out of all their Estates, and reduced to great extremity, fled most of them for refuge to this City, with great lamentations, moving the Charity of the Magistrates, who were readily inclined to give them the best assistance they were able; and the Citizens, moved by their complaints and sufferings, freely opened their doors, filling their Houses with as many of those distressed People as they could possibly receive; the Bishop and all Persons of Quality and Estate contributing largely for their support, till better order could be taken for the disposing of them.  
The City of Messina also, and several other Cities (informed of this extraordinary calamity) sent hither large supplies of Provisions, offering their best assistance to this place, in case of extremity.  
All the Elements seemed at this time to make War upon us, and to conspire together for the punishment of the Inhabitants: the Air was continually darkened with Clouds and Smoke, agitated by great and violent Winds, and oftentimes showered down great Rains, insomuch as the Sun from the beginning of these Eruptions, very seldom appeared to us, and when it did (with extraordinary paleness) for a little time only, and (as it were abhorring so dreadful a spectacle) soon hid its face again under a thick cloud  
The Sea ran much higher than it was wont to do, and by his extraordinary roaring, and in some places overflowing its banks, added not a little to our consternation; the Land every where infested with Thiefs, insomuch, that till by the extraordinary care taken by the Magistrates and Officers, severe Execution was done upon such as were apprehended in the fact, no Person was able to stir abroad without danger of his life; whilst the fire by this prodigious overflowing of the Mountain, threatened to take possession of all.  
On Friday, the fifteenth, the stream of fiery matter which destroyed the lower part of St. Giovanni di Galermo, divided itself into two parts, one of its branches taking its way towards Mosterbianco, the other threatening the City of Catania, but this last was observed to move with the more slowliness than before, having in twenty four hours time scarcely gained one mile.  
On the eighteenth, being Monday, the Torrents being still seen to draw nearer to this City, the Senate, with Monsegnier Camluchis the Bishop of this place, followed by all the Clergy, secular and regular, and an infinite number of People, went in solemn Procession out of this City to Monte de St. Sofia, carrying out with greatest Devotion their choicest Relics, and upon an Altar erected in view of the Mountain, exposed them, where they celebrated Mass, and used the Exorcisms accustomed upon such extraordinary Occasions, all which time the Mountain ceased not as before with excessive roaring to throw up its Smoke and Flames with extraordinary violence, and abundance of great stones, which were carried through the Air, some of them falling within their view, though at ten miles' distance from the Eruption; the ashes which proceeded from thence were scattered in great abundance, as well on this City as on the Country adjacent, every where in the Fields, with Cinders, and the heat of the said ashes, destroying the grass, which obliged the People to drive away their cattle to a farther distance, which otherwise would have perished for want of food.  
These streams of ruin daily crept nearer and nearer to this City, but by uneven and irregular motions, according as it was more or less supplied from its Fountain; but on Wednesday, the twentieth, we perceived that that Branch of it which seemed most to threaten this City from St. Giovanni di Galermo, was wholly extinguished, and the other which bent its course towards Mosterbianco, ran but slowly, and gave us some hopes that its fury also was near spent; but the other Torrent which had before overflown Mosterbianco, continued its motion with as much violence as ever, being in breadth above a Musket shot over, but in probability, could not easily overflow to the Westwards, which was defended by its Rocky situation; another Branch which ran by Santo Pietro was observed to be much larger than the rest, and its stream more quick and active; but meeting with some opposition in the way, it made some stop, only sending out a Rivulet toward the East, about three or four yards wide, of its most subtle and active mater, which directed its course towards a small Village about a Furlong distance from its main stream, another Branch threatened Campo Rotundo, but bent its course Westward, toward the Farm of Valcorrente, where its fiery Body was scattered into several deep and Rocky places, without any considerable damage.  
About this time we had hopes that the violence of this Eruption had been over, the Mountain not throwing out its flames with that violence as before, and its noise and roaring in a great measure ceased.  
Those who at nearest distance took a view of the Mountain informed, that the top of it was fallen in, and the Mountain supposed to want near a mile of its former height; that the largest of the Mouths from whence these fiery streams were vented, was about half a mile in compass, but the view of this dreadful inundation carried such terror in it, as they were not able to express; from all these Mouths were vomited Rivers of a thick and fiery substance of Stone and Metals melted, whose depth was various, according to the several places it filled in its passage, in some places four, in others eight, twelve or fifteen yards and upwards; its breadth in some places six miles, in others much more; its flame like that of Brimstone, and its motion like that of Quicksilver, advancing ordinarily very slowly, unless where it was provoked by the addition of another Torrent, or some considerable descent. Wheresoever it passed, it left large heaps of its congealed matter, with which it covered and burnt the Earth, melting the Walls of Castles and Houses, throwing down and consuming all before it, nothing being found able to resist its force, nor any thing able to quench its burning, Water being observed rather to add to its fury; wheresoever it has passed, it hath lest its dreadful marks behind it, levelling some Hills and raising others, so much changing the situation, that not the least trace of any Place or Town remains, nothing being to be seen but confused heaps of ragged stone, which yielding a noisome fume, strikes terror and astonishment to all that behold it  
On Friday the 22th, the Mountain again roared with much loudness, and threw up from its Mouth a vast quantity of matter, which form two large Hills higher and larger than that of Monpolori, with a large Bank of the same matter to the East, sending down a violent stream of its liquid matter towards Malpasso, much enlarging the former Current, and passing thence to Campo Rotundo and Santo Pietro, completed the Ruins of those Towns, driving furiously towards Moster Bianco, which it wholly ruined, from thence passing on to Albanelli, in four days space destroyed all the Gardens and Vineyards, with 63000 Vines.  
