Orus Apollo writeth,Or. Ap • that the Aegyptians counted the figure of two lines one againſt the other, that is, of one perpendicular vnder a diametrall, in ſignification of the life to come, amongſt the hieroglyphicall notes, or characters, neither could they render any other reaſon hereof, then that it ſeemed to thē to be a certaine ſigne of ſome diuine miſterie. And therefore they imprinted it vpon the breſt of Serapis their Idoll, in that temple which vnder Theodoſius the Emperour was vtterly ouerthrowne, and laide louell with the ground. In which Temple were to be ſeene euery where the hieroglyphicall letters, repreſenting the forme of a croſſe,Suidas. Iſidorus as Suidas witneſſeth▪ Iſidorus affirmerh they vſed to note thoſe in their Ephemerides orregiſters, which either had eſcaped out of battell aliue, or which had died there with this letter θ. noting the ſlaine as it were with a dart thruſt thorow them, the liuing with this marke or letter T. Moreouer Aſc. Pedian ſaith,Aſc. Pedian. that the lottes which were vſed in iudgementes, were marked with three Characters: thoſe that were condemned to death with θ. thoſe that were abſolued with T. and thoſe that were more exactly to be examined with Δ.Orus Finally euen in the Church of God ſome haue too ſuperſtitiouſly dreamed this letter to be a ſacred and healthfull ſigne, and this phantaſticall dreame hath growne vp and continued theſe many ages. And therefore ſome haue imagined Moyſes, whileſt he praied to the Lord in the Mountaine, • xod. 17. his bodie vpon the ground proſtrated and his armes ſpread abroad in forme of a croſſe, and lifting vp his handes in a miſticall type, the Iſraelites ouercame: when he fainted, the Iſraelites were put to the worſt.

The braſen Serpent erected by Moſes the conductor of the Iſraelites in the wildernes, (which being looked vpon, healed thoſe that were ſtoong with firy Serpents, 〈◊〉 . 21. and deſtined to death) did prefigurate and foreſhew our ſaluation and redemption in Chriſt.

The Key whereof the Prophet Eſaias maketh mention,Eſai. 22. in th • ſe wordes. And I will giue vnto him the Key of the houſe of Dauid, he ſhall open and no man ſhall ſhu • , and he ſhall ſhut, and no man ſhall open, did ſignifie in like maner the power and authoritie of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt in his Church.

Concerning the Croſſe of our Sauiou • Chriſt the redeemer of the worlde, and th • myſterie of his bodie and blood, the Prophe • Ieremy vnder the perſon of the wicked nation of the Iewes foreſpoke,Ier. 11. ſaying, Mittamus lignum in panem eius. Let vs make woo • his meate.

When Childericus fourth King of France for his infamous life, ſhould giue ouer his Kingdome, G • imcus a man entirely beloued of him, aduertiſed him to goe into Thuring • a, whileſt he ſtaide to perfect the peace, & breaking a peece of gold in the midſt, gaue vnto him the one part thereof, to the intent tha • the ſame being ſent againe as he had promiſed, when oportunitie ſerued, and being ioyned to the other with equall coniuncture might confirme the certeintie of the thin • done to Childericus, & of his returne. Whic • thing came to paſſe, for no ſooner had Guimeus deſiſted frō his enterpriſe of peacema king, than Gillion a citizen of Rome wa • thruſt from the poſſeſſion of the kingdome 〈◊〉 France, which he affirmed apperteined 〈◊〉 him, Childericus being reſtored to his form •• eſtate againe.

The Salamander lying in the fire, was the badge or Cognizance of Frances king of France. Which worme, Plinie writeth,Plinie. is of ſuch a cold nature that ſhe quencheth the fire like iſe. Others write that ſhe liueth, & is noriſhed in the fire. I remember that I my ſelfe haue ſeene the picture of this King in a ſmall forme, ingrauen in braſſe: vpon whoſe backe part was placed an effigie of a firie Salamander with this inſcription, Nutriſco il buono, & ſpengo il reo, that is, I nouriſh the vertuous, and deſtroy the wicked. The ſame haue I ſeeme alſo in diuers places vpon walles, and namely a • Fontem Bellaqueum, moſt liuely poliſhed and adorned in cloth of Tapeſtrie, Arraſe, and the like, with theſe verſes.

The order of ſtarred Knights was publikely inſtituted by King Iohn, in the Church at Saint Ouen in France, about the yeare of our Lo • d God 1351. which Knightes we are this ſigne of the Starre on their gownes, hats, or other place where it might eaſily be ſeene in Theaters, and Stages. And truly it is to be thought that this honorable cognizance had his beginning of the commemoration of that wonderfull ſtarre, which conducted the wiſe men from the Eaſt, to the place where Chriſt was borne. Whither alſo thoſe verſes may be referred, otherwiſe dedicate by Virgill the ſonne of Pollio, to Iulius Caeſar, concerning the commet which appeared after his death.

The increaſe of the moone in the daies of the moſt famous king Henry the ſecond king of France, was moſt ſtrange and prodigious. In the holy ſcriptures, the moone many times doth ſignifie the Church: wherto may be added the conſent of Paulus Aemilius in the hiſtonie of Pope Calixtus the ſecond (whoſe name before was Guido, the ſonne of William Earle of the Heduans, or Burgundians.) who the day before his pontificall creation ſaw in a viſion a Starre carried by a childe from the ſide of the Moone. Furthermore the Moone is alwaies ſub • ect to alteration, 〈◊〉 both increaſeth and decreaſeth at certcine houres and times. In like maner may wee ſee the Church of God militant, and neuer continuing in one and the ſame ſtate, but one while mainteined and defended of Chriſtian Princes, an other-while tyrannized, put to flight, and ſent in funder with factions of heretiques: whereby it commeth to paſſe, that it is neuer free from vexation and trouble in this life. Wherto notwithſtanding the Maieſtie of God the King himſelfe, and his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt haue promiſed certeine helpe and defence, vntill it being gathered vnder one God, one King, and one law, the moſt louing vnitie, & immenſitie of the whole flocke, acknowledging one onely paſtor, may appeare.

Lodouicus the eleuenth King of France, when he was about to inſtitute the order of Saint Michaell (as they call it) in the yeare of our Lord 1469. for a Cognizance or Simbole he enſigned them with a golden chaine lineked togither with cockle-ſtones, and double knots, with circles of gold: in the midſt whereof was a knob or muſhrome, as it were a promontorie with the golden image of Saint Michael hanging downe vppon their breſtes. Which laſt he did, being prouoked thereto by the example of king Charles the ſeuenth his father, who vſed the ſame image for his enſign in wars, taking the beginning of his manguration at Rothomage. Which cuſtome was begun, & afterwardes confirmed amongſt many kings, through a notable miracle or viſion (as they ſuperſtitiouſly dreame) of S. Michael appearing in the battell by the bridge of the citie of Orleance, who expulſed & droue away the Engliſh men, and ſet the Citie free from their ſiege. The chaine therefore is a type or figure of this order, a ſigne of vertue, concord, and of a perpetuall league or couenant of amitie and friendſhip to be continued amongſt them, alſo a cognizance or badge of thoſe that deſerued well, and of the victorie obteined. By the gold he would haue to be vnderſtood, magnanimitie, proweſſe and honours. By the cockles, their mutuall equalitie or common condition of fortune: imitating herein the order of the Romane Senators, who vſed to weare cockles vpon their ſleeues: by the tying of them togither with a double knot, he would repreſent the indiſſoluble couenant made betwixt him and the reſt, and that with no friuolous ſignification. Laſt of all, by the image, he would ſhuld be declared the victorie and triumph which Michaell had ouer the diuell, whom he ouercame. The reaſon of which ſigne doth greatly appertaine as well to the regiment and maieſtie of a kingdome, as alſo to ſtrike feare and terrour into the enemy. And how many he thought good to be admitted into the ſocietie of this order, he himſelfe declared, to wit, 36. as it were patrones of the kingdome, amongſt whome he would be counted the firſt or chiefeſt. And therefore the ſame time, that he ordeined this order to be celebrate, he named fifteene lordes, whom for honours ſake, and prerogatiue of their names, it is not conuenient to omit with ſilence. The firſt therefore were theſe:

Lewis the 12. King of France, as Duke of Orleance by diſcent, and earle of Blofie, gaue the Porcupine in his enſigne, with which ſimbole togither with the image of a Wolfe, the auncient Citie of Blofie was wont to blaze their enſignes. This is to be ſeene grauen in many ſtones and walls.Plinie. Which beaſt nature hath ſo ſtudiouſly furniſhed with weapons, that ſhe may reſiſt al thoſe that withſtand her, eſpecially dogges, againſt whom ſhe throweth her prickes like violent arrowes. The interpretation of which portraiture, the ſtately houſes of a certaine noble citizen in that citie doe declare, at the entrance whereof, vnder the Porcupine theſe verſes are found ingrauen in ſtone.

The iuſt and vpright ad miniſtration of iuſtice, with the due puniſhment of the wicked, is a thing ſo neceſſarie to kingdomes, people, and Countries, that if they ſhould bee taken away, the companies and ſocieties of men would ſoone fall to decaie and bee deſtroyed. Wherefore Rulers and Magiſtrates may righthe chalenge the ſworde to themſelues, with publike and priuate honours, as warranted by the word of God, that they may bee not onclie a helpe and a comfort to the godlie and meeke, but alſo a feare and terrour to the wicked. Therefore is the moſte wholeſome dectrine of the Apoſtle Saint Paule to bee imbraced.Rom. 13. Wilt not thou • (ſaith hee) feare the powers. Doe well then, and thou ſhalt haue praiſe thereby, for hee is the miniſter of God for thy good. But i • thou doeſt euill, feare, for hee carrieth not the ſworde for naught, for hee is the miniſter of God to reuenge in wrath to him that doth euill. Therefore bee ye ſubiect of neceſſitie, not onelie for feare of anger, but alſo for conſcience ſake. For this cauſe therefore doe ye pa • e tribu • e, they are the n • iniſters of God ſ •• uing for that purpoſe. Giue therefore to all men that which is due, tribute to whom tribute belongeth, feare to whom feare apperteineth, and honour to whom honour belongeth.

Auguſtus Ceaſar a moſt quiet and peaceable Emperor, hauing got into his hands the whole monarchie of the world, and being borne vnder the ſigne of Capricorne, held the ſame in ſuch eſtimation, that he cauſed the ſame ſigne of Capricornus to be imprinted vppon his coyne: hereby referring the luckie and ſolemne preſagie of his fortune to the ſaid ſtarre or planet. Yea there are extant to this day both gold and ſiluer coyne, with this inſcription of Capticornus vpon them, the feete whereof conteine the ſphere of the world, hauing alſo vpon the backſide a band of ſoldiers or the effigie of Amalthea, which laſt is found vpon the gold: vpon the ſiluer is the ſterne or forepart of a ſhip, in forme of an orbe 〈◊〉 circle. Both of them hauing this inſcription Auguſtus.

