The Theater of Gods Judgments Part 2, Chapter 5

The Theater of Gods Judgments Part 2 · Chapter 5

p. 58CHAP. V. Gods Iudgements against Covetousnesse.

THis Vice is defined to be a dishonest and insatiable desire of having, which is superabundant in desiring, acquiring, and keeping, but altogether deficient in parting with, or giving: this inordinate desire of riches is quite opposite to Liberality, and to Justice, which ought to distribute suum cuique, and may be divided into these four Heads, Mortall, Veniall, Capitall, and Generall. It is called mortall, when a man taketh or reteines that which belongeth to another man unjustly; and then it is either Theft, Rapine, Vsury, or Deceit in buying or selling, or else when we prefer the inordinate love of riches before our love to God and our neighbour. And then called veniall, when though we love wealth, we use no indirect course to get it, nor hinder others by our illiberality or gripplenesse to keep it, and may be called good husbandry. It is capitall, and so called, because it is the head of many other sinnes, and exceedeth either in retaining, from whence ariserh obduration against pity, which is also called inhumanity, or the unquietnesse of the minde, which begets superfluous solicitude and care: or violence, when we take from others injustly and by force: or fallacy, when we equivocate in our bargaines: or perjury, when we use an oath to confirme it: or fraud, when for gain we sticke not to deceive: or prodition, and that was the sin of Iudas, who for a price betrayed his Master. It is called generall, because of it there be many species, one specially consists either in the defect of giving, or the excesse in the desire of having; of the first in giving, he is called Parcus who giveth little, Tenax who gives nothing, foreign who parts with that he gives with great difficulty. Excesse in acquiring consists in gaining filthily, or injustly; filthily, by illiberall acts, as striving to enrich ones selves by base, vile, and sordid meanes, in which is included all meretricall gain got by prostitution or panderisme, with the like: and amongst these injustly avaritious, are numbered, Vsurers guilty of oppression and extortion, Theeves who rob either openly or privately, spoilers of the dead, false Executours, &c. and Dicers, who covet to prey on the goods of their friends living.

And this grand vice with all the severall branches thereof is condemned in the holy Scriptures, Gen. 18. 21. Moreover, provide thou amongst all the people, men of courage, fearing God; men dealing truly, hating covetousnesse, &c. It is the tenth Commandment, Thou shalt not covet thy neigbours house, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbours wife. And Levit. 19. 11. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsly, neither lye one to another, thou shalt not do thy neighbour wrong, nor rob him. Deut. 23. 20. Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother, that the Lord thy God may blesse thee in all that thou settest thine hand to, p. 59in the land whether thou goest to possesse it. Iob 20. 15. He hath devoured substance, and he shall vomit it, for God shall draw it out of his belly. And 27. 8. For what hope hath the hypocrite when he hath heaped up riches, if God take away his soul. Psal. 62. 10. Trust not in oppression nor in robbery, be not vain, if riches encrease set not thine heart upon them. Prov. 1. 19. Such are the wayes of every one that is greedy of gain, he would take away the life of the owners thereof. Ier. 8. 10. Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields unto them that shall possesse them, for every one from the least unto the greatest is given unto covetousnesse, and from the Prophet unto the Priest every one dealeth falsly. Ezech. 18. 7. He that hath not oppressed any, but hath restored the pledge to his debtour, he that hath spoiled none by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, and hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, but hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, and hath executed true judgement betwixt man and man, and hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgements, to deal truly, he is just, and shall surely live, saith the Lord. Matth. 6. 24. No man can serve two masters, for either he shall hate the one and love the other, or else he shall leane to the one and despise the other, ye cannot serve God and riches. Luke 12. 15. Wherefore he said nnto them, take heed and beware of covetousnesse, for though a man have abundance, his life standeth not in his riches. Iohn 12. 4. Then said one of his Disciples, even Iudas Iscariot Simons son which should betray him, Why was not this oyntment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor? now he said this not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thiefe and had the bag, and bare that was given. It is Radix omnium malorum. 1 Tim. 6. 10. For the desire of money is the root of all evill, which whilest some lusted after they erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrowes, for they that will be rich fall into many temptations and snares, and into many foolish and noysome lusts, which drown men in perdition and destruction. Covetous men are contemners of Gods Word, Matth. 13. 22. And he that received the seed amongst thornes is he that heareth the Word, but the cares of the world, and the deceitfulnesse of riches choak the Word, and he is made unfruitfull. It is no better than idolatry, Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are on earth, fornication, uncleannesse, the inordinate affections, evill concupiscence, and covetousnesse, which is idolatry. They are miserable and vain, Iob 20. 19. He hath undone many, he hath forsaken the poor, and hath spoiled houses which he builded not, surely he shall feel no quietnesse in his body, neither shall he reserve of that which he desired, there shall none of his meat be left, therefore none shall hope for his goods, when he shall be filled with his abundance, he shall be in pain, and the hand of the wicked shall assail him, he shall be about to fill his belly, but God shall send upon him his fierce wrath, and shall cause to rain upon him, even upon his meat, &c. They are not capable of everlasting life, Col. 6. 10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God. Many more Texts there are to the like purpose, but I come nearer to shew you examples of Covetousnesse, and the punishments thereof out of the sacred Scriptures.

We reade Iosh. 7. 20. And Achan answered Ioshua, and said, I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus I have done, I saw amongst the spoiles a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, and I covered them, and behold, they lie hid in the earth, in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. It followeth, Verse 24. p. 60Then Ioshua took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sonnes, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tents, and all that he had, and all Israel with him brought them to the valley of Achor: and Ioshua said, in asmuch as thou hast troubled us, the Lord shall trouble thee this day; and all Israel threw stones at him, and burnt them with fire and stoned them with stones, &c. It was also punished in Nabal, 1 Sam 1. 25. who was churlish, gripple, and covetous, and ungratefull to David and his servants, for which the Text saith, Verse 36. And about ten dayes after the Lord smote Nabal that he died: who not onelyonly lost his life, hut had his wife Abigail given unto David, whom he before despised. Ahab King of Israel for coveting of Naboths vineyard, and by the meanes of his wife Iezebel putting him to death, that her husband might take possession thereof: hear his terrible judgement that followed, 1 Kings 21. 17. The Word of the Lord came to Eliah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab King of Israel which is in Samaria, lo, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to take possession of it: therefore shalt thou say unto him, thus saith the Lord, hast thou killed, and also gotten possession: and thou shalt speak unto him saying, thus saith the Lord, in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, shall dogs licke even thy blood also, behold, I will bring evill upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, as well him that is shut up, as him that is left in Israel: and I will make thy house like the house of Ieroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation whereby thou hast provoked and made Israel to sin: and of Iezebel spake the Lord, saying, the dogs shall eat Iezebel by the wals of Iezreel; the dogs shall eat him of Ahabs stocke that dieth in the City, and him that dieth in the fields shall the fowles of the air eat, &c. Now what more fearfull judgement could have been pronounced against them? all which punctually happened unto them according to the Prophets saying.

