the Countries all the several Ages and Generations of the World and set the scabbed lame blind and blemish'd out of the Flock and keep none there but the Male Firstling Fat and such as are pure and without spot blemish wrinkle and every such thing wash'd clean in the Blood of the immaculate Lamb and put these in Heaven with the blessed God the holy Angels and none but these and think what a lovely loving pleasant Society this will make An excellent Abraham a holy Isaac a plain Jacob a chast Joseph a meek Moses a devout David a patient Job a righteous Lot the holy Prophets the blessed Evangelists the humble Apostles the heavenly Martyrs and Confessors the learned and pious Fathers of the Church in all Ages Ignatius and Polycarp Cyprian and Nazianzen Augustin and Chrysostom all the good Men and good Women of all Countries of all Ages from Adam till the End of the World met together in a sacred sweet and indissolvable Knot of Communion All the best of the World pickt out of the common Lump of Mankind and taken off the common Stage and set fast in Heaven there to enjoy an Eternal Paradise together under the immediate Influence of the Great Jehova To put on their White Robes of Glory and enter upon their everlasting Inheritance and Reign all of them as Kings and Princes for ever and ever This must needs suppose an excellent State To have God Angels and good Men and those good Men washed from all their Enormities and Imperfections too none there but those that are perfectly good this must needs make an accession to the Happiness of the place Heb. 12. And to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect 5. The Sufferings of good Men for it There is nothing in the World within the reach and knowledge of Man that all Men so universally especially the wise and good have consented in a zealous Prosecution of as in the Joys of the other World Were it a particular Sect or one single Nation one Age only or the worst the wildest and most imprudent and vicious of Men only that agreed in this Article of Religion or did they believe it doubtfully and prosecute it coldly and indifferently there were some room for doubt But all Sects of Religion generally Pagans and Mahometans Jews and Christians of all Parts of all Ages especially the more solid wise and vertuous Men defecated from the Mud Debauchery and Vanity of Earth have still believ'd that there was something extraordinary of Happiness in the other World which was worth a warm and eager Contention and they have been willing to take their Hand pretty well off the present Pleasures of Sin and make Lust and Nature stoop low in Self-denial to the Dictates of Religion and do and suffer many Things hard to Flesh and Blood that they might at last be though worthy at least fit to be made Partakers with the Saints in that Glory I need not rip up the Bowels of History or the Martyrologies of the Church to tell you what Hardships Men have endured upon this Score Heb. 11. gives you a good Taste of that Notion v. 34. c. And of late Ages and in our own and Neighbour-Countries what Alms Prayers Fastings Mortifications Labours and Sufferings have Men undergone in prospect of the Reward before them Hear St. Paul give an Account of his own Travels in this kind 2 Cor. 11.23 with the Reasons for it ch 12.2 To read the extraordinary Patience of a Job the Travels of a Paul the indefatigable Pains of an Origen of an Austin St. James praying 'till his Knees were as hard as Camels Luther spending Three Hours every Day in his Devotions some giving almost all they had to the Uses of Piety and Charity others sacrificing their Lives for the sake of their Religion And to find that in Cases of Competition the best of Men are generally willing to throw all over-board for the Purchase of the heavenly Inheritance This must of necessity argue that they take Heaven to be a good Bargain at any rate 'T is the Saying of one That if there were no other way of coming to the Possession of that Blessedness he would be content not only to swim through a Sea of outward Troubles but he would wade through the Lake of Fire and Brimstone to be possess'd of God himself Rutherf Certain Men here and they wise too have lived and suffered at such a Rate upon the Score of Religion that we cannot in Reason but imagine they had somewhat extraordinary in their Eye And I am of Opinion that there is something of Truth in that Saying of Luther Homo perfecta credens si esse haeredes filium Dei omnium diu superstes manere sed statim immodico gaudio absorberetur Set but Canaan in the Eye and give the Man the Perspective of Faith in his Hand and let him see clearly the Landskip of that New Jerusalem and neither the Red Sea nor the Wilderness of Zin nor the Waters of Marah or Meribah nor the River Jordan nor the Moabites nor the Amorites shall fright him thence 6. The Author and Design of this State of Glory 1. The Great God who made the World who spake the Word and it was done who weigheth the Mountains in Scales and the Hills in a Ballance who governs all Things and hath all the Hosts of Heaven and Earth at his Command and can do his Pleasure and saith to one Angel Go and he goes and to another Come c. who maketh Angels of Spirits and Ministers of Flames of Fire Whose Power and Will nothing can resist but the very Pillars of the World stoop under him A God infinite in all Perfections of Wisdom as well as Power of Goodness as well as Wisdom and wants neither Skill nor Will nor Materials for the Work The Builder and Maker is God and therefore the Work like him 2. The Design of it to shew the Riches of his Glory Eph. 1.3 4-10 14 18. and ver 19. That ye may know what is the exceeding Greatness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. God hath shew'd all Men universally somewhat of what he can do He hath made a World and made them and an infinite Number of Creatures besides hath and daily doth such Wonders in the World that he must be blind and stupid that doth not admire them The Heavens declare the Glory of God c. Job 36.24 But all this is but ordinary Work his Master-piece is yet behind and he intends in the other World to unlook the Treasury of his Attributes and shew the Riches of his House and to his Elect Children his chosen Friends communicate his Glory in a more full free and immediate manner than ever he did to the Sons of Men in this World You shall see then as many of you as shall be found worthy the exceeding Riches of his Wisdom Truth Justice Power Goodness Greatness Blessedness and all his excellent Perfections You shall see
him truly from the Lord with a kindness that notably represented the Compassion which he hereby taught his Church to expect from the Lord Jesus Christ and after he had lived with her more than half a Hundred Years he followed her to the Grave with Lamentations beyond those which the Jews from the Figure of a Letter in the Text affirm that Abraham deplored his Aged Sarah with her departure made a deeper Impression upon him than what any common Affliction could His whole Conversation with her had that Sweetness and that Gravity and Modesty beautifying of it that every one called them Zachary and Elizabeth Cott. Mather in his Life p. 57. 5. C. Plautius Numida a Senator having heard of the Death of his Wife and not able to bear the Weight of so great a Grief thrust his Sword into 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 according to his desire he tore off his Plaisters opened the Lips of his Wound with his own Hand and let forth a Soul that was unwilling to stay in the Body after that his Wife had forsaken hers Val. Max. L. 4. C. 6. p. 114. 6. Philip sir-named the Good the First Author of that Greatness whereunto the House of Burgundy did arrive was about Twenty three Years of Age when his Father John Duke of Burgundy was slain by the Villany and Perfidiousness of Charles the Dauphin being informed of that unwelcome News full of Grief and Anger as he was he hasts into the Chamber of his Wife she was the Dauphin's Sister O said he my Michalea 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 less for it c. Which accordingly he made good so long as they lived together Lips Monit L. 2. C. 17. p. 388. Pol. p. 200. Clark's Marr. c. 65. p. 291. Wanley's Wonders of the Little World p. 143. 