the Reign of King James Dr. George Abbot Arch-bishop of Canterbury being a Hunting in a Park and shooting at a Deer his Arrow by mischance glanced and killed a Man upon which Fact it was much debated whether by it he were not become irregular and ought to be deprived of his Archiepiscopal Function as thought against his Will having his Hands embrued in Blood but Dr. Andrews Bishop of Winchester standing much in his Defence as likewise Sir Henry Martin the King's Advocate gave such Reasons for the mitigation of the Fact that he was cleared from all Imputation of Crime and thereupon judged Regular and in State to continue in his Archiepiscopal Charge Yet himself out of a Religious Tenderness of Mind kept that Day of the Year in which the mischance happened as a solemn Fast all his Life after Sir Rich. Bak. Chron. p. 446. 7. The Constables coming to serve a Warrant upon Mr. Thomas Tregoss for Preaching publickly one of them mere violent and furious than his Fellows whilst he reasoned with Mr. Tregoss holding the Mittimus in his Hand sunk down in the place seeming at the present to be dead but by the diligent Endeavours of those about him he was brought to himself again whereupon he departed without executing the Warrant And that which made this the more remarkable was for that this Constable was a lusty strong Man and never fainted in all his Life before And though they came again some Days after to execute the same Warrant yet had they not power to carry him to Prison for which as it was reported the other Constable was fined at the next Session See his Life 8. One Mr. Burgess late Minister of Graffam in Sussex being put to some trouble at his first coming to that place through the unkindess not to say dishonesty of some Neighbours made a Journey London for the better securing himself in the possession and returning home came late to the outward Skirts of the Parish where being apprehensive of Danger partly by reason of the great Darkness of the Night and partly by reason of the Waters and Ditches which are thereabouts somewhat formidable to a Stranger he did by some secret Ejaculations earnestly beg of God so to direct and preserve him in the way that he might not miscarry before he got to his own then a new Home and presently a Light shone about him to his great surprizal and comfort and did accompany him closely as the Pillar of Fire did the Israelites either going before him or surrounding him for I dare not be positive through the defect of my Memory 'till he got safe to his own House This hath been attested to me by his own Son an honest sober Man now living at Graffam and one Mr. Cockrill a near Neighbour who saith He heard Mr. Graffam the elder often speak of it with wonder 9. A pious Gentlewoman yet living when a Child fell into a Pond where she was like to perish a Man who was left alone in the House reading of a Book was suddenly so troubled though he knew not for what that he could read no longer upon which he walked out saw a Straw-hat swim upon the Pond and by and by the Child rise to the top of the Water he catches hold of the Child drew her out and so saved her Life Clark's Exam. Vol. 1. C. 83. 10. Mr. Sam. Fairclough one Evening after a Day spent with his Wife in Fasting and Prayer on her behalf being then great with Child and she walking abroad to meditate on the Promises of God fell over Head and Ears into a Pond heard a great Shriek goes out hastily to the Pond finds his Wife after twice sinking and laying sudden hold upon her before the third time saved her Life and Health and Little One with which she was pregnant without any hurt See his Life CHAP. LXXXI Persons strangely fitted for Great Employments 'T IS weak Evidence and Proof of the Divine Conduct and Government of the World to observe the strange Methods sometimes used in the Accomplishment of Men for Weighty and Sacred Offices to see the Turns of Providence the suprizing Catastrophes the removal of Difficulties the opening of Doors unexpectedly to make way for some Persons to Studies and Employments in Church and State 1. How strangely are things wheeled about by Providence Not what we or our Parents but what God designed shall take place Amos was very meanly employed at first but God designed him for a more honourable and comfortable Calling Amos 7.14 15. David followed the Ewes and likely never raised his Thoughts to higher Things in the Days of his youth but God made him the Royal Shepherd of a better Flock Psal 78.70 71. Peter and Andrew were imployed as Fisher-men but Christ calls them from that to an higher Calling Mat. 4.18 19. To be Fishers of Men. Pareus when he was Fourteen Years old was by the instigation of his Step-mother placed with an Apothecary but Providence so wrought that he was taken off from that and fitted for the Ministry wherein he became a fruitful and eminent Instrument to the Church James Andreas was by reason of his Fathers inability to keep him at School designed for a Carpenter but was afterwards by the perswasion of Friends and assistance of the Church-stock sent to Stutgard and thence to the University and so arrived to a very eminent Station of Service to the Church A Master-builder Oecolampadius was by his Father designed for a Merchant but his Mother by earnest Entreaties prevailed to keep him at School and this Man was a blessed Instrument in the Reformation of Religion Flavel's Divine Conduct p. 80. 