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. XXVIII. Of Men of Expedition in their Iour∣neys, and quick dispatch in other Affairs.

THe English Ambassador had prevailed with the Turkish Sultan, to introduce some of our Musitioners into the Seraglio, that he might hear a more excellent sort of Musick, than as yet he had been acquainted with: but they were so long in tuning their Instruments; that whether he thought that the best they could make, or that he would not allow himself any further leisure, up he rose and departed. He who made such haste in his Recreations, was no doubt as enpedite in his business, as the following in their Journeys and other Affairs.

1. Titus Sempronius Gracchus, a smart young man, set out from Amphissa, and with change of Horses upon the third day arriv'd at Pella.

2. M. Cato, with wonderful speed came from Hidruntum to Rome upon the fifth day.

3. Iulius Caesar, with incredible expedition, made often such journeys, that in his Litter he would travel at the rate of one hundred miles a day: He came from Rome to Rhodanus, (saith Plu∣tarch) upon the eighth day; that is about 800 miles.

4. Icelus, the freedman of Galba, out went him far; for (as Plutarch saith) to bring his Patron the news of Nero's death, and to congratulate his arrival to the Empire, he went from Rome, and up••n the seventh day came to Clunia, which is al∣most the middle of Spain.

5. M••thridates (saith Appianus) with change of Horses measured one thousand furlongs in one day, that is one hundred twenty five Roman miles.

6. Beyond him went Hambal, (as saith the same Appianus) who being overthrown by Scipio, with one in his company, came in two days and two nights to Adrumetum, whi••h is about three hun∣dred seventy and five m••les, that is, in a day and a night one hundred eighty seven miles and a half.

7. Yet was he also outstrip'd by that Messen∣ger, which was sent by M••ximus to the Senate of Rome, to carry news of Maximinus his death: He ran, saith Capitolinus, with that post haste, that (changing Horses) upon the fourth day from Aquileia he got to Rome, seven hundred ninety seven miles, which is almost two hundred miles for day and night.

8. Tiberius Caesar, when his Brother Drusus lay sick in Germany, changing his Chariot Horses, only three times, in a night and a day dispatch'd a Journey of two hundred miles, and dead, he accompanyed his Corps out of Germany to Rome all the way on foot.

9. Iohn Lepton of Kepwick, in the County of York Equite, one of the Grooms of the privy Chamber to King Iames, undertook for a wager to ride six days together betwixt York and London, being sevenscore and ten miles, and he perform'd it accordingly to the greater praise of his strength in acting, then his discretion in undertaking it. He first set forth from Aldersgate, May the 20th. being Munday, Anno Dom. 1606. and accomplish'd his journey every day before it was dark. After he had finish'd his Journey at York to the admira∣tion of all men, Munday the 27th. of the same Month, he went from York, and came to the Court at Greenwich to his Majesty upon Tuesday, in as fresh and chearful a manner, as when he first be∣gan.

10. In the year 1619. the 17th. of Iuly of King Iames his Reign, one Bernard Calvert of Andover rode from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Do∣ver, from thence passed by Barge to Callice in France, and from thence return'd back to St. Georges Church the same day; setting out about three a clock in the morning, and return'd about eight a clock in the evening fresh and lusty.

11. Osterly House in Middlesex was built in the Park by Sir Thomas Gresham, who there magni∣ficently entertain'd and lodg'd Q. Elizabeth; her Majesty found fault with the Court of this House as too great, affirming that it would appear more handsome, if divided with a Wall in the middle. What doth Sir Thomas, but in the night time sends for Workmen to London, (Money com∣mands all things) who so speedily and silently ap∣ply their business, that the next morning disco∣ver'd the Court double, which the night had left single before; its questionable whether the Queen next day was more contented with the confor∣mity to her fancy, or more pleas'd with the sur∣prize, and sudden performance thereof.

12. Sir Thomas More was Lord Chancellor of England; in which place he demeand himself with great integrity, and with no less expedition. In testimony of the latter, it is recorded, that calling for the next cause, it was return'd unto him, there are no more to be heard; all suits in that Court depending, and reading for hearing, be∣ing finally determin'd; whereupon a Rythmer had this.

When More some years had Ch••nc'lor been, No more suits did remain: The same shall never more be seen, Till More be there again.

13. In Fabius Vrsinus, a Child but of eleven

years of age, there was so rare a mixture of inven∣tion and memory, that he could unto five or six several persons at the same time dictate the words and matter of so many several Epistles, some seri∣ous, some jocular, all of different arguments; re∣turning after every short period from the last to the first, and so in order, and in the conclusion, every Epistle should be so close, proper and coherent, as if it alone had been intended.

