A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI. Examples of Gods judgments upon Murtherers and Blood-shedders.
THe positive judiciall Law of God is, that whosoever sheddeth mans bloud, by man shall his bloud be shed, Gen. 9. 6. and the reason is there rendred, because such destroy Gods Image wherein man is made: and the cry of blood (if not punished by man) is so great, Gen. 4. 10. that the Lord comes down from heaven to call the murtherer to account, and by some visible, and remarkable judgements, or other, to stigmatize this sin, as these following Examples will more fully manifest.
Murtherers ought to be punished with death, Gen. 9. 6. Exod. 21. 12. Prov. 28. 17. Rev. 13. 10. No recompence is to be taken for it, Num. 35. 32, &c. for it defiles the land, Hos. 4. 2, 3.
It's diligently to be sought out, Deut. 21. 1, &c.
God punisheth it here, Psal. 55. 23.
It excludes from heaven, Gal. 5. 21. Rev. 21. 8.
Scripturall Examples. Cain, Gen. 4. 8. Pharaoh. Exodus 1. 16 Simeon and Levt, Gen. 34. 25. &c. Abimelech, Judg. 9. 5. Agag, 1 Sam. 15. 33. Joab, 2 Sam. 3. 27. David, 2 Sam. 11. 14, &c. Absalom, 2 Sam. 13. 28, 29 Manasseh, 2 King 21. 16. Amons servants, 2 Kings 21. 23. Ahab and Jezabel, 1 Kings 21. 9, &c. Baanah and Rechab, 2 Sam. 4. 6. Saul, 2 Sam. 21. 1. 1 Sam. 22. 18. Athaliah, Chron. 22. 10. Baasha, Kin. 15. 27. Zimri, 1 Kin. 16. 9. Joash, 2 Chron 24. 21. Shal…um, 2 Kings 15. 10. Manahem, 2 Kings 15. 14, 16. Herod, Acts 12. 2.
Cain for murthering his brother Abel was cursed by God Gen. 4.
Abimelech who slew his 70. brethren, was slain by a woman at Thebez, Jud. 9.
Baanah and Rechab who slew their L. Ishbosheth, were slain by the command of David, 2 Sam. 4.
Joab who slew Abner, and Amasa treacherously, was slain by the command of Solomon, 1 Kin. 2.
Cyrus K. of Persia, who for 30. years together made cruell war in many places; at last fighting against the Scythians, was overcome, 200000 of his men slain and himself salling into the hands of Q. Tomyris, she cut off his head, threw it into a bowl of blood, saying, Thou hast all thy time thirsted after blood, now drink thy fill, and satiate thy self therewith. Orosius.
Cambyses, his son, a bloody and cruell man, who shot a noblemans son thorow the heart, because the father had reproved him for drunkennesse: He caused his own brother to be privily murthered, lest he should usurp the Kingdom; slew his own sister for reproving him for that deed: At last as he was riding, his sword fell out of the scabbard, and himself falling upon it, was slain thereby. Herodo.
Xerxes who with his huge Army passed over into Greece, being overthrown by sea and land, fled shamefully into Asia in a fisherboat, and shortly after was slain by Artabanus, the Captain of his guard in his own palace. Diod. Sic.
The 30. Tyrants in Athens were cruell bloodsuckers, till the people rising up against them, slew them all. Just.
Phocas, who to get the Empire, put to death all the sons of Mauricius the Emperor before his face, and then slew him also: and after many villainies by him committed, was pursued by his son in law Priscus, and being taken, had his hands and feet cut off, and afterwards with all his posterity was put to a cruell death. Nicephorus.
Anno Christi 1346. Popiel K. of Poland, to obtain the Kingdom, poysoned his two uncles, and gave himself over to all manner of wickednesse: He used upon every occasion to say, If this be not true, would rats might devour me: On a time as he was going to a great feast, an Army of rats out of the putrefied body of his uncles set upon him, which all his guard with their weapons were not able to drive away: Then did they make great cole-fires about him, yet through the middest of the fire did the rats assault him: Then did they put him with his wife and children into a boat, and rowed them in the middest of a great lake, yet thither did the rats swim to him: and lastly, he gat up to the top of an high Tower, yet still the rats pursued him, and they eat him up to the very bones, together with his wife and children: Munst. Cos.
Bassianus the Emperour who slew his own brother in his mothers armes, and tooke to wife his own mother in Law, was shortly after, himselfe murthered by the procurement of Macrinus, to prevent his owne death.
Justinian the Emperour, a cruel, and bloody man who was the cause of many murthers, was first banished from his Empire, and afterwards slaine by one of his own servants. Euseb.
Clovis King of France, an horrible murtherer, who amongst other cruel facts, caused one of his Peers to be murthered by his own sonne, that he might seize upon his riches; but whil'st he was stooping down to draw forth bags full of gold out of a Chest, the same person caused his braines to be beaten out. French History.
