Ibid. 14. The Appian Causey built by Appius Claudins Censor reach'd from Rome to Capua at first afterwards to Brundusium was 350 Miles long 25 Foot broad of Flints hewn and laid close and at every Miles end there were high Stones to tell the number of the Miles together with Monuments and pretty Inscriptions Ibid. 15. Vienna seated on the Banks of Danubius is very large in Circuit if you take in the Suburbs but the wall'd part not above three miles in circumference fairly built of Stone and well paved many Houses six stories high and some Cellars four Stories deep but with an Adit or Tube from the lowest to the top to let the Air in Famous for many fair Churches and rich Convents but especially for the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen which contains divers Monuments of Princes and great Persons dark with the thickness of the painted Glass the Steeple and Spire remarkably high about 465 Foot the Spire having very large Crockets above a â—ard long and adorned with Folcage-work In the Steeple there is a Clock whose Case being of Wood was in part burnt down by Lightning and therefore Water is always kept in this place to extinguish the Fire and a Man continually watches in the place where the Bells hang. Dr. Edw. Brown's Trav. Pag. 136. I desire my Reader to stop here a little and consider whither when these pompous Structers and Towering Spires are so often check'd by Divine Providence as deep Searches into mines and the Bowels of the Earth by strange Damps there be not a serious Remark and Consideration due upon the Matter 16. Venice the wonder of Cities is built upon 4000 Islands chained together by 4000 Bridges upon this occasion the Goths Vandals Huns and Longobards overflowing all Italy the People flying to these Isles for Refuge and finding the Air gentle associated themselves by conjoyning Bridges The nearest part of the Continent is 5 Miles distant she is above 8 Miles in circuit 20000 Boats or Gondolaes belong to her Her Motto is Nec Fluctu nec Flatu movetur A Man may walk in the Streets in the Winter in Silk Stockins and Sattin Pantofloes without being dirted An Arm of the Seu runs thro' almost every street the Structures are magnificent and ravishing She hath 150 Churches and Monasteries But most remarkable are 1 st St. Mark's-Church of rare Mosaic Work very rich in Furniture the Walls inlaid in many places with precious Stones of divers colours the inside from the middle to the highest part glisters with Gold the Vaults enrich'd with curious Pictures The lower part from the Gilding to the Pavement joyn'd together with Tables of Marble the Pavement of Marble of divers Figures and Colours the Seats of red Porphyrie the gilded Arches are sustained without at the entrance of the Church by more than 300 Exquisite Pillars on the top of this Entrance foar great Brazen Horses all gilded over in a posture of running and neighing The Church hath six Steeples each of which being sharp pointed hath a naked Man in white Marble upon it Every thing within or without is adorned hath a naked Man in white Marble upon it Every thing within or without is adorned either with Marble Gold or Precious Stones 2dly The Arsenal is three Miles in compass hath above 300 Artificers perpetually at work Arms for 200000 Men Gallies in the Dock 200 besides the Galeasles and Galeons c. 1000 Coats of Plate garnished with Gold and cover'd with Velvet fit for any Prince in Christendom 3dly The Treasury of St. Mark which hath enough in it to pay fix King's Ransome Jewels of all sorts and sizes and Armour all of Massie-Gold beset with Pearls and Precious Stones c. a great Iron Chest with this Inscription when this Chest shall open the whole Earth shall tremble c. Ibid. 17. Grand Cairo in Egypt one of the greatest Cities in the World is scituate on a most beautiful Plain near a Mountain call'd Mucatun two Miles from the River Nile environ'd with stately Walls and fortified with Iron Gates having most admirable Palaces Colleges Temples Bath-Stoves and a famous Exchange call'd Canan Halila where the Merchants dwell together with a stately Hospital whose yearly Revenue amounts to 200000 Pieces of Gold called Caraffi It hath 18000 Streets in one of which are 60 Cooks Shops next stand Shops where delicate Waters and Drinks are sold next Shops where are divers Confections of Honey and Sugar next Fruits as Quinces Pomegranats c. then Eggs Cheese Pancakes c. afterwards Artificers Drapers Mercers c. It hath Many Suburbs as Bed-Zuaila a Mile and half in length of about 12000 Families Genseli-Talon adorn'd with a most admirable Palace and sumptuous Temple c. Bell-Eloch of near 3000 Families a Palace and stately College Stage-players and such as teach Camels Asses and Dogs to dance c. Bulach upon the Bank of Nile of 4000 Families Corn-Merchauts c. under which you may see about a thousand Barques upon the River c. Caresa of about 2000 Families with many Sepulchres and stately Vaults c. Ibid. 18. Quinsay once the Regal City of China in the Heart of the Country and not far from the Sea formerly an hundred Miles in compass of large Streets Channels and Market-Place 12000 Bridges some so high that Ships might pass under them on one side a clear Lake of fresh Water one the other a great River 10 chief Market-places encompassed with high and fair Houses and under them Shops of Artificers Merchants c. at which Markets many Streets meet and at the end of which was a Guild-Hall 12 principal Trades belong to it to every Trade 1000 Shops to every Shop one Master and 10 20 30 or 40 Workmen In the Lake are two Islands upon each of them a Palace richly funished with Provisions for Weddings and other Feasts c. The City contains 1600000 Housholds and with the Country adjoyning yeilds to the King 16000000 and 800 Ducats of Gold yearly besides 6000000 of Ducats for Custom of Salt Ibid. p. 41. It is said to have been 3 or 400 Years ago 10 Leagues in length and 5 in breadth compassed with a Wall of 30 Leagues so broad at the top that 12 Men might ride a-breast upon it Bohun's Geogr. Dict. 19. In Holland the Hague is remarkable for its curious Buildings and for being one of the noblest Villages in the World the Stat-house in Amsterdam is a vast and curious Building and the City of Leiden is no less famous for its fine Buildings and Physick-Garden 20. Paris in France is 12 Miles in circuit situate on the River Saine having about 500000 People in it 55 Colleges the famous Church of Nostre Dame which is 65 Fathom long 24 broad 15 high the Steeples 34 Fathom more The King's Palace called the Louvre a place saith Dr. Heylin of more Fame than Beauty of no Elegance or Uniformity nor otherwise Remarkable but for the vast Gallery begun by
20. Wroughton-Mannor in Wiltshire It was founded finished and endowed by himself alone disbursing Thirteen thousand Pounds paid down before the ensealing of the Conveyance for the Ground whereon it stood with some other Appurtenances besides Six thousand pound expended in the Building thereof and that vast yearly Endowment whereof heretofore not to mention the large Sums bequeathed by him to the Poor to Prisons to Colledges to mending High-ways to the Chamber of London besides the Twenty thousand Pounds left to the Discretion of his Executors He died 1611. in the Ninth Year of King James's Reign 3. Anno Dom. 1552. King Edward the Sixth in the Sixth Year of his Reign founded the Hospitals of Christ-Church in London and of St. Thomas in Southwark and the next Year of Bridewel for the Maintenance of three sorts of Poor The first for the Education of poor Children the second for impotent and lame Persons the third for idle Persons to imploy and set them on work A Princely Gift whereby Provision was made for all sorts of poor People such as were poor either by Birth or Casualty or else wilfully poor Besides by the said vertuous Prince were founded two Free-Schools in Louth in Lincolnshire with liberal Maintenance for a School-master and Usher in them both Likewise Christ's-Colledge in the University of Cambridge enjoyeth a Fellowship and three Scholars by the Gift of the said Excellent Prince 4. Sir William Cecil not long since Lord Treasurer in his Life-time gave thirty Pounds a year to â—t John's-Colledge in Cambridge he founded also an Hospital at Stamford for twelve poor People allowing to each of them six Pounds per Annum He also left great Sums of Money in trust in the hands of Mr. John Billet one of his Executors who has as carefully performed that Trust and partly by this Means and partly out of his own Estate hath done those excellent Works He repaired at the expence of divers hundred Pounds the Great Church in the City of Bath he enlarged the Hot and Cross-Bath there walling them about He built an Hospital there to entertain twelve poor People for a Month at the Spring and three Months at the Fall of the Leaf with Allowance of Four Pence a day he gave Two hundred Pounds to the Repairs of St. Martins-Church an hundred Marks to St. Clements to build a Window five Pounds to each of the four Parishes in Westminster for twelve years Upon the Building of the Market-House there he bestowed Three hundred Pounds whereof it made ten Pounds a year for the Benefit of the Poor He also gave twenty Pounds per Annum to Christ's Hospital till two hundred Pounds came out 5. Robert Earl of Dorchester Anno 1609. by his last Will and Testament ordained an Hospital to be built in East Green-street in Sussex allowing to the Building thereof a thousand Pounds to the which the Executors have added a thousand Pounds more and three hundred and thirty Pounds of yearly Revenue to maintain twenty poor Men and ten poor Women to each of them ten Pounds by the Year and besides to a Warden twenty Pounds and to two Assistants out of the Town to be chosen three Pounds six Shillings eight Pence a-piece per Annum 6. John Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury at his own proper Charge caused an Hospital to be built at Croyden for the Maintenance of Thirty poor People with a Free-School having a Master and an Usher and laid unto it Two hundred Pounds per Annum besides the Charge of the Building which is supposed to have cost Two thousand Pounds more 7. William Lamb Clothworker gave to these charitable Uses following He built the Conduit near Holborn with the Cock at Holborn-Bridge bringing the Water more than Two thousand Yards in Pipes of Lead at the Charge of Fifteen hundred Pounds He gave also to these Uses following To Twelve poor People of St. Faiths Parish Weekly Two pence a-piece To the Company of Clothworkers four Pounds per Annum For Reading Divine Service in St. James's Church Sundays Wednesdays and Fridays and for four Yearly Sermons and for Twelve poor Men and Twelve poor Women so many Gowns Shirts Smocks Shooes he gave Lands to the Yearly Value of thirty Pounds to each of the Towns of Ludlew and Bridgnorth One hundred Pounds to Christ's-Hospital Yearly six Pounds and to purchase Lands ten Pounds to St. Thomas's Hospital Yearly four Pounds to the Savoy to buy Bedding ten Pounds He erected a Free-School at Sutton Valens in Kent with Allowance to the Master of twenty Pounds to the Usher eight Pounds He built six Alms-Houses there with the Yearly Maintenance of ten Pounds He gave also toward the Free-School at Maidstone in Kent to set the poor Clothiers on work in Suffolk he gave One hundred Pounds 8. Sir Wolston Dixy Mayor free of the Skinners gave as followeth To the Maintenance of a Free-School in Dosworth yearly twenty Pounds to Christ's-Hospital in London yearly for ever Forty two Pounds for a Lecture in St. Michael Bassings-Hall yearly ten Pounds to the Poor of Newgate twenty Pounds to the two Compters of Ludgate and Bethlehem to each of them ten pounds to the four Prisons in Southwark twenty pounds thirteen shillings four pence to the Poor of Bassing-Hall ten pounds to Emanuel-Colledge in Cambridge to buy Lands to maintain two Fellows and two Scholats Six hundred pounds to the Building of the Colledge fifty pounds to be lent unto poor Merchants Five hundred pounds to the Hospital of St. Bartholomew and St. Thomas each of them Fifty pounds to the Poor of Bridewel twenty pounds to poor Maids Marriages One hundred pound to poor Strangers of the Dutch and French Churches fifty pounds towards the Building of the Pest-house Two hundred pounds The Sum of these Gifts in money amounted to more than Seventeen hundred pounds and the yearly Annuities to Seventy two pounds 9. Sir John Gresham Mercer and Mayor of London Anno 1548. in the Second Year of King Edward the Sixth gave ten pounds to the Poor to every Ward in London which was Twenty four within the City And to One hundred and twenty poor Men and Women to every one of them three Yards of Cloth for a Gown of eight or nine Shillings a yard to Maids Marriages and the Hospitals in London above Two hundred pounds He also founded a Free-School at Holt a Market-Town in Norfolk 10. Mr. Thomas Ridge Grocer gave to charitable Uses One thousand one hundred sixty three pounds Six shillings and eight pence viz. To the Company of Grocers to be lent to two young Men free of the Company an hundred pounds to his Men and Maid-Servants Sixty three pounds six shilling eight pence unto the Hospitals about London One hundred pounds unto Preachers Four hundred pounds to poor Tradesmen in and about London Three hundred pounds for a Lecture in Grace-Church One hundred pounds and in Gowns for poor Men One hundred pounds 11. Mr. Robert Offley Haberdasher gave Six
Spirit he struck the Door with a vehemency as if he had knock'd upon it with a hammer to signify his dislike of the matter If he took an ill Book into his hand to Read the Spirit would strike it that he might lay it down and so likewise would hinder him from Writing and Reading over-much Bodinus enquiring whether he ever saw the shape and form of the Spirit he told him that whilst awake he never saw any thing but a certain light very bright and clear and of a circular Figure but that once being in Jeopardy of his Life and having heartily pray'd to God that he would be pleased to provide for his safety about break of Day amidst his slumberings and wakings he espied on his Bed where he lay A young Boy clad in a white Garment tinctured with Purple and of a Visage admirably Lovely and Beautiful to behold This he confidently affirmed to Bodinus for a certain Truth H. More Antid against Atheism Edit 2d p. 245 c. 2. Ruffinus in his Ecclesiastical story reports that one Theodorus a Martyr told him that when he was hanging ten hours upon the Rack for Religion under Julian's Persecution his Joynts distended and distorted and his body exquisitely tortured with change of Executioners so as never Age could remember the like he felt no pain at all but continued all the while in the sight of all Men singing and smiling for there stood a comely young Man by him on his Gibbet which with a clean Towel still wip'd off his sweat and poured cool Water upon his Limbs wherewith he was so refreshed that it grieved him to be let down So far Dr. Joseph Hall Socratis scholasticus adds that Ruffinus had Acquaintance with this Theodorus and discoursed him upon 't to whom he said he was so comforted and confirmed in the Faith thereby that the hour of Torment was unto him rather a delectable Pleasure than a doleful Pain Socrat. Schol. Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 16. 3. Edwyn King of Northumberland then a Pagan being by himself alone and Solitary there appeared to him One who said I known well the cause of thy heaviness what wouldst thou give to him that would deliver thee from this fear I would said Edwyn give all that ever I could make And what said the other if I make thee a mightier King than any of thy Progenitors Edwyn answered as before Then said the other What if I shew thee a better way and kind of Life than was ever known to any of thy Ancestors Wilt thou obey and do after may Counsel Yes said he with all my Heart Then the other laying his Hand on his Head said When this Token happens unto thee then remember this time of thy Tribulation and the Promise that thou hast made and the Words I have spoken and so he vanished out of his sight But afterwards being over-born by the Counsel of his Nobles he deferred to perform his Promise Afterwards being struck at with the envenom'd Sword of a certain Ruffian sent by the King of the West-Saxons to assassinate him but escaping by the interposition of one of his Servants who received the Sword through his own Body being himself wounded only with the Sword 's Point with which Wound he lay long Upon Recovery he goes against those West Saxons promising Jesus Christ upon Victory to be Baptized Which tho' he obtained yet still he was slow to be Baptized Only he left off his Idolatrous Services and heard Bishop Paulinus Preach 'till the Bishop came to the King at a fit Season and laying his Hand on his Head ask'd him if he remembred not that Token upon which he was presently Baptized and destroyed his Idols with their Altars Clark's Exampl and Martyrol c. 4. When Theodosius Jun. sent his Army under Ardubarius against the Persians and for the Relief of the Persecuted Christians and the Citizens were sad and heavy fearing the Event of the War a Company of Angels appeared to certain Christians in Bythinia that were travelling to Constantinople and willed them to be of good Cheer and to Pray and put their Trust in God and then to expect confidently the good Success and Victory of Ardubarius For God had sent them as Governors and Sovereign Captains of that War Idem 5. Cotterus accounted by Comenius as a Prophet of Silesia and persecuted stoutly by the Emperor's Praefect was A. C. 1628 entertained by Adam Pohe a Sadler of Sprattovia for half a Year gratis till the time of his Imprisonment The next Year Adam falling Sick and Lame his Nerves shrank up and was confined to his Bed for half a Year A Day before the Emperor's Commissioners came to reform the Town as they called it a Young Man appeared by his Bed-side in white Cloathing saying Adam this is the Day wherein God hath decreed to take Vengeance on this City Arise Go in the name of the Lord put on thy clothes and with thy Wife and Young Daughter fly away make hasie upon which he recovered and escaped Hisi Prophet p. 22. 6. Cutbert Symson Deacon of the Congregation in London in Queen Mary's Reign being imprison'd in the Stocks the Day before his Condemnation about Eleven of the Clock toward Midnight heard one coming in first opening the outward Door then the Second then the Third and so looking into the said Cutbert having no Candle or Torch that he could see but giving a comfortable Brightness and Light joyful to the Heart and saying Ha! unto him departed again Fox Martyrol 7. Samuel Wallace of Stamford in Lincolnshire a shoe-maker having been 13 Years sick of a Consumption upon Whitsunday after Sermon 1659 being alone in the House and reading in a Book called Abraham's Suit for Sodom he heard somebody wrap at the Door upon which he rose and went with his Stick in one Hand and holding by the Wall with the other to see who was at the Door where he found a proper grave Old Man with Hair as white as Wool curled up and a white broad Beard of a fresh Complexion with a fashionable Hat little narrow Band Coat and Hose of a Purple Colour pure white Stockings and new black Shoes tied with Ribbons of the same colour with his Cloaths without Spot of Wet or Dirt upon him though it rained when he came in and had done all that Day Hands as white as Snow without Gloves Who said to him Friend I pray thee give to an Old Pilgrim a Cup of thy small Beer Samuel Wallace answering I pray you Sir come in To which he replied Friend call me not Sir for I am no Sir but yet come in I must for I cannot pass by thy Door before I come in Wallace with the help of his Stick drew a little Jug-Pot of Small-Beer which the Pilgrim took and drank a little then walked two or three times to and fro and drank again and so a Third time before he drank it all And when he had so done he walked Three