14. Philip de Comines, Knight and Lord of Ar∣gènton, Privy Counsellour to Lewis the eleventh King of France, was a person of those rare and quick parts, that he often indited at one time to four Secretaries, several Letters of weighty affairs, with as great facility and readiness, as if he had but one matter in hand.

15. Anthony Perenot, Cardinal Granvel, was of so nimble a wit, that he sometimes tired five Secre∣taries at once, with dictating Letters to them, and that in several tongues, for he understood se∣ven languages exactly: none of that age surpassed him for eloquence; he was Bishop of Arras at twenty four years of age, and had audience in the Council of Trent, for the Emperour Charles the Fifth, where he made a quick and elegant Ora∣tion.

16. Sir Thomas Lakes was born in the Parish of S. Michael in Southhampton, and through several un∣der offices, at last preferred Secretary of Estate to King Iames: incredible his dexterity in dispatch, who at the same time would indite, write, dis∣course more exactly than most men could severally perform them. Men resembled him to one of the Ships Royal of Queen Elizabeth, called the Swift∣sure, such his celerity and solidity in all affairs. He fell at last (for the faults of others) into the King's displeasure; yet even then (when outed of his Secretaries place) King Iames gave him this publick Eulogy in open Court, That he was a Minister of State fit to serve the greatest Prince in Europe.

17. For vigour and quickness of spirit, I take it that Caius Caesar Dictatour went beyond all men besides: I have heard it reported of him, that he was wont to write, to read, to indite Letters, and withal to give audience to suiters, and hear their causes all at one time. And being employed (as 'tis well known) in so great and important affairs, he ordinarily indited Letters to four Secretaries at once: and when he was freed from other greater business, he would other whiles find seven of them work at one time.

18. Henricus ab Heers mentions a young man of fourteen years of age, who used to dictate to four of his School-fellows four different Verses, and at the same time made a fifth himself. He was called the youth with the great memory: he afterwards applyed himself to Physick, wherein he is a Pra∣ctitioner (saith he) this year, 1630.

19. It is said of Adrian the Emperour, that he used to write, dictate, hear others discourse, and talk with others at the same time; and that he so comprehended all publick accounts, that every di∣ligent Master of a Family understood not so well the affairs of his own private house.

20. King Henry the Seventh had occassion to send a Messenger to the Emperour Maximilian, about a business that required haste, he thought none more ••it for this employment, than Mr. Thomas Woolsey, then his Chaplain, he call'd him, gave him his er∣rand, and bade him make all the speed he could. Woolsey departed from the King at Richmond about noon, and by next morning was got to Dover, and from thence by noon next day was come to Calis, and by night was with the Emperour, to whom declaring his message, and having a present dispatch, he rode that night back to Calis, and the night following came to the Court at Richmond: the next morning he presented himself before the King, who blamed him for not being gone, the matter requiring haste. To whom Woolsey an∣swered, That he had been with the Emperour, dispatched the business, and shewed the Empe∣rour's Letter. The King wondred much at his speed, bestowed presently upon him the Deanery of Lincoln, and soon after made him his Almoner. This was the first rise of that a••terwards great Pre∣late, Cardinal Woolsey.

Notes

• Liv. l. 37.
• Lips. Ep. Cent. 3. Ep. 59. p. 272.
• Lips. ibid. 272.
• Lips. ibid. p. 272.
• Lips. ibid. p. 273.
• Lips. ibid. p. 273.
• Capitol.
• Sueton. in Tiberio p. 127. Val. Max. l. 5. c. 5. p. 146.
• Full. Wor∣thies, p. 231 York. Sanders. Hist. of K. Iames, Anno 1606. p. 333. Fayths. Annalist. p. 201.
• Baker's Chr. p. 605. Stowe's Chr. p. 1032.
• Full. Wor∣thies, p. 177 Middlesex.
• Full. wor∣thies, p. 208 209. Lon∣don.
• Dr. Rey∣nold's Trea∣tise of the Passions. p. 14.
• Danet. in the life of Comines, prefixed to his History.
• Strada. Clarks mir. c. 77. p. 349.
• F••ll. Worth. p. 9. H••••shire.
• Plin. l. 7. c. 25. p. 168.
• H••••ric. ab H••ers, obs. med. l. 1. obs. 13. p. 131.
• Spartian. p. 90.
• B••k••••'s Chron. p. 375. Hist. o•• life 〈◊〉〈◊〉 death o•• Cardinal Woolsey by Mr. Caven∣di••h. c. 2.167.