upon Richard Petto and Justice Brown both cruel Persecutors of George Eagles one Dale a Promoter and Persecutor was eaten up of Lice and dyed Dr. Dunning Chancellor of Norwich a bloody Persecutor in Queen Maries days was suddenly taken sitting in his Chair and dyed Dr Berry Commissary of Norfolk another bloody Persecutor as he was walking with one of his Concubines fell down suddenly with an heavy groan and never stirred after A Persecuting suffragan of Dover having been with Cardinal Pool for his blessing coming out of the Cardinals Chamber fell down stairs and broke his Neck Acts Monu XLIII Bishop Thornton a cruel Persecutor as he was looking upon his Men at Bowls fell suddenly into a Palsy and being carried to his bed and bid to remember the Lord yea so I do said he and my Lord Cardinal too and so he dyed Dr. Jefferies Chancellor of Salisbury a wretched Persecutor having appointed to call before him 90 Persons to examine them by Inquisition the day before looking upon his Buildings fell down dead Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor of England was a sworn Enemy to the Gospel a profest Persecutor by Fire and Sword of the Protestants and as if he designed thereby to grow famous and get renown he caused a Sumptuous Tomb to be erected whereon to eternize the memory of his Cruelty he caused among other worthy deeds this principally to be Ingraven thereon That with all his might he had persecuted the Lutherans but it fell out contrary to his expectation for being Accused Condemned and Executed for High-Treason his Head was taken off and his Body found no other burial but the Gibbet Beards Theatre These and many more such examples are recorded by Mr. Fox in his Acts Monuments which makes good that of the Psalmist God hath prepared for the Wicked the Instruments of Death he ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutors Psal 7.13 If the Reader desire to know more of the Cruelties of the Papists in all Countries for above six hundred years past and Gods judgments upon them he may find it at large in a little book called the Protestant Schoolmaster of a shilliog price and sold where this Book is to be had CHAP. V. Fearful Judgments upon Cruel Tyrants Murderers and other notorious and debauched Persons with the wonderful discovery of several Murders c. IT appeareth in History that there have been a multitude of proud cruel and vicious Princes and Governours in former Ages who have thought that their Will ought to be their Law and have gloried in Tyrannizing over their poor Subjects however it hath pleased the Divine Majesty many times to discover his abhorrence and detestation of such practices by his severe Judgments upon the Actors thereof It is likewise as plain that God Almighty as well to declare his detestation of that crimson sin of Murther as to beget and retain in us a horrour thereof hath most vigorously imployed his Providence by strange and miraculous ways to bring to light deeds of darkness and to drag the bloody Authors of them out of their greatest privacies and concealment to condign punishment it were an infinite Labour to trace the several footsteps of Divine Providence in this matter neither hath Lust Revenge and other notorious enormities escaped Gods Justice many times in this world as by the following relations it doth remarkably appear I. Ptolomeus Pisco one of the Kings of Aegypt caused his own Son Memphites whom he had begot of his Wife Sister Cleopatra to be slain and then commanded his Head Hands and Feet to be cut off and to be shut up in a curious Casket made for that purpose and sent them to his Mother as a present upon his Birth-day and when afterward he perceived that by his barbarous Tyranny he was grown odious to all his Subjects to prevent the danger thereof he caused a School where most of the Children of the Nobility and others were educated to be beset and incompassed round with fire and men with drawn Swords and then suddenly assaulted them whereby they were all destroyed not one of them escaping but that which he thought to be his refuge proved his ruine for the People were so extreamly incensed with this cruel Act that with an unanimous consent they fell upon him and tore him to pieces The like if not greater Cruelty was practised by a Woman one Cycenis the Daughter of Diogerides King of Thrace who took great delight in beholding living men cut in the middle and invited Parents to feast upon their own murthered Children cookt and drest several ways but she was afterward deposed from her Government and her Inhumanities were so hateful that none of her Subjects would relieve her whereby she was famisht to death and dyed of hunger Vitaldus Prince of Lithuania studied divers sorts of Tortures and Torments for men whom upon every slight occasion he condemned to death among the rest he would command them to be sowed up in Bear-skins and then made it his sport to behold them torn in pieces with fierce Mastives in all his warlike expeditions he carried continually a Steel-bow