and being demanded what he ailed he halfe asleep answered That his friend Ausanius and his wife whome hee had slaine long agoe summoned him to Iudgement before God vpon which confession he was apprehended and after due examination stoned to death Thus though all witnesses faile yet a murderers owne conscience will bewray him Pipin and Martellus his sonne kings of France enuying prosperity and ease Casp hed lib. 6. cap. 17. fell into diuers monstrous sinnes as to forsake their wiues and follow whores which filthinesse when the Bishop of Tungria reprooued Dodo the harlots brother murdered him for his labour but he was presently taken with the vengeance of God euen a lousie and most filthie disease with the griefe and stinke whereof being mooued he threw himselfe into the riuer Mosa and there was drowned How manifest and euident was the vengeance of God vpon the murderers of Theodoricke hishop of Treuerse Martian Scotus Conrade the author of it died suddenly the souldier that helped to throw him downe from the rocke Hermanus contractus was choaked as he was at supper two other seruants that laid too their hands to this murder slew themselues most desperately About the yeere of our Lord 700 Geilian the wife of Gosbert prince of Wurtiburg Casp Hed. lib. 6. cap. 10. being reprooued by Kilianus for incest for she married her husbands brother wrought such meanes that both hee and his brethren were depriued of their liues but the Lord gaue her vp to Satan in vengeance so that she was presently possessed with him and so continued till her dying day A certaine woman of Millaine in Italy hung a young boy and after deuoured him instead of meat when as she wanted none other victuals and when shee was examined about the crime shee confessed that a spirit persuaded her to doe it telling her that after it she should attaine vnto whatsoeuer she desired for which murder shee was tormented to death by a lingring and grieuous punishment This Arlunus reporteth to haue happened in his time And surely howsoeuer openly the deuill sheweth not himselfe yet hee is the moouer and persuader of all murders and commonly the detector For hee delighteth in mens bloods and their destruction as in nothing more At Winsheime in Germanie a certaine theefe after many â—obberies murders committed by him vpon trauailers and women with child went to the shambles before Easter and bought three calues heads which when he put into a wallet they seemed to the standers by to be mens heads Theat histor Though strange yet not incredible since God can as well turne calues heads into mens as a rod into a serpent or water into blood Whereof being attached searched by the officers and found so indeed hee being examined how hee came by them answered and proued by witnesses that he bought calues heads how they were transformed hee knew not Whereat the Senat amazed not supposing this miracle to arise of naught cast the partie into prison and tortured him to confesse the villany whereof the Lord would haue him detected as hee did indeed and was worthely punished for the same and then the heads recouered their old shapes Another theefe at Tubing betraied his murder robbery by his own sighes 8. Mandat lib. 2 cap. 35. which were so incessant in griefe not of his fact but of his small bootie that being but asked the question he confessed the crime and vnderwent worthy punishment Another murderer in Spaine was discouered by the trembling of his heart for when many were suspected of the murder and all renounced it the iudge caused all their breasts to bee opened and him in whom he saw most trembling of breast hee condemned who also could not deny the fact but presently confessed the same At Isenacum a certaine young man being in loue with a maid not hauing wherewith to maintain her vsed this vnlawfull means he vpon a night slew his host 8. Mandat lib. 2. cap. 35. throwing his body into the seller tooke away all his money and then hasted away but the terror of his owne conscience and the iudgement of God so besotted him that he could not stirre a foot vntill he was appreheÌ„ded At the same time Martin Luther Philip Melancton abode at Isenacum were eie witnesses of this miraculous iudgement who also dealt with the murderer that in most humble and penitent confession of his sins comfort of soule he ended his life By all these exaÌ„ples we see how hard it is for a murderer to escape without his reward Nay rather then he shal go vnpunished sencelesse creatures and his owne soule riseth to giue sentence against him In the yeare of our Lord 1546 Iohn Diazius a Spaniard by birth liuing a student and professor in Paris came first to Geneua and then to Strasbrough and there by the grace of Gods spirit saw his Sorbonicall errors and renounced them betaking himselfe to the profession of the purer religion and the company and acquaintance of godly men amongst whome was Bucer that excellent man who sent him also to Nurnburge to ouersee the printing of a booke which he was to publish Sleid. lib. 17. Whilst Diazius liued at this Nurnburge a citie scituate vpon the riuer Dimow his brother a lawier and iudge lateriall to the inquisition by name Alphonsus came thither and by all meanes possible endeuoured to dissuade him from his religon and to reduce him againe to Poperie But the good man persisted in the truth notwithstanding all his persuasions and threats wherfore the subtile foxe tooke another course and faining himselfe to bee conuerted also to his religion exhorted him to goe with him into Italy where he might doe much good or at the least to August but by the counsaile of Bucer and his friends hee was kept backe otherwise willing to follow his brother Wherefore Alphonsus departed exhorteth him to constancy perseuerance giuing him also foureteeene crownes to defray his charges Now the Wolfe had not ben three daies absent when he hired a rakehell and common butcher and with him flew again to Nurnburge in post hast and comming to his brothers lodging deliuered him a letter which whilest he read the villain his confederate cleft his head in peeces with an axe leauing him dead vpon the floore and so fled with all expedition Howeit they were apprehended yet quit by the Popes iustice so holy and sacred are the fruits of his holinesse though not by the iustice of God for within a while after hee hung himselfe vpon his mules necke at Trent Duke Abrogastes slew Valentinian the Emperour of the West and aduanced Eugenius to the crowne of the Empire but a while after the same sword which had slaine his Lord and maister was by his owne hands turned into his own bowels Mempricius the sonne of Madan the fourth king of England then called Britaine after Brute Lanquet chron had a brother called Manlius