Further, we reade Esay 1. 23. Thy Princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves, every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards, they judge not the fatherlesse, neither doth the widows cause come before them, therefore saith the Lord God of hostes, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will case me of my adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies. Ier. 22. 17. Thine eyes and thine heart are but onelyonly for thy covetousnesse, and to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for destruction, even to do this; Therefore thus saith the Lord against Iehoiakim the son of Iosiah King of Iudah, they shall not lament him, saying, ah my brother, and ah my sister; neither shall they mourne for him saying, ah Lord, or ah his glory, he shall be buried as an asse is buried, and cast forth without the gates of Ierusalem. Ezech. 22. 27. Her Princes in the midst thereof are like wolves, ravening the prey to shed blood, and to destroy soules for their own covetous lucre. In thee have they taken gifts to shed bloud, thou hast taken usury, and the increase, and thou hast defrauded thy neighbour by extortion, and hast fogotten me, saith the Lord God, behold therefore I have smitten mine hands upon thy covetousnesse that thou hast used, and upon the blood which hath been in the midst of thee: I will scatter thee amongst the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, &c. Amos 4. 1. Hear this word ye kine of Baashan, that are in the mountaines of Samaria, which oppresse the poor, and destroy the needy, &c. The Lord God hath sworne by his holinesse, that loe, the dayes shall come upon you, that he will take you away with thornes, and your posterity with fish-hookes. Micah 2. 2. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away, so they oppresse p. 61a man and his house, even man and his heritage, therefore thus saith the Lord. Behold, against this family have I devised a plague, whereout ye shall not plucke your neckes, and you sh all not go so proudly; for this time is evill. Again, 3. 11. The heads thereof judge for rewards, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof prophesie for money, yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord amongst us? no … can come upon us: therefore shall Sion for your sakes he plowed as … field, and Ierusalem shall be an hea…, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. Hab. 2 9. Ho, he that coveteth an evill covetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on high, to escape from the power of evill. Thou hast consulted shame to thine own house, by destroying many people, and hast sinned against thine own soul, for the stone shal… out of the wall, and the beame out of the timber shall answer it, We unto him that buildeth a town with blood, and erecteth a city by iniquity. 2 Mach. 10. 20. Now they that were with Simon being led with covetousnesse, were intreated for money (through certain of those that were in the castle) and took seventy thousand drac…, … … some of them escape, but when it was told Machubeus what was done, he called the governours of the people together, and accused those men, that they had sold their brethren for money, and let their enemies go, so he slew them when they … convict of treason, and won the two castles. Eccles. 4. 8. There is one alone, and there a not a second, which hath neither son nor brother, yet is there no end of all his travell, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches, neither doth he thinke, for whom do I travell, and defraud my soul of pleasure? this also is vanity, and this is an evill travell. Again 5. 9. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, and he that loveth riches shall not enjoy the fruits thereof, where goods increase they are increased that eat them, and what goods commeth to the owners but the beholding thereof with their eyes? the sleep of him that travelleth is sweet, whether he eat little or much, but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him … sleep. There is an evill sicknes that I have seen under the sun, to wit riches reserv… to the owners thereof for their evill, and their riches vanish by evill travell, … he begetteth a son and in his hand is nothing. I conclude with that of Zephan. 1. 18. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath, but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousie, for he shall make a speedy riddance even of all them that dwell in the land.

And thus far the Scriptures against this horrid vice of Covetousnesse. I come to the Fathers: Saint Augustine, De verbo Domins, useth these words, What is this avidity of concupiscence without measure? when even beasts themselves observe a mediocrity; they onelyonly prey when they are an hungred, but cease to spoil when they are satisfied, onelyonly the avarice of the rich is insatiable, it alwayes rages, and is never sated, it neither feareth God, nor reverenceth man; it spareth not the father, nor acknowledgeth the mother; it regardeth nor brother, nor childe, but breaketh covenant with a friend, it oppresseth the widdow, invadeth the orphant, distresseth the poor, and is prone to bring false witnesses, and what a madnesse is it to desire death for life? and in seeking to finde gold, to lose Heaven?

And Saint Ambrose in his Sermons thus: It is all one for him that hath, to take from him that wants, and when thou hast, and canst, to deny relief to the indigent and needy; it is the bread of the hungry that thou deteinest, the cloathing of the naked that thou keepest backe, the money that thou hidest in the earth is the redemption of the captive, and know, thou robbest so many of those goods as it is in thy power to confer upon the miserable, p. 62when thou denyest to succour them: Those fortunes and those riches are not a mans owne, which he cannot carry with him, onelyonly mercy and charity forsake not a man in his death.

Saint Hierome saith, To a covetous man that is as much wanting which he hath, as what he hath not, because hee rather desires to have what hee wants, or is still in feare to lose what he hath; who, whilest in adversity he hopes for prosperity, in prosperity hee feares adversity. And in another place. The covetous man burnes here with the heat of concupiscence, and shall burne after in the fire of Gehenna. If hee see one more potent then himselfe, he suspects an oppressor: If one inferiour, hee feares a thiefe: and such are most unhappy, who really suffer whatsoever they shall but feare to suffer.

Huge lib. de Clar. useth these words: There be foure things in the possessing of goods and riches to be observed; namely, that lawfull things we doe not acquire injustly; or being injustly acquired, we doe not strive to injoy them unlawfully: that we strive not to possesse much, though lawfully; nor things justly got, defend unlawfully; for either evilly to acquire, or badly to use what is acquired, what is lawfull makes unlawfull: for, to possesse much hath some alliance to avarice, and commonly it happens, what is too much lov'd, is ill defended. I conclude with Gregory in one of his Homilies, Every avaritious man from drinke doth multiply thirst; because when he hath once injoyed what he before coveted, he is not therewith satisfied, but hath the greater inclination to cover more.

