the Vicaridge of Torcester Ibid. 12. The late Earl of Rochester upon his Death-bed acknowledged how unworthily he had treated the Clergy reproaching them that they were proud and prophesied only for Rewards but now he had learned how to value them that he esteemed them as the Servants of the most High God who were to shew Men the Way to everlasting Life Mr. Parsons in his Funeral Sermon 13. Mr. Whitaker was much beloved his House frequented with many and friendly Visits his Sickness laid to heart and many Prayers publick and private put up for him some Fasts also kept with a special Reference to his Afflictions and his Funeral attended with many weeping Eyes See his Life Mr. Fairclough's Ministry was thought to bring a Temporal Blessing to the Parish 14. I think my candid Reader will easily pardon me if for Gratitude's sake I take an occasion here for the Glory of God and the Commendation of the People to make mention of the Respects Love and Kindnesses much beyond my Desert which I received as from the Inhabitants of Arundel and Shipley in Sussex so especially from the Parishioners of Preston Gubbals and Broughton in Shropshire together with the adjacent Neighbourhood which were so freely and plentifully shewed me whilst I was their Minister that I may testify of them they were kind to me even beyond their power some of them and I hope God would return it into their Bosoms and remember them in the day of their Distress for I speak this to their Praise I never met with a more loving People in my Life 15. Mons du Plessis on his Death-bed gave Thanks to the Minister that had assisted him prayed the Lord to prosper the Word in his Mouth prayed for M. Boucherean Minister of the Church in Saumur and said he Let it not trouble him to be patient he hath to do with a troublesome People the Lord impute not their Sins unto them Clark 's Examp. Vol. 2. c. 27. 16. Mrs. Drake on her Death-bed advised her Father to keep a Minister in his House and returned most affectionate Thanks to a Friend I suppose her Minister begging earnestly Forgiveness of him and would needs have his Hand and Promise for it Mrs. Drake revived 17. John Blacknal of Abington Esq by his last Will bequeathed certain Sums of Money to several Ministers for Duties omitted by him in his Life A. 1625. CHAP. LXI Remarkable Zeal and Devotion ZEal is a Composition of all the Passions the Affections warmed and heated into a lively Vigour and Activeness and this is so far from being a Fault that if it be made regular with Prudence and a Christian Discretion 't is good and commendable always in a good Matter And certainly if ever it be seasonable for us to kindle a fire upon the Altar 't is so when we are about to do sacrifice to God Almighty 1. Polycarp going with S. John to a Bath at Ephesus and espying Ceriathus the Heretick in it said ' Let us depart speedily for fear lest the Bath where the Lord's Adversary is do fall upon us Dr. Cave Prim Christ and Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. Origen when a Boy had an eager desire of Martyrdom So had Cyprian and Gregory Nazianzen Ibid. Dr. Cave Prim. Christ c. 3. The Venerable Bede was so devoutly affected in Reading the Scriptures that he would often shed Tears and after he had ended reading conclude with Prayers Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 100. 4. Tertullian used to pray thrice a day at the 3 6 9 hours Clark 5. Peter Chrysologus before he penned any thing would with great Ardency humbly betake to Prayer and seek unto God for Direction therein Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 88. 6. Luther advised George Spalatinus always to begin his Studies with Prayer For saith he there is no Master that can instruct us in Divine Matters but the Author of them Ibid. p. 195. And Melancthon testifies of Luther That he hath heard him so loud and earnest at his Prayers as if some Person were in company discoursing with him Much the same Advice doth Ludovicus Grotius give to all Students in Divinity To pray often And Thomas Aquinas is reported to use that Rule himself always to pray for the Resolution of any difficult and knotty Question and commends to others that Motto Bene orasse est bene studuisse 7. When Erasmus halted between two Opinions Capito continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like Temper Clark 's Eccl. Hist p. 193. 8. Cardinal Wolsey when advanced to great Preferments in both Church and State having all State-business at his disposal and most Church-preferments in his power the Deanry of Lincoln the King's Almonership a House near Bridewel Durham Winchester Bath Worcester Hereford Tourney Lincoln S. Albans and York in his Possession and all other Promotions in his Gift was so devout that he neglected not one Collect of his Prayers for all the Cumbrances of his Place wherein he deceived many of the People who thought he had no time for his Business and his Servants who wondred how he could gain time for his Business from his Devotion Lloyd 's State-Worthies p. 8. 9. Luther was zealous in the Cause of the Reformation that he preached wrote and disputed publickly for it and when discouraged from going to Wormes whither he had been invited by the Emperour with a Promise of safe Conduct lest he should be served as John Husse at the Council of Constance he made Answer If there were as many Devils in the City as Tiles on the Houses to shake the Kingdom of Satan he would go thither And so fervent was he in Prayer that Vitus Theodorus saith of him that no Day passed wherein he spent not at least Three Hours in Prayer Once it fell out saith he that I heard him Good God! what a Spirit what a Confidence was in his very Expression with such a Reverence he sueth for any thing as one begging of God and yet with such Hope and Assurance as if he spake with a Loving Father or Friend Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 141. 10. Sir Thomas Moor was so devour that the Duke of Norfolk coming on a time to Chelsey to Dine with him happened to find him in the Church singing in the Quire with a Surplice on his Back to whom after Service as they went homeward hand in hand together the Duke said God's Body my Lord Chancellor what a Parish-Clark a Parish-Clark you dishonour the King and his Office Nay said Sir Thomas smiling upon the Duke Your Grace may not think your Master and mine will be offended with me for serving of God his Master or thereby count his Office dishonoured England's Worthies by Will. Winstanley p. 201. When the King sent for him once at Mass he answered That when he had done with God he would wait on His Majesty Lloyd's Worthies p. 43. The same Answer Bishop Vsher return'd to Charles the Second Vid.
to a Judge's place in the Common-Pleas and he was much urged to accept of it by some eminent Men of his own Profession who was of the King's Party as Sir Orlando Bridgeman and Sir Geoffery Palmer He accepted of the place and was afterwards chosen a Parliament-Man Thus he continued administring Justice 'till the Protector died but then he both refused the Mournings that were sent to him and his Servants for the Funeral and likewise to accept of the New Commission that was offered him by Richard and when the rest of the Judges urged it upon him and employed others to press him to accept of it be rejected all their Importunities and said He could act no longer under such Authority He lived a private Man 'till the Parliament met that called home the King to which he was returned Knight of the Shire from the County of Gloucester Soon after this when the Courts in Westminster-Hall came to be settled he was made Lord Chief Baron and when the Earl of Clarendon then Lord Chancellor delivered him his Commission in the Speech he made according to the Custom on such occasions he expressed his Esteem of him in a very singular manner telling him among other things That if the King could have found out an honester and fitter Man for that Employment he would not have advanced him to it and that he had therefore preferred him because he knew none that deserved it so well As last 1671 he was proved to the Lord Chief Justice of England See his Life by Dr. Burnet CHAP. LXXI Present Retribution to the Temperate SOlomon amongst the Elogiums he bestows upon Spiritual Wisdom gives this for one That length of days is in her right hand and upon Observation it will be found true For besides other Considerations the Rules of Temperance prescribed by our Religion for the Government of our Appetites de mightily conduce to the preservation of Health and long Life and many other Commodities which shall be hinted at in the following Paragraphs 1. Johannes de Temporibus may justly go for an Antesignanus in the Front of this Chapter Armour-bearer to Charles the Great a Man of great Temperance Sobriety and Contentment of Mind and lived to the Age of 361. Hackwel Apol. L. 3. C. 1. Sect. 6 c. 2. Lescius in his Hygiasticon speaking concerning Sobriety reckons up the several Commodities of it thus 1. It frees from almost all Diseases Catarrhs Coughs Wheezings Dizziness Pains of Head and Stomach Apoplexies c. 2. It fortifies against outward Causes Heat Cold Labour Wounds Bruises putting out of Joynt breaking of Bones for Flux of Humours doth much hinder the Cure and causeth Inflamations against the Plague c. 3. It mitigates incurable Diseases as ulcers in the Lungs Hardness in the Liver and Spleen c. 4. It conduceth to long Life and an easie Death except in Cases extraordinary 5. It makes the Body agile lightsome fresh 6. It maintains the Senses in their integrity and vigour 7. It mitigates the Passions especially Anger and Melancholly 8. It preserves the Memory 9. It helps the Wit and Understanding 10. It quencheth Lust and doth wonderfully prevent the Temptations of the Flesh c. 3. Hippocrates to one asking his Advice concerning the preservation of his Health made Answer Let Meat Drink Sleep Venery all be moderate Nor did he only prescribe so to others but practised himself and accordingly he lived One hundred and Four Years Verulam History of Life and Death 4. Galen who lived in Health except One Day 's Sickness the space of an Hundred Years being asked what Diet he used answered I have drank no Wine touched no Woman eat nothing raw or unripe kept my Body warm and my Breath sweet Some say he lived One hundred and forty Years Fulgos L. 8. C. 14. 5. Cicero prescribeth thus for the Health Concoction Chearfulness Walking Temperance Recreation and the Belly soluble Marcil in Pyth. Carm. 6. Sir Matthew Hale with some other young Students being invited to be merry out of Town one of the Company called for so much Wine that notwithstanding all that Sir Matthew Hale could do to prevent it he went on in his excess 'till he fell down as dead before them Mr. Hale thereupon went into another Room shut the Door and pray'd earnestly to God both for himself and his Friend making a Vow to God That he would never again keep Company in that manner nor drink a Health while he lived His Friend recover'd and he religiously kept his Vow to his dying Day and though sometimes roughly treated because he would drink no Health but especially the King 's yet he fared never the worse either in God's Favour or the King 's as appears by the Divine Blessing upon his Practice and the Preferments he had at Court See his Life 7. Ludovicus Cornarius a Venetian and a Learned Man wrote a Book of the benefit of a Sober Life and produceth himself as a Testimony thereof saying Vnto the Fortieth Year of my Age I was continually vexed with variety of Infirmities I was sick at Stomach of a Fever a Pleurisie and lay ill of the Gout At last this Man by the Perswasion of Physicians took up a way of living with such Temperance that in the space of One Year he was freed almost of all his Diseases In the Seventieth Year of his Age he had a fall whereby he brake his Arm and Leg so that upon the Third Day nothing but Death was expected yet he recovered without Physick for his Abstinence was to him instead of all other means and that was it which hindred a recurrency of malignant Humors to the Parts affected In the Eighty third Year of his Age he was so sound and chearful so vegete and so entire in his Strength that he could climb Hills leap upon his Horse from the even Ground write Comedies and do most of those things he used to do when he was young If you ask how much Meat and Drink this Man took his daily Allowance for Bread and all manner of other Food was Twelve Ounces this was his usual Measure and the said Cornarius did seriously affirm That if he chanced to exceed but a few Ounces he was thereby apt to relapse into his former Diseases All this he hath set down of himself in Writing and it is annexed to the Book of Leonardus Lescius a Physician which was Printed at Amsterdam Anno Dom. 1631. Drexel Oper. Tom. 2. p. 794. Lescius Hygiastic C. 4. Sect. 25. p. 86. 8. Mr. W. Garaway of whom I have made mention elsewhere in this Book is now going upon the Eighty first Year of his Age very healthful and stout in his Body of perfect Sence and good Memory to a wonder but the wonder is abated when we consider his Caution used in Dieting of himself for he keeps a Fast and abstains from all Fond at least One Day every Week and at other times ordinarily abstains from Wine and strong
73. Ibid. p. 75 76. out of the Bishop of Kilmore 20. Mr. Bilney going to the Place of Execution comforted himself with this Consideration That he was then sailing upon the troubled Sea but e're long his Ship would be in a quiet Harbour and I doubt not saith he but through the Grace of God I shall endure the Storm only I would entreat you to help me with your Prayers As he wet along the Streets he gave much Alms to the Poor by the Hands of one of his Friends At the Stake he made a long Confession of his Faith in an excellent manner and gave many sweet Exhortations to the Pople and then earnestly called upon God by Prayer and at the end rehearsed the 143 Psalm Then turning to the Officers he ask'd if they were ready Whereupon the Fire was kindled he holding up his Hands and crying sometime Jesus and sometime Credo But the Wind blowing away the Flame from him and the Pain enduring the longer he was put to a longer exercise of Patience till at last he gave up the Ghost Ibid. p. 124. 21. William Tindal whilst he was tying to the Stake cried with a fervent and loud Voice Lord open the King of England 's Eyes And so he was first strangled by the Hangman and then burnt A. C. 1556. Ibid. p. 129. 22. Leo Judae a little before his Death sent for the Pastors and Professors of Tigure and made before them a Confession of his Faith concluding thus To this my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my Hope and my Salvation I wholly offer up my Soul and Body I cast my self wholly upon his Mercy and Grace c. Ibid. p. 137. 23. Cruciger after three Months illness calling his two young Daughters to repeat their Prayers before him and then himself praying with great fervency for himself the Church and those his Orphans concluded I call upon thee with a weak yet a true Faith I believe thy Promises which thou hast sealed with thy Blood and Resurrection c. Ibid. p. 145. 24. Martin Bucer in his Sickness to Mr Bradford coming to him and telling him that he would remember him in his Prayers being that Day to preach uttered these Words Ne abjicias me in tempore senectutis c. Forsake me not in the time of Age when my Strength fails me And being admonished in his Sickness that he should arm himself against the Assaults of the Devil he answered That he had nothing to do with the Devil because he was wholly in Christ And God forbid God forbid said he but that I should have some Experience of his Heavenly Comfort After Sermon Mr. Bradford coming again and declaring unto him the great Fear which the Physicians had to prescribe any thing unto him by reason of the Weakness of his Body with his Eyes fixed towards Heaven he uttered these Words I le ille regit moderatur omma He he it is that rules and governs all things And so in the midst of many pious Prayers he quietly yielded his Soul into the Hands of God Febr. 27. 1551. Ibid. p. 160. 25. George Prince of Anhalt falling sick of a most troublesome Disease was frequent in holy Prayer for himself for all the Princes of that Family for his Country and for Germany He had some portion of Holy Scriptures daily read to him He made his Will wherein he set down the Confession of his Faith and commended the Defence of the Churches to his Brother adding something to the Stipends of all the godly Ministers under his Charge often ruminated on those Texts God so loved the World that he gave c. No man shall take my sheep out of my hand Come uto me all ye that are weary c. And so in holy Meditations and Prayers he resigned up his Spirit unto God A. C. 1543. Ibid. p. 165. 26. John Rogers being degraded and excommunicated in Queen Mary's Reign was warned to prepare for Death before he arose If it be so said he I need not tye my Points Being afterwards brought to Smithfield and a Pardon offered him he refused to Recant His Wife with Nine small Children and the Tenth sucking at her Breast coming to him the sorrowful Sight nothing moved him But in the Flames he washed his Hands and with wonderful Patience took his Death He was the Protomartyr in Queen Mary's Reign The Sabbath before his Death he drank to Mr. Hooper who lodged in a Chamber beneath him bidding the Messenger to commend him to him and tell him That there was never a little Fellow that would better stick to a Man than he would to him Supposing they should be both burned together tho' it happened otherwise Ibid. p. 168. 27. Laurence Saunders being in Prison for a Year and three Months wrote thence in a Letter to his Wife I am merry and trust I shall be merry maugre the Teeth of the all the Devils in Hell Riches I have none to endow you with but that Treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry Consciences whereof I thank my Christ I do feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. When he came near the Place of Execution at Coventry to be burned he went cheerfully to the Stake kissing of it and saying Welcome the Cross of Christ welcome Everlasting Life And the Fire being kindled he sweetly slept in the Lord. Ibid. p. 171. 28. Bishop Hooper being come to the Stake prayed about half an Hour and having a Box with a Pardon set before him he cried If you love my Soul away with it if you love my Soul away with it Three Irons being prepared to fasten him to the Stake he only put an iron Hoop about his middle bidding them to take away the rest saying I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding When Reeds were cast to him he embraced and kissed them putting them under his Arm where he had Bags of Gun-powder also When Fire was first put to him the Faggots being green and the Wind blowing away the Flame he was but scorched More Faggots being laid to him the Fire was so suppress'd that his nether Parts were only burned his upper being scarce touched he prayed O Jesus the Son of David have mercy upon me and receive my Soul and wiping his Eyes with his Hands he said For God's Love let me have more Fire A third Fire being kindled it burned more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last Words which he uttered being Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Ibid. p. 175. 29. Rowland Taylor going to the Stake at Hadley the Streets were full of People weeping and bewailing their Loss to whom he said I have preached to you God's Word and Truth and am come to seal it with my Blood He gave all his Money to the Poor for whom he was wont thus to provide formerly Coming to the Place of
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
upon his Head and a Charter in his Hand They are stiled by the King Consanguinii nostri our Cousins and may use the Stile of Nos but so may Viscounts too All Earls are Local except the Earl-Marshal of England who is also Officiary and the Earl Rivers who is denominated not from the Place but Family 4. Viscounts are so made by Patent 5. Barons so called from Baron or Varon Vir in Spanish are made by Writ and called thereby to sit in the Higher House of Parliament but most usually by Patent The Earls Palatines and Earls Marches of England had anciently their Barons under them and in Cheshire there are still such Barons But these not holding immediately from the King as the Bishop of Man under the Earl of Darby are no Peers The Head of the Barony is some Castle or chief Seat of the Noble Man which is not to be divided amongst Daughters if there be no Son but must defcend to the eldest Daughter All the Lords of England are Feudatories to the King swearing Fealty and doing Homage to him Their several Titles are thus A Duke hath the Title of Grace and may be stiled Most High Potent and Noble Prince a Marquess Most Potent and Noble Lord But so may Earls and Viscounts also A Baron Right Noble Lord. Their Coronets differ thus A Baron hath six Pearls upon the Circle A Viscount hath the Circle of Pearls without number An Earl's Contronet hath the Pearls raised upon Points and Leaves low between The Marquess a Pearl and a Strawberry-leaf round of equal height And a Duke's Coronet only Leaves without Pearls Note That the Dukes of the Blood-Royal bear a Coronet of Crosses and Flower-de-luce which is the same with that of the Prince of Wales and his is the same with the Kings the Arches Globe and Cross on the top of the King's Crown Their Parliamentary Robes are thus distinguished A Baron hath but two Guards on him Mantlet or short Cloak a Viscount two and a half an Earl three a Marquess three and a half and a Duke four Also the Mantle of a Duke Marquess and Earl is faced with Ermin that of a Viscount and Baron with plain white Fur. Their Marks of State are thus A Duke may have in all places out of the King's Presence a Cloth of Estate hanging down within half a Yard of the Ground so may his Dutchess and her Train born up by a Baroness and no Earl to wash with a Duke without the Duke's Pleasure A Marquess may have a Cloth of Estate reaching within a Yard of the Ground and that in all Places out of the Presence or the King or a Duke and his Marchioness to have her Train borne by a Knight's Wife and no Viscount to wash with a Marquess but at his Pleasure An Earl also may have a Cloth of Estate without Pendants but only Fring and a Countess may have her Train borne up by a Gentlewoman out of the Presence of her Superiors and in her Presence by a Gentleman A Viscount may have a Cover of Assay holden under his Cup while he drinks but no Assay taken as Dukes Marquesses and Earls may have and have a Travers in his own House and a Viscountess may have her Gown borne up by a Woman out of the Presence of her Superiours and in their Presence by a man A Baron may have the Cover of his Cup holden underneath whilst he drinketh and a Baroness may have her Gown borne up by a Man in the Presence of a Viscountess All Dukes eldest Sons are born as Marquesses and the younger as Lords with the addition of their Names as Lord Thomas Lord John c. A Marquess's eldest Son is called Lord of a Place and the younger Sons as Lord Thomas Lord John c. And Earl's eldest Son is born as a Viscount and shall go as a Viscount and shall have as many Powderings as a Viscount so their younger Sons are said to be born as Barons but shall go after all Barons and before all Baronets An Earl's eldest Son is called Lord of a place and all his Daughters Ladies but his youngest Sons are not Lords A Viscount's eldest Son is no Lord nor his Daughters Ladies and therefore the eldest Sons and the eldest Daughter of the first Viscount of England is said to be the first Gentleman and Gentlewoman without Title in England yet a Viscount's eldest Son is said to be born a Baron 6. The next Degree to Barons are Baronets which is the lowest Degree of Hoour that is Hereditary An Honour first instituted by King James An. 16 11. given by Patent to a Man and his Heir Males of his Body lawfully begotten for which each one is obliged to pay in the Exchecquer so much oney as will for three Years at Eight Pence per Diem pay 30 Foot Soldiers to serve in the Province of Vlster in Ireland which Sum amounts to 1095 l. which with Fees doth commonly arise tp 1200 l. Baronets have Precedence before all Knights except Knights of the Garter Knights who are Privy-Counsellors and Knights Banorets made under the King's Banner or Standard displayed in an Army Royal in open War and the King personally present or the Prince of Wales Baronets have the Priviledge to bear a Canton of their Coat of Arms or in a whole Scutcheon the Arms of Vlster viz. In a Field Argent a Hand Gules Also in the King's Armies to have place in the Gross near the King's Standard with some other particular for their Funerals The whole Number of Baronets are not to exceed 200 at one and the same time after which Number compleated as any one for want of Heirs come to be extinct the Number shall not be made up by new Creations but be suffered to diminish as appears by their Patent No Honour is ever to be created between Baronets and Barons The word Knight is derived from the German word Knecht signifying Originally a lusty Servitor The Germans by publick Authority bestowed on their young Men able to manage Arms a Shield and a Javelin as fit for Martial Service and to be a Member of the Commonwealth accounted befoe but a part of a Family and such a young Man publickly allow'd they call'd Knetcht from whence we had our Institution of Knighthood The thing Knight is at this Day signified in Latin French Spanish Italian and also in High and Low-Dutch Tongues by a word that properly signifies an Horseman because they were wont to serve in War on Horseback and were sometimes in England called Radenhyts id est Riding Soldiers the Latine Milites according to the common Law 1. Knights of the Garter so call'd because the Garter is an Emblem of Concord or Combination to prevent all Sinister Interpretation whereof the King commanded that Motto or Impress to be wrought on the Garter Honi Scit qui Maly Pence This Honourable Company was anciently a College or Corporation of 25 Companions called Knights of the Garter 14 secular
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had his Familiar Spirit who used to admonish him if at any time he were going to do that which was not like to succeed well he himself saw him not others heard him not 12. Dr. Tate with his Wife and Children being stripped and forced to flee for their Lives by the Irish when they were murdering Thousands in their Rebellion in 1641. They were wandering in unknown places upon Commons covered with Snow and having no Food and she carrying a Sucking Child and having no Milk she went to lay down the Child to die and on the Brow of a Bank she found a Suck-bottle with sweet Milk in it no Footsteps appearing in the Snow of any that should bring it thither and far from any Habitation which preserved the Childs Life who after became a Blessing to the Church Histor Discourse of Apparit c. p. 159. 13. When Prince Rupert marched with his Army through Lancashire to York-Fight where he was overthrown the Town or Bolton made some Resistance in his Passage and he gave them no Quarter but killed Men and Women When he was gone those that escaped came out from the Places where they lucked and an Old Woman found in the streets a Woman killed and a Child by her not Dead The old Woman took up the Child and to still its crying put her own Breast to the Child which had not given Suck as I remember of above twenty years The Child being quieted she presently perceived Milk to come and continued to give the Child sufficient Milk till it was provided for I had the full Assurance of this from my worthy Friend Mrs. Hunt Wife to Mr. Rowland Hunt of Harrow on the Hill who told me that she her self was one that was appointed by the Committee to make Trial of the case and she found it true and the Old Woman's Breasts to give the Child Milk as was reported And she told me in 1665. That the said Child was at that time alive a Servant-woman in London Ibid. 14. The African Bishops or Preachers all spake well when their Tongues were cut out by the Command of the Arrian King And Victor Aenaeas Gazaeus and Procopius said they saw them and heard them speak after But one of them saith that one of the Bishops was after drawn into the Sin of Fornication and his Speech went away again Ibid. 15. It is a very memorable thing which from the Mouth of a very credible Person who saw it George Buchanan relates concerning James the Fourth King of Scotland who intending to make a War with England a certain Old Man of a very venerable Aspect and clad in a long blue Garment came to him at the Church of St. Michaels at Linlithgow while he was at his Devotion and leaning over the Canons Seat where the King Sate said I am sent unto thee O King to give thee warning that thou proceed not in the War thou art about for if thou do it it will be thy Ruine And having so said he withdrew himself back among the Multitude The King after service was ended inquired earnestly for him But he could no where be found neither could any of the standers by feel or perceive how when or where he passed from them having as it were Vanished in their hands but no warning could divert his Destiny his Queen fancying that she had seen him fall from a great precipice that she had lost one of her Eyes c. But he Answering these were but Dreams Marched on and faught with the English and was slain in Flodden Field with a great Number of his Nobility and Souldiers upon Sept. 9. 1513. Bakers Chron. 16. When Melancthon with others was on a time at Spires Faber Preached and spake many shameful things touching Transubstantiation and the Worshipping of Consecrated Bread Which when Grineus had heard he came to him when his Sermon was done and said that for as much as he had heard his Sermon concerning the Sacrament he was desirous to speak with him privately about that matter which when Faber heard he Answered with Courteous Words and Friendly Countenance that this day was most of him desired that he should speak with Grineus especially concerning such a matter and bid him home to his House The next day after Grineus suspecting nothing amiss went his way who returning to them said that to morrow he should dispute with Faber But in the mean time he practising to entrap Grineus went to a Noble Man and opened to him the whole matter and at length he obtained what this Noble Man commanded that the Burgermasters should cast Grineus in Prison When they had scarcely begun Dinner there came an Old Man to the place where they Dined and sent for Melancthon to come and speak with him at the Door asking him for Grineus whether he were within To whom he made Answer that he was he said moreover that he was in danger which if he would avoid he should fly forthwith which when he told Grineus and counselled him to flee he did as he was willed Melancthon Dr. Cruciger and he Arose from the Table went out their Servants followed and Grineus went in the middle they had not passed four or five hours but by and by the Servants were where they Lodged seeking for Grineus and not finding him there they left off searching He asked many if they knew this Man being desirous to give him thanks for his good Turn But none could tell who he was nor could see him afterwards I think Verily this Man was an Angel When they had brought Grineus to the Rhine he took a Boat and passed over in safety Maul loc commun Fol. 17. Doom warning to the Judgm p. 420. 17. Melancthon reported that he knew of a surety by a substantial and credible Person that in a Village near to the City of Cignea a certain Woman commanded her Son to fetch home the Cattel that were feeding by a Woods side and when the Boy had stayed somewhat too long there fell a great Snow that covered all the Hills there abouts Night drew on neither could the Boy pass those Hills The day following the Parents being no more careful for their Cattle but for the Life of their Son looking for his coming neither could they by reason of the depth of the Snow pass those Hills to seek their Son The third day they going forth to seek their Boy they found him sitting in an open place of the Wood where there was no Show who smiled upon his Parents as they came And the Boy being asked why he returned not home Answered that he looked when it should be Night not knowing that a day was already past neither had he felt any Annoy or Tempest of the Snow And when he was further asked whether he had eaten any thing He Answered that there came a Man unto him who gave him Bread and Cheese So doubtless this Man was saved by Angels in the middle of Winter and without doubt that Man was
