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
¶ A Svvoord agaynst Swearyng conteyning these principall poyntes 1 That there is a lawful vse of an oth contrary to the assertion of the Manichees Anabaptistes 2 Howe great a sinne it is to sweare falsly vaynely rashly or customably 3 That common or vsual swearing leadeth vnto periurie 4 Examples of Gods iuste and visible punishment vpon blasphemers periurers and suche as haue procured Gods wrath by cursing and bannyng which we cal execration ⧠At London Printed by Richarde Watkins dwelling in Paules Churchyard 1579. GOD the Father Exodus 20 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vayne The Lord wyll not holde hym giltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Le. 19. You shall not forsweare in my name you shal not defile the name of your god I am the Lord. GOD the Sonne Math. 6. Thus you shall specially pray Our father which art in heauen halowed be thy name GOD the holy Ghost Iacobi 5. Aboue all thinges my brethren sweare not neyther by heauen neyther by the earth nor by any other kynde of othe The Prophet Dauid Psal. 68. GOD shall wounde the head of his enimies and the heary scalpe of euery one that goeth on styl in his wickednesse ¶ To the right worshypfull M. Alexander Nowel M. Iohn Mullens M. Iohn Walker diligent and faythful distributers of Gods heauenly Misteries MAN in the dignitie of his creation right woorshypfull and my very good Patrons hath this excellent denomination he is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a litle world within it selfe as carry-in within the litle compasse of his smale brayne the whole order and disposition of a common wealth But if by inuersion it may be alowed to returne vnto smaller thinges the greatest we may then right wel resemble the world vnto mankind saying The worlde is lyke vnto a man and of good right and reason the greatest time age of the worlde being now consumed and gone This face of the worlde as it were lying sicke of age which age it selfe in deede is a malady varecouerable this same last age of the world may best be likened then vnto an old man But an old man is twyse a childe children be foolish froward and besides the infirmitie of sicknesse they be nastie and noysome full of vncleannesse in whose frowarde follie this aboue al thinges must be remembred that old men howe iust soeuer the cause be can abyde no reprehension nor cannot endure the hearyng of theyr faultes And so for all the worlde though neuer any age were so wicked so foule so filthy so nasty and so loathsome as this our age is yet we say we be cleane and holsome we say we be sweete and sauery we say they be not wyse that reprehende in age any thyng Age in deede is honourable howbeit not that age which Seneca ad Lucilium calleth Elementaria senectus but that age whereof Tullie remembreth de senectute Remember alwayes sayth he that I speake of that age whereof youth hath layde an honest foundation It is not yeeres or gray hears nor wrinkles in the browe nor furrowes in the face that bryngeth reuerence vnto age but an honest life past before which continueth with reuerence vnto the ende An olde Ruffian or an auncient Callet is not for theyr continuaunce in wickednesse worthy any reuerence A sleepie age geuen to idlenesse that resteth not without feare and is voyde of hope of goodnesse seeking securitie for the time pretendyng that we were best be at quiet for the time of our lyfe we are not able to endure the troubles that may compasse vs this age is not honorable And such is our age and like altogeather vnto testy old froward age that how iust soeuer the cause be can abide no reprehension What we lyue in the olde age of the worlde and haue the examples of all the ages of the worlde before vs and our end is to be looked for no man wotteth howe soone Shal not our punishment be the greater our condemnation the more iust howe much the more warninges and examples haue been geuen vnto vs since the beginning of the worlde yf we take no heede thereby And howe muche I pray you haue we profited Amongst Gods special commaundements is God honoured Is Gods name reuerenced Was euer any age so outragious in Othes So blasphemous in railing So rooted in periurie When God turned his gratious countenance to wardes vs againe and renued the glory of his Gospel did we suspect that wickednesse should haue been vnweeded that blasphemie should haue spred such blossomes