a Bridge which he named there I would have â—illed thee and there thy Horse trod upon a Fly and â—illed it It seems Mr. Rothwells Horse stumbled at that â—lace the Devil having power to cause it though without â—urt either to Horse or Man Mr. Rothwell then said Thou hast often beguiled me I hope God will in time give me wisdom to discern and power to withstand all thy delusions and he it is that hath delivered me â—ut of thy hands and I doubt not will also deliver this poor Man The Devil then blasphemed fearfully and quoted many Scriptures out of the Old and New Testament â—oth in Hebrew and Greek cavilling and playing the â—ritick therewith and backing his allegations with sayings â—ut of the Fathers and Poets in there own Language which he quoted very readily so that the Company â—rembled to hear such things from one that understood â—o learning and neither moved tongue nor lip all the â—while but Mr Rothwell was wonderfully enabled by Divine Power to detect the Devils Sophistry upon which â—he Devil said What stand I talking with thee all Men know thou art bold Rothwell and fearest no body nor carest â—or words therefore I will talk to thee no more This name â—e carryed to his Grave for the People would say This â—s he whom the Devil called bold Rothwell Mr. Rothwell turning to the People said Good People you â—ee the goodness of our God and his great power though the â—Devil made a fool of me even now through my weakness God hath â—ade the Devil dumb now do but observe how the Man lies â—herefore let us go to Prayer and that God who hath made him â—umb will I doubt not drive him out of this poor man The Devil hereupon raged blasphemed and said â—nd wilt thou go to Prayer if thou dost I will make such a noise that thy Prayer shall be distracted and thâ— knowest God will not hear a distracted Prayer bâ— thou hast got a device because thou wilt not be distracted thou shuttest thy Eyes in Prayer for so he alwayâ— did but if thou pray I will pull out thy Eyes Rothwell I look to find thee as great an Enemy in this dâ—ty now as I have done heretofore but I fear not thy threats â— know thou art limited God heareth the Prayers of the uprighâ— and hath promised to give his Spirit to supply infirmities theâ— fore in confidence of his promise and powerful assistance of bâ— Spirit and in the name and intercession of his Son Jesus Chriâ— we will go to Prayer and accordingly they did so Mâ— Rothwell kneeling by the Bedside where the poor Mâ— lay the Devil for above a quarter of an hour madeâ— most horrible noise however Mr. Rothwells voice wâ— louder then his and a while after the Devil roared evâ— at the very face of Mr. Rothwell wherewith the Body 〈◊〉 the man moved and the hand was held up which was thâ— first time he stirred Mr. Rothwell took the hand held 〈◊〉 down with much ease two men being scarce able to hoâ— the other hand yet Prayers were still continued and length the Devil lay silent in the Man and soon after dâ— parted out of him the Man then fetched several deâ— sighs in somuch that they thought he had been dâ—ing but his colour suddenly returned to him and the 〈◊〉 of all his Members Senses and understanding and at 〈◊〉 next Petition to the Glory of God and amazement bâ— comfort of all the company he said Amen and so coâ—tinued to repeat Amen to every Petition Prayers aâ— hereupon now turned into Thanksgivings wherewiâ—â— the Company concluded After which John Fox said good Mr Rothwell leâ—â— me not I shall not live long for the Devil tells me he will choâ— me with the first bit of meat that Ieat Mr. Rothwell answâ—red Wilt thou believe the Devil that seeks thy destruction â—â—fore thou will trust in God through Jesus Christ that seeks tâ— Salvation hath not God by his Almighty Power dispossessâ— him had he had his will thou hadst been in Hell before now â— he is Lyar and as he is not able to hinder thy Souls life so neitâ— shall he be able to destroy the life of thy Body wherefore get me something saith he ready for him and I will see him eat before I go and will beg a blessing upon it When it was brought tat saith Mr. Rothwell and fear not the Devil and urged him to eat as being a means appointed by God to preserve life and quoted the example of Jairus's Daughter whom our Saviour after he had restored her to life Commanded to give her meat St. Luke 8.55 With much ado and great trembling at last he took and eat look you says Mr Rothwell you all see that the Devil is a Lyar the first bit hath not choaked him nor shall the rest Mr. Rothwell then left him after which he was struck dumb for three years together and continued to be tempted though no longer possessed at length by Prayer likewise which was instantly put up to God for him his mouth was opened and his speech restored to him at that very instant when a Minister praying for him in the Congregation where he was present used this expression Lord open thou his mouth that his lips may shew forth thy praise to which he presently answered Amen and so continued to speak and lived religiously and virtuously to his dying day Clarks Martyrol 2 p. 1. XIII In the year 1323 Frederick D. of Austria who was chosen Emp. against Lewis was overcome by Lewis in a great Battel and sent to be kept Prisoner in a strong Castle it fell out afterward that a Magician coming into Austria to Leopold his Brother promised that by his Art and the assistance of his Spirits he would free Frederick and within the space of an hour bring him into his presence if he would give him a good reward the Duke replied That if he performed his promise he would worthily reward him The Magician placed himself together with Leopold in a Circle and by Conjurations called up that Spirit that was wont to obey him who appearing in the shape of a man he commanded that he should speedily go and free Frederick and bring him to him into Austria without hurt the Spirit answered I shall willingly obey thy Commands if the Captive Prince will come with me this said the Spirit flew into Bavaria and in the form of a stranger came to the Prince to whom he said If thou wilt be freed from thy captivity mount this Horse and I will carry thee safe into Austria to Leopold thy Brother who art thou said the Prince Ask me not said the Spirit who I am for that is nothing to the purpose but do as I desire and I will perform what I say Which heard a certain horrour seized upon the Prince though otherwise a man of a bold Spirit so that blessing himself the Horse disappeared and returned to the Conjurer by whom he
WONDERFUL PRODIGIES OF Judgment and Mercy Discovered in Above Three Hundred Memorable Histories CONTAINING I. Dreadful Judgments upon Atheists Perjured Wretches Blasphemers Swearers Cursers and Scoffers II. The Miserable Ends of divers Magicians Witches Conjurers c. with several strange Apparitions III. Remarkable Presages of Approaching Death and of Appeals to Divine Justice IV. The Wicked Lives and Woful Deaths of Wretched Popes Apostates and Desperate Persecutors V. Fearful Judgments upon Cruel Tyrants Murderers c. with the Wonderful Discovery of Murders VI. Admirable Deliverances from Imminent Dangers and Deplorable Distresses at Sea and Land VII Divine Goodness to Penitents with the Dying Thoughts of several Famous Men concerning a Future State after this Life Impartially Collected from Antient and Modern Authors of undoubted Authority and Credit and Imbellished with divers Curious Pictures of several Remarkable Passages therein By R. B. Author of the History of the Wars of England and the Remarks of London c. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell next to Kemp's Coffee-house in Exchange-Alley over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1682. Wonderful PRODIGIES Discovered in above Three Hundred Memorable Historys By R. B. Devils of several Shapes in a Noblemans house in Germany pa. 20. London Printed for 〈◊〉 Crouch TO THE READER THIS small Treatise cannot be thought unseasonable in this Age wherein Atheism and Impiety doth so much ahound And as the Holy Scriptures which we ought first and principally to study and regard do sufficiently discover the Wonderful Judgments of the Almighty upon Prophane and Impenitent Sinners in former Ages so the Divine Justice hath not left it self without Witness in all Times since of the like severe Vengeance against them and since Examples commonly prevail upon Men more than Precepts this little Collection may by the Blessing of Heaven prevail upon some profligate Offenders to forsake their evil waies lest they themselves be likewise made Examples 〈◊〉 Monuments of God's Wrath and Displeasure And as the Judgments so likewise the Mercy and Goodness of God hath appeared in all Times Places towards those that put their Trust in him or have returned 〈…〉 sâ—rious and hearty Repentance of which 〈◊〉 have abundant Instances both in Scripture anâ— History and whereof I have likewise transcribed some few out of very Approved anâ— Credible Historians both Antient and Modern whose Names are added to every particulaâ— Relation that they may thereby obtain thâ— more Credit with the Reader who may her find in a small Manual and for a small Price what has been dispersed in several large Volumes and therefore I hope will not be unacceptable to the World Which is the hearty desire of R. B. CHAP. I. Dreadful Judgments upon Atheists Scoffers Blasphemers Swearers Cursers and Perjured Persons in several Terrible Examples NEver yet were any Nation or People so Barbarous who by the Instinct of Nature have not alwaies believed a certain Deity and the denying thereof was accounted so detestable absurd and contrary to Humane Reason even among the Antient Heathen that they reckoned it to be horrible Blasphemy The Athenians banished Protagoras both from their City and Country and caused his Books to be openly burnt because in one of them he seemed to doubt of a Deity ' Neither were they less severe toward Diagoras sirnamed The Atheist who being accused of Atheism fled for fear of punishment upon which they proclaimed That whosoever did kill him should have a Talent of Silver in Recompence which is as much as six hundred Crowns How much more then is the State of Christendom to be lamented which is generally infected with this Contagious Pestilence And how many bold and impudent Atheists are there in these Times who daringly and confidently deny the Providence of God! believe not the Immortality of the Soul think there is no such thing as a Life to come and consequently they live like Swine and brute Beasts in the world wallowing in all manner of Lusts and Sensuality But let such mad and brutish Wretches know that they shall one day be convinced of their folly when it is too late And they may likewise find by the following Instances which are of undoubted truth and certainty that the Divine Justice doth sometimes execute his severe Judgments upon them in this world and makes them Monuments of Vengeance for deterring others That they may hear and fear and do no more so wickedly I. A certain Blasphemous Wretch being drinking and merry at a Common Inn among his Companions asked them Whether they thought a man was possessed with a Soul or no To which some replyed That the Souls of Men were Immortal and that some of them after their release from the Body lived in Heaven and others were condemned to Hell as we are taught from the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles but he replyed and swore He did not believe the Soul did survive the Body but that Heaven and Hell were meer Fables invented by the Priests to get money and as for his part he would sell his Soul to any who would buy it Then one of his Companions took up the Cup and said Sell me thy Soul for this Cup of Wine which he consented to and drank it off Now the Devil himself was there in the shape of a man as he is commonly not far from such Debauchees who bought it again of the other man at the same price and soon after peremptorily demanded his Soul the whole company affirming it was fit he should have it since he bought it not knowing who it was that asked it But on a sudden this Infernal Merchant laid hold of this wretched Soul-Seller and carried him into the Air before them all toward his own Habitation to the great astonishment and amazement of the Spectactors and was never after heard of but no question found to his cost that men had Souls and that Hell was no Fable contrary to his prophane and sensless Opinion Discipul de temp Serm. 132. II. Not inferiour to the former was the Impiety of one not many years since in this Nation called Marlin a Scholar by Profession brought up from his Youth in the University of Cambridge and afterwards a scurrilous Poet and Play-maker who giving the Reins to his Wit and Fancy ran into such Extreams that he denied God and Jesus Christ and blasphemed the Trinity not onely in words but as it is credibly reported writ Books against it affirming our Saviour to be a Deceiver and Moses a Seducer of the People and the holy Scriptures to be but vain and idle Stories and all Religion to be only a Politick Cheat and Device But Heaven by an eminent Judgment stopt the mouth of this Blasphemer for it happened that as he intended to have stabbed a person whom he had malice against the other perceiving it avoided the stroke and withal catching hold of his wrist he stabbed in his own Dagger into his own head which wounded him in such a terrible manner