was with Child of him she dreamed that she had a little white and barking Dog in her Womb which a Religious Person Interpreted thus An excellent Dog indeed for he shall be a Keeper of God's House and shall incessantly bark against the Adversâ—â—ies of it and as a famous Preacher shall cure many with his Medicinal Tongue Idem ex Heidfeld in Sphing c. 37. 25. Francis Petrarch had a Friend so desperately ill that he despaired of his Life wearied with Grief and Tears he fell into a slumber and seemed to see his sick Friend stand before him and tell him that he could not now stay any longer with him for there was one at the Door would interrupt their Discourse to whom he desired that he would recommend his weak Estate and that it he should undertake him he should be restored Presently a Physician enters Petrarch's Chamber who came from the sick as having given him over for a dead Man to comfort him Petrarch recounts his Dream to him with Tears and prevails with him to undertake his Friend who thereupon in a short time recovered Idem ex Fulg. l. 1. c. 5. 26. Arlotte Mother of William the Conqueror when great with Child of him dreamed that her Bowels were extended over all Normandy and England Bakers Chron. p. 28. 27. Whilst I lived at Prague saith an English Gentleman and one Night had sate up very late a drinking at a Feast early in the Morning the Sun-beams glancing on my Face as I lay in my Bed I dreamed that a shadow passing by told me That my Father was dead At which awaking I rose and wrote the Day and Hour and all Circumstances thereof in a Paper-Book which Book with many other things I put into a Barrel and sent it from Prague to Stode thence to be carried into England And now being at Nuremberg a Merchant of a Noble Family well Acquainted with me and my Relations arrived there who told me that my Father was dead about two Months ago I list not to write any Lies but that which I write is as true as strange When I returned into England some Four Years after I would not open the Barrel I sent from Prague till I had called my Sisters and some other Friends to be Witnesses where my self and they were astonished to see my written Dream answer the very day of my Father's Death Morison's Itin. p. 1. c. 1. A.B. Annot. on Relig. Med. p. 294. Wanley's Wonders of the Little World l. 6. c. 1. 28. The same Gentleman saith thus also I may lawfully swear that which my Kinsmen have heard witnessed by my Brother Henry whilst he liv'd that in my Youth at Cambridge I had the like Dream of my Mother's death where my Brother Henry lying by me early in the Morning I dreamed that my Mother passed by with a sad Countenance and told me That she could not come to my Commencement I being within 5 Months to proceed Master of Arts and she having promised at that time to come to Cambridge when I related this Dream to my Brother both of us awaking together in a Sweat he professed to me That he had dreamed the very same and when we had not the least knowledge of our Mother's sickness neither in our youthful Affections were any whit affected with the strangeness of this dream yet the next Carrier brought us word of our Mother's death Iâ—id 29. I cannot omit the Dream and Revelation of Joan d' Arke a Virgin who dreamed that she her self should be the only means to put Charles the 7th in possession of his Kingdom After she had acquainted her Father and Mother with her Dream she is brought to the Lord Baudricate and habited like a Man is presented to the King The Matter seemed ridiculous to the King he takes upon himself the Habit of a Country-man this Maid being brought into the Chamber goeth to the King and salutes him with a modest Countenance and delivered to him the Charge which she had received of the God of Heaven and told him That she should be the means to place the Crown upon his head and relieve Orleance that was Besieged by the English The King was persuaded to give her a Troop of 100 and a good Horse She puts her self into a Man's Habit and like a valourous Captain goeth towards Orleance and relieveth the Town with Victuals without resistance After she was in Orleance she sends a Letter to the King of England and his Troops and wisheth them to depart without shedding any more innocent Blood Joan d' Arke a second time relieveth Orleance and brings in fresh Provision she makes choice of 1500 Men and enters the Fort of Saint Loope the Virgin in the foremost of the Ranks crying Saint Denis the next Day they took two other Forts on the third Day the English made the French recoil but the Virgin incouraging her Men and marching couragiously was shot in the Arm Tush saith she this is a favour nothing amazed she takes the Arrow in one hand and her Sword in the other and enters the Fort. In these three Days the English lost 8000 Men and the French not one hundred and as a remembrance of their Victories the Statues of Charles the Seventh and Joan d' Arke are placed upon the Bridge of Orleance kneeling before a Crucifix Charles the Seventh is Crowned at Rheins all Champaigns yield unto him and the King that was in great danger of losing his Kingdom is now an absolute King The Divine Dreamer p. 15. 30. Cicero among other Dreams relates this A certain Man dreamed that there was an Egg hid under his Bed The Sooth-sayer to whom he applied himself for the Interpretation of the Dream told him That in the same place where he imagined to see the Egg there was Trensure hid Whereupon he caused the place to be digged up and there accordingly he found Silver and in the midst of it a good quantity of Gold and to give the Interpreter some testimony of his acknowledgment he brought him some pieces of the Silver which he had found but the Sooth-sayer hoping also to have some of the Gold said And will you not give me some of the Yolk too Amyrald Dis of Div. Dreams p. 22. 31. Monsieur Pâ—irese Councellor of the Parliament of Provence going from Mohrpellier to Nismes lay all Night in an Inn which is the mid-way betwixt these two places he had in his Company one James Rainier Citizen of Aix who in that Journey lodged in the same Chamber with him As that great Man slept Rainier observ'd that he talk'd and mutter'd something in his Sleep otherwise than was usual with him whereupon he wakened him and ask'd what was the matter Oh! said he you have made me lose a most excellent and pleasant Dream for I was dreaming That I was at Nismes and that a Goldsmith shew'd me a Golden Medal of Julius Caesar which he would sell me for four Crowns and as I was ready to
them plainly that as they came both into the Room she saw a Man with a Scarlet Cloak and a white Hat betwixt them giving the Lady a Kiss over the Shoulder and this was the Cause of her weeping All which came to pass after Macklend's Death the Tutor of Lovat marry'd the Lady in the same Habit the Woman saw him 33. One Instance I had from a Gentleman here of a Highland Gentleman of the Mackdonalds who having a Brother that came to visit him saw him coming in wanting a Head yet told not his Brother he saw any such thing but within 24 Hours thereafter his Brother was taken being a Murderer and his Head cut off and sent to Edinburgh Many such Instances might be given 34. Diembrooke in his Book de Pete gives us a Story of Dimmerus de Raet that being at Delft where the Plague then raged sent then his Wife Thirty Miles off And when the Doctor went to see the Gentleman of the House as soon as he came in the old Chair-woman that washed the Cloaths fell a weeping He asked her Why said she My Mistress is now dead I saw her Apparition but just now without a Head and that it was usual with her when a Friend of hers died to see their Apparitions in that manner tho' never so far off His Wife died at that time 35. Th. May in his History Lib. 8. writes That an old Man like an Hermit Second-sighted took his Leave of King James the First when he came into England He took little notice of Prince Henry but addressing himself to the Duke of York since King Charles I. fell a weeping to think what Misfortunes he should undergo and that he should be one of the miserablest unhappy Princes that ever was 36. A Scotch Noble Man sent for one of these Second-sighted Men out of the Highlands to give his Judgment of the then great Favourite George Villers Duke of Buckingham as soon as ever he saw him Pish said he he will come to nothing I see a dagger in his Breast and he was stabb'd in the Breast by Capt. Felton Thus far I am beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections 37. Before the Battle at Philippi began two Eagles sought in the Air between the two Armies Both the Armies stood still and beheld them and the Army was beaten that was under the vanquished Eagle See Appian's Hist Part 2. Lib. 4. Sect. 2. 38. 'T is commonly reported That before an Heir of the Cliftons of Clifton in Nottinghamshire dies that a Sturgeon is taken in the River Trent by that place 39. Thomas Fludd of Kent Esq told me That it is an old Observation which was pressed earnestly to King James I. that he should not remove the Queen of Scots Body from Northamptonshire where she was Beheaded and Interred For that it always bodes ill to the Family when Bodies are remov'd from their Graves For some of the Family will die shortly after as did Prince Henry and I think Queen Anne 40. A little before the Death of Oliver Protector a Whale came into the River Thomas and was taken at Greenwich Foot long T is said Oliver was troubled at it 41. When I was a Freshman at Oxford 1642. I was wont to go to Christ-Church to see King Charles I. at Supper where I once heard him say That as he was Hawking in Scotland he rode into the Quarry and found the Covey of Partridges falling upon the Hawk and I do remember this Expression farther viz. And I will swear upon the Book 't is true When I came to my Chamber I told this Story to my Tutor said he That Covey was London 42. The Day that the Long Parliament began 1641. the Scepter fell out of the Figure of King Charles in Wood in Sir Trenchard's Hall at Wullich in Dorset as they were at Dinner in the Parlour Justice Hunt then dined there 43. When the High Court of Justice was voted in the Parliament-House as Berken-head the Mace-bearer took up the Mace to carry it before the Speaker the top of the Mace fell off This was avowed to me by an Eye-witness then in the House 44. The Head of King Charles I.'s Staff did fall off at his Tryal that is commonly known 45. King Charles II. went by long Sea to Portsmouth or Plymouth or both an extraordinary Storm arose which carried him almost to France Sir Jonas Moor who was then with his Majesty gave me this Account and said that when they came to Portsmouth to refresh themselves they had not been there above half an Hour but the Weather was Calm and the Sun shone His Majesty put to Sea agian and in a little time they had the like Tempestuous Weather as before 46. The Gloucester-Frigot cast away at the Lemanere and most of the Men in it the Duke of York escaping in a Cockboat An. 1682. May the fifth on a Friday 47. When King James II. was Crown'd according to the antient Custom the Peers go to the Throne and kiss the King the Crown was almost kiss'd off his Head An Earl did set it upright And as he came from the Abbey to Westminster-Hall the Crown totter'd extreamly 48. Mr. Hill at Shellen in Herefordshire in 1648. after saying God bless our Gracious Soveraign he puts the Cup to his Lady to drink at which a Swallow flew in at the Window and pitch'd on the Brim of the Earthern Cup not half a Pint and sipt and so flew out again This was in the Presence of Parson Still Major Gwillim and two or three more that I knew very well The Cup is preserv'd here still as a Rarity See Mr. Aubrey 's Mscellanies for a larger Account 49. When King James II. was at Salisbury Anno 1688. the Iron Crown upon the Turret of the Councel-House was blown off 50. I did see Mr. Chr. Love beheaded on Tower-Hill in a delicate clear day About half an Hour after his Head was struck off the Clouds gathered blacker and blacker and such terrible Claps of Thunder came that I never heard greater 'T is reported that the like happened after the Execution of Alderman Cornish in Cheapside Octob. 23. 1685. 51. Anno 1643. as Major John Morgan of Wells was marching with the King's Army into the West fell sick of a Malignant Fever at Salisbury and was brought dangerously ill to my Father 's at Broad-Chalk where he was lodged secretly in a Garret there came a Sparrow to the Chamber-Window which peck'd the Lead of a certain Pannel only and only one side of the Lead of the Lozenge and made one small hole in it He continued this pecking and biting of the Lead during the whole time of his Sickness which was not less than a Month when the Major went away the Sparrow desisted and came thither no more 52. Sir Walter Long 's Widow of Dorset in Wilts did make a solemn Promise to him on his Death-bed that she would not marry after his Decease But not long after one Sir Fox
Discourses upon these Subjects and after all told me Sir the Lord hath given me Repentance for this Sin yea and for every other Sin I see the evil of Sin now so as I never saw it before Oh I loath my self I am a very vile Creature in my own Eyes I do also believe Lord help my unbelief I am heartily willing to take Christ upon his own Terms One thing troubles me I doubt this bloody Sin will not be pardoned Will Jesus Christ said he apply his Blood to me that have shed my own I told him Christ shed his Blood even for them that with wicked Hands had shed the Blood of Christ and that was a Sin of deeper Guilt than this Well said he I will cast my self upon Christ let him do by me what he pleases And so I parted with him that Night Next Morning the Wounds were to be open'd and then the Opinion of the Chyrurgeon were he would immediately expire Accordingly at his Desire I came that Morning and found him in a most serious frame I prayed with him and then the Wound in his Stomach was opened but by this time the Ventricle it self was swoln out of the Orifice of the Wound and lay like a live discolour'd Tripe upon his Body and was also cut through so that all concluded it was impossible for him to live however they stitch'd the Wound in the Stomach enlarged the Orifice and fomented it and wrought it again into his Body and so stitching the Skin left him to the Dispose of Providence But so it was that both the deep VVound in his Throat and this in his Stomach healed and the more dangerous VVound Sin had made upon his Soul was I trust effectually healed also I spent many Hours with him in that Sickness and after his return home received this Account from Mr. Samuel Hardy a Minister in that Town Part whereof I shall Transcribe Dear Sir I was much troubled at the sad Providence in your Town but did much rejoyce that he fell into such Hands for his Body and Soul You have taken much Pains with him and I hope to good purpose I think if ever a great and thorough VVork were done such a way it is now and if never the like I am perswaded now it is Never grow weary of such good VVorks One such Instance is methinks enough to make you to abound in the work of the Lord all your days Flavel's Divine Conduct CHAP. XXI Wants strangely supplied JOseph was sold into Egypt by the Envy of his Brethren to make Provision for them and their Father in a time of Famine Elijah is fed by an Angel when he was ready to starve with Hunger under the Juniper-Tree and found to his great Surprizal a Cake baked on the Coals and a Cruise of Water at his Head another time by a Raven who brought him Bread and Flesh Morning and Evening and a third time by the Wisdom of Zarepheth's Barrel of Meal and Cruise of Oyl which failed not so long as there was necessity of it What should I tell of Daniel and the three Children's Pulse and Water our Saviour's Loaves and Fishes of the Money found in the Belly of a Fish of the great Draught of Fishes that astonished St. Peter into Amazement God feedeth the young Ravens c. 1. Origen with his poor Mother and six Children after the Father's Death and the Confiscation of all his Goods to the Emperor procured a Sustenance for himself and them by teaching a Grammar-School and after being weary of that Profession he betook himself to the stndy of Sacred Scripture and Divinity and thus throwing himself upon Divine Providence it pleased God he was entertain'd by a Religious and Rich Matron together with his Mother and Brethren Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. Mr. Samuel Clark in the Life of that painful and humble Servant Mr. John Fox records a memorable Instance or Providence and it is thus That towards the end of King Henry the Eighth his Reign he went to London where he quickly spent that little his Friends had given him or he had acquired by his own Diligence and began to be in great want As one day he sat in St. Paul's Church spent with long Fasting his Countenance thin and his Eyes hollow after the ghastful manner of dying Men every one shunning a Spectacle of so much horror There came one to him whom he had never seen before and thrust an untold Sum of Money into his Hand bidding him be of good Cheer and accept that small Gift in good part from his Country-man and that he should make much of himself for that within a few Days new Hopes were at Hand and a more certain Condition of Livelihood Three Days after the Dutchess of Richmond sent for him to live in her House and be Tutor to the Earl of Surrey's Children then under her Care 3. Mr. Isaac Ambrose a worthy Divine whose Labours have made him acceptable to his Generation in his Epistle to the Earl of Bedford prefixed to his last things gives a pregnant Instance in his own Case his Words are these For my own part saith he however the Lord hath seen cause to give me but a poor pittance of outward things for which I bless his Name yet in the Income thereof I have many times observ'd so much of his peculiar Providence that thereby they have been very much sweetned and my Heart hath been raised to admire his Grace When of late under an hard Dispensation which I iudge not mete to mention wherein I suffer'd conscientiously all Streams of wonted Supplys being stopt the VVaters of Relief for my self and Family did run low I went to Bed with some Staggerings and Doubtings of the Fountains letting out it self for our refreshing but e're I did awake in the Morning a Letter was brought to my Bed-side which was signed by a choice Friend Mr. Anthony Ash which reported some unexpected breakings out of God's Goodness for my Comfort These are some of his Lines Your God who hath given you an Heart thankful to record your Experiences of his Goodness doth renew Experiences for your Encouragement Now shall I report one which will raise your Spirit towards-the God of your Mercies VVhereupon he sweetly concludes One Morsel of God's Provision especially when it comes in unexpected and upon Prayer when wants are most will be more sweet to a Spiritual Relish than all former Enjoyments were Flavel's Divine Conduct p. 93. 4. Rochell was strangely relieved by a Shoal of Fish that came into the Harbour when they were ready to perish with Famine such as they never observed before nor after that time Ibid. p. 31. 5. Mr. William Garaway a Gentleman sufficiently known for his excellent Parts and Activeness and Fidelity to both King and Country in several Parliaments during these three last Reigns told me lately of another such a Special and Remarkable Providence as this was which happened to a certain Sea-Port Town in England
reacheth to all Mankind but is most illustriously visible in watching over Kings and Princes those Great Instruments of Good to Mankind and so we find it Recorded in more Capital and Legible Characters by the Pen-Men of S. Scripture and so we may find it too in Humane Histories It would be too wide a Field to walk in to take a Prospect of Foreign Nations I shall in this place confine my self to my Own and Remark a little what signal Deliverances our Princes have received since the Reformation I. In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. Pope Paulus Quintus a Man of a fierce Nature and Disposition A. C. 1569. was so far wrought upon That in the most Solemn manner that could be he Excommunicated and Anathematized our Blessed Queen and caused a Brief thereof with his Leaden Bull annexed thereto to be fastned to the Gate of the Bishop of London's Palace near Pauls Church by one John Felton who being Apprehended confessed the Fact and received the reward of his Treason on a Gibbet before the said Gate This Excommunication caused much Trouble on Man's part but manifold Preservations and Deliverances on God's part 2. A C. 1563. Arthur Poole of the Race of George Duke of Clarence of the House of York with sundry of his Kindred and Alliance Conspired to set on foot again the Title of Mary Queen of Scots and to bring an Army out of France into Wales to back the same but before they could bring their Plot to maturity it was discovered and themselves Condemned 3. A. C. 1570. the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland encouraged by Promises of Aid from the Pope and Spaniard raised a Rebellion against the Queen in the Northern Parts but the Fire was soon quenched the Earl of Northumberland being taken and Beheaded and the Earl of Westmoreland flying beyond Sea ended his Days in a poor and mean Condition 4. A. C. 1570 John Story Doctor of Law a Spy to the Duke de Alva Conspired with one Prestol a Man much addicted to Magick and a Subject to the King of Spain against the Life of Queen Elizabeth He gave Intelligence to the said Duke how he might Invade England and cause Ireland to revolt But God brought this Treason to light Story and Prestol were by the Parliament Condemned for Treason and accordingly Executed 5. A. C. 1571. The Bishop of Rosse practised with sundry English Men to intercept Queen Elizabeth and to trouble the Parliament then sitting that so another Queen might be set up instead of Elizabeth but there fell out such mutual Mistrust amongst the Conspirators that their Plot turned to their own Confusion 6. A. C. 1578. Thomas Stukely an English Fugitive plotted with Pius V. and Gregory XIII to Lead Forces into Ireland to Assist the Rebels and to Conquer it for the Pope's Natural Son for which purpose he was made General of 8000 Italian Soldiers but by the persuasion of Sebastian King of Portugal he first led his Troops into Mauritania and was there Slain 7. A. C. 1580. Nicholas Sanders an English Priest had a Consecrated Banner given him by the Pope and an Army of Spaniards wherewith he entred Ireland and joyning with the Rebels caused a great Insurrection but it proved the Ruin of himself and of all his Accomplices 8. A. C. 1581. Robert Parsons Edmond Campion with other Seminary Priests were sent by the Pope from Rome to England to with-draw the Queen's Subjects from their Allegiance and to prepare them to take part with Foreign Powers when sent into England but their design was frustrated Campion Shâ—rwin Kirby and Bryant were Convicted Condemned for High Treason and accoadingly Executed 9. A. C. 1583. John Somervil was Apprehended as he came in a desperate manner to have killed the Queen being moved thereto as himself confessed by the Reading of certain Popish Books published by certain Priests After his Condemnation he Strangled himself in Newgate 10. A. C. 1585. Will. Parry Doctor of Law made a promise to kill the Queen upon promise of Absolution from the Pope but through Terror he deferred till his Treason was discovered and he received a due Reward for the same A. C. 1586. John Ballard a Romish Priest persuaded some Gentlemen to kill the Queen as she was going to take the Air which they vowed to do but being discovered before the Effect Fourteen of them were Executed as Traitors A. C. 1587. William Stafford a young Gentleman and one Moody a desperate Ruffian were Suborned by a Foreign Ambassador then in England to kill the Queen but were prevented 13. A. C. 1588. Philip formerly of England then King of Spain endeavoured by his Invincible Armado to recover England the Strength of which take out of Ranzovius's Com. Bell. l. 1. c. 8. The Navy consisted of 130 Ships and carried 57868 Lasts Soldiers c. 19295. Sea-Men 8052. great Guns 2441. Pilas seu glandes Tormentarias I know not well whether my Author means Mortar-Pieces or Cannon-Bullets 123090. Hundreds of Powder 1151. a great quantity of fresh Water Dishes Candles Lamps Clubs Leather Tow Flax and Straw to stop the chinks of the Ships great Plenty Shields Wax-Candles Tallow-Candles long Sacks a great Number for carrying of the great Guns 40 Mules together with Wagons Wheels c. Field-Pieces 1500. long Guns 7000. Forked and Crooked at the Handle 1000. Halbards and Axes 1000. Short Pikes 6000. Pioneers 700. Persons needful for such an Expedition Stipendiary Soldiers Gunners Physicians Chirurgeons Priests Monks Nobles Servants Governours Judges Admirals Mariners Seamen Cooks c. almost 30693. Provision for 6 Months thus Hundreds of Bisket 11000 Barrels of Wine 21255 Hundreds of Salt Flesh 6000 Hundreds of Cheese 3433 Hundreds of Salt Fish 8000 Hundreds of Oats 3000 Hundreds of Beans c. 6320 Baths of Oil 11398 Baths of Vinegar 13687 Pipes of Potable Water 11870 Paid to the Soldiers for Stipend 12000 Ducats besides a great quantity of Gold and Silver for carrying on and maintaining the War And yet saith my Author the English discharged upon this Fleet 10000 Guns Pant. Attic. Bellar. par 2. p. 208 209. ex Comment Bell. Ranzov l. 1. c. 8. 14. A. C. 1593. Patrick Cullin an Irish Fencer was hired by English Fugitives in the Low Countries to kill the Queen and with that purpose came over but Intelligence being given thereof he was Apprehended and Executed 15. The same Year Edmond York and Richard Williams were hired in like manner to kill the Queen and to burn her Navy with Balls of wild Fire but the mischief was prevented and they deservedly Executed 16. A. C. 1598. Edward Squire being in a Ship on the Sea was taken by the Spaniards and by them carried into Spain where he was suborned and directed by Richard Whalepool and English Fugitive and a Jesuit to destroy the Queen by laying a strong Poyson which the Jesuit then gave him on the pummel of the Sadle whereon the Queen should ride that she laying her Hand thereon might carry the
scent to her Nose and thereby receive it into her Brain which if she had done it had been her Death Never any Treason against her came so near to Execution as this For the Traytor Squire observed his Direction did the Deed and that immediately before the Queen rode abroad but the Divine Providence kept her from touching the Pummel with her Hand yet was the Treason discovered and the Traytor received his reward 17. A. C. 1599. The Earl of Tyr-Owen an Irish-man having been some while in Spain returned from thence with a Rebellious Mind and by the Assistance of Spain and the Popish Faction raised a Rebellion whereby more damage accrued to the Queen and State than by any other Rebellion all her Days yet by the good hand of God this Rebellion also was subdued and that Land secured and quieted 18. A. C. 1600. There was a Plot for the removing some of the Queens chief Officers and Councellors from about her which had it been effected might have proved dangerous to her Person and State the rather because many Papists had a great hand in that Conspiracy But the Lord prevented the mischief intended 19. A. C. 1602. Henry Garnet Superiour of the Jesuits in England Robert Tresmand Jesuit Robert Catesby Francis Tresham and others in the Name of all the Romish Catholicks in England imployed Thomas Winter into Spain to obtain an Army from thence to joyn with a Popish Army that should be raised here to change the Government and Religion setled among us Spain and England being then at Wars the motion was readily embraced by the Spaniards and an hundâ—ed thousand Crowns promised to help forward the business but before any thing could be effected it pleased God to take away that Peerless Princess full of Years in peace on her Bed having Reigned Gloriously 44 Ysars four Months and seven Days being sixty nine Years six Months and seventeen Days old II. In the Reign of King James 1. In the first Year of his Reign before he was solemnly Anointed and Crowned Watson and Clark two Romish Priests drew into their Conspiracy some Noble Men some Knights and some Gentlemen to surprise the King and his Son Prince Henry presuming on Foreign Forces for Aid and Assistance intending to alter Religion and to set up such Officers of State as they ohought best but their Plot before it came to execution was discovered the Traytors Condemned some of them Executed and others through the Kings Clemency spared Garnet and Tresmond Jesuits with Catesby and Tresham notwithstanding the Death of Queen Elizabeth when they saw that King James Defended the same Faith continued to solicit the King of Spain to send an Army into England to joyn with the Forces of the Papists here for Extirpation of Religion But the King of Spain being in Treaty with the King of England about Peace refused to hearken to any such motion whereupon they together with other Unnatural and Trayterous Subjects Plotted the matchless merciless devilish and damnable Gun-powder Treason as is now to be shewed The Plot was to under-mine the Parliament-House and with Powder to blow up the King Prince Clergy Nobles Knights and Burgesses the very Confluence of all the flower of Glory Piety Learning Prudence and Authority in the Land Fathers Sons Brothers Allies Friends Foes Papists and Protestants all at one blast Their intent when that Irreligious Atchievement had been performed was to surprize the remainder of the King's Issue to alter Religion and Government and to bring in a Forreign Power Sir Edmond Baynam an attainted Person who stiled himself Prince of the Damned Crew was sent unto the Pope as he was the Temporal Prince to acquaint him with the Gun-powder Plot and now to the Plot it self The Sessions of Parliament being dissolved July 7th A. C. 1605. and Prorogued to the 7th of February following Catesby being at Lambeth sent for Thomas Winter who before had been imployed into Spain and acquainted him with the design of blowing up the Parliament-House who readily apprehending it said This indeed strikes at the Root only these helps were wanting a House for Residence and a skilfull Man to carry the Mine but the first Catesby assured him was easie to be got and for the Man he commended Guy Fawkes a sufficient Souldier and a forward Catholick Thus Robert Catesby John Wright Thomas Winter and Guy Fawkes had many Meetings and Conferences about the business till at last Thomas Piercy came puffing into Catesby's Lodging at Lambeth saying What Gentlemen shall we always be thinking and never do any thing You cannot be ignorant how things proceed To whom Catesby answered that something was resolved on but first an Oath for Secrecy was to be Administred for which purpose they appointed to meet some three Days after behind St. Clements Church beyond Temple-Bar where being met Peircy professed that for the Catholick cause himself would be the Man to advance it were it with the slaughter of the King which he was ready to undertake and do No Tom. said Catesby thou shalt not adventure thy self to so small purpose if thou wilt be a Traytor there is a Plot to greater Advantage and such a one as can never be discovered Hereupon all of them took the Oath of Secresie heard a Mass and received the Sacrament after which Catesby told them his devilish Devise by Mine and Gun-powder to blow up the Parliament-House and so by one stroke with the Destruction of many effect that at once which had been many Years attempting And for case of Conscience to kill the Innocent with the nocent he told that it was Warrantable by the Authority of Garnet himself the Superiour of the English Jesuits and of Garrard and Tresmond Jesuitical Priests likewise who by the Apostolical Power did commend the Fact and Absolve the Actors The Oath was given them by the said Garrard in these words You shall swear by the blessed Trinity and by the Sacrament you now purpose to receive never to disclose directly nor indirectly by Word or Circumstance the Matter that shall be proposed to you to keep secret nor desist from the Execution thereof until the rest shall give you leave The Project being thus far carried on in the next place the first thing they sought after was a House wherein they might begin the Work for which purpose no place was held fitter than a certain Edifice adjoyning to the Wall of the Parliament-House which served for a With-Drawing Room to the Assembled Lords and out of Parliament was at the disposal of the Keeper of the place and Wardrobe thereto belonging These did Piercy hire for his Lodgings entertained Fawkes as his Man who changed his Name into Johnson had the Keys and keeping of the Rooms Besides this they hired another House to lay in Provision of Powder and to frame and to fit Wood in for the carrying on the Mine which Catesby provided at Lambeth and Swore Robert Keyes into their Conspiracy whom he made the
