which the Kings Book was stuffed neither is it any wonder if I contemn and bite an earthly King when as he feared not at all in his writings to blaspheme the King of Heaven and to prophane his Truth with virulent Lies When Luther came to die the Will which he made concerning his Wife and Child was as follows O Lord God I thank thee that thou wouldst have me live a poor and indigent Person upon Earth I have neither House nor Land nor Possessions nor Money to leave thou Lord hast given me Wife and Children them Lord I give back to thee nourish instruct and keep them O thou Father of Orphans and Judge of the Widows do to them as thou hast done to me When he was ready to die Justus Jonas and Caelius said to him O Reverend Father do you die in the constant confession of the Doctrine of Christ which you have hitherto Preached to which he answered Yea which was the last word he spake He made this verse some time before his death Pestis eram vivus moriens ero mors tua Papa I living stopt Romes breath And dead will be Romes death One saith of him that Luther a poor Fryar should be able to stand against the Pope was a great Miracle that he should prevail against the Pope was a greater and after all to die in peace was the greatest of all Clarks Mirror XXXIX Mr. Woodman a Martyr in Queen Maries Reign speaks thus of himself When I have been in Prison wearing Bolts and Shackles sometimes lying upon the bare ground sometimes sitting in the Stocks some times bound with Cords that all my Body hath been swoln and I like to have been overcome with pain sometimes forced to lie about in the Woods and Fields wandring too and fro sometimes brought before the Justices Sheriffs Lords Doctors and Bishops sometimes called Dog Devil Heretick Whoremonger Traytor Thief Deceiver c. yea and they that did eat of my Bread and should have been most my Friends by Nature have betrayed me yet for all this I praise my Lord God that hath separated me from my Mothers Womb all this that hath happened to me hath been easy light and most delightful and more joyful Treasure than ever I possessed Acts and Mon. XL. Archbishop Cranmer by the wily subtilties and large promises of the Papists was drawn to subscribe to a Recantation yet afterward by Gods great mercy he recovered again and when he was at the stake and the fire kindled about him he stretched out his right hand wherewith he had subscribed and held it so stedfastly and unmoveably in the flame saving that he once wiped his face with it that all men saw his hand burned before the fire touched his Body he also being replenished by the Holy Spirit did abide his burning with such constancy and stedfastness that always standing in the place his body moved no more than the stake to which he was bound Acts and Mon. XLI Henry Prince of Saxony when his Brother George sent to him that if he would forsake his Faith and turn Papist he would leave him his Heir but he made him this Answer Rather than I will do so and deny my Saviour Jesus Christ I and my Kate each of us with a staff in our hands will beg our bread out of his Countries Luth. Colloq p. 248. XLII Mr. James Bainham being at the stake in the midst of the burning fire his Legs and Arms being half consumed spake thus to the standers by O ye Papists behold you look for Miracles and here now you may see one for in this fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a Bed of Down and it is to me as a Bed of Roses Acts and Mon. XLIII The Earl of Morton a Religious and Prudent man who was sometimes Regent in Scotland in King James his Minority when the King had taken the Government into his own hand was falsly accused and unjustly condemned by his crafty and malicious adversaries the morning before he suffered Mr Lawson and two or three other Ministers of Edenburgh came to visit him asking him how he had rested that night To whom he answered That of a long time he had not slept more soundly now I am said he at the end of my Troubles Some nights before my Tryal I was thinking what to answer for my self and that kept me from sleep but this night I had no such thoughts When he came to the Scaffold he exhorted the People to continue in the profession of the true Religion and to maintain it to the utmost of their power intreating them to assist him in their Prayers to God then going couragiously to the block he laid down his head and cried aloud Into thy hand O Lord I commit my Spirit Lord Jesus receive my Soul Which words he repeated till his head was severed from his Shoulders A. B. Spotswood Hist Scotland p. 314. XLIV The Lord Henry Otto being condemned at Prague for the Protestant Religion at the place of Execution he said I was lately troubled but now I feel a wonderful refreshing in my heart And lifting up his hands to Heaven he added I give thee thanks O most merciful Saviour who hast been pleased to fill me with so much comfort O now I fear death no longer I shall die with Joy About the same time two Dutchmen were taken at Prague and accused by some Monks of Lutheranism for which they were condemned to be burnt as they went to the place of Execution such gracious words proceeded out of their mouths as drew Tears from the Spectators Eyes when they came to the stake they exceedingly incouraged each other one of them saying Since our Lord Christ hath suffered such grievous things for us let us chearfully suffer for him and rejoice that we have found so much favour with him that we are accounted worthy to die for the Word of God The other said In the day of my Marriage I found not so much inward Joy as I now do When the fire was put to them they said with a loud voice Lord Jesus thou in thy sufferings didst pray for thine Enemies therefore we also do the like Clarks Martyrol p. 177. XLV In the year 1555. there was one Algerius a Student of Padua in Italy a young man of excellent Learning who having attained to the knowledge of the Truth ceased not by instruction and example to teach others for which he was accused of Heresy to the Pope by whose command he was cast into Prison at Venice where he lay long and during that time he wrote an excellent Letter to the afflicted Protestants wherein among many other divine expressions he thus writeth I cannot but impart unto you some portion of my Delectations and Joys which I feel and find I have found Honey in the intrails of a Lyon who will believe that in this dark Dungeon I should find a Paradise of Pleasure For in the place of sorrow and death
