times sooner than Old Jude will forgive us once But Sam was of another Mind goes to Jude's House confesseth the Injury offers the Money Jude Pardons him but would take no Money This grieved him more upon which he goes to his Spiritual Father Mr. Ward opens to him the whole state of his Soul who in great tenderness poured Wine and Oyl into his Wounds See his Life See the Story of the Fire at Brightling in the last Chapter as also of the Staffordshire man that stole a Bible in the Chapter of Cursing c. 6. Rich. Rogers of Middle near Salop had a Bible stollen out of his Seat in the Church and a while after his Daughter one Morning found another thrown by the House Door which he made publick Proclamation of at Church and no body own'd or claim'd it From his own Mouth 7. Mr. Mackerness in the Narrative which himself hath publish'd of his own Life confesseth his stealing a Duck near Oxford and eating it and with great trouble of Spirit professeth himself willing to make four-fold Restitution if he knew to whom CHAP. CXVI Divine Judgments upon Sacrilege Simony SAcrilege is the Diversion of Holy and Ecclesiastick things to Profane and Secular use As Simeon and Levi so Theft and Sacrilege be evil Brethren saith Sir H. Spelman Theft robs our Neighbour Sacrilege God God himself hath told us That Lands and Houses may be sanctified to the Lord but things devoted are most Holy to the Lord Lev. 27.28 and not redeemable And the Charters of our Foundations of Monasteries and Abbies were generally in these words Concessi Deo Ecclesiae Offero Deo confirmavi Deo Ecclesiae c. Cook Magn. Chart. fol. 2.1.6 c. Simony is the Purchasing of what is Sacred and Spiritual with things of Secular Nature and Consideration Both which sins God hath appeared plainly against as may be made appear to any one that is acquainted with the History of the Church Uzzah died because be did but touch the Ark to save it He that prosaned the Sabbath was stoned Corah and his Company who medled with the things of the Priesthood wire swallowed up quick Ananias died Simon Magus was accursed 1. When Heliodorus was present in the Temple with his Soldiers ready to seize upon the Treasury by the Prayers of the People of Jerusalem the Lord of all Spirits and power shewed so great a Vision that he fell suddenly into an extream fear and trembling For there appeared unto him an Horse with a terrible Man sitting upon him most richly trapped which came fiercely and smote at him with his fore-feet Moreover there appeared two Young Men notable in Strength excellent in Beauty and comely in Apparel which stood by him on either side and scourged him with many stripes so that Heliodorus that came in with so great a company of Soldiers and Attendants was stricken dumb and carried out in a Litter upon means shoulders for his strength was so abated that he could not help himself but lay destitute of all hopes of Recovery so heavy was the Hand of God upon him until by the Prayers of Onias the High-Priest he was restored then he confessed that he which dwelt in Heaven had his Eyes on that Place and defended it from all those that came to hurt and spoil it Josephus 2. Sir Henry Spelman instanceth in these Examples following 1. William the Conqueror fires St. Peter's Church in York rifles the Monasteries destroyed Thirty Six Mother-Churches in Hampshire to make his New-Forest takes all their Plate Treasure Chalices c. Afterwards Robert his own Son rebels beats his Father and wounds both his Person and Honour Richard his beloved Son is killed in his Father's New-Forest by the goring of a Stag as Speed saith by ill Air as Cambden After which he burns the City of Manuts and Church of St. Mary's with two Anchorites upon which his Horse gives him a fall breaks his Belly his Body is forsaken by his Nobles and Servants but by the Courtesie of a Country Gentleman brought after three days to Caen in Normandy but there a Fire happening an Interruption is made again and afterwards Burial denyed by one that claimed the Ground At last a Composition being made he is Interred but the Town being afterwards taken by an Enemy his Bones are digged up and scattered as Chaff before the Wind. 2. His Son Henry Hunting in the New-Forest is Struck through the Jaws with the bough of a Tree 3. His Grandchild William second Son to Robert Eârl of Flanders in a War against his Uncle Henry the First received a small Wound in his Hand and died of it 4. Robert of Normandy the Conqueror's Eldest Son is disinherited by his Father imprison'd by his Brother Henry the First for 26 Years hath both his Eyes put out and is starved in Cardaff Gaol 5. William Rufus stores his Treasury by the Sale of Chalices and Church-Jewels and is afterwards killed by Sir Walter Tyrrel shooting at a Deer in New-Forest in the same place where a Church stood His Funeral was interrupted as his Fathers his Corpse brought by a â—iâ—â—y lean Beast to Winchester the Cart breaks by the way he is buried unlamented and his Bones after taken up and laid in a Coffin with Canutus his Bones c. 6. Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury 11th kennell'd his Dogs in the Church of S. Frydame where in the Morning they were found mad and himself afterwards fighting with the Enemy was shot dead in the Eye 7. King John rifled the Abbeys of Peterborough and Croyland and carrying his Sacrilegious Wealth to Lincoln the Earth swallows up Carts Carriages Horses and all his Church-Spoil and all the Church-spoilers the King passing the Washes in another place receives the News together with his own Sickness whereof he died 8. William Marshal Earl of Pembroke in the Irish War takes from the Bishop of Furnes two Mannors belonging to his Church is Excommunicated dies and is buried in the Temple-Church at London The Bishop sues to the King to return the Lands the King requires the Bishop to Absolve the Earl Both King and Bishop go to the Earl's Grave the Bishop is obstinate the Earl's Son is obstinate too the Bishop tells the King Sir what I have said stands immutable the Punishment of Malefactors is from the Lord and the Curse written in the Psalms will fall heavy upon Earl William in the next Generation shall his Name be forgot and his Sons shall not share the Blessing of Increase and Multiply and some of them shall die miserable Deaths and the Inheritance of all be dispersed and scattered and all this my Lord O King you shall see even in your Days With what Spirit soever the Bishop spake it in the space of Twenty Five Years all the Earl's five Sons inherited successively all die Childless particularly one in Prison and another by a fall from his Horse 9. Cardinal Woolsey while free from Sacrilege was the Catalogue of Humane
A COMPLEAT HISTORY Of the MOST Remarkable Providences BOTH OF Judgment and Mercy Which have Hapned in this PRESENT AGE EXTRACTED From the Best WRITERS the AUTHOR' 's own OBSERVATIONS and the Numerous RELATIONS sent him from divers Parts of the Three KINGDOMS To which is Added Whatever is Curious in the Works of Nature and Art THE Whole Digested into One VOLUME under Proper Heads being a Work set on Foot Thirty Years ago by the Reverend Mr. POOL Author of the SYNOPSIS CRITICORUM And since Undertaken and Finish'd By WILLIAM TVRNER M. A. Vicar of WALBERTON in SUSSEX Recommended as useful to Ministers in Furnishing Topicks of Reproof and Exhortation and to Private Christians for their Closets and Families One Generation shall praise thy Works to another and shall declare thy mighty Acts. Psal 145.4 LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-Street MDCXCVII TO THE Right Reverend FATHER in GOD JOHN Lord Bishop of Chichester My LORD THE Dedication of Books to some Worthy Persons seems to be very natural For tho' Men of Great Abilities and Fame may appear in the World without any such Patrons to make Way for their Admittance yet we that are in a Lower Sphere stand in need of a Person of Figure and Value to give some Countenance to such Undertakings 'T is to you My Lord I therefore make my Application whose Genius according to what I have heard and from that short Conversation I have had with you I judge suitable to the Toyl and Greatness of that Province you are called to Preside over This is a Work I acknowledge if faithfully Discharged may perhaps offend and exasperate some and if not impartially Executed the God of Heaven will be Displeased and your own Conscience be Disobliged But I come not here so much to be your Monitor as with this small Present a Token of my Spiritual Fealty to bid your Lordship Welcome into our Diocess Where I pray you may do much Good and enjoy many Good Days and at last in God's good time may be removed to a better place I am My LORD Your most Humble Obedient and Faithful Son WILLIAM TURNER TO THE Courteous Reader THE Work I have undertaken is so difficult and obnoxious to Doubt and Error so slippery and obscure that it must be confest by any Man of a solid Judgment that I have been bold to make an Adventure upon such a Subject But the Genius of it being so generally acknowledg'd it will admit of much Candour and Alleviation from all Men of an honest Principle and sober Understanding 'T is true I have scaled the Mountains and scrabbled above the Clouds and open'd a little the Curtains that hid and separated the Secrets of Heaven from Common View and sometimes likewise have dived into the profoundest Secrets and Depths of Nature and at a distance look'd into the Divine Councels and made Enquiry into the Affairs of the other World but with so much Modesty and so little Pragmaticalness that it will not be easie for any but a man of a contentious Spirit to find out Matter to accuse me of If there be any that will take upon him to be my Adversary I challenge him to outvy me and if he can as I question not but he may find out new Matter and a better Method I shall thank and commend him for his Industry But if Men can only pick out a single Paragraph or particular Circumstance and nibble at it with their Teeth and bawl loud with their Tongues and proceed no further 't is a poor Game for a Man of good Sence to play at But I hope this Book will not meet with any Reader of this Tribe But if it do I desire and entreat him to go on with my Observations to the end and put all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and strange Appearances of Providence Nature and Art into one Text and meditate seriously upon them and try to solve all the Difficulties of them and give us one more System of Philosophy that may give a full Satisfaction to Humane Reason in these Things to the World's end What I have done was undertaken with a Probity of Intention and managed with such a Competency or Portion and Pittance of Reason and Prudence as I was endowed with And no Man is answerable for more than he hath receiv'd I have been true and just to all Parties Jews and Gentiles and the Church of God to Protestants Papists Dissenters of all sorts so far as I know never daring wittingly and willingly to tell a Lye in the Cause of God or for Gods ◠Glory And no Body can in Justice tax me for Partiality in that Point for the Discourse must always suit with the Text and a History of Providence must be as extensive as the Subject itself And it is plain that the Divine Care and Government is spread over the whole Creation God commands his Sun to shine and his Rain to fall upon just and unjust and therefore I resolved at the first Enterprize of this Work Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agentur I 'll make no difference but speak Truth of all Men that the Sun shines upon and the Divine Providence is concern'd with Let those little Narrow-Soul'd Christians that appropriate their Faith and Charity to a Canton live in a little Corner of the World by themselves they are hardly worthy to enjoy the Benefit and Influence of an Universal Sun and Gospel and Government For my part I have long ago challeng'd the Epithet of Catholic so far as 't is lawful and commendable But else I protest against a real Heretic or Schismatic as unworthy of Catholic Favour and Communion As to the Work itself 't is of no dishonourable Original all the Historians that ever writ almost have given a Touch upon it both Ethnic and Christian many Christians have made Essays upon it but none more particularly that I know of than Mexico Camerarius Pontanus Delrio Dr. Beard Dr. Tho. Tailour Mr. Clark Mr. Mather c. And of late in our own Church and Nation Dr. More Mr. Glanvile and Mr. Baxter c. I have tried what I could to comprize the Substance of all in a little room and given my Reader the Extract of my Collections here in one Volume and to them have added my own Observations and other Relations never before in Print For which I stand Indebted and Obliged to several Friends and some worthy Personages who have given in their fresh Informations and Encouragements to this Undertaking from divers Parts of the Three Kingdoms A Work of this Nature was set on Foot about Thirty Years ago by Mr. Pool Author of the Synopsis Criticorum but or what Reason I know not it was laid aside and nothing has since appeared on that Subject but a small Essay written by Mr. Increase Mather Rector of Harvard Colledge in New-England to invite some others to go on with the Work and finding that 't was not attempted by
my Soul into the Kingdom of Heaven See her Life 23. I Remember says Mr. Increase Mather in his Disc of Angels that once in Discourse with the Learned Doctor Spencer in Cambridge concerning his Book of Prodigies he said to me that his Judgment was That the Evil Angels had Prenotions of many Future Things and did accordingly give strange Premonitions of them No doubt it is often so and yet as Lavater Schottus and others have noted there are sometimes Things signified by Angels which it is not easie to determine of what sort those Genii are VVhat shall be thought of the Phantom which appeared to General Vesselini assuring him that he might take the City of Muran by the Assistance of a Widow which Lived in that City which strangely came to pass accordingly in the Year 1644. There comes to my mind a very Unaccountable Thing which happened at London above Thirty Years ago It was this One Mr. Cutty an honest Citizen passing between Milk-street and Wood-street in Cheap-side on March 2d 1664 took up a Letter Sealed The Superscription whereof was these VVords following From Geneva to a Friend VVithin the Letter these VVords were written This is to give both timely and speedy Notice that in the Year 1665 in the latter end of May shall begin a Plague and hold very hot till the latter end of December and then cease but not quite and then go on till the latter end of the Spring the next Year And in 1665 and 66 putting both together shall not only happen a Plague but great Sea Fights such as the like was scarce ever heard of and this shall not be all but in the Year 1666 on the Second of September shall happen a Fire that shall burn down one of the Eminentest Cities in the World Mr. Cutty carried the Letter to the then Lord Mayor A Reverend Divine in London who was of his Acquaintance had a Copy of it before the sad Things here Predicted came to pass and at my last being at London was pleased to favour me with it as 't is here Related This Account being certainly true and very surprizing I thought it not unworthy the Publication 24. There are sometimes very unaccountable Motions and Impressions on the Spirits of good men which are wrought in them by the ministry of Holy Angels whose work it is to prevent and disappoint the Designs of Satan and of his evil Angels I remember one relates a remarkable Passage of a good man that when he was reading in his House he could not rest in his Spirit but he must step out of Doors which he had no sooner done but he saw a Child in a Pond of VVater ready to perish which would have been gone past recovery had not he gone out of his Doors just at that moment This Impression must needs be from a good Angel And an other like Passage is related in the Life of that Holy Man Mr. Dod One Evening though he had other work to attend he could not but he must got to such a Neighbour's House when he came to him he told him he knew not what he was come for but he could not rest in his Spirit until he had visited him The poor man was astonished for he had in the Violence of a Temptation put a Rope into his Pocket with an intent to have destroyed himself had not Mr. Dod's thus coming prevented it Surely an Angel of the Lord was in this Providence Bishop Hall speaks of one whom he knew that having been for Sixteen Years a Cripple had these monitions in his Sleep that he should go and wash in St. Matherns Well in Cornwell which he did and was suddenly recovered This he thinks was from Angelical Suggestion Marcus Aurelius Antoninus did in a Dream receive the Prescript of a Remedy for his Disease which the Physitians could not cure A Physitian of Vratislavium followed the Counsel he had given him in a Dream concerning the cure of a Disease which was to him incurable and he recovered the Patient It added to the wonder that a few Years after he met with that Receipt in a Book then newly Printed Histories report that the like to this happened to Philip and to Galen If Angels may Suggest things beneficial unto the minds of Men who are Strangers to God much more unto them that fear him Thus far Mr. Mather Converse with Angels and Spirits Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery Esq 25 Dr. Richard Nepier was a Person of great Abstinence Innocence and Piety He spent every Day Two Hours in Family Prayer When a Patient or Querent came to him he presently went to his Closet to Pray and told to admiration the Recovery or Death of the Patient It appears by his Papers that he did converse with the Angel Raphael who gave him the Responses 26. Elias Ashmole Esq had all his Papers where is contained all his Practice for about Fifty Years which he Mr. Ashmole carefully bound up according to the year of our Lord in Volumes in Folio which are now reposited in the Library of the Museum in Oxford Before the Responses stands this Mark viz. R â„ž is which Mr. Ashmole said was Responsum Raphaelis The Angel told him if the Patient were curable or incurable There are also severalâ— other Queries to the Angel as to Religion Transubstantiation c. which I have forgot I remember one is Whether the Good Spirits or the Bad be most in Number R â„ž is The Good It is to be found there that he told John Prideaux D. D. Anno 1621 that Twenty Years hence 1641 he would be a Bishop and he was so sc Bishop of Worcester R â„ž is did resolve him That Mr. Booth of in Cheshire should have a Son that should inherit Three Years hence sc Sir George Booth the first Lord Delamere viz. from 1619. Sir George Booth aforesaid was born Decemb. 18th Anno 1622. This I extracted out of Dr. Nepier's Original Diary then in the possession of Mr. Ashmole It is impossible that the Prediction of Sir George Booth's Birth could be found any other way but by Angelical Revelation This Dr. Richard Nepier was Rector of Lynford in Bucks and did practise Physickâ— but gave most to the Poor that he got by it 'T is certain he foretold his own Death to a Day and Hour he died Praying upon his Knees being of a very great Age 1634. April the First One says why should one think the Intellectual World less Peopled than the Material Pliny in his Natural History tells us that in Africa do sometimes appear Multitudes of Aerial Shapes which suddenly Vanish Mr. Richard Baxter in his certainty of the World of Spirits hath a Discourse of Angels and wonders they are so little taken notice of he hath counted in Newman's Concordance of the Bible the word Angel in above 300 places Thus far Mr. Aubery CHAP. III. Concerning the Appearance of bad Angels or Daemons HEre I have a great Task and
