the Odiousness of the Fact and to impute the Treason to the discontented Puritans Fawkes coming into Flanders found Owen unto whom after the Oath he declared the Plot which he very well approved of but Sir William Stanley being now in Spain Owen said that he would hardly be drawn into the Business having Suits now in England at the Court Yet he promised to engage him all that he could and to send into England with the first so soon as the Plot had taken Effect Upon this Fawkes to avoid further Suspicion kept still in Flanders all the beginning of September and then returning receiv'd the Keys of the Cellar and laid more Powder Billets and Faggots which done he retired into the Country and there kept till the end of October In the mean time Catesby and Peircy meeting at the Bath it was there concluded that because their numbec was but few Catesby himself should have power to call in whom he would to assist their design by which Authority he took in Sir Everard Digby of Rutlandshire and Francis Tresham Esq of Northamptonshire both of them of sufficient State and Wealth For Sir Everard offer'd Fifteen Hundred Pounds to forward the Action and Tresham Two Thousand But Peircy disdaining that any should out-run him in Evil promised Four Thousand Pounds out of the Earl of Northumberland's Rents and ten swift Horses to be used when the Blow was past Against which time to provide Ammunition Catesby also took in Ambrose Rookwood and John Grant two Recusant Gentlemen and without doubt others were acquainted also with it had these two grand Electors been apprehended alive whose own Tongues only could have given an Account of it The business being thus forwarded abroad by their Complices they at home were no less active For Peircy Winter and Fawkes had stored the Cellar with thirty fix Barrels of Gunpowder and instead of Shot has said upon them Bars of Iron Logs of Timber Massie stones Iron Crows Pickaxes and all their working Tools and to cover all great Store of Billets and Faggots so that nothing was wanting against that great and terrible day Neither were the Priests and Jesuits slack on their parts who usually concluded their Masses with Prayers for the good Success of their expected Hopes Upon Thursday in the Evening ten Days before the Parliament was to begin a Letter directed to the Lord Monteagle was deliver'd by an unknown Person to his Footman in the Street with a strict Charge to give it into his Lords own Hands which accordingly he did The Letter had neither Date nor Subscription and was somewhat unlegible This Letter was imparted to the Earl of Salisbury then Principal Secretary and they both presently acquainted the Lord Chamberlain next to the Earl of Worcester and Northampton and last to the King as followeth My Lord Out of the Love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your Preservation Therefore I would advise you as you tender your Life to devise some Excuse to shift off your Attendance at this Parliament For God and Man have concurr'd to punish the Wickedness of this time And think not slightly of this Advertisement but retire your self into your Country where you may expect the Event in safety For though there be no Appearance of any Stir yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This Counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm For the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter and I hope God will give you the Grace to make a good use of it to whose holy Protection I commend you His Majesty after reading this Letter pausing a while and then reading it again deliver'd his Judgment that the Stile of it was too quick and pithy to be a Libel proceeding from the Superfluities of an idle Brain and by these Words That they should receive a terrible Blow at this Parliament and yet should not see who hurt them he presently apprehended that a sudden Danger by a Blast of Gunpowder was intended by some base Villain in a Corner though no Insurrection Rebellion or desperate Attempt appear'd And therefore wished that the Rooms under the Parliament-House should be thoroughly searched before himself or Peers should sit therein Hereupon it was concluded that the Lord-Chamberlain according to his Office should view all Rooms above and below but yet to prevent idle Rumours and to let things ripen further it was resolved that this Search should be deferr'd till Monday the day before the Parliament met and that then it should be done with a seeming slight Eye to avoid Suspect According to this Conclusion the Earl of Suffolk Lord-Chamberlain upon Monday in the Afternoon accompanied with the Lord Monteagle repair'd into these Under-Rooms and finding the Cellar so fully stored with Wood and Coals demanded of Fawkes the counteffeit Johnson who stood there attending as a Servant of small Repute who owned the place He answer'd that the Lodgings belong'd to Master Thomas Peircy and the Cellar also to lay in his Winter-Provision himself being the Keeper of it and Master Thomas Peircy's Servant whereunto the Earl as void of any Suspicion told him That his Master was well provided for Winter Blasts But when they were come forth the Lord Monteagle told him That he did much suspect Peircy to be the Inditer of the Letter knowing his Affection in Religion and the Friendship betwixt them professed so that his Heart gave him as he said when heard Peircy named that his Hand was in act The Lord-Chamberlain returning related to the King and Council what he had seen and the Suspition that the Lord Monteagle had of Peircy and himself of Johnson his Man all which increased His Majesties Jealousie so that he insisted contrary to the Opinion of some that a harrow Search should be made and the Billets and Coals turn'd up to the bottom and accordingly the Search was concluded to be made but under colour of searching for certain Hangings belonging to the House which were missing and conveyed away Sir Thomas Knevet a Gentleman of His Majesties Privy-Chamber was employ'd herein who about Midnight before the Parliament was to begin went to the place with a small but trusty number of Persons And at the Cellar Door entring in finding one who was Guy Fawkes at so unseasonable an Hour cloaked and booted he apprehended him and ransacking the Billets he found the Serpent's Nest stored with Thirty six Barrels of Powder and then searching the Villain he found a Dark-Lanthorn about him three Matches and other Instruments for blowing up the Powder And being no whit daunted he instantly confessed his Guiltiness vowing that if he had been within the House he would have blown up House and self and all and before the Council lamented nothing so much as that the Deed was not done saying The Devil and not God was the Discoverer
Wind But that heavenly Country above for many Hundreds of Years affords space for the swiftest Stars to travel in without let or molestation In short the very Natural Propensity of Mankind to enquire into those upper Regions and peer amongst the Stars is some Argument of our Concernment that way 4. Let us beware of Idolatry the fault of the old Pagan World Who when they saw those Lights hung out at the Windows of Heaven which should have been but ministerial to help them in the Search of him that made them fell down and worshipped the Servants instead of the Master the Candles at the Door instead of the Lord of the House Deut. 4.19 Yet the Jews themselves were so forgetful of this Precept that we find them often taxed for burning Incense to the Queen of Heaven and worshipping the Star Rempham And 't is too well known that the Heathens generally worshipped the Sun Moon and Stars becoming vain in their Imaginations and though they professed themselves Wise they became Fools changing the Glory of the incorruptible God into the Image of his corruptible Creatures 5. By this Law they who want a Special Revelation shall be judged Rom. 2.12 13 14 15. Let no Man then whether within or without the Pale of the Church think to shroud his Guilt under the Cloak of Ignorance There 's no Corner of the World so remote no People so dark where this Voice hath not been heard the Musick of the Spheres is soft and still but such as shortly will make even both the Ears of the guilty Sinner tingle The Language wherein these Sermons are preach'd to the World is temperate and equal it makes no great Noise at present to them who are busie digging low in the Bowels of the Earth but it hath a sharp and heavy Accent at the end Let no Man then upbraid the Almighty as if he were a severe Judge for calling all Men to the same Judgment for damning Men that never had the knowledge of his Laws Fear not God will be just he 'll vindicate his Righteousness from the foul Aspersions and Abuses of a scandalous World Hast thou sinned without Law without Law then thou shalt be tried And a Hundred to One but condemned too and yet God clear from thy Blood and just in all this What a black List of Sins doth the Apostle present thee with Rom. 1.29 c. all chargeable upon all Nations of the World Jew and Christian and Turk and Heathen and damnable by the very Law of Nature Vnrighteousness Fornication c. But that which affects us most in all this is that not only the poor Infidel is guilty in this Case but a great part of Christendom also not only they that have no other Law to read in no other Rule to go by but the Book of the Creation but they also who have the Bibles in their Hands and the Creed upon their Tongues-end and have all the Advantages of Nature and Revelation both When these very Sins and as bad or worse walk bare-fac'd within the Confines of the Church and Men of the best Creed and Profession in the World are not ashamed to commit the foulest Sins and sometimes accounteit their Glory to boast of such Vices which ought not so much as to be named amongst Christians There are several live amongst us it may be in this place now whose ordinary Conversations are stain'd with such Blots as both the Lights both that of Positive Religion and that of meer Natural Reason too do abhor and condemn And yet which is mighty strange these very Men do please themselves with the hopes of escaping safely the Sentence of the Judge at the Last Day And upon their Repentance they may but else I cannot think of any plausible Argument that will stand their Friend at the Day of Judgment And to drive the Nail farther yet It will not be enough for Men to plead their Interest in a Church or Party in such Cases let the Church be never so pure nor the Profession never so good nor the Advantages of Knowledge and Information never so great if under all these Pretensions thou shouldst play the Hypocrite and live ill thy own Mouth would condemn thee and a whole Cloud of Witnesses depose Evidence against thee And yet notwithstanding all this we may take up the Complaint of the Prophet Jer. 18.13 Ask now among the Heathen who hath heard such Things The Virgins of Israel have done very horrible Things Thy poor Men are tenacious of their superstitious Vanities 't is hard to make a Proselyte to Christianity amongst them they will dispute fight die for their meer Shadow of Faith but Christians will barter away thier Conscience their Creed their Heaven their God for meer Vanities Ver. 14 15. In short if it be true what some of the poor ignorant Gentiles fancied that the Sun Moon and Stars do all look upon us and are daily Spectators and Witnesses of all we do it were well for many If the Sun were indeed turned into Darkness and the Moon into Blood and the Stars would leave off their Shining and the whole Face of the Heavens were reversed than thus to stand over our Heads and remark our Actions in order to a Solemn Convictive Testimony against us Jer. 2.9 10 11. 8. Of the Glorious Body of the Sun COnsider we next the Sun 1. In its Motion 1. Its Terms à quo ad quem 2. It s Swiftness 3. Continuance 4. It s Light 5. It s Heat 1. It s Motion Concerning which and the rest of its Attributes I shall have the less to say now because I have spoken so much of it in the General Notion of the Heavenly Bodies Yet for Order-sake consider we 1. Its Terms or Bounds from whence and to which the Sun moves From the one end of the Heavens to the other i. e. according to our Apprehension and Common Sence of Things For in truth the Heavens have neither Beginning nor End but are of a perfect Round Figure Indeed this Notion was so long hid from the World that not many Hundred Years agone a German Bishop was Excommunicated for broaching this Doctrine viz. That there were Antipodes and that the Earth in answer to the Heavens was inhabited round whereas now 't is generally agreed upon with good Reason by all the Learned of late Ages 2. It s Swiftness I need say little more upon this Point than what I said before viz. That the Sun according to the Judgment of some Astronomers goes in its Motion 1000000 German Miles in the Judgment of others 261905 in one Hour Whether either of them are in the right or no I am not much concerned to determine This is certain 't is of a vast Body 166 times bigger than the Earth say Astronomers who by the Eclipses say they have found its Diameter and by its Diameter its Compass Periphery and by that its Motion Indeed its Course is so swift so incredibly quick that
the Seed of David Psal 89.37 compared there to the Moon is meant the Church and as for the Sun ye have heard already that God himself stoops to the Metaphor the other part is easily made out viz. That this Sun and this Moon are related one to the other as the Bridegroom and the Bride Isa 62.1 5. You are this Moon God hath set his Love upon the Children of Men with design to marry them to himself Christ the Son of Righteousnes hath died to purchase their Affections and present them to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle c. As a Man loves his Wife so doth Christ the Church Only this Are you willing to accept the Proposal or will you disdain the Motion Shall this Moon scorn to be married to this glorious Sun Or are you willing to take Christ for your wedded Husband to live together after God's Ordinance in the sacred Tye of a Matrimonial Relation God himself courts you Christ hath died for you the Spirit and the Bridegroom say Come and we his Embassadors and Ministers say Come we beseech you in Christ's stead The Commission to us is much the same with Abraham's to his Servant Gen. 24.38 And our Answer may be much the same with Abraham's Servant to his Master ver 39. However our Address to you is the same with his to Rebecca v. 49. If you are willing God is willing and all things are ready and the Match is excellent and no Dowry on your part is required only as the Psalmist Psal 45.10 Hearken O Daughter and consider and incline thine Ear. And if you are thus far willing heartily willing the Espousals may be celebrated now we will very quickly God willing solemnize the Contract in the Sacrament and shortly the Marriage shall be consummate and the Feast prepared when the Scaffold of this World is taken down and the Compeer of our Bridegroom the Man of Sin is destroyed and the Number of the Guests are compleated and Room is made for that Great Solemnity then I say the Marriage-Day will come and the Feast celebrated and the Nuptials consummate and then Rev. 19.7 Let us be glad and rejoyce and give Honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb i◠come and his Wife hath made herself ready III. Of the Existence of a Separate Soul and Ministry of Angels And was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bosom Luke 16.22 THE Context is a Parable which I need not make a Rehearsal of The Subject of my Discourse is somewhat abstruse from Common Sence My Text lies all out of sight The Soul of Lazarus lately departed out of the Body the Angels carrying it perceptible to no Mortal Eye the Place whither Abraham's Bosom in the other World From whence we have a fair occasion to Discourse of I. The Existence of a Separate Soul II. The Ministration of Angels to it in that State III. The Conveyance of it to the common Receptacle of Departed Souls I shall propound the Doctrine thus Doct. Vpon the supposition of a Sound Faith in Christ our Souls are well provided for at the Dissolution of our Bodies The Soul of a good Christian is better accommodated after its departure out of the Body than it could be in the Body Thô the outward Tabernacle be taken down and returns to the Dust the Soul is in a safe and comfortable Condition and that in respect of its Immortality and Existence in a Separate State The Foundation I have for this Argument in my Text is this viz. That thô our supposed Friend Lazarus was dead yet he was carried away by Angels His Body cannot be meant in this Case that was to return to its Dust and at the disposal of Mankind it must therefore be his Soul which remained alive after Death Shall I give you some Arguments to prove that the Soul lives when the Man dies 1. The Scripture tells us so The Righteous hath hope in his Death Prov. 14.32 Stephen pray'd Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Acts 7.59 To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise c. 2. Take away this Doctrine and the Force of all Religion falls to the Ground Then that of the Epicurean takes place Let us eat and drink for to morrow we die Then who would renounce his Lusts to serve a God And quit the present Pleasures of Sin in hopes of a future Reward Were it not that Mankind hath naturally and generally all the World over a sollicitous Care for the other World Religion would be soon banish'd out of this 3. If the Soul live not after the Body 't is more unhappy in the Body than the Souls of Bruits and Man is a more ignoble inferiour Creature than those Creatures which serve him We enjoy less of the Pleasures of this World than many Bruits We are distracted with more Cares Fears and Anxieties about Death and Hell about Duty and Conscience about Body and Soul about Children and Friends about the Concerns of the present Time and Time to come than the innocent pleasant Birds of the Air Beasts of the Forrest and Fishes of the Sea So that we must conclude if the Creator that made us made us with any Wisdom and did not put an absolute Cheat upon us he made us for a longer Life than that of this World And the Soul must live longer or the Workmanship of God's Hands is clouded with a grievous Solecism There are many more Arguments by which this Doctrine is wont to be proved which I shall now pass over supposing my Readers are all willing enough that their souls should survive their Bodies and endure to Eternity 2. When the Soul goes out of the Body 't is conveyed away by Angels into the other World Once out of Prison and it comes into the Society of Spirits whilst 't is here in the Body 't is pent up and cloyster'd within such thick Mud-walls that it hardly enjoys a free and unconfined Breathing can scarce peep out at the Windows or take Acquaintance with those Spiritual Creatures of its own Kind 't is mancipated for the time to a heavy lumpish Body shackled and chained up in a narrow Tabernacle of Flesh and Blood But when Death unties the Knot and open's the Prison-doors then like a Bird broke newly out of the Cage 't is presently saluted with Ghosts its Fellows a sort of Spiritual Intelligent Abstracted Forms naked Spirits which come to congratulate and conduct it to its place of Rest This will appear more probable if you consider 1. That God employs the Angels about the common Providential Government of the World Those Ministring Spirits are ready at hand to do his pleasure and nimble and active if he bids them go they go if come they come c. And this all without Murmur Dispute or Displeasure in a ready pleasant chearful manner Thus we find an Angel attending Hagar by the Fountain of Water Gen. 16.7 And again Gen. 21.17 we read of Angels appearing to Abraham
and Visions p 47 Chap. 9. Of Prediction by Impulses c. p. 54 Chap. 10. Of Divination Southsaying Witchcraft p. 56 Chap. 11. Of Astrology p. 60 Chap. 12. Of Oracles p. 62 Chap. 13. Of Prophets p. 64 Chap. 14. Of Urim and Thummim Teraphim c. p. 67 Chap. 15. Premonitions of general Changes or Revolutions p. 69 Chap. 16. Premonitions of particular Changes or Accidents of Life containing great variety of late Instances p. 71. Chap. 17. Promises fulfill'd p. 81 Chap. 18. Strange Convictions or Conversions with many late Instances of that nature p. 83 Chap. 19. Strange ways of Restraining Persons from Sin in several remarkable Instances of it p. 94 Chap. 20. Strange ways of promoting Salvation p. 95 Chap. 21. Wants strangely supplied p. 97. Chap. 22. Strange Instances of Consolation and Protection in dangers containing 1. Personal deliverances and comforts 2. Sea-dangers and deliverances 3. Princes and Magistrates delivered from Plots p. 99 to 120 Cha. 23. The Innocent strangely cleared p. 120 Chap. 24. Doubts strangely resolved and the weak confirmed p. 123. Chap. 25. The Modest and Humble strangely advanced p. 125 Chap. 26. Persons strangely admonished of sins or dangers p. 126. Chap. 27. Remarkable instances of Faith p. 128. Chap. 28. Remarkable courage and boldness p. 129. Chap. 29. Remarkable Patience p. 130. Chap. 30. Remarkable Prudence p. 132. Chap. 31. Remarkable Justice p. 133. Chap. 32. Remarkable Temperance in â—eats p. 135. Chap. 33. Remarkable Temperance in Drinks p. 136. Chap. 34. Remarkable Frugality and Humility in Cloaths Houshold-stuff c. p. 137 Chap. 35. Remarkable Humility in Behaviour p. 139 Chap. 36. Remarkable Veracity and Love of Truth p. 1 2d Alphabet Chap. 37. Remarkable Friendship p. 2. 2d Al. Chap. 38. Remarkable Hospitality p. 3. 2d Al. Chap. 39. Remarkable charity and liberality in Giving p. 6. 2d Alph. Chap. 40. Remarkable charity in judging â—nd forgiving p. 10. 2d Alph. Chap. 41. Remarkable Instances of Munificence p. 11. 2d Alph. Chap. 42. Remarkable chastity p. 16. 2d Alph. Chap. 43. Remarkable meekness quietness and peaceableness p. 17. 2d Alph. Chap. 44. Remark moderation and zeal for reconciling church differences p. 18. 2d Alph. Chap. 45. Retractations of censorious Protestants p. 20 2d Alph. Chap. 46. Good People extreamly afflicted and mightily comforted with several late instances of Persons troubled in mind p. 21 2d Alph. Chap. 47. Remarkable Gratitude p. 26 2d Alph. Chap 48. Remarkable diligence laboriousness and studiousness p. 27 2d Alph. Chap. 49. Remarkable instances of contempt of wealth p. 29 2d Alph. Chap. 50. Remarkable silence or reservedness of Men c. as also of retirement p. 30 2d Alph. Chap. 51. Good Wives remarkable Chap. 52. Good Husbands remarkable p. 41 2d Alph. Chap. 53. Good Children remarkable p. 42 2d Alph. Chap. 54. An account of the conversions of little Children being about 50 in number and most of this present age p. 43 2d Alph. Chap. 55. Good Parents remarkable p. 52. 2d Alph. Chap. 56. Good Servants remarkable p. 53 2d Alph. Chap. 57. Good Masters and Mistresses remarkable p. 54 2d Alph. Chap. 58. Good Pastors Bishops and Ministers p. 55 2d Alph. Chap. 59. Reverence to learned or good Men p. 55 2d Alph. Chap. 60. People loving and kind to their Ministers p. 58 2d Alph. Chap. 61. Remarkable Zeal and Devotion to this Chap. is added Mr. Albin's Evidences for Heaven subscrib'd as sufficient grounds of assurance by Mr. Calamy and other Divines which Evidences were never Printed before p. 59 2d Alph. Chap. 62. Remarkable zeal and charity in propogating Religion by Mr. Boil and oothers in several parts of the World p. 72 2d Alph. Chap. 63. Remarkable devotion in singing Psalms and Hymns of Praise p. 76 2d Alph. Chap. 64. Persons remarkable for good Discourse p. 78 2d Alph. Chap. 65. Remarkable devotion on the Lords Day p. 79. 2d Alph. Chap. 66. Remarkable love of the Holy Scripture p. 81 2d Alph. Chap. 67. Present retribution to the Faithful p. 86 2d Alph. Chap. 68. Present retribution to Plain and faithful reprovers p. 86 2d Alph. Chap. 69. Present retribution to the humble and modest p. 87 2d Alph. Chap. 70. Present retribution to the Just p. 88 2d Alph. Chap. 71. Present retribution to the Temperate p. 89 2d Alph. Chap. 72. Present retribution to the Devout and Praying or Prayers answered in kind in several late Instances p. 90. 2d Alph. Chap. 73. Present retribution to the charitable p. 93 3d Alph. beginning with a single Letter Chap. 74. Present retribution to the observers of Sabbaths p. 97 3d Alph. Chap. 75. Present retribution to them that have been Obedient to Parents p. 98. 3d Alph. Chap. 76. Present retribution to the peaceable and quiet p. 99 3d Alph. Chap. 77. Present retribution to the merciful p. 100 3d Alph. Chap. 78. Earnest of a future retribution p. 101 3d Alph. Chap. 79. Protection of the good in danger p. 105 3d Alph. Chap. 80. Guidance of the good through difficulties p. 107 3d Alph. Chap. 81. Persons strangely fitted for great Employments p. 108. 3d Alph. Chap. 82. Miraculous cures of diseases in this present age p. 109. 3d Alph. Chap. 83. Satan and evil Spirits permitted to hurt the good in their names p. 120. 3d. Alph. Chap. 84. Satan permitted to hurt the good in their health of Body p. 121 3d Al. Chap. 85. Satan permitted to hurt the good in their Estates p. 127. 3d Alph. Chap. 86. Satan permitted to hurt the good in their Souls p. 128. 3d Alph. Chap. 87. Satan permitted to disturb the quiet and peace of persons or families c. p. 132. 3d. Alph. Chap. 88. Satan hurting by charms spells amulets c. p. 134. 3d Alph. Chap. 89. Satan hurting by interposing with melancholy diseases p. 135. 3d Al. Chap. 90. Satan hurting by temptations injections c. p. 136. 3d Al. Chap. 91. Satan hurting by dreams p. 137. 3d Al. Cha. 92. Satan hurting by witchcraft p. 138. 3d. Al. Chap. 93. Satan restrained in hurting the good p. 151. concluding the 3d Al. of the single Letter Chap. 94. Satan hurting by obsessions possessions c. p. 1. beginning another 3d Alph. with a double Letter Chap. 95. Satan hurting by storms p. 2. 3d Al. Chap. 96. Satan hurting by Apparitions p. 4. 3d Al. Chap. 97. Satan hurting by false Promises or Threatnings p. 5. 3d Al. Chap. 98. Divine Judgments by way of retaliation p. 6. 3d Al. Chap. 99. Divine Judgments upon superstition p. 8. 3d Al. Chap. 100. Divine judgments upon blasphemy and profaneness p. 9. 3d Al. Chap. 101. Divine judgments on scoffers at other Men's imperfections or such as counterfeited to have them when they had them not p. 12. 3d Al. Ch. 102. Divine judgments on Atheism p. 13. 3d Al. Ch. 103. Divine Judgments on cursing p. 14. 3d Al. Chap. 104. Divine judgments upon swearing c. p. 16. 3d Al. Chap. 105. Divine judgments upon sabbath-breakers p. 18. 3d