he found he had received as many as were intended to be offered he bound them up in one bundle and protesting That he had not so much as looked into any one of them he burnt them all in the sight of the Fathers giving them moreover a serious exhortation to Peace and a cordial agreement among themselves Chetwinds Hist Coll. p. 42. LXXVI It is reported of Julius Caesar to his great commendation that after the defeat of Pompey the Great he had in his custody a Castle wherein he found divers Letters written by most of the Nobles of Rome under their own hands which gave sufficient evidence to condemn them but he burnt them all that no Monument might remain of a future Grudge and that no man might be driven to extremities or to break the Peace through any apprehensions that he lived suspected or should therefore be hated Rogers Pen. Citizen p. 70. LXXVII James King of Arragon was a great Enemy to Contentions and Contentious Lawyers insomuch as having heard many complaints against Semenus Rada a great Lawyer who by his Quirks and Wiles had been injurious as well as troublesome to many he banished him his Kingdom as a man that was not to be endured to live in a place to the Peace of which he was so great an Enemy Clarks Mirrour p. 343. At Fez in Africa they have neither Lawyers nor Advocates but if there be any Controversy amongst them both Parties Plaintiff and Defendant come before the chief Judge and all at once without any further appeals or pitiful delays the cause is heard and ended Burtons Melancholy Servius Sulpitius was an Heathen Lawyer but an excellent Person it is said of him that he respected Equity and Peace in all that he did and alwaies sought rather to compose differences than to multiply Suits in Law Clarks Examples p. 344. LXXVIII It is noted of Phocion a most excellent Captain of the Athenians that although for his military ability and success he was chosen forty and five times General of their Armies by universal approbation yet he himself did ever persuade them to Peace Flutarchs Lives I read of the Sister of Edward the Third King of England saith Mr. Trenchfield who was Married to David King of Scots that she was familiarly called Jane make peace both for her earnest and successful endeavours therein Trenchfield Hist Inproved p. 67. Sertorius the more he prospered and prevailed in his Wars in Spain the more importunate he was with Metellus and Pompey the Roman Generals that came against him that laying down arms they would give him leave to live in peace and to return into Italy again professing he preferred a private life there before the Government of many Cities Plutarch Vit. Sert. LXXIX The lovers of Justice and impartial Administrators thereof have been likewise famous in all Ages and the Persons hereafter mentioned were great lovers and observers of this excellent virtue which is of so much advantage to mankind Herkenbald a Man mighty noble and famous had no respect of Persons in Judgment but condemned and punished with as great severity the rich and his own Kindred as the poor and those whom he knew least in the world being once very sick and keeping his Bed he heard a great bustle in a Chamber next to that wherein he lay and withal a Woman crying and shrieking out he inquired of his Servants what the matter was but they all concealed the Truth from him at last one of his Pages being severely threatned by him and told that he would cause his Eyes to be pulled out of his head if he did not tell him plainly what all that stir was told him in few words My Lord said he your Nephew hath ravished a Maid and that was the noise you heard The Fact being examined and plainly proved Herkenbald condemned his dear Nephew to be hanged till he should be dead but the Officer who had the charge to execute the Sentence seeming as if he had been very willing and forward to do it went presently and gave the young man notice of all that had passed wishing him to keep out of the way awhile and some few hours after he comes again to his sick Lord and affirms contrary to truth that he had put his sentence in Execution and that the young man was dead about five days after the young Gentleman thinking his Unkle had forgotten all came and peeped in at his Chamber door the Unkle having espied him calls him by his name and with fair words inticeth him to his Beds head till he was within his reach and then suddenly catching him by the locks with the left hand and pulling him forcibly to him with his right hand he gave him such a ready blow into the Throat with a Knife that he died instantly so great was the love that this Nobleman bore to Justice Camerarius Meditat. p 468. LXXX Sir John Markham was Knighted by King Edward the Fourth and by him made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench at which time one Sir Thomas Cook late Lord Mayor of London and Knight of the Bath a man of a great Estate was agreed upon to be accused of High Treason and a Commission issued out to try him in Guildhall The King himself by private instructions to the Judge appeared so far in the cause that Cook though he was never so innocent must be found guilty and if the Law were too short the Judge must stretch it to the Kings purpose The fault they laid to his charge was for lending Monies to Queen Margaret Wife to King Henry the sixth the proof was the confession of one Hawkins who was rack'd in the Tower Sir Thomas Cook pleaded that Hawkins came indeed to request him to lend a Thousand Marks upon good security but that understanding who it was for he had sent him away with a refusal The Judge declared that this proof reached not to a charge of High-Treason and that Misprision of Treason was the highest it could amount to and intimated to the Jury to be tender in matter of life and discharging good consciences upon which they found it accordingly only Misprision for which the Judge was turned out of his Place and lived privately the rest of his days and gloried in this That though the King could make him no Judge yet he could not make him no upright Judge Fullers H. State p. 263. LXXXI Charles the bold Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders had a Nobleman in special favour with him to whom he had committed the Government of a Town in Zealand where living in a great deal of ease he fell in love with a Woman of a beautiful body and a mind and manners no whit inferior he passed and repassed by her door and soon after grew bolder entred into discourse with her discovers his passion and beseeches a compassionate resentment of it he makes large promises and uses all the ways by which he hoped to gain her but all in
success in his Affairs was grown up to an abundance of wealth while he was at Florence a young man presented himself to him asking him an Alms for Gods sake Frescobald beheld the ragged stripling and in despight of his tatters reading in his countenance some significations of Virtue was moved with pity and demanded his Country and name I am said he of England my name is Thomas Cromwell my Father meaning his Father in Law is a poor man a Clothshearer I am strayed from my Country and am now come into Italy with the French Army who were overthrown at Gatylion where I was Page to a Foot Soldler odrrying after him his Pike and Burganet Frescobald partly in pity of his condition and partly in love to the English Nation amongst whom he had received some Civilities took him into his House made him his Guest and at his departure gave him a Horse new Apparel and sixteen Duckets of Gold in his Purse Cromwell giving him hearty thanks returned into his Country where in process of time he became in such favour with King Henry the Eighth that he raised him to the dignity of Lord High Chancellor of England In the mean time Fresbobald by several great losses was become poor but remembring that some English Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Duckets he came to London to seek after it not thinking of what had passed betwixt Cromwell and him but travelling earnestly about his business he accidentally met with the Lord Chancellor as he was riding to Court as soon as the Lord Cromwell saw him he thought he should be the Merchant of Florence of whose liberality he had tasted in times past immediately he alights imbraces him and with a broken voice scarce refraining from Tears he demanded if he were