The first Chapter . Of the essence , vnchaungeablenesse , singlenesse , and almightinesse of God .

AS Valerius Maximus , following the olde order of the auncient Oratours , who alwayes béegan their orations with the inuocation of God , first entreateth of Almighty Ioue in his worthie worke of manifolde matter : so likewise I ( that am borne nowe the day starre is risen , whereby we do more perfectly sée that al good gyftes come from aboue , & do more surely acknowledge that apt likening of God by the diuine Platonistes vnto the centre , and all creatures vnto the circle : signifying thereby , that as from the centre or midle prick , all lines do procéede into the circle and from it returne vnto the centre againe , so also from God all good things come vnto his creatures , and from them redound backe vnto his honour and glorie ) will beginne my fruitelesse fansies with a fruitefull discourse of God , not to define his essence the whiche is incomprehensible , but onely to vtter suche thinges of his being , greatnesse , singlenesse , vnchaungeablenesse , and almightinesse , as it hath pleased his vnspeakeable goodnesse to reueale vnto vs , vnskilfull men by his sacred scriptures , and holy saintes . When that Symonides , who was not only a diuine Poet , Symonides his wise answere . but also a learned & wise philosopher was demaunded of king Hiero to tel him what , & what maner of thing god was , he wisely requested of the courteous King a dayes respite to meditate on that weightie matter : but the next day being eftsoones asked , desired of the king two dayes more to consider vpon it : yea and béeing often after vrged to speake his opinion , still requested to haue the number of his dayes doubled : whereat Hiero wondering , demaunded of him the cause of his so dooing , who wisely and truly answeared him : because ( saide he ) the longer . I do muse thereof , euer the more obscure the thing séemed to be . Plato his opinion of God . Wherefore most truely said diuine Plato , that God is vnspeakeable , and vnnameable , ( if I may vse that terme : ) and woorthily did the Persians breake downe all the images of God in Greece , The Persians brake downe all Images of God . because the nothing doth resemble his substaunce , and is like vnto it , neither do we knowe any thing , or can we by imagination , deuise , or by vnderstanding conceiue . Wherefore althoughe that we do knowe by his workes that there is a God : yet do we not better vnderstande his essence or being by them , What wordes doe best declare Gods essence . then by those termes by the whiche we do flatly denie we do vnderstande it . Wée call him the creator , the King , the gouernour , the Father , the beginning , the ende , eternal , blessed , almightie , the chiefest , all in all , and by a thousande other names , inuented by the Ethnicke and christian diuines : yet by none of these woordes shall we vnderstande that he is so fully shewed , and declared , as by those termes that do bewray our ignoraunce : as when we doe call him incomprehensible , immeasurable , infinite , for by these wordes we doe not onely acknowledge him to be , but also to be ouer , and aboue more then we can conceiue : and that he who is all , aboue all , and beside all , is onely knowen of him selfe . God is no essence . de Diui. No. Wherefore doth Dionysius iustly deny that he is an essence or being : but aboue al essences and béeings that our minde can sée , our reason comprehende , In one sense God is moste properly an essence . Hier. ad Marcel . Aug. super Ioan. tract. 99. or our spéeche expresse : and therefore to bée called superessentiall .

And moreouer he affirmes that these wordes of priuation , and negation , as vncreated , vnutterable , incomprehensible , and such like , are the moste proper spéches to be vsed of God . But Hierome , Augustine , and other holy Fathers , otherwise considering of this woorde essence , or béeing : do thinke that onely God is properly an essence or being , because he is euerlastingly , neither can it be properly said of him , as touching his own nature , that he was , or shal be , but alwaies is , although that the weakenes of our vnderstanding hathe wrested forth suche manners of spéeche : as also that he doeth predestinate , foreknowe , and foresée : whereas in very déed he doth absolutely decrée , knowe , and sée , as he vnto whom all thinges past and to come are present , although that our grosse wittes must measure them by distinctions of times . Why bodily limmes and affectes are attributed vnto God . As also for the better apprehension of our dull vnderstanding , that can conceaue nothing , but by the senses : are there attributed vnto God in the sacred scriptures , hand , arme , foote , and other bodily limmes ( of all whome he being a spirite hathe none ) as also affects of the minde , anger , hatred , iealousie , loue , repentaunce , sorrow , and suche like , from whome he is farre : who is ( as he saith himselfe ) God , and is not chaunged , but alwayes remaineth one in all pointes : God onely vnchaungeable . the whiche doeth happen vnto no other : or certes if the angels do now inioye this excellencie in heauen , they haue it not of nature , but of the superaboundant grace and gyfte of God . Singular also is the singlenes of his essence , The singlenesse of Gods essence . August . de tri . lib. 6. the whiche saieth Augustine may easily be spoken and beléeued , but not séene but by a pure hart . For when we doe say that God is , that God is good , that he is greate , he is wise , he is mercifull , he is almightie , and whatsoeuer else is spoken of that single manifoldenesse , or manifolde singlenesse of God : the woordes are not to be taken in suche sense , No qualitie in God . as when they are spoken of any Creatures , yea and the singlest creature : the soule . For in the soule it is one thinge to bee , an other thing to be good , an other to bee wise , an other to be learned , and so of other qualities : and , to be , doeth signifie the essence of the soule , but the other wordes , qualities happening vnto the essence , and suche as may be away , and yet the soule still a soule . But so must we not vnderstand these wordes and thinges in God : for in him his being is the selfe same thing that his goodnesse , or his greatnes is , or whatsoeuer else is truely spoken of him . And againe his greatnesse , and his goodnesse are the very same thing that his essence is , and in him no qualitie : for there is nothing in him , whiche is not himselfe , and his very essence and substaunce : neither was any one thing that is in him , there before an other : but all there at once euerlastingly : neither can any one be away , or be sundered one from another , without the corruption of his essence . We do speake vnproperly of God by adiectiues . Scal. de subti . ex●r . 365. And here againe hath our vnperfect spéeche made vs to speake vnproperly of God by adiectiues denominatiuely : as when wée say God is merciful , is holy , is immortall , is good : for if that any thing coulde be spoken of him denominatiuely , then were the abstracte , or substantiue , from whence it is deriued , an other thing from the adiectiue , and before it : as for example : mercie is another thing from merciful , and before it , as the founteine from whence merciful doth procéede : wherefore in very déede God is not mercifull , but mercie : not holy , but holinesse : not immortall , but immortalitie : not good , God is comprehended in none of the predicamentes . August . de Trinit. lib. 5. but goodnesse it selfe : the which thinges doe dwell fully in him . But so single is Gods essence , that Augustine doth truely thinke that he can not be put aptly into any of the predicamentes of the Logicians . For he cannot be a substaunce , because he doth not subsist vnto any thing : neither is there any thing abiding in him as in a subiect . For as I said before there is nothing in him , that is not himself : so also we must beléeue , that God is great with out quantitie , good without qualitie , president without site , conteining all things without habite , euery where wholy without being inclosed in any place , eternal with out time , making and doing all things without labour , or chaunging of himselfe or his state , and suffering nothing at all . All thinges also can he do in heauen , earth , and hell . The omnipotencie of God & wherein it doth consist . Neither doeth it any thinge abridge his almightinesse , that he cannot goe , speake , or do any other such thinges as are done by bodily instruments . For although he being a spirite can not do them himselfe , yet are they within his power : for hee can doe them in his creatures , and doth make man to goe and speake : and also worketh al those actions in al liuing things , which do them by his power . August lib 15. de Trinitate . Neither because he cannot sinne nor doe ill , is hee the lesse Almightie , because they be no pointes and partes of power , but of infirmitie & weaknes . For if he could doe them , he were not omnipotent : therfore that he cannot do ill , August . lib. 1. de symbolo . it is not to be imputed vnto impotencie , but vnto power . The like also may bee said of that he cannot die , he cannot be wretched , he cannot be deceiued , he cannot be ouercome : for if he were subiect vnto these defects : he were not Almightie . And also hereby is hee proued to be Almightie : because that althoughe those imperfections and wantes cannot approche vnto him , yet can he work them in other . For he can make man to die , be wretched , be deceiued & ouercome . Wherefore herein doth appeare the omnipotencie of God , that he doth all things that he will haue don , neither doth he suffer any thing at all . For nothing is there which is able to inferre any corruption vnto him , or to make him suffer ought , neither is any thing able to bring any impediment or lett vnto his doings : but all thinges can he doe without any impeachment , vnlesse it bee those thinges , by doing of which either his dignitie should be diminished , or some thing derogated from his excellencie . Wherefore is hee truely omnipotent , who is able to doe all thinges , the doing of whome is power . Then séeing that such is the surpassing excellencie of God aboue all his creatures , that none of them cannot onely not approche any thing néere vnto the singularitie of his essence , no nor by witte and wisedome in any wise conceiue the worthinesse thereof : howe can we wonder inough at the madnesse of those men , that haue made to themselues Gods of creatures , or that which is more franticke , haue made themselues to be adored of other , for Goddes ?

