all the Christians to renounce Christ at which time they were assembled together whereupon one Romanus a Nobleman ran to them declaring That the Wolves wenâ— at hand which would devour them yet he exhorted them not to fear by reason of the danger and through Divine Grace the Christians were greatly encouraged by him so that old Men and Matrons Fathers and Mothers were all of one mind and resolution to shed their dearest blood in the â—rofession of the Christian Faith and unanimously offered their naked throats to the Soldiers whereupon they sent their Captain word That they could not inforce the Christians to deny their Faith by reaso of one Romanus who did mightily encourage them The Captain commanded he should be brought before him to whom he said What art thou the Author of this Sedition Art thou the cause that so many lose their lives By the Gods I swear thou shalt answer for them all and shalt suffer those torments that thou encouragest them to undergo Romanus answered Thy Sentence O Emperor I joâ—fully imbrace I am most willing to be Sacrificed for my Brethren although I should suffer the greatest torments that thou canst invent the Captain being much inraged with this his stout answer commanded him to be halled up and his bowels to be pluckt out whereupon the Hangman more pittiful and tenderhearted than he said Not so Sir this man is of Noble Parentage and therefore may not be put to so ignoble a death scourge him then quoth the Captain with whips having knots of Lead at the ends which was done accordingly but Romanus instead of Sighs and Tears and Groans sung Psalms during his suffering desiring the tormentors not to favour him for the sake of his Nobility for it is not said he the blood of my Progenitors but the Christian Religion which makes me noble then did he earnestly reprove the Cruelty and Idolatry of the Captain and derided his Idol Gods which so â—uch inraged him that he commanded his sides to be â—unced with knives till the bones were laid open yet still â—id the Holy Martyr Preach the living God and the â—ord Jesus Christ to him upon which the Tyrant comâ—anded to strike out his Teeth that his Speech might â—e hindred his order was obeyed his face was also buffeâ—ed his Eyelids torn off his cheeks cut and gasht with â—nives the skin of his beard by degrees pluckt off and â—is comely countenance wholly defaced and deformed â—et for all this the meek and patient Martyr said only â—us I thank thee O Captain that thou hast opened to me so maâ—â— mouths to Preach my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for as â—any wounds as I have so many mouths I have to bless and praise â—â—y God and Jesus Christ my Redeemer the Captain astoniâ—â—ed at his constancy bid them give over tormenâ—ng him yet threatens more cruel Tortures â—nd in the mean time Blasphemed God and â—hrist saying Thy Crucified Saviour is but a God of yesterâ—ay The Gods of the Gentiles are of great Antiquity But Romanus taking occasion from hence declared unto him â—â—e Eternity of Jesus Christ c. and withal said Captain â—â—ing me a Christian Child of seven years old and you shall hear â—hat he will say Hereupon a little Boy was called out of â—â—e multitude to whom Romanus said Tell me my Child â—hether thou think it reasonable that we worship one Christ â—â—d in him one Father or that we worship many Gods To â—hom the Child answered That surely what we affirm to 〈◊〉 God must needs be one and since this Christ is one in whom â—â—e worship one God the Father he must needs be the true God â—â—r that there be many Gods we children cannot believe The â—aptain amazed at this said Thou young Villain and Traiâ—â—r where and of whom learnedst thou this Lesson Of my â—other said the Child with whose Milk I sucked in this â—esson that I must believe in Christ The Mother was calâ—d and appeared being glad to see the courage of her â—hild The cruel Captain commanded the Child to be â—alled up and severely whipt at which cruelty the piâ—ful spectators could not forbear tears only the joyful â—other stood by and looked on with dry eyes yea she reproved her sweet Child for desiring but a little cold Water charging â—t to thirst after the Cup that the Babâ—â— of Bethlehem once drank of and bid him remember littâ—â— Isaac who seeing the Sword over his head and the Altar upon which he was to be sacrificed willingly offered his tender neâ—â— to be cut off by his Father Upon this the cruel Tormentoâ— of a sudden pluckt the shin off the Childs head hair and all whereupon the Mothâ—â— cryed out Endure and suffâ—â— it patiently my Dear Child and in a little time thou shalt gâ— to Jesus Christ who will adorn thy naked heâ—d with a Crowâ— of Eternal Glory Thus the Mother counâ—ess her Son and the Child is inccuâ—aged and receives the stripes and scourges with a â—â—â—ling countenance The Captain perceiving the constancy of the Child to be invincible and himself to be overcome commandeth this precious soul this Blessed Babe this little Martyr to be