Auguſtus Caeſar, in the beginning of his raigne vſed the Monkey or Marmſet, as a ſingular ſecrete ſigne, ſignifying thereby, that the ſerious matters of a Prince, with his waightie affaires are not to be committed to the common people. Of which ſort eſpecially are all holy and diuine things, leſt thorow the want of authoritie, they become baſe and contemptible. The ſame reaſon in a manner moued the Egyptians to picture in their temples the Marmſet or Monkey.Celius. Auguſtus Caeſar (as Plinie witneſſeth) hauing found two ſuch Monkeyes or Marmſets amongſt his mothers rings made by ſuch wonderful art,Plinius. and ſo like, that the one could by no means be diſcerned from the other: with the one wherof, as with a ſeale his actes and edicts in time of war were ſealed, reſpect being had as wel of the time as of the cauſes.Dion. Dion reporteth that Auguſtus Caeſar being occupied in ye wars of Atty, gaue liſence to Agrippa, & Mecenas chiefe rulers of ye Romaine affaires to ſeale writings before they were preſented to the Senate: & therefore they receiued a ſeale of Auguſtus, bearing the image of the Monkey or Marmſet. Which thing notwithſtanding was not done without deriſion,Plinie. as Plinie recordeth, for the enigmes which the Monkey pretended, a prouerbe or by-word riſing thereof,Sueton. to wit, it is no maruell if the Monkey vtter hard and obſcure things. Therefore Auguſtus to avoid theſe ieſts and flouts, abſtained altogither from his ſuſpected & vniuſt maner of ſealing, changing his ſeale into the image of Alexander the great. At the laſt, he imprinted it wt his own natural picture or image, which afterward Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius Caeſar, Domicianus, & other Emperors ſucceeding in the ſame order, did vſe.

Henrie the eight King of England, vſed a percullice of yron for a ſimbole, or ſigne, which is an engine of defence, vſed for the moſt part in gates and portes of cities and townes. Such an other kind of militarie ſtratagem was there deuiſed at Rome (as Appian writeth) in the time of ciuill diſcention,Appian. when Scilla chalenging the empire to himſelf, ouerthrew the armie of Carbonians, preſſing to enter in by the gate of Collina: for letting fal the percullice, many of the Senators, and thoſe that were of the Carbonian faction were all ſlaine.

Cronicles of Lorraine.Cronicles do record the noblenes and excellencie of the houſe of Lorraine: to wit, three birdes thruſt thorow with an arrow, which Godfray of Bullaine ſhot againſt Dauids towre, being ſhewed in militarie ſigne by the beſieging of Ieruſalem. Which was ſigne of his highnes, authoritie, and princely dignitie, with the building of Ieruſalem. The dukes of Lorraine being enſigned with this embleme of the birds thruſt thorow, do teſtifie the ſame, for in their coyne to this day they keepe it verie religiouſlie.

Amatus Vertius ye fift knight of Subaudia, gaue a moſt royall & magnificall name to an order of knights firſt inuented by him. Theſe Knights he would haue to be innobled with golden chaine, wrought with moſt ſubtile, called loue knots, knit togither with great cunning, & foure letters interlaced of equall diſtance one from another, hanging at the end therof the image & hiſtorie of the angels meſſage to the virgine Marie. The letters and the pozie do ſignifie the greatnes of the glory that Amatus the firſt Knight and his ſucceſſors had. For whileſt he went to Rhodes with his nauie to fight againſt the enimies of Chriſt, he well deſerued of Rhodia both of Knighthood, and Religion. And being made gouernor of that order, and of the garriſons alſo, he vndertooke the adminiſtration of the Rhodian warres, and bequeathed the ſame to his next ſucceſſor, he deliuered the caſtle of Acrenſe from ſiege, and remouing all feare both of danger and tyranny, he brought great ioy, and libertie to the Rhodians. Therefore he cauſed himſelfe to be named the firſt, in the catelogue of Knights, conſtituting foureteene moe: all which he dignified with the ſame chaine of gold. The names of them that he knighted were theſe.

Margaret Queene of Nauarre vſed a moſt ſolemne ſigne, namely the marigold, whoſe colour reſembleth ſo neere the colour of the ſonne, as almoſt nothing more. For what way ſo euer the ſunne goeth, it followeth it: it ope • eth and ſhutteth it ſelfe at the riſing and falling of the ſunne, according to his aſcending or deſcending. This godly Queene choſe this kind of ſimbole, that ſhe might euidently expreſſe, how that ſhe referred all her cogitations, affections, vowes, words & deedes to almightie God, onely wiſe, and euerlaſting, as one that meditated vpon heauenly things with all her heart.

Philip duke of Burgundie vſed this enſig •• of a flint ſtone ſtriking fire, which ſignifie the difficultie of warres amongſt Kings an • Princes, whereby it commeth to paſſe ofte • times that the one is conſumed, ouerthrown and vanquiſhed of the other: whereupon fo • loweth calamitie, great loſſes, and a heape dangers on euerie ſide.

In the yeare after the birth of Chriſt, 1429.Paul. Aemil. the companie of the order of the knights of the Garter, began by the ſame Philip duke of Burgundy, hauing purchaſed a moſt maieſticall name by the donation of the golden fleece. After this he choſe foure and twentie noble men of tried fidelitie to be of the number of this honorable ſocietie, adorning them with a chaine of gold, wherein was the flint ſtone burning thoroughout the whole chain, and the golden fleece hanging before the breaſt: imitating herein (as may be ſuppoſed) the marinal expedition of Iaſon into Colchos by diligent obſeruation as it were, of his vertue and godlines, whereof he was ſaid to be ſo deſirous, that he deſerued the name of good, and the praiſe of an excellent wit, the order wherof his Epitaph which alſo ſheweth the inuention of the golden fleece, doth declare in theſe words.

There were admitted into the number or ſocietie of theſe knights, next after the Duke himſelfe.

Two Lawrell boughes rubbed hard togither (if we ſhal credite what Plinie hath recorded yeeld fire forth by long and continuall cha •• ing. Manie are of opinion alſo, that the bone of a Lion do the ſame. So likewiſe moſt certaine it is, that no little danger falleth our, when mightie men meete togither, that the old prouerbe may be verified which ſaith, Dura duris non quadrare, in plowing or tilling of the ground, hard things agree not togither. The deſcription of this ſinibole or figure appertaineth to the croſſe of ſaint Andrew, as they terme it, and the houſe of Burgundie were wont to vſe the ſame in their martiall enſignes, when they marched forward, and were now come to encounter with their enimies: albeit in euery point they admitted not the like ſignification.

The ire of a Prince is ful of preſent danger, as a man may learne by the example of an earthen pot, being now burning on the fire, which if it ſhould chance to fall, it is vnpoſſible but that it ſhould do ſome great harme to the ſtanders by. This portraiture or figure, did Iohn duke of Burbon vſe, as by obſeruation we may ſee in moſt places of his countrey of Burbon, & of Elentheropola, or of a village yt the frenchmen inhabited called Beauiolois.

If you marke well the monſtrous bird called an Oſtrich,S. Georg. you ſee how with great preparation and oſtentation of her feathers, ſhe endeuours to take a great flight, and yet for al that is not an inch higher from the ground when ſhee hath done all that ſhee can: The verie like propertie the hypocrites haue, which outwardly make a gay gliſtering ſhew of a zealous holines of religion, but let them once lay away their diſſembling, and then ſearch them thorowly, and you ſhall finde them euen ſtone cold within, & all the oftentation that they made outwardly to be lies.

The Enſigne that Galeaz vicechanceler, the ſecond Duke of Millan was wont to vſe, may be verified of thoſe which according to the prouerbe, are ſaid to carrie fire in the one hand, and water in the other. It was a burning firebrand or a ſtaffe hardned in the fire, with two veſſels ful of water, aboue and beneath. It may haue alſo an other ſignification, if we more deepely waigh it: namely, that the paſſions of a mans minde are by Gods goodneſſe extinguiſhed by the direction of reaſon. Moreouer, by it the ſame dukes magnanimitie is ſignified, for he in a foughten combat, moſt renowmedly vanquiſhed a Dutch Lord that at that time bore no ſmal countenance, who was the firſt man that vſed the ſame embleme or picture, and chalenged this his Enſigne to himſelfe for a monument of victorie, and for a token of triumph that he got ouer his enimie, who then was put to the worſt.

The goddeſſe called Diana Pictanienſis a noble woman, of verie great godlines, and the moſt famous Dutcheſſe of the citie of Valentia, conceiued a verie conſtant hope touching the reſurrection of the dead, which commeth by death, in our remouing into an other life, who alſo by conſideration of the ſaints in heauen oftentimes comforted her ſelfe. Therefore it is moſt like that by this picture ſhe endeuoured to expreſſe her godly affections: for there is (as you may ſee here) a ſepulchre, and out of it a ſhining dart beutified with greene boughes.

What time Philip ſurnamed Auguſtus was king of France,Of Monſtrelet. Saladinus Sultanus king of Babilon, of Damaſcus, and of Egypt, lay at the point of death at Aſcalon, he appointed that as ſoone as he was dead, his ſhirt ſhould be carried by his ſteward thorough out all the cittie of Aſcalon, hauing a ſpeare thruſt thorow the middle of it, & that the cryer ſhould with a loud voice proclaime as followeth.

Let euerie mightie man take this for a moſt infallible token, that when death comes, he ſpareth neither king nor Caeſar, and that he ſhall depart out of this world, as naked as the pooreſt and vileſt creature doth.

This flaming ſword that Carolus Borbonius, the Cardinall vſed for his enſigne vnder the title of ſaint Andrew, ſignifieth the true ſword of the gouernors of the church, and 〈◊〉 the holy ghoſt,Epheſ. 6. which ſword as Paul ſaith, repreſenteth the word of God.

The food of the ſpirite is that heauenly bread,Exod. 16 or the ſacrament of the bodie & blood of Chriſt, prefigured vnder the tipe of Manna which in former age was ſ • nt downe from heauen to be meate to the Iſraelites. This ſigne or ſimbole the Cardinall of Turnon vſeth at this day.

It was to ſmall purpoſe or none at all that the Dragon watched ſo carefully for Hercules, neuertheleſſe came and ſtole away the golden apples, that were in the garden of Heſperus three daughters: By the which is ſignified, that vertues, and famous exploits are euerie where to be found. The ſame effigie the Cardinall of Ferrara vſeth.

We reade in holy ſcripture that the Prophet Elias was caried thorow the aire in bodyKing. 2. and ſoule in a firie chariot. By the ſame Metaphor, true and vnfained worſhippers aſcend euen vnto the heauens in ſpirite and feruent meditation, and that is the cauſe wherefore we are perſwaded that the mindes and ſoules of godly men and women are inriched, & recreated with great and heauenly conſolations.Ouid. Hereunto alſo alludeth the Poet Ouid, when he maketh mention of Pythagoras vpon theſe words.

When the Romaine Conſuls went abroad there were certaine men appointed to go before them adorned with triumphant crownes,Plinie. and garlands, and with bundles of yong and tender rods, hauing two Pollaxes in their hands, ſignifying by this ſpectacle the triumphes of that moſt noble region of Italie, and the whole gouernment of the world, and alſo that the Romaines by their great wiſedome, peace, and affection to the common weale, purchaſed to themſelues no litle praiſe and dignitie. But the iron wreathes, & chaines which you ſee holding the ſpeares, and ſtaues that they cannot fall one from another, doe ſignifie the bondage and captiuity wherewith from that time to this day, Italy is brought to ruine by the wickednes of ſedition and ciuill diſſention.

The ancient Alanes,Mehodius. Burgundians, an • Sueuians vſed (as Methodius recordeth) 〈◊〉 carrie before them in their martiall enſign •• a car, which cannot by any meanes be reſtra • ned of her libertie: by which embleme they inſinuated their owne deſire that they had 〈◊〉 their will and libertie.

Such was the eſtimation of Auguſtus Caeſar towards his friend Maecenas,Dion. that he committed vnto him the gouernement of his countrey, as well by land as by ſea: wherefore • e cauſed the ſhape of a frogge to be drawne for his cognizance. Except peraduenture he would ſignifie thoſe frogs in Syriphie, which (as Plinie ſaith) are mute, and without voice;Plinie. • or ſo it may repreſent a cloſe and hidden ſecret, and alſo a faithfull concealing of things commited to ones fidelitie. Which vertue this Maecenas ſo practiſed that Auguſtus Caeſar himſelfe for yt cauſe highly reuerenced him,Eutrop. & had him in great admiration for ye hatred that he bore them that vſed enuiouſlie to giue priuie ſcoffes and taunts vnder pretence of vnfained friendſhip.

