shall see your Face no more in this Life Ibid. 4. S. Augustine whose usual wish was that Christ when he came might find him either Praying or Preaching was accordingly answered for in the Siege of Hippo by the Goths after he had for some Months together continually exercised himself in Prayers in the third Month of the Siege he fell sick of a Fever in his Sickness breathing forth most Pious Ejâ—culations as Vivere renuo ut Christo vivam viz. I refuse to live that I may live to Christ c. and so died making no Will having nothing to bestow but only Books which he left to several Libraries Aged 76. Anno Christi 430. having been a Minister 40 Years Ibid. 5. Prosper upon his Death-bed speaking to many of his People that wept sore said the Life which I have enjoyed was but given me upon condition to render it up again not grudgingly but gladly For me to stay longer here might seem better for you but for me t is better to be dissolved Ibid. p. 89. And so praying and lifting up his Hands before them all be departed Anno Christi 466. 6. Bede in his Sickness comforted himself with Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth be chasteneth c. When his Scholars were weeping about him he said in the words of S. Ambrose Non sic vixi ut pudeat me inter vos vivere sed nec mori timeo quia bonum Dominum habemus The time is come if my Creator pleaseth that being freed from the Flesh I shall go to him who made me when I was not out of nothing I have lived long and the time of my Dissolution is approaching proaching and my Soul desires to see my Saviour Christ in his Glory Ibid. p. 101. His Epitaph was Hac sunt in fossa Bedae Venerabilis put in as Tradition saith by an Angel Ossa 7. S. Bernard in his Sickness wrote this Letter to Arnold Abbot of Boneval We received your Love in Love and not in Pleasure for what Pleasure can there be where Pain and Bitterness challengeth all to it self Only 't is a little delightful to me to eat nothing Sleep is departed from me that Sorrow and Pain may never depart by the benefit of my Senses lulled asleep The want of a Stomach is all that I suffer only it lacks to be continually refreshed with some comfortable Liquor But if I admit more than is meet 't is very grievous to me My Feet and Thighs are swollen as in a Dropsie And in all these things that I may conceal nothing from my Friend who defires to know the state of his Friend the Spirit is willing but the Flesh weak Pray unto my Saviour who desires not the Death of a Sinner not that he will defer but guard my Departure hence with his Angels Take you care that my Heel which is naked of Merits he strengthened and defended by your Prayers that he which lies in wait may not find where to fasten his Tooth and inflict a Wound Farewel To his Monks he said I am in a Streight not knowing which to chuse Life or Death but leave all to the will of God Ibid. p. 105. 8. John Husse used these words by way of Prayer at his suffering Martyrdom Lond Jesus Christ assist and help me that with a constant and patient Mind by thy most gracious help I may bear and suffer this most Cruel and Ignominious Death burning with a tripe Crown of Paper painted with ugly Devils on his Head whereunto I am condemned for Preaching thy most Holy Gospel And when the Fire was kindled he sung three times with a loud Voice Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God have Mercy upon me And so the Wind drove the Flame into his Face and choaked him Ibid. p. 119. 9. Cardinal Woolsey being arrested by the King's Order breathed out his Soul in words to this purpose If I had served the God of Heaven as faithfully as I did my Master upon Earth he had not forsaken me in my Old Age as the other hath done Lloy's State-worthies p. 19. 10. Luther dying in his Clymacterical Year made this his last Prayer O Heavenly Father my Gracious God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ thou God of all Consolation I give thee hearty Thanks that thou hast revealed unto me thy Son Jesus Christ whom I believe whom I profess whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope and the wicked Rout do persecute and dishonour I beseech thee Lord Jesus Christ receive my Soul O my Heavenly Father tho' I be taken out of this Life and must lay down this frail Body yet I certainly know that I shall live with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands God so loved the World c. Lord I render up my Spirit into thy Hands and come to thee And again Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit Thou O God of Truth hast redeemed me And so as one falling asleep and without any bodily Pain as could be discerned he departed this Life Feb. 18. Anno Christi 1548. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 143. 11. Calvin makes this his Last Will In the Name of God Amen Anno Christi 1564. April 25. I Peter Chenalat Citizen and Notary of Geneva do Witness and Profess that being sent for by that Reverend Man John Calvin Minister of the Word of God in the Church of Geneva and a Free Denizen of the same City who then truly was sick in Body but sound in Mind told me that his purpose was to make his Testament and declare his Last Will c. which was this In the Name of the Lord Amen I John Calvin Minister of the Word of God in the Church of Geneva oppressed and afflicted with divers Diseases so that I easily think the Lord hath appointed shortly to lead me out of this World I therefore have determined to make my Testament and to commit to Writing my Last Will in this form following First I give Thanks to God that taking pity of me whom he created and placed in this World hath delivered me out of the deep Darkness of Idolatry into which I was plunged and that he brought me into the Light of his Gospel and made me a partaker of the Doctrine of Salvation whereof I was most unworthy Neither hath he only gently and graciously born with my faults for which yet I deserved to be rejected by him and driven out but hath used towards me so great meekness and mildness that he hath vouchsafed to use my Labours in Preaching the Truth of his Gospel And I Witness and Profess that I intend to pass the remainder of my Life and Religion which he hath delivered to me by his Gospel and not to seek any other Aid or Resuge for Salvation than his free Adoption in which alone Salvation resteth And with all my Heart I embrace the Mercy which he hath used towards me for Jesus Christ's sake recompensing my Faults with the Merit
Given at Amsterdam Nov. 23 1686. Signed Magendie heretofore Minister of Orthez in Bearne M. Garfin another Minister of the said Church of Orthez declares the like and cites his Brother in Law de Roux for the witness thereof as also M. Clarier a Lawyer of the same City who inform'd him that the Curate of the Place and a certain Priest call'd Dusan and Monsieur Lichbigarai another Lawyer and a Brother of the Curate called M. de la Roque who sent to search out a certain Popish Damsel to know of her if it were true that she had said that she had heard this Singing of Psalms and that she told them Yea c. Given at Amsterdam Sept. 23. 1689. Signed Garfin Minister One Peter Mauberg of the City of Orthez hath signed the same thing as doth also one M. Bergerit and John de la Bordotten and Madamoiselle Deformalagues adding withal that her Ears were entertained with a Melody so ravishing that she never heard any thing like it and that she heard many Persons say they could plainly and distinctly hear the first Verse of the Forty Second Psalm Like as the Hart doth breath and bray c. Others that they heard the whose Psalm sung M. de Brassalay a Person of Honour and acknowledged such by all that knew him hath abundantly attested the same thing Dr. Faur a Physitian and Papist and Magistrate of the same City confessed that he heard it c. It were too tedious to give the Reader all the Certificates that have been made of it these I have cited are enough to silence the Objections of any Reader that is not resolved to be incredulous above the common rate of Mankind But neither was it heard here only but the like hath happen'd in Cevenues together with the bearing of Drums as hath been certified by the Affidavits of no less than Four several Credible Persons viz. Barjune Minister of S. Marselle in Cevenues La Roquette Minister of Manoblet Saligne de Marnis in Cevenues M. Jane de Vignoles c. Hic consulat lector Athanasium de subtil Demon. One of the most Astonishing Passages that I my self have been witness of of this nature and which happened in my own House is that which follows In the Year 1683 whilst I lived at Shipley my Wife took a Neighbour's Daughter Mary Holland by Name to be her Servant aged about 16 or 17 Years jolly and corpulent honest humble and innocent free from all Pride and Guile naturally so far as I could judge but of no sharp Intellectuals nor extraordinary Knowledge constant to her private Prayers so far as we could make Observation Her Parents were Persons of god same and great hospitality and lived fashionably and plentifully as any of the Parish This Damsel