A Divine Tragedy Lately Acted, Treatise

A Divine Tragedy Lately Acted · Treatise

p. 1Examples of Gods Iudgements VPONUPON SABBATH-BREAKERS.

THeſe Examples of Gods judgements hereunder ſet down, have fallen out within the ſpace of theſe few yeers, even ſince the Declaration for Sports (tolerated on the Lords day) was publiſhed, and read by many Miniſters in their congregations; for hereupon ill diſpoſed people (being as dry fewell, to which fire being put, quickly flameth forth; or as waters, pent up and reſtrained being let looſe, break forth more furiouſly) were ſo incouraged, if not imaged, as taking liberty diſpenſed, thereby ſo provoked God, that his wrath in ſundry places, hath broken out to the deſtruction of many, would to God to the inſtruction of any. And the judgements are ſo much the more remarkable, that ſo many in number, as here are obſerved, (beſides many more, no doubt which have not come to our ears) ſhould fall within ſo narrow a compaſſe of time, ſo thick, and that in ſo many places: as we read not of ſuch a number of judgements in this kinde for this one ſin throughout the whole hiſtory of time, from the Apoſtles hitherto: p. 2So many there are of them, as, it were too heatheniſh to impute them to chance, & too mûch ſtupidity, and envy of Gods glory, not to acknowledge the ſpeciall hand of God in them, upon ſuch tranſgreſſors of his own ſacred day; And it were to be wiſhed, that all the examples in this kinde, within this compaſſe of time; were diligently collected and compiled into one Narration, for the further illuſtration of Gods glory, and for admonition to all Sabbath-breakers, who if they repent not, nor ſurceaſe from ſuch their prophaneneſſe, it may juſtly be feared, that the number of ſuch examples will be daily increaſed, till they make a heap for all the world, to ſtand amazed at. In the mean time, who ſo is wiſe, and will obſerve theſe things, even they ſhall underſtand the loving kindneſſe of the Lord: Pſal. 107 43. As for the truth of them, I have good teſtimony under the hands of men of ſufficient credit, for the moſt of them; and the reſt hath come to our eares by credible report. If it ſhall ſo fall out, that one or two, or ſo, ſhould prove otherwiſe, either for the ſubſtance, or circumſtance; let not the Reader blame me, who have uſed my beſt diligence to enquire out the certain truth of them all, and I am ſure the moſt of the examples are confirmed by witneſſes without all exception, and none of them is to me of any ſuſpected credit; So as here are no fained miracles, nor fabulous ſtories, nor old Wives tales, for prophane Scoffers to jeare at, and play upon, thereby to diſgrace and diſcredit all truths in this kinde, as ſome of late have done (Hiſtory of the Sabbath, part. 2. chap. 7. pag. 223.) but theſe examples are ſuch, as will abide the triall and ſearch of this preſent age, wherein are yet living ſo many both eare and eye witneſſes of them.

p. 3Example 1.

A woman about Northampton, the ſame day that ſhe heard the book for ſports read, went immediately, and having 3. pence in her purſe, hired a fellow to go to the next Town to fetch a Minſtrel, who coming, ſhe with others fell a dancing, which continued within night; at which time ſhe was got with childe, which at the birth ſhe murthering, was detected and apprehended, and being convented before the Juſtice, ſhe confeſſed it, and withall told the occaſion of it, ſaying, it was her falling to ſport on the Sabbath, upon reading of the book, ſo as for this treble ſinfull act, her preſumptuous prophaning of the Sabbath: which brought her adultery and that murther. She was according to the Law, both of God and man, put to death, much ſin and miſery followeth upon Sabbath-breaking.

Example 2.

Alſo at Northampton, in the laſt Eaſter Aſſiſes, there was a young man, who formerly by ſeeing the example of good people, in the due ſanctification of the Lords day or Sabbath, had begun to reform his former looſe kinde of life, and to frame his converſation according to Gods Word, and that in the well keeping of the Sabbath, abſtaining therein from ſports and paſtimes, and ſpending the whole day in the publike and private duties of it; but when once he heard of the publiſhing of the book for ſports; and paſtimes, he fell back again to his former wallowing, and being taken as he was picking a pocket, when the Judges were in the Church, upon examination confeſſed what he had formerly been, and how he had been reformed, and that upon the publiſhing p. 4of the ſaid book, he was incouraged to run riot a freſh, by which means he fell into this impiety and iniquity, for the which he ſuffered death.

Example 3.

A Maid at Enfield neer London,1634. hearing of the libertie, which was given by the book, which was publiſhed for ſports, would needs go daunce, with others on the Lords day, ſaying ſhe would go daunce, ſo long as ſhe could ſtand on her legs; ſhe daunced ſo long, that thereof within two or three dayes ſhe died.

Example 4.

VponUpon May day laſt,1634. being the Lords day, a Maid of the Miniſter of the Pariſh, Cripplegate, London, was married to a Widower having three children, the youngeſt being at Nurce in the countrey; upon this day they kept their feaſt in the Church-houſe joyning to the Church, where they ſpent all the afternoon in dauncing: but within one week after, the Plague began in that Pariſh in the new married mans houſe, where within a monethmonth it took away the man and his wife, and his two children that were in the houſe. And thus was the Plague brought firſt into that Pariſh this yeer.

To this we will adde another example, becauſe it fell within the ſame monethmonth, in the ſame Citie. A Miniſter, Rector of a Church in London, on the Saturday would go with two of his neighbours, boon companions, to be joviall the next day, being the Lords day, they conditioning that he ſhould beſtow a Sermon upon them. They on the Lords day, being now in the countrey, ſpent the forenoon idly: in the afternoon they go to viſit another p. 5Miniſter, who had another benefice there in the Countrey; he puts his brother to preach: which done invites him, with his companions, to a bottle of Sack. They drank ſo long, that the two neighbours tongues began to fail them. Home to their lodging within a few miles they betake them. That night their Miniſter could not ſleep; and riſing early to walk abroad, he returned with ſuch a coldneſſe upon him, that he looked, and felt like cold pale death; the two neighbours much diſmaid, and with much a do get him home to London, where in that caſe continuing, he dieth before the next Sabbath day.