recompence of his malice Nice li. 4. c. 26. which custome as it was laudable and necessary so was it put in execution at diuerse times as namely vnder the Emperor Commodus when a prophane wretch accused Apollonius a godly profest Christiā afterward a constant martyr of Christ Iesus before the iudges of certaine greeuous crimes which when he could by no colour or likelihood of truth conuince proue they adiudged him to that ignominious punishment to haue his legs broken because he had accused defamed a man without cause Eustathius bishop of Antioch a man famous for eloquence in speech vprightnesse of life Nicep li. 8. c. 46. whē as he impugned the heresie of the Arians was circumuented by them and deposed from his bishoprick by this meanes they suborned a naughtie strumpet to come in with a child in her armes and in an open synode of two hundred fiftie bishops to accuse him of Adultery to sweare that he had got that child of her body which though hee denied constantly no iust proofe could bee brought against him yet the impudent strumpets oth tooke such place that by the Emperours censure hee was banished from his bishopricke howbeit ere long his innocencie was knowne for the said strumpet being deseruedly touched with the finger of Gods iustice in extreame sicknesse confessed the whole practise how shee was suborned by certaine Bishops to slander this holy man and that yet shee was not altogether a lier for one Eustathius a handy-crafts man got the child as she had sworne and not Eustathius the bishop The like slander the same heretikes deuised against Athanasius in a synode conuocated by Constantine the Emperour at Tyrus Phil. Melanct. chro lib. 3. Nicep li. 9. c. 23. for they suborned a certaine leud woman to exclaime vpon the holy man in the open assembly for rauishing of her that last night against hir will which slander he shifted of by this deuise hee sent Timotheus the presbiter of Alexandria into the synode in his place who comming to the woman asked her before them all whether she durst say that hee had rauished her to whom she replied yea I swear and vow that thou hast done it for she supposed it to haue ben Athanasius whom shee neuer saw whereat the whole synode perceiued the cauill of the lying Arrians and quitted the innocencie of that good man Howbeit these malicious heretiks seeing this practise not to succeed inuented another worse than the former for they accused him to haue slaine one Arsenius whom they themselues kept secret and that hee carried one of his hands about him wherewith he wrought miracles by enchātment but Arsenius touched by the spirit of God stole away from thē came to Athanasius to the end he should receiue no dammage by his absence whom he brought into the iudges and shewed them both his hands confounded his accusers with shame of their malice insomuch as they ran away for feare and satisfied the iudges both of his integrity and their enuious calumniation the chiefe broker of all this mischiefe was Stephanus bishop of Antioch but he was degraded from his bishoprick and Leontius elected in his roome Histor tripart Hetherto we may adde the example of one William Feming who accused an honest man called Iohn Cooper of speaking traiterous words against Queene Mary and all because he would not fell him two goodly bullockes which he much desired for which cause the poore man being arraigned at Berry in Suffolke was condemned to death by reason of two false witnesses which the said Feming had suborned for that purpose whose names were White and Greenewood so this poore man was hanged drawne and quartered and his goods taken from his poore wife and nine children which are left destitute of all helpe but as for his false accusers one of them died most miserably for in haruest time being well and lusty of a sodaine his bowels fell out of his body and so hee perished the other two what ends they came vnto it is not reported but sure the Lord hath reserued a sufficient punishment for all such as they are Acts and mon. pag 2100. Many more be the examples of this sinne and iudgements vpon it as the pilleries at Westminster and daily experience beareth witnesse but these that wee haue alledged shall suffice for this purpose because this sin is cousen Germane vnto periurie of which you may read more at large in the former booke It should now follow by course of order if wee would not pretermit any thing of the law of God to speake of such as haue offended against the tenth commandement what punishment hath ensued the same but for so much as all such offences for the most part are encluded vnder the former of which we haue alreadie spoken and that there is no adultery nor fornication nor theft nor vniust-warre but it is annexed to and proceedeth from the affection and the resolution of an euill and disordinate concupiscense as the effect from the cause therefore it is not necessary to make any particular recitall of them more than may well be collected out of the former examples added hereunto that in simple concupiscense and affection of doing euill which commeth not to act though it be in the sight of God condemned to euerlasting torments yet it doth not so much incurre and prouoke his indignation that a man should for that onely cause be brought to apparant destruction and be made an example to others to whome the sinne is altogither darke and vnknowne therefore wee will proceed in our purpose without intermedling in speciall with this last commandement CHAP. XLV That kings and princes ought to looke to the execution of Iustice for the punishment of naughtie and corrupt manners NO man ought to be ignorant of this that it is the duty of a prince not onely to hinder the course of sinne from bursting into action but also to punish the doers of the same making both ciuill iustice to be administred vprightly and the law of God to be regarded and obserued inuiolably for to this end are they ordained of God that by their means euery one might liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie to the which end the maintenance and administration of iustice beeing most necessary they ought not so to discharge themselues of it as to translate it vpon their officers and iudges but also to looke to the execution thereof themselues as it is most needfull for if law which is the foundation of iustice be as Plato saith a speechlesse and dumbe magistrate who shall giue voice and vigour vnto it if not hee that is in supreame and soueraigne authority for which cause the king is commaunded in Deuteronomie Deu. 17.18 19 To haue before him alwaies the booke of the law to the end to doe iustice and iudgement to euery one in the feare of God And before the creation of kings
THE THEATRE of Gods Iudgements Or A COLLECTION OF HISTOries out of Sacred Ecclesiasticall and prophane Authours concerning the admirable Iudgements of God vpon the transgressours of his commandements TRANSLATED OVT OF FRENCH AND AVGMENted by more than three hundred Examples by Th. Beard IL VOSTRO MALIGNARE NON GIOVA NVLLA LONDON Printed by Adam Islip 1597. To the right Worshipfull Sir Edward Wingfield Knight IT is a principle in natural philosophy right Worshipfull that in euerie naturall bodie as well the Elephant as the gnat there is some propertie or other to be admired and wondred at and not only in philosophie but also in Diuinitie for euen the diuine Singer of Israel anoucheth the same when hee saith That the workes of God are wonderfull and his iudgements past finding out and not without great reason for if we turne ouer euery leafe of Gods creatures from the tenth sphere to the centre of the earth we shall find that euery leafe and letter of this great volume is admirable and wonderfull and such as doth not onely demonstrate a diuine power to sit at the stern of the world but also our owne weaknes which is not able to comprehend the least part thereof This wonderfull workmanship as it doth set forth the power of God as he is the creator and his wisdome as he is the gouernor of it so especially his mercie iustice appeare therein as he is a father in preseruing his children and a iudge in punishing sinners and those that rebell against him and these two are fitly called the armes of the Almighty of which one is not longer larger than the other but he is so far mercifull that he is iust withall and so far iust that his