that common swearing should haue ben thus suffered as it is Thought we that Papistes should haue had any place of aucthoritie Thought we that contention should haue ben so common or that consience should haue ben ruled by riches Nay veryly we hoped for better and I wot not when any age was worse It is true that affliction and trouble tryeth God is neuer letter serued then in aduersitie Wealth maketh vs Wantons peace bredeth pride we haue quite forgotten Mariana tempora This complaint as it may truely be made in diuers respectes so specially in this that Gods most glorious name is not halowed nor honoured but vainly vsed terribly abused blasphemed most outragiously Some faultes against the second table because they concerne the common wealth are somewhat duely executed nay I dare boldly say that lawes for haukes egges for couies of Partriges and eyes of Phesantes are with much diligence obserued and looked vnto and good cause that so they shoulde But this that concerneth Gods honour and the glorie of his maiestie this whereof God hath geuen a special charge wherunto God hath annexed his terrible threatnings this commaundement of the first Table concerning the reuerence of Gods owne name is fie for shame to much neglected Yf Princes woulde forget it if Counsellours consult for common wealth only yet may not Diuines speake What though we be lyke vnto women for that when we haue sayd we haue doone our aucthoritie stretcheth no farther yet in a reasonable cause a woman may speake with honestie and speake agayne and agayne to vntyl she be heard Vnto you therefore this I remember not in suspitiō of your diligence that be far from me for I professe gladly and I geue God thankes I knowe that both in doctrine and life none labour more feruently but as litle sand to continue a long lasting edge vnto a strong gentle Scithe So I humbly beseeche you styll to continue your earnest Zeale to the promoting of Gods glory Namely and most specially when oportunitie of time and place shal serue that some strength of law earnestly be by your wysedomes required againe and againe to be established for punishment of vaine swearing and for the vtter cuttyng of of forswearing or periurie The discommodities of the outragious excesse in apparret breedeth much more woe then many deemes for drunkennes is a deathful disease it dismaketh a man so that be ceasseth to be that
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
alwayes by his fayth sweareth all away So a swearer may be beleeued his care is neuer after to perfourme his fayth If a common swearer dyd beleeue in God yf he dyd hope to he comforted by hym yf he dyd thynke that God woulde punishe his perturie surely he would not without reuerence and feare he woulde not without vrgent cause in cases required take once the most blessed name of Gods maiestie in his mouth Nowe when he beleeueth not hym selfe that whiche he affirmeth vnto another who shal beleeue hym Why do we not say vnto common swearers why do you lye Or yf you speake trueth why doo you sweare If you doo beleeue in God why do you so dishonour the glory of his name If you do not beleeue in God why woulde you haue me to beleeue you when you sweare by that God in whom you your selfe do not beleeue Solomon in the case of two women contendyng for one chyld to crye where true natural loue rested made a countenance as though he would haue cut the child in peeces The wicked blood thirsty woman of whom the child had no nature or substance cried with aloude voyce deuide it deuide it The true mother in whom nature rested made her humble request Not so my Lorde let the chylde lyue and prosper let no violence be done vnto it In the auncient recordes of the Romanes it is remembred of an adultres hauing three sonnes that vppon her death bed she told her husband that of three boyes one only was his This father when he shoulde dye entreated earnestly his executours that they would do theyr diligence by al wisedome to trye whiche of the three was his naturall sonne vnto hym by Wil he bequeathed his whole lande The faythful and trustie Executours thus made experience where nature rested They tooke the dead corpes of the father and set it agaynst a tree vnto euery of the three children they deliuered a bow and an arrow they tolde them that theyr fathers wyll was doubtful and the diuision of the land was harde the best way was to try by happy hazard he that coulde shoote