ASPHYXIA. 
515 
15,000 ducats, he came to London to procure payment. In pursuit 
of this affair, he fortunately met with the lord chancellor as he was 
riding' to court, who immediately alighted, embraced him, and asked him 
if it was not signior Francis Frescobald ? “Yes, sir,” said he, “ and 
your most humble servant.” ‘‘ My servant!” said the chancellor ; “ no, 
you are my special friend, that relieved me in my wants, laid the foun- 
dation of my greatness, — and as such I receive you ; and since the 
affairs of my sovereign will not now permit a longer conference, I beg 
you will oblige me this day with your company at my house to dinner 
with me.” Frescobald was astonished who this great man could be 
who acknowledged such obligations, but recollecting his voice, his 
mien, and his carriage, he concluded it to be Cromwell, and therefore 
went to his house. 
His lordship came soon after, and, taking his friend by the band, 
turned -to the lord high admiral and other noblemen, saying, “This is 
the gentleman who first contributed to my advancement,” He then 
told them the whole story ; led him into the dining-room, and placed 
him next to himself at table. The company being gone, the chancellor 
asked what affair had brought him to England ? Frescobald gave 
him the true state of his circumstances ; to which Cromwell replied, 
“ I am sorry for your misfortunes, and I will make them as easy to 
you as I can ; but as men ought to be just before they are kind, it is 
fit I should repay the debt I owe you.” Then leading him into his 
closet, he first took out sixteen ducats, and, delivering them to Fres- 
cobald, said, “ My friend, here is the money you lent me at Florence, 
with ten pieces you laid out in my apparel, and ten more for my 
horse ; but as you made advantage of this money in trade, take these 
four bags, in each of which is four hundred ducats.” He next caused 
him to give him the name of his debtors, and th^ sums they owed ; 
which he transmitted to one of his servants, with a charge to find out 
the men, and oblige them to pay him in fifteen days, under the penalty 
of his displeasure,— and thus in a short time the entire sum was paid. 
All this time signior Frescobald was entertained in the chancellor’s 
house, who proposed to him to continue in England, and offered him 
the loan of sixty thousand ducats for four years, if he would trade here ; 
but he desired to return to Florence, which he did, with extraordinary 
favours from lord Cromwell. 
-ry 
Asphyxia, or Suspeij^ded Animation. 
The following most extraordinary case of Asphyxia, is related by 
Dr. Cheyne, in his English Malady, p. 307. 
“ Case of the Honourable Colonel Townshend. — Colonel Townshend, 
a gentleman of excellent natural parts, and of great honour and integ- 
rity, had for many years been afflicted with a nephritic complaint, 
attended with constant vomitings, which had made his life painful and 
miserable. During the whole time of his illness he had observed 
the strictest regimen, living on the softest vegetables and lightest 
animal foods, drinking ass’s milk daily even in the camp, and for 
common drink Bristol water, which the summer b^efore his death he 
had drank on the spot ; but his illness increasing, and his strength 
