foole onely looking foorth right and to that which is before his feete not comparing times past with the present and both these with that which is to come thereby to prouide for his owne good and preuent his owne harme which if we wil do with wisdome and circumspection in this case of Iesus Christs most profest and our heauy enemies the Papists we may eastly coniecture what their future and after behauiour will be by their former and present cruell and Caniballike carriage If a she Beare robd of her whelpes or a hungry woulfe will not prey on the silly Lambe she meeteth in her way then may we trust the Popish crewe and suffer them to continue and range vp and downe among vs. The shee woulfe of Rome hath had heretofore and now for their treasons is like to haue such a losse of her whelpes whether she and hers yet liuing will not seeke reuenge I will not make question least I should séeme to doubt whether a Woulfe be a Woulfe and Rome the same to day that it was yesterday Reuel 17.9 for certenly so long as she piercheth on seauen hills she will either ouercrowe the Kings of the earth or séeke to plucke their Crownes from their heads And what she doth shee will teach all her broode Reuel 17.16.17.18 Reuel 18.6 Reuel 18.6 eDut 13.1 and chickens to doe vntill the Kings of the earth according to Gods fore councell and iustice and according to his command in that behalfe ioyne together and execute the wrath of God vpon her and her adherents Which if almighty God command them to doe in the head I desire to know what they ought to do in the members Euery profest idolater by the lawe of God is to dye but the Papists are profest Idolaters the assumption or minor proposition will be doubted of I will not therefore conclude till I haue strengthened and confirmed it knitting it vp after this sort If Papists be the grosest idolaters that euer were then idolaters but the former is as true as the seuen hild citty is the seat of Antichrist ergo the latter as she shall certenly be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God that will do it The antecedent will not bee graunted mee for the consequent S. Iohn warranteth me I therefore fortifie it thus All they that worship so base a thing a◠a peece of bread for the maker of heauen and earth idle Pictures rusty nailes rotten timber and olde ragges are the grosest Idolaters that euer were but the Papists doe all these therefore they are the grosest Idolaters that euer were And now I conclude Papists ought by the law of God to die But me seemeth I see some man steppe forth now I haue concluded pleading for Idolatry and Papistry denying my proposition the groundsell of all and yet me thinketh it cannot stand faster then on the eternall and vnalterable word of God But sayth he it is one of Moyses iudicialls Is it indeed Moyses and not Almighty Gods He reioyneth therefore yes and those Iudicialls were temporary and for the state of the Iewes and taken away by the appearing of Christ To this reioinder I adioyne that Christ sayth no such thing but that he came not to take away the law but to fulfil the law He came to destroy and take away the works of darkenes not to make a way for the workes of darkenes which he must needs doe if he should either take the sword out of the Magistrates hands or giue it in his hand there to suffer it rust in the sheath and not draw it forth against offendors And I pray you in good part against whō should he vse it if not against Idolaters the greatest notoriest Traytors against God and his glory that the earth yeeldeth Shall Kings draw the sword which the Lord hath put in their hands and that most iustly for the cutting off of them that complot treasons against their owne persons and shall they be lesse zealous in the Lords cause then in their owne But what speake I of the Lords cause onely when in this case of the Papists there is a double treason first against God by their idolatry next against the King by their disloyalty This latter I affirme confirme it thus Whosoeuer holdeth the Popes supremacie is a Traytor to the King but all Papists hold the Popes supremacie My assumption will heere againe be baited at I will therfore bar it thus If euery Christian haue his name for that in trueth he acknowledgeth Christ his head then euery Papista Papist hath his name from Papa the Pope for that he acknowledgeth him his head but the former is true therefore the latter So that if once I beare him say he is a Papist I can truely say by and by he is a traytor But wée will haue a shift for this he is no Papist if there be such danger in the notation of the name but a Catholicke I promise you it is now well amended as one washing off the filth of his face with inke From whence I pray you cometh this name what soundeth it After this sort whosoeuer holdeth the Popes supremacie is a traitor euery Catholick holdeth the Popes supremacie my assumption neede here no more words for this very name selleth me that he holdeth the vniuersality of the church of Rome and so