tore him all to peeces Act. and Mon. Sigismund the Emperour having granted letters of safe conduct unto Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prague under the faith and protection of himself and the Empire yet suffered them to be unjustly burnt at the Councel of Constance after which time the said Emperour never prospered in any thing that he took in hand he died without issue male and his daughters son Ladislaus died also childlesse whereby his name was quite extinguished in one age And his Emperesse became a dishonour also to the royal place which she held and so Gods judgements justly followed him for his perjury Luther Elfred a Nobleman in the dayes of King Ethelstane of England conspiring against his Sovereigne intended at Winchester to have pulled out his eyes but his treason being discovered he was sent to Rome to purge himself by oath where before the Altar of Saint Peter and in the presence of Pope Iohn the tenth he abjuring the thing suddenly fell down to the earth and being carried by his servants into the English schoole within three dayes after he there died Sp. Chron p. 340. Goodwin Earle of Kent Anno 1055. being charged by King Edward with the death of his brother Alfred excused himself with many words and at last eating a morsel of bread wished that it might choake him if he were guilty thereof but before he stirred one foot from the place he was according to his own imprecation forthwith choaked In the reigne of Queen Elizabeth one Annis Averies in the City of London widow forswore her selfe for a little mony which she should have paid for six pounds of Towe at a shop in Woodstreet and by Gods just judgement she immediately fell down speechless casting her excrements upwards which should have been voided downwards and so presently died Act. Mon. A certain Inne-Keeper in the town of Rutlinguen receiving a Budget of money from a passenger to keep for him forswore the same before the Judge giving himself to the devil if he swore falsly and was by two that testified against him which indeed were two Fiends of Hell presently in the presence of the Judge hoisted up into the aire where he vanished away with them and was never found after One hearing perjury condemned by a godly Preacher and how it never escaped unpunished said in a bravery I have often for sworne my self and yet my right hand is no shorter then my left which words he had scarce uttered when such an inflammation arose in that hand that he was forced to go to the Chirurgion and cut it off lest it should have infected his whole body whereby it became shorter then the other A rich young maide in Saxony promised marriage to a proper young man but poore He fore-seeing that wealth and inconstancy might alter her minde freely disclosed his thoughts to her whereupon she made a thousand imprecations to the contrary wishing that if she ever married another the devil might take her away on the wedding day yet afterwards the fickle wench was betrothed and married to another At dinner two men on horseback came to the house and were entertained at the feast and after dinner one of them leading the Bride a dance he took her by the hand and led her a turne or two and then in the presence of all her friends he caught her crying out for help and went out at the gate where he hoisted her up into the aire and vanished away with his companion and horses so that she was never seen more Sword against Swearers Philip King of Macedonia was a great contemner of all oaths and held the religious observation of them as a vaine thing for which cause the vengeance of God followed him and all his posterity For himself being scarce fourty six years old was slaine and his whole family was quickly extinguished Arideus one of his sons was slaine by Olympias his wife Another son that he had by Cleopatra was by his mother tormented to death in a brazen vessel compassed about with fire the rest of his sons perished in the like manner and his son Alexander after his great conquests in the prime of his dayes and in the middest of his victories died miserably as some think of poison Pausanius A certain maid in London that had stolen many things from her Mistris being examined forswore them wishing that she might rot if ever she touched them or knew of them but being yet carried to prison she began so to rot and stink that they were forced to thrust her out of prison into a common hospitall Iohn Cooper a godly man in Queen Maries dayes was falsely and maliciously accused of treason for speaking some words against the Queen and accordingly executed but one Grimwood who had sworn falsely against him being shortly after about his labour in the harvest and in good health suddenly his bowels fell out of his body and so he died most miserably Act. Mon. CHAP. XXV Examples of Gods Iudgements upon common Swearers BIshop Ridly in a Sermon at Pauls Crosse related a story of a young Gentleman of Cornwall in the dayes of King Edward the sixth who riding in the company of other Gentlemen began to swear and swagger and being reproved for it he swore the more and raged worse to whom one Master Haines a Minister with gentle words said that he should one day give an account thereof whereat the Gentleman being in a fume bade him take no thought for him but to prepare for his own Winding-sheet Well said the other amend for death gives no warning Gods wounds said he care not thou for me still raging worse and worse till coming to a bridge which passed over an arme of the Sea the young Gallant so spurred and switched his horse that he leaped over with him into the water who as he was going cried Horse and man and all to the devil Act. Mon. A Serving-man in Lincolnshire for every trifle used to swear by Gods precious blood and would not be warned by his friends till at length falling into a grievous sicknesse he was again much perswaded by his friends to repent which counsel he still rejected and hearing the Bell to toll in the very paines of death he start up swearing Gods wounds the Bell tolles for me but he shall not have me yet whereupon the blood issued out in a most fearful manner from all the joynts of his body from mouth nose wrists knees heeles and toes and other parts of his body and so he died Mr. Perkins Michael a Jewish Rabbin as he was swearing and blaspheming the Name of Iesus fell down and brake his neck Socrat. Eccl. Hist. Three Souldiers passing through a Wood in the Countrey of Samurtia there arose a tempest of thunder and lightning and one of them to shew his contempt of God and his judgements burst forth into swearing and blasphemy but the tempest tearing up an huge tree it fell upon him and crushed him to peeces
hell he could have despaired no more of his salvation in which condition although he neither had nor could have any joy of his meat yet he did eate against his appetite to deferre the time of his damnation so long as he might thinking that he must needs be thrown into hell so soon as the breath should depart out of his body yet the Lord who graciously preserved him all that while not onely at last did rid him out of all discomfort but also framed him thereby to such mortification of life as the like hath seldome been seen in such sort as he being like one already placed in heaven and dead in this world both in word and meditation led a life altogether celestial abhorring in his minde all profane doings Act. Mon. Mr. John Holland a faithfull Minister of Gods Word the day before his death calling for a Bible continued his meditation and exposition upon the 8. to the Rom. for the space of two hours but on a sudden he said O stay your reading what brightnesse is this I see have you light up any candles A stander by said No it is the Sun-shine for it was about five a clock in a clear Summers evening Sun-shine saith he Nay it is my Saviours-shine now farewell world welcome heaven the day-star from on high hath visited my heart O speak it when I am gone and preach it at my Funeral God dealeth familiarly with man I feele his mercy I see his Majesty whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God he knoweth But I see things that are unutterable And being thus ravished in his spirit he roamed towards heaven with a chearful look and soft sweet voice but what he said was not understood with the Sunne in the morning following raising himself as Jacob did upon his staffe he shut up his blessed life with these blessed words O what an happy change shall I make from night to day from darknesse to light from death to life from sorrow to solace from a factious world to an heavenly being Oh my dear brethren sisters and friends it pitieth me to leave you behinde yet remember my death when I am gone and what I now feele I hope you shall feele ere you die that God doth and will deale familiarly with men and now thou fiery Chariot that cam'st down to fetch up Elijah carry me to my happy hold and all you blessed Angels that attended the soul of Lazarus to bring it to Heaven bear me Oh bear me into the bosome of my best beloved Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly And so he fell asleep Leigh Luther who had the Devill the Popes the Emperour and almost all the Christian World against him both by open force and secret fraud seeking his destruction yet the Lord miraculously preserved him for the space of about thirty years in despite of them all and at last he died in peace in his bed at which time he made this heavenly Prayer My heavenly Father Eternall and Mercifull God thou hast manifested unto me thy deare Son our Lord Iesus Christ I have taught him I have known him I love him as my Life my health and my Redemption whom the wicked have injured persecuted maligned and afflicted Draw my soule unto thee for though I must lay down this frail body yet I certainly know that I shall live with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redeem'd it O Lord God of truth God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that all that believe in him should have life everlasting which he repeated thrice and so as one falling asleep without any bodily pain that could be discerned he departed this life 1546. See his life in my first part Mr. Bolton upon his death-bed speaking to his Children told them That he verily believed that none of them durst thinke to meet him at the great Tribunall in an unregenerate state and to some of his Parishioners desiring him that as he had by his doctrine discovered unto them the exceeding comforts that were in Christ so he would now tell them what he felt in his soul he answered To give you satisfaction though I want breath to speake I am by the wonderfull mercies of Christ as full of comfort as my heart can hold and feels nothing in my soule