Example 5.

On Jan. 25. 1634. being the Lords day, in the time of the laſt great Froſt 14. young men preſuming to play at football upon the ice on the river Trent, neer to Ganiſborow, coming all together in a ſcuffle, the ice ſuddenly brake, and they were all drowned.

Example 6.

At Dover the very ſame Lords day,1635. that the book was read, one in S. James Pariſh that played on a kitt, went and plaied, and thereby called together a ſort of wenches and young men: But he was thereupon that very day ſtruck by divine hand, ſo as within two daies he died.

Example 7.

At Thurlow in Suffolke, one making a Feaſt to his friends on the Sabbath day, for joy of the publiſhing of the Book for ſports▪ was the next day preſſed to death, by the ſudden fall or a faggot ſtack.

Example 8.

At Hellings by five or ſix miles from Af… in Suſſex, the book being read on the Lords day, in the Church by p. 7the Miniſter, on the next day being Munday, an honeſt man, one Tomkins being on his way, a neighbour overtakes him, and ſcoffingly asks him, if he would go daunce with him the next Sunday; to whom the man anſwered, Take heed that thou be not dauncing in hell before that day come, or before it be long; By the next week Gods hand fell on this Scoffer, that himſelf and two more of his family died.

Example 9.

On February 9. 1634. being the Lords day, an Apothecaries man in Limeſtreet, London, rid to Barnet with another companion, to make merry, who returning home drunk, neer High-gate, met a Tinker, and offering him ſome abuſe, the Tinker ſtrikes one of their horſes, whereat the one bid the other run him thorow; who drawing his Rapier, ran the Tinker thorow the breaſt, that he fell down dead: thereupon being by and by apprehended, and confeſſing the fact, they were both ſent to Newgate.

Example 10.

At Thornton neer Weſtcheſter,1634. the people there, upon the firſt publiſhing of the book prepared for a ſolemn ſummer-ale. The bringing in of their Lady flora ſhould have been guarded with a Marſhall troop: the luſtieſt wench, and ſtouteſt young man in the town were choſen to be the purveyors for cakes, and for ribbons for favours, the ſolemnity was to be on the Munday, but the preparation on the Lords day, this luſty tall maid, on the Saturday before went to the mill, to fetch home the meal for cakes on her head, ſhe being ſtrong and able for the purpoſe: but in the way, paſſing by a hedge, ſhe was ſuddenly ſtruck by a divine ſtroke, and fell into the ditch, where ſhe was found dead, ſhe was ſuffered to lie abroad p. 7in that pickle all the Lords day, till Munday morning, when the Coroner being ſent for, ſhe was thence carried to her grave immediately, where all her ſolemnity was buried with her, and all her vain thoughts in that verie day, wherein the great ſolemnity ſhould have been. And ſee what a good effect this wrought in the whole town; Firſt, all their mirth was turned into mourning, no ſummer ale kept, and beſides that, they being moved by the dreadfull ſtroke of God, took their May-pole down, which they had before ſet up, and never after would preſume to ſet it up again, or to have any more ſummer-ales, or may-games. God grant they continue in their ſober mindes, and that all other would learn to be wiſe by their example.

Example 11.

In Yorkſhire at a Wake, in the Pariſh of Otley at Baildon,1634. on the Lords day, two of them ſitting at drink, late in the night, fell out and being parted, the one a little after finding his fellow, ſitting by the fire with his back towards him, comes behinde him, and with a hatchet chines him down the back, ſo as his bowels fell out; the murtherer flying immediately, and being hotly purſued, lept into a river, and ſo drowned himſelf. O fearfull fruits of carnall liberty!

Example 12.

One at Ham neer Kingſton, being a ſcoffer of all goodneſſe,1635. and a common prophaner of the Sabbath, going abroad to ſee his grounds on the Lords day, and finding ſome neighbours cattell to have broken in, he runs to drive them out and that with ſuch eagerneſſe, that he fell down dead inſtantly upon the place.

p. 8Example 13.

One Wright at Kingſton, being a ſcoffer of Religion, and rejoycing much at the ſuſpending of his Miniſter, and others, for not reading the book of Sports in their Churches, ſaying, he hoped to ſee them all ſo ſerved ſhortly: was within a day or two after ſtruck with a dead Palſey, all over the one ſide, and with blindneſſe and dumbneſſe, that he could neither go, nor ſee, nor ſpeak, and ſo lay in a miſerable manner for a fort-night, and then died.

Example 14.

In Moorefields neer London,1635. ſundry youths playing at Cat on the Lords day, two of them fell out, and the one hitting the other under the eare with his Cat, he therewith fell down for dead in the place, the other was ſent to priſon: but the dead for the time, by Gods mercy recovering, the priſoner was releaſed; which may be a warning both to them, and all other youth, to take heed how they ſo prophane the Lords day.

Example 15.

April 18. 1635. being Saturday, one travelling with three others from London to Maydenhead, he (the reſt ſpending the Sabbath there) would travell on his way, the next day being the Lords day, contrary both to Gods commandment, and alſo of the Lady whom he ſerved: who had given him ſtrict charge; to obſerve the Sabbath, and not to travell on it. He rode in the morning to Henley, and there heard the Sermon, after that he fell to travell in the afternoon; but as he went in the way, leading his horſe in his hand gently down a plain deſcent, and even way, his horſe ſuddenly fell, and broke both his fore legs, the man fore agaſt at this not more ſudden, then p. 9ſtrange diſaſter, which he could not but attribute to the immediate hand of God, and being paſt all hope of recovery was forced himſelf to knock his horſe on the head, and ſo to leave him, and being the next day overtaken at Abington by his company, whom he had left the day before, and they asking him how it fell out, he was no further on his way, he ſmote his breaſt, and told them how it had befallen him in the way, ſaying that he had heard many a good Sermon, yet none of them or any thing elſe did ſo work upon his conſcience, as this thing did; and that this example ſhould be a warning unto him for ever travelling on the Sabbath day again. This is teſtified under the hands of thoſe three which had travelled with him, and overtook him.