of it Catesby and the rest posted into Warwickshire and began an open Rebellion being joyned with about Eighty more and so Trooping together broke open the Stables belonging to Warwick-Castle and took thence some great Horses Thence into Worcestershire and so to Staffordshire where they rifled the Lord Windsor's House of all the Armour Shot Powder c. But being pursued by the high Sheriff of Worcestershire and his Men who rush'd in upon them both the Wrights were shot through and slain with one Musquet-Bullet the rest being taken were carry'd Prisoners to London being all the way gaz'd at revil'd and detested by the common People for their horrid and horrible Treason and so at last they receiv'd the just Guerdon of their Wickedness See a fuller Account in Bishop Carleton's Thankful Remembrance of God's Mercy III. In the Reign of King Charles the First 1. Sir John Temple Master of the Rolls and one of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council within the Kingdom of Ireland and who was Father of the present Sir William Temple relates in his History of the Irish Rebellion in 1641. and which History was first Printed in London in 1646. there in P. 16 17 and 18 sets down that the first Plot for the Rebellion carried on with so great Secresie as none of the English had Notice of it before it was ready to be put in Execution and that on the 22d of October 1641. In the very Evening before the Day appointed for a Surprizal of the Castle and City of Dublin Owen O Conall a Gentleman of an Irish Family but one who had been bred a Protestant and who had been drinking that Evening came to the Lord Justice Parsons there about Nine of the Clock and acquainted him with a Conspiracy for the seizing upon His Majesty's Castle of Dublin and the Magazine therein the next day but he did then make such a broken Relation of a Matter that seem'd so incredible in its self as that his Lordship did then give but very little Belief to it at first in regard it came from an obscure Person and one he conceived somewhat distemper'd in Drink but in some Hours after O Conall being somewhat recover'd from his said Distemper was examin'd upon Oath before the Lords Justices and his Examination gave such a particular Account of the Conspiracy and the Conspirators therein that caused the Lords Justices to sit up all that Night in Consultation for the strengthning of the Guards in the Castle of Dublin and likewise of the whole City and for the seizing of the Persons of the Conspirators that the Execution of the Plot was thereby prevented and otherwise the Castle of Dublin had been the next day in the Possession of the Rebels of Ireland and all the Protestants in Dublin had been the next day massacred The Papists planted the Soveraign Drug of Arminianism here in England on purpose to promote Divisions among us and endeavoured to Advance Arbitrary Power and inflame the Puritans as the Author of the History of Popish Sham-Plots from the Reign of Queen Elizabeth tells us out of a Letter sent to the Rector of Brussels And Cardinal Richlieu sent over one Chamberlain hither who for four Months had Consultations with the Jesuits how to stir up the Scots and foment our Broils as may be seen in Dr. Heylin's Life of Archbishop Laud and Habernfeild's Plot c. Or to speak in the very Words of the late Learned Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Barlow When King James slept with his Fathers and was Translated to a better Kingdom out of the reach of Popish Conspirators their Designs slept not they prosecuted their Plots and Conspiracies to Ruin our Church and Establish'd Religion as much in Charles the First as in his Father's time and at last it came to this Issue that other Means failing the King and Arch-Bishop must be taken away This was discover'd by an Honourable Person Andreas ab Habernfeild to the English Embassador Sir W. Boswel at the Hague and by him to the Arch-Bishop and by him to the King and the Original Copy of the Discovery being found in the Arch-Bishop's Library after his Death was then publish'd and is in print in many Hands and among others in mine In the mean time adds my Author the Civil Wars began and our Popish Conspirators are first in Arms and the bloody Rebellion and in Ireland murder'd above 100000 Protestants in cold Blood without any Provocation given but to kill Hereticks which according to them was Lawful and Meritorious And farther when in Process of that fatal Rebellion carry'd on by English and covertly by Popish Rebels that good King was taken and a Council of Priests and Jesuits sitting in London signified the Condition of Affairs here to a Council of their Confederates at Paris and they transmitted the Case to Rome from whence Directions and Commands were return'd back again to London in short it was determined that it was for the Interest of the Catholick Cause that the King shculd die and accordingly their Council of Priests and Jesuits in London voted his Death This saith the same Reverend Author is now notoriously known to be true and in print publish'd to the World by Reverend and Learned Person who if any shall call him to Account for it is so convinced of the Ttuth of what he writ that he publickly offers to make it good viz. Dr. Du-Moulin Canon of Canterbury in two Books written to the same purpose See more in Bishop Barlow's Book called Popish Principles c. inconsistent with the Safety of Protestant Princes The Irish Papists when they had promised to furnish his Majesty with 10000 Men for the helping of him against the Parliament did not but endeavour'd to cut off the King's Army there by Force and Treachery and employ'd Commissioners to Rome France Lorrain and Spain to invite a Foreign Power into England See Fowles Hist of Rom. Treasons and the Lord Orcery 's Answer to Peter Welsh About 30 Priests or Jesuits were met together by a Protestant Gentleman between Roan and Diep to whom they said taking him to be one of their Party they were going to England and would take Arms in the Independant Army to be Agitators The Romish Priest and Confessor is known who when he saw the fatal Stroke given to the King flourish'd with his Sword and said Now the greatest Enemy we had in the World is gone When the Murder was cried down as the greatest Villany the Pope commanded all the Papers about the Queen to be burnt Many intelligent Travellers told what Joy there was in the English Convents beyond Seas and the Seminaries upon Tidings of the King's Death Benedictines were afraid lest the Jesuits should get their Lands and the English Nuns contended who should be Abesses the Fryars of Dunkirk were jealous lest the Jesuits should engross all the Glory to themselves Du-Moul Answer to Plul. Angl. And tho' the Papists during the Civil Wars flock'd to the King's
Army it was because the Parliament rejected them They are the Words of one of their own Party that most of the Romanists that seem'd to be of the old King's side only fled to his Garrisons for shelter and not to take up Arms to offend the Parliament Christ Moderator par 2. p. 12 29. Several of them boasted they were able to make appear their Faithfulness and good Affection to them the Rump See the Petitions of Sir R. Talbot and Garret Moor Esq See more on this Subject in Dr. Stillingfleet 's Idolatry of the Church of Rome p. 301 c. IV. In the Reign of King Charles II. 1. There was a Design carry'd on all along to alienate the Affections of Protestants one from another as plainly shew'd it self first of all at the King's Return who being put hard to it by the several Obligations he had contracted upon himself and Promises made of shewing Favour to each considerable Party in England For he had at his Coronation in Scotland promised and swore by the Eternal and Almighty God who lives and reigns for ever to rule the People committed to his Charge according to the Will and Command of God revealed in his Word and according to the lowable Laws and Constitutions of that Realm no ways repugnant to the said Word and to procure to the utmost of his Power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian People true and perfect Peace in time coming c. See the Form and Order of his Coronation printed by Robert Dowglas Minister at Edinburgh and reprinted at London 1660. p. 20. c. After this Engagement to the Kirk of Scotland he made as kind a Promise to the Papists at Breda as I remember that upon Condition they would assist him in Recovery of his Father's Throne he would do what he could to promote the Interest of the Catholick Cause in England And he could do no less but oblige himself as faithfully to the Church of England who had been faithful Sticklers for his Father as long they were able and afterwards applied to the Son with such a Courage and Resolution that they never left him till they had brought him safe to his long-desired Home In this Distraction of Mind he came to his Throne and any one may easily guess what Difficulties he must needs encounter in his following Reign What Endeavours were used to hinder the Puritans or Protestant Dissenters from obtaining Favour with the King as that they were ready with Forces raised to oppose his Majesty c. See the Account of the Sham-Presbyterian-Plot the Papists devised then in Yarraton 's Discovery p. 4 5 6 8 16. What Metheds were taken to widen the Differences between the Church-men and Dissenters is too plain to need a Descant and too fresh to be forgotten 2. Another Plot in this King's Reign was the Burning of London in 1666. For it was not enough with our Adversaries to enkindle a Fire of Passion and Discord in the Minds of People they proceeded next to kindle a material Fire in our most stately Buildings and nothing less would serve than the Metropolis of the Nation the great Mart of these three Kingdoms For the Proof whereof I shall insist only upon these seven Particulars 1. Strange Provincial of the Jesuits Gray Pennington Barton Jesuits c. and Keimask a Dominican Fryar pretending to be Fifth-Monarchy-Men prevailed with one Green a Fifth-Monarchy man but poor by lending him 30 l. to be an Instrument in firing London Green brought in eight other Fifth-Monarchy-men as Assistants but deferring to do it presently they were discovered tried and executed only Green died in Prison the Jesuits were not discovered because not known to be such 1665 6. as appears by Oates's Nar. Art 34. compared with the publick Gazet Apr. 30. 1666. 2. Several Persons were taken with Fire-Balls brought before the Magistrates and Committed to Custody but rescued by the Favour of the D. of Y. 3. One Hubbard was Executed who confessed that he began the Fire with one Pie-de-loup a French-man who came over on that Design with 23 other French-men 4. Several Letters were produced from beyond Sea enquiring whither London was Burnt hearing date some Days before the Fire began 5. Several words which the Papists had cast out here to the same purpose were proved as may be seen in the Depositions and Informations before the Committee in the House of Commons in Sept. 1666. of which Sir Robert Brokes was Chair-man 6. The Benedictines boasted to Mr. Bedloe that they had a hand in it and shewed him several Letters about it and told him that they resolved to Burn it again and tampered with Mr. Bedloe about it 7. Groves with Three Irish-men Fired Southwark 8. Doth any man begin to doubt said the Lord Chancellour in his Speech at the Lord Stafford's Condemnation how London came to be Burnt And is it not apparent by those Instances that such is the Frantick Zeal of some Bigotted Papists that they resolve no means that may serve to advance the Catholick Cause shall be left unattempted tho' it be by Fire and Sword 9. If all this will not serve to convince my Incredulous Reader I refer him to the Monument in London Erected in Perpetuam hujus Neferie actionis Memoriam Where the dead Stones witness the Truth of it with a voice loud enough to be heard to the utmost parts of the World POSTSCRIPT 3. A third Plot in King Charles the II. Reign was that which is commonly known and called by some in way of Derision Oates's Plot which yet I am perswaded in my own breast was no sham for these Reasons following 1. Because March 25. 1679. it was resolved nemine contradicente by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled That they do declare that they are fully satisfied by the Proofs they have heard that there now is and for diverse Years last past hath been a Horrid and Treasonable Plot and Conspiracy continued and carried on by those of the Popish Religion for the Murthering of His Majesty's Sacred Person and Subverting the Protestant Religion and the Ancient and Established Government of the Kingdom Joh. Brown Cleric Parliament 2. Because hereupon ' the King himself Issued out two several Proclamatins for a general Fast the first in these words CHARLES R. WHereas the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this Parliament Assembled being deeply sensible of the Sad and Calamitous Condition of this our Kingdom occasioned chiefly by the Impious and malicious Conspirary of a Popish Party who have not only Plotted and intended the Destruction of our Royal Person but the total Subdersion of our Government and of the true Protestant Religion c. have besought Vs that a Day might be set apart we have to this their humble Request most readily inclined Given at White-Hall Mar. 28 1679. 3. Because several Persons gave Testimony to the Truth thereof who were of their own party as Dr. Oates Capt. Bedloe
Mr. Jennison of Grays-Inn Mr. Lewis Mr. Smith Edmund Everard Esq who was kept four Years close Prisoner in the Tower by the contrivance of some English Subjects whom he had five Years before discovered as plotting against us in France 4. Because several Letters were produced relating to the fame thing as that of the Lord Stafford's to the Lord Aston My Lord the Plot is discovered and we are all undone c. Coleman's Our prevailing in these things would give the greatest Blow to the Protestant Religion here that ever it received since its first Birth c. Petre's Letters Found among Harcourt's Papers c. 5. The Actions that were done after the Discovery to Persons concerned in the Discovery are a strong Argument to create suspicion of the Authors and their Guilt as the Barbarous Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey who took the first Depositions Mr. Arnold and Mr. Pye V. In King James the II. Reign But this was nothing else but Plot from the beginning to the end of it For no Man of good sence could believe that ever he intended to perform that fine Promise which he made of maintaining of the Protestant Religion and the Rights of the Subjects c. without straining Courtesie with his Religious Principles and natural Temper and indeed tho' he appear'd very plausible at first and our credulous People seem'd very willing to construe him in a favourable Sense yet when they had resign'd their Charters and themselves and Estates to him in a Complement which the King took well enough and saw the Laws dispensed with in a gross manner and Arbitrary Power put up its Head at Court with much Confidence and the Visitors sent down to Oxford to purge the Vniversity and Roman Catholicks made Justices of Peace and put in other places of Trust and Masse-Houses open'd publickly and the Interceding Bishops who had done nothing in the World to merit his disfavour sent to the Tower then I say these People began to open their Eyes and were resolved not to shut them any more if they could help it till they had somewhat better to trust to than the Promise of a King whose Word was as inviolable as his Oath and who was never known to be in the least matter unfaithful in his Life for such a Mask was put upon his Face by his Friends and he wore it a while very willingly till the time that he thought he might safely take it off and appear boldly in his Features and in the Head of a standing Army who had promised as stoutly as he to stand by him till they thought it convenient to stand no longer But of this enough and perhaps too much for I do with Pity and Grief of Mind reflect upon the Errors of that unhappy Prince VI. In the Reign of King William the III. This Prince was the happy Instrument under God of our Deliverance but neither was He warm in his Throne before he was called to Battle first in Ireland where he contested with extraordinary Difficulties and escaped extream Dangers from a Cannon-Bullet afterwards in Flanders where his Labours are hardly at an end yet But the most secret and villainous Contrivance of all was the late Barbarous Plot the Scheme whereof was first laid in France but the Scene of the bloody Tragedy was to be in England Here the King was to be Assassinated in a base and cowardly manner as he went a hunting on a Saturday Feb. 22. 1695 6. in a narrow Lane between Brentford and Turnham-Green Sir George Berkley with seven or eight more to Attack the King's Coach and Assassine him whilst two other Parties to the number of 40 attacked the Guards and two more persons Chambers and Durance a Flemming were to be placed at Kensington to give speedy Notice to the Conspirators when the King went abroad At first it was agreed to be put in execution Feb. 15. But the King not going abroad then it was deferr'd till Feb. 22. The French were to make a Descent into England and had got Transport Ships ready and Soldiers 20000 who were to Embark at Callis Bulloign Dunkirk c. The French had at St. Germaines Feb. 7. caused 100000 Lewid'ores to be delivered to the late King James and desired him to hasten his Departure a considerable Body of his old Friends were to meet and joyn the French at their landing All things in appearance were in great forwardness Mortars Field-pieces and heavy Cannon for Land-Service Monsieur de Nesmond Gabaret and Dubart were to command the Men of War that were to convoy the Transport Ships the Conduct of the Land-Army was in the Marquess de Bevron Arcourt as Chief and under him Pecontal and Albergoti as Mareschals de Camp and for Brigadiers the Duke de Humieres Monsieur de Biron and Monsieur de Monray c. and Lapara the chief Engineer The Men being Embark'd the day before it was discover'd here 300 Sail or thereabouts weigh'd Anchor and stood to Sea but the Wind shifting they were oblig'd to return into the Ports and disembark some part of them These were designed to land in Kent Sussex or the Mouth of the River and the Providence is the more remarkable since had they gone forward we might have been under some surprize as not being ready at so short a Warning to oppose them At Kensington the day being come viz. Feb. 22. Keâ—es one of the Spies being sent out to see what he could learn brought word the Guards were returned from Richmond foaming The People much wonder'd the King did not go a hunting for two Saturdays together and the Bravoes began to flag their Courage It seems Capt. Pendergrass discover'd the bottom of the Design on Feb. 13. to Captain Porter and he to my Lord Portland and my Lord to the King on Feb. 14. the very day before the Design was to be put in Execution After which several of the Conspirators have been themselves Executed witness the City-Gates where now their Heads and Quarters are to be seen and this after a free and fair Tryal of their Cause So that our Church may say and our Kings may say as well as that excellent Queen Elizabeth as Psal 129.1 2. c. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up may Israel now say Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me The Plowers plowed upon my Back they made long their Furrows The Lord is righteous he hath out asunder the Cords of the wicked CHAP. XXIII The Innocent strangely cleared WHEN Joseph 's Brethren were constrained to go into Egypt and buy Food of and make Obeysance to that very Person they had thrown into a Pit before and sold into Slavery how their Conscience flew in their Faces with sharp Reflections of Guilt The three Children in the fiery Furnace and Daniel in the Lyons Den saved so miraculously and contrary to all Expectation easily extorted a Confession of their Innocence
were admitted into this Order but such of the Nobility as were in all the number of 150. the chiefest of them being Sir Lancelot Sir Tristram Sir Lamrock Sir Grawine and others These were all Recorded for Knights of great Renown and had not King Arthur's Valour been most transcendent each of them might have passed fpr no less than a Worthy tho' they must fall short of the Deeds of King Arthur of whom it is written that in one Battle against the Saxons with his own Sword named Callibourn he slew 800 of them England's Worthies by William Winstanley p. 10. 8. Lucius Hiberius the Roman Legate demanded of him a Tribute for Britain which he not only deny'd but also threatned to have a Tribute from Rome as appeareth in his Letter sent unto the Senate where I find it thus written in an old Manuscript Vnderstand among you of Rome that I am King Arthur of Britain and freely it hold and shall hold and at Rome hastily will I be not to give you Truage but to have Truage of you For Constantine that was Hellen's Son and other of my Ancesters Conquered Rome and thereof were Emperors and that they had and held I shall have yours God's grace And accordingly he set forward against Lucius Hiberus who with great Power and vain Confidence came Marching against him where after a long and Bloody Fight the Romans were Discomfited their General killed and his slain Body sent to the Senate for the Tribute of Britain ibid 9. Mr. Broughton was exceedingly Courageous and Bold and free in inveighing against Popery Jesuitism among the Papists and Jesuits and also Judaism among the Jews As once more especially at the B. of Mentz's Table where also diverse Jesuits were present with whom he Discoursed so freely and sharply against the Papacy as Anti-Christian and against the Blindness and Wickedness of the Romanists that the Protestants who were present with him were afraid that would have endanger'd both himself and them At another time being in one of the Jews Synagogues at the time of their Servce where their publick Minister Read and Prayed in a strange and uncouth Tone one of the Jews as he came out said unto him Did not our Minister Sing like an Angel No saith he he Barked like a Dog and so called for a Dispute with him where they had long and much tugging 10. He was once Travelling here in England and being in his Inn a Royster in the Room next to him was Swearing horribly and at no measure in went he boldly to him and Who art thou saith he thou Wretch who darest thus to Blaspheme and Profane the Glorious Name of the great God And some other like words which he set on with so great an awe and boldness that the Roarer became calm and took his sharp reproofs especially when he came to understand who he was in very good part In his Life p. 4.7 11. It was the saying of one who suffered in Queen Mary's Regn. I was an honest poor Man's Daughter never brought up at the University as you have but I have driven the Plow before my Father many a time I thank God yet notwithstanding in defence of God's Truth and in the cause of my Master Christ by his Grace I will set my Foot against the Foot of any of you all in the maintenance of the same and if I had a Thousand Lives they should go for payment thereof Fox Matyrol 12. If I had a Hundred Bodies said Mr. Hawks I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces rather than Abjure or Recant ibid. 13. Mr. Rothwel called afterwards by the Devil in a posessed Person Bold Rothwel being recommended to the Lady Bowes for a fit Minister to be employed in the North in the Bishoprick of Durham after his first Days Labour there for Tryal being well liked of by the People and returning afterwards to the Lady Bowes he told her he would go she replied tho' for their sakes she was glad yet she was afraid to send him understanding that they were of a fierce Disposition and having never heard the Gospel might deal unkindly with him He answered Madam if I thought I should never meet the Devil there I would never come there he and I have been at odds in other places and I hope we shall not agree there See his Life by Mr. Clark p. 70. 14. King Charles the I. spending one Sunday in a serious debate of the Lord Strafford's Case in the Morning with the four Bishops of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle the Arch-Bishop of Armagh not being there but Preaching in the Church of Covent-Garden as he used to do was sent for by a particular Order from his Majesty The Bishop descended from the Pulpit and told the Messenger that he was then as himself saw employed in God's business which assâ—on as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his Pleasure See his Life by Mr. Clark p. 297. 15. In like manner Sir Thomas Moor sent answer to King Henry 8th when a Messenger came to call him from Mass as is elsewhere spoken of in this Book CHAP. XXIX Remarkable Patience THE Patience of Christian Confessors and Martyrs in the early Ages of the Church was a Potent Argument to persuade many of their Adversaries that they were bore up with somewhat more than the Principles of mere Philosophy or the stiffness of a depraved Nature and that the Christian Religion furnished them with a better Assurance and a clearer ground of Confidence in their Cause than was obvious to a common Age or to be found in any other System of Religion in the World and therefore it cannot be amiss to enquire what Examples of this kind we can meet with 1. Ignatius to the Church of Trallis exhorting them not to refuse Martyrdom useth these Expressions From Syria to Rome I had a Battle with Beasts as well by Sea as by Land Night and Day being bound by Ten cruel Leopards Soldiers which the more Benefits they receive at my hands became so much the worse to me but I being exercised and now well acquainted with their Injuries am taught every Day more and more to bear the Cross yet hereby am I not Justified Would to God I were once come to the Beasts prepared for me which I wish also to fall upon me with all their violence c. Vid. Dr. Cave's Prim. Christ Clark's Mar. of Eccl. Hist c. 2. S. Hierom Reports of Melania That her Husband lying dead by her she lost two of her Sons at the same time but she instead of bursting into a Passion fell down and said Lord I shall serve Thee more nimbly and readily by being eased of this weight which thou hast taken from me Dr. Cave's Prim. Christ 3. When Lucius one of the Primitive Martyrs for speaking in behalf of one of the Christians that he had very hard measure was Condemned forth-with he heartily thanked his Judge for it that by this
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
you put your Endeavours that Christ his Religion may be brought again unto a chast and simple Purity For what should be desired of all Godly Hearts than that all things by little and little should be clean taken away and cut off which have very little or nothing in them that can be referred wholly to Edification but rather be judged of the Godly to be superfluous 8. Bishop Latimer speaking to the Clergy saith How think ye by the Ceremonies that are in England oftentimes with no little Offence of weak Consciences continued more often with Superstition so defiled and so depraved that you may doubt whether it were better for them to tarry still or utterly to take them away Have not our Fore-Fathers complained of the Ceremonies of the Superstitions and Estimation of them In Concione ad Clerum 9. Bishop Vsher then Mr. Vsher when a Commission was granted by K. James to Sir Arthur Chichester then Lord-Deputy of Ireland to Assemble the Irish Bishops and others together to consult about the Reduction of Ireland to the same Ecclesiastical Government of England but willing them to consult with Mr. Vsher about it and do nothing without his Approbation Bishop Vsher I say finding by accident his own Name in the Commission by glancing upon a letter which he saw laid down in the Window by a Bishop whom he went to visit communicated the same to Dean Hill his Good Friend and a Devout Man desiring his Prayers to God for him in that Obscure Case and hearing what the business was when the Assembly was summoned made his Appearance and being demanded his Consent to what they had agreed upon he replied That the Matter concerned more than himself for said he if I had all Mens Consciences in my keeping I could in these Disputable Cases give Laws unto them as well as unto my self but it 's one thing what I can do and another thing what all other Men must do c. Adding The Kings and Queens of England imposed those Ceremonies that thereby they might decline the charge of Schismaticks wherewith the Church of Rome laboured to brand them seeing it did appear hereby that they left them only in such Doctrinal Points wherein they left the Truth Again Hereby they would testify howfar they would willingly stopp to win and gain them by yielding to meet them as far as they might in their own way But saith he the Experience of many years hath shewed that this Condescension hath rather hardned them in their Errours than brought them to a liking of our Religion this being their usual Saying if our Flesh be not Good why do you drink of our Broth c. See his Life by Mr. Clark p. 286. 10. Dr. Wilkins afterwards Bishop of Chester a Man of as great a Mind as true a Judgment as eminent Vertues and of as good a Soul as any I ever knew together with the Lord-Keeper Bridgeman setting up for a Comprehension of the Dissenters and a limitted Indulgence towards others got Sir Matthew Hale Lord-Chief-Baron on their side who after several Meetings and Conferences with two of the most eminent Presbyterian Divines and Heads were agreed upon the Lord-Chief-Baron put them in form of a Bill to be presented to the next Session of Parliament CHAP. XLV Retractations of Censorious Protestants LEwis du Moulin Doctor of Physick being in his last Sickness visited by Dr. Burnet and admonished of the foul Language used in his Books against Dr. Stillingfleet Dean of Pauls Dr. Durel Dean of Windsor Dr. Patrick Dean of Peterborough c. desired Dr. Burnet to ask them pardon in his name and when he spake of the Dean of St. Pauls he expressed much Sorrow and shed some Tears and upon their motion sign'd this Recantation following As for my Books in which I mixed many personal Reflections I am now sensible I vented too much of my own Passion and Bitterness and therefore I disclaim all that is Personal in them and am heartily sorry for every thing I have written to the defaming of any Person I humbly beg God and all those whom I have so wronged pardon for Jesus Christ his sake and am resolved if God shall spare my Life never to meddle more with such Personal things and do earnestly exhort all People as a dying Man that they will study more Love and mutual Forbearance in their Differences and will avoid all bitter and uncharitable Reflections on one anothers Persons And as I earnestly pray those worthy Men of the Church of England to have Charity and Tenderness for the Dissenters from them so I beg of the Dissenters that they would have a due Regard and Respect to those of the Church of England Of many of whom I say now Let my Soul be with theirs and that all true Protestants among us may heartily unite and concur in the Defence and Preservation of the holy Reformed Religion now by the Mercy of God settled among us And that Men of all sides may according to St. Paul's Rule Cease to bite and devour one another lest we be destroyed one of another and that whereunto we have already attained we may walk by the same Rule hoping that if any Man is otherwise minded in some lesser things God shall either reveal that to them or mercifully forgive it through Jesus Christ into whose hands I commend my Spirit and desire to appear before God in and through him Who gave himself for me and the refore do now study to learn of him to be meek and lowly in Heart and to love all the Brethren as he loved me This is Sincerity of Heart I Sign Lewis du Moulin Octob. 5. 1680. See his last Words p. 12. Mr. John Child having written a Book called The Second Argument for a more firm Vnion amongst Protestants where he fell foul upon the Nonconformists was thereupon smitten with Remorse and to one Mr. H. C. coming to visit him taking up the Book in his Hand began to read where he saith The greatest number of Disseners do hold Principles dangerously heretical and most abominably abusing the most Holy God c. But before he could end that Paragraph being under extream Agony of Mind and weeping bitterly put the Book from him and spake to this effect viz. I have represented those Calvin's Principles beyond whatever they conceived strained their Opinions beyond their Intentions and drawing such Consequences as never were in their Minds And striking his Breast with uch Anguish said These words lie close I shall never get over this I write in Prejudice against them calling them a villanous Body of People which was unjust Professing that be could not repent and with a very grim Countenance said I shall go to Hell I am broken in Judgment when I think to pray either I have a Flushing in my Face as if I were in a flame or I am dumb and cannot speak or else I fall asleep upon my Knees all the Signs of one whom God hath left
