and thereupon putting off his Apparel he gave it to his Deacons wishing them to give to his Executioner 25 pieces of Gold in testimony of his Love to him and so kneeling down cover'd his Eyes and submitted willingly to the stroke of the Sword A. C. 259. Ibid. 2. Cyril Bishop of Alexandria when in a great Famine many poor People came to him for Relief gave them all he had and sold the Vessels and Church-Ornaments to relieve their Wants Ibid. 3. Ephrem Syrus upon a Famine happening at Edessa assembling the Rich Men together complained that the Poor were almost starved whilst they covetously kept their Riches by them to their future Hazard and Torment of their Souls and perswading them to a charitable Contribution they chose him for their Almoner who thereupon took their Money provided 300 Beds for the Sick and Strangers and relieved them all the time of the Famine Ibid. 4. Basil the Great in a great Famine sold his Lands and all his other Goods to relieve the Poor and stil'd up other rich Merchants to contribute and caused publick Places to be erected for their Maintenance and would often not only visit them but administer to their Necessities Ibid. 5. Epiphanius spent all his Estate in relieving the Poor Ibid. 6. Theoderet was wonderfully charitable visiting and refreshing the Bowels of the Poor Ibid. 7. Chrysotom when banished to Cucusus in Armenia had much Money sent him by his Friends which he wholly employed for the Redemption of Captives and the Relief of poor Prisoners Ibid. 8. S. Augustine was very careful for the Poor and in case of great want would sell the Ornaments of the Church for their Relief and when the Church-Stock was spent he used to declare to the People that he had nothing left wherewith to relieve the Poor that thereby he might stir up their Charity to contribute to so good a work ibid. He always kept Scholars in his House whom he Fed and Cloathed ibid. At his Death he made no Will as having nothing to bestow ibid. 9. Cyril Bishop of Alexandria used to say 't is the best way for a Rich Man to make the Bellies of the Poor his Barns and thereby to lay up Treasure in Heaven Ibid. 10. Prosper Bishop of Rhegium in France distributed his Goods freely to the Poor and was a Father to all Ages and Sexes in the City Ibid. p. 89. 11. Fulgentius just before his Death called for a Sum of Money which as a Faithful Steward he daily used to distribute a mongst the Poor willing it all to be presently divided and recited by name the Widows Orphans and Poor he allotted to every one his Portion Ibid. p. 95. 12. Gregory the Great after his Fathers Death having more Liberty to dispose of himself and his Estate gave all his Estate towards the Relief of the Poor Ibid. p. 96. 13. S. Bernard What Money he had given him whilst Young he privately gave away to the Poor Ibid. p. 95. 14. Our late most Excellent Queen Mary distributed Annually to the distressed French Protestants 40000 Pounds English Spanhemius in his Funeral Oration She sent some Thousands of Pounds into this Land to be distributed among the Relicks of those that were killed Perizonius 15. Luther was very liberal to the Poor a poor Student asking him some Money he bid his Wife give him some but she pleading Penury he look't up a Silver Cup and gave that to him Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist. p. 144. 16. John Picus of Mirandula Relieved the Poor every Day gave much Money to poor Maids to prefer them in Marriage and employed an intimate Friend to enquire out the Wants and Necessities of poor House-keepers whom he bountifully Relieved Clark in his Life 17. Edward VIth King of England in a Sermon Preached by Dr. Ridley about Charity ordered Gray-Fryars-Church to be a House for Orphans St. Bartholomews to be an Hospital and his own House at Bridewel to be a place of Correction Hist of the Reform 18. Arch-Bishop Cranmer laid out all his Wealth on the Poor and pious Uses Ibid. 19. Queen Ann Bullen ever used to carry a little Purse about her for the Poor thinking no Day well spent wherein some had not fared the better at her Hand She kept her Maids and such as were about her so employed in Working and sewing Garments for the Poor that neither was there seen any idleness amongst them or any Leisure to follow foolish Pastimes Acts and Mon. 20. King Henry IId of England Sirnamed Beauclerk was very Charitable and Merciful to the Poor and Anno Christi 1176. in a great Dearth in his Countries of Anjou and Maine he fed every Day with sufficient Sustenance Ten Thousand Persons from the beginning of April till the time that new Corn was inned And whatsoever was laid up in his Granaries and Store-houses he employed the same for Relief of religious and poor People Pet. Blesensis 21. Francis Russel Second Earl of Bedford of that Sirname was so bountiful to the Poor that Queen Elizabeth would merrily complain of him that he made all the Beggars And sure it 's more Honourable for Noblemen to make Beggars by their Liberality then by their Oppression Holy State p. 297. 22. Holy Master Bradford in a hard time sold his Chains Rings and Jewels to Relieve those that were in Want Acts and Mon. 23. George Wiseheart a Scottish Martyr forbore one Meal in three or one Day in four that he might have wherewithal to Relieve the Poor He lay also hard upon Straw with new coarse Canvas Sheets which whenever he changed he gave away to the Poor See his Life in Clark's General Martyrology 24. Mr. John Eliot went much beyond the Proportions of his little Estate in the World bestowing freely upon the poor many hundreds of Pounds and he would with a very forcible Importunity press his Neighbours to join with him in such Beneficences Cott. Mather in his Life p. 39. Roxbury the Town where he lived could not live quietly without a Free School in the Town and the Issue of it hath been one thing which hath made me almost put the Title of Schola Illustris upon that little Nursery that is that Roxbury hath afforded more Scholars first for the Colledge and then for the Publick then any Town of its bigness or if I mistake not of twice its bigness in New England Ibid. p. 66. 25. Mr. Eliot learned the Indian Tongue with some Pains and Charge Translated the whole Bible into it and several English Treatises gathered a Church of Converted Indians about Natick and another about Mashippang and above these Five Assemblies more and set Pastors over them who meet together twice every Lord's Day and sometimes solemnly set a part whole Days either for Thanksgiving or Humiliation c. Ibid. p. 97 98. 26. Giles of Bruxels Martyr gave to the Poor all that he had that necessity could spare and lived by his Trade which was of a Cutler Some he
in French to this purpose Parlez peu parlez bien Parlez rien ou parlez bien The first is in English Speak little speak well And the second is Speak nothing or speak well If every a Man did observe that Rule punctually and followed those Proverbs exactly it was the Cardinal For except in Publick Meetings and when State-Business were in agitation he spoke very little or nothing at all We said afore that when the King himself did speak to him in the behalf of an English Gentleman he nodded only unto the Gentleman and gave him never a word See his Life by Dugres p. 34. 21. Thomas a Kempis is remarked likewise for his Silence in Company execepting where Discourse was moved upon Religious Subjects See his Life 22. Mr. Samuel Fairclough had it deeply engraven on his Heart for he highly approved that common Saying viz. Bene vixit qui bene latuit A retired Life is an happy Life 'T is true his Parts and his Employment would not permit him to be hid but he always endeavoured it and he counted a Life of Meditation and Study and sweetest Life in the World It was from this settled Judgement that he did avoid as much as he was able all places of publick Trust See his Life CHAP. LI. Good Wives Remarkable A Good Wife is the Gift of the Lord and a good Thing and rarely to be found said the wisest of meer Men And we have reason to believe him the rather because the first Man Adam the righteous Lot the faithful Abraham the meek Moses the strong Sampson the wise Solomon the zealous Peter the Philosopher Socrates the Orator Cicero were all either over-reached or over-powered or afflicted with Women Yet the Grace of God and the Doctrine of Christianity hath been able to make some Wives so good that they have been an Honour to their Sex and a Comfort and Crown to their Husbands Amongst the old Heathens we find these following remarkable viz. 1. Andromache the Wife of Hector noted by Ovid for one of the best of Wives 2. Laodomia the Wife of Protesilaus who hearing that her Husband was killed at Troy slew her self because she would not out-live her Husband Ovid. 3. Penlope the Wife of Vlisses a Woman of rare Chastity for though her Husband presently after Marriage went to Troy where he stayed Ten years and was Ten years more wandring out of his way home yet would the not by any means violate the Faith given to her Husband in Marriage no not when it was reported that her Husband was dead and her Parents perswaded her to marry and many Nobles came to woo her and some were ready to take her by force but she craving Patience till a Web of Cloth which she had in hand was finished undid that in the night which she did by day and so beguiled them At last her Husband returned and slew the Ruffians who had disturbed his Wife and House Idem 4. Amongst the Christians Marcella a Noble Matron of Rome with whom Hierom was acquainted and under his Instruction she profited so much that in Points of Controversy upon Points of Scripture People repaired to her as a Judge therein Clark 's Marr of Eccl. Hist 5. Livia is recorded to have been easy to Augustus feigning her self wholly at the bâ—ck of her Husband not for her Husband's sake but for her own and her Childrens And whatever Sempronius Gracchus and Caâ—us Caesar boast of their Cornelians M. Antony of his Octavia Germanicus of Agrippina and Trajan of his Plotina whatever the Brittish History vaunts of Marcia Proba the Wife of Guitheline of Maud the good Wife of Henry the First of Joan Beaufort married to James the First King of Scotland of Eleanor of Castile Wife of Edward the First Philippa of Haynault married to Edward the Third for their Manly Deeds for the Preservation of their Husbands or their Kingdoms or for their Conjugal Affection certainly William the Third of England might justly exalt his single Mary above all the Wives of former times than whom no Woman greater for her Courage more religious in her Affection more amiable in her Countenance more modest in her Habit more affable in her discourse or who with a more obedient Readiness to serve her Royal Consort whether present or absent was more his Counsellor his Hands his Ears his Eyes and every way more assistant to him Certainly this was the True Rose of York born indeed among Thorns yet free from Prickles her self as the August William told his mournful Bishops and Grandees That Mary 's Outside was known to them but her intrinsick and just value was only known to himself Fr. Spanhemius in his Funeral Orat. of Q. Mary II. p. 22. 