But from the Fathers I come to Ethnick History, and first I will give you the appellation of some rich men: Cacilius Camidius was of that infinite estate, that though he had lost a great part of his riches in the civill warres of Rome, yet at his death he left foure thousand domestick servants and retainers; in his stables he had an hundred and threescore horses, three thousand and sixe hundred oxen, and of other head of cattle two hundred fifty and seaven thousand, and pecuniis numeratis, that is in ready coyne sixe hundred thousand pound weight, who also gave to be expended upon his Funerall eleven thousand Sestertii. Marcus Crassus would not allow any man to be called a rich man, who was not able out of his private coffers to maintaine a Legion of Souldiers for a yeare; the annuall revenue of his fields and grounds arrable and pasture, amounted to fiftie hundred thousand crownes of gold: Neither did this suffice him (saith Pliny) but he was ambitious to winne and possesse all the gold of the Parthians. The greatest part of his wealth he purchast out of the civill garboyles, seditions, and combustions, converting the publike calamities to his private use and benefit; for when he had left him three hundred Talents onelyonly from his fathers Inheritance, before he enterprised any expedition against the Parthians, hee had gathered together into one Magazine seaven thousand and one hundred Talents, though hee had before consecrated the Tenths and Tythes of his whole estate to the Temple of Hercules. Hee moreover made a publique Banquet, in which he feasted the whole people of Rome, and gave to every one of his guests three pounds in silver: He kept moreover as his servants that had dependance of him, five hundred Smiths and Carpenters, skilfull in Architecture; whom hee not onelyonly imployed in his owne sumptuous Buildings and Aedisices; but to any noble Citizen who had a will and desire to build, he not onelyonly lent them freely, but paid them at his owne charge: p. 63yet this man overcome with covetousnesse of the Parthian gold, was by them taken prisoner in battaile, who knowing his great avarice, caused molten gold to be powr'd downe his throat, deriding his insaciety in these tearmes; For gold thou thirstest in thy life, and now take thy fill of it in thy death.

And yet Pallas the freed man of Claudius Caesar was held to bee twenty times richer then Crassus: Plinius the Praetor speakes of this Pallas, as also of Calistus and Narcissus, possest of innumerable wealth, during the principality of Claudius, insomuch that the plenty of Narcissus grew to a proverbe, for if they had to speake of any man who was possese of superabundant wealth, they would say he was as rich as Narcissus: of this Pallas Iuvenall speakes in his first Satyre, who with Narcissus were the freed men of Claudius; and by the generall suffrage of the Senate, had not onelyonly mighty Donatives conferred upon them, but they were admitted unto prime Magistrates, and underwent the most honourable offices in the Citie: More over the Emperour (as Tacitus writes) bestowed upon Pallas the Praetorian Ensignes, with great summes of money, being yearely possest (besides his domestick wealth) of three thousand Sestertii; but what happinesse had hee by the enjoying of such abundance? the same Author relates, that Ner… Caesar grieving that hee had lived so long, (for hee was growne aged) caused him to be poysoned; and by that meanes consiscated his goods to his owne use.

Antiochus the great King of Syria did so abound in riches, that purposing to make warre upon the Romans, he gathered a puissant and numerous Army, who were accommodated in all the bravery that could be possible; their Helmets being richly plumed, and the heads of their Speares and Shields shining with silver and gold; who after with great esteeme, shewing the glory of his Souldiers, and pride of his Host to Hanniball, he asked him whether he thought that these were not able to conquer the Romane? who after some small pause made him answer: I cannot presume that they are able to vanquish them, but of this I am most assured, they are able to satisfie them, if the Romans be covetous; and so it after proved to his great dishonour.

Pythius Bythinius a Persian, gave to Dari… a plaine tree and a Vine all of gold; he also feasted Xerxes Army, (in his expedition towards Greece) which consisted of seaven hundred fourescore and eight thousand men, and allowed unto them five moneths provision of corne, victuall, and pay; and onelyonly because that of five sonnes he had, Xerxes would leave one of them at home with him to comfort him image. Herodotus and Pliny both testifie of him, that being demanded of the King of what possession … was? he made answer. That he had in his Coffer ten thousand Talents of silver, and foure hundred Mirlads of gold, besides of the coyne of the Daricans, which amounted to seaven thousand pound weight in gold, all which when he had prostrated to the Kings service and free dispose, he wondring at his extraordinary liberality, tooke to supply his present use the foure hundred Miriads of gold, and left him the rest: notwithstanding which, in his returne from Greece, whence he was basely beaten and baffled, he caused that young man the sonne of so bountifull a father, before his face to be cut in pieces. And thus we see there is no trust in riches: for even King David and his sonne, who had wealth above account, and gold and treasure beyond numbe…, the one … p. 64into Murder and Adulterie, the other into Lust and Idolatrie.

From those which were rich, I come to the covetous: Constat, Manasses, Annaltum pag. 94. relates that Chaganus King of the Septentrionall Scythians, when he had invaded many of the Roman Forts and Cittadels, even those most strongly manned and defenc't, in his first violent assaults tooke in many walled Cities, and all the Region bordering upon Ister, quite depopulutated; insomuch that the whole River was sanguin'd with the bloud of the Natives. And having surprised many Captives, to the number of twelve thousand men, hee sent to the Emperour Mauricius to know if hee would redeeme them being Christians, and his subjects: but neither the extreame rage of the Scythian cruelty, nor the barbarous Kings inhumanity, neither the cryes and ejaculations of the miserable and distressed prisoners, could move the minde of this obdure and flinty-hearted Emperour, who was wholly given over the base and sordid avarice. Againe, Chaganus sent unto him. Embassadours with more moderate and reasonable conditions, with a great part of the first price deducted; to which the covetous Emperour would not lend any eare at all: which Chaganus hearing, he raged like a Tyger, and caused them all to be hewed to pieces; the whole Region to be covered with their carkasses; the fields to bee stain'd with their bloud; and their bodies to be piled in an heape almost to the height of a Pine-tree: which cruell act of the Emperour my Author thus aggravates. O gold and love of gold, more cruell then a Tyrant! of men the persecutor, the Fort of mischiefe, the Castle of destruction, the eversion of Towers, the depopulation of Cities, the demolishing of Walls and Gates, the fall of Houses, the ruine of Families: O with what mischiefes doest, thou afflict us mortals! no earthly thing can compare with thee in cruelty: Thou softnest the hard, indurat'st the soft; thou givest speech to the silent, and makest mute the free speaker: In roving, thou makest the swift slow pac't, and puttest wings to the feet of the lazy: Thou kickest against Law and Justice, expellest bashfulnesse and modesty, violat'st Sepulchres, diggest through; there is nothing which thou wilt not sell, nothing which thou wilt not betray.