my Soul into the Kingdom of Heaven See her Life 23. I Remember says Mr. Increase Mather in his Disc of Angels that once in Discourse with the Learned Doctor Spencer in Cambridge concerning his Book of Prodigies he said to me that his Judgment was That the Evil Angels had Prenotions of many Future Things and did accordingly give strange Premonitions of them No doubt it is often so and yet as Lavater Schottus and others have noted there are sometimes Things signified by Angels which it is not easie to determine of what sort those Genii are VVhat shall be thought of the Phantom which appeared to General Vesselini assuring him that he might take the City of Muran by the Assistance of a Widow which Lived in that City which strangely came to pass accordingly in the Year 1644. There comes to my mind a very Unaccountable Thing which happened at London above Thirty Years ago It was this One Mr. Cutty an honest Citizen passing between Milk-street and Wood-street in Cheap-side on March 2d 1664 took up a Letter Sealed The Superscription whereof was these VVords following From Geneva to a Friend VVithin the Letter these VVords were written This is to give both timely and speedy Notice that in the Year 1665 in the latter end of May shall begin a Plague and hold very hot till the latter end of December and then cease but not quite and then go on till the latter end of the Spring the next Year And in 1665 and 66 putting both together shall not only happen a Plague but great Sea Fights such as the like was scarce ever heard of and this shall not be all but in the Year 1666 on the Second of September shall happen a Fire that shall burn down one of the Eminentest Cities in the World Mr. Cutty carried the Letter to the then Lord Mayor A Reverend Divine in London who was of his Acquaintance had a Copy of it before the sad Things here Predicted came to pass and at my last being at London was pleased to favour me with it as 't is here Related This Account being certainly true and very surprizing I thought it not unworthy the Publication 24. There are sometimes very unaccountable Motions and Impressions on the Spirits of good men which are wrought in them by the ministry of Holy Angels whose work it is to prevent and disappoint the Designs of Satan and of his evil Angels I remember one relates a remarkable Passage of a good man that when he was reading in his House he could not rest in his Spirit but he must step out of Doors which he had no sooner done but he saw a Child in a Pond of VVater ready to perish which would have been gone past recovery had not he gone out of his Doors just at that moment This Impression must needs be from a good Angel And an other like Passage is related in the Life of that Holy Man Mr. Dod One Evening though he had other work to attend he could not but he must got to such a Neighbour's House when he came to him he told him he knew not what he was come for but he could not rest in his Spirit until he had visited him The poor man was astonished for he had in the Violence of a Temptation put a Rope into his Pocket with an intent to have destroyed himself had not Mr. Dod's thus coming prevented it Surely an Angel of the Lord was in this Providence Bishop Hall speaks of one whom he knew that having been for Sixteen Years a Cripple had these monitions in his Sleep that he should go and wash in St. Matherns Well in Cornwell which he did and was suddenly recovered This he thinks was from Angelical Suggestion Marcus Aurelius Antoninus did in a Dream receive the Prescript of a Remedy for his Disease which the Physitians could not cure A Physitian of Vratislavium followed the Counsel he had given him in a Dream concerning the cure of a Disease which was to him incurable and he recovered the Patient It added to the wonder that a few Years after he met with that Receipt in a Book then newly Printed Histories report that the like to this happened to Philip and to Galen If Angels may Suggest things beneficial unto the minds of Men who are Strangers to God much more unto them that fear him Thus far Mr. Mather Converse with Angels and Spirits Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery Esq 25 Dr. Richard Nepier was a Person of great Abstinence Innocence and Piety He spent every Day Two Hours in Family Prayer When a Patient or Querent came to him he presently went to his Closet to Pray and told to admiration the Recovery or Death of the Patient It appears by his Papers that he did converse with the Angel Raphael who gave him the Responses 26. Elias Ashmole Esq had all his Papers where is contained all his Practice for about Fifty Years which he Mr. Ashmole carefully bound up according to the year of our Lord in Volumes in Folio which are now reposited in the Library of the Museum in Oxford Before the Responses stands this Mark viz. R â„ž is which Mr. Ashmole said was Responsum Raphaelis The Angel told him if the Patient were curable or incurable There are also severalâ— other Queries to the Angel as to Religion Transubstantiation c. which I have forgot I remember one is Whether the Good Spirits or the Bad be most in Number R â„ž is The Good It is to be found there that he told John Prideaux D. D. Anno 1621 that Twenty Years hence 1641 he would be a Bishop and he was so sc Bishop of Worcester R â„ž is did resolve him That Mr. Booth of in Cheshire should have a Son that should inherit Three Years hence sc Sir George Booth the first Lord Delamere viz. from 1619. Sir George Booth aforesaid was born Decemb. 18th Anno 1622. This I extracted out of Dr. Nepier's Original Diary then in the possession of Mr. Ashmole It is impossible that the Prediction of Sir George Booth's Birth could be found any other way but by Angelical Revelation This Dr. Richard Nepier was Rector of Lynford in Bucks and did practise Physickâ— but gave most to the Poor that he got by it 'T is certain he foretold his own Death to a Day and Hour he died Praying upon his Knees being of a very great Age 1634. April the First One says why should one think the Intellectual World less Peopled than the Material Pliny in his Natural History tells us that in Africa do sometimes appear Multitudes of Aerial Shapes which suddenly Vanish Mr. Richard Baxter in his certainty of the World of Spirits hath a Discourse of Angels and wonders they are so little taken notice of he hath counted in Newman's Concordance of the Bible the word Angel in above 300 places Thus far Mr. Aubery CHAP. III. Concerning the Appearance of bad Angels or Daemons HEre I have a great Task and
after comes to her and tells her she had sent the Devil to him and bids her take the Land and so gave it up and her Son is now possest of it His Name is Mat. he lived in the Service of Mr. Reading's Brother for some Years but he has forgot his Sir-name though he knows him very well Related in a Letter of Dr. Ezekias Burton to Dr. H. More Mr. Glanvil's Saducism Triumph p. 417. 3. Dr. Bretton late Rector of Ludgate and Deptford lived-formerly in Herefordshire and married the Daughter of Dr. S. This Gentlewoman was a Person of extraordinary Piety which she expressed as in her Life so at her Death She had a Maid that she had a great kindness for who was Married to a near Neighbour whose Name as I remember was Alice Not long after her death as Alice was rocking her Infant in the Night she was called from the Cradle by a knocking at the Door which opening she was surprised at the sight of a Gentlewoman not to be distinguished from her late Mistress neither in Person nor Habit. She was in a Morning Gown the same in appearance with that she had often seen her Mistress wear At first sight she expressed very great Amazement and said Were not my Mistress dead I should not question but that you are she She replied I am the same that was your Mistress and sook her by the Hand Which Alice affirmed was as cold as a Clod. She added That she had Business of great Importance to imploy her in and that she must immediately go a little way with her Alice trembled and beseecht her to excuse her and intreated her very importunately to go to her Master who must needs be more fit to be employed â—he answered That he who was her Husband was not at all concerned but yet she had a desire rather to make use of him and in order thereunto had several times been in his Chamber but he was still asleep nor had she power to do more than once uncover his Feet towards the awakning of him And the Dr. said That he had heard a walking in his Chamber in the Night which till now he could give no account of Alice next objected That her Husband was gone a Journey and she had no one to look to her Child that it was very apt to cry vehemently and she feared if it awaked before her return it would cry it self to death or do it self mischief The Spectre replyed The Child shall sleep till you return Alice seeing there was no avoiding it sorely against her will followed her over a Stile into a large Field who then said to her Observe how much of this Field I measure with my Feet And when she had taken a good large and leasurely compass she said All this brlongs to the Poor it being gotten from them by wrongful means And charged her to go and tell her Brother whose it was at that time that he should give it up to the Poor again forthwith as he loved her and his deceased Mother This Brother was not the Person who did this unjust Act but his Father She added That she was the more concerned because her Name was made use of in some Writing that related to this Land Alice ask'd her How she should satisfie her Brother that this was no Cheat or delusion of her Fancy She replyed Tell him this Secret which he knows that only himself and I are privy to and he will believe you Alice having promised her to go on this Errand she proceeded to give her good Advice and entertained her all the rest of the Night with most heavenly and divine Discourse When the Twi-light appeared they heard the Whistling of Carters and the noise of House-Bells whereupon the Spectre said Alice I must be seen by none but your self and so she disappeared Immediately Alice makes all haste home being thoughtful for her Child but found it as the Spectre had said asleep as she left it When she had dressed it and committed it to the care of a Neighbour away she went to her Master the Doctor who amazed at the account she gave him sent her to his Brother-in-Law He at first hearing Alice's Story and Message laughed at it heartily but she had no sooner told him the secret but he changed his Countenance told her he would give the Poor their own and accordingly he did it and they now enjoy it This with more Circumstances hath several times been related by Dr. Bretton himself who was well known to be a Person of great Goodness and Sincerity He gave a large Narrative of this Apparition of his Wife to two of my Friends First to one Mrs. Needham and afterwards a little before his Death to Dr. Whichcot Some Years after I received the fore-going Narrative viz. near four Years since I light into the company of three sober Persons of good Rank who all lived in the City of Hereford and I travelled in a Stage Coach three days with them To them I happened to tell this Story but told it was done at Deptford for so I presumed it was because I knew that Dr. Bretton lived there They told me as soon as I had concluded it that the Story was very true in the main only I was out as to the place for it was not Deptford but as I remember they told me Pembridge near Hereford where the Dr. was Minister before the Return of the King And they assured me upon their own knowledge that to that Day the Poor enjoyed the piece of Ground They added That Mrs. Bretton's Father could never endure to hear any thing mentioned of his Daughters appearing after her death but would still reply in great anger That it was not his Daughter but it was the Devil So that he acknowledged that something appeared in the likeness of his Daughter This is Attested by me this 16th of Febr. 1681. Edward Fowler This Narrative was sent to Dr. H. More from Mr. Edward Fowler Prebendary of Gloucester Glanv Sad. Triumph p. 419. 4. These Relations seem strange indeed but was it now as strange that Constantine the Great praying earnestly to God should see the sign of the Cross figured in the Air with an Inscription in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in hoc vince by this overcome And yet Eusebius Reports it in these words While the Emperour was thus earnestly praying unto God and besought him that he would reveal himself to him and that he would assist him in his purposes and resolutions while he was thus earnestly at his Prayers a divine and wonderful Vision appeared unto him which was scarce credible if himself had not related it But seeing this victorious Emperour did with an Oath confirm it to be true when he related it to me who intended to write his History long after when taking notice of me he admitted me to familiar Conference with him who can doubt of the Truth of his Relation which even then was seen and admired
that his Father who had been sick a good while was departed The next Day going to his usual Recreation he was resolv'd for his Dream sake to avoid that way but his Game led him to it and in that very place the Servant came and brought him the ill News according to his Dream 49. Mr. Edmund Halley R. S. S. was carried on with a strong Impulse to take a Voyage to St. Hellens to make Observations of the Southern Constellations being then about Twenty Four Years old Before he undertook this Voyage he dream'd that he was at Sea Saili ng towards that place and saw the Prospect of it from the Ship in his Dream which he declared in the Royal Society that it was the perfect Representation of that Island even as he had it really when he approach'd to it 50. Anno 1690. One in Ireland dream'd of a Brother or near Relation of his who lived at Amesbery in Wiltshire that he saw him riding on the Downs and that two Thieves robb'd him and Murther'd him The Dream awaked him he fell asleep again and had the like Dream He Writ to his Relation an account of it and describ'd the Thieves Complexion Stature and Cloaths and advis'd him to take care of himself Not long after he had receiv'd this Monitory Letter he Rode towards Salisbury and was Robb'd and Murther'd And the Murtherers were discovered by this Letter and were Executed They hang in Chains on the Road to London 51. A Gentlewoman of my acquaintance dream'd That if she slept again the House would be in danger to be Robb'd She kept awake and anon Thieves came to break open the House but were prevented 52. In Mr. Walton's Life of Sir Hen. Wotton there is a Remarkable Story of the Discovery of Stoln Plate in Oxford by a Dream which his Father had at Borton Mulharb in Kent See in Ath. Fasti Oxon. Vol. 1. p. 351. Thus far Mr. Aubrey CHAP. IX Prediction By Impulses c. I Am no Favourer as I said before of Enthusiasm or wild Fanatical Raptures the common distemper of giddy Brains and distemper'd Minds but certainly our Religion doth not abandon all inward Motions for meer Fancies but only such as are rash groundless inconsistent with Sobriety and Order and Orthodoxy Let all these Properties meet together and it will be hard to censure Impulses or any other zealous Expressions though out of the common Road for vain and imprudent 1 Justin Martyr Predicted of himself That he should be betrayed by some one of them called Philosophers or knocked on the Head with a Club by Cresceus no Philosopher indeed said he but a vain Boaster Which came to pass accordingly for by the procurement of Cresceus he was Beheaded A. D. 139. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. History 2. Athanasius in the beginning of Julian's Reign being falsly Accused by his Adversaries and threatned by the Emperor said to some of his Friends My Friends let us go aside for a Season Nubecula est cito transibit i. e. This is but a little Cloud and will soon vanish away And according taking Ship he fled into other parts of Egypt Ibid. 3. Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine and Chrysostome upon a difference about the Books of Origen which Epiphanius would have had him to have Condemned taking their leave one of the other saith he to Chrysostom I hope that thou wilt not die a Bishop to which Chrysostome replied And I hope thou wilt never return into thine own Country Both which fell out accordingly for Chrysostom was cast out of his Bishoprick and Epiphanius died upon the Sea Ibid. 4. Hither perhaps may not be improperly referred that wonderful Presage of the Destruction of Jerusalem mentioned by Josephus There as saith he one Jesus Son of Ananias a Country Man of mean Birth four Years before the War against the Jews at a time when all was in deep Peace and Tranquility who coming up to the Feast of Tabernacles according to the custom began on a sudden to cry out A Voice from the East a Voice from the West a Voice from the four Winds a Voice against Jerusalem and the Temple a Voice against Bridegrooms and Brides a Voices against all the People Thus he went about all the narrow Lanes crying Night and Day and being apprehended and Scourged he still continued the same Language under the Blows without any other word and they upon this supposing that it was some Divine Motion brought him to the Roman Praefect and by his appointment being by Whips wounded and Flesh torn to his Bones he neither intreated nor shed Tear but to every blow in a lamentable and mournful Note cryed Wo wo to Jerusalem This he continued to do till the time of the Siege seven Years together and at last to his ordinary Note of Wo to the City the People the Temple adding Wo also to me a Stone from the Battlements fell down upon him and killed him Joseph de Bell. Jud. l. 7. c. 12. Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 3. c. 8. Dr. Hammond's Notes on Rev. 8 c. Wanl of the little World l. 6. c. 2. 5. John Frith of Westram in Kent being sent for out of Prison by the Arch-bishop to Croydon by one of his Gentlemen and one of his Porters when these Messengers were upon the way perswading him being a Learned Man to take pity upon himself and not be stiff in his Opinion about the Sacrament after he had signified his great Confidence and Courage he told them This I will say to you That if you live but twenty Years more whatsoever shall become of me you shall see this whole Realm of my Opinion tho' happily some particular Persons shall not be fully perswaded therein and if this come not to pass then count me the vainest Man that ever spoke with a Tongue Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 158. 6. Authony Walleus being a long time unresolv'd what Course of Life to follow at last one Night lying with his Father on the Straw he had a suddain Instinct that God had design'd him for the Work of the Ministry and these Thoughts did so follow him Night and Day wheresoever and about whatsoever he was that he could not blot them out of his Memory and afterwards he went to Leyden and studied Divinity and became very Eminent Ibid. p. 465. 7. Jerome of Prague at his Death said to his Adversaries I summon you all 100 Years hence to appear before God and give an account of my innocent Blood These Words were variously commented upon but many Protestants not content with the Exposition of others would not have these Words an Arrow shot at Rovers but aiming at and hitting a Mark interpret them of Martin Luther who in Critical Computation at the end of that Century as Heir to Jerome's Opinions and Executor of his Will gave that deadly Wound to that Man of Sin which hath brought him to an incurable Consumption attended with an Hectic Fever the Infallible Fore-runner of the
Bohemian Language signifies an Hundred Years after God would raise up a Swan in Germany whose Singing would affright all those Vultures Which was exactly fulfilled in Luther just an hundred Years after Clarks Marrow of Ecclesiast History p. 119. Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 30. 2. Luther speaks thus of the Covetousness of Germany and the Dearth there We fear Famine and we shall suffer it and find no Remedy for it And whereas we are without Necessity we are sollicitous to prevent Famine like Wicked and Incredulous Heathens and neglect the Word of God and his Work He will permit shortly a dismal Day to come upon us which will bring with it whole Wain-loads of Cares which we shall neither have Power or Means to escape And likewise he foretold the combustion which arose in Germany saying I am very much afraid that if the Princes give ear to Duke George's ill Counsel there will arise some Tumult which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany and engage in it all the Clergy Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 49. 3. In May 1631. at Hull in Saxony the Water was turn'd into Blood and about the middle of this Month this Town was taken by Tilly and afterwards retaken from him by their natural Lord and presently again repossessed by Tilly's Forces and he himself after the Battle of Leipsick made his Escape thither that Night and had his Wounds dress'd by the Town-Barber whilst Tilly's Army lay in the Twon one of his chief Officers saw Blood prodigiously dropping from the House wherein he lay whereupon he said What Must we bleed Will the King of Sweden bleat us That is impossible But it happen'd otherwise for Hull was not above Seven Dutch Miles distant from the place of Battle wherein the Imperial Army was utterly routed and miserably destroyed in the Chase and if the King had had but three Hours more of Daylight it was judged that hardly a Thousand of the Enemy had escaped one of their own Relations affirming that there were Fifteen Thousand of the Imperialists slain upon the place in the Pursuit that Night and the next day following it 's said Tilly's couragious Heart could not refrain from Tears when he perceiv'd such woful Destructions among his brave old Soldiers his Army consisting of Forty-four Thousand stout Men being usually termed Invincible The next day the King besieged Hull which was yielded to him and soon after the Castle But a while after Papenheim and the Imperialists again retook this City exercising all manner of Barbarism upon the Inhabitants This Year likewise in the time of the Siege of Magdeburgs a City Captain's Wife dying in Child-bed desired to be ript open which being done they found a Boy almost as big as one of 3 Years old who had an Head-piece and an Iron Breast-Plate on his Body great Boots of the French Fashion and a Bag on his Side with two things therein like Musquet Bullets This horrible Prodigy no doubt portended the deplorable Desruction of the City which happen'd May 10. 1631. when a general Assault was made upon the Town by the Imperialists the Walls were mounted in an instant the Town entred and the Soldiers fell to killing At the same instant a Fire none knew how broke out and it being a windy day on a sudden all became one mighty Flame the whole Town being in Twelve Hours time turn'd to Cinders except some few Fisher-Houses Six goodly Churches were burnt the Cathedral by the Diligence of the Monks and Soldiers being preserved There were at least Twenty Thousand People killed besides Six Thousand drowned in the River Elbe Two days after Tilly came into the Town and finding some Hundreds of Women and Children in the great Church he gives them their Lives and some Bread to maintain them Surprizing Mirac of Nature p. 109. 4. About the Year 1679 or 1680 there was a noise like the shooting off or the bursting Crack of a Gun heard I believe all over England I heard it my self as I lay in Bed near the Town of Shrewsbury about Seven or Eight a Clock in the Morning it was all over that Country and several other adjacent Counties at London in Sussex and the North of England and did strangely amuse People where-ever it was heard but this I wonder at that in some places it was heard in the Afternoon about One say some others about Three a Clock c. Surely it was significative the rather because the great Comet succeeded it and the Mutations in England But I leave it to the Consideration and Judgment of the Ingenious Reader 5. Octob. 5. 1682. There was born at Exeter a Monster having two perfect Heads one standing right as it should the other being in the Right Shoulder it liv'd not long but was buried and taken up again the tenth Instant many hundreds resorting to see it I propound it here for an Aenigma to exercise my Reader 's Judgment 6 Days Lucky and Vnlucky Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq Is this thy Day Luk. 19.42 That there be Good and Evil Times not only the Sacred Scriptures but Prophane Authors mention See 1 Sam. 25.8 Esth. 8.17 and 2.19 22. Ecclus 14.14 The Fourteenth day of the First Month was a Memorable and Blessed Day amongst the Children of Israel See Exod. 12.18 40 41 42 51. As to Evil Days and Times see Amos 5.13 and 6.3 Eccles 9.12 Psal 37.19 Obad. 12. Jer. 46.21 And Job hints it in cursing his Birth-day Cap. 3. v. 1 10 11. 7. The Romans counted Feb. 13. an Unlucky Day and therefore then never attempted any Business of Importance 8. The Jews accounted August 10. an unfortunate day for on that day the Temple was destroyed by Titus the Son of Vespasian 9. And not only among the Romans and Jews but also amongst Christians a like Custom of observing such Days is used especially Childermas-day or Innocents-day Cominus tells us that Lewis XI used not to debate any Matter but accounted it a sign of Misfortune towards him if any Man communed with him of his Affairs and would be very angry with those about him if they troubled him with any Matter whatsoever upon that day But I will descend to more particular Instances upon Lucky and Unlucky Days 10. Upon the Sixth of April Alexander the Great was born Upon the same Day he conquer'd Darius won a great Victory at Sea and died the same day 11. Upon the Thirtieth of September Pompey the Great was born Upon that day he Triumph'd for his Asian Conquest and on that day he died If Solomon counts The day of ones Death better than the day of ones Birth there can be no Objection why that also may not be reckon'd amongst ones Remarkable and Happy Days 12. Sir Kenelm Digby that Renowned Knight great Linguist and Magazeen of Arts was Born and Died on the Eleventh of June and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day Hear his Epitaph composed by Mr. Farrar and recited in
and Milking her Cows and was now become the great Comforter and Encourager of her Husband exceeding chearfully God saith she hath had Mercy on me and any pains taking is pleasant to me There they lived some years with much comfort and had the Blessing of Marriage Divers Children After some three years he was met in Kent on the Road by one of the Tenants of the Estate and Saluted by the Name of Landlord Alas said he I am none oâ— your Landlord Yes you are said he I know more than you do of the settlement Your Father tho a cunning Lawyer with all his Wit could not alienate the Estate from you whom he had made Joint-purchaser My self and some other Tenants know it have refused to pay any Money to Dr. Reeves I have Sixteen Pounds ready for you in my hands which I will pay to your Acquittance and that will serve you to wage Law with them He was amazed at this wonderful Providence received the Money sued for his Estate in a Term or two recovered it He that loseth his Life for my sake and the Gospel shall find it His Blessed Wife in the midst of Blessings enjoying a Loving Husband Divers fine Children a plentiful Estate in the midst of these outward Blessings fell into a Way of questioning the truth of her Grace because of outward Prosperity This was her Sin without doubt for which Mr. Knight rebuked her But it was a severe rebuke that the Lord gave her for her unthankfulness A fine Boy about three years old fell into a Kettle of scalding Wort and was taken out by the Mother and Dyed This she looked on as the Lords Discipline for her unthankfulness and was instructed This Relation was sent me by the Reverend Mr. Singleton now living in Hogsdon-Square near the City of London And he received it from Mr. Knight who was intimately acquainted with Mr. Studly as was hinted before 34. One Nicholas West born at Putney in Surrey being a Student in Kings-College in Cambridge proved a Rakehel and very Wicked for something crossing him in the Colledge he could not find how to be revenged but by setting on fire the Master's Lodgings part whereof he burnt to the ground and immediately after he left the Colledge and lived very loosely but soon after by the influence of the Grace of God and good Advice he seasonably retrenched his Wildness turned hard Student and became an excellent Schollar and after smaller promotions he was at last made Bishop of Ely after which he became a worthy Benefactor to that Colledge and rebuilt the Master's Lodgings which he before had caused to be burnt He Died An. Dom. 1533. Memorands of Kings Colledge Those bodys are usually the most Healthful that break out in their Youth and many times the Souls of many prove the sounder for having vented themselves in their younger days commonly none are greater Enemies to Vice than such as have formerly been the Slaves of it a certain blackness in the Cradle hath been observed to give beginning and rise unto the most perfect Beauties and there are no sort of Men that have shined in greater Glory in the world than such whose first days have been sullied and a little overcast 35. Henry the fifth tho while Prince was Wild and Companion of Riotous Persons yet coming to the Crown the first thing he did was the Banishment of all such his old Companions Ten Miles from his presence 36. Paphnutius is reported to convert a Harlot by this means Pretending Love he desired to be brought into the most private Room she had which she brought him into but still he found fault and complained to her that he was afraid some Eye would see him to which she Answered None can see thee here but only God To which he replyed And dost thou think that God sees thee and yet wilt play the Harlot Which he so enforced that it prevailed upon her to a change Chetwoods Hist Collect. Wonderful were the Conversions of the Indians in America under the Ministry of the Reverend Mr. Eliot the first Preacher of the Gospel amongst ' em I shall give you the Narrative of these Conversious as I sind it drawn up in Mr. Eliot's Life written by Mr. Cotten Mather which is as follows viz. 37. The Indians that had felt the Impressions of Mr. Eliot's Ministry were quickly distinguished by the Name of Praying Indians and these Praying Indians as quickly were for a more decent and English way of Living and they desired a more fixed Cohabitation At several Places did they now combine and settle But the place of greatest Name among their Towns is that of Natick Here 't was that in the year 1651. those that had heretofore lived like the wild Beasts in the Wilderness now compacted themselves into a Town and they first apply'd themselves to the forming of their Civil Government Our general Court notwithstanding their exact Study to keep these Indians very sensible of their being subject unto the English Empire yet had allow'd them their smaller Courts wherein they might govern their own smaller Cases and Concerts after their own particular Modes and might have their Town Orders if I may call them so peculiar to themselves With respect hereunto Mr. Eliot on a Solemn Fast made a publick Vow That seeing these Indians were not prepossess'd with any Forms of Government he would instruct them into such a Form as we had written in the Word of God that so they might be a People in all things ruled by the Lord. Accordingly he expounded unto them the Eighteenth Chapter of Exodus and then they chose Rulers of Hundreds of Fifties of Tens and therewithal enter'd into this Covenant We are the Sons of Adam We and our fore-fathers have a long time been lost in our Sins but now the Mercy of the Lord beginneth to find us out again therefore the Grace of Christ helpeth us we do give our selves and our Children unto God to be his People He shall rule us in all our Affairs the Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us and the wisdom which God has taught us in his Book shall guide us Oh Jehovah teach us Wisdom send thy Spirit into our Hearts take us to be thy People and let us take thee to be our God Such an Opinion about the Perfection of the Scripture had he that he thus express'd himself upon this Occasion God will bring Nations into Distress and Perplexity that so they may be forced unto the Scriptures all Governments will be shaken that Men may be forced at length to pitch upon that firm Foundation The Word of God The little Towns of these Indians being pitched upon this Foundation they utterly abandoned that Polygamy which had heretofore been common among them They made severe Laws against Fornication Drunkenness and Sabbath-breaking and other Immoralities which they began to lament after the Establishment of a Church-order among them and