Selimus a cruel and bloody Emperour of the Turks, intending to turne all his powers against the Christians, was suddenly attached by the hand of God, being struck in the reines of the back with a Cancer, which (contemning all cure) did by little, and little so eate, and corrupt his body, that he became loathsome, both to himselfe, and others, and so rotting above ground, died miserably. Turk. Hist.
Agathocles a bloody Tyrant of Syracuse, after many most horrible murthers committed by him, lived to see most of his family slaine, and himselfe devested of his Kingdome: After which he was taken with a grievous sicknesse, wherein his whole body rotted, which spread it selfe through all his veines, and sinews, wherewith in short time he ended his accursed life.
Robert Erle of Fife in Scotland being advanced by his brother King Robert the third to be the first Duke of Albany, afterwards, (ungratefull person that he was) pricked on with the spirit of Ambition, famished to death, David his said brothers son, who was heir to the Crown: but the punishment due for this fact, which himself by the long sufferance of God felt not: His son Mordac the second Duke of Albany suffered most grievously, being condemned for treason and beheaded, when he had seen his two sons the day before executed in the same manner. Camb. Brit. Scot. p. 39.
King Richard the third of England, who caused his two Nephews most unnaturally to be murthered in the Tower, and shed much other innocent blood, by Gods just judgement had his onelyonly son taken away by death, and himself was slain in Bosworth-field: his carrion carcasse being found naked among the slain, filthily polluted with blood, and dirt, was cast upon an horse behinde a pursuivant at Armes, his head, and armes hanging down on the one side of the horse, and his legs on the other, like a Calfe: and so was interred at Leicester, with as base a Funerall as he formerly bestowed upon his Nephews in the Tower. Eng. Hist.
Iames Tyrell, Iohn Dighton, and Miles Forrest, who were procured by this King Richard to murther the two young Princes, entering into their Chamber about midnight, so bewrapped them among the clothes keeping down the Feather-bed, and Pillows hard unto their mouths, that within a while they were smothered: but these Murtherers escaped not long the vengeance of God: for Miles Forrest by peecemeale rotted away: Dighton lived at Calis, so disdained and hated, that he was pointed at of all men, and there died in much misery: and Sir Iames Tyrell was beheaded on Tower-Hill for Treason. Act. & Mon.
Senercleus relateth the just hand of God upon that villainous parricide Alphonsus Diazius a Popish Spaniard, who after he had (like another Cain) murthered his own naturall brother Iohn Diazius, meerly because he had renounced Popery, and became a Professor of the reformed Religion, and was not onelyonly not punished, but highly commended of the Romanists for his heroical atchievement (as they called it) being haunted, and hunted by the furies of his own conscience, desperately hanged himself at Trent about the neck of his own Mule.
Some bloody villains basely murthered Theodorick, B. of Trever: But Gods just judgments overtook all the murtherers: For Conrade the chief author died suddenly. A souldier that helped to throw him down the rock, was chok'd as he was at supper, and two other servants that assisted, desperately slew themselves. Marti.
The Cardinall of Winchester (commonly called the rich Cardinall) who procured the death of the good Duke of Glocester in the reign of King Henry the sixth was shortly after struck with an incurable disease: who understanding by his Physicians, that he could not live; murmuring, and repining thereat, he cried out, Fie! will not death be hired? will money do nothing? must I die that have so great riches? If the whole realme would save my life, I am able either by policy to get it, or by riches to buy it; But yet all would not prevail, but that he died of the same disease. Sp. Chr.
See the Example of Scedasus's daughters in Rapes.
Olympias the mother of Alex M. being a woman of a proud and revengefull disposition, having gotten Eurydice Queen of Macedonia into her hands, sent her a sword, an halter, and a cup of poison, giving her leave to choose with which of them she would kill her self: Eurydice seeing them, prayed to the gods, that she that sent her those presents, might her self partake of the like, and so hanged her self: But shortly after the Divine …ustice met with Olympias, who by the appointment of Cassander, one of her sons Captains, was murthered. Diod. Sic. Justin
This Cassander murthered also the two wives of Alex. and their sons, and thereby seized upon the Kingdome of Macedonia: but shortly after God plagued him with a filthy disease in his body, whereby wormes were bred that devoured him, his eldest son Philip died of a consumption: Antipater his second son slew his own mother Thessalonica, and was himself slain by his father in law Lysimachus: and Alexander the youngest son was treacherously slain by Demetrius, and so the whole family of Cassander was rooted out. Plut.
Examples of selfe Murther.
