Chaldean when and how he should die which soon after happened and the vengeance of Heaven fell upon him for all his Tyranny and Cruelty for Stephanus one of his Officers desiring to speak with him in private presented him with a writing which whilst he was looking upon he stabbed him with a Dagger into the lower part of his Belly but not being quite dead seven of his own freed men came about him and dispatched him it is said that a while before his death a Chough spoke Greek from the Tarpeian Rock which was in English All shall be well which could not be till the Tyrants Death and Apollonius Tyaneus being at Ephesus in Asia reading a Lecture in a Grove there many hundred miles from Rome he on a sudden began to speak low and more slowly and straight looked pale and stood silent at last stepping hastily some paces he cryed out as one transported O brave Stephanus strike the Tyrant kill the Murderer thou hast struck him thou hast wounded him thou hast slain him this being spoke in publick it was carefully taken notice of and the time when it was spoken diligently observed and it was afterward found and well known that Domitian was stabbed in Rome that day and the same hour of the day by Stephanus who was of his Bedchamber Lipsius Monit lib. 1. XVIII Maximinus the Emperour was born in Thracia his Parents were Barbarians but being of a vast body and huge strength so that he could lift a Cart loaden he applied himself to the Wars under the Emperour Severus who observing his Strength Activity and Industry preferred him to divers Offices in the Army insomuch that when Severus was slain the Army made him Emperour Having thus attained to this high Dignity he slew all those that knew any thing of the baseness of his Birth yea many of his friends who in his low condition had often relieved him He would not suffer any Nobleman to be about him He cruelly murdered all the Servants of Severus his Predecessor and executed many of the Souldiers hanging some knocking others on the head and throwing others to wild Beasts He hired and suborned some Villains at Rome to accuse divers of the Senators of Treason whom he presently commanded to be slain By which means he became so feared and consequently hated and abhorred that the Senate yea the Women daily in their Temples made solemn Prayers and Supplications against him He slew divers of his Captains which so provoked the Souldiers that one day as he with his Son whom he had made partner with him in the Empire were refreshing themselves in his Tent they rushed in upon them and slew them both declaring publickly That of a Dog of so base a breed the Whelp ought not to be spared but to be destroyed likewise Sueton. Hist XIX Charles King of Navar was a cruel Oppressor and Tyrant over his Subjects for he imposed upon them grievous Taxes and Tributes and when many of the chief of them came to complain of their Poverty and that they were not able to bear them he caused them all to be put to death for their boldness He was the kindler of many great mischiefs in France and also of Fires wherewith divers Places of Strength and famous Buildings were burnt down He counselled the Son of the Earl of Foix to poison his Father and gave him the Poison to effect the Villany with his own hand His Lechery likewise and Adulteries besotted his Soul even in his Old Age for at threescore years of Age he had a Whore upon whom he extreamly doted and was hardly ever out of her company who at length was the cause of his death For returning from her as he daily did and entring into his Chamber he went to Bed all quaking and half frozen with cold neither could he by any means recover his heat until by Art they endeavoured to revive Nature which was by blowing upon him with brazen Bellows Aquavitae and hot blasts of Air but it happened that a spark of the fire by chance flew between the sheets and inflamed the dry linnen and the Aquavitae in an instant so that e're it was quenched his late quivering bones were now half burnt he lived in great grief and torment for fifteen days after finding no help nor asswagement of his Torture by Physick or Chirurgery and then miserably dyed and thus as while he lived his mind constantly burned in Lust and his defires were hot upon mischief and oppression so his days were finished with cruel heat and burning Beards Theatre XX. Luctack King of Scotland succeeded his Father Galdus in that Kingdom but was so wretched and mischievous a Tyrant that his Subjects hated him no less for his Vices than they loved his Father for his Virtues he murdered many Rich and Noble Persons for no cause but only to inrich himself with their Estates he committed the Government of the Realm to debauched wretched Persons in whose Company he chiefly delighted he was so impudent as to deflour his own Aunts Sisters and Daughters and to forsake his own Wife and scorned the Advice and Council of his wife and grave Counsellors calling them Old doting Fools all which monstrous Villanies with a thousand more so incensed his Nobility that they slew him after he had reigned three years but as the Proverb says Seldom comes a better for another Tyrant as bad if not worse succeeded him called Mogallus Cosen German to Luctack a Man notoriously infected with all manner of wickedness for though at first he gave himself to follow the wisdom and good Government of his Uncle Galdus yet in his old Age his vices abundantly discovered themselves but chiefly in Oppression Lechery and Cruelty this King Licensed Theives and Robbers to take the Goods of their Neighbours without punishment and he first ordained that the Goods of condemned Persons should be confiscate to the Kings use without respect either to their Wives Children or Creditors but he also like his Predecessor was slain by his Nobles There was likewise another King of Scots called Athirco in the year 240. who shewed himself a most abominable wretch for he wallowed in all manner of unclean and effeminate Lusts and was not ashamed to go along the Streets in sight of the People playing upon a Fluâ—e rejoycing more to be accounted a good Fidler than a good Prince from this he proceeded at length to the deflouring and ravishing of Women and Virgins insomuch that the Noblemens Daughters could not be secure from his unsatiable and intolerable lust whereupon being pursued by the Nobility when he saw no means to escape he desperately slew himself Beards Theatre XXI Theodorick King of France for his negligence and sluggishness in his Government was Deposed and of a King was made a Fryar being put into a Monastery and Childerick succeeded him who exercised Barbarous and Inhumane Cruelty upon his Subjects for he spared neither Noble nor Ignoble but sent them to their Graves
the Prophets one of Justice and the other of Mercy The Citizens being amazed at them took Hacket and carryed him before a Justice of Peace who after Examination committed him to Prison and at the Sessions being found guilty of Sedition and speaking Traiterous words against the Queen he was condemned and hanged on a Gibbet in Cheapside uttering horrible Blasphemy against the Majesty of God Coppinger died the next day in Bridewell and Arthington afterward made a publick Recantation Thus the Curse of Hacket happened to him for a visible confusion came upon him according to his wish Beards Theatre XX. In the City of Astorga a Mother in her rage cursed one of her own Sons with detestable Maledictions wishing The Devils in Hell to take him and that they would fetch him out of her presence with many other horrible Execrations This was about Ten a Clock at night and very dark the Boy at last for fear of her went into a little Court behind the House from whence he was suddenly hoisted up into the Air by Men in appearance with grim countenances of large stature lothsom and horrible and were indeed evil Spirits of Hell who carryed him away with such swiftness as he himself after confessed that it was impossible for any Bird in the World to fly so fast and falling down amongst certain Mountains of Bushes and Briars he was drawn thorow the thickest of them and being all over torn and rent both in his cloaths face and body he began to call upon God and to beseech him for his help and assistance upon which these cruel Feinds were forced to bring him back again thorow the Air and put him thorow a little window into a Chamber in his Fathers House where after much search and grief for him he was found in this pitiful condition and almost distracted with fear And thus though they had not power to to deprive him of his life as they have done to others yet God suffered them to afflict the Parents in the Son to warn them to forbear such horrid wickedness But above all that is most remarkable which happened in a the Town of Misina in the year 1552. Sept. 11. where a passionate Father observing his Son to be slack in his business wished He might never stir from the place which he had no sooner spoken but his Son stuck fast indeed nor could by any means possible be removed no not so much as to sit or bend his Body till by the Prayers of good Christians his pains were mitigated though not remitted three years he continued standing with a post at his back for his ease and four years sitting at the end whereof he died nothing weakened in his understanding but professing the Faith and not doubting of his Salvation through Jesus Christ When he was demanded at any time how he did his Answer usually was That he was fastened of God and that it was not in Man but the Mercy of God only must release him Clarks Exampl 1 Vol. XXI John Peter Son-in-law to Alexander the cruel Keeper of Newgate being a most horrible Swearer and Blasphemer used commonly to say If it be not true I pray God I may rot ere I die which happened to him for he rotted away indeed and so died in misery To this may be added a notable Example of a certain young Gallant that was a monstrous Swearer who riding in the company of divers Gentlemen out of Cornwall in the daies of King Edward the Sixth he began to curse and blaspheme most horribly whom one Mr. Hains a Minister with mild words reproved telling him He should one day answer for it whereat the Gentleman being in a fume bid him Take no thought for him but prepare for his own winding-sheet Well saith the Minister Amend for Death gives no warning as soon comes the Lambs Skin to the Market as an old Sheeps Gods wounds said he care not thou for me still raging worse and worse till at length going on their Journey they came to a great Bridge which was made over an Arm of the Sea in passing of which this swearing Gallant spurred his Horse with such fury that he leaped clear over the Bridge with the Man on his back who as he was falling cryed out Horse and Man and all to the Devil This terrible Story Bishop Ridly preached and delivered in a Sermon at Pauls Cross and Mr. Hains himself reported the Truth thereof to Mr. Fox from whence this is taken Acts and Monuments XXII At a Town called St. Gallus in Helvetia a certain Man that earned his Living by making clean foul Linnen going into a Tavern tasted so much of the Grape that in his Drunkenness he used horrible Cursings wishing That if ever he went into the Fields again to his old Trade the Devil might break his Neck but when sleep had conquered Drink and Sobriety had restored his Senses he went to his business as formerly remembring indeed his late words but not regarding them howbeit the Devil to shew his double diligence attended him in the likeness of a big swarthy Man alking him If he had not forgot his promise and vow which he had made the day before and likewise demanding whether it were not lawful to break his Neck and withal struck the poor Man trembling with fear over the shoulders that his feet and hands presently dryed up and there he â—ay not able to stir till he was carryed home the Almighty not giving Satan so much power over him as he himself wished but yet permitting him to punish him in this manner for his amendment and our Example Beards Theatre XXIII A Man in Lincolnshire for every trifle used to swear by God's Precious Blood and would not take warning from his Friends till at length falling into a grievous Sickness he was again much persuaded by his Friends to Repent whose counsel he still rejected and hearing the Bell Toll in the very pains of death he started up swearing God's Wounds the Bell Tolls for me but he shall not have me yet whereupon the Blood issued but in a most fearful manner from all the joynts and parts of his Body as Mouth Nose Wrists Knees Heels Toes and every where else and so he miserably ended his wretched life Mr. Perkins Another for many years together had a wicked custom of Swearing by God's Arms in the end his own Arm being hurt with a Knife could not by any means be cured but rankled and festered daily more and more and at last rotted so much that it fell away piecemeal and himself through anguish and pain thereof died Mr. Philip Stubs At Tabinga in Germany a desperate Boy used to invent such New Oaths as were not common but it pleased God to send a Canker or some worse Disease which eat out his Tongue that Instrument wherewith he blasphemed German Hist There was a certain wretch who in his life-time was dreadfully inclined to the horrid sin of Swearing and when he came upon his
that kind which may bear a sober construction whereof I will glean two or three in the Dukes case Being to take his leave of the Bishop of Canterbury then of London after courtesies of course had passed between them My Lord saith the Duke I know your Lordship hath worthily good access to the King our Soveraign let me pray you to put His Majesty in mind to be good as I no ways distrust unto my poor Wife and Children at which words or at his countenance in the delivery or at both the Bishop being somewhat troubled took the liberty to ask him whether he had ever any secret abodement or presage in his mind No said the Duke But I think some adventure may kill me as well as another man The very day before he was slain feeling some indisposition of body the King was pleased to give him the honour of a visit and found him in his bed where after much serious and private conference the Duke at His Majesties departing imbraced him a very unusual and passionate manner and in like sort his Friend the Earl of Holland as if his Soul had divined he should see them no more which infusions toward fatal ends have been observed by some Authors of no light Authority On the very day of his death the Countess of Denbigh his Sister received a letter from him whereunto all the while she was writing her answer she bedewed the Paper with her tears and after a bitter passion whereof she could yield no reason but that her dearest Brother was to be gone she fell down in a swound her said letter ended thus I will pray for your happy return which I look at with a great Cloud over my head too heavy for my poor heart to bear without torment but I hope the great God of Heaven will bless you The day after his murder the Bishop of Ely her devoted Friend who was thought the fittest preparer of her mind to receive such a doleful accident came to visit her but hearing she was at rest he attended till she should awake of her self which she did with the affrightment of a dream her Brother seeming to pass through a Field with her in her Coach where hearing a sudden shout of the People and asking the reason it was answered to have been for joy that the Duke of Buckingham was sick which natural impression she had scarce related to her Gentlewoman before the Bishop was entred into her Bedchamber for a chosen Messenger of the Dukes most sudden Death Wottons Remains The Continuator of Bakers Chronicle mentions several other Presages of this Dukes untimely end as that his Picture fell down in the High Commission Chamber at Lambeth on the same day that Doctor Lamb his great Favourite was slain in the City of London for a Conjurer also that the Lady Davis who was reputed a great Prophetess had in June foretold that the Dukes fatal time would not come till August and lastly that one Mr. Towerson an Officer of the Custom-house was charged by a Phantasme or Spirit like the Dukes Father to tell him That if he changed not his Courses he would shortly become a great Fairing to the City of London which afterward was thought accomplished by his death which happened Aug. 23. 