Expressions and Fruits of Ingenuity and good Nature no Man that is not quite degenerated into Stupidity but hath some sense of Duty in such cases The Bruit Creatures and Elements themselves have some Property very Analogous to the Vertue of Gratitude the Earth the Air the Seas Storks Elephants Dogs every thing almost insensate and sensible Man should much more excel in Gratitude as being capable of greater Gifts more sensible of them and more able to return them And the deeper the Divine Image is impressed upon any one the more excellent he is in this Quality 1. There was in Florence a Merchant whose Name was Francis Frescobald of a Noble Family and Liberal Mind who through a prosperous Success in his Affairs was grown up to an abundance of Wealth While he was at Florence a young Man presented himself to him asking his Alms for God's sake Frescobald beheld the ragged Stripling and in despight of his Tatters reading in his Countenance some Significations of Vertue was moved with Pity demanded his Country and Name I am said he of England my Name is Thomas Cromwell my Father meaning his Father-in-Law is a poor Man a Cloth-shearer I am strayed from my Country and am now come into Italy with the Camp of French-men that were over-thrown at Gatylion where I was Page to a Foot-man carrying after him his Pike and Burganet Frescobald took him into his House made him his Guest and at his Departure gave him a Horse new Apparel and 16 Ducats of Gold in his Purse Cromwell rendring him hearty Thankâ— returned into his Country where in process of time he became in such favour with King Henry the Eighth that he raised him to the Dignity of being Lord-High-Chancellor of England In the mean time Frescobald by great and successive Losses was become poor but remembring that some English Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Ducats he came to London to seek after it not thinking of what had passed betwixt Cromwell and him But travelling earnestly about his business he accidentally met with the Lord-Chancellor as he was riding to the Court The Chancellor alights embraces him and with a broken Voice cast refraining Tears he demanded if he were not Francis Frescobald the Florentine invites him that day to dinner to his House Frescobald wonders who this Lord should be at last after some pause he remembers him for the same he had relieved at Florence he therefore repairs to his House not a little joyed and walking in the Court attended his return He came soon after and was no sooner dismounted but he again embraced him with so friendly a Countenance as the Lord-Admiral and other Nobles then in his Company much marvelled at He turning back and holding Frescobald by the Hand Do you not wonder my Lord said he that I seem so glad of this Man This is he by whose means I have atchieved this my present degree and therewith recounted to them what had passed between them Then taking him by the Hand he led him to the Chamber where he dined and seated him next himself Afterwards leading him into a Chamber and commanding all to depart he lockt the Door then opening a Coffer he first took out 16 Ducats and delivering that to Frescobald My Friend said he here is your Money that you lent me at my departure from Florence here are other ten you bestowed in my Apparel with 10 more you disbursed for the Horse I rode upon But considering you are a Merchant it seemeth to me not honest to return your Money without some Consideration for the long detaining of it take you therefore these four Bags in every of which is four hundred Ducats to receive and enjoy from the hand of your assured Friend Which the Modesty of Frescobald would have refused the other forced them upon him This done he caused him to give him the Names of all his Debtors and the Sum they owed the Schedule he delivered to one of his Servants with charge to search out the Men if within any part of the Realm and straitly to charge them to make payment within 15 days or else to abidethe hazard of Displeasure The Servant so well performed the Command of his Master that in a very short time the whole Sum was paid in During all this time Frescobald lodged in the Lord-Chancellor's House who gave him the Entertainment he deserved and oftentimes moved him to abide in England offering him the Loan of Sixty thousand Ducats for the space of 4 years if he would continue and make his Bank at London But he desired to return into his own Country which he did with the great Favour of the Lord Cromwell and there richly arrived but he enjoyed his Wealth but a small time for in the first year of his return he died Hackwel 's Apol. l. 4. c. 10. Engl. Worth by W. Winstanley p. 213. Wanley 's Wond l. 3. c. 20. 2. Bishop Andrews's Gratitude to those from whom he had received any Benefits was most conspicuous as Dr. Ward Son to his first School-Master upon whom he bestowed the Living of Waltham in Hampshire Master Mulcaster his other School-Master he always reverendly respected living and being dead caused his Picture having but few other in his House to be set over his Study-door Upon a Kinsman of Dr. Wats which was all he could find of that Generation he bestowed Preferments in Pembroke-hall But should I go about to particularize all his Vertues it were sufficient of its self to make up a Volume Winstanley's Worthies p. 373. CHAP. XLVIII Remarkable Diligence Laboriousness and Studiousness GOD requires of all Men that they should be active and industrious in their places and he that is not so is a Burden to the Creation no Credit to his Creator nor Comfort as he should be to Others The hand of the diligent maketh rich saith Solomon if thou searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou understand c. Whilst we have time let us do good saith our Saviour Neither Wealth nor Wisdom nor Goodness is to be had without Diligence and besides no Crown without a Combat I have fought the good fight saith St. Paul henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of glory 1. Irenaeus laboured exceedingly by Prayer Preaching Disputing Instructing and Reproving with Patience and Wisdom seeking the lost strengthning the weak recalling the wandring binding up the broken-hearted and confirming those that were strong insomuch that Tertullian saith of him He governed the Flock of Christ with such Integrity of Life and Sincerity of Doctrine that he was loved exceedingly by his own and feared by others Clark's Marr. of Eccles Hist 2. Origen was called Adamantinus for his hardiness and lustre say some because not daunted nor affrighted with any Labours or Afflictions whatsoever for he studied the hidden meaning of the Scriptures from a Child tired and sometimes posed his Father with Questions prompted him and others to Martyrdom could hardly be restrained from it himself
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
Princes he had brought home with him he answered That he had brought home incomparable Treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom which he preferred before all his Delights and presently after he made him Bishop and Superintendant over all his Churches in that Country with an ample Salary for the same Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 190. 9. Capito was very dear to the Elector of Mentz for his rare Wisdom joyned with Piety his Elocution and Mildness of Nature so that by him he was sent upon many Embassies And February 7. he was by the Emperour Charles the Fifth endowed for himself and his Posterity with the Ensigns of Nobility under the Imperial Seal Ibid. p. 192. The Fame of Capito being spread abroad Margaret Queen of Navar and SiSter to Francis King of France sent James Faber Stabulensis and Gerard Rufus privately to him and Bucer to be informed in their Principles of Religion Ibid. p. 192. 10. Spanhemius being chosen first of all Professor of Philosophy at Geneva and then Professor of Divinity and next Rector of the University at last the Bernates consulted about drawing him to Lausanna to succeed in the Place of James à Portu they of Groning endeavoured to get him to them and the Prince Elector Palatine sought also the same at last Leiden obtained him tho' with much difficulty the Magistrates and Church of Geneva much opposing it Yet the Curators of Leiden insisted so earnestly by their frequent Letters to which were added the Request of the King of Bohemia of the Illustrious States of Holland and West-Friesland and lastly of the States-General that with much ado at length they extorted rather than obtained his Dismission from Geneva But it 's worth observation what Means they used to retain him with what Grief and Sorrow they parted with him what a Confluence of People brought him forth of the City and with what Sighs and Tears they parted with him as if in losing him they had lost a principal Member of their Body He had almost as many Friends as Acquaintance especially of those that excelled in Learning in England Vsher Selden Prideaux Morton and Twisse in France Molinaeus Trouchinus Rivet Parissaeins Beaumontius Mestrezatius Drelincourtius Bonterovius Muratus Blondellus Ferrius Pelitus Croius Vincentius Bochartus almost all of them famous for their Writings in Germany Zuingerus Vlricus Buxtorfius Crocius c. yea out of Sweden the Queen herself the Miracle of her Sex did kindly Salute him by her Bishop and by her Letters did signifie how much she esteemed him and was delighted with his Works Salmasius was his dear Friend the Prince of Orange had a singular kindness for him and to the Queen of Bohemia he was most dear Ibid. p. 503. 11. Constantine the Great at the Council of Nice when it was first opened coming in with an humble Countenance and modest Aspect all the Bishops and Ministers rose up but he continued to stand a-while at the upper end of the Hall and would not sit down 'till he had given a Sign to the Bishops to sit down also He used to kiss the hollow of old Paphnutius's Eye which he had lost for the Cause of Christ in the former Persecutions and was so tender of the Honour of the Clergy that he used to say If he saw a Bishop committing Wickedness he would rather cast the Skirt of his Gown over it than by speaking of it dishonour his holy Calling Clark in Vit. Constantin Sparsim 12. Erasmus an Ingenious Learned and Good Man when he was scarce crept out of his Shell pronounced a Panegyrick of his own Composure before Philip Father to Charles the Fifth as he came out of Spain into Germany for which he honoured him with a yearly Pension during Life King Henry the Eighth of England wrote to him with his own Hand offered him a goodly House belike some dissolved Abbey worth 600 Florins yearly and besides gave him several Tastes rather than Surfeits of his Princely Bounty Francis the French King wrote likewise unto him offering him a Bishoprick and 1000 Florins per Annum to set up his rest in France Charles the Fifth offered him a Bishoprick in Sicily made him of his Council and besides many other Expressions of his Liberality bestowed upon him a yearly Pension of 200 Florins Ferdinand his Brother King of Hungary made him a tender of 400 Florins yearly with promise to make them up 500 to profess at Vienna Sigismund as much to come into Poland and further with a Royal and Liberal Hand supplied his present Necessities Mary Queen of Hungary wrote to him often and ever with her own Hand her Bounty without question equalled her exceeding Humanity Anne Princess Veriana gave him a yearly Pension of 100 Florins Frederick Duke of Saxony presented him with two Medals one of Gold the other of Silver George Duke of Saxony with divers Ingots of Gold dug out of his own Mines and a great Drinking-Bowl of the same William Duke of Gulick imitated him in the latter but outstript him in the Capacity Adrian the Sixth to whom he Consecrated Arnobius wrote to him thrice which Grand Respects from the Pope much abated the Fury of the Friars his Enemies He Congratulated the Papacy to Clement the Seventh who in requital sent him 500 Florins and by his Apostolical Letters invited him to Rome Paul the Third had brought him into the College of Cardinals but that he was prevented by Death in the Interim he sent him a Collation to the Praepositure of Daventry which he refused saying He was now near the end of his Journey and hoped to get thither without it William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury changed his Prebend into a Pension and scarce ever wrote to him but in Letters of Gold his last Token was a Gelding of whom he used to say That tho' he wanted Original Sin he was guilty of two Mortal Ones Sloth and Gluttony Cardinal Wolsey a stately Prelate yet wrote unto him Letters full of singular Humanity and besides other Remembrances bestowed on him a Pension out of a Prebend in York The Bishop of Lincoln and Rochester bountifully supplied him upon all occasions Hammond and Vrswick sent him a Brace of Geldings Polydore Virgil Money to buy a Third Cromwel the First out of his Sacrilegious Brokage at twice Thirty Angels Montjoy More Tonstal and Colet were his containual Supporters to say nothing of many others within this Kingdom Cardinal Matthaeus offered him a yearly Pension of 500 Duckets to live at Rome and sent him a Cup of beaten Gold He received another from Albert Arch-Bishop and Cardinal of Mentz of the same Metal but greater and more curiously graven with sundry Poetical Fancies Cardinal Gambegius amongst other Tokens sent him a Diamond Ring of no mean value Stanislaus Olmucensis a Silver Bowl double Gilt with Four Pieces of Gold the Coyn of Ancient Emperours The Bishop of Basil offered him for his Society half his Bishoprick which alluding to the Name he termed
offend Man and expose themselves to the disfavour of the World as Abraham believed contrary to all apparent Sense and common Reason and yet was blessed Or as Daniel and the three children ventured to Worship God in the prospect of temporal Dangers and yet were delivered Or as the Apostles left all to follow Christ and yet were rewarded For God is not unrighteous to forget our Works of Faith and Labours of Love which we shew toward his Name Heb. 6.10 This Subject is of a large Extent and therefore I must of necessity narrow it or it would carry me into all the particular Duties of our Religion 1. Mr. Lloyd speaking of Dr. Nicholas Wotton Doctor of the Civil Laws and first Dean of the two Metropolitan Churches of Canterbury and York saith Augustus lamented for Varus his Death because he said Now I have none in my Country to tell me the Truth with Wotton went off that Faithfulness that Peasants have and Princes want None more resolute abroad none more hold and downright at home His plain Dealing saved King Henry some Treasure King Edward the North Queen Mary Calice for a while and Queen Elizabeth her Faith and Crown A Virtue that made him the Overseer of most forreign Ministers Actions abroad and one of the Eighteen Executors of King Henry's Will and Testament at home He was Privy Counsellor to four successive Sovereigns viz. King Henry the VIII King Edward the VI Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth He was employed thirteen several times in Embassies to forreign Princes Five times to Charles the Fifth Emperour Once to Philip his Son King of Spain Once to Francis the First King of France Once to Mary Queen of Hungary Governess of the Netherlands Twice to William Duke of Cleve Once to renew the Peace between England France and Scotland Anno. 1540. Again to the same purpose at Cambray Anno 1549. Once sent Commissioner with others to Edinburgh in Scotland 1560. He refused the Archbishoprick of Canterbury profered him in the first of Queen Elizabeth Lloyd's Worthies p. 107.108 109. 2. Mr. Dod when single thinking how he should maintain a Wife and Children was encouraged by looking upon a Hen and Chickens scratching for their living and considering that the Hen did but live before now she was able to maintain all that Family And accordingly himself fared for God provided plentifully for him and his See his Life 3. One John Stewart Provost of Aaire in Scotland having lent or given a great part of his Estate to the Poor in Charity and at last being himself in straits he was called a Fool and reproached for what he had done upon which he goes over to France adventures to Fraight a Ship at Rochel with Salt c. upon his Credit returns home and vends the Commodities with which he paid his Debts and had 20000 Marks over to his own Pocket Clark's Leg. CHAP. LXVIII Present Retribution to Plain and Faithful Reprovers HE that rebukes a Man afterwards shall find more Favour then he that flattereth with his Tongue saith Solomon Prov. 28.23 That this effect doth not always follow is easily deducible from the Admonition of our Saviour who adviseth us not to give that which is Holy unto Dogs nor to cast Pearls before Swine lest they turn again and rent us c. But that when our Reproofs meet with fit and capable Subjects it is so is often proved by Experience 1. Bishop Barnes having suspended Nr. Bernard Gilpin requires him suddenly upon his return from a Journey out of the North to Preach a Visitation Sermon at Chester Mr. Gilpin desired to be excused as being not provided and being suspended But the Bishop accepting no denial at last Mr. Gilpin answered Seeing it cannot be otherwise your Lordship's Will be done And after a little pawse began his Sermon in the Application whereof he proceeded thus And now Reverend Father my Speech must be directed to your Fatherhood God hath exalted you to be Bishop of this Diocess and God requires an account of your Government hereof c. And so proceeding to tax the Faults of the Diocess Let not saith he your Lordship say these Crimes have been committed by the Fault of others without your Knowledge for whatsoever your self shall do in Person or suffer by your Connivency to be done is wholly your own therefore in the presence of God his Angels and Men I pronounce your Fatherhood to be the Author of all these Evils yea and in that strict Day of the General Account I shall be a Witness to testifie against you c. After which pungent Admonition contrary to expectation the Bishop brought Mr. Gilpin home and there walking with him in his Parlour takes him by the Hand and thus bespeaks him Father Gilpin I acknowledge you are fitter to be Bishop of Durham than myself to be Parson of this Church of yours I ask forgiveness for Errors past forgive me Father I know you have hatch'd up some Chickens that now seek to pick out your Eyes but so long as I shall live Bishop of Durham be secure no Man shall injure you See his Life by Bishop Carleton p. 58. 2. Bishop Latimer who sent K. Henry the Eighth the New Testament for a New-year's Gift with this Inscription Marriage is honourable among all Men and the Bed undefiled but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge c. Who preach'd such pungent Sermons to the Court to the Judges to the Clergy to all yet lived well died comfortably put on the Crown of Martyrdom at his Exit out of this World and since his departure hath escaped the Lash of envious and reproachful Tongues much better than his then prosperous Adversaries and Persecutors See the Story of Dr. Wotton in the foregoing Chapter how his Fidelity and Veracity were rewarded with present Preferments and honourable Offices CHAP. LXIX Present Retribution to the Humble and Modest. MOdesty is a Vertue say some the will starve a Man and indeed among some undiscerning Persons it goes under no better Notion than Cowardice and Sneakingness of Spirit when Audaciousness and Arrogance are valued at a high rate among Fools But all the World is not foolish there are some wise and judicious Men dispersed here and there among us and these know how to judge of true Modesty and Humbleness of Spirit and with them these Qualities are of great Price But however God Almighty hath an especial Favour for them and doth value them and will reward them either here or hereafter He exalts the humble and meek and fills the hungry Soul with good things 1. Dr. Sanderson was a Man of great Modesty as well as Judgment and yet purely by the Dint of Merit and Modesty together made his way not only to considerable Preferment in the Church but gained upon the Estimation and Affections of all Parties in England and lived peaceably all his Days and now being dead hath escaped better the Bitings of virulent Tongues than some other bigotted Persons
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 himself by the frequent Noises and Disturbances which he makes in Peoples Houses When I first began this Work I heard a rapping at my Hall-door as with a Horse-whip twice and my Maid heard it likewise at the same time tho' she was in the Kitchen and I in the Parlour at that very Juncture My Wife suspected it to be a Token of some Funeral out of the Family within such a set time as a Year or so c. Many People have had the like and yet no Harm followed And I quere Whether by the Appearance of the Ghosts of Persons departed he doth not design to promote the Doctrine of Purgatory or some other superstitious Fancies I am sure many of the wild and fantastical Notions and Practices that have been adopted into Religion by Jews Greeks Papists and Pagans have been fathered upon such Causes viz. Visions and Revelations Ominous Signs and Apparitions 10. Joan Williford a Witch confessed before the Mayor and other Jurats of Feversham 1645. That the Devil promised her that she should not lack But never brought her more than Eight Pence or one Shilling at a time See the Examination and Confession of the said Joan and others 1645. CHAP. XCIX Divine Judgments by way of Retaliation THERE is no juster Law saith the old Poet than that those who are the Authors of Contriving a Mischief for others fall into it themselves and the Sacred Scripture agrees thereto and we have many Instances of such Judgments And certainly if any Evils in the World carry in them the Signature and Indication of the Cause these do 1. Haman was hanged upon the same Gallows that he prepared for Mordecai 2. David for his Adultery with Bathsheba was threatened with a Punishment of the like kind which was accordingly inflicted on him 2 Sam. 16.22 when Absalom spread a Tent upon the top of the House and went in unto his Father's Concubines 3. Those that accused Daniel to Darius and procured the throwing of him into the Lyons Den were afterwards thrown there themselves Dan. 6.24 4. The Story of Phalaris's Bull invented for the Torment of others and serving afterwards for himself is notorious in Heathen Story 5. The Lord Cromwel in Henry the VIII's Reign is remarked for suffering capital Punishment without ever coming to a Tryal by a Law which they say himself out of a servile Flattery to his Prince procured for others Of which Michael Drayton thus writes Those Laws I made alone my self to please To give a Power more freely to my Will Even to my Equals hurtful several ways Forced to things that most do say were Ill Upon me now as violently seize By which I lastly perish'd by my Skill On mine own Neck returning as my due That heavy Yoke wherein by me they drew Winstanly's Worth p. 216. 6. The Duke of Somerset in the Fifth Year of Edward VI. died by a Law which but a year before was Passed by himself Spelman 7. The Papists pitch'd upon the Fifth of November for their Gunpowder-Plot but that was by Divine Providence seasonably Discovered and some of the Traitors flying into Worcestershire c. with two pounds of Powder which they had Rifled out of the Lord Windsor's House and laid to dry at the Fire by occasion of a Spark flying upon it Catesby Rookwood and Grant were much scorched both in their Bodies and Faces and at the same time the Roof of the House was blown up with the violence of the Powder And upon the same day viz. November 5. 1623. according to the Popish Account by the fall of a House in Black-fryars London at a Popish Conventicle where one Drurie Preach'd at least Ninety Persons were killed Again upon the same day Novemb. 5. to the best of my Remembrance King William III. by Divine Favour and a special Conduct of Providence entered England in order to the Delivering of us from Popery and Arbitrary or Tyrannical Government 8. It was a voluntary Judgment which Archbishop Cranmer inflicted on himself when he first thrust that very hand into the Fire and burnt it with which he had Signed to the Popish Articles crying out Oh! my Vnworthy Right Hand but who will deny that the Hand of the Almighty was also concerned in it 9. The Spaniards who exercised so much Cruelty in the West-Indies telling the poor Natives that they had a Disease upon them which Gold was a Sovereign Remedy for were many of them Taken and Slain by the Indians and Gold poured down their Throats in a Reproachful way as if it were their God 10. The Bishop of Mentz who Burned the Poor of his Neighbourhood in a Barn and called them Rats mentioned elsewhere in this Book was afterwards punished to death with Rats 11. I have read of a Man that was haled out of doors in a violent manner by his own Son who cried out to him Oh! pray no further for just so far I dragg'd my Father 12. Often the very instrument of our Sin is the Instrument of our Punishment as a Child that we Cocker too much a Persons we Love inordinately any thing we doat upon 13. Sisera annoys God's People with Iron Chariots and is Slain with a Nail of iron Jezabel's Brains that devised Mischief against the Innocent were strewed upon Stones By a Letter to Jezreel she shed the Blood of Naboth and by a Letter from Jezreel the Blood of her Sons was shed Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon's Temple that seven years work of so many Thousands therefore let him be turned a Grazing and seven Seasons pass over him Dan. 4.16 14. Frederick Barbarossa Emperor of Germany had often punished the City of Milan for siding with the Pope against him Yet on a time when Beatrix the Empress came to the Town the uncivil Citizens first Imprisoned her and then in a Scornful manner set her on a Mule with her Face towards the Tail which they caused her to hold in her hand instead of a Bridle And having thus Disgracefully carried her through all the Town they brought her to a Gate and kick'd her out The Emperor to Revenge this Wrong Besieged the City and at last took it adjudging all the People to Death but such as would redeem their Lives in this opprobrious manner He caused a Bunch of Figs to be fastned between the Buttocks of a skittish Mule and such as would live must with their hands bound behind them run after the Mule till with their teeth they had snatched out one or more of the Figs which condition with the hazard of many a sound kick was accepted and performed by many of them Heyl. Geog. p. 214. 15. The Donatists that cast the Holy Elements in the Lord's Supper to Dogs were themselves afterwards devoured by Dogs Zonaras 16. The Archbishop of Tours made sute for the Erection of a Court called Cambre Ardent wherein to condemn the Protestants to the Fire and was himself stricken with a Disease called the Fire of God which began at his Feet and
Weaver's Mon. p. 202. Clark's Examp. Vol. 1. P. 655. It were tiresome to reckon up all the Superstitions of the Roman Church their particular Saints with their particular Vertues their Penances Pilgrimages Largesses of Devotion Postures of Worship Habits Ceremonies Holy-days c. all which have made such a noisome stench in the World that in the beginning of the Reformation the Protestants cried out aloud Vaugh upon them and now the Quietists among themselves hold their Noses out of a Principle of Nauseousness and Abhorrency of them and rather chuse to lay aside all the external part of Worship or almost all than carry so long a Train of Superstitious Observances along with them when they go to the Church of God CHAP. CI. Divine Judgments upon Blasphemy and Profaneness BY Blasphemy I mean Speaking Irreverently and Disrespectfully of Sacred things and by Prophaneness an open Conversation agreeable to such Dishâ—â—â—â—rable and Rude Idea's And such Crimes certainly have no foundation of Security no ground to build any hopes of Impunity upon for so long as there is a God existent in the World and that God concerned in the Government of the World he will take notice of such open Disrespects or none 'T is the Interest of the Deity at least now and then to make a sharp Animadversion upon such open Impiety even in this World 1. Eugenius being Emperor Flavianus the Prefect desired Leave of him to Build an Altar to Victory at Milan which Ambrose hearing of departed from thence to Bononia but after a while returned again Eugenius and Flavianus being gone to War against Theodosius But before their departure they had sent word That when they returned Conquerors they would make the Great Church in Milan a Stable for Horses but God prevented them for Engenius was Slain by his own Soldiers and Theodesius got the Victory Clark's Marrow of Ecclesiastical History 2. A. C. 1617. Marcus Antonius de Dominis Arch-bishop of Spalato a Man Old and Corpulent and so unfit for Travel being almost at his Journeys end by Nature came into England leaving his Countrey Italy as he affirmed for Religion whereof he set forth in Writing many Reasons and being thereupon Entertained he Preached Railed and Writ against Rome extolling the Protestant Religion till he became Dean of Windsor and Master of the Savoy which he enjoyed for some few years Then whether he had higher hopes at home or the Humour and Fancy altering he went Retrograde And after five years stay here he Retracted all that he had said and written which so Incens'd King James that he commanded him within three days at his Peril to depart the Realm Who thereupon went to Rome and there in veighed as bitterly against the Protestants as he had done in England against the Papists hoping at least for Pardon if not for Preferment But notwithstanding his Recantation according to the Law of the Inquisition having once Revolted though now Returned he Suffered the Death of an Heretick had the Punishment of a Martyr though not the Honour For he was publickly burnt at Rome yet not burnt alive but dying in Prison and being Buried his Body was afterwards taken up and Burnt Such Honour have all such Saints For they hold it as a Maxim That that Foundation is never to be Built upon that was once of a Tottering Temper Sir Richard Baker's Chron. Clark's Examples C. 10. P. 27. 3. A. C. 1550. There was at Ferrara in Italy on Faninus who by Reading of good Books was by God's Grace Converted to the knowledge of the Truth wherein he found such Sweetness that by constant Reading Meditation and Prayer he grew so expert in the Scriptures that he was able to instruct others And though he durst not go out of the Bounds of his Calling to Preach openly yet by Conference and private Exhortations he did good to many This coming to the knowledge of the Pope's Clients they Apprehended and Committed him to Prison where by the earnest Solicitation of his Wife and Children and other Friends he was over-perswaded to Renounce the Truth and thereupon was Released out of Prison But it was not long before the Lord met with him for it So as falling into horrible Torments of Conscience he was near unto utter Despair for preferring the Love of his Kindred and Friends before the Service of Jesus Christ neither could he possibly be freed from these Terrors before he had fully resolved to venture his Life more faithfully in the Service of Christ Clark's Examples p. 27. 4. About the Year 1541. There was one William Barber Master of Art in Oxford a Godly and Learned Man that Disputed stoutly and accurately against the Doctrine of Transubstantiation Yet through the Iniquity of the Times was at last brought over to make a Recantation after which he never Prospered but wore away with Grief and Sorrow till he died Ibid. 5. In the Reign of Queen Mary there was one Sir James Hales Justice of the Common-Pleas who though he had adventured his Life for Queen Mary by refusing to Subscribe to her Disinheriting by King Edward the VI's Will yet for giving the Statutes in Charge against the Pope's Supremacy c. at the Sessions he was cast into Prison and there so cruelly handled and terrified with the apprehension of the Torments which they said were preparing for him that partly by the Flattery of the Bishops and partly by their Threats he was drawn to Recant After which he fell into such terrors of Conscience that he attempted to kill himself with a Pen-knife Yet being by God's Providence prevented and his Wounds he had given himself Cured he was delivered out of Prison and went home to his House but neither could he have any inward Peace by reason of his Apostacy But setting his House in Order he drowned himself in a River not far from his Habitation Ibid. 6. A. C. 1556. There was one Mr. Thomas Whittle an Essex Minister apprehended and carried before Bishop Bonner by whom he was laid in the Porter's Lodge all night upon the bare ground The next day the Bishop sent for him to his Chamber and asked him many Questions about the Sacraments of the Altar c. to which Mr. Whittle returned such Answers as much anger'd the Bishop whereupon he told him that he should return to Prison and be fed with nothing but Bread and Water and not content with Threats he fell upon him and beat him with his Fists and then put him into a little Room where he lay two Nights upon a Table shortly after the Bishop sent for him again Flattered him proffering him Articles cunningly drawn up and at last prevailed with him to Subscribe them But said he after I had done it I had little Joy for by and by my Conscience told me by God's Word I had done Evil by so slight a means to shake off the sweet Cross of Christ Oh! the Crafty Subtilty of Satan in his Members Let every Man whom God