having fetcht in Water to brew with the next day she went to Bed that Night fell into a deep Sleep as she was by Nature inclined to do presently but which was extraordinary next Morning she could not be awaked And so she continued all that Day and till the middle of the Third Night The Physician taking the Distemper for a Coma gave his Advice accordingly but without Success Her Parents gave Order for Two Women to watch with her the Third Night About Midnight I and my Wife lying in the next Chamber and hearing her talk sensibly to the Women rose up and went to her Bed-side asking her how she did She replied What do you think of me To which I answered by way of Question again whether she meant concerning her Bodily Health or Salvation Turning to my Wife she ask'd Mistress what do you think Shall I be saved or no To whom my Wife said how do you think to be saved by your Faith or Works She answered by her Works But recalling the Words again after a little pause she said O no! it must not be by my works it must be by saith in Jesus Christ After some more Discourse upon this point I ask'd her if I should pray by her She answered Yes if you please Upon which we all kneeled down she her self of her own accord putting her self into that posture in bed In the midst of Prayers she broke out into such passionate and strange Expressions as seemed to have proceeded from a sense of some Extraordinary Assault from Devils I was strangely surprized and thought it advisable to make a stop in my Prayers and give my self and the company a little time to make observation upon this strange Occurrence She continued her passionate conflict in words which have slipt my memory Afterwards I prayed again and she fell into an Agony as before After Prayer she desired to see her Parents and was afraid she should not see them before she died We promised her to send presently for them which we did But she fearing they would not come in due time ask'd for my little Daughter Pat and the key of her Box which we were not willing to give her alledging that we had purposely delivered up the key to her Mother the day before and tho she had put it into our hands again yet it would not look well in us to part with it till she returned c. In the mean time I told her if she had any thing to say we would report it truly to her Father and Mother when they came and we doubted not but they would consent to the Execution of her Will Upon which she bequeath'd a little box with some Money in it to Pat her best Cloaths to such and her old ones to such and such Persons adding withal If my Father and Mother please And after this she called one of the Women that attended to whisper something to her in the Ear which we heard not the Women said afterwards it was about an Egg that they had purloyned from my Wife After this was over and all calm I prayed with her again and she was attack'd again as before Upon which I by and by left off and with my Pen in my hand Noted down these following Expressions which I deliver to the World for an Aâ—igma desiring a candid solution of it Men of a licentious wit may banter any thing The Bible and Providence and God himself Bar give me a sober Judgment upon the following Expressions He comes the Serpent he comes in now there 's nothing now but Devils Here 's another Man is come now and hath taken the Pen our of my hand But 't is no matter I am He that have Prayed for you all this while For Christ's sake come take me out here for Christ's sake For Christ's sake for Christ's sake for Christ's sake Lord have mercy Lord never forsake Lord never forsake Lord never forsake me c. For the Lord's sake don't forget me Lord God do not forget me Don't forsake me now Lord send thy hand That 's the Man hath begg'd for you so long They will not let me come they will not let me come they will not let me come
my Soul into the Kingdom of Heaven See her Life 23. I Remember says Mr. Increase Mather in his Disc of Angels that once in Discourse with the Learned Doctor Spencer in Cambridge concerning his Book of Prodigies he said to me that his Judgment was That the Evil Angels had Prenotions of many Future Things and did accordingly give strange Premonitions of them No doubt it is often so and yet as Lavater Schottus and others have noted there are sometimes Things signified by Angels which it is not easie to determine of what sort those Genii are VVhat shall be thought of the Phantom which appeared to General Vesselini assuring him that he might take the City of Muran by the Assistance of a Widow which Lived in that City which strangely came to pass accordingly in the Year 1644. There comes to my mind a very Unaccountable Thing which happened at London above Thirty Years ago It was this One Mr. Cutty an honest Citizen passing between Milk-street and Wood-street in Cheap-side on March 2d 1664 took up a Letter Sealed The Superscription whereof was these VVords following From Geneva to a Friend VVithin the Letter these VVords were written This is to give both timely and speedy Notice that in the Year 1665 in the latter end of May shall begin a Plague and hold very hot till the latter end of December and then cease but not quite and then go on till the latter end of the Spring the next Year And in 1665 and 66 putting both together shall not only happen a Plague but great Sea Fights such as the like was scarce ever heard of and this shall not be all but in the Year 1666 on the Second of September shall happen a Fire that shall burn down one of the Eminentest Cities in the World Mr. Cutty carried the Letter to the then Lord Mayor A Reverend Divine in London who was of his Acquaintance had a Copy of it before the sad Things here Predicted came to pass and at my last being at London was pleased to favour me with it as 't is here Related This Account being certainly true and very surprizing I thought it not unworthy the Publication 24. There are sometimes very unaccountable Motions and Impressions on the Spirits of good men which are wrought in them by the ministry of Holy Angels whose work it is to prevent and disappoint the Designs of Satan and of his evil Angels I remember one relates a remarkable Passage of a good man that when he was reading in his House he could not rest in his Spirit but he must step out of Doors which he had no sooner done but he saw a Child in a Pond of VVater ready to perish which would have been gone past recovery had not he gone out of his Doors just at that moment This Impression must needs be from a good Angel And an other like Passage is related in the Life of that Holy Man Mr. Dod One Evening though he had other work to attend he could not but he must got to such a Neighbour's House when he came to him he told him he knew not what he was come for but he could not rest in his Spirit until he had visited him The poor man was astonished for he had in the Violence of a Temptation put a Rope into his Pocket with an intent to have destroyed himself had not Mr. Dod's thus coming prevented it Surely an Angel of the Lord was in this Providence Bishop Hall speaks of one whom he knew that having been for Sixteen Years a Cripple had these monitions in his Sleep that he should go and wash in St. Matherns Well in Cornwell which he did and was suddenly recovered This he thinks was from Angelical Suggestion Marcus Aurelius Antoninus did in a Dream receive the Prescript of a Remedy for his Disease which the Physitians could not cure A Physitian of Vratislavium followed the Counsel he had given him in a Dream concerning the cure of a Disease which was to him incurable and he recovered the Patient It added to the wonder that a few Years after he met with that Receipt in a Book then newly Printed Histories report that the like to this happened to Philip and to Galen If Angels may Suggest things beneficial unto the minds of Men who are Strangers to God much more unto them that fear him Thus far Mr. Mather Converse with Angels and Spirits Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery Esq 25 Dr. Richard Nepier was a Person of great Abstinence Innocence and Piety He spent every Day Two Hours in Family Prayer When a Patient or Querent came to him he presently went to his Closet to Pray and told to admiration the Recovery or Death of the Patient It appears by his Papers that he did converse with the Angel Raphael who gave him the Responses 26. Elias Ashmole Esq had all his Papers where is contained all his Practice for about Fifty Years which he Mr. Ashmole carefully bound up according to the year of our Lord in Volumes in Folio which are now reposited in the Library of the Museum in Oxford Before the Responses stands this Mark viz. R â„ž is which Mr. Ashmole said was Responsum Raphaelis The Angel told him if the Patient were curable or incurable There are also severalâ— other Queries to the Angel as to Religion Transubstantiation c. which I have forgot I remember one is Whether the Good Spirits or the Bad be most in Number R â„ž is The Good It is to be found there that he told John Prideaux D. D. Anno 1621 that Twenty Years hence 1641 he would be a Bishop and he was so sc Bishop of Worcester R â„ž is did resolve him That Mr. Booth of in Cheshire should have a Son that should inherit Three Years hence sc Sir George Booth the first Lord Delamere viz. from 1619. Sir George Booth aforesaid was born Decemb. 18th Anno 1622. This I extracted out of Dr. Nepier's Original Diary then in the possession of Mr. Ashmole It is impossible that the Prediction of Sir George Booth's Birth could be found any other way but by Angelical Revelation This Dr. Richard Nepier was Rector of Lynford in Bucks and did practise Physickâ— but gave most to the Poor that he got by it 'T is certain he foretold his own Death to a Day and Hour he died Praying upon his Knees being of a very great Age 1634. April the First One says why should one think the Intellectual World less Peopled than the Material Pliny in his Natural History tells us that in Africa do sometimes appear Multitudes of Aerial Shapes which suddenly Vanish Mr. Richard Baxter in his certainty of the World of Spirits hath a Discourse of Angels and wonders they are so little taken notice of he hath counted in Newman's Concordance of the Bible the word Angel in above 300 places Thus far Mr. Aubery CHAP. III. Concerning the Appearance of bad Angels or Daemons HEre I have a great Task and