put into a filthy and stinking Dungeon Then was Romanâ— brought forth again to receive new wounds upon his olâ— sores and the Captain raged against the Tormento for dealing so mildly with him and then said It is painful for thee Romants to be so long a dying I do assure theâ— in a short time the floming fire shall dispatch thee whereiâ— thou and that Boy thy Fellow Rebel and Traitor shalâ— be burâ— to Ashes As they were going to Execution Romanâ—â— turned back upon the Captain and said I appeal from this thy Tyranny Ch unjust Judge to the Righteeus Throâ—â— and Judgment of Jesus Chriâ—â— the up â—â—lit Judge where iâ— will appear that thou an a 〈◊〉 and bâ—â—edy Tâ—rant to inflict such horrid Tortures 〈…〉 Innocent hâ—isâ—ians When they were come to the 〈◊〉 of Execution the Torn entoâ— required the Child 〈…〉 Mother who had carryed him in her Arms from 〈◊〉 Prison whom she freely and joyfully delivered to them saying Farewel my sweâ— Babe and when the Hargrâ—â—â— put his Sword to the Childs neck she sang chearfully in this manner All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord I yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be The head of this blessed Innocent being cut off the Mother wrapt in her Garment laid it to her breast and so departed Then there was a mighty fire made into which Romanus was cast which being quenched with a great Storm of Rain the Tyrant commanded his Tongue to be cut out therefore the Executioner pulled it far out of his mouth and cut it off by the roots and yet for all this it is recorded but with what credit I know not that Romanus spake saying He that speaketh for Christ shall never want a Tongue do not think that the voice
the foregoing dreadful Examples CHAP. II. The miserable ends of Magicians Conjurors and Witches with an account of Apparitions Possessions and other strange and wonderful Feats and Illusions of the Devil THat there are really Magicians Conjurers and Witches who have commerce and familiarity with evil Spirits is so clear and plain both from holy Scripture Councils Canon Civil Laws in all Nations that none but those Atheists who would endeavour to persuade themselves there are no Spirits and consequently no other Life after this ever denied it but since the reality of this converse with Demons and their appearances and Possessions has been so clearly demonstrated in former Ages but especially in this by persons of most acute judgment and Learning wherein they have fully answered all Objections to the contrary I shall not now ingage in the least in the controversy but shall only give an account of the miserable deaths of some Persons mentioned in History who were concerned in these cursed Arts and likewise of some remarkable Apparitions and actions of evil Spirits and their taking possession of the Bodies of several Persons and tormenting them with several other strange Feats and illusions of Satan as I have collected them from very credible and approved Authors together with the danger of those who are so vainly curious in knowing future events as to enquire or ask Counsel of any of these Sorcerers which is so strictly forbid in the Law of Moses I. Saul the first King of Israel being much disturbed in mind for fear of the Army of the Philistines which came against him would by all means know aforehand the issue of this doubtful War now whereas before whil'st he performed the duty of a good King and obeyed the Commandments of God he had cleansed his Realm of Witches and Inchanters yet he is now so sensless as in his extremity to ask Counsel of them adding this wickedness to all the rest of his Sins that the measure thereof might be full he went therefore to a Witch to know his Fate who caused a Devil to appear to him in the shape of Samuel and foretel him of Gods just Judgment upon him in the final ruine and destruction of himself and his Family An example not much unlike this in the Event we find recorded of Natholicus the 31 King of the Scots who after he had unjustly usurped the Crown and Scepter and by much blood-shed had obtained the Throne of that Kingdom without any legal Right or Title thereunto he endeavoured by the same means to confirm and establish the Government to himself and therefore as guilt is always accompanied with suspition and sear he sent one of his trustiest Servants to a Witch to enquire of things to come both how long he should enjoy the Crown and how many years he should live the Witch answered That he should not live long but should shortly be murdered not by his Enemy but by his familiar Friend and when the Messenger was very earnest to know who should kill him she answered He himself should do it the man at first heard this with detestation abhorring the thought of any such Villany yet at length considering that it was not safe to discover the Witches answer and on the other side that it could not be long concealed he resolved for his own security rather to kill the Tyrant with the favour of many than to save him alive with the