Example 16.

At Dartmouth 1634. upon the coming forth and publiſhing of the book for ſports, a company of younkers on May-day morning before day, went into the countrey, to fetch home a May pole with Drumme and Trumpet, whereat the neighbouring Inhabitants were affrighted, ſuppoſing ſome enemies had landed to ſack them, the Pole being thus brought home, and ſet up, they began to drink healths about it, and to it, till they could not ſtand ſo ſteady as the Pole did, whereupon the Major and Juſtice bound the ring leaders over to the Seſſions, whereupon theſe complaining to the Archbiſhops Vicar Generall, then in his viſitation he prohibited the Juſtices to proceed againſt them in regard of the Kings book. But the Juſtices acquainted him, they did it for their diſorder, in tranſgreſſing the bounds of the book, hereupon theſe libertines ſcorning at Authority, one of them fell ſuddenly into a**Deut. 28. 22.Deut 28:22 Conſumption, whereof p. 10he ſhortly after died; now although this revelling was not on the Lords day, yet being upon any other day and eſpecially May-day, the May-pole ſet up thereon, giving occaſion to the prophanation of the Lords day the whole yeer after it was ſufficient to provoke God, to ſend plagues and judgements among them.

Example 17.

In the ſame yeer 1634. and in the ſame Shire, one Edward Amerideth a Gentleman, having been pained in his feet, and being upon his recovery, whereupon one ſaid unto him, he was glad to ſee him ſo nimble. Amerideth replied, that he doubted not, but to daunce about the May-pole the next Lords day: But behold the hand of the Lord, for before he moved out of that place, he was ſmitten with ſuch a feebleneſſe of heart, and dizſineſſe in his head, that deſiring help to carry him to an houſe, he died before the Lords day came, ſo fearfull it is to fall into the hands of the living God.

Example 18.

One in Gloceſterſhire being very forward to advance a ſolemne ſommer-meeting, wherein his ſon was to be a chief ſtickler, went himſelf in great jollity to ſee it, and there beholding it, he fell down ſuddenly, and ſo died.

Example 19.

A Miller at Churchdown, neer Gloceſter, would needs (contrary to the admonitions both of his Miniſter in private, and generally in publike, yea and that very day, and of other Chriſtian friends) keep a ſolemn Whitſon ale, for which he had made large preparation and proviſion, even of threeſcore dozen of cheeſecakes, with other things proportionable; in the Church-houſe, half a mile from his Mil, his muſicall inſtruments were ſet forth on p. 11the ſide of the Church-houſe, where the Miniſter and people were to paſſe to the Church to Evening Prayer. When Prayer and Sermon were ended, the Drumme is ſtruck up, the peeces diſcharged, the Muſicians play, and the rowt fall a dauncing, till the evening; where they all with the Miller reſort to his Mill; where that evening before they had ſupt, about nine of the clock on Whitſunday, a fire took ſuddenly in his houſe over their heads, and was ſo brief and quick, that it burnt down his houſe and mill, and devoured with all the greateſt of all his other proviſion and houſholdſtuffe. This is confirmed by ſundry good teſtimonies.

Example 20.

Richard Benfield an Apparitor in the Pariſh of Hemſteed kept an Ale in the Church-houſe, joyning to the Church-yard with dauncing and revelling night and day without controule: pretending that the Biſhop would bear him out, and not unlikely, becauſe at his complaint to the Biſhop of his Miniſter, for preaching againſt dauncing and Maypoles, he was ſuſpended for his labour) It happened that upon the Lords day at even, being the 20. day of April, that his youngeſt ſon was accuſed for ſtealing a purſe, and 20. ſhillings in it, from a Butcher who lay drunk upon the board or table in the Church-houſe, for which he was like to be hanged (the purſe being found about him.) VponUpon the 21. day of the ſaid monethmonth, Benfield his eldeſt ſon Richard went down into Hempſteeds Peirſe, about ſome buſineſſe, and his youngeſt brother with him, where they met with a little boy called Baker that had been a fiſhing) having ſome ſmall fiſhes in his hand. Benfields youngeſt ſonne would have taken theſe fiſhes from Baker, whereupon they fell together by the p. 12eares. The eldeſt brother Rich. Benfield went to help his younger brother, being too weak for Baker. This Baker did ſwear a great oath that he would ſtab him, if he did meddle with him; upon which words Benfield fell upon Baker, gave him a box or two, and ran away. Baker followed him with his knife in his hand, overtook him, and thruſt his knife three inches deep into his body, which wound proved mortall, ſo that he never ſpake more words then theſe; Oh Jack Baker hath killed me, and ſo fell down. Two men being preſent there, took him up in their armes, brought him up into the Church-houſe alive, and ſo ſoon as they had put him out of their armes upon the table, he groaned, and died.

Remarkable it is, that where the Father drew ale upon the Lords day and ſo prophaned it: In the ſame place his ſon the next day drew his laſt breath: for that the puniſhment inflicted was ſtamped with the reſemblance of the ſin convicted.

Example 21.

At Baunton in Dorcetſhire ſome being at bowls on the Lords day,1634. one flinging his bowl at his fellow-bowler, hit him on the eare, ſo as the blood iſſued for that the other eare, whereof he ſhortly died. The murtherer fled.

Example 22.