ready bent and if any Souldier happened but to step out of his Rank he instantly stroke him dead with an Arrow glorying to himself that he was so good a marks-man but after these and abundance of other Cruelties he that delighted to see men die like Bears was himself in the end torn in pieces with wild Wolves being requited much in the same manner as he had exercised Barbarities upon others Beards Theatre II. The Tyrant Periander usurped the Government over Corinth after he had murdered the Principal men of the City he put to death his own Wife to content and please his Concubine nay he was so execrable as to lye with his own Mother he banished his Natural Son and caused many Children of his Subjects to be guelded Finally he committed all manner of Villanies which he was sensible had made him abhorred of his People and therefore fearing that some miserable and monstrous death would be inflicted on him and that he should not be buried He gave Order to two of his stoutest Souldiers that they should strictly guard a place by him appointed and not to fail to kill the first that came in their way and to bury his body being slain Now the first that met them was himself who offered himself to them without speaking a word and was therefore immediately killed and afterward buried by them These two were soon after encountred by four others whom he had likewise appointed to kill them as they had done him which they performed accordingly Sabellici opera III. In the year 830. Popiel the Second King of Poland careless of matters of State gave himself over to all manner of Dissoluteness and Debauchery so that his Lords and People scorned and despised him He fearing therefore that they would set up one of his Kinsmen in his stead by the advice of his Wife whom
Fetters mount from thy Body and go thy way Oâ—â— of his Life p. VII Hâ—â—o Grotius the greatest Schollar that his Age boasted of after so many Embassys happily performed abroad and as many Transactions well managed at home After an exact survey of all the Hebrew Greek and Latin Learning after an unanswerable Treatise of the Truth of the Christian Religion and many other Elaborate Discourses in Divinity and other parts of Learning concluded his Life with this Protestation That he would give all his Learning and Honour for the plain Integrity and harmless innocence of John Urick who was a devout poor man that spent Eight hours of his time in Prayer Eight in Labour and but Eight in Sleep and other necessaries He also made this complant to another who admired his astonishing Industry Ah! Vitam perdidi operose nihil agendo Ah! I have lost my Life in doing nothing industriously and gave this direction only to another who desired it as knowing his great Wisdom and Learning Be serious When he was on his Death-Bed he sent for a Minister professing himself to be the poor Publican saying That he had nothing to trust to but the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ and wishing that all the world saw as much reason in Religion as he did Dying Mens words p. 162. VIII Salmasius that Excellent French Schollar whom the Learned men of his time never mention without such Expressions as these vir nunquam satis laudatus c. A man never enough to be praised nor to be mentioned without admiration went out of the World with these words in his mouth Oh I have lost a world of Time Time that most precious thing in the world whereof had I but one year longer it should be spent in Davids Psalms and St. Pauls Epistles Oh Sirs said he to these about him mind the World less and God more all the Learning in the world without true Piety and the Fear of God is nothing worth The fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil that is understanding Ibidâ—m p. 161. IX Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State in Queen Elizabeths Reign toward the latter end of his Life writ to the Lord Chancellor Burleigh to this purpose We have lived enough to our Countrey to our Fortunes and to our Soveraign it is high time we begin to live to our selves and to our God in the multitude of Assairs that passed through our hands there must be some miscarriages for which a whole Kingdom cannot make our peace And being observed to be more melancholy than usual some Court Humorists were sent to divert him Ah said Sir Francis while we laugh all things are serious round about us God is serious when he preserveth us and hath patience toward us Christ is serious when he dyeth for us the Holy Ghost is serious when he striveth with us the Holy Scripture is serious when it is read before us Sacraments are serious when they are administred to us The whole Creation is serious in serving God and us those that are in Heaven and Hell are serious and shall a man that hath one foot in the grave jest and laugh Wanly Hist Man p. 646. X. Sir Tho. Smith after he had many years served Q. Elizabeth also as Secretary of State and done many considerable Services to the Kingdom A quarter of a year before he dyed layd aside