(1) These three Nauall Battailes were the greatest of the World: for the prime Forces both of the East and West were drawne into them: the first was that wherein Zerxes, the great Mo­ [...]arch was ouercome by the small forces of [...], who was so puft vp with conceit of his great, but [Page 49] vnprofitable Army, that hee raged against the Elements, as appeares by that of the Poet.

Ille tamen qualis rediit Salamina relicta, In corum, at (que) Eurum, sollitus seuire flagellis, Barbarus, Eolio nunquā hoc incarcere passos, Ipsum compedibus qui vinxerat Ennosigaeū? Nempevna naue.

The next was that of Augustus Caesar and An­thony. Marcus Anthonius brought all the forces of the East, Augustus those of the West, and in this Anthony lost the Empire. The last was that of Lepanto, fought in the Bay of Corintho, wherein Don Iohn of Austria, Generall for the Christians, gaue the Turkes a great ouerthrow.

(2) This bea [...]t is found in the Northerne parts of America; when she is pursued, she takes vp her young vpon the hollow of her backe, and with her broad bushie taile couers them as in a tent, and so flies with them.

(3) The Chyurca is bred in the Southerne parts of America; shee hath certaine lappets of skin vnder her belly, which she opens and shuts at her liking; and in the same she receiues and har­bours her young ones, and so beares them till they grow vp. Scalig. Exer [...]. 206. They tearme it O­bassom in Virginia. Maffeus calls it Cerigon lib. 2. pag. 73.

[Page 50](4) The Crocodile hath such hard Scales all ouer his body (sauing vnderneath his belly) that no Sword or Speare, can hurt him, nor small shot, hardly slaine with a Falkonet. Scal.

(5) There be Tortoyses in India, whose shells weigh three hundred pound weight. They couer houses with them in some places of the Indies. Plin. lib. 6. Scal. Excercit. 196. In the same place Scaliger relates a storie of a Traueller, who being benighted in the Ile of Trapobana, wearie and see­king some conuenient place to take vp his lodging in vpon the bare Earth for that night, and espying hard by a thing like an old Tombe all Moss-be­growne about the sides of it, and supposing it indeed to be such as it seemed, he lay downe vpon it for to rest all night, and slept soundly. But in the mor­ning perceiuing himselfe borne farre out of his way, a [...]d from the place where hee lay downe, he began to marueile very much, looking about as a man af­feard of an Earthquake; till at last he spies the per­nicious head of his supposed Tombe, where hee had mistaken his lodging, and perceiued it to be a great Tortoyse. Scalig. Excercitations, 196. They vse the lesser Tortoyse shells in stead of Shields.

(6) The Rhynoceros hath his body all ouer armed with impenitrable Scales, or rather shields, of y [...]llow colour, spotted all through with purple [Page 51] spots: diuers haue mistaken him for the Vnicorne; for the Rhynoceros hath two hor [...]es, one vpon his nose, the other on his brow. Scal. Exercita­tions 204.

(7) The El [...]phants be at this day vsed in the warres, as formerly; they set Souldiers vpon them in small Turrets, with some small pieces of Ord­nance; his skin will beare the thrust of any wea­pon, and push of Pike; the Indian Kings ride vpon them. There bee of them [...] foote high; the Ethiopians are lesse then those of India, but those of India lesse then those of Saint Laurence. Scal. Excercitation, 204. Plin. lib. 8. Linsc.

(8) The Armadillo is a little beast of the West Indies, all couered ouer with hard shields. Lerius.

(9) Attilius Regulus, Generall of the Romans in Africk, assailed one of these Serpents, neere the Riuer Bragada, of one hundred and twentie foote long; whereon he was forc't to spend his Darts and Arrowes, and to vse all his Brakes, and Slings; and Engins of Artillerie, as if he had giuen the assault to some strong Towne of warre: and the proofe of this was to be seene by the markes in his skinne and chawes, which till the warre of Nu­mantia, remained in a Temple of Rome. Plin. l. 8. cap. 14.

(10) Pliny would perswade vs, that if the [Page 52] Hyenna compasse or circle in any thing, Man or Beast, they shall not be able to stirre from the place. lib. 8. cap. 30.

(11) The Torpedo sends forth a benumming humour vp the Line, the Rod, and euen to the Fishers hand, and ouer his whole bodie sometimes, so that diuers haue fallen downe therewith into the Riuers; and in stead of catching Fish, haue catcht their death. Aristot. de Animal. lib. 9. cap. 37. There is a Riuer in India, in the Iland of Zeilam, called Arotan, very full of Fish, but not to be eaten: for if one doe but take one of the Fish in his hand, he is presently seized with a Feauor; letting the Fish goe, freed from it. Scal. Excerc. 218. 6.

(12) The Cuttle when shee is sought and laid for by the Fisher, vents out of her mouth a certaine black Inkie humour, wherewith she dies the waues, so that she [...]scapeth vnseene. Plin. l. 9. c. 29.

(13) The Zibra is a certaine beast in Africk (most common in Congo) like a Mule, her bodie rowed with rowes of seuerall colours: they bee not vsed, because they hold an opinion, that some of their haires are venemous. Hist. of Congo.

(14) The Porcupine is a kind of Hedge-hog, but greater, and hath this particular, that by con­tracting her skin together when she list, shee will dart forth her sharpe pricks which grow vp­o [...] [Page 53] her backe in manner of Arrows, at those which pursue her. Plin. lib. 8. cap. 35.

(15) Dictamum, an Herbe only growing right in Candy; the Deare are wont to seeke out the same to feede vpon when they be shot, or wounded. Arist. l. 9. c. 6.

(16) The vse of Celandine was first found out to helpe the eyes by Swallowes. Ibid.