but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be See his life in my first part Zuinglius being slaine by his Popish enemies they cut his body into foure peeces and then burnt it in the fire but three dayes after some of his friends coming to the place found his heart in the ashes whole and untouched with the fire The like also was observed of Bishop Cramner See his life in my first part Henry Henry Voes and John Esch when they came to be burnt for the truth of the Gospell joyfully embraced the stake continuing singing of Psalms and when the fire was kindled at their feet one of them said Me thinks you do strew Roses under my feet See my General Martyrology George Scherter being for Religion condemned first to be beheaded and then burnt he told the people that he would give them a signe that he died a true Christian and when his head was cut off his body falling upon the belly lay still whilest one might leasurely eate an Egge and then turned it selfe softly upon the back and crossed the right leg and right arme over the left whereby many of the spectatours were induced to believe the Gospel Act. Mon. Two godly Virgins in Flanders being condemned to be burnt and had the sentence accordingly executed yet could not the Executioners by any means consume their bodies with fire but still they remained white and unhurt Act. Mon. Domicillus being condemned to be burnt for Religion when he was at the stake and the fire kindled the winde so drove away the flame that he continued by the space of an houre untouched by it exhorting and instructing the people that stood by whereupon they brought more wood and vessels of Oile yet neither could he therewith be burnt which the executioner seeing struck at his head with a staffe to whom the holy Martyr said I am condemned to be burned and do you beat me with staves with that the Hangman thrust him through the belly and guts with his Pike and so slew him Act. Mon. Bergerius at Lyons in France being accused and apprehended for Religion was cast into a loathsome dungeon wherein was a thief who had laine there by the space of seven or eight moneths who by reason of his paine and torment blasphemed God and cursed his parents that begat him being almost eaten up with Lice and fed with such bread as Dogs and Horses refused to eate but through the preaching and prayers of Bergerius he was brought to repentance of which he wrote a sweet letter to some of his friends
Emperours few or none of them escaped Gods revenging hand so that there is numbred fourty three of them that came to untimely ends Act. Mon. Constantine the Emperour a Monothelite being a cruel persecutor of godly Christians was slaine by one of his own servants as he was washing himself in a Bath Hist. Magd. Arnolphus the Emperour raging exceedingly against the Christians the wife of one Guido upon another grudge gave him a cup of poison by meanes whereof such rottenness possessed his members that lice and wormes issuing out continually he died a miserable death P. Melan. Chron. l. 4. Agapetus a young man of the age of fifteen years for the profession of Christ was first scourged with whips then hung up by the feet and scalding water poured upon him then cast to the wilde beasts which being more merciful then men refused to touch him whereupon he was taken and beheaded but Antiochus who passed sentence upon him suddenly fell down from his judicial seat crying out that all his bowels burned within him and so he gave up the ghost Act. Mon. Genserick an Arian King of the Vandals shewed a great deal of cruelty against the Oxthodox But the Lord met with him for he died being possessed with an evil spirit P. Melanc Chron. l. 3. Hunericus son to a King of the Vandals being an Arian was a mercilesse persecutor of the godly Christians banishing five thousand of them at one time amongst which some of them being unable to travel he caused cords to be tied to their legges and to drag them through rough places whereby many of them perished But shortly after he was tormented with venomous biles all over his body and in the end was consumed with vermine Hist. Mag◠Claudius who was President under Valerian and his instrument to torment and condemne many godly Christians was shortly after possessed with the devil and so tormented that biting off his own tongue in small peeces he ended his life in much misery Act. Mon. Anastasius the Emperour a Patron of the Eutychian Heresie became a bloody persecutor of godly Christians and by Gods just judgement was slain with a Thunderbolt Plat. Autharis King of the Longobards who forbade children to be baptized or instructed in the Christian faith ere he had reigned six years died of poison at Pavia Paulus Diac. l. 3. c. 18. Arcadius the Emperour having by the perswasion of his wife Eudoxia an Heretick banished Chrysostome The very next night there arose such a terrible earth-quake that the Emperour and all the people being affrighted therewith was faign to send Post after Post to fetch him home againe Mandat of calumniation l. 2. c. 44. Mamuca a Saracen being a cruel Persecutor of the Church of God like unto Pharaoh met with the like destruction from God for as he returned from the slaughter of many Christians the Lord caused the sea to swallow him up with the greatest part of his Army in an hundred ships so that few or none escaped Paul Diaconus l. 3. c. 12. Theodoricus an Arian King of the Goths persecuted the true Christians with all hostilitie amongst whom he slew two noble Senators Symmachus and Boëtius but shortly after the Lord struck him with madnesse and sitting at the table had the head of a great fish set before him which he imagining to be the head of Symmachus whom he had slaine was so overcome with feare that anon after he died Evag. At Vassie in France fifteen hundred people being assembled in a Church upon a Sabbath-day hearing the Word of God preached The Duke of Guise suddenly compassed the Church with armed Souldiers himselfe standing in the doore with a drawn sword and sent in his Souldiers who cruelly killed all without distinction of age or sex but himselfe was shortly after slaine at the siege of Orleance Act. and Mon. Minerius Governour of Province who was sent by the King of France with an Army against the Waldenses used much cruelty against them burning some killing others driving others into woods and mountaines whereby they perished of famine depopulating whole townes But the Lord smote him with a tertible disease so that he felt like a fire burning him from the Navel upwards and his lower parts rotted and were consumed with vermine which was attended with a grievous stinke and profusion of blood in the place of his urine and in those extreame torments he ended his wretched life Simps The Emperour Phocas a most vicious and bloody persecutor being the first that ordained that the Bishop of Rome should be called the universall Bishop and the Church of Rome the head of other Churches was betrayed by his own son in Law and delivered up into the hands of his enemy Heracleus who commanded his head feet and privie members to be cut off and his body to be burned Plat. Earle Simon of Montfort a cruell persecutor of the Albingenses by the instigation of the Pope as he besieged some of them in Tholous had his head parted from his body by a fire stone which a woman let out of an Engine Simps King Lewis of France besieging Avignion a City of the Albingenses and vowing never to depart till he had taken it was shortly after punished with a grievous pestilence which daily wasted great numbers of his men So that the King going aside to an Abbey not far distant to avoide the same there died out of his wits Act. and Mon. King Charles the ninth of France a bloody persecutor of the Protestants who had caused the effusion of the blood of thirty thousand of them in the massacre of Paris by Gods just judgement fell sick and with great effusion of blood out of many parts of his body died miserably Act. and Mon. Truchetus an expert Captain imployed by the Duke of Savoy against the Protestants in his dominions who were a naked and unarmed people was first sore wounded with stones and afterwards slaine with his owne sword by a poor Shepherd who was keeping of Cattell in the field Act. and Mon. Henry the second King of France a cruel persecutor of Protestants caused Annas Burgeus a noble Counsellour of Paris to be condemned and in a great passion said that he would stand by and see him burned but before the time came the King being at Tilt put a Speare into one of his Noble mens hands and compelled him against his will to run against him at which time the Speare breaking a small splinter of it entred in at the Kings eye and pierced into his braine whereof he died Act. and Mon. King Henry the third of France in the selfe-same Chamber wherein the Massacre of Paris was concluded whereof himselfe being at that time Duke of Anjou was one of the chiefe was stabbed by a Iacobine Monke who thrust a knife violently into his small Ribs whereof he shortly after died Act. and Mon. Ladislaus King of Bohemia and Hungary who most unjustly had caused Ladislaus Huniades his son to be beheaded and
