and Subjects to Church and Common-wealth then ignominious or any way prejudiciall That there may be better notice taken hereof to enlarge our hearts the more to praise God and to move us the more securely and confidently to cast our care on him I hope it will not be unseasonable here to set down a particular catalogue of such deliverances from the foresaid evils as God hath given us since the beginning of that blessed Queenes raigne §. 93. Of Englands Deliverances since Queene Elizabeth began her Raigne 1. GOD preserved Queene Elizabeth from death in the time of her sister Queene Mary For being charged with conspiracy in the case of S r. Thomas Wyats rising but most unjustly was sent as a prisoner to the Tower An. Dom. 1553. 1. Mar. of London Her death was in those dayes many wayes plotted but by the divine Providence all those plots were disappointed 2. When by the death of Queene Mary the Crowne and Kingdome by just and unquestionable title descended on her the whole Land professed a religion contrary to the Religion 17. Nov. 1558. which she professed and the Peeres and Commons were then assembled in Parliament and that with purpose to settle Popery as it is likely more firmly in this land yet did the Lord move their hearts then and there to acknowledge her title and that by the mouth of Doctor Heath then Arch-Bishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellour of England so as she was forth with openly proclaimed Queen of England and answerably with as great joy and rejoycing as ever Prince was received by her Subjects 3. Being crowned she found a potent Prince namely Henry the second then the French King to endeavour to set An Dom. 1559. Reg. 2. up another title of Mary then Queene of Scots who was maried to Francis his sonne To them they gave this title Francis and Mary by the grace of God of Scotland England Franciscus Maria Dei gratia Scotiae Angliaeo Hiberniae Rex Regina and Ireland King and Queene Answerably they quartered the Armes of England with the Armes of Scotland To settle the said Mary in the roome of Queene Elizabeth an army was sent out of France into Scotland to joyne with the Scots and to invade England and the Pope was dealt withall to declare Elizabeth to be an heretique and illegitimate and Mary to be the true Queene of England But by the Divine Providence all this vanished as smoke into the aire For the Scots refused to joyne with the French against England Yea they desired and obtained aid of Queene Elizabeth to thrust the French out of Scotland 4. Philip King of Spaine earnestly desired mariage with An. Dom. 1559 Reg. 2. Queene Elizabeth notwithstanding his late mariage with Queene Mary sister to Queene Elizabeth Now because Gods Word expresly forbiddeth one man to mary two sisters he pretended to get a dispensation from the Pope But all his endeavours about so impious a matter nought prevailed with so pious a Prince Wherefore he endeavoured to make a mariage betwixt Queene Elizabeth and Charles son of Ferdinand then Emperour and uncle to the said Philip. All was to bring the Kingdome of England to his owne linage and family But neither could this attempt take effect Whereupon Philip King of Spaine became an utter enemy to that royall Queene which enmity thorow the divine providence turned to Queene Elizabeths glory 5. Arthur Poole of the race of George Duke of Clarence An. Dom. 1562 Reg. 4. of the house of Yorke with sundry of his kindred and alliance conspired to set againe on foot the title of Mary Queene of Scots and to bring an army out of France into Wales to make their challenge good but they were before the execution of their plot discovered and themselves condemned 6. After the fore-mentioned emulation yea and enmity betwixt King Philip of Spaine and Queene Elizabeth one Pope after another was much solicited by Spanish and other Papists to excommunicate that pious Prince upon pretence of heresie But till she was made able to stand out against all her enemies God kept away those thunderbolts under Pope An. Dom. 1569 Reg. 11. The forme of this excommunication is in the very words thereof recorded in Camden Annal. rerum Anglic. Hibern Reg. Elizab. part 2. MDLXX Paulus 4. and Pius 4. 7. Pope Pius 5. a man of a fierce and fiery disposition was so farre wrought upon as in the most solemne manner that he could excommunicated and anathematized blessed Queene Elizabeth and caused a briefe thereof with his leaden bull annexed thereto to be fastned to the gate of the Bishop of Londons pallace neare Pauls Church by one Iohn Felton who being apprehended confessed the fact and received condigne punishment on a gibbet before the said gate This excommunication caused many troubles on mans part but withall as many preservations and deliverances on Gods part 8. The Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland thorow An. Dom. 1570 Reg. 12. promises of aid from the Pope and Spaniard raised up a rebellion against Queene and State in the North-parts but were soone discomfited The Earle of Northumberland was taken and beheaded The other Earle fled beyond sea and ended his daies in a poore and meane estate 9. Iohn Story Doctor of Law a spie to the Duke of Alva An Dom. 1570. Reg. 12. conspired with one Prestol a man much addicted to magick and a subject to the King of Spaine against the life of Queene Elizabeth He sent advertisement to the Duke of Alva how he might invade England and make Ireland revolt God bringing this treason to light both Story and Prestol were by a Parliament adjudged guilty of high treason Thereupon they received their just demerit 10. The Bishop of Rosse practiced with sundry English An. Dom. 1571. Reg. 13. men to intercept Queene Elizabeth and to trouble the Parliament then sitting that so another Queene might be set up instead of Elizabeth But there fell out such mutuall mistrust among the Conspirators as their plots turned to their owne damage 11. Iohn Duke of Austria ambitiously affecting the kingdomes of England and Scotland dealt with the Pope and An. Dom. 1576. Reg 18. King of Spaine for aid against England For a pretence of title thereto he sought mariage with the next heire But in the middest of his ambitious projects he suddenly died 12. Thomas Stukely an English fugitive plotted with two Popes Pius 5. and Gregorius 13. to lead forces into Ireland An. Dom. 1578. Reg 20. there to joyne with the Rebells and to conquer it for Pope Gregories bastard sonne For this purpose he was made Generall of 8000 Italian souldiers But by the perswasion of Sebastian King of Portugal he went with his troupes into Mauritania and was there slaine 13. Nicolas Sanders an English Priest went further for he with a banner consecrated by the Pope and an army of An. Dom. 1580. Reg 22. Spaniards