the vniuersall authoritie of the Pope of Rome And this will alwayes be the keeping of the dirige a Papist a catholick a traytor a traytor But it may be our language is harsh and barren giuing gracelesse names to gracious men will the smooth Latin lend vs a couple of names in steed of them to steed these men for I would saine tid my selfe of them What say you to Pontificius and Papicola will either of these better Papist or catholick Surely no neuer a barrell better hearing for when all commeth to all either hée must forget his Papistry or hee can neuer forgoe his treachery Notwithstanding al this if he wil continue a Papist and so his treason and so his double treason first against god next against the King what remaineth but the reward of a treator Yea but we cōdemne papistry of cruelty and what were this to execute all Papists first therefore we must know a difference betweene one that is foolishly Popish and that smacketh of the corrupt dregs of Rome and an other that hath drunken of the wine of her fornications péeuishly popish a peruerse papist a young Cubbe and an old Fox one that is créeping out of the shell and another that is fledge for when I speake of a Papist which instantly ecchoeth a traytor by and by calleth for a halter I meane such a one as is a true Papist a Catholick Pōtificius Papicola that hath the grounds is grounded in the fundamentall points of his rebellion I should say his religion for as sure as the Lord liueth if he be a resolute papist he is an absolute traytor to God
FEAREFVL NEVVES Of Thunder and Lightning with the terrible effects thereof which Almighty God sent on a place called Oluestone in the county of Glocester the 28. of Nouember last Hauing prefixt before it a short discourse concerning two other admirable accidents that soone after ensued Truely related by P. S. And dedicated vnto the Kings most excellent Maiestie AT LONDON Printed by G. Eld for Frauncis Burton 1606. To the most puissant potent and Maiestious my dread Soueraigne Iames by the grace of God of great Britaine France and Ireland King defendor of the Faith the Great-Commaunder of the West and North-west parts of the World Grace and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ vnto all happinesse in this life godlinesse and righteousnesse and in the life to come immortality and glorie MOst puissant King my dread and deare Soueraigne in most humble and submisse manner I your highnesse most duetifull and loyall Subiect do herein present vnto your excellent Maiesty the true report of a most fearefull accident which Almighty God the King of kings and Lord of Lords sent among vs your Highnesse poore subiects at Oluestone in the county of Glocester on Thursday beeing the 28. of Nouember last whereof I your Maiesties said subiect was both an eare and an eye witnesse The powerfull and admirable workes of God are for none more fit and profitable then for the Kings of the earth whom the God of heauen hath substituted next vnder himselfe to order and rule the seuerall societies of men in promoting piety and preseruing iustice forasmuch as next vnto the word and the appendances thereof the most effectuall meanes nothing doth or can more effectually frame or hauing framed can more constantly continue them in the manage and performance of all kingly duties then the serious and often meditation of Gods wonderful workes in the whole frame of the world the seuerall parts and portions of it For as hystories which are the remembrances of time and successes in time are for all men meete and commodious but especially for Kings Potentates and great personages their volumes beeing therefore well denominated and called theirs Principum bonorum et heroum libri good Kings and great councellers bookes so the large volume of Gods workes are open and set before all but for none so fit and profitable as for their Maiesties that represent vnto vs the maiestie and power of almighty God That as the beames of Gods glory shine in them more then in others so they before and more then others should amire and reuerence the beames of his glory and greatnes in heauen and earth that hath made them so glorious and great on earth And if the knowledge of all the great and admirable workes of God be so necessary for all Kings then the seuerall euents and successes that wonderfully and extraordinarily fall our come to passe in their seuerall territories and kingdomes are in no sorte to be neglected but so much the more to be remembred and reuerenced as God hath therein come more neerer vnto thē then vnto others kings hath as it were spoken first and more particularly vnto them that thereof they might make first most especially vnto themselues a heauenly and christianly vse humbly and heartily to commit and commend themselues and their estates to his ouerswaying and all ruling prouidence That beareth rule ouer the kingdomes of men and giueth it to whomsoeuer he will Dan. 4.29 And being thus deuoted personally they may with all deuotion and care according