came the Owle as before still looking steadfastly upon the Pope whereupon he was more ashamed saying that he could no longer abide the sight of her and commanded her to be driven away with bats and shoutings but by no means could she be removed till with the blowes of the sticks thrown at her at length she fell down dead amongst them Then shall that wicked one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his coming 2 Thes. 2. 8. Non male sunt Monachis grata indita nomina Patrum Cùm numerent natos hic ubique suos CHAP. VI. Examples of most inhumane cruelties THe corrupt nature of man since the fall of Adam containeth in it the seed and spawn of all manner of impieties so that if the Lord do but let loose the reines of his restraining spirit and leave man to himself there is not the most abhorred villainy that was ever perpetrated by any damned reprobate but he is prone to fall into the same yea to rush on into sinne as the horse into the battel whence it is that Solomon long since told us that The tender mercies of the wicked are cruelty as will most manifestly appear by these ensuing Examples Bellisarius a worthy and famous Captaine under the Emperour Justinian having by Gods assistance with great successe fought many battels against the Persians Goths and Vandals in his old age by the malice and cruelty of the Emperesse who was a favourer of Eutyches the Heretick had his eyes put out and fell into such want that he was forced to begge by the high-wayes Date obolum Bellisario For Gods sake give an halfe peny to Bellisarius See Justinians Life in my second Part. William Prince of Nassaw a pious and prudent Prince was most cruelly and traiterously murthered in his lodging at the end of dinner by Baltazar Gerrard a papist being hired thereunto by the Prince of Parmas Counsel He was shot from the left side to the right through the stomack and the vital parts saying onely O my God take pity on my soul I am sore wounded take pitty upon my soul and of this poor people and so he died Hist. of the Netherl In a town of Italy called Montallo many godly Christians being secretly met together to hear the Word of God were most inhumanely butchered by the appointment of Pope Pius the fourth being one after another drawn out of the house and their throats cut with a knife yet not one of all that number for fear of death would forsake the true faith of Christ Act. Mon. In Deventer one Henry Achtrevelt a Papist cruelly murthered Master Schorickmans a godly Minister in that Towne after his Sermon thrusting him into the â—eck with a two-edged knife cleane through the throat whereof he immediately died The murtherer professed that he did it in zeal to the Catholique religion which the said Minister used to preach against Hist of the Netherl Abundance of French inhabiting in the Island of Sicily being hated by the natives upon a signe given by the ringing of a bell were all in one hour murthered yea it â—as performed with such cruelty that they ript up their own Countrey-women that were with childe by the French to the end that no French blood should remaine amongst them Simps Hence grew the Proverb Sicuâ—â— vesperae The Duke de Alva was of that cruel and bloody disposition that he counted it no paine for men to die except they died in extreme paine witnesse Anthony 〈◊〉 whom he caused to be tyed to a stake with a chaine 〈◊〉 â—russels compassing him about with a great fire but not touching him turning him round about like a poor beast who was forced to live in that great torment and extremity roasting before the fire so long untill the Halbâ—rdiers themselves having compassion on him thrust him through with their halberds contrary to the minde both of the Duke and the Popish Priests â—rimst Hist Netherl p. 4â—1 Also when the City of Harlem surrendred themselves to him upon conditions to have their lives he suffered some of the souldiers and Burgers to be starved to death saying that though he promised to give them their lives yet he did not promise to finde them meat Eodem A Vice-admirall to the Arch Duke having taken 15. or 16. fishing ships of Holland and Zealand nailed all the Mariners and Fishermen under Hatches and then making holes in the keel of the Ships drowned them all like Mice in a trap Hist. of the Netherl In the warres against the Albingenses the Popish Army having taken the great and populous Citie of Beziers put to the sword above sixty thousand persons amongst whom were many of their own Catholicks Arnoldus the Popes Legate being present who commanded the Captaines Souldiers saying Caedite eos omnes novit enim Deus qui sunt ejus Kill them all Catholicks or Hereticks for the Lord knoweth who are his Act. and Mon. Simon Earle of Montfort having surprised a Castle of the Albingenses most inhumanely caused the eyes of above an hundred of them to be put out and their noses to be cut off and left onely one man with one eye to conduct them all to another place Act. and Mon. The Duke de Alva being sent with a great Army by the King of Spaine into the Netherlands to root out the Prosessors of the Gospel there exercised most unparallel'd cruelty against all sorts of persons both of the Nobilitie and Commons permitting his Souldiers to ravish honest Matrons and Virgins yea oftentimes compelling their husbands to stand by and behold the same This Duke on a time boasted at his owne table that he had been diligent to root out heresie for that besides those which were slaine in war and secret Massacres he had put into the hand of the hangman eighteen thousand in the space of six yeares Hist. of the Netherl St. Jerome reports that when he was a very youth while Julian as it seems was Emperour he saw in Gaul the Atticots a Brittish Nation feed on mans flesh who when they found in the Forrests herds of Swine flocks of neat and other Cattell were wont to cut off the buttocks of the herd-men and keepers the Duggs also and paps of women accounting the same the onely dainties in the world Camb. Brit. p. 127. Aelfrich to make way for her own son Etheldred to the Crown of England when Edward her son in Law then King came to visit her in Corf-Castle from his disport or hunting set some villaines and hacksters to murder him and like a most wicked and cruell step-dame fed her eyes with beholding his blood Camb. Brit. p. 211. Machanides a Tyrant of Lacedaemon made an Image 〈…〉 Engine rather like unto his wife Apega apparelled in such like attire also His manner was to call unto him rich men demanding great sums of money of them which if by faire meanes he could not obtaine
he would take them by the hand and tell them that perhaps his wife which sate in a roome by could perswade them more effectually unto whom he would lead them When they approached the Image would rise up open her armes and imbrace them which armes and her breasts also were full of sharpe â—ron nailes wherewith she griped the poore wretch till she had killed him and then the Tyrant seised on his goods Philip King of Spaine out of an unnaturall and bloody zeale suffered his eldest son Charles to be murthered by the cruell Inquisition because he favoured the Protestants Religion which when the Pope heard of he abused that Scripture He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us Act. and Mon. Mahomet the great a most cruell and mercilesse Tyrant is said in his life-time to have been the cause of the death of eight hundred thousand men Turk Hist. Fernesius as he was going out of Italy towards Germany made this feral and bloody boast That he would make his horse swim in the blood of the German Lutherans A Frier Augustine of Antwerp openly in the Pulpit whilst he was preaching to the people wished that Luther was there that he might bite out his throat with his teeth and said that so doing he would nothing doubt to resort to the Altar with the same bloody teeth and receive the body of Christ. Eras. Epist. Tarquinius Superbius entering the Senate-house in Rome in royall Ornaments laid claime to the Kingdome but was opposed by his father-in-Law Servius whereupon he wounded him and forced him to depart which Tullia Tarquins wife hearing of came to the Senate-house and saluted her husband King causing him to send some after her father Servius who killed him leaving his body in so narrow a street that when Tullia returned that way the Charioter stayed lest he should drive over the the corps but she threw the seat of the Chariot at his head and forced him to drive over her fathers body since which time that street hath been called the wicked street Dioâ— Solyman the great Turk having obtained a victory against the Germans finding amongst the Captives a Bavarian Souldier of an exceeding high stature delivered him to a little dwarfe to be slaine whose head was scarce so high as the others knees that goodly tall man was mangled about the legs a long time by the apâ—sh dwarf with his little Scimeter till falling down with many feeble blowes he was at length slaine the Prince beholding it with great sport Turk Hist. p. â—09 The Spaniards when they had taken Heidelberg in the Palatinate took an ancient Minister a man of God called Monsieur Mileus and having abused his daughter before his face they tied a small cord about his head which with their truncheons they twisted about till they had squeezed out his braines Looking-glasse of the holy war In the reign of Saint Edward King of England two Earles that were brethren Harrould and Tosto fell out in the Kings Court at Windsor from words falling to blowes and Tosto having the worst secretly hied him to the Marches of Wales to his brother Harroulds house which was then in preparing to entertaine the King where he slew all his brothers servants and cutting them peece meale into gobbets salted some of their limbs and cast the rest into vessels of Meath and wine sending his brother word that he had furnished him with poudered meats against the Kings coming thither but this barbarous act caused his name to be so odious amongst his Northumbrians where he was Earle that at last it was repayed with his own death Speeds Chron. pag. 402. A rich Merchant in Paris jesting at the Franciscan Fiers was by their meanes apprehended accused and condemned to be hanged but he thinking to save his life made a publick and solemne recantation which when the Friers were informed of they commended him saying That if he so continued he should undoubtedly be saved and withall called upon the officers to haste him to the Gallows to hang him whilest he was in so good a minde which was accordingly done Act. Mon. In the persecution of the Saints of God in Calabria Anno 1560. fourscore godly persons being all thrust up in one house together like sheep for the slaughter the executioner comes in and taking forth one blindefolds him with a mufler about his eyes and so leades him forth to a large place where coâ—…ding him to kneele down he cuts his threat and so leaving him halfe dead and taking his Butchers knife and mufler all goare blood comes back to the râ—â—t and so leading them forth one after another he dispatched them all All the elder went to the slaughter more cheerfully the younger more timerously I tremble and quake saith a Romane Catholick out of whose letter to his Lord this is transcribed even to remember how the executioner held his bloody knife between his teeth with the bloody mufler in his hand and his armes all goare blood up to the elbowes going to the fold and taking every one of them one after another by the hand and so dispatching them all no otherwise then a Butcher doth his Calves or Sheep In the Spanish Inquisition if any Protestant be secretly conveyed into it they bring him not unto a legal trial but make him away secretly For as Hoffeus the Jesuite was wont to brag they hold it a good peece of Piety instantly to condemne him to the fire Ut anima ejus in curru igneo ad inferos trahatur that his soul might forthwith be carried to hell in a fiery Chariot The poore Spaniards are kept in such aw by the Lords Inquisitors that one of those Inquisitors desiring to eat some peares that grew in a poor mans Orchard not farre from him sent for the man to come and speak with him This message put the poore man into such a fright that he fell sick and kept his bed But being informed that his peares were the cause of his sending for he caused his tree to be cut down and withall the peares on it to be sent to the Inquisitor and being afterwards by him demanded the reason of that unhusbandly action he protested that he would not keep that thing about him which should give an occasion to aâ—…f their Lordships to send for him any more The Numantines being assaulted by the Romanes made solemne vowes amongst themselves no day to break their fast but with the flesh of a Romane nor to drink before they had tasted the blood of an enemy Guevara Ep. In the Massacre of Paris which was the most abhorred prodigious villainy that ever the Sunne saw till the late Irish rebellion there were murthered in divers places of France threescore thousand Protestants so that the streets ran with blood and Rivers were died red with the same Besides there were three hundred faithful servants of Christ burnt to ashes in that Kingdom within lesse then five yeares space and in their late