entred into Ireland joyned with the Rebels caused a great insurrection but to the overthrow of himselfe and all that tooke part with him 14. Robert Parsons Edmund Campion and other Seminaries An. Dom. 1581. Reg. 23. and Incendiaries were sent by the Pope from Rome into England to draw the Queenes subjects from their allegiance to prepare them to a change and to take part with forraigne powers when they should be sent into England Campion Sherwin Kirly and Briant were convicted and condemned of high treason and answerably executed But their divelish attempts turned to a greater restraint of Papists in England and a greater security of the Queenes Majesty and her State 15. Iohn Somervill was apprehended as he was comming An. Dom. 1583. Reg. 26. in a desperate manner to kill the Queene being moved thereto as he himselfe confessed by reading certaine popish bookes written against the Queene by Seminaries Being condemned in New gate he strangled himselfe 16. William Parry Doctor of Law made promise and An. Dom. 1585 Reg. 27. vow to kill the Queenes Majesty and for that end obtained of the Pope an absolution for the fact before it was committed But God strucke his heart with such terrour as though he had opportunity yet he put it off so long as at length his purpose was discovered and he received the just reward of a traitor 17. Iohn Ballard a Romish Priest stirred up the fiery spirits An. Dom. 1586 Reg. 27. of certaine Popish Gentlemen to undertake to kill the Queene as she should go abroad to take the aire which though they had vowed to do yet was their unnaturall treason discovered before they had the opportunity to do it At their arraignment they were found guilty of high treason against the Queenes person of stirring civill warres in the Realme and of practicing to bring in forraigne power Foureteene of them were as traitors executed 17. William Stafford a young Gentleman and one Moody An. Dom. 1587. Reg. 29. a desperate man were by a forraigne Ambassadour lying in England perswaded to kill the Queene But the plot was discovered before it was effected 19. The inveterate hatred of Philip King of Spaine An. Dom. 1588. Reg. 30. against Queene Elizabeth and his unsatiable ambition and desire of enjoying England as his owne was at length openly manifested by an huge navy supposed and thereupon intituled invincible set to sea against England But the Lord of sea and land soone disappointed their hopes The navy was dissipated on the sea and England secured 20. Rodericke Lopez a Iew Physitian in ordinary to her An. Dom. 1593. Reg. 35. Majesty upon promise of 50000 crownes to be sent him out of Spaine undertooke to poyson the Queene But before the hire came the treason was discovered and the traitor executed 21. Patrick Cullin an Irish Fencer was hired by English An. Dom. 1594. Reg. 36. runagates in the Low Countries to kill the Queene and with that purpose came over but intelligence being given thereof he was apprehended and executed 22. Edmond York and Richard Williams hired in like An. eodem manner to the like namely to kill her Majesty and to set on fire her navy with balls of wild-fire were prevented and executed 23. Edward Squire being in a ship on sea taken by the An. Dom. 1598. Reg. 40. Spaniards and brought into Spaine was there suborned and directed by Richard Walpoole an English fugitive and a Iesuite to poison the Queene by laying a strong poison which the Iesuite there gave him on the pommell of the saddle whereon the Queene should ride that she laying her hand thereon might cary the sent thereof to her nose and thereby receive it into her body which if she had done it had beene her death Never any treason came so neare to the execution as this For the traitor Squire observed his direction did the deed and that immediately before the Queene rid forth But the divine providence kept her from touching the pommell with her hand Yet the treason was discovered and the traitor received condigne punishment 24. The Earle of Tyrone an Irish man having beene some while in Spaine returned from thence An. Dom. 1599 Reg. 41. with a rebellious mind and raised by the assistance of the Spaniard and popish faction in Ireland a rebellion More damage accrued to Queene and State by this rebellion then any other way all her dayes Yet thorow the constant providence of God this rebell also was brought under and that land secured 25. There was a plot for removing some of the Queenes An. Dom. 1600 Reg. 42. chief Officers and Counsellors from her which if it had not beene prevented might have proved dangerous to her Person and State and so much the rather because there were Papists which had a great hand in that conspiracy Therein therefore was the divine Providence manifested by preserving her Majesty in safety 26. Henry Garnet Superiour of the Iesuites in England Robert Tresmond Iesuite Robert Catesby Francis Tresham An. Dom. 1602 Reg. 44 45. and others in the name of all the Romish Catholiques in England imploy Thomas Winter into Spaine to obtaine an army from Spaine to joyne with the forces of Papists in England to change the government and religion thereof There being then hostility betweene Spaine and England the motion was readily embraced by the Spaniard and 100000 crownes promised to helpe forward the businesse But before any thing could be effected Queene Elizabeth full of Queene Elizabeth was borne at Greenwich 7. Sept. 1533. and died at Richmond 24. Mar 1602. She began her raigne 17. Nov 1558 and ended her raigne with her life 24. Mar. 1602. yeares in peace on her bed ended her dayes being 69 yeares 6 moneths and 17 dayes old a greater age then any other King or Queene of England from the Conquest attained to She was about the age of David King of Israel when he died who lived the longest of all the Kings of Israel and Iudah She raigned 44 yeares 4 moneths and 7 daies Doubtlesse many more treasons were intended and plotted against her then are recorded but she was kept so sure and secure under the wings of the Almighty whose truth she constantly maintained herein especially shewing her selfe to be SEMPER EADEM alwaies the same as no open hostility no privy conspiracy ever prevailed against her Her preservation much made to our security The remembrance therefore thereof ought ever to be fresh among us that so long as the benefit thereof continueth which will be so long as true Religion continueth among us due praises may be yeelded to her and our Protectour §. 94. Of Gods Providence to England in King Iames his time 1. THe day of Queene Elizabeths departure out of this life was the day long expected by Papists as a day 24. Mar 1602. for rooting out our Religion and altering our government For Pope Clement 8. had sent the yeare before
