ADMIRABLE EVENTS : SELECTED OVT OF FOVRE BOOKES , Written in French by the Right Reverend , John Peter Camus , Bishop of BELLEY .

Together with morall Relations , written by the same Author .

And translated into English by S. Du VERGER .

LONDON , Printed by Thomas Harper for William Brooks , and are to be sold at his shop in Holborn in Turnstile Lane . 1639.

THE ancient and moderne custome which all Authors have , and doe yet hold , in dedicating their workes to the hand of eminency and greatnesse , is grounded eitheir upon desire to see them powerfully protected , or by them to proclaim some testimony of devoted affection , or to appeare gratefull for benefits received , if I shall call to this support of my thrice humble dedication to your Highnesse , the aforesaid motives either severall or joyned together , I doubt not but their weight will begge pardon for my presumption , and incline your Grace to its favour , since whether I make my addresse in the humble supplication of the first , or in a revering sence of the second : or lastly , in the generall obligation of the third respect . I professe no more then what the least and meanest in the ranke of subjects is owing to the source of Majesty , whose influence quickeneth , gives motion and being to all civill industries , sending their lives to equall center .

In point of subject , since nothing from mine own conceptions was fit to adventure upon so high a theater . I assign my part to the onely choise and conveyance of an Authour , with language intelligible to the English shore , who in the variety and multitude of his writings , both Theologicall , morall , and historicall , hath as with a Cristall streame watered a continent of the greatest extent in Europe : and although in himselfe like good wine he needeth no bush to recommend him to the readers gust , yet in this presentment to your gratious Majesty . I will serve him in by the hand of a curious taster . Rare Ca●ssin , who in a noble translation of the Holy Court , towards the end of the second part , hath these words , as well of proper gratitude to his person , as of a full Elogie of the graces and beauties of his minde .

I may well say ( saith he ) that I were stupid and ungratefull , if I shonld not confesse to have been much excited to prosecute this labour by the honourable invitations which my Lord Bishop of Belley hath used towards me in his works , I cannot set too high a price upon his recommendation in such a subject , for hee is verily one of the most able and flourishing wits that ever handled penne : to see the number of his Books , one might say , he began to write , so soone as to live , and to consider their worth , it is a wonder how so many graces and beauties which others attaine not but with much labour , increased in him , as in a soyle naturall for eloquence .

This Character flowing from so learned a pen , may of it self be a fair invitation to your Highnesse , to peruse the work which I have here drawne up to a translation : it is an extract of severall Histories culled out of two Treatises intituled Singular Events , and Morall Relations , an argument not improper for a vertuous minde , whether profit or pleasure be aymed at , for Histories are the store-houses , where vertues are faithfully conserved to posterities veneration , and vices detestation : it is an armory where armour of proofe for all degrees is fitted to the hand ; it is a glasse wherein to behold , adorne , and fashion out the life to what is worthy imitation , and to have in hortour and avoydance what is deformed in the beginning , or foule in the end : in fine , they are the only monuments of truth , which they purely deliver , no way flattering or concealing any thing

Give leave then , most gracious Princesse , where I began , there to determine my thrice humble Dedication , with homage and binding oblation of these first fruits of my small industry to your all-atracting goodnesse , which let it deigne to assume unto favourable acceptance , herein imitating the precious amber , that commands the ascent of small , and worthlesse substances , not for their merits sake , but for the honour of its force , and vertue to attract . Thus my presumption I hope , may be excused , your Highnesse all commanding vertue being graciously inclined