that notwithstanding all the help of Chirurgery he died soon after and that in a very sad condition for he cursed and blasphemed to the last gasp and his last breath passed out of his body with an horrid Oath to the terrour of all that beheld him and herein did the Divine Justice remarkably appear in that his own hand which had written those Blasphemies was made an Instrument to punish that head and brain which had wickedly devised them Beards Theatre III. In the year 1527. A young Italian esteemed a man very brave and valiant in Arms was to fight with another young man who because he was melancholy and spake very little was called Forchebene they went together with a great company to the Place appointed which was without the Port of St. Gall whither being come a friend to the former went to him and said God give you the Victory the proud young man adding blasphemy to his Temerity answered How shall he chuse but give it me They came to use their weapons and after many blows given and taken both by the one and the other Forchebene being become as the Minister and Instrument of God gave him a thrust in the mouth with such force that having fastened his Tongue to the Poll of his Neck where the Sword went thorow above the length of a Span he made him 〈…〉 the Sword remaining in his Mouth to the end that the Tongue which had so grievously offended might even in this world endure punishment for so horrible a sin L. Remys Consid c. 59. IV. Another of our own Nation is not to be overpassed who for Atheism may be compared to the former and for God's severe Judgment upon him may give place to none It was a Gentleman in Bark-shire whose Name I forbear to mention This man had a great Estate but was an open Scoffer and Contemner of all Religion a profest Atheist and a Scorner of the Word and Sacraments insomuch that I have heard it very credibly reported that being Witness to the Baptizing of a Child he would needs have it named Beelzebub He was likewise given to all manner of Debauchery keeping several notorious Strumpets openly in his House without shame He was so accustomed to Swearing that he could scarce speak without an Oath This miserable Man or rather Brute having continued long in this damnable course of life at last Divine Vengeance found him out for going one day a hunting with one of his Companions As they were discoursing of divers Idle Stories it pleased Almighty God to strike him with sudden death for falling suddenly on the Crupper of his Horse backward he was taken off stark dead with his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth in a very fearful manner and became a terrible Example of God's Justice against all wicked Atheists Beards Theatre V. Cluverius an Author worthy of credit who professeth that he had this Relation not only by hear-say but from Eye-witnesses who saw it gives this wonderful Account That in the Month of March 1632 there lived in the Borders of Muscovia a Noble-man by Office a gatherer of Tribute or Taxes by name Albertus Periâ—scius his manner was when poor men could not presently pay their Taxes to distrain upon their Cattle and drive them to his own home Now it came to pass that this Noble-man being from home lost all his unjust gains in one 〈…〉 for all his Cattle both those he had taken by Violence and what he had bought with his Money suddenly dyed This wretched man coming home was told â— his Wife and Servants what a fearful Judgment from God was befallen him whereat he began to rage and rave extreamly and taking his Musquet shot it up against Heaven breaking forth into these blasphemous speeches Let him that killed my attle devour them If thou wouldest not let me eat them eat them thy self Upon these furious barkings against God there fell some drops of blood and this wicked man was turned into a black Dog and howling he raâ— to the dead Cattle and began to feed upon them and for ought I know saith mine Author who wrote this story presently after is yet feeding upon them His Wife great with Child being astonished and terrified with the strangeness of God's Judgments shortly after died Clark's Exam. 1 Part. VI. Simon Churmay in 1201. having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity some of his familiar friends persuaded him to put it into writing that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost whereupon he proudly brake forth into this Atheistical speech O Jesule Jesule c. O little Jesus little Jesus how much have I confirmed and advanced thy Law in this Question but if I had a mind to deal crosly I know how with stronger Reasons and Arguments to weaken and disprove the same Which was no sooner spoken but he was strucken dumb and not only so but he became an Ideot and ridiculously foolish and was made a common hissing and mocking-stock to all that saw him Mat. Paris Not much unlike this is that of Michael a blasphemous Jew who as he was banquetting with his Companions fell to blaspheming Christ and his Mother boasting That he had gotten the Victory over the Christians God but as he went down Stairs out of the Room he fell down and brake his Neck Fincelius Miserable was the end of Perieres who writ a blasphemous Book wherein he openly mocked at God and all Religion for he fell into most desperate despair and notwithstanding strict watch was kept about him yet he killed himself 〈…〉 the year 1502. there lived one Hermanus Biswick a Grand Atheist and a notable Instrument of the Devil who affirmed That the World never had a beginning as foolish Moses dreamed and that there were neither Angels nor Devils nor Hell nor future a Life but that the Souls of Men perished with their Bodies and that Jesus Christ was nothing else but a Seducer of the People and that the Faith of Christians and whatever else was contained in the Holy Scriptures was meer vanity These Opinions full of Atheism and Impiety he was so hardened in that he constantly avouched them to the death and was for the same together with his Books deservedly burnt in Holland Theat Hist VII A certain Rich man at Halterstadt in Germany abounding with all manner of worldly happiness he gave up his whole Soul in delighting therein so that he had no sense of Heaven or Religion yea he was so Atheistical as to say That if he might lead such a life continually upon the Earth he would not envy those that enjoyed Heaven ner desire to exchange his condition with them But soon after it pleased God contrary to his expectation to cut him off by death and so the pleasures which he doated on came to an end But after his death there were seen such Diabolical Apparitions in his House that no man durst inhabit it so that it became desolate For every
day there appeared the Form of this Epicure sitting with a great many Guests drinking carousing and making good Cheer the Table being furnished seemingly with all manner of Delicacies and attended on by many Persons together with Fidlers Trumpeters and the like so that whatever he delighted in while he was alive was there daily to be seen God permitting Satan to deceive mens sight by such Appearances to deter others from living in such a course of Atheism and Impiety Theat Hist VIII At a Village called Benarides in Spain two young men one whereof was noted to be an outragious Swearer and Blasphemer of God's Holy Name being together in the Fields on a sudden there arose a terrible Tempest of Rain and Wind accompanied with so impetuous a Whirlwind that it amazed all that beheld it the two young men seeing it furiously coming toward them to avoid the danger ran away as fast as they could possible but notwithstanding their haste it overtook them and for fear it should carry them up into the Air they fell flat down upon the ground where the Whirlwind whilked about them for some time and then passed forward one of them arose so affrighted and in such an Agony that he was scarce able to stand on his feet the other lying still without motion some that stood under an hedge hard by came to see how he did and found him to be stark dead not without some wonderful symptoms of Divine Justice for all his bones were so crushed that the Joynts of his Legs and Arms were to be turned every way as though his whole Body had been made of Moss and besides his Tongue was pluckt out by the roots and could not by any means be found though it was diligently sought for and this was the miserable end of this wretched youth who was made an Example to the World of God's Vengeance against Swearers and Blasphemers Beards Theatre IX Mirtiques Governour of Brittany in France in the War against the Protestants persuaded them to yield to the King since their strong God had now forsaken them and scoffingly said It was time for them to sing Help us now O Lord for it is time but he soon found that their strong God was able to defend them and to confound the Proud he himself being presently after slain in the Siege Acts Mon. Remarkable is the Relation of one Libanius who was a Sophistical Atheist he being at Antioch demanded blasphemously of a Learned and Religious Shoolmaster What the Carpenters Son did and how he employed himself To whom the Schoolmaster full of the Divine Spirit replyed The Creator of the World whom thou disdainfully callest the Carpenters Son is making a Coffin for thee to carry thee to thy Grave at which the Sophister laughing went away and within few daies after died and was buried in a Coffin according to the Prophecy of that Holy Man Beards Theatre In the 〈…〉 an Arrian Bishop called Olympius being in the Baths of Carthage openly scoffed and blasphemed the Holy and Sacred Trinity but Lightning fell down from Heaven upon him three times wherewith he was burnt and consumed to Ashes There was also in the time of Alphonsus King of Arragon and Sicily in an Isle toward Africa a certain prophane Hermite called Antonius who impudently and impiously belched out blasphemous speeches against our Blessed Saviour and the Virgin Mary his Mother but he was struck with a most grievous and tormenting Disease so that he was eaten and gnawn to pieces with Worms till he died Aeneas Sylvius X. Neither hath Divine Vengeance left itself without witness against Cursers and those who by denying God give themselves to the Devil as may plainly appear â—y the following dreadful Examples A Souldier travelling through Marcia a Country of Almaign and finding himself not well went to an Inn where he lay to recover his health and delivered to his Hostess a certain sum of money which he had about him A while after being recovered of his Sickness he demanded his money again but the Woman upon consultation with her Husband denied the receipt of any and accused him of wronging her in demanding what she never received On the other side the Souldier was much enraged accusing her of cheating him when the Man of the House heard the noise though he was privy to all before yet he dissembling the matter took his Wife's part and thrust the Souldier out of doors who seeing himself thus abused drew his Sword and ran against the door with the point thereof whereat the Host began to cry out Thieves Thieves affirming that he would have entred his House by force and have robbed him whereupon the poor Souldier was taken and cast into Prison and by process of Law was ready to be condemned to death but the very day wherein this heavy Sentence was to be pronounced and Executed the Devil entred into the Prison and told the Souldier That he was condemned 〈…〉 dye nevertheless if he would give himself Body and Soul to him he would promise to deliver him out of their hands The Prisoner replyed That he had rather dye being innocent and without cause than to be delivered upon that account The Devil then represented to him the great danger of death wherein he was and used all manner of craft to delude him but finding all his Arguments uneffectual he at length left his suit but yet promised him both assistance and revenge upon his Enemies for nothing advising him when he came to his Tryal he should plead not guilty and declare his innocence and the wrong which he suffered and to entreat the Judge to grant him the favour That one in a Blew Cap who was in the Court might make his Defence for him now this one in the Blew Cap was the Devil himself The Souldier accepted his offer and being called to the Bar and Indicted of Felony he presently desired to have his Attorney who was there present to plead his Cause which being granted him this witty crafty Lawyer began very cunningly to defend his Client affirming him To have been falsly accused and consequently would be unjustly condemned and that his Host did withhold the money and had offered him violence and to demonstrate the Truth of what he asserted he reckoned up every Circumstance of the whole Action yea the very place where they had hid they money The Host on the other side very impudently denied all wishing withal That the Devil might take him Body and Soul if he had This subtil Attorney in the Blew Cap finding now the advantage which he had hitherto looked for left off his pleading and immediately seizing upon the Host carryed him out of the Sessions-House and hoisted him into the Air so high that he was never after seen nor heard of And thus was the Souldier wonderfully delivered from death to the astonishment of all the Beholders who were Eye-witnesses of this terrible Judgment upon this perjured cursing Host Wierus of Spirits lib. 3. XI