One good man Paul neer Stoke in Dorcetſhire, rejoycing much at the erection of a ſummer pole,1634. at a Pariſh called Simsbury in Dorcetſhire, and ſaying before one of his neighbours, he would go ſee it, though he went naked through a quickſet hedge: which is a common proverbe they uſe: Going with wood in his armes to caſt into the bonfire, where he lived, and uſing theſe words: p. 13Heaven and earth are full of thy glory, O Lord: he was preſently ſmitten by the ſtroke of God, and within two or three daies died, and his wife with him. Theſe two laſt examples are teſtified by a Miniſter in his letter to a brother Miniſter.

Example 23.

In the edge of Eſſex neer Brinkley, two fellows working in a chalkpit, the one was boaſting to his fellow, how he had angred his Miſtreſſe with ſtaying ſo late at their ſports the laſt ſunday night, but he ſaid he would anger her worſe the next Sunday. He had no ſooner ſaid this, but ſuddenly the earth fell down upon him, and ſlew him out right, with the fall whereof his fellows limbe was broken, who had been alſo partner with him in his jollitie on the Lords day, eſcaping with his life, that he might tell the truth, that God might be glorified, and that by this warning he might repent of his ſin, and reform ſuch his prophaneneſſe, and remain as a pillar of ſalt, to ſeaſon others with fear by his example.

Example 24.

The laſt Spring a Miller hard by Wootton in Worceſterſhire, went on the Lords day to a wake, whence returning home again, the ſame day at night found his Mill and houſe all on a fire; this was teſtified by a Miniſter (in a Reply to another Miniſter) who was an eye witneſſe.

Example 25.

At Woolſton in the ſame countrey, where the ſaid Miniſters father had been Miniſter fourty yeers, and by Gods bleſſing upon his labours, had reformed things very well▪ yet upon the publication of this book in print, many of the inhabitants the Spring following, were imboldned to ſet up Maypoles, Morrice daunce, and a p. 14Whitſon ale, continuing their rude revelling a week together, with many affronts to their ancient and reverend Paſtor: but it pleaſed God, that not long after, a ſpark from a Smiths ſhop, caught in that roome where the ale was brewed, and though means were ready at hand, yet it could not be quenched, but ſet the houſe on fire, and preſently flew to the barn in which their diſorder was, and burnt the ſame with thirteen dwelling houſes more, moſt of whoſe Inhabitants were actors or abetters in the fame: This is teſtified by many.

Example 26.

Richard Jones ſon of Widow Jones, July 1634. not far from Dorcheſter, being ſeverely admoniſhed by his mother, when ſhe underſtood he had a purpoſe on Saturday night, to go on the Lords day with other companions to Stoake to play at a ſport, called Fives, but perſiſting in his reſolution, and going the next day, accordingly being the Lords day at Stoke, where he played at the ſaid ſport, at night returning home with his companions, William Burges, William Hill, John Edwards, after they had there well drunk, they fall firſt a juſtling one another in the way, then to boxes, and in the end Edwards ſtabbing Jones under the left ſide, he died thereof, the Munday night following about 7. of the clock. Behold here a terrible example of diſobedience, to Gods holy Commandments, not onelyonly the fourth, but the fifth alſo.

Example 27.

At Ovendean in Suſſex about nine or ten miles from Alfriſton, alias Aſon, one John Arcold, of the age of one or two and twenty yeers, eldeſt ſon to John Arcold, a Blackſmith dwelling in Aſon, with other younkars would needs fall a ringing of the bels on a Sabbath day, preſuming p. 15the Book for Sports gave them full libertie ſo to do. One of the Churchwardens Robert Kenward hindred them from their jangling; whereupon the ſaid Arcold, and his companions fell in ſome conteſtation with him, telling him that though he hindred them now, yet they would ring the next Sunday, whether he would or no. But the ſaid John Arcold the ringleader before the next Sunday came, was ſtruck with a ſickneſſe, in which he continued a fortnight or three weeks til he died, in which time Robert Kenward the Churchwarden, repairing to him, and putting him in minde of his bold affronting of him, he ſeemed to be ſorry for it, and promiſed, if God would be pleaſed to reſtore him again to his health, he would never do the like. God make his ſurviving companions, and all others, wiſe by his example.

Example 28.

At Walton upon Thames in Surrey,1634. not far from Oatlands, in the laſt great Froſt, three young men on the Lords day, after they had been at the Church in the forenoon, where the Miniſter preſſing the words of his text, out of 2. Cor. 5. 10. that we muſt all appear before the judgement ſeat of Chriſt, &c. they the while whiſpering one to another, as they fa…e. In the afternoon they went together over the Thames, upon the ice, unto a houſe of diſorder, and gaming, where they ſpent the reſt of the Lords day, and part of the night alſo in revelling, one of them in a Tavern merrily diſcourſing the next day of his Sabbath-acts, and voyage over the Ice; but on Tueſday next after, theſe three returning homwards, and attempting to paſſe againe over the Ice, they all ſanke downe to the bottome as ſtones, whereof one onelyonly of them was miraculouſly preſerved, but the other two were p. 16drowned.Eccl 11. 9.Eccl 11:9 Rejoyce, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart chear thee in the dayes of thy youth, and walk in the wayes of thy heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes: But know thou, that for all theſe things God will bring thee unto judgement.

Example 29.

