aduersaries remoued hym selfe vnto the solitarie Wyldernesse there to leade a priuate solitarie lyfe In the meane tyme vnto them whiche so willingly and wyckedly forsware them selues this happened The fyrst as he wyshed by casualtie of fyre was burnt to death and al his family whiche fyre rose but of one litle sparke The seconde was taken with a greeuous strange sickenesse from top to toe and deuoured of the same The thyrde hearyng and seeyng Gods iust iudgement to fal vppon the other twayne confessed the fault and through great repentaunce powred out such abundaunce of teares that he lost both his eyes Thus was their false perturie punished by God and the good Byshoppe receyued home agayne with ioye Saint Gregorie telleth vs a wonderfull storie of a young Chyld vnder the age of seuen yeeres at whiche age we say chyldren haue no discretion yet for swearyng and blasphemyng the name of the Lorde his Father holdyng hym in his armes the Dyuel entred possession of the sayde Chylde as it visibly appeared But to come to meere Englysh Stories Though not first in order yet for dignitie I wyl place Kyng Stephan and that companie whiche contrary to their oth made in the dayes of Kyng Henry the fyrst vnto Mahld or Mold yet they crowned Stephan Earle of Bolloigne Kyng of Englande in whiche number were VVilliam Archbyshop of Caunterburie Roger Byshop of Salisbury Hugh Bigot Steward sometimes to kyng Henrie the fyrst and diuers Lordes more The Archbyshop God punished shortly after with death the Byshop of Salisbury the kyng vanished hym the lande Hugh Bigot died miserably Diuers other Lordes were diuersely punished Eustace the kynges sonne taking vp his horse before his father had a fall and brake his legge The kyng in remembraunce of his periurie with sorowe ended his miserable lyfe euen when he had now made a composition to lyue in peace and to holde his Crowne quietly duryng his lyfe tyme proclayming Henry Duke of Normandie heyre apparaunt to the Crowne euen then when he most desired to lyue most likely to lyue in most quietnesse with sorowe he payed the price of his periurie with the losse of his lyfe Edwarde the fourth at Yorke toke a solemne othe to holde him contented with his owne Dukedome and to yeeld due obedience vnto Kyng Henry but his oth rashly taken was as soone broken and his periurie God punished in his posteritie none of his chyldren came to the possession of the Crowne Elfred because he was a Duke shal haue the next place This Elfred conspired agaynst Kyng Adelstane at Winchester 〈◊〉 put out his eyes his conspiracie suspected and detected the kyng secretly fledde The wycked Duke was dryuen to purge him selfe by his oth of the suspition In the Churche dedicated to S. Peter at Rome periuriously he forsware him selfe but euen so soone as he had forsworne hym selfe he fel downe dead in the Church and so was taken vp and caried to the Englyshe house at Rome and from thence after three dayes to his Graue Earle Godwin traiterously slue Alphred brother to Kyng Edward the thyrde afterwarde as Godwin sate at the Table with the kyng at Windsor it happened that one of the cup bearers one of this Earle Godwins owne sonnes brynging a Cuppe of Wyne towardes the kyng tripped on the one foote and yet recouered by the stay of the other foote so that he shedde none of the Wyne wherat the Earle Godwin laughed saying Howe the one brother gently had holpen the other Ryght so sayd the Kyng shoulde my brother Alphred haue holpen me had not the Earle Godwin been At whiche woordes Godwin to excuse hym selfe falsely forsware the fact and takyng a morsell of bread in his hand wyshed that that peece of bread myght choake hym yf he were gyltie of that deede but so soone as he had receyued the bread foorthwith he was choaked and fell downe dead whereat quoth the kyng haue away this periured Traytour and by Harold his sonne he was conueyed to Winchester to be buried Vpon whose Land also GOD sent such a Plague that vntyll this day all Englande heareth of the infortunate place called Godwins Sandes Syr Roger Mortimer brake his solemne fayth and allegiaunce vnto his souerayne Lord Kyng Edwarde the seconde and for the same his periurie is thus punished In the dayes of Edwarde the thyrde he was fyrst set openly vpon a Ladder his priuie members cut from hym and cast into the fyre before his face his hart pluckt out of his belley his body diuided into foure quarters and sent to the foure principall Cities of the Realme Howe many corrected in Gods mercifull iudgement for our example haue we knowen some punished by losse of theyr goodes some by fyre some by strange sicknesses some with tongues so blacke as a coale some with suche hotte tongues that they coulde not in any case cloase their mouthes agayne which before they had opened to the dishalowyng of Gods most blessed name as notable of late dayes aboue the rest let vs remember Richarde Long in Caleis that wyllyngly to trouble Smyth and Brooke tooke his oth vpon a Booke that they twayne ate flesh togeather in Lent in the sayd Brookes house yet in trueth the sayd Smyth came not into Brookes house all that Lent he long after this periurie committed drowned hym selfe at the iuttie ende of the hauen in Caleis Grimwood of Hitcham in the Countie of Suffolke agaynst Iohn Cooper of Watsam in the sayd Countie at an assise holden at Berry wylfully forsware hym selfe at Haruest after feelyng no payne complaynyng of no disease iudgyng hym selfe strong and able to labour as he was stacking vp a Goffe of Corne sodenly his bowels fell out of his body and immediatly he dyed most miserably That woorthy instrument in Gods Church Maister Iohn Foxe from whom I collected these two last stories geueth a gentle and fatherlyke warnyng to all young Gentlemen to leaue their outragious swearyng by the fearefull example of this Gentleman followyng In the tyme and raigne of King Edward the syxt there was in Cornwall a lustie young Gentleman who dyd ryde togeather with other moe Gentlemen and their seruauntes in number about twentie Horsemen amongst whom this lustie yonker entryng into talke began to sweare most horribly vnto whom one of the company not able to abyde suche blasphemous abhomination in gentle wordes sayd to hym that he should geue accompt for euery idle woorde The Gentleman takyng snuffe thereat Why quoth he takest thou thought for me Take thought for thy wyndyng sheete Well quoth the other amende for death geueth no warnyng as soone commeth a Lambes skinne to the market as an old Sheepes Gods woundes sayd he Care not thou for me ragyng styll after his swearing maner woorse and woorse in woordes tyll at length passyng on theyr iorney they came rydyng ouer a great Brydge which standeth ouer a peece of an arme of the Sea vpon which Brydge this
