she Go learn of her Humility An odd Epitaph upon Thomas Saffin Here Thomas Saffin lies Interr'd ah why Born in New-England did in London die Was the third Son of eight begot upon His Mother Martha by his Father John Much favour'd by his Prince he 'gan to be But nipt by Death at the Age of 23. Fatal to him was that we Small-Pox name By which his Mother and two Brethren came Also to breathe their last nine Years before And now have left their Father to deplore The loss of all his Children with that Wife Who was the Joy and Comfort of his Life June 18. 1687. Here lie Interr'd the Bodies of Captain Thomas Chevers who departed this Life the 18th of Nov. 1675. Aged 44 Years And of Anne Chevers his Wife who departed this Life the 14th of Nov. 1675. Aged 34 Years And of John Chevers their Son who departed this Life the 13th of Nov. 1675. Aged 5 Days Reader consider well how poor a Span And how uncertain is the Life of Man Here lie the Husband Wife and Child by Death All three in five days space depriv'd of Breath The Child dies first the Mother next the Morrow Follows and then the Father dies with Sorrow A Caesar falls by many Wounds well may Two stabs at Heart the stoutest Captain slay On Another Tomb-stone is writ Here lies two loving Brothers side by side In one day buried and in one day died Here lies the Body of Mrs. Bridget Radley the most deservedly beloved Wife of Charles Radley Esq Gentleman-Usher Daily-Waiter to His Majesty which Place he parted withal not being able to do the Duty of it by reason of his great Indisposition both of Body and Mind occasioned by his just Sorrow for the loss of her She changed this Life for a better the 20th of November 1679. Sacred to the Immortal Memory of Sir Palmes Fairbone Kt. Governour of Tangier in Execution of which Command he was Mortally wounded by a Shot from the Moors then Besieging the Town in the 46th Year of his Age Octob. 24. 1680. Ye Sacred Reliques which that Marble keep Here undisturb'd by Wars in quiet sleep Discharge the Trust which when it was below Fairbone's undaunted Soul did undergo And be the Town 's Pallà dium from the Foe Alive and dead these Walls he will defend Great Actions great Examples must attend The Candian Siege his early Valour knew Where Turkish Blood did his young Hands imbrew From thence returning with deserv'd applause Against the Moors his well-flesh'd Sword he draws The same the courage and the same the cause His Youth and Age his Life and Death combine As in some great and regular Design All of a piece throughout and all Divine Still nearer Heaven his Vertue shoâ—e more bright Like rising Flames expanding in their height The Martyr's Glory crown'd the Soldier 's fight More bravely British General never fell Nor General 's Death was e'er reveng'd so well Which his pleas'd Eyes beheld before their close Follow'd by thousand Victims of his Foe * To this lamented Loss for Times to come His Pious Widow Consecrates this Tomb. Here lies expecting the Second Coming of our Saviour the Body of Edmund Spencer the Prince of Poets in his Time whose Divine Spirit needs no other Witness than the Works which he left behind him He was Born in London in the Year 1510. and died in the Year 1596. Abrahamus Couleius Anglorum Pindarus Flaccus Maro Delicìae Decus Desiderium Aevi sui Hic juxta situs est Aurea dum volitant latè tua scripta per orbem Et fama aeternùm vivis Divina Poeta Hîc placidâ jaceas requie custodiat urnam Cana fides vigilentque perenni lampade musae Sit sacer iste locus Nec quis temperarius ausit Sacrilegà turbare manu venerabile bustum Intacti maneant maneant per saecula dulcis Coulei cineres servetque immobile saxum Six vovet Votumque suum apud posteros sacratum esse voluit Qui vivo Incomparabili posuit sepulchrale marmor Georgius Dux Buckinghamiae Excessit è vita Anno Aetatis suae 49. honorifica pompa elatus ex Aedibus Buckinghamianis vitis Illustribus omnium ordinum exsequias celebrantibus sepultus est Die 3. M. Augusti Anno Domini 1667. On the Royal Tombs adjoyning to Cowley 's a Modern Poet writes thus Whole Troops of mighty Nothings lie beside Of whom 't is only said they liv'd and dy'd Here lies Henry Purcel Esq who left this Life and is gone to that Blessed Place where only his Harmony can be exceeded Obiit 21. die Novembris Anno Aetatis suae 37. Annoque Domini 1695. CHAP. CXLVIII Miracles giving Testimony to Christianity Orthodoxy Innocency c. I Can never believe that Miracles ascended up to Heaven with our Saviour so as never to be seen upon Earth more after the first Age of the Church 'T is true they have run in a narrower Stream And when the Gospel was sufficiently established and confirmed by the Testimony of them they were not quite so necessary But some Necessity still occurs and some Miracles have been in all Ages wrought Take these amongst many others and compare them with some other Chapters of this Book 1. Irenaeus in his Second Book against Heresies saith Some of the Brethren and sometimes the whole Church of some certain Place by reason of some urgent Cause by Fasting and Prayer had procured that the Spirits of the Dead had been raised again to Life and had lived with them many Years Some by the like means had expelled Devils so that they which had been delivered from Evil Spirits had embraced the Faith and were received into the Church Others had the Spirit of Prophecy to foretel things to come they see Divine Dreams and Prophetical Visions Others Cure the Sick and Diseased and by laying on of Hands restore them to Health Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. S. Augustine tells us that when the Bodies of Gervasius and Protasius the Martyrs were taken up and brought to S. Ambrose's Church at Milan several Persons that were vexed with unclean Spirits were healed and one a noted Citizen that had been blind many Years upon touching the Bier with his Handkerchief was restored to his sight Aug. Confess l. 9. c. 7. 3. In the Reign of Constantine the Great the Gospel was propagated into Iberia in the uttermost part of the Euxine Sea by the means of a Captive Christian Woman by whose Prayers a Child that was Mortally Sick recovered health and the Lady of Iberia her self was delivered from a Mortal Disease Whereupon the King her Husband sent Embassadors to Constantine entreating him to send him some Preachers into Iberia to Instruct them in the True Faith of Christ which Constantine performed with a glad heart Clark in Vit. Constantin p. 11. 4. That Luther a poor Friar saith one should be able to stand against the Pope was a great Miracle that he should prevail against the Pope was a greater
vigour and energy to it beyond common Sense 1. Marinus Barlâ—tins reports of Scanderberg That he brought with him into the World a notable mark of Warlike Glory for he had upon his Right Arm a Sword so well set on as if it had been drawn with the Pencil of the most curious and skillful Painter in the World Camer Hor. Subscis l. 1. c. 60. p. 308. 2. Camerarius saith that he always heard it reported That the Counts of Habsburg have each of them from the Womb a Golden Cross upon his Back viz. certain Hairs after a wonderful manner formed into the Figure of a Cross Ibid. l. 3. c. 42. p. 145. 3. M. Venetus in his 45 years Itinerary in Asia reports That the Kings of Corzani boast of a Nobility beyond that of all other Kings of the Earth upon this account that they are Born into the World with the Impress of a Black Eagle upon their Shoulder which continues with them to their Deaths Ibid. 4. Camerarius saith that it was related That King James I. brought with him from his Mother's Womb certain Royal Signatures for at his Birth there was beheld imprinted on his Body a Lion and Crown and some also add a Sword Ibid. 5. Abraham Buckoltzerus saith That John Frederick Elector of Saxony who was Born June 30. Anno 1503. brought with him from his Mother's Womb an Omen of his future State For he was Born with a Cross of a splendid and golden Colour on his Back upon the sight of which a pious and ancient Priest was sent for by the Ladies of the Court who thereupon said This Child shall carry a Cross conspicuous to all the World the Emblem of which is thus apparent in his Birth The Event did declare and confirm the Truth of the Presage Camerur Ibid. p. 146. 6. Gaffarel tells of his Sister born with a Fish on her Leg caused by the desire of his Mother when Pregnant that it was drawn with so much perfection and rarity as if drawn by some excellent Master and the wonder was that when the Girl eat Fish that on her Leg put her to sensible pain Gaff Curiosities c. 5. p. 143. 7. The Hostess of the Inn in the Suburbs of St. Mich. at Bois de Vicenne had a Mulberry growing upon her Nether Lip which was smooth till the time that Mulberries began to ripen at which time hers began to be red and to swell observin the Season and Nature of other Mulberries till it came to their just bigness and redness Ibid. p. 144. 8. A Woman in the seventh Month of her Pregnancy longed to Eat Rosebuds which being difficult to be procured at last a Bough of them was found she greedily devoured the green Buds of two Roses and kept the rest in her Bosom In the ninth Month being delivered of a Boy upon his Ribs there appeared the likeness of three Roses very red upon his Forehead and either Cheek he had also he resemblances of a red Rose He was therefore commonly called the Rose-Boy Zasut Lusit adm l. 2. Obs 133. CHAP. XXV Childen abiding in the Womb beyond their time THere is not one of the Actions of Nature that I can think of which is not subject to Anomaly and Disorder Sometimes our Tongue stammers our Eyes fail us our Memory is deficient our Feet stumble Sometimes there is a fault in Conception sometimes in Parturition One while the Infant comes too soon before its Natural time into the World another while it is detain'd a prisoner too long and cannot be set at liberty for many years and it may be the Soul go into another World before the Body can be admitted into this and sometimes the Womb that bore it must be the Grave to bury it a miserable case and unhappy for Mother and infant both 1. Catherine the Wife of Michael de Menne a poor Conntryman for 12 years together carried a dead Child or rather the Skeleton of one in her Womb. It was manifest to the touch saith Aegidius de Hertoge who with many other both Men and illustrious Women are witnesses hereof Henricus Cornelius Mathisius Domestick Physician to the Emperor Charle V. who having handled the Woman both standing and lying by touch easily distinguished all the Bones of the Dead Infant in a great Amazement cried out nothing is impossible to God and Nature She Conceived of this Child Anno 1549. Schenck Obs l. 4. p. 575. 2. In the Town of Sindelfingen a Woman of 30 years or thereabouts being with Child 6 or 7 weeks before her expected Delivery upon occasion of a fall on the Ice never afterwards felt her Child to stir After which she Conceived twice or thrice and hath been as often Delivered yet still the usual bigness of her Belly continued and the Dead Child was supposed to continue in her Womb. Ibid. p. 577. 3. Anno 1545. Margarita Carlinia Wife of Geo. Volzerus of Vienna in her Travel perceiving somewhat to Crack within her and never after feeling her Child to stir for four years afterwards she lived with much pain till at length Anno 1549. an Ulcer appearing about her Navel and the Bone of the Child's Elbow at the Orifice she was by Incision Delivered of a Male Child half Putrid which was drawn out thence piece-meal and afterwards happily Cured Zuing. Theat vol. 2. l. 4. p. 357. Donat. Hist Med. Mir. l. 2. c. 22. p. 239. 4. Zacutus Lusitanus hath set down the History of a Woman of mean Fortune and 16 years of Age who being with Child and the time of her Travail come could not be delivered by reason of the narrowness of her Womb the Chirurgions advised Section which they said was ordinary in such Cases but she refused it the Dead Child therefore Putrified in her Womb After three years the smaller Bones of it came from her and so by little and little for ten years together there came forth pieces of corrupted Flesh and Fragments of the Skull At last in the twelfth year there issued forth piecemeal the greater Bones and then her Belly fell and after some years she Conceived again and was happily delivered of a living Boy Zacut. Lusit praxis Med. Admir lib. 2. Obs 357. p. 276. 5. Donatus tells of one Paula the Wife of Mr. Naso an Innkeeper in the Street of Pont Merlian in Mantua who voided by way of Siege a Dead Child with a great deal of Pain the Bones coming forth by piecemeal for several months and years together Donat. Hist Med. Mir. l. 2. c. 22. p. 241. For this the Author cites the Testimony of Hippolitus Genifortus a Chirurgeon and Joseph Arancus a Physician CHAP. XXVI Children Born Preternaturally THAT the Births of Children are sometimes attended with strange either precedent or concomitant or consequent Symptoms or Accidents may be attributed to variety of infetiour and natural Causes as in the following Examples But surely there is a Finger of Omnipotence that over-rules Nature in these and all other
Operations which ought to attract our Thoughts to particular Disquisitions and Meditations especially in Cases where we our selves are more nearly concerned 1. Zoroastres Laughed the same day wherein he was Born his Brain also did pant and beat that it would bear up their Hands that laid them on his Head Solinus cap. p. 181. 2. M. Tullius Cicero is said to have been Born without any of those Pangs usual in Child-bearing Plut. par in Cicerone 3. Nero was Born with his Feet forwards Plin. Nat. Hist l. 7. c. 8. p. 160. 4. M. Curius Dentatus and Cnâ— Papyrius Carbo were Born with Teeth in their Mouths Ibid. 5. Scipio Affricanus was cut out of his Mother's Womb So was Julius Caesar Thus saith Schenck was that Manlius Born who entred Cartbage with an Army And so was that Mackduff Earl of Fife who slew Mackbeth the Usurper of Scotland Edward VI. of England is said by Baker to be so but that 's doubtful Also Buchardus Earl of Lintsgow c. Anno 959. Also Gebbardus Son of Otho Earl of Brigentz Anno 1001. Cornelius Gemma saith He hath cut out of the Womb six living Children Schenck Obs Med. p. 580. 6. I saw saith Horatius Augonius a poor Woman of a fleshy and good habit of Body who for nine months had an Exulceration of the Ventricle and for twenty days together Vomited up all she took and so Died a living Boy being taken out of her Womb afterwards Ibid. 7. When Spinola Besieged Bergopsoma a Woman near her Reckoning going forth to draw Water was taken off in the middle by a Cannon Bullet so that the lower part of her fell into the Water those that were by ran to her and saw there a Child moving it self in the Bowels of the Mother which was afterwards Baptized by the Infanta Isabella at Antwerp by the name of Alb. Ambrosius one of her Fathers Captains Barth Hist Anat. Cer. 2. Hist 8. p. 159. 8. Lewis the 9th King of Hungary c. was Born without a Skin Crown'd in his second year Married a Wife at nine took upon him the Government at ten had a Beard before his time was Grey before eighteen and Slain at twenty Anno 1526. Camerar Hor. Subscis Cen. 1. c. 55. p. 241. 9. Anno. 1647. Jacob Egh in the City of Sarda in Belgia had a Bull which he fed tying him in a Close near his House but provoked by the Boys he brake his Bonds and ran to the Cows the Herdsman endeavoured with his Staff to return him to his former place The Bull â—ing incens'd with his blows ran upon him and with his Horns born him to the ground His 〈◊〉 being now in the last month of her Count seeing the danger of her Husband ran into his assistance The Bull with his Horns hoisted her up into the Air the heighth of one Story and tore the Belly of the Woman From the Wound in her Belly forthwith came the Birth with its Secondine and was thrown at some distance upon a soft place was carried home diligently lookt after by a Midwife and was Baptized and lived to be a Man Bartholin Ibid. Cent. 2. Hist 8. p. 157. 9. Gorgias a Gallant Man of Epirus is said to be Born in the Coffin while his Mother was carrying to the Grace Val. Max. l. 1. c. 8. p. 20. 10. Carsias King of Navarre being with Vrracha his Queen at Larumbe was surprized by Moors and Slain they wounded the Queen in the Belly with a Lance who being put to flight The Queen at the wound was delivered of a Son and Died the Child to all Men's wonder was safe and was named Sasias Garsia who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Anno 918. Zuing. Theat vol. 2. l. 1. p. 270. 11. Schenckius speaks of a Woman that voided a Child a Finger long at her Mouth CHAP. XXVII Monstrous Animals I Do not pretend here to give a new Edition of Aldrovandus nor write a large Voluminous Treatise of of all the Monsters within ken of a well-read Historian but to give a few of the latest Instances of the greatest Errors of Nature in this kind that I could meet with just enough to awaken and put a man's Brains into Fermentation and dispose him to some Gravity and Seriousness and Sublimity of Thought 1. At Rome in the River of Tyber a Monster was found with a Man's Body an Ass's Head one of whole Hands was like a Mans but the other like an Elephants Foot one of his Feet was as the foot of an Eagle the other resembled another Beast He had a Womans Belly trimly set out with Breasts and his Body was covered all over with Scales except his Belly and Breast having in his hinder parts an old Man's Head bearded and another besides spitting out Flames like a Dragon Doom's Warning to Judgment p. 288. This happened Anno 1496. 2. Anno 1530. in January a Monstrous Serpent with seven Crowned Heads like a Dragon was brought out of Turkey to Venice and afterwards given to Francis the French King and for the rareness was valued at 6000 Ducats Batmans Doom p. 312. 3. A Butcher having killed a Cow at Limington in Hampshire found she was big with a Calf which began to be hairy its hind Legs had no joints and its feet were divided like the Claws of a Dog his Tongue was tripple and after the manner that Cerberus's is described one in the middle of its Mouth and two others on the sides Between the fore and hind Feet there was a great Stone upon which it was laid This Stone weighed 20 pound and a half its colour was greyish like to a cut Stone which is commonly called the Grison the Superficies thereof was unequal and full of little Cavilia's When it was broken they perceived small Grains of Stone of an Oval Figure and its colour was mixed with yellow and black Veins which are all over it Dr. Haughton of Salisbury keeps this Stone of which he hath sent a part to Mr. Boyle who communicated it together with a Letter to the Royal Society The Young Students Library p. 210. 4. At Burdham near Chichester in Sussex about 23 years ago there was a Monster found upon the Common having the Form and Figure of a Man in the fore-part having two Arms and Hands and a human visage with only one Eye in the middle of the Forehead the hinder part was like a Lamb. A young Man of the Neighbourhood was supposed to have Generated this Monster by a Bestial Copulation and that the rather because he was afterwards found in the like Beastly Act with a Mare upon discovery whereof he fled out of the Country This young Monster was nailed up in the Church-Porch of the said Parish and exposed to publick view a long time as a Monument of Divine Judgment Attested by Henry Read of Barnham an Eye witness 5. Anno 1511. At Ravena a Monster was Born with a Horn on his Head He had Wings no Arms one Foot as a
Al. Chap. 106. Divine judgments upon scorners of their Pastors Preachers c. p. 20 3d Al. Chap. 107. Divine judgments upon persecution p. 21 3d Al. Chap. 108. Divine judgments upon uncharitableness covetousness c. p. 23 3d Al. Chap. 109. Divine judgments upon anger revenge c. p. 24 3d Al. Chap. 110. Divine judgments upon murder p. 25 3d Al. Ch. 111. Murder strangely discovered p. 28 3d Al. Chap. 112. Divine judgments upon theft robbery c. p. 33 3d Al. Chap. 113. Remarkable instances of restitution p. 34 3d Al. Chap. 114. Divine judgments upon sacriledge simony p. 35 3d Al. Chap. 115. Divine judgments upon treachery p. 37 3d Al. Chap. 116. Divine judgments upon unfaithful husbands p. 38 3d Al. Chap. 117. Divine judgments upon unfaithful wives p. 39. 3d Al. Chap. 118. Divine judgments upon undutiful children p 40 3d Al. Chap. 119. Divine judgments upon careless Parents p. 41 3d Al. Chap. 120. Divine judgments upon gluttony p. 42. 3d Al. Chap. 121. Divine judgments upon drunkenness p. 43 3d Al. Chap. 122. Divine judgments upon uncleanness inordinate love c. p. 46. 3d Al. Chap. 123. Divine judgments upon voluptuousness and luxury p. 47 3d Al. Chap. 124. Divine judgments upon pride ambition c. p. 49 3d Al. Chap. 115. Divine judgments upon boasting p. 50 3d Al. Chap. 126. Divine judgments upon curiosity p. 51 3d Al. Chap. 127. Divine judgments upon gaming p. 52 3d Al. Chap. 121. Divine judgments upon discontentedness ill nature p. 54 3d Al. Chap. 129. Divine judgments upon idleness and evil company p. 55 3d Al. Chap. 130. Divine judgments upon litigiousness p. 56 3d Al. Chap. 131. Divine judgments upon carnal confidence p. 57 3d Al. Chap. 132. Divine judgment upon bribery and injustice p. 59 3d Al. Chap. 133. Divine judgments upon lying and slandring p. 60 3d Al. Chap. 134. Divine judgments upon couzenage and dissimulation p. 61 3d Al. Chap. 135. Divine judgments upon oppression tyranny p. 62 3d Al. Chap. 136. Divine judgments upon hereticks scismaticks p. 64 3d Al. Chap. 137. Divine judgments upon wizards witches and charmers c. p. 66 3d Al. Chap. 138. Divine judgments upon backsliders and apostates p. 67 3d Al. Chap. 139. Great effects wrought by weak means p. 68 3d Al. Chap. 140. Remarkable passages relating to sickness death and funerals p. 69 3d Al. Chap. 141. The last wills and testaments of dying persons this chap. consists chiefly of modern instances Chap. 142. The last speeches of dying Penitents p. 145. 3d Al. Chap. 143. The last wills of persons remarkable for their oddness and singularity p. 148 3d Al. Chap. 144. Instances of sudden death p. 149. 3d Al. Chap. 145. Epitaphs to which is added the most remarkable in Westminster-Abbey Stepney-churcâ—-yard the new Burying place in Bun-hill-fields and other parts p. 152 3d Al. Chap. 146. Miracles giving Testimony to Christianity Orthodoxy Innocency c. p. 160. 3d Al. Chap. 147. Attestations to the Truth of Christianity from such as were formerly Enemies to it or careless in the Practice of it consisting chiefly of modern Instances p. 164. 3d Al. Chap. 148. Testimonies of ancient and modern Infidels and Heathens to the Truth of Christianity p. 169. concluding the 3d Al. of the double Letter Chap. 149. The sufferings and martyrdoms of the Reformed in the Kingdom of France with the Remarkable Providences that have attended that affair p. 1. 4th Al. Chap. 150. The memorable Speeches and Savings of the Late Queen Mary from her Child-hood down to the time of her death extracted from the best Authorities extant p. 13. 4th Al. PART II. Containing the Wonders of NATURE Chap. 1. Instances of Sympathy p. 1. Chap. 2. Instances of Antipathy p. 2. Chap. 3. Examples of Superfoetation p. 4. Chap. 4. Examples of the fruitfulness of some Women p. 5. Chap. 5. Examples of the numerous Issue of some Persons p. 6. Chap. 6. Children crying in the Womb p. 7. Chap. 7. Monstrous births and conceptions of Mankind p. 8. Chap. 8. Persons of a wonderful strength p. 9. Chap. 9. Wonderful Eaters p. 10. Chap. 10. Persons of wonderful shapes figures members entrails c. p. 11 Chap. 11. Of Pigmies p. 13 Chap. 12. Of Dwarfs c. p. 13 Chap. 13. Persons of a wonderful stature Giants p. 14 Chap. 14. Of such Persons as have changed their Sex p. 15 Chap. 15. Instances of skill in Physiognomy p. 16 Chap. 16. Great Sleepers p. 17 Chap. 17. Instances of such as have used to walk and perform strange things in their sleep p. 18 Chap. 18. Persons remarkable for waking long p. 19 Chap. 19. Abstainers from Drink p. 19 Chap. 20. Immoderate Drinkers p. 19 Chap. 21. Great fasters p. 20 Chap. 22. Children petrified in the Womb p. 22 Chap. 23. Accidents upon Persons Birth-days c. p. 22 Chap. 24. Children marked in the womb p. 23 Chap. 25. Children abiding in the womb beyond their time p. 23 Chap. 26. Children born preternaturally p. 24 Chap. 27. Monstrous Animals p. 25. Chap. 28. Instances of an early or rather ripe wit p. 27 Chap. 29. Instances of an extraordinary Memory p. 28. Chap. 30. Instances of extraordinary Fatness c. p. 29. Chap. 31. Instances of extraordinary Leanness p. 30. Chap. 32. Persons long liv'd p. 30. Chap. 33. Examples of a vegete and healthful old Age p. 31 Chap. 34. Persons reviving after a supposed death p. 31. Chap. 35. Women excellent in the Arts p. 35 Chap. 36. VVonderful distempers p. 37 Chap. 37. Strange Birds p. 40 Chap. 38. Strange Beasts p. 41 Chap. 39. Strange Fish p. 45 Chap. 40. Strange Serpents p. 47 Chap. 41. Strange Insects p 49 Chap. 42. Strange Vegetables Trees Plants c. p. 53 Chap. 43. Strange Minerals p. 59 Chap 44. Mettals Gold Silver Copper c. p. 62 Chap. 45. Precious stones p. 64 Chap. 46. Stones less precious p. 66 Chap. 47. Strange stones and of admirable figures or signatures p. 67 Chap. 48. Strange Hills p. 63 Chap. 49. Vulcanoes p. 69 Chap. 50. Strange VVinds and Hurricanes p. 69 Chap. 51. Damps p. 71 Chap. 52. Rain Haâ—l Snow Frosts c. p. 73 Chap. 53. Concerning Thunder-holts or Thunder-stones p. 53 Chap. 54. Comets Blazing-stars p. 74. Chap. 55. Lightnings and Thunder p. 75 Chap. 56. Earthquakes p. 76 PART III. Containing the Curiosities of ART Chap 1. The English tongue improv'd p. 1. Chap. 2. Blind Persons improved by art and industry p. 2. Chap. 3. Persons deaf and dumb much improved by art p. 2. To which chap. is added other defects of nature supplied by art p. 5. Chap. 4. Improvements in physick and experimental philosophy c. p. 6. Chap. 5. Improvements in musick p. 8 Chap. 6. Improvements in aftronomy p. 9. Chap. 7. Improvements in navigation p. 11. Chap. 8. Improvements in law p. 12. with a scheme of the law extracted out of Sir Matthew Hales's Pleas of the Crown and Sir H. Finches's common Pleas. Chap. 9.
had his Familiar Spirit who used to admonish him if at any time he were going to do that which was not like to succeed well he himself saw him not others heard him not 12. Dr. Tate with his Wife and Children being stripped and forced to flee for their Lives by the Irish when they were murdering Thousands in their Rebellion in 1641. They were wandering in unknown places upon Commons covered with Snow and having no Food and she carrying a Sucking Child and having no Milk she went to lay down the Child to die and on the Brow of a Bank she found a Suck-bottle with sweet Milk in it no Footsteps appearing in the Snow of any that should bring it thither and far from any Habitation which preserved the Childs Life who after became a Blessing to the Church Histor Discourse of Apparit c. p. 159. 13. When Prince Rupert marched with his Army through Lancashire to York-Fight where he was overthrown the Town or Bolton made some Resistance in his Passage and he gave them no Quarter but killed Men and Women When he was gone those that escaped came out from the Places where they lucked and an Old Woman found in the streets a Woman killed and a Child by her not Dead The old Woman took up the Child and to still its crying put her own Breast to the Child which had not given Suck as I remember of above twenty years The Child being quieted she presently perceived Milk to come and continued to give the Child sufficient Milk till it was provided for I had the full Assurance of this from my worthy Friend Mrs. Hunt Wife to Mr. Rowland Hunt of Harrow on the Hill who told me that she her self was one that was appointed by the Committee to make Trial of the case and she found it true and the Old Woman's Breasts to give the Child Milk as was reported And she told me in 1665. That the said Child was at that time alive a Servant-woman in London Ibid. 14. The African Bishops or Preachers all spake well when their Tongues were cut out by the Command of the Arrian King And Victor Aenaeas Gazaeus and Procopius said they saw them and heard them speak after But one of them saith that one of the Bishops was after drawn into the Sin of Fornication and his Speech went away again Ibid. 15. It is a very memorable thing which from the Mouth of a very credible Person who saw it George Buchanan relates concerning James the Fourth King of Scotland who intending to make a War with England a certain Old Man of a very venerable Aspect and clad in a long blue Garment came to him at the Church of St. Michaels at Linlithgow while he was at his Devotion and leaning over the Canons Seat where the King Sate said I am sent unto thee O King to give thee warning that thou proceed not in the War thou art about for if thou do it it will be thy Ruine And having so said he withdrew himself back among the Multitude The King after service was ended inquired earnestly for him But he could no where be found neither could any of the standers by feel or perceive how when or where he passed from them having as it were Vanished in their hands but no warning could divert his Destiny his Queen fancying that she had seen him fall from a great precipice that she had lost one of her Eyes c. But he Answering these were but Dreams Marched on and faught with the English and was slain in Flodden Field with a great Number of his Nobility and Souldiers upon Sept. 9. 1513. Bakers Chron. 16. When Melancthon with others was on a time at Spires Faber Preached and spake many shameful things touching Transubstantiation and the Worshipping of Consecrated Bread Which when Grineus had heard he came to him when his Sermon was done and said that for as much as he had heard his Sermon concerning the Sacrament he was desirous to speak with him privately about that matter which when Faber heard he Answered with Courteous Words and Friendly Countenance that this day was most of him desired that he should speak with Grineus especially concerning such a matter and bid him home to his House The next day after Grineus suspecting nothing amiss went his way who returning to them said that to morrow he should dispute with Faber But in the mean time he practising to entrap Grineus went to a Noble Man and opened to him the whole matter and at length he obtained what this Noble Man commanded that the Burgermasters should cast Grineus in Prison When they had scarcely begun Dinner there came an Old Man to the place where they Dined and sent for Melancthon to come and speak with him at the Door asking him for Grineus whether he were within To whom he made Answer that he was he said moreover that he was in danger which if he would avoid he should fly forthwith which when he told Grineus and counselled him to flee he did as he was willed Melancthon Dr. Cruciger and he Arose from the Table went out their Servants followed and Grineus went in the middle they had not passed four or five hours but by and by the Servants were where they Lodged seeking for Grineus and not finding him there they left off searching He asked many if they knew this Man being desirous to give him thanks for his good Turn But none could tell who he was nor could see him afterwards I think Verily this Man was an Angel When they had brought Grineus to the Rhine he took a Boat and passed over in safety Maul loc commun Fol. 17. Doom warning to the Judgm p. 420. 17. Melancthon reported that he knew of a surety by a substantial and credible Person that in a Village near to the City of Cignea a certain Woman commanded her Son to fetch home the Cattel that were feeding by a Woods side and when the Boy had stayed somewhat too long there fell a great Snow that covered all the Hills there abouts Night drew on neither could the Boy pass those Hills The day following the Parents being no more careful for their Cattle but for the Life of their Son looking for his coming neither could they by reason of the depth of the Snow pass those Hills to seek their Son The third day they going forth to seek their Boy they found him sitting in an open place of the Wood where there was no Show who smiled upon his Parents as they came And the Boy being asked why he returned not home Answered that he looked when it should be Night not knowing that a day was already past neither had he felt any Annoy or Tempest of the Snow And when he was further asked whether he had eaten any thing He Answered that there came a Man unto him who gave him Bread and Cheese So doubtless this Man was saved by Angels in the middle of Winter and without doubt that Man was
an Angel that gave the Boy Bread and Cheese Manlius Folio 17. Batman's Doom p. 421. 18. Mr. Patrick Simpson's Wife Martha Barson in her last Sickness was sorely Assaulted by Satan who suggested to her that she should be given over into his hands And it ended in a Visible Distraction which for a time grew upon her So that most unlike to her former practice she would break forth into dreadful and horrid Expressions and it was most violent on a Sabbath Morning when Mr. Simpson was going to Preach whereupon with an heavy Countenance he stood silent for a time and at last kneeled down and Prayed which she no whit regarded After which he turned to the Company that were present and said that he was sure that they who were now Witnesses of that sad hour should yet see a Gracious change and that the Devil's Malice against that poor Woman should have a shameful toil Her Distraction still continued untill Tuesday August the Ninth which Morning at the very dawning of it he went into his Garden and shut the Door where for many hours he was alone But a Godly VVoman one Mrs. Helen Garner VVife to one of the Bayliffs of Sterling who had been with his VVife all Night apprehending that Mr. Simpson might much wrong himself by much grief and fasting by some help she did climb over into the Garden But as she came near to the place where Mr. Simpson was she was terrified with an Extraordinary Noise which made her fall to the Ground It seemed to her like a mighty Rushing of Multitudes running together and withal she heard such a Melodious sound as made her Judge that it was more then humane VVhereupon she prayed to God to pardon her Rashness which her Affections to that Good Man of God had carried her to Yet afterwards going forwards she found him lying upon the ground she earnestly intreated him to tell her what he had from God He whom she had promised not to reveal it so long as he lived said O what am I being but Dust and Ashes that the Holy ministring Spirit should be sent by the Lord to deliver a message to me Adding that he had seen a Vision of Angels who did with an audible Voice give him an Answer from the Lord concerning his Wife's condition And returning into his House he said to all that were present Be of good cheer for e're ten hours be past I am sure that this Brand shall be plucked out of the Fire After praying by his VVife's Bed-side and making mention of Jacob's wrestling in Prayer she sate upright in the Bed and drawing aside the Curtain said Thou art this day Jacob who hast wrestled and also prevailed And now God hath made good his words which he spake this Morning to you for I am plucked out of the hands of Satan and he shall have no more Power over me This Interruption made him silent a while as I remember my self was in the Case of my Maid Mary Holland mentioned before But afterwards with great melting of heart he proceeded in Prayer and Magnified the Riches of Gods Love towards her And from that hour she spake most Comfortably and Christianly even to her Death which was Friday following Aug. 13. A. C. 1601. Her last words were with a loud Voice Come Lord Into thy hands I commend my Spirit Clark's Lives last Vol. p. 217 218. 19. In the Year 1539 not far from Sitta in Germany in the time of a great Dearth and Famine a certain Godly Matron having two Sons and destitute of all manner of Sustenance went with her Children to a certain Fountain hard by praying unto Almighty God that he would there relieve their Hunger by his infinite goodness As she was going a certain Man met her by the way and saluted her kindly and asked her whither she was going who confessed that she was going to that Fountain there hoping to be relieved by God to whom all things are possible for if he nourished the Children of Israel in the Desart 40 years how is it hard for him to nourish me and my Children with a Draught of Water And when she had spoken these Words the Man which was doubtless an Angel of God told her that seeing her Faith was so constant she should return Home and there should find Six Bushels of Meal for her and her Children The Woman returning found that true which was promised Beard 's Theat p. 442. 20. Under the Emperor Mauritius the City of Antioch was shaken with a terrible Earthquake after this manner There was a certain Citizen so given to bountifulness to the Poor that he would never Sup nor Dine unless he had one poor Man to be with him at his Table Upon a certain Evening seeking for such a Guest and finding none a Grave Old Man met him in the Market-place cloathed in white with Two Companions with him whom he entreated to sup with him But the Old Man answered him That he had more need to pray against the destruction of the City and presently shook his Handkerchief against One part of the City and then against another and being hardly entreated forbore the rest Which he had no sooner done but those Two parts of the City terribly shaken with an Earthquake were thrown to the Ground and Thousands of Men slain Which this good Citizen seeng trembled exceedingly To whom the Old Man in white answered and said by reason of Charity to the Poor his House and Family were preserved And presently these three Men which to question were Angels vanished out of sight This Story Sigisbert in his Chronicle reporteth Anno 583. 21. Hottinger tells a strange Story out of Nauclerus and Evagr. to this purpose it was an ancient custom at Constantinople at Communion to call for the Young Children that went to School and give them the Parcels of Bread and Wine that were left at doing of which the child of a certain Nobleman a Jew was with the Children who took of the Bread and Eat with them his angry Father who was a Glass-Maker put him into an Oven burning hot with Coals his Mother after Three Days finding him alive in the Furnace he told her a Woman in Purple habit came often to him and brought VVater to quench the Coals and Meat to allay his Hunger The Mother and the Child were afterwards Converted and Baptized and the Father Crucified by command of Justinian the Emperor Mr. Beard relates the same out of Nicephorus Lib. 17. Chap. 35. See more in The Chapters of Miraculous Cures of Diseases and Earnests of a Future Retribution and the last Example in the Ch. of Prediction of Prophets c. 22. Oh! said Mrs. Katharine Stubs upon her Death-bed if you saw such glorious Sight as I see you would rejoyce with me for I see a Vision of the Joys of Heaven and of the Glory that I shall go unto and I see infinite Millions of Angels attendant upon me and watching to carry
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
Condemned and Executed but I could never hear that they confessed the Fact There were some that reported that the Apparition did appear to the Judge or the foreman of the Jury who was alive in Chester in the street about ten years ago as I have been credibly informed but of that I know no certainty There are many Persons yet alive that can remember this strange Murder and the discovery of it for it was and sometimes yet is as much discoursed of in the North Countrey as any thing that almost hath ever been heard of and the Relation Printed tho now not to be gotten I relate this with the greater confidence tho I may fail in some of the Circumstances because I saw and read the Letter that was sent to Serjeant Hutton who then lived at Goldsborugh in Yorkshire from the Judge before whom Walker and Mark Sharp were tried and by whom they were condemned and had a Copy of it until about the Year 1658 when I had it and many other Books and Papers taken from me And this I confess to be one of the most convincing Stories being of undoubted verity that ever I read heard or knew of and carrieth with it the most evident Force to make the most incredulous Spirit to be satisfied that there are really sometimes such things as Apparitions Thus far he This Story is so considerable that I make mention of it in my Scholia on my Immortality of the Soul in my Volâ—men Philosophicum Tom. 2. which I acquainted a Friend of mine with a Prudent Intelligent Person Dr. J. D. he of his own accord offered me it being a thing of such consequence to send a Friend of his in the North for greater assurance of the truth of the Narration which Motion I willingly embracing he did accordingly The Answer to his Letter from his Friend Mr. Shepherdson is this I have done what I can to inform my self of the Passages of Sharp and Walker There are very few Men that I could meet that were then Men or at the Tryal saving these Two in the inclosed Paper both Men at that time and both at the Tryal And for Mr. Lumley he lived next Door to Walker and what he hath given under his Hand can depose if there were occasion The other Gentleman writ his Attestation with his own Hand but I being not there got not his Name to it I could have sent you Twenty Hands that could have said thus much and more by hear-say but I thought these most proper that could speak from their own Eyes and Ears Thus far Mr. Shepherdson the Doctor 's Discreet and Faithful Intelligencer Dr. H. Moor's Letter to Mr. Joseph Glanvil Sadducism Triumphat p. 17 18 c. 8. This Story Dr. More has transcribed out of Mr. Webster's Display of supposed VVitchcraft which he himself though otherwise an affected Caviller against all Stories of Witchcraft and Apparition is constrained to assent to as we may see from his own Confession On Sunday the 15th of November 1657 about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon Richard Jones then a Sprightly Youth about Twelve Years old Son of Henry Jones of Shepton Mallet in the County of Somerset being in his Father's House alone and perceiving one looking in at the windows went to the door where one Jane Brooks of the same Town but then by Name unknown to this Boy came to him She desired him to give her a piece of close Bread and gave him an Apple After which she also stroked him down on the Right Side shook him by the Hand and so bid him good night The Youth returned into the House where he had been left well when his Father and one Gibson went from him but at their Return which was within an Hour or thereabout they found him ill and complaining of his Right Side in which the Pain continued the most part of that Night And on Monday following in the Evening the Boy roasted the Apple he had of Jane Brooks and having eaten about half of it was extreamly ill and sometimes speechless but being recovered he told his Father that a woman of the Town on Sunday before had given him that Apple and that she stroked him on the Side He said he knew not her Name but should her Person if he saw her Upon this Jones was advised to invite the women of Shipton to come to his House upon the occasion of his Son's Illness and the Child told him that in case the woman should come in when he was in his Fit if he were not able to speak he would give him an intimation by a Jogg and desired that his Father would then lead him through the Room for he said he would put his Hand upon her if she were there After this he continuing very ill many women came daily to see him and Jane Brooks the Sunday after came in with Two of her Sisters and several other women of the Neighbourhood were there Upon her coming in the Boy was taken so ill that for some time he could not see nor speak but having recovered his sight he gave his Father the item and he led him about the Room The Boy drew towards Jane Brooks who was behind her Two Sisters among the other VVomen and put his Hand upon her which his Father perceiving immediately scratched her Face and drew Blood from her The Youth then presently cried out that he was well and so he continued Seven or Eight Days But then meeting with Alice Coward Sister to Jane Brooks who passing by said to him How do you my Honey he presently fell ill again And after that the said Coward and Brooks often appeared to him The Boy would describe the Cloths and Habit they were in at the time exactly as the Constable and others have found upon repairing to them though Brooks's House was at a good distance from Jones's This they often tried and always found the Boy right in his Descriptions On a certain Sunday about Noon the Child being in a Room with his Father and one Gibson and in his Fit he on the sudden called out that he saw Jane Brooks on the Wall and pointed to the place where immediately Gibson struck with a Knife Upon which the Boy cried out O Father Cuz Gibson hath cut Jane Brooks's Hand and 't is bloody The Father and Gibson immediately repaired to the Constable a discreet Person and acquainting him with what had passed desired him to go with them to Jane Brooks's House which he did They found her sitting in a Room on a Stool with one Hand over the other The Constable askt her how she did She answered not well He ask'd again why she sat with one Hand over the other She replied she was wont to do so He enquired if any thing were amiss with her Hand Her Answer was it was well enough The Constable desired he might see the Hand that was under which she being unwilling to shew him he drew it out and
Bodys swollen with bruises This was attested by Colonel Rogers the Governour of Hereford by a Letter to Mr. Baxter Dated August 23. 1656. As likewise by Mr. Sam. Jones's of Cocdreken Mr. Maur. Bedwell's of Swansy Mr. Daniel Higs and Captain Samuel Foley's both of Clonmell 16. In the year of our Lord 1652. Mary the Daughter of Edward Ellins of the Burrough of Evesham in the County of Worcester Gardiner then about nine or ten years old went in the Fields on a Saturday with some other children to gather Cowslips and finding in a Ditch by the way side at the said Town 's End one Catherine Huxley a single Woman Aged then about Forty years as is supposed easing Nature the children called her Witch and took up Stones to throw at her the said Mary also called her Witch and took up a Stone but was so affrighted that she could not throw it at her then they all run away from her and the said Mary being hindmost this Huxley said to her Ellins you shall have Stones enough in your Whereupon Mary fell that day very ill and continued so Weak and Languishing that her Friends feared she would not recover but a Month after she began to void Stones by the urinary Passages and some little Urine came away from her also when she voided any Stone the Stone she voided was heard by those that were by her to drop into the Pot or Bason and she had most grievous Pains in her Back and Reins like the pricking of Pins the Number of the Stones she voided was about eighty some plain Pebbles some plain Flints some very small and some about an Ounce Weight this she did for some space a Month or two or thereabouts until upon some strong Suspicions of Witchcraft the forenamed Huxley was apprehended examined and searched at whose Beds-head there was found several Stones such as the said Mary voided and was sent to Worcester where at the Summer Assizes in the said Year 1652. then at hand she was upon the Prosecution of the Friends of the said Mary Condemned and Executed Hist Disc of Apparitions and Witches p. 44. 17. Mr. Samuel Clark hath published the Apparition to Mr. White of Dorchester assessor to the Westminister assembly at Lambeth that the Devil in a light Night stood by his Bed-side She looked a while whether he would say or do any thing and then said If thou hast nothing else to do I have and turned himself to sleep Many say it from Mr. White himself Hist Disc of Apparitions and Witches p. 63. 18. Conveyances through the Air c. by Invisible Powers Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery Esq In a Letter from the Reverend Mr. Paschal Rector of Chedzay in Somersetshire to Mr. Aurbery are these words Viz. The most Remarkable of all happen'd in that Day that I passed by the Door in my return hither which was Easter-Eve when Fry returning from Work that little he can do he was caught by the Woman Spectre by the Skirts of his Doublet and carried into the Air he was quickly mist by his Master and the Workmen and great enquiry was made for Fran. Fry but no hearing of him but about half an Hour after Fry was heard Whistling and Singing in a kind of a Quagmire He was now affected as he was wont to be in his Fits so that none regarded what he said but coming to Himself an Hour after he solemnly protested That the Daemon carried him so high that he saw his Master's House underneath him no bigger than an Hay-cock that he was in perfect Sense and prayed God not to suffer the Devil to destroy him That he was suddenly set down in that Quagmire The Workmen found one Shooe on one side of the House and the other Shooe on the other side his Periwig was espied next Morning hanging on the Top of a tall Tree It was soon observ'd that Fry's part of his Body that had laid in the Mud was much benum'd and therefore the next Saturday which was the Eve of Low-Sunday they carried him to Crediton to be let Blood which being done and the Company having left him for a little while returning they found him in a Fit with his Fore-head all bruised and swoln to a great bigness none being able to guess how it came till he recover'd himself and then he told them That a Bird flew in at the Window with a great force and with a Stone in its Mouth flew directly against his Fore-head The People looked for it and found on the Ground just under where he sate not a Stone but a weight of Brass or Copper which the People were breaking and parting it among themselves He was so very ill that he could not ride but one Mile or little more that Nighr since which time I have not heard of him save that he was ill handled the next Day being Sunday Indeed Sir you may wonder that I have not Visited that House and the poor afflicted People especially since I was so near and passed by the very Door I am very well assured of the Truth of what I have Written and as more appears you shall hear from me again 19. A Copy of a Letter from a Learned Friend of mine in Scotland Dated March 25. 1695. Honoured Sir I received yours Dated May 24 1694. In which you desire me to send you some Instances and Examples of Transportation by an Invisible Power The true cause of my delaying so long to reply to that Letter was not want of Kindness but of sit Materials for such a Reply As soon as I read your Letter of May 24. I called to mind a Story which I heard long ago concerning one of the Lord Duffus in the Shire of Murray his Predecessors of whom it is reported That upon a time when he was walking abroad in the Fields near to his own House he was suddenly carried away and â—ound the next day at Paris in the French King's Cellar with a Silver Cup in his Hand that being brought into the King's Presence and Question'd by him Who he was And how he came thither He told his Name his Countrey and the place of his Residence and that on such a Day of the Month which proved to be the Day immediately preceeding being in the Fields he heard the noise of a Whirl-wind and of Voices crying Horse and Hattock this is the World which the Fairies are said to use when they remove from any place whereupon he cried Horse and Hattock also and was immediately caught up and Transported through the Air by the Fairies to that place where after he had Drunk heartily he fell asleep and before he awoke the rest of the Company were gone and had left him in the posture wherein he was found It 's said the King gave him the Cup which was found in his Hand and dismiss'd him This Story if it could be sufficiently attested would be a Neble Instance for your purpose for which cause I