such cursed speeches this being but a taste of God's Divine Wrath which hath happened upon such Wretches as he Cyriaâ— Spangen XVI In the year 1557. the day before Good-Friday at Forchenum in Germany there was a certain Priest who was crooked in body and mind through Age and ill nature and likewise so infirm that he could not go but upon Crutches yet he would needs be carryed up into the Pulpit to Preach a Sermon his Text was in the Eleventh Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians from whence he took occasion to defend the Mass and other Errours of the Papists and then breaking forth into a rage he uttered these or the like blasphemous speeches Oh Paul Paul If thy Doctrine touching the Receiving of the Sacrament in both kinds be true and if it be a wicked thing to Receive it otherwise then would the Devil might take me and then turning to the People he said If the Pope's Doctrine concerning this Point be not true then am I the Devil's Bondslave neither do I fear to pawn my Soul upon it These and many other horrible words he used till the Devil came indeed tranâ—formed into the shape of a tall black man terrible of countenance and before him there was such a fearful noise and wind that the People were afraid the Church would have fallen on their heads but without doing the least hurt to any of the rest he only took away the Old Priest his Devoted Bondslave and carryed him so far that he was never heard of The Bishop of Rugenstine's Brother hardly escaped his hands for he came to fetch him but he defending himself with his Sword wounded his own body and very narrowly saved his life After this there were many Visions seâ—n about the City as Armies of Men seeming ready to enter and surprize them so that happy was he who could secure himself in a corner At another time the like noise was heard in the Church while they were Baptizing a Child and all this for the abominable cursing and blasphemy of the prophane Priest Beards Theatre XVII At Oster a Village in Germany there happened a most strange and fearful Judgment upon a Woman who gave her self to the Devil both Body and Soul and used horrible Cursings and Oaths both against her self and others which detestable Custom she practised upon all occasions but more especially at a Marriage in that Village upon St. John Baptist's day and though the whole company exhorted her to leave off that monstrous Villany yet she would not be persuaded but continued therein till all the People were set at Dinner and very merry when the Devil having got full possession of her suddenly appeared and taking her away before them all transported her into the Air with most horrible out-cryes and roarings and in that manner he carryed her round about the Town so that the Inhabitants were ready to die for fear and soon after tore her body into four pieces leaving a quarter of her in the four several high-waies that all who came by might be witnesses of her punishment and then returning to the Marriage he threw her bowels upon the Table before the Mayor of the Town with these words Behold these Dishes of Meat belong to thee whom the like destruction awaiteth if thou dost not amend thy wicked life The Reporters of this History were John Herman the Minister of that Town with the Mayor himself and all the Inhabitants they being desirous to have it known for Examples sake Beards Theatre XVIII Most dreadful is that Relation of Johannes Fincelius That in 1553. near Bellisina a City in Helvetia there were three prophane Wretches that played at Dice upon the Lord's Day without the Walls of the City one of whom called Vlrick Schaeterus having lost much Money and offended God by many cursed speeches at last expecting a good cast he brake forth into this horrible and blasphemous speech If fortune deceive me now I will thrust my Dagger into the very Body of God as far as I can and the cast miscarrying he immediately drew his Dagger and threw it up against Heaven with all his strength when behold the Dagger vanished out of sight and five drops of blood fell upon the Table in the midst before them and immediately the Devil came and carryed away this blasphemous Wretch with such a fury and noise that the whole City was amazed and astonished thereat the other two half distracted with fear strove with all their might to wipe away the drops of blood from the Table but all in vain for the more they wiped them the more clearly they appeared The rumour of this dreadful Accident soon flew into the City and multitudes flocked to the place where they found the two other Gamesters washing the Board whom by Order of the Senate they bound in Chains and carryed toward the Prison but by the way as they were going thorow the Gate of the City one of them was suddenly struck dead with such a number of Lice and Worms creeping out of him as was wonderful and loathsom to behold The Third to avert the Divine Indignation which seemed to hang over their heads the Citizens without any further Inquisition or Tryal put presently to death The Table with the spots of blood thereon was taken and reserved as a Monument of this fearful Judgment of the Almighty Clarks Examples 1 p. XIX It is notoriously known at Oundle in Northamptonshire that one William Hacket used upon occasion in earnest discourse to curse himself in this manner If it be not true then let a visible confusion come upon me and he wanted not his wish as appears by the following Relation In the year 2591. and the 33. of Queen Eliz. Edmand Coppinger and Henry Arthington two Gentlemen associating themselves with this Hacket who had formerly been a prophane and lewd Person but now pretended great Reformation these three ran into very strange and dangerous Opinions and at last came to think that this Hacket was anointed to be Judge of the World and coming to his Lodging one day in London Hacket told them that he had been anointed with the Holy Ghost then Coppinger asked what his pleasure was to command them Go saith he and proclaim in the City that Jesus Christ is come with his Fan in his hand to judge the Earth and if they will not believe you let them come and kill me if they can Coppinger answered That it should be done and thereupon he and Arthington ran immediately into the Streets and proclaimed their Message and when by reason of the confluence of People they could go no further they got up into two empty Carts in Cheapside crying Repent Repent for Jesus Christ is come to Judge the World And so pulling a Paper out of their bosoms they read out of it many things touching the Calling and Office of Hacket as how he represented Christ by taking part of his glorified Body c. They likewise called themselves
the foregoing dreadful Examples CHAP. II. The miserable ends of Magicians Conjurors and Witches with an account of Apparitions Possessions and other strange and wonderful Feats and Illusions of the Devil THat there are really Magicians Conjurers and Witches who have commerce and familiarity with evil Spirits is so clear and plain both from holy Scripture Councils Canon Civil Laws in all Nations that none but those Atheists who would endeavour to persuade themselves there are no Spirits and consequently no other Life after this ever denied it but since the reality of this converse with Demons and their appearances and Possessions has been so clearly demonstrated in former Ages but especially in this by persons of most acute judgment and Learning wherein they have fully answered all Objections to the contrary I shall not now ingage in the least in the controversy but shall only give an account of the miserable deaths of some Persons mentioned in History who were concerned in these cursed Arts and likewise of some remarkable Apparitions and actions of evil Spirits and their taking possession of the Bodies of several Persons and tormenting them with several other strange Feats and illusions of Satan as I have collected them from very credible and approved Authors together with the danger of those who are so vainly curious in knowing future events as to enquire or ask Counsel of any of these Sorcerers which is so strictly forbid in the Law of Moses I. Saul the first King of Israel being much disturbed in mind for fear of the Army of the Philistines which came against him would by all means know aforehand the issue of this doubtful War now whereas before whil'st he performed the duty of a good King and obeyed the Commandments of God he had cleansed his Realm of Witches and Inchanters yet he is now so sensless as in his extremity to ask Counsel of them adding this wickedness to all the rest of his Sins that the measure thereof might be full he went therefore to a Witch to know his Fate who caused a Devil to appear to him in the shape of Samuel and foretel him of Gods just Judgment upon him in the final ruine and destruction of himself and his Family An example not much unlike this in the Event we find recorded of Natholicus the 31 King of the Scots who after he had unjustly usurped the Crown and Scepter and by much blood-shed had obtained the Throne of that Kingdom without any legal Right or Title thereunto he endeavoured by the same means to confirm and establish the Government to himself and therefore as guilt is always accompanied with suspition and sear he sent one of his trustiest Servants to a Witch to enquire of things to come both how long he should enjoy the Crown and how many years he should live the Witch answered That he should not live long but should shortly be murdered not by his Enemy but by his familiar Friend and when the Messenger was very earnest to know who should kill him she answered He himself should do it the man at first heard this with detestation abhorring the thought of any such Villany yet at length considering that it was not safe to discover the Witches answer and on the other side that it could not be long concealed he resolved for his own security rather to kill the Tyrant with the favour of many than to save him alive with the hazard of his own head therefore as soon as he was returned home he desired the King that he might speak with him in private about the Witches answer there he suddenly slew him gave him his just desert both for his horrible cruelty and wicked Sorcery let all those that make no conscience of running to Witches either for lost goods reconvery of their own or Friends health or upon any other occasion remember this example either for their instruction to amend or for their terrour if they continue that devilish practice Buchan Hist Scot. lib. 4. II. As divers very worthy Authors have credibly related several wicked actions committed by Magicians Witches so some of them have recorded the manner of their entring themselves into that cursed profession and the Ceremonies thereof as they have been discovered by those who have renounced those detestable practices which it may not be improper here briefly to relate The Wizards and Witches being met at a place and time appointed the Devil there appears to them in human shape admonishing them to be faithful and promising them success and length of Life then those that are present recommend the Person who is to be entred the Devil then requires him to renounce the Christian Faith and Sacraments and giving him his hand tells him that this alone is not sufficient but that he must worship him likewise and give himself to him Body and Soul for ever and bring as many as possibly he can into the same Society and that he must prepare himself certain Ointments and then be confirmed therein Manlius writes that in the Year 1553 Two Witches stole a Neighbours Child and murdering it cut it in pieces and put it into a Kettle to boil when the sorrowful Mother looking for her Infant came by chance into the house found the Limbs thereof horribly consumed for which abominable Fact the Authors of it were burnt having confessed this their villany Another Author says two other Witches are reported to have killed abundance of Children and that in Germany Eight Witches were taken who confessed they had murdered an hundred forty and five Children in making their Ointments they are also reported to have each of them a Spirit or Imp attending on them who are to assist and obey them in all things and to give them notice of their solemn Meetings or appointments at which time it is said they separate themselves from all company and night being come they strip themselves naked ane anoint themselves with their Ointments then are they carried out of the house either by the window door or Chimney mounted on their Imps to their meeting place which is sometimes many hundred miles from their dwellings where they find great numbers of Wizards and witches arrived by the same means who all make their accustomed reverence to Lucifer in his Throne adoring him proclaiming him their Lord and rendring him all honour as their King this Solemnity being finished they fit at Table where no delicate meats are wanting to please their appetites after which they dance and the Incubusses in the shape of proper men satisfy the lusts of the Witches and the Succubusses serve for Whores to the Wizards sometimes at their solemn Assemblies the Devil commands each to tell what wickedness he hath done and according to the detestableness thereof he is honoured and applauded these and many other such wonderful things are mentioned by Authors of good credit and several Persons have made Confession and given an account thereof III. In the year 1645. One Rebecca