6. Carlot a Portu Daughter of the Noble Peter a Portu Wife to Frederick Spanhemius was of such Innocency and Dove-like Simplicity free from Fraud and Guile and depended so wholly upon her Husband that she was willing to be governed in all things by his Advice which is the chief Commendations of a Wife and so had all things common with him Clark 's Eccl. Hist p. 499. 7. Clara Cervenda was one of the most beautiful and fairest Virgins in all Bruges she was married to Bernard Valdaura at that time above Forty four years of age The first night after her Marriage she found that her Husband's Thighs were rolled and wrapped with Clouts and that he was a Man very sore and sickly for all which she loved him not a whit the less Not long after Valdaura fell so sick that all the Physicians despaired of his Life then did she so attend upon him that in six Weeks space she put not off her Cloaths only for shift nor rested above an hour or two at the most in a night and that in her Cloaths This Disease was a venemous Relick of the Pox and the Physicians counselled Clara not to touch the sick Man or come near him and so also did her Kindred and Neighbours All which moved her not but having taken order for that which concerned the Benefit of his Soul she provided him all things that might tend to the Health of his Body she made him Broths and Juleps she changed his Sheets and Clouts although by reason of a continual Loosness and many Sores about him his Body never left running with Matter and Filth so that he never had any clean part about him All the day after she rested not the Strength of her Love supporting the Delicacy of her Body by this good means valdaura escaped that danger After this by reason of a sharp and hot Rheum falling from his Brain the Gristle within his Nose began to be eaten away wherefore the Physicians appointed a certain Powder to be blown up softly into his Nose at certain times with a Quill no body could be found to take such a loathsome Service in hand because of the Stench that came from him But Clara did it chearfully and when his Cheeks and
a Staff only And now he is greatly increased in Strength feeds moderately sleeps well and his Intellects and Faculties are become exceeding clear and strong His Wife behaved herself toward him all the while he lay under this great Affliction with great Care and Affection and by an honest and industrious course of Life supported him and his Children Attested by Rich. Parr D. D. of Camerwel Tho. Gale D. D. Will. Perry M. A. N. Paget M. D. Elias Ashmole And. Needham Curate of Lambeth c. 6. In the Year 1676 about the thirteenth or fourteenth of this Month October in the Night between one and two of the Clock Jesch Claes being a Dutch Woman of Amsterdam who for fourteen Years had been Lame of both legs one of them being dead and without feeling so that she could not go but creep upon the Ground or was carried in peoples Arms as a Child being in Bed with her Husband who was a Boatman she was three times pulled by her Arm with which she awaked and cryed out O Lord What may this be Hereupon she heard an Answer in plain Words Be not afraid I come in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Your Malady which hath for many Years been upon you shall cease and it shall be given you from God Almighty to walk again But keep this to your self till further Answer Whereupon she cryed aloud O Lord that I had a Light that I might know what this is Then had she this Answer There needs no Light the Light shall be given you from God Then came Light all over the Room and she saw a beautiful Youth about ten Years of Age with curled yellow Hair Clothed in White to the Feet who went from the Beds-head to the Chimney with a Light which a little after vanished Hereupon did there shoot something or gush from her Hip or diffuse it self through her Leg as a Water into her great Toe where she did find Life rising up felt it with her Hand crying out Lord give me my Feeling now which I have not had in so many Years And further she continued crying and praying to the Lord according to her weak Measure Yet she continued that Day Wednesday and the next Day Thursday as before till Evening at six a Clock at which time she sate at the Fire dressing the Food Then came as like a rushing Noise in both her Ears with which it was said to her Stand your going is given you again Then did she immediately stand up that had so many Years crept and went to the Door Her Husband meeting her being exceedingly afraid drew back In the mean while she cryed out My dear Husband I can go again The Man thinking it was a Spirit drew back saying You are not my Wife His Wife taking hold of him said My dear Husband I am the self-same that hath been Married these thirty Years to you The Almighty God hath given me my Going again But her Husband being amazed drew back to the side of the Room till at last she claspt her Hand about his Neck and yet he doubted and said to his Daughter Is this your Mother She answered Yes Father this we plainly see I had seen her go also before you came in This Person dwells upon Princes Island in Amsterdam This Account was sent from a Dutch Merchant procured by a Friend for Dr. R. Cudworth and contains the main Particulars that occur in the Dutch Printed Narrative which Monsieur Van Helmont brought over with him to my Lady Conway at Ragley who having enquired upon the spot when he was there at Amsterdam though of a genious not at all credulous of such Relations found the thing to be really true As also â—hilippus Lambergius in a Letter to Dr. Henry Moor sent this Testimony touching the Party cured That she was always reputed a very honest good Woman and that he believed there was no Fraud at all in that Business Glanvile's Saducism Triumph p. 427. 7. In this place may be accounted the strange way of curing the Struma or Scrophula commonly called the Evil which took its Derivation first of all from King Edward the Confessor and hath in after Ages been effected by the Kings of England and of France Concerning which take only this Story discoursing upon a time with Mr. Philip Caryll of Shipley in Sussex a Roman Catholick concerning Miracles done in this last Age in this Nation he produced this for an Instance That his Son being affected with that Distemper he having no Faith in the case was earnestly perswaded to address himself to King Charles the Second for a Touch of his Hand which having procured his Son was restored to perfect Health which he declared to me calling his Son into company and shewing him perfectly healed 8. Galen had a Man in Cure that had an Artery in his Ankle-bone half cut in sunder whereby he lost all his Blood before any Remedy could be applyed to him He writeth That he was advertised in his Sleep by some God or Angel that he should cut the Artery quite in sunder and the Ends would retire to each side and so lock together again When he awaked he executed what his Dream had represented to him and by that means cured the Man Treas of Ancient and Modern Times l. 5. p. 475. 9. A young Woman Married but without Children had a Disease about her Jaws and under her Cheek like unto Kernels and the Disease so corrupted her Face with Stench that she could scarce without great shame speak unto any Man This Woman was admonished in her Sleep to go to King Edward and get him to wash her Face with Water brought unto him and she should be whole To the Court she came and the King hearing of the matter disdained not to undertake it but having a Basin of Water brought unto him he dipped his Hand therein and washed the Womans Face and touched the diseased Part oftentimes sometimes also signing it with the Sign of the Cross When he had thus washed it the hard Crust or Skin was softned the Tumors dissolved and drawing his Hand by divers of the Holes out thence came divers little Worms whereof and of corrupt Matter and Blood they were full The Kings still pressed it with his Hand to bring forth the Corruption and endured the Stench of it until by such pressing he had brought forth all the Corruption This done he commanded her a sufficient Allowance every day for all things necessary until she had received perfect Health which was within a Week after and whereas she was ever before Barren within one Year she had a Child by her Husband This Disease hath since been called the Kings Evil and is frequently cured by the Touch of the Kings of England Stew's Annals p. 98. 10. Sir John Cheeke was once one of the Tutors to King Edward the Sixth afterwards Secretary of State much did the Kingdom value him but more the King for being once desperately