Calanus an Indian Philosopher followed Alexander M. when he returned out of India, who having lived seventy three years without any disease, was at last taken with a dysenterie, and fearing that his former felicity should be overclouded with a lingring disease, he asked leave of Alexander that he might burn himself: the King laboured to disswade him from his unnaturall purpose, but when he could not prevail by arguments, he gave his consent, whereupon Calanus caused a pile of wood to be made, and riding to it, he made his prayers to his Countrey gods, and so with a cheerfull countenance he ascended the pile, and causing the fire to be put to it, he sate with a fixt and unmovable body, till he was burned to ashes. Q. Cur.
Alex. M. besieging one of the Indian Cities, the inhabitants seeing that they could hold out no longer, shut up themselves, their wives and children in their houses, and set fire on them: Alexanders men breaking in, laboured to quench the fire, and the others laboured as much to encrease it, so that it was a strange thing to see the fight that was betwixt, one to destroy themselves, the other to save their enemies. Quin. Cur.
Demosthenes the Athenian Orator for standing for the liberty of Greece, was hated by Antipater the Governour of Macedonia, who sent some to kill him under Captain Archia; whereupon Demosthenes took sanctuary in Neptunes Temple: But Archia sent to him to come out of the Temple, so that Demosthenes perceiving that they were resolved to have his life, he took some poison which he had ready for the purpose, and so presently died. Plut.
Perdiccas besieging the City of Isaurum in Pisidia, when the Citizens saw that they could no longer hold out against him, they shut up their parents, wives, and children with all their substance in their houses, and so burnt them, and then threw themselves down from the walls, and brake their own necks. Diod. Sic.
Ptolomy King of Egypt hearing that Nicocles King of Cyprus did closely hold correspondence with Antigonus, he sent some to slay him: these coming into Cyprus, beset his Palace, and demanded him to be delivered up to punishment: Nicocles would at fi…st have excused the matter, but when he saw that it would not serve turn, he slew himself: Then did Axiothea his wife slay her daughters that were Virgins, that they might not come into the enemies power: She also perswaded the wives of Nicocles brethren with her to murther themselves; their husbands seeing this, set fire upon the Palace, burning themselves and all together. Diod. Sic.
Hannibal in his old age, flying to Prusias King of Bythinia, was demanded by the Romane Ambassadors to be delivered to them; but rather than he would come into their hands, he drank poison, which he alwayes kept for that purpose, and so died. Aur. Victor.
Augustus Caesar besieging M. Antony, and Cleopatra in Alexandria, after a long siege, Antony hearing a false rumor, that Cleopatra was slain, suddenly slew himself, and Cleopatra scorning to be carried in triumph by Caesar, set a couple of asps to her breasts, whereby she presently died. Plut.
Zimri K. of Israel desperately burned himself in his own Palace, 1 King. 16. 18.
Achitophel hanged himself, 2 Sam. 17. 23.
Judas hanged himself, Act. 1. 18.
Saul and his Armor-bearer, 1 Sam. 31. 4, 5. fell upon their own swords.
Tomyris Queen of the Massagetes having in a battell overthrown, and slain Cyrus King of Persia, cut off his head, and threw it into a bowl of blood, saying, Thou hast all thy time thirsted after blood, now drink thy fill, and satiate thy self therewith.
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembreth them; He for gets not the cry of the humble, Psal. 9. 12.
The Admiràble Discoveries of sundry Murthers.
Parthenius Treasurer to Theodobert King of France, traiterously slew a friend of his called Ausanius, together with his wife Papianilla, no man knowing, or suspecting it: but not long after in his sleep, he suddenly roared out, crying for help, or else he perished; and being asked what ailed him? Between sleep and wake he answered, that his friend Ausanius, and his wife whom he had slain, summoned him to judgement before God: for which being apprehended, he was stoned to death. Greg. of Toures.
Mr. Arden of Feversham in Kent, had a fair, but dishonest wife, who being in love with one Mosby, with him conspired her husbands death, hiring a ruffian called Black Will to strangle him with a towel: which, though for the present was not known, yet the woman being pursued with a guilty conscience, and by some blood that appeared in the house, the murther was discovered: the woman was burned at Canterbury: Mr. Ardens man who had a hand in the murther, was hanged in chains at Feversham: Mosby was hanged in Smithfield: Black Wil, though he fled, yet being overtaken, was burnt at Flushing in Zealand.
A souldier of King Pyrrhus being slaine, a dog which he had could by no meanes be entised from the dead body: but the King coming by, he fawned upon him, as it were craving help at his hand; whereupon the King caused all his Army to march by in order, and when the mu…cherers came, the dog flew fiercely upon them, and then fawned upon the King: the souldiers being hereupon examined, confessed the fact, and were hanged for their labour. …lut.