7. Mr. Samuel Fairclough his Wife dying in Child-bed was blamed for his great Sorrow for such a pious Relation See his Life CHAP. LIII Good Children Remarkable THat old celebrated Proverb in our Church Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it hath so much truth in it that a Good Education will either improve and meliorate the Nature of Persons or haunt them with continual Checks and Vneasiness of Thought all their Life after either they shall be made better by the Impression of early Notions upon their Hearts or smart for their Disobedience and Obstinacy For certainly a crooked Child seldom grows streight with Age and if a Plant is not flexible when young it will grow stiffer and more obdurate with time We use to Imprint the Seal when the Wax is warm and soft and Sow our Seed at Seed-time not in the Drought of Summer or the Coldness of Winter Every Body that hath Eyes takes Notice of the Rising Sun and the first opening of the Day every Gardiner and Farmer loves to see his Seeds and Grain and Plants promise well at the first And who is there so improvident among Christians as not to take notice and rejoyce in the early Product of their Instructions and Endeavours but especially to see them grateful and good in their particular Relations 1. Ant. Wallaeus attended upon his Parents so carefully in the time of their Sickness and so comforted them with Divine Consolations that at the Hour of Death they both blessed him and gave this Testimony of him that he had never offended them in all his Life Clark's Eccles History p. 471. 2. Q. cicero Brother of Marcus being proscribed and sought after to be slain by the Triumvirate was hid by his Son who for that cause was hurried to Torments but by no Punishments or Tortures could he forced to betray his Father The Father moved with the Piety and Constancy of the Son of his own accord offered himself to Death least for his sake they should determine with utmost severity against his Son Zonar Annual Tom. 2. p. 86. Xiphil in Augusto p. 60. 3. There happened in Sicily as it hath often an Irruption of Aetna now called Mount Gibel it murmurs burns belches up Flames and throws out its fiery Entrails making all the World to fly from it It happened then that in this violent and horrible breach of Fire every one flying and carring away what they had most precious with them Two Sons the one called Anapias the other Amphinomus careful of the Wealth and Goods of their Houses reflected on their Father and Mother both very old who could not save themselves from the Fire by slight And where shall we said they find a more precious Treasure than those who begat us The one took up his Father on his Shoulders the other his Mother and so made passage through the Flames It is an admirable thing that God in the Consideration of this Piety though Pagans did a Miracle for the Monuments of all Antiquity witness that the devouring Flames staid at this Spectacle and the Fire wasting and broiling all about them the Way only which these two good Sons passed was Tapestry'd with fresh Verdure and called afterwards by Posterity The Field of the Pious in Memory of this Accident Causs Hic Tom. 1. L 3. p. 113. Lon. Theatr. p. 272. Solin C. 11. p. 225. Camerar Oper. Subciscent 1. C. 86. p. 401. 4. Sir Thomas Moore being Lord Chancellor of England at the same time that his Father was a Judge of the King's-Bench he would always at his going to Westminster go first to the King's-Bench and ask his Father Blessing before he went to sit in the Chancery Baker's Chron. p. 406. Fuller H. S. L. 1. C. 6. p. 13. 5. The Carriage of Mr. Herbert Palmer towards his Parents was very dutiful and obsequious not only during his Minority but even afterwards which was very evident in that Honour and Respect which he continued to express to his Aged Mother to the Day of her Death Clark's Exampl Vol. 1. C. 23. 6. Our King Edward the First returning from the Wars in Palestine rested himself in Sicily where the Death of his Son and Heir coming first to his Ear and afterwards the Death of the King his Father he sorrowed much more for the loss of his Father than of his Son whereat King Charles of Sicily greatly wondred and asking the Reason of it had this Answer return'd him The loss of Sons is but light because it may be easily repaired but the Death of Parents is irremediable because they can never be bad again Idem
the Horse threw him and broke his Neck and some of his Issue came to untimely ends And it is observed that a Curse hath remained upon the Estate ever since Mr. Thomas Tregoss Minister was so sensible of it that it cost him many fervent Prayers to God for the removal of that dreadful Curse as himself assured a Bosom Friend See his Life 5. Solyman the Turkish Emperor contrary to his Promise commanded the Traitors of Buda to be put to Death 6. The same Solyman promised his Daughter for a Reward to him that would betray the Island Rhodes but when this Christian Traytor challenged his Promise with a large Portion for Matrimony the Emperor brought his Daughter in very costly attired with a Vides me stetisse promissis You see I have stood to my Promise but withal commanded him to be flea'd and put on a Bed of Salt or his Daughter would not be a fit Match except for a Musselman whose Skin was circumeised and clean from Baptism Camerarius CHAP. CXVIII Divine Judgments upon Unfaithful Husbands GOD that hath Ordained the Nuptial Knot for a Band of Vnion intended it not only to tye the Handâ— but the Hearts of the married couple together also and therefore cannot be supposed to wink at the Fault of Vnkindness and Vnfaithfulness in either Party But especially he expects that the Man should excel in Prudence and Patience and give a good Example as well as Arguments and Instructions to his Wife 1. Anno Christi 1652. There was living in the Isle of Thanet in Kent one Adam Sprackling Esquire in the Parish of St. Lawrence who about Twenty Years before had married Katharine the Daughter of Sir Robert Leukner of Kent This Sprackling had a fair Estate but was exceeding Proud and Profane he frequented Taverns and Ale-houses where he used to Rant and Roar and Game and Swear exceedingly and upon small Occasions to Quaarel and draw his Weapon c. He regarded not the Sabbath nor the publick Worship of God By which dissolute Courses and God's Judgment upon him he exhausted his Estate and brought others into Bond for him whom he left to Imprisonment and Ruine and had at last Executions out against him and Bailiffs waiting to Arrest him Whereupon he was forced to keep home and make his House his Prison so that he could not domineer abroad as formerly This filled him full of Rage and made him extream Hasty and Cholerick so that his Wife was constrained to lock up her self from him being a Woman of many excellent Parts and Vertues But upon Saturday Night December the 11th 1652. this Sprackling as it seems resolved to do her a Mischief and being in his Kitchen had one Lamming a Neighbour of his with him and sent for one Knowles a Seaman to hinm but it being Ten a Clock at Night he desired to be excused being in Bed Then did he send for one Martin a poor old Man and his Tenant who tho' in Bed durst not but arise and come to him and when he came Lamming went his ways so that there remained only this Sprackling and his Wife and Martin and one Ewel his Man Then did Sprackling command Martin to bind Ewel's Legs which the one did and the other suffered thinking that it had been only a ranting Humour of their Master Then began he to rage against his Wife who sate quietly by though she gave him none but loving and sweet Speeches yet did he draw his Dagger and struck her over the Face with it hurting her Jaw which she bore patiently saying little to him but he still continued to rage against her and when at last the Gentlewoman being weary and in great fear rose up and went to the Door her Husband followed he rwith a Chopping-knife