most holy and profitable sayings of that reverend divine, doctor tho. goodwin who departed this life, feb. 23. 1679/80. goodwin, thomas, 1600-1680. 1680 approx. 8 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 2 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a85437 wing g1249 estc r229141 99895265 99895265 152660 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a85437) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 152660) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2312:6) most holy and profitable sayings of that reverend divine, doctor tho. goodwin who departed this life, feb. 23. 1679/80. goodwin, thomas, 1600-1680. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [london : 1680] imprint from wing cd-rom, 1996. reproduction of original in the newberry library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng maxims -early works to 1800. christian life -early works to 1800. proverbs, english -early works to 1800. broadsides -england 2007-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-11 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2007-11 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion most holy and profitable sayings of that reverend divine , doctor tho. goodwin . who departed this life , feb. 23. 1679. / 80. we sail to glory , not in the salt sea of our tears , but in the red sea of christs precious blood. a sanctified heart is better than a silver tongue . a heart full of graces is better than a heart full of notions . notional knowledge , it may make a mans head giddy , but it will never make a mans heart holy . the wheat and the chaff , they may both grow together , but they shall not both lie together . in hell there shall not be a saint amongst those that are terrified : and in heaven there shall not be a sinner amongst those that are glorified . will you pity a body that is going to the block ; and will you not pity a soul that is going to the pit. what a sad visitation is that , where the black horse of death goeth before , and the red horse of wrath followeth after . a mans condition in this life may be honourable , and yet his state as to another life may be damnable . there cannot be a better being for us , than for us to be with the best of beings . that which makes heaven so full of joy , is , that it is above all fear : and that which makes hell so full of horror , is , that it is below all hope . to be a professor of piety , and a practiser of iniquity is an abomination to the lord. oh! sin is that mark at which all the arrows of vengeance are shot . were it not for sin , death had never had a beginning ; and were it not for death , sin would never have had an ending . oh! did sin bring sorrow into the world , then let sorrow carry sin out of the world . let the cry of your prayers out-cry the cry of your sins . nothing can quench the fire that sin hath kindled , but the water which repentance hath caused . you that have filled the book of god with your sins , should fill the bottle of god with your tears . he can never truly relish the sweetness of gods mercy , who never tasted the bitterness of his own misery . none can promise us better than christ can , and none can threaten us worse than christ can . can any man promise us any thing better than heaven ? or , can any man threaten us with any ▪ thing worse than hell ? heaven is promised to those that love him , and hell is to be the portion of those that hate him . to live without fear of death is to dye living , to labour not to dye , is labour in vain . men are afraid to dye in such and such sins , but not afraid to live in such and such sins . oh the hell of horrours and terrors that attend those souls , that have their greatest work to do when they come to die. therefore as you would be happy in death , and everlastingly blessed after death , prepare and fit your selves for death . did christ die for us , that we might live with him : and shall not we desire to die , and be with him . a believers dying day is his crowning day . god protects men when they are in his way , but not out of his way . sin is never at a higher flood , than when grace is at a low ebb. though the churches enemies may be waves to toss her , yet they shall never be rocks to split her . it is not a time for sions sons to be rejoycing , when their mother is mourning . when the churches adversaries make long furrowes upon her back , we should cast in the seed of tears . many instead of sympathiseing with believers in their misery , they are censuring of them for their misery . true love to christ can walk on the water without drowning , and lie on the fire without burning . how shall we land at the heaven of rest , if we are not tossed upon the sea of trouble . a saint of god lives above the love of life , and fears not the terror of death . none are so welcome to that spiritual canaan , as those that swim to it through the red sea of their own blood. saints are not so much afraid of suffering , as they are of sinning ; in suffering the offence is done to us , but in sinning the offence is done to god. finis . crossing of prouerbs crosse-answeres. and crosse-humours. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part 1 breton, nicholas, 1545?-1626? 1616 approx. 11 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16737 stc 3643 estc s104776 99840507 99840507 5019 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16737) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 5019) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 915:03) crossing of prouerbs crosse-answeres. and crosse-humours. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part 1 breton, nicholas, 1545?-1626? [24]+ p. printed [by g. eld] for iohn wright, and are to be solde at his shop without newgate, at the signe of the bible, at london : 1616. b.n. = nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. signatures: a b1-4. collation from incomplete l copy as reported in stc. a second part was published the same year. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs, english. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-11 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-11 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion crossing of proverbs . crosse-answeres . and crosse-humours . by b. n. gent. at london , printed for iohn wright , and are to be solde at his shop without new-gate , at the signe of the bible , 1616. to the reader . meeting with many crosses in the world , among them all i found some in books , as crossing of prouerbs , crosse answers and such other like crosse humours , as i haue collected out of crosse authors , which i haue here put together in this little booke , in which , if you find any thing crosse to your liking , crosse it out : and if there bee any thing that is better worth then nothing , be not crosse to patience to esteeme of a little , though but a little : so loth to crosse mine owne reason , with too much persswasion of your too kinde , either disposition or discretion , i rest as i finde cause . your well-wisher , b , n. crosse & pile or crossing of prouerbs prouerbs . the more , the merrier cross. not so , one hand is enough in a purse . p. euery man loues himselfe best . cros. not so , when man is vndone by surety-ship . prou. hee that runnes fastest , gets most ground . c. not so , for then foote-men would haue more land then their masters . pro. he runnes far that neuer turnes . cros. not so : he may breake his necke in a short course . p. no man can call againe yesterday . c. yes , hee may call till his heart ake , though it neuer come . p. had i wist was a foole . c. no , he was a foole that said so . p. he that goes softly goes safely . c. not among thieues . prou. nothing hurts the stomake more then surfeiting cross. yes , lacke of meat pro. nothing hard to a willing mind . cros. yes , to get money . pro. women are necessary euills . cros. not so , for no euill is necessary . pro. a faire woman is a pearle in a black mans eye . cros. not so , for then shee would put it out . pro. the nearer the bone , the sweeter the flesh . c. not , when it hath taken wind . p. none so blind as they that will not see . c. yes , they that cannot see . p. the deeper the sweeter : c. not in a foule hole . p. to day for me , to morrow for thee . c. not so , wee may both be fox't together . p. a crust is better then no bread . c. not for the gummes that haue no teeth . p. a woman is the weaker vessell . c. not when a curst wife beates her husband . p. salt sauers euery thing . c. not a sir-reuerence . p. labour in vaine is losse of time c. not where endeauours are wel accepted . p. no man so wise but may bee deceiued . c. not so , for hee is not wise when he is deceiued . p. there is no such griefe as ingratitude . c. yes , lacke of money . p. faire water makes all cleane . cros. no , not a foule minde . prou. it is in vaine to striue against the streame . cros. not if the winde be with them . p. the sunne giues comfort to all creatures . cros. no not to an owle , for she connot endure the light . pro. ther is no creature so like a man as an ape . cros. yes a woman . pro. soft fier makes sweet male . cros. not if the barley be musty . pro lawe is the scourge of sinne . cros. not till it be executed . pro. a man may see day at a little hole . cros. not so , he may be blind , and then he cannot see . pro. patience is a plaster for al sores . cros. not if it be forced . pro. he that trauels far knowes much . cros not if he be a foole . pro. nothing but is good for something , cros. not so , nothing is not good for any thing . p. couetuousnesse is the roote of all euill . c. no , not of gluttony in a miser . p. euery thing hath an end . cros. not so , a ring hath none , for it is round . p. mony is a great comfort . cros. not when it brings a thiefe to the gallowes . p. the world is a long iourney . cors. not so , the sunne goes it euery day . p. it is a great way to the bottome of the sea. c. not so , it is but a stones cast . p. hee playes well that winnes . c. not , if hee lose his time for trifles . p. birds of a feather will flye together . c. not if their wings be clipt . p. change of pasture makes fat calues . c. not if the ground be barraine . p. as the tree is , so is the fruit . c. not so , when a pippin is graft vpon a crabbe . p. a ragged coult may proue a good horse . c. not except he be wel managed . p farre fetcht and deare bought is good for ladies . c. not if the ware bee nought , when it comes home . p. when the cat is away , the mouse may play . c. not if the wezill be neere . p. hunger is the best sauce . c. not without meat . p. blacke will take no other hue . c. yes , when a foule slut is painted faire , p. honesty is ill for thriuing . c. not amongst honest men . p. time is precious to an vnderstanding spirit . c. not to a theefe when hee is going to hanging . p. he is not wise that is not wise to himselfe . c. ye● , when he can giue better counsell then he can take . p. after a storme comes faire weather . c. not when a boy is whipt for pissing in his bed . p. nature is no botcher . c. yes , when she couers young flesh with an old skin . p. no such losse as the losse of a friend . c. yes , the losse of life . p. a friend is best found in aduersity . c. not so , for then there is none to bee found . p. the pride of the rich makes the labours of the poore . c. no , the labours of the poore make the pride of the rich . p. no greater shame to a man , then to bee a cuckolde . c. yes , to be a wittoll . p. true loue is the ioy of life . c. not without mony to maintaine it . p. will is the cause of woe . c. no it is the lack of wit to guide it . p. a faire wife is a comfortable creature . c. not if she be not constant . p. valour is the noblenes of the minde . c. not except it be guided by reason . p. there is no lack , to the lack of mony . c. yes lacke of grace . p. high flying hauks are fittest for princes ▪ c. not except they will come downe to the lure . p. he that will borrow must pay . c. not if he haue it not . p. delayes are the death of sutors . c. not so for then lawyers should haue no clients . p. wealth makes the worship of the world . cros. not so , for then euery iacke would bee a gentleman . p. he is wise that is honest . c. not , if he cannot doe withall . p. vertue is a iuell of great price . c. not so , for then the poore could not come by it . p. dicing , drabbing , and drinking , are the three ds. to destruction . c. not so , it is the fourth d. the diuell , that leades men to it . p. sweet is the fruit of labour . c. not except god blesse the businesse crossing of proverbs the second part. with, certaine briefe questions and answeres. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part 2 breton, nicholas, 1545?-1626? 1616 approx. 30 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 14 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16738 stc 3644 estc s116782 99851998 99851998 17295 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16738) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 17295) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 915:04) crossing of proverbs the second part. with, certaine briefe questions and answeres. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part 2 breton, nicholas, 1545?-1626? [28+] p. printed [by g. eld] for iohn wright, and are to be solde at his shop without newgate, at the signe of the bible, at london : 1616. b.n. = nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. "certaine briefe questions and answeres" has caption title. signatures: a b⁶. some print show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs, english -early works to 1800. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-11 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-11 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion crossing of proverbs . the second part . with , certaine briefe questions and answeres . by b. n. gent. at london , printed for iohn wright , and are to be solde at his shop without newgate , at the signe of the bible . 1616. the second part , of crossing of prouerbs prouerbs . every trades-man knowes his owne ware . cros. not if his female deceiue him . p. more hast the worse speed . c. not in the hast , but lacke of heede . p. hee that hath his eyes in his head wil looke about him . c. not so , he may be blindfolded and then he cannot . p. wanton kisses are the keyes of finne . c. not except the diuell keep the lockes . p. warre is the greatest dispoyling of a kingdome . c. not so , a plague if it continue , may be greater . p. giue , gaue is a good fellow . c. not so , hee is a churle that hath no charity . p. loue is the peace of the senses . c. not where it is ioined with ielousie . p. witty women are sweet companions . cros. not , but when they are pleased , or else they are froward . prou. crabbed minds are pleased with nothing . c. not so , for nothing can giue no pleasure . pro. kind hearts are soonest wrong'd . c. not if they be carefull . p. there is no tree but beareth fruit . cros. yes , the sic amour . pro. high waies are lawfull for trauaylers . c. not if they meet with theeues . p. the greatest sort of fish keep the bottome . c. not so , for small eeles keepe in the mudde . p. too much of any thing is good for nothing . c. not so , what is good , is good for somthing . p. wishers and woulders , are neuer good house-holders . c. not so , a man may both wish wel and doe well . p. taking of bribes is priuate theeuery . c. not so , for then there would be many hangd . p. the teares of age are lamentable . c. not if they drop from sore eyes . p. a merry companion is a wagon in the way . c. not so for if your iourney be long you may be weary for want of carriage . p. hee is a fond fisher that angles for a frogge . cros. not so , for hee may be a baite for a better fish . p. when theeues fall out , true men come by their goods . c. not so , theeues may be hang'd , and true men ne're the better . p. all offices are places of esteeme . c. not so , not the hang-mans . p. there is nothing so sure as death . c. yes , life to the faithfull . p. newes are like fish . c. not so , for then they would stinke when they are stale . p. the mistris eye makes the capon fatt . c. not so , it is the good cramming of them . p. marriage is honourable . c. not when it is dishonoured . pro. children are the comfort of their parents . c. not if they proue vngratious . p. no trust to a drie sticke . c. yes , that it will burne well . p. a light supper makes cleane sheets . c. not so , he that is loose in the hiltes , may make worke for the launderesse . p. hasty spirits neuer want woe . c. yes , when they are pleased . p. as the life is , so is the death . c. not so , for she that liued a whore , may dye a bawde . p. neate apparell graceth a man. c. not so , a neate man graceth his apparell . p. kindnesse deserues loue . c. not if it be common . p. poore vertue liues as dead . c. not in ihe eye of honour . p. couetuousnes corrupteth wealth . c. no , a noble minde is euer it selfe . p. a faire woman is the trouble of wisdome . c. not so , shee is the treasure of a true wit. p. hasty climbers haue sodaine falls . c. not if they sit fast . p. when the belly is full , the bones would be at rest . cros. no , it is the spirit , not the bones : for they haue no power of desire . p. try , and then trust . c. not so , for he that is kind to day , may be crosse to morrow . p. whensoeuer you see your friend , trust to your selfe . c. not so , when you cannot helpe your selfe without your friend . p. there is none so faithlesse as an hereticke . c. yes , an hypocrite . p. he is a fond chap-man that comes after the fayre . c. not so , he may hap to buy better cheap in the market . p. there is a time allowed for all things . c. no , not to doe euill . p. honour is the reward of vertue . c. no , but where it is rightly giuen . p. sweet meate must haue sowere sauce . c. not so , a good stomake needs it not . p. when sunday comes , it will be holy-day . c. not with carriers , for they trauell all the weeke . p. a coward is fearefull , without hyre . c. not so , for feare it selfe is full of hurt . p. pouerty is the purgatory of reason . c. not so , it is the tryall of patience . p. he is wise that is rich . c. no , he is rich that is wise . p. no misery to imprisonment . c. yes , an vnquiet wife . p. no comfort to liberty . cros. yes , a louing wife . p. the night is the time of rest for all creatures . c. not for gamesters , that play night and day . p. learning is the labour of the braine . c. not so , it is rather of the spirit . p. nothing so necessary for trauallers as languages . c. yes , money . finis . certaine briefe questions and answeres . question . what is the best kinde of gouernment ? answere . peace . q. what is most dangerous in a kingdome ? a. ciuill warre . q. what is most troublesome in a common-wealth ? a. sectes . q. what quarrell breeds the best war ? a. religion . q. what most displeaseth god ? a. idolatry . q. which is the best trauell , that euer was ? a. towards heauen . q. who was the best king that euer was ? a. dauid , for he was chosen to gods owne heart . q who was the greatest conqueror that euer was ? a. christ iesus , for he conquered sinne , death and hell . q. who was the greatest foole that euer was ? a. adam when he had lost paradise for an apple . q. who had the greatest fall that euer was ? a. lucifer , when hee fell from heauen to hell . q. who was the best wrestler that euer was ? a. iacob , when he wrestled with the angell . q. who was the wisest queene that euer was ? a. the queene of sheba , that came to salomon for wisdome . q. who was the foolishest king that euer was ? a. pharaoh , when he opposed himselfe against god. q. who was the arrantest traytor that euer was ? a. iudas , when hee betrayed his master christ iesus . q. what is the best learning in the world ? a. truth . q. what is the greatest wealth in the world ? a. content . q. what is the greatest ioy in the world ? a. a cleere conscience . q. what is the greatest vertue in the world ? a. patience . q. what is the greatest blessing to nature ? a. health . q. vvhat is the most griefe in the world ? a. want. q. which was the stoutest woman that euer was ? a. iudith , when shee cut off holofernes head . q. which was the first mad-man that we reade of ? a. saul , when he killed himselfe . q. who was the most vnnaturall that euer was ? a. caine , when he slew his brother abel . q. when was noah layd naked ? a. when he was drunke . q. when did lot commit incest ? a. when he was drunke . q. when was sampson ouerthrowne ? a. when he was a sleepe . q. when was salomon led to idolatry ? a. when he followed strange women . q. when began the curse on the iewes ? a. when they fell to idolatry . q. what state is the most quiet ? a. the meane . q. what actions are most honorable ? a. that are honest . q. what study is most profitable ? a. the law. q. what musique is sweet ? a. the voyce . q. where is the best beeing in the world , a. where a man likes best . q. what is the hinderance of content , a. variety . q. what is the substance of all earthly , creatues ? a. vanity . q. what is the comfort of a blind man ? a. that he shall see no vanities . q. what comforteth a deafe man ? a. that he shall heare no villanies . q. and what comforteth a lame man ? a. that he shall not be sent of hastye arands . q. and what of a dumbe man ? a. that he shall not be called to question for his tongue . q. what is the comfort of age ? a. that hee hath past the perils of his youth . q. what should be the care of youth ? a. to giue honour to his age . q. why doe women weepe more then men ? a. because they cannot haue their wils to gouerne . q. what is the easiest life in the world ? a. a parasites , to feede vpon euery mans trencher . q. what life is the most laboursome ? a. study , for it spends the spirit , and weakens the body . q. who is the best companion in the world ? a. a library , where a man talkes without offence . q. and where is the worst company ? a. in a gaole , where there are few gracious . q. what is the best art in the world ? a. to gather wealth without wickednesse . q. and which is the worst art that euer was ? a. the blacke art , for it brings the student to hell. q. how doth ease breed the gout ? a. by lack of motion of the members . q. what is the best meat in the world ? a. that which agreeth best with the stomack . q. and what the best drinke ? a. that that breedes the best blood . q. and what is the best excercise ? a. the moderate . q. what ware is cheapest ? a. that which is had for thankes . q. what country is most fruitfull ? a. where there is best ground . q. when is it best to take phisicke ? a. in time of sicknes . q. when is it best to make meales ? a. when the stomacke is empty . q. what sauce is the best ? a. hunger . q. what flesh is best ? a. that which is sweet . q. what fish is the best ? a. that which is new taken . q. which is the best lesson to thriue ? a. to haue much , to spend little , and to giue nothing . q. what is a plaister for all paines ? a. patience . q. and what is a remedy for all diseases ? a. death . q. what is a misers musicke ? a. chinking of money . q. what is the honour of a man ? a. to be his words maister . q. what is the true signe of a foole : a. to be euer laughing . q. what is good for the tooth-ache : a. pull it out . q. vvhat is good for the heart-ache : a. patience . q. vvhat is good for the itch : a. scratching . q. vvhich is the worst worme in the world : a. the worme of conscience . q. vvhat is most necessary in a common wealth ? a. money . q. vvhat most vnnecessary ? a. cardes p. fortune fauours fooles . c. not so , there are fooles enow , but there is no fortune . p. woemen are like waspes in their anger . c. not so , for waspes leaue their stings , but women neuer leaue their tonges behind them . p. virgins are angel-like creatures . c. not so , for then they would not bee so proud of their beauty . p. musicke is comfortable to the care . c. not when the braine is full of businesse . p. a good huswife is a iewell . c. not if she be a scold . p. good wine makes a merry heart , c. not when the conscience is wounded . p. the neerer the church , the further from god. c. not with the religious . p. good wine needs no bush . c. yes , for trauellers that know not the house . p. drunkennesse is counted good fellowship . c. not , but among bad fellowes . p. the sunne shines through all the world , c. no , not in a close chest . p. euery bird is knowne by his feather . c. no , good-man bird hath no feathers . p. , painted creatures are dead speakers . c. not so , for then many women would be silent . p. wise men are at peace with all the world , c. not with some women , for they will neuer be quiet . p. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush . c. not if they be fast limed . p. money is a great master in a market . c. not so , hee is a slaue to a begger . p. money is a continuall traueller in the world . c. not so , for with some hee is close prisoner . p. euery child knowes his owne father . cross. not , but as his mother tels him . p. there is no paine like the gowt . c. yes , the tooth-ach . p. euery man knowes what is best for himselfe . c. no not mad-men . p. vsurers are alwaies good husbands . c. not so , they may be badde to their wiues . p. good ware makes quick markets . c. not so , t is the money makes the speed . p. of idlenesse comes naught but ignorance . c. yes , beggery . p. oppression makes the wise man mad . c. no wise men will be are oppressions . p. there is nothing stoln without hands . c. yes , a good name with an ill tongue . p. rich men are stewards for the poore . c. not so , when the poore mens pence fill their purses . p. abuses shew the corruption of time . c. no , it is the timers . p. a louse is a beggers companion . c. not when hee is in the head of a lord. p. beauty is a naturall blessing . c. not in a painted woman . p. early vp and ne're the neere . c. yes , he may haue a better stomacke to his dinner . p. he that is warn'd is halfe arm'd . c. not so , for words make no armour . p. a shrew profitable , is good for a man reasonable . c not so , the profit may bee good , but the shrew is nought . p. two may keepe counsaile , if the third be away . c. not if a woman be one . p. hee that is wise in his owne conceite , is a foole . c. not so , for hee that is wise is no foole . pro. the euening praiseth the day . cros. not so , t is he that notes it . p. faire words pacifie wrath . c. not in dogged spirits . p. ambition endangers life . c. not so , t is the actions that followes it . p. a winde instrument giues a sweete sound . c. not in the ease of the chollick downwards . p. the swelling of the belly signifies the dropsie . c. not in women with child . p. a bagpipe makes more noyse then musicke . c. not so , for t is all musicke though not of the best . p. there is no foole to the old foole . c. yes , the young foole is a foole too as well as he . p. euery bird hatcheth her owne egges . c. not so : the sparrow hatcheth the cuckoes . p. all creatures are drowsie after venerie . c. not so , the cocke crowes when hee hath trod his hen . p. nothing is swifter then the winde . c. yes thought , that is at heauen in an instant . p. nothing is more subtill then the aire . c. yes , the diuell . p. he that handleth thornes will pricke his fingers . c. not if his gloues be good . p. there is nothing brighter then the diamond . c. yes , the sunne . p. pouerty parts good company . c. not when rich men part with enuy . p. sicknes soakes the purse . c. no , t is the patient that is soak't , not the purse . p. hee that is borne to be drownd , shall neuer be hang'd . c. yes , pirats drowne hanging at wapping . p. sicknes is the cause of death . c. not so , for many dye that are not sicke . p. a couetous man is neuer liberall . c. yes , when hee giues all away at his death . p. t is merry when gossips meet . c. not if they fall out vpon the reckoning . p. there is no fire without smoake . c. yes in a flint . p. pearles are restoratiue . c. no , not the pearle in the eye . p. religion is the rule of life . c. not to an athiest . p. the law is costly . c. no , t is the lawyer . p. a short horse is soone curried , c. not if he be very foule . p. a good horse that neuer stumbled , c. no , there is no such horse . p. hard fare makes hungry stomackes . c. not among sicke folkes . p. many handes make quicke worke . c. not among the lazy . p. a young courtier an old begger . c. not if he be thrifty . p. a good horse riddes ground apace . c. not if the way be full of holes . p. a staffe is soone found to beat a dogge withall . c. not in a plaine where there is no wood . p. no extreame will hold long . c. yes , weakenesse in a consumption . p. euery thing is as it is taken . c. not so , many things may bee taken amisse . p. a foole is euer laughing . c. not when hee is beaten , for then hee cryes . p. scoldes and infants neuer lin bawling . c. yes when they are asleepe . pro. bounce quoth the gun . cros. not so , gunnes cannot speake . pro. bate me an ase quoth bolton . cros. no , i wil not bate him an ase : wherfore should i ? p. content is a kingdome in this world . c. not so ▪ for the world giues it not . p. mony makes friendes enemies . cros. not so , it is the euill vse of it . p. neerer is my skin then my shitt . c. not where the flesh is rawe : p. nothing breakes the heart more then thought . c. yes a bullet . p. loue will goe through stone walls . c. not til there be holes in them . p. one rotten sheepe will marre a whole flocke . c. not if the shepheard looke well to them . pro. ouer shooes , ouer bootes . c. not except wil ouer runne wit. p. lawyers are temporall physicians , in helping weake clyents c. not if their apothecaries bils bring their purses into a consumption . finis . outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a03057 of text s103991 in the english short title catalog (stc 13182). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 69 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 39 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a03057 stc 13182 estc s103991 99839732 99839732 4180 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a03057) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 4180) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 890:02) outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h. herbert, george, 1593-1633. [72] p. printed by t. p[aine] for humphrey blunden; at the castle in corn-hill, london : 1640. g.h. = george herbert. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-d e⁴. the last leaf is blank. also issued as part 2 of: wits recreations: london, 1640. reproduction of the original in the british library. eng proverbs, english -early works to 1800. aphorisms and apothegms -early works to 1800. a03057 s103991 (stc 13182). civilwar no outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h. [no entry] 1640 12481 31 0 0 0 0 0 25 c the rate of 25 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-02 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-02 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ovtlandish proverbs , selected by mr. g. h. london , printed by t. p. for humphrey blunden ; at the castle in corn-hill . 1640. outlandish proverbs . 1. man proposeth , god disposeth . 2. hee begins to die , that quits his desires . 3. a handfull of good life , is better then a bushell of learning . 4. he that studies his content , wants it . 5. every day brings his bread with it . 6. humble hearts , have humble desires . 7. hee that stumbles and falles not mends his pace . 8. the house shewes the owner . 9. hee that gets out of debt , growes rich . 10. all is well with him , who is beloved of his neighbours . 11. building and marrying of children , are great wasters . 12. a good bargaine is a pick purse . 13. the scalded dog feares cold water . 14. pleasing ware , is halfe sould . 15. light burthens , long borne , growe heavie . 16. the wolfe knowes , what the ill beast thinkes . 17 who hath none to still him , may weepe out his eyes . 18. when all sinnes growes old , coveteousnesse is young 19. if yee would know a knave , give him a staffe . 20. you cannot know wine by the barrell . 21. a coole mouth , and warme feet , live long . 22 a horse made , and a man to make . 23 looke not for muske in a dogges kennell . 24. not a long day , but a good heart rids worke . 25 hee puls with a long rope , that waights for anothers death . 26. great strokes make not sweete musick . 27. a caske and an ill custome must be broken . 28. a fat house-keeper , makes leane executors . 29. empty chambers , make foolish maides . 30. the gentle hawke , halfe mans her selfe . 31. the devill is not alwaies at one doore . 32. when a friend askes , there is no , to morrow . 33. god sends cold , according to cloathes . 34. one sound blow will serve to undo us all . 35. hee looseth nothing , that looseth not god . 36. the germans wit , is in his fingers . 37. at dinner my man appeares . 38. who gives to all , denies all . 39. quick beleevers neede broad shoulders . 40. who remove stones , bruise their fingers . 41. all came from , and will goe to others . 42. he that will take the bird , must not skare it . 43. he lives unsafely , that lookes too neere on things . 44. a gentle houswife , marres the houshold . 45. a crooked log makes a strait fire . 46. he hath great neede of a foole , that plaies the foole himselfe . 47. a marchant that gaines not , looseth . 48. let not him that feares feathers , come among wild-soule . 49. love , and a cough cannot be hid . 50. a dwarfe , on a gyants shoulder , sees further of the two . 51 hee that sends a foole , means to follow him . 52. brabling curres never want sore eares . 53. better the feet flip then the tongue . 54 for washing his hands , none sels his lands 55. a lyons skin is never cheape . 56. the goate must browse where she is tyed . 57 who hath a wolfe for his mate , needes a dog for his man 58. in a good house all is quickly ready . 59. a bad dog never sees the wolfe . 60. god oft hath a great share in a little house . 61. ill ware is never cheape . 62. a cherefull looke , makes a dish a feast . 63. if all fooles had bables , wee should want fuell . 64. vertue never growes old . 65. evening words are not like to morning . 66. were there no fooles , badd ware would not passe . 67. never had ill workeman good tooles . 68. hee stands not surely , that never slips . 69. were there no hearers , there would be no backbiters . 70. every thing is of use to a houskeeper . 71. when prayers are done , my lady is ready . 72. at length the fox turnes monk . 73. flies are busiest about leane horses . 74. harken to reason or shee will bee heard . 75. the bird loves her nest . 76. every thing new , is fine . 77. when a dog is a drowning , every one offers him drink . 78. better a bare foote then none . 79. who is so deafe , as he that will not heare . 80. he that is warme , thinkes all so . 81. at length the fox is brought to the furrier . 82. hee that goes bare foot , must not plant thornes . 83. they that are booted are not alwaies ready . 84. he that will learne to pray , let him goe to sea . 85. in spending , lies the advantage . 86. hee that lives well is learned enough . 87. ill vessells seldome miscarry . 88. a full belly neither fights nor flies well . 89. all truths are not to be told . 90. an old wise mans shaddow , is better then a young buzzards sword . 91. noble houskeepers neede no dores . 92. every ill man hath his ill day . 93. sleepe without supping , and wake without owing . 94. i gave the mouse a hole , and she is become my heire . 95. assaile who will , the valiant attends . 96. whether goest griefe ? where i am wont . 97. praise day at night , and life at the end . 98. whether shall the oxe goe , where he shall not labour . 99. where you thinke there is bacon , there is no chimney . 100. mend your cloathes , and you may hold out this yeare . 101. presse a stick , and it seemes a youth . 102. the tongue walkes where the teeth speede not . 103. a faire wife and a frontire castle breede quarrels , 104. leave jesting whiles it pleaseth , lest it turne to earnest . 105. deceive not thy physitian , confessor , nor lawyer . 106. ill natures , the more you aske them , the more they stick . 107. vertue and a trade are the best portion for children . 108. the chicken is the countries , but the citie eateth it . 109. he that gives thee a capon , give him the leg and the wing . 110. hee that lives ill , feare followes him . 111. give a clowne your finger , and he will take your hand . 112. good is to bee sought out , and evill attended . 113. a good pay-master starts not at assurances . 114. no alchymy to saving . 115. to a grate full man give mony when he askes . 116. who would doe ill ne're wants occasion . 117. to fine folkes a little ill finely wrapt . 118. a child correct behind and not before . 119. to a faire day open the window , but make you ready as to a foule . 120. keepe good men company , and you shall be of the number . 121. no love to a fathers . 122. the mill gets by going . 123. to a boyling pot flies come not . 124. make hast to an ill way that you may get out of it . 125. a snow yeare , a rich yeare . 126. better to be blinde , then to see ill . 127. learne weeping , and thou shalt laugh gayning . 128. who hath no more bread then neede , must not keepe a dog . 129. a garden must be lookt unto and drest as the body . 130. the fox , when hee cannot reach the grapes , saies they are not ripe . 131. water trotted is as good as oates . 132. though the mastiffe be gentle , yet bite him not by the lippe . 133. though a lie be well drest , it is ever overcome . 134. though old and wise , yet still advise . 135. three helping one another , beare the burthen of sixe . 136. old wine , and an old friend , are good provisions . 137. happie is hee that chastens himselfe . 138. well may hee smell fire , whose gowne burnes . 139. the wrongs of a husband or master are not reproached . 140 welcome evill , if thou commest alone . 141. love your neighbour , yet pull not downe y●ur hedge . 142. the bit that one eates , no friend makes . 143. a drunkards purse is a bottle . 144. shee spins well that breedes her children . 145. good is the mora that makes all sure . 146. play with a foole at home , and he will play with you in the market . 147 ▪ every one stretcheth his legges according to his coverlet . 148. autumnall agues are long , or mortall . 149 marry your sonne when you will ; your daughter when you can . 150. dally not with mony or women . 151. men speake of the faire , as things went with them there . 152. the best remedy against an ill man , is much ground betweene both . 143. the mill cannot grind with the water that 's past . 154. corne is cleaned with winde , and the soule with chastnings . 155 good words are worth much , and cost little . 156. to buy deare is not bounty . 157. jest not with the eye or with religion . 158 the eye and religion can beare no jesting . 159. without favour none will know you , and with it you will not know your selfe . 160. buy at a faire , but sell at home . 161. cover your selfe with your shield , and care not for cryes . 162. a wicked mans gift hath a touch of his master . 163. none is a foole alwaies , every one sometimes . 164. from a chollerick man withdraw a little , from him that saies nothing , for ever . 165. debters are lyers . 166. of all smells , bread : of all tasts , salt . 167. in a great river great fish are found , but take heede , left you bee drowned . 168. ever since we weare cloathes , we know not one another . 169. god heales , and the physitian hath the thankes . 170. hell is full of good meanings and wishings . 171. take heede of still waters , the quick passe away . 172. after the house is finisht , leave it . 173. our owne actions are our security , not others judgements . 178. thinke of ease , but worke on . 179. hee that lies long a bed his estate feeles it . 180. whether you boyle snow or pound it , you can have but water of it . 181. one stroke fells not an oke . 182. god complaines not , but doth what is fitting . 183. a diligent scholler and the master 's paid . 184. milke saies to wine , welcome friend . 185. they that i now one another , salute a farre off . 186. where there is no honour , there is no griefe . 187. where the drink goes in , there the wit goes out . 188. he that staies does the businesse . 189 almes never make poore others . 190. great almes-giving lessens no mans living . 191. giving much to the poore , doth inrich a mans store . 192. it takes much from the account , to which his sin doth amount . 193. it adds to the glory both of soule and body . 194. ill comes in by ells , and goes out by inches . 195. the smith and his penny both are black . 196. whose house is of glasse , must not throw stones at another . 197. if the old dog barke he gives counsell . 198 the tree that growes slowly , keepes it selfe for another . 199. i wept when i was borne , and every day shewes why . 200. hee that lookes not before , finds himselfe behind . 201. he that plaies his mony ought not to value it . 202. he that riseth first , is first drest . 203 diseases of the eye are to bee cured with the elbow . 204. the hole calls the thiefe . 205. a gentlemans grayhound , and a salt-box ; seeke them at the fire . 206. a childs service is little , yet hee is no little foole that despiseth it . 207. the river past , and god forgotten . 208. evils have their comfort , good none can support ( to wit ) with a moderate and contented heart . 209. who must account for himselfe and others , must know both . 210. hee that eats the hard shall eate the ripe . 211. the miserable man makes a peny of a farthing , and the liberall of a farthing sixe pence . 212. the honey is sweet , but the bee stings . 213. waight and measure take away strife . 214. the sonne full and tattered , the daughter empty and fine . 215. every path hath a puddle . 216. in good yeares corne is hay , in ill yeares straw is corne . 217. send a wise man on an errand , and say nothing unto him . 218. in life you lov'd me not , in death you bewaile me . 219. into a mouth shut , flies flie not . 220. the hearts letter is read in the eyes 221. the ill that comes out of our mouth falles into our bosome . 222. in great pedigrees there are governours and chandlers . 223. in the house of a fidler , all fiddle . 224. sometimes the best gaine is to lose . 225. working and making a fire doth discretion require . 226. one graine fills not a sacke , but helpes his fellowes . 227. it is a great victory that comes without blood . 228. in war , hunting , and love , men for one pleasure a thousand griefes prove . 229. reckon right , and february hath one and thirty daies . 230. honour without profit is a ring on the finger . 231. estate in two parishes is bread in two wallets . 232. honour and profit lie not in one sacke . 233. a naughty child is better sick , then whole . 234. truth and oyle are ever above . 235. he that riseth betimes hath some thing in his head . 236. advise none to marry or to goe to warre . 237. to steale the hog , and give the feet for almes . 238. the thorne comes forth with his point forwards . 239. one hand washeth another , and both the face . 240. the fault of the horse is put on the saddle . 241. the corne hides it self in the snow , as an old man in furrs . 242. the jewes spend at easter , the mores at marriages , the christians in sutes . 243. fine dressing is a foule house swept before the doores . 244. a woman and a glasse are ever in danger . 245. an ill wound is cured , not an ill name . 246. the wise hand doth not all that the foolish mouth speakes . 247. on painting and fighting looke aloofe . 248. knowledge is folly , except grace guide it . 249. punishment is lame , but it comes . 250. the more women looke in their glasse , the lesse they looke to their house . 251. a long tongue is a signe of a short hand . 252. marry a widdow before she leave mourning . 253. the worst of law is , that one suit breedes twenty . 254. providence is better then a rent . 255. what your glasse telles you , will not be told by councell . 256. there are more men threatned then stricken . 257. a foole knowes more in his house , then a wise man in anothers . 258. i had rather ride on an asse that carries me , then a horse that throwes me . 259 , the hard gives more then he that hath nothing . 260. the beast that goes alwaies never wants blowes . 261. good cheape is deare . 262. it costs more to doe ill then to doe well . 263. good words quench more then a a bucket of water 264. an ill agreement is better then a good judgement . 265. there is more talke then trouble . 266. better spare to have of thine own , then aske of other men . 267. better good afarre off , then evill at hand . 268. feare keepes the garden better , then the gardiner ▪ 269. i had rather aske of my sire browne bread , then borrow of my neighbour white . 270. your pot broken seemes better then my whole one . 271. let an ill man lie in thy straw , and he lookes to be thy heire . 272. by suppers more have beene killed then gallen ever cured . 273. while the discreet advise the foole doth his busines . 274. a mountaine and a river are good neighbours . 275. gossips are frogs , they drinke and talke . 276. much spends the traveller , more then the abider . 277. prayers and provender hinder no journey . 278. a well-bred youth neither speakes of himselfe , nor being spoken to is silent . 279. a journying woman speakes much of all , and all of her . 280. the fox knowes much , but more he that catcheth him . 281. many friends in generall , one in speciall . 282. the foole askes much , but hee is more foole that grants it . 283. many kisse the hand , they wish cut off . 284. neither bribe nor loose thy right . 285. in the world who knowes not to swimme , goes to the bottome . 286. chuse not an house neere an inne , ( viz for noise ) or in a corner ( for filth . ) 287. hee is a foole that thinks not , that another thinks . 288. neither eyes on letters , nor hands in coffers . 289. the lyon is not so fierce as they paint him . 290. goe not for every griefe to the physitian , nor for every quarrell to the lawyer , nor for every thirst to the pot . 291. good service is a great inchantment . 292. there would bee no great ones if there were no little ones . 293. it 's no sure rule to fish with a crosbow . 294. there were no ill language , if it were not ill taken . 295. the groundsell speakes not save what it heard at the hinges . 296. the best mirrour is an old friend . 297. say no ill of the yeere , till it be past . 298. a mans discontent is his worst evill . 299 feare nothing but sinne . 300. the child saies nothing , but what it heard by the fire . 301. call me not an olive , till thou see me gathered . 302. that is not good language which all understand not . 303. hee that burnes his house warmes himselfe for once . 304. he will burne his house , to warme his hands . 305. hee will spend a whole yeares rent at one meales meate . 306. all is not gold that glisters . 307. a blustering night , a faire day . 308. bee not idle and you shall not bee longing . 309. he is not poore that hath little , but he that desireth much . 310. let none say , i will not drinke water . 311. hee wrongs not an old-man that steales his supper from him . 312. the tongue talkes at the heads cost . 313. hee that strikes with his tongue , must ward with his head . 314. keep not ill men company , lest you increase the number . 315. god strikes not with both hands , for to the sea he made havens , and to rivers foords . 316. a rugged stone growes smooth from hand to hand . 317. no lock will hold against the power of gold . 318. the absent partie is still faultie . 319. peace , and patience , and death with repentance . 320. if you loose your time , you cannot get mony nor gaine . 321. bee not a baker , if your head be of butter . 322. aske much to have a little . 323. litle stickes kindle the fire ; great ones put it out . 324. anothers bread costs deare . 325. although it raine , throw not away thy watering pot . 326. although the sun shine , leave not thy cloake at home . 327. a little with quiet is the onely dyet . 328. in vaine is the mill clacke , if the m●l●er his hearing lack . 329. by the needle you shall draw the thread , and by that which is past , see how that which is to come will be drawne on . 330. stay a little and news will find you . 331. stay till the lame messenger come , if you will know the truth of the thing . 332. when god will , no winde , but brings raine . 333. though you rise early , yet the day comes at his time , and not till then . 334. pull downe your hatt on the winds side . 335. as the yeere is , your pot must seeth . 336. since you know all , and i nothing , tell me what i dreamed last night . 337. when the foxe preacheth , beware geese . 338. when you are an anvill , hold you still ; when you are a hammer strike your fill 339. poore and liberall , rich and coveteous . 340. he that makes his bed ill , lies there . 341. hee that labours and thrives spins gold . 342. he that sowes trusts in god . 343. hee that lies with the dogs , riseth with fleas . 344. hee that repaires not a part , builds all . 345. a discontented man knowes not where to sit easie . 346. who spits against heaven , it falls in his face . 347. hee that dines and leaves , layes the cloth twice . 348. who eates his cock alone must saddle his horse alone . 349. he that is not handsome at 20 , nor strong at 30 , nor rich at 40 , nor wise at 50 will never bee handsome , strong , rich , or wise . 350. hee that doth what hee will , doth not what he ought . 351. hee that will deceive the fox , must rise betimes . 352. he that lives well sees a farre off . 353. he that hath a mouth of his owne , must not say to another ; blow . 354. he that will be served must bee patient . 355. hee that gives thee a bone , would not have thee die . 356. he that chastens one , chastens 20. 357. he that hath lost his credit is dead to the world . 358. he that hath no ill fortune , is troubled with good . 359. hee that demands misseth not , unlesse his demands be foolish . 360. he that hath no hony in his pot , let him have it in his mouth . 361. he that takes not up a pin , slights his wife . 362. he that owes nothing , if he makes not mouthes at us , is courteous . 363. hee that looseth his due , gets not thankes . 364. hee that beleeveth all , misseth , hee that beleeveth nothing , hitts not . 365. pardons and pleasantnesse are great revenges of slanders . 366. a married man turnes his staffe into a stake . 367. if you would know secrets , looke them in griefe or pleasure . 368. serve a noble disposition , though poore , the time comes that hee will repa● thee . 369. the fault is as great as hee that 〈◊〉 faulty . 370. if folly were griefe every hous● would weepe . 371 hee that would bee well old , mu●● bee old betimes . 372. sit in your place and none ca● make you rise . 373. if you could runne , as you drinke you might catch a hare . 374. would you know what mony i● go borrow some . 375. the morning sunne never lasts 〈◊〉 day . 376. thou hast death in thy house , an● dost bew aile anothers . 377. all griefes with bread are lesse . 378. all things require skill , but an appe●tite . 379. all things have their place , kne● wee , how to place them . 380. little pitchers have wide eares . 381. we are fooles one to another . 382. this world is nothing except tend to another . 383. there are three waies , the vniver●●ties , the sea , the court . 384. god comes to see without a bell . 385. life without a friend is death with●ut a witnesse . 386. cloath thee in war , arme thee in ●eace . 387. the horse thinkes one thing , and he ●hat sadles him another . 388. mills and w●ves ever want . 389. the dog that licks ashes , trust not with meale . 390. the buyer needes a hundred eyes , the seller not one . 391. he carries well , to whom it waighes ●ot . 392. the comforters head never akes . 393. step after step the ladder is ascen●ed . 394. who likes not the drinke , god de●rives him of bread . 395. to a crazy ship all winds are con●rary . 396. justice pleaseth few in their owne house . 397. in times comes he , whom god ●ends . 398. water a farre off quencheth no● fire . 399. in sports and journeys men are knowne . 400. an old friend is a new house . 401. love is not found in the market . 402. dry feet , warme head , bring safe to bed . 403. hee is rich enough that wants nothing . 404. one father is enough to governe one hundred sons , but not a hundred sons one father . 405. farre shooting never kild bird . 406. an upbraided morsell never choaked any . 407. dearths foreseene come not . 408. an ill labourer quarrells with his tooles . 409. hee that falles into the durt , the longer he stayes there , the fowler he is . 410. he that blames would buy . 411. he that sings on friday , will weepe on sunday . 412. the charges of building , and making of gardens are unknowne . 413. my house , my house , though thou art small , thou art to me the escuriall . 414. a hundred loade of thought will not pay one of debts . 415. hee that comes of a hen must scrape . 416. he that seekes trouble never misses . 417. he that once deceives is ever suspected . 418. being on sea saile , being on land settle . 419. who doth his owne businesse , foules not his hands . 420. hee that makes a good warre makes a good peace . 421. hee that workes after his owne manner , his head akes not at the matter . 422. who hath bitter in his mouth , spits not all sweet . 423. he that hath children , all his morsels are not his owne . 424. he that hath the spice , may season as he list . 425. he that hath a head of waxe must not walke in the sunne . 426 he that hath love in his brest , hath spurres in his sides . 427. hee that respects not , is not respected . 428. hee that hath a fox for his mate , hath neede of a net at his girdle . 429. he that hath right , feares , he that hath wrong , hopes . 430. hee that hath patience hath fatt thrushes for a farthing . 431. never was strumpet faire . 432. he that measures not himselfe , is measured . 433. hee that hath one hogge makes him fat , and hee that hath one son makes him a foole . 434. who letts his wife goe to every feast , and his horse dr●nke at every water , shall neither have good wife nor good horse . 435. he that speakes sowes , and he that hol●s his peace , gathers . 436. he that hath little is the lesse durtie . 437. he that lives most dies most . 438. he that hath one root in the straw , hath another in the spittle . 439. hee that 's fed at anothers hand may stay long ere he be full . 440. hee that makes a thing too fine , breakes it . 441. hee that bewailes himselfe hath the cure in his hands . 442. he that would be well , needs not goe from his owne house . 443. councell breakes not the head . 444. fly the pleasure that bites to morrow . 445. hee that knowes what may bee gained in a day never steales . 446. mony refused looseth its brightnesse . 447. health and mony goe farre . 448. where your will is ready , your feete are light . 449. a great ship askes deepe waters . 450. woe to the house where there is no chiding . 451. take heede of the viniger of sweet wine . 452. fooles bite one another , but wisemen agree together . 453. trust not one nights ice . 454. good is good , but better carries it . 455. to gaine teacheth how to spend . 456. good finds good . 457. the dog gnawes the bone because he cannot swallow it . 458. the crow bewailes the sheepe , and then eates it . 459 building is a sweet impoverishing . 460. the first degree of folly is to hold ones selfe wise , the second to professe it , the third to dsepise counsell . 461. the greatest step is that out of doores . 462. to weepe for joy is a kinde of manna . 463. the first service a child doth his father is to make him foolish . 464. the resolved minde hath no cares . 465. in the kingdome of a cheater , the wallet is carried before . 466. the eye will have his part . 467. the good mother sayes not , will you ? but gives . 468. a house and a woman sute excellently . 469. in the kingdome of blindmen the one ey'd is king . 470. a little kitchin makes a large house . 471. warre makes theeves , and peace hangs them . 472. poverty is the mother of health . 473. in the morning mountaines , in the evening fountaines . 474. the back-doore robs the house . 475. wealth is like rheume , it falles on the weakest parts . 476. the gowne is his that weares it ▪ and the world his that enjoyes it . 477. hope is the poore mans bread . 478. vertue now is in herbs and stones and words onely . 479. fine words dresse ill deedes . 480. labour as long liu'd , pray as even dying . 481. a poore beauty finds more lovers then husbands . 482. discreet women have neither eyes nor eares . 483. things well fitted abide . 484. prettinesse dies first . 485. talking payes no toll . 486. the masters eye fattens the horse , and his foote the ground . 487. disgraces are like cherries , one drawes another . 488. praise a hill , but keepe below . 489. praise the sea , but keepe on land . 490. in chusing a wife , and buying a sword , we ought not to trust another . 491. the wearer knowes , where the shoe wrings . 492. faire is not faire , but that which pleaseth . 493. there is no jollitie but hath a smack of folly . 494. he that 's long a giving , knowes not how to give . 495. the filth under the white snow , the sunne discovers . 496. every one fastens where there is gaine . 497. all feete tread not in one shoe . 498. patience , time and money accommodate all things . 499. for want of a naile the shoe is lost , for want of a shoe the horse is lost , for want of a horse the rider is lost . 500. weigh justly and sell dearely . 501. little wealth little care . 502. little journeys and good cost , bring safe home . 503. gluttony kills more then the sword . 504. when childten stand quiet , they have done some ill . 505. a little and good fills the trencher . 506. a penny spar'd is twice got . 507. when a knave is in a plumtree he hath neither friend nor kin . 508. short boughs , long vintage . 509. health without money , is halfe an ague . 510. if the wise erred not , it would goe hard with fooles . 511. beare with evill , and expect good . 512. he that tells a secret , is anothers servant . 513. if all fooles wore white caps , wee should seeme a flock of geese . 514. water , fire , and souldiers , quickly make roome . 515. pension never inriched young man . 516. vnder water , famine , under snow bread . 517. the lame goes as farre as your staggerer . 518. he that looseth is marchant as well as he that gaines . 519. a jade eates as much as a good horse . 520. all things in their beeing are good for something . 521. one flower makes no garland . 522. a faire death honours the whole life . 523. one enemy is too much . 524. living well is the best revenge . 525. one foole makes a hundred . 526. one paire of eares drawes dry a hundred tongues . 527. a foole may throw a stone into a well , which a hundred wise men cannot pull out . 528. one slumber finds another . 529. on a good bargaine thinke twice . 530. to a good spender god is the treasurer . 531. a curst cow hath short hornes ▪ 532. musick helps not the tooth-ach . 533. we cannot come to honour under coverlet . 534. great paines quickly find ease . 535. to the counsell of f●●●les a woodden bell . 536. the cholerick man never wants woe . 537. helpe thy selfe , and god will helpe thee . 538. at the games end we shall see who gaines . 539. there are many waies to fame . 540. love is the true price of love . 541. love rules his kingdome without a sword . 542. love makes all hard hearts gentle . 543. love makes a good eye squint . 544. love askes faith , and faith firmenesse . 545. a scepter is one thing , and a ladle another . 546. great trees are good for nothing but shade . 547. hee commands enough that obeyes a wise man . 548. faire words makes mee looke to my purse . 549. though the fox run , the chicken hath wings . 750. he plaies well that winnes . 551. you must strike in measure , when there are many to strike on one anvile . 552. the shortest answer is doing . 553. it 's a poore stake that cannot stand one yeare in the ground . 554. he that commits a fault , thinkes every one speakes of it . 555. he that 's foolish in the fault , let him be wise in the punishment . 556. the blind eate many a flie . 557. he that can make a fire well , can end a quarrell . 558 the tooth-ach is more ease , then to deale with ill people . 559. hee that should have what hee hath not , should doe what he doth not . 560. he that hath no good trade , it is to his losse . 561. the offender never pardons . 562. he that lives not well one yeare , sorrowes seven after . 563. he that hopes not for good , feares not evill . 564. he that is angry at a feast is rude . 565. he that mockes a cripple , ought to be whole . 566. when the tree is fallen , all goe with their hatchet . 567. he that hath hornes in his bosom , let him not put them on his head . 568. he that burnes most shines most . 569. he that trusts in a lie , shall perish in truth . 570. hee that blowes in the dust fills his eyes with it . 571. bells call others , but themselves enter not into the church . 572. of faire things , the autumne is faire . 573. giving is dead , restoring very sicke . 574. a gift much expected is paid , not given . 575. two ill meales make the third a glutton . 576. the royall crowne cures not the head-ach . 577. 't is hard to be wretched , but worse to be knowne so . 578 a feather in hand is better then a bird in the ayre . 579. it 's better to be head of a lyzard , then the tayle of a lyon . 580 good & quickly seldome meete . 581. folly growes without watering . 582. happier are the hands compast with yron , then a heart with thoughts . 583 if the staffe be crooked , the shaddow cannot be straight . 584. to take the nuts from the fire with the dogges foot . 585. he is a foole that makes a wedge of his fist . 586. valour that parlies , is neare yeelding . 587. thursday come , and the week's gone . 588. a flatterers throat is an open sepulcher . 589. there is great force hidden in a sweet command . 590. the command of custome is great . 591. to have money is a feare , not to have it a griefe . 592. the catt sees not the mouse ever . 593. little dogs start the hare , the great get her . 594. willowes are weake , yet they bind other wood . 595. a good prayer is master of anothers purse . 596. the thread breakes , where it is weakest . 597. old men , when they scorne young make much of death . 598. god is at the end , when we thinke he is furthest off it . 599. a good judge conceives quickly , judges slowly . 600. rivers neede a spring . 601. he that contemplates , hath a day without night . 602. give loosers leave to talke . 603. losse embraceth shame . 604. gaming , women , and wine , while they laugh they make men pine . 605. the fatt man knoweth not , what the leane thinketh . 606. wood halfe burnt is easily kindled . 607. the fish adores the bait . 608. he that goeth farre hath many encounters . 609. every bees hony is sweet . 610. the slothfull is the servant of the counters . 611. wisedome hath one foot on land , and another on sea . 612. the thought hath good leggs , and the quill a good tongue . 613. a wise man needes not blush for changing his purpose . 614. the march sunne raises but dissolves not . 615 time is the rider that breakes youth . 616. the wine in the bottell doth not quench thirst . 617. the sight of a man hath the force of a lyon . 618. an examin'd enterprize , goes on boldly . 619. in every art it is good to have a master . 620. in every country dogges bite . 621. in every countrey the sun rises in the morning . 622. a noble plant suites not with a stubborne ground . 623. you may bring a horse to the river , but he will drinke when and what he pleaseth . 624. before you make a friend , eate a bushell of salt with him . 625. speake fitly , or be silent wisely . 626. skill and confidence are an unconquered army . 627. i was taken by a morsell , saies the fish . 628. a disarmed peace is weake . 629. the ballance distinguisheth not betweene gold and lead . 630. the perswasion of the fortunate swaies the doubtfull . 631. to bee beloved is above all bargaines . 632. to deceive ones selfe is very easie . 633. the reasons of the poore weigh not . 634. perversnes makes one squint ey'd . 635. the evening praises the day , and the morning a frost . 636. the table robbes more then a thiefe . 637. when age is jocond it makes sport for death . 638. true praise rootes and spreedes . 639. feares are divided in the midst . 640. the soule needes few things , the body many . 641. astrologie is true , but the astrologers cannot finde it . 642. ty it well , and let it goe . 643. emptie vessels sound most . 644. send not a catt for lard . 645. foolish tongues talke by the dozen . 646. love makes one fitt for any work . 647. a pittifull mother makes a scald head . 648. an old physitian , and a young lawyer . 649. talke much and erre much , saies the spanyard . 650. some make a conscience of spitting in the church , yet robbe the altar . 651. an idle head is a boxe for the winde . 652. shew me a lyer , and i le shew thee a theefe . 653. a beane in liberty , is better then a comfit in prison . 654. none is borne master . 655. shew a good man his errour and he turnes it to a vertue , but an ill , it doubles his fault . 656. none is offended but by himselfe . 657. none saies his garner is full . 658. in the husband , wisedome , in the wife gentlenesse . 659. nothing dries sooner then a teare . 660. in a leopard the spotts are not observed . 661. nothing lasts but the church . 662. a wise man cares not for what he cannot have . 663. it 's not good fishing before the net . 664. he cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous . 665. that which will not be spun , let it not come betweene the spindle and the distaffe . 666. when my house burnes , it 's not good playing at chesse . 667. no barber shaves so close , but another finds worke . 668. ther 's no great banquet , but some fares ill . 669. a holy habit clenseth not a foule soule . 670. forbeare not sowing , because of birds . 671. mention not a halter in the house of him that was hanged . 672. speake not of a dead man at the table . 673. a hatt is not made for one shower . 674. no sooner is a temple built to god but the devill builds a chappell hard by . 675. every one puts his fault on the times . 676. you cannot make a wind-mill goe with a paire of bellowes . 677. pardon all but thy selfe . 678. every one is weary , the poore in seeking , the rich in keeping , the good in learning . 679. the escaped mouse ever feeles the taste of the bait . 680. a litle wind kindles ; much puts out the fire . 681. dry bread at home is better then rost meate abroad . 682. more have repented speech then silence . 683. the coveteous spends more then the liberall . 684. divine ashes are better then earthly meale . 685. beauty drawes more then oxen . 686. one father is more then a hundred schoolemasters . 687. one eye of the masters sees more , then ten of the servants . 688. when god will punish , hee will first take away the understanding . 689. a little labour , much health . 690. when it thunders , the theefe becomes honest . 691. the tree that god plants , no winde hurts it . 692. knowledge is no burthen . 693. it 's a bold mouse that nestles in the catts eare . 694. long jesting was never good . 695. if a good man thrive , all thrive with him . 696. if the mother had not beene in the oven , shee had never sought her daughter there . 697 if great men would have care of little ones , both would last long . 698. though you see a church-man ill , yet continue in the church still . 699. old praise dies , unlesse you feede it . 700. if things were to be done twice , all would be wise . 701. had you the world on your chesse-bord , you could not fit all to your mind . 702. suffer and expect . 703. if fooles should not foole it , they should loose their season . 704. love and businesse teach eloquence . 705. that which two will , takes effect . 706. he complaines wrongfully on the sea that twice suffers shipwrack . 707. he is onely bright that shines by himselfe . 708. a valiant mans looke is more then a cowards sword . 709. the effect speakes , the tongue needes not . 710. divine grace was never slow . 711. reason lies betweene the spurre and the bridle . 712. it 's a proud horse that will not carry his owne provender . 713. three women make a market . 714. three can hold their peace , if two be away . 715. it 's an ill councell that hath no escape . 716. all our pompe the earth covers . 717. to whirle the eyes too much shewes a kites braine . 718. comparisons are odious . 719. all keyes hang not on one girdle . 720 great businesses turne on a little pinne . 721. the wind in ones face makes one wise . 722. all the armes of england will not arme feare . 723. one sword keepes another in the sheath . 724. be what thou wouldst seeme to be . 725. let all live as they would die . 726. a gentle heart is tyed with an easie thread . 727 sweet discourse makes short daies and nights . 728. god provides for him that trusteth . 729. he that will not have peace , god gives him warre . 730. to him that will , wales are not wanting . 731. to a great night a great lanthorne . 732. to a child all weather is cold . 733. where there is peace , god is . 734. none is so wise , but the foole overtakes him . 735. fooles give , to please all , but their owne . 736. prosperity lets goe the bridle . 737. the frier preached against stealing , and had a goose in his sleeve . 738. to be too busie gets contempt . 739. february makes a bridge and march breakes it . 740. a horse stumbles that hath foure legges . 741. the best smell is bread , the best savour , salt , the best love that of children . 742. that 's the best gowne that goes up and downe the house . 743. the market is the best garden . 744. the first dish pleaseth all . 745. the higher the ape goes , the more he shewes his taile . 746. night is the mother of councels . 747. gods mill grinds slow , but sure . 748. every one thinkes his sacke heaviest . 749. drought never brought dearth . 750. all complaine . 751. gamsters and race-horses never last long . 752. it 's a poore sport that 's nor worth the candle . 753. he that is fallen cannot helpe him that is downe . 754. every one is witty for his owne purpose . 755. a little lett lets an ill workeman . 756. good workemen are seldome rich . 757. by doing nothing we learne to do ill . 758. a great dowry is a bed full of brables . 759 no profit to honour , no honour to religion . 760. every sin brings it's punishment with it . 761. of him that speakes ill , consider the life more then the words . 762. you cannot hide an eele in a sacke . 763. give not s. peter so much , to leave saint paul nothing . 764. you cannot flea a stone . 765. the chiefe disease that raignes this yeare is folly . 766. a sleepy master makes his servant a lowt . 767. better speake truth rudely , then lye covertly . 768. he that feares leaves , let him not goe into the wood . 769 one foote is better then two crutches . 770. better suffer ill , then doe ill . 771. neither praise nor dispraise thy selfe , thy actions serve the turne . 772. soft and faire goes farre . 773. the constancy of the benefit of the yeere in their seasons , argues a deity . 774. praise none to much , for all are fickle . 775. it 's absurd to warme one in his armour . 776. law sutes consume time , and mony , and rest , and friends . 777. nature drawes more then ten teemes . 778. hee that hath a wife and children wants not businesse . 780. a shippe and a woman are ever repairing . 781. he that feares death lives not . 782. he that pitties another , remembers himselfe . 783. he that doth what he should not , shall feele what he would not . 784. hee that marries for wealth sells his liberty . 785. he that once hitts , is ever bending . 786. he that serves , must serve . 787. he that lends , gives . 788. he that preacheth giveth almes . 789. he that cockers his child , provides for his enemie . 790. a pittifull looke askes enough . 791. who will sell the cow , must say the word . 792. service is no inheritance . 793. the faulty stands on his guard . 794. a kinsman , a friend , or whom you intreate , take not to serve you , if you will be served neately . 795. at court , every one for himselfe . 796. to a crafty man , a crafty and an halfe . 797. hee that is throwne , would ever wrestle . 798. he that serves well needes not ask his wages . 799 faire language grates not the tongue . 800 a good heart cannot lye . 801. good swimmers at length are drowned . 802 good land , evill way . 803. in doing we learne . 804. it 's good walking with a horse in ones hand . 805. god , and parents , and our master , can never be requited . 806. an ill deede cannot bring honour . 807. a small heart hath small desires . 808. all are not merry that dance lightly . 809. curtesie on one side only lasts not long . 810 wine-counsels seldome prosper . 811. weening is not measure . 812. the best of the sport is to doe the deede , and say nothing . 813. if thou thy selfe canst doe it , attend no others helpe or hand . 814. of a little thing a little displeaseth . 815. he warmes too neere that burnes . 816. god keepe me from foure houses , an vsurers , a taverne , a spittle , and a prison . 817. in hundred elles of contention , there is not an inch of love . 818. doe what thou oughtest , and come what come can . 819. hunger makes dinners , pastime suppers . 820. in a long journey straw waighs . 821. women laugh when they can , and weepe when they will . 822. warre is deaths feast . 823. set good against evill . 824. hee that brings good newes knockes hard . 825. beate the dog before the lyon . 826. hast comes not alone . 827. you must loose a flie to catch a trout . 828. better a snotty child , then his nose wip'd off . 829. no prison is faire , nor love foule . 830. hee is not free that drawes his chaine . 831. hee goes not out of his way , that goes to a good inne . 833. there come nought out of the sacke but what was there . 834. a little given seasonably , excuses a great gift . 835. hee lookes not well to himselfe that lookes not ever . 836. he thinkes not well , that thinkes not againe . 837. religion , credit , and the eye are not to be touched . 838. the tongue is not steele , yet it cuts . 839. a white wall is the paper of a foole . 840. they talke of christmas so long , that it comes . 841. that is gold which is worth gold . 842. it 's good tying the sack before it be full . 843. words are women , deedes are men . 844. poverty is no sinne . 845. a stone in a well is not lost . 846. he can give little to his servant , that lickes his knife . 847. promising is the eve of giving . 848. hee that keepes his owne makes warre . 849. the wolfe must dye in his owne skinne . 850. goods are theirs that enjoy them . 851. he that sends a foole expects one . 852. he that can stay obtaines . 853. hee that gaines well and spends well , needes no count booke . 854. he that endures , is not overcome . 855. he that gives all , before hee dies provides to suffer . 856. he that talkes much of his happinesse summons griefe . 857. hee that loves the tree , loves the branch ▪ 858. who hastens a glutton choakes him . 859. who praiseth saint peter , doth not blame saint paul . 860. he that hath not the craft , let him shut up shop . 861. he that knowes nothing , doubts nothing . 862. greene wood makes a hott fire . 863. he that marries late , marries ill . 864. he that passeth a winters day escapes an enemy . 865. the rich knowes not who is his friend . 866. a morning sunne , and a wine-bred child , and a latin-bred woman , seldome end well . 867. to a close shorne sheepe , god gives wind by measure . 868 a pleasure long expected , is deare enough sold . 869. a poore mans cow dies rich mans child . 870. the cow knowes not what her taile is worth , till she have lost it . 871. chuse a horse made , and a wife to make . 872. it 's an ill aire where wee gaine nothing . 873. hee hath not liv'd , that lives not after death . 874. so many men in court and so many strangers . 875. he quits his place well , that leaves his friend there . 876. that which sufficeth is not little . 877. good newes may bee told at any time , but ill in the morning . 878. hee that would be a gentleman , let him goe to an assault . 879. who paies the physitian , does the cure . 880. none knowes the weight of anothers burthen . 881. every one hath a foole in his sleeve . 882. one houres sleepe before midnight , is worth three after . 883. in a retreat the lame are formost . 884. it 's more paine to doe nothing then something . 885. amongst good men two men suffice . 886. there needs a long time to know the worlds pulse . 887. the ofspring of those that are very young , or very old , lasts not . 888. a tyrant is most tyrant to himselfe . 889. too much taking heede is losse . 890. craft against craft , makes no living . 891. the reverend are ever before . 892. france is a meddow that cuts thrice a yeere . 893. 't is easier to build two chimneys , then to maintaine one . 894. the court hath no almanack . 895. he that will enter into paradise , must have a good key . 896. when you enter into a house , leave the anger ever at the doore . 897. hee hath no leisure who useth it not . 898. it 's a wicked thing to make a dearth ones garner . 899. he that deales in the world needes foure seeves . 900. take heede of an oxe before , of an horse behind , of a monke on all sides . 901. the yeare doth nothing else but open and shut . 902. the ignorant hath an eagles wings , and an owles eyes . 903. there are more physitians in health then drunkards . 904. the wife is the key of the house . 905. the law is not the same at morning and at night . 906. warre and physicke are governed by the eye . 907. halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies . 908. death keepes no calender . 909. ships feare fire more then water . 910. the least foolish is wise . 911. the chiefe boxe of health is time . 912. silkes and satins put out the fire in the chimney . 913. the first blow is as much as two . 914. the life of man is a winter way . 915. the way is an ill neighbour . 916. an old mans staffe is the rapper of deaths doore . 917. life is halfe spent before we know , what it is . 918. the singing man keepes his shop in his throate . 919. the body is more drest then the soule . 920. the body is sooner drest then the soule . 921. the physitian owes all to the patient , but the patient owes nothing to him but a little mony . 922. the little cannot bee great , unlesse he devoure many . 923. time undermines us . 924. the chollerick drinkes , the melancholick eates ; the flegmatick sleepes . 925. the apothecaries morter spoiles the luters musick . 926. conversation makes one what he is . 927. the deafe gaines the injury . 928. yeeres know more then bookes . 929. wine is a turne-coate ( first a friend , then an enemy . ) 930. wine ever paies for his lodging . 931. wine makes all sorts of creatures at table . 932. wine that cost nothing is digested before it be drunke . 933. trees eate but once . 934. armour is light at table . 935. good horses make short miles . 936. castles are forrests of stones . 937. the dainties of the great , are the teares of the poore . 938. parsons are soules waggoners . 939. children when they are little make parents fooles , when they are great they make them mad . 940 the mr. absent , and the house dead . 941. dogs are fine in the field 942. sinnes are not knowne till they bee acted . 943. thornes whiten yet doe nothing ▪ 944. all are presumed good , till they are found in a fault . 945. the great put the little on the hooke . 946. the great would have none great and the little all little . 947 the italians are wise before the deede , the germanes in the deede , the french after the deede . 949. every mile is two in winter . 950. spectacles are deaths harquebuzo . 951. lawyers houses are built on the heads of fooles . 952. the house is a fine house , when good folke are within . 953. the best bred have the best portion . 954. the first and last frosts are the worst . 955. gifts enter every where without a wimble . 956. princes have no way . 957. knowledge makes one laugh , but wealth makes one dance . 958. the citizen is at his businesse before he rise . 959. the eyes have one language every where . 960. it is better to have wings then hornes . 961. better be a foole then a knave . 962. count not fowre except you have them in a wallett . 963. to live peaceably with all breedes good blood . 964. you may be on land , yet not in a garden . 965. you cannot make the fire so low but it will get out . 966. wee know not who lives or dies . 967. an oxe is taken by the horns , and a man by the tongue . 968. manie things are lost for want of asking . 969. no church-yard is so handsom , that a man would desire straight to bee buried there . 970. citties are taken by the eares . 971. once a yeare a man may say ▪ on his conscience . 972. wee leave more to do when wee dye , then wee have done . 973. with customes wee live well , but lawes undoe us . 674. to speake of an vsurrer at the table marres the wine . 975. paines to get , care to keep , feare to lose . 976. for a morning raine leave not your journey . 977. one faire day in winter makes not birds merrie . 278. hee that learnes a trade hath a purchase made . 979. when all men have , what belongs to them , it cannot bee much . 980. though god take the sunne out of the heaven yet we must have patience . 981. when a man sleepes , his head is in his stomach . 982. when one is on horsebacke hee knowes all things . 983. when god is made master of a family , he orders the disorderly . 984. when a lackey comes to hells doore the devills locke the gates . 985. he that is at ease , seekes dainties . 986. hee that hath charge of soules , transports them not in bundles . 987. hee that tells his wife newes is but newly married . 988. hee that is in a towne in may , loseth his spring . 989. hee that is in a taverne , thinkes he is in a vine-garden . 990. he that praiseth himselfe , spartereth himselfe . 991. hee that is a master must serve ( another . ) 992. he that is surprized with the first frost , feeles it all the winter after . 993. hee a beast doth die , that hath done no good to his country . 994. he that followes the lord hopes to goe before . 995. he that dies without the company of good men , puts not himselfe into a good way . 996 who hath no head , needes no hatt . 997. who hath no hast in his businesse , mountaines to him seeme valleys . 998. speake not of my debts , unlesse you meane to pay them . 999. he that is not in the warres is not out of danger . 1000. he that gives me small gifts , would have me live . 1001. he that is his owne counsellor , knowes nothing sure but what hee hath laid out . 1002. he that hath lands hath quarrells . 1003. hee that goes to bed thirsty , riseth healthy . 1004. who will make a doore of gold must knock a naile every day . 1005. a trade is better then service . 1006. hee that lives in hope danceth without musick . 1007. to review ones store is to mow twice . 1008. saint luke was a saint and a physitian , yet is dead . 1009. without businesse debauchery . 1010. without danger we cannot get beyond danger . 1011. health and sicknesse surely are mens double enemies . 1012. if gold knew what gold is , gold would get gold i wis . 1013. little losses amaze , great , tame . 1014 chuse none for thy servant , who have served thy betters . 1015. service without reward is punishment . 1016. if the husband be not at home , there is nobodie . 1017. an oath that is not to bee made , is not to be kept . 1018. the eye is bigger then the belly . 1019. if you would bee at ease , all the world is not . 1020. were it not for the bone in the legge , all the world would turne carpenters ( to make them crutches . ) 1021. if you must flie , flie well . 1022. all that shakes falles not . 1023. all beasts of prey , are strong or treacherous . 1024. if the braine sowes not corne , it plants thistles . 1025. a man well mounted , is ever cholerick . 1026. every one is a master and servant . 1027. a piece of a churchyard fitts every body . 1028. one month doth nothing without another . 1029. a master of straw eates a servant of steele . 1030. an old cat sports not with 〈◊〉 prey 1031. a woman conceales what shee knowes not . 1032. hee that wipes the childs nose , kisseth the mothers cheeke . finis . wits recreations. selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses 1640 approx. 279 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 162 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a15606 stc 25870 estc s120256 99855455 99855455 20950 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a15606) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 20950) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1017:3) wits recreations. selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses herbert, george, 1592-1637. marshall, william, fl. 1617-1650, engraver. [300] p. printed by r[ichard] h[odgkinson and thomas paine] for humphry blunden at the castle in corn-hill, london : 1640. in verse. with an additional title page, engraved, "witts recreations", signed: w. marshall sculpsit. signatures: pi² [a]⁴ b-l m⁴ 2a-2c; a-d e⁴. "outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h." (i.e. george herbert) has separate dated title page with imprint "london, printed by t[homas]. p[aine]. for humphrey blunden ..". it was also issued separately. printers' names from stc. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng english wit and humor -early works to 1800. epigrams, english -early works to 1800. epitaphs -england -early works to 1800. proverbs, english -early works to 1800. 