The second Chapter , Of the wonderful pride of Psapho , Menecrates , Alexander , Commodus , Caligula , Domitian , & Cosdras , who would be honoured for Gods. Of a wittie decree of the Lacedemonians touching Alexanders Godhead . How Philippe of Macedonie dolted Menecrates and gaue one in charge daily to put him in minde that he was a man . Of the free speech of a botcher vnto Caligula , & a worthie saying of Antigonus

Cap. 10. MOst truely is it written in Ecclesiasticus that pride is the beginning of all sinne , Com in Psal. 7 and in Augustine the last sinne that the soule doth maister and ouer come . Lib. 2. de Stil . laud. This only of all other ( that I may vse Claudians wordes ) is the ingrate companion of vertues : this onely vice doth spring and is bredde of vertues : ye and of the killing and destroying of all other , this often is ingendered . Howe many hunt and séeke for glorie by obstinate refusing thereof ? haue not many béen more proud of the making of them selues poore , then they were before of their great riches ? is the number of them trowe you smal , that be proude of their lowlinesse ? do not some by conquering of all other sinnes , be conquered by this , and perishe & be slaine by the enimie whom they ouerthrewe and trode vpon ? this fault onely , or certes most , ought the perfect men to feare and take héede of , wisely warneth Augustine . Did not the diuel , who for the subtiltie of his nature , sharpe iudgement , long experience in deceiuing , best knowing what would soonest deceiue , kéepe this temptation as a trusty Trystram for the last , when he tempted Christ our Lord and God ? And what other traine I pray you made the subtile serpent , when he tempted our first Parent Eue , but this ? bearing the woman in hand , that shee and her husbande shoulde be made like God ? Then if that our first parentes in that most frée state of theirs , when as no sensualitie moued them , nor any contagion of their corrupte and mortal bodies whervnto the soule is surely tied , annoyed and infected them , coueted the type of the glorie of the Godhead , who will not beléeue but that the like proude and madde attempt might haue béene giuen by some wicked men , whom the diuel , the flesh and the world did vehemently driue forward , but nothing stay and holde back ? what smal smatterer in humane letters hath not read of Psapho a Lybian , Of Psapho . who being ouermuche adorned of bountifull nature , coulde not kéepe himselfe within his owneskinne , as Martial wittily warneth , the greatnesse or rather naughtinesse of his hautie hart swelled so bigge : but by as wittie , as wicked deuise , gotte him selfe to be taken and worshipped for a God : for he catching byrdes , whiche were apt to learne mans spéeche , diligently but secretely taught them to speake distinctly and plainely the great God Psapho . And when he saw that these pratling byrdes had perfectly learned their lesson , & wold euer be harping on it , he let them flie abrode into the wooddes .

But they , as he subtily coniectured , flue all abouts , still singing this song , The great God Psapho , which the inhabitauntes thereaboutes hearing , being altogether ignorant of that craftie fetche , honoured Psapho for a God : thinking that they could not without great note of impietie , & obstinacie , denie him to be a God : whome the vnreasonable byrdes did to their instruction by supernaturall & diuine speach ( as they thought ) acknowledge and professe to be a great God .

Moreouer I read it recorded in Athenaeus , a graue Author , and also in Aelianus and other , that one Menecrates born at Syracuse in Sicyle , a famous Physician , called himselfe Iupiter the great Almighitie : proudly and foolishly boasting that he was vnto men the cause of life , by reason of his great skil in Physicke . And his vsage was to force them whom he tooke in hand to heale of the falling sicknes , to promise and sweare vnto him , that when they were perfectly cured , they would be his bondmen , and follow him . Of them Nicostratus being adorned like Hercules , was called Hercules . Nicogoras who was the tyranne of his countrie , wearing a souldiours mantell , and winges , and bearing a Caducaeus in his hand , such a rodde as the Poetes do faine Mercurie to beare , hée named Mercurie . Astycreon was Apollo , and an other of his patients apparelled like vnto Aesculapius waited on this madde Menecrates , who being Iupiter himselfe , the father of Gods and men , went about with his bands of Gods in his robe of purple , a crowne of gold on his head , and a Scepter in his hand . This madd mate sending a letter vnto Philip king of Macenie wrote vnto him thus . Thou art King of Macedonie , but I of the art of healing : thou whensoeuer thou listest canst kill men , but I can saue men that be sicke , ye and if they will obey me kéepe them in healthe & lustie vntil they be old : thou goest garded with Macedons , but I with al the men in the world , or that shal be hereafter : for I Iupiter doe giue them life : Philip answearing his letter , vsed this superscription , or after their maner , this salutation .