of Beds on both sides as is ordinary in all Hospitals but there are also a great many Chambers in which Persons whose Condition was formerly distinguished are treated with a particular Care There is an Out-house which is call'd the Lazarette that is without the Walls which belongs to this Hospital it is an exact quarter of a Mile square and there are 360 Rooms in it and a Gallery runs all along before the Chambers so that as the Service is convenient the Sick have a covered walk before their Doors In the middle of this vast square there is an Octangular Chappel so contrived that the Sick may from all their Beds see the Elevation of the Host and adore it This House is for the Plague or Infectious Fevers and the Sick that want a free Air are removed hither Dr. Burnet's Letters The Annunciata in Naples is the greatest Hospital in the World the Revenue is said to be 400000 Crowns a Year the Number of the Sick is not so great as at Milan Yet one convenience for the Sick I observe in these Galleries which was considerable that every Bed stood as in an Acove and had a Wall on both sides The young Children they maintain are so many that one can hardly believe the Numbers they boast of for they talk of many Thousands that are not seen but are at Nurse Idem At Venice are Seventy three rich Hospitals St. Clark In Zurick they have many Hospitals well entertained in one as I was told there was 650 Poor kept Dr. Burnet's Letters p. 50. In Holland the Tuchthnis or Risphelhnis or House of Correction for Debauched young Men in Amsterdam hath at the entrance of the Gate two Lions bridled a proper Emblem with this Inscription Virtutis est domare qua cuncti pavent They who are put in are forced to work and get their Bread with hard Labour I saw those who rasped Brazil having a certain Task set them every Day work so hard that being naked and in a Swear and the Dust of the Brazil-Wood flying upon them they were all over painted of a beautiful Red Colour They told us That some that were committed to their Charge and not to be brought to work by blows they placed in a large Cistern and let the Water in upon them placing only a Pump by them for Relief whereby they are forced to labour for their Lives and to free themselves from Drowning One we saw put into a narrow Dungeon and kept from Meat Some are put into this House for a longer time some for a shorter This may seem severe to many yet is not comparable to that which is reported to have been used formerly at Cologne in the White-Tower where such Youths that were not otherwise to be reclaimed were shut up The Height and Thickness of the Walls secured them from escaping or from their Complaints being heard near the Top was placed out of their Reach a Loaf of Bread the last Remedy against starving which while their bold Necessity forced them to reach at they executed their last Sentence upon themselves and miserably brake their own Necks Somewhat like the Raspelhuis is the Spinhuis for the young Women who live loosly that are taken in the night or can give no account of their Living Here they are bound to make Lace Sew or employ their time perpetually in some honest Labour Those of the better sort are permitted to have Chambers apart in one large Room I saw about 100 of them and some very well dressed and fine which was an unexpected Sight to me and would sure be more strange in France or England The Weeshuts or Hospital for Children where there are 600 Orphans carefully looked after and well educated The Dobhuis is for such as are delirous mad or melancholick The Gasthuis for the Sick is large and hath great Revenues The Mannenhuis for old Men and such as are no longer able to labour towards their own Support Besides all these there are great Sums of Money collected for the Poor so that there is not a Beggar to be seen in the Streets And upon all Appointments of meeting at the Tavern or elsewhere and upon many other occasions whosoever fails to come at the exact time forfeits more or less to the use of the Poor Dr. Brown 's Travels 40. Arch-bishop Parker's Works of Charity were very eminent He gave to the City of Norwich where he was born a Bason and Ewre double gilt weighing 173 Ounces as also fifty Shillings a Year for ever to be distributed among the Poor of that City and six Anniversary Sermons to be Preached in several parts of Norfolk To Bennet-Colledge he gave Thirty Scholarships built them a Library and bestowed on it many excellent Books and ancient Manuscripts besides 300 Ounces of Silver and gilt Plate and the perpetual Parsonage of St. Mary Abchurch in London Clark 's Examples Volume 2. c. 15. 41. Mr. Andrew Willet was eminent for his Charity which will appear if we consider Quantum exquantillo How much out of how little Means he freely gave to the Poor and Needy He maintained two of his near Allies being faln into want many years at his own Table and maintained for the fourth part a Son of either of them at the University and though his many Children might have restrained his Bounty yet he was of Cyprian's Mind The more Children the more Charity He always gave double to the Poor on the Coronation and on the Powder-Treason Days At Christmas he gave Corn to some Money to others and to the rest of his Neigbours liberal and loving Entertainment in Harvest-time he would say to the Poor as Boas did to Ruth Go not to glean in another field c. And when at any time himself came into the Field he would scatter of his heaps with a full-hand so that the poor would be ready to leap for Joy at his coming When he set any at work he paid freely and speedily When the Poor bought Corn of him they were sure to gain both in Price and Measure And yet as Wells when drawn spring more freely so his Substance increased with his Bounty He was in a special manner careful to do Good to poor Ministers his fellow-Labourers Some that lived near him tasted oft of his Bounty to whom he sent Wheat or Mault and that in no small Proportion Ibid. CHAP. XL. Remarkable Charity in Judging and Forgiving THERE 's no Religion in the World that obligeth People to so much Candor and Charity in Judging and Pardoning Wrongs as the Christian and upon such excellent Considerations and Motives For the Blood of Christ was the Ink with which the Precept of Charity was writ last and therefore 't is called the New Commandment that is an old one in new Clothes and with a new Beauty And therefore if any pretend to be Christ's Disciple and be not thus apparelled that is if he doth not love ' and cannot forgive he is none of his 1. Upon St.
c. by Mr. Boreman 24. Henry Hilton of Hilton in the County Palatine of Durham Esq gave by his Will for the Term of Fourscore and nineteen years to the Vicar of Warmouth 20 l. per Annum to the Lord-Mayor and four senior Aldermen of the City of London 100 l. per Annum for their Pains in distributing his Legacies to a Clark for keeping the Accounts 10 l. per Annum Item For binding five Children of his Kindred Apprentices yearly Item The Interest of 4000 l. for binding poor Fatherless Children Apprenties yearly It. To his Servant Nicholas Sturt his Lease of Clapham-Farm but 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. to the paid yearly out of it to his Servant John Cartret and all his Horses c. Apparel Books and Plate and 30 l. in Money It. to all the rest of his Servants 20 l. apiece To his Friend Mr. Thomas Bradford of London 100 l. To Richard Williams of Chichester Gen. 30 l. For Erecting Tombs in St. Paul's Church London near the Tomb of Dr. Donn 1000 l. in a Codicil to Robert Doily Minister of Goring 30. Item He gave to poor Labourers in all the Parishes hereafter named Four and twenty pounds a year during the said Term of Fourscore and nineteen years In the County Palatine of Durham Hibton 24 l. Fulwell 24 l. Warmouth 24 l. Ousworth Magna 24 l. Hartlepoole 24 l. Lumley 24 l. Gateside 24 l. Chester in the Street 24 l. Herrington 24 l. Ferryhill 24 l. Darlton 24 l. Sunderland 24 l. Houghton 24 l. Reuton 24 l. Bramspech 24 l. Lanchester 24 l. Brakley 24 l. Southstreet 24 l. Newcastle 24 l. Durham 48 l. In the County of Sussex Clapham 24 l. Patching 24 l. Subdeanery in Chichester 24 l. Findon 24 l. Terring 24 l. Poling 24 l. Arundel 24 l. Angmering 24 l. Selsey 24 l. Stenning 24 l. Bramber 24 l. Bright Helmston 24 l. Lewis 24 l. New Shoreham 24 l. In Surrey Waltham upon Thames 24 l. Richmond 24 l. Lambeth 24 l. Camberwell 24 l. Barking 24 l. In Middlesex Clement Deans 24 l. The Total Sum amonting to One thousand two hundred sixty two pounds Six shillings and eight pence CHAP. XLII Remarkable Chastity CHastity is a Grace which sets bounds to all the Pleasures of the Flesh and teacheth us how to possess our Vessels in Sanctification and Honour according to the Rules of a single Life or a Married State and this certainly is the Will of God even our Sanctification which was intimated by the old Judaical Circumcision And 't is a Vertue that requires Self-denial in some more in some less according to the Constitution of the Body and the Strength of Accidental Temptations and to inforce this Duty we are to remember our near Relation to the Holy Jesus and the Holy Ghost whose Members and whose Temples we are which are the Two new Arguments of the New Testament 1. Origen to preserve himself Chast lay upon the bare ground a-nights abstained from Wine and castrated himself and when he was put to that hard Dilemma whether he would rather expose his Body to a Black-a-moor or offer Incense to an Idol-God he chose the last 2. Cyprian chiefly studied to keep his Body continent and clean from fleshy Lusts saying That then his Heart would be truly fit to reach the full Capacity and Vnderstanding of the Truth if once he could crample under Concupiscence Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 3. Ephrem Syruâ— shunn'd the Sight of a Woman insomuch that when one of an ill Life and impudent Face by Subbornation as is supposed met and stared him in the Face he rebuked her sharply for it and had her look upon the ground but the Woman answered How can I do that who am not made of the Earth but of thee c. Ephrem went his way wrote a Book of of these Passages between them which the Learned in the Syrian Tongue must esteem Ibid. 4. S. Augustine never admitted Women into his House though of his own Kindred no not his own Sister when she was a Widow and had wholly devoted herself to the Service of God nor his Uncle's Daughter nor his Brother's Daughter saying That though they might dwell in his House without Suspicion yet they could not dwell without Maids or other Women coming to visit them which would be offensive and scandasous And when any Women sent to him desiring to speak with him he would always have some of his Ministers present and would never do it alone Ibid. 5. S. Bernard looking upon a fair Woman so long till he found the fire of Lust begin to burn within him recollected his Thoughts presently and blushing for Shame ran straight-way into a Pool the Weather being then cold up to the Neck where he stayed till he was almost starved and the Flame of his Lust extinguished and thereupon resolved afterwards to enter into a Monastery of the Cistertians the then strictest Order of Friars to retire from the World and enjoy a more free Communion with God Ibid. p. 104. 6. The Chastity of the Primitive Christians appeared in these Particulars 1. They would not marry Justin Martyr saith There were many Christians in his time who for sixty or seventy years kept themselves uncorruptâ— 'T is very easy to find many amongst us both Men and Women who remain unmarried even in old Age. Athenag leg pro Christian yet this without the Obligation of an Oath of Perpetual Virginity 2. When they did Marry it is for no other end but the bringing forth and bringing up of Children as Husbandmen Till the Ground with respect to the Crop at Harvest Just Mart. 3. They seldom married twice Chrysostom's Mother at 40 years old had lived 20 years a Widow Tertullian Cyprian Herom Athenagoras c. did inveigh bitterly against second Marriages as little better than Aduitery 4. They shunned all Occasions c. Going to Feasts Dancing and Musick See more in my Flist of all Religions 7. Beringarius is reported not to have suffered any Women to come in his sight not because he was a Hater of the Sex but because he was to deal with dangerous Adversaries he would warily cut off all Occasions of Suspicion Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 3. 8. St. Hierom relates a Story of a certain young Man named Nicetas under one of the Primitive Persecutors who was of such an invincible Courage and Constancy that the Adversaries of the Truth had no hope of prevailing by Tortures and Torments against him and therefore they took another Course with him They brought him into a most fragrant Garden flowing with all manner of sensual Pleasures and Delights and there they laid him upon a Bed of Down safely inwrapped in a Net of Silk amongst the Lillies and Roses with the delicious Murmur of the Streams and the sweet Whistling of the Leaves and then all departed Presently in comes a beautiful Strumpet and useth all the Abominable Tricks of her impure Art and whorish Villanies to draw him to her Desire
troubled with the charge of the Roman Empire With this Answer the Ambassadors took their Leave and parted 14. Doris the Athenian having governed the Common-wealth Six and thirty years in upright Sincerity and Justice became aged and weary with Publick Negotiations Wherefore he dislodged from Athens and went to a Country-House or Farme which he had in a not far distant Village and there reading Books of Husbandry in the night-time and practising the Exercise of those Instructions in the day-time he wore out the space of 15 years Upon the Front-piece of his Gate these Words were engraven Fortune and Hope Adieu to ye both seeing I have found the true entrance to Rest and Contentment Ibid. All these excellent Men of whom we have spoken and an infinite number more left their Kingdoms Consulate Dignities Governments Cities Pallaces Favours Courts and Riches to the end that they might live peacefully And it is the more memorable in that no Slanderers Tongue can avouch that any of them forsook their Countries as being infamous wretchedly poor or banished but only being thereto moved in pure and simple Goodness and on their own liberal Free-will for the more commodious Order and Direction of their Lives before Death should tyrannize over them Ibid. 15. Democritus when he had reformed the Common-wealth of the Abderites and instituted Governors in all places on the Frontiers as also on the Sea-Coasts such as were honest minded Men and not ambitious Which being done he lived with the Citizens some years and perceiving them to be well reformed and that they had no more need of his Laws he made his Retirement to a solitary place to attend on his Philosophy highly contemning all matter of the World which are nothing but true Vanities well knowing that they deserved not to be sorrow'd for because Heraclitus did nothing else and daily therefore he laughed them to scorn Without the City and very near unto the Walls there was a Tree which we commonly call a Plane-tree somewhat low yet extending his Branches very amply under which he sat upon a Stone continually alone having no other Garment but a long Gown of coarse Stuff bare-footed his Visage pale with a long Beard and his Body very meager Somewhat near unto him there ran a River descending out of a Neighbouring little Hill whereon stood a Temple dedicated to the Nimphs round environed with wild Vines having good store of Books by him and diversity of Creatures whereof he dissected some setting instantly down what his Experience taught him Ibid l. 5. c. 19. 16. Charles the Fifth laid down first some of his Hereditary Dominions A. C. 1556. and the rest with the Empire not long after he had now enjoyed the one Forty years and the other Thirty six He was much disabled by the Gout he had been in the greatest Fatigues that ever Prince had undergone even since the Seventeenth year of his Age. He had gone nine times into Germany six times into Spain seven into Italy four into France had been ten times in the Netherlands ahd made two Expeditions into Africk had been twice in England had crossed the Seas eleven times had not only been a Conqueror in all his Wars but had taken a Pope a King of France and some Princes of Germany Prisoners but at last grew weary of this Pomp and Greatness of the World and retired to a place within the Confines of Castile and Portugal pleasant and of a temperate Air where he had seven Rooms twelve Servants about him and some other Servants sent to stay in the Neigbouring Towns At first he gave himself to Mechanick Studies making Clocks c. afterwards to Gardening c. and afterwards more to his Devotion using Discipline to himself with a Cord marked with the Severity he had used to himself with it and reserved by his Son afterward among his Rariries went often to the Chappel and Sacrament and was supposed to be in most Points a Protestant before he died Hist of the Reform 17. The Lord-Chief-Justice Hales having laid down his Place about a year before his Death betook himself to a retired Privacy in order to a Preparation for his Departure according to his own Paraphrase of Seneca's Thyestes Act 2. ' Let him that will ascend the Tottering Seat ' Of Courtly Grandeur and become as Great ' As are his mounting Wishes as for me ' Let sweet Repose and Rest my Portion be ' Give me some mean obscure Recess a Sphers ' Out of the Road of Business or the Fear ' Of falling lower wherre I sweetly may ' My self and dear Retirement till enjoy ' Let not my Life or Name be known unto ' The Grandees of the time tost to and fro ' By Censures and Applause but let my Age 'Slid gently by not over-thwar the Stage ' Of publick Action unheard unseen ' And unconcerned as if I he're had been ' And thus while I shall pass my silent days ' In shady Privacy free from the noise ' And bustles of the mad World then shall I 'A good old innocent Plebeian die ' Death is a meer Surprize a very Snare 'To him that makes it his Life's greatest care 'To be a publick Pageant known to all ' But unacquainted with himself doth fall See his Life written by Dr. Burnet 18. Mr. Abraham Cowley had much in the like manner retired from Publick Business to prepare for Death as he tells us in his Poem ' Well then I now do plainly see ' This busy World and I shall ne're agree ' The very Honey of all earthly Joy ' Doth of all Mears the soonest cloy ' And they methinks deserve my Pity ' Who for it can endure the Stings ' The Crowd the Buz and Murmurings ' Of this great Hive the City ' Ah! yet e're I descend to the Grave ' May I a small House and large Garden have ' And a few Friends and may Books but true ' Beth Wife and both delightful too c. And again Whilst this hard Truth I teach methinks I see The Monster London laugh at me ' I should at thee too foolish City ' If it were fit to laugh at Misery ' But thy Estate I pity ' Let but the wicked Men from out thee go ' And all the Fools that croud thee so ' Even thou who dost thy Millions boast 'A Village less than Islington will grow 'A Solitude almost See his Poems 19. Renatus Deschartes when he found that there were nothing worth his Knowledge among Men he made choice of a Desart at Egmond in Holland and there lead a solitary Life for the space of Five and twenty years and discovered many admirable things by hs Contemplation and composed his so much applauded Works A Summary of his Life by Borellus p. 13 17. 20. Gabriel Dugres speaketh of Cardinal Richlieu in these words The old Latin Proverb saith that Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur A Man is wise that sayeth but little We have likewise two old Proverbs