2002-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-01 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-02 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2003-02 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the frontespeice discovered . this spreading vine , like these choyce leaves invites the curteous eye to tast her choyce delights . these painefull bees , presented to thy view , shewes th' author works not for himselfe , but you . the windy musick , that salutes thine eye , bespeakes thine eare , thy judgement standing by . the devious horseman , wandring in this maze , shewes error , and her execrable wayes : whose brazen insolence , and boldnesse urges the hornefoot satyres to their angry scourges : and he that drawes his sword against the swarme of waspes , is he , that lasht , begins to storme . witts recreations selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses . with a thousand out landish proverbs . london . printed for humph : blunden at y e castle in corn-hill 1640. the stationer to the reader . if new or old wit please the reader best , i 've hope each man of wit will be our guest , the new was fram'd to humor some mens taste ; which if they like not , they may carve the last : each dish hath sauce belongs to 't , and you will by your dislike , censure the authors skill ; yet if you cannot speake well of it , spare to utter your dislike , that the like snare may entrap others ; so the booke may bee sold , though not lik'd , by a neate fallacy : that 's all i aske yet'twill your goodnes raise , if as i gaine your coyn , he may your praise . wits recreations . 1 to the reader . excuse me reader though i now and than in some light lines doe shew my selfe a man , nor be so sowre , some wanton words to blame they are the language of an epigram . 2 on battus battus doth bragge he hath a world of bookes his studies maw holds more then well it may , but seld ' or never he upon them looks and yet he looks upon them every day , he looks upon their out-side , but within he never looks , nor never will begin : because it cleane against his nature goes to know mens secrets , so he keeps them close . 3 on the same i pray thee battus , adde unto thy store this booke of mine to make thy number more ; it is well bound , well printed , neatly strung , and doth deserve to have a place among th' inhabitants of thy vatican , if thou wilt so much favor to its worth allow . 4. an evill age . virgill of mars and ruthfull wars did treat , ovid of venus love , and peace did write : yet virgill for his strain was counted great , and ovid for his love was bannished quite ; no marvell then if c●ur●ezie grow cold , when hare is prais'd and love it self control'd . 5 on a woman's will. how dearly doth the simple husband buy , his wiv●s defect of will , when she doth dy ? bett●r in death by will to let her give , then let her have her will whilst she doth live . 6. to a 〈◊〉 ●eader . thou say'st these verses are rude , ragged , rough , not like some others , ●imes smooth dainty ●●uffe : epigrames are like satires rough without , like chesse-nuts sweet , take thou the kernell out . 7 of a iudge . were i to choose a captain i would than , not choose your courtier or a youthfull man , no , i would choose a judge , one grim and grave ; to make a captain such a man i 'de crave : give me that man , whose frowning brow is death , i , such an one , as can kill men with breath . 8 of poet●s . poetus with fine sonnets painteth forth , this and that soul ladyes beauties worth : he shewes small wit thereby , and for his paines , by my consent he never shall reape gains , why what need poets paint them ? o sweet elves ? when ladyes paint their beauties best themselves . 9 on an up-start . pray wrong not ( late-coyn'd ) give the man his right he 's made a gentleman although no knight , for now 't is cloths the gentleman doth make , men from gay cloths their pedigrees do take ; but wot you what 's the armes to such mens house● why this — hands chacing of a rampant louse . 10 ad clodium . wir , once thou said'st was worth thy weight in gold though now't be common for a trifle sold ; it dearer seems to thee , that get'st not any , when thou should'st use it , for thy love or money 11 in getam . geta from wool and weaving first began , swelling and swelling to a gentleman , when he was gentleman and bravely dight : he left not swelling till he was a knight ; at last forgetting what he was at first , he swole to be a lord , and then he burst . 12 in fimum . fimus is coach'd and for his farther grace , doth a ske his friends how he becomes the place ; troth i should tell him , the poor coach hath wrong and that a cart would serve to carry dung . 13 asper●m ●imis condimentum . monsieur albanus new invested is , with sundry suits and fashions passing fit , but never any came so neer as this , for joy whereof albanus frollique is : untill the taylours bill of solvi fias , diverts his humor to another bias . 14 gender and number . singular sins and plurall we commit ; and we in every gender vary it . 15 at●eists pastimes . grammarians talk of times past and hereafter : i spend time present in pastime and laughter . 16 to sr. iohn suckling . if learning will beseem a courtier well , if honour 〈◊〉 on those who dare excell , then let not poets envy but admire , the eager flames of thy poetique fire ; for whilst the world loves wit , aglaura shall , phoenix-like live after her funerall . 17 on a braggadocio . don lollus brags , he comes of noble blood , drawn down from brutus line ; 't is very good ! if this praise-worthy be , each flea may then , boast of his blood more then some gentlemen . 18 to mr. george sands . sweet-tongued ovid , though strange tales ●e told , which gods and men did act in dayes of old , what various shapes for love sometimes they took ; to purchase what they ay●'d at : could he look , but back upon himself he would admire , the sumptuous bravery of that rich attire ; which sands hath clad him with , & then place this his change amongst their metamorphosis . 19 to mr. william habbington on his castara , a poem . thy muse is chaste and thy castara too , ●tis strange at court , & thou hadst power to woo and to obtain ( what others were deny'd ) the fair castara for thy vertuous bride : enjoy what you dare wish , and may there bee , fair issues branch from both , to honor thee . 20 to mr. francis beaumont and mr. iohn fletcher gent. twin-stars of poetry , whom we justly may , call the two-tops of learn'd pernassus-bay , peerlesse for freindship and for numbers sweet ; whom oft the muses swaddled in one sheet : your works shall still be prais'd and dearer sold , for our new-nothings doe extoll your old . 21 on apump stopt with stones . m. i 'le cut it down , i swear by this same hand , if 't will not run , it shall no longer stand . r. pray ●ir be patient , let your pump alone , how can it water-make when 't hath the stone . yet did he wisely when he did it fell , for in so doing he did make it well . 22 to mr. benjamin iohnson . had rome but heard her worthies speak so high , as thou hast taught them in thy poesie ; she would have sent her poets to obtain , ( tutour'd by thee ) thy most majestique strain . 23. in aulam . thou still art mutring aulus in mine eare , love me and love my dog , i will i swear , thou ask'st but right and aulus truth to tell , i think thy dog deserves my love as well . 24 to mr. george chapman on his translation of homers works into english meeter . thou ghost of homer 'twere no fault to call , his the translation thine the originall , did we not know 't was done by thee so well ; thou makest homer , homers self excell . 25 to mr. william shake-spear . shake-speare we must be silent in thy pra●se , 'cause our encomion's will but blast thy bayes , which envy could not , that thou didst do well ; let thine own histories prove thy chronicle . 26 ad tilenum . tilenus 'cause th' art old , fly not the field , where youthfull cupid doth his banner weild for why● this god , old men his souldiers stil'd none loves , but he , who hath bin twice a child . 27 to mr. thomas randolph . thou darling of the muses for we may be thought deserving , if what was thy play our utmost labours can produce , we will freely allow thee heir unto the hill , the muses did assign thee , and think 't fit , thy younger yeares should have the elder-wit . 28 in paulum . paul what my cloak doth hide thou fain wouldst know were 't to be seen i would not cover't so . 29 of sleep and death . that death is but a sleep i not deny yet when i next would sleep , i would not dy . 30 ad lectorem . reader thou see'st how pale these papers look , whiles they fear thy hard censure on this book . 31 ad momum . momus thou say'st our verses are but ●oyes , t is true , yet truth is often spoken by boyes . 32 on thraso . thraso goes lame with a blow he did receive , in a late duell , if you 'll him beleeve . 33 news . when news doth come if any would discusse , the letters of the word , resolve it thus : news is convay'd by letter , word or mouth and comes to us , from north , east , west and sout● 34 of ru●us . rufus had robb'd his host and being put to it ; said i 'm an arrar●t rogue , if i did doe it . 35 of marcus. when marcus fail'd a borrowed sum to pay , unto his freind at the appointed day : 't were superstition for a man he sayes , to be a strict observer of set dayes . 36 of a theefe . a theefe arested and in custody , under strong guards of armed company , ask't why they held him so ? sir quoth the cheife ▪ we hold you for none other than a theif . 37 of motion . motion brings heat , and thus we see it prov'd most men are hot and angry , when they 're mov'd 38 ad scriptorem . half of your book is to an index grown , you give your book contents , your reader none . 39 domi●a margarita sandis : anagramma . anne domi das marg●●it as ? vvhy do wee seek & saile abroad to find , those pearls which do adorn the female-kind , within our seas there comes unto our hands , a matchlesse margaryte among the sands . 40 man. man 's like the earth , his hair like grasse is grown , his veins the rivers are , his heart the stone . 41 vita via . well may mans life be likened to a way , many be weary of their life they 'll say . 42 to mr. thomas may. thou son of mercury whose fluent tongue made lucan finish his pharsalian song , thy fame is equall , better is thy fate , thou hast got charles his love , he nero's hate . 43 on harpax . harpax gave to the poor all by his will , because his heir should no feign'd teares distill . 44 on sextu● . sextus doth wish his wife in heaven were where can shee have more happines then there . 45 to mr. george wyt●ers . th' hast whipp'd our vices shrewdly and we may , think on thy scourge untill our dying-day : th ▪ hast given us a remembrancer which shall , outlast the vices we are tax'd withall , th●'ha●t made us both eternall , for our shame shall never wyther , whilst thou hast a name . 46 on a drawer drunk . drawer with thee now even is thy wine , for thou hast peirc'd his hogs-head and he thine . 47 vpon the weights of a clock . i wonder time 's so swift , when as i see , upon her heeles , such lumps of lead to bee . 48 to mr. thomas middleton . f●cetious middleton thy witty muse , hath pleased all , that books or men peruse if any thee dispise , he doth but show , antipathy to wit , in daring so : thy fam's above his malice and 't wilbe , dispraise enough for him , to censure thee . 49 on cyn●● . because , i am not of a giant 's stature , despise me not , nor praise thy liberall nature , for thy huge limbs , that you are great 't is true , and that i 'm little in respect of you , the reason of our growths is eas'ly had , you many had perchance , i but one dad. 50 to mr. iames shirly on his comedy viz. the yong admirall . how all our votes are for thee ( s●irly ) come conduct our troops , strike up apollo's drum , we wait upon thy summons and do all , intend to choose thee our yong admirall : 51 on alastrus . alastrus hath nor coyn , nor spirit nor wit , i thinke hee 's only then for bedlam fit . 52 on macer . you call my verses ●oyes th' are so 't is true , yet they are better , then ought comes from you . 53 to mr. philip massinger . apollo's messenger , who doth impart to us the edicts of his learned art , we cannot but respect thee , for we know , princes are honour'd in their legats so . 54 on celsus . celsus doth love himself , celsus is wise , for now no rivall ere can claime his prize . 55 on candidus . when i am sick not else thou com'st to see me : waild fortune from both torments still would free me . 56 to mr. iohn ford. if e're the muses did admire that well , of hellicon as elder times do tell , i dare presume to say upon my word ; they much more pleasure take in thee rare ford 57 on paulus . because thou followst some great peer at court , dost think the world deem's thee a great one for● ah no! thou art mistaken paulus , know dwarfs still as pages unto giants goe . 58 to mr. thomas heywood . thou hast writ much and art admir'd by those , who love the easie ambling of thy prose ; but yet thy pleasingst flight , was somewhat hig● when thou did'st touch the angels hyerarchie : fly that way still it will become thy age , and better please then groveling on the stage . 59 on a cowardly souldier . strotzo doth weare no ring upon his hand , ●lthough he be a man of great command ; but gilded spurs do jingle at his heeles whose rowels are as big as some coach-wheels , he grac'd them well , for in the netherlands , his heels d●d him more service then his hands . 60 to mr. thomas goffe on his tragedies . when first i heard the turkish emperours speak , in such a dialect , and o●estes break his silence in such language , i admir'd what powerful favorite of the nimphs inspir'd into their souls such utterance , but i wrong , to think 't was learnt from any but thy tongue . 61 on cornuto . cornuto is not jealous of his wife , nor e're mistrust's her too la●civious life , aske him the reason why he doth forbeare , hee 'l answer straight , it commeth with a fear . 62 on a shrew . a froward shrew being blam'd because she show'd , not so much reverence as by right she ow'd unto her husband , she reply'd he might forbeare complaint of me , i do him right ▪ his will is mine , he would beare rule , and i desire the like , onely in sympathy . 63 on a youth married to an old woman . fond youth i wonder why thou didst intend to marry her who is so neer her end , thy fortune i dare tell , perchance thou 'lt have at supper dainties ; but in bed a grave . 64 on a dying vsurer . with greater grief non doth death entertain , then wretched chrysalus , he sighs a mayn , not that he dyes , but 'cause much cost is spent upon the sexton and his regiment the joviall ringers , and the curate must have his fee too , when dust is turn'd to dust , and which is greater then the former sum , hee 'l pay an angell for a moor-stone-tomb . 65 on a fly in a glasse . a fly out of his glasse a guest did take , e're with the liquor he his thirst would slake , when he had drunk his fill , again the fly into the glasse he put , and said though i love not flyes in my drink , yet others may , whose humour i nor like , nor will gain-say . 66 on collimus . if that collimus any thing do lend , or dog , or horse , or hawk unto his friend , he to endear the borrowers love the more , saith he ne'r lent it any one before , nor would to any but to him : his wife having observ'd these speeches all her life , behind him forks her fingers and doth cry : to none but you , i 'd doe this courtesie . 67 auri-sacra fames-qui● non ? a smoothfac'd youth was wedded to an old , decrepit shrew , such is the power of gold : that love did tye this knot , the end will prove , the love of money not the god of love . 68 on sex●us . what great revenews sextus doth possesse , when as his sums of gold are numberlesse , what cannot sextus have ? i wonder then , sextus cann't live as well as other men . 69 good wits jump . against a post a scholler chanc'd to strike , at unawares his head , like will to like : good wits will jump ( quoth he ) if that be true the title of a block-head is his due . 70 on womens maskes . it seems that masks do women much disgrace , sith when they weare them they do hide their face . 71 on lepidus and his wife . lepidus married somewhile to a shrew , she sick'ned , he in jesting wise to shew how glad her death would make him ; said sweet-heart i pray you e're you sing loath to depart tell who shall be my second wife , and i after your death will wed her instantly , she somewhat vext hereat , straightway reply'd then let grim pluto's daughter be your bride . he answer'd wife i would your will obey , but that our laws my willingnesse gain-say : for he who pluto's sister takes to wife , cannot his daughter too upon my life . 72 vpon a pair of tongs . the burnt child dreads the fire ; if this be true , who first invented tongs it's fury knew . 73 on celsus his works . celsus to please himselfe , a book hath writ : it seem's so , for there 's few that buyeth it . he is no popular man it thereby seems ; sith men condemn , what he praise worthy deems , yet this his wisdome and his book prefer , disprais'd by all , they think both singular . 74 the devill and the fryar . the devill was once deceived by a fryar , who though he sold his soul cheated the buyer , the devill was promist if he would supply , the fryar with coyn at his necessity , when all the debts he ow'd discharg'd were quite , the devill should have his soul as his by right , the devill defray'd all scores , payd all , at last , demanded for his due , his soul in haste : the fryar return'd this answer , if i ow you any debts at all , then you must know , i am indebted still , if nothing be due unto you , why do you trouble me ? 75 to phillis . aske me not phillis why i do refuse to kisse thee as the most of gallants use , for seeing oft thy dog to fawn and skip upon thy lap and joyning lip to lip , although thy kisses i full fain would crave ; yet would i not thy dog my rivall have . 76 of charidem●s . although thy neighbour have a handsom horse , matchlesse for comly shape , for hue and course and though thy wife thou knowest ill-shapen ●e , yet charidemus praises mightily , his ugly wife and doth the horse dispraise : how subtilly the fox his engin layes , for he desires his neighbours horse to buy , and sell his wife to any willingly . 77 of clytus . clytus the barber doth occasion fly , because 't is bal'd and he gains nought thereby . 78 on balbus . balbus a verse on venus , boy doth scan , but ere 't was fini●●'d cupid's grown a man. 79 on comptulus . i wonder'd comptulus , how thy long hair in comely curles could show so debonair and every hair in order be , when as thou could'st not trim it by a looking-glasse , nor any barber did thy tresses pleat , 't is strange ; but monsieur i conceive the feat when you your hair do kemb , you off it take and order 't as you please for fashions sake . 80 on gellius . in building of his house , gellius hath spent all his revenews and his ancient rent , aske not a reason why gellius is poor . his great house hath turn'd him out of door . 81 to ponticus . at supper-time will poutus visit me , i 'd rather have his room then companie ; but if him ▪ from me i can no wayes fright , i 'd have him visit me each fasting night . 82 on a pot-poet . what lofty verses cael●s writes ? it is , but when his head with wine oppressed is , so when great drops of rain fall from the skyes in standing pools , huge bubles will arise . 83 on onellus . thou never supp'st abroad , onellus , true ; for at my home i 'm sure to meet with you . 84 on wine . what ? must we then on muddy tap-lash swill , neglecting sack ? which makes the poet's quill to thunder forth high raptures , such as when sweet-tongued ovid erst with his smooth pen , in flourishing rome did write ; frown god of win● to see how most men disesteem thy vines . 85 on beere . is no juice pleasing but the grapes ? is none , so much beloved ? doth perfection , onely conjoyn in wine ? or doth the well of aganippe with this liquor swell , that po●ts thus affect it ? shall we crown , a meer ex●tique ? and contemn our own , our native liquor ? haunt who list the grape , he more esteem our oate , whose reed shall make , an instrument to warble forth her praise , which shall survive untill the date of daies , and eke invoke some potent power divine , to patronize her worth above the vine . 86 on a vaunting poetaster . c●cilius boasts his verses worthy bee , to be engraven on a cypresse tree , a cypresse wreath befits 'em well ; 't is true , for they are neer their death , and crave but due . 87 on philos. if philos , none but those are dead , doe praise , i would i might displease him all his dayes . 88 on a valiant souldier . a spanish souldier in the indian war , who oft came off with honor and some scar , after a teadious battle , when they were enforc'd for want of bullets to forbear , farther to encounter , which the savage moor perceiving , scoff'd , and nearer then before , approach'd the christian host , the souldier grie● to be out brav'd , yet could not be reliev'd beyond all patience vex'd , he said although i bullets want , my self will wound the foe ; then from his mouth , took he a tooth and sent , a fatall message to their regiment , what armes will fury steed men with , when we . can from our selves have such artillery ; sampson thy jaw-bone can no trophy reare equall to his , who made his tooth his speare . 89 on aurispa . why doth the world repute aurispa learn'd ? because she gives men what they never earn'd . 90 on paulus . those verses which thou mad'st i did condemn , nor did i censure thee in censuring them , thou mad'st them , but sith them in print i see , they must the people 's not the authors bee . 91 on alexander the great . if alexander thought the world but small because his conquering hand subdu'd it all , he should not then have stil'd himself the great , an infants stool can be no giants seat . 92 on a vertuous talker . if vertue 's alwaies in thy mouth , how can it ere have time to reach thy heart fond man ? 93 on a land-skip in the lid of his mrs. virginals . behold don phoebus in yon shady grove , on his sweet harp plaies roundelaies of love , mark how the fatyr grim marsyas playes on his rude pipe , hi● merry-harmlesse layes , mark how the swaines attentively admire , both to the sound of pipe and tang of lyre ; but if you on these virginals will play , they both will cast their instruments away , and deeming it the ●●sique of the spheares admire your musique as the swains do theirs 94 vpon pigs devouring a bed of penny-royall commonly called organs . a good wife once a bed of organs set , the pigs came in and eate up every whit , the good-man said wife you your garden may hogs norton call , here pigs on organs play . 95 on a fortune-teller . the influence of the stars are known to thee , by whom thou canst each future fortune see yet , sith thy wife doth thee a cuckold make , 't is strange they do not that to thee partake . 96 on sore eyes . fuscus was councell'd if he would preserve , his eyes in perfect sight drinking to swerve ; but he replyd ' t is better that i shu'd loose them , then keep them for the worms as food 97 on a gallant . a glittering gallant , from a prauncing steed , alighting down , desir'd a boy with speed to hold his horse a while , he made reply , can one man hold him fast ? 't was answerd i , if then one man can hold him sir , you may do it your self , quoth he , and slunk away . 98 on an inevitable cuckold . two wives th' hast buried and another wed , yet neither of the three chaste to thy bed , wherefore thou blam'st not onely them , but all their sex into disgrace and scorn dost call , yet if the thing thou wilt consider well , thou wilt thy malice , and this rage expell , for when the three were all alike 't should seem thy stars gave thee the cuckold's anadem , if thou wert born to be a wittoll , can thy wife prevent thy fortune ? foolish man ! that woman which a hellen is to thee , would prove another mans penelope . 99 on an empty house . lollus by night awak'd heard theeves about his house , and searching narrowly throughout to find some pillage there , he said you may by night , but i can find nought here by day . 100 on a bragging coward . corsus in campe , when as his mates betook , themselves to dine , encourag'd them , and spoke , have a good stomake lads , this night we shall in heaven at supper keep a festivall , but battle joynd he fled away in haste , and said i had forgot , this night i fast . 101 on a great nose . thy nose no man wipe , proclus unlesse he have a hand as big as hercules , when thou dost sneeze the sound thou dost not heare , thy nose is so far distant from thine eare . 102 on an unequall paire . faire pbi●●is is to churlish pris●us wed , as stronger wine with waters mingled , priscus his love to phillis more doth glow ; with fervency then fire , her 's cold as snow ; 't is well for if their flames alike did burn , one house would be to hot to serve their turn . 103 on a changeable raiment . know you why lollus changeth every day , his perriwig , his face and his array , 't is not because his commings in are much , or cause hee 'll swill it with the roaring dutch ; but 'cause the sergeants ( who a writ have had long since against him ) should not know the lad . 104 on the ensuring office . linus met thuscus on the burse by chance , and swore he 'd drink a health to th' heir of france for on th' exchange for currant news 't was told , france had a daulphin not yet seaven dayes old , thuscus excus'd himself , and said he must by all meanes go to th' ensuring office first , and so ensure some goods , he doubted were , unlikely else ere to his hands appeare , linus replyd i le with thee then , for i would have my lands ensur'd to me in fee which otherwise i doubt , i never shall , from debt and morgage ere redeem at all . 105 on a tennis-court haunter . the world 's a court , we are the bals , wherein we bandied are by every stroke of sin , then onely this can i commend in thee , thou actest well our frail mortalitie . 106 on barossa . barossa boasts his pedegree although , he knows no letter of the christ-crosse-row , his house is ancient , and his gentry great , for what more ancient e're was heard of yet then is the family of fools , how than dare you not call barossa gentleman ? 107 on clodius albinus . clodius great cheer for supper doth prepare , buyes chickens , rabbets , phesants and a hare , great store of fowl , variety of fish , and tempting sawce serv'd in , in every dish , to this great feast , whom doth he meane t' envite , aloinus only sups with him to night . 108 on afer . afer hath sold his land and bought a horse , whereon he p●aunceth to the royall burse , to be on horse back he delights ; wilt know ? 'cause then his company hee 'd higher show , but happy chance tall afer in his pride , mounts a gunnelly and on foot doth ride . 109 on balbulus . thou do'st complaine poets have no reward and now adayes they are in no regard : verses are nothing worth , yet he that buyes , ought that is thine , at a three 〈◊〉 price , will think it too too dear , and justly may think verses are in price , since 〈◊〉 other day , yea who ere buies 'em at a farthing rate , at the same price can never sell 'em at . 110 to lycus . that poetry is good and pleasing thou dost cry , yet know'st not when 't is right or when awry thou know'st great ovid's censure to abstaine from pleasing good , is vertue 's chiefest aime . 111 on charismus . thou hast compos'd a book , which neither age nor future time shall hurt through all their rage , for how can future times or age invade that work , which perished assoone as made . 112 of one praising my book . harpax doth praise my book i lately writ , saith it is short and sweet and full of wit ; i knew his drift and sayd be silent 'pray , for in good fayth , i 've given 'em all away . 113 facilis discensus averni . the way to hell is easie , th' other day , a blind man ●hither quickly found the way . 114 age and youth . admire not youth , despise not age , although some yong are grave , most old men children grow 115 on orus . orus sold wine , and then tobacco , now he aqua-vitae doth his friends allow , what ere he had , is sold , to save his life , and now turn'd pander he doth sell his wife . 116 on women . women are books and men the readers be , in whom oft times they great errata's see ; here sometimes wee a blot , there wee espy a leafe misplac'd , at least a line awry ; if they are books , i wish that my wife were an almanacke to change her every yeare 117 on acerra . tobacco hurts the braine phisicians say , doth dull the wit and memory decay , yet feare not thou acerra , for 't will ne'r hurt thee so much by use , as by thy feare . 118 on briso . who private lives , lives well , no wonder then you do absent you from the sight of men , for out of doores you neer by day appeare , since last you lost i' th pill●ry your eare . 119 on the king of 〈◊〉 picture . who but the halfe of this neat picture drew , that it could ne're be fully done , well knew . 120 to his mistris . hyperbole of worth , should wit suggest . my will with epithites , and i invest , that shrine but with deserved paraphrase , adulatory poetry would praise . and so but staine your wo●th : your vertues ( or else none at all ) shall be my orator . 121 b. i. answer to a thiefe bidding him stand . fly villaine hence or be thy coate of steele , i le make thy heart , my ●razen b●llet feele , and send that thrice as thievish soul of thine , to hell , to weare the devils v●lentine . 122 the theefe 's ●eplie . art thou great ben ? or the revived ghost of famous shake-spear ? or som drunken host ? who being tipfie with thy muddy beer , dost think thy rimes shall daunt my soul with fear nay know base slave , that i am one of those , can take a purse a swell in verse as prose , and when th' art dead , write this upon thy herse ; here lies a poet that was robb'd in verse . 123 vpon clarinda begging a lock of her lovers haire . fairest clarinda , she whom truth cals faire , begg'd my heart of mee , and a lock of haire should i give both said i , how should i live , the lock i would , the heart i would not give , for that lest●heeving love should steal away , discretion had lock'd up and kept the key ; as for the locke of haire , which lovers use my head laid on her knee i pray'd her chuse , taking her ●izars by a cunni●g art , first pick'd the lock , and then she stole my heart . 124 to his mistris . dearest thy twin'd haires are not threds of gold , nor thine eyes diamonds , nor do i hold , thy lips for rubies , nor thy cheeks to bee , fresh roses , nor thy dugs of ivory , the skin that doth thy dainty body sheath , nor alablaster is , nor dost thou breath , arabian odours , these the earth brings forth , compar'd with thine , they would impair thy worth ; such then are other mistrisses , but mine , hath nothing earth , but all divine . 125 the answer . if earth doth never change , nor move , there 's nought of earth , sure in thy love , sith heavenly bodies with each one , concur in generation , and wanting gravitie are light , or in a borrowed lustre bright ; if meteors and each falling star of heavenly matter framed are : earth hath my mistrisse , but sure thine all heavenly is , though not divine . 126 on his mrs. i saw faire flora take the aire , when p●aehus shin'd and it was faire ; the heavens to allay the heat , sent drops of raine , which gently beat the sun retires , asham'd to see that he was barr'd from kissing thee then bore as took such high disdaine , that soon he dri'd those drops again : ah cunning plot and most ●ivine ! thus to mix his breath with thine . 127 on an houre glasse . do thou consider this small dust here running in this glasse by atomes mov'd ca●st thou beleeve , that this the body was of one that lov'd . and in his mistrisse playing like a fly turn'd to cinders by her eye : yes and in death as life , have it expre●t that lovers ashes take no rest . 128 on the picture of cupid in a jewell worn by his mrs. on her brest . little cupid enter in and heat her heart , her brest is not thy seat ; her brests are fitted to entice lovers , but her heart's ofice , thaw cupid , that it hence forth grow tender still by answering no. 129 on his mistris . when first i saw thee thou didst sweetly play , the gentle theefe , and stol'st my heart away ; ren●er me mine againe , or leave thy own , two are too much for thee since i have none ; but if thou wilt not i will swear thou art a sweet-fac'd creature with a double heart . 130 on cupid . cupid hath by his sly and subtill art , a certaine arrow shot and peirc't my heart : what shall i doe to be reveng'd on love ? there is but one way and that one i 'le prove ; i 'le steale his arrowes and will head them new , with womens hearts and then they will fly true . 131 on a tobacconist . all dainty meats i do defie , which feed men fat as swine , hee is a frug all man indeed , that on a leafe can dine , he needs no napkin for his hands his fingers ends to wipe , that keeps his kitchin in a box and roast 〈◊〉 in a pipe . 132 on the same . if mans flesh be like swines , as it is said the metamorphosis is sooner made then full-fac'd gnatho no tobacco take smoaking your corps , lest bacon you do make . 133 another . tom i commend thee above all i know that sold'●t thy cushion for a pipe of to for now t is like if ere thou study more , thou 'lt sit to 't harder then thou dist before . 124 on tobacco . nature's idea , phisicks rare perfection , cold rheumes expeller and the wits direction , o had the gods known thy immortall smack , the heavens ere this time had been colored black . 135 on a beloved lye . i hate a lie , and yet a lye did run of noble goring's death and kensington , and for that they did not untimely dye i love a lye because that was a ly , for had it been an accident of ruth 't had made me grow in hatred of the truth , though lies be bad , yet give this lye it 's due , 't is ten times better , then if 't had been true . 136 on button a s●xton , making a grave . ye powers above and heavenly poles are graves become but button-holes . 137 on long haire . luc as long haire down to his shoulders weares , and why ? he dares not cut it for his eares . 138 a crab's restorative . the crab of the wood is sauce very good ; for the crab of the foaming sea , but the wood of a crab is sauce for a drab that will not her husband obey . 139 on iustus lypsius who bequeathed his gown to the virgin mary . a dying latinist of great renown , unto the virgin mary gave his gown and was not this false latine , so to joyn with femall gender , the case masculine . 140 on a fidle-stick . am i an instrument to make you sport , a fiddle-stick i am , ye shann't report that ere yee hand'led me in such a case ; to make me strike up fiddles mean and base , nay you shall never bend me to your bow it goeth against the haire you should do so , nor shall you curbe me in , thus every day , i 'le but my pleasure , i was made to play ; but here i must not play upon another , why have i then a fiddle for my brother ? if i were gon , you 'd be compel'd my freinds to make your musique on your fingers ends : my brother fiddle is so hollow hearted , that ere 't be long , we must needs be parted and with so many frets he doth abound , that i can never touch him but hee 'l sound : when hee 's reviv'd , this poore excuse he puts , that when i play , i vex him to the guts ; but since it is my nature , and i must i 'le crowd and scrape acquaintance for a crust ; i am a genleman of high descent come from apollos glorious element , above the bridge i alwayes use to keep , and that 's my proper spheare , when i do sleep , so that i cannot be in tune or town , for all my scraping if the bridge be down ; but since without an end , nought can endure , a fiddle-stick hath two ends to be sure . 141 on hopes of preferment . i saw my fortune goe before as palinurus saw the shore , if that i dye , before it hitch , wel-fare mine eyes for they are rich . 142 sorte tu●● contentus . if adverse fortune bring to passe , and will that thou an asse must bee ; then be an asse , and live an asse , for out of question wife is hee that undergoes with humble mind , the state that chance hath him assign'd . 143 on a pretender to prophecy . ninety two yeares the world as yet shall stand if it do stand or fall at your command ; but say why plac'd you not the world's end nigher lest ere you dy'd you might be prov'd a lyer . 144 mart. lib 8 epigr. 69. old poets only thou dost praise , and none but dead one's magnifie : pardon voc●rra , thee to please , i am not yet in mind to dye . 145 on a gamester . for hundred-thousands matho playes ; olus what 's that to thee ? not thou by meanes thereof i trow , but matho poore shall bee . 146 on fr. drake . sir drake whom well the world's end knew , which thou did'st compasse round , and whom both poles of heaven once saw which north and south do bound , the stars above , would make thee known , if men here silent were ; the sun himself cannot forget his fellow traveller . 147 b. i. approbation of a copy of verses . one of the witty sort of gentlemen , that held society with learned ben — shew'd him some verses of such tragique sense they did his curious eare much violence ; but after ben had been a kind partaker of the sad lines , he needs must know the maker ; what unjust man he was , that spent his time and banish'd reason to , advance his rime : nay gentle ben , replies the gentleman i see i must support the poet than ; although those humble straines are not so fit for to please you , hee 's held a pretty wit ; is he held so ? ( sa●es ben ) so may a goose , had i the holding , i would let him loose . 148 on a gentleman that married an heire privately at the tower. the angry father hearing that his childe , was stoln , married , and his hopes beguild ; ( 'cause his usurious nature had a thought she might have bin to greater fortunes brought ) with rigid looks , bent brows , and words austere ask'd his forc'd son in law , how he did dare ( without a full consenting from him carried ) thus beare his onely daughter to be married , and by what cannons he assum'd such power ? he sayd the best in england sir , the tower. 149 a gentlemans satisfaction for spitting in anothers face . a gentleman ( not in malice nor disgrace , but by a chance ) spet in anothers face , he that receiv'd it , knowing not the cause that should produce such rashne● ( 'gainst the law● of christian man-hood or civility ) in kindling anger , ask'd the reason why ; pray ●ir sayes he , what thing that doth but sound like to an injury have you ere found by me at any time ? or if you had , it never could deserve contempt so bad 't is an inhumane custome none ere use ; but the vile nation of conte●ned jewes : pray sir , cryes th' other be not so unkind , thus with an accident to charge my minde i meant it not , but ●●nce it fals out so , i 'm sorry , yea make satisfaction too ; then be not mov'd but let this ease your doubt since i have spet , please you , i 'le tread it out . 150 on a little gentleman and one mr. story . the little man , by th' other mans vain-glory , it seems was roughly us'd ( so say's the story ) but being a little h●ated and high blown , in anger flyes at story , puls him down ; and when they rise ( i know not how it fated ) one got the worst , the story was tran●●ated from white to red , but ere the fight was ended it seemes a gentleman that one be●riended came in and parted them ; the little blade , there 's none that could intreat , or yet perswade , but he would fight still , till another came , and with sound reasons councel'd gainst the same 't was in this manner friend ye shall not fight with one that 's so unequall to your height , story is higher , th' othe● made reply , i 'd pluck him down were he three stories high . 151 on a welshman and an englishman . there was a time a difference began between a welshman and an englishman , and thus it was ; the english-man would stand against all argument , that this our land , was fre●st of her fruits , there is a place quoth he , whose ground , so fruitfull is of grasse ; but throw a staffe in 't but this night , you shall not see 't the morrow , 't would be cover'd all : the welsh-man cry'd 't is true , it might ly under , the o're-grown grasse , 〈◊〉 is with us no wonder , for turn your horse into our frui●full ground , and before morning come , he shann't be found . 152 on a souldier . the souldier fights well and with good regard , but when hee 's lame , he lies at an ill ward . 153 on a faire gentlewoman whose name was brown. we praise the faire , and our inventions wrack , in pleasing numbers to applaud the black , we court this ladies eye , that ladyes haire , the faire love black , the black best like the faire● yet neither sort , i court , i doate upon nor faire nor black , but a complexion more rare then either ; she that is the crown of my entire affection is brown , and yet shee s faire , 't is strange , how can it be , that two complexions should in one agree do i love brown , my love can please mine eye , and ●ate my narrow'st curiosity , if i like faire , she hath so sweet a grace , that i could leave an angell for her face , let any judge then , which complexion 's rarest , in my opinion , she is brown that 's fairest . 154 on garret and chambers . garret and his friend chambers having done their citty bus'nesse walk'd to paddington , and comming neer the fatall place where men i meane offenders ne're return agen , looking on tyborn in a merryment , sayes chambers here 's a pretty tenement had it a garret : garret hearing that , replyes friend chambers i do wonder at your simple censure , and could mock you for it , there must be chambers ere there be a garret . 155 on the word intollerable . two gentlemen did to a tavern come , and call'd the drawer for to shew a room , the drawer did , and what room think ye was 't ? one of the small ones , where men drink in haste ; one gentleman sat down there , but the other dislik'd it , would not sit , call'd for another : at whi●h his friend , rising up from the table , cryes friend lets stay , this room is tollerable : why that 's the cause ( quoth hee ) i will not stay , is that the cause , quoth th' other ? why i pray ? to give a reason to you , i am able , because i hate to be in — tollerable . 156 ad lectorem . is 't possible that thou my book hast bought , that saidst●'twas nothing worth ? why was it naught read it again , perchance thy wit was dul , thou may'st find something at the second pull , indeed at first thou nought didst understand , for shame g●t somthing at the second hand . 157 suum cuique pulcbrum . posthumus not the last of many more , ask's why i write in such an idle vaine , seeing there are of epigrams such store ; oh give me leave to tell thee once again that epigrams are fitted to the season , of such as best know how to make rime reason 158 in magnis voluisse sat●est . in matters great to will it doth suffice , i blush to heare how loud this proverb lyes , for they that ow great sums by bond or bill , can never cancell them , with meere good will. 159 as proud as witlesse draccus . draccus his head is highly by him born , and so by strawes are emptied heads of corne . 160 s●liem●videret●●r . a welshman and an englishman disputed , which of their lands maintain'd the greatest 〈◊〉 the englishman the welshman quite confuted , yet would the welshman nought his brags abate , ten cooks quoth he , in wales one wedding fees truth quoth the other , each man to●t● his cheese . 161 on womens inconstancy . goe catch a star that 's falling from the skye ▪ cause an immortall creature for to dye , stop with thy hand the current of the seas , poste o're the earth to the antipodes , cause times return and call back yesterday ; cloath january with the month of may , weigh out an ounce of flame , blow back the wind and then find faith within a womans mind . 162 on women . why sure these necessary harmes were fram'd , that man as too too heedlsse might be blam'd , his weaknes cannot greatest weakenesse fly , in her strong drawing , fraile necessity ; then happy they , that know what women are , but happier , which to know them never care . 163 to his mrs. sweetest faire be not too cruell , blot not beauty with disdaine , let not those bright eyes adde fewell to a burning heart in vaine , least men justly when i dye deem you the candle , mee the fly . 164 how to choose a wife . good sir , if you will shew the best of your skill ; to picke a vertuous creature , then picke such a wife , as you love a life , of a comely grace and feature ; the noblest part let it be her heart , without deceit or cunning , with a nimble wit , and all things fit , with a tongue that 's never running , the haire of her head , it must not be red , but faire and brown as a berry ; her fore-head high , with a christall eye her lips as red as a cherry . 165 on his mistris . my love and i for kisses play'd , she would keep stakes , i was content , and when i wonne , she would be payd ; this made me aske her what she meant , sayth she , since you are in this wrangling vaine , take you your kisses , and give me mine againe . 166 on a proud mayde . she that will eate her breakfast in her bed , and spend the morn in dressing of her head , and fit at dinner like a mayden-bride , and talke of nothing all day but of pride , god in mercy may doe much to save her , but what a case is he in that shall have her ? 167 satis est quod sufficit . weep no more , sigh nor groane , sorrow recals not times are gone , violets pluck'd , the sweetst raine , makes not fresh or grow againe , joyes are windy , dreams flye fast why should sadnes longer last ? griefe is but a wound to woe , gentle faire , mourn no moe . 168 tempus edaxrerum . time eateth all things could the poets say , the times are chang'd our times drink all away . 168 of women . commit thy ship unto the winde , but not thy faith to woman kind , there is more safety in a wave , then in the faith that women have ; no woman's good , if chance it fall , some one be good amongst them all , some strange intent the dest ' nies had , to make a good thing of a bad . 169 on a coy woman . she seems not won , yet won she is at length , in loves war women use but half their strength . 170 on morcho . morcho for hast was married in the night , what needed day ? his fair young wife is light . 171 on bed keeping . bradus the smith , hath often sworn and sed , that no disease should make him keep his bed ; his reason was , i oft have heard him tell it , he wanted money therefore he would fell it . 172 on a man stealing a candle from a la●ther● . one walking in the street a winter night , climb'd to a lanthern , thought t' have stole the light , but taken in the manner and descri'd by one o' th' servants who look'd out and cry'd , whose there ? what d' you ? who doth our lanthern nothing said he , but only snuf the candle . handle , 173 on fraternus . fraternus ' opinions show his reason weak he held the nose was made for man to speak . 174 on a french ●encer , that challeng'd church an english fencer . the fencing ca●les in pride and gallant vaunt , challeng'd the english at the fen●ing , skill , the fencer church , or the church militant , his errors still reprov'd and knock'd him still , but si●h our church him disciplin'd so sore , he ( rank recusant ) comes to church no more . 175 on two striving together . two falling out into a ditch they fell , their falling out was ill , but in was well . 176 on musique . i want a quill out of an angels wing , to write sweet musike's everlasting praise , i likewise want an angels voice to sing a wished an●hem to her happy dayes ▪ then since i want an angels voice and pen , let angels write and sing , i 'le say amen . 177 on tobacco . times great consumer , cause of idlenes , old whorehouse hunter , cause of drunkennes bewitching smoake , vainest wealths consumer ; abuse of wit , stinking breath's perfumer , cause of entrailes blacknes , bodyes dyer cause of nature's slacknesse , quenching her fire , offence to many , bringing good to none , ev'n be thou hack'd till thou art burnt and gone . 178 claudianus de sphaer●a archimedis when iove within a little glasse survay'd , the heavens he smil'd , and to the gods thus sayd , can strength of mortall wit proceed thus far ? loe in a fraile orbe , my works mated are , hither the syracu●ians art translates , heavens form , the course of things and humane fates th' including spirit serving the star-deck'd signes the living work inconstant motion windes , th' adult ' rate zodiaque runs a naturall yeere , and cyntsias forg'd horns monethly new light bear , viewing her own world , now bold industry triumphs and rules with humane power the sky . 179 on caelia . in caelia's face a question did arise , which were more beautifull her lips or eyes ; we say the eyes , send forth those pointed darts , which pierce the hardest adamantine hearts , from us reply the lips proceed those blisses , which lovers reap by kind words and sweet kisses then wept the eyes and from their eyes did pow'r of liquid orientall pearle a shower , whereat the lips mov'd with delight and pleasure through a sweet smile ●●lock'd their i vory treasure , and bad love judge , whether did ad more grace weeping or smiling pearls to c●lia's face . 180 on chloris walking in the snow . i saw faire chloris walke alone , when feather'd raine came softly down , then iove descended from ●is tower , to court her in a silver shower , the wanton snow flew to her brest , like little birds into their nest ; but overcome with whitenes there , for grei●e it thaw'd into a teare , then falling down her garment h●m , to deck her , froze into a gem . 181 to a shoomaker . what bootes it thee , to follow such a trade , that 's alwaies under foot and underlaid ? 112 youth and age. age is deformed , youth unkind , wee scorn their bodies , they our mind . 183 to loquax . loqu●x to hold thy tongue , would do thee wrong , for thou would ' st be no man , but for thy tongue . 184 death . the lives of men seem in two seas to swim , death comes to young folks and old goe to him . 185 a disparity . children fondly blad truth , & fools their brothers women have learn'd more wisdom of their mothers . 186. to mak dict . thou speake st ill , not to give men their dues ▪ but speakestill , because thou canst not chuse . 187 womens properti●s . to weep oft , still to flatter , sometimes spin . are properties , women excell men in . 188 interpone tuis &c. not mirth , nor care alone , but inter-wreathed , care gets mirth stomacke , mir●h makes care long breathed . 189 womens teares when women weep in their dissembling art , their teares are sauce to their malicious heart . 190 pot-poets . poet and pot differ but in a letter , which makes the poet love the pot the better . 191 content . content is all we ayme at with our store ; if that be had with little , what needs more . 192 fast and loose . paphus was marry'd all in haste , and now to rack doth run ; so knitting of himself too fast , he hath himself undone . 193 on gervase . a double gelding gervase did provide , that he and 's wife to see their friends might ride , and he a double gelding prov'd indeed ; for he so suddenly fell to his speed , that both alight , with blows and threats among ▪ he leads him , and his wife drives him along . 194 tortus . tortus accus'd to lye , to fawn , to flatter , said he but set a good face on the matter , then sure he borrow'd it for 't is well known ; tortus ne're wore a good face of his own ▪ 195 annagrams . thom●s egerton . 1 anagr. honors met age . honors met age and seeking where to rest ; agreed to lodge , and harbour in thy brest . 196 on capt●ine iohn , came-age 2 anagr. age-came . when perils i by land and sea had past , age came to summon me to death at last . 197 christopher lindall , 3 anagr. i offer , lend christ all . tha● with this epigram thy deeds agree , they well know , that did ever well know thee . 198 iohn rysdon 4 anagr. in honors dy . thy actions friend declare thy noble mind , and to the world thy reall worth proclaime that fame her self cannot thy equall find , to paralell thy glory and thy name , on , onward still from no good action fly , who lives like thee , cann't but in honors dy . 199 on the same . i ne're will credit any powerfull fare , can turn thy glory to a waning state , thou ●till wilt be thy self ; therefore say i , in honors thou shalt live , but never dy . 200 phineas fletcher . 5 anagr. hath spencer life ? or spencer hath life . that spencer liveth , none can ignorant be , that reads his works ( fletcher ) or knoweth thee . 201 mrs. elizabeth noell 6 anagr. holinesse be still my star . the safest conduct to the port of blisse , lyes not in brittle honor , for by this we often loose our way , to shun this bar , to heaven , holines be still my star . 202. my lot is blisse ●ternall . the world 's a lottry , full of various chances , whereof each draws a share as fortune fancies , among the rest that ayme at things supernall ; i 've drawn , and find my lot is blisse eternall . 203 i shall smite no ill brest . the common way to wound mens hearts i shun , nor with meere outside am i to be won , vertue may move me , for it crowns the best , but i shall smite no ill or lustfull brest . 204 my blisse on earth's little . honors are faire but fading flowers which give , delight to those that gather them , but live not ever flowrishing , this truth i find , too truely in my selfe , by fate assign'd for having all , i see that all 's but but brittle , and even at best my blisse on earth 's but little . 205 see my heart is still noble : thongh fortune frowns and fate suppres my will , yet see the lucke , my heart is noble still . 206 a riddle . thoughts searching c valued love may b truth never tyes too a foole y y : three in one heart if 2 in v have part wr 207 another being a translation . est aliis servire tenetur iure qui sum , servire necesse est iure tibi me te nulli cunctos ant are videris qui cunctos bos laude ant fero cunctis . thus englished . ling bound to serve his mr's hands an is you bound to do your high command● i 'me and none's you you all are then i 'le you praise other men . 208 another . a begger once exceeding poore , a penny pray'd me give him , and deeply vow'd nere to aske more and i ne're more to give him , next day he begg'd againe , i gave , yet both of us our oathes did save . 209 another . i hold as faith what rome's church saith where th' king is head the flocks misled where th' alter's drest the peopele's blest hee 's but an asse who shuns the masse who charity preach they heav'n soon reach on faith t' rely is heresy what england's church allows my conscience disavowes the church can have no seame , where the pope's supream there 's service scarce divine where 's table bread and wine who the communion flyes is catholique and wise their church with error 's fraught where only faith is taught no matter for good works make 's christians worse then turks 210 another : there was a man bespake a thing , which when the owner home did bring , he that made it , did refuse it , he that bought it , would not use it , he that hath it doth not know whether he hath it , yea or no. 211 on women . woman 's the centre and the lines are men the circles love , how doe they differ then ? circles draw many lines into the center but love gives leave to onely one to enter . 212 on clarret wine spilt . what 's this that 's spilt ? 't is clarret wine , 't is well 't is spilt , it 's fall sav'd mine . 213 on womans love . a womans love is like a syrian flower , that buds and spreads and withers in an houre . 214 on cooke a cuckold . a young cooke marri'd upon sunday last , and hee grew-old e're tuesday night was past . 215 a butcher marrying a tanners daughter . a fitter match then this could not have bin , for now the flesh is married to the skin . 216 on cupid . cupid , no wonder was not cloath d of old , for love though naked seldom ere is cold . 217 a plain sutor to his love . faire i love thee , yet i cannot sue , and shew my love as masking courtiers doe , yet by the smocke of venus for thy good , i 'le freely spend my thrice concocted blood . 218. on a passing bell . this dolefull mu●ique of impartiall death , who danceth after , danceth out of breath . 219 on a farmer knighted . in my conceit sir iohn , you were to blame , to make a quiet goodwife a mad●dame . 220 on pallas and bacchus birth . pallas the ofspring of iove's braine , bacchus out of his thigh was ta'ne , he breake 's his braine that learning winns , when he that 's drunk breaks but his shins . 221 on an old man doating on a yong mench . a rich old man loving a faire yong lasse , out of his breeches his spectacles drew , wherewith he read a note , how rich he was : all which ( quoth he ) sweet-heart i 'le give to you excuse me sir ( quoth she ) for all your riches , i le marry none , that wears his eies in 's breeches . 222 clownish court-ship . excellent mrs. brighter then the moon , then scoured p●wter or the silver spoon , fairer then phoebus or the morning star , dainty fair mistrisse by my troth you are , as far excelling dian , and her nimphs , as lobsters crawfish , and as craw fish shrimps . thine eyes like diamonds do shine most cleerly , as i 'm an honest man i lo●e thee dearely . 223 a gen●leman to his love . tell her i love , and if she aske how well ; tell her my tongue told thee no tongue can tell . 224 her answer . say not you love , unlesse you doe , for lying will not honor you . 225 his answer . maddam i love , and love to doe , and will not lye unlesse with you . 226 on a wels●man . the way to make a welshman thinke on blisse , and daily say his prayers on his knees , is to perswade him that most certaiae ' t is , the moon is made of nothing but green cheese , then hee 'l desire of iove , no geater boon , then to be pleas'd in heaven to eate the moon . 227 the vanity of man. that every thing we do , might vaine appeare , we have a veine , for each day in the yeere . 228 to a friend on the losse of his mrs. if thou the best of women didst forgo , weigh if thou found'st her , or didst , make her so , if she was found , know there is more then one , if made , the workman lives though she be gone . 229 on a whore . rosa is faire , but not a proper woman , can any woman proper be that 's common . 230 on a welshman . a welshman comming late into an inn , asked the maid what meat there was within ? cow-heels she answered , and a brest of mutton ; but quoth the welshman , since i am no glutton , either of both shall serve , to night the brest , the heels i' th morning , then light meat is best , at night he tooke the brest , and did not pay , i th' morning tooke his heels and run away . 231 on men and women . i 'll thrives that haplesse family , that showes a cocke that 's silent , and a hen that crows , i know not which lives more unnaturall lives , obeying husbands or commanding wives . 232 on linus . linus told me of verses that he made , riding to london on a trotting jade , i should have known , had he conceal'd the case , even by his verses of his horses pace . 233 on a litle diminutive band . what is the reason of god-dam-me's band , inch-deep ? and that his fashion doth not alter , god-dam me saves a labor , understand , in pulling't off when he puts on the halter . 234 on iulius . by fraud the merchant iulius rakes in pel●e , for heaven he sels , yet hath it not himself . 235 on fine apparell . some that their wives may near and cleanely go , do all their substance upon them bestow : but who a goldfinch fain would make his wife , make 's her perhaps a wag-taile all her life . 236 vpon conscience . many men this present age dispraise , and thinke men have small conscience now adaies . but sure i 'le lay no such fault to their charge , i rather think their conscience is too large . 237 in cornutum . cornutus call'd his wife both whore and slut , quoth she , you 'l never leave your brawling , but. but what quoth he ? quoth she the post or doore , for you have horns to but , if i 'me a whore . 238 a witty passage an old man sitting at a christmas feast , by eating brawn occasioned a jest ; for whilest his tongue and gums chafed about , for want of pales the chafed bore broke out , and lights perchance upon a handsom lasse , that neer him at the table placed was , which when she ' spi'd she pluck'd out of her sleeve a pin and did it to the old man give , saying sith your brawn , out of your mouth doth slip , sir take this pin and therewith close your lip , and bursting into laughter , strain'd so much , as with that strain her back-part spakelow dutch which th' old man hearing , did the pin restore . and bad her therewith close her postern doore . 239 a new married bride . the first of all our sex , came from the side of man i thither am return'd from whence i came . 240 on a pudding . the end is all , and in the end , the praise of all depends , a pudding merri●s double praise , because it hath two ends . 241 answer . a pudding hath two ends ? you lye my brother , for it begins at one , and ends at th' other . 242 on maydes . most maids resemble eve now in their lives , who are no sooner women , then th' are wives , as eve knew no man ere fruit wrought her wo , so these have fruit oft e're their husbands know . 243 on a man whose choice was to be hang'd or married . m. loe here 's the bride , and here 's the tree , take which of these , best liketh thee . r. the choise is bad on either part , the woman's worse drive on the cart . 244 women . were women as little , as they are good , a pease cod would make them a gown and a hood . 245 on a louse . a louse no reason hath to deal so ill , with them of whom she hath so much her will , she hath no tongue to speake ought in their praise , but to back-bite them , finds a tongue all wayes . 246 a courtier and a scholler meeting . a courtier proud walking along the street , hap'ned by chance a scholer for to meet , the courtier said , ( minding nought more then place unto the scholler meeting face to face , to take the wall , base men i le not permit , the scholler said , i will , and gave him it . 247 cede maj●ribus . i took the wall , one rudely thrust me by , and told me the high way did open lye , i thank't him that he would mee so much grace , to take the worse and leave the better place , for if by owners we esteem of things , the wall 's the subjects , but the way the kings . 248 on women . are women saints ? no saints , and yet no devils , are women good ? not good , but needfull evils , so angel like that devils you need not doubt , such needfull evils , that few can be without . 249 on a m●●sitian and his scholler . a man of late did his fair daughter bring to a musitian for to learn● to sing , he fell in love with her , and her beguil'd , with flattering words and she was got with child , her father hearing this was griev'd and said , that he with her but a base-part had playd , for w ch he swore that he would make him smart for teaching of his daughter such a part : but the musitian said , he did no wrong , he had but taught her how to ●ing prick-song . 250 why women weare a fall . a question 't is why women weare a fall , the truth it is to pride they are given all , and pride the proverb saies must have a fall . 251 foras expertus . priscus hath been a traveller , for why ? he will so strangely swagger , swear and ly . 252 liber too wary to thrive . liber is late set up , and wanteth custome , yet great resort hath got , but will not trust 'em : is not his love unto his friend the greater , hee 'l want himselfe , ere hee 'l see him a debtor . 253 on venus and vulcan . i muse , why venus hath such fiery holes , i thinke that vulcan , once there blow'd his coales . 254 detur quod meritum . a courtier kind in speech , curst in condition , finding his faults could be no longer hidden , came to his friend to cleare his bad suspition , and fearing least he should be more then chidden . fell to flatt'ring and most base submission , vowing to kisse his foot if he were bidden . my foot said he ? nay that were too submisse , you three foot higher , well deserve to kisse . 255 gluto , at meales is never heard to talk , for which the more his chaps and chin do walke , when every one that sits about the bord , makes sport to aske ; what gluto ne're a word ? he forc'd to answer being very loath is almost choak'd speaking and eating both . 256 sorte t●a contentus . b●rtus being bid to supper to a lord , was marshall'd at the lower end of the boord , who vext thereat , 'mongst his comrades doth fre● and sweares that he below the salt was set ; but bartus , th' art a fool to fret and sweare , the salt stands on the bord wouldst thou sit there● 257 fovent perjuria furtum . piso hath stoln a silver bole in jest , for which suspected only , not confest , rather then piso will restore your bole , to quit the body , he will cast the soule . 258 the promise breaker . ventus doth promise much , but still doth breake , so all his promises are great and weake ; like bubbles in the water ( round and light ) swelling so great , that they are broke out-right . 259 nummos & demona jungit . bat bids you swell with envy till you burst , so he be rich , and may his coffers fill , bringing th' example of the fox that 's curst , and threatning folks who have least power to kill● for why 't is known , his trade can never fall , that hath already got the devill and all . 260 nil gratum ratione carens . paulus a pamphle● doth in prose present , unto his lord , ( the fruits of idle time ) who farre more carelesse then therewith content , wisheth it were converted into rime : which done and brought him at another season , sayd now ' t is rime , before not rime nor reason . 261 non cessat perdere lusor . aske ficus how his lucke at dicing goes . like to the tide ( quoth he ) it ebbs and flowes , then i suppose his chance cannot be good , for all men know , 't is longer ebbe then flood . 262 volucren● sic decipi● auceps . hidrus the horse-courser ( that cunning mate ) doth with the buyers thus equivocate , claps on his hand , and prayes he may not thrive if that his gelding be not under five . 263 perdat qui cav●at emp●or . nor lesse meant promus when that vow he made , then to give ore his cous'ning tapsters trade , who check'd for short and frothy measure , swore he never would from thence forth fill pot more . 264 virescit vulnere venus . susan 's well sped and weares a velve● hood , as who should know , her breeding hath bin good ? 't is reason she should rise once in her life , that fell so oft before she was a wife . 265 on death . how base hath ●in made man , to feare a thing whichmen call m●rs ? which yet hath lost all sting , and is but a privation as we know , nay is no word , if wee exempt the o , then let good men the feare of it de●ie ▪ all is but o when they shall come to dye . 266 on a rich country gentleman . of woods , of plaines , of hils and vales , of fields , of meades , of parks and pales , of all i had , this i possesse , i need no more i have no lesse . 267 on his mrs. shall i tell you how the rose at first grew red , and whence the lilly whitenes borrowed , you blusht , & straight the rose with red was dight , the lilly kist your hand , and so was white , before such time , each rose had but a stain , and lillies nought but palenes did contayne , you have the native colour , these the dy , and onely flowrish in your livery . 268 to bis mrs. think not deare love that i 'le reveale , those houres of pleasure we do steale , no eye shall see , nor vet the sun , descrie what thee and i have done ; the god of love himself , hose dart did first peirce mine , and next thy heart , he shall not know , that we can tell what sweets in stoln cmoracem●nts dwell , onely this meanes may find it out , if when i dy , phisians doubt what caus'd my death and they to view of all the judgements that are true , rip up my heart oh then i feare , the world will find thy picture there . 269 to mr. ben. iohnson demanding the reason why he call'd his playes ●arks . pray tell me ben , where doth the mistery lurke , what others call a play you call a worke . 270 thus answer'd by a friendin mr. ioh●sons defence . the authors friend thus for the author sayes , bens plays are works , when others works are plaies 271 tempus edax rerum . the sweetest flower in the summers prime , by all agreement is the damaske rose , which if it grow , an● be not pluck'd in time , she sheds her leaves her buds their sent do loose , oh let not things of worth , for want of use fall into all consuming times abuse : the sweetest work that ever nature fram'd , by all agreement is a virgins face , which not enjoy'd , her white and red will fade , and unto all worm eating time give place : oh let not things of worth , for want of use fall into all consuming times abuse . 272 ad aristarchum . be not agriev'd my humerous lines afford , of looser language here and there a word , who undertakes to sweep a common sinke , i cannot blame him , though his broome do stinke . 273 to his mrs. thou send'st to me a heart was crown'd , i tooke it to be thine , but when i saw it had a wound , i knew that heart was mine . a bounty of a strange conceit , to send mine own to me , and send it in a worse estate , then when it came to thee ; the heart i gave thee had no staine , it was intire and sound ; but thou hast sent it back againe , sick of a deadly wound . oh heavens ! how wouldst thou use a heart that should rebellious be , when thou hast kill'd me with a dart , that so much honor'd thee . 274 on a charming beauty . i 'le gaze no more on that bewitched face , since ruin harbors there in every place , for my inchanted soul alike she drowns , with calms and tempests of her smiles and frowns i 'le love no more those cruell eyes of hers , which pleas'd or anger'd still are murtherers , for if she dart like lightning through the ayre , her beames of wrath , she kils me with despaire , if she behold me with a pleasing eye , i surfet with excesse of joy and dy . 275 covetous persons . patrons are latrons , then by this , th' are worst of greedy people , whose cognizance a wolfes head is , and is his mouth a steeple . 276 on a dyer . who hath time hath life , that he denies , this man hath both , yet still he dyes . 277 non verber a sed verba . two schollers late appointed for the field , must , which was weakest to the other yeeld , the quarrell first began about a word , which now should be decided by the sword ; but er'e they drew , there fell that alteration , as they grew friends againe by disputation . 278 in octavium . octavius lying at the point of death , his gelding kindly did to me bequeath : i wanted one , and was in haste to ride , in better time he never could have di'd . 279 ofletting . in bed a yong man with his old wife lay , o wife quoth he i've let a thing to day , by which i feare i am a looser much : his wife replyes youths bargaines still are such ; so turning from him angry at her heart , she unawares let out a thundring — oh wife quoth he , no looser i am now , a marv'lous saver i am made by you : yong men that old wives have may never fell , because old wives quoth he let things so well . 280 in dossum . dosse riding forth the wind was very big and strained court'sie with his perriwig , leaving his sconce behind so voyd of haire , as esops crow might breake her oyster there ; foole he to thinke his haire could tarry fast , when bore as teares up forests with a blast . 281 post dulcia finis amarus . ienkin a welshman that had suires in law , journying to london chanc'd to steale a cow ; for which ( pox on her luck as ne're man saw ) was burnt within the fist , and know not how : being ask'd if well the lawes with him did stand was have her now ( quoth ienkin ) in her hand . 282 in mi●cam . fine minca lisping yea and no forsooth , though little ears , yet keeps a dainty tooth : minca that longs for apples on the tree , in may , before the blossomes fallen be , or will not eate a kentish cherry down , but for a couple , when she payes a crown ; and cares not for a straw-berry or peare , in truth because th' are common every where , yet what is that which may be had for reason , and never comes to minca out of season ? 283 feminae ludifieantur vi●os . kind katherine to her husb and kist these words ; mine own sweet will how dearly do i love thee ● if true ( quoth will ) the world no such affords , and that it 's true i durst his warrant bee , for ne're heard i of woman good or ill , but alwayes loved best her own sweet will. 284 ad t●sserum . tusser , they tell me when thou wert alive , thou teaching thrift , thy self couldst never thrive so like the whetstone many men are wont to sharpen others when themselves are blunt . 285 praestar videri qu●messe . clit●s with clients is well customed , that hath the laws but little studied , no matter clitus so they bring their fees , how ill ●he case and thy advice agrees . 286 tun●●ua res agitur . a jealous merchant that a saylor met , ask'd him the reason why he meant to marry , knowing what ill their absence might beget , that still at sea , constrained are to tarry ? sir ( quoth the saylor ) think you that so strange ? 't is done the time whiles you but walke th' exchange 287 a conference . a dane , a spaniard , a polonian , my selfe , a swisse , with a hungarian , at supper met discoursed each with other , drank , laught , yet none that understood another . 288 in marcum . marcus is not a hypocrite and why ? he flyes all good , to fly hypocrifie . 289 quid ●on verba suadeant . sextus , halfe salv'd his credit with a jest , that at a reckoning this devise had got , when he should come to draw amongst the rest , and saw each man had coine , himselfe had not ; his empty pocket feels and 'gins to say , in sadnes firs here 's not a crosse to pay . 290 stupid binus . sith time flyes fast away , his fastest flight , binus prevents with dreaming day and night . 291 in divites . rich men their wealth as children rattles keep , when playd a while with 't then they fall asleep . 292 in fannium . what furi 's this , his foe whilst fannius flyes , he kils himselfe , for feare of death he dies . 293 to vellius . thou swearest i bowle as well as most men doe , the most are bunglers , therein thou say'st true . 294 in divites iracundos . rich friends ' gainst poore to anger still are prone , it is not well but profitably done . 295 clericus absque libro . when crassus in his office was instal'd , for summs of money , which he yet doth ow , a client by the name of clerk him call'd , as he next day to westminster did go , which crassus hearing whispers thus in 's eare , sirrah you now mistake and much do erre , that henceforth must the name of clerke forbea● , and know i am become an officer . alas ( quoth he ) i did not so much marke , good mr. officer , that are no clerke . 296 durum telum necessitas . coquus with hunger pennilesse constrain'd to call for meat and wine three shillings cost , had suddainly this project entertain'd ; instead of what 's to pay , to call mine host , who being come entreateth him discusse ; what price the law allots for shedding blood : whereto mine host directly answers thus , 't was alwayes fourty pence he understood ; so then quoth coquus to requite your paines pray break my head , & give me what remaines . 297 loves lunacy . before i knew what might belong to war , i was content to suffer many a scar ; yet none could hurt me , 'till at length a boy , disgrace to manhood , wrought my sad annoy , this lad though blind , yet did he shoot a dart which pierc'd my brest and lighted on my heart , yetdid i feel no hurt till from above , i heard a voyce say souldiers you must love , i lik't it well and in this pleasing vaine : i lost my wits to get my heart againe . 298 so his mrs. your lips ( faire lady ) ( if 't be not too much , i beg to kisse , your hand i crave to touch , and if your hand deny that courtesie , ( sweet mistri● ) at your feet i prostrately ; but if your foot spurn my humility , or that your lips think i do aime too high : then let your hand in token of consent , point at the meane , the maine of all content , and i shall leave extreames , and to be blist , rest in your midst where vertue doth consist . 299 to an upstart . thine old frinds thou forgot'st having got wealth no marvaile , for thou hast forgot thy self . 300 suum euique . a strange contention being lately had which kind of musicke was the sweet'st and best , some prais'd the sprightly sound and some the sad some lik't the viols ; and among the rest some in the bag-pipes commendations spoke , ( quoth one stood by ) give me a pipe of smoake . 301 similis doctrina libell● . craesus of all things loveth not to buy so many books of such diversity : your almanack ( sayes he ) yeeld's all the sence , of time's best profit and experience . 302 on tullus . tullus who was a taylour by profession , is late turn'd lawyer , and of large possession . 303 in prodigum . each age of men new fashions doth invent , things which are old , young men do not esteeme : what pleas'd our fathers doth not us content : what flourish'd then we out of fashion deeme . and that 's the cause as i doe understand , why prodigus did sell his fathers land . 304 in medicum . when mingo cryes how doe you sir ? t is thought , his patient's wanteth and his practice's naught : wherefore of late , now every one he meeteth , with i am glad to see you well — he greeteth : but who 'l beleeve him now , when all can tell , the world goes ill with him , when all are well . 305 crispati crines plumae dant calcar am●ri . why is young annas thus with feathers dight ? and on his shoulder weares a dangling lock ? the one foretels hee 'l sooner fly then fight , the other showes hee 's wrapt in 's mothers smock . but wherefore weares hee such a jingling spu● ▪ : o know , he deales with jades that will not sti●● 306 most men mistaken . good , bad , rich , poor , the foolish and the sage , doe all cry out against the present age : ignorance make us thinke our young times good , our elder dayes are better understood : besides griefes past , we easily forget , present displeasures make us sad or fret . 307 on glaucus . glaucus a man , a womans hayre doth weare , but yet he weares the same comb'd out behinde : so men the wallet of their faults doe beare , for if before him , he that fault should finde : i thinke foule shame , would his fayre face invade , to see a man so like a woman made . 308 of batardas . batardas needs would know his horoscope , to see if he were borne to scape the rope : the magus said , ere thou mine answer have , i must the names of both thy parents crave : that said , batardas could not speak , but spit ; for on his fathers name he could not hitt : and out of doores at last he stept with shame , to aske his mother for his fathers name . 309 an idle huswife . fine , neat , and curious misteris butterfly , the idle toy , to please an idiots eyes : you , that wish all good huswives hang'd , for why , your dayes work 's done , each morning as you rise : put on your gown , your ruff , your mask , your chain , then dine and sup , and goe to bed againe . 310 consuetudo lex . two woers for a wench were each at strife , which should enjoy her to his wedded wife : quoth th' one , shee 's mine , because i first her saw , shee 's mine quoth th' other by pye-corner law : where sticking once a pricke on what you buy , it 's then your owne , which no man must deny . 311 in battum . battus affirm'd no poet ever writ , before that love inspir'd his dull-head witt : and that himselfe in love , had wit no more , then one starke mad , though somewhat wise before ▪ 312 to women . you were created angels pure and fayre , but since the first fell , tempting devills you are : you should be mens blisse , but you prove their rod● were there no women men might live like gods . 313 on marriage . wedding and hanging the destinies dispatch , but hanging to some , seemes the better match . 314 quidam erat . a preaching fryar there was , who thus began , the scripture saith there was a certaine man : a certain man ? but i do read no where , of any certaine woman mention'd there : a certaine man a phrase in scripture common ▪ but no place shewes there was a certaine woman : and fit it is , that we should ground our faith , on nothing more then what the scripture saith . 315 against a certaine — for mad-men bedlam , bridewell for a knave , choose whether of those two , th' hadst rather have . 316 loves progresse . loves first approach , delights sweet song doth sing , but in departure , shee woes stinge doth bring . 417 on old scylla . scilla is toothlesse , yet , when shee was young , shee had both teeth enough and to much tongue : what shall i then of toothlesse scilla say , but that her tongue hath worne her teeth away . 318 on gallants cloakes . without , plaine cloth , within , plufh ' t ? but i doubt the wearers worst within , and best without . 319 on banks the usurer . banks feels no lamenesse of his knotty gout , his monyes travaile for him in and out : and though the soundest legges go every day , he toyles to be at hell as soone as they . 320 pecunia praevale●s . tell tom of plato's worth or aristotles ? hang 't give him wealth enough , let wit stop bottl● . 321 on the same . tom vow'd to beat his boy against the wall , and as he strucke , he forth-with caught a fall : the boy deriding said , i doe averre , y' have done a thing , you cannot stand to ●ir . 322 on debt . to be indebted is a shame men say , 〈…〉 323 vmbras non certus metuit mistrisse maryna starts to see a frog , a naked rapier or a creeping mouse : to hear a gun , or barking mastive dog , or smell tobacco , that defiles her house , to taste of fish , no man alive shall woeher , yet feares she not what flesh can doe unto her . 324 on women . although they seeme us onely to affect , 't is their content , not ours , they most respect : they for their own ends cunningly can feigne , and though they have 't by nature , yet they 'll strain : snre if on earth , by wiles gain'd might be blisse , staight that i were a woman i would wish . 325 on saranzo . soranzos broad-brim'd hat i oft compare , to the vast compasse of the heavenly spheare : his head , the earths globe , fixed under it , whose center is , his wondrous little witt . 326 in cottam . cotta when he hath din'd saith god be prais'd , yet never prayseth god , for meat or drinke : sith cotta speaketh and not practiceth , he speaketh surely what he doth not thinke . 327 de corde & lingua . the tongue was once a servant to the heart , and what it gave shee freely did impart : but now hypocrisie is growne so stronge : shee makes the heart a servant to the tongue . 328 on poverty . if thou be poor , thou shalt be ever so . none now doe wealth but on the rich bestow . 329 women are mens shadowes : follow a shaddow it still flies you , seeme to fly , it will pursue : so court a mistrisse shee denies you , let her alone , she will court you . say are not women tr●ely then , stil'd but the shadwoes of us men ? at morne and even shades are longest , at noone they are , or short or none : so men at weakest they are strongest ; but grant us perfect they 're not known . say are not women truely then stil'd but the shadowes of us men ? 330 in ebriosum . fy man ( saith shee ) but i tell mistrisse an●e , her drunken husband is no drunken man : for those wits , which are overcome with drink , are voyd of reasons and are beasts i thinke . 331 wills errour . will sayes his wife 's so fat , shee scarce can goe , but shee as nimbly answers faith sir no : alas good will thou art mistaken quite , for all men know , that shee is wondrous light . 332 on rome . hate & debate , rome through the world hath spred , yet ro●a a mock is if backeward read : then is●t not strange , rome hate should foster ? no , for out of backward love all hate doth grow . 333 all things have savour , though some very small , nay a box on ●he eare hath no smell at all . 334 act , fortune , and ignorance . when fortune fell asleep , and hate did blinde her , art fortune lost , and ignorance did finde her : sith when , dull ignorance with fortune's store , hath bin enrich'd and art hath still bin poore . 335 on ebrio . see where don ebrio like a dutch-man goes , yet drunke with en●lish ale ; one would suppose : that h●e would shoulder down each door & wall , but they must stand , or he , poor fool ! must fall : 336 on love . love hath two divers wings , as lovers say , thou following him , with one he flies away : with th' other , if thou fly , he followes thee , therefore the last , love , onely use for me . 337 on the same . love , as t is said , doth work with such strange tools , that he can make fooles wise-men , wise-men fools : then happy i , for being nor foole nor wise , love with his toyes and tooles i shall despise . 338 on a wanton . some the word wanton fetch , though with sinal ski● from those that want one to effect their will : if so , i thinke that wantons there are none , for till the world want men , can they want one ! 339 in procos : who woes a wife , thinks wedded men do know ▪ the onely true content , i thinke not so : if woe in wooers bee , that women court , as the word woe in wooers doth import : and woe in woemen too , that courted be , as the word woe , in women we doe see : i thinke 't is better lead a single life , then with this double woe to wooe a wife . 340 ingluviem sequitur fames : curio would feed upon the daintyest fare , that with the court or countrey might compare : for what let 's curio that he need to care , to frolique freely with the proud'st that dare : but this excesse was such in all things rare , as he prov'd banquerout e're he was aware . 341 in corbum . corbus will not , perswade him all i can , the world should take him for an gentle-man : his reason●s this , because men should not deeme , that he is such , as he doth never seem . 342 on priscus mistrisse . priscus commends his mistrisse for a girle , whose lips be rubies , and whose teeth are pearl : th' had need prove so , or else it will be found , he payes too deare ; they cost him many a pound . 343 on women . women thinke wo — men far more constant bee , then wee men , and the letter o wee see : in wo — men ▪ not in we men , as they say , figures earth's constant orbe ; we men say nay : it meanes the moone , which proves ( none thinke it strange women are constant , & most true in change 344 on promises . my mistrisse sweares shee 'd leave all men for me , yea though that iove himselfe should rivall be : shee sweares it , but what women sweare to kind loves , may be writ in rapid seas and winde . 345 to his mistrisse . take , oh take those lips a way , that so sweetly were for-sworne : and those eies like breake of day . lights that doe mislead he morne : but my kisses bring againe , seales of love , though seal'd in vaine . hide , oh hide those hills of snow , which thy frozen bosome beares : on whose tops the pinkes that grow , are of those that aprill weares : but first set my poor heart free , bound in those icie chaines by thee . 346 on souldiers . not faith , nor conscience common souldiers carry , best pay , is right ; their hands are mercinary . 