mercie doth also shew it selfe in the middest therof the right consideratiō wherof if it were ingrafted in the hearts of men they would learne both to admire and reuerence his mercie in creating and preseruing the frame of the world and stand in awe of his iudgements in correcting sinne but so it is that the greatest part of men go clean contrary they dreame vpon mercie mercy neuer thinke vpō iustice iudgement and that is the cause why more perish by presumption than despaire for this cause it seemed to me most necessary to call into mens memories the wonderfull iudgements of God to set before their eies a view of his iustice manifested in the world vpon sinners reprobats to the end that the drousie consciences of Gods children might be awakened and the desperat hearts of the wicked cōfounded when they shall see how vengeance pursueth malefactours to their shame and confusiō in this life and to their destructiō in the world to come This I haue performed according to the measure of my skil in this present volume which hauing partly translated out of the French and partly collected by mine owne industrie out of many Authors I dedicate and consecrate vnto you as a monument of my dutifull loue which I owe am euer bound to owe vnto your selfe your vertuous Lady and all your generation desiring of you a fauourable acceptance of my simple offering and for you a protection from all such iudgements as are contained in this and a perpetuall continuance of all happie and heauenly felicitie Your Worships in all dutie to command Th. Beard The Preface IF to auoid and eschew vice according to the saying of the Poet be a chiefe vertue and as it were the first degree of wisdome then it is a necessarie point to know what vice and vertue is and to discerne the euill and good which either of them bring forth to the end to beware least wee dash our selues vnawares against vice in stead of vertue and be caught with the deceitfull baites thereof For this cause the great and famous Philosopher about to lay open the nature of morall vertues according to that knowledge and light which nature afforded him contented not himselfe with a simple narration of the properties essence and obiect of them but opposed to euery vertue on each side the contrarie and repugnant vice to the end that at the sight of them being so out of square so hurtfull and pernicious vertue it selfe might be more amiable and in greater esteeme And for this cause also God himselfe our soueraigne and perfect lawgiuer that hee might fashion and fit vs to the mould of true and solide vertue vseth oftener negatiue prohibitions than affirmatiue commandements in his law to the end aboue all things to distract and turne vs from euill whereunto we are of our selues too too much inclined And as by this meane sinne is discouered and made known vnto vs so is the punishment also of sinne set before our eyes by those threatnings and curses which are there denounced to the end that whome the promises of life and saluation could not allure and persuade to do well them the feare of punishment which followeth sinne as a shadow doth the body might bridle and restraine from giuing them ouer to impietie Now then if the very threatnings ought to serue for such good vse shall not the execution and perfourmance of them serue much more to wit when the tempest of Gods wrath is not only denounced but also throwne downe effectually vpon the heads of the mightie ones of the world when they are disobedient and rebellious against God And hereupon the Prophet saith That when Gods iudgements are vpon earth then the inhabitants learne iustice And doubtlesse it is most true that euery one ought to reape profit to himselfe by such examples as well them which are presented daily to their view by experience as them which haue beene done in times past and are by benefit of history preserued from obliuion And in this regard historie is accounted a very necessary and profitable thing for that in recalling to mind the truth of things past which otherwise would be buried in silence it setteth before vs such effects as warnings admonitions touching good and euill and laieth vertue and vice so naked before our eyes with the punishments or rewards inflicted or bestowed vpon the followers of each of them that it may rightly be called an easie and profitable apprentiship or schoole for euery man to learne to get wisedome at another mans cost Hence it is that Historie is tearmed of the ancient Philosophers The record and register of Time the light of Truth and the mistresse and looking glasse of mans life Insomuch as vnder the person of another man it teacheth and instructeth all those that apply their minds vnto it to gouerne and carry themselues vertuously and honestly in this life Wherefore they deserue great praise and commendation that haue taken paines to enroll and put in writing the memorable actes and occurrents of their times to communicate the same to their posteritie for there the high and wonderfull workes of God do most clearely and as it were to the view present themselues as his iustice and
home vnto his owne house was attached with so grieuous a sicknesse and such furious and mad fits withall that his wife and neerest allies not daring to come neere him hee like a franticke bedlem enraged and solitarily ended his life A counsellour of the same court called Bellâ—mâ—nt was so hote and zealous in proceeding against the poore prisoners for the word of Gods sake that to the end to packe them soone to the fire hee vsually departed not from the iudgement hall from morning to euening but caused his meat and drinke to be brought for his meales returning not home but only at night to take his rest But whilst hee thus strongly and endeauourously emploied himselfe about these affaires there began a litle sore to rise vpon his foote which at the first being no bigger then if a waspe had stung the place grew quickly so red and full of paine and so encreased the first day by ranckling ouer all his foot and inflaming the same that by the iudgement of Phisitians and Chirurgians through the contagious fire that spred it selfe ouer his whole body it seemed incurable except by cutting off his foot the other members of the body might be preserued which hee in no case willing to yeeld vnto for all the medicines that were applied vnto it found the second day his whole legge infected and the third his whole thigh and the fourth day his whole body in so much that he died the same day his dead body being all parched as if it had bene rosted by a fire And thus hee that was so hote in burning poore Christians was himselfe by a seeret flame of Gods wrath as by slow and soft fire burned and consumed to death Lewes de Vaine brother in law to Menier the president of the said parliament of Prouince History of Martyrs second booke with the brother and sonne of Peter Durand chiefe butcher of the city Aix the euening before their horrible crueltie was executed at Merindoll fell at debate amongst themselues and the morrow as instruments of Gods iudgements slew one another The Iudge of the city Aix one of that wretched crew drowned himselfe in his returne The same as hee passed ouer the riuer Durance As for the chiefe Iudge that was principall in that murderous action The same touching the condemnation of those poore soules of Merindoll and Cabrieres he likewise suddenly died before he saw the execution of that decree which himselfe had sed downe Iohn Mesnier lord of Oppede another chiefe officer of the foresaid parliament that