(17) The Beares hauing liued in their den a good part of Winter onely by sleepe, and sucking their nailes; when they goe abroad, the first thing they doe is to search out the Herbe Aron, or Wake Robbin, to open their Guts withall, obstructed with long fasting. Plutarchs Morals: and Plin. l. 8 c. 36. and Arist. de animalibus, l. 9. c. 6.

(18) The Hippopotame finding his body too full of humours, goes to certaine broken Reedes, and thereon presseth certaine Veines of his leggs, and when he hath bled sufficiently, he lutes vp the orifice againe with mud. Plutarch and Plin. lib. 4. cap. 26.

(19) The Tortoyse being to fight with the Ser­pent, prepares her selfe with Sweete Marierom. Arist. Animalib. And the Toad hauing fought with the Spider, vses Plantaine as her reliefe. Plut. Plin.

(20) The Tunall Tree is a small Plant in Me­x [...]co [Page 54] very common, out of whose Leaues spring lit­tle Worm [...]s, so much famous for their costly Dye in Graine, but especially for their rich Scarlet in graine, which haue now the chiefest praise & price, as somtime the Tirian Purple had in Rome, which was so tincted by th [...] blood of certaine Fish, called Purples. Acosta. Hist. Ind. l. 4. and Plin. l. 9.

(21) The Bezar Stone is found in the Maw of a Sheepe or Goate with a small piece of Wood, sometimes a Straw, Tag or Pin in the middle. It is obserued, that the beast which breeds them in Perue feeds much vpon one Herbe, which it is thought they vse as an Antidote against all others, poysons, and that the Bezar is engendred in the Maw, by the iuyce of this Herbe. Linsc. p. 134. and Acosta. l. 4. c. 42. Monardes.

(22) The Vnicorne no fabulous storie by the iudgement both of learned and honest Authors: for though it be hardly, or peraduenture not to be found at this day, yet the testimony of good Authors that haue seene them aliue, and their Hornes yet so highly esteemed, whereof diuers are to be seene al­most whole and entire in the possession of great Princes, agreeing both in shape and effects, with the ancient opinion conceiued of them, makes it cleare that such there were. One the Senate of Venice sent to Solyman the Magnificent: ano­ther [Page 55] Pope Clement sent to Francis the French King. P. Iouius Tome 1. lib. 18. p. 863. Scaliger speakes of diuers that hee saw; one very faire one, whole, was at Windsore Castle. But Vertoman­nus, who had the reputation of an honest Man, saith, he saw two of these beasts aliue, which were sent out of Aethiopia to the Sultan of Mecha.

(23) Zibeth vocatur odoramentum quoddam pingue crassum nigri saponis facie: quod sudor ani­malis est cui felis est figura. Qui liquorem eius es­se s [...]men arbitrātur ineptiunt. Strigmentū enim est, non humor exactus è loculis genitalibus. Scal. 211.

(24) The trustinesse and fidelitie of Dogs is so much commended by good Authors, that in the Booke intituled, Sir Philips Sidneys Vra­nia, it is aduisde, that those which in this World couet to finde a true Friend, should make search among Dogs and Spaniels for him. Authoritie and praise sufficient, if there were no more. But it is beside confirmde by a world of t [...] ­stimonies; why should I therefore (amongst so ma­ny) mention Fabius his Dog, related by Plutar [...]h and Plinie. I will craue thy patience (Gentle Rea­der) to insert one late domestick Storie, [...] this domestick Animall, which I haue from Au­thors of good credit, yet liuing in London, and which also heard the Murtherer at his dea [...]h [Page 56] confesse the fact: and thus it was. A Water-man taking in a Passenger at Black-wall for London, late in the Euening, going betwixt Black-wall and Greenewich, murthers his Faire as hee lay sleeping in the bote, and so in the thick Reeds leaues him. The man thus slaine had a Spaniell with him, which so long staies by his dead Master, till hunger compeld him to swim ouer the water to Greenewich [...] reli [...]fe; where hauing fild him­selfe, he returnes againe to his dead Master: and when hunger againe prest him, swims back as be­fore for new reliefe; so long holding this course, till he was obserued by the then Keeper of Greenewich House for Queene Elizabeth, who sent Oares to follow him, and so by that meanes discouered the murthered body. Whereupon the Keeper of the House tooke home the Dog, and held him euer af­ter as a most diligent seruant, the Dog waiting still vpon his new Master to the Court, and through the Citie, yet neuer loosing him. But to conclude this Storie; so it happened some certaine time af­ter, that this poore beast following his new Master, spies out amongst a multitude, the Murtherer of his old Master, whom presently he flies vpon, rea­dy to teare him in peeces. The man threatens to kill the Dog, if they take him not vp. Hereupon they take off the Dog, and tie him vp. But the [Page 57] Dogs Master (entertaining some scruple) caus [...]d the Dog to bee loosed againe, to see if againe hee would find out the same man: which done, the Dog finds him out streight amongst many others, and there againe flies vpon him in most v [...]hement manner. Whereupon they suspected him to bee the Murtherer, carried him before the Iustice, where he presently confest the fact, and died for the same.

A thousand examples of this kind euery man can record out of his owne particular knowledge, there­fore onely two shall be annext out of famous Iulius Scaliger, which se [...]me to me not lesse effectuall and remarkable, then those more ancient. The first is of a Countrey Fellow in the Ile of Corsica, who tracing a Beare into the Mountaines in a deepe Snow, onely accompanied with his Dog, forgetting the danger through desire to meet with the Beare, followes so farre, that when hee would haue retur­ned (all the pathes being fild vp with Snow) hee could not by any meanes discerne his way home againe, so that in fine he is there frozen to death. Some two or three dayes after his friends find him with his Dog lying at his feete: but when they come neere to touch him, his Dog flies at them, fights, teares, barkes, bites them, puts them all to flight, thinking they came to rob his Master; nei­ther becomes he more gentle by the comming in of [Page 58] his masters Brothers, from whom he had oft recei­ued meate, but continues in his pertinacie so long, till they were forced to shoote at him, and to kill him.