347 in diogenem & craesum : when the tubb'd cynicke went to hell , and there , found the pale ghost of golden craesus bare , hee stops ; and jeering till he shrugges againe , sayes o! thou richest king of kings what gaine have all thy large heapes brought thee , since i spie thee here alone , and poorer now then i ? for all i had , i with me bring ; but thou , of all thy wealth haft not one farthing now . 348 on a barber . suppose my barber , when his razors nigh my throat , should then aske wealth and liberty : i de promise sure , the barber askes not this , no , t is a thiefe and feare imperious is . 349 drusiu● and furio. furio would fight with drusius iu the field , because the straw , stout drusiu● would not yeeld , on which their mistrisse trod , they both tid meet , drusius in fight fell dead at furios feet , one had the straw , but with it this greek letter the other lo●t it , pray who had the better ? 350 on cupid . love is a boy , and subject to the rod some say , but lovers say he is a god : i thinke that love is neither god nor boy , but a mad-braines imaginary toy . 351 on durus . a friend of durus comming on a day to visite him , finding the doores say nay ; 〈◊〉 lock'd fast up , first knocks , and then doth pause , as lord have mercy on 's had bin the cause ; but missing it , he ask't a neighbour by when the rich duru's were lock'd and why ? he said it was a custome growne of late at diner time to lock your great man's gate . durus ' his poor friend admir'd & thought the doo● was not for state lock'd up , but 'gainst the poore , and thence departing empty of good cheere , said , lord have mercy on us , is not there . 352. on a puritane . from impure mouthes now many bear the name of puritane , yet merit not the same , this one shall onely be my puritan that is a knave , yet seems an honest man. 353. quantum mutatus ab illo . pedes growne proud makes men admire thereat whose baser breeding , should they think not bear it nay , he on cock-horse rides , how like you that ? tut pedes proverb is , win gold and wear it , but pedes you have seen them ri●e in ha●te , that through their pride have broke their necks at last . 354 on bibens . bibens to shew his liberality , made lusus drunk ; a noble quality , and much esteem'd , which bibens fain would prove , to be the signe of his familiar-love . lusus beware , thou 'lt finde him in the end , familiar devill , no familiar friend . 355 on tobacco . things which are common , common men do use , the better sort do common things refuse : yet countrys-cloth-breech , & court-velvet-hose , puff both alike , tobacco , through the nose . 356 in superbum . rustick superbus fine new cloath's hath got , of taffata and velvet , fair in sight ; the shew of which hath so bewitch'd the sot , that he thinks gentleman to be his right . but he 's deceiv'd ; for , true that is of old , an ape 's an ape , though he wear cloth of gold . 357 on infidus . infidus was so free of oathes last day , that he would swear , what e're he thought to say : but now such is his chance , whereat h●'s griev'd , the more he swears , the lesse he is believ'd . 358 on christmas-ivy . at christmas men do alwaies ivie get , and in each corner of the house it set . but why do they , then , use that bacchus weed ? because they mean , then , bacchus-like to feed . 359 on bacchus . pot-lifting bacchus , to the earth did bend his k●ee , to drink a health unto his friend : and there he did , so long , in liquor pour , that he lay quite sick-drunk upon the floor . judge , was not there a drunkards kindnes shown , to drink his friend a health , and lose his own ? 360 of a fat man. he 's rich , that hath great in-comes by the year ; then that great belly'd man is rich , i le swear : for sure , his belly ne'r so big had bin , had he not daily had great comings-in . 361 vindicta vim sequitur . kitt being kick'd and spurr'd , pursu●s the law , that doom'd the dammage at twice forty pence . w ch , whē the party w ch had wrong'd him , saw ; thought t was too great a fine for such off●nce . why then , quoth kitt , if i too much request , thou maist at any time kick out the rest . 363 on flaccus . flaccus being yong , they said he was a gull ; of his s●mplicity , each mouth was full : and pitying him , they 'd say , the foolish lad would be deceived , sure , of all he had . his youth is past , now may they turn him loose ; for why ? the gull is grown to be a goose. 363 per plumas anser . see how y●ng rufus walks in green each day , as if he ne'r was youthfull untill now : e're christmas next , his green goose will be gray , and those high burnish'd plumes in 's cap will bow . but you do wrong him , since his purse is full ▪ to call him goose , that is so yong a gull. 364 of ienkyn . ienkyn is a rude clown , go tell him so . what need i tell , what he himself doth know ? perhaps he doth not , then he is a sot ; for tell me , what knows he that knows it not ? 365 to fortune . poets say fortune's blinde , and cannot see , and therefore to be born withall , if she sometimes drop gifts on undeserving wights : but sure they are deceiv'd ; she hath her sight , els could it not at all times so fall out , that fools should have , & wise men go without . 366 vnde venis , memora . with earthen plate , agathocles , they say , did use to meal ; so serv'd with samo's clay , when jewell'd plate , and rugged earth was by , he seem'd to mingle wealth and poverty . one ask'd the cause : he answers , i that am si●ilia's king , from a poor potter came . hence learn , thou that art rais'd from mean estate ▪ to sudden riches , to be temperate . 367 on leucus . leucus loves life , yet liveth wickedly ; h● ha●eth death , yet wisheth he may dy honestly and well : so what is naught he loves , and what he would have good , he nought approves . 368 on biscus . i pray you sir , give biscus leave to speak , the gander loves to hear himself to creak . 369 in thrasonem . since thraso met one stoutly in the field , he crakes his spirit , & knows not how to yield ; looks big , swears , strouts with set-side-arms the streets , yet gently yields the wal to al he meets . and to his friends that asks the reason , why ? his an●wer's this , my self i grace thereby : for every one the common proverb knows , that alwaies to the wall the weakest go's . 370 in cornutum . one told his wife , a hart's-head he had bought , to hang his hat upon , and home it brought . to whom his frugal wife , what needs that ca●● ▪ i hope , sweet-heart , your head your hat can bear ▪ 371 on more-dew . more-dew the mercer , with a kinde salute , would needs intreat my custom ● for a suit : here sir , quoth he , for sattins , velvets call , what e're you please , i le take your word for all ▪ i thank'd , took , gave my word ; say than , am i at all indebted to this man ? 372 on sims mariage . six moneths , quoth sim , a suitor , and not sped ▪ i in a sev'n-night did both woo & wed . who gre●n fruit loves , must take long pains to shake ▪ thine was some downfall , i dare undertake . 373 on a wittall . i know my fate , and that must bear ; and since i know , i need not fear . 374 on mopsus . mopsus almost , what e're he means to speak , before it sir-reverence the way must break : such maners hath sir-reverence learnt at school , that now sir-reverence mopsus is a fool . 375 on clym . clym cals his wife , & reck'ning all his neighbors , just half of them are cuckolds , he averrs . nay fie , quoth she , i would they heard you speak ; you of your self , it seems , no reckoning make . 376 turpe lucrum veneris . will in a wilfull humour , needs would wed a wench of wonder , but without a stock ; whose fame no sooner through the street was spred , but thither straight our chiefest gallants flock . put ca●e she 's poor , brings she not chapmen on ? i hope his stock may serve to graff upon . 377 on womens f●ults . wee men in many faults abound , but two in women can be found : the worst that from their sex proceeds , is naught in words , and naught in deeds . 378 si hodie tibi , cras mihi . a scornfull dame , invited over-night , to come and dine next morrow with a knight , refus'd his sudden bidding with disdain . to whom this message was return'd again ; sith with so short time she could not dispence , to pray her come at that day twelve-moneth hence . 379 on law. our civill-law doth seem a royall thing , it hath more titl●s than the spanish king : but yet the common-law quite puts it down , in getting , like the pope , so many a crown . 380 better lost than found . lo here 's a coyner , yet he fears no death , for he ne'r stamps in mettall , but in breath : swears from believe me , & good-faith & troth , up to god-damn-me ; and without an oath protests in nothing , be he ne'r so bare , he 's brave in this , that he can bravely swear . 381 in coam . a nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will coa espy , till she ascend up the corner'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 382 de ore. os of o , a mouth , scaliger doth make ; and from this letter , mouth his name doth take . i had been in scaligers belief , but that i look'd in o , and saw no teeth . 383 in hugonem . though praise , & please , doth hugo never none , yet praise , and please , doth hugo ever one ; for praise , and please , doth hugo himself alone . 384 fronti nulla fides . cantus that wooll-ward went , was wondred at ; which he excus'd , as done through pure contrition . but who so simple , cantus , credits that ? t is too wel known , thou art of worse condition . and therefore if no linnen thee begirt , the naked truth will prove , thou hast no shirt . 385 on severus . severus is extreme in eloquence , for he creates rare phrase , but rarer sence : unto his serving-man , alias , his boy . h● utters speech exceeding quaint and coy ; diminitive , and my defective slave , my pleasures pleasure is , that i must have my corps coverture , and immediately , t'insconce my person from frigidity . his man believes all 's welsh his master spoke , till he rails english , rogue , go fetch my cloak . 386 on a gallant . what gallant 's that , whose oathes fly through mine ears ? how like a lord of pluto's court he swears ! how dutch-man like he swallows down his drink ! how sweet he takes tobacco , til he stink ! how lofty sprighted , he disdains a boor : how faithfull hearted he is to a — ! how cock-tail proud he doth himself advance ! how rare his spurs do ring the morri●e-dance ! now i protest , by mistris susans fann , he and his boy will make a proper man. 387 against caius . twenty small pieces i 'd have borrowed late , which , if bestow'd , had been a gift not great : for , 't was a rich fri●nd whom i ask'd , and old ; whose crowded chests would scarce his riches hold . he cry's , turn lawyer , and thou 'lt thrive : i'● have no conncell , caius , give me what i crave . 388 on vertue , milla's maid . saith aristotle , vertue ought to be communicative of her self , and free ; and hath not vertue , milla's maid , been so ? who 's grown hereby , as big as she can go . 389 on corydon . an home-spun peasant with his urine-glasse , the doctour ask'd what country-man he was . quoth corydon , with making legs full low , your worship , that , shall ●y my water kn●w . 389 fam● mendax . report , thou sometime art ambitious , at other times , too sparing , covetous ; but many times exceeding envious , and out of time most dev'lish , furious . of some , or all of these , i dare compound thee ; but for a lyer ever have i found thee . 390 on a spanish souldier . a spanish souldier , sick unto the death , his pistoll to 's physician did bequeath . who did demand , what should the reason be , 'bove other things to give him that . ( quoth he ) this , with your practise joyned , you may kill , sir , all alive , and have the world at will. 391 on otho . three daughters otho hath , his onely heirs , but will by no means let them learn to write ; 'cause , after his own humour , much he fears , they 'l one day learn , love-letters to indite . the yongest now 's with childe ; who taught her then , or of her self learn'd she to hold her pen ? 392 on hypocrisy . as venison in a poor mans kitchin 's rare , so hypocrites and usurers in heaven are . 393 on man and woman . when man and woman dies , as poets sung , his heart 's the last that stirs , of hers , the tongue . 394 on fabullus . i ask'd fabullus , why he had no wife ? ( quoth he ) because i 'd live a quiet life . 395 on furnus . furnus takes pains , he need not without doubt ; o yes , he labours much . how ? with the gowt . 396 on a thief . a thief condemned for a hainous crime , was for to lose his tongue at the same time : but he the court intreats with feigned tears , to spare his tongue , and cut off both his ears . to t●is , the judge , and all the bench agreed , a●d for th'executioner sent with speed : who being come , and searching , there was found no ears , but hairs ; at which , all laughed round ▪ sai●h th'ju●ge , thou hast no ears . sir ( quoth the wight ) where there is nought , the king must lose his right . 397 quidn●● ebrietas ? ●ubin reports , his mistris is a punk ; which being told ●er , was no whit dismaid , for sure as death ( quoth she ) the villains drunk ▪ and in that taking , knows not what he said . 't was well excus'd , but oft it comes to pas●e , that true we finde , in vino veritas . 398 infirmis-animosus . ●ontus by no means from his coyn departs , z'foot , will you have of men more than their hearts ? 399 a culina ad curiam . lixa , that long a serving-groom hath been , will now no more the man be known or seen : and reason good , he hath that place resign'd , witnes his cloak , throughout with velvet lin'd . which by a paradox comes thus to passe , the greasie gull is turn'd a gallant asse . 400 fruf●ra vocaveris heri . dick had but two words to maintain him ever , and t●at was , stand ; and after , stand-deliver . but dick's in newgate , and he fears shall never be blest again with that sweet word , d●liver ▪ 401 magnis non est morandum . see how silenus walks accomplished , with due performance of his fathers page : looks back of purpose to be honoured , and on each slight occasion 'gins to rage ; you villain , dog , where hath your stay bin such ▪ quoth he , the broaker would not lend so muc● ▪ 402 puduit sua ●amna referre . such ill successe had dick , at dice , last night , as he was forc'd , next day , play least in sight : but if you love him , make thereof no speeches , he lost his rapier , cloak , and velvet breeches . 403 nimis-docuit consuetudo . old fucus board is oft replenished , but nought thereof must be diminished , vnless some worthless upper-dish or twain ; the rest for service still again remain . his man that us'd to bring them in for show , leaving a dish upon the bench below , was by his master ( much offended ) blam'd : which he , as brief , with answer quickly fram'd ; ' tath been so often brought afore this day , as now ch'ad thoft it self had known the way . 404 poculo junguntur amici . a health , saith lucas , to his loves bright eye ; which no● to pledge , were much indignity : you cannot do him greater courtesie , than to be drunk , and damn'd for company . 405 nullum s●imulum ignaris . caecus awake , was told the sun appear'd , which had the darkness of the morning clear'd : but caecus sluggish , thereto makes reply , the sun hath further far to go than i. 406 detur laus digniori . mistris marina 'mongst some gossips sate , where faces were the subject of their chat ; some look'd too pale , some seem'd too fiery red , some brown , some black , and some ill fashioned . good lord ( quoth she ) you all are much to blame , let 's alone , and praise the maker of the same : her chamber maid , who heard her , standing by , said , then love me , for that you know was i. 407 non p●nna , sed ●sus . caius accounts himselfe accurst of men , only because his lady loves him not : who , till he taught her , could not hold her pen , and yet hath since , another tutor got . caius , it seems , thy skill she did but cheapen , and means to try him at another weapen . 408 an absolute gallant . if you will see true valour here display'd , heare poly-phemus , and be not afraid : d' ye see me wrong'd , and will ye thus restrain me ? sir let me go , for by these hilts i 'le braine ye . shall a base patch , with appearance wrong me ? i 'le kill the villaine , pray do not prolong me ; call my tobacco pu●rified stuffe ? tell me it stinks ? say it is drosse i snuffe ? sirrah what are you ? why sir what would you ? i am a prentice , and will knock you too : o are you so ? i cry you mercy then , i am to fight with none but gentlemen . 409 in dolentem . dolens doth shew his purse , and tels you this , it is mor● horrid than a pest-house is ; for in a pest-house many mortals enter , but in his purse one angell dares not venture . 410 ambo-dexter . two gentlemen of hot and fiery sp'rite , took boat and went up west-ward to go fight ; embarked both , for wend-worth they set sail , and there arriving with a happy gale . the water-men discharged for their fare , then to be parted , thus their minds declare : pray oares , say they , stay here , and come not nigh , we go to fight a little , but here by : the water-men , with staves did follow then , and cry'd , oh hold your hands , good gentlemen , you know the danger of the law , forbear ; so they put weapons up , and fell to swear . 411 on a gallant . sirrah come hither , boy , take view of me , my lady i am purpos'd to go see ; what , doth my feather flourish with a grace ? and this my curled hair become my face ? how decent doth my doublet 's forme appear ? i would i had my sute in hounds-ditch here . do not my spurs pronounce a silv●r sound ? is not my hose-circumference profound ? sir these be well , but there is one thing ill , your taylor with a sheet of paper-bill , vow 's he 'll be paid , and sergeants he hath fee'd ▪ which wait your comming forth to do the deed . boy god-a-mercy , let 〈◊〉 lady stay , i 'le see no counter for her sake to day ▪ 412 in sextum . sextus sixe pockets wears ; two for his uses , the other four , to pocket up abuses . 413 tom's fortune . tom tels he 's robb'd , and counting all his losses , concludes , all 's gone , the world is full of crosses : if all be gone , tom take this comfort then , th' art certain never to have crosse agen . 414 opus & vsus . opus for need , consum'd his wealth apace , and ne're would cease untill he was undone ; his brother vsus liv'd in better case than opus did although the eldest son. 't is strange it should be so , yet here was it , opus had all the land , vsus the wit. 415 a good wi●e . a batchelor would have a wife were wis● , faire , rich , and yong , a maiden for his his bed — nor proud , no● churli●h , but of faultlesse size ; a country huswife , in the city bred . but he 's a fool , and long in vain hath staid ; he should bespeak her , there 's none ready made . 416 on an inconstant mistris . i dare not much say , when i thee commend , lest thou be changed e're my prayses end . 417 in lesbiam . why should i love thee lesbia ? i no reason see , then out of reason , lesbia i love thee . 418 in paulinum . paul by day wrongs me , yet he daily swears . he wisheth me as well as to his soul : i know his drift to damne that he nought cares , to please his body ; therefore good friend paul , if thy kind nature , will affoord me grace , hereafter love me in thy body's place . 419 on zeno. zeno would faine th' old widow egle have ; trust me she 's wise , for she is rich and brave : but zeno , zeno , she will none of you , in my mind she 's the wiser of the two . 420 to cotta . be not wroth cotta , that i not salute thee , i us'd it whilst i wor thy did repute thee ; now thou art made a painted saint , and i , cotta , will not commit idolatry . 421 to women . ye that have beauty , and withall no pity , are like a prick-song lesson without ditty . 422 on creta . creta doth love her husband wondro●s well , it needs no proof , for every one can tell : so strong 's her love , tha● if i not mist ake , it doth extend to others , for his sake . 423 on priscus . why still doth priscus strive to have the wall ? because he 's often dr●nk , and fears to fall . 424 ictus piscator sapit . brutus at length escap'd the surgeons hands , begins to frollique as if all were well ; and would not for the worth of thrice his lands , endure the brunt of such another hell ; but leaves this farewell , for his physicks hire ; the child tha●'s burnt , for ever dreads the fire . 425 on rufus . at all , quoth rufus , set ye , what you dare ? i 'le throw at all , and 't were a peck of gold ; no life lies on 't , then coyn i 'le never spare , why rufus , that 's the cause of all that 's sold. for with franck gamesters it doth oft befall , they throw at all , till thrown quite out of all . 426 on tobacco . tobacco is a weed of so great power , that it ( like earth ) doth all it feeds , devour . 427 ne● vultus indicat virum . dick in a raging deep discourtesie , call'd an a●torny meer necessity : the more kna●e he , admit he had no law , must he be ●louted at by every daw ? 428. on f●rius . furius a lover was , and had loving fits ▪ he lov'd so madly , that he lost his wits ; yet he lost nought , yet grant i he was mad , how could he loose that which he never had ? 429 fooles fortune . god sends fools fortune , but not to all , for some are great fools , whose fortunes are small . 430 tace sed age . little or nothing said , soon mended is , but they that nothing do , do most amisse . 431 on a mad-màn . one ask'd a mad-man if a wife he had ? a wife , quoth he , i never was so mad . 432 to scilla . if it be true , that promise is a debt , then scill● will her freedome hardly get ; for if she hath vow'd her service to so many , she 'll neither pay them all , nor part from any . yet she to satisfy her debts , desires to yeild her body ( as the la● r●quires . ) 433 nescis , quid serus vesper vehat . lyncus deviseth as he lies in bed , what new apparrell , he were best to make him : so many fashions flow within his head , as much he fears the taylor will mistake him : but he mistook him not , that by the way , did for his old ●uit lay him up , that day . 434 to ficus . ficus hath lost his nose , but knows not how , and that seems strange to every one that knows it : methinks i see it written in his brow , how , wherefore , and the cause that he did loose it . to tell you true , ficus i thus suppose , 't was some french caniball , bit off your nose . 435 of arnaldo . arnaldo free from fault , demands his wife , why he is burthen'd with her wicked life ? quoth she , good husband , do not now repent , i far more burthens bear , yet am content . 436 quis nisi mentis inops — ware profer'd , stinks , yet stay good proverb , stay , thou art deceiv'd , as clients best can say ; who profering trebble fees , for single care , it 's well accepted , gold it is such ware . 437 on a friend inde●d . a reall friend a canon cannot batter ; with nom'nall friends , a squib's a perilous matter . 438 mans ingresse , and egresse . nature , which headlong , into life did throng us , with our feet forward , to our grave doth bring us : what is lesse ours , than this our borrowed breat● ? we stumble into life , we go to death . 439 on bad de●tors . bad debtors are good lyers ; for they say , i 'le pay you without fail , on such a day : come is the day , to come the debt is still , so still they lye , though stand in debt they will. but fulcus hath so oft ly'd in this wise , that now he lies in lud-gate for his lyes . 440 on a foolish dolt . a justice walking o're the frozen thames , the ice about him round , began to crack ; he said to 's man , here is some danger , iames , i prethee help me over on thy back . 441 on panurgus . panurgus pryes in high and low affairs , he talks of forraigne , and our civill state : but for his own , he neither counts nor cares ; that he refers to fortune and his ●ate , his neighbors faults straight in his face he 'l find , but in a bag he laps his own behind . 442 to a sleeping talker . in sleep thou talk'st unfore-thought mysteries , and utter'st unfore-seen things , with close eyes : how wel wouldst thou discourse , if thou wert dead , since sleep , death's image , such fine talk hath bred ? 443 omne simile non est idem . together as we walk'd , a friend of mine , mistook a painted madam for a signe that in a window stood ; but i acquainted , told him it was no woodden signe was painted , but madam — yea true said he , yet 't is little signe of modesty . 444 qui ebrius laudat temperantiam . severus likes not these unseason'd lines , of rude absurdities , times foul abuse , to all posterities , and their assignes , that might have bin , saith he , to better use . what sencelesse gull , but reason may convince , or jade so dull , but being kick'd will wince . 445 on misus . they say the usurer misus hath a mill , which men to powder grindeth cruelly ; but what is that to me ? i feare no ill , for smaller than i am , i cannot be . 446 on wisdome and vertue . wise-men are wiser than good-men , what then ? 't is better to be wiser than wise men . 447 on ducus . ducus keeps house , and it with reason stands , that he keep house , hath sold away his lands , 448 on mysus , and mopsus . mysus and mopsa hardly could agree , striving about superiority : the text which saith that man and wife are one , was the chief argument they stood upon . she held , they both one woman should become : he held , they should be man , and both but one . so they contended dayly , but the strife ; could not be ended , till both were one wife . 448 on photinus . i met photynus at the b. court , cited ( as he said ) by a knave relator : i ask'd him wherefore ? he in laughing sort , told me it was but for a childish matter . how ere he laught it out , he lied not : indee d'twas childish , for the child he got . 449 on ca●triotes . see , see , what love is now betwixt each fist , since castriotes had a scabby wrist : how kindly they , by clawing one another , as if the left ha●d were the right hands brother . 450 new rhetoricke . good arguments without coyn , will not stick , to pay , and not to say's best rhetorick . 451 est mi●i diva parens . ominus wondreth , since he came from wales , what the description of this isle might be ; that ne're had seen but mountains , hils , and dales , yet would he boast , and stand on 's pedegree . from rice ap ric●ard , sprung from dick a cow , be cod was right good gentle-man , look ye now ? 452 on t●irsites . although thirsites have a filthy facae , and staring eyes , and little outward grace : yet this he hath , to make amends for all , nature h●r selfe , is not more naturall . 453 on zoylus . if souldiers may obtain four termes of war , muskets should be the pleaders , pikes the bar : for black bags , bandeleirs , jackets for gownes , angels for fees ; we 'll take no more crack't crowns . 454 on a swearing gallant . what god cōmands , this wretched creature loathes , he never names his maker , but by oathes : and weares his tongue , of such a damned fashion , that swearing is his only recreation . in morning , even assoon as he doth rise , he swears his sleep is scarcely out of 's eyes ; then makes him ready , swearing all the while , the drowzy weather did him much beguile . got ready , he , to dice or tables goes , swearing an oath , at every cast he throws : to dinner next , and then in stead of grace , he swears his stomack is in hungry case . no sooner din'd , but calls , come take away , and swears 't is late , he must goe see a play. there sits , and swears , to all he hears and see 's , this speech is good , that action disagrees . so takes his oa●es , and swears he must make hast , his houre of supper-time is almost past . 455 on a long beard . thy beard is long , better it would thee ●it , to have a shorter be●rd , and longer wit. 456 on my selfe . who seeks to please all men each way , and not himselfe offend ; he may begin to work to day , but god knows when hee 'l end . 457 to the mis-interperter . cease gaul'd backt guilt , those inscious lines to mince , the world wil know y' are rubd if once you wince they hem within their ●eeming critique wall , particularly none , generally all : 'mongst which if you have chanc'd to catch a prick cry we-hy if you will , but do not kick ▪ 458 on a mother and her son having but two eyes betwixt the● , each one . a half blind-boy , born of a half blind mother , peerlesse for beauty , save compar'd to th' other ; faire boy , give her thine eye and she will prove the queen of beauty , thou the god of love . 459 to his quill . thou hast been wanton , therefore it is meet , thou ' shouldst do penance do it in a sheet . 460 of c●irst crucified . when red the sun goes down , we use to say it is a signe , we shall have a faire day : blood red the sun of heaven went down from hence and we have had faire weather ever since . 461 on himselfe . mirth pleaseth some , to others 't is offen●e , some cōmend plain conceits , some profound sence some wish a witty jest , some dislike that , and most would have themselves they know not what then he that would plea●e all , and himselfe too , takes more in hand than he is like to doe . 462 to young men . yong men fly , when beauty darts amorous glances at your hearts , the fixt marke gives your shooter aime , and ladyes lookes have power to maime , now 'twixt their lips , now in ●heir eyes 〈◊〉 a kisse or smile love lyes , then fly betimes for onely they conquer love that run away . 463 the pens prosopopeia to the scrivener . thinike who when you cut the quill , wounded was yet did no ill ; when you mend me , thinke you must mend your selfe , else you 're unjust when you dip my nib in inke , thinke on him that gall did drinke , when the inke sheds from your pen , thinke who shed his blood for men ; when you write , but thinke on this , and you ne're shall write amisse . 464 a raritie . if thou bee'st born to strange sights , things invisible to see : ride ten thousand dayes and nights , till age snow white haires on thee . and thou when thou return'st wilt tell me ; all strange wonders that befell thee , and thou ' lt sweare that no where lives a maiden true and faire . 465 vpon tom tolt●am's nose . the radiant colour of tom toltham's nose , puts down the lilly and obscures the rose ; had i a jewell of such pretious hew , i would present it to some monarch's view , no subject should possesse such jems as those ergo , the king must have tom toltham's nose . 466 vpon thorough-good an unthrif● . thy sir name thorough-good befitteth thee , thou t●orough-good , and good goes thorough thee nor thou in good , nor good in thee doth stay , both of you , thorough goe , and passe away . 467 in amorem . love , if a god thou art , then evermore thou must be mercifull and just , if just thou be , o wherefore doth thy dart , wound mine alone , and not my mistrisse heart ? if mercifull , then why am i to paine reserv'd , who have the truly serv'd ? whiles she that for thy power cares not a fly , ●aughs thee to scorn , and lives at liberty : then if a god thou wilt accounted be heale me like her , or else wound her like me . 468 ariddle on a pound of candles . one evening as cold as cold might bee , with frost and snow , and pinching weather , companions about three times three , lay close all in a bed together ; yet one after other they took● a heat , and dy'd that night all in a sweat . 469 on the new aressings . ladyes that weare black cypresse vailes , turn'd lately to white linnen railes , and to your girdle weare your bands ; and shew your armes in stead of hands : what can you do in lent more meet , as fittest dresse , than weare a sheet : 't was once a band , t is now a cloake , an acorne one day proves an oake , weare but your lawn unto your feet , and then your band will prove a sheet : by which device and wise excesse , you do your pennance in a dresse , and none shall know , by what they see , which lady 's censur'd , which goes free . 469 t●us answered . blacke cypresse vailes are shrouds of night , white linnen railes are railes of light ; which though we to our girdles weare , w'have hands to keepe your armes off there ; who makes our bands to be a cloake , makes iohn a stiles of iohn an oke : we weare our linnen to our feet , yet need not make our band a sheet . your clergie wears as long as wee , yet that implyes conformitie : be wise , recant what you have writ , least you do pennance for your wit : love charmes have power to weave a string shall tye you , as you ty'd your ring , thus by loves sharpe , but just decree you may be censur'd , we go free . 470 amicitia . what 's ●riendship ? 't is a treasure , 't is a pleasure : bred 'twixt two worthy spirits , by their merits : 't is two ●inds in one , meeting never fleeting : two wils in one consenting , each contenting , one brest in two divided , yet not parted ; a double body , and yet single hearted ; two bodies making one , through self election , two minds , yet having both but one affection . 471 ▪ to his mistrisse . i cannot pray you in a studied stile , nor speak words distant from my heart a mile ; i cannot visit hide-parke every day , and with a hackney court my time away ; i cannot spanniolize it weeke by week , or waite a moneth to kisse your hand or cheek ; if when you 'r lov'd you cannot love againe , why doe but say so , i am out of paine . 472 on the queene of bohemia . you meaner beauties of the night , which poorely satisfie our eyes ; more by your number then your light ; the common people of the skies : what are ye when the moon shall rise ? you violets that first appeare , by your purple mantle known ; like proud virgins of the yeere , as if the spring were all your own ; what are you when the rose is blown ? you wandring chaunters of the wood , that fill the ayre with natures layes : thinking your passions understood , by weak accents , where 's your praise , when philomell her voyce shall raise : so when my princesse shall be seen , in sweetnes of her lookes and mind : by vertues first , then choyce a queen , tell me , was she not design'd , th' eclipse and glory of her kind ? 473 to his noble friend . there 's no necessity that can exclude the poorest being from a gratitude ; for when the strength of fortune lends no more , he that is truely thankefull is not poore , yours be the bounty then , mine the great debt , on which no time , nor power can ransome set . 474 fatum supremum . all buildings are but monuments of death , all clothes but winding sheets for our last knell , all dainty fattings for the worms beneath , all curious musique , but our passing bell ; thus death is nobly waited on , for why ? all that we have is but deaths livery . 475 on his mrs. death unjustly we complain of fate , for short'ning our unhappy dayes , when death doth nothing but translate and print ●s in a better phrase ; yet who can choose but weep ? not i , that beautie of such excellence , and more vertue then could dy ; by deaths rude hand is ravish'd hence , sleepe blest creature in thine urne , my sighes , my teares shall not awake thee , i but stay untill my turne and then , oh then ! i 'le overtake thee . 476 aequè facilitas ac difficultas nocet amoris . i love not her that at the first cries i , i love not her that doth me still deny , be she too hard shee 'll cause me to despaire , be she too easie , shee 's as light as faire ; 't is hard to say whether most hurt procure , she that is hard or easy to allure , if it be so , then lay me by my side the hard , soft , willing and unwilling bride . 477 in monumenta westminsteriensia . mortality behold and feare , what a change of flesh is here ; thinke how many royall bones , sleep within this heap of stones , here they ly , had realmes and lands ; who now want strength to stir their hands ; where from their pulpits seel'd with dust , they preach , in greatnes is no trust ; here 's an acre sown indeed , with the richest royal'st seed , that the earth did e're suck in since the first man dy'd for sin , here the bones of birth have cry'd , though gods they were , as men they dy'd : here are sands , ignoble things , drop'd from the ruin'd sides of kings ; here 's a world of pompe and state , buried in dust , once dead by fate . 478 semel it sa●ivimus . beldam , god blesse thee , thou want'st nought but wit and having gotten that , we 'r freed from it , bridewell , i cannot any way dispraise thee for thou dost feed the poore and jerke the lazie . new-gate , of thee i cannot much complaine ; for once a moneth , thou freest men out of paine , but from the counters gracious lord defend us : to bedlam , bridewell , or to new gate send us , for there in time wit , worke , or law sets free ; but here wit , work , nor law gets liberty . 479 on the marriage of one turbolt , with mrs. hill. what are deucalions dayes return'd that we , a turbolt swimming on a hill do see ? what shall we in this age so strange report , that fishes leave the sea on hils to sport ? and yet this hill , though never tir'd with standing lay gently down to give a turbolt landing . 480 vpon annas marriadge with a lawyer . anne is an angell , what if so shee be ? what is a angell ? but a lawyers fee. 481 in cupidinem . who grafts in blindnes may mistake his stock , love hath no tree , but that whose bark is smock . 482 aenigma . the devill men say in devonshire dy'd of late ; but devonshire lately liv'd in rich estate , till rich his toyes did devonshire so bewitch , as devonshire dy'd and left the devill rich . 483 on cupid . why feign they cupid robbed of sight ; can he whose seat is in the eye , want light ? 484 a● answer . experience shews , and reason doth decree that he who sits in 's owne light cannot see . 485 barten holiday to the puritan on his technogamia . 't is not my person , nor my play , but my sirname , holiday , that does offend thee , thy complaints are not against me , but the saints ; so ill dost thou endure my name , because the church doth like the same , a name more awfull to the puritane then talbo● unto france , or drake to spaine ▪ 486 on a picture . this face here pictur'd time shall longer have , then life the substance of it , or the grave , yet as i change from this by death i know , i shall like death , the liker death i grow . 487 in meretrices . the law hangs theeves for their unlawfull stealing , the law carts bawds for keeping of the doore , the law doth punish rogues , for roguish dealing , the law whips both the pander and the whore ; but yet i muse from whence this law is grown ; whores must not steal , yet must not use their own . 487 on the citty venice . when in the adriatick neptune saw how venice stood , and gave the seas their law , boast thy tarpeian towers , now iove said he , and mars thy wals , if tiber 'fore the sea thou dost prefer , view both the cities ods , thou'l● say that men built rome , venice , the gods . 488 to a lady that every morning used to paint her fa●e . preserve what nature gave you , nought's more base , th●n belgian colour on a roman face , much good time 's lost , you rest your faces debtor , and make it worse , striving to make it better . 489 on a cuckold . my friend did tax me seriously one morne , that i would weare , yet could not winde a horne and i reply'd he perfect truth should find it , many did weare the horn that could not wind it , howe're of all that man may weare it best , who makes claime to it as his ancient crest . 490 vpon marriage . marriage as old men note , hath likened bin unto a publiq●e feast or common route , where those that are without , would fain get in , and those that are within would faine get out . 491 quicquid non nummus . the mony'd man can safely saile all seas , and make his fortune as himselfe shall please , he can wed danae , and command that now acrisius selfe that fatall match allow : he can declaime , chide , censure verses , write , and do all things better then cato might ; he knows the law and rules it , hath and is whole servius , and what labeo can possesse , in briefe let rich men wish what e're they love , 't will come , they in a lock'd chest keep a iove . 492 on annas a news-monger . annas hath long eares for all news to passe : his eares must needs be long for hee 's an asse . 494 semel in●anivimus omnes . thus have i waded through a worthlesse taske , whereto i trust there 's no exception ta'ne , for meant to none , i answer such as aske , 't is like apparell made in birchen lane ; if any please to suit themselves and weare it , the blames not mine but theirs that needs will weare it . 495 to aulus . some ( speaking in their own renown ) say that this book , was not exactly done ; i care not much , like banquets , let my bookes rather be pleasing to the guests then cooks . 496 ad sesquipedales poetastros . hence brauron's god to tauriminion , and you levaltoring corybants be gone ; fly thundring bronsterops to hippocrene , and maur●s to nimph nursing mytelene ; grisly maegera's necromantique spell depart to blacke nights acheronticke cell : avaunt transformed epidarian , unto th' antipod isles of tabraban , away cyllenius plumy-pinnion'd god , with thy peace making wand , snake charming rod and all the rest not daring looke upon vranus ' blood-borne brood , and fell typhon chimaera's victor great bellepheron ; thou vanquisher of spanish geryon , stout asdruball sicilian lord of yore , thou that destroyd'st the calidonian bore ; couragious conqueror of creetes minotaure , thou pride of mermeros ' cloudy semitaure . perseus whose marble stone transforming shield ; enfor●'d the whale , andromeda to yeeld , you argonautes that scour'd syndromades , and pass't the quicke sands of semplegades , helpe demogorgon , king of heaven and earth , chaos lucina at litigiums birth , the world with child looks for delivery of cannibals or poetophagie ; a devillish brood , from ericthonius , from iphidemia , nox , and erebus , chide pegasus for op'ning helicon , and poets damn to pery-phlegeton , or make this monstrous birth abortive be or else i will shake hands with poetrie . 497 a serving man. one to a serving man this councell sent , to get a master that 's intelligent ; then if of him no wages he could get , yet he would understand he 's in his debt . 498 two theeves . two theeves by night began a lock to pick , one in the house awake ; thus answer'd quick , why how now ? what a stir you there do keep , goe home again , we are not yet asleep . 499 a physitian and a farrier . a neate physitian for a farrier sends to dresse his horse , promising him amends . nay ( quoth the farrier ) amends is made , for nothing do we take of our own trade . 500 a poore peasant . a poore man being sent for to the king , began to covet much a certaine thing before he went : being but an iron naile , his friend did aske him what it would availe ? ( quoth he ) this is as good as one of steele , for me to knock now into fortunes wheele . 501 three pages . three pages on a time together met , and made a motion , that each one would let the other know what hee 'd desire to be having his wish , thereto they did agree . quoth one , to be a melon i would chuse , for then i 'm sure , none would refuse to kisse my breech although the sent were hot , and so they 'd know whether i were good or not . 502 a gentleman and his phisitian . a gentleman not richest in discretion , was alwayes sending for his own phisition . and on a time he needs would of him know , what was the cause his pulse did go so slow ? why ( quoth the doctor ) thus it comes to passe , must needs go slow , which goes upon an asse . 503 a peasant and his wife . a peasant with his wife was almost wilde , to understand his daughter was with childe , and said if to the girle sh 'ad taken heed , sh 'ad not been guilty of so foule a deed . husband ( said she ) i sweare by cock , ( welfare a good old token ) the dev●ll him selfe can't keep that lock which every key can open . 504 g-l-asse . he that loves glasse without a g , leave out l and that is hee . — nihil hic nisi carmina desunt . epitaphs . 1. on a travelling begger . here lies a vagrant person whom our lawes , ( of late growne strict ) denied passage , cause hee wandred thus , therefore returne he must , from whence at first he hither came , to dust . 2. on a mason . so long the mason wrought on other's walles , that his owne house of clay to ruine falles : no wonder spitefull death , wrought his annoy , he us'd to build , and death seekes to destroy . 3. on a dyer . though death the dyer colour-lesse hath made , yet he dies pale , and will not leave his trade ; but being dead , the meanes yet doth not lacke to die his friends cloth into mourning blacke . some sure foresaw his death , for they of late vs'd to exclaime upon his dying fate . and weake , and faint , he seem'd oft-times t' have been , for to change colours , often he was seen ; yet there no matter was so foule , but he would set a colour on it handsomlye . death him no unexpected stroke could give that learnt to dye , since he began to live . he shall yet prove , what he before hath try'd , and shall once more , live after he hath dy'd . 4. of a schoolemaster . the grāmer schoole a long time taught i have , yet all my skill could not decline the grave , but yet i hope it one day will be show'ne in no case save the ablative alone . 5. on william shake-speare . renowned spencer lye a thought more nigh to learned chaucer , and rare beaumont lye a little neerer spencer , to make roome for shake-speare in your threefold , fourefold tombe to lodge all foure in one bed make a shift vntill doomes d●y , for hardly will a fifth betwixt this day and that by fates be slaine ▪ for whom your curtaines may be drawn againe . if your precedencie in death doe barre a fourth place in your sacred sepulchre ; vnder this sacred marble of thine owne , sleepe rare tragaedian shake-speare ! sleep alone . thy unmolested peace in an unshared cave possesse as lord , not tenant of thy grave . that unto us , and others it may bee honour hereafter to be laid by thee . 6. on a youth . now thou hast heaven for merit , but 't is strange mortality should ●nvie at thy change : but god thought us unfit , for such as thee , and made thee consort of eternitye . we grieve not then , that thou to heaven art takē but that thou hast thy friends so soone forsaken ▪ 7. on prince henry . i have no veine in verse , but if i could , distill on every word a pearle i would . our sorrowes pearles drop not from pens , but eies , whilst other's muse ? write , mine onely cries . 8. on a foot-boy that dyed with overmuch running . base tyrant death thus to assaile one tyr'd who scarse his latest breath beeing left expir'd ; and being too too cruell thus to stay so swift a course , at length ran quite away . but pretty boy , be sure it was not death that left behind thy body out of breath : thy soule and body running in a race , thy soule held out ; thy body tyr'd apace , thy soule gained , and left that lump of clay to rest it selfe , untill the latter day . 9. on hobson the carrier . hobson , ( what 's out of sight is out of mind ) is gone , and left his letters here behind . he that with so much paper us'd to meet ; is now , alas ! content to take one sheet . 10. another . he that such carriage store , was wont to have , is carried now himselfe unto his grave : o strange ! he that in life ne're made but one , six carriers makes , now he is dead and gone . 11. another . here hobson lyes , prest with a heavy loade , who now is gone the old and common roade ; the waggon he so lov'd , so lov'd to ride , that he was drawing on , whilst that he dy'd . 12. another . hobson●s not dead but charles the northerne swaine hath sent for him , to draw his lightsome-waine . 13. on a treachero●s warrener . behold here lyes a scalded pate quite bare ▪ in catching conies , who lost many a hare . 14. on a faire damosell . life is the road to death , & death heavens gate must be , heaven is the throne of christ , & christ is life to me . 15. on a foot-man . this nimble foot-man ran away from death , and here he rested being out of breath ; here death him overtooke , made him his slave , and sent him on an errand to his grave . 16. on queene anne , 〈◊〉 dyed in march , was kept all aprill , and buried in may. march with his winds hath strucke a cedar tall , and weeping april mournes the cedar's fall ; and may intēds her month no flow'rs shal bring since she must lose , the flow'r of all the spring . thy march his winds have caused april show'rs and yet sad may must lose his flow'r of flow'rs . 17. iustus lipsius . some have high mountaines of parian stone , and some in brasse carve their inscription , some have their tombes of costly marble rea●'d , but in our teares , onely art thou interr'd . 18. on a child of two yeeres old , being borne and dying in iuly . here is laid a july-flow'r with surviving teares bedew'd not despayring of that houre when her spring shall be renew'd ; e're she had her summer seene , shee was gather'd , fresh and greene . 29. another . like bird of prey , death snatcht away , this harmelesse dove , whose soule so pure is now secure in heaven above . 20. another . that flesh is grasse it 's grace a flower reade e're you passe whom wormes dovour● . 21. on a cobler . death at a coblers doore oft made a stand , and alwaies found him on the mending hand ; at last came death in very foule weather , and ript the soale , from the upper leather : death put a trick upon him , and what was 't ? the cobler call'd for 's awle , death brought his laste . 22. on a lock-smith . a zealous lock-smith dy'd of late , who by this time 's at heaven-gate the reason why he will not knocke is , 'cause he meanes to picke the locke . 23. on a collier . here lies the collier jenkin dashes , by whom death nothing gain'd he swore , for living he was dust and ashes : and being dead , he is no more . 24. on dick pinner . here lyes dick pinner , o ungentle death ! why did'st thou rob dick pinner of his breath ? for living , he by scraping of a pin made better dust , then thou hast made of him . 25. on m. thomas best . with happie stars he sure is blest , where ● ere he goes , that still is best . 26. on robyn . round robyn's gone , & this grave doth inclose the pudding of his doublet and his hose . 27. on proud tygeras . proud and foolish , so it came to passe , he liu'd a tyger , and he dy'd and asse . 28. on iohn cofferer . here lyes iohn cofferer , and takes his rest , now he hath chang'd a coffer for a chest . 29. on blind and deafe dicke freeman . here lyes dicke freeman that could not heare , nor see man. 30. on a miller . death without warning , was as bold as briefe , when he kill'd two in one , miller & thiefe . 31. on a disagreeing couple . hîc jacet ille , qui ●enties & mille : did scold with his wife , cùm illo jacet illa , quae communis in villâ did quittance his life : his name was nicke , the which was sicke , and that very mal● , her name was nan , who lou'd well a man , so gentlemen vale . 32. on a sack-sucker . good reader blesse thee , be assur'd , the spirit of sack lyes here immur'd : who havock'd all he could come by for sack , and here quite sack'd doth lye . 33. on a lady . here lyes one dead under this marble stone , who when she liv'd , lay under more than one ▪ 34. on a westler . death to this wrestler , gave a fine fall ▪ that tript up his heeles , and tooke no hold at all . 35. on iohn death . here 's death intterred , that liu'd by bread , then all should live , now death is dead . 36. on a scrivener . here to a period , is the scrievener come , this is the last sheet , his full point this tombe . of all aspersions i excuse him not , 't is knowne he liu'd not , without many a blot ; yet he no ill example shew'd to any , but rather gave good coppies unto many : he in good letters alwaies hath beene bred and hath writ more , then many men have read . he rulers had as his command by law , and though he could not hang , yet he could draw . he far more bond men had & made than any , a dash alone of his pen ruin'd many . that not without good reason , we might call hi● letters great or little capitall : yet is the scriveners fate as sure as just , when he hath all done , then he falls to dust . 37. on a chandler . how might his dayes end that made weekes ? or hee that could make light , here laid in darkenes bee ? yet since his weekes were spent how could he chose but be depriu'd of light & his trade lose ▪ yet dead the chandler is , and sleep's in peace , no wonder ! long since melted was his greace : it seemes that he did evill , for daylight he hated , and did rather wish the night , yet came his workes to light , & were like gold prou'd in the fire , but could not tryall hold . his candle had an end , and death's black night is an extinguisher of all his light . 38. on a young gentle-woman . nature in this small volume was about to perfect what in women was left out ; yet carefull least a peice so well begun should want preservatives when she had done : e're she could finish , what she undertooke , threw dust upon it , and shut up the booke . 39. on an infant . the reeling world turn'd poet , made a play , i came to see 't , dislik't it , w●nt my way . 40. on a lady dying quickly after her husband . he first deceased , she a little try'd to live without him , liked not , and dy'd . 41. on a smith . farewell stout iron-side , not all thine art could make a shield against death's envious dart . without a fault no man , his life doth passe , for to his vice the smith addicted was . he oft , ( as choller is encreas't by fire ) was in a ●ume , and much enclin'd to ire . he had so long bin us'd to forge , that he was with a blacke coale markt for forgery but he for witnesse needed not to care , who but a blacke-smith was , though ne●'e so fayre . and opertunities he slacked not that knew to strike , then when the●ir'n was hot as the doore-nailes he made , hee 's now as dead , he them , & death him , hath knockt on the head . 42. on mr. stone . jerusalems curse is not fulfill'd in mee , for here a stone upon a stone you see . 43. on a child . into this world as stranger to an inne this child came guest-wise , where when it had beene a while and f●und nought worthy of his stay , he onely broke his fast & went away . 44. on a man drown'd in the snow . within a fleece of silent waters drown'd ; before my death was knowne a grave i found . that which exil'd my life from her sweet home , for griefe straight froz it selfe into a tombe . one element my angry fate thought meet to be my death , grave , tombe , & winding-sheet , phaebus himselfe mine epitaph had writ , but blotting many e're he thought one fit ; he wrote untill my grave , and tombe were gone , and ●twas an epitaph that i had none ; for every one that passed by that way , without a sculpture read that there ● lay ; here now the second time untomb'd i lye , and thus much have the best of destinie : corruption from which onely one was free , devour'd my grave but did not feede on mee : my first grave tooke me from the ●ace of men , my last shall give me backe to life agen . 45. on prince henry . in natur's law 't is a plaine case to dye , no cunning lawyer can demurre on that ; for cruell death and destiny , serve all men with a latitat . so princely henry ; when his case was try'd , confess'd the action , paid the debt , and dy'd . 46. on mr. strange . here lyes one strange , no pagan , turke , nor jew it 's strange , but not so strange as it is true . 47. on a scholler . forbeare friend t' unclaspe this booke onely in the fore-front looke , for in it have errours bin , which made th' authour call it in : yet know this , 't shall have more worth , at the second comming forth . 48. on a young woman . the body which within this earth is laid , twice sixe weekes knew a wife , a saint , a maid ; fair maid , chast wif , pure saint , yet 't is not strange she was a woman therefore pleas'd to change : and now shee 's dead , some woman doth remaine for still she hopes , on●e to be chang'd againe . 49. on brawne . here br●wne the quondam begger lyes ▪ who counted by his tale , full sixscore winters in his life ; such vertue is in ale . ale was his meate , ale was his drinke , ale did him long reprive , and could he still have drunke his ale , he had beene still alive . 50. on a lyar . good passenger ! here lyes one here , that living did lie every where . 51. on a dyer . he lives with god none can deny , that while he liv'd to th' world did dye . 52. on a candle . here lyes ( i wot ) a little star that did belong to jupiter , which from him prometheus stole and with it a fire-coale . or this is that i meane to handle , here doth lie a farthing-candle that was lov●d well , having it's light , but losing that , now bids good-night . 53. another . here lyes the chandlers chiefest say here lyes the schollers pale-fac'd boy , having nought else but skin and bone dy'd of a deepe consumption . 54. on m. r. who soonest dyes lives long enough , our life is but a blast or puffe . i did resist and strive with death but soone he put me out of breath ; he of my life thought to bereave me but i did yeeld onely to breathe me . o're him i shall in triumph sing , thy conquest grave , where is thy sting ? 55. on an inne-keeper . it is not i that dye , i doe but leave an inne , where harbour'd was with me all filthy kind of sin ; it is not i that dye , i doe but now begin into eternall joy by faith to enter in . why weepe you then my friends , my parents & my kin lament ye whē i lose , but weep not when i win 56. on hobson the carrier . whom seeke ye sirs ? old hobson ? fye up●n your tardinesse , the carrier is gone . why stare you so ? nay you deserve to faile , alas here 's naught , but his old rotten maile . her went a good-while since , no question store are glad , who vext he would not goe before : and some are grieu'd hee 's gone so soone away , the lord knowes why he did no longer stay . how could he please you all ? i 'm sure of this , he linger'd soundly howsoe're you misse . but gone he is , nor was he surely well at his departure as mischance befell , for he is gone in such unwonted kinde as ne're before , his goods all left behinde . 57. on bolus . if gentlenesse could tame the fates , or wit delude them , bolus had not dyed yet ; but one that death o're rules in judgement sits , and saies ou● sins are stronger than our witts . 58. on iuggler . death came to see thy trickes and cut in twaine thy thread , why did'st not make it whole againe 59. on a child . a child and dead ? alas ! how could it come ? surely thy thread of life was but a thrumme . 60. on a clowne . softly tread this earth upon , for here lyes our corydon who through care to save his sheepe watcht too much , oh let him sleepe ! 60. on queene anne . thee to invite the great god sent his star , whose friends & kinsmen mightie princes are for though they run the race of men and dye , death serves but to refine their majesty . so did the queen from hence her court remove , and left the earth to be enthron'd above . thus is she chang'd not dead , no good prince dyes but like the day-star , onely sets to rise . 62. on sir horatio palavozeene . here lyes sir horatio palavozeene , who robb'd the pope to pay the queene , and was a theife . a theife ? thou ly'st : for why , he robo'd but antichrist . him death with his beesome sweept from babram , into the bosome of old abraham : but then came hercules with his club , and struck him downe to belzebub . 63. on an onely child . here lyes the fathers hope , the mothers joy , though they seeme haplesse , happy was the boy who of this life , the long and tedious race , hath travell'd out in lesse then 2 moneth 's space ; oh happie soule to whom such grace was given ▪ to make so short a voyage backe to heaven , as here a name & christendome t' obtaine and to his maker then returne again● . 64. another . as carefull nurses on their beds doe lay , their babes which would too long the wantons play ▪ so to prevent my youth's ensuing crimes nature my nurse laid me to bed betimes . 65. on a mu●●tian . be not offended at our sad complaint , you quire of angels , that have gain'd a saint ! where all perfection met in skill and voice , we mourne our losse , but yet commend your choyce . 66. on prince henry . did he dye young ? oh no , it could not be , for i know few , that liv'd so long as he . till god and all men lov'd him , then be bold the man that lives so long must needs be old . 67. on a cobler . come hither , reade , my gentle friend ! and here behold a cobler's end . longer in length his life had gone , but that he had no laste so long ; o mighty death ! whose dart can kill , the man that made him soules at will. 68. on master doe . do is my name , and here i lye , my grammar tells me , do fit di. 69. on a gard'ner . could hee forget his death that ev'ry houre was emblem'd to it , by the fading flowre ? should hee not mind his end ? yes sure he must that still was conversant 'mong beds of dust . 70. on edmund spencer , poet laureat . he was , and is ( see then where lyes the od●s ) once god of poets , poet now to th' gods , and though his time of life , be gone about , the life of his lines never shall weare out . 71. ou taylour a sergeant , kill'd by a horse . a taylour is a thiefe , a sergeant is worse who here lyes dead , god-a-mercy horse . 71. on sir francis drake , drowned . where drake first found , there last he lost his fame and for his tombe left nothing but his name . his body 's buried under some great wave , the sea that was his glory , is his grave . of him no man , true epitaph can make , for who can say , here lies sir francis drake ? 73. on a drunkard . by●ax the drunkard , while he liv'd would say , the more i drinke the more me think 's i may : but see how death ha●h prov'd his saying just , for he hath drunke himselfe as dry as dust . 74. on a child . tread softly passenger ! for here doth lye a dainty jewell of sweet infancie : a harmelesse babe , that onely came & cry'd in baptisme to bee washt from sin and dy'd . 75. another . in this marble-casket lyes a matchlesse jewell of rich prize whom nature in the worlds disdaine but shew'd and put it up againe . 76. on master stone . here worthy of a better chest , a pretious stone inclos'd doth rest whom nature had so rarely wrought that pallas it admir'd and thought , no greater jewell , than to weare still such a diamond in her eare : but sicknesse did it from her wring , and placed it in libitina's ring , who changed natures worke a new and death's pale image , in it drew ▪ pitty that paine had not been sav'd ▪ so good a stone to be engrav'd . 77. on master aire . vnder this stone of marble fayre lyes th'body ' ntomb'd of gervase aire . he dy'd not of an ague fitt nor surfetted of too much witt , me thinks this was a wond'rous death , that aire should dye for want of breath . 78. on a young man. surpriz'd by griefe and sicknesse here i lye , stopt in my middle age and soone made dead , yet doe not grudge at god , if soone thou dye , but know hee trebles favours on thy head . who for thy morning worke , equalls thy pay , with those that have endur'd the heate of day 79. on master sand's . who would live in others breath ? fame deceives the dead mans trust , when our names doe change by death ; sands i was and now am dust . 80. on a scholler . some doe for anguish weepe , for anger i , that ignorance should live , and arte should dye . 81. on master goad . go adde this verse , to goad's herse , for goad is gone , but whither ? goad himselfe , is gone to god 't was death's goad drove him thither . 82. on master munday . hallowed be the sabboath , and farewell all worldly pelfe ; the weeke begins on tuesday , for munday hath hang'd himselfe . 83. on the two littletons who were drowned at oxford . 1636. herelye wee ( reader canst thou not admire ? ) who both at once by water dy'd and fire , for whilst our bodies perisht in the deepe , our soules in love burnt , so we fell asleepe , let this be then our epitaph , here lyes two , yet but one , one for the other dyes . 84. on a matron . here lyes a wife was chaste , a mother blest , a modest matron , all these in one chest : sarah unto her mate , mary to god , martha to men , whilst here she had abode . 85. in latine thus . vxor casta , parens foelix , matrona pudica , sara viro , mundo mart●a , maria de● . 86. on a butler . that death should thus from hence our butler into my minde it cannot quickly sinke , sure death came thirsty to the butt'ry-hatch catch when he ( that buisy'd was ) deny'd him drinke . tut 't was not so , 't is like he gave him liquour and death made drunke , him made away the quicker yet let not others grieve to much in mind ( the butlers gone ) the key 's are left behind . 87. on a souldier . when i was young in warres i shed my blood , both for my king and for my countries good ; in elder yeares , my care was chie●e to be souldier to him that shed his blood for me . 88. on a tobacconi●t . loe here i lye , roll'd up like th' indian weede my pipes i have pack't up , for breath i neede . man's breath 's a vopour , he himselfe is grasse my breath , but of a weede , the vapour was . when i shal turne to earth , good friends ! beware least it evap'rate and infect the ayre . 94. on master thomas allen. no epitaphs neede make the just man fam'd , the good are prays'd , when they are only nam'd 89. on master cooke . to god , his country , and the poore , he had a zealous soule , free heart , and lib'rall minde . his wife , his children , and his kindred sad lacke of his love , his care , and kindnesse finde : yet are their sorrowes asswag'd w th the thought he hath attayn'd the happinesse he sought . 90. on a printer whose wife was lame . sleep william ! sleep , she that thine eyes did close makes lame iambiques for thee , as shee goes . 91. on a taylour who dy'd of the stitch . here lyes a taylour in this ditch , who liv'd and dyed by the stitch . 92. on a dumbe fellow dying of the collicke . here lyes iohn dumbello , who dy'd because he was so for if his breech could have spoke , his heart sur●ly had not broke . 92. on isabella a curtezan . he who would write an epitaph whereby to make faire is'bell laugh , must get upon her , and write well here underneath lyes isabell. 94. on a vertuous wife , viz. susanna wife to mr. william horsenell . in briefe , to speake thy praise let this suffice , thou wert a wife , most loving , modest , wise ; of children carefull , to thy neighbour's kind , a worthy mistris and of liberall mind . 95. on m. christopher lawson . death did not kill unjustly this good-man , but death in death by death did shew his power , his pious deedes & thoughts to heaven fore-ran ; there to prepare his soule a blessed bower . 96. on hobson the carrier . here hobson lyes amongst his many betters , a man unlearned , yet a man o● letters , his carriage was well knowne , oft hath he gone in embassye 'twixt father and the sonne ; there 's few in cambridge , to his praise be it spoken but may remember him , by some good token : from whence he rid to london day by day , till death benighting him , he lo●t his way , his teame was of the best , nor would he have benee min'd in any way , but in the grave . nor is 't a wonder , that he thus is gone , since all men knew , he long was drawing on . thus rest in peace thou everlasting swaine and supreame waggoner , next charles his wayne . 97. on a welshman . here lyes puried under these stones shon ap williams ap ienkyn ap iones , her was porne in wales , her was kill'd in fra●●e her went to cottpy a fe●y mischance , la yee now ▪ 98. on m. pricke . vpon the fith day of november christ's colledge lost a privie , member ▪ cupid and death did both their arrowes micke , cupid shot short , but death did hit the pricke . women lament and maidens make great mones because the pri●ke 〈…〉 the stones . 99. 〈…〉 porter . at length by worke of wond'rous face here lyes the porter of wynchester-gate : if gone to heav'n , as much i feare , he can be but a porter there : he fear'd not hell so much for 's sinne , as for th' great rapping and oft comming in . 100. on m. carter , burnt by the great powder mischance in finsbury . here lyes an honest carter ( yet no clowne ) vnladen of his cares , his end the crowne , vanisht from hence even in a cloud of smoake , a blowne-up citizen , and yet not broke . 101. on a lady dying in child-bed . borne at the first to bring another forth , shee leaves the world , to leave the world her worth thus phaenix-like , as she was borne to bleede dying herselfe , renew's it in her seede . 102. on prince henry . loe where he shineth yonder a fixed starre in heaven , whose motions thence , coms under none of the planets seven : if that the moone shou'd tender , the sunne her love and marry , they both could not ●ngender , so bright a starre as harry . 10. vpon one , who dy'd in prison . reader , i liv'd , enquire no more , least a spye enter in at doore , such are the times a dead-man dare not trust or creditt common ayre : but dye , and lye entombed here , by me , i 'le whisper in thine eare such things as onely dust to dust , ( and without witnesse ) may entrust . 14. on sir walter rawleygh . if spite be pleas'd , when as her object 's dead , or malice pleas'd , when it hath bruiz'd the head or envie pleas'd , when it hath what it would , then all are pleas'd , for rawleyh's blood is cold , which were it warme & active would o'recome and strike the two first blind , the other dumbe . 105. on doctour hacket's wife . drop mournful eyes your pearly trick'ling teares flow streames of sadnesse , drowne the spangled spheares fall like the tumbling cataracts of nile , make deafe the world with cries ; let not a smile appeare , let not an eye be seene to sleepe nor slumber , onely let them serve to weepe her deare lamented death , who in her life was a religious , loya●l , loving wife , of children tender to an husband kinde th' undoubted symptoms of a vertuous minde ▪ which mak's her glorious , bove the highest pole , where angels sing sweet requicins to her soule shee liv'd a none-such , did a non-such dye neere non-such here her corpes interred lye . 107. on waddham . colledge-butler . man's life is like a new turn'd caske they say , the fore-most draught is most times cast aw●y , such are our younger yeares , the following still , are more and more inclining unto ill ; such is our man-hood , untill age at length , doth sowre it's sweetnes ▪ & doth stop it's strēgth then death prescribing to each thing it's 〈◊〉 takes what is left , and tu●nes it all to grounds . 107. on a horse . here lyes a horse , who dyed but to make his master goe on foot . a miracle should it be so the dead to make the lame to goe ; yet fate would have it , that the ●ame should make him goe , that made him lame . 108. on aratyne . here biting aretyne lyes buried , with gall more bitter never man was fed ▪ the living , nor the dead to carpe he spar'de , nor yet for any king or caesar car'd . onely on god to rayle he had forgot ▪ his answer was , indeed i know him not . 109. on william coale an ale-house-keeper , at coaton neere cambridg● . doth william coale lye here ? hēceforth be stale , be strong , & laugh on us , thou coaton ale ! living indeed , he with his violent hand never left grasping thee , while he could stand . but death at last , hath with his fiery flashes burnt up the coale , and turn'd it into ashes . 110. on one andrew leygh who was vext with a shrewd wife , in his life-time . here lyes leygh , who vext with a shrewd wife to gaine his quiet , parted with his life , but see the spight , she , that had alwaies crost him living , dyes , & mean's to haunte his ghost . but she may faile , for andrew out of doubt will cause his brother peter , shutt her out . 111. on richard burbage a famous actour . — exit burbage . 112. on an infant unborne , the mother dying in travell . the father digg'd a pit , and in it left part of himselfe interr'd , that soone bereft the mother of the gift , she gave , life ; so both now are buried in one tombe of woe . 't is strange the mother should a being give ▪ and not have liberty to make it live . 't was strange , that the child blindfold espi'd so quick and neere a way to parricide ▪ yet both are justly question'd , child and mothe● are guilty of the killing of each other . not with an ill intent , both did desire preserves for life , and not a funerall fire ; and yet they needs must dye , & 't was thought best to keepe the infant in the mother's chest ; it had both life and death from her , the wombe in which it was begot , became the tombe ; there was some marble sav'd , because in her the wombe that bare it , was a sepulcher ; whose epitaphs are these , here lyes a child that shall be free from all sins but originall . here lyes a pittied mother that did dye onely to beare her poore child companie . 113. in quendam . stay mortall , stay , remove not from this tombe before thou hast consider'd well thy dombe ; my bow stands ready bent & could●st it see mine arrow 's drawne to head , and aymes at thee ; prepare yet wandring ghost , take home this line the grave that next is op'ned , may be thine . 114. on sir philip sy●ney . reader . within this ground sir philip sydney lyes nor is it fit that more , i should acquaint , least superstition rise and men adore , a lover , scholler , souldier , & a saint . 115. vpon iohn crop , who dyed by taking a vomit . man's life 's a game at tables , and he may mend his bad fortune , by his wiser play ; death pla●'s against us , each disease and sore are blotts , if hit , the danger is the more to lose the the game ; but an old stander by bind's up the blotts , and cures the malady , and so prolongs the game ; john crop was hee death in a rage did challenge for to see his play , the dice are throwne , when first he drink 's cast's , makes a blott , death hits him with a synke he cast's againe , but all in vaine , for death by th' after-game did winne the prize , his breath what though his skill was good , his luck was bad for never mortall man worse casting had . but did not death play false , to w●nne from such as he , no doubt he bare a man too much . 116. on q elizabeth king's , queens , men's , virgin 's eyes see , where the mirrour lyes . in whom her friend's have ●eene , a kings state in a queene : in whom her foes survay'd , a man's heart in a mayde : whom least men for her piety should grow to thinke some diety , heaven hence by death did summon her , to shew she was a woman . 117. on a vertuous youth . reader , let a stone thee tell that in this body , there did dwell a soule as heavenly , rich , and good as e're could live in flesh and blood : and therefore heav'n that held it deare ▪ did let it stay the lesse while here ▪ whose corps here sacred ashes mak's thus heav'n and earth have parted stakes . 118. on a learned noble man. hee that can reade a sigh and spell a teare , pronounce amaze-ment , or accent wilde feare , or get all grei●e by heart , hee , onely hee is fit to write , or reade thy elegye . unvalued lord ! that wer 't so hard a text , reade in one age and understood i' th' next . 119. on a lady . finis and bonum are converted , so that ev'ry good thing to an end must goe . 120. on mr. mychael drayton buried in westminster , admarmor tumulj . doe pious marble let thy readers know what they and what their children owe to drayton's sacred name , whose ●ust we recommend unto thy trust . protect his memory , preserve his story and a lasting monument of his glory , and when thy ruines shall disclaime to be the treasury of his name : his name , which cannot fade , shall bee an everlasting monument to thee . 121. on a faulconer . death with her talons having seas'd this prey , after a tedious flight truss'd him away . we mark'd him , here he fell , whence he shall rise at call , till then unretriu●d here he lyes . 122. on a cocke-master . fare-well stout hott-spur , now the battail's done in which th' art foyi'd , & death hath over-come having o're-matcht thy strength , & made thee stoop she quickly forct thee on the pit to droop from whence thou art not able , rise or stir : for death is now become , thy vanquisher . 123 ▪ on a pious benefactour . the poore , the world , the heavens , & the grave his almes , his praise , his soule , and body have . 124. vpon hodge pue's father . oh cruell death that stopt the view ; of thom's parishioner good-man pue , who lived alwaies in good order , vntill that death stopt his recorder , which was betwixt easter and penticost , in the yeare of the great frost , at new-market then was the king : when as the bells did merrily ring ; the minister preached the day before vnto his highnesse , and no more , returning home said prayers , and bnried the man as i understand . 125. on m. washington , page to the prince . knew'st thou whose these ashes were ; reader thou would'st weeping sweare , the rash fate er●'d here ; as appeares , counting his vertues for his yeares , his goodnesse made them so o're seene , which shew'd him threescore ; at eighteene . enquire not his disease or paine ! he dy'd of nothing else but spayne , where the worst calenture he feeles , are jesuites , and alguaziles , where he is not allow'd to have , ( vnlesse he steal 't ) a quiet grave . hee needes no other epitaph or stone but this , here lyes lov'd washington , write this in teares , in that loose dust and every greiv'd beholder must , when he waigh●s him , and knowes his yeares ▪ renew the let●ers with his teares . 126. on gustavus adolphus , king of sweden . the world expects swede's monumentall stone , should equall the philosophers , each groane should breath a golden veine , and ev'ry verse should draw elixar from his fatall hearse . no fitter subject where strong lines should meet than such a noble center ; could the feet of able verse but trace his rectories , they neede not feare o're strayn'd hyperbole's , where all 's transoendent , who out-paralell'd plutarch's selected heroes ; and is held the tenth of worthies , who hath over-acted great caesar's german-comments , & contracted his expeditions by preventing awe , he often over-came before hee saw ; and ( what of his great sonne jove us'd to say ) hee alwaies either found or made his way . such was his personall and single fight , as if that death it selfe had ta'ne her flight into brave swedens scabbard , when he drew ; death with that steele inevitably flew ; his campe a church , wherein the gen'rall's life was the best sermon , and the onely strife ' amongst his was to repeate it , bended knee was his prime posture , and his ●nemy found this most praevalent , his discipline impartiall and exact , it did out-shine those antique martiall-graecian , roman lamps from w ch most of the worlds succeeding camps have had their borrow'd light ; this , this was hee all this and more , yet even all this can dye . death surely ventur'd on the swede ' to try if heav'n were subject to mortality ; and shot his soule to heav'n , as if that shee could ( if not kill ) unthrone a diety bold death 's deceiv'd , 't is in another sense that heav'n is said to suffer violence . no yr'n chaine-shot , but 't is the golden chaine of vertue and the graces , are the maine that doe unhinge the everlasting gates all which like yoaked undivided mates , were linck't in sweden , where they were enchain'd like orthodoxall volumes nothing feign'd , though fairely bound his story is not dipt in oyle , ●ut in his owne true manuscript . it is enough to name him , surely wee have got that roman's doating lethargy and may our names forget , if so we can forget the name of sweden ; renown●d man ! thon hadst no sooner made the worthies ten but heavē did claime the tenth ; zealous that men would idolize thee , but their inst●ment . thus thy meridian prov'd thy occiden . had longer dayes beene graunted by the fates , rome had heard this hanniball at her gates farewell thou austrian scourge , thou moderne wonder , srange raine hath followed thy last clap of thunder , a shower of teares : and yet for ought we know , the horne that 's left . may blow downe jericho . finis . imprimatur . octob. 8. 1639. matth. clay . ovtlandish proverbs , selected london , printed by t. p. for humphrey blunden ; at the castle in corn-bill . 1640. outlandish proverbs . 1. man proposeth , god disposeth . 2. hee begins to die , that quits his desires . 3. a handfull of good life , is better then a bushell of learning . 4. he that studies his content , wants it . 5. every day brings his bread with it . 6. humble hearts , have humble desires . 7. hee that stumbles and falles not , mends his pace . 8. the house shewes the owner . 9. hee that gets out of debt , growes rich . 10. all is well with him , who is beloved . 41. all came from , and will goe to others . 42. he that will take the bird , must not skare it . 43. he lives unsafely , that lookes too neere on things . 44. a gentle houswife , marres the houshold . 45. a crooked log makes a strait fire . 46. he hath great neede of a foole , that plaies the foole himselfe . 47. a marchant that gaines not , looseth . 48. let not him that feares feathers , come among wild-foule . 49. love , and a cough cannot be hid . 50. a dwarfe , on a gyants shoulder , sees further of the two . 51 hee that sends a foole , means to follow him . 52. brabling curres never want sore eares . 53. better the feet slip then the tongue . 54. for washing his hands , none fels his lands . 55. a lyons skin is never cheape . 56. the goate must browse where she is tyed . 57. who hath a wolfe for his mate , needes a dog for his man. 58. in a good house all is quickly ready . 59. a bad dog never sees the wolfe . 60. god oft hath a great share in a little house . 61. ill ware is never cheape . 62. a cherefull looke , makes a dish a feast . 63. if all fooles had bables , wee should want fuell . 64. vertue never growes old . 65. evening words are not like to morning . 66. were there no fooles , badd ware would not passe . 67. never had ill workeman good tooles . 68. hee stands not surely , that never slips . 69. were there no hearers , there would be no backbiters . 70. every thing is of use to a houskeeper . 71. when prayers are done , my lady is ready . 72. at length the fox turnes monk. 73. flies are busiest about leane horses . 74. harken to reason or shee will bee heard . 75. the bird loves her nest . 76. every thing new , is fine . 77. when a dog is a drowning , every one offers him drink . 78. better a ba●e foote then none . 79. who is so deafe , as he that will not heare . 80. he that is warme , thinkes all so . 81. at length the fox is brought to the fu●rier . 82. hee that goes barefoot , must not plant thornes . 83. they that are booted are not alwa●es ready . 84. he that will learne to pray , let him goe to sea. 85. in spending , lies the advantage . 86. hee that lives well is learned enough . 87. ill vessells seldome miscarry . 88. a full belly neither fights nor flies well . 89. all truths are not to be told . 90. an old wise mans shaddow , is better then a young buzzards sword . 91. noble houskeepers neede no dores . 93. every ill man hath his ill day . 93. sleepe without supping , and wake without owing ▪ 94. i gave the mouse a hole , and she is become my heire . 95. assai●e who will , the valiant attends . 96. whether goest griefe ? where i am wont . 97. praise day at night , and life at the end . 98. whether shall the oxe goe , where he shall not labour . 99. where you thinke there is bacon , there is no chimney . 100. mend your cloathes , and you may hold out this yeare . 101. presse a stick , and it seemes a youth . ●02 . the tongue walkes where the teeth speede not . 103. a faire wife and a frontire castle breede quarrels , 104. leave jesting whiles it pleaseth , lest it turne to earnest . 105. deceive not thy physitian , confessor , nor lawyer . 106. ill natures , the more you aske them , the more they stick . 107. vertue and a trade are the best portion for children . 108. the chicken is the countries , but the citie eateth it . 109. he that gives thee a capon , give him the leg and the wing . 110. hee that lives ill , feare followes him . 111. give a clowne your finger , and he will take your hand . 112. good is to bee sought out , and evill attended . 113. a good pay-master starts not at assurances . 114. no alchymy to saving . 115. to a grate full man give mony when he askes . 116. who would doe ill ne're wants occasion . 117. to fine folkes a little ill finely wrapt . 118. a child correct behind and not before . 119. to a faire day open the window , but make you ready as to a foule . 120. keepe good men company , and you shall be of the number . 121. no love to a fathers . 122. the mill gets by going . 123. to a boyling pot flies come not . 124. make hast to an ill way that you may get out of it . 125. a snow yeare , a rich yeare . 126. better to be blinde , then to see ill . 127. learne weeping , and thou shalt laugh gayning . 128. who hath no more bread then neede , must not keepe a dog . 129. a garden must be lookt unto and drest as the body . 130. the fox , when hee cannot reach the grapes , saies they are not ripe . 131. water trotted is as good as oates . 132. though the mastiffe be gentle , yet bite him not by the lippe . 133. though a lie be well drest , it is ever overcome . 134. though old and wise , yet still advise . 135. three helping one another , beare the burthen of sixe . 136. old wine , and an old friend , are good provisions . 137. happie is hee that chastens himselfe . 138. well may hee smell fire , whose gowne burnes . 139. the wrongs of a husband or master are not reproached . 140 welcome evill , if thou commest alone . 141. love your neighbour , yet pull not downe your hedge . 142. the bit that one eates , no friend makes . 143. a drunkards purse is a bottle . 144. shee spins well that breedes her children . 145. good is the mora that makes all sure . 146. play with a foole at home , and he will play with you in the market . 147. every one stretcherh his legges according to his coverlet . 148. autumnall agues are long , or mortall . 149 marry your sonne when you will ; your daughter when you can . 150. dally not with mony or women . 151. men speake of the faire , as things went with them there . 152. the best remedy against an ill man , is much ground betweene both . 143. the mill cannot grind with the water that 's past . 154. corne is cleaned with winde , and the soule with chastnings . 155. good words are worth much , and cost little . 156. to buy deare is not bounty . 157. jest not with the eye or with religion . 158. the eye and religion can beare no jesting . 159. without favour none will know you , and with it you will not know your selfe . 160. buy at a faire , but sell at home . 161. cover your selfe with your shield , and care not for cryes . 162. a wicked mans gift hath a touch of his master . 163. none is a foole alwaies , every one sometimes . 