living in the same Family with David Wright we were Eye and Ear-witnesses of the Truth of the foregoing Particulars concerning him and in confirmation of the Verity thereof we have hereto put our Hands both Sons to Wright 's Mistress Slape Drever Thomas Drever Thomas Child Joseph Morgan Ibid. See more in the Chapters of The Existence of Good Angels and Present Retribution to the Devout and Praying c. 13. We have this Account from a credible Hand viz. That about two Years ago the Apprentice of Mr. Welby in East-Smithfield was taken Dumb but recovered by the help of a neighbouring Doctor After a few days he lost his Speech again but by the direction of a second Doctor recovered it once more but falling into a third Relapse the Physicians could give him no help About two Months the young Man had a Vision in his Dream of a Man that advised him to take the Fat of a Lamb and anoint himself therewith and apply the Heart hot to his Throat he had the same Apparition a second time upon which Physicians and Divines were consulted who thought it a Delusion of the Devil and disswaded him from it The Apparition coming the third time told him 'T was no Delusion and as a Token that it was not he should lose the Vse of his left Arm which fell out accordingly and he advised him to use the Remedy upon the â—4th of August and to take the Air for a Month or it would be worse for him Upon which he went to High-Gate and applying the Remedy recovered his Speech next day and had the Use of his Arm restored Postscript to the Flying-Post Aug. 22. 1696. 14. Sozomen tells us That the Queen of Iberia being taken with an incurable Disease was miraculously restored to perfect Health by a Christian Woman at the Invocation of the Name of Christ I shall give my Reader the Story at length out of Socrates Scholasticus There was saith he a certain Godly and Devout Woman taken Captive of the Iberians a People dwelling nigh the Euxine Sea this Woman being a Captive and having her Conversation with Barbarians gave herself wholly to Godliness for she exercised very much the Discipline of Continency using a severe kind of Abstinence and applying herself wholly to fervent Prayer which when the Barbarians perceived they wondered at the strangeness of the Act. It fell out that the King's Son of very tender Years fell into a dangerous Disease the Queen after that Countrey-manner sent the Child to other Women for Physick to try if Experience had taught them any Medicine that might Cure that Malady But when the Nurse had carried the Child about to every Woman I suppose he means every neighbouring Woman that made any Profession of Skill that way and could procure Remedy of none at length he is brought to this Captive Woman who in the presence of many more Women who without the Application of any other Salve or Medicine took the Child laid her Sack-cloth upon him and said only these Words Christ which healed many will also heal this Infant When she had uttered these Words and prayed unto God for his Aid and Assistance the Child forthwith recovered and from that time enjoyed perfect Health The fame of this Act was bruted abroad among all the Barbarian Wives and at length came to the Queen's Ear so that the Captive Woman was much talked of A while after the Queen herself fell sick and this simple Woman was sent for she refused to go lest peradventure some Violence contrary to the Modesty of her Nature should be offered to her the Queen then was conveyed to her she practised the like as she had done before unto the Child the Queen is rid of her Disease thanks the Woman for the Cure but the Woman answered 'T is not my doing but Christ's the Son of God and Maker of Heaven and Earth She exhorts the Queen to call upon him and acknowledge him for the True God The King marveling at this strange Cure commanded that the Woman should be bountifully rewarded Who made Answer That she wanted no Riches but esteemed Godliness a great Treasure and that the King should receive a precious Jewel if he would acknowledge that God whom she professed with these Words she returned back the Rewards The King laid up all these sayings in his Breast the next day as the King went a Hunting the Hills and Forest where his Game lay were over-cast with dark Clouds and a thick Mist the Game was uncertain and doubtful the way stop'd and intricate the King being at his Wits end not knowing what was best to do calls upon the Gods whom he accustomed to serve but they stood him in no stead it came to his mind to think upon the God of the Captive Woman unto him he turns and cries for Help as soon as he had Prayed unto him the Cloud was dissolved and the Mist scattered and the King wondring returns home to his Wife and told what had happened Immediately he fends for the Captive Woman and after some Instructions from her turns Christian erects a House of Prayer and makes a Proclamation to his People to receive the same Faith Sozom. l. 2. c. 6. Socrat. Schol. l. 5. c. 16. Ruffin l. 1. c. 10. Theodorat l. 1. c. 23. Centur. Magd. cent 4. c. 13. Ruffinus saith The King of the Iberian 's Name was Bacurius In the Preface of a French Treatise Entituled Harmonie des Propheties anciennes avec les Modernes which was Printed at Cologn in the Year 1687 I find this very wonderful Passage which I choose to mention in this place as contributing to the Explication of them that are to follow Madam Mingot the Widow of a Chyrurgion of the City of Caen in Normandy had several unaccountable Revelations made unto her that she kept wholly secret but there was one which by a Miracle that accompanied it was put beyond the possibility of Secrecy She was afflicted with a Palsey eight or ten Years together in her Limbs which rendred her altogether Impotent and her Impotency was not the less for her being fourscore Years of Age. But one Day when she was at Prayer before the God of Heaven for the Deliverance of his Church from the Confusions then upon it in the heat and heighth of the French Persecution it was audibly said unto her Thy Prayers are heard the afflicted Church shall be speedily and gloriously delivered but it has yet something more to suffer She was commanded herewithal to make this Revelation known unto her Brethren and that they might give credit unto her Words it was added The Lord has restored thy Health and Strength unto thee She was immediately and miraculously Healed of her Malady and she walked her self and carried unto her Pastors the Account of this Revelation They wondered at the Miracle and would fain have concealed the Prophecy but the Prophecy could not possibly be hid because of the famous Miracle that attended it
to himself by the frequent Noises and Disturbances which he makes in Peoples Houses When I first began this Work I heard a rapping at my Hall-door as with a Horse-whip twice and my Maid heard it likewise at the same time tho' she was in the Kitchen and I in the Parlour at that very Juncture My Wife suspected it to be a Token of some Funeral out of the Family within such a set time as a Year or so c. Many People have had the like and yet no Harm followed And I quere Whether by the Appearance of the Ghosts of Persons departed he doth not design to promote the Doctrine of Purgatory or some other superstitious Fancies I am sure many of the wild and fantastical Notions and Practices that have been adopted into Religion by Jews Greeks Papists and Pagans have been fathered upon such Causes viz. Visions and Revelations Ominous Signs and Apparitions 10. Joan Williford a Witch confessed before the Mayor and other Jurats of Feversham 1645. That the Devil promised her that she should not lack But never brought her more than Eight Pence or one Shilling at a time See the Examination and Confession of the said Joan and others 1645. CHAP. XCIX Divine Judgments by way of Retaliation THERE is no juster Law saith the old Poet than that those who are the Authors of Contriving a Mischief for others fall into it themselves and the Sacred Scripture agrees thereto and we have many Instances of such Judgments And certainly if any Evils in the World carry in them the Signature and Indication of the Cause these do 1. Haman was hanged upon the same Gallows that he prepared for Mordecai 2. David for his Adultery with Bathsheba was threatened with a Punishment of the like kind which was accordingly inflicted on him 2 Sam. 16.22 when Absalom spread a Tent upon the top of the House and went in unto his Father's Concubines 3. Those that accused Daniel to Darius and procured the throwing of him into the Lyons Den were afterwards thrown there themselves Dan. 6.24 4. The Story of Phalaris's Bull invented for the Torment of others and serving afterwards for himself is notorious in Heathen Story 5. The Lord Cromwel in Henry the VIII's Reign is remarked for suffering capital Punishment without ever coming to a Tryal by a Law which they say himself out of a servile Flattery to his Prince procured for others Of which Michael Drayton thus writes Those Laws I made alone my self to please To give a Power more freely to my Will Even to my Equals hurtful several ways Forced to things that most do say were Ill Upon me now as violently seize By which I lastly perish'd by my Skill On mine own Neck returning as my due That heavy Yoke wherein by me they drew Winstanly's Worth p. 216. 6. The Duke of Somerset in the Fifth Year of Edward VI. died by a Law which but a year before was Passed by himself Spelman 7. The Papists pitch'd upon the Fifth of November for their Gunpowder-Plot but that was by Divine Providence seasonably Discovered and some of the Traitors flying into Worcestershire c. with two pounds of Powder which they had Rifled out of the Lord Windsor's House and laid to dry at the Fire by occasion of a Spark flying upon it Catesby Rookwood and Grant were much scorched both in their Bodies and Faces and at the same time the Roof of the House was blown up with the violence of the Powder And upon the same day viz. November 5. 1623. according to the Popish Account by the fall of a House in Black-fryars London at a Popish Conventicle where one Drurie Preach'd at least Ninety Persons were killed Again upon the same day Novemb. 5. to the best of my Remembrance King William III. by Divine Favour and a special Conduct of Providence entered England in order to the Delivering of us from Popery and Arbitrary or Tyrannical Government 8. It was a voluntary Judgment which Archbishop Cranmer inflicted on himself when he first thrust that very hand into the Fire and burnt it with which he had Signed to the Popish Articles crying out Oh! my Vnworthy Right Hand but who will deny that the Hand of the Almighty was also concerned in it 9. The Spaniards who exercised so much Cruelty in the West-Indies telling the poor Natives that they had a Disease upon them which Gold was a Sovereign Remedy for were many of them Taken and Slain by the Indians and Gold poured down their Throats in a Reproachful way as if it were their God 10. The Bishop of Mentz who Burned the Poor of his Neighbourhood in a Barn and called them Rats mentioned elsewhere in this Book was afterwards punished to death with Rats 11. I have read of a Man that was haled out of doors in a violent manner by his own Son who cried out to him Oh! pray no further for just so far I dragg'd my Father 12. Often the very instrument of our Sin is the Instrument of our Punishment as a Child that we Cocker too much a Persons we Love inordinately any thing we doat upon 13. Sisera annoys God's People with Iron Chariots and is Slain with a Nail of iron Jezabel's Brains that devised Mischief against the Innocent were strewed upon Stones By a Letter to Jezreel she shed the Blood of Naboth and by a Letter from Jezreel the Blood of her Sons was shed Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon's Temple that seven years work of so many Thousands therefore let him be turned a Grazing and seven Seasons pass over him Dan. 4.16 14. Frederick Barbarossa Emperor of Germany had often punished the City of Milan for siding with the Pope against him Yet on a time when Beatrix the Empress came to the Town the uncivil Citizens first Imprisoned her and then in a Scornful manner set her on a Mule with her Face towards the Tail which they caused her to hold in her hand instead of a Bridle And having thus Disgracefully carried her through all the Town they brought her to a Gate and kick'd her out The Emperor to Revenge this Wrong Besieged the City and at last took it adjudging all the People to Death but such as would redeem their Lives in this opprobrious manner He caused a Bunch of Figs to be fastned between the Buttocks of a skittish Mule and such as would live must with their hands bound behind them run after the Mule till with their teeth they had snatched out one or more of the Figs which condition with the hazard of many a sound kick was accepted and performed by many of them Heyl. Geog. p. 214. 15. The Donatists that cast the Holy Elements in the Lord's Supper to Dogs were themselves afterwards devoured by Dogs Zonaras 16. The Archbishop of Tours made sute for the Erection of a Court called Cambre Ardent wherein to condemn the Protestants to the Fire and was himself stricken with a Disease called the Fire of God which began at his Feet and
London January the 13th 1583. at Paris-Garden where upon the Sabbath-Day were gathered together as accustomably they used great Multitudes of profane People to behold the Sport of Bear-baiting without respect of the Lord's-Day or any Exercise of Religion required therein Which profane Impiety the Lord that he might chasten in some sort and shew his Dislike thereof he caused the Scaffolds suddenly to break and the Beholders to tumble headlong down so that to the number of Eight Persons Men and Women were slain therewith besides many others which we re sore hurt and bruised to the shortening of their Days 7. The like Example happened at 3 Town in Bedfordshire called Risley in the Year 1607. where the Floor of a Chamber wherein a Number were gathered together to see a Play on the Sabbath-Day fell down by means whereof many were sore hurt and some killed Surely a Friendly Warning to such as more delight themselves with the Cruelty of Beasts and vain Sports than the Works of Mercy and Religion the Fruits of a true Faith which ought to be the Sabbath-Day's Exercise 8. Not long since in Bedfordshire a Match at Foot-ball being appointed o the Sabbath in the Afternoon whilst Two were in the Belfry tolling of a Bell to call the Company together there was suddenly heard a Clap of Thunder and a Flash of Lightning was seen by some that sate in the Church Porch coming through a dark Lane and flashing in their Faces which much terrified them and passing through the Porch into the Belfry it tripped up his Heels that was tolling the Bell and struck him stark dead and the other that was with him was so sorely blasted therewith that shortly after he died also Dr. Twiss on the Sabbath Ibid. 9. At a place called Tidworth on the Sabbath-day many being met together to play at Foot-ball in the Church-Yard one had his Leg broken which presently Gangrening he forthwith dyed thereof Eodem 10. Anno 1634. on a Lord's-day in the time of a great Frost Fourteen Young Men while they were playing at Foot-ball on the Ice on the River Trent near to Gainsborough meeting all together in a Scufflle the Ice suddenly brake and they were all Drowned Ibid. 11. In the Edge of Essex near Drinkley two Fellows working in a Chalk Pit the one was boasting to his Fellow how he had angred his Mistriss with staying so late at their Sports the last Sunday Night But he said he would anger her worse next Sunday He had no sooner said this but suddenly the Earth fell down upon him and slew him outright and by the fall thereof is Fellows Limb was broken who had been also sharer with him in his Jollity on the Lord's-day Ibid. 12. At Alâ—ester in Warwickshire upon the coming forth of the Declaration for Sports a Lusty Young Woman went on the Sabbath-day to a Green not far off where she said she would Dance as long as she could stand but while she was dancing God stuck her with a violent â—â—isease whereof within two or three Days after she died Ibid. 13. Also in the same place not long after a Young Man presently after the Evening Sermon was ended brought a Pair of Cudgels into the Street near to the Minister's House calling upon divers to play with him but they all refus'd at the length came one who took them up saying Though I never played in my Life yet I will play one bout now But shortly after as he was jesting with a Young Maid he took up a Birding-piece which was charged saying Have at thee and the Piece going off shot her in the Face whereof she immediately died for which Act he forfeited all his Goods and underwent the Trial of the Law These two I knew when I lived there Ibid. 14. At Woolston in the same County a Miller going forth on the Sabbath-day to a Wake when he came home at Night found his House Mill and all that he had burnt down to the Ground This I also saw saith Mr. Clark in his Mirror c. 115. 15. At Woolston in the same County many loose Persons kept a Whitson-Ale and had a Morris-dancing on the Sabbath-day in a Smith's Barn to the great Grief of the Godly Minister who laboured all that he could to restrain it But it pleas'd God that shortly after a Fire kindled in that Smith's Shop which burnt it down together with his House and Barn and raging furiously going sometimes with and sometimes against the Wind it burnt down many other Houses most of which were prime Actors in that profanation of the Lord's-day I my self knew these Four last Examples ibid. 16. In the County of Devon one Edward Ameridith a Gentleman having been pained in his Feet and being somewhat recovered one said unto him he was glad to see him so nimble Ameridith replied that he doubted not but to dance about the May-pole the next Lord-day but before he moved out of that place he was smitten with such feebleness of Heart and dizziness in his Head that desiring help to carry him to any House he died before the Lord's-day came ibid. 17. At Walton upon Thames in Surrey in a great Frost 1634. Three Young Men on the Lord's-day after they had been at Church in the Forenoon where the Minister press'd the Words of his Text out of 2 Cor. 5.10 That we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ c. they gave little heed thereto but whisper'd all the while as they sate went in the Afternoon together over the Thames upon the Ice unto a House of Disorder and Gaming where they spent the rest of the Lord's-Day and part of the Night also in revelling One of them in a Tavern merrily discours'd the next day of his Sabbaths Acts and Voyage over the Ice but on Thursday next after these Three returning homewards and attempting to pass again over the Ice they all sunk down to the bottom as Stones whereof only one of them was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned These Four last are attested by good Hands ibid. Mr. Fauconer Minister of Burford near Salisbury in his Book intituled The burden of England Scotland and Ireland and stiles himself Ed. de claro vado Printed for Thomas Slater and to be sold at his Shop in Duâ—â— Lane at the Sign of the Angel relateth a fearful Example of God's Justice about the year 1635. p. 1â—4 which was this 18. A Prophane company of Young men on the Lord's-day early in the Morning went to Claringdon Park to cut down a May-Pole and having loaden the Cart with it at Milner's Bars entring into the City of Salisbury one of the Cart wheels fell into a Rut which made the young Tree in the Cart which they had stoln for a May-Pole to give a great Surge on one side which struck one of the Company such a blow on the Head that it beat out his Brains so that he presently died in the place and lay there a
