The Theater of Gods Judgments, Addenda

The Theater of Gods Judgments · Addenda

p. 414A briefe Summarie of more Examples, annexed to the former by the same Author.

CHAP. I. Of such as have persecuted the Church of Christ.

ZAcharias the sonne of Barachias, of whom S. Mathew speaketh in the three and twentieth chapter; and Saint Augustine in the 242 Sermon, de Tempore, in these words; Zacharie the high-Priest, reproving the rebellious people for the neglect of the worship of God, and the sacred lawes, was slaine of the people; and the detestable band of the Jewes dyed the pavement with his bloud, in the ninth yeare of the reigne of Ioas King of Judah: which cruelty against this good man the whole nation of the Jewes payed deare for; for when a yeare was past, an armie of the Syrians came up against Ioas, and slew all the Princes of the people in Judah and Hierusalem: and there being but a small number of the Syrians, God delivered into their hands the whole multitude of the Jewes. Rabbi Iohosua reporteth, that two hundred and eleven thousand were slaine in the field, and ninetie foure thousand in the Citie, for the expiation of the bloud of Zacharias, which bloud boyled out of the earth till that day, as it were out of a seething Caldron.

Eg…as Patrensis, a Prefect of the Emperor in Achaia, when he had crucified Phil. Lonicer.Saint Andrew, was possessed of Sathan, and slaine.

Incommodous Emperour Commodus, which was judged by the Senate more cruell than Domitian, and more impure than Nero, had a tragicall end, both for his other vices, and principally for persecuting the Church of Christ.

In the time of Constantine, one Teredates a great man in Armenia, grievously persecuted the Church: at which time Gregorie the Great, famous for miracles, suffered many indignities from him, and at the last was shut up into a darke and muddie pit for the space of fourteene years. But Teredates p. 415the Prince of that nation, felt the horrible vengeance of God upon himselfe, his houshold, and his Nobles, for they were all transformed into swine, and lived like swine together, and devoured one another. Whether this storie be true or fabulous, let the Reader judge: But it is reported by Nicephorus, lib. 8. cap. 35.

In the reigne of Constantius, after the Antiochian Synod, in the which Zozom. lib. 3. cap. 6.great Athanasius was condemned, the Easterne Cities, and especially Antioch, were shaken and quashed with wonderfull Earthquakes, in revenge of the injuries done to that good man.

Neither did Constantius the Emperour, an assertor and maintainer of the Cent. 4. cap. 3.Arrian heresie, escape unpunished for his perfidie and impietie. For first his warre-like affaires in the East prospered not: then a little before the end of his life he grievously complained, that he had innovated the faith in his kingdome. At last in those sighings and complaints he parted this life, with a grievous and violent disease.

The Unkle of Iulian the Apostata, called also Iulianus, at Antioch, in the Phil. Lonicer.temple prophaned the holy table with pissing upon it. And when Eusoius the Bishop rebuked him for it, he stroke him with his fist. Not long after he was taken with a grievous disease of his bowels putrifying, and miserably died, his excrements comming from him not by their ordinary passages, but by his wicked mouth.

Under the Emperour Valence, a wonderfull haile, the stones being as big as a man could hold in his hand, was sent upon Constantinople, and slew Fascic. Temp.many, both men and beasts, for that the Emperour had banished many famous men that would not communicate with Eudoxius the Arrian: and for the same reason a great part of Germa, a Citie of Hellespont, was throwne downe by an earthquake; and in Phrygia such a famine succeeded, that the Inhabitants were faine to change their habitation, and to …lee to other places.

After the martyrdome of Gregory the Bishop of Spoleta, Flacchus the Phil. Lonicer.Governour, who was author thereof, was strucke with an Angel, and vomited out his entrailes at his mouth, and died.

Under the Empire of Alexander, Mammea Agrippitus fifteene yeares old, Cent. 3. cap. 12.because he would not sacrifice to their Idols, was apprehended at Praeneste, whipt with scourges, and hanged up by the heeles, and at last slaine with the sword; in the middest of whose torments the Governour of the Citie fell from the Tribunall seat dead.

Bajazet, a most cruell enemy of the Christians, was taken by Tamerlane Chr. Phil. lib. 5.the Tartarian King, and bound in golden chaines, and carried about by him in an iron cage, latised and shewne unto all, being used for a stirrop unto Tamerlane, when he got upon his horse.

Gensericus the King of the Vandales, exercising grievous cruelty against the Orthodox Christians, he himselfe being an Arrian, was possessed of the Sigeb. in Chro.Devill, and died a miserable death, in the yeare 477.

Honoricus the second, King of the Vandales, having used inexplicable Chro. Phil. l. 3.cruelty against the Orthodox Christians, hanging up honest matrons and virgins naked, burning their bodies with torches, cutting off their dugges and armes, because they would not subscribe to the Arrian heresie, was surprised himselfe with the vengeance of God: for his land was turned into barrennesse through an exceeding drought, so that numbers of men, women, p. 416and beasts, died with famine; the pestilence also seised upon them, and he himselfe was stricken with such a disease of his body, that his members rotted off one after another.

Anastatius Dicorus, a grievous persecutor of the Church of Christ, being Zonar. lib. 3.admonished in a dreame, that he should perish with thunder, built him an house, wherein he might defend himselfe from that judgement; but in vaine, for in a great thunder he fled from chamber to chamber, and at last was found dead, blasted with lightning, to the great horror of the beholders.

Chasroes the King of Persia, a grievous enemy to Christ and Christians, Paul▪ Diaconus lib. 18. de reb. Romanis.committed horrible outrages against them; for first he slew at Jerusalem ninety thousand men, with Zachari… the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and also raged in like manner in Aegypt, Lybia, Aethiopia, and would grant them no condition of peace, unlesse they would forsake Christ, and worship the Sunne; he also put to death with most cruell torments Anastatius a godly Monke, because he constantly confessed the faith of Christ. But God met with him to the full; for his eldest sonne Syroes tooke him prisoner, and handled him in most vile manner; he hanged an iron weight upon his neck, and imprisoned him in an high tower, which he had built to keepe his treasure; denying him food, and bidding him eat the gold which he had gathered together; then he slew all his children before his face, and exposed him to the scoffes and railings of the people, and lastly caused him to be shot to death: and so that great terror of the world, and shedder of Christian bloud, breathed out his soule after a miserable manner.

Regnerus the King of Denmarke, abrogating Christian Religion, and setting Crantz. lib. 3. cap. 2.up Idolatrie in his Kingdome anew, the divine vengeance overtooke him: for Helles, whom he had cast out of the Kingdome, returned upon him with an army of the Gaules, and overcomming him in battell, tooke him prisoner, and shut him up in a filthie prison full of serpents, which setting upon him, with their venomous bitings and stings, brought him to a most horrible end.

Lysius the Emperour gave Heri…a his daughter, a virgin, because she was Offic. Ravisi.a Christian, to be trampled under foot of horses; but he himselfe was s…ain by the byting of one of the same horses.

A Popish Magistrate having condemned a poore Protestant to death, before his execution caused his tongue to be cut out, because he should not confesse the truth: in requitall whereof, the next childe that was borne unto him, was borne without a tongue.

p. 417CHAP. II. Of Perjurie.

P …ilip King of Macedon, who was a great contemner of all oathes, and held the Religion thereof as a vain thing; for this cause (as all Writers affirme) the vengeance of God followed him and his posteritie; for when he had lived scarce forty and sixe yeares, he himselfe was slain, and all his whole house in short time in short time after utterly extinguished; … one of his sonnes was slaine by Olympias his wife. Also another sonne, which he had by Cleopatra the … of A…alus, …he tormented to death in a brazen vessell, compassed about with fire. The …est of his sonnes periffied in like manner, and at last Pausan. in Arc.the famous Alexander his sonne, after great conquest atchieved by him, in the middle course of his victories periffied miserably, some thinke by poyson.

In the Countrey of Arbernum, there was a certaine wicked man that used ordinarily to for sweare himselfe: but at one time after he had thus sinned, Greg. Turon.his tongue was tyed up that he could not speake, but began to low like an o…e: yet repenting and grieving for his sinne, he found the bond of his tongue loosed, and a readinesse of speech given unto him againe: whereby we see both the Iustice of God in punishing them that sinne in this kinde, and his mercy, in pardoning when they truly repent.

At this day we have an example fresh and famous, of a certaine maid that had stolne and pilfered many things away out of her mistresses house; of which being examined, she forswore them, and wisht that she might rot if she ever touched them, or knew of them: but notwithstanding she was carried to prison, and there presently began so to rot & stink, that they were forced to thrust her out of prison, and to convey her to the Hospitall, where she lies in lamentable miserie; repenting as they say of her foule sinne: The Lord be mercifull unto her.

CHAP. III. Of Epicures and Atheists.

BArges…, otherwise called Elima…, a sore of implety, and a horrible Magitian and Atheist, oftenly resisting the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas, before Sergius Paulus the Deputy; was presently stroke with blindnesse by the hand of God: This man Saint Luke speaketh of, Acts 13.

Iustin Martyr that lived not long after the Apostles Chron. Philip.times, a famous Christian, writeth thus to … the Emperour: viz. after the ascention of Christ into Heaven, certaine men stirred up by the Devill, called themselves gods; of which number was Simon the Samaritane, p. 418borne in a Village called Gitton. This man in the time of Claudius Caesar, by the power of the Devill, exercising Magicall Arts, and working great wonders, was esteemed for a god, and a Statue erected unto him with this inscription; Simon… deo sancto, To Simon the holy god: The Samaritans also, with many of other Nations worshipped him as a god; but this Atheist meeting with Saint Peter at Rome, had great contentions with him; and boasting that he would ascend into Heaven in the sight of all was … up into the aire by Devils; but Peter commanded the Devils in the name of Christ to let him goe, and so he fell downe upon the … a pieces.