Toaklys Son Languished and Died calling and crying out upon her that she was the cause of his Death She also declared that about eight days before Susan Cock Margaret Landish and Joyce Boanes brought to her House three Imps which Joyce taking her Imp too carried them all four to Robert Turners to Torment his Servant because her refused to give them some Chips his Master being a Carpenter and that he forthwith fell Sick and oft barkt like a Dog and she believed those four Imps were the cause of his Death Rose Hallybread was for this Wickedness Condemned to be Hanged but Died in Chelmsford Goal May 9. 1645. Ibid. p. 16. Susan Lock was another of the Society concerning whom see more in the Chap. of Satans Permission to hurt the Innocent in their Estates 6. Much about the same time in Huntingtonshire Elizabeth Weed of great Catworth being Examined before Robert Bernard and Nicholas Pedley Esq Justices of the Peace March 31. 1646. Said that about Twenty one years before as she was one Night going to Bed there appeared to her three Spirits one like a young Man and the other two in the shape of Puppies one white and the other black He that was in the form of a youth spoke to her and Demanded Whether she would deny God and Christ which she agreed to The Devil then offered her to do what mischief she would require of him provided she would Covenant he should have her Soul after Twenty one years which she granted She confest further that about a week after at Ten a Clock at Night he came to her with a Paper asking whether she were willing to Seal the Covenant she said she was then he told her it must be done with her Blood and so prickt her under the left Arm till it bled with which she scribled and immediately a great lump of Flesh rise on her Arm in the same place which increased ever since After which he came to Bed and had Carnal Knowledge of her then and many times afterwards The other two Spirits came into the Bed likewise and suckt upon other parts of her Body where she had Teats and that the Name of one was Lilly and the other Priscil One of which was to hurt Man Woman or Child and the other to destroy what Cattel she desired and the young Man was to lye with her as he did often And saith that Lilly according to the Covenant did kill the Child of Mr. Henry Bedel of Catworth as she required him to do when she was angry tho she does not now remember for what and that about two or three days before she sent him to kill Mr. Bedel himself who returned and said he had no Power and that another time she sent the same Spirit to hurt Edward Musgrove of Catworth who likewise returned saying He was not able And that she sent her Spirit Priscill to kill two Horses and two Cows of Mr. Musgroves and Thomas Thorps in that Town which was done accordingly And being askt when the one and twenty years would be out she said To the best of my Remembrance about low Sunday next Being further demanded why she did so constantly resort to Church and to hear the Sermons of Mr. Pool the Minister she said She was well pleased with his Preaching and had a desire to be rid of that unhappy Burthen which was upon her VVitches of Huntington p. 2. 7. About the year of our Lord 1632. As near as I can Remember having lost my Notes and the Copy of the Letter to Serjeant Hutton but I am sure that I do most perfectly remember the substance of the Story near unto Chester in the street there lived one VValker a young Man of Good Estate and a Widower who had a young Woman to his Kinswoman that kept his House who was by the Neighbours suspected to be with Child and was towards the Dark of the Evening one Night sent away with one Mark Sharp who was a Collier or one that digged Coals under Ground and one that had been born in Blakeburn-Hundred in Lancashire And so she was not heard of for a long time and no Noise or little was made about it In the Winter time after one James Graham or Grime for so in that Countrey they call them being a Miller and living about two Miles from the place where Walker lived was one Night alone very late in the Mill grinding Corn and as about twelve or one a Clock at Night he came down the Stairs from having been putting Corn in the Hopper the Mill doors being shut there stood a Woman upon the midst of the Floor with her hair about her head hanging down and all Bloody with five large Wounds on her head He being much affrighted and amazed began to Bless him and at last asked her who she was and what she wanted To which she said I am the Spirit of such a Woman who lived with Walker and being got with Child by him he promised to send me to a private place where I should be well lookt to until I was brought to Bed and well again and then I should come again and keep his House And accordingly said the Apparition I was one Night late sent away with one Mark Sharp who upon a Moor Naming a place that the Miller knâ—w slew me with a Pike such as Men dig Coals withal and gave me these five Wounds and after threw my Body into a Coal-Pit hard by and hid the Pike under a Bank And his Shoes and Stockings being Bloody he endeavoured to wash but seeing the Blood would not wash forth he hid them there And the Apparition further told the Miller that he must be the Man to reveal it or else that she must still appear and haunt him The Miller returned home very sad and heavy but spoke not one word of what he had seen but eschewed as much as he could to stay in the Mill within Night without Company thinking thereby to escape the seeing again of that frightful Apparition But notwithstanding one Night when it began to be dark the Apparition met him again and seemed very fierce and cruel and threatned him that if he did not reveal the Murder she would continually pursue and haunt him Yet for all this he still concealed it until St. Thomas's Eve before Christmas when being soon after Sun-set walking in his Garden she appeared again and then so threatned him and affrighted him that he faithfully promised to reveal it the next Morning In the Morning he went to a Magistrate and made the whole matter known with all Circumstances and diligent search being made the Body was found in a Coal-Pit with five Wounds in the Head and the Pike and Shoes and Stockings yet Bloody in every Circumstance as the Apparition had related unto the Miller Whereupon Walker and Mark Sharp were both apprehended but would confess nothing At the Assizes following I think it was at Durham they were Arraigned and found guilty
had hearde of such an old Parrot when he came to Brasil and tho' he believed nothing of it and it was a good way off yet he had so much Curiosity as to send for it and that it was a very great and a very old one and when it came first into the Room where the Prince was with a great many Dutchmen about him it said presently What a Company of white Men are here They asktâ— it what he thought that Man was pointing at the Prince It answer'd Some General or other When they brought it close to him he ask'd it Dou venez vous whence came you it answer'd De Mariuuau from Mariuuau The Prince A qui est es vous to whom do you belong The Parrot a una Portuguez to a Portugueze Prince Que fais tula What do you there Parrot Je garde le poulles I look after the Chickens The Prince laughed and said Vous garde le poulles You look after the Chickens The Patrot answer'd Ouy moy Je scay bieu faire Yes I and I know well enough how to do it and then made a Chuck four or five times that People use to make when they call the Chickens I set down the Words of this worthy Dialogue in French just as Prince Maurice said them to me I ask'd him in what Language the Parrot spoke and he said in Brasilian I ask'd whether he understood Brasilian he said No but he had taken Care to have two Interpreters by him the one a Dutchman that spoke Brasilian the other a Brasilian that spoke Dutch that he asked them separately and privately and both of them agreed in telling him just the same thing that the Parrot said I could not saith Sir William but tell this odd Story because it is so much out of the way and from the first Hand and what may pass for a good one For I dare say this Prince at least believed himself all that he told me having ever passsed for an honest and pious Man I leave it to Naturalists to Reason and other Men to believe as they please upon it Thus that excellent Person Dr. Burthogge's Essay upon Reason c. p. 19 20 c. It may be this Story is not very properly asserted in this place but I Quaere whether or no it may not give some Light to the solving of that Aenigmatical Story of the Devil in the Serpent and the speaking Ass mentioned by Moses 6. Memorable is that famous Story in Wierus of Magdalena Crucia first a Nun and then an Abbatess of a Nunnery in Corduba in Spain Those things which were Miraculous in her were these That she could tell almost at any distance how the Affairs of the World went what Consultations or Transactions there were in all the Nations of Christendom from whence she got to her self the Reputation of a very holy Woman and a great Prophetess But other things came to pass by her or for her sake no less strange and miraculous As that at the Celebrating of the Holy Eucharist the Priest should always want one of his round Wafers which was secretly conveyed to Magdalen by the Administration of Angels as was supposed and she receiving of it into her Mouth eat it in the view of the People to their great Astonishment and high Reverence of the Saint At the Elevation of the Host Magdalen being near at hand but yet a Wall betwixt that the Wall was conceived to open and to exhibit Magdalen to the view of them in the Chappel and that thus she partaked of the Consecrated Bread When this Abbatess came into the Chappel her self upon some special Day she would set off the Solemnity of the Day by some notable and conspicuous Miracle for she would sometimes be lifted up above the ground three or four Cubits high other sometimes bearing the Image of Christ in her Arms weeping savourly she would make her Hair to increase to that length and largeness that it would come to her Heels and cover her all over and the Image of Christ in her Arms which anon notwithstanding would shrink up again to its usual size with a many such specious though unprofitable Miracles But you will say That the Narrative of these things is not true but they are Feigned for the Advantage of the Roman Religion and so it was profitable for the Church to Forge them and record them to posterity A man that is unwilling to admit of any thing supernatural would please himself with this general shuffle and put off But when we come to the Catastrophe of the Story he will find it quite othewise For this Saint at last began to be suspected for a Sorceress as it is thought and she being conscious did of her own accord to save her self make confession of her Wickedness to the Visitors of the Order as they are called Viz. That for thirty years she had been Married to the Devil in the shape of an Aethiopian that another Devil Servant to this when his Master was at dalliance with her in her Cell supplied her place amongst the Nuns at their publick Devotions That by virtue of this Contract she made with this Spirit she had done all those Miracles she did Upon this Confession she was Committed and while she was in durance yet she appeared in her devout Postures praying in the Chappel as before at their set Hours of Prayer which being told to the Visitors by the Nuns there was a strict Watch over her that she should not stir out never theless she appeared in the Chappel as before tho she were really in the Prison Now what Credit or Advantage there can be to the Roman Religion by this story let any Man Judge wherefore it is no sigment of the Priests or Religious Persons nor Melancholy nor any such Matter for how could so many Spectators at once be deluded by melancholy but it ought to be deemed a real Truth And this Magdalena Crucia appearing in two several places at once it is manifest that there is such a thing as Apparitions of Spirits More 's Antid against Atheism l. 3. c. 4. 7. It may not be impertinent here to relate a certain Story out of Sozomen concerning Athanasius Patriarch of Alexandria The Patriarch was upon a time walking in the Streets of the City and a Raven flying towards him croaking a Heathen that stood by observing it began to deride and reproach him for it as if he had been a Praestigator or Conjurer and so making towards him ask'd in derision What the Raven said to him He modestly Smiling answered in Latine Cras To Morrow For he Dictates unto you That to Morrow will be a bitter Day For to Morrow you shall receive the Emperor's Edict That you shall Celebrate no more your Heathenish Solemnities And accordingly it came to pass for the next Day the Magistrates received Orders from the Roman Emperor That the Heathen Gods should be no more worshipped but destroyed utterly with all
be paid by 40 shillings apiece 13. For the Marriages of poor Maids in Reading in the same manner 100 l. 14. For the Marriages of poor Maids in Newbery that have served 7 years the same Master or Mistress 50 l. 15. To set on work idle vagrant Boys in Bridewel 200 l. 16. Towards Finishing the Pinacles of the Steeple of S. Marys in Reading 50 l. 17. To be lent upon Bond with Sureties to several honest industrious poor Clothiers in Reading first for 7 years then for 3 years to others and so on gratis for ever 500 l. viz. 50 l. apiece 18. To the Clothiers of Newbery the same Sum for the like use viz. 500 l. 19. To poor industrious Merchant-Adventurers in London to be lent by 300 l. in a parcel gratis from 3 years to 3 years in like manner as before 300 l. 20. To his Brother William Kendrick and Children 2000 l. and a Gold-Ring 21. To his Sister Anna Newman of Reading 1000 Marks 22. To her Children 2000 Marks c. 23. To his Sister Alice Vigures of Exeter 500 l. 24. To her Children 1000 l. 25. To his Brother James Winch of Purley in the County of Berks and Children 1000 l. 26. To old Elizab. Kendrick his Uncle's Daughter 50 l. 27. To Tho. Newman at Delf in Holland Servant to his Partner 1000 l. 28. To his Kinsman and late Servant Sim. Gaudy 1000 l. 29. To Arth. Aynscomb Merchant then at Antwerp Shearer with him in Trade 500 l. 30. To Barney Reymes Merchant at Delf another Shearer 500 l. 31. To Mr. John Quarles who was his Master and then kept his Accompts 500 l. forgiving him also a Debt of 300 l. 32. To Mr. George Lowe Merchant and former Partner 300 l. 33. To Tho. Billingslie Son of Sir H. B. 200 l. forgiving him also a Debt of 200 l. more 34. To the Executors of Tho. Jackson Merchant 300 l. 35. To Luces van Punon of Middleburgh 50 l. 36. To Jeremiah Poets of Middleburgh 20 l. 37. To William Powle his Covenant-Servant 200 l. 38. To And Kendrick his Apprentice 300 l. and in lieu of what he had received with him 100 l. 39. To another Apprentice Chr. Packe 100 l. 40. To his House-keeper 20 l. To two of his Maids 20 l. apiece To his Drawer 50 l. to another Drawer 25 l. To his Drawers Servants 25 l. To his twelve Clothworkers Rowers and Shearers 130 l. To Bigge and Salisbury that pressed and folded his Cloth 25 l. To his Porters at the Water-side 10 l. To Packers 10 l. To his Water-bearer 3 l. To the Washer 5 l. To W. Bealde of Reading Clothier 50 l. to another Clothier 50 l. To another Clothier Tho. Newman 100 l. To John Skegmere Secretary to the Merchant-Adventurers 100 l. To R. B. a Partner 300 l. To Mr. W. T. 5 l. To Officers of the Company 15 l. For Service at 6 a Clock in Reading 250 l. the like at Newbery 250 l. to another 100 l. For a Dinner for the Drapers at his Funeral 40 l. Extracted out of the Copy printed A. C. 1625. 23. The Lady Alice Dutchess Dudley gave many hundred pounds toward the Building of St. Giles's Church the Church being finished she gave Hangings of Watchid Taffety to cover the upper-end of the Chancel and those bordered with a silk and silver Fringe Item For the back of the Altar a rich green Velvet Cloth with these three Letters in Gold IHS embroidered on it Two Service-Books in Folio embossed with Gold A gree Velvet Cloth with a rich deep Gold Fringe to cover the Altar on Sundays A Cambrick-Altar Cloth with a deep Bonelace round about another fine Damask-Altar Cloth Two Cusâ—ins for the Altar rickly embroidred with Gold A large Turkey Carpet to be spread on the Week-days over it A beautiful Skreen of Carved Work which was placed where the former in the old Church stood Moreover she gave a neat Pair of Organs with a Case richly Gilded Item Ver costly handsom Rails to guard the Lord's Table from prophane uses It. The Communion-Plate of all sorts in Silver and gilt for that sacred use she was at the Charge of Paving the upper-end of the Church wih Marble-stones She gave the great Bell and was at the Charge of Casting and Hanging the other five Bells She gave to the Church of Stonelay in Warwickshire as also to the Churches of Mancester Leke-Wotton Ashow Kenelworth and Monks-Kirby Twenty pounds per Annum apiece for a perpetual Augmentation to the poor Vicaridges of those respective Churches for ever She bestowed on the same Churches as also upon the Churches of Bedford Acton St. Albans Patshill divers pieces of costly Plate for the Celebration of the Holy Communion in each of them And she purchased a fair house and Garden near the said Church of St. Giles's and gave it for a perperual Mansion to the Incumbents after three Lives She also allowed a yearly Stipend to the Sexton of that Churchâ—â— Tole the great Bell when the Prisoners condemned to die were passing by and to Ring out after they were executed She likewise gave great Sums of Money for the Repairing the Cathedral Church of Litchfield and for the Re-edifying of St. Sepulchres in London All these with many more were the Product of her great Charity whilst she lived and thereby made her own Eyes her Overseers and her own Hand her Executors At her Death she gave for Redemption of Christian Captives from the Hands of Infidels One hundred pounds per Annum for ever To the Hospital in St. Giles's Four hundred pounds for Twenty pounds a year for ever For the placing out for ever of poor Parish-Children of St. Giles's Apprentices Two hundred pounds to purchase 10. l. per Annum To the Poor of the Parishes of Stoneley Kenilworth Leke-Wotton Ashow Bedford and Passhill aforesaid and also of Lichborow and Blakesley One hundred pounds per Annum And upon the Day of her Funeral Fifty pounds to be distributed among the Poor She gave to Fourscore and ten Widows according to the number of the years she had lived to each one a Gown and fair white Handkerchief to attend the Hearse wherein her Body was carried and One shilling apiece for their Dinner after that Solemnity was performed which was on the 16th of March 1668. She gave to every place where her Corps should rest in its passage from London unto Stoneley aforesaid in Warwickshire where she had a Noble Monument prepared by her self She ordered that Six pence should be given to every poor Body that should meet her Corps on the Road. She gave to Blakesley Lichborow and Patshill Ten pounds apiece to be distributed among the Poor the same day her Corps was interred to Stoneley Fifty pounds distributed the same day Thus this Illustrious Dutchess did in her Life and at her Death and doubtless for all her good Deeds she has her Reward in Heaven by God's Mercy and Christ's Merits See the Narrative of her Life