1628. and the day before Bartholomew Fair which was occasioned by the treachery of John Felton who waiting upon the Duke at Portsmouth gave him with a back blow a deep wound in his left side which the Duke himself pulling out sunk under the Table in the room and immediately expired one thing in this enormous accident saith Sir Henry Wotton is I must confess to me beyond all wonder as I received it from a Gentleman of judicious and diligent observation and one whom the Duke much favoured That within the space of not many minutes after the Dukes fall and removal of the body into the first room there was not a living creature in either of the Chambers near the Body no more than if it had lain in the Sands of Ehiopia whereas commonly in such cases you shall note every where a sudden conflux of People to the place to hearken and see but it seems the horrour of the fact stupified all Curiosity Reliquiae Wottonianae III. In the Reign of King Henry the Eighth there was one Mr. Gresham a Merchant of London who was sailing homeward from Palermo a City in Sicily wherein was dwelling at that time one Antonio sirnamed The Rich who had at one time two Kingdoms morgaged to him by the King of Spain Mr. Gresham crossed by contrary winds was constrained to anchor under the Lee of the Island of Strombulo where was a burning Mountain Now about the Mid-day when for a certain space the Mountain used to forbear sending forth flames he with Eight of the Sailors ascended the Mountain approaching as near the Vent as they durst where amongst other Noises they heard a voice cry aloud Dispatch Dispatch the Rich Antonio is coming terrified herewith they hasted their return and the Mountain presently vomited out fire and from so dismal a place they made all the haste they could but desiring to know more of this matter since the Winds still thwarted their course they returned to Palermo and forthwith inquiring for Antonio they found that he died about that very Instant so near as they could compute when that voice was heard by them Mr. Gresham at his return into England reported this to the King and the Mariners being called before him confirmed the same on their Oaths This wrought so deep an impression upon Mr. Gresham that he gave over all Merchandizing and distributed his Estate partly to his kindred and partly to good uses retaining only a Competency for himself and so spent the rest of his daies in a solitary Devotion Sandys Travels lib 4. IV. It is a very memorable thing which from the mouth of a very credible Person who saw it George Buchanan relates concerning James the Fourth King of Scotland who intending to make a War with England a certain Old Man of a very venerable Aspect and clad in a long Blew Garment came to him at the Church of St. Michaels at Linlithgow while he was at his Devotion and leaning over the Canons Seat where the King sate said I am sent unto thee O King to give thee warning that thou proceed not the War thou art about for if thou do it will be thy Ruine And having so said he withdrew himself back among the multitude The King after Service was ended enquired earnestly for him but he could no where be found neither could any of the standers by feel or perceive how when or where he passed from them having as it were vanished in their hands but no warning could divert his destiny which had not been destiny if it could have been diverted His Queen also had acquainted him with the Visions and Affrightments of her sleep that her Chains and Armlets appeared to be turned into
Witch making obeysance to Mackbeth saluted him by the name of Thane or Earl of Glammis the second Witch saluted him Thane or Earl of Cauder the third saluted him King of Scotland This is unequal dealing said Banquo to give my Friend Mackbeth all the honours and none to me to which one of the Witches answered That he indeed should not be King but out of his Loins should come a Race of Kings that should over-rule the Scots and having thus said they all vanished upon their arrival at Court Mackbeth was immediately created Earl of Glammis and not long after some new service requiring some new recompence he was honoured with the Title of Earl of Cander seeing then how happily the prediction of the three Wizards fell out in the two former he resolved not to be wanting to himself in fulfilling the third he therefore first killed the King and after by reason of his Command among the Souldiers he succeeded in this Throne Being scarce warm in his Seat he called to mind the prediction given to his Companion Banquo whom hereupon suspecting as his Supplanter he caused to be killed together with his whole posterity only Fleance one of his Sons escaped with much difficulty into Wales Mackbeth thus freed as he thought of all fear of Banquo and his Issue he built Dunsinan Castle and made it his ordinary residence afterwards on some new fears consulting with his Wizards concerning his future State he was told by one of them That he should never be overcome till Bernane Wood which was some miles distant came to Dunsinan Castle and by another That he should never be slain by any Man that was born of a Woman secure then as he thought from all future dangers he gave himself up to all manner of debauchery lasciviousness and cruelty for the space of eighteen years for so long he Tyrannized over Scotland but having then made up the measure of his iniquities Mackduff the Governor of Fife with some other good Patriots of their Country met privately one evening at Bernane Wood and taking every one of them a bough in his hand the better to keep them from discovery they marched early in the morning toward Dunsinan Castle which they took by storm Mackbeth escaping was pursued by Mackduff who having overtaken him urged him to the Combate to whom the Tyrant half in scorn returned answer That he in vain attempted to kill him it being his destiny never to be slain by any Man that was born of a Woman now then said Mackduff is thy fatal end drawing fast upon thee for I was never born of a Woman but violently cut out of my Mothers belly which so daunted the Tyrant though otherwise a valiant Man that he was easily slain In the mean time Fleance so prospered in Wales that he gained the affection of the Princes Daughter of the Country and by her had a Son called Walter who flying out of Wales returned into Scotland where his descent being known he was restored to the Honours and Lands of his House and preferred to be Steward to the House of Edgar the Son of Malcolm the Third firnamed Conmer King of Scotland the name of Stewart growing hence hereditary unto his posterity from this Walter descended that Robert Stewart who succeeded David Bruce in the Kingdom of Scotland the Progenitor of nine Kings of the name of Stewart which have reigned successively in that Kingdom Heylins Cosmography p. 336 IX The D. of Biron a great Peer of France when he was only Baron of Biron being in some trouble by reason of the death of the Lord Gerency and others slain in a quarrel is said to have gone disguised like a Carrier of Letters to one La Brosse a great Mathematician who was held to be skilful in Nativities to whom he shewed his Nativity drawn by some other and pretended it was not his but a Gentlemans whom he served and that he desired to know what end that Man should have La Brosse having rectified this Figure said to him that he was of a good house and no elder than you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his the Baron answered I will not tell you but pray let me know what his life and means and end shall be The old Man who was then in a little Garret which served him for a Study said unto him My Son I see that he whose Nativity this is shall come to great honour by his Industry and Military Valour and may be a King but thut there is a Caput Argol which hinders it and what is that said the Barron ask me not said La Brosse what it is I must know it replyed he in the end he answered My Son it is this that he will commit such things as will make him lose his head whereupon the Earon beat him cruelly and leaving him half dead went down and carried the Key of the Garret door with him as he brag'd afterward Biron had conference likewise with one Caesar who was a Magician at Paris who old him That only a back-blow of a Burgonian would hinâ—er him from being King he remembred this prediction being a Prisoner in the Bastile and intreated one that went to visit him to inquire if the Hangman of Paris were a Burgonian and having found it so he said I am a dead Man and soon after he was beheaded for his conspiring against the King De Serres Hist France p. 1051. X. In the year 1279. There lived in Scotland one Thomas Lermouth a Man very much admired he may justly be wondred at for foretelling so many Ages before the Union of England and Scotland in the ninth degree of the Bruces blood with the succession of Bruce himself to the Crown being yet a Child and many other things which the event hath made good the day before the death of King Alexander he told the Earl of March that before the next day at noon such a Tempest should blow as Scotland had not felt many years before the next morning proving a clear day the Earl challenged Thomas as an Imposter he replyed That noon was not yet past about which time a Post came to inform the Earl of the Kings sudden death and then said Thom as This is the Tempest I foretold and so it shall prove to Scotland as indeed it did Spotswoods Hist Scotland XI Two Gentlemen who were intimate acquaintance travelled together to the City of Megara where when they were arrived the one went to lodge with a Friend of his and the other betakes himself to an Inn he that was at his Friends House saw in his sleep his Companion beseeching him to assist him for he was set upon by his Host and that by his speedy coming to him he might deliver him from a very imminent danger being awakened with what he had seen he leaps from his bed and intends to go to the Inn but by an unhappy fate he desists from his compassionate purpose and believing
wherefore thou hast undeservedly put me to this bitter and unworthy death The Duke received this Summons with laughter and unappalled and unconcerned made answer Well go thou before and I will then present my self the year being almost spent the Duke fell in to a light Feaver and remembring the appeal said to the standers by The time of my death does now appreach and I must go to Judgment and so it happened for he died soon after Dinoth lib. 8. XXII Ferdinand the fourth King of Spain was a great Man both in Peace and War but somewhat rash and rigid in pronouncing Judgment so that he seemed to incline to cruelty About the year 1312. he commanded two Brothers Peter and John of the Noble Family of Carvialii to be thrown headlong from an high Tower as being suspected guilty of the death of Benavidius a noble Person of the first rank and though they with great constancy denyed they were guilty of any such crime yet it was to small purpose when therefore they perceived that the Kings Ear was shut against them they openly cryed out they died innocently and since they found the King had no regard to any Plea or defence they could make they did appeal to the Divine Tribunal and turning themselves to the King bid him Remember to make his Appearance there within the space of thirty days at the furthest Ferdinand at that time made no reckoning of their words but upon the thirtieth day after his servants supposing he was asleep found him dead in his Bed in the flower of his Age for he was but twenty four years and nine months old Wanly Hist Man 34. Lambertus Schasnaburgenss an excellent writer as most in these times tells that Buchardus Bishop of â—aâ—berstadt in the year 1059 had an unjust controversy with the Abbot of Helverdense about some Lands in Saxony which the Bishop by force without Law sought to make his own it was to small purpose to make any resistance against so powerful an Adversary but the injured Abbot some few days before his death sent to Frederick Count Palatine and intreated him to bear these his last words to the Prelate That being too weak to contend though the Law was on his side he gave place and was also departing this life but that God would be the Judge unto whom he made his Appeal that therefore both of them should prepare to order their cause before his Tribunal where favour and power set aside only Justice should prevail In a short time the Abbot died of a Feaver and not long after him the Bishop also for as he was one time mounting his Horse he fell down as one stricken with a Thunderbolt and his last words were That he was hurried away to the Judgment Seat of God there to be Judged Delrio Disquisit l. 4. XXV Francis Duke of Brittain cast his Brother Aegidius into Prison who was one of his Council and falsely accused him of Treason where when Aegidius was almost famished perceiving that his fatal hour approached he spied a Franciscan out of the window of the Prison and calling him to confer with him he made him promise That he would tell his Brother that within fourteen days he should stand before the Judgment Seat of God The Franciscan having found out the Duke in the Confines of Normandy where he then was told him of his Brothers death and of his Appeal to the high Tribunal of God the Duke terrified with this message immediately grew ill and his distemper increasing he expired upon the very day appointed Drixelius Oper. The Genoways sent out their Gallies against the Pyrates and in the way took a small Ship of Sicily together with the Mr. of it whom in contempt of the Sicilians they hanged up the poor man pleaded he suffered unjustly since he had never done any the least injury to them but perceiving all his plaints to be in vain he appealed unto God for Justice and cited the Admiral of the Genoese to make his Appearance at his Bar within six months within which time he that was thus cited died Wanly Hist Man XXVI Master Patrick Hamilton of an Antient and Honourable Family in Scotland left his own Country and went into Germany where he became acquainted with those worthy Men Martin Luther and Philip Melancthon then at the famous University of Wittenburg from thence he went to the University of Marpurg which was then newly erected where he was intimate with other learned Men and by reason of his Learning and Integrity of life he was had in admiration of many however he could not rest till he had returned into his own Country where the Doctrine of the Reformation began then to break forth as well in publick as in private which so disturbed the Popish-Clergy that James Beaton Archbishop of St. Andrews sent for Mr. Patrick Hamilton to St. Andrews where after divers days conference he had his Freedom and Liberty the Bishop seeming to approve his Doctrine acknowledging that in many things there needed a Reformation in the Church but withal searing that their Kingdom of Darkness should be endamaged they persuaded the King who was then young and much led by them to go on Pilgrimage to St. Dothess in Ross that so by reason of his absence no application might be made to him for the saving the life of this innocent Gentleman who not suspecting their malice remained like a Lamb among Wolves the King being gone one night Mr. Hamilton was seized upon by the Bishops Officers and carried to the Castle and the next day was brought forth into Judgment and Condemned to be burnt upon several Articles about Pilgrimages Purgatory Prayers to Saints c. After Dinner the fire was prepared and being tyed to the Stake he cryed out with a loud voice Lord Jesus receive my Spirit how long shall darkness overwhelm this Realm and how long wilt thou suffer the Tyranny of these Men The fire was slow and therefore put him to the greater torment but that which most troubled him was the clamour of some wicked Men set on by the Fryers who continually cryed Turn thou Heretick call upon our Lady say Salve Regina c. To whom he answered Depart from me and trouble me not thou Messenger of Satan and speaking to one Alexander Campbell a Fryer with whom he had conferred about matters of Religion and who had informed against him and was now the Ringleader who roared against him to recant Mr. Patrick with great vehemency said to him Wicked Man thou knowest the contrary and hast confessed the contrary to me I appeal thee before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ After which words he resigned up his Spirit unto God in the year 1527. Campbell was troubled at these words and from that very day was never in his right mind but soon after died mad Clarks Martyr Thus Though the Fool hath said in his heart there is no God and because Justice is not presently inflicted upon Sinners