not Francis Frescobald the Florentine yes Sir said he and your humble Servant my Servant said Cromwell no as you have not been my Servant in times past so will I not now account you any other than my great and especial Friend assuring you that I have just reason to be sorry that you knowing what I am or at least what I should be yet would not let me understand your arrival in this Country had I known it I would have certainly paid part of that debt which I confess I owe you but thanks be to God that I have yet time Well Sir in conclusion you are heartily welcome but having now weighty affairs in my Princes Cause you must excuse me that I can stay no longer with you therefore at this time I take my leave desiring you with the faithful mind of a Friend that you forget not to dine with me this day at my House Frescoblad wonders who this Lord should be at last after some pause he remembers him to be the same whom he had relieved at Florence he therefore repairs to his House not a little rejoyced and walking in the outward Court attended his return the Lord Cromwell came soon after and was no sooner dismounted but he again imbraced him with so friendly a countenance as the Lord Admiral and other Nobles then in his company much wondred at he turning back and holding Frescobald by the hand Do you not wonder my Lords said he that I seem so glad to see this man this is he by whose means I have attained to my present Degree and therewith related all that had passed betwixt them then holding him still by the hand he led him to the room where he dined and seated him next to himself the Lords being departed he desired to know what occasion had brought him to London Frescobald in few words truly opened his case to him to which Cromwell returned Things that are already past Mr. Frescobald can by no power or policy of Man be recalled yet is not your sorrow so peculiar to your self but that by the bond of mutual love I am able to bear a part therein whereby in this your distress you may receive some Consolation it is fit I should repay some part of that debt wherein I stand bound to you as it is the part of a thankful man to do and I further promise you upon the word of a true Friend that during this life and state of mine I will not fail to do for you in any thing wherein my Authority may prevail Then taking him by the hand he led him into a Chamber and commanding all to depart he locked the door then opening a Chest he first took out sixteen Duckets and delivering them to Frescobald My Friend said he here is your Money you lent me at my departure from Florence here are ten more bestowed upon mine Apparel with ten more you disbursed for the Horse I rode upon but considering you are a Merchant it does not seem honest to me to return your Money without some consideration for the long detaining of it take you therefore these four Bags in every of which is four hundred Duckets to receive and enjoy from the hand of your assured Friend The modesty of Frescobald would have refused them but Cromwell forced them upon him this done he caused him to give him the names of all his Debtors and the Sums they owed the List he delivered to one of his Servants and charged him to find out the men if they were within any part of the Kingdom and strictly to charge them to make payment within fifteen days or else to abide the hazard of his displeasure the Servant so well performed the command of his Master that in a very short time the whole Sum was paid in during all this time Frescobald lodged in the Lord Chancellors House who gave him the entertainment he deserved and oft-times persuaded him to continue in England offering to lend him sixty Thousand Duckets for four years if he would stay and make his Bank in London but he desired to return into his own Country which he did with the great favour of the Lord Cromwell and there richly arrived but he enjoyed his wealth but a short time for the first year after his return he died Clarks Lives p. 42. CXVII Not many years since in the Kingdom of Naples a young Merchant named Oliverio fell desperately in love with the Countess of Castelnovo and laid siege to her Chastity for a good while and the Count going to his Country House and taking his Countess and Family along with him the Marquess being still more inflamed goes into the Country one day hard by a Hawking and le ts fly his Hawk into Count Castlenovo's Garden where it chanced that he and his Countess were walking the Marquess made bold to follow his Hawk and the Count with very high Civilities did welcome him and caused a Banquet to be presently provided where he and his Lady entertained him when he was gone the Count began to commend him telling his Wife That he was one of the most hopeful Noblemen and of the most excellent accomplishments of any in the whole Kingdom of Naples These
from the Turkish Pyrates and being answered with scorn by the Dey or King of Tunis who in a Bravado bid him look upon his Castles of Golleta and Ferino which defended the Town Blake entred upon a valiant and resolute Attempt for he came boldly to Anchor with the Admiral Vice-Admiral and Rere-Admiral within Musket shot of the Castle though the shore was planted all along with great Guns and never left till he had fired nine gallant Ships in the Port of Ferino they being all that were there and at length came off with great glory and renown and little loss of his own side Bakers Chronicle p 681. XXII Epaminondas with his Thebans having given the Spartans a great overthrow at Leuctra went presently to Lacedemon and made an attempt upon the City itself at which time a valiant young man of Lacedemon called Isadas being neither defended with Armour nor Apparel but being stark naked and his body anointed with Oyl with his Sword in his hand did wonders both in the judgment of his Citizens and of his very Enemies of whom he slew all that he met and yet never received any wound himself and after the fight was ended the Senate crowned him as a reward of his Valour and then fined him a thousand Drachma's for exposing himself to such danger without his Armour this Epaminondas in another Battel that he fought against the Lacedemonians and Arcadians was sorely wounded with a Dart and being carried into his Tent after the Battel was ended the Chirurgions coming to him told him that when the Dart was drawn forth of his body he must needs die whereupon he called his Esquire to him and asked him if he had not lost his Shield he told him no and withal shewed it to him then he asked him if his Army had got the Victory they told him yea Then said he it is now time for me to leave my life and so bid them pull out the Dart whereupon his Friends cryed out grievously and one of them said to him O Epaminondas thou diest without Children to whom he answered No truly for I shall leave two Daughters behind me that is my two great Victories at Leuctra and this of Mantinea and so the Dart being pluckt out he gave up the Ghost Plutarchs Lives XXIII Neither ought we to forget that immoveable Christian Constancy and Courage which has appeared in some pious and resolved Souls for the true Faith and Religion in all Ages of which Historians are not silent The Emperor Trajan returning from the Parthian War when he came to Antioch he commanded a gratulatory Sacrifice to be made to the Heathen Gods for his good success at which Ignatius was required to be present but he