2. Mr. Ben. Johnson was first bred in a private School near St. Martin's-Church then in Westminster-School under the Learned Mr. Cambden afterwards admitted into St. John's-College in Cambridge where his Continuance was but short for his Maintenance failing he was fain to return to the Trade of his Father-in-Law who was a Bricklayer He was one who helped in the Building of the New Structure of Lincoln's-Inn where having a Trowel in his Hand he had a Book in his Pocket that as his Work went forward so his Study went not backward Some Gentlemen pitying that such rare Endowments should be buried under the Rubbish of so mean a Calling did by their Bounty Manumise him freely to follow his own ingenuous Inclinations England's Worthies by W. Winstanley p. 342. 3. Dr. Donne first of Hare-Hall in Oxford then removed to Cambridge thence to Lincoln's-Inn at last he went to Travel with the Earl of Essex to Cales and thence to Italy and Spain Returning home he was chief Secretary to the Lord-Keeper Elsemore and marrying with the Lady Elsemore's Niece Daughter to Sir George Moor for which he was discharg'd of the Secretary's place which he held and cast into Prison by his incensed Father-in-Law But being set at liberty again by occasion of a Discourse upon the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy he
speedy approaching of his final Destruction Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 32. 8. John Knox to the Earl of Morton who came to visit him in his Sickness said my Lord GOD hath given you many Blessings Wisdom Honour Nobility Riches many good and great Friends and he is now about to prefer you to the Government of the Realm the Earl of Marr the late Regent being newly dead in His Name I charge you use these Blessings better than formerly you have done seeking first the Glory of God the Furtherance of his Gospel the Maintenance of his Church and Ministry and then be careful of the King to procure his Good and the Welfare of the Realm if you do thus God will be with you and honour you if otherwise he will deprive you of all these Benefits and your end shall be Shame and Ignominy These Speeches the Earl call'd to mind about nine Years after at the time of his Execution saying That he had found John Knox to be a Prophet Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 322. 9. The same Knox a day or two before his Death calling Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Lawson to him the two Preachers of the Church said There is one thing that grieveth me exceedingly you have some time seen the Courage and Constancy of the Laird of Graing in the cause of God and now that unhapyy Man is casting himself away I pray you go to him from me and tell him that unless he forsake that wicked Course that he is in the Rock wherein he confides shall not defend him nor the Carnal Wisdom of the Man which he counts half a God which was young Leskington shall yeild him Help but he shall be shamefully pull'd out of that Nest and his Carcass hung before the Sun meaning the Castle which he kept against the King's Authority for his Soul is dear to me and if it were possible I would fain have him saved Accordingly they went to him conferr'd with him but could by no means divert him from his course But as Knox had foretold so the Year after his Castle was taken and his Body was there publickly hang'd before the Sun yet he did at his Death express a serious Repentance Ibid. p. 323. 10. How Mr. Dod by a secret Impulse of Spirit went at an unseasonable time to visit a Neighbour whom he found with a Halter in his Pocket going to hang himself and by such a seasonable Visit prevented his Death See elsewhere in this Book 11. Dr. Bernard in the Life of Arch-bishop Vsher tells us That the Bishop himself had confessed in his Hearing that oftentimes in his Sermons he found such warm Motions and Impulses upon his Mind to utter some things which he had not before intended to deliver or not to deliver with so much Briskness and Peremptoriness that he could not easily put them by without present Expression and Delivery I remember not the Doctor 's words but of this nature were those remarkable Predictions of his concerning the Massacre in Ireland and his own Poverty c. which because I have not Bishop Vsher's Life by me written by Dr. Bernard take out of Mr. Clark Upon the Suspension of the Statute in Ireland against the Toleration of Papists Preaching before the State at Dublin making Application of that Text Ezek. c. 4. v. 6. where the Prophet by