a very beautiful young Gentleman did win her Love so that notwithstanding her Promise aforesaid she married him She married at South-wrax-hall where the Picture of Sir Walter hung over the Parlour-door as it doth now at Dracot As Sir Fox led his Bride by the Hand from the Church which is near to the House into the Parlour the string of the Picture brake and the Picture fell on her Shoulder and crack'd in the Fall 53. The Night before the Fight in Glinsuly in Ireland a Woman of uncommon Stature all in white appearing to the Bishop of Clogher admonished him not to cross the River first to assault the Enemy but suffer them to do it whereby he should obtain the Victory That if the Irish took the Water first to move towards the English they should be put to a total Rout which came to pass Ocahan and Sir Henry O Neal who were both kill'd there saw severally the Apparition and disswaded the Bishop from giving the first Onset but could not prevail upon him 54. Near the same place a Party of the Protestents had been surpriz'd sleeping by the Popish Irish were it not for several Wrens that just wakned them by dancing and pecking on the Drums as the Enemy were approaching For this reason the wild Irish mortally hate these Birds to this day 55. When King James II. first entred Dublin after his Arrival from France 1689. one of the Gentlemen that bore the Mace before him stumbled without any rub in his way or other visible occasion The Mace fell out of his Hands and the little Cross upon the Crown thereof stuck fast between two Stones in the Street Thus far I 'm beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections 56. Of Fatalities of Families and Places Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq The L. Chancellor Bacon says As for Nobility in particular Persons It is a reverend thing to see an antient Castle or Building not in Decay or to see a fair Timber Tree sound and perfect how much more to behold an ancient Noble Family which haâ—h stood against the VVaves and VVeathers of Time For new Nobility is but the Act of Power but ancient Nobility is the Act of Time But Omnium rerum est vicissitudo Families and Places have their Fatalities according to that of Ovid Fo rs sua cuique loco est 57. Sturton the Seat of the Lord Sturton was belonging to his Family before the Conquest They say that after the Victory at Battaile William the Conqueror came in Person into the West to receive their Rendition that the Lord Abbot of Glastenbury and the rest of the Lords and Grandees of the Western Parts waited upon the Conqueror at Stourton-House where the Family continues to this Day 58. Sir William Batton of Tockenham Baronet the Father told me that his Ancestors had the Lease of Alton-Farm 400 l. per Annum in Wilts which anciently belonged to Hyde-Abby juxta Winton four Hundred Years Sir William's Lease expired about 1652. and so fell into the Hands of the Earl of Pembrooke 59. Clavel of in the Isle of Purbec in the County of Dorset was in that place before the Conquest as appears by Dooms-day Book The like is said of Hamden of Hamden in Bucks Their Pedigree says that one of that Family had the Conduct of that County in two Invasions of the Danes Also Pen of Pen in that County was before the Conquest as by Dooms-day Book 60. Contrariwise there are several places unlucky to their Possessors e. g. Charter-house on Mindip in Somersetshire never passed yet to the Third Generation The Manner of Butleigh near Glaâ—enbury never went yet to the Third Generation 61. Bletchington in Oxfordshire continued in the Family of the Pauures for about 300 Years 62. Fatality of proper Names of Princes e. g. John hath been an unfortunate Name to Kings All the Second Kings since the Conquest have been unfortunate 63. London-derry was the first Town in Ireland that declared for the Parliament against King Charles I. and for the Prince of Orange against King James II. It was closely besieged both times without effect The King's Party were once Masters of all the Kingdom except London-Derry and Dublin and King James had all in his Power but London-Derry and Iniskilling 'T is certain that there are some Houses unlucky to their Inhabitants which the Reverend and Pious Dr. Nepier could acknowledge 64. The Fleece-Tavern in Covent-Garden in York-street was very unfortunate for Homicides there have been several kill'd three in my time It is now 1696 a private House 65. A handsome Brick-House on the South side of Clerken-well Church-yard hath been so unlucky for at least Forty Years that it was seldom Tenanted and at last no body would adventure to take it Also a handsome House in Holbourn that looked towards the Fields the Tenants of it did not prosper several about six 66. Periodical Small-Poxes The Small-Pox is usually in all great Towns But it is observed at Taunton in Somerset-shire and at Shirbourne in Dorsetshire that at one of them at every Seventh Year and at the other at every Ninth Year comes a Small-Pox which the Physitians cannot master This Account I had from Mr. Tho. Ax. It were to be wish'd that more such Observations were made in o ther great Towns Platerus makes the like Observations in the second Book of his Practise P. 323. He practised at Basil 56 Years and did observe that every Tenth year they died of the Plague there See Capt. J. Graunts Observations of the Bills of Mortality at London indeed written by sir William Petty which in a late Transaction he confessed for the Periodical Plagues at London which as I remember are every Twenty-fifth year Thus far I am beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections 67. Corps Candles in Wales Part of a Letter to Mr. Baxter Sir I am to give you the best satisfaction I can touching those Apparitions Corps Candles which do as it were mark out the way for Corpses to their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sometimes before the Parties themselves fall sick and sometimes in their Sickness I could never hear in England of these they are common in these three Counties viz. Cardigan Carmarthen and Pembrooke and as I hear in some other Parts of Wales These 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in our Language we call Canhwyllan Cyrph i. e. Corps-Candles and Candles we call them not that we see any thing besides the Light but because that Light doth as much resemble a material Candle-light as Eggs do Eggs saying that in their Journey these Candles be modo apparantes modo disparantes especially when one comes near them and if one come in the way against them unto whom they vanish but presently appear behind and hold on their Course If it be a little Candle pale or bluish then follows the Corps either of an Abortive or some Infant if a big one them the Corps of some one come to Age If there be seen two or three
Chancellor Bacon saith That Imagination is next Kin to Miracle-working Faith 25. When King Charles the First was Prisoner at Carisbrook-Castle there was a Woman Touched by him who had the King's-Evil in her Eye and had not seen in a Fortnight before her Eye-lids being glued together as they were at Prayers after the Touching the Womans Eyes opened Mr. Seymer Bowman with many others were Eye-witnesses of this 26. William Bakhouse of Swallowfield in Berk-shire Esq had an ugly Scab that grew on the middle of his Forehead which had been there for some Years and he could not be cured In his Journey to Peterborough he dreamt there That he was in a Church and saw a Hearse and that one did bid him wet his Scab with the Drops of the Marble The next Day he went to Morning-Service and afterwards going about the Church saw the very Hearse which was of Black Say for Queen Catherine Wife to King Henry the Eighth and the Marble Grave-stone by He found Drops on the Marble and there were some Cavities wherein he clip'd his Finger and wetted the Scab In Seven Days it was perfectly cured 27. Arise Evans had a fungous Nose and said It was reveal'd to him that the King's Hand would cure him and at the first coming of King Charles the Second into St. James's-Park he kiss'd the King's Hand and rubb'd his Nose with it which disturb'd the King but cured him Mr. Ashmole told me 28. There is extant a true Relation of the wonderful Cure of Mary Maillard Lame almost ever since she was born on Sunday the 26th of November 1693. With the Affidavits and Certificates of the Girl and several other credible and worthy Persons who knew her both before and since her being cured To which is added A Letter from Dr. Wellwood to the Right Honourable the Lady Mayoress upon that Subject London Printed for R. Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-lane 1664. 29. The following Letter I receiv'd from Mr. Moses Pitt with the Relation of Anne Jefferies Decemb. 3. 96. Reverend Sir I Have here sent you what I have Published of Anne Jefferies which you may if you please Reprint in your Collections only with these Additions which accrued not to my Memory or Information 'till after I had Published the same viz. That these Fairies are distinguished into Males and Females and than they are about the bigness of Children of Three or Four Years of Age. I also desire you to insert this Letter to me from my Kinsman Mr. Will. Tom who was the Person which Dined with the Lord Bishop of Gloucester when I told him this of Anne Jefferies and is a Merchant of as much Note as most in Devon or Cornwall and has been Mayor of Plimouth who knows Anne Jefferies who is still living as well as my self he sent me the Letter on my sending him one of the Books by Post I have the Original by me Plimouth May 12. 1696. Cous Pitt I Have yours with the inclosed Prints and do know and have heard that all in it is very true which with my Duty to my Lord Bishop of Gloucester you may acquaint his Lordship it 's needless for me to write to him I am Your Affectionate Kinsman and Servant William Tom. This is all I think needful to acquaint you with on this Subject I am Your True and Faithful Servant Moses Pitt 30. An Account of one Anne Jefferies now living in the County of Cornwall who was fed for Six Months by a small sort of Airy People called Faiâ—ies And of the strange and wonderful Cures she performed with Salves and Medicines she received from them for which she never took one Penny of her Patients In a Letter from Moses Pitt to the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Edward Fowler Lord Bishop of Gloucester My LORD WHen about Christmass last I waited on you with my Printed Letter to the Author of a Book entituled Some Discourses upon Dr. Burnet now Lord Bishop of Salisbury and Dr. Tillotson late Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury occasioned by the late Funeral Sermon of the former upon the latter After I had paid my Duty and Service to your Lordship you were pleased to mind me of my having told you a wonderful Story about Seventeen or Eighteen Years since in the Company of a Kinsman of mine a Tradesman of Plimouth who also confirmed part of it from his own Knowledge and the following Narrative you will sâ—â—d to contain the Substance of what you then heard And I doubt not but I could bring several other Persons now living to justifie the Truth of what I here write Nay the Person concerned who is at this time living in Cornwall must own it and a great deal more if she could be prevailed with to speak out My Lord I thought I could if any Person alive have prevail'd with her she being the Servant that attended me in my Childhood but your Lordship may see that I cannot and therefore your Lordship must be content with what I here publish I am satisfied I was not nor could be imposed on in this Affair the Particulars having made sâ— great an Impression on me from my Youth hitherto I know my Lord that the great part of the World will not believe the passages here related by reason of the strangeness of them but I cannot help their Vnbelief Your Lordship knows the Record where it 's mentioned That the great God did marvellous things in the sight of our Forefathers but for all that they sinned yet more and believed not his wondrous Works And therefore Vnbelief is no new Sin crept into the World And moreover my Lord if Men would give themselves time to think they cannot but remember that the great God has done as great and marvellous Works in our Age both in Judgment and in Mercy as be did in the Days of old by which the greatest Atheist may be convinc'd not only of the Being of a God but also that his Power and his Goodness are as manifest now as of old and therefore it 's the Duty of all that do by personal Knowledge know any extraordinary Works or Providences of God which are uncommon to publish them to the World that the great God may be glorified and Mankind edified which is purely and truly the Design of Publishing the following Narrative ANne Jefferies for that was her Maiden Name of whom the following strange things are related was born in the Parish of St. Teath in the County of Cornwall in December 1626. and she is still living 1696. being now in the Seventieth Year of her Age she is married to one William Warden formerly Hind a Hind is one that looks after the rest of the Servants the Grounds Cattel Corn c. of his Master to the late eminent Physician Dr. Richard Lower deceased and now lives as Hind to Sir Andrew Slanning of Devon Bar. I must acquaint you Sir that I have made it my Business but could not prevail to get
16. Ben. Johnson bestowed this as part of an Epitaph on his eldest Son dying an Infant Rest in soft Peace and asked say Here doth lie Ben Johnson his best piece of Poetry He died himself Anno Domini 1638. and was buried about the Belfry in the Abby-Church at Westminster having only upon a Pavement over his Grave this written O Rare Ben Johnson 17. Mr. William Shakespear was buried at Stratford upon Avon The Town of his Nativity upon whom one hath bestowed this Epitaph Renowned Spencer lie a thought more nigh To learned Chaucer and a rare Beaumont lie A little nearer Spencer to make room For Shakespear in your threefold fourfold Tomb To lodge all Four in one Bed make a shift Until Dooms-day for hardly will a Fifth Betwixt this Day and that by Fates be slain For whom your Curtains may be drawn again If your precedency in Death do bar A Fourth place in your sacred Sepulcher Under this sacred Marble of thine own Sleep rare Tragedìan Shakespear sleep alone Thy unmolested Peace in an unshared Cave Possess as Land not Tenant of the Grave That unto us and others it may be Honour hereafter to be laid by thee 18. Sir John Mandevile who died at Liege in Germany the 17th Day of November Anno 1372. had this Inscription upon his Tomb. Hic jacet vir nobilis Dr. Joannes de Mandevile Al. D. and Barbam Miles Dominus de Campdi Natus de Anglia Medicine Professor devotissimus Orator bonorum Largissimus pauperibus erogator qui toto quasi orbe Instracto Leodii diem vitae suae clausit extremum Anno Dom. M. CCC LXXI Mens Novemb. die 16. c. But the Town of St. Albans will not allow of this but claim the Honour of his Interment as well as that of his Birth and to this end they have a Rhiming Epitaph for him upon a Pillar near to which they suppose his Body to have been buried Which Epitaph saith Mr. Weaver being set to some lofty Tune as to the Hunting of Antichrist or the like it will be well worth the singing Thus it runs All you that pass by on this Pillar cast eye This Epitaph read if you can I will tell you a Tomb once stood in this Room Of a brave spirited Man John Mandevill by Name a Knight of great Fame Born in this honoured Town Before him was none that ever was known For Travel of so high Renown As the Knights in the Temple cross-legg'd in Marble In Armour with Sword and with Shield So was this Knight grac'd which Time hath defac'd That nothing but Ruins doth yield His Travels being done he shine like the Sun In Heavenly Canaan To which blessed Place O Lord of his Grace Bring us all Man after Man 19. Palmer of Orford within the Diocess of Rochester had this Epitaph Palmers all ouer Faders were I a Palmer lived here And Travyld still till worn wyth Age I ended this World's Pilgrimage On the blyst Assention Day In the cherful Month of May A Thowsand wyth fowre hundred seven And took my Jorney hense to Heaven 20. Rich. Davy Master of the Jewel-House and Mawd his Wife had this Epitaph Pray for the Sowl of Mawd Davy Whose Corps hereunder do lay She was Dawter of William Davy On whose Soul Jesu hae mercy I pray yow all for Cherite Say a Peter Noster and an Ave. 21. Rich. Bonevant laid interred in the Stone Church in the Diocess of Rochester had this Epitaph Preyeth for the Sowl in wey of Cherite Of Richard Bonevant late Mercer of London For the Brethren and Sisters of this Fraternite Owner of this Place called Castle of the Ston Remember him that is laid under Ston For hys Sowl and al Christian to prey To the merciful Jesew a Pater Noster anon And Ave to hys Moder and make no deley In March which decessyd the xix dey In the Year of our Lord God who keep him from pyne A Thousand four hundred fifty and nyne 22. And Sir John Dew Priest this O merciful Jesew Have Mercy on the Sowl of Sir John Dew 23. Another thus Here lies William Banknot and Anne his Wyff Swete Jesew grant to them and us everlasting Liff Pray yow hertely for Cherite Say a Pater Noster and an Ave. 1400. 24. Another with Arms upon the Monument thus Non hominem aspiciam ultra Olivio 25. Another thus Vixi peccavi penitui Naturae cessi Which was as Christian saith Mr. Cambden as that was Profane of the Roman Amici Dum vivimus Vivamus 26. In St. Leonard's Foster-lane is this Epitaph When the Bells be merely roung And Mass devoutly soung And the meat merely eaten Then sall Robert Trappis his Wiffs and his Chyldren be forgetten 27. The Pictures of Robert Agnes and Joan inlaid in Brass seem thus to speak Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus miserete nobis Et Ancillis tuis sperantibus in te O Mater Dei memento mei Jesu mercy Lady help 28. John Brokitwell an especial Founder or new Builder of Leonard's Foster-lane had this All yat will gud warks wurch Prey for them yat help thys Church Geuyng Almys for Cherite Pater Noster and Ave. 29. Vpon Michael Forlace c. this Prey for the Sowlygs of Michael Forlace and his Wyf and in the Worschypp of God and our Lady for theyr Faders and Moders wyth the Sowlygs of all Christen of yowr Cherite sey a Pater Noster and an Ave Maria. Body I Mary Pawson ly below sleepying Soul I Mary Pawson sit aboue weaking Both. We hope to meet again wyth Glory clothed Then Mary Pawson for ever blessed 30. Vpon Sir John Woodcock Lord Mayor this Hic jacet in requie Woodcock Jon vir generosus Major Londonie Mercerus valde morosus Miles qui fuerat ......... M. Domini mille centum quater ruit ille Cum X bis This John Woodcock was Lord Mayor Anno Dom. 1405. in which his Office he caused all the Werers in the River of Thames from Stanes to the River of Medway to be destroyed and the Trinks to be burned 31. Tho. Knowles Lord Mayor and John his Wife of St. Anthonies had this Epitaph Here lyth grauyn under this Ston Thomas Knowles both flesh and bon Grocer and Alderman Yeres forty Sheriff and twis Mayor truly And for he should not ly alone Here lyth wyth him his good Wyff Joane They were togeder Sixty yere And nineteen Children they had in fear Now ben they gon wee them miss Christ have there Sowlys to Heaven bliss Amen Ob. Ann. 14 32. The Epitaph of Walter Lempster Doctor of Physick Under this black Marbl ston lyeth the Body of Master Walter Lempster Doctor of Physick and also Phisition to the High and Mighty Prince Henry VII which Master Lempster gayve unto this Chyrch too Cheynes of fine Gold weying 14 Ounces and a quarter for to make certeyn Ornament to put on the blessyd Body of our Saviour Jesus He died the 9th of March M. CCCC 87. whose Soul God