about her That that Woman was but a dead Carkass carryed about by the Devil and presently he took from under her right Arm-pit the charm which he had no sooner done but she fell down a dead Carcass Phil. Melanct. X. Not long since at Stetin an University of Pomerania there was a young Student who upon some discontent gave himself to the Devil and made a Bond upon the Contract which that it might not come to the knowledge of any he laid up in one of his Books but it pleased God some time after that another Student wanting that Book upon some occasion knew not where to get it at last he remembred that such an one had it and thereupon went to him and borrowed it of him the young men having forgotten that he had put his Bond into it The other when he came home began to turn over the Book and there met with the Bond and reading of it was much affrighted and not knowing what to do he went to Doctor Cramerus Professor of Divinity in that University to ask his Advice who wished him to keep the Bond the other replyed he durst not then said the Doctor Bring it to me and I well keep it Some few nights after as the Doctor was in his Study the Devil came rapping at his Study door saying Cramer Cramer Give me my Bond for it belongs to me and thou hast nothing to do with it To whom the Doctor answered Satan Satan Thou shalt not have the Bond thou hast nothing to do with it I have put it where thou canst not fetch it for it is in my Bible at the third Chapter of Genesis where these words are The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head Upon which the Devil went his way taking the Chamber window with him and the young man never heard of him afterward Beards Theatre XI A young man at Wittenburg in Saxony being kept short of Money by his Father was tempted by the Devil to yield himself Body and Soul to him upon condition to have his wishes satisfied and his necessities supplied which he being pinched with want consented to and confirmed it by a Bond written with his own Blood But presently after he began to decay in his bodily health and being thereupon brought to Martin Luther and by him examined he at length confessed the whole matter to him which when Luther heard he Assembled the whole Congregation together and all of them joyned together and prayed for him whereby the Devil at last was forced to bring the Bond and to throw it into the window amongst them bidding the young man to take it to him again On a time as Luther was walking in his Garden the Devil appeared to him in the likeness of a black Boar but he slighting him and not regarding him he vanished away Luther likewise telleth us That when he was lodged in the Castle of Warteburg in a Chamber far from any Company he was many times molested by noises made by the Devil in his Chamber and on the Stairs But I saith he Encountred him with that sentence Omnia subjectisti pedibus ejus Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet and so I laid me down and slept in safety Another of the German Divines in Luther's Time as he was sitting at his Book in his Study the Devil appeared looking over his shoulder which the Minister perceiving took a piece of Paper and writ in it The Son of God came to destroy the works of the Devil and so holding up that Paper he immediately vanished Luther Colloq Mensal XII In the Life of Mr. Richard Rothwell a famous Preacher at Mansfield in the County of Nottingham about the year 1627. we have this remarkable Account as it was drawn up by Mr. Stanly Gower of Dorchester There was one John Fox living about Nottingham who had no more Learning than enabled him to Write and Read this Man was possessed with a Devil who would violently throw him down and take away the use of every Member of his Body which was changed as black as Pitch while those Fits were upon him and then spake with an audible voice within him which seemed sometimes to sound out of his Belly sometimes out of his Throat and sometimes out of his Mouth his Lips not moving and thus he continued for a considerable time many prayers were put up to God for him and great resort was made to him especially by several famous Ministers as Mr. Bernard of Batcomb Mr. Langly of Truswell and others betwixt whom and John Fox there passed many Papers in Writing he discovering his Temptations and they writing him Answers because he was struck dumb as ye shall find afterwards Among the rest Mr. Rothwell went to see him and before he came the Devil told all that were in the House of it saying Yonder comes Rothwell but I will make a fool of him before he goes whereupon the People looked out and saw him coming about a quarter of a mile from the House As soon as he entred the Room the Devil said Now Rothwell is come and as some say added Thou sayest there is no Possession What thinkest thou now Here is a man opens not his lips and yet he speaketh And after a while he said Say nothing to me of this man for I tell thee he is damned and he added thereto many fearful Blasphemies Rothwell Thou art a Lyar and the Father of Lyes nor art thou so well acquainted with the mind of God concerning this man which makes thee thus to torment him therefore I believe thee not I believe he shall be saved by Jesus Christ Devil He is a Murderer and thou knowest no Murderer must come into Heaven Rothwell Thou lyest again for David murdered and is in Heaven and the Jews with wicked hands crucified the Lord of Glory yet Christ prayed for them And St. Peter exhorted them to Repentance that their sins may be hlotted out Devil But this man hath not cannot shall not Repent Rothwell If he had not Repented thou wouldest not have told him so but if he have not I believe God ' will give him Repentance and thou shalt not be able to hinder it Devil Thou art a Murtherer thy self ' and yet talkest thou thus Rothwell Thou lyest again I have fought the Lords Battels against his known Enemies the Idolatrous and bloody Papists in Ireland Rebels to Queen Elizabeth my Sovtreign by whose Authority I bore Arms against them otherwise I have killed no man nehT the Devil swore and Blasphemed saying thou â—â—dst murther one this day as thou camest hither and â—here is one behind thee that will justify it upon which Mr. Rothwell looking over his shoulder the Devil set up â—n hideous laughter that nothing could be heard for a great while and then said look you now did not I tell â—ou I would make Rothwell a Fool and yet it is true â—hou didst murther one this day for as thou camest oâ—ver such
was chid for not bringing with him the Prisoner he told him all that had passed At last Frederick was freed out of Prison and confessed that upon the same day the same thing had happened to him But Leopold saith Camerarius was so affrighted with the Spirit he had seen that within a while after he died Camerarius Hor. Subses XIV In a Treatise called Speculum Historiae we have this strange Relation An old Witch who had been very famous in her time for her Inchantments kept a Jackdaw which at a certain time spoke at which the Woman let fall her Knife as she was at Dinner and grew extream pale and at length after many sighs and groans she broke forth into these words This day my Plough is come to its last period and I shall certainly suffer some great evil Whilst she thus spoke a Messenger brought word that her Son was dead upon which news she fell immediatly sick and sending for her other two Children who were a Monk and a Nun she with abundance of tears spake thus to them I have by my wretched Fate followed Witâ—â—â—raft these many years and have given my Self Body and Soul to the Devil who as he was the Author of this my wickedness by persuading me to it so he will likewise be the punisher thereof I desire you therefore that you would not cease to pray for me while I am alive for I doubt the destruction of my Soul is irrevocable You shall also sow up my Body in a Buck-Skin and put it into a stone Coffia making fast the top with Lead and besides you shall bind it with three great Chains and if I lye securely three daies the fourth you shall bury me Moreover let there be sung and said for me Psaims and Prayers for fifty nights All these things her two Children performed but it prevailed nothing for the first two nights when the Monks began to sing Hymns about the Body the Devils opened the Church doors which were shut with a great Bar and broke two Chains but the middlemost remained whole the third night the noise of those Demons who came to fetch the Body was so great that the very Foundation of the Church was shaken But one Devil more terrible in shape than the rest broke open the door and went toward the Coffin commanding the Body to arise which answered It could not for the Chain Thou shall be delivered replyed he from that hinderance and going to the Coffin he broke the Chain and with his foot thrust off the covering then taking the Woman by the hand he led her out of the Church in the presence of them all to the door where stood a black Horse ready and proudly neighing upon which the Woman was placed and all the Company of Devils went away with her through the Air their noise being so great that the Inhabitants thereabouts were no less astonished than the beholders Spe. Hist lib. 26. XV. About the year 1644 the Lord Grandison a Scottish Nobleman took up his Habitation for some time at Berwick upon Tweed and brought his Family with him in which among others was the Steward of his House who was a very Religious man But was then very much afflicted in mind Among others Mr. Robert Balsom a very zealous Minister in those parts came to visit him and for the present somewhat satisfied him but two or three daies after being againg sorely afflicted Mr. Balsom was sent for who finding him Very much weakened by the violence of this Destemper of mind began to speak comfortably to him but perceiving he could fasten nothing upon him he whispered to him in his Ear to this purpose I doubt there is something within which you would do well to discover Hereupon the Man's Tongue swelled immediately and came out of his mouth so that he was not able to speak Mr. Balsom continued to discourse with him till at length to the astonishment of all that were in the Room who were many and some of them Persons of good Quality a shrill voice was heard as coming out of his Throat without any motion of his Tongue saying What dost thou talk to him of Promises and Free Grace He is mine Mr. Balsom apprehending it to be the voice of the Devil replyed No Satan thou dost not know any man to be thine while there is life in him Satan But this is a notorious wicked wretch and therefore he is mine Balsom Yet the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin Satan If God would let me loose upon you I should find enough in the best of you to make you all mine Balsom But thou art bound Satan and so turning himself to the standers by he said with a cheerful countenance What a gracious God have we that suffers not Satan to have his will upon us The Devil hereupon began to curse swear and to blaspheme the Blessed Trinity in a most searful and horrible manner to whom Mr. Balsom said The Lord rebuke thee Satan Satan But this Man is mine for he hath given himself to me and sealed it with his own Blood Balsom I do not believe that the Father of Lyes speaketh Truth and I do believ e how consident soever thou art that thou wilt lose thy hold before to morrow morning The Devil then continued to curse and swear abominably and said How canst thou endure to hear thy God thus blasphemed I will never give over blaspheming as long as thou stayest in the Room Balsom I will pray for the Man Satan Wilt thou pray for a Man that is damned Balsom I will go home and pray for him and get all the force I can in the Town to joyn with me After this there being no voice any more heard Mr. Balsom went home about Eleven of the Clock at night where he found in his House divers Christian Friends which he intended to have sent for waiting for him and upon the fight of them he spoke to this purpose Friends I wonder at thâ— Brovidence of God in bringing you hither at this time for otherwise I must have sent for you and so declaring to them what had befallen the afflicted Person he desired them to joyn their Prayers with his on his behalf which they continued for some part of the night And the next morning Mr. Balsom going to visit him again found him in a very comfortable condition and asking him how he did he answered Through the Goodness of God I have overcome Satan and am now as full of Comfort as I was before of Trouble Thus he continued cheerful though very weak all that day and the next morning died no Disease being apparent on him Clarks Martyr XVI Strange is the Relation of the Devil of Mascon in France as it is translated by Dr. Peter du Moulin at the Request of the Honourable Robert Boyle Esquire who was fully satisfied of the certainty and reality thereof that in the year 1612 one Monsieur Perreaud a Protestant Minister being
that his dream had nothing in it he returns both to his bed and sleep when the same Person appears to him the second time all bloody and requested him earnestly That seeing he had neglected him as to the preservation of his life yet at least â—e would not be wanting to him in the revenge of his death declaring That he was murdered by his Host and that at this very time he was carried out in a Cart toward the Gate of the City covered over with Dung The Man overcome with these intreaties of his Friend immediately runs out to the Gate where he finds the Cart he had seen in his dream which he seizes and searching it finds there the body of his Friend and drags the Inn-keeper to his deserved punishment Dr. More Immortal Soul XII Mr. Morison an English Gentleman in his Travels gives this Relation whil'st I lived at Prague and had sate up very late one night drinking at a Feast early in the morning the Sun-beams glancing on my Face as I lay in my Bed I dreamed that a shadow passing by me told me That my Father was dead at which awaking all in a sweat and affected with this dream I arose and wrote the day and hour and all circumstances thereof in a paper book which book with many other things I put into a barrel and sent it from Prague to Stode thence to be conveyed into England And now being at Newemburgh a Merchant of a Noble Family well acquainted with me and my Relations arrived there who told me that my Father dyed some months past I design not to write any lies but that which I write is as true as strange when I returned into England some four years after I would not open the Barrel I sent from Prague nor look into the paper book in which I had written this dream till I had called my Sisters and some other Friends to be witnesses where my self and they were astonished to see my written dream answer the very day of my Fathers death Morisons Travels p. 1. XIII The night before Heury the Second King of France was slain Queen Margret his Wife dreamed That she saw her Husbands Eye put out there were Justs and Turnaments at that time into which the Queen besought her Husband nor to enter because of her dream but he was resolved and there did great things when all was almost now done he would needs run a tilt with a Knight who refused him his name was Montgomery but the King was bent upon it whereupon they broke their Launces to Shivers in the encounter and a splinter of one of them struck the King so full into the Eye that he thereby received his deadly wound It is observed of this King That one Ann du Bourg a Noble Councellor and a man of singular understanding and knowledge making a Speech before him a little before his Death in defence of the Protestant Religion and against persecuting the Professors thereof he therein rendred thanks to Almighty God for moving the King's heart to be present at the decision of so weighty a Cause as that of Religion was