Caius Caligula Emperour of Rome, raging against both … Jewes, caused himselfe to be worshipped and his Images … places: He also dedicated the Temple of Jerusalem to …; Euseb. l. 2. c. 7.commanding it to be called the Temple of famous Iupiter, … …o hee styled himselfe; but to shew that he was but a wretched simple man, he reigned Sueton.but three years and three moneths, and was stain by Pherius a Tribut.

Herod Agrippa when he suffered himselfe to be saluted and honoured as a Euseb. l. 2. c. 9.god, was presently smitten with horrible plagues in his bowels, when detesting the voice of his flatterers; said, I that was called but lately a god, … in the bonds of death.

Daphida, a biting and contentious Sophister, and hating all Religion … … lib. 1. cap. 8.both Heathenish and Christian, came to Delphos, and in a scoffe asked the Oracle of Apollo, Whether he might finde his horse or no; when hee had none to finde: the Oracle answered, That he should finde a …orse, but it should be his destruction. At his returne from the Oracle, King A…talus his enemy ceased upon him, and set him upon a rocke, the name whereof was a horse; causing him to be throwne downe headlong, to learne what it is to mocke the gods.

CHAP. IV. Of Idolatrie.

THe wonderfull Idolatrie of the Heathens was so abhominable, that their madnesse would astonish any reasonable man; not to speake of their Iupiter, Mars, Mercurie, Apollo, and the rest; Hesiod doth report that they had thirty thousand gods upon the earth, and some most strange ones. Troglodites worshipped Snayles; the Syrians Pigions; the Romans Geese; because by their squ…aking the Capitoll was saved from the Gaules; the A…b…acians a Liònesse; because a Lionesse had killed a Tyrant of theirs: The Delphians a Wolfe, the Samians a Sheepe; the Tenedians a Cow with Calfe; the Albanians a Dragon; the Aegyptians Rats and Mise, and Cats, and a Calfe; wherein the Jewes are said to imitate them in the Wildernesse. But the Idolatrie of the Romans was beyond all, for they worshipped not onelyonly the higher gods, as they called, but the basest things that could be named in the World: as the Ague, and the Gout, the Privie; yea and Priapus that filthie p. 417Idoll of the Gardens. Now who seeth not but the vengeance of God hath beene poured downe upon all these Nations, for their impious Idolatrie, having beene delivered up into the hands of the Gothes and Vandals, Turks and Tartarians, and make a prey unto them.

Neither doe the Papists come short of these Heathens in their Idolatrie; for they turne the blessed Saints into Idols, and worship them in stead of God: Every countrey, and every citie, and every house, hath his protecting Saint, which they daily invocate; yea, they ascribe a certaine god to every member, and for their severall Cattell, beside their abhominable Idolatrie in worshipping their breaden god: but as God hath taken already in part vengeance upon that Idolatrous Whore of Babylon; so I doubt not but he will fulfill the full measure of his wrath upon them, in his due time, except they repent.

CHAP. V. Of Blasphemie.

A Certaine holy man passing by a Wine-Taverne, went to prayer; wherein certaine young men having passed the whole night in drinking and playing, and blaspheming the name of God, he met with a poore man horribly wounded in his body, and asked him of whom he had received those wounds; the poore man answered, that hee had received them of those young men that were in that Taverne: whereupon the good man returned backe, and enquired of them, why they had so wounded the poore man? The young men astonished answered, that there were none in the Taverne with them all that night but themselves; and presently went out to see the poore man thus wounded, but he was not to be found: whereupon being more amazed, they Discip. de Tem.judged that it was Christ whom they had thus wounded with their blasphemies.

Anno 1551. in the coasts of Magnapolis, certaine men abusing the feast Iob. Fincel.of Pentecost with much drinking, a certaine woman in their company blasphemed God strangely, and called upon the Devils, who presently snatched her away, and carried her aloft into the aire, from whence the …ell downe dead, the whole company beholding of her.

At the coasts of Bohemia; Anno 1551. five dr…nken men quaffing together, with horrible blasphemies prophaned the name of God; and the picture of the Devill being painted upon the wall, they caroused healths unto Iob. Fincel. lib.him: to which the Devill answered immediately, for the next-morning all five were found dead, their necks being broken, and quashed to places, a… though a wheele had gone over them, bloud running out of their mo…hes, nostrils, and eares, to the great astonishment of the beholders.

Not many years since, two men contended together which of them should Lonicer.poure forth most blasphemies against God, but whilest they were exercising this devilish contention, one of them was stricken with madnesse, and so continued till his lives end.

p. 418In like manner at Rome certaine young men agreed together, that hee should have the victory that could sweare most: which wicked strife as soone as they entred into, one of them was deprived of the use of his tongue, Lonicer.another of his reason and understanding, and the rest remained as dead men; God reserving them alive for repentance.

At Eslinga in Germany, upon Saint Katharines day, a certaine Nobleman Lonicer.having lost much money at play, with horrible execrations and blaphemies, commanded his man to bring him his horse that hee might ride home, in a very darke night; but his servant dissuaded him from his journey, affirming how dangerous the way was, by reason of the waters and the fennes that lay in the middest: whereat hee began to rage and sweare the more, and goe he would. But he was encountred by the way with an army of infernall souldiers, which beset the nobleman on all sides, and threw him from his horse: Now there was in his company a vertuous and valiant gentleman, who set him againe upon his horse, and held him on one side; whom when the spirits durst not attempt by reason of his innocency, they vanished out of sight; and they conveyed the nobleman into a monasterie that was hard by, where he lay three dayes and died: such is the end of horrible and fearefull blasphemers.

A Vintner that accustomed himselfe to blaspheming, swearing, and drunkennesse, and delighting to entertaine such that were like himselfe, to swallow downe his wine; upon the Lords day standing at the dore with a pot in his hand to call in more guests, there came suddenly a violent whirlew inde, and carried him up into the aire in the sight of all men, and he was never seene more.

CHAP. VI. Of Conjucers, Magitians, and Witches.

IOhn Faustus, a filthie beast, and a sinke of many devils, led about with him an evill spirit in the likenesse of a dog; being at Wittenberg, when as by the Edict of the Prince he should have beene taken, he escaped by his magicall delusions; and after at Noremberg being by an extraordinary sweat that came upon him as he was at dinner, certified that hee was beset, payed his host suddenly his shot, and went away: and being scarce escaped out of the walls of the Citie, the Sergeants and other officers came to apprehend him. But Gods vengeance following him, as he came into a Village of the Dukedome of Wittenberg, he sat there in his Inne very sad: the host required of him what was the cause of his sadnesse; he answered, that he would not have him terrified, if he heard a great noise and shaking of the house that night; which happened according to his presage: for in the morning hee was found dead, with his necke wrung behinde him; the Devill whom he served having carried his soule into hell. This story is set downe by many in other termes; but Philip Lonicerus expresseth it in this manner, in his Theatre of Histories.

p. 419Anno 1553. two Witches were taken which went about by tempest, haile, and frost, to destroy all the corne in the countrey; these women stole away a little infant of one of their neighbours, and cutting it in pieces, put it into a Cauldron to be boyled: but by Gods providence the mother of the childe came in the meane while, and found the members of her childe thus cut in pieces and boyled. Whereupon the two Witches were taken, and being examined, answered, That if the boyling had beene finished, such a tempest of …aine and haile would have followed, that all the fruits of the earth in that countrey should have been destroyed; but God prevented them by his just judgement, in causing them to be put to death.

Anno 1558. in a Village neare to Ihaena in Germany, a certaine Magitian being instructed by the Devill in the composition of divers hearbs, restored many unto their healths. He had daily commerce with that evill spirit, and used his counsell in the curing of diseases: but it happened that there fell a quarrell betwixt him and a neighbour of his a carpenter: who so exasperated him with his taunting words, that in few dayes after he caused the Carpenter, by his magicall art, to fall into a grievous disease. The poore Carpenter sent for this Magitian, and entreated him to helpe him in his need. The Magitian feigning an appeased minde, but desiring to revenge the injuries done unto him, gave unto him a potion confected of such venomous hearbs and roots, that being taken, the poore man presently died. Whereupon the Carpenters wife accused the Magitian of murther: the cause is brought to the Senate of Ihaena, who examining the matter, caused him by torments to confesse the murther, and many other wickednesses, for which he was fastened to a stake and burnt to death.

CHAP. VII. Of the prophanation of the Sabbath.

A Certaine nobleman (prophaning the Sabbath usually in hunting) had a childe by his wife with a head like a dog, and with eares and chaps crying like a hound.

Stratford upon Sluon was, twice on the same day twelve-month (being the Lords day) almost consumed with fire; chiefly for prophaning the Lords day, and contemning his Word in the mouth of his faithfull Minister.

Feverton in Devonshire (whose remembrance makes my heart bleed) was oftentimes admonished by her godly Preachers, that God would bring some heavie judgement on the Towne for their horrible prophanation of the Lords day, occasioned chiefly by their Market on the day following. Not long after his death, on the third of Aprill, Anno Dom. 1598. God in lesse than halfe an houre consumed with a sudden and fearfull fire the whole Towne, except onelyonly the Church, the Court-house, and the Almes-houses, or a few poore peoples dwellings; where a man might have seene foure hundred dwelling houses all at once on fire: and above fiftie persons consumed with the flame. And now againe since the former Edition of this p. 420booke, on the fifth of August last 1612, (fourteene yeares since the former fire) the whole Towne was againe fired and consumed, except some thirty houses of poore people, with the School-house, and Almes-houses; they are blinde which see not in this the finger of God: God grant them grace when it is next built, to change their Market-day, and to remove all occasions of prophaning the Lords day. Let other Townes remember the Tower of Siloe, Luke 13. 4. and take warning by their neighbours chastisements: Feare Gods threatnings, Ieremie 17. 27. and beleeve Gods Prophets if they will prospet, 1 Chron. 20. 20.

