where Gods word is generally despised not regarded nor profited by there some notable destruction approcheth Philip Melanc in collectaneis Manlij In a certain place there was acted a tragedie of the death and passion of Christ in shew but indeed of themselues for hee that plaied Christs part hanging vpon the crosse was wounded to death by him that should haue thrust his sword into a bladder full of blood tied to his side who with his fall slew another that plaied one of the womens part that lamented vnder the crosse his brother that was first slaine seeing this slew the murderer and was himselfe by order of iustice hanged therfore so that this tragedie was concluded with four true not counterfeit deaths and that by the diuine prouidence of God who can endure nothing lesse then such prophane and ridiculous handling of so serious and heauenly matters In the Vniuersitie of Oxford the historie of Christ was also plaied and cruelly punished that not many years since for he that bore the person of Christ the Lord stroke him with such a giddinesse of spirit braine that he became mad forthwith crying when he was in his best humour that God had laid this iudgement vpon him for playing Christ Three other actors in the same play were hanged for robbing as by credible report is affirmed Most lamentable was the iudgement of God vpon one Iohn Apowel somtimes a seruingman for mocking iesting at the word of God this Iohn Apowell hearing one William Malden reading certaine English praiers mocked him after euery word with cōtrary gauds flouting termes insomuch that at last he was terribly afraid so that his hair stood vpright on his head and the next day was found besides his wits crying night and day without ceasing The deuill the deuill Acts and monuments pag. 2103. O the deuill of hell now the deuill of hell there he goeth for it seemed to him as the other read Lord haue mercie vpon vs at the end of the praier that the deuill appeared vnto him and by the permission of God depriued him of his vnderstanding this is a terrible example for all those that bee mockers at the word of God to warne them if they do not repent least the vengeance of God fall vpon them in like manner Thus wee see how seuerely the Lord punisheth all despisers and prophaners of his holy things and thereby ought to learne to carrie a most dutifull regard and reuerence to them as also to note them for none of Gods flocke whosoeuer they be that deride or contemne any part of religion or the ministers of the same CHAP. XXXV Of those that prophane the Sabboth day IN the fourth last commandement of the first table it is said Remember to keep holy the sabboth day by which words it is ordained and enioined vs to seperate one day of seuen from al bodily and seruile labor not to idlenes loosenes but to the worship of God which is spirituall and wholesome Which holy ordināce whē one of the childrē of Israel in contempt broke as they were in the wildernesse Numb 15. by gathering stickes vpon the sabboth he was brought before Moses Aaron the whole congregation by them put in prison vntill such time as they knew the Lords determination concerning him knowing well that he was guiltie of a most grieuous crime And at length by the Lords owne sentence to his seruant Moses condemned to be stoned to death without the host as was speedily executed wherin the Lord made known vnto them both how vnpleasant odious the prophanation of his Sabboth was in his sight and how seriously and carefully euery one ought to obserue and keepe the same Now albeit that this strict obseruation of the sabboth was partly ceremoniall vnder the law and that in Christ Iesus wee haue an accomplishment as of all other so also of this ceremonie hee being the true sabboth and assured repose of our soules yet seeing wee still stand in need of some time for the instruction and exercise of our faith it is necessarie that we should haue at least one day in a weeke to occupie our selues in and about those holy and godly exercises which are required at our hands and what day fitter for that purpose then sunday Which was also ordained in the Apostles time for the same end and called by them Des dominicus that is The day of our Lord Because vpon that day he rose from the dead to wit the morrow after the Iewes sabboth being the first day of the weeke to which sabboth it by cōmon consent of the church succeeded to the end that a difference might be put betwixt Christians Iews Therfore it ought now religiously to be obserued as it is also commanded in the ciuil law with expresse prohibition not to abuse this day of holy rest in vnholy sports pastimes Cod. lib. 3. tit 12. leg 