Torments Hereupon awaking he called for Lights and causing his Servants to arise he told them what he had heard and seen The next morning by break of day word was brought him that the Justice Clerk was dead which fell out just at the same time when the King found himself so troubled and almost in the same manner for he died in great terrour of mind often repeating these words By the Righteous Judgment of God I am condemned and the manner of his death answering the King's Dream so exactly made it yet more terrible to him Another Vision he had in the same place not many nights after which did more affright him for whilst he lay sleeping he thought that Sir James Hamilton whom he had caused to be Executed came to him with a drawn Sword in his hand and therewith cut off both his Arms threatning also within a short time to return and to deprive him of his Life with which he awaked and as he lay musing what this Dream should signifie news was brought him of the Death of his Two Sons James and Arthur the one dying at St. Andrews and the other at Sterling at one and the same hour The next year which was 1542. being overwhelmed with grief he died at Faulkland in the Thirty second year of his Age a little before he died he had word brought him that his Queen was delivered of a Daughter whereupon he burst forth into a passion saying It came with a Lass meaning the Crown and will go with a Lass Fie upon it Spotswoods History of Scotland XL. Drahomira Queen of Bohemia was an implacable Enemy to the Christians and caused many of them to be slain but as she happened to pass over a place where the Bones of some godly Ministers who had been martyred lay unburied the Earth opened its mouth and swallowed her up alive together with the Chariot wherein she was and all that were in it which place is to be seen before the Castle of Prague to this day About the year 1488 some Popish Bishops in Bohemia stirred up the Queen who was then great with Child to move King Vladislaus her Husband severely to punish the Piccards as the Protestants were then called and the Queen much pleased her self in thinking what grateful Spectacles she should have when she should see some of them burnt some beheaded and others drowned in the River But it pleased God before she could see it effected she fell in Travel and could by no means be delivered of her burden whereupon the Physicians advised that the Child should be cut out of her Womb which being done accordingly the Child lived but the Mother died Two years after the Bishops by their Importunity prevailed with the King to use sharp Remedies against this growing Religion whereupon an Edict was drawn up That all the Piccards or Protestants without distinction of Age Sex K. Hen. 2. whipt by the Popes Order pa. 88 Q Bohemia swallowed up alive pa. 112 or Quality should be murdered This Edict was brought â—o the Assembly of the States at Prague to be confirmed by them Many of the Nobles opposed it but by subâ—ilty of the Chancellor and his bloody Associates it was at last carryed by the Major part The Chancellor as â—he returned from the Parliament visited a Nobleman of his Acquaintance and there with great rejoycing told him what was concluded against the Protestants The Nobleman having a Servant by who was a great favourer of them asked him how he liked this Decree The Servant answered That all Parties were not agreed the Chancellor suspecting some Conspiracy asked him who durst oppose the States of the Kingdom The Servant said There is one in Heaven who if he were not present at your Councils you have but consulted in vain The Chancellor replied Thou Knave thou shalt find that as well as the rest of you and so rising up in a fury immediately a Carbuncle arose upon his foot which turned to a Disease called Ignis Sacer of which he died soon after in much misery Clarks Martyr XLI Another who was very forward in promoting this Decree in his return homeward as he was alighting out of his Chariot to make water struck his Privy Member on a sharp Nail that was in the Boot whereby as he fell forward he drew out his Guts and Entrails along with him and not long after gave up the Ghost Another Nobleman who promoted this cruel Decree as he was Hunting his Horse threw him and one of his Arrows ran into his Thigh and came out at his Loins whereby he died a very painful death The year after two German Tradesmen were apprehended at Prague and by the Monks accused of Lutheranism for which they were condemned and burnt One of their Chief Persecutors was so violent against the Protestants that he wished they were all hanged burnt or beheaded by his hands but it pleased God in his Just Judgment that shortly after all these evils fell upon himself for being exceedingly in debt for very trouble and vexation he went and hanged himself and when his Friends had privately buried him the common people hearing of it digged up his Carkass and threw it out and by the Magistrates command it was ordered to be burnt but when the wood was consumed and the Body only scorched one came and cut off his head Clerks Martyr XLII Neither has Almighty God failed to shew his displeasure against wicked Persecutors in our own Country especially those in bloody Queen Maries Reign of which we shall only collect some few Alexander the Keeper of Newgate was a cruel Enemy to those that lay there for Religion and used to go to bloody Bonner Story Cholmly and the rest crying out Rid my Prison Rid my Prison I am too much pestered with these Hereticks the wretch dyed a miserable death his Body being so swoln that he was rather like a Monster than a Man his Intrails also were so rotten that none could abide the stink of them his Son James to whom he left a great Estate soon wasted it all saying in a jeer Ill gotten ill spent and as he went through Newgate-Market he fell down dead John Peter Son in Law to this Alexander an horrible Blasphemer who used upon every occasion to say If it be not so I pray God I may rot before I die he was likewise very cruel to the poor Christians in Prison but Divine Justice met with him for all for his Body rotted away by peice-meal and so he died miserably Robert Baulding as he was apprehending William Seaman the Martyr was stricken with Lightning and thereupon pined away and died Ralph Lardin the Betrayer of George Eagles was afterward Arraigned and hanged as he stood at the Bar he said publickly This is justly fallen upon me because I betrayed the Innocent blood of that good and just man George Eagles who was condemned by my means and I sold his blood for a little mony The like vengeance of God fell
he furiously loved seigned himself sick and sent for all his Uncles Princes of Pomerania being twenty in number to come and see him whom lying in his Bed he earnestly desired That if he chanced to die they would make choice of one of his Sons to be King which they willingly promised in case the Lords of the Kingdom would consent thereunto The Queen enticed them all one by one to drink a Health to the King which as soon as they had done they took their leaves But they were scarce got out of the King's Chamber before they were seized with intolerable pains by the corroding of the Poison wherewith the Queen had intermingled their Drink in a short time they all died The Queen gave it out as a Judgment of God upon them for having conspired the death of the King and prosecuting this Accusation caused their bodies to be taken out of their Graves and cast into the Lake Goplo over a City called Crusphitz But by a miraculous Transformation an innumerable company of Rats and Mice did rush out of those Bodies which gathering together in crouds went and assaulted the King as he was with great Jollity feasting in his Pallace The Guards endeavoured to drive them away with Weapons and Fire but all in vain The King perplexed with this extraordinary danger fled with his Wife and Children into a Fortress that is yet to be seen in that Lake of Goplo whither he was pursued with such a number of these creatures that the Land and the Waters were covered with them and they cryed and hissed most fearfully they entred in at the Window of the Fortress having scaled the Walls and there they devoured the King his Wife and Children alive and left nothing of them remaining by which means all the Race of the Polonian Princes was utterly extinguished and Pyast a Husbandman at the last was elected King Heylins Cosmography IV. Hatto the Second Duke of Franconia Sirnamed Bonosus Abbot of Fulden was Chosen Archbishop of Mentz in 968. at which time was a grievous Dearth and the Poor being ready to starve for want of food he caused great companies of them to be gathered together and put into Barns pretending that they should receive Corn and other Relief but he caused the Barns unmercifully to be set on fire and the Poor People to be miserably burnt therein saying withal That the Poor were like the Rats and Vermine who did eat up the fruits of the Land But not long after an Army of Rats gathered themselves together no man can tell from whence and set upon him so furiously that into what place soever he retired himself they would come and fall upon him if he climbed on high into Chambers they would ascend the Wall and enter at the Windows and other small chinks and crevises the moremen attempted to destroy them the more outragious they seemed and the more to increase in number The wretched Prelate seeing he could find no place by Land safe for him resolved to seek some resuge on the Waters and got into a Boat to convey himself to a Tower in the midst of the Rhine near a little City called Bingen but the Rats threw themselves by innumerable heaps into the Rhine and swum to the foot of the Tower and clambering up the Wall entred therein and fell upon him gnawing and biting and throtling and tearing and tugging him most miserably till he died This Tower is yet to be seen and at this day called Rats Tower It is also remarkable that whiles the Archbishop was yet alive and in perfect health the Rat 's gnawed and razed out his Name written and painted upon many Walls Heylins Cosmog V. Clearchus after he had put to death the greatest part of the Nobility and men of chiefest Account in the City of Heraclea usurped a Tyrannical Authority over them and amongst other horrid Cruelties and Enormities he constrained the Widdows of those whom he had murdered to marry those Villains his followers whom he allotted to them insomuch that many with grief and anger killed themselves Now there were two Persons of a stout and couragious Temper who pitying the miserable condition of their Country were resolved to venture their Lives to deliver the miserable People out of his wretched hands whereupon they came accompanied with fifty others of the same mind and resolution pretending as if they would have him decide a private Quarrel between them but as soon as they had opportunity they all joyntly fell upon the Tyrant and with their Swords hewed him to pieces even in the very midst of his Guards Beards Theatre VI. Andronicus was one of the most cruel Tyrants that ever lived for he exceeded in all kind of wickedness as Ambition Murder Adultery Incest and the like He was so treacherous and disloyal that he traiterously murdered the Son and Heir of Emanuel the Emperour causing him to be tyed up in a Sack and so drowned in the Sea After which he by violence took possession of the Empire of Constantinople and like a strong Thief seized upon that which was none of his own Having thus attained his desire he began to rage and rave committing all manner of Villanies and Debaucheries ravishing Women and Virgins and afterward giving them to his Pimps and Ruffians to be abused yea he committed a Rape upon one of his own Sisters and to secure himself in this Tyrannical Estate he murdered most of his Nobility and all others that had any shew of Civility or Honesty living altogether by Robbery and Extortion whereupon his Subjects tyred out by the multitude of Evils which he daily committed were no longer able to endure his vile Outrages and Indignities and therefore rise up against him and after besieging him for some time they at last got him into their hands whom they used with as much cruelty as he had exercised upon them For having degraded him and despoyled him of all his Imperial Ornaments they pluckt out one of his Eâ—es and then set him upon an Ass with his face to the Tayl which he held in his hand instead of a Scepter and a Rope about his Neek instead of a Crown in this attire and order they led him through all the Streets of Constantinople the people shouting and reviling him on all sides some throwing dung others dirt and spittle upon him and Women their Chamberpots upon his Head lastly he was carryed to the Gallows and there hanged Beards Theatre VII Pyrrhus King of Epirus was a restless Tyrant his whole delight was in Murder and Bloodshed but at last having cunningly gotten into the City of Argos whil'st the Citizens made head against him he was hurt with a Pike whereupon he fell upon him that hurt him who was a Person of a mean condition whose Mother a poor old Woman was at that time got upon the top of a House to see the Fight and perceiving that it was her Son whom Pyrrhus assaulted she was so affrighted to see