to the trust committed vnto them order and direct all their subiects in the feare of the Lord Who according to his will worketh in the armie of heauen Dan. 4.32 and the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand nor say vnto him what doest thou Whereby both King and Subiect may know and serue him in whose hand is their breath Dan. 5.23 and all their wayes Wherein forasmuch my deere Soueraigne I speake it withall reuerence of your excellent Maiesty as the best Kings haue and do sometimes shew themselues forgetfull it were to be wisht 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Georg. Codinus de efficial palatii Con. vulgo Cuciopal the like of that old honourable office Of a Kings remembrancer were renued and restored not so much to minde them of mens actions and exploites that haue worthily or valiantly behaued or carried themselues in peace or in warre that so they might receiue deserued honour and recompence as often and againe to put them in minde of Gods great and wonderfull workes that his Maiestie might haue his due praise and glory neuer sufficiently to be remembred But sith there is no such particular office which was Functio optime instituta male exercita possime abolita well ordained ill ordered and most wretchedly abolisht F. Iunij not in Curopalatem pag. 313. and that kings are left to be remembrancers vnto themselues as of many other things so of the wonderfull workes of GOD abroad or at home and that it doeth so highly concerne your highnesse to make a good vse of what hath so extraordinarily succeeded within your Maiesties owns kingdome which is not possible without direct notice I haue therefore thought it very dutifull in the dutifullest manner to make knowne to your Highnesse and vnder your Highnesse gracious approbation to all your Maiesties subiects what hath so wonderfully and admirably falne out the time and place forementioned Prefixing a remembrance but in briefe of two other memorable and most famous spectacles which within the space of forty dayes haue likewise beene to the admiration of the whole land I wish also with the like commemoration and praise of the Almighty power and neuer fayling goodnesse of our most gratious and mercifull God Who for Christ his sake protect and preserue your Highnesse the Queenes Maiesly the yong Prince and all your Highnesse royall offpring and issue all your Maiesties kingdomes dominions and faithfu◠subiects from the entrage of Satan and all his limmes specially from the bloody attempts of all Antichrists brood most particularly from the desperate villanies of all shorelings shauelings and Iesuites this ages as they are truely called King-killers long to raigne ouer vs to the glory of Almightie God and the ioy and comfort of all faithfull and true hearted Subiects Your Highnesse most humble and most loyall subiect P. S. FEAREFVL NEWES THrée thinges there are which in this I le within the space of 40. daies haue very extraordinarily and wonderfully succéeded that deserue likewise more then ordinary remembrance Of the first withal others that had an vse of their eye sight I was for many nights togither an ey-witnesse but not without great wonderment Of the second I was onely an ear-witnesse and that with great thankfulnesse Of the last I was both an eare an eye-witnesse with great astonishment séeing and hearing the terrible lightning and thunder and an admirable effect of them both
and his King it was neuer heard of that to execute him should sauour any way of extremity and crulty but of most iust seuerity Nay rather to spare such a one as a rotten member to the vtter hazard of the hole body may be well accounted in humanity more then desperate folly God almighty in whose hād are the hearts of al men to turne them whether it pleaseth him so in wisdome direct his vicegerents herein that they may in their seueral kingdoms do that which may most serue for his glory and the good of their seuerall estates Hitherto of the traitors that did complot the former horrible treason and their complices now for the vse we are to make against whom and whose good it was most deuilishly complotted and desperately contriued Which is likewise double the first respecting Gods iustice the second his mercy Concerning his Iustice let vs know and remember with profit that hee by the hand of these vniust wretches shaking his rod vnto vs did therby shew what we for our many sinnes had iustly deserued Euen all of vs to feele and see an vtter demolition and desolation of our state and common wealth For although these more then wicked traitors had no iust cause nor occasion to draw them on but most desperately by the instigation of the deuill and their deuilish madnes were carried on headlong to attempt and enterprise so horrible a treason the like whereof no history doth affoord as at an instant to kill the King the Queene the Prince and all the flower of the Church and common wealth that after a most hellish and fearfull manner by blowing them vp in the aire so to