as Judgment proceeded against him there arose among the People such a Damp or Mist that so filled their Heads that the greatest part of them seemed to be smother'd The Jurors died and presently the Lord Baron Sir Roger Bell Mr. Wrinemen Sir William Babington a Justice of the County Mr. Serjeant Barbam Justice of the Assize Mr. Dolley High-Shcriff Mr. Hart Under-Sheriff with divers others sickned there Three of the Persons died at Oxford and in several other places about 200 many of them Bleeding to death Batman's Doom p. 405. 2. Schenckius tells us of several Persons who thorow sudden fear have turned perfectly Grey doth Vives Hildanus and many other Physicians 3. One Jacob Heitzman contracted a Hoariness of his Beard from his Mothers Womb she being affrighted by occasion of a Neighbours House being on Fire Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 3. 4. We have known two Brothers bald by Nature the one a Toll-gatherer the other a Husbandman dwelling in Vngnrscheim Johan Stadlerus de Obs 5. We have already spoken of a Distemper that began in Poland and afterwards spread it self in Germany and other parts wherein the Hairs of the Head were turn'd into a kind of Snakes and living Vermin 6. Haly Rhodâ—han saw one that was Born with a Beard and Hair Com. ad Tex 177. Tech. Galeni Wolfius observed an Infant with as much Hair on his Breast as one of 30 years of Age. Wolf Lect. Memorab Tom. 2. p. 540. And another Bristled like a Swine 7. Many Women have been seen with great Beards Albertus Duke of Bavaria kept one in his House and I my self when a young man saw one at Oxford that was carried about for a show 8. Tincelius tells us of an Infant afflicted with a Hydrocephalon or a Watrish Tumour of the Head insomuch that when 14 days old the circumsluous Flesh had quite covered his Eyes Fincel l. de Miraculis 9. Albucacis tells of another whose Head was grown so big that the Boy neither standing nor sitting could bear it upon his Shoulders so that in few days he died Albuc l. 2. c. 1. Chirurg 10. Vesalius tells of a Girl of two years of Age at Ausburg our of whose Head was taken almost nine pounds of Water Vesal l. 1. c. 5. de hum corp fabrica 11. Many have been Born with Horns upon their Head which I pass over as not very pertinent in this place 12. Johan Baptista Modoctiensix used to be seized with a Pain of his Head every morning at Sun-rising which continued increasing till mid-day and then abated by degrees Carl. l. 8. c. 44. de Varietat Gesner and Wolfius report a Story of another of the like Nature With some the like Pain hath increased so that by Noon the Persons have been Mad. 13. A certain Hungarian Merchant who had been troubled many years with a heavy Pain in the forepart of his Head and at length with a strong blowing of his Nose drew out a Stone as big as a Bean. and so hard that no Knife could cut it Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 49. 14. In the Hungarian Fever call'd Theriodes it hath been observed often that Worms have crept out of the Brains of those Persons who have died Corad c. 10. Febr. Miscellan Hungar. Thercod 15. A certain rich Nobleman aged 22 who died of an Epidemical Distemper Anno 1571. in the Town of Albourg St. Sepulchre in the Marches of Ancona being opened by the Physicians whereof the famous Nicholas St. Michael was one and Schenckius himself another there was found in his Brain a red Worm as long as ones Finger with a sharp mouth a long black and hairy Neck rolling it self divers ways touching the very Basis of his Head Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 50. 16. One of Galen's School-fellows was taken at his Study with a Catochus or Catalepsis lying like a Log of Wood stiff and unflexible looking upon those that came near him with open Eyes not so much as winking being neither able to speak or move any part yet hearing and remembring some things that were spoken Galen Comment 2. in 1. pro Rhet. Hipp. c. 56. 17. Fernclius tells us of one who was suddenly struck with this Distemper at his Studies so stiff that keeping his Seat and holding his Pen in his Hand with his Eyes cast down upon his Book he seemed still intent upon his Study till being called and pull'd he was found to want all Sense and Motion Fernel l. 5. c. 2. Patholog 18. Jacotius speaks of another that he saw an old man very thin and juiceless sitting at Table with open Eyes and erect Body and his Hand reaching to the Dish as if you had seen a dead man feeding but so stiff that I could scarce move his Neck saith he Jacotius Comment ad Aplor 7. l. 2. Coaz Hipp. 19. I saw saith my Author a certain Epileptical Man who first of all was whitled about several times as it were in a Circle and then fell into his Fits Oâ—thaeus l. Obs preper 20. A certain man aged 30. from his Childhood was wont when he had gone 2 or 3 paces to turn himself about as it were in a Circle and he could not forbear doing so continually from the time that he heard the Bell ring first in the morning till he heard the Bell ring the second time at night in that time wholly alâ—â—aining from all Meat and Drink At last he was seized with Epileptical Fits in a most violent manner from which Vertiginous Motion and the other direct Fit of the Falling Sickness he was after some time delivered Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 103. ex Moccio 21. A Schoolmaster 's son of Drogheda not very far from Dublin as often as Epileptical Fits assailed him was so hurried with a direct motion that he went strait forward till he met with some insuperable Obstacle that stopt him otherwise neither Fire nor Water nor the steepest Precipice would hinder his course Arnoldi Boot c. 6. 22. A certain Nun of St. Vincents of Mantua by Name Monica Grignana for several years was afflicted with these Convulsive Motions She was forced to lie in Bed sitting day and night with her Head Neck and Arms tossed about forward and backward and to move them continually as she was Eating and Drinking and if any stander by endeavoured to hold them still she fell into a Swoon Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 120. 23. Platerus speaks of some particularly an Abbor who without any hurt of his Mind was forced involuntarily to Laugh and toss himself about even to the utter spending of his strength Plater de Observ propr Which puts me in mind of a Story related by Henry Stephens in his World of Wonders of a Man who being at church and seeing a Woman fall down off her Seat while she was sleeping before him fell into so great a Fit of Laughter that he continued 3 days and 3 nights without giving over 24. The Dance of St. Vitas is
God first a wonderful preservation of his Life in a publick tumult at Lyons in France must make way which forces from him the Acknowledgement of a Deity Then his Father sends for him home and with much gentleness perswades him to read the Scriptures he lights upon the first of John and with it he feels a Divine Supernatural Majesty and Power seizing his Soul which brought him over by a compleat Conversion to Jesus Christ Thus as the Woman of Tekoa told David doth God devise means to bring back his Banished Flav. Divine Conduct p. 61. 4. Lavater tells us that many Spanish Souldiers going into the Wars of Germany were there converted to Christ by falling into the Cities and Towns where Godly Ministers and Christians were Ibid. 5. A Minister of Wales who had two Livings but took little care of either being at a Fair bought something at a Pedlars standing and rent off a Leaf of Mr. Perkin's Catechism to wrap it in and reading a line or two in it God set it home so as it did the work Ibid. 6. The Marriage of a Godly Man into a Carnal Family hath been ordered by Providence for the Conversion and Salvation of many therein Thus we read in the Life of that renowned English worthy Mr. John Bruen that in his second Match it was agreed that he should have one Years Diet in his Mother-in-Laws House During his abode there that year saith Mr. Clark the Lord was pleased by his means Graciously to work upon her Soul as also upon his Wifes Sister and half Sister their Brothers Mr. William and Thomas Fox with one or two of the Servants in that Family Ibid. p. 62. 7. Augustine once Preaching to his Congregation forgot the Argument which first he proposed and fell upon the Error of the Manichees beside his first intention By which discourse he converted one Firmus his Auditor who fell down at his Feet Weeping and Confessing he had lived a Manichee many Years Possidonius in vita Augustini c. 15. Flavel's Div. Conduct p. 63. 8. I knew one saith Mr. Flavel who going to Preach took up another Bible than that he designed in which not onely missing the Notes but the Chapter also in which his Text by was put to some loss thereby But after a short pause he resolved to speak to any other Scripture that might be presented to him and accordingly read that Text 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise c. And tho he had nothing prepared yet the Lord helpt him to speak both Methodically and Pertinently from it By which discourse a Gracious change was wrought upon one in that Congregration who hath since given good Evidence of a sound Conversion and Acknowledged this Sermon to be that first and onely means thereof Mr. Flavel's Div. Conduct p. 63. 9. One who had lived many Years in a Town where Christ had been as clearly and as long Preached as in any Town of England when he was about Seventy Six Years of Age went to visit a Sick Neighbour A Christian Friend of mine saith mine Author came to see him also and finding this Old Man there whom he Judged to be one that lived upon his own Stock Civility good Works c. He purposely fell into that Discourse to shew how many Persons lived upon their Duties but never came to Christ The Old Man sitting by the Bed-side heard him and God was pleased to convince him that he was such a Parson who had lived upon himself without Christ to that day and would say afterwards had I died before Threescore and Sixteen I had perisht for I knew not Christ Mr. Firmin in his Real Christian p. 97 98. 10. In the Year 1673. There came into this Port saith Mr. Flavel meaning Dartmouth a Ship of Poole in her return from Virginia in which Ship was one of that place a lusty Young Man of Twenty Three Years of Age who was a Chirurgeon in the Ship This Person in the Voyage fell into a deep Melancholly which the Devil greatly improved to serve his own design for the ruin of this Poor Man however it pleased God to restrain him from any attempts upon his own Life until he arrived here But shortly after his arrival upon the Lords Day early in the morning being in Bed with his Brother he took a Knife prepared for that purpose and cut his own Throat and withal leapt out of the Bed and tho the wound was deep and large yet thinking it might not soon enough dispatch his wretched Life desperately thrust it into his Stomach and so lay wallowing in his own Blood till his Brother awaking made a cry for help Hereupon a Physician and a Chirurgeon coming in found the wound in his Throat mortal and all they could do at present was onely to stitch it and apply a Plaister with design rather to enable him to speak for a little while than with any Expectation of cure for before that he breathed through the wound and his Voice was Inarticulate In this condition I found him that morning and apprehending him to be within a few Minutes of Eternity I laboured to work upon his Heart the sence of his condition telling him I had but little time to do any thing for him and therefore desired him to let me know what his own apprehensions of his present condition were He told me he hoped in God for Eternal Life I replyed that I feared his hopes were ungrounded for that the Scripture tell us No Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him but that was self-murther the grossest of all murthers And insisting upon the Aggravation and Heinousness of the Fact I perceived his vain Confidence began to fall and some Moltings of Heart appear'd in him He then began to lament with many Tears his Sin and Misery and asked me if there might yet be hope for one that had destroy'd himself and shed his own Blood I reply'd the Sin indeed is great but not unpardonable and if the Lord gave him Repentance unto Life and Faith to apply Jesus Christ it should be certainly pardon'd to him And finding him unacquainted with these things I open'd to him the Nature and Necessity of Faith and Repentance which he greedily suckt in and with great Vehemency cried to God that he would work them upon his Soul and intreated me also to pray with him and for him that it might be so I pray'd with him and the Lord thaw'd his Heart exceedingly The Duties of the Day necessitating me to leave him I briefly summ'd up what was most necessary in my parting counsel to him and took my leave never expecting to see him any more in this World But beyond my own and all Men's Expectation he continued all that day and panted most ardently after Christ Jesus no Discourses pleased him but Christ and Faith and in this Frame I found him in the Evening He rejoiced greatly to see me again and entreated me to continue my
brought them home to Biscay Here the Vistiors of the Inquisition came aboard the Ship put them on Examination but by the Master's Favour and some general Answers they escaped for the present But fearing a second search they shifted for themselves and going twelve Miles by Night into France and so safely arrived in England Thus as the Psalmist speaks They which go down into the Sea and occupy in great Waters these Men see the Works of the Lord and his Wonders in the Deep Hackluit's English Voyages Vol. 3. Pag. 163. Full. Worth Pag. 282. in Devonshire 5. Dr. VVilliam Johnson late Chaplain and Subalmoner to King Charles I. going aboard from Harwich on Michaelmas-Day Sep. 29. 