The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 1 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Other examples of the same subject.
ABout the same time there happened a very strange judgement upon an ancient Lawyer of Bourges, one Iohn Cranequin, a man of ripe wit naturall, and a great practitioner in his profession, but very ignorant in the law of God, and all good literature, and so enviously bent against all those that knew more than himselfe, and that abstained from the filthy pollutions of Popery, that he served instead of a Promotor, to inform Ory the Inquisitor for them; but for his labour, the arme of God stroke him with a marvellous strange phrensie, that whatsoever his eyes beheld, seemed in his judgement to be crawling serpents: in such sort, that after he had in vaine experienced all kinde of medicines, yea and used the help of wicked sorcery & conjuration, yet at length his senses were quite benummed, and deprived him, and in that wretched and miserable estate he ended his life.
Iohn Morin, a mighty enemy to the professors of Gods truth, one that laboured continually at Paris in the apprehending and accusing the faithfull, insomuch that he sent daily multitudes that appealed from him to the high Court of the Palace; died himselfe in most grievous and horrible torment. The Chancellour of Prat, he that in the Parliaments of France put up the first bill against the faithfull, and gave out the first commissions to put them to death, dyed swearing and blaspheming the name of God, his stomacke being most strangely gnawne in pieces, and consumed with wormes.
The Chancellour Oliver being restored to his former estate, having first Referre this among Apostates, l. …. c. 18.(against his conscience) renounced his religion; so also now (the same conscience of his, checking and reclaming) he spared not to shed much innocent bloud, by condemning them to death. But such a fearefull judgement was denounced against him (by the very mouths of the guiltlesse condemned soules) that stroke him into such a feare and terrour, that presently he fell sick, surprised with so extreme a melancholy, that sobbing forth sighes without intermission, and murmurings against God, he so afflicted his halfe-dead body, like a man robbed and dispossest of reason, that with his vehement fits hee would so shake the bed, as if a young man in the prime of his yeares with all his strength had assayed to doe it. And when a certaine Cardinall came to visit him in this extremity, he could not abide his sight, his pains increasing thereby, but cried out as soone as he perceived him departed, That it was the Cardinall that brought them all to damnation. When he had been thus a long time tormented, at last in extreme angish and feare he died.S…iden. l. 9.
Sir Thomas more L. Chancellour of England, a sworne enemy to the Gospell, and a profest persecutor by fire and sword, of all the faithfull, as if thereby he would grow famous and get renowne, caused to be erected a sumptuous Sepulchre, and thereby (to eternize the memory of his prophane cruelty) to be engraven the commendation of his worthy deeds: amongst which the principall was, that hee had persecuted with all his might the Lutherans; that is, the faithfull: but it fell out contrary to his hope; for being accused, convicted, and condemned of high Treason; his head was taken from him, and his body found no other sepulchre to lie in but the gibbet.
Cardinall Cr…s…entius, the Popes Embassadour to the Councel of Trent, in the yeare of our Lord 1552, being very busie in writing to his Master the Pope, and having laboured all one night about his letters; behold as he raised himselfe in his chaire, to stir up his wit and memory, over-dulled with watching; a huge blacke dog with great flaming eyes, and long eares dangling to the ground, appeared unto him: which comming into his chamber, and making right towards him, even under the table where hee sate, vanished out of his sight: whereat he amazed, and a while sencelesse, recovering himselfe, called for a candle, and when he saw the dog could not be found, he fell presently sicke with a strong conceit, which never left him till his death; ever crying, that they would drive away the black dog which seemed to climbe up on his bed: and in that humour he died.
Albertus Pightus, a great enemy of the Truth also (insomuch that Paulus Iovius calleth him the Lutherans scourge) being at Boloigne at the coronation 27. Booke of his history.of the Emperor upon a scaffold, to behold the pompe and glory of the solemnization, the scaffold bursting with the weight of the multitude, he tumbled headlong amongst the guard that stood below, upon the points of their Halbards, piercing his body cleane through, the rest of his company escaping without any great hurt: for though the number of them which fell with the scaffold was great, yet very few found themselves hurt therby, save onelyonly this honourable Pighius, that found his deaths wound, and lost his hearts bloud, as hath been shewed.
Poncher, Archbishop of Tours, pursuing the execution of the burning chamber, was himselfe surprised with a fire from God, which beginning at 2. Booke of Martyrs. The burning chamber was a Court in France, which adjudged the Christians to be burned.his heele, could never be quenched, till member after member being cut off, he died miserably.