In the yeer of our Lord 1633. Octob. 26. after the book for ſports was known to be publiſhed in print, David Price a Welſhman, ſervant to one Thomas Hill, a known Graſier of that countrey, coming to Banbury with his drove on Saturday night, declared his purpoſe of driving them the next day, early in the morning being the Sabbath or Lords day: his Hoſt where he lodged, diſſwaded him, becauſe it was the Sabbath day, and told him that he would certainly be ſtopped, and made to pay for it according to the Statute. He anſwered that he would drive them, and let mee ſee (ſaith he) who will hinder me. So in the morning two other accompaning him, he went to fetch the Cattell out of the ground, one that knew him, mett him at the Townes end (not yet one of the Towne) and admoniſhed him, ſaying, What, David, to day, to day; he made no anſwere, but went onward, and though for any thing, that appeared to any other, or that himſelf complained of, he was then in good health, as ever he was, yet within little more then a ſtones caſt of the Town, he fell down dead ſuddenly, and was buried in Banbury Church-yard the next day after; None could diſcern any ſenſible or evident cauſe of ſo ſudden a ſurprizall; and himſelf gave no ſigne of any pain, weakneſſe, or illneſſe, till the inſtant time he gave up the ghoſt.

p. 17Example 30.

At Wicks a Town betwixt Colcheſter and Harwich in Eſſex, upon Whit ſonday laſt in the afternoon two fellows meeting at the football, the one killed the other.

Example 31.

At Oxford this laſt Summer on the Sabbath day, one Bally Hawks a Butcher, would needs go into his field with an hatchet and ſhovell to mend his ditch: his wife diſſwaded him what ſhe could, being the Sabbath day, but he ſaid he would go and make an end of his work, which he did, for ſuddenly he was ſtruck dead in his ditch, and ſo made an end of his work, and his life together.

Example 32.

Alſo at Oxford a Carpenter undertaking to mend a Stage in S. Johns Colledge on the Saturday night, for the finiſhing whereof he muſt of neceſſity ſpend ſome part of the Lords day morning▪ that the Stage might be ready againſt the Munday following, he that night fell backward from the ſtage, being not far from the ground, and brake his neck, and ſo ended his life in a fearfull Tragedie.

Example 33.

At Ivye Hinckley a mile from Oxford (about the time when May-poles are ſet up) on the Lords day after Evening Prayer, when moſt of the Town were at the May-pole, one John Cooper, ſervant to maſter Tinmore of the ſaid Town, going along the ſtreet, a maid out of a window in John Nicols his houſe, not far from the Maypole, called him to come in thither; where alſo was another maid, and a young man named Chriſtopher Young, ſervant to Maſter Willis of the ſaid Town; John Cooper p. 18at firſt refuſed to come to them, but the maid earneſtly intreating him, he yeelded to her, and being come in, ſate down by the other two, where having ſate awhile, the foreſaid Chriſtopher Young ſpied a Gun over the chimney, which he ſuppoſing not to be charged, fondly took down, and fell a tampering with it, and firſt levelled at the Maids, and after held it up againſt John Cooper, as he ſate, and unwittingly lifting up the cock, it ſtruck fire, and the peece diſcharged, and ſhot the ſaid John Cooper thorow the ſhoulder, ſo that he died preſently, being heard onelyonly to ſay, O Lord.

Example 34.

A young man neer Bowe, going to ſwim in the river on Eſſex ſide, on the Lords day in the afternoon, was drowned

Example 35.

Two boyes of S. Albons, going to Verolanes Ponds, a mile off to ſwim on the Lords day, July 19. one of them was drowned, and the other hardly eſcaped.

Example 36.

At Ramſey in Suffolke, a tall man on the Lords day going with others to ſwim, and being advertiſed and warned of a hole in the water; he ſware that there was no place there could drowne him, but by and by on a ſudden he was miſſing, being now under water, and ſo drowned.

Example 37.

On September 13. 1635. being the Lords day, two young men of the Pariſh of S. Dunſtans in the Weſt, London, going to ſwim, were both drowned.

p. 19Example 38.

At Twiford in Buckinghamſhire, a fellow playing at cudgels on the Lords day (or as ſome ſay, upon a revell day) received a hurt in the face, whereof he died the next week.

Example 39.

At Lemſter, one Maſter Powel, Januar. 1634. on the Lords day ſerving a Writ of ſub poena (and that of purpoſe on that day as is credibly reported) upon one M^r. Shuit a Gentleman, this he did in the Church yard, ſo ſoon as they were come out of the Church: M^r. Shuit thereupon told him, I thought you had been an honeſter man then ſo, to do this upon this day; he replyed, I hope I am never a whit the more diſhoneſt, or leſſe holy for that: having ſpoken this, he ſuddenly fell down dead, and ſpake not a word more, his wife ſeeing this, was ſuddenly ſtruck with ſickneſſe.

Example 40.

A fellow in Sommerſetſhire being to make a Tent upon the Lords day, for a Faire that was to be kept upon the Munday following, ſaid to one on the Saturday, that they would reare it to morrow, ſo the next day which was the Lords day, being drunk, he died the ſame day roaring.

Example 41.

At Corſham in Wiltſhire in the Whitſun week, at a Whitſun-ale, one Mark Hulbert, a luſty young man, undertaking to act the fools part, was ſo extreamly drunk and hurt with falls taken in the time of his drunkenneſſe, that ſhortly he took his bed, where he lay very loathſomely, in moſt grievous pain, untill the ſixt day of June, being the Lords day, on which he died at 4. of the clock p. 20in the afternoon (the uſuall time for youth to take their liberty) and was buried the ſame day before 9. of the clock, and yet he burſt, before he was laid into his grave, See Joh 31. 3.

Example 42.

At Topudle in Dorcetſhire, one John Hooper alias Cole, upon the promulgation of the ſaid Book, was let down into a Well to cleanſe it, for to brew beer for a Whitſonale, by Francis Laurence, alias Smith, and Stephen Pope Churchwardens, which Well was in the back-ſide of Richard Laurence alias Smith. Which John Hooper fell from the rope into the Well, where he died.

Example 43.

At Glaſſenbury in Sommerſetſhire, at the ſetting up of a May-pole, it miſcarrying fell upon a child, and ſlew it, & it is reported that it was the Churchwardens child, who was the chief ſtickler in the buſineſſe. Alſo when the May▪ pole in the ſame Town, was again the ſecond time a ſetting up, a fire took in the Town, ſo as all the people about the May-pole were forced to leave it, and to run to the quenching of the fire.