Philip wisheth vnto Menecrates , health and his right wits . The very like wrote also Menecrates vnto Archidamus , king of Lacaedemonia , that he had vsed vnto Philip : and vnto whome so euer he wrote , he neuer absteined from the name of Iupiter . On a time when Philip had inuited him with all his crue of Gods to a feast , he placed them at a bed , which was built and set on a great height , and very magnificently decked , and placed beside it a table whereon stoode an altar , and the first fruites of all fruites of the earth , and when meate was brought , and serued vnto the other guests , the children sacrificed with perfumes vnto Menecrates , and his Gods waiters , but gaue them neuer a morsell of meate : ( for Gods néede no earthly foode , to nourishe their heauenly bodies . ) At the last , Iupiter being laughed almost out of his coate , with those whiche followed him , ranne away out from the feast , being dolted more like a dog , then worshipped as a God by that wise king , who after the great ouerthrowe that he gaue the Athenians , and their confederates at Cheronea , A worthy order taken by Philip. where he quite euerted the libertie of all Greece , perceiuing him selfe to grow into pryde and insolencie by that happie successe , prepared a preseruatiue , to kéepe him from swelling so great , that he should breake the bandes of reason and humanitie . Wherefore he gaue vnto one of his seruaunts this office and charge , that euery morning he should come into his chamber , and call out vnto him aloud : Philip , remember thou art a man , and this was euer after so constantly kept by him , that he would not once go abroad him selfe , or suffer any man to be admitted vnto his speach , but on that day that the boy had before thrice thundred out vnto him , Philippe anthropos ei , Philip thou art a man . In the very same place also telleth Athenaeus of one Themison , Of horsmen . darling and minion vnto king Antiochus , who was proclamed at publike assemblies by the cryer , Hercules : and also all the inhabitants for feare of the king , sacrificed vnto him by the name of Themison Hercules , who was also present , if any of the noble men sacrificed , and lay vppon a bed of state , Of Commodas . clothed in a Lions case . He bare also a Scythian bowe , and a clubbe : so that it is no maruell , if that in many yeares after , Commodus woulde be called Hercules , and sonne vnto Iupiter , and not of good Marcus Commodus , séeing that he being the Emperour of Rome , did more resemble Hercules both in large Empire , and strength of bodie , as he that woulde strike thorough with a dart an Eliphant , or the horne of an Orix , and also in killing and destroying of Lions and monsters . For sayes Dion , he alone with his owne hand slue vppon the Amphitheatre in one day , fiue Hippotami , or water horses , two Eliphants , one Rhinocerotes , and a Camelion Pardis , whervnto Capitolinus addeth one hundred beares , and one hundred Lions at so many shootes . He would come to the Amphitheatre in a robe of purple and golde , and a mantel of the same after the Gréeke cut ( for Hercules was a Gréeke ) with a crowne of golde glystering with precious stones of India . These kyndes of ornaments were straunge vnto the Romaines at those dayes , also the Caduceus and a Lions case , and a club were borne before him , whether soeuer he went : but on the Theatre , whether he were present or absent , they were placed on a seate of golde . In the habite of Mercurie , did he oftentimes enter the theatre , and casting off all his other apparel , would go vnto the murthering of wilde beasts , striped into his coate , & barefooted . He refusing sayes Capitolinus the habite of the Romaine Princes , would come abroade into the citie , wrapt in a Lions case , and a club in his hand , and many times ( not without contempt and derision ) would he offer him selfe to be séene in womens apparell , that he might in all naughtie and vndecent pointes , imitate him whome he would be taken to be . He was publikely sacrificed vnto , and a great number of statuies were in his honour set vp in the habite of Hercules : and a decrée was made , that the time wherein he reigned , shoulde be called the golden worlde , and that it should be so recorded and inrolled in all monuments . He was called the golden Hercules . He caused the heade of Colossus to be cut off , and an other of his owne visage to be set vppon it , putting a club in his hand , and a Lion of brasse at his féete , that it might be like vnto Hercules . Neither was he contented in those ridiculous toyes to follow Hercules , but that he most cruelly against all humanitie , gathered together into one place , all such as in that mightie citie ( and whiche Galene called an abridgement of the whole worlde ) were lame in féete , or legges : and doubling and folding vp their legges vnto their knées , as though they had had the nether partes of serpents ( for so the Poets do faine of the Giants ) and giuing them sponges , whiche they shoulde throwe at him in steade of stones , he snatched them , and strake the braines out of their heades with a clubbe , rather as a butcher doth calues , then Hercules did the Giants . But let vs passe Commodus , whome Dion thinketh to be but a simple witted man . Could the diligent trayning , & wise instructions of that famous Philosopher Aristotle restraine his scholer Alexander the great , Of Alexander . within the limits of humaine nature , but that he being publikely pampered by fortune , like an horse ouer frankly fed , brake all bandes of reason , not thinking it honour ynough , for him to be the chiefest man and monarche of the earth , but would surmount humaine nature , and be a God ? who would thinke that the most skilfull man in the nature of things , which euer nature brought foorth , could not teach his scholer to knowe his owne nature ? He tooke foule scorne to be called the sonne of Philip , the most renouned king of the world , but would néedes be sonne vnto Iupiter Hammonius , to the great griefe of his mother , who vsed often to complaine that her sonne would neuer cease , to make her enuied and hated of Iuno , as her husband Iupiter his harlot . Athenaeus writeth by the authoritie of Ephippus , that he vsed to weare sacred robes at supper , sometime of purple , rounded and horned like vnto Iupiter Hammonius , other times like vnto Pallas , whiche he carried in his chariot , an other while like Mercurie , his Petasus on his heade , and his Caduceus in his hand : and oftentimes , in a Lions case , with a clubbe like vnto Hercules . He woulde be sacrificed vnto with myrrhe , and other costly odours . He was mynded , sayes Strabo , if he had not béene preuented by death , to haue inuaded Arabia , by making a ditche of .xxx. furlongs broade , deriued out of Euphrates , bicause as he pretended , they only of al nations , had sent no ambassadours vnto him : but the very cause indéede was , for that he had heard that the Arabians only worshipped only two Gods , that is , Iupiter & Bacchus , who giue the principall things which do appertaine to mans life , then he thought that if he should subdue them , and afterward suffer them to inioy their auncient liberties , that then they would make him their thirde God . Which report of Strabo to be true , his ridiculous writing vnto all the cities of Greece , to be ordeined a God by publike decrée , doth probably proue : foolishly looking to obteine immortalitie of them , which were mortall them selues : and that by the statutes of men , which was not imparted by nature . But when as concerning this matter , some decréed one thinge , some an other , the Lacedemonians made this decrée : A wittie decree of the Lacedemonians . séeing that Alexander wil néedes be a GOD , let him be a God : in fewe wordes ( as their manner was , ) wittily reprouing and couertly scoffing at his doltishe pride . Howe muche greater woulde he haue béene , if that he had not so hastily coueted to be so great , and would not rather haue giuen eare and haue beene ruled by a pelting Poet of Argos , Hagis , and Clio , a seruile Sicylian , and the drudges and slaues of those countries , whome he had subdued : who to féede his humour , were not ashamed openly to say , that he was a God farre surmounting Hercules , Bacchus , Castor , and Pollux : whome the vaine Greekes accompted their greate Gods , and béeing set on by him did moue the Lordes of Macedonie , and Greece , to acknowledge him for a God : whome they saide Clio perfectly already by his actes to be one . Then his wise , faithfull , and louing schoolefelowe Calisthenes and his Nobles and kinsmenne , and namely Antigonus , A woorthie saying of Antigonus . who coulde haue tolde him , as hee did afterwarde his owne sonne , when he vsed himselfe towards his subiects somewhat proudly , and violently , that the state of a King was nothing else but a glorious bondage , and slauerie .