THe enterprise which I have taken in hand , is to wrastle , or rather to encounter with thosefrivolous books , which may all be comprized under the name of Romants , which would require the hands which fables attribute unto Briarius , or the strength which Poets give unto Hercules : the hands of that Gyant to handle so many pens , and the vigour of that Heros to undergoe so painefull a labour : but what cannot a courage do , animated by a zeale of pleasuring his neighbour , and provoked by desire to advance the light of vertue , and to lessen vice . O why hath not my pen the vertue to cure the wounds that these wicked books cause in this world ! or at least , why cannot it devoure those monsters , which the writers of those aforesaid workes , meere inchanters of mindes cause to appeare in the formes of bookes ? or like as an Eagles feather devours all other feathers , so might my pen devour all those other pens . When shall the light of vertue , & verity dissipate the shadowes of vice and vanity ? will the false Dagons never fall before the Arke of serious , true , and beneficiall entertainments of the minde ? at least if these my labours could cure those who are miserably infected with often viewing these Pamphlets : If the losse of so much time may be called imployment , I should not thinke my labour spent in vaine , nor my pen unprofitable . But when I see this mischievous tree , which I strive to cut down , casting forth so many branches , as I lop off , and doing like the Vine , which never sprouts so well , as when it is cut , it makes me feare a labour like unto that of Danaides , or of Sisyphus . Who would not wish for as many hands as Briarius , for to oppose so many stiles , which are used in that so vaine , and so wanton a kinde of writing ? And who would not wish for the arme of Hercules , to overcome this Hydra , whereof I can no sooner strike off one head , but up springs another ? You would thinke the fable of Cadmus a truth in this subject ; and that of the ancient Serpents teeth , there growes up armed men to fight in defence of lyes : that if Hercules ( according to the proverb ) could doe nothing against two , what may we think to doe against these legions ?

Now to overthrow so many fabulous Bookes , I undertake not my combat directly , as if I were confuting heresies , for it is not needfull that I should trouble my self to prove the obscurity of darknesse , nor to shew the falshood of these Romants , Adventures , Chivalries , and other such trash , which confesse themselves fabulous in their Prefaces , and whose reading full of fantasticall conceits of faynings , of impossibilities , of absurdities , of inchantments , of extravagancies , and such like trumpery , sufficiently sheweth their impertinency , which were ( as the Apostle saith ) to combat against the aire , and to tunne without end , or at the most to imitate that idle Emperour , who made warre onely against flyes By what manner doe I then labour to overcome my adversaries ? it is by diversion , setting relations true and beneficiall , in the place of those that are prophane , fabulous , and not onely unprofitable , but for the most part pernicious , to the end that those whose great leisure causeth to seeke wherewith to imploy their time , may finde wherewithall to entertaine their desires .

Even as truth is constant , so falshood is wavering and differing , & is capable of more different formes , then the materia prima , or the Proteus of Poets , which is the cause that these Authors , who love vanity , and follow after lyes , set forth their works in as many fashions , as they please . This variety being no small attractive unto those that passionately affect such kinde of reading : and it is no small advantage , that fantasticall relations have over those that are true , for those are made at pleasure , like leaden rules , or images of waxe wherewith you may doe what you will , filling them with monstrous incounters , surmounting both probability and imagination , things which delight and wonderfully suspend the minde : in briefe , they stuffe them with so many baits , that the licourishnesse of the sawce makes them loose the taste of the meat , which of it selfe is without savour or relish , and most commonly hurtfull : whereas narrations of things , which have truely happened , are tyed to more subjection , for although a man may order them handsomely , and slip in some convenient dressings , neverthelesse conscience obliges to keep faithfully to the ground and body of the History : and yet in the particularities which are added , either for connexion , or imbellishment of the recitall : the Author is strictly tyed to the bounds of probability , out of which he may not swerve a nailes beadth , without discrediting the whole worke . For although fables , parables , and poeticall fictions , do sometimes hide in them good precepts , and many serious examples , yet the instructions loose much of their credit when they are mixed amongst vaine inventions : and when they doe not leane to the solid foundation of truth , even as the Manna of Calabria looseth much of its vertue , when it is gathered of flowers which grow in places that are too moist .