kingdomes by Gods merciful ordinance and sufferaunce to this ende that aboue all thynges they shoulde promote the glory of his name Howe are they lulled a sleepe in the cradle of securitie in the drowstnesse of theyr owne transitorie glory yf they forget that which most specially concerneth Gods glory Me thinketh al Princes shoulde reckon all them that vnreuerently vse Gods name neuer lyke to afforde theyr persons any reuerence or true obedience They that feare not God wyl they care for man No truely who so keepeth of God neyther feare nor loue wyl easily breake his fayth to any Prince A woorthy obseruaunce it is that good Kinges here in Englande haue made right good and holsome lawes to Gods glory agaynst common swearing We haue good cause to hope that as GOD hath geuen vs a moste gracious Queene aunsweryng in any good Title to any other kyng that hath been in this Realme So in this case also it wyll please hym to woorke by her Grace and her Graces most honourable Counsell that they shall most specially excell exceede and goe beyonde al others in studious care and prouision for the reuerence and honour due vnto Gods most glorious name In this number of good kynges in this respect are to be remembred 1 Kyng Iue 2 Kyng Alfride 3 Kyng Edwarde 4 Kyng Edmonde whose lawe was that whosoeuer was once proued periured shoulde for euer be separated from Gods congregation And of â—awes made in his tyme for this and other matters looke the collections of M. William Lambert whiche were imprinted by Iohn Day Anno. 1568. 5 Kyng Henry the first for example to the whole Realme beginning at his owne house first ordeyned that within his owne Pallace yf any dyd sweare he shoulde forfayte to the vse of the poore for euery othe If he were A Duke xl s. A Lorde xx s. A Knight Squire or Gentleman .x. s. A Yoman .iii. s .iiii. d. A Page o Lackie to be scourged There be lawes for meaner matters more duely obserued GOD graunt that his honour may be most specially regarded Amen In Fraunce Kynges that holde theyr Crowne in Homage to the kynges of England haue made these lawes to this purpose Fyrst Ludouic Kyng of Fraunce ordeyned that al periurers and common swearers shoulde haue theyr lyppes seared with an hot burnyng iron and this punyshment he caused to be put in execution openly at Paris vpon a Citizen there Philip an other of the kynges of Fraunce constituted this general lawe that who so euer were he Gentle or simple yea though he were for byrth ryght noble in what place so euer it were though it were in a common Tauerne where many wyse men forget themselues if he blasphemed Gods name he should strayght way be drowned Maximilian the Emperour made this Law that whosoeuer was iustly reprehended as a vayne swearer shoulde leese and pay xiii s. iiii d. but if after his reprehension he woulde not both be sorowful for his sinne and willingly pay the sayde money he shoulde lose his head Philip an Earle of Flaunders for the precinct of his dominion decreed that who so euer forsware hym selfe shoulde loose both his goodes and his lyfe Iosephus counsayleth that the blasphemer shoulde be stoned and then hanged vp one whole day afterwarde beyng taken downe that he should be throwen into a holl or pyt without any solemnitie of buryal Iustinian the good Emperour vnto his Citizens of Constantinople counsayleth and commaundeth thus Whereas many in woordes and othes execrably abuse the most reuerend name of God whereby Gods heauie wrath is procured we exhort you that you abstayne from cursing and bannyng and from swearyng eyther by your head or by your heare or by any other othes For if iniuries done vnto man be not vnreuenged much more he that dishalloweth Gods name is woorthy of great punishment for such faultes truely both hunger and earthquakes and the plague of Pestilence falleth vppon vs We therefore gently exhort you that you abstayne from suche greeuous crimes If any wyl not be warned by this our Counsayle fyrst as he shal procure Gods displeasure so shal he be sure not to escape vnpunished for we haue geuen vnto our most worthy gouernour of this our royal Citie this earnest commaundement that he shal apprehend the offenders herein cause them to die the death least God hym selfe should punishe both this Citie and the whole Realme for leauyng so great faultes vnpunyshed The lawe of the Egiptians was that no swearyng shoulde be vsed but in lawfull causes If any were prooued periured he lost his head The Sithians had a Lawe lykewyse that whosoeuer was prooued periured should lose his head and he that made proofe thereof shoulde haue his goodes The Romans had a Lawe that who so euer was prooued periured he should be throwen downe from the high Rocke Tarpeius and therefore when they dyd sweare they helde a Stone in their hand and protested If I lye or sweare ought but trueth cast me downe the Hyll violently as I flyng this stone from me But to goe beyonde men The Lorde hymselfe hath made a Lawe He that blasphemeth the name of the Lorde shall dye for it al the multitude shal stone hym to death whether he be Citizen or Stranger yf he blaspheme the name of the Lord let him dye the death And this law God commaunded to be put in execution vpon the sonne of Salomith whiche was the daughter of Dibri where no doubt the Mothers name is remembred and the Grandmothers for their offence of yll education Lykewyse Iosue the Israelites made a faythful oth with the Gibeonites In the dayes of Saul that oth was broken which breache of fayth the Lorde punished with three yeeres continuall famine whiche famine was not taken away vntyl seuen of the sonnes or next of the kinred of Saul were hanged vp vnto the Lorde Lykewyse Mathathias whom the kyng of Babilon named Sedechias he contrary to his oth rebelled against the king of Babilon whiche periurie the Lorde thus punished Nabuchodonosor tooke Sedechias prisoner fyrst he flue his sonne in his owne sight after that he plucked out both his eyes he bounde him with Chaynes of Iron and caryed hym prisoner to Babilon where he kept hym in perpetual miserie What neede I remember that Troy and diuers other Cities were destroyed for periurie Eusebius telleth of three wicked disposed persoÌ„s that of mischiefe pretended agaynst Narcissus the good Bishop of Hierusalem layde vnto his charge an heauie haynous crime to make their false accusation the more probable they sware greeuously and desired GOD to shewe vengaunce vppon them on this wyse The fyrst wyshed to be destroyed with fyre yf it were not true The seconde wyshed to be consumed with a most greeuous sickenesse The thyrde to loose both his eyes Narcissus perceyuing their desperate intence vnto mischiefe and his weakenesse not able to resist three suche