even before Trajans face did justly and truly reprove his Idolatry for which cause he was delivered to ten Soldiers by them to be carried to Rome there to be cast to the wild Beasts concerning which himself thus writes From Syria till I came to Rome I had a battel with Beasts as well by Sea as by Land night and day being bound among ten Leopards so he called those ten Soldiers who the more kindness they received from me the more cruel they were unto me but now through exercise I am well acquainted with their injuries and am taught every day more and more to bear the Cross of Christ would to God I were once come to the Beasts that are prepared for me and I wish that they may fall upon me with all their violence whom also I will provoke without delay to devour me and not to abstain from me as they have from many before me Pardon me I pray you I know how much this will turn to my advantage I am Gods Corn and when the wild Beasts have ground me with their Teeth I shall be his Whitebread now I begin to be a Disciple of my Master Christ I neither regard things visible nor invisible so I may gain Christ let the fire the Cross the breaking of my Bones quartering of my Members crushing of all my Body yea and all the Torments that the Devil and Man can invent fall upon me so I may enjoy my Lord Jesus Christ This Ignatius saw Christ in the flesh being about 12 years old when he was Crucified and it is recorded that when he was a Child our Saviour would take him up in his Arms and shew him to his Disciples it may be he was one of those little Children that were brought to Christ that he should touch them or that little Child whom Jesus took and set in the midst of his Disciples to teach them Humility he saw Christ after his Resurrection as himself writes in one of his Epistles Ego vero post Resurrectionem c. Truly I did see him after his Resurrection in the flesh and do believe that it is he c. He used to say There is nothing better than the peace of a good conscience that good and wicked men are like true and counterfeit money the one seems good is not the other both seems is good that the Lyons Teeth are but like a Mill which though it bruiseth yet wasteth not the good Wheat only prepares fits it to be made pure Bread let me saith he be broken by them so I may be made pure Manchet for Heaven his usual saying was My Love is Crucified meaning either Christ the object of his Love or that his affections were crucified to the world he suffered Martyrdom in the eleventh year of Trajan at Rome 111. Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXIV Polycarpus being brought before the Proconsul Herod he told him that he had wild Beasts to devour him unless he recanted Bring them forth said Polycarp for I have determined with my self not to repent nor to turn from the better to worse it is more fit for you to turn from evil to that which is just good I will said the Proconsul tame thee with fire since thou so little regardest wild Beasts You threaten me said Polycarp with Fire which lasts but for anhour is quickly quenched but are ignorant of the everlasting Fire at the day of Judgment of those endless Torments which are reserved for the wicked but why make you all these delays Appoint me to what death you please I am ready to undergo it When he was again urged to reproach our Blessed Saviour Polycarp answered Fourscore and six years have I served Christ neither hath he offended me in any thing and how then can I revile my King that hath thus kept me when they brought him to the Fire they would have nailed him to the stake Nay said he let me alone as I am for he that hath given me strength to come to this Fire will also give me patience to persevere therein without your fastening me with Nails Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXV Dyonisius the Areopagite being brought before Sisimus the Praefect because he refused to Worship their Idol Gods was beaten
despoiled of all and turned out a begging yea all Persons were forbid to harbour or relieve him Acts and Monum Vol. 1. XXXIV St. Jerom discovered his Christian Resolution by this Speech If said he my Father stood weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behind and all my Brethren Sisters Children Kindred and Kinsfolks howling on every side to retain me in a sinful life I would fling my Mother to the ground despise all my Kindred run over my Father and tread him under my feet that I might run to Christ when he calleth me After his Condemnation by the cruel Papists he said I after my death will leave a remorse in your Consciences and a Nail in your hearts and I here cite you all to answer to me before the high and just Judge within an hundred years when he was brought forth to Execution they prepared a great and long paper painted about with red Devils which when he beheld throwing away his Hood he put on this Miter upon his head saying Our L. Jesus Christ when he suffered death for me the most wretched Sinner did wear a Crown of Thorns upon his head and I for his sake will willingly wear this Cap As he went to his suffering he sang some Hyms and coming to the place of Execution he was bound to the stake and so fire was set to him which he endured with admirable valour for standing at the stake bound and the Executioner kindling the fire behind him he bid him kindle it before his face For said he if I had been afraid of it I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered me to escape it The whole City of Constance admired his Christian Courage and Resolution At his giving up the Ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This Soul of mine in flames of fire O Christ I offer thee XXXV Many Christians being assembled together in a Church Maximinus the Tyrant Emp commanded it to be surrounded with armed Men and set on fire but first proclaimed that whosoever desired life should come forth and worship the Idols whereupon one stepping up into a Window answered in the name of all the rest We are all Christians and will do service to none but the true God Upon which speech the fire was kindled and there were burnt many Thousands of Men Women and Children In Thebaide so many Christians were slain that the Swords of the Tormentors grew blunt and they were so tired that they were fain to sit down and rest them while others took their places and yet the Martyrs were no whit discouraged but to the last gasp sung Psalms of Praise unto God Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXXVI Theodosius the Great a Christian Emperor having in Aegypt abolished their Heathenish Sacrifice and Worship upon pain of Confiscation and death the People fearing that the omission of their accustomed Superstitions would make the River Nilus which they honoured as a God keep in his streams and not water the Land as formerly they thereupon began to mutiny whereupon the President writ to the Emperor beseeching him for once to gratify the People by conniving at their Superstition to whom he Heroically answered That it was better to continue faithful and constant to God than to prefer the over flowing of Nilus and the fertility of the Earth before Piety and Godliness and that he had rather Nilus should never overflow than that they should make it rise by Sacrifices and Inchantments Sozomen XXXVII Benevolus was offered preferment by Justina the Empress an Arrian if he would be an instrument of some vile service What