CHAP. VIII. Of Drunkennesse.

AN Ale-wise in Kesgrave neare to Ipswich, who would needs force three Serving-men (that had been drinking in her house, and were taking their leaves) to stay and drinke the three outs first: that is, Wit out of the head, Money out of the purse, Ale out of the barrell: as shee was comming towards them with the pot in her hand, was suddenly taken speechlesse and sickher tongue swolne in her head; she never recovered speech, but the third day after died. This Sir Anthony Felton the next Gentleman and Justice, with divers others, eye-witnesses of her in sicknesse, related to me; whereupon I went to the house with two or three witnesses, and enquired the truth of it.

Two servants of a Brewer in Ipswich, drinking for a rumpe of a Turkey, strugling in their drinke for it, fell into a scalding Caldron backwards; whereof the one died presently, the other lingringly, and painfully, since my comming to Ipswich.

A man comming home drunk, would needs goe and swimme in the mill pond; his wife and servants knowing he could not swimme, dissuaded him, once by intreaty got him out of the water, but in he would needs goe again, and there was drowned. I was at the house to enquire of this, and found it to be true.

In Barnewell neare to Cambridge, one at the signe of the Plough, a lusty young man, with two of his neighbours, and one woman in their company, agreed to drinke a barrell of strong beere; they drunke up the vessell, three of them died within foure and twenty houres, the fourth hardly escaped after great sicknesse. This I have under a Justice of Peace his hand neare dwelling, besides the common fame.

A Butcher in Haslingfield hearing the Minister inveigh against drunkennesse, being at his cups in an Ale-house, fell a scoffing at the Minister and his Sermons. As he was drinking, the drinke, or something in the cup quackned him, and stuck so in his throat, that he could neither get it up not downe, but strangled him presently.

At Tillingham in Dengy hundred in Essex, three young men meeting to drinke strong waters, fell by degrees to halfe pintes: one fell downe dead in the roome, and the other, prevented by company comming in, escaped not without much sicknesse.

p. 423At Bungey in Norfolke, three comming out of an Ale-house in a very darke evening, swore they thought it was not darker in hell it selfe: one of them fell off the bridge into the water, and was drowned; the second fell off his horse; the third sleeping on the ground by the river side was frozen to death. This have I often heard, but have no certaine ground for the truth of it.

A Bay life of Hedly upon the Lords day being drunke at Melford, would needs get upon his mare to ride through the street, affirming (as the report goes) that his mare would carry him to the Devill: his mare casts him off, and broke his necke. Instantly reported by sundry sufficient witnesses.

Company drinking in an Ale-house at Harwich in the night over against one Master Russels, and by him once or twice willed to depart; at length he came downe and tooke one of them, and made as he would carry him to prison, who drawing his knife, fled from him, and was three dayes after taken out of the sea with the knife in his hand. Related to me by Master Russel himselfe, Maior of the town.

At Tenby in Pembroke-shire, a drunkard being exceeding drunke, broke himselfe all to pieces from an high and steep rock, in a most fearefull manner; and yet the occasion and circumstances of his fall so ridiculous, as I thinke not fit to relate, least in so serious a judgement I should move laughter to the Reader.

A Glasier in Chancery lane in London, noted formerly for profession, fell to a common course of drinking; whereof being oft by his wife and many Christian friends admonished, yet presuming much of Gods mercy to himselfe, continued therein, till upon a time having surcharged his stomacke with drinke, he fell a vomiting, broke a veine, lay two dayes in extreame paine of body, and distresse of minde, till in the end, recovering a little comfort, died. Both these examples were related to me by a Gentleman of worth upon his owne knowledge.

Foure sundry instances of drunkennesse, wallowing, and tumbling in their drinke, slaine by carts; I forbeare to mention, because such examples are so common and ordinary.

A Yeomans sonne in Northampton-shire being drunke at Wellingbrough on a market day, would needs ride his horse in a brayery over the ploughed lands, fell from his horse, and brake his necke. Reported to me by a kinsman of his owne.

A Knight notoriously given to drinke, carrying sometime payles of drinke into the open field to make people drunke withall: being upon a time drinking with company, a woman comes in, delivering him a ring with this poesie, Drinke and die; saying to him, This is for you; which he tooke and wore: and within a week after came to his end by drinking. Reported by sundry, and justified by a Minister dwelling within a mile of the place.

One of Aylesham in Norfolke, a notorious drunkard, was drowned in a shallow brooke of water, with his horse by him.

Two examples have I knowne of children that murdered their owne mothers in drinke; and one notorious drunkard that attempted to kill his father; of which being hindered, he fired his barne, and was afterward executed one of these formerly in print.

At a Taverne in Bread-street in London, certaine Gentlemen drinking p. 424healths to their Lords, on whom they had dependance; one desperate wretch steps to the tables end, layes hold on a pottle pot full of Canarie Sacke, sweares a deepe oath, What, will none here drinke a health to my noble Lord and Master? and so setting the pottle pot to his mouth, drinks it off to the bottome; but was not able to rise up, or to speake when he had done, but fell into a deepe snoaring sleepe, and being removed, laid aside, and covered by one of the servants in the house, attending the time of his waking, was within the space of two houres irrecoverably dead. Witnessed at the time of the printing hereof, by the same servant that stood by him in the act, and helpe to remove him.

In Dengy hundred neare Mauldon, about the beginning of his Majesties reigne, there fell out an extraordinary judgement upon five or six that plotted a solemne drinking at one of their houses; laid in Beere for the purpose, drunke healths in a strange manner, and died thereof within a few weekes, some sooner, and some later. Witnessed to me by some that was with one of them on his death-bed to demand a debt, and oftentimes spoken of by Master Heyd…n, late Preacher of Mauldon, in the hearing of many? the particular circumstances were exceeding remarkable, but having not sufficient proofe for the particulars, I will not report them.

A man in Suffolke overtaken with wine, (though never in all his life before, as he himselfe said, a little before his fall, seeming to bewaile his present condition, and others that knew him so say of him) yet going downe a paire of staires against the perswasion of a woman (sitting by him in his chamber) fell, and was so dangerously hurt, as he died soone after, not being able to speake from the time of his fall to his death.

The names of the parties thus punished, I for beare for the kindreds sake yet living.

These examples before going, are taken out of the report of that worthy Preacher of Gods word in Ipswich, Master Samuel Ward, in his Sermon called A woe to Drunkards: to the which I will adde one more of mine owne knowledge lately executed.

A young Gentleman of good fame, credit, and behaviour, being in July last overtaken by drinke, and riding homeward void of wit and feare, was throwne by his horse, and his braines knocked out with the pummell of his sword. An example more remarkable for two causes: first, because he was not formerly given to that vice; and secondly, in that a friend of his meeting him by the way, intreated him that he would ride softly, and he would conduct him home; but he desperately spurring his horse over rough wayes, was thus overthrowne and perished: but I hope God had mercy on his soule.

Saint Augustine in his three and thirtieth Sermon Ad fratres in eremo, relateth this strange example of one Cyril, a Cittizen of Hippo, a man well esteemed and beloved in the Citie: He having one onelyonly sonne, did so cocker him, forbearing either to checke him or correct him; but loving him (as that holy Father saith) not onelyonly above all things, but even above God himselfe; that by his too much liberty and indulgence, his sonne grew wonderfull debaushed, and gave himselfe to filthy drunkennesse. Upon a time, being vilely overtaken with drinke, he came home, and tumbled over his p. 425mother being great with childe, would have ravished his sister, slew his father, and wounded to death two of his other sisters. O fearefull effect of drunkennesse! thus God punished the father for his too much love and indulgence of his sonne, and the sonne for his vile impiety.

Not unlike to this I finde in Philip Lonicerus, Page 486. A certain man, saith he, that gave himselfe to the studie of Godlinesse, was daily assaulted with the temptation of the Divell, who perswaded him if hee would bee quiet, to choose one of these three sinnes, either to make himselfe drunke, or to commit adulterie with his neighbours wife, or to kill his neighbour himselfe. The poore man thinking drunkennesse the least sinne, chose that; but being enraged with wine, he was easily drawn to the committall of the other sinnes; for being with wine enflamed, with lust he feared not to vitiate his neighbours wife, nor yet to kill her husband, comming in the meane while seeking to be revenged of him: so giving himselfe to drunkennesse, hee wraps himselfe in all other wickednesse.

On the eighteenth of August 1629, one Thomas Wilson labourer, a knowne and common blasphemer of Gods name by oathes and curses, and given much to drinking to excesse, upon a slight occasion moved to displeasure against his wife, and not daring to doe much violence unto her, turned it upon himselfe, and with his knife stabbed himselfe, many of his friends and neighbours being present; and so he died.

On the 10 day of May 1629, one Iohn Bone of Ely, (coachman unto one Master …alu… of Beenham) a fellow very vitious, and exceeding in those two evils of prophane swearing and drunkennesse, on the Sabbath day in the Sermon-time, dranke himselfe drunke; so that when he was to sit in the coach-box to drive the coach, he fell out thereof under the horses feet, where he was trodden to death, or so hurt at least, that he died shortly.

On the six and twentieth of November 1621, one Richard Borne, servant to Iasp…r B…rch Gardiner of Ely, accustomed to travell upon the Lords day, and making no reckoning of the Sabbath, seldome or never comming to Church on that day, but went onwards to Saint I…es market, and so spent the day; and being drunke, was at length overtaken by the just judgement of God: and going up the streame in his boate, which he had loaden with marketable wares, he fell into the river, and was so drowned.