Charles the ſixt of that name, king of France,Froſſard. whileſt he ſought the ſatiffying of his owne wilfulnes, in going about to reuenge his friend Oliuerius Cliffonius his conſtable • cauſe againſt one Peter Craonius, had a very infortunate end, as it was foretold him: the which thing doth moſt certainely fall out 〈◊〉 as many as runne headlong to reuenge, eſpecially other mens cauſes. It chanced tha • he leuied an armie to go into the prouinc • of the Britones, to the intent he might 〈◊〉 reuenged of the Lieutenant there becauſe he ſeemed to defend Petrus Craonius cauſe And ſo as he was going thorow the forreſt, 〈◊〉 thicket of the Manſenſians or Caenonians, there met him in the middle betwixt tw • trees a certaine ſtrange man, pretending great pouertie & need, and taking the king • horſe by the bridle, cauſed him to ſtay, & th •• with loud voice ſaid vnto him: Oh king, 〈◊〉 thou wilt follow my counſaile go no furthe • forward, but rather turne backe againe, fo • there are of thy owne armie that haue ſol • thee into thy enimies hands. When the king heard theſe words, he was maruellouſly terrified, & ſo moued withall, that he was as pa •• as aſhes (as they ſay) with fear, & with horro • thereof did euen grate with his teeth as it were, and as ill happe was, he was a very yong man, and therefore vnſkilfull of matial fears beſides he had a bodie of ſuch a conſtitution that it was alwayes ſubiect to ſickneſſe and agues. But when the captaines of his armie ſaw him in that caſe, they labored to eſtabliſh and confirme his minde, that yet was doubtful what was beſt to be done, and ſo they went boldly forward. They were no ſooner gon out of the wood, but two of the kings pages were hard at their horſe heeles, puffing and blowing, as comming about ſome waightie matter, whereof the one ware the kings helmet, and the other a common ſouldiers ſpeare. It chanced that whileſt the one of them ſlept, the king ſpeare fell out of his hand vpon his head which ware the helmet. The king heating a ſodaine noiſe, and looking aſide, ſaw a man at his heeles, whom as yet he know not, ſo he was maruellouſty troubled, and in a great rage leaped downe from his horſe, and as one that had bene beſides himſelfe, drew his ſword, and neither regarding the order of his owne men, neither vſing the aduiſe of reaſon, laid about him as if he had bene in the thickeſt of his enimies, vſing theſe words: Beſtirre you, play the men, & diſpatch me theſe traitors. When the kings pages heard him ſay ſo, they made all the haſt they could to ſaue their liues, by running away. But the kings own brother who was captain of the Aurelians, riding by the kings ſide, 〈◊〉 the brunt of his furie: for the king ſo forcib • ranne vpon him with his naked ſword in 〈◊〉 hand, that had not the Duke ſpeedily fled •• away, he had bene in danger of his life. 〈◊〉 the laſt the king was euen tyred with labo •• and the horſe wearied with many and gre •• courſes that he made, it chanced that onc • the kings horſemen met him, and by fa •• meanes brought both the king and his ho •• backe to the Caemonians. But the king was 〈◊〉 mad and ſo angrie in his minde, that who •• ſaw him thought he would neuer recoue • And ſo it fel out that there was an end of th •• intended voyage, and the armie broke vp, a •• returned. But after that the king came ho •• to his palace, he became far weaker than before he had bene, and was ſo ſubiect to a ki •• of phrenſie, that ſometimes would leaue h •• and then come to him againe, that he w •• brought to great miſerie and extremitie the • by. Yea the beſt thing that he got by that 〈◊〉 happie voyage, was a verie great miſhap a •• euill fortune that chanced to his whole kingdome. for euen to this day it feeleth th • wounds and bruſes of ſo great a calamitie.

There is vſed to this day certaine braſen money with the image of Auguſtus Caeſar on it, vpon the one ſide wherof is the portraiture of a Crocodile chained faſt to a palme tree, with this inſcription: Col. Nem. which is, No man hath euer bound me before. By which ſigne Caeſar would ſignifie that none before him did euer ſubdue Egypt, and triumphed ouer it. For the Crocodile repreſenteth Egipt, which is to be found onely in the riuer Nilus, by the commodie whereof all Egypt is made fruitfull. Beſides the Crocodile is faſtened to the Palme tree, that thereby the beholders might be admoniſhed that the godly Prince Auguſtus triumphed ouer all Egypt, by getting of which victorie and peace, he was recreated and refreſhed, as a drie and thirſtie ground is with a ſhowre of raine. Finally, this ſimbole ſignifieth that Auguſtus got the victorie, and preuailed againſt Autonius, and Cleopatra of famous memorie.

In gathering of flowers, and ſtrawberies that grow low vpon the ground, we muſt be verie carefull for the adder and ſnake that lieth lurking in the graſſe, for looke whomſoeuer ſhe ſtingeth, they hardly recouer after. So in reading of authors, and bookes, which carrie a faire ſhew to the eye, and yeelding ſmall delight to the eare, we muſt be carefull that we runne not into abſurd, and wrong iudgements, and opinions, & by that meanes make ſhipwracke of our ſoules.

As flies cannot ſtay themſelues on ſlippery places,Plutar. as vpon glaſſe and ſuch like, but fall downe, whereas they reſt well vpon ſuch places as be rough and hollow, ſo it fareth with vs when we are in proſperitie and haue all things at will, we vſe quickly to fall into diuerſe and ſundrie ſinnes: whereas on the otherſide being touched ſometimes with croſſes and afflictions, we ſtay our ſelues in ſome meaſure.

As ye Cardinall of Lorraine ſhould lately enter into his Abbey of Clunie, his armies were ſet vp before the gates of the houſe, to wit, a great foure ſquared piller, brode beneath, & ſharpe on the toppe, hauing on the higher end the new moone blaſed, and from the bottome vpward compaſſed about with greene berries, and garniſhed with theſe verſes, which were engrauen round about.

That great and mightie cup of gold of i • princely Dolphin, ſeemeth to me to repreſent that ancient ſtanding peece of Apolloes Rauen, whom the Poets do faine to be placed amongſt the ſtarres: but the inſcription, or apothegme which is written aboue it, may rather be drawne to his happie birth day. And ſuch is the interpretation that Paradinus giueth of it. But in my iudgement he would thereby allude to his fathers interpretation, which is, Donec totum impleat orbem, vntill he fulfill the whole compaſſe of the world.

There was alwayes carried before the armies of the Romaines, ſtandards which had the palme of a hand blaſed after this faſhion: you may ſee the ſame alſo in diuerſe other places in auncient coynes, and money, and • n other famous monuments of like antiquitie. Therefore this ancient ſigne doth betoken the benefite, or hand of concord, the picture wherof is to be ſeene in the very beginning of the commentaries of the Romaine common welth, which Wolfangus Lazius, a • iligent ſearcher out of antiquities, and the • ing of Romaines Phiſitian, and a verie cun • ing hiſtoriagrapher. beſides lately penned, and ſet forth.

Not farre from the gates of Leontychidas houſe, ſenator of the Lacedemonians, there was a liue ſerpent or ſnake, that had wrapped himſelfe about the Key of a locke. When this came to the ſouthſayers cares, they conſtantly affirmed before him that it ſignified ſome ſtrange wonder that ſhould happen. To whom he thus replied. Surely to me it ſeemes a thing of no great wonder, if the ſnake haue wrapped himſelfe about the Key: but rather • n the contratie part, if the Key had folded it ſelfe about the ſerpent, then without all doubt, it had bene a thing to be wondred at. And ſo the wiſe Senator making but a ieſt of it, laughed at their fooliſh ſuperſtition. And ſurely at this day, the common peoples credulitie is verie much infected, about manie things which happen ſometimes after an extraordinarie manner, yet by as naturall meanes as may be, yea, when they are I ſay: if you thorowly examine them plainly agreeable to nature. In fine, there is likewiſe a prepoſterous iudgement or inconſtancie touching matters of faith in theſe and the like ſuperſtitions, which with wicked traditions bring no ſmall corruption to mans iudgement.

The crueltie of the beare being angred to chafed, is not in any ſort to be prouoked, 〈◊〉 moued, like as the minde of a man is not to be incenſed when he is throughly angred for there we may looke for nothing elſe 〈◊〉 him, but great and deadly danger.

The Romaines when they ſhould giue ouer their warres,Fl. Blond. and make peace with their enimies, vſed theſe ceremonies, that he who had authoritie giuen him to deale with the enimy in the behalfe of the reſt in thoſe matters, ſhould take a flint or ſome other ſtone in his hand, and hit a pigge, or hogge therewith, pronouncing at that inſtant this ſentence: Looke what happeneth to this pigge that you ſee here, happen vnto me if I deceiue you.

Policrates king of the Samions had ſuch ſucceſſe with ſuch perſeuerance in the proſperous-waies of ſmiling fortune,Strabo. that once he went about either to diminiſh it, or elſe to change it: namely, by caſting a verie rich ring into the middeſt of the ſea, the which for all that, was found afterward-in the belly of a fiſh, which the fiſhermen amongſt the reſt had caught. But marke what came of it. Not long after the king of the Perſians chanced to take this king, and being apprehended, commanded him to be hanged, and miſerably to be ſtrangled. So thus you may ſee that the flattering faunings of fortune (which the world compteth great felicitie in this life) are neither certaine not conſtant, nor of any continuance: and the more glorious and glittering they appeare, the more eaſily and ſpeedilie they vaniſh away, like a glaſſe, which of it owne nature is brickle and fraile.

Valerius Maximus maketh mention of a certain king,Val. Max. li. 7. ca. 2. who when there was a rich Diadem offered vnto him, pauſed a while before he would put it on his head, & ſtudying as it were what were beſt to do, burſt forth into theſe words, Oh more noble, then happie ornamēt, for if a man knew thorowly wt how many troubles, perrils, & miſeries it is ſtuffed, he would not take it vp from the ground to haue it.

When a certaine Lacedemonian was on a time noted of cowardlyneſſe, becauſe he had cauſed a flie to be printed on his target, and ſuch a one as did not exceed to the common ſort of that kinde in bigneſſe, as though he ſhould hereby ſignifie, that he would willingly conuey himſelfe out of the battaile, and like a fl • e would not be ſeene of his enimie, he anſwered, nay rather, I encounter with my enimie hand to hand, and ſo ſet vpon him, that albeit the ſigne be ſmall, yet the enimie may well diſcerne.

Some there are in the world ſo wickedly bent, & of ſuch a deſpighfull nature, that they are maruellouſly delighted in gathering togither, all kind of deadly calumnies yt poiſoned tongues can vtter, yt afterwards if any chance to be purſued by them, they ſting him ſore, & if they may by any meanes, they wil bring him to his graue with ſorrow. Wherein they imitate the waſpes, which feeding vpon ye ſerpent with great greedines, make their ſtings more venimous, and therfore the wounds receiued by them are the more perillous & dangerous.

Vpon the ſignet of Pompeius Magnus which he wore vpon his finger (whereon Iuliu • Caeſar when he was killed hapning to fall,Plutar. being brought to him by one of his ſouldiers, wept bitterly) there was (as Plutarch writeth) the ſhape of a Lion ſhaking a ſword betweene his forefeete ingrauen, to ſignifie perhaps a hard and bold voyage or enterpriſe.