lying on his Side was to bear the Iniquity of Judah for 40 days I have appointed thee saith the Lord each day for a year This saith he by the Consent of Interpreters signifies the time of 40 Years to the Destruction of Jerusalem and of that Nation for their Idolatry and so said he will I teckon from this Year the Sin of Ireland and at the end of the time those whom you now embace shall be your Ruin and you shall bear this Iniquity wherein he prov'd a Prophet For this was delivered by him A. C. 1601. and A. C. 1641. was the Irish Massacre and Rebellion and what a continued Expectation he had of a grat Judgment upon his Native Country I saith Dr. Bernard can witness from the year 1624. Clark in his Life Dr. Bernard I remember makes this Remark upon that Sermon that it was the last the Bishop wrote at length and it was dated with a particular Notion of the Day and Year He foretold likewise his own future Poverty when he was in his greatest Prosperity and spoke before many Witnesses 1624. repeated it often afterwards that he was perswaded that the greatest Shake to the Reformed Churches was yet to come In short as I said before he often acknowledged that sometimes in his Sermons he was resolved to forbear speaking of some things but it proved like Jeremiah's Fire shut up in his Bones that when he came to it he could not forbear unless he would have stood mute and proceeded no further Ibid. 12. Mr. Hugh Broughton in one of his Sermons 1588. when the Spanish Navy was upon the Sea and Men's Hearts were full of Fears of the Event Now saith he the Papists Knees knock one against another as the Knees of King Belshazzar did and News will come that the Lord hath scatter'd that Invincible Navy Fear ye not nor be dismay'd at these smoaking Firebrands In his Life p. 2. 13. Bishop Jewel crossing the Thames when on a sudden at the rising of a Tempest all were astonished looking for nothing but to be drowned assured Bishop Ridley that the Boat carry'd a Bishop that must be burnt and not drowned In Bishop Jewel's Life 14. Mrs. Katherine Stubs after she had Conceived with Child of a Daughter three or four Years after Marriage said many times to her Husband and others That that Child would be her Death She was delivered safely within a Fortnight and was able to go abroad but presently after fell sick of a Burning Quotidian Ague of which she died See her Life 15. Impulses Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq Oliver Cromwell had certainly this Afflatus One that I knew that was at the Battle of Dunbar told me that Oliver was carried on with a Divine Impulse he did Laugh so excessively as if he had been drunk his Eyes sparkled with Spirits He obtain'd a great Victory but the Action was said to be contrary to Humane Prudence The same fit of Laughter seiz'd Oliver Cromwell just before the Battle of Naseby as a Kinsman of mine and a great Favourite of his Collonel J. P. then present testified 16. King Charles the I. after he was Condemn'd did tell Collonel Thomlinson that he believed That the English Monarchy was at an end About half an Hour after he told the Collonel That now he had an Assurance by a strong Impulse on his Spirit that his Son should Reign after him This Information I had from Fabian Philips Esq of the Inner-Temple who had good Authority for the Truth of it I have forgot who it was 17. The Lord Roscomon being a Boy of Ten Years of Age at Caen in Normandy one day was
God I am assured there is a Treachery Let some of you go to yonder place and tell me what you sind They went accordingly and discovering the Ambush they came back and told Mr. Wiseheart whereupon he said I know that I shall end my Life by that Blood thirsty Mans hands but it will not be on this manner At another time as he was Preaching among others that came to hear him there were two Grey Fryars who standing at the Church-Door whispered to such as came in which Mr. Wiseheart taking notice of said to the People I pray you make room for these two Men it may be they come to Learn And turning his Speech to them he said Come near for I assure you you shall hear the word of Truth which this day shall Seal unto you either your Salvation or Damnation And so he proceeded in his Sermon supposing that they would be quiet But when he perceived that they still continued to disturb the People that were near them he said unto them the Second time with an angry Countenance O Ministers of Satan and Deceivers of the Souls of Men Will you neither hear Gods Truth your selves nor suffer others to hear it Depart and take this for your Portion God shall shortly disclose and confound your Hypocrisie within this Kingdom you shall be Abominable unto Men and your Habitations shall be desolate Which accordingly came to pass not long after Not long after as he was Preaching at Haddington seeing what a thing Auditory he had he said O Lord how long shall it be that thy Holy Word shall be despised and Men shall not regard their own