On the third day of August 1618, one Thomas Alred of Godmanchester, in the Countie of Huntington Butcher, an accustomed Drunkard, being entreated by a neighbour to unpitch a load of hay, and being at that very time in drinke, letting his pitch-forke slip out of his hand, and stooping to take it up againe, slipped from the cart with his head down-wards, his fork standing … with the tines, he fell directly upon them, which it once ran into his breast, and stroke his heart so, that he died suddenly.

On the sixteenth day of July 1628, one Iohn Vintner of … Gardiner, a knowne drunkard, and one that would prophanely (especially in his …) scoffe at religion, and abuse good men▪ fell from the top of a … the ground and brake his necke, and so died.

These …ive lust examples were reported unto me, and written with his owne hand, by a worthy Minister Master Goorge Nelson, Preacher of the Word of God in Godmanchester.

p. 426CHAP. IX. Of rebellious and disobedient Children to their Parents.

AGathias in his Booke of the Persian manners, reporteth this storie, That certaine Philosophers, going into Aegypt, and finding there a promiscuous commixture of fathers and mothers with their daughters and sonnes, and a miserable neglect of children towards their parents; returned speedily into Greece, and in a certaine Citie there, finding the dead body of a man wanting buriall, they in compassion committed the same into the earth; the next day comming the same way againe, they found the same body digged out of the earth: which whilest they went about to bury the second time, a fearefull spectrum appeared unto them, and forbad them to doe it, saying, That he was a man unworthy to be buried, because he had committed incest with his mother, and despised and contemned his father. This narration sheweth, that the very earth doth execrate and abhorre such unnaturall lust and disobedience.

La…terbius in his Booke of the discipline of children, reports a storie of a certaine young man, who had a father very old, that had bestowed upon him all his substance. This old man, being by the fault of age unmannerly at the table of his sonne, his sonne caused a woodden trough to be made for his father, to eate his meate in like a hogge: which when his sonnes young childe perceived, he asked his father for what use it should serve; his father answered, That it was for his Grandfather to eate his meate in; and (what saith the childe) must I provide the like for you when you are old: Whereat his father being astonished threw away the trough, and ever after entertained his old father with greater reverence and obedient respect.

CHAP. X. Of Murtherers.

ROmulus having marked out with a plough the compasse of the walls of the Citie of Rome which he was a building, and had forbidden that no man should leape over the same, his brother, Rh…mus in scorne leaped over the wall; which Romulus taking in evill part, slew his brother, and reigned alone but at length being hated of the people for his insolencie, he himselfe was slaine by the fathers of the Senate at Caprea.

Constantine the Great, after he had overcome Licinius his partner in the Empire, and obtained the sole Monarchie, grew both insolent and cruell; for he first put to death his owne sisters; next his owne sonne Crisp… which he had by Minervea; then he slew his owne wife Fausta in the bathes; and p. 427lastly a number more of his friends. For which cruelty, though hee was a man endued with excellent vertues, yet God strucke him with a filthy Leprosie, which continued upon him untill such time that he was converted to the faith of Christ, and baptised by Pope Silvester: after which he proved a most famous protector of the Church of Christ.

Perillus that devised the brasen Bull for the Tyrant Phalaris, wherein men being inclosed and scorched with the heat that was under the Bull, did im…tate the lowing of an Oxe, to the end that there should be no compassion shewed unto them by the King, if they had uttered a humane voyce: but the author thereof was the first that endured the torment thereof; and after the Tyrant Phalaris himselfe was constrained to endure the same miserable end.

In a famous Citie of Germany, at a nuptiall festivitie, a certaine virgin Theat. Hist.was brought by a young man a Shoomaker, that made love unto her, to the solemne and usuall dancing: when the maide should returne home, the young man by chance was absent, so that she was conducted home by another; which when the Shoomaker knew, supposing himselfe to be wronged, hee went presently to her fathers house; and calling out the young student which guided her home, he slew him assoone as he came out of the doores. His father hearing the death of his onelyonly sonne, died within three dayes with griefe, and was buried in the same grave with his sonne: the Shoomakers mother died also with griefe; and the murtherer himselfe falling into desperation, threw himselfe headlong into a running river, and was drowned.

Anno 156, a certaine Nobleman abounding with wealth, not farre from Augusta of the Vindiletians, brought up in his house a young Blackamore: which villaine when his Master was from home, rose up in the night, and slew not onelyonly his Lady, but the whole family: excepting one little daughter of the Noblemans. The Nobleman returning home after two dayes, and finding his gate shut, rode nearer to the walls of the house, wondring. Where the Blackamore upon the top of the house, with a fearfull countenance, spake unto him these words: O thou cruell man, thou rememberest how unworthily thou beatest me (not long since) for no fault, the memory whereof I still retained in my minde, and have revenged this wrong upon thine; behold here part of the carkasse of thy wife, whom I have slaine, with thy whole family, except this little child which I have reserved; and will restore it, if thou wilt promise me my life. The father being wonderfully disturbed, promised that which he desired: but the devillish Moore answered, I know thou wilt not keepe promise with me, therefore take thy childe unto thee; and threw her out of the window, where she was quashed in pieces; and then threw himselfe downe headlong from the top of the house, that hee might avoid the vengeance of his Master. This story was related unto Philip Count Nassau, by the Secretarie of the Count of Hanault.

p. 428CHAP. XI. Of Adulterie.

ANobleman in Burgundie, having taken in war a captive, a Gentleman that was his prisoner; the Gentlemans wife came to this Nobleman to redeeme her husband; he promised that hee should be set free, if that he might have the use of her bodie: the woman returned to her husband, and told him upon what tearmes he stood. The Gentleman said, that she could not shew her love better unto him, than in yeelding to his desire: which Author Phil. Lonicer.being accomplished, the trayterous adulterous Nobleman next day cut off the prisoners head, and gave his body to his wife: which horrible fact being complained of by her to the Duke of Burgundie, he presently sent for the Nobleman, and first constrained him to marry her; but before night he cut off his head, and gave her all his possessions.

A like example is reported by the same Author of a Spanish Captaine, who kept in prison a certaine man that had violated the lawes. This man having a beautifull wife, sent her to the Captaine to desire his favour and freedome; which he promised, upon condition that she should yeeld to his lust; wherewith her husband being acquainted, advised her to yeeld for the saving of his life: the Spaniard after he had satisfied his lust upon her, commandeth over and above two hundred Duckets to be paid unto him; which being received, she conceiving a certaine hope of her husbands liberty, the perfidious Spaniard brought him forth out of prison unto her, and presently remanded him back againe into prison, and there commanded his head to be cut off. Which horrible fact, when the poore lamentable woman complained of to the Duke of Ferara, called Gonsaga, he presently sent for this Captaine; and finding the accusation true, first commanded him to pay back againe the two hundred Duckats, with an addition of seaven hundred crownes more; next hee sent for a Priest, and married the woman to the Captaine: which being done, when as he hoped to enjoy his new married wife, Gonsaga sent him presently to the gallows, and there he ended his miserable dayes.

The wife of a certaine Duke, being a lascivious woman, wrote two letters; one to the Duke her husband, and another to her Lover: but it happened by chance, that her letter written to her Lover, was delivered to her Husband the Duke; who thereby knowing her wickednesse, came no sooner home, but slew her with his owne hand.

Anno 1056, a certaine Doctor of the Law, an advocate in Constance, extreamely lusted after the wise of the Kings Procurator; which Procurator finding the Doctor and his wife together in a bath, playing and sporting, and afterward in an old womans house hard by; he got unto him a sharpe curry-combe, and leaving three at the doore, to watch that no man should come in, he so curryed the Doctor, that he pulled out his eyes out of his head, and rent his whole body and members, that he died within three dayes: the like he had done to his wife, but that she was with childe.

p. 429In the yeare 1488, a certaine Priest did so long assault the chastitie of a Citizens wife, that she was constrained to declare the same unto her husband; who forbad him his house, threatning that if ever he came there, he would geld him: but this bold Priest came againe when hee imagined an opportunity; the husband fell upon him, and bound him hand and foot, and performed what he had threatened, so that he went home in a miserable case.

In Voitland, foure murthers were committed upon the cause of one Adulterie: For when the adulterous woman was banquetting with her lovers, her husband came of a sudden into the Chamber, and slew first him that sate next his wife; the other two amazed, ran downe the staires and brake both their shoulders, and died within a short space: Then hee slew his adulterous wife. This storie Wolsi…s Schrencke reported to Martin Luther, as he himselfe confesseth.

In a certaine Citie of Germany, a Gentleman of good note did solicite and seduce to his lust a Citizens wife, which her husband comming to the knowledge of, watcht them so narrowly, that he found them in bed together; and rushing into the chamber, first slew the adulterer himselfe, and then his wife, being crept under a bed, and imploring his mercy till she could confesse her selfe to a Priest; her husband asked her, Whether shee were sorry for what she had done? Who answered, that she was grieved for it; which words were no sooner pronounced, but he thrust her through the heart with his sword, and was for the same adjudged by the Citie to have done justly. This story is reported in Colloq. of Luther.

Luther doth report, that a man of great name and fame, did so burne with continuall lust, that he blasphemously said, That if that pleasure was perpetuall, he would never desire to have any part in the Kingdome of Heaven; so that he might be carried from one Stewes to another, and from one Harlot unto another. I could adde more examples of this kinde; but these shall suffice, to shew that God doth not onelyonly punish this horrible sinne in the life to come, but also in this life with fearefull judgements.

CHAP. XII. Of Theeves and Robbers.