leaue the commonwealth as a forsaken widow prostituting her to be deflowred defaced and desolated by the bloody hands of bastard children at home and the furious inuasions of forrein tirants and so to make her a terror to herself a terrible spectacle of extreame misery calamity to the whole world howsoeuer I say they had no cause to do or attempt this yet we may acknowledg confesse that by the iust iudgment of God all this and more if more might bee might haue come vpon vs and ouertaken vs. But almighty God euen in the midest of his iudgement remembring mercy did only shake the rod at vs and then cast it into the fire That so long as we liue and our posterity after vs in that cōmon wealth which by the iustice of God wee had almost lost but by his mercy yet possesse inioy and I hope shal to the ende of the world maugre the malice of the deuill we may learne to feare Gods Iustice to loue his mercy and so for his iustice and mercy to feare and loue him and to praise him with the prophet in that excellent song If the the Lord had not beene on our side may wee now say If the Lord had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs and so forth to the end of that psalme Who so maketh not these profitable vses of this wonderfull deliuerāce of the lord but runneth on in sin without remorce let him remember what Christ said to the man deliuered from his malady go and sinne no more least a worse thing happen vnto thee And here an end of the two first wonderfull accidents I meane an end of my discourse thereof but I hope the inhabitants of this land will neuer cease with thankfullnes to God to remember his iustice and mercy therein neuer sufficiently to be praised O Eternal God creator of heauen and earth in Iesus Christ my most mercifull father I thy vnworthy seruant returne vnto thy diuine maiesty most humble and hearty thanks as for all other thy vnspeakable mercies so especially for the great and wonderful deliuerance of my selfe and many other of thy poore and sinfull creatures from the rage and force of the horrible thunder and lightning which of late thou didst send amongst vs. The true report whereof sith I am herein to deliuer to thy seruant King Iames whom thou by thy almighty prouidence hast made thy vicegerent in this mighty empire and so vnto thy people his subiects so sanctify good Lord my memory and meditation and therewith all my report and relation that the truth herein beeing effectually deliuered it may redound to the glory of thy great name the profit of thy beloued children the terror of thy profest enemies Amen Now I come to the third wonderfull and terrible accident whereof I was both an eare and an eye-witnesse First I will according to the truth deliuer the report thereof and next make such profitable vses as so great and wonderfull a worke doth require First therefore where a report is to be made of an action done the time and place are of no small moment for the euidence of the matter The time therefore was on Thursday being the 28. of Nouember last about a moneth after the foresaid fearful flaming of the heauens and most horrible treason complotted detected The place was at Ouelstone in the county of Glocester scituated some eight miles from the famous citie of Bristoll and two miles from Aust which is well knowne in regard of the often transportation and passage there ouer the Riuer of Seuerne This for the time and place when and where this wonderfull worke of God was by his al nighty hand wrought and done now for the action and worke it selfe The morning of the foresaid day being lowring and sad did yet a little after eight begin to smile and looke some-what cheerefull toward the east which was indéed but a smile and for a very smal time for euen anone before nine of the clock the west as it were enuying the easts meriment sendeth me vp with a strong winde a most darke mantle which ouerspred the whole heauens as if the sunne had vpon some sudden feare sodenly retired and againe hid it selfe vnder our horison giuing place to the darke night to wrap vp all thinges in her black mourning gowne So darke and blacke was it that but for the note of the time it was hard to iudge whether it were day or night yet after halfe an howre or there about this black maske was againe taken off and the heauens begin to smouth vp and cléere their countenance the sunne sending forth from the south his goulden raies for an howre and halfe which the north disdayning with a most scornfull lower thinking it selfe wronged as the west did before and terribly menacing the south notwithstanding the winde stood betwene them to stay the quarel with a most terrible and ougly visage Neither was it satisfied with threatning lookes but her fearefull forces come on amaine admitting yet betwéen them the sun a short parle made knowne by a goodly and beautifull rainbow The sight whereof did not a little comfort mee notwithstanding the frowning face of the heauens did otherwise pretend some fearefull euent for beholding the worlds