Salvation I have heard of thee O Haddington that in thee there used to be two or three Thousand Persons at a vain and wicked Play adn now to hear a Messenger of the Eternal God of all the Parish can scarce be Numbred one Hundred Persons present Sore and Fearful shall be the Plagues which shall ensue upon this thy contempt with Fire and Sword shalt thou be Plagued Yea thou Haddington in special strangers shall possess thee and you the present Inhabitants shall either in Bondage serve your Enemies or else ou shall be chased from your own Habitations and that because you have not known nor will know the time of your Visitation This Prophecy was accomplished not long after when the English took Haddington made it a Garrison enforced many of the Inhabitants to fly and oppressed others And after a while a great Plague brake forth in the Town whereof Multitudes died which forced the English to quit it who at their departure burnt and destroyed a great part of it and presently after it was Seized upon by the French who came as Auxiliaries into Scotland and but few of the Ancient Inhabitants returned to it So that Haddington to this day never recovered its former Beauty and Populousness Mr. Wiseheart being Condemned by the Cardinal of St. Andrews and his Bishop to be burnt as he was at the stake he saw the Cardinal sitting in one of his Castle Windows to see Execution done upon him whereupon he said He who in such State from that high place feeds his Eyes with my Torments within a few days shall be hanged out at the same Window to be seen with as much Ignominy as he now Learns there with Pride Which accordingly came to pass Clark's mirrour See more in the next Chapters following but one Viz. Premonitions of General Changes c. 12. There was a Relation publish'd A. 1671. at London by one Tho. Astree concerning his son a Schollar at Christs-Hospital who having a mind to go to Sea and being put off with delays by his Father at last was told by one in the habit of a Seaman with his Cloaths of sad-coloured silk water'd and over them a sad-coloured cloth Coat with Gold Buttons a plain Cravat a Cane with a Silver Head and a Sword by his Side that if he went to Sea he should have a Flux that would cost him his Life that all the rest of the Men should go safe and that he knew this very well adding my Son before the Sun be down that shall be tyed that was never tyed before and before the morrow Sun be down that shall be loose that was never tyed before And afterwards on his way home from the Bridge where this was spoken Do you believe what I have said The Boy Answering No. Do you not remember that Zacharias was struck Dumb quoting Luk. 1. I do remember saith the Boy but that was because he did not believe the Angel c. Ans It may be so with you Boy are you an Angel No answer was made the Man departed the Boy goes home leans upon the Table could not speak with Tears trickling down his Cheeks and Smiting on his Breast made Signs for a Pen and Ink c. Writes down I cannot speak speak to me and I shall understand And so continued for twenty four hours At last his Father reading to him and citing Ps 56.3 He coughed three times and somewhat gave a jerk like the breaking of a string upon which his Tongue was loosed and he spake saying Blessed be God I can speak c. CHAP. XIV Of Vrim and Thummim Teraphim c. VRim and Thummim mentioned Exod. 28.30 According to Mr. Simpson signify Light and perfection from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and they are put in the plural Number to signify the plenty and excellency of the Divine Graces This was meant as some conceive of the splendor and perfection of the precious Stones of the Breast-Plate which were of most clear and perfect Beauty But some conceive that these words were Writ or Engraven upon some of the precious Materials of the HIgh Priests Garments or Ornaments neither made nor placed by the inspired Artificers but as some Learned Writers rather think by God himself Exod. 39.10 compared with Lev. 8.8 Seem to make for this Opinion And so they were put by Moses into the Breast-Plate It was called the Breast-Plate of Judgment v. 15. and the Judgment of Vrim Num. 27.21 Because the High-Priest put it on when he consulted with God and received from him clear and determmate Answers in Cases of Doubt Which Answers were made sometimes by audible Voice sometimes by secret Inspiration which when he had told it to the People the Stones had Letters in the Breast-Plate as is probably conceived for there is nothing certain of it in the Scripture might have an extraordinary brightness on them for the better assurance of the People that the Priest had spoken with the Lord and received an Answer from him As by the shining of Moses's Face when he came from God witht he Tables of the Testimony in his hand Exod. 34.29 30. It was manifest that he had from God what he brought unto the People And whereas David being to consult with the Lord called for the Ephod 1 Sam. 23.9 The reason was