An Augustine Frier named Lambert, Doctor and Prior in the City of Liege, one of the troop of cruell inquisitors for Religion, whilest he was preaching one day with an open mouth against the Faithfull, was cut short of a sudden in the midst of his sermon, being bereaved of sense and speech, insomuch that he was faine to be carried out of the pulpit to his cloister in a chaire, and a few dayes after was drowned in a ditch.
In the yeare of our Lord 1527, there was one George Hala a Saxon, Minister of the Word and Sacraments, and a stout professor of the reformed Luther.Religion, who being for that cause sent for to appeare before the Archbishop of Mentz at Aschaffenburge, was handled on this fashion: they took away his owne horse, and set him upon the Archbishops fooles horse, and so sent them back homewards, conducted by one appointed for the purpose: who not suffering him to ride the common and beaten way, but leading him a new course through uncoth paths, brought him into an ambush of theeves placed there by the Bishops appointment, who set upon him and murthered him at once: but it is notoriously knowne, that not one of that wicked rabble came to a good end, but were consumed one after another.
In a City of Scotland called Fanum Ianius, the chiefe mart Towne of that countrey, soure of the chiefest citizens were accused by a Monke before the Cardinall, for interrupting him in a Sermon, and by him condemned to be hanged like heretickes, when no other crime could bee laid to their charge, save that they desired the Monke to tie himselfe to his text, History of Martyrs, part. 7.and not to rove up and down as he did, without any certain scope or application of matter. Now as they went to execution, their wives fell downe at the Cardinals feet, beseeching and intreating pardon for their husbands lives: which he was so farre from granting, that hee accused them also of heresie; and especially one of them (whose name was Helene) for hee caused her young infant to be pulled out of her armes, and her to be put to death with her husband, for speaking certaine words against the Virgin Mary, which by no testimonies could be proved against her. Which doome the godly woman taking cheerfully, and desiring to hang by her husbands side, they would not doe him the least favour, but drowned her in a River running by, that it might be truly said, that no jot of mercy or compassion remained in them. But ere long the cruell Cardinall found as little favour at another Butchers hands, that slewe him in his Chamber, when hee dreamed of nothing lesse, and in his Cardinalls robes hanged him over the wall to the view of men. And thus God revenged the death of those innocents, whose blouds never ceased crying for vengeance against their murtherer, untill he had justly punished him in the same kinde, and after the same fashion which hee had dealt with them.
Of this Cardinall, called David Beton, Buchananus reporteth many strange acts of Cruelty, both in the Common-wealth of Scotland, in matters of State, as also in the Church, in questions of Religion▪ how he suborned a false testament in the dead Kings name, whereby hee would have created himselfe chiefe Governour of the whole kingdom, had not his knavery bin soon detected: and how he set many together by the eares of the chiefest sort, not caring which of them soonest perished, so that they perished; glutting himselfe thus with bloud: But amongst all his cruelties, the least was not extended towards the professors of the Gospell, whom hee endeavoured by all means possible, not to suppresse only, but even utterly to extinguish: Many he put to death with fire, divers he forced to revolt with extreame torments, and many he punished with banishment: among whom was George Buchanan, the reporter of this history; who being taken and imprisoned, escaped through a window, whilest his keepers slept, out of this Lions jaws. Amongst the rest there was one George Sephocard, a most learned and sincere Preacher of the word of God, in whom his savage cruelty was most eminent, This man abiding at one Iohn Cockburns house, a man of no small reckoning & account, about 7 miles from Edenborough, was first sent for by the Cardinall, & after being not delivered, he together with the Vicegerent, beset all the passages that he might not escape; so that Cockburn was constrained to deliver him into their hands, upon the assurance of Earl Bothuel, who promised to protect him from all injuries: How be it notwithstanding the Earles promise, and the countermand of the Vicegerent, refused to meddle with that innocent man, yea and gave command, That no proceedings should be made against him; yet the bloudy tyrant condemned him tobe put to death, & also caused the condemnation to be executed: and that which doth more aggravate his cruelty, he caused a place to be prepared for him and his company, hung with tapestry and silke, very sumptuously, that he might be a joyfull spectatour and eye-witnesse of his torments. But marke how the just vengeancee of God shewed it selfe even in that place: for, as it is in the former story, not long after, this vile butcher was murthered in his owne house, by the conspiracy of Normanus Leslius, son to the Earle of Rothusia, who early in a morning surprised his porters, and all his servants, in their sleepe, and murthered him in his bed that had murthered so many Christians: and to stop the rage and fury of his friends, hung out his body for a spectacle unto them in the same place where a little before he had with such triumph beheld the tortures of that guiltlesse Martyr: Insomuch that almost all did not only acknowledge the just view of Gods judgement herein, but also remembred the last words of that constant Saint, who being ready to give up the ghost, urtered this speech in effect: He that sitteth and beholdeth us so proudly in that high place, shall within few dayes as reproachfully lye, as now arrogantly he sitteth.