had been born of so beautiful a Mother He then caused her womb to be ript up that he might see the place wherein himself had lain After which horrid fact he was continually tormented with the sting of his own conscience and protested That his Mother often appeared to him with burning Torches lashing him for that cruel Murder yet he still continued his cursed Butcheries He murthered his Aunt Domitia and because Antonia the Daughter of Claudius refused to marry him he caused her to be slain pretending that she went about to make some Innovations in the State He hired Conjurers to lay the Ghost of his Mother He caused Crisoinus his Son-in-law by Poppaea to be drowned as he was fishing He slew many others who by blood affinity were near to him He murthered Aulus Plancus a young man after he had by violence committed Sodomy with him He forced his Master Seneca to murther himself though he had often sworn to him he would not do it and that he would sooner perish himself than do him any hurt and he sent Poison to his other Master Burrhus Divers of his Rich Freed men and other Old men who had helped him to the Empire and favoured him therein he murdered by mixing Poison either in their meat or drink Neither was he less cruel to others especially after two Conspiracies were discovered against him and some of the Conspirators confessed the Fact saying That they knew not how otherwise than by his death to free him from all that wickedness wherewith he had dâ—filed himself And Nero asking Sulpâ—tius Aper a Centurion why he conspired against him he answered Because I knew not how by any other means to do thee a kindness After this he raged more extreâ—mly against all sorts of Persons setting no bounds to his Cruelty but murthering whom he pleased He gave not above an hours space to any of those whom he commanded to kiâ—â— themselves to prepare for dâ—ath and had Chirurgions ready to cut all their veins if they made any delay His Profuseness and Prodigality ansâ—ered his Cruelâ—y for it was without all measure saying often That those who proportioned their Expences to their Incomes were sordid and covetous and that they only who most profusely and prodigally wasted their Estates were magnificent and praise-worthy He never put on the same Apparel twice He was very extravagant in costly Buildings and when his Treasury was exhausted he endeavoured by Rapine and Forgeries to enrich himself He never conferred an Office upon any man but he would say to him Thou knowest what I want let us make it our business that none may have any thing but our selves He took the curious and costly Images of the Heathen Gods of Gold and Silver out of the Temple and sold them and as he spared not men so neither did he spare the City of Rome for being displeased with the Building narrowness and crookedness of the Streets he sent some Villains who made it their business to run up and down and set the City on fire and whilst it was all in a flame he went up to the top of Moecenas his Tower to feed his Eyes with that pleasant sight and in a Players Habit tuned his Harp and sung a song of the burning of Troy and when he afterward heard how ill he was spoken of for this Act he raised a Report that it was done by the Christians and thereupon used all manner of Cruelty toward them and exposed them to the fury of the People who horridly tormented them as if they had been common Burners and Destroyers of Cities and the deadly Enemies of Humane Society Yea Nero himself caused some of them to be cloathed in wild Beasts skins and torn to pieces with Dogs others were crucified some he made Bonfires of to light him in his night sports In brief such exquisite Torments he put them to as caused their Enemies themselves to pity them and whereas Tiberius used to say After my death let the World be destroyed by Fire Pestilence Famine c. Yea said Nero let it be destroyed in my Life time that I may be a spectator of it But Almighty Justice at last overtook him for being adjudged by the Senate to be an Enemy to Mankind it was condemned to be whipt to death through the streets of Rome and all his Armies and Forces forsaking him to avoid this shameful and ignominious death he fled and hid himself among Briers and Thorns and being weary of his life desired some of his Attendants to kill him which they refusing he cryed out I have neither a Friend nor an Enemy miserable man that I am and thereupon threw himself into a Pit four foot deep and there desperately slew himself Sueton. XI Tigellinus one of the Captains of Nero's Guard had been a principal abettor and encourager of him in his Tyrannies and the chief cause of the death of many great Personages in Rome enriching himself with their spoils and the Robberies he committed After the death of Nero whom in his extremity he forsook he plunged himself wallowed in all manner of filthiness and debauchery now though he was worthy of a thousand deaths for his Cruelties toward many worthy Citizens yet by bribing some of the chief Favourites of the succeeding Emperor Galba he escaped being questioned but as soon as Otho was installed in the Empire his destruction soon followed for to gratify the Romans Otho sent to apprehend him who was then in his Banquetting Houses in the Fields rioting and sporting with his Harlots and finding himself thus surprized and that he had no way to make his escape though he had prepared Boats on purpose to carry him away in any danger and not being able to bribe the Messenger sent to take him though he offered him great rewards he intreated only the favour to shave his beard before he went which being granted he took a rasor and instead of shaving cut his own throat Beards Theatre XII Antonius Heliogabalus Emperor of Rome was infamous for Cruelty Gluttony Lust and all manner of wickedness and his death was answerable to his life he had his name from an Idol of the Sun whose Priest he had been in Syria and being exceeding rich by his profuse gifts to his Souldiers he procured himself to be chosen Emperor and sending Messengers thereof to Rome he was by the Senate accepted such was the luxurious pomp of this Beastly Emperor that he used Balm in his Lamps and filled his Fishponds with Rosewater his Garments were of the finest Gold and the most costly â—â—lk his Shoes glistered with precious stones curiously ingraven he was never two days served with one kind of meat nor wore one Garment twice he doted exceedingly upon his Mother with whom he committed Incest and did all by her appointment and was the first that brought a Woman into the Senate causing his Mother to sit in one of the Consuls Seats he erected a Senate of Women wherein many
Heaven when it Thundered and to Lighten against the Lightning and when a Thunderbolt fell he would throw up a Stone toward Heaven saying Either do thou destroy me or I will destroy thee and it was not long ere he met with his just reward he designed a Progress into Alexandria resolving before he went to murther all the chiefest Men in and about Rome wishing That all the People of Rome had but one Neck that he might cut them off at one blow beiing fretted that no terrible Calamities had happened in his days whereas there could hardly be a greater than himself but in the midst of his rage and wickedness two of the Tribunes conspired against him and one asking him some question about his Office received a very harsh Answer whereupon he gave the Emperour such a stroke between the head and shoulders that with it and the blows of the Accomplices who rushed in upon him he was slain amongst them no man stirring in his defence though many looked on and might have aided him if they would he was no sooner killed but the Conspirators likewise slew his best beloved Wife Coesonia a Woman of prodigious lust and filthiness they took his younger Daughter and dashed out her Brains against the Walls After his death there were found in his Closet two Books one called his Sword the other his Dagger wherein were contained the names of all those whom he had designed to slaughter there was found also a great Chest stuffed with all sorts of the most deadly Poysons which being thrown into the Sea poysoned a multitude of Fishes Sueton. Hist XIV Commodus another Emperor of Rome was a most wicked Son of a good Father he exceeded if possible Nero and Caligula in Lust Cruelty and Rapine he had three hundred Concubines whom he chose out of the most beautiful Marrons and Whores of Rome among whom he spent his time in his Pallace in Feasting and Drunkenness he killed his Sister Lucilla and ravished his other Sisters he used to fight among the Sword-players and often in soort killed some of them he likewise fought with wild Beasts of whom he slew many thousands with his own hands he was so impudent that he came into the Senate in Womens Apparel where he sat publickly and drank unmeasurably he endeavoured to scrape Mony together by selling Honours and Offices in all the Provinces he rejected his own name and would be called Hercules the Son of Jupiter and despising the Roman Habit he went cloathed in a Lyons skin carrying a Club in his hand and so publickly fought with wild Beasts and Men whereof he killed some with Darts others Gyant like with his Club yet would this wretch be called a Pious and Happy God he commanded the City of Rome to be burnt down and sent his Souldiers who slew multitudes of People that were met together in the Amphitheatre and without any cause given would slay all those of his Bedchamber thus growing odious to all some of his own Domesticks and among them one of his Concubines named Matria whom he loved above all the rest and called â—er his Amazon conspired against him and poisoned him Clarks Mirrour XV. Bassianus Caracalla in his Childhood was merry and pleasant and of a mild nature so that it was hoped he would have proved an excellent Prince but when he grew up he was strangely altered and became fierce and cruel that he did not seem the same person His Father Severus left him such a large Roman Empire as none before him had possessed with a great and valiant Army to defend it whereupon he began presently to discover his cruel and bloody disposition For first he slew his Physicians because they had not obeyed his Command in killing his Brother-in-law soon enough Then he murdered those who had educated him and his Brethren because they endeavoured to make peace between him and his Brother Geta He endeavoured to persuade his Captains to chuse him sole Emperour whereas his Father had divided the Empire between them and when he could not prevail with them he goes to his Mother and pretends great love to her and her Son Geta yet watches his opportunity and breaks into Geta's Chamber and murthers him in his Mothers Arms defiling her all over with his blood and then runs down into his Pallace crying out That he had escaped a every great danger from his Brother Geta From thence he runs into the Camp and tells the Souldiers What a Conspiracy Geta had made to take away his life and how hardly he had escaped them by slaying him in his own defence whereby and with large gifts and larger promises he won them to chuse him sole Emperour and to declare his Brother an Enemy Then began he to exercise cruelty without pity upon every trifling occasion He caused all his Brothers Houshold-servants and Friends to be slain not sparing their very Infants whether they were Noble or Ignoble He caused the Rich Citizens to be slain and then seized their Estates among others he murdered Papinian a famous Lawyer because he would not defend the murdering of his Brother but saying That it was easier to commit Parricide than to excuse it He used publickly to commend Sylla and Tyberius two as bad as himself and sought wholly to root out all that were a kin to the Imperial Family or eminent among the Senators and at length raged against the Common People causing multitudes of them without cause to be slain when they were met together at Publick Plays And being conscious of his own wickedness and the Peoples hatred to him he left Rome and went into Germany where he provided Guards and clothed himself like them from thence he went to Macedonia and at Alexandria caused the Schools of Aristotle to be destroyed and his Books to be burnt because he said Aristotle was of Counsel in sending Poison to kill Alexander from thence he went to Troy and sought out the Tomb of Achilles then he went to Antioch to behold Alexanders Tomb which two he pretended to imitate and then was revenged of the Alexandrians for some Scoffs and Jeers they had cast upon him for having married Julia his Mother-in-law whose Son Geta he had slain in her Arms which happened upon this occasion Julia who was very fair being one time in his company as it were by negligence discovered a great part of her naked body whereupon Bassianus said I would it were lawful Julia replyed It is lawful if thoâ— pleasest knowest thou not thy self to be an Emperour and tâ— give not to receive Laws Hereupon he publickly married her upon which the Alexandrians called him Oedipus and her Jocasta to be revenged on them for this Affront he pretended that he would chuse a Legion of Alexandrians and when multitudes of them were met together unarmed he caused his Souldiers to incompass them and cut them all to pieces so that the River Nilus overflowed with their blood From hence he went to the East and
all the Christians to renounce Christ at which time they were assembled together whereupon one Romanus a Nobleman ran to them declaring That the Wolves wenâ— at hand which would devour them yet he exhorted them not to fear by reason of the danger and through Divine Grace the Christians were greatly encouraged by him so that old Men and Matrons Fathers and Mothers were all of one mind and resolution to shed their dearest blood in the â—rofession of the Christian Faith and unanimously offered their naked throats to the Soldiers whereupon they sent their Captain word That they could not inforce the Christians to deny their Faith by reaso of one Romanus who did mightily encourage them The Captain commanded he should be brought before him to whom he said What art thou the Author of this Sedition Art thou the cause that so many lose their lives By the Gods I swear thou shalt answer for them all and shalt suffer those torments that thou encouragest them to undergo Romanus answered Thy Sentence O Emperor I joâ—fully imbrace I am most willing to be Sacrificed for my Brethren although I should suffer the greatest torments that thou canst invent the Captain being much inraged with this his stout answer commanded him to be halled up and his bowels to be pluckt out whereupon the Hangman more pittiful and tenderhearted than he said Not so Sir this man is of Noble Parentage and therefore may not be put to so ignoble a death scourge him then quoth the Captain with whips having knots of Lead at the ends which was done accordingly but Romanus instead of Sighs and Tears and Groans sung Psalms during his suffering desiring the tormentors not to favour him for the sake of his Nobility for it is not said he the blood of my Progenitors but the Christian Religion which makes me noble then did he earnestly reprove the Cruelty and Idolatry of the Captain and derided his Idol Gods which so â—uch inraged him that he commanded his sides to be â—unced with knives till the bones were laid open yet still â—id the Holy Martyr Preach the living God and the â—ord Jesus Christ to him upon which the Tyrant comâ—anded to strike out his Teeth that his Speech might â—e hindred his order was obeyed his face was also buffeâ—ed his Eyelids torn off his cheeks cut and gasht with â—nives the skin of his beard by degrees pluckt off and â—is comely countenance wholly defaced and deformed â—et for all this the meek and patient Martyr said only â—us I thank thee O Captain that thou hast opened to me so maâ—â— mouths to Preach my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for as â—any wounds as I have so many mouths I have to bless and praise â—â—y God and Jesus Christ my Redeemer the Captain astoniâ—â—ed at his constancy bid them give over tormenâ—ng him yet threatens more cruel Tortures â—nd in the mean time Blasphemed God and â—hrist saying Thy Crucified Saviour is but a God of yesterâ—ay The Gods of the Gentiles are of great Antiquity But Romanus taking occasion from hence declared unto him â—â—e Eternity of Jesus Christ c. and withal said Captain â—â—ing me a Christian Child of seven years old and you shall hear â—hat he will say Hereupon a little Boy was called out of â—â—e multitude to whom Romanus said Tell me my Child â—hether thou think it reasonable that we worship one Christ â—â—d in him one Father or that we worship many Gods To â—hom the Child answered That