In the Reigne of Edmund King of the East-Saxons, a Noble Dane called Lothebrocus being driven upon his coast, the King entertained him, and finding his dexterity in hunting, and hawking, loved him exceedingly, for which the Kings Faulconer bore a great malice to him, and watching his opportunity, murthered him, and threw him into a brook. But his dog continued by his masters corps in the wood, sometimes coming to the Court, and fawning on the King, and so running towards the wood againe: the King missing his friend, of whom he could hear no tidings, began to suspect the matter, and therefore following the dog, found the corps, and by some words, the Faulconer was suspected, and upon examination found guilty; whereupon being put alone into a boat, he was committed to the mercy of the Sea, that carried him to Denmark, there to be punished for his fault.
Two French Merchants travelling through a wood together, one rose up against the other, and slew him for his money, and so buried him, and went on his journey. But the murthered mans dog filled the wood with his howlings, still staying by his Masters grave: the inhabitants by this meanes found out the dog, and the murther, and the Faire being ended, they watched the coming back of the Merchants, till the murtherer coming by, the dog fell upon him with all his might, whereupon the people apprehended him, who upon examination, confessed the fact, and was justly executed. Blond.
A Germane called Ibycus, travelling, fell amongst theeves, who being about to murther him, behold, a flight of crowes, to whom Ibycus said, O crowes, I take you for witnesses, and revengers of my death. About three dayes after, as these theeves were drinking in an Inne, a company of crowes came, and lighted on the house, whereupon they laughed, saying, See, yonder are they which must revenge his death, whom we murthered; which the Tapster over-hearing, informed the Magistrate, and he upon strict examination, extorted a confession, for which they were deservedly hanged. Luther.
Plutarch relates a story of one Bessus, who having murthered his father, was so pursued with a guilty conscience, that he thought the swallowes in their chattering language, said one to another, Bessus hath killed his father, whereupon not being able to conceale his guilt, he confessed the fact, and received condigne punishment.
A Merchant of Luca travelling from London to Roan in France, was in the way murthered by a French man, his servant, and thrown amongst the vines: As the fact was doing, comes by a blinde man led by a dog, and hearing one groane, asked who it was? the murtherer answered, that it was a sick man easing himselfe: This villaine with his masters money, and bills of exchange, sets up a shop at Roan. In the mean time the Merchant was expected at Luca, and when he came not, a messenger was dispatched to seek him, who after much enquiry, heard at an Inne, that six moneths before a Lucquois Merchant lodged there, and was going towards Paris. But the messenger hearing nothing of him there, began to suspect that he was murthered, and made his complaint to the Parliament of Roan, who (being directed by Gods providence) enquired if any about that time had set up a new shop, and finding this man caused him to be arested, who upon examination denied the fact, till the dead corps was heard of, and the blinde man also came to light, who being sent for, amongst many others knew the voice of this murtherer, who at last confessed the fact, and was executed for the same. Pasquier.
Anno Christi. 1551. at Paris a young woman, as she was going to midnight-Masse, was brained with an hammer, and her rings, and jewels taken from her: the hammer was stolne from a Smith hard by, which being known, the Smith was suspected, and so strictly examined by torture, that he was lamed, and died in misery: but about twenty yeares after the murtherer▪ arreigned, and condemned for another offence, confessed this murther, to the clearing of the Smiths innocency, and Gods righteous judgement upon him. Pasquier.
Neare Lutterworth in Leicestershire, a Miller murthered one in his Mill, and buried the corps in the ground, and not long after went into another countrey, and there dwelt about twenty yeares, at the end whereof, he returned to his former habitation, to visit some friends, about which time it pleased God, that a Miller who succeeded him, digging in that place, found the bones of a man, whereupon it was suspected that he had been murthered, and the inhabitants remembred that about twenty yeares before, a neighbour was missed, whom they supposed to have died in a strange countrey, and so bethinking themselves, who was Miller at that time, behold, God had brought him amongst them, who being apprehended, and examined, confessed the fact, and was justly executed for the same.
In Denmark a traveller was murthered by the way, near the City of Itzehow: but the murtherer could not be found out, whereupon the Magistrates of the City, caused one of the hands to be cut off, and hanged up in the town-Gaol. And about ten yeares after, the murtherer accidentally comes into that roome, whereupon the drie hand drops blood upon the table, which the Gaoler taking notice of, carries the man before the Magistrates, who being examined, confessed the fact, and was justly executed. Ranzorius in a letter to D. Chytraeus.
A murtherer at Tubing betrayed himselfe by his deep sighes, which was not for griefe of his fact, but for his small booty, and being but asked the question, he confessed the crime, and was hanged for it. Lonicer.
In Spaine a murther was committed in a tumult, and when all denied the fact, the Judge caused all their bosomes to be opened, and he whose heart trembled most, upon examination, confessed the fact, and was executed.
At Isenac, a young man to get money, slew his host, and threw his body into a cellar, but by Gods just judgement was so besotted that he could not stirre a foot till he was apprehended, so that he was condemned to death. Luther, and Melancthon being in the town at that time, spake with him, and brought him to repentance before his death,