The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of divers other Murderers, and their severall punishments.
MAximinus from a shepheard in Thracia, grew to be an Emperor in Rome by these degrees: his exceeding stength and swiftnesse in running commended him so to Severus then Emperour, that he made him of his gard, from that he arose to be a Tribune, and at last to bee Emperor: which place he was no sooner in possession of, but immoderate cruelty (all this while buried) began to shew it selfe: for he made havocke of all the Nobilitie, and put to death those that he suspected to be acquainted with his estate: insomuch as some called him Cyclops, some B…siris, others A… teus, for his cruelty. Wherefore the Senate of Rome seeing his indignity, proclaimed him an enemy to their commonwealth. and made it lawfull for any man to procure his death: Which being knowne, his souldiers lying at the siege of Aquileia, moved with hatred, entred his tent at noone day, and flew him and his sonne together.
Iustinian the yonger (no lesse hatefull to his subjects for his cruelty than Maximinus) was deposed from the empire by conspiracy, and having his nosthrils slit, exiled to Chersona, Leontius succeeding in his place. Howbeit ere long he recovered his Crowne and Scepter, and returned to Constantinople, exercising more cruelty at his returne, than ever he had done before: for he had not only put to death Leontius and Tiberius, but also all that any way favored their parts. It is said of him, that he never blew his mangled nose, but he caused one of them to be executed to death. At last he was slaine by Philippicus, to verifie the word of the Lord, That he which striketh with the sword shall perish with the sword.
Albonius king of Lunbardy, drinking upon a time to his wife Rosimund in a cup made of her fathers skull (whom he in battell had slaine) so displeased her therewith, that (attributing more to naturall affection than unity of marriage) decreed with her selfe to hazard life and kingdome, to be revenged upon this grievous injurie; wherefore she thus practised: A knight called Hemichild was enamoured with one of her maids; him shee brought into a secret darke place by policie, in shew to injoy his love, but indeed to be at her command; for she supplyed his loves place: and then discovering her selfe, put it to his choise, either to kill her husband, or to be accused by her of this villanie. Hemichild chose the former, and indeed murdered his Lord in his bed; and after the deed done, fled with her to Ravenna. But marke how the Lord required this murder, even most strangely; for they both which were linkt together in the fact, were linkt together also in the punishment; and as they had beene joynt instruments of anothers destruction, so he made them mutuall instruments of their owne for Rosimund thinking to poyson him too, made him drinke halfe her medicine: but hee feeling the poyson in his veines, staied in the mid way, and made her sup up the other halfe for her part: so they died both together.
The Electors of the Empire disagreeing in suffrages, Adolphus Duke Munst. Cosm. Phi. Melan. lib.of Nassavia, and Albertus Duke of Austria, tooke upon them the regiment and managing of the State: whereupon grew grievous wars in all Germanie, and dissention between the two State-men, so that Adolphus was slaine by the Duke of Austria in battell by the citie of Spire: whose death was thus notably revenged. All that tooke part against him, or that were accessary to the murder, perished most strangely; Albert Earle of Hagerloch was slaine, Otto of Ochsensteme was hanged, the Bishop of Mentz died suddenly of an apoplexie, in his cellar, the Bishop of Strasbrough was butchered by a Butcher: the Earle of Leimingen died of a frensie, the Duke of Austria himselfe was slaine by his nephew Iohn, from whom hee had taken the government of Suevia, because of his unthriftinesse: generally they all came to destruction, so grievous is the crie of innocent bloud, against those that are guilty thereof.
After the death of Woldimirus King of Rhythenia, his sonne Berisus succeeded in the kingdome, who though hee was a vertuous and religious Treason, lib. 2. cap. 3.Prince, yet could not his vertue or religion priviledge him from the malice of his brother Suadopolcus, who gaping and itching for the Crowne, slew his brother this good Prince as hee was sleeping in his Chamber, together with his Esquire that attended upon him: and Chron. Pol. lib. 2. cap. 10.not content herewith, but adding murder to murder, hee assaulted another of his brethren by the same impietie, and brought him to the same end. Whereupon the last brother Iorislaus (to bee revenged on this villanie) set upon him with an armie of men, and killing his complices, drove him to fly to Crachus king of Polonia for succour: who furnishing him with a new armie, sent him backe against his brother, in which battell (his successe being equall to the former) hee lost his men, and himselfe escaping the sword, dyed in his flight to Polonia, and was buried in a base and ignoble sepulchre, fit enough for so base and ignoble a wretch. And that we may see how hatefull and ungodly a thing it is to be either a protector or a saver of any murderer, marke the judgement of God that fell upon this king of Polonia, though not in his own person, yet in his posterity; for hee being dead, his eldest sonne and heire Crachus Treason, lib. 2. cap. 3.was murdered by his younger brother Lechus, as they were hunting, so disguised and torn, that every man imputed his death not to Lechus (whose eyes dropt crocodiles teares) but to some savage and cruell beast: howbeit ere long (his trechery being discovered, and disseised of his kingdome) hee died with extreame griefe and horrour of conscience. And thus we see that Crachus his kingdome came to desolation for maintaining a murderer.