and humbly entreated him to consider thereof it being the Cause of Christ himself which of good Right ought to be maintained by Princes c. But the King instead of hearkning to his good Advice was so far incensed against him that he caused him to be apprehended by the Count of Montgomery Constable of France and to be carryed to Prison protesting to him in these words These Eyes of mine shall see thee burnt and presently after he sent a Commission to the Judges to make his Process In the mean time great Feasts were preparing in the Court for Joy of the Marriages that should be of the King's Daughter and Sister The day whereof being come the King imployed all the Morning in examining the President and other Councellors of the Parliament against Du Bourg and other of his Companions who were charged with the same Doctrins intending to glut his Eyes in seeing his Execution but that very Afternoon he received that fatal blow in his Right Eye which so pierced his head that his brains were perished which wound dispising all means of cure killed him within eleven daies whereby his hope of seeing Du Bourg burned was frustrated Clarks Martyr P. 231. XIV There was one who dreamed that he was bitten to death by a Lion of Marble that was set at the entrance of the Temple and being the next morning to go to that Temple and beholding the Marble Statue of the Lion he jeastingly told his dream to those that went with him and putting his hand into the Lions mouth he said laughing Bite now my valiant Enemy and if thou canst kill me He had scarce spoke the words when he was stung to death with a Scorpion that there lay hid and thereby unexpectedly found the Truth of his dream Crescentius the Popes Legate at the Council of Trent 1552 was busie writing Letters to the Pope till it was late in the night whence arising to refresh himself he saw a black Dog of a vast bigness flaming Eyes and Ears which hung down almost to the ground enter the room which came directly toward him and laid himself down under the Table frighted at the sight he called his Servants in the Antichamber and commanded them to look for the Dog but they could find none The Cardinal hereupon fell Melancholy and afterward sick dying in a short time at Verona crying out on his death-bed Drive away the Dog that leaps upon the Bed Wanly Hist Man XV. In the year 1154. Frederick Aenobardus being Emperour of Germany Henry Archbishop of Mentz a pious and peaceable man but not able to endure the dissolute Manners of the Clergy under him determined to subject them to sharp censure but while he thought of this he himself was by them before-hand accused to Pope Eugenius the Fourth The Archbishop sent Arnoldus his Chamberlain to Rome to make proof of his Innocency but the Traitor deserted his Lord and instead of defending him traduced him there himself The Pope sent two Cardinals as his Legates to Mentz to determine the cause who being bribed by the Canons and Arnoldus deprived Henry of his Bishoprick with great scorn and ignominy and substituted Arnoldus in his stead Henry bore all patiently without appealing to the Pope which he knew would be to no purpose but openly declared That from their unjust Judgment he made Appeal to Christ the Just Judge there said he will I put in my Answer and thither I cite you The Cardinals jeastingly replyed When thou art gone before we will follow thee About a year and an half after the Archbishop Henry died upon the hearing of his death both the Cardinals said Lo he is gone before and we shall follow after But their Jeast proved in earnest for both of them died in one and the same day one in an House of Office and the other gnawing off
done yet the Gate of Mercy is not quite shut heap not sin upon sin lest thou repentest when it is too late Now was Spira in a Maze not knowing which way to turn and when he came home he acquainted his Friends with what he had done at Venice and what he had promised to do there and how the terrours of God on the one side and the terrours of the World on the other did continually torment him they without more ado advised and by divers Arguments persuaded him to do what he had promised whereupon going to the Mayor he offered to do what was enjoyned him by the Legate but all that night the miserable Man was vexed with restless cares without a minute of sleep yet the next morning he gets up and desperately went into the publick Congregation and in the presence of the whole Assembly he recited his infamous abjuration of the Protestant Profession after which he was fined thirty pieces of Gold and so restored to his Dignities Goods Wife and Children As soon as he was departed he thought he heard this dreadful Sentence Thou wicked wretch thou hast denied me thou hast renounced the Covenant of thine Obedience thou hast broken thy Vow hence Apostate bear with thee the Sentence of thine Eternal Damnation Spira trembling and quaking afflicted in body and mind fell down in a swound and from that time forward he never found any ease or peace in his mind but professed That he was captivated under the revenging hand of the Almighty God that he continually heard the Sentence of Christ the just Judge against him when his Friends brought him able Physicians he said Alas poor men how far are you wide it is neither Plaister nor Drugs that can cure a wounded Soul cast down with the sense of Sin and the Wrath of God it 's Christ only that must be the Physician and the Gospel the sole Antidote he was about fifty years of Age his understanding active quick of apprehension witty in discourse above his ordinary manner he refused nourishment which his Friends forcing upon him he was very angry crying out You strive to make me tire out this misery I would fain be at an end O that I were gone from hence that some body would let out this weary Soul One asked what he conceived to be the cause of his disease upon which he brake out into a lamentable discourse of the passages formerly related and that with such passionate expressions as made many weep and most tremble his Friends minded him of several promises out of the Scripture and of many examples of Gods Mercy My Sins saith he are greater than the Mercy of God for I am one of those damned Reprobates whom God would not have to be saved since I willingly and against my knowledge denied Christ and I feel that he hardens me and will not suffer me to hope one time seeing a knife on the Table he snatched it up to have mischieved himself had not his Friends prevented it whereupon he said I would I were above God for I know that he will have no mercy upon me in this condition he lay about eight weeks in a continual burning neither desiring nor receiving any thing but by force and that without digestion was like an Anatomy vehemently raging for drink ever pining and yet fearful to live long dreadful of Hell yet coveting Death in a continual Torment yet his own Tormentor and thus consuming himself with Grief and Horrour Impatience and Despair like a living Man in Hell he represented an extraordinary example of Gods Justice and Power and thus he ended his miserable life Clarks Mirrour XXXI It is observable that most or all of those Roman Emperors who raised those ten horrid Persecutions against the Christians came to very untimely ends neither hath Divine Justice spared others since who have set themselves to destroy poor innocent Christians meerly upon the account of their Religion of which Histories give many remarkable instances and among the rest these that follow A Councillor of the Parliament of Provence in France was so furious against the poor Protestants that the sooner to dispatch them to the fire he usually staid in the Judgment Hall from morning till night causing his meat and drink to be brought him thither but whilst he was thus wickedly industrious in these Affairs there began a little sore to rise upon his Foot which at first was no more than if a Wasp had stung the place yet increased so extreamly the first day with redness and pain that his whole foot was inflamed therewith so that it was judged incurable unless he would cut off his foot and thereby save the rest of his Body which he not yielding to the next day his whole leg was infected the third day his thigh and the fourth his whole body was inflamed of which he presently died his Corps being all parched as if rosted by a Fire thus he that was so hot in burning poor Christians was himself by the secret flame of Gods Wrath burnt and consumed to death as if it had been by a fierce and tormenting fire Hist France lib. 2. XXXII John Mesnier Lord of Oppede was another chief instrument against the Protestants in France and led his murthering Army against them where they committed such horrid Cruelties and Barbarities as the most outragious Heathens in the world would have blushed at insomuch that abundance of complaints were made against him and he accordingly summoned to appear personally before the Parliament at Paris there to answer those Murders Extortions Robberies and other Villanies laid to his Charge but being Convicted and found Guilty thereof he was not only released but restored to his former Estate but though he escaped the hands of Men yet he was overtaken by the hand of God for when he was in the height of worldly prosperity and busier than ever in persecuting the distressed Protestants even then a flux of blood came through his privy parts which engendred a carnosity and thickness of flesh therein and thereby hindered his Urine so that with horrible outcries and raving speeches he gave up the Ghost feeling as it were a burning fire broyling his Intrails from his Navil upwards and an extream infection putrifying his lower parts and beginning to tast even in this life as it were that vengeance of Eternal Fire both in Soul and Body which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels Hist France XXXIII The Cardinal of Lorrain a Principal Pillar of the House of Guise in France and a crafty and cruel Persecutor of the Protestants as he was coming from Rome with a design to stir up the Kings of France and Poland utterly to root them out of their Dominions it pleased God for the deliverance of the Christians to strike him stark mad at Avignion by the way where he died in the flower of his youth at the instant of whose death there happened such an horrible Tempest that all the People
which Preacheth Christ must alwaies have a Tongue to be the Minister The Captain at this grew even distracted suspecting that the Hangman had deceived him by some slight of hand and had not cut his Tongue off If you suppose so saith the Executioner open his mouth and you may see the Roots of his Tongue Whereupon the Captain being even confounded at the courage and constancy of the Martyr commanded him to be brought back to Prison and to be strangled where his sorrowful life and pains ended together and he received the Crown of Martyrdom Acts and Monuments 1 Part. About this time one Gordius a Centurion upon professing himself to be a Christian was apprehended and boldly acknowledged That he believed in Christ and valued not what they could inflict on him for this his Profession then did the Sheriff call for Scourges Gibbets and all manner of Torments to whom Gordius said That it would be a loss and damage to him if he did not suffer divers torments and punishments for Christ and his Cause The Sheriff more incensed hereby commanded all those torments to be inflicted on him with which Gordius was nothing disturbed but sung The Lord is my helper I will not fear what Man can do unto me I will fear no evil because thou Lord art with me Then he blamed the Tormentors for favouring of him provoking them to do their utmost the Sheriff not prevailing that way sought by flattery to seduce him promising him Preferment Riches and Honour if he would deny Christ but Gordius derided him as foolishly mad saying That he looked for greater preferment in Heaven than he could give him here on Earth He was then condemned and carryed out of the City to be burnt multitudes followed him and some kissing him intreated him with Tears to pity himself to whom he answered Weep not I pray you for me but weep for the Enemies of God who fight against the Christians weep I say for them who prepare a fire for us purchasing Hell fire thereby for themselves in the day of vengeance and cease I pray you thus to molest my setled and quiet mind for truly for the name of Christ I am ready to suffer a thousand deaths Others persuaded him to deny Christ with his mouth and to keep his conscience to himself My Tongue saith he which by God's goodness I have cannot be brought to deny the Author and giver of the same for with the heart we believe unto Righteousness and with the Tongue we confess unto Salvation And thus persuading and incouraging the People to be willing to die in the like Cause with an unappaled countenance he gave up his body to the Flames Acts and Monuments 1. P. Menas also a Souldier by profession forsook all and went into a Desart where he gave himself to Fasting Prayer Meditation and Reading of the Scriptures at last returning into the City of Cotis when the People were at their pastimes he with a loud voice proclaimed himself to be a Christian and thereupon was carryed before the President and being demanded concerning his Faith he said It is convenient that I confess God in whom is light and no darkness For with the heart we believe to Righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation Then he was tormented with divers Tortures which he regarded not saying There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the Kingdom of Heaven neither is all the world if it were weâ—ghed in a ballance comparable to the price of one soul And farther said Who can separate us from the Love of Christ Can Tribulation or Auguish c. And again I have learned of my Lord Christ not to fear them that can kill the Body and have no power to kill the Soul Having endured a multitude of Torments he received Sentence of Death and at the place of Execution he