SPiredon, a Bishop of a certaine Citie in Cyprus, was also delighted with keeping of irrationall sheepe; upon a night certaine theeves entered into his sheepe-fold, with an intent to steale away some of his sheepe: but God protecting the sheepheard and his sheepe, infatuated the theeves, that they could not stirre out of that place till the morning: at what time the Bishop comming to view his flock, found them thus bound; who presently prayed to God for their delivery, and wished them to get their living hereafter by honest labour, and not by stealth; yet withall gave them a Ramme with this pleasant tant: I give you this Ramme that you may not seeme to watch it in vaine; and so set them free.

p. 430A certaine young man being bitten with a mad dogge, fell presently after into madnesse himselfe; and was faine to be bound with chaines. The parents of this young man brought their sonne to an Abbot called Ammon; entreating him, that by his prayers hee would restore him to his former health; the holy Abbot answered, that they demanded that of him that passed his power: But this I can signifie unto you, that the Devill holdeth you all bound in his chaines, by reason of a Bull which you stole from a poore widdow; and untill you restore that Bull backe againe to the widdow, your sonne shall never be healed. The parents presently confessed their fault, restored the Bull, and presently their sonne was delivered from this grievous disease.

A certaine Baker merrily talking with his neighbour, bragged, that in that great time of dearth which was then, he gained out of every bushell of Wheat above a crowne: which words being related unto the Governour of the Citie, hee sent for the Baker to supper, and examined him about those speeches; which the Baker could not deny: whereupon the Governour commanded him presently to put off his upper garments, and to knead so much dowe before him, that hee might finde out the manner of his deceit; which being done, hee and all his fellow Bakers in the towne was cast into prison, to their great disgrace.

The same Authour reporteth, That at Prague in Bohemia a Jew being dead, his friends desired that he might be buried at Ratisbone, forty miles off; which beca…se it could not bee done without paying of great tribute, they put his carkasse into a hog she…d full of sweet wine, and committed it to a carter to convey to Ratisbone. The theevish carters in the way being greedy of the wine, pierced the hogshead, and drinking themselves drunke with the wine, mixed with the stinke of the dead carkasse, most of them died.

The same Luther reporteth, that at Wittenberge three theeves having stolne a silver dish, brought it to a Goldsmiths wife to sell; who desired them to come againe within an houre, and then shee would bargaine with them. In the meane while she related this businesse unto the Magistrates; who sending presently the Sergeants to apprehend the theeves, they seeing themselves to be betrayed, resisted with their swords: but notwithstanding one of them was taken and executed, another escaped by flight, and the third being pursued over a bridge, leaped into the river Albis, and there was drowned. This example is more remarkable (saith Luther) because this fellow was a most notorious wicked wretch, and had cut off two fingers of his owne fathers; at which very instant his father not knowing of it, being asked what was become of his sonne, answered, that he wished hee was drowned in the river Albis; which wish was really performed at that very instant; for it was the voyce of Gods anger out of the mouth of a father.

About Ailton in Huntington-shire, a lewd fellow stole one of his neighbours fat weathers; and bringing him home bound about his neck, … upon a great stone in the field to …ase himselfe, where the weather st…gling, fell over the stone, and pulled the thiefe after him; and so both striving, one for life, another for liberty, the theefe was found dead in the morning, and the weather alive.

p. 431CHAP. XIII. Of Trecherie.

WHen the two Earles of Northumberland and Westmoreland had rebelled against Q. Elizabeth, and being defeated in the field, fled into Scotland; the Earle of Northumberland hid himself in the house of Hector of Harlawe an Armestrange, having confidence in him that he would be true to him: he notwithstanding for money betrayed him to the Regent of Scotland, from whence the Earle was sent into England, condemned of high treason, and beheaded. But it was observed, that this Hector, being before a rich man, fell poor of a sudden, and was so hated generally, that he never durst go abroad; insomuch that the Proverbe (to take Hectors cloake) is continued to this day among them, when they would expresse a man that betrayeth his friend who trusted him. The like example we have of Banister who betrayed the Duke of Buckingham, in the raigne of Richard the third.

CHAP. XIV. Of the molestation of evill Spirits, and their execution of Gods Iudgements upon men.

ALmighty God sometimes doth execute his judgements himselfe, as he did upon Pharaoh in the Red Sea, and upon Sodome and Gomorrah; sometimes hee useth the creatures as instruments, as frogs and lice, &c. to plague Pharaoh and the Aegyptians: Sometimes hee imployeth the good Angels to that purpose, as an Angell to destroy the Armie of Zenacherib before Jerusalem: but most ordinarily, he useth the ministery of evill Angels, who being forward enough of their owne malice, he giveth more strength unto by his command, to execute vengeance upon wicked men. Thus Sathan under the shape of a Serpent, beguiled our first parents Adam and Eve, and promised them great good, in the stead of punishments, which God had threatned unto them, Gen. 3. The same Sathan vexed King Saul, 1 Reg. 16. This Sathan rose against Israell, and stirred up David to number the people; whereat God being offended, strooke Israell with a grievous peltilence, 1 Chronic. 21. It was Sathan that got leave of God, that hee might torture Iob with loathsome botches and boyles, Iob 2. It was Sathan that slew seaven husbands, to whom Sarah the daughter of Raguel had married: Tobit. It was Sathan that entred into Iudas Iscariots heart, and moved him to betray Christ, and hang himselfe, Iohn 13. Acts 7. It was Sathan that instigated Ananias and Saphira to lye to the Holy Ghost, whereupon they both died suddenly, Acts 5. Lastly, it was Sathan that si…ted Peter, and buffered Paul.

p. 432But to leave the Holy Scripture; Philip Melancthon reporteth, That he heard of two men credible and faith-worthy, that a certain Bottonian young woman, two yeares after her death, returned againe to humane shape, and went up and downe in the house, and sate at meate with them, but eate little. This young seeming woman, being at a time amongst other virgines, a certaine Magitian came in, skilfull in diabolicall Arts; who said to the beholders, This woman is but a dead carkasse, carried about by the Devill; and presently he tooke from under her right arme-hole, the charme; which hee had no sooner done, but she fell downe a dead filthie carkasse.

Martin Luther reporteth the like of a woman at Erford in Germany, who being animated by the Devill, accompanied a young student that was in love with her, and went up and downe divers yeares: but at last, the Devill being cast out by the prayers of the Church, she returned to a dead and filthie carkasse.

The same Luther in his Colloquies telleth us, how Sathan oftentimes stealeth away young children of women lying in child-bed, and supposteth others of their owne begetting in their stead in the shapes of Incubus and Suco…bus; one such childe Luther reporteth of his owne knowledge at Halbersted; which being carried by the parents to the Temple of the Virgine Mary to be cured, the Devill asked the childe (being in a basket upon the river) whither it was going? the young infant answered, That hee was going to the Virgin Mary: whereupon the father threw the basket and the childe into the river: The like hee reporteth of another at Pessovia, which representing in all lineaments a humane shape, it was nothing else but a meere elusion of the Devill: this childe, saith he, delighted in nothing but in stuffing it selfe with food, and egesting the same in a filthy manner, but was discovered, and disrobed, and cast out by the Prayers of the Church.

At Babylon in the Temple of Apollo, a souldier breaking open a golden Chest, there flew out such a pestilent spirit, that infected the whole world with the plague: thus Aventine, lib. 2. cap. 17.

Bruno the Bishop of Herbipolis, accompanying the Emperour through an arme of the Sea, heard this voyce sounding in his eares; Ho, Ho, thou Bishop, I am thy Malus Genius, and whithersoever thou goest thou art mine; at this time I have no power to hurt thee, but thou shalt see me shortly againe; and so it came to passe: For not long after, being in a roome with divers others, part of the roofe fell downe, and flew this wicked Bishop alone, all the rest remaining safe and sound.

Vrbanus Regius in a Sermon at Wittenberge, Anno 1538, concerning good and bad Angels, relateth a storie of a certaine young maide possessed by the Devill; for whom when prayers were made in the Church, he seemed to be quiet for the time, as if he were departed out of her, watching an opportunity to do her further mischiefe, as he did indeed; for, when as lesse care was taken of her, supposing her to be found, shee going to wash her hands at the brinke of a river running by, the Devill tumbled her headlong in, and drowned her in a fearefull manner.

Platina, Nauclerus, and other Historiographers write of Pope Bennet the ninth, who died in the yeare 1405, that hee appeared (or the Devill for him) in a prodigious and bestiall forme, like a Beare in his body, and in p. 433his head and tayle, like an Asse: and when he was asked by some, Why he shewed himselfe in so ougly a shape, answered, That this shape was imposed upon him for his wicked and bestiall behaviour when he was alive.

In the hill countries of Bohemia, there used to appeare an evill Spirit in the habit and shape of a Monk, whom the countrie people called Rubezall: This devillish Monke used to joyne himselfe unto travellers over those hils, and to bid them be of good courage, for hee would lead them the right way thorow the woods: but when as he had purposely led them out of the way, so that they could not tell which way to turne themselves, he would leap… into a tree and laugh at them, with such a loud noyse, that the whole wood would ring of him: This was a morrie Devill, such as our Robin-Goodfellow is said to be; but yet in his mirth hee alwayes affected mischiefe. Theat. Hist. pag. 120.

Chunibert King of Lumbardie, consulted with one of his trusty counsellours, about putting to death his two brothers, Aldo and Grauso. Whilest they were thus consulting in a by-window, there sate a great flie by them; one of the feet whereof, the King with his knife which he had in his hand cut off; in the meane while Aldo, and Grauso, entering into the Pallace, met with a man with one of his feet cut off; who told them the King was purposed to slay them if they passed on: whereupon they returned and hid themselves in the Temple of Romanus the Martyr. The King hearing thereof, was much troubled how his Counsell might be revealed, and charged his Privie Counsellours with infidelity: But the Counsellour answered, That hee had not departed from his presence since the matter was contrived, but there sate a flie whose foot they cut off, which no question was the Devill (as it was) had revealed this secret in the shape of a man. Hereupon the King was reconciled to his brethren, and embraced them with love ever after. Thus the Devill sometimes doth good, but it is with an intent of greater mischiefe: Et sinon aliquâ nocuisset mortuus esset▪ Cronica Hedion.