all publick Imployment and discharging all his worldly Affairs and Attendants sent to two Reverend Divines his singular good Friends intreating them to draw him out of the word of God the plainest and axactest way of making his peace with God and living Godly in this present world adding That it was great pity men knew not or at least did not seriously consider to what end they were born into this world till they were ready to go out of it Fair warning p. 168. XI Doctor Donne a Person of as great Parts and Spirit as any this Nation ever beheld when he was upon his Death-bed took his solemn farewell of his most considerable Friends leaving this with them I repent of all my Life but that part of it which I spent in communion with God and doing good That Person in a dying hour shall wish himself not a man who hath not been a good Christian Idem p. 164. XI Arch-Bishop Vsher that Famous Learned and most pious Divine after his indefatigable pains as a Christian a Schollar a Bishop and a Preacher went out of the world with this Prayer Lord forgive me my sins of Omission and desired to dye as Mr. Perkins did imploring the mercy and favour of God Idem p. 164. XIII Sir Philip Sydney a Subject indeed of England but they say chosen King of Poland whom Q. Elizabeth called Her Philip and the Prince of Orange called his Master whose Friendship the Lord Brooks was so proud of that he would have this to be part of his Epitaph Here lyeth Sir Philip Sidneys Friend whose Death was lamented in Verse by the then Kings of France and Scotland and the two Universities of England This great man lamented so much at his Death the innocent vanity of his Life in writing his Arcadia that to prevent the unlawful kindling of heats in others he would have committed it to the Flames himself and left this farewel among his Friends Love my Memory cherish my Friends their Faith to me may â—ssure you they are honest but above all govern your Will and Affections by the Will and Word of your Creator and in me behold the end of this world and all its vanities Ibidem p. 136. XIV Sir Henry Wotton after his many years study with great proficiency and applause in the University his near Relation to the great Favourite the E. of Essex his intimacy with the Duke of Tuscany and James the 6th King of Scotland his Embassyes to Holland Germany Venice c. was only ambitious of the Provostship of Eaton being exceeding desirous to retire thither to injoy his beloved Study and Devotion saying often That this was the happiest time of his life it being the utmost happiness which a man could attain to to be at leasure to be and to do good never reflecting on the spending of his former years without tears and would often say How much time have I to repent of and how little to do it in Idem p. 154. XV. Sir John Mason Privy Councellor to King Hen. 8. and K. Edw. 6. upon his death-Bed called for his Clerk and Steward to whom he spake to this purpose I have seen five Princes and been Privy Councellor to four I have seen the most observable matters in Forreign parts and been present at most Transactions for 30 years together and I have learned this after many years experience that Seriousness is the greatest wisedom Temperance the best Physick and a good Conscience is the best Estate and were I to live again I would change the Court for a Church my Privy
in the Reign of Queen Mary Dr. Sands and Dr. Cox fled both out of England in the same Ship and before the Ship was out of sight two of the Queens Guard were upon the Sea-shore to have apprehended Dr. Sands but they had so prosperous a passage that they landed safely at Antwerp and were invited to the house of one Mr Lock to Dinner as they were at Table Mr George Gilpia the English Secretary came to them and whispering Dr. Sands told him That King Philip made search for him to apprehend him whereupon he immediately rose ftom Dinner and though it rained very fast yet he went out of the Gate which leads to Cleaveland and so made his escape to Strasburg Clarks Mirrour 2.616 XXII In the year 1640. Dr. James Vsher Lord Primate of Ireland came over into England being invited thereunto by some eminent Persons wherein the special Providence of God did manifest it self for his preservation it being the year before the bloody Rebellion broke out in Ireland as if according to the Angels speech to Lot nothing could be done there till he was come hither and escaped to this Zoar. Clark's Lives To Conclude innumerable are the Examples of the Almighty's Protection and deliverance of the innocent and those that trust in him in all Ages of the world for as he punisheth the wicked with most severe Judgments so he protecteth those that fear him by the extraordinary assistance of his Holy Angels to fulfâ—â— the Truth of what the Apostles Write Heb. 1.14 That they are ministring Spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be Heirs of Salvation CHAP. VII Divine Goodness to Penitents with the dying Thoughts of several Famous Men concerning a future State