said I give thee thanks my Lord God who hast aceepted me to be a partaker of thy precious Death and hast not suffered me to be devoured of my fierce Enemies but hast made me constant in thy True Faith unto the end And so he lost his Head but found a Crown of Glory Acts and Monuments 1. P. Amongst others forty young Gentlemen that were Souldiers freely confessed themselves to be Christians declaring to the Marshal their names who being amazed at their boldness was in doubt what to do he endeavoured with flatteries and promises of preferment to win them persuading them to consider their youth not to change a pleasant life for a painful untimely death But they couragiously replied They neither desired money honour nor life but only the Coelestial Kingdom of Christ for the love of which they were ready to endure the Wheel Cross Fire or any other Torment The Marshal being much offended herewith devised a new Torment for espying a Pond in the Street that lay open to the North-wind it being in the cold Winter time he caused them to be put into it all night but they being joyful comforted one another as they put off their Cloaths saying We put not off now our Old Cloaths but our Old Man corrupted with the deceits of concupiscence for which we bless and praise God for by means of the Serpent we once put on the Old Man but by the means of Jesus Christ we now put him off Then were they brought naked and put into the vehement cold water where they were kept till the morning so that all their Members were stark and stiff therewith and as soon as it was day they having breath yet remaining in them were brought to the fire wherein they were consumed to Ashes which were thrown into the Flood It happened that one of the company being more lively and not so near death as the rest the Executioners pitied him and delivered him to his Mother who stood by to save his life but she led him to the piles of Wood where the other starved creatures lay ready to be burnt admonishing and exhorting him to accomplish the Blessed Journey he had taken in hand which accordingly he did and was burnt with his Companions Acts Monu A noble Virgin also named Eulalia suffered about this time she was not above twelve years of Age and had great offers of Marriage made to her but she observing the courage of the Christians was very desirous to join her self with them for which end she prayed fervently to God for strength and faith to enable her thereunto but her Religious Parents fearing that her zeal might make her guilty of her own death kept her close at their Country house a great way from the City where she continued for a while but at last detesting any delay she went from her Fathers house by night and travelled all alone through by-ways with much danger and weariness toward the City whither she came in the morning and going before the Judge with a loud voice she said What ashame is it for you thus wickedly to
take away mens lives by dashing their Bodies to pieces against the Rocks and all manner of Cruelties and also to endeavour to destroy their Souls by compelling them to deny the Omnipotent God! would you know O you ignorant Souls what I am behold I am a Christian and an Enemy to your devilish Sacrifices I scorn and despise your Idols and tread them under my feet and acknowledge only God Almighty the Creator of Heaven and Earth and Jesus Christ his only Son and the Saviour of the World but what are your Gods but dead Idols and the works of Mens hands c. Come on therefore and let the Hangman burn cut and mangle this poor mortal Carkass 'T is very easy to break and destroy a weak brittle perishing body but the mind and soul you cannot touch with all that you can do the Judge enraged herewith said to the Executioner Take her and pull her out by the hair of the head to torments let her feel the power of our Gods and know what we can do but yet O sturdy Girl I would fain have thee before thou diest to recant this thy wickedness and to save thy self from a wretched death consider what pleasures thou maist enjoy in the House of thy Honourable Parents consider the Lamentations and Tears of thy miserable Family and Relations which by thy perverseness will be brought to ruine consider that thou art now in thy Youth in the very flower of thine Age in the way to Honour and Preferment by an Honourable Marriage agreeable to thy Quality and Estate do not these glistering Glories and the delights of the Marriage-Bed move thee doth not the sorrow and extream grief of thy dear Parents encline thee to pity thy self and them Yea who is there almost that doth nonlament thy madness and folly If this doth not prevail yet consider the terrible death that thou art like to suffer consider what variety of torments are prepared for thee for thou shalt either be beheaded by this Sword or thou shalt be torn in pieces by the teeth of wild Beasts or else thou shalt be thrown alive into the burning flames and there only attended with the lamentable bewailings of thy friends and kindred shalt be consumed to ashes Now how easy and small a matter is required of thee to avoid all this punishment for if thou wilt but take a little Salt and Incense between thy fingers and put it into the Censer in honour of our Gods thou shalt be set free and dilivered from all further danger and trouble When Eulalia heard him thus speak being extreamly moved she spit in the Tyrants face and presently threw down the Idols to the ground and kicked about the Incense prepared for Sacrifice whereupon without further delay the Hangmen took her and with all their strength pluckt her Limbs out of joint and then with the Claws of wild Beasts tore off her flesh to the bones while she all the while not in the least daunted with their cruel Torments fell a singing and praising in this manner O Lord I will never forget thy goodness and mercy what a pleasure is it O Jesus to remember thy Triumphant victories who by suffering hast attained to the height of Glory Thus with great constancy and courage she continued joyfully and chearfully to sing praises to God even when she was all over stained and imbrued in her own blood and cruelly tormented in all parts of her Body they then proceeded to the last and final torture which was the tearing and rending of her Body with the Iron Grate and Hurdle and burning her Breasts and Sides with flaming Torches but her Hair which all this while hung down so low that it covered her Modesty at last took fire and she being no longer willing to live opened her mouth and swallowed the flame upon which she immediately gave up the Ghost and is now one of those Souls under the Altar who cry how long c. Acts and Monu 1. P. Also Agnes an Honourable young Virgin being accused for a Christian was brought before the Judge who endeavoured first by flatteries and then by threatning her with cruel torments to draw her to the denyal of her Faith but she valiantly answered That she feared not his Tortures as being willing to suffer all manner of Torments yea death itself for the sake of Christ well said the Judge though thou valuest pain and torment so little yet I suppose thou hast a great esteem for thy Virginity and Chastity therefore I am fully determined unless thou Sacrifice to our Gods thou shalt immediately be put into the Common Stews and Brothel-houses Agnes hereupon inveighs vehemently against Minerva and her Worshippers upon which the loose and debauched Youths desired earnestly of the Judge that they might have Agnes as a Prey to their lust and filthiness then said Agnes Jesus Christ is not forgetful of those that are his neither will he leave me destitute of his help nor assistance but is alwaies ready to protect and defend modest and chast Virgins and therefore O Tyrant thou maist freely bath thy Sword in my blood but thou shalt never defile my Body with filthy Lust with all that thou canst do She had no sooner spoke these words but the Tyrant commanded her to be tied stark naked at the corner of a Street where Strumpets commonly used to haunt upon which the greatest part of the People being both sorry and ashamed to see so shameless and unseemly a sight some turning their heads and some hiding their faces passed by but one young Man among the rest with lascivious Eyes and lustful thoughts beholding her immediately a flash of Lightning struck out both his Eyes and he falling down wallowed in the Street whereupon Agnes sung Praises to God the â—â—uel Tyrant inraged hereby commanded the Executioner to draw out his Sword and dispatch her she seeing sturdy Soldier coming toward her with his drawn Sword rejoiced saying This O this is he that I love I will make hast to meet him and no longer protract my longing desires I will willingly receive his Sword in my Breast O Eternal Father vouchfafe to open the Gates of Heaven to my Soul that seeketh thee and so kneeling down in the midst of her Ejaculations he at one blow cut off her head Acts Monum Domitian by his Cruelties grew terrible and hateful to his very Friends and Servants yea to his own Wife a certain Astrologer boasted to him that by his Art he could foretel what should come to pass Domitian asked him if he foresaw what his own end should be he answered That he should be torn in pieces of Dogs Domitian to prove him a Lyar commanded him presently to be slain and his Body to be burnt to ashes but as they were about to do it so violent a shower happened as quenched the fire and immediately Dogs came and tore him in pieces this much increased the fear of Domitian who had been told by a
were bound and aboâ— twelve at noon we saw the Coast which being rageing ragged and full of Rocks we resolved to stay till next morning before we went in and then sate down to meat and eat every heartily being kindly entertained by the honest Norwegian About ten a clock at night we laid us down to rest after having prayed and set our watch but immediately this our second Ship ran with full Sails upon a Rock and gave so great a Crack as was able to awake the Most dead-asleep among us and the Marriners cryed out Mercy Mercy it pleased God that the Ship struck it self so fast in the cleft of a Rock with her bow over the main Rock that the former part of her stood firm but breaking in the stren one of the Sea-men leaped from the bow of the Ship upon the Rock with a Rope in his hand which was festened to one of our Masts and held it with so stiff a hand that another slipt down by it and so all our Company that escaped being Twenty Eight in number came safe to the Rock I was the last that came down the Ship that way for in that very moment she gave way which the Master percieving who was still aboard made lamentable moan to us to help him which we endeavoured to the utmost but the Ship brake and sunk immediately there was this good man and four of the Marrinners drowned I saw the Master with a light in his hand fall into the Sea the saddest sight that I ever yet beheld in this world and that which pierced my very Soul to see him that saved our Lives lose his own Now were we in the dark upon the Rock but knew not where our feet being cut upon the sharp stones at length we happened in a hole in the Rock which was a warm shelter against the wind and when morning came we could see no Land only had a glimpse of the Coast of Norway at a great distance We grew hungry but had nothing to fish with but our Arms with which we drew up some small Muscles and they we eat heartily but we burnt with thirst and I would have given all I had for a draught of fresh-water which would have been more welcome than the Gold of Ophir though nothing is so mean in our esteem but we were forced to drink Salt-water which increased our thirst we now saw a Ship coming toward us with full sails and we waved our hats to them but they went off and never came near us we betook our selves to our old Remedy Prayers the Danes first singing one of Luthers Psalms fell to their Prayers and I prayed as long as I was able to speak and then layd my self down on the Rock thinking I should rise no more in this world But I over-heard one of the Seamen say Let us make a Raft and venture to Sea I had rather be drowned than lie here and be starved They all presently concluded of it though dangerous and the Sea having fallen from the Rock had left our Sails Mast and Anchors with part of the Ship thereon wherewith thy soon made a slight boat and it being a great calm the Raft pasâ— through the Breakers with four men in it and had it touched only on them they would have rent it in pieces however through Gods goodness they arrived safe in Norway and returned with several Boats so that we came all of us once more to Land and were entertained at an honest Lutheran Parsons house where after we had continued for some days with little money and much thanks as we parted and came to Fredericâ— Stadt where the People run after us in the Street and with compassionate Eyes gave us what we wanted without asking from thence we went to Ostersontdâ— and there went abroad an English Ship we had noâ— been above two or three hours at Sea but there was a sad destraction the Marriners again crying for Mercy Mercy for we had almost fallen foul on a Rock under Water which we did not spie till we were upon it but by the mercy of God we sailed close by itâ— and yet escaped it the least touch of it had been ouâ— ruine about noon we came clear of all the Rocks on the Coast of Norway and were sailing for England with a fair Gale of Wind but in this prosperity another sad accident befel us this third Ship sprang a leak and began to swim within as well as without and we had no way to relieve our selves but by pumping for the leak could not be found which we did day and night for four or five days together when it pleased God we came safe though in a great fleal of danger because of our rotten Ship into Yarmouth Road for the wind being very high had like to have driven us upon a Scotch Vessel who cryed out as well as we but we happily mist him and so safely arrived in Yarmouth Town through the wonderful mercy of God Deus Nobiscum V. Two Ships were bound for Newfound-Land from the west of England but by stress of weather were parted some few days after one of the Ships in fair weather sprung a leak and foundred in the Sea where every Soul perished except one Old man who having lasht himself on the main hatch committed himself to the mercy of God and the Sea where he floated three days and three nights in which time about the middle of the second day the Devil in the shape of a Mermaid starts up before him and bid him be of good heart for if he would but make a contract with him he would promise to deliver him in twenty Four hours The Old man being sensible it was the Devil looking him in the face said Ah Satan if thou canst Prophecy deliverance for me know my God in whom I trust will deliver me without thy help but however know I will not comply with thy wiles therefore avoid Satan avoid upon which he â—mmediately vanished and appeared no more to him It happened that the other Ships being at the same time in the same latitude and danger the Cabbin boy dreamed that night that such a Ship was cast away thereabout and all the men lost except this Old Man which he named who was saved upon a piece of the Ship and floating in the Sea which dream the Boy in the moming confidently tells to his Master and the Company and affirmed that it must needs be true and was so impatient that he recieved some checks from his Master yet he continued restless running up sometimes to the fore toâ— Mast head and then to the main top Mast head looking abroad and at last cryed out aloud Aloâ—â— there I see him I see him under our Lee-bow He thuâ— confidently affirming it some of the men stept up and espied some thing at a distance no bigger than a Crow in appearance floating and advised the Master thereof who presently commanded the helm to be borne up and stood