in his Hand with which he struck at her Wrist and cut the Bone in sunder so that her Hand hung down only by the Sinews and Skin No help was near Ewel was bound and Martin being old and weak and fearing his own Life durst not interpose only he prayed his Mistress to stay and be quiet hoping all would be well and so getting a Napkin bound up her Hand with it After this towards Morning Sprackling still raging and railing at his Wife dashed her on the Forehead with the Iron Cleever whereupon she fell down bleeding but recovering her self on her Knees she cried and prayed unto God for the Pardon of her own Sins and her Husbands But as sh was thus praying her bloody Husband chopp'd her Head in the midst into the very Brains so that she fell down and died immediately Then did he kill six Dogs four of which he threw by his Wife and then chopped her twice into the Leg compelling Martin to wash Ewal's Face with her Blood himself also dipping Linnen in her Blood washed Martin's Face and he bloodied his own Face with it also For all which being apprehended and carried to Sandwich Gaol at the Sessions following which was April the 22d 1653. he was arraigned condemned and hanged on the 27th Day dying very desperately and not suffering any to come near him neither godly Ministers nor Gentlemen who desired to speak with him after his Condemnation This is moe largely published in Print by one that lived near the Place and was present at this Sprackling's Tryal 2. King Henry the VIII puts away Queen Katharine by Divorce after Twenty Years enjoyment of her and being desirous of Sons marries the Lady Ann Bullen and after she had brought him a Daughter the Lady Elizabeth and a Son born dead beheads her His next Wife dies in Child-bed some say she was ripp'd open by the King's Order He is divorced from his next Queen Ann of Cleve His next the Lady Katharine Howard is beheaded for Treason His last Wife was the Lady Katharine Parr His Three last are Childless and the Children of the Two first declared Illegitimate And tho' afterwards all his Three Children swayed the Scepter successively yet they all died Childless And as for himself his Name and Memory hath a Stench with it to this Day It were easie to add more Examples on this Subject CHAP. CXIX Divine Judgments upon Unfaithful Wives GOD hath not imposed upon Wives the Duty of Subjection and Obedience in vain but takes notice whether they observe it or not and accordingly executes his Judgments upon them that make no Conscience thereof And indeed the Sin it self leads naturally to its own Punishment in part by provoking the Husband to Displeasure teaching the Children to Disobey and precuring Shame and Contempt in the World as well as the Wrath of God and the Disfavour of his Providence 1. Cicero put away his Wife Terentia because she had made but small account of him in the Time of the Wars which were betwixt Caesar and Pompey So that when he went from Rome to Pompey she provided no fit Accommodations for his Journey and when he came back again into Italy she never shewed any spark of
Love or Good-will towards him Though he stayed long at Brundusium she never went to see him and when his Daughter took that long Journey from Rome to Brundusium to visit him she neither provided Company to conduct her nor gave her Money or other Necessaries for the way yea she so handled the matter that when Cicero came to Rome he found nothing in his House but bare Walls and yet was greatly in Debt by her Plut. in Vita ejus 2. Alboynus King of the Lombards having overcome in War Cunemundus King of the Jepidi and having slain him made a Drinking-Cup of his Skull yet took his Daughter Rosamund to Wife Now it fell out that Alboynus being one day drunk forced his Wife to drink out of her Father's Skull which she so much stomached that she promised one Helmichilâ—â— her self to Wife and Lombardy for a Dowry if he would kill her Husband the King which he assented to and performed But they were afterwards so hated for it that they were forced to fly to the Court of the Exarch of Ravenna who seeing Rosamund's Beauty and the Mass of Money and Jewels which they brought with them perswaded her to kill Helmichilde and to take him for her Husband which accordingly she promised to do And when her Husband Helmichilde coming out of the Bath called for Beer she gave him a strong Poyson but when he had drunk half of it suspecting the Matter he forced her to drink off the rest and so both died together Heil Geog. p. 150. 3. Joan Queen of Naples was insatiable for her Lust which cause her to hang her first Husband which was Andrew Second Son to the King of Hungry at her Window for Insufficiency Her second Husband was Lewis of Tarentum who did with over-straining himself to satisfie her Appetite Her third Husband James of Tarracon a gallant Gentleman she beheaded for lying with another Woman Her fourth Husband was Otho Duke of Brunswick in whose time the King of Hungary drave her out of her Kingdom and having taken her hung her out of the same Window where she had hang'd her first Husband Ibid p. 162. 4. An ancient Gentleman of good Account marrying a beautiful young Gentlewoman but having no Issue he took into his House a young Gentleman a Neighbour's Son and compleatly qualified purposing to make him a Sharer in his Estate This Gentleman grows familiar with his Wife which gave so much occasion of Suspicion and caus'd such a Rumour in the Country that his Father requires him to return home again He doth so but at parting promiseth Marriage to the Gentlewoman in case of her old Husband's Decease and she to him both with Oaths The old Gentleman's Maid meeting with this young Gallant over a Glass of Wine tells him in private how much his Company was missed at her Master's House and his Return desired But withal tho' she knew the Familiarities between him and her Mistress yet it was all feigned for another enjoyed both her Heart and Body naming the Person The Gentleman is startled but Incredulous After some time the old Gentleman sends for him again He goes in the Night but very privily having before by Letter desired that the Garden Door might be left open for him and tells the old Gentleman the Reason of his Absence But before he went back he goes softly to the Gentlewoman's Bed-Chamber Door who often lay by her self and hears the Whispers of two distinct Voices Upon which in a sudden Passion he resolves to break in upon them and run them through with a Sword but relenting with Tenderness he departs softly to his own home grows Melancholy and Distemper'd but recovering he resolved to Travel The old Man sends for him to take an unwilling Farewel At the Importunity of his Father he goes After Dinner the Wife singles him for a Farewel weeping in his Bosom and beseeching him to have a care of his Safety but especially of his Vow and Promise Instead of Reply he gave her a Letter which he desired her to peruse in his Absence She opens the Letter and reads there all the Story of her Lust laid open particularly and pathetically This struck her to the Heart she fell presently into Frensie and Despairing soon after died Which News came to the Gentleman before he reach'd Gravesend The old Man afterwards inriched him with a great part of his Land which he enjoys saith my Author to this Day Wonders of the Female World p. 125. out of Heywood CHAP. CXX Divine Judgments upon Undutiful Children A Wife Son maketh a glad Father but a foolish Son is the heaviness of his Mother saith Solomon Prov. 10.1 And in another Place the disobedient Child is threatned with a Punishment to be inflicted on him by the Ravens of the Valley and the young Eagles Prov. 30.17 as it were to signifie that such a one is in a fair way to an untimely and disgraceful Death like to perish and lie unburied in the open Air for Birds of Prey to feed upon and 't is certain many such Instances there are of Children who forsake the Counsels of their Parents and never return to the Paths of Vertue but go on till their Sin brings them to some miserable End 1. Freeman Sondes Esq Son of Sir George Sondes of Lees-Court in