saith he do you promise me an higher place for a reward of Iniquity nay take this away that I have already with all my heart so that I may keep a good conscience And thereupon he threw his Girdle at her feet which was the Ensign of his Honour Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. XXXVIII It is said of Luther that he alone opposed all the world he used to say Let me be counted proud or passionate so I be not found guilty of sinful silence when the cause of God suffereth Madness in this case is better than mildness Moderation here is meer sottishness yea it is much worse He being cited by an Herald of Arms to appear before the Coun. at Wormes many of his Friends persuaded him not to adventure himself to such a present danger to whom he answered That he was resolved and certainly determined to enter into Wormes in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ although he knew that there were as many Devils to resist him as there were Tiles to cover the Houses in Wormes His Christian Courage was extraordinary and therefore when Melancthon knowing the rage of the Papists and the Emperors threats to subvert the Gospel was much troubled at it gave himself wholly up to grief sighs and tears Luther writ thus to him In private conflicts I am weak and you are strong but in publick conflicts you are found weak and I strongâ—r because I am assured that our cause is just and true if we fall Christ the Lord and Ruler of the world falleth with us and suppose he fall I had rather fall with Christ than stand with Caesar I extreamly dislike your excessive cares with which you say you are almost consumed that these reign so much in your heart it is not from the greatness of your dangers but from the greatness of your incredulity if the cause be bad let us recant it and flie back if it be good why do we make God a Lyar who hath made us these great promises cast thy care upon the Lord c. Be of good comfort I have overcome the world If Christ be the Conqueror of the world why should we fear it as if it would overcome us A man would fetch such sentences as these upon his knees from Rome to Jerusalem be not afraid be couragious and cheerful sollicitous for nothing the Lord is at hand to help us When King Henry the Eighth of England had writ bitterly against Luther Let the Henries says he the Bishops the Turk and the Devil himself do what they can we are Children of the Kingdom worshipping and waiting for that Saviour whom they and such as they spit upon and crucify Erasmus writes thus If saith he Luther commending the Kings good intention had proceeded by strong Arguments without violating Kingly Majesty in my judgment he had taken a better course for the defence of his cause for what made Luther use these words in his Book come hither my Lord Henry and I will teach you to this Luther replies If any man saith he be offended at my sharpness against the King let him know that in that Book I deal with senseless Monsters who contemned my best and most modest writings and by my Humility and Modesty were more hardned in their Errors Besides I abstained from bitterness and Lies with
dwells Tranquillity and hope of life in an infernal Cave I have joy of Soul where others weep I rejoice where others tremble there I find strength and boldness all these things the sweet hand of the Almighty doth minister unto me behold he that was once far from me whom I could scarce feel before I now see apparently whom I once saw afar off I behold now near at hand whom once I hungred for he now approaches and reaches his hand to me He doth comfort me and fills me with gladness he drives away all sorrow strengthens incourages heals refreshes and advances me O how good is the Lord who suffers not his Servants to be tempted above their strength O how easy and sweet is this yoak Learn therefore how amiable and merciful the Lord is who visiteth his Servants in temptation and disdains not to keep them company in such vile and stinking Dungeons And in conclusion he subscribes his Letter From the delectable Orchard of the Leonine Prison Clarks Martyr p. 270. XLVI Henry Voes and John Esch who had been sometimes Augustine Fryers being converted they were condemned for the Protestant Religion for which they gave thanks to God their Heavenly Father who of his great goodness had delivered them from the false and abominable Religion making them Priests to himself and receiving them to himself as a Sacrifice of a sweet savour they went joyfully to the place of execution protesting that they died for the glory of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel as true Christians and that it was the day which they had long desired they joyfully imbraced the stake and endured patiently the Torments of the fire singing Psalms and rehearsing the Creed in Testimony of their Faith when the fire was kindled at their Feet one of them said Methinks you do strew Roses under my feet Clarks Martyr p. 279. XLVII Peter Spengler a pious and learned Minister in Germany being condemned to death as he was going to Execution said I shall be an acceptable Sacrifice to my Saviour Jesus Christ who hath given me a quiet conscience as knowing my self innocent from the Crimes objected against me as for my death it is all one to me whether I die thus or no for if you had let me alone I must shortly have forsaken this skin which already scarcely hangs to my Bones I know that I am a mortal and corruptible Worm I have long desired my last day and have oft prayed that I might be delivered out of this mortal body to be joined to my Saviour Jesus Christ Another Godly Martyr in that Country feeling the violence of the flames said O what a small pain is this if compared with the Glory to come One Audebert a French Protestant being condemned to be burnt when she was brought forth to Execution and had a Rope put about her she called it her Wedding Girdle wherewith she would be Married unto Christ and being to be burned upon a Saturday she said On a Saturday I was first Married and on a Saturday I shall be Married again She much rejoyced when she was put into the Dung-cart and shewed such patience constancy in the fire as made all the Spectators to wonder at it Clarks Martyr p. 320. XLVIII Mr. John Rogers the first Martyr in Queen Maries days the Lords day before his death drank to Mr. Hooper who lay in a Chamber beneath him bidding the Messenger to commend him to him and tell him That there was never little Fellow would better stick to a Man than he would to him supposing that they should be both burned together though it fell out otherwise Clarks Martyr p. 489. XLIX Mr. Lawrence Saunders whilst he was in Prison writ thus to his Wife I am merry and trust through Gods mercy I shall be merry in spight of all the Devils in Hell Riches I have none to endow you with but the Treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry Consciences whereof I do thank my Christ I feel my part this I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ And again Oh what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God for his unmeasurable mercies so powerfully poured out upon us and I most unworthy wretch cannot but bewail my great Ingratitude toward so gracious a God and so loving a Father I beseech you all as for my other sins so especially for my sins of unthankfulness to crave pardon for me in your earnest prayers to number Gods mercies in particular