Now amongst the multitude of these writings , which like unto Reeds , have nothing but a pleasing verdure , and a faire shew of stately words , hollow and empty without any solid substance , there are one kinde , which may be called an Ants nest , a seed-plot or nursery of these wanton inventions , and that is it which beares the titles of tales and novels : amongst Italians , those of Boccace for the purity of language , are much esteemed , but they are ●o full of impurities , impieties , fopperies , and absurdities , that I have sometimes wondered , how such a wit , capable of so many good things , hath wasted time in tales ( setting aside their filthinesse ) more befitting an old wife that would bring a childe to sleepe , then a person professing learning : they doe also make account of those of Baudell , which I have never seene , they esteem them because of the stile , but as I have heard by those that have read them , they containe such beastlinesse and abhominations , that they have not onely beene supprest by authority of the Magistrate , as pernitious to good manners , but also by publike detestation : true it is that there was amongst the rest , some sad events which had beene gathered and translated into our tongue by Bell Forest , whereof he hath framed his tragicall histories , yet some of them would deserve correction , being full of flesh and bloud . They have also those of Giraldy , of Sausonin , of Straparolle , full of so much licentiousnesse and dishonesty , that it is pitty to see these Bookes in the hands of youth , who sucke this Heraclian honey ( sweet but venemous ) through the sight , and which by its reading , teacheth such corruptions and filthinesse , as but by the practise of most dissolute persons would never be taught them .

Moreover , in all these stories ( for the most part ) invented at will , there is su●h manifest fopperies , and such great want of judgement in the Authors , and of likelihood in the narrations , that it is a strange thing , that reasonable spirits can be payd with such counterfeit and uncurrant coyne . Truely , wee are not men , but by reason , and when this light of our soule is out of its Eclipticke line , and strayed from its way , we fall into bottomlesse pits of absurdities : but what shall we doe to cure those that delight in their follies ?

Amongst the Spaniards , above all writers of Romants , and great tellers of tales , novelties , and stories , those of Ceroantes are much esteemed : and truely having red them , I have found his wit to be very great in those small things . A man of the world , a great gyber and scoffer , and who handsomely , and to the uttermost , sets out his wares . Deigo Agrada hath followed these , adding unto his the surname of morall , because of the morals which he drawes at the end of those occurrences , which he recites . This man in my minde is more judicious , and lesse insolent , although he takes licence to flye out sometimes a little . Among our French , a fine wit , in truth , and who hath a fine stile , hath recreated himselfe in writing French tales or novelties , which farre surpasse the Italian , and are no whit behinde the Spanish : he is moderate in his imaginations , and modest in his words , hee hath not deigned to set his name to this worke , wherein he seemes but to have onely tryed his penne , which he destinateth to some higher and more serious labour . Another hath given us a taste of historicall diversities , but this booke is so little , that it is but a shew , which breeds a wish for an ampler piece . Vnto this may be annexed the tragicall Histories of Bell Forrest , and those made by Rosset , bearing the same title .

These are the writings of that sort , which have fallen under my view , not that I have taken patience to reade them distinctly , but I have runne over some pieces of them , only as to feele their pulse , and informe my selfe of their language and Country . But for to say in generall what mine opinion is of these and all such like confused heapes of frivolous relations , I cannot better compare them then to dainty garden knots & borders which have Serpents hidden under their flowers , or unto fine fields : pleasing unto the eye , but full of Hemlocke and Aconitum , or unto Sallets , wherein are poysonous hearbs , or unto those fine Gold-Smiths workes , wherein are inserted base mettals , and counterfeit stones , or unto those liquorish Spanish dishes of meat , called pot porride , delicious in taste , but prejudiciall to health ; or unto the horse of Troy , out of which came armed souldiers , by whom that beautifull City was turned into ashes . I say not this so much to disgrace my adversaries , as to give testimony to truth .

Now ( my deare Reader ) it is this kinde of bookes which I strive to supplant by these singular Events , which I heare offer unto thy view , thou shalt not see therein those paintings of Eloquence , nor those industrious ornaments wherewith those Antagonists adorne their ridiculous tales , to make them glyde the sweether into the mindes of them that spend time abouttheir Chymera's . But thou shalt here finde naturall beauties without art ; I meane , examples which borrow all their grace and worth from the force of truth which upholds them , and whose testimonies are seene in the times , places , and persons .

All these Events , which I call singular , as well for being rare and notable , as for having no connexion the one with the other , each one making its body , hath as it were undertaken , either to cry downe a vice , or to extoll a vertue . The eng ●ayme at , as being ( as it is also the end of all good history ) to withdraw from evill , and to excite unto good , to breed a holy horrour of bad actions , and a just desire of actions that are good , ever ( as occasion serves ) adding a few words , short , but pressing , like to so many spurres , which pricke forward to well doing , and so many Bits which hold backe from the doing of evill , sometimes shewing the recompnce of goodnesse , and sometimes the punishment of vice , to the end that love and feare may support the good , and retaine the bad in their endeavours . This is the mark at which this worke wholly levels , whose intention at least canblamed .