Iohn the high Priest of Jerusalem, sonne and successor to Iudas, had a brother termed Iesus, to whom Bagoses the lieutenant of Artaxerxes army promised the Priesthood, meaning indeed to depose Iohn, and install him in his roome: upon which occasion this Iesus growing insolent, spared not Ioseph. antiq. Iudaic. li. 11. c. 7to revile his brother, and that in the temple, with immodest and opprobrious speeches, so that his anger being provoked he slew him in his rage; a most impious part for the high Priest to pollute the holy temple with bloud, and that of his owne brother, and so impious, that the Lord in Prophanation of holy things, Lib. 1. cap. 34.justice could not chuse but punish the whole nation for it most severely. For this cause Bagoses imposed a tribute upon them, even a most grievous tribute, that for every lambe they offered upon the altar, they should pay fiftie groats to the king of Persia, besides the prophanation of their temple with the uncircumcised Persians, who entred into it at their pleasures, and so polluted the Sanctuary and holy things of God: this punishment continued upon them seven yeares and all for this one murder.
Gerhardus Earle of Holsatia, after he had conquered the Danes in many and sundry battells, was traiterously slaine in the citie Kanderhusen, by one Treason, lib. 2. cap. 3.Nicolaus Iacobus, a rich Baron: so that whom the open enemy feared in the field, him the privie subtile foe murdered in his chamber. But the traitor and murderer, albeit hee fled to the castle Schaldenburg, and got a band of souldiers to defend himselfe, yet hee was surprised by the Earles sonnes, who tormenting him as became a traitor to bee tormented, at last rent his body into foure quarters, and so his murder and treason was condignely punished.
Above all, the execution of Gods vengeance is most notably manifested in the punishment and detection of one Parthenius an homicide, treasurer Greg. of Tours, lib. 1. cap. 36.to Theodobert king of France; who having traiterously slaine an especiall friend of his called Ausanius, with his wife …apianilla, when no man suspected or accused him thereof, he detected and accused himselfe after this strange manner: As hee slept in his bed, suddenly hee roared out This example belongeth also to the 11. chapmost pittifully, crying for helpe, or else hee perished: and being demanded what he ailed, he halfe asleepe answered, That his friend Ausanius and his wife, whome hee had slaine long agoe, summoned him to judgement before God: upon which confession hee was apprehended, and after due examination stoned to death. Thus though all witnesses faile, yet a murderers own conscience will betray him.
Pepin and Martellus his sonne, kings of France, enjoying prosperity and ease, fell into divers monstrous sinnes: as to forsake their wives Casp. Hed. li. 6. cap. 17.and follow whores: which filthynesse when the Bishop of Tung…ia reproved, Dodo the harlors brother murdered him for his labor: but hee was presently taken with the vengeance of God, even a lousie and most filthie disease, with the griefe and stinke whereof being moved, hee threw himselfe into the river of Mosa, and there was drowned.
How manifest and evident was the vengeance of God upon the murderers Martian. S…o…u….of Theodorick Bishop of Treverse … Conrade the author of it dyed suddenly: the souldier that helped to throw him downe from the rocke, was Hermanus contract us.choaked as he was at supper two other servants that layd to their hands to this murder, slew themselves most desperatly.
About the yeare of our Lord 700. Ge…lian the wife of Gosbere prince of Wurtiburg, being reproved by Kilianus for incest (for shee married her Casp. Hed. li. …. cap. 10.husbands brother) wrought such meanes, that both hee and his brethren were deprived of their lives: but the Lord gave her up to Satan in vengeance, so that shee was presently possessed with him, and so continued till her dying day.