surely what we affirm to 〈◊〉 God must needs be one and since this Christ is one in whom â—â—e worship one God the Father he must needs be the true God â—â—r that there be many Gods we children cannot believe The â—aptain amazed at this said Thou young Villain and Traiâ—â—r where and of whom learnedst thou this Lesson Of my â—other said the Child with whose Milk I sucked in this â—esson that I must believe in Christ The Mother was calâ—d and appeared being glad to see the courage of her â—hild The cruel Captain commanded the Child to be â—alled up and severely whipt at which cruelty the piâ—ful spectators could not forbear tears only the joyful â—other stood by and looked on with dry eyes yea she reproved her sweet Child for desiring but a little cold Water charging â—t to thirst after the Cup that the Babâ—â— of Bethlehem once drank of and bid him remember littâ—â— Isaac who seeing the Sword over his head and the Altar upon which he was to be sacrificed willingly offered his tender neâ—â— to be cut off by his Father Upon this the cruel Tormentoâ— of a sudden pluckt the shin off the Childs head hair and all whereupon the Mothâ—â— cryed out Endure and suffâ—â— it patiently my Dear Child and in a little time thou shalt gâ— to Jesus Christ who will adorn thy naked heâ—d with a Crowâ— of Eternal Glory Thus the Mother counâ—ess her Son and the Child is inccuâ—aged and receives the stripes and scourges with a â—â—â—ling countenance The Captain perceiving the constancy of the Child to be invincible and himself to be overcome commandeth this precious soul this Blessed Babe this little Martyr to be put into a filthy and stinking Dungeon Then was Romanâ— brought forth again to receive new wounds upon his olâ— sores and the Captain raged against the Tormento for dealing so mildly with him and then said It is painful for thee Romants to be so long a dying I do assure theâ— in a short time the floming fire shall dispatch thee whereiâ— thou and that Boy thy Fellow Rebel and Traitor shalâ— be burâ— to Ashes As they were going to Execution Romanâ—â— turned back upon the Captain and said I appeal from this thy Tyranny Ch unjust Judge to the Righteeus Throâ—â— and Judgment of Jesus Chriâ—â— the up â—â—lit Judge where iâ— will appear that thou an a 〈◊〉 and bâ—â—edy Tâ—rant to inflict such horrid Tortures 〈…〉 Innocent hâ—isâ—ians When they were come to the 〈◊〉 of Execution the Torn entoâ— required the Child 〈…〉 Mother who had carryed him in her Arms from 〈◊〉 Prison whom she freely and joyfully delivered to them saying Farewel my sweâ— Babe and when the Hargrâ—â—â— put his Sword to the Childs neck she sang chearfully in this manner All laud and praise with heart and voice O Lord I yield to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints We know most dear to be The head of this blessed Innocent being cut off the Mother wrapt in her Garment laid it to her breast and so departed Then there was a mighty fire made into which Romanus was cast which being quenched with a great Storm of Rain the Tyrant commanded his Tongue to be cut out therefore the Executioner pulled it far out of his mouth and cut it off by the roots and yet for all this it is recorded but with what credit I know not that Romanus spake saying He that speaketh for Christ shall never want a Tongue do not think that the voice
which Preacheth Christ must alwaies have a Tongue to be the Minister The Captain at this grew even distracted suspecting that the Hangman had deceived him by some slight of hand and had not cut his Tongue off If you suppose so saith the Executioner open his mouth and you may see the Roots of his Tongue Whereupon the Captain being even confounded at the courage and constancy of the Martyr commanded him to be brought back to Prison and to be strangled where his sorrowful life and pains ended together and he received the Crown of Martyrdom Acts and Monuments 1 Part. About this time one Gordius a Centurion upon professing himself to be a Christian was apprehended and boldly acknowledged That he believed in Christ and valued not what they could inflict on him for this his Profession then did the Sheriff call for Scourges Gibbets and all manner of Torments to whom Gordius said That it would be a loss and damage to him if he did not suffer divers torments and punishments for Christ and his Cause The Sheriff more incensed hereby commanded all those torments to be inflicted on him with which Gordius was nothing disturbed but sung The Lord is my helper I will not fear what Man can do unto me I will fear no evil because thou Lord art with me Then he blamed the Tormentors for favouring of him provoking them to do their utmost the Sheriff not prevailing that way sought by flattery to seduce him promising him Preferment Riches and Honour if he would deny Christ but Gordius derided him as foolishly mad saying That he looked for greater preferment in Heaven than he could give him here on Earth He was then condemned and carryed out of the City to be burnt multitudes followed him and some kissing him intreated him with Tears to pity himself to whom he answered Weep not I pray you for me but weep for the Enemies of God who fight against the Christians weep I say for them who prepare a fire for us purchasing Hell fire thereby for themselves in the day of vengeance and cease I pray you thus to molest my setled and quiet mind for truly for the name of Christ I am ready to suffer a thousand deaths Others persuaded him to deny Christ with his mouth and to keep his conscience to himself My Tongue saith he which by God's goodness I have cannot be brought to deny the Author and giver of the same for with the heart we believe unto Righteousness and with the Tongue we confess unto Salvation And thus persuading and incouraging the People to be willing to die in the like Cause with an unappaled countenance he gave up his body to the Flames Acts and Monuments 1. P. Menas also a Souldier by profession forsook all and went into a Desart where he gave himself to Fasting Prayer Meditation and Reading of the Scriptures at last returning into the City of Cotis when the People were at their pastimes he with a loud voice proclaimed himself to be a Christian and thereupon was carryed before the President and being demanded concerning his Faith he said It is convenient that I confess God in whom is light and no darkness For with the heart we believe to Righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation Then he was tormented with divers Tortures which he regarded not saying There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the Kingdom of Heaven neither is all the world if it were weâ—ghed in a ballance comparable to the price of one soul And farther said Who can separate us from the Love of Christ Can Tribulation or Auguish c. And again I have learned of my Lord Christ not to fear them that can kill the Body and have no power to kill the Soul Having endured a multitude of Torments he received Sentence of Death and at the place of Execution he said I give thee thanks my Lord God who hast aceepted me to be a partaker of thy precious Death and hast not suffered me to be devoured of my fierce Enemies but hast made me constant in thy True Faith unto the end And so he lost his Head but found a Crown of Glory Acts and Monuments 1. P. Amongst others forty young Gentlemen that were Souldiers freely confessed themselves to be Christians declaring to the Marshal their names who being amazed at their boldness was in doubt what to do he endeavoured with flatteries and promises of preferment to win them persuading them to consider their youth not to change a pleasant life for a painful untimely death But they couragiously replied They neither desired money honour nor life but only the Coelestial Kingdom of Christ for the love of which they were ready to endure the Wheel Cross Fire or any other Torment The Marshal being much offended herewith devised a new Torment for espying a Pond in the Street that lay open to the North-wind it being in the cold Winter time he caused them to be put into it all night but they being joyful comforted one another as they put off their Cloaths saying We put not off now our Old Cloaths but our Old Man corrupted with the deceits of concupiscence for which we bless and praise God for by means of the Serpent we once put on the Old Man but by the means of Jesus Christ we now put him off Then were they brought naked and put into the vehement cold water where they were kept till the morning so that all their Members were stark and stiff therewith and as soon as it was day they having breath yet remaining in them were brought to the fire wherein they were consumed to Ashes which were thrown into the Flood It happened that one of the company being more lively and not so near death as the rest the Executioners pitied him and delivered him to his Mother who stood by to save his life but she led him to the piles of Wood where the other starved creatures lay ready to be burnt admonishing and exhorting him to accomplish the Blessed Journey he had taken in hand which accordingly he did and was burnt with his Companions Acts Monu A noble Virgin also named Eulalia suffered about this time she was not above twelve years of Age and had great offers of Marriage made to her but she observing the courage of the Christians was very desirous to join her self with them for which end she prayed fervently to God for strength and faith to enable her thereunto but her Religious Parents fearing that her zeal might make her guilty of her own death kept her close at their Country house a great way from the City where she continued for a while but at last detesting any delay she went from her Fathers house by night and travelled all alone through by-ways with much danger and weariness toward the City whither she came in the morning and going before the Judge with a loud voice she said What ashame is it for you thus wickedly to
take away mens lives by dashing their Bodies to pieces against the Rocks and all manner of Cruelties and also to endeavour to destroy their Souls by compelling them to deny the Omnipotent God! would you know O you ignorant Souls what I am behold I am a Christian and an Enemy to your devilish Sacrifices I scorn and despise your Idols and tread them under my feet and acknowledge only God Almighty the Creator of Heaven and Earth and Jesus Christ his only Son and the Saviour of the World but what are your Gods but dead Idols and the works of Mens hands c. Come on therefore and let the Hangman burn cut and mangle this poor mortal Carkass 'T is very easy to break and destroy a weak brittle perishing body but the mind and soul you cannot touch with all that you can do the Judge enraged herewith said to the Executioner Take her and pull her out by the hair of the head to torments let her feel the power of our Gods and know what we can do but yet O sturdy Girl I would fain have thee before thou diest to recant this thy wickedness and to save thy self from a wretched death consider what pleasures thou maist enjoy in the House of thy Honourable Parents consider the Lamentations and Tears of thy miserable Family and Relations which by thy perverseness will be brought to ruine consider that thou art now in thy Youth in the very flower of thine Age in the way to Honour and Preferment by an Honourable Marriage agreeable to thy Quality and Estate do not these glistering Glories and the delights of the Marriage-Bed move thee doth not the sorrow and extream grief of thy dear Parents encline thee to pity thy self and them Yea who is there almost that doth nonlament thy madness and folly If this doth not prevail yet consider the terrible death that thou art like to suffer consider what variety of torments are prepared for thee for thou shalt either be beheaded by this Sword or thou shalt be torn in pieces by the teeth of wild Beasts or else thou shalt be thrown alive into the burning flames and there only attended with the lamentable bewailings of thy friends and kindred shalt be consumed to ashes Now how easy and small a matter is required of thee to avoid all this punishment for if thou wilt but take a little Salt and Incense between thy fingers and put it into the Censer in honour of our Gods thou shalt be set free and dilivered from all further danger and trouble When Eulalia heard him thus speak being extreamly moved she spit in the Tyrants face and presently threw down the Idols to the ground and kicked about the Incense prepared for Sacrifice whereupon without further delay the Hangmen took her and with all their strength pluckt her Limbs out of joint and then with the Claws of wild Beasts tore off her flesh to the bones while she all the while not in the least daunted with their cruel Torments fell a singing and praising in this manner O Lord I will never forget thy goodness and mercy what a pleasure is it O Jesus to remember thy Triumphant victories who by suffering hast attained to the height of Glory Thus with great constancy and courage she continued joyfully and chearfully to sing praises to God even when she was all over stained and imbrued in her own blood and cruelly tormented in all parts of her Body they then proceeded to the last and final torture which was the tearing and rending of her Body with the Iron Grate and Hurdle and burning her Breasts and Sides with flaming Torches but her Hair which all this while hung down so low that it covered her Modesty at last took fire and she being no longer willing to live opened her mouth and swallowed the flame upon which she immediately gave up the Ghost and is now one of those Souls under the Altar who cry how long c. Acts and Monu 1. P. Also Agnes an Honourable young Virgin being accused for a Christian was brought before the Judge who endeavoured first by flatteries and then by threatning her with cruel torments to draw her to the denyal of her Faith but she valiantly answered That she feared not his Tortures as being willing to suffer all manner of Torments yea death itself for the sake of Christ well said the Judge though thou valuest pain and torment so little yet I suppose thou hast a great esteem for thy Virginity and Chastity therefore I am fully determined unless thou Sacrifice to our Gods thou shalt immediately be put into the Common Stews and Brothel-houses Agnes hereupon inveighs vehemently against Minerva and her Worshippers upon which the loose and debauched Youths desired earnestly of the Judge that they might have Agnes as a Prey to their lust and filthiness then said Agnes Jesus Christ is not forgetful of those that are his neither will he leave me destitute of his help nor assistance but is alwaies ready to protect and defend modest and chast Virgins and therefore O Tyrant thou maist freely bath thy Sword in my blood but thou shalt never defile my Body with filthy Lust with all that thou canst do She had no sooner spoke these words but the Tyrant commanded her to be tied stark naked at the corner of a Street where Strumpets commonly used to haunt upon which the greatest part of the People being both sorry and ashamed to see so shameless and unseemly a sight some turning their heads and some hiding their faces passed by but one young Man among the rest with lascivious Eyes and lustful thoughts beholding her immediately a flash of Lightning struck out both his Eyes and he falling down wallowed in the Street whereupon Agnes sung Praises to God the â—â—uel Tyrant inraged hereby commanded the Executioner to draw out his Sword and dispatch her she seeing sturdy Soldier coming toward her with his drawn Sword rejoiced saying This O this is he that I love I will make hast to meet him and no longer protract my longing desires I will willingly receive his Sword in my Breast O Eternal Father vouchfafe to open the Gates of Heaven to my Soul that seeketh thee and so kneeling down in the midst of her Ejaculations he at one blow cut off her head Acts Monum Domitian by his Cruelties grew terrible and hateful to his very Friends and Servants yea to his own Wife a certain Astrologer boasted to him that by his Art he could foretel what should come to pass Domitian asked him if he foresaw what his own end should be he answered That he should be torn in pieces of Dogs Domitian to prove him a Lyar commanded him presently to be slain and his Body to be burnt to ashes but as they were about to do it so violent a shower happened as quenched the fire and immediately Dogs came and tore him in pieces this much increased the fear of Domitian who had been told by a