of raine that fell in harvest so that a quarter of wheat was sold before Mid-sommer for 30 shillings and after for 40 shillings An high rate in those daies The beasts and cattell also by the corrupt grasse whereof they fed died whereby it came to passe that the eating of flesh was suspected of all men For flesh of beast not corrupted was hard to find Horse-flesh was counted great delicates The poore stole fat dogs to eate Some as it was said compelled thorow famine in hid places did eat the flesh of their owne children and some stole others which they devoured Theeves that were in prison did plucke in peeces those that were newly brought amongst them and greedily devoured them halfe alive When Henry 6. raigned scarcity and dearenesse of corne Ibid. H. 6. 18. 1440. forced men to eate beanes pease and barley more then in an hundred yeares before Bread-corne was so scarce in England that poore people made them bread of Fern-roots In the time of King Henry the eight there fell such raine in November and December as thereof ensued great flouds Ibid. H. 8. 18. 1527. Famine caused by much raine which destroyed corn-fields pastures and beasts Then was it dry till the 12 of Aprill and from that time it rained every day and night till the third of Iune whereby corne failed sore in the yeare following Againe in the time of the said King such scarcity of bread was in London and in all England that many died for Ibid. H. 8. 19. A president for Princes default thereof The King of his goodnesse sent to the City of his owne provision 600. quarters or else for one weeke there had beene little bread The bread-carts comming from Stratford-Bow towards London were met at Mile-end by the Citizens so that the Major and Sheriffs were forced to go and rescue the said carts and to see them brought to the markets appointed Many more instances of exceeding great dearth in other Kings times might be added but these are sufficient §. 27. Of uses to be made of the terriblenesse of famine BY the forementioned instances of famines in this our and it is manifested what may befall us how patient the Lord is toward us what cause we have to feare God and to take heed how we provoke him to inflict even this judgement which may prove very fearefull as hath beene proved and finally how it standeth us in hand when there is cause to feare a famine or when a famine is begun to search out the causes thereof to confesse before God our sinnes to turne from them humbly heartily earnestly extraordinarily with weeping fasting and prayers to supplicate mercy of the Divine Majesty We have a late evidence of the efficacy of such meanes used For in the yeare 1626 it rained all the spring and all the summer day after day for the most part untill the second of August on which day by publique Proclamation a Fast was solomnly kept thorowout the whole Realme of England and Principality of Wales as it had by the same Proclamation beene solemnized in the Cities of London and Westminster and places adjacent on the fift day of Iuly before On the said second of August the skie cleared and raine was restrained till all the harvest was ended Which proved a most plentifull Harvest Thus the famine threatned and much feared was with-held So as Gods ordinances duly and rightly used are now as effectuall as ever they were FINIS An Alphabeticall Index of the speciall Points of this Treatise of Famine A ABundance exhausted by famine 135 Accessaries to sinne 149 Acknowledge plenty to come from God 138 B BAnishment of mens selves caused by famine 136 Barrennesse of earth causeth famine 159 Bread bought at high rates 165 C CAterpillars cause famine 159 Charity to poore 139. 144 Childrē how punished for fathers sins 148. 149 Child by owne mother eaten 167 Clemency defers judgements 150 Cold excessive causeth famine 159 Confession of sin 143 Conversion from sin 143 Corne violently taken away 166 Corne at an high rate 166 Corne hoorded up eaten by vermine 170 Cries of the starved 169 Cruelty to strangers 140 Cruelty occasioned by famine 164 D DAies how taken 131 David what it signifieth 132 David punished for Sauls sin 149 Dearth See Famine Death desired in famine 165 Death by famine miserable 137 Decay of graine and other food causeth famine 160 Deferring judgement a part of clemency 150 Diseases from famine 137 Desperatenes caused by famine 136 Dogs eaten by men 170 Dogs eate men 169 Drunkennesse causeth famine 140 Dung eaten in famine 136. 166 E ENemies cause famine 160 Englands fearefull famines 170 Enquire after God how we may 132 Enquirie to be made of God in and by his Word 161 Extremity of famine by sieges 163 Extremity of famine other waies 168 F FAith in Gods promises 144 FAMINE Famine in Davids time when 130 Famine a judgement 134 Famines effects 135 Famine how prevented 138 Famine by what sinnes caused 139 Famine how moderated 141 Famine how removed 143 Promises for succour in Famine 145 Famine removed and persons therein succoured 146 Famine in pious polities 147 Famine long continued and why 152 Famine long continued what duties it requireth 153 Famines causes to be searched out 153. 154 Famine caused by God 157 Famines meanes what they be 158. 159. 160 Famines meanes ordered by God Ibid. Famine makes unmercifull 169 Famine causeth cruelty 164 Famines extremities 163. 168 Famine forceth to eate any thing 168. 170 Famines fearefull in England 170 Famine caused by much raine 171 Famine fearefull by siege 163 Famine what uses it teacheth 171 Fasts frequent in famine 142 Fathers sinnes how punished in their children 148. 149 Flesh of mens owne selves eaten by famine 137 Food of any thing made by famine 136 Food bought with dearest things 168 Food snatched out of others mouthes 164. 166 Food made of unwholsome things 168 Frost overmuch causeth famine 159 G GLory of God to be aimed at in the use of all things 138 Gluttony causeth famine 140 GOD. God how enquired after 132 God able and ready to helpe in extremity 146 God to be sought unto for removing judgements 157 God causeth famine 157 God ordereth meanes of famine 158 God to be enquired in and by his Word 161 GOVERNOVRS Governours though good may have famine in their daies 147 Causes of judgements under good Governours 147 Duties which judgements under good Governours require 151 Governours care in publique judgements 151. 153 Governours as shepheards 156 Governours power to command others 156 Governours examples 156 Governours to be prayed for 152. 156. 157 Governours piety must not make people secure 151. 152 Grashoppers cause famine 159 H HArd heartednesse caused by famine 136 Houses broken up for corne 163 Humiliation for sin 143 I IMpious subjects cause judgements in the time of pious Princes 147 Inhumanity from famine 137 Injustice caused by famine 136 Ingratitude causeth famine 140 Insensiblenesse of