got the leading of that murdering armie against the poore Christians aforesaid committed such excesse of cruelty that the most barbarous heathen in the world would haue yearned to doe For which cause hee was also summoned to appeare personally at the parliament of Paris there to answere to those extortions robberies oppressions which were laid to his charge and being conuinced and found guilty thereof was neuerthelesse released and set at liberty and that which is more restored to his former state Howbeit though he escaped the hands of men yet was he ouertaken by the hand of God who knew well enough the way how to entrap and abate his proud intents for euen then when hee was in the height of worldly prosperity and busier then euer in persecuting Christians euen then was hee pulled downe by a fluxe of blood which prouoking his priuie partes ingendred such a carnositie and thicknesse of flesh therein and withall a restraint of vrine that with horrible ourcries and rauing speeches hee died feeling a burning fire broiling his entrails from his nauell vpwards and an extreme infection putrifying his lower parts and beginning to feele in this life both in body and soule the rigour of eternall fire prepared for the deuill and his angels Iohn Martin Trombant of Briqueras in Piemont vaunting himselfe euery foot in the hindrance of the Gospell cut off a ministers nose of Angrogne in his brauery 2 Bookes of martyrs but immediatly after was himselfe assailed by a mad wolfe that gnawed off his nose as he had done the ministers and caused him like a mad man to end his life which strange iudgement was notoriously knowen to all the countrey thereabout and beside it was neuer heard that this wolfe had euer harmed any man before Gaspard of Reniaâ—me one of the magistrates of the city of Anuers that adiudged to death certaine poore faithfull soules receiued in the same place ere hee remooued a terrible sentence of Gods iudgement against himselfe for hee fell desperate immediatly and was faine to be led into his house halfe beside himselfe where crying that hee had condemned the innocent blood he sorthwith died CHAP. XVI Other Examples of the same subiect ABout the same time there happened a very straunge iudgement vpon an ancient lawier of Bourges one Iohn Cranequin a man of ripe wit naturall and a great practitioner in his profession but very ignorant in the law of God and all good literature so enuiously bent against all those that knew more then himselfe and that abstained from the filthie pollutions of poperie that hee serued in stead of a promootour to enforme Ory the inquisitour of them but for his labour the arme of God stroke him with a marueilous straunge phrensie that whatsoeuer his eies beheld seemed in his iudgement to be crawling serpents In such sort that after hee had in vaine experienced all kind of medicines yea and vsed the helpe of wicked sorcerie and coniuration yet at length his senses were quite benummed and depriued him and in that wretched and miserable estate hee ended his life Iohn Morin a mighty enemie to the professors of Gods truth one that laboured continually at Paris in apprehending and accusing the faithfull in so much that hee sent daily multitudes that appealed from him to the high court of the pallace died himselfe in most grieuous and horrible torment The Chauncellour of Prat hee that in the Parliaments of France put vp the first bill against the faithfull and gaue out the first commissions to put them to death died swearing and blaspheming the name of God his stomacke being most straungely gnawen in peeces and consumed with wormes The Chauncellour Oliuer beeing restored to his former estate Refer this among Apostaraes Lib. 1. cap. 18. hauing first against his conscience renounced his religion so also now the same conscience of his checking and reclaiming hee spared not to shedde much innocent blood by condemning them to death But such a fearefull iudgement was denounced against him by the very mouthes of the guiltlesse condemned soules that stroke him into such a feare and terrour that presently hee fell sicke surprised with so extreame a melancholy that sobbing forth sighes without intermission and murmurings against God hee so afflicted his halfe dead body like a man robd and dispossest of sense and reason that with his vehement fits hee would so shake the bedde as if a young man in
to the enemies Albertus Duke of Franconia hauing slaine Conrade the Earle of Lotharingia brother to Lewes the fourth then Emperour Melant. Chron. lib. 4. and finding the Emperours wrath incensed against him for the same betooke himselfe to a strong castle at Bamberg from whence the Emperour neither by force nor pollicie could remooue him for seuen yeres space vntill Atto the bishop of Mentz by treachery deliuered him into his hands This Atto vnder shew of friendship repaired to the castle and gaue his faith vnto the Earle that if hee would come downe to parly with the Emperour hee should safely returne into his hold the Earle mistrusting no fraud went out of the castle gates with the bishop towards the Emperor but Atto as it were suddenly remembring himselfe when indeed it was his deuised plot desireth to returne backe and dine ere he went because it was somewhat late so they doe dine and returne Now the Earle was no sooner come to the Emperour but hee caused him to bee presently put to death notwithstanding hee vrged the bishops promise and oath for his returne for it was answered that his oath was quit by returning backe to dine as he had promised And thus the Earle was wickedly betraied though iustly punished As for Atto the subtill traitor indeed he possessed himselfe by this means of the Earles lands but withall the iustice of God seazed vpon him for within a while after hee was stroken with a thunderbolt and as some say carried into mount Aetna with this noise Sic peccata lues atque ruendo rues Campofulgos lib. 7. cap. 3. Cleomene◠king of Lacedemonia making warre vpon the Argiues surprised them by this subtilty he tooke truce with them for seuen daies and the third night whilst they lay secure and vnwary in their truce hee oppressed them with a great slaughter saying to excuse his treachery though no excuse could cleare him from the shame thereof that the truce which hee made was for seuen daies only without any mention of nights howbeit for all this it prospered not so well with him as hee wished for the Argiue women their husbands slaine tooke armes like Amazones Tolesilla beeing their captainesse and compassing the citie wals repelled Cleomenes halfe amazed with the strangenesse of the fight after which he was banished into Aegypt and there miserably and desperately slew himselfe The Pope of Rome with all his heard of bishops opposed himselfe against the Emperour Henry the fourth Chron. Carionis for he banished bim by excommunication from the society of the Catholike Church discharged his subiects from the oth of fealtie and sent a crowne of gold to Rodulph king of Sueuia to canonize him Emperour the crowne had this inscription Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rodulpho that is The rocke gaue vnto Peter and Peter gaue vnto Rodulph the crowne notwithstanding Rodulph remembring his oth to the Emperour how vile a part it was to betray him whome he had sworne to obey and defend at first refused the Popes offer howbeit by the persuasion of the bishops sophistry he was induced to vndertake the name and title of Cesar and to oppugne the Emperour Henry by armes euen by foure vniust battels