Great were the Dangers and Wonderful the Deliverances of William Okeley and his Company the Relation of which from his own Book saith Mr. Wanly I have thus contracted In the Year 1639. We took Ship at Gravesend in the Mary of London Mr. Boarder Master bound for the Isle of Providence in the West-Indies Five Weeks we lay in the Downs waiting for a wind and then we set Sail and came to Anchor near the Isle of Wight but by this time all the Beer in our Ship stunk and we vvere forced to throw it overboard and so take in Vinegar to mix vvith vvater for our Voyage The next Lords day vve set Sail again and comming betvveen the Island and the main Land vve stuck fast in the Sands but the Tide coming in heaved us off The Sixth day after our setting Sail from the Isle of Wight vve discovered Three Turks men of War vvho chased us and at break of day boarded and took us having kept us close Prisoners a Sea at the end of five or six Weeks they brought us to Algiers where I was sold for a Slave the first Market day to a Patron who told me I must allow him two Dollars a Month and live ashore where I would and get it where I could though I knew not where to levy the least Mite of it Wandring up and down I met with an Englishman in his little Shop who traded with Tobacco and a few other things I became his Partner with a little money I had reserved and a small Modicum my Patron had allowed me for my stock Here I got Money and hired a Cellar were I laid up some other of my Goods when weary of my Slavery I formed a design for my Liberty and communicated it to John Anthony Carpenter William Adams Brick-layer John Jephs Sea-man John a Carpenter and two others men of able Bodies and useful in the intended project which was to contrive the Model of a Boat which being formed in parcels and afterward put together might be the means of our escape They approved the Proposal and in my Cellar we began our work we provided first a piece of Timber of Twelve foot long to make the Keel but because it was impossible to convey it of that length out of the City but it must be seen and suspected we therefore cut it in two pieces and fitted it for jointing just at the middle and then we provided Ribs after which we made the Boat water-tite and because Boards would require much hammering and that noise was like to betray us we bought as much strong Canvas as would cover our Boat twice over upon the Convex of the Carine We provided also as much Pitch Tar and Tallow as would serve to make it a kind of Tarpawling Cerecloth to swaddle the Naked Body of our Infant Boat of two Pipestaves sawed at the Corners we made two things to serve for Oars and for our provision we had a little Bread and two Leather Bottles full of fresh-water we also remembred to buy as much Canwas was as would serve for a sail we carried out these in parts and parcels fitted them together in the Valley about half a mile from the Sea whither Four of our Company carried the Boat on their Shoulders and the rest followed them at the Sea-side we stript put our clothes into the Boat and carried it and them as far into the Sea as we could wade and then all seven got into the Boat but finding she was overladen two of the Sea-men were content to stay on shore Having bid them farewel we anched out June 30. 1644. The Bill of Lading was John Anthony William Adams John Jephs John the Carpenter and William Okeley Four of us wrought continually at the Oar the Fifth was to free the Boat of that water which by degrees leaked through our Canvas our bread was soon spoiled with soaking in the Salt-water our Fresh-water stunck of the Tanned Skins and Owze yet we complained not Three days with good Husbandry our bread lasted us but then pale famine stared us in the face water indeed we might have but it must be Salt out of the Sea or that which had been strain'd through our own Bodies and that we chose of the two but we must not have that after a while unless we would accept of the other first and the misery was that did not asswage our thirst but increase it The Wind too for sometime was full against us but God rebuked it and made it our Friend a second inconvenience was that our Labour was without intermission and a third the Extremity of the heat by day the season raging hot the beginning of July and we wanted Fresh-water to cool the heat our labour made it insupportable to our Bodies and our little hope made it as grievous to our Souls one help we had a poor one he that emptied the Boat threw the water on the Bodies of the other to cool them but our Bodies thus scorched and cooled rose up in Blisters all over Great pain we felt great dangers we were in great miseries we indured great wants we were under and had nothing but a little hope food and strength If any ask by what directions we steered our course to Mayorck whither we designed to go for the day a Pocket Dial did supply the place of a Compass by night the Stars when they appeared and when not we guessed our way by the Motions of the Clouds Four days and nights were we in this woful plight on the fifth all hope that we should be saved was perished so that we let off our Labour because we had no strenght left only we emptied the Boat of water But then God sent us some relief for as we lay hulling up and down we dicovered a Tortoise not far from us asleep in the Sea had Drake discovered the Spanish Fleet he could not have more rejoiced we took up our Oars silently rowed to our prey took it into the Boat with great Triumph we cut off her head and let her bleed into a pot we drank the Bloud eat the Liver and sucked the Flesh It wonderfully refreshed our Spirits and we picked up some crumbs of hope About Noon we thought we discovered Land it 's impossible to express the joy of our raised Souls at this apprehension we wrought hard and after further labour were fully satisfied that it was Land and proved to be Mayorck which we kept within sight of all day July 6. about 10 at night we came under the Island and crept as near the shore as we could and durst till we found a convenient place where we might thrust in our Weather-beaten Boat when we were come to Land we were not insensible of our deliverance but though we had escaped the Sea we might die at Land we had no food since we eat the Liver and drank the bloud of the Tortoise therefore John Anthony and my self were sent out to scout abroad for fresh-water because
them two should first depart out of this Life should if possible give an account to the Survivor of the State of the other Life and whether the Soul be immortal or not This agreement being made and mutually sworn to they departed In a short time after it fell our that while Michael Mercatus was one morning early at his study upon a sudden he heard the noise of a Horse opon the Gallop and then stopping at the door and immediately he heard the voice of his Friend Marsilius crying out to him O Michael Micheal those things are true they are true Michael wondring to hear his Friends voice rose up and opened his Casement where he saw the back part of him whom he had heard speak in white and galloping away upon a white Horse He called after him Marsilius Marsilius and followed him with his eye but he soon vanished out of sight Michael amazed at this extraordinary accident very strictly inquired if any thing had happened to Marsilius who then lived at Florence some distance from thence where he likewise breathed his last and he found upon strict inquiry that he dyed at that very time when he was thus seen and heard by him Wanly Hist Man P. 88. IV. About the year 1060. There was a great Doctor buried at Paris at the enterring of whom when the Priest in the form then used came to the words Responde mihi Answer me the Corps sat upright on the Bier and to the amazement of all that were there cryed out Justo Dei judicio accusatus sum At the just Tribunal of God I am accused lying presently down again The attendants being astonished deferred the Funeral till the next day to see the Issue of this strange accident at which time a multitude met to observe the event when at the same words again repeated the disturbed Body riseth again and with the like hideous noise cryed out Justo Dei Judicio Judicatus sum By the just Judgment of God I am judged The People being yet more amazed deferred the Interment one day longer when almost the whole City thronged to this strange Burial and in the presence of them all at the reciting of the same words he rose up the third time and cryed out Justo Dei Judicio condemnatus sum by the just Judgment of God I am condemned whereat as the whole City were affrighted so Bruno an eminent Doctor in that University was seriously affected and told them That as they had formerly heard so now they saw the Judgments of the Lord were unsearchable and past finding out for this Person whom we honoured for the strictness of his Life the modesty and unblamableness of his Conversation cryeth out now that he is damned by the just Judgment of God This dreadful Example he inforced upon the minds of the Auditors with so many prevailing Arguments that by the Blessing of God several of them retired themselves from the world and spent the rest of their days wholly in the service of God and preparing their Souls for an Eternal State in the world to come Dying Mens words p. 196. V. Charles the 5th Emperor of Germany King of Spain and Lord of the Netherlands after Three and Twenty Pitcht Battles six Triumphs Four Kingdoms won and Eight Principalities added to his Dominions which he ruled over Fourteen years yet at last resigned all these retired to his Devotion in a Monastery had his own Funeral celebrated before his face and left this Testimony of Christian Religion That the sincere profession thereof had in it those sweets and Joys that Courts were Strangers to And Philip the Third of Spain lying on his Death Bed in 1621 sent thrice at Midnight for Florentius his Confessor who with the Provincial of Castile discoursed to him of approaching Death exhorting him to submit to Gods will so gravely that the King himself could not chuse but weep and after some intermission from his tears and thanks for his wholsome admonition the King spake thus to him Do you not remember that in your Sermon on Ash-Wednesday you said that some of your Auditors might dye that Lent this concerns me for lo my fatal hour is now at hand but shall I obtain eternal felicity which words he uttered with great grief and trouble adding likewise to his Confessor You have not hit upon the right way of healing is there no other Remedy Which when he observed the Confessor thought he meant of his Body the King added Ah I am not solicitous of my Body nor of my temporary Disease but of my Soul The Confessor mournfully answered I have done what I could I must commit the rest to Gods providence Florentius then discoursed at large of Gods mercy remembring His Majesty what he had done for the Honour and Worship of that God to which the King replyed Ah how happy were I had I spent these Twenty three years wherein I have held my Kingdom in a retirement Florentius answered That it would be very acceptable to God if he would lay his Kingdom his Majesty his Life and his Salvation at the feet of his Crucified Saviour Jesus Christ and submit himself to his Will Willingly willingly will I do this said the Heart-sick King and from this moment do I lay all that God hath given me my Dominions Power and my Life at the Feet of Jesus Christ my Saviour who was crucified for me and then among his last words he said to Florentius Now really you have suggested to me very great comfort Fair Warning P. 160. VI. Prince Henry Eldest Son to King James and Queen Anne was most zealous in his love to Religion and Piety and his heart was bent if he had lived to have indeavoured to compound those unkind Jars and differences that were among Religious men He told the Dean of Rochester That he thought that whereaâ— he and others like him did as usual look him in thâ— face when they came first into the Pulpit their Countenance did as it were say to him Sir you must hear mâ— diligently you must have a care to observe what I say He used to say he knew no sport worth an Oath and that he knew not what they called Puritan Preaching 〈◊〉 but he loved that Preaching which went next his heart and spake as if they knew the mind of God His last words were O Christ thou art my Redeemer and 〈◊〉 know that thou hast Redeemed me I wholly depend upon thy Providence and Mercy from the very bottom of my heart I commend my soul into thy hand A Person oâ— Quality waiting on the Prince in his sickness who had been his constant Companion at Tennis and asking how he did he answered Ah Tom I in vain wish for that time I lost with thee and others in vain Recreation He then added Now my Soul be glad for at all parts of this Prison the Lord hath set his aid to loose thee Head Fâ—et Milt and Liver are failing Arise therefore and shake off thy