falsly forsworne hymselfe The partie offended charitably answeared that the offence agaynst hym myght easily be forgeuen but the offence agaynst God in abusing his most holy name was most heynous and wicked But more to witnesse his repentance he desyred hym to come home to his house and so Lea dyd and there confessed his fault to hym and dyuers other credible persons And on Munday the xxviii of Ianuarie ten weekes after this confession beyng alone in his house as the deuyll is cunnyng in choosyng his tyme he then assaulted hym when he had no helpe or comfort by the presence of his wyfe or any other and so mightyly ouercame hym that as it seemed the sayd Lea entended to haue murdred hymselfe with an old rustie knyfe he ripped his owne belly and so hard was his hart his mind being vanquished with the horrible remembraunce of his detestable periurie that he gryped his owne guttes with his owne handes and so let them fall from hym into an earthen vessell But as Gods mercie is vnspeakeable so blessed be God therefore the deuyll hauyng shewed his tyrannie his wyfe came sodaynly and at this strange syght scrikyng very loude some of the neyghbours came runnyng in and sent for a Surgeon who presently stytched vp his woundes and dressed hym so cunnyngly as he coulde After him came also a spiritual Surgeon the pastor of that Parry she where he dwelt named M. Simpson Father Lea dwelled in Sone Alley in Norton folly in the parrysh of S. Botulphes without Byshopsgate of London and he with the Spirituall comfort of Gods sweete promises of remission of sinnes to all penitent sinners that in Christes name aske and entreate for forgeuenesse so salued his afflicted conscience that this distressed creature was recomforted therewith and earnestly called vpon God for mercy and forgeuenes professyng that he stedfastly hoped to be saued by the blood of Iesus Christe who of his ryche mercie had geuen hym a tyme of repentance after his desperate fact And so ended his lyfe the .xxix. of Ianuarie These examples beyng meere Englyshe let vs borowe some out of the Germane Histories the profitablest members for vs to take example by for that they had the Gospel before vs and for their vnthankfulnesse and loosenesse of lyfe these ensamples ensuyng were shewed vpon them Let vs be warned by their woo least after warnyng refused by counsell and example we feele also with them the punishment of warre Melancthon remembreth of two wanton young men makyng but a iest of Gods most glorious name stryued whether of them could sweare most terriblest or curse most horriblest but their iestyng was so odious in Gods syght that the one of them was presently stryken with madnesse In the Citie Eslingen where vpon Sainct Katherins day there is a great Fayre kept a Gentleman of a noble house by byrth fell amongst other yll company to Dyce and lost a great deale of money whereat beyng moued earnestly the Gentleman swearyng and cursyng outragiously in a furious heate called to one of his men for his Horse euen when it was now in the edge of the euenyng his man disswaded him from riding alleaging that the wayes were foule and hard to fynd dangerous through many waters and it now began to be darke alredy earnestly entreated he his Maister to tarrie vntyll the next mornyng But as he must needes go whom the Deuyll dryueth so ful of rage and fury foorth they went in number but three the Gentleman and two men They had not rydden far but they met with more company as yll or woorse then them selues Deuyls no doubt who bent theyr force directly agaynst this swearyng Gentleman these feendes plucke hym of from his Horse and would no doubt haue carried hym away body and soule yf they had could his men through Gods mercie especially the one of them hauyng a good measure of fayth and a good conscience were vnto their Maister good Angels at that time defendyng hym from the force of the enimie Howbeit all the nyght long they wandred out of the way those euyl spirites stil troubling them seekyng the destruction of the swearyng Gentleman vntyll the day was lyght then when they sawe the coast of the Countrey and knewe where about they were they brought theyr blaspheming Maister vnto Bethen Hawsen where after he had lyen three dayes sicke he departed this lyfe At Tubinga a desperate Boy deuised new othes such as were not in common vse but the Lord sent a canker or some worse disease that ate out his tongue euen the very instrument where with he blasphemed God. At Ciguea in Schueberg for greedinesse of the gaynes of certaine Moynes a wretched creature forsware him selfe but God remoued his blessing from the place a Snayle as an instrument of Gods wrath for the Lorde can woorke by any weake creature through his owne power and myght a Snayle made lytle holes which at this day remayne to be seene and so deuoured the mettall in the Moynes that from thencefoorth no mettall remayned in the Moynes to be founde as before they were though with much wastful cost and expences they haue been sought for since that committed periurie In Thuringia the Deuyll as he thought his commission would haue serued hym seased vpon a young man for dishalowyng the name of God whom yet in mercy vpon repentance GOD delyuered from his tyranny So as the young man remayned an open and visible witnesse both of the Deuyls vnmerciful tyrannie and of Gods vnspeakable mercie Rodolphus Duke of Sweathen had made a faythfull othe vnto the Emperour Henrie the fourth but Gregoric the seuenth Pope of Rome absolued hym from that oth as wel as he coulde It came to passe that this Duke now beyng contrary to his oth on the contrary part agaynst his liege Lorde the Emperour in a battayle fought hard by Merspurge he lost both the feelde and his ryghthand and fled into the Citie for refuge where lying sicke his ryght hand beyng brought vnto hym diuers of the Popes Ciergie standyng about hym with deepe sighes and grouynges he sayd vnto them Lo this is that same hand with the which I gaue my fayth vnto my Lorde the Emperour You gaue me counsell to rebell agaynst hym you procured myne absolution from the Pope you see Gods iudgement vpon me consyder now in your consciences whether you haue well doone or no And shortly after he yeelded vp the ghost Manlius remembreth one of Swether a man of noble byrth whom the Palatine toke prisoner but of mercie the Palatine gaue him licence to depart into his owne Countrey vpon his promise made by an oth that he should by a tyme limitted returne as a prisoner priuileged by promyse of his fayth vnto Heydelbergum but the prisoner esteemyng more of his libertie then of his fayth played the Truant and returned not afterward hoasting with a Iewe hauing now broken his Christian fayth not farre from the valley of Ioachim his lyfe