164. from a chollerick man withdraw a little , from him that saies nothing , for ever . 165. debters are lyers . 166. of all smells , bread : of all tasts , salt . 167. in a great river great fish are found , but take heede , lest you bee drowned . 168. ever since we weare cloathes , we know not one another . 169. god heales , and the physitian hath the thankes . 170. hell is full of good meanings and wishings . 171. take heede of still waters , the quick passe away . 172. after the house is finisht , leave it . 173. our owne actions are our security , not others judgements . 178. thinke of ease , but worke on . 179. hee that lies long a bed his estate feeles it . 180. whether you boyle snow or pound it , you can have but water of it . 181. one stroke fells not an oke . 182. god complaines not , but doth what is fitting . 183. a diligent shcoller and the master 's paid . 184. milke saies to wine , welcome friend . 185. they that know one another , salute a farre off . 186. where there is no honour , there is no griefe . 187. where the drink goes in , there the wit goes out . 188. he that staies does the businesse . 189 almes never make poore others . 190. great almes-giving lessens no mans living . 191. giving much to the poore , doth inrich a mans store . 192. it takes much from the account , to which his sin doth amount . 193. it adds to the glory both of soule and body . 194 ill comes in by ells , and goes out by inches . 195 the smith and his penny both are black . 196 whos 's house is of glasse , must not throw stones at another . 197. if the old dog barke he gives counsell . 198. the tree that growes slowly , keepes it selfe for another . 199. i wept when i was borne , and every day shewes why . 200. hee that lookes not before , finds him selfe behind . 201. he that plaies his mony ought not to value it . 202. he that riseth first , is first drest . 203. diseases of the eye are to bee cured with the elbow . 204. the hole calls the thiefe . 205. a gentlemans grayhound , and a salt-box ; seeke them at the fire . 206. a childs service is little , yet hee is no little foole that despiseth it . 207. the river past , and god forgotten . 208. evils have their comfort , good none can support ( to wit ) with a moderate and contented heart . 209. who must account for himselfe and others , must know both . 210. hee that eats the hard shall eate the ripe . 211. the miserable man makes a peny of a farthing , and the liberall of a farthing sixe pence . 212. the honey is sweet , but the bee stings . 213. waight and measure take away strife . 214. the sonne full and tattered , the daughter empty and fine . 215. every path hath a puddle . 216. in good yeares corne is hay , in ill yeares straw is corne . 217. send a wise man on an errand , and say nothing unto him . 218. in life you lov'd me not , in death you bewaile me . 219. into a mouth shut , flies flie not . 220. the hearts letter is read in the eyes 221. the ill that comes out of our mouth ●alles into our bosome . 222. in great pedigrees there are governours and chand●ers . 223. in the house of a fidler , all fiddle . 224. sometimes the best gaine is to lose . 225. working and making a fire doth discretion require . 226. one graine fills not a sacke , but helpes his fellowes . 227. it is a great victory that comes without blood . 228. in war , hunting , and love , men for one pleasure a thousand griefes prove . 229. reckon right , and february hath one and thirty daies . 230. honour without profit is a ring on the finger . 231. estate in two parishes is bread in two wallets . 232. honour and profit lie not in one sacke . 233. a naughty child is better sick , then whole . 234. truth and oyle are ev●r above . 235. he that riseth betimes hath some thing in his head . 236. advise none to marry or to goe to warre . 237. to steale the hog , and give the feet for almes . 238. the thorne comes forth with his point forwards . 239. one hand washeth another , and both the face . 240. the fault of the horse is put on the saddle . 241. the corne hides it self in the snow , as an old man in furrs . 242. the jewes spend at easter , the mores at marriages , the christians in sutes . 243. fine dressing is a foule house swept before the doores . 244. a woman and a glasse are ever in danger . 245. an ill wound is cured , not an ill name . 246. the wise hand doth not all that the foolish mouth speakes . 247. on painting and fighting looke aloofe . 248. knowledge is folly , except grace guide it . 249. punishment is lame , but it comes . 250. the more women looke in their glasse , the lesse they looke to their house . 251. a long tongue is a signe of a short hand . 252. marry a widdow before she leave mourning . 253. the worst of law is , that one suit breedes twenty . 254. providence is better then a rent . 255. what your glasse telles you , will not be told by councell . 256. there are more men threatned then stricken . 257. a foole knowes more in his house , then a wise man in anothers . 258. i had rather ride on an asse that carries me , then a horse that throwes me . 259 , the hard gives more then he that hath nothing . 260. the beast that goes alwaies never wants blowes . 261. good cheape is deare . 262. it costs more to doe ill then to doe well . 263. good words quench more then a a bucket of water . 264. an ill agreement is better then a good judgement . 265. there is more talke then trouble . 266. better spare to have of thine own , then aske of other men . 267. better good afarre off , then evill at hand . 268. feare keepes the garden better , then the gardiner . 269. i had rather aske of my sire browne bread , then borrow of my neighbour white . 270. your pot broken seemes better then my whole one . 271. let an ill man lie in thy straw , and he lookes to be thy heire . 272. by suppers more have beene killed then gallen ever cured . 273. while the discreet advise the foole doth his busines . 274. a mountaine and a river are good neighbours . 275. gossips are frogs , they drinke and talke . 276. much spends the traveller , more then the abider . 277. prayers and provender hinder no journey . 278. a well-bred youth n●ither speakes of himselfe , nor being spoken to is silent . 279. a journying woman speakes much of all , and all of her . 280. the fox knowes much , but more he that catcheth him . 281. many friends in generall , one in spcciall . 282. the foole askes much , but hee is more foole that grants it . 283. many kisse the hand , they wish cut off . 284. neither bribe nor loose thy right . 285. in the world who knowes not to swimme , goes to the bottome . 286. chuse not an house neere an inne , ( viz for noise ) or in a corner ( for filth . ) 287. hee is a foole that thinks not , that another thinks . 288. neither eyes on letters , nor hands in coffers . 289. the lyon is not so fierce as they paint him . 290. goe not for every griefe to the physitian , nor for every quarrell to the lawyer , nor for every thirst to the pot . 291. good service is a great inchantment . 292. there would bee no great ones if there were no little ones . 293. it 's no sure rule to fish with a crosbow . 294. there were no ill language , if it were not ill taken . 295. the groundsell speakes not save what it heard at the hinges . 296. the best mirrour is an old friend . 297. say no ill of the yeere , till it be past . 298. a mans discontent is his worst evill . 299. feare nothing but sinne . 300. the child saies nothing , but what it heard by the sire . 301. call me not an olive , till thou see me gathered . 302. that is not good language which all understand not . 303. hee that burnes his house warmes himselfe for once . 304. he will burne his house , to warme his hands . 305. hee will spend a whole yeares rent at one meales meate . 306. all is not gold that glisters . 307. a blustering night , a faire day . 308. bee not idle and you shall not bee longing . 309. he is not poore that hath little , but he that desireth much . 310. let none say , i will not drinke water . 311. hee wrongs not an old-man that steales his supper from him . 312. the tongue talkes at the heads cost . 313. hee that strikes with his tongue , must ward with his head . 314. keep not ill men company , lest you increase the number . 315. god strikes not with both hands , for to the sea he made havens , and to rivers foords . 316. a rugged stone growes smooth from hand to hand . 317. no lock will hold against the power of gold . 318. the absent partie is still faultie . 319. peace , and patience , and death with repentance . 320. if vou loose your time , you cannot get mony nor gaine . 321. bee not a baker , if your head be of butter 322. aske much to have a little . 323. litle stickes kindle the fire ; great ones put it out . 324. anothers bread costs deare . 325. although it raine , throw not away thy watering pot . 326. although the sun shine , leave not thy cloake at home . 327. a little with quiet is the onely dye● . 328. in vaine is the mill clacke , if the m●●er his hearing lack . 329. by the needle you shall draw the thread , and by that which is past , see how that which is to come will be drawne on . 330. stay a little and news will find you . 331. stay till the lame messenger come , if you will know the truth of the thing . 332. when god will , no winde , but brings raine . 333. though you rise early , yet the day comes at his time , and not till then . 334. pull downe your hatt on the winds side . 335. as the yeere is , your pot must seeth . 336. since you know all , and i nothing , tell me what i dreamed last night . 337. when the foxe preacheth , beware geese . 338. when you are an anvill , hold you still ; when you are a hammer strike your fill . 339. poore and liberall , rich and coveteous . 340. he that makes his bed ill , lies there . 341. hee that labours and thrives spins gold . 342. he that sowes trusts in god. 343. hee that lies with the dogs , riseth with fleas . 344. hee that repaires not a part , builds all . 345. a discontented man kwes not where to sit easie . 346. who spits against heaven , it falls in his face . 347. hee that dines and leaves , layes the cloth twice . 348. who eates his cock alone must saddle his horse alone . 349. he that is not handsome at 20 , nor strong at 30 , nor rich at 40 , nor wise at 50 will never bee handsome , strong , rich , or wise . 350. hee that doth what hee will , doth not what he ought . 351. hee that will deceive the fox , must rise betimes . 352. he that lives well sees a farre off . 353. he that hath a mouth of his owne , must not say to another ; blow . 354. he that will be served must bee patient . 355. hee that gives thee a bone , would not have thee die . 356. he that chastens one , chastens 20. 357. he that hath lost his credit is dead to the world . 358. he that hath no ill fortune , is troubled with good . 359. hee that demands misseth not , unlesse his demands be foolish . 360. he that hath no hony in his pot , let him have it in his mouth . 361. he that takes not up a pin , slilghts his wife . 362. he that owes nothing , if he makes not mouthes at us , is courteous . 363. hee that looseth his due , gets not thankes . 364. hee that beleeveth all , misseth , hee that beleeveth nothing , hitts not . 365. pardons and pleasantnesse are great revenges of slanders . 366. a married man turnes his staffe into a stake . 367. if you would know secrets , looke them in griefe or pleasure . 368. serve a noble disposition , though poore , the time comes that hee will repay thee . 369. the fault is as great as hee that is faulty . 370. if folly were griefe every house would weepe . 371. hee that would bee well old , must bee old betimes . 372. sit in your place and none can make you rise . 373. if you could runne , as you drinke , you might catch a hare . 374. would you know what mony is , go borrow some . 375. the morning sunne never lasts a day . 376. thou hast death in thy house , and dost bew aile anothers . 377. all griefes with bread are lesse . 378. all things require skill , but an appetite . 379. all things have their place , knew wee , how to place them . 380. little pitchers have wide eares . 381. we are fooles one to another . 382. this world is nothing except it tend to another . 383. there are three waies , the vniversities , the sea , the court. 384. god comes to see without a bell . 385. life without a friend is death without a witnesse 386. cloath thee in war , arme thee in peace . 387. the horse thinkes one thing , and he that sadles him another . 388. mills and wives ever want . 389. the dog that licks ashes , trust not with meale . 390. the buyer needes a hundred eyes , the seller not one . 391. he carries well , to whom it waighes not . 392. the comforters head never akes . 393. step after step the ladder is ascended . 394. who likes not the drinke , god deprives him of bread . 395. to crazy ship all winds are contrary . 396. justice pleaseth few in their owne house . 397. in times comes he , whom god sends . 398. water a farre off quencheth not fire . 399. in sports and journeys men are knowne . 400. an old friend is a new house . 401. love is not found in the market . 402. dry feet , warme head , bring safe to bed . 403. hee is rich enough that wants nothing . 404. one father is enough to governe one hundred sons , but not a hundred sons one father . 405. farre shooting never kild bird . 406. an upbraid●d morsell never choaked any . 407. dearths foreseene come not . 408. an ill labourer quarrells with his tooles . 409. hee that falles into the durt , the longer he stayes there , the fowler he is . 410. he that blames would buy . 411. he that sings on friday , will weepe on sunday . 412. the charges of building , and making of gardens are unknowne . 413. my house , my house , though thou art small , thou art to me the escuriall . 414. a hundred loade of thought will not pay one of debts . 415. hee that comes of a hen must scrape . 416. he that seekes trouble never misses . 417. he that once deceives is ever suspected . 418. being on sea saile , being on land settle . 419. who doth his owne businesse , foules not his hands . 420. hee that makes a good warre makes a good peace . 421. hee that workes after his owne manner , his head akes not at the matter . 422. who hath bitter in his mouth ▪ spits not all sweet . 423. he that hath children , all his morsels are not his owne . 424. he that hath the spice , may season as he list . 425. he that hath a head of waxe must not walke in the sunne . 426. he that hath love in his brest , hath spurres in his sides . 427. hee that respects not , is not respected . 428. hee that hath a fox for his mate , hath neede of a net at his girdle . 429. he that hath right , feares , he that hath wrong , hopes . 430. hee that hath patience hath fatt thrushes for a farthing . 431. never was strumpet faire . 432. he that measures not himselfe , is measured . 433. hee that hath one hogge makes him fat , and hee that hath one son makes him a foole . 434. who letts his wife goe to every feast , and his horse drinke at every water , shall neither have good wife nor good horse . 435. he that speakes sowes , and he that holds his peace , gathers . 436. he that hath little is the lesse durtie . 437. he that lives most dies most . 438. he that hath one foot in the straw , hath another in the spittle . 439. hee that 's fed at anothers hand may sray long ere he be full . 440. hee that makes a thing too fine , breakes it . 441. hee that bewailes himselfe hath the cure in his hands . 442. he that would be well , needs not goe from his owne house . 443. councell breakes not the head . 444. fly the pleasure that bites to morrow . 445. hee that knowes what may bee gained in a day never steales . 446. mony refused looseth its brightnesse . 447. health and mony goe farre . 448 , where your will is ready , your feete are light . 449. a great ship askes deepe waters . 450. woe to the house where there is no chiding . 451. take heede of the viniger of sweet wine . 452. fooles bite one another , but wisemen agree together . 453. trust not one nights ice . 454. good is good , but better carries it . 455. to gaine teacheth how to spend . 456. good finds good . 457. the dog gnawes the bone because he cannot swallow it . 458. the crow bewailes the sheepe , and then eates it . 459. building is a sweet impoverishing . 460. the first degree of folly is to hold ones selfe wise , the second to professe it , the third to dsepise counsell . 461. the greatest step is that out of doores . 462. to weepe for joy is a kinde of manna . 463. the first service a child doth his father is to make him foolish . 464. the resolved minde hath no cares . 465. in the kingdome of a cheater , the wallet is carried before . 466. the eye will have his part . 467. the good mother sayes not , will you ? but gives . 468. a house and a woman sute excellently . 469. in the kingdome of blind men the one ey'd is king . 470. a little kitchin makes a large house . 471. warre makes theeves , and peace hangs them . 472. poverty is the mother of health . 473. in the morning mountaines , in the evening fountaines . 474. the back-doore robs the house . 475. wealth is like rheume , it falles on the weakest parts . 476. the gowne is his that weares it , and the world his that enjoyes it . 477. hope is the poore mans bread . 478. vertue now is in herbs and stones and words onely . 479. fine words dresse ill deedes . 480. labour as long liu'd , pray as even dying . 481. a poore beauty finds more lovers then husbands . 482. discreet women have neither eyes nor eares . 483. things well fitted abide . 484. prettinesse dies first . 485. talking payes no toll . 486. the masters eye fattens the horse , and his foote the ground . 487. disgraces are like cherries , one drawes another . 488. praise a hill , but keepe below . 489. praise the sea , but keepe on land . 490. in chusing a wife , and buying a sword , we ought not to trust another . 491. the wearer knowes , where the shoe wrings . 492. faire is not faire , but that which pleaseth . 493. there is no jollitie but hath a smack of folly . 494. he that 's long agiving , knowes not how to give . 495. the filth under the white snow , the sunne discovers . 496. every one fastens where there is gaine . 497. all feete tread not in one shoe . 498. patience , time and money accommodate all things . 499. for want of a naile the shoe is lost , for want of a shoe the horse is lost , for want of a horse the rider is lost . 500. weigh justly and sell dearely . 501. little wealth little care . 502. little journeys and good cost , bring safe home . 503. gluttony kills more then the sword . 504. when children stand quiet , they have done some ill . 505. a little and good fills the trencher . 506. a penny spar'd is twice got . 507. when a knave is in a plumtree he hath neither friend nor kin . 508. short boughs , long vintage . 509. health without money , is halfe an ague . 510. if the wise erred not , it would goe hard with fooles . 511. beare with evill , and expect good . 512. he that tells a secret , is anothers servant . 513. if all fooles wore white caps , wee should seeme a flock of geese . 514. water , fire , and shouldiers , quickly make roome . 515. pension never inriched young man. 516. vnder water , famine , under snow bread . 517. the lame goes as farre as your staggerer . 518. he that looseth is marchant as well as he that gaines . 519. a jade eates as much as a good horse . 520. all things in their beeing are good for something . 521. one flower makes no garland . 522. a faire death honours the whole life . 523. one enemy is too much . 524. living well is the best revenge . 525. one foole makes a hundred . 526. one paire of eares drawes dry a hundred tongues . 527. a foole may throw a stone into a well , which a hundred wise men cannot pull out . 528. one slumber finds another . 529. on a good bargaine thinke twice . 530. to a good spender god is the treasurer . 531. a curst cow hath short hornes . 532. musick helps not the tooth-ach . 533. we cannot come to honour under coverlet . 534 ▪ great paines quickly find ease . 535. to the counsell of fooles a woodden bell . 536. the cholerick man never wants woe . 537. helpe thy selfe , and god will helpe thee . 538. at the games end we shall see who gaines . 539. there are many waies to fame . 540. love is the true price of love . 541. love rules his kingdome without a sword . 542. love makes all hard hearts gentle . 543. love makes a good eye squint . 544. love askes faith , and faith firmenesse . 545. a scepter is one thing , and a ladle another . 546. great trees are good for nothing but shade . 547. hee commands enough that obeyes a wise man. 548. faire words makes mee looke to my purse . 549. though the fox run , the chicken hath wings . 550. he plaies well that winnes . 551. you must strike in measure , when there are many to strike on one anvile . 552. the shortest answer is doing . 553. it 's a poore stake that cannot stand one yeare in the ground . 554. he that commits a fault , thinkes every one speakes of it . 555. he that 's foolish in the fault , let him be wise in the punishment . 556. the blind eate many a flie . 557. he that can make a fire well , can end a quarrell . 558. the tooth-ach is more ease , then to deale with ill people . 559. hee that should have what hee hath not , should doe what he doth not . 560. he that hath no good trade , it is to his losse . 561. the offender never pardons . 562. he that lives not well one yeare , sorrowes seven after . 563. he that hopes not for good , feares not evill . 564. he that is angry at a feast is rude . 565. he that mockes a cripple , ought to be whole . 566. when the tree is fallen , all goe with their hatchet . 567. he that hath hornes in his bosom , let him not put them on his head . 568. he that burnes most shines most . 569. he that trusts in a lie , shall perish in truth . 570. hee that blowes in the dust fills his eyes with it . 571. bells call others , but themselves enter not into the church . 572. of faire things , the autumne is faire . 573. giving is dead , restoring very sicke . 574. a gift much expected is paid , not given . 575. two ill meales make the third a glutton . 576. the royall crowne cures not the head-ach . 577. 't is hard to be wretched , but worse to be knowne so . 578. a feather in hand is better then a bird in the ayre . 579. it 's better to be head of a lyzard , then the tayle of a lyon. 580 , good & quickly seldome meete . 581. folly growes without watering . 582. happier are the hands compast with yron , then a heart with thoughts . 583 , if the staffe be crooked , the shaddow cannot be straight . 584. to take the nuts from the fire with the dogges foot . 585. he is a foole that makes a wedge of his fist . 586. valour that parlies , is neare yeelding . 587. thursday come , and the week's gone . 588. a flatterers throat is an open sepulcher . 589. there is great force hidden in a sweet command . 590. the command of custome is great . 591. to have money is a feare , not to have it a griefe . 592. the catt sees not the mouse ever . 593. little dogs start the hare , the great get her . 594. willowes are weake , yet they bind other wood . 595. a good prayer is master of anothers purse . 596. the thread breakes , where it is weakest . 597. old men , when they scorne young make much of death . 598. god is at the end , when we thinke he is furthest off it . 599. a good judge conceives quickly , judges slowly . 600. rivers neede a spring . 601. he that contemplates , hath a day without night . 602. give loosers leave to talke . 603. losse embraceth shame . 604. gaming , women , and wine , while they laugh they make men pine . 605. the fatt man knoweth not , what the leane thinketh . 606. wood halfe burnt is easily kindled . 607. the fish adores the bait . 608. he that goeth farre hath many encounters . 609. every bees hony is sweet . 610. the slothfull is the servant of the counters . 611. wisedome hath one foot on land , and another on sea. 612. the thought hath good leggs , and the quill a good tongue . 613. a wise man needes not blush for changing his purpose . 614. the march sunne raises but dissolves not . 615 time is the rider that breakes youth . 616. the wine in the bottell doth not quench thirst . 617. the sight of a man hath the force of a lyon. 618. an examin'd enterprize , goes on boldly . 619. in every art it is good to have a master . 620. in every country dogges bite . 621. in every countrey the sun rises in the morning . 622. a noble plant suites not with a stubborne ground . 623. you may bring a horse to the river , but he will drinke when and what he pleaseth . 624. before you make a friend , eate a bushell of salt with him . 625. speake fitly , or be silent wisely ▪ 626. skill and confidence are an unconquered army . 627. i was taken by a morsell , saies the fish . 628. a disarmed peace is weake . 629. the ballance distinguisheth not betweene gold and lead . 630. the perswasion of the fortunate swaies the doubtfull . 631. to bee beloved is above all bargaines . 632. to deceive ones selfe is very easie . 633. the reasons of the poore weigh not . 634. perversnes makes one squint ey'd . 635. the evening praises the day , and the morning a frost . 636. the table robbes more then a thiefe . 637. when age is jocond it makes sport for death . 638. true praise rootes and spreedes . 639. feares are divided in the midst . 640. the soule needes few things , the body many . 641. astrologie is true , but the astrologers cannot finde it . 642. ty it well , and let it goe . 643. emptie vessels sound most . 644. send not a catt for lard . 645. foolish tongues talke by the dozen . 646. love makes one fitt for any work . 647. a pittifull mother makes a scald head . 648. an old physitian , and a young lawyer . 649. talke much and erre much , saies the spanyard . 650. some make a conscience of spitting in the church , yet robbe the altar . 651. an idle head is a boxe for the winde . 652. shew me a lyer , and i le shew thee a theefe . 653. a beane in liberty , is better then a comfit in prison . 654. none is borne master . 655. shew a good man his errour and he turnes it to a vertue , but an ill , it doubles his fault . 656. none is offended but by himselfe . 657. none saies his garner is full . 658. in the husband , wisedome , in the wife gentlenesse . 659. nothing dries sooner then a teare . 660. in a leopard the spotts are not observed . 661. nothing lasts but the church . 662. a wise man cares not for what he cannot have . 663. it 's not good fishing before the net . 664. he cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous . 665. that which will not be spun , let it not come betweene the spindle and the distaffe . 666. when my house burnes , it 's not good playing at chesse . 667. no barber shaves so close , but another finds worke . 668. ther 's no great banquet , but some fares ill . 669. a holy habit clenseth not a foule soule . 670. forbeare not sowing , because of birds . 671. mention not a halter in the house of him that was hanged . 672. speake not of a dead man at the table . 673. a hatt is not made for one shower . 674. no sooner is a temple built to god but the devill builds a chappell hard by . 675. every one puts his fault on the times . 676. you cannot make a wind-mill goe with a paire of bellowes . 677. pardon all but thy selfe . 678. every one is weary , the poore in seeking , the rich in keeping , the good in learning . 679. the escaped mouse ever feeles the taste of the bait . 680. a litle wind kindles ; much puts out the fire . 681. dry bread at home is better than rost meate abroad . 682. more have repented speech then silence . 683. the coveteous spends more then the liberall . 684. divine ashes are better then earthly meale . 685. beauty drawes more then oxen . 686. one father is more then a hundred schoolemasters . 687. one eye of the masters sees more , then ten of the servants . 688. when god will punish , hee will first take away the understanding . 689. a little labour , much health . 690. when it thunders , the theefe becomes honest . 691. the tree that god plants , no winde hurts it . 692. knowledge is no burthen . 693. it 's a bold mouse that nestles in the catts eare . 694. long jesting was never good . 695. if a good man thrive , all thrive with him . 696. if the mother had not beene in the oven , shee had never sought her daughter there . 697 if great men would have care of little ones , both would last long . 698. though you see a church-man ill , yet continue in the church still . 699. old praise dies , unlesse you feede it . 700. if things were to be done twice , all would be wise . 701. had you the world on your chesse-bord , you could not fit all to your mind . 702. suffer and expect . 703. if fooles should not foole it , they should loose their season . 704. love and businesse teach eloquence . 705. that which two will , takes effect . 706. he complaines wrongfully on the sea that twice suffers shipwrack . 707. he is onely bright that shines by himselfe . 708. a valiant mans looke is more then a cowards sword . 709. the effect speakes , the tongue needes not . 710. divine grace was never slow . 711. reason lies betweene the spurre and the bridle . 712. it 's a proud horse that will not carry his owne provender . 713. three women make a market . 714. three can hold their peace , if two be away . 715. it 's an ill councell that hath no escape . 716. all our pompe the earth covers . 717. to whirle the eyes too much shewes a kites braine . 718. comparisons are odious . 719. all keyes hang not on one girdle . 720 great businesses turne on a little pinne . 721. the wind in ones face makes one wise . 722. all the armes of england will not arme feare . 723. one sword keepes another in the sheath . 724. be what thou wouldst seeme to be . 725. let all live as they would die . 726. a gentle heart is tyed with an easie thread . 727 sweet discourse makes short daies and nights . 728. god provides for him that trusteth . 729. he that will not have peace , god gives him warre . 730. to him that will , waies are not wanting . 731. to a great night a great lanthorne . 732. to a child all weather is cold . 733. where there is peace , god is . 734. none is so wise , but the foole overtakes him . 735. fooles give , to please all , but their owne . 736. prosperity le ts goe the bridle . 737. the frier preached against stealing , and had a goose in his sleeve . 738. to be too busie gets contempt . 739. february makes a bridge and march breakes it . 740. a horse stumbles that hath foure legges . 741. the best smell is bread , the best savour , salt , the best love that of children . 742. that 's the best gowne that goes up and downe the house . 743. the market is the best garden . 744. the first dish pleaseth all . 745. the higher the ape goes , the more he shewes his taile . 746. night is the mother of councels . 747. gods mill grinds slow , but sure . 748. every one thinkes his sacke heaviest . 749. drought never brought dearth . 750. all complaine . 751. gamsters and race-horses never last long . 752. it 's a poore sport that 's nor worth the candle . 753. he that is fallen cannot helpe him that is downe . 754. every one is witty for his owne purpose . 755. a little lett lets an ill workeman . 756. good workemen are seldome rich . 757. by doing nothing we learne to do ill . 758. a great dowry is a bed full of brables . 759. no profit to honour , no honour to religion . 760. every sin brings it's punishment with it . 761. of him that speakes ill , consider the life more then the words . 762. you cannot hide an eele in a sacke . 763. give not s. peter so much , to leave saint paul nothing . 764. you cannot flea a stone . 765. the chiefe disease that raignes this yeare is folly . 766. a sleepy master makes his servant a lowt . 767. better speake truth rudely , then lye covertly . 768. he that feares leaves , let him not goe into the wood . 769 one foote is better then two crutches . 770. better suffer ill , then doe ill . 771. neither praise nor dispraise thy selfe , thy actions serve the turne . 772. soft and faire goes farre . 773. the constancy of the benefit of the yeere in their seasons , argues a deity . 774. praise none to much , for all are fickle . 775. it 's absurd to warme one in his armour . 776. law sutes consume time , and mony , and rest , and friends . 777. nature drawes more then ten teemes . 778. hee that hath a wife and children wants not businesse . 780. a shippe and a woman are ever repairing . 781. he that feares death lives not . 782. he that pitties another , remembers himselfe . 783. he that doth what he should not , shall feele what he would not . 784. hee that marries for wealth sells his liberty . 785. he that once hitts , is ever bending . 786. he that serves , must serve . 787. he that lends , gives . 788. he that preacheth giveth almes . 789. he that cockers his child , provides for his enemie . 790. a pittifull looke askes enough . 791. who will sell the cow , must say the word . 792. service is no inheritance . 793. the faulty stands on his guard . 794. a kinsman , a friend , or whom you intreate , take not to serve you , if you will be served neately . 795. at court , every one for himselfe . 796. to a crafty man , a crafty and an halfe . 797. hee that is throwne , would ever wrestle . 798. he that serves well needes not ask his wages . 799 faire language grates not the tongue . 800. a good heart cannot lye . 801. good swimmers at length are drowned . 802 good land , evill way . 803. in doing we learne . 804. it 's good walking with a horse in ones hand . 805. god , and parents , and our master , can never be requited . 806. an ill deede cannot bring honour . 807. a small heart hath small desires . 808. all are not merry that dance lightly . 809. curtesie on one side only lasts not long . 810. wine-counsels seldome prosper . 811. weening is not measure . 812. the best of the sport is to doe the deede , and say nothing . 813. if thou thy selfe canst doe it , attend no others helpe or hand . 814. of a little thing a little displeaseth . 815 ▪ he warmes too neere that burnes . 816. god keepe me from foure houses , an vsurers , a taverne , a spittle , and a prison . 817. in hundred elles of contention , there is not an inch of love . 818. doe what thou oughtest , and come what come can . 819. hunger makes dinners , pastime suppers . 820. in a long journey straw waighs . 821. women laugh when they can , and weepe when they will. 822. warre is deaths feast . 823. set good against evill . 824. hee that brings good newes knockes hard . 825. beate the dog before the lyon. 826. hast comes not alone . 827. you must loose a flie to catch a trout . 828. better a snotty child , then his nose wip'd off . 829. no prison is faire , not love foule . 830. hee is not free that drawes his chaine . 831. hee goes not out of his way , that goes to a good inne . 833. there come nought out of the sacke but what was there . 834. a little given seasonably , excuses a great gift . 835. hee lookes not well to himselfe that lookes not ever . 836. he thinkes not well , that thinkes not againe . 837. religion , credit , and the eye are not to be touched . 838. the tongue is not steele , yet it cuts . 839. a white wall is the paper of a foole . 840. they talke of christmas so long , that it comes . 841. that is gold which is worth gold . 842. it 's good tying the sack before it be full . 843. words are women , deedes are men . 844. poverty is no sinne . 845. a stone in a well is not lost . 846. he can give little to his servant , that lickes his knife . 847. promising is the eve of giving . 848. hee that keepes his owne makes warre . 849. the wolfe must dye in his owne skinne . 850. goods are theirs that enjoy them . 851. he that sends a foole expects one . 852. he that can stay obtaines . 853. hee that gaines well and spends well , needes no count booke . 854. he that endures , is not overcome . 855. he that gives all , before hee dies provides to suffer . 856. he that talkes much of his happinesse summons griefe . 857 hee that loves the tree , loves the branch 858. who hastens a glutton choakes him . 859. who praiseth saint peter , doth not blame saint paul. 860. he that hath not the craft , let him shut up shop . 861. he that knowes nothing , doubts nothing . 862. greene wood makes a hott fire . 863. he that marries late , marries ill . 864. he that passeth a winters day escapes an enemy . 865. the rich knowes not who is his friend . 866. a morning sunne , and a wine-bred child , and a latin-bred woman , seldome end well . 867. to a close shorne sheepe , god gives wind by measure . 868 a pleasure long expected , is deare enough sold. 869. a poore mans cow dies rich mans child . 870. the cow knowes not what her taile is worth , till she have lost it . 871. chuse a horse made , and a wife to make . 872. it 's an ill aire where wee gaine nothing . 873. hee hath not liv'd , that lives not after death . 874. so many men in court and so many strangers . 875. he quits his place well , that leaves his friend there . 876. that which sufficeth is not little . 877. good newes may bee told at any time , but ill in the morning . 878. hee that would be a gentleman , let him goe to an assault . 879. who paies the physitian , does the cure . 880. none knowes the weight of anothers burthen . 881. every one hath a foole in his sleeve . 882. one houres sleepe before midnight , is worth three after . 883. in a retreat the lame are formost . 884. it 's more paine to doe nothing then something . 885. amongst good men two men suffice . 886. there needs a long time to know the worlds pulse . 887. the ofspring of those that are very young , or very old , lasts not . 888. a tyrant is most tyrant to himselfe . 889. too much taking heede is losse . 890. craft against craft , makes no living . 891. the reverend are ever before . 892. france is a meddow that cuts thrice a yeere . 893. 't is easier to build two chimneys , then to maintaine one . 894. the court hath no almanack . 895. he that will enter into paradise . must have a good key . 896. when you enter into a house , leave the anger ever at the doore . 897. hee hath no leisure who useth it not . 898. it 's a wicked thing to make a dearth ones garner . 899. he that deales in the world needes foure seeves . 900. take heede of an oxe before , of an horse behind , of a monke on all sides . 901. the yeare doth nothing else but open and shut . 902. the ignorant hath an eagles wings , and an owles eyes . 903. there are more physitians in health then drunkards . 904. the wife is the key of the house . 905. the law is not the same at morning and at night . 906. warre and physicke are governed by the eye . 907. halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies . 908. death keepes no calender . 909. ships feare fire more then water . 910. the least foolish is wise . 911. the chiefe boxe of health is time . 912. silkes and satins put out the fire in the chimney . 913. the first blow is as much as two . 914 the life of man is a winter way . 915. the way is an ill neighbour . 916. an old mans staffe is the rapper of deaths doore . 917. life is halfe spent before we know , what it is . 918. the singing man keepes his shop in his throate . 919. the body is more drest then the soule . 920. the body is sooner drest then the soule . 921. the physitian owes all to the patient , but the patient owes nothing to him but a little mony . 922. the little cannot bee great , unlesse he devoure many . 923. time undermines us . 924. the chollerick drinkes , the melancholick eates ; the flegmatick sleepes . 925. the apothecaries morter spoiles the luters musick . 926. conversation makes one what he is . 927. the deafe gaines the injury . 928. yeeres know more then bookes . 929. wine is a turne-coate ( first a friend , then an enemy . ) 930. wine ever paies for his lodging . 931. wine makes all sorts of creatures at table . 932. wine that cost nothing is digested before it be drunke . 933. trees eate but once . 934. armour is light at table . 935. good horses make short miles . 936. castles are forrests of stones . 937. the dainties of the great , are the teares of the poore . 938. parsons are soules waggoners . 939. children when they are little make parents fooles , when they are great they make them mad . 940. the mr. absent , and the house dead . 941. dogs are fine in the field ▪ 942. sinnes are not knowne till they bee acted . 943. thornes whiten yet doe nothing . 944. all are presumed good , till they are found in a fault . 945. the great put the little on the hooke . 946. the great would have none great and the little all little . 947 the italians are wise before the deede , the germanes in the deede , the french after the deede . 949. every mile is two in winter . 950. spectacles are deaths harquebuze . 951. lawyers houses are built on the heads of fooles . 952. the house is a fine house , when good folke are within . 953. the best bred have the best portion . 954. the first and last frosts are the worst . 955. gifts enter every where without a wimble . 956. princes have no way . 957. knowledge makes one laugh , but wealth makes one dance . 958. the citizen is at his businesse before he rise . 959. the eyes have one language every where . 960. it is better to have wings then hornes . 961. better be a foole then a knave . 962. count not fowre except you have them in a wallett . 963. to live peaceably with all breedes good blood . 964. you may be on land , yet not in a garden . 965. you cannot make the fire so low but it will get out . 966. wee know not who lives or dies . 967. an oxe is taken by the horns , and a man by the tongue . 968. manie things are lost for want of osking . 969. no church-yard is so handsom , that a man would desire straight to bee buried there . 970. citties are taken by the eares . 971. once a yeare a man may say : on his conscience . 972. wee leave more to do when wee dye , then wee have done . 973. with customes wee live well , but lawes undoe us . 674 to speake of an vsurer at the table , marres the wine . 975. paines to get , care to keep , feare to lose . 976. for a morning raine leave not your journey . 977. one faire day in winter makes not birds merrie . 278 hee that learnes a trade hath a purchase made . 979. when all men have , what belongs to them , it cannot bee much . 980. though god take the sunne out of the heaven yet we must have patience . 981. when a man sleepes , his head is in his stomach . 982. when one is on horsebacke hee knowes all things . 983. when god is made master of a family , he orders the disorderly . 984. when a lackey comes to hells doore the devills locke the gates . 985. he that is at ease , seekes dainties . 986. hee that hath charge of soules , transports them not in bundles . 987. hee that tells his wife newes is but newly married . 988. hee that is in a towne in may , loseth his spring . 989. hee that is in a taverne , thinkes he is in a vine-garden . 990. he that praiseth himselfe , spattereth himselfe . 991. hee that is a master must serve ( another . ) 992. he that is surprized with the first frost , feeles it all the winter after . 993. hee a beast doth die , that hath done no good to his country . 994. he that followes the lord hopes to goe before . 995. he that dies without the company of good men , puts not himselfe into a good way . 996. who hath no head , needes no hatt . 997. who hath no hast in his businesse , mountaines to him seeme valleys . 998. speake not of my debts , unlesse you meane to pay them . 999. he that is not in the warres is not out of danger . 1000. he that gives me small gifts , would have me live . 1001. he that is his owne counsellor , knowes nothing sure but what hee hath laid out . 1002. he that hath lands hath quarrells . 1003. hee that goes to bed thirsty , riseth healthy . 1004. who will make a doore of gold must knock a naile every day . 1005. a trade is better then service . 1006 ▪ hee that lives in hope danceth without musick . 1007. to review ones store is to mow twice . 1008. saint luke was a saint and a physitian , yet is dead . 1009. without businesse debauchery . 1010. without danger we cannot get beyond danger . 1011. health and sicknesse surely are mens double enemies . 1012. if gold knew what gold is , gold would get gold i wis . 1013. little losses amaze , great , tame . 1014. chuse none for thy servant , who have served thy betters . 1015. service without reward is punishment . 1016. if the husband be not at home , there is nobodie . 1017. an oath that is not to bee made , is not to be kept . 1018. the eye is bigger then the belly . 1019. if you would bee at ease , all the world is not . 1020. were it not for the bone in the legge , all the world would turne carpenters ( to make them crutches . ) 1021. if you must flie , flie well . 1022. all that shakes falles not . 1023. all beasts of prey , are strong or treacherous . 1024. if the braine sowes not corne , it plants thistles . 1025. a man well mounted , is ever cholerick . 1026. every one is a master and servant . 1027. a piece of a churchyard fitts every body . 1028 ▪ one month doth nothing without another . 1029. a master of straw eates a servant of steele . 1030. an old cat sports not with her prey 1031. a woman conceales what shee knowes not . 1032. hee that wipes the childs nose , kisseth the mothers cheeke . finis . select and choyce observations, containing all the romane emperours the first eighteen by edward leigh ... ; the others added by his son henry leigh ... ; certain choyce french proverbs, alphabetically disposed and englished added also by the same edward leigh. leigh, edward, 1602-1671. 1657 approx. 450 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 146 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-08 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a47620 wing l1003 estc r11757 12591263 ocm 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a47620) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 63947) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 672:18) select and choyce observations, containing all the romane emperours the first eighteen by edward leigh ... ; the others added by his son henry leigh ... ; certain choyce french proverbs, alphabetically disposed and englished added also by the same edward leigh. leigh, edward, 1602-1671. leigh, henry, d. 1705. [2], 277 p. printed by roger daniel, for john williams ..., london : 1657. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project 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record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng emperors -rome -history. proverbs, french. 2004-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-04 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2004-04 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion select and choyce observations , containing all the romane emperours . the first eighteen by edward leigh m. a. of magdalene-hall in oxford , the others added by his son henry leigh , m. a. also of the same house . certain choyce french proverbs , alphabetically disposed and englished added also by the same edward leigh . london . printed by roger daniel , for john williams at the sign of the crown in s t paul's church-yard , 1657. to the right worshipful and his loving father henry legh esquire . loving father : how much i am obliged unto you both for my being and well-being , i desire now to testifie unto the world ; for though to requite your love and bounty , be not within the sphear of my activity , yet since the apostle * commandeth children to learn to requite their parents , and nature it self hath taught the unreasonable * creatures this lesson , i shall endeavour , ( god assisting me with his grace ) to pay that three-fold debt , of reverence , obedience , and gratitude , which all children owe to their parents : as aeschines therefore , when he saw his fellow-schollers give great gifts to socrates ( being poor , and having nothing else to bestow ) did give himself to socrates , professing to be wholly devoted unto him : so i shall ever devote my self unto your service , to whom ( next under god ) i owe my self , and those abilities i have , both natural , and which through gods blessing upon your liberal education , by a double apprentiship in two * famous and flourishing societies i have acquired . to expresse therefore my due observance , and gratefull recognition of your former care , and cost , and withal to give you some account of the fruitful spending of my time , i here present unto you some choyce observations concerning the tvvelve first caesars , emperours of rome . a work ( as i conceive ) both delightful , and useful , and therefore to you ( i hope ) not unwelcome ; as geographers express the whole world in a little map , so have i laboured graphically to describe these great monarchs of the world in a little model , neither strictly tying my self to any one historian , nor relating all the passages of their lives , but excerping out of the most principal * authors , such things of them as were most memorable . amongst all which writers ( though i confesse tacitus his stile is elegant , & full of wise sētentious * apotheg . ) i have chiefly followed suet. 1. because my worthy * tutor ( whosememory i shall ever honour ) made choice especially ( of that history to read to his pupils . 2 because his phrase is pure & polite , and himself a faithful historian : of whom it is recorded ( as i think ) by erasmus , that he wrote the lives of the romane emperours , prorsus ea libertate , quaipsi vixerunt , with the same freedom that they lived . alex. ab alex. genial . dier . lib. 1. c 1. calleth him sincerissimum . scriptorem , and ludov. * vives , incorruptissimum . and i desire to write as freely and unpartially of them , since i may say of them all , as tacitus doth of some of them , that they were mihi nec beneficio nec injuria cogniti ; only i shall herein fail , that i write not of these emperours stylo imperatorio , with a high and lofty stile . iulius caesar is here placed in the forefront , he being the first emperour . for this title was at the first given unto him , that had fought valiantly for his country and slain many enemies ; iulius * caesar ( having brought the greatest part of the then known world into the subjectiō of the romans ) was the first that was saluted by the title of absolute emperour , and all the emperours succeeding were called imperatores & caesares from him , mat. 22. 21. dunbar in his fifth century of epigrammes hath these verses of iulius caesars and pope gregories reforming the kalender . caesar gregoriusque annum dum jure reformant , deformant regnires sine jure , sui : scilicet antiqui facies à caesare regni versa est , à papa pristina religio : malo reformari civilem à caesare stammam . malo reformatam gregoriique fidem . the emperours after iulius caesar were called augusti from octavius , the second romane caesar , who revived the good lawes , and reformed the bad . but the emperours succeeding him , having more ●are to be great then good , rather raged then reigned , and the decrees of some of them , viz. tiberius and caligula , are witily termed furores non judicia . quatuor principes ferro interempti ( saith tacitus in his history ) four of these emperours were slain with the sword , galba , otho , vitellius , domitian : which three first plutarch compareth ( in regard of their short reign ) to kings in a tragedy , which last no longer then the time that they are represented on the stage , iulius caesar , and caligula were also slain , claudius , and titus were poisoned , nero slew himself , * augustus dyed in a complement , tiberius in dissimulation , galba with a sentence , vespasian with a jest , yet he died peaceably in his bed , which no emperour since augustus ever did . the * heathens shadowed the sting of conscience by the eagle or vulture that feed upon the heart of prometheus , and by the three virgins which they called furies , following men in a hideo●s form , with burning torches in their hands , which some of the worst of these heathen emperours really felt after their bloody cruelties , and verified that old * maxime , he must needs fear many , whom many fear . * caligula ( though he contemned the gods , as they called them ) yet at the least thundering and lightening would run under his bed , and cover his head . * nero that monster of mankind having killed his mother agrit●ina , could never after endure the worm and sting of conscience for his foul fact , but confessed that he was often haunted with the apparition of his mothers ghost , and tormented also with scourges , and burning torches of the furies . we may take notice of many morall vertues also in the best of these heathens , julius caesar , augustus vespasian , and titus that mirrour of humanity , and see in them the truth of that old maxime , magistratus virum indicat , a place sheweth the man , and it sheweth some to be better , some to be worse . it was said of caligula , that there was never better servant and worse master : omnium consensu capax imperii , nisi imperasset , saith tacitus of galba : but of vespasian he saith , solus imperatorum vespasianus mutatus in melius . but least i should be upbraided with the city of myndus , for making my porch too bigge , here will i cast anchor , ever remaining . your dutiful sonne to command edward leigh . iulius caesar. the iulii were so called ( saith alex. ab alex. ) à prima barbae lanugine , from the first wool or down of the beard . others think the name of the iulii came from iulus ascanius , the son of aeneas . at puer ascanius , cui nunc cog nomen iulo. he reformed the kalender which was then confused , and framed the whole year just unto the course of the sunne , that it should contain 365 dayes , and appointed that every fourth year a whole day should be inserted . therefore we call our year annum iulianum , and the kalender which we use calendarium iulianum , and that moneth which was by them called quintilis , because it was the fifth moneth , is now called iuly in honour of him . for his other name caesar , there are different opinions of the originall of it . some derive it à caesiis oculis , from his grey eyes . but suetonius * refutes that , and saith , he had black eyes . others say he was so called à caesarie , from a bush of hair with which he was born . some say he was * cut out of his mothers womb : although festus pompeius thinks , such are rather to be called caesones , and casaubon * rejecteth that etymologie . others derive it à caeso elephanto , from his grand-fathers killing an elephant , which in the carthaginian tongue is called caesar. sigonius speaks much of it , but so that it should seem to be ambiguae fidei , and therefore i shall leave it undermined . he was tall of stature , white , and clear of complexion , somewhat full faced , his limbs were well trussed , and in good plight , his eyes black , lively , and quick . he was also very healthfull , saving that in his latter dayes he was given to faint , and swoon suddenly . comitiali quoque morbo bis inter res agendas correptus est , saith suetonius , twice in the midst of his martial affaires , he was surprized with the falling sickness , which he stileth morbum comitialem , either because it chiefly invadeth , and seizeth on men in comitiis , in popular assemblies , or because their comitia , their parliaments or assemblies were dissolved , and broke up by occasion thereof , if any chanced to fall sick of that disease , they reputing such an accident to be a sinister presage . est morbi species subiti cui nomen ab illo est , quod fieri nobis suffragia justa recusant . saepe etenim membris acri languore caducis , concilium populi labes horrenda diremit . in eloquence and warlike feats together , he either equalled , or excelled the glory of the very best . eloquentiâ attigit summorum gloriam : re militari excessit . lipsius . caesar quine sçait moins bien faire , que bien dire . caesar who knows as well to write as fight . he held a sword in one hand , and a book in the other , with this motto , ex utroque caesar , emperour by both . he was counted the second man for eloquence in his time , and gave place to the first , because he would be the first and chiefest man of war , and authority . iulius caesar scalig●r writeth thus of him : duae sunt aquilae solae in natura rerum , altera bellicae laudis , altera literariae ; illa potentiae , haec sapientiae ; caesar & aristotles . exercit. 94. sect. 2. paterculus reckoning up the famous wits of those times saith , et proximum ciceroni caesarem . nay cicero himself in his catalogue of orators to brutus , * saith , he cannot see any to whom caesar might give place , and he highly commends him in his oration pro marcello . est ejus viri pura oratio , sine fuco ac calamistris ornata , vel romanis vel atticis musis dignissima . lipsius . aulus gellius scribit caesarem sermonis fuisse praeter alios suae aetatis castissimi . he left commentaries of his own acts , touching the gaule warre , and the civill warre , which ( s r. francis bacon * saith ) is the best history of the world . king iames exhorting his son to the study of history , above all prophane writers commendeth this book of caesars to his reading , both sor the sweet flowing of the stile , and the worthinesse of the matter in it self . he was a famous mathematician , and diligent in that study , as lucan writes of him . — media inter proelia semper stellarum , coelique plagis superisque vacavi . he could at one time read , and write , heare , and indite , and if he did nothing else , he could dictate to 7. actuaries or penmen at once . we ought to admire two things in him , which he had to perfection , and which render a commander excellent ; viz. that he forecast and provided for all things which might either further or hinder his designe before he undertook it ; and that in the very execution he failed not to take his advantage when occasion presented it , or to remedy upon the instant such unexpected accidents as befell ; wherein he hath been inimitable . the duke of rohan's observ . upon caes. com. l. 6. in his enterprises he was both valiant and fortunate , and therefore singled out for an idea , or pattern of an absolute generall , especially for four military properties very resplendent in him . first , laboriousnesse in his affaires . secondly , courage in his dangers . thirdly , industrious contriving of what he undertook . fourthly , quick dispatch in accomplishing what he had once begun . nam caesar in omnia praeceps , nil actum credens , si quid superesset agendum . quintus curtius speaking of alexander the great saith , nullam virtutem regis istius magis quam celeritatem laudaverim . i can commend no vertue more in this king then speed . in eleven dayes he marched with his army six hundred miles . suetonius affirmeth , that caesar did ever march formost before his troopes , and most commonly bare-headed , and on foot , whether the sun shined , or it rained . tully reports of him , that he was never heard to say to his souldiers , ite illuc , go forth thither , as if they should go forth upon service , and he tarry behind in his tent , but * venite huc , come ye hither . — ignave , venire te caesar , non ire jubet . pertinax was wont to say to his souldiers , militemus ; and severus septimius , laboremus : livie bringeth in valerius corvinus thus speaking ; facta mea , non dicta vos milites sequi volo , nec disciplinam modò , sed exemplum etiam à me petere . under his conduct were slain eleven hundred fourscore and two thousand enemies . he fought in pitched field two and fifty times , saith solinus , fifty saith pliny , and never was so much as in any hazard save only twice . he conquered all france , germany , discovered us britaines , and made us tributary ; and triumphed five times in rome with unspeakable admiration . it is observable , that in all his warres he hath alwaies been inferiour to his enemies in number ; for which cause he hath alwaies helped himself by fortifications , more then ever any other hath done , which he made much the better , when he found himself not sufficiently strong to give battel , as he was a long time in africa ; insomuch that scipio himself wondred at his coldness , nevertheless he alwaies continued his souldiers in exercise , and himself exercised new levied men , and entred them by small skirmishes , wherein by his industry for the most part he had the best , and alwaies attempted something upon his enemy . the duke of rohan's observ. on caesars comm. l. 5. tam celer in agendo & consulta exequendo , ut persaepe nuntios de se praevenerit . he is renowned for his celerity in doing , and preventing the very report of his coming . caesar hath made himself as much redoubted and admired by the great works which he caused his souldiers to make , as by his great battels . the duke of rohan's treatise of modern warre . cap. 4. having overcome king pharnaces , and being desirous to advertise one of his friends of his quick expedition in dispatching that war , he onely wrote three words unto an●tius at rome , veni , vidi , vici ; i came , i saw , i overcame . charles the fift emperor of germany said , veni , vidi , deus vicit . surius in bello germanico . he never put enemy to flight but he discamped him , and drave him out of the field : by this meanes he gave them whom he had once discomsited no time to bethink themselves . in any doubtfull and dangerous service , his manner was to send away the horses , and his own with the first , to the end that when all meanes of flight were gone , they might of necessity be forced the rather to stand to it , and abide to the last . he called not his souldiers milites , but commilitones : not plain souldiers , but by a more pleasing name , fellow-souldiers . he maintained them so trim and brave , that he stuck not to set them out in polished armour , damasked with silver and gold , as well for goodly shew , as because they should in * battel keep the same more surely for fear of damage and losse . he loved them so affectionately , that when he heard of tiberius his overthrow , and the legions with him : he suffered the haire of his head and beard to grow long , and would not cut the same before he had revenged their death . by which means he both had his souldiers most devoted unto him , and also made them truly valiant . he was so entirely beloved of his souldiers , that to do him service ( whereas otherwise they were but like other men in any other private quarrell ) if caesars honour were touched they were invincible , and would so desperately , and with such fury venter themselves , that no man was able to abide them . a private souldier of his fought so valiantly in britain , that by his meanes he saved the captaines , which otherwise were in great danger to have been cast away ( being driven into a bogge ; ) then marching with great pain through the mire and dirt , half swimming , and half a foot , in the end he got to the other side , but left his shield behind him : caesar wondering at his noble courage , ran to him with joy to embrace him : but the poor souldier hanging down his head , the water standing in his eyes , fell down at caesars feet , and besought him to pardon him for leaving his target behind him . petronius being taken by scipio , he said he would give him his life , but he answered him again , that caesar's souldiers did not use to have their lives given them , but to give others their lives ; and with these words he drew his sword and thrust himselfe through . caesar at alexandria being busie about the assault and winning of a bridge , was driven by a suddain sally of the enemies to take a boat , and many besides making hast to get into the same , he leapt into the sea , and by swimming almost a quarter of a mile recovered the next ship , bearing up his left hand all the while , for fear the writings which he held therein should take wet , and drawing his rich coat-armour after him by the teeth , because the enemy should not have it as a spoile . beholding advisedly the image , or portraiture of alexander the great in the temple of hercules at cales , at the sight thereof he fetched a deep sigh , as being ashamed that he had yet performed no memorable act at those years , wherein alexander had conquered the whole world . he was very much disquieted and dismayed with a dream the very night before , ( for he imagined in his sleep that he had carnal cōpany with his own mother : ) the diviners and wizards incited him to the hopes of most glorious achievements , making this exposition of his dream , that thereby was portended unto him the soveraignty of the whole world ; for his mother whom he saw under him , betokened the subjection of the earth , which is counted the mother of all things . there were two factions in rome at that time , sylla was the chief of the one , and marius of the other ; marius stood for the people , and sylla defended the nobles . marius and all his confederates were proclaimed traitors , and enemies to the common-wealth . sylla determining to kill caesar , some of his friends told him , that it was to no purpose to put so young a boy as he was to death : but sylla answered again , caesari multos marios inesse , that there were many marii in that one boy , implying , that he would be a great enemy unto their state . when the day of election for summus pontifex came , he told his mother kissing him , that that day she should see her son chief bishop of rome , or banished from rome . he said , he had rather be the chiefest man in a poor village , then the second person in rome . nec quenquam jam ferre potest caesarve priorem , pompejusve parem . — he did extremely affect the name of king , and some were set on as he passed by , in popular acclamation to salute him king ; whereupon finding the cry weak and poor , he put it off thus in a kind of jest , as if they had mistaken his sirname , non rex sum , sed caesar. he often used these verses of euripides , which he himself thus translated . nam si violandum est jus , imperii causâ violandum est , aliis rebus pietatem colas . he alone managed all the affaires of state : his collegue or fellow-consull did nothing , in so much as divers citizens pleasantly conceited , whensoever they signed , subscribed , or dated any writings to stand upon records , would merrily put it down thus ; such a thing was done not when caesar , and bibulus , but when iulius and caesar were consuls : setting down one and the same man twice by his name and sirname ; yea , and soon after these verses were commonly currant . non bibulo quidquam nuper , sed caesare factum est : nam bibulo fieri consule , nil memini . caesar of late did many things , but bibulus not one : for nought by consul bibulus can i remember done . he was such an excellent rider of a horse from his youth , that holding his hands behind him he would gallop his horse upon the spur . the horse he used to ride upon was strangely marked , with feet resembling very near a mans , and the hoofes cloven like toes : * the beast would abide no man else to ride him , and he himself was the first that backed him . when one brought him his horse to get upon , which he used in battel , he said unto him , when i have overcome mine enemies i will get upon him to follow the chase , but now let us give them charge . benignitate adeò praeditus , ut quos armis subegerat , clementiâ magis vicerit . he was of so good a nature , that such as he subdued by battell , he more overcame with gentlenesse . he said the greatest pleasure he took of his victories was , that he daily saved the lives of some of his country-men that bare armes against him . caesar dando , sublevando , ignoscendo , gloriam adeptus est . salust . in bel . catilin . when pompey's head was presented to him , vberrimas lachrymas profudit , he wept bitterly , and caused him to be honourably buried , saying , ego pompeii casum deploro , & meam fortunam metuo , i lament pompey's fall , and fear mine own fortune . when he found many letters in pompey's coffers , wherein divers testified their good will unto pompey , and their hatred towards him , he neither read them nor copied them out , but presently burnt them , least being exasperated by them , he should have been forced to have committed some greater evil . when pompey's images had been thrown down he caused them to be set up again , and cicero thereupon used this speech , that caesar in setting up pompey's images again , made his own to stand surer . he accounted his conquest of the two pompeys ( sons to pompey the great ) in andaluzia in spain the most glorious of all his victories , for he would often say afterwards , that at others times he fought for fame and victory , but that day he fought for his life , which he had never fought for before . when some of his friends did counsell him to have a guard for the safety of his person , and some also did offer themselves to serve him , he would never consent unto it , but said , it was better to dye once , then alwaies to be afraid of death . he said also , mori se quam timeri malle , saith , paterculus , when some advised him to keep by armes what he had got by armes . when he was hindered by one of the tribunes from taking some of the common treasure out of saturnes temple , and told that it was against the law , tush , said he , time of warre and law are two things . that speech of his was compounded both of terrour and clemency , to metellus the tribune ; for caesar entring into the inner treasury of rome to take the money there kept , metellus forbad him ; whereto caesar said , that if he did not desist he would lay him dead in the place ; and presently taking himself up , he added , young man , it is harder for me to speake it then do do it . * he was a spare drinker of wine , as his very enemies confessed , whence arose that apothegme of cato , that of all that ever were , caesar alone came sober to the overthrow of the state . he was the first that devised the way for friends to talke together by writing cyphers in letters , when he had no leisure to speake with them for his urgent businesse , and for the great distance from rome . he said , caesars wife ought not only to be without fault , but also without all suspition of fault . being certified that cato had slain himself with his own hands , he seemed to be very sorry for it , and said , o cato , i envie thy death , because thou didst envie my glory to save thy life . cicero wrote a book in commendation of cato , to justify that action , which caesar answered with another , which he called anti-cato , both which are lost . schildius out of beroaldus saith , cicero wrote a book intituled cato , in commendation of him , which vexed caesar , because he conceived the commendation of the other tended to his dispraise , and therefore he wrote two bookes against cato , discovering his crimes , called anti-catones . being in a pinnase or small boat in a great storm , he said to the master of it : fellow , be of good cheer , for thou hast caesar and his fortune with thee . [ so charles the fifth taking his horse to rush into the main battel , was requested to forbear , but he answered , an emperour was never shot through with a bullet . so william the second of england , comming to imbark at portsmouth , the master told him the weather was rough , and there was no passing without imminent danger , tush , said he , set forward , i never yet heard of a king that was drowned , dan. hist. ] yet i may say of him as our chronicler doth of one of our english kings , inerant illi confuso quodam temperamento , virtutes magnae & vit●a non minora . suetonius and others , speake of his unnaturall uncleannesse , and prodigious prodigality . he stole out of the capitol 108000. pounds ( reduced to our money ) in gold at once , gave to servilia a jewell which cost him 46875. pounds , owed 1953125. pounds more then he was worth by his own confession . his shewes , and publike donations , in costlinesse are almost invaluable . about the trimming of his body he was over curious , so as he would not only be shaven very precisely , but also have his hair plucked . the chiefest cause that made him mortally hated , was his excessive desire of honour , and his slighting the senators . when his friends complained unto him of antonius and dolabella , that they intended some mischief towards him , he answered them again , as for these fat men , and smooth-combed-heads , quoth he , i never reckon of them , but those pale-visaged , and carrion lean people , i fear them most , meaning brutus and cassius . he never refused to fight but in his latter dayes , being then of this opinion , that the oftner he had gotten●victory , the lesse he was to venture , and make trial of fortune : also that a victory could gain him nothing so much as some disastrous calamity might take from him . there conspired against him more than threescore , the heads of which conspiracy were cassius and brutus . he had fair warning of his death before it came , by many evident prodigies ; fires were seen in the element , and spirits running up and down in the night , and solitary birds at noon-day sitting in the great market-place ; as the bird regaliolus did flye with a little branch of lawrell into the court of pompeius , a sort of other birds of divers kinds from out of the grove hard by pursued after , and there pulled it in pieces . caesar sacrificing to the gods , found that one of the beasts which was sacrificed , had no heart , and that was a strange thing in nature , how a beast could live without a heart . there was a certain south-sayer that had given caesar warning long before , to take heed of the day of the ides of march ( which is the fifteenth of the moneth , ) for on that day he should be in a great danger . that day being come , caesar going unto the senate-house , and speaking merrily to the south-sayer , told him , the ides of march were come : so they be , softly answered the south-sayer , but yet they are not past . [ christianus matthias theat . histor. theoret . pract. in iul. cap. 3. hath an elegant and memorable parallel history . henry the 4. king of france was disswaded from going abroad that day he was slain ▪ by some ; as a day mark't out by astrologers to portend danger to his person : yet he , a second caesar as well in the course of his life as of his death , was little sway'd therewith , but like a king , and a christian replied ; that it was an offence to god to give credit to these prognostiques , and that having god to his guard , he feared no man. the life and death of henry the 4. ] the night before this discourse had with the south-sayer , all the windowes and doores of his chamber did flye open , and his wife calphurnia dreamed that caesar was slain , and that she had him in her arms . he was stabbed with 23. wounds ; he onely gave one groane at the first thrust , without uttering any words . some say , that as m. brutus came running upon him , he said , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; and thou my son ? all men are of opinion , that such a death befell unto him as he desired ; for when he had read in xenophon how cyrus being at the point of death , gave order for his funeral , he seting light by so slow and lingering a kind of death , wished to dye quickly and of a suddain . the very day before he was killed , in a certain discourse moved at supper in marcus lepidus his house , upon that point , which was the best end of a mans life ? he preferred that which was suddain and unlooked for . he dyed in the 56. year of his age ; et in deorum numerum relatus est , he was made a god after death ( which could not defend himself from death , from cruell murther ) and that , non * ore modo decernentium , sed & persuasione vulgi , not only by their voyce which decreed such honour unto him , but also by perswasion of the common people . a comet shined then for seven dayes together , arising about the eleventh hour of the day , and it was believed by those blind heathen to be caesars soul , who had been a comet of combustion to the world . — micat inter omnes iulium sidus , velut inter ignes luna minores . also upon his image there is a star set to the very crown of his head . of these murtherers there was not one that either survived him above three years , or dyed a naturall death . all stood condemned , and by one mishap or other perished ; some by shipwrack , others by battel , and some again shortned their own dayes with the very same dagger wherewith they had wounded caesar : cassius , as plutarch reporteth , and brutus according to dion . choyce observations of octavius avgustvs . he was styled by the name of augustus , i. e. worshipfull or sacred , which they thought to be a name of reverence and majesty , because all consecrated and hallowed places were called loca augusta . that moneth which was by them called sextilis , because it was their sixth moneth , is called augustus in honour of him , and things of greatest splendour are called augustissima . iulius caesar was his great uncle , but his father by adoption . he was called octavius from his father , and augustus from his victory . a man most nobly descended ; for riches , honour , friends , empire , fortunate victories , almost adored ; for bodily good things , of comely stature , forma eximia & per omnes aetatis gradus venustissima . of most amiable visage , and that also majesticall by his bright and shining eyes , quibus etiam existimari volebat inesse quiddam divini vigoris . wherein also ( as he would have men believe ) was seated a kind of divine vigor : and he joyed much , if a man looking wishly upon him , held down his face , as it were against the brightnesse of the sun ; therefore a certain souldier turned away his eyes from beholding his face , and he demanding the reason why he did so , he answered ; quia fulmen oculorum tuorum ferre non possum . his hair was somewhat yellow , and his body freckled with spots , which his flatterers would have the world believe were in form like stars . he was indeed somewhat low , neverthelesse of a comely stature , five foot and nine inches , the just measure ( saith one ) of our late famous queen elizabeth , who as she matched that roman emperour in happinesse , and duration of reigne , so did she likewise in the stature of her body . cities were called caesareae in honour of him , so in honour of our virgin queen was there a country called virginia . augustus imperii formator , ne dominum quidem dici se volebat . augustus the founder of the roman empire ( for his father caesar was but metator rather then imperator , the chalker of it out , then the setter of it up ) this great man would not be called lord. upon the same day that our saviour was born , he forbad them by edict to call him lord , that all lordship might be ascribed to him . in his time our saviour was born , imperante augusto natus est christus , imperante tiberio crucifixus . he consulting with the oracle of delphos about his successour , received this answer : puer hebraeus diis beatis imperans , jubet me hanc domum linquere , & rursus in orcum reverti : quod superest , abi tacitus ex aris nostris . whereupon augustus coming home , in the capitol erected an altar , and thereon in capitall letters caused this inscription to be ingraven , haec est ara primogeniti dei. he is mentioned in the scripture , luke 2. 