Oxford at the same time when the Relation came fresh to the Vice-Chancellor And Lodging at Chadlington not far from Oxford upon the Saturday Night after with the Minister of the Place then a Fellow of Merton-Colledge of thirteen or fourteen years standing He told me that having an occasion of Travelling into Wiltshire near to the very place where this Goddard dwelt he had the very story fully attested to him by many credible Persons 7. Mrs. Taylor of the Ford by S. Neots in a Letter to Dr. Ezekiel Burton relates how one Mary Watkinson whose Father lived in Smithfield but she Married to one Francis Topham and she living in York with her Husband being an ill one who did steal her away against her Parents consent so that they could not abide him That she came often to them and when she was last with him upon their parting she expressed that she feared she should never see him more He Answered her if he should die if God did permit the Dead to see the Living he would see her again now after he had been Buried about half a year one Night when she was in Bed but could not sleep she heard Musick and the Chamber grew lighter and lighter and she being broad awake saw her Father stand at her Bed-side who said Mall did I not tell thee that I would see thee once again She call'd him Father and talk'd of many things and he bad her be Dutiful and Patient to her Mother And when she told him that she had a Child since he died he said That would not trouble her long He bad her speak what she would now to him for he must go and that he should rever see her more till they met in the Kingdom of Heaven So the Chamber was darker and darker and he was gone with Music and she said that she did never dream of him nor ever did see any Apparition of him after He was a very honest godly Man as far as I can tell saith the same Mrs. Taylor in the Clause of a Letter Ibid. and it is attested by G. Rust likewise afterward Bishop of Dromore 8. Dr. Farrar a Man of great Piety and Physician to King Charles the II. and his Daughter Mrs. Pearson's Mother a very pious Soul made a Compact at his Intreaty that the first of them that died if happy should after Death appear to the Surviver if it were possible the Daughter with some Difficulty consenting thereto Some time after the Daughter who liv'd at Gillingham-Lodge two Miles from Salisbury fell into Labour and by a Mistake being given a noxious Potion instead of another prepared for her suddenly died Her Father liv'd in London and that very Night she died she open'd his Curtains and looked upon him He had before heard notâ—ing of her Illness but upon this Apparition confidently told his Maid that his Daughter was dead and after two Days receiv'd the News Her Grandmother told Mrs. Pearson this as also an Uncle of hers and the abovesaid Maid and Mrs. Pearson I know and she is a very Prudent and Good Woman Saith Mr. Edward Fowler in a Letter to Dr. H. More An. 1678. Ibid. 9. Mr. Quick in his Relation of a Family poison'd at Plymouth relates this Story which he saith he had from one Mr. B. Cl. a very Holy Man and a Reverend Minister formerly of Petrocks by the Castle of Dartmouth This Minister was sent for to visit and pray with a dying Man under very much Troubles of Conscience His Case was this Sir said he unto the Minister about 7 months since as I was going to Buscow I met a Comerade of mine who had gone to Sea about a Fortnight since and taking him by the Hand wondring at his Arrival I said What chear Mate What makes thee return so soon and look so pale I am dead quoth this Spectrum Dead man and yet walk and talk Yes saith he I am dead I was took sick shortly after my going to Sea and died this day and about an Hour since so many Leagues off I was thrown overboard Now I desire thee to go home and to tell my Wife of it and to open my Coffer and shew my Will and see my Legacies paid which having so promised to do for him at parting he added And as for that business between thee and me that thou well wotest of I charge thee that thou never speak of it to any Man living for if thou dost I will in that very moment tear thee in a thousand Pieces Now Sir this lies heavy upon my Conscience Fain would I declare it it is upon my Tongue but I cannot And why can you not said the Minister Oh! Sir do not you see him Look how terrible he is there he is just against me Oh how doth he threaten me I would tell you but I dare not And whatever Arguments this Reverend Parsonage could use unto the sick man he could never bring him to a Confession but he pined away under his Terrors and Horrors till at last not being able to subsist any longer by reason of them he died See the aforesaid Relation called Hell open'd or the Infernal Sin of Murder punished P. 82 83. 10. No longer since than the last Winter there was much Discourse in London concerning a Gentlewoman unto whom her dead Son and another whom she knew not had appear'd Being then in Lodnon I was willing to satisfie my self by enquiring into the Truth of what was reported and on Febr. 23. 1691. my Brother who is now a Pastor to a Congregation in that City and I discoursed the Gentlewoman spoke of she told us that a Son of hers who had been a very civil young Man but more airy in his Temper than was pleasing to his serious Mother being dead she was much concern'd in her Thoughts about his Condition in the other World but a Fortnight after his Death he appear'd to her saying Mother you are solicitous about my Spiritual Welfare trouble your self no more for I am happy and so vanish'd See Mr. Increase Mather's Cases of Conscience about Witches p. 11. 11. Apparitions extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq The Antiquities of Oxford tell us that St. Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury did sometimes converse with an Angel or Nymph at a Spring without St. Clements Parish near Oxford as Numa Pompilius did with the Nymph Egeria This Well was stopped up since Oxford was a Garrison See the Life of John Donn D. D. Dean of St. Pauls writ by Mr. Isaac Walton where it is affirmed that the Dean did see the Apparition of his Wife 12. Mr. Cashio Burroughs was one of the most Beautiful Men in England and very Valiant but very proud and Blood-thirsty There was then in London a very Beautiful Italian Lady who fell so extreamly in Love with him that she did let him enjoy her which she had never let any man do before Wherefore said she I shall request this Favour of you never to