10. of euill example Neuerthelesse in steed hereof we see the euill emploiance abuse and disorder of it for the most part for beside the false worship and plentifull superstitions which raigne in so many places all manner of disorder and dissolutenesse is in request beareth sway in these daies this is the day for tipling houses and tauernes to be fullest fraught with ruffians and ribalds and for villanous and dishonest speech with lecherous and baudie songes to be most rise this is the day when gourmandise and drunkennesse shew themselues most frollick othes blasphemies flie thickest and fastest this is the day when dicing dancing whoring and such noisome and dishonest demeanours muster their bands and keep ranke togither from whence fome out enuies hatreds displeasures quarrels debates bloodsheddings and murders as daily experience testifieth All which things are euident signes of Gods heauy displeasure vpon the people where these abuses are permitted and no difference made of that day wherin God would be serued but is cōtrarily most dishonored by the ouerflow of wciked examples And that it is a thing odious and condemned of God these examples following will declare Gregory Turonensis reporteth that a husbandman who vpon the Lords day went to plow his field as he cleansed his plowshare with an iron the iron stucke so fast into his hand that for two yeeres hee could not be deliuered from it but carried it about continually to his exceeding great paine and shame Discipulus de tempore ser 117. Another profane fellow without any regard of God or his seruice made no conscience to conuey his corne out of the field on the Lords day in sermon time but hee was well rewarded for his godlesse couetousnesse for the same corne which with so much care he gathered togither was consumed with fire from heauen with the barne and all the graine that was in it A certaine noble man vsed euery Lords day to go a hunting in the sermon while Theatr. hist which impietie the Lord punished
not escape punishment at Gods hand Pag. 5 How all men both by the law of God Nature are inexcusable in their sins Pag. 9 How the greatest monarchs that are in the world ought to bee subiect to the law of God consequently the lawes of man and of nature Pag. 12 Of those that persecuted Christ and his Church and their issues Pag. 18 Of those that in our age haue persecuted the Gospell in the person of the faithfull Pag. 45 Of Apostataes and Backsliders that thorough infirmity haue fallen away Pag. 59 Of those which haue willingly fallen away Pag. 66 Of Apostataes through Malice Pag. 70 Of Heretikes Pag. 95 Of Hypocrites Pag. 106 Of Coniurers and Enchanters Pag. 113 Of those that through pride and vaine-glory stroue to vsurpe the honor due vnto God Pag. 125 Of Epicures and Atheists Pag. 139 Touching transgressors by Idolatry Pag. 1â—9 Of many euils that haue come vpon Christendome for Idolatry Pag. 153 Of those that corrupted and mingled Gods religion with humane inuentions or went about to disquiet the discipline of the Church Pag. 157 Of Periurers Pag. 160 Of Blasphemers Pag. 174 Of those that by cursing and denying God giue themselues wholly to the deuil Pag. 179 Punishments for the contempt of the word and Sacraments and the abuse of holy things Pag. 189 Of those that prophane the Sabbath day Pag. 193 The second Booke OF rebellious and stubborne children towards their parents Pag. 199 Of those that rebell against their Superiours Pag. 211 Of such as haue murdered their rulers or princes Pag. 225 Of such as haue rebelled against their Superiours because of subsidies and taxes imposed vpon them Pag. 230 Of Murderers Pag. 236 Their seuarall punishments Pag. 262 Of Paricides or parent murderers Pag. 271 Of Subiect murderers Pag. 27â— Of those that are both cruell and disloiall Pag. 288 Of Queenes that were murderers Pag. 292 Of such as without necessitie or confeâ—â—â—e vpon euery light cause mooue 〈◊〉 Pag. 294 〈…〉 please themselues ouermuch 〈…〉 cruelties Pag. 298 〈…〉 â—xercise too much rigor and â—â—â—â—tie Pag. 302 〈◊〉 â—â—â—erers Pag. 305 Of Rapes Pag. 307 â—â—â—aples of Gods Iudgements vpon Adulterers Pag. 316 That Stewes ought not to be suffered amongst Christians Pag. 318 Of whoredomes committed vnder the colour of Marriage Pag. 321 Of vnlawfull marriages and their issues Pag. 323 Touching incestuous marriages Pag. 327 Of Adulterie Pag. 330 Of such as are diuorced without cause Pag. 350 Of those that either cause or authorize vnlawfull diuorcements Pag. 354 Of Incestuous persons Pag. 356 Of effeminate persons Sodomites and other such like monsters Pag. 359 Of the wonderfull euils arising from this