1. there came an edict from augustus caesar that all the world should be taxed , i. e. all the provinces subject to the roman empire , for the romans called themselves lords of the whole world . he made not war upon any people without just and necessary causes ; his saying was , that neither battel nor war was to be undertaken , unlesse there might be evidently seen more hope of gain then fear of damage . he likened such who sought after small commodities with great danger , unto those that angle with a golden hook , which if it be broken off , no draught of fish whatsoever is able to make amends for the losse . [ that was prudent advice of henry the fourth k. of france , to henry the third his brother , who would needs with those small forces they had , salley out of tours upon the great army of charles duke of mayen ; sire ( quoth he ) n'hazardons pas un double henry , contre un carolus , i. e. let us not venter a double ducket for a single penny . ] he was so troubled and astonished at the relation of a foyl and overthrow of varus , that for certain moneths together he let the hair of his beard and head grow still , and wore it long ; yea , and otherwhiles would run his head against the doores , crying out , quintilius varus , deliver up my legions again . suetonius . he deemed nothing lesse beseeming a perfect and accomplished captain , then temerity , or rashnesse : using this speech , satis celeriter fieri , quicquid commodè geritur , that is done soon enough which is done well enough . he was so exceedingly delighted with that proverbiall saying , festina lentè , that he would not onely use it frequently in his daily colloquies , but would insert it often in his epistles ; admonishing by these two words , that to effect any enterprise , both the speedinesse of industry , and the slownesse of diligence should concurre . the city being not adorned according to the majesty of such an empire , and subject to the casualties of deluges and fires , he beautified and set out so , as justly he made his boast , that whereas he found it built of brick , he left it all of marble . augusto profiuens & quae principem deceret , eloquentia fuit . tacitus . he had a ready , fluent , and eloquent speech , such as well became a prince . seeing upon a time a number of citizens clad all in black , assembled to hear a publick speech , he with great indignation cryed out , behold , romanos rerum dominos , gentemque togatam ▪ the romans , lords of all the world , and long rob'd nation . he never recommended his sons unto the people , but with this clause added thereto , if they shall deserve . he gave charge to the praetors of rome , ne paterentur nomen suum obsolefieri , not to suffer his name to be worn thread-bare . he would never lye awake in the * dark without one sitting by his bed side . * macrobius writes of him , that he carried such an entire and fatherly affection to the common-wealth , that he called it , ●il●am suam , his own daughter ; and therefore refused to be called dominus , the lord or master of his country , and would onely be called pater patriae , the father of his country , because be governed it not per timorem , sed per amorem , not by fear , but by love . he would not lightly depart forth of the city , or any town , nor enter into any place but in the evening , or by night , for disquieting any person in doing him honour by way of dutifull attendance . sueton. the beginning of friendship between him and cinna was strange ; cinna had conspired against his life : after augustus had discovered to him all his conspiracy which he knew , he said , i have given thee thy life twice ; first as an enemy , then a rebel , and now i give thee the consulship . let us now be friends , and henceforth strive , whether i have with a better faith given thee thy life , or thou owest it to me . augustus ( saith suetonius in vita august . ) had not thenceforward in all rome a greater friend then cinna , while he lived , and when he died , cinna made him sole heire . vide senec. l. 1. de clement . c. 9. this was duely observed , that how often soever he entred rome , no punishment that day was inflicted upon any person . qui cum triste aliquid statuit , fit tristis & ipse ; cuique fere poenam sumere , poena sua est . he was grieved himself when he pronounced a grievous sentence , and he thought himself punished when he punished others . quique dolet , quoties cogitur esse ferox . * rarus quidem ad recipiendas amicitias , ad retinendas constantissimus . he would not suddenly entertain a league of friendship with any , but was a constant friend to those he loved . — amare nec citò desisto , nec temerè incipio . late ere i love , as long ere i leave . dion reporteth of him that when he gave commandment to take tribute of the jews , he would not suffer it to be taken from them on their sabbath , but caused them to delay it till the next day . he slept but upon a low bed , and the same but meanly spread , and laid with coverlets . he seldom wore any apparel but of huswives cloth , made within the house by his wife , his sister , and daughter . he was a man of very little meat , and fed for the most part on cheat bread and small fishes . he caused the bones of thallus ( who had opened a letter committed to his trust ) to be broken , to the terrour of such untrusty attendants . suetonius . by one speech he did appease a tumultuous army , audite juvenes senem , quem juvenem senes audiverunt . ye young men hearken to me now old , whom old men have hearkened unto when young . he had a special care to expresse his mind and meaning most plainly , and reprehended marcus antonius for writing such things , that men did rather wonder at then understand . it was elegantly said of him , i hate alike as departing from the mean , both antiquaries , and affectors of novelties . he did not so much observe orthographie , i. e. the form and precise rule of writing set down by grammarians , but seemed to follow their opinion who think men should write according as they speak . he could not away so much as with the winter sun-shine , and therefore at home he never walked up and down in the aire , without a broad-brim'd hat upon his head . in generall salutations he admitted the very commons , entertaining the suits and desires of all commers with so great humanity , as that he rebuked one of them merrily , because in reaching unto him a supplication , he did it so timorously , as if he had been reaching meat to an elephant . augustus militem donis , populum annona , cunctos dulcedine otii pellexit . tacit. lib. 1. annal. he won the souldiers with gifts , the people with provision of victuals , and all with the sweetnesse of rest and peace . he said of tiberius , miserum populum romanum , qui sub tam lentis maxillis erit , o unhappy people of rome , that shall be under such a slow paire of jawes . by this enigmaticall speech , he compared the state of the people of rome unto the miserable case of one , whom some savage and cruel beast hath gotten between his teeth , not devouring and dispatching him at once , but there holdeth and cheweth him a long while in exceeding paine ; alluding to the secret malice and dreaming nature withall of tiberius . to expresse the speedy expedition of a thing done hastily , he used this proverb , citius quam asparagi coquantur . quicker ( would he say ) then sparages can be sodden . beholding certain rich strangers and forrainers at rome carrying whelps of doggs and apes in their bosomes , and making much of them , he did ask , whether women brought not forth children in their countries ? hereby giving a worthy and princely admonition to them who do consume and wast upon beasts , the naturall affection and love due to men . when he purposed never to do what he was requested , he was wont by way of proverb to say , that he would do it , ad calendas graecas , i. e. in our english proverb , at later lammas , never . he was so much afraid of thunder and lightning , that he ever carried about with him for a preservative remedy a seales * skin ; yea , and whensoever he suspected there would be any extraordinary storm or tempest , he would retire himself into a close secret room under ground , and vauled above head . in his time warres ceased , and learning chiefly flourished . the temple of ianus was then shut in rome , peace being generall through the whole world . ianum quirini clausit : et ordinem rectum , & vaganti fraena licentie . injecit , emovitque culpas , et veteres revocavit artes . our saviour was born in the 42. year of his reigne say epiphanius and eusebius ; 41. say tertullian , and irenaeus . receiving a challenge from anthony , he returned him this answer , that if anthony had a disposition to dye , or were weary of life , there were waies enough else to death besides that . thus the challenge was rejected , and yet his honour untainted . affectabat jocos , salvo tamen ma●estatis pudorisque respectu . he was very pleasant , and had both an excellent dexterity in breaking of jests , and was very patient likewise in bearing of flouts . * probrosis in se dictis arrisit . he made himself merry with reprochful speeches touching himself , therein manifesting his clemency , and also his wisedome . when he had by proclamation promised a great sum of money to him that should bring in that famous pirate corocota , and put him in his power ; he knowing the emperors mild and pleasant vein , took the boldnesse to come himself , and told him that he was corocota which came to submit himself , and demanded the sum promised to him that should bring him in ; augustus both pardoned him , and gave him the money . dion . macrobius reporteth of him , that when he heard that at the commandment of herod , all the children of syria under two yeares old were slain , and that in the stirre his own son was also slain ; melius est ( inquit ille ) herodis porcum esse quam puerum . i had rather ( saith he ) be herods swine then his son . he commanded herennius a dissolute young man to depart out of the camp , and when he submissively entreated him not to send him home , alledging that he could not tell what to say to his father , he answered , dic me tibi displicuisse , say , that i displeased thee . when pacuvius did petere ab eo congiarium , and said , that it was commonly spoken among men , that he had given him a great deal of money , sed tu , inquit , noli credere . galba , who had a crooked back pleading before him , and often saying , corrige in me si quid reprehendis , if you find any fault in me correct it ; augustus answered , ego te monere possum , corrigere non possum , i can but admonish thee , i cannot correct thee . being entertained by one at a banquet very meanly and sparingly , after all was finished he departed , and at his farewell onely whispered this in his ear , non putabam me tibi tam familiarem , i did not think we had been so familiar . when one tilled the place where his father was buried , he said , hoc verè est monumentum patris colere . he was cholerick by nature , but his patience in bearing of bitter jests deserved much to be commended . a certain countrey-man came to rome , who did much resemble him in outward feature , insomuch that all mens eyes were cast upon him , and augustus hearing of it , caused him to be brought before him , asking him this question , whether his mother had ever been at rome ; the young man answered , no , but his father had oftentimes . he sitting between virgil and horace , being asked by one what he did , answered , sedeo inter suspiria & lachrymas ; per suspiria , intelligens virgilium suspirabundum , & per lachrymas , horatium lippientem . he hearing that a certain gentleman of rome ( who was deeply indebted ) did sleep most securely , desired to buy the bed whereupon he rested ; it seeming a matter of much marvel to him , that one fallen into so deep arrerages could take his rest so well . when a souldier bragged too much of a great scarre in his forehead , he asked him if he did not get it when he looked back as he fled . he wrote a tragedie called ajax , which afterwards ( because it displeased him ) he blotted out with a spunge . therefore when lucius a writer of tragedies , asked him what his ajax did ? caesar very wittily answered , in spongiam incubuit , alluding to the argument of the fable , in which ajax when he knew what things he had spoken and done in his madnesse , lying upon his sword kild himself . besides the pretty allusion unto the fabulous history of ajax , torrentius hath observed in the word spongia a double signification , viz. a spunge called deletilis , which writers had at hand , either to wipe and wash out what misliked them , or to blur and blot the same ; whereupon martial saith of it , vtilis haec quoties scripta novare voles : and also a sword , which addeth the better grace unto the conceit , considering that ajax fell upon his own sword . having conquered his enemy , and returning home victorious , amongst others that came to congratulate his happy conquest , there was one holding a crow , which he had taught to say , ave caesar , victor , imperator , god save the emperour , and conquerer . he wondering to see the bird so officious , gave a great sum of money for him . his fellow workman to whom none of that liberality came , affirmed that he had at home another crow for caesar , which he intreated he might bring ; being brought , he expressed the words which he had learned , ave victor , imperator antoni . the emperour being nothing provoked therewith , thought it sufficient to bid him divide the donative with the other : being saluted in like manner of a parret , he caused him to be bought . this example allured a poor cobler to try whether he could teach a crow to use the like salutation , but he being at great expences in vain , was wont often to say , opera & impensa periit , all my paines and charge is lost ; but at the last the crow began to utter the same salutation , which augustus once hearing as he passed by , he answered , satis domi salutatorum talium hab●o , i have such saluters enough at home . the crow remembred to adde that which he had heard his master complaining say , opera & impensa periit , at which caesar laughed , and gave more for him then any of the rest that he had bought . quis expedivit psittaco suum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ? corvos quis olim concavum salutare , picasque docuit verba nostra conari ? magister artis , ingenique largitor venter , negatas artifex sequi voces . he wrote a bitter satyre against a poet , but he wiped his lips and replved not , saying , periculosum est in eum scribere qui potest proscribere . suetonius writeth of him , that he loved the expressions of the good will of his friends , and especially such as appeared by some legacy given at their death : but yet whatsoever it was , he would return it at one time or other to their children with advantage . he wished three things to his son , the favour of pompey , the boldnesse of alexander , and his own fortune . he was not without his vices , being very impatient , secretly envious , and openly factious , very desirous to rule , and much given to dicing . though he was a man severe enough , yet he did not know the exceeding wantonnesse of iulia his own daughter , and her open and audacious boldnesse ; but suetonius seemes to be of a contrary opinion , for he saith , that he was much ashamed of her , and that once he thought to put her to death . and when a freed woman of his named phoebe , one that was privy to julia's lewdnesse , knit her own neck in a halter , and so ended her daies , he gave it out , that he wisht with all his heart he had been phoeb'es father . out of great indignation against his two daughters , and posthumus agrippa his grand-child , whereof the first two were * infamous , and the last otherwise unworthy , he would say , that they were not his seed , but some impostume broken from him , and he used this verse of them , o utinam aut coelebs mansissem , aut prole carerē ! he was almost peerelesse in his government , yet there are to be found so many misfortunes in his life , that a man cannot easily discern whether he was more miserable , or more happy . bonam mortem putabat celerem & insperatam , quae nulla aegritudine pulsaret fores : so often as he heard of a man that had a quick passage with little sence of grief , he wished for himself and his such euthanasy , such an easie death . he being at the point to dye , thus addressed himself ; called for his looking-glasse , commanded to have his hair and beard combed , et malas labentes corrigi , his riveled cheeks smoothed up ; then asking his friends if he had acted his part well , cum it a responderint , vos omnes igitur , inquit , plaudite . aulus gellius mentioneth , that he sent a letter unto his step-son to this effect , rejoyce with me my son , for i have past over that deadly year and enemy to old age , threescore and three , in which number the sevenths and ninths do concur . he lived fifteen yeers after christ was born , and dyed in his 76. year . he was beloved of his people , for they erected a statue to musas the physitian who in a sicknesse recovered him , and placed it by aesculapius : and the senate much honoured him being dead , by consecrating temples to him at rome , and in other famous cities , and all the people much lamented his death , using that speech , vtinam aut non nasceretur , aut non moreretur , would he had never been born , or never dyed . paterculus said of the roman empire after augustus death , when there was such hope of enemies , feare of friends , expectation of trouble in all , tanta fuit unius viri majestas , ut nec bonis , neque contra malos opus armis foret● such was the majesty of one man , that his very presence tooke away all use of armes . choyce observations of tiberius caesar . livia his mother , whiles she went with child of him , among many and sundry experiments which she made , and signes that she observed ( and all to know whether she should bring forth a man-child or no ) took closely an egge from under a henne that was sitting , and kept it warm , sometime in her own , otherwhiles in her womans hands by turns one after another , so long untill there was hatched a cock-chicken with a notable combe upon the head . and when he was but a very babe , scribonius the astrologer gave out , and warranted great matters of him , and namely , that he should one day reigne as monarch , but yet without the royall ensignes , for as yet the soveraigne power of the caesars was unknown . he was of personage tall , corpulent , big set and strong , of stature above the ordinary , broad between the shoulders , and large breasted , fair of complexion , great goggle-eyed , whereby he saw so clearly as is incredible to report . he used both hands alike ; * his joynts were so firm , that with his finger he was able to boar through a green and sound table , with a fillop also to break the head of a good big boy ; his speech was exceeding slow , not without a certain wanton gesticulation and fumbling with his fingers . he refused the empire a long time , putting on a most impudent and shamelesse mind , and seeming to rebuke his friends encouraging him thereto , as those who knew not what a monstrous and untamed beast an empire was . he also held the senate in suspence by ambiguous answers , and crafty delayes , when they besought him to take it upon him , yea and humbly debased themselves before his knees , insomuch as some of them could endure him no longer , and one among the rest in that tumult cryed out aloud , let him either doe it at once , or else give over quite ; and another openly to his face upbraided him in these words , caeteri , quod pollicentur tardè praestant , tu quod praestas tardè polliceris . whereas other men be slack in doing and performing that which they have promised , thou art slack in promising that which thou performest . in the end , as if he had been compelled , and complaining withall that there was imposed upon his shoulders a miserable and burdensome servitude , he took the empire upon him . the cause of this holding off and delay that he made , was the fear of imminent dangers on every side , in so much as he would often say , lupum se auribus tenere , he held a wolf by the ears . hee knowing excellently well how to conceal his own private passions , made himself be known to be an excellent doctor in the cunning art of discovering other mens thoughts , by which he may be said to set the roof over the roman monarchy . advertisements from parnassus by bocalini . century 2. advertis . 33. see more there . he was very patient when any bad rumours or slanderous libels were cast out , either of himself or those about him , and was wont to say ( how wisely i determine not ) in civitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere , that in a free state men ought to have both tongue and thought free . he taxed the indiscretion of the ilienses comforting him long after the death of his son , with this answer , that he also was very sorry for them , because they had lost that worthy citizen hector , one dead many hundred years before . he was mild and gracious at the first , and seemed to be enclined to the good of the common-wealth : when the presidents and governours abroad gave him counsell to burthen the provinces with heavie tributes and taxes ; he wrote back unto them , boni pastoris est tondere pecus , non deglubere , that it was the part of a good shepheard to shear his sheep , and not to flea them . he held it good policy not to change his officers often , lest new ones succeeding should oppresse the people too much ; whereas the old having meanes to enrich themselves , would not so fleece them in the latter end as at the beginning , making hast to do it , lest they were removed before they could feather their nests well . see montagues acts and monum . of the church . c. 5. p. 37. that by his own example he might put forward the publick frugality , he himself at his solemn and festivall suppers , caused oftentimes to be served up to the board viands dressed the day before , and those half eaten , saying , that the side of a wild boar had in it the same of the whole . one there was who called him dominus , that is , sir , but he gave him warning not to name him any more by way of contumely . another chanced to say , his sacred business ; and a third again , that he went into the senate , auctore se , that is , by his warrant or authority . he caused them both to change those words , and for auctore to say suasore , that is , by his advise and counsell ; and in stead of sacred , to put in laborious and painfull . quotidiana oscula prohibuit edicto , item strenarum commercium . he forbad expresly by edict the usuall and daily kisses commonly given and taken , likewise the entercourse of new-yeares gifts to and fro . suetonius writeth of him , that he did iura omnibus ferè asylis adimere , take away the priviledge of almost all their sanctuaries , because he observed the licentious abuse of them . at length he discovered those vices , which with much adoe for a long time he had cloaked and concealed . he was very cruell , covetous , and libidinous . he spent with flaccus pomponius and l. piso , a whole night and two dayes ou●right in nothing else but eating and drinking ; giving the province of syria into the government of the first , and conferring the provostship of rome on the other , professing even in all his letters , that they were jucundissimi , & omnium horarum amici , his most pleasant companions , and friends at all assaies . propter nimiam vini aviditatem , for his excessive love of wine and hot waters , or because he loved to drink wine hot , which is delicate , * he was for tiberius named biberius , for claudius , caldius , for nero , mero . one gives this reason of his drunkennesse , because his nurse that gave him suck would drink exceedingly her self , and nourished him with sops soaked in wine . a lombard , for drinking in his presence three gallons of wine at one dr●ught , and before he took his breath again , was dubbed knight by him , and sirnamed tricongius , the three-gallon knight . he erected a new office , à voluptatibus , for the devising of new pleasures , wherein he placed priscus a gentleman of rome , and one who had been censor . he advanced sejanus to the highest place of authority , not so much for any good will , as to be his instrument for the accomplishing his wicked purposes . he put to death a souldier one of his own guard , for stealing a peacock out of a garden . theodorus gadareus his master observing his bloody disposition , called him , lutum sanguine maceratum , a lump of clay soaked in blood ; these verses were cast out of him : fastidit vinum , quia jam suit iste cruorem ; ●am bibit hunc avidè , quàm bibit antè merum . he loat●eth wine , and now he aft●r blood doth thirst ; drinkes this as greedily as wine he drank at first . he thought simple death so light a punishment , that when he heard that carnul●us one of the prisoners had laid violent hands on himself , he cryed out , carnulius me evas●t , carnulius hath escaped my hands . his saying was , oderint dum probent , let them hate me so long as they suffer my proceedings to passe . nullus à poena hominum cessavit dies , ne religiosus quidem ac sacer . there passed not a day over his head , no not so much as any festivall and religious holy day , without execution and punishment of some : many were accused and condemned , together with their children and wives . straight commandment was given , that ●he near kinsfolkes of such persons as were condemned to dye should not mourn and lament for them . no informer and promoter was discredited , but his prefentment taken , and every crime and trespasse was accounted capitall . he said to one that requested death rather than long imprisonment , nondum tecum redii in gratiam , thou art not yet reconciled to me that i should shew thee such favour . because virgins by a received custome were not to be strangled ; he caused the hangman first to defloure a virgin , and then to strangle her . among other kinds of torment he devised , that when men had drunk largely of strong wine , their privy parts should be fast bound with lute-strings , that so for want of means to avoid their urine , they might indure intollerable pain . faelicem priamum vocabat , quod superstes omnium suorum extitisset . he called priamus happy , in that he over-lived all his sons and daughters . he feared thunder exceedingly , and when the air or weather was any thing troubled , he ever carried a chaplet or wreath of lawrell about his neck , because that ( as pliny reporteth ) is never blasted with lightning . he loved liberall sciences most affectionately , he would do things better of a sudden , ex tempore , then upon study and premeditation , repentinis responsionibus aut consiliis melior , quàm meditatis . he was much addicted to astrologicall predictions , and such curious arts , so that the greater part of those things which he executed in all his life time was ordered thereby ; he gave the more credit to divination , because in certain things he had found the conjectures correspondent to truth . he seeing galba one day coming towards him , spake thus of him to certain of his familiars , behold the man that shall be one day honoured with the roman empire . he made a law called lex papia , by which he forbad sucl . men as were past sixty , or women past fifty to marry , as thinking them i●sufficient for generation ; to which lactanti●s seemes to allude , thus jesting at the heathen touching their great god jupiter ; how cometh it to passe , that in your poets , salacious jupiter begets no more children ? is he past sixty , and restrained by the papian law ? many of the roman caesars have been transported with self-admiration , they have shared the months of the year among them ; april must be neroneus , may claudius , domitian will have october , november is for tiberius , by the same token , that when it was tendered to him , he askt the senatewittily ( as xiphiline reports it ) what they would do when they should have more then twelve caesars ? it is called the sea of tiberias , iohn 6. ● . from a city on the bank of it , of that name , built by herod , in honour of tiberius caesar , as josephus writeth in the 18. book of his jewish antiquities . livie and ovid dyed in the fourth year of tiberius . pilate by letters signified unto him the miracles of our saviour christ , his resurrection , and that he was supposed of many to be god. the romans had a law , forbidding any emperour to consecrate or set up any god which was not first approved by the senate ; for tiberius caesar hearing of christs fame , by vertue of that law moved the senate to promulgate and relate christ among the number of their gods , who rejected him because he would be god alone , or because contrary to the law of the romans he was consecrated for god , before the senate of rome had so declared and approved him ; whose folly tertullian thus scoffeth ; apud vos de humano arbitrio divinitas pensitatur , nisi homini deus placuerit , non erit deus , homo jam deo propitius esse debet , that god should be god if man would let him . josephus a jew , and an enemy to christ , in his 8. book of antiquities , c. 4. speakes the same things of christ that matthew doth ; that he was a most worthy man , if it be lawfull to call him a man ( said he , ) that he wrought many miracles , and that he rose from the dead . tacitus and suetonins speak of his miracles , tacitus l. 15. annal. c. 10. affirmes that he was crucified under pilate in the time of tiberius , and that tiberius would have put him in the number of his gods . plutarch de interitu orac. reports , that under the reigne of tiberius all the oracles of the world ceased , of which the poets bear witnesse , — cessant oracula delphis . iuv. sat. 6. plutarch also in the same book reports , that in the later yeares of the reigne of tiberius , a strange voice and exceeding horrible clamours , with hideous cries , screetches and howlings were heard by many in the grecian sea , complaining that the great god pau was now departed . and this was brought before the emperour , who marvelled greatly thereat , and could not by all his diviners and soothsayers whom he called to that consultation , be able to gather out any reasonable meaning of this wonderfull accident : but christians may perswade themselves , that by the death of their great god pan ( which signifies all ) was imported the utter overthrow of all wicked spirits . john 12. 31. our lord was crucified in the 15. year of his reigne , say * tertullian and * lactantius . but luke the evangelist , 3. c. 1. v. maketh his baptisme to fall in the 15. year of tiberius his reigne . so then his passion must be in the 18. or 19. for three yeares he preached salvation . jerome and eusebius . the fear of losing his office under tiberius caesar , ( whose deputy he was over the province of judaea , ) made pilate condemn christ , john 19. 12. 13. but not long after , he lost his deputy-ship and caesars favour , and fled to vienna , where living in banishment he killed himself ; euseb. hist. l. 2. c. 7. matth. 22. 21. our saviour saith , render unto caesar the things that are caesars . the money declared the subjection of their nation ; as if he should have said , if you think it absurd to pay tribute , be not subject to the roman empire ; but the money declareth that caesar reigneth over you , and your own secret allowance declareth that the liberty which you pretend , is lost and taken away . ierome on the place doth well observe , that the name of caesar is not proper , but appellative , because from the first emperour iulius caesar all the rest were so called . yet saith gerhard in his harmony , christ properly understands tiberius who then ruled , whose image the money did bear ; to that wicked emperour tribute was due ; so that charge 1 tim. 2. 2. was given by paul , even then when caesar was a persecutor of the christian religion . austin tells us , he that gave soveraignty to augustus , gave it also to nero ; he that gave it to the vespatians father and son , sweetest emperours , gave it also to domitian that bloody monster , de civit . dei. l. 5. c. 21. tiberius approved of the christians opinions , and threatned death to them which accused them : this came to passe ( saith * eusebius ) by divine providence , that the doctrine of the gospel having no rubbe at the first , might run over the whole world . dion writes , that ●a phoenix was seen before the last year of tiberius , which bird is an embleme of the resurrection , and signifieth that at that time christ rose from the dead , and that the gospel was then spread abroad , which affirmeth that the dead shall rise again . charion . chron. he dyed in the 78. year of his age , say suetonius , tacitus , and aurel. vict. 83. saith eutropius . it was thought he was poysoned . he raigned 23. yeares say eutropius , suetonius , orosius . 24. saith aurel. vict. 22. yeares , 7. moneths , and 20. dayes , tertull. 22. yeares , clem. alexand. 22. yeares , 7. moneths , and so many dayes , saith dion , 22. yeares and six moneths , iose●hus . he raigned 22. yeares and 7. moneths ; but the reason of the different computation , why some give unto him but 22. years , some 24. some but 23. is , because some count onely the full yeares , some the moneths of his first and last year for whole yeares , some put the odde moneths together , and make one year of them . he raigned after our saviours passion 4. years , 11. moneths , and 18. dayes . the people joyed so much at his death , that running up and down at the first tidings thereof , some cryed out in this note , tiberium in tiberim , let tiberius be cast into tiber ; some offered sacrifices when they heard of it , and one meeting with his master in some publick place , told him in the hebrew tongue , the lion was dead . choyce observations of caivs caligvla . some say this name of caligula was given him , for a certain kind of shooe called caliga , used among men of warre , and worn by him ; or he got it by occasion of a merry word taken up in the camp , because he was brought up there in the habit of an ordinary and common souldier among the rest . cajus , cognomen caligae cui castra dederunt . ausonius . he carried himself well before he was emperour , so that it was said of him , nec servum meliorem ullum , nec deteriorem dominum fuisse . there was never a better servant , and a worse master . he was very tali of stature , pale and wan-coloured , of body somewhat grosse and unfashionable , his eyes sunk in his head , and his temples were hollow , his fore-head was broad , the hair of his head grew thin , in all parts else he was hairy and shagged , and therefore it was a capitall offence , either to look upon him as he passed by , from an higher place , or once but to name a * goat upon any occasion whatsoever . his face and visage being naturally stern and grim , he made of purpose more crabbed and hideous ; composing and dressing it in a looking-glasse , all manner of waies to seem more terrible , and to strike greater fear . being clad oftentimes with a cloake of needle-work , and embroidered with divers colours , and the same set out with precious stones ; in a coat also with long sleeves , and wearing bracelets withall , he would come abroad into the city . on a time esteeming it a thing correspondent to his greatnesse who was emperor , to exact that superiority on the sea , which was answerable to his soveraignty on the land , being to crosse the sea between puteoli a city in campania , and misenum another maritime town , he caused a bridge to be built betwixt one cape of the sea unto another , for the space of three miles and more , on which he commanded himself to be drawn in a chariot , as if it were answerable to his dignity . some are of opinion that he invented such a kind of bridge in emulation of xerxes , who not without the wonder of the world , made a bridge of planks over hellespont an arm of the sea , somewhat narrower than this : others , that by a bruit blazed abroad of some huge and monstrous piece of work , hee might terrifie germany and britain , upon which countries hee meant to make warre . he maintained his reputation with his grand-father tiberius , by no meanes but this ; he shadowed his cruell mind with subtill modesty , and shewed not discontent either for the condemnation of his mother , or the banishment of his brethren : pari habitu semper cum tiberio , hand multum distantibus verbis , he did imitate him in his apparell , in his words , in all things as near as possibly he could . he succeeded tiberius in the empire , but in cruelty farre exceeded him . thus farre forth as of a prince ( saith suetonius , ) relate we must as of a monster . he usurped the name of a god , commanding his subjects to dignifie him with more then humane honours ; and ascending the capitol , which among all he temples in rome is most religiously honoured , he was so bold as to salute jupiter , and to call him brother . — divûmque sibi poscebat honores . he sent petronius with an army to ierusalem , commanding him to set his statue in the temple , and if the jewes refused to receive it , that those who withstood him he should put to the sword , and lead the rest captive ; but partly by petronius his prudence , and through aristobulus his intercession with him , and king agrippa's with caligula , it was hindered . the like is in the 21. lib. of tacitus , where he thus writeth of the jewes , sub tiberio quies , deinde jussi a caio caesare effigiem ejus in templo locare , arma potius sumpsere ; quem motum mors caesaris diremit . he gave it out openly , that his own mother was begotten by incest which augustus committed with his own daughter iulia. he caused his brother tiberius to be slain , and reserved his uncle claudius ( who was his successour in the empire ) for nothing else , but to make him his laughing-stock . many of honourable rank were by him put to death , and sawed asunder in the midst , because they had no good opinion of his shewes , or had not sworn by his genius . an ordinary thing it was at rome to swear by the genius , as also by the fortune , and the health of their emperours . and what a devout oath was this , per genium , that is , the spirit or superintendent angell of the prince ? which i take to be as much as his own good self , as appeareth by tertullian , citius apud vos per omnes deos , quam per genium principis , peseratur , doct. holland in annotat. in sueton. he forced parents to be present at the execution of their own children . and when one father excused himself by reason of sicknesse , he sent a litter for him . another of them immediately after the heavy spectacle of his son put to death , he invited to his own board , made him great cheer , and by all manner of courtesie provoked him to jocondnesse and mirth . when his grand-mother antonia seemed to give him some admonition , memento , ait , omnia mihi in omnes licere . when he had at one time condemned a sort of frenchmen and greeks together , he made his boast , that he had subdued gallo-graecia , a nation mixt of french and greekes . after he had well drunk and eaten , hee took pleasure to cast his friends into the sea , from on high from a bridge which he built at puteoli before mentioned , and caused many to be drowned which sought to save them . dion . lib. 50. of his hist. suetonius in calig . cap. 32. he would not permit any to suffer death , but after many strokes given , and those very softly . his command being generally and commonly known , ita seri ut se mori sentiat , strike so , that they may feel themselves dying , and endure the paines of an enduring death . iie executed on a time one whom he had not appointed to dye , by errour only , and mistaking his name : but it makes no matter , quoth he , for even he also hath deserved death . a certain citizen of praetors degree , desired oftentimes from the retiring place where he was at anticyra ( into which isle he went for his healths sake ) to have his licence continued ; but he gave order he should be killed outright , adding these words therewith , that blood-letting was necessary for him who in so long time had found no good by hellebore , that is , by purging . being highly displeased upon a time with the multitude , for favouring the contrary faction to his , would god ( quoth he ) that the people of rome had but one neck , meaning to chop them off at one blow ; vox carnifice quàm imperatore dignior . xiphil . a speech fitter for an hang-man then an emperour : over whom the people of rome afterward insulted , being kild by chareas . he was wont openly to complain of the unhappy condition of his time wherein he lived , as not renowned by any publick calamities ; that his government was like to be forgotten by the calm and prosperous current of all things , and therefore he would often wish for the overthrow of his armies , famine , pestilence , fire , earthquakes , and the like . nonnunquam horreis praelusis populo famem indixit . he proclaimed a famine without scarcity . while he was at his recreations and disports , he practised the same cruelty both in word and deed ; oftentimes as he sate at dinner , some were examined upon the rack in his presence , and others had their heads struck off . his saying was , oderint dum metuant , let them hate me , so they fear me . being one day very free at a great feast , he suddenly brake forth into a great laughter , and the consuls who were next him , demanding whereat he laughed so , his answer was , quid , nisi uno meo nutu jugulari utrumque vestrûm statim posse ? at what else ( quoth he ) but this , that with one nod of my head i can have both your throats cut immediately ? as oft as he kissed the neck of his wife or concubine , he would commonly adde , tam bona cervix , simulac jussero , demetur . as fair and lovely a neck as this is , off it shall go if i do but speak the word . he complained of the iniquity of the time , that one doubting to be poysoned of him , did take counterpoison , or a remedy against it ; what sayes he , antidotum adversus caesarem ? is there any antidote against caesar ? his cruelty ( as dion saith ) was not imputed to his father or mother , but to his nurce , which was a most cruell woman herself , and used to rub her breast nipple with blood , causing him to suck it ; which he practised also afterwards , for he did not onely delight in the committing of many murders , but through his insatiable desire of blood , would with his tongue suck and lick of the blood that stuck upon the sword or dagger . videtur natura edidisse , ( saith seneca ) ut ostenderet quid summa vitia in summa fortuna possent . nature seemed to have brought him forth , to shew what effects the greatest vices joyned with the greatest fortune could produce . and it may justly be verified of his times , what senecca saith in another place , res humanas sub illo in eum statum decidisse , ut inter misericordiae opera haberetur occidi . under him things were brought to that passe , as it was reckoned amongst the workes of mercy to be slain . de quo nescio an decuerit memoriae prodi , nisi sorte quia juvat de principibus nosse omnia , ut improbi saltem famae metu talia declinent . concerning whom ( saith aurel. victor ) i know not whether it shall be meet to have recorded any thing , but that peradventure it is expedient to know all things of princes , that wicked men at least with fear of the report may decline such things . he was very expert in the greek , and vulgar roman tongues . he was also of a fluent speech , and if he had been to plead and declaime against one , when he was angry once , he had both words and sentences at will : when he was about to make an oration , his manner was to threaten in these termes , viz. that he would draw forth and let drive at his adversary , the keen weapon and dart of his night-study by candle-light . he would have removed the writings of virgi● and livie out of all libraries ; he said , virgil was a man of no wit , and very mean learning , and taxed livie of verbosity , and negligence in penning his history . he said , seneca's works were arena sine calce , sand without lime , because he often spoke short sentences , having no connexion amongst themselves . nepotinis sumptibus omnium prodigorum ingenia superavit . in riotous and wastfull expences he exceeded the wits and inventions of all the prodigall spend-thrifts that ever were , inventing most monstrous kinds of meats , and making sumptuous feasts . he would drink off most precious and costly pearls dissolved in vinegar . luxus fuit portentosi , ut qui etiam panes deauratos habuerit . he spent in one year two millions , and 700000. of sestertiums . he would set before his guests , loaves of bread and other viands all of * gold , saying commonly withall , aut frugi hominem esse oportere , aut caesarem , that a man must either be frugall , or else caesar. he held the wills of great men as void and of no effect , in case any person would come forth and say , that they purposed and intended at their death to make caesar their heir ; he declared also by an edict , that he would receive new-yeares gifts , and so he stood the first day of ianuary in the entrie of his house , ready to take what pieces of money soever came , which the multitude of all sects and degrees , with full hands and bosomes powred out before him ; nay , he took such delight in handling of mony , that oftentimes he would both walk bare-footed up and down , yea , and wallow also a good while with his whole body upon huge heapes of coyned pieces of gold spread here and there in a most large open place . there were in his secret cabinet found two bookes , bearing divers titles . the one had for the inscription , gladius , the sword ; the other , pugio , i. e. the dagger , or rapier ; they contained both of them the markes and names of such as were appointed unto death . there was found beside , a big chest full of divers and sundry poisons , which soon after being by claudius drowned in the sea , infected and poisoned the same , and many fishes were killed therewith , which the tide cast into the next shores . he set light by the gods , and threatned the aire if it rained upon his game-players , quanta dementia fuit ? putavit aut sibi noceri ne a iove quidem posse , aut se nocere & iovi posse . senec. de ira. lib. 1. cap. 16. how great madnesse was it to think that either iupiter could not hurt him , or that himself could hurt jupiter ? yet notwithstanding at the least thunder and lightning he used to wink close with both eyes , to enwrap also and cover his whole head ; but if the same were greater and somewhat extraordinary , he would start out of his bed , and hide himself under the bed-sted . dion reporteth of two , that when the emperour was sick , thinking to get much as a reward for their great love to the emperour , vowed , that on condition he might live , they themselves would dye to excuse him ; he recovering , afterward took them at their word , and put them to death , least they should break their vow , and prove perjured persons . having recalled one from exile which had been long banished , he demanded of him , what he was wont to do there ? who made answer thus by way of flattery , i prayed ( quoth he ) to the gods alwayes , that tiberius ( as now it is come to passe ) might perish , and you become emperour . hereupon caligula thinking that those whom he had banished prayed likewise for his death , sent about into the islands to kill them every one . sueton. in taking the review of goales , and prisoners therein , as they were sorted to their offences , he without once looking upon the title and cause of their imprisonment , standing onely within a gallery , commanded that all in the midst , à calvo ad calvunt , that is , from one bald pate to another , should be led forth to execution . sueton. he was murthered at last himself , who had put so many to death . he lived 29. years saith suetonius , 39. eutropius . he reigned three years , ten moneths , and eight dayes , say suetonius and eutropius ; four years say clemens , tacitus , and sextus aurel. four years , ten moneths , and eight dayes , saith beda ; three years , nine moneths , 28. dayes , saith dion ; three years , eight moneths , and thirteen dayes , saith tertullian ; three years , six moneths , iosephus ; three years , nine moneths , 22. dayes saith epiphanius : but the whole time of his reigne was three yeares , ten moneths , and eight dayes . they which give to him full four yeares , count the odde moneths and dayes for a whole year . valerius asiaticus , who had been consul , came forth among the people , who were in an uproar because of the rumours of the emperours death , & supposing it a strange matter that no man knew who had slain the emperour , whilst every one enquired who it was that had done the deed , o , said he , would it had been i that had done it ! his death concerned the security of the lawes , and the safety of all men ; and had he not been speedily cut off , our nation ( saith iosephus ) almost had been utterly exterminated . his monies were all melted by the decree of the senate ; as king richard the thirds cognizance the white bore was torn from every signe , that his monument might perish . speed. choyce observations of clavdivs caesar . after the death of caligula , certain souldiers in a hurry going to plunder the pallace , one perceiving the feet of a man hidden in a hole , plucks him out by the heeles ; this proves to be claudius , who falling on his knees , and desiring his life might be spared , the souldiers lift him on their shoulders , and proclaim him emperour ; this took so with the multitude , that the senate for their own safety were fain to give way unto it . in the fiftieth year of his age he attained to the empire , and he was the first of all the caesars , that obliged unto him the souldiers fealty by a fee and reward . his mother antonia was wont to call him , portentum hominis , the monster , and fantasticall shape of a man , as if he had not been finished , but onely begun by nature ; and if she reproved any one for his foolishnesse , she would say , he was more sottish then her son claudius . he was personable , and carried a presence not without authority and majesty . his countenance was lively , his gray haires beautifull , which became him well , with a good fat and round neck under them ; yet many things disgraced him , viz. undecent laughter , and unseemly anger , by reason that hee would froth and slaver at the mouth , and had evermore his nose dropping , his head continually shaking , somewhat stammering in his speech . he was inhumane towards strangers , and made an edict forbidding all strangers , romanorum gentilitia nomina ferre , to be called by the roman names . sueton. he commanded all jewes to depart from rome , acts 18. 2. the jewes ( saith suetonius ) who by instigation of one * chrestus , were evermore tumultuous , he banished rome . acts 11. 28. there is mention made of a great dearth throughout all the world , which came to passe in the dayes of claudiu● caesar , of which famine eusebius , * iosephus , * tacitus , and suetonius likewise speak . there was a woman that would not acknowledge her own son , and when by evidences and arguments alledged pro & contra on both sides , the question rested in equall ballance doubtfull , he awarded that she should be wedded to the young man ; and so forced her to confesse the truth , and to take him for her child . one cryed out upon a forger of writings , and required that both his hands might be cut off ; he made no more ado , but forthwith called instantly to have the hangman sent for , with his chopping-knife and butchers block to do the deed . the lawyers were wont to abuse his patience so much , that as he was going down from the judgement seat , they would not only call upon him to come back again , but also take hold of his gown-lappet and skirt , yea and some while catch him by the foot , and so hold him still with them : one of the graecian lawyers pleading before him , in earnest altereation used these words , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , et tu senex es & stultus . thou art both old and fool besides . claudius invisae privato in tempore vitae , in regno specimen prodidit ingenii . libertina ferens nuptarumque improba facta , non faciendo nocens , sed patiendo fuit . hee gave this counsell to a libidinous young man , si non castè tamen cautè . and his symbole was , generis virtus nobilitas . he was very forgetfull ; when messaliua was ( by his own commandment ) killed ▪ within a while after he asked , cur domina non veniret ? why his lady came not to him ? many of those whom he had condemned , the very morrow immediatly after he sent for , to hear him company at dice-play . one of his guests , who was thought to have closely stollen away a cup of gold the day before , he re-invited againe the morrow , and then set before him a stone-pot to drink in . it is reported that he meant to set forth an edict , quo veniam daret flatum crepitumque ventris in convivio emittendi , wherein he would give folk leave to break wind downward , and let it go even with a crack at the very board ; having certain intelligence , that there was one who for manners and modesty sake , by holding it in endangered his own life . hence the epigramme , edicto vetuit crepitus ructusque teneri claudius : ô medici principis imperium ! he played at dice most earnestly , ( concerning the art and skill whereof he published also a little book ) being wont to ply the game even whiles he was carried up and down , having his caroch and diceboard so fitted , as there might be no confusion nor shufling at all in play . he was very timorous and pusillanimous at his first coming to the empire ; he durst not for certain dayes go to any feast , without pensioners standing about him with their spears and javelins , and his souldiers waiting at the table ; neither visited he any sick person , unlesse the bed-chamber where the party lay was first searched : he would scarce suffer attendants and clarkes to carry their pen-sheaths , and pen-knife-cases . he concealed not his foolishnesse , but gave it out , and protested in certain short orations , that he counterfeited himself a fool for the nonce during caius dayes , because otherwise he should not have escaped , nor attained to the imperiall place which he aimed at , and was then entred upon . he sailed beyond britain , and subdued the orcades , added them to the roman empire , and called his sons name , * britannicus . he was not uneloquent , nor unlearned , but was rather a great student in the liberall sciences . hee wrote histories , livie being his tutor . he had good skill in the greek tongue , professing as any occasion was offered , his affectionate love to it , and the excellency thereof . when a certain barbarian discoursed in greek and latine ; see you be skilfull ( quoth he ) in both our languages . it was generally thought that he was killed by poison ; and it was a just judgement of god upon him , for hee was so gluttonous and insatiable in eating and drinking , that he thought no time or place sufficient thereto ; and ever did eat so much , that most commonly surfeiting , he used vomits to di●charge his stomack , putting a feather into his throat ; in which feather some authors affirm that poison was given him . the virgin mary dyed in his time , in the 59. year of her age , saith nicephorus . he lived 64. yeares , say some : 63. yeares , 2. months , and 13. dayes , saith casaubon . he reigned 13. yeares , 8. moneths , and 20. dayes , say dio , and josephus . he reigned 14. yeares , according to tacitus , suetonius , clem. alexand. eutrop. orosius . 13. yeares 8. moneths , and 20. dayes after eusebius . 14. yeares , 7. moneths , and 28. dayes after beda . but the whole time of his reigne was 13. yeares , 8. moneths , and 20. dayes . they which do give unto him 14. yeares , doe count the odde moneths for a whole year . choyce observations of nero caesar . nero was a proper name ( which noted vertue and fortitude , of that greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sinews , being the conjunction and strength of the members ) and such persons also were of the romans called neroes , as excelled others in the most egregious fortitude and noble vertues . afterward when this tyrant nero ( who descended of the claudii which were sabines ) had degenerated from all the heroicall vertues of his ancestors , and became so bloody and cruell , hee gave occasion to posterity to change that proper name into a name appellative , so that they called them that were cruell nerones , and those that were more cruell neroniores . when domitius his friends by way of gratulation wished him joy of his son new born , he said , that of himself and agrippina there could nothing come into the world but accursed , detestable , and to the hurt of the weal publick . of stature he was indifferent , within a little of 6. foot ; his body full of speckles , and freckles , and foul of skin besides . the haire of his head somewhat yellow , his countenance and visage rather faire then lovely , and well-favoured . his eyes gray and dimme , his neck full and fat , his body bearing out , and his legges slender and small . he began his reigne with a glorious shew of piety and kindnesse . those tributes and taxes which were any thing heavy , he either quite abolished or abated . whensoever he was put in mind to subscribe , and set his hand to a warrant for the execution of any person condemned to dye , he would say , quàm vellem nescïre literas ! o that i knew not one letter of the book ! seneca his tutor did much extoll that speech of his , as if it had proceeded from a pitifull heart . he was framed by nature , and practised by custome ( saith tacitus ) to cloake hatred with flattering speeches . many times he saluted all the degrees of the city one after another , by rote and without book . when the senate upon a time gave him thankes , he answered , cùm meruero , do so when i shall deserve . his quinquennium or first five yeares were such , that trajan himself is said to have admired , using this speech , procul differre cunctos principes neronïs quinquennio . but it is thought that it was rather the reigne of his governours seneca and burrhus , then properly his . he delighted exceedingly in musick , and would shew his skill upon the open stage , often using the greek proverb , that hidden musick was nought worth . all the while he was singing , it was not lawfull for any person to depart out of the theatre , were the cause never so necessary . it is reported , that some great-bellied woman falling into travail , were delivered upon the very scaffolds ; yea , and many men besides weary of tedious hearing , and praysing him , when the town gates were shut , either by stealth lept down from the walles , or counterfeiting themselves dead , were carried forth as co●ses to be buried . but how timorously , with what thought and anguish of mind , with what emulation of his concurrents , and fear of the umpires he strove for mastery , it is almost incredible . he never durst once spit , and reach up flegm , and he wiped away the very sweat of his forehead with his arm onely . there was a boy named sporus , whose genitories he cut off , and assayed thereby to transform him into the nature of a woman : then he caused him to be brought unto him , as a bride without a dowry , in a fine yellow vaile after the solemn manner of marriage , not without a goodly traine attending upon him , whom he maintained as a wise ; whereupon one brake this witty jest , that it would have been happy for the world , if domitius ( his father ) had wedded s●ch a wife . he said jestingly of claudius , that he left morari inter homines , with a long syllable , meaning that he spent his dayes foolishly . epulas à medio die ad mediam noctem protrahebat . he held out his feasts from noon-day till mid-night . * he was very profuse and prodigall in expences , he never put on the same garment twice ; when he played at hazard , he ventered no lesse then 3125. pounds at a cast , upon every point or prick of the chance . he fished with a golden net , drawn and knit with cords twisted of purple , and crimson silk in grain . when he made any journey , he never had under 1000 ▪ caroches in his train , his mules were shod with silver , but in no one thing was he more wastful then in building . * his house was so large that it contained three galleries of a mile a piece in length , and a standing poole like unto a sea , and the same inclosed round about with buildings in form of cities . it was laid all over with gold , garnished with precious stones , and mother of pearl . he said , he now at length began to live like a man : and himself named it , domum auream , a golden house . his mother agrippina being with child with him , went to consult with the chaldeans or south-sayers about her son ; they answered her , that he should reigne , but kill his mother ; but she being very ambitious slighted that , saying , occidat modò imperet , let him kill mee so he may be king. this was accomplished afterwards , for he caused his mother to be murdered , and not onely so , but ( which was more horrible ) he took an axact view of her dead body , and beheld it crowner-like , saying , he did not think he had had so faire a mother . his father he poisoned , he slew his brother germanicus , and his sister antonia , and both his wives poppaea and octavia , his aunt domitia , his son in law rufinus , and his instructers , seneca and lucan . there was no kind of affinity , and consanguinity , were it never so near , but it felt the weight of his deadly hands . the first persecution was under him in the 13. year of his reigne . tertullian calls him , dedicator damnationis nostrae , i. e. the first that made a law to condemne christians to death . * tertullian , * eusebius , * lactantius , * and others say , that he put peter and paul to death . paulus à nerone ( saith eusebius ) romae capite truncatus , & petrus palo assixus scribuntur ; & historiae huic fidem facit , quod illic coemiteria habentur in quibus petri & pauli nun cupatio ad hunc usque diem obtinet . chrys. and theophyl . upon the fourth chapter of the second to timothy , alledge this to be the cause wherefore he put paul to death , because paul had converted to the christian faith nero's butler , whom he made great account of , thereupon he commanded him to be beheaded ; others say , it was because he converted one of nero his concubines , which afterward refused to company with him ; but we need assigne no other cause of nero's rage against the apostle , then that which eusebius and jerome both do touch , the cruelty of that bloody tyrant joyned with a wicked detestation of the christian faith. his cruelty is by paul compared to the mouth of a lion , 2 tim. 4. 17. but here then ariseth an objection , how paul should suffer under him , when he saith there , that he was delivered ? therefore paul was his prisoner twice , he was set at liberty after his first imprisonment at rome , phil. 1. 25. philem. 22. heb. 13. 23. 2 tim. 4. 16. 17. the reason is thus alledged by eusebius ; neronem in principio imperii mitiorem fuisse , that nero in the beginning of his empire was more gentle , and mild , but afterward when paul was taken again , nero then being become a most cruell tyrant , caused him to be put to death . he dyed in the 14. year of nero's reigne , and the 37. year after the passion of christ. seneca disswaded him from killing some , with this speech , licet ( saith he ) quàm plurimos occidas , tamen non potes successorem tuum occidere . xiphiline . although thou killest very many , yet thou canst not kill thy successor . the tyrannous rage of this emperour was so fierce against the christians ( as eusebius reporteth ) usque adeò ut videret repletas humanis corporibus civitates , jacentes mortuos simul cum parvulis senes , faeminarumque absque ulla sexus reverentia in publico rejecta starent cadavera , i. e. insomuch that a man might then see cities lye full of mens bodies , the old lying there with the young , and the dead bodies of women cast out naked , without all reverence of that sex , in the open streets . in this persecution also james the greater , and the lesse , philip , bartholomew , barnabas , mark , suffered . christians were covered in wild beasts skins , and torn in pieces with dogs , or fastned on crosses , or burnt in fire ; and when the day failed , they were burnt in the night , to make them serve as torches to give light . they put a pitched coat upon the christians to make them burn the better , called tunica molesta , a troublesome coat . sulpitius severus observes this of nero ( in the 3. book of his history ) that it was his own bad life which made him hate christians ; for he still thought they censured him , and could not but expect what they knew he deserved . he caused rome to be set on fire in twelve places together , that he might the better conceive the flames of troy , singing unto it homer's verses , and being a pleasant spectator thereof , as at a feu-de-joy . ad levandam sceleris atrocitatem ( saith polyd. * virgil ) to avoyd the infamy thereof , he laid the fault on the innocent , and suborned some falsly to accuse the christians , as authors of that fire ; whereupon hee put many of them to death : but tacitus will clear them , who yet was their enemy . non perinde ( saith hee ) crimine incendii , quàm odio humani generis convicti sunt . suetonius ( being no christian ) calleth the christians men of new and pernicious superstition : affl●cti suppliciis christiani , ( saith he ) genus hominum superstitionis novae & malesicae . under nero to do ill was not alwaies safe , alwaies unsafe to do well . he was so hatefull an adversary to all righteousnesse , that eusebius following the example and words of tertullian , affirmeth , that if the gospel had not been an excellent thing , it had not been condemned by nero. he was ( as augustine * witnesseth ) commonly reputed antichrist . he came into the world an agrippa , or born with his feet forward , and turn'd the world upside down before he went out of it . in him alone all the corruptions which had been ingendred in rome , from the birth of rome till his own daies , seemed drawn together into one impostume or boyl . when one in common talk upon a time chanced to say , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when vitall breath is fled from me , let earth with fire mingled be . nay rather , quoth hee , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whiles vitall spirit remaines in me . he had a desire ( though it were foolish and inconsiderate ) of eternity and perpetuall fame , and therefore abolishing the old names of many things and places , he did put upon them new after his own . he called the moneth april neroneus , he meant also to have named rome neropolis , nero's city . he pronounced an oration composed by seneca : it was observed , that he was the first emperour that needed another mans eloquence ; for julius caesar was equall with the famous orators ; and augustus had a ready , fluent , and eloquent speech , such as well became a prince ; tiberius had great skill in weighing his words ; yea , caligula's troubled mind hindered not his eloquence ; neither wanted claudius elegancy , when he had premeditated . the study of nero was versification , which tacitus thinks he borrowed , having no gift therein at all ; but suetonius ( who often doth disagree with tacitus , though unnamed ) both proves he had , and proves it well : it was one of his exercises to translate greek tragedies into latine , who made true tragedies in blood , such as even the greekes never feigned . nothing netled him more then when he was blamed by vindex for an unskilfull musician : he said of himself a little before his death , qualis artifex pereo ? what an excellent artisan do i dye ? meaning of his skill in playing of tragedies ; as indeed his whole life and death was all but one tragedy . vespasian asked apollonius , what was nero's overthrow ? he answered , nero could touch and tune the harp well , but in government sometimes he u●ed to winde the pinnes too high , and sometimes to let them down too low ; thereby intimating , that he applyed corrosives where gentle lenitives would have served the turn , and again he applyed lenitives where corrosives were needfull . additum nomine neronis donativum militi , congiarium plebi . tacit. 12. annal. the princes liberalities to the souldiers were called donativa , ( which they bestowed , upon some great victory , or rather extraordinary occasion ; ) to the people , or otherwise to his friends , congiaria ; doubtlesse because at the first certain measures called congii , of wine or oyl were bestowed , and afterwards other things were given , yet the ancient name remained . vindex first stirred the stone , which rowling tumbled nero out of his seat . when it was told iulius vindex , that nero by publick edict had prized his head at 10000. thousand sesterces , ( that is above four-score thousand pounds in our coine , ) well , quoth he again , and he that kils nero , and brings me his head , shall have mine in exchange . qui neronem interfecerit , & ad me caput ejus attulerit , is meum accipiet caput in mercedis loco . xiphilin . nero consulting the delphick ( or rather divellish ) oracle , he received this answer , that he should take heed of the year 73. which he supposing to be meant of his own age , rested secure , being farre short of it ; but he was deluded by the ambiguous construction of those words , and so fell into the hands of galba , a man indeed of those yeares . at last the senate proclaiming him a publick enemy unto mankind , condemned him to be drawn through the city , and to be whipped to death ; which sentence when he heard of , finding no man to strike him , and exclaiming against them all , what , have i neither friend nor foe ? ( said he ) i have lived dishonourably , let me dye shamefully ; and then he strake himself through with his own sword , and was a horrible spectacle to all beholders . he dyed in the 32. year of his age , saith suetonius ; and 14. year of his reigne , say tacitus , clem. alexand. eusebius , and eutropius , the very day of the year on which he had murdered his wife octavia ; and by his death brought so great joy unto the people generally , that the commons wore caps to testifie their freedom recovered , and ran sporting up and down throughout the city . some say that nero is yet alive ( saith baronius out of sueton ▪ and severus ) although he did thrust himself through with a sword , yet some think that his wounds were healed , and that he survived according to that in the rev. 13. 3. and that he shall be antichrist ; but bellarmine himself saith , it is a presumptuous folly to say that nero shall be revived and received as antichrist ; and suarez calls it , anilem fabulam , a foolish fable . choyce observations of sulpitius galba . some think his name galba came by occasion of a town in spain , which after it had been a long time in vain assaulted , he at length set on fire with burning brands besmeared all over with galbanum : others , because in a long sicknesse which he had , he used continually galbeum , i. e. remedies lapped in wooll : some again because he seemed very fat , and such a one the french doth name galba : or contrariwise because he was slender , as certain little wormes are called galbae . he succeeded nero , and his age being much despised , there was great licentiousnesse and confusion ; whereupon a senatour said in full senate , it were better to live where nothing is lawfull , then where all things are lawfull . he was of full stature , his head bald , his eyes gray , and his nose hooked ; his hands and feet by reason of the gout exceeding crooked , in so much as he was not able to abide shooes on the one , or to hold his bookes with the other . there was an excrescence , or bunch of flesh in the right side of his body , and it hung downward so much , as it could hardly be tyed up with a truss or swathing band ; yet hee had a good wit , though a deformed body , like a good instrument in a bad case . being with generall applause , and great good liking placed in state , he behaved himself under expectation , and though in most points he shewed himself a vertuous prince , yet his good acts were not so memorable , as those were odious and displeasant wherein he did amisse . he obtained the empire with greater favour and authority then he mannaged it when he was therein ; so that he overcame nero by his good name , and the good opinion men had of him , and not through his own force and power . major privato visus dum privatus fuit , & omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imperâsset ▪ he seemed more then a private man whilest he was private , and by all mens opinions capable of the empire , had he never been emperour . spem frustrate senex , privatus sceptra mereri visus es , imperio proditus inferior : fama tibi melior juveni , sed justior ordo est , complacuisse dehinc , displicuisse prius . he lived in honourable fame and estimation in the reigne of five emperours , alieno imperio faelicior quàm suo . he was in greater prosperity , and lived more happily under the empire of others then in his own . his house was of ancient nobility , and great wealth . he neither neglected his fame , nor yet was ambitiously carefull of it : of other mens money he was not greedy , sparing of his own , of the common a niggard . as he sacrificed within a publick temple , a boy among other ministers holding the censer , suddenly had all the haire of his head turned gray . some made this interpretation of it , that thereby was signified a change in the state , and that an old man should succeed a young , even himselfe in nero's stead . he was of a middle temperature , neither to be admired nor contemned ; magis extra vitia , quàm cum virtutibus , rather void of ill parts , then furnished with good . in the palace , julius atticus , one of the bill-men met him , holding out a bloody sword in his hand , with which , he cryed aloud , he had slain otho ; my friend , quoth galba , who bad thee ? a man of rare vertue ( saith tacitus ) to keep in awe a licentious souldier ; whom neither threats could terrifie , nor flattering speech corrupt and abuse : thence it was a usuall speech through the camp ; disce miles militare , galba est , non getulicus . learne souldiers service valorous , galba is here , and not getulicus . for eight yeares space ( before hee was emperour ) hee governed a province of spain variably , and with an uneven hand , at first sharp , severe , violent , afterward he grew to be slothfull , carelesse , idle . being intreated for a gentleman condemned , that he might not dye the death of ordinary malefactors , he commanded that the gallowes should be dealbata , whited , or coloured for him ; quasi solatio & honore poenam levaturus , as if the painted gibbet might adde solace and honour to his death . when there was question made of an heifer before him , whose it should be , arguments and witnesses being brought on both sides ; he so decreed it , that she should be led with her head covered to the place where she was wont to be watered , and there being uncovered , he judged her his , to whom she went of her own accord . among the liberall sciences he gave himself to the study of the civil law. he cryed to his souldiers , ego vester , & vos mei ; i am wholly devoted unto you , and you are wholly devoted unto me . his severity which was wont to be highly commended by the voice of the souldiers , was now displeasant to them who were generally weary of the ancient discipline , and so trained up by nero 14. yeares , that now they loved their emperours no lesse for their vices , then once they reverenced them for their vertue● . his hardnesse toward his souldiers caused him to fall ; for a large donative being promised to them in galba's name , and they requiring if not so much , yet so much at least as they were wont to receive , he wholly refused the suit , adding withall , legi à se militem , non emi , that his manner had ever been to choose , and not to buy his souldiers . vox pro republica honesia , ipsi anceps ; a saying no doubt fit for a great prince in a more vertuous age , not so in those seasons for him , who suffered himself to be sold every houre , and abused to all purposes . he was killed by the wiles of otho , in the market-place ; the souldiers flying upon him , and giving him many wounds , he held out his neck unto them , and bade them strike hardily , if it were to do their country good . he dyed in the 73. year of his age , and seventh moneth of his empire . he reigned seven moneths , and so many dayes . aurel. vict. choyce observations of salvivs otho . tacitus and suetonius observe , that his father was so like unto tiberius , that most men held him to be his own son. tam non absimilis facie tiberio principi fuit , ut plerique procreatum ex eo crederent . he was of a mean and low stature , he had feeble feet , and crooked shankes . he wore by reason of his thinne hair a perruck or counterfeit cap of false hair , so fitted and fastened to his head , that any man would have taken it for his own . he was wont to shave , and besmear his face every day all over with soaked bread ; this bread was made of bean and rice flower , of the finest wheat also ; a depilatory to keep hair from growing , especially being wet and soaked in some juyce or liquor appropriate thereto , as the blood of bats , froggs , or the tunie-fish : to this effeminacy of otho alludeth the satyricall poet in this verse , et pressum in faciem digitis extendere panem . which devise he took to at first , when the down began to bud forth , because he would never have a beard . he was of a noble house ( saith plutarch ) , but ever given to sensuality and pleasure from his cradle : insomuch as his father swinged him and soundly for it . he used night-walking , and as he met any one either feeble or cupshotten , hee would catch hold of him , lay him upon a souldiers gabardine , and so tosse and hoist him up in the aire . pueritiam in curiose , adolescentiam petulanter egerat . he spent his tender yeares without regard of his honour , his youth afterwards in all dissolute disorder . he repaired often to his glasse to see his face , that he might keep it clean . he was one of nero's chief minions and favourites , such was the congruence of their humours and dispositions . gratus neroni aemulatione luxus . he was in grace with nero through emulation of vice . neroni criminosè familiaris , he was sinfully familiar with nero. he was privie and party to all his counsels and secret designes ; to avert all manner of suspicion , that very day which nero had appointed for the murthering of his mother , he entertained them both at supper with most exquisite dainties , and the kindest welcome that might be . he subscribed nero's name unto his letters patents , till the noble men of rome misliked it . frustrà moritur nero , si otho vivit . he strove by gifts , and all other meanes to oblige the souldiers unto him before he was emperour , and to winne their hearts by fair promises ; he protested before them all assembled together , that himself would have and hold no more then just that which they would leave for him . one calleth him the roman absalom . cui uni apud militem fides , dum & ipse non nisi militibus credit . the souldiers onely trusted him , because he trusted none else . all of them together put up a petition to him , and besought him to command their persons , whilest they had one drop of blood left in their bodies to do him service . but amongst others , there was a poor souldier drawing out his sword , said unto him , know , o caesar , that all my companions are determined to dye in this sort for thee , and so slew himself . rebus prosperis ●●certus , & inter adversa melior . a man in prosperity uncertainly carried , and governing himself in adversity . duo omnium mortalium impudicitiâ , ignaviâ , luxuri● deterrimi , velut ad perdendum imperium fataliter electi , saith tacitus of otho and vitellius . two of all mortall men the most detestable creatures in slothfulnesse , incontinency , and wastfull life , fatally elected to ruine the empire . but though in the first book of tacitus his history they are both compared as like , in opposition to a good prince ; yet in his second book they are opposed the one to the other as unlike , with notes of distinction . vitellii ignavae voluptates , othonis flagrantissimae libidines . vitellius ventre & gulâ sibi ipsi hostis ; otho luxi● , saevitiâ , audaciâ , reipublicae exitiosior ducebatur ; of the one side , an ill mind in a man of nothing , and of the other , an ill mind joyned with courage and edge . the drowsie pleasures of vitellius were feared lesse then the burning lusts of otho . vitellius in excesse of belly-chear was an enemy to himself ; otho in riot , cruelty , audaciousnesse , reputed more dangerous to the state . it was hard to judge which of them two was most licentiously given , most effeminate , least skilfull , poorer , or most indebted , before he was emperour . magna & misera civitas eodem anno othonem vitelliumque passa . a great and miserable city , which in the same year supported an otho and a vitellius . we may learn by otho ( saith sir henry savil ) that the fortune of a rash man is torre●ti similis , which ariseth at an instant , and falls in a moment . alii diutius imperium tenuerunt , nemo tam fortiter reliquerit ; it was his own speech , others have kept the empire longer , none hath ever so valiantly left it . plura de extremis loqui pars ignaviae est . he thought it a part of dastardy to speak too much of death . when he saw his side the weaker and going to the walls , he counselled his souldiers to provide for their safety by hying them to the winner . he slew himself with his own hands , but slept so soundly the night before , that the groomes of his chamber heard him snort . many of his souldiers who were present about him , when with plentifull teares they had kissed his hands and feet as hee lay dead , and commended him withall for a most valiant man , and the onely emperour that ever was ; presently in the place , and not farre from the funerall fire killed themselves . many of them also who were absent , hearing of the newes of his end , for very grief of heart ran with their weapons one at another to death . most men who in his life-time cursed and detested him , when hee was dead highly praised him ; so as it was a common and rife speech , that galba was by him slain , not so much for that he affected to be soveraigne ruler , as because he desired to recover the state of the republick , and the freedome that was lost . his saying was , melius est unum pro multis , quam pro uno multos mori ; an excellent and worthy speech of an emperour , preferring the publick good before his own private ; sic imperium quod maximo scelere invaserat , maxima virtute deposuit , as xiphilinus noteth out of dion . he dyed but 37. yeares old saith plutarch ; 38. say eutropius , and suetonius ; and was emperour but three moneths , plutarch ; three moneths and five dayes , tertullian ; four moneths , aurelius victor . he dyed in the 59. day of his empire , saith eutropius ; 95. saith suetonius . choyce observations of avlvs vitellivs . he was beyond measure tall ; he had a red face , occasioned by swilling in wine , and a great fat paunch besides , and somewhat limped upon one legge , by a hurt formerly received . he was stained with all manner of reprochable villanies ; he was familiar with caius for his love to chariot-running , and with claudius for his affection to dice-play , but he was in greater favour with nero for his wicked conditions likewise ; for he attended and followed him as he did sing , not by compulsion , as many a good man , but selling his honour to nourish his riot , and feed his belly , to which he enthralled himself . he found some supplications that were exhibited unto otho , by such as claimed reward for their good service in killing galba , and gave command that they should be sought out and executed every one . a worthy and magnificent beginning , such as might give good hope of an excellent prince , had hee not managed all matters else according to his own naturall disposition , and the course of his former life , rather then respecting the majesty of an emperour . when hee came into the fields where a battel was fought , and some of his train loathed and abhorred the putrified corruption of the dead bodies , he stuck not to hearten and encourage them with this cursed speech , optimè olere occisum hostem , & meliùs civem , that an enemy slain had a very good smell , but a citizen far better . [ that was also a wicked speech of charles the ninth of france , at the parisian massacre , when beholding the dead carcasses , he said , that the smell of a dead enemy was good . ] he banished from rome and italy all the judiciall astrologers called mathematicians , because they had said , that his reigne should not endure one year to an end . if he could have forborn his riotous living , or used any moderation therein , covetousnesse was a crime in him not to be feared , but he was shamefully given to his belly without all order or measure ; epularum foeda & inexplebilis libido , saith tacitus ; for which purpose there were daily brought out of rome and italy , irritamenta gulae , all provocations of gluttony . the high-waies from both the seas sounded of nothing else but of caterers , and purveyours ; the greatest men in the city were spent and consumed in providing of cates for the banquets ; the cities themselves were wasted . the souldiers grew worse , and degenerated from labour and vertue , partly by turning themselves to pleasures , and partly through the contemptiblenesse of the commander . he would eat four meales a day , breakfast , dinner , supper , and rere-banquet , or after supper , being able to bear them all very well , he used to vomit * so ordinarily . his manner was to send word that hee would break his fast with one friend , dine with another , and all in one day ; and every one of those refections when it stood them least , cost 3235. l. sterling . but the most notorious and memorable supper above all other , was that which his brother made for a welcome at his first coming to rome ; at which were served up at the table before him two thousand severall dishes of fish , the most dainty and choycest that could be had , and seven thousand fowl . yet himself surpassed this sumptuous feast at the dedication of the platter , which for its huge capacity he used to call the target of minerva . in this he blended together the livers of guilt-heads , the delicate braines of pheasants and peacocks , the tongues of phoenicopters , the tender small guts of sea-lampries sent as far as from the carpa●thian sea , and the straights of spain , by his captaines over gallies . for the making of this charger there was a furnace built of purpose in the field . mucianus ( after the death of vitellius ) alluding to this monstrous platter , and ripping up his whole life , upbraided the memoriall of him in these very termes , calling his excesse that way , patinarum paludes , platters as broad as pooles or ponds . nunquam ita ad curas intentus , ut voluptatis oblivisceretur . he was never so intentively addicted to serious affaires , that he would forget his pastimes . in his traine all was disorderly and full of drunkennesse , more like to wakes and feasts of bacchus , then to a camp , where discipline should be . he was forward enough to put to death any man ; he killed noble men , and his school-fellowes . he delivered blaesus over to the executioner to suffer death , but straightwaies called him back again ; and when all that were by praised him for his clemency , he commanded the said party to be killed before his face , saying withall , velle se pascere oculos , that he would feed his eyes with seeing his death . at the execution of another he caused two of his sonnes to bear him company , because they presumed to intreat for their fathers sake . a gentleman of rome being haled away to take his death , he cryed aloud unto him , sir , i have made you my heire ; then he compelled him to bring forth his writing . tables concerning his last will , and so soon as he read therein , that a freed man of the testators was nominated fellow-heir with him , he commanded both master and man to be killed . he was suspected also to have consented to his own mothers death . impar curis gravioribus , saith tacitus of him , he was unmeet to weild weighty affaires . the empire was conferred upon him by those which knew him not , and yet never man found so constant good will of his souldiers by vertuous meanes , as he did with all his cowardly sloth . tanta torpedo invaserat animum , ut si principem eum fuisse caeteri non meminissent , ipse oblivisceretur . so great a sencelesnesse did possesse his mind , that if other men had not remembred that he had been a prince , ( and therefore was not to look for security in a private estate ) he himself would quickly have forgotten it . a contumelia quàm à laude propius fuerit , pos● vitellium eligi . it was more a disgrace then a praise to be chosen after vitellius . he used no other defences against the ruine which approched him , but onely to keep out the memory and report of it with fortification of mirth and sottishnesse , that so he might be delivered from the paines of preserving himself . praeterita , instantia , futura , pari oblivione dimiserat , mirum apud ipsum de bello silentium , prohibiti per civitatem sermones , &c. tacit. hist. lib. 3. ita formatae principis aures , ut aspera quae utilia , nec quidquam nisi jucundum & laesurum acciperet . the princes eares were so framed , that he accounted all sharp that was wholsome , and liked of nothing but that which was presently pleasant , and afterwards hurtfull . amicitias dum magnitudine munerum , non constantiá morum continere putat , meruit magis quàm habuit . he deserved rather then found faithfull friends , because he sought them more by great gifts then vertuous behaviour . at the last he was slain in an ignominious manner , having many scornfull indignities offered unto him both in deed and word ; they drew his head backward by the bush of the hair ( as condemned malefactors are wont to be served ) and a swords point was set under his chin , to the end he might shew his face , and not hold it down while some pelted him with dung and dirty mire ; others called him with open mouth , incendiary or firebrand , because hee burnt the capitol ; and patmarium or platter-knight , for his gormandizing , and great platter ; and some of the common sort twitted him with the deformities of his body : being all mangled with many small strokes , he was killed in the end . numerosis ictibus confossus interiit . he was slain * in the 57. year of his age , when he had reigned eight moneths and five dayes , say * josephus , and * eusebius ; eight moneths and ten dayes saith * tertullian . * tacitus reporteth , that in those few moneths wherein he reigned , he had wasted nine hundred millions of sesterces , which amounteth to seven millions , thirty one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds sterling ; and josephus * thinketh if he had lived longer , the whole revenues of the empire had not been sufficient to have maintained his gluttony . choyce observations of flavius vespasianus . princeps obscurè quidem natus , sed optimis comparandus , privatâ vitâ illustris . he was of a middle stature , well set , his limbes compact and strongly made , vultu veluti nitentis , he looked still as if he strained hard for a stool , whereupon a buffon brake a pretty jest on him ; for when vespasian seemed to request him to say something of him as well as of others in the company , dicam , inquit , cum ventrem exonerare desieris . i will let you alone , saith he , till you have done your businesse . he was very pleasant and facetious himself ; for being advertised by florus to pronounce * plaustra rather than plostra , he saluted him the next morning by the name of flaurus . when the apparition of a comet or blazing starre was thought to portend his death , he replyed merrily , that the bushy stella crinita , noted not him but the parthian king , ipse enim comatus est , ego vero calvus , for , he weareth bushy lockes , but i am bald . but he dyed a little while after , and by his example ( saith keckerman ) warned men to forbear jesting at gods great workes and prodigies . an oxe having cast off his yoke , ran furiously into the room where he sate at supper , where affrighting his attendants from him , he straight prostrates himself before his feet , as if he had been weary , offering his neck to his clemency , suetonius . when he came to the empire , the exchequer was so impoverished , that he protested in open senate , that he wanted to settle the common-wealth 40. millions of sestertiums ; which protestation ( saith sueton. ) seemed probable , quia & male partis optimusus est . he fought 30. battels in britain , took 20. townes , and adjoyned the isle of wight to the obedience of the roman empire . when a certain gallant youth smelling hot of sweet balmes and perfumes , came unto him to give thanks for an office obtained at his hands , after a strange countenance shewing his dislike of him , he gave him also in words a most bitter check , saying , i would rather thou hadst stunk of garlicke , and so revoked his letters patents for the grant . he never carried in his mind , nor revenged displeasures done unto him . he married the daughter of vitellius his enemy into a most noble house , gave unto her a rich dowry withall , and furniture accordingly . he was made totus ex clementia ( as the historian tels us ) yet for all that , machinationes nefariorum assiduas expertus est , he found daily treacheries attempted against him . iustis etiam suppliciis illachrymavit & ingemuit . he was so compassionate a prince , that he was wont to sigh and weep , even for them that were condignly punished . an innocent person was not punished but when he was absent , & not aware thereof , or at leastwise unwilling thereto , and deceived . but he was severe towards julius sab inus , who in times past said he was caesar ; and taking up armes , was at last conquered and brought to rome . his wife spake to vespasian in his behalf , pleading that he had two sons of her ; and supplicating to him for mercy to her husband and her self , used these words , ego , ● caesar , hos in monument● peperi aluique , ut plures tibi supplices esse●nus : by which speech , although she drew teares from him and those that were present , yet she could not procure her husbands pardon . dion . the souldiers elected him emperour , and requested him to preserve the empire being in great danger to be lost . yet he ( though he had been alwaies carefull for the good of the common-wealth ) refused to be emperour , deeming himself indeed to have deserved it , but rather chusing to live a private life , wherein was security , then in the height of fortune and honour with perpetuall danger . the captains were most earnest because he refused it , and the souldiers flocked about him with drawn swords , threatning his death except he would consent to live as he deserved ; yet he strove a long time to avert their determination , being loth to be emperour ; at last seeing he could not avoid it , he accepted their offer . he comforted his souldiers with these and such like speeches , i will expose my self to all dangers with you , and go first to fight , and come last from fight . ipse vespasianus milites adire , hortari , bo●●os laude , segnes exemplo incitare saepiùs quam coercere ; vitia magis amicorum quam virtutes dissimulans . he would go in his own person , and encourage the souldiers , inciting the good by praise , the slow by example rather then correction ; he was more ready to conceal the vices of his friends , then the vertues . it was a worthy report which pliny gave of him , if he flattered him not , to whom being emperour he wrote thus ; nec quicquam in te mutavit fortunae amplitudo , nisi ●●prodesse tantundem posses & velles . greatnesse and majesty have changed nothing it you but this , that your power to do good should be answerable to your will. solus omnium ante se principum , in meliu● mutatus est . the onely prince before his time which changed to the better , for after him titus his son changed also the same way . a vigilant warriour , and in all respects , set avarice aside , comparable to the commanders of ancient times , saith tacitus . sola est in qua meritò culpetur , pecuniae cupiditas . the onely thing for which he might worthily be blamed was covetousnesse . prorsus si avaritia abesset , antiquis ducibus par . tacitus . he not onely called for arrerages due in galba's time , but raised new tributes , and laid upon the provinces more grievous impositions , doubling them in some places . negotiationes vel privato pudendas propalam exercuit . he did negotiate and deale in certain trades , which it was a shame for a private person to use : buying up and engrossing some commodities at a cheap hand , that afterward he might vent them at higher rates . neither did he spare to sell honours to such as sued for them , or absolutions to such as were accused , whether they proved guilty or not . he was thought of set purpose to have made choyce of the most greedy proling officers he could any where find out , and to have advanced them to the highest places , that being thereby grown rich , he might condemn their persons , and confiscate their goods . and it was commonly said , that he used these men as spunges , quòd quasi & siccos madefaceret , & exprimeret humentes ; because he did wet them well when they were dry , and presse them hard when they were wet . some write that he was by nature most covetous , and an old neatherd upbraided him once therewith , who being at his hands denied freedom without paying for it ( which he humbly craved of him now invested in the empire ) cried out with a loud voyce , vulpem pilum mutare non mores , that the foxe might change his hair but not his qualities . he laid an imposition upon urine , and being by his son titus put in mind of the basenesse of it , he took a piece of money received for the use , and putting it to his sons nose , demanded of him whether he was offended with the smell or no , atqui ( inquit ) è lotio est , and yet ( quoth he ) it commeth of urine : vnde juvenalis , — lucri bonus est odor è re qualibet . ad quod alludens etiam ammianus , dixit , & lucrum ex omni odorantes occasione . there are some of a contrary opinion , that he was driven to spoyl , to pill and poll of necessity , even for extreme want , both in the common treasury , and also in his own exchequer , whereof he gave some testimony in the beginning of his empire , professing ( as was said before ) that there was need of forty millions to set the state upright again ; which opinion ( saith suetonius ) seemes to sound more near unto the truth , because the mony by him ill gotten he used and bestowed very well , for he was most liberall to all sorts of men . restitutionem capitolii aggressus , ruderibus purgandis manus primus admovit , ac suo collo quaedam extulit , suetonius . in the third building of the capitol , vespasian carried the first basket of earth , after him the nobility did the like , to make the people more forward in the service ; and perhaps the custome of laying the first stone in a building , hath from hence , if not beginning , yet growth . it was his speech , oportet imperatorem stantem mori , an emperour ought to dye standing . and likewise he said at his death , vt puto deus fio , id est , morior ; nam post mortem caesares referebantur in numerum deorum . me thinkes ( quoth he ) i am a deifying , and growing to be a god . annum agens vitae absque uno septuagesimum interiit . he lived threescore and 9. yeares , 7. moneths , and 7. daies over . he reigned 2. yeares , saith eusebius . choyce observations of titus vespasianus . for his naturall goodnesse and noble disposition , he was called amor & deliciae humani generis , the lovely darling , and delightfull joy of mankind . tantum illi ad promerendam omnium voluntatem , vel ingenii , vel artis , vel fortunae superfuit . sueton. so fully was he either indued with good nature and disposition , or enriched with skill and cunning , or else graced with fortunes favour . augustin de civit. dei. lib. 5. cap. 21. calls him suavissimum principem , a most sweet prince . yet god made him a terrible scourge to the nation of the jewes , who forsook the lord jesus , and preferred caesar ; for as our saviour prophesied concerning jerusalem , that a stone should not be left upon a stone , matth. 