to carry my Soul to the Bosom of Jesus and I shall be for ever with the Lord in Glory And who can chuse but rejoyce in all this And now my dear Mother Brethren and Sisters Farewel I leave you for a while and I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified And now dear Lord my Work is done I have finished my course I have fought the good Fight and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteousness Now come dear Lord Jesus come quickly Then a Godly Minister came to give him his last Visit and to do the Office of an inferiour Angel to help to convey his blessed Soul to Glory who was now even upon Mount Pisgah and had a full sight of that goodly Land at a little distance When this Minister spake to him his heart was in a mighty flame of Love and Joy which drew Tears of Joy from that precious Minister being almost amazed to hear a Man just a dying talk as if he had been with Jesus He died June 1657. Aged between 23 and 24 and was buried in Kelshall-Church in Hartfordshire For a larger Account of this Extraordinaay Person see his Life written by his Brother Mr. James Janeway 102. Mrs. Allein in the History of the Life and Death of Mr. Joseph Allein writes thus concerning his Death viz. About Three in the Afternoon he had as we perceived some Conflict with Satan for he uttered these words Away thou foul Fiend thou Enemy of all Mankind thou subtil Sophister art thou come now to molest me Now I am just going Now I am so weak and Death upon me Trouble me not for I am none of thine I am the Lord 's Christ is mine and I am his His by Covenant I have sworn my self to be the Lord's and his I will be Therefore be gone These last words he repeated often which I took much notice of That his Covenanting with God was the means he used to expel the Devil and all his Temptations The time we were in Bath I had very few hours alone with him by reason of his constant using the Bath and Visits of Friends from all Parts thereabouts and sometimes from Taunton and when they were gone he would be either retiring to GOD or to his Rest But what time I had with him he always spent in Heavenly and Profitable Discourse speaking much of the Place he was going to and his Desires to be gone One Morning as I was Dressing him he looked up to Heaven and smiled and I urging him to know why he answered me thus Ah my Love I was thinking of my Marriage-Day it will be shortly O what a joyful Day will that be Will it not thinkest thou my dear heart Another time bringing him some Broth he said Blessed be the Lord for these Refreshments in the way home but O how sweet will Heaven be Another time I hope to be shortly where I shall need no Meat nor Drink nor Cloaths When he looked on his weak consumed hands he would say These shall be changed This vile Body shall be made like to Christ's Glorious Body O what a Glorious Day will the Day of the Resurrection be Methinks I see it by Faith How will the Saints lift up their heads and rejoyce and how sadly will the wicked World look then O come let us make haste our Lord will come shortly let us prepare If we long to be in Heaven let us hasten with our Work for when that is done away we shall be fetch'd O this vain foolish dirty World I wonder how reasonable Creatures can so dote upon it What is in it worth the looking after I care not to be in it longer than while my Master hath either doing or suffering Work for me were that done farewel to Earth Thus far Mrs. Allein 103. Dr. Peter du Moulin Professor of Divinity at Sedan at his last Hour pronounced these Words I shall be satisfied when I awake c. and twice or thrice Come Lord Jesus come Come Lord Jesus come and the last time that Text which he loved so much He that believeth in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and a little after Lord Jesu receive my Spirit It being said to him You shall see your Redeemer with your eyes laying his Hand on his Heart he answered with an Effort I believe it and so departed 1658. aged 90. Out of the French Copy of his Death 104. Arminius in his Sickness was so far from doubting any whit of that Confession he had publish'd that he stedfastly judged it to agree in all things with the Holy Scriptures and therefore he did persist therein That he was ready at that very moment to appear with that same Belief before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ the Son of God the Judge of the Quick and Dead He died of a Disease in the Bowels which caused Fevers Cough Extension of the Hypochondria Atrophy Gout Iliack Passion Obstruction of the Left Optick Nerve Dimness of the same Eye c. which gave occasion to some Censures He died Oct. 19. In his Life by an unknown Hand 105. Simon Episcopius An. 1643. falling sick of an Ischuria for Eleven Days not being able to make a drop of Water continued ill two Months or more and at last for some Weeks was deprived of his Sight which Loss had been more grievous to him had not his deep and almost continual Sleeping lessened the same For he complained of it to his Friends that he should not be able to serve the Church of Christ any more He died April 4 at Eight of the Clock in the Morning the Moon being then eclipsed saith the Author of his Life p. 26. 106. Gustavus Ericson King of Sweden having lived 70 Years and reigned 38. gave in Charge to his Children to endeavour the Peace and maintain the Liberties of their Country but especially to preserve the Purity of Religion without the Mixture of Human Inventions and to live in Unity as Brethren among themselves and so sealing up his Will he resigned his Spirit to God An. 1562. Clark's Martyrol p. 370. 107. Edward the Sixth King of England in the Time of his Sickness hearing Bishop Ridley preach upon Charity gave him many Thanks for it and thereupon ordered Gray-Friars Church to be a House for Orphans St. Bartholomew's to be an Hospital and his own House at Bridewel to be a Place of Correction And when he had set his Hand to that Work he thank'd God that he had prolong'd his Life till he had finished that good Design About three Hours before his Death having his Eyes clos'd and thinking none near him he prayed thus with himself Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched Life and take me among thy Chosen howbeit not my Will but thine be done Lord I commend my Spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest
how Happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosen sake send me Life and Death I suspect some Mistake in recording these last Words perhaps Life or Death that I may truly serve thee O my Lord God! bless thy People and save thine Inheritance O Lord God save thy People of England O my Lord God defend this Realm from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and thy People may praise thy Holy Name for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake His last Words were I am faint Lord have mercy and take my Spirit He died aged 17. 108. The Lady Jane Grey by King Edward's Will proclaimed Queen of England the Night before she was beheaded sent her Sister her Greek Testament in the end whereof she wrote as may be seen under the Head of Love of the Holy Scriptures She spoke on the Scaffold thus GOod People I am come hither to Die and by a Law I am condemned to the same My Offence against the Queen's Majesty was only in consenting to the Device of others which now is deemed Treason yet it was never of my seeking but by Counsel of those who should seem to have further understanding of those things than I who knew little of the Law and much less of Titles to the Crown But touching the Procurement thereof by me or on my behalf I do here wash my Hands in Innocency before God and the Face of you all this Day and therewith she wrung her Hands wherein she had her Book I pray you all good Christian People to bear me Witness that I die a true Christian Woman and that I look to be saved by no other means but only by the Mercy of God in the Blood of his only Son Jesus Christ And I do confess That when I knew the Word of God I neglected the same and loved my self and the World and therefore this Plague and Punishment is justly befallen me for my Sins And I yet thank God of his Goodness that he hath been pleased to give me Respite to Repent in And now good People while I am alive I pray assist me with your Prayers She died 1554. aged 16. Tu quibus ista legas incertum est Lector ocellis Ipsa equidem siccis scribere non potui Fox 's Martyrol 109. Queen Elizabeth is reported upon her Death-bed but by what Author I confess I do not presently remember to complain of the want of Time Time Time a World of Wealth for an Inch of Time yet finished her Course with that of the Apostle 2 Tim. 4.7 I have fought a good Fight c. 110. The young Lord Harrington professed in his Sickness That he feared not Death in what shape soever it came declaring about two Hours before his Death that he still felt the assured Comforts and Joys of his Salvation by Jesus Christ And when Death approached he breathed forth these longing Expressions Oh that Joy Oh my God! when shall I be with thee And so sweetly resigned up his Spirit unto God An. 1613. aged 22. See in his Life in the Young Man's Calling and my Christian 's Companion 111. Henry Prince of Wales eldest Son to King James in his Sickness had these Words to one that waited on him Ah Tom I in vain wish for that time I lost with thee and others in vain Recreations Which puts me in mind of what Mr. Smith relates in the Funeral Solemnity of Mr. Moor Fellow of Gaius College and Keeper of the University Library viz. That he often lamented the Misery of our English Gentry who are commonly brought up to nothing but Hawks and Hounds and know not how to bestow their Time in a Rainy Day and in the midst of all their Plenty are in want of Friends necessary Reproof and most loving Admonition 112. The Earl of Strafford made this Speech on the Scaffold May 12. 