two Bulls to interdict all claime or title to the Crown of England though never so directly and nearly interessed by discent to all such as would not by their best endeavours promote the Catholique cause and by solemne and sacred oath religiously subscribe thereto But God who approveth our Religion and detesteth their superstition or rather idolatry made all their hopes utterly frustrate For in the setting of one Sun immediately arose another and that in full brightnesse to the unspeakable Occubult sol nox nulla secuta est comfort of all true hearted Englishmen and to the utter astonishment of all popish enemies of this flourishing State In the same morning wherein Queene Elizabeth died Queene Elizabeth died about two in the morning About eight King Iumes was proclaimed at Court about eleven in Cheape-side An Dom. 1603 Reg. 1. was King Iames first at the Court gate and then at the Crosse in Cheape side with wonderfull great acclamations and all manner of manifestations of joy proclaimed King An especiall evidence of the divine providence 2. In the first yeare of his Majesties raigne before he was solemnly annointed and crowned Watson and Cleark two Romish Priests conspired with others some noble men some Knights and some Gentlemen to surprize King Iames and Prince Henry presuming on forraigne forces for aid and assistance thereby to alter religion and to set up such Officers of State as they thought best But their plot before it came to execution was discovered they condemned some of them executed others spared thorow the Kings clemency 3. Garnet and Tresmond Iesuites with Catesby and Tresham before mentioned notwithstanding the death of Queene Elizabeth when they saw that King Iames defended the same faith continued to solicite the King of Spaine to send an army into England to joyne with the forces of Papists here for extirpation of Religion But the King of Spaine being then in treaty with the King of England about peace refused to hearken to any such motion Thereupon they together with other unnaturall and traiterous subjects plotted the matchlesse mercilesse devilish and damnable gun-powder-treason whereof before § 67. If ever the The day appointed to blow up the Parliament with gun powder was 5. Nov. 1605. Reg. Iacobi 3. eye of the divine providence did shew it selfe watchfull for the safety of England it was in the discovery of this plot before it came to execution Wherefore among other deliverances this is to be had in perpetuall remembrance 4. If we consider the great hazard wherin blessed Charles then Prince now our royall Soveraigne was in going to Spaine and returning from Spaine on land and sea and withall if we well weigh the admirable and unutterable benefits which we enjoy by his happy raigne over us we shall find just cause to put the day of his safe arrivall to England 6. Octob. 1623 Reg. Iacobi 20. into the catalogue of daies of memorials of Gods mercifull Providence over this Kingdome From that day the crests of Papists fell downe especially after the downfall of many An Dom. 1623 26. Oct. stilo vet 5. Nov. stilo novo of them at a Romish Priests sermon in Blacke-Friers London Of the forementioned deliverances much more is recorded in Camdens Annales Bishop Carltons Collections Speeds History and other Chronicles of England For my purpose it is enough to have pointed at the heads of them Yet because contraries laid together do more lively set out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dixit Arist Rhet. 3. 2 each other in their owne proper colours Hereunto shal be annexed another briefe catalogue of such troubles as in former Princes times from the Conquest for to go higher is not much requisite have fallen out to the great prejudice of Kings and Kingdome that thus Gods blessing on us under the raignes of Queene Elizabeth King Iames and King Charles by whom our light and life the Gospell is still continued among us may be the better discerned §. 95. Of the troubles of England from the Conquest to Queene Elizabeths time 1. WIlliam Duke of Normandie surnamed The Conquerour 1066. Oct. 14 got the crowne with much bloud having slaine Harold the King immediately before him two of his brothers and 67974 English men He changed many of the lawes and customes of England He defaced many Churches and depopulated sundry townes to make a forrest for beasts where two of his owne sonnes were strangely slaine The Danes to recover the Crowne in his dayes invaded the land burnt Yorke and slew 3000 men The Scots likewise about the same time made great spoile in England and spared nor sex nor age Much trouble was in the land all his time Being in France and there setting a towne on fire he rode so neare the fire as his horse with the heat therof gave such a leap as it brake the rimme of his belly whereof he died in the 21. yeare of his raigne and 64 of his age Being dead he was denied buriall till much mediation was made and a great composition paid 2. William Rusus son to the Conquerour having an elder 1087. Sep. 9. brother then living came not without difficulty to the crowne He had much warre both with his elder brother Robert and also with his younger brother Henry In his time were many warres with the Scots and Welch much English bloud spilt and himselfe casually slaine by one of his subjects with an arrow shot at a stag in the 13. yeare of his raigne and 43 of his age His corps were caried towards Winchester in a colliers cart 3. Henry 1. youngest sonne of William the Conquerour 1100. Aug. 1. put Robert his elder brother by the crowne whence arose many broiles He getting the mastery over his brother imprisoned him and cruelly put out his eyes He had much warre with the Welch All his children but Mawde his daughter with 160 persons were drowned together He died of a surfeit in the 36. yeare of his raigne and 65. of his age 4. Stephen with perjury usurped the kingdome from the 1135. Dec. 2. fore-said Mawde Besides some warres abroad he had continuall civill jarres at home by reason whereof he was taken prisoner and forced in the end to leave the heire of his opposite to be his successour He died of an Iliacke passion mixed with the Emeroids in the 19. yeare of his raigne His body after it was interred was taken out of the lead and cast into a river 5. Henry 2. sonne of the foresaid Mawd thorow his incontinency 1154. Oct. 25. with Rosamond set his owne wife and children against him which caused perpetuall unquietnesse in his kingdome In one battell at Edmondbury 20000 were taken and slaine He adopted his sonne who laboured to disthrone him in the government and having much embroiled the kingdome he grew so discontented as he curst his children and the day of his birth and in much perplexity ended his daies in the 35. yeare of his