two Guises the Duke and Cardinal were Assassinated by Command of King Henry the III. The Queen a few Days after them died of Grief lamented of none but hated by every Body as the Bishop of Rhodez affirms and the Duke of Anjou who after the King's Decease came to the Crown under the Name of Henry the III. was slain by a Stab from a Jacobin Friar Author of the Interests of Princes and States 6. Philip King of Spain the II. having once escaped a great Danger at Sea at his Arrival in Spain appointed two Days of Thanksgiving one at Validolid the other at Sevil whither he caused those in Prison for Religion to be brought from several Places of his Kingdom Upon which Days Scaffolds being made which a Distinction of Seats for Spectators according to their Quality the Prisoners were with triumphant Ceremonies and dress'd in Antick manner led to the Fires and burnt before them c. The King also himself put to Death his eldest Son Charles partly upon Suspicion of being a Favourer of them but he died also of Blood issuing from all the Passages of his Body with a continual Vomiting of Vermin as the Bishop of Rhodez in his History of Henry the IV. relates Ibid. 7. George Eagles Martyr hang'd at Chelmsford in Essex was cut down before he was dead and sadly mangled by the Bailiff William Swallow his Body opened his Heart pulled out and his Quarters set up in several Places But shortly after Swallow's Hair fell from his Head his Eyes were so closed that he could scarce see the Nails fell off from his Fingers and Toes a Leprosie overspread his whole Body and his Estate so wasted that he soon fell into Beggery and died wretchedly Fox's Martyrol 8. One Robert Baldwyn a Neighbour having searched the House of Will. Seaman and finding him at home very unneighbourly carried him to Sir Jo. Tyrrel in order to the Prosecuting of him but on the way a strange Light fell from Heaven betwixt them upon which Baldwyn though then in the Flower of his Age was so struck that he pined away till he died Ibid. 9. Mr. Swingfield a Deputy in Thames-street with three others carried one Mrs. Angel a Midwife from a Woman in Labour her self being with Child too to Bishop Bonner who put her into Lollard's Tower but within ten Weeks Swingfield and his three Companions were all dead Ibid. 10. Burton Bailiff of Crowland in Lincolnshire a Protestant in King Edward's Time a Papist in Queen Mary's goes to Church speaks to the Curate then Reading the English Service Sirrah will you not say Mass Buckle your self to it you Knave or by God's Blood I 'll sheath my Dagger in your shoulder Shortly after riding with a Neighbour over Fen-Bank a Crow flew over his Head with her usual Note voided her Excrements on his Nose which ran down upon his Beard and set him so a Vomiting that he hastened home and to Bed where he continued Vomiting Swearing and Cursing at the Crow till at last he died Ibid. CHAP. CX Divine Judgments upon Uncharitableness Covetousness c. WITH what Measure ye mete it shall be meted to you again saith our Saviour and 't is but just and reasonable that those People who shut up their Bowels and Streams of Charity from their Neighbours should suffer by a Retaliation Sometimes Man himself and sometimes God Almighty in a more immediate way remembers and recompenseth the Vnkindnesses of these Men and repays them in their own Coin As they sowed sparingly they shall reap so too and as themselves were not merciful so they shall find no mercy 1. John Cameron Bishop of Glasgow was a very Covetous Man given to Violence and Oppression especially towards his poor Tenants and Vassals but God suffered it not long to go unpunished For the Night before Christmas-day as he lay asleep in his House at Lockwood seven Miles from the City of Glasgow he heard a Voice summoning him to appear before the Tribunal of Christ and give an Account of his doings Whereupon he awaked and being greatly terrified he called to his Servants to bring a Light and sit by him he himself also took a Book in his Hand and began to read But the Voice calling the second time struck all the servants into an Amazement The same Voice calling the third time far louder and more fearfully the Bishop after a heavy groan was found dead in his Bed his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth A fearful Example of God's Judgment against the sin of Covetousness and Oppression Spotswood's History of the Church of Scotland See the Story of Gresham and Rich. Antonio under the Chap. of Discov of things secret by Omens c. Of Hatto Archbishop of Mentz under the Chap. of Divine Judgments upon Murder 2. Sir Walter Rawleigh a Man otherwise of Excellent Parts and a great Soul yet not being able to look Poverty in the Face when he was set at Liberty out of the Tower procures a Commission from King James to make a Voyage to Guiana in hopes of finding there Mines of Gold to enrich both the King and himself though at that time in the 76th Year of his Age sets out for the Indies where the Spaniards having notice before-hand had raised several Fortifications he with Sir Nicholas Kemish and others finding things otherwise than they expected Sir Nicholas kills himself and Sir Walter Storms the Town of St. Thomas where he lost his Son Walter returns home disappointed finds the Court disgusted the King offended and notwithstanding his Commission from the Royal Hand Anno 1618. Octob. 28. after some Months Imprisonment lost his Head Detection of the Court and State of England during the four last Reigns p. 56 57. 3. Cromerus an Author of good Credit tells us of a certain rich Man a Polonian who was very Covetous much given to Rapine and Oppression who falling Sick and being like to die was admonished by his Friends to sue to God for Mercy which he refused to do saying That there was no hope of Salvation for him no place of Pardon left No sooner had he thus spoken but immediately there was heard of the standers by a noise of most vehement Stripes and Blows which appeared manifestly upon the Body of this dying Wretch who presently gave up the Ghost to the great Terror and Amazement of all who were many then present Eye-witnesses of this Tragical Story Clark's Examples Vol. I. p. 115. Anno Christi 1570. at Rye in Sussex there was a strange Example of God's Judgment upon a Covetous Gentleman who living near the Sea had a Marsh wherein upon Poles Fishermen used to dry their Nets for which he received of them Yearly a sufficient Sum of Money But at length being not content with it he caused his Servants to pluck up the Poles not suffering the Fishermen to come upon his Ground any longer except they would compound at a larger Rate But it came to pass the same Night that
Blessings but when by the King and Pope's leave he had dissolved Forty small Monasteries to Erect two Colleges the one in Oxford the other in Ipswich the King seizeth upon his Palace at Westminster takes the Great Seal Wealth and Liberty from him his College at Ipswich destroyed before it was built that at Oxford receives a new Name himself is arrested of High Treason and to prevent a Publick and Ignominious Death Poisons himself 10. The Cardinal in dissolving his Forty Monasteries had made use of five Men besides Cromwel whereof two fought a Duel in which one was slain and the other hanged for Murder a third drowns himself in a Well a fourth a Rich Man too lives to beg his Bread from door to door the fifth a Bishop was cruelly murdered in Ireland by Tho. Fitz-Garret Son to the Earl of Kildare Pope Clement the Seventh that gave consent to this Dissolution is forced out of his Palace besieged at his Castle constrained there to eat Asses Flesh and at last dies of a miserable Disease Cromwel Cardinal Woolsey's Servant and Successor whilst sitting at the Council-Table is suddenly Apprehended sent to the Tower and thence to the Place of Execution 11. King Henry the Eighth who engrossed Sacrilege and entailed it to Posterity is afflicted with the Rebellion of his Subjects in Suffolk Lincoln Somerset York-shire the North Ireland c. with a great Dearth falls from one sin to another in the case of his Wives the three last die Childless the Children of the two first are declared Illegitimate And though he entail'd the Crown upon his Children and they all successively wore it yet they all die Childless and his Family is extinct and not to be mentioned but with his Crimes 12. Charles Brandon was an Active Man and aiding to Henry the Eighth in the Dissolution of Monasteries and received great Rewards out of his Church-Spoils and though he had four Wives yet by the fifth of Edw. 6. the Name Title and Family of Brandon was extinct 13. The Duke of Norfolk had by the Statute of Hen. 8. c. 13. the Monastery of Sibaton in Suffolk and the Lord Cobham the Chantry of Cobham in Kent since which time my Author remarks how heavy the Hand of Justice hath fallen upon those two Families 14. The Duke of Somerset had in the First Year of Edward the Sixth procured the Dissolution of some Chantries Free-Chapels and Hospitals defaceth part of St. Paul's Church converts the Charnel-House and a Chapel by it into Dwelling-Houses destroys the Steeple and part of the Church of St. John's of Jerusalem and with the Stone begins to build his House in the Strand but the consecrated Stone becomes unsuccessful so as the Builder doth not finish his House nor his Son Inherit it Afterwards the Duke was Indicted of Felony found Guilty and suffered by a Law that was but the year before passed by himself Sir Hen. Spelman De non Temerand Eccl. Epist to the Reader p. 28-38 CHAP. CXVII Divine Judgments upon Treachery TReachery had ever an ill Name and not undeservedly for it discovers the falseness of a Man's Heart and represents him to the World as a Man to fit to be trusted For who dares lean with any confidence upon a broken Reed And accordingly though it meets often with fine Promises yet is often served in self as it serves others with poor and miserable Performances Every one is ready to retort upon the traitor in the words of the Emperor Aâ—no proditionem odi proditorem I love the Treachery but hate the Traitor 1. Sir Robert Carre afterwards Earl of Somerset a great Favourite of King James admitted Sir Thomas Overbury into his Favour and put him in Trust with his most Secret Employments in which he behaved himself so discreetly and honestly that afterwards when the Earl of Somerset falling in Love with the Lady Frances Howard late Wife of the Earl of Essex but then divorced or intended to be divorced consulted with Sir Thomas about it and Sir Thomas freely disswading him from the Match with words reflecting much on the Countess's Reputation and doing this upon a Principle of unfeigned Love the Earl with the Advice of the Countess resolved upon Revenge and contrived the murdering of Sir Thomas afterwards in the Tower but after a mighty Celebration of the Wedding the Murder was discovered the Instruments hanged the Earl and Countess both convicted their Estate seized only their Lives by the King's favour were reprieved Select Lives of England 's Worthies p. 286 287. Detect of the Court and State in the Four last Reigns p. 39 40 c. 2. Nicholas Keretschen Governour of Gyula in Transylvania betrayed the same unto the Turks for a great Sum of Money but when he expected the Reward he was by the Command of Solyman the Great Turk thrust into an Hogshead stuck full of Nails 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 so to me And so he was rolled up and down till he died Turk Hist p. 824. 3. Banister Servant to the Duke of Buckingham in the Reign of Richard the Third upon the Promise of a Thousand Pounds basely betrayed his Lord and Master from whom he had formerly received great Favours but after this base Treachery he never had the Reward promised and beside had these Judgments befel him His Eldest Son fell Mad and so died in a Swine-stye His second Son 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 Leprosie and himself in his Old Age was arraigned found guilty of Murther and escaped Hanging very narrowly Speed Chron. p. 97. 4. One Mr. Roscadden going on Pilgrimage according to the Blindness and Superstition of those Times his Wife had in his absence one if not more Children Whereupon at his return one John Tregoss advised and perswaded him to settle his Estate upon some Friend for the Use and Benefit of his Wife and Children lest after his Death the Heir at Common Law should turn his Wife and Children out of Doors Mr. Roscadden entertained and approved the Motion and entreated him to accept of the Trust which Request the said John Tregoss readily embraced But instead of a Deed in Trust he made it Absolute to himself and his Heirs for ever And accordingly so soon as Mr. Roscadden was dead he entred upon all his Lands and turned his Children out of Doors who for some time were fain to lie in a Hog-stye and every Morning went forth to the Dunghil and there upon their Knees imprecated and prayed that the Vengeance of God might fall upon this Tregoss and his Posterity for this so perfidious and merciless dealing And after this God's severe but righteous Judgments fell upon Tregss's Family For his Son Walter one day riding upon a Horse in a fair way
the Earls of Worcester Pembrook and Montgomery with a numerous Train of the Nobility and Gentry where at the Entry they were accosted with a Gratualtory Speech and Musick and afterwards the Feast served up by the choicest Citizens and after Supper with a Wassail two pleasant Masques a Play and Dancing And after all the Bride and Bridegroom invited to a noble Banquet with all the noble Train and at Three in the Morning returned to White-hall And before this Surfeit of Pleasure was well digested the Gentlemen of Grey's Inn invited them to a Masque But before the end of the Year who would think it for this was in the Christmas-Holidays and lasted till a few Days after all this Joy was turned into Sharp and Sowre For afterward the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury was discovered some of the chief Instruments employed to Poyson him were hanged the Earl of Somerset and his Countess imprisoned their Persons convicted and Estate seized except only four Thousand Pound per Annum allowed him for Life only by the King's Favour after some time he was set at Liberty but never more returned into Favour at Court Detection of the Court and State of England during the Four last Reigns p. 39 40 c. 6. In the Reign of Charles the V. a young Gentleman of noble Parentage in the Court of that Emperor for deflowering a young Gentlewoman whom he greatly loved was committed to Prison where expecting nothing but the Rigour of the Law he took on with such Grief of Mind that the next Morning his Face appeared very wan his Beard drivelled his Hair turned perfectly gray and all his fresh and youthful Vigour was quite vanished which coming to the Emperor's Ears he sent for him and for the strangeness of the thing pardon'd him accounting the great Fear he had undergone and the Effects of it a sufficient Punishment Doom warning to the Judgment p. 346. out of Levin Lemn 7. In Germany a Gentleman of note finding his Wife in Bed with another Man slew first the Adulterer and then his own Wife Luth. Coll. 8. A nobleman of Thuringia being taken in Adultery the Husband of the Adultress bound him Hand and Foot cast him into Prison kept him fasting only causing daily hot Dishes of Meat to be set before him to tantalize him with the Smell In this Torture the Letcher continued till he gnawed off the Flesh from his own Shoulders and on the 11th Day he died Clark out of Luther 9. Mary of Arragon Wife to the Emperor Otho the III. carry'd a young Fornicator along with her in Woman's Habit but he being discovered was burnt to Death Afterwards solliciting the Count of Mutina and not able to draw him to her Lure she accused him to the Emperor of attempting a Rape upon her for which he was beheaded But the Emperor at last finding out his Wife's Wickedness caused her to be burnt at a Stake Clark's Examp. Vol. I. chap. 2. 10. Luther tells us of a Great Man in his Country so besotted with the Sin of Whoredome that he was not ashamed to say That if he might live for ever here and be carried from one Whore-house to another there to satisfie his Lusts he would never desire any other Heaven This vile Fellow afterwards breathed out his wretched Soul betwixt two notorious Harlots Ibid. 11. Venery was the Destruction of Alexander the Great Of Otho the Emperor called for his good Parts otherwise Miraculum Mundi Of Pope Sixtus the IV. who died of a wicked Wast Of Peope Paul the IV. of whom it passed for a Proverb Eum per eandem partem animam profudisse per quam acceperat Ibid. So true it is which Solomon saith many strong Men have been slain by her 12. 'T is notoriously known how far this Sin prevailed in England amongst the Lazy Monks and Nuns what Skulls of Infants were found near their Religious Houses before the Dissolution of them in Henry the VIII's Days And much about the same time viz. at the beginning of the Reformation as I have read in a Letter writ by the Pope's Notary to a Gentleman in Germany there was a Nunnery visited in the outer Skirts of Italy and Thirteen of the Nuns found with Child at the same time all by the Confessor for which Cause by order of the Pope it was put down 13. Thomas Savage frequenting the House of Hannah Blay a noted Bawdy-house spending upon her such Money as he could get to satisfie his own Lust and her craving Appetite is tempted first to stealing and purloining from his Master and at last to the murdering of a Maid his Fellow-Servant For which he was afterwards brought to the Gallows See the Printed Narrative 14. Mr. Robert Foulks of Stanton-Lacy first an Adulterer and then a Murderer of his Bastard Child ended his Days very ignominiously at Tiburn tho' penitently See the Narrative or the Abbreviation in the Compleat History of Dying Penitents 15. John Allerton Bishop of Waterford in Ireland for unnatural Concupiscence came to a very disgraceful End being Arraigned and Executed at Dublin It were endless to enumerate all the sad Examples of Divine Judgment that might be brought under this Head CHAP. CXXV Divine Judgments upon Voluptuousness and Luxury THE Love of sensual Pleasure is to this Day a Blot upon the Memory of Epicurus tho' he were but a Heathen Philosopher How much more Disgraceful is it for Christians whose Profession it is to deny themselves and take up the Cross and be mortified to the World and crucifie the Flesh which the Affections and Lusts And the Reason why God hath laid such a Restrain upon our Appetites is because Voluptuousness is a Thief of our Time and Affections It steals the Heart from God and so debaucheth the Mind of Man that it cannot relish spiritual Delights and the Sweets of a Holy and Devout Life and therefore no wonder if God Almighly doth so resent this Alienation of the Mind from him that he punish it often with some Remarkable Judgments to shew his Detestation of it and to Detert others from it 1. Charles the II. King of Spain having wasted his Spirits with Voluptuousness and Luxury in his old Age fell into a Lethargy and therefore to comfort his benummed Joints he was by the Advice of his Physicians sowed up in a Sheet steeped in Aqua-vitae The Chirurgeon having made an end of sowing the Sheet wanted a Knife to cut off the Thread whereupon he took the Wax-Tapor that stood by to burn it off But the Flame running by the Thread caught hold of the Sheet in an instant which according to the nature of Aqua-vitae burned so violently that the old King ended his Days in the Flame Clark's Mirr Vol. I. p. 492. 2. Petrus Crinitus a great Clerk in the Days of our Grandfathers thought it fit forsooth when he was old to do as Socrates did under colour of Free Teaching to converse with Youths in the Streets in the Tennis-Courts in the Taverns
his Creatures that depend upon him for every bit of Bread they eat and are not able to stand a moment upon their Legs without him grow bold in confidence of their own Faculties as if they were a kind of Demi-gods upon Earth Absolute and Soveraign without any dependance upon Heaven 1. Arimazes having garrison'd a very strong and steep Rock in the Sogdian Country with Thirty Thousand Men sent to Alexander the Great who demanded it to know whether he could flee or not But the next Day he was taken together with his strong Hold and nailed to a Cross God delights to confute Men in their Confidences that they that are his way run to the Rock of Ages Isa 26.4 to that Arx roboris of his Holy Name which alone is impregnable and inexpugnable 2. The Spaniards in 1588. called their Navy the Invincible Armado but it proved otherwise and that upon St. James's Dayâ— whom they count their Patron and Tutelary Saint Trapp 3. The Lord Mordant afterwards Earl of Peterborough being a Papist and desirous to draw his Lady to the same Religion he was willing that there should be a Meeting of two Eminent Parsons of each Party to dispute what might be in Controversie between them The Lady made choice of our Lord Primate and prevailed with him though newly recovered from a long Sickness and scarce able to take such a Journey The Jesuite chosen by the Earl went under the Name of Beaumond but his true Name was Rookwood Brother to Ambrose Rookwood one of the Gunpowder Traytors The Place of Meeting was at Drayton in Northamptonshire where there was a great Library so that no Books of the Ancient Fathers were wanting upon occasion for their View The Points to be disputed on were concerning Transubstantiation Invocation of Saints Worshipping of Images and the Visibility of the Church Three Days they were in this Disputation three Hours in the Forenoon and two in the Afrernoon each Day and the Conclusion was this after the third Day 's Meeting The Lord Primate having been hitherto Opponent now the Tables were to be turned and the Jesuite according to his desire was to oppose and the Lord Primate to answer But when the time came the Jesuite was expected instead of coming he sent his Excuse to the Lord Mordant which was That all the Arguments which he had framed in his Head and premeditated so that he thought he had them as perfect as his Pater-Noster were now slipt from him and he could not possibly recover them again and that he believed it was a just Judgment of God upon him for undertaking of himself to dispute with a Man of that Eminency and Learning without a License from his Superiors The Lord Mordant seeing his Tergiversation upon some further Discourse with the Lord Primate was converted and became a Protestant and so continued to his Death One Challoner a Secular Priest afterwards writing a Book against this Beaumond by way of Scorn bids him beware of coming any more to Drayton lest he should meet with another Vsher to foil him again to the Dishonour of his Profession and himself See his Life 4. A little before the late horrid Conspiracy against the Life of our present Soveraign King William the III. in an exempt Chappel within three Miles of Norwich one preached on those Words Jer. 24.10 and near the time of the intended Assassination on Jer. 46.10 For this is the day of the Lord God of Hosts a day of Vengeance that he may avenge himself on his Adversaries and the Sword shall devour and it shall be satisfied and made drunk with their Blood for the Lord God of Hosts hath a Sacrifice in the North Country by the River Euphrates One Mr. Trinder also a noted Justice of Peace in Middlesex in the Reign of King James to his Nephew in the Earl of Arran's Regiment in a Letter dated at Paris Feb. 1695. writes thus viz. Sir Notwithstanding your great Confidence in your Hero and your great Ingratitude to your Friend your Repentance shall not be too late if the Effects of it appear within a Month after the Receipt of this Advertisement from your Friend J. T. Another great French Man in a Letter to a Friend concluded That the whole English Nation would be a miserable Field of Blood c. And the Courtiers of France and some of them bragg'd That King James was not gone to invade but to take possession of his Kingdom Nay the D. of B. was so confident of Success in this Business that he told the French King he scrupled not within three Months but he should be sent over by King James to give him Thanks in way of Embassy for all his Kindness to him since he left his Kingdoms A Declaration was drawn up printed and dispersed on purpose to cajole the People of England into false Hopes of a Relaxation of Taxes perpetual Parliaments and the Preservation of the Protestant Religion c. Transport Ships were ready and Soldiers to the number of 20000 to embark at Callis Bullen Dunkirk c. And the French King caused to be delivered 100000 Lewis ' d'ores to the late King desiring him to hasten his Departure for that all things were in readiness and so took his leave of him wishing him a prosperous undertaking promising as soon as he posted himself in England he would supply him with more Troops The Pope's Nuncio likewise pronounced a solemn Benediction upon the Enterprize and the Jesuites had begg'd Chelsea-College for themselves the Image of St. Victor was bestowed upon the Army as an auspicious Omen And yet after these Preparations and great Confidences when they thought all cock-sure the Descent was hindred by the Winds the Counsels took air in England and by Divine Providence the Authors of the Conspiracy discovered and several of them brought to condign Punishment The Impartial History of the Plots and Conspiracies against King William p. 30 31 c. CHAP. CXXXIV Divine Judgments upon Bribery and Injustice SHould any one saith Bishop Latimer in a Sermon preached at Court ask me which was the readiest way to Hell I would answer First be Covetous secondly take Bribes thirdly pervert Judgment and Justice There 's the Mother and her two Daughters I will add fourthly a Tyburn Tippet Hangum Twinum for him If saith he to his Majesty I were King and any of my Judges should thus suffer themselves to be corrupted and pervert Justice tho' he were my Lord Chief Justice himself as God shall judge me I would make Quondams of every Man of them If not in these Words yet to this purpose Sure I am God Almighty doth ring very sharp Peals of his Wrath and Vengeance by the Prophets in the Ears of his People Israel for this very Sin and there is no doubt but he is as severely angry with it in all Ages even to this Day 1. A. C. 1289. A. 16. Edw. I. upon the general Accounts made of the ill Administration of Justice in
declared himself Innocent caused his Tongue to be cut out and cast to them again seized upon any that stood near when he wanted Game for the Wild Beasts suborned Persons to go into the Senate-House and declare him whom he had a mind to murder as a Publick Enemy would Command the Executioner so to strike that Persons might feel themselves die Disannulled Persons Wills because they had not made him their Heir Slew many Rich Men confiscated the Estates of others levied unheard-of Taxes would with an Artificial Engine vie with the Thunder of Heaven throw up a Stone at such times saying Either do thus kill me or I will kill thee Wished all the People of Rome had but one Neck that he might cut them off at one blow At last two of the Tribunes conspired against him slew him and his Wife Caesonia and took his younger Daughter and dashed her Brains against the Walls In his Closet were found two Books one called the Sword the other the Dagger containing the Names of all those he designed for Slaughter and a great Chest stored with all sorts of most deadly Poisons Ibid. in ejus vit 5. Andronicus who Traiterously murdered the Son and Heir of Emanuel the Emperor causing him to be tyed in Sack and so drowned in the Sea then by Violence took Possession of the Empire of Constantinople and proceeded to Rapes and Debaucheries not abstaining from his own Sisters murdering most of the Nobility was afterwards besieged taken degraded despolied of all his Ornaments his Eyes pluck'd out and he upon an Asse's back with his Face towards the Tail and the Tail in his Hand and a Rope about his Neck led through the Streets of Constantinople the People shouting throwing Dung Dirt and Chamber-Pots upon him then carried to the Gallows and there hanged Beard 's Theater 6. Charles King of Navarre a cruel Oppressor and Tyrant over his Subjects as also a great Letcher doting upon a Whore which he kept at Threescore Years of Age one day returning from her and entring into his Chamber went quaking to Bed and half frozen with Cold they tried by blowing upon him with Brazen Bellows Aqua-vitae and hot Blasts to revive Nature but it happening that a spark of Fire flew between the Sheets and inflamed the dry Linen and Aqua-vitae so that in an instant his late quivering Bones were half burnt He lived in great Torment for Fifteen days after and then miserably died Ibid. 7. Julian the Apostate and Persecutor nubecula fuit citò transivit as Athanasius said of him 8. King John of England by his Exactions gathered much Money the Sinews of War of his Subjects but lost his People's Affections the Joints of Peace 9. Richard the Third and Queen Mary as they had the bloodiest so the shortest Reigns of any since the Conquest 10. The fearful Judgment by Rats inflicted upon the Archbishop of Mentz for burning up the Poor of the Country in his Barn is related before 11. Novellus Carrarius Lord of Pavia after many Cruel Murders and Bloody Practices at last falling in Love with a Virgin of Excellent Beauty and Chastity and her Parents refusing to send her to him at his Command he took her out by violence forced her to his Lust and then chopt her into small pieces and sent her in a Basket to her Parents Her poor Father carried it to the Senate of Venice to consider of the Fact and revenge the Cruelty The Venetians made War upon him seized him and hanged him up with his two Sons Beard 's Theater 12. John Pontanus and Budaeus both tell of a Devilish Fellow that for a Spleen taken against his Master for some rough Usage in his Master's absence broke in upon his Mistress bound her Hand and Foot takes her three Children carries them up to the Battlements and when his Master came first threw down one then another to the Pavement and dashed them to pieces the Father begging upon his Knees for the Life of the other he tells him the only way to Ransom it was by cutting off his own Nose The poor Father doth so and disfigured his Face strangely This Limb of the Devil with a loud Laughter tumbles down the other and last of all most desperately cast himself after Beard 's Theater c. CHAP. CXXXVIII Divine Judgments upon Hereticks Schismaticks c. BY Heresie I mean an obstinate Assertion and Defence of some Doctrine contrary to the Essential Truth of our Religion By Schism an uncharitable Separation from our Brethren upon unnecessary and unwarrantable grounds And surely if we are bound to pursue after those things that make for Peace and Vnity in our Civil much more in our Religious Societies And 't is hard to offend in these cases without incurring the Indignation of Heaven God seldom permits the Authors and Principal Fomentors of such Division to go unpunished even in this World 1. Antioch being overspread with the Arian Heresie was punished with a terrible Earthquake and Fire mixt with it which consumed Multitudes of Persons Evagr. 2. Arius himself the Author as he was easing Nature his Bowels gushed out and he died miserably Theod. 3. Simon Magus attempting to shew his Power by flying in the Air fell down and broke his Thigh and so died Isaack's Chron. p. 186. 4. Manes or Manichaeus was slain by the King of Persia and his Skin stuff'd Chaff Simps 5. Emeritus Bishop of the Donatists at a Council held at Caesarea being challenged by St. Augustine to a Disputation could not be perswaded thereto by Parents or Friends through a distrust of his own Cause tho' in his own City and in the midst of his Friends Which through the Mercy of God turned much to the Advantage of the Church Clark's Mirr of Eccl. Hist 6. Nestorius being in the Council of Ephesus summoned by Theodosius Minor was condemned to Banishment in Oasis for the Blasphemous Opinions he had vented against the Deity of our Saviour Christ was struck with an Incurable Disease whereby his Tongue rotted and breeding many Worms was devoured by them so that he ended his Life miserably Ibid. p. 87. 7. Cerinthus the Heretick being at a Bath at Ephesus the Apostle St. John seeing him called upon those that were with him to depart lest the House should fall upon their Heads and immediately after their departure it fell upon Cerinthus and his Associates and killed them Euseb Eccl. Hist 8. Montanus despaired and hanged himself Niceph. Centur. Magdeburg c. 9. The Emperor Valens an Arian Heretick was burnt by the Goths in Village leaving no Successor behind him Sozom. 10. Benchocab the Famous Pseudo-Messiah under the Reign of the Emperor Adrian who drew many Disciples after him was himself and all his Followers slain called therefore by the Jews Bencâ—zby the Son of a Lye Euseb 11. Heraclius the Emperor a Monothelite having raised great Army against his Enemies in one Night 50000 of them died and himself fell presently sick and died also
and Books and Collections I can rest my Soul on nothing but the Scriptures and above all that Passage lies most upon my Spirit Titus 2.11 12. The Grace of God that brings Salvation c. 76. Dr. Donn on his Dying-bed told his Friends I Repent of all my Life but that part I spent in Communion with God and doing good 77. Sir Walter Rawleigh in a Letter to his Wife after his Condemnation hath these words If you can live free from Want care for no more for the rest is but a Vanity Love God and begin betimes in him shall ye find True Everlasting and Endless Comfort My dear Wife Farewel Bless my Boy Pray for me and let my True God hold you both in his Arms. 78. Mr. Herbert the Divine Poet to one going about to Comfort him with the Remembrance of a good Work he had done in Repairing a ruinous Church belonging to his Ecclesiastical Dignity made answer 'T is a good Work if sprinkled with the Blood of Christ In the Preface before his Poems 79. Mr. Tho. Cartwright the last Sermon that he made was Dec. 25. on Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth c. On the Tuesday following the Day before his Death he was two Hours on his Knees in private Prayer in which as he told his Wife he found wonderful and unutterable Joy and Comfort and within a few Hours after he quietly resigned up his Spirit to God Dec. 27. 1603. Mr. Clark 's Martyrol p. 21. 80. Mr. Paul Baines in his last Sickness had many Fears and Doubts God letting Satan loose upon him so that he went away with far less Comfort than many weaker Christians enjoy Ibid. p. 24. 81. Mr. William Bradshaw exhorted all that came to him to lay a good Foundation for a comfortable Death in time of Life and Health assuring them that their utmost Addresses and Endeavours would be little enough when they came to that Work Ibid. p. 51. 81. Mr. Richard Rothwel foretold his own Death I am well and shall be well shortly said he to some that sent to enquire how he did And afterwards whispering one in the Ear there present said Do you know my meaning I shall be with Christ e're long but do not tell them so And after Prayer smiling said he Now I am well Happy is he that hath not bow'd a knee to Baal He called upon the Company to sing Psal 120. And in the singing of it he died An. 1627. Aged 64. Ibid. p. 71. 83. Dr. Preston the Night before he died being Saturday he went to Bed and lay about three Hours desirous to sleep but slept not Then said My Dissolution is near let me go to my Home and to Jesus Christ who hath bought me with his most precious Blood About Four of the Clock the next Morning he said I feel Death coming to my Heart my Pain shall now be quickly turned into Joy And after Prayer made by a Friend he look'd on the Company turned away his Head and at Five a Clock on the Lord's-Day in the Morning gave up the Ghost An. 1628. Aged 41. or near it Ibid. p. 113. 84. Mr. Hildersam sickening with the Scurvy in the midst of Winter on March 4. being the Lord's-Day was prayed for in the Congregation of Ashby His Son also prayed with him divers times that Day and in the last Prayer he departed March 4. 1631. Had I time to pause upon it methinks the Death of many worthy Persons happening upon the Christian Sabbath is worthy of a special Remark Mr. Hildersam had given order in his Will that no Funeral Sermon should be preached at his Burial Ibid. p. 123. 85. Dr. Tho. Tailour of Aldermanbury expressed himself thus O said he we serve a good Lord who covers all our Imperfections and gives us great Wages for little Work And on the Lord's-Day he was dismissed hence to keep a perpetual Sabbath in Heaven in the Climacterical Year of his Age 56. Ibid. p. 127. 86. Mr. John Carter likewise Feb. 21. 1635. being the Lord's-Day ended his Life with a Doxology The Lord be thanked Ibid. p. 140. 87. Dr. Sibs died Anno 1631. Aged 58. Ibid. Dr. Chaderton Anno 1640. Aged 94. Ibid. 88. Mr. Ball being ask'd in his last Sickness whether he thought he should live or die answered I do not trouble my self about that matter And afterwards how he did replied Going to Heaven apace He died 1640. Aged 55. Ibid. 89. Dr. Potter died about the great Climacterical Year of his Age being suspected to have laid to Heart the Reproaches of some thrown upon him for a Sermon preached a little before at Westminster as too sharp against Innovations in the Church Ibid. 90. Mr. Julines Herrings the Night before his Departure was observed to rise upon his Knees and with Hands lifted up to Heaven to use these Words He is overcome overcome through the Strength of my Lord and only Saviour Jesus unto whom I am now going to keep a Sabbath in Glory And accordingly next Morning March 28. 1644. Aged 62. on the Sabbath-Day he departed Ibid. 168. 91. Mr. John Dod was tried with most bitter and sharp Pains of the Strangury and great Wrestlings with Satan but was Victorious To one watching with him he said That he had been wrestling with Satan all Night who accused him That he had neither preached nor prayed nor performed any Duty well for manner or end but saith he I have answer'd him from the Example of the Prodigal and the Publican One of his last Speeches was with Eyes and Hands lift up to Heaven I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Which desire was granted him Anno 1645. aged 96. Ibid. p. 178. 92. Mr. Herbert Palmer after Isa 38 Chap. being read prayed himself to this purpose First for himself That God would heal the sinfulness of his Nature pardon all his Transgressions deliver him from Temptation accept him in Christ c. Then for the Publick the Nation King and Parliament Ministers c. For Scotland and the Churches in France new-New-England c. Queen's College Westminster the Country his Benefactors c. He departed December 25. 1647. aged 46. He desired his Friends not to Pray for his Life but Pray God saith he for Faith for Patience for Repentance for Joy in the Holy Ghost Lord saith he cast me down as low as Hell in Repentance and lift me up by Faith to the highest Heavens in confidence of thy Salvation The Tuesday before he departed This day Seven-night said he is the Day on which we have used to remember Christ's Nativity and on which I have preached Christ I shall scarce live to see it but for me was that Child born unto me was that Son given c. Ibid. p. 201. 93. Mr. John Cotton to Mr. Wilson taking his last leave of him and praying that God would lift up the Light of his Countenance upon him and shed his Love into his Soul presently answered