Now let us looke upon the dreadfull Judgement of God, which fell upon this gripple minded Prince, who was so hated amongst the Christians, that upon Christmas day, as he was entring into the Temple, was like to have beene stoned to death: After which he grew jealous even of his owne brother, and all the best friends about him, lest they should supplant him from the Imperiall dignity; of which he grew the more timerous, in regard of divers ominous dreames: for there appeared unto him in his slumbers a blazing-starre like a sword, and a Monke running with a sword drawn to the Emperours Statue, inrag'd and crying out aloud, Imperatorem ferr… periturum: (i…) That the Emperour shall perish by steele. Hee dreamed also, That he was given to be murdered to one Phocas; upon which he sent for one Philippicus out of prison, a man whom hee much trusted, and asked him, Qualis sit Phocas? What kinde of man is that Phocas? To whom Philippicus answered, Centurio ambitiosus, sed timidus: To whom the Emperour againe replyed, If he be a coward, he is then a murderer. In conclusion, he grew into such a great contempt of the Army, that they sought to depose him; and the Legions and men of Warre about Istrus chose Phocas a barbarous and bloudy Thracian to be Emperour, who made all the haste p. 65possible to Constantinople, where he was crowned in the Suburbs by Cyprian the Patriarch. Mauricius in this interim was with his wife and children at Chalcedon, where through griefe and trouble of minde he fell sicke: thither Phocas sped him with all expedition, who first caused his two youngest Sons to be slaine in his sight, and then his three daughters; and next their mother Constantina, the daughter of Tiberius the second, the next Emperour before Mauricius; who beheld the deaths of his sonnes and daughters with great patience: but when he saw his wife in the hand of the tormentor, he burst forth into these words, (acknowledging his faults) O Lord God, thou art just, and and thy Iudgements are right. Lastly, Phocas commanded his head to be cut off, whose body, with his wives and children, were cast upon the shore, to be a publike spectacle for all the people; where they lay upon the ground till one of the enemies which had belonged to Mauricius, caused them to be interted.

Achaeus a King of the Lydians, was much branded with this vice of covetousnesse, who when he had accumulated much riches, and that too by sinister meanes, not therewith contented, hee proceeded further, and put new and unheard of taxes and exactions upon his subjects; when they knew his Treasury abounded with all fulnesse and plenty: In hate of whose extreame avarice they conspired together, and made an insurrection against him; and having surprised him in his Palace, they haled him thence, and hanged him on a Gibbet with his heeles upward, and his head drowned in the waters of Pactolus; whose streames (as sundry Authors write) are of the colour of gold, and hath name amongst the golden rivers; an Embleme of his avarice. Thus you see this deadly sinne seldome or never escapes without Judgement.

Neither did Iustinianus the second, the sonne of Constantinus Barbatus, escape the aspersion of this horrid vice, he was the last of the stocke of Heraclius, a man covetous, unquiet, cruell, and unfortunate: He had two Sycophants who furnisht his coffers, and for that were graced by him with all Imperiall power and authority; the one Theodosuis, a Monke, the other Stephanus the Emperours Chaplaine: who was in such credit with his Master, that he durst beate the old Empresse. These two not onelyonly exercised extortion and oppression amongst the Subjects, but great cruelty upon the Princes, Dukes, and Captaines, keeping one of them called Leontius two yeares in prison; who after escaping by the helpe of the Patriarch, was made Emperour, and cut off the nostrils of Iustinian, and sent him as an Exile to Chersonesus. Which Leontius being after surprised by Tiberius Apsimarus, he cut off his nostrils and sent him into a Monastery. After Iustinian returned, being ayded by the Bulgarians, and suprising both Leontius and Apsimarus, he caused them to be led bound through the Market-place; and having first trod upon their necks, cut off their heads: then hee pulled out the eyes of Callinious the Patriarch, and hanged up Heraclius the brother of Apsimarus. But at what time he sent his Army against Chirson, the Host made Philippicus Bardanes Emperour, who made all speed to Constantinople; and taking Iustinian and his sonne Tiberius from the Sanctuary, commanded them most miserably to be slaine.

Nay, even your greatest Prelates, and in the primest places of Episcopall dignity, have not beene excluded from this generall sinne of Avarice. Martinus Papa was of that gripple and penurious condition, that he commanded p. 66the ends of wax-candles left after Masse, and the other Service, to bee brought him home to his Palace, to save him light in the nights for his houshold and family. And Pontanus writes of one Agolastus, a Priest and Cardinall, who though he allowed liberally meat for his horses, after repenting him of the charge, would in the night steale privately into the stable, and take the provender out of their mangers; which hee used so long, that being watcht by the master of his horse, and knowing him, beate him soundly, as if he had beene a common theefe.

But contrary to these, Alexander the first, Pope, was of that bounty and munificence, that scarce any meriting man but tasted freely of his liberality; who used to say unto his friends in sport, I will tell you all my fortunes: I was a rich Bishop, I was a poore Cardinall, and am at this present a beggarly Pope.

A great example of this vice of desiring to get and have, was that of Alcmaeon the son of Megaclus, who when he had entertained some of the chief Nobility of Croesus King of Lidia in their way to Delphos, with great humanity and curtesie, the King loth to remain indebted to him, or at least, not some way to correspond with his bounty, invited him to his Palace, and having abundantly feasted him for some dayes, when he was ready to depart and take his leave of the King, Nay (saith he) you shall not part thus empty-handed from me before you have seen my Treasury, and take from thence as much gold as you are able to carry, who being of the craving and having condition, presently provided himselfe of large garmenrs, and wide cloathes, with deep and spatious pockets, and thought not all sufficient, for comming to the Magazine, having taken thence as much as it was possible for him to dispose of in any place about him, he then filled his mouth, and crammed it to the very teeth, and had conveyances in hair, and so swearing under this burden, disguised like a man distracted and quite out of his senses, he appeared before the King, who when he saw him so estranged from himselfe, burst into a loud laughter, and in contempt of his covetousnesse, with great scorne and derision let him depart. Thus far Herodotus.

Neither hath the Feminine sexe been altogether free from the same aspersions, but most justly taxed; for when Brennus our Countriman (and brother to Belinus King of this Land) being then Captain of the Gauls, besieged Ephesus with his Army, a great Lady of the City, called Dominica sent to parle with him, and made a covenant, for a mighty great sum of money to betray it into his hands, which Brennus according to the composition entred, and after sacked and spoiled, and standing at one of the great gates to receive the reward, he willing to keep his promise, and yet in his heart detesting the avarice of the woman, caused so much gold and treasure to be thrown upon her, till under the huge masse she was buried alive.

Near allied to the former is the story of Tarpeia, one of the vestall virgins in Rome, who having covenanted with Sabine the enemies to the Romans, to betray unto them the Capital for the bracelets they wore on their left arme, which were very rich and costly, they when they were entred and had possession of the place, in stead of their bracelets and carcanets threw upon her their shields and targets worne of their left armes, and so sti…ed, smothered and pressed her to death: in memory of whose soul and traiterous act grounded on Covetousnesse the Hill where she was buried is called, The Tarpeian Mountain, even to this day, and this hapned in the year of the world 2305.

p. 67Europhites was likewise the wife of Amphi…rus, who for a carcanet of gold given her by P…linyces, betrayed her husband, and discovered him in the place where he had hid himselfe, because he would not go to the The… warres, because it was told him by the Oracle, that there he should assuredly die, for which he left a strict charge with his son Alema…, that he should no sooner hear of his death, but he should instantly kill his mother, which Orestes-like he performed, and proved a Ma…icide to performe the will of his deceased father. Thus you see not one of these three escaped a fearfull judgement.