A story not much unlike in manner of punishment, happened in the raign of King Henry the eighth, to one Sir Ralph Ellerker, Knight marshall in the towne of Calice, when as Adam Damlip, otherwise called George Bucker, a sincere Preacher of the word of God, was condemned to be executed as a traytour in pretence, though indeed for nothing but defending the truth against the dregs of Popery, would not suffer the innocent and godly man to declare either his faith, or the cause he dyed for: but said to Acts & Monuments. p. 1223.the Executioner, Dispatch the knave, have done, not permitting him to speake a word in his owne defence to cleere himselfe from the treason that was objected, not proved against him; but this cruell Tyrant swore he would not away before he saw the trayterous heart out. Now this said Sir Ralph in a skirmish or road betweene the French and us at Bulloine, was amongst others slaine, whose only death sufficed not the enemies, but after that they had stripped him starke naked, they cut off his privy members, and pulled the heart out of his body, & so lefthim a terrible example to all bloudy and mercilesse men: for no cause was knowne why they should use him so rather than the rest; but that it is written, Faciens justitias Dominus & judicia omnibus injuria pressis.
Thomas B…aver, one of the Privy Councellors of the King of Scots, was a sore persecutor of the faithfull in that land: for which cause, lying on his Theatrum historicum.death bead, he fell into despaire, and said, he was damned, and a castaway; and when the Monkes came about him to comfort him, he cryed out upon them, saying, That their Masses and other trash would do him no good, for he never beleeved them; but all that he did was for love of lucre, and not of Religion, not respecting or beleeving there was either a God or a Devill, or a hell, or a Heaven, and therefore he was damned, there was no remedy. And in this miserable case, without any signe of repentance, Refer this also to hypocrisie, lib. 1. cap. 22.he dyed.
But let us come to our homebred English stories, and consider the judgments of God upon the persecutors of Christs Gospell in our own countrey. And first to begin with one Doctor Whittington, under the raigne of King Henry the seventh, who by vertue of his office, being Chancellour to the Bishop, had condemned most cruelly to death a certaine godly woman in a town called Chipping sadberry for the profession of the truth, which the Papists then called Heresie. This woman being adjudged to death by the wretched Chancellor, and the time come when she should be brought to the place of her martyrdome, a great concourse of people both out of towne and country was gathered to behold her end: Amongst whom was also the foresaid Doctor there present, to see the execution performed. The godly woman and manly Martyr with great constancy gave over her life to the fire, and refused no paines or torments to keep her conscience cleere and unreproveable against the day of the Lord. Now the Sacrifice being ended: as the people began to returne homeward, they were encountred by a mighty furious Bull, which had escaped from a Butcher that was about to kill him (for at the same time as they were slaying this silly Lamb at the townes end, a Butcher was as busie within the towne in slaying of this Bull.) But belike not so skilfull in his art of killing of beasts, as the Papists be in murthering Christians, the Bull broke loose, as I said, and ranne violently through the throng of the people, without hurting either man or childe, till he came to the place where the Chancellour was, against whom, as pricked forward with some supernaturall instinct, hee ranne full butt, thrusting him at the first blow through the paunch, and after goaring him through and through, and so killed him immediately, trayling his guts with his hornes all the street over, to the great admiration and wonder of all that saw it.
Behold here a plaine demonstration of Gods mighty power and judgement against a wretched persecutor of one of his poore flocke: wherein (albeit the carnall sence of man doth often impute to blinde chance that which properly pertaineth to the only power and providence of God) yet none can be so dull and ignorant, but must needs confesse a plaine miracle of Gods almighty power, and a worke of his own finger.
Stephen Gardiner also, was one of the grand butchers in this land, what a miserable end came hee unto? Even the same day that Bishop Ridley and Master Latimer were burned at Oxford, he hearing newes thereof, rejoyced greatly, and being at dinner ate his meat merrily; but ere he had eaten many bits, the sudden stroke of Gods terrible hand fell upon him, Acts and Monuments, pag. 1788.in such sort, that immediately he was taken from the board, and brought to his bed, where he continued 15 dayes in intolerable anguish, by reason he could not expell his urine; so that his body being miserably inflamed within (who had inflamed so many Godly Martyrs) was brought to a wretched end, with his tongue all blacke and swolne, hanging out of his mouth most horribly: a spectacle worthy to be beholden of all such bloudy burning persecutors.