were to number the drops of Water in the Sea the Sands on the shore and the Stars in Heaven O my dear Wife and Friends rejoice with me I say rejoyce with Thanksgiving for this my present promotion in that I am made worthy to magnify my God not only in my life by my slow mouth and uncircumcised lips bearing witness to his Truth but also by my blood to seal the same to the glory of my God and to the confirming of his True Church I do profess to you that the comforts of my sweet Christ do drive from me the fears of death Clarks Martyr p. 509. L. When Dr. Rowland Taylor was brought before Stephen Gardiner Lord Chancellor he said to him Art thou come thou Villain How darest thou look me in the face for shame Knowest thou not who I am To whom Dr. Taylor answered with Courage How dare you for shame look any Christian man in the face seeing you have forsaken the Truth denied our Saviour Christ and his Word and done contrary to your Oath and Writing And if I should be afraid of your Lordly looks why fear you not God the Lord of us all As he was going to Hadly to be burnt when he came within two miles of it he desired to alight and when he was down he leapt and fetcht a frisk or two saying God be praised I am now almost at my home and have not above two stiles to go over and then I am even at my Fathers House Clarks Martyr p. 509. LI. Bishop Ridly in a Letter to Mr. Bradford writes thus Sir blessed be God notwithstanding our hard restraint and the evil report raised of us we are merry in God and all our care is and by Gods Grace shall be to please and serve him from whom we expect after these temporary and momentary miseries to have eternal joy and perpetual felicity with Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. The night before he suffered he said Though my breakfast will be somewhat sharp and painful yet I am sure my supper shall be more pleasant and sweet Clarks Martyr p. 521. LII Mr. Bradford said I thank God more for this Prison and dark Dungeon than for any Pardon yea than for any pleasure that ever I had for in it I find God my most sweet God alwaies He also told a friend that lay with him in the same Bed in Prison that even in the time of his Examination before Stephen Gardiner he was wonderfully
as one that esteemed him as a Father but as soon as the Maid that attended upon the sick man was gone out of the room he caught up a Hammer gave him some blows and then thrust him through with a Knife as soon as the Maid returned he with the same fury did the like to her and then seizing the Keys he searched for his intended Prey he found eight pieces of Plate which afterward for want of money he pawned to a Priest of St. Blasius who suspecting the man sent the Plate to the Senate at Basil by which means the Author of the detestable murther was known he was searched after taken and brought Prisoner to Basil where after Condemnation he had his Legs and Arms broken upon the Wheel and his head while he was yet alive being tied to a part of the Wheel he was burnt with flaming Torches till in horrible Tortures he gave up the Ghost Lonic Theat XCI I shall conclude this Chapter with the Charity of Henry Keeble Lord Mayor of London in 1511. who besides other great Gifts in his life-time re-builded Aldermary Church which was run to ruines and bequeathed at his death a thousand pounds for the finishing of it yet within sixty years after his bones were unkindly yea inhumanely cast out of the Valut wherein they were buried His Monument was pluckt down for some wealthy Person of those present times to be buried therein Upon which occasion saith Dr. Fuller I could not but rub up my old Poetry which is this Fuller to the Church Vngrateful Church o're run with rust Lately buried in the Dust Vtterly thou hadst been lost If not preserv'd by Keebles cost A Thousand pounds might it not buy Six foot in length for him to lie But outed of his quiet Tomb For later Corpse he must make room Tell me where his dust is east Though 't be late yet now at last All his bones with scorn ejected I will see them recollected Who fain my self would Kinsman prove To all that did Gods Temple love The Churches Answer Alas my Innocence excuse My Wardens they did me abuse Whose Avarice his Ashes sold That Goodness might give place to Gold As for his Reliques all the Town They are scatter'd up and down Seest a Church repaired well There a sprinkling of them fell Seest a New Church lately built Thicker there his Ashes spilt Oh that all the Land throughout Keebles Dust were thrown about Places scatter'd with that seed Would a Crop of Churches breed Fuller's Worthies p. 33. CHAP. V. The Tremendous Consequences of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery THese three evil Qualities or vicious Inclinations of the Mind are much of the same kind for Cruelty and Treachery do commonly proceed from base Cowardly Dispositions As touching Cowards that is such as preserving their Lives or Estates before their Country's welfare and that either will not or dare not stand coâ—ragiously in defence of it in time of Danger they were alwaies reckoned to deserve the greatest punishments and therefore the Romans did sharply chastise them and endeavoured to render them odious for they were commanded and sworn never to eat their meat but standing Nay they were accounted so hateful amongst them that when Hannibal offered the Roman Senate eight thousand Captives to be redeemed they refused his offer saying That they were not worthy to be redeemed who had rather be basely taken than die honestly and valiantly I. The Senate of Rome indeed dealt more favourably with the Captives which King Pyrrhus took for they redeemed them but with this mark of contumel and disgrace that they were degraded from all their Offices and Honours until by getting a double Victory they had won their Reputation again Beards Theatre II. Titias a Captain of Horsemen in Sicilia being overcharged with too great a number of Enemies delivered up his Arms to them which was counted so heinous a Crime that Calpburnius Piso his General pronounced this Sentence against him That he should go barefooted before the Army wearing a Garment without seams and that he should have society with none but such as were guilty of the same fault and from a General over Horsemen he was degraded and made a common Souldier Idem III. How did the Roman Senate correct the Cowardise of Caius Vatienus who that he might prevent his being ingaged in the Wars of Italy cut off all the Fingers of his left hand Why they seized upon his Goods and cast him into perpetual Imprisonment that he might thereby consume that life in Bondage and Fetters which he refused to hazard in the defence of his Country Idem IV. Fulgosus saith That among the Germans it was judged so dishonourable to lose a Shield in War that whosoever happened to do it was suspended from any Civil Office in the State and likewise forbid to enter into any of their Temples insomuch that many he saith killed themselves to avoid the infamy and shame thereof Idem V. The People called Daci punished Cowards on this manner They suffered them not to sleep but with their heads to the feet of the Beds and besides they by a Law ordained that they should be Slaves and Subjects to their own Wives What more vile disgrace could there be than this And yet the Lacedemonians used them more reproachfully for with them it was a dishonour to marry