1648. was seized presently with a dull sadness of Spirit and was to use his own Words in a strange Anguish and Propassion so that he suffered Shipwreek in his Mind and all the terrors thereof before it came so really sick that to be drown'd in his Thoughts had been no Affliction to him After some time and not long about four a Clock in the Afternoon the Ship sprung a leak the Doctor crawled upon the Deck sees the sad Sight one fell to his Prayers another wrung his Hands a third wept after all they fell to work but in vain for the Wound was incurable At last they cast out their Long-boat shot off eight or nine Guns to give notice to the Master of the Ship that went out with them leap'd all into the Boat and in leaping the Doctor had like to have been drown'd No Mr. Cook who was Master of the Ship came to their Relief he and all his Men perished at the same time Now it blew half a Storm and they in a small Vessel many Leagues from any Shoar without Compass to guide them or Provision to sustain them starved with Cold and Night growing upon them without any thing in their Boat but a small Kettle which serv'd as a Scoop to cast the Water out and three Bags of pieces of Eight to the value of 300 l. sterling nothing to help them but their Prayers In this extremity of Danger see the Goodness of God a Ship made towards them and they with their two Oars towards it but the Sea was boisterous the Waves raging so that they were fain to keep out the Sea with their Backs sitting close to one another and to make use of their Kettle and for a long time were not able to reach the Ship nor the Ship them Tho' the good Man the Skipper hung on the Lee and did what he could to retard the Course of his Ship and hung out a Light to them at last they got into the Ship but the Doctor being weak and his Hands made useless and numb with cold and wet was left in the Boat till with the help of a Rope the Seamen pull'd him up Now they began to think over their Losses in the Shipwreck but they were not considerable when God had so graciously spared their Lives The next day Thursday it blew very fair for Norway whither their Ship was bound and about 12 a Clock at Noon they came within view of it but to escape the Rocks they thought to keep off the Coast till Morning and so sat down to eat the Doctor not having made a Meal in five Days About ten a Clock at Night when they had set their Watch and prayed with secure Thoughts they laid themselves to rest some of them upon their Bed but God appointed a harder Lodging for them such a one as for Jacob in his Journey to Padan Aram Gen. 28.11 for the Ship with full Sails ran upon a Rock and gave such a Crack that it was able to have awaken'd the most dead asleep among them The Mariners cried out Mercy Mercy Mercy the Master bid the Doctor pray for them pray for them for they should certainly perish The Ship stuck so fast in the Cleft of the Rock and brake in the hinder parts and one of the Seamen with a Rope in his Hand fastened to one of the Masts leaped from the Bow of the Ship to the Rock the rest following him 28 in number the Doctor being left alone upon the Deck began to wonder what was become of his Company and perceiving that they had all crowded to the Head of the Ship he went to see and there found a Dane who took pity on him and help'd him to get down with hird and being got down the Rope with much difficulty and danger he climb'd up on all four to his Company on the Rock Immediately the Ship began to decline and the Master being left last of all in the Ship made lamentable Moan to them to help him but too late for the Ship brake and sunk immediately and he good Man with a Light in his Hand who had been so kind in saving others but a little before was now with four of the Mariners drown'd himself Now the rest were upon a little Rocky Island unhabitable where they passed a sad Night the Country People call the Rock Arn-scare next Morning they were hungry one of the Boys brought the Doctor a Leaf of Scurvy-Grass some of them went a Fishing with a long Arm and a bended Finger and drew up some small Muscles Fresh Water was not to be had the Doctor being in a Fever was forced to lap salt Water which he still vomited up again and this he was told was both a present Cure of his Sickness and future Preservation of his Health A Danish Ship passed by but tho' they waved their Hats to them came not near them Then to their Prayers and singing Psalms after which some of them made a Raft and ventured to Sea upon it and it proved to be then a great Calm and the Goodness of God appear'd miraculous in that after the Loss of two great Ships he should save them by a swimming Plank for by this means several Shawls came rowing towards them before Night and brought Provision with them so that they got all once more to Land in Waller-Island where they were lodged in the Parson's House who was a Lutheran and shewed them no little kindness the People weeping bitterly at the Relation of their misfortunes and setting before them Meat and Drink Rye-Pancakes for Bread and good Lubeck Beer and after Sermon a doubtful Meal full of Variety in one Dish as Beef Mutton Lard Goat Roots and so many of God's Creatures that it seem'd the First Chapter of Genesis in a Dish From Ostersound they came for England in a Ship which presently had almbst fallen foul upon a Rock afterward sprang a Leak so that they were forced to pump for their Lives till at last they got safe but thro' Dangers and Troubles to Yarmouth See the Narrative it self called Deus Nobiscum with a Sermon by W. Johnson D. D. 6. Dr. Baily of St. John's Colledge in Oxford had a Son who was Servant to Sir John Robinson Alderman of London and afterwards Lieutenant of the
that had any Children whom they were willing to have taught English and to Read and Write and to learn the Catechism and where he met with a competent Number he enquired for fit Persons to instruct them a Man for the Boys and a Woman for the Girls and agreed with them as afore for a Penny or Two-pence a Week which he undertook to pay It was a great Work incumbent upon Mr. Gouge not only to have poor Children taught to Read and Write and to be carefully instructed in the Principles of Religion but the Persons of grown Age the Poor especially should be furnished with necessary Helps and Means of Knowledge as the Bible and other good Books in their own Language among which were The Practice of Piety The Church Catechism The Duty of Man with some other pious and useful Treatises of which he caused a great Number to be Translated and Printed and to be sent down to all the chief Towns in Wales to be sold at easie Rates to those that were able to buy them and to be freely given to such Poor as were not able In both these Designs through the Blessing of God upon his unwearied Endeavours he found very great and good Success for by the large and bountiful Contributions which chiefly by his Industry and prudent Application were obtained from charitable Persons of all Ranks and Conditions from some of the Nobility and Gentry of Wales and of the Neighbouring Counties and of several of that Quality in and about London as also from some of the Reverend Bishops and Clergy and from the Inexhausted Fountain of Charity the City of London led on and encouraged by the most bountiful Example of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to all which he constantly added Two Thirds of his Estate which was very considerable I say by all these together there were every Year Eight hundred and sometimes a Thousand poor Children Educated as afore is expressed And by his Example and Perswasions with the Magistrates in all the chief Towns in Wales he prevailed with them to maintain and bring up at their own Charges the like Number of poor Children and under his Inspection and Care He also gave a very great Number of Books afore spoken of both in the Welch and in the English Tongues to such of the poorer sort as were unable to buy and willing to read and make use of them But that which was the greatest Work of all and amounted indeed to a mighty Charge was this He procured a new and very fair Impression of the Bible and Liturgy of the Church of England in the Welch Tongue to the Number of Eight thousand One thousand whereof were freely given to the Poor and the rest were sent to the Cities and principal Towns in Wales to be sold to the Rich at very reasonable and low Prizes viz. at Four Shillings a piece well bound and Clasped which was much cheaper than any English Bible that was of so fair a Print and Paper was ever sold for See the Narrative of his Life 2. For the Highlands in Scotland The Honourable Robert Boyle Esq commiserating the Ignorance of the poor Highlanders agreed with one Mr. W. Hewsdon M. A. formerly of Edinburgh for 10 l. and the Defraying of all his Charges to make a Journey into those Parts and procure a fit Person to Translate for him the New Testament Psalter and Church Catechism into Irish who accordingly went and procured one Mr. Kirk for the purpose The Translation being finished and Printed at Mr. Boyle's Charge he with Mr. Kirk made a Journey into those Highlands dispersed the Books according to Discretion Mr. Kirk stayed there many Years 'till about a Year or two ago he died there but not 'till he had seen the great Success of the Translation and his own Pains amongst them Insomuch that tho' before they had not any Books of Religion in their own Language yet in a short time many Schools were set up and so greedy were the People to learn the Contents of these new Books that in the Schools near Port O Kirk Seventeen of the Scholars turned Masters and so bred Seventeen Scholars more for the East West and North Highlands old People redeeming their time from their ordinary Labour to get Knowledge and in two Years and a half they came ordinarily to Church with their Psalters in their Hand viz. to South-End in Kentaire to the North of Sunderland in Kaithness Backham c. where there hath been a Sermon every Lord's-Day since 1684 and a Lecture on a Week-Day There are Schools Erected for the Teaching of Latin Greek and Hebrew People very industrious to learn a great Emendation of Manners the People extreamly thankful to God Almighty for raising up such a one as Mr. Boyle to distribute his Charity among them I am informed there is a Printed Relation of this Great Work and the Success of it but not being able to procure it I am satisfied with this Account of it signed with the aforesaid Mr. Hewsdon's own Hand and attested by Sir Peter Pett 3. For the East-Indians in the Isle Formosa near China Mr. Robert Junius late of Delpht in Holland was Nominated by the Honoured and Pious Senate of the famous Expedition of the Vnited Provinces for the Conversion of the Eastern Indians and particularly in Formosa who accordingly undertook the Charge went over to the Place bestowed much Pains in laying the Ground-work and Principles of Religion amongst them so that of Persons grown up Adult in that Isle of Formosa 5900 of both Sexes gave up their Names to Christ and professing their Faith and giving fit Answers to Questions propounded out of the Word of God were baptized by him He set up School-masters to instruct others and gained Six hundred Scholars to Read and Write collected the chief Heads of Religion and composed several Prayers and translated certain Psalms into the Formosan Language this in the Northern Parts mostly but in the Southern also he planted Churches in Three and twenty Towns and promoted the Worship of the True God At last having set divers Pastors over them being grown weak and unserviceable in Body and desirous to see his Aged Mother and Native Country he returned home again This Narration is Published in Latin by Casp Sabellius and prefixed to his Book called Antidotum Ambitionâ—â— and Printed at the Charge of J. Jansonius Amsterdam and attested by several others See the Narrative published at London 1650. 4. Foro the Indians in New-England Mr. Winslow in several Relations gives this following Account First Time Octob. 28. 1646. Four of us saith he having sought God went according to Appointment to the Wigwam or Tent made of Boughs and Mats of Waaubon an Indian Governour who had given up his Eldest Son before to be Educated by the English in the Knowledge of GOD where we found many Indians gathered together from all Quarters to learn of us the Knowledge of GOD.
ever saw a Person drunk Nay it was often said That every Inhabitant of Kerton should be distinguished from others not only by the more savouriness of their Discourse but also by the universal Strictness and Piety of their Lives See his Life CHAP. LXV Remarkable Devotion on the Lord's Day THE first Observation of the Christian Sabbath was more by the Providence and Design of God then the Apostles own Inclination Joh. 20.19 the second was performed voluntarily Job 20.26 So afterwards upon the day of Pentecost being the first day they were all with one accord in one place Acts 2.1 And again Acts 20.7 On the first day of the week the Disciples came together to break bread and Paul preached unto them Rev. 1.10 St. John was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day And thus the Observation of the Lord's-Day-Sabbath being commenced it hath been continued by all good Christians to the present Age. 1. Pliny tells the Emperour Trajan that it was the use of the Christians in his time on a stated Day before it was light to meet together to sing a Hymn to Christ as to God secum invicem among themselves by turns and to bind themselves by a Sacrament not to do any Wickedness but that they commit not Thefts Robberies Adulteries that they break not their Word that they deny not the Pledge which being ended they used to depart and to come again together to take Meat but promiscuous and harmless Plin. Epist. 97. p. 306 307. 2. Constantine the Great made Laws for the strict Observation of the Lord's Days commanding That through all the Roman Empire all servile Employment should cease on those Days He prescribed also a Form for the Legions of his Soldiers to be used both on the Sabbaths and other Days And himself used to shew much Reverence and Attention to the Word of God Preached so that many times he would stand up all the Sermon-while and when some of his Courtiers told him that it would tend to his Disparagement he answered That it was in the Service of the great God who was no respecter of Persons Clarmar in vit Constantin p. 11. 5. Bede speaking of Bishop Tuda saith On the Lord's Days the People flock'd by Crouds together either to the Church or to the Monasteries not to refresh their Bodies but to learn the Word of God and if any Priest happened to come into any Village the People presently gathered together and took care to seek from him the Word of Life Bede Eccl. Hist l. 3. c. 26. 4. The Bohemians sanctified the Lord's Day in this manner First by resting from outward Labours from Carrying c. from Dealing in any thing that belongs to outward Works and Negotiation that their Servants and Beasts might have a Breathing-time Exod. 20.10 But much more by abstaining from the Works of the Flesh Drunkenness Dancing Dice idle Walkings and Trifles as also from nuptial Feasts Fairs Markets This also was out Custom especially under a Magistrate favouring the Church that on the Saturday betimes before the Sun set all should desâ—â—t from external Labours and with the Evening begin the sanctification of the Day consecrated to God Secondly by dealing in Divine and Spiritual things by singing Psalms and reading Scriptures on the Evening of the Sabbath but in the Morning and the whole Lord's Day by frequenting the Assemblys meditating on and practising Holy things not once only or twice but four or five times for because c. therefore we dehort from reviewing and looking over Tables of Receipts and Expences that all forgetting things Temporary may learn to meditate on things Eternal Comoenius de Fratrib Bohem. p. 55 56. 5. Mr. Elliot of New England had such an exact Remembrance of the Lord's Day that the Sun did not set the Evening before the Sabbath 'till he had begun his Preparation for it and when the Lord's Day came you might have seen John in the Spirit upon the Lord's Day Every day was a sort of Sabbath to him but the Sabbath-day was a Sign a Type a Fore-tast of Heaven with him He Laboured that on this day he might have to Words or Thoughts but such as were agreeable thereunto he then allowed in himself no Actions but those of a Raised Soul If he beheld in any Person old or young any Profanation of this Day he would be sure to bestow lively Rebutes upon it And hence also to the general Engagements of a Covenant with God which 't was his desire to bring the Indians into he added a particular Article wherein they bound themselves Mequontamouat Sabbath packeteaunat tohschke pomantamog i. e. To remember the Sabbath-day to keep it Holy as long as they lived See his Life 6. Bishop Jos Hall speaking of this Day saith Prayer Meditation Reading Hearing Preaching Singing good Conference are the Businesses of this Day which I dare not bestow on any Work or Pleasure but Heavenly I find it hard to offend in too much Devotion easie in Profaneness 7. Before I went to the University from the Month of August till the latter end of February following I was a Boarder in the House of one Mr. Philip Henry where I had the opportunity of observing his manner of Life and Conversation He was formerly Student of Christ Church in Oxford Junior of the Act Chaplain to Judge Puleston and Minister of Warthenbury But afterwards not conforming he married an Heiress and lived at Broad-Oke in Hanmer Parish in Flint-shire Bishop Wilkins sent twice for him in my time with a design to draw him over to Conformity as he had done many of his Brethren before in his own Diocess Dr. Bridgeman Bishop of Man and his Successor at Worthenbury spoke very honourably of him to Major Trevers and me at is own Table at Chester Bishop Fell of Oxford lamented his going off from the Communion of the Church of England as by Law established and the present learned and ingenious Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry is ready to give an honourable Testimony to his Sincerity I doubt not having some Knowledge of the Correspondence between them This Man ever since I knew him and whilst I was his Neighbour was careful to rise early on the Sunday Mornings to spend a considerable portion of time in his Private Devotions and Preparations then to come down and call his Family together and after some short preparatory Prayer to sing a Psalm commonly the 100 and then read some part of the Sacred Scripture and expound it very largely and particularly and at last kneel down with all his Family and pray devoutly with particular references to the day and the Duties of it and the Minister that was to Officiate After which and a short refection for Break-fast he made hast to Church and took care that all his Family that could be spared should go in due time likewise Sometime he was before the Preacher and often before the rest of the Congregation as once particularly when I gave them a