hazard of his own head therefore as soon as he was returned home he desired the King that he might speak with him in private about the Witches answer there he suddenly slew him gave him his just desert both for his horrible cruelty and wicked Sorcery let all those that make no conscience of running to Witches either for lost goods reconvery of their own or Friends health or upon any other occasion remember this example either for their instruction to amend or for their terrour if they continue that devilish practice Buchan Hist Scot. lib. 4. II. As divers very worthy Authors have credibly related several wicked actions committed by Magicians Witches so some of them have recorded the manner of their entring themselves into that cursed profession and the Ceremonies thereof as they have been discovered by those who have renounced those detestable practices which it may not be improper here briefly to relate The Wizards and Witches being met at a place and time appointed the Devil there appears to them in human shape admonishing them to be faithful and promising them success and length of Life then those that are present recommend the Person who is to be entred the Devil then requires him to renounce the Christian Faith and Sacraments and giving him his hand tells him that this alone is not sufficient but that he must worship him likewise and give himself to him Body and Soul for ever and bring as many as possibly he can into the same Society and that he must prepare himself certain Ointments and then be confirmed therein Manlius writes that in the Year 1553 Two Witches stole a Neighbours Child and murdering it cut it in pieces and put it into a Kettle to boil when the sorrowful Mother looking for her Infant came by chance into the house found the Limbs thereof horribly consumed for which abominable Fact the Authors of it were burnt having confessed this their villany Another Author says two other Witches are reported to have killed abundance of Children and that in Germany Eight Witches were taken who confessed they had murdered an hundred forty and five Children in making their Ointments they are also reported to have each of them a Spirit or Imp attending on them who are to assist and obey them in all things and to give them notice of their solemn Meetings or appointments at which time it is said they separate themselves from all company and night being come they strip themselves naked ane anoint themselves with their Ointments then are they carried out of the house either by the window door or Chimney mounted on their Imps to their meeting place which is sometimes many hundred miles from their dwellings where they find great numbers of Wizards and witches arrived by the same means who all make their accustomed reverence to Lucifer in his Throne adoring him proclaiming him their Lord and rendring him all honour as their King this Solemnity being finished they fit at Table where no delicate meats are wanting to please their appetites after which they dance and the Incubusses in the shape of proper men satisfy the lusts of the Witches and the Succubusses serve for Whores to the Wizards sometimes at their solemn Assemblies the Devil commands each to tell what wickedness he hath done and according to the detestableness thereof he is honoured and applauded these and many other such wonderful things are mentioned by Authors of good credit and several Persons have made Confession and given an account thereof III. In the year 1645. One Rebecca
cold They then demanded whither he had eat any Victuals the Boy replyed There weâ— a man brought him Victuals which he did eat which they supposed to be his good Angel who had been thus kind to him and preserved him from so great â— danger Beards Theatre p. 440. XVII In the Year 1565. There fell so much raiâ— in Islebia that the waters bore down all before them and particularly the house of a man where a Chilâ— lay in the Cradle which the Father with the hazaâ—â— of his Life brought forth and carryed into a Neighâ— hours house hard by he then indeavoured to saw two more of his Children and took them in his armâ— arms to carry them out of his house but the waters were so strong that one of his Children sitting upon a beam was carryed away and himself and the other were carried into the Orchard where finding some ground he stood up to the neck in water with the Child in his arms and looking about for his other Child he saw it sitting upon the piece of Timber swimming toward him which he likewise took into his arms and getting upon an high pile of Wood he continued with them there all night none being able to afford him any help next morning when the waters where decreased he came down and looked for two other of his Children whom he had left in the upper Room of the house where he found the two Innocents fast a sleep he had no sooner taken them from thence but that part of the house fell also which was a visible sign of Gods holy protection over them all Beards Theatre p. 444. XVIII In