two Guises the Duke and Cardinal were Assassinated by Command of King Henry the III. The Queen a few Days after them died of Grief lamented of none but hated by every Body as the Bishop of Rhodez affirms and the Duke of Anjou who after the King's Decease came to the Crown under the Name of Henry the III. was slain by a Stab from a Jacobin Friar Author of the Interests of Princes and States 6. Philip King of Spain the II. having once escaped a great Danger at Sea at his Arrival in Spain appointed two Days of Thanksgiving one at Validolid the other at Sevil whither he caused those in Prison for Religion to be brought from several Places of his Kingdom Upon which Days Scaffolds being made which a Distinction of Seats for Spectators according to their Quality the Prisoners were with triumphant Ceremonies and dress'd in Antick manner led to the Fires and burnt before them c. The King also himself put to Death his eldest Son Charles partly upon Suspicion of being a Favourer of them but he died also of Blood issuing from all the Passages of his Body with a continual Vomiting of Vermin as the Bishop of Rhodez in his History of Henry the IV. relates Ibid. 7. George Eagles Martyr hang'd at Chelmsford in Essex was cut down before he was dead and sadly mangled by the Bailiff William Swallow his Body opened his Heart pulled out and his Quarters set up in several Places But shortly after Swallow's Hair fell from his Head his Eyes were so closed that he could scarce see the Nails fell off from his Fingers and Toes a Leprosie overspread his whole Body and his Estate so wasted that he soon fell into Beggery and died wretchedly Fox's Martyrol 8. One Robert Baldwyn a Neighbour having searched the House of Will. Seaman and finding him at home very unneighbourly carried him to Sir Jo. Tyrrel in order to the Prosecuting of him but on the way a strange Light fell from Heaven betwixt them upon which Baldwyn though then in the Flower of his Age was so struck that he pined away till he died Ibid. 9. Mr. Swingfield a Deputy in Thames-street with three others carried one Mrs. Angel a Midwife from a Woman in Labour her self being with Child too to Bishop Bonner who put her into Lollard's Tower but within ten Weeks Swingfield and his three Companions were all dead Ibid. 10. Burton Bailiff of Crowland in Lincolnshire a Protestant in King Edward's Time a Papist in Queen Mary's goes to Church speaks to the Curate then Reading the English Service Sirrah will you not say Mass Buckle your self to it you Knave or by God's Blood I 'll sheath my Dagger in your shoulder Shortly after riding with a Neighbour over Fen-Bank a Crow flew over his Head with her usual Note voided her Excrements on his Nose which ran down upon his Beard and set him so a Vomiting that he hastened home and to Bed where he continued Vomiting Swearing and Cursing at the Crow till at last he died Ibid. CHAP. CX Divine Judgments upon Uncharitableness Covetousness c. WITH what Measure ye mete it shall be meted to you again saith our Saviour and 't is but just and reasonable that those People who shut up their Bowels and Streams of Charity from their Neighbours should suffer by a Retaliation Sometimes Man himself and sometimes God Almighty in a more immediate way remembers and recompenseth the Vnkindnesses of these Men and repays them in their own Coin As they sowed sparingly they shall reap so too and as themselves were not merciful so they shall find no mercy 1. John Cameron Bishop of Glasgow was a very Covetous Man given to Violence and Oppression especially towards his poor Tenants and Vassals but God suffered it not long to go unpunished For the Night before Christmas-day as he lay asleep in his House at Lockwood seven Miles from the City of Glasgow he heard a Voice summoning him to appear before the Tribunal of Christ and give an Account of his doings Whereupon he awaked and being greatly terrified he called to his Servants to bring a Light and sit by him he himself also took a Book in his Hand and began to read But the Voice calling the second time struck all the servants into an Amazement The same Voice calling the third time far louder and more fearfully the Bishop after a heavy groan was found dead in his Bed his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth A fearful Example of God's Judgment against the sin of Covetousness and Oppression Spotswood's History of the Church of Scotland See the Story of Gresham and Rich. Antonio under the Chap. of Discov of things secret by Omens c. Of Hatto Archbishop of Mentz under the Chap. of Divine Judgments upon Murder 2. Sir Walter Rawleigh a Man otherwise of Excellent Parts and a great Soul yet not being able to look Poverty in the Face when he was set at Liberty out of the Tower procures a Commission from King James to make a Voyage to Guiana in hopes of finding there Mines of Gold to enrich both the King and himself though at that time in the 76th Year of his Age sets out for the Indies where the Spaniards having notice before-hand had raised several Fortifications he with Sir Nicholas Kemish and others finding things otherwise than they expected Sir Nicholas kills himself and Sir Walter Storms the Town of St. Thomas where he lost his Son Walter returns home disappointed finds the Court disgusted the King offended and notwithstanding his Commission from the Royal Hand Anno 1618. Octob. 