greedinesse of lust Pag. 363 Of vnlawfull gestures Idlenesse Gluttonie Drunkennesse Daunsing and other such like dissolutenesse Pag. 365 Of Theeues and Robbers Pag. 376 Of the excessiue burdenings of the Comminaltie Pag. 386 Of those that haue vsed too much crueltie towards their subiects in Taxes Exactions Pag. 389 Of such as by force of armes haue taken away or would haue taken away the goods and lands of other men Pag. 397 Of Vsurers and their theft Pag. 411 Of such as haue beene notorious in all kind of sinne Pag. 421 Of calumniation and false witnesse bearing Pag. 444 That kings and princes ought to looke to the execution of Iustice for the punishment of naughty corrupt manners Pag. 451 Of such princes as haue made no reckening of punishing vice nor regarded the estate of their people Pag. 456 How rare geason good princes haue beene at all times Pag. 460 That the greatest and mightiest princes are not exempt from punishment for their iniquities Pag. 462 Of such punishments which are commoÌ„ to all men in regard of their iniquities Pag. 466 That the greatest punishmentes are laid vp for the wicked in the world to come Pag. 467 How the afflictions of the godly and the punishments of the wicked differ Pag. 470 Finis
the prime of his yeeres with all his strength had assaied to do it And when a certaine Cardinall came to visit him in this extremity hee could not abide his sight his paines encreasing therby but cried out assoone as he perceiued him departed that it was the Cardinall that brought them all to damnation When hee had bene thus a long time tormented at last in extreme anguish and feare he died Sleidan lib. 9. Sir Thomas More L. Chancellour of England a sworne enemy to the Gospell and a profest persecutour by fire and sword of all the faithfull as if thereby hee would grow famous and get renowme caused to be erected a sumptuous sepulchre and thereby to eternize the memory of his profane cruelty to be engrauen the commendation of his worthy deeds amongst which the principall was that hee had persecuted with all his might the Lutherens that is the faithfull but it fell out contrary to his hope for being accused conuicted and condemned of high treason his head was taken from him and his body found no other sepulchre to lie in but the gibbet Cardinall Croscentius the Popes ambassadour to the Councill of Trent in the yeere of our Lord 1552 being very busie in writing to his master the Pope and hauing laboured all one night about his letters behold as he raised himselfe in his chaire to stirre vp his wit and memory ouerdulled with watching a huge blacke dogge with great flaming eies and long eares dangling to the ground appeared vnto him which comming into his chamber and making right towards him euen vnder the table where he sate vanished out of his sight wherat he amazed a while senslesse recouering him selfe called for a candle when he saw the dog could not be found he fell presently sicke with a strong conceit which neuer left him till his death euer crying that they would driue away the blacke dogge which seemed to clime vpon his bed and in that humour he died 27 booke of his histories Albertus Pighius a great enemy of the truth also in so much that Paulus Iouius calleth him the Lutheranes scourge beeing at Bologne at the coronation of the Emperour vpon a scaffold to behold the pompe and glory of the solemnization the scaffold bursting with the weight of the multitude hee tumbled headlong amongst the guard that stood below vpon the points of their halberds piercing his body cleane through the rest of his company escaping without any great hurt for though the number of them which fell with the scaffold was great yet very fewe found themselues hurt thereby saue only this honourable Pighius that found his deaths wound and lost his hearts blood as hath bene shewed Poncher 2. Booke of martyrs The burning chamber was a court in France which adiudged the Christians to be burned Archbishop of Tours pursuing the execution of the burning chamber was himselfe surprised with a fire from God which beginning at his heele could neuer be quenched till member after mēber being cut off he died miserably An Augustine frier named Lambert doctor and Prior in the city of Liege one of the troope of cruell inquisitours for religion whilst he was preaching one day with open mouth against the faithfull was cut short of a sudden in the midst of his sermon beeing bereaued of sense and speech in so much that he was faine to be carried out of the pulpit to his cloister in a chaire and a few daies after was found drowned in a ditch In the yeere of our Lord 1527 there was one George Hala a Saxon