gave command to his Reverend Chaplain to preach abroad and to let all men know how severely God had disciplined him for his sins by his afflicting hand that his sufferings were most just tho he had laid ten thousand times more upon him and how God had laid on him one stripe upon another because of his grievous provocations till he had brought him home to himself and declaring that from the bottom of his soul he did detest and abher the whole course of his former wicked life and admired the goodness of God who had given him a true sense of his pernicious opinions and vile practises warning all men in the name of God and as they regard the welfare of their souls no more to deny his Being or his providence or despise his goodness no more to make a mock of sin or contemn the pure and excellent Religion of the ever Blessed Redeemer through whose Merits alone he who was one of the greatest of Sinners did yet hope for mercy and forgiveness and in this Penitent and Religious temper and frame of Spirit he sometime after gave up the Ghost Rechesters Life and Sermon XIX I shall conclude all with some brief remarks out of the Life of that Excellent and Worthy Person the late Lord Chief Justice Hales as lately published by a Reverend Divine This Gentleâ—an was descended rather from a good than a Noble Family and about the Seventeenth year of his Age went to Oxford where he was placed under an able Tutor and was an extraordinary proficient but the Stage-Plays coming thither he was so much corrupted by seeing many Plays that he almost wholly forsook his Studies of which mischief being sensible he at his coming to London resolved â—ver to see a Play again to which he constantly adhered but one â—rruption of the mind draws on another so that he fell into many â—uthful vanities and kept too much ill Company with some vain â—eople till a sad accident drove him from it for he with some other â—oung Persons being invited out of Town to be merry one of the â—ompany called for so much Wine and went on in such excess that though Mr. Hale would have prevented it he fell down as dead â—efore them so that all that were present were not a little affrighted 〈◊〉 it who did what they could to bring him to himself again This â—â—d Particularly affect Mr. Hale who thereupon went into another â—om and shutting the door fell on his knees and prayed earnestly 〈◊〉 God both for his Friend That he might be restored to life again â—nd that himself might be forgiven forgiving such countenance to so â—uch excess and he vowed to God that he would never again keep â—â—mpany in that manner nor Drink allealth while he lived His friend recovered and he most Religiously kept his vow till his â—ying day and though he was afterwards pressed to drink healths â—rticularly the Kings which was set up by too many as a distinâ—uishing mark of Loyalty and drew many into great excess after â—is Majesties happy Restoration but he would never dispence with is Vow though he was roughly treated for this sometimes which â—â—me hot and indiscreet men call obstinacy This wrought such an â—â—tire change on him that now he forsook all vain Company and â—vidâ—d himself between the duties of Religion and the studies of â—s Profession in the former whereof he was so regular that for six â—â—d Thirty years time he never once failed going to Church on the â—â—rds day though he was acquainted with all sorts of Learning â—â—t he seemed to have made the study of Divinity the chiefest of all â—hers He was a very merciâ—ul and upright Judg and would hear no â—auses but in open Court which a great Peer once complained of 〈◊〉 the King But his Majesty bid him content himself that he was no â—rse used and said He verily believed he would have used himself no â—ttâ—r if he had gone to sollicitâ— him in any one of his own Causes He â—ade it as a Rule to himself That in the administration of Justice 〈◊〉 was intrusted for God the King and Countrey and therefore ought 〈◊〉 do it uprightly deliberately and resolutely and yet was much conâ—rned that though it was his duty to serve in the Office he was calâ—â—d to yet was it a great consumer of that little time we have here â—â—ch he thought might be better spent in a piâ—us Contemplative life â—â—d a due provision for Eternity J. Hales Life To conclude The most learned wise and sâ—â—ious Persons in all aâ—es have all concurred in their Judgments as to a future State and â—â—ve thought it to be the greatest wisdom in this world to be truly â—eligious and to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling FINIS There are lately published Three very useful anâ— necessary Books which are sold by Nathâ— Crouch at the Bell next door to the Widow Kemp's Coffee-House in Exchange-Alley over against the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill I. HIstorical Remarques and Observations of the Antient and Present State of London and Westminster shewing the Foundation Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns oâ— Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an Account of the most Remarkable Accidents 〈◊〉 to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above 900 years past in and about these Cities and among other particulars the Poisoning of K. John by 〈◊〉 Monk The Resolution of K. Henry 3. utterly to destroâ— and consume the City of London with Fire for joyning with the Barons against him and his seizing their Charters Liberâ—â—â— and Customs into his hands The Rebellion of Waâ—â—â—yler who was slain by the Lord Mayor iâ— Smithfield and the Speech of Jack Straw at his Execution the deposing of R. Rich. 2. and his mournful Speech at his resigning the Crown with the manner 〈◊〉 his being Murdered The Dâ— of York's coming into thâ— Parliament and claiming the Crown in K. Henry 6. time The Murder of K. Henry 6. and likewise of Edw. 〈◊〉 and his Brother by Rich. 3. called Crook-back Thâ— Execution of Empson and Dudley the Insurrection iâ— London in K. Henry 8. time and how 411 Men and Women went through the City in their Shifts and Ropes about their necks to Westm Hall where they were pardoned by the King The Speeches of Q. Ann Bullen 〈◊〉 Lord Protector and Q. Jane Gray at their several Deaâ—â— upon Tower hill With several other Remarques in all the Kings anâ— Queens Reigns to this Year 1681. And a description 〈◊〉 â—e manner of the Tryal of the late L. Stafford in West Hall â—llustrated with Pictures of the most considerable matters â—uriously Ingraven on Copper Plates with the Arms of the â—5 Companies of London and the time of their Incorâ—orating by Rich. Burton Author of the History of the Wars of England c. Price One Shilling II. The Wars in England Scotland and Ireland Or AN Impartial Account of all
Fetters mount from thy Body and go thy way Oâ—â— of his Life p. VII Hâ—â—o Grotius the greatest Schollar that his Age boasted of after so many Embassys happily performed abroad and as many Transactions well managed at home After an exact survey of all the Hebrew Greek and Latin Learning after an unanswerable Treatise of the Truth of the Christian Religion and many other Elaborate Discourses in Divinity and other parts of Learning concluded his Life with this Protestation That he would give all his Learning and Honour for the plain Integrity and harmless innocence of John Urick who was a devout poor man that spent Eight hours of his time in Prayer Eight in Labour and but Eight in Sleep and other necessaries He also made this complant to another who admired his astonishing Industry Ah! Vitam perdidi operose nihil agendo Ah! I have lost my Life in doing nothing industriously and gave this direction only to another who desired it as knowing his great Wisdom and Learning Be serious When he was on his Death-Bed he sent for a Minister professing himself to be the poor Publican saying That he had nothing to trust to but the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ and wishing that all the world saw as much reason in Religion as he did Dying Mens words p. 162. VIII Salmasius that Excellent French Schollar whom the Learned men of his time never mention without such Expressions as these vir nunquam satis laudatus c. A man never enough to be praised nor to be mentioned without admiration went out of the World with these words in his mouth Oh I have lost a world of Time Time that most precious thing in the world whereof had I but one year longer it should be spent in Davids Psalms and St. Pauls Epistles Oh Sirs said he to these about him mind the World less and God more all the Learning in the world without true Piety and the Fear of God is nothing worth The fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil that is understanding Ibidâ—m p. 161. IX Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State in Queen Elizabeths Reign toward the latter end of his Life writ to the Lord Chancellor Burleigh to this purpose We have lived enough to our Countrey to our Fortunes and to our Soveraign it is high time we begin to live to our selves and to our God in the multitude of Assairs that passed through our hands there must be some miscarriages for which a whole Kingdom cannot make our peace And being observed to be more melancholy than usual some Court Humorists were sent to divert him Ah said Sir Francis while we laugh all things are serious round about us God is serious when he preserveth us and hath patience toward us Christ is serious when he dyeth for us the Holy Ghost is serious when he striveth with us the Holy Scripture is serious when it is read before us Sacraments are serious when they are administred to us The whole Creation is serious in serving God and us those that are in Heaven and Hell are serious and shall a man that hath one foot in the grave jest and laugh Wanly Hist Man p. 646. X. Sir Tho. Smith after he had many years served Q. Elizabeth also as Secretary of State and done many considerable Services to the Kingdom A quarter of a year before he dyed layd aside all publick Imployment and discharging all his worldly Affairs and Attendants sent to two Reverend Divines his singular good Friends intreating them to draw him out of the word of God the plainest and axactest way of making his peace with God and living Godly in this present world adding That it was great pity men knew not or at least did not seriously consider to what end they were born into this world till they were ready to go out of it Fair warning p. 168. XI Doctor Donne a Person of as great Parts and Spirit as any this Nation ever beheld when he was upon his Death-bed took his solemn farewell of his most considerable Friends leaving this with them I repent of all my Life but that part of it which I spent in communion with God and doing good That Person in a dying hour shall wish himself not a man who hath not been a good Christian Idem p. 164. XI Arch-Bishop Vsher that Famous Learned and most pious Divine after his indefatigable pains as a Christian a Schollar a Bishop and a Preacher went out of the world with this Prayer Lord forgive me my sins of Omission and desired to dye as Mr. Perkins did imploring the mercy and favour of God Idem p. 164. XIII Sir Philip Sydney a Subject indeed of England but they say chosen King of Poland whom Q. Elizabeth called Her Philip and the Prince of Orange called his Master whose Friendship the Lord Brooks was so proud of that he would have this to be part of his Epitaph Here lyeth Sir Philip Sidneys Friend whose Death was lamented in Verse by the then Kings of France and Scotland and the two Universities of England This great man lamented so much at his Death the innocent vanity of his Life in writing his Arcadia that to prevent the unlawful kindling of heats in others he would have committed it to the Flames himself and left this farewel among his Friends Love my Memory cherish my Friends their Faith to me may â—ssure you they are honest but above all govern your Will and Affections by the Will and Word of your Creator and in me behold the end of this world and all its vanities Ibidem p. 136. XIV Sir Henry Wotton after his many years study with great proficiency and applause in the University his near Relation to the great Favourite the E. of Essex his intimacy with the Duke of Tuscany and James the 6th King of Scotland his Embassyes to Holland Germany Venice c. was only ambitious of the Provostship of Eaton being exceeding desirous to retire thither to injoy his beloved Study and Devotion saying often That this was the happiest time of his life it being the utmost happiness which a man could attain to to be at leasure to be and to do good never reflecting on the spending of his former years without tears and would often say How much time have I to repent of and how little to do it in Idem p. 154. XV. Sir John Mason Privy Councellor to King Hen. 8. and K. Edw. 6. upon his death-Bed called for his Clerk and Steward to whom he spake to this purpose I have seen five Princes and been Privy Councellor to four I have seen the most observable matters in Forreign parts and been present at most Transactions for 30 years together and I have learned this after many years experience that Seriousness is the greatest wisedom Temperance the best Physick and a good Conscience is the best Estate and were I to live again I would change the Court for a Church my Privy