To ouercome difficult and hard things there is need of great induſtrie, labor, and diligence, as may appeare by the example of the Egle, for when ſhe goeth to ſet vpon the H • rt, ſhe lighteth downe vpon his hornes, and there fluttereth vp and downe, and ſo filleth his eyes with duſt (which ſhe had heaped togither before in her feathers for ye ſame purpoſe) that at the laſt he caſteth himſelf downe headlong,Plinie. from ſome high rocke, or hill.

Vpon the fourth veſſel of that kind which had three ranks of Ores in it, which Andreas Darius admirall of the Empire, commanded to be made for the Emperor againſt he ſhould go to Tunetum, there was placed the ſhape or forme of a blaſing ſtarre glittering on euerie ſide with arrowes as it were in faſhion of a round circle, for a continuall admonition to implore and call for Gods direction and mightie arme in this his voyage and iourney.

Like as the Phenix wherof there is but one at any time to be ſeene,Theoph. is a rare bird, ſo all good & precious things are hard to be found. Theſe armes the famous and renowmed woman, ye L • dy Helionora of Auſtria vſed, which was the widow of Francis king of France.

The french arming ſword in the hands of an armed man, with the inſcription of this Greeke word ΑΠΑΑΝΩΣ doth at this day in the place of the armes which the Lord Conſtable vſed, ſignifie faith.

Valentina of Milan, ſometime Dutch • ſſe of Orleans had great cauſe to paſſe her dayes in great heauineſſe and mourning, both for the death of her huſband Lewis, •• other to king Charles the ſixt, as alſo for the ſame kings vnfortunate phrenſie (whereof we ſpake before in the handling of his a • mes) which vſed to come on him at certain times, and when it tooke him, he knew not any of his friends, no not the queene his wife, but only this Dutcheſſe Valentina, whom he called when he was in this extremitie his ſiſter. Whereupon there was a rumour blowne abrode that the Duke the father of this Valentina, hauing ſometimes bene ouerladen with drinke, had cauſed ſome poyſon, or charmed potion to be giuen him: which report this Valentina tooke verie grieuouſly, yea ſo grieuouſly indeede, that in place of all conſolation, and eaſe of her mourning, ſhe vſed for her cognizance an earthen pitcher in faſhion like a water pot, on the mouth whereof was the character of this letter S. ſignifying perhaps theſe words concerning the ſame Dutches: Solā ſaepe ſeſeipſā ſollicitari, ſuſpiraré que , that is, being alone ſhee accuſtomed to mourne and to ſigh with her ſelfe, togither with theſe words ſubioyned. Nil mihi praeterea: Praeterea mihi nil Which is, nothing remaineth to me, nothing haue I more. The which emblemes with the like inſcriptions, are to be ſeene deſcribed in many places in the Franciſcan friers church at Bloyes, and in the ſame Dutches chappell, where ſhe lieth buried in a tombe of braſſe, and alſo in the porch or entrie on euery ſide of the quite of the ſame church.

Andreas Lauallus the french Admiral, was wont to giue for his enſigne, a burning Ore, which is yet to be ſeene in the ſuburbes of the cittie Melus. It is alſo a ſignification of feruent and dutifull zeale, towards the king and countrie, and eſpecially in that iourney that they tooke by ſea through the great Occean.

This ſimbole of the Labirinth, which the Lord of Boiſdaulphin, archbiſhop of Ambrune vſeth, may perchance ſignifie, that we are lead by the grace of God to finde the way that leadeth to eternall life, the ſame giuing the thread as it were of his holy precepts into our hands, which when we haue once taken hold of, and do follow, we turne away from the dangerous wandrings, and feareful by wayes of this world.

Muſicke is of it owne nature an enimie to melancholy, and therefore is able to qualifie any furie that riſeth of a vehement melancholie. Wherefore ſhe is able alſo to driue away heauines, and dulneſſe, which proceed of blacke choler, being ouerwhelmed and ſuffocate with flegme. With the which one hath recorded that once he ſaw a man ſore troubled, and ſo ſound and faſt on ſteepe, that you could by no meanes get a word of him, but onely by a harpe ſounding in his eares, at the pleaſant harmonie whereof, he lifting vp his head, laughed, & anſwered to their demands. Which thing is an argument that there is no ſmall affinitie betwixt Muſicke and the ſoule. Elizeus the prophet hath plainely declared the ſame vnto vs,4. King. 2 when to call againe his propheticall ſpirite, and to make ſupplication to God for a remedie of his people that then were like to periſh with extreme thirſt, he commanded one that had ſkill to play on the harpe to be called for vnto him, and in that ſort obtained at the hands of God that which he deſired in his prayers, and ſupplications. And what ſay you to Dauid the Muſitian, who is now dead & rotten?1. King. 17 Did not he comfort and recreate King Saul, his ſoule being vexed with an euill ſpirite, when as, ſo long as he played vpon his harpe, the wicked ſpirite left to moleſt him. Therefore this conſonant muſicke hath a certaine diuine grace in it, for as much as it doth not onely reſtore helth to bodies that are ſicke, but al • o ſti • reth vp the ſoule to contemplation, comforteth the ſame, and maketh it heauenly as it were: wherefore it is an enimie euen to the verie diuels, which doubtleſſe are nothing elſe than deſperation, deiection of the ſoule, feare, and an obſtinate deſolation. Finally, as in Muſicke of different voices there is made tunable muſicke, ſo of men alſo that are of one minde there may be made a conſent of contrary natures and manners, which God accepteth aboue all other things that may be obſerued or kept.

Coelius.Thus the young innocent virgins ſuffered ſore puniſhment for the wicked factes that their father Dioniſius Siracuſanus Tyrannus the younger had committed. For the Locrians when they had driuen their father Dioniſius out of the kingdome, reuenging his crueltie for the deflowring of their citizens daughters, and wiues, permitted his daughters being yet yong tender virgins to be rauiſhed of as many as woulde: and at the laſt, hauing no regard of their innocencie, but with a barbarous and ſauage crueltie, purſued them to death, by d • iuing ſharpe needles, or pinnes vnder the nayles of their fingers, with ſo great paine, and torment, as neuer before, nor ſince was heard of the like.

Iulian the Apoſtata ſometimes Emperor of Nicomedia made a publike decree, forbidding the Chriſtians the vſe of ſchooles, and al adminiſtration, or gouernement in the common welth, which S. Iohn the Martyr perceiuing to be ioyned with the deſtruction of Chriſtian religion more then any kind of tyrannie, or puniſhment that could be deuiſed, openly pulled it in peeces, and tore it. By which action of his we are taught that there ought to be no threatning of mans inuention be it neuer ſo great, ſo fearefull, that it ſhould conſtraine or make our conſcience to ſhrinke or diſſemble any thing.

Eraſmus Roterodamus vſed for his ſim.T. Liuius. bole the image of Terminus the God of the Romanes, which neuer gaue place to Iupiter himſelfe, for the which thing Caruayalus a Franciſcan frier found fault with him. Laying it to his charge, and obiecting it as a thing done too arrogantly of Eraſmus, for that he thereby ſignified that he woulde yeelde to no man on earth in anie point of learning: although that ſentence indeede may be vnderſtoode of death which is the laſt or vttermoſt bond or limite of all things, which no man is able, or by anie meanes may eſcape, or flie from: with the which anſwere Caruayalus was ſatilfied and contented.

En altera quae vehat Argo.

Marcus Valerius a Romaine,T. Liuius Plinie. A. Gelliu fighting a combate on a time hand to hand with a certaine aduerſarie of his, named Gallus, ouercame him by the aid that he had vnlooked for. For it chanced that a rauen houered a prettie while ouer his head peece, and at the laſt lighting on it, ſo pecked and ſmothered his enemies eyes that Valerius at the laſt ouercame him. Whereupon this Valerius was named of the ſame rauen Coruinus: although if you reſpect the victorie it ſelfe, he can not chalenge the ſame to him ſelfe by his owne manhood, but by the prouidence of God. Yet neuertheleſſe Auguſtus Ceſar cauſed a monument to be erected to the ſame Coruinus, on the top of whoſe helmet ſat the rauen, for a token of ſo worthie an exploit.

We haue referred to this place the ſigne of the anker,Heb. 6. in token of the hope of our ſaluation in Ieſus Chriſt, who is our moſt certaine and ſure reſuge, and to whom we are to flie In all extremities. True it is, that Seleucusking of Siria vſed the portrature of an anker in his ſignet: but this he did for that cauſe onely, for that the ſouthſayers and wiſe men had told hold him,Appian. the anker did repreſent or ſignifie his kingdome. Moreouer, Titus the Emperor vſed the ſame cognizance, but in another reſpect, as afterwards we will declare elſe where. Finally, manie Admirals haue vſed and do to this day vſe the ſame in token (as it ſhould ſeeme) of their office, and authoritie in the common wealth.

Beſides other diſcommodities which the tongue bringeth with it,Iames. 3. Saint Iames ſaith the ſame is tipped with poiſon, and bringeth death, comparing it to the ſtearne of a ſhip by which the whole veſſell is ruled and gotterned. Which ſentence agreeth with the opinion of Bias, to whom Amaſis king of Egipt ſent a whole beaſt on this condition, that he ſhoulde ſende to him againe the beſt and the woorſt peece therof, who ſent the tongue onely. Seeing then that that part of the body is of ſuch great moment, it is no maruel if nature haue compaſſed it in, with hedges and pales, as it were with double gates, which we muſt neuer vſe to open without the conſent of reaſon and wiſedome going before, elſe, where the tongue goeth before premeditation, the entrance into theſe gates is a fearefull thing, & the going out both dangerous, and vnfortunate.

The prophet Eſaie propheſying that the freedome of the ſpirite ſhoulde bee reſtored by the comming of Chriſt, ſaith,Eſay. 10. Computreſcet iugum à facie olei, that is, al bondage or ſe ruitude ſhal flie away before the annointed of the Lorde, which is Chriſt, by whome the children of God increaſing and going forward in the loue of God, & the obedience of his commandements ſhalbe releaſed & ſet free from the ſeruile bondage and yoke of the law. For in this ſpirituall Iubiley the guiltie are abſolued from their ſinnes, and their debts are pardoned, the proſcript and baniſhed are permitted to returne to their countrie, their inheritance is reſtored them: ſeruants, that is to ſay, thoſe that are ſold vnder ſinne are ſet at libertie, and by the benefite of Ieſus Chriſt, the true oile, and ointmen of mercie, felicitie, and grace.

Not whoſoeuer is in bands or priſon,Actes. 12. but he that is intangled in vices and ſinne, is to be iudged a bondſlaue. For albeit Peter the Apoſtle was kept in Herod his priſon, bound with two chaines, yet by the miniſterie of an Angel his chaines fell from his hands, and he eſcaped, paſſing thorow the iron gates, which by the wil of God (which by no mans deuiſe, neither can, nor ought to be impugned) opened of their owne accord, and gaue him paſſage.

The ſame earth which ſwallowed vp Core, Dathan & Abiron with the reſt of ye troublers of the prieſthood & miniſtery of Aarō approued the ſame thing in the Leuitical tribe,Numb. 16. and 17. and that not without a miſterie, whileſt yt amongſt the rods of the Iſraelites erected in the tabernacle of the Lord, the ſecond day the rod of Aaron onely budded, & bare fruit or Almons.