The other is a French History of a Courtier, who being offended either with the treacherie of his friend, or else enuying him, secretly kild him, and as secretly buried him in a field not frequented. By chance the man thus slaine had a Dog with him, who being not farre off, and seeing his Master thus put in a hole, sat so long vpon his Graue, till his af­fection ouercome with hunger, forc't him to returne backe to the Court. The Chamber-fellowes of the partie thus slaine giue him meate: streight to the Graue againe goes he, but hungrie returnes as be­fore, and so long holds hee this course, till men be­gan to suspect the matter. Heereupon they fol­low him to the place, digge vp the Graue, find the Man, whom knowing they burie, taking the Dog home with them. After a while this Murtherer returnes to the Court; the Dog spies him, flies vpon him, barkes and bayes at him, and will not bee kept off him. Heereup­on hee growes suspected; yea, the King him­selfe takes notice, through the Dogges perse­uerance in this manner of accusation. The King commands him to shew the reason, why the [Page 59] Dogge dod this. The Man denies the fact, and stands vpon his innocence: but still the Dogge barkes, and as much as in him lies, seekes to disturbe him in his excusations. At last therefore the King decrees, to haue the matter tried by combate: Wherein the Dogge ouer-came, and his Victorie is pourtrayed in Gold in one of the Kings dining-roomes; and euer as it decayes, is by commandement from the King repaired. Scalig. Exercitations 202. Secti­on 6.

For Magnanimitie, the Dog sent to Alexander by Porus the Indian King, is a sufficient testimo­nie; who when the King commanded Boares, Harts, or Beares to be set before him, neuer moo­ued at them, as things vnworthy of his courage. But when he lets out a Lion to him, him the Dog teares in pieces: and then setting him vpon an Elephant, him also hee brings to the ground. Quintus Curtius, and Plinnius, liber. 8. cap. 40.

(25) Pliny, lib. 10. cap. 74. relates this Sto­rie of an Aspe that haunted much to a wealthie Farmers House in Aegypt, and was continually feed by him vnder his Table. It chanc't one time one of the Aspes young ones to sting and [Page 60] kill one of the Farmers children, for which deede the old Aspe in iustice flies at her owne, and kills it.

(§) The Egyptians who (after the manner of their vaine superstition) gaue diuine honours, and religious worship to diuers beasts, and likewise to Serpents, and Monsters, kept within their Tem­ples diuers of them, and had Crocodiles so tame, that they would at their cal come and receiue meat at their hands. Strabo Geography.

(26) This place hath relation to the Story of Androdus the Dacian slaue, reported by Plutarch, and others, and of late repeated by Montaigne, and sung by that famous Du Bartas, which be­cause it is so well knowne, I forbeare to relate it.

(27) It is obserued by some, that the Elephants do a kind of worship (falling downe on their knees) to the Moone.

(28) There appeares in all his actions of re­uenge, a proportion betweene the punishment and the offence; as for example, if a child chance to throw a stone at him, which cannot hurt him, for this he will onely heaue him vp gently with his trunke to feare him, setting him downe without other harme. If his Keeper mingle his prouant with straw and chaffe, and deceaue him of halfe his allowance, hee thinkes it enough of hee can get loose to doe as much to the Keepers Porrege-pot, as [Page 61] it appeares in Plutarch But if one doe him a grea­ter iniurie, as to beate himselfe, or his Master, he repayes that with a cuffe or two, or carries him to the water, and ducks him wel ouer head and eares, and then sets him downe where he found him.

(29) Where shall a man see the office of a more faithfull seruant, then in Porus Elephant? who when his Master's mortally wounded in the battaile against Alexander, and sainting through losse of blood, the beast perceiuing him about to fall, kneeles gently downe to let his Lord descend with more ease. But when the Souldiers run to disarme him, the beast drawes courage from his wounds, sets vpon them afresh, beats them off him, and then striues to reseate his Master againe vpon his backe, neuer giuing ouer to discharge the part of a loyall seruant till he fell downe dead with wounds in the place. Q. Curtius, l. 8. The like of this hap­pened of late yeeres to the Kings of Pegue and Aua, who hauing drawne millions of men to field to descide their quarrel, at last both agreed to fight it out hand to hand themselues (like our Edmond and Canutus) but in stead of Horse they fought on Elephants. The euent was this; the King of Aua was slaine, and the King of Pegues Elephant. The Peguan mounts the beast of his enemy: but hee with sorrow of his Masters losse droopes: they [Page 62] striue to comfort him with good words: but he re­fuses all comfort, weeping incessantly all the terme of dayes which they obserue in that Countrey, to mourne for the dead. Linsc.

(30) An example no lesse strange there hap­pened in the Citie of Goa, the perfect patterne of thankefulnesse. The Elephants there vse, during their time of Winter, to grow furious and mad, and then often they breake loose from their keepers, and doe much mischi [...]fe. It chanc't on a time that one of them breaking out from his keeper, in this man­ner ran through, and through the streetes, ouer­throwing all things in his way: from thence hee goes to the Market place, from whence all the people fled to saue their liues; amongst the rest one Hearb-wife (who had vsed before to giue the beast Lettuce, and such Hearbs, as he past by with his keeper) for haste forgets b [...]hind her, her little son, left in a basket vnder her stall; this the Elephant spies, takes it vp with his trunke, and (remembring that it was the child of his Benefactor, when all the people made aecount to haue seene it dasht in pieces) hee gently sets it vp vpon the stall, as a place of more safetie then vnder-foote: this done, goes on in his mad humour, ouerthrowing all things as before. Linsc. pag. 137.

[Page 63](31) There are innumerable examples both in ancient and moderne Authors, witnessing the Elephants almost equall desire and thirst of glorie, euen with Man himselfe.