minister of the word and sacraments Luther and a stout professour of the reformed religion who being for that cause sent for to appeare before the Archbishop of Mentz at Aschaffenburge was handled on this fashion they tooke away his owne horse and set him vpon the Archbishops fooles horse and so sent him backe homewards conducted by one appointed for the purpose who not suffering him to ride the common and beaten way but leading him a new course thorough by and vncoth pathes brought him into an ambush of theeues placed there by the bishops appointment who set vpon him and murdred him at once but it is notoriously knowen that not one of that wicked rable came to a good end but were consumed one after another In a city of Scotland called Fanum Ianius the chiefe mart towne of that countrey foure of the chiefest citizens were accused by a monke before the Cardinall for interrupting him in a sermon and by him condemned to be hanged like heretiques when no other crime could be laid to their charge History of martyrs part 7. saue that they desired the monke to tie himselfe to his text and not to roue vp and downe as he did without any certen scope or application of matter Now as they went to execution their wiues fell downe at the Cardinals feete beseeching and intreating pardon for their husbands liues which he was so farre from graunting that hee accused them also of heresie and especially one of them whose name was Helene for hee caused her young infant to be pulled out of her armes and her to be put to death with her husband for speaking certaine words against the virgine Mary which by no testimonies could be prooued against her Which doome the godly woman taking cheerefully and desiring to hang by her husbands side they would not doe her that last fauour but drowned her in a riuer running by that it might truly be said that no jot of mercy or compassion remained in them But ere long the cruell Cardinall found as little sauour at another butchers hands that slue him in his chamber when hee dreamed of nothing lesse and in his Cardinals robes hanged him ouer the wall to the view of men And thus God reuenged the death of those innocents whose bloods neuer ceased crying for vengeance against their murder vntill he had justly punished him in the same kind and after the same fashion which he had dealt with them Theatrum historicum Thomas Blauer one of the priuie counsellours of the king of Scots was a sore persecutour of the faithfull in that land for which cause lying on his death bed he fell into despaire and said hee was damned Refer this also to hypocrisie Lib. 1. cap. 22. and a castaway and when the monkes came about him to comfort him hee cried out vpon them saying that their Masses and other trash would doe him no good for he neuer beleeued them but all that he did was for loue of lucre not of religion not respecting or beleeuing there was either a God or a deuil or a hel or a heauē and therefore he was damned there was no remedy And in this miserable case without any signe of repentance he died But let vs come to our homebred English stories and consider the iudgements of God vpon the persecutors of Christs Gospell in Queene Maries time And first to begin with Steuen
vnderstand another so that with shame they were constrained to leaue their begun worke And besides instead of that strong and sure habitation which they dreamed on to maintaine and defend themselues by against all enemies and the fortresse castle wereby they went about to keepe other in subiection to them they were forced to forsake the place by the iust iudgement of God who scattered and dispersed them hither and thither that hee might bring them to that estate condition which they most of all feared and stroue to shun And thus God resisteth the proud and fauoureth the humble loe here the punishment wherwith God punished their sinne remaining still vpon them vntill this day for a chastisement of their proud spirits with the staine of this sinne most commonly the mightiest potentates of this world are defiled who although both by word and writing auouch confesse their power to be by the grace of God yet for the most part they are very vnthankfull for the same and so proud and high minded that they shew themselues most obstinate and vngratefull of all men for oftentimes they robbe him of the honour and glory which is peculiar vnto himselfe and attribute it to themselues in setting forth their braue and sumptuous shewes and triumphes this is the sinne whereof Nabuchadnezzar king of Babell was reprooued for God hauing bestowed vpon him a kingdome with such pompe and renowme that hee made whole nations to