1641. MY Lord Primate of Ireland and my Lords and the rest of the Gentlemen it is a very great Comfort to me to have your Lordship by me this Day in regard I have been known to you a long time I should be very glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few Words but I doubt I shall not My Lord I come hither by the Good Will and Pleasure of Almighty God to pay that last Debt I owe to Sin which is Death and by the Blessing of God to rise again through the Merits of Christ Jesus to Eternal Glory I wish I had been private that I might have been heard My Lord if I might be so much beholden to you that I might use a few Words I should take it for a very great Courtesie My Lord I come hither to submit to that Judgment which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented Mind I do freely forgive all the World a Forgiveness that is not spoken from the Teeth outward as they say but from the Heart I speak it in the Presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not in me so much as a displeasing Thought to any Creature I thank God I may say truly and my Conscience bears me witness that in all my Service since I have had the Honour to serve His Majesty in any Employment I never had any thing in my Heart but the joynt and individual Prosperity of the King and People If it hath been my Hap to be misconstrued it is the common Portion of us all while we are in this Life the Righteous Judgment is hereafter here we are subject to Error and apt to be misjudged one of another There is one thing I desire to clear my self of and I am very confident I speak it with so much clearness that I hope I shall have your Christian Charity in the belief of it I did always ever think the Parliaments of England were the happiest Constitutions that any Kingdom or Nation lived under and under God the happiest Means of making King and People happy so far have I been from being against Parliaments For my Death I here acquit all the World and pray God heartily to forgive them and in particular my Lord Primate I am very glad that His Majesty is pleased to conceive me not meriting so severe and heavy a Punishment as the utmost execution of this Sentence I am very glad and infinitely rejoyce in this Mercy of his and beseech God to turn it to him that he may find Mercy when he hath most need of it I wish this Kingdom all the Prosperity and Happiness in the World I did it living and now dying it is my Wish I do now profess it from my Heart and do most humbly recommend it to every Mâ—n here and wish every Man to lay his Hand upon his Heart and consider seriously whether the beginning of the Happiness of a People should be written in Letters of Blood I fear you are in a wrong way and I desire Almighty God that no one drop of my Blood may
great variety of colours making them of the colours of Iron Copper Brass and parti-coloured as some Achat-Stones The considerations that induced him to this Attempt were the duration of this hard burnt Earth much above Brass or Marble against all Air and Weather and the softness of the Matter to be modelled which makes it capable of more curious work than Stones that are wrought with Chisels or Metals that are Cast And these Arts he employs about Materials of English Growth as the Stone-Bottles of a Clay in appearance like to Tobacco-Pipe-Clay which will not make Tobacco-Pipes though the Tobacco-Pipe-Clay will make Bottles so that that which hath lain useless to the Owners may become beneficial to them by reason of this Manufacture and many hands be set on Work and considerable Sums of Coin Annually kept at Home by it Dr. Plot Ibid. p. 250. 9. The Invention of making Glasses of Stone c. was brought into England first by Seignior de Costa a Mountferratess the Materials used formerly were black Flints calcined and a white christaline Sand with about two Ounces of Nitre Tartar and Borax to each of them But to avoid crizelling they have of late used great sort of white Pebies from the River Po in Italy with the aforesaid salts but in less Proportions of which they make a Peble Glass hard durable and whiter than any from Venice Dr. Plot Ibid. 10. The Great Tun of Heidleburgh is if not lately burnt kept in a great Building of the Castle joyning to the Cellars containing 204 Faiders and odd measure or about 200 Tuns instead of Hoops it is built with large Knee-Timber like the Ribs of a Ship which are painted and carved and have divers Inscriptions upon them and supported by carved Pedestals Upon one side of it is a handsome Stair-case to ascend to the top of the Vessel upon the top of which is a Gallery set round with Balistars 43 Steps high from the ground Dr. Brown's Travels p. 122. 11. I shall but just mention the new sort of Boxes or Colony Hives for Bees first invented by Dr. Wilkins late Bishop of Chester the ingenious contrivance of his Coach-Wheel to measure the Miles by the same Author the Net contrived by Sir Anthony Cope to catch all sorts of Fish within such a compass the Invention of an Ingenious Hopper to let down Oats into a Stable by degrees through a Square Pipe to avoid the incumbrance of Oat-Tubs serving likewise for the feeding of Swine Ibid. 12. Sir Philip Harcourt in Oxfordshire hath a Kitchin so strangely unusual that by way of Riddle it may be called either a Kitchin within a Chimney or a Kitchin without one for below it is nothing but a large Square and Octangular above ascending like a Tower the Fires being made against the Walls and the Smoke climbing up them without any Tunnels or disturbance to the Cooks which being stopt by a large conical Roof on the Top goes out at Loop-holes on every side according as the Wind sits the Loop-holes at the side next the Wind being shut with falling Doors and the adverse side opened Ibid. Par. 130. 13. Flat Floors having no Pillars to support them and whose main Beams are made of divers Pieces of Timber are to be seen in the Schools but especially in the Theatre of Oxford 14. Amongst Foreigners the Chinese aâ—â— very ingenious in making Porcellane Ware which they have improved to the highest Degree by training up their Children in the Arts of their Parents Corduba has attain'd to an excellent Skill in dressing of Leather call'd thence Cordovan-Leather the Persians in making Silks the Indians in Indigo and dyeing of Calicuts Bilboae in making of excellent tempered Blad 's Foenza in Italy and Holland for fine Earthen Wares the Venetians in making the Treacle of Andromacus and fine Glasses called thence Venice-Treacle and Venice-Glasses c. PresentState of Eng. Third Part. 15. This Art in England of Glass-making is improved of late to a very great height though we cannot bring Glasses to that perfection for want of those Materials which are only to be had there viz. two sorts of Plants call'd Jazul and Subit out of whose â—iouified Ashes the Venice-Glasses are blown See more concerning this afterwards in this Chapter 16. Woollen-manufacture is the most general of England the chief prop of our Trade and Commerce the chief Support of the poor The first broad cloth so called because of the broad Looms wherein it was wrought made in England is said to have been made by Jack of Newbury in the Reign of King Edward the III. The first famous Clothiers were the Webscloths and Clutbucks in Glocestershire For this ingenious and profitable Art or mystery of Woollen-work there is no place in England more famed than the City of Norwich which hath for a long time flourished by making of Worsted Stuffs which being wrought here more curiously than elsewhere are thence called Norwich-Stuffs which Work hath been brought to the greater perfection by the Industry of the Dutch and French Families who have been here planted for several Years No Nation ever loseth but getteth by the Transplantation of industrious Foreigners who by Interest and Converse soon become one with the people among whom they inhabit The Stuffs here vended the chief Trade whereof as also of Stockins is to London are esteemed at 100000 l. per ann which Stuffs are under the Government of two Companies the Worsted-Company and the Russel-Company The stockings of 60000 l. per ann but there is another Town in this County which is called Worsted seems to be the first noted place wherein these Stuffs were substantiallyâ— made Kidderminster in Worcestershire drives a great Trade in making of certain Stuffs which are thence called Kidderm-Stuffs and in the same Shire the City of Worcester it self and also Malmsbury for Woollen-Cloth In Warwickshire Coventry in Lancashire Manchester is much enriched by the Industry of the Inhabitants in making Cloth of Linnen and Woollen Taunton in Somersetshire drives so great a Trade in mixt and white Serges that there are said to be sent up weekly to London and other places no less than 700 pieces a sort of them besides a sort of course Bays in the making whereof there are weekly imployed no less than 3500 persons No less doth Wakefield in the West Riding of Yorkshire Leeds also in the same County is accounted a wealthy Town by reason of its cloathing Exeter by the quantity of Serges there made returns to London 10000 l. a VVeek Stroud in Gloucestershire is a Town not only full of rich Cloathiers but is also particularly eminent for the Dying of Cloths by reason of the peculiar Quality of the VVater for that Purpose Tewxbury also in the same County is very rich in Cloathing Likewise Sudbury in Suffolk Hadley in the same County Reading in Berkshire which through the greatness of its Trade is a very wealthy Town and Newbury in the same County So likewise Shirbourn in
