Page:Omniana 2.djvu/209

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OMNIANA.
199

error, but the honesty to confess it. "His reign, (says Fuller,[1]) was scattered over with cheaters in this kind, but the King, remembering what Solomon saith,..It is the honour of a King to search out a matter,..was no less dexterous than desirous to make discovery of these deceits. Various were his waies in detecting them, awing some into confession with his presence, perswading others by promise of pardon and fair usage. He ordered it so, that a proper courtier made love to one of these bewitched maids, and quickly Cupid his arrows drave out the pretended darts of the devil. Another there was, the tides of whose possession did so ebbe and flow that punctually they observed one hour, till the King came to visit her. The maid, loath to be so unmannerly as to make His Majesty attend her time, antedated her fits many hours, and instantly ran through the whole zodiack of tricks which she used to play. A third,

  1. Church History, Book X. p. 74.