nearest the fathers hart should haue al. The two bastardes in whom rested no sparke of natural loue shot with good wyl the third with reuerence refused so fylthy a fact Whereby if he were perceyued to be the truesonne What bastardes shal we know them to be that shoote at euery part of Christes most blessed person Common swearers truely beare no naturall loue to GOD but teare him in peeces shoote at his hart lyke bastardes and crye with that Strumpet Deuide hym deuide him cut him in peeces Whereof sayth Agustine They synne no lesse that blaspheme Christ nowe raygnyng in heauen then they whiche crucified hym here vpon the earth Thine enimies O Lorde take thy name in vayne Remember this O Lorde howe the enimie hath rebuked And howe the foolishe people hath blasphemed thy name God shal wounde the head of his enimies the heary scalpe of suche a one as goeth on stil in his wickednes Powre out thine indignation O lord vpon the Heathen that haue not knowen thee vpon the kingdomes that haue not called vpon thy name As for the blasphemie wherwith our neighbours haue blasphemed thee reward thou them O Lorde seuen fold into their boosomes Make their faces ashamed O Lorde that they may seeke thy name Let al good Christians say with hart and voyce in woord and lyfe Blessed be the Lorde our GOD euen the Lorde GOD of Israel yea blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euermore They that in profession sometymes graunt this reuerence and honour vnto the Maiestie of Gods name and yet by the vnreuerent abuse of his name practyse the contrary are very welresembled vnto those Iewes that put vppon Christ a purple Robe platted a crowne of thornes vpon his head and put a Reede in his hand like a Septer mocking him in deede after the moste despytefull maner that they could deuyse but yet in woordes they saluted hym courteously and sayde Hayle king of the Iewes They are a lyke vnto those people whom the Lorde by his prophet Ieremi reprehended They say the Lord lyueth this is theyr spech in wordes they say so but examine theyr religion in deede they sweare falsly Gods name is not honored but dishalowed as much as in them lieth They take the Lordes name in testimonie that it is ful true when yet notwithstandyng it is ful false what greater dishonour can they do vnto the Lord Do they beleeue that God knoweth it not which were agaynst his omnipotencie or do they thynke that God wyl leaue so great a sinne vnpunished which were agaynst his promise The greatnesse of this sinne the Prophete thus describeth They haue made their faces harder then a stone Right terrible is that whiche GOD threatneth by Zacharie Behold a flying booke of xx cubites long and .x. cubites brode conteyning a curse of GOD agaynst theeues and swearers I wil bring this curse foorth sayth the Lord of Hostes it shall come foorth vpon the house of the theefe and vpon the house of the swearer that sweareth falsly by my name This curse shal remayne in the middest of their howses and shal consume them tymber stones and al. And this good counsayle from the Lord we haue by the wyse Kyng Solomon Let not thy mouth be accustomed with swearing for in it there are many falles Let not the namyng of GOD be continually in thy mouth For lyke as a seruant that is much beaten cannot be without some spots So he that sweareth and hath the name of GOD continually in his mouth cannot be free from sinne A man that vseth much swearing shal be fylled with iniquitie and the plague shal neuer go from his house He that sweareth in vayne shal not be founde righteous Much swearing bryngeth suche horrour that it maketh a mans heare to stande vpryght and the irreuerence thereof would make a man stoppe his eares Though the proud blaspheme and are scorneful yet vengance lurketh for them as a Lion. The woordes of the swearer bring death God graunt it be not founde in the house of Israel If there were in all the worlde no more faultes but this alone it were enough to prouoke more vengeance then the whole masse of mankynde were able to beare God graunt that England may once throughly be purged from this execrable cryme The Lorde hath promised that he shal be pronounced gyltie that taketh his name in vayne A greater threatnyng is not added vnto any of the commaundementes among them al but vaynely in vayne for euery vayne trifling matter as though GOD were of no power to reuenge as though he were woorthy of no woorshyp Fye fie it is to fylthy to to abhominable Woulde to GOD al kynges Queenes and Princes would with more earnestnesse tender chiefly Gods honour deepely consyder that they liue enioy theyr states and