As for the manner I am to advertise thee , that I study as much as I can for brevity , and thereupon abridge it of all the trimmings with which I extend my other Histories , where giving my minde scope , as in a full sea , I hoyse up sayles , and run at large , as the course of my penne carries me : here I cut my Vine , and nip of its buds , yea I clip my wings to keep me from soaring : I keep close to the matter , & give little liberty unto my thoughts , to spread into digressions , if they be not necessary , and as it were bred in the subject , by reason whereof I have weaned my self from the sweet milke of poesie , and have abstained from putting any verses in these Events . I have also taken away the other graces , as Apostrophes , dialogismes , complaints , speeches , conferences , letters , orations ; in briefe , all that might enlarge or embellish , so that in comparison of our other relations , these are but abridgements of histories , and as it were Skeletons , nothing remaining but the bones of each Event , stript of the ornaments which might have set forth their bodies in a far fairer hew . In the art of painting , little pieces have their graces , as well as great pictures , which have all their dimensions : so have abridgements in their kindes , as well as larger and ampler discourses : and as stronger blowes are given by a short weapon , then by a long ; a wound with a Dagger being no lesse dangerous , then that with a sword : even so it happens that the mind draws more profit from an example restrained within the bounds of its subject , then from another whose superfluous relations may either distract the attention , or leave it languishing : many times smal streames are more delectable then great rivers , and the least springs more pleasing then torrents , and meats cut in small bits , are swallowed with most ease . There be mindes which foyle in reading a history of great length , humane patience being not of any great extent : but when Events are set downe in such a manner , as the end is not farre from the beginning , this is it which incourageth the reader , and both giveth him a desire of seeing further , and also eases him in reading , besides variety is alwaies more delectable , and gives better content , then uniformity , & pleasure is a bait to a reader , which those that write , should in no wise contemne .

This booke of Events is a Garland made of many flowers , a honey composed of many hearbs , whose juyces are different , a treacle made of divers ingredients , and wherein the Serpent of vice is seasoned with so many antidotes , that in liew of hurting , it will doe good . It is a worke of inlaying , where each piece making its body , hath a severall colour and vertue , and all together make a prospective , which will not be unpleasant , except it be unto those muddy unsettled spirits , who can like nothing of anothers doing , being burthensome unto themselves , and troublesome unto all the world .

If I did write these Histories rather to please men , then to benefit my neighbour , it may bee I should be faine to feare their censures , and seeke to conjure or appease their bad humours . But should I entertaine such a thought , as to purchase reputation in this world , then would I set my selfe in another posture , and would give unto my pen a subject more flashing , and ranging , but being too weake to soare into high matters , I am content that it shall keepe so low , even to touch the ground : and that bringing more profit to my neighbour , it should yeeld little or no fame unto the Author .

Examples of good and evill have a like vertue , ( provided ) they meet with a disposition according in the soules of them that see them . For many reade books for curiosity , others for variety , or to passe time , and for want of other imployment , another with envy , few with sincerity , few with a desire to profit , and to put in practise the good instructions they finde therein ; from whence proceeds the ill usage of so many Authors , with so much ingratitude and cruelty ; that who so sets forth a Booke , exposes himselfe unto the mercy of mockers and detracters : drones which do but hu●me about flowers , without gathering any honey from them ; and as Spiders , who make venome of all that they reade .

But let them say on , some good soules ( neverthelesse ) whose dispositions are inclined to vertue , will be glad to finde profitable admonitions set do●ne , and sweetly mingled with varieties of pleasures fitting their humour . And therefore I have strov● by the helpe of my pen to publish examples worthy to be noted , to the end that wee may grow wise by the good or evill hap of others . This is the marke aymed at by all these Events , which I have gathered in the great field of the world . It is your part , deare Reader , to extract honey out of the hardest stone , oyle out of the flint , studying a reformation of manners in this schoole of humane actions ; Remembring alwaies that the secret ( and if I may so say ) the great worke of prudence and justice , is to avoyd evill , and to imbrace good .