the horrid and bloody Rebellion in Ireland a Religious Gentlewoman with some others in her Company was forced to fly for her Life she having three Children whereof one was at her Breast but alas these poor trembling Travellers had not gone far before they were stripped naked by the Irish who to admiration spared their lives but passing on they came to a River where more of these bloody Villains met them and would have drowned them therein this virruous Gentlewoman being not in the least discouraged desired a small time to pray and as she lay naked on the frozen Ground she began to consider and resolve within her self not to go voluntarily to so injust a Death upon which her refusal these miscreants dragged her by the heels along the ground with the rest of the Company upon which she turned upon them and on her knees said You should I am sure be Christians and men I see you are in taking away our miserable lives you do us a pleasure but know as we never wronged you nor yours you must dye also your selves and one day give an Account of this Cruelty to the Judge of Heaven and Earth Upon which says an Irish Priest Let us not take their lives but we will put them into the Island of Lake and a Boat being in the River eight of them who were all then in Company are put into the Island naked and without meat where after four dayes some of them dyed of hunger and cold but not this Woman nor any of her Children for the next day the two Boys sound the hide of a Beast which had been killed this they and the Mother indeavoured to cast over them lying upon the snow the day after a Boat goes by them whom the poor Woman beseeches for Gods sake to carry her out of that place but they being Irish refused it she then desires a little bread but they answer they have none then she begs a coal of Fire for she had some fuel in the Boat and thus with some Chips they mad a Fire and the Boys taking a piece of the Hide layd it upon the Coals and began to gnaw it but alas without an extraordinary divine support what could this do thus they lived ten days without any visible supplys and that good Woman profest it was by Faith in God she lived for she had no Bread but Ice and Snow nor any Drink but Water but she said she thought God put more substance into it for it seemed as it were clammy The next day a Boat carryed her out to the side of the Bandwater where yet she had been lost but that she could not indure to see her Children dye in her sight and therefore though the Two Boys were young and so famished with hunger that they had no strength she perswaded them to go out of her fight under pretence of seeking some Fire the poor Children had not gone far but they saw two or three great Dogs cating a man that had been killed the Children were afraid of the Dogs who needed not to have feared any thing but to live in such a Condition but one of the Dogs came running and leaped upon one of the Children without doing him the least hurt and would run a little before and then tarry till the Children came to him and so led them to a house where smoke appeared which was an Irish mans protected by the English in Antrum where they were courteously received and the Mother sent for and were all thus miraculously preserved through the great mercy of God Remarkable Deliverances P. 19. XIX A terrible Tempest happened at Turin in 1558. which beat down Houses tore up Trees by the Roots and by a mighty inundation of water drowned above forty persons yet in the midst of Judgment God remembred mercy for a Woman who was newly brought to bed was drowned but the Infant she was delivered of lying in the Cradle was carried with the Violence of the water a great way off and at last the Cradle stopping at the bough of an Apple-Tree stood there firm till the waters decreased and after several days was sound alive Another Child at Friburg in Misnia falling into the River was violently carried a great way till it came to a Mill where it stopped and was miraculously taken up alive Beards Theatre P. 442. XX. Queen Elizabeth of glorious memory was often in very great dangers and as often delivered but especially in her Sister O Maries Reign for while she was a Prisoner at Woodstock a Fire was kindled between the Boards of her Chamber which was verily supposed to be done on purpose to have burned her but it was happily prevented Likewise a Rufrian who was one of her Keepers was suborned to Murther her but this was also prevented by Divine Providence At another time Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester sent a Villain to dispatch her but could not have admittance because of the absence of Sir Henry Beningfield whe had commanded his Brother not to suffer any man whatsoever to come to her till his return Lastly while she was a Prisoner in the Tower a Writ was sent for her Execution by the procurement of Gardner but the Lieutenant going presently to Q. Mary she disowned the knowledge thereof and thereby she was wonderfully delivered Clarks Exam. 2 Part. P. 614. XXI