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
was snatched vp and howe she was hurled downe but runnyng to the place where she fell they founde her starke dead and her face turned quite behynde her Iohannes Manlius a man of great credite one of the first visitors of the Churche of Germanie recordeth that the excellent man of GOD Doctor Martin Luther and he at Basile sawe a woman guivyng her daughter vp and downe the countrey the daughter beyng possessed of a wicked spirite which inuasion of the spirite grew by the mothers dyuelysh curse The mother confessed that her daughter disobeyng her commaundement she cursed her sayde daughter with these woordes The Dyuel take thee or the Dyuel flye vpon thee And the selfe same houre her daughter fel madde and was possessed of a Dyuel Doctor Luther seeing the woman communed with them and agaynst the Diuel he vsed that place of Iames GOD rebuke thee thou foule spirite vnto whiche woordes the Diuel answeared agayne so as it was wel manyfest what spirite possessed her In the Towne of Freburg in Misnia an hastie froward father yl accustomed with continual swearyng cursyng and bannyng commaunded his sonne to doo a certayne businesse with al speede possible The sonne not yeeldyng honour enough vnto his father neglected disobediently his fathers commaundement a great fault in deede and woorthie to haue been wel punished but vnorderly and wickedly the frowarde vngodly father when he hearde his sonne yet at home whom he thought before that tyme to haue been gone about his businesse in the Diuels name falleth to cursing his sonne and these or suche lyke woordes he vsed Did I byd thee goe in hast and standest thou still there Nowe stil moughtest thou stand I pray GOD and neuer mayest thou styrre alyue out of that same place Oh dire imprecation Gods merciful grace absented and his iudgement earnestly prouoked styl stoode his sonne What gayned the vngodly father vnlesse he woulde plucke the sonne in peeces the father nowe could not would he neuer so fayne eyther by his owne strength or by any others help way or meanes once mooue or styrre his distressed childe The chylde wanted his ease but the father byd the woo styrre could not the sonne helpe must the father and since that accordyng to the fathers curse the sonne coulde not be remooued the wylful father accordyng to Gods commaundement must needes of duetie succour his woful sonne Glad and fayne was the father to vnderprop his sonne with a Chayre and a Cushion so to keepe hym in that place by the space of three whole yeeres Many a godly man came to see this sorowful sight many a good prayer both priuate and publique was powred out vnto the Lorde for him many a publique exhortation was made vnto the people to auoyde such offences and to pray for grace for him long it was or euer the Lorde woulde be entreated But as Gods mercie is aboue al his workes so the Lorde after three yeeres space was entreated for some mercy his feete were loosed whose footesteppes or print of his feete a woonderful thing to tel remayne to be seene at this day in the pauement where he stoode So sate he then yet in miserie foure more long yeres with a long leane countenance eating litle or nothyng speakyng but nowe and 3 It obscureth Gods glory whiche aboue al thynges we must promote 4 It breaketh fayth and credite amongst Christians which we must maintayne 5 It encreaseth infidelitie whiche we must abhorre 6 It is the woorke of the Dyuell Christe came to destroy it 7 It neuer dyd good vnto any we must doo good vnto all Vse breedeth custome custome breadeth continuance familiar easie continuance leadeth vs readyly and perfectly vnto the most damnable sinne of periurie â–ª Stop therfore the beginnyng Strike not and you shal not kyl Sweare not and you shall not be forsworne Aboue al thynges my brethren Sweare not neyther by Heauen for it is Gods seate nor by the Earth nor by any other thyng It was sayde before Christes commyng Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe But Christe sayde Sweare not at all Let your communication be yea yea and nay nay yea in woorde yea in deede dishallowe not Gods most glorious name As you professe a fayth in Christe so expresse the same continually Let Christe be seene in