Expressions and Fruits of Ingenuity and good Nature no Man that is not quite degenerated into Stupidity but hath some sense of Duty in such cases The Bruit Creatures and Elements themselves have some Property very Analogous to the Vertue of Gratitude the Earth the Air the Seas Storks Elephants Dogs every thing almost insensate and sensible Man should much more excel in Gratitude as being capable of greater Gifts more sensible of them and more able to return them And the deeper the Divine Image is impressed upon any one the more excellent he is in this Quality 1. There was in Florence a Merchant whose Name was Francis Frescobald of a Noble Family and Liberal Mind who through a prosperous 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 his Alms for God's sake Frescobald beheld the ragged Stripling and in despight of his Tatters reading in his Countenance some Significations of Vertue was moved with Pity 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 Cloth-shearer I am strayed from my Country and am now come into Italy with the Camp of French-men that were over-thrown at Gatylion where I was Page to a Foot-man carrying after him his Pike and Burganet Frescobald took him into his House made him his Guest and at his Departure gave him a Horse new Apparel and 16 Ducats of Gold in his Purse Cromwell rendring him hearty Thankâ— 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 being Lord-High-Chancellor of England In the mean time Frescobald by great and successive Losses was become poor but remembring that some English Merchants owed him fifteen thousand Ducats 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 the Court The Chancellor alights embraces him and with a broken Voice cast refraining Tears he demanded if he were not Francis Frescobald the Florentine invites him that day to dinner to his House Frescobald wonders who this Lord should be at last after some pause he remembers him for the same he had relieved at Florence he therefore repairs to his House not a little joyed and walking in the Court attended his return He came soon after and was no sooner dismounted but he again embraced him with so friendly a Countenance as the Lord-Admiral and other Nobles then in his Company much marvelled at He turning back and holding Frescobald by the Hand Do you not wonder my Lord said he that I seem so glad of this Man This is he by whose means I have atchieved this my present degree and therewith recounted to them what had passed between them Then taking him by the Hand he led him to the Chamber where he dined and seated him next himself Afterwards leading him into a Chamber and commanding all to depart he lockt the Door then opening a Coffer he first took out 16 Ducats and delivering that to Frescobald My Friend said he here is your Money that you lent me at my departure from Florence here are other ten you bestowed in my Apparel with 10 more you disbursed for the Horse I rode upon But considering you are a Merchant it seemeth to me not honest 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 Ducats to receive and enjoy from the hand of your assured Friend Which the Modesty of Frescobald would have refused the other forced them upon him This done he caused him to give him the Names of all his Debtors and the Sum they owed the Schedule he delivered to one of his Servants with charge to search out the Men if within any part of the Realm and straitly to charge them to make payment within 15 days or else to abidethe hazard of 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-Chancellor's House who gave him the Entertainment he deserved and oftentimes moved him to abide in England offering him the Loan of Sixty thousand Ducats for the space of 4 years if he would continue and make his Bank at 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 small time for in the first year of his return he died Hackwel 's Apol. l. 4. c. 10. Engl. Worth by W. Winstanley p. 213. Wanley 's Wond l. 3. c. 20. 2. Bishop Andrews's Gratitude to those from whom he had received any Benefits was most conspicuous as Dr. Ward Son to his first School-Master upon whom he bestowed the Living of Waltham in Hampshire Master Mulcaster his other School-Master he always reverendly respected living and being dead caused his Picture having but few other in his House to be set over his Study-door Upon a Kinsman of Dr. Wats which was all he could find of that Generation he bestowed Preferments in Pembroke-hall But should I go about to particularize all his Vertues it were sufficient of its self to make up a Volume Winstanley's Worthies p. 373. CHAP. XLVIII Remarkable Diligence Laboriousness and Studiousness GOD requires of all Men that they should be active and industrious in their places and he that is not so is a Burden to the Creation no Credit to his Creator nor Comfort as he should be to Others The hand of the diligent maketh rich saith Solomon if thou searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou understand c. Whilst we have time let us do good saith our Saviour Neither Wealth nor Wisdom nor Goodness is to be had without Diligence and besides no Crown without a Combat I have fought the good fight saith St. Paul henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of glory 1. Irenaeus laboured exceedingly by Prayer Preaching Disputing Instructing and Reproving with Patience and Wisdom seeking the lost strengthning the weak recalling the wandring binding up the broken-hearted and confirming those that were strong insomuch that Tertullian saith of him He governed the Flock of Christ with such Integrity of Life and Sincerity of Doctrine that he was loved exceedingly by his own and feared by others Clark's Marr. of Eccles Hist 2. Origen was called Adamantinus for his hardiness and lustre say some because not daunted nor affrighted with any Labours or Afflictions whatsoever for he studied the hidden meaning of the Scriptures from a Child tired and sometimes posed his Father with Questions prompted him and others to Martyrdom could hardly be restrained from it himself
Tongue before he learned Latin and as his years encreased so he much improved in all sorts of Learning to her great Joy so that she committed to his care the Government of her whole House And afterwards when he had retired into a Monastery under Faustus she impatiently running to the Bishop cried out Restore the Son to his Mother the Master to his Servants and Houshold it becomes you to comfort such disconsolate Widows not to destroy my forlorn House Filling the Air with her Exclamations ever calling upon the Name of Fulgentius Ibid. p. 90 91. 3. Monica the Mother of S. Augustine was very sollicitous for the Conversion and Reformation of her Son admonishing him and spending many Prayers and Tears upon that score consulting with S. Ambrose about him who told her it was impossible a Child of so many Prayers and Tears should miscarry And afterwards when he was converted rejoycing at it she desired to be dissolved as being satisfied mightily in her Mind as to that which she desired most in this World the Conversion of her Son and according within a few days she fell sick and died August Confess 4. Ant. Wallaeus and his Wife were both careful in the Education of their Children and their first care was to train them up in Piety and good Manners for which end their Father read to them daily some Chapters and made some Application thereof unto them His next care was to bring them up in Learning neither would he wholly trust their Masters therein but many times examined them himself to see their Proficiency nor did he train them up to Science only but also to Prudence for which cause when they were come to Years of Discretion he used to impart to them the Affairs of Church and State asking their Judgments therein He sought not to advance his Children to high places knowing the danger thereof but rather desired a middle and competent Estate for them wherein they might live honestly and comfortably and according to his desire he lived to see his eldest Son John a Doctor of Physick and Professor thereof and employed by the States into France to fetch that Miracle of Learning Salmasius to Leyden his Daughter Margaret married to John of Breda Doctor of Both Laws his Daughter Katherine married to Anthony Clement a Learned and Pious Divine his Son Anthony a Lawyer his Son Baldwin a Student in Divinity only his youngest Daughter Susan remained at home to be a Comfort to her aged Mother Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 489. 5. It was a Saying of Ignatius that Parents ought to afford these three Things to their Children Correction Admonition and Instruction both in Humane Arts and God's Word all which preserve them from Idleness and Folly give them Wisdom and learn them Subjection and Obedience to their Superious Clark 's Examples p. 495. 6. In the Reign of Queen Mary there was one William Hunter a young Man of Brentwood in Essex who being condemned by Bishop Bonner to the Fire for his Religion and was sent down to Brentwood to be burnt there His Father and Mother came to him desiring heartily of God that he might continue constant to the end in that good way which he had begun His Mother added That she thought her self happy that she had born such a Child who could fine in his Heart to lose his Life for Christ's sake William answered For the little Pain that I shall have which is but for a moment Christ hath promised me a Crown of everlasting Joy His Mother kneeling down said I pray God to strengthen thee my Son to the end I think thee as well bestowed as any Child that ever I bore Ibid. 7. If I can but once find the Fear of God in those about me said Reverend Claviger Satis habeo satisque mihi Vxori filiis filiabus prospexi I shall have enough for my Self Wife and Children they will be all cared for Sel. CHAP. LVI Good Servants Remarkable THE Faithfulness of Abraham 's Servant is recorded to his everlasting Praise and so is Joseph 's Fidelity to his Master and the Apostles have laid down their Offices so expresly that now under the Evangelical Oeconomy a sincere discharging the Duties of that Relation is accounted an honourable Badge to the Person Good nature hath prevailed far with some but Grace with more only this is to be said by way of Apology for them of this lower Orb that they who take upon them to write Histories for the Benefit of future Ages are too apt to overlook this lower Class of People and pass them over in a careless Silence But God will not be forgetful 1. Publius Catienus Philosimus was left by his Master the Heir of his Estate yet did he resolve to die with him and therefore cast himself alive into that Funeral Fire which was prepared to burn the dead Body of his Master Sabellic l. 3. c. 8. p. 161. 2. M. Antonius an excellent Orator being accused of Incest his Servant the Witness deposing that he carried the Lanthorn before his Master when he went to commit this Villany was apprehended and to extort a Confession from him he was torn with Scourges set upon the Rack burnt with hot Irons all which notwithstanding he would not let fall a word whereby he might injure the Fame or Life of his Master although he knew him guilty Val. Max. l. 6. c. 8. p. 169. Lips Monit l. 2. c. 13. p. 331. 3. The Servant of Vrbinius Panopion knowing that the Soldiers commissioned to kill his Master were come to his House in Reatina changed Cloaths with him and having put his Ring upon his Finger he sent him out of a Postern-door but went himself to the Chamber and threw himself upon the Bed where he was slain in his Master's stead Panopion by that means escaped and afterward when the Times would permit it erected a noble Monument with a due Inscription in memory of the true Fidelity of so good a Servant Val. Max. L. 6. C. 8. p. 180. Lips Monit L. 2. C. 131 332. Dinoth L. 4. p. 300. 4. Antistius Restio was Proscribed by the Triumvirate and while all his domestick Servants were busied about the Plunder and Pillage of his House he conveyed himself away in the midst of the Night with what privacy he could his Departure was observed by a Servant of his whom not long before he had cast into Bonds and branded his Face with infamous Characters this Man traced his Wandring Footsteps with such Diligence that he overtook him and bare him Company in his Flight and at such time as the other were Scrambling for his Goods all his Care was to save his Life by whom he had been so severely used and though it might seem enough that he should forget what had passed he used all his Art to preserve his Patron for having heard that Pursuers were at hand he conveyed away his Master and having erected a Funeral Pile and set Fire to it he slew
a poor Old Man that passed that way and cast him upon it When the Soldiers were come and asked Where was Antistius pointing to the Fire he said he was there burning to make him amends for that Cruelty he had used him with The Soldiers that saw how deep he was stigmatized though it was probable enough believed him and by this means Antistius obtained his Safety Val. Max. L 6. C. 8. p. 181. Lips Monit L. 2. C. 13. p. 332. 5. Cornutus having hid himself was no less wittily and faithfully preserved by his Servants in those difficult Days of Marius and Sylla for they having found the Body of a Man set Fire about it and being asked of such as were sent out to kill their Master What they were about with an officious Lye they told them They were performing the last Offices for their dead Master who hearing this sought no further after him Plut. in Mario p. 431. 6. One Mr. Dissen living within Two Miles of Chipping-Norton told me about Three and twenty Years ago when I was in familiar Discourse with him his Wife being present That he had found by his Personal Experience that Honesty was the best Policy for he being Steward some Years to a Gentleman in that Neighbourhood and approving him just and faithful in all the Offices he was employed in his Master so affected him and he his Master's Daughter that by a free Consent both of the one and the other he married the Daughter and inherited the Estate 7. A Kinsman of mine one Thomas Huxley being Bayliff to one Mr. Ireland of Albrighton near Shrewsbury and approving himself very honest and obliging in his place both to Master and Tenants insomuch that every Body spoke well of him except One or Two of a different Principle from him for his Mistriss was a Romanist who objected against him his Reading some particular Books that served not for their Cause as Fox's Martyrology c. at last upon ill Words and Execrations from his Master who afterwards turned to the Roman Communion he left the Service came to my House and for some time sojourned there 'till at last his Master who had parted with him with some regret sent for him to my Patron 's House Mr. Clayton's and motioned him to another Place under a Welsh Gentleman in Carnarvon-shire as I take it Mr. Vaughan of Lloyd-yarth near Llanvilling where he hath continued ever since and prospered well and married comfortably Since I came into these parts he wrote me word That he had made a Reflection upon his Life past and design'd to form it into a Book with an intention to publish it after his Death if I thought fit and requested of me some Rules for the future Management of his Conversation CHAP. LVII Good Masters and Mistresses Remarkable 1. THE late Countess of Warwick was so careful for the Good of her Servants that she exacted their Attendance on Publick Worship and reverent Behaviour there Her Eyes surveyed her Chappel and none could be absent but she would miss them She instructed them personally and familiarly scattered Books in all the Common Rooms and Places of Attendance that those who waited might not lose their time She prepared them for and perswaded them to the frequent Participation of the Lord's Supper and made Religion the Footstep to Preferment using Psal 101 for the Rule of her Oeconomy Dr. Walker in her Life 2. Sir Matthew Hale was a very gentle Master tender of all his Servants he never turned any away except they were so faulty that there was no hope of reclaiming them When any of them had been long out of the way or had neglected any part of their Duty he would not see them at their first coming home and sometimes not 'till the next Day least when his Displeasure was quick upon him he might have child them indecently and when he did reprove them he did it with that Sweetness and Gravity that it appeared he was more concerned for their having done a Fault than for the Offence given by it to himself but if they became immoral or unruly then he turned them away for he said He that by his Place ought to punish Disorders in other People must by no means suffer them in his own House He advanced his Servants according to the time they had been about him and would never give occasion to Envy amongst them by raising the younger Clerks above those who had been longer with him He treated them all with great Affection rather as a Friend than a Master giving them often good Advice and Instruction He made those who had good Places under him give some of their Profits to the other Servants who had nothing but their Wages When he made his Will he left Legacies to every one of them but he expressed a more particular kindness for one of them Robert Gibbon of the Middle-Temple Esq in whom he had that Confidence that he left him one of his Executors See his Life written by Dr. Burnet p. 96 97. 3. Mr. John Carter did not carry himself as a Master to his Servants but as a familiar Friend to his Friends He would make them to sit down with him at his Table and would drink to them at his Meals See his Life 4. Dr. Chaderton was married Fifty three Years and yet in all that time he never kept any of his Servants from Church to dress his Meat saying That he desired as much to have his Servants know God as himself If at any time he had a Servant upon Tryal tho' they could do as much Work as Three others yet if they were given to Lying or any other Vice he would by no means suffer them to dwel in his House See his Life CHAP. LVIII Good Pastors Bishops and Ministers YE are the salt of the earth saith our Saviour to his Disciples with an especial respect I suppose to their future Apostolical Function Certainly there is a double Portion of Knowledge and a greater Measure of Prudence and a higher Strain of Piety and Exemplary Devotion required in them that are Spiritual Guides than others The Copy must be writ fair or the Scholar will suffer a great Disadvantage Men had need be very wise and very good that lead others and though the Ministerial Office be full of Duty and Burden and Temptation that ought to be a stronger Argument to Caution and Diligence 1. Ignatius writing to Polycarp commends to him the Congregation at Antioch praying him to be careful of the Business there 's and especially for the Election of a Godly Bishop in his room Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. Basil the Great fearing the Growth of Arrianism in Pontus hasted thither to Instruct the Weak and Confirm the Wavering and tho' there had been a Difference between Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea and him upon danger of a Persecution from Valens the Arrian Emperour he hasted to Caesarea and was reconciled to Eusebius Ibid. 3. Fulgentius before his Death prayed
the Vicaridge of Torcester Ibid. 12. The late Earl of Rochester upon his Death-bed acknowledged how unworthily he had treated the Clergy reproaching them that they were proud and prophesied only for Rewards but now he had learned how to value them that he esteemed them as the Servants of the most High God who were to shew Men the Way to everlasting Life Mr. Parsons in his Funeral Sermon 13. Mr. Whitaker was much beloved his House frequented with many and friendly Visits his Sickness laid to heart and many Prayers publick and private put up for him some Fasts also kept with a special Reference to his Afflictions and his Funeral attended with many weeping Eyes See his Life Mr. Fairclough's Ministry was thought to bring a Temporal Blessing to the Parish 14. I think my candid Reader will easily pardon me if for Gratitude's sake I take an occasion here for the Glory of God and the Commendation of the People to make mention of the Respects Love and Kindnesses much beyond my Desert which I received as from the Inhabitants of Arundel and Shipley in Sussex so especially from the Parishioners of Preston Gubbals and Broughton in Shropshire together with the adjacent Neighbourhood which were so freely and plentifully shewed me whilst I was their Minister that I may testify of them they were kind to me even beyond their power some of them and I hope God would return it into their Bosoms and remember them in the day of their Distress for I speak this to their Praise I never met with a more loving People in my Life 15. Mons du Plessis on his Death-bed gave Thanks to the Minister that had assisted him prayed the Lord to prosper the Word in his Mouth prayed for M. Boucherean Minister of the Church in Saumur and said he Let it not trouble him to be patient he hath to do with a troublesome People the Lord impute not their Sins unto them Clark 's Examp. Vol. 2. c. 27. 16. Mrs. Drake on her Death-bed advised her Father to keep a Minister in his House and returned most affectionate Thanks to a Friend I suppose her Minister begging earnestly Forgiveness of him and would needs have his Hand and Promise for it Mrs. Drake revived 17. John Blacknal of Abington Esq by his last Will bequeathed certain Sums of Money to several Ministers for Duties omitted by him in his Life A. 1625. CHAP. LXI Remarkable Zeal and Devotion ZEal is a Composition of all the Passions the Affections warmed and heated into a lively Vigour and Activeness and this is so far from being a Fault that if it be made regular with Prudence and a Christian Discretion 't is good and commendable always in a good Matter And certainly if ever it be seasonable for us to kindle a fire upon the Altar 't is so when we are about to do sacrifice to God Almighty 1. Polycarp going with S. John to a Bath at Ephesus and espying Ceriathus the Heretick in it said ' Let us depart speedily for fear lest the Bath where the Lord's Adversary is do fall upon us Dr. Cave Prim Christ and Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. Origen when a Boy had an eager desire of Martyrdom So had Cyprian and Gregory Nazianzen Ibid. Dr. Cave Prim. Christ c. 3. The Venerable Bede was so devoutly affected in Reading the Scriptures that he would often shed Tears and after he had ended reading conclude with Prayers Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 100. 4. Tertullian used to pray thrice a day at the 3 6 9 hours Clark 5. Peter Chrysologus before he penned any thing would with great Ardency humbly betake to Prayer and seek unto God for Direction therein Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 88. 6. Luther advised George Spalatinus always to begin his Studies with Prayer For saith he there is no Master that can instruct us in Divine Matters but the Author of them Ibid. p. 195. And Melancthon testifies of Luther That he hath heard him so loud and earnest at his Prayers as if some Person were in company discoursing with him Much the same Advice doth Ludovicus Grotius give to all Students in Divinity To pray often And Thomas Aquinas is reported to use that Rule himself always to pray for the Resolution of any difficult and knotty Question and commends to others that Motto Bene orasse est bene studuisse 7. When Erasmus halted between two Opinions Capito continually called upon him to put off that Nicodemus-like Temper Clark 's Eccl. Hist p. 193. 8. Cardinal Wolsey when advanced to great Preferments in both Church and State having all State-business at his disposal and most Church-preferments in his power the Deanry of Lincoln the King's Almonership a House near Bridewel Durham Winchester Bath Worcester Hereford Tourney Lincoln S. Albans and York in his Possession and all other Promotions in his Gift was so devout that he neglected not one Collect of his Prayers for all the Cumbrances of his Place wherein he deceived many of the People who thought he had no time for his Business and his Servants who wondred how he could gain time for his Business from his Devotion Lloyd 's State-Worthies p. 8. 9. Luther was zealous in the Cause of the Reformation that he preached wrote and disputed publickly for it and when discouraged from going to Wormes whither he had been invited by the Emperour with a Promise of safe Conduct lest he should be served as John Husse at the Council of Constance he made Answer If there were as many Devils in the City as Tiles on the Houses to shake the Kingdom of Satan he would go thither And so fervent was he in Prayer that Vitus Theodorus saith of him that no Day passed wherein he spent not at least Three Hours in Prayer Once it fell out saith he that I heard him Good God! what a Spirit what a Confidence was in his very Expression with such a Reverence he sueth for any thing as one begging of God and yet with such Hope and Assurance as if he spake with a Loving Father or Friend Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 141. 10. Sir Thomas Moor was so devour that the Duke of Norfolk coming on a time to Chelsey to Dine with him happened to find him in the Church singing in the Quire with a Surplice on his Back to whom after Service as they went homeward hand in hand together the Duke said God's Body my Lord Chancellor what a Parish-Clark a Parish-Clark you dishonour the King and his Office Nay said Sir Thomas smiling upon the Duke Your Grace may not think your Master and mine will be offended with me for serving of God his Master or thereby count his Office dishonoured England's Worthies by Will. Winstanley p. 201. When the King sent for him once at Mass he answered That when he had done with God he would wait on His Majesty Lloyd's Worthies p. 43. The same Answer Bishop Vsher return'd to Charles the Second Vid.