Of contrary disposition to these was the virgin Placidia daughter to the Emperour Valentintanut and Eudosia, who neglecting all her fathers riches and honours, abandoned the vanities of the world, and betook her selfe to a devout and sequestred life. As the like did Elburga, daughter to Edward King of England, (a Saxon) and had the sirname of Seignior, or the elder Edward. And if we look no further than to this City London the Metropolis of the Kingdom, how many pious and devout matrons hath it yeelded even from antiquity to this present, who have contributed largely to the erecting and repairing of Temples, building of Almes-houses and Hospitals, erecting schooles for learning, maintaining poore Ministers in preaching, in giving liberally towards Halls, leaving stockes to set up young beginners, and bequeathing legacies for poor maides marriages, and these not for the present, but to the end of the world. For which God be praised, and daily increase their number: but this is directly averse to the argument now in agitation, which is Covetousnesse.

If it be dangerous to be rich even to him that knowes how to use his wealth, how much more fearfully perillous then for him that hath abundance of all worldly fortunes, and knows only how to abuse them. Caesar being in Spain, extorted great summes of money most injustly from the Proconsul there, and certain Cities of the Lusitanians, though they neither offended him, nor violated any covenant with them, yet when they friendly set open their gates to receive him as their patton and defender, he spoiled their houses, made seisure of their goods, and even the Temples of the gods he sacrilegiously robbed, it being his custome to rifle Cities, not for any fault committed, but for the certain prey expected. In the first year of his Consulship he stole (for no better attribute my Author giveth it) … thousand pound weight of gold out of the Capitol; he moreover sold societies, liberties, and immunities, nay even Crownes, Scepters, and Kingdomes for gold; he also defrauded King P…olomeus of six thousand talents at one time, in his own name and Pompeys, before they were at distance.

Eutropius writes that Flavius Vespatianas was wretchedly corrupted with this vice, and evermore gaping after gold, who at his comming to the Empire called in all those debts and impositions which were remitted or forgotten by his predecessour Galba, to which he added new taxes more grievous and burdensom than the former, he increased all the tributes in the Provinces, and in some doubled them, and for the avidity of money would sit upon all triviall and common causes, such with which a private man would have been ashamed to have troubled himselfe; to the …anditates … fold honours, and to the guilty of any notorious act, pardon…; his custome was to raise procurators (such as were the most …apacious) to great and gainfull Offices, for no other cause, but that … they were …ll, he like a p. 68spunge might squeeze them, by forfeiting their whole ill-gotten estate into his own hands, neither was he ashamed to raise money out of urine, (for so saith Suetonius.) Thus we see what a monster money can make of the most mighty and potent men.

Sergius Galba who was Emperour in the year of our Redemption, 71. Those Cities of Spain and France, who were most constant to the Roman Empire, upon them he imposed the most grievous exactions and tributes; he rob'd the stat…e of Iupiter of his crown of fifteen pound weight in gold; the souldiers who desired the Roman Eagle and military Ensignes he decim…ted and tythed, dismissing, nine parts; and (to save charges) reserved the tenth onelyonly; the German Cohorts, appointed by the Caesars to be the Guard of their bodies, as most intrusted next their persons, he quite dissolved, and sent them empty handed into their Countries without any reward at all; he was moreover of that parsimony, that if at any time he had at his table more fare than ordinary, he would horribly repine at it (forgetting the state of an Emperour) and say, that it was money expended in waste he said openly, for his own part he could content himselfe with a dish of pulse or pease, as sufficient to content nature.

Of the like penurious disposition was Didius Iulianus Emperour, who made a Law called Did…x, to restrain the excesse in banqueting, who for his Imperiall table would make a pig, or an hare, to serve him for three severall suppers, when his dinner was nothing else but a few olives and herbes. Which abstinence had been very commendable, had it been for continence sake, and not the avaritious desire to save money.

And Aelius Pertinax was of that frugality that he would set before his guests onelyonly an halfe sallad, of lettice and thistles, two sops and a few apples, or if he would exceed at any time in his diet, he would feast them with a leg or a wing of a hen. And these two last Emperours may compare with the former, who notwithstanding all his masse of wealth wrestingly and injuriously purchased, was wretchedly murdered by his souldiers in the sixty third year of his age, after he had reigned onelyonly seven moneths and seven dayes.

Many others are for this sin alike branded, as Tiberius Caesar successour to Augustus in the Empire. Candaulus a domesticke servant to Mausolus Queen of Caria. Ochus King of Persia, Cornelius Ruffinus, Valerius Bastius, Aulus Posthumius Albinus, Pigmalion King of Tyre, Polymnestor King of Thrace: neither of this greedy appetite of having, could Cato Vticensis, or Seneca the grave and learned Philosopher acquit themseves.

Of a quite opposite condition, and meerly antipathide to these earthwormes were Cimon the Athenian, who all the spoiles and treasures gained from the enemy, freely distributed amongst his sellow Citizens, reserving no part or portion for his private use or benefit, who kept open-house, and entertainment for all commers, strangers or others, where they were dayly feasted and entertained; and whensoever he saw any indigent and needy persons, who laboured to their utmost power to sustain themselves, and their families, but could not do it, he sent his domesticke servants privately to relieve them with meat and money; he caused moreover all the hedges, ditches, and fences, to be taken from his fields, orchyards and gardens, that the people might freely taste the fruits of them without any contradiction. Which extraordinary liberality, (not guilty of the sin of prodigality) Plutarch and Lactantius much commend in him.

p. 69And Scipio sirnamed Africanus (who by his warlike prowesse first made Africa subjugate to Rome) was never known at any time to depart from the forum, before by his bounty and benevolence, he had added some one or more to the number of his friends, who though he conquered Carthage, and had all the rich spoiles thereof, yet at his death, when his coffers were searched, there were found in them but thirty three pounds in money, and two in gold, so great was his munificence.