the Crowd and murmur'd out â—uâ—l â—â—ords as these That seeing there had been frequent Brawls betwixt the Merchant and his Wife there was no doubt but he was the Author of that Tragedy in his House and said he were he in mine Hands I would soon extort as much from him By these and the like Words it came to pass that the Merchant was cast into Prison and being in a most cruel manner tormented by his Executioner though Innocent confessed himself the Murtherer and so was condemned to a horrible Death which he suffered accordingly Now was the Executioner secure and seemed to be free of all Danger till the wakeful Justice of God discovered his Villainy For the wanting Money had pawn'd a Silver Bowl to a Jew who finding upon it the Coat of Arms of the Merchant newly executed sent it to the Magistrate with notice that the Merchant's Coat of Arms was upon it Whereupon the Executioner was immediately cast into Prison and examined by Torture how he came by that Cup. He there confessed all as it had been done by him and that he was the only Manderer Thus the Innocency of the Merchant was discovered and the Executioner had the due Punishment of his Wickedness 16. Dr. Merie Causabon in his Preface to the Relation of Dr. Dee's Actions with Spirits tells us this Story following out of his Father 's Adversaria which he had from Bishop Andrews viz. Kalend. August This Day the most Reverend Prelate the Lord Bishop of Ely heard this strange Relation which he believed to be very true having received it from the Author an Eye-witness There is a Street in London called Lombard-street in which Street there is a Parish a Parish-Church wherein there was a Minister of very great Fidelity and noted Piety A. C. 1563. at which time there was a great Plague in London This Minister of the Parish told as unto others so also to the Lord Bishop himself that this thing befell him He had a noted Friend in his Parish a Man esteemed by all Honest and Pious This Man being taken with the Plague sent for the Minister who came to him in his Sickness and did not depart from him till he died and then he returned home Several Hours after he had been left for Dead in his Chamber his Wife entred into the same Chamber to take a Sheet or some Linen out of a Chest to wind him up in as the manner is Being entred and intent uppon her Business she hears this Voice Who is there She was affrighted and would have gone out but hearing the same Voice again Who is there and finding it to be the Voice of her Husband she goes to him What saith she Husband then you are not Dead and yet we had left you and given you up for Dead He answered I was truly dead but it seemed good to God that my Soul again should return to my Body But you Wife quoth he if you have any Meat ready give me some for I am hungry She said that she had some Mutton a Pullet and I know not what else but all unboiled but she could get them ready presently I cannot stay quoth he Hast thou any Bread and Cheese When she had told him that she had and he asked for some to be fetched he eat it his Wife looking on Then sending for the Minister of the Parish and commanding all that were present to go out of the Chamber he tells him this Quoth he I was really Dead but my Soul was commanded to return again to its Body that I might discover a Wickedness with my own Mouth done with my own Hands of which never any one yet had any Suspicion for I killed my former Wife with my own Hands with so much cunning that the Matter was never discovered to any one And having declared the manner how he perpetrated the Villainâ— not long after he expired and died then in good earnest There is no Necessity addeth my Author that any Body should make of this Relation an Article of his Faith yet I thought it very probable because believed by such a Man 17. About Fifteen or Sixteen Years agoe on the Lord's-Day a Stranger came to the Parish-Church of Woorvil near Bridgnorth in Shropshire where after Service ended he declared publickly in the hearing of the Congregation That whereas about Twenty Years past there had been in that Neighbourhood a certain Murder committed and the Murderer had not been discovered there was such a one naming the Person at that time in Worcestershire as I remember near the City of Worcester on his Death-bed who had sent him with all speed to make this publick Declaration That he the aforesaid Person having first committed a Robbery upon the Man did afterwards murder him and now could not die till he had made such Confession And I think the Messenger added this withal That some Restitution or Satisfaction should be made to the surviving Friends of the Party murdered if any such were to be found This I had from my Brother-in-Law Samuel Chaloner now of Lemster in Herefordshire who was at Church at the same time and both an Eye and Ear-witness 18. Anno 1690. April the 14th about Two in the Afternoon William Barwick having drill'd his wife along till he came to a certain Close within sight of Cawood-Castle where he found the Conveniency of a Pond he threw he by force into the Water and when she was drowned and drawn forth again by himself upon the Bank of the Pond he had the Cruelty to behold the Motion of the Infant yet warm in her womb This done he conceal'd the Body as it may readily be suppos'd among the Bushes that usually encompass a Pond and the next Night when it grew duskish fetching a Hay-spade from a Rick that stood in the Close he made a Hole by the side of the Pond and there slightly buried the Woman in her Cloaths Having thus dispatched Two at once and thinking himself secure because unseen he went the same Day to his Brother-in-Law one Thomas Lofthouse of Rufforth within Three Miles of York who had married his drown'd Wife's Sister and told him he ha carried his Wife to one Richard Harrison's House in Selby who was his Unkle and would take care of her But Heaven would not be so deluded but rais'd up the Ghost of the murder'd Woman to make his Discovery And therefore it was that upon the Easter-Tuesday following about Two of the Clock in the Afternoon the foremention'd Lofthouse having occasion to water the Quickset-Hedge not far from his House as he was going for the second Pailfull an Apparition went before him in the Shape of a Woman and soon after sate down upon a rising green Grass-plat right over-against the Pond He walked by her as he went to the Pond and as he returned with his Pail from the Pond looking sideways to see whether she continued in the same place he found she did and that she seemed to dandle
of his Death and Passion that Satisfaction may be made by this means for all my Sins and Crimes and the remembrance of them may be blotted out I witness also and profess that I humbly beg of him that being washed and cleansed in the Blood of that most high Redeemer shed for the sins of Mankind I may stand at the Judgment-Seat under the Image of my Redeemer Also I profess that I have diligently done my Endeavour according to the measure of Grace received and Bounty which God hath used towards me that I might Preach his Word holily and purely both in Sermons Writings and Commentaries and interpret his Holy Scriptures faithfully I also witness and profess That I have used no Jugglings no Evil and Sophistical Arts in my Controversies and Disputations which I have held with the Enemies of the Gospel but have exercised my self candidly and sincerely in maintaining the Truth But out alas that Study and Zeal of mine if it be worthy to be so called hath been so remiss and languishing that I confess innumerable things have been wanting in me to the well-performing of my Duty and unless the unmeasurable Bounty of God had been present my Studies had been vain and languid Moreover I acknowledge that unless the same Bounty had been present to me the Goods of the Mind which God hath given me would have made me guilty of the greater sin and Slothfulness before his Judgment-seat For which causes I witness and profess that I hope for no other help for Salvation but this only that seeing God is a Father of Mercy he shewed himself a Father unto me who acknowledge my self a Miserable Sinner As for Other Things after my Departure out of this Life I would have my Body committed to the Earth in that order and manner which is usual in this Church and City till the blessed Day of Resurrection cometh As for that Slender Patrimony which God hath given me I determine thus to dispose of it Let Anthony Calvin my most dear Brother be my Heir but only for Honour-sake let him take before hand and have to himself the Silver Charger given me by Varannius wherewith I desire him to be contented For whatsoever things remain in my Inheritance I request and commit them to his Faith that he return them to his Children when he dies I bequeath Ten Golden Scutes to the School of Boys from the same my Brother and Heir Also so much to Poor Strangers So much to Joan the Daughter of Charles Costan and of my Kinswoman But to Samuel and John the Sons of my said Brother I desire 40 Golden Scutes may be given to them by mine Heir when he dies To Ann Susan and Dorothy his Daughters 30 Scutes of Gold but to David their Brother because of his lightness and miscarriages but 25. This is the whole Sum of the whole Patrimony and Goods which God hath given me so near as I can estimate it setting a Price upon my Library my Moveables and all my Houshold Goods with all other my Faculties If there be found any thing above I would have it to be distributed to all these Children the Sons and Daughters of my Brother Neither do I exclude that David if he prove a good Husband If there shall be any surplusage above that Sum I believe there will be no great matter especially when my Debts are paid the care thereof I have committed to my said Brother upon whose Love and Fidelity I rely For which cause I will and appoint him to be the Executor of my Testament and together with him the Worshipful Lawrence Normandy giving them power to takean Inventory of my Goods without any more accurate Diligence of the Court I also permit them to sell my Moveables that out of the Money made thereof they may execute my Will above-written Dated this 25th of Apr. A. C. 1564. After this Will signed he made a Speech to the Senators and another to the Ministers both very grave and pathetical wrote a Letter to Mr. Viret an old Friend of his 80 Years of Age to prevent his Visiting of him concluding thus I would not have you to weary your self for my sake I hardly draw my Breath and I expect daily when it will fail me wholly It is enough that I live and die to Christ who is gain to his both in Life and Death Again Farewell May 11th 1564. On May 27th after much short breathing and sighing and those Words frequently uttered How long Lord how long about Sun setting he fell asleep Ibid. p. 312. 12. Cardinal Bellarmine made this his Last Will and Testament In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I Robert Bellarmine Cardinal of the Title of our Blessed Lady's Church called in Via This was a Year before his Death changed to the Name of St. Praxedes being promoted thereunto out of the Society of Jesus desired leave of Clement VIII of Sacred Memory to make my Will That my Goods might be applied to pious Uses that I might be sure that such Temporal Things as should remain after my Death and such as whilst I lived could neither be bestowed on the Poor or on Churches as being necessary for my own Maintenance might return unto the said Poor and Churches The Pope gave me a more general Grant than I desired which I did not accept but only for bestowing them on good Uses as I had desired This Indult or Grant is amongst other Bulls granted me in a great Leaf of Parchment sealed with Lead dated A. C. 1603. Apr. 8. in the 12th Year of the Pontificate of the said Pope Clement This Grant presupposed I made my Will at Capua whilst I was Archbishop of that City afterwards that Will being annulled I made another in Rome but the Circumstances of things being altered and that Second also abrogated I determined now again to make my Will being of the Age of Sixty Nine and very near as I imagine to my last Day but yet by the Grace of God in perfect Health of Body and Mind First therefore I desire with all my Heart to have my Soul commended into the hands of God whom from my Youth I have desired to serve and I beseech him not as a Valuer of Merit but as a Giver of Pardon to admit me amongst his Saints and Elect. I will have my Body not being opened to be carried without any Pomp to the Church of the Society either of the Roman College or of the professed Fathers and let the Exequies be made by the Fathers and Brothers alone of the Society without Concourse of the Holy College to wit of the Cardinals without any Bed made aloft without Arms or Scutcheons with the same plainness as is usual for others of the Society And this I do as earnestly as I can humbly entreat His Holiness that he will satisfie my Desire in it As for the Place of my Burial I would gladly have had my Body at the Feet of blessed Aloysius Gonzaga once my
imagine that there hath been nothing omitted to induce her to discover her pretended Accomplices But she hath still answered all these Interrogatives with so much Justness and Discretion and with so many marks of Sincerity That the most able Advocate in the Kingdom could not form a better Reply after fifteen days study upon the Interrogatives These are the very words of our Relations and of the Offices of Justice that have examined her She answered to every thing they ask'd her with very good sense and not without quickness of Wit she renders a Reason for her Faith and easily confounds all such as come to Pose her with Questions She hath been removed from Place to Place first to Crét then to the Hospital at Grenoble In all which Places she continues to fall into her Trances and to Discourse in her Fits They have shaved her Head and taken away all the Cloaths and Linen she had pretending she might have some Charm hid somewhere about her Nay some Priests came and exorcised her with Holy-Water as tho' she had been possessed with some Evil Spirit But to no purpose at all she is still the same Sometimes they have given way to some of the New Converts to approach her in the Day-time while she was in Prison or in the Hospital at Grenoble But they would never give leave to any of them to pass the Night in her Company nor to be Witness of what she said when she fell into her Ecstasie The last Letters say That the Rage of the false Devotees was so great against her that she could not be thought secure of her Life but for certain Persons of the first Note in tha Country who gave Orders about her All that I have here said is the naked Truth but it is not all the Truth For we give you no Particulars of what she hath either said or done There are some discreet able and unprejudiced Persons of that Country who labour to make an Exact Collection of all that is certain and well proved about her And we have most assured hopes that the Time is now coming in which it will be both safe and free to see it Reflections of Monsieur Jurieu upon the Strange and Miraculous Ecstasies of Isable Vincent p. 1. 