GODS THREE ARROVVES PLAGVE FAMINE SVVORD In three Treatises I. A Plaister for the Plague II. Dearths Death III. The Churches Conquest over the Sword By WILLIAM GOVGE Doctor in Divinity and Preacher of GODS Word in Black-Friers LONDON EZEK VI. XI Alas for all the evill abominations of the house of Israel for they shall fall by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence Famem pestilentiam bestias pessimas quicquid aliud malorum sustinemus in seculo propter nostra venire peccata manifestum est Hier. Comment l 2. in Ezek. 5. LONDON Printed by George Miller for Edward Brewster and are to be sold at his Shop at the Signe of the Bible at the great North doore of Pauls 1631. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SIR THOMAS COVENTRY Knight Lord COVENTRY Baron of Alesborough Lord Keeper of the Great Seale of ENGLAND Right Honourable EVen he that joyned his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vox honorem exhibentis omnia bono precantis Abrek his joyfull applause with the joyfull acclamations of many when your Lordship Gen 41. 43. was first advanced to your honourable place doth now see further cause to adde this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vox congratulantis collandantis Deum Rev. 19. 6. in psal saepissimè Halelu-jah his congratulation praising God for your continuance as in your place so in your approved Integrity which hath beene found as the Apostle saith of the faith of Christians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c 1 Pet. 1. 7. unto your praise and honour and glory like good gold which from the furnace appeares more solid and resplendent For your kind of judicature according to the nature of your place and your owne purpose is not onely to use Aug. ad Marcel Epist 158. Saint Augustines phrase Iudicis mollire sententiam mitiùs vindicare quà m leges but it is like that which a Zac 8. 16. Prophet calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iudgement of peace which Hier. Comment lib. 2. in Zac. cap. 8. Saint Hierom thus expounds Hoc est judicium pacis ut propositum Iudex habeat pacificare discordes This is no small difficulty since according to the same Hier. Comment lib. 1. in Esa cap. 1. Hierom Non est omnium rectè judicare sed eorum qui prudentes sunt who are made wise from above Therefore Salomon in visione per somnium hoc à Deo postulavit ut accepta sapientia justè populum judicaret Ibid. Salomon in a dreame asked this of God And shall not the praise thereof by him that receiveth it by them that partake of the benefit of it be returned to him from whom descendeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sie distinguo ut denationem ab ipso dono Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But my good Lord least telling the truth of your selfe may seeme flattery to others and flattery neither sorts with your disposition nor becomes my profession give mee leave in mine high esteeme of your Honour and humble expression of mine affection to publish my poore paines under your honourable name wishing I were able besides my observance to your Lordship in my zeale to Gods Church Gemmas offerre But with Origen Quia haec supra me sunt pilas caprarum habere merear c. For whatsoever my weakenesses bee are not these times seasonable I would they were not for such a Subject as is here handled Treatises of Plague and Famine yea and of Warre too For though by the Prudence Providence of our royall Soveraigne Sonne and Heire of the great Peace-maker 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warre be kept out of our land yet in other parts of Christendome it and the restrage like over-flowing flouds to the ruine of many States and of true Religion The Lion hath roared who will not feare The Lord God hath spoken who can but prophesie Yet are these Treatises neither to terrifie for what is past nor to prophesie of what is yet to come but rather to heale the wounds that have beene made by the fore-intimated arrowes and to direct us how to keepe the Lord from further shooting out the like It is the part of us Ministers of Gods Word out of his Word to declare what he intendeth and expecteth when he smileth or frowneth on his people Magistrates who by reason of their places are in Canaans language stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods and children of the Psal 82. 6. most high have the power to cause divine directions to bee put in execution Thus therefore doth an ancient Father paraphrase on that text bringing in God himselfe thus speaking to Magistrates I have given you mine own honour and dignity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iustin Mart. Quest Resp ad Orthodox q 142. and title Therefore judge the people as if I my selfe judged it To whom now may those seasonable Treatises which do as it were with the finger point at Gods particular dealing with us be more fitly presented then to him who under his most excellent Majesty hath so great a place and part with others to settle orders for succouring poore people wounded as aforesaid and for sheltring them from those arrowes Of the Treatises thus commended to your honourable Patronage gracious acceptance is in all humility craved by him that professeth himselfe to be At your Honours command WILLIAM GOVGE TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE RIGHT Worshipfull and other my Beloved Parishioners Inhabitants of Black-Fryers LONDON all Happinesse Right Honourable Right Worshipfull Beloved BEhold here a Testimony of my due Respect to you Behold here an Apology for my seeming Neglect of you I do acknowledge that all the Respect which by a gratefull Pastor may be due to a loving People is by me due to you In that respect I do here Treatises presented to my parishioners 1 The whole Armont of God 2 Domesticall Daties 3 A Guide to go to God 4 Gods three Arrowes the fourth time give publike testimony thereof by presenting to you in speciall that which is made publike to all The neglect of you objected against me is my seldome preaching among you this last yeare This ancient undeniable aphorisme Vltra posse non est esse ncc velit quidem A man can do no more then he can giveth a just answer thereto Great hath beene the weakenesse of my body first occasioned by a very dangerous disease in August last how low I was brought thereby many of you are witnesses and further increased by two relapses one in Nov. the other in Febr. following Of Gods goodnes in my recoveries I shall have fit occasion to speake on The Saints Sacrifice shortly to be tendred unto you Had I no other excuse this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Hom. 1. in cap. 1. ad Tit. were sufficient Saint Chrysostome where he granteth that by the weakenesse of Ministers bodies the Churches commodities may be intercepted concludeth that Ministers in such cases are not to be blamed But howsoever my