The Iſraelites after their returne from the captiuitie of Babilon,2. Eſd. 4. taking in the one hand a trowell, in the other a ſword (ſuch were the continuall troubles of their enimies) built vp the wals of Ieruſalem. Which thing in a miſterie did repreſēt the miniſters of the church of Chriſt, who are bound to inſtruct the ignorant, and to bring againe thoſe that do erre in the faith (which are very ruines in deed) & to fight manfully with the ſword of Gods word againſt the enimies thereof, which are vices and ſinne.

Dauid being a little child, but armed with grace from aboue,2. King. 17 feared not to enter combate with the great and fearefull giant Goliah: neither would he put on the armor of Saul, but contenting himſelfe with a ſling and fiue flint ſtones, ouerthrew this monſter, and triumphed ouer him. In like manner that we may ouercome that fearefull and dangerous enimie of mankind the diuell, the onely weapons of a ſtable faith, firme hope, and conſtant affiance in the merites of Chriſts paſſion and death are enough.

At the time of the creation of the biſhops of Rome, when according to the cuſtome, he that is nominate Pope entreth into S. Gregories church (wherein many of the Romiſh biſhops are buried, the maſter of the ceremonies goeth before him, carrying in his hands two reedes, tying to the top of the one a burning candle, which flaming he putteth to the other, whereto are tyed hurds, or flaxe, and ſo burneth them both, ſaying theſe words three times togither, Oh holy fathers, ſo paſſeth the glorie of this world.

Clubbes, or battes compaſſed about with Oliue branches, being a ſigne as wel of peace,A. Gelliu • as of warre, may be giuen to thoſe, to whom we giue the choiſe as well of the one as of the other. Which thing our anceſters portrayed with a white wand, ſuch as Ambaſſadors vſe to carrie that intreat for peace; and a ſpeare adioyned, as the Romanes did to the Carthaginians, or elſe with two ſpeares, the one whereof had his point tipped with ſteele, the other blunted with a knobbe of wood on the end.

C. Mutius when in ſteede of Porſena King of the Hetruſcans, who had beſieged Rome,Liuius lib. 2. Valerius. he had ſlaine the kings ſecretarie, was ſo angrie with himſelfe that he thruſt his right hand into the fire which he had made to ſacrifice withall.

Anacharſis the Philoſopher compared lawes to cobwebbes,Valerius the great becauſe they troubled & oppreſſed the little flies, and ſuch ſmall volatiles, but neuer touched the great ones. Which thing we ſee to be too true in iudgements now adayes, whileſt the mightie are ſauoured, and the poore and meaner ſort taxed, and ſeuerely handled.

Plutarch. Valerius the great.Lituns being a crooked ſtaffe, whereupon the ſouthſayers ſate when they deuined of things to come, which Romulus vſed inſteede of an Iuorie ſcepter, periſhed not in the middeſt of the flame at Rome, but was found ſafe and ſound in the middeſt of the ſame.

M. Sceua a moſt valiant knight of Iulius Caeſats,Appian. in that battaile which he fought againſt Pompey, loſt one of his eyes, and had his body thruſt thorow ſeuen times, his ſhield was found alſo to be pearced with a hundred and twentie darts.Caeſar. And (as Caeſar himſelfe reporteth) notwithſtanding that his ſhield was ſtrooke thorow 230. places,Sueton. Valerius yet he kept the gate ſtill, and the entrance, which he had taken vpon him to defend. And whileſt he went in the foreward of the battell in France and fought hand to hand with his enimies, his hippe being ſore hurt, and his face bruſed with great ſtones, his helmet, and his ſhield broken, and fallen out of his hand, and his ſword ſhiuered in diuerſe peeces, and being armed with a double breſt plate, with great holdneſſe caſt himſelfe into the ſea, and by ſwimming thorow the waters which he had made redde with the bloud of his enimies, he came to his owne men. Whither when he was come, as ſoone as he perceiued himſelfe to be vnarmed, which by the law of armes was forbidden, he cried out to the Prince (for he truſted not yet to ſo many dangers which he had ouercome.) Oh noble Emperour forgiue me, I come to thee vnarmed. This was the vertue and manly proweſſe of Sceua, wherefore for a reward, he was preferred to the dignitie of a Centurion.

William of He • ant Earle of Oſtreueant,Froſſard. ſonne of Albert duke Raua • i • , Earle of Ha • au • , Holland, and Zel • n • about the yeare of our Lord, 1390, carried in his frandart the picture of a harrow of golde, which he ſhewed in the warres and hoſt of the chriſtians to the city of Barbarie called Aphrodiſin. For euen as the harrow doth breake in ſunder the hard clods of the fieldes, ſo doth a good prince with the equitie of his lawes and ſtatutes reſtraine the wicked, rebellious, and ſeditious, with thoſe that oppoſe themſelues againſt his authoritie and office.

Before the comming of Chriſt, the Pagans and heathen Gentiles had the truth of the myſterie of the trinitie reuealed vnto them, as it was propheſied of the God of the Sabines, whom they called Sanctum Fidium holy,lond. Fla. and truſtie, and Semipater halfe a father. They carried him into the citie, affirming that hee conſiſted of three names, when in deede he was but one. And although there was a temple conſecrate to that trinitie on Quirinal hill, yet carried it the name but of one onelie. And of ſuch great eſtimation was that three fold image, that in al ages it had the ſoueraigntie, where vnder was figured the trinitie of the Godhead is one vnitie, to wit, Deus fidius, Plinie. which was the middeſt God. Thus the nation of the Sabins was moſt religious, and therefore haue they purchaſed them a name accordingly. Neither is it to be doubted, but that the olde Gentiles to whom religion was more acceptable, had greater light and knowledge of the true faith.

The rigor of Moiſes law towards ſeruants was ſuch,Exod. 21. Deut. 15. that he who had fulfilled the exact time of his bondage, a choiſe ſhould be giuen him, either to be ſet at libertie, or elſe to be bondman to his maiſter as long as he liued. If the ſeruant chooſe to be bonde, his maiſter ſhould bore his eare with an alle, & that was called free wil ſeruice. The ſame ought euery chriſtian man to do, who, as it were a free ſeruant vnder the law of grace, ought to offer his eare to God, that he may make it capable, & obedient to his commandements. This great benefit is to be imbraced of all men, which thing the Pſalmiſt ſemeth to inſinuate in this place, where he ſaith,Pſal. 39 thou haſt bored or made readie my eares. There are others that interprete the place of Moiſes otherwiſe, that ſuch voluntarie bondage, did ſignifie thoſe that gaue themſelues wholy to earthly pleaſures, reſeruing no time to amendement, nor yet euer ſeeking to redeeme themſelues into the libertie of the ſpirit of God (which is our ſeruice by faith in Ieſus Chriſt) wherefore their eares doe ſignifie perpetuall calamitie and miſerie.

God our creator (as Saint Peter,1. Pet. 5. • ames. 4. Luk. 1. Iames and Luke doe witnes) doth reſiſt the proude, the high minded, louers of themſelues, and the arrogant, but giueth grace to the humble and lowlie. Wherein he ſeemeth to imitate the lightning, which leaueth vntouched thinges that are low, and ſtriking thoſe that are loftie and high, as Horace in theſe wordes beareth record.

Galeatius Marie duke of Milan, the ſonne of Francis Sforce, was of ſuch effeminate & libidinous diſpoſition of minde, that he offered violence, & defiled honorable matrones, and chaſt virgins. Which extreame wickednes made him ſo odious both to his owne nation, & to ſtrangers which were ſubiect vnto him alſo, that in the ende it grewe to be his deſtruction. For one Andrew Lampugnan of Milan a courtier with the aſſiſtance of two of his companions, grieuouſly offended at him (eſpecially for the intollerable oppreſſion, which the ſaid duke had vſed againſt a certaine abbot his brother, and that in the abbey or monaſterie) conſpired his death. Which conſpiracie after that Lampugnan had once conceiued in his minde, fearing to ſet vpon the prince, or to ſmite him, whoſe beautie, comelines and maieſtie, danted and appaled him, inuented a way, whereby he might both perſeuere, & alſo beſtrengthened and confirmed in his purpoſe: to wit he cauſed an image of the duke to be ingrauen verie cunning lie in a table, whereunto, as often as hee came, hee thruſt his ſword thorow it, hauing vſed this policie a while, he was greatly confirmed to performe the deede: and entetering the church with the reſt of the ſame conſpiracie, he meeteth the duke, garded with a great traine, as it were to ſalute him, and giuing him three great woundes in the bellie, he ſlue him. Thus died this miſerable and wicked prince, who conſidered not the ſaying of Claudian, that neither watching by night nor garding by day of troupes & bands of men keepeth not the perſon of the prince ſo ſure as loue doth. And truly our God a iuſt God of reuenge hath commended to vs amitie, friendſhip and peace one with another, which whoſoeuer doth breake and violate, euerie where, and to the laſt breath the Lord will puniſh him.

Dionyſius the tyran being king of Sici •• vpon a time perecauing himſelfe to be exceedingly praiſed of a certaine thraſonicall paraſite,Cicero. Damocles by name, for his great riche • coſtly ornaments & the like, accounting him happier then any man that liued beſides, 〈◊〉 anſwered the flatterer after this manner, Damocles, quoth he, ſeeing that our fate doth like thee ſo well, go to, wilt thou make trial of our happines, and taſt of our fortune. Ye • ſir, ſaid the others, if it pleaſe your grace with all my heart. Wherupon the tyran commanded a chamber to be prepared for him, the poſtes and bedſteads gliſtering with gold, 〈◊〉 cupbordes, and benches furniſhed with veſſels of ſiluer curiouſly wrought, and you •• men of an excellent beautie ſtanding abo •• the table brauely attired, as it were readie t • obey Damocles commaundement. The •• were alſo oyntmentes, corolles, garlandes 〈◊〉 floures, and other fragrant odours. The table was furniſhed with all kind of dainties, 〈◊〉 as Damocles thought himſelfe to be in the top of all felicitie, vntill at the laſt, the tyra •• commanded a naked ſworde to be hanged 〈◊〉 a ſmall haire or thread, ouer the flatterer head, the point thereof touching his nec •• where he being admoniſhed, and fearing th • eminent danger, lothed that which before he thought to be the chiefeſt happines, deſpiſed the beautie of the young men, and diſdained the dainties, the golden veſſels, corols, ſweete • dours, and elſe whatſoeuer. And being full • f feare, beſought the king to ceaſſe from ſuch dangerous ieſting, & praying that ſuch • erilous felicitie might neuer happen vnto • im. In which thing the tyran ſhewed ſufficiently, that there was no felicitie, where there was continuall feare, and anguiſh of ex •• came deſtruction. Eſpecially if we referre • his to the ſword of Gods iuſtice, hanging o • er the neckes of the wicked and vngodly, as • t were in a moſt ſmall and ſlender thred.

Heraclitus willing to inſinuate the Atheniens, that they ought to be content with the liberall gifts of nature, and that they ought to liue together in peace and tranquillitie, if they were wiſe, caſt meale with his hand into • glaſſe full of water.

Neceſſity is the chiefeſt thing that ſtirreth men vp to practiſe ſubtil ie and craft: which thing the rauen (whereof Plinie ſpeaketh) hath ſufficienth procued,Plinie. who laboring with thirſt, and ſpying a veſſell wherein was ſome water, but ſo deepe as ſhee could not drinke, ſhe filled verie craftely the veſſell with little ſtones, vntill the water which was in the bottome, ſwelled vp to the toppe, and ſo ſhe dranke her fill.

Both thoſe that are the authors of conſpiracies and thoſe that are acceſſaries to the ſame, do both of them deſerue puniſhment. The which thing we reade to haue happened to the 300 Foxes which Samſon ſent with fire brands tyed to them,Iudges. 1 into the fieldes of the Philiſtines.