28. after some Months Imprisonment lost his Head Detection of the Court and State of England during the four last Reigns p. 56 57. 3. Cromerus an Author of good Credit tells us of a certain rich Man a Polonian who was very Covetous much given to Rapine and Oppression who falling Sick and being like to die was admonished by his Friends to sue to God for Mercy which he refused to do saying That there was no hope of Salvation for him no place of Pardon left No sooner had he thus spoken but immediately there was heard of the standers by a noise of most vehement Stripes and Blows which appeared manifestly upon the Body of this dying Wretch who presently gave up the Ghost to the great Terror and Amazement of all who were many then present Eye-witnesses of this Tragical Story Clark's Examples Vol. I. p. 115. Anno Christi 1570. at Rye in Sussex there was a strange Example of God's Judgment upon a Covetous Gentleman who living near the Sea had a Marsh wherein upon Poles Fishermen used to dry their Nets for which he received of them Yearly a sufficient Sum of Money But at length being not content with it he caused his Servants to pluck up the Poles not suffering the Fishermen to come upon his Ground any longer except they would compound at a larger Rate But it came to pass the same Night that
her Death With some Remarkable Passages relating both to her Person and Government I Shall conclude this History of Providence with a Collection of the memorable Speeches and Sayings of our never-enough lamented Sovereign the late Queen MARY and shall here and there add some remarkable Passages relating to her Person and Government as a Noble Testimony to Religion from one whose Parts and Endowments were as high as her Dignity as if Providence would not leave the prophane Age room to say that Religion was only pretended to by the Mean and Ignorant but convince them by the Vertuous Life and Dying Breath of a Princess every way so Glorious and Great So extraordinary strict says Bishop Fowler in his Preface relating to the Queen was Her Majesty's Life even from her Youth that for the Seventeen Years of her Married State the King as he hath professed could never see any thing in her which he could call a Fault and no Man continues this Learned Author can keep a stricter Guard upon his Words than His Majesty is always observed to do Then certainly a Collection of the Memorable Speeches of such a Princess must needs be very useful and so much the more so as there are several remarkable Sayings of this Royal Person scattered in so many Books which its hardly possible for any private Person to have all of them by him and therefore a View of them all at once in a Collection from the best Authors that have writ upon this Subject may perhaps be very acceptable to the serious Reader 1. That we may begin from her Cradle The most August Queen MARY II. was born in the Sixty second Year of this Age upon the Tenth of May James then Duke of York and the Lord Chancellor's Daughter being her Parents Many and conspicuous were the Prognosticks of a true and far from counterfeited Piety that glitter'd in her and shin'd forth in the early Dawn of her Infancy For when in her tender Years she had lost an excellent Mother and under the Tuition of Persons less concern'd was deliciously bred up in a Court full of all manner of Pleasure and Voluptuousness such was always her Constancy such her Temperance and Modesty that no Example of others no Allurement of Vice no Contagion of Neighbouring-Courts could force her to go astray from the right Path. She was instructed in the Fundamentals of the true Reform'd Religion by the Bishop of London which he so happily laid and she so cordially imbib'd that she could never be shaken by any treacherous Insinuations any Promises or Threats any Punishments or Rewards choosing rather to die than never so little to recede from the Truth wherein she had been grounded After she had spent the rest of her Childhood in those Studies by which generous and illustrious Souls are rais'd to the Expectations of great Fortune and had abundantly furnish'd herself as well with Christian as with Royal Vertues in the Fifteenth Year of her Age she was auspiciously Married to William the Third of that Name Prince of Orange William marries Mary a Kinsman a Kinswoman and thus by a double Tye and a firmer Knot than hitherto the most Noble Families of all Europe are joyn'd together She for her Ancestors claims the Family of the Stuarts He the Nassavian Race She the Monarchs of Great