(32) Pliny lib. 28. cap. 8. relates many ver­tues of the Crocodile. The Crocodiles Fat good for Gangrens. Scaligers Exercitations, 196.

(33) Iuorie is a Cordiall much vsed in Phy­sick.

(34) The Toad-stone good against inflations of venemous Beasts, and against the Stone. Wec­keyrus.

(35) The Cayman breeds in his stomack a stone good against the Quartaine. Wekeyrus. There be a kind of Serpents, whose flesh is commen­ded for Vlcers, Fat for wounds, and their Slowth for helpe in Womens affaires. Parcelsus, Tome 5, pag. 238. 239. 240. and 241.

(36) The Portingalls and Spaniards haue reported, the stone got out of the Tyburones head to bee a diuine thing against the Stone and Gra [...]ell. Weckeyr.

(37) The Lyncurions, a certaine stone found [Page 64] in the Sand are thought to bee the congealed [...] of the Ownce. Plin. 8. cap. 30.

(38) For although bountifull Nature seemes euen to powre her selfe out vpon these Nations in her greatest abundance of Fish and Fowle, excel­lencie of Plants, fertilitie of soyle, abounding not onely with externall, but internall endowments: yet all these no better then curses to them through want of Art to polish them, and diuine grace to gouerne and ciuilize them: for their deuises in fish­ing and fowling giues ample testimony both of their wit and courage, notwithstanding their detestable barbarousnesse in manners and conuersation. Io­seph Acosta relates one of their fights with a Cayman or Crocodile, where the naked Indian swimming vnder his belly, there stabd him to the heart, and killed him. The like of their taking the Whale, whom he assailes after this manner: hee drawes vp close in his Canow towards the Whale sleeping, and suddenly leapes forth vpon her necke, wherewith incredible dexterity he strikes a sharpe stake into her nostrill, or vent; and when the Whale diues, he holds fast, and goes downe with it, and at his comming vp, comes vp likewise, and then strikes hee another stake into his other vent, which compells the beast to shoot himselfe on shore. Their Balsaes or bundles of Bulrushes, vpon which [Page 65] they vse to fish in the roughest Sea, sat on horseback vpon them (like so many Neptunes) are no lesse ad­mirable. Ioseph. Acost. Hist. Ind. l. 3. c. 15. and Monardes. But [...] manner of fowling is yet more strange, where the Fowler, be it vpon Lake or Riuer obserues the wind, and hauing store of emptie Gourds for the purpose, lets them first driue with the wind amongst them, which they quickly grow familier with, and suffer them to rub against their sides and brests; which when the Fowler espies, he puts on his head a Helmet of the same stuffe, with a close Vizor therein, with which hee swimmes or wades to the Fowle so cunningly, that nought but his head appeares, which still he rowles and waggs to resemble the emptie tottring Gourds, and so he plucks them by the leggs vnder-water, and finely conuaies them into his bagge; the rest of the Flocke suspecting nothing, but supposing that they diue. Peter Martyrs Decades.

(1) Herod surnamed the Great (tho valiant, cruell) put to death Mariamne his wife (a wo­man both chaste and beautifull;) then his owne sons Alexander and Aristobulus, the children of Beth­lem, his salse sonne Antipater, the most of his friends: and lastly (lest he should want teares at his end) gaue order for the killing of a great num­ber, shut vp in the Hippodrome. Ioseph. Antiq.

(2) Abimelech, the base sonne of Gedeon slew threescore and nine of his brethren to vsurpe. Io­sephus, pag. 117.

(3) Ptolomeus Philopater slew father, mo­ther, and wife. Ptolomeus Phiscon married his owne sister Cleopatra, sometime the wife of their brother, the King deceased, whom after he cast off, and married her Daughter, his Neece; and fea­ring the people should set vp his eldest sonne against him, he kills him. Whereupon they pull [...] his images; which he, interpreting as don [...] in fauour of his sister, kills also his [...] that he had by her, sen­ding [Page 121] his hands and feete in a chest as a present to her the day of his birth. Iustine, lib. 38. Ptolo­meus Ceraunos, the brother of Lisimachus King of Macedon, hauing rescued Queene Arsinoe, hi [...] owne sister, from Antigonus, who slew her hus­band, and besieged her in the Citie Cassandria, af­fecting the Kingdome, made suit to his sister for marriage (hauing no other meanes to get the pos­session of her, and her children;) but his intentions being suspected by her, hee sweares by the Altars and the Gods, that he meant to make her son King. Ouercome, she yeelds, marries him, inuites him to her Citie; which he hauing seized, presently cau­ses her children to be slaine, euen in the lap of their sorrowfull mother, and exiles her selfe. Iustin. lib. 24.

(4) Numulesinthis caused the parents feede vpon their children. Valerius Maximus, lib. 9. cap. 2.

(5) Mithridates slew seuentie thousand Ro­man Merchants in one day in time of peace. Plu­tarch.

(6) Occhus, called Darius, hauing bound him­self [...] by oath not to kill any of the conspiracie of the Magi by Sword, Poyson, Famine, or any force, de­uised a mor [...] cruell way for them, and (as hee thought) without infringing his oath: he fills a [Page 122] great deepe roome with Ashes vp to the top, and ouer the same vpon a rafter places these men, gi­uing them good cheare, wherewith being brought into a dead sleepe, they fall into this pit-sall. Val. Max. Ctesias (saith Ochus) vsed his brother Secundianus so: but this Ochus was long after Darius, the sonne of Histaspis, that supprest the Magi.

(7) Iugurth, the sonne of Masthanaball, the Base son of Masinissa, was brought vp by his Vncle Micipsa, the lawfull sonne of the said Masinissa, King of Numidia, who at his death made him co­heyre with his owne sons, Adherball and Hiemp­ [...]all, hoping by that meanes to tie him by merit, which was already bound by Blood and Kindred, to be a stay and defend [...]r of his children in their mi­noritie: but Iugurth more cruell then the very Lions (which acknowledge benefits) after his Vncles death kills Hiempsal, warres vpon Adher­ball, and at length makes him also away: but en­ioyes the Kingdome not long, the people of Rome punishing his great impieties both with losse of Kingdome and life. Salust.