after this Life Likewise divers remarkable Instances to demonstrate the reality and certainty thereof VVE read in the Holy Scriptures that the Almighty resisteth the proud but he giveth Grace to the humble and therefore how passionately and compassionately doth he exhort and perswade men to Repentance and Reformation declaring that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast off yea though their Sins and Transgressions are of a Scarlet and Crimson dye even of the greatest magnitude yet if they will forsake their evil ways he will have mercy upon them and save them How vain therefore and foolish are those desperate men in our Age who having long continued in wicked and evil courses endeavour to incourage themselves therein by perswading themselves and their wretched Companions that there is no future account to be given in another world which wicked attempt is ridiculous as well as dangerous since besides the undeniable evidence of the Holy Scriptures and the Divine Providence whereby the whole world was Created and is Governed it is also very apparent that all sorts of Men of all Conditions as Emperours Kings Philosophers Statesmen c. of all Religions Heathens Jews Mahometans Christians Of all Opinions among Christians and of all Tempers whether strict and serious or loose and debauched in all Ages of the World from the Creation they have left this great Observation behind them That upon Experience they have found that what vain Thoughts soever men may in the heat of their Youth and Lust entertain of Religion yet they will sooner or later fâ—el aâ— Testimony which God hath given into every ones Breast which will one day make them serious either by the inexpressible Fears Terrours and Agonies of a Troubled mind or by the inconceivable Peace Joy and Comfort of a good Conscience and of this we have many late as well as former examples some of which may be very necessary to be here inserted to manifest the Truth thereof I. St. Augustin is a famous Instance of Repentance as we find very lively discribed in his Confessions some few of which I shall repeat in his own words In my Youth I even burnt to be satisfied in these lower pleasures and what was it I delighted in but to love and be loved yea I boiled over in my Fornications and thou heldest thy peace then wandred I still further from thee O my Joy into other and more fruitless seed-plots of sorrows with a proud dejectedness and an untyred weariness but didst thou indeed hold thy peace to me No surely for whose but thine were the words which my Mother one of thy faithful Children sang in my Ears for I will remember she privately charged me and with very much earnestness fore-warned me That I should not commit simple Fornication but especially that I should never defile another mans Wife These seemed to me no better than Womens advices which it would be a shame for me to follow but they were thy Counsels indeed and I knew it not but ran headlong with such stupid blindness that I was ashamed amongst my Equals to be guilty of less impudence than they were whom I heard to boast mightily of their Debaucheries and glorying the more the more beastly they had been Yea and I took pleasure in committing of wickedness not for the Pleasure of the Act only but for the praise and credit of it also What is worthy of dispraise if Vice be not But I made my self worse than indeed I was that I might not be dispraised and when I wanted opportunity to commit that naughtiness which should make me as bad as the worst I would pretend I had done what I never did that I might not be counted cowardly in being innocent nor faint hearted in being more chast than they Behold with what Companions I walked the Streets of Babylon and I wallowed my self in the mire of it as if I had reposed in a Bed of Spices and most precious Ointments and my invisible Enemy seduced me to the very center of sin so that I ran into all manner of dissoluteness and practised whatsoever I affected a mist in the mean time depriving my sight O my God of the brightness of thy Truth and mine Iniquity came from me as if swelling from fatness Surely thy Law O Lord punisheth Thievery yea and this Law is so written in our hearts that Iniquity it self cannot blot it out For what Thief does willingly abide a man to steal from him no not a rich Thief though his follow be driven to steal upon necessity Yet had I a desire to commit Thievery and did it compelled neither by hunger nor poverty but even through a cloyedness of welldoing and a pamperdness of Iniquity for I stole that of which I had enough of my own and much better nor when I had done cared I to enjoy the thing which I had stoln but only rejoycing in the Theft and 〈◊〉 it self A Pear Tree there was in the Orchard next our Vineyard will laden with Fruit though not much tempting either for colour or taste To the robbing of this a Company of lewd young Fellows of us went late on night having according to our idle custom continued in our Gaming Houses till that time from whence we