The contempt , hatred , vnhappie ende , and infamie , which this ambition of godly honour bred in Alexander , could not happily make other take warning of attempting the like . For Caius Caligula the Romane Emperour , one borne ( saies Seneca ) to shew what supreame naughtinesse is able to do , being placed in the supreame place , Of Caligula . did farre surmounte , and go beyond all president of Alexander . For he , that I may vse Dions wordes , woulde be accounted higher then the toppe of mankinde and to haue carnal copulation with the Moone , whom saies Suetonius he vsed , when she shined bright and was at the full , foolishly to inuite to come downe and lie with him : and to haue béene crowned by the Goddes victorie . He fained that he was Iupiter , and therefore he professed that he had fleshly dealt wheras with many other women besides his wiues , then also with his owne sisters . He oftentimes became Iuno , Diana , and Venus , alwayes chaunging with his name his habite and apparell . Whereby it happened , that sometime he was séene in a womans apparell holding a cuppe and a Thyrsus , or Bacchanall Iauelin , at other times clothed manlike in a Lyons case with a clubbe , now he had a bearde anon after he was beardlesse , otherwhile he bare a thréefolde mace like Neptune , them he would vambrish lightning as he had béen Iupiter , sometime he resembled Minerua the virgin warrier in glistering armour , shaking his speare , incontinently after was he transformed into a nice woman . Finally in the fashion of his apparell , and the garmentes that were partly put on him , and partly cast about him , was he wonderfully chaunged and altered , coueting to séeme any thing rather then a man .

On a time it happened that one Gallus séeing him sitting in iudgement vpon an highe throne , disguised like vnto Iupiter , The free speeche of a Botcher . began to laugh at him . Then Caligula spying him to laughe called Gallus vnto him , and asked the felowe , what he thought him to be : Gallus answeared readily and truely , a notable great foole : and he escaped scotfrée because he was a botcher , but one letter of that sentence should haue cost a Senatour his life & landes .

There flattered him those that were in greatest estimation , among whom was also L. Vitellius , a man of great wisedome and valiauncie , and very famous , specially for the gouernment of Syria . For among other noble actes , he forced Artabanus the king of the Parthians for feare to sacrifice vnto the statuies of Augustus and Caligula , and to desire peace with conditions very honourable for the Romanes : giuing his children in hostage for the perfourmance of them . This Vitellius being sent for by Caligula to be murdered ( for his good seruice and glorious actes were the cause of his daunger , The impudent flattery of Vitellius . enuie bréeding hatred , and feare death ) escaped death by a meanes worse then tenne thousande deathes : for hée apparelling him selfe farre more basely then his honor and glorie required , and falling downe flatte at Caligula his féete sheading aboundant teares , cokesing him with many diuine honours , and vowing if that he did escape in saftie that he wold sacrifice vnto him , as the onely author of his saluation : did so mollifie the man , and so appease his wrath , that he not onely obteined pardon , but was taken into the number of his moste entire fréends .

On a time Caligula affirmed that he had carnally delt with the Moone , Vitellius his wittie answer . and would knowe of Vitellius whither that he did not sée him dooing it with the Goddesse : then Vitellius as one astonied , casting downe his head softely and trembling said : my souereigne it is graunted onely vnto you Goddes , to sée one another . But to returne vnto Caius , he being carried further into follie , built vp a Temple vnto him selfe , and proper vnto his owne Godhead , wherin was set vp his statuie of golde , whiche was euery day decked with suche garments , as he ware him selfe . He had made him selfe a mansion in the Capitoll , that hee might , as he woulde say him selfe , be conuersant with Iupiter , but afterwarde thinking it to bee againste his diuine maiestie in dwelling with Iupiter to haue the lower place , chafing with Iupiter that he had gotten before him the Capitoll , in great hast with all spéede set vp a Temple to him selfe in the Palace : and the Temple of Castor and Pollux which stoode in the Romane Forum , being diuided into two partes : he built a way or entrie into the Palace betwéene the two Images of Castor and Pollux , saying , that the two sonnes of Iupiter and Leda should be his porters . Of the whiche matter writeth Suetonius . She woulde talke as it were in secrete with Iupiter , whiche was set vp in the Capitoll , the Romanes chiefe God , sometimes he whispered , and at other times he listened , as though Iupiter had spoken vnto him , and other while would he speake aloud , not without bitter chidings : for often those words of his were heard , threatning Iupiter , with a piece of an auncient Gréeke verse , that he woulde sende him thence vnto the land of the Greekes : vntill at the length he being wonne by intreatie , as he said him selfe , was inuited by Iupiter to dwell with him , and made a bridge aboue the Temple of Augustus which ioyned the palace vnto the Capitoll . He chose to be his priestes his wife Cesoina , and his vncle Claudius , & other of the richest and best of the citie , euery man making great suite for it , and out bidding one another in monie . He tooke saies Dron of euery one of them which were admitted vnto the office , Centies sestertium that is of our monie . 75000. l. He also was his owne Priest , and choose to his college or felowe in office his horse , a méete match .

Euery day were supplications and vowes made vnto him and sacrifices of all kindes of delicate byrdes , of greate price , as Phinocopteri , pecockes , bustardes , Turkie cockes , and other straunge birdes . He also had an engine , wherewithall he woulde thunder against thunder , and lighten against lightening , and as often as any lightening fell downe he woulde hurle vp a stone , euer adding that verse in Homer : kill me or I will thée . Neither could Italie conteine his pride , but that it stretched throughout all the prouinces of the Romane Empire , ye and Petronius the gouernour of Syria was commaunded to go to Hierusalem with a power and to sette vppe his statuies vnder the name of Iouis Maximi in the inuiolable and holy temple of God almightie : and vnlesse that the Iewes would receiue them , that he should put vnto the sword those that woulde speake against them , and take prisoners all the rest of the multitude . The constant pietie of the Iewes . But when that the Iewes did wholy with one consent constantly refuse to admit them against Gods lawes , & offered vnasked the throtes of themselues , of their wiues , and children to the fatal blade , rather then to suffer such abhomination to be brought in to defile their Temple : Petronius moued with their constancie , stayed the execution of the Emperours commandement for that present time , writing vnto him immediatly with what power he had entred Iurie , and what all the whole nation had suppliantly desired of his maiestie , whiche if hée woulde denie , he wild him to vnderstande , that with the people the whole Prouince must be vtterly destroied , for they did obstinately kéepe their countrie lawes , and vehemently refuse his newe iniunctions .