of Ireland once had but I have been assured from my Honoured Friend James Tyrrel Esq his Lordship's Grand-son that this was not an Ecstasie but that his Lordship upon reading the 12 13 14 c. Chapters of the Revelation and farther Reflecting upon the great increase of the Sectaries in England supposed that they would let in Popery which consideration put him into a great Transport at the time when his Daughter the Lady Tyrrel came into the Room when he Discoursed to her divers things tho' not all contained in the said Printed Paper Thus far Mr. Aubery 10. Mr. Brewen of Sâ—apleford as he excelled others in the Holiness of his Life so he much excelled himself towards his death his Motions towards Heaven being then most vigorous and quick The Day before his last sickness he had such extraordinary Inlargements of Heart in his Closet-Duty that he seemed to forget all the Concernments of his Body and this lower World and when his Wife told him Sir I fear you have done your self hurt with Rising so early He Answer'd If you had seen such glorious things as I saw this Morning in private Prayer with God you would not have said so for they were so wonderful and unspeakable that whether I was in the Body or out of the Body with Paul I cannot tell And so it was with the Learned and Holy Mr. Rivet who seemed as a Man in Heaven just before he went thither 11. It is Recorded of our Famous Jewel That about the beginning of Queen Mary's Reign the Inquisition taking hold of him in Oxford he fled to London by Night but providentially losing the Road he escaped the Inquisitors who pursued him However he fell that Night into another eminent hazard of Life for wandring up and down in the Snow he fainted and lay starving in the way panting and labouring for Life at which time Mr. Latimer's Servant found and saved him See his Life 12. The Protestants besieged in Bezier's in France were delivered by a Drunken Drummer who going to his Quarters at Mid-night rang the Alarm-Bell of the Town not knowing what he did and just then were their Enemies making their Assault And as weak and improbable means have been blessed with Success to the Church in general so to the preservation of its particular Members also William of Nassau Prince of Orange as he lay in Camp near to the Duke of Alva's Army some Spaniards in the Night brake into his Camp and some of them ran as far as the Prince of Orange's Tent where he was fast asleep but he had a Dog lying by him on the Bed that never left Barking and Scratching him by the Face till he had awaked him whereby he escaped the Danger Strada 13. Queen Elizabeth's Preservation in the Tower in the time of her Imprisonment is a Remarkable Providence not to be forgot viz. When her Bloody Sister Queen Mary had design'd her Death she was preserved by King Philip Queen Mary's Husband who had not perhaps his Fellow in Christendom at that time for Cruelty and Persecution of the Reformed and was moved to the Saving the Princess Elizabeth's Life not so much by his Bowels of Compassion as a Principle of Policy For if Queen Mary should die Childless as indeed he feared if the Princess Elizabeth had been taken out of the way the Queen of Scots a Papist would have come to the Crown of England who being inseparably joyned in League with France might both of them together been too hard for Spain and that his Gentleness to the Princess could be on no other account appears plainly by his putting his Eldest Son to death upon no other Account than for his being so mercifully inclined to the Protestants in the Netherlands This remarkable Providence needs no vouching but however it may be found in a Book that goes under the Name of Mr. Slingsby Bethel in Octavo p. 6. Printed in London A. C. 1694. 14. When several oppressed with the Cruelty and Tyranny of Richard the Third did confederate to Raise Henry Earl of Richmond to the Crown and by his Marriage with Elizabeth Eldest Daughter of Edward the Fourth to Unite the Houses of York and Lancaster Mr. Henry Wiat was one therein Ingaged and Intrusted in the Association and Correspondence between the Duke beyond Sea and his Friends in England and passed with Messages for which he was Suspected and Examined but for want of Proof discharged he was afterwards thereof Accused committed to the Tower and Tortured for Discovery of the Duke's Design and Friends in England but neither Threats Torture or fair Promises of Reward could prevail so that he was cast into the Dungeon and Fed with Bread and Water and there lay at the Duke's Descent and Victory where a Cat did use to come to him and bring Provision or he had been Starved He for his Fidelity was preferred made a Knight Baronet by Henry the Seventh and of the Privy Council to Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth This Relation hath been received true in the Family in Kent and in Memory thereof his Picture is preserved with a Cat creeping in at a Grate with a Pidgeon in its Mouth and these Verses added Hunc macrum rigidum maestum fame frigore cura Pavi fovi acui carne calore Joco This Relation was sent me November 16. 1696. by Counsellor Wiat now Living at Serjeants Inn near Fleet-street II. Sea-Dangers and Deliverances 1. Great were the Dangers and wonderful the Deliverances of Will. Okely and his Company the Relation of which from his own Book I have thus Contracted An. Dom. 1639. We took Ship at Gravesend in the Mary of London Mr. Boarder Master bound for the Isle of Providence in the West-Indies Five Weeks we lay in the Downs waiting for a Wind and then we set Sail and came to Anchor near the Isle of Wight but by this time all our Beer in the Ship stunk and we were forced to throw it over-board and to take Vinegar to mix with Water for our Voyage The next Lord's Day we set Sail again and coming between the Island and the main Land we stuck fast in the Sands but the Tide coming in heaved us off The sixth Day after our setting Sail from the Isle of Wight we discovered three Turks Men of War who Chased us and at break of Day boarded and took us Having kept us close Prisoners at Sea at the end of five or six Weeks they brought us to Algiers where I was sold for a Slave the first Market-Day to a Patron who told me I must allow him two Dollars a Month and live ashoar where I would and get it where I could though I knew not where to Levy the least Mite of it Wandering up and down I light of an English-Man in his little Shop that Traded with Tobacco and a few other Things His Partner I became with a little Money I had reserved and a small modicum my Patron had allowed me for my
Tower this Son being at Sea and engaged in the Fight between a Squadron of the Parliament and the Dutch in the Leghorn-Road the Ship wherein he was which I think was the Providence was blown up and it was supposed all the Men lost about a Month or two afterwards the Doctor being at Sir John Robinson's House his Son to the great admiration of his Father and Master came at that instant to them told them that sitting on a Pole upon the Poop by the Flag-staff he was blown up into the Sea and there continued on the Pole till next day when the Dutch found him pitied him and took him aboard with them and so saved him This was related to me by the Worshipful William Garraway of Ford in Sussex Esq 7. The following Relations are to be found in Mr. Mather's Book of Providence Remarkable was that which happened to Jabez MMusgrove of Newbery who being shot by an Indian the Bullet entred in at his Ear and went out at his Eye on the other side of his Head yet the Man was preserved from Death yea and is still in the Land of the Living 8. Remarkable was that Deliverance mentioned by Mr. Janeway wherein that gallant Commander Major Edward Gibbons of Boston in new-New-England and others were concerned The substance of the Story is this A New-England Vessel going from Boston to some other parts of America was through the Continuance of contrary Winds kept long at Sea so that they were in very great straits for want of Provision and seeing they could not hope for any Relief from Earth or Sea they apply themselves to Heaven in humble and hearty Prayers but no Calm ensuing one of them made this sorrowful motion that they should cast Lots which of them should die first to satisfie the ravenous Hunger of the rest After many a sad Debate they come to a result the Lot is cast and one of the Company is taken but where is the Executioner to be found to act this Office upon a poor Innocent It is Death now to think who shall act this bloody part in the Tragedy But before they fall upon this in-voluntary Execution they once more went unto their Prayers and while they were calling upon God he answer'd them for there leapt a mighty Fish into the Boat which was a double Joy to them not only in relieving their miserable Hunger which no doubt made them quick Cooks but because they looked upon it to be sent from God and to be a token of their Deliverance But alas their Fish is soon eaten and their former Exigencies come upon them which sink their Spirits into Despair for they know not of another Morsel To Lot they go again the second time which falletn upon another Person but still none can be found to sacrifice him they again send their Prayers to Heaven with all manner of fervency when behold a second Answer from above a great Bird lights and fixes it self upon the Mast which one of the Company espies and he goes and there she stands till he took her with his Hand by the Wing This was Life from the Dead the second time and they feasted themselves herewith as hoping that second Providence was a fore-runner of their compleat Deliverance But they have still the same Disappointments they can see no Land they know not where they are Hunger increaseth again upon them and they have no hopes to be sav'd but by a third Miracle They are reduced to the former course or casting Lots when they were going to the heart-breaking work to put him to death whom the Lot fell upun they go to God their former Friend in Adversity by humble and hearty Prayers and now they look and look again but there is nothing Their Prayers are concluded and nothing appears yet still they hoped and stayed till at last one of them espies a Ship which