that time as he told his Son a very wicked Boy 21. John Evelyn shewed us at the Royal Society a Note under Mr. Smyth's Hand the Curate of Deptford that in November 1679 as he was in Bed sick of an Ague came to him the vision of a Master of Arts with a white Wand in his Hand and told him That if he did lie on his back three Hours viz. from ten to one that he should be rid of his Ague He lay a good while on his Back but at last being weary he turned and immediately the Ague attacked him afterwards he strictly followed the Direction and was perfectly cured He was awake and it was in the Day-time 22. A Dutch Prisoner at Woodbridge in Suffolk in the Reign of Charles II. could discern Spirits but others that stood by could not The Bell tolled for a Man newly deceased The Prisoner saw his Phantome and did describe him to the Parson of the Parish who was with him exactly agreeing with the Man for whom the Bell tolled Says the Prisoner now he is coming near to you and now he is between you and the Wall the Parson was resolved to try it and went to take the Wall of him and was thrown down but could see nothing This Story is credibly told by several Persons of Belief Dr. Hooke the Parson of the Parish has often told this Story of which I know many more particulars 23. Vavasor Powell saw several Apparitions See page 8. of his Life As concerning Apparitions of a Man 's own self there are sundry Instances some whereof I shall here set down 24. The Beautiful Lady Diana Rich Daughter of the Earl of Holland as she was walking in her Father's Garden at Kensington to take the fresh Air before Dinner about Eleven a Clock being then very well met with her own Apparition Habit and every thing as in a Looking-Glass About a Month after she died of the Small-pox And 't is said that her Sister the Lady Isabelta Thinne saw the like of her self also before she died This Account I had from a Person of Honour 25. Mrs. E. W. Daughter of Sir W. W. affirms that Mrs. J. her Father's Sister saw her self i. e. her Phantome half a Year before she died or a quarter of an Hour together She said further that her Aunt was sickly Fourteen Years before she died and that she walked Living i. e. her Apparition and that she was seen by several at the same time The like is reported of others 26. Mr. Trehern B. D. Chaplain to Sir Orlando Bridgman Lord Keeper a Learned and sober Person was the Son of a Shoe-maker in Hereford One Night as he lay in Bed the Moon shining very bright he saw the Phantome of one of the Apprentices sitting in a Chair in his red Wastcoat and Head-band about his head and Strap upon his Knee which Apprentice was really a Bed and asleep with another Fellow-Apprentice in the same Chamber and saw him 27. When Sir Richard Nepier M. D. of London was upon the Road coming from Bedfordshire the Chamberlain of the Inn shewed him his Chamber the Doctor saw a dead Man lying upon the Bed He look'd more wistly and saw it was himself He was then well enough in Health He goes forward in his Journey to Mr. Steward's in Berkshire and there died This Account I have in a Letter from Elias Ashmole Esquire They were intimate Friends Thus far Mr. Aubery CHAP. V. Revelation of secret or future Things by express Voice BY this Title I do not mean any Declarations Discoveries Confessions or Predictions made by any Person living but only such as are uttered either with only an audible Voice alone or with a Voice proceeding from some Phantasm or Apparition either in the likeness of some deceased Person Friend or Relation or of some Ghost dressed up in the Figure of some Animal that we are generally acquainted with as the Serpent to Eve the Ass to Balaan c. Histories are full of Testimonies and Instances of this kind to enquire after all would be a wild Chase and nauseous to the Reader as well as laborious to the Writer We will call a few out of many for a Specimen which will give such a lustre to the Theme we are upon that will certainly run us up in our Meditations and Searches to Digitus Dei the Finger of God as having a signal stroke in all such Voices and Occurrences as cannot with any shew of Reason be imputed or ascribed to any Inarticulate Inorganical Irrational Being which yet appears to be the only Immediate Instrument they proceed fro◠1. In Jerusalem before the Destruction of it by Titus Vespasian at the Feast of Pentecost the High-Priest entering into the Temple to offer the usual Sacrifices which at that time God regarded no more there was a sudden Noise heard and a Voice immediately following it which said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let us depart hence Gaffarella's unheard of Curios Part 2. Ch. 3. out of Josephus Besides we know that our blessed Saviour had by express Words Predicted the same dismal Calamity to that place and People with a particulat notation of the Time when it should happen viz. before the then present Generation should be passed away 2. An Inhabitant of the Town of Guilford in Surrey who was possest of some Copy-hold Land which was to descend to his Children or in default of such Issue to his Brother dies having no Child born And his Wife apprehending her self not to be with Child which her Husbands Brother asked her immediately after his Brother's death she told him she believed she was not but afterward proved to be Which when she knew she went by the instigation of Neighbours to her Brother and told him how it was with her He railed at her called her Whore and told her That she had procured some Body to g et her with Child knowing that such a Field must be Inherited by the Posterity of her Husband but her whoring should not fool him out of the Estate The poor Woman went home troubled that not only her Child should lose the Land but which was worse that she should be thought a Whore However she quieted her self and resolved to sit down with the loss When her times came she was delivered of a Son he grew up and one Summer's Night as she was undressing him in her Yard her Husband appeared and bid her go to his Brother and demand the Field which she did but was treated very ill by him He told her That neither she nor her Devil for she had told him her Husband appeared and bid her speak to him should make him forego his Land Whereupon she went home again But some time after as her Brother was going out of this Field home-ward the dead Man appears to him at the Stile and bids him give up the Land to the Child for it was his Right The Brother being greatly frighted at this runs away and not long
with her at Ten a Clock that Night to whom she expressed good hopes in the Mercies of God and a Willingness to dye But said she It is my misery that I cannot see my Children Between one and two a Clock in the Morning she fell into a Trance One Widow Tanner who watched with her that Night says that her Eyes were open and fixed and her law fallen She put her hand upon her Mouth and Nostrils but could perceive no Breath she thought her to be in a Fit and doubted whether she were alive or dead The next day this dying Woman told her Mother that she had been at home with her Children That is impossible said the Mother for you have been here in Bed all the while Yes replyed the other but I was with them last Night when I was asleep The Nurse at Rochester Widow Alexander by Name affirms and says she will take her Oath on 't before a Magistrate and receive the Sacrament upon it that a little before two a Clock that Morning she saw the likeness of the said Mary Goffe come out of the next Chamber where the elder child lay in a Bed by it self the Door being left open and stood by her Bed-side for about a quarter of an hour the younger child was there lying by her her Eyes moved and her Mouth went but she said nothing the Nurse moreover says that she was perfectly awake it was then day light being one of the longest Days in the Year She sate up in her Bed and looked stedfastly upon the Apparition In that time she heard the Bridge Clock strike two and a while after said In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost what art thou Thereupon the Apparition removed and went away she slipped on her Cloaths and followed but what became on 't she cannot tell Then and not before she began to be grievously affrighted and went out of the Doors and walked upon the Wharf the house is just by the River side for some hours only going in now and then to look to the Children At five a Clock she went to aâ— Neighbours house and knocked at the Door but they would not rise At six she went again then they arose and let her in She related to them all that had passed They would perswade her she was mistaken or Dreamt But she confidently affirmed If ever I saw her in all my Life I saw her this Night One of those to whom she made the Revelation Mary the Wife of John Sweet had a Messenger came from Mâ—lling that Forenoon to let her know her Neighbour Goffe was a Dying and desired to speak with her she went over the same day and found her just departing The Mother amongst other discourse related to her how much her Daughter had longed to see the Children and said she had seen them This brought to Mrs. Sweet's mind what the Nurse had told her that Morning for till then she had not thought to mention it but disguised it rather as the Womans disturbed Imagination The substance of this I had related to me by John Corpenter the Father of the Deceased next day after her Burial July 2. I fully discoursed the matter with the Nurse and two Neighbours to whose â—e use she went that Morning Two days after I had it from the Mother the Minister that was with her in the Evening and the Woman who sat up with her that last Night They all agree in the same Story and every one helps to strengthen the others Testimony They appear to be Sober Intelligent Persons far enough off from designing to impose a Cheat upon the World or to manage a lye and what Temptation they should lye under for so doing I cannot conceive Sir That God would Bless your Pious Endeavours for the Conviction of Atheists and Sadduces and the promoting of true Religion and Goodness and that this Narrative may conduce somewhat towards the farthering of that great work is the hearty desire and Prayer of Your most faithful Friend and Humble Servant Tho. Tilson Minister of Aylesford nigh Maidstone in Kent Aylesford July 6. 1691. 37. One Mr. Samuel Lawrence a Minister at Namptwick in Cheshire informs me at the Writing hereof of a Treasure of Gold found by occasion of a Dream for the further confirmation whereof he refers me to one Mr. Chorlton of Manchester but supposing I shall get no part of the Treasure of it I have saved my self the Trouble of sending so far to enquire any further after it 38. A Gentleman being disquieted with the Thundering of Pieces which his Imagination told him was in the Air and not upon Earth looking towards the Heavens he did conceive that he saw a great Army ready to encounter with another and observing the Leaders he perceived one to be a tall black Man ran with his Rapier against the same and Transported thus with fury he stumbled and fell and as he fell Divers Arrows were shot some out of the North some out of the South some out of the West some out of the East as if all the four quarters had blown no other Blasts after this appeared divers like Ghosts walking with Crosier Staffs who seemed to harden and Encourage the Souldiers yet their Arguments could not win them to give Battle these in the twinkling of an Eye lost their pure whiteness and shewed themselves in black with Miters falling from their Heads next to these followed a Troop of Shavelings some carrying Crosses others praying with Beads but on the sudden a Pillar of fire appeared and they Vanished and all the Heavens seemed to be disturbed looking downward he saw a grave Old Man sitting in a Chair of State upon the Top of a Mountain having a Scepter in his hand with a Tripple Crown on his Head having with him divers habited in long Robes and Red Hats that seemed to hold the Chair whilst his Eyes were busied in the view of them a Thunderbolt fell and cleft the Mountain which swallowed them up then he seemed to pass through Pleasant Fields and the first he met with was a young Cavalier and the next he met withal was a poor Souldier now thought the young Gallant that he should Learn what was the varience between these Troops but before the Gentleman could speak to him the Souldier made towards him and like a bold Ruffian demanded his Purse who was a little unwilling yet having no remedy to prevent the taking thereof did deliver it and in requital the Souldier said I come to tell you News In brief it is thus our General being Dead our Armies were Disbanded and having uttered the words Vanished and in his Room entred a poor Countrey Man who was very desirous to Learn whether he met with any Souldiers that had driven away his Cattel he pitied this poor Man but could give him no comfort in regard his Money was taken away from him The Gentleman passing on came to a great House that was fortified with
Bohemian Language signifies an Hundred Years after God would raise up a Swan in Germany whose Singing would affright all those Vultures Which was exactly fulfilled in Luther just an hundred Years after Clarks Marrow of Ecclesiast History p. 119. Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 30. 2. Luther speaks thus of the Covetousness of Germany and the Dearth there We fear Famine and we shall suffer it and find no Remedy for it And whereas we are without Necessity we are sollicitous to prevent Famine like Wicked and Incredulous Heathens and neglect the Word of God and his Work He will permit shortly a dismal Day to come upon us which will bring with it whole Wain-loads of Cares which we shall neither have Power or Means to escape And likewise he foretold the combustion which arose in Germany saying I am very much afraid that if the Princes give ear to Duke George's ill Counsel there will arise some Tumult which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany and engage in it all the Clergy Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 49. 3. In May 1631. at Hull in Saxony the Water was turn'd into Blood and about the middle of this Month this Town was taken by Tilly and afterwards retaken from him by their natural Lord and presently again repossessed by Tilly's Forces and he himself after the Battle of Leipsick made his Escape thither that Night and had his Wounds dress'd by the Town-Barber whilst Tilly's Army lay in the Twon one of his chief Officers saw Blood prodigiously dropping from the House wherein he lay whereupon he said What Must we bleed Will the King of Sweden bleat us That is impossible But it happen'd otherwise for Hull was not above Seven Dutch Miles distant from the place of Battle wherein the Imperial Army was utterly routed and miserably destroyed in the Chase and if the King had had but three Hours more of Daylight it was judged that hardly a Thousand of the Enemy had escaped one of their own Relations affirming that there were Fifteen Thousand of the Imperialists slain upon the place in the Pursuit that Night and the next day following it 's said Tilly's couragious Heart could not refrain from Tears when he perceiv'd such woful Destructions among his brave old Soldiers his Army consisting of Forty-four Thousand stout Men being usually termed Invincible The next day the King besieged Hull which was yielded to him and soon after the Castle But a while after Papenheim and the Imperialists again retook this City exercising all manner of Barbarism upon the Inhabitants This Year likewise in the time of the Siege of Magdeburgs a City Captain's Wife dying in Child-bed desired to be ript open which being done they found a Boy almost as big as one of 3 Years old who had an Head-piece and an Iron Breast-Plate on his Body great Boots of the French Fashion and a Bag on his Side with two things therein like Musquet Bullets This horrible Prodigy no doubt portended the deplorable Desruction of the City which happen'd May 10. 1631. when a general Assault was made upon the Town by the Imperialists the Walls were mounted in an instant the Town entred and the Soldiers fell to killing At the same instant a Fire none knew how broke out and it being a windy day on a sudden all became one mighty Flame the whole Town being in Twelve Hours time turn'd to Cinders except some few Fisher-Houses Six goodly Churches were burnt the Cathedral by the Diligence of the Monks and Soldiers being preserved There were at least Twenty Thousand People killed besides Six Thousand drowned in the River Elbe Two days after Tilly came into the Town and finding some Hundreds of Women and Children in the great Church he gives them their Lives and some Bread to maintain them Surprizing Mirac of Nature p. 109. 4. About the Year 1679 or 1680 there was a noise like the shooting off or the bursting Crack of a Gun heard I believe all over England I heard it my self as I lay in Bed near the Town of Shrewsbury about Seven or Eight a Clock in the Morning it was all over that Country and several other adjacent Counties at London in Sussex and the North of England and did strangely amuse People where-ever it was heard but this I wonder at that in some places it was heard in the Afternoon about One say some others about Three a Clock c. Surely it was significative the rather because the great Comet succeeded it and the Mutations in England But I leave it to the Consideration and Judgment of the Ingenious Reader 5. Octob. 5. 1682. There was born at Exeter a Monster having two perfect Heads one standing right as it should the other being in the Right Shoulder it liv'd not long but was buried and taken up again the tenth Instant many hundreds resorting to see it I propound it here for an Aenigma to exercise my Reader 's Judgment 6 Days Lucky and Vnlucky Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq Is this thy Day Luk. 19.42 That there be Good and Evil Times not only the Sacred Scriptures but Prophane Authors mention See 1 Sam. 25.8 Esth. 8.17 and 2.19 22. Ecclus 14.14 The Fourteenth day of the First Month was a Memorable and Blessed Day amongst the Children of Israel See Exod. 12.18 40 41 42 51. As to Evil Days and Times see Amos 5.13 and 6.3 Eccles 9.12 Psal 37.19 Obad. 12. Jer. 46.21 And Job hints it in cursing his Birth-day Cap. 3. v. 1 10 11. 7. The Romans counted Feb. 13. an Unlucky Day and therefore then never attempted any Business of Importance 8. The Jews accounted August 10. an unfortunate day for on that day the Temple was destroyed by Titus the Son of Vespasian 9. And not only among the Romans and Jews but also amongst Christians a like Custom of observing such Days is used especially Childermas-day or Innocents-day Cominus tells us that Lewis XI used not to debate any Matter but accounted it a sign of Misfortune towards him if any Man communed with him of his Affairs and would be very angry with those about him if they troubled him with any Matter whatsoever upon that day But I will descend to more particular Instances upon Lucky and Unlucky Days 10. Upon the Sixth of April Alexander the Great was born Upon the same Day he conquer'd Darius won a great Victory at Sea and died the same day 11. Upon the Thirtieth of September Pompey the Great was born Upon that day he Triumph'd for his Asian Conquest and on that day he died If Solomon counts The day of ones Death better than the day of ones Birth there can be no Objection why that also may not be reckon'd amongst ones Remarkable and Happy Days 12. Sir Kenelm Digby that Renowned Knight great Linguist and Magazeen of Arts was Born and Died on the Eleventh of June and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day Hear his Epitaph composed by Mr. Farrar and recited in
his own great Abilities after Courtesies of Courage had passed between them My Lord says the Duke I know your Lordship hath very worthily good Accesses unto the King our Soveraign let me pray you to put His Majesty in Mind to be good as I no way distrust to my poor Wife and Children at which Words or at his Countenance in the Delivery or at both my Lord Bishop being somewhat troubled took the freedom to ask him whether he had never any secret Abodement in his Mind No reply'd the Duke but I think some Adventure way kill me as well as another Man The very day before he was slain feeling some indisposition of Body the King was pleased to give him the Honour of a visit and found him in his Bed where and after much serious and private Discourse the Duke at his Majesty's departing embraced him in a very unusual and passionate Manner and in like sort to his Friend the Earl of Holland as if his Soul divined he should see them no more which infusions towards fatal End had been observed by some Authors of no Light Authority On the very day of his Death the Countess of Denbigh receiv'd a Letter from him whereupon all the while she was writing her Answer she bedew'd the Paper with her Tears And after a most bitter Passion whereof she could yield no Reason but that her dearest Brother was to be gone she fell down in a Swoon Her said Letter endeth thus I will pray for your happy Return which I look at with a great Cloud over my Head too heavy for my poor Heart to bear without torment but I hope the great God of Heaven will bless you The day following the Bishop of Ely her devoted Friend who was thought the fittest Preparer of her Mind to receive such a doleful Accident came to visit her but hearing she was at rest he attended till she should awake of her self which she did with the Affrightments of a Dream her Brother seeming to pass thorough a Field with her in her Coach where hearing of a sudden Shout of the People and asking the reason it was answer'd to have been for Joy that the Duke of Buckingham was sick Which natural Impression she source had related unto her Gentlewoman before the Bishop was entred into her Bed-Chamber for a chosen Messenger of the Duke's Death This is all I dare present of that Nature or any of Judgment not unwillingly omitting certain Prognostick Anagrams and such strains of Fancy Sir Henry Wooton 's Short View of the Life and Death of George Villiers Duke of Buckingham p. 25 26. 2. When Alexander went by Water to Babylon a sudden Wind arising blew off the Regal Ornament of his Head and the Diadem fixt to it This was lookt upon as a Presage of Alexander's Death which happen'd soon after 3. In the year of Christ 1185. the last and most fatal end of Andronicus Commenus being at Hand the Statute of St. Paul which the Emperor had caused to be set up in the great Church of Constantinople abundantly wept Nor were these Tears in vain which the Emperor washt off with his own Blood 4. Barbara Princess of Bavaria having shut her self up in a Nunnery among other things allow'd her for her peculiar Recreation she had a Marjoram-Tree of an extraordinary bigness a small Aviary and a Gold Chain which she wore about her Neck But 14 Days before she died the Marjoram-Tree dried up the Birds the next Night were all found dead and after that the Chain broke in two in the middle Then Barbara calling for the Abbess told her that all those Warnings were for her and in a few Days after died in the Seventeenth year of her Age After her Death above twenty other Virgins died out of the same Nunnery Several other Presages there are that foretold the death of Princes and great Men As the unwonted Howlings of Dogs the unseasonable Noise of Bells the Roaring of Lions c. Concerning Dead Mens Lights seen often in Wales take this following Story 5. A Man and his Family being all in Bed about Midnight and awake he could perceive a Light entring a little Room where he lay and one after another of some Dozen in the shape of Men and two or three Women with small Children in their Arms entring in and they seemed to dance and the Room to be far wider and lighter than formerly they did seem to eat Bread and Cheese all about a kind of a Stick upon the Ground they offer'd him Meat and would smile upon him he could perceive no Voice but he once calling upon God to bless him he could perceive the Whisper of a Voice in Welsh bidding him hold his Peace being about four Hours thus he did what he could to awake his Wife and could not they went out into another Room and after some dancing departed and then he arose yet being but a very small Room he could not find the Door nor the way to Bed until crying out his Wife and Family awaked Being within about two Miles of me I sent for the Man who is an honest poor Husbandman and of good Report And I made him believe I would put him to his Oath for the Truth of this Relation who was ready to take it Attested by Mr. John Lewis a learned Justice of Peace in Cardigan-shire Hist Discourse of Appar and Witches p. 130. 6. Mr. Flavel in his Treatise of the Soul says I have with good Assurance this Account of a Minister who being alone in a Journey and willing to make the best Improvement he could of the Days Solitude set himself upon a close Examination of the State of his Soul and then of the Life to come and the manner of its being and living in Heaven in the Views of all those things which are now pure Objects of Faith and Hope after a while he perceiv'd his Thoughts begin to fix and come closer to these great astonishing things than was usual and as his Mind settled upon them his Affections began to rise with answerable Liveliness and Vigour He therefore whilst he was yet Master of his own Thoughts lift up his Heart to God in a short Ejaculation that God would so order it in his Providence that he might meet with no Interruption from Company or any other Accident in that Journey which was granted him For in all the Days Journey he neither met overtook or was overtaken by any Thus going on his way his Thoughts began to rise and swell higher and higher like the Waters in Ezekiel's vision till at last they became an overflowing Flood Such was the Intention of his Mind such the ravishing Tastes of Heavenly Joys and such the full Assurance of his Interest therein that he utterly lost the Sight and Sense of this World and all the concerns thereof and for some hours knew no more where he was than if he had been in a deep sleep upon his Bed At last he began to perceive
pass by an Instance I have from a very honest Man in the next Parish who told me it himself That his Wife being big with Child near her Delivery he buys half a Dozen of Boards to make her a Bed against the time she lay in The Boards lying at the Door of his House there comes an old Fisher-woman yet alive and asked him whose were those Boards He told her they were his own She asked him again For what use he had them He replied For a Bed She again said Intend them for what you please she saw a dead Corps lying on them and that they would be a Coffin which struck the honest Man to the Heart fearing the death of his Wife But when the old Woman went off he calls presently for a Carpenter to make the Bed which was accordingly done but shortly after the honest Man had a Child died whose Coffin was made of the ends of those Boards 27. I shall tell you what I have had from one of the Masters of our College here a North-Country-man both by Birth and Education in his younger Years who made a Journey in the Harvest-time into the Shire of Ross and at my Desire made some Enquiry there concerning the Second-sight He reports That there they told him many Instances of this Knowledge which he had forgotten except two The first one of his Sisters a young Gentlewoman staying with a Friend at some 30 Miles distance from her Father's House and the ordinary place of her Residence One who had the Second-sight in the Family where she was saw a young Man attending her as she went up and down the House and this was about Three Months before her Marriage The second is a Woman in that Country who is reputed to have the Second-sight and declared that eight Days before the Death of a Gentleman there she saw a Bier or Coffin cover'd with a Cloth she knew carried as it were to the place of Burial and attended with a great Company one of which told her it was the Corps of such a Person naming that Gentleman who died Eight Days after Those that have this Faculty of the Second-sight see only things to come which are to happen shortly thereafter and sometimes foretel things which fall out Three or Four Years after For instance 28. One told his Master that he saw an Arrow in such a Man thorough his Body and yet no Blood came out His Master told him that it was impossible an Arrow should stick in a Man's body and no blood come out and if that came to pass he would be deem'd an Impostor But about five or six Years after the Man died and being brought to his Burial-place there arose a Debate anent his Grave and it came to such a height that they drew Arms and bended their Bows and one letting off an Arrow shot thro' the dead Body upon the Bier-trees and so no Blood could issue out at a dead Man's Wound Part of a Letter written to Mr. Aubrey by a Gentleman's Son in Straths-pey being a Student in Divinity Sir I am more willing than able to satisfie your Desire As for Instances I could furnish many I shall only insert some few attested by several of good Credit yet alive 29. And first Andrew Mackpherson of Clunie in Badenoch being in sute of the Laird of Gareloch's Daughter as he was upon a day going to Garloch the Lady Garloch was going somewhere from her House within kenning to the Road which Clunie was coming the Lady perceiving him said to her Attendants that yonder was Clunie going to see his Mistress One in her Company replied and said If you be he unless he marry within six Months he 'll never marry The Lady asked how did he know that He said very well for I see him saith he all inclosed in his Winding-Sheet except his Nostrils and his Mouth which will also close up within Six Months which happened even as he foretold within the said space he died and his Brother Duncan Mackpherson this present Clunic succeeded I have heard of a Gentleman whose Son had gone abroad and being Anxious to know how he was he went to consult one who told him that that same day 5 a Clock in the Afternoon his Son had married a Woman in France with whom he had got so many Thousand Crowns and within Two Years he should come to see Eather and Friends leaving his Wife with Child of a Daughter and a Son of six Months of Age behind him which accordingly was true About the same time two Years he came home and verified all that was soretold 30. One Archibald Mackeanyers alias Mackdonald living in Ardinmurch within 10 or 20 Miles or thereby of Glencoe and I was present my self where he foretold something which accordingly fell out In 1683 this Man being in Strathspey in John Mackdonald of Glencoe his Company told in Balachastell before the Laird of Grant his Lady and several others and also in my Father's House that Argyle few or none knew then where he was or at least there was no word of him then here should within two Twelvemonths thereafter come to the West-Highlands and raie a Rebellious Faction wh ich would be divided among themselves and disperse and he unfortunately be taken and Beheaded at Edinburgh and his Head set upon the Talbooth where his Father's Head was before him Which proved as true as he foretold it in 1685. thereafter 31. There as a young Lady of great Birth whom a Rich Knight fancied and came in sute of the Lady but she could not endure to fancy him being a harsh and unpleasant Man But her Friends importuning her daily she turned melancholy and lean Fasting and Weeping continually A common Fellow about the House meeting her one Day in the Fields asked her saying Mrs. Kate What is that that troubles you and makes you look so ill She replied That the Cause is known to many for my Friends would have me marry such a Man by Name but I cannot fancy him Nay says the Fellow give over these Niceties for he will be your first Husband and will not live long and besure he will leave you a rich Dowry which will procure you a great Match for I see a Lord upon each Shoulder of you All which came to pass in every Circumstance as Eye and Ear can witness 32. Near 40 Years ago Macklend and his Lady Sister to my Lord Seaforth were walking about their own House and in their Return both came into the Nurses Chamber where their young Child as on the Breast At their coming in the Nurse falls a weeping they asked the cause dreading the Child was sick or that she was scarce of Milk The Nurse replied the Child was well and she had abundance of Milk yet she still wept and being pressed to tell what ailed her she at last said Macklend would die and the Lady would shortly marry another Man Being enquired how she knew that Event she told
or more some big some small together then so many and such Corpses together If two Candles come from divers places and be seen to meet the Corpses will the like if any of these Candles are seen to turn sometimes a little out of the way or path that leadeth to the Church the following Corps will be forced to turn in that very place for the avoiding some dirty Lane or plash c. Now let us fall to evidence Being about the Age of Fifteen dwelling at Lanylar late at Night some Neighbours saw one of these Candles hovering up and down along the River-Bank until they were weary in beholding it at last they left it so and went to Bed A few Weeks after came a proper Damsel from Montgomery-shire to see her Friends who dwelt on the other side of that River Istwith and thought to Ford the River at that very place where the Light was seen being dissuaded by some Lookers on some it is most likely of those that saw the Light to adventure on the Water which was high by reason of a Flood She walked up and down along the River-Bank even where and even as the aforesaid Candle did waiting for the falling of the Water which at last she took but too soon for her for she was drowned therein Of late my Sexton's Wife an aged understanding Woman saw from her Bed a little bluish Candle on her Tables end within two or three Days after came a Fellow enquiring for her Husband and taking something from under his Cloak clap'd it down upon the Tables-end it was a dead-born Child Another time the same Woman saw such another Candle upon the end of the self-same Table within a few Days after a weak Child newly Christend by me was brought to the Sexton's House where presently it died ' And when the Sexton's Wife who was then abroad came home she found the Child on the other end of the Table where she had seen the Candle Some thirty or forty Years since my Wife's Sister being Nurse to Baronet Rudd's three eldest Children and the Lady Mistress being dead the Lady Comptroller of the House going late into the Chamber where the Maid-Servants lay saw no less than Five of those Lights together It happen'd a while after that the Chamber being newly Plaister'd and a Grate of Coal-fire therein kindled to hasten the drying of the Praister that five of the Maid-servants went to Bed as they were wont but as it fell out too soon for in the Morning they were all dead being Soffocated in their Sleep with the steem of the new-temper'd Lime and Coal This was at Langathen in Carmarthenshire Jo. Davis See more Generglyn March 1656. To this Account of Mr. Davis I will subjoyn what my worthy Friend and Neighbour Randal Caldicot D. D. hath affirmed to me many Years since viz When any Christian is drowned in the River Dee there will appear over the Water where the Corps is a Light by which means they do find the Body Thus far Mr. Aubrey Ominous Presages taken notice of as relating to the Troubles and Death of King Charles I. in a Printed Relation 1655. 68. When he was in Spain treating and prosecuting the Match with the Infanta Jun. 30. 1623. a great Clap of Thunder struck away the Flag and Flag-staff from the Main-top-mast-head of a Ship then riding at Black-wall and bound for Spain with Provision of fresh Victuals to fetch the Prince home it also split the Main-top-mast and threw one part on one side and the other part on the other side of the Ship and raized the Main-mast down to the Ship it killed two Men and one Woman at Croydon This was two Days after the Prince wrote to the Pope Thursday next there were many great Claps of Thunder abundance of Rain and so great a Pillar of Fire from Heaven out of the South that it reach'd from the Heavens to the Farth not as a Flash of Lightning gone in the very sight but a very firm Pillar of Fire The Crown and Vane from the top of the Gate-House of St. James whereon the Clock stood was struck down a piece of the Bell where the Priuce kept his Court melted a Gardiner near Westminster kill'd and his Wife hurt another at Croyden kill'd c. Old Tho. Earl of Arundel having sent for the King's Statue out of Italy viewing it at Greenwich where it was landed and commending the Workmanship whilst they were discoursing of it there fell three drops of Blood on the top of it no Man knowing how they should come there A. 1623. A Buckinghamshire Taylor came from Alisbury aged 41 and a sober Man went along London Streets pronouncing Woe to Rome Woe to the Pope Woe to all Papists and all that did adhere to Popery Dukes Marquesses Earls c. This three or four Days in the Week praying earnestly at White-Hall-Gate for the Continuance of the Gospel in England till he was sent to the New-Bridewell near Clerken-well where he continued three Weeks After which he proceeded again to the same Execrations One of the Crowns and Vanes of the Tower was turned over the Top of the Spindle with a very small Gale of Wind and so hung for three quarters of a Year or more the Crown and Vane weigh'd 100 weight His Hand and Scepter broke off from his Statue at the Exchange and fell down to the Ground even at Change-time to the admiration of all Beholders and the next day it was set up again One Mrs. Cary of Bristol a Woollen-Draper's Widow on the Back of the Town having seen many strange Apparitions of the late King at several times as his Crown all bloody himself in Black and his Head off by means of the Earl of Dorset was admitted to the King who dismissed her with only this Reflection Take her away she is a merry Woman The VVoman returns home to Bristol where the like Visions appear'd to her again she could not contain but away she makes for London a second time and the King gone to York by the help of a Lady at Court she follows in a Coach thither and with much Importunity of Speech beseecheth him to consider what she had seen and said but was not credited At Caussam near Reading the King playing at Chess with White Men the Head of the VVhite King fell off VVhen the Lord Fairfax was at St. Albans and the General Council of the Army drawing up the grand Rdmonstrance against the King the Sign of the Kings-Head beneath the Hill from the Cross that part of the Board between the Head and Shoulders was broken out of the Sign so that the Head and Shoulders seem'd parted VVhen the King was at the High Court of Justice as it was then called on his Tryal the Head of his Cane fell off he stooped to take it up himself looked upon it as an ominous Presage 69. William Writtle condemn'd at Maidston Assizes for a double Murder mention'd hereafter told a Minister
preparing that we may be ready to die Therefore oh my God I humbly pray receive my Soul by thy free Mercy in Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer for Christ hath died for me and for all my Sins in this World committed My great God hath given me long Life and therefore I am now willing to die Oh Jesus Christ help my Soul and save my Soul I believe that my Sickness doth not arise out of the Dust nor cometh at peradventure but God sendeth it Job 5.6 7. By this Sickness God calleth me to repent of all my Sins and to believe in Christ now I confess my self a great Sinner Oh pardon me and help me for Christ his sake Lord thou callest me with a double Calling sometimes by Prosperity and Mercy sometimes by Affliction And now thou callest me by Sickness but let me not forget thee O my God For those that forget thy Name thou wilt forsake them As Psalm 9.17 All that forget God shall be cast into Hell therefore let me not forget thee Oh my God I give my Soul to thee Oh my Redeemer Jesus Christ pardon all my Sins and deliver me from Hell Oh do thoa help me against Death and then I am willing to die and when I die 〈◊〉 help me and receive me In so saying he died 39. Plaâ—bohon He was the second Man next Waban what received the Gospel he brought with him to the second Meeting at Wabay's House many when we formed them into Government he was chosen Ruler of Ten when the Church at Hassenamessit was gather'd he was called to be a Ruler then in that Church when that was scatter'd by the War they came back to Natick Church so many as survived and at Natick he died His Speech as followeth I rejoyce and am content and willing to take up my Sorrows and Sickness many are the Years of my Life long have I lived therefore now I look to die But I desire to prepare my self to die well I believe God's Promise that he will for ever save all that believe in Jesus Christ. Oh Lord Jesus help me deliver me and save my Soul from Hell by thine own Blood which thou hast shed for me when thou didest die for me and for all my Sins Now help me sincerely to confess all my Sins Oh pardon all my Sins I now beg in the Name of Jesus Christ a Pardon for all my Sins for thou O Christ art my Redeemer and Deliverer Now I hear God's Word and I do rejoyce in what I hear tho' I do not see yet I hear and rejoyce that God hath confirmed for us a Minister in this Church of Natick he is our VVatchman And all you People deal well with him both Men VVomen and Children hear him every Sabbath Day and make strong your praying to God and all you of Hassaunemesue restore your Church and Praying to God there Oh Lord help me to make ready to die and then receive my Soul I hope I shall die well by the help of Jesus Christ Oh Jesus Christ deliver and save my Soul in everlasting Life in Heaven for I do hope thou art my Saviour Oh Jesus Christ. So he died 40. Old Jacob He was among the first that pray'd to God he had so good a Memory that he could rehearse the whole Catechize both Questions and Answers when he gave thanks at Meat he would sometimes only pray the Lord's Prayer his Speech is as followeth My Brethren now hear me a few Words stand fast all you People in your praying to God according to that Word o God 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit you like Men and be strong in the Lord. Especially you that are Rulers and Teachers Fear not the Face of Man when you Judge in a Court together help one another agree together Be not divided one against another remember the Parable of ten Brethren that held together they could not be broken nor overcome but when they divided one against another then they were easily overcome and all you that are Rulers judge right Judgment for you do not judge for Man but for God in your Courts 2 Chron. 19.6 7. Therefore judge in the fear of God Again You that are Judges see that ye have not only Humane Wisdom for Mans Wisdom is in many things contrary to the Wisdom of God counting it to be foolishness Do not judge that right which only seemeth to be right and consider Matth. 7.1 2. Judge right and God will be with you when you so do Again I say to you all the People make strong your Praying to God and be constant in it 1 Thess 5.17 Pray continually Again lastly I say to you Daniel our Minister be strong in your Work As Mat. 5.14 16. You must bring Light into the World and make it to shine that all may see your good Work and glorifie your Heavenly Father Every Preacher that maketh strong his Work doth bring precious Pearls As Matth. 13.52 And thou shalt have Everlasting Life in so doing I am near to Death I have lived long enough I am about 90 Years old I now desire to die in the presence of Christ Oh Lord I commit my Soul to thee 41. Antony He was among the first that prayed to God he was studious to read the Scriptures and the Catechism so that he learned to be a Teacher but after the Wars he became a Lover of strong Drink was often admonished and finally cast out from being a Teacher His Dying Speeches follow I am a Sinner I do now confess it I have long prayed to God but it hath been like an Hypocrite tho' I was a confessing Church-Member yet like an Hypocrite tho' I was a Teacher yet like a Backsliding Hypocrite I was often drunk Love of strong Drink is a lust I could not overcome tho' the Church did often admonish me and I confessed and they â—orgave me yet I fell again to the same Sin tho' Major Gookins and Mr. Eliot often admonished me I confessed they were willing to forgive me yet I fell again Now Death calls for me and I desire to prepare to die well I say to you Daniel beware that you love not strong Drink as I did and was thereby undone Strengthen your Teaching in and by the word of God take heed that you defile not your work as I did for I defiled my Teaching by Drunkenness Again I say to you my Children forsake not praying to God go not to strange places where they pray not to God but strongly pray to God as long as you live both you and your Children Now I desire to die well tho' I have been a Sinner I remember that word that saith That tho' your Sins be many and great yet God will pardon the Penitent by Jesus Christ our Redeemer Oh Lord save and deliver me by Jesus Christ in whom I believe send thy Angels when I die to bring my poor Soul to thee and save my poor sinful