same upon charitable Uses After this Vow finding his Estate wonderfully increased he began to build Alms-houses one in the Parish of St. George in Southwark another in St. Mary Newington because in those Parishes he observed many blind poor lame People were and never an Alms-house for them He built a Chappel near one of his Alms-houses and when he had so done with the Poor's Stock he bought Lands and Houses of Inheritance which he setled upon the Company of Drapers as for the Relief of his poor Alms-people so for the performing other charitable Gifts mentioned in his Last Will and Testament While he lived he was wont to go himself once a Month to his Alms-houses in his worst Cloaths that he might not be suspected to be the Founder of them and gave unto the poor People their promised Allowance This whilst living At his Death also he gave very considerable besides which he gave the left to his Wife and two Daughters about 10000 l. 9. William Pennoyer Esq Citizen and Merchant of London a Person wholly composed of Mercy and Goodness many Years before his Death turned great part of the Stock wherewith he traded into Lands of Inheritance to the value of Four hundred Pounds per Annum he lived frugally spending upon himself and Family about Two hundred Pounds per Annum and the Remainder he bestowed on charitable Uses His Legacies bequeathed in his Last Will and Testament were as followeth To poor Ministers Widows and others in distress about 150 l. To Four of his poor Tenants 20 l. Likewise 800 l. to be laid out here in Woollen-Cloth or other Commodities to be sent to New-England for the Vse of his poor Kindred there To Bristol 54 l. per Annum towards the Maintenance of a School-master and a Lecturer to Preach a Week-day Lecture there and to other charitable Vses He likewise setled 20 l. per Annum on Trusstees for the teaching of Forty Boys in or near White-Chappel and 40 s. yearly to buy Bibles for some of the Children He gave 12 l. Annum for maintaining a School at Hay in Brecknock-shire and 40 s. more yearly to buy Books for the Scholars Ten Pound per Annum for poor distressed People in Bethlehem Hospital London Ten Pound per Annum more to Ten of the blindest poorest oldest Cloath-workers at the Discretion of the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the said Company for the time being Forty Pound per Annum to Christ-Church Hospital for the placing out Four Children yearly and 40 s. more yearly to buy each of the Children a Bible Besides these he gave to his poor Kindred above 2000 l. by his Will And by a Codicil annexed thereunto he bequeathed to certain Trustees 1000 l. to be given to honest poor People As also 300 l. for Releasing poor Prisoners c. 10. Thomas Arnold Citizen and Haberdasher of London at his first setting up was not rich in Stock but being charitably disposed and ready to every good Work his Estate through God's Blessing very much increased He frequently enquired of others after such poor People as were over-burdened with Children or otherwise distressed yea he hired Men with Money to make it their Business to find out honest poor People on whom he might bestow his Charity and likewise did intrust others with considerable Sums to distribute among the poorer sort charging them to have special Respect to the honest Poor such whom they conceived did truly fear God That he was no Loser but a Gainer by his Liberality appeareth in that God so blessed him in his Calling that he attained to an Alderman's Estate and was chosen to that Office yea he gave over his Calling in the City and withdrew into the Country that he might the better mind God and the Concernments of his Soul more and the World less 11. John Clark Doctor of Physick one of great Repute for his Learning Piety and Charity sometime President of the College of Physicians was wont to lay by all the Lord's-days Fees as a sacred Stock for charitable Uses devoting that entirely to God which he received on his Day accounting it a piece of Sacriledge to appropriate it to himself or any common use whereupon God so prospered him in his Calling that tho' at first his Practice was little and his Estate not very great yet afterwards his Practice so increased and the World so flowed in upon him that he lived plentifully and comfortably 12. Dr. J. Bathurst likewise kept his Lord's-days Fees as a Bank for the Poor which was so far from lessening his Incomes that by the Blessing of God upon his Practice they were greatly in few Years augmented by it for tho' at his first coming to London he brought little Estate with him and here had small Acquaintance York-shire being his Native Country where he had spent his former Days yet the Lord was pleased so to prosper him in his Calling that in 20 Years time he purchased Lands of Inheritance to the value of 1000 l. per Annum to speak saith my Author what I know to be certain for in the Repute of some his Estate at his Death was no less than 2000 l. of yearly value 13. Dr. Edmond Trench likewise observed the same course as his Wife and divers other of his Friends do testifie And certain it is that this was no damage but a great advantage to him for he had as many Patients as his weak Body would permit him to visit and tho' he lived at a full and plentiful rate frequently and chearfully entertaining Ministers and Scholars at his Table yet did he gain a very considerable Estate which he left to his Wife and Children c. 14. Samuel Dunche of Pusey in the County of Berks Esq a Person that according to the Apostle's Rule Did good to all but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith used to send Moneys yearly to several Towns as to Stow upon the Woold in Gloucester-shire to Lamburn and others for the Relief of the Poor and upon the last here named he setled Lands of Inheritance for ever for the same use And to Rumsey in Hamp-shire he gave by Deed upon the like Account a Lease of Ninety nine Years to commence after his Decease The Poor also of the said Town whom he called his Alms-people had also during his Life weekly Relief from him and many other Towns together with them were large Sharers in the like Bounty Several poor Children of the said Town and likewise of those belong to Farringdon he set to School and did not only pay for their Teaching but also furnished them with Books convenient He caused also several good Books to be Printed at his own Charge which he freely gave to the Poor and gave considerable Sums of Money yearly for the Relief of poor Ministers and upon several of them he setled Annuities as 10 l. 20 l. per Annum for their Lives besides Legacies at his Death Besides all this his Hand was
He hath done it already Brother And to one that had been helpful to him in his Sickness The God that made you and bought you with a great Price Redeem your Body and Soul unto himself Which were his last words Decemb. 23. 1652. aged 68. Ibid. p. 229. 94. Dr. Will. Gouge after three days illness complained Alas I have lost three days And to a Friend visiting him I am willing to die having I bless God nothing to do but to die And to his Sister being afraid to leave him alone Why Sister said he I shall I am sure be with Christ when I die Which he did Decemb. 12. 1653. aged 79. Ibid. p. 246. 95. Mr. Tho. Gataker gave this his last Charge to his Relations Sister Son Daughter c. My heart fails and my strength fails but God is my Fortress and the strong Rock of my Salvation into thy hands therefore I commend my Soul for thou hast redeemed me O God of Truth Son you have a great Charge look to it Instruct your Wife and Family in the fear of God and discharge your Ministry conscientiously To his Sister two Years older than himself he said Sister I thought you might have gone before me but God calls for me first I hope we shall meet in Heaven I pray God to bless you He admonished his Daughter to mind the World less and God more for that all things without Piety and the true fear of God are nothing worth Advising his Son Draper to Entertain some Pious Minister in his House to teach his Children and instruct his Family exhorting them all to Love and Unity And then commanded them all to withdraw He died July 27. 1654. aged near 80. Ibid. p. 259. 96. Mr. Bolton dying told his Children That none of them should dare think to meet him at God's Tribunal in an unregenerate Estate And when some of his Parish desired him to express what he felt in his Soul of the exceeding Comforts that are in Christ answered I am by the wonderful Mercy of God as full of Comfort as my heart can hold and feel nothing in my Soul but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be And looking upon some that were weeping said Oh what a deal of do there is ere one can die Chetwind's Collections 97. Mr. Whitaker Do not complain but bless God for me and entreat him to open the Prison-door He died 1654. aged 55. Ibid. p. 272. 98. Mr. Rich. Capel Sept. 21. 1656. preached twice taking his leave of the World by pressing Faith in God That Evening he repeated both his Sermons in his Family read his Chapter went to Prayer and so to Bed and died immediately Sept. 21. 1656. He often said That if God saw fit one had better die of a quick than lingring Death Ibid. p. 313. 99. Mr. Jessey the last Night he lived cried out Oh the unspeakable Love of God! Oh the vilest Oh the vilest that he should reach me when I could not reach him And then rehearsing over and over Blessed be that ever ever ever Blessed and Glorious Majesty And when a Cordial appointed for him was brought Trouble me not upon your own Peril trouble me not Then shewing his care for the Poor Widows and Fatherless and desiring Prayers and afterwards repeating Acts 2.27 and calling for more Julip more Julip meaning more Scriptures by and by he sang this Hymn Jerusalem my heart's Delight I come I come to thee Then shall my sorrows have an end When I thy Joys shall see Then often repeating those words Praises for ever Amen Amen Praises to the Amen for ever and ever Amen After a while he fell asleep Sept. 4. 1663. aged 63. Mr. Collier in his Life and Death p. 94. 