Vineyard where are two American Churches planted which are more famous than the rest over one of which there presides an ancient Indian as Pastor called Hiacooms John Hiacooms Son of the said Indian Pastor also Preacheth the Gospel to his Country-men In another Church in that place John Tockinosh a Converted Indian Teaches in these Churches ruling Elders of the Indians are joyned to the Pastors the Pastors were chosen by the People and when they had Fasted and Prayed Mr. Eliot and Mr. Cotton laid their Hands on them so that they were solemnly Ordained All the Congregations of the Converted Indians both the Catechumens and those in Church-Order every Lord's Day meet together the Pastor or Preacher always begins with Prayer and without a Form because from the Heart when the Ruler of the Assembly has ended Prayer the whole Congregation of Indians Praise God with Singing some of them are excellent Singers After the Psalm he that Preaches Reads a place of Scripture one or more Verses as he will and expounds it gathers Doctrines from it proves them by Scriptures and Reasons and infers Uses from them after the manner of the English of whom they have been taught then another Prayer to God in the Name of Christ concludes the whole Service Thus do they meet together twice every Lord's-Day they observe no Holy-days but the Lord's-Day except upon some extraordinary Occasion and then they solemnly set a part whole Days either in giving Thanks or Fasting and Praying with great Fervor of Mind Before the English came into these Coasts these barbarous Nations were altogether ignorant of the true God hence it is that in their Prayers and Sermons they used English Words and Terms he that calls upon the most holy Name of God says Jehovah or God or Lord and also they have learned and borrowed many other theosogical Phrases from us In short there are six Churches of Baptized Indians in New-England and eighteen Assemblies of Catechumens professing the Name of Christ Of the Indians there are Four and Twenty who are Preachers of the Word of God and besides these there are four English Ministers who Preach the Gospel in the Indian Tongue I am now my self weary with Writing and I fear lest if I should add more I should also be tedious to you yet one thing I must add which I had almost forgot that there are many of the Indians Children who have learned by Heart the Catechism either of that famous Divine William Perkins or that put forth by the Assemblies of Divines at Westminister and in their own Mother Tongue can answer to all the Questions in 〈◊〉 But I must end I salute the famous Professors in your University to whom I desire you to communicate this Letter as Written to them also Farewel worthy Sir the Lord preserve your Health for the Benefit of your Country his Church and of Learning Yours ever Increase Mather Boston in New-England July 12th 1687. Mr. Hammond in his Sermon in the Casuistical Morning Exercise gives us out of Ecclesiastical History two remarkable Passages of the Promotion of the Gospel by private Christians 1. THE one is related by Ruffinus who gives this account of the Conversion of the Kingdom of the Iberians to the Faith There was saith he a certain poor Woman who had been taken Captive and lived among them she was at first taken notice of for her Sobriety and Modesty and then for her spending so much time in Prayer these raised a great admiration of her in the Minds of the Barbarians At last they brought to her a sick Child which upon her Prayers was restored to Health This spread her Fame abroad so that the Queen of the Country was brought to her and by her Prayers recovered Whereupon the King and Kingdom were won over to Christ and the King sent to Constantine the Great for some to instruct them farther in the Christian Religion Ruffin Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 10. The holy Conversation and the ardent Devotions of private Chistians are excellent means to recommend the Gospel and to represent it as most amiable and desireable 2. The other is of Frumentius Aedecius These being Christians were left young in one of the Kingdoms of the inner India and were after some time for their excellent Parts and unspotted Life honoured and employed by the Queen of the Country during the Minority of her Son In Process of time some Roman Merchants came to Traffick among them then Frumentius understanding that there were some Christians among them invited them to reside with him and provided a place for them where they might offer up their Prayers to God after the Christian manner and himself having obtained leave of the Queen went to Athanasius in Alexandria requesting him to send some Bishop to that Kingdom to promote the farther Entertainment of the Gospel among them to which they were well inclined and disposed for the reception of it Athanasius ordained Frumentius himself who returned and by God's Blessing met with wonderful Success Ruffin Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 9. Socrat. Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 15. Sozomen l. 2. c. 23. If Providence says my Author shall bring these Lines to the view of Christian Travellers Merchants and Mariners who come among the poor Heathen let the Examples laid before them excite and encourage them to use their Endeavours to bring them to the Knowledge of Christ and the Entertainment of the Gospel The Reverend Mr. Annesly whose non-such Zeal in promoting the Gospel has been so successful in this part of the World gives the following Account of the Reverend Mr. Brand in the Narrative of his Life wherein he seems to have been actuated by a double Portion of the same Spirit whilst he writes the Story of that is Friend He tells us His Zeal for promoting the Gospel was so extensive that besides his constant weekly Catechising where he resided he promoted the constancy of it in all Schools and places to which he was a Benefactor and engaged all Ministers to whose support he Contributed to be diligent in it often examining the Conduct and Success of those he trusted with it And besides these again he hired several other Persons in distant places to catechise Children and all others willing to Learn and once a Month or oftner rode to visit and catechise them himself And to encourage them to do well and especially those who were Old and yet Ignorant and therefore ashamed to come to frequent those Exercises he gave them Books or Money according to their Quality And to allure Masters and Parents to send their Children or Servants he would also present them with Books curiously bound and Guilt and to such as were Poor he would give more Money than they could earn in the time spent in Learning His Discourse with Parents and Masters themselves was Catechistical and yet not disparaging All his Questions to all sorts so instructively Worded that they could not miss a right Answer and his whole
seeking to direct your Life after it you shall be an Inheritour of such Riches as neither the Covetous shall take from you neither shall Thieves steal nor Moth corrupt Desire with David dear Sister to understand the Law of the Lord God live still to die that by Death you may purchase Eternal Life and trust not that the tenderness of your Age shall lengthen your Life for as soon if God calls goes the Young as the Old Labour therefore always to learn to die Defie the World deny the Devil despise the Flesh and delight your self wholly in the Lord be penitent for your Sins and yet despair not be strong in Faith and yet presume not and desire with St. Paul to be dissolved and to be with Christ with whom even in Death there is Life Be like the good Servant and even at Midnight he waking lest when Death comes and steals upon you you be with the evil Servant found sleeping and lest for lack of Oyl you be found like the foolish Virgins and like him that had not on the Wedding-Garment and so you be shut out from the Marriage Rejoyce in Christ as I do follow the Steps of your Master Christ and take up his Cross lay your Sins upon him and always embrace him And as touching my Death rejoyce as I do Good Sister that I shall be delivered of this Corruption and put on Incorruption for I am assured that I shall for losing a Mortal Life win an Immortal Life the which I pray God to grant you and send you of his Grace to live in his Fear and die in the True Faith of Christ from which in the Name of God I exhort you that you never swerve neither for Hope of Life nor Fear of Death for if you deny his Truth to lengthen your Life God will deny you and shorten your Days and if you cleave unto him he will prolong your Days to his Glory and your Comfort To which Glory God bring me now and you hereafter when it shall please him to call you Fare you well Good Sister and put your only Trust in God who only must help you The next Morning with a Book in her Hand she made a pathetical Speech upon the Scaffold kneeled down to Prayers repeated over the 51st Psalm prayed for the Executioner laid her Head upon the Block and ended her Life with these words Lord into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Aged Sixteen Fox Martyrol Concerning the Respect of the Jews to the Law the Mahometans to their Alchoran c. see my History of all Religions 37. I had almost forgot to make mention of the Practice of my dear Friend and Correspondent Mr. Henry spoken of in the last Chapter which I am very unwilling to omit because I would provoke myself and others to some degree of Emulation in the Case besides his Exercise on the Lord's Days mentioned before every Day of the week his Custom was every Morning and Night to Read a Chapter to his Family and Expound it distinctly and clearly and after Singing a Psalm and Prayers to appoint his Children to retire by themselves and write over a Copy of his Exposition by which means as himself once told me every one of his Children Five in Number One Son and Four Daughters had the Exposition of the whole Bible by them written with their own Hands This Custom he kept up constantly in his own House for above Twenty if not above Thirty Years together without any intermission except in Cases of Absence from Home which happened but seldom 38. Dr. Harris in all his Wills always renewed this Legacy Item I bequeath to all my Children and to my Childrens Children to each of them a Bible with this Inscription None but Christ See his Life 39. Philip Melancthon always used to carry his Bible along with him wherein he read often Clark's Exampl Vol. II. p. 336. 40. Mr. William Garaway hath told me of a certain English Gentleman a Member of the House of Commons that never came into the Parliament-House without a Bible in his Pocket which he used to consult upon occasions 41. Mrs. Catherine Stubbs was seldom seen without a Bible or a good Book in her Hands See her Life 42. John Prince of Saxony had Six Pages attending on him in his Chambers that every day read to him Six Hours out of the Bible Luther Coll. Mens p. 462. 43. Mr. Fox tells a Story of one Crow a Sea-man who being Shipwreck'd lost all his Money and Goods but put his Bible about his Neck and swam with it to Shoar Mr. Barker's Flores 44. After Ptolomy had furnish'd his Library with so many Thousand Books Aristaeus told him It was but a poor Library being without the Sacred Volume of God the Book of Books the Holy Scripture So is all Knowledge but poor Knowledge without the Right Knowledge of God revealed in his Word Mr. Barker's Flores 45. I have read of one Cramerus a School-Master who had a Scholar who had in a Writing in his own Blood promised to give his Soul on certain Conditions to the Devil which Writing Cramerus got from him and the Devil in the Night knock'd at his Chamber-door and demanded the Paper of him but he answered I have laid the Paper in my Bible and in that Page where it is written The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Head of the Serpent and take it thence Satan if thou canst And thereupon the Devil departed and left the Paper behind him and came no more Mr. Barker's Flores 46. Mr. Cotton Mather tell us in the Life of Mr. Nathaniel Mather That this young Man had a principle regard unto the Scriptures for the Subjects of his Meditations and he was very expensive of his Thoughts on the Book of God He was daily digging in the sacred Mines and with deligh he fetched thence Riches better then those of both the India's and he could say O how I love thy Law it is my Meditation every day Even in the time of his mortal Sickness he was very angry at himself if he had not heard a Portion of the Bible read unto him from day to day Once when he was near his End a good part of a day having pass'd before he had enjoyed his Meal of Scripture be said unto his Sister with some impatience Alas What an ungodly Life do I lead pray come and read my Bible to me and read me the forty ninth Psalm Indeed he read the Scripture not cursorily but very deliberately and considerately and as an effect of his doing so he could give such an account of the Difficulties in it as the most not only of Christians but of Divines too would judge an Attainment extraordinary Not long before he died he had read over all the large and great Annotations on the Bible lately published by Mr. Pool and some other Non-conformist Ministers but having dispatched those two noble Folio's he said unto one that was intimate with him Thus
unto them but the Servant thinking himself wiser than his Master gave them but two Crowns not knowing what occasions they might have for Money before they got home Not long after some Noble-men meeting the Bishop and knowing him to be a very charitable Man appointed two Hundred Crowns to be paid to the Bishop's Servant for his Master's use The Servant having received the Money presently with great Joy acquainted his Master therewith whereupon said the Bishop Thou mayest now see how in wronging the Poor of their due by keeping back the third Crown which I intended them thou hast likewise wronged me if thou hadst given those three Crowns I commanded thee to give thou hadst received three Hundred Crowns whereas now I have but two Melanc apud Job Manlium in Loc. Com. 6. Suitable likewise to this point is the Story of one John Stewart Provost of Aire in Scotland who was eminent for Piety and Charity He had a considerable Estate left him by his Father of which he gave a great part to the Poor and other charitable Uses To pass by many I shall mention only one His Heart on a time being much affected with the Wants and Necessities of many of God's People who were in a suffering Condition he sendeth for divers of them to Edinburgh where being met and some time spent in Prayer he made them promise not to reveal what he was about to do so long as he lived and then told them He was not ignorant in what a low Condition many of them were and therefore he had brought some Money with him to lend each of them yet so as they should never offer to repay it till he required the same soon after this such a Plague brake forth in Aire the place of his abode that Trade much decayed and he himself with others were reduced to straits Whereupon some of the Prophane in that place derided him saying That Religion had made him poor and his giving so much to others like a Fool had brought him to want But mark what followed Having borrowed a little Money he departs from Aire to Rochel in France where Salt and other Commodities being exceeding cheap for want of Trading he adventured to fraught a Ship loading her upon Credit and then went back again through England to Aire in Scotland having ordered the Ship to come thither but after long expectation he was informed for certain that his Ship was taken by a Turkish Man of War the Report whereof did exceedingly afflict him not because he knew not how to be abased as well as how to abound but out of fear that the Mouths of wicked Men would be the more opened to the reproaching of his Profession and Charity But soon after Tidings was brought him that his Ship was safely arrived in the Road and upon his going forth saw it was a Truth And through God's good Providence as a Reward of his Charity he made so much of the Commodities in the Ship that after the Payment of his Debts he had Twenty thousand Marks left for himself Though his Bread was cast upon the Waters and to appearance lost yet after many Days it returned to him with great advantage This Story Hately relates in a Book called The Fulfilling of the Scriptures 7. Daniel Waldow Esq Citizen and Mercer who was chosen Alderman of London is a further proof of this Doctrine before laid down I could from-mine own Experience speak much of his Bounty and Charity as also of that plentiful Estate wherewith God blessed him thereupon but I shall rather give it you in the Words of that holy Man and blessed Servant of Christ in the Work of the Ministry Mr. James Nalton now with God who was more intimately acquainted with Mr. Waldow and therefore the more fit to Preach his Funeral Sermon and to set forth his Life for our Imitation his Words are these He was a Man eminent and exemplary in the Grace of Charity as appeared by his great Bounty manifested on every occasion Never any good Man Minister or other came to propound any Work of Charity publick or private that needed to do any more than to propound it for his Heart was so set upon Works of Mercy that he prevented Importunity by his Christian and Heroick Liberty He made no more of giving Ten Pounds to a Work of Charity than many other rich Men make of giving Ten Shillings His Charity had two singular Concomitants which made it remarkable and praise-worthy 1. He did good while he lived He carried his Lanthorn before him He made his own Hands his Executors and his own Eyes his Overseers Some will part with their Riches when they can keep them no lo nger This is like a Cut-purse that being espied or pursued will drop a Purse of Gold because he can keep it no longer but to be doing Good in our Life-time while we have Opportunity this is an Act of Faith and an Evidence that we can trust God with our Estates and our Children that he will provide for them when our Heads are laid in the Grave 2. He dispersed his Charity so secretly without any Self-seeking or Pharisaical Vain-glory that his Left-hand did not know what his Right-hand did Therefore did he often go with an Hundred Pounds under his Cloak to some Godly Friends desiring them to distribute it amongst such honest poor People as stood most in need of his Relief In brief he did so much good while he lived as if he meant to have nothing to do when he died and yet he gave so largely when he came to die as if he had done no Good when he lived Many I know are apt to say They have many Children and therefore cannot give so had Mr. Waldâ—â— He had Nine Children alive at his Death but the providing for them was no obstruction to his Charity nor prejudice to his Children but did rather entail a Blessing upon them 8. Mr. John Walter Citizen and Draper of London was signally charitable not only at his Death but in the whole Course of his Life even from his younger Years For the avoiding of Vain-glory his manner was to send considerable Sums of Money to poor Families by the hands of others in whose Faithfulness he could confide Whereupon God did not only bless him with a large Estate but likewise gave him such Contentedness therein that he sat down abundantly satisfied and made a solemn Vow and Promise unto God That he would give the Surplusage of his Estate whatever it was that for the future should accrue unto him from his Calling to charitable Uses See his own Expressions transcribed out of his Last Will and Testament I thought fit to declare that about Twenty Years past when the Lord had entrusted me with a convenient Estate sufficient to maintain my Charge and afford fit Portions for my Wife and Children after my Decease I resolved that what further Estate the Lord should be pleased to intrast me with to bestow the