tremble before his face and putting many people in subiection vnder him hee in stead of giuing thankes for these great benefits exalted himselfe suffering his heart to swell and his vnderstanding to waxe hard with pride not regarding the Lord who extolled him so high and yet notwithstanding he was constrained to confesse and acknowleege him for the true God to haue an euerlasting kingdome and an infinite power as well by the forewarning of dreames which Daniel interpreted as by the miraculous deliuerance of the three yong men out of the burning furnace therefore as hee walked one day in his roiall pallace at Babylon and vaunted of his greatnesse and magnificense saying to himselfe Dan. 4. Is not this great Babel which I haue built for the house of the kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my maiestie Now whilst the word was yet in his mouth a voice was heard from heauen saying O king to thee it is spoken Thy kingdome shall depart from thee and according to the tenor of the voice hee was immediatly deposed from his roiall seat spoiled of all his glory driuen from the society of men depriued of sense made a companion for the bruit beasts and wild asses eating grasse like oxen euen so long vntill his haire was growen stiffe like Eagles feathers and his nailes like the clawes of birds In which estate hee continued the space of seuen yeeres euen hee that a little before was so proud and arrogant and hee that had conquered so many kingdomes and nations that triumphed ouer Iewry and Ierusalem with the kings thereof This is a most excellent looking glasse for kings to behold the ficklenesse and instabilitie of all their power and pompe when it pleaseth God to humble and bring them vnder there is neither sceptet crowne stay or strength of man that is able to hinder and turne aside the hand of the Almightie the King of kings from abasing and weakening the most high and strong of this world let them be neuer so braue and iolly and bringing them vnto a low contemptible and brutish estate Besides this which we haue already touched there is another kind of pride and presumption most damnable and detestable of all and it is when a man doth so much forget himselfe as to sease and take vpon him that honour which appertaineth only to God ascribing to himselfe a certaine deity one would hardly thinke that there were any such in the world so proud as to commit this sinne did not experience by certaine examples teach vs the contrary As first of all the king of Tyre whose heart was so exalted with the multitude of â—iches and the renowme and greatnesse of his house that hee doubted not to esteeme himselfe a god and to desire maiesty and power correspondent thereunto for which presumption Chap. 28.1 2 3 c. God by the Prophet Ezechiel reprooued him and threatned his destruction which afterward came vpon him when by the power of a strange and terrible nation his goodly godhead was ouercome and murdered feeling in deed that he was no god as he supposed but a man subiect to death and misery King Herod sirnamed Agrippa which put Iames the brother of Iohn to death Act. 12. and imprisoned Peter with purpose to make him tast of the same cup was puffed vp with no lesse sacrilegious pride for being vpon a time seated in his throne of iudgement and araied in his roiall robes shewing forth his greatnesse and magnificense in the presence of the Embassadours of Tyre and Sidon that desired to continue in peace with him as he spake vnto them the people shouted and cried That it was the voice of God and not of man which titles of honour hee disclaimed not and therefore the Angell of the Lord smote him suddenly because hee gaue not the glory to God so that he was eaten with worms and gaue vp the ghost Iosephus reporteth the same story more at large on this manner Vpon the second day of the solemnization of the plaies which Herod caused to be celebrated for the Emperours health there being a great number of gentlemen and Lords present that came from all quarters to this feast Iewish antiquities Lib. 19. cap. 7. hee came betime in the morning to the Theatre clad in a garment all wouen with siluer of a marueilous workmanship vpon which as the sunne rising cast his beames there glittered out such an excellent brightnesse that thereby his pernicious flatterers tooke occasion to call him with a loud voice by the name of God for the which sacrilegious speech hee not reproouing nor forbidding them was presently taken with most grieuous and horrible dolours and gripes in his bowels so that looking vpon the people hee vttered these words Behold here your goodly god whome you but now so highly honoured ready to die with extreame paine And so hee died in deed most miserably euen when hee was in the top of his honour and iollitie and as it were in the midst of his earthly paradise being beaten downe and swallowed vp with confusion and ignominie not stroken with the edge of sword or speare for that had beene far more honourable but gnawen in pieces with lice and vermine Simon Magus otherwise called Simon the Samaritane borne in a village called Gitton after hee was cursed of Peter the Apostle for offering to buy the giftes of the spirit of God with money went to Rome Euseb lib. 2. cap. 12. Philip. in Chron. Cent. â— lib. 2. cap.