Soul in thy Heavenly Kingdom 42. Nehemiah this very hopeful young Man going out to hunt with a Companion who fell out with him and stabbed him mortally and kill'd him A little was gather'd up spoke by him as followeth I am ready to die now but knew not of it even now when I went out of my door I was only going to hunt but a wicked Man hath killed me I see that word is true He that is well to day may be dead to morrow He that laughed yesterday may sorrow to day My Misery overtook me in the Woods No Man knoweth the day and time when his Misery cometh Now I desire patiently to take up my Cross and Misery I am but a Man and must feel the Cross Oh Christ Jesus help me thou art my Redeemer my Saviour and my Deliverer I confess my self a Sinner Lord Jesus pardon all my Sins by thy own Blood when thou diedst for us O Christ Jesus save me from Hell Save my Soul in Heaven Oh help me help me So he died The wicked Murderer is fled 43. John Owussumug sen He was a Young Man when they began to pray to God he did not at the present joyn with them he would say to me I will first see into it and when I understand it I will answer you he did after a while enter into the Civil Covenant but was not entered into the Church-Covenant before he dyed he was propounded to joyn to the Church but was delayed he being of a quick passionate temper some witty littigations prolonged it I till his Sickness but had he recovered the Church was satisfied to have received him he sinished well His Speech as followeth Now I must shortly die I desired that I might live I sought for Medicines to cure me I went to every English Doctor at Dadham Medfield Concord but none could cure me in this World But Oh Jesus Christ do thou heal my Soul now I am in great pain I have no hope of living in this VVorld a whole Year I have been afflicted I could not go to the publick Sabbath worship to hear God's VVord I did greatly love to go to the Sabbath VVorship Therefore I now say to all you Men Women and Children Love much and greatly to keep the Sabbath I have been now long hindred from it and therefore now I find the worth of it I say unto you all my Sons and Children do not go into the Woods among non-praying People abide constantly at Natick You my Children and all my Kindred strongly pray to God Love and Obey the Rulers and submit unto their Judgment hear diligently your Ministers Be obedient to Major Gookins and to Mr. Eliot and Daniel I am now almost dead and I exhort you strongly to Love each other be at peace and be ready to forgive each other I desire now rightly to prepare my self to dye for God hath given me warning a whole year by my Sickness I confess I am a Sinner My heart was proud and thereby all Sins were in my heart I knew that by Birth I was a Sechim I got Oxen and Cart and Plough like an English Man and by all these things my heart was Proud Now God calleth me to Repentance by my Sickness this whole Year Oh Christ Jesus help me that according as I make my confession so through thy grace I may obtain a pardon of all my Sins For thou Lord Jesus didst dye 〈◊〉 us to deliver us from Sin I hear and believe that thou hast dyed for many Therefore I desire to cast away all Worldly hindrances my Lands and Goods I cast them by they cannot help me now I desire truely to prepare to dye My Sons I hope Christ will help me to dye well Now I call you my Sons but in Heaven we shall all be Brethren this I Learned in the Sabbath Worship all miseries in this World upon Believers shall have only Joy and Blessing in Jesus Christ Therefore Oh Christ Jesus help me in all my miseries and deliver me for I trust in thee and save my Soul in thy Heavenly Kingdom now behold me and look upon me who am dying So he dyed 44. John Speen he was among the first that prayed to God he was a diligent Reader he became a Teacher and carried well for Divers years until the Sin of strong drink did infect us and then he was so far infected with it that he was deservedly laid aside from Teaching His last Speeches were as followeth Now I dye I defire you all my Friends forgive him that hurt me for the word of God saith in Mat. 6.3 4. Forgive them that have done you wrong and your Heavenly Father will forgive you but if you do not forgive them your Heavenly Father will not forgive you Therefore I intreat you all my Friends forgive him that did me wrong for John Nunusquanit beat him and hurt him much a little before his Sickness now I desire to dye well now I confess all my Sins I am a Sinner especially I loved strong Drink too well and sometimes I was mad drunk tho I was a Teacher I did offend against praying to God and spoiled my Teaching all these my Sins and Drunkeness Oh I pray you all forgive me Oh Jesus Christ help me now and deliver my Soul and help me that I may not go to Hell for thou O Christ art my Deliver and Saviour Oh God help me Lord tho I am a Sinner Oh Lord do not forget me And so he dyed 45. Black James He was in former times reputed by the English to be a Pawaw but I cannot tell this I know he renounced and repented of all his former ways and desired to come to Christ and pray to God and died well as appears in what followeth Now I say I almost dye but you all my Sons and all you that pray at Chabanukong komu◠take heed that you leave not off to pray to God for praying to God is exceeding good for praying to God is the way that will bring you to the Heavenly Kingdom I believe in Christ and we must follow his Steps Especially you my Sons beware of Drunkenness I desire you may stand fast in my room and Rule well I am almost now dead and I desire to dye well Oh Lord Jesus Christ help me and deliver my Soul to die well So he died CHAP. XIX Strange ways of Restraining Persons from Sin THE Doctrine of the Irresistibleness of Gods Decrees was so far ventilated in the last Age that the Letters of Accord between the Judicious Bishop Sanderson and the Learned Dr. Hammond sufficed to confirm me and I think they may be sufficient for others in this Opinion viz. That those whom God hath Elected to everlasting Life shall be so far taken care of that such means shall be allowed them and such methods used towards them that they shall not fail of Inheriting Everlasting Life For whom God Loves he Loves unto the end And all things shall work
Hastings about Three Years ago where when the People were in great Poverty and suffer'd much by Scarcity of Money and Provisions it pleased God that an unusual and great Showl of Herrings came up the River by which the Inhabitants were plentifully supplied for the present and the next week after a Multitude of Cod succeeded them which were supposed to have driven the former into the River before them by which means the Necessity of the poor Inhabitants was supplied unexpectedly to Admiration 6. And this very Year 't is very observable when Money is at a low ebb amongst us and People every where muttering and complaining of the baseness of the old Coyn and the slowness of Coyning new Money c. God hath sent us in his Gracious Providence such a plentiful Harvest that not only the Farmers and poor People but even the Fields themselves to use the Psalmist's Phrase seem to laugh and sing 7. One Mr. Norwood late of Deptford a serious Christian being low in the VVorld and having several small Children his VVife then lying in was extreamly discontented at the Poverty and Straits of the Family the poor man pinched with this double Distress VVant of Provision and Peace too and belng unwilling to trouble his Master who was a Meal-Man and had relieved him formerly in his Troubles retires to Prayer opens his Case to God Almighty begs earnestly for a Supply returns home to his VVife and finds her in a pleasant Temper who ask'd him If any body had been with him Telling him That some body who would not tell whence he came had brought her Five Shillings This extreamly affected and chear'd the good man that he was free to speak of it in all Companies as occasion offered it self and at last mentioned it to the very Person a Minister Mr. J. J. that sent it who professed that being in his Study at that time upon a sudden and warm Impulse of mind he was put upon it 8 Another time his VVife was reduced to great Necessities for want of Shifts c. and was disturbed as before the good man goes the next Lord's Day to Church was Invited to Dine and Sup with a Friend said nothing of these wants but at going away the good VVoman of the House put him up Shifts for his VVife and Children and I think saith my Relater for himself too and ties up some money in one of them These are both Attested by one Mr. John Lane of Horsly down Lane in Southwark in a Letter dated July 3. 1695. and subscribed by several other hands of St. Olives Parish 9. Another person one Atkins formerly of Oxford lately of St. Olives in Southwark being brought to low Circumstances and so straitened with Poverty that they had neither Bread nor Drink nor Candle nor money to buy with the Wife grew impatient and the good man endeavoured to satisfie her with recounting over their former Experiences of Gods Goodness to them c. told her they would go to Prayer and beg for a supply he had not been long at his Devotions but a person knocking at the Door ask'd for Mr. Atkins but not willing to stay for his coming left Five Shillings with the woman for him not telling who sent it nor did they ever know his Name to this day which so wrought upon the unbelieving Wife that she was mightily affected with it and laid the consideration of it deeply to Heart This is likewise Attested by the aforesaid Author Mr. John Lane c. 10. A. C. 1555. betwixt Oxford and Aldebrough in the County of Suffolk when by unseasonable Weather a great Dearth was in the Land a Crop of Pease without Tillage or Sowing grew in the Rocks insomuch that in August there were gathered above one hundred Quarters a Quarter being 8 Bushels and in Blossoming remained as many more This is related by Mr. Speed and by the Author of the World Surveyed and others for a very great Truth CHAP. XXII Strange Instances of Consolation and Protection in Dangers MAN's Extremity we use to say is God's Opportunity and no doubt but one great Reason why God chuseth rather such Seasons to appear in is to give a clearer Demonstration of his Power and to shut out all others that may put in for a share of the Glory as Co-rivals with Him He will not give His Honour to any of His Creatures which they would be apt to challenge if God should put forth himself too early for their Relief and Assistance when they think they can stand upon their own Legs I. Personal Deliverances and Comforts c. 1. Polycarp being Conducted to the Theatre in order to his Suffering Martyrdom was Comforted and Encouraged by a Voice from Heaven Be of good Chear O Polycarp and play the Man The Speaker no Man saw but the Voice was heard by many of us said his Church at Smirna in their Epistle to the Brethren of Pontus Clark's Marr. of Ecclesi History 2. A brief Account of Mr. Roswell 's Tryal and Acquittal About the same time Mr. Roswell a very worthy Divine was Tryed for Treasonable Words in his Pulpit upon the Accusation of very vile and lewd Informers and a Surry Jury found him Guilty of High Treason upon the most villanous and improbable Evidence that had been ever given notwithstanding Sir John Tallot no Countenancer of Dissenters had appeared with great Generosity and Honour and Testified That the most material Witness was as Scandalous and Infamous a Wretch as lived It was at that time given out by those who thirsted for Blood That Mr. Roswell and Mr. Hays should die together and it was upon good Ground believe that the happy deliverance of Mr. Hays did much contribute to the preservation of Mr. Roswell though it is very probable that he had not escaped had not Sir John Talbot's worthy and most honourable Detestation of that accursed Villany prompted him to repair from the Court of King's Bench to King Charles II. and to make a Faithful Representation of the Case to him whereby when inhumane bloody Jefferys came a little after in a Transport of Joy to make his Report of the Eminent Service he and the Surry Jury had done in finding Mr. Roswell Guilty the King to his disappointment appeared under some Reluctancy and declared That Mr. Roswell should not die And so he was most happily delivered Bloody Assizes 3. Origen mightily Encouraged the Martyrs of his time visited such as were in deep Dungeons and close Imprisonment and after Sentence of Death accompanied them to the place of Execution putting himself often in great Danger thereby he kissed and embraced them at their last Farewell so that once the Heathens in their Rage had stoned him to Death if the Divine Power of God had not marvelloussy deliver'd him and the same Providence did at many other times Protect and Defend him oven so often as cannot be told c. Ibid. 4. Augustine going abroad to visit his Churches was laid
long as might be The seven in the Boat apprehended themselves to be in a condition little better than that of them in the Ship having neither Sail nor Oars neither Bread nor Water and no Instrument of any sort except a Knife and a piece of Deal-board with which they made sticks and set them up in the sides of the Boat and cover'd them with some Irish-Cloth of their own Garments to keep off the spray of the Sea as much as could be by so poor a matter In this condition they drave with an hard VVind and high Sea all that day and the night following But in the next Morning about six a Clock they saw a Ketch the Master was Mr. Edmund Henfield of Salem in New-England under Sail which Ketch coming right with them took them up and brought them safe to New-England And it is yet further remarkable that when the Ship Foundred the Ketch which saved these Persons was many Leagues to the VVestward of her but was by a contrary VVind caused to stand back again to the Eastward where these distressed Persons were as hath been said met with and relieved 11. January 13. 1670. Three VVomen viz. the VVives of Lieut. Filer and of John Drake and of Nathaniel Lomas having crossed Connecticut-River upon a necessary and neighbourly Account and having done the work they went for were desirous to return their own Families the River being at that time partly shut up with Ice new and old and partly open There being some Pains taken aforehand to cut a way through the Ice the three VVomen abovesaid got into a Canoo with whom also there was Nathaniel Bissel and an Indian There was likewise another Canoo with two Men in it that went before them to help them in case they should meet with any Distress which indeed quickly came upon them for just as they were getting out of the narrow passage between the Ice being near the middle of the River a great part of the upper Ice came down upon them and struck the end of their Canoo and broke it to pieces so that it quickly sunk under them The Indian speedily got upon the Ice but Nathaniel Bissel and the abovesaid Women were left floating in the middle of the River being cut off from all manner of humane Help besides what did arise from themselves and the two Men in the little Canoo which was so small that three Persons durst seldom if ever venture in it they were indeed discern'd from one Shoar but the dangerous Ice would not admit from either Shoar one to come near them All things thus circumstanced the suddenness of the Stroke and Distress which is apt to amaze Men especially when no less than Life is concern'd the extream Coldness of the Weather it being a sharp Season that Persons out of the Water were in danger of freezing the unaptness of Persons to help themselves being mostly Women one big with Child and near the time of her Travel who was also carry'd away under the Ice the other as unskill'd and unactive to do any thing for self-preservation as almost any could be the Waters deep that there was no hopes of footing no passage to either Shoar in any Eye of Reason neither with their little Canoo by reason of the Ice nor without it the Ice being thin and rotten and full of holes Now that all should be brought off safely without the loss of Life or wrong to Health was counted in the day of it a Remarkable Providence To say how it was done is difficult yet something of the manner of the Deliverance may be mentioned the abovesaid Nathaniel Bissel piercing their Danger and being active in swimming endeavour'd what might be the preservation of himself and some others he strove to have swum to the upper Ice but the Stream being too hard he was forced downwards to the lower Ice where by reason of the slipperiness of the Ice and disadvantage of the Stream he found it difficult getting up at length by the good Hand of Providence being gotten upon the Ice he saw one of the Women swimming down under the Ice and perceiving an Hole or open place some few Rods below there he waited and took her up as she swum along The other two VVomen were in the River till the two Men in the little Canoo came for their Relief at length all of them got their Heads above the water and had a little time to pause tho' a long and difficult and dangerous way to any Shoar but by getting their little Canoo upon the Ice and carrying one at a time over hazardous Places they did though in a long while get all safe to the Shoar from whence they came 12. Very memorable was the Providence of God towards Mr. Ephraim How of New-Haven in New-England who was for an whole twelve Month given up by his Friends as a dead Man but God preserved him alive in a desolate Island where he had suffer'd Shipwreck and at last return'd him home to his Family The History of this Providence might have been mention'd amongst Sea-Deliverances yet considering it was not only so I shall here Record what himself being a godly Man did relate of the Lord 's marvellous Dispensations towards him that so others might be encouraged to put their trust in God in the times of their greatest Straits and Difficulties On the 25th of August in the Year 1676. the said Skipper How with his two eldest Sons set sail from New-Haven for Boston in a small Ketch Burden 17 Tun or thereabout After the Dispatch of their Business there they set Sail from thence for New-Haven again on the 10th of September following But contrary winds forced them back to Boston where the said How was taken ill with a violent Flux which Distemper continued near a Month many being at that time sick of the same Disease which proved mortal to some The Merciful Providence of God having spared his Life and restored him to some measure of Health he again set Sail from Boston Octob. 10. By a fair wind they went forward so as to make Cape Cod but suddenly the weather became very Tempestuous so as that they could not seaze the Cape but were forced off to Sea when they were endanger'd in a small Vessel by very fearful Storms and outragious VVinds and Seas Also his eldest Son fell sick and died in about Eleven Days after they set out to Sea He was no sooner dead but his other Son fell sick and died too This was a bitter Cup to the good Father It is noted in 1 Chron. 7.22 that when the Sons of Ephraim were dead Ephraim their Father mourned many days and his Brethren came to comfort him This Ephraim when his Sons were dead his Friends on Shoar knew it not nor could they come to comfort him But when his Friends and Relations could not the Lord himself did for they died after so sweet gracious and comfortable a manner as that their Father
word Opened his Bible and it opened in the 10. Heb. and the first word he cast his Eye on was that Text If a Man Sin willingly c. He reflected on himself by Examination and Conscience answered for him upon which the Cloud began to scatter presently and e're Night came he was comforted These Three Relations concerning Mrs. Polsted Mrs. Charlton and Mr. Nutkin of Okingham were all sent me by the Reverend Mr. Singleton now living in Hogsdon-Square near London and are Printed as I received them from him 9. Melancthon going onoe upon some great Service for the Church of Christ and having many doubts and fears about the Success of his business was much cheared up and confirmed by a Company of poor Women and Children whom he found together Praying for the labouring Church and casting it by Faith into Christ's everlasting Arms. Clark's Examp. vol. 1. c. 119. out of Seluccer 10. Andronicus the Emperor of Constantinople finding that all things went cross with him took a Psalter in his Hand to resolve his doubtful Mind and opening the same as it were to resolve his Doubts thereby and ask Counsel of the Oracles of God the first Verse he fixt his Eye upon was Psal 68.14 When the Almighty scatter'd Kings c. whereby he was comforted and directed what to do for his greater safety Turk Hist p. 164. 11. S. Augustine being in Trouble on the hinge of his Conversion and retired into his Garden pouring forth his Tears plentifully and not knowing what to do was warn'd by a Voice from Heaven saying Tolle Lege Take and Read And immediately having S. Paul's Epistles by him he open'd the Book and the first Text he turn'd to was Rom. 13. c. Not in riotting and Drunkenness c. with which he was satisfied and giving the Book to his dear friend Alipius he read on Him that is weak in faith receive but not to doubtful Disputations which gave a sufficient Direction to Alipius too August Conf. lib. 8. 12. Sarah Daughter of Mr. Tho. Wight sometime of the Auditor's Office in London about the Year 1643. was for four Years oft in great Doubt and Despair and tormented with divers Temptations viz. to believe that there was no God Devil Heaven nor Hell but what she felt in her own Conscience One day being violently assaulted with that Temptation that there was no Hell but what she felt within her self having a little white earthen Cup in her Hand she said that she was as sure to be damned as that was to break and therewithal threw it from her to break it but it brake not Again she said as sure as this Cup will break there is no Hell and threw it more violently against the fâ—rther side of the Chamber and yet it brake not Her Mother took it up and said See Child it is not broken She got it again and said and did the like four or five times only the fifth time a little nip brake out After her Recovery she still desired to drink out of that Cup to put her in Mind of God's Goodness toward her Notwithstanding she continued comfortless till April 10. 1647. About Midnight when all humane Help fail'd and former Means could not do it yet when she was made utterly uncapable of receiving Comfort that way For now the was stricken both blind and deaf her Eyes being fast closed up her first Speeches were My Soul thirsts for the Water of Life and I shall have it This with great Ardency of Spirit she repeated over four times then drank three or four little Cups of Water and then sitting up with a lowly cheerful Countenance much Brokenness 〈◊〉 Heart and Tears trickling down her Cheeks she spake with a low Voice Ah! that Jesus Christ should come from the Bosom of his Father and take the Nature of Man upon him and come in such a low Estate and lie in a Manger Christ came to the lowest Soul he lay is a Manger in a contemptible place Do you not see an Excellency in him I tell you There is more Excellency in Him in lowest State that in a World yea than in Ten Thousand Worlds _____ Do you not see an Excellency in Him who came here to die for even for Sinners yea for the greatest of Sinners for the chiefest Sinners A dying Christ for a denying Peter this she repeated three times Peter denied him yet he died for him Go tell Peter here she â—â—wsedâ— and admired For a Peter for a Mary Magdalen for a Theif on the Cross that none should despair c. Thus she continued till April 13. blind and deaf neither eating nor drinking any thing but a little Water nor speaking till at last starting up suddenly she said The Devil fights with me as with Michael and his Angels but the Angel shall prevail c. Nay she took nothing till May 19th except a little Water and once a little Broth which she cast up immediately and yet look'd better than for seven or eight Weeks before And at last after long Weakness and many gracious Expressions June 11th that Text came into her Mind Mark 5. v. last Damsel I say unto thee arise c. and was fully perswaded that so in should be to her self And accordingly it was for she eat heartily with Joy before them all call'd for her Cloaths rose up stood on her Feet Many Persons of all Ranks visited her in this time of her Visitation and were Ear and Eye-witnesses of these things at the time of her Recovery she was not full 16 Years old Clark's Examp. Vol. 2. p. 436. CHAP. XXV The Modest and Humble strangely advanced BEfore Honour is Humility saith Solomon Prov. 15.33 and tho' the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly Ps 138.6 'T is certain humble Men are best qualified for the favours of Heaven and that they have of oftentimes an Earnest given them here of the good things of this Life appears plainly in the Examples of the Primitive Disciples and Christians 1. Athanasius upon occasion of examining other Boys at Play and preparing them for Baptism was by Alexander Bishop of Alexandria observing the Sport first set to School afterwards made Deacon and at last when Alexander lay dying wished by him to be his Successor which he afterwards tho' unwillingly was 2. Dr. Vsher was noted for his Humility in stooping to the Capacity of the meanest in his high Thoughts of others and low of himself and when the Provostship of the Colledg of Dublin's as offer'd him he refused it at 30 Years of age yet was afterwards without any 〈◊〉 of his own by King James made Bishop of Meath and afterwards Arch-Bishop of Armagh c. See his Life 3. Cardinal Pool was a learned humble prudent and moderate Man and accordingly preferred to the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury upon receiving of the Pall he made a cold Sermon concerning the beginning use and virtues of the Pall without either Learning or Eloquence and tho
Zealand where living in a great deal of Ease he fell in Love with a Woman of a Beautiful Body and a mind and manners no whit inferior He passed and repassed by her Door soon after grew bolder entered into Conference with her discovers his Flame and beseeches a Compassionate Resentment of it he makes large Promises and uses all the ways by which he hoped to gain her but all in vain Her Chastity was proof against all the Batteries he could raise against it falling therefore into Dispair he converts himself unto Villany He was as I said a Governour and Duke Charles was busied in War he causes the Husband of his Mistriss to be Accused of Treachery and forth with Commits him to Prison to the end that by Fear or Threats he might draw her to his pleasure or at least quit himself of her Husband the only Rival with him in his Loves The Woman as one that loves her Husband goes to the Goal and thence to the Governour to entreat for him and if she was able to obtain his Liberty Dost thou come O my Dear to entreat me said the Governour You are certainly ignorant of the Empire you have over me Render me only a mutual Affection and I am ready to restore you your Husband for we are both under a Restraint he is in my Prison and I am in yours Ah how easily may you give Liberty to us both Why do you refuse As a Lover I beseech you and as you tender my Life as the Governour I ask you and as you tender the Life of your Husband both are at stake and if I must perish I will not fall alone The Woman blush'd at what she heard and withal being in Fear for her Husband trembled and turned pale He perceiving she was mov'd and supposing that some Force should be used to her Modesty they were alone throws her upon the Bed and enjoys the Fruit which will shortly prove bitter to them both The Woman departed Confounded and all in Tears thinking of nothing more but Revenge which was also the more enflamed by a Barbarous Act of the Governour for he having obtained his desire and hoping hereafter freely to enjoy her took care that her Husband and his Rival should be Beheaded in the Goal and there was the Body put into a Coffin ready for Burial This done he sent for her and in an Affable manner What said he do you seek for your Husband You shall have him and pointing to the Prison you shall find him there take him along with you The Woman suspecting nothing went her way when there she sees and is astonished she falls upon the dead Corps and having long lamented over it she returns to the Governour with a fierce Countenance and Tone It is true said she you have restored me my Husband I owe you Thanks for the Favour and will pay you He endeavours to retain and appease her but in vain but hasting home she calls about her most faithful Friends recounts to them all that had passed All agree that she should make her Case known to the Duke who amongst other of his excellent Virtues was a singular Lover of Justice To whom she went and was heard but scarce believed The Duke is angry and grieved that any of his and in his Dominions should presume so far He commands her to withdraw into the next Room till he sent for the Governour who by chance was then at Court being come do you know said the Duke this Woman The Man changed colour do you know too added he the Complaints she makes of you They are sad ones and such as I would not they should be true He shakes faulters in his Speech says and unsays being urged home he confesses all frees the Woman from any fault and casting himself at the Duke's Feet said he placed all his Refuge and Comfort in the good Grace and Mercy of his Prince and that he might the better obtain it he offered to make amends for his unlawful Lust by a Lawful Marriage of the Person whom he had injured The Duke as one that had inclined to what he said and now somewhat milder You Woman said he since it is gone thus far are you willing to have this Man for your Husband She refuses but fearing the Duke's Displeasure and prompted by the Courtiers that he was Noble Rich and in Favour with his Prince was overcome at last she yields The Duke causes both to joyn Hands and the Marriage to be lawfully made which done You Mr. Bridegroom said he You must grant me this that if you die first without Children of your Body that then this Wife of yours shall be the Heir of all that you have he willingly granted it it is writ down by a Notary and witness is to it Thus done the Duke turning to the Woman Tell me said he is there enough done for your satisfaction There is said she But there is not to mine said he And sending the Woman away he commanded the Governour to be led away to that very Prison in which the Husband was slain and dead to be laid in a Coffin headless as he was This done he sent the Woman thither ignorant of what had passed who frighted with that unthought of Misfortune of two Husbands almost at once and the same time lost by one and the same Punishment fell sick speedily and in a short time died having gain'd this only by her last Marriage that she left her Children by her former Husband very rich by the Accession of this new and great Inheritance Lips Monit Lib. 2. Chap. 9. P. 240 241. 3. Sir John Fitz-James was so fearful of the very Shadow and Appearance of Corruption that it cost his chief Clerk his place but for taking a Tankard after a signal Cause of 1500 l. a Year wherein he had been serviceable tho not as a Bribe but as a Civility Caesar would have his Wife without Suspition of Lewdness and Fitz-James his Servants without the appearance of Corruption What way Law always was then a Resolution neither to deny nor defer nor sell Justice When our Judge came upon the Bench he knew no more than Melchisedeck or Levi Father or Mother neither Friend nor Interest For when his Cousin urged for a kindness Come to my House saith the Judge I will deny you nothing come to the King's Court and I must do you Justice And when the Attorney-General bespake his Favour in a publick Cause Troble not your self said he I will do the King Right The King is cast the Attorney expostulates the Judge satisfieth him That he could not do his Majesty Right if he had not done Justice Lloyd 's State Worthies p. 115. 4. Sir Matthew Hale would never receive private Addresses or Recommendations from the greatest Persons in any matter in which Justice was concern'd One of the first Peers of England went once to his Chamber and told him that having a Sute at Law to be try'd before
c. by Mr. Boreman 24. Henry Hilton of Hilton in the County Palatine of Durham Esq gave by his Will for the Term of Fourscore and nineteen years to the Vicar of Warmouth 20 l. per Annum to the Lord-Mayor and four senior Aldermen of the City of London 100 l. per Annum for their Pains in distributing his Legacies to a Clark for keeping the Accounts 10 l. per Annum Item For binding five Children of his Kindred Apprentices yearly Item The Interest of 4000 l. for binding poor Fatherless Children Apprenties yearly It. To his Servant Nicholas Sturt his Lease of Clapham-Farm but 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. to the paid yearly out of it to his Servant John Cartret and all his Horses c. Apparel Books and Plate and 30 l. in Money It. to all the rest of his Servants 20 l. apiece To his Friend Mr. Thomas Bradford of London 100 l. To Richard Williams of Chichester Gen. 30 l. For Erecting Tombs in St. Paul's Church London near the Tomb of Dr. Donn 1000 l. in a Codicil to Robert Doily Minister of Goring 30. Item He gave to poor Labourers in all the Parishes hereafter named Four and twenty pounds a year during the said Term of Fourscore and nineteen years In the County Palatine of Durham Hibton 24 l. Fulwell 24 l. Warmouth 24 l. Ousworth Magna 24 l. Hartlepoole 24 l. Lumley 24 l. Gateside 24 l. Chester in the Street 24 l. Herrington 24 l. Ferryhill 24 l. Darlton 24 l. Sunderland 24 l. Houghton 24 l. Reuton 24 l. Bramspech 24 l. Lanchester 24 l. Brakley 24 l. Southstreet 24 l. Newcastle 24 l. Durham 48 l. In the County of Sussex Clapham 24 l. Patching 24 l. Subdeanery in Chichester 24 l. Findon 24 l. Terring 24 l. Poling 24 l. Arundel 24 l. Angmering 24 l. Selsey 24 l. Stenning 24 l. Bramber 24 l. Bright Helmston 24 l. Lewis 24 l. New Shoreham 24 l. In Surrey Waltham upon Thames 24 l. Richmond 24 l. Lambeth 24 l. Camberwell 24 l. Barking 24 l. In Middlesex Clement Deans 24 l. The Total Sum amonting to One thousand two hundred sixty two pounds Six shillings and eight pence CHAP. XLII Remarkable Chastity CHastity is a Grace which sets bounds to all the Pleasures of the Flesh and teacheth us how to possess our Vessels in Sanctification and Honour according to the Rules of a single Life or a Married State and this certainly is the Will of God even our Sanctification which was intimated by the old Judaical Circumcision And 't is a Vertue that requires Self-denial in some more in some less according to the Constitution of the Body and the Strength of Accidental Temptations and to inforce this Duty we are to remember our near Relation to the Holy Jesus and the Holy Ghost whose Members and whose Temples we are which are the Two new Arguments of the New Testament 1. Origen to preserve himself Chast lay upon the bare ground a-nights abstained from Wine and castrated himself and when he was put to that hard Dilemma whether he would rather expose his Body to a Black-a-moor or offer Incense to an Idol-God he chose the last 2. Cyprian chiefly studied to keep his Body continent and clean from fleshy Lusts saying That then his Heart would be truly fit to reach the full Capacity and Vnderstanding of the Truth if once he could crample under Concupiscence Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 3. Ephrem Syruâ— shunn'd the Sight of a Woman insomuch that when one of an ill Life and impudent Face by Subbornation as is supposed met and stared him in the Face he rebuked her sharply for it and had her look upon the ground but the Woman answered How can I do that who am not made of the Earth but of thee c. Ephrem went his way wrote a Book of of these Passages between them which the Learned in the Syrian Tongue must esteem Ibid. 4. S. Augustine never admitted Women into his House though of his own Kindred no not his own Sister when she was a Widow and had wholly devoted herself to the Service of God nor his Uncle's Daughter nor his Brother's Daughter saying That though they might dwell in his House without Suspicion yet they could not dwell without Maids or other Women coming to visit them which would be offensive and scandasous And when any Women sent to him desiring to speak with him he would always have some of his Ministers present and would never do it alone Ibid. 5. S. Bernard looking upon a fair Woman so long till he found the fire of Lust begin to burn within him recollected his Thoughts presently and blushing for Shame ran straight-way into a Pool the Weather being then cold up to the Neck where he stayed till he was almost starved and the Flame of his Lust extinguished and thereupon resolved afterwards to enter into a Monastery of the Cistertians the then strictest Order of Friars to retire from the World and enjoy a more free Communion with God Ibid. p. 104. 6. The Chastity of the Primitive Christians appeared in these Particulars 1. They would not marry Justin Martyr saith There were many Christians in his time who for sixty or seventy years kept themselves uncorruptâ— 'T is very easy to find many amongst us both Men and Women who remain unmarried even in old Age. Athenag leg pro Christian yet this without the Obligation of an Oath of Perpetual Virginity 2. When they did Marry it is for no other end but the bringing forth and bringing up of Children as Husbandmen Till the Ground with respect to the Crop at Harvest Just Mart. 3. They seldom married twice Chrysostom's Mother at 40 years old had lived 20 years a Widow Tertullian Cyprian Herom Athenagoras c. did inveigh bitterly against second Marriages as little better than Aduitery 4. They shunned all Occasions c. Going to Feasts Dancing and Musick See more in my Flist of all Religions 7. Beringarius is reported not to have suffered any Women to come in his sight not because he was a Hater of the Sex but because he was to deal with dangerous Adversaries he would warily cut off all Occasions of Suspicion Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 3. 8. St. Hierom relates a Story of a certain young Man named Nicetas under one of the Primitive Persecutors who was of such an invincible Courage and Constancy that the Adversaries of the Truth had no hope of prevailing by Tortures and Torments against him and therefore they took another Course with him They brought him into a most fragrant Garden flowing with all manner of sensual Pleasures and Delights and there they laid him upon a Bed of Down safely inwrapped in a Net of Silk amongst the Lillies and Roses with the delicious Murmur of the Streams and the sweet Whistling of the Leaves and then all departed Presently in comes a beautiful Strumpet and useth all the Abominable Tricks of her impure Art and whorish Villanies to draw him to her Desire
Chin were all covered over with Scabs Wheals and Scales so as no Barber could nor would shave him she with her little Scissars played the Barber and made him a deft Beard From this Sickness he fell into another which lasted seven years During which time with incredible Diligence she made ready his Meat put in his Tents laid on his Plaisters dressed and bound up his Thighs all rotten with Scabs and Ulcers his Breath was such that none durst come near by ten paces and abide by it which yet she protested was sweet to her This long Sickness and the Nourishing and Medicining of a Body oppressed by so many Diseases was a great matter in a House that had no Rents or Profits coming in and where Trade had ceased of a long time and consequently the Gain She therefore to furnish Expences sold her Precious Jewels her Gold Chains her rich Carcanets her Garments of great value a Cupboard of Pâ—ate not caring for any thing so her Husband was relieved and contenting her self with little so he wanted nothing Thus Valdaura lingred on a Life by the help of his Wife within a rotten Body or rather within a Grave for Twenty years together in which time she had eight Children by him yet neither she not they had so much as a Scab Wheal or Pimple in any part of their Bodies Valdaura died an old Man for whose Death his Wife Clara made so much Mourning as they who knew her well say never Woman did for any Husband When some instead of comforting her told her God had done much in taking him away and that they therefore came to congratulate with her She detested their Speeches wishing for her Husband again in exchange of five Children and though she was yet both young and lusty and sought to by many she resolved not to marry saying She should never meet with any whom she could like so well as her Dear Bernard Valdaura Lud. viv de Christian Faemina l. 2. p. 360. Camerar Oper. subciscent 1. c. 51. p. 226. 8. The Lord of Harlem in the Low-Countries having by his Exactions and Cruelty made himself odious to all his People was together with his Wife besieged in his Castle by them and so prest for want of Victuals that he was compelled to enter into Treaty His Wife a true Mirrour of Piety and Love towards her Husband amongst other Articles Capitulated That she might have so much of her most precious Movables as she could carry out at one time the which being granted the with the help of her Chamber-Maids carried her Husband lockt in a Chest out of the Castle leaving all her Rings and Jewels behind her Belg. Com. Wealth p. 55. 9. In the Bohemian Persecution we read of the Major of Litomeritia who apprehended Twenty four Godly Citizens of whom his own Son-in-Law was one and after he had almost pined there in Prison he adjudged them to be drowned in the River Albis whereupon his Daughter wringing her Hands and falling at her Father's Feet besought him to spare her Husband but he harder than a Rock bid her hold her Peace saying What can you not have a worthier Husband than this To which she answered You shall never more espouse me to any And so beating her Breast and tearing her Hair she followed her Husband to the River and when he was cast into the midst of the River bound she leaped in and caught him about the middle but being unable to draw him forth they were both drowned together and the next Day were found embracing one another Clark's Mar. V. 1. p. 289. 10. Philip Sir-named the Good Duke of Burgundy married the Sister of Charles the Dauphin and not long after this Charles basely and perfidiously slew Philip's Father whereupon Philip being full of Anger and Grief went to his wife saying O my Wife thy Brother hath murthered my Father Upon this his Wife that loved him dearly burst forth into Tears and Lamentations fearing least this Act of her Brother's would make a Breach betwixt her Husband and her which her Husband taking Notice of comforted her saying Be of good cheer tho' it was thy Brother's yet it is not thy Fault neither will I esteem or love thee the less for it c. Which accordingly he made good so long as they lived together Lip Exem Pol. p. 200. 11. Budaeus that learned French-man had a great help of his Wife in Points of Learning she used to be as busie in his Study as about her Huswifery Clark's Mar. V. 1. C. 65. p. 291. 12. Mrs. Katherine Clark was singular and very exemplary in that Reverence and Obedience which she yielded to her Husband both in Words and Deeds She never rose from the Table even when they were alone but she made Courtesie She never drank to him without bowing his Word was a Law unto her she often denied herself to gratifie him and when in her Sickness and Weakness he mentioned her Case in particular unto God in his Prayer the Duty being ended she would make him Courtesie and Thank him In case of his absence she would pray with her Family Morning and Evening the like she would do in his Presence in case of his Sickness and Inability to perform the Duty himself Her Modesty and Chastity were rare and remarkable but fitter to be conceived by those which know what belongs to them than to be expressed in Words for there is a Conjugal as well as a Virginal and Vidual Chastity In case of her Husband's Sickness she was a tender diligent and painful Nurse about him skilful and careful in making him Broaths and what else was needful for him If at any time she saw him in Passion with sweet and gentle Words she would mollifie and moderate it She was often a Spur but never a Bridle to him in those things which were good She was always well pleased with such Habitations as in their many Removes he provided for her and with such Apparel and Diet as his Means which was sometimes short would allow She never grutched nor grumbled at any of those Dispensations which God's All-wise Providence carved out unto them Clark's Lives last Vol. p. 154. 13. Madam de Saint Blanker Wife to the late magnanimous Mareschal de Biron was Visited by a Lady of great Birth who brought with her very goodly Works of Silk which she and her Daughters had wrought in Samplers She brought with her also one of her Children that danced delicately and played sweetly on the Gittern whom she shewed to the Lady Mareschal that she and her Children should learn to spend their time in the like delightful Exercises Madam Mareschal made her Answer That she could not devise any better Works Exercises wherein to instruct her Sons and Daughters that in the Fear of God and good Means whereby their Hearts would become magnanimous to do Service for their King according as their Father had formerly done And indeed all the Male-Children issuing of her
that had any Children whom they were willing to have taught English and to Read and Write and to learn the Catechism and where he met with a competent Number he enquired for fit Persons to instruct them a Man for the Boys and a Woman for the Girls and agreed with them as afore for a Penny or Two-pence a Week which he undertook to pay It was a great Work incumbent upon Mr. Gouge not only to have poor Children taught to Read and Write and to be carefully instructed in the Principles of Religion but the Persons of grown Age the Poor especially should be furnished with necessary Helps and Means of Knowledge as the Bible and other good Books in their own Language among which were The Practice of Piety The Church Catechism The Duty of Man with some other pious and useful Treatises of which he caused a great Number to be Translated and Printed and to be sent down to all the chief Towns in Wales to be sold at easie Rates to those that were able to buy them and to be freely given to such Poor as were not able In both these Designs through the Blessing of God upon his unwearied Endeavours he found very great and good Success for by the large and bountiful Contributions which chiefly by his Industry and prudent Application were obtained from charitable Persons of all Ranks and Conditions from some of the Nobility and Gentry of Wales and of the Neighbouring Counties and of several of that Quality in and about London as also from some of the Reverend Bishops and Clergy and from the Inexhausted Fountain of Charity the City of London led on and encouraged by the most bountiful Example of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to all which he constantly added Two Thirds of his Estate which was very considerable I say by all these together there were every Year Eight hundred and sometimes a Thousand poor Children Educated as afore is expressed And by his Example and Perswasions with the Magistrates in all the chief Towns in Wales he prevailed with them to maintain and bring up at their own Charges the like Number of poor Children and under his Inspection and Care He also gave a very great Number of Books afore spoken of both in the Welch and in the English Tongues to such of the poorer sort as were unable to buy and willing to read and make use of them But that which was the greatest Work of all and amounted indeed to a mighty Charge was this He procured a new and very fair Impression of the Bible and Liturgy of the Church of England in the Welch Tongue to the Number of Eight thousand One thousand whereof were freely given to the Poor and the rest were sent to the Cities and principal Towns in Wales to be sold to the Rich at very reasonable and low Prizes viz. at Four Shillings a piece well bound and Clasped which was much cheaper than any English Bible that was of so fair a Print and Paper was ever sold for See the Narrative of his Life 2. For the Highlands in Scotland The Honourable Robert Boyle Esq commiserating the Ignorance of the poor Highlanders agreed with one Mr. W. Hewsdon M. A. formerly of Edinburgh for 10 l. and the Defraying of all his Charges to make a Journey into those Parts and procure a fit Person to Translate for him the New Testament Psalter and Church Catechism into Irish who accordingly went and procured one Mr. Kirk for the purpose The Translation being finished and Printed at Mr. Boyle's Charge he with Mr. Kirk made a Journey into those Highlands dispersed the Books according to Discretion Mr. Kirk stayed there many Years 'till about a Year or two ago he died there but not 'till he had seen the great Success of the Translation and his own Pains amongst them Insomuch that tho' before they had not any Books of Religion in their own Language yet in a short time many Schools were set up and so greedy were the People to learn the Contents of these new Books that in the Schools near Port O Kirk Seventeen of the Scholars turned Masters and so bred Seventeen Scholars more for the East West and North Highlands old People redeeming their time from their ordinary Labour to get Knowledge and in two Years and a half they came ordinarily to Church with their Psalters in their Hand viz. to South-End in Kentaire to the North of Sunderland in Kaithness Backham c. where there hath been a Sermon every Lord's-Day since 1684 and a Lecture on a Week-Day There are Schools Erected for the Teaching of Latin Greek and Hebrew People very industrious to learn a great Emendation of Manners the People extreamly thankful to God Almighty for raising up such a one as Mr. Boyle to distribute his Charity among them I am informed there is a Printed Relation of this Great Work and the Success of it but not being able to procure it I am satisfied with this Account of it signed with the aforesaid Mr. Hewsdon's own Hand and attested by Sir Peter Pett 3. For the East-Indians in the Isle Formosa near China Mr. Robert Junius late of Delpht in Holland was Nominated by the Honoured and Pious Senate of the famous Expedition of the Vnited Provinces for the Conversion of the Eastern Indians and particularly in Formosa who accordingly undertook the Charge went over to the Place bestowed much Pains in laying the Ground-work and Principles of Religion amongst them so that of Persons grown up Adult in that Isle of Formosa 5900 of both Sexes gave up their Names to Christ and professing their Faith and giving fit Answers to Questions propounded out of the Word of God were baptized by him He set up School-masters to instruct others and gained Six hundred Scholars to Read and Write collected the chief Heads of Religion and composed several Prayers and translated certain Psalms into the Formosan Language this in the Northern Parts mostly but in the Southern also he planted Churches in Three and twenty Towns and promoted the Worship of the True God At last having set divers Pastors over them being grown weak and unserviceable in Body and desirous to see his Aged Mother and Native Country he returned home again This Narration is Published in Latin by Casp Sabellius and prefixed to his Book called Antidotum Ambitionâ—â— and Printed at the Charge of J. Jansonius Amsterdam and attested by several others See the Narrative published at London 1650. 4. Foro the Indians in New-England Mr. Winslow in several Relations gives this following Account First Time Octob. 28. 1646. Four of us saith he having sought God went according to Appointment to the Wigwam or Tent made of Boughs and Mats of Waaubon an Indian Governour who had given up his Eldest Son before to be Educated by the English in the Knowledge of GOD where we found many Indians gathered together from all Quarters to learn of us the Knowledge of GOD.