To these letters Caius all to chafed answeared very immoderately , and threatening him death for the slacke executing of his commandement . But before these letters were deliuered vnto Petronius , more ioyefull newes were brought , Caligula his great hatred vnto mankind that Caligula was made out of the way , to the incredible ioy of all mankinde , whom he hated so deadly , that he had béen often heard to bewayle his ill happe , that in al his reigne there had chaunced no notable pestilence , famine , rauin of water , earthquake , nor any great bloudy battell , wherby many men might perish : & wished that all the people of Rome had but one head , that he might haue stroken it off at one blowe : it had béene ill with mankinde , if that this Phaeton of the world , as his vncle Tiberius did vse to call him , had béen immortall , who in thrée yeares and sixe monethes ( for so long he reigned ) had néere hand vtterly destroyed it . Moreouer I reade in Suetonius , Of Domitian . that Domitian the Emperour drawing a forme of letters , whiche his agents should vse , began thus : Our Lord and God doeth commaunde it so to be done . Whereby it was decréed afterward , that he shoulde not be called otherwise by any man either in writing or spéeche .

It is is also left to memorie , that about the yeare of our Lord 620. Cosdras the mightie King of the Persians , after that he had won al Syria , with Hierusalem , & al the South part of Asia with Egypt , and all Africa , would néedes be adored for a God , and diuine honours with sacrifices done vnto him through out all his large dominions . But perhappes some man will say , what maruel was it for great monarches among the heathen to thinke themselues to be Gods , if that you do consider their absurditie & fonde vsage in constituting of Gods : the originall and causes whereof I doe thinke good to touche .

The thirde Chapter . Whereof the false Goddes had their first ground , and the causes that moued diuerse countries to worshippe many men after death for Gods , and also some while they liued : as Demetrius , Iulius Caesar , Pycta , Lysander , Simon Magus & Apollonius : and of the extreeme maddnesse of the Egyptians in chusing of their Gods , of the impudent flatterie of the ambassadours of Palermo vnto Martine the fourth , and of the people to Herodes Agrippa , and the present punishment of God for the accepting thereof . Of the wonderfull reuerence that the Persians gaue vnto their Kinges : and of the rare loue that the Galles , Arabians , & Aethiopians bare vnto their Princes : two woorthie sayinges of Antigonus and Canute .

AFter that the vngratious child Chara was abdicated and put away by his father without any instructions giuen him touching the worshippinge of the true God , Lact. de fals. relig . The Original of worshipping of false Gods. the outcast and his progenie marueilously increased , ( as our common prouerbe is , an ill wéede growes fast ) and they deduced many colonies into diuers partes of the worlde , and the ignoraunce of the prouing of the true God , whiche was in the first parent , daily growing greater and greater in his posteritie . You séeing as Cicero saies in his booke of the nature of the Gods , it is naturally ingraffed in man to acknowledge a God , and that no people or nation is so rude and barbarous , that doth not professe a God , they being vtterly ignoraunt of the true God , thought those thinges which they sawe to excell other , and by whom they receiued moste commodities to be Gods : whereof arose the worshipping of the Sunne , the Moone , Starres , and suche other things , and also the making of the Gods , when they were dead , The first cause why the Gentiles did make men Gods. who in their liues had inuented or done any notable thinges to the vse and profite of mankinde . And hereby it came to passe , that some for the great celebrity of their names , were as it were generally receiued of all nations , as Hercules , Bacchus , Castor , and Pollux : Lact. de fals. reli 1. cap. 15. and other were worshipped but in particular countries , of whom onely they had well deserued , as Isis in Egypt , Iuba in Mauritania , Cabyrus in Macedonia , Vracius among the Carthaginians , Fanus in Latium , Romulus , or after his deification Quirinus at Rome : and with a great number such other shal he méete , that diligently readeth the auncient monuments of the Paganes , and those christian authors which haue refused their superstitions . The second cause . We read also in the booke of wisedome that the vnhappie man being bereft by vnripe death of his sonne whome hee loued tenderly , to mitigate and assuage his sorrowe , first inuented to haue his sonnes image adored , and it to be taken for a present GOD in earth , and the sonne him selfe for a GOD in heauen . The like affection wee reade in Lactantius Cicero hadde towardes his Daughter , and Virgils Aeneas vnto his Father : Aeneid . 5. with this consolation recouering their Spirites daunted and broken with griefe . The thirde cause . Wonderfull also was the honour and obseruancie that some nations bare vnto their kings : The loue of the Arabians vnto their Kinges . so that he whiche readeth what Atheneus doeth write of the Arabians , that the familiars of the Kinges did vse to maime them selues voluntarily of that member which it shoulde happen the king to léese : and that when the King died either naturall or violent death , they thought it but a sport to die all with him : the like whereof is affirmed by Strabo and Diodorus Siculus of the Aethiopians : Lib. 4. Lib. 17. and also of the Soliduni in a countrie of Gallia : who were sixe hundreth men whom the King did chuse to be about him as his guard , The loue of the Solidunes vnto their Kinges . and liued and died with the king , neither was it euer knowen that any one man of them did euer refuse , or séeme , vnwilling to die , the Prince being deceased . He ( I say ) that reads this wil not be hard of beléefe to credite Lactantius , that the Maures did vse to consecrate all their kinges for Gods after they were dead .

The Aethiopians sayeth Strabo libr. 17. thinke that there is an immortall God and a mortall God . The immortall is he that is the cause of all thinges : the mortal is with them vncertaine and lacketh a name : but mostly they do take them by whom they haue receiued benefites , and their Kinges for Gods. Moreouer they doe thinke their kinges to be conseruers and kéepers of all men , but priuate men when they be dead ( for they do account all dead men for Gods ) onely of them , to whome they haue done good . In like manner also the Romanes vsed to deifie their Emperours after their deathe , as they also did their first king Romulus . The Persian kings we reade in Curtius and other , What man was first adored . were adored like vnto Gods , which honour saies Arrianus was giuen & done vnto Cyrus first of all mortall men : and the first of the Romane Emperours that was adored or knéeled vnto , was Dioclesian after his glorious voiage and victorie against the Persians . Yea in our time Xoas the king of the Persians is worshipped of his subiectes for God . The water wherewithall he hathe washed his féete do they powre out of the basen , and kéepe religiously as holy , being an hoalsome medicine for al diseases : he is called the Lord that holdes vppe heauen and earth .

The Gentiles also to incourage the young Gentlemen to folowe vertue and valiauncie , The fourth cause of deifying of men . vsed muche to Canonize and consecrate for Gods after death , the renouned Capteines and greate conquerours : by these meanes Hercules , Bacchus , and other , did clime into heauen . Of this way speaketh Horace in his Epistles .

In triumphes braue to countrimen To shewe the captiue foes , Doth touche the stately throne of Ioue , And vppe to heauen it goes .

And Lactantius citeth Ennius making Scipio Africanus thus to speake .

If any man by sheading bloud May clime the loftie Skies , Onely to me the greatest gate of Heauen then open lyes .