100. Mr. Brand thus Oh! my God my God what is sinful Man Worm-man what manner of Love is this Love indeed O I cannot express it Oh! let me be with thee with thee O my God! Oh! I long for Heaven Oh! welcome Death Oh! happy Death that will put an end to all my Troubles and Afflictions one Moment in Abraham's Bosom will make amends for all turn Sorrow to Joy What a dreadful Appearance will there be at the Great Day what a sad thing to be disappointed and come short of Heaven O my Redeemer liveth I have served a good Master I would not desire Life for a Moment unless to promote the Interest of Christ If God would give me my choice what I would ask I would not ask Life Nay I have prayed to God that I might die Why so said a by-stander That I may be said he with God! O my God I would come to thee Let me live with Thee As he was going to Bed with much concernedness of Mind he said There will be a Cry at Midnight Prepare Prepare Which came to pass accordingly for after going to Bed he was taken with a Vomiting of Blood and after that died Dr. Annesly in his Life 101. Mr. John Janeway for the latter part of his Life he lived like a Man that was quite weary of the World and that looked upon himself as a stranger here and that lived in the constant sight of a better World He plainly declared himself but a Pilgrim that looked for a better Country a City that had Foundations whose builder and maker was God His Habit his Language his Deportment all spoke him one of another World His Meditations were so intense long and frequent that they ripened him apace for Heaven but somewhat weakned his Body Few Christians attain to such a holy contempt of the World and to such clear believing joyful constant Apprehensions of the transcendent Glories of the unseen World On his Death-bed he thus express'd himself O help me to Praise God I have now nothing else to do I have done with Prayer and all other Ordinances I have almost done conversing with Mortals I shall presently be beholding Christ himself that died for me and loved me and washed me in his Blood I shall before a few hours are over be in Eternity singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. I shall presently stand upon Mount Zion with an innumerable company of Angels and the Spirits of the Just made perfect and Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant I shall hear the voice of much People and be one amongst them which shall say Hallelujah Salvation Glory Honour and Power unto the Lord our God and again we shall say Hallelujah And yet a very little while and I shall sing unto the Lamb a Song of Praise saying Worthy art thou to receive Praise who wert slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign with thee for ever and ever Methinks I stand as it were with one Foot in Heaven and the other upon Earth methinks I hear the Melody of Heaven and by Faith I see the Angels waiting
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
cited for what is more strange That in an Earthquake an hundred Cities in Lybia were destroyed tit Livius Hist Josephus records that about 29 Years after the Birth of Christ there happened a tremendous Earthquake in the Country of Judea whereby divers Beasts were slain many People overwhelmed in the Ruins of their Houses and perished to the number of about 30000. 2. To relate those Earthquakes that have happened since our Saviour's Birth as I find them mentioned by several Authors of which that which happened at his Crucifixion is said to be the greatest that ever was which shook not only one part of the Earth as in other Cases but the whole World trembled at once if famous Authors may be credited In the tenth Year of Christ was a great Earthquake in Cyprus which overthrew many Cities and in the 17th Year thirteen Cities in Italy were destroyed and the River Tyber overflowed Rome In the Year 59 was a great Earthquake in Rome at which time Nero's Supper was burned with Lightning 3. In the Reign of Trajan the Emperour Anno 105 there happened a most terrible Earthquake at Antioch which destroyed many Cities and People and extended it self very far with fearful Lightnings which made the Night as light as Day preceded with dreadful Thunderbolts that threw down stately Buildings killed many People strong and unusual Storms of Wind the Sea wrought the Waves swelled the Earth shaken Trees pluck'd up by the Roots multitudes buried in the Ruins of their own Houses In Anno 107 a very great Earthquake happened in Asia with many prodigious Sights in the Air as fighting of Men c. Another in Galatia and Rome where Lightning from Heaven consumed the Temple of their Gods with strong Winds and horrible Noises in the Earth In Anno 120 an Earthquake in Nice and two terrible Ones in Palestina In Anno 162 was a very great Earthquake in Bithynia the Waves of the Mediterranean Sea in a Calm elevated themselves to the top of a Mountain far distant from it and cast the Foam a great way upon the main Land 4. In Anno 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was so horrid an Earthquake that certain Cities together were swallowed up and exceeding great Darkness happened for many Days together In the Year 300 there were great Earthquakes by one whereof 13 Cities in Campania were overthrown and another in Asia Many Cities in the East fell to the Ground by an Earthquake and Neo Caesarea was overturned and all its Inhabitants perished except only such as were saved with the Bishop in the Church Dyracchium was demolished by an Earthquake Rome trembled for three Days and three Nights successively And indeed it was to General that all Europe and Asia were shaken at once 5. In the Year 366 in the Reign of Julian the Emperour who was first a Christian and after revolted to Paganism for which he was hamed the Apostate in despight and contempt of our blessed Saviour who had prophesied the Temple of Jerusalem should be destroyed and never rebuilt he impiously resolved to invalidate the same and designed to build it magnificently with excessive Cost and Charges when they had digged up the Remainders of the old Buildings from the lowest Foundation and had cleared the Ground so that there was not a Stone left upon a Stone according to our Blessed Saviour's Prediction The next Day coming to the Place there was a great Earthquake insomuch that the Stones were cast out of the Foundation so that many of the Workmen were slain The publick Buildings which were nearest the Temple were likewise loosen'd and falling down with great Violence buried those who were in them in their Rains some who attempted to fly away were found half dead The Earthquake was scarce over but those who remained fell to work again but when they attempted it the second time sudden Flashes of Fire came violently out of the Foundations and other Fire fell furiously from Heaven and destroyed more than before the Flame continuing a whole Day together 6. In the Year 367 in the Reign of Valens and Valentinian Emperours of Rome there happened such horrible Earthquakes throughout the Western Empire A little after the Day-dawning there was a great Tempest of Thunder and Lightning which was followed by such a dreadful trembling of the Earth that the Sea was shaken therewith and deserted the Shore and its ancient Bounds for a great space many Ships were left on dry Ground and swarms of People flew thither to catch Fish when suddenly the Sea as disdaining to be imprisoned returned to its former Station with such Impetuosity that it over-ran its former Bounds and with the Fury thereof overthrew a multitude of Towns and Houses with many Thousands of People 7. In the Year 430 a great Earthquake reged in divers places and overturned many Cities some Authors affirm it was so terrible as to affect almost the whole World the Earth gaped and swallowed up many Villages Fountains were dried up and Waters brake forth in places formerly dry Great Trees were torn up by the Roots heaps of Trees were so shaken together that they were raised into Mountains The Sea threw up dead Fishes many Islands sunk and overwhelmed Ships sailing on the Sea were suddenly left on the dry Ground In short many places in Bythinia the Hellespont and both the Phrygia's were distressed thereby This continued six Months without intermission and the People of Constantinople not daring to stay in the City for fear of the fall of their Houses continued together with their good Emperour and their Patriarch in the Fields instant in Prayers to the Almighty for the Removel of so dreadful a Judgment 8. In the Year 454 a great Earthquake at Rome another at Vienna Wolves and other Beasts wander all the Year through the City and devour Men. An Earthquake in Russia and at Constantinople with two wonderful Blazing-Stars In the Year 458 a great Earthquake happened at Antioch which the Citizens had cause to remember Before it began some of the Inhabitants were seized with extraordinary Madness such as seemed to exceed the Fury of Wild Beasts and to be the Presage of that Calamity which followed soon after For about the fourth Hour of the Night in September almost all the Buildings of the new City were overturned which was well People and none of it forsaken or empty being curiously built by the Magnificence of divers Emperours who strove to Excel each other in the Adornment of it 9. In the First Century was a terrible Earthquake in Arabia another in Palestina and a third at Constantinople six Weeks together 10. In the sixth seventh and eighth Centuries an Earthquake at Antioch another at Palestina another in England and Normandy and divers dreadful Prodigies About the same time there was a violent Earthquake in Constantinople which lasted many Days and every Hour the City suffered extraordinary Shocks Many Houses were thrown down but the People betook themselves to Prayer
