To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
THe better hap a man hath to at∣tain to Riches, the more he is ac∣cursed, in being more tormented with the feavers of the mind and unquietness. This Vice is held to be the root of all evil, lacking as well those things which it enjoyeth, as which it wanteth.
THe Scithians only make no use of Gold and Silver, for ever detesting and condemning the monstrous sin of covetousness. Solinus.
Caligula, was so covetous, that there was no kind of lucre, or mean to get money by, how un∣lawful soever it were, which he sought not out, in∣somuch as he laid a tribute upon Urine, and sold his Sisters Gowns, whom he had sent into banish∣ment. Vale••ius.
Calipha, King of Persia, having filled a Tower with Gold, Jewels, and precious Stores, and be∣ing in war with Allan King of Tar••ary, was so ill•• succoured of his own people, because he would not give them their pay, that he was taken of Allan, and famished in that Tower where all his Treasure lay.
Dionysius the Elder, advertised of one that had hid great store of money, commanded him upon pain of death to bring it to him, which he did, al∣though not all; but with the remainder dwelt in another place, & bestowed it upon an Inheritance, when Dionysius heard thereof, he sent him that which he took from him, saying, Now thou knowest how to use riches, take that I had from thee.
Hermocrates, ready to die, bequeathed his goods to himself.
One at the hour of his death, swallowed many pieces of God, and sewed the rest in his Coat, commanding that it should be buried with him Atheneus.
One besieged in the Tower of Cassilino by Han∣nibal, chose rather to sell a Rat which he had ••a∣ken for 200 Roman pence, than to satisfie hi•• hunger, whereof he died ••raight after, but the o∣ther saved his life by that dear meat. Valerius.
The Popes Camera, or Eschequer, is like unto the Sea, wherein to all Rivers do run, and yet it overfl••weth not. P. Martyr.
The old Clergy being asked why they cannot live by 〈…〉〈…〉 liness but by covetousness, answer∣ed, Nunc aliud tempus, alii pro tempore mores. Polychr.
Demonica betrayed Ephesus to Brennus of Se∣nona for Gold, who demanded her reward of him, who brought her to a great heap of gold, and loaded her so heavy therewith, that she died under the burden.
Euclio, had hidden such treasure under the ground, that he durst go out of his house for fear of robbing, nor tarry in it for fear of killing. Plautus.
Adrian, sirnamed Sophista, when a neighbour of his had sent him a few dainty fishes, for a present in a silver dish; he took both the silver dish and the fishes, saying to the Messenger, Thank thy Master, and tell him, I take his fishes for Novelties, and his sil∣ver dish for a present.
Simonides, when he was requested to do any thing gratis, id est, for nothing, said, That he had two Chests, the one shut up for thanks, the other open for money. Plut.
Vespasian, when he heard that a silver Image of great substance should be made for a Monument of his worthiness, he straight held out his hand, say∣ing, Behold, here is a place ready to set an Image, a sure foundation from falling.
Vespasian, of pure misery, niggardship, and co∣vetousness, commanded in Rome to be made pub∣like places to receive Urine, not to keep the City more sweet, but to the end they should give him more rent. Suetouius.
Simonides, being demanded why he hoo••ded up
money towards the end of his old age, Because ••quoth he) I had rather leave my goods to mine ene∣mies, than to have need of the relief of my friends while I am alive.
Virgil, in his sixth book of Aeneiads, putteth those persons in Hell, which have done no good to their friends, kinsfolk, and neighbours, but have been wholly wedded to their riches, without im∣parting them to others. Virgil.
Ochus, King of Persia, would never go into the Countrey of Perseland, because that by the Law of the Realm, he was bound to give to every wo∣man that had born children, one French crown, and to every woman with child two.
Plato, thought it almost impossible, for a man very rich to be honest, yet Solon as wise as he, desi∣red to have riches, but not to get them by wrong. Plut.
Anacreon, having received of Polycrates five ta∣lents for a gift, was so much troubled for the space of two nights with care, how he might keep them, and how to imploy them best, that he carried them back again, saying, That they were not worth the p••ins he had already taken for them.
Socrates, being sent for by K. Archelaus, to come and receive store of Gold, sent him word that a measure was sold in Athens for a penny double; and that water cost him nothing.
Lyc••rgus, abrogated the use of Gold and Silver coyn, and appointed Iron money to be currant, by this means he banished from them the desire of Riches.
Caligula, took of every Curtezan, as much of her gain as she could get of any man at once.
Pertinax, being advanced to the degree of Em∣peror, did not forget his niggardliness, but parted
Lettice and Ar••ichooks in two, that the one half might be for his dinner, and the other for his Sup∣per. Eutropius.
The Parsimony of Fabritius, is not to be con∣demned, for the age wherein he lived, ought to excuse him, in the which all magnificence was un∣known to the Romans.
Justinian the Emperor, for himself procured Riches, and for the Devil he cheapned Souls, he was covetous, and maintained the heresie of the Pelagians.
Epimenides, curse of Riches was, that all the Treasures hoarded up by the covetous, should be wasted by the prodigal.
The Romans, and the Carthaginians, were friends a long time, but after they knew there was in Spain great mines of Gold and Silver, imme∣diately arose between them Civil Wars. P. Dia∣conus.
Darius, being very rich and covetous, sent to Alexander in scorn, to know where he had trea∣sure to maintain such an Army, who answered, Tell thy Master that he keepth in his Coffe••s his Treasures of Metals. and I have no other Treasure than the hearts of my friends. Plutarch.
Angelot, a Cardinal, was so covetous. that by a false door he descended into the Stable, and every night stole away the Oates which his Horse-keep∣ers had given his Horses, and continued it so long, till one of the Horse-keepers hiding himself in the stable, did so belabour him with a Pikefork, that he had much adoe to crawl away. J. Pontanus.