A certaine woman of Millaine in Italie hung a young boy, and after devoured him instead of meat, when as she wanted none other victuals▪ and when she was examined about the crime, she confessed that a spirit perswaded her to doe it, telling her, that after it she should attaine unto whatsoever she desired: for which murder shee was to r…nted to death by a lingring and grievous punishment. This Arlunus reporteth to have happened in his time. And surely how soever openly the Divell sheweth not himselfe, yet he is the mover and perswader of all murders, and commonly the doctor. For hee delighteth in mens blouds and their destruction, as in nothing more.
A gentleman of Chaleur in Fossignie, being in the Duke of Savoyes army, in September the yeare of our Lord 1589, and grieving to behold the cruelties which were exercised upon the poore inhabitants of that countrey, resolved to depart from the said army: now because there was no safer nor neerer waie for him, than to crosse the lake to Bonne, he entreated one of his acquaintance, named Iohn Villaine, to procure him meanes of safe passage over the lake: who for that purpose procured two watermen to transport him, with his horse, apparell, and other things: being upon the lake, the watermen, whereof the chiefest was called Martin Bourrie, fell upon him and cut his throat: Iohn Villaine understanding hereof complained to the magistrates; but they being forestalled with a present from the murderer, of the gentlemans horse, which was of great value, made no inquisition into the matter, but said, that hee was an enemy which was dispatched: and so the murderers were justified; but God would not leave it so unpunished: for about the fifteenth of Iuly 1591, this Bourrie going with divers others to shoot for a wager, as hee was charging the harquebuse which hee had robbed the gentleman of when hee murdered him, it suddenly discharged of it selfe, and shot the murderer through the heart, so that hee fell downe starke dead, and never stirred nor spake word.
In the first troubles of France, a gentleman of the troups which besieged Moulins in Bourbonnois, was taken with sickenesse, in such sort that Historie of France, Charles the ninth.hee could not follow his company when they dislodged; and lying at a Bakers house which professed much friendship and kindnesse to him, hee put such confidence in him, that hee shewed him all the money that he had: but so farre was this wretch from either conscience or common honestie, that assoone as it was night hee most wickedly murdered him. Now marke how God revenged it: it happened not long after, that the murderer being in sentinell, one of his owne fellowes unawares shot him through the arme with a harquebuse, whereof he languished the space of three moneths, and then died starke mad.
The town of Bourges being yeelded by Monsieur D'yvoy, during the first troubles in France, the inhabitants were inhibited from talking together, The same historie.either within or without the towne, or from being above two together at a time: under colour of which decree many were most cruelly murdered: And a principall actor herein was one Garget captaine of the Bourbonne quarter, who made a common practise of killing innocent men, under that pretence. But shortly after, the Lord that heareth the crie of innocent bloud met with him for hee was stricken with a burning fever, and ranne up and downe blaspheming the Name of God, calling upon the Divell, and crying out if any would goe along with him to hell, hee would pay his charges; and so died in desperate and franticke manner.
Peter Martin, one of the Queries of the King of France his stable, and Post-master at a place called Lynge, in the way towards Poyctou, upon The same historie.a sleight accusation, without all just forme of lawfull processe, was condemned by a Lord to bee drowned: The Lord commanded one of his Faulkners to execute this sentence upon him, upon paine to bee drowned himselfe: whereupon he performed his masters command: But God deferred not the revenge thereof long; for within three daies after, this Faulkner and a Lackey falling out about the dead mans apparell, went into the field and slew one another. Thus he that was but the instrument of that murder was justly punished: how much more is it likely that the author escaped not scot free, except the Lord gave him a heart truely to repent?
It hath beene observed in the history of France, since the yeare of our Lord 1560, that of a thousand murders which remained unpunished in regard of men, not tenne of them escaped the hands of God, but came to most wretched ends.
In the yeare of our Lord 1546 Iohn Diazius, a Spaniard by birth, living a student and Professor in Paris, came first to Geneva, and then to Strasbrough, and there by the grace of Gods spirit saw his Sorbonicall errors, and renounced them, betaking himselfe to the profession of the purer religion, and the company and acquaintance of godly men: amongst whom was Bucer that excellent man, who sent him also to Nurnburge, to oversee the printing of a booke which he was to publish. Whilest Diazius lived at this Nurnburge (a city scituat upon the river Dimow) his brother, a lawyer, and judge laterall to the Inquisition, by name Alphonsus, came thither, and Sleid. lib. 17.by all meanes possible endevoured to dissuade him from his religion, and to reduce him againe to Popery. But the good man persisted in the truth notwithstanding all his perswasions and threats: wherefore the subtill fox took another course, and faining himselfe to be converted also to his religion, exhorted him to goe with him into Italy, where he might do much good; or at the least to Angust: but by the counsell of Bucer and his friends he was kept back, otherwise willing to follow his brother. Wherefore Alphonsus departed, and exhorted him to constancy and perseverance, giving him also fourteene crowns to defray his charges. Now the wolfe had not been three dayes absent, when he hired a rakehell and common butcher, and with him flew again to Nurnburge in post hast: and comming to his brothers lodging, delivered him a letter, which whilest he read, the villain his confederat cleft his head in pieces with an axe, leaving him dead upon the floore, and so fled with all expedition. Howbeit they were apprehended, yet quit by the Popes justice (so holy and sacred are the fruits of his Holinesse) though not by the justice of God, for within a while after hee hung himselfe upon his mules necke at Trent.
