A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 70
CHAP. LXX. Examples of strange Providences.
VVHilest Brennus with his Gaules besieged the Roman Capitol, some of them in the nighttime had with much difficulty climbed up a steep rock upon which it stood, and now were ready to scale the walls, and to set upon the sleeping watch, for neither man nor dog heard them: but it fell out that there were some holy geese kept in Juno's Temple, which hearing the Gaules began to run upon and down, and to cry for fear, by which noise the watch was awakened, and by this providence the foolish geese betrayed the Gaules, and preserved the Capitol. Plut.
Agathocles had for his Father a Potter, himself was brought up in the mire and clay: in his youth he learned nothing but impudence, whoredoms, and uncleannesse: but then turning Souldier, he was afterwards made a Captain, and marrying his predecessors Wife whom he had first defiled, he gat great riches by her, so that at last he began to attempt the Kingdom of Syracuse, but was repelled: then he joyned with the Sicilians, and brings an Army to besiege Syracuse, but prevails nothing: then he called the Cathaginians to his assistance, yet could not prevail; at last he gat the Kingdom by craft, and subtilty: turned Tyrant, murthered the Princes, and people: then passing with his Army into Africk he makes war with the Carthaginians, that had holpen him to the Kingdom: and strangely prevails in many Battels, yet at last was beaten, forsaken by his Army, Children, and Friends, so that almost alone he returned into Sicilie: keeps his Kingdom. Yet at last his Nephew usurpes the Crown, drives away his Wife, and Children from him, and slew Agathocles. Lipsius.
Leontius the Athenian Philosopher had a daughter called Athenais, who was very beautiful and witty: and therefore the old man on his death-bed divided his estate amongst his Sons, leaving her onelyonly a small Legacy: Hereupon she went to Law with her Brothers hoping to recover more of them, but being overthrown in the suit, she went to Constantinople; there she insinuated her self into the acquaintance of Pulcheria the Emperours Sister, who enquiring whether she was a Virgin, brought her into the Court, caused her to be instructed in the Principles of Christianity, and Baptized, giving her the name of Eudocia: and took such a liking to her, that she prevailed with her brother Theodosius to take her to wife: long she continued in that happy condition; but at length fell into suspicion upon this occasion: One presented the Emperour Theodosius with an apple of an extraordinary greatnesse, which for the rarity of it he sent to his wife Eudocia: she presently gave it to Paulinus, a facetious, and learned man: he knowing nothing whence it came, again presented it to the Emperour; the Emperour marking it well, knew that it was the same which he had sent to his wife: hereupon he goes to her, and asks her for the apple he sent her, she rashly affirms, that she had eaten it: he asks again more earnestly, and she affirms the same with an oath: Then the Emperour being very angry produceth the apple; and suspecting that Paulinus was too familiar with his wife, he causeth him to be slain; and divorceth his wife: she hereupon went to Hierusalem where she led the remainder of her life holily, and chastly. Lipsius.
Polycrates King of Samia had never any adversity befell him in all his life: but all things happened to him according to his desire: Heaven, Earth, and Sea seemed to favour him: wherefore having a Ring that he much prized he threw it into the Sea: but shortly after a fish being brought to his Table, he found his ring in the belly of it: But his end was not such, for fighting with Oroetes, a Lieutenant of Darius, he was overthrown, taken prisoner, and hanged upon an high Crosse, whereby he dyed a miserable, and shamefull death. Lipsius.
Valerianus the Roman Emperour after 15. yeares glorious reign, fighting with Sapores King of Persia, he was overthrown, and taken prisoner: Sapores used to lead him about with him in chains, and when he was to get on horseback, caused him to lie down on his hands and knees, and so made a footstool of him to mount his horse by. Diod. Sic.
Bajazet, the first Emperour of the Turks, having reigned victoriously ten years together, in the great battel which he fought against Tamerlane, was taken prisoner, put into an iron cage, and led about with Tamerlane three years in that manner, being fed with scraps from the Conquerours table, at last hearing that he should be so led into Tartary▪ he beat out his brains against the cage. See Tamerlan's Life in my second Part.