11. One must be very dull in my Opinion saith the same Author not to see and not to feel the Hand of God and his very Finger in what happened in the Church of St. Malo's by the fall of a Thunder-bolt and in the strokes of Heaven which have burnt and beaten down so many Churches within these two last Years in this dreadful shaking of the Earth which hath overturned great Cities in Italy the Country of Antichrist and which hath caused a Trembling to the very Root of the Vatican the Seat of the Beast And lastly I see no cause why one should be so obstinate as not to see a Miraculous Token of the Will of God in those Singings that have been heard in the Air at the beginning of this Persecution Not to be touched with this Miracle Men will be wilful Doubters and yet there may be found in France above Thirty Thousand Witnesses of it Monsieur Vivens who was a Preacher in the Cevennes and held Assemblies there for the space of almost two Years brought us about Thirty or Forty at one time and we have it from his own Mouth that he himself heard these Wonderful Singings several times Now to have the satisfaction of treating this as a Fiction it is suggested by some that even in our seventh Letter of the first Year of our Pastorals we have related nothing but hear-says Yet notwithstanding would they but take the pains to read they would find that I have given the Certificates of Monsieur Maupoey Monsieur Bergeret Monsieur de la Bordette Madamoiselle de Formalagues Monsieur de Vallescure a Gentleman of the Cevennes who said he heard sung in the Air five or six Verses of the Fifth Psalm Since which I have received and have now in my Custody the Testimony of MOnsieur de la Bastide of Tourtelon Son to the said Vallescure who Attests the same thing with his Father I have also reported the Testimony of Madamoiselle de Vebron who assures me that she has distinguished in these Miraculous Singings above Thirty of our Psalms I have besides all this the Attestation of Monsieur de la Gardicolle a Gentleman of Honour who is now in this Country who hath deposed betwixt my Hands and in the Presence of five other Gentlemen all the Circumstances of these Singings he having heard them himself within Two Hundred Paces of the Town of Vigan The Truth whereof he assured me upon Oath nay with Tears in his Eyes being sensibly touched I have also the Depositions of two Inhabitants and Burgesses of the Town of Mauvezin in Armagnac who speak of it as Eye-Witnesses And last of all here is the Letter of one Monsieur de Besse written from Swisserland It is too Remarkable upon the Subject not to be made Publick Ibid. 11. The Divine Judgments upon the Jewish Nation may not iproperly come under this Head of which take this short Account The Jews which crucified the Lord of Life and wished That his Blood might be upon them and their Children presently after through the just Judgment of God had Blood to drink in full Measure There were slain in Caesarea Twenty Thousand in one day At Alexandria Fifty Thousand another day At Zabulon and Joppa Eight Thousand Four Hundred besides the burning of the Towns At Damascus Ten Thousand had their Throats cut In the Siege of Jerusalem they were so famish'd that Oxen's Dung was accounted good Meat Others fed upon old Leather and some Women boiled their own Children and did eat them Many thinking to save their Lives by flying to the Romans were slit in pieces to search for Gold and Jewels in their Guts Two Thousand died thus miserably in one Night Ninety seven Thousand were taken Prisoners at the Taking of the City by Titus and Eleven Hundred Thousand were slain As for the Prisoners some of them were carried to Rome in Triumph Others were slain in sundry Places at the Conqueror's Will Some were torn in pièces and devoured by Wild Beasts Others were compelled to march in Troops against their Fellows and to kill one another to make the Spectators Sport The Reliques of these wretched People were dispersd into all Nations under Heaven having no Magistrates of their own to Protect them but were and still are altogether at the Will and Discretion of the Lords of those Countries where they sojourn So that no Nation in the World is so vile and contemptible as the Jews In the time of Julian the Apostate leave was given to the Jews to re-build the Temple at Jerusalem but so soon as they had laid the foundations thereof all was overthrown by an Earthquake many Thousands of them being over-whelmed with the Ruines Then came forth a Fire
and as those poor People did not know then where they stood he charged a Woman that was there to let Broussen know That a Man of Note was come into France about the Affairs of the Reformed and was very desirous to see him and he sent a Person on purpose to that same Woman every Week to know the News It would be too tedious to relate all that followed and the many Circumstances of this Business it 's enough to tell you that there was so clear a Discovery of this Wretches being a Minister of Satan that after he betray'd in Cevennes one of our Brethren who with him drank the Waters of Pommazet he was constrained to take off his Mask and to go at the Head of Soldiers to see for Brousson As he had made discovery of many Things the Intendant gave common Proof thereof by bestowing liberally upon him of the Goods of such as were accused by him But at the last as the End of these false Prophets is like their Works this new Judas being terrified one Day threw himself into a River between Vigan and Ganges where he was drowned tho the River was not deep There were a great many more of these perfidious Wretches that sold themselves to Satan for to destroy Brousson and who were paid for searching continually for an opportunity to seize him It was affirmed that the Intendant should boast after Vivens's Death That he had Eight hundred of them in the Cevennes or Lower Languedoc it 's most certain he had one in pay through all the Cities Towns and Villages there there were also Rewards bestowed upon all the Officers and Soldiers for all God's Servants taken by them and for other faithful Ones whom they took upon the Account of Religious Assemblies And as Brousson was at that time looked upon by the Government as the principal Author of those Assemblies and as the Person who fomented them which he could not do himself it was said Five or Six Months before he went last out of France that he had then cost the Province Eight hundred thousand Livres And tho' by the Order published against him there were no more than Five thousand Livres promised him who should discover him it was afterwards verbally given out that they would give Ten thousand Livres to whomsoever should deliver him up or take him And at last it was said they would give a much greater Sum which extreamly animated both Soldiers and false Brethren to look after him But that which Brousson in some sort had most reason to fear was the Zeal itself of the People for from the time that he came to any place the great desire which the poor People had to pray to God and hear his Holy Word was he Cause that those who knew of his Arrival could not forbear to communicate the same to other faithful Friends tho' under the restriction of concealing it These told it to others recommending also Secrecy to them 'till at last it came to be communicated also to some false Brethren whose evil Designs God alone could know all which put together made Brousson be in continual Dangers insomuch that he was ordinarily constrained to make his Sojourning in Desarts and Caves where for all that he was continually pursued by his Enemies He had Death continually before his Eyes and even the cruellest of Deaths for the Magistrates were much more incensed against him than against all the other Servants of God but God strengthned him always with his Grace It seemed to him a thousand times that the Way of Escape was fully precluded and the most inhumane Martyrdom did an infinity of times stare him in the Face and dispose him to prepare to suffer as if Sentence had been already pronounced upon him but yet God was pleased from time to time to shine with some Rays of Hope upon him and then he was perswaded that the Almighty would never suffer him to fall into the Hands of those cruel Oppressors who would prepare unheard of Torments and Punishments for him but in a little while after would he return again into Darkness and Alarms It happened also many times to him as it did of old to Job and David viz. That God scared him in Dreams and terrified him through Visions but then he said within himself My Life is in the Hands of God if he will have me die none can hinder it wherefore he went to preach the Gospel as he had engaged and then he exposed himself to great Dangers but God preserved him through his Wisdom and according to his great Mercy he was in the fiery Furnace which was heated seven times hotter than it used to be but God preserved him through â— continued Miracle of his Providence In the mean time he lived in a very sorrowful and wretched Captivity according to the World he had not the liberty for four Years and five Months to travel by Day and he was always forced to Journey in the Night unless it were upon some particular Occasions whereof the great Dangers he was exposed to made him travel by Day he hath been sometimes in the City of Nismes keeping Meetings when his Enemies at the same time knew he was there and made several Searches for him but his ordinary Dwelling was in the Woods upon Mountains in Caves and the Hollows of the Earth and he lay oftentimes upon Straw Dung Faggots under Trees in Bushes Clefts of Rocks and upon the Earth In the Summer he was wasted with the Heat of the Sun and in the Winter he suffered many times extream Cold upon Mountains covered with Snow and Ice having nothing wherewith to cover him in the Night and most commonly not daring to make a Fire in the Day-time for fear the Smoak might discover him and yet not adventuring to go out of his Hiding-place for to enjoy the Heat of the Sun for fear he should discover himself to his Enemies or false Friends he was also sometimes exposed to Hunger and Thirst and often to intolerable and even mortal Fatignes all which put together was the reason that in all the Pictures made of him which the Magistracy took care to scatter every-where that he might be known to the Soldiery and such as designed to betray him they represented him among all God's Servants as one much Sun-burnt and his Body very meager and spare but all these miseries were to him sweet when he considered that he suffered them for the Glory and Service of God and for the Consolation of his poor People and that same poor People also when they considered the Calamities and Dangers whereunto he was exposed continually in labouring for their Salvation and Consolation and that on the other hand he made Reflection upon the Innocence of his Conversation and upon the Grace which God gave him to preach his Word with Simplicity Purity and Evidence he could not withdraw from these Religious Assemblies but that they first threw themselves upon his Neck kissed him and wished
1. p. 52. Camerar Hor. Subcis cent 2. c. 66. CHAP. V. Examples of the Numerous Issue of some Persons BE Fruitful and Multiply was a Blessing bestowed not only upon the rest of the Animal World at the Creation but upon Mankind especially and afterwards upon the Jewish Church more then others and 't is certain the more excellent any Being is the more desirable is its Increase and the Multiplication of its Species We are pleased with profitable Cattle and love to see our Orchards and Fields of Corn Fruitful Is it the glory of Man and Woman only to be barren Or should we not have some Zeal to fill up the vacant spaces in the Church of God Militant first and Triumphant afterwards And then happy they who produce most Fruit for Heaven 1. In the History of the Acts of Augustus Caesar it is Recorded that in his 12th Consulship upon the 11th day of April C. Crispinus Hilarius a Gentleman of Fesule came with a solemn Pomp into the Capitol attended upon with his 9 Children 7 Sons and two Daughters with 27 Grand-Children that were the Sons of his Children and 39 more who were his great Grand-Children the Sons of his Sons Sons and besides these with 12 Females that were his Childrens Daughters and with all these he solemnly Sacrificed Plin. l. 7. p. 162. 2. There was a Noble Lady of the Family of the Dalburges who saw of her own Race even to the sixth degree whereof the Germans have made this Distict Mater ait Natae dic Natae Filia Natam Vt moneat Natae plangere Filiolam Thus Englished by Hakwell Apolog. l. 3. c. 5. p. 224. The Aged Mother to her Daughter spake Daughter said she arise Thy Daughter to thy Daughter take Whose Daughter 's Daughter Cries 3. Vives speaks of a Village in Spain that had above a Hundred Houses whereof all the Inhabitants were issu'd from one certain Old Man who then liv'd when as that Village was so Peopled The Name of Propinquity how the youngest should call him could not be given for the Spanish affords not a Name above the great Grand-Fathers Father Vives in comment Sup. lib. de Civit. Dei l. 1. 8. c. 15. 4. In the Burrough of Leicester in the Church of St. Martins is a very remarkable Epitaph viz. Here lyeth the Body of John Heyrick of this Parish who departed this Life the second of April 1589 being about the Age of 76 years he did Marry Mary the Daughter of John Bond of Wardend in the County of Warwick Esq he lived with the said Mary in one House full 52 years and in all that time never buried Man Woman nor Child though they were sometimes 20 in Houshold He had Issue by the said Mary 5 Sons and 7 Daughters the said John was Mayor of the Town 1559. and again Anno 1572 the said Mary lived to 97 years and departed the 8th of December 1611. She did see before her departure of her Children and Childrens Children and their Children to the number of One Hundred Forty and two ibid. 5. In St. Innocents Church-yard in the City of Paris is to be seen the Epitaph of Yeoland Baily which doth shew that she had lived 84 years and might have seen 288 Verstegan saith 295 of her Children and Childrens Children she died on the 17th of April 1514. Hakewel ibid. p. 234. Versteg Restit decay'd Int. 1. p. 3. 6. In Markshal-Church in Essex on Mrs. Honywoods Tomb is this Inscription Here lieth the body of Mary Waters the Daughter and Co-heir of Robert Waters of Lenham in Kent Esq Wife of Robert Honywood of Charing in Kent Esq her only Husband who had at her decease lawfully descended from her 367 16 of her own body 114 Grand-Children 228 in the third Generation and 9 in the fourth She liv'd a most Pious Life and in a most Christian manner died here at Markshall in the 93 year of her Age and in the 44th of her Widowhood May 11th 1620. Wanly Hist of Man p. 41. 7. Dame Ester Temple Daughter to Miles Sands Esq was born at Latmos in Buckinghamshire and was marryed to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow Baronet she had 4 Sons and 9 Daughters which liv'd to be marry'd and so exceedingly multiplied that this Lady saw 700 extracted from her Body Doctor Fuller saith he bought the Truth hereof by a Wager he lost besides there was a new Generation of Marriageable Females just at her Death Had the Off-spring of this Lady been contracted into one place they were enough to have peopled a City of a competent proportion The Lady Temple died Anno 1656. Fullers Worthies p. 138. Buckinghamshire 8. We read saith Mr. Ricaut that the Eastern Parts of the World have abounded with Children of diver Mothers and but one Father and that ordinarily as great Personage in Egypt hath been attended with 100 lusty Sons in the Field proceeding from his own Loins well Armed and daring in all Attempts of Was. Paul Ricaut Esq present State of the Ottoman Empire p. 292. A Woman in Delph three several days voided three Worms out of her Navel and not long after was delivered of a Boy and then seven days after that of another Forest 17. Obs. 35. 10. I have heard the Reverend dr Annesley has had 25 Children for Dr. Manton baptizing one of them was asked how many children the Doctor had to whom he return'd this Answer That he was not certain how many but believ'd 't was Two Dozen or a Quarter of an Hundred CHAP. VI. Children crying in the Womb. 'T IS common for Infants at their first Exit out of their Mothers Womb to give some Significations of their resentment of the Change but to do it before they come into the common Air of this World is more rare and strange one would think it time enough for them to Cry when they are born and arrived at the brink of Troubles but some whether through the Strength of Nature or some premature Eruption of the Amnion or other Accident in the Womb or an extraordinary Sagacity in provident Nature and foresight of the Evils to come Anticipate their time and are heard to Cry before either the Mother or Midwife go about to disturb them in their little Mansions 1. At Heyford Purcel there was a Child that Cyred very Audibly in its Mothers Womb sometime before the Birth The People being frighted with it and expecting some Calamity should soon attend such a Prodigy pernicious forsooth not only to the place where heard but to the state it self whereas the Learned Bartholin more rightly Notes that the Ruin of Kingdoms depends rather upon the Wickedness of People than any such Vagitus Dr. Plot. Nat. Hist Oxf. p. 192. 2. Anno 1648. There was a Woman the Wife of a Seaman near to the Church of Holmiana who had been big for 8 Months she was of a good habit of body and nor Old this Woman upon the Eve of Christmas-day upon the Calends in the year following