the Temptations of Satan with great Courage praying absolutely for Death and expressing her self in such sweet Words as these Come sweet Christ Come my Lord Jesus O send thy pursuivant sweet Jesus to fetch me O sweet Jesus strengthen thy Servant and keep thy Promise Then singing a Psalm most sweetly and with a chearful Voice she desired her Husband that the 133th Psalm might be sung before her to Church See her Life CHAP. LXXVII Present Retribution to the Merciful BLessed are the Merciful for they shall obtain Mercy He that considers the poor and needy the Lord will consider him in time of trouble The Righteous is ever merciful and lendeth therefore shall his Seed be blessed If we give credit to the Doctrine of our Religion and Experience is ready to give Suffrage to the Truth of it Tho' Human Nature be much degenerate yet is not altogether without Bowels and Compassion and if it were divine Providence is not so fast asleep as to suffer ordinarily the merciful Man to be utterly forsaken 1. After what manner Compassion and Mercy doth sometimes meet with unexspected Rewards methinks is pritily represented by Vrsinus Velius in his Verses thus Englished 'A Fisher angling in a Brook ' With a strong Line and baited Hook ' When he found his wished Prey did pull ' It hapned he brought up a Skull ' Of one before drowned which imprest 'A pious Motion in his Breast ' Thinks he since I such leisure have ' Upon it I 'll bestow a Grave ' For what did unto it befal ' May chance to any of us all ' He takes it wraps it in his Coat ' And bears it to a place remote 'To bury it and then digs deep ' Because the Earth it safe should keep ' And lo in digging he espies ' Where a great heap of Treasures lies ' The Gods do never prove ingrate 'To such as others commiserate 2. Whilst Dr. Edwin Sandes remained at Shaftsburgh he was chsefly maintained by one Mr. Isaac an English Gentleman of Kent and one that suffered Exile for the same Cause of Christ who so intirely loved him that he was always more ready to give then Dr. Sandes was ready to receive so that he gave him above an hundred Marks which in those days would go further then two hundred Pounds now And Dr. Sandes afterwards returning to England and being preferred here to the Archbishoprick of York very gratefully afterwards repayed it again Mr. Clark in his Life 3. One Mr. John Lane of Horsley-down-lane Southwark in a Letter directed to us on occasion of this Undertaking desires this Passage may not go without our Remark tho' it be of an inferious Nature One Widow Wilkinson late of St. Olives Southwark being a good serious Christian and of a compassionate Soul tho' very poor herself coming one Evening from a Week-days Lecture found several People beginning and amongst the rest a Woman with several Children professing that she had not one Farthing to buy a Candle with to light her Children to Bed The poor Widow observing the concernedness of the Woman and that most of the People were passed by without bestowing any Charity upon her was so touched in her Bowels with the consideration of her case that she had but one Half-penny in the World nor any Candle at home to light her self to Bed with yet she gave her that and going home she found a Candle lying on some Stall in St. Tooley's street 4. I knew a Minister about twenty Years ago or less That being sent for to visit a sick Woman of his Parish found her complain more of her temporal then spiritual Wants and insist more upon her Poverty then either her disease of Body or distemperature of Soul the Minister was pinched with the consideration and moved in his Bowels but being withal so straitned in Purse at that time that he had not above six Pence in all the World after some debate with his own Thoughts he gave her that little all which he had rather chusing to put himself upon the divine Providence than give the poor Woman occasion of thinking hardly of him or the Gospel for his sake Afterwards he return'd home and tells the Family where he was a Boarder in a free and jesting manner what a poor Parson they had for such was the natural temper of the Man At going to Bed one of the Family comes privately to him and offers him three or four Shillings to keep his Pocket with and the next Morning coming from Church being Nov. 5. a Stranger of another Parish famed for his Covetousness came to him and as a Free-will-Offering gave him half a Crown and this being taken notice of and communicated from one Neighbour to another as the Sign and Token of a compassionate Man the Parishoners were so affected with it that they loaded him with extraordinary Kindnesses afterward as a People resolved that he should never want whilst he lived amongst them his Income at that time being not above twenty Pounds a Year This I can assure my Reader to be true of my own personal Knowledge See more in the Chapter of Present Retribution to the Charitable 5. Androdus a Dacian standing ready in the Arena and having a Lyon let our upon him received no hurt for the Lyon came sawning upon him and caressed him and he likewise stroaked the Lyon and made much of him and after the loud Shouts of the People being ask'd How this came to pass he let them know That being with his Master in Africa to get rid of his hard Service he had fled into a Cave whither this Lyon came with a Splinter in his Foot and held up his wounded Paw to him to cure which having performed and healed his Foot the Lyon kept him and provided Meat for him Three Years and when he came away the Lyon followed him so far that he was taken and brought to Rome and that by the further Cruelty of his Master he was now accused and condemned to the Beasts where they found him Whereupon his Liberty was granted him and the Lyon given him for his Pains with which he afterwards got his Living every one being desirous to see the Lyon that was the Man's Host and the Man that was the Lyon'd Surgeon Dr. Brown's Travels p. 211. This Story I heard a worthy Bishop of our Church not long ago relate at Table for credible Somewhat like this is to be found in the Life of St. Hierome of a Lyon that came one Morning into his School with a Thorn in his Foot which when St. Hierome had pulled out the Lyon waited upon him went to Posture with some Asses that brought Fuel to the School every Morning with many other Circumstances which I forbear to relate because I look upon it as fabulous CHAP. LXXVIII Earnest of a Future Retribution GRotius indeed saith That Austin and other Fathers teach that we are certain of the Reward if we persevere and this is the Faith which cannot
a Staff only And now he is greatly increased in Strength feeds moderately sleeps well and his Intellects and Faculties are become exceeding clear and strong His Wife behaved herself toward him all the while he lay under this great Affliction with great Care and Affection and by an honest and industrious course of Life supported him and his Children Attested by Rich. Parr D. D. of Camerwel Tho. Gale D. D. Will. Perry M. A. N. Paget M. D. Elias Ashmole And. Needham Curate of Lambeth c. 6. In the Year 1676 about the thirteenth or fourteenth of this Month October in the Night between one and two of the Clock Jesch Claes being a Dutch Woman of Amsterdam who for fourteen Years had been Lame of both legs one of them being dead and without feeling so that she could not go but creep upon the Ground or was carried in peoples Arms as a Child being in Bed with her Husband who was a Boatman she was three times pulled by her Arm with which she awaked and cryed out O Lord What may this be Hereupon she heard an Answer in plain Words Be not afraid I come in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Your Malady which hath for many Years been upon you shall cease and it shall be given you from God Almighty to walk again But keep this to your self till further Answer Whereupon she cryed aloud O Lord that I had a Light that I might know what this is Then had she this Answer There needs no Light the Light shall be given you from God Then came Light all over the Room and she saw a beautiful Youth about ten Years of Age with curled yellow Hair Clothed in White to the Feet who went from the Beds-head to the Chimney with a Light which a little after vanished Hereupon did there shoot something or gush from her Hip or diffuse it self through her Leg as a Water into her great Toe where she did find Life rising up felt it with her Hand crying out Lord give me my Feeling now which I have not had in so many Years And further she continued crying and praying to the Lord according to her weak Measure Yet she continued that Day Wednesday and the next Day Thursday as before till Evening at six a Clock at which time she sate at the Fire dressing the Food Then came as like a rushing Noise in both her Ears with which it was said to her Stand your going is given you again Then did she immediately stand up that had so many Years crept and went to the Door Her Husband meeting her being exceedingly afraid drew back In the mean while she cryed out My dear Husband I can go again The Man thinking it was a Spirit drew back saying You are not my Wife His Wife taking hold of him said My dear Husband I am the self-same that hath been Married these thirty Years to you The Almighty God hath given me my Going again But her Husband being amazed drew back to the side of the Room till at last she claspt her Hand about his Neck and yet he doubted and said to his Daughter Is this your Mother She answered Yes Father this we plainly see I had seen her go also before you came in This Person dwells upon Princes Island in Amsterdam This Account was sent from a Dutch Merchant procured by a Friend for Dr. R. Cudworth and contains the main Particulars that occur in the Dutch Printed Narrative which Monsieur Van Helmont brought over with him to my Lady Conway at Ragley who having enquired upon the spot when he was there at Amsterdam though of a genious not at all credulous of such Relations found the thing to be really true As also â—hilippus Lambergius in a Letter to Dr. Henry Moor sent this Testimony touching the Party cured That she was always reputed a very honest good Woman and that he believed there was no Fraud at all in that Business Glanvile's Saducism Triumph p. 427. 7. In this place may be accounted the strange way of curing the Struma or Scrophula commonly called the Evil which took its Derivation first of all from King Edward the Confessor and hath in after Ages been effected by the Kings of England and of France Concerning which take only this Story discoursing upon a time with Mr. Philip Caryll of Shipley in Sussex a Roman Catholick concerning Miracles done in this last Age in this Nation he produced this for an Instance That his Son being affected with that Distemper he having no Faith in the case was earnestly perswaded to address himself to King Charles the Second for a Touch of his Hand which having procured his Son was restored to perfect Health which he declared to me calling his Son into company and shewing him perfectly healed 8. Galen had a Man in Cure that had an Artery in his Ankle-bone half cut in sunder whereby he lost all his Blood before any Remedy could be applyed to him He writeth That he was advertised in his Sleep by some God or Angel that he should cut the Artery quite in sunder and the Ends would retire to each side and so lock together again When he awaked he executed what his Dream had represented to him and by that means cured the Man Treas of Ancient and Modern Times l. 5. p. 475. 9. A young Woman Married but without Children had a Disease about her Jaws and under her Cheek like unto Kernels and the Disease so corrupted her Face with Stench that she could scarce without great shame speak unto any Man This Woman was admonished in her Sleep to go to King Edward and get him to wash her Face with Water brought unto him and she should be whole To the Court she came and the King hearing of the matter disdained not to undertake it but having a Basin of Water brought unto him he dipped his Hand therein and washed the Womans Face and touched the diseased Part oftentimes sometimes also signing it with the Sign of the Cross When he had thus washed it the hard Crust or Skin was softned the Tumors dissolved and drawing his Hand by divers of the Holes out thence came divers little Worms whereof and of corrupt Matter and Blood they were full The Kings still pressed it with his Hand to bring forth the Corruption and endured the Stench of it until by such pressing he had brought forth all the Corruption This done he commanded her a sufficient Allowance every day for all things necessary until she had received perfect Health which was within a Week after and whereas she was ever before Barren within one Year she had a Child by her Husband This Disease hath since been called the Kings Evil and is frequently cured by the Touch of the Kings of England Stew's Annals p. 98. 10. Sir John Cheeke was once one of the Tutors to King Edward the Sixth afterwards Secretary of State much did the Kingdom value him but more the King for being once desperately
living in the same Family with David Wright we were Eye and Ear-witnesses of the Truth of the foregoing Particulars concerning him and in confirmation of the Verity thereof we have hereto put our Hands both Sons to Wright 's Mistress Slape Drever Thomas Drever Thomas Child Joseph Morgan Ibid. See more in the Chapters of The Existence of Good Angels and Present Retribution to the Devout and Praying c. 13. We have this Account from a credible Hand viz. That about two Years ago the Apprentice of Mr. Welby in East-Smithfield was taken Dumb but recovered by the help of a neighbouring Doctor After a few days he lost his Speech again but by the direction of a second Doctor recovered it once more but falling into a third Relapse the Physicians could give him no help About two Months the young Man had a Vision in his Dream of a Man that advised him to take the Fat of a Lamb and anoint himself therewith and apply the Heart hot to his Throat he had the same Apparition a second time upon which Physicians and Divines were consulted who thought it a Delusion of the Devil and disswaded him from it The Apparition coming the third time told him 'T was no Delusion and as a Token that it was not he should lose the Vse of his left Arm which fell out accordingly and he advised him to use the Remedy upon the â—4th of August and to take the Air for a Month or it would be worse for him Upon which he went to High-Gate and applying the Remedy recovered his Speech next day and had the Use of his Arm restored Postscript to the Flying-Post Aug. 22. 1696. 14. Sozomen tells us That the Queen of Iberia being taken with an incurable Disease was miraculously restored to perfect Health by a Christian Woman at the Invocation of the Name of Christ I shall give my Reader the Story at length out of Socrates Scholasticus There was saith he a certain Godly and Devout Woman taken Captive of the Iberians a People dwelling nigh the Euxine Sea this Woman being a Captive and having her Conversation with Barbarians gave herself wholly to Godliness for she exercised very much the Discipline of Continency using a severe kind of Abstinence and applying herself wholly to fervent Prayer which when the Barbarians perceived they wondered at the strangeness of the Act. It fell out that the King's Son of very tender Years fell into a dangerous Disease the Queen after that Countrey-manner sent the Child to other Women for Physick to try if Experience had taught them any Medicine that might Cure that Malady But when the Nurse had carried the Child about to every Woman I suppose he means every neighbouring Woman that made any Profession of Skill that way and could procure Remedy of none at length he is brought to this Captive Woman who in the presence of many more Women who without the Application of any other Salve or Medicine took the Child laid her Sack-cloth upon him and said only these Words Christ which healed many will also heal this Infant When she had uttered these Words and prayed unto God for his Aid and Assistance the Child forthwith recovered and from that time enjoyed perfect Health The fame of this Act was bruted abroad among all the Barbarian Wives and at length came to the Queen's Ear so that the Captive Woman was much talked of A while after the Queen herself fell sick and this simple Woman was sent for she refused to go lest peradventure some Violence contrary to the Modesty of her Nature should be offered to her the Queen then was conveyed to her she practised the like as she had done before unto the Child the Queen is rid of her Disease thanks the Woman for the Cure but the Woman answered 'T is not my doing but Christ's the Son of God and Maker of Heaven and Earth She exhorts the Queen to call upon him and acknowledge him for the True God The King marveling at this strange Cure commanded that the Woman should be bountifully rewarded Who made Answer That she wanted no Riches but esteemed Godliness a great Treasure and that the King should receive a precious Jewel if he would acknowledge that God whom she professed with these Words she returned back the Rewards The King laid up all these sayings in his Breast the next day as the King went a Hunting the Hills and Forest where his Game lay were over-cast with dark Clouds and a thick Mist the Game was uncertain and doubtful the way stop'd and intricate the King being at his Wits end not knowing what was best to do calls upon the Gods whom he accustomed to serve but they stood him in no stead it came to his mind to think upon the God of the Captive Woman unto him he turns and cries for Help as soon as he had Prayed unto him the Cloud was dissolved and the Mist scattered and the King wondring returns home to his Wife and told what had happened Immediately he fends for the Captive Woman and after some Instructions from her turns Christian erects a House of Prayer and makes a Proclamation to his People to receive the same Faith Sozom. l. 2. c. 6. Socrat. Schol. l. 5. c. 16. Ruffin l. 1. c. 10. Theodorat l. 1. c. 23. Centur. Magd. cent 4. c. 13. Ruffinus saith The King of the Iberian 's Name was Bacurius In the Preface of a French Treatise Entituled Harmonie des Propheties anciennes avec les Modernes which was Printed at Cologn in the Year 1687 I find this very wonderful Passage which I choose to mention in this place as contributing to the Explication of them that are to follow Madam Mingot the Widow of a Chyrurgion of the City of Caen in Normandy had several unaccountable Revelations made unto her that she kept wholly secret but there was one which by a Miracle that accompanied it was put beyond the possibility of Secrecy She was afflicted with a Palsey eight or ten Years together in her Limbs which rendred her altogether Impotent and her Impotency was not the less for her being fourscore Years of Age. But one Day when she was at Prayer before the God of Heaven for the Deliverance of his Church from the Confusions then upon it in the heat and heighth of the French Persecution it was audibly said unto her Thy Prayers are heard the afflicted Church shall be speedily and gloriously delivered but it has yet something more to suffer She was commanded herewithal to make this Revelation known unto her Brethren and that they might give credit unto her Words it was added The Lord has restored thy Health and Strength unto thee She was immediately and miraculously Healed of her Malady and she walked her self and carried unto her Pastors the Account of this Revelation They wondered at the Miracle and would fain have concealed the Prophecy but the Prophecy could not possibly be hid because of the famous Miracle that attended it
All the Pastors of Caen and a good number of other Protestant Refugees belonging to the Town being in the Low Countreys Anno 1687 offered their unanimous and uniform Testimony to the Truth of this marvellous matter 16. There is likewise an undoubted Relation of a poor but a good Woman belonging to the Congregation of Mr. Daniel Burgess in London She had for many Years laboured under a Fistula in her Hip which had proceeded so far that the very Bone was tainted and she was turned out of the Hospital as Incurable This Person reading with Prayer over it that Passage in Mat. 15.28 Jesus said unto her O Woman Great is thy Faith be it unto thee as thou wilt And feeling her Soul by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ carried forth unto a great Faith in him she found herself immediately and miraculously Cured of all her Malady I have not now the Relation of this matter at hand but this is as far as I can remember the Substance of what I received concerning it It was about the beginning of December 1694. 17. In a Letter from the Reverend Mr. John How I find the ensuing Passages which I take the leave to expose unto the Publick It gives among us writes that wort by Man some Reviving to the Languishing Interest of Christianity and some Check to the Infidel Spirit that under the falsely assumed name of Deism would turn all Revealed Religion and indeed all Religion into Ridicule that God is pleased to own it by some late miraculous Cures wrought upon the Acting of Faith in Christ 18. That excellent Person proceeding then to recite some of the Instances which we have already mentioned he adds A fourth I have late certain Knowledge of but the thing was done six Years ago a Blackamooryouth Servant unto a religious Baroner He lately dining at my House assured me That his Servant having a great Aversion to Christianity and refusing Instruction was struck with universal Pains in all his Limbs which continued upon him a Year and half like Rheumatical but relieved by none of the apt usual Means that are wont to give Relief in such cases At length in his Torments which were great he grew serious instructible penitent and by the frequent Endeavours of the Parochial Minister a good man known to me brought to an understanding Acknowledement of Christ upon which Baptism being promised to him he consented but pressed to be carried unto the Assembly that he might own Christ publickly Upon the doing whereof he was immediately Cured and hath continued well ever since These are great Things Hallelujah Preparatives I hope to the Revival of Christianity and I fear to terrible Acts of Vengance upon obstinate persevering Infidels 19. Susanna Arch was a miserable Widow for divers Years overwhelmed with an horrid Leprosie which the Physicians that saw it pronounced incurable but from that very time that they told her so a strange perswasion came into her Mind that the Lord Jesus Christ would Cure her That Scripture came frequently into her Mind Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean and she found herself enabled to plead this before him with some degree of Confidence that at last she should prevail She resolved that she would rely on the Lord Jesus Christ who in the Days of his Flesh when on Earth cured all Diseases and Sicknesses among the People and who had still as much Power now that he is glorified in Heaven She felt many Temptations to weaken her Confidence but still there came in seasonable and agreeable Scriptures with a mighty force upon her to strengthen it as at one time that in Mark 11.22 Have Faith in God At another time that in Job 11.40 Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldst see the Glory of God At another time that in Heb. 10.35 Cast not away your Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Her Leprosie had been complicated with a Phtisick which for many Years afflicted her but in the Month of Novemb 1694. she had her Phtisick removed without any Humane Power and she took that as a Token for Good that she should also be cured of her Leprosie and the late Miracles upon others enlivened this her Hope exceedingly In December the Distemper of this Godly Woman grew worse and worse upon her and when her Mind was uneasie those passages came to mind I know O Lord that thou canst do every thing and Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us On December 26. at Night she was buffeted with some Temptations that her Faith for her Cure having proved but a Fancy her Faith for her Soul must be so too but she cried out unto the Lord Lord I have cast my Soul upon thee and my Body upon thee and I am resolved now to cast all my Diseases upon thee Her Mind was hereupon composed and the next Night putting up her Hand unto her Head first on the one side and then on the other she felt a new Skin on both sides which very much amazed her whereupon she cried out Lord Jesus hast thou begun Thou wilt carry it on She then taking off her Head-Cloaths found the Scurf gone off her Head and a firm Skin appearing there and her Distemper which had extended itself all over her Body from Head to Foot in putrifying Sores was in like manner suddenly taken away to the admiration of all that were Beholders Reader Do not now encourage thy self in a vain Expectation of Miracles to relieve thy particular Afflictions but improve these Miracles as Intimations of what the Lord Jesus Christ can and will quickly do for his afflicted Church in the World These Four last Accounts were Extracted from Mr. Cotton Mather in his Sermon called Things for a Distress'd People Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq 20. OUR English Chronicles do Record That in the Reign of King Henry the Third a Child was born in Kent that at Two Years old cured all Diseases Several Persons have been cured of the King's-Evil by the Touching or Handling of a Seventh Son 21. Samuel Scot Seventh Son of Mr. William Scot of Hedington in Wilt-shire did when a Child wonderful Cures by Touching only viz. as to the King's-Evil Wenns c. but as he grew to be a Man the Vertue did decrease and had he lived longer perhaps might have been spent 22. 'T is certain the Touch of a Dead Hand hath wrought wonderful Effects e. g. One a Painter of Stowel in Somerset-shire near Bridgewater had a Wenn in the inside of his Cheek as big as a Pullet's Egg which by the Advice of one was cur'd by once or twice Touching or Rubbing with a Dead Woman's Hand 23. Mr. Davys Mell the famous Violinist and Clock-maker had a Child Crook-back'd that was cured after the manner aforesaid 24. In Somerset-shire 't is confidently reported That some were cured of the King's-Evil by the Touch of the Duke of Monmouth The Lord
Second Son the Lord Francis was likewise miserably tortured by their wicked Contrivances and his Daughter the Lady Catherine was oft in great danger of her Life by their barbarous Dealings with strange Fits c. The Honourable Parents bore all these Afflictions with Christian Magnanimity little suspecting they proceeded from Witchcraft 'till it pleased God to discover the Villanous Practices of these Women whom the Devil now left to fall into the Hands of Justice for Murdering the Innocent and to remain notorious Examples of God's Judgment to future Ages They were apprehended about Christmas in 1618. and after Examination before divers Justices of Peace who wondred at their audacious Wickedness were all Three ordered to be carried to Lincoln-Jail Joan Flower the Mother it is said called for Bread and Butter by the way and wished it might never go through her if she were guilty of that which was charged upon her and so mumbling it in her Mouth she never spake a word more but fell down and died with horrible Torture both of Soul and Body before she got to the Jail The two Daughters were Examined before Sir William Pelbam and Mr. Butler Justices of Peace Feb. 4. 1618 where Philip the youngest made the following Confession That her Mother and Sister were very malicious against the Earl of Rutland his Countess and their Children because Margaret was turned out of the Lady's Service whereupon her Sister by her Mother's Order brought from the Castle the Right-hand Glove of the Lord Henry Ross who presently rubbed it on the Back of her Spirit called Rutterkin and then put it into boyling Water after which she prickt it very often and then buried it in the Yard wishing the Lord Ross might never thrive And so her Sister Margaret continued with her Mother and she often saw her Imp Rutterkin leap on her Shoulder and suck her Neck She confest also That she often heard her Mother curse the Earl and his Lady and would thereupon boyl Blood and Feathers together using many Devilish Speeches and strange Gestures She likewise acknowledg'd That she herself had a Spirit sucking her Left-breast in the form of a White Rat which it had done for three or four Years past and that when it came first to her she gave her Soul to it who promised to do her good and to force Tho. Symson to love her if she would suffer it to suck her which she agreed to and that it had suckt her two Nights before Margaret her Sister being Examined agreed in the Confession that Philip had made of their Malice to the Earl and about the young Lord's Glove which for other Circumstances for brevity's sake I here omit 12. About the same time Joan Wilmot of Goadby a Witch was Examined by Sir Henry Hastings and Dr. Fleming Justices in Leicester-shire about the Murther of Henry Lord Ross who declared That Joan Flower told her the Earl of Rutland had dealt badly by her and had put away her Daughter and though she could not have her Will of my Lord himself yet she had sped my Lord's Son and had stricken him to the Heart c. 13. Another Witch called Ellen Green of Stathorn in Leicester-shire was Examined about that time by the same Justices who confessed That Joan Wilmot above-named came to her about six Years since and perswaded her to forsake God and betake herself to the Devil to which she consented who then called two Spirits one like a young Cat which she named Puss and the other in the shape of a Mole which she called Hiff Hiff who instantly came and Wilmot going away left them with her after which they leapt on her Shoulder the Kitling sucking her Neck under her Right-ear and the Mole under her Left in the same place after which she sent the Kitling to a Baker in the Town who had called her Witch and struck her bidding it go and Bewitch him to Death And the Mole she sent to Anne Daws of the same Town upon the same Errand because she had called her Witch Whore and Jade and within a Fortnight after they both died After which she sent them to destroy two Husbandmen named Willison and Williman who died both in ten Days these four she murâ—hered while she dwelt at Waltham When she removed to Stathorn where she now dwelt upon a Difference between her and one Patchet's Wife a Yeoman there Joan Wilmot called her to go and touch Patchet's Wife and Child which she did touching the Woman in Bed and the Child in the Midwife's Arms and then sent her Spirits to Bewitch them to Death the Woman languished a Month before she died but the Child lived only 'till next Day after she had touched it adding that Joan Wilmot had a Spirit sucking on her like a little White Dog which she saw and that she gave her Soul to the Devil to have these Spirits at Command for any mischievous purpose and suffered them to suck her constantly about the Change and Full-Moon 14. One Anne Baker a Witch was likewise Apprehâ—â—◠〈◊〉 and Examined about the same time who confessed before Sir George Mannors and Dr. Fleming 〈◊〉 of Peace That she had a Spirit like a White Dog which she called a good Spirit and that one Peak and one Dennis's Wife of Belvoir told her That the young Lord Henry was dead and that his Glove was buried in the Ground which as it wasted and rotted in like manner did the Lord's Liver rot and waste likewise 15. Margaret and Philip Flower were arraigned at the Assizes at Lincoln before Sir Henry Hobart and Sir Edward Bromley Judges whereupon their confessing themselves Actors in the Destruction of Henry Lord Ross with other damnable Practices they were Condemned and Executed at Lincoln March 11. And the rest questionless suffered according to their Deserts History of Daemons p. 140 141 c. Discov of Witchcraft c. 16. Anno Dom. 1645. There was a notable Discovery of several Witches in Essex and among others one Elizabeth Clark was accused of this horrid Crime and Informations taken against her before Sir Harbottle Grimstone and Sir Thomas Bowes Justices of Peace for that Country John Rivet of Mannintree deposed That about Christmass his Wife was taken sick and lame with such violent Fits that he verily believed her Distemper was more than natural who thereupon went to one Hovey at Hadly in Suffolk who was reckoned a cunning Woman she told him That his Wife was Cursed or Bewitcht by two Women who were her near Neighbours and that she believed she was Bewitcht by Elizabeth Clark alias Bedingfield who lived near their House and that her Mother and some of her Kindred had formerly suffered as Witches and Murtherers At the same time Matthew Hopkins of Mannintree declared upon Oath That this suspected Witch being ordered by the Justices to be watched several Nights for Discovering her wicked Practices he coming into the Room where she was with one Mr. Sterne intending not to
Good in their Estates 'T IS the Observation of the learned and pious Hales of Eaton that Satan being the God of this World doth all he can to make the Bad Rich and the Good Poor And no doubt but as Pevia in Aristophanes the Comedian complained Where ever Plutus comes and takes his Residence he either finds or endeavours to make the People vicious My Business is not here to search into all the Arts of that Abaddon of Souls all the malicious Intrcagues and Insinuations that he useth to confer Wealth upon the Bad and hurt innocent Persons in their Estates The Plot is interwoven with a mixture of so much human Policy for the most parts that 't is neither very easie nor safe to make the discovery We shall only consider the case as abstrasted from near human Arts and Actions 1. Ann Leach of Misley in Essex was likewise apprehended for the same horrid Crime of Witchcraft at that time against whom Richard Edwards of Mannintree deposed That on Sunday afternoon driving his Cows home by her House a black Cow of his which he judged to be very well fell down and died two days after and the next day passing by her House again a white Cow fell down and died in the very same place and being both opened there could be no Disease discovered which might occasion their Death He likewise declared That some Months before he had a Child nursed by one Goody Wiles who dwelt near Elizabeth Clark and Elizabeth Gooding another Witch which Child was taken with strange Fits extending the Limbs and rowling the Eyes and in two days died and he verily believes Ann Leach and Elizabeth Gooding were the death of his Child and so it appeared by Ann Leach 's own Confession which follows Inform. Witches p. 6. Hist of Dem. 2. Ann Leach being examined said That she had a grey Imp sent her and that she with Elizabeth Clark and Gooding sent their Imps about a Year before to kill a black and white Cow of Mr. Edwards's which was done accordingly there were three Imps sent a Black a Grey and a White She likewise confessed That thirty Years before she sent a grey Imp to kill two Horses of Mr. Braggs of Wisley out of Malice to his Wife who told her she was suspected to be a naughty Woman and that she and Gooding sent each of them an Imp to murder Mr. Edwards's Child hers being White and the other Black and that she had her white Imp and two others of Robert Peirce's Wife of Stonk in Suffolk he being her Brother and that these Imps went from one to the other â—â—â—ing Mischief where ever they went and that if she did not imploy them she was never well but when she sent them to act her Revenge she was very healthy and that they usually suck'd these Teats which were discovered on her Body and often spoke to her in a hollow Voice which she plainly understood assuring her she should never feel Hell Torments She confessed further That upon a small Quarrel with Elizabeth the Daughter of Robert Kirk of Mannentree about a Quoif which the Maid refused to give her she sent her Imp to destroy her who accordingly lay languishing a whole Year and then died and that she sent her grey Imp to kill the Daughter of the Widow Rawlings of Misley because she was put out of her Farm and Mrs. Rawlings put in She also confessed That she knew of Elizabeth God 〈◊〉 sending an Imp to vex and torment John Taylor 's Wife of Mannentree and would have discovered 〈◊〉 the Devil would not suffer her And lastly That about eight Weeks before Elizabeth Goodging Anne West and her self met at the House of Elizabeth Clark where there was a Book read wherein there was no goodness She was likewise Tried and Executed at Chelmiford â—he same Year 1645. Inform. Witches p. 8. 3. Joyce Boanes being examined about the same business confessed That about thirteen Years before she had two Imps which came into her Bed in the likeness of Mice and sucked on her Body and that she afterwards employed them to go and kill ten or twelve Lambs belonging to one Richard Welch of St. Osyths which was done accordingly And then to the House of one Thomas Clinch where they killed a Calf a Sheep and a Lamb and that she carried the four Imps afore-mentioned to kill Robert Turner's Servant and that her Imp called Rug made him bark like a Dog Rose Hallybreads forced him to sing several times in the greatest extremity of his Pains Susanna Cocks compelled him to crow like a Cock and the Imp of Margaret Landish caused him to Groan in an extraordinary manner Upon this Confession and other Evidence Joyce Boanes was Condemned and Executed at Chelmsford May 11. 1645. Idem p. 20. 4. Susan Cock upon Examination confessed That Margery Stoakes her Mother lying upon her Death-bed and she coming to see her her Mother privately desired her to entertain two Imps which she said would do her good and that the same Night her Mother died the two Imps came to her accordingly and sucked on her Body one of them being like a Mouse which she called Susan and the other yellow about the bigness of a Cat which she called Bessie and that she employed Bessie with three Imps more belonging to the Witches above-mentioned to kill ten or twelve Sheep of John Spall's against whom she had much Malice because being with Child and desired some Curds of Wife she denied either to give or sell her any She also confessed that what was said about Robert Turner 's Servant was true and further that she and Margaret Landish sent their Imps to one Thomas Mannocks of St. Osyth which killed six or seven of his Hogs in revenge for his refusing to relieve her and saying she was a young Woman and able to work for her Living She and Margaret Landish were both Condemned and Executed at Chelmsford May the 12th 1645. with several others Yea so great a number of these Vassals of Satan were discovered about this time that there were thirty Tryed at once before Judge Coniers at Chelmsford July 25. 1645. whereof fourteen were Hanged and an Hundred more detained in several Prisons in Suffolk and Essex Ibid. p. 22. 5. Elizabeth Clark was accused of horrible Witchcraft in 1645 before Sir Harbottle Grimstone and Sir Thomas Bowes Justices of Peace for Essex She herself likewise confest That she had five Imps of her own and two of the Old Beldam Anne West's and that their Imps sucked upon each other and that Satan would never let her rest 'till she consented to kill the Cattle of Mr. Edward's of Mannintree and the Horse of one Robert Taylor Upon these Informations and her own Confessions Elizabeth Clark was Arraigned Convicted and Executed at Chelmsford March the 27th Inform. Witches p. 6. CHAP. LXXXVI Satan permitted to Hurt the Good in their Souls THough Satan delights in all kind of Mischief yet none pleaseth
their Prescriptions wrought kindly but removed not his Disease he desired divers Christians to pray for him on a Day prefixed and promised to joyn with them as well as he could with some others that should be with him assuring them That he was confident that Disease would not be removed but by Prayer and Fasting The Morning of that Day he had a Fit continued four Hours together upon him and the Devil set upon all that while with most dreadful Temptations telling him he would make him the Scorn of Religion and every Man should reproach it for his sake that had before by his means looked towards it that he should never preach more but should blaspheme the Name of God he had preached with many like Suggestions God gave him Courage Comfort and Victory over them all The Devil told him if he did fast and pray that Day he would torment and hinder him c. We met at the time appointed and Master Rothwel would needs have me to perform the Duty which through God's Goodness I did and the Devil was not permitted to hinder or interrupt him or us and God heard our Prayers so that he had never a Fit after that and the Sabbath-sevennight following he preached but after many Wrestlings with Satan who told him he would make him mad and before all the People in the Pulpit make him a Scorn if he did adventure to preach Nevertheless his Faith in Christ overcame his Fear of Stan and he preached with great Assistance and Comfort upon that Text Psal 116.9 I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living Nevertheless that Sickness did so weaken his Brain that ever after he was inclining to some Infirmities which Love must cover See his Life 3. I have spoke elsewhere of Mr. Charles Langford in his Book to which I refer my Reader only take Notice of the Complaint which he makes concerning his own Case in his own Words If by Fever Melancholly or other Bodily Distempers the Natural Spirits which are the Cursitors between the Body and the Soul are made uncapable of performing their Office aright then is Satan sure to be up and doing every Affliction is an Hour of Temptation the Dark is his Delight now is the time for him to lay his Delusions upon the Fantasie and to charge Sin upon the Soul when he finds it most unable to resist and ready to embrace end believe it Langford's God's Wonderful Mercy in the Mount of Woful Extremity Preface See more in the next Chapter and in the Chapter of Discontentedness c. CHAP. XC Satan Hurting by Temptations Injections c. As for ordinary Temptations to ordinary Sins in the common way they are too obvious to every sensible Christian than to need a particular Discourse all that I intend here is to make a Remark upon some that are more strange and unusual either as to the Greatness of the Sins the Temptations direct to or the Season or the Conveyance For Satan doth not always keep the same Road nor the same Pace but sometimes spurs on with more violence and changeth his Path and varies his Methods sometimes he roars like a Lyon and drives on like Jehu Furiously as if he would drive Souls to Hell without fear of any Opposition or possibility of Remedy 1. Anthony Wildgoose being visited An. 1634 with a violent burning Fever upon Recovery being visited by some Friends who prayed with him and sung a Psalm or two viz. Psal 15. and Psal 13. when they came to the last Verse I will give thanks unto the Lord c. Satan standing at his Right-hand to use his own words tempted him to blaspheme the great and dreadful Name of God with the words of Job's Wife To curse God and die c. And this he forced so vehemently into his Mind that he had no power to resist him insomuch that he thought verily he had done it indeed which occasioned much Trouble of Mind to him so that he had very little Sleep Night or Day and was verily perswaded the Devil would carry away suddenly Body and Soul into Hell and so he continued crying out That he had committed the unpardonable Sin despairing of God's Mercy 'till upon a Minister's Vifit and Instructions he recovered a little but by and by fell into worse Torment of Mind than before as if he had been fallen into the very Depths of Hell and in a Trance of some Hours continuance after he had seemed to converse a-while with Devils who tormented him with Whips on a Bed of Iron he though he was restored from thence and stood upon the Earth and that all the Sky was on a Light-fire and that Jesus was come to judge the Earth and was set upon his Throne and he to appear before him immediately And then looking on himself as a most vile black deformed ugly Creature Oh! thought he if I were but like such and such Afterwards recovering from his Trance and Illness of Body he continued in ill State of Mind a long time sometimes ready to make away himself living melancholly and discontented once putting a Knife to his Throat and drawing Blood but upon better Thoughts he withdrew escaping as a Bird out of the Snare c. Miracles of Mercies p. 2 3 4. 2. While Mr. Eliot was preaching of Christ to the Indians a Demon appeared to a Prince of the Eastern Indians in a shape that somewhat resembled the Person of Mr. Eliot or of an English Minister pretending to be the English-man's God The Spectre commanded him To forbear the Drinking of Rum to observe the Sabbath-day and to deal justly with his Neighbours all which had been inculcated in Mr. Eliot's Ministry promising withal unto him That if he did so at his Death he 'd ascend unto a happy place otherwise descend unto Miseries But the Apparition all the while never said one word about Christ which was the main Subject of Mr. Eliot's Ministry The Sachim received such an Impression from the Apparition that he dealt justly with all Men except in the bloody Tragedies and Cruelties he afterwards committed on the English in our Wars he kept the Sabbath-Day like a Fast frequently attending in our Congregations he would not meddle with any Rum tho' usually his Country-men had rather die than to deny themselves At last and not long since this Demon appeared again unto the Pagan requiring him to kill himself and assuring him That he should revive in a Day or two never to die any more He thereupon divers times attempted it but his Friends very carefully prevented it however at length he found a fair Opportunity for this foul Business and hang'd himself you may be sure without his expected Resurrection But 't is easie to see saith my Author what a Stumbling-block was here laid before the miscrable Indians Mather in Mr. Eliot's Life 3. Mr. Powel speaking concerning a Woman by Name E. C. who at the Birth of a Child she had very great Temptations