evidence that II. God can many wayes destroy men By causing the earth to open it selfe he destroyed some by fire he consumed others yet besides these 14700. die of a plague The manner of expressing the former judgements by relation to Korah thus in the matter of Korah giveth proofe that III. The bloud of accessaries lieth upon the principalls Korahs matter was the peoples death In that others died about that matter it further giveth instance that IIII. Accessaries make themselves liable to the judgement that falleth on the principall §. 70. Of a plagues devouring I. * See §. 69. A Plague can quickly destroy a multitude Here within lesse then a day 14700. are destroyed by a plague There is mention made before this of a plague which though the precise number of them that died be not expressed may be thought to have destroyed as many as this plague for it is said that a Numb 11. 33. The Lord smote the people with a very great plague After these but before they went out of the wildernesse at one time there b 259. died in a plague 24000. c 2 Sam 24. 15. In Davids time there died within the space of three dayes almost three times 24000 of a plague viz. 70000. d 2 King 19. 35 In Hezekiahs time when Sennacherib came against Ierusalem there died of a plague in one night more then twice as many of the hoste of Sennacherib as did of all Israel in the foresaid three dayes viz. 185000. Other histories relate very great destructions caused by plagues Thucydides maketh mention of a plague that began at Lib. 2 Belli Pelopon anno secundo Ethiopia fell downe into Egypt and Afrique and into the greatest part of Persia and invaded Athens on a sudden where dying men lay tumbling one upon another Their Temples were filled with the dead Lawes of funerals were broken every one burying where he could find roome And while fires were made to burne some dead corps others were brought and cast thereinto Eusebius recordeth a plague at Alexandria which made Ecclesiast Hist lib. 7. cap. 21. every man to howle thorow the City by reason of the multitude of dead corps which daily fell There was not an house where no course was found And the Heathen there left their dead unburied to be devoured of dogs At Rome when Camillus died there died ten thousand Heurm de peste cap. 1. every day of the plague And under Vespasian and Commodus Emperours two thousand were every day taken away with that infectious disease Vnder Iustinian a plague with such violence fell upon Bizantium and the bordering places as every day there died Alsted in Thesaur Chronol Mirab. Dei an 547. Idem Ibid. an 729. Idem Ibid. an 1348. five thousand and some dayes ten thousand At Constantinople a plague swept away three hundred thousand persons Vnder Charles 4. an Epidemicall plague wasted the whole world for three yeares together At Lubeck it destroyed fourescore and ten thousand and at Florence an hundred thousand In Petrarchs time so fierce a plague invaded Italy that Idem Ibid an 1359. there remained alive scarce ten of a thousand But to leave Forraigne parts we will give some instances of the multitudes of such as have beene devoured by the plague in our owne Country In the raigne of Edward 2. there was so grievous a mortality Stow in his generall Chron. of Engl. an 9. Edw 2. Idem Ibid. an 22. 23. Edw. 3. of people as the quicke might unneath burie the dead In the raigne of Edward 3. a farre greater plague happened It came from beyond sea into the townes and parts of England joyning on the sea-coasts in Dorset-shire where even as in other countries it made the country void of Inhabitants so as there were almost none left alive Thence it passed into Devon-shire and Somerset-shire even unto Bristow where it much raged It came also to Glocester Oxford and London and finally it spread over all England and so wasted the people as scarce the tenth man was left alive When Church-yards were not large enough to bury their dead in they chose certaine fields appointed for that purpose For the dead in London * The Charter-House was afterwards built thereon Register of the Charter-House excarta a peece of ground called Spittle-croft containing 13 acres without the barres of West-Smithfield was purchased enclosed and dedicated In that place were buried the yeare following more then fifty thousand persons * Acts Monum an Edw. 3. 22. An. Dom. 1348. Two thousand are said to be there buried every day from Feb. 1. till the beginning of May following besides those which in other places in and about the City were buried Of that plague there died in Norwich from Ian. 1. to Iuly following fifty seven thousand an hundred and foure and in Yarmouth seven thousand fifty two In Richard the seconds time a great pestilence was in Stow. in his generall Chrō Rich. 2. 15. An. Dom. 1391 Ibid. Edw. 4. 18 An. Dom. 1479 Norfolk and other countries Besides other places in a short time there died therof in the city of York eleven thousand Vnder Edward 4. an innumerable company of people died of the plague in London in divers other parts of the Realm In the raigne of Henry 8. there was such a plague as in Ibid. Hen. 8. 5. An. Dom. 1513 one house to wit the Minories without Aldgate there died 27. professed Nunnes besides lay-people and servants in that house In the raigne of Edward 6. was also a great pestilence In Queene Elizabeths time many English being sent to Ibid Edw. 6. 2. 1548. Ibid Q. Eliz. anno 4. New-haven for the safeguard thereof such a plague there fell as the streets lay even full of dead corps not able to be removed by reason of the multitude that perished From thence the souldiers brought the infection into England Besides those that died in other parts of the Realme there died in London liberties and out-parishes from Ian. 1. 1562. to Dec. 31. 1563. twenty thousand one hundred thirty and sixe besides those which died of other diseases Againe from Dec. 29. 1592. to Dec. 20. 1593. there died in London and the liberries of all diseases 17893. of the plague 10673. In the first yeare of King Iames from Dec. 23. 1602. to Dec. 22. 1603. in London and the liberties thereof there died of all diseases 38578. Of the plague 30578. In the first yeare of King CHARLES from Dec. 22. 1624. to Dec. 23. 1625. of all diseases 54267. of the plague 35417. It hath beene * §. 48. before proved that a plague is an effect of Gods wrath an immediate stroake of his hand Such a stroake must therefore needs be heavy and destroy many where it lighteth especially when the Lord so striketh therewith as he will shew that he is angry §. 71. Of the terrour of a plague O Make not