Shelwich in Kent being commanded by his Father to comply with the Will of his elder Brother in a small Matter relating to their Cloaths and in an obstinate manner disobeying so that his Father was provoked to use some threatning Expressions as that he should for the future depend much upon his Brother Freeman hereupon in great discontent when his elder Brother was fast asleep gave him a deadly Blow on the right side of his Head with the back of a Cleaver taken out of the Kitchen the Sunday Night before he did the Fact He after the Blow said he would have given all the World to recall it and made a stop of the rest to see how deep he had wounded him and finding it to be a mortal Wound having broken the Skull his Brother stretching himself on his Bed and struggling for Life and he gathering from thence that he was in great torment discovered then even in that Storm of Temptation so much of a relenting Spirit that to put him out of his pain he did reiterate his Blows with a Dagger which he had about him When he had thus imbrued his Hands in his Brother's Blood he threw the Cleaver out of a Window into the Garden and came with great confusion and disturbance in his Face into his Father's Bed-Chamber adjoyning to his Brother's with the Dagger in his Pocket and undrawing the Curtains shook his Father by the Shoulder who being thus awaken'd out of his Sleep received from his Mouth this Heart-breaking Message Father I have killed my Brother He being asTonished at it made this Reply with much horror What sayest thou Hast thou Wretch killed thy Brother Then you had
a Wheelright caused Wheels to be painted on the Walls of his House and in his Bed-chamber these Words Willegis Willegis Memento unde veneris Camerar 5. Lesco the second King of Poland being the Son of a Farmer kept his old Coat by him as a Monument of his poor Descent Idem 6. Dr. Prideaux kept his Leathern Breeches by him which he wore at his first coming to Oxford and used to shew them young Schollars for their Encouragement in studying 7. Sir Matthew Hale when at the Inns of Court used such a Plainness in his Apparel that he was impressed once for a common Soldier See his Life 8. Mr. Bernard Gilpin could never away with any 〈◊〉 Apparel See his Life by Bishop Carleton 9. Mr. Eliot's Apparel was without any Ornament except that of Humility which the Pope elegantly compares to a Knot of Ribbons in the Text where he bids us be clothed with it any other flanting Ribbons in those that came in his way he would ingeniously animadvert upon and seeing some Scholars once as he thought a little too gawdy in their Cloaths Humiliami Juvenes Humiliamini was his immediate Complement unto them Had you seen him with his Leathern Girdle for such a one he wore about his Loins you would almost have thought what Herod feared that John Baptist was come to Life again In short he was in all regards a Nazarite indeed unless in this one that long Hair was always very loathsome to him Cotton Mather in his Life p. 36. 10. Mr. John Carter sometime Minister of Belstead in Suffolk for his own and his Wives Habit used that which was plain and homely retaining their old Fashion yet always very cleanly and decent And in all his House there was nothing but honest Plainness He was such another as Jacob a plain and sincere Man a true Nathaniel in whom was no Guile He never used any Plate in his House but Vessels of Wood and Earth Brass and Pewter were the highest Mettals for his Utensils All the time of his House-keeping he constantly used at his Table a wooden Salt which with Age was grown to be of a Nutmeg colour See his Life in Mr. Clark 's Thira Volume of Lives p. 8. 11. Of Lewis the XI King of France may ye find in the Chamber of Accompts a Reckoning of Two Shillings for Fustion to new-sleeve his Majesty's old Doublet and Three Halfpence for Liquor to grease his Boots which was Anno Christi 1461. 12. Cato tho' a great Man in Rome when the was in all her Glory never wore a Gown that cost him above 100 pence when he was Consul and General of the Army He never drank better Wine than his Hinds and Workmen drank and his Caterer never bestow'd in Meat for his Supper above 30 farthings of the Roman Money Being made Heir to one of his Friends that died who had a piece of Tapistry with a broad Border called then the Babylonian Border he caused it to be sold as being too costly for him Of all the Houses which he had in the Country not one of them was well Plaistered or Rough Cast He never bought Bond-man or Slave that cost him above One Thousand Six Hundred Pence not seeking for fine made Men and goodly Personages but for strong Fellows that could take pains c. To conclude he used to say That a Man bought any thing too dear that was for little purpose tho' he gave but one Farthing for it thinking it much to bestow so little for that which was needless He advised Men to purchase Houses that had more Arrable Land and Pasture belonging to them then fine Gardens and Orchards Plut. in Vita ejus 13. Charles the V. Emperor of Germany was very frugal through the whole course of his Life especially in his Apparel which the Italians wondered at and some jeared him for it Once being to make a Royal Entrance into Millain there was great Preparation for his Entertainment The Houses and Streets were beautified and adorned the Citizens dressed in their richest Apparel a golden Canopy was prepared to be carried over his Head and great expectation there was to see a Great and Glorious Emperor But when he entered the City he came in a plain black Cloth Cloke and an old Hat on his Head so that they which saw him not believing their Eyes enquired which was he laughing at themselves for being so deceived in their expectation Lip Exemp Pol. 184. 14. Bishop Latimer at his last Examination before the Commissioners in Queen Mary's Days appeared thus he bowed his Knee down to the Ground holding his Hat in his Hand having a Handkerchief on his Head and upon it a Night Cap or two and a great Cap such as the Townsmen use with broad Flaps to button under the Chin wearing an old Bristol Frize thread-bare Gown girded about his Body with a penny Leather Girdle at which hanged by a long string of Leather his Testament and his Spectacles without case depending about his Neck upon his Breast Fox Martyrol 15. S. Augustin's Apparel Shooes and Bedding were but mean not over Fresh nor over homely Bishop Jewel out of Posidonius 16. Serapion wore only one poor Linnen Garment never any other 17. There may be a Case put wherein in some exigency it may be Lawful for the Woman to wear the Apparel of the Man and Asterius gives one I know a Woman saith he that Polled her Hair and put on Mans Apparel and a Flowered Garment too that she might not be separated from her dear Husband that was forc'd to fly and hide himself See Mr. Alsop's Sermon of strange Apparel CHAP. XXXV Remarkable Humility in Behaviour SHould any one saith St. Augustine ask me concerning the Christian Religion and the People of it I would answer that the First Second and Third things therein and All is Humility Sure I am our Saviour hath made it the First when he hath assigned Self-denial for the Test of his Disciples If any one will be my Disciple let him deny himself And it is so requisite for all the consequent Duties of a Christian that a Man is neither qualified to be Taught nor Obey nor Suffer without it Nay there 's no Ascending to Glory unless we are first Cloathed with Humility for before Honour is Humility for God will exalt the Humble and Meek but Behold the Proud a far off as they behold others No wonder then if this Grace be owned as a sure Characteristick of those that belong to the Retinue of an Humble Jesus 1. Ignatius was so Humble that he Disdained not to learn of any Clarks Marrow of Eccl. Hist Nicephorus Reports that when he was a Child our Saviour took him in his Arms and shewed him to his Disciples It may be he was one of those little Children that were brought to Christ that he should touch them or that little One whom Jesus took and set in the midst of his Disciples for a Pattern of Humility Ibid. 2.