Example 44.

A May-lord of miſrule, not far from thence became mad upon it.

Example 45.

Alſo at Batterſey neer London, the laſt yeer a notable example of Gods judgement befell a fidler, the youth of the town of both ſexes, being aſſembled ſolemnly to ſet up a garland upon their May-pole and having got a tabor and pipe for the purpoſe, he with the pipe in his mouth, fell down dead and never ſpake word.

p. 21Example 46.

On May 31. 1635. being the Lords day, one Richard Clerk (an apprentiſe unto Timothy Denorell ſhoomaker of Sherſton in the countrey of Wiltſhire, within three miles of Tedbury,) being drunk at the Church-houſe in the ſame Pariſh, told Henry Larrum of the ſame Pariſh, that was then in the ſame place drunk likewiſe with the Church-houſe ale, that he the ſaid Richard, would either hang himſelf, or drown himſelf, demanding of the ſaid Henry which of the two was beſt; unto whom he replied, that he hoped he would do neither; on the day following, being Munday in the morning, the ſaid Richard Clerk was ſeen to go through the ſtreet, without a band, as if he had been going about his maſters buſineſſe, and putting on his band without the Town, he got up into the middle of a tree, and there did hang himſelf. A miſerable effect of carnall liberty and prophane meetings on the Lords day.

Example 47.

The 31. May 1635. the book of recreation was read in the Pariſh Church of Alvelye in Comit. Salop. in the afternoon; after all divine exerciſes publike ended, there fell out a bloody fight betwixt 3. of Alvelye above ſaid, and one of Envield of the countrey of Stafford neer adjacent, in ſo much that the man of Envield was ſore wounded, and had his jaw-bone broken, ſo that he could not eat his meat for the ſuſtaining of nature; In his extremity he laid his death to the charge of the other 3. The Churchwardens of the pariſh of Alvelie aboveſaid, preſented theſe 4. for prophaning of the Sabbath to my Lord his grace of Canterbury (to uſe the words of the relation) being the time of his metropoliticall viſitation, p. 22ſince which time two of the parties fled; the third was committed to priſon in Shrewsbury, and was the next Aſſiſes to come to his anſwer.

Example 48.

In March betwixt 1634. and 1635. at Billericay in Eſſex, one Theophilus Peaſe, the Miniſters ſon of that Town, went to ring the bels on the Sabbath day, whom the Church wardens for that time hindred; But againſt the next Sabbath, he gathered a company together, faying he would ring in deſpite of the Church wardens. While he was a ringing, he was taken with a giddineſſe like one drunk, and ſo ſickned, and about three daies after died.

Example 49.

Anno 1635. Januarie or thereabout in Chicheſter Dioceſſe, one Thomas Perkin, a wilfull and uſuall prophaner of Gods Sabbath in Hailing South, being ringing on a Sabbath day, the rope took him up, and flinging him about eight foot high, he fell down on his head, and was taken up dead, and ſo remained long, but life at laſt was gotten into him, yet the bruiſe in his head is ſo great and dangerous as death is expected; and little hope of life remaineth.

Example 50.

At Craies, two miles from Billerikey, a ſervant of M. Holdſworth, Miniſter there, ringing on the Sabbath, his Maſter ſent to forbid him: but he would ring ſtill, and before he had done ringing, he was ſtruck ſick, and a while after died. This was a little after the book for ſports was publikely read in the Church.

Example 51.

In June 1635. on the Lords day, the Tapſter and p. 23Chamberlain of the Queens head in South warke, rid into Kent to be merry, and having drunk liberally, riding homewards, the one of them fell from his horſe, and broke his neck.

Example 52.

Alſo in June 1635. and as ſome report the very ſame Lords day, in Southwarke at the red Lion, neer S. Georges Church, in the afternoon, a man with another ſate drinking ſo long, that the other about ſix of the clock departing, fell a ſleep ſo, that he never awaked again.

Example 53.

In the monethmonth of July 1634. one M^r. Quince the Chirurgion of the Tower of London, having an horſe to ſel, and meeting with a chapman, went to Coleman-ſtreet, where the horſe was kept, to ſee and contract for him, on the Lords day in the afternoon; the horſe being ſadled, M^r. Quince gets upon his back, to ſhew his chapman how well he would pace; which done, as he was a lighting off his back, his foot, which lighted on the ground ſlipped, the other foot hung in the ſtirrup, ſo as he fell to the ground, and with the fall brake his thigh-bone ſhort off, ſo that he was carried from the place to an houſe neer adjoyning, where he lay in great pain and agonie for eight weeks ſpace or more, almoſt deſpairing of his life, and never ſtirring out of his bed: at laſt it pleaſed God, by degrees to recover and reſtore him to the uſe of his leg again, he having little uſe of it (and that with great pain) for half a yeers ſpace and more. His ſon had diſſwaded him from riding, becauſe it was the Lords day; and himſelf hath ſince acknowledged it a juſt judgement of God upon him for prophaning that ſacred time, which hath made him more carefully to frequent the Church, and p. 24to avoid the prophanation of the Lords day ever ſince. This the party himſelf, and moſt of the Tower can teſtifie.

Example 54.