(8) Cambises hauing sent Prexaspes (one of his dearest and most trustie Friends) from Mem­phis into Persia, to make away his brother Smer­dis. At his returne againe, after the execution, [Page 123] demands what they say, and what opinion they had of him in Persia. Prexaspes replies; All well, onely they thought hee loued Wine more then stood with his health. With these words the Tyrant enraged, causes Prexaspes sonne to stand as a marke for him to shoote at, and at the first shot cloue his heart, as before he said he would doe) to teach Prexaspes (who friendly admonisht him of his excesse) that hee was not drunke. Whereupon Croesus the Lidian admonishes him; hee offers to shoote at him to. He made warre so long in Ethio­pia, till his men through famine [...] vp one ano­ther, tything themselues by lots. Another part of his Army sent to destroy the Temple of Ammon were all lost, and ouerwhelmed with Sand, none re­turning to bring newes what Mummey their fel­lowes [...]. Herodotus in his Thalia, page 234, 235, and 236. Seneca saith, hee caused all the peoples noses of Syria to be cut off. [...]. de Ira. 3. c. 20

(9) Astiages being premonisht in a dreame of the translation of his Kingdome to the Persians, by meanes of Cyrus his young Nephew, gaue com­mand to Herpagus, one of his friends, to make a­way the Child. But Herpagus abhorring so great crueltie, vsed meanes to preserue him a long time secretly; til at last the King cōming to knowledge of his life & safty, [...]aused Herpagus for neglecting hi [...] [Page 124] command, to eate the flesh of his owne sonne at a supper. Herodotus Clyo. pag. 84.

(11) Caesar, Pompey, Alexander, Pirrhus, whose onely sinne of Ambition was the death of many millions, nothing being able to satisfie an in­satible mind: one diggs for another world, another seekes it in the Desarts of India: all of them like wilde and sauage beasts, enemies of humain society, being broke loose, run about killing and destroying others, till they loose themselues.

(12) Caius was said to be grieued, because in his time there fell no Earthquakes, Famines, nor Pestilences, to destroy the world. Hee wisht the people of Rome had but one head, that hee might strike it off at one blow. Seneca de Ira.

(13) Nero caus [...]d his Mother Agrippina to be put to death, hauing first attempted it diuers waies in vaine. Tacitus

(14) These were the Persecutors of the Church: Nero, Domitian, Marcus Anthonius Verus, Se [...]erus, Maximine, Decius, Valerian, Au [...]elian, Dioclesian, and Maximilian. Eusebiu [...] and the Centuries.

(15) In Legend. Aur. it is said, that holy Ig­natius being perswaded to renounce Christ, made answere, That he could not, his Name was writ­ten vpon his Heart. Whereupon the Tyrant cau­sed [Page 125] him to be opened, and found the word IESVS written therein in Golden Letters.

(16) King Poppeyle hauing slaine his two Uncles most cruelly, is persecuted of Mice and Rats by the hand of God, and hee and his Queene forc't to flie into a Towre, situated in the water: but thither they followed him, and at last deuoured him and her, no meanes being able to hinder Gods decree. These Rats seemd to come forth from the Tombes and very Graues of his dead Vnkles. This mans vsuall Oath was still, That if I doe such, or such a thing, may the Rats eate me: and so at length they did. The place is called Rats-Tower to this day. Hist. Poloniae.

(17) Amurath sacrifized at on [...] time sixe hundred Souldiers (that yeelded vpon faith and honest conditions) to the Ghost of his dead father. Calcondillius in Hist. de Imperii Graeci lapsu in Lerius.

(18) Mahumet hauing won Constantinople, gaue himselfe to Feasts and Banquets; in which for greater pompe he put to cruell deaths the most of the Grecian Nobilitie: he cut off the head of Trene, his fairest and best beloued Parramour with his owne hand, as the onely remedie for his intem­perate loue. There happened to him a strange war­ning for his crueltie: for hauing caused fiue hun­dred [Page 162] Cap [...]iues to bee slaine, and their bodies dis­membred, and throwne about) there came an Oxe rooting and lowing, and with his Hornes gathered together the pi [...]ces of a Venecians body there amongst the rest: which being told to Mahumet, he againe commands the same body to be disperst. But the Oxe againe diligently seekes out the same pieces, and layes them together: wherewith Ma­humet being much mooued, caused the dead to bee buried, and giues the Oxe an allowance during life. Lerius out of Chalcondilus.

(19) Wladus, Prince of Moldauia, had a great Vale in his Country full of Gibbets, Wheeles, and other engins, whereupon there hung thirtie or fortie thousand of his owne subiects put to death by him in three yeares: With which fearefull specta­cle Mahumet the great Tyrant being amazed, be­came after more gentle, spying the greatnes of his owne faults in another, which he could not see be­fore in himsslfe. Knowles.

(20) Selym, the youngest of Baiazets sonnes, by the fauour of the Ianizar [...]es aspired to the Em­pire, disceptred his old Father Baiazet, and caused him to be poysoned; slew his Brothers and Ne­ [...]; put the most of his dearest Friends and Seruants to death: and lastly, after his victories in the East, and the conquest of Egypt, intending [Page 127] great warres against the Christians, is by the hand of God stricken with a Canker, or Wild-fire in his reynes that eate him vp. Paulus Iouius, tome 1. l. 14, and tome 2. l. 19.