Chancellor Bacon saith That Imagination is next Kin to Miracle-working Faith 25. When King Charles the First was Prisoner at Carisbrook-Castle there was a Woman Touched by him who had the King's-Evil in her Eye and had not seen in a Fortnight before her Eye-lids being glued together as they were at Prayers after the Touching the Womans Eyes opened Mr. Seymer Bowman with many others were Eye-witnesses of this 26. William Bakhouse of Swallowfield in Berk-shire Esq had an ugly Scab that grew on the middle of his Forehead which had been there for some Years and he could not be cured In his Journey to Peterborough he dreamt there That he was in a Church and saw a Hearse and that one did bid him wet his Scab with the Drops of the Marble The next Day he went to Morning-Service and afterwards going about the Church saw the very Hearse which was of Black Say for Queen Catherine Wife to King Henry the Eighth and the Marble Grave-stone by He found Drops on the Marble and there were some Cavities wherein he clip'd his Finger and wetted the Scab In Seven Days it was perfectly cured 27. Arise Evans had a fungous Nose and said It was reveal'd to him that the King's Hand would cure him and at the first coming of King Charles the Second into St. James's-Park he kiss'd the King's Hand and rubb'd his Nose with it which disturb'd the King but cured him Mr. Ashmole told me 28. There is extant a true Relation of the wonderful Cure of Mary Maillard Lame almost ever since she was born on Sunday the 26th of November 1693. With the Affidavits and Certificates of the Girl and several other credible and worthy Persons who knew her both before and since her being cured To which is added A Letter from Dr. Wellwood to the Right Honourable the Lady Mayoress upon that Subject London Printed for R. Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-lane 1664. 29. The following Letter I receiv'd from Mr. Moses Pitt with the Relation of Anne Jefferies Decemb. 3. 96. Reverend Sir I Have here sent you what I have Published of Anne Jefferies which you may if you please Reprint in your Collections only with these Additions which accrued not to my Memory or Information 'till after I had Published the same viz. That these Fairies are distinguished into Males and Females and than they are about the bigness of Children of Three or Four Years of Age. I also desire you to insert this Letter to me from my Kinsman Mr. Will. Tom who was the Person which Dined with the Lord Bishop of Gloucester when I told him this of Anne Jefferies and is a Merchant of as much Note as most in Devon or Cornwall and has been Mayor of Plimouth who knows Anne Jefferies who is still living as well as my self he sent me the Letter on my sending him one of the Books by Post I have the Original by me Plimouth May 12. 1696. Cous Pitt I Have yours with the inclosed Prints and do know and have heard that all in it is very true which with my Duty to my Lord Bishop of Gloucester you may acquaint his Lordship it 's needless for me to write to him I am Your Affectionate Kinsman and Servant William Tom. This is all I think needful to acquaint you with on this Subject I am Your True and Faithful Servant Moses Pitt 30. An Account of one Anne Jefferies now living in the County of Cornwall who was fed for Six Months by a small sort of Airy People called Faiâ—ies And of the strange and wonderful Cures she performed with Salves and Medicines she received from them for which she never took one Penny of her Patients In a Letter from Moses Pitt to the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Edward Fowler Lord Bishop of Gloucester My LORD WHen about Christmass last I waited on you with my Printed Letter to the Author of a Book entituled Some Discourses upon Dr. Burnet now Lord Bishop of Salisbury and Dr. Tillotson late Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury occasioned by the late Funeral Sermon of the former upon the latter After I had paid my Duty and Service to your Lordship you were pleased to mind me of my having told you a wonderful Story about Seventeen or Eighteen Years since in the Company of a Kinsman of mine a Tradesman of Plimouth who also confirmed part of it from his own Knowledge and the following Narrative you will sâ—â—d to contain the Substance of what you then heard And I doubt not but I could bring several other Persons now living to justifie the Truth of what I here write Nay the Person concerned who is at this time living in Cornwall must own it and a great deal more if she could be prevailed with to speak out My Lord I thought I could if any Person alive have prevail'd with her she being the Servant that attended me in my Childhood but your Lordship may see that I cannot and therefore your Lordship must be content with what I here publish I am satisfied I was not nor could be imposed on in this Affair the Particulars having made sâ— great an Impression on me from my Youth hitherto I know my Lord that the great part of the World will not believe the passages here related by reason of the strangeness of them but I cannot help their Vnbelief Your Lordship knows the Record where it 's mentioned That the great God did marvellous things in the sight of our Forefathers but for all that they sinned yet more and believed not his wondrous Works And therefore Vnbelief is no new Sin crept into the World And moreover my Lord if Men would give themselves time to think they cannot but remember that the great God has done as great and marvellous Works in our Age both in Judgment and in Mercy as be did in the Days of old by which the greatest Atheist may be convinc'd not only of the Being of a God but also that his Power and his Goodness are as manifest now as of old and therefore it 's the Duty of all that do by personal Knowledge know any extraordinary Works or Providences of God which are uncommon to publish them to the World that the great God may be glorified and Mankind edified which is purely and truly the Design of Publishing the following Narrative ANne Jefferies for that was her Maiden Name of whom the following strange things are related was born in the Parish of St. Teath in the County of Cornwall in December 1626. and she is still living 1696. being now in the Seventieth Year of her Age she is married to one William Warden formerly Hind a Hind is one that looks after the rest of the Servants the Grounds Cattel Corn c. of his Master to the late eminent Physician Dr. Richard Lower deceased and now lives as Hind to Sir Andrew Slanning of Devon Bar. I must acquaint you Sir that I have made it my Business but could not prevail to get
1665 Elizabeth Brooker Servant to Mrs. Hicron of Honiton in the County of Devon as she was serving in Dinner one Lord's-Day suddenly felt a pricking as of a Pin in her Thigh the next Day she felt but little pain the Tuesday she was much pained and the Pin wrought so far into her Flesh that she could no longer feel it with her Fingers The Wednesday she went to Exeter that she might have the Advice of Mr. Anthony Smith a Chirurgeon there of great Reputation He upon examining the place would not believe that any Pin was there there being no Skin broken no Swelling nor any other thing by which be might perceive the least Token of any such matter however upon her confident and constant affirming there was a Pin he made an Incision and searching with an Instrument at length found the Pin and took it out it was a little crooked and of the larger sort of small Pins He presently made Application for the Cure of the Wound which in about three Weeks time was effected The day before this happened the Woman had an unknown Person asked a Pin of her which she denied her but did not suspect her Hist Disc of Apparitions and Witches p. 65. 15. There was Published in the Year 1690 the Relation of a Ghost to one John Dyer in Winchester-yard in Southwark giving an Account of the amazing Circumstances attending this Apparition and it persuing him from place to place with Violence used at sundry times in Laming him and cruel Attempts to take away his Life all very strange and wonderful 16. Another Relation was Published 1683 called A Narrative of the Demon of Spraiton in the County of Devon The Relation thus About the Month of November last in the said Parish and County one Francis Fey Servant to Mr. Phil. Furse being in a Field near his Master's House there appeared unto him in the resemblance of his Master's Father with a Mole-staff in his hand as he was wont to carry when living the Spectrum bid him not be afraid of him but tell his Master That several Legacies bequeathed by him were unpaid naming ten Shillings apiece to two Persons The young Man replied That one of them was dead the Ghost answered He knew that but named the next Relation And ordered him likewise to carry twenty Shillings to the Sister of the deceased living near Totness and promised when he had performed these things to trouble him no further and then left the young Man who took care to see the Legacies satisfied and carried the twenty Shillings to the Gentlewoman but she refused it being sent as she said from the Devil The same Night the Spectrum appeared to him again whereupon the young Man challenged his Promise seeing he had performed all according to his appointment But his Sister would not receive the Money To which it replyed 'T was true but withal ordered the young Man to ride to Totness and by a Ring of that value which she would receive which being provided accordingly she took and the young Man was no further troubled It further tells and that is it that I chiefly aimed at That the former Spectrum speaking to the young Man of his second Wife who was also dead called her wicked Woman though the Relator knew her and esteemed her a very good Woman Now the next day after the buying and delivering the Ring the young Man riding home to his Master's House with the Servant of the Gentlewoman near Totness and near the entrance of the Parish of Spraitan there appeared to be upon the Horse behind the young Man a Spectrum resembling the old Gentleman's Wife spoken of before This Demon often threw the young Man off his Horse and threw him with great Violence to the Ground to the great Astonishment of the Gentlewoman's Servant and divers others that were Spectators of the Action At his coming into his Master's Yard the Horse which the young Man rid tho' very poor leaped at once twenty five Foot at one spring Soon after the She Spectrum shewed herself to others in the House viz. Mrs. Thomasin Gidly Ann Langdon and a little Child which they were forced to remove from the House She appeared sometimes in her own Shape sometimes in Forms very horrid now and then like a monstrous Dog beiching out Fire At another time it flew out of a Window in the shape of a Horse carrying with it only one pane of Glass and a small piece of Iron One time the young Man's Head was thrust into a very strait place between the Beds-head and a Wall and forced by the strength of divers Men to be removed thence who being much hurt was advised to be Bleeded and the Ligature of his Arm was conveyed from thence about his Middle where it was strained with so much Violence that it had almost killed him and being cut in sunder it made a strange and dismal Noise so that the standers by were affrighted at it At divers other times he hath been in danger to be strangled with Cravats and Neckcloths which have been drawn so close that with the sudden Violence he hath near been choaked and hardly escaped Death Another time one of his Shooe-strings was observed without the assistance of any Hand to come of its own accord out of his Shooe and filing it self on the other side of the Room the other was crawling after it but a Maid spying that with her Hand drew it out and it strangely clasped and curled about her Hand like a living Eele or Serpent This is testified by a Lady of considerable Quality too great for exception who was an Eye-witness To pass over many other phantastical Freaks When the young Man was returning from his Labour he was taken up by the skert of his Doublet by this Female Demon and carried a height into the Air he was soon missed by his Master and other Servants then at Labour and after diligent enquiry no news could be heard of him until at length near half an hour after he was heard singing and whistling in a Bog where they found him in a kind of Trance or Extatick Fit when he returned again to himself viz. about an Hour after he solemnly protested to them that the Demon had carryed him so high that his Master's House seemed to him to be but as a Hay-cock and that during all that time he was in perfect Sense and prayed to Almighty God not to suffer the Devil to destroy him and that he was suddenly set down in that Quagmire The Workmen found one Shooe on one side of his Master's House and the other on the other side and in the Morning espied his Peruke hanging on the top of a Tree by which it appears that he was carried a considerable heighth and that which he told them was no Fiction Extracted out of a Letter from a Person of Quality in Devon to a Gentleman his Friend in London Dated May 11. 1683. CHAP. LXXXV Satan permitted to Hurt the
sometimes one sometimes more fell into a great and dreadful Shaking and Trembling in their whole Bodies and all their Joynts with such Risings and Swellings in their Bellies and Bowels sending forth such Shriekings Yeanlings Howlings and Roatings as not only affrighted the Spectantors but caused the Dogs to bark the Swine to cry and the Cattel to run about to the astonishmen of all that heard them By these Artifices one William Spencer was drawn by them to leave the Church and to follow them whereupon at several times he fell into the same quaking Fits and lying with one of them three several Nights the last being much troubled and not able to sleep upon a sudden he heard something buzzing and humming about the Quakers Head like an Humble-bee which did sore affight him whereupon he sought to rist but the suaker perswaded him to lie still and immediately there arose a great Wind and Storm which shook the House wherein they lay which adding much to his former fear he again attempted to arise but the Quaker still pressed him to lye still perswading him to expect the Power to come which they often promised to their Proselites and thereupon he again heard the former humming Noise which more and more terrified him so that he strove vehemently to rise but the Quaker laid his Head upon Spencer's Shoulder and did blow hard like the hissing of a Goose several times towards his Face or Mouth which made him leap out of his Bed in a great astonishment crying for a Light and Guide to conduct him to a Neighbours House and upon this occasion left them altogether testisying the truth thereof to the Quaker's Face before many Witnesses the Quaker not denying it Attested under several hands Ibid. 5. A. C. 1654. A grave Minister at the earnest desire of some Friends went with John Ward and Anthony Hunter to a Meeting of the Quakers at the House of John Hunter in Benfield-side in the County of Durham where he found about twenty Persons sitting all silent And after we had sate a while saith the Minister that gave this Relation under his Hand all being mute the Lord moved me to arise and call upon his Name by Prayer I was no sooner up but my Legs trembled greatly so that it was some difficulty to me to stand but after I had Prayed a short space the trembling ceased Whilst I prayed to God as a Creator there was but little disturbance but when I cryed in me Name to Jesus Christ my Mediator God in my Nature in the highest Glory appearing and interceding for his Saints then the Devil roared in the deceived Souls in a most strange and dreadful manner some howling some sereeching yealling roaring and some had strange confused kind of humming and singing Noise Such a representation of Hell I never heard of there was nothing but Horror and Confusion After I had done Praying not opening mine Eyes before I was amazed to see about the one half of those miserable Creatures so terribly shaken with such strange violent various Motions that I wondred how it was possible for some of them to live In the midst of this Confusion one of them asked me if I was come to torment them to whom I applyed that Word Mat. 8.29 where the Devils asked Christ the same Question And whilst I spake something of Faith they declared that they were come to the Faith of Devils Jam. 2.19 who believe and tremble but he said that we were not attained to such a Faith After two Hours as we were departing out of House one of them cursed me with these Words All the Plagues of God be upon thee whereupon I return'd and Prayed for such of them as had not committed the unpardonable Sin Ibid. 6. A. C. 1656. There was one John Toldervy lately Servant to Colonel Webb living in Cornhill London who published a Book called The Foot out of the Snare wherein he declares how he was seduced by the Quakers c. Wherein he tells us that the first Principle infused into him was against the Ministers and Scriptures then against all Compliments and Greetings and Ornaments c. A short time saith he after my complyance with the Spirit that entred into me my Master coming from the Wells I reached a Stool took him by the Arm and bade him sit down William Webb not bowing nor pulling off my Hat nor calling him Master but added how doth thy Body do whereupon he answered John what is the matter where is the Servants Obedience where is the Masters Honour To which I answered my Master was the faithful Spirit c. and that all the Ministers particularly Feak his Minister were Ministers of the Devil c. Once when his Master and his company were at Dinner he took a Stool and sate down at the upper end of the Table saying that he was the Servant of the living God and had more right to the Creatures then his Master After this saith he I was resolved to be wholly taught by the Light within me and so never to sin any more and when Customers came into the Shop I durst nor ask what they wanted nor make in the Price of Wares more then one Word nor use any word but thee and thou nor pull of my Hat nor call divers of our Wares by the usual names but gave them other names which made me unfit for my Calling whereby I should live Upon this necessity and by command of the Spirit within him he fared hard feeding upon Stalks and Leaves of Cabbages he took up in the Streets pining away was put upon expectation of Revelations had several Spirits appeared before him with musical Noises and was so haunted with repeated Apparitions and contradictory Motions of the Spirit 'till at last by the occasion thereof he burnt his Leg in the Fire and became so Brain-sick with these Courâ—es and frequent Watchings together that he was near at Death's-door At last it pleased God to give him some Respite for the refreshment of his Body and the quiet of his mind upon which he wrote the Book above-mentioned the whole Narrative is tiresome and sad to relate Mr. Clark hath abridged it and I have abridged his Abridgment Ibid. CHAP. LXXXVII Satan permitted to Disturb the Quiet and Peace of Persons or Families c. THE Devil is the greatest Make-bate and the archest Beautifeu in the World setting Menâ—â— odds with one another at odds with themselves and with God to promoting Variance sometimes in our Families and Societies and sometimes in our own Breasts and this he doth not always in a clandestine way by secret Injections and temptations but sometimes by Actions palpably Diabolical wherein his cloven Foot is conspicuous and evident enough and wherein his Art and Malice is plain enough to be seen by any that have not abdicated their common Sense as well as their Reasonable and Religious Principles 1. In the 1678 on the Sunday after Twefth-day William Medcalfe and his Wife