thy sight be justified After a little Rest and Slumber she spake to her Father with much Joy and Gladness 1 Cor. 15.54 c. Death is swallowed up of Victory c. She commanded afterwards Psal 84. to her Mother saying Read that Psalm Dear Mother and therewith ye may comfort one another As for me I am more and more spent and draw near unto my last Hour Pray with me pray that the Lord would vouchsafe me a soft Death And when they had prayed with her she turned to her Mother and with much Affection said Ah my Dear Loving Mother that which comes from the Heart doth ordinarily go to the Heart Once come and kiss me before I leave you and also my Dear Father and my Sister and Father let my Sister be trained up in the Ways of God as I have been I bewailed and wept for my Sister thinking she would die and now she weeps for me Also she took her young little Sister in her Ams a Child of Six Months old and kissed it with much Affection as if her Bowels had been moved speaking with many Heart-breaking Words both to her Parents and the Children 'till her Father said to one standing by Take away that young poor Lambkin from the hazard of that fiery Sickness Give her away for ye have too much already to bear Well Father said she did not God preserve the Three Children in the fiery Furnace Citing also Isa 43.3 After a little Rest awaking again she rehersed 1 Cor. 15.42 43. Isa 57.1 2. Job 19.25 26 27. John 5.28 c. Eph. 2.8 9. and descanted pathetically upon them adding My Dear Parents now we must shortly part my Speech faileth me pray the Lord for a quiet Close to my Combat I go to Heaven and there we shall find one another I go to Jesus Christ and to my Brother Jacob who did cry so much to God and call upon him to the very last Breath and to my little Sister which was but Three Years of Age when it died c. At last after she had prayed a pretty space by herself she asked her Parents If she had angred or grieved them at any time or done any thing that became her not Craving Forgiveness of them Then she began to dispose her Books and other little things with some proportion of Prudence and after a short Discant on the following Scriptures Psal 23. Rom. 8. 2 Tim. 4.7 8. 1 Cor. 6.20 Isa 53 Joh. 1. 1. Cor. 6.11 Rev. 7. 2 Cor. 5.1 2. she concluded with these Words My Soul shall now part from this Body and shall be taken up into the Heavenly Paradise there shall I dwell and go no more out but sit and sing Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts c. O Lord God into thy Hands I commend my Spirit O Lord be gracious be merciful to me a poor Sinner And hereupon she fell a sleep Sept. 1. between Seven and Eight in the Evening having obtained according to her Prayers a quiet and soft Departure 26. Jacob Bickes above-mentioned Brother to the aforesaid Susanna was visited Three or Four Weeks before his Sister and slept most of his time 'till near his Death but so often as he awaked he gave himself to pray Upon motion made to send for the Physician he said Dear Father and Mother I will not have the Doctor any more The Lord shall help me I know he shall take me to himself and then he shall help all After Prayer Come now Dear Father and Mother said he and kiss me I know now that I shall die Adieu Dear Father and Mother Adieu my Dear Sister Adieu all Now shall I go to Heaven unto God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Angels Father know ye not what is said by Jer. 17. Blessed is he who trusteth in the Lord. Now I shall trust in him and he shall bless me And 1 John 2. Little children love not the world for the world passeth away Away then all that is in the World away with all my pleasant Things in the World Away with my Dagger which a Student had given him for where I go there 's nothing to do with Dagger and Sword Men shall not fight there but praise God Away with all my Books for where I go there 's nothing to be done with Books there I shall know and be learned sufficiently all things of true Wisdom and Learning without Books The Father telling him God would be near to him and help him Yea Father the Apostle Peter saith God resisteth the proud but gives grace to the humble I shall humble myself under the mighty Hand of God and he shall help and lift me up God hath given me so strong a Faith upon himself through Jesus Christ that the Devil himself shall flee from me for it is said John 3. He who believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and hath overcome the wicked one 1 John 2. Now I believe in Jesus Christ my Redeemer and he will not leave nor forsake me but shall give unto me Eternal Life then shall I sing Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Sabath And with this short Word of Prayer Lord be merciful to me a poor Sinner he quietly breathed out his Soul and slept in the Lord aged Seven Years August 8. 1664. Extracted out of a Pamphlet called An Edifying Wonder of Two Children Printed at London for Richard Tomlins 1667. 27. The Reverend Mr. Clark in his Works quotes a Child of Two Years old that looked towards Heaven And credible History acquaints us with a Martyr of Seven Years old that was whipped almost to Death and never shed one Tear nor complained and at last had his Head struck off 28. Of Mary Warren born in May 1651 aged Ten Years in May 1661. When this Child was about Five or Six Years old she had a new plain Tammy Coat and when she was made ready was to be carried with other Children into Morefields but having looked upon her Coat how fine she was she presently went to her Chair sate down her Tears running down her Eyes she wept seriously by herself her Mother seeing it said to her How now Are you not well What 's the matter that you weep The Child answered Yes I am well but I would I had not been made ready for I am afraid my fine Cloaths will cast me down to Hell Her Mother said It 's not our Cloaths but wicked Hearts that hurt us She answered Aye Mother fine Cloaths make our Hearts proud What next follows was written by her Father on Friday Night Octob. 4. 1661. Her Mother asked her If she were willing to die she answered ' Aye very willing for then I shall sin no more for I know Christ's Blood hath made Satisfaction for my Sins October the Fifth her Mother going softly to the Chamber-door she heard her speaking alone and she listned and heard her say thus Come Lord Jesus come quickly and receive thy poor Creature out of all my Pains
the Reign of King James Dr. George Abbot Arch-bishop of Canterbury being a Hunting in a Park and shooting at a Deer his Arrow by mischance glanced and killed a Man upon which Fact it was much debated whether by it he were not become irregular and ought to be deprived of his Archiepiscopal Function as thought against his Will having his Hands embrued in Blood but Dr. Andrews Bishop of Winchester standing much in his Defence as likewise Sir Henry Martin the King's Advocate gave such Reasons for the mitigation of the Fact that he was cleared from all Imputation of Crime and thereupon judged Regular and in State to continue in his Archiepiscopal Charge Yet himself out of a Religious Tenderness of Mind kept that Day of the Year in which the mischance happened as a solemn Fast all his Life after Sir Rich. Bak. Chron. p. 446. 