in the last of which Rodulph being ouercome lost his right hand and was sore wounded otherwise wherfore being ready to die when one brought vnto him his hand that was cut off in the battell he in detestation of the popes villany burst forh into these termes many bishops standing by Behold here the hand wherewith I swore fealty to the Emperour this will be an argument of my breach of faith before God and of your traiterous impulsion thereunto And thus hee deceased iustly punished euen by his owne confession for his periurie Howbeit for all this manifest example the pope and bishops continued to persecute the poore Emperour yea and to stirre vp his owne sonnes Conrade and Henry to fight against him so hardened are their hearts against all iudgements Narcissus bishop of Ierusalem Euseb lib. 6. c. 8 a man famous for his vertues sharpe in reprooving and correcting vice was accused by three wicked wretches of vnchastity and that falsly and malitiously for to prooue their accusation true they bound it with othes and curses on this wise the first said If I lie I pray God I may perish by fire the second If I speake ought but truth I pray God I may be consumed by some filthy and cruell disease Calumniatiō Lib. 2. cap. 44. the third If I accuse him falsly I pray God I may be depriued of my sight and become blind Thus although the honesty and chastitie of Narcissus was so well knowen to all the faithful that they beleeued none of their othes yet the good bishop partly mooued with griefe of this false accusation and partly with desire of quietnesse from worldly affaires forsooke his bishopricke and liued in a desert for many yeeres But his forsworne accusers by their death witnessed his innocencie which by their words they impugned for the first his house being set on fire extraordinarily perished in the flame with all his family and progenie The second languished away with an irkesome disease that bespread his body all ouer The third seeing the wofull ends of his companions confessed all their villany and lamenting his case and crime persisted so long weeping till both his eyes were put out Thus God in his iust iudgement sent vpon ech of them their wishes and thereby cleared his seruant from shame and opprobry Chron. Ernosti Brotanss Burghard Archbishop of Magdeburg though in regard of his place and profession he ought to haue giuen good example of honestie in himselfe and punish periury in others yet hee thrise broke his promise and oth with his owne citizens the Senate and people of Magdeburg for first hee besieged them with a power of men though they redeemed their liberty with a summe of money he swearing not to besiege them any more yet without respect of truth and credit hee returned a fresh to besiege but his perfidie was soone tamed for they tooke him prisoner at that assault howbeit he so asswaged their angry minds with his humble and lowly intreaties counterfait othes neuer to trouble them any more but to cōtinue their steadfast friend that they not only freed him from imprisonment but restored him to all his dignities with solemnity neuerthelesse the traiterous Archbishop returning to his old vomit got dispensation for his oth frō pope Iohn the 23 and began a fresh to vexe molest and murder them whome he had sworne to maintaine but it was the will of God that he should be once againe caught and being inclosed in prison whilst his friends sought meanes to redeeme him the Iailour beat him to death with a dore bar or as some say with an iron rod taken out of a window and so at last though long his periury found it desert The small successe that
on their iourney they came riding ouer a great bridge vpon which this gentleman swearer spurred his horse in such sort that he sprang cleane ouer with the man on his backe who as he was going cried Horse and man and al to the deuill This terrible storie bishop Ridley preached and vttered at Paules crosse and one Haines a minister of Cornwall the reprehender of this man was the reporter of it to Maister Fox out of whom I haue drawne it Refraine then wretches that you are your diuellish tongues leaue off to prouoke the wrath of God any longer against you forbeare all wicked and cursed speeches and acquaint your selues as well in word as deed to praise and glorifie God CHAP. XXXIIII Punishments for the contempt of the word and the Sacraments and abuse of holy things NOw it is another kind of taking the name of God in vain to despise his words and sacraments for like as among earthly princes it is accounted a crime no lesse then treason either to abuse their pictures to counterfeit or depraue their seales to rent pollute or corrupt their letter patents or to vse vnreuerently their messengers or any thing that cōmeth frō them So with the prince of heauen it is a sin of high degree either to abuse his word prophanely which is the letter patents of our saluation or handle the sacraments vnreuerētly which are the seales of his mercy or to despise his ministers which are his messēgers vnto vs. And this he maketh known vnto vs not only by edicts cōmandemēts but also by examples of his vēgeance on the heads of the offēders in this case for the former look what Paul saith That for the vnworthy receiuing of the Sacraments many were weake and sicke among the Corinthians many slept how much more then for the abusing contemning the Sacraments 1. Cor. 11.29.30 And the prophet Dauid That for casting the word of God behind them Psal 50.16.17 they should haue nothing to doe with his couenāt how much more then for prophaning deriding his word Exod. 16.8 And Moses when the people murmured against him and Aaron saith that their murmurings were not against them which were but ministers but against the Lord how much more then is the Lord engaged when they are scoffed at derided set at naught hence it is that the Lord denounceth a woe to him that addeth or taketh away frō the word and calleth them dogs that abuse such precious pearles Deut. 4.2 12.22 Apoc. 22.18 Prouerb 30.6 Vide lib. 1. cap. 14. example of the Iews But let vs come to the examples wherin the grieuousnesse of this sin will lie more open then by any words can bee expressed Denterius an Arrian bishop being at Bezantium as he was about to baptise one Barbas after his blasphemous maner saying I baptise thee in the name of the father through the son in the Holy-ghost Which forme of words is contrary to the prescript rule of Christ that bad his disciples to baptize al nations In the name of the father the son and the Holy-ghost the water sodenly vanished so that he could not then bee baptised wherefore Barbas all amased fled from thence to a church of purer religion and there was entertained into the church by baptisme Socrat. lib 7. cap. 17. Socrates in his Ecclesiasticall hystorie reporteth the like accident to haue happened to a Iew who had beene oftentimes baptised and came to Paulus a Nouatian bishop to receiue the sacrament againe but the water as before vanished and his villany being detected hee was banished the church Opiat Meltuit lib. 2. contr Parenianum Cent. 4. cap. 6. Vrbanus Farmensis and Foelix Iducensis two Donatists by profession rushing into Thipasa a Citty of Mauritania commaunded the Eucharist to bee throwne amongst the dogges but the dogges growing mad thereby set vpon their owne maisters and rent them with their teeth as being guiltie of despising the body of Christ certainely a noble iudgement to condemne the wicked behauiour of those miscreants who were so profane as not onely to refuse the sacrament