woman as ill as she was adventured to goe down and open it These Tyrants presently stabbed her husband in his bed The Midwife seeing them bent to murther the woman also earnestly intreated them to stay at least so long till the Infant which would be the twentieth childe that God had given her was borne but they took this poor woman and thrust her with a dagger into the fundament to the very hilts she finding her selfe mortally wounded and yet desirous to bring forth her fruit fled into a Corne-loft whither they pursued her giving her another stab into the belly and then cast â—er out of a window into the street in which fall the child came forth of her body gaping yawning a most woful â—ueful sight Act. Mon. At the same time also one of the bloody Papists having snatched up a little Child in his arms the poor Babe began to play with his Beard and to smile upon him but this barbarous wretch was so far from compassion that he wounded it with his dagger and so cast it all gore blood into the River Act and Mon In the Massacre at â—lâ—ise in France whilest the Protestants were cruelly handled and murthered in that disorder even many of the Romane Catholiques drank with them of the same cup whereupon both parties made their complaints to the Duke of Guise in hope of redresse whose answer was that the Kingdom was but too full of people and therefore his purpose was to cut off as many as he could that so all kinde of victuals might be better cheap Act and Mon. At the Massacre of Paris a Gentleman obtained letters from the King to murther the Protestants at Angiers also who coming to the house of a reverend and learned Minister one Master John Mason and meeting his wife at the entrance he saluted her and kis't her enquiring where her husband was she said In his garden and directed him to him whom also he very lovingly embraced asking him if he knew wherefore he was come to him The King saith he hath commanded me to kill you presently wherewithal he presented a Pistol to his breast The Minister said that he knew not wherein he had offended the King but seeing he would have his life he desired him to give him leave to commend his soule into the hands of God and having made a short prayer he willingly presented his body to the murtherer who shot him so that he presently died Act. and Mon. Anno Christi 1443 the Switzers having vanquished their enemies the Thuricenses in battell banquetted in the place where they won the victory using the dead bodies of their adversaries instead of stooles tables Cruelty complained of Gen. 49. 7. Exod. 6. 9. Deut. 32. 33. Psal. 25. 19. 71. 4. Prov. 12. 10. Jer. 6. 23. 50. 42. Lam. 4. 3. Heb. 11. 36. Ps. 27. 12. 74. 20. Ezek. 34. 4. The evils of it Prov. 11. 17. 27. 4. Scriptural examples Adonibezek Jud. 1. 7. Cain Gen. 1. 8. Simeon and Levi Gen. 342. 5. Pharaoh Exod. 1. 16 22. Saul 1 Sam. 22. 18 19. Athaliah 1 Chron. 22. 10. Menahem 2 King 15. 16. Jehoram 2 Chron. 21. 4. Abimelech Jud 9. 5. Philistines Jud. 15. 6. David 2 Sam. 12. 31. 1 Chron. 20. 3. Hazael 2 King 8. 12. Manasseh 2 King 21. 16. Amaziah 2 Chron. 25. 12. Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chron. 36. 17. Ezek. 23. 25. Jer. 51. 34. Haman Esther 3. 5 6. Medes Is. 13. 18. Edom Amos 1. 11. Ammon Amos 1. 13. Moab Amos 2. 1. Paul Act. 9. 1. 22. 4. It 's recorded of Julius Caesar that in his warres he slew eleven hundred ninty and two thousand men and at last was himself slaine by his seeming friends in the Senate-house Plin. Gains Caligula the fourth Emperour of Rome was of a most bloody and cruel disposition he caused Tiberius who was made coheire with him to be murthered He caused Syllanus his wives father to murther himself He caused divers of the Senators to be privily murthered and then gave it out that they had murthered themselves many other noble men he stigmatized then condemned them to the mettal-mines or to mending the high-wayes or to the wilde beasts Some he sawed a sunder in the middest He forced parents to be present at the torments of their children and whereas one excused himself by reason of sicknesse he sent his horse-litter for him Another asking whether he might not wink for that he caused him to be slaine Another whom he forced to be present at the torments of his children he presently took him home with him to a feast and forced him to be merry When he wanted condemned persons to feed his beasts he would cause some of the innocent spectators to have their tongues cut out that they might not complaine and so to be throwne to the beasts When he distasted any of the Senatours he would suborne some to come into the Courts and to declare them publick enemies to the State and presently to murther them yet was he not satisfied till he saw them torne peece-meale and their bowels dragged along the streets He used to say that he commended nothing more in his nature then his impudence He would not have men presently to be killed but used to say to his executioners Ita percute ut mori se sentiat So strike that he may feel himself to die Being angry with the people for coming slowly to his sports he wished Vtinam Populus Romanus unam cervicem haberet Would al the people of Rome had but one neck He used to complaine of his times that they were not made famous by some great publick calamity and therefore he used to wish for the destruction of his Armies famines pestilence burning or some extraordinary gapings of the earth grieved for that he should be soon forgotten because of the prosperity of all things Having entertained the two Consuls at a great feast suddenly he fell into a great laughter when they asked him mildly what he laughed at he answered To think that with one nod I can presently cause you both to be murthered When he used to kiss the necks of his wives and concubines he said This fair neck assoon as I command shall be cut off Sueto Vitellius the Romane Emperour was exceeding cruel putting many to death contrary to all Law equity seeking forgeries and false accusations against them One of his friends coming to visit him finding himself not well called for some water to drink the Emperour with his own hands cast poison into it poisoned him He commanded some young men to be slaine only because they came to intâ—eate him to pardon their father whom he had condemned to die Imperial Hist. Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel Gen 49. 7. The darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelly Psal. 74. 20. CHAP. VII Examples of Temperance Abstinence and Sobriety
to marry her but before night he cut off his head and gave her all his possessions Anno Christi 1056. A certain Advocate in Constance extreamly lusted after the wife of the Kings Procurator which Procuratour finding the Advocate and his wife sporting together in a Bath and afterwards in an old womans house hard by he gat him a sharp curry-comb and leaving three men at the doore to see that none should come in he so curried the Advocate that he tore out his eyes and so rent his whole body that he died within three dayes The like he would have done to his wife but that she was with childe In Germany a Gentleman of note solicited a Citizens wife to uncleannesse which her husband being informed of watched them so narrowly that finding them in bed together he first slew the adulterer and then his own wife Luther's Col. Mary of Arragon wife to the Emperour Otho the third was so unchast and lascivious a woman that she could never satisfie her lust carrying about her a young lecher in womans clothes with whom she daily committed filthinesse but this fellow being at last suspected was in the presence of many untired and found to be a man for which he was burnt to death yet did the Emperesse continue in her filthy course falling in love with the Count of Mutina a gallant young Gentleman and because she could not draw him to her lure she accused him to the Emperour for attempting to ravish her whereupon the Emperour caused his head to be cut off But by the meanes of his wife this wickednesse was discovered to the Emperour who enquiring more narrowly into the bufinesse found out his wives wickednesse and for the same caused her to be burnt at a stake Rodoaldus the eighth King of Lombardy being taken in adultery was by the husband of the adulteresse immediately slaine P. Melan. Chron. A Noble man in Thuringia being taken in adultery the husband of the adulteresse took him bound him hand and foot and cast him into prison and to quench his lust he kept him fasting and the more to augment his paine he daily set dishes of hot meat before him that the sight and smell might the more provoke his appetite In this torture the Lecher continued till he gnawed off the flesh from his own shoulders and so the eleventh day after his imprisonment ended his wretched life Luther Sergus a King of Scotland was so addicted to harlots that he neglected his own wife and drave her to such poverty that she was faine to serve another Noble-woman for her living whereupon watching her opportunity she slew her husband in his bed and her self after it Lang. Chron. Kenulphus King of the West-Saxons as he usually frequented the company of a whore that he kept at Merton was slaine by Clito the kinsman of the late King called Sigebert In the County of Fermanah in Ireland is a famous Meere called Logh-Erne stretching out fourty miles concerning which it's a common speech amongst the inhabitants that this Lake was formerly firme ground passing well husbanded with tillage and replenished with inhabitants But suddenly for their abominable Buggery committed with beasts it was overflowed with waters and turned into a Lake Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 106. Attalus who was one of Philip King of Macedonia's Courtiers Favourites Sodomitically defiled one Pausanias a Noble young man and not content therewith at a drunken feast he exposed him to be defiled by his guests also This indignity did so exasperate Pausanias that he complained to King Philip of the wrong who entertained him with scoffs and scornes in stead of punishing the offender Pausanias seeing this was so enraged against the King that on a day when he made a great feast for the Coronation of his son Alexander King of Epyrus and for the marriage of his daughter Cleopatra Pausanius watching his opportunity slew him thereby turning their melody into mourning and their joy into sorrow Diod. Sic. Nero the Emperour kept many Catamites and amongst the rest he caused the genitals of a boy called Sporus to be cut off and endeavoured to transforme him into a woman and causing him to be dressed like a woman he was solemnly married to him whereupon one said merrily That it had been well for the world if his father Domitian had had such a wife Pez Mel. Hist. Anno Christi 1120. Henry the first being King of England his two sonnes William and Richard with many Noble men Knights others coming out of Normandy towards England were shipwracked by the way and drowned all or most of them being polluted with the filthy sinne of Sodomy too rife in those dayes Henry Huntington Let not thine heart decline to the wayes of an whorish woman go not a stray in her paths For she hath cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slaine by her Her house is the way to hell going down to the Chambers of death Prov. 7. 