(21) This Adolph wearie of expecting his Fathers death, tooke the Duk [...]dome from him, led him fiue Dutch mile barefoot in a cold night, and imprisoned him in a darke and deepe Dungeo [...] eight moneths in most lamentable manner: but be­ing at length compeld to bring him forth, and to giue an account thereof to the Duke of Burgoyne, he onely obiects, that his Father had been Duke 44 yeeres, therefore now high time for him to come to his Birth-right. The Duke of Burgoyne at last orders the young man (being his Kinsman) to stand as Duke, and onely one small Citie to remaine to his Father, with some sixe hundred Florences the yeere during life. But Adolph flatly refused to grant him this small exhibition, but would hau [...] him exiled the Countrey; protesting, that rather then he would condiscend to those termes, he would throw his Father into a well; and himselfe after. Soone after the Duke of Burgoyne takes him Prisoner, where hee was despightfully handled all his life, and his F [...]ther dying, disinherited him, making the Duke of Burgoyne his Heire; After whose death young Adolph is taken [Page 128] out of prison by the Ganthoyse, and is slaine at the siege of Tourney. Phil. Comminees. l. 4. c. 1.

(22) Amidas being left Gouernour of Tunis by his father Muleasses (whilest he sought aide a­mongst the Christian Princes against Barbarussa) seizes the Kingdome for himselfe, and at his fa­thers returne puts out his eyes, to disable him for gouernment, and forceth him to end his dayes in miserie as a banisht man: he lost his owne eyes to with diseases, and enioyed his Kingdome not long. Knowles.

(23) Iohn Basilides late Emperour of Russia did infini [...]ely exceed all the Tyrants and monsters of Nature that euer were. His rapines, his lusts, his murther [...] cannot bee numbred. It was vsuall with him for one mans offence to extirpe whole Fa­milies and Cities, and many times without any oc­casion. When the warres ceast, and that he wanted captiues to exercise himselfe vpon, then did he kill and massacre his Friends, his Lords, his Councel­lors, his Citizens; burning, hanging, dr [...]wning thousands of guiltlesse and innocent people. Hee would looke on and see his Guard def [...]owre thou­sands of his women Captiues, and then cut them in pieces. Embassadours were not safe with him; no more were his Friends and Companions: if any man won of him in play, he would fall into passion, [Page 129] and sometimes cut off their Noses and Eares. If for feare they suffered him to winne, then he would streight cause them to bee beaten as dull and slug­gish Dolts. Now if any sought (by refusing to play) to auoyd these two extremes, those hee would gre [...] ­uously handle, and perchance put to death, as con­temners of his Maiestie. Vpon some reprochfull speeches (giuen by an honest Matron) vnto one of his whores, he tooke a purpose to murther al the women of. Muscho, and had done it, before the in­stant request of his owne women. Of diuers Citties that he pnnished, he put all the inhabitants downe through certaine holes, made through the Ice, into the riuers, and so drowned them. The warnings he had from heauen were notable. Vpon a Christmas day, which was faire and cleare, came a sudden lightning from heauen, that burnt his stately Pal­lace of Sloboda, with much treasure and rich stuffe in the same. Soone after, neere the towne of Nale, there fell a strange thing; three men and three women going forth to gather sticks in the ad­ioyning wood, late towards euening, there came this voyce into their eares (without any knowne Authour) Fly Muschouians; with which amazed, they would haue fled towards the Towne, when in the instant a mightie marble stone fell downe from the heauens (sent with a great clap [Page 130] of thunder) into the Snow, and seemed to be settled there in such manner, as if not throwne by violence, but placed there by an artificiall handiworke. In this Stone were written diuers lines in a strange and vnknowne character. The three men were slaine at the fall of the stone; the women with great amazement ran home, and shewed what had happened. The newes comes to Basilides; hee re­paires to the place, demands of the Metropolitan what the words did import: he in great perplexi­tie replies; he knowes not. Calling then certaine captiues (which had a great opinion of learning) he requires of them the exposition of this inscrip­tion: they fearing to be silent, told him, that these signes did pertaine to himselfe, and did concerne his People and Empire. Hereupon hee causes his Guard to breake the Stone all in pieces, and in stead of penitence goes home, and prepares for the Polo­nian warre. He died very lamentably of an Vlcer in his priuie parts, so lothsome and stinking, that the smell of it poysoned diuers. Hee had vpon his death-bed some trances, wherein it seemes hee had some taste of the infernall [...]orments. His life and death are written at large by Paulus Oderbor­nius, a Germaine Diuine, in three Bookes, dedi­cate to Henrie Iulius, Duke of Brunswick. His body was not from the day of his death to be found [Page 131] in any place, but was supposed to be conueyed away by the Deuill, not content with his soule onely. Ibi­dem. He liued in Queene Elizabeths time.

(24) The Egyptians did worship some things generally, as of beasts, their Apis or Oxe, the Dog the Cat: of Fowle, the Hawke and the Ibis: of Fish, the Lepidotus and the Oxirinchus: beside these, they had particular worships. They of Ar­sinoe to the Crocodile. They of the Citie of Her­cules did worship the Ichnewmon. The Cinopo­litani a Dog. The Licopolitani a Wolfe. The Leontopolitani a Lion. The Mendesii worshipt a Goate. The Athribitae a blind Mouse. They of Abidon worshipt Osiris (whom Herodotus page the 150, calls▪ Bacchus. They of Hermonthis Iupiter, and an Oxe, and Orus, which Herodotus calls Apollo, pag. 199) and others other things. Strabo Geography, lib. 17. The Bubasti honourd Diana. The Citizens of Busiris, Isis (which the Greekes call Demeter, that is Ceres. The City of Say worshipt Minerua. The Helipolitanes the Sunne. They of Buris, Latona. The Papremi­ans, Mars. Herodotus Euterpe, pag. 158.

(25) Strabo saith, he saw a Crocodile in a Lake in the Shire of Arsinoe, neere to the Temple, vpon which the Priests tended with great religion and fed him, one holding open his chaps, and an [Page 132] other powring in certaine Rost-meates and sweet Wine, and that hauing fild his belly, he retired streight into the Lake, till he were called againe by some new Guest, comming with new Oblations. Ex Strabone, lib. 17.