7. The Constables coming to serve a Warrant upon Mr. Thomas Tregoss for Preaching publickly one of them mere violent and furious than his Fellows whilst he reasoned with Mr. Tregoss holding the Mittimus in his Hand sunk down in the place seeming at the present to be dead but by the diligent Endeavours of those about him he was brought to himself again whereupon he departed without executing the Warrant And that which made this the more remarkable was for that this Constable was a lusty strong Man and never fainted in all his Life before And though they came again some Days after to execute the same Warrant yet had they not power to carry him to Prison for which as it was reported the other Constable was fined at the next Session See his Life 8. One Mr. Burgess late Minister of Graffam in Sussex being put to some trouble at his first coming to that place through the unkindess not to say dishonesty of some Neighbours made a Journey London for the better securing himself in the possession and returning home came late to the outward Skirts of the Parish where being apprehensive of Danger partly by reason of the great Darkness of the Night and partly by reason of the Waters and Ditches which are thereabouts somewhat formidable to a Stranger he did by some secret Ejaculations earnestly beg of God so to direct and preserve him in the way that he might not miscarry before he got to his own then a new Home and presently a Light shone about him to his great surprizal and comfort and did accompany him closely as the Pillar of Fire did the Israelites either going before him or surrounding him for I dare not be positive through the defect of my Memory 'till he got safe to his own House This hath been attested to me by his own Son an honest sober Man now living at Graffam and one Mr. Cockrill a near Neighbour who saith He heard Mr. Graffam the elder often speak of it with wonder 9. A pious Gentlewoman yet living when a Child fell into a Pond where she was like to perish a Man who was left alone in the House reading of a Book was suddenly so troubled though he knew not for what that he could read no longer upon which he walked out saw a Straw-hat swim upon the Pond and by and by the Child rise to the top of the Water he catches hold of the Child drew her out and so saved her Life Clark's Exam. Vol. 1. C. 83. 10. Mr. Sam. Fairclough one Evening after a Day spent with his Wife in Fasting and Prayer on her behalf being then great with Child and she walking abroad to meditate on the Promises of God fell over Head and Ears into a Pond heard a great Shriek goes out hastily to the Pond finds his Wife after twice sinking and laying sudden hold upon her before the third time saved her Life and Health and Little One with which she was pregnant without any hurt See his Life CHAP. LXXXI Persons strangely fitted for Great Employments 'T IS weak Evidence and Proof of the Divine Conduct and Government of the World to observe the strange Methods sometimes used in the Accomplishment of Men for Weighty and Sacred Offices to see the Turns of Providence the suprizing Catastrophes the removal of Difficulties the opening of Doors unexpectedly to make way for some Persons to Studies and Employments in Church and State 1. How strangely are things wheeled about by Providence Not what we or our Parents but what God designed shall take place Amos was very meanly employed at first but God designed him for a more honourable and comfortable Calling Amos 7.14 15. David followed the Ewes and likely never raised his Thoughts to higher Things in the Days of his youth but God made him the Royal Shepherd of a better Flock Psal 78.70 71. Peter and Andrew were imployed as Fisher-men but Christ calls them from that to an higher Calling Mat. 4.18 19. To be Fishers of Men. Pareus when he was Fourteen Years old was by the instigation of his Step-mother placed with an Apothecary but Providence so wrought that he was taken off from that and fitted for the Ministry wherein he became a fruitful and eminent Instrument to the Church James Andreas was by reason of his Fathers inability to keep him at School designed for a Carpenter but was afterwards by the perswasion of Friends and assistance of the Church-stock sent to Stutgard and thence to the University and so arrived to a very eminent Station of Service to the Church A Master-builder Oecolampadius was by his Father designed for a Merchant but his Mother by earnest Entreaties prevailed to keep him at School and this Man was a blessed Instrument in the Reformation of Religion Flavel's Divine Conduct p. 80. 2. Mr. Ben. Johnson was first bred in a private School near St. Martin's-Church then in Westminster-School under the Learned Mr. Cambden afterwards admitted into St. John's-College in Cambridge where his Continuance was but short for his Maintenance failing he was fain to return to the Trade of his Father-in-Law who was a Bricklayer He was one who helped in the Building of the New Structure of Lincoln's-Inn where having a Trowel in his Hand he had a Book in his Pocket that as his Work went forward so his Study went not backward Some Gentlemen pitying that such rare Endowments should be buried under the Rubbish of so mean a Calling did by their Bounty Manumise him freely to follow his own ingenuous Inclinations England's Worthies by W. Winstanley p. 342. 3. Dr. Donne first of Hare-Hall in Oxford then removed to Cambridge thence to Lincoln's-Inn at last he went to Travel with the Earl of Essex to Cales and thence to Italy and Spain Returning home he was chief Secretary to the Lord-Keeper Elsemore and marrying with the Lady Elsemore's Niece Daughter to Sir George Moor for which he was discharg'd of the Secretary's place which he held and cast into Prison by his incensed Father-in-Law But being set at liberty again by occasion of a Discourse upon the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy he
best kill me too The Son replyed No Sir I have done enough I am sure it was too much The Father Sir George upon this said Why then you must look to be hang'd Which Doom was accordingly pass'd upon him at the next Assizes held at Maidstone Anno 1655. See the Narrative of his Life and Death by R. Boreman 2. Anno Christi 1641. There was in Juchi near Cambray an unnatural Son that in a fury threw his Mother out of Doors thrice in one Day telling her That he had rather see his House on fire and burned to Ashes than that she should remain in it one Day longer And accordingly the very same Day his House was fired and wholly burned down with all that was in it none knowing how or by what means the Fire came Enguer de Monast v. 2. 3. Manlius relateth a Story of an old Man crooked with Age and almost pined with Hunger who having a Rich and Wealthy Son went to him only for some Food for his Belly and Cloaths for his Back But this proud young Man thinking that it would be a Dishonour to him to be born of such Parents drove him away denying not only to give him sustenance but disclaiming him from being his Father giving him bitter and reproachful Speeches which made the poor old Man to go away with an heavy Heart and Tears flowing from his Eyes Which the Lord beholding struck his unnatural Son with Madness of which he could never be cured till his Death 4. The same Author relates another Story of another Man that kept his Father in his old Age but used him very churlishly as if he had been his Slave thinking every thing too good for him and on a time coming in found a good Dish set on the Table for his Father which he took away and set courser Meat in the room But a while after sending his Servant to fetch out that Dish for himself he found the Meat turned into Snakes and the Sauce into Serpents one of which leaping up caught this unnatural Son by the Lip from which it could never be pulled to his Dying-day so that he could never feed himself but he must feed the Serpent also 5. Adolf Son of Arnold Duke of Guelders repining at his Father's long Life one Night as he was going to Bed came upon him suddenly and took him Prisoner and bare-legged as he was made him go on foot in a cold Season five German Leagues and then shut him up a close Prisoner for six Months in a dark Dungeon But the Lord suffered not such Disobedience to go unpunished For shortly after the Son was apprehended and long imprisoned and after his Release was slain in a Fight against the French History of the Netherlands 6. Henry Jones of Monmouth in Wales for an unnatural Murder of his Mother a Widow Mrs. Grace Jones out of a greedy desire to enjoy her Estate was at the Assizes held at Monmouth condemn'd to be pressed to Death his Sister to be burnt as consenting with him and his Boy hanged A. C. 1671. See the Narrative 7. A Malster near Cocks-Hill in Essex having made over all his Estate to his Son was afterwards turn'd out of Doors without so much as a Bed to lie on But the Son soon after slighted by his Sweet-heart hang'd himself 1674. Sir P. Pett being on January the 24th 1695. in the Company of the Honourable Sir Edward Lutwyche who was formerly Recorder of Chester and afterward one of the Judges of the Court of Common-Pleas he related to him That while he