The wonders of the little world, or, A general history of man in six books : wherein by many thousands of examples is shewed what man hath been from the first ages of the world to these times, in respect of his body, senses, passions, affections, his virtues and perfections, his vices and defects, his quality, vocation and profession, and many other particulars not reducible to any of the former heads : collected from the writings of the most approved historians, philosophers, physicians, philologists and others / by Nath. Wanley ...

CHAP. IV. Of the Veracity of some Persons, and their great Love to Truth: and ha∣tred of Flattery and Falshood.

THe Persians and Indians had a Law, that who∣soever had been thrice convicted of speaking untruth, should upon Pain of death never speak word more all his life after: And Plato saith it is only allowed to Physicians to lye, for the comfort of the Sick that are under their custody and care. But all other men are obliged to a severe and strict observance of truth, notwithstanding which there hath been so great a scarcity of the true Lovers of it, that

1. It is said of Augustus Caesar, that after a long inquiry into all the parts of his Empire; he found but one man who was accounted never to have told lye: For which cause he was deemed capable and worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple of Truth.

2. Epaminondas the Theban General, was so great a Lover of Truth, that he was ever exceed∣ing careful lest his tongue should in the least digress from it, even then when he was most in sport.

3. Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur, speaks of him as a person exremely devoted to Truth, and gives him this threefold commendati∣on: T••at he was never known to tell a Lye, that he was never heard to speak ill of any man, and lastly, that he used not to speak at all but when necessity required.

4. Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus, a Knight of Rome, and familiar friend to M. Cicero, that he was never known to speak an untruth, neither (but with great impatience) to hear any Related. His uprightness was so apparent that not only private men made suit to him, that they might commit their whole Estates to his trust, but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices in∣to his charge.

5. Xenocrates the Philosopher, was known to be a man of that fidelity and truth in speaking, that whereas no mans Testimony might be taken in any cause but upon oath: yet the Athenians amongst whom he lived, gave to him alone this priviledge, that his evidence should be lawful and good with∣out being sworn.

6. The Duke of Ossura, as he passed by Barcelo∣na, having got leave of Grace to release some Slaves, he went aboard the Cape Gally, and passing through the churms of Slave, he asksd divers of them what their offences were, every one excused himself, one saying that he was put in out of malice, another by Bribery of the Judge, but all of them unjustly: Amongst the rest there was one little sturdy black man, and the Duke asking him what he was in for; Sir, said he, I cannot deny but I am justly put in here, for I wanted Money, and so took a Purse hard by Sarragona, to keep me from starving. The Duke, with a little Staff he had in his hand, gave him two or three Blows upon the Shoulders, saying, you Rogue, what do you amongst so many honest innocent men, get you gone out of their company: So he was freed, and the rest remained still in statis quo prius, to tug at the Oar.

7. The Emperour Constantius had besieged Bene∣ventum, when Romualdus the Duke thereof, dis∣patch'd Geswaldus privily away, unto Grimoaldus the King of Lombardy the Dukes Father, to desire him to come with an Army unto the assistance of his Son. He had prevailed in his Embassy, and was by Grimoaldus sent away before, to let his Son know that he was coming with some Troops to his Aid. But in his return by misfortune he fell amongst the Enemies, who being informed of the Auxiliary forces that were upon the march, hoped to have Beneventum yielded to them before their Arrival; if they could make Romualdus to despair of his Suc∣cours: To this purpose having enjoyned Geswaldus to speak their sence, they led him to the Walls, but when he came thither he declared the whole truth to the besieged, and gave them to understand, that e're long Grimoaldus would be with them with a considerable Army. This cost Geswaldus his Life. and the Imperialists raised their Siege the next day after.

8. King L••dislaus was a great Lover of Truth, and therefore amongst his Courtiers, when any of them praised any deed of his, or quality that was in him, if he perceived that they said nothing but the truth, he would let it pass by uncontroul'd: But when he saw that a gloss was set upon it for his praise, of their own making; he would say with some heat, I pray thee Good Fellow, when thou sayest Grace, never bring in Gloria Patri, without a Sicut erat: If thou make any report of an Act of mine, report it as it was and no otherwise: And lift me not up with Lies for I love it not.

It is written of our Henry the Fifth, that he had something of Caesar in him; which Alexander the Great had not; that he would not be drunk. And something of Alexander the Great that Caesar had not, that he would not be flattered.

10. One who was designed for an Agent, wait∣ed upon the knowing and experienced Lord Went-worth, for some direction in his conduct and carri∣age, to whom he thus delivered himself. To se∣cure your self and serve your Country, you must at all times and upon all occasions speak truth: For, sa••th he, you will never be believed, and by this means your truth will both secure your self if you be questioned, and put those you deal with who will still hunt counter, to a loss in all their disquisitions and undertakings.

11. The Emperour Tiberius had such an aversion to flatteries, that he suffered no Senator to come to his Litter: neither to wait upon him nor so much as about business. When a Consular person came to him to app••ase his displeasure, and sought to em∣brace his Knees, he fled from him with that earnest∣ness, that he fell all along upon his face, when in common discourse or in any set oration, ought was said of him that was complemental, he would in∣terrupt the person, reprehend him, and immedi∣ately alter the form of his words, when one called him Lord, he commanded he should no more name him by way of reproach: One saying his Sacred employments, and another that he went to the Se∣nate, he being the Author; he compell••d both to alter their expressions, for Author to say Perswa∣der, and for Sacred to say Laborious.