Patrones by name I haue chosen thres suche as though comparisons be odious And blessed be GOD therefore our Churche of Englande aboundeth with good men so as I dare say no one function in subiectes state is more faythfully and diligently discharged then the ministerie yet hereof I dare clappe my handes vnto my selfe that all other eyther learned or godly wyl easily geue them the tytle besydes theyr excellent vniuersall gyftes of literature of diligent and faythfulâ— distributers of Gods heauenly misteries whereunto yf theyr lyfe be not correspondent let hym that can step foorth and rebuke so that he doo it per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iuste coarguere Of the whiche three as the one hath thâ— fyrst place before our most gratious Queene and her most honourable Counsellours in the which place aâ—â— his wisdome of godly zeale hath mooued diuers thingâ— heretofore to be reformed So at this tyme I trusâ— in God his spirite wyll worke a mightie effect in hym And the other wayne I am sure in theyr condition and place wyl mooue and further this Christiam request to Gods owne glorie Hereof also I hope largely that whatsoeuer so godly learned and faythful stewardes of the Lorde shall â—â—â—ue al other that be eyther godly learned or zelous wyl assent prosecute and further the same to the vttermost of theyr strength and habilitie Whiche God graunt for his sonne Christe Iesus his sake to his onely honour and reuerence of his most gloryous name as also to the great commendation of the gouernment of his church in England that other congregations of Christ els where may confesse England to be no whyt inferiouy vnto any in the world but rather a lyght and lantherne vnto the rest Amen Amen ASword against swearing god send vs god send vs. LOrde thy Swoord brandysheth wrath agaynst it EXcept our Englande leaue her othes outragious XEgypt plagues were not so sharpe a scourge AS God wyl sende when he his floore shal purge NO thyng doth more diminish Gods glory DOth not God threaten swearers his vengaunce EXcept you repent and be hartily sory REmember hel fyre shal be your pyttaunces NOVVVVEL God speede thy tongue And guyde thee with his grace That when to preach thy course shal come This vice thou mayst deface And as S. Ridley dyd procure the poore some ioy When good King Edward dyd from hym perceyue their hard distresse So God geue thee to moue that sharpe Lawes may destroy This filthy sinne and thyne attemptes God blesse with good successe A Swoord agaynst Swearyng CHriste our most blessed Sauiour in that his most perfect fourme of prayer wherein al necessary goodnesse for soule or body is desired for vs and al euylles due vnto vs are required to be turned from vs hath as the most speciall set downe this in the fyrst place before al other a petition of al Christians most necessary to be required at Gods handes That the name of our heauenly father be sanctified that is alwayes esteemed holy and reuerend And in deede for good and louing chyldren howe is any thing more requisite or what more perfect note of true and sonlike loue is there then this That the sonne aboue al other thynges doo seeke especially the honour and reuerende estimation of his father So also God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe with the sonne and the holy Ghost one only God of al myght and power when he had chosen one peculier people to shewe his myght by them ouer al the worlde he gaue vnto them and consequently to vs al Lawes or Commaundementes ten in number but he gaue them by thunder and lyghtning by myste and darkenesse by smoke and fyre Mount Sinai was al on smoke and the smoke went vp to the middest of heauen teachyng vs by dreadeful signes that his lawe is to be had in reuerence and his Maiestie to be feared Amongest whiche commaundementes as in the former twayne he teacheth that he is GOD alone and therefore onely to be honoured so the next is that his name be no more lyghtly or vaynely vsed Vsed yet but not in vayne whereunto yf God be to be feared that not without these great and dreadeful signes gaue vs these his commaundements he addeth the penalty of his wrath The Lord wyl not hold him giltlesse that taketh his name in vayne And if the Lord the lawe geuer that knoweth best the entent and purpose of the law the Iudge also against the transgressours of the same shal pronounce vs gyltie what remayneth to the person condemned but bitter execution How is it then that GOD by terrour commaundyng vs Christe by dutie of loue exhortyng vs aboue al thynges to seeke the honour and reuerende estimation of God his name his most glorious name notwithstandyng is most vaynely vsed most shamefully abused and blasphemed most outragiously Howe faere this accusation woulde stretche howe generally this fault is spread that concerneth the dishonouryng of Gods name it is not mine intent here to discouer it As the name of God in it selfe is most glorious and can not be dishonoured yet al the wayes meanes practised by mankynde agaynst the glory of Gods name to set them all downe were a woorke infinite This smal Treatise whiche I pray God it may be to the honour onely of his name shall concerne the lawfulnesse of swearyng the abuse of vayne swearyng the punyshment of pertury or forswearyng As two false Knaues neede no Broker for they can easily enough agree in wickednesse sine mediante without any to breake the matter betweene them so amongst true and faythful men there neede no othes Where Vertue fayleth not trueth of it selfe carrieth credite sufficient But God onely knoweth who are his and the simple cloke of Hipocrisie couereth many a subtyl soule Double dealyng of the moste maketh manye men doubtfull where they may trust Christe is so conueyed by subtiltie and falsehood is so disguysed with fayre colours that in a deepe deceyptfulnesse a man woulde almost dread no danger and he that standeth in no feare or doubt of subtiltie is soonest endomaged wherout for our safetie the Lawyer teacheth vs this lesson to trust fewe or none vpon their woordes woordes are but winde bynde euery mans bargayne sure by writing Because that fayth and troth with no degree wyl stande Therefore the Lawyer sayth take wryting of his hande If no man woulde deceyue his neighbour yf euery man woulde speake the trueth from his hart we then shoulde neede no wrytten bondes othes should haue no vse amongst vs A remedy therefore it is agaynst our corruption that in doubtful matters confessyng God almyghtie his wysedome that he knoweth all and euery singuler woorke and woorde deede and thought of man we take his name we vse the name of God that is not in vayne but lawfully we confesse his almyghty power that he knoweth al thinges A matter that muche concerneth his Maiestie for who can doo so but God alone we cal hym as witnesse of