Tarquine the proud,T. Liuius later. the great. deſiring to make knowne his mind cloſely to his ſonne being abſent from him, and ſuppoſing it was not the beſt to reueale his intent to the noble man whom his ſonne had ſent to him, tooke him into his garden, as it were to walke, where he cut off with his ſtaffe al the higheſt heads of the Chesboles: By which act his ſonne vnderſtood, it was his fathers pleaſure, that the nobles, and eſpecially the Gabionits, ouer whom togither with his father he triumphed, and thorow pollicie exerciſed no ſmal authoritie amongſt them, ſhould be corrected and puniſhed with extreme puniſhment. And thus by this ſubtile deuiſe, Tarquinius ſeemed to inſinuate to his ſonne his bloudie ſentence, as though he ſuppoſed (as far as may be coniectured) that a prince ought to ſubdue his countrie, and make both it and all noble men elſe whatſoeuer ſubiect and obedient vnto him.

The nature of a riddle or ſiue doth repreſent the good and honeſt, for euerie ſiue deuideth the good corne, and the profitable graine, from the vnprofitable: ſo in like manner both the good and the euill, haue knowledge to iudge and diſcerne betwixt the nature and propertie of things, which the wicked do not, but heape vp euerie thing without the • idle or fiue of reaſon.

The Daniſh hogſhead as Poets do report, was ſo full of holes, & ſlif • ers, that whatſoeuer was powred into it, ran forth againe. Wherefore Plutarch,Plutar. Terence Terēce, & other authors haue compared praters, ianglers, vngratefull perſons, and couetous men to the ſame: for that clatterers or blabbers of their tongues cannot keepe any ſecrets, but vtter all, and more too: the vngratefull doth neuer thanke him that hath done him good, the couetous are neuer contented, nor ſatiſfied with enough.

Amphisbena a moſt ſtrange ſerpent found in the deſerts of Libia, hauing a head at both ends,Ariſtotle Plinie. to the end that ſhe may either bite and purſue her enimie, or elſe at her pleaſure run away. Which may be a figure of double faced traitors, and ſecreat domeſticall enimies, the danger of whom is ſo much the more to be feared, by how much the more truer it is, that no peſtilence (as Cicero teſtifieth) is of greater force,Cicero. than this kind of men. Of whom this prouer be is wont to be vſed, in this ſenſe, In the one hand he carrieth a ſtone, in the other he ſheweth bread.

Noble deeds, famous enterpriſes, and illuſtrious exploites brought forth the firſt beginning of true and ancient nobilitie,Tro. Pomp. which thing the memorable example of Liſimachus the Macedonian doth proue, who is ſaid to haue left to his poſteritie a moſt notable monument of the valiancie and excellencie of his minde. For being caſt amongſt the Lions by the commādement of Alexander he think his arme into the mouth of the Lyon, & pulling forth his tongue, killed him. The king ſeeing the valiancie of Liſimachus gaue him great authoritie, and cauſed a cittie which he had built to be called by his name, Liſimach •• .

Nature which way ſoeuer it be wreſted, wil yer returne againe into his owne nature and proper condition. Experience hereof we haue in trees, into the which if thou graffeſt by art ſp • igges or twif • es, or takeſt away the branches by violence, yet notwithſtanding they will bring forth new branches in their owne naturall height. The like is in beaſtes, and other naturall things: whereof is riſen that old adage, Thou canſt not make a good Goſhauke of a Buſtard, nor a good Courtier of a countrie clowne: for as Horace ſaith.

The ſhelf • ſh or coc ••• fiſh either of his c •• e, or by his forme, is alwayes readie to 〈◊〉 this c • imie, becauſe which way ſoeuer he falleth, he hath his prickes vpward; So the wicked and vngodly do continually hurt and oppreſſe with extreme miſerie thoſe with whom they haue to do.

The ſweete baites of worldly thinges if they be conſidered a farre off, do promiſe great things to men, and lift them vp into a wonderfull hope, but if they be conſidered neere hand, thou ſhalt finde that they are nothing but meere vanitie and deceipt. Such be the ſnares of batfowlers cunningly framed to intrappe the poore birds.

The power of man, neither can, nor ought to attempt ought againſt the power of God, as it was reuealed to Valentinus the Emperor,Gregory Nazianz. who being infected with the hereſie of the Arrians, after that he had writ with his owne hand many things concerning the preſcription, and baniſhment of Baſill, he was not able to make an end, his penne refuſing three times to let downe any more inke. Notwithſtanding he reſtrained not himſelfe from confirming and ratifying his wicked law, and decree, before a great trembling inuaded his hand, wherewith he being ſtrooken, and conceiuing great feare withall, what ſo euer he had writ, he rent it preſently.

About the raigne of Auguſtus Caeſar (as Plinie beareth record) there appeared at Rome a ſtarre garland,Plinie. or crowne round about the ſunne, as it had beene of wheate eares, with circles of ſundrie colours.Sueton. Suetonius ſpeaking of this wonder, remembreth but of one circle, like the rainebowe, compaſſing in the globe of ye ſame. But Dion following narrowly the deſcription of Plinie,Dion. beſides that ſtrange ſtarre which then appeared, and that vnaccuſtomed, affirmeth alſo that the light of the ſunne was darkened by reaſon of three other greater circles compaſſing it about, one wherof repreſented the forme of a garlād of eares. Dion addeth farther that the ſun gaue ſomwhat a dimme light, now & then in the night. But this is certaine, that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt the true light, and true ſonne of righteouſnes was borne in the dayes of Auguſtus Caeſar, whoſe birth and comming into the world, bringing a heape of al goodnes to man, might as wel be reuealed by the miniſterie of the angels, as his paſſion and death was foreſhewed according to the Goſpel, to wit, when the ſon was obſcured, and darkneſſe was throughout al the world. But it ought not to ſeeme ſtrange although the ſignes and wonders that went before Chriſts birth, were obſerued of the heathen, albeit otherwiſe ignorant, when as thoſe things which followed his paſſion and reſurrection were had in great eſtimation, to wit, the darkeneſſe being noted by Dioniſius Areopagita, whileſt that wandring thorow Egypt with Apollophanes his ſchoolemaſter, he ſtudied Philoſophie, & through the greatneſſe of his wit and knowledge,Suidas. perceiuing the ſun to be darkned beyond the courſe of nature: ſaid, either the God of nature doth ſuffer, or the engine of the world is diſſolued.Plinie in his. 2. booke. Moreouer concerning the earthquake before the reſurrection of Chriſt in Plinie after the iuſt computation of yeares, we find theſe verſes written and recorded.

An egge that is new and full of iuyce being caſt into the deepe,Plinie. Quintil. ſincketh downe preſently, but a rotten one being caſt into the water ſwimmeth a loft. So by how much the leſſe wiſedome is in a man, by ſo much the more doth he bewray his folly by his ſelfe loue, and ambition. Vpon the other ſide, how much the wiſer a man is, ſo much the humbler, and quieter of minde he is, and far from all braging, and oſtentation.

Brome ſtalkes or other boughes tyed to ſtiles, or ſtucke vp by heapes of ſtones erected by trauellers to direct them in their way, ſignifieth that vertue is the onely guide to euerlaſting felicitie.

The getting of riches, and deſired happineſſe is a thing verie hard, and vneaſie to be come by. Adde hereto, that pouertie doth greatly hinder the ſame good proceeding, and remoueth the acceſſe to the ſame.

Clemens de Medicis, the ſeuenth of that name Biſhop of Rome, vſed for his Enſigne a blaſing ſtarre or comet. Ariſtotle for the explaining thereof ſaith:Ariſtotle. Euen as euerie newe comet hath neuer heeretofore portended to men either proſperous ſucceſſe and good fortune, or elſe ſome great hurt and detriment: ſo by the gouernment of a newe prince in a common weale, either abundance of felicitie or finall deſtruction followeth therevpon.

When two fires which our elders called by the name of Caſtor and Pollux doe appeare together, they foreſhew a proſperous voyage and good luck, but if one alone doth appeare, it is a ſigne and token of euill lucke to inſue: In like manner if the loue betwixte the huſband and the wife doeth flouriſh in a houſe, it is a certaine ſigne of tranquilitie and domeſticall happines. But vppon the other ſide, if thorough the frowardnes of either of them they be diuided, it fore ſheweth ruine and deſtruction to be at hand. Furthermore, vnder the ſolitude or onelie appearnace of one of them, may bee vnderſtoode howe petillous a thing it is, to haue riches and authority without wiſdome to gouerne well.

The goodnes of gold is not onely tryed by ringing, but alſo by the touchſtone: ſo the triall of godlines and faith is to bee made not of wordes onely, but alſo by the action & performance of the deedes.

Iangling and prating out of time, and to ſmall purpoſe, is very wel compared to the blas • ering noiſe of a whisking winde.

It is to bee counted one of the chiefeſt pointes of a valiant Captaine, if he know to alter and chaunge daunger into vertue. As for example, If hee bee inferiour vnto his enemie in regarde of time and place, to conueigh awaie both himſelfe and his arme from their violence and force by ſome kinde of deuice or pollicie, and making himſelfe ſeeme terrible to his foes, as Hannib • l that noble Captaine did once, wh • n to feare his enemies withall, he tied firebrandes to the heads of his oxen in the night ſeaſon.

The graſſe groweth and increaſeth vppon the ground, and yet no man can perceiue his increaſe: ſo honeſtie and vertue cannot eaſilie be perceiued but by example & practiſe.

Diligence and continuall exerciſe doubtleſſe is of ſuch great force, that at the length it imitateth and matcheth nature her her ſelfe, which thing is verified in Domitianus the Emperour, who had ſuch ſingular skil and dexteritie in throwing the dart, that caſting two at a wilde beaſt, hit him vppon the forehead ſo cunningly, that the beaſt ſeemed to ſtande as though he had had two naturall hornes growing vpon his head.

The Gouſhauke is wont to prune her ſelfe, & ſet her fethers in order againſt the beames of the Sunne: ſo hee that will come to Chriſt our Lord, it behoueth him to put off all wickednes and ſinne, and tobe clothed with new apparell, and amendement of life.

The picture of the ſpread Eagle, after the common opinion, began to be carried in inſignes and ſtandardes after this manner. There happened diviſion in the Empire, and therefore was it tranſlated in Charles the great his daies, into the Eaſt and W • ſt parts, (as Wolfangus Lazius hiſtoriographer to the king of the Romanes ſaith) in the dayes of Conſtantine the great, who of the common weale of Rome being one, made two, the one the Romane Empire, the other the Conſtantinopolitane Empire.

To eſtabliſh the ſtate of chriſtian religion,Act. 20. and to preſerue the ſoundnes and integritie of the ſame, it ſhall be neceſſarie that the faithfull preachers of Gods word by their examples and liuing doe exerciſe th • ir dutie of preaching the worde diligently without ceaſing.

Euerie ones loue and faithfulnes towards his prince ought to be moſt conſtant & firme, and ſuch as may not bee ſhaken ot extinguiſhed through anie force of winds or tempeſts ruſhing in, to wit, becauſe we ſeeme to keepe our watch rounde, that the more the windes blowe, the ſurer it keepeth fire burning ſtill.

The conſpirators of the death of Iulius Caeſar diſſoluing the Senate,Appian. carried through the ſtreetes in Rome a hat or cap vpon the point of a ſpeare, (which was a token of libertie and freedome) becauſe then it was a cuſtome to giue to Saints a cap or a hat, & to make them free: by this deuice ſtirring vp the people of Rome againſt the ciuill magiſtrates, promiſing them vndoubted libertie. But it fell out farre otherwiſe, for the ſame yeare all they were put to the ſword that were of that conſpiracie. Hereby it appeareth, that that licentious libertie to ſinne, which ſome ſuppoſe to be libertie, is mere ſeruitude and bondage.