another Earthquake in the same Country that reached 300 Leagues along the Sea-shore and 70 Leagues in Land and Levelled the Mountains along as it went threw down Cities turn'd the Rivers out of their Channels and made an universal Havock and Confusion all this was done saith the Author in the space of seven or eight Minutes sometime before this above 40000 People perished in an Earthquake about Puel and Naples 20. In 1590 happened a terrible Earthquake which made Austris Bohemia and Moravia to Tremble in 1591. In St. Michael Island in the West-Indies there was an Earthquake which continued about 16 days to the extream Terror of the French which inhabit there especially when by force thereof they perceiv'd the Earth to move from place to place and Villa Franca their Principal Town overthrown the Ships that then rode at Anchor trembled and quaked insomuch that the People thought the day of Judgment was come In 1593 another terrible Earthquake happened in Persia which overturn'd 3000 Houses in the City of Lair crushing to Death above 3000 Persons in their Ruins In 1614 there was a great Earthquake in Vercer one of the largest of the Azor's Islands belonging to the King of Portugal overturning the City of Agra 11 Churches 9 Chappels besides many private Houses and in the City of Praga hardly an House was left standing not long after a dreadful Earthquake happened in St. Michael another Island of the Azores the Sea opened and thrust forth an Island above a League and a half in length at the place where there was above 150 Fathom Water 21. In 1622 was a great Earthquake in Italy the shape of an Elephant was seen in the Air and three Suns Armies Fighting Monstrous Births Waters turned into Blood unusual and impetuous Tempests which overthrew several Towers 22. In 1627 an Earthquake happened in England and a great Fiery Beam was seen in the Air in France Six Suns in Cornwall at once and five Moons in Normandy In the same year July 31 happened an Earthquake in Apulia in Italy whereby in the City of Severine 10000 Souls were taken out of the World and in the Horrour of such infinite Ruins and Sepulchre of so many Mortals a great Bell thrown out of the Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a Child that it inclos'd him doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger 23. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many terrible Bellowings Vomitted out burning streams of Fire which tumbled into the Adriatic Sea and cast out huge deal of Ashes the like happened the year following with great Damage and Loss to the Neighbouring places in Houses People and Cattle and in Apulia 17000 Persons were destroyed by the same 24. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in the Island of St. Michael one of the Terceres in the Atlantick Ocean Westward upon June the 26th this Island began universally to shake which continued eight days so that the People leaving the cities Towns and Castles were forc'd to live in the open Fields which was attended with a dreadful breaking out of Fire that had not the Wind by Divine Providence blown from the Isle into the Sea and drove back this outragious Fire without doubt the whole Country had been burnt up and destroy'd 25. In 1560 about five a Clock about the County of Cumberland and Westmorland was a general Earthquake wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses so shaken that their Chimneys fell down The same year the Island of Santorim at the bottom of the Streights in the Mediterranean Sea not far from Candia had formidable Earthquakes and Fires it was most remarkable upon September 24 1650 which shook the Isle till the 9th of October with such mighty and frequent Earthquakes that the People fearing their immediate Ruin was approaching were on their Knees Night and Day before the Altars it cannot be expressed what Horrour seized all Men especially when the Flames breaking through all Obstacles strove to make themselves away through the midst of the Waters of the Ocean about four Mites Eastward from Santorin for the Sea all on a suddain swelled thirty Cubits upward and extending it self wide through the Neighbouring Lands overturn'd all in its way 26. In 1657 the Spaniards felt a terrible blow in Peru which if it were not a Mark of the Wrath of Heaven saith the Author was at least a Sign that the Earth is weary of them especially in those Parts where they have stain'd it with so much Innocent Blood The City of Lima was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Calao another City not far from it was consumed by a Shower of Fire out of the Clouds 11000 Spaniards lost their Lives in this Calamity and the Earth devoured an 100 Millions of refin'd Silver which the Lucre of the Spaniards had forc'd out of her Bowels 27. In 1660 an Earthquake happened at Paris in France and at the same time we had News that part of the Pyrenean Mountains had been overthrown some days before they are certain Mountains that divide France and Spain it did great Mischief there overwhelm'd some Medicinal Baths many Houses and destroying much People one Church which sunk into the Caverns below was thrown up again and stands very firm but in another place this was look'd upon as a great Miracle especially by the French who have disputed with the Spaniard about a Church standing upon the Frontier-Line but now is removed near half a League within the acknowledged Limits of France 28. In 1665 there was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder Lightning and an Earthquake in divers places in England at which time the stately Spire of Trinity Church in Coventry fell down and demolished a great part of the Church 29. In 1668 in Autumn a great part of Asia and some parts of Europe were infested with extraordinnry Earthquakes the Cities of Constantinople and Adrianople felt its effects but not with that Violence and continuance as in other places In some parts of Persia it continued for above fourscore days Torqueto and Bolio two considerable Cities were by its great Violence laid even to the Ground and all or most of their Inhabitants buryed in the Ruins above 6000 Persons Perished in the first of them and above 1800 in the latter and in all the Adjacent Cities it raged with extraordinary Fury destroying and ruining the Buildings killing many of the People and the rest were forced to quit the Towns and take up their Lodgings in the Fields 30. In 1687 October 20 the London Gazette gives a sad Relation of another Earthquake in the Kingdom of Peru in America whereby the City of Lima was totally overthrown and not an House left standing burying many of its inhabitants under its Ruins at the same time Callao Fenettei Pisco Chancay Los Florillos c. Most of the Sea-port
infinite terrour and the top appeared all in Flames this trembling of the 9th was felt in the Cities of Mineo Palaonia Ragosa Licodia and most of the South parts of Sicily at the same instant with that of Catania but the most tremendous shake of all happened on the 11th of January under which dismal Calamity the antient City of Catania pleasantly seated and full of Inhabitants of Quality with an University and about 24000 People in a Minute was sunk out of sight with a noise as loud as if thousands of Cannons had been discharged at once In the place where Catania stood some heaps of Rubbish and a great Lake of Water appear at a distance Under the same dismal Calamity fell the antient City of Syracuse so famous in History that it was formerly reckoned one of the greatest in the World having in it about 16000 Inhabitants By the Earthquake of the 9th many principal Houses and the Castle were torn in divers Night and so escaped the horrible Devastation of the 11th wherein two thirds of the Buildings were thrown down and above 7000 People buried in the rubbish Neither did Noto though built upon a very high Rock almost inaccessible on all sides but one narrow way partake of a less dismal Fate The trembing of the 9th did very much affect it and on the 11th laid it in heaps in a Minute all the Inhabitants except some few who fled from thence on the 9th were Buried in the Ruins of their own Houses being reckon'd about 7000 very little Buildings standing in the whole Town Augusta a City in a Peninsula on the East of Sicily with a large prospect to the Sea Safe-Harbours and considerable Trade was much damaged by the Earthquake of the 9th instant and about 600 People killed by the downfal of the Houses and the following day the rest of the Town and the remaining Inhabitants by another dreadful shake were utterly destroyed and buried in rubbish