While certaine Mariners were sayling in the Sea, a Monster was taken by them, in every thing like unto a woman; which being detained in the ship a good while, one of the Mariners fell in love with her, tooke her to his wife, and begot one childe of her: after three yeares they returning to the same place againe where the same Monster was taken, this woman-Devill leaped into the Sea with her childe in her armes; the childe was drowned, but shee vanished away. Thus it is easie for the Devill to take upon him the shape of a man or a woman. Ex Colloquiis Lutheri.

A certaine Nobleman invited Martin Luther, and other learned men to his house: the Nobleman after dinner went out a hunting, where a Hare of great bignesse, and a Fox of great swiftnesse, offered themselves unto his hounds. The Nobleman riding upon a good horse, followed them amaine, but his horse falling downe under him, dyed, and the Hare vanished into the aire: This was certainly a diabolicall delusion. Luther.

The same Luther writeth, That certaine Noblemen riding a race, they cryed out, let the last bee the Devils; one of the Noblemen having a spare horse, hasted forward with the rest of his company; but his horse that was le…t free, came softly behinde, and was carried up by the Devill into the aire. The Devill is not to be invited, for he is ready to come uncalled.

p. 434Philip Lonicerus in his Historicall Theatre, reporteth, that in a great plague, one carkasse was seene to devoure it selfe in a grave: which, the people being superstitious, thought it was a presage of the continuance of the pestilence; whereupon they sent unto Wittenberge to Luther and other godly Ministers, for their advise and counsell: he answered, that it was a delusion of the Devill, and if they gave credit thereunto, the sicknesse would increase; and therefore advised them that despising this delusion of the Devill; they should joyne together in prayer in Gods holy Temple, to represse the furie and malice of the old Serpent; which by that meanes they obtained.

At Rotingburge an honest and worthy Citizen having a beautifull daughter, to whom many Sutors frequented, there came also one in gallant apparrell, and two men attending upon him, to be a Sutor unto that beautifull maide: but her father being displeased at his importunitie, invited the godly Minister of the Town, and some other good men to supper; where entring into conference of divine matters, this gallant abhorring the same, desired them to talke of some other merry matters; which they refusing to doe, he shewed himselfe what he was, and with his companions disparished into the aire, leaving a filthy stinke behinde him: thus the Devill doth go about to delude both men and women. Manlius in Col.

A certaine man abounding with wealth, invited to supper a company of his neighbours and friends; who, when they refused to come upon occasions, hee wished that all the Devils in Hell would come: which wishes were not in vaine, for presently great troopes of Devils came unto his house, which hee entertained at the first; and afterward (as my Authour saith) perceiving by their fingers and feet to be infernall Spirits, he with his wife, trembling, ranne out of the house, leaving a young infant in a cradle, and a foole rocking of it; both which were preserved alive after the departure of the Devils: Iob. Fincel.

The Devill also appeared unto a Souldier that was given to play, swearing, and drinking; and having played with him all night, and woon his money, hee told him it was time to depart, and carryed him away with him into the aire, whither God knowes; for hee never was seene after.

In the yeare of our Lord 1536, there was at Franckford a maide grievously tormented with a paine in her head, and a kinde of frenzie, at the last she came to that passe, that it was manifest that she was possessed with the Devill; for if she touched any thing of any mans, either head, garment, or anything else, she drew money out of it of the usuall coyne of that countrey, and presently put it into her mouth and swallowed it; but sometimes they caught her hand, and wrung their money from her, and shewed it up and downe as a great wonder: Shee also in her fits spake the high Dutch tongue perfectly, which she never learned not heard of; with many other things of great admiration. Luther being demanded, What course was to be taken to dispossesse her of this evill Spirit; advised, that shee should duely be brought unto the Church to heare Sermons, and to bee prayed for publiquely in the Congregation; by which meanes, shortly after shee was delivered from Sathan, and restored to her former health: this relation the wise Senatours of Frankeford caused to bee published in Print, Anno 1538.

p. 435Certaine learned men in the Counsell of Basil, went into a wood for recreation sake, friendly to conferre about the controversies of that time: Whilest they were there walking, they heard a bird like unto a nightingall singing most sweetly, above any Nightingall in the World, and also s…w a bird upon an arme of a tree, not like unto any bird: one of the companie more hearty than the other, said thus unto her; I abjure thee in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ; to tell us what thou art; to whom the bird answered, That she was one of the damned soules, and appointed to stay in that place untill the last day, and then to endure everlasting punishments; whereupon she flue from the tree, and cried, O perpetuall and infinite … M… l…ncthon judged this to bee an evill spirit, and so the event prooved: for all that were present at this abjuration fell presently very sicke, and shortly after died. Manl. Collecta.

A certaine panish Clerke (as C…sariu… reporteth) ex…elled all men in sweetnesse of singing, whom when at a time a godly and holy man heard, he said, This is the voice not of a man, but of the Divell; … he had abjured in the name of Christ, the Divell departed out of the bodie of the Clerke, and the bodie fell downe into a dead carkasse. Discip. de tempore.

Paulus Diaconius in his sixteenth Booke witnesseth, That in the reigne of Anastasius the Emperour, there were in Alexandria many women and children, possessed of the Divell, which being taken with furie, uttered no other voice but like the barking of a dog.

In the yeare of our Lord 1545, an evill spirit haunted the Citie Rotuill, sometimes in the shape of an hare, sometimes of a Weesell, sometimes of a G…ose, and with a cleere voice threatened that he would fire the Citie, which malice of his, though God prevented, yet it strooke great terror into the minds of the people. Iob. Finc. lib. 1.

In the Dukedome of Luneberge, a certaine woman possessed of the Divel, used to speake in her fits most pure Latine and Greeke to the great admiration of all that heard her. Man. in Collect.

At Fribuge in Misnia, a certaine man of great pietie and holinesse, lying sicke and neere unto death, the Divell came unto him in the habite of a Bishop (hee being alone) and exhorted the man to confesse all his sinnes which hee had committed in his life time, and that having pe…ne and Inkehorne he would write them downe in order; but the old man being importuned by him, answered, Seeing thou urgest this, write downe first this sentence: The seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head: which the Divell-Bishop no sooner heard but he vanished away, leaving a filthie savour behinde him, and the man died in peace. Manl. in Collect.

Iob Fincelius in his third booke of miracles, writeth a strange storie of a godly young maide, infested long, and possessed at length by the Divell, who in her acted strange things to the admiration of all men: but at length shee was freed from his malicious molestation, by the earnest prayers of godly Ministers in the Church, the Divell flying out of her in the forme of a swarme of flies out of a window. This storie is at large related with many strange circumstances, by Philippus Lonicerus in his Historicall Theatre. Page a hundred twenty and six.

The same Author relateth a storie of a maide of excellent beauty, whom the Priest of the towne so induced and inveigled by his perswasions (saying p. 436that the Pope had pardoned him for all such offences) that shee became his Concubine: Now when hee had invited many of his companions to a feast, together with his Concubine, the Divell entered in amongst the guests, snatching away the young woman, and saying, Thou art mine: neither could the Priest or any of the companie deliver her out of his hands. And thou also (sayeth the Divell to the Priest) and I meane to fetch thee shortly.

Martin Luther reporteth this storie out of the mouth of Doctor Gregorius Pontanus, how two Noblemen falling out in the Court of the Emperour Maximilian, vowed each others death. Now the Divell taking occasion out of this malicious vow, slew the one of the Noblemen in the night with a sword taken out of the others sheath, into the which hee put the same againe all bloudie; whereupon this Nobleman was arraigned of this murther, and had bin condemned, but that it was prooved that he stirred not out of his chamber all that night: and therefore they concluded that it was the malicious fact of Sathan. And yet the Nobleman because hee intended this murther, though hee acted it not, was condemned by the Emperour to perpetuall banishment.

And thus much concerning persons infested by the Divell. Now a word or two for places.

Saint Augustine in his two and twentieth Booke De Civitate Dei, chapter the eighth, reporteth of a certaine Gentleman that lived not far from him in Affrica, who had his house so infested with evill Spirits, that both his servants and his Cattell died frequently. This man getting unto him the company of the Priests, & offering up the sacrifice of the body and bloud of Christ in his house, with servent prayers unto God against these evill Spirits, was thereby freed from any further molestation by them, as this holy Father writeth.

Saint Gregorie telleth us of the Spirit of one Paschasius, that haunted the Bathes, and was seene by Sermanus the Bishop of Capua, by whose meanes and prayers the place was freed from that Ghost, or rather the Ghost was freed from that place. Greg. lib. 4. Dialog. Cap, 39.

Gregorie Nissen writes also of a certaine Bath which was grievously infested by evill Spirits, wherein they tooke away the lives of many men.

The like whereof is reported by Georgius Presbyter, of another house thus molested, where the evill Spirits would throw stones upon the table while they were at dinner, and filled the house with myce and Serpents, so that no man durst dwell therein.

The like storie reporteth mataphrastes in the life of Saint Pautheneus; and Lycas, in the life of the Emperor Anastasius.

Pliny in his seventh Booke, the twentie seventh Epistle, telleth us, that in an house in Athens there appeared continually a tall and leane shape of a man drawing chaines after him; which when it was seene to sinke downe and vanish into a certaine place of the ground, they digged and found the dead body of a man: which being removed, the house was freed from the molestation.