into the stock of a Coward any man might lawfully strike them without punishment and they went with their Cloths rent and their Beards half shaven Idem VI. Artaxerxes after the Battel was ended which he sought with his Brother Cyrus punished one of his Commanders called Arbaces for his cowardliness by compelling him to carry a Whore on his back stark naked all the day long about the Market-place And another that had basely yielded himself to his Enemies and yet boasted that he had slain two men he caused his Tongue to be bored thorow in three several places with an Awl Plutarch VII It is likewise a token of a weak mind and an infirm Soul to anticipate troubles by their own fearful apprehensions before they arrive which is oftentimes occasioned by a too great fearfulness of death and being over-desirous of life which kind of Cowardize hath occasioned great mischiefs and miseries as by the following Examples appears VIII Lewis the Eleventh King of France when he sound himself sick sent for one Fryer Robert out of Calabria to come to him to Toures this man was an Hermite and famous for his Sanctity and while in his last sickness this Holy man lay at Plessis the King sent continually to him saying That if the Hermite pleased he could prolong his life The King had reposed his whole confidence in Mounsieur James Cothier his Physician to whom he gave monthly Ten thousand Crowns in hope he would lengthen his life Never man saith Philip Comines feared death more than he nor sought so many waies to avoid it as he did moreover saith he in all his life-time he
Estates Josephus Hist p. 567. LXI Pontius Pilate being sent by Tiberius to be Governour over the Jews caused in the night time the Statue of Caesar to be brought into Jerusalem covered which thing within 3 days after caused a great Tumult among the Jews for they who beheld it were astonished and moved as though now the Law of their Country were prophaned for they hold it not lawful for any Picture or Image to be brought into the City at their Lamentation who were in the City there were gathered together a great multitude out of the Fields adjoyning and they went presently to Pilate then at Caesarea beseeching him earnestly that the Images might be taken away out of Jerusalem and that the Law of their Country might remain inviolate and when Pilate denied their Suit they prostrated themselves before his House and there remained lying upon their Faces for five days and nights never moving afterward Pilate sitting in his Tribunal was very careful to call the Jews together before him as if he would have there given them an answer when upon the sudden a Company of Armed Soldiers according to appointment compassed the Jews about with a Tripple Rank the Jews were hereat amazed seeing that which they expected not then Pilate told them That unless they would receive the Images of Caesar he would kill them all and to that end made a sign to the Soldiers to draw their Swords the Jews as though they agreed thereto fell all down at once and offered their naked Necks to the stroke of the Sword crying out That they would rather lose their lives than suffer their Religion to be prophaned then Pilate admiring their constancy and the strictness of that People in their Religion presently commanded the Statues to be taken out of the City of Jerusalem Josephus Hist lib. 2. LXII When King Etheldred and his Brother Alfred had encountred the Danes a whole day being parted by the night early the next morning the Battel was reâ—…wed and Alfred being in fight with the Danes sent to his Brother to make all possible speed to help him but he being in his Tent at his Devotions refused to come till he had ended having finished he entred the Battle relieved the staggering Host and had a glorious Victory over his Enemies Malnsburys Chronicle p. 23. LXIII Fulco Earl of Anjou in his old age minding the welfare of his Soul according to the Religion of those days went on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and having bound his Servants by Oath to do what he should require was by them drawn naked to Christs Sepulchre the Pagans looking on while one drew him with a wooden yoak put about his neck the other whipt him on the naked back he in the mean time saying Receive O Lord a miserable Perjured and Runaway Servant vouchsafe to receive my Soul O Lord Christ Malmsoury p. 23. LXIV When the Duke of Saxony made great Preparations for War against a Pious and devout Bishop of Magdenburg the Bishop not regarding his defence applied himself to his Episcopal Function in the visiting and well governing of his Church and when it was told him that the Duke was in his march against him he replied I will take care of the Reformation of my Churches and leave unto God the care of my safety the Duke had a Spy in the City who hearing of this answer of the Bishops gave his Master a speedy account thereof the Duke having received this Information did thereupon dismiss his Army and left off his expedition saying He would not fight against him who had God to fight for him Chetwind Hist Collect. p. 442. LXV Bishop Ridley offering to Preach before the Lady Mary afterward Queen Mary and receiving a repulse was brought by Sir Thomas Wharton her Servant into the Dining Room and desired to drink which when he had done he paused a while looking very sadly and suddenly broke forth into these words Surely I have done amiss why so quoth the Knight because I have drank saith he in that place where Gods Word being offered hath been refused whereas if I had remembred my duty I should have departed immediately and shaken off the dust from my Shoes for a testmony against this House These words were by this Bishop spoken with so much zeal and fervency that some of the hearers afterward affirmed that the Hair on their Heads stood upright at them Clarks Examp. 2 Vol. p. 762. LXVI The veracity likewise of some Persons and their great love to Truth and hatred of Flattery and Falshood hath been very remarkable The Emperor Constantius had besieged Beneventum when Romualdus the Duke thereof dispatched Geswaldus privately to Grimoaldus the King of Lombardy the Dukes Father to desire him to come with an Army to the assistance of his Son which he obtained and was sent away before by Grimoaldus to let his Son know that he was coming with some Troops to his Aid but in his return by misfortune he fell amongst the Enemies who being informed of the Auxiliary Forces that were upon their march were in hope to have Beneventum yielded to them before their arrival if they could make Romualdus to despair of being relieved to this purpose they ordered Geswaldus to speak to them what they bid him and led him to the Walls but when he came thither he declared the whole truth to the Besieged and gave them to understand that ere long Grimoaldus would be with them with a considerable Army this cost Geswaldus his life and the Imperialists raised their Siege the next day after Fulgosus Ex. p. 425. LXVII The Duke of Ossuna as he passed by Barcelona having got leave of his Majesty to release some Slaves he went aboard the Cape Gally and passing through the benches of Slaves he asked divers of them what their offences were every one excused himself one saying That he was put in out of malice another by bribery of the Judge but all of them unjustly among the rest there was one little sturdy black Fellow and the Duke asking him what he was in for Sir said he I cannot deny but I am justly put in here for I wanted Money and so took a Purse hard by Tarragona to keep me from starving The Duke with a little staff he had in his Hand gave him two or three blows upon the shoulders saying You Rogue what do you do among so many honest innocent men get you gone out of their Company So he was freed and the rest remained there still to tug at the Oar Howels Letters p. 32. LXVIII When I lived at Vtricht saith Mr. Peachman the reply of that valiant Gentleman Colonel Edmonds was much spoken of there came a Country man of his out of Scotland who desiring to be entertained by him told him That my Lord his Father and such Knights and Gentlemen his Cosen and Kinsmen were in good health Colonel Edmonds turning to his Friends then by Gentlemen saies he believe not one word he says my Father