24. 2. so it was fulfilled forty yeares after his ascention , by vespasian the emperour , and his son titus , say eusebius and josephus . and by that which followeth in the same ch. 21. v. he meaneth the tribulation the jewes were to endure at the siege , and surprisall of jerusalem by vespasian and titus . in the time of which siege the jewes were oppressed with a grievous famine , in which their food was old shooes , old leather , old hay , and the dung of beasts . there dyed partly of the sword , and partly of the famine , eleven hundred thousand of the poorer sort : two thousand in one night were imbowelled : six thousand were burned in a porch of the temple . the whole city was sacked and burnt , and laid levell to the ground ; and ninety seven thousand taken captives , and applyed to base and miserable service . so many of the jewes were crucifyed , that ( by relation of their own josephus de bello iudaico lib. 6. c. 12. ) there remained no more space to set crosses in , nor any more crosses to crucify bodies upon . at the very first , even in his child-hood there shone forth in him gifts both of body and mind , and the same more and more still by degrees , as he grew in yeares . he was therefore sickly , because his nurse was so . ingenium quantaecunque fortunae capax , decor oris cum quadam majestate . a person capable of any dignity , were it never so great ; of a goodly presence and countenance , wherein was seated no lesse majesty then favour and beauty . his stature was not tall , and his belly bare out somewhat with the most . he had a singular memory , and was very docible ; he was most skilfull in handling his weapon , and withall a passing good horseman . he was facilis ad extemporalitatem usque . he was of a prompt and ready wit , and would have spoken well ex tempore ; he was also skilfull in musick ; he could write with cyphers , and by artificial characters , both very fast and very fair , striving by way of sport and mirth with his own clerkes , whether he or they could write fastest : he was able to expresse and imitate what hand soever he had seen , and would often say , that he could have been a notable forger , and counterfeiter of writings . suo quam patris imperio modestior . whiles he was a private person , he behaved himself not altogether so well as when he was emperour . his youthful affections were setled somewhat upon berenice the queen of iewry ; notwithstanding in no such degree that it was any hinderance to his honourable actions . the feasts which he made were pleasant merriments rather then lavish and sumptuous . no grosse vice could be found in him , but many excellent vertues . neminem a se dimisit tristem . he never dismissed any petitioner with a tear in his eye , or a heavy heart ; and when his domesticall servants about his person would seem to tell him , that he promised more then he was able to perform ; his saying was , non oportet quenquam à sermone principis tristem discedere . no man ought to depart from the speech of a prince , sad and discontented . calling to mind one time as he sate at supper , that he had done nothing for any man that day , he uttered this memorable and praise-worthy apothegme , amici , diem perdidi . my friends , i have lost a day . if he had not bestowed some benefit upon one or other , he was wont to say ( saith mollerus ) hodie non imperavi quia nemini benefeci . his rule and government was mercifull , he received no accusation against those who were reported to have spoken evil of him , saying , ego cum nihil faciam dignum propter quod contumeliá afficiar , mendacia nihil curo . when i shall do nothing worthy of blame , i care not for lyes . he said , he would rather dye himself then put others to death . he proceeded no further against two noblemen convicted for affecting and aspiring to the empire , then to admonish them to desist and give over , saying , that sovereigne power was the gift of destiny and divine providence ; if they were petitioners for any thing else , he promised to give it unto them . he would not endure to kill , or sequester and confine his brother domitian ( though he never ceased to lay wait for his life ) but still made him partner with him in his sovereigne government , and often with teares exhorted him to mutual love . there fell out in his dayes some heavy accidents ; a fire in the city of rome , which lasted three dayes and three nights ; and a grievous pestilence , wherein there dyed ten thousand a day : and vesuvius a mountain in campania flamed with great horrour ; pliny the naturall historian then admiral of the roman navie , desirous to discover the reason , was suffocated with the smoke thereof , as his nephew witnesseth in an epistle of his to cornelius tacitus . marcellinus observeth , that the ashes thereof transported in the aire , obscured all europe ; others say , that they darkned the sun. he was a valiant souldier ; going once to espy the enemy , and not to fight , notwithstanding that an infinite number of darts and arrowes were shot at him , and he had no armour at all , yet received he not one wound , but all past him , as though upon purpose every one had strove to have mist him . and he with his sword made way and cut many upon the face that opposed themselves against him , and so they falling down , he with his horse past over them . the jewes seeing titus his valour ▪ exhorted one another to set upon him , but whithersoever he turned , the jewes fled and would not abide by it . in the last assault of ierusalem , he slew twelve enemies that defended the wall , with just so many arrowes shot , and won the city with great joy , and favourable applause of all his souldiers . he being to see that executed which christ foretold should happen to ierusalem , stretched forth his hands , and called heaven and earth to witnesse in great bitternesse , that he was not to blame that the jewes perished in such sort , but they themselves ; and would not by any meanes that fire should be set on the temple . comparing the desolation of jerusalem with the beauty and goodly buildings that were before it was destroyed , he lamented and pitied the overthrow thereof , saith iosephus . it is likely that he would have carried a milder hand upon the iewes his prisoners , after his sacking the city of ierusalem , then to cast so many thousands of them to the lions , and other beasts to be devoured , as he did on the birth-day of his brother domitian , but that the heavy curse of god which boyled against that nation , did urge his gentle and calm nature to bring them to destruction . he did stamp in his coin a dolphin and an anchor , with this impresse , sat cito si sat bene . a dolphin out-strips the ship , that 's soon enough ; an anchor stayeth the ship , that 's well enough . a dolphin and anchor , soon enough if well enough . it was said of him , abstinuit alieno , ut si quis unquam . if ever any man abstained from that which was not his own , he was the man. though he was the mirrour of men among the heathen , yet he was loth to depart out of this world ; for being carried in his horse-litter , and knowing that he must dye , he looked upwards towards heaven , and complained very pitiously , that his life should be taken from him who had not deserved to dye , for he knew not ( he said ) of any sin that ever he cōmitted but only one . suetonius writes as if he had dyed of a natural death , but aurel. vict. saith , he was poysoned by his brother domitian . titus à domitiano leporis marini vi peremptus . cael. rhod. lect. antiq. l. 6. cap. 30. morte praeventus est , majore hominum damno quam suo . he was cut short and prevented by death , to the greater losse of mankind then of himself , saith suetonius . the senate gave him more thankes being dead , then ever they did living and present . his death was much lamented , so that they call'd him generally , delicias publicas ; and wept for him as if the world had been deprived of a perpetuall protectour . tantus luctus eo mortuo publicus fuit , ut omnes tanquam in propria doluerint orbitate . he dyed in the 42. year of his age , saith suetonius . 41. say aurel. vict. and eutropius . when he had reigned two yeares , two moneths , and twenty dayes , say suetonius , aurel. vict. carion ; eight moneths , saith eutropius . choyce observations of flavivs domitianvs . he was called domitian from his mother domitilla , as titus ( his brother ) was called vespasian from his father . he was associate to his brother titus in government during his life , and after his death was his successour . perceiving many of his predecessours to be hated , he asked one , how he might so rule as not to be hated ? the party answered , tu fac contra , do thou contrary to that they have done . yet he neither resembled his father vespasian nor his brother titus . neroni , aut caligulae , aut tiberio similior , quam patri vel fratri suo . he was tall of stature , his countenance modest , and given much to rednesse ; his eyes full and great , but his sight very dim . he was fair and of comely presence , especially in his youth ; all his body was well shaped throughout , excepting his feet , the toes whereof were of the shortest ; afterwards he became disfigured , and blemished with baldnesse , with a fat grand panch , and slender shankes . in the beginning of his empire his manner was to retire himself daily into a secret place for one houre , and there to do nothing else but to catch flyes , and with the sharp point of a bodkin prick thē through , in so much as when one enquired whether any body were with caesar within ? crispus made answer not impertinently , ne musca quidem , no , not so much as a flye . in the administration of the empire , he behaved himself for a good while variable , as one made of an equall mixture and temper of vices and vertues , untill at length he turned his vertues also into vices . he neglected all liberall studies in the beginning of his empire , albeit he took order to repaire the libraries consumed with fire , sending as far as * alexandria for copies of books . his ordinary speech was not unelegant , sometimes he would deliver apothegmes ; as for example , he wished , that he had been as fair and well-favoured as metius did think himself to be ; another time he said , that the condition of princes was most miserable , who could not be credited touching a conspiracy plainly detected , unlesse they were first slain . this speech was used also by adrian , miser a conditio imperatorum , quibus , de affectata tyrannide , nisi occisis non potest credi . vulcat . gallic . in avidio cassio . he had no affection to bear armes , or wield weapons , but delighted especially to shoot arrowes . he would drive his arrowes point blank , so just against the palm of a mans right hand , standing a far off , and holding it forth stretched open for a mark , as they should all directly passe through the voyd spaces between the fingers , and do him no harm at all . during his abode at alba , many have seen him shoot at an hundred wild beasts at a time , and purposely so to hit some of them in the head , that his shafts appeared there like a pair of hornes . it was rumoured abroad , that in his infancy , dragons were found about him , in manner of a guard , which is but a fable ; for he himself , who never derogated from himself , was wont to report but of one serpent which was seen in his chamber . when he was mounted once to the imperiall state , he made his boast in the very senate , that it was he who had given unto his father and brother both the empire , and they had but delivered it up to him again . martial writeth thus to him in his epigrams . magna licet toties tribuas , majora daturus dona , ducum victor , victor & ipse tui : diligeris populo non propter praemia , caesar ; propter te populus , praemia , caesar , amat . he was precise and industrious in ministring justice , he reversed many times definitive sentences given for favour , and obtained by flattery ; he did so chastise those that were faulty in that kind , that the officers were never more temperate , or just in their places . he repressed false informations , and sharply punished such informers , using this saying , princeps qui delatores non castigat , irritat . the prince that chasteneth not promoters , setteth them on to promote . at the first he so abhorred all bloodshed and slaughter , that he purposed to publish an edict , forbidding to kill and sacrifice any oxe ; and he scarce gave the least suspicion of covetousnesse . but he continued not long in this strain , but fell after both to cruelty and avarice . he was not only cruell , but very subtil and crafty in cloking of his cruelty . nunquam tristiorem sententiam sine praefatione clementiae pronunciavit , ut non aliud jam certius atrocis exitus signum esset , quam principis lenitas . he never pronounced any heavy and bloody sentence without some preamble and preface of clemency , so that there was not now a surer signe of some horrible end and conclusion , then a mild beginning and gentle exordium . it is reported of him , that , eum se impensissimè diligere simulabat , quem maximè interemptum vellet . he would seem to love them most , whom he willed least should live . it was sufficient , if any deed or word whatsoever was objected against any one , to make it high treason against the prince . inheritances ( though they belonged to the greatest strangers ) were held confiscate , and adjudged to the emperours coffers , in case but one would come forth , and depose that he heard the party deceased say whiles he lived , that caesar was his heir . he was the first emperour who commanded himself to be called lord , and god. he sent out his writs in this form , dominus & deus noster sic fieri jubet , our lord and god thus commandeth . whereupon afterward this order was taken up , that neither in the writing or speech of any man , he should be otherwise called . edictum domini deique nostri . martial . a true forerunner of his successour the pope , who in the extravagants ( and well it deserves to be put there ) is styled dominus deus noster papa , and his decrees are styled oracles . the second persecution was under him in the twelfth year of his reigne ; he most cruelly persecuted the christians , because they would not give the title of lord to any but christ , nor worship any but god. in this second great persecution , the beloved disciple of christ , the evangelist iohn , when he taught the church of ephesus , was banished to the isle of patmos for the word of god , where he wrote the revelation . cletus , nicomedes , pontia , theodora , domicilla , were then famous martyrs . there were many learned schollars in his time ; iuvenal , martial , valerius flaccus , silius italicus , poets : epictetus the philosopher , and apollonius tyanaeus a famous magician : cornelius tacitus the historian , iulius solinus , quintilian , iosephus the writer of iewish antiquities . he was proud like nero , and persecuted innocent christians as he did . tertullian called him neronis portionem , eusebius haeredem , the one a part , the other the heir of nero : and tacitus puts onely this difference between them , that nero indeed commanded cruell murthers , but domitian not onely commanded them , but beheld them himself ; and so he was bis parricida ( as valerius * maximus saith of another ) consilio prius , iterum spectaculo . he caused the line of david to be diligently sought out and extinguisht , for fear lest he were yet to come of the house of david , which should enjoy the kingdom . he was so fearfull , that he walked almost continually in his gallery , which he caused to be set with the stone phengites , that by the brightnesse thereof as in a glasse , ( plin. l. 36. c. 22 ) he might see what was done behind him . that is admirable which writers have related concerning apollonius tyanaeus , a pythagorick philosopher and famous magician , who suddenly as amazed , cried out at ephesus the same time , o stephen , strike the tyrant ; and a little after , he said , it is well thou hast strucke him , thou hast wounded him , thou hast killed him . as his life was like unto the life of nero , so was he not unlike him in his death ; for his own wife domitia , and friends conspired against him , and slew him ; his body was carried to the grave by porters , and buried without honour ; the senate of rome also decreed , that his name should be rased , that all his acts should be rescinded , and his memoriall abolished quite for ever . he perished in the 45. year of his life , about the 15. of his reigne . with whom both tacitus and suetonius end their history . an advertisement to the reader . reader , i know bookes have their doom according to thy capacity , and that such are usually most free in censuring other mens workes , which are least able to publish any of their own . but as the poet saith , carpere vel noli nostra , vel ede tua : many carpes are expected when curious eyes go a fishing , and bookes are pressed to the war as well as men ; ad praelum tanquam ad praelium . i neither deserve that favour from thee nor desire it , that thou shouldest respect my toyes , as pliny said to vespasian , tu soles nostras esse aliquid putare nugas : and yet if thou be such a one , that augustus-like thou art ready to tax all the world , i know no reason why i should regard thy censure ; the french proverb saith , de fol juge brieve sentence , & nihil facilius quam reprehendere alium . however , i shall say now with iulius caesar , iacta est alea , i have put it to the hazard ; thy applause shall not much tickle me , nor thy rash sentence discourage me . i have taken notice of a witty allusion used by divers of these emperours , and others concerning them , which i thought fit to commend to thy observation , viz. a descanting as it were upon the double signification of the word , as first , that of iulius caesars souldiers : gallias caesar subegit , nicomedes caesarem : ecce caesar nunc triumphat , qui subegit gallias ; nicomedes non triumphat , qui subegit caesarem . caesar did subdue the gaules , and him hath nicomede : behold now caesar doth triumph , who did the gaules subdue ; but nicomede triumpheth not , who caesar hath subdu'd . subegit carrieth a double sence , the one signifieth the conquering of a nation , and so it is taken in the former place , as it is applyed to gaule ; the other , the wanton abuse of the body , in which acceptation it is to be understood in reference to caesar abused by nicomedes . so in the history of augustus , suetonius saith , quasi alii se puerum , alii ornandum tollendumque jactassent ; ne aut sibi aut veteranis par gratia referretur . the grace lyeth in the ambiguity of the latine word tollendum , which in one signification , is in a manner equivalent with laudandum & ornandum , and betokeneth to be advanced , extolled , or lifted up , and so it is to be taken in good part ; but in another , it is all one with tollendum de medio or occidendum , that is , to be dispatched out of life or killed , in which sence augustus took it ; much like to that you shall read of nero in martial , quis neget aeneae magni de stirpe neronem ? sustulit hic matrem , sustulit ille patrem . the like appeareth in some of augustus his witty speeches , as that to galba ; ego te monere possum , corrigere non possum . iocatus est ambiguo verbo , corrigitur quod reprehenditur , corrigitur quod ex distorto sit rectum . eras. apophtheg . hoc verè est monumentum patris colere ; colimus ea quae veneramur , & colitur ager aut aliud simile . gemina fuisset amphibologia , si pro monumento dixisset memoriam , quod ab illo dictum arbitror ; siquidem eorum memoria nobis sacrosancta dicitur , quos vita defunctos veneramur , & memorias ad graecorum imitationem vocamus defunctorum monumenta . erasm. in apoph . nero said jestingly of claudius , that he left morari inter homines ; in which verb morari there is couched a double sense , which gives the grace unto this pleasant scoffe ; for being a meer latine word , and having the first syllable by nature short , it signifieth to stay , or to make long abode , and taking it thus , nero might he thought to imply thus much ; that claudius was now departed out of the company of mortall men : but take the same word as nero spake it , derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek , which signifieth a fool , and hath the first syllable long , it importeth , that claudius played the fool no longer here in the world among men . in the time of the two first caesars , which had the art of government in greatest perfection , there lived the best poet , virgilius maro ; the best historiographer , titus livius ; the best antiquary , marcus varro ; and the best or second orator , marcus cicero , that to the memory of man are known . the time that the roman monarchie seemed to be at his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was ( saith carion ) from iulius caesar to the end of antoninus the philosopher his reigne . afterward , many filthy monsters reigned , and many seditious and civill wars followed ; therefore i have not onely enlarged the former treatise , by inserting here and there some other speciall observations , but have made an addition also of six more emperours since , ( as sir francis bacon also saith in his advancement of learning ) the six next princes were all learned , or singular favourers and advancers of learning : which age ( as he also saith ) for temporall respects , was the most happy and flourishing that ever the roman empire ( which then was a model of the world ) enjoyed : a matter revealed and prefigured unto domitian in a dream , the night before he was slain ; for he thought there was grown behind upon his shoulders a neck , and a head of gold , which came accordingly to passe , in those golden times which succeeded . fulke in his book of meteors observeth , not long before the contention of galba , otho , and vitellius , for the empire of rome , there appeared three suns , as it were pointing out the strife which followed soon after between them three for the imperial diadem ; of threescore and thirteen roman emperours ( that perished within the narrow compasse of one hundred years ) onely three died a naturall death in their beds , the rest were cut off by their lusts . it was a heavy time then with christians , when they groaned under the persecuting emperours three hundred years together , yet in that time they had many lucida intervalla , many breathing spaces under princes not altogether so bloody ; there were too principal persecutors of the church , diocletian , and julian , but the last was the most pestilent . jerome justly styled him canem rabidum ; and it is remarkable what is observed of him , that going forth to the persian war , he asked in scoffing manner , what the carpenters son ( meaning christ ) was doing ? to whom it was answered by a good christian , loculum fabricatur , he is making a coffin for julian ; which propheticall speech was indeed verified by the event ; for julian was strangely wounded and slain in that war , and as in his life time he had blasphemed christ , so he died blaspheming christ , and casting up his blood towards heaven , he cried , vicisti ô galilaee , thou hast overcome o galilean . this may suffice to have spoken of some of the chief persecutors in generall , since i purpose not to enlarge this treatise any more , because there is little said of many of the roman emperours , and the * history of them altogether is already written in our mother tongue : but i intended onely at the first , analecta , some choyce and pithie observations of them , if these therefore may benefit thee , summam votorum attigi , i have attained the end of my desires , and so i rest thy well-wisher , edward leigh . choyce observations of cocceivs nerva . domitian thus made away , coccejus nerva a prudent , honourable , and aged person was elected emperour by the senate ; his birth was noble , and of italy , in the city narnia , and of the province vmbria , ruling so well , as he may be esteemed too good a prince long to continue in so bad an age ; who reformed many enormities , and remitted many grievous tributes and exactions ; also he recalled from banishment the christians severally dispersed , and suffered them to enjoy the freedom of their profession , at which time iohn the evangelist returned from pathmos ( wherein he had been confined ) unto ephesus , a city in asia the lesse , where after his return he lived 4. years . the excellent temper of his government is by a glance in cornelius tacitus touched to the life , postquam divus nerva resolim insociabiles miscuisset , imperium & libertatem . dion writeth of him , that he was so good a prince , that he once uttered this speech , nihil se fecisse quo minus possit deposito imperio privatus tutò vivere , he remembreth not to have done any thing why he should not live securely , and without fear of any body , although he gave over the empire . his symbole was , mens bona regnum possidet . he discharged the city of the new impositions which vespasian and domitian had laid upon them , and commanded that goods unjustly taken should be restored to the owners . he was very eloquent , and a good poet , as martial testifies of him , quanta quies placidi , tanta est facundia nervae . see martial's epigramme of him , lib. 11. epig. 6. herodes atticus found a great treasure in his house , but fearing calumnies , he wrote to nerva , and discovered it . he wrote back again , vtere , use it . but he being not so secure , wrote again , at enim thesaurus privati hominis conditionem superat , but the treasure exceedes the condition of a private man : nerva again nobly replied , ergo abutere . lips. in plin. paneg. on a reverse of nerva is found a team of horses let loose , with this inscription , vehiculatione per italiam remissa ; whereby we learn ( which no historian remembers ) that the roman emperours commanded all the carriages of the countrey ; that nerva remitted that burden ; and that the grievance was so heavy , that coines were stamped in remembrance of this emperours goodnesse that eased them of it . see the coines in l. hulsius , and speed's chronicle . sextus aurel. victor writeth thus ; quid nerva prudentius aut moderatius ? quid trajano divinius ? quid praestantius hadriano . having reigned onely one year , four moneths , and nine dayes , de dyed of a passionate anger conceived against a senatour , in the year of christ his incarnation ninety nine , the twenty seventh day of ianuary , and seventy sixth of his own age . choyce observations of ulpivs trajanvs . unto nerva succeeded vlpius trajanus into the roman empire , in the 42. year of his age , who was born near unto sevil in the territories of spain , of a noble family , but was much more ennobled in himself for his princely endowments ; which moved nerva in his life time to adopt him into so high a calling , and the whole senate after his death joyfully to confirm his election , and so often to honour him with the title of the most excellent prince in publik dedications . he raised the roman empire unto the very highest pitch of glory , and spread the power of their command into the largest circuit that ever before or since hath been possessed . he subdued dacia , made subject armenia , parthia , and mesopotamia , conquered assyria , persia , and babylon ; passed tigris , and stretched the confines of the roman empire unto the remotest dominions of the indies , which never before that time had heard of the roman name . for his person , he was not very learned , yet he was a great admirer of , and benefactor to learning ; a founder of famous libraries , a perpetuall advancer of learned men to office , * and a familiar converser with learned professors . quem honorem dicendi magistris ? quam dignationem sapientiae doctoribus habes ? ut sub te spiritum , & sanguinem , & patriam receperint studia , quae priorum temporum immanitas exiliis puniebat . plin. secund. paneg. of stature he was big , of complexion swarthy , thin of hair both head and beard , he had a hooked nose , broad shoulders , long hands , and a pleasant eye . he stirred up the third persecution , wherein ignatius , and simon the son of cleophas , and many other worthy saints of god received the crown of martyrdom in such cruell manner , as that his other vertues are much clouded by that taxation ; for mollification whereof , he was intreated by plinius secundus , whose epistles to that purpose are yet extant , viz. the 97. of his tenth book , where he hath this passage to trajan concerning them ; affirmabant hanc fuisse summam vel culpae suae vel erroris , quòd essent soliti stato die ante lucem convenire , carmenque christo quasi deo dicere secum invicem ; seque sacramento non in scelus aliquid obstringere , sed ne furta , ne latrocinia , ne adulteria committerent , ne fidem fallerent , ne depositum appellati abnegarent , &c. to which letter trajan thus replyeth , conquirendi nnon sunt ; si deferantur & arguantur , puniendi sunt . whereupon tertullian in his apology hath this passage , o sententiam necessitate confusam ! negat inquirendos innocentes , & mandat puniendos ut nocentes ; parcit & saevit , dissimulat & animadvertit . quid teip sum censur â circumvenis ? si damnas , cur non , & inquiris ? si non inquiris , cur non & absolvis ? he was affable and familiar even with his inferiours ; of such carriage toward his subjects , as he himself would wish ( he said ) his prince to use towards him , if he had been a subject . aequus , clemens , patientissimus , atque in amicos perfidelis , saith aurelius victor of him . he was a great observer of iustice , in so much that when he invested any praetor , in giving him the sword , he commanded him to use the same even against his own person , if he violated law or equity . he erected many famous buildings , whence constantine the great called him parietariam wall-flower , because his name was upon so many walls . alexander severus is rather to be commended , who caused that precept of the gospel to be engraved on the frontispiece of his palace , quod tibi fieri non vis , alterinèseceris . dion reporteth this apothegme of him , nullum se unquam virum bonum male habiturum , nedum occisurum dies ille triplici gaudio laetus ( saith pliny in a panegyrick to him ) qui principem abstulit pessimum , dedit optimum , meliorem optimo genuit . in solo plinio trajanum habemus , in trajan● imaginem omnium magnarum virtutum . qui ea libertate omnia scripsit , qua trajanus fecit ; adeò ut incomparabili principe opus dignissimum sit & ipsum incomparabile . boxhorn . orat. rara temporum felicitas , ubi sentire quae velis , & quae sentias dicere licet , saith tacitus of his reigne : a man so exceeding wellbeloved of the senate , and of the people of rome , that after his dayes , whensoever a new emperour was elected , they wished unto him the good successe of augustus , and the uprightnesse of trajanus . he dyed by a flux the seventh day of august , after he had reigned 19. yeares , six moneths and 15. dayes , and of his age 64. choyce observations of aelivs hadrianvs . after the decease of trajan , his nephew aelius hadrianus by the consent of the army , who swore to him obedience , was proclaimed emperour ; the senate likewise confirmed their choyce , as being a man endued with gifts both of art and nature , answerable to the fortunes of his estate . his birth was of spain , in the city italica , near unto sevil where trajan was born ; his father noble , and his mother in cales descended of an honourable stock . he was a great mathematician , skilfull in arithmetick , geometry , and judiciall astrology , learned in the greek and latine tongues , well seen in physick , and knew the vertues of herbs , roots , and stones ; a singular musitian both for theory and practise , and could both limne and carve with approbation of the skilfull ; but above all is the admirable report of his memory , who never ( they say ) forgot any thing that he had either read or heard . if he discovered any man to have the like skill with him in all sciences ( in the which he very much excelled ) by whom there might be danger lest he were overcome , through envy and too greedy a desire of singularity , he caused him to be killed . among the which was apollodorus the architect , a man beyond comparison excellent in that art ; for that the emperour having sent unto him the plat-form of a great work which he had contrived , he by his efficacious reasons had proved , that in some place it was to be corrected . cuffe of affectation . he quotes dion & bapt. fulg. l. 8. he was the most curious man that lived , and the most universal inquirer , in so much as it was noted for an errour in his mind , that he desired to comprehend all , and not reserve himself for the worthiest things ; but it pleased god to use the curiosity of this emperour as an inducement to the peace of the church in those dayes : for having christ in veneration , not as a god or saviour , but as a wonder or novelty ; and having his picture in his gallery matched with apollonius ( with whom in his vain imagination he thought he had some conformity ) yet it served the turn to allay the bitter hatred of those times against the christian name , so as the church had peace during his time . he was a great favourer of learned men . in adriani principis aulam non viri tantum militares , sed innumer abiles philosophorum greges , tanquam in lycaeum aut veterem academiam magnis de rebus disputaturi confluebant . alphonsus garcias matamorus in narrat . apologet . de acad. & viris liter atis . t. 2. piccartus observat. historico-polit . dec. 17. c. 5. instanceth in k. alphonsus and others , who delighted in the society of learned men . he was minded ( as lampridius writeth ) to have built a temple to the service of christ , had not some disswaded him therefrom . he was of personage tall and very strong , of a good complexion , and amiable countenance , wearing the heare of his head and beard long . to shew that he counted hatred retained a base and unprincely disposition , as soon as he came to the empire , he laid aside all his former enmities ; insomuch as that meeting with one who had been his capitall enemy , he said unto him , evas●s●i , thou art now escaped from my displeasure . spartianus in hadriano . videsis casuabonum . when a woman called to him passing by , saying , audi me caesar , hear me caesar , and he answered , non est * otium , i have no leasure , she cryed out , noli ergo imperare , then cease to reign ; at that speech he being moved , staid and heard the * woman . it was accounted discretion in him , that would not dispute his best with him , excusing himself , that it was reason to yeeld to him that commanded thirty legions . though he was famous for his industry , wit , memory , and fortunate successe , and could in his fatall sickness command others to be slain , yet death denyed subjection to him . his servant which undertook it fled , his adopted son pretended piety , his own hand was prevented by attendants , his solicited physician flew himself that he might not slay the emperour , who yet complained at his death , many physicians have slain the emperour . he sported at death with these verses : animula , vagula , blandula , hospes , comesque corporis , quae nunc abibis in loca ? pallidula , rigida , nudula , nec ut soles , dabis jocos . my fleeting fond poor darling , bodies guest and equall , where now must be thy lodging ? pale , and stark , and stript of all , and put from wonted sporting . when he had reigned in great honour and love the space of one and twenty years , five moneths and fifteen daies , and lived sixty two yeares , he dyed the eighth or tenth day of iuly of a dropsie , which malady so tormented him , that willingly he refused all sustenance , & languished away through faintnesse . choyce observations of antoninus pivs . unto adrianus succeeded antoninus pius , who was for his many vertues , or rather piety toward the gods , sur-named pius ; for piety ( to speak properly ) is the true worship of god , as austin shewes in his 10. book de civit. dei c. 1. but he was not truly pious , because he knew not the true god. he was compared for his peace and policy unto numa pomplius , the second king of rome . his birth was in lombardy , the son of aurelius fulvius . he was a prince excellently learned , and had the patient and subtile wit of a school-man , insomuch as in common speech ( which leaves no vertue untaxed ) he was called cymini-sector , a carver or a divider of cumine seede , which is one of the least seeds ; such a patience he had , and setled spirit to enter into the least and most exact differences of causes : he likewise approched a degree nearer unto christianity , and became as agrippa said to paul , half a christian ; holding their religion and law in good opinion , and not onely staying persecution , but giving way to the advancement of christians . in his time iustin martyr wrote notable bookes of apologie for the christians , which were preserved and read in the senate of rome , and mollified the emperours mind towards them . he was favourable to all sorts of men , having that apothegme of scipio africanus rife in his mouth , that he had rather save one subjects life then kill a thousand enemies . he was of stature tall , of a seemely presence , in countenance majesticall , in manners mild , of a singular wit , very learned and eloquent , a great lover of husbandry , peaceable , mercifull and bounteous , he neither in his youth did any thing rashly , nor in his age any thing negligently . in time of great famine which was in rome , he provided for their wants , and maintained the people with bread and wine , the most of the time that the famine lasted ; making victuals to be brought from all parts , and paying for the same at his own cost . having reigned twenty and two yeares , seven moneths , and twenty six dayes , he dyed of a fever at porium the seventh of march , the year of his life 75. and of christ 162. his death was generally lamented , and the romans did him great honour , and made sacrifices to him , canonizing him for a god , and building a temple also to him . choyce observations of lucius commodus verus , and antoninus philosophus . there succeeded antoninus the divi fratres , the two adoptive brethren , lucius commodus verus , son to aelius verus , ( who delighted much in the softer kind of learning , and was wont to call the poet martial his virgil , ) & marcus aurelius antoninus , whereof the latter who obscured his collegue , and survived him long , was named the philosopher , who as he excelled all the rest in learning , so he excelled them likewise in perfectiō of all royall vertues . betwixt their natures and conditions was as much odds as between day and night ; the one very moderate , loving , and industrious ; the other proud , careless , and cruell ; the fruits whereof the poor christians felt , whose chiefest pillars , polycarpus bishop of smyrna , and iustin martyr an excellent philosopher , with infinite more were put to most cruell deaths . after his death the whole government returned to antoninus philosophus onely , whose symbole was , regni clementia custos . he was sur-named the philosopher , not onely for his knowledge , but also practice of philosophy ; he had often in his mouth that speech of plato , tunc florent respublicae , quando vel philosophus regit , vel rex philosophatur . this good emperour possessed the seat of majesty nineteen yeares and eleven dayes , wherein he alwayes approved himself in wit excellent , in life vertuous ; very learned and eloquent , full of clemency , justice , and temperance , nothing inferiour to most of all the worthiest emperours before him , nor matchable in qualities by many of the monarchs that followed him . he would not believe that avidius cassius could ever have deposed him ; and his reason was , the gods had greater care of him , then to let cassius wrong him undeservedly , vulc. gallicanus in vita aridii cassii . iulian the emperour in his book intituled caesares , being a pasquil or satyre to deride all his predecessors , feigned that they were all invited to a banquet of the gods , and silenus the iester sate at the lower end of the table , and bestowed a scoffe on every one as they came in ; but when antoninus philosophus entred , he was gravelled and out of countenance , not knowing where to carpe at him , save at the last he gave a glance at his patience towards his wise . when his armies were even famished * for want of water , the christians by their prayers procured wine from heaven to their great refreshing , and the barbarians were dashed with thunder and fire ; whereupon he mitigated the rage against christs professors , and in his time the church for the most part was in peace . he dyed the seventeenth day of march , in the year of our lord 181. and of his own age , 59. choyce observations of commodvs . his name agreed not with his disposition , he being called commodus , who was ( saith * orosius ) cunctis incommodus . concerning his birth there passeth this story or fiction ; his mother annia valeria faustina , daughter of antoninus fius , and wife of antoninus philosophus , when she saw certain gladiators or sword-players going to fight , was monstrously inflamed with the love of one of them , upon whom she dored so extremely , that her affection was almost grown to phrensy , languishing wherewith , she confessed her love-madnesse to her husband . he perceiving her distemper to increase , consulted with the chaldaeans or sooth-sayers , what was best to be done in so desperate a case , for the saving of his wives life , and the quenching of her unchast desires . they after long consideration determined , that there was left for her but one onely remedy , as strange as the disease ; viz , to cause the said gladiator to be murdered secretly that she might not know of it , and that the next night that her husband intended to lye with her , a cup full of his luke-warm bloud * changed into the likeness of water should be given her to drink , ut sese * sublevaret : which was performed accordingly , and she cured of her disease , but with this bad successe ; for that night , as it is said , she was delivered of commodus , who in qualities resembled that gladiator upon this occasion , as some reported ; which they ascribed to the power of her imagination , but others esteemed him a bastard . ferrand . of love-melancholy out of capitolinus in antonino philosopho c. 19. editionis gruterianae . the conject●re that commodus was born in adultery , is confirmed by the behaviour of faustina his mother at cajeta , where she was wont want only to gaze on naked gladiators and mariners . capitolinus ibid. aurel. victor . when his mother was with child with him and his twin-brother antoninus , who dyed when 4. months old , she dreamed that she brought forth two serpents , one whereof , viz. commodus , as the event proved , exceeded in fierceness . lamoridius in commodo . c. 1. commodus was more noble by descent then any of the former emperours , and the most beautifull person of his time . herodian . l. 1. in fine . he was so excellent a marks-man , that he could hit with an arrow or dart whatsoever he aimed at , exceeding the most expert parthian archers , and numidian darters which he had about him . herodian l. 1. c. 15. editionis boeclerianae . once he shot forked arrowes at moresco estriches , which were wonderfull swift of foot , using their wings as sailes in running . these he did hit so full in the neck , that though their heads were struck off with the furiousnesse of the blow , yet they ran awhile headlesse , as if they had not been hurt . id. ibid. neque haec superant veri sidem , cum instrumentamotus , spiritus s●ilicet vitales , aliquandiu motum continuare possint , non exhausti uno temporis momento ; quod colligunt medi●●è motu cordis anguillae exsecti . simile quid memini inter historias à nonnullis narratum , de quodam pyrata , qui interceptus cum suis sociis navalibus hoc unum suppliciter petiit , ut sociorum singuli vitae redonarentur , quos capite truncus cursu praeteriisset . largitum hoc est supremis ejus votis : stans capite truncatur ; cursum intendit , quem usque ad posiremos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continuasse● , nisi a carnifice ac l●ctoribus adstantibus in terram fuisset detractus . p. voet. in herodiani marc. & commod . p. 183. videsis fromondum de anima l. 1. c. 4. art . 3. p. 97. &c , another time a panther having fastned upon a man , ( who was brought into the lists ) so that all thought she would instantly tear him in pieces ; he darted at her so happily , that he killed the beast and saved the man , preventing the impression of her teeth with the point of his weapon . [ alcon seeing his son phalerus ( one of the argonauts ) sleeping on the grasse , and a serpent creeping on his breast , slew the serpent , and saved his son : — non sic libravit in hostem spicula , qui nato serpentis corpore cincto plus timuit dum succurrit ; dum jactibus iisdem interitum vitamque daret ; stabilemque teneret corde tremente manum ; totamque exiret in artē spe propiore metus ; dans inter membra duorū vnius mortem . — sidonius apollinaris in paneg . majoriani . videsis servium in fextam virgilii eclogam . ] he slew also 100. lyons with so many darts ; their bodies falling in such order , that they might easily be numbered ( not one dart miscarrying . ) herodian ubi suprà . he resembled his father in nothing but fortunate fighting against the germans , with whom notwithstanding he made a dishonourable peace . he was faithfull to none ; and most cruel to those whom he had before advanced to the greatest honours , and enriched with most vast rewards . sextus aurelius victor . he and heliogabalus conferred all the dignities of the empire upon men for lust and licentiousness most like unto themselves . walsinghams manuall . he was the first roman emperour who through covetousnesse sold offices for mony ; vespasian had done it before him , but through necessity , finding the common-wealth in debt , and the treasure exhausted . the history of spain translated by grimston . he killed some though innocent , instead of others who were guilty , and did let offenders escape for mony . lampridius in comm. if any one had an enemy of whom he would be revenged , he needed but to bargain with commodus for a summe of money to kill him . id. ibid. he pretended that he would go into africa , that he might raise money for that feigned journey , which when he had gathered , he spent in banquetting and gaming . id. ibid. he was so careless in serious matters , that he wrote nothing more then vale in many of his letters ; and so serious in things of light or ill concernment , that he caused to be registred how often he frequented the fense-schoole , with all his cruelties and impurities . id. ibid. he employed not himself in any thing which became an emperour ; making glasses , dancing , singing , piping , playing the buffoon and fencer ; bathing 7. or 8. times in the day , eating in the bath , drinking in the theatre in womans habit ; mingling humane excrements with the daintiest fare , tasting them himself , thinking so to mock others . id. ibid. he kept 300. concubines , and so many boyes which he used as women ; like * caligula commanded women to be ravished in his sight , committed incest as he did with all his sisters , and exceeded him ( saith tristan ) in polluting the temples with whoredome and human bloud . his naturall incontinence was incredibly inflamed by divers sorts of ointments ( used by him to preserve himself from the pestilence , whilest it reigned throughout italy ) which were of so hot and subtile a quality , that they excited in him the unquenchable flames of extraordinary lasciviousnesse . tristan . he was so cruell , that when he was but 12. yeares old , because the bath in which he was washed was a little too warm , he commanded that the heater of it should be cast into a furnace . dion confidently reporteth that the physicians poysoned his father to gratify him . he put to death his wife crispina , his eldest sister lucilla , and annia faustina his fathers cousin german , with 24. of the eminentest personages of the roman empire . he commanded one to be cast to wild beasts , for reading the life of caligula in suetonius , because he had the same birth-day with caligula . his very jests were cruell ; seeing one have white haires among black ones , he set on his head a starling , which thinking it picked wormes made festers . he cut a fat man off at the middle of the belly , that he might see his entrailes drop out suddenly . he called them monopodii and luscinii whom he deprived of a foot or eye . he made men exercise that cruelty upon themselves in reality , which they used to act but in shew . lamprid. c. 9. he imitated chirurgions in letting bloud , and barbers in trimining , under which pretence he cut off eares and noses : wherefore such was his jealousy of all men , that he was forced like dionysius to be his own barber . histories not onely affirm , that he plaid the gladiator in person , but his statue in that fashion stark naked , with his naked sword in his hand , is yet extant at rome in the farnesian palace . he imitated nero in driving of chariots , and if quintus aemylius laetus had not deterred him , he would have burned rome ( as nero did ) thinking he might do what he pleased with that place which he called after his name . so exceeding great was the madness of this vile monster , that he sent a letter to the senate with this style : imperator caesar lucius , aelius , aurelius , commodus , antoninus , augustus , pius , foelix , sarmaticus , germanicus maximus , britannicus , pacator orbis tevy rum , invictus , romanus hercules , pontisex maximus , tribunitiae potestatis , xviii . imperator , viii . consul , vii . pater patriae , consulibus , praetoribus , tribunis plebis , senatuique * commodiano soelici salutem . xiphilin . the former emperours at pleasure sometimes times took some few names to themselves , sometimes bestowed them on others . in the later times , vertue decaying , ambition in titles increased . yet iustinian accounted of as a sober emperour , hath his style notwithstanding not much shorter . imp. caesar flavius justinianus , alemannicus , gothicus , francicus , germanicus , anticus , alanicus , vandalicus , africanus , pius , foelix , inclytus victor , ac triumphator semper augustus . s r. h. savil on tacitus . he changed the names of all the moneths , calling them after his own sur-names , which was observed no longer then he lived . he ever and anon changed all his surnames , except that of amazonius , taken up out of love to marcia his concubine , whose picture he wore upon the outside of his garment ; and of exuperans , because he would have been thought to excell all men : as appeareth by his being sacrificed to as a god. when his favourite perennis was dead , he repealed many things that were done by him , but persisted no above 30 dayes in his reformation , permitting cleander to be more licencious then perennis , lamprid. yea to such drunken dotage he was grown , that he refused his fathers name , commanding himself in stead of commodus the son of marcus , to be styled hercules the son of iupiter ; and accordingly he forsook the roman and imperiall habit ; and in stead thereof , thrust himself into a lions skin , and carried a great club in his hand : and ( which made him extremely ridiculous ) he put on also purple amazonian robes embroydered with gold ; expressing in one and the same garb austerity and effeminateness : this was his daily attire . he commanded many statues of himself made in likeness of hercules , to be erected throughout the city , and one before the senate-house in form of an archer ready to shoot ; that his very images might strike a terror into the beholdèrs . herodian . he ranged so far in a mad humour , as that he purposed to forsake his palace , and live in a fence-school ; and now being weary of the name of hercules , he assumed the name of a famous sword-player deceased . on new-yeares day he determined in great solemnity to issue forth of a senceschool , from which marcia , laetus , and electus disswaded him ; but he incensed with them , commanded them to depart , and retiring into his bed-chamber , to repose himself at noon ( as he was wont , ) he wrote their names in a table-book , dooming them to death that night . having done this , he laid his table-book on the pailet , not imagining that any would enter into his chamber . but his darling philo-commodus being full of play , went ( as he usually did ) into the bed-chamber ( while commodus was bathing ) and taking the book to play with , went forth , and was met by marcia ; who took the book from him , lest he might spoil some weighty matter . as soon as she perceived it was commodus his own hand , she greatly desired to read it . but when she found the deadly contents , she discovered to electus and laetus the danger they were in , and they all resolved to purchase their own security by commodus his death , and concluded it most convenient to dispatch him by poyson ; which marcia having given to him , it cast him into a slumber , out of which awaking he vomited extremely : the conspirators fearing fulnesse might expell the poyson , cause him to be strangled . he lived 31. yeares , 4. moneths , and reigned 12. yeares , 9. moneths and 14. dayes . in him the aelian together with the aurelian family was extinguished , as the iulian in nero. tristan . how joyfull his death was both to senate and people , their assemblies in the temples to give thanks for their deliverance , and their execrations pronounced against him , at large reported by lampridius , do manifest . he was called the enemy of god and men ; the very name of the devil . the christians escaped persecution from him by the mediation of marcia , who favoured their doctrine . dion . of all emperours until constantine he was most favourable unto christians , whatsoever he was otherwise . mountague's acts and monuments of the church . c. 7. paragr . 115. in respect of much persecution before , those times were called halcyonia sub commodo ecclesiae . lloid's consent of time , p. 599. commodus insequitur , pugnis maculosus arenae ; threicio princeps bella movens gladio . eliso tandem persolvens gutture poenas , criminibus fassus matris adulterium . ausonius . choyce observations of pertinax . was so called , either for his reluctance in accepting the empire , or rather for his pertinacious resolution in his youth to be a woodmonger , as his father was , when he would have made him a scholar . yet at last he was perswaded by his father to apply himself to learning , in which he was such a proficient , that he succeeded his master sulpitius apollinaris in the teaching of grammer : but gaining little thereby , he served in the camp with such proof of his valour , that upon the death of commodus he was chosen emperour . for the murther being done in the night , laetus went in all hast to pertinax , and saluted him with the unexpected name of emperour ; but he thought laetus was sent from commodus to kill him , till he was certified of commodus his death , by one of his servants whom he sent to view his carkase . so different was the opinion of all men concerning pertinax and commodus , that many hearing of commodus his death , thought the report was raised by himself to try mens inclinations ; wherefore many governours of provinces imprisoned those who related it , not because they would not have had the news to be true , but for that they thought it more dangerous to believe the death of commodus , then not to come in to pertinax , by whom every one was confident that they should be easily pardoned , whereas with commodus innocence gave no security . excerpta petresci . p. 728. pertinax was forced to accept of the empire by laetus and electus , when he was above 60. yeares old ; yet admitted not any symbole of sovereignty , and declined so envious a title , till compelled by the senate . recusabat imperare ; quod erat bene imperaturi . plinius de trajano . panegyr . 5. he chiefly re●used the empire , because he was to succeed a tyrant , who by his disorders had so impoverisht the state , and rendred the souldiers so loose , that he saw 't was impossible to avoid a publik odium , by the use of a necessary remedy . tristan . he would not let his wife receive the title of empresse , nor his son be called caesar , as the senate had decreed , lest he should be corrupted , but deferred it till he might deserve it ; nor admitting him being a youth into the court , but causing him to lead a private life . he permitted not his name to be stamped on the peculiar goods of the emperours , saying , that the propriety thereof belonged to the state in generall . herodian l. 2. c. 4. as marcus aurelius , whom he imitated , said to the senate ; nos usque adeo nihil habemus proprium , ut etiam vestras aedes habitemus . xiphilinus in marco aurelio . he enacted that all the wast ground in italy and other countries ( though of the princes demesne ) should be improved , and freely given to them who would manure it : to which purpose , he granted to husband-men 10. yeares immunity from all taxes , and security from all further trouble during his reigne . herodian . he banisht informers , preserved the commoners from the injury of souldiers , and released all imposts exacted by tyrants . id. he never could be induced to revenge an injury . s. a. victoris epitome . he was too negligent of his wife flavia titiana's chastity , who openly loved a fidler ; he in the mean time being as ardently and infamously enamoured on his concubine cornificia . capitolinus c. 13. he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a giver of good words , because he was rather a fawning than a kind prince ; promising well but performing ill . such was his niggardliness , that he would set before his guests a sallad of lettuce , &c. and part of a tripe ; but if he at any time exceeded , a leg or wing of a hen. capitolinus c. 12. tristan parallelleth him with vespasian . his strict discipline and short donatives displeased the souldiers , who conspired against him , and elected falco emperour , whom the senate sentenced , but pertinax cryed out , god forbid , that during my reigne any senatour be put to death , though deservedly . xiphiline . laetus pretending to punish this sedition , causeth the death of divers souldiers , that the rest might mutiny , which they did , 200. entring the palace with drawn swords , whom pertinax was advised to flye from : but he indiscreetly rejecting that good counsell , met them , thinking with his majesty to make them afraid and leave off their enterprise , which fell out accordingly , for immediately they all retreated , except one tausius a tungrian , who ran him into the breast , saying , hunc tibi gladiū milites mittunt . dion censureth him thus , non norat homo multarum rerum peritus , multa simul tutò corrigi non posse : sed si quid aliud in rebus humanis , tum imprimis reipublicae constitutionem & tempus & sapientiam requirere . he having endured all manner of labours , & being bandied from one extreme condition to another , was called the tennis-ball of fortune . he lived 67. years lacking 4. months and 3. dayes , and reigned 87. dayes , saith dion . pertinacis principatus solo tempore minor est optimi cujusque principis regimine , saith boeclerus . helvi , judicio & consulto lecte senatus , princeps decretis prodite , non studiis . quod docuit malefida cohors , errore probato , curia quod castris cesserat imperio . ausonius . choyce observations of julianus . souldiers proclaiming the sale of the empire , julians wife and his daughters with some parasites , urged him to accept of the proffer , since he could exceed any in largesses . herodian l. 2. c. 6. sulpitian father-in-law to pertinax offered each soulder 200. crownes , but julian outbidding him , and promising more then they demanded or expected , obtained the empire of them , who feared lest sulpitian might revenge pertinax his death , as his competitor suggested to them . xiphiline . he entered the city , all the souldiers calling him emperour , the citizens neither daring to resist , nor yet approving the election by joyfull acclamations , as the custome was to other emperours ; but cursing him and throwing stones at him . herodian ubi suprà . he being hated , syria elected niger , germany chose severus emperour , who took albinus as partner . the rise of these 3. commanders , with the fall of julian , was prognosticated by the appearance of 3. stars about the sun ( while julian sacrificed ) conspicuous to all but the flattering pur-blind senators . xiphiline . a boy also divining by a looking-glasse , saw severus his advance and julians departure . spartian c. 7. severus hasting to rome was met by embassadors from julian with the offer of half the empire ; which he refused , and was by the senate ( who lately proclaimed him traitor ) declared emperour . the souldiers discontented because julian kept not his covenant , and hoping to purchase favour with severus , slew their chapman in his palace ; he thus expostulating with them , quid rei gravis admisi ? quem interfeci ? severus who had been acquitted by him from the imputation of adultery , wherewith he was charged , slew him with the like ingratitude , as julian did laetus , who had saved his life . tristan . he lived 60. yeares , 4. moneths , and so many dayes ; and reigned 66. dayes . dion . he being old , honourable and rich , by the purchase of the empire lessened his estate , impaired his credit , and lost his life . dii bene , quod spoliis didius non gaudet opimis ; et citò perjuro praemia dempta seni . tuque severe pater titulum ne horresce novantis ; non rapit imperium vis tua , sed recipit . ausonius . choyce observations of septimius severus . he was one of the 25. consuls made in one year by cleander commodus his favourite . he was an african , of so low birth , that , when he enrolled himself into the family of marcus aurelius , one pollenius sebennus is reported to have said , o caesar , i congratulate thy ●ortune , that thou hast found a father : as if he had not had a father before , his original being so base and obscure ; reflecting hereby also upon the chastity of his mother . having ascended from mean estate to the highest honour , he was wont to say ; omnia fui , nihil expedit . spartian in severo c. 18. he dreamed that he saw in one of the market-places at rome a horse to throw pertinax , who had mounted on him , and to suffer himself to back him ; a brasse image of which dream remained in herodians time . he was expert in the mathematiques , a good philosopher , and eloquent oratour . nothing is comparable to severus his conflicts or conquests , either for multitude of forces , commotion of countries , number of battels , length of journeyes , or speed in marches . herodian l. 3. his souldiers endured all difficulties cheerfully in emulation of him , who excited them to hardship by his own example , being wont as silius italicus saith of hannibal : — vertice nudo excipere insanos imbres , coelique ruinam . he was so inured to continual action , that even at his last gasp he said ; is there any thing for me to do ? xiphiline . in stead of punishing he entertained and rewarded priscus an engineer , who did him most mischief in his siege of byzantium . xiphiline . entring into alexandria he found this inscription , domini nigri est urbs ; with which being offended , the inhabitants met him , crying , novimus nos dixisse domini nigri esse urbem ; tu enim es nigri dominus . for which ready excuse he pardoned them . suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when certain of his officers went about to perswade him to rase out an epigramme made in commendation of niger , ( at the basis of whose statue it was engraved ) he expressed his dislike by these words ; si talis suit , sciant omnes qualem vicerimus ; si talis non suit , putent omnes nos vicisse talem : immo sic sit , quia fuit talis . ingenuously and wisely confessing the worth of his enemy . spartianus in nigro c. 12. when he was lieutenant in africke , one of his inferiour acquaintance met him going in state with his bundle of rods carried before him , and embraced him familiarly as his quondam chamber-fellow ; whom he caused to be beaten , the cryer proclaiming , embrace not rudely a roman lieutenant . from which time lieutenants have not gone on foot . spartian . plautian his favourite was so great with him , that one of plautians officers being commanded by severus , then at leisure , to plead a cause , refused , saying , he could not do it unlesse plautian commanded him . xiphiline . at the siege of atra , when he had beaten down a great part of the wall , and his souldiers were ready to enter , he commanded a retreat , hoping thereby to induce the arabians to discover that great treasure there laid up . but his covetous designe was miserably disappointed , for the besieged immediately made up their wall and kept him out . xiphiline . being used to get the victory , he now reputed himself conquered , because he could not overcome . herodian l. 3. c. 9. when one who lived in albinus his quarters , would have excused his forced assistance of him to severus , demanding what he would have done if it had been his own case ; severus answered , ea perferrem quae tu , i would suffer as you do . aurel. vict. he boasted to the senate of his clemency , although he slew at one time 40. of the most illustrious personages of the roman empire , not hearing them in their defence , contrary to a law which himself first made ; proving himself thereby truly to answer his name , being ( as was said of him ) verè pertinax , verè severus : so that silenus might well say , ( in iuliani caesaribus ) i dare not speak against him , i am so terrified with his inexorable cruelty . 10. antiochenus saith he was a great souldier , but his covetousnesse transported him beyond his valour . he was more covetous and cruell then any of his predecessors . tristan . when he warred in britain , he commanded an universall slaughter of his enemies , in these verses : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . let none escape your bloudy rage , with terrour let all die ; spare not the mother , nor the babe which in her womb doth lie . having taking albinus prisoner , he commanded him to be slain , caused his body to be laid before his palace , rode over him , and at last cast his mangled corps ( the stench whereof could not be endured ) into the river rh●s●e , with the carkases of his wife and children . having compelled nigers captaines ( whose children he kept as pledges ) to betray nigers affaires , when he had attained his ends , he slew them and their children . he gained his sur-name britannicus , by building , or at least repairing the picts-wall between england and scotland , 132. miles in length , against the incursions of the scots and picts . at every miles end was a tower , and pipes of brasse ( in the wall betwixt every tower ) conveied the least noise from garison to garison , without interruption ; so newes of an approching enemy was quickly spred over the borders , and occasionall provision made for resistance . there were also resting places for the areans , who were appointed by the ancients ( saith amm. marcellinus ) to serve for foot-posts , to run as occurrents fell between the officers , and carry them word of the least stirring . since the wall is ruined , and that way of dispatch taken away , many inhabitants thereabout hold land by a tenure in cornage ( as lawyers speak ) being bound by blowing a horn to discover the irruption of the enemy . cambden's britannia . ubi videsis plura . it is reported by spartian , that in his passage to york a little before his death , a black-moor with a cypresse garland on his head did meet severus , ( who bid him , as unfortunate , to be put out of his sight ) and saluted him thus ; totum fuisti , totum vicisti , jam deus esto victor . at his entrance into the city , he was by errour of a rusticall sooth-fayer ( who guided him ) brought into the temple of bellona : and black beasts , being appointed for sacrifice , did of themselves follow him to his palace . which things , howsoever they fell our accidentally , yet were interpreted as ominous by others in respect of the event . while he lay sick of the gout at york , the souldiers saluting his son bassianus emperour , he arose and caused the principall of them to be brought before him , and when they prostrate craved pardon , he laying his hand on his head , said , sentitisne tandem caput imperare , non pedes ? spartian c. 18. a little before his death he caused his urne to be brought before him , and taking it into his hand , said ; thou shalt contain him whom the world could not . xiphiline . he said to his sons on his death-bed , agree among your selves , enrich the souldiers , and contemne all others . id. ibid. in relation to which union he bade them read in salust , mycypsa's dying speech to his sons , in which there is this expression ; concordiâ res parvae cres●unt , discordiâ magnae dilabuntur . spartian . c. 21. by his pernicious advice to his sons to study onely the enriching of the souldiery , he made a breach in the impenetrable wall of the roman power , as the greek epigrammatist calls it . for after severus his raigne , for 30 lawfull emperours , the roman empire saw in the space of 150 yeares , more then an 100 tyrants . the discipline of the vertuous emperours occasioning the wicked ones to mount on the throne . as the tragicall ends of young gordian , of alexander severus , of posthumus , probus and aurelian manifest . tristan . he ended his life with these words , turbatam rempublicam ubique accepi , pacatam etiam britannis relinquo , senex & pedibus aeger , firmum imperium antoninis meis relinquens si boni erunt , imbecillum si mali . spartian c. 23. before he dyed he was so pained in all his body , but especially in his feet , that not able to endure the torment , he called for poyson , which being denied , he greedily glutted himself with grosse meates , and not able to digest them , dyed of a surfet . sex. aurel. vict. the imprecation of plautius quintillus had the like effect upon severus , as that of severianus had upon hadrian . xiphilin . some say he dyed rather through grief for his son caracalla's wickednesse , then of any other malady . he lived 65 yeares , 9 moneths and 25 dayes , and reigned 17 yeares , 8 moneths and 3 dayes . he was buried in a place near york , which to this day is called severs-hill . it was said of him by the senate , that either he should not have been born , or not have dyed ; having done so much mischief in pursuit of greatness , and so much good when he was established . spartian . c. 18. he married martia , and after her death iulia domna , because he found by her nativity she should be matcht with a king ; though he foresaw not by his art his destiny to marry a whore ; whom yet he bare with through excesse of affection , though she was guilty of a conspiracy . spartian . c. 3. and 18. he was deifyed after his death by the senate . after the death of charles the 9 of france , his image was laid in a rich bed , in triumphant attire , with the crown upon his head , and the collar of the order about his neck , and 40 dayes at ordinary houres , dinner and supper was served in with all accustomed ceremonies , as sewing , water , grace , carving , &c. all the cardinals , prelats , lords , gentlemen and officers attending in far greater solemnity , then if he had been alive . now this i confesse was a piece of flattery more then needed , but not comparable to that of the romans , in making their emperours gods , which they might well have conceived , was neither in the power of the one to give , nor of the other to receive . dr. hakewill in his apology . in severus his reigne the world was so loose that 3000 were indicted for adultery . id. ib. when julia blamed the wife of argento●oxus a northern britain , because her country people accompanied promiscously ( 10 or 12 men having 2 or 3 women common among them ) she not ignorant of the roman incontinency , replied ; we accompany openly with the best , but vile persons defile you secretly . xiphiline . dion writeth that in severus his time it rained silver at rome in augustus his forum . o pluviam salutarem , & supparem illi , quâ iupiter ad danaen suam penetravit ! sed nimis hic inf●equentem inquies . sed avaritiam tuam effervescentem infusâ hac frigidâ confutabo . rore illo argenteo , addit dion , nummos aliquot aereos oblivi , mansit color 3 dies ; 4 to . quicquid oblitum fuerat , evanuit . fromondus met●orolog . l. 5. c. 6. art. 3. severus caused the 5. persecution , it being the devils policy to employ especially men noted for morall honesty and abilities , to massacre gods saints , that the world might believe , that those could not choose but be most abomiable , whom such wise and pious men were so earnest to extinguish . d r. prideaux . impiger egelido movet arma severus ab istr● , vt parricidae regna adimat didio . punica origo illi ; sed qui virtute probaret non obstare locum , quum valet ingenium . ausonius . pescennius niger , and clodius albinus . usurpers . engaged both in the war against septimius severus , with like unfortunate event being both conquered , and having their heads set upon a pole ; niger had his name à nigra cervice , saith spartian in his life . albinus was so called , quod , exceptus utero , contra consuetudinem puerorum qui nascuntur , & solent rubere , esset candidissimus . capitoli●us in his life ; who confirmeth his relation with this passage in an epistle of cejonius posthumius ( father of albinus ) to aelius bassianus then proconsul of africk . filius mihi natus est , ita candidus statim toto corpore , ut linteamen quo exceptus est , vinceret . quare susceptum eum albinorum famil●ae , quae mihi tecum communis est , dedi , albini nomine imposito . niger was overthrown at the first encounter of his party with severus , through the treachery of aemilianus his general , as it was thought ; and in the next fight in which he engaged personally was totally defeated , near the bay of issus , where alexander the great vanquished darius . albinus warred with severus , for withholding the copartner-ship which he promised to albinus , whom he feared because he was a valiant souldier , whereas he slighted julian and niger , who were negligent and luxurious . choyce observations of bassianus caracalla . and antoninus geta . brethren . bassianus was so called from julius bassianus his grand-father by the mothers side , and his father named him antoninus , out of respect to the antonini , whose memory was honoured by the romans . he was called caracalla from a new fashioned cassock he wore , reaching down to his ancles . he was a hopefull youth , & endeared himself to the people by weeping and turning away his eyes , when condemned persons were cast to wild beasts , ( which tenderness baronius thinketh proceeded from his christian nurse euhodia ) yet after he was so changed he seemed not the same . spartian c. 12. knowing well that he could not make himself seem more beautifull then he was , he would take the advantage to appear more terrible , affecting a cruell and furious countenance . tristan . in the 2 part of his commentaires historiques . see the 12. 18. 21. 26. 29. 