ever open to all that he thought Objects of Charity Thus did this pious Gentleman honour God with his Substance and adventure upon the Royal Prophet's Words to cast his Bread upon the Waters which though the unbelieving World accounts Folly and usually reckon it among their Losses yet he to his advantage according to the Promise thereto annexed found it again not after many Days This Bread like the Loaves which Christ fed the Multitude with was multiplied in his Hands and his Oyl increased by pouring out He was but a younger Brother and the Etate setled upon him was but 800 l. a Year or thereabouts and yet notwithstanding I had almost said this Excess of Charity his Estate was so far from being ruined or impaired as that not only the same bare Measure he received but much greater pressed down and running over was meeted out to him and his Posterity There is now left to his Heirs an Estate of more than the double value of what he received from his Father besides the Portions which he gave to all his Daughters Five in Number which were very considerable to some of them more than 2000 l. 15. Dr. William Gouge late Pastor of Black-Fryars a Man eminent as in other Graces so in this of Charity used to say That the Tenth part of a rich Man's Estate was a fit Proportion to be devoted to God for charitable Vses but himself as his Son tells us he collected from his own Papers gave the Seventh part of all his yearly Comings-in towards the Maintaining poor Scholars at the University and the Relieving poor Families and distressed Persons And how wonderfully God blessed as his Ministry so his outward Estate is so well known to all who lived in his Days that as his Son saith it is needless to say any thing of it only there may be truly applied to him the Words of the Psalmist He was ever merciful and lending and his Seed is blessed Mr. Tho. Gouge 's Surest and Safest Way of Thriving p. 16 17 18 19 20 c. From whence I have extracted all this Chapter almost entirely It were easie to multiply Instances of this nature but we will pass to another of somewhat a different kind The Story of SYNESIUS and EVAGRIUS LEontius Apamiensis a most faithful religious Man that had lived many Years at Cyrene assured them that Synesius who of a Philosopher became a Bishop found at Syrene one Evagrius a Philosopher who had been his old Acuquaintance Fellow-Student and intimate Friend but an oâ—â—â—â—ate Heathen and Synesius was earnest with him to become a Christian but all in vain yet did he follow him with those Arguments that might satitfie him of the Christian Verity and at last the Philosopher told him That to him it seemed but a meer Fable and Deceit that the Christian Religion teacheth Men that this World shall have an end and that all Men shall rise again in these Bodies and their Flesh be made immortal and incorruptible and that they shall so live for ever and receive the Reward of all that they have done in the Body and that he that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord and he that gives to the poor and needy shall have treasures in heaven and shall receive an hundred-fold from Christ together with eternal Life these things he derided Synesius by many Arguments assured him That all these things were certainly true and at last the Philosopher and his Children were baptized A while after he comes to Synesius brings him 300 l. of Gold for the Poor and bid him take it but give him a Bill under his Hand that Christ should repay it him in another World Synesius took the Money for the Poor and gave him under his Hand such a Bill as he desired Not long after the Philosopher being near to Death commanded his Sons that which they buried him they should put Synesius's Bill in his Hand in the Grave which they did The Third Day after the Philosopher seemed to appear to Synesius in the Night and said to him Come to my Sepulcher where I lie and take thy Bill for I have received the Debt and am satisfied which for thy assurance I have subscribed with my own Hand The Bishop knew not that the Bill was buried with him but sent to his Sons who told him all and taking them and the chief Men of the City he went to the Grave and found the Paper in the Hands of the Corps thus subscribed Ego Evagrius c. I Evagrius the Philosopher to Thee most Holy Sir Bishop Synesius Greeting I have received the Debt which in this Paper is written with thy Hands and I am satisfied and have no Action against Thee for the Gold which I gave to Thee and by Thee to Christ our God and Saviour They that saw the thing admired and glorified God that gave such wonderful Evidence of his Promises to his Servants And saith Leontius this Bill thus subscribed by the Philosopher is kept at Cyrene most carefully in the Church to this Day to be seen of such as desire to see it Baron Annal. ad An. 411. Ex Sophron. Praet Spir. c. 155. See the Story of the Lord Cromwel's Gratitude to Frescobald a Florentine Merchant mentioned in the Chapter of Remarkable Gratitude CHAP. LXXIV Present Retribution to the Observers of Sabbaths AS God hath inflicted remarkable Judgments upon those that have profaned his Sabbaths so he hath remarkably blessed them who have been careful to observe them according to his Promises made upon that point Isa 58.13 14. If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy Day and call the Sabbath a Delight the Holy of the Lord Honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thy own pleasure nor speaking thy own worlds then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the High places of the Earth and feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it 1. Bishop Jos Hall observed that according to his Care of observing the Lord's-Day he commonly prospered in his Undertakings the Week following 2. The Lord Chief Justice Hales hath made the very same Remark upon himself See my Christian's Companion where both these Examples are cited And if I mistake not the late Lord Delamere did the same 3. Towns and Families that have been more strict and regular upon that Day have commonly fared better than their Neighbours who have been profane and licentious Even within the Circuit of my own Knowledge the Town of Whitchurch in Shrop-shire escaped Publick Calamities better than some of her Sister-Towns as Draiton Wem Newport c. where frequent and sometimes dreadful Faires made great Devastations And which deserves not to pass without a Nota Bene the Difference of their Devotions upon that Day was notable to a common Eye In the former you should scarce see
shall deliver into their Hands take heed of them and cleave fast to Christ For they will leave no corner of his Conscience unsearched but will attempt by all guileful and subtle means to corrupt him and to cause him to fall from God and his Truth The Night after he had Subscribed he was greatly troubled and through Affliction of Conscience could not Sleep neither could his Mind be eased till he had procured his Subscription and tore out his Name Being Condemned to be Burned he thus said My Mind and Conscience I Praise God is now quiet in Christ and I by his Grace am very willing and content to give over my Body to the Death for a Testimony of his Truth and pure Religion against Antichrist and all his false Religion and Doctrine Ibid. p. 28. 7. In Suffolk among others there was one Peter Moon and his Wife who were Charged for not coming to Church and for neglecting other Popish Ceremonies Moon was first Examined Whether the Pope was not the Supreme Head of the Church Whether the Queen were not the right Inheritrix of the Crown Whether Christ's Body was not Really Present in the Sacrament c and being of a timorous Disposition he so answered as his Adversaries were satisfied His Wife also by his Example was drawn into the same Dissimulation and so they were dismissed But when they came home and began to bethink themselves what they had done they fell into such Trouble and Horror of Conscience that they were ready wholly to Despair And Moon seeing a Sword hanging in his Parlor was tempted to have slain himself with it which yet the Lord was pleased to prevent and afterwards upon their unfeigned Repentance to restore and comfort them Ibid. 8. Sir John Check who had been Tutor to King Edward VI. in the Reign of Queen Mary was cast into the Tower and kept close Prisoner and put to this miserable choice either to forego his Life or that which was more precious his Liberty of Conscience Neither could his Liberty be procured by his great Friends at any lower Rate than to Recant his Religion This he was very unwilling to accept of till his hard Imprisonment joyned with threats of much worse in case of his refusal and the many large promises made upon his Submission with what other means humane Policy could invent wrought so upon him whilst he consulted with Flesh and Blood as drew from him an Abrenuntiation of that Truth which he had so long Professed and still Believed upon this he was Restored to his Liberty but never to his Comfort for the Sense of and Sorrow for his own Apostacy and the daily sight of the cruel Butcheries exercised on others for their constant adherence to the Truth made such deep Impressions upon his broken Spirit as brought him to a speedy yet through God's Mercy and Goodness to a comfortable end of his Miserable Life A. C. 1557. ibid. p. 28. 9. There was one Ralph Allerton who coming into his Parish Church of Bently in Essex and finding the People idle or ill imployed he exhorted them to go to Prayers and after he had read to them a Chapter out of the New Testament for which being Apprehended he was carried before Bishop Bonner who by his subtle perswasions and flatteries so prevailed with this poor Man that he drew him to Recant his former Profession and so dismissed him But this base Cowardice of his brought him into such Bondage and Terrors of Conscience and so cast him down that if the Lord had not been exceeding gracious unto him he had Perished for ever But the Lord looking upon him with the Eyes of Mercy after he had Chastned raised him up again giving him not only hearty and unfeigned Repentance of his Back-sliding but also a constant boldness to profess his Name and Gospel even unto Death ibid. 10. In the City of Bristol there was one Richard Sharp a Weaver who being Apprehended for Religion was carried before Doctor Dalby the Chancellor who after he had Examined him about the Sacraments of the Altar so wrought upon him by Perswasions that he drew from him a promise to make a publick Recantation and the time and place were appointed for it But after this Promise Sharp felt such an Hell in his Conscience that he was not able to follow any Business and he decayed in his bodily Health and wholly lost his Colour Whereupon on a Sabbath going to his Parish-Church he pressed to the Quire-door and with a loud Voice said Neighbours bear me Record that yonder Idol pointing to the Altar is the greatest and most abominable Idol that ever was and I am sorry that ever I denied my Lord God For this he was carried to Prison and Sealed the Truth with his Blood Ibid. p. 29. 11. When Jerome of Prague came to the Council at Constance they sent him to a Town where they tied him fast to a great Block and set his Legs in the Stocks his Hands also being made fast unto them the Block being so high that he could not possibly sit thereon but his Head must hang downward where also they allowed him nothing but Bread and Water But within eleven days hanging thus by the Heels he fell very sick Yet thus they kept him in Prison almost Twelve Months and then sent to him requiring him to Recant and to Subscribe that John Huss was justly put to Death which he did partly out of fear of Death and hoping to escape their hands Yet they sent to Examine him again but he refused to Answer except he were brought in Publick before the Council and they presuming that he would openly confirm his former Recantation sent for him May 25. 1416. subborning False Witnesses to Accuse him But he so learnedly cleared himself and refuted his Adversaries that they were astonished at his Oration which he concluded with this That all such Articles which Wickliff and Huss had written against the Enormities Pomps and Disorders of the Prelates he would firmly Hold and Defend even unto Death And that all the Sins he had committed did not so much gnaw and trouble his Conscience as did that most Pestiferous Act of his in Recanting what he had justly spoken and to the consenting to the wicked Condemnation of Huss and that he repented with his whole Heart that ever he did it For this he was Condemned and Burned Ibid. p. 30. 12. Some of the Friends of Galcacius Garacciolus Marquess of Vico having promised to accompany him in his voluntary Exile but afterwards looking back and turning again to their Vomit they were Apprehended and cast into the Inquisition were they were forced publickly to Recant and to Abjure their Religion and so they became the Subject of Misery and Infamy and were equally Odious to both Parties Ibid. p. 30. 13. Tho. Bilney A. C. 1531. of Cambridge Professor of both Laws Converted Thomas Arthur and Mr. Hugh Latimer but after recanting his Principles for the space of two
the Crowd and murmur'd out â—uâ—l â—â—ords as these That seeing there had been frequent Brawls betwixt the Merchant and his Wife there was no doubt but he was the Author of that Tragedy in his House and said he were he in mine Hands I would soon extort as much from him By these and the like Words it came to pass that the Merchant was cast into Prison and being in a most cruel manner tormented by his Executioner though Innocent confessed himself the Murtherer and so was condemned to a horrible Death which he suffered accordingly Now was the Executioner secure and seemed to be free of all Danger till the wakeful Justice of God discovered his Villainy For the wanting Money had pawn'd a Silver Bowl to a Jew who finding upon it the Coat of Arms of the Merchant newly executed sent it to the Magistrate with notice that the Merchant's Coat of Arms was upon it Whereupon the Executioner was immediately cast into Prison and examined by Torture how he came by that Cup. He there confessed all as it had been done by him and that he was the only Manderer Thus the Innocency of the Merchant was discovered and the Executioner had the due Punishment of his Wickedness 16. Dr. Merie Causabon in his Preface to the Relation of Dr. Dee's Actions with Spirits tells us this Story following out of his Father 's Adversaria which he had from Bishop Andrews viz. Kalend. August This Day the most Reverend Prelate the Lord Bishop of Ely heard this strange Relation which he believed to be very true having received it from the Author an Eye-witness There is a Street in London called Lombard-street in which Street there is a Parish a Parish-Church wherein there was a Minister of very great Fidelity and noted Piety A. C. 1563. at which time there was a great Plague in London This Minister of the Parish told as unto others so also to the Lord Bishop himself that this thing befell him He had a noted Friend in his Parish a Man esteemed by all Honest and Pious This Man being taken with the Plague sent for the Minister who came to him in his Sickness and did not depart from him till he died and then he returned home Several Hours after he had been left for Dead in his Chamber his Wife entred into the same Chamber to take a Sheet or some Linen out of a Chest to wind him up in as the manner is Being entred and intent uppon her Business she hears this Voice Who is there She was affrighted and would have gone out but hearing the same Voice again Who is there and finding it to be the Voice of her Husband she goes to him What saith she Husband then you are not Dead and yet we had left you and given you up for Dead He answered I was truly dead but it seemed good to God that my Soul again should return to my Body But you Wife quoth he if you have any Meat ready give me some for I am hungry She said that she had some Mutton a Pullet and I know not what else but all unboiled but she could get them ready presently I cannot stay quoth he Hast thou any Bread and Cheese When she had told him that she had and he asked for some to be fetched he eat it his Wife looking on Then sending for the Minister of the Parish and commanding all that were present to go out of the Chamber he tells him this Quoth he I was really Dead but my Soul was commanded to return again to its Body that I might discover a Wickedness with my own Mouth done with my own Hands of which never any one yet had any Suspicion for I killed my former Wife with my own Hands with so much cunning that the Matter was never discovered to any one And having declared the manner how he perpetrated the Villainâ— not long after he expired and died then in good earnest There is no Necessity addeth my Author that any Body should make of this Relation an Article of his Faith yet I thought it very probable because believed by such a Man 17. About Fifteen or Sixteen Years agoe on the Lord's-Day a Stranger came to the Parish-Church of Woorvil near Bridgnorth in Shropshire where after Service ended he declared publickly in the hearing of the Congregation That whereas about Twenty Years past there had been in that Neighbourhood a certain Murder committed and the Murderer had not been discovered there was such a one naming the Person at that time in Worcestershire as I remember near the City of Worcester on his Death-bed who had sent him with all speed to make this publick Declaration That he the aforesaid Person having first committed a Robbery upon the Man did afterwards murder him and now could not die till he had made such Confession And I think the Messenger added this withal That some Restitution or Satisfaction should be made to the surviving Friends of the Party murdered if any such were to be found This I had from my Brother-in-Law Samuel Chaloner now of Lemster in Herefordshire who was at Church at the same time and both an Eye and Ear-witness 18. Anno 1690. April the 14th about Two in the Afternoon William Barwick having drill'd his wife along till he came to a certain Close within sight of Cawood-Castle where he found the Conveniency of a Pond he threw he by force into the Water and when she was drowned and drawn forth again by himself upon the Bank of the Pond he had the Cruelty to behold the Motion of the Infant yet warm in her womb This done he conceal'd the Body as it may readily be suppos'd among the Bushes that usually encompass a Pond and the next Night when it grew duskish fetching a Hay-spade from a Rick that stood in the Close he made a Hole by the side of the Pond and there slightly buried the Woman in her Cloaths Having thus dispatched Two at once and thinking himself secure because unseen he went the same Day to his Brother-in-Law one Thomas Lofthouse of Rufforth within Three Miles of York who had married his drown'd Wife's Sister and told him he ha carried his Wife to one Richard Harrison's House in Selby who was his Unkle and would take care of her But Heaven would not be so deluded but rais'd up the Ghost of the murder'd Woman to make his Discovery And therefore it was that upon the Easter-Tuesday following about Two of the Clock in the Afternoon the foremention'd Lofthouse having occasion to water the Quickset-Hedge not far from his House as he was going for the second Pailfull an Apparition went before him in the Shape of a Woman and soon after sate down upon a rising green Grass-plat right over-against the Pond He walked by her as he went to the Pond and as he returned with his Pail from the Pond looking sideways to see whether she continued in the same place he found she did and that she seemed to dandle