This wasting and burning of other mens lands , and goods razing of townes , destroying of Cities , killing of infinite number of innocent men , women , and children , bringing into bondage vniustly many free people , did they cal vertue : which hethen abuse of the world remaineth yet vnto this day among the Italians , with many other such irreligious reliques , calling Iohn Galeazo the court of vertue , because he wrongfully like a strong théef robbed and spoiled by force all the Princes aboute him of their Dominions , and possessions . Lact. de fals. relig .

Among the Pagans he that had killed one man was adiudged a contaminate & a wicked person , neither did they thinke it lawfull to let him come into the earthly house of their Goddes : but he that had slaine infinite thousandes of men , had ouerflowen the fieldes with bloude , had dyed the riuers , was admitted not onely into the temples , but also receiued into heauen . Murthering of one climed the gallowes , of infinite thousandes heauen . No otherwise , then the pyrate answered Alexander the great , when he reuiled him as a most wicked knaue , that liued by the spoyle of other men : that bycause he roued but with one only pinasse , he was called a pyrate : but Alexander , for that his mightie fléetes filled all the seas , robbing , wasting , pillaging , and burning al countries , was named a king : as though singularitie in wickednesse , were singular vertue , and deserued singular honours . But although it was common among the Gentiles , to deifie men after they were dead , yet godly honours to be ordeined vnto any whyle they liued , To what men godly honors were decreed while they liued . The fift cause . happened but vnto fewe . The first sayes Plutarche among the Gréekes was Lysander , to whome after he had taken Athens , the Gréeks decréed many vnwonted honours , and some of them altars to be erected in his name , and poemes or sacred hymnes to be soung in his honour . The impudent flatterie of the Athenians vnto Demetrius . The Athenians did set a fine of tenne talentes on Demades his heade , bycause he thought that Alexander was a god , and did put to death Euagoras , for that he adored Alexander when he was sent ambassadour vnto him from the citie . Yet these seuere men afterwarde receiued Demetrius Poliorcetes , Ath. lib. 6. ca. 6 when he came to Athens , not only with fine persumes , garlands , and effusions of wine , Ath. li. 14. ca. 8 the quires and Ithyphalli ( whiche were men disguised like drunken men , with garlands on their heads , & gloues made of floures , or rather of diuers colours like floures , cloakes halfe white , and a Tarentine robe , downe to the shope , which sacred persons onely attended on the highest gods ) went out to méete him with sacred singing & dauncing . But the multitude daunced & soung : that only this the true God is present , but the other gods do sléepe , or wander abroad from home , or else certes be not at al , but this is the sonne of Neptune , and Venus , excelling all in beautie , & for his facilitie common to al men . This God is here as it is méete , for a God surpassing beautiful , both laughing & also graue : bicause al his friends enuiron him , in the midst of whom , who are as it were starres , he is séene like vnto the sun . All haile thou son of Venus , & most mightie Neptune , for the rest of the Gods , either they haue no eares , or they be not at all in very déede : or at the least wise , they adhibite not their mindes to our matters . Therfore thou most merciful & milde , we doe pray thée , that thou wilt vouchsafe to giue vs peace , for thou art the Lord : with a great deale more such stuffe , which song , if that they had soung vnto his father Antigonus , he would haue answered them , as he did the parasite poet Hermodotus , A worthy saying of Antigonus . that called him in his pratling poeme , the sonne of the sunne : my man that vseth to emptie my close stoole , thinkes not thus of me . Which sage saying of Antigonus , putteth me in remembrance the Platina writeth in the life of Iohn , the eight of that name , that the byshops of Rome do vse at their installing , to sit vpon a iakes stoole , to put them in mind , that although they are aduaunced to the highest seate of earthly glory ( as they them selues thinke ) yet for al that , that they are mortal men stil , & subiect to the necessities of mans nature , as wel as other poore knaues . A sutable song vnto this of the Athenians , howled out the ambassadours of the citizens of Palermo , vnto Martin the fourth byshop of Rome , The shameles speache of the Panormitanes . who had accursed them for sleying of al the frenchmen , women & children , which were in the Island of Sicyl , & all Sicilyan women which were knowne to be with child by any frenchman . Vpon an Easter day at the first peale to Euensong , Paul Aemyl . lib. 7. they lying prostrate at the byshops féete , cryed out with lamentable voyce : O lambe of God that takest awaye the sinnes of the worlde , haue mercie vpon vs : and againe : O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world , haue mercy vpon vs : and the third time : O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world , giue vnto vs peace : vngodly & violently pulling off the royall spoyles from our Sauiour Christe , & casting them on Martine : for whom they were as fit as Hercules start-vps , according to the olde prouerbe , are for a childe , or his rough Lions case and club , were for the nyce Ladie Iole . But to returne vnto the Athenians , Plutarche in the life of Demetrius writeth , that they decréed that Demetrius and his father Antigonus , shoulde be called the Goddes sauiours , and that there shoulde be ordeined a priest vnto the Goddes sauiours , that they should be interwouen in the sacred people with Iupiter & Pallas , that the legates whiche should goe at any time vnto them , shoulde be accepted for sacred . Yea , there lacked not some that wold haue had a shield consecrated vnto him at Delphos , of whome they should publikely receiue oracle and answere in all doubtfull matters , as good , and as true as any that was there . But the Athenians not being content with this shamelesse flattering of the king , they decréed the sacrifices of Venus vnto his two concubines , Leona and Lamia , and vnto his flatterers and parasites Burichus Adimanthus , and Exythemides , were altars and statuies erected , and poemes which should be soung in their honour : in so muche , that Demetrius him selfe being astonied at their seruile flatterie , affirmed , that in his time there was not one Athenian of stoute heart , The shamlesse flatterie of the Athenians vnto Antonius , and howe hee required them therefore . nor rype iudgement . The like impudencie vsed they many yeares after vnto Antonius the triumpher , and among many extraordinarie honours , they espoused vnto him their chiefe Goddesse and patrone of their citie , Pallas , whiche marriage he sayde he did very well like off , and withal his hart accept , and they should giue with her vnto him quadragies sestertium . 10000. crowns , a fine not halfe great ynough for so heinous a fault . The Ephesians also by Plutarches reporte receiued him Godlike , the women being disguised like Bacchus his dame priests , & the men & boies transfigured into satyres , and Panes , bearing in their handes Bacchanicall iauelins called Thyrsie , and garlandes of iuie on their heads , saluting and calling him by the name of Bacchus , Charidoles , and Malichius . Wherein they be the more to be borne with , because , saies Dion , lib. 48. he had after the ouerthrowe that hee gaue vnto Brutus and Cassius , named him selfe Bacchus , whome in very déede he did very liuely counterfeite and expresse in drunkennesse : and commaunded that no man should call him by any other name . But before this time had the Romanes decréed Iulius Caesar , The flatterie of the Romanes to Iulius Caesar . after that he had with armes oppressed vnto the libertie of his countrie , honours higher , and greater then could agrée with any man , a temple ioyntly vnto him and Clemencie , a statuie of golde sette with precious stones , to the Curia or Senatehouse : and before the iudgement seate a sacred drey or litle carte and a Pageaunt setfoorth with the pompe that they vsed at their playes Circenses , his statuies to be set vp close vnto the superstitious beddes of their Gods. A College of priests were instituted vnto his Godhead , whiche were called Luperci Iulii , and a Bishop or Flamin of the order , which was Marcus Antonius the consul : that they should swere by his fortune , that euery fifth yeare a feast should be celebrated vnto him , as a Heros or halfe God , that all the games of swoord plaiers that should be kept in Rome or in all Italie should be consecrated vnto him . Finally , saies Dion , they openly gaue him the syrname of Iupiter , Lib. 44. whiche thinges do agrée vnto Eustatius the famous interpreter of Homer vppon the firste of his Iliades , that Iulius Caesar was called a God by the Romanes while he was liuing . Diod. lib. 44. Al these decrées which partly the flattering people , and partly his priuie ill willers to bring him into enuie thus heaped on him , were engraued in pillers of siluer with letters of golde , and placed at the féete of Iupiter Capitolinus , couertly to admonishe him of his humanitie , and subiection vnto God . But it is not to be wondered at that Caesar was made a God by the oppressed Romanes , Lib. 7. cap. 47. séeing that Plinie affirmeth , that one Euthymus Picta , an Italian , who had euer béene victor at the games helde at Olympus , and neuer but once ouercome , was by the commandement of the Oracle of Apollo and the astipulation of Iupiter the highest God , consecrated aliue and fealing : and that the very same day his statuie that had béene set vp at Olympia was stroken and consumed with lightening , and that this did also please the Goddes , he sayes that Callimachus doeth so maruell at , as he doth at nothing else that euer happened . Neither haue Magicians , Simon Magus adored for a God . and sorcerers obteined lesse honour : for in the time of Claudius the Emperour , one Simon a Samaritane , of his diuelish art and science called Magus , Iust. in Apol , Tertul. in Apolo . &c. came vnto Rome and plaide there so many fine slye iuggling knackes , that he with his minion Helena were accompted for Goddes and sacrifices offered vnto them , and his Image set vp betwéene the two bridges of Tiber with this title Simoni Deo Magno , to Simon a great God : but Tertullian hathe an holy God whome all the Samaritanes , and many also of other nations did adore and confesse to be the highest God .