without Justice or Reason among others he caused a Nobleman to be fasâ—ned to a Stake and beaten almost to death with Clubs which monstrous Cruelty so incensed the People against him that there wanted not hands to take part with this abused Nobleman against this Tyrant his Enemy whereupon they laid wait for him as he came one day from hunting and killed him together with his Wife great with Child no man either daring or being willing to defend him Beards Theatre XXII John Cameron Bishop of Glasgow was much given to violence and oppression and committed many deeds full of Cruelty and Covetousness especially upon his own Tenants Vassals is reported to have made a fearful and unhappy end for in the year 1446. the night before Christmas day as he lay asleep in his House about seven miles from the City of Glasgow he seemed to hear a voice summoning him to appear before the Tribunal of Christ thereupon he awaked and being greatly terrified called to his Servants to bring lights and fit by him he himself took a Book in his hand and began to read but the voice being again heard struck all the Servants with amazement the same voice calling the third time far louder and more fearfully the Bishop after an heavy groan was found dead in the Bed his Tongue hanging out of his mouth this is reported by Buchanan almost in the same words which I thought good to remember as a notable example of Gods Judgment against the crying sin of Oppression Spotswoods Ch. Hist XXIII To conclude Diomedes the Thracian King fed his Horses with Mans flesh as with provender but was made at last provender himself for his own Horses by Hercules Clephes the Second King of the Lumbards for his savage Cruelties toward his Subjects was slaughtered by one of his Friends Damasippus that Massacred so many Citizens of Rome was cut off by Scylla Ecelinus that played the Tyrant at Taurisium gelding Boys deflouring Virgins cutting off Womens Breasts ripping Children out of their Mothers Wombs and killing twelve hundred Patavians at once who were his Friends was himself at last killed in a Battle in a word if we read and consult the Histories of all Countries and times we shall feldom or never find any notorious Tyrant or Oppressor of his Subjects that came to any good end but generally some notable and fearful Judgment fell upon them Beards Tâ—eatre XXIV In the aforementioned examples we have given an Account of the flagitious actions and ends of Murderers and Tyrants by whole-sale as being Persons of great power and without restraint whereby they had opportunity to do the greater mischief to mankind but Divine Justice has not spared those of meaner quality but hath both wonderfully discovered and revenged those crying sins of Murder and Cruelty as the following instances do fully demonstrate XXV Bothwell who was the chief contriver and actor of the Murther of King Henry of Scotland Father to our King James fled into Denmark where being discovered he was apprehended and imprisoned by the King and disparing of recovering his liberty he fell mad and ended his life most miserably the Archbishop of St. Andrews also who had a hand in the murther of that King being taken in the Castle of Dumbarton was carried to Sterling and hanged publickly on a Gibbet erected for that purpose In the year 1584. Whilst our King James was in Scotland there were two Gentlemen of good credit the one called John Cuningham and the other Malcolm Douglas who was much feared for his valour and manhood these two were falsly accused by some about the King and one Robert Hamilton was suborned to swear against them when the Indictment of Douglas was read he denied all and fully cleared himself by the unlikelyhood of the accusation so that all that heard him did in their minds believe him innocent yet were they both condemned and hanged at Edenburgh these Gentlemen were much pitied especially Douglas Hamilton the false Accuser lived ever after this in continual fear and abhorred of all men but at last he was slain by one James Johnston who had vowed to revenge the death of Douglas Spotswoods Hist Scotland XXVI Sir James Tyrril John Dighton and Miles Forrest who were procured by Richard the Third called Crack-back to murder King Edward the Fifth and his Brother in the Tower by entring their Chamber about midnight and wrapping them up in the cloths keeping down the Feather-beds and Pillows hard upon their mouths till they were smothered These three Murderers did not long escape the Vengeance of God for Miles Forrest rotted away by piecemeal Dighton lived at Calais so disdained and hated of all men that he died there in much misery And Sir James Tyrril was beheaded on Tower Hill for Treason Act. Mo. The Cardinal of Winch. commonly called the Rich Cardinal who procured the death of the good Duke of Glocester in King Henry the Sixth's Time was shortly after struck with an incurable Disease who understanding by his Physicians that he could not live murmuring and repining thereat he cryed out Fie Will not Death be hired Will Money do nothing Must I die that have so great Riches If the whole Realm would save my life I am able either by Policy to get it or by Riches to buy it But all would not prevail for he died miserably soon after Speeds Chron. XXVII The Duke of Suffolk also did not long escape unpunished for in a Parliament holden soon after he was accused as a Traitor to the Kingdom a Murderer of the Duke of Glocester and a Robber of the King's Treasury for all which he was banished for five years he took Shipping in Suffolk intending for France but by the way being encountred by a Man of War that belonged to the Tower he was taken and carryed into Dover Road where on the side of a Ship-boat one cut off his head 1450. Speeds Chron. XXVIII In 1618. there lived a man at Perin in Cornwall who was blessed with ample Possessions and a fruitful Issue unhappy only in a younger Son who growing Extravagant went to Sea in a small Vessel with several like himself where they made Prize of all that they could master and at last venturing into the Streights they set upon a Turks Man of War which they took and got great booty but their Pouder by chance taking fire blew up the Ship and our Gallant being a skilful Swimmer got to shoar upon the Isle of Rhodes with the best of his Jewels where offering some to sale to a Jew he knew them to be the Governours of Algiers whereupon he was seized and condemned to the Gallys for a Pyrate among other Christians whose miserable Slavery made them use their wits to recover their Liberty and watching their opportunity they effected it by killing some of their Officers After which this Young Man got aboard an English Ship and came safe to London where his former misery and some skill he had gotten
Upon which he was apprehended and committed to Newgate arraigned by his own Confession condemned and hanged first on a Gibbet and after at Milend in Chains Thus we see the Devil seldom or never leaves his Ministers and Servants especially in this horrid case of Murther without shame and vengeance Beards Theatre XXXI Another strange but true Relation I shall instance of a young Gentleman of a good Estate and Parentage whose name for the sake of his worthy Relations I shall conceal This Gentleman being a Cambridge Scholar and of a great Spirit and very stout body could not contain himself within his allowance but being a Fellow Commoner he spent much above it so that to preserve his credit in the Town he having a good Horse would many times ride out and take a Purse on the Highway in which course he continued about a year without the least suspition at length his quarterage not being come from his Father and wanting mony to supply his ordinary Riots he puts himself into a disguise and riding over Newmarket Heath he discovers a Prize that is a Serving man with a Cloakbag behind him and seeing him single he made up and bid him stand and deliver the other unacquainted with that Language answered He had but little mony which he was loth to part with Then thou must fight for it said the Scholar content saith the other they both drew and fought stoutly but the honest Servingman was unhappily slain the other being only slightly wounded took away his Cloakbag and binding it behind his own Horse rid towards the University and having set up his Horse in the Town carried the Portmantle to his Chamber which he had no sooner opened but he found a Letter directed to him from his Father signifying that he had sent him his quarterly allowance by his own faithful Servant whom he had lately entertained upon the commendation of a dear Friend wishing his Son to entertain him kindly for his sake which when he had read and considered all the wicked circumstances of this adventure he was strangely altered and fell into a deep melancholy in short the Robbery and Murther were both discovered and the Lord Chief Justice Popham then riding that Circuit whose near Kinsman he was he was arraigned and condemned at Cambridge Assizes and though great Intercession was made for his Pardon yet none could prevail for the Judge forgetting all manner of Alliance would neither commiserate his Youth nor want of discretion but caused him without any respect of Persons to be hanged among the common Malefactors Beards Theatre XXXII Johannes Pontanus and Johannes Budeus give a very strange account of a malicious Servant whom the Devil had possest with his own cursed Spirit of Cruelty this Person having taken a virulent spleen against his Master for some rough usage was resolved to be revenged and therefore watching his opportunity when the Master and the rest of the Family were abroad he shut and barricado'd all the doors about the House and then broke open the Chamber upon his Mistriss and after he had abused and affronted her he bound her hand and foot and so left her groveling upon the ground then this limb of the Devil took her three Children the eldest not being seven years old and carried them up to the battlements and when he espied his Master coming home he called to him and first threw down one Child and then another from the top of the House to the pavement whereby their bodies were miserably shattered dasht to pieces and then held up the other in his arms to do the like at which sight the miserable Father being extreamly stupified as well he might fell upon his Knees and humbly besought the bloody Villain To spare the life of the third and he would pardon him the death of the 2 former to which the barbarous wretch replyed There was but one way in the world for him to redeem its life the indulgent Father with Tears and intreaties desired to know what that way was who presently replyed That he should instantly with his knife cut off his Nose for there was no other ransom for the Child The passionate Father who dearly tendered the safety of his Child having now no more left agrees to the condition and disfigured and dishonoured his face according to the Covenant made betwixt them which was no sooner done but this inhumane Imp of Hell fell into a loud scornful laughter at which while the Father stood amazed he flung the Child which he held in his Arms after the rest and then most desperately cast himself after preventing a worse death and such was the end of this arch limb of Satan and the fruits of malice and revenge Beards Theatre XXXIII Joanes Gygas gives this following dreadful Relation A Noble and Virtuous Lady had a Chamber-Maid of an idle and passionate disposition and a very ill Tongue it happened upon some great provocation her Mistress struck her a box on the Ear at which she fell down as if she had been slain and using many despiteful words against her Lady told her That blow should never be forgot nor forgiven and the Devil took occasion from hence to tempt her to accuse her Lady of Adultery thereupon taking a fit opportunity when her Lord was in private she abruptly began thus Noble Sir Pray pardon my boldness I have a great secret to acquaint you with were I assured you would not reveal it and thereby that punishment should fall upon me which is deserved by others wherewith this Crocodile wept and her Lord being very desirous to know what it was vowed secrecy I know Sir said she that you are satisfied and confident of the Modesty and Chastity of your Lady but to my great sorrow I speak it she violates your Bed and that not with a Gentleman of any fashion or quality but with one of the Grooms of your Stable but I most humbly beseech your Honour to keep it private till I make you an Eye-witness thereof And here she broke off abruptly as if tears had prevented her discourse The Nobleman was herewith very strangely surprized having observed nothing but tenderness and affectionate kindness in his Lady toward him nor could he ever tax her with the least wanton carriage or lascivious glance yet he remembred when he went out early to Hunt or Hauk or survey his Parks and Grounds he found her many times hardly up or ready to go to Breakfast when he came back and his jealousie suggested to him that in this time this wickedness might be committed and growing full of thoughts he left her The Wench or Devils Agent let slip no occasion to prosecute the mischief she had begun therefore seeing her Lord coming towards his house from his sports early one morning and knowing her Lady was then in Bed she ran presently to the Stable and told one of the Grooms That he must run immediately into his Ladies Chamber for She had