your lyfe as he is heard of in your language let his holy name neuer be taken in vayne but studie and endeuour with your whole power and strength that Gods name may be sanctified that is alwayes esteemed holy and reuerent alwayes honoured and glorified in you and by you Vnto whom onely of only ryght alone be al honour prayse and glory woorshyp renowme and dominion for all and aboue al worlde without ende Amen Amen Amen The Lorde raigneth The Lorde only is trueth and shal haue the victory and only glory Amen FINIS Reasons that vayne swearyng sauoreth of infidelitie and of seueral othes perswadyng the same Howe can we call vpon God for helpe in our aduersitie whose honour we so lightly regard in prosperitie Psalm 49. Call vpon me in the tyme of thy trouble and I wyl deliuer thee Our health is only of the Lorde Actes 4. The sonne of God came to this end to destroy the woorkes of the diuel Iohn What hope then haue they in the sonne of God that fulfyl desperatly this woorke of the diuel in dishonoring Gods name Peter Christe hath geuen hym selfe for vs an offeryng a sacrifice of sweete smelling sauour vnto God. Ephe. 3. Who beleueth this and wyl vaynely sweare by Christe or by the blessed body of Christe By his owne blood entred he once into the holy place obteyned eternall remission for vs. Hebrues 9 Who beleueth this yet wyll idelly or vaynely sweare by the precious blood of Christe 1. Iohn 1. Peter 1. What hope haue we of that comfortable beholding christ at the last day face to face 〈…〉 Whose honour reuerence we diminish dayly and darken as much as in vs lyeth the glory of his name by litle esteemyng or vaynely vâ—â—ng it for euery trifle By his woundes we are healed by his stripes we are made whole Esa. 9. who beleeueth this and wyl yet sweare by the precious woundes of Christ One of the souldiers pearsed his side with a speare and foorthwith ran out water and blood Iohn 19. who beeleueth this and wyl yet sweare by Gods sides God shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead Actes 7. who beleeueth this and wyl sweare as God shal iudge me Vnto the cursed God shal say goe you cursed of my father into euerlastyng fyre Mathevv who beleeueth this and wyl sweare God renounce me Of Cursing The vengaunce of God shal eate vp your gold and your syluer 〈…〉 The diuell a peny that is the diuell haue the peny Vengance lurketh for them as a Lion Solomon The foule euyll haue thee or take thee howe many see we euery yere come from the north plagued with this disease in whiche countrey this curse is most ryfest THE ENDE Ieremi 4â— â—xample in â—emorie Romans â—â— Hillarie Methodiâ—â— Bessarion â—eremi 44 Iudges 8. Philip. 3. A shwensday Exodus 19. Exodus 20 Exod. 22. 7. 8 10 11 Ieremi 4. Iere. 5. 7. Exodus 23. Iosue 23. Esay 19. Esay 45. Gen. 21. Gene. 26. Gene. 31. Exod. 2. Ibidem Ibidem 1. Reg. 1 1. Reg. 17. 2. Reg. 2. Apoc. 10 Gene. 22. Gen. 26. Esay 45. Psalm 89. Psalm 96. Psalm 110. Psalm 132. Hebrues 6 2 Corinth 1 Galathi 1. Ephe. 1. Agust contra mend 2. Corin. 〈◊〉 Heb. 6. â—salm 95. Num. 14. Truely Veryly â—ugustine 〈…〉 ser dom Leui. 19. Math. Math. 5. Exo. 23. M. 11. 2. Ti. 4. Psal 33. Psal. 49. M. 10. Rom. 10. Psal. 14. Psal. 49. A memoâ—â—ndum for swearers Sap. 1. Leui. 19. Deut. 28. Psal. 8. Exodus 20 Iere. 10. Prou. 10. Euyll of custome Chrisost super Ma. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mar. 14. Tripolitanus August de ciuitate dei 1. Li. 15. c. Li. 3. cap. 20 Counsell Augustine in Mat. Psalm 135 Psalm 74 Psalm 6â— Psalm 75 Psalm 75 Ieremi 5. Zacha. 5. Eccle. 23. De quibus consule Iob. Fox Lambert â—aldenus Vincentiâ— in speculo Libr 4. Antiq. C. 6. Iusti 77. Nouel con Egypt Sithia Romaneâ— Le. 24. A remembrance for Fathers Mothers Iosuah 9. 2. Reg. 21. c 4. Reg. 24. 25. S. Gregorie King Stephan Edward 4. Elfred Godwin Sir Roger Mortimer Diuers punishmentes Richarde Long. Fox Mar. â—â—97 Grimwood â—bidem â—iddowe 〈…〉 Corneâ—â—â—â— in Lonâ—â—â— 74. Arthure Miller at Hackney 1573. Father Leâ— 1577. Eslingen Tubinga Ciguea in Schueberg Duke of Swethen The Pope could not set on his hande agayne Ladislaus king of Polonia Olde wiced woman The 〈◊〉 entent 〈◊〉 Dyuell 〈…〉 her Not 〈◊〉 thy thâ—â—ame 〈◊〉 â–ª â—elancâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 with 〈…〉 In 〈◊〉 Manlius A remembrance fo mothers In examâ—le for faâ—â—ers â—anlius â—â—llection 〈…〉 To. et â—â—eluecheâ—s To. 1. â—edagogie 〈◊〉 The fort of contin prayer