31. medails of him there . he attempted to kill his father ; & put to death the physicians for not hastening his death ( as he commanded ; ) slew his father in law plautian , his wife plautillae , and her brother plautus , antip●ter the famous sophister of that age , cilo his tutor , and euhodus his foster-father : sparing not any who either honoured his father , or was honoured by him . when at the circensian sports ( where himself was a spectator ) the people cast some scoffe at a chariotier which he favoured , he taking it as an affront to himself , suddenly commanded his souldiers to rush among the multitude , and kill all who had scorned the chariot-driver . upon this command , it being impossible to find out the delinquents in so great a throng ( none confessing himself guilty ) the souldiers spared none whom they light upon , but either slew them , or took away what they had for a ransome . herodtan l. 3. c. 6. he put down aristotles schooles , burnt his books , saying he conspired against alexander . xiphiline . having seen the body of alexander the great , he commanded his followers to call him alexander and antoninus magnus ; and by flatterers was brought to a fond conceit , that he walked like alexander with an awfull countenance , and bent his head to the left shoulder ; and whatever he observed in the countenance of alexander , he imitated to the life , and perswaded himself that he had the same lineaments and proportions . sext. aur. victor . vide schottum . i have seen divers ridiculous images , which had one entire body ; and one head , which had 2. half-faces , to wit , alexanders and antonines ; saith herodian . l. 4. c. 8. he was excessively given to adultery , while able , yet most severely punished it in others . excerpta peiresci . p. 755. being unable to weare true armour through his weakness of body , he wore counterfeit harnesse that none might attempt to assassinate him . excerpta peiresci . fuit ejus immanitatis , ut its praecipuè blandiretur quos ad necem destinabat : ut ejus magis bland●mentum timeretur quàm ir acundia . he would shew courtesy when he intended mischief ; so that his kindness was more feared then his anger . spartian in geta c. 7. having miserably impoverished the people , his mother reproved him , to whom he shewing his naked sword , replied ; as long as i have this , i will not want , xiphiline . where he wintered , or but intended to winter , he caused amphitheaters and cirques for publique games to be erected , and within a while to be taken down again . id. ibid. he learned the vices of 3 nations from whom he drew his original ; of the french , vanity , timorousness , and idleness ; of the africans , roughness and wildness ; of the syrians , cunning and malice . excerpta peiresci . he preferred hannibal , sylla , and tiberius , before other commanders for their cruelty ; in which he exceeded his father , and all the preceding emperours . he confessed that in all his life he never learned to do good . xiphiline . when maximinus the younger ( yet a child ) got up into caracall ' as chariot , and was hardly drawn thence , there were some who admonished caracalla to beware of him , to whom he answered , longè est ut mihi succedat iste . capitolinus in maximino juniore . c. 4. [ tiberius in like manner when he knew that galba should be emperour , but not before old age , said ; vivat sanè quando id ad nos nihil pertinet . suetonius in galba . c. 4. ] he delighted more in magicians and juglers then in men of worth ; for seeing himself hated , he told the romans he could command his own security , though not their love ; and therefore he lesse valued reproches , or feared dangers by their disfavour . xiphiline . zonaras . yet oppian who when banished by severus wrote the cynegeticks , and after his decease dedicated that work to caracalla , was therefore recalled from exile , and received a piece of gold for every verse in his poem . as caligula having kild many french and greeks , bragged that he had conquered gallo-graecia : so caracalla having perfidiously slain a great number of germans and parthians , usurped the titles of germanicus and parthicus . tristan in his parallel of caracalla with caligula . being incensed against the alexandrians , who traduced him for his fratricide , and nick-named his mother iocasta , he commanded the strongest of them to be listed for service ; whom when he had enrolled , he killed , after the example of ptolomeus euergetes , the 8 of that name , called physcon ; giving moreover a signal to the souldiers to kill their hosts . he restored all profligate persons who were exiled , to their liberty ; and presently after filled the ilands whither they were banished with more exiles . xiphiline . he slew his brother geta in his mothers armes , whom he forced to dissemble mirth ; he consecrated the sword wherewith he kild him sequestred their goods in whose will geta's name was found , and slew 20000 persons related to him ; spending whole nights in such tragicall executions . compare dion with herodian . to cloke which fratricide with shew of constraint , first to the souldiers , and then in the senate , he accused his brother to have sought his death , and that in defence of himself he was forced to kill him ; and thereupon fled to the praetorian bands for safety of his life , as though further conspiracies had been intended against him in the city . notwithstanding which cruelty he arrogated to himself the name of pius , and after , conquering the germans , he was not ashamed of the title germanicus , though through the ambiguity of the word he might be thought to boast of his brothers murder . hemelarius . he allowed geta a good funerall , buried him in a stately monument built by severus , called septizonium ; wept as often as he saw his picture , or heard mention of his name : and being told that his fratricide might be expiated in some degree by calling his brother a god , he answered ; sit divus modò non sit vivus . spartian in geta. c. 3. for the murther of his brother he was punished with madness by the furies , deservedly called vltrices deae . affrighted with the ghost of his father and commodus , he prohibited any upon pain of death to name geta ; and broke the mony stamped with his effigies , and abolished all the playes instituted in honour of his birth-day . by his favourites , the name of geta was raced out of all monuments and imperiall inscriptions , as we have seen some of them defaced upon some altar stones found in britain . speeds chron. he slew papinian the famous lawyer , because sollicited by him to defend his fratricide , he said ; it was a crime easilyer committed then excused . spartian c. 8. he did chide the executioner , because he beheaded papinian with an axe , and not with a sword . spartian in caracalla c. 4. and in geta c. 6. xiphiline . when he ascribed to himself the titles of germanicus , arabicus , and alemannicus , sarmaticus maximus , and parthicus maximus ; helvius pertinax son to the emperour pertinax jestingly said , adde if you please geticus maximus , because of his brother geta's murther , and because the gothes ( whom he overcame in his passage to the east ) are called getae ; which occasioned pertinax his death . spartian in geta ubi suprà , & in caracalla c. 10. being in mesopotamia , he writes to maternianus to whom he committed command at rome , to enquire of the magicians , ( to whom he was so addicted ) whether any intended to surprize the empire . maternianus writes back that macrinus treacherously aspired to the empire ; which letter with others caracalla received while he was at his sport , and delivered them to macrinus to give him an account of . macrinus broke up the letters , and fell upon that which aimed at his destruction ; wherefore finding his own danger , he reserved that letter to himself , acquainting caracalla with the rest . but fearing lest maternianus should write again of the same businesse , he resolved to prevent his imminent danger by this plot . he perswades martialis a centurion , and one of caracalla's guard ( whose brother the emperour had slain a few dayes before , upon an accusation without proof ) to dispatch him , which he did whilest the emperour was about to ease nature . when he went out of a certain gate , he heeded not the detaining of him , and tearing his garment by a lion , whom he used to play with , and named acinaces ; who held him as it were by an extraordinary instinct , as if he foreknew the misfortune ready to befall him . dion . it was but just , that he who had killed so many of his friends , should be slain by the treason of his enemies . both caligula and caracalla reigned but a little while . both were killed by military tribunes , the one by cassius chaerea , whom he was wonted to taxe with effeminacy : and the other by martialis , who was employed by macrinus , whom caracalla charged with the same fault . and which is wonderfull , they both dyed being 29. yeares old , and both their assassinates were slain after them . tristan in his parallel of caracalla with caligula . he reigned 6 yeares , 2 moneths and 2 dayes . serapion an egyptian a few dayes before told him , that he should dye shortly , and macrinus should succeed him : for which he was cast to a lion , and though the beast spared him , macrinus would not . xiphiline . both neró and caracalla dyed violent deaths , and both had for their successors old men whom they loved not at all , and who reigned not long , being both slain by the practises of two effeminate persons , who were otho and heliogabalus . tristan in his parallel of caracalla with nero. when he was dead , it appeared that he procured as much poyson from the inhabitants of upper asia , as cost 220000 crowns , that he might poyson severall wayes as many as he pleased . xiphiline . it is to be admired , that a man so extremely wicked , tempered himself from slaughter of the christians . his wife plautina had as much for her dowry as would have served 50 empresses . her father plautian made men eunuchs , who were married and had children ; and their children also were gelded , that she might have musick-masters who might teach her the better , and domestiques of this sort fitter to compose tunes for her . dissimilis virtute patri , & multò magis illi , cujus adoptivo nomine te perhibes ; fratris morte nocens , punitus fine cruent● , in risu populi tu caracalla jaces . ausonius . choyce observations of opilius macrinus , and his son antoninus diadumenvs . macrinus was of so obscure par●ntage , that according to the custome of the moores , he had one of his eares bored thorough . xiphiline . he was made a praefect by caracalla , after whose death he was elected emperour by the souldiers , who were ignorant of his treason , the suspicion whereof he escaped by a seeming sorrow . the romans were so glad of caracalla's death , that they considered not whether macrinus was good or bad ; men who are injured , when they overcome their enemies , respect not so much their profit as revenge . he associated with himself his son diadumenus , so called either from his grand-father by the mothers side , or because he was born with a diadem on his head , like a bow-string . lampr●d . in diadumeno . c. 4. he commanded diadumenus forthwith to be called antoninus by the souldiers , and assumed to himself the name of severus , whose memory he pretended to reverence , that he might deface the suspicion of assasinating his son. he imitated marcus aurelius in a slow pace and low voice , and nero in a cruell life . instead of macrinus , he was by his own servants called macellinus , as one would say butcher , quòd macelli specie domus ejus cruentaretur sanguine vernularum . because his house was like a shamble of murthered men . capitolinus in macrino . c. 13. he was named mezentius , because like him he joyned live bodies to dead . he commanded 2. souldiers , who had ravished their hostesses maid , to be sewed up in the bellies of 2. great oxen , their heads onely left out , that they might speak one to another . he caused those souldiers who committed adultery to be tyed to the women , and burnt alive ; though his wife nonia celsa was insatiable that way . he shut live men in seiled walls , where they dyed miserably . mothe le vayer in his opuscules p. 27. &c. thinketh that one reason why macrinus banished lucius priscillianus a valiant captain into an island where he dyed , was because he had the boldnesse to encounter alone 4. such fierce beasts , as a bear , a leopard , a lyonesse and a lyon ; though his cruell carriage under caracalla who advanced him , afforded sufficient pretence for his punishment , as dion informeth us . l. 78. macrinus said he was clement , when he punished but one souldier in an hundred with capitall punishment for a mutiny , when he thought they deserved to be decimated or at least one in 20. to suffer . having written to the senate , that he knew no body desired his death , fulvius diogenianus cryed out ; yes but we all do . after he had concluded a peace with artabanus the parthian king , he returned to antioch in syria , and there spent his time in sensual pleasures , being drenched so far therein , that the army began to dislike his government , and to favour young bassianus the son of caracalla , then present at emesa a citie in phoenicia , with maesa his grand-mother by his mothers side , who there had built a temple to the sun , and therein ordained him a priest , for which cause he was called heliogabalus , which in the phoenician language is , the priest of the sun. to this temple resorted many of the souldiers , and seeing the beauty of the youth , allured maesa to bring him to their camp : where known to be the son of caracalla , the souldiers proclaimed him emperour , and maintained his right against macrinus ; who after this revolt , met young heliogabalus in the confines between phoenicia and syria , where he fought a bloudy battel , but being put to flight , hasted to chalcedon , fell sick , and was with his son diadumenus put to death by the souldiers , because he contracted their pay , and suppressed their luxury . he lived 54. yeares , reigned one year and 2. moneths : principis hic custos , sumptum pro caesare ferrum vertit in auctorem caede macrinus iners . mox cum prole ruit . gravibus pulsare querelis cesset persidiam . quoe patitur , meruit . ausonius . choyce observations of heliogabalus . this monster had more names and sur-names ( saith tristan ) then hydra had heads ; for whilest he was a private man he was called varius avitus lupus , varius from his reputed father varius marcellus , avitus lupus from julius avitus lupus his grand-father by the mothers side ; after being presented to the souldiers to obtain their favour , he was named bassianus : by whom when he was received and proclaimed emperour , they gave him the name of antoninus . he was the last emperour upon whom that name was conferred , which because he dishonoured , he was called pseud-antoninus . he was named assyrius ( saith dion ) because he was often seen in publick clothed with a barbarous habit , such as his countrymen the priests of syria , anciently called assyria , used to wear . his debauchednesse made him to be sur-named the roman sardanapalus . he had the sur-name of heliogabalus given to him , * because he was priest of heliogabalus the peculiar god of the emesenes ; so strange a deity , that authors agree not about the writing , or meaning of his name : though it be most probable that it signifieth the sun. he was the spurious issue of caracalla and symia syra , which sealiger rendreth lunula onychine . he had 6 wives in the short time of his reigne ; the first of which was annia faustina , of commodus his linage , for the enjoyment of whom he caused pomponius bassus her husband to be put to death , not permitting her to weep for him . divorcing her he married cornelia paula a most illustrious roman lady ( that he might the sooner be a father ( said he ) who was not able to be a man ) yet soon after onely because she had a spot in her body , as he said , he put her away , and stripping her of all honours , sequestred her to a private life . after pretending he was in love , he violently took out of vesta her sacred nunnery at rome , julia aquilia severa a vestal virgin , and married her , which by the heathens was held such a crime , that the num which had carnal knowledge of a man , was buried alive : writing to the senate , who were grieved at his sacrilegious act , that she was a fit match for a priest , and impudently affirmed he did it , that from himself a priest and his wife the chief priestesse of vesta there might be born issue worthy of the gods. yet he quickly turned away this wife , for to espouse another , with 2 more whose names are unknown ; it being difficult to determine whether he be to be blamed more for his frequent and illegal marriages , or his sudden and causelesse divorces . and at last being possessed with a continuall inconstancy ( having changed 5 times in 4. yeares ) he returned to aquilia severa . compare dion . l. 79. with herod . l. 5. c. 6. nor did he thus play at fast and loose with humane matrimonies onely , but now his god also wanted a wise . him he married first to pallas , after ( saying , his god liked not so martial a wife ) to vrania , concluding it was fitter to match the sun and moon together , making his god almost as fickle as himself . herodian l. 5. c. 6. he gave all the treasure in the temple of vrania to his god , for a portion with her . he commanded all the people of rome and italy to use all publick and private feasts for joy of the wedding : he erected in the suburbs a magnificent temple , into which every year with great solemnity he brought his god , whom he preferred before iupiter , and made an edic● that the romans should pray to the ne● god heliogabalus before all other gods , who he said , were servants of his god , spoiling their temples to enrich that of his , nay would have had no other gods worshippe● at rome , saith lamprid. in heliogab . c. 3. ne● romanas tautùm voluit extinguere religioues sed per orbem terrae unum studens ut heliogabalu● deus unus ubique coleretur . id. ibid. c. 6. he was a man for all women , and a woman for all men . coëffeteau . he so far differed from the manners o● men , that modesty permitteth not to relate his greatest vices ; the devil in the form of an hermaphrodite , not being able to act greater lewdness then he did saith tristan . lampridius thus beginneth the story of heliogabalus : i would never have wrote the beastly life of heliogabalus , that it might not have been known , that he was a roman emperour , unlesse caligula , nero and vitellius had before sate in the same throne . boccaline feigneth that lampridius was severely proceeded against by apollo , and that by order of the whole congregation of parnassus , his histories was turned back upon his hands , and he was freely told , that he should go and teach those execrable lusts in the publick classis , wherewith he had so delighted himself to fill his shamefull papers , wherein he had written the lives of heliogabalus , caracalla , and other las●●vious monsters of nature . parnassus cent . 1. advertisement 55. it is questioned whether were greater his boundlesse prodigality , his stupendious leachery , or his fantasticall foolery : the last of which his imperial vertues he gave proof of , when he commanded his servants to bring him a thousand pound weight of spiders offering them a reward , and received of them ten thousand pound weight , whereupon he said , that now he understood the greatness of rome : at another time he caused to be gathered ten thousand mice , a thousand wezels , and a thousand polecats , which he brought forth in a publick shew to the people , for some wise state-purpose , like the former . speeds chron. he disfigured his faire face with foul tinctures ; he slept in the day , transacted affaires in the night . being near the sea , he never tasted fish ; nor flesh , when he was farthest in the continent : he said that fare was best which cost most . he ridicously wore jewels , and those curiously engraved , on his feet ; as if the rarity of the work could be discerned there . lamprid. c. 23. that he might seem magnificent , he drowned ships in the haven ; paying the owners for their fraught : and drew fishes out of his ponds with oxen. lamprid. c. 32. and 24. he built stately bathes , which being but once used were plucked down . lampr. c. 30. he said , if he had an heir he would teach him to do as he did . when he was but a private man , being reproved for his prodigality by a friend , who asked him , whether he did not fear want hereafter ; he answered , what can be better for me then to be heire to my self ? he conferred honours on sordid persons , and put great persons upon mean employments , causing the entrails of the sacrifices to be born by generals of armies , and the chief officers of state. in imitation of apicius he would frequently eate camels heels , the combes of cocks newly cut , the tongues of peacocks and nightingales , with the entrails of mullets , partridges egges , the heads of parrats , pheasants and peacocks , and the braines of thrushes and phoenicopters . id. ibid. c. 20. he had served in at a meale the heads of 600. estridges , onely that he might eat their brains . id. ib. c. 30. he fed his horses with grapes , his dogs with geese livers ( a dainty then ) lyons and other beasts with parrats and pheasants . id. ibid. c. 20 , and 21. he often changed his pallets , and lay not on any couch unlesse it was stuffed with hares furre , or the feathers under partridges wings . id. ib. c. 19. one day he would eat nothing but pheasant , another day chickens , on another this or that fish , at one time ostriches , at another herbs , or apples , other whiles sweet-meats or white-meats onely . id. ib. c. 32. one of his feasts was hardly ended in a day , the several messes being prepared , and eaten successively in the houses of his several friends , one dwelling in the capitol , another upon mount caelius , a 3 beyond tiber , &c. one staying for another , till the dishes went through all their houses . lampridius c. 30. he tyed his parasites to a wheele , and turned them up and down in water , calling them his ixionian friends . id. ibid. c. 24. he thrust them also out of his dining-roomes , which had deceitfull floores , into chambers filled with roses , that smothered with them , they might meet with the bitternesse of death in sweetnesse . id. ib. c. 21. he tantalized them with mock-feasts in waxe , wood , ivory , marble , glasse ; sometimes what himself did eat was woven or wrought with a needle on their napkins : otherwhiles so many dishes of meat as were provided for him , were painted upon their tables : onely allowing them to drink . id. ib. c. 26. and 27. at the 2 and 3 course he caused beares , pardals , lyons and leopards , which lacked their teeth and clawes , to be brought in suddenly by their keepers , to terrify them , who were ignorant of their inability to hurt . lamprid. c. 21. he shut them up when they were drunk , turning in upon them in the night these disarmed beasts , with the fear of which many dyed . id. ib. c. 25. their yearly salaries were pitchers full of frogs , scorpions , serpents and flyes . id. ib. c. 26. many times he kept them in their lodgings from night to morning with old black-moor women , whereas he told them he had provided most beautifull ones for them . id. ib. c. 30. when the people had taken up their places before day in the theatre to behold the sports , he caused serpents to be thrown among them , whereby many of them were sore bitten and hurt by flight . lampridius c. 23. he did fantastically set up a senate of women , with sutable orders , as how to attire , where take place , when salute ; but after his death all women were deprived of that priviledge by the senate . id. ib. c. 4. and 18. he did drive chariots drawn by elephants in the vatican , levelling the tombes which stood in his way ; he was also drawn by 4 camels in the circus , by 4 mastives in the palace , after he was emperour ; by 4 stags in publick , sometimes by lyons he naming himself magna mater , also by tigers counterfeiting bacchus , unto whom through his excessive humour of drinking he was something more like : other whiles 4 naked wenches drew him , he being also naked . lamprid. c. 23. 28. 29. he was addicted to divination by inspection of the bowels of young men sacrificed , chusing many fair gentlemen throughout all italy , whose parents were living , that their sorrow might be the greater , lampridius c. 8. by perswasion of maesa his grand-mother , who pretended to free him from cares of state , he proclaimeth alexander severus his cousin german caesar , maketh him consul with himself , and adopteth him for his son , the senate ridiculously voting what he commanded , viz. alex. severus who was 12 years old , to be the son of heliog abalus who was but 16. he assaying in vain to draw his cousen to his unseemely courses , repented that he had made him his collegue in the empire ; expelled all his tutors from the court , and put the chief of them to death : alleadging ridiculously , that the pedants spoiled his son , not suffering him to dance and revell , but teaching him to be modest and use manly exercises . herodian . l. 5. c. 7. lamprid. c. 13. that he revenged himself on none who mocked him upon the reading of macrinu● his letters against him at rome : tristan imputeth to the prudent moderation of maesa and eutychianus , by whose means chiefly he got the empire , whom yet he put to death with cruell ingratitude , onely because he was advised by him to reform . the syrian priests having foretold him that he should dye a violent death , he build a rich and stately tower whence he might throw himself down ; preparing also cords of crimson silk and gold to strangle himself with ; rich swords to thrust himself through ; keeping poyson in boxes of emeralds and jacynth , that he might chuse a death according to his humour : saying , that however he dyed , his death should be glorious in the eyes of men , and such a one as none ever dyed . but he failed of his hope , though not of his desert ; for the souldiers of his own guard , whom he commanded to make away his cousin-german , and deface his statues , for the love they bore to alexander severus , killed heliogabalus himself in a privy , whither he fled to escape them . his body was drawn by a souldier through all the streets of rome , like the carkas of a dog , with this military proclamation : the whelp of untamed and ravening lust . at last when the quantity of his body was greater then would enter into the stool of a privy , wherein for the last funerall ceremony it should have been buried , they drew it to tiber , binding it to an heavy weight , & so cast it into the river , that it might neither float above water nor be buried ; he being the only emperour who was ever so punished . they did also thrust stakes through the fundament of some of his lewd companions , that their death might be conformable to their life . it is observable that notwithstanding he not onely permitted , but also encouraged his subjects to live licentiously : moreover was so liberal toward them , that he fed them with most delicate and exquisite meates , gave unto them abundance of mony , and all the plate , were it of gold or silver , wherewith he was served , to them who dined or supped with him , & made many other very sumptuous distributions to the people : yet the romans nevertheless abhorring in him their own vices , or rather being satiated therewith , slew him as is above mentioned , in the 21 year of his age , when he had reigned 3 years 9 months & 4 dayes . choyce observations of alexander mammaeae . he was named alexander , because he was born in the temple of alexander the great , and on that day that alexander dyed ; he had a foster-father called philip , and a nurse named olympias : in allusion to alexander the great 's father and mother . lampridius in alexandro severo . c. 5. & 13. who reckoneth 14. omens of his coming to the empire . he is called alexander mammaeae from his mother mammaea more known then his father . though he was strict in his discipline , yet lampridius erroneously affirmeth that he was named severus for his severity to the souldiers . tristan tom 2. p. 385. his mother julia mammaea ( daughter of maesa ) was a christian woman , and did send for origen to instruct her son in the grounds of the christian religion . he was the first who received at one time all ornaments and tokens of honour , which he purchased by his honest life and vertuous manners , whereby he obtained such favour of all men , that when his cousin-german heliogabalus would have slain him , he could not for the souldiers and senates resistance : he proving himself worthy to be saved harmless by the senate and souldiers , and to be elected emperour by the votes of all good men , when he was but 16. years old . lamprid. c. 2. he was then so modest , that when the senate and people would have given to him the sur-names of antoninus and * magnus as principall titles of honour , he humbly refused them , saying openly unto the senate ; it pleaseth me not to assume what belongeth to others , and i find my self overladen with your love , for these high names of honour are too burdensome to me . whereupon ( saith lamprid. c. 12. ) he gained more honour , than if he had taken titles upon him , and from that time he had the repute of a moderate and wise man. [ eruditionis gloriam famamque declinando eruditissimus habebatur saith hierome of nepotianus . ] he went usually in the morning betime to his devotion into his closet , where were set the images of apollonius , christ , abraham , and orpheus . lamprid. c. 29. he did read much the life of alexander the great , whom he imitated especially , yet abhorred his drunkeness and cruelty toward his friends . id. c. 30. he would not hear oratours or poets speak any thing to his praise , counting it folly , but willingly heard orations of the acts of other good princes , or of famous romans ; and most gladly such as were made in praise of alexander the great . id. c. 35. he had the picture of virgil and tully , with achilles and other great persons in his lesser lararium ; alexander the great among those he worshipped as gods in his greater . id. ibid. c. 31. he was at first harsh , after favourable to christians , thought to build a temple to christ , but was diverted by vlpian and others who having consulted their heathen gods , received this answer ( saith lamprid. c. 43. ) that if that were suffered , all men would be christians , and all other temples desolate . he delighted not in cloath of gold or silkes , saying ; government consisted in vertue , and not in costly apparell . lamprid. c. 33. at his table he drunk not in cups of gold , and kept not above 200. pound weight of silver vessels in his house , id. ibid. c. 34. he sold jewels that were given to him , counting it unfit for himself to possesse such things , as he could neither give to his souldiers , nor any man find profit in . wherefore when an embassador had given to the empresse 2. unions of wonderfull greatnesse , he commanded them to be sold : and when none could be found who would give as much as they were prized at , lest any ill example should proceed from his wife , if she wore that which no body could buy , 〈◊〉 caused them to be hanged at the eares of the image of venus : thereby declaring that such things either for the inestimable price were ●itter for gods then men : or for the unprofitable beauty thereof served onely for persons of wanton dispositions , whereof venus was goddesse and patronesse . he would not suffer any to come into his presence , but such as were honest and of good report , commanding that none should enter into his palace , but onely such who knew themselves to be free from vice : causing it to be proclaimed that no person knowing himself to be a thief , should presume to salute him upon pain of capitall punishment . lamprid. c. 18. he prohibited infamous women to salute his wife or mother . id. c. 25. he was strict in his own manners , wherefore all noble men assayed to imitate him , and honourable matrons followed the empresses example . id. c. 41. he caused the sinews of one of his secretary's fingers to be cut through , so that he could never write after , and banished him , for forging a false bill in his counsell . id. ib. c. 28. videsis plura . he commanded one of his own servants , who had abused him by receiving 100. crownes of a souldier for a bribe , to be hanged in the high way , wherein his servants most frequently passed to his mannors without the city . id. c. 23. he used like severity toward souldiers ; for when he heard that one of them had wronged a poor old woman , he cashiered him and made him be bond slave to the woman , that he being a carpenter might with his trade and labour maintain her : and when the souldiers were grieved thereat , he perswaded them to be contended , and made them afraid to grudge at it . id. c. 51. he would in no case permit offices to be sold ; for ( said he ) he who buyeth , must sell ; i will not endure any merchandise of authority ; which if i tolerate , i cannot afterwards condemn ; and i shall be ashamed to punish him who sold what i permitted him to buy . id. c. 49. he so abhorred bribery , that if by chance he saw a judge therewith corrupted , he was ready to scratch out his eyes ; and was so incensed at the sight of such extortioners , that he would immediately vomit up choler , his face being as it were on fire , and he not able of a long time to speak a word . id. c. 17. he had a favourite named vetronius turinus , who used to be more familiar with him then others , which so blinded him , that he by lyes confirmed the opinion of many , who thought the emperour would do nothing without his advice . which abuse the emperour hearing of used this plot to circumvent him . he caused one to desire something of him openly , and after to sue privily to turinus to help him in his demand , and secretly to move the emperour for him : which being done , turinus promised good will to the petitioner , and soon after said that he had sollicited the emperour therein , ( whereas he spoke not a word thereof ) and expected his answer ; whereupon he received of the said person a great summe of money , which the emperour knowing , caused him to call often on turinus ; who , as if he had other business in hand , onely beckened on him without speaking any thing to him ; the emperour in the interim having given to another that which this man sued for , who grudging thereat , discovered openly what turinus had received of him : whereupon the emperour commanded turinus to be accused openly in his presence , and all things being proved by sufficient and credible witnesses , in whose presence he had received bribes , and in whose hearing he had promised great matters : he was adjudged by the emperour to be bound to a stake in the market place , and to be smothered to death with smoke of green sticks and wet stubble , the bedell being commanded to cry the mean while , fumo punitur qui vendidit fumum ; he perisheth by smoke who had vented smoke in stead of substance . but lest men should think the judgement was too rigorous for one offence , before he was condemned to dye , the emperour made diligent search , and found by evident proofes , that turinus had often and in many causes received money of both parts , promising to promote their cause to the emperour . lamprid ▪ c. 35. & 36. he had in his chamber bills containing the number of his souldiers , with their names , and what time they had served ; and when he was alone , he perused their accounts , and the number of them with their dignityes and wages , that he might be surely provided upon all occasions : wherefore when he had any thing to do with them , he could tell many of their names . when he was sollicited to promote any one , he marked his name , and then searched his books of remembrance , wherein were the names of them who served him , with the time of their service , also their reward , and at whose request they were promoted . id. c. 21. in his expeditions if any souldier going out of the way passed through an other mans ground , he would cause him to be beaten with rods , or be drubbed in his sight : or if the dignity of the person freed him from such punishments , he would severely reprove him , saying ; visne hoc in agro tuo fieri , quod alteri facis ? lamprid. c. 51. when his souldiers mutinyed at antioch , because he exercised martial discipline upon some of them for debauchednesse , he stilled them with these words ; quirites discedite , atque arma deponite . a wonderfull example , they all putting off their armes and souldiers coates , departed to their severall lodgings . then the emperours guard brought all the standards into the camp , and the people themselves brought all their armour to the emperours palace : yet that very legion which he disbanded , being sued unto 30 dayes before he went toward persia , he received again , and by their valour especially , he overcame his enemies : notwithstanding ere he departed he put to death the commanders of that legion , because the souldiers passed their time riotously at daphne , through their negligence or connivence . id. ib. c. 53. & 54. he so heard the complaints of souldiers against their commanders , that if he found any officer faulty , he punished him according to the quality of the offence , without purpose of pardon . id. c. 23. he made one a pretorian prefect , who fled to avoid so arduous imployment , saying ; invitos , non ambientes in republica collocandos , they were fit to bear office of state who shunned them , not those that sued for them . id. c. 19. [ king william rufus ( sacrilegious in other acts ) herein discharged a good conscience . two monks came to him to buy an abbots place of him , seeking to outvie each other in offering great summes of money , whilest a third monk stood by , and said nothing . to whom said the king ; what wilt thou give for the place ? not a penny , answered he , for it is against my conscience ; but here i stay to wait home on him whom your royall pleasure shall design abbot . then quoth the king , thou of the three best deservest the place , and shalt have it , and so bestowed it on him . fullers holy stare . l. 2. c. 12. ] he never made a senatour without the counsell and approbation of the whole senate , testimony of him being given by honourable persons ; but if either the senatours who gave their suffrage , or the witnesses were found to have spoken untruly , they were put into the lowest place of esteem , being also condemned by the people as deceivers and forgers without hope of remission . lamprid. c. 19. he loved learned men , and feared them also very much , lest they should write any thing sharply of him . lamprid. c. 3. his mother mammaea and his grand-mother maesa chose out of the senate 16 grave and honourable peeres for his counsellers and assistants , without whose consent nothing was to passe as an act of state. herodian . l. 6. c. 1. he transacted no weighty matter of judicature , without the advice of no lesse then 50 most learned and wise men , beside 20 lawyers ( 18 whereof were scholars of papinian ) of whom vlpian was chief . every mans opinion was heard , and what they said was written ; a competent time being given each counsellour to consider what they propounded , that they might not speak unadvisedly in matters of importance . lamprid. c. 16. and 68. in law and business of state , intelligent , learned and eloquent men were of his councel ; in military affaires old commanders , who had behaved themselves valiantly in several battails , and were expert in the situation of places , pitching of fields , and preparation of camps ; in each matters he advised with the best historians : asking them , what the emperours of rome or princes of forreign countries in former times did in like cases as were then in debate . id. c. 16. when he appointed governours of provinces , he published their names , exhorting and encouraging the people to bring in what exception they could against them , and manifestly to prove the crime , if there was cause of accusation ; provided , if they did not sufficiently prove their charge , and that their accusation proceeded from malice , the accuser should forthwith be beheaded : for , said he , since christians and jews use this method in ordination of priests , it is most reasonable that the like course should be taken in the choice of rectors of provinces , to whom are committed the lives and fortunes of those who are under them . id. c. 49. when certain hucksters and cookes pretended they had right to a place which was consecrated by the christians , and it was inquired what was his pleasure therein , he answered ; it was better that god should be worshipped there after any sort , then that the place should be put to vain uses . id. c. 49. eusebius in his ecclesiasticall history l. 6. saith , that there were many christians in his family . he wrote down so far as he could remember , what he had given to any man , and if he found any to whom he had either given nothing , or that which was not equall to his merit , he called them unto him , saying what is the cause that thou askest nothing of me ? wouldst thou have me to be in thy debt ? ask something that thou mayest not complain of me for want of promotion . id. c. 46. when any one had exercised his office in the common-wealth well , at the end of his term when there was a successour appointed , he would say to him who departed out of his office ; gratias tibi agit respublica : and would so reward him , that being a private person , he might according to his degree live the more honestly . id. c. 32. he allowed every judge of a province 20 pound weight in silver , 6 silver pots , 2 mules , 2 mulets , 2 horses , a horse-keeper and a muletour , 2 robes to sit in judgement , one honourable garment to wear in his house , one for his bath , one cook , and 100 crowns ; their employment being ended , they were bound to restore the mules , mulets , horses , muletours and cooks : but might retain the residue if they had discharged their office well , otherwise they payed 4 times as much as they received . id. c. 42. he did let no day passe without exercising himself in learning and martial affaires . id. c. 3. every day also he did some good to others , in which ( saith tristan ) he had an advantage of happinesse above titus , who could not expresse the like goodness above space of 2 yeares in which he reigned . if necessity required , he heard matters before day , staying till it was late ; never seeming to be weary or troubled : but had all the time the same countenance , in all things appearing merry and pleasant . lampridius c. 29. he was so courteous , that he visited the meanest of his sick friends , desiring them to tell him their minds freely of every thing , and hearing them attentively ; and when he had heard them throughly , whatsoever he found amisse he carefully amended : and when his mother mammaea and his wife memmia blamed him for his great civility , saying it made his authority contemptible , he answered ; but more secure and durable . id. c. 20. he repaired most of the bridges which were built by trajan , leaving notwithstanding the name and honour thereof to trajan . id. c. 26. his souldiers marceed like senatours to the persian war , the country loving them as brethren , and honouring the emperour as a god. id. c. 50. when he dined or supped abroad , he had ever with him vlpian or other learned men , that he might benefit himself by their discourse , with which he said , that he was both recreated and ●ed . id. c. 34. in all the time of his reign , which lasted 14 yeares he suffered none to dye , but those who were condemned by law ; a rare vertue , and not practised by any since marcus aurelius : and there had been nothing wanting to have rendred him a most excellent prince , had not his mother who was ( a good woman but ) too miserable , blasted his honour by her sordid demeanour . herodian l. 6. c. 9. he meeting with a druid as he went into germany , she said to him ; vadas , nec victoriam speres , nec militi tuo credas . lampridias c. 60. thrasybulus his friend foretelling that he should die by the hand of a barbarian , he rejoyced , thinking that he should die a warlike death ; but he was mistaken in his interpretation , dying not in war : for the souldiers enraged with his discipline , and his mother mammaea's covetousness , slew both near mentz in germany , by the instigation of maximus a muletour whom he had raised . he lived 29 yeares 11 months and 7 dayes , and reigned ( saith lampride ) 13 years and 9 dayes . s. aur. victor saith that when alexander saw himself forsaken of his guard , he cryed out upon her which gave him his life , as the cause of his death ; adding that mammaea had reduced her son to such an extremity by her sparing humour , who if never so little was left at their overfrugal table , reserved it till another time . verè mammaeus à studio in matrem mammaeam , ex cujus arbitrio & consilio multa administrat infeliciter & cum proprio exitio . dietericus in breviario historico . iulian bringeth in silenus thus deriding him : o te hominem amentissimum , & nullius plane consilii ! qui ad tantum dignitatis fastigium elatus , tuas res ex animi tui sententia non administrasti , sed tuas pecunias matri commisisti , neque tibi tn mentem venit , longe satius & utilius esse eas amicis impartiri , quàm sibi recondere . he is the more to be honoured and admired , since being come of uncertain linage , born far from rome , and in so barbarous a country as syria , he so well governed the roman empire , which before his time was extremely corrupted with detestable vices . dion was contemporary and consul with alexander , with whom he endeth his history , of which bussieres in his flosculi historici passeth this censure : tunc dio cassius principi charus & fastis insertus , inauguravit literas trabea ; romanae graecus scriptor historiae perquam accuratus , quam tamen negligentia temporum perdidit , dum studiosus brevitatis in xiphilino , ignorantiam sovet , & umbram amans corpus amittit . choyce observations of maximinus , and his son maximus . maximinus spent his youth in keeping cattle , yet was advanced afterward for his stature which exceeded 8 foot by 6 fingers . capitolinus in maxim. c. 1. & in maximino i un , c. 2. secundum correctionem casauboni & salmasii . [ ego ( ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cui magna solet esse fides , testem saciam ) belgam ( antwerpianum se fere . bat ) in galliis , anno 1583. vidi novem pedes altitudine excedentem , &c. merula cosmographis parte prima , l. 3. c. 14. ] his body was so great that his wives bracelet served him for a ring . capitolinus in maximino , c. 6. his stomach was answerable ; he eating daily 40 , sometimes 60 pound weight of flesh ; and drinking 6 gallons of wine , id. ibid. c , 4. his strength was sutable ; he being able to draw waines loaden with his hands ; to strike out the teeth of a horse with his fist , to break his thighes with a kick ; to crumble tophy stones between his fingers , and to cleave young trees : for which he was called hercules , antaeus , and m●lo ; as achilles , hector , and ajax , for his valour . id. ibid. c. 6. and 8. sept. severus celebrating the birth-day of his son geta , with military sports , gave the winners for a reward jewels , collars , bracelets , belts ; maximinus who was newly come to the army , and could scarce speak latine came before him , intreating his leave that he might put forth himself in these exercises . severus wondring at the greatness of his body , granted his request ; but upon conditition , that he should not encounter with any souldier , * but with such as were water-bearers and servitors of the camp , among which were very strong and stout men . maximinus overcame 16 of them before he rested , receiving so many smaller rewards , but not such as were given to the souldiers , and was listed for service . three dayes after the emperour riding to view his camp , saw maximinus ( who was yet but a fresh water-souldier ) out of order ; wherefore he commanded a colonel to call him into his rank , and to instruct him in the duty he was to obverve in the warres : maximinus imagining the emperour spake of him , kneeled down at his feet . the emperour desiring to see whether he could run well or no , spurred his horse and took several turnes in the field ; and seeing maximinus left not of running , old severus being tired said to maximinus , thracian , will you wrestle after your race ? whereto he answered , so long as it shall please your majesty . then the emperour chusing 7 of the strongest men in his army , maximinus overcame them without resting between . whereupon severus commanded a collar of gold to be given to him alone , with certain pieces of silver ; made him one of his guard , and commanded that he should continually attend in the palace : by which means he came to be esteemed by the commanders and souldiers , and to obtain what he desired of the emperour , id. ib. c. 2. and 3. he was diligent as well after as before his preferment , saying , ego quò major fuero , tanto plus labor abo : and rather then his souldiers should be out of action , he imployed them in hunting . even in his old age he would throw down 5 , 6 , or 7 souldiers ( whom he wrestled with ) one after another ; and being challenged by a tribune who envied him , whē they met , maximinus gave him such a blow on the breast with the palm of his hand , that he threw him flat upon his back , saying , in sport ; date alium , sed tribunum . id. ib. c. 6. caracalla made maximinus a centurion ; ( in macrinus his reign he left the army out of hatred to the assasinate of his sovereign ; ) even heliogabalus permitted him to be a tribune : but alexander severus gave him the command of a legion , whose death notwithstanding he disloyally practised ( as is before mentioned ; ) whereupon he was elected emperour by the souldiers , without the consent of the senate . id. ibid. c. 4. 5. 7. 8. it appeareth unquestionably that he committed this villany ( notwithstanding the doubts of some ) because he killed all alexanders relations and friends . tristan . he arrogantly usurped the names of cajus julius verus , and the proud epithets of invictus , fortissimus , and nobilissimus ; notwithstanding his ignoble extraction . tristan . he suffered no noble person to be about him , and out of a desire to conceal the baseness of his birth , slew even the best of his friends who were conscious of it . lampridius c. 9. his tyranny caused many to conspire against him , which he discovering , took an occasion to renew his cruelty . maximinus first thanked macedonius , who treacherously slew tycus that had rebelled against him , but afterward put him to death as a traitor . capitolinus c. 11. prae●larum tyranni factū , & verè singulare , nam totâ vitâ unicum hoc laude dignum . elenchus numismatum in bibliotheca bodlejana . he slew all of the faction of his adversary magnus without any judiciall processe , not satisfied with the slaughter of above 4000. capitolinus c. 10. maximus pupienus ( who made preparations at ravenna to wage war against him by the senates appointment ) was exceedingly afraid of him , and saying often ; that he was not engaged against a man , but a cyclops : and balbinus ( who was made his colleague in the empire by the senate , and staid at rome ) trembled at the naming of him . he was so feared at rome , that , when he was in italy , the women with their children prayed solemnely in their temples that he might never return ; having heard that some were crucified by him , some inclosed in beasts newly killed , others cast to wild beasts , others bruised with clubs , without any regard to the quality of persons . id. ibid. c. 8. for his cruelty ( which he thought necessary for his security ) he was hated , and called cyclops , busiris , syron , phalaris , typhon , and gyges . id ib. &c. 9. he was so infatuated with the confidence of his own greatness and personal strength , that he entertained a conceit , that death durst not adventure to encounter him , for fear of having his javelin broke about his own crazy skull , and all his skeleton of bones rattled to dust . dr. charletons darkness of atheism dispelled by the light of nature , p. 178. because he thought himself immortal , he was covertly defied in the theatre by a comoedian in these verses : qui ab uno non potest occidi , à multis occiditur : elephas grandis est , & occiditur : leo fortis est , & occiditur : tigris fortis est , & occiditur : cave multos , si singulos non times . if thou fear'st not the force of one alone , beware the strength of many joyn'd in one . capitolinus c. 9. what was spoken in sport , befell him in earnest ; for maximinus hasting with his army towards rome to be revenged of the senate which intended resistance , was opposed at aquileja , where women made bow-strings of their hair to shoot against him ; at which repulse he became so furious that he killed many of his own souldiers ; wherewith the rest being enraged slew him and his son , saying ; canis pessimi ne catulus quidem relinquendus : of a bad litter not a whelp is to be left . he was 65 years old when he dyed , and his son 21. the time of their reign is not agreed upon . the messenger who brought word of their death , came from aquileia to rome ( 798 miles ) in 4 dayes , capitolinus c. 25. magna sane diligentia : sed non incredibilis ; cùm similis celeritatis aut etiam majoris exempla & apud veteres legantur , & hodiéque ed saepissimè videamus . constat hodiernos veredarios roma lute●iam saepe diebus sex septem commeare : quae longè major contentio est , casaubonus . when his head with his sons were brought to rome , all ran to the altars to thank the gods , and balbinus sacrificed hecatombs for his deliverance , commanding the same to be done throughout the empire . maximinus was the author of the 6 persecution , which tristan thinks he raised onely that he might confiscate the christians goods , his sacrilegious covetousness not permitting him to spare heathen temples . in his reign gordian the father and son took upon them the empire in africk , the son was slain by capellianus a friend to maximinus , the father through despair strangled himself . choyce observations of marcus clodius , pupienus maximus , and decimus caelius balbinus . collegues vpon the death of the 2 gordians the senate chose pupienus and balbinus empeperours in opposition to maximinus . in the mean time the commons decryed the election , but especially rejected pupienus , as too austere ; and cryed out that they would presently kill them both , and have a prince of gordians linage , that the empire might continue in that name . balbinus and pupienus assaying to go forth of the capitol , were kept in with clubs and stones , till they deluded the people by this invention . there was in the city a little boy , son to gordians daughter , and of his grand-fathers name ; whom they sent for thither . they who were sent for him , finding him playing at home , lifted him on their shoulders , and so carried him through the crowd , telling the people he was gordians nephew , and of his name : the people shouting for joy , and casting leaves upon him . when the senate had proclaimed him caesar ( his minority not permitting him to manage the state ) and the people were calmed , the elected emperours were suffered to passe to the palace , herodian . l. 7. c. 10. balbinus was both noble and ancient , pupienus was ignobly descended , but had born many offices , which having discharged with wisdome and valour , he was highly prized by the senate . these emperours were not joyned in affection , as in authority ; each holding himself most deserving : each having their own , and standing upon their own guard . the election of these emperours by the senate displeased the souldiers so much , that at last they assaulted the court , and easily slew these senatorian emperours , ( as they carried them ) being at variance ; crying out that they had but slain them , whom themselves first rejected . zosimus , saith that balbinus and pupienus , would have killed young gordian , because he was more beloved of the souldiers , by whom he was made caesar ; who hearing of their designe , prevented them : but boeclerus thinketh he is mistaken . choyce observations of antonius gordianus upon the dath of balbinus and pupienus , gordian the third , before created caesar by the senate through the importunity of the souldiers ; was made emperour by a general consent in the thirteenth year of his age . he married tranquillina daughter of misitheus , whom he loved and honoured for his learning ; by whose advice he transacted state-affaires prosperously , expelling sapor king of persia from syria , recovering antioch , nisibis , and carrae by his assistance : for which successe the senate appointed a triumph for gordian , and a triumphal chariot for misitheus with this inscription : misitheo parenti principum , pop. rom. tutori r●ip . s. p. q. r. misitheus was soon missed for counsell and trust , being poisoned by philip an arabian of ignoble parentage , who was made prefect in his stead , and aspired to the empire . philip secretly caused a scarcity of victuals in the army , which he did , that the souldiers might imagine it to be occasioned by gordians neglect , whom he charged with inability to govern , being so young . the officers were corrupted by philip , and the souldiers through ignorance of his deceipt , make him gordians governour , whereupon he grew so insolent , that he commanded all , as if he had been sole emperour . gordian discerning his aim complaineth openly to the souldiers of the wrong which was done to him by philip , notwithstanding all obligations to the contrary ; but philips project prevailing , gordian since he could not share in the empire , sued to be a captain , which was denyed him : philip not thinking himself safe ( whilest gordiā of great blood and esteem was alive ) slew him in the 22 year of his age , and 6 of his reign ; as if justice her self appeared evidently to take vengeance on the traitors , each of his murtherers with the same poinyard wherewith they slew him , killed himself . gordiaus motto was miser est imperator apud quem verà reticentur ; which was his own case . choyce observations of philippus arabs , and his son caius julius saturninus philippus . philip the father writing to the senate of gordians death as if it had hapned naturally , was by them proclaimed emperour , through fear of the souldiers . the gothes infesting mysia and asia , philip sent marinus against them , who as soon as he came into those parts drew his army into a rebellion , and proclaimed himself emperour ; taking ( he said ) his example from philip , who raised his title by his sovereignes fall . philip complaining very much to the senate of marinus his ingratitude , decius bid him not fear , for marinus should suffer for it , as he did , for the mutable souldiers , who even now erected him , suddenly threw him down , and slew him . decius being sent in marinus his room , was also proclaimed emperour by the souldiers , though against his will , out of their hatred to phil●p . decius sent secretly to philip , professing he meant to escape the souldiers , and persist in his allegiance : philip fearing that was but policy ( lest decius should be stronger by delayes ) hasted himself with a great army , and being overcome was slain by the souldiers at verona , his head being cut off through the teeth . at the newes whereof the pretorian souldiers slew his son , but 12 years old ; who was so composed , that it from the 5 year of his age none could make him laugh : and when his father was tickled with laughter at the secular playes , he looked on him with an estranged countenance . the time of their raign was 7 years say some , others say 6 , some but 5. the elder philips age is not related by any historian . choyce observations of trajanus decius , and his son etruscus decius . decivs was elected emperour by the persian legions , proclaimed in verona by the roman souldiers , and had the voices of the senate to confirm him . he was noble by birth , an experienced , wise and valiant prince ; and might have been reckoned among the best ; had he not with an heathenish rage persecuted the christians , being author of the seventh persecution . he put more christians to death in a year and an half , than trajan ( whose name he had , and whom he would have been thought to resemble ) in 20. tristan . the novatians would not communicate with them , who had denyed the faith in the persecution of decius , and afterwards repenting turned to the same faith again , nicephorus callistus l. 12. c. 28. the fear of his persecution gave the original to a monkish life . he was victorious against the gothes , and joyning a fresh battail with them , was overthrown by the treason of gallus his general : saith pomponius laetus . his son was mortally wounded by an arrow , he leaping into a whirl pool was never seen after . tristan thinketh this misfortune befell decius for a punishment of his persecutions . vopiscus in the life of aurelian , and pomponius laetus compare decius and his son with the decii mures , who devoted themselves to destruction in a dangerous fight , for the safety of their country , which depended thereupon . but the comparison doth not agree saith tristan . for the 2 ancient decii rendred the romans victorious by their death , whereas these by theirs made them slaves to the barbarians , and lost many of their provinces . besides that decius the father was drowned and swallowed up in his flight , which hath no resemblance with the end of the decii of the ancient commonwealth . he dyed at the age of 50 , having reigned 2 years . choyce observations of trebonianus gallus , and his son volusianus . gallvs appearing much grieved for decius his death , was not suspected ; which facilitated his attaining of the empire . he caused virtus augustorum to be stamped upon his and his sons medails , as if he had got the empire by valour and not by deceit . under these two emperours arose a plague in ethiopia , which spred it self by degrees in all the provinces of the roman empire , and lasted 15 years together , without intermission ; and so great was the mortality , that in alexandria , as dionisius himself ( at that time the bishop of that sea ) reports , there was not one house of the city free , and the remainder of the inhabitants equalled not the number of old men in former times : by means whereof st. cyprian , bishop of carthage , who lived in that age , took occasion to write that excellent treatise de mortalitate : and lipsius his censure of this pestilence is , non alia unquam major lues mihi lecta , spatio temporum sive terrarum . aemilianus his general having overcome the gothes , grew so proud thereupon , that he aspired to the empire , which he purchased by the good will of the souldiers , who slew gallus and his son in battail . dexippus who lived in those times saith he governed but 18 months . choyce observations of aemilianus . he was an african of obscure parentage , and arose to be a general from a common souldier . his election was at first contradicted by the italian band , who sought to make valerian emperour , to which the senate inclined , because of valerians renown . aemilians army hearing of the election of valerian , tumultuously murdered their own creature , who reigned almost 4. months . some reckon him among usurpers , but his title is allowed by eutropius . of 30 emperours who reigned since octavius augustus time , untill valerian , 6 of them escaped not the hands of murtherers . lloids consent of time . choyce observations of valerianus . he was nobly descended , and of such esteem among the romans that being a private man , and absent they chose him for their censor ; an office of great dignity , ever conferred upon the best saith trebellius pollio who wrote his life . at the beginning of his reign he was gracious to the christians above any of his predecessors , but after being perverted by an egyptian magician and macrianus , he was author of the 8 persecution . he was very cruel ; pulled out the eyes of young children thereby consulting of future events . in his reign there suffred 300 martyrs together at carthage , whom the governour of the city commanded either to throw frankincense into the fire ( set before them ) in honour of iupiter , or else to cast themselves head-long into a brick kiln hard by , which they did , chusing rather to embrace fire , than resist light . prudentius in peristeph . when he warred in mesopotamia , he was taken prisoner by sapor king of persia ( through the treachery of macrianus ) and used like a slave as long as he lived , sapor setting his foot upon his neck whensoever he mounted on horse-back , to the utmost vilifying of majesty , and the regret of divers interceeding princes . it was the most signal affront which the romans hitherto ever received in the person of their emperours . tristan . at last saith eusebius , by sapors command , his eyes were pulled out , wherewith he dyed ; agathias saith he was flayed alive , and rubbed all over with salt : a calamity which may challenge tears of blood . he lived along , but disgracefull age ; was 76 years old before he was taken prisoner : after his captivity he lived 7 years in reproches , and then died a violent death . a man of a poor mind , and not valiant ; notwithstanding lifted up in his own , and the opinion of men , but falling short in the performance . sr. fr. bacon . infaelicissimus principum a filio gallieno in deos relatus est , quasi deum facere posset , quem liberum facere aut nequiverat , aut neglexerat , cluverus . gallienus tam claro dei judicio territus miseroque collegae permotus exemplo , pacem ecclesiae trepidâ satisfactione restituit , saith orosius . choyce observations . gallienus . when valerian his father was taken prisoner , he was made emperour . he was expert in oratory , poetry , and all other arts , but was defective in other qualifications which are requisite in an emperour . at first he acted like a valiant captain , overcame and slew ingenu●s ( who usurped the empire ) as also trebellianus ; & overcame 300000 gothes , & almans , having but 10000 on his side ( saith zonaras ) but after he gave himself so much to sensuality , that when the world was infected with warres , he continued for the most part in rome among whores , compassed with roses and flowers ; seeking new delights , often bathing himself , studying how he might keep figs and other fruits green all the year ; having ordinarily at his table most exquisite and delicate meats , and of great cost . trebellius pollio in gallieno c. 16. he commanded one , who had sold counterfeit jewels to his wife , to be cast to a lion ; but the den being opened , nothing came forth but a capon : at which when the people wondered , he bade the cryer proclaim , imposturam fecit & passus est ; being content to have the impostor more frighted than hurt . id. ib. c. 12. videsis christiani matthiae theatrum historicum theoretico-practicum . p. 263. when a shooting prize was played before him , he gave the garland to one who shot alwayes wide , concluding that it was the more improbable difficulty to aim so often , and never to hit . taurum toties non sagittis vel jaculis ferire difficile est . id. ib. whē it was told him that egypt rebelled , he answered , cannot we live without the linen of egypt ? being advertised of the losse of other provinces , he answered so scornfully , that he seemed to care for nothing : which occasioned 30 tyrants to make themselves emperours in his time ; whereof two were women , zenobia and victoria . in his reign the heavens were darkned so that the sun was not seen for many dayes ; in the bowels of the earth were heard roarings , with the fear whereof many dyed ; earth-quakes threw down many houses , whereby the inhabitants were destroyed ; these earth-quakes were frequent in rome , africk , but especially in asia ; the earth opened in many places , and shewed vaults and caves , from whence salt-water streamed ; a●d several cities were drowned by the sea : and in rome there dyed above 5000 in one day of the pestilence . treb. pollio c. 5. gallienus addicted onely to his pleasures , was not affected with these calamities , thinking they proceeded rather from chance than any signal punishment . he grieved not for his fathers captivity , but , when he was informed of it , said , alluding to the speech of xenophon the philosopher , who having lost his son , said , sciebam me genuisse mortalem ; sciebam patrem meum esse mortalem : i knew that my father was lyable to the same miseries as other men . nec defuit annius cornicula , qui eum quasi constantem principem salsò sua voce laudaret , pejor tamen ille qui credidit , saith pollio , c. 17. videsis cuspinianum in gallieno . odenatus though an independent prince , was of such moderation , that he held correspondence with gallienus , & sent him such of the persian nobility as he had taken prisoners , for monuments of his victory over sapor , and revenge of the indignities offered to valerian : thus odenatus conquered , and gallienus triumphed , who when he could not eclipse odenatus his merit by any princely vertue , nor suppresse it by valour , sought to deface it by treachery ; but failing of his aimes therein , he made him partner of the empire for fear ; odenatus receiving the titles of imperator , and augustus , from gallienus and the senate . being not ashamed ridiculously to triumph over the persians , who detained his father prisoner , & to lead thē captive in his mock-shew ; some jeering companions mixing themselves with the persians , exactly viewed their countenances , and being asked wherefore they did it , answered , we seek for his majesties father ; which when gallienus heard of , he was so incensed at the taunt , that he commanded those who uttered it to be burned alive . the scythians invading cappadocia , the souldiers attempt to make a new emperour , for which gallienus put them all to the sword , pollio c. 11. in his time the city byzantium ( renowned for sea-fights , and the place which barreth in the euxine sea ) was destroyed by his souldiers ; to revenge which , he being received into byzantium , compassed them unarmed with armed souldiers , and slew them contrary to his covenant . and as if he had done some great matter , he posteth to rome , and summoning the senatours , appointeth decennial playes to be celebrated novo genere ludorum , nova specie pomparum , exquisito genere voluptatum , saith pollio c. 7. he killed sometimes 3 or 4000 souldiers in a day . id. ib. c. 18. at last he himself with his brother valerian and his son gallienus were slain near milain ( where he besieged aureolus ) by the treachery of marcianus ceronius , or cecropius and heraclian . pollio . c. 14. he lived 50 years , reigned 15 , 7 with his father , 8 alone . choyce observations of claudius gothicus , and his brother quintillus . clavdivs was appointed emperour by the will of gallienus being ready to dy , unto who● by gallonius basilius , he sent the imperial robes to ticinum . he was elected by the souldiers before the walles of milain , and confirmed in rome by the senate with much joy . he was so renowned a prince , that he was said to have augustus his moderation , trajans vertue , and antoninus his piety met in him . a woman desiring him after he was emperour , to restore an inheritance , which he had unjustly took from her when he was but a private person ; he graciously granted her request , saying , quod claudius dum privatus erat , nec leges curabat , abstulit ; factus imperator restituit . zonaras . in his time athens was ransacked by gothes , who piled heaps of books to burn , but were advised by one to for bear , that the graecians spending their time in them , might be lesse fit for war. cedrenus . b. egnatius . judicium barbari non prorsus vanum . etsi cleodemus atheniensis , fuga elapsus , coactaque manu & navibus hostes invadens , graecis librorum tractatione virtutem non demi ipsorum clade docuit . heidmannus in epitome historica de imp. rom. in claudio . ex zonora . aureolus being slain by his own company , claudius received the government of those countries , and fighting against the almains , he overthrew above half of them . s. aur. victor . he waged war with the gothes , who infested the empire 15 years with continual irruptions ( saith iornandes ) and now in league with many barbarous nations , invaded thrace and the countries before them , even to macedonia ; and thence came through hungary down danubius with 2000 saile of ships fraught with munition and men : to meet which claudius prepared , and engaged them so valiantly , that he slew and took 320000 men , and 2000 ships laden with shields , swords , lances , &c. so that houses were filled therewith . he intended to go against tetricus and zenobia , but was hindred by a fever which soon put an end to his life . he reigned 1 year , 10 months and 15 dayes . he was deifyed by the senate ; had a statue of gold 10 foot high erected in the capitol in honour of him by the people at their own cost , ( which they never did to any before : ) and a target of the same metal , with his picture in it , was hung up in the court by the senates appointment . there was also by general consent set up for him a pillar composed of the prowes of ships ; upon which was placed his statue , representing him clothed with his consular robe , of 1500 pound weight of silver . it was a providence , that claudius found the empire so beset with enemies , that he could not exercise so much cruelty as he intended against the christians . julian feigneth that constantine the great and his children were delivered from torments in hell , in favour to claudius their ancestor ; the reason of which fiction of that apostate was certainly , because claudius was a great persecutor . tristan . his brother quin tillus endeavoured to succeed , and was chosen emperour , but being not able to resist aurelian , chosen at the same time by the army , he made away himself by opening a vein , at tarsus in cilicia , say some , having reigned but 17 dayes ; but others write that he was killed by the souldiers . choyce observations of aurelianus . his parents being mean , he followed the warres , and advanced himself thereby . there being in the army another tribune , who was named aurelian , and had been taken prisoner with valerian the emperour , to distinguish the one from the other , this was called aurelian with his hand upon his sword ; he being upon all occasions with a weapon in his hand , ready for service . vopiscus in aureliano . c. 6. he was very temperate , made no use of physicians when he was sick , but cured all excesse by abstinence . id. ibid. c. 50. though temperate himself , yet he delighted in phago , who in his presence at one meal ate 100 loaves , and a boar , with a weather and a pig ; and drank through a tun-dish plus orcâ , which lipsius saith was bigger than the amphora , but how much he knoweth not ; and honoured bonosus a great drinker ; of whom he was wont to say , non ut vivat natus est , sed ut bibat : he was not born to draw in breath , but beer . aurelian married this bonosus a spaniard ( but son of an englishman ) to hunila a noble gothish woman , meerly that by her means he might discover the gothes secrets . vopiscus in bonoso . aurelian appointed bonosus to carouse with embassadours , that they might be brought to bewray secrets by this lene tormentum ; whilest he ( who had this wonderfull property , that he could pisse as fast as he drunk , without containing any jot within his body ) faultred not , but was more discreet . id. ibid. [ schenkius arma nunquam accuratius tractabat , quàm quum effusè potus , ac vino amens : immo ebrietate ipsa , quae resignare ac aperire occulta quaeque consuveerit , illum ad arcana occult and a uti solitum ferunt . strada belli belgici decade secunda , l. 10. aurelian was colonel of horse under claudius in persia ; he slew in one day 48 of his enemies with his own hands in the war against the sarmatians : and slew in severall dayes above 950 ; whereupon ballads were sung by boyes on festivals in praise of him . vopiscus in aureliano , c. 6. when the enemies of the romans , had overrun all france , he made such havock of them at mentz , that he slew 700 , and sold 300 sub corona ; upon which occasion new i●gges were made . id. ib. c. 7. he overcame all his enemies in 3 years , whereas alexander the great travelled 13 years by great victories , before he came into india . caesar spent 10 years in overcoming the gaules , and 4 years in conquering the romans . s. aur. victor . he caused a souldier , who had committed adultery with his hostesse , to have h●s feet tyed to the tops of 2 trees bent downward , and suffered suddenly to start back again ; so the wretch was twitched in sunder , and hung on both sides in halves . he wrote to one of his lieutenants , if thou wilt be a captain , nay if thou wilt live , contain thy souldiers in their duty . i will not have a peasant wronged in a chicken , nor a grape taken without his permission ; not a grain of salt , or a drop of oil unjustly exacted . i desire my souldiers should be enriched with spoils of enemies , not the tears of my subjects . i would have them chast in their quarters , & no quarrellers . which commands baronius compareth with that of iohn the baptist to the souldiers , luk. 3. 