25 26 27. CHAP. XI Examples of Chastity and Modesty THe way to heaven is up the hill all the way and the uncleane adulterer with his rotten Lungs and wasted Loines cannot climbe up it Virgins which are not defiled with women are they which follow the Lambe in white whithersoever he goes The frequency of the sinne of uncleannesse amongst Christians brings dishonour to God scandal to their profession and a wound to their own souls and many of the Heathen will rise up in judgement in the last day against such as these following Examples will more fully declare Chastity Commended Mat. 19. 12. 1 Thes. 4. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 37. 1 Tim. 2. 9. Commanded Tit. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 3 c. Scriptural Examples Isaac Gen. 25. 20. Joseph Gen. 39. 8 12. Boaz Ruth 3. 13. Job chap. 31. 1. Tamar 2 Sam. 13. 12. Other Examples Pericles the Athenian being made Admiral of the Athenian Fleet together with Sophocles who was joyned in the commission with him as they were going towards the haven they met a beautiful young boy whom Sophocles earnestly beholding highly commended his beauty to whom Pericles answered Sophocles a Governour must not onely have his hands but also his eyes chaste and clean Plut. Agesilaus King of Sparta was a great lover of chastity and as he was a great conquerer of others so also he conquerred his own lusts In his journey he would never lodge in private houses where he might have the company of women but ever lodged either in the Temples or in the open fields making all men the witnesses of his modesty and chastity Plut. Alexander M. being in the heat of youth shewed an admirable example of chastity when having taken the mother wives and daughters of Darius which were women of admirable beauty yet he neither by word or deed proffered them the least indignity thinking it a greater honour to overcome himself then his adversaries and when he looked upon other captive Ladies that excelled in stature and beauty
he merrily said Persides oculorum dolores esse That the Persian women were a disease of the eyes and yet he looked on them but on so many statues And understanding that two of his Captaines under Parmenio had ravished two of the Persian wives he wrote to him to enquire after the matter and if he found it true that he should cut of their heads as of beasts borne for the hurt of mankinde he also wrote him word that he himself was so farre from contemplating the beauty of Darius's wife that he would not so much as suffer her to be commended in his presence and that he was so careful of their chastity that they lived in his camp shut up in their tent as if they had been in a Temple Plut. Appius Claudius one of the Decemviri of Rome seeking to ravish a Virgin that was daughter to Virginius her father to preserve her chastity slew her and complaining to the souldiers whereupon that forme of Government was abolished Eutropius Pub. Scipio Africanus warring in Spain took New Carthage by storme at which time a beautiful and Noble Virgin fled to him for succour to preserve her chastity he being but twenty four years old and so in the heat of youth hearing of it would not suffer her to come into his sight for fear of a temptation but caused her to be restored in safety to her father Aure Victor Amongst the Lacedaemonians when any maid was to be married she was laid in the dark and the groom being neither drunk nor finelier apparrelled then ordinary after his moderate supper secretly went to the place where she lay and having untied her girdle and stayed a while with her stole away to the place where he used to lie amongst other young men and thus he continued and onely sometimes met with his wife in private till he had a childe by her after which they boldly met together in the day-time This was a means to preserve chastity and modesty amongst them Plut. Cassander sending some to murther Olympias the mother of Alexander M. she met them with an unappaled countenance and without once changing colour received the sword into her bosome and finding death to approach she sat down and covering her feet with her haire and her garments she took care that nothing unseemly should appear about her body after death Diod. Sic. Aurelian an Heathen Emperour was so careful to preserve the chastity of women that one of his souldiers being found guilty of lying with his hostesse he commanded that the heads of two young trees should be bowed down and the souldiers legs tied thereto which being suddenly let go tore him into two peeces Emme the mother to King Edward the Confessour being charged for incontinency with Aldwin Bishop of Winchester to clear her self from that imputation being hoodwinked went barefoot over nine-coulters red hot in Winchester Church withoutany harme an usual kinde of trial in those dayes then called Ordalium making her chastity by so great a miracle famous to posterity Cam. Brit. p. 211. In the time when the barbarous and bloody Danes raged here in England they coming to Coldingham a Nunnery on the hither part of Scotland Ebba the Prioresse with the rest of the Nunnes cut off their own noses and lips choosing rather to preserve their Virginity from the Danes then their beauty and favour and yet for all that the Danes burnt their Monastery and them with all in it Cam. Brit. Scot. p. 10. Our Henry the sixth was so chaste a Prince that when certain Ladies presented themselves before him in a Maske with their haire loose and their breasts uncovered he being then at mans estate and unmaried immediately rose up and departed the Presence saying Fie fie forsooth you are much too blame Sp. Chron. For this is the will of God even your sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you should know how to possesse his vessel in sanctification and honour 1 Thes. 4. 3 4. CHAP. XII Examples of Charity AS Husbandmen cast some of their Corne back into a fruitful soile whereby in due time they receive it back again with increase So should we do with worldly blessings sowe them in the bowels and on the backs of poor members of Christ and in the day of harvest we shall finde great increase Such laying out is a laying up our treasure in heaven Hereby we make to our selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousnesse and though for the present it seem like bread cast upon the waters yet Solomon assures us That after many dayes we shall finde it again Eccses 11. 1. For we make God our debtour who is a sure paymaster Prov. 19. 17. Charity justifieth our faith as faith doth our persons James 2. 14 c. But yet we must look to our affections and ends in giving We must not draw forth our sheaves onely but our souls also Esay 58. 10. But on the contrary miserly muck-wormes are like the muckhill that never doth good till it be carried out like the earthen box that hath one chink to receive but never a one to let out and so doth no good till it be broken Or like the fat hog that yields no profit till he comes to the knife But that we may be the more quickened to that lovely grace of Charity observe these texts and examples following Directed Mat. 6. 1 c. 2 Cor. 9. 5 c. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 16. 2. Commanded Luk. 11. 41. 12. 33. Mica 6. 8. Zach. 7. 9. 1 Tim. 6. 18. Luk. 3. 11. 1 John 3. 17. Luke 6. 36. Lev. 25. 35. Nehem. 8. 10. Rom. 12. 13. Heb. 13 16. Commended Luk. 21. 4. 2 Cor. 8. 2 c. Psal. 12. 9. Mat. 5. 7. Psal. 41. 1. Phil. 4. 16. 1 Tim. 5. 10. It must be with compassion Job 30. 25. Isa. 58. 10. Col. 3. 12. Heartily 2 Cor. 9. 7. Considerately Psal. 37. 26. 112. 5. Willingly 1 Tim. 6. 18. Chearfully Rom 12. 8 2 Cor. 9. 7. Liberally 2 Cor. 9. 6. Psal. 112. 9. Prov. 11. 25. 22. 9. Eccles. 11. 1 2 6. Luk. 6. 38. Seasonably Prov. 3. 27 28. Impartially Prov. 25. 21 22. Rom. 12. 20. Not grudgingly Deut. 15. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 9. Prov. 21. 26. Scriptural Examples Christians Act. 2. 45. 4. 34. Women Luk. 8. 23. the poor widow Mar. 12. 42. Dorcas Act. 9. 36. Paul Act. 24. 17. Cornelius Act. 10. 2. Job Chap. 31. 16 21. Barnabas Act. 4. 36 37. Zacheus Luk. 19. 8. Phebe Rom. 16. 2. Hebrews Chap. 6. 10. Philemon Verse 5 7. the virtuous woman Prov. 31. 20. Obadia 1 King 18. 13. Onesiphorus 2 Tim. 1. 18. Saint Augustine was of so charirable a disposition that wanting of his own wherewith to do it he caused the ornaments of the Church to be sold and imployed the money for the redeeming of Captives and maintaining the poore Possid in vit Aug. chap. 24. Francis Russel second Earle of Bedford of