something in her Lap that looked like a white Bag as he thought which he did not observe before So soon as he had emptied his Pail he went into his Yard and stood still to try whether he could see her again but she was vanished In his Information he says That the Woman seemed to be habited in a brown-colour'd Petticoat Wastcoat and a white Hood such a one as his Wife's Sister usually wore and that her Countenance look'd extream Pale and Wan with her Teeth in sight but no Gums appearing and that her Physiognomy was like to that of his Wife's Sister who was Wife to William Barwick But notwithstanding the ghastliness of this Apparition it seems it made so little Impression in Lofthouse's Mind that he thought no more of it neither did he speak to any Body concerning it till the same Night as he was at his Family Duty of Prayer that that Apparition returned again to his Thoughts and discompos'd his Devotion so that after he had made an end of his Prayers he told the whole Story of what he had seen to his Wife who laying Circumstances together immediately inferr'd that her Sister was either drown'd or otherwise murdered and desired her Husband to look after him the next Day which was the Wednesday in Easter-Week Upon this Lofthouse recollecting what Barwick had told him of his carrying his Wife to his Unkle at Selby repairs to Harrison before-mentioned but found all that Barwick had said to be false For that Harrison had neither heard of Barwick nor his Wife neither did he know any thing of them Which notable Circumstance together with that other of the Apparition encreas'd his Suspicion to that degree that now concluding his Wife's Sister was murdered he went to the Lord-Mayor of York and having obtained his Warrant got Barwick apprehened who was no sooner brought before the Lord-Mayor but his own Conscience then accusing him he acknowledg'd the whole Matter as it has been already related as it appears by his Examination and Confession herewith printed To which are also annex'd the Informations of Lofthouse in like manner taken before the Lord-Mayor of York for a further Testimony and Confirmation of what is here set down On the Sixteenth of September 1690. the said William Barwick was brought to his Tryal before the Right Honourable Sir John Powel Knight one of the Judges of the Northern Circuit at the Assizes holden at York where he was found Guilty and afterwards hang'd in Chains See the Narrative 19. Colonel Venables had a Soldier in his Army that came out of Ireland and as under Colonel Hill who was then in London and would attest this following viz. That this Soldier looked pale and sad and pined and the Cause was unkown At last he came to Colonel Hill with his Confession that he had been a Servant 1. England as I remember to one that carried Stockings and such Ware about to sell an for his Money he had murdered his Master and buried him in such a Place and flying into Ireland listed himself his Soldier and that of a long time whenever he lay alone somewhat like a headless Man stood by his Bed saying to him Wil t thou yet Confess And in this case of Fear he had continued till lately it appeared to him when he had a Bedfellow which it never did before and said as before Wil t thou yet Confess and now seeing no hope of longer concealing it he confessed And as I remember saith my Author his going to Hispaniola was his Punishment instead of Death where Vengeance followed him This he offered then to bring Colonel Hill to me to attest Mr. Baxter 's Histor Disc of Apparitions and Witches c. p. 58. 20. Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder was secretly acted and strangely discovered and the Actors brought to condign Punishment as is well known to most of this Nation that are now living 1. Captain Bedloe deposed thus concerning the Murder The Papists because Sir Edmundbury seemed to be an Obstacle to them and had taken the Information of Oats and Tonge about the Plot resolved and contrived to take away his Life 2. Pursuant to which Design they hired for 4000 Pound Le Phaire Welch Atkins Pritchard the Deponent and some Jesuites to do the Fact 3. Accordingly the above-named Persons trapann'd Sir Edmundbury into Somerset-house about 5 a Clock at Night on Saturday October the 12th 1678. 4. This Trapan was effected thus The Deponent was told by le Phaire that He Welch and Atkins met Sir Edmundbury near the King's-head Inn in the Strand and decoyed him into Somerset-house under Pretence of Apprehending some Plotters 5. When they had him in the upper great Court of Somerset-house they thrust him into a low Room put a Pistol to him and threaten'd him if he made a noise then stifled him between two Pillows and finding him still alive strangled him with a long Cravat in the Room where he lay 6. On Monday following precisely between Nine and Ten a Clock at Night the Body was shewn to the Deponent by Le Phaire in the Room or the next to it where the Duke of Albemarle lay in State in the upper square Court there it was by the help of a Dark-lanthorn the Deponent saw the Body in the presence of Le Phaire Welch Atkins and two other Persons Extracted out of the Journals of the Lords and Council Mr. Prance adds That pursuant to this Design they hired Hill Green Kelley the Deponent Gerald and Berry to do the Fact Accordingly they trapann'd Sir Edmundbury into Somerset-house Hill decoyed him down to the Water-Gate under pretence of parting a Fray when they had him near the Rails by the Queen's Stables Green strangled him with a twisted Handkerchief wrung his Neck quite round punched him with his Knee and dragg'd him into Dr. Godwin's Lodgings On the Monday Night following the Body was shown by he help of a Dark-lanthorn to the Deponent and then at Nine a Clock at Night the dead Body was carried out by certain Chair-men to the corner of Clarenden-house and from thence in a Coach to Primrose-hill says Bedloe into Covent-Garden and so to Long-acre and thence to Sohoe says Prance and from thence he was conveyed a-stride on Horseback before Hill into the Fields where they thrust his Sword through his Body and cast him into a Ditch Out of the Lord's Journal As this Murder was committed for Reward so it was discovered for Reward too 21. Anno 1675. March the 19th William Writtle of Chatham was condemn'd at Maidstone Assizes to be hang'd in Chains on Beacon-hill for murdering of Ann James his Sweetheart and her Son John about Six Years old The manner of which Murder and its Discovery was thus He tells her That he had taken a Malt-house near Canterbury and had near Faulson a small Living under Pretence of going to see them he leads her and her Son into a Copice near Beacon-hill where he first murdered the woman and
They brought to me the Man himself and when we ask'd him how he dared to sin again after such a Warning he had no Excuse But being a Person of Quality for some special Reason of Worldly Interest I must not name him Hist Disc of Apparitions and Witches p. 60. 27. Mr. William Rogers an Apothecary of Crancbrook in Kent exceeding much given to Drinking and Sabbath-breaking though a Young Man of a sweet and pleasing Temper was often admonished and perswaded by Mr. Robert Abbot Minister of the Place to come to Church but had often promised and failed But one Lord's-day in the Morning when he said he was ready to come he was taken sick and betook him to his Bed but it proving only an Ague next Morning he betook him to his old course again Next Week the Messenger of Death came in earnest Mr. Abbot addressed himself to him in his Chamber with these words Oh! how often have you deceived God your own Soul and me and what is now to be done I fear you will die and then what will become of you His Sickness prevailed and there was too great a Fire kindled in his Breast to be smothered it burned in his own Soul and it lightened from his Heart and Lips into the Ears and Hearts of those about him One while he cries out of his sins saying I have been a fearful Drunkard pouring in one Draught after another till one Draught could not keep down another I now would be glad if I could take the least of God's Creatures which I have abused I have neglected my Patients which have put their Lives in my hands and how many Souls have I thus murdered I have wilfully neglected God's House Service and Worship and tho' I purposed to go God strikes me thus before the day of my Promise comes because I am unworthy to come among God's People again Another while he falls to wishing Oh! that I might burn a long time in that Fire pointing to the Fire before him so I might not burn in Hell Oh! that God would grant me but one Year or a Month that the World might see with what an heart I have promised to God my Amendment Oh! that God would try me a little but I am unworthy Another while to his Companions Be warned by me to forsake your wicked ways lest you go to Hell as I must do Calls his young Servant tells him that he had been a wicked Master to him But be warned by me saith he you have a Friend that hath an Iron Furnace which burns hot a long time but if you give your self to my sins you shall be burned in the Furnace of Hell an hotter Furnace Millions of Millions of Ages The Minister propounding to him the Gospel-Promises of the largest size he cried It is too late I must be burned in Hell He pressed him with Tears not to cast away that Soul for which Christ died c. He answered He had cast off Christ and therefore must go to Hell In short at last in idleness of Thoughts and Talk he ended his miserable Life See the Narrative published by Mr. Abbot the Minister Or A Pamphlet called A Warning-piece to Drunkards p. 31 32. 28. Nathanael Butler was first addicted to Drunkenness Gaming Purloining and Fornication before he committed that Murder upon his Friend John Knight in Milk-street London 1657. for which he was afterwards condemned to the Gallows and executed 29. Tho. Savage used to spend the Sabbath at an Ale-House or a Base House and was that very Morning made Drunk by his Harlot with burnt Brandy when perswaded to Murder his Fellow-Servant for which he was executed at Ratcliff 1668. CHAP. CXXIV Divine Judgments upon Uncleanness Inordinate Love c. BIshop Latimer is said to have presented King Henry the VIII a new Testament wrapp'd up in a Napkin for a New Year's Gift with this Poesie about it Fornicators and Adulterers God will judge 'T was boldly done and the Admonition tho' very biting and pungent yet had the Word of God for its Basis and Foundation For to touch a little upon the History of this Sin 1. Eli's Sons 1 Sam. 2. David 2 Sam. 11. The two Women 1 King 3.16 may go for Scriptural Examples all faulty this way and all punished yea Solomon himself no doubt paid dear for his Polygamy and Concubinage not to except Jacob among the Patriarch's who was most crossed in his Children of any as I have noted before in this Book 2. Henry the VIII and our late King Charles the II. may be worthy of the Reader 's Remark 3. A. C. 1544. Henry Duke of Brunswick had for his Wife the Sister of Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg who had for one of her Wairing-Maids one Eve Trottin with whose Beauty the Duke was so desperately smitten that after some Sollicitations he had several Children by her But after some time unknown to his Wife and her Friends he shut her up in his Castle of Stauffeburg and appoints two Women to lay a wooden Image representing her in her Bed giving out that Eve was sick at last this Image was laid up in a Coffin and it was pretended that Eve was dead The Counterfeit Corps was carried forth to be buried with all the usual Pomp and Ceremonies of a Funeral Prayers and Sacrifices The Dutchess and her Maids and other Companies of Virgins were present at the Solemnity all in mourning Apparel In the mean time Eve was kept in the Castle and the Duke had seven Children by her afterwards But at last the Imposture was brought to light to the perpetual Shame and Ignominy of the Duke with what ill Consequences more I cannot inform my self Sleidan's Commentar l. 15. 4. Childeric King of France was so odious for his Adulteries that his Nobles conspired against him and drove him out of the Kingdom Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 2. 5. Sir Robert Carr made afterwards Viscount Rochester a Minion of King James the I. and one of the Privy-Council falling in Love with the Countess of Essex who being married with Robert Earl of Essex both at Twelve Years of Age had lived above Ten Years without any carnal Knowledge one of another to make way for a Marriage with the same Countess procures the Commitment of Sir Tho. Overbury to the Tower because he discouraged Rochester from the said Match and at last his Death Upon which followed a Divorce between the Countess and the Earl her Husband a Creation of Rochester Earl of Somerset a Consummation of the Marriage between Rochester and the Countess of Essex a Celebration of the Wedding with the presence of the King Queen Prince and a great Confluence of Bishops and Nobles a gallant Masque of Lords and afterwards another Masque of the Princes Gentlemen which out-did this a Treat afterwards at Merchant's-Hall where the Mayor and Aldermen in their Gowns entertained the Bride and Bridegroom with the Attendance of the Duke of Lenox the Lord Privy-Seal the Lord-Chamberlain
of order For to set you in a way particularly now I cannot but only this A National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when that every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King indeed I will not the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that Therefore because it concerns my own particular I only give you a touch of it For the People and truly I desire their Liberty and Freedom as much as any body whomsoever but I must tell you That their Liberty and Freedom consist in having 〈◊〉 Government those Laws by which their Lives and Goods may be most their own It is not for having a share in Government Sirs that is nothing pertaining to them a Subject and a Soveraign are clean different things and therefore until they do that I mean until you do put the People in that Liberty as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sirs it was for this that now I am come here If I would have given way to an Arbitrary way for to have all Laws chang'd according to the Power of the Sword I needed not to have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not laid to their Charge That I am the Martyr of the People In troth Sirs I shall not trouble you much longer for I will only say this to you That in truth I could have desired some little time longer because that I would have put this that I have said in a little more order and a little better digested than I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse me I have delivered my Conscience I pray God that you may take those Courses that are best for the Good of the Kingdom and your own Salvation The Bishop of London minding him to say something concerning his Religion he answered I thank you very heartily my Lord for that I had almost forgotten it In troth Sirs my Conscience in Religion I think is very well known to all the World and therefore I declare before you all That I die a Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England as I found it left by my Father and this honest Man I think can witness it Then turning to the Officers he said Sirs Excuse me for this same I have a good Cause and a Gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Colonel Hacker he said Take heed that they do not put me to pain and Sir this and it please you But then a Gentleman coming near the Ax the King said Take heed of the Ax Pray take heed of the Ax. Then to the Executioner I shall have but very short Prayers and when I thrust out my Hand Then the King called to Dr. Juxon for his Night-cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner Doth my Hair trouble you Who desired him to put it all under his Cap which he did accordingly Then to Dr. Juxon I have a good Cause and a Gracious God on my side Dr. Juxon There is but one Stage more This Stage is turbulent and troublesome it is a short one but you may consider it will soon carry you a very great way from Earth to Heaven and there you shall find a great deal of Cordial Joy and Comfort King I go from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no Disturbance can be Doctor You are exchanged from a Temporal to an Eternal Crown a good Exchange Then the King took off his Cloak and his George giving his George to Dr. Juxon saying Remember And so humbly submitted to the Block Jan. 30. 1648. through the Indignity and unjust Dealing of ill Men. A brief Review of the most material Parl. Transact began Nov. 3. 1640. 115. Duke Hamilton Earl of Cambridge made this his last Speech on the Scaffold in the Palace-yard march 9. 1649. I Think it is truly not very necessary for me to speak much there are many Gentlemen and Soldiers there that see me but my Voice truly is so weak so low that they cannot hear me neither truly was I ever at any time so much in love with speaking or with any thing that I had to express that I took delight in it yet this being the last time that I am to do so by a Divine Providence of Almighty God who hath brought me to this End justly for my Sins I shall to you Sir Mr. Sheriff declare thus much as to the Matter I am now to suffer for which is as being a Traytor to the Kingdom of England Truly Sir it was a Country I equally loved with my own I made no difference I never intended either the Generality of its Prejudice or any particular Man 's in it what I did was by the Command of the Parliament of the Country where I was born whose Command I could not disobey without running into the same hazard there of that condition that I am now in It pleased God so to dispose that Army under my Command as it was ruined and I as their General cloathed with a Commission stand here now ready to die I shall not trouble you with repeating of my Plea what I said in my own Defence at the Court of Justice my self being well satisfied with the Command laid upon me and they satisfied with the Justice of their proceedure according to the Laws of this Land God is Just howsoever I shall not say any thing as to the matter of the Sentence but that I do willingly submit to his Divine Providence and acknowledge that very many ways I deserve even a Worldly Punishment as well as hereafter For we are all sinners Sir I am a great one yet for my Comfort I know there is a God in Heaven that is exceeding merciful I know my Redeemer sits at his Right-hand and am confident clapping his hand on his Breast is Mediating for me at this instant I am hopeful through his Free Grace and All-sufficient Merits to be pardoned of my sins and to be received into his Mercy upon that I rely trusting to nothing but the Free Grace of God through Jesus Christ I have not been tainted in my Religion I thank God for it since my Infancy it hath been such as hath been profess'd in the Land and established and now it is not this Religion or that Religion nor this or that Fancy of Men that is to be built upon it is but one that 's right one that 's sure and that comes from God Sir and in the Free Grace of our Saviour Sir there is truly somewhat that he then observing the Writers had I thought my Speech would have been thus takeâ—â—â— would have digested it into some better Method than now I can and shall desire these Gentlemen that do write it that they will not wrong me in it and that it may not in this manner be published to my disadvantage for truly I did not intend to have spoken thus when I came here c.