put new Life into all their Spirits Their bear up with their Vessel they Man their Boar and desire and beg like perishing humble Supplicants to Board them which they are admitted The Vessel proves a French Vessel yea a French Pyrate Major Gibbons petitions them for a little Bread and offers Ship and Cargo for it But the Commander knows the Major from whom he had received some signal Kindnesses formerly at Boston and replied readily and chearfully Major Gibbons not a hair of you or your Company shall perish if it lie in my power to preserve you And accordingly he relieveth them and sets them safe on Shoar 9. Mr. James Janeway hath published several other Remarkable Sea-Deliverances of which some belonging to New-England were the Subjects He relates and I am inform'd that it was really so that a small Vessel the Master's Name Philip Hungare coming upon the Coast of New-England suddenly sprang a Leak and so Foundered In the Vessel there were eighteen Souls twelve of which got into the Long-Boat They threw into the Boat some small matters of Provision but were wholly without Fire These twelve Men sailed five hundred Leagues in this small Boat being by almost miraculons Providences preserved therein for five Weeks together God sent Relief to them by causing some flying Fish to fall into the Boat which they eat raw and well pleased therewith They also caught a Shark and opening his Belly sucked his Blood for Drink At the last the Divine Providence brought them to the West-Indies Some of them were so weak as that they soon died but most of them lived to declare the Works of the Lord. 10. Remarkable is the Preservation of which some belonging to Dublin in Ireland had Experience whom a New-England Vessel providentially met in an open Boat in the wide Sea and saved them from perishing Concerning which memorable Providence I have received the following Narrative A Ship of Dublin burdened about seventy Tuns Andrew Bennet Master being bound from Dublin to Virginia this Vessel having been some Weeks at Sea onward of their Voyage and being in the Latitude of 39. about 150 Leagues distant from Cape-Cod in New-England on April 18. 1681. A day of very stormy Weather and a great Sea suddenly there sprang a Plank in the fore part of the Ship about six a Clock in the Morning whereupon the Water increased so fast in the Ship that all their Endeavouts could not keep her from sinking above half an Hour so when the Ship was just sinking some of the Company resolved to lanch out the Boat which was a small one They did accordingly and the Master the Mate the Boatswain the Cook two Fore-mast-men and a Boy kept such hold of it when a Cast of the Sea suddenly helped them off with it that they got into it The heaving of the Sea now suddenly thrust them from the Ship in which there were left nineteen Souls viz. sixteen Men and three Women who all perished in the mighty Waters while they were trying to make Rafters by cutting down the Masts for the preservation of their Lives as
visited the Dungeons attended the Places of Execution studied the Languages profited much in the Hebrew taught first a Grammar-School then the Catechist-School at Alexandria reading daily Lectures scarce allowing him Rest at Night but for a very few Hours and that not on a Bed but the bare Ground often Fasting going Barefoot abstaining from Wine making himself an Eunuch c. never affecting Wealth tho' having many and great Friends continuing above Fifty two Years in Teaching Writing Confuting Exhorting and Expounding the Scriptures Ibid. One saith of him Origeni nullae pars aetatis periit à studiis And another Origenis ingenium sufficiebat ad omnia pardiscenda Ibid. 3. Isidore Bishop of Sevil was very painful and so macerated his Body with Labours and enriched his Soul with Divine Learning and Contemplations that he seemed to live an Angel's Life upon Earth Ibid. p. 99. 4. Mr. Gregory of Christ-Church studied Sixteen Hours a Day constantly scarce allowing himself sufficient time for Sleep little for Meals none for Society or Recreation In his Life He arose every Morning at Four a Clock and seldom went to Bed before Ten. 5. Sir Edward Coke Author of the Institutes and Chief-Justice in King James's Days was very regular in his Hours especially of going to Bed at Nine a Clock and rising at Three in the Morning insomuch that when a Messenger came from the King to his House at One a Clock in the Night to give Orders for the Issuing out a Writ for the Seizing the then Earl of Somerset for the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury his Son told the Messenger If he came from Ten Kings he could not disturb his Father 'till Three a Clock and so Inviting the Messenger in to Drink a Glass of Wine with Mr. Coke and his Company at Three a little Bell was rung to call up the Servants upon which Sir Edward arose Detection of the Court and State of England 6. Bishop Latimer rose Summer and Winter ordinarily at Two a Clock in the Morning to his Studies Fox's Martyrology 7. Mr. Julius Palmer a Martyr in Queen Mary's Reign was so indefatigable in Study that the arose ordinarily every Morning at Four a Clock and went not ordinarily to Bed 'till Ten. Fox's Martyrology 8. Bishop Jewel was so industrious that he hid himself the greatest part of the Day in his Studies and so much recalled his Senses from exteriour Objects that Chrysippus-like he had need of a Melissa to put him in mind of his Meat In his Life 9. Mr. Bradford slept not commonly above Four Hours in the Night and in his Bed 'till Sleep came his Book went not out of his Hand Ibid. 10. Erasmus in a Letter to Paracelsus professeth that for some Days he had not been at leisure either to take Physick or be Sick or Die he was so overwhelmed with the Toyls of Study 11. Our late Queen Mary of Sacred Memory usually rose at Six a Clock in the Morning and even whilst she was a dressing had some good Books read over to her at least afterwards betook to her Study and Devotions where she continued often 'till Publick Prayers or other Important Business called her away 12. Renatus Deschartes was Educated and Taught in the Schools of Flexia and had run through the whole Course and Race of his Study at Seventeen Years of Age. He was for Three Years a Voluntier in the Dangers of War twice present at the Siege of Breda and in the Battle of Prague from whence he visited Italy discoursed with Galileus c. came back to the Siege of Capha and so to France again to the Siege of Rochel Afterwards to Holland and then into Denmark Tyrol Venice Amsterdam Paris c. Whilst he followed the War in the Winter he employed his vacant Hours in Philosophical Contemplations he studied Twenty five Years in a Desart in Holland He was slenderly stored with Books because he understood they were not true the Mathematical only excepted wherefore being ask'd by a Friend Whether he had a Library and desired to shew it lifting up the Cloth he discovered to him a Calf dissected See his Life by Borellus p. 14 15 c. 13. Hen. Zebertus Th. D. testifies That Delrius in the Adversaria which he publish'd for the Illustration of Seneca he had quoted One hundred thousand divers Authors in divers Sciences and Languages with very great Labour and Judgment and all this at Nineteen Years of Age. Drexel Aurisod He read over more than once with close Reading all the Fifteen Volumes of Tostatus Ibid. 14. Thuanus tells of a Country-man of his Franc. Victa who was so bent upon his Studies that sometimes for Three Days together he would sit close at it without Meat or Sleep more than what for meer necessity of Nature he took leaning on his Elbow without moving out of his place Wanley's Wonders c. l. 3. c. 41. 15 St. Augustine sitting one time in a solitary place meditating upon the Trinity a poor Woman coming to Advise with him about a weighty Matter presented her self before him but he took no Notice of her she spake to him but neither yet did he observe her upon which the poor Woman went away angry with the Bishop and her self supposing her Poverty to be the occasion of the neglect Afterwards being at Church where he Preached she was wrapt up in Spirit and in a kind of Trance thought she heard St. Austine discoursing concerning the Trinity and was informed by a private Voice that she was not neglected as she thought by the humble Bishop but was observed by him upon which she goes again and was resolv'd in her Doubt Idem ex Sabell ex l. 2. c. 6. 16. Dr. Reynolds when the Heads of the University of Oxford came to Visit him in his Sickness which he had contracted meerly by his exceeding Pains in Studies whereby he brought his withered Body to be a very Skeleton they earnestly perswaded him that he would not Perdere substantiam propter accidentia Lose his Life for Learning he with a smile answered out of the Poet Nec propter Vitam vivendi perde causas Nor to save Life lose that for which I live Clark's Marr. c. 82. p. 358. 17. Thomas Aquinas sitting at Dinner with Philip or as Campanus saith with Lewis King of France was on a sudden so transported in his Mind that he struck the Board with his Hand and cried out Adversus Manichoeos conclusum est The Manichees are confuted At which when the King admired Thomas blushing besought his Pardon saying That an Argument was just then come into his Mind by which he could utterly overthrow the Opinion of the Manichees Zuing. Theatr. Vol. 1. L. 1. p. 23. Fulgos L. 8. C. 2. p. 1044. And again he was so very intent upon his Meditations and in his Reading that he saw not such as stood before him heard not the Voices of those that spoke to him so that the Corporeal Senses seemed to have relinquished