a while excluding his servants he kept himselfe in his chamber with his children only Then he conceited that all civil society with others defiled him and thereupon locking his chamber-door continually he caused his servants to reach in at the window food for himselfe and children He cut out all the contents of the Chapters through the whole Bible expected Enthusiasmes and revelations often in the day lying along on the floore and causing his children to do the like with their heads in a ring and when his ancient friends Ministers and others hearing of it came to speake with him amongst whom my selfe was one knocking at his chamber-door importuning intreating and threatening to break open the doore yet could they by no meanes prevaile either to have a word from him or the door opened at length one of his children sickened and died yet he concealing it privately carried it into the next roome and locked it up till the corpse putrefying almost choaked him whereupon he caused his servant to bring him some Mosse still concealing the occasion wherewith he stopped the cranies in his wall to keep out the stench But his course of life being much talked of abroad a neighbour Justice of Peace pittying his condition sent some with command to break open his chamber-doore which being done they found him and his children like Nebuchadnezzar much deformed with their haire and nailes grown very long their clothes almost rotten upon their backes for the want of shift and all their healths very much impaired with that course of life yet neither would he nor any of his children being so tutored by him speak to any one though never so much pressed thereunto But it pleased God at length that his children being taken from him and sent to some friends recovered both their tongues and health Himself upon the breaking open of this door presently took his bed refusing to speak to or converse with any and though by godly Ministers and others which came to him he was laboured with to take notice of the dangerous temptation under which he lay intreated counselled threatened and prayed with and for him yet still turning his face to the wall he would neither heare nor answer them one word In which obstinate condition he remained till his death which was not long after David George alins Haàs Van Burcht borne in Delft in the Low-countreys a man altogether unlearned being a painter of glasses yet subtile of understanding and eloquent withal after he began to disperse his erroneous tenets was sought after by the Magistrates of that place whereupon he fled with his family to Basil in Suitzerland where in private he taught and advanced his damnable Heresies confirming his absent disciples by letters and books which he caused to be printed in the Castle of Beningen He died in the said town of Basil Anno 1556. for griefe that one of his followers was revolted Before his death whereas his disciples thought him to be god seeing him draw towards death he resolutely said unto them Be not amased I go to begin to shew my power Christ my predecessour to shew his power rose again the third day but I to shew my greater glory will rise again at the end of three years Afterwards the Magistrate being throughly informed of his life and doctrine caused his processe to be drawn and by a sentence his body was taken out of the ground and justice done as if he had been alive his goods confiscated and his books burnt Belg. Com. Wealth p. 65. 66. At Boston in New England the seventeenth of Octob. 1637. the wife of Master William Dier which woman held many monstrous and Heretical opinions was brought to bed of a Monster which had no head the face stood low upon the breast the eares like an Apes grew upon the shoulders the eyes stood far out and so did the mouth the nose was hooking upward the breast and back full of short prickles like a Thornback the Navel belly and distinction of the sexe were where the hips should have been and those back-parts were on the same side with the face the armes hands thighes and leggs were as other childrens but instead of toes it had on each foot three clawes with Tallons like a Fowle upon the back above the belly it had two great holes like mouths and in each of them stood out two peeces of flesh it had no forehead but in the place above the eyes it had four hornes two of above an inch long hard and sharpe and the othee two somewhat lesse It was of the female Sexe both the father and mother of it were great Familists The midwife one Hawkins wife of St. Ives was notorious for familiarity with the devil and a prime Familist Most of the women who were present at this womans travel were suddenly taken with such a violent vomiting and purging without eating or drinking any thing that they were forced to go home others had their children so taken with Convulsions which they neither had before nor after that they were sent for home so that none were left at the time of the birth of it but the Midwife and two other one of which was fallen asleep and at such time as the child died which was about two houres before the birth of it the bed wherein the mother lay shook so violently as that all that were in the roome perceived it the afterbirth had prickles on the inside like those on the childes breast See Mr. Wells short story c p. 44. Also about the same time and in the same place one Mistris Hutchinson who held about thirty monstrous and Heretical opinions whereof you have a Catalogue set down by the same Author Pag. 59. c. growing big with childe and towards the time of her labour at last brought forth thirty monstrous births or thereabouts at once some of them bigger and some lesser some of one shape and some of another few of any perfect shape none of all of them of humane shape This Mistris Hutchinson was first banished by the Magistrates of New-England into Read-Island for her Heresies but not staying long there she removed with all her family her daughter and her children into the Dutch Plantation to a place called Helgate where the Indians set upon them and slew her with all her family her daughter and her daughters husband with all their children save onely one that escaped which is the more remarkable because it was never heard that the Indians either before or since did commit the like outrage upon any others A Popish Priest Parson of Crondal neere Canterbury at the coming in of Cardinal Poole was absolved by him got a Copy of the Popes Bull of pardon brought into England by the said Poole which the Sabbath following he read to his people and withal told them that having been with the Cardinal on the Thursday before he had made him as clean from his sinnes as he was at the Font-stone or
ones the daughter of my people is become cruel like Ostriches in the wildernesse Lam. 4. 3. CHAP. XXXII Examples of fond Parents and the miseries that they have brought upon themselves thereby FOrbidden Deut. 13. 8 9. Prov. 19. 18. 13. 24. 29. 17. Scriptural Examples Eli 1 Sam. 2. 22 29. David to Adonijah 1 Kings 1. 6. to Absalom 2 Sam. 18. 33. How severely God punished Eli for his indulgence to his wicked sonnes See it in 1 Sam. 2. 27 c. 3. 11 c. David also who cockered Absalom and Adonijah above all the rest of his children was most afflicted by them one breaking out into open rebellion wherein he died the other usurping the Crowne before his fathers death which cost him his life also 2 Sam. 15. 1 King 1. 5 c. A certaine woman in Flanders contrary to the will of her husband used to feed her two sonnes with money to maintaine their riot yea to furnish them she would rob her husband but presently after her husbands death God plagued her for this her foolish indulgence for from rioting these youngsters fell to robbing for the which one of them was executed by the sword and the other by the halter the mother looking on as a witnesse of their destructions Ludo. Vives A young man in our owne Nation as he was going to the gallows desired to speak with his mother in her eare but when she came instead of whispering he bit of her eare with his teeth exclaiming upon her as the cause of his death because she did not chastise him in his youth for his faults but by her fondnesse so imboldened him in his vices as brought him to this wofull end Seleucus marrying Stratonica the daughter of Demetrius shortly after Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus fell in love with his stepmother and not daring to discover it for feare of the displeasure of his father he pined a way from day to day at last one of his Physicians found out the cause of his disease and acquainted his father therewith who out of indulgence to his sonne calling his Nobles and people together said I have decreed to make Antiochus my sonne King of all my superior Provinces and to give him Stratonica for his wife and Queen and if she scruple the unlawfulnesse of the marriage I desire you that are my friends to perswade her that all things are honest and just that a King shall decree for the publick profit Plut. Andronicus one of the Greek Emperours doted with such extream impotency of partial affection upon his Nephew young Andronicus that in comparison of him he disregarded not only the rest of his Nephews but his own children also being unwilling to spare him out of sight either day or night but when this young man was stept further into yeares besides a world of miseries and molestations created to his Grand-father in the mean time at last he pressed without resistance upon his Palace with purpose to surprise his person though the old Emperout intreated him with much affectionate eloquence that he would reverence those hands which had oftentimes so willingly embraced him and those lips which had so oft lovingly kissed him and that he would spare to spill that blood from which himselfe had taken the fountaine of life yet for all this he caused the old Emperour to be polled shaven and made a Monk and not only so but also the very Anvile of much dunghill-scorne and vilest indignities untill the workmanship of death had finished the sorrowful businesse of a wretched lfie Turk Hist. Austine upon a terrible and dreadfull accident called his people together to a Sermon wherein he relates this dolefull story Our Noble Citizen saith he Cyrillus a man mighty amongst us both in work and word and much beloved had as you know one onely sonne and because but one he loved him immeasurably and above God and so being drunke with immoderate doting he neglected to correct him and gave him liberty to do whatsoever he list Now this very day saith he this same fellow thus long suffered in this dissolute and riotous courses hath in his drunken humour wickedly offered violence to his mother great with childe would have violated his sister hath killed his father and wounded two of his sisters to death Adfrat in Eremo Ser. 33. Chasten thy sonne betimes and let not thy soul spare for his crying Prov. 19. 18. CHAP. XXXIII Examples of Brethrens love each to other THey ought to love one another Prov. 17. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Rom. 12. 10. Heb. 13. 1. It 's an excellent thing Psal 133. 1. Scriptural examples Jobs children Job 1. 13. Lazarus Martha and Mary John 11. 19 c. Joseph Gen. 43. 29 c. 45. 14. Joab and Abishai 2 Sam. 3. 27 30. Judah Gen. 37. 