14. he advanced tetricus ( one of the 30 tyrants in gallienus his time , whom he overcame ) and made him provost of lucania , who had been before proclaimed emperour by the french army ; elegantly upbraiding him , that it was more majestical to rule some part of italy , than to reign beyond the alpes . s. aur. victor . being incensed against tyana , because the gates of the city were shut against him , he vowed , he would not leave a dog in it ; but having taken it , upon a fright by the ghost of apollonius tyanaeus dead long before , he commanded his souldiers to kill all the dogs , but spare the citizens . grande principis dictum , grandius militum votum : nam dictum principis quo praeda negabatur , civitas servabatur , totus exercitus ita quasi ditaretur , accepit . vopiscus . aurelian demanding how he might govern well , was answered by a great personage ; you must be provided with iron and gold ; iron to use against your enemies , and gold to reward your friends . zonoras . his chief engagement was against zenobia , the most beautiful , chast , learned , wise , and valiant woman of that age . her letter in answer to him , who sorely tired , profered her life , and liberty , and wealth , if she would yield , sheweth her resolves for fight . he was so inraged at her haughty reply , that he forthwith besieged palmyra , destroyed her aids , and at last took her prisoner , whom he led in triumph ; ea specie , ut nihil pompabilius populo rom. videretur , saith treb. pollio in zenobia . he put longinus to death upon a supposition that he dictated zenobias epistle . he is called necessarius magis quàm bonus imperator , because he wanted clemency , which is imperatorum dos prima , saith vopiscus . he was so bloody , that he put to death his own sisters son . being about to signe an edict for the 9 persecution ( of which he was the author ) god hindred his purpose . theodoret. l. 4. reportes of valens the arrian emperour ) that as he was attempting to sign an edict for the banishing of basil , he could not write one tittle of a letter , providence breaking his pen 3 several times ; at the fourth assay his hand was struck with a palsy , cramping ( as it were his knuckles , and thereupon as a man affrighted , with his own hands he tore the paper in pieces ; manifesting to all , that the princes of this world have no power to practise any thing against the church , any farther than god permitteth . eusebius l. 7. haymo l. 7. c. 11. at the same time also a thunder-bolt fell so near him , that all thought he was slain ; by which messenger god warned him to be wise , lest he perished in those destructive wayes , as shortly after he did ; mnestheus his secretary fearing punishment for some offence , for which the emperour threatned him with death , and knowing that he used not to pardon if he threatned , counterfeited the emperours hand , and wrote the names of many in a rowl as appointed by him to dy ; mixing the names of some , with whom the emperour was truly offended , with those of others whom he was not displeased with , adding his own name that he might the easilyer be believed . they upon sight hereof , thinking to prevent the worst , slew him in a castle called coenophrurium , betwixt byzantium and heraclea . when mnestheus his treason was discovered , he was cast to wild beasts , as appeareth by marble statues erected in honour of aurelian , even by those who slew him . he reigned 4 years , 11 months , and 7 dayes . vopiscus calleth him bonum medicum , sed mala ratione cur antem ; a good physician , had he not administred too bitter potions : in reference to which , julian feigneth that he had much ado to defend himself at the tribunal of minos , before whom many accused him of unjustice ; but that the sun , who had alwayes in his life specially assisted him in all his enterprises , excused him to the other gods , saying , that he had been punished enough by his death , according to the delphick oracle , which saith : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . iudicium , si quis quae fecit perfer at , aequū est . choyce observations of tacitus , and his brother florianus . upon the death of aurelian , the souldiers who would not have any of his assassinates to succeed , sent to the senate to chuse an emperour ; the senate refer the election to the souldiers , who , they knew , used not to be pleased with the senates choice : half a year passed in complements with a peaceable interregnum , at last , the senate and souldiers joyntly elect tacitus . he retired to his mannor in campania , where he was secret 2 moneths , shunning that dignity which might prove his overthrow ; was often sollicited , but , with hearty thanks , absolutely denied ; affirming his age made him unable to satisfy expectations ; at length , necessity of state so requiring , he accepted of their proffer ; at which all rejoyced but himself . he was such an example of moderation to others , that he permitted not his empresse to wear jewels . he honoured tacitus the historian , whom he called his father , commanded his works to be put in every library through the empire , to be transcribed 10 times every year at publick cost . vopiscus in tacito . c. 10. when the senate chose him emperour , they cryed out , quis meliùs quàm gravis imperat ? & quis meliùs quàm literatus imperat ? when he objected his age , they answered , that trajan , adrian , and antoninus were old , when they came to the empire ; whom they mentioned because they reigned well and fortunately : omitting vespasian , nerva , pertinax , macrinus and decius , who came older to the empire ; but their reign was short , especially that of the four last : the three last also dyed a violent death . tristan . when the senate denyed him the consulship , which he sought for his brother florianus , he took it very well , saying ; scit senatus quem principem fecerit . vopiscus . he gave the souldiers all the mony he had in silver , which was a great summe ; he having had more than 9 millions in gold for his patrimony . his death was caused by grief occasined by factions , infirmity of age helping to break his heart and his life , when he had reigned 6 months . vopiscus . his brother florianus ambitiously strove to get the empire as true heir , though he knew tacitus was engaged to the senate , that he would prefer worth before his relations in the designation of his successour . being not able to withstand probus who was chosen by the army , he was killed by the souldiers , say some ; but most write , that by opening a vein he killed himself at tarsus , as quintillus also did , who was reduced to the same extremity . choyce observations of probus . vpon tacitus his death , the army unanimously cryed out , let us have probus for our emperour ; and the senate with applause confirmed the election . the manner of his being chosen by the souldiers was thus ; the officers told them the requisites of one that should be elected , that he should be fortis , sanctus , verecundus , clemens , probus : which when it was spoke to many companies , on all sides they cryed out as it were by a divine instinct , probe auguste , dii te servent . vopiscus in probo , c. 10. valerian the emperour called him verè probum , saying in an epistle , that if he had not had probus for his name , he deserved to have had it for his surname . id ib. c. 4. he was made tribune by valerian , in which office he served under gallienus , claudius , aurelian , and tacitus . his first service , after he became emperour , was in france , against the germans who had conquered it ; wherein one battel he slew almost 400000 germans , 9 of whose kings prostrated themselves at his feet : he won also and repaired 70 of their cities in lesse than 7 years . the egyptians electing saturninus a wise and valiant captain ▪ emperour , so sore against his will , that he was like to be slain for gain-saying their desires ; probus hasting towards them offered them pardon , out of an unwillingnes to shed civil blood , or to loose such a man as saturninus : but upon refusal of his clemency , he engaged in a sharp battail , wherein most of the revolters were overthrown , and saturninus slain in the assault of a besieged castle , to the grief of probus who sought to save his life . vopiscus in saturnino . bonosus who had charge of ships , which the germans burned in the mouth of the rhine through his negligence ▪ if not treachery ; who fearing punishment for his fault , rebelled against probus , but was overcome and through despair hung himself : whereupon it was said , amphoram pendere , non bominem ; that a barrell or tankard hung there , and not a man ; because he was so given to drink . vopiscus in bonoso . there rebelled also against probus , proculus as insatiate a vassal to venus , as bonosus was to bacchus ; so impudent that he did not onely cōmit filthinesse , but boasted of it , as appeareth by his letter wherein he braggeth that having taken 100 sarmatian virgins he deprived 10 of that name in a night , and all the rest within a fortnight : inter fortes se haberi credens si criminum densitate coalescat , saith vopiscus in proculo . he honoured aradion a most valiant man ( whom he overcame in wrestling ) with a tomb 200 foot broad remaining in vopiscus his time ; which he caused the souldiers , whom he never suffered to be idle , to erect : testifying the greatness of his respect by his largenes of his monument . vopiscus in probo c. 9. quo latior agri modus sepulchro assignabatur , eo magis crescebat honos . casaubonus . being presented with a horse taken in war , which it was said , could go an 100 mile in a day , for 8 or 10 dayes together , he said , he was fitter for a cowardly than a valia● souldier . id. ibid. c. 8. some say he was the last emperour who triumphed , after his victory over the germans and the blemiae a people of africk . he commanded to be let loose at once 1000 estriches , 1000 stags , 1000 wild boars , 1000 fallow dear beside wild goats , wild sheep , and other creatures which sed upon grasse , as many as could be fed or found ; which he gave to the people to catch as they could ; the circus being set all over with great trees , which by the souldiers were taken up by the roots , as they grew in the woods , and planted there with green turf about them , and fastned with beams and irons : next day he let into the same place 100 maned lyons , which filled the air with roaring as if it had thundred ; 100 lybian leopards , 100 syrian , 100 lionesses , and 300 beares . vopiscus in probo . c. 19. as hanibal filled most parts of africk with olive-yards planted by his souldiers that they might not be idle , to the indangering of the common-wealth ; so probus , who for his famous acts is compared with hanibal and caesar , for the same reason caused his souldiers to plant vineyards throughout all france , both the pannonias , and the mysian hills . aur. victor . he undid himself by that speech of his ; brevi milites necessarios non futuros : wherewith the souldiers being offended murdered him , when he had lived 75 years , and reigned 6 years 4 moneths ; others say 6 years . iulian feigneth that silenus reproched him with his severity towards his souldiers , who added that he underwent deserved punishment , though unjustly inflicted by them . it is thought , that because he suffered the christians to live in peace , god gave him so many victories against the barbarians . choyce observations of carus , with his sons carinus and numerianus . probvs being slain the army chose carus emperour , whereunto the senate consented . the sarmatians threatning italy he engaged with them , and overthre● them with the slaughter of 16000 , taking 20000 prisoners . vopiscus in caro. c. 9. leaving carinus his elder son to govern britain , france , illyricum , and spain ; he prepared with numerian against the persians , in which expedition he took in his way mes●potamia , ctesiphon , &c. whereby he purchased the surname of persicus . embassadors coming to him from the king of persia , find him lying upon the grasse , eating black broath and morsels of swines-flesh ; ( whom he bade to tell their young master : if he continued obstinate , within one moneth , all his woods and fields should be as bare as hisb. ●ld pate , which he shewed ; offering them to eat out of the pot , if they pleased , otherwise to depart forthwith . lipsius in his notes to his second book of politicks and the fiftenth chapter out of synesius de regno , where see petarius who applieth it to probus . surprized with sicknesse he pitched his tent on the shore of tigr●s ; where he and others were slain in their beds by a thunder-bolt . — fulmine captus imperator vitam fulminibus parem peregit . sidonius apollinaris . arrius aper a pretorian prefect having murdered numeri●●n ( his son-in-law ) being troubled with sore eyes upon his return from persia ( saith zonaras ) pretended to those of the army who enquired how de did , that his infirmity onely kept him from sight , but at length his treason was discovered by the putrefaction of numerians body . whereupon he being brought by the souldiers before the tribunal was slain by diocletian ; who was both his judge and executioner . vopiscus in numeriano . carinus gave himself to all lusts , married 9 wives and then divorced them bei●g big with child ; he was twice overcome by diocletian , and slain by a tribune , whose wife he had abused . vopiscus in carino . some say carus and his sons reigned but 2 years or some what more , others say but a little above one . these 7 emperours claudius his brother quintillus , aurelian , tacitus , his brother , florian probus and carus reigned but 18 years . lloids consent of times . choyce observations of diocletianus , and maximianus . collegues diocletians parentage is uncertainly reported , some making him the son of a scrivener , and others of a bondman made free by anulinus a senatour : but all agree that he was a dalmatian of base birth . the name of his mother ( and of the town wherein he was born ) was dioclea , whence he was called diocles till he came to be emperour , and then named himself diocletian ( converting a greek name into a roman form ) and upon the conquest of the persi●●● and egyptians , iovius ; as maximian his collegue stiled himself hercullus : velut ille iovis , hic herculis haeres saith p. laetus , who parallels diocletian with iupiter , and maximian with hercules . when diocletian serving as common souldier in france , reckoned with his hostesse ( one of the druides ) she told him he vvas too penurious ; he jeastly ansvvered , that he vvould be bountiful vvhen he came to the rour of rome : she bid him not jeast , saying ; imperator eris , cum aprum occideris . from that time he hunted often and killed many boares , to see if a crown would spring from their blood ; but he still missed the empire , which he saw aurelian , tacitus probus and carus obtained , whereupon he said : i kill many boars , but others go away with the flesh . at last aper having killed numerianus ( as is before mentioned ) was brought by the souldiers before diocletian , who being told his name , ( and concluding at length that the predictiō was to be understood of a man presently killed him ; in outward shew ●or zeal of justice , as being not able to endure so foul a fact : but in truth to fulfill the prediction of his hostesse , the druid ; for that aper signifieth a boar. vopiscus in numeriano saith that his grand-father , from whom he had this report , was present when aper was slain , to whom diocletian , when he struck him , said in a bravado ; gloriare aper , aeneae magni dextracadis : adding ; tandem aprum fatalem occidi . diocletian was the first who wore cloath of gold , trod on silk and purple embellished with pearls ; and ( next after caligula and domitian ) was the first , who would be sued unto as a god , though ( saith aur. victor ) he carried himself liker a father , than a tyrant . omnibus aequandus principibus , si à piorum sanguine abstinuisseth , saith b. egnatius . it was a good speech of him though an evil emperour , that the best and most wary prince may be abused by bad servants . vopiscus in aureliano . notwithstanding his cruelty condemned even by libanius a heathen ( in his oration to theodosius the great ) yet he counterfeited clemency , and in appearance had the memory of marcus aurelius in great veneration , as a god , saying often that he desired to resemble him in humanity . capitolinus in marco antonino philosopho . these 2 emperours chose 2 caesars ; diocletian chose galerius surnamed armentarius , and maximian ; constantius chlorus , enforcing them to put away their wives , and theodora take their daughters for an assurance of love by the bonds of that alliance aur. victor . diocletian by his profound wisdom , wherewith he was endued , found out a more assured way to secure himself against rebellions , than others had discovered : for having taken maximian for his companion and allie : and afte●wards created galerius and constantius caesars , he rendred himself formidable to those who desired to make themselves emperours . for in what part soever the rebels rose , one of these four was upon their backs , and stifled them in the birth . onely carausius , whom the situation of great britain rendred invincible , stood out 7 years . but all the other who had the the boldness to make themselves emperours , as aelianus , amandus , julianus , &c. were quickly defeated , before they could make any considerable progresse . tristan . in the 19 year of his reign he raised the 10 and extremest persecution , wherein 17000 men women and children were martyred within one moneth , besides infinite numbers otherwise punished : the christians torments lasting 10 years without intermission , no place being free . nullus dies cui non ultra quinque millium numerum martyrum reperiri posset ascriptus , excepto die calendarum ianuarii . there was never a day in the year , except the first of ianuary , whereto the number of 5000 martyrs at the least might not be ascribed saith hierome in his epistle ad heliodorum & chromatium . quis non horreat in una aegypto 144 millia mortalium caesa , 700 millia in exilium acta ; praeter africam totamque europam in carnificinam versas ? ut totum orcum dicas in orbem effusum , ubi nemo nisi tortus vel tortor sit . bussieres in flosculis historicis . maximian at octodurum commandeth the army to sacrifice to false gods ; the theban legion consisting of 6666 christians remove their quarters to agaunum , to avoid ( if possible ) occasion of discontenting the emperour ; who summoneth them to perform their parts in this devilish worship : they return an humble denyal , with their resolve not to disobey god , for whose sake they would ever continue faithfull to him . he unsatisfied with this answer , putteth them to a decimation ; to which they submit with cheerfulness , praying for their murderer . his commands are renewed but prevail not on the remainder , who are butchered without resistance , there being no delay in their death , except from the wearines of their executioners . mauricius their colonel could not contain his joy , when he saw the first decimation gallantly suffered . how ●eareful was i , said he to his , awhile , surviving souldiers ( for armed men may be tempted to defend themselves ) lest any of them might upon colour of just resistance for self-preservation in an innocent cause have strugled against this blessed slaughter . i was watchful and had christs example in readines , who commanded his disciple to put his sword into his scabbard . salus vestra non periclitabitur , nisi armis vestris . despair it self could not conquer one single patience , which yet createth valour in cowards , and maketh them more couragious in such extremities , because they are fearfull ; since they are likely to do most to preserve life , who are most afraid of death . eucherius lugdunensis . diocletiano & maximiano imperantibus , acerbissima persecutio exorta , quae per decem continuos annos plebem dei depopulata est , quâ tempestate omnis ferè sacro martyrum cruore orbis infectus est : quippe certatim gloriosa in certamina ruebatur , multoque avidius tum martyria gloriosis mortibus quaerebantur , quàm nunc epistopatus pravis ambitionibus appetuntur . nullus unquam bellis mundus magis exhaustus est , neque unquam majore ttiumpho vicimus , quàm cùm decem annorum stragibus vinci non potuimus . sulpitius severus sa r. hist. l. 2. there was a columne as a trophy of the extinguishing the christian faith erected to him with this inscription . dioclesiano caes. aug. galerio in oriente adopt . superstitione christi ubique deletâ . et cultu deorum ubi que propagato , gruters inscriptions , p. 280. this most bloody persecutour of the church , at last perswaded maximian to lay aside with him all government ( not because he was weary of persecuting , but of disappointment ) since he could not hatch his long brooded designes for the utter extirpation of the christians , being thus out of hope to do all the mischief he intended , by resigning the empire , he putteth himself out of powr to do any . being sollicited 4 years afterby maximian to reassume his charge , he answered ; you would not tempt me to it , did you see the herbs set with my own hands in my garden at salona . diocletian being invited by constantine the great and licinius to their marriage-feast , excused himself , that by reason of his age he could not come ; upon which they wrote back threatning letter , wherein he was charged to favour maximinus , and to have shewed favour to maxentius : whereupon fearing some shamefull death , he poysoned himself . s. aur. victor . maximian seemingly taking offence at his son maxentius , then at variance with his son-in-law constantine the great under colour of this dislike , repaired to constantine , who married fausta his daughter , with whom he tampered to make away her husband : but she revealed his treachery to constantine , who thereupon put him to death . vtinam maximianus suo potius ingenio , quàm alieno exemplo fastidi●set fortunae fastigium . diocletianum secutus est . sic verò animi inconstans ; quia cùm ex augusto privatus esset , è privato tyrannus esse volu● . nam ut ad imperii majestatem eveheret m●xentium filium , acriter aff●xit rem romanam : ut deinde evectum rejiceret , pater quoque esse recus●vit . iam nec in filio maxentio , nec in genero constantino purpuram ferens , dum insidias utrique struit , interficitur . puteanus in historia insubrica . choyce observations of constantius chlorus , and galerius armentarius , to whom are joyned severvs maximinvs , maxentivs licinivs . collegues when diocletian and maximian laid down the ensignes of command , constantius chlorus was chosen emperour in these western provinces of france , spain , and britain . unto galerius his government fell , egypt and the provinces in asia : constantius ( who chose rather to govern well than much ) gave up africk and italy to him , as too remote from the seat of his residence , and eye of his direction . constantius was by birth a roman ; his father was named eutropius , his mother claudia , neece to the emperour claudius gothicus . tristan thinketh that constantius was not called chlorus from his palenes , since eumenius attributeth to him a very sanguine complexion ; but from some green garments which he wore when he was young : and he mentioneth others who had the same surname . he was very affable , reigned to enrich his subjects , saying ; it was fitter that the wealth of the land should be dispersed into the commons hands , than locked up in princes coffers : in which kind he was so averse from all superfluities , that he may rather be adjudged faulty the other way : for he was an enemy to extortions , even to the lessening of the train of his house . being but nominated for the empire , and reproched for his poverty by diocletian , who sent to exhort him to heap up treasures ; he advertised the people of his want ▪ who vehemently contended among themselves to fill his exchequer , rejoycing greatly , that now they had that long wished for opportunity to witnesse their benevolous minds unto the emperour : whereupon he truly and excellently said ; that the love of the people is the richest and safest treasury of the prince . shewing to diocletians embassadors , the great summes which he had ammassed in few houres , they were amazed thereat ; after whose departure he returned all the subsidy that was presented to him : by which custome he rather got the epithet of poor , than , so indeed being by this voluntary poverty , richer than diocletian himself , yea than all the other princes together who were partners with him . and as this one action shewed his royal magnificence , so this other declareth his piety ; in both which he was exemplary . to try the hearts of his courtiers , he proclaimed , that all they who would not forsake the worship of the true god , should be banished the court , and should have heavy penalties and fines laid upon them ; presently upon this ( saith the story ) all who were base and came to serve him onely for ends , went away , forsook the true god , and worshipped idols : by which means he found out who were the true servants of god , and whom he intended to make his own ; thinking as such as he found faithful to god would prove so to him . what this exploratorie stratagem of constantius effected in his court , the same did that which julian the apostate set forth in good earnest , against the christians . he no sooner caused it to be proclaimed , that whosoever would not renounce the fai●h should be discharged his service , and forfeit both life and estate to his high displeasure ; but presently upon the publication of that decree , they who were indeed christians ; and they that had onely the title , presented themselves as it were on a common stage to the view of all men . eusebius saith that constantius preserved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such christians as were under his command from harm . under him the church in these parts had a breathing-time from persecution . but i am afraid that that learned goes a little to farre , who makes him founder of a bishoprick at york , and stileth him an emperour surpassing in all vertue , and christian piety . mr. fuller in his ecclesiastical history of britain . he married helena ( daughter of coilus , who entertained him when he was lieutenant of britain ) but maximian tyrannising aswell over loves , as men , declareth constantius caesar , on condition he would forsake helen , and marry theodora his daughter-in-law . he is won by ambition , and easines of his nature ( which bowed to those who seemed to wish him well ) and by the lustre of the purple presented to him . he marrieth theodora ; which alteration helena bore with great constancy , counting it an honour , that to refuse her no other cause was found , but the good fortune of her husband ; constantius lived in body with theodora , and in heart with helen : the torrent of ambition and affaires of the world having parted their bodies could not hinder the inclinations of their hearts . for constantius returning to britain , dyed in york ; and being asked on his death-bed which of his childrē should succeed him , since besides constantine he had two sons by theodora viz. constantius & annibalinus : he then forgetting his seōnd wife & her off-spring , cryed aloud constantinū piū , he would have no other successour than the pious constantine , which was approved by the army : who cast the purple robe upon constantine at york , whilest he wept , and put spurs to his horse , that he might avoid the importunity of the souldiers , who attempted and required so instantly to make him emperour : but the happiness of the state overcame his modesty . constantius lived 56 years ; was caesar 16 years , and emperour 2 saith eusebius . cambdē reporteth that at the demolition of monasteries , there was found in his supposed monument in yorkshire , a burning lamp , thought to have burnt there ever since his burial , about 300 years after christ , & he addeth out of lazius , that the ancient romans used in that manner to preserve lights in sepulchers a long time , by the oylines of gold , resolved into a liquid substance . galerius born of mean parents ( surnamed armentarius because he kept cattle ) bragged that a serpent begat him , as one did alexander the great . moribus certèodioque in christianos draco fuit , nec indignus eo , quo se natum parente fatebatur . cluverus . when he rifled the camp of narseus king of persia , a common souldier having met with a parthick satchel , wherein were pearls , through simplicity threw out the gems , and went away contented with the beauty onely on the leather bag . amm. marcellinus l. 22. c. 3. vide piccarti observationes historico-politicas . dec. 3. c. 3. he took for ease of his burden severus and maximinus surnamed daza his sisters 〈◊〉 , whom he elected caesars and after augusti ; which honours severus enjoyed not long , being slain at rome by treachery of maxentius whē he had reigned but one year . galerius incensed with the outrage of maxentius intended to fall upon the west ; but distrust of the safety of his territories stayed him , and made him create li●inius caesar : after whose nomination he survived not long . he boasted the acutenes of his wit by the invention of new tortures for patient martyrs ; notwithstāding when he felt himself invaded with a verminous ulcer , or fistula in his secret parts ; which did evaporate so contagious and pestilential a stench , that some of his physicians , not able to endure that mephitis or steam of intense corruption , fell down dead ; he understanding this to be a judgment sent from god to retaliate upon him those tortures , which he had inflicted on many innocents ; then his flinty heart melted within him , and at length he began to think of his wicked practises against the holy worshippers of god , gave commandment for cessation of the christians persecution , confessed the equity of divine retribution , and in the midst of these confessions of his own guilt , and gods justice , he breathed out his execrable soul from a gangrenous and loathsome body . he lived not a year after his edict for the persecuting of the christians . eusebius , l. 9. after whose death , licinius , and maximinus beheld each other with a jealous eye , and made shew of contest ; but maximine at tarsus decided the difference by an irrevocable resignation . maximinus was much inclined to wine , in the excesse whereof he commanded many things , of which he afterwards repented , giving a charge to his followers , that they should not execute his desires , except he was sober , or gave them a command in the morning sextus aurelius victor . maxentius made himself emperour , by consent of the souldiers , to recompence whom he gave leave to sin cum privilegio ; no words being more frequent than these in his speeches to them ; fruimini , dissipat● , prodigite . he being inamoured on a woman , sent for her by his servants ( her husband not daring to refuse for his life ) of whom she desired time to make her self ready ; which having obtained , she goeth into her chamber , and killeth her self : the officers ( when they could stay no longer ) broke open the room , and finding her dead , report it to maxentius , who became more insolent than before . eusebius l. 8. by his necromancy , adulteries and murders he grew so intolerable , that the senate sent to constantine , craving his aid against him . constantine drawing licinius to his side ( by marrying his sister constantia to him ) hasted to rome with 90000 foot and 8000 horse , levied out of britain , france , and germany . maxentius framed a deceitful bridge over tiber near pons milvius , to intrap constantine : but being overcome in battel , he fled ( through forgetfulness or hast ) over the same bridge , which falling under him , he and many more were drowned . licinius had nothing good in him , but that he disliked eunuchs , calling them the mothes and rats of the court. he was a great enemy to learning , calling it , through his ignorance , a poyson and publick plague . he thought that none could live chastly , measuring others dispositions by his own vicious inclination . he maligning constantines fame , at last , persecuted the christians in the east , where he reigned with martinianus , whom he before made caesar at byzantium , and his son licinius at arles . he was overthrown by constantine in several battels , loosing many thousands of men , and was himself taken prisoner ; yet by meditation of his wife , had his life spared , and was confined within nicomedia : where for his treasons after , he and his son , who somewhat survived him , were put to death . he lived 70 years , and reigned 15 victor . licinius a constantino morte mulctatur : vel ut alii tradunt , quum filiam suam herinam eò quòd christiana esset , ab equis discerpi mandasset , ipse adstans & inspecturus , equi morsu interfectus est . elenchus numismatum in bibliotheca bodieeja●a . select and choyce french proverbs , some of which were collected out of gruterus , de la noue , and other authors , divers observed by my self when i was in france , alphabetically disposed and englished , and compared also sometimes with the refranes or spanish . a. aller où le roy va à pied . to go where the king goes a foot . aller sur la hacquen●e des cordeliers . to go upon the franciscans hackney , 1. to go a foot . aimer n'est pas sans amer . love is not without bitternesse ▪ ainsi va le monde . so the world goeth . amasser en saison , despencer par raison , font la bonne maison . a seasonable gathering , and a reasonable spending make a good house-keeping . amiens fut priuse en renard , repriuse en lion. amiens was taken by the * fox , retaken by the lion. amour peut moult , argent peut tout . love can do much , silver can do all . amour , toux , fumée & argent , on ne peut cacher longuement . love , the cough , the smoak and money , can not long be hidden by any . a pere , à maistre , à dieu tout puissant , nul ne peut rendre l'equivalent . to father , master , and god , al-sufficient , none can render equivalent . a petit mercier , petit panier . a little pedler , a little pack . apres * disner de la moustarde . after dinner mustard . apres la mort le medecin . after death the doctor . apres la pluye * vient le beau temps . after rain comes fair weather . a quoi pensez vous , quand vous nepensiez rien ? a vous respondre , quand vouy me demandez rien . on what think you when you think on nothing ? to answer you when you ask me nothing . argent content porte medicine . ready money is a ready medicine . a rude chien faut dur lien . a curst dogge must be tyed short . attente tourmente . expectation torments . au jourdhuy marriè , demain marri . married to day sad to morrow . a un bon entendeur ne faut que demy mot . half a word is enough * to an understanding hearer . autant de pais , autant de coustumes . so many countries so many customes . b. beau parler n'escorche pas la language . good speech flees not the tongue . beauté sans bonté est comme vin esventè . beauty without goodnesse is like wine that hath taken wind . belles filles se trovent au bourdeau , & les beaux hommes es mains du bourreau . the fairest woman in the st●wes , and the hansom'st man at the gallowes . bon marché tire l'argent de la bourse . good cheap commodities are not able pick-purses . bon sang ne peut mentir . good blood cannot lye . bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceniture dorée . a good renown is better then a golden girdle . bonne terre mauvais chemin . bon advocat mauvais voisin . bonne mule mauvaise beste . bonne femme mauvaise teste . good country and bad way . good lawyer and bad neighbour . good mule and a bad beast . good woman and a bad head . borgne est roy entre les aveugles . he that hath one eye is a king among the blinde . c. cequ'on apprend au bers , dure jusques au vers . that which one learnes in youth will continue till old age . cela est la philosophie de quenoville . it is the philosophy of the distaff . c'est un mouton * de berri , il est marqué sur le nez . it is a sheep of berrie it is marked upon the nose . c'est un bon harquebusier , il vise aux talons & frappe le nez . * it is a good harquebusier , it aims at the heels and hits the nose . chair du mouton manger de glouton . flesh of mutton is meat for a glutton . chascun a son tour , le devise du mounsieur de guise . every one hath his turn , the devise of the duke of guise . chascun est roy en sa maison . every one is king in his own house . commun n'est pas comme un . the publick is not as private . courte messe & long disner . short masse , and long dinner . d. d'eau benite le moius suffis . of holy-water the lesse sufficeth . de fol juge brieve sentence . from a foolish judge a quick sentence . de la pance vient la dance . dancing followes a full belly . de mauvais payeur il faut prendre paille . of an ill pay-master take any thing . desjuner de chasseurs , disner d'advocats , souper de marchands , & collation de moines . the huntsmans break fast , the lawyers dinner , the merchants supper , and the monkes drinking . de trois choses dieu dous garde , de beuf salé sans moutarde , d'un valet qui se regarde , d'une femme qui se farde . from three things god keep us , from powderd beef without mustard , from a servant which vieweth himself , from a woman which painteth . * du cuir d'autruy large courroye . a large-thong of anothers leather . e. en gouttes medicin ne voit goutte . the physician sees but littie in the gout . en orenge il n' ya point d'oranges . in orange * there are no oranges . en pont , en planche , & en riviere , valet devant maistre derriere . on bridge , on plank , and on river , the servant before , and master after . * entre deux selles le cul à terre . between two stooles the tail to the ground . entre la bouche & le verre , le vin souvent tombe à terre . between the lip and the cup. the wine is often spilt . eschorhcer le * renard . to flea the fox . estre sur la bord de ▪ la fosse . to be upon the brink of the pii . alterum pedem in cymba charonti habere . f. faire de chasteaux en espagne . to build castles in spain . we say , to build castles in the air . faire de son medecin son heritier . to make his phisician his heir . faire grond cas de peu de chose . to make great account of a little thing . femme , argent & vin on leur bien & leur venin . women , money , and wine , have their good and their evil . femme rit quand elle peut & pleure quand elle veut . a woman laughes when she can , and weeps when she will. fille fenestriere & trotiere , rarement bonne mesnagere . a gazing and gadding maid seldome proves good house-wife . fille qui donne s'abandonne . a maid which giveth is easily gotten . fille qui prend son corps vend . a maid which takes sels her body . fille trope veuë , robbe trop vestuë , n'est past chere tenue . a maid often seen , a garment often worn , are disesteem'd , and held in scorn . the italian proverb is : a woman that taketh is easily yielding . formage , poir , & pain , est repas de vilain . cheese , bread , and pear , is the husbandmans fare . les plus courtes folies sont les mellieures . the shortest follies are the best . fols sont sages quond ils se taisent . fools are wise men when they hold their * peace . g. goutte à goutte la mer s'esgoute . by drop and drop the sea runs out . homme chiche , jamais riche . a covetous man is never rich . homme roux & femme barbue , de trente pas loin le salūe , avecques trois pierres au poing , pour t'en aider à ton besoing . salute no red hair'd man , nor bearded woman nearer then thirty foot off , with three stones in thy fist to defend thee in thy need . i. jeunesse oiseuse , vie illesse disetteuse . an idle youth makes a needy old age . the italian proverb is , a young man idle , an old man needy . il a tousiours une * aulne de boyaux vuides , pour festoyer ses amis . he hath alwayes an ell * of empty guts to feast his friends withal . il est bien avancé qui a bien commencé . he is well advanced who hath begun well . dimidium facti qui bene caepit , habet . il a beau mentir qui vient de loin . a traveller may lye by authority . il gaste comme le fange de paris . it staineth like the dirt of paris , lutetia à luto . il a la conscience large , comme la manche d'un cordelier . he hath a conscience as large as a franciscans sleeve . il joüe de moy à la pelotte . he playes at foot-bal with me . il ment comme un aracheur de dents . he lyeth like a tooth-drawer . il n'est eschappé qui traine son lien . he is not quite got away who drags his chain after him . il n'est jamais feu sans fumé . there is never fire without some smoak . il n'y a pire sourd que celuy qui ne veut o●ir . there is none so deaf as that will not hear . il ny a tant des moutons en berry there be not so many sheep in * berry . il ni a que la premiere pinte chere . the first pint is the dearest . il vaut mieux tard que jamais . it is better late then never . jeu , putain , & vin friand font l'homme panure en riand . play a whore , and brisk wine make a man poor laughing . the italian proverb ( whence this seems to be borrowed ) is , play , woman , and wine c●nsume a ma● laughing . l. labelle plume fait le bel oyseau . the fair feathers make a fair fowl . * l'appetit vient en mangeant , est la soifs'en va en beuvant . the stomack comes by eating , the thirst is quencht by drinking . l'asne du common est tousjours malbasté the common asse is alwayes ill sadled . la soye esteiut la feu de la cuisine . silk * doth quench the fire of this kitchin. la trop longue demeurer fait changer l'amy . too long abiding causeth a friend to change . l'eau qui dort est pire qui celle quid court . the standing water is worse then that which runnes . le coust en fait perdre le goust . the cost takes away the desire to the thing . le desir nous tormente & l'espoir nous contente . desire torments us , and hope comforts us . l'habit ne fait pas le moyne . the habit makes not the monk. le maison est malheureuse & mechante , o● le poul plus haute que le coq chante . the house is unhappy and wicked where the hen croweth louder than the cock . le mari veut ( & doit ) estre maistre , la femme veut ( & doit ) estre maistresse , mais non pas de son mari . the husband will and ought to be master , the wi●e will and ought to be mistris , but not of her husband . les mots termines en ique font au medecin la nique . the words ending in * ique do mock the phisician . le plaisir engendre l'autre . one good turn requires another . le royaume du france ne tombe point en quenouille . the kingdome of france falls not to the distaffe . les apprentifs ne sont pas incontinent maistres . the prentises are not presently masters . les bons r●deurs font les bons presteurs . good restorers make good lenders . le soleil qui se leve matin , la femme qui parle latin , l'enfant qui boit du vin , font rarement bonne fin . the sun which shineth early in the morning , a woman which speaketh latin , a child that drinketh wine , seldome make a good end . le teste d'une femme , la corps d'un serjeant , les jambes d'un lacquai ▪ c'est un diable parfaict . the head of a woman , the body of a serjeant , the leggs of a lackey make a devil perfect . le vin se cognoist à la saveur , & le drap à la coleur . wine is known by its smell , and cloth by its colour . lire beaucoup & rien n'entendre , c'est beaucoup chasser & rien prendre . to read much and understand and nothing , is to hunt much and catch nothing , m. ma chemise chascun blanche baise mon cû châque dimanche . my fair shirt kisse me behinde once a week . manger * son pain blanc le premier . to eat his white bread first . mars venteux , & auril pluvieux font le may gay & gracieux . a windy march , and rainy april make a may trim and gay . n. n'irrit ez point les chiens , au paravant que vos soies aux pierres . provoke not the dogs before you beat the stones . nouer l'esguillette . to tye the * point . nourriture passe nature . nature surpasseth nature . nul bien sans peine . no good without pain and labour . this proverb is meant principally of vertue , it comes not without labour . o. oi , voy , & te tais , si tu veux veure en pais . hear , see , and be silent , if thou wilt live in peace . audi , vide , tace , si vis vivere in pace . oignez vilain , il vous poindra , poignez vilain il vous oindra . sooth a clown and he will deal roughly with you , deal roughly with him , and he will speak you fair . the italian proverb is , do good to a clown , he wisheth thee evil for it , do him an evil turn and he wisheth thee good for it . on n● doit parler latin devant les clercs . one must take heed to speaking of latin before schollars . on ne prend pas le lieure au son de ta●bour . men catch not a hare with the sound of a drum. on ne scait , que la chose vaut , jusqu ' à tant qu'on l'ait perdue . one knows not what a thing is worth till he have lost it . the spanish proverb is , buen perdido ay conocido . a good thing lost is known . bonum magis carendo quàm fruendo cognoscimus . oûi dire va par ville . hear-say goes throughout the town . p. pape par voix , roy par nature , empereur per force . the pope comes by voices , the king by nature , the emperour by force . pardon , on a pardon . by a gift on obtains a pardon . par l'eschantillon on cognoist la piece . by a pattern on knoweth the whole piece . petite pluye abbat grand vent . a small rain all aies a great wind . poisson sans vin est poison . fish without wine is poison . pour un plaisir mille douleurs . for one pleasure a thousand sorrowes . q. quand italie sera sans poison , france sans trahison , angleterre sans guerre , lors sera la mond● sans terre . when italy shall be without poison , france without treason , england without war , the world shall be without earth . quand le danger est passé , le sainct eff oubilé . when the danger is past the saint is forgotten . quand le soleil est couché tons les bestes sont à l'ombre . when the sun is set all the beasts are in the shade . quatres bonnes meres engendrent quatre mauvaises filles , grande familiarité mespris , verité haine , vertu envie , richesse ignorance . four good mothers beget four bad daughters , great familiarity contempt , truth hatred , vertue envie , riches ignorance . qui a bon voisin , il a bon matin . he that hath a good neighbour hath a good morrow . qui a le bruit de se lever matin peut dormir jusques à disner . he that hath the same of rising early may sleep till dinner . qui a terre il a guerre . he that hath land hath also strife . qui monte plus haut qu'il ne doit , descend plus bas qu'il ne voudroit . he that mounteth higher then he ought , shall descend lower then he would . qui naist de geline il ayme a gratter . he that comes from a hen loves to be scrat●ng . qui parle du loup , il en void la queue . he that speaks of the * wolf , sees his tail . while the shepherds talk of the wolf he comes sometimes , so doth he often of whom we speak . qui regimbe contre l'aiguillon , merite d'en estre picqué deux fois . he that kicks against the pricks , deserves to be pricked twice . qui veut jeune chair & vieux poisson , se trove repugner la raison . he that loves young flesh and old fish , loves contrary to reason . qui veult manger de noiau , qu'il casse la noix . he that will eat the kirnel , let him break the nut . r. remede contre la peste par art , fuir tost & loing ▪ retourner tard . an artificial remedy against the plague , t● flie swift and farre , and return slowly . rendre la pareille . to render the like . retournons a nous moutons . let us return to our sheep . this proverb is used when in some long discourse , one having made some digression from the matter , will return to the thing he first spake of . the original of it is taken from shepherds which sometimes leave their sheep to solace themselves while they feed , but fearing danger to them , after say , let us returne to our sheep . rouge soir & blanc matin , c●est le plaisir du pelerin , the evening red and the morning gray , are hopeful ●ignes of a fair day . the italian saith , the evening red , and the morning d●skie joyeth the traveller . s. si l'espine non picque quand nai , a peine que picque jamai . a thorn unlesse at first it prick , will hardly ever pierce to the quick . souvent & peu manger , ce faict l'homme engraisser . often and little eating makes a man fat . t. tel refuse qui apres muse . he refuseth who after bethinks himself . tout se qui reluist n'est pas or , all is not gold that glistereth . tost ou tard , prezau loing , le fort du foible à besoign . soon or late , near or far , the strong hath need of the weak . trois choses sont d'un accord , l'eglise , la court , & la mort , l'eglise prend de vif & mort , la court prend le droict & le tort , la mort prend le foible & le fort , three things agree in the world ; the church the court and death , the court right and wrong , death the weak and strong . the italians have the like proverb , three things are much of nature : a priest , an atturney , and death ; the priest taketh from the living and the dead ; the atturny right and wrong , and death taketh along with it both weak and strong . trop grater cuist , trop paller nuist . to much scratching smarts , too much speaking hurts . tu as frappé au blanc . thou hast hit the white . tu as memoire du lieure ou lapin , tu la pers en courant . thou hast as much memory as a hare or coney ▪ thou hast lost it in running . v. un coup de langue nuist plus qu●un coup de lance . a word hurts more then a wound . un grand seigneur , un grand clochier , une grande riviére sont trois mauvais voisins . a great lord , a great bell , a great river are three ill neighbours . une bonne femme est une mauvaise beste . a good wife is an ill beast . oftentimes in the contracted inscriptions of ancient tombes these 2 capital letters , m. b. have been found which signify mulier bona in french bonne femme . some drollers finding that these 2 letters m. b. signifie as well mala bestia as mulier bona ; thrice used this proverb . un homme de paille vaut une femme d●or . a man of straw is worth a woman of gold . un ministre ne doit scavoir que sa bible . a minister ought to know no more then his bible . vouz mangez vostre chemie , par ou retournerez vous . you eat your way , which way will you return . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a47620-e120 * quicquid est , quod dat patri filius , utique minus est , quia hanc ipsam dandi facultatem patri debet . seneca lib. 3. de beneficiis . patribus & d●is non possumus retribuere aequali● . arist. 8. ethic. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 tim. 5. 4 * the fow which teacheth children to requite their parents is the stork from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natural affection , and she is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : hence commeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when children study to requite their parents . * magdalen-hall in oxford , and the middle temple in london . * tertul. euseb. eccles. hill. iosephus , plutarch . taciti hist. & annal. aurel. vict. eutropius , pliny , solimis , seneca , macrob. saturn . suetonius , with casaub. animadvers . eras. apotheg . & chili●d . * est orati● taciti ●●rum in mod●●m arguta , & prudentiae plena bodin . l. 4. de method . histor. * mr. william pemble . * su●tonius tranquillus graecorum & latinorum scriptorum diligentissimus , atque incorruptissiimus , res duod●cim c●sarum videtur mihi integerrimè exponere qui in optimi● principibus nec vitia , nec suspiciones vitiorum tacet : in pessimi● vero colores virtutum non di●simulat . ludov. vives de tradend . discipl . lib. 5 tranquillè & aequaliter fluit , rebusque unicè addictu , orationis ornamenta non negligens , sed securus praeterit , & tamen hunc ipsum ornatum velut umbram ●on id agens trahit . famian : strada , lib. 2 prol●s . histor. * nature meant caesar for a conquerour , when she gave him both such courage , and such courtesie , both which put marius into amaze . they which durst speak to him , ( said he ) were ignorant of his greatnesse ; and they which durst not , were so of his goodnesse . * augustus caesar dyed in a complement ; livia , conjugii nostri memor , vive , & vale . tiberius in dissimulation ; as tacitus saith of him . iam tiberium vires & corpus , non dissimulatio deserebans . vespas●an in a iest , sitting upon the stool , vt ●●to d●u●●io . galba with a sentence , feri , sixe re si● 〈◊〉 romani ; holding forth his ne●k , 〈◊〉 last essayes in 4. ● * macrob. lib. 1. in som● . scipion. * timeo incustoditos aditus , timeo & ipsos custodes . * see in the book of him , and domitian . * dion in nerone . our english chronicles report of king richard the third , that having imbrued his hands in the blood of two orient princes , he never after had quiet in his mind , his body was privily fenced , his hand ever upon his dagger , his countenance grimme and gastly , his sleep unquiet , for he rather slumbred than slept . the night before the battel fought in bosworth-field , he dreamed a terrible dream . credo non erat so●●lum , sed consei●ntia scelerum . polyd. virgil. notes for div a47620-e1310 gen. dier . lib. 1. c. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in gr. ( saith he ) signifieth primam in mento lanuginem . virg. lib. 2. aeneid . an●●m ad cursum solis accommod●vit . sueton. he was born in that moneth . macrob. saturn . cap. 12. * sueton. describes him to have been , nigris vegetisque oculis micantibus , of a black quick ●parkling eye . * primus caesar , ●caeso matris utero dictus . * animadvers . in sueton . alex. ab alex. gen. dier . l. 1. c. 9. beckman de orig. ling. latin. vide christiani matth. theatr . histor. theor. pract. in iul. caes. cap. 1. et commentar . schild . in suetonium . forma omnium civium excellentissimus , vigore animi acerrimus , munificentiae effusissimus . paterculus . seu inter res gerendas . i. e. cum aciem ordinaret . plutarch . whiles he was setting his army in battel aray fuchs . instit. medic. l. 3. sect. 1. c. 1● . plato morbum divinum appellat , quia occupat in noble divinae particulam aurae . alii morbum sacrum , vel quia detestandus est , vel quia divinitus immi●titur . dicitur etiam herculeus , quia hercules eo laboravit ; item ●ulgo caducus . lipsius . imperatoriam majest●tem non solùm ar●●s decoratam , sed etiam legibus oportet esse armatam , ut utrumque tempus , & bellorum , & pacis recte possit gubernari . iustinian . pro●m , institut . summis oratoribus aemulus . tacit. he was ci●ero's rival in eloquence . * illum omnium fere oratorum , latinè loqui elegantissimè , saith atticus there of him . caesar quotidiano sermoni egregiè utilissimus , cui cicero laudem tribuit puri & incorrupti sermoni● latini , ledov . viv. lib. 3. de tradend . discipl . * advance of learn . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . l. 2 commentarios quosdam scripsit rerum suarum valde quidem probandos , nudi enim sunt recti , & venusti , sanos quidem homines à scribendo deterruit . cicero de clar. orat. scribere & legere simul , dictare , & au ●ire accepimus : epistolas v●rò tantarum rerum quatern●s pariter librariis dictare , aut , si nihil aliud ageret , septenas . plin. natural . hist. lib. 7. c. 25. speed chron. lucan . * as you see me do , so do ye . iudg. 7. 17. one saith the like of trajane , that in all hazards and perills , he never said unto his captains go , but let us go : do , but let us do . lucan . l. 5. v. 487. solinus . the two principall men of the world alexander and caesar. have slain each of them ( as pliny reporteth ) more then a million of men . signis collatis quinquagies dimicavit . plin. natural . hist. lib. 7. c. 25. he took 1000 townes , conquered 300. nations . 〈◊〉 . nec 〈◊〉 de se praedicatio est caejaris , ante victum bostem esse 〈…〉 l. flor. 〈…〉 suetonius . suetonius . so william the conqueror at his arrival into england , burnt the ships which transporported his army . lucan seemeth to have alluded to this : bellorum ô socii , qui mille pericula mortis . augustus did much reprove this humor in his uncle , saying , dum affectat carier fieri , auctoritatem principis emolliverat . aurel. vict. * suetonius . it is reported of alexander that he infused such courage into his souldiers , vt illo praesente , nullius hostium arma vel inermes timuerint . iustin. l. 12. e. ult . caesars eye made his souldiers prodigall of their blood . plutarches lives . plutarch . plutarchs lives . paludamentum mordicus trahens , ne spolio potiretur hostis . sueton. milites erant sagati , imperatores pal●dati . plutarch & suetonius . i. e. 33. saepe audivi q. maximum , p. scipionem , praeterea civitatis nostrae praeclaros viros solitos ita dicere , cum majorum imagines intuerentur , vehementissime sibi animum ad virtutes accendi ; scilicet non ceram illam , neque figuram , tantam vim in sese habere ; sed memoriâ rerum gestarum eam flammam egregiis viris in pectore crescere , neque prius sedari , quam virtus eorum famam atque gloriam adaequaverit , sallustius in bello iugurthino . suetonius . ita visum interpretari va●issimae artis auctoribus ●●nis●imis . casaubon . animadvers . plutarch . suetonius . lucan . equitandi usus caesari à pueritia facilis adeò extitit , ut reflexis in tergum manibus , equum velocissimis con●itare cursibus saepe consueverit . plut. solinus . sueton. * like to alexanders bucephalus . plutarch . solinus . he gloried in nothing so much ( saith austin . 5. epist. ) as in pardoning his enemies , and gratifying his friends . he held neuters for his friends contrary to pompey , who held them for enemies . aurel. idem dixit , non mihi placet vindicta , sed victoria . dion . king cotis having received for a present many beautiful & rich vessels , yet frail and easie to be broken , brake them all , that he might not be stirred to choler when they should happen to be broken . plutarch in tullies life . pompeii sta●●●s erigendo su● confirmavit . mori satius est semel , quam timore semper torqueri plutarch . sueton . silent leges inter arms. adolescent difficilius est mi●i hoc dicere , quam facere . * magno illi alexandro , sed sobrio , neque iracundo simillimus , qui semper & somno & cibo in vitam , non in voluptatem uteretur . paterculus . plutarch . suetonius . plutarch . in apophtheg . dixit invidere se catoni mortem , quando sibi salutem invidisset . plutarch in the life of cato . caesarem vehis , & fortunam ejus . cambd. in annal. de henrie . 8. plin. lib. 7. c. 25. circa corporis euram morasior , ut non solùm tonderetur diligenter , ac raderetur , sed velleretur etiam . suetonius . odi pallidos & macilentor . or regaviolus , quasi rex avium . casaub. animadvers . nec centum victimis perlitare poterat . florus , l. 4. hist. rom. c. 2. eo ipso die dum ad senatum iret , libelli conjurationem & conjuratorum nomina indicantes , in manus ipsi traditi . plutarch . suetonius . sueton. he was slain in pompeys court . tribus & viginti vulneribus ad terram ditus est ; sic ille qui terarum orbem civil● sanguine impleverat ; tandem ipse sanguine suo curiam implevit . luc. flo. l. 4. hist. rom. c. 2. in the st. septenarie . plutarch . sueton. deum honor principi non ante habetur quam agere inter homines desierat . tacit. * sueton. of this ceremony of the apotheosis or deifying their emperours , see dr. hackwels apology of gods providence . l. 4. sect. 2. horace . lib. 1. ode 12. percussorum autem fere neque triennio quisquam amplius supervixit , neque sua morte defunctus est . sueton. bella res est ( inquit seneca ) mori sua morte . a notable judgement of god upon the unnaturall murderers of their soveraign . vel ab augurio , vel ab augendo dictus . suetonius . oculorum acies clarissimorum syderum modo vibrans . corpore toto pulcher , sed oculis magis . aurel. vict. sueton. aurel. vict sueton. his shooes were underlaid somewhat with the highest , that he might seem taller then he was . calciamentis altiusculis utebatur , ut procerior quam erat videretur . suetonius . tertul. apol. c. 34. orosius lib. 7 c. 2. orosius . totus orbis ) ad verbum , tota habitabilis , ita ut subaudias terra , a hyperbolicall speech . nulli genti sine justis & necessariis causis bellum in●ulit . suetonius . bellum est iustum , quod necessarium est ; & arma sunt pia , quibus nulla nisi in armis relinquitur . spes . livie decad. 1. lib. 9. aurel. vict. sueton. aul. gel. 10. l. 11. c. macrob. saturn . lib. 6. eras. adag . vrbem lateritiam accepi , relinquo vobis marmoream . aurel. vict. sueton. macrob. liberalibus studiis , praesertim eloquentiae in tantum incumbens , ut nullus ne in procinctu quidem laberetur dies , quin legeret , scriberet , declamaret . aurel . vict. suetonius . si merebuntur . * nisi aliquo assidente , nunquam tenebris evigilavit . sueton. lib 2. c. 5. * the senate and people of rome joyntly saluting him by the name of pater patriae , he with teares standing in his eyes made answer unto them in these few words ; now that i have ( mine honourable lords ) attained to the height of all my vowes and wishes , what remaineth else for me to crave of the immortall gods , but that i may carry with me this universall consent of yours unto my lives end ? seneca said of him , poenas dat , dum poenus exigit . lib. 1. de clemen . cap. 10. damnatorum poenar interdum acrius ferebat , quam qui plectebantur . senec. lib. de ira. * aurel. vict. his speciall friends were mecoenas , agrippa , virgil. propertius . he permitted the jews to use their liberties . ne toro quidem cubuisse ajunt , nisi humili & modicè instrato . veste non te●●erè alia usus est , quam domesticâ , ab ●●ore & sor●re , filia , ●eptibusque confect● , sueton. he termed sumptuous garments , vexillum superbiae , nidumque luxuriae , the banner of pride , and nest of lechery . plutarch . in apoph . suetonius . cacozelos & antiqu●rios , ut diverso genere vitiosos , pari fastidi● sprevit . putas t● asse● elephanto dare ? macrob. 2. lib. sat. c. 4. quasi elephanto stipem . sueton. sparages soon sodden , see eras . adag . plutarch in the life of pericles saith no more then caesar , but eras. in his apothegmes took it to be meant of augustus . suetonius . the greeks had no calends . see eras. adag . * or of a sea-ca●f , which as pliny writeth , checketh al lightnings . tonitru● & fulgur●●●ulo infirmius exp●●escebat , ut sem●er & ubique pellem vituli marini circumferret ●ro remedio , ●que ad omnem 〈◊〉 tempe●●uis suspicionem , in ab●itum & concam . 〈…〉 se reciperet . suetonius . aurel. vict. in the time of war the temple was open . horace lib 4. carminum . he bid catullus the railing poet to supper , to shew that he had forgiven him . macrob. saturn . l. 2. c. 4. seneca de ira. * vide christ. math. th●at . hist. in august . p. 55. 56. convitia , si irascare , agnita videntur ; spret● ex●l●s●unt . tacitus . l. 2. saturn . cap. 4. mat. 2. 16. for his jewish devotiō prohibited him to deal with swine , but not religion , nor reason , nor nature could protect those innocents from slaughter . macrob. ib. qnoniam pudebat adolescentem fateri quibus ipse caesari displicuisset , caesar permisit ut sermonem inverteres , & culpam in ipsum conferret . eras. appotheg . macrob. ubi suprà . macrob. saturn . id. ib. this counsell was given him , that when the object and occasions of choler were in his eye , he should not be moved before he had pronounced over the letters of the alphabet . habendae est ad somnum culcitra , in qua ille cum tantum deberet , dormire potuit , macrob . sat. l. 2. c. 4. at tu cum fugisti , nunquam post te respe●●ris ? macrob. saturn . persiu● . non tamen vir t●ntus vitiis ●aruit ; fuit enim paululum im●●tiens , leviter iracundus , occuliè invidus , palam factiosus , dominandi supra quam aestimari p●test avidissimus , stu●iosissimus ale● lusor . aure● . vict. * heroum filii no●ae . soli●●s . n●m fore quoties audisse● , citò , aut nullo cruciatu defunctum quempiam , sibi & suis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 similem ( hoc enim & verbo uti solebat ) precabatur . suetonius . suetonius . vita nostra sicut fabula , nec refert quam diu , sed quam bene acta sit . l. 15. c. 7. the climacterical year is fatall . aurel. vict. tiberius dictus à fluvio tibere , quòd juxta tiberim natus esset . suetonius . * nullius manus velad feriendum vel adimpellendum fortiores fuerunt , quum in ●igitis nervos videretur habuisse non venas ; nam & carra venientis digito sahitari repulisse dicitur , & fortissimos quosque uno digito sic afflixisse , ut quasi-ligni vel ferri obtusioris i●tu percu●●● dolerent . multa d●●rum digitorum allisione contrivit . trebel . pollio de trigin●a ●y●annis in mario . tiberio suspensa sem●●r , & ob●●● verba . tacitus . aut agat , aut desisiat . eras . apophtheg . simile est ciceren●s ●●iud de epi●●●is 2. de fin . c●teri ( inquit ) existimantur dicere melius quam facere , hi mihi videntur facere melius quam dicere . dicitur in eos qui ejusmodi negotio involvuntur , quod neque relinquere sit integrum , neque tolerari possit . eras. adag . eras. in apoph . & alii . sueton. sueton. et alexand. magnus solitus erat dicere , se odisse olitorem qui herbas radici●ùs convellete● . et ut parsimoniam publicam exemplo quoque juvaret , solennibus ipse coeni● pridi●na saepe ac semesa opsoni● apposuit , dimidiatumque aprum , affirmans omnis eadem habe●● quae totum . no●●em continuumque bi●uum e●ulando potandoque consumpsit . sueton. suetonius . * elegans paranomasia . so some played upon the name of epiphanes , and called him epimanes , or mad-man . see iunius on 8. din. others call the duke of lorrain the duke des larrons . le theatre du monde . l. 2. see after in caligula and titus . pliny l 1● . of naturall hist. nor the thrice gallant knight . athen●us memorat de xenocrate , illum scilicet uno haustu s●rp●isse v●nt co●gium . gassend . de vita epicuri . lib. ● ▪ c. 6. nero had an officer about him ( to wit petronius ) who was called arbiter neroni●ne libidinis , tacit . ann●l . l. 16. latinis abstracta pro concretis simpliciter posita intendunt id quod dicitur ; plus enim quam vel sordidum designat , vel sanguineum , eximie nimirum ●alem . mentitur qui te vitiosum , zoile , dixit . non vitiosus homo es , zoile , sed vitium . heins . exercit . sac. sueton. sueton. suetonius . tacitus . suetonius . suetonius . suetonius . see the like in augustus his life . ingenio ad repentina long●●●riore . aurel. vict. scribit plutarchus in apophtheg matis , augustum dicere solitum , se romani imperii successorem eum esse relicturum , qui nunquam bis de eadem reconsultasset ; tiberium significare volebat . josephus lib. 18. of the antiquity of the jews , c. 8. tu quoque galba degustabis imperium . tacit. l. 4. annal. lib. 1. divin . instit. c. 16. vide tacit. l. 16. a●al . c. 12. eusebius . in apologet . they refused to do it saith eusebius , l. 2. hist. eccle. c. 2. that the wisedome and divine power of god in the doctrine of salvation might not need the allowance and commendation of men . christus tiberio impe●rante , per procuratorem pontium pilatum supplicio affectus era● . * lib. adversus iudaeos . * lib. 4. de vera sapientia c. 10. vide vossium de tempore dominicae passionis . sect. 3. romani caesares imaginem suam imprimebant monetae tam ●ureae quam argenteae . drusius . * l. 2. eccles. hist. c. 2. he withheld a legacy from the people of rome , which his predecessor augustus had lately given ; and perceiving a fellow round a dead corse in the ear , he would needs know wherefore he did so , the fellow replyed , that hee wished the departed soul to signifie to augustus , the commons of rome were yet unpaid : for this bitter jest the emperour caused him forthwith to be slain , and carry the news himself . doctor willet on the rom. 22. yeares , 11. months , 14. dayes , saith euseb. as doctor willet sheweth in his hexapla on dan. where the account differs from this certain months , because he followeth euseb. computation there . suetonius quia natus in exercitu suerat , cognomen●um calceamenti milit●ris , i e. caligulae ●ortitu● est . aurel. vict. * suctonius . it was held crimen● laesae majestatis , against his imperiall person . speed. vultus horridus . sueton. torserat per omnia quae in rerum natura tristissima sunt , fidiculis , eculeo , igne , vultu suo . seneca . lib. 3. de ira. he said , that he did approve of nothing so much in his nature as his immodesty . sueton. novum & inauditum spectaculi genus . tacit. lib. 6. annal. sueton. aurel. vict. in his temple stood an idol of fine gold , of himself ; which was daily clothed and adorned with the like garments which he then wore : cuffe of affectation . ioseph . l. 18. antiq. c. 11. & 2. de belle iudai● . c. ● . suetonius . suetonius . per genium principis romanos jurare solitos , testes sunt iurisconsulti nostri , quemad-modum & per salutem principis , & per principis venerationem . schildius in calig . apologet. c. 28. suetonius . suetonius . ita in bello civili mariano , marius quidam particulatim amputatus , diu vivere vel potius diu mori coactus est , ut inquit eleganter augustin lib. 3. de civ . dei. schildius . hellebore that groweth in the ●sle anticyra , is of most effectuall operation ; the root is that whereof is made our sneesing powder , it purgeth extremely by vomit ; thereupon ariseth the proverb , naviget anticyram , that is , let him sail to anticyra ; applyed to one that is melancholike in the highest degree , and little better then mad . see plinies naturall hist. l. c. 342. at tu ( inquit ) unam cervicem habes , nos verò ●anus multas . queri de conditione temporum suorum solebat , quod nullis calami●atibus publicis insignirentur , su●ton . suetonius . suetonius . dirissimae immanitatis dictum ; sed in historia turcarum factum legimus hoc etiam dicto crudelus . schildius in calig . vide plura ibid. de cons. ad helviam . c. 9. in his preface to his fourth book of naturall questions . aurel. vict. peroraturus stricturum se ●ucubrationis suae telum mi●abatur . sueton. minutissimis senten●iis rerum fregit pondera , saith quintilian of seneca . sueton. commentus portentosissima genera ciborum atque coenarum . sueton. * which had a glorious sight to look on , yet there was nothing for the contentation of nature : so the papists set their glittering service of heb. gr. and lat. before the people , a goodly shew to gaze on , and wonder at . bish. iewel . cael , rhodig . suetonius . hic non toto vertente anno sex millia septingenta & quinquaginta myriadum aureorum prodegit . ●ael . rhod. iect . antiq. l. 20. c. 14. contrectandae pecuniae cupidine incensus . saepe super immensos aureorum acervos patentissimo diffusos ioco , & nudis pedibus spatiatus , & toto corpore aliquandiu volutatus est . sueton. these things were found after his death . pugio à pungendo , quis punctim potius quam caesim vulnerat . sueton. see before in the life of augustus and tiberius . onely 28. yeares , 4. moneths , and 24. dayes , casaubon . there is a great difference amōg chronographers , about the computation of his years . three years , ten moneths , and eighteen dayes , saith euseb. doctor willet on the epist. to the rom. ioseph . l. 19. of the antiq . of the jews . c. 1. vtinam ego eum intefecissem . xiphilin . primus caesarum fidem militis praemio pignoratus . sueton. nec absolutum 〈◊〉 natura , sed inchoatum . su●●onius . * this some think is to be understood of christians , whom we find in the ecclesiasticall writers to be misnamed by the ethnick infidels chrestians , like as christ himself chrestus in scorn . * lib. 20. antiq. c. 2. * lib. 12. of his annals . sueton. ausonius . idem planè accidit h●●di magno , cum uxorem mariamnem occidisset . josephus orig. lib. 10. c. 11. casaubonus . sueton. sueton. suetonius . erat natur● performidolosus . aurel. vict. sueton. claudius c●sar tumu●toantem britanniam perdomuit , ab eo c●●udiocestrium oppidum , quod nun● glocestrium dicunt . * eutropius . v●reque sermone nostro sis peritus . others say , agrippin● his wife tempered the poison in the meat which he most delighted in . viz a mushrome . infusum delectabili ●ibo boletorum 〈◊〉 tacit. annal. bole●m medicatum avidissimo ciborum talium obtulit . sueton. whence martial . boletum , qualem claudius edit , ed●● . 13. yeares , 9. moneths , and 7. daies , saith tertul. doct. willet . alex. ab alex . gen. dier . l 1. c. 9. gell. l. 11. suetonius . mali corvi malum ovum . see the like of tiberius , and of caligula in suetonius ▪ c. 11. suetonius . lib 2. de clementis . fa●tus natura , & consuetudine exercitus velare odium fallacibus blanditiis . tacit. annal. 14. sueton. imitatur illam augusti vocem ▪ si merebuntur . aurel. vict. suetonius . suetonius . he not onely commāded all the statues and images of the most excellent musitians to be defaced , and his own to be erected in leiu of them ; but also put many of them under hand to death . by emulation of their fame . sueton. & bapt. fulg. l. 8. sueton. suetonius . * divitiarum ac pecuniae fructum non alium putabat quàm profusionem . sueton. nero quadragenis in punctum sestertii● al●●m lasit . co● l. rhod. l. 20. c 24. suetonius . bis & vicies mille sestertium donationibus nero effuderat . tacit. l. 1. hist. c. 6. he most lavishly gave away two and twenty hundred millions of sesterces . * see sueton. and tacitus of this house , annal 15. c. 10. it is reported also of heliogubalus , that his apparell was rich , and most extreme costly , and yet he would never wear one garment twice ; his shooes were embellished with pearles and diamonds ; his seat strewed with musk and amber ; his bed covered with gold and purple , and beset with most costly jewels ; his way strewed with the powder of gold and silver ; his vessels ( even of basest use ) all gold ; his diet so profuse , that at every supper in his court was usually spent 1000. l. sterling . neque tamen sceleris conscientiam , aut statim aut unquant post ferre potuit ; saepe confessus exagitari se materna specie , verberibus furiarum , ac taedis ardentibus . suetonius . eutropius . suoton . aurel. vict. orosius . * in apologet . cap. 5. nero ex caesaribus primus in christianos distrinxit gladium . * hist eccles. l. 2. c. 25. * l. 14. de vera sap. c. 21. * aret. probl. pet dit m●ul . def. of the cathol . faith. lla●bi supra . though n●ro were so wicked , yet paul mak●th mention of some saints in his court. phil 4 22. euseb. in chron & hieron . lib. de script . eccles. hist. eccles. l. 2. c. 4. 25. 26. nero subdidit reos , & quaesitissimis p●nis affeciteo● , quos per flagitia invisos , vulgus christianos appellabat ; auctor ejus nomini● christus . tacit. 15. annal. addita pereuntibus ludibria , ut ferarum tergoribus contecti ▪ canum laniatu interirent , aut crucibus affixi , aut flammandi ; & ubi dies defecisset , in usum nocturni luminis urerentur . tacit. l. 15. annal. sueton. in claud. * lib. 8. de invent rerum cap. 6. tacitus calleth them , hated for their wickednesse , guilty , and worthy of utmost punishment , and their religion a pestilent & pernicious superstition . see 15. of his annal . 10 c. sub nerone saeva & infesta virtutibus tempora . non nisi grande aliquod bonum à neron● damnatum . tertul. apol. adversus gentes . nero virtutem ipsan● exscindere concupivit . tacit. annal . l. 16. * lib. 20. c. 19. de civit . dei. in his time amnes retrò ●uere vis● saut . plin. l. 2. c. 103. sueton. erat ei aeternitatis perpetuaeque famae cupido ; sed inconsulta . suetonius . which thing in him commodus the emperour imitated , calling rome commodians tacit. l. 13. of annal. post tacitum scripsit , eumque interdum tacitè redarguit . famia . strad . prolus . hist. l. 1. being admonished by astrologers that he should once be cast out of the empire , he is reported to have used this speech to himself , artem quaevis terra alit ; nimirum intelligens citharisticam , principi gratam , privato necessariam , quam excercere eum non puduit . deductus ( nero ) in forum tyro , populo congiarium , militi donativum proposuit . sueton. imperatoris munus quod popul● dabatur , congiarium dictum est , quod verò militibus , donativum . alex. ab alex. gen. dier . l. 5. cap. 24. sir henry savil on tacit . nec adhuc erat damnati principis exemplum , neither was there ever before a president of any prince by publick sentence deposed . tacit. l. 1. hist. sueton. he entreated that some one of those that were with him , would kill himself first , and by his example help him to take his death . itaque nec amicum ●abe● nec inimicum ; dedecorose vixi , turpiùs peream . aurel. vict. defecitque extantibus rigentibusque oculis , ad horrore●●ormidinemque visentium . sueton. vide boxhornii hist. vnivers . à christi tempore . p. 125. 126. 127. sueton. ipsa aet●s galbae & irrisui & fastidio erat assuetis juventae neronis , & imperatores formâ ac decore corporis ( ut est mos vulgi ) comparantibus . tacit. l. 1. hist. statura fuit justa , capite praecalvo , oculis caeruleis , adunco naso , manibus pedibusque articulari morbo distortissimis : ut neque calceum perpeti , neque libellos evolvere aut tenere omnin● ▪ valeret . suetonius . ingenium galbae malè habitat . suetonius . sir henry savill on tacit. plutarch . tacitus , l. 1. hist. auson . epigr . tacitus , l. 1. hist. famae nec incuriosus , nec venditator : pecuniae alienae non appetens , suae parcus , publicae avarus . tacitus . l. 1. hist. suetonius . plutarch . aurel. vict. e●tropius . tacitus l. 1. hist. the same saith hayward of our henry the fourth . hujus breve imperium fuit , & quod bona haberet exordia , nisi ad severitatem promptior videretur . eutropius . the delinquent pleaded that he was a roman citizen , and therefore not to be crucified . laudata olim , & militari fama celebrata severitos ejus angeba● coaspernantes v●terem disciplinam , atque ita 14. annis à nerone assu●factos , ut haud minus vitia principum amarent , quàm ●lim virtutes verebantur . tacit. l. 1. hist. cornel. tacitus . l. 1. hist. tacit. l. 1. hist. eutropius . plutarch . suetonius . eutropius . 7. months , ● . dayes , tertul. 7. months 2. dayes , eu●●●us . sueton. galericulus capiti propter raritatem capillorum adaptatus . sueton. iuvenal . his mothers side was more noble then his fathers . vita omni turpis , maximè adolescentiâ . aurel. vict. suetonius . tacit. l. 1. hist. suetonius . similitudo morum parit amicitiam , likenesse is the cause of liking . tacit. l. 1. hist. aurel. vict. otho flagrantissinnis in amiciti● nerenis habeb●tur . tacit. annal . l. 13. sueton. suetonius . plutarch . tacitus hist. lib. 1. adorare vulgus . ja●ere oscula , & omnia frevit●ter pro im●erio . tacit. hist. l. 1. hee worshipped the people , dispensed frequently his courtesies and plausibilities ▪ crouched and accommodated himself to the basest routs , that thereby he might creep into an usurped honour . tacit. l. 2. hist. plutarch . tacitus . tacitus . l. 1. hist. vitellius a drunkard and glutton , otho a wanton and licentious liver . plutarch . plutarch . tacit. l. 2. hist. tacit. l. 2. hist. tacit. l. 2. hist. irent properè , ne remorando iram victoris exasperarent . tacit. hist. l. 2. plutarch reporteth the like of cato . plutarch . suetonius . aurel. vict. he lived not much more honestly then nero , but dyed farre more honourably . more suo tranquillus annum inchoatum propleno numerat . nam alii 37. solum vixisse aiunt . casaub. ani●advers . sueton. famili●̄ bonorat● magis quam nobili . eutropius . prorsus si luxuriam temperaret , avaritiam non timeres . tacit. l. 2. hist. homo profundae gulae . sueton. ad vos deinde transeo , quorum profunda & insatiabilis gula , hinc maria scrutatur , hinc terras . seneca epist . 89. ● saith eutropius . * it was an ordinary practise among thē . epul●s qu●s toto orbe conqui●unt nec concoquer● dignantur . seneca . suetonius calls it an adventitious supper . eutropius . sueto . his meates were not touched in grosse , but an eye only of this bird , or a tongue of that fish were tasted , that the spoiles of many might be taken at one meal . phaenicopterus is a water fowl haunting lakes and fennes , and the 〈◊〉 nilus , as hesi●dus writeth . the feathers be of colour red , or purple , where●of it taketh the name , & the tongue is a most dainty & pleasant morsell ▪ tacitus l. 2. hist. apud vitellium omnia indisposita , temulenta , pervigiliis ac bacchanal●bus , quam discipline & castris propiora . tacit. l. 2. hist. iste mente crudelis avarusque cum profusione . aurel. vict. audita est saevissima v●tellii vox , quâ se pavisse oculos spectata inimici morte jactavit . tacit. hist. l. 3. sueton. tacit. l. 3. hist. tacit. l ▪ 2. hist. tacit. l. 3. hist. tacit. l. 3. hist. suetonius . he was killed by vespasians souldiers upon the staires gemoniae , where hee suffered vespasians brother to be slain . * aurel. vict. tacitus . suetonius . eutrop. * l. 5. of the wars of the ●ewes , c. 13. * chron. * lib. adversus iudaeos . * hist. 2. 27. ipse abunde ratus si praesentibus frueretur , nec in longum consultans , novies mille sestertium paucissimis mensibus intervertisse creditur . * octo menses ac dies quinque potitus imperio , jugulatur in m●dia vrbe ; quem si vivere diutius contigisset , ejus luxuriae satis esse imperum non potuisset . joseph . de bello iudaies . eutropius . suetonius . that saying of martial agreeth with this . nam faciem duram phaeb● cacantis habes . vir multorum salium . lodovic . viv. * a word in lat. that signifies carts or waines . convitiorum plaustr● . sueton. aurel. vict. system . phys. l. 6. a presignification of his advancement . being elected emperour , it is reported of him , that he cured one desperately blind by spitting upon his eyes . tacit. hist. l. 4. suetonius . maluissem allium oboluisses . suetonius . suetonius . pladicissimae bonitatis . eutropius . sueton. eutropius . iosephus , l. 5. of the wars of the jews , c. 10. iosephus , l. 4. of the wars of the jews , c. 1. tacitus l. 2. hist. tacit. l. 1. hist. sueton. homo turpiter avidus . eras. adag . suetonius . suetonius . not unlike to this was that speech of diogenes , dixit diony . s●um amicis uti pro vasculis , quae dum plena sunt evacuat , & abiicit vacua . suetonius . quicquid infixum & ingenitum est , leniri potest arte , non vinci . seneca . sueton. sat. 14. ●nfirmus , ut quidam pravè putant , adversus pecuniam , cùm satis constet aerarii inopia & clade urbium , neque novas cum neque postea habitas vectigalium pensiones exquisivisse , aurel. vict. sueton. aurel. vict. oportet episcopum concionantem mori . iewel . aurel. vict. sueton. speed saith as much of henry the fifth , whom he compareth to titus . edgar etheling , englands darling . dr. sclo● . mr. perkins . vespasian brake into their city at cedron , where they took christ , on the same feast day that christ was taken , he whipped them where they whipped christ , he sold twenty jewes for a penny , as they sold christ for thirty pence . andr. cat. lampridius . tacitus , l. 2. hist. formâ egregiâ , & cui non minus auctoritatis inesset quam gratiae . sueton. facundissimus , bellicosissimus , moderatissimus . eutropius . sueton. sueton. tacit. l. 2. hist. berenice . dion . & josephus . sueton. convivia instituit jucunda magis quam profusa . suetonius . sueton. hadrianus caesar said , it was troublesome to him if he saw any sad . aurel. vict. sueton. eutropius . or rather it must be read ( saith casaub. ) amici , hodie diem perdidi . periturum se potius quam perditurum adjurans . sueton. suetonius . eutropius . aurel. vict. aurel. vict. suetonius . tacitus . sueton. aurel. vict. plinie . l. 6. epist. 16. ioseph . l. 6. c. 2. of the wars of the jewes . from his wonderfull escape at the view of the walls of jerusalem , iosephus collects . imperatorum pericula deum curare ; that god takes care of princes in their danger . ibid. suetonius . eutropius . iosephus de bell. iud. l. 6. c. 14. & 7. 10. l. 7. of the wars of the jewes . c. 24. illud adagium festina lentè , arridebat duobus imperatoribus romanis , omnium facilè laudatissimis , augusto & tito ; quorum utrique singularis quaedam aderat animi magnitudo , cum incredibili quadam lenitate facilitateque conjuncta . eras. in adag . suetonius . multum conquestus , eripi sibi vitam immerenti , neque enim extare ullum suum factum poenitendum , excepto duntaxat uno . whether his over familiar acquaintance with his brothers wife domitia , as sueton. or with the queen berenice , as speed , is uncertain . senatus tantas mortuo gratias egit , laudesque congesset , quantas ne vivo quidem unquam atque praesenti . suetonius . aurelius . eutropius . he lived 39 yeares , five moneths , 25. dayes , saith carion . titus cognomine paterno dictus vespasianus , alter frater cognomine materno à domitil●a domitianus est appellatus . casau . eutropius . stylis ●ridicullè remotis omnibus , muscarum agmina persequebatur . aurel. vict. hippocrates reckons up this for one signe of melancholy , when men catch flyes ; muscas captar● atrae bili● indicium . sueton. * at alexandria in egypt was that famous library of king ptolomeus philadelphus , and the other ptolomies progenitors , containing the number well near of 700000. bookes , aul. gel. noct. a●tic . l. 7. c. 1. vellem tam formosus esse quàm metius sibi videtur . conditionem principum miserrimam aiebat , quibus de conjuratione comperta non crederetur , nisi occisis . sueton. sagittorum tam doctus fuit , ut inter patentes digitos exte●ae manus viri procul positi spiculi ejus transvolarent . aurel. vict. suetonius . simile quid audivi à fide dignis & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 factum de duc● brundewizensi , qui suis pedissequis ac pueris h●norariis imperavit , inter digitorum extensorum intervalla retinerent dilerum imperialem , quem sumpto sel●po minore , è patenti●us digitis globulo innoxiè exemit . paulus voetius in herodiani marcum & commodum . p. 178. & 179. tacitus l. 11. annal. suetonius . suetonius . suetoniu● . primus domitianus dominum se & deum appellari jussit . eusebius in chronicis . sueton. eutropius . aurel. vict. virgil called augustus god , d●us nobis haec otia fecit . vnde institutum post●ac , ut ne scripto quidem nec sermone cujusquam appellaretur aliter . suetonius . an oracle signifieth the answer of god. rom. 3. 2. euseb. eccles. hist. l. 3. c. 15. portio neronis de crudelitate . for his cruelty a piece of nero. tertul. he was reprochfully called by the people bald nero , because he was like him in cruelty , but bald . et calvo serviret roma neroni . juvenal . in vita agricolae . nero tantum subtraxit oculos , jussitque scelera , non spectavit . praecipua sub domitiano miseriarum pars erat , videre & aspici . * l. 9. c. 11. valde solicitus , quod sciret ultimum vitae diem , saith suetonius he was much tortured in mind , because he foreknew his end . sueton. suetonius . aurel. vict. carion . aurel. vict. & eutropius . carion , chron. * mexia translated by grimston . he was 76. yeares old when he was emperour . carion . suidas . nicephorus . in vita agricolae . dion cassius . speed chro. trajanus tudernino hispaniae oppido oriundus est , in quo nihil praeter unum trajanum est quod commendemus . opes nec exiguae , nec supra privatum modum evectae . corpore valido , & formâ quae digna imperio videbatur , erat . boxhorn . orat . de vitae & moribus trajani . caput non diadema sed gales orn●bat : & qua manu sceptrum domi , eadem gladium bello tenebat . boxhorn . * eruditissimos , quamvis ipse parcae esset scientiae , moderateque eloquens , diligebat . aurel. vict. plutarch was his master . praesens aderat non spectator tantum , sed & inter primos bellatorum ; ut virtuti consiliisque ejus omnia deberentur . eusebius . eccles. hist. l. 3. c. 30. nemo supplici vultu , sed sati & ala●res non tam principem quam patrem agnoscebant . boxho●rn . orat. accipe gladium quem pro me , si recte impero , sin minus , contra ●●e distringe . l. 1. hist , carion chron. it was his word , non mihi sed populo , signifying that which he was often heard to say ; ita se rempublicam gesturum , ut sciret rem populi esse , non suam , hic graecis literis impensius eruditus , à plerisque graecul●●s appell●tus est . aurel. vict. he said rightly , testibus non testimoniis ●●redendum . sir franci● bacons advanc . of learn . * some say this was spoken to philip of macedon . * dion laudat adrianum , qui in causis cognoscendis fuerit & fa●cillintus & diligentissimus , adeo ut uni causae cognoscendae & dijudicandae saepe dies undecim aut duodecim tribueret , nonnunquam etiam noctes simul insunieret . turba medicorum caesarem perdidit . hunc ferè nulla vitiorum labes maeculavit . aurel. vict. vixit ingenti honestate privatus , majori in imperio ; pius propter elementiam dictus est . eutropius . his symbole was , meliu● servare unum quam occidere mille . scipio africanus was wont to say , malle se unum civem servare quam mille hostes occidere . solus omnium principum sine civili sanguine fuit . carion . 23 saith carion . 70 carion . this was the first time wherein the roman empire was governed by two augusti ; domitian was titus his associate , yet was he not called or accounted ▪ augustus until the death of his brother titus : but now two emperours reigned at one and the self-same time . vir quem mirari facilius quis quam landare possit ; à principio vitae tranquillissimus , adeo ut in infantia quoque vultum nec ex ga●dio nec ex maerore mutaret . eutropius . tantum marco sapientiae , innocentiae , ac literarum fuit , ut is marcomannos , cum filio commodo quem caesarem suffecerat , petiturus , philosophorum obtestantium vi cir●umfunderetur ; ne se expeditioni aut pugnae prius committeret , quàm sectarum ardu● & occulta explanavisset , &c. aurel. victor . * the christian legion was after that time called fulminatrix . euseb. eccles . hist. his wife faustina ( by whose meanes partly he obtained the empire ) was a princesse , but a lewd and wanton woman ; one counselled him to put her away , but he answered , si uxorem di●●ttimus , reddamus & dotem ; choosing rather to have his house defiled then little . tertul. in apolog . * l. 7. c. 6. semper incommodus saith vopiscus in vita taciti . heywood in his various history of women . * casaubonus in historiam augustam . * nescia quis primus sublavaret hoc loco reposuit proe● quod v●tus editis & scripti codices habeb●nt , sublevaret . quam veram esse scripturam quovis pignore contendere sum paratus . non dicit i●tem 〈◊〉 sublevar●t se faustina sanguine illius gladiatoris occisi . quod de industria t●●●uit hic au●tor , & modestis ●erhis m●llivit horrend●m m●●ic●tionis genus . non 〈◊〉 cerie est , pro remedio sanguinem illum ebibisse faustinam , atque ita se subleva●se , &c. salmasius in historiam augustam . p. 91. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aliquandiu tamen viventibus similem cursum continuabant . ut herodianum interpretatur politianus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . herodian . l. 1. c. 15. see domitian p. 113. see nero p. 68. and domitian p. 114. &c. * commod . imperator , qui natus est eo die quo caligula ; tanquam eundem haberet horoscupum , & ipse sorores constupravit , concubinasque suas sub oculis suis constuprari ab amicis jubebat . beroaldus in suetenium . caligulam habuit velut exemplar quod initaretur . id. ibid. lamprid. c. 1. lamprid. c. 10. august . 31. id ibid. id. ibid. xiphiline . lamprid. c. 17. neronis insania commodi turpitudini per omnes flagitil gradus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est : egregium sc. par , princeps histrie & gladiator . boecleru● . see nero p. 75. quid mirum si commodus hereulem se vocari voluit , cum id fecerit alexander praeceptis imbutus aristotelis ? athenaeus . multos praeterea paraverat interimere , quod per parvulum quendam proditum est , qui ●abulam è cubiculo ejecit . lamprid. videsis gru●erum . see claudius in initio . see the advertisement . pag 21. orosius , ab initio pertinacis ad finem iuliani , ●nnum unum absumptum fuisse dicit , senis mensibus utriusque imperio imputatis . quod falsum est ; vix enim dimidium a●ni inter initium pertinacis & severi interjectum est . scaliger in eusebium . xiphiline in commod . xiphiline . tristan . xiphiline . herodian . l. 2. c. 9. herodian l. 3. c. 2. & 5. of his vertues and vices , but especially his dissimulation , see brochmands ethica hist. c. 3. see caligul● p. 49. see caligul● p. 55. andr. schottus l 3 observ . human. c 19 hath collected a catalogue of those who said th●y resembled alexander the great . see commodus p. 142. in parthia quid gesserit , ●siter herodianus , aliter dio narrat . certum tamen est eum etiam illi● perfidia truculenta potius quam virtute grassatum . jacobus capellus in 5. centuriis . baronius produceth a medaie of severus with caracalla and geta's heads on the reverse , and these words , concordia perpetus . * novo exemplo hic fanati●us , de nomine cjus dei cujus sacerdos fuit , se quoque dici voluit . quod non minut insolens quàm si iovis sacerdos aut dialis flamen ipsam iovis appellationem sibi vindicasset . casaubon . on a reverse of aunia fanstina is written concordia , and on one of paula's concordia aeterna . tristan . see p. 171. in the margin . in parasitas tantùm scelestus nebulo ingeniosus & justus fuisse videtur , saith one . of his pedigree , see h. valesius on peiresci , excerpta p. 112. * quod ei qussi alexandre est oblatum . see p. 13. in the margin . see p. 44. and 132. lamprid. c. 51. sr. th elyot his image of govern . see p. 62. and 63. see p. 128. lampridius c. 14. matris cultu plus quam pius . aur. victor . * nequid a rudi homine militaribus viris venires injuriae , saith iorna●des in geticis . c. 15. capitolinus in maximimino ian. & id maximo & balbino . ridiculè orosius l. 7. fratres fuisse scribit , cùm alter nobilis , ignobilis alter fuerit , capitolin● auctore schottus in aur. victorem . eutropius . see iulius caesar , p. 19. of brutus saith aur. victor . solâ pestilentiâ , morbis atque , a●gritudinibus , galli & volusiani notus fuit principatus . eutropius . valeriani vita censura est . massa candida in africa . initio imperium faeliciter , mox commodè , ad ultimum perniciosè gessit , eutropius . aliter aur. victor . aurelianus ma●●ad ferrum . the amphora copitolina held 6 gallons . see macrinus , p. 177. see in herberts travels the pillar of beasts heads erected at spa●awn on such an occasion . see alexander serus , p. 192. he called september tacitus , because he was born and made emperour in that month . vopiscus in probo , c. 13. 14 , 15. iulianus in caesaribus . oraculum apud plutarchum monebat quendam ut anguem sedu●ò vitaret : id cum praestaret ille , in militem cui anguish insigne clypei erat , incidit , ac obtruncatu● fuit . quanquam putem ego ( pace magni istius philosophi , & histori●i tamen ) monuisse deum ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vitaret , quod commune nomen & clypei & serp●n●is est , ita oraculo illi aequivocatio sua constat . heinsius in crepundiis . vide val. maximum l. c. 8. de daphida & philippo macedone . quae persecutio omnibus ferè anteactis di●turnior atque immanior fuit . p. orosius , l. 7. c. 25. incessabiliter acta est . id. ibid. nomine christianorum deleto qui remp. ever●ebant . in another inscription mentioned by baronius anno 304. zonaras , nicephorus callist . th. metochita , &c. but neither tristan , nor chr. matthias hold this to be the sole cause of his resignation eusebius de vita constantini , l. 1. c 10. gonstantius pa●per . see suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sozomen , l. 1 the like history theodorus lector ●elteth of theodorick king of the gothes an arrian , in the second book of his collections . socrates , l. 3. camden his brit in description of york . nullo modo iacobus philippus bergomensis audiendus est , qui constantium repudiata theodorâ helenam , anglorum regis filiam captivam , uxorem duxisse fabulatur : cùm ex romannorum annalibus certò constet , helenam illum coactum repudiasse , ut theodoram maximiani augusti pri●ignam conjugem acciperet . usserius in antiquitat . britann . heme●arius , p , 1●6 . notes for div a47620-e53750 1. to the stool . love is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bitter sweet . * because the arch-duke took it by a stratagem , and henry the fourth regained it by force . the italian proverb is : love , the itch , and the cough cannot be hid . * we say , after eecf mustard . paroum parva decent . * post nubil● phoebus . after a storm comes a calm . * verbum s●t sapienti . we say , good words cost nothing . the spaniards say , it is much worth and costs little , to give to evil words a good answer . refra●es ●'oudin . a worthy nature cannot conceal it self . see prov. 22. 1. this proverb is well explained by e●din de reaub . l 5. c. 3. and pasqui●r de recherches de la france , l. 6. c. 11. some make it all one with that proverb , the hood or habit makes not the monk , others say that onely women of a good name and not whores were suffered to wear a golden girdle . the spanish proverb is , he that hath lost his renown , is dead in the world . the english is , he who hath an ill name is half hanged . see l'e●ymòlogie des proverbes francois . l. 1. c. 9. quo semel est imbu●a re●ens servabit odarem testa 〈◊〉 . * it is the custome of the shepherds of that province in france so to mark their sheep , therefore if in brabling or otherwise one hath received a blow on the nose and it appears , the● men merrily say so . see l' e●imologie des proverbe francois . l. 3. c. 25. * they speak merrily of a fa●r . we say , a fooles bol● is s●●n shot . * tollere nodosam niscit medicina podagram . ovidius . * the prince of orange his countryis fertill of all fruits save oranges , whence came this proverb , saith iodo●●● sincerus in his t●i●erarium galli● . * like to this is the spanish proverb , algran arroyo , passar postrero . at a great river one should passe last . multa cadunt inter calicem . supremaque lab●a . * to spue , cast , vomit , ( especially upon excessive drinking ) either because then one makes a noise like a fox which barkes , or because the flaying of so unsavory a beast will make any man vomit . see l'etymologie de● proverbe , francois . l. 2. c. 33. beneficium accepisti , libertatem vendid isti , terence . * prov. 17. 28. si sapiens stultus , si stultus sapiens . pitissando dolium ex●auritur . terence . semper au●rus eget . * this is spoken of one that hath a great appetite , the second small gut is named , iki●num because it is alwaies void , whence springeth this proverb . me quasi pilam hab●t plautu● . * there i● such store of sheep in that province , that they have this by word when th●y would taxe a fellow for his notable lying , and telling a greater number then the truth . * see l'etymologie des proverbes francois . l. 1. c. 4. * sumptuousnesse of apparel destroyes hospitality and good house-keeping . 〈…〉 * such be hectique , paralitique apoplectique , lathargique , because they are hardly or never cured . lex salica gallorum imperii successor masculus esto . * it is spoken of those who in their youth have all prosperity , but in the end sorrow and care . * a charm which they use to hinder a man from accompanying with his wife . est aliquod bonum propter vicinum bonum matrem proles sequitur see i' etymologie des proverbes francois , l. 2. c. 15. * like to which is both the latine proverb ; lupus in fabula , see erasm. ad●g . and the arabick , quando mention●m feceris lupi , praepara illi ●aculnm . qui vult ●ucleum , nucem frangat oporte● . ci●ò longè ●ard● . p●r p●ri r●●erre . see of the french proverb , l' ety●●logi● des proverbes francois ▪ l. 1. c. ● . rem acutetigisti . the cony by reason of his fear is very forgetful , whence came this proverb . that is , to teach or professe no more ▪ 1 cor. 22 ▪ mocking those that eat by the way .