Bonner Bishop of London, another arch butcher, though he lived long after this man, and dyed also in his bed; yet was it so provided of God, that as Pag. 2114.he had been a persecutor of the light, and a child of darknesse, so his carkasse was tumbled into the earth in obscure darkenes at midnight, contrary to the order of all other Christians: and as he had been a most cruell murtherer, so was he buried amongst theeves and murtherers; a place by Gods judgement rightly appointed for him.
Morgan Bishop of S. Davids sitting upon the condemnation of the blessed Martyr Bishop Farrar, whose roome he unjustly usurped, was not long 2099.after stricken by Gods hand after such a strange sort, that his meat would not go downe, but rise and picke up againe, sometime at his mouth, sometime blowne out of his nose, most horrible to behold, and so continued unto his death. Where note moreover, that when Master Leyson (being then Sheriffe at Bishop Farrars burning) had fetcht away the cattell of the said Bishop, from his servants house into his owne custody, divers of them would never eate meat, but lay bellowing and roaring, and so dyed. Adde unto this Bishop Morgan, Iustice Morgan a Judge that sate upon the death of the Lady Iane: this Iustice, not long after the execution of the said Lady, fell mad, and being thus bereft of his wits, dyed, having ever in his mouth, Lady Iane, Lady Iane.
Bishop Thornton Suffragan of Dover, another grand persecutor, comming upon a Saturday from the Chapter-house at Canterbury, and there upon the Sunday following looking upon his men playing at bowles, fell suddenly into a palsey, and dyed shortly after. And being exhorted to remember God in his extremity of sicknesse: So I do (saith he) and my Lord Cardinall too, &c.
After him succeeded another Suffragan, ordained by the foresaid Cardinall, and equall to his Predecessor in cruell persecuting of the Church; who injoying his place but a short time, fell downe a paire of staires in the Cardinals chamber at Greenwich, and broke his necke, and that presently (let it be noted) after he received the Cardinals blessing.
The like sudden death hapned to Doctor Dunning the bloudy and wretched Chancellour of Norwich, who after he had most rigorously condemned and murthered a number of simple and faithfull servants of God, was suddenly stricken with death even as he was sitting in his chaire.
The like also fell upon Berry, Commissary of Norfolke, another bloudy persecutor; who foure dayes after Queene Maries death having made a great Feast, whereat was present one of his concubines; as he was comming home from the Church, where he had ministred the Sacrament of Baptisme, fell downe suddenly to the ground with a heavy groane, and never stirred after, thus ending his miserable life without any shew of repentance.
So Doctor Geffrey Chancellor of Salisbury, another of the same stampe, was suddenly stricken with the mighty hand of God in the midst of his buildings, where he was constrained to yeeld up his life, which had so little pitty of other mens lives before: and it is to be noted, that the day before he was thus stricken, he had appointed to call before him ninety poore Christians, to examine them by inquisition, but the goodnesse of God and his tender providence prevented him.
Doctor Foxford, Chancellor to Bishop Stockesley, dyed also suddenly. So did Iustice Lelond the persecutor of one Ieffery Hurst.
Alexander the Keeper of Newgate, a cruell enemy to those that lay in that prison for Religion, dyed very miserably, being so swollen, that he was more like a monster than a man, and so rotten within that no man could abide the smell of him. His sonne called Iames, after hee had spent all his fathers substance riotously, fell downe suddenly in Newgate market, and there wretchedly dyed. Iohn Peter sonne in law to the said Alexander, and no lesse cruell to the poore Christians, rotted away, and so dyed.
Cox an earnest Protestant in King Edwards dayes, and in Queene Maries time a Papist, and a Promoter, going well and in health to bed (as it seems was dead before the morning.