To a perfect common wealth theſe two things be required, the pen and the ſwoorde, that is, councell and good letters in deliberating of affaires, and the ſworde in the execution of the ſame.

The boxing glaſſe that Phiſitions vſe, which are ſaid to be windie, do ſuck vp and exhauſt the corrupt bloud:Plutarch. but the minde that is wickedly inclined, ſeeketh after nothing but that which is euill.

Sampſon ſometimes troubled or verie hard beſtead with a meruailous great thirſt, called for helpe at Gods hands, who preſently perceiued comfort or eaſe of water that iſſued out of the iawe bone of an aſſe,Iudg. 15. wherwith not long before he had ſlain a thouſand men. By which miracle wee are to learne that anie thing whatſoeuer, be it neuer ſo ſimple, is capable of ye grace of God, ſo that it be implored and deſired by his diuine worde, which is the true and liuely fountaine.

When two men are fighting or contending together in what contention or exerciſe ſo euer, it cannot be with what excellencie or ſtrength or equitie either of them ſtriue, but that one ſide or other catcheth ſome vexation or trouble, if not harme: and ſo it fareth in euerie point with thoſe that contend in the place of exerciſe, and in the handling of the ſtaffe, wherein they contend for ſtrength, where, no not the ouercommet himſelfe carrieth awaie the victorie without greate forcing and ſtrayning of his members.

It is moſt certaine that the puniſhment which another deſerueth by committing of offence, doth alwaies returne vpon the head of the firſt counceller. Wee may daille ſee this in ſtandards & Enſignes of warre, whereby we muſter or gather ſouldiers together to their voiage, and in battell, arme our ſelues by them, as our guides againſt the enemie: for they abide the firſt onſet and renting in peeces. Nay rather the authors of battels and ſtrife in al diſſenſions and variances, are worthier of the ſorer puniſhment, and the lawes themſelues command, that ſeuerer puniſhment be inflicted vppon them, than vpon the fighters themſelues. And to the preſent purpoſe belongeth that which Aulus. Gellius writeth of the wicked dealing of the Hetrurian ſouthſaiers.Au. Gel. For they beeing called vpon by the Romanes, that they ſhould in open aſſemblie conſulte about Horatius Cocles image, that was ſtriken with lightning (as they were priuie enemies of the Romanes) after that they had decreed that the image ſhould be carried into a more deſert place, where the Sunne could not come to it at al to benefit it. When accuſation of this their deuice was made, and their falſhood and trecherie in this caſe made knowen, they were killed, & the image it ſelfe was tranſlated with a great deale more honor into Vulcans court or hall. Wherfore the young youth turning this falſe diuination into a more plauſible interpretation for the common wealth (becauſe, as good lucke woulde haue it, it fell out happilie for the common wealth) went crying vp & down the Citie, and in great choler as it were▪ broke forth into theſe ſpeeches: Euill councell is worſt to the councell giuer.

Plutarch writeth that Scylurus of Chaero • ea lying vpon his deathbed,Plutar. offred to his 80. ſonnes one by one a bundle of dartes or arrowes, to be broken in peeces. The which when they went about to do, and could not preuaile, and had anſwered that it was vnpoſſible, their father vntied the bundle, and taking them euerie one out one after another, broke them with great facilitie and eaſe, teaching them thereby, that they were inuincible & vnable to be ouercome, as long as they continued in peaceable league, and quietnes togither, but if they were once drawne one from another by diſſention, and ſedition, they would eaſily fall into captiuitie, and into their enimies hands. That which Plinie noteth not much vnilke to this, might hither be adduced,Plinie. of the ſtones of Scyrus lying in one of the Cyclades, which being whole, ſwome vpon the toppe of the water, but being broken, they ſuncke by and by. Therefore let this ſimbole of darts faſt ioyned togither in a bundle, and alſo of the forenamed ſtones ſignifie thus much, that leagues of what couenants ſoeuer are inuincible, if you vſe prudence for the band of the ſame.

Saint Paul when he was in the Iland of Malta a Viper light vpon his hand,Acts. 28. yet receiued he no hurt thereby (although the Barbarians thought otherwiſe) but ſhooke off the Viper into the middeſt of the fire, whereof we may ſee, that they to whom Gods mercie is readie at hand, nothing can hurt, or annoy.

The burning firebrands which the Romaines were wont to carrie before their princes (as we may ſee in moſt of the monuments and coynes of ancient kings, whereof Herodian maketh mention,Herodian where he writeth of the diuination of Gordianus Caeſar) do plainly ſignifie, that Princes, Emperors, captaines, and pretors (vnto whom authoritie vnder the king was committed to determine cauſes) ought to ſhine before all others in the brightneſſe of vertue, and equitie.

The Pſalmiſt making mention of the vnmeaſurable bountifulneſſe and liberalitie of Gods grace, pietie, clemencie, and prouidence, ſaith, Benedices coronae anni benignitatis tuae, Pſal. 64. thou crowneſt the yeare with thy goodneſſe, and thy ſteppes droppe fatnes. Whereby he giueth vs to vnderſtand, that a yearely renuing, and a ſucceſſiue and continuall returning of plentiouſneſſe of all commodities, and yearely profites, is giuen vs from the Lord in all abundance, where alſo by the figure of a ſerpent the yeare is to be vnderſtood according to the monuments of the Egyptians, which they vſed in ſteed of letters.

The power of the Romaine empire began then to decay, when the honor that the ſouldiers were wont to haue by the authoritie of ancient lawes, decreaſed by little and little, in ſo much that the Egle in their martiall enſignes yeelded to the Woolfe, to the minotaure, to the horſe, and to the wild bore. The Dragon had the laſt place, whom Claudianus famouſly ſetteth forth in many of his verſes,Claud. the ſimilitude whereof ſignifieth continuall watchfulneſſe.

The Egle hath alwayes bene the chiefeſt enſigne amongſt the Romaines, the which euen at this day belongeth to the holy Empire. And this Caius Marius, after that he had attained to the honour of the ſecond Conſulſhip, dedicating an Egle altogither to his legions or armies, according to Plinie his relation, preferred before all other enſignes.Plinie. And the Egle, becauſe ſhe is formidable and to be feared before all other birds, and as though (as it is commonly ſaid) ſhe is counted for the king of all birds, was choſen for a ſimbole or enſigne, to ſignifie a people, or nation which hath ſubdued all other whatſoeuer. But this alſo is true, that in the Romanes enſignes the Egle was wont to carrie the ſimilitude of lightning, either as a bird dedicated to Iupiter, or as carrying his armes and enſignes formoſt, or finally becauſe, as Plinie ſaith, ſhe is neuer touched with lightning.

Seruius Galba the Emperor ſignified by this ſimbole,Dion. as wel his own act • s, as his anceſtor • Therfore he purtrayed a dogge bowing himſelfe downe from the forepart of the ſhip, like as though he would leape downe: wherby he declared great vigilancie, and conſtant watching againſt all dangers whatſoeuer.

The ſumme of our ſaluation conſiſteth chiefely in the imitation of the miſerie of the paſſion, and croſſe of our redeemer Ieſus Chriſt; namely, as we ſaid before, if we paciently beare the afflictions of this tranſitorie world, that ſo we calling vpon the name of Chriſt, may vſe our ſelues thereto, and may change the bitternes of the croſſe into the cuppe of ſaluation, ſinging with the pſalmiſt, What ſhall I render to the Lord for all the good things which he hath giuen vnto me?Pſal. 116 I will take the cuppe of ſaluation, and will call vpon the name of the Lord.

By this meanes the bloody effuſion of blood is turned in the holy Martyrs and thoſe that ſuffer for the name of God, into the forme of a crowned Palme tree, or elſe an euerlaſting reward of a victorie gotten, that ſo the crowne of an immortall kingdome might be ſignified. But not thoſe onely which ſhed their blood for the confeſſion of their faith, are therefore thought worthie of the name of Martyrs, but they which following the Lord Chriſt, for the inheritance of the kingdome of heauen, take vp his croſſe, paciently bearing the contumelies, and reproches of this world, wherein the chiefeſt kinde of martyrdome is for the moſt part occupied, and exerciſed.

Horatius Farneſius duke of Camerinum, vſed the like quaternion of greene ſheaues of wheate, whereby he declared or figured, that the young youth of the noble prince (as I ſuppoſe) ſhould in time be turned into a ripe and full age.

There is perpetuall enimitie betwixt the dragon & the Egle.Plinie. Whereby it commeth to paſſe that they neuer meete one the other, wt out a fierce conflict, & ſo dangerouſly are carried togither thorow the aire, that the Egle wrapped round about in the dragons taile, they fall headlong downe togither. The like is wont to happē to proud & hauty perſons whē they are at contention amongſt themſelues.

There is found euen at this day ancient coynes, with the inſcription of Veſpaſianus Caeſar vpon them, wherein there is ingrauen the figure of a high Palme tree abounding with great ſtore of fruite. Furthermore it is moſt certaine that that moſt noble and fruitfull tree grew in Iudea, when it was ſubdued, and brought into ſubiection by the force and power of that mightie Prince. Wherfore this preſaging type of the Palme tree, doth ſignifie not onely the region of Iurie, but alſo the deſtruction of that nation, and Gods perpetuall deſtruction againſt the poſteritie thereof.

Theſe ſwords which are placed & ſtand forth of a round circle, and a trembling Hare in the middeſt thereof, do ſignifie vnto vs, that a ſafe refuge, is in no place granted to offenders, either in the field, or in the citty, or in any other place in bodie or ſpirite. For ſo both in infinite other places, and alſo in Moſes the ſcripture threatneth, ſaying,Deut. 31 The ſword ſhall deſtroy them abrode, and feare at home.

Dion reporteth that three monuments of triumph,Dion. were ingrauen in the • ing of Pompeyus, wherewithall he vſed to ſ •• le, like as Scylla vſed to haue. The which ſimbole without all doubt, foreſheweth a monument of the noble exploits of them both.

As a tree is kept from growing, and choked as it were by the growing of Iuie about the ſame, ſo a matter in law, although it be neuer ſo vniuſt, thorow the art and wit of the cloquent lawier doth wreſt the law after their owne will and pleaſure.

By the watching clocke of the cocke and the trumpet, it is eaſie to iudge what difference there is betwixt the condition of warre and peace.

From an eare to a handful, from a handful to a ſheaue. So a poore man by good councell, wiſedome & diligence ought to vſe the good gifts that are lawful for him, & giuē vnto him. Wherto when he is come by Gods benefites, it is needfull that he ſtay himſelfe ſometimes, & ſix that moſt f • rtunate ſufficiency of things being a true crowne of riches for a marke or ſcope: remembring in this caſe alwayes theſe verſes of a certaine french Poet (whoſe name if I knew, I would no more conceale it, then I would his worthie praiſe which he deſerueth by it) as followeth.

There ſtood in Lacedemon the picture of Bacchus, holding a long ſpeare with Iuie round about it, growing vp to the verie point thereof, which was couered with the ſame. Which ſignified that wars were to be waged, not by force, or might, but were to be directed by councell, pollicie, and art: for to ſuch arts martiall force is ſubiect.

By this Symbole of the Marſhal of S. Andrew, being an arme and a ſwoord, which is ſayde properly to belong to Alexander the great, cutting in ſunder Gordius knot in the ancient pallas of Midas, may be vnderſtoode (in my opinion) the prowes of the valyant Prince. And alſo, that things beeing otherwiſe vneaſie and difficult, are by manhod and ſtrength made eaſie.