her and they would not meddle with her but rather run away from her This Duck never appeared more with her since she was formerly accused before the Justice which was thought to be her Policy that she might be no more suspected thereby This Old Woman was a Widow and of the poorest of the Town in outward shew and yet she had always store of Money which none could tell which way she might come by it Whilst I was thus taking privy Information against her it being the time of Lent when all the Town came to Confession she among the rest came to Church to confess her Sins and brought me the best Present and Offering of the Town for whereas a Rial is common she brought me four and besides a Turkey Eggs Fish and a little Bottle of Honey She thought thereby to get with me a better Opinion than I had of her from the whole Town I accepted of her great Offering and heard her Confession which was of nothing but Trifies which could scarcely be judged sinful Actions I examined her very close of what was the common Judgment of all the Indians and especially of those who dying had declared to myself at their Death that she had Bewitched them and before their Sickness had threatned them with Death about their Beds none but they themselves seeing her To which she replied weeping That she was wronged I asked her How she being a poor Widow without any Sons to help her without any Means of Livelihood had so much Money as to give me more than the richest in the Town How she came by that Fish Turkey and Honey having none of this of her own about her House To which she replied That God loved her and gave her all these Things and that with her Money she bought the rest I asked her of whom She answered That out of the Town she had them I perswaded her to much Repentance and to forsake the Devil and all Fellowship with him buy her Words and Answers were of a Saintly and Holy Woman and she earnestly desired me to give her the Communion with the rest that were to receive the next Day which I told her I durst not do using Christ's Words Give not the Childrens Bread unto Dogs nor cast Pearls unto Swine and it would be a great Scandal to give the Communion unto her who was suspected generally and had been accused for a Witch This she took very ill telling me That she had for many Years received the Communion and now in her Old Age it grieved her to be deprived of it Her Tears were many yet I could not be moved with them but resolutely denied her the Communion and so dismissed her At Noon when I had done my Work in the Church I had my Servants go to gather up the Offerings and gave Order to have the Fish dressed for my Dinner which she had brought but no sooner was it carried into the Kitchin when the Cook looking on it found it full of Moggots and stinking so that I was forced to hurle it away with that I began to suspect my old Witch and went to look on her Honey and pouring it our into a Disâ— I found it full of Worms her Eggs I could not know from others there being near an Hundred offered that day buy after as I used them we found some rotten some with dead Chickens in them the next Morning the Turkey was found dead as for her four Rials I could not perceive whether the had bewitched them out of my Pocket for that I had put them with many other which that day had been given me yet as far as I could I called to Memory who and what had been given me and in my judgment and reckoning I verily thought that I missed four Rials at Night when my Servants the Indians were gone to Bed I sate up late in my Chamber betaking my self to my Books and Study for I was the next Morning to make an Exhortation to those that received the Communion After I had studied a while it being between ten and eleven of the Clock on a sudden the chief Door in the Hall where in a lower Room was my Chamber and the Servants and three other Doors flew open and I heard one come in and for a while walked about then was another Door opened which went into a little Room where my Saddles were laid with this I thought it might be the Blackamore Miguel Dalva who would often come late to my House to Lodge there especially since my fear of Montenegro and I conjectured he was laying up his Saddle I called to him by name twice or thrice from within my Chamber but no Answer was made but suddenly another Door that opened to my Garden flew open wherewith I began within to fear my Joynts trembled my Hair stood an end I would have called out to the Servants and my Voice was as it were stopped with the sudden Affrightments I began to think of the Witch and put my trust in God against her and encouraged my self and Voice calling out to the Servants and knocking with my Cane at the Door within that they might hear me for I durst not open it and go out with the Noise that I made the Servants awaked and came out to my Chamber-door then I opened it and asked if they had not heard some body in the Hall and all the Doors opened they said they were asleep and heard nothing only one Boy said he heard all and related unto me the same that I had heard I took my Candle then in my Hand and went out with them into the Hall to view the Doors and I found them all shut as the Servants said they had left them then I perceived that the Witch would have affrighted me but had no power to do me any harm I made two of the Servants lie in my Chamber and went to Bed in the Morning early I sent for my Fiscal the Clerk of the Church and told him what had happened that Night he smiled upon me and told me it was the Widow Carillo who had often played such tricks in the Town with those that had offended her and therefore he had the Night before come unto me from her desiring me to give her the Communion lest she should do me come hurt which I denied unto him as I had done unto herself the Clerk bade me be of good cheer for he knew she had no power over me to do me any hurt After the Communion that day some of the chief Indians came unto me and told me that old Carillo had boasted that she would play me some trick or other because I would not give her the Communion But I to rid the Town of such a Limb of Satan sent her to Guatamala with all the Evidences and Witnesses that I had found against her unto the President and Bishop who commanded her to be put in Prison where she died within three Months Dr. Burthogge's Essay
for Bewitching Elizabeth Durent Anne Durent Jane Booking Susan Chandler William Durent Elizabeth and Deborah Pacy and the Evidences whereon they were convicted stood upon divers particular Circumstances II. Anne Durent Susan Chandler and Elizabeth Pacy when they came into the Hall to give Instructions for the drawing the Bills of Indictment they fell into strange and violent Fits so that they were unable to give in their Depositions not only then but also during the whole Assizes William Durent being an Infant his Mother swore That Amy Duny looking after her Child one Day in her absence did at her return confess That she had given Suck to the Child tho' she were an Old Woman Whereat when Durent expressed her Displeasure Duny went away with Discontents and Menaces The Night after the Child fell into strange and sad Fits wherein it continued for divers Weeks One Dr. Jacob advised her to hang up the Child's Blanket in the Chimney-corner all Day and at Night when she went to put the Child into it if the found any thing in it then to through it without fear into the Fire Accordingly at Night there fell a great Toad out of the Blanker which ran up and down the Hearth A Boy catch'd it and held it in the Fire with the Tongs where it made an horrible Noise and flash'd like to Gunpowder with a Report like that of a Pistol whereupon the Toad was no more to be seen The next Day a Kinswoman of Duny's told the Deponent That her Aunt was all grievously scorch'd with the Fire and the Deponent going to her House found her in such a Condition Duny told her She might thank her for it but she should live to see some of her Children dead and herself upon Crutches But after the burning of the Toad this Child recovered This Deponent further testified That her Daughter Elizabeth being about the Age of ten Years was taken in like manner as her first Child was and in her Fits complained much of Amy Duny and said That she did appear to her and afflict her in such manner as the former One Day she found Amy Duny in her House and thrusting her out of Doors Duny said You need not be so angry your Child won't live long and within three Days the Child died The Deponent added That she herself not long after was taken with such a Lameness in both her Legs that she was forced to go upon Crutches and she was now in Court upon them It was remarkable that immediately upon the Jury's bringing in Duny Guilty Durent was restored unto the Use of her Limbs and went home without her Crutches III. As for Elizabeth and Deborah Pacy and aged Eleven Years the other Nine the Elder being in Court was made utterly sensless during all the time of the Trial or at least speechless by the Direction of the Judge Duny was privately brought to Elizabeth Pacy and she touched her Hand whereupon the Child without so much as seeing her suddenly leap'd up and flew upon the Prisoner the Younger was too ill to be brought into the Assizes But Samuel Pacy their Father testified That his Daughter Deborah was taken with a sudden Lameness and upon the Grumbling of Amy Duny for being denied something where this Child was then sitting the Child was taken with an extream Pain in her Stomach like the pricking of Pins and shrieking at a dreadful manner like a Whelp rather than a Rational Creature The Physitians could not conjecture the Cause of the Distemper but Amy Duny being a Woman of ill Fame and the Child in Fits crying out of Amy Duny as affrighting her with the Apparition of her Person the Deponent suspected her and procured her to be set in the Stocks While she was there she said in the hearing of two Witnesses Mr. Pacy keeps a great stir about his Child but let him stay 'till he has done as much by his Children as I have done by mine And being asked what she had done to her Children she answered She had been fain to open her Childs Mouth with a Tap to give it Victuals The Deponent added That within two Days the Fits of his Daughters were such that they could not preserve either Life or Breath without the help of Tap and that the Children cry'd out of Amy Duny and of Rose Cullender as afflicting them with her Apparition IV. The Fits of the Children were various They would sometimes be lame on one side sometimes on â—other Sometimes very sore sometimes restored unto their Limbs and then Deaf or Blind or Dumb for a long while together Upon the Recovery of their Speech they would Cough extreamly and with much Flegm they would bring up crooked Pins and at one time a Two-penny Nail with a very broad Head Commonly at the end of every Fit they would cast up a Pin. When the Children read they could not pronouce the Name of Lord or Jesus or Christ but would fall into Fits and say Amy Duny says I must not use that Name When they came to the Name of Satan or Devil they would clap their Fingers upon the Book crying out This bites but it makes me speak right well The Children in their Fits would often cry out There stands Amy Duny or Rose Cullender And they would afterwards relate That these Witches appearing before them threatned them that if they told of what they saw or heard they would torment them more than ever they did before V. Margaret Arnold the Sister to Mr. Pacy testifi'd unto the like Sufferings being upon the Children at her House whether her Brother had removed them And that sometimes the Children only would see things like Mice run about the House and one of them suddenly snap'd one with the Tongs and threw it into the Fire where it screeched out like a Rat. At another time a thing like a Bee flew at the Face of the younger Child the Child fell into a Fit and at last Vomited up a Two-penny Nail with a broad Head affirming That the Bee brought this Nail and forced it into her Mouth The Child would in like manner be assauted with Flies which brought crooked Pins unto her and made her first swallow them and then vomit them She one Day caught an invisible Mouse and throwing it into the Fire it flash'd like to Gunpowder None besides the Child saw the Mouse but every one saw the Flash She also declared out of her Fits That in them Amy Duny much tempted her to destroy herself VI. As for Anne Durent her Father testified That upon a Discontent of Rose Cullender his Daughter was taken with much Illness in her Stomach and great and sore Pains like the pricking of Pins and then Swooning Fits from which recovering she declared She had seen the Apparition of Rose Cullender threatning to torment her She likewise Vomited up divers Pins The Maid was present at Court but when Cullender looked upon her she fell into such Fits as made her
out of Breath as if they had been dragg'd up and down through Thorns and Mirey Places but when they had well ey'd them they were gone in a moment out of their sight they knew not how nor whither These Herdsmen talked of the business but the certainty of it came out not long after For the free Confessions of those two Men they then saw being so exactly agreeing with what the Herdsmen had related made the whole matter clear and undoubted 5. The other Story is of the same Persons known afterwards by their Names viz. Amantius and his Partner Rotarius who having coursed it aloft again in the Air and being cast headlong out of a Cloud upon an House the latter of them being but a Novice and unexperienced in those supernatural Exploits was much astonished and afraid at the strangeness of the matter but Amantius being used to those Feats from him Youth his Parents having devoted him from his Childhood to the Devil made but a sport of it and laughing at his Friend called him Fool for his fear and bad him be of good Courage for their Master in whose Power they were would safely carry them through greater dangers than those And no sooner had he said these words but a Whirlwind took them and set them both safe upon the ground but the House they were carried from so shook as if it would have been overturned from the very Foundations This both those Men Examined apart confessed in the same words not varying in their Story at all whose Confessions exactly agreed in all Circumstances with what was observed by the Common People concerning the time and the manner of the Tempest and shaking of the House ibid. pag. 172 173. 6. Remigius out of whom Mr. More cites these Relations hath some others of the like nature and at last concludes What is more common in our Times than both the frequent and daily Assertions of Witches concerning this very thing and the Testimonies of Men agreeing thereto who have stedfastly affirmed not only in ordinary Conversation but Solemnly upon their Oaths That they have seen not in their Dreams or with their Senses drawn aside by the Arts of Magick but with waking Eyes these kind of Women shaken out of the Clouds and hang upon the Tops of Trees or the Roofs of Houses c. 12. l. 3. 7. Martin Delrio who quotes the very same Stories out of the same Author concludes thus Have not the like things happen'd in Italy in the Case of Lucrece In Switzerland at Schiltacâ— in case of the Witch mentioned by Erasmus in his Epistles In Holland concerning that unwary curious young Man of Rousey Why tell me I beseech you Might not that which hath happen'd in Italy Switzerland Holland c. happen likewise in France Delrius in Mag. Disq Sect. 3. l. 5. 8. There was a Witch of Constance who being vexed that all her Neighbours in the Village where she lived were invited to the Wedding and so were drinking and dancing and making merry and she solitary and neglected got the Devil to transport her through the Air in the midst of the Day to a Hill hard by the Village where she digging a Hole and putting Urine into it raised a great Tempest of Hail and directed it so that it fell only upon the Village and pelted them that were dancing with that Violence that they were forced to leave off their Sport When she had done her Epxloit she returned to the Village and being spied was suspected to have rais'd the Tempest which the Shepherds in the Field that saw her riding in the Air knew well before who bringing in their Witness against her she confessed the Fact More 's Antid against Ath. c. 4. l. 3. Mr. Baxter speaking of Lightnings and Thunderbolts falling more upon Churches than upon other Buildings hath these Words 9. The Church that my Grandmother was born near had a Ball of Fire by Lightning came in at the Belfry-Window and turned up the Grave-stones and went out at the Chancel-Window 10. The Church that I Baptised in High Ercall close to London Newport's-House had in such a Storm the Leads rolled up and cast on the back-side of the Church and in the War was levelled with the Ground 11. The Church of Anthony in Cornwal near Plymouth was torn by Lightning at the time of Worship on Whitsunday 1640. and some People hurt and the Brains of one struck up to a Pillar It is in Print 12. ' So was used much like the Church of Withicomb in Devonshire at the same time 13. The Church where the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex his Ancestors Monuments were was torn by Lightning that came in at the Steeple melted the Bells and went up to the Chancel and there tore the Monuments in pieces I saw pieces of the Monuments that had some of the golden Letters which a truly worthy Lady brought home that went from Tunbridge Waters to see the Church Many and many Churches have been thus torn proportionably so much beyond all other Buildings especially of Stone that I cannot but think there is some knowing Agent that maketh she Choice though I know not who nor why 14. Except a few Hayricks I remember not that till this Seventy sixth Year of my Age I have known Lightnings to have had hurting Power on any Buildings but Churches save very rarely and small as this last Year at Istington it entred a House and killed a Woman and Child Nor to have torn any Wood but Oak which in Trees and Buildings I have seen torn where I dwelt But divers Persons have been killed and scorched by it And an eminent Knight that I knew is commonly said to have been struck dead by it in his Garden Hist Discourse of Appar and Witches p. 165. 15. Though Porphyry and Procus and Jamblicus tells us That bad Daemons will oft speak for Good Actions and against Bad in Pride and Subtilty to be thought Good yet it is hard to think that it is not rather a good Spirit that speaks for some notable Good Work where no By-end is discernable As that mentioned by Mr. Glanvil and Dr. More of Dr. Britton's Wife whose Likeness appeared after Death to her Servant-Maid and shewed her a parcel of Land that was as part of her Brother's and told her it belonged to the Poor and was unjustly alienated from them and bid her tell the Possessor That he must Restore it and gave her a Secret to tell him if he refused And upon the angry Refusal when he heard the Secret he yielded and restored the Land to the Poor who now possess it Ibid. 16. An. 1553. Two Witches were taken which went about by Tempest Hail and Frost to destroy all the Corn in the Country These Women stole away a little Infant of one of their Neighbours and cutting it in pieces put it into a Cauldron to be boiled but by God's Providence the Mother of the Child came in the mean while and found the Members
stretching out her Fingers to the full length used to swear by these Ten Bloody Bones This Woman had a Son called Stephen Maurice who was born with two Thumbs upon a Hand and he likewise marrying had several Children born in like manner with two Thumbs a-piece upon each Hand all which supernumerary Thumbs she in a bloody manner with her own Hand cut off This Woman assisted my Mother as Midwife when she brought me into the World W. T. 6. Sir Roger Mosson of Mosson in Flint-shire had a Coal-pit sunk pretty deep by some Workmen who discovered a good Mine of Coal but meeting with a Fire-damp were so affrighted that they deserted the Work At last a bold Fellow that was a notorious Swearer came and undertook to go on with it He with two or three more Men goes down into the Pit leaving the other Men near the Eye thereof whilst himself with a Candle lighted goes forward but presently was so attacked with the Fire-damp that the other Men were struck down with it in great amazement and had much adoe to recover themselves and an Engine of a vast bulk and weight that stood near the Eye of the Pit was carried up into the Air as high as the tops of some Trees that grew upon a Hill near adjoyning and the Man himself that went foremost with the Candle miserably and irrecoverably perished This I had out of the Philosophical Transactions printed some Years ago but in what Year particularly I remember not having not the Pamphlet by me at present 7. Anno Christi 1649. about the end of June there was a Soldier at Ware going with some others to wash himself in the River but finding the Water shallow he asked if there was no deeper a Place for him to swim in Some told him that there was not far off a deep Pit but that it was very dangerous and therefore advised him to take heed how he went into it To whom he answered God damn me if it be as deep as Hell I will go into it which accordingly he did but immediately sunk to the bottom never rising again but was there drowned Attested by good Witnesses Clark's Mirr c. 129. 8. One Mr. Barrington a great Swearer going forth a Hunting or Hawking on a Lord's-Day or a Festival and not speeding to his Mind came to an Ale-house at Puckrych Five Miles from Ware in the way to Cambridge and called for Drink beginning to swear after his unhappy Custom saying By God's Blood this is an unlucky Day and presently after he bled at the Nose which so vexed him that he began to rail and blaspheme the Name of God swearing Passion Wounds Flesh Nails Blood and Body c. till at last he proceeded farther to bleed at the Ears Eyes Wrists joynts of his Hands and of all his Body at the Navil and Fundament in a wonderful great Quantity and Streams of Blood blaring out his Tongue in a fearful manner as black as Pitch so that no Person durst come near him This continued faith my Author till the Devil and Death made an end of him Next day the Body was laid on a Cart carried to Stondâ—n and buried in the High-way Mr. Batman in his Doom warning to the Judgment p. 418. Who saith he had it from Mr. Barrington's wife afterward married to Mr. Carington in Cambridge CHAP. CVII Divine Judgments upon Sabbath-breakers AS God requires us to Remember the Sabbath-Day so as to keep it Holy so himself Remembers them that dare to Profane it The Child that gathered Sticks on that Day among the Israelites in the early Times of the Mosaick Oeconomy was by the Order of God himself stoned to Death And as he began to shew his Severity betimes in the Punishing of this Sin so he hath continued to the present Age to shew his great Displeasure against it insomuch that I think King James was much in the right when he caused his Declaration for Sports upon that Day to be torn out of his printed Volume of Writings where it is not now to be seen 1. A certain Nobleman profaning the Sabbath usually in Hunting had a Child by his Wife with a Head like a Dog and with Ears and Chaps crying like a Hound 2. Stratford upon Avon was twice on the same Day Twelve month being the Lord's-Day almost consumed with Fire chiefly for Profaning the Lord's-Day and Contemning his Word in the Mouth of his Faithful Minister 3. Feverton in Devonshire whose Remembrance makes my Heart bleed was oftentimes admonished by her Godly Preachers that God would bring some heavy Judgment on the Town for their horrible Profanation of the Lord's-Day occasioned chiefly by the Market on the Day following Not long after his Death on the 3d. of April Anno Dom. 1598. God in less than half an Hour consumed with a sudden and fearful Fire the whole Town except only the Church the Court-House and the Alms-Houses or a few poor Peoples Dwellings where a Man might have seen Four Hundred Dwelling-Houses all at once on fire and above Fifty Persons consumed by the Flame Not many Years after this a Misfortune of the like nature befell the Town again for on the Fifth Day of August 1612. Fourteen Years since the former Fire it was again fired and all consumed except some Thirty Houses of poor People with the School-House and Alms-Houses They are blind which see not in this the Finger of God God grant them Grace when it is next built to change their Market-Day and to remove all Occasions of Profaning the Lord s-Day Let other Towns remember the Tower of Siloe Luke 13.4 and take Warning by their Neighbours Chastisements Fear God's Threatnings Jerem. 17.27 And believe God's Prophets if they will prosper 1 Chron. 20.20 Thus far Dr. Bread in his Theatre of God s Judgments p. 419 420. 4. Mr. Smythyes Curate of St. Giles's Cripplegate in the Confession and Discovery of a Condemned Prisoner executed May the 25th 1687 for Theft saith that it was his Earnest Desire That all young Men especially should take care not to mispend the Lord's-day And I do now know saith he that ever I observed any Repentance in a Condemned Malefactor who did not bitterly lament his Neglect of his Duty to God on that Day 5. Edmund Kirk Vintner executed at Tyburn July 11. 1684. for murdering his Wife in his Confession acknowledged himself frequently guilty of Profaning the Lord's-Day Vpon which Holy Day saith he I committed the hainous Sin of murdering my poor Wife Thus Sin was punished with Sin a Less with a Greater and the Greater with the Gallows and that Greater committed near the same Gallows And himself confessed That he had to his Wife asking whilst she passed by what Place that was told it was Tyburn where John Gower was lately hanged for killing his Wife O Lord how dear to me thy Counsels are but how just and terrible are thy Judgments 6. Famous and memorable also is that Example which happened at
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
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
5. The Egyptians ordained Death it self for a Punishment to perjured Persons and to such as declared not the very Truth in their Declaration which they were obliged to make Yearly both touching their Names and the Means they had to nourish their Family Ibid. Though Mr. Clark saith they had no Punishment for Lying 6. Certain Arians suborned a Harlot to accuse Eustathius a good Bishop of Antioch before 2500 Bishops of Adultery which she did by fathering a Child which she had then in her Arms upon him But afterwards she fell sick and confessed that she was hired to it by the Arians adding that one Eustathius a Tradesman had gotten that Child Niceph. l. 8. c. 46. Athanasius was served in the same manner so was Mr. Hooker Author of the Politicks and one Mr. Sparks a Flintshire Minister was suspended on the like occasion the Woman afterwards growing distracted 7. In the Reign of King Canutus the King in Parliament asked the Lords Whether in the Agreement made between King Edmund and him there was any mention made of Dividing any part of the Land to Edmund's Children or Brethren They answering in Flattery No and swearing it too were ever after Mistrusted and Disdained by the King especially such of them as had before sworn Fealty to King Edmund some of them he banished many he beheaded and divers of them by God's just Judgment died suddenly Clark's Exampl Vol. I. p. 194. Speed 8. In Queen Mary's Reign one William Fenning accused an honest Man called John Cooper because he would not sell him two Bullocks as if he had spoken traiterous Words against the Queen and suborned two false Witnesses to depose it Cooper was hanged and quartered and all his Goods taken from his Wife and Nine Children But after a short time one of these false Witnesses being well and at Harvest Work was stricken by God so that his Bowels fell out and he died miserably Ibid. p. 195. 9. Thespis an Athenian Poet being check'd by Solon for acting in a Play because thereby he did lye openly in the Face of all the City excused himself because it was but in jest To whom Solon replied If we commend or allow Lying in sport we shall soon find it used in good earnest in all our Bargains and Dealings Plutarch 10. Artaxerxes having found one of his Soldiers in a Lye caused his Tongue to be thrust through with three Needles Idem 11. The Papists have been so often found guilty of Lying as in the Case of John Husse whom they caused to be burnt after Letters of safe Conduct granted him in the Case of Luther whose Life and Death they wrote whilst as yet the Man himself was alive in the Case of Calvin and Beza whose Lives were writ by Bolsecus a Runagate Friar stuffed with most abominable Lyes in the Case of the House in Black-friars falling upon the Papists at Mass which they publickly reported to be upon an Assembly of Puritans in the Case of the Powder-Plot which they endeavoured in print to throw upon the Puritans likewise c. have obtained this Benefit to themselves That now at long-run no Protestant of any good Brains will believe them any further than he seeth them They have the Fortune of the Shepherd's Boy in the Fable 12. The old Scythians and Garamantes ordained Death for the Punishment of Lyars and false Prognosticators Sir Mart. Coguet's Pol. Disc c. 28. 13. The Persians and Indians deprived the Lyar of all Honour and Liberty of Speech Ibid. 14. The Gymnosophists and Chaldaeans deprived him of all Dignities and condemned him to remain in perpetual Darkness without speaking Ibid. CHAP. CXXXVI Divine Judgments upon Cozenage and Dissimulation OVR God is so far a Lover of Truth that all false ways he utterly abhors and doth so abhor them that he hath forbid them expresly frequently vehemently and ostentimes detects them to the Shame and Disgrace of the Persons guilty And I dare be bold to assert this for a true Proposition That all Lyes and Frauds and Dissimulation stand but upon one Leg and are very easily kicked down with one Spurn of the Divine Providence when Truth and Sincerity have two firm Legs to support them their own Excellence and the Favour of Heaven God will never connive long tho' he may wink a while nor contribute to the Maintenance and Support of false Colours how specious and artificial soever especially where the Cause is grosly bad and the Person faulty is obstinately impenitent Observe but these Stories following 1. The Story of Magdalena Crucia an Abbess in Corduba reverenced for a very devout Saint and Prophetess and afterwards shamefully discovered to be a Witch and for 30 Years together in familiarity with the Devil is related at large before in the Chapter of Revelation of Things secret or future by Divination c. 2. Pope Joan otherwise called John of England was a Woman born at Mentz brought up at Athens in Man's Apparel where she so profited in the Arts that coming to Rome she read the Liberal Sciences and was held so sufficient a Reader that many of the better sort became her ordinary Hearers afterwards with one Consent chosen Pope she lived in the See of Rome two Years and upwards But betaking her self more than before to Idleness and Pleasure she could not live continently as in her poor Estate when she plied her Book diligently whereupon one Day as she went with the Clergy in solemn Procession and in Papal manner she was delivered of her first-begotten Son begot by one of her Chamber-waiters near the Temple of Peace which stands in the City as is evident by an old Marble Image which stands there to this Day to denote so much in a Figure And hereupon it is that when the Popes go from the Vatican to St. John Lateran's and back again they go not the direct way thither but by other Streets further about and so make their Journey longer Thus much saith Theodorus de Niem Bishop of Ferden who lived Anno 1455. Vid. Theodoric libr. de privil jurib Imperii N. B. Pope Pius the V. removed the Image spoken of before This is attested by Luitprandus Bishop of Cremona Vid. Trithem in vit Luitprandi By Marian. Scot. in Chron. ad an 854. l. 3. Sigeb in Chron. ad an 854. By Otho Frizing l. 7. By Gothfrid in Chron. par 20. in Catal. Rom. Pontif. By Hoveden in Hist Angl. With a matter of 30 more Authors mentioned by Dr. James Library-Keeper of Oxford in his Introd to Divin And the Author of a Pamphlet intituled Pope Joan and printed at London A. C. 1689. 3. M. Anton. de Dominis Archbishop of Spalato came over into England wrote here against the Church of Rome afterwards pretended Penitence and was Reconciled and Re-admitted into the Bosom of that Church But his Conscience would not be so served it recoiled back upon him and in his familiar Discourses he broke out as formerly into an Assertion of his
former Tenets And so after his Death upon a solemn Citation and Process against him Sentence was given viz. That he was unworthy of the Favour of the Holy Apostolick See that he should be deprived of all his Honour Benefit or Dignity his Goods Confiscate and himself given over to the Secular Powers which was de facto done He and his Picture and Books which he had written to be burned Which was done accordingly in Campo di Fiori See the Relation of the Process sent from Rome Published at London 1624. 4. The pretended Possession of the London Nuns and the possessed Woman at Antwerp is detected and discovered by the Duke of Lauderdale in Letter to Mr. Baxter Hist Disc of Appar and Witches c. c. 4. of the Staffordshire Body discovered by Bishop Moreton who pissed through an Ink-horn 5. The lying Wonders and false Miracles wrought all over the World and laugh'd at by all wise People in the World would fill a Volume to Discourse of them in particular 6. The Supposititious Heirs Perkin Warbeck and Great Bellies made out with little Pillows c. would be tedious to insist upon 7. Hither may be referred those two Arch-Female Cheats Marcy Clay alias Jinny Fox and the German Princess famed lately for their Art of Lifting alias Cheating who at last were deservedly preferred to Tyburn CHAP. CXXXVII Divine Judgments upon Oppression Tyranny 'T IS said of Tyrants and Oppressive Persons That they shall not live out half their days Psal 55.25 and common Experience gives attestation to the Truth of it Ad Generum Cereris sine caede sanguine pauci Descendunt Reges siccà morte Tyranni Juv. Satyr 1. Adonizedeck pharaoh Abimelech Athaliah Jezabel Herod Pilate c. may go for Scripture-Examples Others follow 1. Alexander the Great after his Victories over Persia Asia India Hircania Babylon Scythia Syria Phoenicia Judaea Egypt c. grew Pound and Tyrannical witness his Murdering of Philotas one of his brave Captains who had assisted him in all his Conquests and his Father his Rewarding a Mariner that had leaped into a Lake near Babylon and swam to fetch off his Hat with his Crown fastened to it whither a Tempest had carried it off his Head as he was Rowing over it in his Galley with a Talent but causing his Head to be cut off for putting the Crown upon it to keep it dry In the midst of his Career and the very height of his Vigour and Jollity was cut off himself by Death in the Thirty Second Year of his Age and but the Twelfth of his Reign Qu. Curt. in vità Plutarch Alsted Eucyclop p. 2977. 2. Dionysius the Sicilian Tyrant who would not suffer a Barber to trim him nor Lodge with his Wives without first searching the Chambers nor speak to his People but out of a High Tower who giving his Cloak and Sword to a Boy that waited on him caused a Man to be slain for saying Sir now you have put your Life into his hands and the Boy for only smiling at it That set Damocles to a Feast with a Company of Beautiful Boys to wait on him together with Crowns and Musick c. and a sharp glittering Sword hanging over his Head tied with a Horse-hair only for saying Dionysius was a Happy Man lived with so little Security that himself took little pleasure in Life and his Subjects generally desired his Death except the Old Woman that went daily to the Temple to Pray for him lest the Devil himself should come in his room in short he was so tortured with his own Suspicions that he would not suffer any Man no come into his Chamber with a Gown on his back no not his own Son or Brother nay put a Soldier to Death for only giving his Brother a Halbert to describe a Plot of Ground to him with the Situation of it and slew Marsyas because he dreamed one Night that he had killed him Plut. in vit Dionys Invidiâ Siculi non invenere Tyranni Tormentum majus 3. Nero. that Monster of Mankind that used to go by Night about the Streets of Rome beating and abusing and sometimes throwing into Privies People that stood in his way and resisted him breaking open Shops and robbing them caused the Genitals of a Boy that he loved called Sporus to be cut off in order to the making of him a Woman killed his Wife Poppea Sabina when great with Child murder'd his Wife Octavia and his Mother Agrippina after he had committed Incest with her causing her Womb to be ript up to see where he had lain poison'd Claudius from whom he received the Empire murdered his Aunt Domitia and Antonia Claudius his Daughter because she refused to Marry him hired Conjurers to lay the Ghost of his Mother Agrippina with whom he was haunted caused Crispinus his Son-in-law by Poppea to be drowned as he was Fishing with many others of his Relations murdered Aulus Plancus after he had committed Sodomy with him Enforced his Master Seneca to Murder himself sent Poison to his other Master Burrhus Poison'd several Rich Free-men and Old Men who had been formerly helpful to him caused the City of Rome to set on Fire whilst himself goes up to the top of Moecenas his Tower tuning his Harp and singing to feed his Eyes with the Pleasantness of the Sight and afterwards put it on the Christians to give an occasion of Persecuting them causing some of them to be cloathed in the Skins of Wild Beasts and torn in pieces by Dogs others to be crucified others to be made Bonefires of to light him in his Night-sports Wishing the World might be destroyed whilst he lived that he might be a Spectator of it At last the Senate judging him to be an Enemy to Mankind condemned him to be whipt to Death through the streets of Rome upon which he ran and hid himself among Briars and Thorns and crying out I have neither a Friend nor an Enemy miserable Man that I am threw himself into a Pit four Foot deep and there desperately slew himself Sueton. in vit 4. Caligula another Roman Emperor who disinherited and slew Tiberius who was Co-heir with him compelled his Father-in-Law to Murder himself caused his Grandmother to kill her self for Reproving of him banished his two Sisters after he had committed Incest with them used all sorts of Magistrates scornfully murdered privately several of the Senators stigmatized many Persons of Quality or dismembred them and then condemned them either to the Mines or to mend High-ways or to Wild Beasts or to be sawn asunder compelled Parents to be present at the Torment of their Sons and one excusing himself he sent his Litter for him another Father he caused to be slain because he desired to shut his Eyes while his Children were tormented a third he brought home with him from seeing his Son 's miserable Death and would force him to laugh jest and be merry cast a Roman Knight to the Beasts and because he