Duke Abrogastes slew Valentinian the Emperour of the West, and advanced Eugenius to the crowne of the Empire: but a while after, the same sword which had slain his lord and master was by his owne hands turned into his owne bowels.
Mempricius the sonne of Madan, the fourth King of England, then called Lanquet. Chro.Britaine after Brute, had a brother called Manlius, betwixt whom was great strife for the soveraigne dominion: but to rid himselfe of all his trouble at once, he slew his brother Manlius by treason, and after continued his raigne in tyranny and all unlawfull lusts, the space of twenty yeeres: but although vengeance all this while winked, yet it slept not, for at the end of this space, as he was hunting, he was devoured of wilde beasts.
In the yeare of our Lord God 745 one Sigebert was authorised king of the Saxons in Britaine, a cruell and tyrannous Prince towards his subjects. and one that changed the ancient Lawes and customes of his Realme after his owne pleasure: and because a certaine Nobleman somewhat sharpely advertised him of his evill conditions, hee maliciously caused him to bee put to death. But see how the Lord revenged this murder, hee caused his Nobles to deprive him of his kingly authority, and at last as a desolate and forlorne person, wandring alone in a wood, to be slaine of a swineheard, whose master he (being king) had wrongfully put to death.
About the yeare of our Lord 793 Ethelbert king of the East Angles, a learned and right godly Prince, came to the court of Offa the king of Acts and Monuments.Mercia, perswaded by the counsell of his nobles, to sue for the marriage of his daughter, well accompanied like a prince with a great traine of men about him: whereupon Offa's Queene conceiving a false suspition of that which was never minded, That Ethelbert under the pretence of this marriage, was come to worke some violence against her husband, and the kingdome of Mercia, so perswaded with king Offa and certaine of his Councell that night, that the next day following Offa caused him to be trained into his palace alone from his company, by one called Guymbertus, who tooke him and bound him, and after strooke off his head, which forthwith he presented to the king and Queene. Thus was the innocent King wrongfully murdered, but not without a just revenge on Gods hand: for the aforesaid Queene, worker of this villany, lived not three moneths after, and in her death was so tormented, that she bit and rent her tongue in pieces with her teeth, which was the instrument to set abroach that murtherous practise. Offa himselfe understanding at length the innocency of the king, and the hainous cruelty of his fact, gave the tenth part of his goods to the Church, bestowed upon the Church of Hereford, in remembrance of this Ethelbert, great lands, builded the Abbey of S. Albons, with certaine other Monasteries beside, and afterward went to Rome for his penance, where hee gave to the Church of S. Peter, a peny through every house in his dominion, which was commonly called Romeshot, or Peterpence, and there at length was transformed from a king to a monke. Thus God punished not only him and his wife, but the whole land, for this vile murder.