with this iudgement he caused his wife to bring forth a child with a head like a dog that seeing hee preferred his dogs before the seruice of God he might haue one of his owne getting to make much of At Kimstat a town in France Iob. Fincel lib. 3. de mirac there liued in the yere of our Lord 1559 a certaine couetous woman who was so eager vpon the word and greedy of gaine that she would neither frequent the Church to heare the word of God her selfe nor suffer any of her family to do it but continually abode labouring and toiling about drying and pilling flax and doing other domesticall businesses neither would shee be reclaimed by her neighbors who admonished and dehorted her from such vntimely workes One Sabbath day as they were thus busily occupied fire seemed to issue among the flaxe without doing any hurt the next Sabbath day it tooke fire indeed but was quickly extinct for all this shee continued obstinate in her prophanenesse euen the third Sabbath when the flax againe taking fire could not be quenched till it had burnt her two of her children to death for though they were recouered out of the fire aliue yet the next day they all three died And that which was most to be wondred at a young infant in the cradle was taken out of the midst of the flame without any hurt Thus God vseth to exercise his iudgements vpon the contemners of his commandements Cent. 12. cap. 6. The Centuriators of Magdeburge intreating of the manners of Christians made report out of another history that a certaine husbandman in Parochia Gemilacensi grinding corne vpon the Lords day the meale began to burne Anno Dom. 1126 which though it might seeme to be a thing more casuall Ecclesiast hist. Cent. 12. ibid. yet they set it down as a iudgement of God vpō him for breaking the Sabbath As also of that which they speake in the same place of one of the kings of Denmark who when as he contrary to the admonition of the priests who desired him to defer it would needs vpō the day of Pentecost make war with his enemy died in the battell But that may be better known to vs all which is written in the 2 book of Machabes of Nicanor the Iewes enemy who would needs set vpon them on the Sabbath from which whē other the Iewes that were compelled to be with him could no way dissuade him he was slaine in the battell and most miserably but deseruedly handled euen the parts of his body shamefully dismembred as in that history you may read more at large Concil Paris lib. 1. cap. 50. Therfore in the councill at Paris euery one labouring to persuade vnto a more religious keeping of the Sabbath day when they had iustly cōplained that as many other things so also the obseruation of the Sabbath was greatly decaied through the abuse of Christian liberty in that men too much followed the delights of the world and their owne worldly pleasures both wicked and dangerous they further adde Multi nanque nostrum visu multi etiam quorundam relatu didicimus c. For many of vs haue bene eye witnesses many haue intelligence of it by the relation of others that some men vpon this day being about their husbandry haue beene stricken with thunder some haue beene maimed and made lame some haue had their bodies euen bones and all burnt in a moment with visible fire and haue consumed to ashes and many other iudgements of God haue bene and are daily whereby it is declared that God is offended with the dishonor of so high a day And our time hath not wanted examples in this kind whosoeuer hath obserued them when sometimes in the faires vpon this day the wares haue swom in the streets somtimes the scaffolds at plaies haue fallen downe to the hurting endangering of many somtime one thing somtime another haue fallen out and that which is most strange within these late yeres a whole town hath bene twise burnt for the breach of the Sabbath by the inhabitants The iust report thereof because I probably know not I passe ouer here to set downe vntill such time as I shall be better instructed Famous and memorable also is that