All these almost, with many more which I could recite, dyed suddenly, being most cruell and horrible persecutors of the flocke of Christ. Many there were, which though they escaped sudden death, yet did not avoid a most miserable and wretched end. In the number whereof I may place first Alexander the Keeper of Newgate, together with his sonne in law Iohn Peter, of whom mention was made before: Also Master Woodroofe the Sheriffe of London, who used to rejoyce at the death of the poore Saints of Christ, and would not suffer Master Rogers, going to his Martyrdome, to speake with his children: this man lay seven or eight yeares bed-rid, having one halfe of his body all benummed, and so continued till his dying day. Also one Burton the Bayliffe of Crowland in Lincolneshire, who having been a Protestant in outward shew in King Edwards dayes, as soone as Queene Mary was quietly seated in the kingdome, became very earnest in setting up the Masse againe, and constrained the Curate by threats to leave the English Service, and say Masse. This blinde Bailiffe not long after, as he was riding with one of his neighbours, a Crow flying over his head, let her excrements fall upon his face, the poysoned stinke and savour whereof so annoyed his stomacke, that he never lest vomiting untill he came home, and there after certaine dayes, with extreame paine of vomiting, crying and cursing the Crow, desperately he dyed without any token of repentance. Also one Robert Baldwine, who being stricken with lightning, at the taking of William Seaman, pined away and dyed. Robert Blomfield also, Bailiffe to Sir Iohn Ierningham, after he had prosecuted one Master Browne, pined away both in his goods and body, by a consumption of both.
William Swallow the cruell tormentor of George Egles, was shortly after plagued of God, that all the haire of his head, and nailes of his fingers and toes went off; his eyes were well neere closed up, that he could scant see; his wife was also stricken with the falling sicknesse, with the which malady she was never infected before.
Lastly (to omit many others) one Twiford is not to be forgotten; who in King Henries dayes was a busie doer in setting up stakes for the burning of poore Martyrs: and seeing the stakes consume so fast, provided a big tree, cutting off the top, and set it up in Smithfield, saying, I will have a stake that shall hold. But behold Gods hand; before ever that tree was consumed, the state of Religion turned, and he fell into an horrible disease, rotting alive above the ground before he dyed.
Besides these, many there were that hanged themselves. As for example, one Clarke an open enemy to the Gospell in King Edwards dayes, hanged himselfe in the Tower. So did Pavier the Towne Clarke of London, another bitter enemy to the Gospell. So did the sonne of one Levar a husbandman, that mocked and scorned at the holy Martyr Master Latimer, being dead; and that at the same houre, as neere as could be gathered, whilst his father was railing upon the dead Martyr. So did Henry Smith a Lawyer, who having been a Protestant, became a Papist. Others drowned themselves; as namely Richard Long at Calice, in King Henry the eights dayes. Iohn Plankney a Fellow of New Colledge in Oxford, in the yeare of our Lord 1566. And one Lanington a Fellow of the same Colledge, in a Well at Padua, or as some thinke, at Rome.
Others were stricken with madnesse: in which ranke place first Justice Morgan, of whom wee made mention a little before: Then, a Sheriffes servant that railed upon Iames Abbes a godly Martyr, as he was going to be burned; saying, That hee was an Heretique and a mad man; but as soone as the fire was put to the Martyr (such was the fearefull stroke of Gods justice upon him) he was there presently in the sight of all the people stricken with a frenzy, crying out aloud, that Iames Abbes was saved, but he was damned; and so continued till his dying day. So likewise one William a Student in the inner Temple, in the midst of his railing against the Gospell of Christ and the Professors thereof, fell starke mad.
Many other examples of the like kind I could here adde, but he that desireth to know and read more thereof, let him have recourse unto the latter end of the Acts and Monuments of the English Church, where he shall find a whole Catalogue of such like examples.
The overthrow of many mighty ones in our Age, serve for a looking glasse to represent the high exploits of the wonderfull judgements which the King of Kings hath sent upon those that have in any place or countrey whatsoever, resisted and strove against the Truth. whereof some after great victories, which by their singular dexterity and worldly wisedome in the mannaging of their affaires, have atchieved, by a perverse and overthwart end, contrary to their former prosperity, have darkned and obscured the renowne and glory of all their brave deeds, their good report dying with their bodyes, and their credit impaired and buried with them in their graves. Others in like manner having addressed all their forces, and laid their battery, and placed all their Pieces and Canons against the wals of Sion, and thinking to blow it up and consume it to ashes, have made many breaches into the sides thereof, yea they have so bent all their strength against it, and afflicted it with such outragious cruelty, and unmercifull effusion of bloud, that it is pitifull and lamentable to remember: howbeit after all their policies and practises, their courage hath been at length abated, and themselves raked one after another out of this world, with manifest markes of the just vengeance of God upon them. For though it may seem for a time that God slepeth and regardeth not the wrongs and oppressions of his servants, yet he never faileth to carry a watchfull eye upon them, and in his fittest time to revenge himselfe upon their enemies.