gentleman swearer spurced his Horse in such sort as he sprang cleane ouer the Brydge with the man on his backe Who as he was going cryed aloude Horse and man and all to the Deuyll WYddowe Barnes beyng rebuked for swearing to the entent she myght defeate an Orphant of her ryght not regardyng good admonishmentes within foure dayes after cast her selfe out at a window in Cornehil and brake her necke Arthure Myller a fylthy talker of rybaldrie a common swearer and blasphemer of Gods name in his sickenesse the yeere of our Lorde 1573. refused all comfortable doctrine of fayth in Christe and cryed out The Deuyl the Deuyl Confessing in deede gods omnipotent power for he sayd he felt it but he coulde not pray for grace the cause he hym selfe knewe but he woulde not vtter it So that kyssyng his hande often in which he sayd he helde the Deuyll crying for helpe onely vpon the Deuyl he most miserably ended his most wretched lyfe An Aueris 1575. II. Februarie AN Aueris wyddowe which at that tyme dwelt in Ducke Lane without Aldersgate in London in the Parish of S. Bartholome we the litle by Smythfielde iudged to be .lxx. yeeres of age or thereabout came the day and yeere aboue dated to the house or shop of Richarde Wylliamson in Woodstreete whose wyfe exerciseth the sorting dressing of Flaxe and Towe to buye there as heretofore she had been accustomed some course Towe and hauing cheapened and agreed for vi pounde of course Towe a very small value but marke whyther customable vse dooth bryng one She perceiuing the seruauntes in the shop busie about other Customers secretly slypt away imagining by lykelyhood that because of their great businesse they nothyng regarded her Howbeit as GOD woulde the Mayden that in her Mistres absence vsed to delyuer Ware and receiue money remembryng redyly that no money was receiued for the sayd vt pound of Towe sent one of them that best myght be spared from the shop home to the house of this An Aueris in Ducke Lane to require eyther the Towe agayne or els money for it This vngodly woman in whose mouth a wicked oth was the rediest thyng Sware by and by that she payed the money whyle she was yet in the shop But beyng earnestly desyred that she would agayne returne to the sayd shop there to affirme the same As one that would put on a countenaunce of honestie she refused not so to doo lashyng out by the way bytter curses and terrible othes that she had alredy payed the money neyther ceassed she when she came backe agayne to the shop But beyng gently reprehended for her vngentle and vngodly deede with terrible othes periuriously she forsware the fact Vidz that she departed without payment And yf she payed not the money before her departure out of the shop she desyred vengeance at the Lordes handes and that he woulde openly shewe vppon her in his iust iudgement that yf she departed out of the shop without payment of the money for the sayd .vi. pounde of Towe that she myght presently sincke or fall sodenly downe and neuer haue power after to styrre or go out of that place thynkyng perchaunce as Atheistes doo that there is no GOD or els that GOD heareth not the prayers of the people eyther to rewarde the godly or to punyshe the wycked Howbeit as GOD is a swyft GOD to reuenge when his mercie is refused so in the deapth of his iudgement he heard her prayer and stroke her so immediatly vnto the grounde that staggeryng to and fro the strength of her legges faylyng her and ceassing to doo theyr duetie in vpholdyng the body downe she fell in the shop and became speachlesse neuer able to ryse without helpe neuer able to vtter any more blasphemous othes agaynst the Lorde Onely a woonderfull thyng to tell as yf GOD would playuely shewe the cause of his procured wrath she helde out in her left hand .xiii. d. with which she should haue payed for the Towe and that sayd money she tossed and tumbled vp and downe vpon her Apron so as al the standers by might beholde the same As she fell downe in the deuylles name so to stande vp agayne no helpe coulde support her that she myght be able agayne to goe Her mouth also was put to a most vyle office as yf GOD woulde shewe that in his iustice he would punishe the place from whence and the instrument wherewith his most holy name was so vnreuerently blasphemed So as that which nature woulde haue cast downewarde at the bostome of the bellie in some secrete place when she had withdrawen her selfe from all companie that selfe same fylthynesse she was forced to voyde at her mouth in the open streete in open day iyght as many men women and chyldren as came by gazyng woonderyng thereat from thence beyng carried home her dwellyng house denyed to receyue so vyle a person so as of force she was fayne to be lodged in a stinkyng Stable a Parlour sweete yenough for so vnsauery a wretche from whence she was afterwarde carried to her lodging and from thence a fewe dayes after to her graue The examination of this fact was taken before Sir Lyonel Ducket Knyght Alderman and Iustice of Peace within the Citie of London and as witnesses are set downe M. Doctour Fulke M. Newstubbes M. Crake M. Edmundes M. Robert Pistor M. Robert Aske Who so listeth may see this storie at large imprinted by Iohn Alde 1576. Of whose printyng you may also see another strange story of Father Lea. dated the. 28 of Ianuary 1577. Father Lea a man almost of .lxxx. yeeres whose whyte hoary heares wan credite to his tale was hyred for a small summe of money to forsweare hymselfe God in his mercy deferryng his iudgement full two yeeres and more he bare about hym the heauy burden of a wounded conscience a priuie payne yet in deede a more irksome griefe then it woulde haue been to haue endured publique punyshment for the same He needed none other eyther Iayler or Hangman to torment him that fyndeth that inward woo But euen lyke as an Arrow set in a Bow redy to be shot dooth fray a man more then an Arrow that alredy hath hyt his leg or his arme Or lyke as the feare of death or punyshment where grace hath ben wanting hath made many to murder them selues wilfully Euen so the inward festeryng wound of a gylty conscience voyd of hope full of dispayre is more greeuous and more intolierable then any outward correction Two long fastyng yeeres Father Lea hearyng this importable burden at the last the force of the fyre brake through the ashes that so long had couered it In foster lane in London this Lea met that partie agaynst whom or to whose hynderaunce he had forsworne hym selfe and holdyng vp his handes after the manner of our askyng of forgeuenesse he desyred hym to forgeue hym his former offence agaynst hym committed confessyng that agaynst hym he had