One principall cause of the conquest of this land by the Normans, was Ranulphus.a vile and horrible murder committed by one Goodwin, an Earle in England, upon certaine Mormans that came overwith Alfred and Edward, to visit their mother Emma, that had beene married to King Canutus. This matter thus fell out: When these two came from Normandy to England, to visit their mother, as I have said, Earle Goodwin having a daughter called Godith, whom hee thought to marry to Edward, and advance him to the kingdome, to bring his purpose to passe used this practise, that is, to perswade King Hardeknout and the Lords, not to suffer those Normans to bee within the Realme, for jeopardy, but rather to punish them for example: by which meanes hee got authority to order the matter himselfe: Wherefore hee met them on Guild downe, and there wretchedly murdered, or rather martyred the most part of the Normans, killing nine, and leaving the tenth alive throughout the whole company; and then tything againe the said tyth, he slew every tenth knight, and that by cruell torment, as winding their guts out of their body, after a most savage manner: among the rest he put out the eyes of the elder of the two brethren, Alfred, and sent him to an Abbey at Elie; where being fed with bread and water, hee ere long ended his life. Now albeit hee obtained his purpose hereby; and married his daughter to Edward, who was after King, called Edward the Confessor, yet did not Gods justice sleepe to punish this horrible murder: for he himselfe died not long after suddenly, having forsworne himselfe, and the Normanes with William their Duke ere long came into this Iland, to revenge this murder, as also to claime a right of inheritance bequeathed unto him by Edward his Nephew: and how hee succeeded, and what misery he brought this whole Nation unto, who knoweth not. But heere is the justice of God: As the Normans comming with a naturall English Prince, were most cruelly and barbarously murdered of Englishmen; so afterwards the Englishmen were slaine and conquered, by the Normans comming with a forreine King, being none of their naturall countrey.
In the yeare of our Lord sixe hundred threescore and eighteene, Childerich King of France caused a Nobleman of his Realme, called Bolyde, to bee bound to a stake, and there beaten to death, without the pretence of any just crime or accusation against him: For which cruelty his Lords and Commons, being grievously offended, conspired together, and slew him and his wife as they were hunting.
In the raigne of Edward the second and Edward the third, Sir Roger Mortimer committed many villanous outrages, in shedding much humane bloud: but he was also justly recompenced in the end; first he murdered King Edward the second, lying in Barkeley Castle, to the end he might, as it was supposed, enjoy Isabel his wife, with whom he had very suspitious familiarity. Secondly, he caused Edward the third to conclude a dishonorable peace with the Scots, by restoring them all their ancient writings, charters, and patents, whereby the Kings of Scotland had bound themselves to be feudaries to the Kings of England. Thirdly, he accused Edmund Earle of Kent, uncle to King Edward, of treason, and caused him unjustly to bee put to death. And lastly he conspi redagainst the King to worke his destruction; for which and divers other things that were laid to his charge he was worthily and justly beheaded.
In the reigne of Henry the sixt, Humfrey the good duke of Gloucester, and faithfull protectour of the King, by the meanes of certaine malicious persons, to wit, the Queene, the Cardinall of Winchester, and especially the Marquesse of Suffolke, (as it was supposed) was arrested, cast into hold, and strangled to death in the Abbey of Bure: For which cause the Lords hand of judgement was upon them all: for the Marquesse was not onelyonly banished the land for the space of five yeares, but also banished out of his life for ever; for as hee sailed towards France, hee was met withall by a Ship of Warre, and there presently beheaded, and the dead corps cast up at Dover; that England wherein he had committed the crime, might be a witnesse of his punishment. The Queene, that thought by this meanes to preserve her husband in honour, and her selfe in estate, thereby both lost her husband and her state: her husband lost his realme; and the Realme lost Anjou, Normandy, with all other places beyond the sea, Calice onelyonly excepted. As for the Cardinall, who was the principall artificer of all this mischiefe, he lived not long after; and being on his death bed, murmured and grudged against God, asking wherefore hee should die, having so much wealth and riches? and saying, That if the whole Realme would save his life, he was able either by policy to get it, or by riches to buy it: but death would not be bribed; for all his aboundant treasure he died miserably, more like a Heathen than a Christian, without any shew of repentence. And thus was the good Dukes death revenged upon the princiall procurers thereof.
As the murder of a gentleman in Kent, called master Arden of Feversham, was most execrable, so the wonderfull discovery thereof was exceeding rare. This Arden being somewhat aged, had to wife a young woman, no lesse faire than dishonest, who being in love with one Mosbie more than her husband, did not onelyonly abuse his bed, but also conspired his death with this her companion: for together they hired a notorious Ruffin, one Blacke Will, to strangle him to death with a towell as he was playing a game at tables: which though secretly done, yet by her owne guilty conscience, and some tokens of bloud which appeared in his house, was soone discovered and confessed. Wherefore she her selfe was burnt at Canterbury: Michael, master Ardens man, was hanged in chaines at Feversham: Mosbie and his sister were hanged in Smithfield: Greene another partner in this bloudy action was hanged in chaines in the high way against Feversham: And Blacke Will the Ruffian, after his first escape, was apprehended and burnt on a seaffold at Flushing in Zeeland. And thus all the murderers had their deserved dues in this life, and what they endured in the life to come (except they obtained mercy by true repentance) is easie to judge.