was Recorder of Chester a Father there who had two Sons demising some Land to his elder Son by his Will and ordering in his Will That for want of Heirs to the elder Son the Land should come to the younger Son and further enjoyning it to the elder Son in the Will that he should not cut off the Entail it so happen'd that notwithstanding the Father's Injunction the elder Brother did in process of time cut off the Entail And the younger Brother fearing that the elder would so do while they both walked amicably together in a Field in Cheshire the younger Brother using several Expostulations with the elder did entreat him that he would observe the Injunction laid upon him in his deceas'd Father's Will and not cut off the Entail Whereupon the elder Brother thus replied to him Brother if ever I do it may that Bull or some other gore me to Death pointing to a Bull then grazing in the Field Yet this notwithstanding the elder Brother shortly after did cut off the Entail and afterwards walking in the same Field was there by a Bull gored to Death This Remarkable Providence as Sir Edward averrs happen'd within these Twenty Years This Account was sent me by Sir Peter Pett now living in London CHAP. CXXI Divine Judgments upon Careless Parents IT is a strange thing to me that Parents should look upon themselves as bound in Conscience to provide an Estate and temporal Livelihood for their Children and yet at Liberty in respect of their Good Manners and future Happiness as if they were obliged to do no more for them than for their Dogs and Horses Socrates might well stand and wonder to see Men take such pains to cut and carve Stones in the Likeness of Men and let their Children go rude and unpolish'd out of their Hands in the Likeness of Bruits Old Eli tho' a good Man yet because he was too soft a Parent destroyed his Sons and broke his own Neck 1. Sir George Sondes mentioned in the fore-going Chapter is strongly suspected for his too much Indulgence to his Son Freeman that committed that foul Murder as may be collected from Sir George's Answer in print upon occasion of a Charge made against him by some neighbouring Ministers See his own Words p. 15. Now saith he for the Education of my Children having buried many other and having now only two Sons remaining I confess I was more fond and indulgent and gave more way to them than otherwise I should have done And presently after speaking of them both he saith To that foolish Sports of Cocking they were addicted but the youngest most as also to Carding and he would play somewhat deep at those Games I often child him but could never break him of it He was in his Behaviour pleasing and courteous to none but cross-grain'd to all and as much to his Father as to any which I hoped that Years and Discretion might have made him leave in time Afterwards speaking concerning the Allowance which he made them he saith I ever gave them Money not only when but commonly before they asked and more than they desired Afterwards concerning his Son 's undutiful Carriage in his Letter to him in the Prison he writes thus Your Stubbornness appeared in the least trivial Things as in riding abroad to my Park and Town things you liked in themselves yet because I desired it of you you refused it saying
ready to make a short-sighted Man exclaim with Hercules in the Tragoedian That Vertue is but an empty Name or at least could only serve to make its Owners more sensibly unhappy But altho' such Examples might a little work on a weaker Vertue that which is more confirmed and solid can more easily resist it 'T is not impatient nor uneasie but still believes that Heaven is awake that the Iron Hands of Justice will at length overtake the Offenders and by their Destruction vindicate the Honour and Innocence of those whom they have ruin'd It considers any Riddles in Providence as a curious piece of Opticks which if judged of either before 't is finished or by piece meal here an Eye and there another distorted Feature appears not only unpleasing but really dreadful which yet if viewed when 't is compleat and taking all the Features together makes a Figure sufficiently regular and lovely Who almost could have imagined without some such Reflections as these that those brave Men we have seen for some Years past pick'd out and out off one after another with as much Scandal and Obloquy as cou'd be thrown upon 'em by the ungenerous Malice of thier Enemies when the very Attempt to clear their Reputation has been made almost Capital and involved those who had Courage enough to attempt it in little less Mischief than what they themselves endured That ever these Phoenixes should rise again and flourish in their Ashes That so many great Pens should already have done some of 'em Justice and the World as much to all the rest And with how much more Joy if 't were possible would those Heroes have received their Crowns could they have foreseen their Deaths wou'd have tended so far to work up the Nation to such a just Resentment as wou'd at last have so great an Influence as we find it had on our late glorious deliverance We shall therefore here under this Chapter add the Last Words and what 's Remarkable in the Deaths of those Eminent Persons who fell in Defence of the Protestant Religion and the English Liberties both in London and the West of England from the Year 1678. to this Time 1. Sir Edmundbury Godfrey declared some Days before his Death That he believed in his Conscience he should be the first Martyr Two Anagrams there were made on this brave Gentleman which for the peculiar luckiness of 'em it may not be ungrateful to the Reader to have 'em inserted Sir EDMVNDBVRY GODFREY Anagram I FIND MURDER'D BY ROGUES Another BY ROME'S RUDE FINGER DIE He was the first Martyr for our holy Protestant Religion We shall address what has been written on this Subject not only to Posterity but to all the sober unprejudic'd Men of the present Age and so dismiss it and go on to the rest for whom he only made way after we have presented you with one of the best pieces of Wit tht the Age has yielded on Sir Edmund's Death 'T is a part of that ingenious Poem call'd Bacchanalia Well Primrose my our Godfrey's Name on thee Like Hyacinth inscribed be On thee his Memory flourish still Sweet as thy Flower and lasting as thy Hill Whilst blushing Somerset to her Eternal Shame shall this Inscription wear The Devil's an Ass for Jesuits on this spot Broke both the Neck of Godfrey and the Plot. 2. Mr. COLLEDGE NO body can doubt but that 't was now very much the Interest of the Papists to get off if possible that foul Imputation of a Plot which stuck so deep upon 'em which had been confirm'd by Sir Edmund's Murther Coleman's never-to-be-forgotten Letters Arnold's Assassination and a great deal of Collateral Evidence which fell in unexpectedly many of those who gave it being utterly unacquainted with the first Discoverers After several unfortunate Attempts they had made to this purpose after the Living had perjur'd themselves and the Dying done worse to support their desperate Cause after Attempts to blast and ruine some of the Evidence and buy off others of 'em in both which publick Justice took notice of and punish'd 'em being of a Religion that sticks no Villany to serve an Interest and certainly the most indefatigable and firm People in the World when they set about any Design especially where Diana is concern'd not being yet discouraged they resolv'd to venture upon one Project more which prov'd but too successful to the Loss of the bravest and best Blood in the Kingdom and that was to Brand all those who were the steddiest Patriots and so their greatest Enemies of what Rank soever they were with the odious Character of Persons disaffected to the Government or in the old Language Enemies to Caesar They pretended to perswade the World that after all this great noise of a Popish Plot 't was only a Presbyterian one lay at the bottom Things being thus what can any Man of Modesty say to Mr. Colledge's Protestations over and over both in Prison and at his Death that he was perfectly innocent of what he dy'd for I did deny in them say he that is before the Council and do deny it upon my Death I never