so that of 6000 People none were left alive Lentini the antient Leontium a Town of about 3000 Families was burnt to the ground on the 11th Calatgirone a Town well-built of Free-Stone by the shake on the 11th had the fifth part of the Buildings and two Monasteries demolished but of 7000 People 5000 made their escape Mineo was shaken both the 9th and the 11th on the former the Heavens were Serene without the least Cloud but on the latter was a terrible Storm of Lightning and Thunder for 6 hours together At both times several Houses and a large Church were overthrown and it was judged about 4000 People perished Pasceni of about 200 Inhabitants was so entirely ruined that not one House or Person was saved The spacious Valley adjoyning which was formerly full of excellent Vines being turned into a new Lake whose Water is of a brackish taste and like Brimstone In Patuzolo a place of about 1000 People all were swallowed up Furla another Town of about the same number of Souls had the like fate Sciorti a bigger Town was totally demolished and the Inhabitants about 2000 so utterly destroyed that none was left to tell the News In Militello where of 6000 People no one is left to give tidings how or when its Calamity happened The Country People who dwell in the Mountains about it affirm that for 3 days before they could not discern the Town by reason of a thick Fog that surrounded but that on the 11th in the morning it was no more seen A great part of the Mountain on the North-side is torn asunder and one half overwhelmed the Town leaving a deep Gulph betwixt that and the other part of the Mountain THE Curiosities of Art PART III. By WILLIAM TVRNER M. A. Vicar of WALBERTON in SUSSEX And Moses said unto the Children of Israel See the Lord hath called by Name Bezaleel the son of Vri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah And he hath filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship and to devise curious works to work in gold and in silver and in brass And in the cutting of stones to set them and in carving of wood to make any manner of cunning work Exod. xxxv 30 31 32 33. LONDON Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-street MDCXCVII THE PREFACE TO THE Curiosities of Art WHen God made us He instamp'd his own Image upon us which Image is most clearly apparent in those two great Distinguishing Faculties of Humane Nature the Vnderstanding and Will The one disposeth us to a subtilty and sublimity of Knowledge the other to a Goodness of Temperance and Beneficence in our Actions And 't is worthy a sober Remark and pretty to observe how Man hath exercised these Two Faculties in pursuit of these Ends from the first Creation how his Intellectuals have mounted above the Sphere of Sense tranigressed the common Limits and Horizon of the dull unthinking Multitude and peer'd about with a Sagacity of Reason into all the Crevisses and secret Recesses of Nature to find out the utmost Bounds of Humane Power and see how far the Wit of Man might be stretch'd and extended without a Fault or Fracture I have already shew'd somewhat of the Divinity conspicuous in the Great World now I am to shew somewhat of it in the Microcosm in Man the Epitome of the World the Top and Master-piece of the visible Creation and that only in part too viz. his Soul and Mind for I have spoken of his Body elsewhere But the Mind being the more Noble and Excellent part of the Man and of it self so Spiritual and not subject to Sense I have no other way left to give the Anatomy of it but by summing up and presenting to view its Operations and Effects We admire the Industry and Skilfulness of the Bee in gathering Honey out of the Flowers carrying it home and disposing it in several Cells ingeniously contriv'd for the Purpose the Wisdom of the little Ant in a hundred particular Instances of her Polity and Managery of Business the curious Embroidery and Net-work of the busie Spider in making Webs and pursuing her Game for the catching of Flies the strange and almost stupendious Artifice of the poor Silk-worm which by the Impulse of meer Nature works her self out of Breath and spends her self to cloath Nobles Let us sit a while at home and call back our Rambling Thoughts to contract our Meditation and Prospect and view our selves and take notice of a more lofty Design and we shall certainly find the Humane Intellectuals flying at a higher Game pitching upon more Noble Objects propounding more excellent Ends pursuing them with proper Means ingenious and apt Methods And I am confident upon a solid Speculation we shall find our selves astonish'd at our own Powers and admire the wisdom of Him that made us and be provoked to Aemulation by observing how others have out-stript us When I consider how many wonderful Pheanomena of both
Dust or Lees of Oyl Livy Some came with burning Torches others carrying Tow Pitch and Fire Darts and the whole Army shined as if it were all in Flames but in the concave part of this Dart there was Glue and Fuel for Fire not to be extinguish'd of Colophonia Brimstone Salt-Petre all mingled with Oyl of Bays Others say with Oyl of Petre Ducks-grease the pith of the Reed of Ferula Brimstone and as others think with Oyl Tallow Colophonia Camphire Rosin Tow. The old Warriors called this an Incendiary Composition But in Compositions for Arrows and Darts that they might burn the more vehemently they put melted Varnish Printer's-Oyl Retreoleum Turpentine made up with the sharpest Vinegar pressed close and dried at the Sun and wrapped over with Tow and with sharp Irons to defend it wrought together like to a bottom of Yarn All which at last only passing over one hole and smeer'd with â—olophon and Brimstone 4. There are certain Aeolij Sclopi or VVind-Muskets which some have devised to shoot bullets without Powder or any thing else but Wind or Air compressed in the bore of it or injected by a Spring and these they say discharge with as much Force as others with Powder Hist Man Arts. c. 3. p. 34. CHAP. X. Improvements in Architecture THE Art of Building is accounted Liberal and the Architect himself had need to be indifferently skill'd in Philosophy though the Carpenter and Mason must be content to go in the number of Mechanicks And though every Age hath had somewhat to boast of in the Excellence of their Buildings yet still the last hath had room enough left for Imployment of their Wits and Improvement of the Art 1. The VVals of Babylon This City was Seated on the Banks of the River Euphrates which ran through the midst of it over which Semiramis built a Bridge of a Mile long being both strong and stately each Stone being bound together with clips of Iron fastned with melted Lead Nebuchadnezzar built there a stately Palace where he raised Stone-works like Moutains which he planted with all manner of Trees He made also Pensile Gardens hanging as it were in the Sky borne upon Arches four Square each Square containing 400 Foot filled above with Earth wherein grew all sorts of Trees and Plants the Arches were built one upon another even to fifty Cubits high he likewise made Aqueducts for watering these Gardens he erected an Image of Gold in the Plain of Dura 60 Cubits high and 6 broad The Compass of the VValls were 365 Furlongs or 46 some say 60 Miles in heighth 200 Cubits and 50 Cubits in breadth that six Chariots might meet on the top they were finished in one Year by the hands of 200000. VVorkmen Semiramis caused an huge Obelisk or Pyramid to be cut out of the Armenian Mountains all of one intire Stone 150 Foot long and 24 Foot thick which was four Square and was brought to Euphrates and from thence to Babylon where she Erected it The VValls of this City were Cemented with Lime and Bitumen the Temple of Cusk or Jupiter Belus was four Square each side containing two Furlongs with thick towering VValls and entered by Four Gates of polished Brass in the midst thereof there was a Tower sometimes reckoned one of the World's wonders which as well in breadth as heighth contained half a quarter of a Mile upon the which were raised eight other Towers one above another with easie Stairs to ascend up to the top where there was a Chapel with a Sumptuous Bed and a Table of Gold In the top of this Chapel were placed three golden Statues one of Jupiter 40 Foot long the other of Ops the Third of Juno Treasure of Times l. 2. c. 12. And Burton's Surprizing Mir. p. 199. 