And the Emperour Nerva for the relief and sustentation of the needy and decayed Citizens, disbursed at one time sixty hundred thousand pieces of silver, and made choice of divers of the prime and most trusty Senatours to buy and purchase such fields as were vendible, and to divide them amongst the poor, according to their present necessities, as with cloathes, dishes, and vessels to the furnishing of their houses, and the rest to be given them in money; nay, he made sale of lands and houses of his own to make good to the utmost his charitable purposes, (for so Dion Cassius reports of him) further, what fine, forfeit, or penalty soever came under the name of Tribute he remitted, all the Cities under his Dominions afflicted with plague or famine he relieved, girles and boyes borne of poor and needy parents he gave order to be kept and educated at the publike charge, and this he caused to be punctually performed through all the Cities of Italy. All this and much more Aurelius Victor testifies of him: and these onelyonly amongst many other I have presented to your view, as a beauty and splendor to make the opposite vice shew the more deformed and ugly; adding onelyonly this, thateven one Nation can afford plenteous presidents of the like bounty and liberality.

But I come now to shew you what dreadfull murders have been committed through this grand sin of Covetousnesse, their strange discovery, and the fearfull judgements that have fallen upon the malefactours: in the relating of which, Heu lacrymae, I am not able to vindicate our own Nation, for in the time of Queen Elizabeth (of blessed memory) there dwelt in the lower end of Cheap-side in a place called Honey-lane, an old man and woman, the least of them threescore and ten yeares of age, who lived privately and kept no servant, and because they had some meanes comming in yearly, and lived sparingly upon it, were imagined by the neighbours to have good store of money, and rather because the furniture of their house was very neat and handsom, and fit to entertain any reasonable guests, (though they seldom invited any) and whether this by prating gossips were talked of at the conduit, and so overheard by some idle raskals, who have no other trade or meanes to live, but robbing, stealing, burglary, and the like; it is not certain, but most true it is that in the dead of night, their house by a false key (or some other pick-locke engine) was entred, the two old people fast sleeping, murdered in their beds, their chests broke open, and rifled, and whatsoever was portable, and of any value carried away, and the doores fast shut upon the dead bodies: the next day they were not seen by their neighbours, who wondred they appeared not as they customably were wont, yet suspected little, but the second day when they found their door to continue shut, no noise at in all the house, nor any newes of them, they knockt and rapt at the door, but received no answer: in the end they sent for an Officer, who with his assistants, forced open the doores, and found in the first room all things out of order, and walking up the staires they might see the chests and trunkes wide p. 70open, but looking further towards the bed, they might easily discover the good man and his wife miserably murdered: upon which, warrants were made for a privy search, and divers taken in suspition, but no witnesse or evidence could be brought against them: at length one vagabond-like sellow was laid hold on, who being brought before one of the City Justices, and examined, could give no account of his life, and by reason he had been by some observed to hanker two or three dayes before thereabout, he was upon that presumption sent to Newgate, and the next Sessions arraigned and by some errour or default found in his answer, condemned and hanged, but innocently for that crime (heaven knowes;) for the malefactor after the murder done, with his rich prise escaped into the Low-countries, where he set up a trade, made good use of his stocke, and proved a very thrifty and thriving man, in so much that he grew into the knowledge and familiarity of the Burgers, and was of good credit and countenance amongst them, and so he might have continued, but after some twelve yeares aboad there, being grown out of all knowledge and remembrance here in his own Country, he could not rest in his bed, nor sleep quietly, but he must needs see England, and made a voyage hither to that purpose, having no other businesse but to buy a piece of plate in Cheap-side, to carry over backe with him into the Low-countries: to a Goldsmith he comes, and in some few shops above the Standard he cheapens a bowle, and whilest he was bargaining about the price, it happened at the same time a Gentleman was arrested just over against Bow-Church, who presently drawing his sword, made an escape from the Serjeants, and ran up towards the Crosse, the Serjeants and the people cried, stop him, and all their faces were bent that way; which the murderer hearing and seeing, and not knowing the cause of their noise and tumult, he apprehends that he is discovered, and that this is done in his pursuit, and so begins to take his heeles. The people seeing him run, they ran after him, (all not knowing the originall of this uprore) they stop him and demand the cause of his flight, who in his great affright and terrour of conscience said, He was the man. They asked what man? he answered, the same man that committed such a bloody murder so many yeares since: upon which he was apprehended and committed to Newgate, arraigned by his own confession, condemned, and hanged first on a gibbet, and after at Mile-end in chaines. Thus we see how the devill never leaves his ministers and servants, especially in this horrid case of murder, without shame and judgement.

Another strange but most true story I shall relate of a young Gentleman of good meanes and parentage brought up in Cambridge, (whose name for his worshipfull kinreds sake, I am desirous to conceal) he being of a bould spirit, and very able body, and much given unto riot and expence, could not containe himselfe within his exhibition; but being a fellowcommoner, lavisht much beyond his allowance: to helpe which, and to keepe his credit in the Towne, he kept a good horse in the stable, and oftentimes would flie out and take a purse by the high-way; and thus he continued a yeare, or thereabouts, without the jealousie or suspition of any: At length his quarterly meanes not being come up from his father, and hee wanting money to supply his ordinary riots, hee put himselfe into a disguise, tooke horse, and crossing New-market Heath he discovered a purchase, a serving-man with a cloak-bag behinde him; and spying him to travell singly p. 71and alone, he made towards him, and bid him stand and deliver; the other unacquainted with that language, answered him, that he had but little money, and what he had he was loath to part with; Then, said the Gentleman thiefe, thou must fight for it; Content, saith the other; and withall both alight, and drew, and fell stoutly to their businesse; in this conflict the honest serving-man was infortunately slain: which done, the other but sleightly wounded, tooke away his cloak-bagge, and binding it behinde his owne horse, up and fled towards the University; and having set up his horse in the Town, and carried the cloak-bagge or Portmantuan to his chamber; he no sooner opened it, but he found a Letter directed to him from his father: the contents whereof were, That hee had sent him his quarterly or halfeyeares allowance by his owne man a faithfull servant, (commended unto him by a deare friend) whom he had lately entertained; willing his sonne to use the man kindly for his sake: which Letter when he had read, and found the money told to a penny, and considering he had kil'd his owne fathers man, whom he had intreated to be used curteously at his hands, and onelyonly to take away his owne by force abroad, which hee might have had peaceably and quietly brought home to his chamber; he grew to be strangely alter'd, changing all his former mirth into a deepe melancholy. In briefe, the robbery and murder were found and known, and the Lord chiefe Justice Popham then riding that Circuit, (whose neare kinsman hee was) he was arraigned and condemned at Cambridge Assises, though great meanes were made for his pardon, yet none could prevaile; the Judge forgetting all alliance, would neither commiserate his youth, nor want of discretion, but caused him (without respect of person) to be hanged up amongst the ordinary and common malefactors.