Many more examples might here be added, not onelyonly ſuch as have fallen out within theſe few yeers laſt paſt, ſince the ſaid book was publiſhed by the Miniſters in their Churches, but alſo, ſince the book was firſt of all printed and publiſhed; the very bruit whereof, without being read by Miniſters, was enough, and too much to imbolden youth to take their liberty in prophaning the Lords day, but for the preſent, I will adde but one more. At Chidlington upon the edge of Hertfordſhire, not far from Hitchin, a company of fellows upon a holy day being to play a match at Foot-ball, one of them was tolling the bell, to aſſemble the reſt, ſome being come into the Church the randevoze of their meeting, ſuddenly it thundring was ſeen a black ball come tumbling down a hill neer by: which took its courſe directly into the Church, there it flew into the Bell-free and firſt ſlew him, that tolled the bell, then it fluſtered about the Church and hurted divers of them, and at laſt burſting; left a filthy ſtinke like to that of brimſtone, and ſo left a terror to all ſuch ſpend thrifts of precious time, and eſpecially ſuch as is dedicated to ſacred uſes: Who ſo is wiſe and will obſerve theſe things, even they ſhall underſtand the leving kindneſse of the Lord. Pſal. 107. 43.

Example 55.

VponUpon May Eve Thomas Tree of Gloceſter, Carpenter in the Pariſh of S. Michael, ſome coming unto him, and asking him, whether he would go with them to fetch the May-pole, he ſwore by the Lords wounds, that he p. 25would, though he never went more. Now whiles he was working on the May-pole on May day morning, before he had finiſhed his work, the Lord ſmote him with ſuch a lameneſſe and ſwelling in all his limbs, that he could neither go, nor lift his hands to his mouth, to feed himſelf, but kept his bed for half a yeer together, and ſtil goes lame to this day; May 4. 1636.

Example 56.

About a yeer ſince 1635. in Aſhton under the Hill, in the Pariſh of Beckford, in the countrey of Gloceſter, the Miniſter there M^r. Blackwell, having occaſion in his Sermon in the afternoon on the Lords day to reprove the prophaning of that day by ſports, &c. as ſoon as the Sermon was done, a young man of that place uſed theſe words, Now M^r. Blackwell hath done, we'le begin; and ſo taking the cudgels, playes with them; and at the ſecond or third bout, he received a thruſt in one of his eyes, that thruſt it quite out, ſo as it hanged by, and could never recover it again.

THeſe Examples of divine juſtice, ſo notorious, ſo remarkable both for humber and variety, having fallen out in ſo narrow a compaſſe of time, and ſo diſperſed over the whole land, as every particular place, and countrey might take ſpeciall notice thereof if they will not take, and make impreſſion in our ſtony hearts, to move us to ſpeedy repentance (as for many other enormities, and crying ſins, ſo in ſpeciall) for this our ring leading ſin of the heatheniſh prophanation of the Sabbath, or Lords day: what plea can we make for our ſelves; why the Lord of the Sabbath ſhould not ſend ſome univerſall, epidemicall ſweeping calamity upon the land, ſparing p. 26neither ſmall nor great? And now, that the plague and peſtilence begins to break forth, and ſpreads it ſelf much amongſt us, the Lord ſhooting theſe his terrible venemous arrows, from which not even Princes nor Prelates palaces can ſecure themſelves, from becoming his buts and marks: What can we more impute it unto, as the cauſe thereof, then to this grand ſin, of the prophanation of the Sabbath or Lords day, occaſioned ſo much the more by the publiſhing of the late book for ſports, and that, by the Miniſters themſelves? For was it not the judgement and confeſſion of King James of famous memory, and of the whole State and Kingdome in an exhortation publiſhed in that great plague, beginning with his reign, 1603. where are theſe words: The Lords Sabbath is not kept holy, but polluted, &c. and therefore the cauſe is apparant, why the plague is broken in amongſt us? And was not the ſame exhortation afterwards republiſhed by our gracious King Charles (whom God long preſerve a religious and righteous Governor over us) in the firſt yeer of his reign, with the approbation of the whole Parliament, where the ſame is acknowledged of that other great plague, in the beginning of his Reigne 1625. namely, that one principall and ſpeciall cauſe thereof, was the not keeping holy, but polluting the Lords day? And if this were a principall cauſe of thoſe great plagues then, why not of this which now we ſuffer? yea what Plague upon plagues may we not juſtly expect to break forth upon us in theſe dayes, wherein we have increaſed and ſurpaſſed our fathers ſins, and that in ſuch a height, as they reach up to heaven, to pull down flames and flakes of vengeance upon our heads. And ſo much the more, ſith upon the publiſhing of the ſaid book, ſo p. 27manifold miſchiefs have attended and followed, as never any age ſince Chriſt, much leſſe ſuch a Chriſtian ſtate as we profeſſe to be, hath ſeen, or ever heard the like. For beſides the open violation of Gods holy commandment, the 4th. Morall, acknowledged in our**Homily of the time and place of Praier. Part. 1. p. 124. 125. 126. Homily to be the ground of our Chriſtian Sabbath day (as it is there, no leſſe then 8. ſeverall times diſtinctly ſtiled; as alſo in another**Hom. againſt Rebellion. par. 3. pag. 292. Homily twice, which by the way makes me wonder at the audacious inſolence, & arrogant ignorance of ſome new Maſters in theſe dayes, and in particular of D^r. Poc. k in his Sunday no Sabbath, who is not aſhamed to avouch with open mouth, that the name of Sabbath was never given to the Lords day, untill it was brought in by John Knox, and others of the puritan faction in the yeer 1554. What ſaith he then to the Homilies of our Church, which were ſet forth in K. Edw. 6. his Reign, and ſo I am ſure before 1554. by three or foure yeers; now theſe (to omit innumerable teſtimonies more, both out of ancient Fathers, and the Prelates of this land; too large to be comprehended, in a Parentheſis, (being enow to furniſh a pretty Treatiſe) theſe our Homilies (I ſay) ſo frequently and clearly called the Lords day the Sabbath day, before John Knox called it ſo, 1554. And the ſame Homilies being ſet forth afreſh by Queen Elizabeth, 1562. will D^r. P. dare to charge the learned and pious compilers of them, a pack of Puritans, or (as**Doctor Wh… Bp. of Ely. ſome other) Novell Sabbatarians? But this by the way) by which violation (I ſay) of the Sabbath or Lords day, God is intolerably diſhonoured, and his religion diſgraced through outragious libertiniſme: What an invention of Antichriſtian tyranny hath broken in at the opening of this great ſluice? What havock is made in our Church p. 28by ſundry of the Hierarchy in ſuſpending godly Miniſters, depriving them of their liberty, livelihood, and Freeholds, againſt all Laws of God and man, ſo as they, their wives and children are expoſed to beggery and all miſery, and their flocks to be devoured of the Wolves, and to become a pray to the roaring Lion; and all this, becauſe they dare not offer violence to their conſciences, in doing that, which ſhould diſhonour God, indanger their own, and their peoples ſouls, abaſe before God and man the authority and dignity to their Miniſtery, condemne the innocent people of God, and call the wicked righteous, teach inferiours rebellion to their ſuperiours, and in a word haſten the pulling down of vengeance from heaven upon the Land? O ye heavens, ſtand amazed at this ſight! Tell it not in Gath, nor publiſh it in the ſtreets of Askelon, leſt the daughters of the Philiſtines rejoyce, leſt the daughters of the uncircumciſed triumph. what could the Pope have done more, then ſome of our Prelates have done in this kinde, for the darkning of the glory of Chriſts kingdome, and for the ſetting up of Antichriſts throne again in this Land? But our Lord ſaith, Ye ſhall know them by their fruits. Beſides, what impudencie and impiety hath broken out from ſundry aierie and ambitious ſpirits, who have dared in their late publiſhed books upon books, to belch out their blaſphemies againſt God, and the power, purity, and profeſſion of the Religion eſtabliſhed amongſt us for ſo many yeers. Nor onelyonly is the floodgate of all prophaneneſſe and impiety broken up, in the violation of the fourth commandment, but of the fifth alſo, when as, by occaſion of the publiſhing of the ſaid book (which inhibits Magiſtrates and ſuperiors, to reſtrain or puniſh youth fortaking ſuch liberty p. 29on the Lords day, as the book alloweth, and which all other books, writings, monuments of Fathers, Councels, Kings, Emperors, Divines ancient and modern, Proteſtants and Papiſts, have univerſally with one vote and voice cried down, till now but yeſterday a new generation of Maleferiati hath riſen up, outdaring and defining the whole world and God himſelf) inferiour perſons exalt themſelves in high contempt againſt their Superiors, as the common vulgar againſt the Magiſtrate and Miniſter, ſervants againſt their maſters, children againſt their parents, and wanton wives againſt their husbands, which hath cauſed ſuch outcries and complaints of maſters, for their ſervants unbridled and uncontrowled outrage on the Lords day; which muſt alſo in-jure them with pride and preſumption of ſpirit the whole week after, and ſo their whole life, while like vntamed colts they have thus learned to take the bit between their teeth, and ſo to run a gallop into all exceſſe of riot.