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
Therefore have charitable Conceit of me That I know to swear is an Offence to swear falsly at any time is a great Sin but to swear falsly before the Presence of Almighty God before whom I am forthwith to appear were an Offence unpardonable Therefore think me not now rashly or untruly to confirm or protest any thing As for other Objections as That I was brought perforce into England That I carried Sixteen Thousand Pounds in Money out of England with me more than I made known That I should receive Letters from the French King and such like with many Protestations he utterly denied England's Worthies by Will. Winstanley p. 303. 119. The Death of Henry Bullinger Mr. Bullinger falling Sick and his Disease encreasing many Godly Ministers came to visit him but some Months after he recovered and preached as formerly but soon Relapsed when finding his vital Spirits wasted and Nature much decayed in him he concluded his Death was at hand and thereupon said as followeth If the Lord will make any farther use of me and my Ministry in his Church I will willingly obey him but if he pleases as I much desire to take me out of this miserable Life I shall exceedingly rejoyce that he will be so pleased to take me out of this miserable and corrupt Age to go to my Saviour Christ Socrates said he was glad when his Death approached because he thought he shou'd go to Hesiod Homer and other Learned Men deceased and whom he expected to meet in the other World then how much more do I joy who am sure that I shall see my Saviour Christ the Saints Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and all Holy Men which have lived from the beginning of the World These I say I am sure to see and to partake with them in Joy Why then should I not be willing to die to enjoy their perpetual Society in Glory And then with Tears told them That he was not unwilling to leave them for his own sake but for the sake of the Church Then having written his Farewel to the Senate and therein admonished them to take care of the Churches and Schools and by their permission chose one Ralph Gualter his Successor he patiently resigned up his Spirit into the Hands of his Redeemer dying Anno Christi 1575. and or his Age 71. 120. Mr. Haines Minister of Westminister was acquainted with a Gentleman of a very Holy Life and Conversation Which said Gentleman as he lay in his Bed one Morning a Boy of about twelve Years of Age appeared to him in a radiant Light and bid him prepare to Die in twelve Days He being surprized at it sent for Mr. Haines and told him of it who perswaded him from believing of it telling him 't was only a Fancy But within six Days he was siez'd with a violent Fever and four or five Hours before his Death the same Boy came and sate upon his Pillow and as the Gentleman grew paler he changed colour too and just as the Breath went out of the Body he disappeared This is attested by the Gentleman's Family for they all saw it and Mr. Haines related it to a Person of good Reputation from whom I received it 121. The Last Will of Mr. Henry Stubbs Deceased July â— 1678. Published at the Desire of his Widow Mrs. D. S. KNowing that I must shortly put off this my Earthly Tabernacle I make my Last Will and Testament Imprimis I commend my Soul into the Hands of God wholly trusting in Jesus Christ my dear Lord and Saviour through his All-sufficient Satisfaction and powerful Mediation to be accepted Eph. 1.6 Item I commit my Body to the Earth from whence 't was taken in sure and certain Hope of a Resurrection to Life Eternal building upon that sure Word John 6.40 Item I leave my Fatherless Children to the Lord who hath promised to be a Father to the Fatherless Ps 68.5 And to preserve them alive Jer. 49.11 Commanding them to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18.19 Item I â—xhort my Widow to trust in the Lord of whose care she hath had no little Experience and therefore should trust in him Psal 9.10 And I desire her to read often Jer. 49.11 Psal 68.5 Heb. 13.5 Item The Congregations to which I have been formerly a Preacher and that with which I now am by a special Hand of Providence I commend to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build them up and to give them an Inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified Acts 20.32 beseeching them by the Lord Jesus That as they ahve received of me how they ought to walk and please God so they would abound more and more 1 Thes 4.1 Item And for my Kindred according to the Flesh my Hearts Desire and Prayer to God for them is That they may be saved Rom. 10.1 Item And for all those yet living and who have seriously and earnestly desired my Prayers my earnest Request to God for them is That it would please him to do for them all as the Marter shall require 1 Kings 8.59 Item And for my Brethren in the Ministry my Prayer is That they may take heed to themselves and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood Acts 20.28 Item And for the People my Prayer is That they may obey them that have the Rule over them Heb. 13.17 Item And for Professors of Religion my Prayer is That they may walk worthy of God unto all well-pleasing being fruitful in every Good Work Col. 1.10 11. Item And for the King my Prayer is That Mercy and Truth may preserve him Prov. 26.28 And for Him and all that are in Authority my Prayer is That they may so lead their own Lives that the People under them may lead quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty 1 Tim. 2.2 Item And for the whole Land of my Nativity my humble Prayer to the Lord of all Grace and Mercy is That the Power and Purity of the Gospel together with a Learned and Faithful Ministry to dispence the same may be continued and preserved therein The Last Words of those Eminent Persons who fell in the Defence of the Protestant Religion and the English Liberties both in London and the West of England from the Year 1678. to this time IN the two last Reigns many of the Flower of our Nobility and Gentry either lost their Lives or Estates or Liberties or Country whilst a Crew of Parasites triumphed and fluttered in their Ruins To see a Russel die meanly and ignobly in the Flower of his Age an Essex or a Godfry sacrificed to the insatiable Ambition and Revenge of their Enemies who yet not content with their Lives would like the Italian stab on after Death and tho' they could not reach their Souls endeavour to damn their Memories These and too many other such melancholy Instances would be
read a Paper in which was a good rational Confession of his Faith then comes to the Occasion of his Death for which he says He neither blames the Judges Jury nor Council but only some Men that in reality were deeper concern'd than he who combin'd together to swear him out of his LIfe to save their own and that they might do it effectually contriv'd an Untruth c. He forgives the World and the Witnesses gives his Friends Advice to be more Prudent than he had been prays that his may be the last Blood spilt on the Account wishes the King wou'd be merciful to others says he knew nothing of Ireland and concludes with praying God to have Mercy upon him He had then some Discourse with Cartwright wherein he tells him That he was not for contriving the Death of the King nor to have had a Hand in 't and being urg'd with some Matters of Controversie tells him He did not come thither to dispute about Religion but to die Religiously 7. Mr. ROVSE ROuse comes next gives an Account of his Faith professing to die of the Church of England tells his former Employment and Manner of Life acknowledges he heard of Clubs and Designs but was never at 'em and a perfect Stranger to any thing of that Nature Gives a Relation of what past between him and his Majesty on his Apprehension Talks somewhat of Sir Thomas Player the Earl of Shaftsbury and accommodating the King's Son as he calls it tho' not while the King reign'd Then falls upon Lee and the Discourse they had together who as he says swore against him on the Trial those very Words he himself had used in pressing him to undertake the Design Speaks of a Silver Ball which he proposed to be thrown up on Black-Heath and after some Discourse with the Ordinary gives the Spectators some good Counsel They they all Three singly prayed and then the Sentence was executed upon them 8. ALGERNOON SIDNEY Esq THe next Victim to Popish Cruelty and Malice was Colonel Algernoon Sidney of the ancient and noble Name and Family of the Sidneys deservedly famous to the utmost Bounds of Europe who as the ingenious Mr. Hawles observes was meerly talk'd to Death under the Notion of a Commonwealth's Man and found Guilty by a Jury who were not much more proper Judges of the Case than they wou'd have been had he writ in Greek or Arabick He was arraign'd for a Brnach of this Plot at Westminster the 17th of November 1683. where tho' it cannot be said the Grand Jury knew not what they did when they found the Bill against him since no doubt they were well instructed what to do yet it must that they found it almost before they knew what 't was being so well resolv'd on the Case and agreed on their Verdict that had he been Indicted for Breaking-up an House or Robbing on the High-way 't was doom'd to have been Billa vera as much as 't was now An Abstract of the Paper delivered to the Sheriffs on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill December 7. 1683. by Algernoon Sidney Esquire before his Execution FIrst having excused his not speaking as well because it was an Age that made Truth pass for Treason for the Proof of which he instances his Trial and Condemnation and that the Ears of some present were too tender to hear it as because of the Rigour of the Season and his Infirmities c. Then after a short Reflection upon the little said against him by other Witnesses and the little Value that was to be put on the Lord Howard's Testimony whom he charges with an infamous Life and many palpable Perjuries and to have been byassed only by the Promise of Pardon c. and makes even tho' he had been liable to no Exceptions to have been but a single Witness He proceeds to answer the Charge against him from the Writings found in his Closet by the King's Officers which were pretended but not Lawfully evidenced to be his and pretends to prove that had they been his they contained no condemnable matter but principles more safe both to Princes and People too than the pretended high-flown Plea for Absolute Monarchy composed by Filmer against which they seemed to be levelled and which he says all intelligent Men thought were founded on wicked Principles and such as were destructive both to Magistrates and People too Which he attempts to make out after this manner First says he if Filmer might publish to the World That Men were born under a necessary indispensible Subjection to an Absolute King who could be restrained by no Oath c. whether be came to it by Creation Inheritance c. nay or even by Usurpation why might he not publish his Opinion to the contrary without the breach of any known Law Which Opinion he professes consisted in the following Particulars 1. That God had left Nations at the liberty of Modelling their own Governments 2. That Magistrates were instituted for Nations and not E contra 3. That the Right and Power of Magistrates was fixed by the standing Laws of each Country 4. That those Laws sworn to on both sides were the matter of a Contract between the Magistrate and People and could not be broken without the Danger of dissolving the whole Government 5. The Vsurpation could give no Right and that King had no greater Enemies than those who asserted that or were for stretching their Power beyond its Limits 6. That such Vsurpations commonly effecting the Slaughter of the Reigning Person c. the worst of Crimes was thereby most gloriously Rewarded 7. That such Doctrines are more proper to stir up Men to destroy Princes than all the Passions that ever yet swayed the worst of them and that no Prince could be safe if his Murderers may hope such Rewards and that few Men would be so gentle as to spare the best Kings if by their Destruction a wild Vsurper could become God's Anointed which he says was the scope of that whole Treatise and asserts to be the Doctrine of the best Authors of all Nations Times and Religions and of the Scripture and so owned by the best and wisest Princes and particuarly by Lewis XIV of France in his Declaration against Spain Anno 1667. and by King James of England in his Speech to the Parliament 1603. and adds that if the Writer had been mistaken he should have been fairly refuted but that no Man was ever otherwise punished for such Matters or any such things referred to a Jury c. That the Book was never finished c. nor ever seen by them whom he was charged to have endeavoured by it to draw into a Conspiracy That nothing in it was particularly or maliciously applied to Time Place or Person but distorted to such a sense by Innuendo's as the Discourses of the Expulsion of Tarquin c. and particularly of the Translation made of the Crown of France from one Race to another had been applied by the then Lawyers
Innuendo's to the then King of England never considering adds he that if such Acts of State be not allowed Good no Prince in the World has any Title to his Crown and having by a short Reflection shewn the Ridiculousness of deriving Absolute Monarchy from Patriarchal Power he appeals to all the World whether it would not be more Advantageous to all Kings to own the Deerivation of their Power to the Consent of willing Nations than to have no better Title than Force c. which may be over-powered But notwithstanding the Innocence and Loyalty of that Doctrine he says He was told he must die or the Plot must die and complains that in order to the destroying the best Protestants of England the Bench was fill'd with such as had been blemishes to the Bar and Instances how against Law they had advised with the King's Council about bringing him to Death suffer'd a Jury to be pack'd by the King's Sollicitors and the Vnder-Sheriff admitted Jury men no Freeholders received Evidence not valid refus'd him a Copy of his Indictment or to suffer the Act of the 46th of Edw. 3. to be read that allows it had over-ruled the most important Points of Law without hearing and assumed to themselves a Power to make Constructions of Treason tho' against Law Sense and Reason which the Stat. of the 25th of Edw. 3. by which they pretended to Try him was reserved only to the Parliament and so praying God to forgive them and to avert the Evils that threatned the Nation to sanctifie those Sufferings to him and tho' he fell a Sacrifice to Idols not to suffer Idolatry to be established in this Land c. He concludes with a Thanksgiving that God had singled him out to be a Witness of his Truth and for that Good Old Cause in which from his Youth he had been engag'd c. His EPITAPH ALgernoon Sidney fills this Tomb An Atheist by declaiming Rome A Rebel bold by striving still To keep the Laws above the Will And hindring those would pull them down To leave no Limits to a Crown Crimes damn'd by Church and Government Oh whither must his Soul be sent Of Heaven it must needs despair If that the Pope be Turn-key there And Hell can ne'er it entertain For there is all Tyrannick Reign And Purgatory's such a Pretence As ne'er deceiv'd a Man of Sense Where goes it then where 't ought to go Where Pope and Devil have nought to do His CHARACTER There 's no need of any more than reading his Trial and Speech to know him as well as if he stood before us That he was a Person of extraordinary Sense and very close thinking which he had the Happiness of being able to express in Words as manly and apposite as the Sense included under ' em He was owner of as much Vertue and Religion as Sense and Reason tho' his Piety lay as far from Enthusiasm as any Man's He fear'd nothing but God and lov'd nothing on Earth like his Country and the just Liberties and Laws thereof whose Constitutions he had deeply and successfully inquired into To sum up all He had Piety enough for a Saint Courage enough for a General or a Martyr Sense enough for a Privy-Counsellor and Soul enough for a King and in a word if ever any he was a perfect Englishman 9. Mr. JAMES HOLLOWAY MR. Holloway declared That Mr. West proposed the Assassination but none seconded him That he could not perceive that Mr. Ferguson knew any thing of it and HOlloway said It was our Design to shed no Blood He being interrogated by Mr. Ferguson's Friend Mr. Sheriff Daniel whether he knew Ferguson he answer'd That he did know him but knew him to be against any Design of killing the King 10. Sir THOMAS ARMSTRONG HE had been all his Life a firm Servant and Friend to the Royal Family in their Exile and afterwards He had been in Prison for 'em under Cromwel and in danger both of Execution and Starving for all which they now rewarded him He had a particular Honour and Devotion for the Duke of Monmouth and push'd on his Interest on all Occasions being a Man of as undaunted English Courage as ever our Country produced In his Paper he thus expressed himself That he thanked Almighty God he found himself prepared for Death his Thoughts set upon another World and weaned from this yet he could not but give so much of his little time as to answer some Calumnies and particularly what Mr. Attorney accused him of at the Bar. That he prayed to be allowed a Tryal for his Life according to the Laws of the Land and urged the Statute of Edward 6. which was expresly for it but it signified nothing and he was with an Extraordinary Roughness condemned and made a precedent tho' Holloway had it offered him and he could not but think all the World would conclude his Case very different else why refused to him That Mr. Attorney charged him for being one of those that was to kill the King He took God to witness that he never had a Thought to take away the King's Life and that no Man ever had the Impudence to propose so barbarous and base a thing to him and that he never was in any Design to alter the Government That if he had been tried he could have proved the Lord Howard's base Reflections upon him to be notoriously false He concluded that he had lived and now died of the Reformed Religion a Protestant in the Communion of the Church of England and he heartily wished he had lived more strictly up to the Religion he believed That he had found the great Comfort of the Love and Mercy of God in and through his blessed Redeemer in whom he only trusted and verily hoped that he was going to partake of that fulness of Joy which is in his pesence the Hopes whereof infinitely pleased him He thanked God he had no repining but chearfully submitted to the Punishment of his Sins He freely forgave all the World even those concerned in taking away his Life tho' he could not but think his Sentence very hard he being denied the Laws of the Land On the Honourable Sir Thomas Armstrong Executed June 20. 1684. HAdst thou abroad found Safety in thy Flight Th' Immortal Honour had not flam'd so bright Thou hadst been still a worthy Patriot thought But now thy Glory 's to Perfection brought In Exile and in Death to England true What more could Brutus or just Cato do 11. Alderman CORNISH TO make an end of this Plot altogether 't will be necessary once more to invert the Order in which things happened and tho' Mr. Cornish suffer'd not till after the Judges returned from the West as well as Bateman after him yet we shall here treat of 'em both and so conclude this Matter Cornish on his Tryal is said to have denied his being at the Meeting and discoursing with the Duke of Monmouth Which they 'd have us believe
Shepherd swears he was tho' not a Syllable of it appears He had been there several times Shepherd says but was not of their Consult knew nothing of their Business nor can he be positive whether 't was the Duke of Monmouth he came to speak with that Evening But supposing in two or three Years time and on so little Recollection Cornish's Memory had slipt in that Circumstance what 's that to Shepherd's Evidence against the very Root of Rumsey's which hang'd the Prisoners In spight of all he was found Guilty and Condemn'd and even that Christian serenity of Mind and Countenance wherewith 't was visible he bore his Sentence turn'd to his Reproach by the Bench. He continued in the same excellent Temper whilst in Newgate and gave the World a glaring Instance of the Happiness of such Persons as live a pious Life when they come to make an end onâ—â— let the way thereof be never so violent His Carriage and Behaviour at his leaving Newgate was as follows Some Passages of Henry Cornish Esq before his Sufferings COming into the Press-yard and seeing the Halter in the Officer's Hand he said Is this for me the Officer answered Yes he replyed Blessed be God and kissed it and after said O blessed be God for Newgate I have enjoyed God ever since I came within these Walls and blessed be God who hath made me fit to die I am now going to that God that will not be mocked to that God that will not be imposed upon to that God that knows the Innocency of his poor Creature And a little after he said Never did any poor Creature come unto God with greater Confidence in his Mercy and Assurance of Acceptation with him through Jesus Christ than I do but it is through Jesus Christ for there is no other way of coming to God but by him to find Acceptance with him There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Jesus Then speaking to the Officers he said Labour every one of you to be fit to die for I tell you you are not fit to die I was not fit to die my self till I came in hither but O blessed be God! he hath made me fit to die and hath made me willing to die In a few Moments I shall have the Fruition of the Blessed Jesus and that not for a day but for Ever I am going to the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of God! where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spirit and of all the Holy Angels I am going to the general Assembly of the First-born and of the Spirits of Just Men made perfect O that God should ever do so much for me O that God should concern himself so much for poor Creatures for their Salvation Blessed be his Name For this was the Design of God from all Eternity to give his only Son to die for poor miserable Sinners Then the Officers going to tie his Hands he said What must I be tied then Well a brown Thred might have served the turn You need not tye me at all I shall not stir from you for I thank God I am not afraid to die As he was going out he said Farewel Newgate Farewel all my Fellow Prisoners here the Lord comfort you the Lord be with you all Thus much for his Behaviour in the way to his Martyrdom The Place of it was most spitefully and ignominiously ordered almost before his own Door and near Guildhall to scare any good Citizen from appearing vigorously in the Discharge of his Duty for his Countrey 's Service by his Example If any thing was wanting in his Trial from the hast of it for the clearing his Innocency he sufficiently made it up in solemn Asseverations thereof on the Scaffold God is my Witness says he the Crimes laid to my Charge were falsly and maliciously sworn against me by the Witnesses For I never was at any Consult nor any Meeting where Matters against the Government were discoursed of He adds I never heard or read any Declaration tending that way Again As to the Crimes for which I suffer upon the Words of a dying Man I 'm altogether Innocent Lower he adds He died as he had liv'd in the Communion of the Church of England in whose Ordinances he had been often a Partaker and now felt the blessed Effects thereof in these his Agonies He was observ'd by those who stood near the Sledge to have solemnly several times averr'd his absolute Innocence of any Design against the Government and particularly that which he died for There was such a terrible Storm the Day of his Death as has scarce been known in the Memory of Man and will never be forgot by those who were in it ten or a dozen Ships being founder'd or stranded in one Road and a vast many more in other Places And as Heaven then did him Justice and vindicated his Innocence so Earth also has done it the Judgment against him being Reverst by that Honourable Ever-memorable Parliament which under God and our King has settled the Happiness both of this Age and Posterity His CHARACTER HE was a Person of as known Prudence as Intregrity a good Christian a compleat Citizen a worthy Magistrate and a zealous Church of England Man He was so cautious and wise that he was noted for it all thro' those worst of times and often propos'd as an Example to others of hotter and more imprudent Tempers nor could the least Imputation be fix'd on him of hearing or concealing any unlawful or dangerous Discourses any other ways than by plain force of Perjury being known to have shunn'd some Persons whom he as well as some other prudent Men suspected to have no good Designs and to be indu'd with no more Honesty than Discretion as it afterwards prov'd But he was design'd to glorifie God by such an End aâ— all his Care could not avoid which he submitted to with Bravery rarely to be met with unless among those who suffered for the same Cause in the same Age or their Predecessors Queen Mary's Martyrs There was seen the same Tenour of Prudence and Piety thro' all the Actions of his Life tho' most conspicuous in the last glorious Scene of it There was such a firmness in his Soul such vigour and almost extatick Joy and yet so well regulated that it shin'd thro' his Face almost with as visible Rays as those in which we use to dress Saints and Martyrs with which both at his Sentence and Execution he refresh'd all his Friends and at once dazled and confounded his most bitter Enemies 12. Mr. CHARLES BATEMAN THE next and last was Mr. Bateman the Chirurgeon a Man of good Sense good Courage and good Company and a very large and generous Temper of considerable Repute and Practice in his Calling A great Lover and Vindicator of the Liberties of the City and Kingdom and of more
Hearts to be truly thankful Comfort my Fellow Sufferers that are immediately to follow Give them Strength and Comfort unto the end I forgive all the World even all those that have been the immediate Hastners of my Death I am in Charity with all Men. And now blessed Lord Jesus into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Our Father c. After which going up the Ladder he desired the Executioner not to be hard to him who answered No and said I pray Master forgive me To which he said I do with my whole Heart and I pray God forgive thee But I advise thee to leave off this bloody Trade The Executioner said I am forced to do what I do it 's against my Mind So lifting up his Hands to Heaven the Executioner did his Office 17. The Behaviour and Dying Words of Mr. ROGER SATCHEL who was Executed at Weymouth in the County of Dorset MR. Satchel at the time of the Duke's landing at Lyme lived at Culliton about Five Miles West of that Town No sooner had he the News of the Duke's being landed but he sets himself to work to serve him desiring all he knew to joyn with him and was one of the first that went to him to Lyme and was with him to the end But after the Rout travelling to and fro to secure himself was at last taken at Chard by three Moss Troopers He was from thence carried to Ilchester and so secured in Ilchester Gaol and at the Bloody Assizes at Dorchester took his Tryal and received his Sentence with the rest After Sentence two of his Friends came to him and told him there was no Hope He answer'd My Hope is in the Lord. After which he spent most of his time before Execution in Prayer and Meditation and conferring with many good Persons The Morning being come he prepared himself and all the way drawing to Execution was very devout Being come to the Place there was a Minister I think of that Place who sung a Psalm and prayed with them and would have some Discourse with this Person which he avoided as much as possible but he asked him what were his Grounds for joyning in that Rebellion who answered Had you Sir been there and a Protestant I believe you would have joyned too But do not speak to me about that I am come to die for my Sins not for my Treason against the King as you call it So pointing to the Wood that was to burn his Bowels he said I do not care for that what matters it what becomes of my Body so my Soul be at rest So praying to himself near half an Hour and advising some he knew never to yield to Popery he was turned off the Ladder He was a couragious bold spirited Man and one of great Reason just and punctual in all his Business and one that did much Good amongst his Neighbours 18. Mr. LANCASTER THere was at the same Time and Place one Mr. Lancaster executed whose Courage and Deportment was such that he out-braved Death and in a manner challenged it to hurt him saying I die for a good Cause and am going to a gracious God I desire all your Christian Prayers 'T is good to go to Heaven with Company And much more he spake concerning the Duke of Monmouth whom he supposed at that time to be living And so praying privately for some small time he was turned or rather leaped off the Ladder 19. The Last Speech of Mr. BENJAMIN SANDFORD at the Place of Execution HE with Nine more was brought from Dorchester to Bridport to be Executed Coming to the Place of Execution he held up his Hands to Heaven and turning himself to the People said I Am an Old Man you see and I little thought to have ended my Days at such a shameful Place and by such an ignominious Death and indeed it is dreadful to Flesh and Blood as well as a Reproach to Relations but it would have been a great deal more if I had suffered for some Felonious Account Says one to him Is not this worse do you think than Felony He answered I know not any thing that I have done so bad as Felony that this heavy Judgment should fall upon me except it be for my Sins against my God whom I have highly provok'd and must acknowledge have deserved Ten thousand times more Lord I trust thou hast pardoned them Seal my Pardon in the Blood of my Saviour Lord look upon and be with me to the last moment 20. JOHN BENNET THere was also Executed at the same time one John Bennet a poor Man but Pious and of good Report with his Neighbours in Lyme where he lived I have heard that when he was on Trial a certain Person inform'd his Lordship that the Prisoner then at the Bar had Alms of the Parish And that his Lordship should reply Do not trouble your selves I will ease the Parish of that trouble In Prison and at the Place of Execution he behaved himself so to all that many of his Enemies pitied him and would if it had lain in their Power as they said have saved him Here was a glorious Instance of Filial Affection His Son being then present offered to have died for him and was going up the Ladder if it might have been suffer'd He prayed some short time and so was translated as we have Hopes to think from this troublesome World into Celestial Joy and everlasting Happiness To conclude The Solemn Serious Dying Declarations and Christian Courage of the Western Sufferers have always outweighed with me the Evidence of those flagitious Witnesses who swore these Persons out of their Lives And I did and do most stedfastly believe that the only Plot in that Day was the same which the Almighty has at length owned and most signally prospered in the Hand of our Gracious August and Rightful Sovereign King William I mean the rescuing the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of England from a most impetuous Torrent of Popery and Tyranny wherewith they were most dangerously threatned Thus far the Author of the Bloody Assizes from whom I have extracted all the Memoirs relating to the Deaths and Sufferings of English Protestants from the Year 1678. to this Time While we are thus talking of Death and Dying I can't forbear naming the Ghostly Last Will and Testament of M. Armand It contains the real Inclinations of his Soul in all the Accidents of his Life That he was bigotted to the Roman Catholick Religion is plain by this Ghostly Will wherein he allows no Salvation out of it This Will being long I shall not insert it here but referr you to the Present State of Europe for December 1695. where you will find it recited at large Since the Publication of M. Arnaud's Ghostly Will there is come to light his Temporal Will wherein that which is most Remarkable is his persisting to acknowledge himself a Son of the Catholick Church and his bequeathing his Heart to the