Operations which ought to attract our Thoughts to particular Disquisitions and Meditations especially in Cases where we our selves are more nearly concerned 1. Zoroastres Laughed the same day wherein he was Born his Brain also did pant and beat that it would bear up their Hands that laid them on his Head Solinus cap. p. 181. 2. M. Tullius Cicero is said to have been Born without any of those Pangs usual in Child-bearing Plut. par in Cicerone 3. Nero was Born with his Feet forwards Plin. Nat. Hist l. 7. c. 8. p. 160. 4. M. Curius Dentatus and Cnâ— Papyrius Carbo were Born with Teeth in their Mouths Ibid. 5. Scipio Affricanus was cut out of his Mother's Womb So was Julius Caesar Thus saith Schenck was that Manlius Born who entred Cartbage with an Army And so was that Mackduff Earl of Fife who slew Mackbeth the Usurper of Scotland Edward VI. of England is said by Baker to be so but that 's doubtful Also Buchardus Earl of Lintsgow c. Anno 959. Also Gebbardus Son of Otho Earl of Brigentz Anno 1001. Cornelius Gemma saith He hath cut out of the Womb six living Children Schenck Obs Med. p. 580. 6. I saw saith Horatius Augonius a poor Woman of a fleshy and good habit of Body who for nine months had an Exulceration of the Ventricle and for twenty days together Vomited up all she took and so Died a living Boy being taken out of her Womb afterwards Ibid. 7. When Spinola Besieged Bergopsoma a Woman near her Reckoning going forth to draw Water was taken off in the middle by a Cannon Bullet so that the lower part of her fell into the Water those that were by ran to her and saw there a Child moving it self in the Bowels of the Mother which was afterwards Baptized by the Infanta Isabella at Antwerp by the name of Alb. Ambrosius one of her Fathers Captains Barth Hist Anat. Cer. 2. Hist 8. p. 159. 8. Lewis the 9th King of Hungary c. was Born without a Skin Crown'd in his second year Married a Wife at nine took upon him the Government at ten had a Beard before his time was Grey before eighteen and Slain at twenty Anno 1526. Camerar Hor. Subscis Cen. 1. c. 55. p. 241. 9. Anno. 1647. Jacob Egh in the City of Sarda in Belgia had a Bull which he fed tying him in a Close near his House but provoked by the Boys he brake his Bonds and ran to the Cows the Herdsman endeavoured with his Staff to return him to his former place The Bull â—ing incens'd with his blows ran upon him and with his Horns born him to the ground His 〈◊〉 being now in the last month of her Count seeing the danger of her Husband ran into his assistance The Bull with his Horns hoisted her up into the Air the heighth of one Story and tore the Belly of the Woman From the Wound in her Belly forthwith came the Birth with its Secondine and was thrown at some distance upon a soft place was carried home diligently lookt after by a Midwife and was Baptized and lived to be a Man Bartholin Ibid. Cent. 2. Hist 8. p. 157. 9. Gorgias a Gallant Man of Epirus is said to be Born in the Coffin while his Mother was carrying to the Grace Val. Max. l. 1. c. 8. p. 20. 10. Carsias King of Navarre being with Vrracha his Queen at Larumbe was surprized by Moors and Slain they wounded the Queen in the Belly with a Lance who being put to flight The Queen at the wound was delivered of a Son and Died the Child to all Men's wonder was safe and was named Sasias Garsia who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Anno 918. Zuing. Theat vol. 2. l. 1. p. 270. 11. Schenckius speaks of a Woman that voided a Child a Finger long at her Mouth CHAP. XXVII Monstrous Animals I Do not pretend here to give a new Edition of Aldrovandus nor write a large Voluminous Treatise of of all the Monsters within ken of a well-read Historian but to give a few of the latest Instances of the greatest Errors of Nature in this kind that I could meet with just enough to awaken and put a man's Brains into Fermentation and dispose him to some Gravity and Seriousness and Sublimity of Thought 1. At Rome in the River of Tyber a Monster was found with a Man's Body an Ass's Head one of whole Hands was like a Mans but the other like an Elephants Foot one of his Feet was as the foot of an Eagle the other resembled another Beast He had a Womans Belly trimly set out with Breasts and his Body was covered all over with Scales except his Belly and Breast having in his hinder parts an old Man's Head bearded and another besides spitting out Flames like a Dragon Doom's Warning to Judgment p. 288. This happened Anno 1496. 2. Anno 1530. in January a Monstrous Serpent with seven Crowned Heads like a Dragon was brought out of Turkey to Venice and afterwards given to Francis the French King and for the rareness was valued at 6000 Ducats Batmans Doom p. 312. 3. A Butcher having killed a Cow at Limington in Hampshire found she was big with a Calf which began to be hairy its hind Legs had no joints and its feet were divided like the Claws of a Dog his Tongue was tripple and after the manner that Cerberus's is described one in the middle of its Mouth and two others on the sides Between the fore and hind Feet there was a great Stone upon which it was laid This Stone weighed 20 pound and a half its colour was greyish like to a cut Stone which is commonly called the Grison the Superficies thereof was unequal and full of little Cavilia's When it was broken they perceived small Grains of Stone of an Oval Figure and its colour was mixed with yellow and black Veins which are all over it Dr. Haughton of Salisbury keeps this Stone of which he hath sent a part to Mr. Boyle who communicated it together with a Letter to the Royal Society The Young Students Library p. 210. 4. At Burdham near Chichester in Sussex about 23 years ago there was a Monster found upon the Common having the Form and Figure of a Man in the fore-part having two Arms and Hands and a human visage with only one Eye in the middle of the Forehead the hinder part was like a Lamb. A young Man of the Neighbourhood was supposed to have Generated this Monster by a Bestial Copulation and that the rather because he was afterwards found in the like Beastly Act with a Mare upon discovery whereof he fled out of the Country This young Monster was nailed up in the Church-Porch of the said Parish and exposed to publick view a long time as a Monument of Divine Judgment Attested by Henry Read of Barnham an Eye witness 5. Anno 1511. At Ravena a Monster was Born with a Horn on his Head He had Wings no Arms one Foot as a
cited for what is more strange That in an Earthquake an hundred Cities in Lybia were destroyed tit Livius Hist Josephus records that about 29 Years after the Birth of Christ there happened a tremendous Earthquake in the Country of Judea whereby divers Beasts were slain many People overwhelmed in the Ruins of their Houses and perished to the number of about 30000. 2. To relate those Earthquakes that have happened since our Saviour's Birth as I find them mentioned by several Authors of which that which happened at his Crucifixion is said to be the greatest that ever was which shook not only one part of the Earth as in other Cases but the whole World trembled at once if famous Authors may be credited In the tenth Year of Christ was a great Earthquake in Cyprus which overthrew many Cities and in the 17th Year thirteen Cities in Italy were destroyed and the River Tyber overflowed Rome In the Year 59 was a great Earthquake in Rome at which time Nero's Supper was burned with Lightning 3. In the Reign of Trajan the Emperour Anno 105 there happened a most terrible Earthquake at Antioch which destroyed many Cities and People and extended it self very far with fearful Lightnings which made the Night as light as Day preceded with dreadful Thunderbolts that threw down stately Buildings killed many People strong and unusual Storms of Wind the Sea wrought the Waves swelled the Earth shaken Trees pluck'd up by the Roots multitudes buried in the Ruins of their own Houses In Anno 107 a very great Earthquake happened in Asia with many prodigious Sights in the Air as fighting of Men c. Another in Galatia and Rome where Lightning from Heaven consumed the Temple of their Gods with strong Winds and horrible Noises in the Earth In Anno 120 an Earthquake in Nice and two terrible Ones in Palestina In Anno 162 was a very great Earthquake in Bithynia the Waves of the Mediterranean Sea in a Calm elevated themselves to the top of a Mountain far distant from it and cast the Foam a great way upon the main Land 4. In Anno 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was so horrid an Earthquake that certain Cities together were swallowed up and exceeding great Darkness happened for many Days together In the Year 300 there were great Earthquakes by one whereof 13 Cities in Campania were overthrown and another in Asia Many Cities in the East fell to the Ground by an Earthquake and Neo Caesarea was overturned and all its Inhabitants perished except only such as were saved with the Bishop in the Church Dyracchium was demolished by an Earthquake Rome trembled for three Days and three Nights successively And indeed it was to General that all Europe and Asia were shaken at once 5. In the Year 366 in the Reign of Julian the Emperour who was first a Christian and after revolted to Paganism for which he was hamed the Apostate in despight and contempt of our blessed Saviour who had prophesied the Temple of Jerusalem should be destroyed and never rebuilt he impiously resolved to invalidate the same and designed to build it magnificently with excessive Cost and Charges when they had digged up the Remainders of the old Buildings from the lowest Foundation and had cleared the Ground so that there was not a Stone left upon a Stone according to our Blessed Saviour's Prediction The next Day coming to the Place there was a great Earthquake insomuch that the Stones were cast out of the Foundation so that many of the Workmen were slain The publick Buildings which were nearest the Temple were likewise loosen'd and falling down with great Violence buried those who were in them in their Rains some who attempted to fly away were found half dead The Earthquake was scarce over but those who remained