that he loued beyonde honest measure was dispatched by a Gunne Ladislaus kyng of Polonia though it were vnto a Turke namely vnto Amurathes yet he sware by GOD to keepe his fayth which othe when he had broke by the Souldiours of the Turke he was shortly after slayne A most notable example doone in Marchia 1528 by Iohannes Manlius remembred also A Common Souldiour hauing gotten in some skirmish or other waies as a â—oâ—ty a good or rather a great bagge of money sodenly he was visited with sickenesse so as of necessitie he betooke hym selfe to rest in an Inne vntyl by ordinarie meanes he myght recouer his strength Vpon the fyrst condicion or entraunce of his soiournyng there supposing no body lykelyer to be of good and sufficient credite then his Hostes he deliuered vnto her custody his whole bagge of money Afterwarde recoueryng as God woulde his health he required to receiue his bagge agayne It greeued his vnhonest Hostes to depart from so great a pray therefore she entreth an earnest consultation with her husband what shyft they myght fynde to deteyne the sayde spoyle Her vnhappie husbande beyng beyonde al conscience of that iudgement that too too many men be of nowe a dayes that what so euer by open proofe of lawe can not be wonne from them perforce is therefore their owne gotten good he geueth his wyfe counsel to denie the receipt of the sayde bagge or money his Hoastes denied it Howe coulde the Souldour prooue it Marke the boldenesse of a wicked woman she seemeth to wonder at the Souldiour that he woulde be so impudent as to aske at her handes that whiche she auowched she neuer receyued in this case she rayleth at hym and reuileth hym so far as the vttermost of her vayne Rethorique woulde stretch The Souldiour as they are commonly allowed to be somewhat more bolde then other men obiecteth agaynst her her open falsehood for that contrary to her fayth she forsweareth the trueth agaynst her conscience Her husbande a principal partie in this periurie as yf it were to defende his wyues honestie with violence thrusteth the Souldiour out at his doores The Souldiour bold in war abrode at home thought that in a good quarrell he myght wel be more bolde and hauing almost in choyce as liefe to leese his lyfe as his money the whole recompence of his lyues aduenture sloutly he draweth his swoorde professyng that eyther he wyl leese his lyfe or saue his money and breakes with too muche haste his Hoastes house to reenter alleagyng that where his goodes are there he may safely be The hoast pleadeth an action of burglarie and maketh open cry for helpe vnto his neyghbours And as in braulles and broyles to many fees belong to Sergiauntes with violent force a number of officers carry hym as an open malefactor vnto the Gayle The common Counsayle accordyng to the intimation of the fact are agreed deliberatly what iudgment to geue when publique iudgment shal be craued agreed it was the Souldiour by most voyces shoulde haue been condemned The Dyuell who knoweth some thynges by permission in some forme and fashion commeth vnto the prisoner and to winne the more credite he telleth hym what iudgement the Senatours would pronounce vnlesse he toke good heede and dealt wysely And as he woulde fayne haue some testimonie agaynst man wherein he falleth from God and cousenteth vnto hym so he perswadeth the Souldiour a free delyueraunce from his whole trouble yf he woulde geue hym his soule to hyre Nay quoth the Souldiour I had rather yet leese my lyfe then my soule Wel quoth the Diuel though I get nothyng of thee as a rewarde yet wyl I delyuer thee so that thou be ruled by me Follow therefore quoth he these instructions when thou shalt be brought before the Iudges pleade for thy selfe ignoraunce desyre to haue an Atturney Chose me quoth the Dyuell to debate thy cause by these notes thou shalt knowe me by a blewe Cappe and a Feather The Souldiour easily graunted to vse his counsel The Session is holden the Souldiour is brought foorth as a malefactor his Hoast pleadeth the death of the Souldiour the Souldiour vseth the counsayle of his vnhappie aduocate Licence he craueth that the Gentleman with the blewe Cappe and the Feather myght pleade for hym Leaue is graunted foorth commeth the Proctor and lyke a skylfull Lawyer he maketh this Caution The partie not gyltie is not to be condemned for from the Souldiour grue no cause of strife the Inholder by violence thrust the Souldiour out at the doores an open and a manifest crime Searche the cause quoth the Dyuell and as one of the priuate Counsayll with all vnhappinesse geue me leaue and aucthoritie sayth he to searche the house I dare vndertake to fynde the bagge and the money so shal the Inholder be gyltie and the Souldiour cleare The Typler standyng now vppon his credit or discredite for euer added as the Dyuell would haue hym many blasphemous othes that he by no meanes knewe of any suche money and for confirmation of his fayth made by oth he requireth as the custome of swearers is vengeaunce at Gods handes yf he sware falsly I woulde quoth he the Dyuel myght fetche me away presently body and soule before you al yf I sweare vniustly Whiche terrible woordes when the Typler had earnestly repeated once or twyce this Dyuelyshe Lawyer or this lawing Dyuell leaft the cause and snatched the Corpes accordyng to the vengeaunce desyred at Gods hande of this typlyng Hoast and carryed hym throwe by the wyndowe and then â—â—sibly ouer the market place of the Towne so as his body was neuer seene any more nothyng beyng left behynde hym but an horrible stincke as a witnesse what an vncleane spirite had carryed away suche an vncleane person Of this notable remembraunce the tyme is set downe and the place and the authours name that nothing myght want to the certaintie of the trueth I wyl adde hereunto the destruction of that detestable vyce of bannyng and cursyng whiche is the next brother vnto this sinne of pertury whether is worse God knoweth both tende to the dishonouryng of Gods name an example or two in hatred of the same Not far from Eslengen whereof before it was remembred sayth Melancthon certayne wanton youthes players by lykelyhood of description in Enterludes after a solemne Pageant set out to the people sported them selues with cursyng and bannyng thynkyng to make but a Maygame of the Lords reuerence but amiddes theyr cursings God sent his punyshmentes One of them was striken starke dumbe the other fell starke madde At the feast of Whitsontyde a wretched woman by cursyng and bannyng forsakyng the helpe of GOD and procuryng the vengeance due vnto her by the Dyuell was by the Dyuell sodaynely snatche vppe into the ayre many people beholdyng the same and as he tooke her vp in the Denylles name so he flang her downe with a very vengeance a number of people beholdyng how she