12. Pambo came to a Learned Man, and desired him to teach him some Psalm, he began to read un∣to him the thirty ninth, and the first Verse, which is: I said I will look to my ways, that I offend not with my Tongue. Pambo shut the Book and took his leave saying he would go learn that point: And having absented himself for some Months, he was demand∣ed by his Teacher, when he would go forward: he answered that he had not yet learn'd his old Lesson, to sp••ak in such a manner as not to offend with his Tongue.

13. Albertus Bishop of Me••tz, reading by chance in the Bible, one of his Council coming in, asked him what his Highness did with that Book? The Arch-Bishop answered, I know not what this Book is, but sure I am that all that is written therein is quite against us.

When Aristobulus the Historian presented to A∣lexander the Great, a Book that he had wrote of his glorious Atchievements▪ wherein he had flattering∣ly made him greater than he was. Alexander after he had read the Book, threw it into the River Hy∣daspis, and told the Author, that it were a good deed to throw him after it. The same Prince did also chase a certain Philosopher out of his presence, because he had long lived with him, and yet never reproved him for any of his vices or faults.

15. Maximilianus the first Emperour of that name, look how desirous he was to be famous to posterity, for his noble Actions and Atchieve∣ments, so much was he also avers•• and afraid to be praised to his face. When therefore on a time divers eloquent and learned men did highly extol him, with immediate Praises in their Panegyricks, he commanded Cuspinianus to return them an answer, ex tempore, and withal take heed (said he) that you praise me not, for a mans own Praises from his own Mouth carry but an evil savour with them.

16. Cato the younger charged Muraena and in∣dicted him in open Court for Popularity and Am∣bition, declaring against him that he sought indi∣rectly to gain the peoples favour, and their voices to be chosen Consul: Now as he went up and down to Collect Arguments and Proofs thereof, accord∣ing to the manner and cu••tom of the Romans, he was attended upon by certain persons who followed him in the behalf of the Defendant, to observe what was done for his better instruction in the pro∣cess and suit commenced. These men would of∣tentimes be in hand with Cato, and ask him whether he would to day search for ought or negotiate any thing in the matter and cause concerning Muraena? If he said no, such credit and trust they reposed in the veracity and truth of the man, that they would rest in that answer and go their ways. A singular proof this was of the reputation he had gain'd, and the great and good opinion men had conceived of him, concerning his Love to Truth.

17. Euricius Cordus a German Physician hath this honour done to his memory: It is said of him that no man was more addicted to truth than he, or rather no man was more vehemently studious of it, none could be found who was a worser hater of ing and falshood, he could dissemble no∣thing nor bear that wherewith he was offended, which was the cause of his gaining the displeasure o•• some persons, who might have been helpful to him if he would but have sought their favour, and continued himself therein by his obsequiousness: Thus much is declared in his Epigrams, and he saith, it of himself.

Blandire nescis ac verum Corde tacere, Et mirare tuos displicuisse libros?

Thou canst not flatter, but the truth dost tell, What wonder is't thy Books then do not sell.

Paulus Lutherus Son to Martin Luther, was Phy∣sician to Ioachimus the Second Elector of Branden∣buog, and then to Augustus Duke of Saxony Elector; It is said of him, that he was verè 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a lover of liberty and freedom of Speech; far from ••lattery and assentation, and in all points like unto that Rhesus in Euripides who saith of himself,

Talis sum et ego, rectam s••rmonum Viam secans, nec sum duplex vir.

Such a one am I that rightly can Divide my Speech, yet am no double man.

The virtues of this Luther were many and great, yet I know not any wherein he more deservedly is to be praised, than for this honest freedom of speaking, wherein he mightily resembled his Fa∣ther.

19. When I lived at Vtricht in the Low Coun∣tries, the Reply of that valiant Gentleman Colonel Edmonds was much spoken of: There came a Coun∣try-man

of his out of Sco••land, who desiring to be entertained by him, told him that my Lord his Fa∣ther and such Knights and Gentlemen, his Cousin and Kinsmen were in good health. Colonel Ed∣monds (turning to his friends then by) Gentlemen, said he, believe not one word he says: My Father is but a poor Baker in Edinburg, and works hard for his living, whom this Knave would make a Lord, to curry favour with me, and make you believe that I am a great man born, when there is no such mat∣ter.

Notes

• Peach. Com∣pl. Gentlm. c. 15. p. 208.
• Caus. H▪ C. tom. 1. l. 2. p. 45.
• Heyw. Hie∣rarc 6 y. l. 5. p. 294.
• Heyw. ib. p. 294
• Heidfeld Sphinx c. 24. p. 674.
• Heyw. ib. p. 294.
• La••rt. vit. Phil. l. 4. p. 97, 98.
• Heidf. Sphinx c. 24. p. 673.
• Howels Ep. vol. 1. §. 2. Ep. 22. p. 37.
• Fulgos. Ex. l. 3. c. 8. p. 425.
• Cambd. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, p. 228.
• Lloyd his State wor∣thies p. 201.
• Lloyd State worthies p. 201.202.
• S••et. l. 3. c. 27. p. 139.
• C••••tw. hist. collect. cent. 1. p. 17.
• Luther Col∣lo ••. mensal. p. 11.
• Cl••rks mir. c. 53 p. 212.
• Paraei hist. medull. tom. 2 p. 124
• Plut. Moral. l. de c. & i∣nimici util. p. 250.
• M. Adam. in vit. Germ. medic. p. 25.
• Melch. A∣dam. in vit. Germ. Med. p. 341.
• Peach. Comp. Gentlm. c. 1. p. 5.