26. In the beginning of the reigne of Darius King of Persia one of his Nobles called Intaphernes conspired against him which being discovered to Darius he caused him and all his kindred to be cast into prison But Intaphernes wife exceedingly weeping and houling Darius gave her leave to choose any one of the prisoners whose life she would have spared whereupon amongst them all she chose her brother and Darius asking her why she â—…se her brother rather then her husband or son she answered Because if God please I may have another husband and children but my Parents being dead I cannot have another brother This so pleased Darius that he granted her the life not only of her brother but of her son too Herod Darius King of Persia being dead left two sons Ariamenes or as some call him Artabazanes and Xerxes these both claimed the Kingdome but brotherly love so prevailed with them that they were contented to stand to the judgement of the Persian Nobles yet in the interim Xerxes being in Persia performed all the offices of a King and Ariaments coming out of Media Xerxes sent great presents to him commanding the messengers to tell him Thy brother Xerxes presents thee with these gifts and if by the consent and suffrage of the Nobles he be declared King he promises thee the chiefest place next unto himself To which Ariamenes returned this answer Truly I willingly accept of these gifts yet claim the Sovereignty to belong to me but will reserve the next place of dignity for my brother Xerxes The Persian Nobles referred the determination of this controversie to their Uncle Artabanus who having heard both sides determined for Xerxes because Ariamenes was borne to Darius whil'st he was a private person Xerxes after he was a King the mother of Ariamenes was the daughter of Gobrias a private woman the mother of Xerxes was Atossa a Queen Ariamenes hearing this judgement without any distemper of spirit rose up worshipped his brother and taking him by the hand placed him in the Kingly throne and ever after was very obsequious to him Plut. Herod And he fell upon his brother Benjamins neck and wept and
second sonne became deformed in his Limbs and fell lame His third son was drowned in a small puddle of water His eldest daughter was suddenly struck with a foule Leprosie and himself in his old age was arraigned found guilty of murther and escaped hanging very narrowly Speed Chron. p. 927. John Curcy Earle of Ulster in Ireland was betrayed by his own servants for a peece of money given them in hand and for a greater reward to be given afterwards promised unto them by his mortal enemy Hugh Lacy accordingly the said Earl Hugh Lacy rewarded all the aforesaid Traitors with gold and silver as he had promised but presently after hanged them all up and took away their goods Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 153. Nicholas Keretschen Governour of Gyula in Transilvania betraied the same unto the Turks for a great sum of money but when he expected the reward he was by the command of Selymus the Great Turke thrust into an hogshead stuck full of nailes with the points inward with this inscription upon it Here receive the reward of thy treason if thou beest not faithful to thy Master neither wilt thou be to me and so he was rolled up and down till he died Turk Hist. p. 824. A Noble Senator in Rome being proscribed by the Triumviri they promised a great reward to them that would discover him to them whereupon the Senators own servant betrayed him The Triumviri according to their promises first rewarded him for his service to the State because he delivered up into their hands one that was judged guilty of treason then to reward him for his treachery to his Master whom he should have preserved they threw him down headlong from the Capitol whereby he brake his neck Don Frederick sonne to the Duke of Alva going with his Army to Naerden in Holland was admitted into the town and himselfe and souldiers feasted by the Bourgers after which he commanded them with the rest of the inhabitants to go into a certaine Chappel where they should be made acquainted with such Lawes as they were to be regulated by but when they were thus assembled he sent his souldiers commanding them to murther them without sparing any one The men were Massacred the women first ravished and then murthered the children and infants had their throats cut See my Gen. Martyr p. 265. Many of the chiefest of the Brittish Nobility were trained in Almsebury to treat with the chiefest of the Saxons about a peace but being betrayed by them they were basely murthered whence those great stones were erected called Stoneheng See my English Martyrology p. 8. The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously yea the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously Isa. 24. 16. CHAP. XXXIX Examples of Fidelity COmmended Mat. 24. 45. 25. 21. Prov. 25. 13. Psal. 15. 4. 31. 23. 101. 6. Prov. 13. 17. 14. 5. 28. 20. Luk. 12. 42. Commanded 1 Cor. 4. 2. 1 Tim. 3. 11. Jerem. 23. 28. Highly prized Psal. 12. 1. Prov. 11. 13. 20. 6. 27. 6. Luke 16. 10 c. 19. 17. Scriptural examples Abrahams servant Gen. 24. David to Jonathan 1 Sam. 20. 15. with 2 Sam. 9. 1. Jacob to Laban Gen. 31. 38 c. Jonathan to David 1 Sam. 18. 3 c. Jehoiadah to Joash 2 King 11. 4 c. Mordecai Ester 2. 22. A woman 2 Sam 17. 19 c. Rahab with the spies Ios. 2. 4 c. The workmen about the Temple 2 Kings 12. 15. Moses Num. 12. 7. Nehemiah chap. 7. 2. Daniel chap. 6. 4. Onesimus Col. 4. 9. Timothy 1 Cor. 4. 17. Tichicus Eph. 6. 21. Col. 4. 7. Epaphras Col. 1. 7. Sylvanus 1 Pet. 5. 12. Josiah's workmen 2 King 22. 7. Gains 3 Iohn 5. Joseph Gen. 39. 8. Other examples The Romanes so highly esteemed of Faith in all their publick affaires that in their City they had a Temple dedicated to it and for more reverence-sake offered sacrifice to the image of Faith Attilius Regulus General of the Romane Army against the Carthaginians being overcome was taken prisoner after which being sent to Rome upon his Parole with conditions of peace which he judged dishonourable he first disswaded his Citizens from accepting of them and then to keep his oath returned to the Carthaginians though he was sure to die a painful death Tul. de offic Pontius Centurio a Captaine of Caesars being taken by Pompey's father in Law had his life offered him with an honourable place in Pompey's Army if he would leave Caesar and serve Pompey But he stoutly answered Scipio that though he thanked him greatly for his kinde offer yet that he would not accept of life upon such unequal conditions choosing rather to die then to falsifie his faith to Caesar. Themistocles being banished Athens by his ungrateful Citizens was forced to flie to his mortal enemy Artaxerxes for refuge with whom he found great favour and having continued a while with him Artaxerxes went to warre against the Athenians and would needs have Themistocles to go along with him Themistocles was content upon condition that the King would sweare to him that without him he would not go into Greece this Artaxerxes assents to whereupon Themistocles making a great feast and inviting his friends to it the feast being ended he drank a draught of bulls blood and so poisoned himself by this means shewing his faithfulnesse to his City which had been so ungrateful to him for he prevented the Kings going against it by reason of his oath and rather chose death then that himself would act any thing against it Diodorus King Porsenna making peace with the Romanes amongst other conditions this was one that the Romans should deliver to him ten young Noble mens sons and ten of their daughters for hostages which was accordingly done and Publicola's daughter called Valeria was one of them within few days after these ten Virgins went to the river Tyber to wash themselves where being freed from their guard they had a great desire to escape over the river though it was very deepe and ranne with a swift streame and so to get home and Caelia venturing first upon her horses back encouraged the others and so they gat all safe over and went and presented themselves to Publicola but he was so farre from countenancing them in their escape that he immediately sent them back to Porsenna when they came back Porsenna asked which of them it was that had first adventured to swim the river and being shewed Caelia he sent for one of his best horses and richest furniture and bestowed it upon her Plut. Darius Junior accounted nothing more sacred then faithfully to keep and performe all his Leagues Covenants and Promises Xenophon Ptolemy King of Egypt besieging Tyrus sent to Andronicus the Governour to surrender it to him Andronicus returned answer that he would by no meanes be brought to violate his faith given to Antigonus for whom he kept the City withal adding divers reproachful speeches against
he had made himselfe sweat by some labour Stobaeus Anrelianus the Emperour never suffered day to passe over his head wherein he did not exercise himselfe in some hard labour or military imployment Alex. ab Alex. The City of Casan in Parthia is much to be commended for its civil Government for an idle person is not suffered to live amongst them The childe that is but six years old is set to labour no ill rule disorder or riot is suffered there They have a Law amongst them whereby every person is compelled to give in his name to the Magistrates withall declaring by what course he liveth and if any tell untruly he is either soundly beaten on the feet or imployed in publick slavery P. Pil. v. 1. In China the whole Countrey is well husbanded and though the people generally are great spenders yet they first get it by their hard labour Idle persons are much abhorred in this Countrey and such as will not labour must not eat amongst them for there are none that will give almes to the poore If any be blinde they are put to grinde in horse mills If lame impotent bedrid c. the next of their kin is forced to maintaine them If they be not able the King hath Hospitals in every City wherein they are sufficiently provided for P. Pil. v. 3. CHAP. LXII Examples of such as have preferred Christ before all earthly enjoyments Under the eight Persecution there was one Marinus a Nobleman and valiant Captaine in Caesaria who stood for an honourable office that of right fell to him but his Competitor to prevent him accused him to the Judge for being a Christian The Judge examining him of his faith and finding it true gave him three houres time to deliberate with himselfe whether he would lose his Office and Life or renounce Christ and his profession Marinus being much perplexed what to resolve on a godly Bishop took him by the hand led him into the Church laid before him a sword and a New-Testament bidding him freely take his choice which of them he would have whereupon Marinus ranne to the New Testament and chose that and so being encouraged by the Bishop he went boldly to the Judge by whose sentence he was