Garrison and sent back to the rest of their Friends where they had scarce set foot on shore but they were accused of Murder but inevitable necessity pleading on their behalf they were set free by the Magistrate Wauly Hist Man p. 638. III. It is a story altogether lamentable and a calamity full of astonishment which hapned about the Cape de Bona Esperanza to Manuel Sousa Governour of Diu for the King of Portugal and it is this Having long enjoyed great honour and happiness in the East-Indies he came to Cochin not far from Calicut where he imbarqued himself in January 1553. in a great Ship laden with Riches and about six hundred persons with him amongst whom were his Wife his Children his Servants and Slaves and a great Retinue to come into Portugal but the Ship being cast away upon the Coasts of Ethiopia and the Sea having swallowed up almost all within it except the Persons who saved themselves ashore half naked destitute of all hope to recover their losses again having relyed upon the words of the crafty and cruel Barbarians they fell at last so many of them as yet remained alive for the greatest part were now dead what with fear famine and other miseries into the hands of a petty King of Ethiop who caused them to be disarmed stript and left stark naked upon the Sands deprived of all necessaries and succour so that they that were left alive were half dead with hunger and thirst overwhelmed with fear and shame casting their Eyes upon the ground as Persons transformed into so many Images Elianor the Wife of Garcius an Honourable Lady seeing the Barbarians busied about stripping and snatching away the clothes from her Husband her self her Children and the rest forgetting her Dignity and her Sex fell upon these Filchers with her Fist provoking them to kill her but in vain They left her stark naked upon the shore The chast Lady seeing her self in such a case and the day-light ministring to her more horrour and sorrow than Death it self she covered her self with sand casting abroad her hair confusedly upon her shoulders and over her Breasts that were naked and bare which done she commanded the men that survived of her miserable company to be gon and shift for themselves as they could her self remaining in that case without stirring or speaking a word if at sometimes she beheld her dear Children the tears would flow from her Eyes like Rivers and she sent out deep sighs and sobs As for Manual the Father and Husband such an extream sadness and grief had closed up his heart and his mouth that he held his eyes along time fixed on the Earth as one struck with a Tunderbolt yet at last the care of his little ones upon a sudden awaked him he goes to a Forrest hard by to seek for some food at his return he finds the youngest of his Chidren departed and his Wife who had been three days without eating any thing overcome with sorrow and tears His child he burys with his own hands and the next day returns to seek again and coming back he finds his Wife and his other Son dead and some women Servants lamenting with great cryes over their poor Bodies Having put by the Servants he lays himself down upon the Ground and stretching out the right hand of his deceased wife he leaneth a while with his head upon the some and then calling his Servants again he hideth his Wife and Child within the Sand without uttering a word That done he returns into the Forrest where it is conjectured he was devoured by wild Beasts for there was never any news heard of him afterward About six score of these miserable Travellers having escaped divers incredible difficulties did at last recover a Port of the Sea where they found opportunity to return into Portugal who there declared the particular of this History as it is here set down Causins Holy Court p. 111. IV. Admirable is the Relation of Dr. William Johnson written by himself concerning a deliverance at Sea which I shall briefly epitomize in his own words We went aboard from Harwich on Michaelmas day Sept. 29. 1648. in the William and John of Ipswich Daniel Morgan Master and having a fair wind we set sail I being Sea-sick went to bed but about four a Clock in the afternoon the Master of the Ship came into our Cabin with more hast than he was wont which made me ask him whither all was well who like a tender-hearted man who is loth to tell his dying Friend that he is so near his end replyed all is well yet when I saw him shift himself with such hast I rose from my Bed and crawled upon the Deck where I saw a sad spectacle the Ship having sprung a leak or rather a plank was ready to sink upon which every man was affrighted one was at his Prayers another wringing his hands a third his eyes shedding of tears when he had nâ— need of more salt water but after this they fell to work but were busie in doing nothing The Masters Mate who went to search the Leak told 〈◊〉 with a sad countenance trembling hands gnashing of Teeth a quivering Tongue and words half spoken That the Leak could not be stopt and the wateâ— came in so fast upon us that we must perish in this moment Upon which we presently cast out our Long boat and shot off eight or nine Guns to anotheâ— ship who came out with us to come to our relief the with some difficulty we all got into the Boat and Goâ— be thanked came clear of the Ship whose sails now lay flat upon the water and now we were roving we knew not whither for the other ship came noâ— to our relief which made us have hard thoughts oâ— them without cause for we understood that both thâ— Ship and all the men perished in the same houâ— Now were we without all hope for it blew half storm and we were in a small Vessel many League from the shore without Compass or provision to sustain us being starved likewise with cold as well a for want of Victuals having nothing in our Boaâ— but a small Kettle which served to cast out the wateâ— and three bags of pieces of eight of three hundreâ— pound Sterling which would neither feed us nor keâ— us warm In this distress we went to Prayers and it pleased God to hear us and sent a Ship to us even in thâ— moment of death which we endeavoured to come tâ— and he likewise to us but the storm was so great wâ— could not reach one another though when it wâ—â— dark he hung out a light and we to let him knoâ— we were alive ordered that when a wave took us uâ— we should give a great shout which we did so louâ— that I believe our cry was heard to Heaven for 〈◊〉 Gods miraculous assistance we got near the Ship aâ— soon after all safe into it The next day it blew faâ— for Norway whither we
Fetters mount from thy Body and go thy way Oâ—â— of his Life p. VII Hâ—â—o Grotius the greatest Schollar that his Age boasted of after so many Embassys happily performed abroad and as many Transactions well managed at home After an exact survey of all the Hebrew Greek and Latin Learning after an unanswerable Treatise of the Truth of the Christian Religion and many other Elaborate Discourses in Divinity and other parts of Learning concluded his Life with this Protestation That he would give all his Learning and Honour for the plain Integrity and harmless innocence of John Urick who was a devout poor man that spent Eight hours of his time in Prayer Eight in Labour and but Eight in Sleep and other necessaries He also made this complant to another who admired his astonishing Industry Ah! Vitam perdidi operose nihil agendo Ah! I have lost my Life in doing nothing industriously and gave this direction only to another who desired it as knowing his great Wisdom and Learning Be serious When he was on his Death-Bed he sent for a Minister professing himself to be the poor Publican saying That he had nothing to trust to but the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ and wishing that all the world saw as much reason in Religion as he did Dying Mens words p. 162. VIII Salmasius that Excellent French Schollar whom the Learned men of his time never mention without such Expressions as these vir nunquam satis laudatus c. A man never enough to be praised nor to be mentioned without admiration went out of the World with these words in his mouth Oh I have lost a world of Time Time that most precious thing in the world whereof had I but one year longer it should be spent in Davids Psalms and St. Pauls Epistles Oh Sirs said he to these about him mind the World less and God more all the Learning in the world without true Piety and the Fear of God is nothing worth The fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil that is understanding Ibidâ—m p. 161. IX Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State in Queen Elizabeths Reign toward the latter end of his Life writ to the Lord Chancellor Burleigh to this purpose We have lived enough to our Countrey to our Fortunes and to our Soveraign it is high time we begin to live to our selves and to our God in the multitude of Assairs that passed through our hands there must be some miscarriages for which a whole Kingdom cannot make our peace And being observed to be more melancholy than usual some Court Humorists were sent to divert him Ah said Sir Francis while we laugh all things are serious round about us God is serious when he preserveth us and hath patience toward us Christ is serious when he dyeth for us the Holy Ghost is serious when he striveth with us the Holy Scripture is serious when it is read before us Sacraments are serious when they are administred to us The whole Creation is serious in serving God and us those that are in Heaven and Hell are serious and shall a man that hath one foot in the grave jest and laugh Wanly Hist Man p. 646. X. Sir Tho. Smith after he had many years served Q. Elizabeth also as Secretary of State and done many considerable Services to the Kingdom A quarter of a year before he dyed layd aside all publick Imployment and discharging all his worldly Affairs and Attendants sent to two Reverend Divines his singular good Friends intreating them to draw him out of the word of God the plainest and axactest way of making his peace with God and living Godly in this present world adding That it was great pity men knew not or at least did not seriously consider to what end they were born into this world till they were ready to go out of it Fair warning p. 168. XI Doctor Donne a Person of as great Parts and Spirit as any this Nation ever beheld when he was upon his Death-bed took his solemn farewell of his most considerable Friends leaving this with them I repent of all my Life but that part of it which I spent in communion with God and doing good That Person in a dying hour shall wish himself not a man who hath not been a good Christian Idem p. 164. XI Arch-Bishop Vsher that Famous Learned and most pious Divine after his indefatigable pains as a Christian a Schollar a Bishop and a Preacher went out of the world with this Prayer Lord forgive me my sins of Omission and desired to dye as Mr. Perkins did imploring the mercy and favour of God Idem p. 164. XIII Sir Philip Sydney a Subject indeed of England but they say chosen King of Poland whom Q. Elizabeth called Her Philip and the Prince of Orange called his Master whose Friendship the Lord Brooks was so proud of that he would have this to be part of his Epitaph Here lyeth Sir Philip Sidneys Friend whose Death was lamented in Verse by the then Kings of France and Scotland and the two Universities of England This great man lamented so much at his Death the innocent vanity of his Life in writing his Arcadia that to prevent the unlawful kindling of heats in others he would have committed it to the Flames himself and left this farewel among his Friends Love my Memory cherish my Friends their Faith to me may â—ssure you they are honest but above all govern your Will and Affections by the Will and Word of your Creator and in me behold the end of this world and all its vanities Ibidem p. 136. XIV Sir Henry Wotton after his many years study with great proficiency and applause in the University his near Relation to the great Favourite the E. of Essex his intimacy with the Duke of Tuscany and James the 6th King of Scotland his Embassyes to Holland Germany Venice c. was only ambitious of the Provostship of Eaton being exceeding desirous to retire thither to injoy his beloved Study and Devotion saying often That this was the happiest time of his life it being the utmost happiness which a man could attain to to be at leasure to be and to do good never reflecting on the spending of his former years without tears and would often say How much time have I to repent of and how little to do it in Idem p. 154. XV. Sir John Mason Privy Councellor to King Hen. 8. and K. Edw. 6. upon his death-Bed called for his Clerk and Steward to whom he spake to this purpose I have seen five Princes and been Privy Councellor to four I have seen the most observable matters in Forreign parts and been present at most Transactions for 30 years together and I have learned this after many years experience that Seriousness is the greatest wisedom Temperance the best Physick and a good Conscience is the best Estate and were I to live again I would change the Court for a Church my Privy
Councellers business and bustle for an Hermits retirement and the whole life I lived in the Pallace for one hours enjoyment of God in the Chappel all things else forsake me beside my God my duty and my prayer Idem p. 153. XVI Mr. Howard afterward the learned E. oâ— Northampton being disturbed with Atheistical suggestions put them all off this way If I could give any account how my self or any thing else had a being without God how there came so uniform and so constant a consent of mankind of all ages tempers and educations differing so much otherwise in their apprehensions about the being of a God the Immortality of the Soul and Religion in which they could not likely either deceive so many or being so many could not be deceived I could then be aâ— Atheist And when it was urged that Religion was only a State Policy to keep men in awe he replved he could not believe it since he was sensible that the greatest Polititians have sooner or later felt the power of Religion in the grievous laâ—hes of their Consciences and the dreâ—dfulness of their apprehensions about that state wherein they must live for ever Idem p. 151. XVII Galeacius Carraciolus Marquess of Vico a Noble Person of a great Estate powerful Relations both in the Emperour of Germany and the Popes Court the last of which was his near Relation notwithstanding the great promises and most endearing Letters of his kindred the bitter cryes and tears of his Parents his wife and children the loss both of his honour and estate yet this worthy Person broke through all these temporalâ— engagements forsook his Country and all that was dear to him to go to Geneva and imbrace a reproached despised and persecuted Gospel chusing rather with Moses to whom he is compared to suffer Afflictions with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world because he had a respect to the recompence of reward and endured as seeking him who is invisible He used to say That he should not look upon himself to be worthy â—o see the face of God if he did not prefer one hours communion with Christ before all the riches and pleasures of the world Galeacius's Life XVIII Famous and remarkable is the instance of the late Earl of Râ—chester who though he spent a great part of his life in the height of Atâ—â—iâ—â—ne and all manner of prophaness and debauchery yet upon his dying bed God was graciously pleased to hear the prayers of his nearest Relations and true friends so that he became a most admirable Penitent of which I shall instance some few particulars as they are published by two Reverend Divines He was the Son of the famous Lord Wâ—mot and was a great proficient in learning in the year One thousand six hundred and sixty he went to the University at which time the general joy which over-run the whole Nation upoâ— hâ—s Majesties Restoration was not regulated wiâ—â— that â—oâ—â—â—iâ—ry and tâ—mperance which became a serious gratitude to God for sâ—ch a â—lessing which had some ill effects in him so that he â—â—gaâ— to love those disorders too much for after having travellâ—d â—â—r some time he returned back to the Court where falling into company who loved those excesses he was at length intirely subdued by intempâ—rance so that he confessed for five years together he was continually drunk not all the while under the viâ—ible effects of it but his blood was so inflamed that he was not in all that time cool enough to be perfectly master of himself which led him to do many wild and unaccountable things and being a Person of extraordinary parts his sins were like them so that he seemed to affect something singular in his Impieties as well as writings above the reach of other men taking all manner of pains to pervert others to wickedness nay so confirmed was he in sin that he lived and almost oftentimes dyed a Martyr to it The licenciousness of his temper with the brisknâ—ss of his wit disposed him to love the conversation of those who divided their time between lewd actions and irregular mirth and so he came to bend his wit and direct his studies and endeavours to support and strengthen these ill principles of Atheism and irreligion in himself and others An accident fell out about this time which confirmed him more in these