Britain He the Governours of Germany and the Caesars themselves The Nuptial Solemnities being over the Royal Bride cross'd over out of England into these Parts together with her Husband and chose for her Seat and Residence the Hague the most pleasant and delightful place not only of Holland but almost of all Europe Where belov'd of all Men and fix'd in the Good-will of all the People propensly devoted to her for the space of some Years she so charmingly and affectionately liv'd with her Husband the best of Men and no less cordially affectionate to her not only without the least Contention or Quarrel but without the least suspicion of Lukewarmness that she might well be said to be a conspicuous Example of Conjugal Affection not only to Kings and Princes and Men in high Degree but also to private Persons After some Interval of Time when they who bare ill will to our Princes and us to Liberty and Religion and more especially to this Republick stirr'd up new Troubles in England and the Nobility of the Kingdom call'd to their Aid our Prince While he strove one way and the Winds drove another at length wafted over with favourable Gales and Wishes safely arriv'd in England and without Resistance but rather with the general Applause of the Nation and as it were born upon the Shoulders of the People came to the Royal City When afterwards he invited his dearest Consort then the Companion of his Bed now of his Kingdom to partake of the Honour offer'd him and the Dignity soon after to be conferr'd upon him and the equal share of his Fortune in the Eighty ninth Year of this Age luckily and auspiciously both Husband and Wife were declar'd King and Queen with equal Power and Authority by the common Vote and Suffrage and unanimous Consent of both Houses In the Morning she rose with the Sun and worship'd the Lord of Heaven and Earth But when she was sometimes forc'd to rise at Midnight by reason of the urgent Affairs of the State and could not afterwards sleep she commanded either the Holy Scripture or some other pious Book to be brought her If any Persons came to visit her in a Morning before she had pour'd forth her Prayers she sent them back with this Expression That she was first to serve the King of Kings If any persons were said to seek her life by Treachery and Conspiracy her Answer was That she submitted to the Will of Heaven Francius 's Oration upon the Death of the Queen 2. Such was the Sanctity of Mary's Life that King William after her Decease calling to mind her Piety towards God the Integrity of her Life and her Extraordinary Knowledge of Sacred Things brake forth into this expression That if he could believe that ever any mortal Man could be born without the contamination of Sin he would believe it of the Queen And she preserv'd herself so chast and spotless that while she resided upon Earth she liv'd the Life of the Saints even in the Hurry of the Court where there are so many Incitements to evil Grevius 's Oration on the Death of the Queen 3. We had very admirable Accounts of the late Queen from her Court at the Hague during her Abode there from most unquestionable Testimonies which made us envy our Neighbours Happiness in such a Princess who knew their Happiness as 't was impossible they should not and had an extraordinary Value and Veneration for her And since her Return to her Native Country and her Advancement to the Throne here we never knew a more eminent Exception than she was to that common Observation Minuit praesentia Famam The Fame
Lord Bacon casts up her Age to be 140 at least adding withal that she recovered her Teeth after casting them 3 several times Rawleigh Hist World l. 1. c. 5. p. 166. Fuller p. 310 13. Garsius Aretinus lived to 194 years in good state of Health and deceased without being seized with any apparent Disease only perceiving this Strength somewhat weakned Thus writes Petranch of him to whom Garsias was great Grandfather by the Fathers side Fulgos. l. 8. c. 14. p. 1096. 14. Thomas Parre Son of John Parre born at Alderbury in the Parish of Winninton in Shropshire he was born in the Reign of King Edward IV. Anno 1483. at 80 years he marryed his first Wife Jane and in the space of 32 years had but two Children by her both of them short lived the one lived but a Month the other but a few years being Aged 120 he fell in Love with Katherine Milton and got her with Child He lived to above 150 years two Months before his Death he was brought up by thomas Earl of Arundel to Westminster he slept away most of his time and is thus Characterised by an Eye Witness of him From Head to Heel his body had all over A Quick set Thick set Natural Hairy Cover change of Air and Dyet are conceived to Accelerate his Death which happened November 15 Anno 1634 and was buried in the Abby Church at Westminster Fullers Worthies p. 11. Shropshire 15. John of Times was Armour-bearer to Charles the Great by whom he was also made Knight being a Man of great Temperance Sobriety and Contentment of Mind in his Condition of Life lived unto the 9th year of the Emperor Conrade and died at the Age of 361 years Anno 1128. 