was in any manner of Plot in my days nor ever had any such Design as these Men have sworn against me I take God to witness as I am a dying Man and on the Terms of my Salvation I know not one Man upon the face of the Earth which would have stood by me And lower I knew not of any part of what they swore against me till I heard it sworn at the Bar. Again All the Arms we had was for our Defence in case the Papists should have made any Attempt by way of Massacre c. God is my Witness this is all I know And in his solemn Prayer and some of his almost very last Words 'T is thee O God I trust in I disown all Dispensations and will not go out of the World with a Lye in my Mouth And just after to the People From the sincerity of my Heart I declare again That these are the very Sentiments of my Soul as God shall have Mercy upon me Thus dy'd Mr. Colledge whose Blood as he himself desir'd it might sufficiently spoke the Justice of his Cause who seem'd in his Speech to have some Prophetick Intimations that his Blood would not be the last as indeed it was not but rather a Praelude to that which follow'd the Edge of the Law being now turn'd against all those who dar'd defend it He has one Daughter yet living whose Gratitude and Generosity to those who were kind to her under the Misfortunes of her Family is at present the Wonder and Entertainment of the Court of England and whose brave Soul speaks her the true Child of such a Father His CHARACTER How great and undaunted his Courage was both his Tryal and Death testifie He was very vigorous and earnest almost to a Fault in his Undertakings But certainly there are so few who err on that hand that
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
back from a Miller Anno 1667 fasted a Twelve Month is no Wonder in comparison with the former Stories nor that of the Shropshire Maid whose Mother I was acquainted with who fasted as â—ong mentioned in the former part of this Book CHAP. XXII Children Petrified in the Womb. THE Story of Niobe turned into a Marble Statue is a Fable Children are often converted into Stones in the Womb and I would to God Men were not so in their ripe Age at least in a Metaphorical Sense but as to the Petrification of Infants it is not much more strange that a Juyce fit for Concretion should be carried to the Womb than to the Reins or Bladder or that a Spiritus Lapidificus should prevail in the one and never in the other 1. Columba Chatry of Sens in Burgundy Wise to Ludovicus Chatry by the report of Mr. John Alibaux an Eminent Physicians and who also was present at the Dissection of her went 28 years with a Dead Child in her Womb When she was dead and her Belly opened there was found a Stone having all the Limbs and exact proportion of a Child of 9 Months old This happened Anno 1582. Sennertus confesses this accident so rare that he never met with the like instance in the whole History of Physick Sennert Prax. Med. l. 4. par 2. Sect. 4. c. 7. p. 311. 2. Horstius tells of a Woman aged 37. at the time of his Writing whose Womb was all turned to Stone to the weight of 7 pound Her Spleen Globular her Bladder Stony and her Peritonaeum so very hard that it could scarce be cut with a Knife and yet this Woman lived without any manifest sign of Sickness all her life time Addit ad Donat. per Greg. Horst l. 7. c. 2. p. 663. 3. Hearnius affirms That he saw at Padua a Woman whose Breast was turn'd into Stone by this means as she lay dead that Breast of hers lay covered in the Water of a certain Spring there Ibid. p. 664. 4. Pompilius Placentinus tells of a Venetian Woman who being Poisoned by an Apple when Dead she grew so stiff and congealed that she seemed to be transformed into a Statute of Stone nor could they cut open her Belly by Knife or Sword Zacch qu. Medico-Legal c. 4. Tit. 1. p. 235. 5. The Body of a Man that was killed and cast into the River Anien having lain some time at the Root of a Tree that grew upon the Bank-side when it was found and taken up it was turn'd into Stone Titus Celsus a Patrician of Rome affirmed that he had seen it Cornman de Mir. Morc par 3. cap. 36. p. 18. 6. I my self saw a Maid born in Ireland exposed to view at Arundel in Sussex a few years ago who besides strange Moles upon her Body had a great Excressence growing between her Legs hard as Stone very bulky and weighty so that was not able to carry it about without a Truss CHAP. XXIII Accidents upon Persons Birth-Days c. I Am not sure that the Matter of Fact in all the Cases hearafter mentioned was in right Judgment so remarkable as is pretended Perhaps Persons may sometimes be too fond in the Observation of such Days out of a peculiar respect to them and at the same time pass over a hundred Accidents more worthy of Note upon other days of their Life See what follows in the end of the Chapter 1. The Poet Antipater Sidonius every year upon his Birth-day was seized with a Fever and when he had liv'd to a great Age he Died upon his Birth-Day Schenck Obs Med. 1.6 Obs 1. p. 721. 2. The like befel Johan Architectus who spent with Age Died upon his Birth-Day Ibid. 3. Elizabeth Wife of King Henry VII Died in Child-Bed the 11th of February the very day of her Birth Bak. Chron. 4. Amatuâ— Lisitanus tells of one who every year on his Birth-Day was seized with a Fit of a Fever Thom. a Veiga of another who every year had a Fever for three days and no longer Schenck Ibid. p. 721. 5. Alexander the Great was Born upon the 6th day of February and Died on the 6th day of February Alex. l. 4. c. 20 fol. 233. 6. Attalus King of Pergamum and Pompeins the Great both Died on their Birth-Days Plut. in Camilo p. 135. 7. Julius Caesar was Born and Slain on the Ides of March. Sabel l. 9. c. 4. Zuin. Thaat p. 561. 8. Antonius Caracalla the Emperor was Slain at Carris on the 6th of the Ides of April being his Birth-Day Zuin. Ibid. 9. Pope Gregory the Great was Born and Died on the 4th of the Ides of March. Zuin. Theat Ibid. 10. Garsias Great Grand-Father to Petrarch having lived 104 years died as also did Plato on his Birth-Day and in the same Chamber where he was Born Zuin. Theat vol. 2. l. 7. p. 561. 11. The Emperor Charles the Great was Buried at Aquisgrane on his Birth-Day Anno 810. Ibid. 12. Ph. Melancthon Died Anno 1560. in the 63th year of his Age and on his Birth-Day being 13 Cal. May. Ibid. 13. The Emperor Charles V. was Born on St. Matthias's Day on which day also in the course of his Life was King Francis taken by him in Battel and the Victory likewise won at Bicâ—â—que he was also Elected and Crowned Emperor on the same day and many other great Fortunes befel him still on that day Treasury of Ancient and Modern times l. 4. c. 12. p. 330. 14. Augustus had certain Anniversary Sicknesses which did return at a stated and certain time He commonly languished at the time of his Birth which was the 9th of the Calends of October a little before Sun-rise Sweton in August p. 55. 105. 15. Timoleon obtained most of his Victories on his Birth-Day which was therefore Celebrated Annually by the Syracusans Alex. ab Alex de Gen. l. 4. c. 20. 16. Philip King of Macedon had a Triplicity of Good Tidings on his Birth-Day That he was Victor in the Olympicks that Parmenio his General had gain'd a Conquest and that his Queen was Delivered of Alexander Ibid. 17. Baudinus an Abbot and Citizen of Florence Died upon his Birth-Day Coman de Mir. Mort. 18. On Wednesday Pope Sixtus V. was Born made Monk General of his Order Cardinal Pope and Inaugurated Heyl. Geogr. 19. On Thursday Henry VIII Died Edward VI. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 20. Friday was observed to be fortunate to the Great Captain Gonsalvo and Saturday to Henry VII c. CHAP. XXIV Children mark'd in the Womb. WHEN we read the Story in Genesis of Jacob 's Success in his Pastoral Office by the help of his straked striped hazels and poplars c. we wonder at the effects and are puzzled in quest of the Cause Certainly tho' there was a special Providence concerned in the Fact yet there seems too a concurrence of inferior Nature in the Agency Imagination is strong and operative even in Bruits but much more in Mankind where Reason gives a
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