(26) Porrum & cepe nefas violare ac fran­gere morsu. et Paulo post.

Carnibus humanis vesci licet. Iuuen. Satyra 15. linea. 9.

(27) This Deitie of Iupiter Hammon was worshipt in the likenesse of a Ram. Herodotus Euterpe, pag. 151. Here it was that Alexander was premonisht of his death, with the circumstan­ces both of time, place, and the manner, as after they befell. Quintus Curtius lib. 4. and in Alex­anders owne Epistle to Arestotle, and Iust. l. 11. It seemes their Iupiter was something mutable and humerous for his shape, as men are now adayes for their fashions: for Herodotus describeth him like a Ram: and Quintus Curtius, lib. 4. saith; Id quod pro Deo colitur non eandem effigiem ha­bebat quam vulgo diis accommodauerunt ar­tifices. Sed, vmbilico maxime similis est habi­tus, smaragdo etiemmis coagmentatus.

(a) Dianae templum Chersiphron fabrica­tus est. Sed cum Herostratus quidam id incen­d [...]o consumpsisset aliud prestantius construxe­runt [Page 133] mulierum ornamentis. Strabo, Geogr. lib. 14.

(28) Baalzebub was worshipt in the likenesse of a Flie. Purch.

(29) The Sydonians worshipt Iuno in the likenesse of a Sheepe.

(30) Quintus Curtius in oppugnatione. Alexandri.

(31) The Phoenicians had a stately Temple dedicated to the Sunne, of which Anthonine, Emperour of Rome, was in his priuate fortunes the High Priest, and therefore surnamed Helioga­balus, or Priest of the Sunne. Herodian, lib. 5.

(32) This Temple had in it a stone, which had thereon the figure of the Sunne. Ibid.

(33) The men of Carras that ouercame their wiues, vsed to sacrifice to god Lunus in the Tem­ple of the Moone: but if their wiues had the bet­ter, they offered vnto Luna to appease her displea­sure. Herodian, lib. 3.

(34) This place was some fiue mile from An­tioch, a Groue of mightie Cypresses, ten miles in compasse, where stood the Temple and Oracle of Apollo Daphneus. Here Iulian the Apostate desiring answere, the Deuill would not speak [...], be­cause the bones of Babillus the Martyr lay so neare him. Socrates, lib. 3. cap. 16. In this place [Page 134] of delight, and Paradise of prophane pleasure, the Antiochian youths, and amorous Gallants vsed to pay their vowes to the Nimph Daphne: the bur­bling streames, calme winds, and flowre-be spotted earth, conspiring with the opacitie and retirednes of the place, to make the Votaries of Diana, wor­ship Daphne. Strabo. Geogr. pag. 510. lib. 15.

(35) The Persians did principally honour the Fire, counting it a God: they worshipt the Sunne and Moone, Venus, the Winds and the water, in­to which it was not lawfull to spit, to pisse, or to, cast any dead thing, Strabo, lib. 15. Herodotus. lib. 1. pag. 90. lib. 3. pag. 226.

(36) The Tartarians beyond Volga, that be­long to the Great Cham; and the Crym Tartars which inhabit on this side Volga (which Herodo­tus calls Scythia, and them Scythes;) though these professe Mahumet, yet haue they in their houses Idols and Puppets of Fel [...], which they offer to▪ Doctor Fletcher and W. de Rubruquis in Ha­cluyt.

(37) The Chynoys haue Idols in their hou­ses, and Images if the deuil with Serpentine locks, and as ill-fauoured lookes as he hath heare; a trip­ple Crowne vpon his head, great teeth standing out from his mouth, and an vgly face vpon his belly: him for feare they worship, saying, that God is [Page 135] good, and will doe no man harme. They paint the Deuill in their ships, and in any storme him they in­uocate, sometime working by lots, sometime by writing, which way he neuer failes to answer them, as appeares in the Discourse of Chinay. Chap. 15. where the Spanish Friers (to their no small ter­r [...]r) heard him talking to the Chynois in the same Ship.

(§) The Iapons haue a strange kind of shrift, the Deuill once a yeare playing the Confessor: hee puts his Penitent into a paire of Weigh-Scales, hung vp vpon a high Spire or Piremed, from whence if he confesse not truly, he breakes his neck. Acosta. lib. 5. cap. 25.

(38) The Deuill is highly worshipt in Pegue, to whom they erect a stately Altar, adorned with varietie of Flowres and Meates to fee and feede him, that hee should not hurt them. Hist. India. pag. 321.

(39) Cidambaran is the Mother-Citie of these Pagan Rites. Here in the Temple of Peri­mall they worship an Ape called Haynemant: the tooth of this Ape was kept for a great rellick in Zeylan, till the Portugals, Ann. 15▪ 54, ransacking the Iland, tooke this away amongst many better things. Linschot saith, the Indian Kings sent presently to the Vice-roy, and offered seuen hu [...] ­dred [Page 136] thousand Duckats for it: but he burnt it be­fore their Embassadours eyes, and threw the ashes into the Sea. Notwithstanding, the Banian of Cambaia perswaded the Indian Kings, that he by miracle had preserued it, hauing been inuistbly present, and that he had changed the said tooth, putting another very like it in stead thereof. So this was againe receiued as the true one, and belie­ued by their mopping deuotion. Linfc. pag. 81. The Mallabars are all extreame Idosaters to the Deuill, and haue all their Temples full of his pictures, and Idols most fearefull to behold. They haue a certaine Coyne called Pagodes, stam­ped with his Picture. They offer themselues to voluntarie death in honour of their Idols, thinking it meritorius so to perish. Linsc. pag. 82. & 69.