2. The Colossus of the Sun which was at Rhodes it was the Figure of a Man composed of Brass of an incredible bigness in height like a mighty Tower so that it can hardly be imagined how it was raised and made in that manner It contained 70 Cubits in heighth and was 12 Years in making it cost 300 Talents It fell by an Earth-quake after it had stood 66 Years few Men could imbrace one of its Fingers the least of which was greater than any Man whatsoever standing with his two Legs striding over an Haven between which Ships might pass with their Masts and Sails up In the Year 600 a Jew bought this Image as it lay on the Ground and loaded 900 Camels with the Brass thereof Ibid. 3. The Pyramids of Egypt whereof Three were most Celebrated situated on the South of Memphis and on the VVest of Milus it is related that for Erecting them there were 360000 Men imployed for 20 Years together The largest of them is situate on the top of a Rocky Hill which riseth an hundred Foot above the Plain It was built for the Sepulchre of Chcops an Egyptian King Each side of this Pyramid is 693 Foot the whole Circumference of the Basis and Foundation contains 480249 sauare Feet or 11 Acres of Ground the heighth and breadth are both the same that is 693 Foot the Ascet to the Top is by degrees the lowermost Step is about four Foot high and Three in breadth the Second is like the first retiring inward from the first Three Feet and so runs about the Pyramid like the first in the same manner is the third Row placed above the Second and so in order the rest like so many Stairs rising one above another to the top which is about 9 Foot Square consisting of Three Stones only yet large enough for 60 Men to stand upon No Stone in the whole Building being so little as to be drawn by any of our Carriages yet were brought thither from the Arabian Mountains Ibid. 4. The Tomb of Mausolus King of Caria built by his Queen Artemisia The Stone of the whole Structure was of most curious Marble 411 Foot in Circuit and 25 Cubits high supported with 30 gallant Pillars excellently Ingraven This Building was open on all sides with Arches 73 Foot wide framed by the most Exquisite Workmen of that Age that ever after all Sumptuous Tombs are called Mausoloe It is recorded that Artemisia after the Death of her Husband lived in continual Mourning and that she died before the work could be fully finished having drunken the Bones of her Husband beaten into Powder which she buried in her own Body as the choicest Sepulchre she could provide for him 5. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus contained 425 Foot in length and 220 in breadth so artificially contrived that it was 220 Years in furnishing it was founded in Lake to prevent the Danger of Earthquakes it had 127 Pillars of Marble 70 Foot in heighth of which 27 were most curiously Ingraven and all the rest of Marble Polished each of these Pillars were erected at the Charge of so many Kings of Asia the Doors of the Temple were of Cypress which after 400 Years were as fresh
Ibid. 14. The Appian Causey built by Appius Claudins Censor reach'd from Rome to Capua at first afterwards to Brundusium was 350 Miles long 25 Foot broad of Flints hewn and laid close and at every Miles end there were high Stones to tell the number of the Miles together with Monuments and pretty Inscriptions Ibid. 15. Vienna seated on the Banks of Danubius is very large in Circuit if you take in the Suburbs but the wall'd part not above three miles in circumference fairly built of Stone and well paved many Houses six stories high and some Cellars four Stories deep but with an Adit or Tube from the lowest to the top to let the Air in Famous for many fair Churches and rich Convents but especially for the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen which contains divers Monuments of Princes and great Persons dark with the thickness of the painted Glass the Steeple and Spire remarkably high about 465 Foot the Spire having very large Crockets above a â—ard long and adorned with Folcage-work In the Steeple there is a Clock whose Case being of Wood was in part burnt down by Lightning and therefore Water is always kept in this place to extinguish the Fire and a Man continually watches in the place where the Bells hang. Dr. Edw. Brown's Trav. Pag. 136. I desire my Reader to stop here a little and consider whither when these pompous Structers and Towering Spires are so often check'd by Divine Providence as deep Searches into mines and the Bowels of the Earth by strange Damps there be not a serious Remark and Consideration due upon the Matter 16. Venice the wonder of Cities is built upon 4000 Islands chained together by 4000 Bridges upon this occasion the Goths Vandals Huns and Longobards overflowing all Italy the People flying to these Isles for Refuge and finding the Air gentle associated themselves by conjoyning Bridges The nearest part of the Continent is 5 Miles distant she is above 8 Miles in circuit 20000 Boats or Gondolaes belong to her Her Motto is Nec Fluctu nec Flatu movetur A Man may walk in the Streets in the Winter in Silk Stockins and Sattin Pantofloes without being dirted An Arm of the Seu runs thro' almost every street the Structures are magnificent and ravishing She hath 150 Churches and Monasteries But most remarkable are 1 st St. Mark's-Church of rare Mosaic Work very rich in Furniture the Walls inlaid in many places with precious Stones of divers colours the inside from the middle to the highest part glisters with Gold the Vaults enrich'd with curious Pictures The lower part from the Gilding to the Pavement joyn'd together with Tables of Marble the Pavement of Marble of divers Figures and Colours the Seats of red Porphyrie the gilded Arches are sustained without at the entrance of the Church by more than 300 Exquisite Pillars on the top of this Entrance foar great Brazen Horses all gilded over in a posture of running and neighing The Church hath six Steeples each of which being sharp pointed hath a naked Man in white Marble upon it Every thing within or without is adorned hath a naked Man in white Marble upon it Every thing within or without is adorned either with Marble Gold or Precious Stones 2dly The Arsenal is three Miles in compass hath above 300 Artificers perpetually at work Arms for 200000 Men Gallies in the Dock 200 besides the Galeasles and Galeons c. 1000 Coats of Plate garnished with Gold and cover'd with Velvet fit for any Prince in Christendom 3dly The Treasury of St. Mark which hath enough in it to pay fix King's Ransome Jewels of all sorts and sizes and Armour all of Massie-Gold beset with Pearls and Precious Stones c. a great Iron Chest with this Inscription when this Chest shall open the whole Earth shall tremble c. Ibid. 17. Grand Cairo in Egypt one of the greatest Cities in the World is scituate on a most beautiful Plain near a Mountain call'd Mucatun two Miles from the River Nile environ'd with stately Walls and fortified with Iron Gates having most admirable Palaces Colleges Temples Bath-Stoves and a famous Exchange call'd Canan Halila where the Merchants dwell together with a stately Hospital whose yearly Revenue amounts to 200000 Pieces of Gold called Caraffi It hath 18000 Streets in one of which are 60 Cooks Shops next stand Shops where delicate Waters and Drinks are sold next Shops where are divers Confections of Honey and Sugar next Fruits as Quinces Pomegranats c. then Eggs Cheese Pancakes c. afterwards Artificers Drapers Mercers c. It hath Many Suburbs as Bed-Zuaila a Mile and half in length of about 12000 Families Genseli-Talon adorn'd with a most admirable Palace and sumptuous Temple c. Bell-Eloch of near 3000 Families a Palace and stately College Stage-players and such as teach Camels Asses and Dogs to dance c. Bulach upon the Bank of Nile of 4000 Families Corn-Merchauts c. under which you may see about a thousand Barques upon the River c. Caresa of about 2000 Families with many Sepulchres and stately Vaults c. Ibid. 18. Quinsay once the Regal City of China in the Heart of the Country and not far from the Sea formerly an hundred Miles in compass of large Streets Channels and Market-Place 12000 Bridges some so high that Ships might pass under them on one side a clear Lake of fresh Water one the other a great River 10 chief Market-places encompassed with high and fair Houses and under them Shops of Artificers Merchants c. at which Markets many Streets meet and at the end of which was a Guild-Hall 12 principal Trades belong to it to every Trade 1000 Shops to every Shop one Master and 10 20 30 or 40 Workmen In the Lake are two Islands upon each of them a Palace richly funished with Provisions for Weddings and other Feasts c. The City contains 1600000 Housholds and with the Country adjoyning yeilds to the King 16000000 and 800 Ducats of Gold yearly besides 6000000 of Ducats for Custom of Salt Ibid. p. 41. It is said to have been 3 or 400 Years ago 10 Leagues in length and 5 in breadth compassed with a Wall of 30 Leagues so broad at the top that 12 Men might ride a-breast upon it Bohun's Geogr. Dict. 19. In Holland the Hague is remarkable for its curious Buildings and for being one of the noblest Villages in the World the Stat-house in Amsterdam is a vast and curious Building and the City of Leiden is no less famous for its fine Buildings and Physick-Garden 20. Paris in France is 12 Miles in circuit situate on the River Saine having about 500000 People in it 55 Colleges the famous Church of Nostre Dame which is 65 Fathom long 24 broad 15 high the Steeples 34 Fathom more The King's Palace called the Louvre a place saith Dr. Heylin of more Fame than Beauty of no Elegance or Uniformity nor otherwise Remarkable but for the vast Gallery begun by