rest she reserved covered Presently came the seditious smelling the sent of that execrable meat threatning presently to kill her except she forthwith brought some of that unto them which she had prepared Then she answered that she had reserved a good portion thereof for them and presently uncovered that part of her sonne which she had left uneaten at which sight they trembled and a horrour fell upon them But the woman said this is truly my sonne and my doing eat you of it for I my selfe have eaten thereof Be not more effeminate then a woman nor more mercifull then a mother If Religion make you refuse this my sacrifice I have already eaten of it and will eate the rest Then the seditious departed hereat onely trembling and scarcely permitting this meate to the mother Presently the report of this hainous crime was bruited all about the City and every man having before his eyes this excerable fact trembled as though himselfe had done it And now all that were vexed with this famine Chrys advers vitup vitae monast l. 1. Euseb Hist Eccles l. 3. c. 6. Niceph. Hist Eccles l 3 c 7. hastned their owne deaths and he was accounted happy that died before he felt this famine This history of a mothers eating her own child is related also by Chrysostome Eusebius Nicephorus and other ancients §. 25. Of extremity of famine where were no invasions of enemies nor sieges but immediately from Gods hand TO the fore-mentioned extremity of famine caused in Ierusalem by reason of enemies blocking them up it will not be unseasonable to adde a relation out of our Ecclesiasticall histories of extreme famine where were no enemies that we who perhaps do by reason of our long continued peace thinke our selves secure enough from feare of enemies may notwithstanding feare Gods more immediate revenging hand even by famine now beginning after that the plague is mitigated The history is this The inhabitants of the cities of Maximinus sore pined away with famine and pestilence so that one measure of Euseb Eccles Hist l 9. c. 8. Niceph. Eccles Hist l. 7. c 28. Famine and Plague together wheat was sold for two thousand and fifty Attiques An infinite number died throughout the Cities but more throughout the countries and villages so that now the sundry and ancient demaines of husbandmen were in a manner quite done away for that all suddenly through want of food and grievous malady of the Pestilence were perished Many therefore sought to sell unto the wealthier sort for most Dearest things sold for slender food slender food the dearest things they enjoyed Others selling their possessions by peeces fell at length into the miserable perill of extreme poverty others gnawing the small shreded tops of greene grasse and withall confusedly feeding on certaine venomous herbes used them for food whereby Vnwholsome things eaten Noble women forced to beg the healthy constitution of the body was perished and turned to poison Diverse noble women throughout the cities driven to extreme need and necessity went a begging into the country shewing forth by their reverend countenance and more gorgeous apparell an example of that ancient and free manner of feeding Certaine others whose strength was dried up tottering to and fro nodding and sliding much like carved pictures without life being not able to stand sell downe flat in the midst of the streets groveling upon the ground with their faces upward and stretched out armes making humble supplication that some one would reach them a little peece of bread and thus lying in extremity ready to yeeld up the ghost cried out that they were hungry Cries of the starved being onely able to utter these words Others which seemed to be of the wealthier sort amazed at the multitude of beggers after they had distributed infinitely they put on an unmercifull Famine makes unmercifull and sturdy mind fearing least they should shortly suffer the like need with them that craved Wherefore in Dead lie in streets the midst of the market place and throughout narrow lanes the dead and bare carcasses lay many dayes unburied and cast along which yeelded a miserable spectacle to the beholders Yea many became food unto dogs for which cause chiefly Men food for dogs such as lived turned themselves to kill dogs fearing least they should become mad and turne themselves to teare in peeces and devoure men And no lesse truly did the plague Plague kils such as are kept from famine spoile every house and age but specially devouring them whom famine through want of food could not destroy Therefore the rich the Princes the Presidents and many of the Magistrates as fit people for a pestilent disease because they were not pinched with penury suffered a sharpe and most swift death All sounded of lamentation throughout every narrow lane the market places and streets There was nothing to be seene but weeping together with their wonted pipes and the rest of Minstress noise Death after this waging battell with double armour to wit with famine and pestilence destroyed in short space whole families §. 26. Of famines in England TO other instances of great famines let me adde such as have hapned in England that therby we may the better discern what we in this our owne country are subject unto In King William the Conquerours daies there was such a Stow in his generall Chrō of Engl. In the 5. yeare of W. Conq. 1069. dearth thorow all England especially thorow Northumberland and the countries next adjoyning that men were faine to eate horse-flesh cats dogs and mans flesh For all the land that lay betwixt Durham and Yorke lay waste without Inhabitants and people to till the ground for the space of nine yeares except onely the territory of Beverlake In King Henry the thirds raigne was a great dearth and pestilence so that many poore folks died for want of victuals Ibid. H. 3. 18. 1234. Vermine in corne hoorded up in time of dearth and the rich men were striken with covetousnesse that they would not relieve them Amongst these is to be noted Walter Grey Arch-Bishop of Yorke whose corne being five yeares old doubting the same to be destroyed by vermine he commanded to deliver it to the husbandmen that dwelt in his mannours upon condition to pay as much new corne after harvest and would give none to the poore for Gods sake But when men came to a great stack of corne nigh to the towne of Ripon belonging to the said Arch-bishop there appeared in the sheaves all over the heads of wormes serpents and toads And the Bailiffes were forced to build an high wall round about the corne and then to set it on fire least the venomous wormes should have gone out and poysoned the corne in other places In King Edward the second his daies a great dearth increased Ibid. Edw. 2. 9. 1315. Dearth thorow abundance of raine in harvest Horses dogs children men eaten through the abundance