(40) The Mexicans or Tenustitans had in the midst of Mexico, a stately Temple, the stones of the walls all wrought in artificiall knots of Snakes (so like is that old Serpent still to himself.) Here they sacrifised to their Idoll Deuils men without number, taken in the warres, whose flesh they did (after the ceremonies ended) make merry with, The Spaniards beheld from Metazumaes Palace seuenty of their owne men thus sacrifised, amongst whom, one after his heart was drawne out; cried aloude, Knights, they haue slaine me. Within the [Page 137] penetralls of this Temple, and as it were, their Sanctum Sanctorum, the Spaniards found the walls daubd with humaine blood two inches thick. About the Courts of this Temple vpon certaine rankes of trees ran many rankes of poles from one to another, whereon their hung all the Scalpes of those which had been sacrifized. This Temple was consumed by fire from Heauen, which seemed to burst forth from the very walls and stones; so that no water could quench it. Vitziliputzli was their chiefe Idoll. Ioseph. Acosta. l. 5. cap. 13. & 22. & lib. 7. cap. 23. The Peruuians were no lesse cruell, sacrifizing children to their Idols, of whom Verachocha was chiefe. Acosta. l. 5. cap. 19.

(41) This Maracca is a kind of Gourd, the meate finely pickt out, then dryed and fild with Stones or Millet it makes a great noise, this is their Musicke they Dance by, this is their Ora­cle, from whence their Aignan (the Deuill) consults with them: to this they offer offerings of Meate. At certaine set times they vse to meet to performe their dancing ceremonies, in which they sing certaine Songs, and crie, Sabbath, Sab­bath; lifting vp their hands on high like the Israe­lites, and as they were commanded. Deuterono­mie 12. 6, 7. Yet for all this obseruance, their good Master the Deuill did vse to beate them, [Page 138] kill them by hundreds, when he thought his worship was neglected. The pictures of their Fights, Dan­ces, Entertainements, Ceremonies, Burials, is with an ample Discourse thereon to be seene in Lerius his Hist. of Brasile, to whom I commend those that desire to know their fashions; and to Ieronimus Be [...]zo, his Noua noui orbis Historia.

(a) Ptolomey King of Cypresse hauing heapt vp great wealth by base meanes, ouercome by his Enemie, flies to the Sea, there intending to burie himselfe and his treasure together (in Neptunes watry, but inuiolable Sepulchers) hauing for that end bored all his ships through in the keele: but ta­king compassion that so much wealth should be lost, he altars his purpose, and carries back againe to land, the future reward of his owne destruction, Valerius Maximus, lib. 9. cap. 5.

(42) Dennis, the elder Tyrant of Syracusa, was a marueilous oppressor of his people; whom when he had brought so low, that he could draw no more from them, he deuises (vpon a great Dearth that had continued by the space of two or three yeeres) to perswade the people to contribute to­wards the building of a new Temple to the God­desse Ceres, to appease her displeasure, and for that end drawes all the womens Chaines and iewels of the Countrie from them, which amounted to diuers [Page 139] millions, and yet no Temple built for all that. After a while (the earth yeelding her due encrease, and the women (after their wonted manner) desiring their accustomed adornments, but fearing least the old Fox should againe play them the like trick, they petitioned, that it might bee lawfull for them to weare their rings and iewels againe, as they had formerly done; which after some nicenesse was granted them, vpon condition that euery one of them should first offer vp to the Goddesse Ceres, the price and value of such iewels as they intended to weare; the old Tyrant making by this one stra­tag [...]m a double profit.

(43) Ferdinand King of Naples, that died at Charles the eight his entrance into Italy, com­peld his subiects to feede his Swine. He would buy vp all the Oyle and Graine in the Countrie before it were ripe, and sell it againe very deare at vn­reasonable prices. Whatsoeuer was faire and good in the Kingdome he would extort it by one meanes or other, and sold all things both Temporall and Ecclesiasticall to his best Chapmen. Hee sold the Bishoprick of Taranto for twelue thousand Duc­kats to a Iew for his son, who he said was a Chri­stian. He gaue Abbeys to Falkoners, with charge to keep him a certaine number of Hawkes at their owne charge. P. Cōminees, l. 7. c. 11. Guicc. 1.

[Page 140](44) This Syleus was the most beautifull young Gentleman of all Rome, whom Massaline no lesse sollemnely, then publikely married, euen in the life of her Husband Claudius the Emperour, who being aduertised of her disorders, had scarcely the stomack to put them to death, if his seruants had not for his credit vrged the same. Tacitus Annales lib, 11. cap. 9. 10. 11.

(45) These three were Tarquine the proud, who lost his Kingdome (as Liuie relates) for the rape of Lucrece: And Roderick, last King of the Gothes in Spaine, who by occasion of the Rape of Countie Iulians daughter (which thereupon fled and brought in the Moores and Arabians) lost both his Kingdome and life, being ouerthrowne (notwithstanding his vnmatchable valour) in a Battaile of eight dayes long, Ann. 750. neere to Xeres, vpon the Riuer of Bedalack. Historie of Spaine: The third was Floris (fifth of that name) Prince of Holland, Zeland, and Frizeland, who imprisoned a Knight of his Court, one Gerard van Nelson, and cut off his brothers head: but being better enformed of the equitie of his cause, after a yeeres imprisonment, giues him liberty, with offers of diuers fauours, and a certaine cast-Concubine of his in marriage: which the Knight refusing with these speeches; That he was not so base to put his [Page 141] Feete in his old shooes: and the Earle therewith offended, replied, But you shall. Which words the Knight forgetting, shortly after marries a faire Ladie. Whereupon (the Earle still mindfull of his former displeasure) tooke occasion to send the Gentleman from home vpon an Embassage, and himselfe in the meane time goes to the Knights house, and rauishes his Lady. Which the Knight vnderstanding at his returne, in reuenge laid an ambush for the Earle, and slew him. Historie of the Netherlands, pag. 67.