As the Bittle is bred and nouriſhed in the excrements and dong of a horſe, but beeing in the middeſt of roſes dieth: ſo theſe youths that are ſo nice, & giuen ouer to carnall pleaſure, the ſtudie of godlineſſe and other good vertues delighteth them not, deſiring rather to be polluted with the filthie dong of carnall pleaſure and wickednes.

Wee reade it written in the French Chronicles, that one Gontranus king of Burgundie, being vppon a time wearie with hunting,Annals of France. and falling on ſleepe, his ſeruants watching by him in a certain field, by a riuer ſide running hard by, there came out of the kings mouth a little beaſt, and aſſaied to paſſe ouer the riuer. VVhich when the kinges ſeruant ſawe, he drew out his ſword, whervpon as on a bridge, the little beaſt paſſed ouer the riuer, & went into a hole or caue that was in a hill ouer againſt it. From whence ſhe came foorth againe by and by, and going ouer againe by the ſword as by a bridge, went againe into the kings mouth. VVhen the king awaked, he told his man the like dreime that he had ſeene, to wit, that he went ouer a riuer vpon an yron bridge, and ſo into a caue vnder a hill, where he ſawe great treaſure hidde. When his man heard that, he tolde him in order what had happened when he was on ſleepe. So the king cauſed the inner parte of the hill to bee opened, whereout he digged abundance of golde and ſiluer, which he beſtowed vpon the poore and needie, and alſo gaue much to the vſe of diuerſe Churches. And alſo with the ſame treaſure he cauſed the coffine of Saint Marcell neere to Chalon at Saona, where he was thought to be buried.

The Ape is ſayde to loue his young ones ſo vnmeaſurablie,Plinie. that whileſt hee clippeth them in his armes more then reaſon would, hee after killeth them with griping them ſo faſt to him. In like manner many parents are wont to be ſo lauiſh in the nice education of their children, that with their too much cockering of them, at the laſt they bring them to naught.

It is recorded of a certaine Indian, that was of ſuch dexteritie in throwing of a dart, that he could caſt it a great way off tho • ugh a ring of ſmall compaſſe. VVherefore • hen he was commanded by king Alexander to ſhew his cunning before him, hee coulde not by anie meanes bee perſwaded to doe it. For the which cauſe hee was condemned by the kings ſentence to die. And beeing asked therefore he would not do ſo ſmall a matter for the kings pleaſure, anſwered, that hee fea • ed leaſt hee ſhould happilie miſſe of his vſu • all cuſtome of throwing. When Alexander ſawe that he did it, not ſo much for rebellion • s for feare and ſhame, hee commanded the condemned man to be ſet at libertie, wondering at his diſpoſition, which was verie deſirous of glorie, deſiring rather to die than to diminiſh or diſcredit the fame and excellenti: of his knowledge and cunning.

If this people which before all other nations vainely vexed and troubled the whole world, that they might ſtill increaſe and ad • ance their owne power and glorie, & make immortall as it were, had at the laſt vſed • ome good and wholeſome councell, and loo • ed into their own ſtate, that they might earneſtly and deeply at the length haue weighed that the ſymbole, and author, and father as it • ere,Ouid. Seruius Romulus (which was a bundell of haie • anged vpon a pik or lance) meant, they had • euer ſuſtained ſo many, and ſo great vexation both of bodie and minde, eſpecially beholding ſo ſodaine an alteration of humane affaires, and moſt of all, of thoſe things which belong properly to this fleſhly and earthlie • ody, whoſe mutabilitie and inconſtancie the Prophet compareth to greene graſſe and fa •• ing floures.Eſay. 40

As we are wont to vſe a flap made of the eied or ſtarred feathers of a pecocke to beate awaie I •• s:S. Ierome ſo wee ought to driue from vs & to purge our ſelues of pleaſure, and all kinde of fleſhly luſt with great watchfulnes &c re.

The Perſians in the daies of Zeno the Emperour ſuffered due puniſhment for their deſerts, for the hoſt of the Perſians had thought by ſubtiltie to ruſhe headlong vpon Caeſars Enſignes (where vppon conditions of peace concluded of betwixte both the nations,Procop. did hang and was ſhewed) and to rende them in peeces. But ere they were aware, the Perſian king with his children and the chiefe of his armie were taken in a trench which the Romanes had prepared. And alſo not long after all the reſt of the armie that were left by policie were diſcomfited, and not one left which was not deſtroied.

The moſt gracious Dutches of Berie, Margaret by name, expreſſed the ſingular affection her hart in this Embleme of two ſerpents, putting foorth both their heades out of the boughes of an Oliue tree: ſhewing that the true gouernment of all things is beſt helde faſt, and holden vp by the maſt of wiſedome and pollicie.

Whither ſo euer Baſanus king of the Scicambrians Diocles ſonne went, he commanded alwaies a ſword to be carried before him, on the top wherof was faſtned a rope or halter, and that for a teſtimonie of inuiolate iuſtice. For he was a king, beſides that hee was famous in all other vertues, that was alſo a diligent cenſor and keeper of iudgement and equitie, inſomuch that hee ſpared not in his owne ſonne when hee offended, but ſeuerelie puniſhed him.

The Admirall Cabotius alwaies vſed for his armes, a round circle or globe like a ball, (that I may ſo tearme it) ſwelling with wind, with this inſcription, I ſhaken and toſt, doe ariſe, which ſufficiently vnfoldeth this ſimbole.

A fielde rake or harrow tied to the letter y (which they call one of the Pythagoricall characters) which Marcus Petrus Moruillier chanceller of France, challenged to himſelfe for his armes, as wee may ſee in the Church dedicate to S. Martin in the fieldes in the citie of Paris, doeth giue vs ſufficient admonition, that labour doeth make the waie to at • ine vnto vertue.

Charles the ſixt king of the Francons hunting in the foreſt of Senliana for a Hart that had about his necke a chaine or wreath of braſſe burniſhed with gold, with an inſcription to this effect: This Caeſar hath me giuen, and deſiring to leaue behind him this memorable pray to the knowledge of his poſteritie, tooke a running Hart for his armes, hauing his necke compaſſed about with a crowne.

A garland of thornes made faſt to a reed or bal bruſh, reſembleth a type of the paſſion of our ſauiour Ieſus Chriſt, ſignifieng his heauenlie and euerlaſting kingdome, and his victorie ouer the world and ſathan the prince of this world, whom he vanquished.

Pompeius Magnus being made head gouernor of the armie,Plutarch. & ſent of Scilla into Sicilia, behaued himſelfe not onely vigilantly, ſtoutly and valiantly, but alſo ſhewed himſelf a iuſt captaine with maruellous great equity. So that if he knew of any that went out of the campe on forraging, and either robbed, or committed any outragious fact, he would ſeuerely puniſh them. Moreouer that he might reſtraine and bridle his ſcouts and poſts from oppreſſing of thoſe that they met withall, he marked or ſealed their ſwords with his owne ſignet which he wore.

Like as corne (as Seneca ſaith) is diuerſe times ouerwhelmed of it ſelfe,Seneca. and the eares caſt downe thorow ouermuch rancknes, ſo alſo the immoderate heaping vp of commodities and pleaſures is hurtful to good wits, and to thoſe which in other reſpects carrie verie good mindes.

There was an ancient cuſtome amongſt the Romaines, that to euerie gouernor of any countrey or prouince newly created, for congratulation ſake onely as a ſigne of good luck to enſ • e, ſhould be giuen, in honour of them ſeuen ſhillings to euerie one, a clot or turfe, a key and a ball or globe. The clot they gaue in token that the Magiſtrates ought to beſtow al their diligēce, that meats ſhould not become dearer, but yt they ſhould remaine in the ſame price that they were, at that no dearth, want, nor hunger might ariſe. Moreouer, that the publike affaires might be moderate, and executed with ſuch wiſedome and clemencie, as in giuing of a clot o • peece of earth, they thanked the deputie or gouernor for their fieldes, and corne. The key they gaue in token that he ought to expend and way of their liberty, and his owne authoritie in bidding and commanding. The ſphere or globe, they gaue to ſignifie his puiſſant right and authoritie. So Alexander interpreted a globe or ſphere giuen him of Darius. Except wee had rather that the ſphere ſhould ſignifie the gouernment of ciuill pollicie, and martiall diſcipline.

The Romaines ſuppoſed it the chiefeſt reward of famous deedes, if they adorned their Emperors, captaines, knights, & other cōmen ſoldiers, euery one notwithſtāding according to their dignity, degree & place, with crownes or garlands, which they called militares coronas, martiall crownes, or crownes of chiualrie. And becauſe they were ſignes and tokens of their vertue, noble exploits, and inuincible mindes: the chiefeſt and famouſt had their purtraitures, with their Apothegmes & poſies, and that as well for the perpetuall remembrance of their worſhip, and ancienty as alſo for the oblectation, pleaſure, & eſperance to thoſe that ſhould come after, attending & ſeeking after the honor of vertue, with the reward & praiſe therof. Which things are eſpecially due to thoſe who are the reuengers, the patrons & redeemers of the common wealth (which ought greatly to be regarded of al mē) The firſt crowne yt was giuen, was called triumphall, which being platted wt laurel bowes, and berries, was offered to inuincible triumphers. To whom it was lawfull, & that by the decree of the ſenate, to ſolemne their triumph vp and downe the cittie in great charets, and wagons, as vanquiſhers, and ſubduers of their enimies: the ſenate being aduertiſed firſt of 5000. of their enimies to be ſlaine togitherin one battel. Which triumphant crowne, in proceſſe of time, the Empire decreaſing, was afterwards interlaced with vnions, and diuerſe other precious ſtones. And laſt of all, it was changed from the natural laurell, into a grauen laurell compaſſed about with a circle of gold, as is to be ſeene yet to this day in old coynes and pictures.

If any citizē had deliuered his citty out of any ſingular dāger in battel, & had preſerued it in ſafety, he was rewarded by another wt a crown or garland, platted wt Oke leaues, becauſe in old time men liued of ſuch meats as the Okes yeelded.

A crowne of gold repreſenting the forme of a wall with pinacles and turrets vpon it, was giuen by the Emperor or gouernour, or gouernor of the armie to him that by force, and armes, ſhould firſt cl • mbe vp vpon the wals of his enimies, or any way enter into their cittie.

A crowne of gold alſo made in forme of a valey was giuen of the Emperor, or preſident of the hoſt, to him that could take the valley from his enimies.

In the ſea fight whoſoeuer could firſt giue charge vpon his enimies nauie, or fleete, and enter his ſhippe armed, was crowned with a crowne of gold made like to the forepart of a ſhippe.

The Egyptians were accuſtomed in their banquets and feaſtes to haue carried about with thē an image or picture of death, & ſhewing it to euerie one, repeating theſe verſes.

Iſidorus reporteth alſo that at Conſtantinople there was a cuſtome,Iſidorus. to put the Emperor in mind of his departure hence: The firſt day that he was to be crowned a certaine Maſon ſhould bring vnto him three or foure forts of ſtones, ſaying vnto him theſe words:

Epictetus the Philoſopher being aſked vpon a time of Adrianus the Emperor wherfore the deade were crowned with garlands, anſwered, that they might declare, how that by death they had ouercome the labors, ſorrows and imminent heape of the cares of this life. Plinie alſo ſpeaketh of the ſame crowning of the dead, witneſſing that they were accuſtomed to be offred vp after the ſame manner.

Corne, graine, and ſeeds of ſundrie ſorts, being dead and caſt into the ground do reuiue, and ſpring againe: So mans bodie falling into the ground ſhall riſe againe in glory, in the laſt and general day of the reſurrection of the fleſh.