example which happened at London in the yeere 1583 at Paris garden where vpon the Sabbath day were gathered togither as accustomably they vsed great multitudes of prophane people to behold the fport of bearbaiting without respect of the Lords day or any exercise of religiō required therin which profane impiety the Lord that he might chasten in some sort shew his dislike therof he caused the scaffolds suddenly to breake and the beholders to tumble headlong downe so that to the number of eight persons men women were slain therwith besides many others which were sore hurt bruised to the shortning of their daies Surely a friendly warning to such as more delight themselues with the cruelty of beasts vaine sports than with the works of mercy religion the fruits of a true faith which ought to be the sabbath daies exercise And thus much for the examples of the first table wherof if some seeme to exceed credit by reason of the strangenes of them yet let vs know that nothing is impossible to God and that he doth often worke miracles to controll the obstinate impietie and rebellion of mortall men against his commaundements Besides there is not one example here mentioned but it hath a credible or probable authour for the auoucher of it Let vs now out of all this that hath beene spoken gather vp this wholsome lesson to loue God with all our heart and affection to the end wee may worship him inuocate his holy name and repose all the confidence of our saluation vpon him alone through Christ Iesus seeking by pleasing and obeying his will to set forth his glorie and render him due thankes for all his benefits FINIS The second Booke CHAP. I. Of rebellious and stubborne children towards their parents WEe haue seene in the former booke what punishments they haue incurred that either malitiously or otherwise haue transgressed and broken the commandements of the first Table Now it followeth to discouer the chastisements which God hath sent vpon the transgressours of the second Table And first concerning the first commandement thereof which is Honour thy father and mother that thy daies may be prolonged in the land which the Lord thy God hath giuen thee Cham one of old Noahs sonnes Gen. 9. was guilty of the breach of this commandement who instead of perfourming that reuerence to his father which hee ought and that presently after the deluge which being yet fresh in memory might haue taught him to walke in the feare of God came so short of his duty that when he saw his nakednesse hee did not hide it but mocked and iested at it for which cause hee was cursed both of his father and of God
and to diuerse married women also whome pleasing his eie he depriued their husbands of perforce and espoused them to himselfe maugre their wils being desirous to ally himselfe with Pompey he commanded him to cast off his lawfull wife and taking from Magnus Glabrio his wife Aemilia made him marry hir though alreadie great with child by her former husband but shee died in trauaile in his house In feasts and banquettings hee was too immoderate for it was his continuall and daily practise the wine that he dranke vsually was forty yeare old and the company that he delighted to keepe was compact of minstrels tumblers players singers and such like rascals and with these hee would spend whole daies in drinking carousing dancing and all dissolutenesse Now this disordinate life of his did so augment a disease which was growne in his bodie to wit an impostume that in time it corrupted his flesh turned it into lice in such sort that though he had those that continually followed him to sweepe them off and to louse him night day yet the encrease was still so plentiful that al would not serue to cleare him for a moment in so much that not his apparrell though neuer so new and changeable nor his linnen though neuer so fresh nor his bath nor his lauer no nor his meat and drinke could bee kept vnpolluted from the flux of this filthy vermine it issued in such abundance oftentimes in a day hee would wash himselfe in a bath but to no great purpose for his shame increased the more the day before hee died hee sent for one Granius who attending his death delaied to pay that which hee ought to the Commonwealth and being come in his presence he commanded him to bee strangled to death before his face but with straining himselfe in crying after his execution his impostume burst and vomitted out such streames of bloud that his strength failed him withall and passing that night in great distresse the next day made vp his wicked and miserable end Dion After that Caligula began to addict himselfe to impietie and contempt of God presently being