beheaded Dioclesian that bloody Persecutor first laboured to seduce the Christian souldiers in his Camp commanding them either to sacrifice to his gods or to lay down their places offices and armes To whom they resolutely answered That they were not only ready to lay down their honours and weapons but even their lives if he required it rather then to sinne against God and deny Christ. A Noble Virgin in Portugal called Eulalia under the tenth Persecution seeing the cruelty used against Christians for the cause of Christ went to the Judge and thus bespake him What a shame is it for you thus wickedly to seek to kill mens souls and to break their bodies in pieces seeking thereby to withdraw them from Christ Would you know what I am I am a Christian ana an enemy to your devillish sacrifices I spurne your idols under my feet c. Hereupon the Judge being enraged said unto her O fond and sturdy girle I would faine have thee before thou diest revoke thy wickednesse Remember the Honourable House of which thou art come and thy friends teares Wilt thou cast away thy selfe in the flower of thy youth Wilt thou bereave thy selfe of honourable marriage Doth the glittering pomp of the bride-bed nothing prevaile with thee c. Behold if these things will not move thee I have here variety of engins prepared to put thee to a cruel death c. But our Noble Eulalia having her heart ravished with the love of Christ to whom she desired to be married rejected both his flatteries and threats and chose death rather then to forsake Christ. See my General Martyrology p. 77. In the late Bohemian Persecution a noble Lady of the City of Latium leaving all her riches house and friends crept under the walls through the common sewer the gates being guarded that she might enjoy Christ in his Ordinances elsewhere In the Affrican Persecution under the Arians there was a noble man called Saturus eminent for piety and holinesse whom the Tyrant King laboured to withdraw from Christ and his truth to the Arian Heresie telling him that if he consented not presently he should forfeit his house his Lands his goods his honours that his children and servants should be sold that his wife should be given to one of his basest slaves c. But when threats prevailed not he was cast into prison and when his Lady heard her doom she went to him with her garments rent and her hair disheveled her children at her heeles and a sucking infant in her armes and falling down at her husbands feet she took him about the knees saying Have compassion O my sweetest of me thy poor wife and of these thy children look upon them let them not be made slaves let not me be yoaked in so base a marriage consider that which thou art required to do thou doest it not willingly but art constrained thereto and therefore it will not be laid to thy charge c. But this valiant Souldier of Christ answered her in the words of Job Thou speakest like a foolish woman Thou actest the Devils part If thou truly lovedst thy husband thou wouldest never seek to draw him to sin that may separate him from Christ and expose him to the second death Know assuredly that I am resolved as my Saviour Christ commands me to forsake wife children house lands c. that so I may enjoy him which is best of all One Copin a Merchant in France was apprehended and carried before the Bishop of Ast for his bold asserting of the truth to whom the B. said that he must either recant his opinions or be punished But Copin answered that he would maintain them with his life For saith he I have goods a wife and children and yet have I lost those affections which I formerly bore to them neither are they dear to me so I may gain Christ. See more Examples of this kind before in this Book p. 29 30 31. Anno Christi 1620. in that bloody Persecution in the Valtoline a noble Gentleman having for a while hid himself was at last found out by his Popish adversaries whom he requested to spare him for his childrens sake but they told him that this was no time for pity except he would renounce his Religion and embrace Popery whereupon he said God forbid that to save this temporal life I should deny my Lord Jesus Christ who with his precious blood upon the Crosse redeemed me at so dear a rate c. I say God forbid and so they murthered him See my Gen. Martyrologie p. 327. Anno Christi 1507. one Laurence Guest being in prison for the truth in Salisbury the Bishop because he had good friends laboured by all means to draw him to recant but not
prevailing he condemned him yet when he was at the stake he sent his wife and seven children to him hoping by that meanes to work upon him but through Gods grace Religion overcame nature and when his wife intreated him with tears to favour himself he answered Be not a block in my way for I am in a good course and running towards the mark of my salvation and so he patiently suffered Martyrdome In Q Maries daies one Steven Knight Martyr when he came to the stake kneeled down and prayed thus O Lord Jesus Christ for the love of whom I willingly leave this life and rather desire the bitter death of thy Crosse with the losse of all earthly goods then to obey men in breaking thy holy Commandments Thou seest O Lord that whereas I might live in worldly wealth if I would worship a false god I rather choose the torments of my body and losse of my life counting all things but dung and drosse that I might win thee for whose sake death is dearer unto me then thousands of gold and silver c. See my Eng. Martyrologie p. 132. Thomas Watts Martyr when he was at the stake called his wife and six children to him saying Dear wife and my good children I must now leave you and therefore henceforth know I you no more as the Lord gave you unto me so I give you back again to the Lord c. and so kissing them he bade them farewell and went joyfully to the stake Idem p. 143. Nicholas Sheterden Martyr when he was ready to be burned said Lord thou knowest that if I would but seem to please men in things contrary to thy Word I might enjoy the commodities of life as others do as wife children goods and friends But seeing the world will not suffer me to enjoy them except I sin against thy holy Lawes lo I willingly leave all the pleasures of this life for the hopes sake of eternal life c. Idem p. 146. Richard Woodman Martyr when he was brought to his answer the Bishop told him that if he would be reformed he might enjoy his wife and children c. To whom he answered I love my wife and children in the Lord and if I had ten thousand pounds in gold I had rather forgo it all then them but yet I have them as if I had them not and will not for their sakes for sake Christ. Idem p. 185. A poor woman in Cornwall being admonished by the Bishop to remember her husband and children She answered I have them and I have them not whilest I was at liberty I enjoyed them but now seeing I must either forsake Christ or them I am resolved to stick to Christ alone my heavenly Spouse and to renounce the other Idem p. 211. See more in my two parts of Lives I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him c. Phil. 3. 8 9. Examples concerning Christ our Mediatour Themistocles being banished Athens was forced to fly to his deadly enemy Admetus King of the Molossians and when he came thither he took the Kings son being a child in his armes and so prostrated himself before the K. and found favour for it was a sacred Law amongst the Molossians that whosoever thus came before the King should have pardon whatsoever his offence was so whosoever goes to God the Father with Christ in his armes shall be sure to speed in his request Claudius Tib. Caesar hearing of the miracles and resurrection of Jesus Christ moved the Senate at Rome that he might be numbred amongst the gods but the Senate refused because he was by some esteemed for a God before the Senate had decreed him one Tert. One in Tamerlanes Army having found a great pot of Gold digged it up and brought it to Tamerlane who asked whether the Gold had his Fathers stamp upon it but when he saw it had the Roman stamp he would not own it So God will own none but such as have the stamp of Christ and his Image upon them CHAP. LXIII Examples of Compassion Sympathy COmmanded 1 Pet. 3. 8. Zach. 7. 8. Such as want it love not God 1 Joh. 3. 17. And are wicked 2 Chron. 36. 17. Scriptural Examples Our Saviour Christ Matt. 9. 36. 14. 14. 15. 32. Mark 1. 41. 6. 34. A Lord Matth. 18. 27. Pharaohs daughter Exod. 2. 6. The Father of the Prodigal Luke 15. 20. Darius his wife being a Captive with Alexander miscarried by reason of a fall and so died which when Alexander heard of he brake forth into weeping and suffered one of her Eunuches to carry Darius word of her death Darius hearing that Alexander wept at the newes of her death conceited that he had been too familiar with her but when the Eunuch by grievous asseverations protested that he had never seen her but once and then never offered the least indignity to her Darius lifting up his hands to heaven prayed the gods that if the Persian Empire were at an end that none might sit in Cyrus his Throne but so just and merciful a Conquerour Q. Cur. When Alexander M. found Darius murthered by his own servants though he was his enemy yet he could not refrain from weeping and putting off his own Coate he covered the body of Darius with it and so clothing of him with Kingly Ornaments he sent him to his mother Sisigambis to be interred amongst his Ancestors in a royall manner Q. Cur. Nero the Emperour in the first five years of his reign was of a very compassionate disposition insomuch as being requested to set his hand to a Writ for the execution of a Malefactor he said Quà m vellem me nescire literas Would I had never learned to write Sâ—ne Camillus with the Roman Army after ten years siege took the City of Veia in Italy by storme and when Camillus from the top of the Castle saw the infinite riches which the Souldiers took by plundering the City he wept for very pitty to see the miseries which were brought upon the inhabitants Plut. The Thebans having given the Lacedemonians a very great overthrow in the Battel of Leuctra they presently sent an Ambassador to Athens to acquaint them with it and to desire them to enter into confederacy with them against the Lacedemonians their old enemies telling them that now was the time when they might be fully revenged of them for all the wrongs which they had received from them but the Athenian Senate was so far from rejoycing at the misery of the Lacedemonians that they did not so much as give lodging the Ambassadour or treat at all with him about a League Plut. Vespasian the Emperour was of such a merciful disposition that he never rejoyced at the death of any though his enemies yea he used to sigh and weep when he