of the Provincial Presidents have written heretofore unto Our Father of Famous Memory whom he answered in Writing again That they were not to be longer molested unless they had practised Treason against the Roman Empire And many have given Notice unto Us of the same Matter whom We answered as Our Father did before Us. If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other Mens Affairs We Command that the accused be absolute and free though he be found such a one I mean faulty and that the Accuser be grievously punished This Edict was proclaimed at Ephesus in the hearing of the great Assembly of Asia Euseb l. 4. c. 13. 6. Dr. Heylin in his Cosmography tells us That some of the Natives of America would say to some of the English at their first going over to those Foreign Plantations That King James was a good King and his God a good God but their Tauto naught 7. In the City of Aleppo a handsome French Slave a Young Man of Eighteen Years Old being tempted to Sodomy by his Master's Steward and upon his denial being threatned with immediate Death if he disputed any longer The vertuous Slave finding himself destitute of all other Remedies nimbly seized upon a Scymetar which hung upon the Wall of the Chamber and at one blow with it smote off the Turk's Head To escape Death for this Fact which was the lightest Punishment he could expect he takes an Arabian Horse out of his Master 's Stable with a design to make for Scandaroon to the English Factory there But unhappily meeting his Master upon the way he was stop'd brought back again and upon discovery of the Murther brought before the Basha by whom upon the Importunity of the Turks he was condemned to be beheaded The Slave then as brought to the Place of Execution which is a Field without the City where being come he appeared though very modest yet undaunted and fearless of Death And having prayed with much Fervour and Devotion and having particularly acknowledged his Fault and begged Almighty God's Pardon for telling his Master that his House was robbed when he met him upon the Road he was strip'd stark naked according to the Custom of that Place and discovered a lovely Body in which inhabited a more lovely Soul And immediately before his Death he did aver that he died a Christian depending wholly for his Salvation upon the Merits of our Saviour and that he killed the Steward for no other reason but to avoid being polluted by him and that he hoped God would shew some sign upon his Body to attest his Innocency and the Truth of what he said After having said this his Head was struck off from his Body and both left unburied according to Custom Many rebellious Turks were executed at the same time in the same place whose Bodies were quickly torn in pieces and devoured by a certain sort of great Dogs kept at Aleppo who were allowed no other Sustenance almost but the Carcasses of Malefactors But it was observed that none of those Dogs would touch the Body or Head of this Martyr of Chastity And which is more strange yet though this Young Man's Body lay in the Field unburied Ten or Twelve days and no other Execution in all that time and the Dogs so extreamly pinched with Hunger that they were ready to devour living Men yet they would not touch this Body And which is more Remarkable yet though it lay exposed all this time to the heat of the Sun in that very intemperate Climate yet did it not stink corrupt or change colour And this Circumstance moreover is affirmed as Remarkable that after Ten days there being another Execution in the same Place that Carcass was immediately devoured in the sight of the People But the Turks to bury their own shame were necessitated at last to dig a Grave and entomb this chaste Martyr See the Narrative Printed with License at London Anno Christi 1676. 8. The Testimony of Cublay the Emperor of the Tartars concerning Christ upon occasion of a Victory obtained by him over the Great Province of Mangi A. C. 1286. THis Day I cannot deny but that the Victory which I have obtained over mine Enemies is by especial Grace from my great God the Sun Moon and Stars abiding in this Glorious Vault of Heaven To whom I purpose to render Thanks to Morrow even in this open Field to which purpose I give Order that the Places be avoided of Humane Bodies here slain as also of the dead Beasts and decent Altars purposely erected As for the Prisoners being most part of them Christians whom I behold despoiled of their Arms shouted at mocked despised and jested at by the Jews Mahometists and others upbraiding them with their God Jesus Christ who was sometime fastened to a Cross by the said Jews for not aiding and helping them to the Victory as wanting such Power because so many of their Ensigns are here prostrated at my feet From this present hour forward I forbid all manner of Persons of what Quality or Religion soever they be to use any more such Derisions of themm on pain to be deprived of their Arms and well whipped with Rods at two several times yea on the very greatest pain beside that can be imagined And so much the rather because their God Jesus Christ is esteemed of Us to be one of the very greatest Coelestial Deities full of all Right Equity and Justice For he knowing these Christians to make War against Us unjustly being Our Subjects that never gave them occasion but revolted of themselves and adhered with Our Enemies therefore hath he permitted that I should win the Day albeit I have heard him to be called the God of Battels Over and besides this I Pardon all them that have followed my unkind Nephews Naiam and Caydve as being meerly deceived by them in making them believe they were levied for my Service and therefore I receive them again into my Protection Giving further to understand that all such as have any Prisoners they are not to offer the least harm whatsoever but immediately to set them at Liberty delivering them their Arms and all other Equipages to them belonging on pain to pass through the danger of the Army even he the proudest that shall make denial Our Charge imposed on the Christians is to Pray unto their God for Our Prosperity and to do Us Nine Months Service by taking Wages of Us in Our Instant War against the King of Nixamora who denieth to pay Us Our Tribute and strives to equal himself with Our Greatness Treasur of Ancient and Modern Times l. 2. p. 130. 9. The Testimony of Sidan King of Morocco concerning Jesus Christ in a Letter to James the First King of England WHen these Our Letters shall be so happy as to come to Your Majesty's sight I wish the Spirit of the Righteous God may so direct your Mind that you may joyfully embrace the Message I send presenting to you the means
her Death With some Remarkable Passages relating both to her Person and Government I Shall conclude this History of Providence with a Collection of the memorable Speeches and Sayings of our never-enough lamented Sovereign the late Queen MARY and shall here and there add some remarkable Passages relating to her Person and Government as a Noble Testimony to Religion from one whose Parts and Endowments were as high as her Dignity as if Providence would not leave the prophane Age room to say that Religion was only pretended to by the Mean and Ignorant but convince them by the Vertuous Life and Dying Breath of a Princess every way so Glorious and Great So extraordinary strict says Bishop Fowler in his Preface relating to the Queen was Her Majesty's Life even from her Youth that for the Seventeen Years of her Married State the King as he hath professed could never see any thing in her which he could call a Fault and no Man continues this Learned Author can keep a stricter Guard upon his Words than His Majesty is always observed to do Then certainly a Collection of the Memorable Speeches of such a Princess must needs be very useful and so much the more so as there are several remarkable Sayings of this Royal Person scattered in so many Books which its hardly possible for any private Person to have all of them by him and therefore a View of them all at once in a Collection from the best Authors that have writ upon this Subject may perhaps be very acceptable to the serious Reader 1. That we may begin from her Cradle The most August Queen MARY II. was born in the Sixty second Year of this Age upon the Tenth of May James then Duke of York and the Lord Chancellor's Daughter being her Parents Many and conspicuous were the Prognosticks of a true and far from counterfeited Piety that glitter'd in her and shin'd forth in the early Dawn of her Infancy For when in her tender Years she had lost an excellent Mother and under the Tuition of Persons less concern'd was deliciously bred up in a Court full of all manner of Pleasure and Voluptuousness such was always her Constancy such her Temperance and Modesty that no Example of others no Allurement of Vice no Contagion of Neighbouring-Courts could force her to go astray from the right Path. She was instructed in the Fundamentals of the true Reform'd Religion by the Bishop of London which he so happily laid and she so cordially imbib'd that she could never be shaken by any treacherous Insinuations any Promises or Threats any Punishments or Rewards choosing rather to die than never so little to recede from the Truth wherein she had been grounded After she had spent the rest of her Childhood in those Studies by which generous and illustrious Souls are rais'd to the Expectations of great Fortune and had abundantly furnish'd herself as well with Christian as with Royal Vertues in the Fifteenth Year of her Age she was auspiciously Married to William the Third of that Name Prince of Orange William marries Mary a Kinsman a Kinswoman and thus by a double Tye and a firmer Knot than hitherto the most Noble Families of all Europe are joyn'd together She for her Ancestors claims the Family of the Stuarts He the Nassavian Race She the Monarchs of Great Britain He the Governours of Germany and the Caesars themselves The Nuptial Solemnities being over the Royal Bride cross'd over out of England into these Parts together with her Husband and chose for her Seat and Residence the Hague the most pleasant and delightful place not only of Holland but almost of all Europe Where belov'd of all Men and fix'd in the Good-will of all the People propensly devoted to her for the space of some Years she so charmingly and affectionately liv'd with her Husband the best of Men and no less cordially affectionate to her not only without the least Contention or Quarrel but without the least suspicion of Lukewarmness that she might well be said to be a conspicuous Example of Conjugal Affection not only to Kings and Princes and Men in high Degree but also to private Persons After some Interval of Time when they who bare ill will to our Princes and us to Liberty and Religion and more especially to this Republick stirr'd up new Troubles in England and the Nobility of the Kingdom call'd to their Aid our Prince While he strove one way and the Winds drove another at length wafted over with favourable Gales and Wishes safely arriv'd in England and without Resistance but rather with the general Applause of the Nation and as it were born upon the Shoulders of the People came to the Royal City When afterwards he invited his dearest Consort then the Companion of his Bed now of his Kingdom to partake of the Honour offer'd him and the Dignity soon after to be conferr'd upon him and the equal share of his Fortune in the Eighty ninth Year of this Age luckily and auspiciously both Husband and Wife were declar'd King and Queen with equal Power and Authority by the common Vote and Suffrage and unanimous Consent of both Houses In the Morning she rose with the Sun and worship'd the Lord of Heaven and Earth But when she was sometimes forc'd to rise at Midnight by reason of the urgent Affairs of the State and could not afterwards sleep she commanded either the Holy Scripture or some other pious Book to be brought her If any Persons came to visit her in a Morning before she had pour'd forth her Prayers she sent them back with this Expression That she was first to serve the King of Kings If any persons were said to seek her life by Treachery and Conspiracy her Answer was That she submitted to the Will of Heaven Francius 's Oration upon the Death of the Queen 2. Such was the Sanctity of Mary's Life that King William after her Decease calling to mind her Piety towards God the Integrity of her Life and her Extraordinary Knowledge of Sacred Things brake forth into this expression That if he could believe that ever any mortal Man could be born without the contamination of Sin he would believe it of the Queen And she preserv'd herself so chast and spotless that while she resided upon Earth she liv'd the Life of the Saints even in the Hurry of the Court where there are so many Incitements to evil Grevius 's Oration on the Death of the Queen 3. We had very admirable Accounts of the late Queen from her Court at the Hague during her Abode there from most unquestionable Testimonies which made us envy our Neighbours Happiness in such a Princess who knew their Happiness as 't was impossible they should not and had an extraordinary Value and Veneration for her And since her Return to her Native Country and her Advancement to the Throne here we never knew a more eminent Exception than she was to that common Observation Minuit praesentia Famam The Fame
Man living from those Opinions concerning Religion wherewith she was so throughly seasoned Nor would he be the occasion that any one should attempt to Discourse her any more upon that occasion unless he intended to lose his Labour And this was what he also wrote to K. James In this Conference with the English Agent the most prudent Princess added thus much farther That she could not sufficiently admire nor indeed imagine how it should come to pass that any Man not void of Reason or Sence or that had a right Judgment of God and Divine Matters or had comprehended in his Mind the true manner of Worshipping him could prove a Deserter and run from our Religion to the Ceremonies of Rome When the Agent replied That her Father the King of Great Britain was a living Example of a better Approbation of the Romish Worship She made answer That there was nothing griev'd her more and the only thing she wonder'd at by whose Seduction upon what Occasion by what Arguments he could be induced to betray the Bulwark of purest Truth and having left that upon what Supporters the Security and Tranquility of his Mind could rely These things the most wise and prudent Mary Not long after when there was no question but the King James had been certified of all these things by his Agent 's Letters the Father sends a long and weighty Epistle to his Daughter wherein he set forth at large the Occasion the Reasons and Methods he had followed in abandoning our Worship and embracing the Opinions of Rome This Letter from King James was delivered to Mary upon Tuesday in the Evening the Messengers who brought it being to return into England the next Day Wherefore when she had read it over and over again with extraordinary attention and studiously considered every thing she set herself to return an Answer wherein she spent the greatest part of the Night and thô frequently put in mind that it was time to go to Bed and that it behov'd her to take care of her Health which would be much disorder'd by watching the most prudent Queen made answer That the Duty of Answering the King's Letters was to be preferr'd before Sleep lest she should be straitned in time the next Day and thereby be hindred from performing what she ow'd to her Father That therefore she made the more haste lest if the Messenger should slip away without her Answer it might be suspected that she had made use of help and got some Divine to write her Letters for her which if her Father should believe they would want that weight and effect which by the Favour of God she promised herself from dispatching 'em with all speed she could The King 's chief Argument was taken from the Antiquity and the long and immovable Endurance of the Roman Church establish'd and founded upon the Promises of Christ Thou art Peter c. To which were added other Places Arguments and Testimonies heaped together to corroborate that Opinion All which the most ingenious Princess answered and refuted in so short a time and with so much Politeness and Judgment that an eminent Divine and some few other Persons conspicuous for their Quality and Integrity who afterwards were permitted to see a Copy of that Epistle ravish'd into admiration asserted that they could never have perswaded themselves that such a Letter so full of grave and efficacious Arguments could have been written by any Man much less by a Woman unless by one who had devoted his whole Life to the Study of the Scriptures and true Divinity Grevius 's Oration on the Queen at Utrecht 57. Such was also the Sanctity of Mary's Life that King William after her Decease calling to mind her Piety toward God the Integrity of her Life and here extraordinary Knowledge of Sacred Things brake forth into this Expression That if he could believe that ever any mortal Man could be born without the Contamination of Sin he would believe it of the Queen And she preserv'd herself so chast and spotless that while she resided upon Earth she liv'd the Life of the Saints even in the hurry of the Court Ibid. 58. When the News was sent from England That Mary the Eldest Daughter of King James was by Decree of Parliament to be the next Day proclaim'd Queen of England the Messenger was to pass through the Hague and to impart the News in the Resident's Name to a Person of high Authority and no less high both in William and Mary's Esteem He immiedately hastens to the Court and informs Mary of this Vote of the House and congratulates her Advancement to the Royal Dignity She according to her wonted Good Nature mildly indeed but with a less familiar Countenance and a more contracted Brow made answer That she neither hop'd those Things to be true which he related neither did she believe that William would accept the Kingdom as a Substitute to Female Authority or as one that was to be beholden to a Woman for a Crown Ibid. 59. When it was admir'd that Mary should be so implacable to deny her Pardon to one that had done nothing against her nor had injur'd her either in Word or Deed when William justly offended had pardon'd the Delinquent she order'd this Answer to be made That had the Crime been committed against her she would not have been either severe or inexorable but that she could not forget an Attempt against her Husband nor grant her Pardon so easily to him who had so highly offended William Who can sufficiently extol this Conjugal Fidelity this unusual Affection of a Queen toward a Husband For my part I am not able to admire it as I ought to do Nor was the Queen belov'd with less Affection by the King that the King was belov'd by her there was no need of falling out to renew their Love but such was the harmonious Agreement of their Minds and Counsels from the first Day of their auspicious Marriage that their Wills were still the same whatever pleas'd whatever dislik'd the one always dislik'd still pleas'd the other such an Agreement of Opinion in all Things both private and publick that thô in Persons divided by long Intervals of distant Leagues yet by an unaccountable Sympathy they were always of one Mind in all Affairs most difficult and of dubious Event which would have puzled the most acute and experienc'd Politicians So that they might be said to be born under one Constellation or rather that one Soul resided in two Bodies And that you may not think I speak a Fiction behold an Example of a real Harmony of Minds almost beyond belief When the King sent word That Forty of the Men of Wwar with the Admiral should steer away toward the Coast of France with the Design That if they found an Opportunity they should burn all the Enemies Transport-Ships Before the Yachts and the Messenger who was sent with the King 's Expresses arriv'd in England the Queen's Letters were brought
nutriment and augmentation is decent and salutary and conducive to action and the proper offices of nature but either a Redundancy or Deficiency are hurtful and obstructive Extraordinary fatness on the one hand devours up or overwhelms the Animal Spirits so that they must move like Travellers in the Wilds of Kent and Sussex Leanness impoverishes Nature and sets her upon a poor Horse that 's hardly able to carry himself 1. Zacutus speaks of a young Man so fat that he could scarce move himself or go or set one step forward but continually sate in a Chair in perpetual fear of being Choaked Zacutus cured him Zacut. prox Adm. l. 3. Obs 108. p. 416. 2. Dionisius Son of Clearchus the Tyrant of Heraclea was by reason of his Fat pressed with difficulty of Breathing and fear of Suffocation He could no feel very long and sharp Needles prick'd into his Sides and Belly upon adivce of his Physicians whilst they passed through the Fat till they touched upon the sensible Flesh Athenaeus l. 12. c. 12. p. 549. 3. Vitus a Matera a Learned Philosopher and Divine was so Fat that he was not able to get up a pair of Stairs He breathed with great difficulty nor could he Sleep lying along without danger of Suffocation Donat. Hist Mirab. l. 5. c. 2. p. 274. 4. I have seen saith the same Author ayoung Englishman carried through all Italy to be seen for Money who was of that monstrous Fatness and Thickness that the Duke of Mantua and Mountferrat commanded him to be Pourtray'd naked to the Life Ibid. 5. Anno 1520. a Nobleman born in Diethmarsia but sometimes living in Stockholme being sent to Prison by the Command of Christiern II. could not be thrust in at the Prison Door by reason of his extream Corpulency but was thrown aside into a Corner near it Zuing. Theat v. 2. l. 2. p. 279. 6. Pope Leo X. was Fat to a Proverb Ibid. 7. Polyeusus Sphettius an Athenian mentioned by Plutarch in Photion Ptolomeus Energes Magan who reigned 50 years in Cirene c. are taken notice of by Authors for their Extraordinary Corpulency CHAP. XXXI Instances of extraordinary Leanness 1. CYnesias called Philyrinus because he girt himself round within boards of the Wood Philyra least through his exceeding Talness and Slenderness he should break in the Waste Athen l. 12. c. 13. p. 551. 2. Panaretus was exceeding lean and thin notwithstanding which he passed his whole Life in a most entire and perfect Health Ibid. p. 562. 3. Philetas of Coos was an Excellent Critick and Poet in the time of Alexander the Great but withal he had a body of that exceeding leaness and lightness that he commonly wore Shoes of Lead and carried Lead about him least at sometime or other he should be blown away by the Wind. Ibid. p. 552. CHAP. XXXII Persons Long-liv'd 'T IS reported of Paracelsus that he would undertake if he had the Nurture of a Well-humour'd and Complexien'd Infant from his Nativity to put him in a way of living Everlastingly but that was a brag fit only for such a bold Thrasonical Smatterer in Chymistry and Magick as he was no doubt but Old Age and Death might be retarded and kept off much longer then they are in the Cases of some Persons where Nature hath given a due Contexture a fit Complexion of Humours with the Observation of a suitable Diet and where Divine Providence doth not resist 1. There is a Memorial entred upon the Wall of the Cathedral of Peterborough for one who being Sexton thereof Interred two Queen's therein Katherine Dowager and Mary of Scotland more then 50 years interceeding betwixt their several Sepultures this Vivacious Sexton also buried two Generations or the People on that place twice over Fullers Worthies p. 293. Northamp 2. Richard Chamond Esq served in the Office of Justice of Peace almost 60 years he saw above 50 several Judges of the Western Circuit was Unkle and great Unkle to 300 at the least and saw his youngest Child above 40 years of Age. Fullers Worth p. 211. Cornwal Carew's Survey of Cornwal p. 18. 3. In Herefordshire saith my Lord St. Albans there was a Morrice Dance of 8 Men whose years put together made up 800 that which was wanting in one superabounded in others Verulam Hist Life and Death p. 135. 4. William Paulet Marques of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England 20 years together who died in the 10th year of Queen Elizabeth was born in the last years of Henry VI. He lived in all 106 years and three Quarters and odd days during the Reign of 9 Kings and Queens of England He saw the Children of his Childrens Children to the number of 103 and died 1572. Bakers Chron. p. 502. fullers Worth Hantshire p. 8. 5. One Polezew saith Mr. Carew of Cornwal reached to 130 years one Beauchamp to 106. And in the Parish where himself dwelt he professed to have remembred the Decease of 4 within 14 Weeks space whose years added together made up the Sum of 340 the same Gentleman made this Epitaph upon one Brawne an Irishman but Cornish Beggar Here Brawne the Quondam Beggar lies who counted by his Tale Some Sixscore Winters and above Such Vertue is in Ale Ale was his Meat his Drink his Cloth Ale did his Death reprieve And could he still have drank his Ale he had been still Alive 6. Democritus of Abdera a most Studious and Learned Philosopher who sent all his Life in the Contemplation and Investigation of things who lived in great Solitude and Poverty yet did arrive to 109 years Fulgos. l. 8. c. 14. p. 1095. 7. Simeon the Son of Cleophas called the Brother of our Lord and Bishop of Jerusalem lived 120 years though he was cut short by Martyrdom 8. Aquila and Priscilla first St. Paul's Hosts and afterwards his fellow Labourers lived together in Wedlock at least 100 years a piece Verulam p. 116. 9. Johannes Summer Matterus saith Platerus my great Grand-father by the Mother's side of an ancient Family after the Hundredth year of his Age Marryed a Wife of 30 years by whom he had a Son at whose sedding which was 20 years after the Old man was present and liv'd 6 years after that so that he compleated 126 years Plateri Obs. l. 1. p. 233. 10. Galen the great Physician who flourished about the Reign of Antoninus the Emperour is said to have lived 140 years from the time of his 28th year he was never seized with any Sickness save only a Feaver for one day only Fulgos. l. 8. c. 14. p. 1096. 11. James Sands near Brimingham in Seaffordshire lived 140 years and his Wife 120. He out-liv'd 5 Leases of 21 years a piece made unto him after he was Married Fullers Engl. Worth p. 47. 12. Sir Walter Rawleigh knew the Old Countess of Desmond who liv'd in the year 1589 and many years since who was Marryed in Edward IV's time and held her Joynture from all the Earls of Desmond since them The
cited for what is more strange That in an Earthquake an hundred Cities in Lybia were destroyed tit Livius Hist Josephus records that about 29 Years after the Birth of Christ there happened a tremendous Earthquake in the Country of Judea whereby divers Beasts were slain many People overwhelmed in the Ruins of their Houses and perished to the number of about 30000. 2. To relate those Earthquakes that have happened since our Saviour's Birth as I find them mentioned by several Authors of which that which happened at his Crucifixion is said to be the greatest that ever was which shook not only one part of the Earth as in other Cases but the whole World trembled at once if famous Authors may be credited In the tenth Year of Christ was a great Earthquake in Cyprus which overthrew many Cities and in the 17th Year thirteen Cities in Italy were destroyed and the River Tyber overflowed Rome In the Year 59 was a great Earthquake in Rome at which time Nero's Supper was burned with Lightning 3. In the Reign of Trajan the Emperour Anno 105 there happened a most terrible Earthquake at Antioch which destroyed many Cities and People and extended it self very far with fearful Lightnings which made the Night as light as Day preceded with dreadful Thunderbolts that threw down stately Buildings killed many People strong and unusual Storms of Wind the Sea wrought the Waves swelled the Earth shaken Trees pluck'd up by the Roots multitudes buried in the Ruins of their own Houses In Anno 107 a very great Earthquake happened in Asia with many prodigious Sights in the Air as fighting of Men c. Another in Galatia and Rome where Lightning from Heaven consumed the Temple of their Gods with strong Winds and horrible Noises in the Earth In Anno 120 an Earthquake in Nice and two terrible Ones in Palestina In Anno 162 was a very great Earthquake in Bithynia the Waves of the Mediterranean Sea in a Calm elevated themselves to the top of a Mountain far distant from it and cast the Foam a great way upon the main Land 4. In Anno 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was so horrid an Earthquake that certain Cities together were swallowed up and exceeding great Darkness happened for many Days together In the Year 300 there were great Earthquakes by one whereof 13 Cities in Campania were overthrown and another in Asia Many Cities in the East fell to the Ground by an Earthquake and Neo Caesarea was overturned and all its Inhabitants perished except only such as were saved with the Bishop in the Church Dyracchium was demolished by an Earthquake Rome trembled for three Days and three Nights successively And indeed it was to General that all Europe and Asia were shaken at once 5. In the Year 366 in the Reign of Julian the Emperour who was first a Christian and after revolted to Paganism for which he was hamed the Apostate in despight and contempt of our blessed Saviour who had prophesied the Temple of Jerusalem should be destroyed and never rebuilt he impiously resolved to invalidate the same and designed to build it magnificently with excessive Cost and Charges when they had digged up the Remainders of the old Buildings from the lowest Foundation and had cleared the Ground so that there was not a Stone left upon a Stone according to our Blessed Saviour's Prediction The next Day coming to the Place there was a great Earthquake insomuch that the Stones were cast out of the Foundation so that many of the Workmen were slain The publick Buildings which were nearest the Temple were likewise loosen'd and falling down with great Violence buried those who were in them in their Rains some who attempted to fly away were found half dead The Earthquake was scarce over but those who remained fell to work again but when they attempted it the second time sudden Flashes of Fire came violently out of the Foundations and other Fire fell furiously from Heaven and destroyed more than before the Flame continuing a whole Day together 6. In the Year 367 in the Reign of Valens and Valentinian Emperours of Rome there happened such horrible Earthquakes throughout the Western Empire A little after the Day-dawning there was a great Tempest of Thunder and Lightning which was followed by such a dreadful trembling of the Earth that the Sea was shaken therewith and deserted the Shore and its ancient Bounds for a great space many Ships were left on dry Ground and swarms of People flew thither to catch Fish when suddenly the Sea as disdaining to be imprisoned returned to its former Station with such Impetuosity that it over-ran its former Bounds and with the Fury thereof overthrew a multitude of Towns and Houses with many Thousands of People 7. In the Year 430 a great Earthquake reged in divers places and overturned many Cities some Authors affirm it was so terrible as to affect almost the whole World the Earth gaped and swallowed up many Villages Fountains were dried up and Waters brake forth in places formerly dry Great Trees were torn up by the Roots heaps of Trees were so shaken together that they were raised into Mountains The Sea threw up dead Fishes many Islands sunk and overwhelmed Ships sailing on the Sea were suddenly left on the dry Ground In short many places in Bythinia the Hellespont and both the Phrygia's were distressed thereby This continued six Months without intermission and the People of Constantinople not daring to stay in the City for fear of the fall of their Houses continued together with their good Emperour and their Patriarch in the Fields instant in Prayers to the Almighty for the Removel of so dreadful a Judgment 8. In the Year 454 a great Earthquake at Rome another at Vienna Wolves and other Beasts wander all the Year through the City and devour Men. An Earthquake in Russia and at Constantinople with two wonderful Blazing-Stars In the Year 458 a great Earthquake happened at Antioch which the Citizens had cause to remember Before it began some of the Inhabitants were seized with extraordinary Madness such as seemed to exceed the Fury of Wild Beasts and to be the Presage of that Calamity which followed soon after For about the fourth Hour of the Night in September almost all the Buildings of the new City were overturned which was well People and none of it forsaken or empty being curiously built by the Magnificence of divers Emperours who strove to Excel each other in the Adornment of it 9. In the First Century was a terrible Earthquake in Arabia another in Palestina and a third at Constantinople six Weeks together 10. In the sixth seventh and eighth Centuries an Earthquake at Antioch another at Palestina another in England and Normandy and divers dreadful Prodigies About the same time there was a violent Earthquake in Constantinople which lasted many Days and every Hour the City suffered extraordinary Shocks Many Houses were thrown down but the People betook themselves to Prayer