so have some excellent Persons in this Countrey done Governour Eaton at New-Haven and Governour Hains at Hartford died in their Sleep without being sick That Excellent Man of God Mr. Norton as he was walking in his House in this Boston was taken with a Syncope fell down dead and never spake more Nor is there any Rule or Reason for Christians to pray absolutely against sudden Death Some Holy Men have with submission to the Will of the most High desired and prayed for such a Death So did Mr. Capel and God gave him his Desire for on September 21. 1656. having Preached twice that Day and performed Religious Duties with his Family he went to Bed and died immediately The like is reported by Dr. Fuller in his Church History concerning that Angesical Man Mr. Brightman who would often pray if God saw fit that he might die rather a sudden than a lingring Death and so it came to pass For as he was travelling in the Coach with Sir John Osborne and reading of a Book for he would lose no time he was taken with a Fainting Fit and though instantly taken out in the Arms of one there present and all means possible used for his Recovery he there died August 24. 1607. The Learned and Pious Wolfius not the Divine who has written Commentaries on several Parts of the Scriptures but he that published Lectionum Memorabilium Reconditarum Centenarios on May 23. 1600. being in usual Health was after he had Dined surprised with a sudden illness whereof he died within a few Hours That Holy man Jacobus Faber who did and suffered great things for the Name of Christ went suddenly into the silent Grave On a Day when some Friends came to visit him after he had courteously entertained them he laid himself down upon his Bed to take some Repose and no sooner shut his Eyes but his Heaven-born Soul took its flight into the World of Souls The Man who being in Christ shall always be doing something for God may bid Death Welcome when ever it shall come be it never so soon never so suddenly Thus far Mr. Mather God who is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek him was pleased to give a Quietus est to the Reverend Mr. Hurst suddenly taking him from his Work to receive his Wages advancing him from the Pulpit to the Throne April 14. 1690. as he did the laborious Bishop Jewel who was first of the same Merton College in Oxford in somewhat alike manner from preaching at Lacock in Wiltshire now near an Hundred and twenty Years since who had said to a Gentleman disswading him from preaching then It did best become a Bishop to die preaching or standing in the Pulpit seriously thinking of that comfortable Elogy of his Lord and Master which you heard our Preacher chose for his Text at the Interment of Mr. Cawton Happy art thou my Servant if when I come I find thee doing Mr. Wells and Mr. Pledger were if I mistake not both struck with sudden Death on the Lord's-Day An Ingenious Poet of our own said in his Jambicks of the excellent Mr. Vines who went to his eternal Rest the Night after his Preaching and Administring the Lord's Supper the beginning of March 1655. Abit beata Mors Modis oportet hisce Episcopum mori And another then to the same purpose in our Mother Tongue wrote also Our English Luther Vines whose Death Iweep Stole away and said nothing in a Sleep Sweet like a Swan he Preach'd that Day he went And for his Cordial took a Sacrament Had it but been suspected he would die His People sure had stopp'd him with a Cry But his Hour was then come and so was that of the famous Mr. Hollingworth at Manchester who when at a Fast in Praying and Preaching he had as far outdone himself that Day as he used to outdoe other Ministers chang'd his Habitation here for a better having done his Work upon the irresistable Stroke of a deadly Apoplexy So was that as I have heard of the holy Mr. Ambrose So that of the laborious and much-followed Mr. Watson and we know lately of our Brother Mr. Oakes carried out of the Pulpit As was the Learned and Pious Professor Dr. Joshua Hoyl out of the University Pulpit in Oxford Death which came to him was in hast and made quick dispatch it gave one blow and down he fell Mr. Thomas Gouge died says Archbishop Tillotson who preach'd his Funeral Sermon in the 77th Year of his Age Octob. 29th 1681. It so pleased God adds this Great Author that his Death was so sudden that in all probability he himself hardly perceiv'd it when it happen'd for he died in his Sleep So that we may say of him as it is said of David After he had served his Generation according to the Will of God he fell asleep I confess continues our Author that a sudden Death is generally undesirable and therefore with Reason we pray against it because so very few are sufficiently prepared for it But to him the constant Employment of whose Life was the best Preparation for Death that was possible no Death cou'd be sudden nay it was rather a Favour and Blessing to him because by how much the more sudden so much the more easie As if God had designed to begin the Reward of the great Pains of his Life in an easie Death And indeed it was rather a Translation than a Death and saving that his Body was left behind what was said of Enoch may not unfitly be applied to this Pious and Good Man with respect to the suddenness of his Change He walked with God and was not for Good took him See his Funeral Sermon CHAP. CXLVII EPITAPHS MANY Instances of EPITAPHS in Prose and in Verse may be collected from the old Greek Poets and Historians who yet were but Children compared to the Chaldeans and Egyptians But the Ancientest President of Epitaphs must be that recorded in the Ancientest History viz. the Old Testament 1 Sam. 6.18 where it is recorded that the Great Stone erected as a Memorial unto Abel by his Father Adam remained unto that Day in being and its Name was called the Stone of Abel and its Elegy was Here was shed the Blood of Righteous Abel as it is also called 4000 Years after Mattn 23.35 and this is the Original of Monumental Memorials and Elegies 1. St. Bernard 's Epitaph made by one Adam a Canon Regular Clarae sunt Valles sed claris Vallibus Abbas Clarior his clarum nomen in Orbe dedit Clarus avis clarus meritis clarus honore Claruit ingenio religione magis Mors est clara cinis clarus clarumque sepulchrum Clarior exultat Spiritus ante Deum Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 105. 2. The Epitaph upon Bede made by one of his Scholars Hac sunt in Fossà Bedae Snacti Ossa But in the Morning this was found on his Tomb. Hac sunt in Fossà Bedae Venerabilis Ossa Ibid.
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
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
The Whole Written in a different Method from any thing Published on this Subject By a Person of Honour Price bound 2 s. The Secret History of White-Hall from the Restauration of Charles II. down to the Abdication of the Late King James Writ at the Request of a Noble Lord and conveyed to him in Letters By late Secretary Interpreter to the Marquess of Lovuois who by that means had the Perusal of all the Private Minutes between England and France for many Years The Whole consisting of Secret Memoirs c. Published from the Original Papers By D. Jones Gent. The whole PARABLE of Dives and Lazarus Explained and Applied Being several Sermons Preached in Cripplegate and Lothbury Churche Published at the request of the Hearers And recommended as proper to be given at Funerals Price bound 2 s. A Narative of the extraordinary Penitence of Robert Maynard who was Condemned for the Murther of John Stockton late Victualler in Grub-steet and Executed at Tybourn May 4. 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the aforesaid Memoirs Vnder this Stone the Matchless Digby lies Digby the Great the Valiant and the Wise This Age's Wonder for his Noble Parts Skill'd in six Tongues and Learn'd in all the Arts. Born on the day he died th' Eleventh of June On which he bravely fought at Scanderoon 'T is rare that one and self-same Day should be His Day of Birth of Death of Victory 13. I had a Maternal Uncle that died the Third of March last 1678. which was the Anniversary day of his Birth and which is a Truth exceeding strange many Years ago he foretold the day of his death to be that of his Birth and he also averr'd the same but about the Week before his departure 14. Of the Family of the Trevours six successive principal Branches have been born the Sixth of July Same Memoirs 15. Meekren in his Medico Chirurgical Observations gives an Account of a Man that had a Septenary-Fever and Pliny if we may believe him tells us of one Antipater a Sidonian that also had a Fever or as some call it an Ague every Year upon his Birth-day As for the Nature of such Fevers or Agues they are as unaccountable as the Revolution of Sevens a Year in which it 's observ'd a great part of the World that get out of Childhood die in and we read of one Family that never escapes it Whether an Anniversary Ague is curable I dare not pretend since we want Examples perhaps from the Fewness of ' em 16. In the Family of the Hastings Earls of Pembrooke it is memorable that for many Generations together no Son ever saw the Father The Father being always dead before the Son was born Chetwind's Historical Collections I shall take particular Notice here of the Third of November both because 't is my own Birth-day and also for that I have observ'd some remarkable Accidents to have happen'd thereupon I had an Estate left me in Kent of which between thirty and forty Acres was Marsh-Land very conveniently flanking its Up-land and in those Days this Marsh Land was usually lot for Four Nobles an Acre My Father died 1643. Within a Year and half after his Decease such Charges and Water-scots came upon this Marsh-land by the Influence of the Sea that it was never worth one Farthing to me but very often eat into the Rents of the Up-land So that I often think this Day being my Birth-day hath the same evil Influence upon me that it had 580 Years since upon Earl Godwin and others concern'd in Low Lands 18. The Parliament so fatal to Rome's Concerns here in Henry VIII's time began the Third of November 26th of his Reign in which the Pope with his Authority was clean banish'd the Realm See Stow's Annals and Weaver p. 80. 19. The Third of November 1640. began that Parliament so direfully fatal to England in its Peace its Wealth its Religion its Gentry Nobility nay it s King 20. The Third of September was a remarkable Day to the English Attila Oliver 1650. He obtain'd a memorable Victory at Dunbar another at Worcester 1651. And that day he died 1658. 21. The Third of September was Dismal and Unhappy to the City of London and consequently to the whole Kingdom I come now to the Days of the Week 22. I. Tuesday Dies Martis was a most remarkable Day with Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury as Weaver 201 observes from Mat. Paris Upon a Tuesday he suffer'd upon a Tuesday he was Translated upon Tuesday the Peers of the Land sate against him at Northampton upon Tuesday he was Banished upon Tuesday the Lord appear'd to him at Pontiniac saying Thomas Thomas my Church shall be glorified in thy Blood Upon Tuesday he return'd from Exile upon Tuesday he got the Palm or Reward of Martyrdom upon Tuesday 1220. his Venerable Body receiv'd the Glory and Renown of Translation fifty Years after his Passion Thus my Author 22. II. Wednesday is said to have been the fortunate day of Sixtus Quintus that Pope of Renowned Merit that did so great and excellent Things in the time of his Government See The just Weight of the Scarlet Robe p. 101. his desired Praises On a Wednesday he was born on that Day he was made Monk on the same he was made General of his Order on that also was he successively created Cardinal elected Pope and also Inaugurated See Heylin speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem 23. III. Thursday was a fatal Day to Henry VIII as Stow 812. and so also to his Posterity He died on Thursday Jan. 28. King Edward VI. on Thursday July 6. Queen Mary on Thursday November 17. Queen Elizabeth on Thursday March 24. 24. IV. Friday was observ'd to be very fortunate to the Great Renowned Capt. Gonsalvo he having on that day given the French many Memorable Defeats 25. V. Saturday was a Lucky Day to Henry VII Upon that Day he atchiev'd the Victory upon Richard III. being August 22. 1485. On that day he entred the City being August 29. Correct Stow who mistakes the Day and he himself always acknowledged he had experienced it fortunate See Bacon in his Life 26. At Feltwell in Norfolk which lies East and West a Fire happen'd to break out at the West end which the West Wind blew and burn'd all the Street On that Day Twenty Years another Fire happened there which began at the East end and burn'd it to the Ground again This I had from a Reverend Divine 27. Collonel Hugh Grove of Wiltshire was beheaded at Exeter together with Coll John Penrudock on the Ninth day of May 1655. On that very day Three Years his Son and Heir died at London of a Malignant Fever and about the same Hour of the Day 28. A very good Friend of mine and old Acquaintance was born on the 15th of November his eldest Son was born on the 15th of November and his Second Son's First Son on the 15th of November Thus far I 'm beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections CHAP. XVI Premonitions of particular Changes or Accidents of Life FOR God to take notice of and concern himself with Particulars was an Article of Religion which Epicurus could not allow of because it seemed Inconsistent with the Majesty of the Supream Being to interrupt his own Peace and Quiet with so many little Punctilioes But for us Christians to doubt of it were very unreasonable since we find in Sacred Scripture that He was concerned about the Sin of Adam the Murder of Abel the Punishment of Cain the preservation of Noah the Production of Isaac the Correction of David the safety of Daniel and the Three Children and to pass over many more Instances the Death of his Son and St. Peter his Apostle 1. Sir Henry Wooton speaking of the Duke of Buckingham's Death takes notice of these Ominous Presagements before his end being to take his Leave of my Lord's Grace of Canterbury the only Bishop of London whom he knew well planted in the King 's unchangeable Affection by
his own great Abilities after Courtesies of Courage had passed between them My Lord says the Duke I know your Lordship hath very worthily good Accesses unto the King our Soveraign let me pray you to put His Majesty in Mind to be good as I no way distrust to my poor Wife and Children at which Words or at his Countenance in the Delivery or at both my Lord Bishop being somewhat troubled took the freedom to ask him whether he had never any secret Abodement in his Mind No reply'd the Duke but I think some Adventure way kill me as well as another Man The very day before he was slain feeling some indisposition of Body the King was pleased to give him the Honour of a visit and found him in his Bed where and after much serious and private Discourse the Duke at his Majesty's departing embraced him in a very unusual and passionate Manner and in like sort to his Friend the Earl of Holland as if his Soul divined he should see them no more which infusions towards fatal End had been observed by some Authors of no Light Authority On the very day of his Death the Countess of Denbigh receiv'd a Letter from him whereupon all the while she was writing her Answer she bedew'd the Paper with her Tears And after a most bitter Passion whereof she could yield no Reason but that her dearest Brother was to be gone she fell down in a Swoon Her said Letter endeth thus I will pray for your happy Return which I look at with a great Cloud over my Head too heavy for my poor Heart to bear without torment but I hope the great God of Heaven will bless you The day following the Bishop of Ely her devoted Friend who was thought the fittest Preparer of her Mind to receive such a doleful Accident came to visit her but hearing she was at rest he attended till she should awake of her self which she did with the Affrightments of a Dream her Brother seeming to pass thorough a Field with her in her Coach where hearing of a sudden Shout of the People and asking the reason it was answer'd to have been for Joy that the Duke of Buckingham was sick Which natural Impression she source had related unto her Gentlewoman before the Bishop was entred into her Bed-Chamber for a chosen Messenger of the Duke's Death This is all I dare present of that Nature or any of Judgment not unwillingly omitting certain Prognostick Anagrams and such strains of Fancy Sir Henry Wooton 's Short View of the Life and Death of George Villiers Duke of Buckingham p. 25 26. 