Doctor Otho Melander reports this horrible parricide to be committed The Parents murder their owne naturall sonne for the luere of money.in the yeare of Grace 1568. within the Saxon confines. At a place called Albidos, neare unto the Lyon Tower, which hath beene an ancient seat of the Dukes of that Countrey: There (saith he) lived a father who had two sonnes, the one hee brought up to husbandry, the other in merchandise, both very obedient and dutifull, and given to thrift and good husbandry: the Merchant traded in Lubeck, where in few yeares hee got a very faire estate, and falling sicke (even in his prime trading) he made his Will, in which hee bequeathed to his brother about the summe of five hundred pounds, and his father ten, and died some few houres after he had setled his estate: But before his death he sent to his brother to come in person and receive those Legacies; the father not knowing how he had disposed of his meanes, dispatcht his other sonne with all speed possible to Lubeck; more avaritious after what his sonne the Merchant had left him, then sorrowing for his death, though hee were a young man of great expectation, and of a most hopefull fortune. The surviving sonne who was the younger arriveth at the Citie, and having first deplored the death of his brother, (as nature bound him, and glad to heare of him so great and good a report, he takes out a copie of the Will, and after receiveth his money to a farthing; and with this new stock (seeing what was past) hee joyfully returnes into his owne Countrey, who at his first arrivall was as gladly welcommed by his father and mother, who were over-joyed to looke upon the bagges that hee had brought; but when by reading of the Will they saw how partially the money was disposed, in that so little fell to their share, they first began bitterly p. 72to curse the dead sonne; and after, barbarously to raile on the living; out-facing him that he had changed the Will, by altering the old and forging a new: which the innocent youth denying, and excusing himselfe by telling them that the originall was upon record, and by that they might be fully satisfied; yet all would give them no satisfaction, till very wearinesse made them give over their heavy execrations: then the sonne offered them whatsoever was his to dispose of at their pleasure, which they very churlishly refused, and bad him take all, and the Devill give him good with it: which drew teares from the sonnes passionate eyes; who after his blessing craved (but denyed) very dolefully left them: and was no sooner departed from them, but to compasse this money they began to devise and consult about his death, which they concluded to be performed that night; and when hee was sleeping in his bed, they both set violently and tygerly upon him, forcing daggers into his breast; so that inforced with the agony of the wounds, he opened his eyes, and spying both his parents with their hands imbrued in his bloud, he with a loud ejaculation clamour'd out these words, or to the same sence:

Quae non Aurum hominem cogis? quae non mala suades?

In Natos etiam stringere ferra Iubes?

That is, O Gold! to what dost thou not compell man? to what evils dost thou not perswade? are not these sufficient, but must thou cause parents to sheath their weapons in their owne bowels their children? which words were uttered with such a loud and shrill shreeke, that it was heard by the neighbours; who starting out of their beds, and breaking open the doores, found them in the very act before the body was cold, for which they were apprehended and laid in prison, fettered with heavy chaines; and after being condemned, the morning before the execution the father strangled himselfe, and the mother was carried by the Devill both out of the Tower and Dungeon, and her body found dead in a muddy ditch, with her necke broken asunder.

Sorry I am that I can paralell this inhumanity (arising from the insatiate desire of Gold) out of our owne Countrey; thus it hapned: An Innekeeper in a knowne City of this Kingdome, whose wife was living, and they having betwixt them lost one onelyonly sonne, and a sole daughter; the sonne he made meanes to be put to an East-India Merchant, who imploye him to Sea, and to trade and traffick in that Countrey, where he stayed long, (some ten yeares or thereabout) insomuch that there was great doubt of his life; and to his parents and friends it was credibly reported that he was dead, and therefore they gave over the care for him dead, to provide for the daughter living; and at convenient age provided her of an husband, and gave her a competent portion, so that the young couple lived well and thriftily together in the Countrey, some two miles distant from their fathers house: In this interim the Climate had much changed the young mans complexion, who being but a beardlesse stripling when hee went his voyage, after ten yeares was growne hairy and a full man, and might be easily out of knowledge; who returning into England with a good stocke, as having the best part of a thousand markes in his purse, after he had dispatched his businesse here about the Towne, he had a great minde to travell downe into the Countrey, p. 73to see how the good old folke his father and mother did; and having trust up his money in a port mantuan, he provided himself of a good Nag, and fastning it safe behinde him, and being well accommodated for his journey, he set forward, and in few dayes sped him so well, that he came within some six or seven miles of his fathers; but all the way as he was travelling alone, he was meditating with himselfe, that his father and his mother were growne aged, and he was now as willing as able to furnish them in any necessities whatsoever; or if his sister were living and unmarried, hee had wherewithall to give her a sufficient portion, to see her well bestowed: and these were his true filiall and fraternall conceptions, to depart liberally of what he had unto them. He further apprehended, that because every body tels me, that knew me in my minority, I am so altered and growne out of knowledge, I will conceale my selfe at the first; that when after I shall open and discover my selfe to them, I shall finde the more kinde and loving welcome at their hands. By this time comming to the next thorowfare Towne, in the way to the Citie he alighted, and called for wine, and the host to keepe him company; of whom he demanded earnestly if such a man were in health? and how his wife fared? who answered, they were passing well, and able to live in very good and fashionable manner: Then demanded he of their daughter, and what was become of her? who replyed, that she was honestly married to a thrifty and carefull husband, and that she lived in the next village just in his way to the Citie; of all which being exceedingly joyfull, hee tooke horse againe, and found the house where his sister lived; whose husband being from home, after some discourse past betwixt them, and she ingeniously confessing to him that he was a stranger, and no way knowne to her, he at length told her what he was, (her brother) whom they supposed to bee dead; withall the successe of his fortunes …at which, when by circumstance she found true, she was extreamely extasied, and first would have him to alight and stay till her husband came home, which he would not by any meanes doe; then she would have accompanied him to her fathers: but he would yeeld to neither, telling her his conceit; how he meant to carry himselfe to the two old people, intreating her of all loves, to conceale his comming for a day or two, and then to come and aske for him at their fathers, where she should finde what welcome hee would give her: to which (though unwilling) she assented, and he rid forward, and an houre before sunne-set, came to his fathers Inne, and calling to the hostler, bad him to take off his port-mantuan, and after to walke his horse well, and then put him into the stable; and then he called for mine host, who presently appeared like a joviall old lad; hee called then for his hostesse, and gave her the port-mantuan, saying to her, good hostesse, lay this up till I call for it, for here is that which I hope will make us all merry: then hee desired to have the best chamber in the house, and bespake supper, telling them he was alone, and desired them both to keepe him company; yet all this while they not so much as suspected what he was: and whilest he was gone into the stable to see his horse, the woman feeling what weight the port-mantuan had, told her husband, and the Devill presently put it into their mindes to murder the stranger for his money: supper-time came, and they accompanied him, much discourse at randome past amongst them, but covetousnesse and the Devill so blinded their eyes, that all this while they knew him not: After supper they tooke their leaves, to plot what p. 74they before had apprehended: To bed he went, and in the dead of night they both entred his chamber, and murdered him sleeping; then they conveyed his body into a backe place and buried it, his horse they tooke out of the stable, washt the bloud out the chamber, and shifted a new bed in the place, so that all things were handsome, as if nothing had beene. In the morning when they thought the worst had beene past, comes the sister with her husband, she askes for such a stranger, they stifly deny that any such lodged there; which they did so constantly, that she entreated them not to keepe her owne brother and their sonne from her, who was come out of the Indies with such a summe of money, to relieve all their necessities: at first they are both strooke silent, but questioning her further, when by all circumstances whatsoever she said, they found it to be true, not able longer to containe themselves, they fell into a loud exclamation, weeping, and wringing their hands. Briefly, for this they were both publickly executed, and the strangenesse of the accident by all that heard it, admired.