themselues Vide lib. 1 ca. 17. but also to cast it to their dogs as if it were the vilest and contemptablest thing in the world Theopompus a Philosopher being about to insert certaine things out of the writings of Moses into his prophane workes and so to abuse the sacred word of God was stroken with a frensie and being warned of the cause therof in a dreame Ioseph antiq lib. 12. cap. 2. by praiers made vnto God recouered his senses againe this story is recorded by Iosephus as also another of Theodectes a Poet that mingled his Tragedies with the holy Scripture and was therefore stroken with blindnesse vntill hee had recanted his impiety In a towne of Germany called Itzsith there dwelt a certaine husbandman that was a monstrous despiser and prophaner of the word of God and his sacraments Luther in coloquijs he vpon a time amidst his cups railed with most bitter tearmes vpon a minister of Gods word after which going presently into the fields to ouerlooke his sheep he neuer returned aliue but was found there dead with his body all scorched and burnt as black as a coale the Lord hauing giuen him ouer into the hands of the deuill to be thus vsed for his vile prophanesse and abusing his holy things This D. Iustus Ionas in Luthers conferences reporteth to be most true In the yeare of our Lord 1553 a certaine coblers seruant being brought vp among the professors of the reformed religion and hauing receiued the sacrament in both kinds Philip Melanc after liuing vnder Poperie receiued it after their fashion in one kind but when hee returned to his old maister and was admonished by him to goe againe to the communion as he was wont then his sleepie conscience awaked and hee fell into most horrible despaire crying that hee was the deuils bondslaue and therewithall threw himselfe headlong out of the window so that with the fall his bowels gushed out of his mouth and he died most miserably When the great persecution of the Christians was in Persia vnder king Sapor in the yeare of our Lord 347 Sozomen lib. 2. cap. 31. there was one Miles an holy bishop and constant Martyr who preaching Vide lib. r. ca. 16. exhorting suffering all manner of torments for the truth of the gospel could not conuert one soule of the whole citie whereof he was bishop to the faith wherfore in hatred and detestation of it he forewent it cleane but after his departure the Lord made them worthily rue their contempt of his word for he sent the spirit of deuision betwixt king Sapor and thē so that he came with an army of men three hundred Eliphants against it and quickly subuerted it that the very appearence memorial of a city was quite defaced and rooted out for certainely this is a sure position
with this iudgement he caused his wife to bring forth a child with a head like a dog that seeing hee preferred his dogs before the seruice of God he might haue one of his owne getting to make much of At Kimstat a town in France Iob. Fincel lib. 3. de mirac there liued in the yere of our Lord 1559 a certaine couetous woman who was so eager vpon the word and greedy of gaine that she would neither frequent the Church to heare the word of God her selfe nor suffer any of her family to do it but continually abode labouring and toiling about drying and pilling flax and doing other domesticall businesses neither would shee be reclaimed by her neighbors who admonished and dehorted her from such vntimely workes One Sabbath day as they were thus busily occupied fire seemed to issue among the flaxe without doing any hurt the next Sabbath day it tooke fire indeed but was quickly extinct for all this shee continued obstinate in her prophanenesse euen the third Sabbath when the flax againe taking fire could not be quenched till it had burnt her two of her children to death for though they were recouered out of the fire aliue yet the next day they all three died And that which was most to be wondred at a young infant in the cradle was taken out of the midst of the flame without any hurt Thus God vseth to exercise his iudgements vpon the contemners of his commandements Cent. 12. cap. 6. The Centuriators of Magdeburge intreating of the manners of Christians made report out of another history that a certaine husbandman in Parochia Gemilacensi grinding corne vpon the Lords day the meale began to burne Anno Dom. 1126 which though it might seeme to be a thing more casuall Ecclesiast hist. Cent. 12. ibid. yet they set it down as a iudgement of God vpō him for breaking the Sabbath As also of that which they speake in the same place of one of the kings of Denmark who when as he contrary to the admonition of the priests who desired him to defer it would needs vpō the day of Pentecost make war with his enemy died in the battell But that may be better known to vs all which is written in the 2 book of Machabes of Nicanor the Iewes enemy who would needs set vpon them on the Sabbath from which whē other the Iewes that were compelled to be with him could no way dissuade him he was slaine in the battell and most miserably but deseruedly handled euen the parts of his body shamefully dismembred as in that history you may read more at large Concil Paris lib. 1. cap. 50. Therfore in the councill at Paris euery one labouring to persuade vnto a more religious keeping of the Sabbath day when they had iustly cōplained that as many other things so also the obseruation of the Sabbath was greatly decaied through the abuse of Christian liberty in that men too much followed the delights of the world and their owne worldly pleasures both wicked and dangerous they further adde Multi nanque nostrum visu multi etiam quorundam relatu didicimus c. For many of vs haue bene eye witnesses many haue intelligence of it by the relation of others that some men vpon this day being about their husbandry haue beene stricken with thunder some haue beene maimed and made lame some haue had their bodies euen bones and all burnt in a moment with visible fire and haue consumed to ashes and many other iudgements of God haue bene and are daily whereby it is declared that God is offended with the dishonor of so high a day And our time hath not wanted examples in this kind whosoeuer hath obserued them when sometimes in the faires vpon this day the wares haue swom in the streets somtimes the scaffolds at plaies haue fallen downe to the hurting endangering of many somtime one thing somtime another haue fallen out and that which is most strange within these late yeres a whole town hath bene twise burnt for the breach of the Sabbath by the inhabitants The iust report thereof because I probably know not I passe ouer here to set downe vntill such time as I shall be better instructed Famous and memorable also is that example which happened at London in the yeere 1583 at Paris garden where vpon the Sabbath day were gathered togither as accustomably they vsed great multitudes of prophane people to behold the fport of bearbaiting without respect of the Lords day or any exercise of religiō required therin which profane impiety the Lord that he might chasten in some sort shew his dislike therof he caused the scaffolds suddenly to breake and the beholders to tumble headlong downe so that to the number of eight persons men women were slain therwith besides many others which were sore hurt bruised to the shortning of their daies Surely a friendly warning to such as more delight themselues with the cruelty of beasts vaine sports than with the works of mercy religion the fruits of a true faith which ought to be the sabbath daies exercise And thus