fell to work again but when they attempted it the second time sudden Flashes of Fire came violently out of the Foundations and other Fire fell furiously from Heaven and destroyed more than before the Flame continuing a whole Day together 6. In the Year 367 in the Reign of Valens and Valentinian Emperours of Rome there happened such horrible Earthquakes throughout the Western Empire A little after the Day-dawning there was a great Tempest of Thunder and Lightning which was followed by such a dreadful trembling of the Earth that the Sea was shaken therewith and deserted the Shore and its ancient Bounds for a great space many Ships were left on dry Ground and swarms of People flew thither to catch Fish when suddenly the Sea as disdaining to be imprisoned returned to its former Station with such Impetuosity that it over-ran its former Bounds and with the Fury thereof overthrew a multitude of Towns and Houses with many Thousands of People 7. In the Year 430 a great Earthquake reged in divers places and overturned many Cities some Authors affirm it was so terrible as to affect almost the whole World the Earth gaped and swallowed up many Villages Fountains were dried up and Waters brake forth in places formerly dry Great Trees were torn up by the Roots heaps of Trees were so shaken together that they were raised into Mountains The Sea threw up dead Fishes many Islands sunk and overwhelmed Ships sailing on the Sea were suddenly left on the dry Ground In short many places in Bythinia the Hellespont and both the Phrygia's were distressed thereby This continued six Months without intermission and the People of Constantinople not daring to stay in the City for fear of the fall of their Houses continued together with their good Emperour and their Patriarch in the Fields instant in Prayers to the Almighty for the Removel of so dreadful a Judgment 8. In the Year 454 a great Earthquake at Rome another at Vienna Wolves and other Beasts wander all the Year through the City and devour Men. An Earthquake in Russia and at Constantinople with two wonderful Blazing-Stars In the Year 458 a great Earthquake happened at Antioch which the Citizens had cause to remember Before it began some of the Inhabitants were seized with extraordinary Madness such as seemed to exceed the Fury of Wild Beasts and to be the Presage of that Calamity which followed soon after For about the fourth Hour of the Night in September almost all the Buildings of the new City were overturned which was well People and none of it forsaken or empty being curiously built by the Magnificence of divers Emperours who strove to Excel each other in the Adornment of it 9. In the First Century was a terrible Earthquake in Arabia another in Palestina and a third at Constantinople six Weeks together 10. In the sixth seventh and eighth Centuries an Earthquake at Antioch another at Palestina another in England and Normandy and divers dreadful Prodigies About the same time there was a violent Earthquake in Constantinople which lasted many Days and every Hour the City suffered extraordinary Shocks Many Houses were thrown down but the People betook themselves to Prayer
another Earthquake in the same Country that reached 300 Leagues along the Sea-shore and 70 Leagues in Land and Levelled the Mountains along as it went threw down Cities turn'd the Rivers out of their Channels and made an universal Havock and Confusion all this was done saith the Author in the space of seven or eight Minutes sometime before this above 40000 People perished in an Earthquake about Puel and Naples 20. In 1590 happened a terrible Earthquake which made Austris Bohemia and Moravia to Tremble in 1591. In St. Michael Island in the West-Indies there was an Earthquake which continued about 16 days to the extream Terror of the French which inhabit there especially when by force thereof they perceiv'd the Earth to move from place to place and Villa Franca their Principal Town overthrown the Ships that then rode at Anchor trembled and quaked insomuch that the People thought the day of Judgment was come In 1593 another terrible Earthquake happened in Persia which overturn'd 3000 Houses in the City of Lair crushing to Death above 3000 Persons in their Ruins In 1614 there was a great Earthquake in Vercer one of the largest of the Azor's Islands belonging to the King of Portugal overturning the City of Agra 11 Churches 9 Chappels besides many private Houses and in the City of Praga hardly an House was left standing not long after a dreadful Earthquake happened in St. Michael another Island of the Azores the Sea opened and thrust forth an Island above a League and a half in length at the place where there was above 150 Fathom Water 21. In 1622 was a great Earthquake in Italy the shape of an Elephant was seen in the Air and three Suns Armies Fighting Monstrous Births Waters turned into Blood unusual and impetuous Tempests which overthrew several Towers 22. In 1627 an Earthquake happened in England and a great Fiery Beam was seen in the Air in France Six Suns in Cornwall at once and five Moons in Normandy In the same year July 31 happened an Earthquake in Apulia in Italy whereby in the City of Severine 10000 Souls were taken out of the World and in the Horrour of such infinite Ruins and Sepulchre of so many Mortals a great Bell thrown out of the Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a Child that it inclos'd him doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger 23. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many terrible Bellowings Vomitted out burning streams of Fire which tumbled into the Adriatic Sea and cast out huge deal of Ashes the like happened the year following with great Damage and Loss to the Neighbouring places in Houses People and Cattle and in Apulia 17000 Persons were destroyed by the same 24. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in the Island of St. Michael one of the Terceres in the Atlantick Ocean Westward upon June the 26th this Island began universally to shake which continued eight days so that the People leaving the cities Towns and Castles were forc'd to live in the open Fields which was attended with a dreadful breaking out of Fire that had not the Wind by Divine Providence blown from the Isle into the Sea and drove back this outragious Fire without doubt the whole Country had been burnt up and destroy'd 25. In 1560 about five a Clock about the County of Cumberland and Westmorland was a general Earthquake wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses so shaken that their Chimneys fell down The same year the Island of Santorim at the bottom of the Streights in the Mediterranean Sea not far from Candia had formidable Earthquakes and Fires it was most remarkable upon September 24 1650 which shook the Isle till the 9th of October with such mighty and frequent Earthquakes that the People fearing their immediate Ruin was approaching were on their Knees Night and Day before the Altars it cannot be expressed what Horrour seized all Men especially when the Flames breaking through all Obstacles strove to make themselves away through the midst of the Waters of the Ocean about four Mites Eastward from Santorin for the Sea all on a suddain swelled thirty Cubits upward and extending it self wide through the Neighbouring Lands overturn'd all in its way 26. In 1657 the Spaniards felt a terrible blow in Peru which if it were not a Mark of the Wrath of Heaven saith the Author was at least a Sign that the Earth is weary of them especially in those Parts where they have stain'd it with so much Innocent Blood The City of Lima was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Calao another City not far from it was consumed by a Shower of Fire out of the Clouds 11000 Spaniards lost their Lives in this Calamity and the Earth devoured an 100 Millions of refin'd Silver which the Lucre of the Spaniards had forc'd out of her Bowels 27. In 1660 an Earthquake happened at Paris in France and at the same time we had News that part of the Pyrenean Mountains had been overthrown some days before they are certain Mountains that divide France and Spain it did great Mischief there overwhelm'd some Medicinal Baths many Houses and destroying much People one Church which sunk into the Caverns below was thrown up again and stands very firm but in another place this was look'd upon as a great Miracle especially by the French who have disputed with the Spaniard about a Church standing upon the Frontier-Line but now is removed near half a League within the acknowledged Limits of France 28. In 1665 there was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder Lightning and an Earthquake in divers places in England at which time the stately Spire of Trinity Church in Coventry fell down and demolished a great part of the Church 29. In 1668 in Autumn a great part of Asia and some parts of Europe were infested with extraordinnry Earthquakes the Cities of Constantinople and Adrianople felt its effects but not with that Violence and continuance as in other places In some parts of Persia it continued for above fourscore days Torqueto and Bolio two considerable Cities were by its great Violence laid even to the Ground and all or most of their Inhabitants buryed in the Ruins above 6000 Persons Perished in the first of them and above 1800 in the latter and in all the Adjacent Cities it raged with extraordinary Fury destroying and ruining the Buildings killing many of the People and the rest were forced to quit the Towns and take up their Lodgings in the Fields 30. In 1687 October 20 the London Gazette gives a sad Relation of another Earthquake in the Kingdom of Peru in America whereby the City of Lima was totally overthrown and not an House left standing burying many of its inhabitants under its Ruins at the same time Callao Fenettei Pisco Chancay Los Florillos c. Most of the Sea-port