I have read strange reports concerning the death of grating Usurers, who though by their broking exactions, and corroding oppressions, doe not visibly imbrue their hands in the bloud of the indigent and needy; yet by their horrible extortions have put them to more lingering and torturing deaths, as to starve, famish, and perish, not beggering private persons who are compelled to come within their griping clutches only, but annihilating and undoing of whole families and housholds at once: I have heard of one of those earthwormes, who dying of a suddaine appoplex, his Executors with his wife, desired to have his body dissected and opened, that they might know certainly of what disease he died; one giving out one cause, a second another; and to satisfie that doubt, when the Surgeon came to use his Art, and had searcht him thorowly, he found all his entrayles in good order, onelyonly his heart was wanting, at which all the spectators were amazed, and almost stupified, as holding it to be prodigious; till at length one of the neighbours (pleasantly conceited) and being well acquainted with his having disposition, you had best (said he) to looke for his heart in his great bar'd chest, for there it was ever in his life, and why not now in his death; which though jestingly spoke, the Executors tooke in earnest, and causing the chest to be opened, they found it panting upon his treasure. This (whether true or no) yet sure I am that it is a just taxation conferred upon Extortioners and Usurers.

Doctor Melander puts me in minde of another of the like, (if not worse condition) who being borne towards his grave, was interposed by a devout man, who by reason of his cruell and abhominable extortions, denied him the right of Christian buriall: which seeing they could not obtaine, as of custome and president, they (I meane his wife and friends) offered a large summe of money to have him buried, if it were but in any corner of the Church-yard, but the Pastor would be neither moved by prayers or bribes, but alleadging that he who lived his whole life-time worse then any Turke, Heathen, or Infidell, ought not in death to have those solemne rights belonging to a Christian; and therefore stopt his eares to whatsoever they could alleadge in his behalfe: at length, after long debating the matter, it was concluded betwixt the two parties, that a Cart and two Oxen should be provided, and the Coffin to be put into the Cart, and to what place soever the Beasts should carry him (without guide) there should his place of buriall be: well, the Oxen were put into the Cart, and the body in it, who p. 75went their way of their owne accord out at the Townes end, and then forward, just to the common execution place, where they made a stand, and could not by any violence been compelled any further, and there his grave was digged and he buried; a place due to all that generation of vipers.

Sic Deus eventu mirando ostendit in orbe

Vsurae quantum, sit scelus atque nephas.

God by the event, thus shewes them what to trust,

What base use is; how perjur'd and unjust.

I will onelyonly adde a third from the before-named Author, who (if possible) exceeding the other in his foenatory exactions, fell into an extreame agony of sicknesse, which grew desperate and mortall; so that there was no helpe to be expected from Physitians or others, but that needs he must die: which his wife perceiving, came weeping unto him, and humbly besought him to make his Will; and as to provide a place for his soule in Heaven, so withall to settle his estate upon earth: to which he seemed very unwilling; but upon her great importunity hee called for pen, inke, and pape, and writ with his owne hand as followeth: Imprimis, I bequeath my soule to the Devill, who as in life he ever had it in keeping, so in death it is fit that he, and hee onelyonly, should take it to his charge: which his wife hearing, shee grew greatly astonished, and besought him, that since hee had no care of himselfe, that hee would have some respect of her, by knowing what shee should trust to after his death: when straitway he writ farther; And thou wife also shalt goe with me to Hell, who hast beene conscious of all my fraudulencies, crafts, and cozenages, being partly to maintaine thy pride and gay cloathes, and hast made me rob the Orphant of his coat, and the Widdow of her garment, to helpe thy superfluity. Then she thinking him distracted, and quite out of his senses, sent presently to the Parson of the Parish to give him some ghostly instructions for his soules health; adding in the conclusion, that he hoped he would not forget him in his Will: at which words he tooke pen, and writ againe as followeth. Item, and thou O Parson shalt beare us company to the infernall torments below; for knowing of all my wicked and injust proceedings, thou wast so farre from reproving them, that thou didst rather smooth me up in my sinnes, and connive at my delinquencies, onelyonly to be welcome at my house, and eate fat bits at my table; for such are the just judgments denounced against us.

His moritur dictis, subito Vir, Pastor, & Vxor

Abrepti, ardentes ad Phlegetontis aquas.

Thus Englished.

This said, the Man, the Parson, Wife, all three

Died, and were borne to Hell immediately.

Salomon saith, Prov. 11. 3. The uprightnesse of the Iust shall guide them, but the frowardnesse of the Transgressors shall destroy them. Riches availe not in the day of wrath, but righteousnesse delivereth from death. And of the hatefulnesse and contemptible estimation of usury amongst good men, we may reade Cato Major in the Proem to his booke De re Rustica, thus: Majores nostri fic p. 76habuere, & it a in Legibus posuert. Furem dupli condemnari, Faenerat…em quadrupli: Our Ancestors held this position, and put it amongst their Lawes, that the mulct or penalty imposed on a Theefe should be double, but of an Usurer foure fold. And Cicero Offic. lib. 2. hath these words: When it was demanded of Cato Major, what was most conducent and necessary in a private family? he answered, To feed well: being askt what was the second? he said, To feed well, and enough: being askt what was the third? he replyed, To be well cloathed: being askt the fourth, he returned answer, To plow and till the earth: lastly, being askt what it was to be an Usurer? he replyed, Even so much as to be a Murderer. They that will be further satisfied concerning this Argument, I referre them to Mart. Schipperus in speculo vitae anlicae, ad Tomum Germanicum sextum D. Lutheri, D. Musculum in Psalm. 15. Benedict. Aretius in Problem. Iohannes Fulgent. Baptist. in Psalm. 15. And Gorhardus, Lorichius, Hadumarius, in Institutione Catholiea, &c.