this Story concerning Charms that himself had an Horse which it he had stood sound had been of a good Value his Servants carried him to several Farriers but none of them had the skill to Cure him At last unknown to their Master they led him to a Farrier that understood some tricks more then ordinary and dealt in Charms or Spells or such like Ceremonies by Vertue of these he made the Horse sound The owner of him after he had observed how well his Horse was ask'd his Servants how they got him cured whence understanding the whole matter and observing also that there was an S. branded on his Buttock which he conceited stood for Satan chid his Servants very roughly as having done that which was unwarrantable and impious Upon this profession of his dislike of the Fact the Horse forthwith fell as ill as ever he was insomuch as for his unserviceableness he was fain to be turned loose to the Pasture But a Kinsman of the Owner's coming to his House and after chancing to see the Horse in the Grounds took the advantage of so low a Price for so fair a Gelding and bought him the Horse had no sooner changed his Master but presently changed his plight of Body also and became as sound as ever Ibid. p. 164 165. 4. The Jews use the Zizith for an Amulet against Sorceries and Preserver from Dangers Some superstitious Christian Women in St. Hierom's time wore Parvula Evangelia or short Sentences of the Gospel to the same purpose and the Papists at this Day permit the wearing about their Necks the beginning of St. John's Gospel Dr. Addison 5. The Chinese some of them invoke the Devil at this Day and use Incantations Many also in Guinea and the East-Indies wear Rings made by their Fetissero for Gods next their Bodies for Preservatives View of the English Acquisitions in Guinea 6. Martin Del-rio gives us the Relation of several Demons expulsed out of possessed Persons by the recital of the Lord's Prayer the Angels Salutation Ave Maria the beginning of St. John's Gospel The Word was made Flesh the Name of Jesus the Sign of the Cross the Apostles Creed the Rosary the Litanies of the Saints Salve Regina c. the Relicks of the Saints Holy Water Agnus Dei's pious Sentences Psalms Ringing of Bells c And is very angry with those Hereticks as he calls them who have no more Modesty or Grace than to laugh at these as superstitious Fancies Delrius Disquis Mag. L. 6. C. 2. § 3. Q. 3. 7. Most of the common Charms used by our Country-people and old Women and ignorant Quacks are nothing else but a certain Jargon of hard Words designed on purpose to cheat the Fancies of the credulous Patient into a strong Imagination and Confidence of the Effect promised as I remember a Friend of mine told me once when he was at the University he wrote on a Piece of Paper those words Barbara Celarent Daris Fario Baralipton which when he had done he chewed the Paper in his Mouth and made it in the form of a Pill and gave it to his Bed-maker an old Woman then afflicted with an Ague with this assurance That if the would take that and swallow it down it would certainly cure her Ague she did as she was directed and as my Friend told me was afterwards effectually cured 8. This which follows was not so innocent an application When I was at Oxford one Smith Apprentice to Mr. John Knibb Clock-maker still living in that City out of Curiosity went to an old Vagrant Fortune-Teller then in Town to know his Fortune he receives from her a Scroli of Paper which he was to wear under his Heel that Day and at Night to put under his Head in the Night he was disturbed with an unexpected Storm of Wind which threatned to blow down the House upon which he awaked lay sweating in Bed and dreading the Effects of it 'till near Morning when the Tempest ceasing he fell asleep and dreamed That a Coach with two or three Gentlewomen in it all in Mourning came to the House where they made a stop and one of them looks out of the Coach and invited him into them I came to the House next Day where his Master and he both told me and others the Story with some Concernment and Passion About half a Year after the young Man removes to London and there in a short time fell sick and died CHAP. LXXXIX Satan Hurting by Interposing with Melancholly Diseases 'T IS no Point of Generosity or Bravery to set upon Persons when they are infeebled with any Calamity or afflicting Circumstances yet the Devil who cares for nothing so much as the satisfying of his malicious Appetite hath this cowardly Trick with him that he takes opportunity from our Weaknesses to attack us with double Wickedness to surprize us with Assaults when Nature most fails us to countermine the Divine Goodness which is most abundant to us at such times For as Man's Extremity is God's Opportunity for shewing of Mercy so it is the Devil 's for the discovery of his Malice 1. Aug. 24. 1662. saith Mr. Baxter a Gentlewoman of London came to me secretly with her Sister an Witness Persons as commonly called of Quality and Moderation to be resolved how to expound a strange thing that had befallen her which was That as she was Praying in secret she begg'd for the Deliverance of the Church and Religion and Ministers from the dreaded Sufferings that were determined and the sad Effects of Persecution Division and Publick Dangers and it was suddenly given her as an Answer That there should he a speedy Deliverance even in a very short time She desired to know which way and it was by somewhat on the King which I refused to hear our whether it was Change or Death it being set strongly on her as a Revelation she earnestly prayed That if this were a Divine Impulse and Revelation God would certifie her by some visible Sign and she ventured to choose the Sign herself and laid her Hand on the outside of the upper part of her Leg and begging of God That if it were a true Answer he would make on that place some visible Mark and there was presently the Mark of black Spots like as if a Hand had burnt it which her Sister witnessed she saw presently and after there being no such thing before But the Woman's strange Impulse and Mark proved but a Delusion Hist Disc Appar Witches p. 181. 2. Mr. Clark gives this Account of the Sickness of Mr. Rich. Rothwell He had a Vertigo capitis Forty Fits in an Hour and every one of them accompanied with mischievous Temptations which when the Fit was over he dictated and writ down these held about three Weeks in which time he had the Advice of learned Physicians from London York New-Castle Durham and other places they all jumped in their Judgments imputing it to be much Study Fasting and inward Trouble of Spirit
over-looked by their Creator with more Contempt as being more Vile than their Neighbours Our Savioar gave a Check to this Humour when he vindicated the Blind Man in the Gospel and told his Auditory the Cause was neither his Sins nor his Parents 1. Martial who was a notable Scoffer makes a Mockery at Coelius in his Epigrams who counterfeiting to be Gouty anointed himself with Oils and other things wrapping and binding up his Joints because he would have nothing to do at the Court either by Night or by Day or attend as Courtiers do upon any Great Person But in the end his Fortune so fell out that he happened to have the Gout indeed Treasur of Anc. and Mod. Times 2. Appianus Alexandrinus reporteth also of another Roman who to escape the Proscriptions of the Roman Triumviri and not to be known for what he was by such as might take notice of him kept himself close and wore an Emplaster of Velvet upon one of his Eyes which he continued for a long time After all such Search and Pursuit was passed over the Man took off his Plaister and found the utter Loss of the Eye indeed Ibid. p. 272. 3. During those Troubles of the Union or League in France it chanced that near unto a Castle certain honest Men were set upon by Thieves and robb'd in such sort that they had nothing left them but their Shirts When they perceived the Castle they went presently thither and entreated the Lord thereof that he would lend them some Assistance for the Apprehension of the Thieves in regard that he had a certain Knowledge of them and was armed with such Authority as might at least help them to their Garments again But the uncharitable Gentleman would afford them no Favour no not so much as to see them but feign'd that he had the Cholick and was unable to stir out of his Bed or to attend upon any Business whatsoever It was then the coldest Season of the Year and the Servants albeit unknown to their Master lodged these despised poor Men for that Night in a Stable whence they departed homeward the next Morning without drawing the least Courtesie that could be from that ungenteel Gentleman Now I know not whether it happened by just Vengeance of Heaven or by some natural Occasion thereto leading but he fell into the Cholick indeed and was forced to keep his Chamber for the space of Twenty Days and at last died by the violent Extremity thereof Ibid. p. 273. 4. An Abbot of Guyenne and Archdeacon in a Bishoprick was cited by the Bishop and Chapter to appear at a Visitation for Assessing of each Benefice in the Diocess according to their Faculties for the Relief of poor Parishes from whence they derived Demesnes and Rents The Abbot made Excuse saying he had a Pleurisie which was meerly false and therefore he could not be there present But within few Days after he was taken with such a grievous Pain in his Side that he kept his Bed a whole Year together and was glad to have his Side cauterized in two Places Notwithstanding which he could not recover Health while he lived Ibid. c. 14. p. 273. 5. Suibdager King of Swecia being very Covetous counterscited Deafness to the end be might hear to Requests made to him for bestowing of any Gifts For in that Country he negotiated his whole Reign by Conference with the People and not by Writing or Petition as they do to this Day But in a short time the King became both Deaf and Blind indeed Ibid. 6. I knew a young Scholar descended of good Parentage in the Franche-Comtè who was a very facetious Scoffer and Mocker and continually used to counterfeit the Gate Gesture and Behaviour of his Sister the Wife of his elder Brother descended of a very Worthy and Vertuous Family and who had brought great Estates and Means for her Portion who was Lame and as she halted so in scorn he would do the like But undoubtly by God's Judgments he chanced to break one of his Legs which could never after be recovered or brought to any Form so that he halted downright to his Dying-day Ibid. CHAP. CIII Divine Judgments upon Atheism ATheism and the Effects of it are bidding an open Defiance to all the Powers of Heaven so that 't is no Wonder if the Almighty who resides there and governs here resents the Crime with a mere than ordinary Indignation The most Renowned for Professed Ungodliness saith Bishop Fotherby are these In Holy Writings King Pharach and Antiâ—â—hus the King of Tyre and the Two Herâ—ds in Ecclesiastical History Caligula Domitian Maximinus and Julian in Profane History Prâ—tagoras Diagoras Theodoras Socrates Epicurus Bion Pherecides and Dionysius Of all whom there was not one that cited in his Nest of a fair and kindly Death saving only this last whose Damnation yet slept not but all the rest of them ended their Lives by the Stroke of God's Justice 1. Julius Caesar suffered as an Atheist Dr. Tenison 2. There are a Sect of Atheists in Turkey sprung up of late Years called Muserin i. e. The True Secrâ—t is with us Which Secret is no other than the absolute Denial of a Deity that Nature or the Intrinsical Principle in every individual Thing directs the ordinary Course which we see and admire and that the Heavens Sun Moon and Stars have thence their Original and Motion and that Man himself riseth and fades like the Grass and Flower It is strange to consider what Quantities there are of Men that maintain this Principle in Constantinople most of which are Cadi's and Learned Men in the Arabian Legends and others are Renegado's from the Christian Faith who conscious of their Sin of Apostacy and therefore desirous all Things may conclude with this World are the more apt to entertain those Opinions which come nearest to their Wishes One of this Sect called Mahomet Effendi a Rich Man educated in the Knowledge of the Eastern Learning I remember was in my Time executed for impudently proclaiming his Blasphemies against the Being of a Deity making it in his ordinary Discourse an Argument against the Being of a God for that either there was none at all or else not so wise as the Doctors preached he was in suffering Him to live that was the greatest Enemy and Scorner of a Divine Essence that ever came into the World And it is observable saith my Author That this Man might notwithstanding his Accusation have saved his Life would he but have confessed his Error and promised for the future an Assent to the Principles of a better But he persisted still in his Blasphemies saying That tho' there were no Reward yet the Love of Truth obliged him to die a Martyr Mr. Ricaut's History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire Book II. c. 12. p. 246. A great Raja a Gentile a notorious Atheist glorying to profess That he knew no other God than the King nor believing nor fearing any other Deity fitting
something in her Lap that looked like a white Bag as he thought which he did not observe before So soon as he had emptied his Pail he went into his Yard and stood still to try whether he could see her again but she was vanished In his Information he says That the Woman seemed to be habited in a brown-colour'd Petticoat Wastcoat and a white Hood such a one as his Wife's Sister usually wore and that her Countenance look'd extream Pale and Wan with her Teeth in sight but no Gums appearing and that her Physiognomy was like to that of his Wife's Sister who was Wife to William Barwick But notwithstanding the ghastliness of this Apparition it seems it made so little Impression in Lofthouse's Mind that he thought no more of it neither did he speak to any Body concerning it till the same Night as he was at his Family Duty of Prayer that that Apparition returned again to his Thoughts and discompos'd his Devotion so that after he had made an end of his Prayers he told the whole Story of what he had seen to his Wife who laying Circumstances together immediately inferr'd that her Sister was either drown'd or otherwise murdered and desired her Husband to look after him the next Day which was the Wednesday in Easter-Week Upon this Lofthouse recollecting what Barwick had told him of his carrying his Wife to his Unkle at Selby repairs to Harrison before-mentioned but found all that Barwick had said to be false For that Harrison had neither heard of Barwick nor his Wife neither did he know any thing of them Which notable Circumstance together with that other of the Apparition encreas'd his Suspicion to that degree that now concluding his Wife's Sister was murdered he went to the Lord-Mayor of York and having obtained his Warrant got Barwick apprehened who was no sooner brought before the Lord-Mayor but his own Conscience then accusing him he acknowledg'd the whole Matter as it has been already related as it appears by his Examination and Confession herewith printed To which are also annex'd the Informations of Lofthouse in like manner taken before the Lord-Mayor of York for a further Testimony and Confirmation of what is here set down On the Sixteenth of September 1690. the said William Barwick was brought to his Tryal before the Right Honourable Sir John Powel Knight one of the Judges of the Northern Circuit at the Assizes holden at York where he was found Guilty and afterwards hang'd in Chains See the Narrative 19. Colonel Venables had a Soldier in his Army that came out of Ireland and as under Colonel Hill who was then in London and would attest this following viz. That this Soldier looked pale and sad and pined and the Cause was unkown At last he came to Colonel Hill with his Confession that he had been a Servant 1. England as I remember to one that carried Stockings and such Ware about to sell an for his Money he had murdered his Master and buried him in such a Place and flying into Ireland listed himself his Soldier and that of a long time whenever he lay alone somewhat like a headless Man stood by his Bed saying to him Wil t thou yet Confess And in this case of Fear he had continued till lately it appeared to him when he had a Bedfellow which it never did before and said as before Wil t thou yet Confess and now seeing no hope of longer concealing it he confessed And as I remember saith my Author his going to Hispaniola was his Punishment instead of Death where Vengeance followed him This he offered then to bring Colonel Hill to me to attest Mr. Baxter 's Histor Disc of Apparitions and Witches c. p. 58. 20. Sir Edmundbury Godfrey's Murder was secretly acted and strangely discovered and the Actors brought to condign Punishment as is well known to most of this Nation that are now living 1. Captain Bedloe deposed thus concerning the Murder The Papists because Sir Edmundbury seemed to be an Obstacle to them and had taken the Information of Oats and Tonge about the Plot resolved and contrived to take away his Life 2. Pursuant to which Design they hired for 4000 Pound Le Phaire Welch Atkins Pritchard the Deponent and some Jesuites to do the Fact 3. Accordingly the above-named Persons trapann'd Sir Edmundbury into Somerset-house about 5 a Clock at Night on Saturday October the 12th 1678. 4. This Trapan was effected thus The Deponent was told by le Phaire that He Welch and Atkins met Sir Edmundbury near the King's-head Inn in the Strand and decoyed him into Somerset-house under Pretence of Apprehending some Plotters 5. When they had him in the upper great Court of Somerset-house they thrust him into a low Room put a Pistol to him and threaten'd him if he made a noise then stifled him between two Pillows and finding him still alive strangled him with a long Cravat in the Room where he lay 6. On Monday following precisely between Nine and Ten a Clock at Night the Body was shewn to the Deponent by Le Phaire in the Room or the next to it where the Duke of Albemarle lay in State in the upper square Court there it was by the help of a Dark-lanthorn the Deponent saw the Body in the presence of Le Phaire Welch Atkins and two other Persons Extracted out of the Journals of the Lords and Council Mr. Prance adds That pursuant to this Design they hired Hill Green Kelley the Deponent Gerald and Berry to do the Fact Accordingly they trapann'd Sir Edmundbury into Somerset-house Hill decoyed him down to the Water-Gate under pretence of parting a Fray when they had him near the Rails by the Queen's Stables Green strangled him with a twisted Handkerchief wrung his Neck quite round punched him with his Knee and dragg'd him into Dr. Godwin's Lodgings On the Monday Night following the Body was shown by he help of a Dark-lanthorn to the Deponent and then at Nine a Clock at Night the dead Body was carried out by certain Chair-men to the corner of Clarenden-house and from thence in a Coach to Primrose-hill says Bedloe into Covent-Garden and so to Long-acre and thence to Sohoe says Prance and from thence he was conveyed a-stride on Horseback before Hill into the Fields where they thrust his Sword through his Body and cast him into a Ditch Out of the Lord's Journal As this Murder was committed for Reward so it was discovered for Reward too 21. Anno 1675. March the 19th William Writtle of Chatham was condemn'd at Maidstone Assizes to be hang'd in Chains on Beacon-hill for murdering of Ann James his Sweetheart and her Son John about Six Years old The manner of which Murder and its Discovery was thus He tells her That he had taken a Malt-house near Canterbury and had near Faulson a small Living under Pretence of going to see them he leads her and her Son into a Copice near Beacon-hill where he first murdered the woman and
Blessings but when by the King and Pope's leave he had dissolved Forty small Monasteries to Erect two Colleges the one in Oxford the other in Ipswich the King seizeth upon his Palace at Westminster takes the Great Seal Wealth and Liberty from him his College at Ipswich destroyed before it was built that at Oxford receives a new Name himself is arrested of High Treason and to prevent a Publick and Ignominious Death Poisons himself 10. The Cardinal in dissolving his Forty Monasteries had made use of five Men besides Cromwel whereof two fought a Duel in which one was slain and the other hanged for Murder a third drowns himself in a Well a fourth a Rich Man too lives to beg his Bread from door to door the fifth a Bishop was cruelly murdered in Ireland by Tho. Fitz-Garret Son to the Earl of Kildare Pope Clement the Seventh that gave consent to this Dissolution is forced out of his Palace besieged at his Castle constrained there to eat Asses Flesh and at last dies of a miserable Disease Cromwel Cardinal Woolsey's Servant and Successor whilst sitting at the Council-Table is suddenly Apprehended sent to the Tower and thence to the Place of Execution 11. King Henry the Eighth who engrossed Sacrilege and entailed it to Posterity is afflicted with the Rebellion of his Subjects in Suffolk Lincoln Somerset York-shire the North Ireland c. with a great Dearth falls from one sin to another in the case of his Wives the three last die Childless the Children of the two first are declared Illegitimate And though he entail'd the Crown upon his Children and they all successively wore it yet they all die Childless and his Family is extinct and not to be mentioned but with his Crimes 12. Charles Brandon was an Active Man and aiding to Henry the Eighth in the Dissolution of Monasteries and received great Rewards out of his Church-Spoils and though he had four Wives yet by the fifth of Edw. 6. the Name Title and Family of Brandon was extinct 13. The Duke of Norfolk had by the Statute of Hen. 8. c. 13. the Monastery of Sibaton in Suffolk and the Lord Cobham the Chantry of Cobham in Kent since which time my Author remarks how heavy the Hand of Justice hath fallen upon those two Families 14. The Duke of Somerset had in the First Year of Edward the Sixth procured the Dissolution of some Chantries Free-Chapels and Hospitals defaceth part of St. Paul's Church converts the Charnel-House and a Chapel by it into Dwelling-Houses destroys the Steeple and part of the Church of St. John's of Jerusalem and with the Stone begins to build his House in the Strand but the consecrated Stone becomes unsuccessful so as the Builder doth not finish his House nor his Son Inherit it Afterwards the Duke was Indicted of Felony found Guilty and suffered by a Law that was but the year before passed by himself Sir Hen. Spelman De non Temerand Eccl. Epist to the Reader p. 28-38 CHAP. CXVII Divine Judgments upon Treachery TReachery had ever an ill Name and not undeservedly for it discovers the falseness of a Man's Heart and represents him to the World as a Man to fit to be trusted For who dares lean with any confidence upon a broken Reed And accordingly though it meets often with fine Promises yet is often served in self as it serves others with poor and miserable Performances Every one is ready to retort upon the traitor in the words of the Emperor Aâ—no proditionem odi proditorem I love the Treachery but hate the Traitor 1. Sir Robert Carre afterwards Earl of Somerset a great Favourite of King James admitted Sir Thomas Overbury into his Favour and put him in Trust with his most Secret Employments in which he behaved himself so discreetly and honestly that afterwards when the Earl of Somerset falling in Love with the Lady Frances Howard late Wife of the Earl of Essex but then divorced or intended to be divorced consulted with Sir Thomas about it and Sir Thomas freely disswading him from the Match with words reflecting much on the Countess's Reputation and doing this upon a Principle of unfeigned Love the Earl with the Advice of the Countess resolved upon Revenge and contrived the murdering of Sir Thomas afterwards in the Tower but after a mighty Celebration of the Wedding the Murder was discovered the Instruments hanged the Earl and Countess both convicted their Estate seized only their Lives by the King's favour were reprieved Select Lives of England 's Worthies p. 286 287. Detect of the Court and State in the Four last Reigns p. 39 40 c. 2. Nicholas Keretschen Governour of Gyula in Transylvania betrayed the same unto the Turks for a great Sum of Money but when he expected the Reward he was by the Command of Solyman the Great Turk thrust into an Hogshead stuck full of Nails with the points inward with this Inscription upon it Here receive the Reward of thy Treason if thou beest not faithful to thy Master neither wilt thou be so to me And so he was rolled up and down till he died Turk Hist p. 824. 3. Banister Servant to the Duke of Buckingham in the Reign of Richard the Third upon the Promise of a Thousand Pounds basely betrayed his Lord and Master from whom he had formerly received great Favours but after this base Treachery he never had the Reward promised and beside had these Judgments befel him His Eldest Son fell Mad and so died in a Swine-stye His second Son became deformed in his Limbs and fell Lame His third Son was drowned in a small Puddle of Water His Eldest Daughter was suddenly struck with a Leprosie and himself in his Old Age was arraigned found guilty of Murther and escaped Hanging very narrowly Speed Chron. p. 97. 4. One Mr. Roscadden going on Pilgrimage according to the Blindness and Superstition of those Times his Wife had in his absence one if not more Children Whereupon at his return one John Tregoss advised and perswaded him to settle his Estate upon some Friend for the Use and Benefit of his Wife and Children lest after his Death the Heir at Common Law should turn his Wife and Children out of Doors Mr. Roscadden entertained and approved the Motion and entreated him to accept of the Trust which Request the said John Tregoss readily embraced But instead of a Deed in Trust he made it Absolute to himself and his Heirs for ever And accordingly so soon as Mr. Roscadden was dead he entred upon all his Lands and turned his Children out of Doors who for some time were fain to lie in a Hog-stye and every Morning went forth to the Dunghil and there upon their Knees imprecated and prayed that the Vengeance of God might fall upon this Tregoss and his Posterity for this so perfidious and merciless dealing And after this God's severe but righteous Judgments fell upon Tregss's Family For his Son Walter one day riding upon a Horse in a fair way