is but a poor Baker in Edenburgh and works hard for his living whom this Knave would make a Lord to curry favour with me and make you believe I am a great man born when there is no such matter Peachmans Compleat Gentleman p. 5. LXVIX It is said of Augustus Caesar that after a long inquiry into all the parts of his Empire he found but one man who was accounted never to have told a Lie for which cause he was judged to be capable worthy to be the chief Sacrificer in the Temple Cornelius Nepos remembers of Titus Pomponius Atticus a Knight of Rome and familiar Friend to Tully that he was never known to speak an untruth neither but with great impatience to hear one related his uprightness was so remarkable that not only private men made suit to him that they might commit their whole Estate to his Trust but even the Senate themselves besought him that he would take the management of divers Offices into his Charge Heraclides in his History of the Abbot Idur speaks of him as a Person extreamly devoted to truth and gives him this threefold commendation That he was never known to tell a Lie that he was never heard to speak ill of any man and lastly that he used not to speak at all but when necessity required Xenocrates the Philosopher was known to be a man of that Fidelity and Truth in speaking that whereas no mans Testimony might be taken in any cause but upon Oath yet the Athenians among whom he lived gave to him alone this priviledge That his Evidence should be lawful and good without swearing Laert. Vit. Philos LXX One who was designed for an Agent and Ambassadour waited upon the knowing and experienced Lord Wentworth for some direction in his Conduct and Carriage to whom he thus delivered himself To secure your self and serve your Country you must at all times and upon alloccasions speak Truth for saith he you will never be believed and by this means your speaking Truth will both secure your self if you be questioned and put those you deal with to a great loss who will still act contrary to what you declare in all their inquiries and undertakings Albertus the Popish Archbishop of Mentz reading by chance in the Bible one of his Council coming in asked him what his Highness did with that Book The Archbishop answered I know not what this Book is but I am sure that all which is written therein is quite against us Luther Coll. p. 11. LXXI When Aristobulus the Historian presented to Alexander the Great a Book that he had writ of his Glorious Archievements wherein he had flatteringly made him greater than he was Alexander after he had read the Book threw it into the River Hydaspis and told the Author That it were a good deed to throw him in after it the same Prince did also chase a certain Philosopher out of his presence because he had long lived with him and yet never reproved him for any of his Vices and Faults Maximilian the first Emperor of Germany though he might be desirous to be famous to Posterity for his Noble Actions and Atchievements yet he was very averse and afraid to be praised to his face when therefore on a time divers eloquent and learned men did highly extol him with mighty praises in their Panegyricks he commanded Cuspinianus to return them an answer extempore and withal take heed said he that you praise me not for a mans own Praises from his own mouth carry but an evil savour with them It is written of our Henry 5. that he had something of Caesar in him which Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk and something of Alexander the Great that Caesar had not that he would not be flattered Cambdens Remains p. 228. LXXII Pambo came to a learned man and desired him to teach him some Psalm who began to read unto him the 39th Psalm and the first verse I said I will look to my ways that I not offend with my Tongue Pambo shut the Book and took his leave saying he would go learn that point and having absented himself for some months he was demanded by his Teacher when he would go forward he answered That he had not yet learned his old Lesson to speak in such a manner as not to offend with his Tongue Sueton. Hist LXXIII Some men have been also famous for being great Lovers and Promoters of Peace for though the frantick world hath generally made Darlings of such as have been clad in Steel the destroyers of Cities the suckers of Humane blood and such as have imprinted the deepest scars upon the Face of the Universe though these are the men it hath Crowned with Lawrels advanced to Thrones and flattered with the misbecoming Titles of Hero's and Gods while the Sons of Peace are remitted to the cold entertainment of their own Virtues yet there have ever been some who have found so many Heavenly Beauties in the face of Peace that they have been contented to love that sweet Virgin for her self and to court her without the consideration of any Additional Dowry For we read that Otho the Emperor when he saw that he must either lay down the Empire or else maintain himself in the possession thereof by the blood and slaughter of a number of Citizens he determined with himself to die a voluntary death and when his Friends and Soldiers desired him that he would not so soon begin to despair of the event of the War he replied That his life to him was not of that value as to occasion a Civil War for the defence of it who can chuse but admire that such a Spirit as this should be found in an Heathen Prince and he too not above thirty years of Age. Erasmus Apotheg LXXIV The Inhabitants of the Islands of Borneo not far from the Molucca's in the East-Indies live in such detestation of War and are so great lovers of Peace that they hold their King in no other Veneration than that of a God so long as he studies to preserve them in Peace but if he discover inclinations to War they never leave till he is fallen in Battel under the Arms of his Enemies so soon as he is slain they set upon the Enemy with all imaginable fierceness as men that fight for their Liberty and for such a King as will be a great lover of Peace nor was there ever any King known amongst them that was the persuader or Author of a War but he was deserted by them and suffered to fall under the Sword of the Enemy Dinoth Memor p. 76. LXXV Constantius the Emperor observing such differences among the Fathers of the Church called the Council of Nice at which also himself was present at this time divers little Books were brought to him containing their mutual complaints and accusations of each other all which he received as one that intended to read and take cognizance of them all but when