courses for going to Sea in the year 1665 there happened to be in the same ship with him Mr Montague and another Gentleman of Quality these two but especially the last seemed pâ—rswaded That they should never return into England and Mr. Montague said he was sure of it upon which the E. of Rochester entered into an engagement with the other Gentleman not without Ceremonies of Religion Mr. Montague refusing it That if either of them died â—e should appear and give the other notice of the future state if there were any After which in a fight with the Dutch toward the latter end of the Action the Gentleman aforementioned fell on a sudden into such a trembling that he could scarce stand and Mr. Montague going to hold him up as they were in each others arms a Canon Bulleâ— kild him out-right and carried away Mr. Montagues Belly so that he died in an hour after but this Gentleman never appeared to the E. of Rochester afterward which was a great snare to him during the rest of his life after which he went on to commit all iniquity with greediness and yet even this desperate Tinner that one would think had made a Covenant with death and was at an agreement with â—ell and just upon the brink of them born yet even now God to magnifie the riches of his Grace and Mercy was pleased to snatch him out of the fire so that falling into a great fit of sickness he laboured under strange trouble and conflicts of mind his spirit being wounded and his Conscience full of Terrour and saying If that God who dyed for great as well as lesser sinners did not speedily apply his infinite mercies to his poor soul his wound was such as no man could conceive or bear crying out That he was the vilest wretch and Dog that the Sun shined upon or the Earth bore that he now saw his error in not living up to that reason which God endued him with and which he unworthily vilified and contemned wishing he had been a starving Leper crawling in a Ditch that he had been a Link boy or a beggar or for his whole life time confined to a Dungeon rather than to have sinned against his God and acknowledged that all the seeming absurdities of Religion and the Holy Scriptures and the contradictions thereof framed by men of corrupt and reprobate Judgments were now vanished and the excellency and beauty thereof appeared he being now come to receive the truth in the love of it And upon his death bed
that notwithstanding all the help of Chirurgery he died soon after and that in a very sad condition for he cursed and blasphemed to the last gasp and his last breath passed out of his body with an horrid Oath to the terrour of all that beheld him and herein did the Divine Justice remarkably appear in that his own hand which had written those Blasphemies was made an Instrument to punish that head and brain which had wickedly devised them Beards Theatre III. In the year 1527. A young Italian esteemed a man very brave and valiant in Arms was to fight with another young man who because he was melancholy and spake very little was called Forchebene they went together with a great company to the Place appointed which was without the Port of St. Gall whither being come a friend to the former went to him and said God give you the Victory the proud young man adding blasphemy to his Temerity answered How shall he chuse but give it me They came to use their weapons and after many blows given and taken both by the one and the other Forchebene being become as the Minister and Instrument of God gave him a thrust in the mouth with such force that having fastened his Tongue to the Poll of his Neck where the Sword went thorow above the length of a Span he made him 〈…〉 the Sword remaining in his Mouth to the end that the Tongue which had so grievously offended might even in this world endure punishment for so horrible a sin L. Remys Consid c. 59. IV. Another of our own Nation is not to be overpassed who for Atheism may be compared to the former and for God's severe Judgment upon him may give place to none It was a Gentleman in Bark-shire whose Name I forbear to mention This man had a great Estate but was an open Scoffer and Contemner of all Religion a profest Atheist and a Scorner of the Word and Sacraments insomuch that I have heard it very credibly reported that being Witness to the Baptizing of a Child he would needs have it named Beelzebub He was likewise given to all manner of Debauchery keeping several notorious Strumpets openly in his House without shame He was so accustomed to Swearing that he could scarce speak without an Oath This miserable Man or rather Brute having continued long in this damnable course of life at last Divine Vengeance found him out for going one day a hunting with one of his Companions As they were discoursing of divers Idle Stories it pleased Almighty God to strike him with sudden death for falling suddenly on the Crupper of his Horse backward he was taken off stark dead with his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth in a very fearful manner and became a terrible Example of God's Justice against all wicked Atheists Beards Theatre V. Cluverius an Author worthy of credit who professeth that he had this Relation not only by hear-say but from Eye-witnesses who saw it gives this wonderful Account That in the Month of March 1632 there lived in the Borders of Muscovia a Noble-man by Office a gatherer of Tribute or Taxes by name Albertus Periâ—scius his manner was when poor men could not presently pay their Taxes to distrain upon their Cattle and drive them to his own home Now it came to pass that this Noble-man being from home lost all his unjust gains in one 〈…〉 for all his Cattle both those he had taken by Violence and what he had bought with his Money suddenly dyed This wretched man coming home was told â— his Wife and Servants what a fearful Judgment from God was befallen him whereat he began to rage and rave extreamly and taking his Musquet shot it up against Heaven breaking forth into these blasphemous speeches Let him that killed my attle devour them If thou wouldest not let me eat them eat them thy self Upon these furious barkings against God there fell some drops of blood and this wicked man was turned into a black Dog and howling he raâ— to the dead Cattle and began to feed upon them and for ought I know saith mine Author who wrote this story presently after is yet feeding upon them His Wife great with Child being astonished and terrified with the strangeness of God's Judgments shortly after died Clark's Exam. 1 Part. VI. Simon Churmay in 1201. having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity some of his familiar friends persuaded him to put it into writing that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost whereupon he proudly brake forth into this Atheistical speech O Jesule Jesule c. O little Jesus little Jesus how much have I confirmed and advanced thy Law in this Question but if I had a mind to deal crosly I know how with stronger Reasons and Arguments to weaken and disprove the same Which was no sooner spoken but he was strucken dumb and not only so but he became an Ideot and ridiculously foolish and was made a common hissing and mocking-stock to all that saw him Mat. Paris Not much unlike this is that of Michael a blasphemous Jew who as he was banquetting with his Companions fell to blaspheming Christ and his Mother boasting That he had gotten the Victory over the Christians God but as he went down Stairs out of the Room he fell down and brake his Neck Fincelius Miserable was the end of Perieres who writ a blasphemous Book wherein he openly mocked at God and all Religion for he fell into most desperate despair and notwithstanding strict watch was kept about him yet he killed himself 〈…〉 the year 1502. there lived one Hermanus Biswick a Grand Atheist and a notable Instrument of the Devil who affirmed That the World never had a beginning as foolish Moses dreamed and that there were neither Angels nor Devils nor Hell nor future a Life but that the Souls of Men perished with their Bodies and that Jesus Christ was nothing else but a Seducer of the People and that the Faith of Christians and whatever else was contained in the Holy Scriptures was meer vanity These Opinions full of Atheism and Impiety he was so hardened in that he constantly avouched them to the death and was for the same together with his Books deservedly burnt in Holland Theat Hist VII A certain Rich man at Halterstadt in Germany abounding with all manner of worldly happiness he gave up his whole Soul in delighting therein so that he had no sense of Heaven or Religion yea he was so Atheistical as to say That if he might lead such a life continually upon the Earth he would not envy those that enjoyed Heaven ner desire to exchange his condition with them But soon after it pleased God contrary to his expectation to cut him off by death and so the pleasures which he doated on came to an end But after his death there were seen such Diabolical Apparitions in his House that no man durst inhabit it so that it became desolate For every
day there appeared the Form of this Epicure sitting with a great many Guests drinking carousing and making good Cheer the Table being furnished seemingly with all manner of Delicacies and attended on by many Persons together with Fidlers Trumpeters and the like so that whatever he delighted in while he was alive was there daily to be seen God permitting Satan to deceive mens sight by such Appearances to deter others from living in such a course of Atheism and Impiety Theat Hist VIII At a Village called Benarides in Spain two young men one whereof was noted to be an outragious Swearer and Blasphemer of God's Holy Name being together in the Fields on a sudden there arose a terrible Tempest of Rain and Wind accompanied with so impetuous a Whirlwind that it amazed all that beheld it the two young men seeing it furiously coming toward them to avoid the danger ran away as fast as they could possible but notwithstanding their haste it overtook them and for fear it should carry them up into the Air they fell flat down upon the ground where the Whirlwind whilked about them for some time and then passed forward one of them arose so affrighted and in such an Agony that he was scarce able to stand on his feet the other lying still without motion some that stood under an hedge hard by came to see how he did and found him to be stark dead not without some wonderful symptoms of Divine Justice for all his bones were so crushed that the Joynts of his Legs and Arms were to be turned every way as though his whole Body had been made of Moss and besides his Tongue was pluckt out by the roots and could not by any means be found though it was diligently sought for and this was the miserable end of this wretched youth who was made an Example to the World of God's Vengeance against Swearers and Blasphemers Beards Theatre IX Mirtiques Governour of Brittany in France in the War against the Protestants persuaded them to yield to the King since their strong God had now forsaken them and scoffingly said It was time for them to sing Help us now O Lord for it is time but he soon found that their strong God was able to defend them and to confound the Proud he himself being presently after slain in the Siege Acts Mon. Remarkable is the Relation of one Libanius who was a Sophistical Atheist he being at Antioch demanded blasphemously of a Learned and Religious Shoolmaster What the Carpenters Son did and how he employed himself To whom the Schoolmaster full of the Divine Spirit replyed The Creator of the World whom thou disdainfully callest the Carpenters Son is making a Coffin for thee to carry thee to thy Grave at which the Sophister laughing went away and within few daies after died and was buried in a Coffin according to the Prophecy of that Holy Man Beards Theatre In the 〈…〉 an Arrian Bishop called Olympius being in the Baths of Carthage openly scoffed and blasphemed the Holy and Sacred Trinity but Lightning fell down from Heaven upon him three times wherewith he was burnt and consumed to Ashes There was also in the time of Alphonsus King of Arragon and Sicily in an Isle toward Africa a certain prophane Hermite called Antonius who impudently and impiously belched out blasphemous speeches against our Blessed Saviour and the Virgin Mary his Mother but he was struck with a most grievous and tormenting Disease so that he was eaten and gnawn to pieces with Worms till he died Aeneas Sylvius X. Neither hath Divine Vengeance left itself without witness against Cursers and those who by denying God give themselves to the Devil as may plainly appear â—y the following dreadful Examples A Souldier travelling through Marcia a Country of Almaign and finding himself not well went to an Inn where he lay to recover his health and delivered to his Hostess a certain sum of money which he had about him A while after being recovered of his Sickness he demanded his money again but the Woman upon consultation with her Husband denied the receipt of any and accused him of wronging her in demanding what she never received On the other side the Souldier was much enraged accusing her of cheating him when the Man of the House heard the noise though he was privy to all before yet he dissembling the matter took his Wife's part and thrust the Souldier out of doors who seeing himself thus abused drew his Sword and ran against the door with the point thereof whereat the Host began to cry out Thieves Thieves affirming that he would have entred his House by force and have robbed him whereupon the poor Souldier was taken and cast into Prison and by process of Law was ready to be condemned to death but the very day wherein this heavy Sentence was to be pronounced and Executed the Devil entred into the Prison and told the Souldier That he was condemned 〈…〉 dye nevertheless if he would give himself Body and Soul to him he would promise to deliver him out of their hands The Prisoner replyed That he had rather dye being innocent and without cause than to be delivered upon that account The Devil then represented to him the great danger of death wherein he was and used all manner of craft to delude him but finding all his Arguments uneffectual he at length left his suit but yet promised him both assistance and revenge upon his Enemies for nothing advising him when he came to his Tryal he should plead not guilty and declare his innocence and the wrong which he suffered and to entreat the Judge to grant him the favour That one in a Blew Cap who was in the Court might make his Defence for him now this one in the Blew Cap was the Devil himself The Souldier accepted his offer and being called to the Bar and Indicted of Felony he presently desired to have his Attorney who was there present to plead his Cause which being granted him this witty crafty Lawyer began very cunningly to defend his Client affirming him To have been falsly accused and consequently would be unjustly condemned and that his Host did withhold the money and had offered him violence and to demonstrate the Truth of what he asserted he reckoned up every Circumstance of the whole Action yea the very place where they had hid they money The Host on the other side very impudently denied all wishing withal That the Devil might take him Body and Soul if he had This subtil Attorney in the Blew Cap finding now the advantage which he had hitherto looked for left off his pleading and immediately seizing upon the Host carryed him out of the Sessions-House and hoisted him into the Air so high that he was never after seen nor heard of And thus was the Souldier wonderfully delivered from death to the astonishment of all the Beholders who were Eye-witnesses of this terrible Judgment upon this perjured cursing Host Wierus of Spirits lib. 3. XI