which was ten fat Oxen, twenty Oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred Sheep, beside row Buck, fallow Deer, and fatted Fowls. [SN: _Description of the Turkish Seraglio, since printed. The daily provision of the Seraglio._] Wherein notwithstanding (if a punctual relation thereof do rightly inform us) the grand Seignior doth exceed: the daily provision of whose Seraglio in the reign of _Achmet_, beside Beeves, consumed two hundred Sheep, Lambs and Kids when they were in season one hundred, Calves ten, Geese fifty, Hens two hundred, Chickens one hundred, Pigeons an hundred pair. And therefore this mistake concerning the noble _Tamerlane_, was like that concerning _Demosthenes_, who is said to be the Son of a Black-smith, according to common conceit, and that handsome expression of _Juvenal_. _Quem pater ardentis massæ fuligine lippus, A carbone et forcipibus, gladiosq; parante Incude, et luteo Vulcano ad Rhetora misit._ _Thus Englished by Sir_ Robert _Stapleton_. Whom's Father with the smoaky forg half blind, From blows on sooty Vulcans anvil spent. In ham'ring swords, to study Rhet'rick sent. But _Plutarch_ who writ his life hath cleared this conceit, plainly affirming he was most nobly descended, and that this report was raised, because his father had many slaves that wrought Smiths work, and brought the profit unto him. CHAPTER XVII Of some others. 1. We are sad when we read the story of _Belisarius_ that worthy Chieftain of _Justinian_; who, after his Victories over _Vandals_, _Goths_, _Persians_, and his Trophies in three parts of the World, had at last his eyes put out by the Emperour, and was reduced to that distress, that he begged relief on the high-way, in that uncomfortable petition, _Date obolum Belisario_. And this we do not only hear in Discourses, Orations and Themes, but find it also in the leaves of _Petrus Crinitus_, _Volaterranus_, and other worthy Writers. But, what may somewhat consolate all men that honour vertue, we do not discover the latter Scene of his Misery in Authors of Antiquity, or such as have expresly delivered the stories of those times. For, _Suidas_ is silent herein, _Cedrenus_ and _Zonaras_, two grave and punctual Authors, delivering only the confiscation of his goods, omit the History of his mendication. _Paulus Diaconus_ goeth farther, not only passing over this act, but affirming his goods and dignities were restored. _Agathius_ who lived at the same time, declareth he suffered much from the envy of the Court: but that he descended thus deep into affliction, is not to be gathered from his pen. The same is also omitted by _Procopius_ a contemporary and professed enemy unto _Justinian_ and _Belisarius_, who hath left an opprobrious book [SN: Ἀνέκδοτα, _or_ Arcana historia.] against them both.