Gods Three Arrows, Section 25 – Section 27
§. 25. Of extremity of famine, where were no invaſions of enemies, nor ſieges, but immediately from Gods hand.
TO the fore-mentioned extremity of famine cauſed in Ieruſalem, by reaſon of enemies blocking them up, it will not be unſeaſonable to adde a relation, out of our Eccleſiaſticall hiſtories of extreme famine where were no enemies: that we who perhaps do (by reaſon of our long continued peace) thinke our ſelves ſecure enough from feare of enemies, may notwithſtanding feare Gods more immediate revenging hand, even by famine now beginning, after that the plague is mitigated. The hiſtory is this.
The inhabitants of the cities of Maximinus, ſore pined away with famine and peſtilence, ſo that one meaſure of Euſeb Eccleſ. Hiſt l 9. c. 8. Niceph. Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 7. c 28. Famine and Plague together.wheat was ſold for two thouſand and fifty Attiques. An infinite number died throughout the Cities, but more throughout the countries and villages, ſo that now the ſundry and ancient demaines of husbandmen were in a manner quite done away, for that all ſuddenly through want of food and grievous malady of the Peſtilence were periſhed. Many therefore ſought to ſell unto the wealthier ſort, for moſt Deareſt things ſold for ſlender food.ſlender food, the deareſt things they enjoyed. Others ſelling their poſſeſſions by peeces, fell at length into the miſerable perill of extreme poverty: others gnawing the ſmall ſhreded tops of greene graſſe, and withall confuſedly feeding on certaine venomous herbes, uſed them for food, whereby Vnwholſome things eaten. Noble women forced to beg.the healthy conſtitution of the body was periſhed and turned to poiſon. Diverſe noble women throughout the cities, driven to extreme need and neceſſity, went a begging into the country, ſhewing forth by their reverend countenance and more gorgeous apparell, an example of that ancient and free manner of feeding: Certaine others whoſe ſtrength was dried up, tottering to and fro, nodding and ſliding much like carved pictures without life, being not able to ſtand, ſell downe flat in the midſt of the ſtreets, groveling upon the ground, with their faces upward, and ſtretched out armes, making humble ſupplication that ſome one would reach them a little peece of bread: and thus lying in extremity, ready to yeeld up the ghoſt, cried out that they were hungry, Cries of the ſtarved.being onelyonly able to utter theſe words. Others which ſeemed to be of the wealthier ſort, amazed at the multitude of beggers, after they had diſtributed infinitely, they put on an unmercifull Famine makes unmercifull.and ſturdy mind, fearing leaſt they ſhould ſhortly ſuffer the like need with them that craved Wherefore in Dead lie in ſtreets.the midſt of the market place, and throughout narrow lanes, the dead and bare carcaſſes lay many dayes unburied, and caſt along, which yeelded a miſerable ſpectacle to the beholders. Yea many became food unto dogs, for which cauſe chiefly Men food for dogs.ſuch as lived, turned themſelves to kill dogs, fearing leaſt they ſhould become mad, and turne themſelves to teare in peeces and devoure men. And no leſſe truly did the plague Plague kils ſuch as are kept from famine.ſpoile every houſe and age but ſpecially devouring them whom famine through want of food could not deſtroy. Therefore the rich, the Princes, the Preſidents, and many of the Magiſtrates, as fit people for a peſtilent diſeaſe (becauſe they were not pinched with penury) ſuffered a ſharpe and moſt ſwift death. All ſounded of lamentation, throughout every narrow lane, the market places and ſtreets. There was nothing to be ſeene but weeping, together with their wonted pipes, and the reſt of Minſtreſs noiſe. Death after this (waging battell with double armour, to wit, with famine and peſtilence) deſtroyed in ſhort ſpace whole families.
§. 26. Of famines in England.
TO other inſtances of great famines let me adde ſuch as have hapned in England: that therby we may the better diſcern what we in this our owne country are ſubject unto.
In King William the Conquerours daies there was ſuch a Stow in his generall Chrō of Engl. In the 5. yeare of W. Conq. 1069.dearth thorow all England, eſpecially thorow Northumberland, and the countries next adjoyning, that men were faine to eate horſe-fleſh, cats, dogs, and mans fleſh. For all the land that lay betwixt Durham and Yorke lay waſte without Inhabitants, and people to till the ground for the ſpace of nine yeares, except onelyonly the territory of Beverlake.