cast his Child into the Fire and the Child afterwards sicken'd and died The Leper cleansed p. 17. For this Act he was suspended again Ibid. 37. James Naylor a Blasphemous Quaker was burnt in the Tongue at Bristol 38. Jo. Collins and Tho. Reeve Ranters for calling a Cup of Ale the Blood of Christ and saying They could go into the House of Office and make a God every Morning c. were in the Old-Bailey Fined and Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment Tho. Kendal in Drury-Lane affirming there was no God or Hell fell down dead See the Tryals Printed by B. Alsop 1651. Muggleton was condemned to the Pillory and â—ined 500 l. 1676. CHAP. CXXXIX Divine Judgments upon Wizards Witches and Charmers c. IT is worthy of a very serious Consideration That those very People who leave the God of Israel and think to better themselves by Idols or Corrivals and a superstitious Adbesion to them either the World or the Devil or any other Pretender never got any thing by such Methods but to be deluded in their Hopes and sink under the Vanity of their foolish and wicked Curiosity When did we ever see a Wizard Rich Or a Curioso Prosperous I mean a Curioso in the worst sense Or an Atheist make a Comfortable Exit out of the World I grant sometimes by the Leave of him that Rules the World and the Industry of Satan present Advantages may possibly accrew and do too often to be Worshippers of Mammon but generally when the Blot is great and the Criminal notorious God looks upon it as conducive to his Honour and necessary in point of Justice and Wisdom to strike openly and leave a Mark of Ignominy upon such gross Delinquents Read what follows and ye will agree with me in judgment 1. Concerning John Faustus Dr. d ee and Edward Kelley c. See the Chapter of Divine Judgments upon Curiosity 2. A. C. 1553. Two Women were taken who with a Tempest Hail and Frost design'd to destroy all the Corn in the Country but being found cutting a Neighbour's Child in pieces to boil in a Cauldron in order to the making of a Magical Ointment for the purpose were put to Death Beard 's Theatr. p. 419. 3. At Ihena in Germany or near it An. 1558. a Magician that had used to cure Diseases by the Composition of Herbs was for poisoning of a Carpenter whom he had a Quarrel with a little before examined before the Senate confessed the Murder and was burnt at a Stake Ibid. 4. Cleomandes a Conjurer in Rome for practising Death upon many little Children was sought for by the Parents but having shut himself up close in a Coffer and they breaking it open the Devil carried him away Plutarch 5. Piso being accused by Tiberius for bewitching Germanicus to Death cut his own Throat Tacit. Ann. 6. One Otto a Dane who by his Devilish Art used to raise Storms was at last by one more Expert drowned in the Seas himself 7. A Conjurer in Saltzburg attempting to draw all the Serpents in the Country into a Ditch and feed them there was by the old Serpent the Devil drawn in amongst them and perished miserably Clarks Exampl Vol. I. c. 8. 8. The Governour of Mascon a great Magician as he was at Dinner with some Company was snatched away by the Devil hoisted up into the Air and carried three times about the Town to the great Astonishment of the Inhabitants to whom he cried for help but all in vain Ibid. Ex Hug. de Clun An. 1437. Sir Giles Britaine Hight-Constable of France having murdered above 160 Infants and Women great with Child and wrote Conjuring-Books with their Blood which was proved against him was adjudged to be hanged and burnt to Death Ibid. p. 37. 10. Picus Mirandula writes That in his time a great Conjurer promised a certain Prince that he would present to him the Siege of Troy with Hercules and Achilles fighting together as when alive but being at his Conjurations the Devil carried him away that he was never heard of after Ibid. 11. The Lord of Orve in Lorrain used to feast Noblemen splendidly but fraudulently with all sorts of Dainties so that at parting they found their Stomachs empty having eat nothing was often seen scourged by a Monkey sometimes lying along upon his Table and begging of the Monkey Let me alone Wilt thou always torment me at this rate At last in great Misery and Beggary he was forc'd to get into an Hospital in Paris where he ended his wretched Life Ibid. 12. An. 1530. A Popish Priest digging for a Treasure in a hollow Pit of the City which the Devil had directed him to found at last a Coffer with a black Dog lying by it which whilst he was looking upon the Earth fell upon him and rushed him to death Wierus 13. Cornelius Agrippa a great Necromancer always attended with a familiar Spirit like a black Dog his End approaching he takes off the inchanted Collar from the Dog's Neck saying Be gone thou cursed Beast thou hast utterly undone me After which the Dog vanish'd and he died miserably Clark ex Paul Jovio 14. An. 1578. Simon Pembroke of St. George's Parish in London being suspected for a Conjurer and one that used to erect Figures being questioned for it as he was before the Judge he fell down and died having some Conjuring-Books found about him Clark Ibid. 15. A Sicilian called Lyodor for using Charms and Spells transforming Men into Beasts and other Shapes doing Mischief to the People of Catania charming himself out of the Hangman's Hands being carried in the Air to Constantinople and back again c. was at last by Leo Bishop of Catania seized before all the People who admired him and burnt alive in a hot Furnace Schot Phil. Curios c. 16. Ann. Bodenham of Fisherton-Anger near Salisbury a Witch for predicting things to come helping People to stolen Goods c. was executed at Salisbury 1653. Edm. Bowyer 's Narrative 17. An. 1642. One Mother Jackson for bewitching one Mary Glover in Thames-street a Merchant's Daughter was arraigned and condemned at Newgate 18. John Contius an Alderman of Pentich in Silesia near 60 Years of Age being invited to the Mayor's Supper after the ending of a certain Controversie between some Waggoners and a Merchant gets leave first to go home to order some Concerns leaving this Sentence behind him It 's good to be Merry whilst we may For Mischiefs grow fast enough e'ry Day Going home and looking upon the Hoof of one of his Geldings he was so struck that he complained he was all on fire fell sick complained loudly and despairingly of his Sins but would have no Divine to come to him The Night he died a Black Cat opened the Casement with her Nails scratched his Face and Bolster and so vanishing away he breathed his last A violent Storm of Wind arose a Spirit in the shape of Contius appeared in the Town that would have ravish d a
in it than that which is contrary thereto so now I see no Cause to repent of it nor to recede from it not questioning but God will own it at the last Judgment-day If no more had been required after the late King's Restauration to qualifie Ministers for Publick Preaching than was after the first Restauration from the time of Charles the First probably I might have satisfied my self therewith and not scrupled Conformity thereto but the Terms and Conditions thereof by a particular Law made in 1662. being not only new but so strict and severe that I could never have satisfaction in my own Conscience after all Endeavours used for a Complyance therewith and a Conformity thereto To say nothing of the Covenant which I never took but the giving my Assent and Consent have been too difficult and hard for me to comply with And I very well remember that about Fourteen Years ago entring into a Discourse with Mr. Patrick Heldâ—re an Irish-man who was contemporary with me in Dublin concerning Conformity which he much endeavoured to perswade me to I urged the severity of the fore-mentioned Conditions against it and after some Debates and Reasons with him I told him I did believe they were contrived and designed on purpose to prevent our Publick Preaching and to keep us out of the Church To which he ingenuously reply'd He judged it was so For said he a Bishop in Ireland whose Name I have forgot told me the very same But though I could not wade through and conquer this Difficulty yet I censure not those that did it and I believe after all the hottest Disputes and most vehement Debates and violent Contests between Conformist and Nonconformist there are of both Parties will be glorified in Heaven hereafterâ— According to the 29th Article of the Church of England a visible Church is a Congregation 〈◊〉 Faithful Men in the which the pure Word of God is preached the Sacraments of the Lord duly administred according to Christ's Ordinance and all those things that of necessity are requisite and necessary to Salvation so with such a Church have I held the most intimate Communion and with such did I live could hold it I would not therefore be so incorporated with any Church as to exclude me from and render me uncapable of holding Communion was other Churches I was never strongly bound up to any Form of Ecclesiastical Government but that under which a pure and undefiled Religion doth flourish and that which contains and really practises Holiness and advances the Kingdom of God in the World that can I approve of and willingly live under were I to live I did approve of the ancient and present Form of Civil Government English Monarchy I am fully satisfied with and do also declare That it is not warrantable for any Subject to take up Arms against and resist their Lawful Soveraigns and Rightful Princes And therefore had I not been convinced by several things that I have read and heard to believe that the late Duke of Monmouth was the Legitimate Son of his Father Charles the Second I had never gone into his Army judging that without this I could not be freed from the guilt of Rebellion which I always resolved to keep my self clear from And though his Father deny'd he was marry'd to his Mother I thought it might be answer'd with this That Kings and Princes for State-Reasons often cannot be fathomed by their Subjects affirming and denying things which otherwise they would not do and make even their Natural Affections to truckle and stoop thereto I exhort all to abhor all Treasonable Plots and Pretences of all Rebellion with the highest Detestation and to take the plain Text of Sacred Scripture to walk by in honouring and obeying and living in subjection to Rightful Kings and not readily to receive or suddenly to be impress'd with evil Reports and Defamations of them also not rashly to be Propagators of the same I desire God to forgive all mine Enemies and to give me an heart to forgive them which are many some mighty and all most malicious Particularly Barter of Lisael who betrayed me and proved such a Traytor to James Duke of Monmouth his old and intimate Friend I am grievously afflicted that I should prove the occasion of the great Sufferings of so many Persons and Families But this hath fallen under the Just and Wise ordering of Divine Providence as David's going to Abimelech when he proved the occasion of the Death of all the Persons Men Women and Children in the City But who shall say unto God What doest thou The care of my most dear Wife and a great many Children I cast upon God who I hope will be better than the best of Husbands unto her and the best of Fathers unto them God knows how Just and Legal Right my Wife hath unto her Estate to him therefore I commit her to defend her from the Violence and Oppression of Men particularly from a most inhumane and unnatural Brother But no wonder if he will lay violent hands upon his Sister's Estate that hath so often laid them on his own Father I die a deeply humbled self-judging and self-condemning Sinner loathing and abhorring my many and great Iniquities and my self for them earnestly desiring full Redemption from the Bonds of Corruption under which I have groaned so many Years long for a most perfect Conformity to the most holy and glorious God the only infinite pure Being thirsting for a perfect diffusion of his Grace through all the Powers and Faculties of my Soul panting after perfect Spiritual Life and Liberty and a consummate Love to my dearest Jesus who is an All comprehensive Good and to be satisfied with his Love for ever A vigorous and vehement Zeal for the Protestant Religion with a Belief I had of the Duke's Legitimacy hath involved me in this ignominious Death yet blessed be God that by sincere Repentance and true Faith in the Blood of Jesus there is passage from it to a Glorious Eternal Life and from these bitter Sorrows to the fulness of sweetest Joys that are in his Presence and from these sharp bodily Pains to those most pure Pleasures that are at his Right-hand for evermore And blessed be God that such a Death as this cannot prevent and hinder Christ's changing of my vile Body and fashioning it like his Glorious Body in the general Resurrection-day I am now going into that World where many dark things shall be made perfectly manifest and clear and many doubtful things fully resolved and a plenary satisfaction given concerning them all Disputes and Mistakes concerning Treason Rebellion and Schism shall be at an end and cease for ever Many things that are innocent lawful and laudable which have foul Marks and black Characters stampt and fix'd upon 'em here they shall be perfectly purified and fully cleansed from there where at one view more shall be known of them than by all wrangling Debates and eager Disputes or by reading all
his Breast but by the sudden coming in of his Servants he was prevented from finishing his Design and his Wound was bound up by them nevertheless as soon as he found Opportunity he tore off his Plaisters (h) (h) Val. Max. l. 4. c. 6. p. 114. and let forth a Soul that was unwilling to stay in the Body after that his Wife had forsaken hers And as the Widows among the Primitive Christians as I hinted before counted Second Marriages a sort of Adultery so the Men too in that (i) (i) Dr. Horneck's Lives of the Primitive Christians purer Age were so Chast and Holy that not a Man came near his Wife after he perceived or had notice that she was with Child till she was delivered and even then when they came together there Thoughts were so Innocent that they proposed no other End but Procuration of Children to be brought up in the Fear and Nature of the Lord and wou'd not hear of a Second Match Neither is the present Age without Instances of Loving Husbands I shall begin with Ant. Wallaeus who lived with his Wife so very lovingly that they never Quarrel'd their mutual Care was to please each other and by Deeds to prevent each others Desires Neither did Wallaeus fear any thing more than that his dear Wife should die before him for he used her not only for the Government of his Family but for his constant Companion I shall further instance in Mr. Ratcliff whose Grief for the Death of his Wife ††See her Epitaph in Westminster Abbey was so very great and constant that it indispos'd him both in Body and Mind and in few Days ended his Life I admire these noble Instances of conjugal Affection but in nothing so much as their Aversion to new Bedfellows The Truth is Second Marriages are a sort of who bids most For my own share I am such an Enemy to 'em and naturally of a Temper so averse to Confinement that shou'd I survive thee as is very unlikely I doubt whether I shou'd ever be brought to draw again in the Conjugal Yoke 'T is said by one of the Rabbins concerning Methuselah's Wife that she had Nine Husbands in One for Age and Years so I may say of thee that I have Nine Wifes in thee alone for Matrimonial Sweetness and Love and so have no need to marry a Tenth or if I marry again 't will be to a single Life that I might imitate those Primitive Virgins Dr. Horneck speaks of who so freely and voluntarily dedicated themselves to God that they 'd be marry'd to none but him and tho' many times they were tempted by Rich Fortunes yet nothing cou'd alter their Resolution of continuing Virgins 'T is true the World is a Desart without the Society of Women and my self no Enemy to 'em but for all that they are dangerous things to meddle with especially for better for worse Whatsoever Gold one bestows upon Fetters and how glorious soever Servitude may be yet I perswade my self for all the glittering shew that Shackles and Slavery are but a couple of bad Masters and therefore will dance no more to the Musick of Fetters except Phoenix-like from thy Ashes another Daphne could arise and then I can't say what I might do for I love to look on thy Image tho' but in a Friend or Picture and shall ever receive thy Kindred with Honourable mention of thy Name Then wonder not when e'er you die if I live and pine like the constant Turtle Thy Love deserves a great deal more I know 't is a common Saying There 's but one good Wife in the World and every Man enjoys her But I never found this true in any Case but my own For there 's my Lord L declares he cou'd love his Wife above all Women in the World if she were not his Wife The Duke of is of the same Mind and the George and Garter little better Sir Charles follows his Example and most have a tang of this Rambling Fancy Where is the Man except my self that 's not a C d or the Woman that so tempers her self in her Behaviour with Men as if Vertue had settled her self in her Looks and Eyes I profess when I have excepted Daphne Chloris and Sapho I know not where to find her We were wont to say It was a wise Child that knew his own Father but now we may say It is a wise Father that knows his own Child Men and Women as familiarly go into a Chamber to damn one another on a Feather bed as into a Tavern to be merry with Wine She that does not dance so lofty that you may see her Silken Garters and learn to forget Shame is no body Who wou'd think to find Hercules the only Worthy of his Time stooping to the Meanness of being a Servant to Omphale and in the quality of a Wench working at the Rock and Spindle Or to see Mark Anthony lose the World for a Cleopatra a Woman a thing in Petticoats But wou'd Flesh and Blood listen to Prov. 22.14 and remember that the Child often proves the Pisture of the Lover and discovers it Bless'd Conclusion of stoln Sweets◠they 'd ne'er invade the Right of another But to see lewd Men seeking new Wives for a fresh Supply for Wenching is no Wonder but to find chast Persons marrying again is what I cou'd ne'er approve of And I find King Charles of my Opinion for in his Last Words to his Queen he tells her That he had never strayed from her either in Thought Word or Deed And I am apt to believe him for I am such a Platenick my self as never to touch the Lip or Hand of a lewd Woman and as much averse to a Second Marriage so that if you shou'd dye I 'll fly the Sex in general There 's Pitch and Birdlime in their Lips and Fingers an Itch of amorousness of Skin all over A Man may as soon hug a Flame without burning as not be fired if he embraces Petricoats Democrates put his Eyes out to avoid the Sight of ' em These Patterns I resolve to imitate for tho' Men in Fashion make no account of their Wives and live at a lewd rate yet I am no Lover of Strolling Mutton No I thank God I have a good Wife a very Non-such and know it too which are two Blessings that seldom go together But Miracles are ceast and I must not expect such another We find the First Man Adam the Righteous Let the Meek Moses the Philosopher Secrates and the Orator Cicero were all either over-reach'd or afflicted with Women and I am not so stupid to think I shou'd merit a better Fate or meet a Second Wife that cou'd match the first who I must say fully answers Solomon's Character in the 30th of Proverbs and has had no Equal since the World began If any come near thee 't is the Witty Chloris but she 's an Angel grown and wont be tied to a
beginning and that I had taken the Counsel which I have now given c. Loathing his beloved Sin Uncleanness and admonishing all young People to Watch and Pray against it Hoping if he were to live as many Years as he had been but Moments to live he should through the Grace of God never commit it any more 2. Thomas Savage executed at Ratcliff-Cross Oct. 28. 1669. He began very early to tread the Paths of Sin confessing at the Place of Execution That the first Sin he began with was breaking the Sabbath He was not above Sixteen Years of Age when he was Executed His Crime was for murdering a Maid his Fellow-Servant 3. Robert Foulks executed at Tyburn Jan. 31. 1678. Being at the Place of Execution he admonished the People to consider the Mischief of Uncleanness and what a Sin it was for a Member of Christ to make himself the Member of an Harlot that it was a Sin that seldom goes alone but is the Mother-Sin to a number more Warning them to avoid the Snares of a Whorish Woman to keep the Marriage-Bed undefiled He was Minister of Staunton-Lacy and executed for murdering his bastard-Bastard-Child 4. Thomas Short executed at Oxford Anno 1678. Being in Prison he imagined the Person whom he murdered viz. Mr. Wingrove an Oxford Scholar to appear before his Eyes in a bloody and threatning form commanding him to appear before God's Tribunal to answer for what he had done Being at the Place of Execution he exhorted the People to speedy and sincere Repentance and strictly to observe the Sabbath c. Which had he done he had not come to this miserable End 5. Margaret Clark executed in Surry Anno 1679. She consented for 2000 Pound Reward to the Firing of her Master's House in Southwark Being in Prison in the Marshalsea she confessed That for her Breaking the Sabbath and neglecting her Duty towards God this Temptation had prevailed over her On the Day of her Execution when she was going into the Cart This is said she a blessed Day to me O this is my Wedding-Day I shall be married to my Saviour O Lord that ever I should offend so Good and Gracious a God as thou art O the Joys I long to be at the Place of Being under the Gallows she looked up and said I am now going to the Glory to the Glory which God hath prepared for me c. Lord I am come to thee I desire you all not to spend the Lord's-Day idly and wickedly as I have done For it was Sabbath-breaking that was my first Step to this Wickedness And I beg of you all not to spend your Time in vain but to the Honour and Glory of God Being ask'd by Dr. Martin What Assurance last thou of God's Forgiveness I know said she in whom I have believed I had great Joys from the Lord since the Sentence passed on me Blessed be God that ever I came into a Prison The Doctor having prayed with her she continued crying out O the Glory O the Glory 6. Henry Parker executed at Tyburn Anno 1689. He lamented the mispending of his Time saying O the precious Time I have squandred away upon Trifles and Vanities upon my Lusts and Pleasures which I now want to make my Peace with God and purchase Eternal Life That it was not so easie to Repent as he supposed His Crime was for Counterfeiting Guinea's 7. John Marketman executed in Essex April 17. 1680. He confessed he had departed from his God in his Youth and disobeyed his Parents not shewing them that Reverence as he ought For which Sin said he I think God has justly punished me in making me die Childless For sure it is if Long Life be a Promise to those that Honour their Parents it should cause Children to take care how they do the contrary adding That neglecting the church and the Publick Worship of God and choosing rather to spend my Time in an Ale-house brought me to Evil Company and so to Drunkenness which getting an Habit made me a professed Enemy to God and give my self over to Swearing and Cursing and Lying and so from one Sin to another till I arrived at the heighth c. That formerly he loved to commit Sin but now hated the very Thoughts of it and could not commit a Sin to gain a Kingdom Exhorting the People to take heed of the Beginnings of Sin telling them You will find if once you habituate your selves to the committing of Sin it will be very hard to root it out it must cost you many a Tear and much Bitterness in crucifying your darling Sins which Trouble and Expence might be sav'd if you would be careful to resist the first Temptation Bewailing his Drunkeriness and Uncleanness His Crime was for murdering his Wife 8. William Bottler executed in Essex for murdering Captain Wade When he heard his Friends laboured for a Pardon he expressed his Dislike of it rather desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ least being so well prepar'd the Naughtiness of his Heart without a Godly carcusie over it might make him turn again to Vanity 9. John Stern executed at St. James's March 10. 1681. He consented to the Murder of Thomas Thynn Esq under the Promise of Three or Four Hundred Rix-Dollers He often blessed God for bringing him to a Prison and that he had not made his Escape to lead a wicked Life any longer The Morning of his Execution he confessed he found much Joy and Comfort saying He was going to exchange a Prison for a Paradise a Prison that had been better to him than any Palace for that God had touched him and drawn him and quickened him And now saith he O God I come to thee to live with thee for ever Breaking out into such Ecstasies of Joy as these O my God! my God! my infinitely Good God! How do I love thee I will bless thee as long as I live c. That when I had forsaken thee and was at the Gates of Hell thou hast brought me from thence to the Gates of Heaven I bless thee that thou hast chastised me with thy Rod that thy Rod is a Rod of Mercy When he expressed these Words he appeared in a Rapture of Joy and though he wept he said they were not Tears of Sorrow but Floods from the excess of Joy 10. Robert Brighurst who poisoned himself Anno 1680. He confessed to a Minister whom he sent for to pray with him That he had cast off Prayers two or three Years agoe and that now he found his Heart so hardned that he could not form it to Prayer 11. Francis Kirk executed at Tyburn Anno 1684. for murdering his Wife The Question being asked him where was his Wife he changed Colour and fell into a Fit of Trembling and being carried before a Magistrate confessed he had murdered her A Note was left in her Pocket signifying the Place of her Abode which the infatuated Murderer Divine Providence so ordering it had not taken
and died Chetwind 's Hist Collections In the Year 1559. Henry the Second King of France was slain in the midst of his Pastimes and Triumphs and in publick Joy of the People For while he Celebrated the Nuptials of his Daughter at Paris in a Tilting the Splinter of a broken Lance flew with such violence and pierced his Eye that he died immediately In the Year 1491. Alphonsus the Son of John the Second King of Portugal being about Sixteen Years of Age a Prince of great Hopes and Wit took to Wife Isabella the Daughter of Ferdinand King of Spain whose Dowry was the ample Inheritance of her Father's Kingdoms The Nuptials were celebrated with the preparations of Six Hundred Triumphs Plays Running Racing Tilting Banquets So much Plenty so much Luxury that the Horse-boys and Slaves glistered in Tissue But oh immense Grief hardly the Seventh Month had passed when the young Prince sporting a Horse-back upon the Banks of Tagus was thrown from his Horse to the Ground so that his Scull was broken and he wounded to Death He was carried to a Fisher's House scarce big enough to contain him and two of his Followers there he lay down upon a Bed of Straw and expired The King flies thither with the Queen his Mother There they behold the miserable Spectacle their Pomp turn'd into Lamentation The growing Youth of their Son his Vertues Wealth like Flowers on a sudden disrobed by the North-winds blast and all to be buried in a miserable Grave O the sudden Whirlwinds of Human Affairs O most precipitate Falls of the most constant Things What shall I remember any more Basilius the Emperor was gored to death by a Hart while he was entangled in a troublesome Bough The ancient Monument in the Camp of Ambrosius near Aenipontus witnesses That a Noble Youth though under Age set Spurs to his Horse to make him leap a Ditch twenty foot broad The Horse took it but the Rider and the Horse fell by a sudden and almost the same kind of death That the Spoils of the Horse and the Garments of the Youth speak to this Day But this sudden Fate is common as well to the Good as to the Bad neither does it argue an unhappy Condition of the Soul unless any Person in the Act of burning Impiety feel himself struck with the Dart of Divine Vengeance Such was the Exit of Dathan and Abiram whom the gaping Earth miserably swallowed up obstinate in their Rebellion against Moses Such was the End of those Soldiers whom for their Irreverence to Elijah Heaven consumed with Balls of Fire Such was the End of the Hebrew whom the Revengers Sword pass'd thorough finding him in the Embraces of the Midianitess turning his Genial into his Funeral Bed So many Pores of the Body so many little Doors for Death Death does not shew himself always near yet is he always at hand What is more stupid than to wonder that that should fall out at any time which may happen every Day Our Limits are determined where the inexorable necessity of Fate has fix'd them But none of us knows how near they are prefixed So therefore let us form our Minds as if we were at the utmost extremity Let us make no Delay Death has infinite accesses So it is indeed and to what I have said I add It is reported that a certain Person dream'd that he was torn by the Jaws of a Lion He rises careless of his Dream and goes to Church with his Friends In the way he sees a Lyon of Stone gaping that upheld a Pillar Then declaring his Dream to his Companions not without Laughter Behold said he this is the Lyon that tore me in the Night So saying he thrust his Hand into the Lyon's Jaws crying to the Statue Thou hast thy Enemy now shut thy Jaws and if thou canst bite my Hand He had no sooner said the Word but he received a deadly Wound in that place where he thought he could have no harm for at the bottom of the Lyon's Mouth lay a Scorpion which no sooner felt his Hand but he put forth his Sting and stung the young Man to death Are Stones thus endued with Anger Where then is not Death if Lyons of Stone can kill In the same manner died the young Hylas who was kill'd by a Viper that lay hid in the Mouth of a Bear 's resemblance in Stone What shall I mention the Child kill'd by an Isicle dropping upon his Head from the Penthouse whom Martial laments in the following Verses Where next the Vipsan Pillars stands the Gate From whence the falling Rain wets Cloak and Hat A Child was passing by when strange to tell Vpon his Throat a frozen drop there fell Where while the Boy his cruel Fate bemoan'd The tender point straight melted in the Wound Would Chance have us adore her lawless Will Or tell where Death is not if Drops can kill 'T is the Saying of Annaeus Uncertain it is saith he in what place Death may expect thee therefore do thou expect Death in every place We trifle and at distance think the Ill While in our Bowels Death lies lurking still For in the moment of our Birth-day Morn That moment Life and Death conjoin'd were born And of that Thread with which our Lives we measure Our Thievish Hours still make a rapid â—â—â—zure Insensibly we die so Lamps expire When wanting Oil to feed the greedy Fire Though living still yet Death is then so nigh That oft-times as we speak we speaking die Senccio Cornelius a Roman Knight a Man of extream Frugality no less careful of his Patrimony than of his Body when he had sate all Day till Night by his Friend sick a Bed beyond all Hopes of Recovery when he had Supp'd well and cheary was taken with a violent Distemper the Quinsey scarcely retained his Breath within his contracted Jaws till Morning so that he deceas'd within a few Hours after he had performed all the Duties of a sound and healthy Man What follows is extracted from Mr. Increase Mather's Book of Remarkable Providences I Shall only add says he at present That there have been many sudden Deaths in this Countrey which should not pass without some Remark For when such Strokes are multiplied there is undoubtedly a speaking Voice of Providence therein And so it hath been with us in New-England this last Year and most of all the last Summer To my Observation in August last within the space of three or four Weeks there were twelve sudden Deaths and it may be others have observed more than I did some of them being in respect of sundry Cirrumstances exceeding awful Let me only add here that sudden Death is not always a Judgment unto those who are taken out of an evil World It may be a Mercy to them and a Warning unto others as the sudden Death of the Prophet Ezekiel's Wife was Many of whom the World was not worthy have been so removed out of it Moses died suddenly and
imagine that there hath been nothing omitted to induce her to discover her pretended Accomplices But she hath still answered all these Interrogatives with so much Justness and Discretion and with so many marks of Sincerity That the most able Advocate in the Kingdom could not form a better Reply after fifteen days study upon the Interrogatives These are the very words of our Relations and of the Offices of Justice that have examined her She answered to every thing they ask'd her with very good sense and not without quickness of Wit she renders a Reason for her Faith and easily confounds all such as come to Pose her with Questions She hath been removed from Place to Place first to Crét then to the Hospital at Grenoble In all which Places she continues to fall into her Trances and to Discourse in her Fits They have shaved her Head and taken away all the Cloaths and Linen she had pretending she might have some Charm hid somewhere about her Nay some Priests came and exorcised her with Holy-Water as tho' she had been possessed with some Evil Spirit But to no purpose at all she is still the same Sometimes they have given way to some of the New Converts to approach her in the Day-time while she was in Prison or in the Hospital at Grenoble But they would never give leave to any of them to pass the Night in her Company nor to be Witness of what she said when she fell into her Ecstasie The last Letters say That the Rage of the false Devotees was so great against her that she could not be thought secure of her Life but for certain Persons of the first Note in tha Country who gave Orders about her All that I have here said is the naked Truth but it is not all the Truth For we give you no Particulars of what she hath either said or done There are some discreet able and unprejudiced Persons of that Country who labour to make an Exact Collection of all that is certain and well proved about her And we have most assured hopes that the Time is now coming in which it will be both safe and free to see it Reflections of Monsieur Jurieu upon the Strange and Miraculous Ecstasies of Isable Vincent p. 1. 11. One must be very dull in my Opinion saith the same Author not to see and not to feel the Hand of God and his very Finger in what happened in the Church of St. Malo's by the fall of a Thunder-bolt and in the strokes of Heaven which have burnt and beaten down so many Churches within these two last Years in this dreadful shaking of the Earth which hath overturned great Cities in Italy the Country of Antichrist and which hath caused a Trembling to the very Root of the Vatican the Seat of the Beast And lastly I see no cause why one should be so obstinate as not to see a Miraculous Token of the Will of God in those Singings that have been heard in the Air at the beginning of this Persecution Not to be touched with this Miracle Men will be wilful Doubters and yet there may be found in France above Thirty Thousand Witnesses of it Monsieur Vivens who was a Preacher in the Cevennes and held Assemblies there for the space of almost two Years brought us about Thirty or Forty at one time and we have it from his own Mouth that he himself heard these Wonderful Singings several times Now to have the satisfaction of treating this as a Fiction it is suggested by some that even in our seventh Letter of the first Year of our Pastorals we have related nothing but hear-says Yet notwithstanding would they but take the pains to read they would find that I have given the Certificates of Monsieur Maupoey Monsieur Bergeret Monsieur de la Bordette Madamoiselle de Formalagues Monsieur de Vallescure a Gentleman of the Cevennes who said he heard sung in the Air five or six Verses of the Fifth Psalm Since which I have received and have now in my Custody the Testimony of MOnsieur de la Bastide of Tourtelon Son to the said Vallescure who Attests the same thing with his Father I have also reported the Testimony of Madamoiselle de Vebron who assures me that she has distinguished in these Miraculous Singings above Thirty of our Psalms I have besides all this the Attestation of Monsieur de la Gardicolle a Gentleman of Honour who is now in this Country who hath deposed betwixt my Hands and in the Presence of five other Gentlemen all the Circumstances of these Singings he having heard them himself within Two Hundred Paces of the Town of Vigan The Truth whereof he assured me upon Oath nay with Tears in his Eyes being sensibly touched I have also the Depositions of two Inhabitants and Burgesses of the Town of Mauvezin in Armagnac who speak of it as Eye-Witnesses And last of all here is the Letter of one Monsieur de Besse written from Swisserland It is too Remarkable upon the Subject not to be made Publick Ibid. 11. The Divine Judgments upon the Jewish Nation may not iproperly come under this Head of which take this short Account The Jews which crucified the Lord of Life and wished That his Blood might be upon them and their Children presently after through the just Judgment of God had Blood to drink in full Measure There were slain in Caesarea Twenty Thousand in one day At Alexandria Fifty Thousand another day At Zabulon and Joppa Eight Thousand Four Hundred besides the burning of the Towns At Damascus Ten Thousand had their Throats cut In the Siege of Jerusalem they were so famish'd that Oxen's Dung was accounted good Meat Others fed upon old Leather and some Women boiled their own Children and did eat them Many thinking to save their Lives by flying to the Romans were slit in pieces to search for Gold and Jewels in their Guts Two Thousand died thus miserably in one Night Ninety seven Thousand were taken Prisoners at the Taking of the City by Titus and Eleven Hundred Thousand were slain As for the Prisoners some of them were carried to Rome in Triumph Others were slain in sundry Places at the Conqueror's Will Some were torn in pièces and devoured by Wild Beasts Others were compelled to march in Troops against their Fellows and to kill one another to make the Spectators Sport The Reliques of these wretched People were dispersd into all Nations under Heaven having no Magistrates of their own to Protect them but were and still are altogether at the Will and Discretion of the Lords of those Countries where they sojourn So that no Nation in the World is so vile and contemptible as the Jews In the time of Julian the Apostate leave was given to the Jews to re-build the Temple at Jerusalem but so soon as they had laid the foundations thereof all was overthrown by an Earthquake many Thousands of them being over-whelmed with the Ruines Then came forth a Fire
with Elias of old kill him upon the Road. Brousson did not indeed approve of the Fact and he had not heard say that Colognac had been present when the Fact was committed and so since that time he had seen Colognac several times for the space of two Years and he had always appeared to him to be a very prudent Person and of a pure and holy Life full of Zeal and Godliness they examined and tortured him and when they had done went to break him alive upon the Wheel in a place called Massilergues near de Lunel where he had kept the last Meeting they left him alone two or three Hours after they had broken him but he never ceased during all that time to sing the Praises of God or to speak the most holy and pious Things imaginable they have affirmed themselves they had never perhaps made any of the Faithful suffer greater Torments than this Servant of God and that none ever had manifested greater Piety and Constancy of Mind than he had made to appear to the last Gasp But in the mean time while these Tragedies were acting they made continual search for Brousson the great Fury which the Government made to appear against him proceeded in that the Zeal of the People was raised up in a singular manner and that they looked upon Brousson as the principal Instrument whom God made use of to illuminate them In the Month of February 1693 he had held an Assembly which gave them sufficiently to understand how far the Zeal of this poor People was inflamed and which greatly provoked them This Assembly had been held between Brigon Vallence and St. Maurice Brousson had given strict Charge to those who were to give the People Notice that they should invite none but such as were the Faithful of the Neighbouring Villages in the mean time for all the Care that was taken to engage them to keep the Matter secret and to call together none but the Faithful of the Neighbourhood it could not be prevented but that a great Number of Persons came thither from D'Vzes which was two Leagues and a half distant from the place of Meeting and from Nismes which was four Leagues and from several other Towns and Villages which were very near as far distant insomuch that Brousson knew some of Thirty five Towns and Villages in this Assembly As those who were come from far were necessitated to travel in the Day-time that they might be timely enough in the Meeting which was held about Ten at Night the Assembly was by that means discovered and the Enemies took to their Arms and a Troop of these Murderers commanded by a notorious Apostate whose Name was Darcis being concealed in a Wood through which they judged several of the Faithful were to pass in order to go towards Vzes a Company of these poor People consisting of Men Women Youths young Maidens and Children fell into the Ambush laid for them and thô they carried no manner of Arms when they came to this Wilderness and offered no manner of Injury to any Body yet these Assassines and Murderers fired six or eight Fuzees upon this unarmed and inoffensive Company one of which killed a poor Peasant who was a pious Man and lived near Coulourges Several others were wounded but no Complaint durst be made thereof All the rest dispersed themselves except about Forty who were taken And among them were some worldly Persons who having but lately frequented the Religious Assemblies did not stand the Test some others were condemned to the Gallies and about Twenty Women and Maidens made appear great Constancy and so were banished to Carcassonne In the mean time the Massacre was approved and rewarded by the Government Some Months after this the Soldiers committed another Murder with most horrible Circumstances Having discovered a Meeting in a Village near Sammiere a Soldier seeing a Woman who came from the Assembly and who with a Key opened the Door of her House in order to go in he shot at her with his Fuzee and wounded her through the Body He might have suffered the Woman to have gone into her House and then have taken her without shooting But the Orders given were to shed innocent Blood When the poor Woman was wounded she fell but being afterwards raised up and having taken the Key to try to open the Door the Soldier ran to her and cracked her Scull with the But-end of his Musket but she lived about two Years longer and during all that time she comforted continually her Husband and Family and spake such Godly Things to them that all of them burst into Tears Some Days after her Death the Intendant de Baville happening to go to Sommiere ordered the Soldier to be brought before him and instead of manifesting an horrour for the barbarous and hellish Action he had perpetrated and punishing this Villain as his Crime deserved he contented himself to ask him If the Woman whom he had killed had left any Children And this Villain having answered That she had left several and also Sons who were already grown up He said to him So much the worse for thee these Children may revenge their Mother's Death thou oughtest to have a care of them The Government would have had the People know it approved of the Massacres as being done by Order the Peoples Zeal having driven them to a Rage and because Brousson was one of those to whom God vouchsafed the favour to labour amongst them with success the Magistracy redoubled their Diligence and neglected nothing for the apprehending of him and in order thereunto they did more especially take a particular Care to discover the Places of his Retreat After the holding of that great Meeting already mentioned the Intendant being informed there was a likelihood that he was withdrawn into a great Wood which is between the Towns of Vzes Alais and Bagnols and in the midst whereof there is a little Mountain called Quonquet wherein are divers Caves and believing that it would Rain and that then Brousson not being able to keep in the Word must be forced to retire to the Caves As soon as it began to Rain he sent six Companies to invest those Caves and to make a strict Search in those Parts Brousson was quickly advertised of the March of those Troops who gave out they had another Design wherefore instead of going towards the Caves he went far remote from them The Soldiers were all Night in the Field and endured very great Fatigues through the greatness and coldness of the Rain so that many of them sickned and died thereupon The Rain for the two first Nights was not very great but Brousson was in the mean time to endure very great Hardships having been constrained to lie in Bushes and on the wet Ground But the third Night there fell very heavy Rain and as he was necessitated to spend that same Night under a Rock he was in a most miserable plight having nothing for all the