From this time till the twenty fifth the Mountain continued silent, but than it burst out again with more force than ever before, its noise much louder, like Peals of Ordnance, and so forcible and lasting, as for twenty four hours it caused a shaking and trembling in our buildings, the Air so filled with Smoke and Ashes, as darkened the face of the Sky.  
The Birds and Fowls about this time, either through want of Food, or the illness of the Air, which was corrupted with the noisome smells arising from these burnings, were observed to lie dead in all places.  
On the twenty eighth, the grand Current was advanced near the City as far as the old Capucius, which struck so great a terror into the People, that most of them left the City, only some Officers remaining with such Persons as were under their command, who secured and sent away the Magazine and all the Artillery from the Castle.  
On Wednesday April the sixteenth, with an impetuous fiery Torrent it came towards Sardanello, where all the remainder of the Inhabitants of this City were Spectators of it, which resembled a River of melted and burning Brass, about ten els wide, running with swiftness to the Arch of Marcus Marcellus, a famous piece of Antiquity, and passing under it, ruined about six els of it, which was the breadth of the Current in that place: from thence it ran to Madonno di Monserratto, which it wholly destroyed: then falling down to Madonna delle Gratie, it entered in at one Gate, and passed through another, without any considerable hurt, and running through the Gate Della Decima, filled all the Plain Di Schiard Vina, where it was above six els deep. Then taking its way towards the Bulwark on the Sea side, under the Castle of this City, it ran by two els deep into the Sea; in which it has made its progress a mile in length, and as much in breadth, and is drawing towards the Gate of the Channel, which gives us great apprehensions lest it may that way invade the City itself: nor is there less danger on the side Del Tindaro, where there runs a great Torrent of the same active matter, which draws near, and seems to threaten the Walls, and is in that place about a mile in breadth, having overflowed and destroyed all the Gardens from the Gate Della Decima, as far as Madonna delli Amellati.  
In this fiery Inundation eleven Towns were wholly overflowed, consumed, and lost, with all the Lands belonging to them, no footsteps of them remaining, many Towns ruined in part, besides several Castles, Farms, Gardens, Vineyards, and other places; the Town Nicolozi wholly ruined by the Earthquake, and other Towns ruined in part.  
The reason of these fires is the abundance of Sulphur and Brimstone contained in the bosom of this Hill, which is blown by the Wind, driving in at the Chaps of the Earth as by a pair of Bellows, through which Chinks also there is continually more Fuel added to the Fire, the very Water administering an operative Virtue to the combustible matter; as we see that Water cast on Coals in the Smith's Forge, doth make them burn more violently; thus described by Lucretius, translated by Mr. Sandys,  
Hollow the Mountain is throughout, alone  
Supported well nigh with huge Caves of Stone.  
No Cave but is with Wind and Air repleet;  
For agitated Air doth Wind beget,  
Which heats the imprisoning Rocks when hot it grows,  
The Earth chafed by his Fury; and from those  
Strikes forth Fire and swift Flame, itself on high  
It mounts, and out at upright Jaws doth fly:  
And Fire sheds afar off, far off dead Coals  
Transports, and Fumes in mystery Darkness rolls;  
Ejecting Stones withal of wondrous size,  
All which from strength of struggling Winds arise.  
Besides, against the Mountain's roots the Main,  
Breaks her swollen Waves, and swallows them again;  
From whence unto the summit of the Ascent  
The undermining Caves have their Extent;  
Through which the Billows breathe, and Flames out thrust,  
With forced Stones, and darkening Showers of Dust.  
To which we may add that of the Poet Ovid,  
Ista bituminaea rapiunt incendia mires,  
Luteaque exiguis, etc.  
A resin Mould these fiery Flames begin,  
And clayie Brimstone aids the Fire within:  
Yet when the slimy Soil consumed, shall  
Yield no more Food to feed the Fire withal,  
And Nature shall restrain her Nourishment,  
The Flames shall cease, hating all Famishment.  
West of this Aetna lieth the Aeolian Islands, one of which, called Strombolo, burneth almost continually at the top like a Beacon, and exceeding clearly, so that by Night it is to be discerned a wonderful way. These places (and such like) are commonly affirmed by the Roman Catholics to be the Jaws of Hell, and that within, the damned Souls are tormented. Mr. Sandys in his Itinenary relates, That it was told him at Naples, by a Countryman of ours, and an old Pensioner of the Pope's, who was a Youth in the days of King Henry, that it was then generally bruited throughout England, that Master Gresham, a Merchant, setting Sail from Palermo, (where then dwelled one Antonio, called the Rich, who at one time had two Kingdoms mortgaged unto him by the King of Spain) being crossed by contrary Winds, was constrained to anchor under the Lee of this Island. Now about midday, when for certain hours it accustomably forbeareth to flame, he ascended the Mountain with eight of the Sailors; and approaching as near the Vent as they durst, amongst other Noises they heard a Voice cry aloud, Dispatch, Dispatch, the rich Antonio is a coming. Terrified herewith, they descended, and anon the Mountain again evaporated Fire. But from so dismal a place they made all the haste that they could, when the Winds still thwarting their Course, and desiring much to know more of this matter, they returned to Palermo. And forthwith enquiring of Antonio, it was told them, that he was dead; and computing the time, did find it to agree with the very Instant that the Voice was heard by them. Gresham reported this at his Return to the King. In Gresham himself, as this Gentleman said, it wrought so deep an Impression, that he gave over all Traffic, distributing his Goods, a part to his Kinsfolk, and the rest to good Uses, retaining only a Competency for himself; and so spent the rest of his Life in a solitary Devotion.    
FINIS.