cited for what is more strange That in an Earthquake an hundred Cities in Lybia were destroyed tit Livius Hist Josephus records that about 29 Years after the Birth of Christ there happened a tremendous Earthquake in the Country of Judea whereby divers Beasts were slain many People overwhelmed in the Ruins of their Houses and perished to the number of about 30000. 2. To relate those Earthquakes that have happened since our Saviour's Birth as I find them mentioned by several Authors of which that which happened at his Crucifixion is said to be the greatest that ever was which shook not only one part of the Earth as in other Cases but the whole World trembled at once if famous Authors may be credited In the tenth Year of Christ was a great Earthquake in Cyprus which overthrew many Cities and in the 17th Year thirteen Cities in Italy were destroyed and the River Tyber overflowed Rome In the Year 59 was a great Earthquake in Rome at which time Nero's Supper was burned with Lightning 3. In the Reign of Trajan the Emperour Anno 105 there happened a most terrible Earthquake at Antioch which destroyed many Cities and People and extended it self very far with fearful Lightnings which made the Night as light as Day preceded with dreadful Thunderbolts that threw down stately Buildings killed many People strong and unusual Storms of Wind the Sea wrought the Waves swelled the Earth shaken Trees pluck'd up by the Roots multitudes buried in the Ruins of their own Houses In Anno 107 a very great Earthquake happened in Asia with many prodigious Sights in the Air as fighting of Men c. Another in Galatia and Rome where Lightning from Heaven consumed the Temple of their Gods with strong Winds and horrible Noises in the Earth In Anno 120 an Earthquake in Nice and two terrible Ones in Palestina In Anno 162 was a very great Earthquake in Bithynia the Waves of the Mediterranean Sea in a Calm elevated themselves to the top of a Mountain far distant from it and cast the Foam a great way upon the main Land 4. In Anno 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was so horrid an Earthquake that certain Cities together were swallowed up and exceeding great Darkness happened for many Days together In the Year 300 there were great Earthquakes by one whereof 13 Cities in Campania were overthrown and another in Asia Many Cities in the East fell to the Ground by an Earthquake and Neo Caesarea was overturned and all its Inhabitants perished except only such as were saved with the Bishop in the Church Dyracchium was demolished by an Earthquake Rome trembled for three Days and three Nights successively And indeed it was to General that all Europe and Asia were shaken at once 5. In the Year 366 in the Reign of Julian the Emperour who was first a Christian and after revolted to Paganism for which he was hamed the Apostate in despight and contempt of our blessed Saviour who had prophesied the Temple of Jerusalem should be destroyed and never rebuilt he impiously resolved to invalidate the same and designed to build it magnificently with excessive Cost and Charges when they had digged up the Remainders of the old Buildings from the lowest Foundation and had cleared the Ground so that there was not a Stone left upon a Stone according to our Blessed Saviour's Prediction The next Day coming to the Place there was a great Earthquake insomuch that the Stones were cast out of the Foundation so that many of the Workmen were slain The publick Buildings which were nearest the Temple were likewise loosen'd and falling down with great Violence buried those who were in them in their Rains some who attempted to fly away were found half dead The Earthquake was scarce over but those who remained fell to work again but when they attempted it the second time sudden Flashes of Fire came violently out of the Foundations and other Fire fell furiously from Heaven and destroyed more than before the Flame continuing a whole Day together 6. In the Year 367 in the Reign of Valens and Valentinian Emperours of Rome there happened such horrible Earthquakes throughout the Western Empire A little after the Day-dawning there was a great Tempest of Thunder and Lightning which was followed by such a dreadful trembling of the Earth that the Sea was shaken therewith and deserted the Shore and its ancient Bounds for a great space many Ships were left on dry Ground and swarms of People flew thither to catch Fish when suddenly the Sea as disdaining to be imprisoned returned to its former Station with such Impetuosity that it over-ran its former Bounds and with the Fury thereof overthrew a multitude of Towns and Houses with many Thousands of People 7. In the Year 430 a great Earthquake reged in divers places and overturned many Cities some Authors affirm it was so terrible as to affect almost the whole World the Earth gaped and swallowed up many Villages Fountains were dried up and Waters brake forth in places formerly dry Great Trees were torn up by the Roots heaps of Trees were so shaken together that they were raised into Mountains The Sea threw up dead Fishes many Islands sunk and overwhelmed Ships sailing on the Sea were suddenly left on the dry Ground In short many places in Bythinia the Hellespont and both the Phrygia's were distressed thereby This continued six Months without intermission and the People of Constantinople not daring to stay in the City for fear of the fall of their Houses continued together with their good Emperour and their Patriarch in the Fields instant in Prayers to the Almighty for the Removel of so dreadful a Judgment 8. In the Year 454 a great Earthquake at Rome another at Vienna Wolves and other Beasts wander all the Year through the City and devour Men. An Earthquake in Russia and at Constantinople with two wonderful Blazing-Stars In the Year 458 a great Earthquake happened at Antioch which the Citizens had cause to remember Before it began some of the Inhabitants were seized with extraordinary Madness such as seemed to exceed the Fury of Wild Beasts and to be the Presage of that Calamity which followed soon after For about the fourth Hour of the Night in September almost all the Buildings of the new City were overturned which was well People and none of it forsaken or empty being curiously built by the Magnificence of divers Emperours who strove to Excel each other in the Adornment of it 9. In the First Century was a terrible Earthquake in Arabia another in Palestina and a third at Constantinople six Weeks together 10. In the sixth seventh and eighth Centuries an Earthquake at Antioch another at Palestina another in England and Normandy and divers dreadful Prodigies About the same time there was a violent Earthquake in Constantinople which lasted many Days and every Hour the City suffered extraordinary Shocks Many Houses were thrown down but the People betook themselves to Prayer
Fasting and Repentance and the Almighty had Compassion on them Many Cities in the East were ruined by it and the City of Alexandria was sore shaken therewith which was the more Astonishing because it seldom happens in those Parts Some Years after Constantinople was shaken so violently that not only the Walls and Churches but all Greece trembled therewith In the Year 801 whilst Charles the Great was in Italy there was an Earthquake with great Noises which shook all France and Germany but especially Italy It overthrew several Towers and Mountains and the Church of St. Paul at Rome was destroyed by it 11. In the ninth tenth and eleventh Centuries an Earthquake happened in Scotland another in France a very great one in Asia several terrible ones with Whirlwinds in Germany also a great Earthquake in England where five Suns appeared at once and after four Moons at once In the Reign of King William the Conquerour Anno 1086 happened an Earthquake with a dreadful Noise In Anno 1100 in the Reign of King Henry the First the Earth moved with such Violence in England that many Building were shaken down in divers places an hideous Noise was heard and the Earth through several Rifts cast forth Fire for many Days together which neither by Water nor by any other Means could be suppress'd In Lumbardy in Ita◠about the same time was an Earthquake which lasted about six Weeks and removed a Town from the place where it stood a great distance In the Year 1179 on Christmas-Day at Oxenhall near Darlington in the County of Durham the Earth was lifted up almost like a Tower and so continued all that Day as it were immoveable till Evening and then fell with so horrible a Noise that it affrighted the Inhabitants thereabouts and the Earth swallowing it up made in the same place three Pits of a wonderful depth which were afterwards called Hell-Kettles 12. In the Year 1180 an Earthquake ruined a great part of the City of Naples The City of Catania in Sicily is destroyed with 19000 People by an Earthquake The K. of Iconium is swallowed up by an Earthquake and in England many Buildings were thrown down by the same means amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces 13. In the Year 1222 there were such Earthquakes in Italy and Lumbardy that the Cities and Towns were forsaken and the People kept abroad in the Fields in Tents many Houses and Churches were thrown down much People thereby crushed to Death the Earth trembled twice a Day in Lumbardy for 14 Days together besides two Cities in Cyprus and the City of Brescia were this Year destroyed by Earthquakes In the Year 1176 about the same time that Adrian the Fourth was made Pope was a dreadful Earthquake at Millain and the Country round about In Italy there was likewise a great Earthquake and another in England and a third in Germany 14. In the Year 1300 there was such an Earthquake in Rome as never was before and 48 Earthquakes happening in one Year whereby all Lumbardy was shaken A great Earthquake in London which shook down many Buildings Anothe Earthquake did much mischief about Bath and Bristol and two more happened in England not long after In the Year 1348 a terrible Earthquake happened at Constantinople which endured six Weeks and reached as far as Hungary and Italy 26 Cities were overthrown by it 15. In the Year 1456 there arose upon the Sea of Ancona in Italy together with a thick gloomy Cloud that extended above two Miles a Tempest of Wind Water Fire Lightning and Thunder which piercing to the most deep Abysses of the Seas forced by the Waves with a most dreadful Fury and carried all before it upon the Land which caused so horrible an Earthquake some time after that the Kingdom of Naples was almost ruined and all Italy carried the dismal Marks of it A Million of Houses and Castles were buried in their own Ruins and above 30000 People crushed to pieces and a huge Mountain overturned into the Lake De la Garde Soon after was a dreadful Earthquake in Millan another in Hungary 16. In Sept. 14. 1509 there happened a terrible Earthquake at Constantinople and in the County thereabouts Bajazet the second being Emperour by the Violence whereof a great part of that Imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were overthrown and 13000 People overwhelm'd and slain the Terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself thô very aged and sore troubled with the Gout lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. The Earthquake continued as the Turks relate for a Month with little intermission In the year 1531 in the City of Lisbon in Portugal about 1400 Houses were overthrown by an Earthquake and 600 more so sorely shaken that they were ready to fall and many Churches cast to the Ground 17. In 1538. Mr. George Sandy's gives a Relation of a Remarkable Earthquake and Burning which happened near the City of Puteoli with the New formed Mountain for September 29 1538. the Country thereabouts having for several days before been Tormented with perpetual Earthquakes that no one House was left intire but all expected an immediate ruine after the Sea had retired 200 paces from the Shoar leaving abundance of Fish and Springs of fresh Water arising in the bottom this Mountain visible ascended about the second Hour of the Night with an hideous roaring Noise horribly vomitting Stones and such store of Cinders as overwhelm'd all the Buildings thereabouts 18. In 1571 February 17 a Prodigious Earthquake happened in the Eastern parts of Herefordshire near a little Town called Kinaston about 6 in the Evening the Earth began to open and a Hill called Marckly Hill with a Rock under it made a mighty bellowing Noise heard a-far off and then lifted up it self a great height and began to Travel bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it the Sheep-folds and Flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the same time having thus walked from Sunday Evening to Monday Noon it left a gaping distance 40 Foot wide and 80 Ells long the whole Field about 20 Acres the same Prodigy happened about the same time in Blackmore in that County A great Earthquake at Constantinople an Earthquake and Inundation in Holland very great Thunder and Earthquake in Spain an Earthquake and Bowls of Fire in Corinthia the Sun seem'd to cleave in sunder 19. In 1580 April 6 being Easter-Wednesday about 6 in the Afternoon happened a great Earthquake in England which shook all the Houses Castles and Churches every where as it went and put them in danger of utter Ruin at York it made the Bells in the Churches jangle In 1581 in Peru in America there happened an Earthquake which removed the City of Augnangum two Leagues from the place where it stood without demolishing it in regard the Scituation of the whole Country was changed
another Earthquake in the same Country that reached 300 Leagues along the Sea-shore and 70 Leagues in Land and Levelled the Mountains along as it went threw down Cities turn'd the Rivers out of their Channels and made an universal Havock and Confusion all this was done saith the Author in the space of seven or eight Minutes sometime before this above 40000 People perished in an Earthquake about Puel and Naples 20. In 1590 happened a terrible Earthquake which made Austris Bohemia and Moravia to Tremble in 1591. In St. Michael Island in the West-Indies there was an Earthquake which continued about 16 days to the extream Terror of the French which inhabit there especially when by force thereof they perceiv'd the Earth to move from place to place and Villa Franca their Principal Town overthrown the Ships that then rode at Anchor trembled and quaked insomuch that the People thought the day of Judgment was come In 1593 another terrible Earthquake happened in Persia which overturn'd 3000 Houses in the City of Lair crushing to Death above 3000 Persons in their Ruins In 1614 there was a great Earthquake in Vercer one of the largest of the Azor's Islands belonging to the King of Portugal overturning the City of Agra 11 Churches 9 Chappels besides many private Houses and in the City of Praga hardly an House was left standing not long after a dreadful Earthquake happened in St. Michael another Island of the Azores the Sea opened and thrust forth an Island above a League and a half in length at the place where there was above 150 Fathom Water 21. In 1622 was a great Earthquake in Italy the shape of an Elephant was seen in the Air and three Suns Armies Fighting Monstrous Births Waters turned into Blood unusual and impetuous Tempests which overthrew several Towers 22. In 1627 an Earthquake happened in England and a great Fiery Beam was seen in the Air in France Six Suns in Cornwall at once and five Moons in Normandy In the same year July 31 happened an Earthquake in Apulia in Italy whereby in the City of Severine 10000 Souls were taken out of the World and in the Horrour of such infinite Ruins and Sepulchre of so many Mortals a great Bell thrown out of the Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a Child that it inclos'd him doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger 23. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many terrible Bellowings Vomitted out burning streams of Fire which tumbled into the Adriatic Sea and cast out huge deal of Ashes the like happened the year following with great Damage and Loss to the Neighbouring places in Houses People and Cattle and in Apulia 17000 Persons were destroyed by the same 24. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in the Island of St. Michael one of the Terceres in the Atlantick Ocean Westward upon June the 26th this Island began universally to shake which continued eight days so that the People leaving the cities Towns and Castles were forc'd to live in the open Fields which was attended with a dreadful breaking out of Fire that had not the Wind by Divine Providence blown from the Isle into the Sea and drove back this outragious Fire without doubt the whole Country had been burnt up and destroy'd 25. In 1560 about five a Clock about the County of Cumberland and Westmorland was a general Earthquake wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses so shaken that their Chimneys fell down The same year the Island of Santorim at the bottom of the Streights in the Mediterranean Sea not far from Candia had formidable Earthquakes and Fires it was most remarkable upon September 24 1650 which shook the Isle till the 9th of October with such mighty and frequent Earthquakes that the People fearing their immediate Ruin was approaching were on their Knees Night and Day before the Altars it cannot be expressed what Horrour seized all Men especially when the Flames breaking through all Obstacles strove to make themselves away through the midst of the Waters of the Ocean about four Mites Eastward from Santorin for the Sea all on a suddain swelled thirty Cubits upward and extending it self wide through the Neighbouring Lands overturn'd all in its way 26. In 1657 the Spaniards felt a terrible blow in Peru which if it were not a Mark of the Wrath of Heaven saith the Author was at least a Sign that the Earth is weary of them especially in those Parts where they have stain'd it with so much Innocent Blood The City of Lima was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Calao another City not far from it was consumed by a Shower of Fire out of the Clouds 11000 Spaniards lost their Lives in this Calamity and the Earth devoured an 100 Millions of refin'd Silver which the Lucre of the Spaniards had forc'd out of her Bowels 27. In 1660 an Earthquake happened at Paris in France and at the same time we had News that part of the Pyrenean Mountains had been overthrown some days before they are certain Mountains that divide France and Spain it did great Mischief there overwhelm'd some Medicinal Baths many Houses and destroying much People one Church which sunk into the Caverns below was thrown up again and stands very firm but in another place this was look'd upon as a great Miracle especially by the French who have disputed with the Spaniard about a Church standing upon the Frontier-Line but now is removed near half a League within the acknowledged Limits of France 28. In 1665 there was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder Lightning and an Earthquake in divers places in England at which time the stately Spire of Trinity Church in Coventry fell down and demolished a great part of the Church 29. In 1668 in Autumn a great part of Asia and some parts of Europe were infested with extraordinnry Earthquakes the Cities of Constantinople and Adrianople felt its effects but not with that Violence and continuance as in other places In some parts of Persia it continued for above fourscore days Torqueto and Bolio two considerable Cities were by its great Violence laid even to the Ground and all or most of their Inhabitants buryed in the Ruins above 6000 Persons Perished in the first of them and above 1800 in the latter and in all the Adjacent Cities it raged with extraordinary Fury destroying and ruining the Buildings killing many of the People and the rest were forced to quit the Towns and take up their Lodgings in the Fields 30. In 1687 October 20 the London Gazette gives a sad Relation of another Earthquake in the Kingdom of Peru in America whereby the City of Lima was totally overthrown and not an House left standing burying many of its inhabitants under its Ruins at the same time Callao Fenettei Pisco Chancay Los Florillos c. Most of the Sea-port