They brought to me the Man himself and when we ask'd him how he dared to sin again after such a Warning he had no Excuse But being a Person of Quality for some special Reason of Worldly Interest I must not name him Hist Disc of Apparitions and Witches p. 60. 27. Mr. William Rogers an Apothecary of Crancbrook in Kent exceeding much given to Drinking and Sabbath-breaking though a Young Man of a sweet and pleasing Temper was often admonished and perswaded by Mr. Robert Abbot Minister of the Place to come to Church but had often promised and failed But one Lord's-day in the Morning when he said he was ready to come he was taken sick and betook him to his Bed but it proving only an Ague next Morning he betook him to his old course again Next Week the Messenger of Death came in earnest Mr. Abbot addressed himself to him in his Chamber with these words Oh! how often have you deceived God your own Soul and me and what is now to be done I fear you will die and then what will become of you His Sickness prevailed and there was too great a Fire kindled in his Breast to be smothered it burned in his own Soul and it lightened from his Heart and Lips into the Ears and Hearts of those about him One while he cries out of his sins saying I have been a fearful Drunkard pouring in one Draught after another till one Draught could not keep down another I now would be glad if I could take the least of God's Creatures which I have abused I have neglected my Patients which have put their Lives in my hands and how many Souls have I thus murdered I have wilfully neglected God's House Service and Worship and tho' I purposed to go God strikes me thus before the day of my Promise comes because I am unworthy to come among God's People again Another while he falls to wishing Oh! that I might burn a long time in that Fire pointing to the Fire before him so I might not burn in Hell Oh! that God would grant me but one Year or a Month that the World might see with what an heart I have promised to God my Amendment Oh! that God would try me a little but I am unworthy Another while to his Companions Be warned by me to forsake your wicked ways lest you go to Hell as I must do Calls his young Servant tells him that he had been a wicked Master to him But be warned by me saith he you have a Friend that hath an Iron Furnace which burns hot a long time but if you give your self to my sins you shall be burned in the Furnace of Hell an hotter Furnace Millions of Millions of Ages The Minister propounding to him the Gospel-Promises of the largest size he cried It is too late I must be burned in Hell He pressed him with Tears not to cast away that Soul for which Christ died c. He answered He had cast off Christ and therefore must go to Hell In short at last in idleness of Thoughts and Talk he ended his miserable Life See the Narrative published by Mr. Abbot the Minister Or A Pamphlet called A Warning-piece to Drunkards p. 31 32. 28. Nathanael Butler was first addicted to Drunkenness Gaming Purloining and Fornication before he committed that Murder upon his Friend John Knight in Milk-street London 1657. for which he was afterwards condemned to the Gallows and executed 29. Tho. Savage used to spend the Sabbath at an Ale-House or a Base House and was that very Morning made Drunk by his Harlot with burnt Brandy when perswaded to Murder his Fellow-Servant for which he was executed at Ratcliff 1668. CHAP. CXXIV Divine Judgments upon Uncleanness Inordinate Love c. BIshop Latimer is said to have presented King Henry the VIII a new Testament wrapp'd up in a Napkin for a New Year's Gift with this Poesie about it Fornicators and Adulterers God will judge 'T was boldly done and the Admonition tho' very biting and pungent yet had the Word of God for its Basis and Foundation For to touch a little upon the History of this Sin 1. Eli's Sons 1 Sam. 2. David 2 Sam. 11. The two Women 1 King 3.16 may go for Scriptural Examples all faulty this way and all punished yea Solomon himself no doubt paid dear for his Polygamy and Concubinage not to except Jacob among the Patriarch's who was most crossed in his Children of any as I have noted before in this Book 2. Henry the VIII and our late King Charles the II. may be worthy of the Reader 's Remark 3. A. C. 1544. Henry Duke of Brunswick had for his Wife the Sister of Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg who had for one of her Wairing-Maids one Eve Trottin with whose Beauty the Duke was so desperately smitten that after some Sollicitations he had several Children by her But after some time unknown to his Wife and her Friends he shut her up in his Castle of Stauffeburg and appoints two Women to lay a wooden Image representing her in her Bed giving out that Eve was sick at last this Image was laid up in a Coffin and it was pretended that Eve was dead The Counterfeit Corps was carried forth to be buried with all the usual Pomp and Ceremonies of a Funeral Prayers and Sacrifices The Dutchess and her Maids and other Companies of Virgins were present at the Solemnity all in mourning Apparel In the mean time Eve was kept in the Castle and the Duke had seven Children by her afterwards But at last the Imposture was brought to light to the perpetual Shame and Ignominy of the Duke with what ill Consequences more I cannot inform my self Sleidan's Commentar l. 15. 4. Childeric King of France was so odious for his Adulteries that his Nobles conspired against him and drove him out of the Kingdom Clark's Exampl Vol. I. c. 2. 5. Sir Robert Carr made afterwards Viscount Rochester a Minion of King James the I. and one of the Privy-Council falling in Love with the Countess of Essex who being married with Robert Earl of Essex both at Twelve Years of Age had lived above Ten Years without any carnal Knowledge one of another to make way for a Marriage with the same Countess procures the Commitment of Sir Tho. Overbury to the Tower because he discouraged Rochester from the said Match and at last his Death Upon which followed a Divorce between the Countess and the Earl her Husband a Creation of Rochester Earl of Somerset a Consummation of the Marriage between Rochester and the Countess of Essex a Celebration of the Wedding with the presence of the King Queen Prince and a great Confluence of Bishops and Nobles a gallant Masque of Lords and afterwards another Masque of the Princes Gentlemen which out-did this a Treat afterwards at Merchant's-Hall where the Mayor and Aldermen in their Gowns entertained the Bride and Bridegroom with the Attendance of the Duke of Lenox the Lord Privy-Seal the Lord-Chamberlain
Basil the Great lying at the last period of Life after he had piously instructed his own Friends breathed out his Soul with these last words Lord into thy Hands I commend my Spirit Cardan relates of a Man in Milan who having in Sixty Years been never without the Walls yet when the Duke hearing thereof sent him peremptory Command never to go out of the Gates during Life He that before had no inclination to do so yet soon died of Grief to be denied the Liberty of doing it Chetwinds Hist Collections The Customs of several Nations in the Burial of their Dead Many Persons 1. Kiss and kindly Salute their dead Friends and Relations to shew the natural tenderness and love they had for the deceased but this Custom is now quite abolished with us in many places though this Peactice ought not to be altogether discommended 2. As for the usage that is in some Countries of washing the Dead St. Chrysostom tells us that it was derived at first from the Person of our Lord and Saviour whose precious Body was washed as soon as they took it down from the Cross And we read in the Ninth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles that a Woman of Joppa called Tabitha whom St. Peter restored to Life had been wash'd before she was laid out for the Grave The Indians burn their Dead 3. The Custom of Perfuming and Embalming the Corps hath in our days been especially in England much observed And indeed the very reason why the Primitive Christians were so careful to Perfume the Dead was because they regarded them as so many Members of the Mystical Body of the Redeemer of the World Tertullian in his Apology upbraiding the Heathens with the vast Expences of sweet Scents and Perfumes consumed in the Temples tells them that those Odours would be better employed in Perfuming and Embalming the Bodies of Christians and their dear Friends departed At the Canary Islands they bury their Dead with a Bottle of Wine standing by them 4. As concerning the manner of Apparelling the Dead all Christians use not the same Practice for some do only cover them with a large Winding-sheet as they do in France And others dress them in the very same Cloaths they were wont to wear as in Italy and several other places And others dress them and lay them in their Coffin in a white Shirt a clean Cap and sometimes as a late Act of Parliament enjoyns in Flannel this is the Custom in England The Chinese always before they bury their Dead if he was a Married Man bring him to his Wife that so she might first kiss him and bid him farewel The Method that ought to be observed in Funeral Processions for most Ranks ad Degrees of Men. First Children of the Hospital Two Conductors Poor Men. Gentlemens Servants in Cloaks Gentlemen in Cloaks Gentlemen in Gowns Aldermen in Black The Preacher A Penon of his own Arms Helm and Crest The Coat of Arms. Chief Mourners Two Assistants Aldermen not in Black Master of the Company if c. Master of the Hospital Then all Gentlemen not in Black Neighbours and others I might here enlarge upon Mourning for and the Ancient Customs and Manners of Burying the Dead in all Nations throughout all the habitable World The Ancient Romans did use them that were dead after two manners and they had two kinds of Obsequies the first and most Ancient was to cover the dead with Earth and to bury them as we do the other to burn their Bodies but this manner did not continue long Numa Pompilius was the Inventer of Obsequies and he instituted a High-Priest who had the Charge The first Honour which they used to perform in the Obsequies of Famous Persons was to commend the Party by an Oration Valerius Publicola made a Funeral Oration on the Death and in the Praise of Brutus In like manner Julius Casar being but Twelve Years old commended his Grandfather and Tiberius at the Age of Nine Years praised his Father The second Honour was to make Sword players to Fight Marcus and Decius Sons to Junius Brutus were the first that did practise this in Honour of their Father The third Honour was to make a Feast of Magnificent Furnishment The fourth was a distribution of Meat to all the common People And such a I have said before as could not be buried with the like and so great Pomp for the Expences were insupportable were buried in the Night-time by the Vespiliones cloathed all in white who carried the dead Body to his Grave They had likewise an Order that within some while after the Obsequies they would strew divers Flowers nd sweet Odours upon the Sepulchre as the Roman People did upon the Funeral Monument of Scipio And also they accustomed Yearly to Garnish Deck and Adorn the Tombs or Graves of the Dead with Posies Crowns and Garlands of all sorts of Flowers Husbands saith St. Jerom ad Pammachium were wont to strew spread or scatter over and upon the Graves and Sepulchres of their deceased dear Wives Violers Roses Lilies Hyacinths and divers Purple Flowers by which Vxorious Office they did mitigate and lessen the grief of their Hearts conceived by the loss of their Loving Bedfellows The like expression of Mutual Love Wives shewed to their buried Husbands Now above all Flowers in these Ceremonious Observances the Rose was in greatest request and had the sole preheminence as Kirman relates The Ancient Ethnicks did hold the springing of Flowers from the Grave of a deceased Friend as an Argument of his Happiness and it was their universal wish That the Tombâ—stones of their dead Friends might be light unto them and that a perpetual Spring-tide of all kind of fragrant Flowers might incircle their verdant Graves According to this of Persius Sat. 7. Dii majorum umbris tenuem sine pondere terram Spirantesque crocos in urna perpetuum ver Lie Earth light on their Bones may their Graves bear Fresh fragrant Flowers let Spring-tide still live there But to come back again The Magnificence in burning the Bodies of the Dead did far exceed in charges all other kinds of Funeral for with the Bodies of Persons of Principal regard as you may read in the Travels of George Sandys they burnt rich Odours Gold Jewels Apparel Herds of Cattel Flocks of Sheep Horses Hounds and sometimes the Concubines and Slaves whom they most respected to supply their wants to serve their delights and attend upon them in the lower Shades With the like Solemnity or far greater the Funerals of Patroclus were performed by Achilles for with him were burned Oxen Sheep Dogs Horses and twelve stout and valiant Sons of Noble Trojans Achilles pulls off the Hair off his Head and casts it into the Flame and besides institutes certain Funeral Games to the Honour of his slain Friend the Glory of the Greekish Nation Patroclus which is recorded by Homer in the 23d Book of his Iliads They used to quench these Funeral
being visited with the Small Pox when he was about six Years old his Tongue putrified and was quite consumed after which the Vvula in his Mouth being longer than it was before he could by the help of the other Organs of Speech discourse as plainly as if he had never lost his Tongue These things are Marvellous 13. And yet I have lately met with a passage more strange than any of these Related There is or was in the Year 1679 living near Kerchem in Germany a Man his Name is John Algair who suddenly lost the use of his Speech the case has been so with him that fourteen Years together he could never speak but at one hour of the Day just as the Sun comes to the Meridian he has the liberty of his Speech for an hour and no more so that he knoweth exactly when it is twelve a Clock because then he can speak and not a Minute before that nor a Minute after One. This is Related in the Germanic Ephemeridies of Miscellaneous Curiosities for the Year 1679. Observat 188. It is evident that the Sun has a marvelous Influence as to some Diseases which the Bodies of Men are subject unto For in Egypt tho' the Plague rage the Day before on that very day when the Sun enters into Leo it ceaseth when also the Floods of Nilus increase as Geographers inform us Moreover it is possible by Art to Teach those that are by Nature Deaf and Dumb to Speak The Dectilogy of Beda is pretty whereby Men speak as nimbly with the Fingers as with the Tongue taking five Fingers of the one Hand for Vowels and the several Positions of the other for Consonants But that Deaf Persons may learn to speak happy Experience hath proved and that by many Instances 14. Acustre has given an Account of the Method by him successfully observed in Teaching a Boy to Speak that was Born Deaf After the use of some Purgative Medicines he caused the Hair to be shaved off from his Head over the Coronal Suture and then frequently anointed the shaven place with a mixture of Aquavitae Salt Petre Oil of Butter Almonds c. having done this he began to speak to the Deaf Person not at his Ear but at his Coronal Suture and then after the use of Unctions and Emunctions the sound would pierce when at his Ears it could not enter so did he by degrees teach him to speak Vide Ephem German Anno 1670. Observation 350. But others have with good Effect followed another kind of Method 15. There was a Spanish Noble Man Brother to the Constable of Castile who being Born Deaf and also Dumb from his Infancy Physitians had long in vain tried Experiments for his relief At last a certain Priest undertook to teach him to speak his Attempt was at first laughed at but within a while the Gentleman was able notwithstanding his Deafness still remained to Converse or Discourse with any Friend He was taught to speak by putting a Cord about his Neck and straining or losening the same to advertise him when to open or shut his Mouth by the Example of his Teacher Nor was there any difference found between his Speech and that of other Men only that he did not regulate his Voice speaking commonly too high Vide Conferences of Virtuosi p. 215. 16. Not long since Fran. Mercur. Helmont designing to teach a Deaf Man to speak concluded it would be more easily practicable if the Experiment were made with an Eastern wide Mouth Language which does remarkably expose the Eye to the motion of the Lips Tongue and Throat Accordingly he cried with the Hebrew Tongue and in a short time his Dumb Schollar became an excellent Hebrician Others have lately been as Successful in their Attempts to cause Deaf Persons to speak and understand the Europaean Languages We need not go out of our own Nation for there we find living Instances 17. In the Philosopical Transactions for the Year 1670. Num. 61. an Account is given concerning Mr. Daniel Wâ—aley of Northampton in England who by an Accident lost his Hearing when he was about five Years of Age and so his Speech not at once but by degrees in about half a Years time In five Years 1661. the Learned and Ingenious Dr. Wallis of Oxford undertook to teach the Deaf Gentleman to speak and write Nor did the Doctor fail in attaining his end â—or in the space of one Year the Dumb Man had read over great part of the English Bible and had attained so much skill as to express himself intelligibly in ordinary Affairs to understand Letters written to him and to write Answers to them And when Forreigners out of curiosity came to Visit him he was able to pronounce the most difficult words of their Language even Polish it self which any could propose unto him Nor was this the only Person on whom the Doctor shewed his skill But he has since done the like for another a Gentleman of a very good Family who did from his Birth want his Hearing Likewise Dr. Holder in his late Book about the Natural Production of Letters giveth Rules for the Teaching the Deaf and Dumb to speak 18. Edward Bone of Ladock in Cornwall was Servant to Mr. Courtney also He was Deaf from his Gradle and consequently Dumb Nature cannot give out where she hath not received yet could learn and express to his Master that was stirring in the Country especially if there went any news of a Sermon within some Miles distant he would repair to that place with the soonest and setting himsef directly against the Preacher look him stedfastly in the Face while the Sermon lasted To which Religious Zeal his honest Life was also answerable assisted with a firm Memory he would not only know any Party whom he had once seen for ever after but also make him known to another by some special Observation and Difference There was one Kemp not living far off deffected accordingly on whose meetings there were such Embracings such strange often and earnest Tokenings such hearty Laughters and other passionate Gestures that their want of Tongue seemed rather a hinderance to others conceiving them than to their conceiving one another Fullers Worthies p. 206. in Cornwall Other Defects of Nature supplyed by Art 1. The Indians presented Augustus with a young Man with Shoulders or Arms that could perform with his Feet what others did with their Arms and Hands could bend a Bow shoot Arrows and sound a Trumpet Xiph. in August p. 55. 2. My self and others says Camerarius being once at Lombourg in the House of Erasmus Neustetetur he sent to a place not far off for one Thomas Sckiveiker a young Man of one and thirty Years of Age descended of a Worshipful House and Born without ever an Arm who did with his Feet all that a ready Man could do with his Hands Having seated himself in a place equal with the highth of the Table whereon the Meat was placed he took a Knife