So as if the book be not all the ſooner called in, and authors of thoſe late books againſt the ſanctification of the Lords day condignly puniſhed; and a ſpeedy reformation hereof ſet on foot: how can we look for a ſtay of the plague untill the Land be conſumed? Now the Lord make us wiſe, to lay theſe things to heart, leſt he teare in peeces, and there be none to deliver. For as never any Chriſtian Church hath produced ſuch monſtrous impieties: ſo never any Church hath been the theatre of ſuch tragicall examples of divine wrath, as our Land is like to be, if we ſpeedily repent not. Vnleſſe therefore we repent, we ſhall all likewiſe periſh, as theſe examples have done before us.

Now for theſe ſo many, ſo markable examples of p. 30Gods judgements inflicted upon the violaters and prophaners of the Lords day, and that in ſo ſhort a time, even ſince the book for ſuch ſports was publiſhed, we may thus argue and conclude.

That, for which the Lord inflicteth and executeth ſo many notorious and ſevere judgements, muſt needs be a notorious and hainous ſin, and ſo a breach of his holy commandment.

But for the violation and prophanation of the Lords day by ſports and paſtimes, or by ſervile works, the Lord inflicteth and executeth many notorious and ſevere judgements, as of late we have ſeen. Erg. the violation and prophanation of the Lords day is a notorious and hainous ſin, and ſo a breach of Gods holy commandment.

The major Propoſition is a Maxime in Divinity. God puniſheth no man, but for ſin: and ſin is a tranſgreſſion of Gods law: 1. Joh. 3. 4. For the Minor propoſition, it is ſo clear, as it cannot be denied, except men will be ſenſeleſſe and blinde Atheiſts. But they that fear God, ſhall declare the work of God, for they ſhall wiſely conſider of his doing; as Pſal. 64. 9. Now if the violation or prophanation of the Lords day be a ſin, and ſo a tranſgreſſion of Gods holy commandment: then of what holy commandment, but of the fourth. And if of the fourth, then the holy keeping of the Lords day for the Chriſtian Sabbath, is grounded upon the fourth Commandment, and commanded in it, as God hath abundantly teſtified by his many remarkable judgements, even within theſe two yeers, as hath been ſhewed.

Ob. But here ſome may object: God may puniſh men for the breach of humane ordinances, which are out of the p. 31expreſſe commandments of God. So in this inſtance, God may puniſh the violation or prophanation of the Lords day by ſuch ſports, or wakes, as being a breach of a humane ordinance, or Eccleſiaſticall inſtitution.

Anſw. I anſwer it is true, all humane ordinances, being not againſt Gods word, are to be obſerved for conſcience ſake of Gods commandment, commanding ſubjection to all ordinances of men for the Lords ſake.

Aud if it were a humane ordinance, to dedicate this day of holy reſt to God by a perpetuall vow and Decree: then the greater is their ſin, that devoure that which is ſanctified, and after the vow make inquirie, how it may be violated. So as they are liable to the like judgements, for ſo doing, without repentance.