our trueth that we may prosper therein we desyre hym also to be a reuenger and punisher of our sinnes yf we doo not speake the trueth And therefore the Hebrues begyn their othe with this coniunction of condition If and vse the figure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suppressyng the rest and yet in deede intendyng this muche Yf I deceyue you or yf I breake this othe the Lorde that is of al power reuenge it vppon me An othe therefore parteyneth to that part of Gods seruice which we call inuocation Cal vppon me sayth the Lorde make vnto thy selfe none other Godds I am the Lord thy god vse my name So that when we heare the Lord say Take not my name in vaine let vs remember yet that the Lord said before I am the Lord thy God thou shalt haue none other gods but me Preach my name Cal vppon my name Confesse my name Vse my name take it not vaynely nor in trifling matters abuse it not I am the Lorde therefore to be reuerenced But in matters of doubte when mans wysedome canne goe no further Confesse mine omnipotent power cal vppon me I am God alone and knowe al. Make vnto your selues no other gods by attributyng vnto them that whiche is proper onely vnto mee but cal me for a witnesse call me for a reuenger The Lorde sayde not at any tyme Take not my name in vse but he sayde Take not my name in vayne vse it not but with great reuerence in consideration of my Maiestie yet vse my name Inuocate my name or call vppon my name onely for I onely am the Lorde Thou shalt haue none other Goddes but mee If inuocation parteyneth not vnto me alone I am not God alone Anabaptista Manachei and other sectaries are thus easily confuted when they deny the lawful vse of the name of God they deny Gods reuerence they deny Gods power they deny God to be god But yf they wyll not vnderstande that Inuocation confesseth and attributeth omnipotencie vnto the person that they doo inuocate or call vppon and where there is no inuocation there is no godhead or power diuine acknowledged let them yet consyder this substaunce followyng 1 Gods commaundement vnto his people to sweare by his name 2 That God forbyddeth his people to sweare by the name of strange goddes least by inuocation they shoulde attribute that omnipotencie vnto Idolles and Deuylles that is proper to hym alone 3 The example of God swearyng for our capacitie 4 Examples of Patriarkes Prophetes Apostles and Christe hym selfe which in no case can be contrary vnto GOD his father WHen the Lorde had chosen Israel from al other nations and had procured by terrour of his power the reuerence of his maiestie the force whereof was so great that the people fled for feare of his myght stoode a far of from the mountayne and sayde vnto Moses Talke thou with vs we wil heare thee but let not god talke with vs least we die Euen the Lord hym selfe by Moses vnto Israel from his owne matestie amongst many other gaue this lawe If a man deliuer his neighbour money or stuffe to keepe if it be stolne out of the house if the theefe be found he shal pay the double But if the theefe be not found then the maister of the house shal be brought vnto the iudges To sweare whether he hath put any hand vnto his neighbours goods or no. Heere the Lord him selfe appointed an oth as an ordinarie meane to decide a controuersie and a sufficient testimonie of trueth in a doubtfull matter Againe in the 10. 11. verses of the said chapter If a man deliuer vnto his neighbour an Asse or an Oxe or any other beast to keepe if it die or be hurt or be taken away of enimies and no man see it An oth of the Lord shal be betweene themtwaine that he hath not put his hande vnto his neighbours goods Here is the apoyntment of an oth by the Lord him selfe It is called an oth of the Lord because they should sweare by the name of the Lorde onely Also 6. Deut. Moses heedefully carefully remembring agayne vnto Israel the Lorde his commaundement when he commaunded them to lay vp in their harts to teache them to their children when he geueth them this most earnest Caueat Beware lest thou forget God he addeth specially Thou shalt feare the Lorde thy God and serue him and shalt sweare by his name Which commaundement he also rehearseth in the. 10. of Deut. 25 in the. 4. of Ieremie 25. shewyng howe great a part of religion consisteth in inuocating or callyng vppon the name of the Lord only The Lord by his Prophet mouyng them earnestly to returne not haltyngly nor halfly nor holowly but holyly and wholy vnto the Lorde he especially teacheth them to sweare by his name Thou shalt sweare The Lorde lyueth Tyeing an oth or euery oth to these lymits Vaynely thou shalt not sweare but in trueth in iudgement in righteousnesse and then thou shalt take none other to witnesse but the Lorde hym selfe whereunto he addeth the maiestie of the Lord the benefite of the people That the nations may be blessed in the Lorde that the people may glory in the Lorde Agaynst the glory of whose maiestie ful highly it is if any other be taken in his place if any other be sworne by if any other be called vpon either for grace to geue blessyng vnto trueth or for might of power to reuenge falshood For what is that but cleane to forsake the lord to attribute omnipotencie or al power strength to some other Wherfore the Lorde in his zelous wrath agaynst Iuda amongst al other sinnes for which in his iustice he powreth vengeance agaynst them euen to the vtter destruction thereof by the handes of the Chaldeans he reckoneth this as a capital crime How should I spare thee for this thy children haue forsaken me The Lord himselfe sheweth him the maner how They haue sworne by them that are not Gods they haue forsaken me This fault the Lord reckoned so iniurious to his glorie that with a myghtie vehemencie of speach he saith How can I spare thee for this in effect thus Surely I wyl not spare thee the Chaldees shal destroy thee Hereof the Lorde gaue a speciall commaundement in the. 23. of Exodus Take heede to al thinges that I haue sayd vnto you and ye shal make no mention of the name of other Gods neyther shal it be hearde out of your mouth And in the. 23. of Iosua Make no mention of theyr gods nor geue or take any cause to sweare by them He said not Take not theyr names in vayne but take them not at all let them not be heard out of your mouthes So the. 19. of Esay where the Lord geueth a speciall fourme how the Lord is serued and honoured accordyng to his owne good will and pleasure the Prophet expresseth it thus At that day