at each Stroke of the Clock Moreover there be the Statues of the Spring Summer Autumn and Winter and many Observations of the Moon In the upper part of the Clock are four old Men's Statues which strike the quarters of the Hour the Statue of Death coming out at each Quarter to strike but being driven back by the Statue of Christ with a Spear in his Hand for three Quarters but in the fourth Quarter that of Christ goeth back and that of Death striketh the Hour with a Bone in his Hand and then the Chimes sound On the top of the Clock is the Image of a Cock which twice in the Day croweth aloud and clappeth his Wings Besides this Clock is deck'd with many fine Pictures and being on the inside of the Church carrieth another Frame to the outside of the Wall wherein the Hours of the Sun the Courses fo the Moon the Length of the Day and such other things are set out with great Art Morrison's Itenerary Part 1. Cap. 1. Pag. 31. 8. At Dresden a Cockoo sings by Clock-work a Horseman rides a Ship sails an old Woman walks a Centaur runs and shoots and a Crab creeps upon a Table so well as to amaze and delight Dr. Ed. Brown's Trav. p. 167. CHAP. VI. Improvements in Navigation NONE of the Elements have escaped the Inquisition of Humane Study Men have adventured not only to Travel upon the Surface of the Waters and cut thro the Surging Waves but to dive to the bottom and examine all the Secrets of the vast Ocean and to that end have made considerable Improvements in the Art of Navigation But being my self a Land-Animal I am not able to say much upon the Point only for a Spur to the Industry and Emulation of others take these few subsequent Remarks 1. The Chard and Compass is well known to be a late but ingerrious and useful Invention far beyond the old wild way of Sailing by the Coasts of the Land and much conducive to the mutual Traffick and Commerce of divers Nations I wish I could say it had been more so to the Propagation of Learning and True Religion 2. The Longitude upon the Sea complain'd of lately by Seamen and Pilots who having lost sight of the Land and knowing by Observation of the Compass and Altitude at what Distance they were from North and Sourth but not able to discern the Longitude viz. the Distance from East to West hath been lately put into a fair way of Discovery by Mr. Huggens by the help of the Pendulum whose Exactness is such that it fails not one Moment And the Certainty of this Experiment is recommended by Captain Holms in a Letter written from London January 1665. c. 3. Sir William Petti invented a Vessel or Ship of a new Form called the Experiment like two little Ships joyned together by a Platform so that between the two there might be a space almost as large as the two Ships together thro' which the Water had an entire Liberty to pass the Keel of each being 80 Foot long the bigness with the Platform only 32 Foot the height from the Keel to the Platform 14. In War it would carry 50 pieces of Canon 200 Men with three Months Provision if used for Merchandize it would carry 300 Tuns The Advantages expected from it were that it would be swifter than other Ships as being capable of carrying twice or thrice as many Sails as others and having no Ballast it would be higher and surer because the figure of its sides with the Water which runs between the two Ships would keep it from running aground and having no Ballast it would not sink what Breaches soever it might meet with especially if assisted by some pieces of Canon besides its Keel would defend it being supported by many straight Planks if it should touch the Ground with all its weight and lastly it would turn more speedily than those Ships whose Rudder receives only the broken Water by the round Sides of them and ross less in a Tempest and in calm Weather would to with Oars betwixt the two little ones beneath the Platform c. but what the Event of this Experiment is I am not able to say This Description that I have given is taken out of a Letter written from London about it The Young Students Library p. 208. 4. A Doublet of Buoyant Matter lately invented which being put over or under a Man's Cloaths will bear his Head above Water for 24 Hours tho he cannot swim was tried this Month of June A. 1696. below London-Bridge and proved effectual as we are informed by the Flying-Post Numb 167. CHAP. VII Improvements in Law THAT Law might be reduced into the Method of an Art or Science hath been the wish of many Learned Men I dare not undertake any such Work my self yet for the Curiosity of my Reader I will present him here with something of a Scheme which I had lying by me Extracted out of Sir Mat. Hales Pleas of the Corwn Sir H. Finch 's Common Pleas c. 1. Pleas of the Crown have a Respect either to 1. Capital Offences 1. Against God as 1. Heresie 2. Witchcraft 2. Against Man 1. Capital 1. Treason 1. High as Compassing the Death of the King Queen Prince Levying War against him Violation of the Queen Princess killing of the Chancellor Treasurer Justice of one Bench or other Justice in Eire of Assizes of Oyer and Terminer in their place Counterfeiting and Clipping of the King's Coin Refusing the Oath of Supremacy on the Second Tender Extolling the Bishop of Rome Priests coming into the Realm 2. Petit A Servant killing of the Master a Wife her Husband Ecclesiastick his Superiour Son his Father c. 2. Felony against Life as Felo de se Chance medley doing a lawful Act without Intent of Hurt and Death following Death per infortunium without procurement of another the Cause is Deodand ex necessitate viz. Murder proceeding from Malice precognitated Manslaughter on a sudden Falling out Against Goods Larceny simple and grand of the value of 12 Pence feloniously taken Complicated Larceny or mixed with Robbery viz. Taking from the Person and putting him in fear or from the House Piracy Burglary viz. or Breaking by Night and entering into a House with a Felonious Intent Arson maliciously and voluntarily burning the House of another Hindrances of Amesning a Felon to publick Justice by breaking of Prison Rumper Prison Escape Rescure in a Person that 's a Stranger Felonies by Statute Conspiring to kill the King Witchcraft Buggery Penetratio emissio cum carnali cognitione Rape taking a Woman against her Will. Malicious cutting out Tongues or pulling out Eyes Stealing or avoiding Records Multiplication of Gold or Silver Hunting unlawfully in Forests Chases Wartens Embezilling of the King's Armour Subjects passing Sea to serve Foreign Princes c. Purveyors and wandering Soldiers in certain Cases Marrying a Second Husband or Wife the First living except the Man be under
14 the Woman under 12 when married absent 7 Years after a Divorce after Nullity obtained Goaler compelling Prisoner to be Appelor c. Transportation of Silver or Importation of False Money Exportation of Wool c. Stealing Falcons Receiving c. Popish Priests Jesuits Aegyptians above 14. Rogue adjudged to the Gallies and returning without License Forging a Deed after a former Conviction Sending Sheep beyond Sea after former Conviction Servants Embezilling the Goods of their Masters c. Cutting Powdike Forcibly detaining Persons in Cumberland 2. Not Capital or Trespasses which are 1. Greater 1. Misprision of Treason or Felony Negative viz. Knowing and not Revealing Receiving a Traitor Counterfeiting Coin c. 2. Theftbote when the Owner doth not know the Felony but takes his Goods again or other amends not to Prosecute 3. Misprisions positive discovery by one of the Grand Jury of the Persous Indicted c. dissuading from witnessing against a Felon c. Reproaching a Judge Assaulting an Attorney against him or abusing a Juror Rescuing a Prisoner from Barr of B. R. B. C. Striking in Westminster-Hall c. in presence of Justices of Assize of Oyer and Terminer Drawing Sword upon any Judge or Justice c. 4. Maihem Cutting off the Hand or striking out a Tooth but not the Ear. 2. Lesser or Ordinary Neglect of Duty Bribery Extortion Affrays Weapons drawn or Stroak given or offered but Words-no-Affray Riots more than two meeting to do some unlawful Act and doing it Forcible Entries and Detainder Forcible Entry i. e. Manu forti with unusual Weapon Menace of Life or Limb breaking Door Barretries Riding Armed going Armed Deceits and Cousenages Nusances decay of Bridges and High-ways Inns and Ale-houses Perjury and Subornation of it Champetry Embracery and Maintenance Engrossing Fore-stalling Regrating in Respect of Religion altering the Prayers Reviling the Sacraments c. Thus far Sir Matthew Hale Others do add Challenging to Fight and receiving the Challenge Striking in the Church-yard with a Weapon maliciously Striking an Officer in doing his Office a Servant striking his Master Dame Overseer unlawful Assaulting Imprisoning Beating or wounding another chafing killing or hurting his Cattle breaking or entering into his House or Land cutting spoiling eating up or treading the Grass or Corn breaking the Walls digging or carryhing away his Earth or Coal felling cutting or breaking Hedge or Trees carrying away his Wife Son and Heir Ward c. Unlawful Arresting his goods or Cattel breaking or cutting his Sluces Shearing his Sheep letting the Water out of his Mill-pond beating his Servant so as to hinder his Work pro curing to take away unlawful Corn growing or rob any Orchated or Gardens or break or cut away any Hedge Pale Rails c. pull up or take away any Fruit Trees cut or spoil any Wood Under-woods Poles Trees standing not being Felony unlawfully breaking into any Ground inclosed for Deer or hunting taking or killing in the Night any Deer or Comes conspiring to Indict another unjustly for an Offence whereof he is lawfully acquitted devising and spreading any false News and Seditions Libelling and promoting any scandalous Writing slandering one with such Words as Traitor Felon Thief Robber c. Selling that which is not a Man 's own or false and deceitful Wares or playing with false Dice a Miller changing his Grist Misfeasance by Nusance as stopping a Ditch to the drowning of my Ground over-riding my Horse disturbing me in my way office burial c. stopping of my Lights laying blocks in the High-way watering Hemp or Flax in any common River Stream or Pond getting Goods by counterfeit Letters Forg-ing Deeds Testaments c. going Armed in an unusual manner Three or more coming together with intent violently to commit an unlawful Act as to beat wound pull down c. t is a Rout if they do it a Riot if they meet only 't is an unlawful Assembly stirring up another to do such an Act an Affray made in disturbance of the Peace divulging Prophesies to disturb the Realm if charged within six Months making forcible entry into Lands and detaining them forcibly one under the degree of Knight above 15 Required by a Justice to Suppress a Riot and refusing Note Some of these may be reduced to some of the former Heads and others fall under the Consideration of Common Pleas. Note Again the Penalties are as followeth 1. For Counterfeiting Coin Drawing and Hanging 2. In other Treasons Drawing Hanging and Quartering 3. For Women Drawing and Burning 4. For Peteit-Treason The Man Hang'd the Woman Burn'd 5. For Felony Hanging 6. For Petit-Larceny Whipping and Forfeiting of Goods 7. For Death per Infortuniam forfeiture of Goods 8. For Death se defendendo Forfeiture of Goods 9. For Misprision of Treason Forfeiture of Goods and perpetual Imprisonment 10. For Trespasses various sometimes Fine sometimes Imprisonment sometimes good Behaviour Whipping Amends c. In the next place are considerable 1. The Jurisdiction or Court viz. the King's Bench Goal-delivery Oyer and Terminer Assizes Justices of Peace Sheriff Coroner Court-Leet 2. The means of bringing Capital Offenders to Tryals which are 1. By Appeal 2. By Appover 3. Indictment 3. Process 4. Arraignment 5. Demeanour of the Prisoner viz. Whether he stands Mute or Answers 6. Pleas which are either Declinatory or Pleading c. 2. Common-Pleas wherein are considerable 1. Possessions viz. Hereditaments or Chattels Real or Personal 2. Wrongs viz. Trespasses upon the Case Disturbance Nusance Deceit real wrongs as Discontinuance Ouster Intrusion Abatement Disseisin c. Rescons Replevin Denier Usurpation c. 3. Writs Real or Personal viz. Praecipe si fecerit te Securum c. Concerning which I have much more to say but am afraid of Surfeiting the Press or swelling the Volume or VVriting Impertinently and countenancing a Litigious Reader CHAP. VIII Of Heraldry PRinces are generally look'd upon as People of a more Effeminate Spirit and less studious than others as if their Supremacy of Power and Honour had betray'd them to such a Dissolusion of their natural Wit and Briskness that they were not fit for any thing of Ingenuity and Prudence of Invention in the Managery and Conduct of their Great Business Yet we find them sometimes beating their Thoughts upon the Anvil to find out and devise proper Methods for the Encouragement and Reward of their Deserving Subjects We shall present the Reader with a short Account of the Peerage or Degrees of Nobility of England 1. Dukes are created by Patent Cincture of Sword Mantle of State Imposition of a Cap and Coronet of Gold on their Heads and a Verge of Gold in their Hands 2. Marquesses first governours of Marches and Frontier Countrys are Created by a Cincture of a Sword a Mantle of State Imposition of a Cup of Honour with a Coronet and Delivery of a Charter or Patent 3. Earls are created by the Cincture of a Sword Mantle of State put upon him by the King himself a Cap and a Coronet put
of parting with Possessions for Christ's sake are applied by St. Hierom to the Words of Solomon Prov. 11.24 There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth because saith he they receive an hundred fold in this World This saith he I am resolved on 't is want of Belief and nothing else that keeps Men from the Practice of this Duty Could this one Mountain be removed the lessening of our Wealth that Alms-giving is accused of Could that one Scandal to Flesh and Blood be kicked out of the way there is no other Devil would take the unmerciful Man's part no other Temptation molest the Alms-giver And let me tell you that you have no more Evidence for the truth of Christ's coming for all the Fundamentals of your Faith on which you are content your Salvation should depend then such as I have given you for your security in this point Arch-bishop Tillotson tells us in his Sermon upon Acts 10. v. 38. That to do good is the most pleasant Employment in the World It is natural and whatever is so is delightful We do like our selves when ever we relieve the Wants and Distresses of others And therefore this Virtue among all other hath peculiarly entituled it self to the name of Humanity We answer our own Nature and obey our Reason and shew our selves Men in shewing Mercy to the Miserable when ever we consider the Evils and Afflictions of others we do with the greatest Reason collect our Duty from our Nature and Inclination and make our own Wishes and Desires and Expectations from others a Law and Rule to our selves And this is pleasant to follow our Nature and to gratifie the importunate Dictates of our own Reason So that the Benefits we do to others are not more welcome to them that receive them then they are delightful to us that do them We ease our own Nature and Bowels when ever we help and relieve those who are in Want and necessity As on the contrary no Man that hath not divested himself of Humanity can be cruel and hard-hearted to others without feeling some Pain in himself There is no sensual Pleasure in the World comparable to the Delight and Satisfaction that a good Man takes in doing good This Cato in Tully boasts of as the great Comfort and Joy of his old Age That nothing was more pleasant to him than the Conscience of a well spent Life and the remembrance of many Benefits and Kindnesses done to others Sensual Pleasures are not lasting but presently vanish and expire But that is not the worst of them they leave a Sting behind them as the Pleasure goes off Succedit frigida cura Sadness and Melancholy come in the place of it But the Pleasure of doing good remains after a thing is done the thoughts of its lie easie in our Minds and the reflection upon it afterwards does for ever minister Joy and Delight to us In a word That Frame of Mind which enclines us to do Good is the very Temper and Disposition of Happiness Solomon after all his Experience of worldly Pleasures pitches at last upon this as the greatest Felicity of Human Life and the only good Use that is to be made of a prosperous and plentiful Fortune Eccl. 3.12 I know that there is no good in them but for a Man to rejoyce and do god in his Life And a greater and wiser then Solomon had said That it is more blessed to give then to receive Thus far Arch-bishop Tillotson I now proceed to Instances of present Retribution to the Charitable 1. St. Alban whom Mr. Fox in his first Tome mentioned amongst the Martyrs who suffered for the Name and Cause of Christ having received a poor persecuted Minister into his House was by his godly Life and gracious Exhortations so wrought upon that he turned from Heathenism to Christianity and at last suffered as a Martyr for the Truth of Jesus Christ as Beda and others write of hâ—â— His kindness to a poor persecuted Minister was recompenced not only with his Conversion to the true Religion but likewise with the honour of Martyrdom 2. St. Austin having set forth the mercifulness an liberality of Constantine the Great saith Bonus Deus Constantinum magnum tantis terrenis implevit muneribus c. God gave Constantine that merciful Prince more Wealth than Heart could wish for his bounty to the Poor Aug. de Civitate Dei l. 5. 3. Dr. Hammond in his forementioned Treatise mentioned an ancient Story out of Cedrenus of a Jew who upon reading those words of Solomon Prov. 19.17 He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again resolved to try whether God would be as good as his word thereupon gave all that he had but two pieces of Silver to the Poor and then waited and expected to see it come again But being not presently answered in that Expectation grew angry and went up to Jerusalem to expostulate with God for not performing his Promise And going on his way found two Men a striving engaged in an unreconcileable Quarrel about a Stone that both walk together had found in the way and so had both equal right to it but being but one and not capable of being divided they could not both enjoy and therefore to make them Friends he having two pieces of Silver doth upon contract divide them betwixt the Contenders and hath the Stone in exchange for them having it he goes on his Journey and coming to Jerusalem shews it the Goldsmith who tells him it was a Jewel of great Value being a Stone fallen and lost out of the High Priests Ephod to whom if he carried it he should certainly receive a great Reward He did so and accordingly it proved the High Priest took it of him gave him a great Reward and withal sharply reproved him for questioning the truth of God's Promise bidding him trust God the next time 4. The Story of Tiberius the Second is pertinent to this purpose which take in the Words of that Reverend Person before-mentioned in his Sermon at the Spittle This Tiberius was very Famous for his Bounty to the Poor insomuch that his Wife was wont to blame him for it and speaking to him once how he wasted his Treasury that way he told her He should never want Money so long as in obedience to Christ's Commands he did supply the necessity of the Poor And presently see how Providence ordered it Immediately after he had given much this way under a Marble Table which was taken up he found a great Treasury and news was brought him too of the Death of one Narses a very rich Man who had given his whole Estate unto him 5. Famous is the Story of that charitable Bishop of Millain who as he was Travelling with his Servant overtook some poor People who begged an Alms of him whereupon he asked his Man what Money he had about him who answered Three Crowns which he commanded him to give