much for the examples of the first table wherof if some seeme to exceed credit by reason of the strangenes of them yet let vs know that nothing is impossible to God and that he doth often worke miracles to controll the obstinate impietie and rebellion of mortall men against his commaundements Besides there is not one example here mentioned but it hath a credible or probable authour for the auoucher of it Let vs now out of all this that hath beene spoken gather vp this wholsome lesson to loue God with all our heart and affection to the end wee may worship him inuocate his holy name and repose all the confidence of our saluation vpon him alone through Christ Iesus seeking by pleasing and obeying his will to set forth his glorie and render him due thankes for all his benefits FINIS The second Booke CHAP. I. Of rebellious and stubborne children towards their parents WEe haue seene in the former booke what punishments they haue incurred that either malitiously or otherwise haue transgressed and broken the commandements of the first Table Now it followeth to discouer the chastisements which God hath sent vpon the transgressours of the second Table And first concerning the first commandement thereof which is Honour thy father and mother that thy daies may be prolonged in the land which the Lord thy God hath giuen thee Cham one of old Noahs sonnes Gen. 9. was guilty of the breach of this commandement who instead of perfourming that reuerence to his father which hee ought and that presently after the deluge which being yet fresh in memory might haue taught him to walke in the feare of God came so short of his duty that when he saw his nakednesse hee did not hide it but mocked and iested at it for which cause hee was cursed both of his father and of God
and luxurious life in the midst of his drunkennes killed his owne mother great with child Paricid lib. 2. cap. 11. and his father that sought to restraine his fury would haue rauished his sister had she not escaped from him with many wounds Bonosus the Emperour Flauius Vopisc is reported to haue bene such a notorious drunkard that he was said to be borne not to liue but to drinke if any embassadours came vnto him hee would make them drunke to the end to reueale their secrets hee ended his life with misery euen by hanging with this epitaph That a tunne not a man was hanged in that place Philostrates being in the bathes at Sinvessâ— Martâ—d lib. 11. deuoured so much wine that hee fell downe the staires and almost broke his necke with the fall Zeno the Emperor of the East Platina was so notoriously giuen to excesse of meats and drinks that his senses being benummed he would often lie as one that was dead wherfore being become odious to all men by his beastly qualities his wife Ariadâ—e fell also indetestation of him one day as he lay sensles she transported him into a tombe throwing a great stone vpon it pined him to death not suffering any to remoue the stone or to yeeld him any succour and this was a iust reward of his drunkennesse Pope Paulus the second beside the exceeding pompe of apparel which he vsed he was also very careful for his throat for as Platina writeth of him he delighted in all kind of exquisite dishes and delicate wine and that in superfluitie by which immoderate and continuall surfetting hee fell into a grieuous apoplexy which quickly made an end of his life It is reported of him that hee ate the day before he died two great melons and that in a very good appetite when as the next night the Lord stroke him with his heauy iudgement Alexander the sonne of Basilius Phil. Melancth lib. 4. and brother of Leo the Emperour did so wallow and drowne himselfe in the gulfe of pleasure intemperance that one day after he had stuffed himselfe too full of meat as he got vpon his horse he burst a vaine within his bodie whereat vpwards and downwards issued such abundance of blood that his life and soule issued forth withall Concerning Daunsing the vsuall dependants of feasts and good chear there is none of sound iudgement that know not that they are baits end allurements to vncleannesse and as it were instruments of bawdry by reason whereof they were alwaies condemned among men of honour and reputation whether Romans or Greekes and left for vile and base minded men to vse And this may appeare by the reproch that Demosthenes the oratour gaue to Philip of Macedonie and his courtiers in an oration to the Athenians wherein hee tearmed them common dauncers and such as shamed not assoone as they had glutted their bellies with meat and their heads with wine to fall scurrilously a daunsing As for the honourable dames of Rome truly wee shall neuer read that any of them accustomed themselues to daunce according to the report of Salust touching Sempronia whome hee iudged to bee too fine a dauncer and singer to be honourable withall as if these two could no more agree than fire and water Cicero in his apologie of Muraena Muraena rehearseth an obiection of Cato against his client wherein he chalenged him for dancing in Asia which he maketh a matter of so great reproch that not daring to maintaine or excuse the fact he flatly denieth it saying That no sober and discreet man euer would commit that fault vnlesse his sence and reason was bereft him Plutarch also setting forth the vertues of women putteth in this among the rest that she ought to be no dancer and speaking in a not her place to all others aswell as women biddeth them to repulse euen their friends if they should lead and entise them to that exercise Besides all the ancient Doctours of the Church haue vtterly condemned them as vnlawfull Thou learnest to sing prophane and idle songs saith Basil and forgettest the godly Psalmes and Hymns which were once taught thee thou caperest and leapest with thy feet in daunses vnwise as thou art when as thou shouldst rather bend thy knees in praier to the almighty but what gaine is got hereby Marry this that virgines return robbed of their Virginities and maried wiues of their troth to their husbands both and all lesse chast than they went and more dishonest then they should if not in act which peraduenture may bee yet stained in thought which cannot be eschewed Heare saith Chrisostome you maids and wiues which are not ashamed to daunse and trip it at others marriages and to pollute your sexes wheresoeuer a lasciuious daunce is daunced there the deuill beareth the other part and is the author of it It is better saith Ambrose to dig and delue vpoÌ„ holy daies than to dance And in another place writing to his sister he saith that he need not care for dissolute behauiours and songs which are vsed at marriages to make him merry with all for when banquets are concluded with daunces then is chastity in an euill case and in great danger to suffer shipwracke by those suspicious allurements Besides this Orig. lib. 1. contra Cels Can. 5. 52. dancing hath beene absolutely forbidden by consent of the whole church of Christ before time vnder paine of excoÌ„munication as it may appeare by the Constantinoplitane counsell vnder Iustinian the Emperour what answere can they make then to this that are Christians and allow of these forbidden sports Is it the denying of a mans selfe The spirituall regeneration The putting off the old man touching our conuersation in this life And if al adulterie vncleannesse Ephes 5.4 all filthinesse and foolish talking iesting and such like ought not once to bee named amongst vs because they are things not comely If I say it bee not lawfull to ieast or speake the least lasciuious word that is how shall it be lawfull to doe an action with the motion consent of the whole body which representeth nothing else but folly vanity and lasciuiousnes And this is for theÌ„ that demand where dancing is forbidden in the scripture which I touch as it were by the way and do but point at not minding to frame any long discourse therof seeing there is a particular treatise touching the same matter which hee may read that desireth to know any more touching it Now let vs see what goodly fruits and commodities haue risen therfrom The daughters of the children of Israell being dancing in Silo vpoÌ„ a feastiual day after the maner of the vncircumcised Idolaters were rauished by the Beniamites for to be their wiues Iudg. 11. and that mixtly without regard of one or other were they of neuer so high or base condition At the feast which Herod the Tetrarch made to the princes and captains and nobles