forced him to turn the Spit 'till his Arm was almost burnt by their continual throwing Wood on the Fire They beat an Old Man almost to Death to force him to go to Mass whilst the constant Martyr to his last Breath cried He would never do it And only requested they would dispatch and make an end of him 4. Monsieur de Garrison one of the chief Men of the City and an intimate Friend of the Intendant went and cast himself at his Feet imploring his Protection and conjuring him to rid him of the Troopers that he might have no force put upon his Conscience adding That in recompence of the Favour he begged of him he would give him all he had Which was to the value of about a Million of Livres But all his Intreaties were so far from prevailing that he ordered him for Terror to be worse used than the rest by dragging him along the Streets 5. Some of the lustiest Soldiers took their Landlords or others in the House and walking them up and down continually tickled and tossed them about like a Ball from each other without giving them the least Intermission and keeping them in that Condition three Days together without Meat Drink or Sleep 6. Isaac Faim a Citizen of Negreplisse was hung up by the Arm-pits and tortured a whole Night by pinching and tearing off his Flesh with Pincers thô thereby they were not in the least able to shake his Constancy 7. They made a Fire about a Boy of Ten Years of Age who with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven cried My God help me And when they saw the Lad resolved to die rather than renounce his Religion they snatch'd him from the Fire when he was at the very point of being burnt 8. In divers places they have endeavoured to tire out the Patience of the poor Protestants and overcome their Constancy by applying red hot Irons to the Hands and Feet of Men and to the Breasts of Women 9. At Nants they hung up several Women and Maids by the Feet stark naked and others by the Armpits exposing them to the publick View Which is certainly the most exquisite Suffering to the Modesty of the Fair Sex 10. Children of four or five Years old were kept from Meat and Drink 'till they were ready to famish and were then brought to their Parents by the Dragoons who swore bloodily That except they would recant they must prepare themselves to see their Children languish and die in their presence If it happen that any by their Patience and Courage stand our the Soldiers go and acquaint their Commanders That they have done all they could but without success Who in a barbarous and surly Tone answer them You must return upon them and do worse than you have done The King Commands it Either they must turn or I must burst and perish in the Attempt 11. Thirty two Companies of Foot with an Intendant and the two Bishops of Agen and Periguex entred the City of Bergerack and sending for Two hundred of the principal Citizens before them told them That the King 's express Will and Pleasure was they should all go to Mass and that in case of Disobedience they had Order to compel them to it To which the Citizens unanimously answered That if they were so resolved they had nothing else to do but to prepare themselves to receive the Punishment they should inflict Whereupon Thirty two Troops more of Horse and Foot marched into the Town who were all quartered upon the Protestants with express Command not to spare any thing they had and to exercise all manner of Violence upon them 'till they had extorted a Promise of Conformity to their Wills These Wolves thus encouraged flew instantly upon these innocent Sheep rending and worrying them in such a manner as the Relation thereof cannot but strike horror and amazement On one hand the Child cries with the languishing Tone of one ready to die Ah my Father Ah my Mother What shall I do I must die I can endure no longer The Wife on the other hand cries Alas my Heart fails me I faint I die Whilst their cruel Tormentors are so far from being touched with Compassion that from thence they take occasion to torment them afresh and to renew their Tortures affrighting them with their Hellish Threats accompanied with execrable Oaths and Curses crying Dog Bougre what wilt thou not be converted wilt thou not be obedient Dog Bougre thou must be converted we are sent on purpose to convert thee 12. A young Woman was brought before the Council in order to oblige her to abjure the Truth which she boldly and manfully refusing was remanded back to Prison where they shaved her Head and singed the Hair from other parts and stripping her stark naked led her through the Streets of the City where many a Blow was given her and Stones flung at her After this they set her up to the Neck in a Tub full of Water where when she had been a while they took her out and put upon her a Shift dipped in Wine which as it dried and stuck to her sore and bruised Body they snatcht off again and then had another ready dipt in Wine to clap upon her This they repeated six several times and when by this inhumane Usage her Body was grown very raw and tender they demanded of her Whether she did not now find herself disposed to embrace the Catholick Faith As they term their Religion But she being strengthned by the Spirit and love of him for whose Name's-sake she suffered all these Extremities undauntedly answered That she had before declared her Resolution to them which she would never alter and that tho' they had her Body in their power yet she was resolved never to yield her Soul to them but keep it pure and undefiled for her heavenly Lover as knowing that a little while would put an end to all her Sufferings and give a beginning to her Enjoyment of Eternal Bliss Which Words further enraging them and despairing of making her a Convert they fastned her to a Gibbet by the Feet stark naked with her Head downward and there let her hang in that ignominious posture 'till she gave up the Ghost 13. There was an old Man in the City who having been long kept Prisoner in a deep Dungeon for the Protestant Profession was brought at length before the Judges with Vermine and Snails crawling upon his mouldred Garment who seeing him in that loathsome Condition said to him How now Old Man does not your Heart begin to relent and are not you willing to abjure your Heresie To which he answered As for Heresie I profess none but if by that word you mean my Religion you may assure your selves that as I have thus long lived so I hope and am resolved by the Grace of God to die in it With which Reply they being incensed grew rougher with him Dost thou not see said they that the Worms are ready to devour
first brought forth pregnant of another Nat. Hist Oxfordsh p. 189. 5. An. 1633. David Spilinbergerus Physician of Leutschovia tells us of a Cow in Hungary that brought forth a Calf with a great Belly wherein was found another Calf with all its Limbs perfect ibid. Bartholin tells us of a Female still-born Child pregnant with another Female duly plac'd in the Womb about a span in length ibid. The same Author met with an Egg at Witney containing another imperfect one in it like that Ovum in Ovo of Doctor Harvey's or that kept in the King of Denmarks Repository or the other Bartholin saw 1669 or which Schastin Jungius saw 1671. ibid. CHAP. IV. Examples of the Fruitfulness of some Women HE whose Wife is as a Fruitful Vine by the sides of his House and his Children like Olive Plants round about his Table is by the Psalmist pronounced a happy Man supposing that he be withal one that fears the Lord Let Goodness and Fruitfulness go together and they will Terminate in Blessedness every Vertuous Child being a Crown of Glory and a particular Comfort to his Parents But Ill Fruit is certainly a Curse and the more in number the more Reproachful and Burthensome however they prove when he that carries the Keys of the Womb opens so wide and pours out so plentifully let none Fault the Supreme Governor for his Dispensations but attend diligently his own Office in the Nurture and Education 1. One of the Maid-servants of Augustus the Emperor was delivered of five Children at a Birth the Mother together with her Children were buried in the Laurentine-way with an Inscription upon them by the Order of Augustus relating the same Gell. Noct. Attic. l. 1 c. c. 3. p. 249. 2. Also Serapia a Woman of Alexandria brought forth five Children at one Birth Cael. Rhod. Antiq. lect l. 4. c. 23. p. 180. 3. Doctor Fuller out of Ausonius speaks of a Roman Matron called Callicrate and thus Translateth her Epitaph as speaking in her own Person Twenty Nine Births Callicrate I told And of both Sexes saw none sent to Grave I was an Hundred and Five Summers Old Yet stay from staff my Hands did never crave A rare instance which yet in the former respects you will find surpassed in what follows Fullers Worth p. 138. 4. A Woman of Dunstable who as her Epitaph in the Church testifies bore at three several times three Children at a Birth and five at a Birth two other times Haker Ap. p. 224. 5. Elionera Salviata the Wife of Frescobald a Citizen of Florence was delivered of 52 Children never less then three at a Birth Fullers Worth p. 119. 6. Anno 1553. The Wife of John Gissinger a Tigurine was delivered of Twins and before the Year was out brought at once five more three Sons and two Daughters Schenck Ob. 1 p. 563. 7. Julius Sentinarius of Bononia came into the World with six Births and was himself the seventh Schenck Obs. 1. p. 563. 8. Jane Pancica Wife to Bernard a Sicilian of Agrigentum was so fruitful that in 30 Births she was delivered of 73 Children Camer Hor. Subcis Cent. 2. c. 66. p. 273. 9. The famous Story of the Welfs is this Irmentrudes the Wife of Isenbbard Earl of Altorf had unadvisedly accused of Adultery a Woman that had three Children at a Birth being not able to believe that one Man could at one time get so many Children adding that she deserved to be sowed up in a Sack and thrown into the River and accusing her to her Husband the Earl It happened that the next Year the Countess felt her self with Child and the Earl being from Home she was brought to Bed of 12 Male Children but all of them very little She fearing the reproach of Adultery whereof yet she was not Guilty commanded that 11 of them should be taken and cast into a River not far from the House and one only brought up it so fell out that Isenbard met the Woman that was carrying the little Infants to their Death and asking her whither she went with her Pail she reply'd she was going to drown a few Whelps in the River of Scherk The Earl came to her and in despite of her resistance would see what was there and discovering the Children pressed her in such wise that she told him all the matter He caused them to be secretly Educated and so soon as they were grown great and brought home to him he set them in the Hall by him whom his Wife had brought up Being thus by their Faces all known to be Brethren their Mother mov'd in Conscience confessed the Fact and obtained Pardon for her Fault in remembrance whereof the Honourable Race of Wolfs that is Whelps got their Name Camer ibid. p. 274. 10. John Francis Earl of Mirandula tells of one Dorothy who at two several Births brought forth 20 Sons 9 at the one and 11 at the other while she went with this burthen by reason of the mighty weight she was wont to tie a swathing-band about her Neck and Shoulders and with that to bear up her swolen Belly which fell down to her very Knees Schenck Obs. Med. l. 4. Obs. 1. p. 563. 11. Matthias Golancevius Bishop of Vladislavia in Poland it is said of his Mother that she was delivered of 12 Sons at once and that of all these he only lived the rest dying as soon as they were born ibid. 12. Alexander de Campo Fregosa Bishop of Ventimilium attested upon his Faith that at Lamaia a Noble-woman brought forth 16 Humane Births of the bigness of a Man's Palm all which had motion and that besides these 16 which had Humane likeness she brought forth at the same time a Creature in the likeness of a Horse which had all motion all the 17 were wrap'd in one and the same Secondine which is monstrous ibid. p. 164. 13. Anno 1217. Upon the 20th of January the Lady Margaret Wife to the Earl Virloslaus was in the Country of Cracovia brought to Bed of 30 living bodies all at once ibid. 14. Matilda some say Margaret Wife to Count Herman of Henneberg did see a poor Widow Woman begging her Bread for God's sake having in either Arm a Child which she had at one Birth this poor Woman craving her Alms the Countess rejected her saying That it was against Nature for a Woman that was Honest to conceive by her Husband two Children of one birth the poor Woman prayed to God that in Vindication of her Innocency he would send the Lady at one burden so many Children as there are Days in a Year a while after the Lady was brought to bed on the Friday before Palm-Sunday Anno 1276 and was delivered of 365 Children half Sons and half Daughters the odd one found to be a Hermophradite These were laid in two Basons and Baptized by Guido Suffragan Bishop of Utrict the Sons Named John and the Daughters Elizabeth who presently died Heylins Cosmogr p. 384. Grimstons Hist Nethel l.
1. p. 52. Camerar Hor. Subcis cent 2. c. 66. CHAP. V. Examples of the Numerous Issue of some Persons BE Fruitful and Multiply was a Blessing bestowed not only upon the rest of the Animal World at the Creation but upon Mankind especially and afterwards upon the Jewish Church more then others and 't is certain the more excellent any Being is the more desirable is its Increase and the Multiplication of its Species We are pleased with profitable Cattle and love to see our Orchards and Fields of Corn Fruitful Is it the glory of Man and Woman only to be barren Or should we not have some Zeal to fill up the vacant spaces in the Church of God Militant first and Triumphant afterwards And then happy they who produce most Fruit for Heaven 1. In the History of the Acts of Augustus Caesar it is Recorded that in his 12th Consulship upon the 11th day of April C. Crispinus Hilarius a Gentleman of Fesule came with a solemn Pomp into the Capitol attended upon with his 9 Children 7 Sons and two Daughters with 27 Grand-Children that were the Sons of his Children and 39 more who were his great Grand-Children the Sons of his Sons Sons and besides these with 12 Females that were his Childrens Daughters and with all these he solemnly Sacrificed Plin. l. 7. p. 162. 2. There was a Noble Lady of the Family of the Dalburges who saw of her own Race even to the sixth degree whereof the Germans have made this Distict Mater ait Natae dic Natae Filia Natam Vt moneat Natae plangere Filiolam Thus Englished by Hakwell Apolog. l. 3. c. 5. p. 224. The Aged Mother to her Daughter spake Daughter said she arise Thy Daughter to thy Daughter take Whose Daughter 's Daughter Cries 3. Vives speaks of a Village in Spain that had above a Hundred Houses whereof all the Inhabitants were issu'd from one certain Old Man who then liv'd when as that Village was so Peopled The Name of Propinquity how the youngest should call him could not be given for the Spanish affords not a Name above the great Grand-Fathers Father Vives in comment Sup. lib. de Civit. Dei l. 1. 8. c. 15. 4. In the Burrough of Leicester in the Church of St. Martins is a very remarkable Epitaph viz. Here lyeth the Body of John Heyrick of this Parish who departed this Life the second of April 1589 being about the Age of 76 years he did Marry Mary the Daughter of John Bond of Wardend in the County of Warwick Esq he lived with the said Mary in one House full 52 years and in all that time never buried Man Woman nor Child though they were sometimes 20 in Houshold He had Issue by the said Mary 5 Sons and 7 Daughters the said John was Mayor of the Town 1559. and again Anno 1572 the said Mary lived to 97 years and departed the 8th of December 1611. She did see before her departure of her Children and Childrens Children and their Children to the number of One Hundred Forty and two ibid. 5. In St. Innocents Church-yard in the City of Paris is to be seen the Epitaph of Yeoland Baily which doth shew that she had lived 84 years and might have seen 288 Verstegan saith 295 of her Children and Childrens Children she died on the 17th of April 1514. Hakewel ibid. p. 234. Versteg Restit decay'd Int. 1. p. 3. 6. In Markshal-Church in Essex on Mrs. Honywoods Tomb is this Inscription Here lieth the body of Mary Waters the Daughter and Co-heir of Robert Waters of Lenham in Kent Esq Wife of Robert Honywood of Charing in Kent Esq her only Husband who had at her decease lawfully descended from her 367 16 of her own body 114 Grand-Children 228 in the third Generation and 9 in the fourth She liv'd a most Pious Life and in a most Christian manner died here at Markshall in the 93 year of her Age and in the 44th of her Widowhood May 11th 1620. Wanly Hist of Man p. 41. 7. Dame Ester Temple Daughter to Miles Sands Esq was born at Latmos in Buckinghamshire and was marryed to Sir Thomas Temple of Stow Baronet she had 4 Sons and 9 Daughters which liv'd to be marry'd and so exceedingly multiplied that this Lady saw 700 extracted from her Body Doctor Fuller saith he bought the Truth hereof by a Wager he lost besides there was a new Generation of Marriageable Females just at her Death Had the Off-spring of this Lady been contracted into one place they were enough to have peopled a City of a competent proportion The Lady Temple died Anno 1656. Fullers Worthies p. 138. Buckinghamshire 8. We read saith Mr. Ricaut that the Eastern Parts of the World have abounded with Children of diver Mothers and but one Father and that ordinarily as great Personage in Egypt hath been attended with 100 lusty Sons in the Field proceeding from his own Loins well Armed and daring in all Attempts of Was. Paul Ricaut Esq present State of the Ottoman Empire p. 292. A Woman in Delph three several days voided three Worms out of her Navel and not long after was delivered of a Boy and then seven days after that of another Forest 17. Obs. 35. 10. I have heard the Reverend dr Annesley has had 25 Children for Dr. Manton baptizing one of them was asked how many children the Doctor had to whom he return'd this Answer That he was not certain how many but believ'd 't was Two Dozen or a Quarter of an Hundred CHAP. VI. Children crying in the Womb. 'T IS common for Infants at their first Exit out of their Mothers Womb to give some Significations of their resentment of the Change but to do it before they come into the common Air of this World is more rare and strange one would think it time enough for them to Cry when they are born and arrived at the brink of Troubles but some whether through the Strength of Nature or some premature Eruption of the Amnion or other Accident in the Womb or an extraordinary Sagacity in provident Nature and foresight of the Evils to come Anticipate their time and are heard to Cry before either the Mother or Midwife go about to disturb them in their little Mansions 1. At Heyford Purcel there was a Child that Cyred very Audibly in its Mothers Womb sometime before the Birth The People being frighted with it and expecting some Calamity should soon attend such a Prodigy pernicious forsooth not only to the place where heard but to the state it self whereas the Learned Bartholin more rightly Notes that the Ruin of Kingdoms depends rather upon the Wickedness of People than any such Vagitus Dr. Plot. Nat. Hist Oxf. p. 192. 2. Anno 1648. There was a Woman the Wife of a Seaman near to the Church of Holmiana who had been big for 8 Months she was of a good habit of body and nor Old this Woman upon the Eve of Christmas-day upon the Calends in the year following
and in Epiphany all those several times heard the Child that was in her Womb who Cry'd with that noise that it was heard by the Neighbours they Throng'd together in great Numbers to hear so unusual a Crying both such as knew the Woman and such as knew her not The Magistrates in the mean time caused the Woman to be carefully watch'd that afterwards the birth of that Cryer might be the more certain Divers spent their Judgments before hand of what shap'd Monster she should be delivered but at last the Woman was safely brought to Bed of a perfect Female Chlid Bartholin took this Relation from the Mothers Mouth Hist Anat. c. 1. p. 4. 3. A Noble Lady in Cheshire sitting after Meat in the Dining-room with her Husband their Domestick Chaplain and divers others She was sensible of an extraordinary stirring in her Belly which so lift up her Cloaths that it was easily discernable to those that were present she was then with Child and it was the seventh Month upon the sudden there was a voice heard but whence it should come they were not able to Conjecture this was uttered a second and third time to the great Amazement of the Persons present the third time it was so manifest that the Cry came from her Womb that they doubted no longer of it The Girl was living at the Relation which was made by the Lady her self to Dr. Walter Needham Disquisit Anat. c. 3 p. 84. 4. Anno 1640. In Belgia a Woman near Vessalia who then had gone 3 years entire big with a Child that Child of hers was heard to Cry by many Persons worthy of Credit Barth Hist Anat. c. 1. Hist 1 p. 3. 5. Bartholin tells of another at Wittenberg Anno 1632. Another at Leyden a third near Argentina all which had Children that Cryed in their Wombs ibid. p. l. 1 2 3. 6. Schenckius tells of another at Rath-stad in the Noric Alpes Wanrichius of one in the City of Brescia Sennertus of one in his own Town Anno 1596 whose Child Cryed once the 42d day before its birth the Mother dying in Travel but the Daughter living The Author of the History of the Netherlands tells of a Child in Holland that Cryed 15 days before its Birth Wanleys Wonders p. 1 2. I Query whether any Males have been observed to Cry thus For all that I can come to the knowledge of have been Female Children CHAP. VII Monstrous Births and Conceptions of Mankind SO long at Nature deviates on the plausible or less dishonourable Side we can bear with some Patience but when the Aberrations are Opprobrious and carry some notable Deformity and Reproach in their Face they are Affrightful and Stupefactive we stand and wonder at the Product and enquire with some Concernedness of Spirit what God means by such an angry and partial or imperfect Concurrence of his Providence and the Exercise of his Divine Attributes And certainly it is every one's Duty in such Cases to make use of his Intellectuals and enquire seriously whether he hath done his part with that Prudence and Piety as he ought since the Almighty hath not co-operated with the same Wisdom and Kindness or Power as he commonly useth 1. Buchanan tells of one having beneath the Navel one Body but above it two distinct ones when hurt beneath the Navel both Bodies felt the Pain if above that Body only felt that was hurt These two would sometimes differ in Opinions and Quarrel the one dying before the other the Surviving pined away by degrees It lived 28 Years could speak divers Languages and was by the King's Command taught Musick Sandys on Ovid. Metam l. 9. p. 173. 2. Anno 1538 there was one born that grew up to the Stature of a Man he was double as to the Head and Shoulders in such a manner as that one Face stood opposite to the other both were of a Likeness and resembled each other in the Beard and Eyes both had the same Appetite and both hungred alike the Voice of both was almost the same and both loved the same Wife Sch. Obs Med. l. 1. obs 1. p. 7. 3. Bartholinus tells of a Genean which he saw then 28 Years of Age who had a little Brother growing out at his Breast who was in that Posture born with him the Bone as he thought called Xyphoides in both of them grew together his lest Foot alone hung downwards he had two Arms only three Fingers upon each Hand Some appearance there was of the Secret Parts he moved his Hands Ears and Lips and had a little beating in the Breast This little Brother voided no Excrements but by the Mouth Nose and Ears and is nourished by that which the greater takes He has distinct Animal and Vital Parts from the greater since he sleeps sweats and moves when the other wakes rests and sweats not Both received their Names at the Font the greater that of Lazarus the lesser Johannes Baptista The Natural Bowels as to Liver Spleen c. are the same in both Johannes hath his Eyes for the most part shut his Breath small so that holding a Feather at his Mouth it scarce moves but holding the Hand there we find a small and warm Breath his Mouth is usually open and always wet with Spittle his Head is bigger than that of Lazarus but deformed his Hair hanging down while his Face is in an upward Posture Lazarus is of a just Stature a decent Body courteous Deportment and gallantly Attired he covers the Body of his Brother with his Cloak Nor could you think a Monster lay within at your first Discourse with him Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 66. p. 103. 4. Lemnius tells of a Monster that a certain Woman was delivered of which at the appearing of the Day filled all the Chamber with roaring and crying running all about to find some Hole to creep into but the Women at length stifled and smother'd it with Pillows Lem. de Nat. Mir. l. 1. c. 8. p. 38. 5. A Noble Polonian tells Bartholin That he had seen two little Fishes without Scales which were brought forth by a Woman and as soon as they came out of her Womb did swim in the Water as other Fish Bar. Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist 10. p. 20. 6. There lived a Woman at Elsingorn who prepared all Things for Child-birth her time of Travail being come she was delivered of a Creature very like unto a Dormouse of the greater size which to the amazement of the Women present with marvelous Celerity sought out and found a Hole in the Chamber into which it crept and was never more seen Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 10. p. 19. 7. Anno 1639 Norway afforded an unheard-of Example of a Woman who having often before been delivered of Humane Births and again big after strong Labour was delivered of two Eggs one of them was broken the other was sent to Dr. Olaus Wormius in whose Study it is reserved to be seen of as many
as please This Relation is attested by many Religious Persons whose Names follow Ericus Westergard Rotalph Rakestat and Thor. Venes Coadjutors of the Pastor in the Parish of Niaess That Anno 1639 upon the 20th Day of May by Command of the Lord President in Remerigi the Lord Paulus Tranius Pastor in Niaess we went to receive an Account of the monstrous Birth in Sundby brought forth by an honest Woman Anna the Daughter of Amandus the Wife of Gandbrandus Erlandsonius who had already been the Mother of Eleven Children the last of which she was delivered of upon March 4. 1638. This Anna in the Year 1639 upon the 7th of April began to grow ill and being in great Pains in her Belly her Neighbours were called the same Day at Evening in the presence of her Neighbours she brought forth an Egg in all respects like that of an Hen which being broken by the Women then present Anna Grim Elen Rudstad Gyro Rudstad and Catharina Sundby they found that in the Yolk and White it answered directly to a common Egg. Upon the 18th Day of April about Noon in the Presence of the same Persons she was delivered of another Egg which in Figure differed nothing from the former This was the Confession as well of the Mother as of them that were present we do Artest by our Seals in the Presence of the Lord President in the Parish of Niaess the Day and Year abovesaid Bar. Hist Anat. c. 1. n. 4. p. 10. 8. Anne Tromperin was delivered of a Boy and two Serpents upon St. John's Day Anno 1576. She said That in a very hot Day she had drunk of a Spring where she suspected that she had drank of the Sperm of Serpents The Child was so lean as that he was scarce any thing but Bones The Serpents were each of them an Ell in length and thick as the Arm of an Infant both which alive as they were were buried by the Midwife in the Church-yard Sennert Pract. Med. l. 4. par 2. sect 4. cap. 10. p. 327. 9. The Concubine of Pope Nicholas the Third was delivered of a Monster which resembled a Bear Martin the Fourth in the First Year of his Popedom entertained this Lady and fearing lest she should bring forth other Bear-Whelps he caused all the Bears which were painted or carved in the Pope's Palace whilst the Family of Vrsini bore sway in Rome to be blotted out and removed Camer Hor. Subs Cen. 10. At a Procession in Bois le Duc in Brabant some of the Citizens were disguised according to the Custom of the Place some in the Habit of Angels and others in the Shape of Devils as they are painted One of these Devils ran home to his House in that Attire took his Wife and threw her upon a Bed saying He would get a young Devil upon her He was not much deceived for his Wife bore a Child in that Shape which at his coming into the World began to run and skip up and down all over the Chamber Ibid. 11. Anno 1678 upon the 17th Day of January at Eight of the Clock after Noon there was at the Town of Quiro an honest Matron who was then deliver'd of a Child which had upon its Head five Horns opposite each to the other and like unto those of a Ram also from the upper part of his Forehead there hung backward a very long piece of Flesh that covered most part of his Back in Form like a Woman 's Head-Tire about his Neck there was a double Row of Flesh like the Collar of an Horse at the end of his Fingers were Claws like to those Tallons in Birds of Prey his Knees were in the hinder part of his Leg his Right Leg and Foot were of a shining red Colour the rest of his Body all swarthy He is said to come into the World with a great Cry which so frighted the Midwife and the Women present that they ran immediately out of the House Paraeus de Mons l. 24. 12. Lithgow tells of a Monster that below the Middle Part there was but one Body and above the Middle there were two living Souls the one separated from the other with several Members their Heads both of one bigness the belly of the one join'd with the Posterior Part of the other and their Faces looked both one way as if the one had carried the other on his Back Their Eyes were exceeding big and their Hands greater than an Infant of three times their Age. The Excrements of both issued forth at one place and their Thighs and Legs were of a great Growth not agreeable to their Age which was but 36 Days Their Feet like the Foot of a Camel round and cloven in the midst They eat insatiably and continually mourn'd when one slept the other waked Lithg par 2. p. 52. 13. A Woman at Prague having felt a Commotion in her Bowels while the Inwards of a Calf were taking out brought forth a Boy whose Liver Intestines Stomach and Spleen with the greatest part of the Mesentery hung out beyond the Navel Fabrit Obs Chir. Cen. 3. Obs 55. p. 239. 14. At Cracovia was born a Child terrible to behold with flaming and shining Eyes the Mouth and Nostrils were like to those of an Ox it had long Horns and a Back hairy like a Dog's It had the Faces of Apes in the Breast where the Teats should stand it had Cats Eyes under the Navel fasten'd to the Hypogastrium and they looked hideously It had the Heads of Dogs upon both Elbows and at the Whire-Bones of each Knee looking forwards It was Splay-footed and Splay-handed the Feet like Swans Feet and a Tail turn'd upwards that crook'd up backwards about half an Ell long It lived four Hours from its Birth and near its Death it spake thus Watch for the Lord your God comes This was Anno 1543. Lycosten de Prod p. 582. 15. Anno 1573 at St. Lawrence in the West-Indies was a Child born that had two Horns on the Head like those of Kids long Hair on the Body a Fleshy Girdle about his Middle double from whence hung a piece of Flesh like a Purse and a Bell of Flesh in his Left Hand white Boots of Flesh on its Legs doubled down In brief the whole Shape was horrid and diabolical and conceived to proceed from some Fright taken from the Antick Danceâ— of the Indians among whom the Devil sometimes appears Dr. More 's Immortality of the Soul l. 3. c. 7. p. 173. 16. At Boston in New-England Anno 1637 Mrs. Dyer was delivered of a Monster which had no Head the Face on the Breast the Ears like Apes Ears growing on the Shoulders the Eyes and Mouth stood far out the Nose hooking upward the Breast and Back full of Prickles the Navel and Belly where the Hips should have been in stead of Toes it had on each Foot three Claws upon the Back it had two great Holes like Mouths above the Eyes it had four Horns and
had such Testimonies about her that pleaded she was no longer a Woman that she thereupon altered her Name and Apparel into those of a Man Cuelmanus relates this upon the Credit of a Physician in the Lecture of Anatomy Cellarius and Wolphius eminent Physicians being present Sch. Obs Med. l. 4. obs 6. p. 503. 8. That is wonderful which is told by Pontanus of a Woman who after she had been deliver'd of a Son became a Man which yet he confirms by the Testimony of Antonius Colotius the Vmbrian and saith he this fell out about Anno 1496. Donat. Hist. Mirab. l. 6. c. 2. p. 297. 9. Antonius Diuna tells of a Nun of St. Dominick's Order in the City of Vbeda her Name was Magdalena Magnoz This Woman in the 7th Year after she had taken upon her the Profession of a Nun was from a Woman turned into a Man Being hereupon expelled the Nunnery she put on Man's Clothes a Beard grew upon her Chin and she was called Franciscus Magnoz This very Francis saith he was my Client and I pleaded for him in a Cause of Rape for a certain Woman accused him that she was known by him by Violence and got with Child John Choker Fax Hist. cent 1. cap. 23. 10. Ausonius tells of a Boy at Beneventum who suddenly became a Girl 11. Bartholinus discourseth more upon this Point and shews the Possibility of it in his Anatomy 12. Dr. Burnet in his Letters relates a Story which he had from Cardinal Howard at Rome of two Nuns which were in a few Years converted into the Masculine Gender but having not the Book by me I must leave it to my Reader 's further Inquiry for the Particulars CHAP. XV. Instances of Skill in Physiognomy WHen Socrates was told by a Physiognomist his natural Inclinations to Vice and some of the Company that were then present laugh'd at the Error he very ingenuously rebuked them saying That there was more Truth in it than they were sensible of Nature disposing him strongly to those Immoralities which he had by Culture and his own Improvements conquered in great measure and corrected There is certainly somewhat in the Faces and Gestures and Aspects of Persons that may be an Index of the Mind according to that Proverbial Saying Ex Oculo Poculo Loculo cognosciter Homo but especially Oculus est Animi fenestra 1. Gregory Nazianzen by observing Julian's Physiognomy when he was at Athens his running Head wagging Shoulders rolling Eyes staring Countenance sliding and limping Pace scornful Visage immoderate Laughter c. declared That he saw not one good Sign in him but cried out Good God what a Monster the Empire of Rome doth nourish When I uttered these Words saith he I desired of God that in this Matter I might be found a Lyar. Clark's Mar of Eccl. Hist 2. Gaffarel tells us if a Man endeavour to counterfeit any other Man's Countenance and that he fancy himself to have his Hair Eyes Nose Mouth and all other Parts like him he may by this means come to know what his natural Inclinations and what his Thoughts are by what he finds in himself during the time of his making of Faces This Opinion saith he is grounded upon the Experience of Campanella who expresseth himself in these Words Cum quis hominem videt statim imaginari oportet se nosum habere ut alter hebet pilum vnltum frontem locutionem Et tunc qui affectus cogitationes in hac cogitatione illi obrepunt judicat homini illi esse proprios quem ita imaginando contuetur hoc non absque ratione experientià Spiritus enim format corpus juxta affectus innatos ipsum fingit exprimitque I always thought saith Gaffarel that the Opinion of Campanella was That a Man should only imagine himself to have the same Countenance with the other as his Words seem to mean But when I was at Rome understanding that he was brought into the Inquisition I did out of Cariosity to be satisfied in this Particular take the Pains to visit him there Being therefore in Company of some Abbots we were brought to the Chamber where he was who as soon as he perceived us came to us and entreated us to have a little Patience till he had ended a little Note which he was writing to Cardinal Magaloti When we were sate down we observed him oftentimes to make certain wry Faces which we conceived to proceed either from Folly or else from some Pain that the Violence of the Torments which he had endured put him to The Calves of his Legs being all beaten black and blue and his Buttocks having hardly and Flesh on them it having been torn from him by piece-meal to make him confess what he was accused of One of our Company asked If he felt no Pain He smiling answered No. And supposing that we had been something troubled at the wry Faces which he made he told us That at our coming in he fancied himself to be Cardinal Magalotti as he bad heard him described And he asked us withal If he were not a hairy Man So far my Author Gaffarel's unheard of Curiosities par 2. ch 6. 3. One Mrs. Powel Wife to Mr. Powel of Forrest-Hill near Oxford a Justice of Peace at that time told me about Five and twenty Years ago when I preached in the Parish That a young lusty Fellow coming to her Door for an Alms she looking sharply upon him told him He was a guilty Person upon which the Fellow run away from her to the Gate But she calling upon him to stay he turned back again and asked her In the Name of Christ who told you so She making Answer Christ whom you have Offended by your ill Actions and therefore turn back again make an ingenuous Confession of thy Crime and upon my Reputation I 'll make no Discovery of it to thy Hurt c. Upon which he returned in a very submissive manner and acknowledged That he was as I remember a Devonshire-man and coming one Night in Drink from a Fair and asking a Fellow that he met Which was the way to such a Place he answering He should follow his Nose Upon that they went to hard Words and thence to Blows till at last he kill'd the Man for which he was upon Suspicion committed to Prison but sufficient Evidence being wanting he was discharged Whereupon she advised him to this purpose Well! thou art uneasie under the Remorse of a guilty Conscience at home and therefore thinkest to allay thy Troubles abroad Assure thy self thou wilt be in danger of ill Company and fresh Temptations and more guilty by Travel and therefore do take my Advice return home use thy Endeavour to get an honest Livelihood and shew thy self as kind as possible to the surviving Relations of the murder'd Person And if thou wilt promise so to do I will give thee somewhat towards bearing thy Charges and accordingly she gave him a Crown Another Story of