2. When Alexander went by Water to Babylon a sudden Wind arising blew off the Regal Ornament of his Head and the Diadem fixt to it This was lookt upon as a Presage of Alexander's Death which happen'd soon after 3. In the year of Christ 1185. the last and most fatal end of Andronicus Commenus being at Hand the Statute of St. Paul which the Emperor had caused to be set up in the great Church of Constantinople abundantly wept Nor were these Tears in vain which the Emperor washt off with his own Blood 4. Barbara Princess of Bavaria having shut her self up in a Nunnery among other things allow'd her for her peculiar Recreation she had a Marjoram-Tree of an extraordinary bigness a small Aviary and a Gold Chain which she wore about her Neck But 14 Days before she died the Marjoram-Tree dried up the Birds the next Night were all found dead and after that the Chain broke in two in the middle Then Barbara calling for the Abbess told her that all those Warnings were for her and in a few Days after died in the Seventeenth year of her Age After her Death above twenty other Virgins died out of the same Nunnery Several other Presages there are that foretold the death of Princes and great Men As the unwonted Howlings of Dogs the unseasonable Noise of Bells the Roaring of Lions c. Concerning Dead Mens Lights seen often in Wales take this following Story 5. A Man and his Family being all in Bed about Midnight and awake he could perceive a Light entring a little Room where he lay and one after another of some Dozen in the shape of Men and two or three Women with small Children in their Arms entring in and they seemed to dance and the Room to be far wider and lighter than formerly they did seem to eat Bread and Cheese all about a kind of a Stick upon the Ground they offer'd him Meat and would smile upon him he could perceive no Voice but he once calling upon God to bless him he could perceive the Whisper of a Voice in Welsh bidding him hold his Peace being about four Hours thus he did what he could to awake his Wife and could not they went out into another Room and after some dancing departed and then he arose yet being but a very small Room he could not find the Door nor the way to Bed until crying out his Wife and Family awaked Being within about two Miles of me I sent for the Man who is an honest poor Husbandman and of good Report And I made him believe I would put him to his Oath for the Truth of this Relation who was ready to take it Attested by Mr. John Lewis a learned Justice of Peace in Cardigan-shire Hist Discourse of Appar and Witches p. 130. 6. Mr. Flavel in his Treatise of the Soul says I have with good Assurance this Account of a Minister who being alone in a Journey and willing to make the best Improvement he could of the Days Solitude set himself upon a close Examination of the State of his Soul and then of the Life to come and the manner of its being and living in Heaven in the Views of all those things which are now pure Objects of Faith and Hope after a while he perceiv'd his Thoughts begin to fix and come closer to these great astonishing things than was usual and as his Mind settled upon them his Affections began to rise with answerable Liveliness and Vigour He therefore whilst he was yet Master of his own Thoughts lift up his Heart to God in a short Ejaculation that God would so order it in his Providence that he might meet with no Interruption from Company or any other Accident in that Journey which was granted him For in all the Days Journey he neither met overtook or was overtaken by any Thus going on his way his Thoughts began to rise and swell higher and higher like the Waters in Ezekiel's vision till at last they became an overflowing Flood Such was the Intention of his Mind such the ravishing Tastes of Heavenly Joys and such the full Assurance of his Interest therein that he utterly lost the Sight and Sense of this World and all the concerns thereof and for some hours knew no more where he was than if he had been in a deep sleep upon his Bed At last he began to perceive
Imprisoned under the Name of a Witch my Husband and Friends disowned me and seeing no hope of ever being in Credit again through the Temptation of the Devil I made that Confession to destroy my own Life being weary of it and chusing rather to Die than to Live This her lamentable Speech did astonish all the Spectators few of whom could refrain from Tears The Truth of this Relation saith my Author is certainly attested by a worthy Divine now living who was an Eye and an Ear Witness of the whole Matter 16. Mr. Showers in his Discourse of Tempting of Christ saith Many Instances might be named of a sinful limiting the Power of God One among others is that of rash Appeals to Heaven expecting that God by his powerful Providence should interpose to the Decision of doubtful Cases And this Men do in the use of such things unto which some notable Effects are ascribed which they were never inabled or appointed by Nature or Divine Institution to produce As when a Person was Indicted upon Suspicion or for a Fault that was secretly committed or upon the Testimony but of one Witness he was to purge himself by Ordeal Fire or Water that is to put himself upon GOD and Appeal to Him This was allowed by some of the Laws of Charles the Great and was in frequent use in this Nation in the Saxons time Many Instances in the ninth and tenth Century may be given of this as a common Practice in the Christian World when there was not sufficient Evidence of a Man's Guilt to put him on such Extraordinary Tryals expecting some miraculous Appearance of God to vindicate his Innocence or conclude against it In such doubtful Cases they said they would go ad Juaicium Dei they would Appeal to Heaven Many ways they had of this in different Forms and several Ceremonies and particular Prayers with Fasting and Adjurations in the Names of God to the particular Element various according to the Quality of the Person whether a Freeman or a Slave that is one of a mean and base condition the former was to be tried by Fire and the latter by Water hot or cold But what Ground have we to think that if Men are Innocent the Power of God will this way preserve them or if they be Guilty that He will leave them to suffer by it It is true He appointed under the Law a draught of bitter Waters for the Woman suspected of Adultery to discover her Innocency or Guilt this was peculiarly enacted by God himself who doubtless would assist such extraordinary Procedure as was of his own Institution But it is not for us to use such Methods of our own devising and expect the like success Philip de Comines tells us of Two Franciscan Friars at Florence who offer'd themselves to the Fire to prove Savonarola to be a Heretick But a certain Jacobine offer'd himself to the Fire to prove that Savonarola had true Revelations and was no Heretick In the mean time Savonarola preach'd and made no such confident Offer nor durst he venture at that new kind of Fire Ordeal But if all Four had past through the Fire and died in the Flames what would that have proved Had he been an Heretick or no Heretick the more or the less for the Confidence of two or three Zealots Thus far Mr. Showers 17. The Persians had a Law That if a Man were accused and found guilty he should not straitway be Condemned but after a diligent enquiry of his Life and Conversation And if the number of his praise-worthy Deeds did countervail the contrary he was fully quit of the Trespass Chetwind's Hist Collect. 18. Eustathius a Man famous for Preaching and Holiness of Life opposing the Arrian Heresie the Arrians suborned a naughty Strumpet to come with a Child in her Arms and Accuse Eustathius of Adultery and She Swore that he begat that Child of her Body which though he constantly denied yet he was put out of his place Howbeit his Innocency e'er long was made known for the Strumpet being struck with Sickness She was in such horrour of Conscience that She confessed the whole Practice and how She was hired to slander this holy Man and that yet She was not altogether a Liar for Eustathius the Handicrafts Man begat the Child though not Eustathius the Preacher See Mr. Nathanael Vincent 's Childs Catechism CHAP. XXIV Doubts strangely Resolved and the Weak Confirmed SAint Peter was resolved concerning the Divinity of our Saviour by a Miracle which so startled him that he â—ell down at Jesus Feet saying Depart from me for I am a sinful Man O Lord Thomas doubting of his Resurrection was resolved to accept no Satisfaction in the case but by his own Senses and it was granted him as a special favour And 't is strange to observe how low God stoops many times in condescension to Human Infirmities on this Score to help their Faith and clear their Doubts meeting his Children in their own way and sometimes Surprizing them when their Doubts are at full tide and they least expect them 1. That good Gentlewoman Mrs. Honeywood under a deep and sad Desertion refused and put off all Comfort seeming to Despair utterly of the Grace of God A worthy Minister being one Day with her and Reasoning against her desperate Conclusions she took a Venice-Glass from the Table and said Sir I am as sure to be Damned as this Glass is to be broken and there with threw it forcibly to the Ground but to the Astonishment of both the Glass remained whole and sound which the Minister taking up with admiration rebuked her Presumption and shewed her what a VVonder Providence had wrought for her Satisfaction and it greatly altered the Temper of her Mind O how unsearchable are all his ways and his paths past finding ouâ— Lo these are part of his ways but how small a portion do we know of him Flavel's Divine Conduct p. 73. 2. Mrs. Joan Drake of Emersham in her great Temptations had a custom of turning over the Bible to put her Finger suddenly upon some Verse saying Now whatsoever my Finger is upon is just my Case whatsoever it be and my Doom But the Lord did so order it that looking upon the Verse it was always found encouraging and comfortable She was much entreated to desist but she prayed that she might do it once more promising faithfully to leave off afterwards being permitted she open'd the Bible and put her Finger upon that excellent Text without looking or reading a word Isa 40.27 c. Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my way is hid from the Lord c. which being read and considered of so crossed her hopes that it made her blush Clark Exam. vol. 2. p. 357. 3. In the Life of Arch-Bishop Vsher we are told of a Lady wavering in her Religion who was resolved by occasion of a Jesuit's being disabled to proceed in a Disputation with the Bishop and leaving the place
with shame See his Life by Mr. Clark p. 296. And another Lady Wife to the Lord Mordant confirmed by occasion of the Jesuit's absenting from the Disputation and sending his excuse that he had forgot all his Arguments tho' he had them before as ready as his Pater Nâ—ster as he believed through the just Judgment of God because he had undertaken to Dispute with so worthy a Man without License of his Superiour Ibid. p. 278. 4. One Mr. Charles Langford in a Book Published by him called God's wonderful Mercy in the Mount of woful Extremity A. C. 1672. Tells us that for near Forty Years he had been Buffeted severely by Satan who had left no Stone unturn'd to do him all the mischief that he could For the space of Forty Years saith he or thereabouts hath it pleased the Hand that took me out of my Mother's Womb to train me up and lead me along in this uncomfortable Wilderness of Temptation tho' I cannot say that in all these Years he hath left me to the violence of Spiritual Conflicts for then the Burthen had been too heavy for Flesh to stand under so long Yet must I needs say my clearest Day all that time was but clark and however I seemed to others in point of Comfort outwardly sure I am my Soul enjoyed not her rest nor could I ever say I was all that while more than a Prisoner of hope still subject unto Bondage and not discharged of the Debt nor delivered from my Fears It was but a hard shift that I made to hold up my head when I was at best my worst cannot be expressed until now at last that God for whom I waited in the way of his Judgments and from whom were my Expectations in the use of appointed means all this while came and was found of me when I look'd not for him and delivered me from my strong Enemy set my Feet upon a Rock and Established my goings I can say by experience Now I know there is a God and now I know there is a Devil Such have been the Delusions cursed Injections of Blasphemous Thoughts and dreadful Temptations wherewith he hath endeavoured to â—ll my Soul till the day the Lord by his great power delivered me out of his Hands That I have cause to know him and to make him known as I am able to the World In short tho' he had been tempted to Murder his Wife and made Provision for it and she knew it yet she still performed the duty of a faithful Yoke-fellow and upon April 16. 1669. a day for ever to be Solemnized as Glorious and Honourable by me his poor Creature They are his own words she going on in her constant course of Prayer after she had given the Lord his Holy and Reverend Titles using Moses's Arguments brake forth into these words My Father my Father What wilt thou do with my Husband He hath been speaking and acting still in thy cause Oh! Destroy him not for thine own Glory Oh! What dishonour will come to thy great Name if thou do it Oh! Rather do with me what thou wilt On Rather Do what thou wilt But spare my Husband c. He that is pleased to stile himself a God hearing Prayer and in most of his great works delights to advance his own power by using small and unlikely means after long tarrying and in a time when I looked not for him came now and owned his own Ordinance crowned the Cries and Faith and Patience of a poor Woman with such success that my praise shall be continually of him The proud may scorn but the humble shall hear thereof and be glad That roaring Lion mine Adversary the Devil that old Serpent that red Dragon that unclean Spirit that Liar that false Accuser Murderer Appollyon Abaddon even now when he thought himself almost settled in the Possession of his long sought Dominion and that there was no casting him out of my Soul which he had abused making it his Dung-hill whereon he laid all the fifth of Hellish Thoughts and Abominations that he could now was sent to his own place by my dear Lord Christ who broke the Doors of Brass and rescued me from the Rape of Hellish Furies c. See the Book writ by his own Hand p. 53 54. c. 5. When I was Minister of Shipley in Sussex a certain Man of another Parish on a Lord's Day after Evening Service came to me and desired to speak with me about some particular Case of Conscience I think it was concerning the Sin against the Holy Ghost after some discourse upon the point he told me that he had for many Years been haunted with doubts and great fears about his Salvation and could enjoy no comfort but at last unexpectedly as he was at his Loom for he was a Weaver by Trade a certain Text of Scripture was suggested to his mind by he knew not what secret Impulse and thereupon all the thick Fog which he had so long laboured under was scattered and the Room was filled with Light and he enjoyed a great Serenity and Peace and Comfort afterwards 6. Mrs. Polsted of Bednel Green for a great while was in great Darkness and Deserted It prevailed even to the uttering of words dreadful to her Friends But drawing near to her end she desired my Sister Dunn to stay with her that Night she died and to close her Eyes She lay by her upon the Bed when she spake to her thus O Mrs. Dunn it is a dreadful thing to be separated from Christ for ever for ever Yes so 't is says her Friend but I am perswaded it shall never be your Portion She fell into a kind of a Slumber and a little after spake Mrs. Dunn Christ is come let us haste to meet him let us haste to meet him She ask'd her if she had now closed with Christ yes said she I stick to my first choice I stick to my first choice What shall I render to the Lord What shall I render to the Lord And so died praising the Lord. 7. Mrs Charlton once told me That after a Desertion of about Eight Years she had such a Floud of Spiritual Joy that when she walk'd in the Streets they seem'd to her Pav'd with Gold for a Fortnights time and she was fain to beg of God to stay his Hand Her Body being not able to bear it 8. Mr. Nutkin of Okingham told me That once after near Fifty Years Profession upon a Day of Thanksgiving observed by himself upon a recovery from Sickness and to beg a Sanctified use of Health restored on a sudden a dark Cloud fell on him that all his Profession had been Hypocrisie That Day and the Night after which he passed without Sleep it continued and he was so held down by the Temptation he had not power to look into his Bible The next Day he thought thus Have I been so long acquainted with the Lord and shall not I dare to look into his