The insolencie , writes Egesippus , out of this iuggling merchaunt went so farre , The contention betweene Peter and Magus . that hee prouoked Simon Peter , then beeing at Rome to contende with him in woorking of miracles . He went about to raise vppe by magicke artes , the bodie of a childe , whose soule was departed out of it , the Childe was of kinde vnto Nero : and in déede moued it a litle , but incontinently it fell downe starcke deade , as it was before .

But Peter by the name of Iesus made it to rise alone of it selfe . With the euent of whiche miracle Simon being netled , and chafed , professed that he woulde in the sight of all the people of Rome flye from the Capitoll vnto the Auentiue hill , if Peter woulde followe him : that déede should manifestly declare whither of them two was best beloued of GOD . And nowe was Simon carried aloft in the ayre , when Peter on his knées suppliantly desired almightie GOD not to suffer the people who tourneth all thinges to the wurst to bée deceiued by false iuggling , neither lacked his prayers effecte , for Simon fell downe to the grounde in the middes of his foolishe flight , and brake one of his legges , shortely after dying thereof at Aricia : whither hee had béene priuily conueied by his disciples after that foule foile . Lib. 5. cap. 3. Apollonius adored for a God . I finde also in Lactantius that in the reigne of Domitian , Apollonius the famous Magician was adored of many for a GOD , and an image set vp vnto him by the name of Hercules Alexicacos : Hercules the driuer away of all euill . The madnesse of the Egyptians in choosing their false Gods. Thus haue ye heard the extreame foolishnesse of many heathen men in choosing of their GODS , but the madnesse of the Egyptians doth farre excéede them all : for they , sayes Herodotus in Euterpe , doe take all beastes bothe wilde , and tame , for Godes .

There are ( saies Strabo in his seuentéenth booke ) some vnreasonable liuing creatures , which all the Aegyptians doe vniuersally woorshippe , as of the lande beastes , the neate , and the dogge : of byrdes , the hawke and the Ibis : of fishes the Lepidotus , and Oxyrinchus . And there be other which euery city adoreth peculiarly , as the Saites and Thebans a shéepe , the Latopolitanes a fish in the Riuer of Nilus called Latus , the Lycopolitanes a woulfe , the Hermopolitanes the Cynocephalus , the Babylonians besides Memphis the Cepus , whiche is a beast like vnto a Satyre , but in all other partes meane betwéene a dogge and a beare : the Mendesians bothe the ramme , and the ewe goat . The Athribites the venimous mouse called Mus Araneus , Hercules his citie , with other the ilfauoured Ichneumon whiche killeth the crocodile , and destroyeth the aspes egges : the Arsinoites the cruell crocodile , the Leontines the Lyon. Diod. Sic. 2. Ath. 7. cap. 17. Hero. Enterp . The Ele also is a generall God in Egypt , and all fishes with scales , and the byrde Phenix , and the Bergander , as affirmeth Herodotus : who also telleth , that if any man kill any of those baggages willingly , he dieth the death for it : if against his will , hée is fined and punished at the discretion & will of the priests : but whosoeuer killeth an Ibis or an Hauke either with his will , or against it , must néedes die for it . And to be deathe to kill a catte either by mishappe or of purpose , doth Diodorus Siculus shewe by an example , which he himselfe sawe . Lib. 2. cap. 4. The Romane imbassadours were at Alexandria to enter into societie and friendshippe with the Egyptians and their king to he called an alie & friend of the people of Rome , where it chaunced one of the Romanes against his will to kil a catte . As soone as it was noised in the citie , the angrie citizens assembling together in great troupes from all partes of the towne , assaulted the house wherin the imbassaders lay , & requested to haue him deliuered vnto them , that he might be executed : vtterly neglecting the greatnesse of the Romane name , and the memorie of the friendshippe lately made : and doubtlesse they would haue put him to death , if that the king and the officers , had not rather conueyed then deliuered him out of the present perill . Diodorus also doth affirme , that these baggage Goddes are kept and nourished about the Temples by men of good reputation , who féede them with fine manchet , Alica , a kinde of furmament , & deintie dishes made with milke . Moreouer they do set euery day before them géese bothe boyled , and also rosted , and for those that eate rawe flesh they cause byrdes to be caught , finally they kéepe them with great care and charges . Furthermore they doe washe them with warme water , and very good and odoriferous ointments . They also make for them sumptuous beddes , costly garnished , they mourne for their death , as muche as they were their children , and burie them more sumptuously then their abilitie can cleare .