Bird of Prey an Eye on his Knee and both Kinds Ypsilon amidst his Breast and the form of a Cross This I have read saith my Author in John Multi Vallis and Gasper Hedio in the History Synopsis after Sabellicus I have seen another Portracture of the like Monster but somewhat differing and not answering the first in all Points with the Interpretation set out in Verse Batman's Doom p. 294. 6. Anno 1531. At Ausburg a Woman brought forth three Monsters first a Man's Head wrapt in a Caul secondly a Serpent with two Legs which had a great Head like unto a Pike the Body and Feet of a Frog and the Tail of a Lizard thirdly a Pig whole in all Parts Batman's Doom p. 315. 7. In the same year a horrible Monster very wild having four Feet a Man's Head Bearded and Combed Eagles Feet Hands almost like a Lions Paws a Dogs Tail and his Body of a dark yellow colour somewhat shining was taken in the Lordship of the Bishop of Saltsburg in the Forest of Hanesberg He did fly Men's sight and hid himself in dark Corners and length when he could be neither compelled nor allured to Eat he Died for Hunger Ibid. 316. 8. Anno 1540. At Milan a Cow brought forth a Calf with two perfect Heads with Tongue Teeth Eyes and Ears but the Heads were joined together in the Nap the one a Bull 's Head the other a Cow's Head Idem ex Cardan l. 14. c. 37. 9. Anno 1543. in Flanders upon the day of St. Paul's Conversion others write at Cracovia their was Born a Child of honest and gentile Parents very hideous and horrible to behold with turning and sparkling Eyes having a Mouth and Nostrils standing out with the form of a Horn and a Back rough with Dog's Hair Ape 's Faces appearing on his Breast where his Dugs should stand Cats Eyes under the Navel cruel and currish Dog's Heads at both Elbows and Knees looking forward the form of Toads Feet a Tail bending upward and turning again crooked of an Ell long he is said to have lived four hours after he was Born and at length after he had uttered these words Vigilate Dominus Deu vester advenit that is Watch your Lord is a coming to have Died. Batman ibid. p. 537. Out of Gasper Pucer and Munster's Cosmography 10. Anno 1546. At Bitterfield a Calf was found in the Field with Man's Eyes Nostrils and Ears having his Head shaven and as it were covered with Vermilion in Mouth and Breast like a Calf his fore Legs like a Calf and his hinder like a Man and very short but both were partly Hoved like a Calf and partly Toed and Fingered like a Man which Fingers were under the Hoof and hung out severally This Monster Gasper Pucerus describeth in his Book Teratascopia Ibid. p. 346. 11. The same Author writeth That he saw in the year 1553. a Calf fearful and horrible to behold looking like a Cat having a great swelling hanging from under his Jaw long like a Bladder white and soft his Hair was black like a Dogs his Stones were of no common greatness like unto them of a Ram double Codded Ibid. p. 36. 12. Anno 1534. At Stetin a Monster was Born having this Form In the place of his Head was a deformed lump moveable as the Intrails of a Sheep in the place of one of his Ears stood an Arm in the place of the Face curled Locks like to Cats Hair and sticking thereon like the Spawn of a Pike through which beneath there appeared glassy bright little Eyes his Mouth was a very small hole without Lips his Nose little and without a Neck The other Arm grew out of his side but there was no likeness of Breast nor Back He was of no Kind his Arms and long Feet had Houghs whole Bone through without Joints Elbows and Hams his Hands and Feet tender and hanging down as it were twice broken like unto crooked and bending Claws Batman Ibid. Ex Fincelio 13. Anno 1551. Febr. 18. A Lamb was yeaned at Halberstadt with a round Head and with three Eyes three Mouths two Noses with his Ears hanging to his back ward like to Dogs Ears but which is to be accounted a great Prodigy in his three Mouths he had a great Eye greater than the other and there he put forth a long Tongue He lived one day with continual crying Ibid. Ex Fincelio p. 372. 14. Anno 1554. In Marchia not far from Regemont a Mare brought forth a Monstrous Colt having the Skin gagg'd every where hanging Breeches and Dublet cut like to the fashion of the Lance Knights Batman p. 373. Ex Fincelio 15. Anno 1556. The day before the Nones of January in Germany at a Village belonging to the Bishop of Dilling called Overhassen a Cow brought a Calf that had but two hinder Feet yet of so great swiftness that running with the Body upright he surpassed all other Calves on foot Batman's Doom p. 375. 16. The same year July 24. at Clesdorf 3 miles from Pabenberg a Cow brought forth a Calf with a Man's-head a black Beard two Mens Ears indifferently well haired likewise a Man's Breast with Dugs Idem ex Fincelio 17. The same year a Child was Born of a Woman by Copulation with a Dog having a Man's shape in the upper part but in the lower the full form of a Dog and to purge the Sin he was brought to the Pope Cardan de Varietate Rerum l. 14. c. 64. 18. Anno 1563. A monstrous Fish was cast on shore at Grimsby in Lincolnshire in length 19 yards his Tail 15 Foot long and 6 yards between his two Eyes Batmans Doom p. 391. out of Dr. Coopers Chron. 19. Anno 1577. in June was seen in London a Mare having a Colt brought from the Parish of Emeley in Worcestershire the Mare was 22 years old and Foaled such a Colt as forthwith gave Milk which my Author saith he saw adding that one Mrs. Dawson endeavouring to take away the House of the Poor Man and the Man having spent almost all that he had in defence of his own Right this abundance of Milk continually flowing from the Colt was for the time a great cherishing to him Ibid. p. 403. 20. Anno 1581. Feb. 1. One Annis Fig an Adultress of Chichester in Sussex brought forth a monstrous Child of little shape of Body trussed together the Head very great bigger than the Body the Body in compass 9 Inches the Arm an Inch long and two Inches about the Face on the Cheek and Chin the likeness of a black Beard the Legs wanted Thighs the Toes crooked Idem p. 415. 21. Anno 1680. May 19. in Somersetshire near Taunton Dean a Woman was brought to Bed of two Children They grew together side to side from the Armpits to the Hip Bone they had two Fundaments whereby to avoid their Excrements they had also two passages for their Urine yet had they but one Navel by which both were nourished while
very wonderful and hardly credible which was a certain species of Madness raging a long time especially in Germany wherewith Persons of all Conditions but mostly the Commonalty were seized Shoomakers Taylors and Country-fellows throwing aside their Shooes their Garments and their Ploughs being seized with a horrid fury and meeting together in certain places without any lying down would carry on their Dances so long till their very Breach failed them unless they were restrained by force for oftentimes they proceeded to such a degree of fury if there were not care taken that they offered violence to themselves Sometimes they would Dance upon high Precipices of Rocks till they threw themselves down and brake their Necks and sometimes upon the Banks of the Rhine and other Rivers into which they would precipitate and drown themselves They would run hooting about and bawling and dancing with geminated Clamours truculent Aspect and foaming Mouths that their Friends were fain to lay high Forms and Seats in their way on purpose for them to leap over Women with Child did not escape this fury but ran about up and down in the Dance without any inconvenience to their Burthen The Magistrates were fain to appoint Musicians and Drumers and the stoutest Fellows they could get to lead and assist them in their Dances out of the publick Treasury till their furious Fits expired They betook themselves by Prayer to St. Vitus or John Baptist in hopes of recovering their Health See more of this in Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 144. also in Camerar Syllog Memorah Cent. 11. p. 84. Bodin l. 5. de Repub. cap. 1. c. 25. Schenckius tells of a Nobleman's Son who playing with a couple of Cherry-Stones to shew some Tricks put one of them into his Ear to make a shew â—ow speedily he could convey it from the one Ear to the other but put it so far in that it could not be got out again no not by the help of Physicians till at last by the help of Nature the Stone began to germinate with the warmth and moisture of the Ear and being cleft in two parts it was by a small pair of Pinchers got out Schenck Ibid. p. 178. 26. Donatus tells the like Story of one Bonardus who had got a Karobe Seed in his Ear and at last by the help of an Aposthume which it caused in the place the Seed sprouted forth and so was drawn out Donat. Flist Mirab. l. 2. c. 12. 27. A certain Nobleman of Venice aged 46. whose smelling and spitting was hindred being dead had his Brain Diffected and therein was found a Stone near the Basis his Bowels being opened his Liver was found hard and stony and the Blood contained in it as black as Ink. Ibid. 28. Physicians tell us of some Prodigious Haemorrhagies wherein sometimes 18 sometimes 20. and sometimes 40 pounds of Blood hath flowed forth 29. Hollerius tells of a Girl who on the 9th of April Anno 1553 at St. James's-Gate voided a large white Worm thick and longer than a Span at her Nostrils without any cough or Vomiting going before And Trincavel tells of a Noble Venetian who in a Fever voided at his Nose a Worm almost four Fingers long Ibid. 30. Scaliger tells us of a Man whose Tongue was so big that he durst nor declare in particular how large it was for fear he should be suspected of a Lye Scal. Exercitat 199. c. 2. Many other of portentous Tumours in this part we have from other Physicians 31. Lusitanus relates how one Jacob Offlood had great Hairs growing on his Tongue and he guessed that he had them in his Heart too Stones are often found to breed under the Tongue and so are Worms too and sometimes Warts 32. I saw a man whose Gums by daily vomiting of an acid Humour grew so big that they covered all his Teeth Cardan l. 12. de Subtil 33. A Periodical Flux of Blood out of the Gums have been sometimes observed by Physicians particularly in the late famous Archbistop Vsher who had such a Flux twice or thrice a year which in his younger years was so great that it put him sometimes in danger of Life but afterwards more sparing and by drops yet without any intermission day or night for one Natural Day sometimes two or more together Arnold Boâ—â— c. 7. 34. Some have been Born with Teeth some have had 26 in number others 28 others 32 in some saith Columbus there is a double Row yet in my Son Phâ—hus there are 3 Rows Columb Anatom Some have had only one Bone instead of Teeth others have had Teeth breed in the Pallat of their Mouths as both Alexander de Benedictus Eustachius c. do testifie 35. Columbus found Bones in the Lungs of one Francis Capellus l. 15. Anat. Some by Coughing have Spit up Gravel Gabriel Falopius found in the Lungs of a young man that he Dissected at Padua Anno 1565. 4 Stones each of them as big as a large Bean c. Physicians mention Flies Worms and other little Animals as generated in the Lungs the rough Artery and the Region of the Vital Instruments 36. Nicolaus de Podio had an Asthma every Friday Nicol. Serm. 4. Tract 2. c. 25. 37. One Daniel Bonricius on the 8th of January 1559. spit Blood mixt with Phlegm the next day a Vein being opened he continued to Spit Bloody his difficulty of Breathing increased so that he continued Waking some Nights together Blood perpetually issued forth out of his Nostrils yet without any Cough in great plenty In a Twelve-month besides Blood he Spit out a great deal of Phlegm black and not deep and yet without any mixture of Blood The same day a light Cough seized him and a greater difficulty of Breathing and his Spittle was more bloody Not long after he grew very cold sweat breathed hard and his Voice was intercepted Upon taking of the Antidote of Diamose he grew warm again slopt and breathed more easily and promised recovery the next night his watching difficulty of breathing phlegmatick black and bloody Spittle returned in great plenty and so continued till he died Cardanus 38. A young Gentleman of Arles Caesar sa Sata being wounded in his Back and Sides by a clownish Servant of the Family after two days died his Body being opened upon the command of his Parents and the Magistrate there was so great plenty of Phlegm found in his Breast as amounted to 20 Sextarii I know not whether he means the Greek of the Roman Measure Quarts of Pints Valeriola l. 4. Obs 7. Nicolaus tells us That he saw a Woman distempered with an Empyema that Spit 8 pounds every day and continued so for 6 days together Jacobus Comm. 1. ad Aph. 5. Sect. 2. l. 6. Coact Hipp. 39. Campejus saw at Lunevil a little Town of Lotharingia two young men begotten by the same Father so extenuated and dried with a Consumption that the very Skin being chapt represented the Bones naked and exposed them to sight
flie forth in Troops and meet these pestilent Multitudes in the Air before they waste their Coasts Marcel Ibid. 11. The Chough peculiar to Cornwal haunts the Seas but feeds not upon Fish his bill is sharp long and red his Legs red and his Feathers black It is a very unlucky Bird and mischievous like a Pie for he will hide Money and other little things and will carry Sticks of Fire about and will set Barns Stacks c. on Fire he is frequent about the Alps Quere if he be not in the Clifts of Isle of Wight CHAP. XXXVIII Strange Beasts FOR the sake of those People that never Travell'd either with their Legs or Intellectuals beyond the narrow Horizon of their own Countrey I have here Collected a short Catalogue and Description of such strange Beasts as are bred only in Foreign Parts or but rarely in our own still with the same Design to Illustrate the Power and Wisdom both of the Divine Creation and Providence Yet I dare not say that I have all here that were in Noah's Ark nor have I searched all the Desarts of Arabia and wide Wildernesles of the World sor so I might have lost my self 1. The Lions bones have no Marrow in them they have Teeth like Saws their Neck is made of one stiff bone without any Vertebrae they have 5 Claws on their Fore-feet and but 4 on their Hinder feet the Balls of their Eyes are black Arist They sleep but little and when they do Sleep their Eyes are half open Aristotle says they eat and drink but once in two days he is mild to them that yield he will scarce hurt those that lie down and when he is not Hungry he will seize on Men rather then Women but not upon Children unless he be extream Hungry they are frighted with Coach Wheels running round and with the Combs and crowing of Cocks but chiefly by Fire Johnston Hist Nat. Clas 7. cap. 22. p. 223. 2. The Elephant is the greatest of all Land Creatures it is certain that in Old time they carried Castles of armed Men into the Field Aldrovandus tells of one of their Teeth sold for 36 Ducars it was 14 spans long and 4 spans thick so heavy that he could not take it up from the Ground and in his Heart he hath a Bone wonderful big that he saw in one that was killed Johnston Hist Nat. Clas 7. p. 219. Some of the Indian Elephants are reported by Aelian to be 9 Cubits high 9 long and 5 broad or thick 3. The Crocodiles lay one Egg as big as a Goose Egg yet from this small beginning they grow to a vast bigness sometimes they are more then 18 Cubits long Aristotle says their Tongue sticks all fast When Nilus runs back to its Channel the Crocodiles will lie hid in the Mud watching to satisfie their Hunger and they strike those that come and Strangle them with their Tails The Trochilus is his Guard and the Tentyritae are his Enemies he awakes him when the Ichneumon is like to do him hurt and entring into his wide Jaws he pulls out Flesh from amongst his rows of Teeth with his beak when he flies away he warns to close up his upper Chap but these swim in the River and getting upon their Backs as if they rid they thrust a Bough into their Mouths and compell them to Vomit up the Bodies they have Newly devoâ—red Johnston's Hist Nat. Clas 7. p. 217. 4. The Ichneumon is a Creature in Egypt with a long Tail like to a Serpent's Oppian without the Chin he hath an Excreesence beset with Hair when it is hot it openeth that his Mouth being shut they will catch Mice as Cats When he observes the Crocodile Sleeping he rolls himself in Clay and goes into his Mouth and so into his Belly and eats his Liver and then leaps forth again Johnston's Hist Nat. p. 223. 5. The Chamaeleon he changeth his colour oft-times both in his Eyes his Tail and his whole Body and he changeth like that thing he next toucheth except Red and White when dead he is pale It is certain that sometimes he lives by the Air for he will suffer Hunger a whole years some say that he turns to the Sun and draws in the Sun-beams and follows them with open Mouth Zandius says he will hunt Flies who saith he dissected the Tongue of one that was as long as one Hands breadth hollow and empty in the top was a Hole with Snivel in it with which he catcht his Prey Johnston's Hist Nat. Clas 7. cap. 13. p. 216. 6. The Panther smells so sweet that it will allure all the Wild Beasts but the frowning Countenance it hath frights them wherefore he hides his Head and so they come and are caught In the Right Shoulder they have a Mark like the Moon and as that increaseth this increaseth and decreaseth Albert. Demetrius Physicus writes that one of them lay in the way waiting for a Man and suddenly appeared to him he was frighted and began to run away but the Panther came and tumbled before him and was grieved at it for she had littered and her Whelps were fallen into a Pit she gently laying her Claws and drawing him by the Garments and he had his Life for a reward for taking out her Whelps and she having got her young ones again guarded him out of the Desart and she was jocund and merry that it might easily appear how grateful she was and not to wrong him for his good deeds which is a rare thing in a Man Johnston's Hist Nat. Clas 7. p. 230. 7. The Rhinoceros is a Beast as big as an Elephant he hath one Horn in his Nose it is moderatly bent and so sharp that it will pierce Stones and Iron his Skin is very thick with Scaly Crusts in Colour and Figure like a Tortoise-shell it is so fast that a Dart can hardly enter it He is the Elephants Enemy when he Fights with him he whets his Horn on a Stone then puts his Horn under the Elephant's Belly where it is softest he rends him Johnston's Hist Nat. Clas 7. cap. 32. p. 232. 8. The Camel Puddle Water is sweet to him nor will he drink river Water till he have troubled it with his Foot they serve the Indians to Travel with and will go hundred Miles a day for eight days together with very little Meat they never couple with their Dams they are very docil when they are longer in their Journey than ordinary between Ethiopia and Barbary they do not whip them forward but they sing to them whereby they will run so fast that Men can hardly follow them At Alcair they dance at the sound of a Taber being Taught by a strange Art for when they are young they are brought into a Stove the Pavement being very hot one plays on a Taber at the Dore they because of the heat lifts up their Feet they continue their Exercise and use them to it a whole Year so that
is whitish and divided into a Dozen Cells filled with Stones as big as Chesnuts white and cordial It 's a Fruit nutritive and dainty and may be called an Epitome of all the best and rarest Fruits in the Orient Clark of Plants c. p. 201. 51. The Aree-Tree is almost as high as a Cedar but more like the Palmetto It is of fuzzy hollow substance adorned at every top with Plumes wherein the Fruit hangs in clusters It is in shape and bigness like a Walnut white and hard within hath neither taste nor smell They never Eat it alone but wrap it in a Leaf of Bettle and are frequently chawing of it Some add to it a kind of Lime made of Oyster-shells It cures the Chollick removes Melancholly kills Worms provokes Lust purges the Stomach and prevents Hunger It 's much used in the East-Indies Ibid. 52. The Palmeto-Tree is long straight round and soft without Leaf Bough or Branch save at the top and those are few green and sedgie under which Branches there appear certain codded Seed c. Ibid. 53. Dr. Edward Brown in his Discription of Larissa in Thessaly saith the Country produceth very large fair and delicious Figs Water-Melons the largest and most pleasant I have tasted as also fair and delicate Pomegranates Oranges Lemons and Citrons Vines which are low and not supported but the Branches and Clusters great and the Grapes as big as good Damsons and of a delicious taste The Wine of the Country is rich but hath a resinous taste or tang of the Boracho They Plant Tobacco and esteem it better than what is brought from other Parts as being more strong and pungent The Fields are spread with Sefamum and Cotton-Trees but the Trees grow low yet make a fair show The Country abounds in Almonds and Olives 〈◊〉 the Greeks delight most in ripe Olives pickled as we in the green Dr. Brown's Trav. p. 41. 54. The Gourds in the Hedges with their large yellow Flowers and the many sorts of green Thorns and ever-green Oaks make the ways pleasant Idem 55. The Hex Coccifera and Chermes-berry or the Excretion serving for Dying and making the Confection of Alchermes growing plentifully in these Countries 56. Garlick they use in most of their Dishes and their Onions are extraordinary as large as two or three fair ones with us and of a far better taste being sharp quick and pleasantly pungent and without any offensive smell Though I were no lover of Onions before yet I found these exceeding pleasant and comfortable to the Stomach They are used at most Collations and eaten with Bread in great quantity I asked a Chiaus then with us who had Travell'd through most of the Turkish Dominions Whether he had any where met with so good Chions as those of Thessaly who answered me That the Onions of Egypt were better which was the first time I sensibly understood the Expression in the Scripture and ceased to wonder why the Israelites lingred after the Onions of that Country Ibid. p. 42. 57. Coral grows like a Tree in the bottom of the Sea green when under Water and bearing a white Berry and when out turns red There is also a black and yellow kind of Coral Lindschot says That at the Cape of Good Hope there are Rocks on which Coral grows of all colours In the Mediterranean they gather great quantity of it and those of Massilia go yearly to Fish for it and draw it from the bottom of the Sea with Nets The Places for this Fishery are Arguiril near Sardinia Bosa near the Island of St. Peter and near the Bastion of France c. The times for this Fishery are from April to the end of July to which purpose there are imployed 200 Vessels more ot less yearly They never Fish above 40 miles from the Land where they think there are Rocks for fear of the Pirates Tavern Trav. in India In the East and West-Indies they Fish with two big Beams of Wood laid cross-wise with a good piece of Lead in the middle to make it sink casting about it course Hemp carelesly twisted and tying this Wood to two Ropes whereof one hangs at the Stern and the other at the forepart of the Boat The common Opinion That Coral is soft under Water is confuted by John Baptista de Nichole Overseer of the Gathering of Coral in the Kingdom of Tunis Yet Mr. Boyle affirms That whilst it grows it is often found soft and succulent and propagates its Species Georgius de Sepibus Kircher Wormius and Tavernier are of the same Opinion Ser Tho. Pope Blunt Nat. Hist p. 23. it is otherwise called the Stone-Tree CHAP. XLIII Strange Minerals Now we are going to draw off the very Skin and Surface of the Earth and Anatomize the very Sediment of the Creation and even there we shall find the Footsteps of the Almighty and Trace the print of his Divine Atributes For whither can we go from his presence he not only sits upon the Circle of the Earth but if we ascend up to Heaven he is there if we go down into the lower parts of the Earth he is there also Even the Materials that the Earth is made of are full of Wonder and very useful for the wants of Men. 1. Lime is no more than Chalk burnt of which heareafter it is a king of Earth drier than a Stone which after it is burnt is made more intense with Water and extinguished with Oil 'T is called Quick-Lime because it contains an occult Fire within it Stier Phys pars specialls Tract 4. c. 5. 2. Gypsum is a kind of Playster or Mortar viz. a white Earth clammy and light a-kin to Chalk but not so hot dug ot of the upper part of the Earth 4. Creta Chalk is white Earth chiefly dug in the Isle of Crete or Candy but there is much of it in other parts It kills Worms in Children and is good against Heart-Burnings and dries up Wounds 4. Oaker Ochra a light kind of Clay of which being burnt in new Pots bedawbed with Clay is made Ruddle It is naturally yellow discusses hard Tumours dried and binds 5. Argilla a kind of Potters Earth fat and clammy of which are made Earthen Vessels It is cold drying binding and abstersive 6. Terra Lemnia otherwise called Sigillata or sealed Earth because Diana's Priest taking upon him for the Honour of his Country offering for Expiation Wheat and Barley brought this into the City soked with Water and making it like Clay he dried it that it might be like soft Wax and when it was become so he sealed it with the sacred Seal of Diana Gal. l. 9. Simpl. Now it is digged up yearly not without Superstition on the 6th day of August only They that dig are Greeks the Pit sends forth a sweet smell It is digged after Sun-rising for 6 hours it is laid up in one Lump and it must see no light till a year be expired Then it is taken out and washt being washt
Iron First it is like a thick Liquor and by degrees it grows hard when it is boiled it becomes moist like Water afterwards is broke into Sponges The more tender Iron Instruments are steeped in Oil to quench them Water makes them too hard and brittle Plunged fiery hot in Vinegar it will endure no Hammering but will sooner break than draw In Furnaces where they make it into Bars there rise such Vapours from it in the Hammering that certain Powder sticks to the Walls Ibid. 6. Tin Stannum Plumbum Album or Jupiter is found and discovered in Cornwal by certain Tin Stones which are somewhat round and smooth lyng on the Ground which they call Shoad If the Load of the Tin lie right down the Tinners follow it sometimes 40 or 50 Fathoms their Labour is so redious that they cannot work above four Hours in the Day A good Workman will scarce be able to hew above a Foot of hard Rock in a Week The Tin Stone being brought above ground out of the Work is broken in pieces with Hammers and then stamped in a Mill into smaller Pieces and then it is ground into fine Sand. Then this Sand being laid in Water that runs over it hath all the Earth washed from it and then it is called Black Tin which is carried to the Blowing-House where it is melted by Charcoal-Fire blown by a great pair of Bellows moved by a Water-Wheel and then it is coined There is Hard Tin and Soft but the Soft is most worth A Foot of Black Tin is in Measure two Gallons and is in Weight according to its Goodness A Foot of good Moor Tin will weigh about 80 Pounds a Foot of Mine Tin 52 Pounds of the worst 50. Two Pounds of Black Tin melted will yield one Pound of White Britan. Baconica Cornwal p. 8. 7. Lead Plumbum Nigrum or Saturn In the Peak of Darbyshire Lead Stones lie but just within the Ground next to the upper Crust of the Earth Ibid. It is heavier than Silver yet will swim upon it being melted When Silver is boiled out of it Fire consumes it all 8. Antimony or Stibium is a Mineral Body consisting of 1. A Mineral Sulphur partly Golden partly Combustible 2. An undigested Mercury of the Nature of Lead being more concocted than Quick-silver 3. Of a Saline and Earthly Substance It is found in Germany but the Hungarian and Transilvanian is the best having a Golden Ore in it of an obscure Red from the great quantity of Sulphur with bright long Flakes This has divers Names Basil calls it Oriental Paracelsus the Red Lion Some a Wolf because it devours all Metals but Gold some Proteus because it changes it self into all Colours by Fire others the Philosophers Saturn because like Lead The crude Antimony is drying and binding Medicines are made of it of excellent Use 9. To these might be added the Native Excrements of Metals as Chalcilis Cobalt Marcasite Misy and Sory The Artificial Excrements of Metals as Litharge Plumbage Ceruse and Minium of Lead Diaphryges Cadmy Tuty Pompholix and Spodium Which I mention only to present the Reader with a General Scheme and Idea not to satisfie the curious Inquisitor into Natural History CHAP. XLV Precious Stones I Take these much more than Metals to be the very Flowers of the Earth the Quintessences of Metals the Virtue of Terrene Matter concocted and contracted into Epitome Thô I am not so fond as the Ancient Naturalists who attributed almost all the Properites of the Deity to them as if they were effectual Preservatives against Danger Cordials against Griefs Antidotes against Poison Amulets against Witcheraft and the Malice of Devils c. 1. Achates Sardocates Haemacates the Agate is of several kinds as the Black Coral-like Indian and that of Crete Veins and Spots do so run up and down it that represents several Forms as of a Turtle a Horn a Tree c. In the Agate of King Pyrrhus there were the Nine Muses naturally with Apollo Johnst Nat. Hist cl 4. c. 23. It is so called from the River Achates in Sicily near which it was first found 't is the hardest of Semiperspicuous Gems and grows in India Germany and Bohemia used for Sword-Hilts Knife-Hafts Beads Cups c. Grew's Muss Reg. Soc. p. 287. 2. Adamas the Diamond is the most precious and hard of all Gems There are several kinds of it the Indian the Arabian and Cenchros It is never given inwardly but only worn as in Rings c. and so it 's said to take away Fears and Melancholy The principal Diamond Mines are in the Indies sometimes above Sixty thousand Men Women and Children are at work in one of them Sometimetimes they are found in the Sand of the River Some of them will take up Straws like Amber and Mr. Boyle had one which by Water made little more than luke-warm he could bring to shine in the dark Boyl of Gems p. 112. 'T is the property of all true Diamonds to unite the Foyle a mixture of Mastick and burnt Ivory closely and equally to it self and thereby better augment its Luster than any other Gem. The Great Duke of Tuscany's Diamond weighing 139 Carats clean and well shaped cut in Facets every way is valued by Tavernier at 2608335 Livres That of the Great Mogul weighing 279 Carats is valued at 11723278 Livres Tavernier's Travels in India Part 2. l. 2. c. 12. 3. The Amethyst Gemma Veneris is brought from India Arabia Armenia and Egypt and is of an Attractive Nature the best are those of a Purple Colour shining and sparkling those of India are of an exact Phaenician Purple 4. The Beryl is either Common or Golden but the best are of a Sea-green Colour They fortifie Nature and are useful in Physick 5. The Calcedony is both Male and Female the Male best and brightest having as it were shining Stars within it 6. The Chrysolite a Gem of a Golden Colour is either Oriental or Occidental the Oriental is the best which being laid together with Gold makes it look like Silver It is of a Solar Nature and is though to expel fearful Dreams and Melancholy The Occiedenal is found in Bohemia 7. The Chrysophrase is of Fiery Gold-like Colour and is reported to be of a Pale Colour by Day but Glorious by Night 8. The Crystal is so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because supposed to be only Water condensed with Cold and is found in India Scythia Spain Germany and Asia the softest of all Gems except the Turquois most usually of a Sexangular Figure There is a massy piece of it now in possession of the Royal Society of a roundish Figure near a Yard in compass weighing more than 39 Pounds It is of a binding Nature good against Diarrhoea's 9. The Cornelian come from Malabar Narsinga and Cochinchina called in Latin Sardius Corneolus Corperina It is of various Colours Red Fleshy Yellowish Red. The Babylonish and those found in Sardinia
above a Miller hard by was called to their assistance who also suddenly fell down upon them and dyed to whom after some deliberation taken another Ventures down with a Rope about his middle but he fell from the Ladder in just the same manner and though presently drawn up by the People above yet was scarcely recovered in an Hour or more And on the 20th of Augusst 1674 upon a Buckets falling casually into a Well on the South-side of the said Town about a Furlong from the former a Woman calls her Neighbour a lusty strong Man to go down by a Ladder to fetch up her Bucket who also unmindful of the former accident soon granted her unhappy request for by that time he came half way down he fell dead from the Ladder into the Water the Woman amazed calls another of her Neighbours a Lusty young Man about 28 who hastily descending to give his assistance much about the same place also fell down from the Ladder and dyed without giving the least sign of his Change so suddenly Mortal are the Damps of that place Dr. Plots Nat. Hist of Oxfordshire p. 61. The Doctor advises all such as are to go down into any deep Well that may be suspected to have any Malignant noxious Steams or Vapours first to throw down into them a Peck of good Lime which slaking in the Water and fuming out the Top will so effectually dispel all such Poysonous Vapours that they may safely go down and stay sometime unhurt Ibid. p. 63. CHAP. LII Rain Hail Snow Frosts c. THE Governor of the World to shew his Wisdom and make his power known hath set the Sun in the Firmament among other Offices to exhale and draw up the Vapours and moisture from the Earth into the Vpper Regions of the Air and when they are condensed into Clouds he hath the Winds ready to carry them about from place to place and when they are Sunn'd and Fann'd sufficiently there and made pure and fit for our use he doth again either dissolve or congeal them and send them down to us in the several Species of Rain Hail Snow c. O Lord our Governor how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth 1. The 30th of July Anno 1662. was a very stormy and tempestuous day in Cheshire and Lancashire At Ormskerk there was such a Storm of Hail as brake the Glass-Windows and did much hurt to the Corn. Mr. Heywood the Minister measured an Hail-Stone after some of it was wasted and found it 4 Inches about others were judged to be greater 2. The 13th of October Anno 1666. there was in Lincolnshire a dreadful Storm of Thunder and Hail-Stones much bigger than Pidgeons Eggs and some fell as large as Pullets Eggs. Ibid. 3. The 26th of June Anno 1682. in New England there were the most amazing Lightnings that had been known grievous Hail falling with it At Springfield it was most dreadful where great pieces of Ice some 7 some 9 Inches about fell down from the Clouds with such violence that the Shingles upon some Houses were broken thereby and holes beat into the Ground that a Man might put his Hand in Several Acres of Corn were beat down and destroyed by the Hail c. Mather's Remarkable Providences p. 318. 4. In the 23th year of King Henry II. a shower of Blood rained in the Isle of Wight which continued two hours together Clark's Examples p. 571. 5. In June Anno 1653. a black Cloud was seen over the Town of Pool which a while after was dissolved into a shower of Blood that fell warm upon Men's hands Some green Leaves with those drops of Blood upon them were sent to London attested by Eye-witnesses Clark's Mirr p. 484. 6. Before Caesar's Death no only drops of Blood fell from Heaven but also Pitts and Pools flowed with Blood Plutarch 7. Anno 1620. it Rained Blood in Poland so abundantly that the drops fell very fast from the tops of the Houses Soon after the Tartars with 40000 Men invaded Poland exercising incredible cruelty killing in one place above 3000 Polanders And the Turks with 90000 men fell into Walslady where they had a bloody Encounter with 12000 Poles led by the Great Chancellor of the Kingdom who himself with the whole Army were slain few or none escaping Burtons Surp Mir. of Nature p. 99. 8. The 16th of July Anno 1622. in the Dukedom of Wittenburg it Rained Blood on the Hands and Clothes of Labouring-men and likewise upon Trees Stones and other places in the Fields In these parts at Noringen many thousands were slain Ibid. p 101. 9. The 29th of June Anno 1625. at Constantinople began a most terrible Tempest with Thunder and Lightning that all the City shewed as if it had been on Fire at the end whereof fell a Storm of Hail that brake Tiles and Glasses so that Stones were taken up of 150 Drams and the next morning some of them being weighed they were about 7 and 8 Ounces a piece wherewith they were sore wounded and the 3d of July after fell another Tempest of Thunder and Lightning which burned a Woman and Child and slew much Cattle in the Field Clarks Example c. 103. p. 490. 10. Anno 763. when the Turks first brake forth from about the Caspian Sea there was such an extraordinary cold Winter that the Euxine Sea was frozen 30 foot thick Men walked upon the Ice for 100 miles into the Sea yea all the Country from Lycia to Denubius and on the other side as far as Euphrates were so associated by the Frost as if they had been all one Country Some pieces of Ice like unto Mountains fell upon and beat down the Walls of several Cities Ibid. 11. In the Reign of King John were great Thunders and Lightning and Showers with Hail-Stones some as big as Goose Eggs. Clark's Mirr p. 571. 12. Anno 1568 upon All-Saints Eve the Sea excessively swelling in some places over-flowing and in others bearing down the Banks such a prodigious and unheard of Deluge covered certain Islands of Zealand with a great part of the Sea-Coast of Holland and almost all Friezeland as destroyed much Land and many Men. In Friezeland alone were 20000 Persons drowned whose Bodies with the Carcasses of Cattle Houshold Goods and broken Ribs of Ships floated all over the Fields the Land being indistinguishable from the Sea Many were saved from the tops of Hills and Trees being ready to starve by Boats Strada Clarks Examples p. 490. 13. Anno 1586. it Rained Locusts in Thracia and Ducks and Geese in Croatia as Leonclavius testifies who was an Eye witness of it The Locusts fell in such multitudes that they devoured all the Country And on the contrary the Ducks and Gâ—ese fed and nourished many Cluverius Hist Mundi p. 742. Clark Ibid. 14. Anno 1608. a Frost began in December and continued till the April following with such violence that not only the Thames was so frozen that loaded Carts were driven over
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
taking what she had intends for Dover and so for France but the Child who had been playing up and down in the Copice crying after him he returned and cut his Throat and leaves him by his Mother and now goes forward on his Journey thinking all safe But mark the Providence of God Quickly after comes a Boy from Chatham to gather Sticks and a Dog with him the Boy being busie a gathering Sticks the Dog was busie a hunting up and down and having found out these two dead Corpses never leaves howling till the Boy came to him who no sooner saw this dreadful Spectacle but runs like one mad to the Town and acquainted his Neighbours who hasting to the Place and finding it as the Boy had related it unto them by her Cloaths and by her Son knew the Persons and now they want to find out the Murderer They knowing that Writtle was a Suiter to her a Hue-and-Cry was sent after him and he was taken at Dover and sent to Gaol See the Narrative 22. Ann Cocketon of the Parish of Stepney was Indicted in the Old-Baily for the Murder of her Male Bastard Child on the 9th of May 1696. by throwing it into a House of Office The Evidence deposed That she did think that the Prisoner was troubled with the Gripes and did desire her to give her some Water And about Four in the Morning the Prisoner did go down to the Vault with the Close-stool-pan and a while after came up again very weak but did not think of any thing that had happened but going down the next Morning with a China-Bowl by accident she let it fall in and looking after it she espied the Child there and she took it and washed it and laid it in a Cellar The Midwife declared that searching her she found that she had lately been delivered of a Child CHAP. CXIV Divine Judgments upon Theft Robbery c. HE that hath taken so much care for the Security of our Estates and Possessions as to make a Prohibition of Stealth one of the Commandments bath taken care likewise to annex a Penalty to the same Law and hath allowed us to kill a Night-Thief without imputing it to us at the Sin of Murder Exod. 22.2 And hath himself likewise appeared an Avenger of the Crime as in the case of Achan Ahab c. And besides it may appear plain enough to any one that makes any careful Remarks upon Divine Providence that Ill-got Goods seldom prosper 1. Draco the Law-giver of Athens appointed Death to be the Punishment of Theft Solon mitigated that Rigour and punished it with double Restitution The Locrians put out his Eyes that had stolen ought from his Neighbour The Hetrurians stoned them to Death The Scythians abhorred them more than all Creatures because they had a Community of all Things except their Cups The Vaccians used such Severity towards this kind of Men that if one had but taken a Handful of Corn he was sure to die for it Beard 's Theatr. p. 294. 2. Marcus Fabius being Censor condemn'd his own Son Buteo to Death being apprehended for Theft Tiberius the Emperor punished a Soldier after the same manner for stealing a Peacock In sum there was no Commonwealth wherein this Sin was not highly detested and sharply punished except the Lacedoemonians where it was permitted and tolerated for their Exercise of Warlike Discipline Ibid. 3. It was a rash and severe yet as it proved a just Deed of Tamberlain that mighty Tyrant and Conqueror of Asia when a poor Woman complained to him of one of his Soldiers that had taken from her a little Milk and a piece of Cheese without payment He caused the Soldier 's Belly to be ripped to see whether she had falsly accused him or no and finding the Milk in his Stomach adjudged him worthy of that Punishment for stealing from so poor a Woman Ibid. 4. Ibicus the Poet being set upon by Thieves when he saw that they would not only rob him of his Money but of his Life also he cryed for Help and Revenge to the Cranes that flew over his Head A while after as these murdering Thieves sate together in the Market-place the same Cranes appearing unto them in the Air they whispered one another in the Ear and said Yonder fly Ibicus 's Revengers Which tho' secretly spoken yet was over-heard So that they being Examined and found Guilty were put to Death for their Pains The like Story Martin Luther reporteth touching a Traveller only differing in this That as Cranes detected the former so Crows laid open the latter 5. In Georgia a Thief is acquitted paying Sevenfold what he hath stole two Parts to the Party robbed one to the Judges and four to the King If he hath not wherewith to satisfie he is sold if the Product do not yet equal the Summ his Wife is sold and if that will not do his Children Tavernier l. 3. c. 9. 6. The great Mogul will himself sit as Judge in Matters of Consequence that happen near him They proceed in Tryals Secundum allegata probata They punish Theft and Murder with Death and what kind of Death the Judge pleaseth to appoint Some are hanged beheaded empailed and put on Stakes torn in pieces by wild Beasts killed by Elephants stung with Snakes No Malefactors lie above one Night in Prison sometimes not at all but are speedily brought upon Tryal and so to Execution See my Book of all Religions 7. The Chinese punish Murder and Theft with Death Sir Tho. Herb. Their Justice is severe their Prisons strong and Executions quick 8. The Japonese punish all manner of Theft with Death Tavernier's Collect. p. 4. 9. A. C. 1659. At Brightling in Sussex there was a stupendious and amazing piece of Providence November the 7th in the Evening a Fire kindled in a Man's Milk-house the 9th Dust was thrown upon the Man and his Wife as they lay in Bed together next Morning things were thrown about and the Fire kindled again in the same Place but put out by the Woman then in the Eeves of the House and put out by a Neighbour a Pot broken on the Table with a piece of Brick and as they were going to fill a Tub with Water to set by them all Night the Fire was kindled again in the Milk-house and suddenly the whole House was on fire but most of the Goods saved The Fire was very white and did not singe their Hands when they pulled things out of it The Houshold-stuff was carried next Day to a Neighbour's House and put in one end the Family being in the other end there Dust was thrown upon the Man and his Wife in Bed At last up riseth the Man and with another accompanying him with a Candle and Lanthorn in his Hand went to Mr. Bennet the Minister of the Town and entreated him to go down with him Accordingly He and his Brother went prayed with them and at first Dust was thrown at them but all quiet