food destroy the inhabitants of a land enemies will forbeare to invade it especially if they be not able to bring with them provision enough for horse and man to so remote a place fearing least they and their cattell be all starved Thus these two judgements may be some meanes to avert warre But warre ordinarily causeth plague and famine These Lev. 26. 25 26. Ier. 14. 12. Ezek. 6. 11. three Sword Pestilence Famine are very oft joyned together and for the most part Sword is put in the first place as the cause of the other two Plagues oft arise from multitudes of people thwacked together from noisome savours from want of cleane shiftings from unwholsome food from infected aire and other like causes which are ordinarily occasioned by warre especially when people are by enemies blocked up and have not liberty to goe abroad and to provide for themselves In Ierusalem when it was besieged by the Babylonians Ier. 21. 6 7. there was a great pestilence and much famine but much greater * * * Ioseph de Bello Iud. l. 6. c. 11. when it was besieged by the Romanes The first great plague that was in Queene Elizabeths daies was brought into England by the souldiers that came from Stow in his generall Chron. of Engl. an 4. Eliz. New haven that was somwhile besieged and after taken by the enemy Of famine caused by warre see Dearths Death on 2 Sam. 21. 1. § 22. 24. If warre be an usuall occasion of plague and famine it must needs be the greatest of them and if of them surely the greatest of other judgements §. 89. Of delighting in warre II. NO true Christian can or may delight in warre He may b b b §. 17 18. on just cause wage warre but there is a great difference betwixt the doing of a thing and delight therein God doth afflict and grieve children of men but not c c c Lam 3. 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex corde suo from his heart willingly Iudgement is d d d Isa 38. 21 his strange worke his strange act So ought warre to be unto Christians A true Christians heart is possessed with true charity But charity delighteth not in spoiles in wounds in paines and tortures in bloud of men nor in any other evils that warre ordinarily causeth They are therefore destitute of true Christian charity and in that respect no true Christians that simply desire warre that without just and urgent cause raise warre that with delight enbroile themselves therein They are worse then savages yea then savage beasts Though the Lord made many of the Heathen his rod to correct his people yet because they delighted in shedding bloud the Lord brought heavy judgements upon them as on Ashur Isa 10. 5 c. on Babylon Isa 14. 4 c. Ier. 50. 23 24. Hab. 2. 7 8. on Mount Seir Ezek. 35. 5 6. Yea also upon the house of Iehu who destroyed the stocke of Ahab Hos 1. 4. §. 90. Of Christians backwardnesse to warre III. CHristians ought to be very backward to warre The evils thereof are ordinarily so many as they should make a Christian trie all other faire meanes for retaining or recovering his owne and for preventing or redressing wrongs then by warre to seeke the accomplishing of his desire Christians should be affected to warre as the Apostle would have them to law 1 Cor. 6. 1 c. They ought not to use it but in the last place after all other good meanes have beene used as a desperate remedy when no other remedy will serve the turne Vrgent necessity should force Christians to warre The evill effects of warre cannot but be very grievous to a true Christian soule How then may he be forward to that which causeth such evill effects See the caution even for just warres before given in the latter end of § 18. §. 91. Of circumspection in waging warre IIII. GReat circumspection must be used in waging war Many evils ordinarily arising from warre if men be not watchfull over themselves pride wrath revenge cruelty and many other corruptions whereunto our nature is much prone will soone find occasion to display themselves by reason of that power which men gathered together in an army have David a man in a great measure renewed a a a Act. 13. 22. yea a man after Gods owne heart b b b 1 Sam. 25. 22. being accompanied with an army of valiant men upon a discurtesie offered unto him by a churle was so incensed with rage and enflamed with revenge as he vowed and swore to destroy all that pertained to that churlish Nabal before the next morning If such a man by reason of his warlike power was so soone provoked to so great an evill what will not warre provoke others unto especially if they be confident in their power and get any advantages against their enemies Wherfore to prevent the evils of war such as have just occasion of waging war must look to their manner of waging war and lay aside al malice envy wrath revenge desire of bloud cruelty other inhumane passions and continually walk before him carying themselves as in the presence of God ordering all their actions according to the word of God yea and oft looking to God calling upon him and doing such things as in the good successe of them may give them just cause to praise God Thus may we avoid the ordinary evils of warre §. 92. Of warre kept out of a land V. IT is a blessing to have warre kept out of a land Warre being a cause of many evils to have war kept out is to be freed from those many evils This is that case wherof the Psalmist thus saith a a a Psal 144. 15. Happy is that people that is in such a case This was the happinesse of Salomons raigne for b b b 1 Chro. 22 9 God gave him rest from all his enemies round about As a blessing on Iehosaphat and his kingdome it is recorded that c c c 2 Chro. 17. 10 The feare of the Lord fell upon all the kingdome of the lands that were round about Iudah so that they made no warre against Iehosaphat Thrice happy is England in this respect that under the blessed government of Queene Elizabeth King Iames and our now and long may be be our now royall Soveraigne King Charles hath beene preserved from warre the cause of many evills and from the many evills of warre It cannot be denied but that in blessed Queene Elizabeths daies there was much warre and that many attempts were made by enemies abroad and traitors at home to disturbe our Peace extirpate our Religion and ruinate our State but they all turned to the increase of our happinesse in that we are delivered from them all and so preserved from the evils of open hostility and privy conspiracy as those attempts proved thorow the divine providence more glorious and many wayes beneficiall to Soveraigne