not curbed with anie feare nor shame he became most dissolute in all kind of wickednesse for at one time he caused to be slaine a great number of people for calling him young Augustus as if it had beene an iniury to his person to be so entituled and to say briefly of all his murders there were so many of his kindred friends senatours and citizens made away by his meanes that it would be too long and tedious here to recite wherefore seeing that hee was generally hated of the people for his misdeeds hee wished that they all had but one head to the end as it might seeme that at one blow he might dispatch them all In sumptuousnes and costlinesse of dishes and banquets hee neither found nor left his equall Sueton. for hee would sup vp most pretious stones melted by art and swallow downe treasures into his belly his banquets were often serued with golden loaues and golden meates in giuing rewards hee was sometime too too prodigall for he would cast great summes of mony amongst the people certaine daies togither vntill his bagges were drawne dry and then new strange shiftes must be practised to fill them vp againe his subiects hee ouercharged with many new found and vniust taxes exacting of them a tribute euen for their meat if there were any money controuersies to be decided the fourth part of the same was his share which way soeuer the matter inclined the eight peny of euery porters gaine throughout the city which with trauell they earned hee tooke into his purse yea and that which is more filthy and dishonest the very whores and common strumpets paid him a yeerely reuenue for their bauderies which act though most villanous and slaunderous yet is made a sampler to some of our holy popes to imitate and indeed hath of many beene put in practise but to our porpose whereas before his prodigality was so great as to scatter mony like seed amidst the people now his niggardlinesse grew on the other side so miserable that he would haue the people vpon the first day of the yeere euery one to giue him a newyeres gift hee himselfe standing at the dore of his house like a beggar receiuing the peoples almes moreouer of all that euer gaue their lusts the bridle to abuse other mens wiues hee was most impudent and notorious for diuerse times hee vsed to feast many faire ladies and their husbands and after his good cheare ended to ouerview them seuerally apart as Marchants doe their wares and to take hir that pleased his fancy best into some secret place to abuse at his pleasure neither after the deed done to be ashamed to glory and vaunt himselfe in his filthy and wicked act Hee committed Incest with his owne sisters forcing them to his lust and by one of them had a daughter borne whome saith Eutropius his abhominable concupiscence abused also in most filthy preposterous maner at length many conspired his destruction but especially one of the Tribunes which office wee may after the custome of our French nation rightly tearme the Marshalship and the officer one of our foure Marshals as Budeus saith who shewed himselfe more eagerly affected in the cause than the rest pursued his enterprise in more speedy and desperate maner for as the Tyrant returned from the Theatre by a by-way to his pallace the third day of the feast which hee celebrated in honour of Iulius Caesar the Tribune presented himselfe as if in regard of his office to impart some matter of importance vnto him and hauing receiued a currish word or two at his hands as his custome was hee gaue him so sodaine a stroke betweene the head and the shoulders that what with it and the blowes of his complices that going for the same entent rushed vpon him he was slain amongst them no man stirring a foot to deliuer him out of their handes though many looked on and might haue aided him if they would hee was no sooner slain but his wise incontinently was sent after and his daughter also that was crushed to death against a wall and thus came his wretched selfe with his filthie progeny to a wretched and miserable end Sueton. Nero shewed himselfe not onely an enemie to God in persecuting his church but also a peruerter and disturber of humane nature in embruing his hands in the bloud of his owne mother and grandmother whome hee caused to bee put to death and in killing his owne wife and sister and infinit numbers of all kind of people beside in Adulteries hee was so monstrous that it is better to conceale them from modest eares than to stir vp the puddle of so stinking and noisome a dunghill for which his villanies the Senate condemned him to a shamefull and most ignominious death his armies and forces forsooke him which when hee vnderstood he