In King Henry the thirds raigne was a great dearth and peſtilence: ſo that many poore folks died for want of victuals: Ibid. H. 3. 18. 1234. Vermine in corne hoorded up in time of dearth.and the rich men were ſtriken with covetouſneſſe, that they would not relieve them. Amongſt theſe is to be noted Walter Grey, Arch-Biſhop of Yorke, whoſe corne being five yeares old, doubting the ſame to be deſtroyed by vermine, he commanded to deliver it to the husbandmen that dwelt in his mannours, upon condition to pay as much new corne after harveſt; and would give none to the poore for Gods ſake. But when men came to a great ſtack of corne nigh to the towne of Ripon belonging to the ſaid Arch-biſhop, there appeared in the ſheaves all over the heads of wormes, ſerpents, and toads. And the Bailiffes were forced to build an high wall round about the corne, and then to ſet it on fire, leaſt the venomous wormes ſhould have gone out and poyſoned the corne in other places.
In King Edward the ſecond his daies a great dearth increaſed Ibid. Edw. 2. 9. 1315. Dearth thorow abundance of raine in harveſt. Horſes, dogs, children, men eaten.through the abundance of raine that fell in harveſt, ſo that a quarter of wheat was ſold before Mid-ſommer for 30 ſhillings, and after, for 40 ſhillings. An high rate in thoſe daies. The beaſts and cattell alſo, by the corrupt graſſe whereof they fed, died: whereby it came to paſſe, that the eating of fleſh was ſuſpected of all men. For fleſh of beaſt not corrupted was hard to find. Horſe-fleſh was counted great delicates. The poore ſtole fat dogs to eate. Some (as it was ſaid) compelled thorow famine in hid places, did eat the fleſh of their owne children: and ſome ſtole others which they devoured. Theeves that were in priſon did plucke in peeces thoſe that were newly brought amongſt them, and greedily devoured them halfe alive.
When Henry 6. raigned, ſcarcity and deareneſſe of corne Ibid. H. 6. 18. 1440.forced men to eate beanes, peaſe, and barley, more then in an hundred yeares before. Bread-corne was ſo ſcarce in England, that poore people made them bread of Fern-roots,
In the time of King Henry the eight there fell ſuch raine in November and December, as thereof enſued great flouds, Ibid. H. 8. 18. 1527. Famine cauſed by much raine.which deſtroyed corn-fields, paſtures, and beaſts. Then was it dry till the 12 of Aprill: and from that time it rained every day and night till the third of Iune, whereby corne failed ſore in the yeare following.
Againe in the time of the ſaid King, ſuch ſcarcity of bread was in London, and in all England, that many died for Ibid. H. 8. 19. A preſident for Princes.default thereof, The King of his goodneſſe ſent to the City of his owne proviſion 600. quarters, or elſe for one weeke there had beene little bread. The bread-carts comming from Stratford-Bow towards London, were met at Mile-end by the Citizens: ſo that the Major and Sheriffs were forced to go and reſcue the ſaid carts, and to ſee them brought to the markets appointed.
Many more inſtances of exceeding great dearth in other Kings times might be added, but theſe are ſufficient.
§. 27. Of uſes to be made of the terribleneſſe of famine.
BY the forementioned inſtances of famines in this our and, it is manifeſted what may befall us: how patient the Lord is toward us: what cauſe we have to feare God, and to take heed how we provoke him to inflict even this judgement, which may prove very fearefull, as hath beene proved: and finally, how it ſtandeth us in hand, when there is cauſe to feare a famine, or when a famine is begun, to ſearch out the cauſes thereof, to confeſſe before God our ſinnes, to turne from them, humbly, heartily, earneſtly, extraordinarily, with weeping, faſting, and prayers to ſupplicate mercy of the Divine Majeſty. We have a late evidence of the efficacy of ſuch meanes uſed. For in the yeare 1626 it rained all the ſpring, and all the ſummer day after day for the moſt part, untill the ſecond of Auguſt, on which day by publique Proclamation a Faſt was ſolomnly kept thorowout the whole Realme of England, and Principality of Wales, as it had by the ſame Proclamation beene ſolemnized in the Cities of London and Weſtminſter and places adjacent, on the fift day of Iuly before. On the ſaid ſecond of Auguſt the skie cleared, and raine was reſtrained, till all the harveſt was ended: Which proved a moſt plentifull Harveſt. Thus the famine threatned and much feared was with-held. So as Gods ordinances duly and rightly uſed are now as effectuall as ever they were.
FINIS.