Charles Caraffa being made Cardinal by Pope Paul the fourth, and his brother John, Duke of Palian, and Earl of Montore, lived in great honour, and wealth all that Popes daies: but when by the help of these men especially, Pius the 4th, was made Pope, he took the two brethren, with others of their kindred, and imprisoned them in the Castle of St. Angelo, where they endured three years miserable captivity: at last by the command of the Pope, the Cardinal Charles was strangled, and his brother John's head cut off; and their bodies were thrown out into the open streets of Rome to be a gazing stock to the people. Lipsius.
Dion with a great courage but a small Army, went into Sicily to free Syracuse from the grievous Tyranny of Dionysius; and Providence so ordered it, that when he came thither▪ Dionysius was gone into Italy about other affaires: Timocrites being left his substitute in Syracuse, presently dispatches away a messenger to Dionysius to assure him of Dion's coming, and therefore to request him, (all other businesses being set aside) to hasten his return: the messenger in his journey met with a friend who had been offering sacrifice, and gave him a piece of the flesh, which he put into his budget where the Letters to Dionysius were, and not long after being weary, laid him down on the grasse to sleep; presently came a Wolfe▪ and smelling the meat, snatched up the budget, and ran away with it: the man awakens, and mis…ing his budget, durst not go to Dionysius, but turns another way: By this meanes Dion had opportunity to get Syracuse, and Dionysius lost his Kingdom. Lipsius.
In that great battel in the Philippic fields between M. Brutus, and Cassius on the one party, and Octavian Caesar, and M. Anthony on the other party: Brutus had routed and put to flight Octavian in the right wing; and Anthony had caused Cassius to retire in the left wing: yet Cassius onelyonly retreared to an hill not far off, where he could easily have rallied his men again; but by reason of the dust not knowing of Brutus his Victory, he sent L. Titinnius, his intimate friend, to see what was become of Brutus: Titinnius meets with Brutus his Souldiers triumphing for their victory, they enquire after Cassius, he tells them where he was; whereupon they accompany Titinnius to Cassius to acquaint him with the good newes: Cassius seeing them coming, and suspecting them to be enemies, and Brutus to be overthrown, causes his freeman to cut his throat; Titinnius finding him dead through his default, he cuts his own throat also: Brutus hearing of these sad accidents (with Cassius) loses his courage, and victory. Justin.
Hanibal after the Victory at Cannae domineered in Italy at his pleasure, nothing remained but the taking of Rome to compleat his work: about that time he enters into confederacy with Philip King of Macedon; upon condition that the Carthaginians should enjoy Italy, and should help Philip to subdue Greece: For the confirming of this Treaty Philip sends Xenophanes his Ambassadour to Hanibal: but he comes upon the Coast of Italy neer Tarentum, and falls in amongst the Roman Navy, where being examined what he was, and whither he went? he cunningly feignes that he was sent from King Philip to the Roman Senate to enter into a league with them against Hanibal: the Romans rejoyce exceedingly at this good newes, expecting help in their low condition from so potent a King, and so land Xenophanes, who presently travels to Hanibal, and dispatches his businesse, and so returns: but again meets with the Roman Navy, which was commanded by Q. Fulvius: he again examines Xenophanes; who tells him that he had been with the Senate at Rome, and had concluded a League betwixt Philip and them, against Hanibal: Fulvius believes him, and was about to dismisse him, but spying some in his train in African habits, he examines what they were, and growing suspitious, finds out the truth, casts them into bonds, sends them to Rome: by which meanes the City was saved. Lipsius.
Ludit in humanis divina potentia rebus.
See Strange accidents; and the Vanity of all earthly things.
When Philip King of Macedonia heard so much good newes together; viz. That Parmenio his General had obtained a notable victory over his enemies: That Alexander his son was born: And that his Chariots had wonne the prize at the Olympick games, all in one day, he called upon Fortune to spice his joyes with some bitternesse, lest he should surfeit of them, and forget himself.
Diagoras having seen his three sons crowned with Garlands of Olive for their Victories in the Olympick Games, One came running to him with this Gratulation, Morere Diagoras, non enim in coelum ascensurus…es: As if he could have enjoyed no greater happinesse on earth, then what had already befallen him.