What should I speake of the house of Eubatis in Corinth, written by Lucian? or of Pausanias the King of the Spartans, whose house was haunted p. 437by an evil spirit presently after he had slain his wife Cleonice, as Plutarch writeth? Or of the evil spirits that haunted the grave of that cruel Tyrant Caesar Caligula? Suet. Or of Nero that slew his mother Agrippina, who was continually after pursued with a spirit in his mothers shape? or of Otto that slew his predecessor Galba; after which he never ceased to be molestred with fearful and terrible visions? Or a number more which I might insert; but these shal suffice as a taste of a number more that Tyraeus the Iesuite hath set down in his Book De infestis Locis. I adde onelyonly two or three, and so an end.

Alexander of Alexandro dwelling in Rome, in an house so infamous for strange sights, that no man durst dwell therein, reporteth, that beside the night tumults and horrible and fearefull noyses, there appeared unto him the shape of a map, of a filthie looke, threatening countenance, and blacke and fearfull in bodie, from which the house could by no meanes be set free.

Cardanus, Lib. 26. c. 93. De rerum varietate, reporteth the like to haye happened to an house of a certaine Nobleman in Parma. In which house alwaies before the death of some of the family, an old woman of an hundred yeares old appeared sitting in the chimney corner▪

In an Island neere unto the Articke Pole, there is an hill out of the which, like mount Aetna, there bursteth out continually fire and smoake. There everie night appeareth a companie of evill Spirits, representing perfectly the shape of some friends which they know: whom when they go to speake unto, they presently vanish out of their sight. Olaus magnus.

But enough, enough, of this unsaverie subject: onelyonly let us learne hereby to beware of this ambitious enemie of mankinde, who as Saint Peter sayeth, Goeth about somtime like a Lion to devour us: Other times like a subtill Serpent to molest us, but all with a desire of our destruction.

I may be thought too prolix in this Argument of Gods Iudgements; but considering the fiercenesse of Gods wrath against notorious sinners, and the hardnesse of mens hearts to be drawne to repentance, nothing I thinke can be judged too much. But yet to sweeten these soure pills, let me cover them a little with the sugar of Gods mercifull protection of his children by his holy Angels.

CHAP. XV. The conclusion, concerning the protection of holy angels, over such as feare God.

NOtwithstanding all these Judgements upon the wicked, yet God is good unto Israel, even to those that are of an upright heart. Psalme seventie three, Verse the first: for as he executeth his Judgements upon the one, so hee defendeth the other, by his mightie providence; especially by the protection of Angels. Of which I purpose to give you many examples in this place: and first out of the holy Scriptures.

p. 438Two Angels came to L…t in Sodome, strooke the inhabitants with blindnesse and led Lot by the hand out of Sodom, readie to be destroyed by fire and brimstone, Genesis the nineteenth. When Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, an Angell held his hand, and forbad him to kill his sonne, promising him from God a blessing for his obedience, Genesis 22. Iacob in his returne homeward, was comforted and strengthened against his brother Esau by the blessed Angels, Genesis the two and thirtieth.

An Angell of the Lord when the children of Israel came out of Aegypt, stood betwixt the campe of the Aegyptians and the Israelites in a pillar of clouds by day, to protect the Israelites against the Aegyptians, Exodus 14. Balaam when being sent for by Balaac King of Moab to curse the Israelites, an Angell with a sword drawne in his hand withstood him in the way, and commanded him to speake nothing but what the Lord should put into his mouth. Numbers 22.

An Angel of the Lord apeared unto Gedeon, comforted him, and appointed him captain over the people, to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Madianites, Iudges, Chapter 6.

An Angel of the Lord appeared unto Manoa and his wife who was barren, promising them a sonne, to be called Sampson, that should deliver the Israelites out of the hands of the Philistims, Iudg. 13.

It was an Angell in Davids time which strooke the Israelites with the pestilence, whereof died threescore and ten thousand; and when David prayed, put his sword up into his sheath, and saved the rest: the second booke of Samuel, and twentie fourth Chapter.

Elias the Prophet was refreshed with meat and drink, and in the strength thereof hee travelled fourtie dayes and fourtie nights; even to Mount Horeb, by the Ministerie of an Angell, 1. Kings, 19.

Many legions of Angels environed the Prophet Elisha, which his servant, at his prayer, (his eyes being opened) saw and beheld, and all to defend him from the Assyrians that besieged Samaria; 2. Kings, 6.

An Angell of the Lord slew in the campe of the Assyrians in one night an hundred fourscoure and five thousand men; 2. Kings, 19.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, being cast into the fierie Furnace by Nabuchadnezzar, for not worshipping his golden Image, were preserved alive and kept from hurt by an Angell of the Lord, Daniel 3.

It was an Angell that stopt the mouthes of the Lyons, that they could not hurt Daniel that was cast into their Denne, Daniel, 10.

The Angel Gabriel declared unto Zacharias, that his wife should conceive with child, and bring forth Iohn the Baptist in her old age, Luk… 1.

It was the same Angell that announced to the Virgine Mary, that she should bring forth Iesus Christ our Saviour, Luke 1.

The same told the shepheards in the field, of Christ his Nativitie and witnessed his resurrection and ascention into the heavens, Mathew 28 Marke 16. Acts the first.

An Angell delivered the Apostles out of Prison, Acts 5.

An Angell freed Peter from his chaines, Acts 12. and Paul and Silas, Acts 16.

An Angell comforted Paul upon the Sea, and all those that were with him, and delivered them from the Tempest, Acts twentie seven.

All these Examples are out of the holy Scriptures, which is of infallible p. 439truth, and sheweth that to be which is spoken by the Prophet David in the foure and thirtieth Psalme, That the Angell of the Lord pitcheth his tents round about them that feare him.

Now follow examples out of humane Writes; and first to begin with a storie in Socrates, lib. 6. cap. 6. and Sozomen. lib. 8. cap. 4.

When Arcadius was Emperour of Rome, and Saint Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople, there was Gainas, an Arrian, and a Barbarian by profession, who being powerfull and great, went about to thrust Arcadius out of his Seat; but the Emperour compounding with him, sent him unto Constantinople with a troupe of horse and foot, under the pay of the Emperour. This man desired to have a peculiar Church for them of his owne Sect, for the free exercising of their Religion: which being denyed by the Emperour, at the perswasion of Saint Chrysostome, the Tyrant raised his forces in the night to spoyle and havocke the Citie. But they were resisted the first and second night, by the shew of a great Armie of tall and lustie men, and so terrified, that they durst doe nothing. The third night the Tyrant himselfe, thinking this to be but a fable, came in his owne person with his whole Armie, and found the same resistance: wherewith being terrified, hee fled into Tracia; where hee was slaine most miserably. Thus this great Citie was protected by the ministery of Angels, as Hierusalem once was from the Tyran Zenacherib.

In the reigne of Pompilius King of Poland, as the Polonian Chronicles doe report, in the first booke, and twelfth Chapter, there came two men o… a venerable countenance and habit to the Court gate, desiring entrance and entertainment; but they were repulsed by the Porter. Then they went to one Pyastus, a man of excellent holinesse and charity, who entertained them into his house very lovingly, broached a Vessell of sweet Wine for their drinke, and killed a fat Hogge for their meate, which hee had prepared against the first tonsure of his sonne, according to the custome of that Countrey. These men, or rather Angels, finding this kinde entertainment, caused the Vessell of sweet Wine to multiply, so that the more they dranke, the more still remained behinde; and the Hogge also in like manner. At last they wrought means, that Pompilius the King being dead, this good man was chosen King in his stead; and then disparished and were never more seen.

Nicephorus in his seventeenth booke, Chapter thirty five, reporteth a strange storie of a Jewish childe. This boy playing among other Christian children, was brought into the Temple by the Priest to care the reliques of the Sacrament, as the custome was: who tooke it amongst his followes. Which as soone as the Jew his father understood, he put him into a fierie oven to be tormented to death: his mother sought him up and downe the Citie, not knowing what was done; and at last, after three dayes, found him alive in the Oven: from whence being taken, there was no smell of fire about him. Thus God protected by his Angell this poore childe. Instinian the Emperour, after hee knew thereof, caused the boy and his mother to be baptized; and the father, who refused, he caused to be crucified to death.

Under the Emperour Mauritius the Citie of Antioch was shaken with a terrible Earthquake, after this manner: There was a certaine p. 440Citizen so given to bountifulnesse to the Poore, that hee would never suppe nor dine, unlesse hee had one poore man to be with him at his Table. Upon a certaine evening seeking for such a guest, and finding none, a grave old man met him in the Market-place, cloathed in white, with two companions with him, whom hee entreated to suppe with him: But the old man answered him, That he had more need to pray against the destruction of the Citie; and presently shooke his handkerchiefe against one part of the Citie, and then against another; and being hardly entreated, forbore the rest. Which hee had no sooner done, but those two parts of the Citie, terribly shaken with an Earthquake, were throwne to the ground, and thousands of men slain. Which this good Citizen seeing, trembled exceedingly. To whom the old man in white answered and sayed, By reason of charity to the poore his house and Familie were preserved. And presently these three men (which no question were Angels) vanished out of sight. This storie Sigubert in his Chron. reporteth, Anne 585.

Philip Melancthon reporteth, That in a certaine Village neare unto the Citie Sygnea, a woman sent her sonne into the wood to fetch home her Kine: in the meane while, such a snow fell, that the boy could not returne home againe: his parents the next day (taking more care for the boy then for the kine) went out to seeke him; and within three dayes, found him in the middest of the wood, sitting in a faire place where no snow had fallen: They demanded of him, Why he made not haste home: He answered, That he tarryed till it was evening; being insensible both of the time and of the cold: They asked him againe, Whether he had received any food or no? The boy answered, That a certaine man brought unto him bread and cheese, which hee did eate. Thus without doubt the childe was preserved by an Angell, and the man that brought him the bread and cheese was an Angel of God.