Fasting and Repentance and the Almighty had Compassion on them Many Cities in the East were ruined by it and the City of Alexandria was sore shaken therewith which was the more Astonishing because it seldom happens in those Parts Some Years after Constantinople was shaken so violently that not only the Walls and Churches but all Greece trembled therewith In the Year 801 whilst Charles the Great was in Italy there was an Earthquake with great Noises which shook all France and Germany but especially Italy It overthrew several Towers and Mountains and the Church of St. Paul at Rome was destroyed by it 11. In the ninth tenth and eleventh Centuries an Earthquake happened in Scotland another in France a very great one in Asia several terrible ones with Whirlwinds in Germany also a great Earthquake in England where five Suns appeared at once and after four Moons at once In the Reign of King William the Conquerour Anno 1086 happened an Earthquake with a dreadful Noise In Anno 1100 in the Reign of King Henry the First the Earth moved with such Violence in England that many Building were shaken down in divers places an hideous Noise was heard and the Earth through several Rifts cast forth Fire for many Days together which neither by Water nor by any other Means could be suppress'd In Lumbardy in Ita◠about the same time was an Earthquake which lasted about six Weeks and removed a Town from the place where it stood a great distance In the Year 1179 on Christmas-Day at Oxenhall near Darlington in the County of Durham the Earth was lifted up almost like a Tower and so continued all that Day as it were immoveable till Evening and then fell with so horrible a Noise that it affrighted the Inhabitants thereabouts and the Earth swallowing it up made in the same place three Pits of a wonderful depth which were afterwards called Hell-Kettles 12. In the Year 1180 an Earthquake ruined a great part of the City of Naples The City of Catania in Sicily is destroyed with 19000 People by an Earthquake The K. of Iconium is swallowed up by an Earthquake and in England many Buildings were thrown down by the same means amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces 13. In the Year 1222 there were such Earthquakes in Italy and Lumbardy that the Cities and Towns were forsaken and the People kept abroad in the Fields in Tents many Houses and Churches were thrown down much People thereby crushed to Death the Earth trembled twice a Day in Lumbardy for 14 Days together besides two Cities in Cyprus and the City of Brescia were this Year destroyed by Earthquakes In the Year 1176 about the same time that Adrian the Fourth was made Pope was a dreadful Earthquake at Millain and the Country round about In Italy there was likewise a great Earthquake and another in England and a third in Germany 14. In the Year 1300 there was such an Earthquake in Rome as never was before and 48 Earthquakes happening in one Year whereby all Lumbardy was shaken A great Earthquake in London which shook down many Buildings Anothe Earthquake did much mischief about Bath and Bristol and two more happened in England not long after In the Year 1348 a terrible Earthquake happened at Constantinople which endured six Weeks and reached as far as Hungary and Italy 26 Cities were overthrown by it 15. In the Year 1456 there arose upon the Sea of Ancona in Italy together with a thick gloomy Cloud that extended above two Miles a Tempest of Wind Water Fire Lightning and Thunder which piercing to the most deep Abysses of the Seas forced by the Waves with a most dreadful Fury and carried all before it upon the Land which caused so horrible an Earthquake some time after that the Kingdom of Naples was almost ruined and all Italy carried the dismal Marks of it A Million of Houses and Castles were buried in their own Ruins and above 30000 People crushed to pieces and a huge Mountain overturned into the Lake De la Garde Soon after was a dreadful Earthquake in Millan another in Hungary 16. In Sept. 14. 1509 there happened a terrible Earthquake at Constantinople and in the County thereabouts Bajazet the second being Emperour by the Violence whereof a great part of that Imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were overthrown and 13000 People overwhelm'd and slain the Terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself thô very aged and sore troubled with the Gout lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. The Earthquake continued as the Turks relate for a Month with little intermission In the year 1531 in the City of Lisbon in Portugal about 1400 Houses were overthrown by an Earthquake and 600 more so sorely shaken that they were ready to fall and many Churches cast to the Ground 17. In 1538. Mr. George Sandy's gives a Relation of a Remarkable Earthquake and Burning which happened near the City of Puteoli with the New formed Mountain for September 29 1538. the Country thereabouts having for several days before been Tormented with perpetual Earthquakes that no one House was left intire but all expected an immediate ruine after the Sea had retired 200 paces from the Shoar leaving abundance of Fish and Springs of fresh Water arising in the bottom this Mountain visible ascended about the second Hour of the Night with an hideous roaring Noise horribly vomitting Stones and such store of Cinders as overwhelm'd all the Buildings thereabouts 18. In 1571 February 17 a Prodigious Earthquake happened in the Eastern parts of Herefordshire near a little Town called Kinaston about 6 in the Evening the Earth began to open and a Hill called Marckly Hill with a Rock under it made a mighty bellowing Noise heard a-far off and then lifted up it self a great height and began to Travel bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it the Sheep-folds and Flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the same time having thus walked from Sunday Evening to Monday Noon it left a gaping distance 40 Foot wide and 80 Ells long the whole Field about 20 Acres the same Prodigy happened about the same time in Blackmore in that County A great Earthquake at Constantinople an Earthquake and Inundation in Holland very great Thunder and Earthquake in Spain an Earthquake and Bowls of Fire in Corinthia the Sun seem'd to cleave in sunder 19. In 1580 April 6 being Easter-Wednesday about 6 in the Afternoon happened a great Earthquake in England which shook all the Houses Castles and Churches every where as it went and put them in danger of utter Ruin at York it made the Bells in the Churches jangle In 1581 in Peru in America there happened an Earthquake which removed the City of Augnangum two Leagues from the place where it stood without demolishing it in regard the Scituation of the whole Country was changed
another Earthquake in the same Country that reached 300 Leagues along the Sea-shore and 70 Leagues in Land and Levelled the Mountains along as it went threw down Cities turn'd the Rivers out of their Channels and made an universal Havock and Confusion all this was done saith the Author in the space of seven or eight Minutes sometime before this above 40000 People perished in an Earthquake about Puel and Naples 20. In 1590 happened a terrible Earthquake which made Austris Bohemia and Moravia to Tremble in 1591. In St. Michael Island in the West-Indies there was an Earthquake which continued about 16 days to the extream Terror of the French which inhabit there especially when by force thereof they perceiv'd the Earth to move from place to place and Villa Franca their Principal Town overthrown the Ships that then rode at Anchor trembled and quaked insomuch that the People thought the day of Judgment was come In 1593 another terrible Earthquake happened in Persia which overturn'd 3000 Houses in the City of Lair crushing to Death above 3000 Persons in their Ruins In 1614 there was a great Earthquake in Vercer one of the largest of the Azor's Islands belonging to the King of Portugal overturning the City of Agra 11 Churches 9 Chappels besides many private Houses and in the City of Praga hardly an House was left standing not long after a dreadful Earthquake happened in St. Michael another Island of the Azores the Sea opened and thrust forth an Island above a League and a half in length at the place where there was above 150 Fathom Water 21. In 1622 was a great Earthquake in Italy the shape of an Elephant was seen in the Air and three Suns Armies Fighting Monstrous Births Waters turned into Blood unusual and impetuous Tempests which overthrew several Towers 22. In 1627 an Earthquake happened in England and a great Fiery Beam was seen in the Air in France Six Suns in Cornwall at once and five Moons in Normandy In the same year July 31 happened an Earthquake in Apulia in Italy whereby in the City of Severine 10000 Souls were taken out of the World and in the Horrour of such infinite Ruins and Sepulchre of so many Mortals a great Bell thrown out of the Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a Child that it inclos'd him doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger 23. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many terrible Bellowings Vomitted out burning streams of Fire which tumbled into the Adriatic Sea and cast out huge deal of Ashes the like happened the year following with great Damage and Loss to the Neighbouring places in Houses People and Cattle and in Apulia 17000 Persons were destroyed by the same 24. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in the Island of St. Michael one of the Terceres in the Atlantick Ocean Westward upon June the 26th this Island began universally to shake which continued eight days so that the People leaving the cities Towns and Castles were forc'd to live in the open Fields which was attended with a dreadful breaking out of Fire that had not the Wind by Divine Providence blown from the Isle into the Sea and drove back this outragious Fire without doubt the whole Country had been burnt up and destroy'd 25. In 1560 about five a Clock about the County of Cumberland and Westmorland was a general Earthquake wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses so shaken that their Chimneys fell down The same year the Island of Santorim at the bottom of the Streights in the Mediterranean Sea not far from Candia had formidable Earthquakes and Fires it was most remarkable upon September 24 1650 which shook the Isle till the 9th of October with such mighty and frequent Earthquakes that the People fearing their immediate Ruin was approaching were on their Knees Night and Day before the Altars it cannot be expressed what Horrour seized all Men especially when the Flames breaking through all Obstacles strove to make themselves away through the midst of the Waters of the Ocean about four Mites Eastward from Santorin for the Sea all on a suddain swelled thirty Cubits upward and extending it self wide through the Neighbouring Lands overturn'd all in its way 26. In 1657 the Spaniards felt a terrible blow in Peru which if it were not a Mark of the Wrath of Heaven saith the Author was at least a Sign that the Earth is weary of them especially in those Parts where they have stain'd it with so much Innocent Blood The City of Lima was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Calao another City not far from it was consumed by a Shower of Fire out of the Clouds 11000 Spaniards lost their Lives in this Calamity and the Earth devoured an 100 Millions of refin'd Silver which the Lucre of the Spaniards had forc'd out of her Bowels 27. In 1660 an Earthquake happened at Paris in France and at the same time we had News that part of the Pyrenean Mountains had been overthrown some days before they are certain Mountains that divide France and Spain it did great Mischief there overwhelm'd some Medicinal Baths many Houses and destroying much People one Church which sunk into the Caverns below was thrown up again and stands very firm but in another place this was look'd upon as a great Miracle especially by the French who have disputed with the Spaniard about a Church standing upon the Frontier-Line but now is removed near half a League within the acknowledged Limits of France 28. In 1665 there was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder Lightning and an Earthquake in divers places in England at which time the stately Spire of Trinity Church in Coventry fell down and demolished a great part of the Church 29. In 1668 in Autumn a great part of Asia and some parts of Europe were infested with extraordinnry Earthquakes the Cities of Constantinople and Adrianople felt its effects but not with that Violence and continuance as in other places In some parts of Persia it continued for above fourscore days Torqueto and Bolio two considerable Cities were by its great Violence laid even to the Ground and all or most of their Inhabitants buryed in the Ruins above 6000 Persons Perished in the first of them and above 1800 in the latter and in all the Adjacent Cities it raged with extraordinary Fury destroying and ruining the Buildings killing many of the People and the rest were forced to quit the Towns and take up their Lodgings in the Fields 30. In 1687 October 20 the London Gazette gives a sad Relation of another Earthquake in the Kingdom of Peru in America whereby the City of Lima was totally overthrown and not an House left standing burying many of its inhabitants under its Ruins at the same time Callao Fenettei Pisco Chancay Los Florillos c. Most of the Sea-port
King Henry the IV. and the fine Gardens of the Tuilleries adjoyning to it Yet as I have been informed it hath been graced with this Distick by an ingenious Poet whom the King rewarded abundantly for his flattering Wit Non Orbis Gentem non Vrbem Gens habet Vnam Vrbsve Domum Dominum nec Domus Vlla Parem 21. Madrid in Spain the King's Seat populous but placed in a barren Soyl upon the River Guadarama concerning which I find little worthy Remark but near to Cucuca about 7 Leagues from madrid is the Escurial or Monastery of S. Lawrence built by Philip II. King of Spain a Building of that magnificence that nothing is comparable to it The Front towards the West is set out with three stately Gates the middlemost whereof leads into a very sumptuous Temple and Monastery where are 150 Monks of the Order of S. Hierome and a College At the four Corners are four Turtets of excellent Workmanship and Majestical Height towards the North is the King's Palace on the South Beautiful Galleries on the East pleasant Gardens c. Heylin 22. London in England is especially remarkable for the Church of S. Paul the Tower the Royal-Exchange the Bridge the Tombs at Westminster and the Monumental Pillar 23. Oxford for Christs-Church-College the Schools and Library together with the Theatre which is spacious and lofty and yet without any Pillar to support it Concerning which I shall add no more because I design Brevity and write to my own Countrymen CHAP. XI Improvements in Mechanicks Agriculture c. 'T IS wonderful to observe what excellent Pieces of Handy-work have been wrought and presented to the World by that one little Member of Man's Body that Piece of Flesh and Blood no bigger than a Palm only branch'd out like a Cinquefoyl into five Parts how useful it hath been to our necessities and to what a degree of Skilfulness and Dexterity 't is arrived of late Years though it must be confessed That the Brain hath had the chief Stroak in its Guidance and Conduct 1. For Boulting of Meal Cardan describes an Invention whereby one Man who turns a Wheel and puts Meal into a Dish and when all places are full gathering up the Flower and Bran that is bolted doth the work of three Men any ordinary Person may do it By which means likewise none of the Meal is lost and the Meal is sifted exactly and all this without fouling the House Moreover the Nature of the Instrument is to make two or three sorts of Flower 2. For Grinding of Corn there have been several kinds of Mills invented as first Water-Mills Secondly Wind-Mills of several sorts used in Italy France England c. which will grind 3000 pounds of Corn in an Hour in some places Horse-Mills are used and of late there hath been Invented an Ingenious Instrument made of Steel or Iron of no great bulk very useful for grinding of Malt and some say of any other Grain but I fear it is not bought to that perfection yet 3. A Gentleman in Shropshire one Mr. Peark had a Water running by his House side which served to turn his Mill to turn his Spit and churn Butter 4. At Mr. Fermors at Tusmore in Oxfordshire is a Mill which with one Horse and Man who is carried round as it were in a Coach-box behind the Horse performs at pleasure these many Offices First it grinds Apples the common way for Cider And secondly Wheat which it sifts at the same time into four different Finesses Thirdly Oats which it cuts from the Husk and winnows from the Chaff making very good Oatmeal and lastly makes Mustard and all these it performs severally or together according as desired Dr. Plot ' Nat. Hist Oxfordsh p. 264. 5. At Sir Anthony Copes at Hanwel there is also a Mill erected that doth not only grind the Corn for the House but with the same motion turneth a very large Engine for cutting the hardest Stone after the manner of Lapidaries and another for Boring of Guns And these either severally or altogether at pleasure Ibid. 6. At Henly in the said County the Malt-Kills are placed in the Backs of their Kitchin Chimneys so that drying their Malt with Wood the same Fire serves for that and all other uses of their Kitchins beside One Philps a Baker of Magdalen-Parish Oxon who having a very great Oven made it plain at the top and plaister'd it over whereon laying Malt he dried it with the same Fire that he heated his Oven for his Bread and thus made the best Malt that Oxford afforded and of necessity the cheapest for it cost him nothing Ibid 7. At Caversham in Oxford-shire they make a sort of Brick 22 Inches long and about 6 broad called Lath-bricks by reason they are put in the places of the Laths or Spars supported by Pillars in Oâ—sts for drying Malt which is the only use of them and are not liable to the Fire as the wooden Laths are and hold the Heat so much better that being once heated a small matter of Fire will keep them so which are unvaluable advantages in the Malting Trade Also about Burford they make Malt-kilns of Stone which beside the great Security from Fire these also dry the Malt with much less Fuel and in a shorter time than the old ones would do insomuch that whereas they could formerly dry with the ordinary Kiln but two Quarters in a Day they now dry six and with as little Fuel Now if ordinary Stone prove so advantagious how would the Cornish warming Stone that will hold heat well 8 or 10 Hours Or Spanish Ruggiola's which are broad Plates like Tiles cut out of a Mountain of red Salt near Cardona which being well heated on both sides will keep warm 24 Hours Ibid. p. 252. 8. Mr. John Dwight M. A. of C. C. College Oxon hath discovered the Mystery of the Stone or Cologne-Wares such as Jugs Bottles Noggins heretofore made only in Germany and hath set up a Manufacture of the same which by methods and contrivances of his own in three or four Years time he hath brought to greater Perfection than it has attained where it hath set up a Manufacture of the same which by methods and contrivances of his own in three or four Years time he hath brought to greater Perfection than it has attained where it hath been used for many Ages He hath discovered also the Mystery of the Hessian-Wares and making Vessels for Retaining the penetrating Salts and Spirits of the Chymists more serviceable than those Imported from Germany And hath found out ways to make an Earth white and Transparent as Porcellane and not distinguishable from it by the Eye or by Experiments that have been purposely made to try wherein they disagree To this Earth he hath added the Colours that are usual in the coloured China Ware and divers other not seen before He hath also caused to be modelled Statues of the said Transparent Earth which he hath diversified with
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
Fr Fowling Cardan adviseth thus Nux Vomica will stupifie Birds if you mingle it with their Meat I remember I took Crows in my Hand when I had powdered that Nut and mingled it with Flesh If small Birds eat Corn steeped in Wine-Lees and the Juice of Hemlock or Aqua-vitae or only in the Lees of stronger Wine or in the Decoction of white Helebore with an Ox-Gall this will astonish them Those Birds that Fly in Flocks to it are catched in Flocks as Partridges but Geese more than they but chiefly Ducks When you would make some Tame of the wild kind you must cut their wings and make a Trench about the Waters and feed them there with Plenty of pleasant Food For Ducks amongst other things that is the best which we call Sargum In the Night when the tame Ones cry the wild Ones will comethither to Meat For all Creatures agree in four things they all seek for Meat all seek for Pleasure all Fight and all are in Fear and here they understand one the other VVherefore in your Nets you shall sometimes catch a Thousand Ducks at once This may seem strange yet it is true and there is no bette way of Fowling you must chuse tame Ducks that are most like the wild Ducks in their Colour Cardan de Subtilit But this Art of Decoying is much Improved of late Years 2. There are other ways of Fowling which are well known in some places they use low Belling that is they go about in the Night with a Net in one hand to catch Birds in a Candle to draw the Birds towards the Light into the Net a Club to beat the Hedges and drive the Birds out and a little Bell which they ring continually to drown the noise of the Fowlers In other places they use a Stalking Horse especially for the killing of Woodcocks c. 3. For Fishing Sir Philip Harcourt in Oxfordshire hath so contrived his Fish-ponds that the Stews not only feed one another and may be served by letting the Water of the upper Ponds out into the lower but by a side Ditch cut along by them and places out of each may be any of them emptied without letting the Water into or giving the least disturbance to any of the rest Plot 's Nat. Hist. Oxford c. 9. p. 234. 4. Dr. Wilkins when Warden of Wadham College contrived an Engine for Fish of but few Gallons of Water 5. Cardan hath taught us an Ingenuous way to catch Fish thus Fishes are taken with Baits now the Baits must have four Properties they must smell well for this will make them come from remote places Such things are Anniseeds Juice of Panace and Cumin is best of them all They must tast well that they may the more desire them and they may be thereby deceived such are Blood especially Hogs Blood Cheese Bread principally of VVheat Butterflies the best are golden-coloured The Bait must Fume to the Head that it may make them drunk by its violent quality as Aqua-vitae Lees of VVine Last of all it must be Stupifactive to make them sensless Such are Marigold-Flowers that are to be had new every Month for this Herb whose Flowers are yellow cut in pieces will make great Fish astonished in one Hours time So is Lime for though it corrects VVater yet it kills Fish So is the Juice of all the Tithymals and both the Nux Vomica's called Nux Metelli or the sleeping Nut. But nothing is better than that Fruit which is brought from the East and is called Coculus Indicus It is a black Berry like unto a bay Berry but smaller and rounder Our Composition to take Fish is tried to be certain Take a quarter of an Ounce of Oriental Berries Cumin-seed and Aqua-vitae of each a sixth part of an Ounce Cheese one Ounce VVheat-meal 3 Ounces make little Pellats beating all together Cardan de Subtilitate 6. For Hunting it is distinguished according to the Animals we pursue or those we hunt with Those we pursue are Deer Hares Conies Foxes wild Bores Badgers Otters and sometimes Fowl Those Creatures we hunt with are Hounds Grey-Hounds Beagles and other Dogs trained up for particular Games In Sussex is much used the hunting of Moles Hawkes are used for the hunting of Fowl and Ferrets for Conies but what Improvements have been made in these Arts I leave the Curious to enquire CHAP. XIII Curiosities in Writing Cyphering c. THE Art of handling the Pen is much more Gentile and Liberal than that of handling the Spade and therefore no wounder if we find more strokes in Wit and Ingenuity in the one than in the other I intend not now to speak much of Brachygrphy tho an excellent late Invention of Contracting Words and Sentences into short Marks and Signatures nor the Art of writing well and giving Letters their due and decent Mathematical Proportions and Flourishes but of the Subtilty and Finenss of Delineation and Cyphering 1. There was one in Queen Elizabeth's time that wrote the Ten Commandments the Creed the Pater-Noster the Queen's Name and the Year of the Lord within the Compass of a Penny and gave a pair of Spectacles of such an artifical making that by the help thereof she did plainly and distinctly discern every Letter Dr. heylin 's Life of King Charles I. 2. One Francis Alumnius was so notable in the Mystery of Writing that he wrote the Apostle's Creed and the 14 first Verses of St. John's Gospel in the compass of a Penny and in full Words This he did in the presence of the Emperor Charles the V. and Pope Clement VII as is related by Genebrand in his Chronology and Simon Mayolus out of him who said he had the same Miracle at home in his keeping Hist Man Arts. Ch. 3. Pag. 34. 3. The Effigies of King William and Queen Mary with the Lord's Prayer the Creed and Ten Commandments the Magnificat the Prayer for the King and Queen the Prayer for the Royal Family the Prayer for the Clergy and People the Prayer of St. Chrysostom and the Blessing Engraven within a Circle two Inches and a half Diameter Engraven and Sold by John Sturt in Cranes-Court in the Old-Change near St. Pauls Price 2 d. 4. An Elegy on the Death of our most Gracious Soveraign lady Queen Mary engraven with so small a Circumference that it may be set in Rings or Lockets Engraven and Sold by and set in Rings or Lockets by Thomas Sturt 5. Mr. Mason the Author of a New Short-Hand is also very famous in writing many things in a little Compass 6. The written Picture of His Majesty King Charles the I. in St. John's-College Library taking up the whole Book of Psalms in the English Tongue and the written Picture of King James the I. and the Arms of England taking up the whole Book of Psalms in Latin in the Hands of Mr. Morehead Rector of Bucknel are pretty curiosities and much admired Dr. Plot 's Nat. Hist. Ox. p. 276. 7. The Polygraphy or
14 the Woman under 12 when married absent 7 Years after a Divorce after Nullity obtained Goaler compelling Prisoner to be Appelor c. Transportation of Silver or Importation of False Money Exportation of Wool c. Stealing Falcons Receiving c. Popish Priests Jesuits Aegyptians above 14. Rogue adjudged to the Gallies and returning without License Forging a Deed after a former Conviction Sending Sheep beyond Sea after former Conviction Servants Embezilling the Goods of their Masters c. Cutting Powdike Forcibly detaining Persons in Cumberland 2. Not Capital or Trespasses which are 1. Greater 1. Misprision of Treason or Felony Negative viz. Knowing and not Revealing Receiving a Traitor Counterfeiting Coin c. 2. Theftbote when the Owner doth not know the Felony but takes his Goods again or other amends not to Prosecute 3. Misprisions positive discovery by one of the Grand Jury of the Persous Indicted c. dissuading from witnessing against a Felon c. Reproaching a Judge Assaulting an Attorney against him or abusing a Juror Rescuing a Prisoner from Barr of B. R. B. C. Striking in Westminster-Hall c. in presence of Justices of Assize of Oyer and Terminer Drawing Sword upon any Judge or Justice c. 4. Maihem Cutting off the Hand or striking out a Tooth but not the Ear. 2. Lesser or Ordinary Neglect of Duty Bribery Extortion Affrays Weapons drawn or Stroak given or offered but Words-no-Affray Riots more than two meeting to do some unlawful Act and doing it Forcible Entries and Detainder Forcible Entry i. e. Manu forti with unusual Weapon Menace of Life or Limb breaking Door Barretries Riding Armed going Armed Deceits and Cousenages Nusances decay of Bridges and High-ways Inns and Ale-houses Perjury and Subornation of it Champetry Embracery and Maintenance Engrossing Fore-stalling Regrating in Respect of Religion altering the Prayers Reviling the Sacraments c. Thus far Sir Matthew Hale Others do add Challenging to Fight and receiving the Challenge Striking in the Church-yard with a Weapon maliciously Striking an Officer in doing his Office a Servant striking his Master Dame Overseer unlawful Assaulting Imprisoning Beating or wounding another chafing killing or hurting his Cattle breaking or entering into his House or Land cutting spoiling eating up or treading the Grass or Corn breaking the Walls digging or carryhing away his Earth or Coal felling cutting or breaking Hedge or Trees carrying away his Wife Son and Heir Ward c. Unlawful Arresting his goods or Cattel breaking or cutting his Sluces Shearing his Sheep letting the Water out of his Mill-pond beating his Servant so as to hinder his Work pro curing to take away unlawful Corn growing or rob any Orchated or Gardens or break or cut away any Hedge Pale Rails c. pull up or take away any Fruit Trees cut or spoil any Wood Under-woods Poles Trees standing not being Felony unlawfully breaking into any Ground inclosed for Deer or hunting taking or killing in the Night any Deer or Comes conspiring to Indict another unjustly for an Offence whereof he is lawfully acquitted devising and spreading any false News and Seditions Libelling and promoting any scandalous Writing slandering one with such Words as Traitor Felon Thief Robber c. Selling that which is not a Man 's own or false and deceitful Wares or playing with false Dice a Miller changing his Grist Misfeasance by Nusance as stopping a Ditch to the drowning of my Ground over-riding my Horse disturbing me in my way office burial c. stopping of my Lights laying blocks in the High-way watering Hemp or Flax in any common River Stream or Pond getting Goods by counterfeit Letters Forg-ing Deeds Testaments c. going Armed in an unusual manner Three or more coming together with intent violently to commit an unlawful Act as to beat wound pull down c. t is a Rout if they do it a Riot if they meet only 't is an unlawful Assembly stirring up another to do such an Act an Affray made in disturbance of the Peace divulging Prophesies to disturb the Realm if charged within six Months making forcible entry into Lands and detaining them forcibly one under the degree of Knight above 15 Required by a Justice to Suppress a Riot and refusing Note Some of these may be reduced to some of the former Heads and others fall under the Consideration of Common Pleas. Note Again the Penalties are as followeth 1. For Counterfeiting Coin Drawing and Hanging 2. In other Treasons Drawing Hanging and Quartering 3. For Women Drawing and Burning 4. For Peteit-Treason The Man Hang'd the Woman Burn'd 5. For Felony Hanging 6. For Petit-Larceny Whipping and Forfeiting of Goods 7. For Death per Infortuniam forfeiture of Goods 8. For Death se defendendo Forfeiture of Goods 9. For Misprision of Treason Forfeiture of Goods and perpetual Imprisonment 10. For Trespasses various sometimes Fine sometimes Imprisonment sometimes good Behaviour Whipping Amends c. In the next place are considerable 1. The Jurisdiction or Court viz. the King's Bench Goal-delivery Oyer and Terminer Assizes Justices of Peace Sheriff Coroner Court-Leet 2. The means of bringing Capital Offenders to Tryals which are 1. By Appeal 2. By Appover 3. Indictment 3. Process 4. Arraignment 5. Demeanour of the Prisoner viz. Whether he stands Mute or Answers 6. Pleas which are either Declinatory or Pleading c. 2. Common-Pleas wherein are considerable 1. Possessions viz. Hereditaments or Chattels Real or Personal 2. Wrongs viz. Trespasses upon the Case Disturbance Nusance Deceit real wrongs as Discontinuance Ouster Intrusion Abatement Disseisin c. Rescons Replevin Denier Usurpation c. 3. Writs Real or Personal viz. Praecipe si fecerit te Securum c. Concerning which I have much more to say but am afraid of Surfeiting the Press or swelling the Volume or VVriting Impertinently and countenancing a Litigious Reader CHAP. VIII Of Heraldry PRinces are generally look'd upon as People of a more Effeminate Spirit and less studious than others as if their Supremacy of Power and Honour had betray'd them to such a Dissolusion of their natural Wit and Briskness that they were not fit for any thing of Ingenuity and Prudence of Invention in the Managery and Conduct of their Great Business Yet we find them sometimes beating their Thoughts upon the Anvil to find out and devise proper Methods for the Encouragement and Reward of their Deserving Subjects We shall present the Reader with a short Account of the Peerage or Degrees of Nobility of England 1. Dukes are created by Patent Cincture of Sword Mantle of State Imposition of a Cap and Coronet of Gold on their Heads and a Verge of Gold in their Hands 2. Marquesses first governours of Marches and Frontier Countrys are Created by a Cincture of a Sword a Mantle of State Imposition of a Cup of Honour with a Coronet and Delivery of a Charter or Patent 3. Earls are created by the Cincture of a Sword Mantle of State put upon him by the King himself a Cap and a Coronet put