fiue Cities of the Lord shal speake the language of Canaan shal sweare by the Lord of Hostes And thus the Lorde hym selfe also dyd most zelously as to shewe his only omnipotencie and how it stretcheth vniuersally In Esay 45. I haue â—worne by my selfe sayth the Lorde the worde 〈◊〉 gone out of my mouth in righteousnesse â—hal not returne Euery knee shal bow vnto me and euery tongue shal sweare by me accordyng whereunto not vainely but reuerently in matters of great waight to ende contentions To make assurance of promises to be kept in testimonie of trueth we reade how the fathers both Patriarkes and Prophets haue sworne So Abraham swore vnto Abimelec in couenant of his safetie Isaac lykewyse in the lyke case swore vnto Abimelec Ahuzzah and Phicol Iacob swore vnto Laban concernyng the bounds of theyr grounde Moses agreed by couenant of oth to â—wâ— with Iethro Ionathan sware to Dauid Dauid sware to Ionathan Ionathan and Dauid sware both Lykewyse Saul required an oth of assurance for his seede after hym and Dauâ—â— sware vnto Saul Also Dauid in the presence of Nathaâ— the prophet sware vnto Bethsheba that Solomon should raigne after hym Helias the Prophet sware vnto Achâ—â— the kyng Elizeus sware vnto He lias that he would goe with hym The Angel sware by hym that lyueth worlde without ende So also the Lorde yeeldyng vnto our weakenesse confirmed al his promises by an oth hauing no greater to sweare by according to the fashion of men he sware by him selfe concernyng his couenant with Abraham By my selfe haue I sworne I wil surely blesle thee and thy seede which oth he confirmed vnto Isaac I wyl surely performe the oth which I sware vnto Abraham Also Esay I haue sworne by my selfe sayth the Lord The woorde is gone out of my mouth and shal not returne So Dauid remembreth the Lorde his couenant confirmed vnto hym by the Lordes oth I haue sworne vnto Dauid my seruant and againe I haue sworne once by my boâ—inesse I wyl not fayle Dauid Lykewyse the Prophet remembryng the disobedience of the Israelites remembreth also how the Lorde sware that they shoulde not enter into the lande promised vnto them The Lorde sware concernyng the euerlasting Priesthood of Christ And agayne vnto Dauid The Lorde sware in trueth and wyl not shrinke from it Paul also remembreth at large howe the Lorde sware vnto Abraham and as it were ratifiyng the vse of an oth An oth saith he for confirmation is an end amongst men of al strife Whiche thyng also for testimonie and confirmation in his earnest zeale Paule also dyd as first to the Romanes God is my witnesse And to the Corinthians I cal God to recorde vnto my soule And to the Galathians Behold I witnesse before God or I cal God to witnesse that I lye not And to the Ephesians God is my record so likewyse to the Thessalonians And yet no Christian euer doubted but that Paul was led by the spirite of God when he wrote those Epistles In somuche that Augustine sayth It were an heynous wickednesse to say that Paul especially in his written Epistles hath violated or broken that Gods commaundement Thoushalt not sweare Therfore saith he you must vnderstand that which is set downe non omnino not at al. That is as much as in you lyeth haue none affection at all to sweare thynke an othe to be no grace nor no garnyshyng vnto your speache Otherwyse howe shoulde 〈◊〉 excuse Christ him selfe Or shal we with Porphirius or Iulianus condemne Christe that his woordes and commaundementes are one thyng his lyfe and conuersation are another for so these vile Heretiques carpe aâ— Christe and vpon the lefe same saying 〈◊〉 they harpe with the Manichees and Anabaptistes vrging vehemently the woordes without sense Sweare not at al not at all let your communication be yea yea no no that which is more then thiâ— is sinne Which commaundement if it were not to be enterpreted Christ in deede had done violence for he hath vsed often as a testimonie of trueth and as a confirmation of his speach Amen Amen Which is somewhat more then a playne yea for it soundeth as much as Certainely Truly Verily or of a certayne trueth And in this sense Paul sayth All the promises of God in Christe are yea and are in him Amen that is truly perfectly fully assured perfourmed compleat ended And let vs marke nowe what a great oth this is Amen Veryly Truly or Of a trueth whereby I appose their conscience to reclayme them thereby that thinke it is no oth to say Truly or Veryly insomuche that in our customable speache yf a man say Truely it is replied Yea but you dare not sweare when he alredy hath sworne full deepely S. Paul sayth God sware Marke nowe the fourme of the oth set downe by Paul Truely or Surely I wyll blesse thee So also the Prophet Dauid remembreth that the Lorde sware vnto the Israelites that they shoulde not enter into the lande of promise Turne vnto the. 14. of Numbers where the Historie of their murmuring is expressed and the fourme of that oth is thus set downe Surely or Certainly they shall not see that good land So often as we say Certainely assuredly truely or veryly so often in deede we doo sweare for though GOD be not expresly named yet in namyng trueth God is named for God and trueth are one and the selfe same And the strength of an othe consisteth more in honouryng God by trueth then in the outward namyng of god Let all men then either learne or remember whereas customably they vse vaynely Truely when many tymes there is neyther trueth nor veritie in their saying how that they most greeuously offend God who is in deede all trueth and the onely trueth So then neyther may the Anabaptistes restrayne this vnto the tyme onely of the olde Testament neyther may they so vrge the woordes by the letter that they thereby take away the iust interpretation and sense thereof For so should Paul and Christ hym selfe be condemned so shoulde God his mercy declared heretofore by his Prophets vnto the Gentiles in Christe and after Christe his commyng be frustrated and made voyde which were blasphemie agaynst the spirite and an infinite heape of other mischiefes woulde ensue yf lyke places of Scripture were violently forced accordyng to the letter We must therefore vnfolde them according to their meanyng and take them vp as they lye The sense dooth offer it selfe as playne as can be yf we marke vppon what occasion and to what purpose Christe gaue this commaundement The Iewes had gotten this euyll custome of swearing by creatures as by the Temple by the Aulter by Heauen by Hierusalem by the Earth c. And though they swore falsely and entended to deceiue theyr neyghbour yet yf they named not God expresly