Tiburtius the Governour of Areciam, a Heathen man, forbad two Christian brothers, Pergentinus and Laurentinus, to preach Christ: First, he allured them by flattering speeches; which when it succeeded not, he caused them to be beaten with clubbes. But the armes of them that beat them were so withered, that they could not strike a stroke: Then he went about to starve them in prison, but they were nourished by an Angell of God: After, hee commanded them to walke bare-footed upon burning coales, which they did without any sense of hurt: Lastly, the Image of Iupiter being brought unto them to worship, they calling upon the name of Jesus, the brazen Image resolved into dust: whereupon many of the Heathen people forsooke their Idols, and turned unto the faith of Christ. This story is written by Marullus Spalatensis, lib. 1. cap. 8.

In that battell wherein Iudas Machabeus overcame Timotheus, five men appeared in golden Armour; whereof two defended Machabeus, and the other three assaulted the enemies; the second of Machabees, Chapter the tenth. Likewise in the eleventh Chapter of the same Book, it is declared how two men in goodly Armour, and upon white horses, fought for the Jewes against their enemies; as Castor and Pollux were seene to fight for the Romans against the Tusculans, at the Lake Regillum.

p. 441When the Locrians made warre with the Crotolians, there was seen two goodly young men upon white horses, fighting for the Locrians; who as soone as the victory was gotten, were never seene more: which victory, at the same instant that it was gotten, was declared at Athens. Lacedemon, and Corinth; places farre distant from Locris and Crothon.

When Attila the King of the Hunnes, calling himselfe the scourge of God, had with furious rage destroyed and wasted many Cities in Italy; he came at last to Rome, purposing also to destroy it: But Pope Leo the Great, by the commandment of Valentinian the Emperour, came out unto him, and by his prayers and intreaties made him so milde, that presently without doing any hurt he returned into his owne Countrey. Hereupon, being demanded by his Nobles, Why he shewed himselfe so obedient to the Romane Bishop; he answered, That it was not in honour of the Pope, but that he saw another man standing by in Priestly garments, threatning him with a naked sword in his hand, unlesse hee would yeeld unto Pope Leo. This doubtlesse was an Angell protecting of the Citie of Rome from that cruell and mercilesse Enemie.

We reade in the lives of the Fathers, how a certaine religious Christian was cast into prison by the souldiers of Iulian the Apostata, whom when Apolonius another godly Christian came to visit, the Centurion cast him also into prison, to accompany the other, and set souldiers to watch the prison lest they should escape; but late in the night an Angel of God was seene in a most cleare light, and broke open the prison dore: which being seene, the Watch fell downe before those holy men, and the Centurion that night having his house sore shaken with an Earthquake, and some of his servants slaine; the next morning came and delivered the two holy men out of prison with great trembling and feare.

We reade in the lives of the Fathers, of one Copres a holy man, that disputed with Manichee, and when hee could not put him downe in words, it was agreed betweene them, that the tryall of the truth of their religion should be made by fire: whereupon a fire being made in the Market-place, Copres went into it, and stood a time in it unhurt, being protected by the Angell of God; then the Manichee refusing to doe the like, was thrust into the middest of the fire by the people, and was so scortched, that he scarce escaped with his life; so that the people abhorring his wicked doctrine, thrust him out of the Citie; saying, This seducer burneth alive.

Baratanes the King of Persia made warre upon the Romanes; against whom Narsaeus the Emperours Generall prepared an Armie: and when the Constantinopolitanes were in great feare, two Angels in Bythinia charged certaine men that went to Constantinople, to tell the Citizens that they should give themselves to prayer and fasting, and feare nothing, for they were sent of God to defend the Army of the Romanes against the Persians; which they did accordingly for the Persian Army was defeated by Narsaeus, and the Saracens that came to helpe them in great multitudes, were drowned in the river Euphrates. This Socrates reporteth, Lib. 7. Capitul… 18.

p. 442But to come to examples of later memory. Melancthon in his explication of the tenth Chapter of the prophesie of Daniel, relateth a storie of Gryneus a famous learned and godly man, who having offended the Bishop of Vienna, called Faba, in a disputation about Religion, returned unto his sociates assembled together, whereof Melancthon was one: where discoursing of the disputation betweene him and the Bishop, I (saith Melancthon) was called out of the chamber, to speak with a certaine grave man, of a venerable countenance and habit, who told me that we should remove Gryneus out of that place presently, for the Sergeants were come to apprehend him, and to cast him into prison: whereupon we presently conducted him through the Citie, and brought him unto the rivers side, where we had him conveyed over into another Jurisdiction: and at our returne to the Inne, found that the Sergeants had beene there. Thus, saith Melancthon, we see that this grave old man was an Angell of God, that came to protect the good man from his enemies.

In the yeare 1539, not farre from Sitta in Germany, in the time of a great dearth, and famine, a certaine godly matron having two sonnes, and destitute of all manner of sustenance, went with her children to a certaine fountaine hard by, praying unto Almighty God, that he would there relieve their hunger by his infinite goodnesse: as she was going, a certaine man met her by the way, and saluteth her kindly, and asked her whither shee was going; who confessed that she was going to that fountaine there, hoping to be relieved by God, to whom all things are possible; for if he nourished the children of Israell in the desart forty yeares, how is it hard for him to nourish me and my children with a draught of water: and when shee had spoken these words, the man, (which was doubtlesse an Angel of God) told her, that seeing her faith was so constant, she should returne home, and there should finde six bushels of meale for her and her children. The woman returning, found that true which was promised.

In the yeare 1558, a cruell tempest raged in Thuringea, beating downe houses, pulling up trees by the roots, and drowned by the violence of the water above forty persons, men and women. In this fearefull inundation of waters, a notable and miraculous example of Gods protection by Angels shewed it selfe: for there was a woman newly brought to bed of a childe, drowned, but the infant lying in a cradle, was carried with the violence of the water a great way off, and at last the cradle stopping at the bough of an apple-tree, was fastened till the waters decreased, and after divers dayes was found alive.

The like example of a childe miraculously preserved in the waters, is described by Husan… in most elegant verses; the copie whereof you may reade in the Historicall Theatre of Lonicerus, pag. 196.

Another childe at Friburge in Misnia falling into the river, was carried violently a great space, untill it came unto a Mill, where it stopped, and was miraculously taken up alive by Gods protection, and his holy Angels.

The like we reade of concerning another childe, miraculously preserved at Rotinberge, in the yeare 1565, as Lonicerus reporteth.

p. 443I will adde one more of my owne knowledge, concerning an Inf…t.

… Towne in Cambridge-shire, there was a cra…ie Steeple ready to …, under which a poore man with one childe, had built a little cottage, and lived therein: it chanced that the Steeple fell upon that little cottage, the woman being in the towne, and the childe in the house: all men supposed the childe had beene crushed to pi…es; but it pleased God, by the protection of his holy Angels, that certaine pieces of the Bell-free fell crosse over the little cottage, and kept off the sto…es from hurting of the childe; which crying was heard, and they removing the stones and rubbidge, found the childe alive.

The like happened at Huntington; where Saint Mar…s Church, having a decayed Steeple, the Parishioners for … to repaire it; who about noone comming downe to …h…ir …, left certaine children which were taught by the Minister, playing in the body of the Church, who had no sooner runne into the Chancell to their victuals, but the Steeple tumbled downe into the Church, beating downe a great part of the Church: withall, behold the wonderfull protection of God, if the Steeple had fallen upon the Lords day, many hundreds had beene slaine; and if at any other time of the day, the Masons and the children had all perished: but blessed be the name of the Lord for this safe deliverance.

Another example was related unto me by men of good credit, upon their owne knowledge; how a certaine man riding between two woods in a great tempest of thundering and lightening, rode under an Oake to shelter himselfe; but his horse would by no meanes stay under that Oake, winching, and kicking, and running away, whether his Master would or no: which his master perceiving, went unto another Oake hard by, where the horse stayed very quietly: but they had not long staid there, but the first Oake with a grievous clap of thunder and lightening was torne all to fitters, and the man and horse in the other place escaped safely: Oh the wonderfull protection of God, and that by the ministery of his holy Angels!

In the yeare 1565, so great a tempest of raine and waters arose at Islebia, that it bare downe houses before it; it fell most violently upon the house of one Barthold Bogt, so that it broke downe the fore-part of his house, where lay a childe in a cradle; which the father, with hazard of his life, brought forth and carried into his adjoyning neighbours house: two other of his children endeavouring also to save, hee tooke in his armes to carry forth of the house, but the rage of the water hindered him, so that they rested upon a beame; from whence the one of his children was violently taken out of his armes, and he and the other being shaken from the post, were carried into the Orchard; where finding footing, stood up to the neck in water, with the childe in his armes; and looking about for his other childe, he found it sitting upon a piece of timber, and comming towards him, which hee also tooke into his armes, and got up into a high pile of wood, where he rested all night, none being able to afford him any helpe. The next morning, when the waters were decreased, he came downe to looke for two other of his children p. 444which he had left in an upper part of the house, whom hee found fast asleepe; now he had no sooner taken them from thence, but that part of the house fell downe also: where we may see a visible signe of Gods protection by his holy Angels, who not onelyonly preserved all the family, but also kept that part of the house from falling, wherein the children lay sleeping, untill they were brought forth.

Many more examples of this kinde might be added, but these shall suffice to shew Gods great providence towards his children; who as he punisheth the wicked with most severe Judgements, so he protecteth those that feare him with extraordinary providence by his holy Angels: to shew the truth of that, which the Apostle speaketh; that They are ministring Spirits, sent forth to waite upon them who shall be heires of salvation, Hebrewes 1. Verse 14.

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End of the text · Thomas Beard, The Theater of Gods Judgments (1642)