contenteth at the first but it infecteth all his possessions sucketh out the marrow of them ere it be long Seing theÌ„ it is so abhominable both by the law of God and nature let vs shun it as a toad and flie from it as a cockatrice but when these persuasions will not serue let them turne their eies to these examples following wherin they shal see the manifest indignations of God vpon it In the Bishopricke of Coline a notable famous Vsurer lying vpon his death bed readie to die mooued vp and downe his chops and his lips as if hee had beene eating something in his mouth D sâ—ipul de temporâ— and being demaunded what hee ear hee answered his money and that the Deuill thrust it into his mouth perforce so that hee could neither will nor choose but deuour it in which miserable temptation he died without any shew of repentance The same Author telleth of another Vsurer that a little before his death called for his bags of gold and siluer and offered them al to his soule vpon condition it would not forsake him but if hee would haue giuen all the world it could not ransome him from death wherefore when hee saw there was no remedie but hee must needes die hee commended his soule to the deuill to bee carried into euerlasting torments which wordes when hee had vttered hee gaue vp the ghost Another Vsurer being ready to die made this his last Will and testament My soule quoth he I bequeath to the Deuill who is owner of it my wife likewise to the Deuill who induced mee to this vngodly trade of life Iohannes Auglus and my Deacon to the Deuill for soothing me vp and not reprouing me for my faults and in this desperate persuasion he died incontinently Vsurie consisteth not onely in lending and borrowing but in buying and selling also and all vniust and craftie bargaining yea and it is a kind of Vsurie to detaine through too much couetousnesse those coÌ„modities from the people which concerne the publicke good and to hoord them vp for their priuate gaine till some scarsitie or want arise and this also hath euermore ben most sharply punished as by these examples may appeare About the yeare 1543 at what time a great famine and dearth of bread afflicted the world there was in Saxony a countrie peasant that hauing carried his corne to the market and sold it cheaper than hee looked for as hee returned homewards hee fell into most heauie dumpes and dolours of mind with greife that the price of graine was abated and when his seruants sang merrily for ioy of that blessed cheapenesse hee rebuked them most sharpely and cruelly yea and was so much the more tormented and troubled in mind by how much the more he saw any poore soule thankfull vnto God for it but marke how God gaue him ouer to a Reprobate and desperate sence Whilest his seruants rode before hee hung himselfe at the cart taile being past recouery of life ere any man looked backe or perceiued him A notable example for our English cormorants who ioine barne to barne and heap to heap and will not sell nor giue a handfull of their superfluitie to the poore when it beareth a low price but preserue it til scarsity and want come and then they sell it at their owne rate let them feare by this least the Lord deale so or worse with them Another couetous wretch when hee could not sell his corne so deare as hee desired said the mise should eat it rather then he would lessen one iot of the price thereof which words were no sooner spoken but vengeance tooke them for all the mise in the countrie flocked to his barnes and fields so that they left him neither standing nor lying corne but deuoured all this story was written to Martin Luther Luther vpon occasion whereof hee inueighing mightilie against this cruell vsurie of husbandmen told of three misers that in one yeare hung themselues because graine bore a lower price than they looked for adding moreouer that all such cruell and muddie extortioners deserued no better a doome for their vnmercifull oppression D. Pomeranus Another rich farmer whose barnes were full of graine and his stackes vntouched was so couetous withall that in hope of some dearth and dearenesse of corne hee would not deminish one heape but hoorded vp daily more and more and wished for a scarsitie vpon the earth to the end hee might enrich his coffers by other mens necessities this cruell churle reioiced so much in his abundance that euery day hee would goe into his barnes and feed his eies with his superfluity now it fell out as the Lord would that hauing supped drunke very largely vpon a night as hee went according to his custome to view his riches with a candle in his hand behold the wine or rather the iustice of God ouercame his senses so that hee fell downe sodainely into the mow and by his fall set on fire the corne being drie and easie to be incensed in such sort that in a moment all that which he had scraped togither and preserued so charily and delighted in so vnreasonably was consumed and brought to ashes and scarce hee himselfe escaped with his life Another in Mifina in the yeare 1559 hauing great store of corne hoorded vp refused to succour the necessitie of his poore and halfe famished neighbours Iob. Flucel li. 2. for which cause the Lord punished him with a strange and vnusuall iudgement for the corne which hee so much cherished assumed life and became feathered soules flying out of his barns in such abundance that the world was astonished thereat and his barnes left emptie of all prouision in most woonderfull and miraculous maner No lesse strange was that which happened in a Towne of Fraunce called Stenchansen to the gouernour of the Towne The same author who being requested by one of his poore subiects to sell him some corne for his money when there was none to be gotten els where answered hee could spare none by reason hee had scarce enough for his owne hogs which hoggish disposition the Lord requited in it owne kind for his wise at the next litter brought forth seuen pigs at one birth to increase the number of his hogs that as he had preferred filthy ougly creatures before his poore brethren in whome the image of God in some sort shined forth so hee might haue of his owne getting more of that kind to make much of since he loued theÌ„ so well Equall to all the former both in cruelty touching the person and miracle touching the iudgement The same was that which is reported by the same author to haue happened to a rich couetous woman in Marchia who in an extreame dearth of vittailes denied not onely to relieue a poore man whose children were ready to starue with famine but also to sell him but one bushel of corne when â—e wanted but a penny of hir price