After the death of Alexander the great , when that Ptolomeus Lagi held Egypt , an Oxe being dead at Memphis for age , he that tooke vpon him the charge to kéepe him , bestowed vpon his buriall a great masse of money the whiche had béene giuen for the charges of the funeralles , and also fiftie talentes that is 9375. lent by Ptolomey . Also in our age which was in the time of Ptolomeus Dionysius the laste king , certaine that had the keeping of suche beastly Goddes , bestowed vpon their funeralles , no lesse then 100. talentes , that is , 18750. pound . In what house soeuer saies Herodotus cattes do dye by nature , al they that do dwell in them do shaue their ey-browes onely , but if that a dogge die , all their whole bodies , and heades are shauen . Dead cattes are caried by the people howling and beating their brestes , vnto the temples to be salted , and from thence into the citie Buleastis to be buried : but they lay dogs in sacred cophines in those temples where they happen to die , but dead shrewe mise and hawkes they do carrie vnto the citie of Butis : all these baggages doe they by the reporte of Diodorus wrapp in fine shéetes , and embaulme with the precious liquor of Cedrus , and odoriferous ointments : but dead beares and wolues do they burie where they finde them . Moreouer , Iuuenal in his xv . Satyre , doth charge them with farther follie , in that they make léekes and onyons their Goddes : wherefore he frumping them sayes : O holie nations , that haue Goddes growing in their gardens . I haue béene the longer in declaring the madnesse of the Egyptians , to make men vnderstande from whence the Israelites had their wonderfull pronenesse vnto idolatrie , and worshipping of false Goddes . But as I sayd before , it is not so greatly to be maruelled at , if that heathen men , who accounted those to be Gods , whom they knewe to be most renouned for vertue and valiancie , did when that when fortune fauned on them , forget them selues , and inuaded wrongfully the godhead : yet who wold beléeue that so absurd a thought coulde come into their myndes , to whome God had reuealed his trueth , and the knowledge of him selfe , if we did not reade the like of Herodes Agrippa , in the moste true recordes of the Actes of the Apostles . Whiche historie is in these wordes , related more at large by Iosephus , in the .xix. booke of his antiquities . When Herodes Agrippa , The flatterie of the people vnto Herodes , & of his dolefull end . did set foorth at the citie of Caesaria , magnificent spectacles vnto the people in the honour of Caesar , vpon a day vowed for the life and safetie of the Emperour : to the which came also the worshipfull and honourable of the whole Prouince : the second day of the shewes , the king putting on a glittering robe , wrought with wonderfull workmanship of cleane siluer , about Sunne rising came foorth vnto the theatre . Nowe when that the Sunne at the first rising did shine vpon the siluer garment , the glistering of the mettall did cast foorth , with the reuerberated beames , suche a double and diuine brightnesse , that the tenour of the sight , did dazell the eyes of them that behelde it , striking in them a veneration with honour . Incontinently was there hearde the flatterie of the common people , pratling out wordes which sounded to honour , but brought destruction . He was saluted from all partes of the Theatre by the name of a God , and supplyantly prayed vnto to be mercifull and good vnto them , the people saying : vntill this time we haue euer feared thée as a man , but from hencefoorth we doe nowe confesse thée to surmount , and be aboue mans nature . But the king did not suppresse nor blame their lewde exclamations , neither abhorred the vngodlinesse of vnlawfull flatterie , vntill suche time as a little while after he looking vp , sawe an Owle sitting vppon a rope that went crosse the Theatre ouer his head , and immediately withall , he felt him to be the minister of his destruction , whome he had knowne before to be his purueyour of good thinges , and so was he soudenly tormented with incredible peines about his heart , belly , and small guts , and looking backe vpon his friendes , sayde : behold ye , I that God of yours am presently tumbled downe from life : the power of God presently prouing those wordes to be false , whiche you euen very nowe bestowed and hurled on me . And I whome but very nowe , you called immortall , am out of hande at this instant , carried headlong to death : but I must abide and receiue the sentence whiche God hath pronounced on me : for I haue liued , not in miserie , but in so great felicitie , that al men cal me a blessed man . When he had spoken those words , he being more grieuously vexed with the violence of the peine , was incontinently borne into the palace . But shortly after , when it was bruted abroad , that he was vpon the point of death , a great multitude of al ages & sects came vnto the palace , who lying on the ground grouely clothed in hairecloth , after their countrie guise , made incessant supplications vnto God for the kings recouerie , all the kinges palace ringing with their dolful cries and lamentations : when as in the mean time , the king lying in a chamber aboue , and looking downe , and beholding them lying flatte on their faces with lamentable wéeping , could not abstein from teares him selfe : but being fiue dayes thus tormented , incessantly with griping peines of his bellie , at the lengthe brake in sunder the tedious thread of lothsome life . Thus by this long narration of those , whose prosperitie made them to forget their maker , A golden sentence of Augustine . yea , and them selues too , that saying of Augustines is verified : that as all fruites , all graines , all woodes haue their worme , and euery one a diuers worme the one from the other : so the worme of riches , power , and prosperitie , is pryde , which doth corrupt and quite consume them , as all other wormes do the substaunces wherein they are bred : neuer dying , vntill that they haue chaunged the names : turning woods to rottennesse , yron to lust and drosse , power to pouertie : the vnsearchable wisedome of God so ordeyning , that those thinges whiche it might séeme , no forreighe forre could be able to hurt , shoulde them selues ingender in them selues , a thing to destroy them selues , and be vtterly consumed by an inward yl . Yet Canute the mightie Monarche of this realme , Denmarke , and Norwey , did so medicine his prosperitie with true godlinesse , religiousnesse , and humilitie , that there could no worme of pryde be bred in it . For he hauing once gotten a leasure time , The humilitie of king Canute Polyd from the troublesome affaires of his realmes and subiectes , walked for to refreshe his spirites , dulled with the vnquiet tediousnesse of Princes toyle , along the sea side vpon the sandes , not farre from Southhampton : where he was called by one of his souldiers , that serued vnto the eare , the king of kings , and of all kings , far the most mightie , who largely reigned ouer men , ouer the sea , ouer the earth . Then the king speaking neuer a worde , erected his mynde to contemplate the power of God : and that he might with a manifest argument and demonstration , reproue the vaine and false flatterie of his souldiour : he did put off his cloke , and wrapping it round together like a bowle , and setting downe vpon it hard by the water , that then flowed , spake thus : Waue I commaund thée , that thou touch not my féete . He had not so soone spoken these wordes ( those whiche attended on him woondering to what ende hee did these thinges ) when beholde the waue in surging all to wette him .

Then he going backe saide : Syrs call ye me a king who am not able to cohibite and staye this litle waue ? certes no mortall man is woorthie of so highe a name : there is one onely king the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christe , with whome he doth reigne : at whose becke al thinges are gouerned and ruled , him let vs worshippe : him let vs call king : him of kinges , him of all peoples and nations to be the Lord , him of heauen , of the earthe , of the sea to be the ruler , let vs not onely confesse , but also professe , and besides him none . After this going to Winchester , he did set with his owne handes the crowne whiche he ware on his head vpon the Image of Christe crucified , whiche stoode in the Churche , and neuer ware crowne afterwarde .