1146 saith Fulgosus Bakers Chron. p. 73. 16. Guido Bonatus a Man of great Learning saith he saw a Man whose name was Richard Anno 1223 who told him that he was a Soldier under Charlemain and that he had now lived to the 400th year of his Age. Fulgos. l. 8. c. 14. p. 1098. CHAP. XXXIII Examples of a Vegete and Healthful Old Age. I have often look'd upon Old Age as the very Dregs of Life the Sediment of our Natural Humour 's a Complex of Infirmities but the following Instances would tempt one to love Temperance for Lifes sake and Life for it self for no doubt but the Sweetness of Life consists much in the Healthful and Vegete Temper of our Bodies and a Virtuous course of Life and due Abstinence Conduceth much thereto when the Debauch'd Sensualist lies down under the Burden of his Carelesness and the Sins of his Youth never able to retrieve the Damages of his former Lusts 1. Sir Walter Rawleigh in his Discovery of Guiana reports of the King of Aromaia being 110 years Old came in a Morning on foot to him from his House which was 14 English Miles and returned on foot the same day Hakew. Apolog. l. 3. c. 1. p. 166. 2. Buchanan in his Scottish History speaks of one Lawrence who dwelling in one of the Orcades marryed a Wife after he was 100 years of Age and more and that when he was 140 years old he doubted not to go a Fishing alone in his little Boat though in a rough and Tempestuous Sea Camor Hor Subs. c. 2. cap. 68. p. 277. 3. Sigismemd Polcastrus a Physician and Philosopher of Padua Read there 50 years in his Old Age he buried 4 Sons in a short time at 70 years of Age he married again and by his second Wife he had 3 Sons the eldest of which called Anronius he saw dignified with a Degree in both Laws Jerome another of his Sons had his Cap set upon his Head by his Aged Father who Trembled and Wept for Joy not long after which the Old Man died Aged 94 years Schenck p. 539. 4. Platerus tells of Thomas Platerus His Father upon the Death of his first Wife Anno 1572. and the 73 year of his Age married a second time within the compass of 10 years he had 6 Children by her 2 Sons and 4 Daughters the youngest of his Daughters was born in the 81 year of his Age two years before he died J Foelix was born Anno 1536 and my Brother Thomas 1574 the distance between us being 38 years and yet my Brother is all Gray and seems Elder then my self possibly because he was gotten when my Father was stricken in years Pl. Obs. p. 275. 5. M. Valerllus Corvinus attained to the fulfilling of 100 years betwixt whose first and sixth Consulship there was the distance of 47 years yet was he sufficient in respect of the entireness of his bodily Strength not only for the most important Matters of the Common-wealth but also for the exactest Culture of his Fields a Memorable Example Val. Max. l. 8. c. 13. p. 236. 6. Metellus equalled the length of his Life and in extream Age was created Pontiffe for 22 years he had the ordering of the Ceremonies in all which time his Tongue never faultred in Solemn Prayers nor did his Hand tremble in the Offering of the Sacrifices Val. Max. ibid. p. 238. 7. Nicholaut Leonicenus was in the 96 year of his Age when Langius heard him at Ferrara where he had Taught more then 70 years he used to say that he enjoyed a Green and Vegete Age because he had delivered up his Youth chast unto Man's Estate Melch. Adam in Vit. Germ. Med. p. 141. 8. Massanissa was the King of Numidia for 60 years together and excelled all other Men in respect of Strength and of an admirable Old Age that for no Rein or Cold he would be induced to cover his Head they say of him that when he was on Horseback he would lead his Army for the most part both a compleat day and the whole Night also nor would he in extream Age omit any thing of that which he had accustomed to do when young and after the 86th year of his Age he begat a Son and whereas his Land was was waste and desert he left it fruitful by his continual Endeavours in the Cultivation of it he lived till he was above 90 years of Age. Val. M. p. 236. 9. Cornarus the Venetian was in his Youth of a Sickly body began to eat and drink first by measure to a certain weight thereby to recover his Health this Cure turned by use into a Diet that Diet into an extraordinary long Life even of 100 years and better without any decay of his Senses and with a constant enjoyment of Health Verulam's Hist of Life and Death p. 134. 10. Appius Claudius Coecus was blind for the space of very many years yet notwithstanding he was burden'd with this mischance he govern'd 4 Sons and five Daughters very many Dependants upon him yea and the Common-wealth it self with abundance of Prudence and Magnanimity when he had lived so long that he was even tired with living caused himself to be carried to the Senate for no other purpose then to perswade them